A birthday in France – 1944

My Aunt Geraldine had a reputation for being dominant and domineering and bossy and with a hot temper to boot. A couple of my cousins called her “The Commander”. She was my father’s oldest sister. As I have been reaching into boxes and bags and letters come out to a young soldier overseas, I have noticed that they are often signed “Love, Geraldine”.  And this birthday card? She made certain to get it mailed a whole month before my dad’s birthday on November 12th. I guess there was a softer side to her . . .

Of course, it is very possible that I might not have found these letters because at some point my dad and his sisters were going through a lot of old stuff and Geraldine lit a fire in a barrel out back.  As I understand it, one entire afternoon Aunt Geraldine was tossing things in the ‘to burn’ pile and my dad was pulling them out.

(I think Bill Alexander must be the brother of Al Alexander, who was married to my Aunt Evelyn. )

They’re fired up in the West Facing Cave

Der Bingle and his bear buddies – here’s one of them pictured below – are irate about what has happened in Minnesota.

What  happendc in Minnesota, you ask. Well, I will cite the Drudge Report link, but I am also going to show you the article right here.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A sports bar owner in Minnesota is showing his support for the Green Bay Packers in this weekend’s game against the Chicago Bears in a very literal way — by roasting a bear.

Blake Montpetit, the co-owner of Tiffany Sports Lounge in St. Paul, says he plans to cook a 180-pound black bear in a pig-roaster over hickory and charcoal on Sunday. He says his cousin shot it in northern Wisconsin during bear hunting season, which runs in September and October, and then froze it.

Montpetit says he planned to serve the meat to customers, but the state health department rejected the plan because the meat is unprocessed. Instead, customers can take photos with the roasting bear.

After the game, the meat will go to his cousin’s party in Somerset, Wis.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

This is just upsetting, dontcha know. And TwoMoo and her fellow Cheeseheads here share the outrage being experienced by our bear friends.