Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

James, that breakfast burrito sounds fabulous. And of course coffee - who can start their day any differently. Dark beer is good; not sure about Irish Mist? And of course dogs..who could be without them. Great list.

Irish Mist is a liqueur made with fermented honey, sort of the modern version of mead. I forgot Kahlua, too.

Oh...sounds interesting...I never had heard of it frankly. Is it sweet like Baileys or Kahlua?

It's a clear golden color, not creamy like Bailey's - I never tried Bailey's so I don't know how the taste compares. It has a very smooth sweet taste, smooth enough to drink neat - almost like a brandy, but smooth enough to be deceptive as it's about 70 proof. I just looked it up and found that it's made with whiskey, honey, and 'aromatic herbs.' Pricier than twenty years ago, but what isn't? It runs $25 to $30 a liter now, apparently.
Kahlua is a stronger flavor. There's just something about the concept of putting coffee and a liqueur together that always struck me as wonderful. Had to give it all up, though.
About a year after I'd quit drinking, my wife and I went to Hawaii for a few days and stayed with an old friend stationed there at the time and his wife. I hadn't mentioned to him that I wasn't drinking anymore - not a big secret, it just hadn't come up. They met us at the gate as we got off the plane and he hung a lei made of Kahlua miniatures around my neck - his face when I told him I'd quit was priceless, wish I'd had a camera. Turned out he'd gotten a bottle of Irish Mist for us to share that night, too. Oh, well, just more for him...

Irish Mist is something totally different from spirits like whiskey or bourbon. I think Tullamore Dew is another excellent drink:

Oh so sad for your friend - he thought that he had thought of everything and was so pleased to surprise you with your faves. But I am sure that he got over it when you gave him the reasoning behind it. I am more of a wine drinker with an occasional beer with pizza...so not much of a whiskey drinker. It does seem to be coming back into vogue though I noticed.

Yes, I think he made the leap to "hey, more for me!" in milliseconds.

Well then it eased both of your pain. (smile)

Yeah. Actually, I think I get just as much enjoyment from alcohol now as I did when I was drinking; the difference is that now it's from the entertainment value some other people provide when they're drinking it.
If "5 favorite people" had been a category, this friend would probably have been on my list. We've been friends since 9th grade, almost 40 years now. Until a few weeks ago I'd have said he was my oldest friend. Recently, though, I got an email via Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ that turned out to be from a guy who was my best friend in grade school!

From grade school - very interesting...and on goodreads!

Yeah, it's really a great thing to have happen. We've compared notes on our lives since we were 11 and found an interesting number of parallels in terms of life experiences, current careers (I'm a psychotherapist, he's a social worker), philosophies, values, politics, etc. In those ways, he and I have more in common than I have with either of my brothers, both of whom I love dearly, but each of the three of us is worlds different from the other two.

Very true in most families..I often wonder how that happens when the parents are exactly the same.

I'm a lot like my stepfather. My mom and I had a close and loving relationship, but at times we found each other baffling; my stepdad seemed as if he could read my mind, because we were so much alike in personality, sense of humor, values, interests, etc. He was my best friend in the world.

That is great James...that is so unusual to have such a great relationship with a step parent.

Yes, my brothers and I were very lucky (as was our mom) when he came into our lives.

It is always great to hear those kind of stories. Now we can get back to favorite things and I think you should have listed your stepfather...he sounds like quite the guy.

We also have an Off Topic forum too.

I have returned from three and a half weeks travelling in my PT Cruiser in snowy Wyoming and Utah and am catching up on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ.

My favorite people in history are people that I think I would enjoy spending time with talking and arguing. So I would include Voltaire, Ben Franklin, and Mark Twain as starters. A few mad geniuses like Beethoven, Mozart, or Stalin would be worth spending time with also.

It sounds like you had a fun time. John, see if you can tackle the whole list it would be interesting...just do a cut and paste and add your own faves.

Did you go skiing in Wyoming and Utah...hiking or just a family vacation. It must have been very pretty there this time of year.

I am not sure if I would want to spend much time with Stalin or possibly Voltaire...they were pretty unpredictable. And with the former..it may be hazardous to your health.

It would be fun to put together a personal ideal dinner party of, say, six or eight historical figures drawn from one's favorite writers, philosophers, politicians, and other leaders.

. Food: Pizza
2. Non-alcoholic beverage: Mt. Dew
3. Alcoholic beverage: Old Peculiar Stout
4. Band/singer: Pink Floyd
5. Actor/Actress: Tough...Ray Milland/Meryl Streep
6. Season: Fall
7. Terrain: Mountains
8. Car: Ford Mustang or 1966 corvette
9. Animal: Dinosaurs
10. Activity: Reading

Well who doesn't like pizza and I have had Old Peculiar as well.

Great choices Bryan.

James, my choices would be Churchill, FDR, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Napoleon, Socrates and probably Tolstoy.

Hard to narrow it down, but I think I'd invite Queen Elizabeth, Abraham Lincoln, Barbara Tuchman, Mark Twain, Vincent van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, and Kurt Vonnegut.

Your choices are interesting too James..which Queen Elizabeth? Now Leonardo Da Vinci might be tempting and even Michelangelo but I don't think I would change my guest list. If I were to change one it might be FDR for Leonardo...I also wanted to ask John Adams but I tried to pare down my list (smile).

Bryan...I just noticed you are into Dinosaurs!!!

Sorry, I meant Elizabeth I - she would be a standout as a head of state in any era, but especially in her time, she was an amazing person, a world-changer.

Very true James.

My Favorite...
1. Food: Almost any form of Pasta.
2. Non-alcoholic beverage: Coke Zero
3. Alcoholic beverage: Dark Rum
4. Band/singer: Dire Straits/Roy Orbison
5. Actor/Actress: Robert DeNiro/ Meryl Streep
6. Season:Fall
7. Terrain: Mountains
8. Car: Jaguar XKE
9. Animal: Bear
10. Activity: Dining with friends

Ed, I am not much for bears...but I do like pasta, the mountains and dining out with friends.

Can't resist a game like this:

My Favorite...
1. Food: Tie among chocolate, croissants, hamburgers
2. Non-alcoholic beverage: Coffee w/ cream and 1 pink, 1 blue
3. Alcoholic beverage: Superpremium bourbons, esp Elmer T. Lee
4. Band/singer: Ignat Solzhenitsyn
5. Actor/Actress: Jimmy Stewart; Jean Arthur
6. Season: Fall
7. Terrain: Lakes, if that counts
8. Car: n/a
9. Animal: cats
10. Activity: LOL! OK, another tie among running; concerts; art museums

"As to painters, let's start a 'favorite' discussion:"

Portraits, George Romney

Alright folks......Let's see if I can answer this
1.) Collards
2.) Indian River Pink grapefruit juice
3.) Redhook ESB
4.) Very hard to say, as I like many types of music and there are several performers that within certain types that appeal to me.
5.) Again, too many and if I mention one I may leave out another.
6.) Summer
7.) The beaches of the panhandle of Florida in the 50's and before.
8.) Easy question, 45/90 Stearns
9.) Cat
10.)Restoring antique cars, studying history and technology, relating to people (like here), relaxing on the beach.

Wow Harry - Collards...I never saw that as a favorite before..I like my mean green juice which is a concoction that a local whole food store juices up for folks but I think you are the first to list that. Can identify with the grapefruit juice and Redhook too from Washington state.

Feel free to expound on all of your favorite musicians and artists...many folks have.

I never heard of a 45/90 Stearns either so I had to look it up:


Now that had to be before your time..but I can see that you are into vintage automobiles from your response to number 10...have you restored a 45/90 Stearns?

Very interesting answers Harry.

Bentley, I love vegetables; collards, when properly prepared are one of my favorites.
Unfortunately, only one 45/90 has survived and it is not in my possession. But if you read Ralph Stein's description of that last one, if you were a gearhead you would want it. By the way, a Chadwick Great Six is up there with the Sterns.The American Automobile

Sounds good Harry, one other thing we have a rule to add the book cover, author's photo when available and the author's link.

The goodreads software is powerfully populating when this is done.

Ralph Stein

In the case of the book above, the cover was available, the author's photo was not and the author's link always is; so your citation should look like the one above.

Too bad the 45/90 is not in your possession.

Bentley, thanx, I read your detailed description but, I am new to these computers and it takes a while to learn. I entered the book cover and book on the system myself. I'm amazed it wasn't already on the system.

Bentley wrote: "Sounds good Harry, one other thing we have a rule to add the book cover, author's photo when available and the author's link.

The goodreads software is powerfully populating when this is done.

..."

That is what we are here for to help everybody and to keep things moving smoothly; so don't worry just keep trying is all we ask.

Bentley..........you ask for a favorite piece of music.....what about "Every Man a King"
Hint, try, You Tube

Alright....Here are some more of my favorite pieces of music........."Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" performed by E. Power Biggs on the pedal harpsichord or say "The Sunflower Slow Drag" by Scott Joplin performed by The New England Conservatory Ragtime Ensemble using the rendition published in the "Red Back Book". Henry Purcell's works are awesome.......But I cannot overlook Chrystal Gayle and her rendition of "Don't it Make my Brown Eyes Blue"........among others.......Tennessee Ernie Ford's "16 Tons". Of course I can't forget Deep Purple's "Machine Head" album or perhaps "Wenn Die SS Und Die SA Aufmarschiert" as sung at the cathedral of ice on the night of the long knives..........I could go on and on.

Oh...Did I mention "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" as sung by Johnny Cash........?

Harry...and here it is:

Sweet Low Sweet Chariot by Johnny Cash (Youtube)

Also, Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries"

Harry wrote: "Also, Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries""

Youtube: Berlin Philharmonic

My Favorite...
1. Food: pasta
2. Non-alcoholic beverage: coffee
3. Alcoholic beverage: red wine
4. Band/singer: I enjoy most music but tend to be a little scattered in my interest so I can't really pick a favorite.
5. Actor/Actress: Colin Firth
6. Season: Fall
7. Terrain: Mountain
8. Car: I love my Audi
9. Animal:horses/dogs
10. Activity: Horseback riding, reading, knitting

Thank you Eliza...some interesting faves...which movie did you like Colin Firth in? And pasta is certainly a favorite of mine too.

My Favorite...
1. Food: Chinese!
2. Non-alcoholic beverage: Mnt. Dew
3. Alcoholic beverage: Smirnoff Ice Triple Black
4. Band/singer: Way too many to name. Top 3 though are Green Day, Weezer, and Godsmack.
5. Actor/Actress: I have no idea.
6. Season: Autumn
7. Terrain: Forest areas, the more trees the better.
8. Car: Monte Carlos are cool, though I've never owned one (sadly!).
9. Animal: Dragons! (or cats, in reality)
10. Activity: Reading, surfing the Internet, hanging out with friends and family, watching television or movies.

Amanda...great list.

What a spirited group with diverse tastes. Cool!

My Favorite...
1. Food: My wife's fresh ground wheat bread, lightly toasted with honey.
2. Non-alcoholic beverage: Florida Orange Juice!!!!!!
3. beverage: Mountain Dew Amp, it keeps me going
4. Band/singer: The Clancy Brothers (Irish folk)
5. Actor/Actress: The Duke
6. Season: FL Winters!!!!
7. Terrain: Orange Groves as far as the eye can see
8. Car: Chevy Duramax Diesel, a good reliable truck
9. Animal: Our cat Sassafras, who believes she is part squirrel
10. Activity: Reading, doing things with my wife, gaming, reading

Thom, your wife's bread sounds fabulous. Sassafras sounds like an interesting cat (smile).

Hi Bently, what's even better than the bread is when my wife bakes for the county antique fair every 4th saturday. Then I get fresh banana bread, apple,strawberry,blackberry pies (to name a few) and fresh homemade doughnuts. =)

Goodness gracious..I would not be able to get out of my chair (smile)