The definition of success

Bon Jovi recently said in a popular song, “Who said you can’t go home?”
Apparently, it was Thomas Wolfe, quoted as saying, “You can’t go home again.”
Jon can thank me later…

Thomas Wolfe and Max Perkins had a tremendous literary relationship as editors and authors go. Perkins was known for having the skill to handle difficult personalities such as Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Wolfe. All men who had to fight with their personal demons in order to produce literary masterpieces.

I find the following quote from Thomas Wolfe very interesting:

It makes me wonder if he put himself under the pressure of fully using his talents. I’m not sure any of us can truly, fully, realize our potential and use our “whole” talent(s). I’m pretty sure I don’t use the whole of my talent on a daily basis, and I still have moments of complete satisfaction in my life. I’ve even had moments of triumph. Of course they were over things like potty training a child, or mastering the baking of homemade bread, but I was triumphant none the less. I think if I defined myself by my talent of writing, then I would feel like a failure because I am only half using it. Fortunately, I see that I have many other talents and my personal satisfaction is not merely defined by one aspect of my life. The quote makes me wonder if Wolfe himself felt like a failure, partial failure or success. It also reminds me a bit of the process of creating the inn. We are all combining our talents and using them the best we can, and it has been satisfying in a way that can’t be explained, but will it be a successful venture? The jury is still out on that one.

A little food for thought as you contemplate the coming new year and things you have accomplished and the things you WILL yet achieve. Here’s to wishing that each of us find those creative areas in our lives that bring us fulfillment and success in our own eyes. In my world, you are only a failure if you have the desire, but you never try.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Traditions

In our family we have a tradition of eating Hamburgers and Rootbeer floats on Christmas eve. My mom’s family used to do it when she was a girl on the ranch she grew up on and it was a real treat. I don’t think there is year I haven’t done it, even when we have lived in Taiwan and New Zealand. See Mike grill through the years.

Mike on the grill, New Zealand 2005

Mike on the outside grill, New Zealand 2006

Mike on the grill, Vermont 2008

I remember in Taiwan, finding the ground beef was a bit of a challenge but we had been frequenting this Italianish restaurant called “Oodles of Noodles” and they ordered the ground beef special from Hong Kong for me.

In New Zealand, it is summer so we can actually have a proper BBQ and make traditional Kiwi burgers which sound different but are really good. They put fried eggs, pineapple rings, and beet root on their burgers with the usuals. Rootbeer isn’t as popular here either, so we had Gingerbeer floats and they were Yum! And since NZ is a day ahead, it is Christmas today and we had our feast last night.

Kiwi burger and Gingerbeer 2009

It is a tradition I have grown to love and look forward to. I enjoy doing it with my family and love to see the little nephews and nieces getting into the hamburger spirit too!

Little Snapdragon M, Behold, Hamburger. 2008

Haiku for winter

Part of Mondays with Max is exploring all things literary. With Christmas quickly approaching, and winter beginning to really settle into Vermont, I thought this week it would be fun to try something different. I’d like to send out a winter Haiku challenge to all our readers– put your thinking caps on and lay down some verse for us!

In case you need a refresher, Haiku is a three line poem centered around nature themes. The first line has 5 syllables, the second line 7 syllables, the final line has 5. They generally have two parts.

One of the young “Whipper-Snappers” of the family was kind enough to write up a sample to get us started. Just leave your mini masterpiece in the comments section and let’s see how many winter or snow themed haikus we can create.

Happy Holidays to everyone! We hope you have a blessed and enjoyable Christmas! Now show me your mad poetry skills!
–Joy

And the Winner is…

Thanks for all those who have stopped by this week! Deb, please email us at innkeeper@snapdragoninn.com with your address so we can get you your paper goodies.

And for some Random links:

Nothing says, “Happy Holidays” like some festive sweaters. This link is kind of funny.

Holiday DIYs here and here.

These edible santas found here.

And go see Avatar. The world that was created is spectacular. I want to go to there.

Happy Weekend before Christmas!

Susan Lucci Ain’t Got Nothin On Me…

Russell Morash is considered the father of of “how to” and “know how television.” Ranked twelth on the National Academey of Television Arts and Science list of top 100 Daytime Emmy winners, with 14 Emmy Awards including 11 for “Outstanding Director of a Service Show” Russel Morash resume speaks for itself. A native of Lexington Massachusettes , he began to make his mark on the industry in 1963 when he helped invite Julie Childs and The French Chef into our kitchens.

In 1975 he teamed with Jim Crockett and walk us around Crockett’s Victory Garden, later The Victory Garden. Finally in 1979 when Russell Morash brought This Old House into our livingroom it started a revolution and turned a nation into DIY’s (Do It Yourself(ers)).

With a fan base thicker than the flannel on a Norm Abram shirt, This Old House has empowered its watchers to believe in their creative power and to find inspiration in the walls of their homes. The foundation(no pun intended) of This Old House lies in its charismatic cast of characters, who have been remodeled slightly over thirty years but have become an extended member of my family every Thursday night.

My sister Chris and I use to have battles of epic proportion of what was going to be watched on one of our three channels growing up. There were three shows we settled on after all of the hair pulling, pinching and punching ceased. Day time soap opera, General Hospital, Square One/Mathnet and This Old House. So as much as I loved following the daily saga of Luke and Laura, the dynamic Mathnet duo of Monday & Frankly, it was with hushed tones that every Thursday night Chris and I like religion huddled in front of the magic box and watched master carpenter Norm Abram, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook work their magic with wit, humor and expertise.

There is a great sense of camaraderie in what This Old House brings to America. It is that same sense of camaraderie and magic that the Snapdragon has created for our family and the community. We may not have the longevity of This Old House but we hope to achieve and surpass it. On this Thursday Thought I tip my hat to Russell Morash and This Old House for being a pioneers and extend an invitation from one DIYer to another that you will always be welcome at the Snapdragon Inn because the adventure regardless of the sacrifice is worth every effort. We hope to see you there.

To abbreviate Garrison Keillor : This is my Thursday thought from Lake Runnemede where the women are strong, the men are good looking and the children are above average.

Until next Thursday this is JD signing off…