Category: History

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Egg Nog of which George Washington would approve

a few additions to start George Washingtons Eggnog
a few additions to start George Washington's Eggnog

Not only was George Washington our first president, but he also passed down a variety of recipes that are part of his impressive legacy. He had an interesting recipe for beer, but my favorite was his most ‘powerful’ egg nog! It seemed to be a lot of nog and little else. His original recipe is incomplete — as seems to be the habit from the time — leaving out the most simple of ingredients : spices and eggs. In addition, not many recipes from that period discussed the HOWS of making this or that and left that for you. They either thought the process was obvious or thought too much conversation would let too many secrets loose! Sounds all too much like my grandmother.

Here’s what was written:

1/2 cup sherry
1 cup rum (from Jamaica in those days)
1 cup rye whiskey*
2 cups brandy
3/4 cup sugar
4 cups whole milk
4 cups cream (heavy whipping cream**)

* American whiskey’s popularity resulted from the British preventing rum from reaching their ungrateful colonies during the American Revolution. viva la revolution!

** today’s ‘cream’ is a very poor substitute for what was called ‘cream’ of even fifty years ago, so use heavy whipping cream.

Stay tuned and I will post a step-by-step recipe with pictures!

By the way, some positive trends around the corner: the  ‘super sized’ portions of restaurants are getting scaled back, you and I are more important to others than a professional food critic and greater effort and variety is being placed into special meals and the return of everyday comfort foods!

Roger Freberg

Here is our Family Recipe Page!

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the future is in understanding the past

Sometimes, when historians look into the past, often they only see the problems and the struggles, but little of the truly amazing achievements not only of industry but of intellect. I have always believed that this is because the historians and journalists are a depressing and a depressed lot.

They should read William James.

Here’s a link to a great site.

William James is not a household name to anyone outside of Psychology. Even in Psychology, many fail to read his original writings but depend too highly on the interpretations of others.  James was brilliant. I say he was brilliant because his observations still hold today over 100 years later.

Although much of what he wrote was around 1900, William James reflects the budding optimism, the clarity of the times and a genuine hope for the future.

Although it may seem old fashioned to post quotes, William James is worth reading. Here are a few:

“Truth is what works.”

“When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice.”

“These then are my last words to you. Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.”

“If merely ‘feeling good’ could decide, drunkenness would be the supremely valid human experience.”

“Be willing to have it so. Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune.”

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”

“Action may not bring happiness but there is no happiness without action.”

“Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power.”

“A chain is no stronger than its weakest link, and life is after all a chain.”

“Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing.”

“Compared to what we ought to be, we are half awake.”

“Everybody should do at least two things each day that he hates to do, just for practice.”

“Faith means belief in something concerning which doubt is theoretically possible.”

“It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.”

“Many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.”

“One hearty laugh together will bring enemies into a closer communion of heart than hours spent on both sides in inward wrestling with the mental demon of uncharitable feeling.”

“Success or failure depends more upon attitude than upon capacity successful men act as though they have accomplished or are enjoying something. Soon it becomes a reality. Act, look, feel successful, conduct yourself accordingly, and you will be amazed at the positive results.”

“The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.”

“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.”

“The world is all the richer for having a devil in it, so long as we keep our foot upon his neck.”
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Now, wasn’t that all worth reading?

Roger Freberg

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4 star General Anne Dunwoody

General Anne E. DunwoodyCongratulations to General Dunwoody!

I  wrote about her nomination  to become the first four star general in the United States military.

Here is a  nice article  on General Anne Dunwoody.

General Dunwoody had a couple of things that made me smile:

“This nomination only reaffirms what I have known to be true about the military throughout my career—that the doors continue to open for men and women in uniform.”

and

“There is no one more surprised than I—except, of course, my husband. You know what they say, `Behind every successful woman there is an astonished man.’ ” 

So, Congratulations and make us all proud.

Roger Freberg

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2008 has a new President and many lessons from history

Lessons of History
Some of us are waking up to the thrill of victory and others of us are struggling with a post election hangover. My candidate lost the election, but not my respect nor my admiration for him.

Looking back, I am very glad we had President George Bush in office over the last 8 years, let’s hope the new president is half as successful. Regarding President Bush, I was touched by a reflective article in the Wall Street Journal written by none other than one of John Kerry’s lawyers. Simply stated, he was horrified at the poor treatment of President Bush by the press.

Here it is to read.

History when viewed in contrast is revealing. President Reagan enjoyed a true mandate, although he never had the congress he needed to implement his plans so he appealed very successfully to average Americans in his weekly radio address. In those days and until the mid 1990’s, Congress had been in Democratic Control for 50 years or more. Republicans were shown as blue states with Reagan and it is amusing to remember how Democrats balked at a ‘socialist’ red color linked with them at the time.

Our soon to be new president Barack Hussein Obama has much to prove — not to me — but to those who voted and put their faith and hope in him. Time will tell. I am reminded of a quote that I keep on my blog:

“Nearly all men can stand
adversity, but if you
want to test a man’s
character, give him power.”
– Abraham Lincoln

Roger Freberg

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Voting is fundamental

Harley has my vote, too!

I remember voting in my first Presidential election, it was for Nixon. Laura and I were engaged and she was so very kind to help me fill out my suggested voters pamphlet. It has been like this ever since … talking, discussing and continually growing closer.

I even ran for some elected offices, won some and lost some, and although I wouldn’t necessarily call it ‘fun’, it was an educational experience most people avoid. On a small scale , I had the chance to witness some of the best and worst of our political system, the media and people.

Change is the nature of history and writing it is always an active, creative and some times revisionary process. Although I have an obvious preference for president, I also realize that things will be different regardless of who wins. We have been on this trajectory for a long time. I remember seeing the cornerstone to some of our nation’s most historical buildings being removed (the White House, for example) because — by tradition — cornerstones were laid by Mason’s … not favored or remembered anymore by the rewriters of history. History was erased. This happened — believe it or not — during Ronald Reagan’s era, who himself was a Mason.  We are constantly changing.

I am encouraged by the voting precinct we visited to vote this morning, there was actually a long line. Democracy is fragile and easily manipulated… but it is one of the only private way for average citizens to have a voice, be it a small one.

Enjoy, support and protect the process. VOTE

Roger

I know where the White House Cornerstone is…do you? write me and I will tell you … roger@frebergsports.com