Mad River Musings

 Hi all, I've been thinking lately about the nature of friendships and family, and what is important about them to me.  I've noticed that the things I value most are the things that are reciprocal, at least to the degree that they can be.  I had family visit from Italy, and they have hosted me 3 times (once at 5, 22, and 30) in Italy, and this was the first time I was able to show them around the US.  My whole family came together and pulled out all the stops for this, and it was really nice to see everyone.  I'm left with a few lingering thoughts about it. There are cousins who live just up the street that I haven't seen in months, and I miss the closeness of our family of years ago.  I know some of this is generational and natural (my grandmother passed, so the family went into the smaller groups).  I know I'm at least somewhat to blame for it though, it takes two sides to reach out and stay connected.  It is interesting to me that I found it ea...

 Good morning, I've been thinking about the nature of friendship and maybe what makes a decent one.  My friends are a diverse, eclectic bunch.  Some of them are professionals, others blue collar tough farmer types, and a few, like me, are in the middle.  Willing to work hard, on a project or learn something from some folks who are less educated or interact with folks who may be a little uncouth.  I'm not sure exactly where I fit there, as I have always been outside most social circles.  I'm not quite a typical Winstedian, in that I have higher income and more education.  That's not to be snobby - it's the truth according to the median income.  I wish the town wasn't as impoverished but it is a low income place.  I'm not a typical Batesie either - the average income of the parents there was astronomical because the cost of attendance was more than a teacher's yearly salary, for reference.  I got to attend because I got scholarships and my...

 Good morning all, This blog, in general, is an idea started by my friend David and I.  We frequently rib each other about lots of things, and crack each other up.  The default is sarcastic banter, while we do stuff that is mutually beneficial.  We both attend the Barkhamsted mall with some frequency (the dump tag sale) where we find treasures to hoard.  My goal is always to bring more to the dump than I bring back, which I sometimes succeed at . . . but even when I don't, I manage to upgrade my hoard and then am able to give to those who aren't as savvy.  For instance, my tenant in Hartford didn't have a lamp, drill or TV wall mount.  I found all 3 in my garage cleaning and dump runs, so I brought them to him.  Broadly, I call this hoarder communism.  I give to everybody that's got less cool stuff than I have, especially if they have need.   I believe it will be a fun youtube channel and podcast eventually, but for now I am satisfi...