David Gustafson

Thank you, David. Again.

Thank you so much, Hanneke. Yes, we have lots of sunshine, but the temperature is down to 28 F. This is not Vegas! No Bueno! I may cross the border and head south before they build that stupid wall!

I still have my sights on the Rembrandt exhibit and a visit this to the van Gogh museum this spring or summer combined with a sampling of at least a hundred Dutch cheeses. Like Chesterton, I believe the poets have been mysteriously silent about cheese. Such a tragedy. We'll see about that trip.

In the meantime, I know you will be busy with your eclectic sampling of literature. Thank you and happy reading to you, my friend!

Happy New Year, David, may it be full of joy, good health and good books! If you were a Dutch person, I would wish you much sunshine, but that is not needed in your case!

HELENE wrote: "Thanks for accepting my friend request.

https://youtu.be/LtXiw6XmhPE

https://www.amazon.com/author/helenel...

Please assist with book reviews. I will provide the price for Kindle book."

Thank you, Helen, but I am much too busy.

I am fine, thank you, Hanneke. I am a little embarrassed because late last night Vegas time, I had not heard the news and I began receiving short e-mails from Swedish cousins wondering if I was all right. I was surprised that they were so concerned about my health all of a sudden. Health issues are a rather personal concern that Swedes seldom broach out of the blue. Yikes!!! Were they having premonitions? Then this morning, I saw the horrible details.

Hey David, are you alright? You were hopefully not near that carnage in Las Vegas?

Hey Hanneke!

I was wondering where you had been hiding. I missed you and your reviews. Moving is such a big hassle, but you are living in one of the most civilized cities in the world with hundred of great cheeses to choose from and a brilliant people that considers bicycles to be the most civilized form of travel next to walking. I envy you!

The election? I had no evil steed running in that satanic horserace so how could a satirist possibly lose? I would have preferred having the two-for-one bonus of the faithfully unfaithful Bill Clinton as an added pleasure to poke fun at.

The good news is, Trump drives the PC Snowflakes and Pajama Boyz absolutely bat-shit crazy. So I guess I will be doubling my pleasure skewering both of them. I am biding my time. I want them both to establish the roots of their respective insanities before I step in with the poison pen.

From an analytical point of view, something very historic happened. For over a hundred years, the Democratic Party (Hillary Clinton) had been the working class and the working class had been the Democratic party. Then the Democrats began running full blast with the PC narrative and drove the working class into the wilderness and the arms of Mr. Trump giving him the election. How long they will remain there and if the Democrats can survive flying the PC banner remains to be seen.

A European comparison would be if the German SPD, for over 140 years the home of the working class, adopted an ideology that would drive the workers into the arms of the AfD.

That is the most important thing that happened on that evil election day back in November.

Good to see you back mijn Vriend!

Hi David,
How are you? Recovered from the election? I have not been on GR much, because I am moving. Such a drag and so much work! Greetings from Amsterdam!

And you as well, Amigo.

Hello David!
I see that you are in correct in that we have some contrary opinions. That should be fun! :)

Good luck with that one Michael and please keep me posted. Could be a great opening scene to a Danish chick-flick!

Thanks David for the friend request and for making me laugh with how to annoy a Dane, maybe I'll test it first on my Danish fiancee. If she slaps me then I know I'll get punched in a bar!

David wrote: ""I'm Lutheran with Catholic flavors...." I like that. The most important thing is that you have an inner life and are actively cultivating your soul.

I am not an expert, but not being straight mi..."

*nods* That's one reason why I said, 'for now'. I don't know what will happen, but one can remain hopeful.
And thanks for such a good welcome :)

7jane

"I'm Lutheran with Catholic flavors...." I like that. The most important thing is that you have an inner life and are actively cultivating your soul.

I am not an expert, but not being straight might not be a problem with some priests if you kept your lifestyle to yourself while with other conservative priests, I am sure it would be considered " a disordered lifestyle," that may or may not keep you from receiving the sacrament of communion which is what drew me to Christianity's first church. In any event, I understand your conundrum and admire you for not completely shunning the Church.

Attitudes are changing and if Pope Francis hangs in there, you might see some light at the end of the tunnel.

Thank you for being my GR friend. As I suspected, you are a very, very interesting person.

Hjärtliga hälsningar!
David

Thank you for friending!

I'm Lutheran with Catholic flavors (that is, have some Catholic beliefs and habits mixed in with Lutheran beliefs and habits, something like that). I'm not straight, so joining the Catholic church right now isn't an option, but I do think there's a lot of good Catholic stuff to read, and like. Becoming Lutheran some years ago was my choice, but I have believed in God solidly at least since around 11 years old (also my choice).

Pascal was a pretty good read, I agree *nods* Finland is a good place to visit, as is Stockholm :)

I took German once but it wasn't really serious. At school we had to take Swedish (Finnish-speakers have to take Swedish, and the Swedish minority of Finland has to take Finnish.), and besides English I also had some French, which I don't speak that well but can understand a bit, still. Finnish isn't the easiest, but can be fun :)

Tove Jansson is great. I also like some Rosa Liksom books, but I mostly prefer non-Finnish authors.

:) 7jane

Nice to meet you, Dolors!

Heh, sorry David for that absurd question, I am unable to give an answer myself and I know I should delete it, but I keep postponing doing so because people come up with the most creative of responses. Anyway, glad to be your friend and thanks for reaching out!