Tom's Amazing Birthday in Hudson

 

Happy Tom with his Birthday Cake

You know they're good friends when somehow the conversation takes a left turn from "Ghost in a Shell" to "Ghost in the Mouth" and everybody just goes with it. We were up in Hudson at Helen and Matt's along with Wanda and Derek.

"Ghost in a Shell" if you aren't familiar, was originally a manga series that became a Major Hollywood Production starring Scarlett Johansson. The Ghost in a Shell means basically a cyborg with a tiny bit of human left in the brain.

"Ghost in the Mouth," as per the committee around Helen and Matt's table, is when you get a tooth implant with a bone graft. The "bone" in "bone graft," should you not be up on such things, refers to the bones of dead people. 

That's right. 

When you get a bone graft they grind up the bones of cadavers into powder and stuff it in your jaw.

Sorry for making you choke on your coffee if you didn't know that already. I myself spent at least one full minute with my eyebrows rocketed into my hairline. I was really glad we had just put down so much aquavit otherwise I may have felt compelled to look up what could only be some really macabre photos online.

Anyway, if you're creative with lots of time on your hands-- you're welcome. There's your new graphic novel idea.

Meanwhile, up in Hudson, Tom had a pretty stellar birthday. Many do not appreciate the potential of enjoying a full kit of svenska nubbar, otherwise known as Swedish Aquavit. 

I know for a fact there are haters because I looked up "svenska nubbar" online and found an article in Fodor's entitled "13 Items that are Illegal, Unethical or Just Plain Stupid to Buy Overseas"

Number 12 on that list of 13, right after rhino horns, old military awards and jade? Yup:

A kit of Svenska Nubbar
Danger Will Robinson!

WTH, really?! Sweden probably has higher alcohol quality standards than the USA. Otherwise everybody over there would be dead. Said another way, if you're looking for a country of teetotalers, Sweden does not make the Fodor's top 13 list.

Regardless of their clearly controversial nature, I love the nubbar. I love the whole singularly Swedish ceremony involved with them. 

You cannot buy nubbar in the USA which only adds to their mystique. 

In Hudson, we did the whole pack in the proper way. Meaning "Helan Gick" as they say. Or sing.

Here's Alexander Skarsgard for the win.