July 01, 2007
Neo, You are The One
If you have found the one your heart loves, you know what I mean when I say "He's the one! I just know."
If you have now, I know that "I just know he's the one" makes you mad because you don't know what it means.
Well, this upcoming possibility for me is the one. The elusive, the amazing, the one -- the answer -- The One I have been waiting for.
You previous career ideas for reinventing myself a la Madonna...you were all just like the guys I thought I loved. But you, the upcoming possibility -- you are The One and I know it, the same way I knew The Dude was The One for me.
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March 10, 2007
March Errata
Look at that! It's been a while since I posted. It's a new month already and I have been thinking, I just haven't been posting my thoughts here. But I'll share some thoughts and updates here.
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I have a job, which I'm thankful for. I have good colleagues, which I'm thankful for. It's a motivating job, and that's a nice change. It's also a full-time job, which is lovely for our checking account, but a tough adjustment to my schedule and pace of living.
I really struggle with laziness. And self-centered-ness. I want things my way, which usually means to do nothing all the time. And when we had only one income, we had no extra money for actual, planned-out grocery runs, for meals planned for a week ahead, for focus and discipline like that. Now that we have money, I don't have the time I used to for getting things done.
No matter! I will prevail! So I'm on a quest to do better. To plan ahead. To add a new chore or event to the week's schedule every week so that I grow and stretch and strengthen in my battle against sin and selfishness. To that end, I will take a break RIGHT NOW in this blog post to meal-plan next week and write my grocery list.
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Wow. That only took ten minutes...I'm surprised. It goes to show that the tasks I put off because I'm a procrastinator aren't that bad. I should just do them.
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I have some more things to say but will say them in their own posts. How is that, me hearties?
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February 23, 2007
Tidbits: missed memos, iMac?, organization, and kitchenware encyclopedia
Ok, I know I said I was going to keep it to specific categories, but I just have a few tidbits.
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I work at a kitchenware store now. I'm learning all about kitchen stuff. There's a book all about kitchen tools which is kind of like an encyclopedia. During boring times, I read it and study it. I'm in the pots and pans chapter now. I'm just full of information.
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We had two computers. Each one was a PC. Each one broke. Then a good friend (thanks so much!) gave us his leftover iMac (by the way, is this a loan or a gift? Just want to make sure...) and while I'm so thankful, I have to confess I'm just not getting bit by the Apple bug. I'm used to a PC and I'm good at a PC and I just rock with Microsoft Word, and I don't understand the iMac. Maybe you need to come over for dinner and explain the organic, easy-to-understand organizational system here. It's just not clicking with me.
Don't get me wrong! I'm so so so grateful to have computer access at home, but I think I just missed out on the "Everyone Loves a Mac and Here's Why" memo.
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I miss a lot of memos. Somehow I tend to blunder socially or relationally, and don't realize it till it's too late. Some people are color blind...I think I'm Status Quo Blind (or at least impaired). Thankfully friends and family clue me in, and I've learned to ask when I'm not sure.
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Maybe my discomfort with the Mac is related to the fact that our internet access in our new home is s-l-o-w. Not quite as slow as molasses on a winter day in Alaska, but definitely as slow as molasses on a winter day in, say, Florida. Or maybe Georgia. Seriously, I just get so frustrated waiting so long. Sometimes it just stops altogether and the page is still not loaded the next morning.
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I'm working at getting organized. I have to be, and it's nice to have more motivation to be so organized. Off I go then (to quote Mary Poppins, "spit spot!"), to make my list for today and my list for next week.
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February 22, 2007
For my perfectionist friend.
Recently I heard a friend described via a story. She was trying desperately to make a blini (a kind of thin, thin pancake). She couldn't, and the story teller said, lovingly, "You know, sometimes you can't be perfect. You just can't be perfect at everything."
Well, friend-you-know-who-you-are, I read this in the Kitchenware Textbook I've been studying and thought of you. (By the way, my computer connection can't seem to handle Amazon. So I'll update this post with a true bibliography soon. In the meantime, please don't sue me for plagiarism.)
CREPE PAN
DESCRIPTION: Shallow plain steel or aluminum pan, no more than 8 inches and as small as 5 inches in diameter. Sides may be slightly curved or angled. A pan 4 or 5 inches across may be a blini pan, for making the Russian buckwheat version.
USE: Making crepes (thin French pancakes) or other, similar pancakes.
USE TIPS: Wipe with oil after making each crepe and keep the pan hot. The smaller models are for dessert crepes, the larger models for entree crepes. Keep steel pans well seasoned for best results.
BUYING TIPS: It is much easier to get good results with a high-quality, well-seasoned crepe pan than with a regular skillet. Plain steel or thick anodized aluminum and nonstick pans are good choices here. Do not confuse this with the fancy, flat crepes suzette pan.
Ettlinger, Steve. The Kitchenware Book. Research Consultant: Irena Chalmers. New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 1992.
I emboldened the bit that made me think of you. Maybe your crepe pan wasn't top quality and that impeded your perfection? Now that you are in a place where you most likely have higher quality cookware, consider trying again. Or, in lieu of that, remind yourself that you are an awesome event planner.
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Here's another tidbit for the same friend:
Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa and lover of French cooking, said on her show today that she loves French flower arranging. She was in Paris and showed us several examples of each technique.
Would you believe she showed us a pink bouquet? It featured roses, peonies, and sweet peas, but it was pink and perfect. Just thought you'd like to know. It's another feather in your cap, to remind you that your event planning is a highly developed skill, and that the event you recently planned was perfect.
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February 11, 2007
Categories
I love to categorize. Don't you? Here are some kitchen categories, AKA the contents of my cabinets.
1. Tupperwares which are not really tupperwares. They're just leftover-tubs. And I have a nice lid-organizer. When I was growing up, Mom had her leftover-tubs in a lower cabinet. You know what we did when we put them away? Opened the door, threw in the container and/or the lid, and slammed the door shut before an avalanche of containers fell out. So mine are in the upper cabinets.
2. Bowls. Many bowls. Salad bowls. Cereal bowls. Icecream bowls. Mixing bowls. Prep bowls.
3. Platters and cake pedestals.
4. Plates. Dinner plates, dessert plates.
5. Drinking glasses. Some tall, some short, some shiny, some Latvian, some blue.
6. Baking stuff. Cake pans, pie dishes, 9x9's, 9x13's, all sorts.
7. Baking stuff: software. Flour, sugar, salt, cornmeal, cornstarch, oil, olive oil, oats, etc.
8. Mugs. Everyone we know could come over for coffee at the same time and they would each have their own mug. We have a lot of mugs.
I like to categorize. Things need to be organized and properly and efficiently stowed away. But why can't I categorize people or life issues? They don't fit neatly into a box or a cabinet or 'with all the others of this type.' How do I break my bad habit of categorizing people like they're just objects, treating them as less complex than they are?
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December 20, 2006
worried, checked the weather, whew!
Well, my to do list is doing. It's going, but I'm not sure where.
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Just got a call from Sister. She and BiL are moving to The Homeland (Colorado) right now and we've been praying like crazy for them! She called from East Central Kansas with the report that 1) I70 is closed in Colby (Far West Kansas) and 2) they are closing I70 at Salina at 6pm local time. That's in about 2 hours. Soooo, they are getting a motel room. Because it's not good to drive on an interstate during a blizzard/ice storm, especially when the gates are across the onramps. (Oh, Southerners, you may not know this, but the interstates out West [and probably up North, too...can I get a shout out Cardona? where they have truly inclement weather come equipped with gates that can close across the interstate onramps. Because snow and ice severely lower the coefficient of friction and kaPOW you're in the gutter!)
Soooo they're trying to get a room. All the motel rooms are taken in Hays, so Mom is trying to find them the best deal elsewhere. I, meanwhile, called MotherinLaw. One option was for Sister and BiL to stay with them, but now the roads will be closed so there. I called Mother in Law to tell her my family was not going to come after all, but the answering machine was off. Which leads me to the next blurb.
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Here's the next blurb. Apparently they have a brownout in Tiny Kansas Town. Very very little power. No heat, no light, but since they live in town, they have water. (Country houses have electric water pumps. That's a problem for things like handwashing and flushing during a power outage.) But they have no power. Poor them!
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Next blurb. Our plan is to drive to Tiny Kansas Town tomorrow then on to Colorado on Friday, coming back to Tiny Kansas Town Sunday evening. But all this talk of weather makes me nervous. However, thanks to The Weather Channel, all looks clear and non-frozen for the hours we project driving north then west.
Hooray.
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October 21, 2006
Onion Goggles (Nothing Like Beer Goggles!)
Funny story.
I was chopping onions today, getting a whole lot of them minced in my chopper, and I was in serious pain. (Did you know that the onion fumes mix with the salt in your tears to make sulfuric acid???? Yeah. Pain.) I thought I could just grit my teeth and make it through, but no. I left the kitchen, could barely open my eyes because they were swollen, and thought of what I could do.
White bread shoved up under my upper lip right under my nose didn't work. Short stints chopping onions didn't work. Nothing worked. So I took drastic measures.
I put my goggles on. Then I put my glasses back on. I was a delight to see. But my eyes weren't burning and I got my onions minced.
Go ahead. Laugh.
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I called my parents to tell them the goggles-onion story and my dad answered, and as I told him the story he laughed till he cried. It was good to hear.
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I tried something else new.
You know the kitchen tip to freeze your extra chicken stock and gravy and stuff in ice cube trays? I froze all that minced onion in my ice cube trays and I will un-tray them tomorrow and put them in a freezer bag. Each cube (they say) is about a tablespoon, so we'll see how this works.
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October 17, 2006
Technology, wow.
Yesterday I was computing at the library because our home computers are dead. Totally d-e-a-d. The girl at the computer next to me was typing a report for school and her typing was painfully slow. Painfully. It wasn't just hunt-n-peck, it was hunt-n-peck with one finger of one hand. Like she'd never seen a keyboard before. Poor thing. She typed a paragraph comparable to this one in about 30 minutes. (And I wonder, why hasn't her school adopted some sort of typing class for kids her age? She looked like she was about 6th grade or so...)
Well, she couldn't print. They only let you print if you are a library patron. The librarian came over and looked the situation over and informed them "Sorry. You can't print unless you're a patron."
They were going to close the job and leave but I intervened. (Aren't you proud of me?) I saved her little report on my Y'hoo account via her computer, opened it on my computer (and this amazed the girl and her dad), copy-pasted it to Word and printed. Took about 30 seconds. Whew.
They were very thankful. But imagine not being aware of Y'hoo 'it can open anywhere on any computer' technology.
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October 12, 2006
Wednesday catchup
It’s been a while again. Here are some thoughts that have been simmering in my mind for a while.
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I've been thinking a lot about this insta-results problem we American Christians have--that I have. And praying about it. And mulling over it. It's really been shaping a great deal of my prayers lately.
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One of my college roommates was irritated at me once because we weren’t hanging out very much. I was busy with 18 credits and 18 hours of work study a week. We fought about it quite often (which was better than one other roommate, who was totally pissed off at me but never talked to me about it at all), and I got advice from my RA. The RA explained that the roomie couldn’t understand a busier schedule. Could I imagine how to fit another 18 hour job into my life? No. neither could the roomie understand or imagine just what I meant when I said I was really busy. All that to say I’m considering adding another activity into my life and I am worried about my schedule…but I’ll be ok. I’ll cross those bridges when I come to them and trust God to provide what I need when I need it.
And no, I’m not having a baby. It’s something else.
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speaking of something else, it’s actually a decision I’ve made. It’s not ‘something I’m considering.’ It’s an actual decision I’ve made, and I’m excited. But it represents a great deal of work and challenge which scare me. I hate change. But I’m tired of the nowheresville my life seems to be right now, and I’m sick of nowheresville and I hate it more than change and challenge.
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I use the crock pot a lot. I like that I can turn it on and it cooks the food/keeps the food hot till we get home.
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Sister is moving to Colorado. I’m so happy for her but really jealous; I want to move home too. I do not want to move back in to my parents’ house—I want to move home to my home city and live near my parents and near my sister so we can drop in, or plan weekly dinners together, or hang out together. She’s gonna have babies eventually, and so will I, and I want them to know their grandparents and their cousins. Sigh. I am homesick again. I thought I got rid of that dang homesickness years ago…but it comes back and back and back.
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covenant homecoming was last weekend. It was great. I liked seeing people I havent’ seen in the last few years, though they are all frozen in my head from 4 years ago. I’ve changed and grown in the last four years, so of course they have too, but seeing them with kids or married or heavier or lighter or looking-like-they’re-twentysomethings is odd. It’s a cognitive dissonance.
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I realized the other day at The Department Store what is good about the incessant stupid questions. I tell people a hundred times a minute “The bathroom is in the far back corner of the store, behind customer service” or “Returns are at customer service—the far back corner of the store—all the way to the opposite back” or “the yes button is next to the three” or “no, that sale ended last week. See, the date is printed right here” or “if I could see your ID please.” Sheesh!!!!!! I hate the incessant stupid questions! I hate them! I hate them! But here’s the good part: they are getting me ready for having kids and going through the same routine again and again and again…cashiering is good preparation for that.
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I’ve been on slimfast because I’m tired of feeling fat and convicted about my eating being out of control. Here’s a verse that really kicked me over and left me breathless:
Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. I Corinthians 9:25aSee what I mean? So I’ve made a change, and I’m seeing results! Woo hoo! I fit into my jeans again! I bought new jeans the other day and bought the next size smaller! I can wear more and more of my clothes again. My feet hurt less. Aaaaaah. Hooray.
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The Dude and I went to the cheap theater last night (economy night—Wednesday tickets cost $1!) and saw Over the Hedge. It was so funny. It was painfully, laughably, unrelentingly funny. Oh my goodness. The squirrel’s voice reminded me of Bob. Bob, I miss you. You make me laugh, and if you haven’t seen Over the Hedge yet, you should. Go see it and laugh yourself silly and enjoy.
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I can’t think of anything else. I think that’s all for now.
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August 24, 2006
So Long Little Guy
Pluto has been voted off the island.
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August 23, 2006
Wednesday Stuff
I have about 9 chigger bites on my right thigh. Gaaah. They're terrible, and so much more itchy than mosquito bites. Mosquito bites don't itch me as much anymore since I got so many of them in Hawaii.
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I received a telemarketing phone call from a new church plant in my neighborhood. Yes, I did. No person whatsoever, just a telemarketing recording. I had a chance to leave my name, phone number, and address on the answering machine, and lovingly told them that personal contact might be a better idea; I'm not a customer, but a person. Those who know me may wonder if I truly was loving and kind. I was.
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I found two clearance dress shirts for the Dude at the Department Store yesterday! And I applied for a Department Store Charge Card and was approved (woo hoo, my first credit card!) and got even deeper discounts on top of my employee discount.
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I have laundry to do and then ironing. But first, Waltopia -- I need groceries, gas, and quarters. Laundry includes sheets (from the InLaws' bedding) and towels (again, InLaws) as well as just clothing.
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My jelly didn't jell. Hopefully today I can reprocess it. Good thing I bought extra lids.
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Off I go. Toodles.
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June 02, 2006
Applicating
I'm blogging while I should be writing this application. Sheesh.
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May 23, 2006
Hit and Run
They're repaving parts of our apartment complex parking lot, which makes the rest of it terribly crowded--where will all the people park? Here, there, and everywhere, apparently.
A young woman pulled out of her spot last night (without looking!) just while we were driving by, and hit our front bumper. We pulled into a nearby open spot just to clear the driving area, not assuming that she'd run away, but she did.
So now we have a dented-in front bumper and no information about the perp except that 'her car was gray?'
Sheesh.
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wildemania
My funny Wildeman story...
I was a freshman, second semester, and being honest on my exercise reports for PE II ("I didn't work out this week." "I exercised for 10 minutes this week.") earned me a failing grade at midterm time. (I guarantee that many of my classmates lied on their workout reports and earned passing grades. Grr.)
In any case, I had to drop the class, and Wildeman, being one of my advisors, had to sign my drop/add slip. I came to him at the beginning of my Speech (Rhetoric) Class, wh. met in Sanderson 215, though there were only about 10 of us.
I gave my request, and he blurted in his loud manner, "What kind of idiot does it take to fail a 1-credit-hour PE class?"
Being a freshman and not knowing his particular wit, I reared up my head, rolled my neck beautifully, and retorted:
"Apparently, my kind of idiot, sir."
(I especially like the 'sir' at the end. Heh, heh. It's funny now, because he's Wildeman and would do anything for you. He just comes off gruff at first.)
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May 19, 2006
I don't know who's counting down more, but this is fyi:
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Just for fun
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Oops. A correction
duh! I realized the previous ticker could not be right.
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May 17, 2006
hard to believe!
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May 15, 2006
all of us in my family
live far apart from each other. Mom and Dad live in Colorado, Sister and Brother-in-Law live in Nothern Georgia, Grandma and Papa live in PA, Aunt lives in Chicago, and my in-laws live in Kansas (I've grown to love them, too, and miss them).
There are family-close friends I miss too. Good friends of my family's, the Salt Family (if you knew them, you'd know why their nickname here is 'Salt')--Mr. Salt was a teacher of mine in high school, I've known both their daughters for as long as they've been around, Mrs. Salt was one of my bridesmaids--Good Friends from Central Pennsylvania--Church Family from Central Pennsylvania...on and on and on the list goes.
But 4th of July is coming:
Mom and Dad will be there. Sister and Brother-in-Law will be there. The Dude and I will be there. Sister's inlaws will be there, of course. And the Salt family are flying down too! Mr. and Mrs. Salt and the Salt Girls! Woohoo! Everyone. I can't wait.
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April 25, 2006
Tuesday's Agenda
Laundry.
(To accomplish this, I have to go to Goodwill and buy an old measuing cup so I can accurately measure bleach for my whites. Too much can degrade the clothes, you know.)
Cleaning.
(Cleaning up the scattered clothes around the bedroom. Cleaning the sink.)
Dinner.
(Soy-sauce-pineapple-juice marinated boneless pork chops grilled on the George, rice, and a veggie.)
Emailing.
(Various folks.)
So off I go to Goodwill. Wish me luck.
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2:03
Back from Goodwill. Found a 1/2 cup measure. No 1/4 cups, but found about 5 1/3 cups. (People, did you all have to keep your 1/4 cups? Why did you love them so much? Why didn't you donate whole measuring-cup sets to Goodwill?)
Have read blogs. Updated here. Posted new post.
Have gotten my detergent, bleach bottle, and quarters rounded up. Will deposit them in the Whites Hamper and walk to the laundry facility here as soon as I've finished updating here.
Ta-ta.
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2:21
Back from the Laundry Facility. I have 20 minutes till I have to go back and put the laundry over. So I'm leaving at 2:41.
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3:15
Just back from the Laundry Facility. I was a couple minutes late getting there, but put the laundry over into a dryer that ate my quarters. I asked the office about it, and they repaid me, and a nice lady (who was reading her New Testament quite publicly) took some of her clothes out early so I could use that dryer.
It's busy over there--I cannot be late getting back to empty my dryer.
I walked all the way back to my apartment and realized I had forgotten my keys, so I trekked back and while walking BACK to my apartment I had a chat with a nice lady walking her dog. I guess I'm getting less timid about striking up conversations with People of Other Races. The real breakthrough will be when I stop categorizing people in my head that way.
I also received a very kind email from the Dude. He's so nice.
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4:05
Back from Laundry Facility with clean, dry whites, only to realize that the specific shirt the Dude asked for is still in the dirty hamper. So back I go.
Before I go, I'm going to clean my sink, as the FlyLady suggests. I'm sick of clutter and by gum I am going to learn!
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4:23
Just made bed and am soaking sink in bleach-water. Am headed back to LF (Laundry Facility) to start second load of clothes. This one is colored, so I don't need to take my bleach or brand-new Bleach Measuring Cup.
Tata.
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4:35
Back from Laundry Facility. 41 minutes left for Sink Soaking, and I will soak the other side tonight when I'm home. 30 minutes left of washing machine.
I've got to leave to pick up The Dude at about 6. And have everything ready for dinner.
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April 18, 2006
Good news, Bob:
The CD you gave us now works in our stereo. I am about to go George some chicken, steam some veggies, and cut open a bag of salad, and the music will play to me as I prep that.
Right now Jerry Douglas is playing his dobro for us, and the crowd is cheering. Thank you, my friend.
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Today is Tuesday. Here are some notes and thoughts.
I can't seem to come up with cool blog post titles like Bob and Funke can. So here's the obviously titled post for today.
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The little gray cells: I am reading a lot of Agatha Christie (again) and watching a lot (Poirot on A&E/Biography Channel). He's a big fan of logic and intellect in the face of a mystery, a fan of 'using the psychology' to solve a murder. It's fascinating, and I'm enjoying it.
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I'm exercising my own little gray cells. The Dude got me a Sudoku book. Even better: it was in an Easter Basket. Even better: he surprised me with the Easter Basket on Easter Morning. What a guy. I also got a solid chocolate bunny, some Reese's eggs and some (very fresh not stale) Hershey Kisses...and a Jumbo Kiss. What a nice surprise. He's always going around surprising me.
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The website for the culottes is amazing, Heather, and it makes me want to sit down the with denim jumper people behind it and really pick their brain and understand why they insist on culottes being Normative and Modest. I don't wear culottes or long dresses or long skirts (mostly because all my long stuff is still packed away with the summer clothes) but I'm not immodest. I just want to understand why they categorize their clothes as the right ones (and end up, by proxy, categorizing all other clothes, whether we're Malibu Barbies or not, as the wrong clothes).
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Speaking of Barbie, it occurs to me that even Dentist Barbie and Veterinarian Barbie had miniskirts. Well, if I had her legs and butt, so smooth and firm, I'd probably show them off too. I guess it's a good thing I've got human legs.
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Speaking of clothing, The Dude got his first taste of The Joy of Shopping for Swimsuits. Sigh. I hate it myself, because there's always the question, which one should I buy???
Here's the scoop: suit A looks good on my tummy but not my butt. Suit B looks good on my butt but not my front. And Suit C looks good on my tummy and butt--but (as the Dude said) is immodest on the front. So which do you buy? I laughed and said to him "Welcome. Now you understand why we hate swimsuit shopping."
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Why can't we have clothes that have inch measurements and come in every conceivable combination, like the men's clothes do? They get shirts that fit them in the collar AND the sleeve, while we have to be content with sizes that fit well here but not there. They get pants that fit well in the inseam AND the waist, but we have to be content with skirts or dresses that fit well there but not so well here. Grrr.
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I've been really tired lately, but by the time evening rolls around, my energy starts. I want to sleep in and work in the evenings. When I worked a second shift, it was great...my job schedule fit into my natural body schedule. Why can't I take a nap now then do housework till 2 am?
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I'm writing some kickin' essays about (what else?) myself. I'll share sooner or later. They're good.
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I must fold laundry now and have lunch. That will help wakey wake me. My shift today is at 1. The afternoon shift...less boring than the morning shift, but still...tuesdays are slow.
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I've been reading ephesians. some good stuff, people. but blogging (even blogging about scripture) interrupts my responsibility to laundry and to The Department Store. so i sign off...
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April 04, 2006
But the emperor has no clothes!
Hello? Has anybody noticed that today's ridiculous fashions (here's more! and here's how the bubble top looks on. are the juniors not looking in the mirror when they try these on???) are exactly what we giggled about and rolled our eyes at just a few years ago? Welcome back, Eighties.
And while I'm on this topic...what the? ...what the?
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Has anybody noticed that gaucho pants look like the illegitimate love child of capris and culottes? Seriously, don't gauchos look ridiculous?
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While looking for links, I found these. Check out these sites: bloomers, an article bemoaning capris as I bemoan gauchos, and this article about Sesame Street.
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April 01, 2006
today's department store follies
The funniest thing today (8-4, people! 8 hours of cashiering!) was a mom whose little toddler son wriggled out of his seat in the strollercart and started running while I rang up their shoes.
He kept running. She started chasing him, and she started yelling his name after about 50 feet.
They ran between racks, and I saw them go around the corner. Well, I saw her head bobbing behind the first row of racks. I lost sight of her bobblehead after about 100 feet of running.
I waited about a minute. Then I voided her purchase, because she hadn't paid.
After another minute, she came back with him in her arms. "You're a bad boy, embarrassed me!" she exclaimed. (And I guess that's what the boy learned, that it takes a sprint around the store to embarrass mama. It's not the disobedience that was bad. It was embarrassing mama. Sigh.)
I rang her up again. She gave me her charge card, and said, panting, "I finally caught him in the towel display."
I REALLY had to bite back the giggles, because that's halfway around the store. He led her quite a chase...nearly a whole lap!
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Oh, and bobbo, I told a Polish cutomer (with a name just about like CZWRYXBCZA) your joke. She laughed.
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March 31, 2006
Moderately connected thoughts upon returning from Dahlonega
I haven't written a good "On this day in history" post in a while, and have allowed our engagement anniversary to pass by. No worries, friends, I'll do some serious backblogging, but first I must post some of my deep thoughts regarding marriage.
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I just returned from a little trip to Sister's in North Georgia. She and her husband are housesitting and their temporary home is great, and it was a really nice time to be there with her.
I noticed the way she and her husband interact. One of the things I value most about The Dude is his friendship, and I see that Sister has a friendship with her husband too. They get each other and value each other...and let a lot of crap slide.
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I often tell myself and my single friends that I used to be single and I get the struggle, I get the pain...I get it. But I wonder if I really do. I remember being single and hanging out with my Newlywed Sister and being pissed off at her telling me she understood how I felt. Now that I've crossed the Grand Canyon (got married) I don't think I can claim that I do get it now...that I understand your feelings, singles.
I remember the feelings. I remember them well, but I don't have them now. I've adjusted to the state of matrimony, of being half of an us and living with a roommate that I love and live for (he would die for me...it's a fair trade off), I don't remember the single estate anymore.
Anyone out there ever had chronic pain? Or recurrent pain? You don't remember the pain once it's passed. You remember that it did hurt at that time, but you can't recall the actual texture of the pain, the way it rippled up and down your leg when you tried to move it, like fire and ice and an axe all at once only inside your leg but not in the bone... That's how we Married People who remember Singleness are. We recall the loneliness of being single, but can't feel it again.
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One of my college profs used to say "We have more in common than we have separating us" when she spoke of gender differences--biological, psychological, behavioral, and so on. That's true for Marrieds and Singles too.
--
Think of this, Singles. I was recently looking for a teaching job (again) on a job board and kept getting my hopes up then remembering "Oh yeah. I can't just up and move to Atlanta, to Florida, to Arizona, to San Francisco where the jobs are. I'm stuck here."
I'm not stuck in a bad way (I am not complaining!). But I'm glued to this man where he is and he's glued to me. In the past I could (and did!) up and move to where to jobs were, and now I can't. That's one thing you have over us Marrieds.
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Sister was telling me about one of her grad. school classmates who complains constantly. They're 2.5 years into the 3.5 year program, so the sobriety of knowing that "200+ people applied to be in this class at this university, and I'm one of 24 that got in...tons of people would be happy to be here where I am" has worn off.
That's typical, but then Sister mentioned that this classmate also attends that same church as Sister and her husband. (How often do I complain and turn people off to the gospel? How often do I complain and turn my own thoughts off how much God has blessed me and onto how much he is using my struggles to grow, discipline, and refine me?)
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The Dude has been grading papers this week (it's his spring break). He's really tired of it, and finally turned the tube onto a Stupid Movie. It's good to hear him laugh.
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Thanks to Bobbo for the shout out on your blog. I'm very complimented.
The first time I thought "___ is like ___" was in high school...traveling to Denver every Friday night with Dad (1.5 hours one way) to Latvian Folk Dance Practice. I love dancing, esp. the polka, and I'm good, and it's fun.
Dancing a fast polka is like marriage. You have to trust your partner, you have to listen to the tempo and speed up or slow down as necessary, and you have to move as if your two bodies are one. This moves the center of gravity out of your torso, forward into the space between your bodies. You counterbalance each other and lean back into each others arms. Every couple has to figure out that fine balance for themselves, and practice, and trust each other. The crux is that you're not walking, you're not running, you're not an individual anymore...you are part of a dance pair and your body can't move like you're out there all alone anymore. You have to acknowledge your partner with more than just lip service...with your whole physical being you have to KNOW that it's not just walking anymore.
Boy-o that was rambly! I guess you have to be a dancer to get it. A polka-ist.
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I hear big splashes of rain outside my window. I love the sound of rain and the smell of it.
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March 16, 2006
Good Morning Blogland!
I woke up this morning feeling like it was Saturday. And it is my Saturday; I've got to work tomorrow and the next day, but not today! So, happy Day Off to me.
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My title says "Good morning, Blogland." Who exactly am I talking to? Sometimes I feel like I'm partaking in meaningful discourse here on the 'net, and other times I feel as if I am doing nothing but writing messages on slips of paper, depositing them in empty Coke bottles, sealing them, and dropping them in the ocean. Who really reads this stuff?
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I just finished reading the Anne series yesterday. Recently Elissa posted about LM Montgomery and was really inspired by her interpretation of Montgomery's works. I totally agree, and enjoyed finishing this trek through Anne-Shirley-Blythe-land with Elissa's interpretation there to help me see new depth to the books. Here's a quote I read yesterday.
"...What would it be like not to wake up in the morning feeling afraid of the news the day would bring? I can't picture such a state of things somehow. And two years ago this spring I woke wondering what delightful gift the new day would give me. These are the two years I thought would be filled with fun."
"Would you exchange them--now--for two years filled with fun?"
"No," said Rilla slowly. "I wouldn't. It's strange--isn't it?--They have been two terrible years--and yet I have a queer feeling of thankfulness for them--as if they had bright me something very precious, with all their pain. I wouldn't want to go back and be the girl I was two years ago, not even if I could. Not that I think I've made any wonderful progress--but I'm not quite the selfish, frivolous little doll I was then. I suppose I had a soul then--but I didn't know it. I know it now--and that is worth a great deal--worth all the suffering of the past two years. And still--I don't want to suffer any more--not even for the sake of more soul growth. At the end of two more years I might look back and be thankful for the development they had brought me, too; but I don't want it now."
"We never do," said Miss Oliver. "That is why we are not left to choose our own means and measure of development, I suppose. No matter how much we value what our lessons have brought us we don't want to go on with the bitter schooling."
Lucy Maud Montgomery. Rilla of Ingleside. New York: Bantam, 1992.
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I overheard two colleagues talking yesterday about Bible study, and I was shocked to find out that one was a Christian. This colleague does not act like it--only giving customers the treatment they earn, not what they deserve. Treating the rude customers rudely, as if to get even with them. I admit I am sorely tempted to do the same thing. I often do behave the same way--but I fight against it. (Would my colleagues be shocked to discover I'm a Christian? Do I display grace and the gospel in my life?)
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The Dude and I went to dinner together Tuesday night. I had just an awful shift (hayfever!) and didn't want to cook, and thanks to my parents, we could afford a dinner out. Macaroni Grill, mmmm. We took our books along, but tried to think of things to say to each other...but nothing came. So we read and ate and didn't-talk. All I had to say was "I've got a headache and I'm tired of my job and I'm sick of this life and I want a better job" and he probably also had nothing better to say...so we didn't say the same old junk to each other but just kept our own counsel and let books entertain us. It was lovely.
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More proof that humor is cultural: The Shoe Department Guy came by my register today and told this joke: "You know, 3 out of 4 women prefer The Department Store Lipstick. The 4th woman got hives from it, but didn't care, because at least she had lips like Angelina Jolie!"
I laughed heartily, but my customers did not. They were a little offended. The thing is, we know The Department Store Makeup is good product, and we work all day in the store, listening to the automated PA announecement remind us (about once an hour) that The Department Store Lipstick is preferred by 3 out of 4 women. The Shoe Guy is funny, kind, a hard worker, and dependable, so the joke coming from him was funny--esp. because I knew what he was alluding to, while the customers didn't have the particular wording and intonation and detail of the PA announcement engraved into their memories. Hah.
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What would our command of Scripture be like if we meditated on Scripture as much as I (and my Department Store colleagues) 'meditate' on 1) The Makeup Announcement, 2)The Department Store Credit Card announcement, 3) various pages from around the store, and 4) even the automated announcement telling us "Shoes. Call on [pause] line [pause] one." ? How much more would we set our thoughts on Christ if we meditated on a memory verse every time we heard any particular announcement?
That's a good idea, and I'm gonna mention it to fellow believers at The Department Store.
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Well, off to erranding. I'm excited about being productive today, but I am finding I need help being accountable--I need lists to make sure I get stuff done. So I am going to put a couple loads of laundry in, go to WalTopia, buy a steno notebook to keep my daily Todo's in, come home, put the laundry over, and watch The West Wing on Bravo while I fold laundry, iron, boil potatoes, and redd up. Bye-bye!
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March 13, 2006
Summertime!
So The Dude and I sat and figured out our First Draft of summer travel plans. We did this yesterday, and parts of it hinge on earnings statements and on others' plans, but I just heard that my parents AND my sis and brotherinlaw are headed to Center Hill for Happy Camp.
(Here's an espository paragraph. Several years ago, my distant cousins got interested in being with family again and decided to come up to Center Hill from Central PA while my family and I were there. They are used to a much more active and social life than the countryside can offer, so my mom decided to plan activities for the weekend they were up--and called it Happy Camp. Then, she planned Happy Camp II for the summer of 2002, and the cousins enjoyed it so much that they took the banner and planned Happy Camp III for last summer [and wondered why we didn't all go. They must not have realized that we had a family wedding that summer], and are planning Happy Camp IV for this summer. We--my nuclear family--didn't go to Happy Camp III so we are all planning to go to Happy Camp IV. This concludes the expository paragraph.)
That's the good news--that we'll all be at Happy Camp IV together. It'll be a zoo. There will by my grandparents, of course, the hosts, and mom and her brother. Mom's family will all be there--Dad and my sister and I and our husbands. Mom's brother and his wife will be there, along with his daughters, my cousins, and their husbands. Cousin 2 has a stepdaugher, who will be there too, and the cousins' mother (uncle's exwife) and her commonlaw husband will be there too. Yep, a full house. Woo hoo.
We also plan on swinging out to Western Ohio to see The Dude's Grandmother. It'd be nice to see her.
(Another paragraph, but this one is just an interjection... We both have family in Chicago. My Aunt [Dad's side of the family] and several of his aunts and uncles all live in Chicagoland. I think it would be a supercool trip to plan a Chicago retreat one summer. The two of us could visit with our families, and possibly Sister and her husband and Mom and Dad could all congragate in Chicago to see things like The Sears Tower [Cheese Torn, haha**], the Architectural Chicago River boat tour, Navy Pier, and Buckingham Fountain. It's a great city!!! We'd have to do something brand new for all of us--maybe hit a museum none of us has seen or find a historical or literary place of significance. Doesn't that sound fun!? End of interjectory paragraph.)
So, in addition to the Center Hill Happy Camp IV stop of our trip, The Dude and I are also planning to hit Central PA to see my old haunts and friends and church; we'll also hit Western PA to see his old haunts and friends and church.
Hopefully we will also add the Western Leg of the trip--headed out to Kansas and Colorado for an as-yet-undetermined amount of time. It's just that it's so far away and--such a long drive. Whew.
But spring always makes me get a bug under my skin--makes me want to plan a summer trip and travel and look forward to the travelling. Isn't it exciting?
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**Cheese Torn...the last time I was in Chicago, we were all there (minus The Dude) for the Latvian Song and Dance Festival for North America. We attended just about every event, which let us sleep about 4 hours a night. We were pretty punchy, and one of our family jokes was "Cheese Torn." In Latvian, the word for cheese sounds a lot like "Sears" and the word for tower is "tornis." Hence the translation: "Sears Tower" = "Cheese Tower" = "Cheese Torn." It's funny if you're a Latvian-American. Otherwise, understand that humor is cultural.
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March 09, 2006
Thursday ToDo
It seems as though I get stuff done better when I have a todo list.
Here's my first draft:
Constraints:
Pick up The Dude at 6:45
-leave at 6:25
Eat dinner at 7:30/45
-roast beef, cooks 4 hours, take out of oven ~7:15. Put in oven at ~3:15. No later than 3:15
-salad, you can chop it up now.
-veggie...try peas.
-fresh biscuits? prep all then roll and pop in oven at 7:30, bake 10 minutes.
todo:
-devotions
-exercise
-lunch
-grocery store
-clean kitchen (yikes!)
-clean house (yikes!!)
-put laundry away
-vacuum
-set VCR for 8pm
-call for car appt
-call for eye appt
-dinner prep (thaw RB, chop chop the salad, premake biscuits)
today's schedule:
11: redd up, set VCR
noon: lunch, make groc. list
12:30 grocery
1 call for eye appt, call for car appt
2 clean kitchen
2:30 clean house, put laundry away
3:vacuum
3:15 roast beef in oven, dinner prep
4
5:15 devotions
5:45 exercise
6
6:10 shower
6:25 leave
There. Aren't you proud of me? And here's a nugget for me to chew on (and for you to read):
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17 ESV
So my instructions for today are clear: look carefully how I walk. Make the best use of the time. Be wise (by understanding what the will of the Lord is). For me, for today, it's fulfilling responsibilities. It's doing the schedule to do God's will (to avoid that paralyzing guilt that overwhelms when I shirk duty). So, off I go. No more blogging till later.
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March 06, 2006
Changes
A few people have mentioned to me some changes in terminology they'd like to see. Those changes have been made. I appreciate your telling me...and hope you won't hesitate in the future to make suggestions.
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March 01, 2006
Pet Peeves
Being called 'honey' or any other diminutive by any customer for any reason. Especially the old men.
Having people say "thank you muchly." Or even "thank you much." Just say "thank you," people.
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February 27, 2006
IKEA love
The Dude and I helped a friend put together some IKEA furniture this weekend. The only word-based instructions in the books were in 13 languages; the English ones said that because of different wall composition, we should consult our nearest hardware/construction store professional for screwing instructions (tee hee)--the Slovenian said that in about 7 words. (Did it say "Get help now" or did it just have a very, very efficient way of making the message clear?)
Anyway, all the instructions for assembly were in pictures, which I got really excited about. It's how I think anyway, and to see the pictures was really refreshing to me. They were so clear and easy to follow. Aaaaaah, I didn't have to interpret language for something that was spatial. I didn't have to analyze the grammar and syntax (poorly written by a construction engineer instead of well written by a language engineer) of bad English--I just looked at the pictures and said, Next we put another row of short shelves in, then a long, then hammer the dowels in. And all that was summed up in one easy picture--1000 words summed up in illustrations, 1000 words in any language at all. Aaaaaahhhhh.
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February 23, 2006
Dick Button...
...said, during Tuesday's Figure Skating Broadcast, "She just catched her foot for that spin."
Yes. "Catched."
Tune in tonight for more Dick Button-isms. I'll update tomorrow with the funniest--but they're better served fresh, not as leftovers.
Hah! "Catched."
And his name is funny too. Say it three times out loud: Dick Button, Dick Button, Dick Button. Doesn't that sound funny, make you laugh right out loud in your cubicle or home or college computer lab? Doesn't it? It seems strangely perverse, like a bad word or a dirty joke, and yet it's not. It's his name.
It's like the joke that was hi-larious in 5th grade: "What did the fish say when he hit the cement wall? Dam."
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I still don't like my colors.
Bear with me while I still tweak them.
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February 20, 2006
However...
...The Department Store people are still great to work with, even on the worst day ever. They're still nice, even when the pressure's high.
And at least all the customers who had to wait forEVER today were patient and kind to me. That's rare. So, customers of mine, props to you. You were great today, even if I was not.
Enough of today. Goodnight moon.
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You never realize how often you use your other hand...
...until you peel your non-dominant index finger with your (very sharp, new, nice wedding-gift) kitchen knife.
Yep, it's been that kind of a day. All day long, I mis-typed stuff on the register. I forgot to give people their receipts. I wasn't able to solicit many credits. Some of the stuff that happened wasn't my fault, like when the lady used her The Department Store charge card, and the register instructed me to call Corporate right away...they gave me an approval number, but then the register instructed me to call another branch of Corporate right away. The lady's husband, the primary on the account, had passed away and they needed to confirm her continued existence...this whole process took about 10 minutes of waiting and the lines stacked up so two of the guys in the Shoe department took over registers, but one of them wasn't register-trained, so he kept interrupting me with silly questions like "Which way does the check go?" and "How do I run a credit card?" The lady finally got her The Department Store credit card savings, got her luggage, got her receipt, and the next customer (who waited patiently) was paying with a return credit...which had not been validated in customer service...so the manager who just happened to be there was able to run back to customer service and help the poor customer out. Meanwhile, the other shoe department guy (who knew what he was doing on a register) kept calling for the backup, and I looked to see who the backup person was, and management had not scheduled backup from 2:30 till 3:30 today. The guy needed a void on his register and could only get it from management, kept calling "Backup to Register Bank 2" on the intercom and nobody answered because there was no Backup on duty. None of the other managers knew to listen for that page, either.
My replacement didn't come till 20 minutes after I was supposed to be gone, but with the frenzy at the registers, the running back to customer service for a new return credit, one register having register tape stuck in the printer, the other register being slow as molasses (let's face it, everyone is slow if they haven't been trained!), nobody noticed. My replacement came, I finished my transaction, left the register, but the lines were backed way, way up, so I logged into another register and cleared the line out for Slow Shoe Department Guy.
I finally left, got home, watched Chariots of Fire with The Dude, and decided I wanted mashed potatoes with dinner. While I was dicing the potatoes, I sliced my right index finger, basically peeling it with my (wonderful, sharp new wedding-gift) kitchen knife. The Dude ran to get a bandaid, I ran to the sink, but the rinsing made it hurt worse. I bandaided myself and finished the mashed potatoes, deciding not to head out to Alumni Choir Practice because I'll probably cause a 40-car pileup on Ochs Highway.
I just knocked my kneecap on the corner of my desk while pulling my chair back in, and every time I type a Y, H, N, U, J, M, or 7 or 8, my finger hurts.
Yeah, it's been one of those days. I'm going to bed.
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February 13, 2006
Katie Couric makes Monday mornings easier
...when she says ridiculous things like "Today the women's snowboard team is going to" (checks cue card here) "bust some big air." (Spoken like she's repeating a foreign language cue. Very clearly enunciated.) "Bust some big air."
In other news/opinion:
- Is anyone really shocked that Michelle Kwan has dropped out? She's always been such a 'mental game' competitor. She psyches herself out, especially at the Olympics, and with her falls and re-injury at her recent practice, it was obvious she had done it again. But kudos to her for pulling out. She knows that she can't compete at top form, so she's getting out of the way for someone who can. That's team spirit for sure. But I still wish I could see her get her gold medal!
- Motorola and other cellphone companies are working on programming smart cellphones, that will know not to ring in the movie theater, or in church, or during a meeting...but also programming them to make exceptions. Sounds really interesting. One programmer (interviewed on Morning Edition on NPR) said his dream was to make people emotionally more interconnected. "To know that my kids are ok and that my wife is thinking of me...that would be great." (Here comes my punch line.) If other wives are like me, in terms of thinking of hubby, then can you IMAGINE how often their cellphones would ring just to tell them we were thinking of them?
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February 12, 2006
And the medal for the most dangerous job goes to...
...no, it's not what you expected, something like a police officer or firefighter.
The award goes to the guy in the carnival who guesses weight and age.
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New colors
As you can see, I'm in the middle of a new color scheme. It's not quite there yet. Be patient.
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February 10, 2006
PS
David Gray is crooning to me from my little computer speakers:
Please forgive me
If I act a little strange
For I know not what I do.
Feels like lightning running through my veins
Everytime I look at you
Everytime I look at you
Help me out here
All my words are falling short
And there's so much I want to say
Want to tell you just how good it feels
When you look at me that way
When you look at me that way
Throw a stone and watch the ripples flow
Moving out across the bay
Like a stone I fall into your eyes
Deep into some mystery
Deep into that mystery
I got half a mind to scream out loud
I got half a mind to die
So I won't ever have to lose you girl
Won't ever have to say goodbye
I won't ever have to lie
Won't ever have to say goodbye
Yeah na na na na
Yeah na na na na
Please forgive me
If I act alittle strange
For I know not what I do
It's like my head is filled with lightning girl
Everytime I look at you
Everytime I look at you
Everytime I look at you
Everytime I look at you
Friday night I'm going nowhere
All the lights are changing green to red
Turning over TV stations
Situations running through my head
Well looking back through time
You know it's clear that I've been blind
I've been a fool
To ever open up my heart
To all that jealousy, that bitterness, that ridicule
Saturday I'm running wild
And all the lights are changing red to green
Moving through the crowd I'm pushing
Chemicals all rushing through my bloodstream
Only wish that you were here
You know I'm seeing it so clear
I've been afraid
To tell you how I really feel
Admit to some of those bad mistakes I've made
If you want it
Come and get it
Crying out loud
The love that I was
Giving you was
Never in doubt
Let go your heart
Let go your head
And fall in love
Babylon, Babylon
Sunday all the lights of London
Shining, sky is fading red to blue
I'm kicking through the Autumn leaves
And wondering where it is you might be going to
Turning back for home
You know I'm feeling so alone
I can't believe
Climbing on the stair
I turn around to see you smiling there
In front of me
If you want it
Come and get it
Crying out loud
The love that I was
Giving you was
Never in doubt
And feel it now
Let go your heart
Let go your head
And fall in love
Babylon, Babylon, Babylon
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I didn't think it was possible, but...
...my morning coffee is too sweet. Every sip makes my eyebrows raise a little, makes me swallow and think Did I get that at a gas station? That's not the taste I was going for. However, it's not Waltopia brand coffee, but hazelnut flavored coffee.
For me, hazelnut coffee is the normative flavor, because Dad always had hazelnut coffee and I'd drink it Saturday mornings when Mom and Dad and I played gin rummy and drank coffee and ate egg sandwiches together. I had it with sugar and milk then, too, but not this much sugar.
Speaking of egg sandwiches, I made egg sandwiches the night before our (The Dude , SIL, and I) road trip to Western Pennsylvania for The Dude's brother's wedding. I made them on nice kaiser rolls, with slices of process cheese, with nice ham, and a sheet of hot scrambled egg. Then SIL and I bagged them in zip top bags and put them in the fridge, and I put them in the cooler the next morning. The Dude ate his right away (it was yummy) and I ate mine later, after microwaving it in a gas station's little microwave. Mine had a bit of mayo, and it was yummy.
That's the stream of consciousness this morning. That, plus I have to go edit my post from last night and publish it. It's good readin'. Enjoy. And good morning.
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January 19, 2006
Tidbits
The Spring/Summer ChattState catalog came in the mail. Here are a few classes you can partake in, if you so choose, which range from interesting to not bad to, um, 'what?':
- PowerPoint for Teachers "...Learn basic PowerPoint skills such as creating slides, using templates, inserting text..." Yawn.
- Pilates Introduction "Participants in this gentle, low impact exercise class will focus on toning, stretching, and stregthening to create long, lean muscles."
- Sudoku-Level I "For those who want to solve the daily game in the Chattanooga Times Free Press [sic], this beginning class will present a system of logic to unlock the problems." Why pay tuition for this?
- Beginning Crocheting "Learn all the basics needed to create warm afghans, beautiful doilies and endless options of clothing and home decorating accessories. Learn to master all basic stitches as well as learn to read patterns. [sic] You will be introduced to both, [sic] yarn and thread crochet, filet crochet, assembly instructions and time allowing some complex stitches [sic]." Holy crap, the inner grammar police officer just wants to go arrest the COLLEGE that published this. Don't they have a proofreader? Don't they know better?
- Beginning Uphostery I
- Beginning Mountain Dulcimer "Skills covered include basic tunings, strum patterns, chords and various playing techniques. Students will learn songs every class meeting that illustrate that day's lesson. Students must bring their own dulcimer to class."
- Centerpiece and Wreath Design "Create your own table centerpieces and wreaths for year round decorating and entertaining..."
- Beginning Ballroom Dancing I--Smooth Dances
- Strictly Tango "This Argentine Dance sets the standard for couples who want to spice up their dancing. It's [sic] provocative moves can add..." Again with the grammar.
- Champagne "This is the definitive class on sparkling wines..."
- Japanese Cooking "Learn about history and present day ppularity of rice miso, dashi seaweed and tofu. Hands-on classes for home style Japanese dishes such as fried rice, sukiyaki, tempura, teriyaki sauce, salad dressing and decorative display techniques." I'd take this if I had the money. They also have an Italian Cooking class.
And the most valuable class, bar none:
- Tips for Surviving Your Divorce "Does the possibility of divorce seem to be an imminent reality in your life? This course may be an empowering resource! Learn the strategies for successfully navigating financial issues related to divorce...before, during and after. These strategies include retirement plans, shared custody and child support, who get [sic] alimony and much more." Wow. That sounds like fun. And what a great encourager to those whose marriages are struggling. Notice there's no class on 'Surviving a Struggling Marriage by Working at Making it Work.' Grr. Sigh.
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Stuffed Shells for dinner soon.
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Littlemissreformed came over for dinner a couple nights ago. I saw pictures of her family. I saw pictures of her niece. I saw your picture, TulipGirl! I heard about your kiddoes--they sound neat. I saw pictures of Kyiv and heard some things Littlemiss learned while there. That ponderation is still in process...stay tuned for a post devoted to publishing those ponderations.
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MIL gave me a ton of leftover turkey from the rehearsal dinner. I made Turkey Pot Pie. It was yummy. Here's the series of recipes, which are all from Joy of Cooking:
Creamed Turkey for Pot Pie:
4 T unsalted butter
1/2 c. all-purpose flour
2 c. chicken stock
1 1/2 c. whole milk, half-and-half, or light cream
cooked turkey (I used about 3 c. chopped bite-size)
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add flour and whisk till smooth. Cook, whisking contantly, 1 minute.
Add the chicken stock. Whisk till smooth and add the milk. (I used 2% milk and it was fine.) Increase heat to medium, bring just to simmer, whisking constantly. Remove from heat, scrape sides with rubber spatula, and whisk to remove lumps. Return to heat, bring to simmer and cook for 1 minute. Whisk constantly. Stir in cooked poultry, 2-3 T sherry (optional), and cook for 1 more minute. Season to taste with salt, pepper, nutmeg, and lemon juice.
Pot Pie:
2 T unsalted butter
1 medium onion, chopped
3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick
2 small celery stalks, sliced 1/4 inch thick (I also de-stringed mine...that's basically peeling them)
3/4 frozen peas, thawed
3 T fresh minced parsley (tho I didn't have any on hand and didn't use any)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place oven rack in top third of oven. Butter a 13x9 inch baking pan or other shallow dish.
Melt the butter in large saucepan over medium-high heat till the foam begins to subside. Add veggies (all but peas), stirring often, till barely tender. Stir the veggies into creamed turkey, along with peas and parsley. Pour into prepared pan and top with Drop Biscuit Dough.
Bake 25-25 minutes.
Drop Biscuit Dough for Pot Pie Topping:
2 c. all-purpose flour
2 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 to 3/4 t. salt
5-6 T cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 c. milk
Whisk flour and baking soda together. Cut in the butter, using a pastry cutter or two knives (I used my food processor.) Be sure the butter does not melt or form a paste; the butter should be simply cut into the flour! For layered, crunchy biscuits, butter should be the texture of peas-breadcrumbs. For classic fluffy biscuits, butter should be the texture of fine breadcrumbs. (Remember, don't let it turn into a paste.)
Add milk all at once. Use fork or rubber spatula or wooden spoon to combine until most dry ingredients are combined.
It was really delicious!!
Posted by The Newest Worker at 04:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 19th
Can you believe it's almost the Jan 20's? I find it incomprehensible that it's nearly the end of the third week of the year.
I've been cold in my apartment for two days (though not cold last night, thanks to The Dude's body heat, my sweatshirt, my long pants, and my wool socks. And all the blankets.
Oooh! Look at that--a new button. Let me try it out, since this verse has been in my mind for a while:
For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:14
In fact, here's the entire Psalm. Read it and remember the Lord's goodness to us:
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children's children,
to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
Bless the LORD, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
Bless the LORD, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Psalm 103
I've never used that before...I like how it has turned out now that I've tweaked it. Well, there is more to come for today...
Posted by The Newest Worker at 02:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 16, 2006
No longer the newest...and this entry also turned into a 2005 year in review retrospective.
We got brother-in-law married to his bride. Well, actually 'we' didn't--her family did all the work and Our Clan just showed up. We did the rehearsal dinner.
Can I say how strange it is to call my in-law family My Clan?
Here's a thought for the day: You know it's a tough day when I say to myself, "I wish I could be sitting with MIL and FIL where I belong; at least they like me and know me." NOT because they're bad in-laws, not by any means! But suffice it to say we didn't start out with the strongest of friendships, and after this weekend I'm amazed that I feel so at home with them, enough to say "I wish I could just sit with them where I belong."
WHOA such changes in the last 12 months.
This wasn't going to be a New Year's Retrospective entry, but I might as well put in a little something to that effect.
-----------
2005 Year in Review
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
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Well, it's been quite a year. All this writing has been good for me. I'm going to go putter in my kitchen, looking for a turkey pot pie recipe.
Posted by The Newest Worker at 09:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Discombobulated, Restless, Restive at 8:00
We left Beaver Valley yesterday at 3:30 and didn't leave Pittsburgh till 5:30. Sigh. Shame on Tuxedo Jct-Cranberry. (Cranberry is the name of a town north of Pittsburgh proper. A suburb.)
We drove south on I-79 to West Virginia route 19, to I-77, to I-81, to I-40, to I-75.
The Dude drove from 5:30pm till about 11pm and the moonlight was so bright on the fresh snow in the West Virginia Appalachians. I drove till about 1 am and the moonlight was so lovely on the puffy frozen ice-crystal clouds, making a faint rainbow around the moon. The Dude drove again all the way to Covenant while SIL finished reading The Voyage of the Dawn Treader aloud, read a chapter from a Patrick McManus book and I fell asleep. We arrived at SIL's house at about 3:15am, unloaded her baggage and chatted with her before we left for our apartment, and we arrived home at about 3:4