Seriously, I could live without the following items, but they make my life so much more enjoyable.
Number one on my list is my car. I realized this week just how much freedom I have because of my car. The last few days I've had to go without it because it's in for servicing and an air conditioner part had to be ordered. I miss my grocery getter. Kid hauler. Ready at a moment's notice to kill a shopping urge vehicle. Get me there on time two streets down the block buggy. My wheels! I've had to drop Ward off at work and pick him up these last few days, and we've both had to juggle our schedules to get to places, kids and appointments. I miss my silver station wagon.
Number two is pedicures. Admittedly, I thought these were quite frivolous until I had my first one last fall. I can't believe I waited until I was over fifty to get one. (Sigh, all those wasted years!) It is definitely worth the money. I hate giving the time but still even that can be redeemed as I always go with my good friend and we enjoy each other's company while having a months worth of dead skin sloughed away. And the massage. Aaahh! My feet look like someone else's! And I can wear sandals!
Number three is my cell phone. Again, I've only been using one for the last six years or so. I don't count Korea, because, though I had one, I never really used it. Not like here. It is so nice to be in contact with your kids at a moment's notice. I don't take advantage of that and bug them to death (right?) but just check in now and then. I really use it quite extensively just to make sure with Ward that we're arriving together for social functions here on post and to double check with the Beaver on pick up times after practice. It's a luxury without the luxury cost.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Dead Bugs
Here in Kentucky, this is a year for cicadas. Sometimes they are called locusts as well. Anyway, one day last week I spotted an Orkin truck on our street, and the next day the sidewalks were littered with dead bugs. Dead crunchy bugs.
But here's my thought, why do we have to kill these things? If they have a natural life cycle of between every 13-14 years (or 7-8 depending on the bug) why don't we just let it run its course. I'm wondering if they serve some useful purpose and we're messing with an eco-system occurance that will come back to bite us in the butt. Though, I've read that they can do a lot of damage, eating up tress and other plant life, so I guess that's why we feel the need to off them.
What does the in-house environmentalist say? (Alex P, that's you.)
On a sidebar note, our family has lived with lots of different bugs over the years. Here are just some of the few we tried to eradicate over the years:
Texas - fire ants (MacKenzie had a harrowing encounter with these!)
Georgia - palmetto bugs, which is just a nice way of saying huge wood roaches, which our Golden Retriever would chase, and if we were lucky, catch and take outdoors. These bugs literally covered the sidewalks at night and would go scurrying underfoot as you walked, totally creeping you out!
Korea - spider like creatures (I'm not sure of the technical name for this hideous thing) and centipedes
We had fleas in our backyard one time in Texas and because we had Katie, our Golden Retriever, I thought to use some heavy duty powder on the yard. After spreading the powder I broke out in welts and was having a hard time breathing, so I was rushed to the emergency room and given a shot of epinephren . Just goes to show you that the bugs usually win!
But here's my thought, why do we have to kill these things? If they have a natural life cycle of between every 13-14 years (or 7-8 depending on the bug) why don't we just let it run its course. I'm wondering if they serve some useful purpose and we're messing with an eco-system occurance that will come back to bite us in the butt. Though, I've read that they can do a lot of damage, eating up tress and other plant life, so I guess that's why we feel the need to off them.
What does the in-house environmentalist say? (Alex P, that's you.)
On a sidebar note, our family has lived with lots of different bugs over the years. Here are just some of the few we tried to eradicate over the years:
Texas - fire ants (MacKenzie had a harrowing encounter with these!)
Georgia - palmetto bugs, which is just a nice way of saying huge wood roaches, which our Golden Retriever would chase, and if we were lucky, catch and take outdoors. These bugs literally covered the sidewalks at night and would go scurrying underfoot as you walked, totally creeping you out!
Korea - spider like creatures (I'm not sure of the technical name for this hideous thing) and centipedes
We had fleas in our backyard one time in Texas and because we had Katie, our Golden Retriever, I thought to use some heavy duty powder on the yard. After spreading the powder I broke out in welts and was having a hard time breathing, so I was rushed to the emergency room and given a shot of epinephren . Just goes to show you that the bugs usually win!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
There's No "I" in Team
But sometimes there wants to be a me. I saw this the other night when a player on Beaver's team was despairing of his place in the batting order. He's saying this out loud, mind you! He believes his placing is bad because he supposes he has less chance of RBIs in his current position, because the guys in front of him haven't been hitting. Not that he's been a big hitter either.
Is this a universal thing where a teen gets to the point where he's questioning all authority? (I know that's it happens in regard to your parents!) But your coach? Reminds me of some reading in the Old Testament, and especially in Judges where men did whatever was right in their own eyes.
It seems to me that when you're on a team, the effort you make should be for the team, not for self fulfillment. When you make it for individual achievement, you necessarily do things that aren't in the best interest of a group effort, because your goal at that point is different from a team goal. That doesn't mean you don't give your best as a team player, far from it. It means you give your best effort no matter what your position or place on the team.
Is this a universal thing where a teen gets to the point where he's questioning all authority? (I know that's it happens in regard to your parents!) But your coach? Reminds me of some reading in the Old Testament, and especially in Judges where men did whatever was right in their own eyes.
It seems to me that when you're on a team, the effort you make should be for the team, not for self fulfillment. When you make it for individual achievement, you necessarily do things that aren't in the best interest of a group effort, because your goal at that point is different from a team goal. That doesn't mean you don't give your best as a team player, far from it. It means you give your best effort no matter what your position or place on the team.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Being Generous Costs So Little
Being generous begins in the heart. It's very different from spending a lot, because I'm not talkin' money here, though being generous may involve having to dish it out sometimes. No, being generous is a spirit of giving out of your abundance, and even more so out of your lack thereof. (sidebar, I never ever thought I would use lack thereof when writing, but it is appropriate here). When Wally and Betty were growing up I used this phrase a lot: when we've got something nice to share, we share it! I don't even know where it came from, probably an Adventures in Odyssey story. Anyway it just meant that we don't hoard things, we spread the goodness around.
It's a good life philosophy and is one of those character building qualities that sometimes you don't appreciate until you are older. It show others that you value them. You can do this in monetary ways, by paying for their lunch, dinner or even just a special coffee at Starbucks. You can also do this by being thoughtful in other ways, like doing something special for them, picking something up while out shopping that you think that they would like.
You can also expand this philosophy into the broader world. Leave a nice tip, instead of exactly 15 or 20%. I mean, there's being frugal and then there's being cheap! For a $20 meal, 20% would be $4. But leaving $5 makes you a generous person! The difference of $1 between what's expected, and "Wow, thank you!"
Having a generous spirit can also have nothing to do with how much you spend, but your behavior in any given situation. I'll give the example of waiting in line, because that can easily escalate from just being a little impatient to anger. Unfairness is a fact of life, so when little injustices happen to you, try to accept them for what they are, minor inconveniences. I know from experience that they don't feel that way at the time! But really, unless you're late for brain surgery, how bad can being a few minutes late be?
It's a good life philosophy and is one of those character building qualities that sometimes you don't appreciate until you are older. It show others that you value them. You can do this in monetary ways, by paying for their lunch, dinner or even just a special coffee at Starbucks. You can also do this by being thoughtful in other ways, like doing something special for them, picking something up while out shopping that you think that they would like.
You can also expand this philosophy into the broader world. Leave a nice tip, instead of exactly 15 or 20%. I mean, there's being frugal and then there's being cheap! For a $20 meal, 20% would be $4. But leaving $5 makes you a generous person! The difference of $1 between what's expected, and "Wow, thank you!"
Having a generous spirit can also have nothing to do with how much you spend, but your behavior in any given situation. I'll give the example of waiting in line, because that can easily escalate from just being a little impatient to anger. Unfairness is a fact of life, so when little injustices happen to you, try to accept them for what they are, minor inconveniences. I know from experience that they don't feel that way at the time! But really, unless you're late for brain surgery, how bad can being a few minutes late be?
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Does Rank Have Its Priviliges?
I hitched a ride from home from the game last night (a three hour ride) with a very nice family with a daughter Beaver's age and another young man who is a senior. Our conversation ran from favorite movies, books, etc. to the curriculum at the school, and somehow ended up on expectations of your senior year in high school. The young man is a player on the team, and a good one, but not the best. He explained how he was a bit disappointed at not having more time on the field. He did get to pitch a little, much like a closer in a couple of games, and he was actually moved down in the batting order, and he also plays center field.
I've been to all of the games and I just figure the coach is making the best choices for the team, using the stats and his own judgment, to give them the optimum chance to win. After all, he's the coach. There is an assistant coach and I know that they don't always see eye to eye, but amiably so.
Anyway, I began to think about it. Should being a senior give you a little more sway on the team's roster? It is, after all, high school ball not the major leagues. Or is PC thinking creeping in, you know, being fair and not so competitive? Should the coach always put the best player in? Considering you have to develop your younger players too, it's always going to be a juggling kind of situation. Do seniors deserve more time on the field, even if they're not as good as some of the younger players? Good questions. I'm glad I'm not the coach! What do you think?
I've been to all of the games and I just figure the coach is making the best choices for the team, using the stats and his own judgment, to give them the optimum chance to win. After all, he's the coach. There is an assistant coach and I know that they don't always see eye to eye, but amiably so.
Anyway, I began to think about it. Should being a senior give you a little more sway on the team's roster? It is, after all, high school ball not the major leagues. Or is PC thinking creeping in, you know, being fair and not so competitive? Should the coach always put the best player in? Considering you have to develop your younger players too, it's always going to be a juggling kind of situation. Do seniors deserve more time on the field, even if they're not as good as some of the younger players? Good questions. I'm glad I'm not the coach! What do you think?
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Love is Blind, But Friendship Closes Its Eyes
The hurt of a perceived betrayal. It may come in an act or circumstance that you wouldn't expect. It feels like disloyalty from the other party. There are certain expectations that come with any friendship or relationship. Sometimes relationships can be uneven, that is, in the end, you've given more than you've gotten. That is where the hurt comes in. And that can test the strength of your character.
Most of us want the friend that sticks closer than a brother. Those are hard to come by and humanly speaking, maybe even impossible. The best we do is to be that kind of a friend and hope for reciprocation, knowing that people make mistakes and keep a heart full of forgiveness always ready. To err is human, to forgive divine is the old Alexander Pope platitude, and sometimes it really does take help from the Lord to forgive the human errors that come against our person and our hearts.
A friend loveth at all times. Proverbs 17:17
Most of us want the friend that sticks closer than a brother. Those are hard to come by and humanly speaking, maybe even impossible. The best we do is to be that kind of a friend and hope for reciprocation, knowing that people make mistakes and keep a heart full of forgiveness always ready. To err is human, to forgive divine is the old Alexander Pope platitude, and sometimes it really does take help from the Lord to forgive the human errors that come against our person and our hearts.
A friend loveth at all times. Proverbs 17:17
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
What I Learned From Mrs. Lee
Our book club is reading Peony In Love, by Lisa See. This is a selection about a 16th century young Chinese girl of 16 who is to be married soon. The author did extensive research and found out as much as she could about the culture of the time with its changing dynasties and ancestor worship and it makes for an interesting, though fantastical read.
And somehow it reminded me of Mrs. Lee, our ajumma while we were in Korea. The Korean culture has many idiosyncrasies of its own, including ancestor worship and matriarchal leanings, but the differences and contrasts of the value of women between these two Asian cultures is vast. And that's apparent from just my little exposure to them, including the Japanese culture. Korea comes out on top in my Western and Christian point of view.
Ajumma, is the Korean word for "ma'am" and it is used with respect. The Americans living in Seoul and on the Yongsan Army Post used the term to refer to the Korean housekeepers we hired. The male counterpart is ajeussi meaning "sir". Ward and I each hired housekeepers in Korea, each of us for different reasons. Ward lived 2 hours from us at Camp Casey, and he had a small apartment for his billeting, and his ajeussi, Mr. Yun, took care of his uniforms, boots and the small cleaning that needed to be done. Betty, Beaver and I lived in Yongsan and because of the oil heat we had Mrs. Lee. Oil heat leaves a fine, black film on everything. We noticed it right away because of our socks. The tradition in Korea is to take your shoes off at the door, so we adapted right away into the habit, and we could see right away too, from our sooty sock bottoms, that we needed to hire an ajumma, as did nearly every other family living in Yongsan. They weren't expensive and we had to keep up with the Jones'.
Mrs. Lee's rate was about -W-140,000 which was about $80 a month. She came every Monday. Arriving at about 7:30 a.m. and leaving about 5:00 p.m. and taking about a 15 minute lunch break, she was amazing! She was no bigger than a minute, probably about 4' 10" in her stocking feet, and not as big as that around. She was solid though. She worked quietly and I think we were one of the few families who stayed in the home, as we home schooled at the time. So as the weeks went by she began to open up and speak with us a bit.
I was "Mommy" and Betty was "kenday" and Beaver was "ben" and we got along well. Since she worked through the day, I told her to feel free to have lunch with us and anything in the fridge was offered. She said, "No, American food make me sick." She went on to explain a time after the war when she had eaten American food (who knows what it could have been) and became very ill. No, thank you! She would stick with her plain rice with a few sheets of crisp, salted seaweed. And maybe some hot tea. One of the first things I purchased was a rice cooker, and I made sure we had a pot of rice going every Monday.
Several times Mrs. Lee spent more than a few minutes talking to me about her life, the war and how she ended up in Seoul. Her family was split apart right before the war, and she never did see her brothers again. She and her mother managed to stay together. It was right after the war she met her husband. If I remember correctly (and something may have been lost in the translation) a group of young people went out together and on the way back, Mr. Lee took advantage of Mrs. Lee. The next day, when Mrs. Lee's mother found out she dragged Mrs. Lee to Mr. Lee's family home and demanded that he take the correct action. And that was the wonderful story of how Mr. and Mrs. Lee became man and wife. And were still together some 40 years later, with two daughters.
Mrs. Lee was also a devout Catholic. She saw us reading our Bible one day and later she pulled out her own cross, "Mommy, I Catholic, too." I don't know why, but at first this surprised me. Then after being in Korea a while, I came to realize that it is very much a Christian nation, with many of the same (meaning all the different) demoninations that we have.
Mrs. Lee came to work dressed like a housekeeper in a clothes like a simple knit shirt and pants. She worked very hard all day. She scrubbed the floors and scoured the sinks and tubs. She dusted and polished the furniture. She changed all of the sheets, washed them and did whatever laundry there was in our hampers. And she did the ironing. And I know that she did this 5 days a week, because she worked for many of my neighbors as well. But when she got ready to go home, she changed into a nice suit for her ride home on the subway. She displayed a quiet dignity and I never for a minute questioned that she was the matriarch and held a position of honor in her family.
The time came for us to PCS (permanent change of duty station) back to the states. I wanted to say goodbye one last time the day before we left and I knew Mrs. Lee was working for a friend of mine. I walked down the hill and knocked on the door. Mrs. Lee seemed a bit surprised to see me as we had said our goodbyes the last day she had worked for me, but she was also happy. We hugged, and then the tears flowed. Isn't it amazing how someone can come softly into your life and be there for a short time and make such an impact. Whenever I think of Mrs. Lee I will remember that uncommon strength, humility and endurance can come in a small package quietly doing common things.
And somehow it reminded me of Mrs. Lee, our ajumma while we were in Korea. The Korean culture has many idiosyncrasies of its own, including ancestor worship and matriarchal leanings, but the differences and contrasts of the value of women between these two Asian cultures is vast. And that's apparent from just my little exposure to them, including the Japanese culture. Korea comes out on top in my Western and Christian point of view.
Ajumma, is the Korean word for "ma'am" and it is used with respect. The Americans living in Seoul and on the Yongsan Army Post used the term to refer to the Korean housekeepers we hired. The male counterpart is ajeussi meaning "sir". Ward and I each hired housekeepers in Korea, each of us for different reasons. Ward lived 2 hours from us at Camp Casey, and he had a small apartment for his billeting, and his ajeussi, Mr. Yun, took care of his uniforms, boots and the small cleaning that needed to be done. Betty, Beaver and I lived in Yongsan and because of the oil heat we had Mrs. Lee. Oil heat leaves a fine, black film on everything. We noticed it right away because of our socks. The tradition in Korea is to take your shoes off at the door, so we adapted right away into the habit, and we could see right away too, from our sooty sock bottoms, that we needed to hire an ajumma, as did nearly every other family living in Yongsan. They weren't expensive and we had to keep up with the Jones'.
Mrs. Lee's rate was about -W-140,000 which was about $80 a month. She came every Monday. Arriving at about 7:30 a.m. and leaving about 5:00 p.m. and taking about a 15 minute lunch break, she was amazing! She was no bigger than a minute, probably about 4' 10" in her stocking feet, and not as big as that around. She was solid though. She worked quietly and I think we were one of the few families who stayed in the home, as we home schooled at the time. So as the weeks went by she began to open up and speak with us a bit.
I was "Mommy" and Betty was "kenday" and Beaver was "ben" and we got along well. Since she worked through the day, I told her to feel free to have lunch with us and anything in the fridge was offered. She said, "No, American food make me sick." She went on to explain a time after the war when she had eaten American food (who knows what it could have been) and became very ill. No, thank you! She would stick with her plain rice with a few sheets of crisp, salted seaweed. And maybe some hot tea. One of the first things I purchased was a rice cooker, and I made sure we had a pot of rice going every Monday.
Several times Mrs. Lee spent more than a few minutes talking to me about her life, the war and how she ended up in Seoul. Her family was split apart right before the war, and she never did see her brothers again. She and her mother managed to stay together. It was right after the war she met her husband. If I remember correctly (and something may have been lost in the translation) a group of young people went out together and on the way back, Mr. Lee took advantage of Mrs. Lee. The next day, when Mrs. Lee's mother found out she dragged Mrs. Lee to Mr. Lee's family home and demanded that he take the correct action. And that was the wonderful story of how Mr. and Mrs. Lee became man and wife. And were still together some 40 years later, with two daughters.
Mrs. Lee was also a devout Catholic. She saw us reading our Bible one day and later she pulled out her own cross, "Mommy, I Catholic, too." I don't know why, but at first this surprised me. Then after being in Korea a while, I came to realize that it is very much a Christian nation, with many of the same (meaning all the different) demoninations that we have.
Mrs. Lee came to work dressed like a housekeeper in a clothes like a simple knit shirt and pants. She worked very hard all day. She scrubbed the floors and scoured the sinks and tubs. She dusted and polished the furniture. She changed all of the sheets, washed them and did whatever laundry there was in our hampers. And she did the ironing. And I know that she did this 5 days a week, because she worked for many of my neighbors as well. But when she got ready to go home, she changed into a nice suit for her ride home on the subway. She displayed a quiet dignity and I never for a minute questioned that she was the matriarch and held a position of honor in her family.
The time came for us to PCS (permanent change of duty station) back to the states. I wanted to say goodbye one last time the day before we left and I knew Mrs. Lee was working for a friend of mine. I walked down the hill and knocked on the door. Mrs. Lee seemed a bit surprised to see me as we had said our goodbyes the last day she had worked for me, but she was also happy. We hugged, and then the tears flowed. Isn't it amazing how someone can come softly into your life and be there for a short time and make such an impact. Whenever I think of Mrs. Lee I will remember that uncommon strength, humility and endurance can come in a small package quietly doing common things.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Mother's Day Chimichangas
Beaver announced last night that he would cook my dinner for Mother's Day! Oh boy, I thought. No really it was more like OH! Boy?
After scanning for recipes he picked out his favorite meal of chicken chimichangas to cook. After giving me the recipe, I ran to the store today to get the ingredients (are you detecting a pattern here?) and because it was a rainy, cold boring afternoon and Ward was gone TDY (temporary duty in a far off land) the Beaver was ready to begin the big show at 5 o'clock.
Now all chimichangas are really glorified (meaning deep fried) burritos. But the recipe Beaver pulled up did have some excellent tips to keeping the ingredients safely encased while enduring their hot oil bath. So I'm going to share that and the recipe with you.
Grilled Chicken Chimichangas
Flour tortillas (the 8 inch size, warm slightly in the microwave)
2 grilled chicken breasts, thinly sliced
Green chilis (one 4 oz. can of diced)
Grated Monterey jack cheese
Refried beans (warm slightly in microwave)
Vegetable oil for frying
A flour and water paste mixed to make a thick "glue" (this is the excellent tip I was talking about)
Have all the ingredients assembled on a work area near your Fry Daddy (you can also pan fry).
You will want to pile all of your ingredients in the very center of the tortilla and you will do the envelope fold until you have a nice little bundle for frying.
Add a couple of spoonfuls of refried beans first, then 3-4 small pieces of chicken follow by a tablespoon or two of cheese and a teaspoon of green chili.
When you fold, spread some of your flour glue to seal the edges, pressing firmly as you go.
When your oil is hot carefully drop in your chimichanga and fry until golden brown. Remove to drain on a paper towel.
We ate these immediately and they were very good. For a more balanced meal have salsa, guacamole and a green salad. But for his first home cooked meal, the Beaver did a great job!
After scanning for recipes he picked out his favorite meal of chicken chimichangas to cook. After giving me the recipe, I ran to the store today to get the ingredients (are you detecting a pattern here?) and because it was a rainy, cold boring afternoon and Ward was gone TDY (temporary duty in a far off land) the Beaver was ready to begin the big show at 5 o'clock.
Now all chimichangas are really glorified (meaning deep fried) burritos. But the recipe Beaver pulled up did have some excellent tips to keeping the ingredients safely encased while enduring their hot oil bath. So I'm going to share that and the recipe with you.
Grilled Chicken Chimichangas
Flour tortillas (the 8 inch size, warm slightly in the microwave)
2 grilled chicken breasts, thinly sliced
Green chilis (one 4 oz. can of diced)
Grated Monterey jack cheese
Refried beans (warm slightly in microwave)
Vegetable oil for frying
A flour and water paste mixed to make a thick "glue" (this is the excellent tip I was talking about)
Have all the ingredients assembled on a work area near your Fry Daddy (you can also pan fry).
You will want to pile all of your ingredients in the very center of the tortilla and you will do the envelope fold until you have a nice little bundle for frying.
Add a couple of spoonfuls of refried beans first, then 3-4 small pieces of chicken follow by a tablespoon or two of cheese and a teaspoon of green chili.
When you fold, spread some of your flour glue to seal the edges, pressing firmly as you go.
When your oil is hot carefully drop in your chimichanga and fry until golden brown. Remove to drain on a paper towel.
We ate these immediately and they were very good. For a more balanced meal have salsa, guacamole and a green salad. But for his first home cooked meal, the Beaver did a great job!
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Winded
Ever have one of those weeks that just knocks the stuffing out of you? I had one of those this week. It actually started last week with Ward's getting the PKR done on his eyes. Getting up at 4:30 am is hard enough, but then driving 3 hours to Fort Campbell and 3 hours back, well that's just the beginning. Ward is an excellent patient, and there wasn't much for him to do to convalesce except to take his meds, use eye drops every hour or two and sleep in a darkened room for two days. Yep, he managed that quite well, coming up for food and water occasionally.
The real hard stuff came with the week's schedule of events, beginning on Monday. Ward couldn't drive so I had to get him to his meetings, and then scramble to my own set of meetings. Tuesday morning we had more meetings, then Tuesday afternoon Beaver had an away baseball game . . . like two hours away. (They won 14-6!) So that was another late night, and my family will tell you I don't do late nights . . . very well. Wednesday was another packed day, and then we had a formal dinner in the evening. Thursday, I had to clean house all day and prepare a dinner for fifteen ladies. I also had to prepare a small class on protocol for them, which wasn't too bad, I've done that before and have the materials. All went well, until cleaning that night I strained a neck muscle, but the dishes had to be done so I worked through the pain, then stuck a hot pad on my neck and went to bed.
TGIF was just that and I met with my good friend for coffee and our Bible study. The Beave's ball game was rained out, so we had an evening off. Then this morning I rose early to prepare a breakfast for Ward's staff so they could have an informal meeting and get some things done. Breakfast sausage and egg casserole, orange scones, cinnamon rolls and fresh fruit were on the menu. I'm sitting here typing and I'm pooped! But here comes the Beave saying he needs socks for the game, gotta run . . .
The real hard stuff came with the week's schedule of events, beginning on Monday. Ward couldn't drive so I had to get him to his meetings, and then scramble to my own set of meetings. Tuesday morning we had more meetings, then Tuesday afternoon Beaver had an away baseball game . . . like two hours away. (They won 14-6!) So that was another late night, and my family will tell you I don't do late nights . . . very well. Wednesday was another packed day, and then we had a formal dinner in the evening. Thursday, I had to clean house all day and prepare a dinner for fifteen ladies. I also had to prepare a small class on protocol for them, which wasn't too bad, I've done that before and have the materials. All went well, until cleaning that night I strained a neck muscle, but the dishes had to be done so I worked through the pain, then stuck a hot pad on my neck and went to bed.
TGIF was just that and I met with my good friend for coffee and our Bible study. The Beave's ball game was rained out, so we had an evening off. Then this morning I rose early to prepare a breakfast for Ward's staff so they could have an informal meeting and get some things done. Breakfast sausage and egg casserole, orange scones, cinnamon rolls and fresh fruit were on the menu. I'm sitting here typing and I'm pooped! But here comes the Beave saying he needs socks for the game, gotta run . . .
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Hedy's Muesli
OK, just for you Betty, here is the recipe for my Muesli, well really my Mom's Muesli, which has its origins from a health clinic in Germany. (Dr. Bircher-Benner)
HEDY'S MUESLI
This is a three part recipe. The first part is prepared the evening before, as the oats need to soak overnight. It is preferable to use rolled oats, but quick will do in a pinch. (I usually only use quick oats for some types of cookies.)
Part I
One part oats to one part liquid. The liquid can be milk, or fruit juice. I like vanilla soy milk or 1% regular milk. For this recipe, let's go with one cup of oats, as one cup of oats will make about 2-3 generous servings. Pour the milk over the oats in a bowl that has a lid or cover with a plate. If the liquid does not cover the oats completely add until it is there is at least a 1/4 inch covering the top of the oats. The oats will absorb the liquid overnight.
Part II
The next morning stir the following into your soaked oats:
Plain yogurt, 1/2 cup or more
Juice of one lemon
One Granny Smith apple, grated
2-3 tablespoons honey (heat a few seconds in microwave to soften)
Part III
Now here is the fun part. This is where you can individualize your Muesli. Take any or all of the items from below and throw them in or on your mixed basic Muesli.
Sliced green grapes
Sliced bananas
Sliced strawberries
Raisins
Walnuts
Almonds
That's it! Over the years my basic recipe has changed to accommodate my kids taste buds. Wally and Betty liked everything thrown in there; the Beave picks out the grapes, bananas, and raisins so I just put those out ala carte now. I love my bananas mixed in, but my walnuts and raisins on top. It's a personal choice thing.
HEDY'S MUESLI
This is a three part recipe. The first part is prepared the evening before, as the oats need to soak overnight. It is preferable to use rolled oats, but quick will do in a pinch. (I usually only use quick oats for some types of cookies.)
Part I
One part oats to one part liquid. The liquid can be milk, or fruit juice. I like vanilla soy milk or 1% regular milk. For this recipe, let's go with one cup of oats, as one cup of oats will make about 2-3 generous servings. Pour the milk over the oats in a bowl that has a lid or cover with a plate. If the liquid does not cover the oats completely add until it is there is at least a 1/4 inch covering the top of the oats. The oats will absorb the liquid overnight.
Part II
The next morning stir the following into your soaked oats:
Plain yogurt, 1/2 cup or more
Juice of one lemon
One Granny Smith apple, grated
2-3 tablespoons honey (heat a few seconds in microwave to soften)
Part III
Now here is the fun part. This is where you can individualize your Muesli. Take any or all of the items from below and throw them in or on your mixed basic Muesli.
Sliced green grapes
Sliced bananas
Sliced strawberries
Raisins
Walnuts
Almonds
That's it! Over the years my basic recipe has changed to accommodate my kids taste buds. Wally and Betty liked everything thrown in there; the Beave picks out the grapes, bananas, and raisins so I just put those out ala carte now. I love my bananas mixed in, but my walnuts and raisins on top. It's a personal choice thing.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Are You Talkin' to Me?
Well, maybe it wasn't a Robert DeNiro moment exactly, but close. After Ward's PRK eye surgery we were told it would be helpful to place an ice pack over his eyes for the next couple of hours. We were three hours from home, so we did the next best thing and headed to Walmart. There IS a Walmart within 10-15 minutes of every known town in the USA. We found one and I left Ward in the car and headed in to the Pharmacy section where I know they have ice bags and those types of items. (I had purchased an ice bag at Walmart several years ago when Betty had her wisdom teeth removed, so I know they have them.)
I find the section and I see Icy Hot and all kinds of thermal wraps, but no cold packs and no elusive ice bag. Maybe I'm not concentrating enough, so I loom in on the section and try focusing on the lower shelf. I look up briefly to see a gentleman in front of me a few feet away. I look down again, and then I hear, "What are you looking for?" It came from the gentleman ahead, so I look up and say, "An ice bag." He stares back at me with a little perplexed look on his face, and then I see him glance in back of me. I turn, and there in back of me a few yards away, is his (assuming this) wife, she's also looking a little perplexed. I figure things out quickly (no moss here) and laugh and say I'm sorry. This guy is so nice he tells me that if I can't find one a good recipe for a homemade ice bag is zip-lock bags filled with a mixture of 1 part rubbing alcohol to 3 parts water, then freeze. I'm so embarrassed that I say, "that's worth a try. Thanks!"
I find the section and I see Icy Hot and all kinds of thermal wraps, but no cold packs and no elusive ice bag. Maybe I'm not concentrating enough, so I loom in on the section and try focusing on the lower shelf. I look up briefly to see a gentleman in front of me a few feet away. I look down again, and then I hear, "What are you looking for?" It came from the gentleman ahead, so I look up and say, "An ice bag." He stares back at me with a little perplexed look on his face, and then I see him glance in back of me. I turn, and there in back of me a few yards away, is his (assuming this) wife, she's also looking a little perplexed. I figure things out quickly (no moss here) and laugh and say I'm sorry. This guy is so nice he tells me that if I can't find one a good recipe for a homemade ice bag is zip-lock bags filled with a mixture of 1 part rubbing alcohol to 3 parts water, then freeze. I'm so embarrassed that I say, "that's worth a try. Thanks!"
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Longstanding Mondegreen
Hey, I'm not the only one who has ever misheard a song lyric. But this one has not been corrected in over twenty years. The other night we were watching American Idol (really for the first time ever) and they were singing Neil Diamond songs from over the years. One contestant sang Forever in Blue Jeans. I have always, always heard that as Reverend Blue Jeans! I guess I thought this songwriter was especially spiritual, LOL, or maybe Neil never enunciated well. The singer that night did. I was like, "What? Did he change the lyrics? What happened to the reverend?!" Hoo hee, ha ha!
Still, it's not as bad as, "Sugar fried honey butts!"
Still, it's not as bad as, "Sugar fried honey butts!"
Friday, May 2, 2008
With a Side Of Grits
I began my love affair with Waffle House in Georgia, where this ubiquitous little yellow rectangle of a restaurant can be seen on every corner of every downtown block in Atlanta. And I did frequent a number of them, but only during daylight hours. It became a regular thing for Beaver and I to get breakfast after dropping off Wally for some home school co-op classes at 7:30 every Tuesday morning. We had some time to kill and I could linger over fresh hot coffee and a pecan waffle and the Beaver loved their waffles with hot chocolate on the side.
Then when we traveled I would look for those black letters on bright yellow and beg to skip the McDonald's for this preferred fast food. Where else can you get breakfast all day? Okay, there are some other places that do that. But it's the only place where you can get a simple meal of a pecan loaded waffle washed down with a cup of Joe. And if you're feeling really hungry, you can load up with the belly-buster of a waffle, two eggs over easy, grits, toast, and a side of sausage. All for $5.95!!
I'm bringing this up because today Ward and I had to get up at 0430 to be on the road to Fort Campbell by 0530 because they only do PRK eye surgery there. So I skipped breakfast (didn't want to skip the shower) so we could be there on time. I did chow down on a granola bar but it just wasn't enough to tide me over until lunch.
On the way into post we passed several Waffle Houses, so there was no doubt where we were headed after Ward was cleared from the hospital. I ordered up the All-Star breakfast and scarfed up just about every bit; even our waitress remarked that I had done a good job! "I'm full" just wasn't enough to describe it; I needed the German expression "Ich bin satt!" meaning more or less, "I'm satisfied!"
Then when we traveled I would look for those black letters on bright yellow and beg to skip the McDonald's for this preferred fast food. Where else can you get breakfast all day? Okay, there are some other places that do that. But it's the only place where you can get a simple meal of a pecan loaded waffle washed down with a cup of Joe. And if you're feeling really hungry, you can load up with the belly-buster of a waffle, two eggs over easy, grits, toast, and a side of sausage. All for $5.95!!
I'm bringing this up because today Ward and I had to get up at 0430 to be on the road to Fort Campbell by 0530 because they only do PRK eye surgery there. So I skipped breakfast (didn't want to skip the shower) so we could be there on time. I did chow down on a granola bar but it just wasn't enough to tide me over until lunch.
On the way into post we passed several Waffle Houses, so there was no doubt where we were headed after Ward was cleared from the hospital. I ordered up the All-Star breakfast and scarfed up just about every bit; even our waitress remarked that I had done a good job! "I'm full" just wasn't enough to describe it; I needed the German expression "Ich bin satt!" meaning more or less, "I'm satisfied!"
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