// April 30th, 2010 // 4 Comments » // Functional Foodie, Tasty Bites
You had to know it was coming. Look through my Twitpics, and you won’t find much meat. I’m that girl who loves tofu! Hop on over to Ginny’s Tasty Bites and I promise this recipe may even please some of you meat lovers!
// April 26th, 2010 // 14 Comments » // My Fabulous Life
I was reminded this week that I have a blog. It has seriously been neglected because, well, life just gets in the way. My intent is to return to it soon. As soon as the busy goes away.
One of the things keeping me from writing a post is my prep for a talk I’m giving next week out in the PNW. Because of that, I’ve had to do some light reading in case I get drilled with questions. You can only use the “I don’t know, but I’ll sure find out for you” answer for so long before people say “AND WHY ARE WE PAYING HER TO TALK TO US??” I’ve also had an epic battle with PowerPoint and I’ve decided it’s software of the devil. I’ve valiantly resisted pitching my laptop into the pond as it takes its last gasps. It would be counterproductive at this point, and probably shock a few fish in the process.
Back to anticipation. I’m really looking forward to my trip because 1) the ocean and its provisions (think corn-fed Iowa girl gets grossed out by mammalian blood vessels and turns pescatarian), and 2) I’ll be meeting up with a blog/twitter friend (known in these circles as a BLOTTER friend) whom Ron Burgundy is not convinced is not an ax murderer. OK, maybe that’s a bit harsh. He’s just a little unsure. But I’m sure she’s safe. Perhaps I should call her something other than “Blotter.” That sounds a little Godfatherish.
As a public service, I’ve compiled a HTDIYIFASTMIP list for you, or “How to Determine If Your Imaginary Friends Are Safe to Meet in Person.” OK, so the sentence was easier than the acronym.
She asks for your quinoa recipe. I did a little research on this one. Less than 1.12% of the prisoners currently incarcerated know what quinoa is. Actually my research consisted of the jail in our tiny town which is a room with a mattress duck-taped to the wall and a “Welcome, Friends” sign above the door, lovingly macramed by the local church ladies out of Wonder Bread bags.
She has a really cool dog. More research was needed (no wonder I don’t get anything done) and found that less than 0.05% of dogs belonging to imprisoned ax murders have made a video greeting, let alone one where the dog’s ears perk up and he cocks his head so cute when he hears my name. Boz is a rock star.
We pray for each other and their kids. Yeah, that’s what real friends do. All it takes is a quick text or email and this godly group of friends has each other rained in prayer faster than you can say HTDIYIFASTMIP.
We like the same music. ‘Nuf said. Truth be known, we’d like Weird Al if we could enjoy him together. We may or may not like Joe Cocker, too.
We’re both a little ADD. Easily distracted people aren’t dangerous, they’re just to be pitied. I’ve experienced a slurry of emails with this group of friends that became so disjointed and off-topic that the original entitled “My Biopsy-Please Pray” turned into a rant about clowns. All you need to do if you’re in a dangerous situation with someone (else) who is easily distracted is scream “SQUIRREL.”
She’s sort of a redneck. A sweet, Christian redneck, not a redneck in the traditional sense. Redneck as in Jeff Foxworthy meets Mother Theresa and they spend an afternoon driving around in a truck with buck head bolted to the hood, a full gun rack, and feeding the homeless. Here is where RB may worry, because when it comes to disposing of bodies, I don’t think rednecks ever get caught. Thinking about the term Blotter does have sort of a Deliverance or Fargo ring to it, no? Hey lookie, a woodchipper!
She tells me I don’t seem nearly as old as I really am. OK, maybe I’m toast. The interwebs have brought out my hidden, innocent child. She’s flattering me. But I’ll take my chances. I can still run. Or whack her with my purse. And I’d like to see her try to get an ax through airport security. Especially in that camo hat.
Stay tuned for play-by-play of our excursion and adventures. I’m hoping for some priceless blog fodder. Just be alert to #911 hashtags on the Twitter.
Any other things you can add to the HTDIYIFASTMIP list? Let’s make the world a safer place. You know, for the children.
// April 23rd, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Functional Foodie, Tasty Bites
Avocados are one of those foods you can eat every day and never get tired of them. There’s a reason they’re nicknamed the “butter pear!” Jump over to Ginny’s Tasty Bites and let’s whip up some guacamole!
// April 17th, 2010 // 6 Comments » // My Fabulous Life
Some of us get through life a little easier with organized lists. Focus. Few distractions. All on one page. Easy to find. Neat little check boxes. Consolidate multiple lists on one page. If someone asks “Is there anything you need in town?” – a quick glance will give you the answer.
Perhaps even notes stuck in your phone – always with you, more than likely you’re not going to lose it. Love the memo app.
And then there are those who prefer the “I’ll use a pad of sticky notes” method.
// April 16th, 2010 // 4 Comments » // Functional Foodie, Tasty Bites
Why panic? Because yesterday Ginny sent me a message “Are you going to have a post for me tomorrow?” YIKES! Somehow between trying to get my computer humming again and Thursday, time slipped away. And when time slips away, I fall back on pizza.
Hope over to Ginny’s Tasty Bites for pizza in a panic.
// April 11th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Faith
First daffodil of 2010
Last weekend was none other than a Divine Easter experience. After considerable reflecting all week and a quiet at-home study on Maundy Thursday, I went to a powerful worship service on Good Friday. Who knew two-plus hours could fly by so quickly? I didn’t even care that I was by far the oldest person in that Christian mosh pit as the praise team belted out their magic. Even more delightful was the fact that the crowd was so loud, I could sing at the top of my lungs and not offend anyone. Or perhaps there were others there who couldn’t carry a tune either, so I went unnoticed.
(There’s a good reason my dad always asked me to sing “Far, Far Away”).
The extended worship service that evening left me feeling very moved, and not dreading so much the “Saturday in between” that I have in the past. That Saturday between Good Friday and Easter, where everyone sat, waiting for God to do something, and it felt like nothing was happening. It had to be the longest day ever.
Sometimes I feel like I live my entire life on that Saturday. Just waiting. Wondering.
Stuck. In Saturday.
Our “baby” joined us for Easter service Saturday evening. As we left the parking lot in separate cars, he texted me: “I think that message was meant for me.”
{{heart leaps}} I am reminded of Andy Stanley saying something like “God doesn’t want to get you back, He wants to bring you back.”
I have often thought when hearing a particularly powerful message, that the pastor has been lurking outside my house all week, waiting to pounce on the weekend with something I need to hear. I finally figured out that we all need to hear pretty much the same thing. We start to doubt The Plan. We think we are in control. We fall into the trap of thinking we can do life on our own terms. Our way. We forget what that did for the prodigal son or a host of other arrogant characters in scripture.
And then when our plans fall through, it hits us and we realize we’re living in that Saturday. Feeling a little bit hopeless, helpless, and waiting.
I was determined to let the light of the Easter message continue this time. To not let it fade away. To not get thrown back to feeling like Saturday. But the week was long and draining.
This brings the story to yesterday when we started doing the spring yard work. I was dreading the chore of cutting down my favorite tree, a flowering crab that had apparently succumbed to the devastation of the ice storm a couple years ago. The leaves had ceased growing mid-summer and the crab apples had all shriveled and fallen off. The bark was stripping and branches were snapping. By September it was leafless and lifeless.
As headed toward the pond, I ducked under one of the branches and my head was brushed with this.
And I am reminded once again that even though it was Saturday, it was not that Saturday.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
// April 9th, 2010 // 4 Comments » // Functional Foodie, Tasty Bites
New foods don’t scare me, especially if they’re plants. When I ran across tomatillos at the grocery store the other day, I was very curious and bought a few. A quick search found me a tasty recipe – jump over to Ginny’s Tasty Bites and see what we’ve cooked up today!
And one of these days I intend to do a real post… I’m stuck in the middle of busy these days!
// April 4th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Faith
Have a blessed Easter, dear readers. May your faith be renewed on this glorious day.
// April 2nd, 2010 // 3 Comments » // Functional Foodie, Tasty Bites
Ever have one of those snacks where you can’t eat just one?
That would make a great marketing line. I wonder why nobody ever thought of it?
These oven-roasted chickpeas are all that and a bag of….well, you know….
Hop over to Ginny’s Tasty Bites for my post on one of my favorite snacks.
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