Category Archives: Gold Country Life

7 Quick Takes: Insane Fast Food Creations, Murder Mysteries, and the 2013 All-Star Game Ballot

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

20×20. If you know what In-n-Out Burger is, you know that you can get some rather interesting combinations on their “secret” menu. I know my brother ate an 8×8 (8 patties and 8 slices of cheese) once and I guess the most that has ever been allegedly ordered is a 100×100. I found an account of someone who bought (and ate) a 20×20. I was pondering the sheer number of calories in that so I looked up the nutritional information and by subtracting the calories in a regular cheeseburger (480) from the calories in a double-double (670), I came out with the number of calories per extra cheese/patty (190). I multiplied that by 19 (getting 3610) and added the calories in the cheeseburger (480) back in, getting a total of 4090. Given that the estimate I saw on the 100×100 from Eat This, Not That was 19100 calories, I think this is probably pretty close to accurate.

It’s also no longer possible to order something like this — they capped the limit at 4×4 because they were getting some really bizarre orders.

— 2 —

All-Star Game ballot. The ballot for the 2013 MLB All-Star Game is out. I thought I’d link it here so you can all go vote for San Francisco Giants players. In case you need help doing this, here’s a list:

1st Base: Brandon Belt
2nd Base: Marco Scutaro
Shortstop: Brandon Crawford
3rd Base: Pablo Sandoval
Catcher: Buster Posey
Outfield: Gregor Blanco, Hunter Pence, and Angel Pagan

— 3 —

More fun Amazon.Com reviews. Apparently, people haven’t seen enough hilarious Amazon.Com reviews because this one was shared on Facebook on Wednesday. Even better, the things that “other customers viewed” are other joke Amazon.Com reviews.

— 4 —

Contemporary Worship Humor. Priest’s Wife shared this on Twitter this week:

It’s hysterically funny because it’s so true. I could walk into Bayside Church or any of the other megachurches in Sacramento and I could find a copy of this.

— 5 —

Orphans. Do you see these adorable kids?

BrettKaia

Brett (on the left) needs a mama and Kaia (on the right) has a family who needs help raising the funds to bring her home. If you can help out at all, click on their pictures. Please and thank you!

— 6 —

Mysteries. I’m currently reading A Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny and it’s her normal excellence. It’s hard to find a suitable adjective for the feeling that her mysteries evoke. It’s “dark” in the way that dark chocolate (with a high percentage of cacao) and I guess “somber” is the other adjective. She’s a crime writer in real life and she does an excellent job of portraying the darkness of our souls. Is “chiaroscuristic” a word? That’s probably the best term.

— 7 —

Prayer request. I am in allergy hell at the moment because every freaking plant is reproducing and we’re having lots of wind which is blowing it around. I’m not sleeping well because my face is congested, I’m coughing up nasty looking things, and the congestion is giving me wicked headaches. Could you please pray for some relief from it for me? Thanks!

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

7 Quick Takes: Picnic on the Green, Pizzas for Doctors, and Blasting Music

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Facebook. I have a tendency to post a *few* cat memes on Facebook every day. I didn’t quite realize how… well-received they were until I got this message from Kelly of This Ain’t The Lyceum:

Jen, I haven’t seen anything humorous about cats pop up in my News Feed for the last hour; are you alright??

I’m sorry, Kelly. I’ll try to post many many more cat memes for you. 😉

— 2 —

Payback. Various people have posted pictures of this on Facebook so I thought I’d share. An E.R. doctor at Mass General Boston (site of the Boston Marathon bombings) called a pizzeria in Waco (the nearest big city to the town where the fertilizer plant explosion happened) and ordered pizzas for all the surgeons in the ER at Hillcrest with the message, “Thanks for all your hard work!”

Awesome payback.

Dr. Chris Kabrhel, you are awesome and I hope people took as good care of you on Monday night as you did of the Hillcrest docs.

— 3 —

I’m a t-shirt person. Adidas has created some shirts whose proceeds will go to One Fund Boston. Go here to order. (HT: Emily)

— 4 —

Just a tip. To the person behind me at the stop sign by the library:

Honking your horn to kindly remind me to move (especially when it isn’t safe to do so and you apparently can’t see this) will cause me to adhere *strictly* to the speed limit (25 mph) for as long as you are behind me or until I hit Highway 99 — whichever would drive you more batty. I’m perfectly aware that it has been 3 seconds but there’s an older woman who is trying to decide whether to cross or not and I’m quite sure that the nice police officer coming the other way would prefer that I not run her over.

Cuddles,
jen

— 5 —

Remedying the situation. Last Saturday night, I was getting gas as a Shell station in Elk Grove after dropping Daniel off at Respite Night. While I was pumping gas, a young man drove up in a car with the windows rolled down and some foul hiphop/R&B thing blasting loudly. Why was it foul? Let’s just say that I’m not sure many young women like to be referred to as prostitutes and female dogs. (Substitute the foul language words for those things and you’ll understand why.) I wasn’t amenable to being forced to listen to this while the guy went in and tried to convince the clerk to hook him up with some gas so I finished pumping my gas, got in my car, turned my stereo up to 11, and started blasting the chorus of “The Way” by Jeremy Camp

I regret nothing.

— 6 —

Orphans. Do you see these adorable kids?

BrettKaia

Brett (on the left) needs a mama and Kaia (on the right) has a family who needs help raising the funds to bring her home. If you can help out at all, click on their pictures. Please and thank you!

— 7 —

Picnic. Daniel’s preschool has “Picnic on the Green” tomorrow where the parents bring a picnic lunch for themselves and their kids and eat with them on the lawn. The ABA class(es) seem to get the playground and shady area by their portable to themselves so I’m looking forward to it. The parents usually bring McDonalds stuff for their kids but I think I’ll go with Subway. Daniel has actually tasted McDonalds once (this week, I let him try a bite of my double cheeseburger) but I know he’ll probably eat Subway’s food. (I’m also trying to keep my fake crunchy mom cred which falls short because of Subway’s dough conditioners.)

For more Quick Takes, visit Grace at Camp Patton. She is guest-hosting for Jen again this week while Jen is (hopefully) enjoying having little Joseph home from the NICU.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: March 4, 2013

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY March 4, 2013

Outside my window… dark. It’s only 6:30 but it’s better than it getting dark at 4:30 like it did a few months ago.

I am thinking… about the storms that they claim are coming in. Are they exaggerating or are we due for some catch-up for the rain that has been lacking?

I am thankful… for Daniel napping and for being done with the Proverbs 31 Project so I can get back to doing this meme.

In the kitchen… nothing at the moment. Pasta salad for the midweek Lenten supper come Wednesday.

I am wearing… my shirt from the Run for Courage and black shorts.

I am creating… afghan squares when my hands and wrists allow it. (It’s one of my Lenten disciplines and I’m doing badly at it because my hands have been achy.)

I am going… to hope that Edda decides to stop standing in front of my laptop screen. *looks sternly at Edda*

I am wondering… when this stupid cold will go away.

I am reading… The Alpine Xanadu by Mary Daheim — I’m re-reading it actually.

I am hoping… I sleep tonight.

I am looking forward to… Ladies’ Night Out tomorrow night and I’m hoping that people got the memo about the night being changed.

Around the house… *ignores the question*

I am pondering… various things internally.

One of my favorite things… ginger ale when my stomach is irritated.

A few plans for the rest of the week: working on editing devotions, Ladies’ Night Out, and whatever else comes up.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

7 Quick Takes: Lent Madness, Hope for Westboro Baptist Church, and Orphan Needs

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Kaia has a family. I found out on Tuesday that Kaia has a family committed to her. This is awesome news!!!

Her adoption grant, however, only has $278 in it and her adoption will be probably around $20,000. Could we up that a bit and help her adoptive family? Go show them some love.

— 2 —

Brett. Our boy here still needs a mama.

His profile is here. Share his profile with anyone you know who might want to adopt.

He is also part of the Forty Days to Forever fundraiser. Go to the site and check out what is going on with the fundraiser right now.

— 3 —

Lent Madness! Why am I not surprised that the Episcopal Church has found a way to combine March Madness and Lent? I am sooooo participating in Lent Madness this year! No idea who will be receiving the Golden Halo this year (Mary Magdalene won last year) but it looks interesting.

For those who want to accuse me of heresy because most people on this link-up are Catholic, Busted Halo has a lovely Lenten calendar with interesting challenges. (I wanted to say “Lenten Advent calendar” but that would sound silly.)

— 4 —

Really? I was gobsmacked when I saw that this app existed. I mean, “Bang with Friends”? Really? This isn’t just being marketed to college kids — this is going to 13 year olds!!! And 260,000 users in the first nine days? This is evil.

The makers have referred to the critics as “prudes”. Count me incredibly proud to be a prude.

— 5 —

Hope for Westboro Baptist Church. Remember the link about Libby Phelps Alvarez who left Westboro Baptist Church? Two more granddaughters of Fred Phelps have left the church including Megan who was their social media person and heir to the legacy. (Their statement about it is here.) This gives me hope that that the church will either cease to exist within a generation or somehow God will reach them and convince them of their error.

— 6 —

Help this boy with his tumor. We have a matter of weeks to raise $100,000 for visas and surgery for this little boy to get his tumor removed. If you can’t give, please share this story around. If you know some organization/trust/corporation who can help, let them know.

— 7 —

Update on Katya. I won the giveaway on Welcome Home Katya! which is trying to fundraise to pay for the dental work she needs to help with her speech acquisition. For those who don’t know, Katya was adopted from the Ukraine by the Duecks. Currently, her hair is falling out from a hematoma which I’m not sure if they can fix medically. (Katie???) Keep her in prayer and if you feel led, toss some funds their way for her dental work.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: January 27, 2013

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY January 27, 2013

Outside my window… dark now but temperate today — maybe high 50’s or low 60’s?

I am thinking… about the calls I need to make tomorrow morning.

I am thankful… Daniel is home.

In the kitchen… dishes to do.

I am wearing… blue shirt and light blue striped pajama bottoms.

I am creating… afghan squares and blog entries.

I am going… to hope Daniel’s pediatrician hasn’t left UC Davis and we can get in with them next week.

I am wondering… about too many things tonight.

I am reading… Bliss by Kathryn Littlewood. It was a freebie on Friday and looked interesting. I also just finished re-reading The Buzzard Table by Margaret Maron and am of the opinion that I’ll be starting to stock my NOOK with her works because she’s so brilliant.

I am hoping… Daniel can go back to school on Tuesday.

I am looking forward to… Morning Prayer on Tuesday and my massage on Friday.

I am learning that self-care is important.

Around the house… vacuuming to do. Gah.

I am pondering… the Salon.Com article that all my pro-life friends were quoting this week. Having read it, I’m not quite sure where my heart and mind are with regard to it. On the one hand, the author *did* make those statements. On the other hand, I think a number of people missed the point.

A favorite quote for today… ??Crying is all right in its own way while it lasts. But you have to stop sooner or later, and then you still have to decide what to do.?? — C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… Coca-Cola. It is sooooo bad for me but I love it.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Morning Prayer on Tuesday, WIC on Tuesday afternoon, work on editing Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, massage on friday afternoon.

A peek into my day… I finally got my giveaway items staged for my day on Forty to Forever. It’s a coffee cup from Peet’s, a pound of their Fair Trade blend, some Pepperidge Farm Lexington cookies, and a copy of Kisses from Katie.

Giveaway for Forty to Forever.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

Other Plates Spinning That Did Not Make My Quick Takes

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There were a couple things that did not make my Quick Takes (which were long this week):

[+] On Tuesday morning, a police officer was gunned down about 0.3 miles from where I live. My town is small but I rarely, if ever, do anything near the tracks except for perhaps going to dinner with my church ladies. According to all the news outlets which descended on the town, the shooter happened to be armed and apparently panicked when the police officer stopped to ask him about a burglary which it turned out was a misunderstanding. He then started firing at police who returned fire and the shooter killed himself. If I had been home at 11:30 a.m., I would likely have heard the gunfire and the sirens. I didn’t find out until Jon got home with Daniel and that afternoon, I discovered that every TV station in Sacramento had camped out in town and they stayed until after the candlelight vigil organized by some teenagers the next night. It’s the first officer killed in the line of duty in the history of the police department though it’s the second law enforcement officer killed in our small town in two months. (The other one was an animal control officer shot in November who had a 17 hour standoff with police. I actually heard all the sirens for that one.) The media has sensationalized some of the shock, mentioning people who are thinking about moving because it’s getting too violent. I’m wondering how many people they had to interview to get those soundbytes because I can’t think of anyone I know who even thinks that way.

[+] I finally got in to see my FNP today. (I was supposed to see her on Wednesday morning but Daniel came home sick from preschool and I had to reschedule my appointment.) I’m still having problems eating (as in, food is icky) and part of it might be that my stomach is so beaten up from antibiotics. I’m imbibing lots of yogurt to try and build up the bacteria in it but she’s getting me a GI referral just to be on the safe side. I’m also getting a rheumatology consult because it’s been two years since I’ve seen one and we’ve done all my medication adjustments with the head of medicine at the clinic instead of with a specialist. They took several vials of blood and we’re going to see what we find.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: January 14, 2013

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY January 14, 2013

Outside my window… dark. Today had a high of 48F and we’ll get down to 29F tonight. I’m aware that the rest of the country is laughing at California whining about these temperatures but it’s actually not a good thing for our citrus industry.

I am thinking… about Vicki, Trace, and Cammi as well as the rest of Rick’s family as they bury him today.

I am thankful… for Rick’s life and the way he blessed mine, especially in the first couple years of Jon’s ministry when I needed a friend.

In the kitchen… I need to go grocery shopping.

I am wearing… charcoal grey shirt and fleece pajama bottoms. If only I could go to the grocery store like this. #firstworldproblems

I am creating… plans for Reece’s Rainbow fundraisers and patches for a stained glass blanket to auction off for Kaia.

I am going… to the store eventually tonight.

I am wondering… if people realize that if the science teacher at Taft Union High School had been armed on Thursday, there would have been one more casualty — the teacher disarmed the gunman by talking him down. The student that was shot is recovering.

I am reading… The Buzzard Table by Margaret Maron.

I am hoping… to get back to my normal self soon.

I am looking forward to… Morning Prayer tomorrow.

I am learning how to use Scrivner.

A favorite quote for today… “God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.” — Martin Luther

One of my favorite things… purring tabbies.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Morning Prayer (hopefully) tomorrow and WIC on Thursday.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook