Category Archives: Food/Drink

7 Quick Takes: 17 Years of Blogging!

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7 Quick Takes

July 19th was my 17th blogiversary and it passed quietly because of school and things in my personal life. As a way of ignoring the crappy health news I got today, here are are some ways my life has changed since I started blogging on July 19, 2000.

— 1 —

I’ve come full-circle in terms of relationships. When I started this blog, I was dating Jon. Then we went through our long engagement, marriage, a short separation, and now divorce. It’s a painful realization in a lot of ways but it also provides me with a record of the good times that I can look back upon eventually.

— 2 —

I have lived in five states. I had spent my life in California and was living with my parents over the summer before my senior year of college. Since then, I have lived in: Ohio, Minnesota, Montana, California (again), and now Washington. I’m glad to have had these experiences in seeing how people across the country live.

— 3 —

I am no longer vegetarian. I added meat back into my diet in December 2000 and while I don’t eat a lot of it, I have not given it up again except for Lenten purposes.

— 4 —

I have stopped coding largely by hand. For the first year, I coded by hand and then went to Livejournal, two iterations of Greymatter, Movable Type, back to Greymatter, b2, and then WordPress 12ish years ago. It’s good to know how to do some of it still so I can fix sidebars but I’d have to learn PHP to be able to create my own themes.

— 5 —

I’m Episcopalian again. At the time I started blogging, I was attending my Episcopal church at home and then attending an evangelical church at school. Eventually, I attended an LCMS church, went ELCA for 10 years, AALC for three years, and then became Episcopalian again.

— 6 —

I have 1.5 degrees and am getting another one. I graduated with my B.A. 11 months after starting the blog, worked on an MTS, and am now doing an ATA.

— 7 —

I’m missing a body part or two. I gave up my gallbladder in 2005 and there is less liver than there was originally due to scar tissue from the gallbladder issues.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: August 1, 2017

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For Today… August 1, 2017

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. It’s supposed to start getting hotter until temps peak in the high 80’s/low 90’s on Wednesday or Thursday. Oh freaking joy…

I am thinking… about my Interpersonal Communications homework that is due on Wednesday night. I have the second of two chapters left to read and then the quiz, the reports, and journals to complete. If I can get the reading done tomorrow, I can take the quiz and try to get the rest of the writing done tomorrow night, leaving me 24 hours before the due date in case of emergencies.

I am thankful… for this piece by Simcha Fisher. Many people have no idea what true poverty looks like and they need to check their privilege. Then again, most people who get cranky about this piece don’t give a rat’s butt about the idea of privilege so I guess I’m just preaching to the choir?

One of my favorite things… chewing ice. It’s a bad habit but a comforting one, having been through two abdominal surgeries and having a GI tract that gets cranky.

I am wearing… jammies. My Online Debate Team shirt (so many people on the Internet are wrong-headed) and black sweats.

I am creating… this post and one for my 17th blogging anniversary which was July 17th.

I am listening to…delta waves music on YouTube to try to get to sleep.

I am hoping… General John Kelly can get the White House and Trump administration in general under control. It’s been daily scandals since January 20th and the voters who elected 45 in November should be ashamed of how they’ve effed up the country.

I am learning… about emotion and language in communication.

In my kitchen… Chinese food from Haggen.

In the school room… Daniel is off until September. I need to get some dry-erase markers so he can practice his penmanship.

Post Script… I had no idea this existed!

Shared Quote… “Prudence means practical common sense, taking the trouble to think out what you are doing and what is likely to come of it.” — C.S. Lewis

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: July 26, 2017

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For Today… July 26, 2017

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. It was sunny with temps in the upper 70’s today and was pretty uncomfortable to sit in the sun!

I am thinking… about culture and non-verbal communication.

I am thankful… for Senator Tammy Duckworth speaking out today on 45’s decision to bar transgendered soldiers from the military. I tend to listen to her over 45 because she’s actually *SERVED* (and in a war with which she disagreed) and she gave her legs and the use of one of her arms in combat.

In case you don’t know how awesome she is, watch this:

One of my favorite things… ice chips. I have a bad habit of chewing them.

I am wearing… jammies. I was wearing a black fitted tee and jeans earlier.

I am creating… this entry.

I am listening to… Daniel babbling.

I am hoping… my kiddo goes to sleep soon.

I am learning… about the self and communication. It’s fascinating stuff!

In my kitchen… Mom was making pesto earlier with basil from the garden.

In the school room… Daniel has 1 day of ESY left.

Post Script… this is pretty amazing. Concertgoers at Hyde Park in London gathered to see Green Day perform but grew so sick of waiting for them to get on stage that a mass singalong of “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen took place.

Shared Quote…

Why we should care

A moment from my day… Some songs from middle and high school that popped into my head.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: July 17, 2017

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For Today… July 17, 2017

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. It was nice and sunny today with temps in the mid 70’s. At the beach, it was lovely.

I am thinking… about the two journal entries, report, and quiz I have due on Wednesday night.

I am thankful… for time with a dear friend today.

One of my favorite things… walking in the water on the beach.

I am wearing… jammies. I was wearing my shirt from VBS this morning with jeans capris from Fred Meyer. In the afternoon, I was wearing swim suit pieces from L.L. Bean and Lands’ End.

I am creating… this blog post. 🙂

I am watching… COPS. It’s a guilty pleasure.

I am hoping… to get everything essential done tomorrow for my classes.

I am learning… about interpersonal communication and social media.

In my kitchen… Dad made shrimp pasta last night.

In the school room… Daniel is loving ESY.

Post Script… This is really worth watching!

Shared Quote…

True dat.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: July 4, 2017

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For Today… July 4, 2017

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… sunny and in the mid to high 70’s here. It’s 10 degrees warmer in San Jose and 20 degrees warmer in Claremont, making me thankful that I’m not in either place!

I am thinking… about my class that starts tomorrow. I just printed out my syllabus and the due dates page.

I am thankful… that my favorite farm shop had a couple apple pies for today and that the owner’s daughter set one aside for me. I normally hate pie but their pies are AMAZING.

One of my favorite things… A/C. It’s actually nice out but my room is on the second floor so I’d be pretty hot without it.

I am wearing… an Old Navy flag shirt and black capris from Kohl’s.

I am creating… this blog post. 🙂

I am listening to… classical music coming up from the family room downstairs.

I am hoping… I can get through outlining the Business English book this summer. I really want to challenge the class!

I am learning… about aspects of interpersonal communication.

In my kitchen… hot dogs and salad for dinner tonight with apple pie for dessert.

In the school room… Daniel has one more week until extended school year (ESY) starts.

Post Script… this is painful but worth reading.

Shared Quote… “You don’t always have a complete set of options.” I don’t remember why she said it or what the issue was but I’ve parroted these words from my wise friend Eileen a bunch of times.

A moment from my day… Many of my friends have shared this image on Facebook today…

Treason Day

Closing Notes: Here are the rules for displaying the flag today.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: Lazy Summer Night Edition

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Memories. All of the memories and pictures of me putting my bedroom furniture together are coming up in my “On This Day” feature on Facebook. When I shared one of the pictures, I commented that my mom had to hide the flame thrower for a couple days because IKEA does not drill holes correctly and I managed to hammer a nail into my fingers… TWICE. (This was about the time my mom created a list of errands for me to do BY MYSELF because I think she was afraid of the words I might teach Daniel. (Little does she know that Daniel has heard ALL of those words before while driving with me in Sacramento traffic.)

— 2 —

Molly Bears. Someone on one of my favorite subreddits talked about Molly Bears and how they’ve helped her heal. Could y’all please go check them out and maybe make a donation? Thanks.

— 3 —

Nice kitty… Because the world needs more cat stories and cat memes.

— 4 —

We all scream for ice cream! I really want to try this ice cream recipe. It seems pretty simple and something I could do with the kid.

— 5 —

Mystery recommendation. Someone recommended this author to me and I’m passing it on in case any of you are mystery lovers.

— 6 —

Prerequisite faith link. Just so you know, I don’t want a celebration of life when I die. Instead, I want a burial service.

— 7 —

Summer “schedules”. Kelly has some help for you. She’s cool that way.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

7 Quick Takes: Dark and Stormy Night Edition

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

It was a dark and stormy night… Technically, it’s not dark yet but it’s been a very windy night. We’ve had gale warnings and there’s a small craft advisory out on the Sound right now. The rain seems to have passed but it was a good day to be inside!

— 2 —

Tea for two… or seven. My priest invited me and some of her other mom friends to a “mothers’ survival tea” today and it was wonderful. There’s a tea room on the second floor of a granary in the downtown area and it was a nice and intimate location for lunch. I had a lovely Caesar salad for my first course while others had a zucchini-pear soup or a casoulet. The tea sandwiches were excellent and the chocolate zucchini bread was excellent. I was bummed to have to leave early to go to a therapy appointment!

— 3 —

Grades are in. I have a solid 4.0 (all A’s, no A- at all) for the third straight quarter! I’m applying to be a tutor next year in my department because I loved working with my classmates in various subjects.

— 4 —

I never thought I’d have to post this… However, we had a mass shooting at the local mall and a police shooting in December. (The injured policeman lived though he’s now blind.) So… here’s how to help a shooting victim before EMS arrives.

And for my troll, friends of mine who teach gun safety (including a few LEO’s) are quick to point out that people with concealed weapons are not helpful in this kind of situation because they add to the chaos and end up getting shot themselves.

— 5 —

Bad behavior. I’ve seen two instances of bad behavior in the 36 hours since the shooting in Alexandria. One was Newt Gingrich being interviewed and ranting about the radicalization of the far left. Yeah… the ones who have been fighting for gun control? Nice try.

The second instance of bad behavior was someone commenting that the Republicans deserved for this to happen because of what they’ve been doing to this country. Ummm… no. *NOBODY* deserves to be shot or to be in a place where someone opens fire.

One of the students from my entering class at UCSC was Gabby Giffords’ director of community outreach Gabe Zimmerman and was killed at that event where she was shot by Jared Lee Loughner. He was in a different residential college than I was so we’re not sure if I had any classes with him but he was friends with some of my friends. When Congressman Scalise was shot, Gabby was one of the first to speak out and her statement was powerful. Let’s follow her example and come together over this.

— 6 —

To infinity and beyond! I’m excited to see these 5 new female astronauts.

— 7 —

Some more levity. Because there are *TOTALLY* first world cat problems!

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.