Category Archives: Food/Drink

7 Quick Takes: Latin Woes, Why You Should Not Watch the Jordanian Pilot Execution Video, and More.

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

I despair at the state of our public education system. An eighth grade girl in Vermont suggested that Vermont adopt a Latin motto and the Senate minority leader of the state decided to take her suggestion up in the state legislature. Things go horribly awry as various Vermont citizens flip out about adopting a state motto in “Latin” because *gasp* it might have something to do with Latin-Americans, also known as “illegal immigrants”. Reading some of the comments made my inner grammar Nazi convulse.

— 2 —

New Year’s resolution update: plank challenge. As I mentioned last week, I didn’t get to finish the plank challenge and I am not able to hold a plank for 5 minutes straight. However, I am still able to consistently plank for more than 60 seconds each and that in itself is pretty amazing. I might repeat the challenge again later this year and see if I can do better then.

— 3 —

There’s sane and then there’s Kelly. I’m sure many of you have seen the 23 tips for sane eating, right? Kelly of This Ain’t the Lyceum decided to add a few of her own. 🙂

— 4 —

New Year’s resolution update: Bible reading. In the Old Testament, I’m through Genesis and into Exodus now which means lots and lots of information on the various commandments and laws being put into play. (My reading on Wednesday had to do with the priestly garments and how to make them as well as the various specifications of the altars and the sacrifices offered.) In the New Testament, we crucified Jesus. Definitely not the most uplifting reading! On the plus side, we got to resurrect Him today and I’m loving all the Psalms I get to read.

— 5 —

Pick my Lenten discipline for me. I’m raffling off the right to choose my Lenten discipline for me. Click here for more information. The only rules are that it has to be doable (bread and water is not as I’ve got health conditions that preclude that) and I have to be able to do it around my schedule with Daniel. Otherwise, BRING IT!

— 6 —

Got picky eaters? Here are 32 kids who are hilariously picky eaters. Scarily enough, I know some adults who are worse! I’ve had co-workers who will not eat foods that are touching other foods on principle.
*

— 7 —

Simcha nails it again! I really recommend the piece by Simcha Fisher where she talks about the dangers in watching the execution video of the Jordanian pilot and ties in the watching of Fifty Shades of Gray. She mentions this post by Marge Fenelon and I agree wholeheartedly with it. There is no good that can come from watching it.

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

Five Favorites: Miscellanea (XXV)

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Five Favorites

Un

A quiet house. I’m the only one awake right now other than the cats. Everybody in the house (with the exception of Daniel) is going to have a wonky schedule tomorrow so most everyone is asleep and I’ve stayed up changing cleaning pads on the Mints. Once I get all this written, I’m heading to bed because I’ve got a meeting in San Dimas tomorrow for Daniel’s triennial IEP paperwork at 7:30 a.m. (Translation: they have to do some pretty extensive evaluations for students’ IEP’s every three years and I have to go sign the paperwork consenting to this. Oh yeah… IEP = “individualized education plan”.)

Deux

The various NCIS franchises. The original NCIS is still my favorite but I’ve also gotten into NCIS: New Orleans and I’ll watch NCIS: Los Angeles if I need something semi-brainless on while I crochet.

Trois

In-N-Out. I pity those who don’t live near an In-N-Out location (which would be most of the US). I’m kind of meh about their fries but their burgers are AWESOME. They also have a secret menu which is actually not really a secret as much as it is how they will gladly customize your burger, fries, or shake.

Quatre

Doing some form of exercise while Daniel is in school. I’m back to walking in the mornings after I get Daniel off to school and adding in some core work and weights every other day. I still get plenty of walks with him in the afternoon but the morning is “me time”. It’s also a way to try and neutralize the pound of See’s candy on my nightstand that I discovered when I got home from San Jose.

Cinq

Stalking my online orders on various shipping company websites. I used to work for an import brokerage owned by UPS so I get totally geeky about how my orders arrive at my house. 🙂 Currently, I’m awaiting the delivery of my copy of Kelly’s planner which should arrive tomorrow or Thursday. (Ahem… FedEx!)

Go love up Jenna and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 31, 2014.

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY December 31, 2015

Outside my window… cold. According to my dad’s weather station, it’s in the mid-40’s outside. I wondered how I managed -20F (not counting wind chill) when I lived in the Midwest until I realized that I never spent any significant time outside when it was that cold.

I am thinking… about the various things I might attempt to change about myself in the new year.

I am thankful… for many things: Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood episodes on YouTube so I can catnap in the mornings while Daniel is off school, a shopping trip to Kohl’s for new jeans that fit (my old ones are falling off of me), and an opportunity to go visit my grandma in Seattle over MLK Day weekend. (I haven’t seen her in 4 years and she’s 94 years old.)

In the kitchen… instant breakfast for me, oatmeal with various stuff for Mom, and various greasy things for Dad. I had to politely veto him making bacon and potatoes for me (no eggs due to my allergy) because my body does not do well with grease. (My gallbladder gave up the ghost 9.5 years ago.)

I am wearing… my jammies (my Run for the Little Flowers shirt and black sweats) and my Jameson fleece because I had to go out and take something to the trash this morning.

I am praying for… the Lenaburgs as they bury Courtney today. I’m grateful for Mary’s honesty (especially during this time) because I think it’s a ministry to a lot of us mamas who don’t know how we’re going to parent our kids with special needs and scary conditions. I know she gives me a lot of hope and encouragement and I’m wishing I could do the same for her.

I am going… on a walk to the store in a bit for milk. Long walks with Daniel to do errands are a benefit of visiting my parents.

I am wondering… about how my SSI appeal for Daniel will go.

I am reading… Cast On, Kill Off by Maggie Sefton. It’s the last of the murder mysteries in that series. After I finish, I’ll probably re-read something on my NOOK.

I am hoping… for an easy drive back home on Saturday.

I am looking forward to… Daniel going back to school on Monday. As much as I love spending time with him, he needs to get back into a routine… badly.

I am hearing… Daniel playing with his trolley from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. He is bringing me the characters individually and telling me their names as best he can. (For those not familiar with Daniel, he deals with apraxia due to his autism so him attempting to speak and tell me all of this is beyond cool.)

Around the house… smelling wood smoke from my dad’s fire in the fireplace last night. It’s a wonderful smell that I associate with my grandparents’ house.

A favorite quote for today… “The Incarnation is the manifestation of the love of God, not merely in the person of the Child of Bethlehem, but in the persons of all whom Christ attaches to himself. We are each of us incarnations of divine love, since we are members of Christ.” — Richard Meux Benson, SSJE

One of my favorite things… my silly boy snuggling with me.

A few plans for the rest of the week: decorating a gingerbread house, walks with the boy child, driving home on Saturday, and whatever else comes up.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: Highs and Lows

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Low: I had a screaming fit at Daniel’s school district on Monday. Their idiot special ed person was not communicating with me and I finally called up the chain of command and made sure that the superintendent and the assistant superintendent knew exactly what was happening. The assistant superintendent kicked the special ed person off of Daniel’s case and has found me someone who is being pro-active about working with me.

— 2 —

High: I got all the ornaments crocheted and starched for Daniel’s support people. This is the pattern I used and this is how I starched them.

— 3 —

Low: We had the family memorial service for Edda (my black cat) and placed her memorial stone in the garden. It’s been a month and we’re pretty sure that she isn’t coming back. Tuesday (the day we placed the stone) was pretty hard for me and I think I cried more than I have in a long time. Edda was a really special little girl to me.

— 4 —

High: I got to go sing portions of the Christmas section of the “Messiah” on Wednesday. We’re doing it as the Christmas Eve cantata. I am in music geek heaven. I spent last Thursday pounding out my parts on the piano and it made this Wednesday a lot easier because I could hold my own while practicing the choruses.

— 5 —

Low: Some malware got on my computer. Symantec worked for an hour and couldn’t get it off so I was grumping about having to take it to a tech. I was talking to my mom who suggested googling the problem and seeing what I could find. Google had something and I was able to get the bad stuff off. I unfortunately lost all my bookmarks on my Chrome but oh well.

— 6 —

High: I got to bake cookies this morning. I have a cookie exchange for church on Sunday night and I also have people to whom I have to give presents. The baking went really quickly and I can focus on Christmas cards now.

— 7 —

High: We’re getting rain right now in California. Northern California got smacked with the storm and we’re getting hit pretty hard today down in Claremont.

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

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 2, 2014

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY December 2, 2014

Outside my window… dark. It’s about 1:30 a.m. right now and between the fibro and the PMS, I’m not sleeping well.

I am thinking… about the sermon I heard on Sunday regarding the sitch in Ferguson — very well-articulated. balanced, and thought-provoking.

I am thankful… to be back home in Claremont. Also thankful for the rain we’re supposed to be getting today.

In the kitchen… cleaned up but I did baked potatoes for dinner — quick and easy comfort food.

I am wearing… grey v-neck shirt and black capri sweats.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, healing for my father-in-law whose cancer numbers have doubled, and some special intentions.

I am going… to sleep once I get this posted.

I am wondering… why the St. Louis police feels they have any business trying to punish the St. Louis Rams for the “don’t shoot” posture. There is no crime against free speech.

I am reading… Dyer Consequences by Maggie Sefton. I finished A Killer Stitch on my long drive on Sunday in addition to reading all of The Long Way Home by Louise Penny. It was, as are all her books, haunting in a literary chiaroscuro way. (“Chiaroscuro” is honestly the best word to describe them.)

I am hoping… to be able to put together my Christmas cards this week and send them out.

I am looking forward to… choir on Wednesday and working on Handel’s “Messiah”.

I am hearing… what I think is traffic in the distance.

Around the house… silence. I am the only one up.

A favorite quote for today… “The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command. He said (in the Bible) that we were “gods” and He is going to make good His words. If we let Him—for we can prevent Him, if we choose—He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, a dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said.” — C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

One of my favorite things… rain. We’re supposed to have a massive world-ending storm in a few hours.

A few plans for the rest of the week: errands whenever they pop up, choir on Wednesday, possibly a concert later in the week.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: November 23, 2014

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY November 23, 2014

Outside my window… dark. It was maybe in the 60’s today. I’m actually blogging earlier than usual as I’m trying to get Daniel to go to sleep (without breaking out the Samuel L. Jackson book) and he won’t go to sleep unless one of us is present. *sigh*

I am thinking… about how much I love the liturgical year and about today being Christ the King Sunday for me as a Lutheran. I’m kind of bummed I missed church this morning because some of my favorite hymns were being sung. (I was having a fibro flare and as Jon had a wedding this afternoon, I needed to rest to have my A game on for Daniel.)

I am thankful… for Gabapentin which helps with the pain. (It’s nerve pain so painkillers like Tylenol and Aleve are useless. And yes, I get asked that frequently.)

In the kitchen… Daniel’s dishes to toss in the dishwasher. I haven’t had dinner yet — I’ll make it after Jon finishes cat chores and takes over putting Daniel down. (We’re in hour 2 of “put-Daniel-to-bed”.)

I am wearing… light gray v-neck shirt and jeans.

I am praying for… closure about Edda (still missing after almost 2 weeks), for finances, for a call for Jon, and for various special intentions regarding family members.

I am going… to go to IKEA with Daniel sometime in the next two days. I haven’t been in 4 years and it would be something to do other than the worksheets that his teacher sent home for this week. Also, I’m puzzling over the fact that she said that she wouldn’t send homework home like that if the parents didn’t want it. Seriously, we could probably get all of them done in about an hour… and that’s with my child who has no attention span. It’s not like this is putting us out at all and I remember always having stuff like that over vacation even in kindergarten. What is with parents these days?!?!?!? (I’m under the assumption that her statement is because parents have complained about actually having to do something with their kid… like read to them.)

I am wondering… what happened to Edda. I miss my lovey little house panther very much.

I am reading… Skein of the Crime by Maggie Sefton. It’s another in the series of murder mysteries about a woman in Colorado. I also read all of The Chocolate Clown Corpse by Joanna Carl and part of French Pastry Murder by Leslie Meier before I put the latter down due to it failing to keep my attention.

I am hoping… to get the two Christmas stockings done by the time we leave San Jose on Sunday.

I am looking forward to… seeing my family on Wednesday.

I am hearing… Jon feeding cats.

Around the house… cat chores being done and laundry to be folded once Daniel is down and I’ve had a chance to shower.

A favorite quote for today… “I quit church, stopped reading my Bible, gave up on any real semblance of a prayer life — and you know what? He was big enough to take it. His feelings weren’t hurt when I spoke words of doubt instead of faith. He didn’t mind when I cried rather than worshipped. He is God enough to handle this human heart of mine. He didn’t scold me; He didn’t heap “shoulds” or shame on me; He didn’t tell me to let go and let Him. He just sat in The Great Sadness with me.” — Alece Ronzino over at Deeper Story. (Read the rest of it here. HT: Rachel Held Evans.)

One of my favorite things… In-n-Out cheeseburgers with spread and pickles only, fries, and a Coke.

A few plans for the rest of the week: IKEA trip with Daniel, errands, crocheting, driving up to San Jose on Wednesday, and bonding with my family.

A peek into my day… Instead of a picture, I’m going to share an interesting link that I got from Rachel Held Evans.

Gate A-4

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: November 10, 2014

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY November 10, 2014

Outside my window… dark. I’m writing late at night as usual

I am thinking… about who the protagonist in the Miss Julia books reminds me of in my life.

I am thankful… for the life of my former co-worker Karen. One of my favorite memories of her took place in the fall of 2009 when we were sitting and eating lunch with a few other people. The other young 20something woman at the table and I were discussing pregnancy and breastfeeding and I mentioned the things we’d be doing with my next baby. Karen, who had watched my horrific pregnancy with Daniel, interrupted me and exclaimed, “You mean they’re letting you get pregnant again?!?!?!?!?” Believe me, nobody laughed harder than I did because she had a way of speaking whatever was on her mind and doing it in a humorous way.

In the kitchen… my mother-in-law made some fabulous pizza.

I am wearing… green shirt and running shorts.

I am praying for… a call for Jon, healing from cancer for one of my brother’s Boy Scout friends, safety for some friends in Israel right now, and some other special intentions.

I am going… to have to find things to do with Daniel tomorrow which should be interesting because my mother-in-law is probably going to veto him leaving the house after the pukesplosion he had tonight.

I am reading… Miss Julia’s Marvelous Makeover by Ann B. Ross. I finished the latest Jan Karon book this past weekend.

I am hoping… for decent sleep tonight.

I am looking forward to… choir practice on Wednesday.

I am hearing… Jon in the kitchen eating dinner.

Around the house… quiet other than the sounds from the kitchen.

One of my favorite things… ice. It’s horrible for my teeth to chew it but it’s helping with my water intake.

A few plans for the rest of the week: choir practice and whatever comes up otherwise.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.