Nov 19, 2011
I originally had a post scheduled for today in which I uncharacteristically vented my woes of unemployment. But that’s a bandwagon I really don’t want to jump on.
I like to think of myself as an optimist, and as hard as life can be at times, it can always be worse. And I don’t like to dwell in the dregs.
So, I deleted my uncharacteristically woeful post and have decided, instead, to announce all the things I am incredibly thankful for. On Facebook, I’ve seen some friends post their “25 Days of Thanksgiving” since November 1st. While I haven’t posted anything, I’ve enjoyed seeing the variety of what people find to be thankful for.
Here’s my list. (I’ll try to stick to generals, because if I get specific, this list will never end.)
1. Books, especially the Bible, Louis L’Amour, Little Women, Sherlock Holmes, and mafia crime.
2. My family: birth, church, writing, and FPTO.
3. The ability to write, and family/friends/readers to write for.
4. My kitchen and all the goodies that it holds and creates.
5. My cats.
6. My house, yard, garage, patio, trees, and herb garden.
7. Church. The people I’ve met at church. The ministry they offer. The peace it gives me.
8. Unemployment benefits, some people don’t even have that much.
9. My car and the ability to drive.
10. Dreams, hope, and wishing. In other words, a future.
11. A balanced checkbook and bills that are paid.
12. Two turkeys (thanks, Laura!)
13. Our Second Family.
14. Health.
15. Our fireplace.
16. Living so close to my mom and being able to have coffee with her more often than not.
17. Impromptu visits from and to friends and family.
18. Recipes.
19. Bunco.
20. The internet, phones, television and digital/electronic media that make research and writing easier.
21. My 100-year old Encyclopedia Brittanica library and typewriter that remind me no matter what, I was born to write.
22. Living in America.
23. Music. To listen to, to rest with, to sing with.
24. Imagination and the ability to share it.
25. Inspiration. From God. From family and friends and the world.
What’s on your list?
Nov 18, 2011
So last night was yet another venture into the otherworld known as Midnight Movie Premiere. That’s a story all its own.
We rode down with one group of friends to a movie theatre just over a half-hour away. We met up with another friend and decided to ride with her on the way back.
Poor Baylee! I think I kept intimidating her with my Back-Seat Driver impersonations: “Oh, Baylee, you’re a great driver, but please don’t tailgate.” (We were a good four car lengths behind any other vehicle.) “I hate driving in the fog, Baylee. I hate it!” (Visibility was at least a half mile or more, so we were fine.) After that, I did it to tease her just ‘cuz I could. “Baylee, you’re swerving.” “Baylee, look out.” “Baylee, do you want me to shut up now?”
Now, I’ve made this drive probably thousands of times over the last 20+ years. I went to University in that area. My brother used to live 3 miles away from the theatre. I can navigate these roads and the freeway without even thinking…
Unless I’ve been awake for more than 21 hours. Unless there’s a bit of fog and lot of conversation to distract me.
Get where I’m going with this? I navigated us about 20 minutes too far east. “It’s coming up. I know this road. We’re on the 210 East, so we’ll meet up with the 15 North any second now.” “Yup, any second now.” “Anyyy second noww…”
We realized we’d gone too far when we finally saw the sign proudly announcing we weren’t that far from Palm Springs. Uhm, yeah. I’ve navigated us wayyy too east. Time to backtrack.
Baylee good-naturedly made the U-turn and soon (soon is a relative term here, as we should have already been home by now) we found our way back to known territory heading north.
Baylee gave an audible sigh and said, “I’m so embarrassed.”
“Why?” I gasped. “You’re not the one who sent us so far off the beaten trek.”
“No, it’s not that,” she offered. “You’re fine. This has been a great drive. I love driving.”
“Then what??”
She sighed again just as we merged with the 15 North.
“Every time I make the drive home, other people get to head to Ontario down the Hill. I have to follow the signs leading to Barstow.”
Nov 18, 2011
I originally posted this last week but am thrilled to announce that right now it’s being featured at BlogHer.com. You can check it out on their website by clicking here.
Rita Arens, one of the Money Editors on BlogHer.com, has been extremely helpful and communicative. I must say, this is not what I expected. I honestly expected BlogHer to be a website where contributors posted our own links and hoped with fingers crossed that some other blogger might find our post interesting enough to leave a comment.
I didn’t really expect to be featured so soon, and I didn’t expect the response to being featured. In the first two hours, the BlogHer post has received over 600 readers, been shared on twitter and facebook, and, yes, commented on.
I. Think. I. Have. Arrived.
And it wasn’t even my best writing. So, wow.
Just. Wow.
And Frankly, My Dear… That’s All She Wrote.
Nov 18, 2011
1. Movies will never be as good as books.
2. Friends are as important as family.
3. There’s more to life than a paycheck, or lack thereof.
4. However, a paycheck can make life a little easier.
5. God is in control. Always.
6. God may not provide in the way I want, but always in the way I need.
7. Some of my most important friends are the ones I haven’t physically met yet.
8. It’s always colder in winter. This should not be news.
9. Laptop chargers are awesome.
10. Social media should not be a place to publicly vent a private matter.
11. Books are best in hardcopy.
12. Deep red is one of the best colors ever.
13. Classical music will never go out of style.
14. Christmas Spirit should be year-round. Christmas decorating, apparently, should not.
15. Thanksgiving is an attitude, not a day.
16. I may not be perfect; but I’m the perfect Me at this moment in time.
17. Chocolate covered orange jellies are bliss.
18. Crescent rolls are very versatile.
19. Midnight movie premieres are incredibly fun.
20. The morning after… notsomuch.
21. Blogging is a job.
22. Sometimes this job doesn’t pay enough.
23. Sometimes this job pays bonuses.
24. My child will always be my child, no matter how old she gets.
25. My mommy will always be my mommy, no matter how old I get.
Nov 17, 2011
Here’s another great Christmas cookie recipe from my mom. These were always my favorite; even now I still can never get enough.
I haven’t made them yet this year, so there’s no photos on the blog. But trust me. As soon as I make them, I’ll photograph their melty gooey yumminess for all to see.
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup butter
1-1/2 cup sifted confectioners sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
2-1/2 cup sifted flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup small gumdrops, sliced (don’t use black)
DIRECTIONS:
Thoroughly cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Beat in egg.
Sift together flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Gradually stir into creamed mixture; mix well.
Shape dough into roll 2″ in diameter x 12″ long. Wrap in wax paper, chill several hours or overnight.
Cut 1/4-inch thick slices. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Decorate tops with gumdrop slices.
Bake at 350 for approximately 12 minutes, or until lightly browned.
Cool slightly before removing from pan.
Makes approximately 4 dozen.
This recipe has been entered in the 2011 Holiday Recipe Exchange. “Come join the fun at the My Baking Addiction and GoodLife Eats Holiday Recipe Swap sponsored by OXO.”
