My Frend's Post on Facebook

It takes 7 seconds for food to pass from mouth to stomach. A human hair can hold 3kg. The length of a penis is 3x the length of the thumb. The femur is as hard as concrete. A woman's heart beats faster then a man's. Women blink 2x as much as men. We use 300 muscles just to keep our balance when we stand. The woman has read this entire text. The man is still looking at his thumb. Repost if this made you smile :)

Them VS Us

Them versus us, isn't that an age old problem?

Muslims vs Christians
Rich vs poor
Day time crew vs night time crew
City folk vs country folk
Race against race
Men who love women vs men who love men
Men vs women

John Lennon wrote a song about it, Imagine.
Dr Suess wrote a children's book about it, The Sneeches.
The Bible mentions it more than once;
the beam in the eye, cast the first stone.
Gandhi preached it incessantly.

Them vs us must have some biological survival importance or it wouldn't linger so long in society. The tribe in the valley vs the tribe on the hill. Blue spots instead of red. Skin color, hair color, eye color, type of hut, type of food, number of wives, number of goats, star bellied Sneeches vs Sneeches without stars.

Yet for at least 2000 years people have also tried to overcome it.

I was talking to Roger the other day and he mentioned Boeing was having them do some sort of new personality seminar, akin to Briggs and Meyers, akin to Insights, I forget the name of this new one, but all it's actually trying to accomplish is to overcome the issue of Them vs Us.

I said I can give them a seminar in one word: tolerance.

A gal and I were talking at work, she said I just can't seem to accomplish your level of tolerance. I reminded her I have been the recipient of much intolerance and it tends to burn that bone down to nothing.

I've been mocked due to being a women, an Okie, having an accent, being fat, being skinny, being divorced, wearing different clothes, wearing glasses, wearing glasses on a pretty chain around my neck, being poor, being old, driving with my hands at ten and two; they think it's funny when I do that, but they also don't realize the safety I am providing them because I don't drive nearly as well as I used to. The days of 100 mph are definitely over. I have been scorned because I was too stupid for words and also scorned for being too smart for my own good.

Tolerance vs intolerance is that a division.

I hope 2011 accords you much tolerance.


Just to clarify my previous post, Christian says he has never had a car with a cup holder in it.

I read where Seattle had 49 inches of rain in 2010, 19 inches since 10/1. Not nearly as impressive as Kauai where they have recorded 9 feet of rain before. Or Southern California where they were getting 1 inch an hour.

I don't know why I'm mentioning this, but I have never seen an episode of Saturday Night Live. Yes, I do know why I am mentioning it: I saw a review on a recent movie that the complete second season of SNL was now available on DVD. Lucky me.

TV watchers vs non TV watchers
New car owners vs old car owners
Blue collar workers vs white collar workers
Computer literate vs computer illiterate
Women with children vs women without children
Families with 1 or 2 children vs families with 5 or more
Them vs Us

Right now I love you all...

New Car

Christian bought a new car. He said he has never owned a car from this century before. Accordingly he is totally modern, he now owns a digital camera, a laptop computer, and a brand new automotive cup holder. Where's the punk.

Christmas Day: Dinner with the Family

Christmas was so damn sweet; dinner with the boys, the daughter in law and my friend Claire. Stephanie did all the work, cooking, cleaning and just in general making it a delightful experience. She set a beautiful table with all her china, silver, crystal and other amenities. Roger helped her quite a bit during the preparation and Ian came through with the final set-up at dinner time.

At my house it's scoop it out of a pot off the stove and sit and eat while holding the plate on your lap, well you know, you have eaten at my house before. No china at momma's house.

Stephanie is so cute, she is a terrific cook, but a tad unorganized and who wouldn't be with a job, husband, kid, all the stress and activity during the holiday and the in-laws coming to dinner, so we had our two o'clock dinner at 4:30 ish. Claire got there in plenty of time, she had to work and was worried she might be too late, but she got out early due to the light car troubles people were having on Christmas day.

Stephanie had asked for homemade dinner rolls so I went to the store early, early, early on Christmas eve to get yeast and flour then got up early, early, early on Christmas day to make the rolls -- and that folks was my single contribution, but they were yummy, and Stephanie is so worth the effort.

Stephine did every thing else from the superb prime rib roast with outstanding made from scratch horseradish sauce to the fennel vegetable dish, mashed potatoes, and exquisite salad with beets, jicama, feta cheese, pears, and baby greens -- all the good stuff. Delicious. She worked hard all afternoon while I yammered, drank mimosas, snacked and watched. I promise I offered to help but she kept declining. The only thing I did was get Connor up from his long holiday nap.

Now that was sweet, turning on the light and seeing him wake up with a little start, with his rosy cheeks, rumpled clothes and wispy smile. He was happy to see his granny.

Both of Connors grandparents got him toddler tools, the Home Depot brand. I guess great grannies think alike. He "fixed" things all afternoon with his wrenches, hammers and electric drill buzzing away. Stephanie also got him one of those old fashioned Mexican popper guns the one with a cork and a string. He was so dang cute popping that thing. He can pop with gusto. He is so dang cute.

The only hic-up in my day was watching Connor desert me for Christian. Christian sees Connor about once every six months but Connor is absolutley devoted to him. Christian lifts him high, swoops him low, makes him giggle and laugh, give him rides on his shoulders and just in general is the favorite uncle of all time if not the favorite person of all time. I think Christian went through every tool in both tool boxes and showed Connor several different things to do with each one, not all of them legal.

Sometimes you are just second best.

Lovely day, lovely dinner, lovely family. And yours? Did you eat hearty and laugh much?

Christmas Music, Movie, and Cookies

I took these cookies to work and they created a sensation: everyone loved them, many wanted the recipe, they were a smash hit and I got all these kudos for making such yummy cookies.

Of course I didn't tell anyone Ian actually made the cookies and I didn't tell anyone it's Jean's old standby cookie recipe that she has been making for years, but just so you know EVERYONE loves "Popcorn" cookies. One lady asked me if there was actually popcorn in the cookies because she didn't taste any. I explained how it was a family nickname -- she still looked puzzled. I guess not everyone has a Taylor sense of humor.

Thanks Jean and Ian for making me look good.

I didn't send out a single Christmas card, but thank you for the many beautiful cards I received from one and all.

I didn't send Christmas cards because I was a little distracted and out of focus this holiday, but right now I have finished a delightfully weird French Christmas movie, the cookies are baked, and a new Christmas CD from my friend Carol is playing. Thank you Carol for sharing your Uncle's CD, and thank you for sharing coffee, the delightful book for Connor you so thoughtfully brought for him, and your new little surprise Grandbebe, Stella Jean. She is indeed all sweetness and light.

Music and movies and babies and cookies can certainly pull you back to some of the best parts of Christmas. Tomorrow is the dinner with the boys, the girl, and the friend. And ain't that supposed to be how it goes? Family and friends sharing the blessings of the season.

Merry Christmas

Christmas and family

Yesterday Amber went to a Christmas party for a group of disadvantaged children that her office supported as their department’s Christmas giving project.  She accompanied the fundraiser organizer to witness the good work they had done and to affirm the results of what had been shared.  What she witnessed was both heartwarming and heartbreaking, as most such events are.  The children were ostensibly wards of the state, assigned for care by noble and thoughtful caregivers, but essentially not afforded the privilege of living in a normal family environment.  They were victims of abuse of all kinds, damaged perhaps forever by their circumstances, through no fault of their own.  The probability of them breaking free from these surrounds and achieving normalcy are slight, as they must be cared for in this manner to prevent harm, be it self inflicted, or to the others around them.  They ranged in age from five to seventeen, each with the recognition of their compatriots as a reminder of what was or what is yet to be.  

Amber told me that of course this experience solidified just how blessed we are to have a family and that perhaps we may sometimes take that fact for granted.  Two demonstrations of the strife felt by these children exemplified this situation pretty well.  The first one involved a picture she saw that had won a prize for a Christmas art contest.  The drawing was a stark demonstration of how something as simple as hope can be so important for a child.  She described the drawing as two pictures separated by one vertical line in the middle of the page.  On the left was a simply drawn picture of a child standing next to a Christmas tree with the label of “Present”.  On the right was a similar picture but with the addition of an adult.  The right side was labeled “My Wish”.  The second example had to do with one of the party’s activities.  The children were traversing through a series of “stations” designed to orderly provide for participation in party games, snacks, and gifts.  Upon approaching the Santa station where the gifts were delivered, one of the younger children asked the question: “Will I just get a sack of gifts like everyone else, or will my gift have my name on it”? Can you even imagine your children being in a situation where that question makes sense? If those two instances do not exemplify the amazing blessings of family, then nothing does. 

So often the gifts we already have; family, love, hope, and all else are taken for granted.  At this time of year it is very easy to focus on what we will be getting or giving instead of what we already have.

In closing I’d like to say that my wish for all of us is to recognize these blessings along with the greatest blessing of all – that which was given us a little over two-thousand years ago . . .

Merry Christmas from the Harris Family

Smear Campaign

Amber you saved yourself from the dreaded smear campaign. I was within moments of sending a fearsome facebook message.

Tell Hannah thanks for the recipe.

Yes....this is Amber

Good morning, Spirit of Maxine bloggers! I know I'm using Mark's sign on but it was simpler that trying to create my own. :) Things are crazy here in Edmond. I'm taking a very rare day off without the family. I have a few days I have to use before the end of the year and I decided it would be great to use the time to get ready for Christmas. As if I could get this ten foot long to do list done in just a couple of days...

I promised a recipe for Jan and she has been reduced to threatening me through Facebook chat to get it. I didn't know she could sink that low but even at my age, I still get surprised.

Here it is (warning...it's FATTENING, DELICIOUS AND ADDICTIVE)

DELICIOUS CHILE-CORN DIP (that really is the name of the recipe)
3 11-oz cans sweet corn & diced peppers, drained
1 7-oz can chopped green chilis
1 6-oz can chopped jalapenos, drained
1/2 cup green onion, chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
1 8-0z container sour cream
1 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
16 oz (2 cups) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Frito scoop chips for dipping

Mix all ingredients except the corn chips together. Refrigerate several hours or overnight. Eat with corn chips.

This recipe makes a huge batch but, trust me, it can become a single-serving very easily! YUM! This is the kind of recipe I now tell everyone is "against my religion".....

Christmas breakfast last week was delightful. As always, my mother sets a beautiful table, the food was delicious and the conversation lively. With the Taylor kids, the conversation normally turns to what trip can be taken next and where they want to go.

Taylor is busy finishing the semester. Can you believe he is about to start his second semester of his Junior year? Busy working at Hideaway and juggling his first real Christmas where he has to handle "her family" and "my family". An adjustment for all of us.

Hannah went to winter formal a couple of weekends ago. When she was "revealed" to Granny, Grandpa, Dad and brother, her Grandpa and Dad said "NO, SHE ISN'T LEAVING THE HOUSE". She was beautiful! If I can figure out how to post a pic, I will.

Blaine is wrestling. He works out for a couple of hours every day at wrestling practice and his body fat is around 7%. Every time I hug him, I wonder about how awesome it would be to have such a body....

Last night, we drove to Wichita to celebrate Jordan's birthday and attend the Transiberian Orchestra with Marc/Jenn and Mom/Dad. We had a great time. The show was almost three hours long. Dad was excited because it was his first "rock concert"! We left Wichita around midnight and rolled into our house about 2:30 am. The kids have semester finals today......so I guess I won't be voted the mom of the year again this year.

Well....on to the list. I hope everyone has a blessed day.

Jan, enjoy the recipe!

Love you all bunches and bunches!

Amber

How To Ruin Someones Day

Smash their assumptions.

First of all you have to know there is a chasm between the 2nd floor -- call center and the 7th floor -- corporate.

I received my email to go to my meeting Monday morning with the benefits councilor, "Right next to the new copy machine." Huh? Like I know where the new copier is on the 7th floor. I emailed back where is the new copier and received this answer "Right next to Peter's office." Huh, like I know who Peter is let alone where he is.

I decided to wing it and arrived on the 7th floor and came face to face with the receptionist who looked at me like I was a fat old lady that possibly might be one of the downtown homeless who has somehow invaded her domain. Her first course of action was to ignore me. I approached and said I needed to go to my benefits meeting and could she direct me.

Her second course of action was to ignore me.

When she realized I wasn't a leftover fragment of last night's nightmare, that I wasn't disappearing, that I wasn't going away, she wafted aloft off her size 2 derriere didn't say anything and started down the hall. I decided this third ignoring was my invitation to follow, so follow I did.

I never did see the new copier, but I found a man standing there, extending his hand for a hearty handshake, and saying, "I know, I know, you were expecting Renee."

Smashed assumption 1: I answered, No, I wasn't expecting Renee, I was here for my meeting and didn't know the name or gender of the person I was meeting with.

Smashed assumption 2: "What's your name?" Jan Carrillo-Jones. "No, Jan is just what you go by, what's your real name?" Jan is my real name, but it's my middle name, are you looking for Neomia?

Smashed assumption 3: "My weekend was great, what great weather we had, I feel all fresh for the new week. How was your weekend?" I work on the weekend, my days off are Thursday and Friday.

Smashed assumption 4: "Here sign into this," indicating the laptop computer, "Don't you just love laptops?" Don't know. I don't have one. "Well, you use one every day," said a little testily. No, we don't have laptops in the call center.

"What are you doing? Are you just trying to give me a hard time?" No, I just came for the benefits meeting.

Smashed assumption 5: "So, Carrillo is that your maiden name?" By now I don't feel I owe him any mini explanation because his assumptions are wrong, so I answer. No.

So he looks at me like I am a fat old lady that possibly might be one of the downtown homeless who has somehow invaded his domain and told me I was causing him trouble.

Later as I was relating the story to Ian, he said I'm sorry he made you feel bad. I said he didn't make me feel bad, he gave me a wonderful window into people who have a cast-in-stone, this-is-the-way-it-is, already set assumptions mindset. And material. That I would be writing a great blog.

What a powerful reminder to me to yield the need to know, to feel somehow that my self-esteem depends on being in the know. What a powerful reminder to see and hear people as real and not my own assumptions popping in my head. What a powerful reminder to yield the need to to be right. The man's assumptions were common, but 100 percent wrong. What a powerful reminder that if you smash assumptions you can ruin someones day.

On second thought I don't think I ruined his day. I think I was his story that night at the dinner table.


The book club ladies had an annual Book Club Lasagna feast at Kathleen's house last night and my new Cookie recipe was requested so I thought I would share it here. Delicious.


Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies

2/3 c butter
2/3 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1-1/2 c oats
1-1/2 c flour
1 teas baking soda
1/2 teas salt
1 6-oz Craisins dried cranberries
2/3 c white chocolate chips

Mix butter and sugar.
Add eggs.
Add oats, flour, baking soda and salt.
Stir in cranberries and chips.

Bake 375 for 10-12 minutes
About 2-1/2 dozen


Janice sent me a really fancy recipe for Curried Cauliflower Salad. I haven't tried it yet and it is a long complicated recipe, so after I try it I will post it, but thanks Janice. It reads delicious. Candied curried cashews and curried cauliflower mixed with peas, bell pepper, dried apricots, cilantro and syrup. What's not to love.

Three weeks without seeing Connor, he will have forgotten me.

Kathy R NolandDecember 9, 2010 at 10:15pm

Subject: soup recipes

Ladies, here are the recipes I promised many moons ago. Thank you for being patient with me. I love you all.

Southwestern White Chili

1 cup chopped onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
3 15 1/2 ounce Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
2 4-ounce cans diced green chile peppers
4 cups chicken broth or reduced-sodium chicken broth
3 cups chopped cooked chicken
2 sups shredded Monterey Jack cheese (8 ounces)
Dairy sour cream (optional)
Canned diced green chile peppers

In a 3 1/2 to 6 guart slow cooker place the onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, red pepper, beans, 2 cans chile peppers ,broth, and cooked chicken. Stir to combine.

Cover and cook on low heat setting for 7 to 8 hours or on high-heat setting for 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Stir in the cheese until melted.

Ladle the chili into 8 bowls. If desired, top with sour cream and sprinkle with addtional chile peppers.

WW Cheese Soup

2 packages mixed veggies, cauliflower, carrots, and broccoli
3 cans fat free chicken broth
1 can Rotel
10 ounces light velvetta cheese
Cook veggies in broth and Rotel until soft, Remove veggies from broth and mash with potatoes masher or blender. Pour veggies broth. Cut up cheese into cubes and drop into soup into soup. Stir on low until cheese is melted. Makes 10 cups (1 point each)

Cheeseburger Soup

1 cup each celery, onions and carrots chopped
½ pound of extra lean ground beef
1 tbl of basil and parsley
4 cups cubed potatoes (unpeeled)
1 cup fat free milk
3 cans chicken broth
½ pounds of cubed Light Velvetta
Salt and pepper to taste
1/3 c flour
Spray a skillet with vegetable spray. Sauté celery, onions, and beef until beef is browned and vegetables are translucent. Add chicken broth, potatoes, carrots and spices.
Simmer until potatoes are tender. Blend milk and flour until smooth. Add to soup slowly. Simmer until soup is thick. Remove from heat. Stir in cheese.

Cars, Trucks, and Unruly Weather

And Pumpkin pie. Stephanie sent me some good old fashioned pumpkin pie made from a fresh pumpkin baked in the oven. It is delicious. I know how much work goes into making a pumpkin pie from a raw pumpkin and I want her to know I appreciate the effort and I appreciate her thinking of me and sending me a fair share. How did I get the pumpkin pie? Well...

...The boys had a Sunday son's dinner without me last Sunday. How did that happen? Well, the car shopping for Ian was over and I was sound asleep from being up late the night before at the company Christmas party. I didn't get into bed Saturday night until 11:30 and then was back up at 3:30 to be at work by 5am on Sunday morning. Soooo, Sunday night I crashed and burned as the sons had a son's dinner without me. I didn't know they were dining as I was sleeping.

Ian has a car -- at last.
Janice was the banker and came through with a loan.
Christian was the mechanic and approved the car.
Roger was the negotiator and bargained for the car.
Ian was the aesthetic and was satisfied with the look of the car.
A 1994 Honda Accord, four door, automatic, sunroof, and Ian thinks it might be a seafoam blue but really can't remember. Christian is giving it a tuneup before turning it over to Ian so Ian hasn't seen it since last Sunday when they had the son's dinner without me.

Tal do you know how many kinds, varieties, and styles of trucks there are carrying different shapes, configurations and types of loads that is on the road these days? Everyday on my fifty mile commute I am newly educated. Everything from the regular loads of logs or fuel hauling to mysteries beyond imagining. What a constant stream of entertainment they are. Me, all the time madly guessing, "What the heck could that possibly be?"

Today, besides the unusual trucks I observed, I was entertained by the weather. I drove to work in the wee hours through a soft misty drizzle. As the morning progressed and I looked out the window of my downtown office space the drizzle had turned into a downpour. The sky was black, the trees were bending in the wind, people were hunkered under inadequate umbrellas and coming into the call center drenched and dripping. As the day progressed the Sun came out, brilliant sunshine glowed over all the downtown area, I could see the Olympic mountains glistening almost fifty miles away. By the time I was driving home it was overcast with low light and low visability, by the time I was cruising into Mukilteo the weather was back to a soft misty drizzle.

Entertaining daughters in law, entertaining sons, entertaining trucks and entertaining weather.

Sometimes life is variable.

And The Truth Is...

I think I owe a few more double thank yous besides just Cathy.

Jean
Jerry and Jane and Marc and Amber
Janice and Art
Julia and Tal and Nora
Jeff
James if he was around.
Roger
Christian
Ian
Family, friends, cousins, neighbors, strangers, and everyone else I forgot who deserves to be thanked twice.

If you don't know why, I do.

Love and bubbles

Patience is Painfully Hard Work

What I really want to write about is being strong, being scared, being happy, being distracted, being grateful, being contented, being busy, being troubled, being patient and being silent.

It's been that kind of week.

Starting with me coming over the hill into downtown Seattle on the I-5 corridor at 4:30 in the morning, in the dark, through the mist, rain, and fog, amid a constant stream of red taillights, all of them passing me by, and me doing sixty as though I was crawling -- onto the car stopped dead in the middle of the highway with his tiny flashing red lights lost in the sea of distractions. He was stalled, stopped, not moving and my brakes were screeching.

I know I came within feet of hitting him all the time my brain screaming "he's going to die, he's going to die." I am ashamed to say I didn't stop and help. Shook and trembling, I eased around and continued on while my brain kept screaming "he's going to die, he's going to die."

As other Onlineshoes employees who drive the same route arrived at work they were cussing and pissed at this damn car that was sitting in the middle of the highway. I'm pondering the fact that I deserted him and they were angry at him. On the other hand, I might have saved his life. All the faster cars were busy streaming around me because I was going so old lady slow, and consequently streaming out of the lane with the stopped car.

I called Christian and told him the brake job he did on my car while I was in Oklahoma saved two lives that day. I was grateful for that.

I received a bottle of champagne from the company owner because the company had a million dollars worth of sales on cyberMonday. That made me happy, sort of. He only gave it to the permanent employees, none of the temps received it. Seems rude, they helped on cyberMonday as much as me so that made me feel yucky.

I was busy as I used up all my left over turkey. I gave it away, made soup, and made Turkey Jambalaya. I am patient as I wait for Ian, Roger and Christian to locate Ian a different car. I was troubled by the leak under my kitchen sink. I was happy Roger came over and fixed it at a price I could afford, you know, free. I was sad I didn't see Connor this week. I am happy because I have a great hat to give him when I do see him. I am tired from working overtime, I am grateful for the extra wages. I think it might be a week of regular existence. A mundane, human week. No huge trials and troubles, just below the radar of a bad week. A busy distracted week.

I am contented my kids are okay, my family is okay, my friends are okay, my work is okay, my car is okay, and my prince The Connorman is perfectly okay.

I'm grateful for the delicious serving of my wonderful 42nd Street Cafe Marionberry Conserve that Cathy bought for me when she and Jean visited in October. One of many wonderful treats she bought me and I thought Cathy deserves not one, but two thank yous. Thank you, Thank you.

Dreams, fingernails, gassing up the car, leaving, arriving, finances, pregnancies, measures, holiness, Christmas, intensity -- yep -- it's been that kind of week.

Life isn't always silent.

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

I woke up this morning at 3 AM to the sound of gentle rain and melting snow and a balmy 40 degrees. My bedroom window is back to wide open. Does it get any better than that?

The twenty-six mile commute on ice and snow is over. The detour around the four semi-truck accident on I-5 is over. Thanksgiving is over. Ian's blown engine is still under discussion.

Yesterday I had the tiniest Thanksgiving gathering I have ever had. Ian and I cooked for two days for our guest -- Christian. We ate good, talked long, vied for Tiki's attention and enjoyed the day to the max. Next year I think I will just hand the cooking reins over to Ian, he is becoming so expert, up to and including the last, last minute emergency stop for cranberry sauce that his aging mother forgot on her emergency, last minute, final stop at the store. Roger, Stephanie and Connor spent the day with the Fortner's, and Claire didn't want to brave the streets after her long day at AAA helping driver's in distress. She said every person who called in was kind, patient and apologized for bothering her on Thanksgiving Day. People can be amazing.

Today Roger and Connor are coming over to work/play. He promised to help me get my storage room sorted out. Stephanie is working. Ian is definitely working this black Friday. Christian says he will show up at work but doesn't expect much activity. Me, I have the day off, but will be working cyberMonday. I expect Onlineshoes will be busy on cyber Monday.

Tomorrow isn't here yet but my plan is to remember to continue to be thankful for family, friends, work, weather, strangers who drive trucks and have accidents during unruly highway conditions. I want to be especially thankful to all those truck drivers who managed to get cranberry sauce delivered to forgetful old ladies grocery stores. For a while, Tal, you may be as sassy as you want to the rest of us. I'm thankful for hospitals who get their patients taken care of. I'm thankful for toilets and lights and heat that continue to make my home a pleasant safe haven. I'm thankful my family all have safe havens of there own, that they are moderately healthy, they, also, may continue to be as sassy as they want, for a while.

Today I am particularly thankful for Roger hauling boxes, Ian's cooking, and Christian scouring the state for used engines. I'm thankful for my sons who contribute so generously to making my life something to be thankful for.

Now, Julia, I loved your blog and I'm thankful for that, but where is that Corn Frito Salad recipe?

Saturday Outing by Julia

Jeff, myself and three of the Kenneth Lane Street People left Bella Vista at 8:00 a.m. in JEFFREY'S EXCURSION & OLD FOLK'S VAN and headed south for a hike at Lincoln Lake. We stopped at Praire Grove Battlefield for a bathroom break a quick look-see for the out-of-towners whom had never been there. The potty break was imperative because Lincoln Lake, in Lincoln, AR is a city lake with no bathrooms! The lake is a beautiful horseshoe lake and we have seen bald eagles there in the past, but not today (sad face).



We started up the rocky arkansas trail to the dam with Colleen & Wayne (the baby retirees) in the lead and Diane (the informer) and myself bringing up the rear. The hike was 4 miles up, up across the dam and around the Piney Loop trail. We went down along the lake and messed around the bluff area and all the nooks and cranies and just plain pretty country.



The next stop on the tour was Tontitown and the new Tontitown Winery. One of the Ranalli kids of Ranalli Family Produce (Cathie, you will recognize them) is trying to bring winemaking back to Tontitown. I know my job is to ensure the success of anyone trying to live a dream, so I found a nice Italian Red table wine I was able to buy.



We had lunch at AQ Chicken House in Springdale and meandered north to the ruins of Monte Ne on Beaver Lake. Monte Ne was a resort from 1901 - 1930 ish. I had heard that the lake was so low you could see the old ampitheater which is normally under the Beaver Lake waters. I had heard wrong, but it was fun anyway.

Then back to Bella Vista and a Razorback Football game on TV.

I am sitting in my Treehouse and admiring a full moon over the treetops, Tal is due home Wednesday, kids are due Thursday, Jeffrey & my Thanksgiving plans and shopping (mostly) are finished...Life is Good!

Happy Thanksgiving and Love to all....Julia

Here is the review I put right after Jean's on the state of OK state park site. I was going to email Marc Harris but I didn't have his email address, so I sent it to everyone else instead. Love, Jan

If you want chrome and animatronics go some place else.

If you want real rocks, real trees, real water, real fish, real fires, and real family reunions go to Greenleaf. Our family, over forty strong, have always had a good time. It's great for us old folks to sit in the shade and visit. It's great for the kids with the playgrounds, fishing docks, activities, and real animals.

We have enjoyed it in the heat of the summer, the cold of the winter and during the glory of fall. We go back every year. However bad the bathrooms are we keep returning.


I just received Marc's email: I wasn't on the original distribution list.
Thank you Cathy for forwarding it.

Here is the actual photo link:

http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=35c05ef1a3b27f37&sid=0AaNmrlw5aNmbjQ

All ... to expand on Jan's email and send some photos as evidence to her claim ... IT WAS AWESOME! Just follow this link, DOUBLE CLICK on blue text HERE "Pictures from Marc Taylor", follow to album on Shutterfly ... includes a couple of Jack and Jordan playing softball and football respectively. All kinds of crazy family pics, the turkey photos are courtesy of Jack and Jordan, the tree changing colors is for Janice, whom we missed ... you too Art! As a side note, Clark survived the pile on kid sandwich (see attached picture) BUT dislocated and broke his thumb in PE at school yesterday, had surgery, and is recovering ... please keep him in your prayers. We got him through football without injury and he will now miss 4-6 weeks of basketball (his greatest love). Crazy how life works out sometimes ...

Not to get too mushy, but I came across this while reading a book on my travels to China this week ... I think we can agree that all of mankind is eagerly searching for happiness ... from an eastern perspective here is a good discourse which made an impact on me ... in truth, our retreat, family, and the spirit of Clark and Maxine are all touched by the following ideals in many ways ... no wonder Greenleaf is always such a "HAPPY" place for us all! See you next year.

Much love, be safe!
Marc

The Buddha was approached one night by a deva who posed the question:
Many gods and men are eager to know what are the greatest blessings which bring about a peaceful and happy life?

Here is his answer:

Not to be associated with the foolish one's,
To live in the company of wise people,
Honoring those who are worth honoring -
This is the greatest happiness.

To live in a good environment,
To have planted good seeds,
And to realize that you are on the right path -
This is the greatest happiness.

To have a chance to learn and grow,
To be skillful in your profession or craft,
Practicing the precepts and loving speech -
This is the greatest happiness.

To be able to serve and support your PARENTS,
TO CHERISH YOUR OWN FAMILY,
To have a vocation that brings you joy -
This is the greatest happiness.

To live honestly, generous in giving,
TO OFFER SUPPORT TO RELATIVES, and friends,
Living a life of blameless conduct -
This is the greatest happiness.

To avoid unwholesome actions,
Not caught by alcoholism or drugs,
And to be diligent in doing good things -
This is the greatest happiness.

To be humble and polite in manner,
To be grateful and content with a simple life,
Not missing the occasion to learn the Darhma -
This is the greatest happiness.

To persevere and be open to change,
To have regular contact with monks and nuns,
And to fully participate in Darhma discussions -
This is the greatest happiness.

To live diligently and attentively,
To perceive the Noble Truths,
And to realize Nirvana -
This is the greatest happiness.

To live in the world,
With your heart undisturbed by the world,
With all sorrows ended, dwelling in peace -
This is the greatest happiness.

For one who accomplishes this,
Is unvanquished wherever she goes;
Always he is safe and happy -
This is the greatest happiness.

Happiness lives within oneself.


This is lovely Marc, thank you!

Blaine

And Blaine smiled the most.

More Thoughts, Reunion and Otherwise

Damn eventful reunion -- and stuff.

As I listed the missing Mannings from CA as being missed. I neglected to mention the missing Taylors from UK. Judy could have handled that troop of four year olds: Michael, Benjamin, Avery, and Maddie. She might have made four year old soup of the bunch.

I received reunion photos from Cathy today, thank you Jean for getting those off to me. The only thing missing was a shot of the whole family taken from the top of Marc's vehicle. Anybody have a copy of that and willing to share it with me? And did you all see Mike's snapshots and art on facebook?

And how many reunions have had an emergency run for a blender so Marc could complete his salsa during the wind, and the rain, and the storm, and the football games, and before the reunion ended. Which I didn't get one bite of. Which reminds me of Mike's fish that I didn't get one bite of. How many pounds did you wind up with and what did you do with it?

On the home front: The work Christian did on my car while I was fire sitting, porch sitting, camper sitting, cabin sitting, and picnic table sitting in Oklahoma gave me almost five miles to the gallon improvement on my gas mileage. Yeah for Christian, I always did love him best.

At our Thursday evening playdate Connor came to me and crawled into my lap with out any assistance. All of his own accord, under his own power, under his own maneuvering abilities. Sort of like climbing Everest. He now has a big boy car seat installed in Granny's car.

I am now done with reunion 2010.

Addendum to Yesterday's Post

The fantastic dip/spread recipe I put on the blog calls for caramel drizzled over the top. Drizzled not dribbled. But I just stirred it in, I didn't like the dollop of caramel in one bite, trust me it's better stirred in. It's delicious stirred in. It is fantastic.

Isn't a four ounce recipe cute? In our family four ounces is a smear not a recipe. I'm used to making dip by the gallon, not by the ounce, so be sure to Taylor size the recipe.

Repeat after me several hundred times:
Jean is not the matriarch.
Jean is not the matriarch.
Jean is not the matriarch.
Jean is not the matriarch.
Nor is she the favorite child.
Nor is she the perfect child.
Jean is not the matriarch.

Jane made the most mac and cheese for the most grandkids
most of the time.
It might have been every meal.
Dunno about that.
If Jackson asked, Jackson received.
Kathy was a pale second place.
Amber had the best hat, by far the best hat.
It might be the best hat in the world except
she told me about her peacock hat,
but that one I never actually saw.
Technically I guess Art would have to rank as the sickest, not Jerry, due to the fact that the little blood clots floating around in his lungs kept him away for the first time in how many years.
Sorry Jerry, you just were relegated to second place.
Enjoy it, you'll be in good company with Kathy.
Second place is nothing to be ashamed of.

Roger and Stephanie are going to California next week for the Carrillo's seventieth wedding anniversary. Seventy years -- every one is second place to that.

So, they needed some props for Halloween at work.

They needed bones and I had some.
They needed skulls and I had some.
They needed body parts and I had some.
The needed animal pieces and I had some.
They needed blue hair and I had some.
They needed trolls, gnomes, and monsters and I had some.
They needed other ghoulish stuff and I had other ghoulish stuff.
Shark vertebra -- got it.
Dead scorpions -- got it.
Snake heads -- got it.
Turtle shells -- got it.
Jaw bones -- got it.
Teeth -- got it.

Then they called me weird -- go figure.

Quintessential

Quintessential Jeff.

Quintessential reunion.
Quintessential Autumn.
Quintessential Greenleaf.
Quintessential Oklahoma.

I think Jeff knows how to relax and enjoy life.
This was the one and only picture I took, but doesn't it say it all?
Does it make you want to go back?

I don't know who had the most fun, Benjamin or Michael.
I don't know who was most scared Cathy with her snake
or Mike with the Rangers game.
Did anyone murder a snake besides Cathy?
I know Jean probably cooked the most.
Best cook?
I ain't touching that one.
Is there a bad cook in the bunch?
Nora?
I don't know who ate the most.
Daniel and Jacquie did the most "rain hiking."
Julia walked every morning.
Sometimes with Jacquie and sometimes with Nora.
Avery and Maddie did the most Kleenex art.
Maddy very politely told Avery, not Jan, that Jan was fat as a fish.
Jerry was the sickest -- again.
Andrew talked to everyone, I think.
And brought the most books.
I accused Nora of bringing a pod Andrew.
Mark fell the furtherest, one picnic table down.
Amber had the best fall display, besides Mark.
Jan missed out on her Hannah ride.
Like a fool.
Did anybody do a wok meal?
Kathy is the hardest working grandmother.
I like my grandmothering style better. It's less-hardworking.
Jordan had the most sparkly things.
Actually I think everything she had sparkled.
Didn't her fishing pole have rhinestones?
I think Jeff always has the best time.
Mike takes the most pictures.
I loved the geese in motion and at rest.
He captured the fog.
Too many dogs to count.
I still like the psycho security guard better than the plumber.
Ann-Lisette cries like she means it.
Martin was back.
Clark's hair wasn't.
Tal was the most relaxed: reading, napping, cooking, insulting.
All the things Tal does well.
Wait a minute I think that describes ALL the reunion attendees.
Julia received multiple compliments on her chili AND her corn salad.
It's official the world is ending -- soon.
Nora and Cathy admitted to getting older.
Some rides in Orlando are no longer fun.
And taking kids to the playground can be exhausting.
Prettiest, Hannah of course.
Quietest might have been Jordan.
Strangers? Two, Ken and Paula. Strangers no more.
BFF Lindsey & Brittany.
BFF Kathy & Jan.
Tolerant husband? Mike. Thanks dude.
Blaine sailed the tallest ship, oops, sorry, wrong trip.
Who besides Marc went to Atlanta and back during this reunion?
We barely got to know GG, so Cara please bring him back.
A thirty-seven minute assessment isn't enough.
Cara is more beautiful than ever.
Did Lynn or Jackson fish the most?
Was I the only one who went to the happy place in Braggs?
I suspect Brittany and Lindsey made the most trips to Braggs.
Summer and Jonathan held hands the most.
Janice and Art were missed the most.
Not nearly enough fire sitting time with two Oklahoma storms chasing us away two evenings in a row.

Hugs were plentiful, fun, friendly, warm, loving, Texan, rain soaked, fire smoky, and best of all family inspired. There wasn't one too few or one too many, they were all perfect. Fantastic hugs.

I had fried okra compliments of Cathy.

Mark's design on the tee shirts was great.
Very graphic. Fantastic dude.

It either took Marc eighteen years or thirty seconds to figure out how to get a photo of the complete family. We will have more crane shots in the future. Fantastic dude.

Lynn parked her truck one foot from Kathy's door so I didn't have to scurry in the rain. I think she would have driven me onto the porch at the cabin to keep me out of the rain if I hadn't stopped her. Fantastic dudette.

Janice knows I failed at being a surrogate grandmother to Benjamin. He was way too busy. However, I did hear the plot for the movie Monsters and Aliens, is that the right name, complete with dramatic pauses and sound effects. The complete plot with lots of dramatic pauses and lots of sound effects, and just a tad bit of Benjamin disgruntlement that I didn't always keep all the myriad threads of the plot together to his satisfaction. I still don't know where the mean robots came from or the giant girl went to.

My favorite reunion moment was Michael leaving the playground for an emergency announcement to the fire ring in general that he loved Uncle Jan best.

Jane I think I have already had about 100 compliments on my "sparkly" eyeglass chain.

Jean I asked for recipes this morning and an hour later there were your two.
Ask and ye shall receive. You are amazing. Thanks dudette.

Family Reunion October 2010

The family reunion was a great time, the weather was great until Saturday Afternoon and all seemed to have a great time.

Recipes:

ITALIAN SKILLET DINNER

1 lb Italian sausage
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 medium onion, chopped
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
2 cups vegetable juice (I use V-8)
1 1/2 cups instant white rice
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

In large skillet cook sausage (crumble). Drain excess fat. Add green bell peppers and onion,
cook until crisp. Add tomatoes, vegetable juice, cook and stir until mixture boils. Romove
from heat and stir in rice. Cover and let stand 6 to 8 minutes until liquid is absorbed.
Sprinkle with cheese, cover and let stand until cheese is melted.




SWEETHEART CHERRY CHEESE DANISH

2 (two) 8 oz tubes crescent dough sheets or crescent dinner rolls
1 (one) 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
1 cup plus 1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 (one) 21 oz can Cherry Pie Filling
1 Tbsp butter, melted
1/2 cup sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Unroll and spread 1 pkg of crescent dough or rolls into bottom of an ungreased 9 x 13 baking dish.
Mix cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and vanilla. Spread mixture over dough in baking dish.
Next layer pie filling over cream cheese mixture. Unroll remaining cresent dough and lay
on top of pie filling.

Mix together 1 Tbsp sugar, almonds and melted butter. Sprinkle over the top.
Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Note: I did not find crescent roll dough in my grocery store so I used the rolls.

Recipes

Wasn't someone supposed to put some recipes on the blog?

Hannah: Corn Dip
Julia: Corn Frito Salad
Kathy: White Chicken Chili
Jean: Cherry Cheesecake
Italian Sausage Veggie Something

Here is my new fave: Fantastically delicious, just in time for Thanksgiving.

Pecan Cranberry Spread

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Servings: 6

Ingredients

4 ounces	cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup	chopped pecans
1/4 cup	dried cranberries
2 tablespoons	frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
	Crackers Keebler® Town House® Original

Directions
1. In small bowl stir together cream cheese, pecans, cranberries and orange juice concentrate. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes to blend flavors. Garnish as desired.(With Caramel!) Serve with crackers.

Eccentric Snob

I am a fallen woman. I've teetered on the edge for years and have finally fallen to the eccentric side of human existence.

I spent my lunch hour viewing the Space Needle's elevator go up and down. In my twenty minute lunch it made the sixty story round trip three times. Every time it went up, five minutes later it came back down. It was either face the window and watch the elevator or turn around and watch some Jerry Springer type show on the HUGE TV set that dominates the break room that I haven't figured out yet how to turn off. And if it is off when I go into the lunch room, someone trails in behind me and bleeps, I mean blips it on. Elevator viewing is a fine alternative.

Or watching leaves fall. Seventeen observable leaves fell during one elevator round trip. Fall is still whispering around here. No huge splash of color or inundation of leaves. They are still gently falling. Sporadically falling. Countable falling.

I arrived at book club early last night and as I was sitting in Third Place Book Store's food court eating my stuffed baked potato, after I had perused the children's section for a book that doesn't seem to exist any more -- I saw two people worth watching.

The first: An older women, gray hair, stooped shoulders, cane, couldn't even guess her age, came in with a younger woman, thirtyish or so. The younger woman waited very patiently as the older women walked around every kiosk and counter and wall and along the window ledge and read every flier posted. Maybe two or three hundred fliers for everything from learn French to Jan Brett coming to performances at various venues. How odd, I thought.

I figure there is a story there that I will forever not know.

The second:

A women came in -- and sat down.
She got up to get some napkins and silverware -- and sat down
She opened and started reading a newspaper.
She left and made a food order and came back -- and sat down.
She left and returned with a food order -- and sat down.
She got up to get some condiments and returned -- and sat down.
She ate her food order.
She bussed her table -- and sat down.
She left to get a drink order, came back -- and sat down.

All the time, during all of her dining, reading, busing activities she never took off her purse/tote bag that was hanging on her arm. How odd, I thought.

I figured there is a story there that I might know.

Up on reflection, I couldn't decided if it was equally eccentric for me to be aware of and watching their eccentric activities. Which behavior was the eccentric one?

I figure there is a story there that I will forever not know.

And no one thinks I'm funny.

A lady at work told me she was working an a special project so I popped off "Well, project away" and she backed up three feet and went around me. I was terribly amused by my pun.


When Cathy, Jean and I were visiting Forks I wanted to carry a sign around that said I'm not a fan of Twilight, I just brought some one else. I'm innocent. It isn't me.

What a snob.

I accused, tried and condemned myself in about thirteen minutes. People still visit 221 Baker Steet. They follow Mark Twain down the mighty Mississippi. I was thrilled when I was in Northern California in John Steinbeck territory. They still visit Graceland. One of the rescued minors gets to go to Graceland. Who am I to say my taste is superior to someone elses. I haven't earned the right yet to dictate my taste to the world.

Jean said, "Well, I don't care what they think." I thought that is the more honest approach. Not caring and being a snob are definitely two different cows to milk. And I thought, well being aware of the problem is most of the cure, so I'm cured, I told myself, of being a snob.

Then I had a customer who was Mrs. Aas. That ugly snob part of me reared it's ugly head again. Well, I might be fat, old, poor, crooked, with bad eyesight and bad hearing but at least I don't have to go through life with the name of Aas.

Arrogant sonsabitch.

So the current task is to raise my eccentric level and lower my snob level until I'm perfectly balanced, well kind of balanced, well approaching balance, well maybe have balance in sight off on the distant horizon somewhere out there...


No one was passionate about our book club book Brooklyn. We loved the beginning as the young immigrant girl arrived in America and made a place for herself, economically, romantically, spiritually, but thought it had a wimpy ending. We spent the evening talking passionately about other things.

Three books up for perusal that sound good;
The Empire of the Summer Moon, about Quanah Parker, I forget the author, recommended to me, in part, because of the Oklahoma connection by Kathleen.
Earth Abides, a more positive post apocalyptic tale by George Stewart recommended by Sandy.
Cutting For Stone, by Abraham Verghese has rave reviews from Mary's literate sister, however a colleague at work gave the book to me with the note, "Suzanne quit it. Cat quit it. Can Jan handle it. Please do not return this book. I will die a happy girl if I never lay eyes on it again."

Next book club book: Waiting for Snow in Havana, by Carlos Eire.

Movie recommendation AFTER you see Social Network -- Catfish -- according to Eleanor it is the "what social networking has wrought" movie.

Snob: origin unknown, first used in 1781.

Birthday Gal

Brittany is eighteen today. Being eighteen is one of the delights of the known universe. It's a great age Brittany, bound to bring some great changes.

Here is wishing you all that's well, good, charming, fun, exciting, and if you get new tires, practical.

I'm full of advice for the turn, the changes, but I'll keep it to myself and not lecture you. You are wise beyond your years. Smart beyond your age. Cute beyond your genes. I think you are ready for the next chapter of your life.

Go gettum girl and enjoy the year.

The Visit

The visitors came and days, miles, meals later the only thing I bought with my money was a cup of coffee at The Gathering Grounds in Forks Washington.

Thank you Cathy for the sweet treats/treatment.

I've napped, rested, slept, reclined and watched my two new movies, The Secret Book of Kells and The Good Woman. Both watchable.

Ian took care of all the extra blankets, sheets, pillows and beds. I paid the bills, started the laundry, ate some of the left overs yesterday and the remainder today. The companies gone, I guess the trip is over and I don't have to dust again any time soon.

Driving around the county side with Jean and Cathy, I saw people doing what I do. Working, driving, eating, viewing, traveling, seeing what there is to see, what there is to do, and going to the places to go to. People being people. It's amazing how similar people are. Cars are cars, bridges are bridges, and views are views. It's amazing how different people are, Jean and Cathy even held it together when the man in the high heel shoes walked into the restaurant.

Cathy loved the Columbia River ferry boat crossing, the Astoria Bridge and the Northhead Lighthouse. They both loved all the little eateries Lynn and I have spent years finding. I want to remind you all, Lynn and I ate a lot of bad food finding those places.

All in all Cathy had a little driving, a little viewing, a little shopping, a little eating, a little buzz, a little tragedy and a little tranquility.

Final quote of the trip from the movie The Merry Gentleman: It would be a wonderful world if we were always at our best."

Thanks for the memories.

Fall Fog Travelers

The travelers came in the fog and are leaving in the fog. I couldn't see the school last Thursday when they were arriving and I can barely see it this morning as the girls are leaving. But leaving they are, the planes, trains, automobiles, ferry boat and Jan's chase car trip is coming to an end.

The foodie trip continued out in Forks where we ate at Sully's Cafe. Cathy had a Bella Burger and a Twilight Punch -- of course. I think Cathy got her fill of Twilight; we saw the Cullen house, The Swan's home, Dr Cullen's parking spot at the hospital, and saw Bella's trucks, the one from the book and the one used for the movie. Ask Cathy she will tell you, and show you, her photo shoot.

Tuesday we drove to Monroe to my favorite Indian restaurant, The Clay Oven, so Cathy could try creamed spinach among other things. As luck would have it that restaurant was closed only on Tuesdays and only temporary, so we went to my second choice, The Masala. Alas there was no creamed spinach, but both Jean and Cathy enjoyed the tandoori chicken, the pekoras, the naan bread, plus numerous other tasty tidbits.

Next I took them to The Top Pot donut shop in the University of Washington bookstore. Jean had read about them or saw them on some food network show. They didn't disappoint. Cathy also discovered if she bought an insulated cup she would get a free drink, so three free drinks later she had enough insulated cups for the friends in OKC she wanted to take one back to. I received the peach free drink, Jean received the blackberry free drink and Cathy drank the frappachino toffee caramel chocolate what ever drink.

Today it's the Ballard Pancake House for a German apple pancake before they are dropped off at SeaTac and they wing their way home. Just a bit quicker than they chugged-a-chugged their way here. Cathy found a new quote: It's a small world unless you have to walk home. Love it!

We finished up the movie portion of the travel, foodie, coastal, purple house, excellent excursion, drive down the Columbia River trip with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Cuckoo, Bella, and Akeela and the Bee. Cathy said she loved them. Two of them made her cry. Aunt Jan's weird movies passed the watchable test.

Life isn't always a miracle...

...but we had one with Jean.

After she took a tumble onto the dining room floor off the rolling computer chair she is un-hurt, un-bruised, un-sore, un-broke, and ready to roll on down life's highway.

I Forgot

I forgot to mention after Ivar's Sunday morning brunch and before the movie Undertaking Betty we went to Trader Joe's for Cathy a shopping experience. Of course we mostly got coffee, shampoo, candy and treats for Ian.

I forgot to mention that today we are off to Port Angeles to The Chestnut Cottage and Giant Apricot Scones and then on to Forks of vampire fame and who knows what foodie.

I forgot to mention a Great Big Thank You to Brittany for being my "ride" to the lake. Thank you Brittany, I can't wait.

And I didn't forget to mention, because I didn't know it yet that after watching Undertaking Betty, we watched The Merry Gentleman.

Jean said Undertaking Betty was very entertaining, funny, and full of surprises.

Cathy said The Merry Gentleman, "Well, I did like it, but I'm trying to think of the right words. It wasn't what I expected, it was about a gentleman not so merry. Jean wanted a happy- ever-after-ending and didn't get it.

Sitting Pretty

Here we are sitting pretty in Seattle while Jerry is having a birthday in Edmond. He is sitting pretty, leaning back in his comfortable chair, aging.

How old are you Jerry?

Here is wishing you birthday fun, excitement, and food.

FOOD! Speaking of food Jean and Cathy and Jan have had a foodie foodie foodie weekend deluxe. The list is pretty impressive. Of course Jean and Cathy's food experience started on the train from Chicago -- Cathy won a bottle of wine at the wine and cheese tasting. Then when they were picked up at the King Street Station Thursday morning we went to Spuds -- of course.

Thursday evening, after we picked up Connor at daycare, after we had been entertained by Connor's fascination with Jean's phone and Cathy's camera, after Roger had arrived home, we went to Mongo's -- of course. After the chef came out and asked us how everything was, he brought Connor a Halloween concoction of white chocolate pumpkin filled with chocalate mousse and topped with real whipped cream. The chef was kind enough to bring it to Connor but he brought five spoons. Bless him. Connor kept his eye on the concoction as it traveled around the table to come back for him to scoop another bite. Roger decided it might have been the most sugar Connor had ever had at one sitting.

Friday morning -- H Mart and Papa Beard's cream puffs and Kobe beef Japanese hot dogs for breakfast before we started our trek to the Columbia River. Oh, we stopped for Cathy to get a latte.

Next was Olympia and Casa Mia's for some really good Italian.
When we arrived in Astoria, after the drive down the Columbia River, after the river ferry crossing, after Cathy discovered the colony of sea lions, after we were too pooped to go on, after we were ensconced at the hotel overlooking the colony of sea lions we discovered The Ship Inn for some really good sea food.

Next morn on our way North up the coast of Washington I introduced them to my favorite beignets stop at The 42nd Street Cafe in Seaview, late lunch at Bennett's and spiced apple cranberry cider in Greyland, finishing up the day with a sweet Starbuck's drink before we hit the I-5 corridor and the last of the drive home.

This morning we went to Ivar's Salmon House on Lake Union for the breakfast buffet where we celebrated Jerry's birthday and toasted him with mimosas, mimosas, and mimosas. Happy best of birthdays Jerry and remember life can be a mimosa experience surrounded by family, friends, and food.

Two parting thoughts:

Don't always believe what you think, seen on sign driving through Wallingford.
Friends always welcome, relatives by appointment only, seen at Bennett's.

Ooops gotta go, starting the Undertaking Betty movie, don't want to miss that.

Brittany's Facebook Post

Thank you Brittany for the Facebook post. You reminded me that today is the first day of Fall. The first day of Fall is always worth remembering, and it's the official beginning of the countdown to The Taylor Family Reunion.

Today in Mukilteo has been a wonderful preview of Fall. A little soft rain, a bit of sunshine peeking out of the white clouds, a gentle breeze, misty and foggy then drifting back to a little soft rain this evening.

My friend Mary saw on The Taylor Blog that I was planning a drive down the Columbia River Gorge when Jean and Cathy are here. She had seen a list of the top ten Fall foliage locations and one of them was the Columbia River Gorge, so hopefully we will see something spectacular. Not much change happening around here yet. A bit of yellow and a smattering of red, but everything is still mostly green.

With Jean and Cathy visiting, Fall arriving, The Taylor Family Reunion approaching -- what else do you need?

Hugs. Brittany also mentioned hugs on her FB comments. I'm expecting, hoping for, and willing to bribe hugs out of everyone. I don't care if they are one-armed, exuberant, gooey, Texas, sister hugs, or shy. Hugs is what I am looking forward to, it is the best part of reunion.
Well, hugs and food.

Life isn't always a family reunion so I plan to hug my way through it.

Four Days Down, Rest of My Life to Go

Rants and Raves on working downtown.

To begin with the maintenance men at this downtown office building dress better than me! They dress better than the owner and CEO of Onlineshoes.com. Here they were all decked out in navy slacks, navy polartec vests, baby blue dress shirts with their dark ties tucked neatly in the shirt, with their tool belts on their hips and a screw driver in their hands as they tackled some "move in" problem.

I have arrived into an uptown world.

Uptown for this low down gal. There are signal lights, cross walks, traffic, high rise garages, buses, commuters, umbrella carriers, briefcase and backpacks galore, long long long lines at Starbucks, and eighteen restaurants in a 360 degree view, maybe more. There are grills, bars, trattoria's, sandwich shops, teriyaki, Ethiopian, Mexican, and Italian. Pizza -- of course. Subs -- of course. World famous corned beef and I don't know what all else. I can't see Lake Union, but there soars The Space Needle practically at my nose. It is a different landscape. An alternate reality.

There is a special shuttle for Metropolitan Park employees to Pikes Place Market and Nordstroms. I need to check that out. And a free bus ride zone downtown. I need to check that out.

On my first 26 mile commute it was pouring down rain, I couldn't see the highway white lines, there is a fricken lot of traffic at 4:15 am, my I- 5 on-ramp was closed so I had to take the long way around and I was denied access into the parking garage. The new office space was overheating, phones didn't work properly, doors didn't shut properly, drawers didn't open properly, Seattle was flushing it's water system and the water might be brown, but other than that it was all good.

On the second day I had a beautiful moonlit morning then a weaving semi loomed out of no where and scared the beJesus out of me. Then I was trapped in the parking garage. I wasn't denied access at the garage door, but once I had entered and the garage door came down the barricade didn't go up. STUCK. I now know how to get both the door and barricade to cooperate. Like Jerry told me once, "You have to be smarter than the door."

I have the glint of the early morning sun reflecting off plate glass, I have the aroma of exhaust wafting, I haven't heard an owl or seen a coyote, there is an occasional homeless person wandering into view, the wide open spaces is the second floor deck that sweeps over an acre of space yet is denied for human consumption, it hasn't been inspected by the fire marshall or something, I forget what. You use your access key to key into the garage -- twice, and into the building, and onto the elevator, and into your office. Then if you go to the break room or bathroom or out to lunch you have to key back.

It's surreal.

Lynn asked me if I was enjoying the gorgeous skyline view of downtown Seattle on my early morning commute. I had to admit that so far I can't say I have admired the view, but it's coming. I'm still in that over stimulated, new nervousness, what the hell am I doing mode.

Sensory overload.

I'm beginning to feel like a lump of clay being molded into something different. Forged anew. Beaten into a sword. Or is it plowshares?

I am grateful for a job, I'm not homeless.
Eyes to see the glint of the sun.
A car for the commute.
Gas for the fumes.
Feet and shoes for walking.
Good looking and spiffily dressed maintenance men.
Brand new environment.
I sit right above I-5 and can see the traffic snarl at eightish in the morning that I am not a part of. I am grateful for that.
I am grateful for being forged anew.

And the bathroom is lovely.

Life isn't always the sound of an owl in the distance.

The Art of Survival

Owls don't change, caterpillars do.

As a species, humans change. We migrate, or dig in, or climb above. We know how to change, we know we must encompass change, and yet we hate it passionately. We know we must change, we must change in order to survive.

I've been observing the drama of change lately, it's every where.
The theme of change.
Connor is changing into the alpha male over Brandy.
Brittany is changing into a HOG, a senior, a college student.
Martin has flashed back into family view, that's a change.
Julie needs to change her school schedule due to the CA budget changes.

The theme of change is randomly popping up in my reading.

"They were nothing more than people, by themselves. Even paired, any pairing, they would have been nothing more than people by themselves. But all together, they have become the heart and muscles and mind of something perilous and new, something strange and growing and great.

Together, all together, they are the instruments of change."

Sometimes I suck at change.

Routine is comforting, easy, rhythmic, it lulls and coos in contentment. But sometimes lulls and coos is just a wee bit boring. Dull. We live our life in rhythm and cycles and routine and migration and dream of something different, something more -- then the earth rocks -- it blocks the route to the grazing fields and the herd must change it's path to survive.

So survive I will, change I will. I will travel an alternate migrating route to the grazing fields. Today I start my downtown migration to survive. Wish me well, and wish me a smooth commute, pleasant grazing fields, a contented herd, and scarce prey.

Sometimes I am very good at change.

I've changed from daughter, baby, girl, sister, young girl, little gal, female, hot thing, wife, lady, mother, woman, mother-in-law, grandmother and now I'm Miz Jan. More like the owl then the caterpillar, I think.

If you feel like embracing change today try the recipe on Lynn's blog for Brownies made with avocado. I haven't tried them yet, but I will, I just won't use the cup of coco the recipe calls for.

The movie Temple Grandin was great.

Connor is great -- he is learning that alpha male bit.
Ian is great -- he is embracing his inner chef.
Christian is great -- well he is just great.
He came to see his mother didn't he?
Stephanie is great -- she does everything with a maximum of grace
and a minimum of frustration.
Roger is great -- his wheels continue to turn, both internally and externally.

Now, I need to change into a techno geek to survive. I missed out on that when techno genes were being passed out, so I will just have to change.

Go forth and change, you will not regret it.

What is a HOG?

What is a HOG?

Just kidding.

I know it is the U of A mascot. I remember when everyone was trying to get Avery (I think) to call the HOGs.

Congratulations Brittany, I know this is big, big, big news for you and your family is proud, proud proud.

I will be proud to call you a HOG!

Life is sometimes just about perfect.

Brittany's acceptance at the University of Arkansas

Just wanted to inform all the blog followers that Brittany has been accepted to the University of Arkansas as of to day. Let's go HOGS.

Sagas

Saga of Christian for lunch.

Christian came over for lunch. It was fun, we went to Patty's Egg Nest for chicken fried steak and pancakes. In the course of our breakfast I whined about Roger and Stephanie not putting enough pictures of Connor out there for my viewing pleasure. My direct, no nonsense Christian said, "Take your own damn pictures. You see Connor every week, you have two hands, you have a camera. What is stopping you from having all the pictures of Connor you want?"

Saga of technology.

It has taken me at least 25 years to fully master VCR machines, and that technology is at least as old as Ian. I am semi competent on a DVD or cordless phone, and what is that, 15/20 year old technology? I can use a cell phone but I wouldn't call me competent. PDA's and Blackberries flew right past me, they were passe' before I even learned of their existence. I barely can recognize an IPod, IPhone, or IPad. Any and all of that other technological geeky techno aide and toys I don't even know the names of. Well I saw Stephanie's Zoom once, but I don't think that counts as part of my technology education.

Carol demonstrated her new Sony Reader and it gave me a headache it does so much. I mean fantastic stuff, dictionary, notation ability, font size for reading comfort, vertical or horizontal and like HAL, it remembers stuff about you. Is that comforting or creepy?

And Christian wants me to take digital photos of Connor. Ian gave me a 3 minute lesson, handed me a camera and expected results. When people say they are computer illiterates I am the poster child. But I have now taken three wobbly pictures of Connor, although no one has shown me how to download and transfer over to the computer yet. I think I need another lesson or two before I can foster them off on you.

That is quite a saga of obsolete technology I saved myself from.

Saga of the Spinach Muffins.

I answered the phone, "This is Jan at Onlineshoes.com. How may I help you?"

The customer asked, "Do you like to cook?"

Jan answered rather cautiously, "Well, yes I do."

The customer said, "We made the best Spinach Muffins. There were three of us and we all really liked them. The recipe is in Bon Appetit Magazine, you must try them."

I said, "Well one good recipe deserves another. Go to the December issue of Bon Appetit Magazine and get the recipe for Giant Apricot Walnut Scones."

I did try and they are good.

Savory Spinach, Feta, and Peppadew Muffins

nonstick vegetable oil spray
2 3/4 c all purpose flour
1/4 c sugar
2 teasp baking powder
1 teasp paprika
3/4 teasp salt
3/4 c whole milk
1/2 c vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 c thinly sliced spinach leaves
3/4 c crumbled feta cheese
1/2 c chopped drained mild Peppadew peppers
or roasted red peppers from a jar.

Mix dry
Whisk liquids
Combine just until blended
Add spinach feta and peppers

12 standard or 6 large muffin cups sprayed with nonstick spray
the muffin cups will be full
bake 375
25 to 28 minutes standard
33 to 35 minutes large

Saga of Crab Bisque.

My friend Jo-Anne went crabbing with her new fellow. She doesn't eat seafood so she called and asked if I wanted one. My heart skipped a beat and I said sure, I could manage to do something with a local fresh Dungeness crab already caught cleaned cooked bagged tagged and delivered.

All I have ever done with crab is eat it in restaurants, so I decided to be adventurous and went searching for a particularly nice crab recipe and decided on bisque. Doesn't that sound lovely, Crab Bisque. It turned out delicious even though I had to make a few substitutions.

Crab Bisque

1 pound crab, I had about one half a pound
1/2 c butter, I might have used a bit more
1/2 c celery, I used celery seed
1/2 c onion, I used 2 small
green onion, I forgot to write down how much,
so I used all I had 3, 4, 5, 6 can't remember now
1/4 c green pepper, I didn't have any so to hell with it
2 cans potato soup, I didn't have any canned potato soup
Do they make such a thing?
I didn't have any potatoes either,
but remembered I had some instant mashed potatoes
again I figured what the hell
1 can creamed corn, I used 1 can whole kernel
sort of mashed up a bit
1/2 teasp garlic, 4 or 5 cloves ought to work
2 bay leaves, I used 2 bay leaves
1 teasp thyme, I used 1 teasp thyme
plus a little corriander just because I like corriander
Hot sauce, a few drops.
I have NEVER used less than ten drops of tobasco in my life
salt and white pepper to taste
I don't salt and I figured I had the pepper covered
1 1/2 c half and half, I used milk with a little extra butter
1 1/2 c water, I used water
and a little chicken broth for richness

Serve with fresh chopped parsley and lemon wedges. I put the dried parsley in the bisque and didn't have any lemons.

I don't know how it turned out delicious, but it did.

Life isn't always a two ticket saga.

Some Things I know

I know:

Cathy is a hero, she saved Charla's life.
Brittany can do a happy dance.
Christian will visit his mother for a luncheon date, two hours max.
Jean can exercise.
Hannah has red hair.
...Has been called Hannah Banana.
...Likes school.
...Likes her brothers.
...Loves her mom and dad.
...Loves driving.
Jerry can give away airline tickets.
Connor is a touch OCD. His day care teacher said if the other children put the toys away in the wrong cubby, he will go behind and put them in the correct cubby. Poor Stephanie.

I know I have seen Roger turn into a mother hen and Stephanie turn into an excellent Mother.

I know I can fix things.

I can use paperclips to fix my toilet.
... safety pins to fix my jeans.
... a needle and thread to fix my glasses.
... duck tape to fix my living room shade.
... superglue to fix my purple crushed velvet shoes.

I know I'm fly.

Fly as in bad, as in cool, as in can do, as in know things.
You can be fly, or you can fly over, fly by, fly up, fly high, fly to, fly in and all of them have different literal and slang meanings. So, I will be flying high when I fly in to do a quick fly by with all of you, because all of you are so fly. This I know.

I know the karmic lesson of the drive to Coyle.

The lesson of the drive to Coyle was to drift like a leaf on water.
Become one with the Universe.
Sometimes there is no meaning.

Try listening without having an opinion.

I know the book club ladies are the smartest, funniest people I know.

The Angle of Repose was beloved by those who read it.
At book club we book club ladies somehow affirm our own Universal selves, it knits us together like one of Carol's mittens. This I know.

Carol communicated while she knitted.
Mary analyzed.
Kathleen expressed, passionately.
Eleanor graced.
Claire inquired.
Sandie observed.
Jan mused.
Lynn was absent.

I know the joy of Grandmothering.

Grandmothers can watch with no agenda, no opinion. I don't have to bath, feed, put to bed, change, prepare for the next day, monitor homework or development. All I have to do is look at Connor, watch him, play with him, sing to to him, talk to him, or bring him treats.

All I know is watching Connor is fly.

God

Did you ever notice that if someone is too skinny people say it's a disease, whereas if someone is fat people say they have no self control, no discipline.

Did you ever notice that is someone is a drug addict or alcoholic people say it's a disease, whereas if someone smokes people say they have no self control, no discipline.

Remember when I said I thought the most underrated luxury is a hot shower. Well, I changed my mind. Toilets. Toilets just pushed hot showers to second place. After one too many peanuts and a wee case of the trots, toilets win as the most underrated luxury.

Claire and I went for a drive up past Smoky Point and I discovered three new beautiful state parks.

I called Christian and invited him over today.
He said he might make it.
I said, "Oh goody, we can go to the Vintage air show, we'll have lunch, it will be so much fun, I haven't seen you in so long, we can talk and visit and catch up."
He said, I might not.
He didn't.
We have a tentative date for lunch tomorrow.
Gotta love my moody broody Christian.

Does/did every one have good Labor Day holiday weekend plans? I got three hours off today and I get Wednesday off, but I work Labor Day, five to one thirty.

Jean and Cathy will be here soon, I have three set plans: A Columbia River drive, a jaunt to the city of Forks of Twilight fame, and a side trip to the community of Edison for bread.

God showed his colors with last night's sunset. It wasn't the most spectacular sunset I have ever seen out my west facing window, it was set against almost a complete dome of navy blue/black/inky/smoky sky with just a thin line of orange across the horizon, but it had, between the sky and the horizon, the most brilliant, bold, incredible ribbon of the brightest purest fuchsia you could ever imagine. I know you all have powerful imaginations, but imagine this sliver of fuchsia as even more brilliant. God showed his colors, then I think He talked to me.

God told me to go to Taylor Family Reunion, he didn't send me one free airline ticket, he sent me two. God said go and I'm going. I will arrive on the twentieth and leave on the twenty-fourth.

I read a great quote today on some movie website, "Do things out of love, not fear." I'm feeling the love.

Did you ever notice if God talks you listen?