Friday, December 31, 2010
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...
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...
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
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.
Monday, December 27, 2010
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 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?
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 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?
Friday, December 24, 2010
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
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
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
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
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
Thursday, December 16, 2010
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.
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
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.
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.
Friday, December 10, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
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.
...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.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
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
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
Friday, December 3, 2010
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.
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.
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