What is the weather like today where you live? Overcast and a chance of thunderstorms - same as yesterday - same as tomorrow. Where is summer?
Soup
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how career-minded are you? Honestly, right now I'd say about a four. I want to do my job well and am interested in learning what I have to to do that but there are a lot more important things in my life at this point. I've been a nine (probably never a ten) before. I've achieved success in this area of my life in the past. I've moved up the ladder and won awards in more than one occupational field. I guess I just don't feel the need to prove myself to myself or anyone else at this point but, since I have to work, I'm content with the position I have and the field I'm in.
Salad
What type of window coverings do you have in your home? Blinds, curtains, shutters, etc.? Yes. In various rooms there are curtains, blinds, Roman shades and there are the fake shutters on the outside
Main Course
Name something that instantly cheers you up. My grandbabies! Obviously. Chocolate is usually good too.
Dessert
How many times do you hit the snooze button on a typical morning? Usually just once. I hit the snooze then lie back down to say my morning prayers. Sadly, I have to hit the snooze because way to often I doze back off.
Short of God's intervening mercy, you do reap what you sow.
People often live up to, or down to, your expectations of - or opinions about - them.
Lots of money and/or lots of "toys" do not insure happiness or love.
You can't help people who don't want or won't accept help.
"I'm sorry" is not a Get Out of Jail Free card. There are still consequences. To be forgiven you will likely need to make restitution in addition to repentance.
Temptation and sin are not the same thing.
A lot of how your life goes has to do with your attitude about how your life goes.
Regardless of how well you plan or how careful you are, your life can change in a split second.
Our families, our pasts, and our experiences influence us but we alone are responsible for who we become.
Children are both a treat and a trial - refer to #3 through # 11.
God will never give you more than you can handle with faith in Him. He does sometimes, however, have a higher opinion of your capabilities and capacity than you do.
Okay, I've said before that I'm not big on reality TV. Actually, I'm finding more and more, I'm not big on much of any TV.
I have to admit, however, that I've gotten caught up in the Food Network's "The Next Food Network Star" competition. I find the challenges to cook for a variety of people in addition to the judges and to create new dishes each week entertaining. Although there are a few competitors who for one reason or another I'd be happy to see go, I haven't been cheering for a particular chef.
Until this week, that is. This week is when reality/competition TV collided with my reality. You can go here
to check out the whole show but the Cliff notes version goes like this -
The Main Ingredient - fish (Kelsey chose tilapia)
The challenge - two main dishes, one to compete for a spot on Red Lobster's menu and one with some bizarre ingredient. (Kelsey chose white chocolate)
The outcome was that the Red Lobster chef chose Kelsey's white chocolate challenge dish instead of the Red Lobster dish to put on their menu - available across the country on June 23rd.
Chocolate and fish? Really? I mean, I've always said that chocolate could make anything better but I meant situations, feelings, not food. Let alone fish! Since I do like to try new foods and this whole idea of chocolate fish and being able to actually taste one of the concoctions from a chef on the show intrigued me, my husband happily accommodated my desire to have dinner out at Red Lobster Monday night.
The hostess gave us our menus and about the time our waitress arrived to take our drink and appetizer orders I excitedly interrupted to announce to my husband, "There it is!" pointing at the Macadamia Tilapia with White Chocolate Beurre Blanc on the fresh fish menu. He explained that while we hadn't decided on the appetizer yet, I knew what I wanted for dinner and that was why we came. The waitress queried as to if that was really the reason we came in and said they'd gotten to try the dish a little earlier. She also said a few people had called during the day to see if it was on the menu yet. At some point my quest to try this chocolaty fish combination granted me minor star status as another waitress and the manager stopped by our table to see how I liked my meal. Let me explain the answer to that in bite by delicious bite detail.
The waitress placed my order in front of me and it looked very appealing with the toasted nuts and coconut on top and sitting in the creamy sauce that looked a lot like melted white chocolate. I took a small bite being sure to get some of the toasted toppings and the sauce to get the full effect. It practically melted in my mouth - my eyes got big - I swallowed as my husband asked, "Well?"
"OH MY GOODNESS!" That's what I said. My husband looked a little puzzled (as in, was that a good "oh my goodness" or a bad "oh my goodness"). In response to his look, I sighed "Oh! My Goodness!" Obviously I wasn't at a total loss for words, just any that might describe this delectable delicacy. He grinned and I finally found a vocabulary greater than three words and said, "You've got to try this!" I gave him a fork full and his response - a hearty "Wow!" I'm telling you, the combination of flavors and textures in this dish is just, well, perfect. It would leave Webster at a loss for words. The best way I know to describe it is like this:
Yep, it was like that!
That's when the manager stopped by the table to see how I liked it (I suddenly felt like a Red Lobster VIP as the other wait staff in the room created a E.F. Hutton commercial). The only thing I could think or say was "How long will you have this?" To my great relief she said it would be on the menu until September when the Food Network starts the new NFNS. While I was telling her how good it was, my head was calculating how many more times I could afford to eat at Red Lobster before September and being grateful that I didn't have to try to dine there every night this week. I finished ooohing and aaahing through the rest of my meal, then leaned back in stuffed contentment.
As we left the restaurant the hostess offered a friendly thank you along with "come back and see us." "Oh, believe me, I will," I replied. She grinned knowingly.
If you could live on another continent for 1 year, which one would you choose?
Europe. There are so many of the countries I'd like to visit: Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Ireland, Belgium, Austria,Holland, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, France, the U.K. My heritage is French, Dutch, and Irish so I'd really like to visit those areas.
Soup
Which browser do you use to surf the Internet?
Internet Explorer
Salad
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how much do you know about the history of your country?
I'd say about a five. We took a vacation every year when I was a child and we always visited someplace historical during that trip. Though as teens my sister and I were much more interested in getting to the beach, I am glad now that we always included a visit to someplace like Edison's or Flagler's homes on those trips.
Main Course
Finish this sentence: Love is…
Wow - so many things come to mind. The first two would be-
Love isalways having to say you're sorry. (Erich Segal had it all wrong.) Love is a choice not a feeling.
Dessert
Have you ever been in or near a tornado?
Yes, near one a few times. The most interesting were the one while in a pop-up camper (eek!), the one while at the drive-in watching The Poseidon Adventure (the original, and yes, with that and the drive-in I am definitely showing my age), and the several that went around Deer Creek concert arena while I was sitting in the lawn at a Don Henley concert.
I feel compelled to comment on the passing of Tim Russert. Had I pursued a career in my field of study, journalism, I would have aspired to be like Tim.
In a world and time when the majority of news people are more interested in the gripping headline or the attention getting soundbite than in the truth or the integrity of the reporting process, Mr. Russert was an irreplaceable exception. With a style that made him feel like your neighbor down the street, he consistently provided relevant and reliable information in a clear, thorough, understandable manner. When he interviewed or mediated he was direct without being antagonistic. He was well-researched, well-informed and as unbiased as any human being could be. These are just a few of the traits that set him apart from most of his colleagues.
It is a further tribute to the man that, as those who knew him best speak of him, we find the man behind the scenes to be the same man - full of integrity, intellectual curiosity, strong values, and a strong faith.
He will be missed.
The best political cartoon about Tim Russert is by Brian Fairrington and can be seen
here.
My friend, Linda at 2nd cup
posted this fun quiz a few days ago and I just had to "borrow" it to share too. My description fits pretty well although, I wouldn't call myself a girly-girl.
Please comment back with which coffee you are.
You Are a Cappuccino
You're fun, outgoing, and you love to try anything new.
However, you tend to have strong opinions on what you like.
You are a total girly girly at heart - and prefer your coffee with good conversation.
You're the type that seems complex to outsiders, but in reality, you are easy to please
Appetizer Do you consider yourself to be an optimist or a pessimist?
A realist. Generally, I think I'm an optimist. However, in dealing with specific situations or making a big decision I often use the "worst case scenario" theory. If I acknowledge the worst thing that could possibly happen it gives me perspective on what to do.
Soup What is your favorite color of ink to write with?
Definetly BLUE.
Salad How often do you get a manicure or pedicure? Do you do them yourself or go to a salon and pay for them?
Define Manicure/pedicure. I file my nails when they need it and occassionally paint them. I paint my toenails once a week. As far as the full treatment with lotions and oils and all that - not for years.
Main Course Have you ever won anything online? If so, what was it?
Nope!
Dessert In which room in your house do you keep your home computer?
In my office.
Our grandson has arrived!
Isaac Coleman arrived earlier than expected on June 6th at 1:41 a.m. He is 6 lbs. 4 oz. and 19 1/2" long. He is in the NICU but is doing very well.
A friend was just sharing with me from a site he found that had crazy made up quotes & cliches. For some reason this seemed like a challenge to make up a few of my own. {My apologies in advance. I just couldn't help myself.}
Here goes:
Where there's a whale, there's a way! - Jonah
Have gum, will travel. - Airline passenger
Beauty is in the eye of the brush holder. - Monet
Bring on the pain. - Marquis De Sade
The gas is always greener on the ethanol side. - Earl Coryell, original developer of "corn alcohol gasoline".
I've got more guitars than you can shake a pick at. - Eric Clapton
Nothing nude under the sun. - sign on a beach
The old gray hare just ain't what he used to be. - Bugs Bunny
Out with the old, in with the few. - G.R. Wagoner, Jr. CEO-General Motors
