Food Blisters

Have you ever eaten MUCH more than you should have, but it felt soooo good?  Yeah.  Me too.  More often than I'd like to admit.

Last night I did it again.  I ran away with some friends to enjoy some girls' time--sans husbands and children.  It was lovely.  Part of our evening involved reservations at Schneitter's restaurant.  On Fridays they have an all-you-can-eat Seafood Buffet.  Oh yeah.

Do you see this bowl of ocean goodness fronting the ice sculpture?  Yes.  Yes, I nearly pulled up a chair and parked myself there.  Oh the deliciousness that is snow crab legs and cocktail shrimp!!  Yumm-oh!!

Needless to say, as this was an "all-you-can-eat" buffet, it begged for me to eat all I could.  Well, there is no turning down an offer like that.  So, I didn't--turn it down, that is.  I ate crab and shrimp and even tried a shrimp taco and a cod taco.  Then back to the crab and shrimp.  Succulent morsels of ocean's wonder.  If I was any kind of poet, I think I could wax poetic about the loveliness that is crab meat.  Nothing quite like it in the world.

Well, as the evening progressed, so did the size of my food blister.

What's that? You don't know what a food blister is?  A food blister is the physical protuberance that begins to show just under your rib cage when you have just eaten way more food that you should have and you feel so full that you might hurl, but it tasted so good you don't want to waste it.

My food blister developed just as it should: little bite by little tasty bite.  I capped the evening off with a thorough visit to the dessert table and was rewarded for my effort in many chocolaty delicacies that were called names which I have no idea.  But, wow!  They were tasty.

To tend to a food blister, especially one properly prepared and adequately developed, takes some skill.  A food blister demands to be stretched out on some soft, confortable furniture piece, preferably a couch or recliner.  If must be kept warm, maybe with a cotton throw, acrylic blanket or quilt.   It should also be kept quite to really begin to heal.  This might mean a nice enjoyable movie with good plot and excellent characters to play out some family friendly story.  A food blister mustn't be jolted by scary or sudden surprises.  Keeping it settled is vitally important.

So that is what I did--almost.  There was no recliner and the couch was full of three friends.  So I lounged in the upholstered chair in the condo's family room, and enjoyed the conversation of live, in-person friends.  This works too.

I recommend this prescribed treatment the next time you get a food blister and it must be cared for.  This is timely information, as Thanksgiving is coming, and that is a particular time when most of us are especially susceptible to food blisters.  Trust me in this remedy.  You'll thank me later--even if your diet doesn't.

Reality--Like It or Not

Today is our junior high's annual 8th grade event: REALITY TOWN.  It is my favorite event to work on at the school each year.  This year, The Boy gets to participate. 

With the help from their guidance counselors, the kids have a few mini-lessons in their English and Science classes (all 8th graders take those together) about future jobs, potential employment requirements, and personality surveys.  Then they take a computerized "test" to see what they might have skills, interests, and talent in as far as careers go, then based on that info and their GPA, they are assigned a profession, a salary,  a marital status & possibly children, and a pretend scenario as if they were 30 years old. 

It is like a big game of "Life"--remember that boar game from years ago?

They are told if they have health insurance with their job, if their spouse works and therefore you need to provide childcare, if you need to purchase a vehicle to get to work.  All the things you wake up one day as an adult and realize were sprung--unsuspectingly--on you!

I love watching the kids awaken to the idea that Mom and Dad have a lot more to do than got to work and bring home money!  Several times I have heard kids tell their friends (or sometimes no one in particular) "Wow, I didn't know my mom had to do so much for me."

Yes, it is payback time at the Junior High.  Any wonder this is my favorite event to help with at school?!

Veterans' Day

Today I would like to take a moment and honor those service men and women who have served in the military.  So much of what I enjoy has been assured by their sacrifice.  Much of what I enjoy every day, they have also tried to provide to others around the world.  Many of them have sacrificed their health, well-being, time with loved ones, and even their lives--at times--to protect and serve me.

I am thankful for them.  I honor their service and sacrifice.  And I encourage you to fly the flag today in honor of them.

Where is Jimmy Stewart When We Really Need Him?

"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president."  ~Theodore Roosevelt
 
I am grateful to live in this country.
 
This week I read an article written by Mitch Ablom (who wrote one of my favorite books ever: Tuesdays with Morrie).  He wrote about a politician by the name of Bart Stupak, Congressman from Michigan's 1st District who is serving out the end of his lame duck term.  Mr. Stupak has served nine terms as the democratic representative for his district.  This term, he did not run for re-election.
 
He is leaving office because he has lost confidence in his colleagues' cooperation, consideration, and common sense. 

I'm sure when he was first elected he had full confidence in all those things.  That is what "The People" expect from their elected officials, right?  We seek out the brightest, smartest, most optimistic, patriotic statesmen and women to serve their country by representing their districts in the hallowed halls of Congress.  Apparently, that ideal has faded from our political horizon.
 
Remember seeing Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?   Talk about boy scout idealism.  Jimmy Stewart was perfect in his portrayal of that optimistic, ready-to-change-the-world, willing-to-serve-his-country senator- elect.  Sadly, that isn't even the way we elect a senator or representative any more.
 
Nowadays, it seems, we look for the exact opposite: the loudest, biggest, school-yard bully who has the most money, or at least, the most monied supporters, who squawks about getting our district's "fair share" or getting "those bums thrown out".  No one gets elected if they tell us up-front they are willing to compromise, cooperate and look for answers together. No way. Guys like that are zapped by the opposition as soft.  They just can't get elected.
 
That is why Mr. Stupak is going home to Michigan in January.  And really, I can't say I blame him.

In the article he writes that the only ones entering politics are the mean, the thick-skinned, and the rich.  I am not any of those things.  How can those kind of people represent my views, my concerns, my hopes for America's future?
 
I wish Mr. Stupak well.  Hearing of his defeat makes me wish we had 100 Mr. Smith's in the Senate, and 435 or so in the House.  I think I'd settle for even a few more Mr. Stupaks.

Pay It Forward

"One can never pay in gratitude: one can only pay 'in kind' somewhere else in life."  ~Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Have you ever tried to get even with the people who have helped you?  You never really can do it.  Either you esteem their help far more than they think it was worth, or they think it was worth way more to you than it actually did and they will never feel themselves justified in helping you.  Either way, you are hosed.

Many years ago, I invited a dear friend to house sit for us while Genius Golfer and I and The then infant Girl went to California on a job assignment meant to last six months.  My dear friend, Chris, was preparing to buy a condo in a neighboring city and this would help her out in saving some money, and would greatly help us out by offering some peace of mind in leaving our house in her safe keeping.

Well, The Girl turned one, the job finished in three and a half months, and I discovered I was pregnant with The Boy all about the same time.  We moved back home, and in with Chris.

My dear friend was freaking out--feeling like she was imposing on us by staying, but not yet fully prepared for her condo purchase as we were home early and foiled her plans for savings.  I saw it as a wonderful chance for a symbioitic system of help.  Dear Friend Chris would continue to stay with us until her new condo was ready for her.  I could have some adult company after work while Genius Golfer was doing other consulting work across the country and The Girl and yet-undetermined-new-baby would have another set of adults eyes to watch over and adore them.

As it worked out, my dear friend did just that--she stayed--and helped--and watched--and adored.  And to this day, is one of the nearest friends I have and consider her an extra sister.  And she still adores me kids, and they her in return.

But as she was getting packed back up to move to her spanking new condo at the end of our roommate situation, she expressed that she was thankful for all our help and consideration, but that there was no way she could ever pay us back.  I tried to tell her that she helped me as much as I ever could have tried to help her.  But she couldn't see that.  I finally told her to just pay it forward.  Surely someone would come into her life that might need her help and she would then be able to offer that help and bless some one's life with that.

Chris agreed that she would do it.

And sure enough she has done just that.  Over the years, I have appreciated all those whom she has helped--including some in her own family.  She is gracious and generous and cheerful in her giving.  I hope I was the same way when she lived with us.  After all, that is the only way to truly offer your assistance or help--with a cheerful heart and without motive for recognition or repayment.

I'd say that was one of my best decisions--outside of my blood-relations-family.  Having her live with us not only helped her in a financial way that I otherwise could not have done, but it cemented our friendship, and has forever tied her in love and kindness to my kids and vice versa.  We count her as family in every way, except the not-quite-annual Christmas photo.

And it makes me feel like the little bit of kindness and generosity I had the opportunity to share with her has multiplied and grown exponentially as she has passed it on, and the recipients of her generosity have done since.  That is the beauty of gratitude.  It just goes on and on.

It's HeeeeEEEErrrreeee!

"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others."  --Marcus Tullius Cicero

Well, I believe winter is upon our doorstep.  The snow is creeping down to our valley floor, heralded by the colder rain, dreary clouded sky.  Sounds like a good day to stay home, do laundry and clean house.  Good thing that I have all three of those, plus others on my "to-do" list today.

Video Sunday

I am thankful for the service of others to protect my freedoms.