Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Boom-De-Ah-Dah!

Here's just how I'm feeling today. Click here!

Monday, August 24, 2009

The Wedding















Invited to See into the window of their love
Invited to Hear the passion that fills her heart
Invited to Feel the joy that surprises the soul

I cry, contemplating the torment that would be hers
If forced to live a life without the right to express her love

Right hands patting left knees
Glances and smiles that shine with tears
Full hearts and reined-in sobs
The room vibrates with joy as flags wave

My throat tightens even as I remember
Someone brave enough to bare her soul
In a red barn with twinkle lights and Queen Anne's lace
The rain fell but there was never a brighter day

Best wishes for a full life to Megan and Sarah

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Sky Blogging

I didn't, but I should have. Today, flying Delta to DC, I actually had wireless access on the airplane. Totally a surprise and totally cool for me. I hate to be such a nerd about it, but it made an impression. Why can't every airline do that? and why does it have to cost $9.95? Southwest is the only airline that would even consider offering wireless for free. Wonder how long that will be? Countdown . . . . .

UPDATE
Just as I expected . . . check this out.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Dinner on Our Own

There are some nights when I just don't feel like cooking. Either I'm not hungry, I'm just out of gas, too much going on. It varies. I'm very lucky that Tom is always willing to (1) order a pizza, or (2) be on our own. Last night was one of those "I don't feel like cooking nights." We voted to be on our own.

Here was my dinner: leftover edamame salad that I'd made the night before, topped with some leftover grilled chicken, alfalfa sprouts, fresh cherry tomatoes from the garden and a smidgen of creamy italian dressing. I was in heaven.

Tom's dinner consisted of popcorn, butter pecan ice cream, and brownies. He too was in heaven.

Dontcha love men?

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Secret Tooth Fairy

This was fun to do. I was in church this morning, and a first grader sitting several rows ahead of me had just lost a tooth, and I mean JUST lost a tooth, perhaps his first judging from his excitement. It was sweet, not even knowing him or being part of the excitement. I wrote a note saying Congratulations and signed it Your Secret Tooth Fairy, folded up a $1 bill very tiny and tapped the shoulder in front of me to pass it up to him. His unbridled joy was a real high for me. He kept looking around, wondering who it was from -- and he could not stop grinning and peeking in his shorts pocket to be sure it was still there.

It reminded me how good it feels to do random acts of kindness and how seldom I actually do them. It's totally selfish in some ways, but really I have to say it's win-win. Try one today, see how it feels and let me know about it.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

The Power of Music

I've always known that music had a power over me. Inexplicably, a piece of music will bring me to tears and rather than just give into it, I seem to want to understand why now, why this piece, what does this "mean?" Something about music helps me connect with my feelings, which have always been difficult for me to express. This essay that 37 Days discusses and links to, just keeps me crying.

The essay is by Dr. Karl Paulnack, Director of the Music Division at The Boston Conservatory. About a particular piece of music he says, "If you know that piece of music . . . you know it has the ability to crack your heart open like a walnut; it can make you cry over sadness you didn't know you had." I love that phrase, crying over sadness you didn't know you had. I have felt that so many times.

Read his essay, "Music: Essential for Life". It's one that should be read by everyone. Read it. Save it. Share it.

Summer Salad

I made this yesterday and love-love-love it.

Green bean-walnut-feta salad

1 1/2 lbs. fresh green beans. Cut off the ends and then cut beans into thirds. Steam for 15 minutes. Plunge in cold water immediately to stop the cooking.
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted for 10 minutes in shallow pan at 350 degrees.
1 small red onion, sliced ever so thinly
4 oz. crumbled feta cheese
Combine above ingredients, toss and chill. I had so many fresh cherry tomatoes from my monster plant that I cut a lot of them in half and added them to this mix. A good addition.

Dressing:
3/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup white wine vinegar, 2 cloves garlic, minced, 1 T. fresh dill chopped, 1/4 t. salt, 1/4 t. pepper. Put in jar with lid, shake and chill.

One hour before serving, pour dressing over salad and toss.

Obviously with the cooking and chilling, it's not a spur of the minute salad, but believe me it's well worth planning ahead for.