One of my new blog favorites…

I have been digging through these very rich articles and blog posts over at the Trinity Forum lately.  This site is quickly climbing up to the top of my “go-to” list for web reading. 

 Here is a recent favorite on the reading a popular and classic books.  The author provides seven solid reasons for the reading of the great old books.  This is a great reminder for me to keep reading! 

I have just re-read the Odyssey of Homer and some plays of Sophocles.  This summer I also read some Plato and Aristotle, but still have to really get into the works of both of them.  Next on my list is the Iliad, and probably some Herodotus… 

What about you?  Have you read any classics lately?  Are there any you would love to read, but just haven’t gotten around to yet? 

The German Coast Guard

This is short-watch it!

The People You Meet on an Airplane…

Flying and its necessary close contact with strangers is always a mixed bag…Sometimes I look forward to meeting someone new and other times I pull out all the classic “don’t talk to me” flying moves-wearing earplugs, reading a book, never really looking at anyone…

I was in an “open” mood on this trip.  (Maybe I was too open since I got strep…)  But, on this last trip I was able to have some fun interactions with fellow travelers.

The gal sitting next to me coming home is getting married in 6 weeks and she has done nothing for the wedding.  They don’t have any rings.  She doesn’t have a dress.  And they expect at least 1,500 people at the wedding.

Yes, 1,500 wedding guests!!!  Her wedding is in India and her parents are taking care of all of the arrangements for her.  She just has to get herself there.  And apparently, she needs to get there sooner than later since according to practice, her parents can’t distribute the invitations until she arrives and participates in a special “pre-wedding” ceremony.  Her parents will then hand-deliver all of the invitations.  I think I understand why they are frustrated that she is taking her time to arrive in India!

Her actual ceremony will take at least 2-3 hours and then the bride and groom personally greet all of the guests that choose to talk to them…She is hoping to stay awake the whole time.

Our other row mate is a Chuck Norris fan.  Not too many of those around, huh?!?  He was reading Norris’ autobiography and was just hoping that we wanted to hear about the gripping life of this very inspirational fan.  I made the mistake of admitting that I had seen “Walker, Texas Ranger”…

When I was able to move him on to the topic of his family, this man lit up, and it was clear that he lived for his 5 kids and many grandkids.  He had just spent a couple of weeks with some of them in Florida and was now off to camp with more of them in the High Sierras. 

Flying out of NC, I also had the chance to meet a bunch of new Army recruits-lots of nice, young kids.  We were all enjoying the rocking chairs in the Charlotte Airport (and we were united by the common need for an electrical outlet.)  It was tough to think about them all fighting in Iraq, but they know that is what they signed up to do and they will do it.  They all appreciate the order and discipline that the Army has brought to their lives and for at least several of them, they really see this as the opportunity to get out of a cycle of trouble.

Good to be Home

Last week, I experienced the unusual pleasure of being sick with strep throat while on the other side of the country, in a hotel room.  It wasn’t really the week I had planned, but I am very glad that we have mega-antibiotics to kill these nasty germs almost immediately.  I was able to relive most of Top Chef, season one-I still think Harold is wonderfully talented with his calm control, and Dave is supremely entertaining with his nervousness.

(Side note-That last sentence was my attempt to practice one of the topics I did get to discuss at the meetings-antithesis.  I know this attempt is a far cry from the masters’ work, but then my subject matter here isn’t too earth-shattering…

On this trip I was able to experience a few more “southern” things-a chicken sandwich from Chick-Fil-A (they come with pickles), some great North Carolina pork bar-b-que, and some wonderful southern hospitality from one of the hotel staffers who kindly made sure I was doing ok.

4th of July Project

When I moved to Santa Cruz, I immediately fell in love with the eye-catching, colorful banners that I saw all over yards and businesses.  I wanted one of these banners! 

 So I hunted and discovered to my dismay that these lovely banners were Tibetan prayer flags…They lost all appeal.

But I still love banners, so Erin and I made our own for the 4th-

You can also click here to see my sister’s better picture.

(I told my sister Krista that the real reason we made this was that we had run out of things to blog about and desperately needed something to post…the sad thing is she believed me…)

Tuesday Night Dinners

The first in a weekly category on weeknight dinners-fast and tasty.  Some of these entries will be gourmet and have some easy “wow” element.  Some will be easy and nothing too new, just a reminder of good food.

Chinese Chicken Salad, Super Quick Edition

Marinate chicken breasts in Soy Vay Cha-Cha Chinese Chicken Salad Dressing and Marinade for at least 30 minutes.  Grill them early enough to let them cool before dinner.  After they come off the grill, slice the chicken and toss, while still warm, with some of the reserved marinade.

Meanwhile, being the multi-tasking person that you are, chop the lettuce and cabbage, snap peas, and radishes.  Open up the sliced water chestnuts and mandarin oranges and the bag of sliced almonds.  If you really want to go the extra mile, chop up some cilantro and green onions.

When the chicken is cool and has soaked up that marinade, simply toss all of the salad ingredients together.  Or do the restaurant thing and “drop” the salad by assembling each plate of salad individually.

What is in your favorite Chinese Chicken Salad?

I also like seasame seeds, fried won-ton strips, fried rice noodles…

And of course Chinese Chicken Salad isn’t really from China, but did you  know that it might have originated from the likes of Wolfgang Puck?!

The Niece and Nephews

Here are the little ones in my life, the niece and nephews that every aunt dreams of-they are all cute, smart and intelligent!

Gillian, almost 9 months-

And Jackson, 2 1/2 months-

And Elijah, just 2 weeks younger than Jack-