Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
Learning from the past
Sometimes I go back and read my old blog entries to make me feel better. In reading about my past I feel wiser and better equipped for what I deal with now. Or sometimes I just need a laugh--I'm my biggest fan. But more often than not, it's the comments on my blog entries that keep my going. A blog entry made five years ago this month rang true with me today, and the comments rang even truer. Check out "Running Away" 9/26/2006 and the comments I received. Among the wisest and most touching was the following:
Go ahead. I've done it more times than I can remember. Nobody says you have to actually leave to run away. You can still go to work, pretend to live life, act normal on the outside. I think we all need to from time to time- nothing to be ashamed of. I don't really trust people who have never had the need or desire to run away. People who have needed to run understand me and what I am going thru. It’s sad, some people who call themselves my friends don't even know when I’ve gone- but others come to visit. So go ahead, we will all be here for you when you feel you can come back. I'll try to be one of those who visits when I'm invited, and I'll leave the light on for you when you return. Safe travels Mich, you will be in my prayers, and I might even see you on the road.
Go ahead. I've done it more times than I can remember. Nobody says you have to actually leave to run away. You can still go to work, pretend to live life, act normal on the outside. I think we all need to from time to time- nothing to be ashamed of. I don't really trust people who have never had the need or desire to run away. People who have needed to run understand me and what I am going thru. It’s sad, some people who call themselves my friends don't even know when I’ve gone- but others come to visit. So go ahead, we will all be here for you when you feel you can come back. I'll try to be one of those who visits when I'm invited, and I'll leave the light on for you when you return. Safe travels Mich, you will be in my prayers, and I might even see you on the road.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Dee-Lish!!
At the Denver Hilton Garden Inn, they offer the following:
Granny Smith Apple Flan with Mascarpone Crème Anglaise and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and drizzled with, believe it or not, 12 Year aged Balsamic Vinegar
Doesn't that make you want to be in Denver right now? Me too!
Granny Smith Apple Flan with Mascarpone Crème Anglaise and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and drizzled with, believe it or not, 12 Year aged Balsamic Vinegar
Doesn't that make you want to be in Denver right now? Me too!
Thursday, September 08, 2011
Comfort Food
Rice Pudding
1 ½ c. cooked rice
1 ½ c. milk (substitute coconut milk)
1/3 c. sugar
¼ tsp. salt
Cook in saucepan over medium heat until thick & creamy – 15-20 minutes.
Stir in:
½ c. milk (or more coconut milk)
1 beaten egg (*add some of the warm mixture to the beaten egg before adding to pudding to temper)
Cook 2 more minutes stirring constantly.
Remove from heat and stir in:
1 Tab. Butter
½ tsp. vanilla extract
Serve warm or cold.
1 ½ c. cooked rice
1 ½ c. milk (substitute coconut milk)
1/3 c. sugar
¼ tsp. salt
Cook in saucepan over medium heat until thick & creamy – 15-20 minutes.
Stir in:
½ c. milk (or more coconut milk)
1 beaten egg (*add some of the warm mixture to the beaten egg before adding to pudding to temper)
Cook 2 more minutes stirring constantly.
Remove from heat and stir in:
1 Tab. Butter
½ tsp. vanilla extract
Serve warm or cold.
Thursday, September 01, 2011
How ridonculous!
Recently I attended a class filled mostly with young college students. Most of them had likely just graduated high school. We were asked to introduce ourselves and tell a word that we liked or thought was interesting. There was "banana" and "moist" and "aloof", and then a guy said "I really like the word 'irregardless'." I kind of chuckled thinking he was joking--then I realized he's probably only 18.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
"hug them like there's no tomorrow"
Grab a box of tissues and be ready to cook when you read this:
http://www.injennieskitchen.com/2011/08/for-mikey.html
Thankful for the knowledge that there is a tomorrow...and an eternity.
http://www.injennieskitchen.com/2011/08/for-mikey.html
Thankful for the knowledge that there is a tomorrow...and an eternity.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
An apology????
Big brother to little brother:
I didn't mean to cripple you! I only meant to make you cry and maybe make you pee a little bit!
I didn't mean to cripple you! I only meant to make you cry and maybe make you pee a little bit!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Wordless Wednesday
I used to follow a blog that posted a photo each Wednesday without commentary and called it "Wordless Wednesday". So they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. I don't take much time to share my thousand so hopefully an update of images I enjoy will do.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
A very lovely discovery
Today I made a wonderful discovery and found something I had lost. At church today I looked over to find my dear childhood friend Mary Dansie.
It may sound overly dramatic for me to say that finding an old friend is a discovery, especially for someone like me who has retained so many friendships from my childhood. But for me, finding Mary was wonderful for many reasons.
First, in reconnecting with her, I found some things I had lost. She recalled memories of me and my home that I had forgotten. Many of my old memories are shared with my old friends, and so they are "our" memories, and we recite them to one another often to recall good times and help cement our relationships. To find a friend with different memories is much like digging through boxes of things from my childhood-boxes that don't exist. In hearing her recount her memories, I found memories and facts that had been lost to me.
Secondly, what I discovered was her view of my life and of me as a child. She recounted to me a memory she had of stopping at my house one Halloween and going downstairs to my then bedroom. She told me that she was telling her daughter just the other day about my room and how it seemed like a cozy place in a hidden part of the house. My view of my room was that it was behind the stairs in the corner of the basement. My mundane life was adventurous to Mary. If we had more time, I would have shared with her my memories of her house and her older sisters. Her house seemed vast and orderly and quiet compared to mine. I saw it as a kind of castle where regal things might happen. She had two sisters who were quite a few years older than she, and they seemed very wise and mature, not like my older sister who was just two years older than me and just like me. I once saw her chiding her sisters and I though her very brave to speak that way to them.
Through the years I have thought of Mary many times, mostly because of instances like the one I saw with her sisters. Mary spoke her mind without fear or apology. That was something I felt I could never do. Mary was quiet sometimes, like me, but when it really counted she did not cower like I did. Mary stood and spoke when there was something she didn't agree with. I once heard her speak up to a teacher in class when she felt that he was wrong in what he was asking our class to do. She completely dumbfounded our teacher, but in true Mary style, she was unruffled. I don't think I ever saw her be daunted by what others thought of her. That is what Mary Dansie represented to me: someone fearless, undaunted, speaking her mind.
As years went on and we grew further apart, I never stopped thinking of Mary's courage to speak her mind. Many times I would actually think the words "I need to be more like Mary Dansie," and try to bravely say what I thought. When I told her that today, she flushed and assured me that it was not such a good trait after all. I, very unruffled, disagreed.
As an adult looking back at who we were, or thought we were as children, it is so refreshing to be truthful and candid. Sharing regrets of things not done or said, and reassuring one another that the things we did say and do far outweighed the things we didn't.
We didn't take the time to delve into our trials and misfortunes through our years apart, though evidence of them were surely written on our aged faces as we smiled at each others familiar expressions. But one of the sweetest discoveries of my reunion with Mary today brings to mind a favorite scripture. It speaks of the sons of Mosiah meeting with Alma the Younger after many years apart (Alma 17:2). "...Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord..."
It may sound overly dramatic for me to say that finding an old friend is a discovery, especially for someone like me who has retained so many friendships from my childhood. But for me, finding Mary was wonderful for many reasons.
First, in reconnecting with her, I found some things I had lost. She recalled memories of me and my home that I had forgotten. Many of my old memories are shared with my old friends, and so they are "our" memories, and we recite them to one another often to recall good times and help cement our relationships. To find a friend with different memories is much like digging through boxes of things from my childhood-boxes that don't exist. In hearing her recount her memories, I found memories and facts that had been lost to me.
Secondly, what I discovered was her view of my life and of me as a child. She recounted to me a memory she had of stopping at my house one Halloween and going downstairs to my then bedroom. She told me that she was telling her daughter just the other day about my room and how it seemed like a cozy place in a hidden part of the house. My view of my room was that it was behind the stairs in the corner of the basement. My mundane life was adventurous to Mary. If we had more time, I would have shared with her my memories of her house and her older sisters. Her house seemed vast and orderly and quiet compared to mine. I saw it as a kind of castle where regal things might happen. She had two sisters who were quite a few years older than she, and they seemed very wise and mature, not like my older sister who was just two years older than me and just like me. I once saw her chiding her sisters and I though her very brave to speak that way to them.
Through the years I have thought of Mary many times, mostly because of instances like the one I saw with her sisters. Mary spoke her mind without fear or apology. That was something I felt I could never do. Mary was quiet sometimes, like me, but when it really counted she did not cower like I did. Mary stood and spoke when there was something she didn't agree with. I once heard her speak up to a teacher in class when she felt that he was wrong in what he was asking our class to do. She completely dumbfounded our teacher, but in true Mary style, she was unruffled. I don't think I ever saw her be daunted by what others thought of her. That is what Mary Dansie represented to me: someone fearless, undaunted, speaking her mind.
As years went on and we grew further apart, I never stopped thinking of Mary's courage to speak her mind. Many times I would actually think the words "I need to be more like Mary Dansie," and try to bravely say what I thought. When I told her that today, she flushed and assured me that it was not such a good trait after all. I, very unruffled, disagreed.
As an adult looking back at who we were, or thought we were as children, it is so refreshing to be truthful and candid. Sharing regrets of things not done or said, and reassuring one another that the things we did say and do far outweighed the things we didn't.
We didn't take the time to delve into our trials and misfortunes through our years apart, though evidence of them were surely written on our aged faces as we smiled at each others familiar expressions. But one of the sweetest discoveries of my reunion with Mary today brings to mind a favorite scripture. It speaks of the sons of Mosiah meeting with Alma the Younger after many years apart (Alma 17:2). "...Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord..."
Monday, January 31, 2011
Beauty
This is a beautiful Nepalese woman who was at church Sunday. I wish I also had a photo of her profile. Her nose was perfectly hooked and her cheek bones are amazing in profile. She was just under 5 feet tall, and although she was very small, she seemed regal to me. I wish we had more diversity here.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
No time to wax poetic
I'm not sure that anyone even checks my blog anymore. It's been almost a year since my last post, so I don't blame readers if they don't anxiously check each day to see if I have updated. Well, today I asked a friend about his blog, which reminded me of mine, and I actually have something to say. Just basic life changing stuff.
Next Monday I will be starting a new adventure. I have a position as the Executive Secretary at the Perinatal Patient Education Department in the Women's and Children's Clinic at the University of Utah Medical Center. Quite a mouthful, huh.
I wasn't looking for a different job. I really like working at CRSA and I love the people. However, with the economy and other things, my pay has been cut, the amount I pay for benefits has increased to help save the company money, and jobs for the office are barely trickling in. When a friend mentioned an opening at the U and suggested I would be great in that position, I thought I may as well apply to give me other options.
The U of U and U Hospital have excellent health benefits which cost me less per month and include much more than I get at CRSA. The U also offers tuition reduction for me and for my children after time worked. I will be working fewer hours per week with a reduction in hourly pay, but I receive retirement benefits, a bus/Trax pass, discounts, etc. It may be tighter in my budget in the short term, but the long term benefits and job/company security are more than I thought possible. With fewer hours per week and the tuition reduction, I can go back to college and finish my degree starting this fall! I had to say yes.
I feel really good about my decision to go to the U, and very sad to leave CRSA. But it's all good.
The change in jobs will mean you cannot reach me at my CRSA email anymore. Please email me at daisyqueenmich@gmail.com.
And continue to check this blog in the future. I may be posting more often with new tales of my current adventure....
Next Monday I will be starting a new adventure. I have a position as the Executive Secretary at the Perinatal Patient Education Department in the Women's and Children's Clinic at the University of Utah Medical Center. Quite a mouthful, huh.
I wasn't looking for a different job. I really like working at CRSA and I love the people. However, with the economy and other things, my pay has been cut, the amount I pay for benefits has increased to help save the company money, and jobs for the office are barely trickling in. When a friend mentioned an opening at the U and suggested I would be great in that position, I thought I may as well apply to give me other options.
The U of U and U Hospital have excellent health benefits which cost me less per month and include much more than I get at CRSA. The U also offers tuition reduction for me and for my children after time worked. I will be working fewer hours per week with a reduction in hourly pay, but I receive retirement benefits, a bus/Trax pass, discounts, etc. It may be tighter in my budget in the short term, but the long term benefits and job/company security are more than I thought possible. With fewer hours per week and the tuition reduction, I can go back to college and finish my degree starting this fall! I had to say yes.
I feel really good about my decision to go to the U, and very sad to leave CRSA. But it's all good.
The change in jobs will mean you cannot reach me at my CRSA email anymore. Please email me at daisyqueenmich@gmail.com.
And continue to check this blog in the future. I may be posting more often with new tales of my current adventure....
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