I hope that all had a merry holiday season, be it Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Festivus or whatever you may choose to celebrate. 2008 was a year of many ups and downs for the nation, and for the most part a consistent year for my family. I look forward to the next year with hope, anticipation and a little apprehension.
Will the corporate giants that are still looming meet their ultimate slayer? Will they crumble to the ground? Will our new president live up to all the expectations that have been thrust upon him? Will the economy rebound and rise like a Phoenix from the ashes of the housing market? Will I be a more dedicated blogger and post more regularly?
Perhaps all those things will happen ... I haven't decided what my New Year's Resolution will be yet. I'd like it to be something I know I can stick to. Would getting a daily dose of the Wii count? (Hey, my Wii Fit age this morning was 23 -- that's pretty darn good considering the hard reality that I am actually 30.) Maybe I'll actually spend money to download songs on my iPod (yes, faithful readers, I've only downloaded free fare on my iPod or used GiftCards ... and I still haven't taken the time to transfer over some of my favorite CDs to the digital format yet ... I'm a late adopter ... don't blame me.) Maybe I can commit to clean eating ... I try a little of it whenever I can ... but I haven't committed to Tosca Rena's eating plan yet ... but I do have to return a couple of duplicate books at Borders, so I'm sure I'll have enough moola that I could make the purchase -- but would it just get dusty on my bookshelf?
What's your resolution? Will you commit to it for more than four months?
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Creating the Perfect Meal
One of the things I love most about hosting the holidays is putting together a most splendid meal. I love experimenting with flavors and trying my culinary talents (however untalented I might be ... ) And could I be any happier that Top Chef has been all about the holiday meals this season (it's like the producers just knew how to speak to me!)
However, this poses a problem. D appreciates my desire to experiment and put together a perfect meal, layering salty and sweet, savory and succulent ... but he has told me that my attempts this year may be a little too "fru fruy" (I am using his words here, because I think that it just provides the complete experience -- and I won't tell you how hard it was not to bust out laughing when I saw "fru fruy" come through on my email at work today.)
This also comes from the man who selected the holiday cookie recipes for me to execute this year. With the exception of our standard Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie (from the Magnolia Bakery cookbook) every single recipe he asked me to make this year was beyond complications. We are talking about cookie recipes that had 10 steps, and took me hours upon hours to complete. While I enjoy the flavor of many of them ... I will need to forget the labor involved before creating them ever again. (Seriously, I think I own every flavor of jelly known to man because I had to buy so many different flavors due to the many that required jelly.) The list included Stoplight Cookies (they look like stoplights with strawberry, apricot and apple jellies making the different colored lights) Black and Blueberry Rugelach's, Pecan Caramel Surprise Clusters, Raspberry Pinwheels, and Cornflake Christmas Wreaths.
Back to dinner ...
While my secret desire is to be like Martha Stewart I do understand my limitations, but epicurious.com just has so many fantastic planned out menus. I cannot control myself. I sent him a list of about eight. I've decided to go extremes -- let's pick a menu or it's "Hello, Target, I'd like the $69.99 holiday meal, please." I know we'll narrow it down and probably end up mixing and matching, but I just realized, I will need to be preparing this feast in exactly seven days. The palms are starting to sweat. Oh, well, it's really the meal that I enjoy, it's where everyone gathers around the table and shares stories, laughter and a little gentle ribbing. It's what the holidays are really about.
However, this poses a problem. D appreciates my desire to experiment and put together a perfect meal, layering salty and sweet, savory and succulent ... but he has told me that my attempts this year may be a little too "fru fruy" (I am using his words here, because I think that it just provides the complete experience -- and I won't tell you how hard it was not to bust out laughing when I saw "fru fruy" come through on my email at work today.)
This also comes from the man who selected the holiday cookie recipes for me to execute this year. With the exception of our standard Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie (from the Magnolia Bakery cookbook) every single recipe he asked me to make this year was beyond complications. We are talking about cookie recipes that had 10 steps, and took me hours upon hours to complete. While I enjoy the flavor of many of them ... I will need to forget the labor involved before creating them ever again. (Seriously, I think I own every flavor of jelly known to man because I had to buy so many different flavors due to the many that required jelly.) The list included Stoplight Cookies (they look like stoplights with strawberry, apricot and apple jellies making the different colored lights) Black and Blueberry Rugelach's, Pecan Caramel Surprise Clusters, Raspberry Pinwheels, and Cornflake Christmas Wreaths.
Back to dinner ...
While my secret desire is to be like Martha Stewart I do understand my limitations, but epicurious.com just has so many fantastic planned out menus. I cannot control myself. I sent him a list of about eight. I've decided to go extremes -- let's pick a menu or it's "Hello, Target, I'd like the $69.99 holiday meal, please." I know we'll narrow it down and probably end up mixing and matching, but I just realized, I will need to be preparing this feast in exactly seven days. The palms are starting to sweat. Oh, well, it's really the meal that I enjoy, it's where everyone gathers around the table and shares stories, laughter and a little gentle ribbing. It's what the holidays are really about.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Season's Tidings
It is hard to believe that we are already heavy into the month of December. Unfortunately, our month hasn't started well, as D's grandma passed away earlier this week. But it's a sobering reminder of what this time of year is supposed to remind us about how we should be the entire year. We were fortunate enough that we saw his grandma last week at Thanksgiving, and she was very lucid and we got to spend quality time with her. In a blink, she was gone.
The time we have with each other is so very fleeting, brief and if we don't hold it as preciously as we should, it will disappear before we know it. That is what this time of year is supposed to reinforce for us. If you believe in God (as I do), you believe that he gave us his son as the ultimate gift. A great man to teach us the way and in the end provide the ultimate sacrifice. Tolstoy's three questions will also help remind one of what's most important. And so my present to you today is this story:
Three Questions - by Leo Tolstoy
One day it occurred to a certain emperor that if he only knew the answers to three questions, he would never stray in any matter.
What is the best time to do each thing?
Who are the most important people to work with?
What is the most important thing to do at all times?
The emperor issued a decree throughout his kingdom announcing that whoever could answer the questions would receive a great reward. Many who read the decree made their way to the palace at once, each person with a different answer.
In reply to the first question, one person advised that the emperor make up a thorough time schedule, consecrating every hour, day, month, and year for certain tasks and then follow the schedule to the letter. Only then could he hope to do every task at the right time.
Another person replied that it was impossible to plan in advance and that the emperor should put all vain amusements aside and remain attentive to everything in order to know what to do at what time.
Someone else insisted that, by himself, the emperor could never hope to have all the foresight and competence necessary to decide when to do each and every task and what he really needed was to set up a Council of the Wise and then to act according to their advice.
Someone else said that certain matters required immediate decision and could not wait for consultation, but if he wanted to know in advance what was going to happen he should consult magicians and soothsayers.
The responses to the second question also lacked accord. One person said that the emperor needed to place all his trust in administrators, another urged reliance on priests and monks, while others recommended physicians. Still others put their faith in warriors.
The third question drew a similar variety of answers. Some said science was the most important pursuit. Others insisted on religion. Yet others claimed the most important thing was military skill.
-------------------------------
The emperor was not pleased with any of the answers, and no reward was given.
After several nights of reflection, the emperor resolved to visit a hermit who lived up on the mountain and was said to be an enlightened man. The emperor wished to find the hermit to ask him the three questions, though he knew the hermit never left the mountains and was known to receive only the poor, refusing to have anything to do with persons of wealth or power. So the emperor disguised himself as a simple peasant and ordered his attendants to wait for him at the foot of the mountain while he climbed the slope alone to seek the hermit.
Reaching the holy man's dwelling place, the emperor found the hermit digging a garden in front of his hut. When the hermit saw the stranger, he nodded his head in greeting and continued to dig. The labor was obviously hard on him. He was an old man, and each time he thrust his spade into the ground to turn the earth, he heaved heavily.
The emperor approached him and said, "I have come here to ask your help with three questions: When is the best time to do each thing? Who are the most important people to work with? What is the most important thing to do at all times?"
The hermit listened attentively but only patted the emperor on the shoulder and continued digging. The emperor said, "You must be tired. Here, let me give you a hand with that." The hermit thanked him, handed the emperor the spade, and then sat down on the ground to rest.
After he had dug two rows, the emperor stopped and turned to the hermit and repeated his three questions. The hermit still did not answer, but instead stood up and pointed to the spade and said, "Why don't you rest now? I can take over again." But the emperor continued to dig. One hour passed, then two. Finally the sun began to set behind the mountain. The emperor put down the spade and said to the hermit, "I came here to ask if you could answer my three questions. But if you can't give me any answer, please let me know so that I can get on may way home."
The hermit lifted his head and asked the emperor, "Do you hear someone running over there?" The emperor turned his head. They both saw a man with a long white beard emerge from the woods. He ran wildly, pressing his hands against a bloody wound in his stomach. The man ran toward the emperor before falling unconscious to the ground, where he lay groaning. Opening the man's clothing, the emperor and hermit saw that the man had received a deep gash. The emperor cleaned the wound thoroughly and then used his own shirt to bandage it, but the blood completely soaked it within minutes. He rinsed the shirt out and bandaged the wound a second time and continued to do so until the flow of blood had stopped.
At last the wounded man regained consciousness and asked for a drink of water. The emperor ran down to the stream and brought back a jug of fresh water. Meanwhile, the sun had disappeared and the night air had begun to turn cold. The hermit gave the emperor a hand in carrying the man into the hut where they laid him down on the hermit's bed. The man closed his eyes and lay quietly. The emperor was worn out from the long day of climbing the mountain and digging the garden. Leaning against the doorway, he fell asleep. When he rose, the sun had already risen over the mountain. For a moment he forgot where he was and what he had come here for. He looked over to the bed and saw the wounded man also looking around him in confusion. When he saw the emperor, he stared at him intently and then said in a faint whisper, "Please forgive me."
"But what have you done that I should forgive you?" the emperor asked.
"You do not know me, your majesty, but I know you. I was your sworn enemy, and I had vowed to take vengeance on you, for during the last war you killed my brother and seized my property. When I learned that you were coming alone to the mountain to meet the hermit, I resolved to surprise you on your way back to kill you. But after waiting a long time there was still no sign of you, and so I left my ambush in order to seek you out. But instead of finding you, I came across your attendants, who recognized me, giving me this wound. Luckily, I escaped and ran here. If I hadn't met you I would surely be dead by now. I had intended to kill you, but instead you saved my life! I am ashamed and grateful beyond words. If I live, I vow to be your servant for the rest of my life, and I will bid my children and grandchildren to do the same. Please grant me your forgiveness."
The emperor was overjoyed to see that he was so easily reconciled with a former enemy. He not only forgave the man but promised to return all the man's property and to send his own physician and servants to wait on the man until he was completely healed. After ordering his attendants to take the man home, the emperor returned to see the hermit. Before returning to the palace the emperor wanted to repeat his three questions one last time. He found the hermit sowing seeds in the earth they had dug the day before.
The hermit stood up and looked at the emperor. "But your questions have already been answered."
"How's that?" the emperor asked, puzzled.
"Yesterday, if you had not taken pity on my age and given me a hand with digging these beds, you would have been attacked by that man on your way home. Then you would have deeply regretted not staying with me. Therefore the most important time was the time you were digging in the beds, the most important person was myself, and the most important pursuit was to help me. Later, when the wounded man ran up here, the most important time was the time you spent dressing his wound, for if you had not cared for him he would have died and you would have lost the chance to be reconciled with him. Likewise, he was the most important person, and the most important pursuit was taking care of his wound. Remember that there is only one important time and is Now. The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion. The most important person is always the person with whom you are, who is right before you, for who knows if you will have dealings with any other person in the future. The most important pursuit is making that person, the one standing at you side, happy, for that alone is the pursuit of life."
The time we have with each other is so very fleeting, brief and if we don't hold it as preciously as we should, it will disappear before we know it. That is what this time of year is supposed to reinforce for us. If you believe in God (as I do), you believe that he gave us his son as the ultimate gift. A great man to teach us the way and in the end provide the ultimate sacrifice. Tolstoy's three questions will also help remind one of what's most important. And so my present to you today is this story:
Three Questions - by Leo Tolstoy
One day it occurred to a certain emperor that if he only knew the answers to three questions, he would never stray in any matter.
What is the best time to do each thing?
Who are the most important people to work with?
What is the most important thing to do at all times?
The emperor issued a decree throughout his kingdom announcing that whoever could answer the questions would receive a great reward. Many who read the decree made their way to the palace at once, each person with a different answer.
In reply to the first question, one person advised that the emperor make up a thorough time schedule, consecrating every hour, day, month, and year for certain tasks and then follow the schedule to the letter. Only then could he hope to do every task at the right time.
Another person replied that it was impossible to plan in advance and that the emperor should put all vain amusements aside and remain attentive to everything in order to know what to do at what time.
Someone else insisted that, by himself, the emperor could never hope to have all the foresight and competence necessary to decide when to do each and every task and what he really needed was to set up a Council of the Wise and then to act according to their advice.
Someone else said that certain matters required immediate decision and could not wait for consultation, but if he wanted to know in advance what was going to happen he should consult magicians and soothsayers.
The responses to the second question also lacked accord. One person said that the emperor needed to place all his trust in administrators, another urged reliance on priests and monks, while others recommended physicians. Still others put their faith in warriors.
The third question drew a similar variety of answers. Some said science was the most important pursuit. Others insisted on religion. Yet others claimed the most important thing was military skill.
-------------------------------
The emperor was not pleased with any of the answers, and no reward was given.
After several nights of reflection, the emperor resolved to visit a hermit who lived up on the mountain and was said to be an enlightened man. The emperor wished to find the hermit to ask him the three questions, though he knew the hermit never left the mountains and was known to receive only the poor, refusing to have anything to do with persons of wealth or power. So the emperor disguised himself as a simple peasant and ordered his attendants to wait for him at the foot of the mountain while he climbed the slope alone to seek the hermit.
Reaching the holy man's dwelling place, the emperor found the hermit digging a garden in front of his hut. When the hermit saw the stranger, he nodded his head in greeting and continued to dig. The labor was obviously hard on him. He was an old man, and each time he thrust his spade into the ground to turn the earth, he heaved heavily.
The emperor approached him and said, "I have come here to ask your help with three questions: When is the best time to do each thing? Who are the most important people to work with? What is the most important thing to do at all times?"
The hermit listened attentively but only patted the emperor on the shoulder and continued digging. The emperor said, "You must be tired. Here, let me give you a hand with that." The hermit thanked him, handed the emperor the spade, and then sat down on the ground to rest.
After he had dug two rows, the emperor stopped and turned to the hermit and repeated his three questions. The hermit still did not answer, but instead stood up and pointed to the spade and said, "Why don't you rest now? I can take over again." But the emperor continued to dig. One hour passed, then two. Finally the sun began to set behind the mountain. The emperor put down the spade and said to the hermit, "I came here to ask if you could answer my three questions. But if you can't give me any answer, please let me know so that I can get on may way home."
The hermit lifted his head and asked the emperor, "Do you hear someone running over there?" The emperor turned his head. They both saw a man with a long white beard emerge from the woods. He ran wildly, pressing his hands against a bloody wound in his stomach. The man ran toward the emperor before falling unconscious to the ground, where he lay groaning. Opening the man's clothing, the emperor and hermit saw that the man had received a deep gash. The emperor cleaned the wound thoroughly and then used his own shirt to bandage it, but the blood completely soaked it within minutes. He rinsed the shirt out and bandaged the wound a second time and continued to do so until the flow of blood had stopped.
At last the wounded man regained consciousness and asked for a drink of water. The emperor ran down to the stream and brought back a jug of fresh water. Meanwhile, the sun had disappeared and the night air had begun to turn cold. The hermit gave the emperor a hand in carrying the man into the hut where they laid him down on the hermit's bed. The man closed his eyes and lay quietly. The emperor was worn out from the long day of climbing the mountain and digging the garden. Leaning against the doorway, he fell asleep. When he rose, the sun had already risen over the mountain. For a moment he forgot where he was and what he had come here for. He looked over to the bed and saw the wounded man also looking around him in confusion. When he saw the emperor, he stared at him intently and then said in a faint whisper, "Please forgive me."
"But what have you done that I should forgive you?" the emperor asked.
"You do not know me, your majesty, but I know you. I was your sworn enemy, and I had vowed to take vengeance on you, for during the last war you killed my brother and seized my property. When I learned that you were coming alone to the mountain to meet the hermit, I resolved to surprise you on your way back to kill you. But after waiting a long time there was still no sign of you, and so I left my ambush in order to seek you out. But instead of finding you, I came across your attendants, who recognized me, giving me this wound. Luckily, I escaped and ran here. If I hadn't met you I would surely be dead by now. I had intended to kill you, but instead you saved my life! I am ashamed and grateful beyond words. If I live, I vow to be your servant for the rest of my life, and I will bid my children and grandchildren to do the same. Please grant me your forgiveness."
The emperor was overjoyed to see that he was so easily reconciled with a former enemy. He not only forgave the man but promised to return all the man's property and to send his own physician and servants to wait on the man until he was completely healed. After ordering his attendants to take the man home, the emperor returned to see the hermit. Before returning to the palace the emperor wanted to repeat his three questions one last time. He found the hermit sowing seeds in the earth they had dug the day before.
The hermit stood up and looked at the emperor. "But your questions have already been answered."
"How's that?" the emperor asked, puzzled.
"Yesterday, if you had not taken pity on my age and given me a hand with digging these beds, you would have been attacked by that man on your way home. Then you would have deeply regretted not staying with me. Therefore the most important time was the time you were digging in the beds, the most important person was myself, and the most important pursuit was to help me. Later, when the wounded man ran up here, the most important time was the time you spent dressing his wound, for if you had not cared for him he would have died and you would have lost the chance to be reconciled with him. Likewise, he was the most important person, and the most important pursuit was taking care of his wound. Remember that there is only one important time and is Now. The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion. The most important person is always the person with whom you are, who is right before you, for who knows if you will have dealings with any other person in the future. The most important pursuit is making that person, the one standing at you side, happy, for that alone is the pursuit of life."
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