Learning Now!

Siobhan Curious from Classroom as Microcosm has offered a second writing prompt as part of her Writing on Learning Exchange:  What I Want to Learn Now.  My response is below, but check out other responses on her site—and consider adding your own.

LEARNING NOW!

I love learning!  To paraphrase Andy Defresne in The Shawshank Redemption, “Get busy learning or get busy dying.” If you are not learning, you are not living life to the fullest and you are bound to die, perhaps a bit sooner than you’d expect.  But being open to learning is fairly easy—you just need to fully engage with the world around you.

I just finished reading John Grisham’s The Appeal and learned through one storyline how relatively easy it is for someone with lots of money and little conscience to manipulate elections and the general population.  I cannot say I am thrilled about having this lesson thrown in my face, but it does serve as a cautionary tale.  It also demonstrates that if you keep your mind open, you can learn something from just about any encounter, be it book, movie, tv show, new neighbor, store clerk, church sermon, whatever.

Recently, I have picked up a new recipe from a friend’s blog, discovered some book titles I want to read, and am gaining a better understanding of the concerns and problems surrounding engineered food.  I’m eager to see the new movie 42 to get a better sense of the details surrounding Jackie Robinson’s breaking of the color barrier in baseball—and I figure that seeing the movie will spark some reading and learning to verify details.

My most recent intentional learning project has focused on mastering the technology needed to teach effectively online for the American Public University System.  I have not been assigned a class yet as an adjunct but will be soon.  In preparation, I took a three-week class to learn the technology the campus uses to enable teachers to engage the students and the material.  Part of what I learned was the mechanics of the college’s Sakai system, so I can—among other things—post assignments, insert video clips into messages, respond to students individually or as a group, grade assignments and then post grades for the students.  I also learned about the services available for faculty and students through the online college library system.

By the end of the three-week course, I mastered the basics, so now know that I can use the technology effectively, and I gained confidence in my skills so now know that I can engage the students through the technology.  I also know that I have more to learn!  When I am finally teaching my first class with this system as an adjunct professor, I will be able to experiment with and perfect how the technology can help me help the students learn.  Taking this class also taught me (reminded me?) what it feels like to be a student in an online environment—the worry about using the technology; the concern that you’ll not get “it,” not get whatever the lesson is that day/week; and the hassles of staying engaged and motivated even when life interrupts the class.

The best part about learning is that it is an ongoing process.  It is not surprising that Aristole was right:  “The more you know, the more you know you don’t know.”  Obviously then, there is always more to learn.  Learning keeps pushing you forward in life!  Of course, you do have to keep an open mind and look for learning opportunities.  As William Dewar said, “Your mind is like a parachute.  It only functions when it is open.”

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN LEARNING LATELY?

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SOME OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES ON LEARNING

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” Mahatma Gandhi

 “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”   Dr. Seuss

“Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will.”    Vernon Howard

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”  Harry S Truman

“Life is like playing a violin in public and learning the instrument as one goes along.”   Samuel Butler

“The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than what to think—rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to load the memory with the thoughts of other men.”   John Dewey

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”   Henry Ford

“We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself.”  Lloyd Alexander

“If you hold a cat by the tail you learn things you cannot learn any other way.”    Mark Twain

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”   Confucius

 “Learning is not compulsory… neither is survival.”  W. Edwards Deming

 “It is possible to store the mind with a million facts and still be entirely uneducated.”   Alec Bourne

 “He was so learned he could say horse in nine languages; so ignorant he bought a cow to ride on.”  Benjamin Franklin

Topic N: Time for a NAP

Okay.  Let’s act like this is a round of Jeopardy.

Here’s the answer:

*  You’ve had a good day.

*  You’ve had a bad day.

*  You’re home early.

*  It is cold and dreary out.

*  It is sunny out—and you have a hammock.

*  You just ate.

*  You won’t eat for a couple hours.

*  You just finished a big task.

*  You have a big task on your to-do list.

*  Just because.

*  Why not?

THE QUESTION:  What are perfectly good reasons for taking a nap?

Like you need a reason for a nap!

As adults, we recognize that babies nap almost all the time.  And we insist on naps for the kids as they grow up.  Daycares and kindergartens typically have a nap time scheduled right after lunch.  But somewhere along the way, naps stop.  Teens avoid them, unless you count sleeping-in as a nap.  Eventually, once we reach the age of about 30 or so, adults wise up and again recognize the value and fun of the simple act of taking a nap.  Dad always demonstrated the art of nap taking when we were kids, but he blamed it on the chair!  [There might be more truth to his musings than we realized back then—see The Great Menace by Year-Struck.]

Since 1999, there has even been a National Nap Day!  It is the Monday after changing the clocks for Daylight Saving Time. [Don’t get me started on losng an hour of sleep again!]  This holiday was proposed by Dr. William Anthony when he was a professor at Boston University and founding partner of The Napping Company.  According to Anthony, “Our goal is to encourage folks to take a nap wherever they may be, at home, at the workplace or on vacation, and to make it a regular part of their healthy lifestyle.” Research clarifies the benefits of taking a nap:

1. Boosts Alertness
2. Increases Learning and Memory
3. Improves Creativity
4. Increases Productivity
5. Lifts the Napper’s Spirits
6. Reduces Stress

With so many good reasons for taking a nap, wouldn’t it make sense to practice this activity every day? Heck, animals make it look so easy.  Overall, it seems more a natural behavior than a learned activity. Even though few businesses encourage napping as part of the work day, creative employees can make effective use of lunch breaks and lulls between meetings for grabbing a quick nap. Whether at work, at home, or on vacation, Harvard Health Letter (November 2009) offers a few tips on how to take the best nap ever.

1. Keep it short:  About 30 to 40 minutes is ideal, but even as short as 10 or so can help.
2. Find a dark, quiet, cool place:  Any location works, but these three traits are conducive to falling asleep.
3. Plan on it:  Of course, we all just doze off at times, but if nap time is part of a regular routine, it will be a more efficient use of time.
4. Time your caffeine:  It is best to coordinate rests with the boost in energy provided by typical pick-me-ups like coffee or chocolate.
5. Don’t feel guilty:  Remember naps are linked to increased productivity and creativity.

Given the obvious importance of naps if one wants to stay alert, creative, and productive, I think I will add “Improving My Napping Techniques” to my ongoing to-do list.  How about you?  Do you regularly nap?  What advice can you give?

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 No day is so bad it can’t be fixed with a nap.  Carrie Snow

 There is more refreshment and stimulation in a nap, even of the briefest, than in all the alcohol ever distilled.  Edward Lucas

 I count it as a certainty that in paradise, everyone naps.  Tom Hodgkinson

 A day without a nap is like a cupcake without frosting.  Terri Guillemets

 Naps are nature’s way of reminding you that life is nice – like a beautiful, softly swinging hammock strung between birth and infinity.  Peggy Noonan

 Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o’clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap.    Barbara Jordan

Racism isn’t born, folks, it’s taught. I have a two-year-old son. You know what he hates? Naps! End of list.  Denis Leary

 I catnap now and then, but I think while I nap, so it’s not a waste of time.    Martha Stewart

A NEW YEAR: 9 by 59

Last year was a long, hard year.  For much of the time, I was either in the doldrums or struggling with fits of frustration and stress.  A long-term problem is still unresolved.  The worst part, however, is that others are working on the resolution.  I am not good at giving control over to others.  I am also not the best at being patient.  But I’m trying!  Throughout the year, I did work on the eight goals I had in place for 2012, but I never fully finished all of them. I am consistently reading more now—and that habit will continue.  Of course, the others—eat better, scan photos, address projects—are ongoing and will never really be checked off the list.

My birthday was last Saturday—and 2013 is starting off as a great year.  My underlying plan is to keep focused on the day-to-day and not let the things outside of my control get me down.  To accomplish that broader plan, I am going to delineate nine goals to address by next year at this time, hence the 9 by 59!  This time, I am going to be a bit more specific in my goals since the bigger picture matters will always be there.  I’m confident I will stay more active and engaged this year because I plan to take to heart this philosophy shared with me on my birthday:

Basically in 2103 I plan to do MORE!  The MORE will be targeting these areas, some practical, some more spiritual in nature:

• Eat more salads
• Drink more water
• Laugh more—at life, myself
• Write more
• Post on my blog more
• Trek into Nature more
• Express gratitude and appreciation more
• Connect with friends on a more regular basis
• Photograph the wonders around me more

I am excited about 2013!  I am determined to make it a better year.  I wish you all a great new year as well, bringing you more of all the things that are important in your life.

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 Success is the sum of small efforts—repeated day in and day out.  Robert Collier

 You know you are old when you have lost all your marvels.  Merry Browne

 Four short words sum up what lifted most successful individuals above the crowd: a little bit more.  They did all that was expected of them and. . .  a little bit more.  A. Lou Vickery

 What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.  Zig Ziglar

 A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life.  William A. Ward

IT’S ABOUT TIME: 8 by 58

I swear!  Just yesterday it was January 2012.  So what happened to the last 4 months?  Or what happened to me during these last four months?  When I look back, I start to see some details that might suggest what has been going on:

• I lose time.  I am sitting down to watch TV or read or something and next thing I know it is morning—or at times it seems to be days later when I am next aware of what is happening around me.
• I feel isolated, violated at times.  This usually happens when I am barraged by Facebook messages or emails from various companies insisting/suggesting what other items I might want to buy.  At times these feelings surface when watching general news stories about stealth helicopters and hidden GPS trackers and such other horrors out in the real world.
• At other times I feel frightened about the future.  This is typically in reaction to news items about politics and upcoming elections—and the increasing onslaught of reality TV. Those Hulu Commercials about aliens using television to numb our minds so “They” can eat our brains do not seem so far-fetched anymore.
• Often I awake from a fitful sleep with an ever increasing number of aches and pains that I cannot account for, black and blue marks that just appear—as well as the need lately for extensive dental work.

I can only draw one logical conclusion:  I have been abducted by aliens, over and over again.  That has to be it!  I will stay more vigilant in the hopes of thwarting future abductions, so I can get back to my usual routines.  Wish me luck.

My first attempt at getting back to normal is to share my goals and expectations for the rest of the year, an entry I had planned to write back in January in conjunction with my birthday.  But here it is now, 4.5 months later.  I started this sort of review last year when I shared some goals to be completed by the time I turned 57 years old.  This year my plan involves working on 8 goals to be completed by the time I turn 58 (January 2013).  Here’s my list:

1. Last year, I planned to launch a website to advertise my skills as an educational consultant.  The page exists, but diligent exploration of jobs has taken a back seat.  This year, I will keep this goal.  I have some revisions planned for the website and have started a campaign to reach out to community colleges in the state.  So now I just need to put my plans into action!
2. Last year, I worked on sorting and scanning some old family photos, both mine and my parents’. I accomplished quite a bit, but the task is ongoing as more and more photos surface. 
3. Plus I need to re-do some of the photo scanning I completed last year.  I did not get some of what I had accomplished already backed-up and my laptop died.  Tough lesson:  always back up whatever you are working on!  This task needs to be an ongoing task—one that I need in print to help me remember how important it is!
4. Last year, I listed eating healthier and exercising more as two separate items.  I had limited success in each area, but these—too—need to become ongoing tasks if they are really going to become just my normal routine.  So, they remain a stated goal this year!
5. Last year, I talked about reading more, especially attacking the long to-read list that has been in existence for years.  I have been reading more, and more and more.  I even took some items off the list, knowing they were no longer addressing my interests.  This year, in addition to keeping up with my reading, I plan to start writing some book reviews as part of my blog.  I hope to share at least one review before this month is over, and then get in the habit of writing two reviews a month, at a minimum.  
6. Last year, I planned to recreate some of the nature writings I completed in the past so they would be accessible via an online format, if I chose to go that route.  I have found some of the hard copies of my older work and have the photos mostly scanned and ready to go.  I have even explored some online self-publishing sites. But this project really has not been completed, so it remains on my list.
7. I miss getting out and about to take photos.  For the last several years, I have not really taken any vacations, even mini-trips, so have not taken many new photos.  My goal this year is to enjoy some trips, even if only day or weekend excursions.  This goal has the added benefit of helping me enjoy Nature a bit more than I do through my usual day-to-day routine.  Enjoying Nature makes everything better! 
8. My final goal for this year, well for the rest of this year, is to work on downsizing the stuff in my apartment.  I have a couple chairs I want to give to the Salvation Army, but I still have not called for a pick-up.  I have boxed some other items but there are more closets and drawers to go through.  And the shelves of books really need to be culled, but that task is very, very daunting.  It is really hard to think about giving away books.

So, these are the 8 major tasks I will complete by the time I turn 58 years of age in January 2013.  They seem more likely to be accomplished, once I make them public.  Of course, I really need to be able to eliminate the alien abductions in order to work on these with any sense of dedication and diligence.  Wish me luck!

What have you been doing, or not doing, thus far this year?

Any other alien abductees out there?

9/11 Anniversary: It Takes a Village

It takes a village.  We all know the sentiment—and believe it!  It does take a village to make life more manageable, more enjoyable.  Especially with the hectic fast-paced, technologically engaged life we live today.  It is more important than ever to stop, pause and connect with the individuals around us.

In day-to-day life, the fellow villagers are the ones who help babysit, carpool, hold open the door, stop and ask how you are doing and really care about the answer, pack your lunch, put a love note in that packed lunch or suit pocket, call to see how the interview went, do the laundry even if it’s not their day, read a bedtime story, are careful to sit down with others for dinner, remind others that it’s okay to not do the dishes tonight or suggest a trek outside to watch the stars.  It’s the human connection, the interaction that makes the village work. The awareness that this sense of village needs to expand in ever widening circles even to the strangers in the crowd give rise to such movements as practicing Random Acts of Kindness.  We need the human touch.

When crises surface—whether it’s a house fire, an earthquake, a lost job or car accident—then the village is even more important.  And people step up, even strangers.  During the aftermath of the Northridge Earthquake—I lives in Chatsworth very close to the epicenter—we all were there for each other, giving a blanket, a hug, a bottle of water, a place to stay, updates on loved ones from other parts of the city.  If someone needed to pause and collect themselves, someone else stepped up to make sure they were okay, to help them take that next step forward.  We see this in the news all the time as villagers respond to whatever emergency surfaces. 

This weekend as we honor the 10 year anniversary of the tragedy of 9/11, the power of the village is even more apparent, and important.  We are reminded through the memories, photos, and specials of the villagers who stepped forward to be there during the immediate tragedy and its ongoing aftermath.  The first-responders, the ongoing helpers, the volunteers, the city workers, the survivors, the family members, the passengers on the plane, the newscasters, the distant communities sending help and prayers.  We are in this together—and we need to remember that, especially this weekend as we reach out with a touch, a tear, a prayer.

One great way we can all show our solidarity with the village this weekend is to display the flag proudly and prominently.  This idea was presented via an email from a friend.  It originated with the Activities Facilitator for the Greenfield Unified School District in Bakersfield, California. Every community across the country is planning some sort of event or activity to remember not just the tragedy of 9/11 but the strength and power of the village that kept us all going.  Those immediately impacted by the tragedy especially need our ongoing care and support, but all the village members also need a chance to join hearts and hands as we move forward, together.    

The Nation’s tribute is available through the World Trade Center Memorial. To view this website, go to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.  This site offers a wide array of information about the tragedy and the heroes of 9/11 as well as interactive opportunities to share stories, find names, appreciate memories, and build connections. Another site allows people to express thanks to the heroes of 9/11. 

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“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” Jane Howard

“We do no great things, only small things with great love.”  Mother Teresa

“Every time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope. . . and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy. . . those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest wall of oppression and resistance.”  Robert F. Kennedy

 

Oh No! I’ve Been Hacked!

Well, this has never happened to me before.  My personal email account was hacked and spam email was sent out, making it look like it came from me. I received email from myself on one of my other accounts that I did not send!  I received a ton of bounce-backs from email that could not be delivered that I did not send.  The ones that got through to people had a different version of my email address, no subject line, and the only message was a link.  If clicked on, that link led to something about Viagra, I think.  One friend did open it—and then asked if I were trying to sell Viagra online as a money-making venture.  NO! 

I knew this sort of thing happened.  A few years ago, at work, the district’s chancellor’s email sent some racy messages to most everyone on campus (thousands of people).  But I never thought it would happen to me!  I was careful.  I had good passwords (not typical things like birthdays and such, involved a combination lower and upper case and numbers). I did not open emails from addresses I did not know.  I did not click on links to much of anything in an email unless it came from a trusted friend.  I always keep spam filters and security programs current and working. In response to this incident, a couple friends who know more than I about such matters said that changing my password should stop the problem.  I hope so. 

In response to this problem, one of my nephews shared this website about things all of us could do to keep our computers as protected as possible, and I thought I would share it with you.  It is Ed Bott’s Stay Safe Online: 5 Secrets Every PC (and Mac) Owner Should Know.  But I am also writing to say, “Sorry!”  If you were on the receiving end of my hacked account, I hope nothing more problematic or drastic happened to you.  This is certainly NOT the sort of reach-out-and-touch campaign I would ever advocate.  So, please, learn from my experience and stay extra vigilant about your system’s security.

In light of my attempt to find things to be thankful for, I will share the following:

1. I am thankful no further damage was done; at least so far it seems fairly self-contained.
2. I am thankful for friends who responded quickly to alert me to the problem and make suggestions on how to make corrections.
3. I am still thankful for email, since it offers such a quick way to connect with people, even if we need to be really careful.
4. I am thankful that I can see the irony of warning you earlier in this post about problems via the Internet by saying, “Here click on this link.  Really. You can trust me!”
5. I am thankful it is Friday—and that I have some good chocolate in the house!
6. I am thankful for the cute little book Go the F%&k to Sleep—since it reminds us how life typically unfolds and that we usually have very little control over much of anything. 

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“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”  Albert Einstein

“Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.”  Eleanor Roosevelt

“Any idiot can face a crisis—it’s this day-to-day living that wears you out.”  Anton Chekhov

 

Keeping Cool! (Includes Moose Video)

It has been a hot summer, to say the least.  I am surprised the country is not melting away given the record highs reported throughout the country.  To beat the heat, I tend to stay indoors and enjoy my central air.  But I realize that is not an option for everyone—and it really is not that fun.  Some more fun options to help keep cool include:

Going to the beach, running through the waves.

Sitting out at night to catch a cool evening breeze.

Enjoying a cold beverage, whether that is a beer or lemonade—it needs to be ice cold, sometimes even ice added!

Go swimming, does not really matter the size of the pool, even a wading pool can work!

A long time favorite, of course, is running through the sprinklers—as this video shows, it applies to all things of nature!  [You’re gonna love this video, even though it is 3 years old!]

 

What are some things you do to keep cool?

Happy 4th of July!

This is the 4^th of July Weekend, a time to celebrate American Independence.  It was 235 years ago that the revolutionaries took action together to seek their independence, to determine their own fate, to take on the challenge of being a new country beholding to no other authority.  Over the years, their courageous actions became our history. Today, our armed forces protect our rights and freedoms as we interact in world politics.  This weekend is a chance to celebrate our country and our accomplishments and to renew our commitment to the values of truth and justice that keep us strong as a country and as individuals. 

It is traditional to celebrate with fireworks!  There is something exciting about the huge community shows that fill the sky as well as hand held sparklers that fizz and crackle before they burn out.  This year as many communities face wild fires burning out of control, the sale of fireworks—even safe and sane ones—and the production of community shows are being halted in many locations under the better-safe-than-sorry policy.  Whatever is the plan in your community, celebrate but stay safe.  Be sure your celebration includes a respect for history, a prayer for the future and an appreciation of the military personnel who sacrifice so all Americans can remain free.

To help you celebrate, here’s a fireworks spectacular set against “The Star Spangled Banner” as recorded last year—enjoy! 

Finally, if you want a reminder of the good that America does in the world as part of its glorious traditions, visit A Frank Angle.  His blog shares a presentation of a Canadian editorial from years ago that praises America for its response to tragedy worldwide.  It’s worth a look.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

What a Delightful Surprise: Blog Awards

The other day when reading one of the blogs I am subscribed too, I noticed that the blog’s host was the recipient of three blog awards:  The Stylish Blogger, The Versatile Blogger, and The Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award.   The recipient was Deborah @ The Monster in Your Closet—and her wit and careful observation of the world around her, including her delightful little boy, are truly deserving of the awards.  You should check out her blog!

These awards are given by bloggers to other bloggers.  There are some basic rules.  First, each recipient needs to identify the one who bestowed the award on him or her–and share extensive thanks.  Second, the blogger receiving the award needs to share seven details not readily known about him or herself.  Third, the recipient passes the award along to 15 other bloggers.  Fourth, be sure to alert the new award recipients they are winners!  Receiving one of the awards is a great honor as well as a chance to champion the bloggers each recipient reads and enjoys on a regular basis.  Everyone gets a chance to broaden their interactions.

I am telling you all this, because Deborah named me as one of her recipients of all three awards.  I had to reread to be sure I saw correctly.  I have not been blogging very long, so this does indeed feel like a great honor.  My first thought was thanks and appreciation to Deborah for awarding these honors on my blog.  My second thought was really a worry:  How can I identify 15 bloggers to pass these awards on to?  I do subscribe to a handful of blogs—and I add more every week mostly from reading freshly pressed blogs—but naming 15 quality these-are-great-to-highlight-and-share blogs?  I felt overwhelmed.  But then I started reviewing all of my subscriptions, noting which ones I especially like to see pop into my email, which ones routinely make me laugh or think or nod in agreement.  All of a sudden, finding only 15 did not seem so easy.  So I made myself a new criteria—I would nominate from those I had been following for more than three weeks or so. 

Rather than giving all three awards to all on my truly-read-and-appreciate list, I have identified at least one person for each award, but most are getting “The Versatile Blogger” Award.   The list is given below.  Keep in mind that my short synopsis of each site does not do the site justice.  You need to see them for yourself, so please follow the links . . . and enjoy.  I am not sure if this is following or breaking the rules, but I have named two website/blogs that are not housed at WordPress.  The following list is not presented in any special order.

Malinda @ Dendrochronology:  Her subtitle is “The rings of life, thought, and action.”  Her postings are always honest, perceptive, and provocative as she shares life’s insights about many things, such as blogging, summer schedules or her daughter’s foray into the world of volunteerism.  She is also starting to share photos that capture the world around her.  Enjoy!

Tricia @ Tricia Booker Photography:  Her home page is headed with this great Emerson quote:  “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”  She presents photographs each day—often just one—that captures that quote’s appreciation of life.  The first image of hers I saw was a flower, but she also shares views of birds and kids and dogs and horses and many other things.  Her work captures the wonder of life.  Enjoy!

Lisa @ The Big Sheep Blog:  Her subtitle is “Where imagination, business and life collide.” She sees (and shares) humor in life’s irritations and looks for balance, sharing entries on a range of topics from the evolution of bathing suits to shopping mall horrors, from eating fast food to insights on today’s media.  She’s a freelance writer who also shares her insights about life in her world.  Enjoy!

Phil @ Strange Bird:  His subtitle is “Paying attention to every moment . . . right now.”  His postings offer a consistent format:  a provocative juxtaposition of vivid image, poetry and video that helps his readers see things from a new perspective.  His versatility comes from the range of topics he explores from birth to dance to liminality.  He always surprises me. . . and makes me think.  Enjoy!

Dusty @ Around Dusty Roads:  She is “a woman of a certain age” who narrates her travels—near home and afar—with attention to all the details: vistas and tour logistics as well as local flora and fauna. She gives you a chance to be there too.  I first started traveling with her when she was visiting Sedona, but now that she is back home she has also explored local area forts and museums.  Enjoy!

Susan @ Creative Procrastination: She is a wife and mother who lives in the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains, VA.  She is a great storyteller who writes about writing, nature, country life, and the antics of her Jack Russell Terrier; her posts often culminate in lessons from the homestead.  As an added bonus, she is an expert on Dr. Suess and shares some of his quotes periodically.  Enjoy! 

Lee @ Lee Rentz Photography:  As a professional photographer, his postings include terrific photos that document his life and travels.  Whether he is on a birding trip, out camping or hiking, visiting a flower show, or capturing the wonders of city life, his artistic eye captures the wonder of his subjects through a focus on color, form, and texture.  Enjoy!

Darice @ Grown Up for Real!  Her postings share her realizations about career, family, and relationships as she tries to balance the grown-up stuff in her life.  She shares wit, wisdom, and keen observations as she provides book referrals, thoughtful quotes, and insights about life.  Her postings are often direct and to the point, especially on Wordless Wednesdays and Post-It Note Tuesdays.  Enjoy!

Jesse @ Succincity:  His subtitle is “Business, Marketing, and How People Work.”  Succinct is a great adjective for his ability to clarify and simplify the elements of marketing and business—but his insights are most often applicable to all of life, especially since his main focus is on people.  Whether he is talking about culture and honesty or personal breweries and 7-11, he makes me think and appreciate in new ways.  Enjoy!

Tim @ Slouching towards Thatcham:  His subtitle is “Tales from the front-line of life, fatherhood and the living room sofa.”  He offers thoughtful often imaginative comments on varying aspects of fatherhood and society, questioning—for example—who is really disabled and whether little boys should wear pink.  He also offers reviews on film, video and TV shows such as “The Apprentice,” “Dr. Who,” and “American Idol.”  Enjoy!

Cheryl & Ismail @ Honest Course:  The subtitle of this website/blog is “Celebrating honesty and integrity in society, government, and individuals.”  This is a relatively new site that is not hosted by WordPress.  Much like Superman and his alter ego Clark Kent, this site can seem unassuming, but it is dedicated to truth, justice, and perhaps even the American Way.  It’s worth a look.  Enjoy!

Emily @ The Heart of the Artist:   This is another non-WordPress website/blog that is worth some attention.  This site is dedicated to celebrating the creative process and giving glimpses into the artists as well as their work.  Some of the artists named on the above list might want to sign up as one of the artists to be showcased.  Enjoy!

Jean @ Jean of All Trades:  She first caught my eye when she shared photos of the art and fashion she encountered in Santa Fe, NM.  Since then, she has been intriguing, sharing fashion shots with flair and passion. But her postings also offer insightful comments on such topics as feminism in the media.  Enjoy!

 

Nana @ Inside NanaBread’s Head: Her subtitle explains that her blog is a lot like her junk drawers, full of “tidbits, trash, and treasures.” Her friendly, cheerful postings comment on many aspects of life, including family, crafts, and travel, but she also willingly shares recipes and photos that make you think you can create these dishes as well.  Her recipes range from oatmeal cookies and tart cherry dark chocolate bark to smoky baby back ribs.  Enjoy!

Natalie @ While I Breathe, I Hope: Her open, honest, witty postings share insights about her life and family in Pittsburgh—and that family includes a great Great Dane.  On top of that, she makes cooking look easy as she shares recipes and photos that literally make you hungry.  Enjoy!

Now comes the really hard part:  Sharing seven details about myself that most people probably don’t know.  As you can see, I have added my own qualifiers so I can stop worrying if I mentioned some aspect of these details already somewhere on my blog.  I suppose one of my items could be that I do not always remember everything I write, but I do tend to remember what I read! 

Here are the details:

1. When I was little, maybe 4 or 5, I flew with an older cousin in a small two-seater plane.  He had gotten his pilot license and was showing off.  My memory is not real clear, but my general sense if that I had a great time just barely being able to really see out the windows.  He is now a retired engineering professor living in Canada who will be in CA for a meeting and for visits with family this weekend. I plan to get more details from him to help my memory.  But I think it is this experience that has me hoping to eventually go up in a hot air balloon and maybe even skydive!
2. I really like elephants.  I imagine I have said that before in a blog entry or two.  But when I was a kid, again maybe about 5, I was taken to the zoo and there was a baby elephant there. I fell in love.  We lived in Chicago at the time, and I was determined to have a baby elephant as a birthday present.  I did not get what I wanted, but I did have a plan:  she would live in the basement, eat cheerios, and play in the back yard.  Made sense to me—and started my fascination with these gentle giants.
3. When I first went to graduate school, I was an English major—in fact, I specialized in American Literature.  Of course, I have read the classics.  Except Moby Dick.  I started that tome several times, wrote papers on it, took tests on it, refer to it when teaching, enjoy the references to it in Star Trek, but I have not read it from cover-to-cover.  Ssh.  Don’t tell anyone.
4. I have read pretty much all the works of Robert Frost and Walt Whitman.  They, in fact, are my two favorite poets.  In so many ways they are not alike, but they have a core appreciation of nature, life, and its cycles that comes through in their work.  They are both apt to write about fences and roads and wandering the fields—and I think in part my love of nature comes from their vivid presentations that so capture the mind and imagination. 
5. If asked, I am quick to point out that I am NOT a watcher of Reality TV.  How can anyone enjoy (or waste their time) on such shows as The Jersey Shore or The Real Housewives of Whereever?  I can get fairly snooty about this fact.  So it is rather embarrassing to admit that I do watch shows such as Judge Judy, People’s Court, and Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares.  I swear, I managed to keep myself from realizing they too are Reality TV.  See, you can get people to believe anything!
6. Did I mention that I really, really like elephants?  Over 10 years ago now, I had a great experience through a weekend class.  I was part of a group that toured a wild animal ranch housing animals who were all movie stars.  The best part of the day was being able to give Nellie, a 7.5 year old African elephant, a bath.  She loved it!  We all got drenched. Rather than sponges, we used brushes and hoses—but it was great fun!  I would do it again in an instant.
7. I am a cancer survivor.  In February 2012 it will be five years since I had the full complete hysterectomy that got all the cancer.  I did not even need radiation or chemo-therapy. I felt very blessed, especially given what suffering so many cancer patients have to contend with.  I do not talk about this much, but the awareness of being that close to death and surviving changed my perspective.  That experience urged me to be more vigilant in appreciating life, going out to play, and telling people how much they mean to me. 

That’s it!  That’s my seven things most people probably did not know about me!  Please take a minute to visit the blogs I listed above as blog award recipients—they are cherishing and reporting on life in great ways.  We all should go out and play!

Thanks for reading.

Chop, Chop, Chop. . . Does That Count as Cooking?

We all know the old adage, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!”  My question to you is, “When life hands you some luscious tomatoes, what do you do?”  My answer is to add them to a salad; create a terrific bacon, onion, tomato sandwich with a little parmesan cheese on sour dough bread; or create a nice little salsa.  Since I made a commitment in an earlier blog to be more mindful about my diet, about making healthier choices, I have been paying more attention to the foods I eat and even being more mindful of what is in season. Recently, I have gotten my hands on some great tomatoes!

 But the other day, someone assumed that my mindfulness about food meant I was “cooking” more.  I cannot quite say that!  You see, when I think of “cooks” I think of Julia Child or maybe Chef Ramsey—people who understand food and have a relationship with it.  People who can take ingredients and know the artistry of putting the right ones together to create something glorious. People who scald or smother food on purpose, who clarify butter or coddle eggs with confidence, or who think it is not a challenge to braise, flambé or deglaze anything.  I do not do those things!  Mainly, I chop.  I also open cans and boxes and mix things together.  Occasionally I fry up some bacon, even though it is not particularly healthy.  I bake chicken periodically and some casseroles—but those latter items are mainly chopping and mixing things too.

Don’t get me wrong:  Chopping produces some great results! Have a bunch of fruit, chop it up and make fruit salad.  Certainly the fruit alone is worthy.  There is nothing quite like a fresh juicy peach on a hot summer day or a good orange.  The aromas alone are divine. Watermelon stands alone too, except in one great local restaurant that oddly paired it with thinly sliced red onions and some French salad dressing—and it was excellent!  But granny smith apples, pineapple, and some strawberries make a nice fruit salad combination. Chopping and mixing!

A COUPLE RECIPES

I do not usually follow recipes.  For one thing, once I have saved them, like store coupons, they rarely stay in sight to be found when needed.  Then I often do not have in the one or two key ingredients needed to make the recipe work—and I am not going to the store just to buy something I will not use again for months and months.  If the recipe needs more than what I have in already, it rarely gets made.  I have stumbled upon two great coleslaw recipes online that fit the bill—and those recipes I enjoyed first at favorite restaurants:  North Woods Inn Red Cabbage Recipe and Wood Ranch Peanut Coleslaw Recipe.  Of course, I tinker with them a bit, usually adding more garlic than called for and onions and crushed red pepper even if not called for at all. 

There are two dishes I produce, however, with some expert chopping. One is a spicy vegetable soup, and the other is a pretty good salsa.  Both are good in that I usually have the basic ingredients in hand—or buy them in with the recipes in mind.  Both make a big batch and keep well—essential for someone who lives alone and must eat the creation day after day after day.  I could make smaller batches, but then I have half a pepper to use up, etc.  If I am going to chop, I make a full batch.  They might freeze okay, especially the soup, but then I need space in the freezer, containers, and a memory that says, “Hey there is something good hiding in the freezer.” 

Given the size of the batch I make, it is good these recipes are flexible, meaning they can be used in different ways or modified per serving.  The salsa is great with chips, of course, but can be added to salads, burritos, or scrambled eggs or even on top of baked potatoes. I have found that the soup lasts longer if I make it with just vegetables, rather than officially adding chicken or ham or something to the initial preparation. Then with each serving, I toss in something different:  some grated cheddar cheese, cut up chicken or sausage, a little parmesan cheese, or even a scrambled egg. Plus these recipes are both very forgiving—add something new or leave something out, and they hold up just fine.   

Spicy Vegetable Soup

Step one is to find a big pot.  The size of the pot determines the amount of soup you’ll make.  My standard size big pot holds roughly 6-8 cups of chopped vegetables and about 8 cups of liquid.  Basically, the vegetables fill up roughly half the pot and I add liquid to fill it up the rest of the way. As I eat through the finished product, I usually augment with additional broth as needed. 

Step Two is chop, chop, chop.  My typical batch includes the following ingredients:

• 1 large sweet onion
• 1 large red pepper—or yellow or orange, such pretty colors!
• 4 medium jalapenos—I like it hot so I use all the seeds
• 3 or 4 stalks of celery
• 2 or 3 gloves of garlic—or lots of garlic powder
• 1 ½ cups of frozen corn
• (Any other chopped veggie you might want to add like carrots, squash or beans, even peas but then I would not eat it!) 
• 1 can (14 ½ oz) diced tomatoes either with garlic or with jalapenos added–or chop up some fresh tomatoes
• 1 can (14 ½ oz) seasoned black beans
• (And/Or some rice or noodles if you like)
• 2 boxes (32 oz) chicken broth (or veggie or beef as preferred)—great in that the boxes are re-sealable, so can be saved in the refrigerator if not all the liquid is needed; you can add water if more liquid is needed

Step 3 is let it do its thing.  Once you have stirred all the ingredients together well, let the pot simmer for at least 45 – 60 minutes on medium heat or lower.  Once fully cooled, store in the refrigerator. 

That’s it!  Easy and good.  The total in terms of amount and calories changes every time, but each time I try to calculate, it ends up about 75-100 calories per cup.  Figuring a meal-sized serving is maybe 2 cups maximum, and then add something (chicken, cheese, slice of toast), it’s a tasty meal for about 300 calories. I heat up each serving in its own bowl in the microwave, typically about 4-5 minutes for hot, hot, hot soup.  Soup is just meant to be served very hot. 

Pretty Good Salsa

Step One is to get some great tomatoes.  I tend to buy the ones sold on the vine.  Romas can be good too, but then you need a few more.  The best is to have a friend share some from her garden.  (Oh, wait, I guess some people grow their own like my aunt used to do—but not me!)

Step Two is chop, chop, chop. My typical batch includes the following ingredients placed in an appropriately sized bowl:

• 4 good sized tomatoes
• 1 large sweet onion
• 4 medium jalapenos (or 2 large)—adjust as needed for your spicy quotient  or substitute with a green pepper
• 1 large red pepper—or use yellow or orange, or 2 medium in some combination
• 1 ½ cup frozen corn

Step Three is to prepare a little marinade in its own little bowl by mixing together the following:

•  ¼ cup or less of olive oil—or some other preferred oil
• ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• 2 T granulated sugar
• 1 T garlic powder
• 1 T crushed red pepper as needed for an extra kick

Step Four is to add the marinade mixture to the well mixed veggies and refrigerate for at least two hours before eating.

That’s it!  Easy and good.  The total in terms of amount and calories changes every time, but each time I try to calculate, it ends up about 7-8 cups of salsa, working out to about 135 calories per cup.  Of course, it is great straight with tortilla chips.  Or you can add it to other items, be creative.  Add maybe half of a sliced and diced avocado to about ½ c of salsa and you have a good topping for a grilled chicken breast.  The salsa keeps well too—just stir it up each time before serving. 

See what I mean about not necessarily being a cook?  But I do chop well.  And being mindful of my eating habits keeps me on track to meeting my goal from an earlier blog (#4 of 7 by 57). I see this entry as one of my promised updates.  In conclusion, I do have a couple questions for my readers: 

1. Can you share a favorite recipe or two?  I would love the chance to expand my repertoire with recipes that would be saved here on my blog where I can always find them.
2. When the world gives you great tomatoes, what do you do?