The Simple kindness of the Semester

You guys know those weeks. Some seven day intervals seem riddled with strange unkindnesses. Take the "dude" at school who cussed me out because I was trying to be nice and not run over him (go figure)! By contrast, there are other days that simple kindnesses seem to blossom from under the cracks in the side walk right beneath our feet. Take several Tuesdays ago. My art instructor told us students to plunk ourselves somewhere on campus and do a charcoal drawing (our 2nd ever). I chose the same out-of-the-way spot that I worked at a month prior--on the sidewalk on front of a gnarled tree. The minutes passed by as I became in engrossed in the work of my ebony dusted hands.

"Oh honey your bum must hurt!" I looked up. A elderly cafeteria worker, her lunch in hand, looked down on me with concern.

"Oh, I 'm ok. It really isn't so bad."

"Well, you should be careful honey. You really could get sore from sitting on the hard cement like this!"

"You are kind but I am alright" Trust me, I thought, I have enough padding! NO harm has been done!

The minutes silently slipped by as my arm moved in large strokes, first with the kneaded eraser then with the stick of soft charcoal. Trusting my untrained instincts, I cut out the fingers of light and put in dark shadows.


"Here ya go baby!"

Turning, my eyes met the same cafeteria worker holding a pair of folded fleece pants.

"Now it won't be so bad. Just throw them away when you are through with them!"




By the time she had finished talking, she had placed the soft fleece pants beneath my rump! I was just able to ask her name and say "thank you!" before she rushed back to the cafeteria.

Maybe you haven't been given a pair of sweat pants to "cush your tush," yet I would guess that you personally, have received a kindness of some sort lately. It is a good reminder, is it not, in this Christmas hustle and bustle to think of others more than we think of ourselves.

Once again, thanks Camile.

Ok, sorry for the funky blog background. I was experimenting with cute backgrounds at oh, past 10 pm the other night. Hmm, yeah...bad idea.

And yes, I know I have already broken my resolution but hang tight, I think I can make it up. I have some neat things ahead. Finals are right around the corner which means you all get to read and see some of the things I have been doing this semester. From art to Psychology, you'll get it all!

Ready..Get set... Thanksgiving!

Look at the link HERE to find to tasty look'n recipes for this Thanksgiving! This was taken from Pam Smith's e-newsletter. Mrs. Smith is a Christian dietitian who has a wonderful, realistic perspective on food and health . Enjoy browsing through this. There are quite a few succulent selections to choose from.

Hills of fire and a Blood-red sky

Needless to say tonight's post is not the original one I was intending to post! In short, there is a fire in the sage brush hills behind my home. Here are some pictures. I am going to try and get the film clip to work too. (Kristin...I wish I was a bit more artistic in my pyro-photography!)

Note that the house isn't on fire! It is the hill behind the house that is aflame! The perspective is all off!

This last picture unfortunately doesn't show the detail, but the the little "swishy" in the sky is a helicopter dropping retardant/water at night. I have never seen a fire 'copter' do this except when they drill in the summer.

We got a false call to evacuate around 7:00pm. It ended up being a miscommunication. It turns out we heard the Police's bullhorn from several streets up. Whew (though it still is a bit close!)! I have to say that I dread the very idea of putting ALL of my quick-packing back into my room tomorrow. Then again, it doesn't seem so nasty of a job considering that I still have a house to put them in! God is kind.

Here's a mid-November resolution...

Ready for it? Here it is: for the next month I am going to attempt to post on my blog once a week. Honestly, posting creative and inspiring thoughts is difficult for me to do in midst of a busy college semester; however, I feel like a robot if I don't create something (especially with words!)!

Steam powered, baked fish

As some of you know, my current job has changed from caring for a 17 month-old to adult com- ompanionship care. I have truly been enjoying the job.

About a month ago I helped prepare a lovely salmon lucheon. It was a regualr fall-ish feast including salmon en papillote, french bread, ceaser salad, and fruit. Did I mention that there was gingerbread with sauteed apples in a sweet sauce? I think I am forgeting something....oh yeah, there was Cool Whip too!

Salmon en paplillot (en pap- e`- yote) by the way, is a f French word for cooking salomon in a parchment paper envelope. (Truth be known you can cook anything en papillote). The whole power behind of the parchment paper package is steam. Once you put a dalop of butter in the package, steam is garenteed. Here is the recipe. If it looks too camplicated for you, at least try the marinade! Mm...mm...good!

Salmon Special (or en papillote style)

Ingredients:
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup sherry
1 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoons fresh ginger root, grated
¼ cup butter, softened
1 Tablespoons minced shallot (about 1 medium)
1 teaspoons fresh chopped parsley
4 4-ounce Alaska salmon steaks or fillets (4 to 6 ounces each)
Pparchment paper (for en papillote stylel-

1. Combine soy sauce, sherry, garlic and ginger in flat dish or gallon size zip-lock plastic bag. Place salmon in marinade; turn several times to coat. Cover, if needed, and refrigerate for 1 hour, turning salmon over after 30 minutes.

2. Cream butter with shallot and parsley; cover and set aside. Grill salmon on oiled hot grill, turning once during cooking, about 6 to 12 minutes per inch of thickness. Do not overcook. Serve each salmon portion with dollop of seasoned butter.

Note: If cooking en papillote style: Follow instructions through 1. Then cream butter with shallot and parsley. Place fillets in the parchment paper heart and smear the butter spread onto top of salmon. Roll the edges of the parchment together (think fluted edges of a pie crust) and set of a baking sheet. Bake ate 375 F for 12-15 min.

Servings: 4

You Know You Need to Give Up Your Tanning Lotion When...

...the guy next to you in class asks if you have been carving alot of pumpkins!!

Sniff! Good-bye summer glow. I'll stop pretending.