Making Dinner for The Boys! Love

I went back to the old grind after five glorious days away from there. I got home tired from being at work but energized from the brisk walk home. I even pretentiously speed walked keeping in front of a woman obviously moving to pass me. I kept pace and half steps in front of her until the end of the bridge where we parted ways without even a glance...woohooo! Well, I am sure she enjoyed the push.

When I get home from work these days, all I want to so is sit on the couch like a rag doll gawking at the TV with the remote in hand like Homer Simpson. As I sink into the abyss, somehow I manage to glance at the clock and remember that Lord Mutton will need dinner. He is such a scrawny kid that I feel I have to prepare dinner for him every night. I am not sure he eats well during the day. I am not convinced that he eats lunch at school and seldom gets an afternoon snack. I do not necessarily think I have to cook a big meal but at least prepare a sensible meal for him. What about hubby you say…..Well he is a grown boy. Nevertheless, he gets his share.

So, today after I struck the pose and got comfortable, I replayed my evening scene. I remembered that I have to feed this kid. I dragged myself off my spot and sauntered into the kitchen. I looked around for what to prepare. I had some chicken in the bottom of the refrigerator thawing. I placed it there last evening intended for tonight’s dinner. It almost did not make it. I was searching for a reason not to make it.

Anyway, I decided to bake the chicken with a honey ginger glaze and adda side of green beans and noodles. I hit the jackpot. It looked soo good and smelled even more wonderful. As I served dinner and called Lord Mutton to dig in, I placed his plate on the table. As he approached the table, his face lit up, like a beacon. All his senses were engaged. That look on his face stirred every lazy muscle in my body. You should have seen that million-dollar smile. Boy, I wish I could cash it in.

I went back to the kitchen to clean up, as I did not want to eat then. I figure I would wait for the other him. As I left Lord Mutton at the table, I thought that I had to record this encounter. After a few minutes in the kitchen, I went to my computer to write and before I could get through this piece, he was finished eating. He scarfed the food down like a lumberjack. I looked at him with his plate in hand and asked him what happened. I thought something was wrong with the food. He grinned and said yeah, I am done. Done, I said. He said yes, it was good ...I really liked the tastes. Huh, this guy is usually a very slow eater. Doesn’t that just warm your heart!

So everyday I come home dreading the tasks of doing the chores around the house like cooking and doing dishes but the thought and remembrance of this very wonderful moment make me forget my frumpiness’ and self-centeredness and get him a meal he will enjoy. He usually enjoys my cooking any way. Truth be told, I feel better knowing I prepared him a good meal and it was something he enjoyed. Now I will go back in my spot and resume the pose until its time for bed. Oh, life is good!

Living The Message of Easter Through Out TheYear

As I spent this week thinking about the Easter Season and what it means to me, I had many thoughts and feelings about this. This ‘religious season’ is a time to be off from work – a holiday. A time for pretty bonnets, dresses, Easter Egg hunts, happy playful children in the Easter parades, special foods, parties and celebrations. It is a remembrance of great suffering, loss and pain but with that and through that come great hope, renewal, rebirth through penance and the beauty in nature that we call Springtime.

How much of that beauty and renewal do we see and experience in our lives? I think again, about what this all means and a few things come to mind. How do we take this season and all its meaning and significance and internalize it so that our behavior and actions reflect the message. How do we live this experience, this season, this opportunity to be reborn every day as we feel and experience it now, during this season.

How do we do live a christ centered life in a practical and realistic way? Knowing the truth about our ransom for our lives, knowing the message and teachings and the daily challenges we face, how do we obey. How do we do that through our enlightenment, our knowledge, and our truths and make it a ritual, a natural consciousness of our daily conduct. I say this is the challenge for having a fulfilled life.

I am sure there are many teachings and lessons on this from our various beliefs, experiences and religious practices. How do we achieve a fulfilled and good life? I remember a lesson from Thicht Nhat Hanh in his book the Two Treasures it says: To live honestly, generous in giving, to offer support to relatives and friends, living a life of blameless conduct - this is the greatest happiness. I think this message is the universal truth for all peoples.

Christ gave everything for us, our ransom, even though we are undeserving and cannot pay for it. What I do know and what I am learning is that we must be grateful for everything. We must be our brothers’ keeper and we must give of ourselves to others so that they can see love and light. This is what the season means for us; we must be grateful and we must be caring.  We are indebted and when we give and serve, we are rewarded with the greatness of a fulfilled life; the greatest happiness.

I am reminded here of one of my favorite hymn’s that is based on two scriptures, “We are one in the spirit”; with the refrain, “they will know we are Christians by our love.” The scripture says,” By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have loved one to another." John 13:35 KJV. The scripture also reminds us to give thanks in all things. 1 Thessalonians 5:18. There is also a favorite praise and worship song, Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart, I just love that song.

If we live in Gratitude for his goodness and mercy, we will find much happiness for living the beatitudes. Find the means and the way to stay renewed and happy throughout the year. The good book says in II Timothy 2:15, “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Happy Easter and a year of gratitude, and happiness to all.

Audio Books, The New Books on Tape Craze

Are you caught up in the audio book craze? I am not there yet. I like to read but I am still in love with holding the paper and turning the pages etc. I had gotten away from frequent library use as the kids got older so B&N and Amazon got a lot of biz from us. I remember when I used to buy the nursery rhyme books on tape for the kids. It was very cool but they fell off the popular list as the kids aged. Now I have no space to store books so I borrow from the public library. It feels like a lost when I return the book especially if I really liked it. I also miss having a functional library in my home. Books-on-tape have grown up and is cornerning the market and our way of life as Audio Books.

The Audio book business is on the increase.  It is not just for the kids anymore. I remember a selling point for audio books was the ability of busy folks to keep up with their reading. I think many of the titles or the popular push was with meditation and inspirational materials. Today, various readers have recorded lots of books and materials for the general population. Life got busy for many people and audio books gives us the better of two worlds - listen while you work, while you drive, while you relax, while watching TV, while you jog, taking a shower, you name it.

Remember the old days when folks gathered around the radio for story time. It was the high point of the day. Bringing the stories to life on the radio was state of the art entertainment. Today we have so many options for entertainment and acquiring knowledge and having fun, why not more audio book titles, topics and genre. The proliferation of personal electronic devices certainly gives it boost. These gadgets target the young and the young at heart. Look at all of the gadgets; ipods, MP3, Iphone and all of the other phones types, and readers like Kindle on the market. As expensive as some of these gadgets are they ought to be able to read to you.

Virtual libraries are very attractive especially in the city where living spaces have reduced by 2/3 of what they used to be and with the prices more than twice quadrupled over the years. We do not have the space for storage or libraries anymore. Remember those volumes of encyclopedias? Wow, another market and earning steam went the way of the dinosaurs. Grab a CD or better yet get it on-line. I still cannot get into having the bud in my ear with the noise - music or reading for personal listening. The hands free phones or blue tooth devices are not popular with me.

Audio books provide access to all types of books and materials. From Mark Twain to I am Legend you name it you could find it. Moreover, from the reviews, audio books are very good quality recordings and productions. I will be selecting an audio book this weekend. I'll keep you posted.

Repairs by Remote Control

The other day I called for some tech help at work because I could not log in to the network. I made the request for help and got a ticket - a response to expect the service. I was told that the Tech person would get to me soon. He came by and looked at the system, gave me so tech-eze about the problem and assured me that he could fix it. I was on to some other tasks while he worked at my station.. When I got back to my desk, I had a new operating system, a cleaner desk top and good function. I even got a new keyboard because the one I had would cut off whenever it chose even in the middle of typing. I was happy.

Today I called for help from the tekkie because I had a printing problem. I got the usual response. I waited for him for a while but he did not come. I went to lunch. As I returned to my desk and got on my computer, the screens began to change without my doing. I sat back and watched the screens I had open closed. A dialog box popped up, and letters started appearing and formed words. It said; "hi, let me know when you are back from lunch so that I can assist you with resolving the printing problem."

Huh, I thought. Oh, the brave new world! Or the anti social mechanical world of technology that diminish our human interactions. I typed back, "I am here." He explained that he would work on the problem from wherever he was. I said OK, not that he asked my permission. I sat back and watched as he worked on my system. Screens opened and closed in flashes and voila! the problem was fixed.

I was expecting to see my friendly tekkie work on my system at my station; instead, I got a remote service call. Wow! Is this technology replacing humans or perhaps eliminating the personal touch? What does this really represent in the world or humanity?

What does it represent in terms of privacy and the big brother effect or syndrome?

Is your monitor being monitored in secret while you work?

Food for thought or issues for concern and action? Is there action to be taken and by whom?

What do you say?

Grace in Small Things - Day 156 Farewell Dear Friend

This was another warm beautiful sunny day today. A day of goodbyes, so long and a day to remember. A day to be thankful for friends, family, and grace. Grace to experience another day of living and to embrace others.

Meeting my daughter for the trip to send off my friend. It was quite comforting to have her with me.

The outpouring of love and sadness for what we will miss and what we have lost. The chapel overflowed with people, tears, laughter and thankfulness.

Gathering of friends and acknowledgement of magnanimous heart.

Refocus, regroup, reflection, stillness.

I thank you my Gist community for your prayers and your love. You have given me strength. Your friendship means so much.