"Oh, I may be on the side of the angels...but don't think for one second that I am one of them." - Sherlock, The Reichenbach Fall



Thursday, July 26, 2012

Regrets and a strange dream

I wish I had made more of my high school and college years, and worked harder and learned more.  I spent way too much time partying, and seeking status.  Now I want to learn, and the opportunity is no longer there.  I wonder what I can do to change this now.  I would like to improve my flute playing.  I dreamed I got a new flute, and I couldn't get a sound out of it.  It was so strange.  And I had a cousin - a cousin of my dad's in the dream - who owned the music store where I got it.  Someone I work with IR:L also got a new flute, but his worked just fine.  It's like, I wanted his flute because it played for me, whereas my flute wouldn't play for me without doing a lot of things to it.

Soooo...do I get flute lessons or what?

Monday, July 23, 2012

some small fixes

Last night, I made the Leeks and Beans Cassoulet from Veganomicon again.  This time, I doubled the biscuit recipe.  Unfortunately, that was too much bread, instead of too little.  I think the best option would be to make 1½ times the biscuit recipe when I make this again, and see if that is enough.  The normal biscuit recipe isn't quite enough for all the stew it makes if you use two leeks (which is what the recipe calls for).  I did make sure I sautéed the carrots/onions/leeks/garlic for at least 10 minutes, which ensured that the carrots were tender.  This is definitely a favorite of our family.  Amy and Brian added vegan cheese and chili powder, which I don't exactly get, but hey, it's okay.  They are eating vegetables!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Brian's back home, Amy's driving

Brian returned from a wonderful mission trip to Joplin, MO.  The group Voices of Youth is simply amazing.  I truly enjoyed their music, and I was so proud of Brian, when he spoke last Friday night during the group's service and made sure to make the folks from the group home across the street from the church feel welcome.  (They really enjoyed the concert, and sang along with nearly all the selections.) 

Amy got her permit last Saturday, and began driving in earnest last night.  She did quite well for her first time, and I am really proud of her.  She even backed the van into the driveway and did well considering how dark it was. 

My brother, Uncle Scott, got a tooth pulled Monday, and is still at mom's house recovering.  We had dinner at Noodles & Co. on Monday night, then last night Brian and I made spaghetti for everyone.  Although I woke up with a migraine yesterday morning, by the evening, I was feeling much better, thus the spaghetti dinner and taking Amy out driving.  I am really going to have to make sure I drink plenty of water.  I believe I got sick primarily because of the extreme heat.  Even though I have remained indoors, I have not been keeping the fluids coming like I should.  I am completely recovered this AM, and am back at work.  There is a large, FULL water bottle on my desk.

Hopefully, later this week, I will put some time in practicing my clarinet, my flute and - yes - recorder.  I'm playing flute one Sunday in church - I believe it is August 12th.  I'm not sure when we will do the recorder duet.  Should be some nice music for the summer months.

Friday, July 6, 2012

Seeing Marcus back to Sweden and some thoughts

It is never easy, and just gets harder seeing my husband off back to Sweden.  He left this morning, and I felt at least last night, Amy & I made him a nice dinner of Leek and Bean Cassoulet (from Veganomicon).  It was delicious, and he really liked it.  Our neighbor, and Amy's friend K.J. joined us for dinner, and he had seconds!  Definitely a go-to recipe for company and special occasions.  I will have to make it for my mom some time.

I hope I didn't come on too strong about dietary change.  This is just so right for me, but at the same time, it took  me a lot of years to be ready to make the change.  I had to be ready to change my eating habits.  And I am still evolving.  I still make the occasional exception, though not all that often anymore.  It is getting easier.  Now for getting rid of other animal products in my life.  I need to take a good look at ingredients in dish detergent, shampoo, laundry detergent, all of that stuff.  I'm also concerned about ingredients that harm the environment.