Thought for the day - reconnections

 

And here we are, the first week of 2023 almost completed.  I am glad to see the new year begin.  Last year was very rough for a lot of reasons.  This year is going to have its own set of personal challenges, but I know that I will be coming out better for having faced them. There are lots of changes in store for me this year.  I am not going to go into any details right now, but things are changing, and life will be different.  Better, I believe, just different.  

One of my goals this year is to, truly, reconnect with the special people in my life.  And there are a lot of them.  Ever since the isolation of the pandemic started to give way to a somewhat normal existence again, I have had an extremely hard time coming out of that.  In some ways I am still very much isolated, and I realized that I just do not really know how to interact with people anymore.  Now, when I say that, I'm talking about on an intimate level.  I do have a few friends in my life that are on that level with me right now, thank God, but I want more of that.  That may be selfish, but it's what I need.

I miss the people that were always so special to me at earlier times in my life.  Sure, we connect on Facebook and we send cards at holidays and birthdays but it's not the same.  Recently, my life got turned around.  It was not exactly unexpected for me as far as the situation goes, but the timing is what threw me off.     I tried to reach out a few people with no luck for one reason or another.  And that's ok.  I was able to connect some with a current close friend and that helped.   What this experience made me realize is that I want those people back in my life.  And yes, I know it will take a while and I need to restart the friendships and let them grow.  I'm good with that.  It gives me something work on and to look forward to.

My connections have been muted.  It's time to turn the volume back up on them.

So, to my friends out there, watch out cause here I come.  It may not be tomorrow, but it will be soon.  Love to you all.  And HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

It's Election Day! Why am I not excited about it?

 

And today is election day!  I hope you all get out and vote today if you haven't voted already. If you decide not to vote, that's your decision too. I wish you would, but I don't condemn you if you don't.  Sometimes it's just the way things go.

Every time I go to vote, I'm always reminded of going with my parents to vote when I was a child.  I don't remember how many polling stations there were in Monroe when I was growing up but they always voted at the same place.  On Sunset Ave., beside the Methodist church, was the Boy Scout Hut.  I don't know if it's still there or not, but it was a small building and that's where they voted.  I remember the parking lot always being full of signs.  When I was very young and couldn't be left out in the car, I would go in and stand beside Mom or Dad as they voted.  Back then, they had curtained off areas for privacy.  I don't think that's done anymore either LOL  Still, I remember going in with them and watching it all.

As a child, I couldn't wait until I was old enough to go into that booth on my own and vote.  I looked forward to that.  Now, as an adult, not so much.  I vote, I just don't enjoy it.  I don't do it out of a sense of pride or, for that matter, a sense of duty.  These days I pretty much just vote so that I can tell people I voted and don't have to get any slack for it.  Another reason I don't mind if someone chooses to sit out an election here or there.  It's very taxing on the soul.  At least, it is on my soul.

I don't really care who you vote for, as long as you are making an educated choice.  I'm a registered Democrat but I'm not a stupid Democrat.  I rarely vote straight party ticket because I do my homework.  You have to these days.  The political ads almost never tell you what a candidate has actually done that's positive, but what their opposing candidate has done that's negative.  I don't learn anything that way.  It just frustrates me and that's why I have to research.  

But, I did it.  I voted.  I got my sticker.  I got my pen.  It's in God's hands now.  And, no, despite what some people think, God is neither Democrat or Republican.  I will hopefully survive whatever the results are.  After all, what other choice do I have?

That is all.

Quote of the week

 True True!

Softly and Tenderly - Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt

 My gateway to my spirituality is through music. It always has been and it's an important part of my life.  This is one of my favorite hymns by three amazing artists!  Enjoy!

Looking ahead to Christmas decor

 Now that it's November, it's time for me to start thinking about decorating for the holidays.  I know that some people say it's too early, but not for me.  I don't necessarily think that I will put out decorations right now, but it is time to start figuring things out.  But, in order to put stuff out, I have to continue to clean things out and make space for stuff.

95% of my decorations are out in the garage.  There are SO MANY boxes of decorations out there LOL  What I would like to do, both as I'm bringing them out and putting them away after the holidays, is get them organized better and more condensed.  I know that I should put like items together so it will be easier for me to locate.  That would be convenient!  But there are also lots of broken things that just need to go.  Most of the time they get put back in the box, not out of sentimentality, but out of convenience.  I just think I'll deal with it later.  Let's get it in the box and back on the shelf.  This year, I need to NOT to that and get everything sorted properly.

It's going to be a rainy day today, so I may start on that out in the garage.  I may not.  Depends on my homework situation LOL  Still, I may work inside making more space and doing more Goodwill donations.  We shall see.  Either way, Christmas decorating is on my brain and will be for awhile.  And as much as I love Christmas, that's a good thing.

That is all.

Recipe of the Week - Easy Homemade Croutons

 The other day I had planned on having Caesar salad with dinner.  I had everything I needed but croutons.  So, on my way home from work I stopped by the neighborhood grocery store to pick some up.  This is a great little store but it doesn't always have what I'm looking for.  Apparently, croutons are on that list as well.  I went up and down every aisle looking in any section they may possibly be and couldn't find any.  There was a long line at the register so I didn't want to bother the clerk.  Well, I stood in the aisle and pulled out my phone and looked up how to make them.  It's not hard at all and I had all of the ingredients at home so that's what I did.  We both loved them.  And they smelled amazing cooking!  I will definitely make them again!

Easy Homemade Croutons

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese

1 Tsp dried parsley

1/2 Tsp garlic powder

1/2 Tsp dried oregano

1/4 Tsp salt

1/4 Tsp pepper

1/4 Tsp dried thyme

4 cups cubed bread*

Preheat oven to 375.  Combine all ingredients except bread in a bowl.  Add the bread and toss to coat, making sure all of the mixture is soaked up by the bread.  Spread in an even layer on a baking sheet.  Bake 10-15 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until golden brown.

*I used plain white sandwich bread because that is what I had on hand, but any bread should do fine.  This worked great!

Enjoy!

In Buddy's Eyes - Barbara Cooke

 I was listening to a podcast this morning and the subject was Sondheim.  They were discussing their favorite lyrics of his and one of the guys said his was this song's lyrics.  It's been stuck in my head all morning.  I love Barbara's rendition.  She really nails it!  Enjoy!