Hearts and Flowers: The Wednesday Medley



Thanks to Terri from
Your Friend From Florida
for the Medley questions.

I think St. Valentine's Day is for everyone, whether you have a romantic love interest or not. I received a Valentine card from my sister (thank you Patti!) - case in point. It is all about LOVE, not just romantic love.  What are your traditions for celebrating Valentine's Day?

Sorry to disagree with you, Mrs. Terri, but saying that Valentine's day isn't about whether or not you have a romantic love interest is like saying church ladies' groups aren't just for married women with children.  Same outcome of pain and exclusion.

Anyway...


I don't have any traditions for the "holiday" as of yet.  It does, however, make me look back on my years as a preschool teacher with fondness.  Christmas and Valentine's Day were the best two days of the school year.  We'd have a class party and I'd buy gifts for all of my students.  So. Much. Fun.

When you were in elementary school, did you decorate a shoe box and deliver those little valentines to all your classmates? Perhaps in Sunday School?

We made those little shoebox mailboxes in elementary school.  Not much fun to make when you take it home empty.

Do you enjoy playing Cupid? Have you ever introduced a couple who really clicked?

Not exactly.  Now, before y'all think I'm anti-romance, rest assured, I'm not.  I remember at my sister Ida's wedding, the minister saying that our job was not to interfere in the couple's marriage, but that since we were there as witnesses before God, our job was to "make sure they stay married."  I took that mandate seriously with all my married friends and family.  To me, that means to pray for the couple and to do my part to encourage unity.  If that means babysitting so the couple can have some time alone, being a neutral 3rd party to help resolve a dispute, or simply offering an encouraging word, I'll do it.  I even DJ'd a couples' dance at my home church...once. 

Which traditional Valentine's Day gift would you rather receive: Chocolate, flowers, or a card with a personal message?

I love flowers.  They don't have to be roses; any pretty flower makes me happy.

What is the best movie to watch on Valentine's Day?

The Princess Bride of course.

Tell us something random about your week!

Nothing spectacular to share.  Sorry.  All this Valentine's Day talk has worn me out and made me sad, so I'll just share a funny Valentine's Day video.

Fresh Powder: The Wednesday Medley



Thanks to Terri from
Your Friend From Florida
for the Medley questions.



NATIONAL CROISSANT DAY

In the United States, National Croissant Day is observed each year on January 30th. Croissants are a buttery, crescent-shaped rolls that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The key to a perfect croissant is laminating the dough. Laminating the dough is a process by which butter is folded into the mixture creating multiple thin layers of butter and dough. The result is a mouth-watering flaky crust and airy body.

Legend surrounds this pastry, as is often the case with a popular, worldly treat. What is known, is that crescent-shaped breads have been found around the world for ages. One of these was the Kipferl which originated in Austria as far back as the 13th century. This nonlaminated bread is more like a roll. Credit for the croissant we know today is given to an Austrian military officer, August Zang. In 1939 he opened a Viennese bakery in Paris introducing France to Viennese baking techniques.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Stop by the bakery for a fresh, warm croissant or try making your own using this recipe: Croissants recipe.

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Well, I do love croissants when they are fresh, but day-old croissants need to be turned into a donut. I happen to really like the croissants that have a donut-like glaze on them! Sugar overload but so good. So... do you like croissants? What is your favorite way to eat them?

I've never eaten a fresh homemade croissant that I know of.  I've only eaten canned "Crescent Rolls" or pastries from the grocery store.  So, unfortunately, I have no opinion on them.  Maybe in the future, I can allow myself the splurge of either buying a fresh croissant or making the recipe Miss Terri provided.

Speaking of food... How do you handle stress?

When things get stormy, I use distraction, sleeping, and sometimes eating to help me feel comfortable and secure, rather than stressed.  I know that the right answer should be that I trust in God, but that is one of my struggles.  I love the Lord, and I’m learning to trust Him more, but old habits die hard.  I’m used to having to take care of things myself, rather than get help.

 

Out of the negative emotions of greed, anger, jealousy, and hate, which one would you say affects you the most?

Anger.  I'm very hard on myself.  I'm told I also expect too much out of others.  Yeah, wanting people to live up to their word, take responsibility for their actions, and in general, just give a rip is expecting too much from people.  Anyway, I don't easily anger nearly as much as I used to, but I still take many things way too personally and berate myself way too often.

Out of the positive emotions of compassion, positivity, enthusiasm, and initiative, which one is your biggest strength?

Compassion.  Yes, I know it seems to contradict what I just wrote.  Expecting common decency from people doesn't mean I'm not compassionate.  God has given me His heart of compassion, especially for those who have no voice (the unborn, children in need of adoption, the elderly, etc.).  Without love and compassion, none of the other virtues matter.

What do you get every time you go grocery shopping, other than the staples such as bread, milk, butter, flour, sugar...

Spinach.  At least three times a week I drink smoothies that include a handful of spinach.  Also, spinach is my salad base and part of my omelets.

Please tell us something random about your week so far.

This is my second winter in Colorado, but the snow is still novel to me.  In trying to find beauty in my surroundings (and thus some artistic inspiration), I took this shot behind our offices at work Monday.  In the midst of busy city commerce and academic administration is this quiet serenity.  The snow on the ground hadn't yet been disturbed and the trees were still flocked with the day's powder.

Hold My Pie and Watch This: The Wednesday Medley



Thanks to Terri from
Your Friend From Florida
for the Medley questions.

NATIONAL PIE DAY

National Pie Day is celebrated annually on January 23rd. (Not to be confused with March 14 which is PI p Day.) National Pie Day was created simply to celebrate the pie. It is a day for all to bake or cook their favorite pies. Even more importantly, it is a day set aside for all to enjoy eating pies! The first pies appeared around 9500 BC in the Egyptian Neolithic period or New Stone Age.

Okay, fess up. Tell us your top three favorite pies, please. Will you have some pie today?

No, I don't think I'll be having any pie today. My three favorite pies are:

• Sweet potato pie.
• Peanut butter pie.
• Chicken pot pie.

While we are talking about food... are you a picky eater or are you ready to try almost any new food? What is the worst thing you have ever eaten?

I'm not a particularly picky eater. When I was growing up, our only menu choices were "take it" or "leave it," so there was no room for pickiness. It's hard to pick a worst food since I've eaten some very strange fare . Let's just say, there are foods I hope to never eat again. I am, however, learning to try new food.

Baking could be considered an art as could cooking. How do you define art?

Art is something done with skill, joy, and flair. Just as with its other forms, the palatability of art is in the eyes of the beholder and the partaker. I've seen some artfully presented food to which the taste didn't match up. I've also prepared some ugly food that was quite tasty.

Tell us a really stupid joke that made you laugh, please.

From Good Mythical Morning, episode 1278.1

Rhett: "Shall we sing first?"
Link: "Sure."
Rhett: Sings "Fiiirrrst!"

I've seen this episode multiple times, and I still chuckle at that part.

January 23rd is also National Handwriting Day. Do you have nice handwriting? Did cursive writing come naturally or did you practice in those double-lined practice books until your fingers hurt?

My handwriting isn't calligraphy material, but it doesn't look like a doctor (or a chicken on caffeine) wrote it either. I learned cursive in either 2nd or 3rd grade. While handwriting didn't come easy to me, I enjoyed practicing with handwriting sheets. When I was first learning, I ask my parents for handwriting tablets when we were in the store.

Tell us something random about your week.

This 5 inches of snow was not the "dusting" the Denver meteorologists forecasted
for Friday, but it sure was pretty.

Monday, I celebrated MLK Day by watching and absorbing Dr. King's
"I Have A Dream" speech.  I plan to make this a yearly tradition.

Take it Like a Man: The Wednesday Medley



Thanks to Terri from
Your Friend From Florida
for the Medley questions.

Wednesday, January 16th, is National Do Nothing Day!! National Nothing Day was proposed in 1972 by columnist Harold Pullman Coffin. This day has been observed annually since 1973. Of course, the way to celebrate it is to do nothing!

To commemorate Do Nothing Day in SOME way, tell us something about your life (or the life of someone close to you) in 1973!!

There's not much to tell.  In 1973, I was a year old.  Our family was living in Wellington, Alabama in a little 4 room shack (not 4 bedroom, 4 room) with a well and an outhouse.  We were Little House on the Prairie.

Now that we are thinking back, please tell us what your favorite pastime was as a child.

My two favorite pastimes as a child were riding my bike and roller skating.  As an adult, I still ride, but I haven't found a suitable pair of roller skates.  If I ever find one, I'd love to try skating again.

What is the best way to cheer you up on a bad day?

Is the question how can someone else cheer me up or how can I cheer myself up on a bad day?  Just the simple act of someone showing true caring and spending authentic quality time with me cheers me up.  I cheer myself up with music, taking a walk, watching a cheerful/funny video, reading from a favorite book, making someone else laugh, or taking a nap.

How old were you when you first started dating? Do you remember your first date?

I've never been on a real date. 

Today is also National Fig Newton day. Do you like figs/Fig Newtons?

I like figs, but I'm not that crazy about Fig Newtons.

Tell us something random about your week.

Recently, the Gillette company released a new commercial on the dangers of "toxic masculinity."  I'm sure many of you have heard about it, so I'll not go into too much detail about the commercial here, but I will submit a few points to ponder (rants).

• First, what is their motive?  Do they really care, or are they pushing a social hot button as a marketing ploy to sell more razors?  Hey, I'm not saying that the attempted message wasn't a needed one, but do we really need to hear this from a razor company?
• Second, masculinity is not toxic, displaying injurious behavior regardless of gender IS toxic.  In other words, many of the rude behaviors displayed in the commercial are also perpetrated by females.  I hate to bust your bubble, but women also bully, fight, and sexually harass others.  These are not relegated to just males. 
• If Gillette is going to continue the trend, I hope they next tackle "toxic femininity."  You know, where women bully other women and impose ridiculous unattainable standards over stupid crap like weight, race, marital status, socioeconomic status, etc, and encourage their daughters to do the same.  I hope they let women know that they need to be accountable to each other when they observe someone emasculating her husband, boyfriend, or son in an attempt to prove herself strong and superior.  They need to stress that there is such thing as "woman-splaining" and that it is definitely not cool.  Hey, I watch wives do it to their husbands all the time.

My frustration is not so much vented at the commercial as it is the angst--rather than thought and honest discussion-- it has stirred.  I'm so tired of anyone, be it a company, a religious organization, political organization, or a media outlet who pushes for division, strife, and separatism.  I feel so sorry for men, especially Caucasian men.  Modern American society has made them the enemy when they are not (and don't be a Southern white male--Lord, have mercy).   Ignorance and hatred are the real enemy.  Why don't we try fighting that instead of each other?

Rant over.  Now, I need a laugh!

This masculinity definitely ain't toxic!

State of Shock: The Wednesday Medley



Thanks to Terri from
Your Friend From Florida
for the Medley questions.



It may be a little shocking, but National Static Electricity Day is January 9!!  Here are some things to avoid!
 

How to Avoid the Shock of Static Electricity

• The drier air of winter months is a better insulator than the more humid air of summer.  To help prevent static electricity, use a humidifier to put moister back into the air in your home during the winter months.
• Our skin is drier in the winter months, too.  Putting on moisturizer before getting dressed is recommended.
• Synthetic fabrics are better insulators than natural fibers. Wearing materials made from natural fibers such as cotton will help reduce the amount of static electricity that’s stirred up.
• While walking around the house, at work or shopping, holding a key or a metal pen in your hand will help discharge the build-up of static electricity painlessly.
• Switching to leather soled shoes versus rubber-soled shoes will help reduce the amount of static that is built up.

Do you often get shocked often when you touch metal?

I have often joked that my superpower is the ability to shock the snot out of myself on anything (or anybody), metal or not, dry air or not, wearing natural fibers and leather-soled shoes or not.  I'm hoping I can find a way to harness this power for good instead of the evil pain it brings me and others.
 

There are actually two "National" days worthy of mention! It is also National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.  Our men and women working in many areas of law enforcement put their lives on the line for us daily.  Do you know someone working in law enforcement who you can thank today?
 
Unfortunately, no.  Blake, one of my former students, is from a law enforcement family.  His father was (and my still be) an Alabama State Trooper.  His older brother was an Anniston City Police officer who was killed in the line of duty.  My sister, Clara, and I were just talking about them the other day.  His parent's home was severely damaged in the tornado that tore through Jacksonville last year. 

At our house right now it is all about football.  Joe's Philadelphia Eagles barely won their game on Sunday to move forward in the playoffs and another chance to play in the Super Bowl this year.  Do you have a favorite team in the playoffs or does football make you yawn?  Is there a Super Bowl party in your future, no matter the teams playing?

NFL football is not currently on my radar.  The problem is, I live in the midst of Broncos country, but the team is awful (plus their team colors look too much like Auburn University).  Yes, they just fired their coach, but I think whoever's hired as the new coach needs to fire many (if not all) of the players.  If I wanted to watch a bar room brawl, I'd go to a bar.  Sheesh!  Another factor is that I'm more in tune with college football.  Sadly, all of my college football teams are done for the year; Jacksonville State lost in the second round of the FCS playoffs, and Alabama just lost to Clemson in the CFP (formerly BCS) championship.  So, Major League Baseball is the next sport on my radar.

Speaking of parties, there is always lots of food at parties I attend.  Tell us a weird food combination that you really enjoy (or have enjoyed).  It doesn't have to be party food.

Occasionally I like to mix sliced black olives with cottage cheese and eat it with a spoon.  It helps keep me away from junk food when I'm craving something salty.

Since we are on games and parties, what game have you spent the most hours playing?

Words with Friends.

Tell us something random about your week so far.

• At the close of the year, I earned my "Be Kind, Rewind" Mythical Merit Badge.
• After a restful two week break, I'm glad to be back at work.  I feel like 2019 will be a great year for me and for the university.

First Shot: The Wednesday Medley

Thanks to Terri from
Your Friend From Florida
for the Medley questions.

 
Today is NATIONAL SCIENCE FICTION DAY

National Science Fiction Day is celebrated annually on January 2nd by millions of science fiction fans across the United States. The date of January 2 was chosen for National Science Fiction Day as it corresponds with the birth date of famed science fiction writer Isaac Asimov. National Science Fiction Day is recognized by the Hallmark Channel and the Scholastic Corporation.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Watch some classic science fiction t.v. shows or movies. Start reading a science fiction novel. Use #ScienceFictionDay to post on social media.

Will you observe National Science Fiction Day as recommended above? Do you even like science fiction?

No, I will not be observing National Science Fiction Day. I do like science fiction to a certain extent. I got into Star Trek in college. I watched all the series up through Voyager, but I totally lost interest with Enterprise (Scott Bakula? Really?). I also enjoyed the movies up through Generations. I watched the original Star Wars trilogy in my 20's and refuse to watch any of the new movies. I hope to get around to watching all this again sometime.

Have you chosen a "word" for 2019? Many people do. THIS QUIZ might help you find your word!!

I posted about my one word, "upgrade," here.

Did you stay up to see the new year in? Are you happy or sad to see 2018 go?

No, I stayed up long enough for the new year to ring in on the East Coast, which is 10:00 p.m. Mountain Time. I'm happy to see 2018 go, but not for bad reasons. I'm glad for a new year with new possibilities.

I really enjoy the Tournament of Roses parade on New Year's Day but rarely get to sit and enjoy the entire parade because I am cooking. Did you watch the parade? Did you cook/eat the traditional foods (pork, black-eyed peas, kraut, greens...) to begin the new year?

Nope. I would have eaten blackeyed peas on New Year's Day, but I forgot to pick up some at the grocery store. Oh well. I did eat spinach in my smoothie. Does that count as greens.

I have to ask... Resolutions. Did you make any or set some new goals for 2019? Or do you even think about it?

I set goals and work on action steps to accomplish them. I will spend most of the month of January preparing for the rest of the year.  I'm also still coming up with fun activities for #MyMythicalYear.

Tell us something random about your week.

Not much to tell. I've been on "staycation" since Christmas. We've had snow here in Colorado, so I'm not venturing out until I'm sure the roads (and the driveway) are safe to traverse.