Perspectives

I love Sunday mornings. They are quiet and peaceful. While Zeus is at his chosen place of contemplation and learning I am at the same time enjoying my own version of meditation. The streets are deserted and the roosters are crowing. For over an hour I can sort through the happenings of the last week and try to get mentally primed for the days ahead. Past audasticles and truthiness are put into proper perspective and I always feel better by the time I walk through the front door of my home.

This morning was especially pleasant. After a week of being unable to run I was finally able to put a few miles on my shoes. The pavement felt good, even at walking speed. It hasn't been this sunny for months but it's now warm enough to put the turtlenecks and earmuffs away until next winter.

Yep, I love Sunday mornings.

$1.32

Frontrunner fun

Three days ago Zeus and I took Little and Littlest Ms. Eris' for a ride on the new Frontrunner. We rode to SLC and then hopped on TRAX to Trolley Square where we had lunch. The trains were crowded (free days) but the girls were excited and we all had a good time. After lunch we turned around and headed back to Ogden. Littlest slept all the way home while Little dutifully read her books and did her homework, just like her Mom.

We will do this again, maybe next time all the way to the zoo. Ahh, the fun of being grandparents!

While you were out....

Athena is in Nashville attending a conference for work.

(I'm sorry, this was just too easy. I promise NEVER to do it again.)

I just broke a plate.

I feel much better now.

Making the "A" list

Four years ago when we moved into our new home I began shopping at our little neighborhood grocery store. One of the staples in our house is soy milk. Zeus prefers Silk Milk, unflavored and unsweetened. For six months I continually harassed the young dairy manager about carrying all varieties of this particular brand except for unflavored. The handsome man always smiled and assured me that they would be getting it in soon. Finally my soy milk appeared on the shelf.

Fast forward three years. We get new neighbors. After meeting the couple (yay, she was my age!) I learned that they had a son who was serving a mission in Jacksonville. A photograph confirmed that it was none other than the young man whom I had mercilessly nagged about the soy milk. He returned home ten days ago to delighted parents and family. This afternoon I will be attending church to hear him speak about his mission. Congratulations Elder on a job well done.

For the next week maybe my name will be on the "A" list, followed by a question mark I am sure. After that, back to the "I"s and comfortable anonymity.

$1.06

note: The report was excellent and the church is still standing.

Helping Hands

Chris is travelling today to New Orleans, not to see the Hornets in the NBA playoffs, but to lend a helping hand to those whose lives were shattered by Katrina. His law school's spring break project is to provide legal advice to many victims who are still fighting to put their lives back together. Hey Chris, we are proud of you for donating your well-deserved break time for this worthwhile cause.

This is my kitchen pantry. I suppose there is enough food in there to feed the two of us for maybe a month or two if it became necessary.

Last week the Tribune cited a study that said "the Big One" could hit Utah at a whopping 7.4 on the scale. We live practically on top of the Wasatch Fault. Okay, that's scary. Total destruction. I'm not sure what good my measely little pantry would do when I probably couldn't even get to it, and that is assuming that I lived through the shaking! Would my can opener be accessible? Would there be power lines to carry electricity for my stove to boil the water for my mac and cheese to eat with my spoon that would have to be washed in my dishwasher and stored in the drawer that no longer existed? That is assuming that I have water in the pipes at all!

When Katrina hit a few years ago most of us thought about these questions for awhile and hopefully donated funds or supplies to help the millions of Americans who were affected. I talked often about filling those huge, empty water storage tanks that still sit empty in my garage. Occasionally Zeus reminds me of my goal to get that done and an emergency kit ready. I repeatedly tell him I will. Then I don't.

I heard the comment recently "Why should we help 'those people' when they haven't done anything to help themselves?" Well, maybe because they have nowhere to live while cleaning up the toxic debris that used to be their homes. Their government made a mess of recovery efforts (thanks FEMA). Their insurance companies are making every effort to not pay out benefits. The rest of the country forgot about them after the headlines changed.

Thank you Chris for your work and I hope you at least get a chance to get a taste of the reviving culture of New Orleans. I also hope that when the "Big One" hits there will be more like you ready to give assistance, no matter how long it takes.

$1.28

Sister D's Holiday Tuna Peanut Butter Bars (Subtitle: Audasticles)

Thank heavens for Sister Dottie. This insightful lady is a wonderful role model for anyone who is faced with folks with oversized audasticles. These people feel they have the right to pronounce judgements on things about which they know little or nothing. Since discovering her website and listening to the words of wisdom on her weekly potcasts I have realized that I am not alone. This, along with lengthy discussions with Zeus, Athena and Eris have brought some needed comfort and assurances. Thanks to all of you!

Now I think I will head to the kitchen where I will cook up those terrific Tuna Peanut Butter Bars and savor every last bite.

$2.19