Today is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life or Maybe the Last

It is funny how the mind works. This week I've been tuned in a little to my own mortality. Last week a young relative of mine nearly choked on a piece of chicken. Earlier this week, a man who I didn't really know but I had had contact with him and his family, was killed by a hit and run driver up in Vancouver, WA. I am fairly confident that he died a child of God because of some of the things that I know about him and his family. It is interesting to ponder why the Lord sometimes calls his own home at an earlier date than we might wish or expect. There are some, as in my first example, whom He allows to remain alive and vibrant, and there are others who might have been equally as alive today but for some reason beyond our ability to comprehend, He has chosen to remove from life as we know it here. It probably makes no sense to wonder why because after all, who can know the mind of God.

On the other hand it always makes sense to continually consider the fact that we are each fragily mortal and need to live our lives aware that our last breath is not in our hands but in His alone. There may be those of you out there who read this blog regularly and may have forgotten or chosen to ignore what I believe is a fact, that each breath is a gift from the creator and your time here on earth is your only opportunity to choose to spend eternity in His presence. If you choose to live your life separated from Him, He will not require that you spend eternity with Him. It is now, while He allows you breath, that you must choose. In the words of the noted philosopher and author of many classic books C. S. Lewis, "There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, "All right, then, have it your way."

Along a similar note, tomorrow is a date that for the greater portion of my life and I guess even today was, and is, a celebrated anniversary.

It was my mother's birthday. We lost her a few years ago and I don't want to let her memory fade just yet. She contributed countless hours and prayers to what I have become today. Much of what I think was molded from her instruction and example. She left a fine legacy in both children and grandchildren. I, for one, will always remember September 20 as a special day full memories and respect for a woman who helped mold me into the person that I am today. The good stuff was from her, the bad stuff is mine. Happy Birthday, Mom!

And though perhaps she wouldn't have found it appropriate, today I raise a glass in her honor!

I was sooo disapointed with Ebay yesterday! I know they are a big company and feel that they need to be politically correct in their policies but when their policies aren't even logically consistant it is hard to not be angry with them.

I had this auction that was doing really well for me and Ebay allowed it to go all week and then about two hours before it was scheduled to end, they cancelled it and said it violated Ebay's listing rules.
Ok, they've done that to me before with other types of items and I have been able to live with it but in this case, all of the auctions that I am current running have one thing in common. They are all steel leg-hold animal traps. They are designed to catch and hold animals so that they can be harvested for their fur and/or any other parts that may have a commercial value. They didn't cancel any of the others. They only chose to cancel the one that was making a lot of money. Nobody is going to spend the amount of money that had been bid, and I suspect someone was going to bid a lot more, perhaps two or three times as much, to put this item out in the woods to catch an animal. This was a collector piece, something for decoration or to appreciate for its own intrensic value. Can you guess why it was cancelled? Because it was bigger than 5 1/2 inches and had teeth. I think the teeth thing is irrelevent because teeth or not, the trap will hold its intended prey. The 5 1/2 inch thing is completely void of sound reasoning. Does this kind of logic mean that is ok to catch small animals in a leg hold trap but not larger animals? This kind of thinking is not only wrong, but it is illogical. Why would it be ok to catch small animals but not large animals? Do large animals have more rights or do they feel sensations differently than smaller animals? What kind of moron thinks like this?

Now I need to rethink how to sell it. I generally like Ebay because it is a venue that reaches a wide domestic and even international audience. I may still use them but I need to figure out how I can do it without their knowing what I am doing. I have done that before with items that I knew had special collector value, were legal and moral, but fell into a politically incorrect category. I think I will spend a little time thinking about how to beat them at their own game.

Oh Dude! Can I change the subject? Of course I can! This is my blog! This is about me and what I think! Read it, like it, or ignore it but this is about me! I hope you'll enjoy it but I'm not asking for your permission! Hope you don't mind but this part of this post is about food again. I think everyone should be interested in food. Ok maybe not, but if they tried even a little, there should be some particle of interest in food in everybody. I mean, everyone needs to eat don't they? Whatever! Look at what I made the other day! The menu came from Martha Stewart's web site. (Let me let you in on a little secret. I don't care what anyone thinks about Martha Stewart, I like her and I respect her opinion on food, decorating, and business. I read "The Martha Stewart Rules" and I believe with all of my heart that if a person wants to be an entrenpreneur, they should read that book. Believe whatever you want about her, she understands business and what it takes to be successful in the business world).

The menu came from Martha Stewart. Click Mediterranean Chicken Menu

It was kind of exotic, tasty, and worth of another visit, perhaps with guests. The menu included Mediterranean Chicken, Herb-Feta Salad, and Rice Pilaf. I totally enjoyed it. Granted, I am not always friends with olives but these were called Kalamata and had been marinated in red wine and were not bad to say the least. Anyway, the menu was delightful and each of the three courses was both sensational and worth another visit.

What A Whirlwind of a Day!

Oh wow! It has been over a week since I've posted. Well, I'm busy! I'm busy at work, I'm busy at home, and... oh man, I need to take a day off. No good! Today was a day off and I was busy!

First of all I posted an auction on Ebay. Next we had to take Jonathan's friend to meet his mother. He'd been spending the weekend here and it was time to go home. After that we went over to Monticello and fix up our space a bit. There is a special event going on over there and so we are continually replacing items that have been sold or just straightening the place up. Every day it looks like we've been sacked.

Somewhere in here I got the oil changed in the car because the "idiot light" came on because, well, I'm an idiot! We also delivered Jonathan to Clackamas to meet up with some of his friends. Whew! The next thing we had to do was run back to an estate sale that we visited this weekend to pick up some animal traps that we decided to purchase.The goal is to get them listed on Ebay as soon as possible. That leads me to my next project of the day.

I sorted through three wooden crates full of various styles, sizes, and shapes.

As it turned out, there were over a hundred of them. It looks like I bought some guy's whole darn trapline. Anyway, it was fun and I enjoyed playing with them. I set and snapped a number of them and didn't get caught a single time.

I always wanted to be a mountain man. Oh well, born a hundred and fifty years too late!

I got four auctions listed and the one that I thought was particularly special is already paying the bills. Hurray! In the words of Hannibal Smith of the A-Team "I love it when a plan comes together!"

Oh my goodness! Look at the clock! I have to go to bed. Tomorrow I have to go back to work. Maybe I can get some rest there!

The Beginning of a Lifetime Together

This was a lovely country wedding. It was perhaps reminiscent of the kind of wedding that might have happened a hundred or so years ago.

We seated ourselves and then in no time at all the groom and the preacher were standing up front and just as quickly the bridesmaids and groomsmen were arriving to stand with them. I don't recall if there was a traditional wedding march because I was somewhat surprised when we all stood up and there was the bride being escorted down the aisle.

There was then a short welcome from the parson, a passionate exchange of vows, and then we were introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Pratt.

The dinner was immediately ready and we got in line for what turned out to be a great meal.

Congratulations Tyler and Julie! It was a wonderful ceremony and party. I am glad we were a part of it. I don't want this to be the end of it, however. Let us continue to be a part of your lives. You are welcome to come by any time.

My Tastebuds Were Singing Like Angels!

Jonathan has gone to visit with his friend Taylor this evening through Tuesday so that is our signal to go ahead and open the valves and allow the freeflow of cullinary possibilities to pass through our imaginations, past our lips, over our taste buds, and settle in our stomachs for a satisfying series of sensatational snacks.

Oh my goodness! Tonight was almost beyond belief. Even before the meal was cooked I was wondering if I was going to make it. Out of all of the ethnic possibilities, Italy has easily maintained the prominant positition in my list of favorites. Tonight I was working from a book titled "Italian Favorites" The Best of Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Library. I chose three recipes. The first was: RED BELL PEPPERS WITH POLENTA.

My second choice was: ASPARAGUS WITH PROSCIUTTO.

My third and final choice for this evening was: SAUTE'ED FISH WITH GARLIC, ROSEMARY, AND RED PEPPER FLAKES.

Now to be perfectly candid, and especially because this particular dish didn't turn out exactly as I might have hoped, I had to use flounder instead of the monk fish that was suggested in the recipe. I also would have had to make a run to the store for fresh rosemary instead of the dried herb which I had on hand. The selection of fish needs to be one which will stay together during the cooking process. The flavor of the fish was consistant with what one might expect, however, the fish didn't maintain its original form as well as I might have hoped.

The other two recipes pleasantly met or exceeded expectations.

Over all, this evenings epicurean encounter was a delight and there will be another attempt in the near future to meet or beat tonights experience.

The PDGA? What?

We took a quick trip to Eugene on Sunday afternoon to visit with my sister, her family, my dad, and his wife. We enjoyed a grand time together including a barbequed meal featuring Chef Marv, stimulating conversation, and a sneak preview of what will soon be the newest antique/High Tea establisment in Eugene, Colby Cottage. Check it out, please!

We were so into the whole event that when I finally checked my watch and discovered it was already 9:00pm and we still had at least a two hour drive to Portland, I shouted marching orders and everybody jumped in the car (after the obligatory hugs and all) and we were off towards home.

Somewhere along the way, I discovered that we had picked up an additonal passenger. (Just kidding!) Aaron, my nephew, is only slightly older than Jonathan and is always good company and we were pleased to have him along. During the following day while I was at work, they enjoyed sleeping in, video games, and a few hours swimming at the SE Portland Community Center.

When I got off work I got a call from the "woman of the house" asking if I would pick them up at the mall as she was out with a friend browsing the local thrift store circuit.

After dinner we discussed what to do with the next few hours. Knowing that Aaron is a disc golf enthusiast and knowing that there is a course close by, we decided to purchase a few discs and try our hands at the game. Jonathan and I have only limited experience with the sport. However, we found it to be a pleasant expenditure of a few hours of time which came with a gentle bit of exercise as a side benefit. Debbie refused to participate but contributed to the event as the resident photographer. I hope you can enjoy our time together vicariously.

By the way, the PDGA is the Professional Disc Golf Association. Did you know there even was such a thing? Who would have thought?

I don't know if we felt like we'd been working too much lately but on Thursday we took the opportunity to explore another of the McMenamins locations. Have you heard of McMenamins before?

Their business is comprised of taking old and interesting establishments which are in danger of condemnation and or destruction and restoring them into fun and interesting eating and sleeping establishments. Our favorite thus far is the Kennedy School located in northeast Portland. We have enjoyed a number of evenings in their theater watching a three dollar movie and eating pizza. We've also been to the Edgefield in Troutdale and wandered in their gardens, listened to concerts in the yard, and watched a three dollar movie.

On Thursday, we drove to Forest Grove to experience the Grand Lodge. It once was a masonic retirement home and orphanage. They have a beautiful garden with a frisbee golf course.

We didn't try the course. We were waiting to see Night at the Museum:Battle of the Smithsonian.

You know something? That must have got us in the mood because you'll never guess what we did the next night.

I have been suggesting that I'd like to see the new movie called Julie and Julia. Well, I came home from work yesterday and Debbie is on the net watching the trailer. We had some free tickets that I got from work two or three months ago (that's how often we go see first run movies). I suppose it could be categorized as a romantic comedy. It is based on the life of Julia Childs played by Meryl Streep and Julie Powell played by Amy Adams. Apparently, Julie Powell was kind of a Julia Childs groupie and started a blog relating her attempts to cook through Julia's cookbook titled "Mastering the Art of French Cooking".

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Both Streep and Adams played their parts marvelously. It was particularly enjoyable due to the fact that I had something in common with each of the characters. It was fun watching Julia Childs learn to cook and it was fun watching Julie Powell's frustrations and excitement around the blog.

The movie was rated PG-13. If you could bleep all of the foul language you'd only have missed about 2.5 seconds of the whole movie. In other words it was mostly free of objectionable material. The directors didn't put us through any intimate sexuality or nudity.

I was interested to note that the other people in the theater were nearly all female and at least my age or older. I suppose it might be considered a "chick flick" but again, I truly enjoyed the show as did both Debbie and Jonathan.