30 Minute Dinner

It was starting to get late and I needed to decide what to do about dinner.  I had not been to the grocery store in about a week so didn't have much food in the house.  I was tired and didn't feel like cooking a big meal anyway.

I started thinking about our fast food choices.  We could go out for something, which would only take about half an hour.  Or we could order a pizza and have it delivered.

 
But fast food just didn't sound very good, so I started looking around the kitchen to see if I could come up with any ideas.  The only thing I found in the pantry was one tomato, a bell pepper, and a few potatoes - some with eyes sprouting out.

In the fridge there were some eggs and a small piece of cheese.  I also remembered that there was a loaf of bread in the freezer in the garage.

I decided to make eggs and toast rather than going out to get something. Both Lance and I love breakfast so knew he would probably rather have eggs than going out for fast food anyway.

I turned on the oven to make the toast and brewed a pot of decaf coffee.

I chopped the tomatoes and peppers,  peeled and diced the potatoes, cracked and mixed the eggs and grated the cheese. I got out a spice mix, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese  This all took me less than 10 minutes.

Next I heated enough olive oil in the bottom of the skillet to cook the peppers and potatoes.

While they were cooking I went to the garage to get the bread.  Hiding behind the loaf was a package of fauxsauge so I grabbed it along with the bread.

I spread some olive oil on the bread and popped it into the oven to toast. 

I poured some orange juice in the glasses while the bread was toasting.

The final step was to cook the eggs.  I poured them over the potatoes and peppers.  After they were cooked I sprinkled on the cheeses, and dinner was ready!

It took a little less than 30 minutes.  Less time than it would have taken to go out for fast food. So, what did Lance have to say about it?

"Uuuuuum!  This is waaaaaaaay better than anything else we could have had!"

Presentation is EVERYTHING!!!

And I do mean everything! In all areas of our lives.

For an example:  For breakfast I wanted something simple and easy.  So we had (almost) soft boiled eggs, toast (with olive oil rather than butter), dark cherry jelly, and applesauce.

There is nothing wrong with the food in the picture above.  But I wanted the bland breakfast to look more appealing, so with just a couple of minor adjustments (real dishes,  plastic table cover, napkin folded, a little sprinkle of cinnamon, and a tiny bit of chocolate - things did look a lot nicer.

It's the same food, and it only took me about 15 seconds to "pump it up" a notch on the appeal level.

We can take this idea into any area of our lives, if only we are willing to take the time - sometimes only a few seconds, to change the direction of the energy happening around us.  To break the tension building between someone.  To make any situation just a little better looking.

Sometimes only a simple smile offered at just the second you need it can make things suddenly look just a little easier to swallow.  The situation is the same.  But that tiny little ray of hope coming from another humans smile and eyes is equal to a little taste of chocolate added to a plate of bland food to improve an otherwise not-so-great situation.

You don't have to say a word.  Just offer a smile.  Do it often.  Repeat as often as possible.

And something magical happens.  Things suddenly seem a little better on your own "table" too.  And someday, G-d forbid, if you happen to be the one facing a bleak situation another person will walk right past you and give YOU a little smile to make YOUR "meal" a little more appealing.

We can do so many things to "improve" the presentation of things in other peoples' lives as well as in our own lives.  We can use Face Book and emails to read posts and really take the time to say a little prayer or think a positive thought to the people who request that we do so.

We can send emails - or even real letter or cards to help cheer up someone or help to make an illness seem just a little easier to deal with because someone cares.

We can slip a couple of bucks in the hand of a homeless beggar.  Yes, she might just waste it, but the positive energy produced by the kind gesture is due to OUR taking the time to do something to make things seem just a little more tasty.  Easier to swallow.  Nicer to look at.

Yes.  Everything is in the presentation.  I hope to be able to present caring and compassion to someone - and hope that someone will offer me the same.  Life is a tough road to walk down.  So a little taste of chocolate here and there can't be all bad.  Right?

To Ethan...

This morning I used the lotion you gave me.  Do you remember it?  It's blue and smells really good.  I save it and only use it on special days since it was a gift from you and I don't know if I will ever get another gift from you.  I don't want to use it up.  I always think of you when I smell it.  I really like it a lot!  It's my favorite lotion - since it was from you.

I miss you and Blake so much.  Not a day goes by that I don't think of you.  I always hope that you boys are enjoying your lives in Alabama even though I don't get to see you or be part of your lives any more.  I remember how much fun we had at the lake only one week before you went to visit your father.  I know you thought it was only for a visit.  We all did.  But as it turned out he and your Grandma Dona had other plans.  I didn't know that would be the last time I would be able to spend time with you and Blake.  I'm glad we did so many fun things together. I hope you like to remember our week at the lake as much as I do.  Pop and I always miss you boys when we go down there. 

I don't have too many pictures on this computer but found some of you that I really like.  I will put them at the end of this blog post.  I hope that someday you and Blake will be able to read the things I write about you and all my grandkids and will know just how much I have always loved each of you.

Someone told me that you said I hate you.  I want you to know that is a big fat lie.  I don't know why someone would tell you that. I love you very much - no matter what happens, no matter where you live, and no matter who you live with.  Nothing will ever change that.  I love all my grandkids so much and thank G-d every day of my life that He gave me such great children to love, and who love me.

I hope you are having fun there and are not just sitting around playing video games and watching tv all the time.  It's ok to do that sometimes.  But only losers spend all their time doing it.  Get out with your brother and your friends and play games.  Ride your bike.  Do things that make you laugh.

Study hard and do your best at school.  Don't forget to do your homework - even if no one reminds you to do it.  You are very smart and I always hope you learn as much as you can every day.  I am very proud of you!  I love remembering the tea bag project you did.  It was so much fun to watch you doing that, then winning a prize at school!

Remember Ethan, I love you and that will never change!  I am glad you gave me the bottle of blue lotion.  It reminds me of you, and you make me very happy!  Thanks!!!

Nanny

                                                                          xoxoxoxoxoxox

Just Another Wednesday - NOT!

So what was so unusual about Wednesday?

Yes, that's me with my feet in a tub getting a pedicure!  I bet you never thought you would see that, huh? 

Having a little wine to get my mind off the potential diseases and fungus I might be picking up in that water.

Kim, from Viet Nam, was really sweet.  I wonder what she thought about all my questions concerning the cleaning of all their equipment, and whether they use bleach.  I didn't smell bleach, but I did smell lots of chemicals.

She put these pink shoe things on my feet to wear home so my shoes wouldn't wreck the nail polish.  I felt very weird walking out to the car with these things on.

My toe nails looked so shiny that I decided to get a manicure too.  Double shock, I know.

When I first got in the pedicure chair I told Kim I didn't want any nail polish, but she said, "Oh, you should try some just for fun.  So I did. 

Now I think I just might have to make a habit of this pedicure thing.  Kim was right.  Having that color on my fingernails and toenails is fun.  (Pam, do you see the toe ring you gave me?)

My extra bravery to try something different (even at the risk of getting some kind of germs) must have something to do with the full moon, which was beautiful.

I decided some chai was in order to end the day.  Thursday will have to be pretty great to beat Wednesday...