Randomness

Time for another "random thought" post . . . . . so many things swirling in my head!!!!

~Our daughter is coming for a visit TODAY!  She'll be here tonight and is staying for 10 days.  I'm so excited that I've been texting her a count down of the days left until her arrival.  Yippeee!

Shifting gears . . . . more seriously . . . . 

~A couple or so months ago my hubby's work told him that within a year and a half he needed to be moving on to his next job, so START looking!  Mainly that is just what the military does . . . moves people around every 3 years or so.  He is on his 3rd or 4th position (can't remember for sure how many!) since we've been here and we have just been fortunate enough to stay in this area.

As job openings would come up we would discuss and dismiss them . . . . we discussed California, Oregon, Long Island, New York, Florida and others.  THEN, a couple of weeks ago, we had our answer given to us.

We are staying here!  Lincoln starts his new job, in the same building and possibly even the same office as he has now.  The Air Guard is creating a new division and is asking Lincoln to be the "Chief" of that division.  It is a pretty cool job . . . . though it mostly undefined yet . . . . and he will be working for General Neal of the Air Guard.  He is excited!

~Speaking of Generals . . . . WOW, I've met a lot of them lately.  Usually I don't go to many military functions, as they cost quite a bit for each ticket.  Lincoln has pulled me along to 2 of them within the past two weeks.  (hobnobbing for sure)

The first was at Ruth's Chris and was an hors d'evours  function only.  How can it not be good and be at Ruth's Chris?  Very good!

Last night we went to a function that was possibly the best one I've been to so far.  We actually got invited to this one and had our tickets paid for (NICE!)  There were only two tables of non-commissioned officers (of which we are) and the rest of the tables (over 30 of them) were made up of Generals, Admirals and the like, from the Air Force, Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Marines.  This was quite a bit different than other functions, where you may have a "token" General in attendance. 

General Petraeus, (recognize that name from Afghanistan? and is now the Director of the CIA) got an award and spoke at the function.  I thought it was pretty cool to hear him speak about Iraq and Afghanistan in a totally different way than you hear from the media.

The best part (tee hee) was the food . . . . not cold chicken and dead green beans but . . . melt in your mouth "filet of beef with demi-glaze paired with jumbo lump crab cake with dijon sauce, accompanied by risotto, baby carrots, and green beans." AND THE SALAD "poached pear and brie salad with a raspberry walnut vinaigrette"  You are probably thinking "laaaa deeee daaaa" but it was yummy!

~so our future is settled, at least for three years and it feels good not to be in limbo at least about THAT!

WOW, lots of old fashioned words this post . . . . .

Until next time . . . . .

So spoiled

Lately I have been feeling a little bit spoiled. 

Let me digress and give some background.

Eight months ago I decided to radically change our family's diet.

"I" yes I, decided (after reading a book)

that I was going to greatly reduce and practically

eliminate most sugar and preservatives from our "my" diet.

Other than on my "seventh day of rest"

(and social occasions! I've found you don't need to be perfect at this)

 where I do partake of forbidden foods,

we are now eating things in their most basic form.

Anything you can pick, gather, glean

and sorry . . . . slaughter

you can eat.

i.e., all fruits, all vegetables, all meats, 

whole brown grains in every form

and basic dairy products

are allowed!

I really took this to heart

and as a result have lost

2 pant sizes

and 

15 pounds!

(I haven't seen this pant size since before my last pregnancy

yes, 15 years ago)

When balanced correctly 

you can eat more food than you ever dreamed possible.

Food tastes better and sweeter.

Sweets still have their allure

but just don't taste as good to me anymore.

I feel wonderful.

I didn't even realize I didn't feel good before.

I had achy joints, especially in my hands

and they ache no more!

I used to feel bloaty all the time. . . . 

I'm mostly free from that feeling.

A miracle!

This is a lifestyle change for me, not just a diet.

So why do I feel spoiled?

I mentioned to my mother that I was eating

Ezekiel bread.

She had never heard of it . . . . 

and neither had I until I started this diet thingy.  

In Ezekiel 4:9 it states:

9 ¶Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentils, and millet, and fitches (spelt), and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof, according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy side, three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof.

Ezekiel lived 390 days on this bread.

I'd say it must be pretty complete!

It is a heavy, bulky yummy bread.

Yummy, that is, when your mother makes it for you!

 I don't have her recipe for this,

but here is one I found on the Internet.

I wonder if Ezekiel had honey (and yeast) for his bread!

I'm sure it makes ALL the difference.

• 2 1/2 cups wheat berries
• 1 1/2 cups spelt flour
• 1/2 cup barley
• 1/2 cup millet
• 1/4 cup dry green lentils
• 2 tablespoons dry great Northern beans
• 2 tablespoons dry kidney beans
• 2 tablespoons dried pinto beans
• 4 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 1 cup honey
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons salt

Definitely

FOOD

for thought!

P.S.  Lincoln and McKay

STILL eat sugar

and chips, and ______ and _______ 

and do it in front of me . . . .Erggggghh!

Woman in red

I have a friend who makes her favorite color known.  

She adorns her family in it, herself in it,

 her walls in her home in it 

and anything purple that can be purple is PURPLE.  

She even found a purple Kitchen-aide mixer 

I think she just found a purple waffle iron?!!! 

It wasn't until just recently that I realized

 I had been doing something like this 

subconsciously for many years now.  

My favorite color is burgundy . . . 

or maroon . . . . 

or a deep red. 

 Like I say, I have never consciously gone after these colors, 

but a few months ago I started looking around

 and started noticing things . . . . . . . 

My toes,

Sorry . . . .they need touching up. 

 This is about the ONLY color I've ever put on my toes 

because I love the color so much!

 

This is my third set of "texas tumblers."  

People think it is funny that I have restaurant cups!

But I LOVE the red and have had them

 around for 27 years.  

(again, not the same set)

My latest CD player . . . .
 they used to only come in black and silver you know!

My rather showy purse . . . . .

And my much loved e-reader . . . . .
 Kindle doesn't come in RED!

My apron . . . . which for good reason
 isn't my favorite.
Even though it is RED.
My favorite is just behind it.

And is so because my grandma sewed it for me.

Out of my closet . . . .
one of my THREE blazers that are red . . . . .

My entire closet is speckled with red.

My hairbrush, toothbrush and toothpaste. . . . . 

Could I have really purchased these because they are red?

That toothpaste packaging is VERY pretty :)

My current RED glasses.
They are not my first pair of red glasses.

I had some in the 80's also!

Pajamas . . . .
 again, not the only pair that are red!

Our current family picture . . . . . (red)  :)

And a blast from the past . . . . 

guess whose family is in red . . . . . .

Yep, that is us.  I remember the occasion . . . .

 my brother and sister-in-law had just earned their bachelor degrees 

and were heading off for a new job in Texas.

Most of the babies in this picture are in their teens now.

I wonder if we'll ever get another picture like this?

probably not . . . . . . 

Ooops . . . . this was supposed to be a "light" post!

Love that red!

On the spot

The other day I was shopping at the commissary,

which is the military's version of a grocery store.

LOVE IT!

I was looking at the cooking oil rather intensively,

and noticed there was a little old lady

doing the same.

Our reasons for looking at the cooking oils were different . . .

I was trying to find "pure pressed" corn and olive oil.

And she was looking for an olive oil that

fit the description in her coupon.

I thought I'd help her out. 

She stood about a head shorter than I . . .

so with my good eyes

and 5'3" body height

 I could be of assistance!

I asked if I could help her find what she was looking for

and we decided her brand wasn't available.

I assured her that at the commissary

she was probably getting a good deal

with or without her coupon and she chose a bottle.

Then she told me her use for the olive oil.

Wrinkle cream.

Looking up at me with big eyes,

and a big smile

she asked

Does it work for me?

WOW!

Asked directly this question threw me off guard.

talk about being put ON THE SPOT!

I thought of Thumper from Bambi and his advice . . .

"When you can't say something nice don't say nothing at all."

and from Pinnochio . . .

"A lie keeps growing and growing until it's as plain as the nose on your face."

She saw my consternation and with a

twinkle in her eye said,

"I'm 84"

Whew!  I had her pegged for 70-something and so

I laughingly said,

"Yes, I think it is working for you."

She and I giggled for a little bit

and then moved on our merry way.

Watching her walk away with her

daughter/granddaughter I realized

I'm just a little over halfway

from being in her situation,

I hope I 'm half as fortunate she is when I get there!

More importantly
It got me wondering . . . .

Wrinkles,
Olive Oil,

It's a heck of a lot cheaper than what I'm doing!