Eyes in Front

Today Todd and I took seperate cars to our ultra-sound to see Reid Jackson. We braved LA Morning Rush Hour traffic (a 35 minute drive becomes 75 minutes. . CRAZY). I was in the lane of traffic right next to Todd. At one point my lane started moving faster than his, only to stop, but I ended up right next to him, try as I might to catch his eye for the 15 seconds our cars were next to each other, his eyes were glued to the road ahead. It struck me that was a real metephor for how we (or maybe better stated I) live my life. I live my life with my eyes straight ahead. The only reason I happened to notice Todd right next to me this morning, is that I knew to look for him, but I didn't see any of the drivers on my left side. I thought about how many times in the just the past week I've not really even seen people who were "on the side". When the BSU Football player came to my house, I didn't even really SEE the other guy. I thought about that later and felt bad, I'd given preferential treatment to the football player, not seeing the other guy, who has as much value and his story is probably just as interesting as the BSU Football player, but I missed out because I had my eyes straight ahead.
Todd and I went to a birthing information class on Monday. I talked to several of the women who were my age. . but the lady who was there by herself, the one who said, 'I wasn't suppose to be able to get pregnant, but here I am". . . For some reason I didn't really see her I realized after we'd left.
Living (and driving) in a fast paced place like LA survival demands that we DO keep our eyes straight ahead on the road in front. Our rules of the road demand that we stay in our lanes and the other guy stays in his lane. Those are the rules of the road here, but let me tell you in China, Vietnam and Kenya, countries I've been blessed to ride on roads in. . keeping your eyes to the road ahead is just half of your job, you've also got to see what's happening on your left and your right. I appreciate our rules of the road, driving in the US (even in LA) is much less chaotic, but I guess the challenge is not to let the rules of the road become the standard for how I live my life. I want to do better about seeing those who are on the left and the right of me (Literally and figuratively), I can't let the rules of the road become the rules of engagement in my life.

Todd and I got to our appointment a bit early and walked to the Starbucks down the street so Todd could have his second caffine fix of the morning. I was putting my wallet back in my purse when I realized I hadn't really even SEEN the lady who had taken my order, brought Todd's coffe and given my my change, I stopped, looked her in the eye and said, "Thank you so much, have a good day." Seeing, no matter who or what direction requires my full attention. . .

And it's a. . . ..

Boy. Reid Jackson Hoppock.

Waffles

I'm sort of a breakfast snob. It's all my mom's fault. She raised us on Sour Dough Pancakes, thin, light with just a hint of the sour dough tang, with huckleberries. None of that Bisquick three inch thick, "cake" type pancake for me. Sour Dough all the way. I didn't know there were any other kind of pancakes until I left home and ventured into the world on my own.
Waffles, let's talk about waffles. Light, crispy waffles, smeared with butter and syrup. . Light being the key word, Mom's waffles were always made with beaten egg whites, which produce a delightful lightness and added crispness. . again none of this "just add water" stuff for me and certainly NO freezer waffles.

The thing is, making yummy pancakes and waffles takes time and organization. . . and planning ahead. Last week in the LA Times Food section there was a whole article on "Sunday Morning Waffles". . my mouth was watering as I read about the Joy of Cooking 1957 edition Sour Cream Waffles and the Fannie Farmer Yeast Waffle recipe. . I was so relieved to find at the end of the article the recipes for both. Saturday night I pulled out my waffle making bowl (I have one thanks to Gina, It's a butter yellow mixing bowl with a handle it's a great bowl, but given to me specifically to make waffles with!) and mixed up the Yeast-Raised Waffle batter. I might have found my new favorite waffle recipe. . you mix up everything, let it sit overnight, wake up Sunday, plug in the waffle makers and light, crispy, slightly sour doughesque waffles are steaming on the plate in no time.

Try your own waffles:

1 Package active dry yeast
2 Cups Milk
1/2 Cup (1 Stick) butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 Cups flour
2 Eggs
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Place one-half cup warm water in a large mixing bowl (the batter will double in volume), and sprinkle in the yeast. When dissolved, stir in the milk, butter, salt, sugar, flour and eggs and beat until smooth and blended. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight (HOW EASY IS THAT?)

Just before cooking the waffles, beat in the baking soda. The batter will deflate and become about as thin as soft yogurt. Cook the waffles according to the manufacturers' instructions in your waffle maker.

(In the article they suggested cooking any leftover waffles slightly less that "done", these you can put in the freezer and warm up later. To warm them up, I have found the best thing is to warm them up slightly, in the microwave or toaster oven, THEN toast! Yummy, Crispy waffles (so much better than the boxed stuff!)

Such joy and delight in yummy, home cooked food. . and I've got to get on this since I'm having a baby soon so I can create memories of great breakfasts like my mom did for us!

The Doorbell

If you are coming to visit me, it's best to call and let me know you are coming, because I might not answer the doorbell. It's just that 99.9% of the time it's someone trying to sell something, and well, we all know how that goes.

Last night Todd wasn't home from work yet and the doorbell rang, with nothing better to do, I answered the door. It was two college age boys that were "interning" at a security company. Had I ever considered my very own alarm system? As politely as I could, while holding Denali back from running out the door I said, No, but thank you.

One of the boys said, "I noticed you have an Idaho Licence Plate in your garage."

With ALL my Idaho pride, "I was born and raised in Idaho." I said with a smile.

"I go to Boise State."

We were friends instantly at that point. "Really that's great" and before I could stop myself out came, "Wasn't that the most amazing football game ever on New Years? I don't even like football and I LOVED that game. . " (Gushing)

He looks at me with a slight smile, "I'm on the football team, do you want to see my Fiesta Bowl Championship Ring?" He holds out his hand to show me the HUGEST ring I've ever seen. . sure enough, there it was. . . a Boise State Football Player, who played in arguably the best college football game EVER was standing on my doorstep in Chino Hills, California! (And I don't even like football!) He took off the ring and let me HOLD it! I told him how proud Idaho (and displaced Idahoans everywhere) where proud of their Boise State team. I thought about telling him how my brother an avid Boise State non-fan even cheered them on, about Shirley who took a Boise State Fan plane to the game. . . but I decided he probably got the picture. . . No alarm system for him to sell, but he'd stumbled onto and awe-struck fan none-the-less. (which in the end probably mattered to him more than selling an alarm system)

I JUST LOVE random stories. . .I was delighted to know that I didn't have to even leave my house. . it just came and rang my doorbell!

Meditations on a Spring Roll

Yesterday Todd and I were having a friend over for dinner. THAT is always a good excuse to try a new recipe. (okay, it always sounds like that to me all the way up until I'm getting ready to serve something new. THEN I think to myself, "WHAT were you thinking?) Apparently I never learn. . .

Okay, let's get a few things straight from the start.
1) I would LOVE to be one of those people who plans ahead. I PLAN to plan ahead, but the fact is, I don't really have that whole concept down too well. . . so as much as I plan NOT to be figuring out what I'm going to be cooking on the morning I'm cooking. . . It's just not how I work. (This applies to almost everything else in my life too. . . )

well, that's the main thing we need to have straighten out.

So, Monday morning I sit down in front of my favorite website. .www.foodtv.com and set out searching so something fun, something summery, something "light". . .I immediately find a Chicken Satay Recipe that's got 5 Stars. . and looks easy enough. What's great about FoodTV is all the recipes are from shows, that have good complimentary dishes. . so the complimentary dish was "Summer Rolls with Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce" . . I love a good Spring Roll (or summer roll). I've never made Spring Rolls before. . . eh, Why Not? So after a morning of working, and lunch with a friend I head to the grocery store with my list in hand. . .I got the bean sprouts, the beet, the carrots, sesame oil, only the Rice Flour wrappers weren't at this grocery. .. not to fear, there is another grocery on the way home.. . not there. . .Let's just make a LONG story short. .. SIX grocery stores later I finally found the wrapper. . . I was determined to make my spring rolls, (to say the least)
I had all the ingredients, and it was 4:30 by the time I finally found them. . I didn't have time to think of something else. . .Again, the advantages of planning ahead could be argued at this point.

It's so much fun to make a good meal. . to mix a cup of yogurt and curry together with thinly cut slices of chicken, and set to marinating with the knowledge of flavors seeping into the meat over the next few hours.

To julienne a beet into thin little slices. . . . Beets are not my favorite veggie, but they are beautiful! Not much to look at from the outside, just a lump of purplish something. . but as soon as I started peeling, to uncover the BRIGHT purple/fuchsia underneath with views of darker and lighter coloring running through. . . Who says worship is reserved for Sunday morning singing "Amazing Grace". .. savoring the simple and transcend beauty of a beet counts for something sacred to me!

Into my bowl went the bean sprouts, the beautiful beet, the farmers market carrot, 2 handfuls of hand-torn cilantro, chopped peanuts, a drizzle of dark sesame oil, juice from a lime and salt. I added some Vietnamese cellophane noodles. . tossed together, it was a work of art. A meditation of ordinary into something extraordinary! When that was mixed I poured hot, not boiling water into my bright red pie dish and soaked for 10-15 seconds my round rice papers (the ones I went to SIX stores to find). I carefully removed them from the water, places on a wet rag on my counter and carefully put a single spoonful of my beet mixture. . . carefully folded up the end, the right side, the left side, placed two fresh mint leaves and rolled to the end. . It was art. . the perfect green outline of the mint leaf under the cool opaque rice paper skin.

We savored our spring rolls with a Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce. . .a masterpiece of Vietnamese flavor, rice wine vinegar, fish sauce, sugar, fresh lime juice, garlic and some red chili past for a kick. The mint, the garlic the chili, with the crunch of the carrot, the brightness of the beet. . each on it's own, not bad. . . but together, it was a symphony. I guess that's the beauty of our world, our communities, our relationships. . we need each other to bring out the best in each one, to release our "flavor" to the world! (all this from a Spring Roll)

I served the chicken on Jasmine rice I'd cooked in coconut milk. . (yummy) with a Peanut Dipping Sauce. . . peanut butter, soy sauce, red chili paste, lime juice. . . as Todd would say, "It sure didn't suck!"

I don't cook like that all the time, I seem to convince myself I need a reason. Today I'm thinking maybe cooking good food, for the sake of cooking good food is good enough? Something to consider.

You can check out the recipes at: www.foodnetwork.com Search for Summer Rolls with Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce and Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce. . both from Tyler Florence.

What's Faith Got to Do With It?

In church today I saw things differently, I wondered about the language, I questioned what does it mean with the missionary says, "before we went to "the field." What is that language about anyway?

The Faith Club; A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew, Three Women Search for Understanding, by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, and Priscilla Warner, It's this book that caused me to see church differently. It's the true story of these three women in New York City in the months and years following 9/11. The Muslim women's search for what her religion means in today's world, and how she can authentically practice Islam in America. A Jewish women who was a "Member of the Tribe" but unsure of God in such an unstable, unpredictable world, and an Episcopal, strong and sure in her faith, maybe even "rigid"? They share, they challenge, they lay bare their doubts, their stereotypes of each other, they unintentionally offend each other, and celebrate Yom Kippur, Easter and Ramadan with their friends. They uncover what divides, but much more so what unites as women, as mothers and as citizens of a fallen world. The Jewish woman learns to love and respect Jesus, The Christian learns the history that divides Jews and Christian and how easy it is to unknowingly offend, the Muslim learns how to embrace her faith, The Jewish woman and Palestinian Muslim learn how to look beyond the political chaos in Israel to something more. . .

A few of my own lessons from these articulate, educated, FAITHFUL women. . .
* The Holocaust shapes much of the views of many Jews today. They (or Priscilla) lives daily with the doubt and fear, "It happened before, it could happen again, and it could happen to me."

* The Crucifixion of Jesus is where the rub comes, especially for so many Jewish people. When Christians talk about the Crucifixion, it's easy for Jews to hear, "The Jews who crucified Jesus. ." When I've always thought it was "ALL of us" who were responsible for his death.

* Muslims (or the Quran, the Holy Book of Islam) views, Christians, and Jews as fellow "Followers of the Book"


I could go on and on. . . It seems like EVERY book I've picked up over the past month or so. . . from "Hypnobirthing" (an alternative to Lamaze birthing), to Lost Women of the Bible and now this book, have caused me to think deeply about, "The way things are, isn't always the way things ARE." We are shaped by our history, we are shaped by our culture, we are shaped by the expereince and baises of those who have come before us, and our baises will shape our world. But can we live outside of these biases? I'm not sure that we every truly can. I guess we live the best we can within the culture and expereince we've been given, we learn what we can, we question where we can, we share our journey with others and do the best we can with what we are given. . .my weak faith and feeble questions somehow help us all. . .

Todd's Dog

In the year since Todd and I got married, and I moved in with Todd and Denali, I've come to love Denali. She the sweetest dog. She loves it when I am home, she followes me everywhere I go, she's usually only a few steps from me at any given time. We go for walks most mornings and she goes nuts when I walk up stairs to get my shoes, you've never seen a more joyful dog.

I'm over her.

Here's what happened. Yesterday about 5:45 I had just gotten home from tutoring Jayma, Diana and Terysh in Ponoma. (which is another story). I was standing in the kitchen talking to Todd on the phone, when I hear Denali come in the house. . not unusual, we have a doggy door for her, only this time. . THIS TIME. . . she came in wagging her tail, as PROUD as can be, with a newly, DEAD, Rabbit in her mouth. I'm not one who reacts calmly to uninvited animals in my home, alive or dead. I start screaming, which make Denali even more excited to show me what she's caught, so she comes closer, I run around the island to get away, she runs the other way. (Mind you, Todd is on the phone the whole time hearing me Screaming, jumping, Yelling "NO Denali, get outside, Stop it!") Finally I was able to get to the door, while she was coming at me from around the other side of the table and get her to take the rabbit outside. I was so scared she was going to drop it on the floor in the house! AHHH Can you imagine? Good thing Todd was on his way home. I would have walked out of the front door and sat on the steps until he came home. . even if I would have had to sit out there all day.

I don't do dead varmints on my floor.

Denali was so pleased with her self. Todd told me my reaction was ALL wrong. I crushed the poor dogs spirits, she just wanted to show me what she could do, I was "suppose" to praise her. WHATEVER.

I look at Denali different now. Gone are the days of innocence!

About Tutoring:

Jayma is probably in fourth grade. When I got there Diana (6th grader) was doing her division problems on Terysh's cell phone. (The teacher in me couldn't have that)
"Diana, what are you doing?"
"Jayma's home work"
"How is that helping her?"
"I dunno know"
"What's she going to do on a test?"

Finally she erased all the work and I made Jayma sit by me and LEARN it. She was just starting division. I taught her the chocolate chip cookie method of division. . you've hear of that, right?

"Okay Jayma. when is says 13/3. Really what we need to find out is how many hand fulls of three chocolate chips do we need to put into a whole chocolate chip cookie for a total of 13 chips."

So we drew a cookie with 13 chips, then she circled groups of three. We found there were four groups of three, with 1 extra chip left over. 4 remainder 1.

It was meant as an example. She got it thought, and I saw the light bulb in hear head go off. She did five problems, no problem. The we went on to talk about how you figure out division from a more "mathematical" perspective. What was so exciting was to see a girl who really didn't have a clue what she was doing, GET IT! I couldn't have stopped her from finishing her division homework if I wanted to. That in and of it self was a minor miracle.

What strikes me when I go to tutor is what appears to me as a HUGE educational discrepancy. The little boys who are 4 and 8 can barely speak. They need a speech pathologist so bad, it's painful to try and understand what these little guys are saying. The kids can mostly read, mostly and math. . forget about it. Education seems to be an added problem in their life, not a ticket to something better. I'm only dealing with a handful of kids in one neighborhood in Pomona, but if they are any sort of sample. . . Something needs to change.

420 Gratitude

Yesterday at 4:49 Gina and I drove away from 420 N. Virginia for the last time. I would be lying to say I didn't cry. The tears surprised me as I drove away. Gratitude was really the word of the day though. As Gina and I sat on the floor of the empty house and waited for the new owners to come we realized that we had owned the house for two weeks short of four and a half years. I'm not sure that either one of us thought we would have had the house for so long when we bought it. We bought it with "two years" on the brain.

I remember when we got the keys and walking through the completely empty house, tearing down wallpaper in each room. . and the prayers that were prayed on that first day. . . that it would be a place of happiness, that it would be a place where people were comfortable, a place of growth. . . and to again, stand in the empty rooms and reflect on all the memories that were in those rooms. . .So many prayers were answered!

I feel gratitude for my grandparents . . Nana & Bampy who set aside a small bit of money for education or a home soon after I was born. . . I think they would be proud of the house I was able to buy with it, and the return on investment as we sold it.

I feel gratitude for Gina who was brave enough to agree to a journey of "co-ownership". . I'm not sure if we knew what that meant when we started. . but there is no one that I'd have wanted to walk through this journey with.

I feel gratitude for the amazing women who lived in the house. . . Kristin & Emily (while I was there. . still others in the year since I moved out.) There was so much laughter, tears, late night talks (which always seemed to happen on the kitchen floor. . I have no idea why!) There were first dates, blind dates, coming home after marriage proposals. . . Preparations for trips all over the world. . South Africa, South America, Asia, All points in the US, and the returns home. Coffee brewing the the morning, crackers and cheese for dinner, What Not to Wear, Friends and the Apprentice on TV. Dinner Parties, Movie Nights, Christmas Parties, Going-Away Parties and Birthday Parties. 420 was awfully good to a lot of single women as we worked our way through our 20 and early 30's.

I feel gratitude for how it sold. . . We had it on the market for all of 8 days. Received just a bit under our asking price, and closed on the day set from the very beginning. Everything went as smooth as can be expected.

The new owners were SOOOO excited to move in, and that was all I asked, 420 HAD to go to people who just "loved the house" as much as we did. . . I know that like the house today. . and I pray that they will "love" the house in the years to come as they grow at 420.