A Life's Pursuit: January 2008

Thursday, January 31, 2008

It's Tooo Late to 'pologise

One Republic; Apologize



I have been going over something in my head that happened this morning. As I sit here composing a newspaper for March, my earphones and 102.5 give me the missing part I needed to write this blog.

It all began with a great and relaxing morning. Part of what made it good was having a good nite with the Dstyle Davis' at our local mexican restaurant. Its been a long month and this morning was the first I could remember that I awakened rested and ahead of my alarm without wanting to smack it into tomorrow. After a nice close shave and hot shower, I donned brown and headed out into the darkness with the dawn in hot pursuit.



So here's the deal - e - o! I was so early that I thought I would go to the local Exxon and get a couple of drinks to coast thru the morning while I worked away at a never ending pile of to-dos. On my way, this guy barrels out of the door as I opened it as if I were invisible or holding the door for him. Cool...I thought, another "I'm invisible day..." but maybe he's having a bad day. No problem. He did look kind of homeless. Anyway I get my gets and get out. On my way back to my vehicle, I see him looking at me and waiting. Oh great.


"Hey brother! Give me some change for coffee!" he calls out. Of course one eyebrow raises. I had already smiled and nodded which typically is an invitation to whatever follows. Seeing my questioning look, he continues with a few choice words and a 'gd,' you can go over there and bring it back to me."


That did it! I was over the edge. Whoa, little man! Watch your mouth. Leave that name out of this! He now had my full attention as I began walking toward him, my eyes locked into his mind. SNAP! Whoa M, what are you doing? I stopped and nodded at him and gave him the "well you were about to get something; but now I ain't interested in helping" look. I continued nodding as he began apologizing....but I was done. I don't know what Jesus would have done and frankly I wasn't Jesus. I nodded at him and got into my vehicle and drove away noticing his obvious apologetic dispositon...but I knew me; I needed to go; so I did. If there's a word I have almost no tollerance for, he used it and it set me off. I still don't know what J' would have done but I know me. It's one of those "yo momma" things for me and I knew I didn't need to be there much longer.... I am sure I could have gone over and above to make a real good "chrisitan impression" but I declined. I still don't know if it was good or bad; but it was me and I am comfortable with that.



It's Too Late to Apologize


I'm holding on a rope
Got me 10 feet off the ground
I'm hearin' what you say but I just can't make a sound
You tell me that you need me then you go and cut me down
But wait
You tell me that you're sorry didn't think I'd turn around and say:

That it's too late to apologize
Too late
Said it's too late to apologize
Too late

I'm holding on a rope
Got me 10 feet off the ground
...more lyrics.




Lizard Logics

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Dream a Little Dream of Me!

I had a dream for the last couple of nights but I havent been able to remember them. Occassionally throughout the day, some little thing happens and sparks a memory of just a flash from the dream. As you may know, I am always fascinated by the mind's abilities, tapped and untapped. Speaking of dream; they can provide answers and glimpses of the yet-to-comes. Madame C.J. Walker - From Dream to Millionaire


C.J.Walker

Madame C.J. Walker (1867-1919) is cited by the Guinness Book of Records as the first female American self-made millionaire. She was also the first member of her family born free.

Madame Walker founded and built a highly successful African-American cosmetic company that made her a millionaire many times over. Walker was suffering from a scalp infection that caused her to loose most of her hair in the 1890's. She began experimenting with patented medicines and hair-care products.

Then, she had a dream that solved her problems:

Walker Book"He answered my prayer, for one night I had a dream, and in that dream a big, black man appeared to me and told me what to mix up in my hair. Some of the remedy was grown in Africa, but I sent for it, mixed it, put it on my scalp, and in a few weeks my hair was coming in faster than it had ever fallen out. I tried it on my friends; it helped them. I made up my mind to begin to sell it."

Walker was an entrepreneur, philanthropist and social activist. She best sums up her rise from a childhood in the poor south to being the head of an international, multi-million dollar corporation in the following quote:

"I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. From there I was promoted to the washtub. From there I was promoted to the cook kitchen. And from there I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations....I have built my own factory on my own ground."



Interesting, isnt it? Well I have yet to be able to completely control or even instigate a dream; but I am working on it. My pastor always said, "you dont have a money problem; you have an idea problem..." Hmmm....I got no shortage of ideas; maybe they are just not good ones...but all in due time. 2008 still looms before us like a juggernaut refusing to be changed. Juggernauts fall harder than big men knocked out. So let it be done. May the shockwave from the fall usher in an age of unyielding prosperity in all areas.
the Unstoppable Juggernaut

....just for those who know...





Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Scrambled Brains....???








maximusism: Never under estimate the mind of a monkey;
........it was once yours.

Friday, January 25, 2008

It's Friday Fixin's; Jiggle YOUR WiGGLE!

Alas, its Friday. I think I will try something different for a bit...you know, change is good...blah ...blah ...blah. Ahhh; you're right! Why change a good thing.



Find great images at wondercliparts.com!


Today my youngest celebrates his 25th birthday. Wooo Hoo! I remember that age. Fun fun fun....but it only gets better. He plays tonite at RocketTown with his friends and band members of DayBreak drive! "You Will Be The End of Me" is probably my favorite song. They have a cool T-Shirt design too designed by one of the best, Burns! Happy Birthday.




Hurry up and blow candles out; frosting may ignite if left unattended.


It's a chilly nite in the ville but somehow we will brave the cold — cause it really aint that cold. Its been a week of fast days despite the painfully slow week that encompass them. I have been on blog hiades (I'm sure thats spelled wrong; but you can look it up.) I am looking forward to a fireplace weekend; but I probably wont tell you about that. :D Anyway, its the weekend again and I am ready. Back in the blog again!


Friday Fixin's! SHakE yoUr WiGGler!
Well folks are always saying that they are looking for lowfat or healthy recipes. Truth is, I dont believe in diets. In my mind, if you spend enuf time at the gym or walking, you wont either. Really, everyone wasnt meant to be thin and nor should they be. You are beautiful just the way you are and the right person for you will agree — its just that simple. Now what I didnt say was not to be a good steward of your little ship; thats a different issue. So today's recipe is one of my favorite jiggles. Jello ... who doesnt like Jello? Plus it's gluten free. Cooking time is the time the jello takes to set; but the fun lasts forever; or at least til its gone.

Jello Surprise!

INGREDIENTS:
1 (85 g) package cherry Jell-O
1 (14 ounce) can sliced peaches in juice
1 (8 ounce) can whipping cream or Cool Whip

1. In medium size bowl add jello crystals and 1 cup hot water. Stir until the crystals desolve.
2. Then open can of peach slices and pour the fruit juice in a liquid measruing cup. The fruit juice should fill the liquid measuring cup up to about 2/3 cup full. Then add cold water to the measuring cup so that it equals 1 cup.
3. Pour the one cup of fruit juice/water into the bowl and mix.Set aside.
4. Place sliced peaches in the bottom of large bowl, or in the bottom of small portion size bowls.
5. Pour the jello liquid into your bowl(or bowls) over top of the peaches.
6. Cover bowl, or bowls with saran wrap and place in fridge for a few hours, overnight, or until set.
7. When jello is set top with whipped cream or cool whip.


You will love the cool creaminess with every bite. I promise....and its kinda heathy too! This recipe comes from GlutenFreeGirl! For you other people who want to know what jello is really made from; here you go! Click Here.



Friday, January 11, 2008

Phoenominal Frugal Friday Fixin's

Keep the pantry stocked for emergencies..!

Ramen Noodles
Eat with your eyes!


This one is straight out of my survival 101. Its a love affair that began in college when I was broke more than I was breathing. It saved me many times from the pains of hunger. To this day, I keep this one on hand and stocked in the pantry for some moment that I may not want to go out or I need something really quick.


Ramen Beef Cassarole

Ingredients:
2 packages of your favorite Ramen Noodles
1 tbs butter
1 can of mushrooms
onion flakes
1 beef/chicken beef bullion cube
1 can of your favorite soup (Chunky Vegtable Beef )
marbled shredded cheese

In a shallow dish, add mushrooms, bullion cube, onion flakes and butter and heat to boiling. Cover. As the water boils away, the butter will begin to fry the mushrooms. Mushrooms are ready in 15 mins. Remain covered.

Heat soup and simmer. I rarely use anything straight from the can so I put a dash of black pepper or red to slap a little kick to it. Of course, recipes are just roadmaps to your taste utopia, so experiment.

Last: In a large stir, bring 2 cups of water to boil. Add Ramen Noodles to boiling water. In 3 mins, remove the noodles from heat. There's nothing worse than over-cooked Ramens. Noodles may appear to be not completely cooked; but they are perfect. Drain. Add butter; then flavor packet. This will keep the noodles from sticking together.

Arrange noodles into a ring on the plate, leaving a large circle in the middle. Pour soup the middle. Crown with mushrooms and cheese.

The beautiful colors from the rich ingredients in the vegtable soup contrasting with the golden sauteed mushrooms and marbled cheeese are just gorgeous! Bon Apetit!




Cooking is fun and cooking can be easy. In the end, you just want to eat! If you can do that with very little hassle or expense,
doesnt it taste even better? It's been a nice smooth Friday like a canoe pushing from the shore. The weekend is ahead; do something fun and
different. Look for new things in the old and find something remarkable in the same. We miss so much in the hustle and bustle which reminds me of a funny "in a hurry story." Crockpot Krazies

If I hadnt seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it. Life is funny that way, isnt it.

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Ungrounded Again!




Maximus In Flight




It's hump day and I am working away on a huge project. Took a brief hiadias to let the thoughts collect and the resolutions settle in for the long haul. I don't make many resolutions cause I try to keep them all. Oh well... I was listening to a great Tom Petty song...There's just something about flying that is completely liberating. If you have ever or rember the first flight in a helecopter when you went over a ridge and your stomach drops because your mind is getting mixed messages from you eyes and your conscience....breathtaking when you should be falling, but your still flying.


My wifey got me flying lessons on my birthday and it took awhile for the right flying conditions but it finally happened. what a great present! I have always wanted to fly in everyway — to soar with the eagles and flirt with the birds. AMAZING! IT was sooo easy that I didn't believe I was in control til I shoved the wheel forward and we plunged downward. The instructor guides me through the headset on the mechanics and how to do certain flight patterns. It was natural. He answered every question except responding to my "so we could fly down there and chase cows..." no response. After repeating it twice, I decided my headset was temporarily malfunctioning.


Sweety snapped pics and video from the backseat of the small 4-seater. Occassional turbulance reminded us of the miracle/realism of flight. Its kinda like cars and plains have robbed us of the appreciation of distance that we now take for granted.Free Fallin'. After a few Miami Vice side glides, I flew to Lebanon and Hendersonville then back to Murfreesboro. Sweet! Thanks honey.

Now I am just remembering the crisp air, the freedom, the view and the tranquility. Ahhhhhh.....take it Tom....

Free fallin, now Im free fallin, now im
Free fallin, now Im free fallin, now im
I wanna glide down over mulholland
I wanna write her name in the sky
Gonna free fall out into nothin
Gonna leave this world for a while
And Im free, free fallin
Yeah Im free, free fallin ...more...








Aside from that great present, I had a fantastic dinner with our great friend Tom and Cassandra. Its always a blast. I got a great Salvador Dali, one of my favorite artist coffee table picture book. Matching t-shirts for me and wifey (yes, we prefer to match....I know its kinda hokey; but such that it is). Thanks Tom. Reminds me of a funny non-blonde story. Anyway, some day when I doodle or sketch or even better, draw, I also got a great leather-bound sketch pad. What a great year!

Friday, January 04, 2008

Fabulous Friday Fixin's! More Cheese Please.








Incredible Cream Cheese Danish Rolls/Buns

This recipe builds on an already familiar cheese danish recipe from before which was already near perfect. This spin on an old favorite will cure any need for cinnabuns. Rich in protein, its a nice almost healthy indulgence.

Ingredients
2 pkgs crescent rolls
16 ounces cream cheese (2 8-ounce pkgs softened)
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
2 shakes of cinnamon
2 shakes of nutmeg
1/3 cup of confectioners sugar
2 tbs of butter
1 egg yolk
1 cup of chopped pecans, walnuts etc

Directions: Combine nuts, butter, cinnamon and nutmeg in saucepan bringing to a quick boil. Stir over medium heat and fold in confectioners sugar and remove from heat. Set aside and let the nuts absorb the spices as they cool. You may also pour out onto a nonstick cookie sheet for quicker cooling.

Mix together, cream cheese, sugar, yolk, lemon juice and vanilla. Beat til creamy smooth. Roll out 1 cresent roll onto lightly floured parchment paper. Smooth a layer of cream cheese mixture over that cresent roll layer. Spoon nut mixture over cheese. Add second layer of cresent roll on top and repeat the process. Think lasagne-ish.


Now start at a short end and begin rolling the layered combination into a nice log. Add any remaining cream cheese mixture in the folds as you roll. By the end you have a nice log. Chill for an hour or freeze in zip lock bag to keep it firm. Slice inch-thick rings from the end and place on buttered cookie sheet and bake 10 mins at 350 degrees or until they look slightly browned. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar or cinnamon and serve warm with a smile. If your reallywant to go all the way; instead of confections sugar on top, use marbled cheese for a color explosion.


This is one of the easiest and most memorable treats you will ever serve. It even lets you have some for later; just pull from the freezer, slice and bake.






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RECIPE: TORTELLINI & APPLE SALAD

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INGREDIENTS:
3 tablespoons concentrated apple juice (frozen)
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
2 teaspoons firmly packed brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon garlic salt
Dash pepper
1 package refrigerated cheese tortellini (9 ounce)
2 cups chopped apples
2 cups shredded salad greens
1 cup of mandarin orange slices or strawberries
1/2 cup thin sliced celery
1/4 cup sliced green onions
2 tablespoons pine nuts

DIRECTIONS: Combine apple juice concentrate, corn syrup, vinegar, sugar, garlic salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate. Cook the cheese tortellini according to package directions. Drain and cool thoroughly. In large mixing bowl combine tortellini and remaining ingredients. Toss gently with apple juice dressing and serve immediately.





Wednesday, January 02, 2008

It Smells like New Year!




Well, alas, it's the new year and all the best to you and yours! It's that special time of the year that everyone makes resolutions and renewals. What is it about the new year that makes us volunteer to have new hope and renewed dreams? Are there magic numbers in the universe that make us universally respond a certain way? Perhaps its that something that tells the wild geese to fly south....


I had a fantastic holiday full of cheer and glad, thankful tidings. Don't let the picture fool you. The jest of this blog is an oxymoron....the sweet stench of New Year! It is the aroma sweet stink that we love so much; like too many roses, too much honey when you're full, (u get the drift). It's gym night and my wife says the "the resolutionaries are here" referring to the newbies that sign up every year about this time for the duration of a few mere weeks if not month and a half. The simple and painful fact is that fitness is a lifestyle; nothing more, rarely less. Compare it to this: how would you feel or be regarded if you only brushed your teeth once a week or month or heaven forbid, once a year....? Fitness is much the same. NOW, of courses, there always legitimate situations and to each his own; just dont blame somebody else; nor am I an advocate for the size 0 fashion models the media crams down our throats at every blink. A widing road is best with curves.... (smile).


Anywhooo; the point of the matter is you dont need a special time to start anything...NOW is already a pretty special moment in time. Its the ideal time to tackle any task. As far as I am concerned, New Year's is any day at at any time; so se la vie! You pick your New Year's day and infuse it with all the new hope and promise you can muster. Charge, full steam ahead!!!!!! Your life is a car; not only are you the driver, you get to add leather heated seats, headlight windshield wipers, radar detection, auto-pilot and the lot.