Friday Flickerings and Fridaku Fascinations

© ScienceDaily

---

What a great week of exploration emotionally and professionally. The weather has been fantastic and very agreeable to getting outside and trapesing around. The hint of Spring looms dauntingly just above our bulging to-do-lists and a long-courted love affair with Home Depot, Lowes and HGTV. The renewal of Spring brings many opportunities for collective enrichment and family gatherings. What a great time of the year.

Despite being slammed at work; I have managed to learn some new InDesign and Photoshop tricks! Its obvious to me that I am happiest exploring and learning new things. Luckily I have an environment that allows such freedoms and liberties. Despite self-inflicted prisons, the freedoms just beyond my reach or cadence are beautiful to marvel. Its ok if I dont get there today and far better that I remember to never completely yield to the idea that never is also possible. Armed with hot coffee, great chocolate snacks and wide-eyed defiance, I embrace the coming of the weekend.

As one ages, it is always noted of the things that were that arent now. St. Patty's Day marks the passing of a well-missed friend and fan, Alfred; my wife's father. Such times are awkward — do you point out the elephant in the room or just ignore him, hoping he walks quitely beyond? Nonetheless, I treasure memories. It lies there in the pages of memories of past moments where infinity is bookmarked if only for a finite moment as the generations trod onward into future chapters. We sat out back once in the setting sun as I remarked about the shadows cast by the dying day. He responded with a chuckle and noted that the reason we are all different is that there are too many things for one person to see or think about. In a society obsessed with youth; will we sacrifice the wisdom of age in the process? Will we discard the elderly for our vain ambitions? or discount them like some last year's Christmas toy left to hope for purchase at some Fred's or Dollar General or yardsale as someone else's problem?


A great weekend lies ahead. If we lift our eyes and our hearts, we will encounter someone needing our smiles and encouragements just centered in our paths. Hopefully we will neither be too busy or self absorbed to pass along such a glittering treasure. The cohort, Andy has been faithfully banging out his photoblogs and haikus much to my pleasure. It really is the people around us that hold us up from sinking in the mire of self/vanity. Sharing laughter and never taking ouselves too seriously might just be a saving grace.



©Andrew Stanfield

Wooden Guardsmen

Sentinal looming,
Tall, old and mighty—guarding;
Fallen soldiers' rest.

©hamedical

---

Orange Warm Hunger

Orange, warm glowing,
Making bronze damp skin glisten;
Hungry for more flesh.

Friday Free'rs: Liberty of the Bugs

Spontaneous Quote: You cannot buy wisdom at the drugstore; only prevention....©maximusdoom 2011

The media is piping with things people are talking about. Needless-to-say, the watercooler is empty. As a kid I always wondered if I would listen to someone who knew more than I did or if I would listen to me if I came back from the future to give me some insight. Obviously I cannot truthfully answer that; only speculate. Our morning was a fluster of conversations. In all of them existed some content that would lend itself to several blogs from each topic. BYU is the easy one; but not as easy as Charlie Sheen — which is too easy; so I'll pass.

The other end of the box. Every now and then you see a roach big enough to rid you of any transportation expenses should you strap youself to them like a cowboy or rope them to the back, front or bottom of your vehicle. Today was one of those such days. I saw a cohort get up suddenly out of the corner of my eye. I see his mouth moving as he rolls up a magazine. With my iPOD deep in Prince classics; I dismiss as an extended bathroom embarkment and keep working on my layout. Then he comes back to his desk still looking somewhere ahead. Removing one earplug, I hear instructions to look ahead. As some of you know, I HATE bugs; particularly ones that might crawl or land on my face or chase me. There it was. A bionic roach half the size of our convertible VW Beetle. He appeared to have the power of flight as well. After some scrambling and mobilization, an office of 4 men; really 3 cause I was only going to be taking pictures, came up with the plans of removal.


The pensive recycler Andy decided to use a long box. To my horror, his great plan was to capture and release! Whatever happened to all the great lessons in history — kill them all! In his most statuesque Statue of Liberty pose, he does not use the closed end of the box to crush the guts out of the behemoth but the open end to capture. Of course it was on the ceiling. Of course it made a run for it. Of course it never occurred to him to smash it with the closed end. YES, Im a smasher! I not only kill them for this life but any possible ones after this one. In fact, you can work up quite a sweat stomping a good bug. I know some spiders, snakes and bugs are good for us; but I dont waste time interviewing them to find out. He who hesitates is lost.


Apparently I will refresh some memories about survivors and what to do with them.

Real Life
The Alamo, The Battle of Thermopylae, and several other Last Stands where the defenders were so effective (and/or annoying) that the victorious attackers finished off whatever survivors, wounded, or captured noncombatants they got their hands on afterward.

The Massacre of Glencoe was ordered by King William of Orange with the line:
"You are hereby ordered to fall upon the rebels, the McDonalds (sic) of Glenco (sic), and put all to the sword under seventy".
The part about leaving those over 70 was not mercy; in those days it was rare to find anyone much over 50 and the understanding was that anyone 70 or over would probably die on their own without someone to provide care for them.
This is frequently applied by a force that manages to defeat one much larger than them - they can't maintain so many prisoners, so the logical thing to do is to kill them all.

Famously happened during the Albigensian Crusade against Catharism in southern France. Asked by a soldier how to tell the difference between Cathar heretics and good Catholics, the Papal legate Arnaud Amalric replied:
"Kill them all. The Lord will recognize his own."
Though it's debatable if he said any such a thing, as there doesn't seem to be any record of him saying those words until about 50 years afterwards.

Arguably the result of any protracted siege in history. The soldiers, after watching their mates getting killed in various horrific fashions over a period of weeks or months, work out their frustrations on the defenders and civilians inside.
The Jolly Roger. In real life, the Jolly Roger was a good thing (assuming you were being attacked by pirates), as it meant that the pirates would accept prisoners. However, a blood red flag meant "death to all".
Both flags and their respective meaning are used in the flashback segment of the Tintin book The Secret Of The Unicorn.
In Roman Conflicts, once the battering ram was deployed, it was the signal that no prisoners would be taken, even as slaves. The Rome episode The Ram Has Touched The Wall explains this.

To extend the explanation: when a (Roman) army approached a hostile city and the city surrendered before arrival, the city's inhabitants and possessions were sacrosanct, and there would be no (official) looting or pillaging. If the city held out, but surrendered before the siege engines were in place, the citizens who fought (those of fighting age) were taken as slaves and the city looted, but no (official) rape or other destruction would take place. If the siege continued to the full, and the city overrun, the invaders could do as they pleased, and the commanders either looked the other way or actively encouraged their troops. This even applied to Roman cities, such as those on Sicily, after they rebelled. There are accounts of Legionaries who expressed the hope that the city would not surrender, so they could get some good looting and rape in.

The city of Carthage was completely destroyed by the Romans at the climax of the Third Carthaginian War. The Carthaginian citizens were either slaughtered or captured as slaves; none were spared.

Roman deserters were always killed if captured by Rome. There were accounts of ex-Roman soldiers at Carthage building a great bonfire in the Basilica before it fell, and leaping into the flames to avoid mandatory crucifixion for their desertion.

Shown in Spartacus: Blood and Sand: The Thracians who deserted the Roman forces were killed or taken into slavery, along with those of their villages.
The Battle of Little Bighorn.

Well that's a lot said in very little. Yes, opinions are like ...; everybody's got one. Like the release of said gasses; weighing before the release is paramount.

..and what is Friday without a couple of good haikus as a send off. Perhaps good is being presumptuous of me. Today's subject is one I hold near and dear; bubble baths! It is invaluable for creatives to revive themselves by escaping and harmonizing the internal energies. Failure to do so always results in the most conflicting of emotional and collateral of damages.

---

Photo from adnamaotupac

---

Fridakus — haikus on Friday

Below the Chaos
Deep breath in, breath out;
Hot bubble bath, smooth jazz, rain;
Stressless incense burns.

Bubble Talk
Popping bubbles shhhh,
Burying me in warm pleasure,
Unity and peace.

Self Therapy
Rain, jazz and bubbles
Alone, candles, insence, bath
One person, one soul.

Fridakus over Chili Days!

Hopefully you are in the habit of associating Fridays with haikus by now. The cohort and I have had an ambitious week of
deadlines and madness; but our insanity has prevailed. Nashville is over-run with road construction and walking people.
Some of which have destinations and others of which have none but the passing of time til the next.

---

Summer Closes Its Eyes
Autumn days, burnt orange
The sun squints tomorrow dim
Warmth drains away soon.

---

Seasons Sleep
Pitch forks, orange leaves, fall
The sown harvest now reaped
Sleep earth, rest til Spring.

---

The Future Hunts the Present
Through the season comes
The math of time ending days
Of mortal products.

---

...and on to the other things Friday holds for us; delicious recipes of suptuous delights.
You know how much I love to do two things at once. There's nothing like coming home on a cool afternoon
to a delicious smelling home. Crockpots are the best!


------------------------------------------------------
Today's Crockpot Recipe
------------------------------------------------------

Chile and Corn Chip Meat Loaf

1 cup corn chips
1 small green chile, seeded and finely chopped
2 Tbs finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg, slightly beaten
8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 lb. lean ground beef

Crush corn chips until they are coarse crumbs. In a large
bowl, combine corn chips, green chile, cilantro, chili
powder, cumin, and salt. Stir in egg, half of the tomato
sauce, and the ground beef. Form mixture into an 8 inch
loaf. Place loaf on a trivet in your crockpot. Spoon
remaining tomato sauce over loaf. Cover and cook on Low
about 4 hrs or until done.


click for another version


Thats all I got in the bowl. Have a spectacular weekend.

Feasting Fridaku Fascinations

Blue Globes
Oh solid orb blue
What moist fruit concealed between
Alabaster limbs.

---

Cool Hot Worthwhiles
A Guiness, ice-cold,
Awaits friends free from day’s toil;
Lunch memorable.

---

Strong Currents
Deep, strong and vibrant
Lay fierce treasures to unwrap
And passions to slay.

---

Cranium Midnight
Haiku, come now;
Paint what minds illuminate,
That eyesight conceals.

Nuts About Friday Haikus!

By the graces of the Lord God and the pensiveness of Andrew Lewis Stanfield, another Friday greets us and bows away. Saturating us with the promise of the joys to come and distractions of pleasure, the most important moments for some approach on the giggling feet of anticipation. Yet before we embark upon a most ambitious weekend, what would the close of Friday be without a haiku; and how far much better with several....

...but first things first...Friday Fixins for all you nuts out there.

Boiled Peanuts
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 quarts green uncooked peanuts
1/2 cup salt
2 1/2 quarts water

Wash Peanuts until water runs clear. Put clean peanuts in
crockery pot, add salt and water; stir. Cook, covered, on
high for 5 to 7 hours. Add additional water during
cooking, if necessary, to keep peanuts covered.

mmmmmm....tasty and even kinda healthy unless you have a nut allergy. But hey, just because I am sooo wonderful; here's something extra for my beloved Louisiana and all my cajun friends. ayhieeee!!!!

---

And now on to the haikus of Friday: Fridakus. Thanks Andylicious for keeping the torch alive!


Smoldering Visions
Sticky summer duel
Melting inhibition's rule
Less being more cool.

---

Happy Cohorts
United laughter
All for one and one for all
Breeds joys multiplied.

---

Friday Haiku
Friday haiku;
Uniting thoughts from two minds
One chord harmony.

---

Fridaku
Arrive at week's end
Write haikus on friday
5, 7, 5 read.

---

The Seeing Unseen
One layer away
Desperately close, we watch
Oh voyeur delight.

Apple Fixins and Thunder Fridakus!

------------------------------------------------------
The Day After Thursday Quote
------------------------------------------------------

I used to believe that anything was better than nothing.
Now I know that sometimes nothing is better.
-- Glenda Jackson

It’s that wonderful day of the week again…Friday! Friday is great for all sorts of things; including planning the weekend. For us, it’s Fitness Friday in the office (up to 70 pushups as a group) and Fridaku Fixin’s for you most generous readers of the Life’s Pursuit blog. As you know, I am a big fan of things that aren’t complicated and don’t require a whole lot of time. Life is just too short to not be enjoying. Celebrating my 8 yr wedding anniversary Thursday just might drag right on into the weekend. Meanwhile, here’s a simple recipe that just might be good for your timeline and your waistline too.

All Day Applesauce with Frozen Yogurt

---

------------------------------------------------------
Today's Crockpot Recipe
------------------------------------------------------

All Day Applesauce with Frozen Yogurt

2 pounds Granny Smith apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
1/4 cup sugar (optional)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Grated nutmeg
6 1/4-cup scoops fat-free, no-sugar-added vanilla frozen yogurt

Lay apple slices in a 3-quart or larger crock pot.
Combine sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over apples and
drizzle with lemon juice.

Cover and cook on low for 6 1/2 to 8 hours. To serve,
spoon hot apples into 6 dessert dishes. Top each with a
scoop of frozen yogurt. Lightly sprinkle with nutmeg and serve.

Thunder Flirts
Low rumbling thunder
Thick drops pelting shaded windows
Streaks of Lightning wink.

Friday Fixins with Brisket and Fridakus

The weather is fantastic today. Anybody who can is outside or at a pool.

Today’s Friday Fixin is all about no fuss. There’s nothing better than coming home to some delicious smell that reminds you that you are horse-hungry! Now a lot of you are trying Veganism and more power to you. To the rest of us who are still taking our chances for mad cow; this one’s extra sweet to the pot. Drop it in the crockpot and go away … get two things done at once or at least ready when you return.

---

Open-Faced Italian Brisket Sandwiches

1 (3 lb) boneless beef brisket, partially frozen
1 medium onion, quartered, sliced
1 (19 oz) can Progresso Tomato Basil Soup
2 Tbs cornstarch
2 Tbs brown sugar
1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1/8 tsp ground red pepper (cayenne)
2 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
10 (1/2-inch-thick) slices Italian bread
10 (1 oz) slices provolone cheese
2 Tbs chopped fresh parsley
Marbled cheese

Cut beef diagonally across grain into thin slices. Place
beef in 3- 1/2 or 4-qt slow cooker. Add onion. In medium
bowl, combine soup, cornstarch, brown sugar, Italian
seasoning, ground red pepper and Worcestershire sauce;
mix until smooth. Pour over beef and onion. Cover; cook
on low setting for 10-12 hours. To serve, place 1 slice
of bread on each individual plate. Top each with slice of
cheese and spoon about 3/4 cut beef mixture over each.
Sprinkle with shredded marble cheese.

---

Grave Embrace
Looking Up, Cool, Dark;
Up from the box in the earth
Sweet grave, cold embrace.

---

Tatoos in the Sun
Swirling inks, sleeveless;
Browned by the sun’s kisses
Tatoos and tanlines.

[note: REMEMBER, tats are forever.]

Fridakus and Friday Fixin's of Bacon Wrapped Meatballs!

© english.chinatibetnews

---

Fridaku: Green Face
Young, soft, straight, sparce, green
Like a beard across the earth
Grass sprouts in the Spring.

© Cooking on the Side.

---

Finally it's that time of the year again that we can all roll up our sleeves and soak up the rays. Spring time is an array of incredible colors and the birth of new hopes and dreams. The grass has that new green look and the trees are littered with buds and bees. This has been a great Friday and the end of it wont be any different. Let's kick off this Friday with an old favorite, Friday Fixins! Can't you smell it already?

Bacon Wrapped Sweet & Sour Meatballs
From the Farmer John California Natural Extra Lean Ground Pork package
Serves 6

INGREDIENTS:
Meatballs
1 lb. ground pork
3 slices crustless white bread
1/2 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
10 slices bacon, cut in half
1 tablespoon vegetable oil for frying
Wooden toothpicks for securing bacon

Sweet & Sour Sauce
1 teaspoon vegetable oil for frying
1 – 8 1/4 oz. can pineapple chunks in heavy syrup, juice reserved
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup brown sugar
Pinch salt
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon fresh ginger
6 tablespoons ketchup
6 tablespoons reserved pineapple juice

DIRECTIONS:
For meatballs: Tear apart the bread into small pieces, soak in milk and mash well in small bowl. In medium bowl, mix the ground pork with salt, garlic powder and pepper, stirring with fork. Drain off the excess milk from the mashed bread and mix with the meat. Make meatballs 1″ in diameter. Wrap 1/2 slice of bacon around each meatball. Use half a toothpick for each meatball to secure the bacon to the meatballs. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook meatballs 20-22 minutes until bacon is slightly crisp, turning frequently. Drain on paper towels. Remove toothpicks.

For sauce: Heat oil in medium saucepan. Add the pineapple and cook over medium heat for 1 minute. Add all the remaining sauce ingredients to the pan and bring slowly to a boil stirring continuously until thickened. Allow to simmer 1 minute or until completely clear.

Arrange meatballs on serving platter. Pour sauce over the meatballs. Serve while warm.

Friday Haikus!!!

There is an old familiar breeze in the air. Its the same one I look for every year about this time. There is a certain chill in the air that proclaims the end of all warm days for months to come. Yes, winter is almost here.

Title: First Sight of Halloween
Dead leaves blown along,
Black, cold, hard, and wet asphalt
Signal Halloween.

Title: The Face of Storms
Angry, round, black clouds
Severe winds without conscience
Bend trees, cities, men.

Title: Gothic Halloween
Dark souls rise aloft
Without censor, lust abounds
Clinching clean eyes shut

Titan Weekend III: Death of Fall

---

The weekend is finally here. The morning was cool and rainy until the sun finally relieved the sky of its dullness. The day slides by like fresh pancakes on a butter-coated plate in the hand of a limp-armed waitress not paying attention. My lunch was soon over after a SuperSonic Cheeseburger and a Milky Way for dessert. I'm not sure which was better. the burger or the bar. The sun was gently warm as I rolled along with the window down and the wind chasing through the open windows of my vehicle. I sipped hot green tea that I had gotten at my favortie coffee shop prior to eating. It was a great combination; besides it was green tea, so it's good for you too. Most folks at the office are out of place today. That only adds to the ease of a day shuffling away until I get back to my dearest Pickle.


It's another TN Titans weekend. That anticipation, if any, can be positive or negative given the lack of success thus far. Not that I care much about such things; cause I don't. Sure if its on or down to the end of the season, I am more inclined. So is the way of the geek. I would rather be drawing, reading or cooking. (yeah, I know, but its not really as lilly as it sounds. I would just rather be in the game than the sidelines or spectating) I anticipate that the Jaguars will be victorious by a field goal; but we shall see. Good luck, Titans! The best part for me of watching a game (if I must) is stroking my woman's hair as we sip wine or eat popcorn and chocolate. Popcorn and chocolate or ice cream and Ruffles Potato Chips are hard to resist...but that's another story like melted Chocolate and Chopsticks.


That's all the rambling I've got till the next moment of more. With hopes of a great workout and quality time with the queen; perhaps we meet some strange new folks to laugh with.


Fridaku!
Sumer's Last Breeze

---

the warm yellow sun,
the cool casual breeze mild
grass, trees, leaves browning.

Friday is special for a lot of reasons. Get more for your Friday with even more Fridaku. Want more haiku?

Flooded Fridays and Lazy Haikus

---

It's really been a long week with its end as its own reward. Sometimes you can keep your nose to the stone too long and miss the world passing by. It's certainly no secret that the world is full of hard times and tightening belts. Everywhere you look, there's something new or old closed. With such despair and lowness on so many hearts, you might easily forget all the wonderful things that STILL go on everyday right under your nose. This is NOT the end. The beginning of something far more begins at the end of this but is being birthed in the midst of what some would deem chaos and ruin, a hopeless plummet. I say NO; it's not that, not yet.


Yes, it has rained far more than most are comfortable with receiving; but the guy with the ark hasn't floated by yet. So we are a long way from too much. However; some have been unfortunate and it's up to the rest of us to help out where we can. In such times, it is easy to shy away from additional commitments or even acts of kindness; but I say it is the very time to strike. When we can't; that is the moment we absolutely must! It is not only for those we are helping but also ourselves and the things inside us that get activated and released to multiply into the ever-changing world...like glowing points of light in a dim day. Spread smiles and dim the despair. I am reminded of my father being upset when my bed-ridden grandmother doesn't remember him; to which I respond, Pop, she has good days and bad days — its not personal. Yes, bad things happen to good people and sometimes bad people win — that doesn't change our responsibility to respond or empower.


No matter what washes your home, hope, smiles, illusions or peace away; joy ALWAYS comes in the morning. Don't sell yourself short. You are strong. You are great. You are marvelously made and fashioned individually unique. The rain passes. Trouble doesn't last always. Hang on and fight. When you can't fight, cry and scream for more strength; then knock that sucker into next week. You can, you will and you are a survivor. Doom and gloom are for those who lay down and surrender with eyes closed to hope.

---

Alas, however you spend your weekend, here's a couple of short, sweet lines to chuckle at along the way.


Rain and Paperboats
Falling rain, so much
Flooding things but not my hope
Paper boats love it.

---

Seeking Flight
Birds, clouds, breeze, aloft
Gliding above tall green trees
As leaves flee to flight

Fridakus!

Once again the end of the week is here and that means only one thing left on the list to do; create Fridaku!

---

Longing Stems
Expectations full
The flower leaking its joy
The bee lights thrilled.

---

Waving
Friday past, time spent
Dasies, roses, standing tall
waving in Autumn's breeze

---

Arousing Life
Jutting, thrusting, proud
Rising beneath thin layers taunt
Tender leaves stretch up.

---

Chocolate Fridakus!

---

In case you are new or missed a couple of blogs, Friday is dedicated to the art of the haiku.
A haiku is a three-line poem in any language, with five syllables in the first and last lines and seven syllables in the second,
usually with an emphasis on the season or a naturalistic theme. So Friday is Fridaku at Life's Pursuit and It Depends.
My cohort and I have agreed on a subject this week and with many chuckles, here goes.

Chocolate and Chopsticks Dip it, drang and smear In chocolate with chopsticks Lift, lick, eat and smile Chocolate chopsticks Edible fun for hunger Dip, sip, bit and melt The smile begins first At perfection's sweetest kiss Chopsticks, suck, smear, smile.

Chocolate and Tan Lines Smooth divisions soft tracing tanlines with chopsticks Dipped in chocolate Dark, light, same surface Tracing passions while melting Chopsticks on tanlines. Abrupt change, smooth skin Chocolate, ticklish sticks Tracing pleasures's lines.

---

Surreal Friday

---

---

All good things must come to pass....

Great artist make us ask questions.

Who are we?

Why are we?

What will we leave behind?

Are we really here?

Fabulous Banana Friday Fixins!

I gotta go...!



Ah, the Music City is earning its name this week. Its CMA Festival time and the city is shuffling with visitors. Nashville is a great city; too small to be hick, to big to be ignored. I like going to lunch seeing a mix of peoples. A stew just isnt as good with just corn. Anyway, its Friday again but it seems like another long week. In spite of just returning from California (which is another town I love) I am fast and furious on my responsibilities that linger from my absence. Its all good. I only play to win; I only lose to learn.

This is a typical story. I left the office at lunch and was in my car before realizing that I needed to take a leak. So where can I go thats quick, convenient and has a clean bathroom. In my case, I went to Arbys. By now, they know me — way too many visits per week. So I park and take the stroll toward the front door. Clearly a busy spot, the warm sun gleaming on my smooth soft brown with a smiley face on my chest and a baseball cap on my dome; all laced with a smile. I yack with the manager about what I wanted and swaggered to the louve. "WHAT!!!???" I walked in and it was Niagara Falls. The urinal was running full blast and running down the wall and floors. Surely someone had been here before me and why wouldnt they have said anything. I guess I better hold it a while longer. I back out with wet soles and inform the manager of my discovery. She asks if I giggled the handle; of course, in case I didnt need to say anything. So with sandwich in hand I am back outside headed for my vehicle thinking about Murphy's Law and how its always funny if you let later be now. I knew if I looked back on this later and thought about all the times Arbys had been guaranteed except this one time I really needed it ..... ha ha ha ha on me.

Off to the office I returned as I finished my sandwich. Hey, I waited this long, I might as well get something good to drink thats cool for the duration of the day. A Red Bull, water and Starbucks DoubleShot Vanilla, I had almost forgotten of my need until I was comfortably at my desk making a 32-pdf. Of course, at this point, everything is completely fine again. Aint life grand. Funny what altered focus will accomplish. Nonetheless; the weekend awaits and I am ready to receive. No plans; just openness! But if I get to cook; here's a thought!

Fabulous Friday Fixins: Again!
This one contains one of my all time favorite sweets. Nilla Wafers. You know which ones; anything else aint worth banannas!

---

Banana Pudding Tarts
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 C. vanilla wafer crumbs
1/2 C melted butter
1-2 ripe bananas
1 vanilla pudding mix made according to directions
Redi-Whip or any other whipped topping, if desired

Crush the vanilla wafers. Melt butter, or margarine. Mix
crumbs and butter well.

Partially fill a muffin pan with the mix. Press firmly to
the sides and bottom making a cup. Put in freezer for 2
hours.

Make the pudding mix while the crusts are in the freezer.
Let it set a bit in the fridge.

Slice bananas into 1/2" slices.

Use a pointed knife, gently release shells from pan. Place
on a large plate or cookie sheet.

Put a banana slice in the bottom, then a dollop of the
pudding...fill with pudding. Chill to fully set.

Put another slice on top...I put them on their edge so they
sit up on top. A squish of whipped cream is nice, too.
Another great recipe

Well thats all I got; so go get yours.

Friday Unfixed and ReWrapped

---

Well the blog of a thousand pages always begins with a single word. Its Friday and I have kept my head down all week trying to keep the light inside and concealed. Sometimes that just happens or is the culmination of a month of previous events. Either way, I won't decide which. It's been a long month and it ain't getting any shorter. I suspect I was built to handle it; otherwise, it wouldn't be my plight. I have good news, I have bad news and I have news I can't /won't share; but what's new about that.

I am bordering a nexxus of sorts. It is a crossroads of tradition, theology and opinion; but I suppose we all drive thru these parts. The sun is blotted out by the grey sky holding dominion over a soaked Middle Tennessee day. I watch the people go by aimlessly without purpose from my window, the tower of the bat looms over us all. The people going by busy themselves doing what they do when nobody's looking. I am invisible. That is by blessing. That is my curse. I have found that most of my blessings do come with a big red string. What is a blessing without a curse; what is the light without a shadow; if there were no moon, could there be a sun? I have had some bizarre enlightenings this week. Since I am still digesting, I'll have to give that to you later, maybe. It would seem the older I get that friends and family become synonamus. My friends I will typically see more often than my family. My friends tend to know more about me than my family. It has always been that way for me. Don't know if that is good or bad; but I am sure it is a symptom of something.

It has also been a week of firsts. I ate at PEI WEI for the first time Wednesday. I agreed to visit with someone and they picked the place. I strangled my objection in my mouth, just before they crossed my lips and said yes. I actually dont even know what I had. One was some sort of lettuce wrap and the main dish some type of chicken salad in a bowl; ironicly, I was dining with a Jamacian. It was an enjoyable time of fellowship. I think I am looking forward to the next time. I often get labeled a "conspiracy theorist," probably guilty. Everything happens for a reason at somebody's request. Who can argue with that. I probably should have been taking notes between bites. I kept getting that feeling that this was coming to some point; otherwise one wouldn't give that much information...but what do I know. Anywhooo.



I have heard the term thrown around this week "Great American." I say that because we are living in times that will be written in history (like when isnt it?) with a black man and a woman running for president. My boss came in and ask if we watched the debate. Of course I hadnt; nor did I know it was on. Actually I was at a dinner function and not near a tv; but had I been, I am sure I would have flipped to Sci-Fi. I can always count on them. I dont know if the right person is running for president this year. Seems like slim pickens all of a sudden. Elegant words always hide something and man-women have too much to prove despite being a pretty tough bird. I wonder if Martha Stewart would consider being Vice President. I confess, I actually didnt first think black or woman; I was just listening to the best person with the smartest dialect saying what I could be hip to. I would think that is bigger than sex or race; but apparently not. Due to 911; I am not sure I would want a woman president; but since Lara Croft aint runnin,' I guess Hillary is agood as anybody else. Obama is definitely well spoken, has a beautiful family and has a very engaging growing-up story that America has been parading as its shoulders for years. Its anybody's game; or is it? (oops...conspiracy theorist in me) The machine always wins. Can anything that is "Great American" really be only one color or sex for the whole?

Don Imus is back and I know thats old news. I am not upset about that. I personally think he got nailed. I would rather somebody come out with it to my face than discover the same underneath a corporate suit or uniform unspoken. Talk about blindsighted. Speaking of which, I heard this guy speak at our church last week. Very well educated and eloquent, Bishop Wellington Boone kept ears attentive as some minds struggled to keep up with a swift northern dialect. I cannot say I agreed with everything I heard; but you got it straight from the horses mouth with passion. Needless-to-say, some truths are very uncomfortable in mixed settings but that must occur for change and progress...or so "they" say.

Well thats all I got on a cloudy Friday. I have dinner plans already scheduled tonite so I wont get to play with my iPOD or load any good podcasts; but that will be in another blog. What a great Valentine's Day!

on to the anticipated and probably not over-rated Friday Fixin's



Chinese Chicken Lettuce Wrap Asian Food Recipe by Chef David Tsang

INGREDIENTS:
1/4 C. XOX Sweet Teriyaki (Starport 217)
6 oz. Chicken, diced
1 tsp. Cornstarch
1/4 C. Red onions, diced (1.3 oz.)
1/4 C. Red bell pepper, diced (1.5 oz.)
1/4 C. Water chestnuts, diced (1.5 oz.)
1/4 C.Bamboo shoots, diced (1.4 oz)
1/4 C. Mushrooms, diced (1.4 oz.)
2 Tbsp Green onions, chopped
6 Iceberg Lettuce cups
2 Tbsp. Oil

1. Slice chicken and coat chicken with 1/2 Tbsp. oil and 1 tsp. Cornstarch
2.    Heat a pan at high heat when hot, add oil, chicken and sear about 30 seconds then stir.
3. Add onions and red bell peppers let sear about 20 seconds.
4. Add bamboo shoots, water-chestnuts and mushrooms and stir-fry about 2 minutes.
5. Add XOX Sweet Teriyaki and stir-fry until steaming hot about 2 minutes, and add green onions.
6. Toss well and remove and serve with lettuce cups

Believe me when I say, It's DELICIOUS!!!!




Ahhh....soon.....

Fixed Friday: Mental Musings to Remember

---

"...you'll never see this recipe on Friday Fixin's"

It's finally Friday for a week that's been almost a year long. I leave you with wisdom and food; a combination for the body and the mind. I'll let you feed your own spirit in your choice manner. Present your charms.

---

A beauty is a woman you notice; a charmer is one who notices you.

--------------------

A diplomat's life is made up of three ingredients: protocol, Geritol and alcohol.

--------------------

A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular.

--------------------

A hungry man is not a free man.

--------------------

A hypocrite is the kind of politician who would cut down a redwood tree, then mount the stump and make a speech for conservation.

--------------------

A politician is a statesman who approaches every question with an open mouth.

--------------------

Accuracy to a newspaper is what virtue is to a lady; but a newspaper can always print a retraction.

--------------------

After four years at the United Nations I sometimes yearn for the peace and tranquillity of a political convention.

--------------------

All progress has resulted from people who took unpopular positions.

---

...and on to the Friday Fixin's

Here's one you can't get your mouth around. It's juicy and delicious and fun for the family on a lazy afternoon or the before the outting snack. Everybody loves a good sandwich. All of this stuff are just good things to have in stock for those just in case moments.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

RECIPE: BAKED SUB SANDWICHES

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

INGREDIENTS:
Six 6- to-8-inch hero (hoagie) rolls, split
1/2 cup Italian dressing
1/2 pound sliced deli salami
1/2 pound sliced deli turkey
1/2 pound sliced deli ham
1/2 pound sliced deli provolone cheese
1 large tomato, thinly sliced
1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Brush the cut sides of
the rolls with the Italian dressing. Layer the bottom
halves with the salami, turkey, ham, cheese, tomato, and
onion and replace the tops. Place each on a piece of
aluminum foil and wrap tightly. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes,
or until the cheese is melted. Carefully remove the aluminum
foil and serve.

Yield: 6 Sandwiches