Sunday Scribblings

Found this via Kristin and thought it was a cool idea. Here is a link to the original site -- Sunday Scribblings.

This week's topic -- dinner.

Evokes a very emotional response from me, which tells you my connection to food! ;)

I've never been a big cook. I think it's partly the mess factor, but I just don't enjoy it. It's unfortunate because food has always been a huge, important part of my family's culture. Sunday dinners were spent at my grandparent's house. My grandmother spent half the day in the kitchen -- boiling, and frying, stirring, and straining. My favorite meals were always those that had German roots. Rouladin and my grandpa's bread dumplings were a common favorite. I remember inviting friends to dinner with great pride, knowing my grandma would cook something phenomenal that they never would have had before. I almost always requested apple struedel, because having dessert as dinner was just awesome, and I could attribute it as OK because of my heritage. Good times. ;)

And don't get me started on entertaining. A holiday dinner at my family's house, no matter who was hosting, was at least a 2-day cooking affair. If a buffet was the offering of the day, there were standard dishes that always made an appearance, but not the salads/Jellos/casseroles you'd expect. More typical -- raw beef on a bed of white onions, served with a dark rye bread; my grandma's hot German potato salad; and very often a smokey, German ham that you eat very thinly sliced.

My grandfather always supplied the baked goods. At Christmas, it was stollen, butterhorns, and hundreds of cookies. Fall brought us his pumpkin pie, made with his special blend of spices -- a recipe that died with him. Spring and summer featured his famous cheesecakes, some covered in fresh fruit, others mixed with our favorite candy bars.

This particular way of providing for one's family is the simplest, yet most meaningful way to show your loved ones you care. Jason does the bulk of the cooking in our house. He has a very difficult job in trying to balance our mutual (but different) pickinesses, but he does so without complaint, always monitoring our responses to a meal and how he could make it better. It is in these simple acts that I know he loves me.

Small Wonder(s)

Today is Bring Your Spawn to Work Day!

HURRAY!

That about sums up today. :) 13 out of 23 kids present, so we had a "fun" day of multiplication games, Earth Day stuff, and movies. Scooby Doo, popcorn, and Carpi Sun.

And then...

A tornado warning. At 3:15. FUN!

Nothing like 700 kids, ducking and covering in a sweaty hallway for 10 minutes. "It's a drill!" we kept telling them, knowing by the looks of the sky and the pounding rain and thunder that it was a lie. I have to wonder why we make the kids duck and cover. I'm certain that if a tornado came crashing through the school and ripped off the second floor, the old duck and cover isn't gonna, well, cover it. Just a thought. Not to mention that these poor kids, 4-5 deep, basically had their heads buried against the shoes or butt of the kid in front of them. Thank god it wasn't bean burrito or western chili day!

In other (albeit random) news, I had an interview at a local Archiver's store today, for a summer job. Went well and was told to expect a call for a second interview next week. Many co-workers are wondering why I am seeking a summer job. They don't get it -- Archiver's wouldn't be a job! I'm excited about the possibility of helping others design their memories. Second interview next week! Cross everything. ;)

And yes, I realize that my paycheck will likely go right back to them... at least there's a discount!

Power Station

(Note: I have decided that from here on, the titles of my posts will all be 80s references. Just 'cause it's fun.)

Perception of power is such a fun thing to observe! When a person believes they have some level of power over the people around them, and every part of their being (words, actions, etc.) nods towards that perception, they tend to do and say things that can really be quite funny (as long as they don't directly impact you). For instance, recently I observed a co-worker taking notes in a staff meeting. This person was clearly noting who was arriving to the meeting late, and when they arrived. Now I realize that it is entirely possible that our "boss" (who was not present) asked this individual to do this. However, as a colleague of those in the room, why would you do this? Why wouldn't you just say everyone was there on time? Perception of power. This particular individual is one of those who tend to kiss up to the administration. They also, in group situations, try to run the show, with little regard to the wants/needs of others in the group. Because others in the group either are not as invested in the discussion/task, or just want to avoid confrontation, the individual's perception of power is reinforced. So seemingly little, insignificant events, over time, build up this individual's perception, and they begin to believe that they have a responsibility to the "boss" to report those who break the rules, at least in their eyes. Never mind the fact that these same people are also rule-breakers of their own accord. But they often see their actions as a "greater good," and explain them away as such. This particular individual has gotten so good at this that their actions are now being reinforced by administration, so they believe that the rules they break, the very same rules they are holding everyone else to, don't really apply to them anyway.

Before I took all my coursework towards becoming a principal, I never noticed this crap. Sometimes ignorance really is bliss.

No Words

Please see this link prior to reading the rest of this post.

There are no words for how horrible this story is. It is ridiculous that a county judge can decide who is or is not a family. These gentlemen jumped through all of the ridiculous (but necessary) hoops in order to be considered each other's legal partner, and yet, a simple court order was enough to strip them of their rights and all of their worldly possessions. Not only did they lose everything, but more importantly, they lost each other when both of them were confined to separate nursing homes against their will. If they had been legally able to call each other "husband," this never could have happened. Regardless of religious beliefs, which are supposed to be kept quite separate from legalities, these men should have been granted their legal rights as partners who were together for 20+ years and considered themselves spouses. Clay should have been allowed to see Harold in the hospital. Harold and Clay both should have been able to decide if they wanted to enter a nursing home or not. They should have been allowed to decide that together, as a couple.

It is sickening to me that such basic human rights, like loving and being with whomever you wish, is denied to anyone.

How do they do it?

So I'm watching "Bourne Identity," and Jason Bourne has just gone to his apartment. He is an extreme minimalist, to be sure. His kitchen is complete with all the NEEDS of a chef, but no frills. No art, plants, or anything else that might not be considered a "need." It got me thinking. I know he's a book/movie character, and his character, by nature, would only keep what was absolutely needed, but this minimalism thing really resonated with me. I have a really strong desire to be that way, a total minimalist, keeping nothing but the bare essentials. I envy those who can lead that lifestyle. Sadly, my heart wouldn't allow it. I am far too emotionally connected to things, especially the things belonging to those loved ones who are no longer with me in life. From pictures of my family from way before I was born, to my grandpa's brown, felted cowboy hat, I just cannot let certain things go.

I also have this completion complex. Poor Jason. I have difficulty purchasing a piece of a set and not buying the entire set of things. The quickest example of this I can come up with is in scrapbooking. When I joined Stampin' Up (years ago), I had to buy every color of paper and ink they had, along with the matching markers. Even though I still, to this day, haven't used a few of the colors, I knew I would have to have them, just in case. Or it would bother me -- REALLY bother me. It honestly stresses me out if I do not have a complete collection of something I know I will use. In fact, just on Thursday, I was using a navy blue marking pen and my teammate asked where I had gotten it. I told her I had purchased a 24-count multi-color pack of these pens. She said she really liked the navy pen. Later that day, I went back to my classroom and dug in my desk, knowing I had a second navy pen to give her. Why? Because I lost one of the pens from the first set and it drove me crazy, so I went and bought a second set so that I could replace the color.

So I have 3 questions:

A) Does this make me crazy?
and
2) Does anyone else have this issue?
and
D) How does one become a minimalist? Is it genetic? Is it regional? Does my mid-western upbringing mean I will never be able to not have "stuff" everywhere?

Luckily, I am not in danger of being on any of those hoarding shows.

Here I Go Again On My Own

So I decided to let my dot mac site die because it actually cost money to use. Yes, it was easier to blog using iWeb, but for as little as I used it, it just wasn't worth paying for. Anyway, here is yet another new beginning.