Scattered

I can't seem to collect myself and get going today, and it's already 10:23 a.m.! I guess I'll sit down, write a little bit, and then try to get going. It's not that I don't have anything to do - just can't seem to focus. 

My dad is in Indonesia right now. Some very good friends are on their way to Africa, and they're going to stop and see my sister and her family on their trip. These folks' trips are making me miss Indonesia more than ever! My dad is writing about the sound of the rain on the tin roofs, the evening sounds - travelling food vendors each with their unique calls, the different birds and bugs getting ready to bed down for the night, the squeeks of the fruit bats just waking up, the evening call of the mosque. He's writing about the smell that the afternoon rain brings - sweet and acrid, steamy and cool all at once. Oh, how I'd love to go back to my homeland for a visit. Maybe sometime in the next few years I can save up some money and do that. After all, I saved up enough $ to go to Jordan - I guess I can save up enough to go to the other side of the Asian continent!

I know being in Indonesia must make my dad think an awful lot about my mom. I wonder if he misses her all the time or, if like me, his heart has healed enough that it doesn't always hurt to think of her? I sure do miss her a lot, though, and would give almost anything to have her back. It just seems like an awful lot of life yet to live without my mom by my side. On the other hand, I have so much for which to be thankful, especially my siblings, my hubby, my dad, and my friends. I am a blessed woman!

So, my good thought for today is that I'm making Indo food for some lovely friends tomorrow night! I've chosen my dishes, and today will go to the large Asian market and get some lovely groceries. Time to stock up on all my favorite Asian ingredients! Yeah! While I'm out, I think I'll have lunch by myself and enjoy a good book. All in all, quite a lovely list of chores. Of course, the yucky part is cleaning up my house for company. Luckily for me, I don't have all that much to do...and these friends aren't too picky! Have no fear, dust bunnies - I might not even get around to sweeping you up! ;-)

Enough rambling for today! On with my list of tasks...

Speechless

I've awakened this morning with so much to say, but none of it seems very compelling, but I'll tell it all to you anyway. ;-)

First of all, Tim's dad heard a news report last week that an arrest was made in our town, and a huge stash of jewelry from past robberies was found. The camera panned over this table of jewelry and the reporter said, "So if you recognize it, call this number...." Phil's immediate thought was that my wedding rings might be among them (we were robbed Oct. of 2008). Tim thought about not telling me until he'd explored the situation more, but went ahead and said something last night. I, of course, was quite surprised to hear this news, but immediately tried to tell myself, "long shot!" The thought of having my wedding rings back brought tears to my eyes. I think about them a lot! I know to some people I should think of them as "just" an object, something I owned. I can't though. Those rings meant much  more to me than just pretty jewelry. Tim chose them for me, put them on my finger in answer to very important questions and vows we have taken. Having them back? Wondrous! 

I went to bed not even really thinking about it. I didn't know it would invade my entire night's sleep! I woke up from at least 2 dreams crying, so I guess it was on my mind! Tim called the police this a.m. to see what the dealio is. A detective has to call us back tomorrow. Of course, he's off today. I'm not holding out any hope, but what a miracle it would be.

Next item: I am 10 days late for my period, which made me burst into tears last night when I finally looked at my calendar. Why the tears? Because there is no way I'm pregnant (yes, I'm sure, so don't ask...please), and so what does missing this period mean? Is my body getting ready to go through some significant change? Does this mean I'm getting to the end of being able to get pregnant? Yes, I know I'm jumping to conclusions, jumping the gun. Can't help thinking about it, though. It is great consolation, however (and I mean this in a totally true, not a holy, religious, just saying the words way!), that God is my great Comforter! Whether or not I ever get pregnant, whether or not Tim and I ever hae kids is in God's hands, and that IS a source of huge comfort to me. I don't have to carry all my own burdens. My God does that for me. How wondrous that is for me!!

Ok, enough for now. I'll write more about my spinning, swirling thoughts tomorrow. Meanwhile I have errands to run, bills to pay, and a very messy kitchen to clean up. (I spent Friday whirlwind cooking for the youth retreat I went on this weekend - no time to clean up beforehand. Oh, and surprise, surprise - Tim didn't do all the dishes while I was gone). I love him anyway! ;-)

Dentist

So, I grew up in the third world. That means lots of houses made out of bamboo and rice paper, unpaved streets, and...KGB-trained dentists (anyone remember Marathon Man with Dustin Hoffman?). I never had numbing on any fillings. The office was always shiny steel and cold porcelein. There seems to have been a lot of spitting and pain.

To my joy and delight, there are dentists in the U.S. who actually give numbing stuff for a filling - a new and wonderful experience. No pain! Novel, yes?

There seems, however, to have been a gap in the training of hygienists. Is it impossible for them to be gentle? Doesn't it seem like they just shove that floss in there even if your teeth are close together? And what's with that dental pick? Would it be possible for them to clean that nasty plaque without also catching tiny pieces of gum?

A lovely subject, I know, but this Valium I'm on has loosened my tongue - the Valium being another benefit of my dentist who actually responded when I told her of my dental fobias. ;-) I hope all of you have a dentist as nice as mine, but a hygienist just a little gentler. 

Grilled cheese supreme

Is it ironic that I'm doing some work to get healthier, but all I've written about lately is eating?! Hmm, not sure about that. Anywho, here's another tasty dinner I made that took about 1/2 an hour start to finish. Should please young and old.

We received several wonderful cheese in various Christmas baskets. Tonight I decided to make grilled cheese sandwiches. We had 3 kinds, all on mini-French bread:

• "Tuscan" Cheddar, the cheese label said. It was a sharp, white cheddar encrusted with herbs 
  
• next was brie with very thinly sliced tomato and fresh basil (oooh, yummy!)
• last was a Cheddar and Stilton-layered cheese, with very thinly sliced apples

Quite a lovely meal, and a complete one when served with apples and carrot sticks. Experiment with the cheeses in your fridge and tell me what you come up with!

Super tasty...super quick

Want a fail-safe, delicious dinner that takes about 20 min. to prep? Want to enjoy the robust flavors of summer in the middle of a gray winter? Here's your answer...

Lemon-olive oil marinated chicken:

2 lbs. of chicken pieces, bone in or out, skin removed

1/3 c. lemon juice

1 Tbsp ground pepper

3 Tbsp good quality olive oil

2 tsp salt

In a large ziploc bag or bowl (not metal), combine the lemon juice, olive oil and pepper. Marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Baste or stir every 1/2 hour or so. Grill, bake, or saute the chicken until just done. (adapted from Marcella Hazan's wonderful Classic Italian Cookbook)

Oven-roasted cherry tomatoes:

about 30 cherry tomatoes

3 Tbsp good quality olive oil

2 Tbsp parmesan cheese 

1 clove garlic, minced or crushed

2 tsp finely chopped fresh thyme, oregano or marjoram (Fresh is preferred here, but not necessary. You can substitute about 2/3 tsp dried for 2 tsp fresh.)

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 300' F. Cut the cherry tomatoes in 1/2 and squeeze the seeds out of each half. Brush a baking dish large enough to hold the tomatoes in a single layer with a thin coating of the olive oil. Arrange the tomatoes, flat side up, in the dish. 

In a small bowl, combine the remaining oil, cheese, garlic and herbs. Drizzle the mixture over the tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Bake for about 2 hours, or until shriveled and slightly browned around the edges. (from James Peterson's Vegetables, a cookbook that focuses on retaining the nutrients and flavors in our vegetables)

Serve this delicious meal with whatever pasta you favor. The tomatoes burst with flavor and the lemon and olive oil-marinated chicken will wow you with its simple but wondrous flavor!

I know - I need to remember to take pictures before I eat it all up! ;-)

Ho Hum

Don't worry, I'm just not writing much because I don't have all that much going on. I'm spending an awful lot of time enjoying my kitties and the sunshine. (Ok, and I've had a bad spate of migraines, but let's not dwell on that.) Yes, I'm still doing laundry, cooking dinner, and all that good hausfrau stuff. I'm even starting on some of my projects, and that feels good! Truth be told, I'm staying plenty busy. I'm just not feeling inspired to write. Hmm, not sure why...

I'll see if I can dredge up some interesting words over the next few days. Meanwhile, here's a cute picture of my old boy, Charlie, at Christmastime. Such a hard life!