Hello, blog May 2, 2009

To quote a country song, “hello, darling, it’s been a loooong time…”. I definitely have been out of the blog world for a while. I’d like to say I am back for a while, but I don’t want to make a promise I can’t keep. So, I’ll just say, “let’s see how it goes”. 🙂

Sound off #1 January 7, 2009

Ok, after writing my lessons from 2008 blog, I realized I wanted to expound on a few of the lessons.  (Is expound a word?  I think it is. ) Anyway, let’s start with numbers 3 and 5 because I really like food.  In fact, one of may favorite quotes of all time is from Julia Child.  This is what she says, “The only time for eating diet food is when you are waiting for the steak to cook.”  Amen, sister!  Ok, back to 3 and 5. 

So, I have a lot of friends doing Thrive here in Rome.  For the rest of the world, it is a weight-loss program developed by a guy here in town that is very popular and effective.  It is supposed to go nationwide sometime soon and if it does,  lots of people will be changed by it.  (And, maybe Oprah will come to Rome. ha!)  The Thrive plan is about only eating certain types of food together and having as many peanut butter sandwiches as you want – or something like that.  All I know is double fiber bread is all the rage here in Rome.  So, I thought, why not try it?  I’m already eating wheat bread, what’s that going to hurt.  So, I did and now that is the bread I always buy.  A simple change, but a good one.   A healthy food to eat not just when the steak is cooking.  🙂

Now, this lemon thing.  That is another story.  First of all, I must let you know that I am not a fan the meat and fruit combo.  When I was younger I had a bad experience with lemon chicken (and so did my poor dad) and have never been tempted to try it again.  And, this goes beyond lemon chicken for me – orange chicken, lemon butter shrimp, duck a la orange, whatever – leave the fruit out of the meat, people!  So, what I have noticed is that everyone is putting fruit, citrus especially, in everything.  Yes, I know lemon is a basic cooking ingredient like salt and pepper, but why??  Is lemon zest really necessary in every dressing, cookie and even pasta recipe?  I knew things were bad in the culinary world when it came to citrus used at will in every way, but the crowning moment of overdoing it came for me when I was watching a Food Network holiday special and some lady put lemons in her sweet potato bake.  This was not a fancy gourmet recipe, either.  I mean, layered right there between the yummy sweet potatoes and gooey marshmallows were slices of lemon.  This obsession has gone too far.  Food people, for the love, please do not ruin the yumminess of 2009 with lemons!

Lessons from 2008 January 6, 2009

Here are a few things I have learned in the past year:

1. I have gotten really bad at blogging regularly.

2. There really is better shopping in Texas.

3. Double fiber bread really does taste good.

4. Life is about consistency over time, not never failing. (Psalm 37:3)

5. Lemon is a much more popular ingredient than I want it to be.

6. God wants me for who I am, not what I can do. He is not seeking my perfection. He is seeking me. (Isaiah 49)

7. It’s about $100 cheaper to fly from Birmingham instead of Atlanta, at least to Austin.

8. Throwing a pie in your boss’ face is really fun. Even when you have a great boss.

9. God is the health of my countenance, not all the other things that I think determine my happiness and peace of mind. (Psalm 43:5)

10. God works in a lot of weird ways.

11. My front yard floods big time when it rains a lot. Like, you can’t get out of the driveway or see the sidewalk floods.

12. DVR is one of the best inventions ever.

13. I can’t make changes in my life on my own. God’s power daily and an accountability partner are needed.

14. I love West Rome Baptist Church.

15. Following the Spirit of God is not like following a set of rules. Sometimes it will look and feel wrong to me and or others. (check out Elisabeth Elliot’s book The Liberty of Obedience)

16. Jesus does not flee. (John 10:13-14)

17. Facebook is very cool and everyone should use it.

18. I look great in my new jeans. Everyone should get new jeans that they love. Unless you have old jeans that you love. Then you should just love those.

19. The beach is a great place to spend Thanksgiving. Especially when you go with the right people. 🙂

Seaweed tastes yucky November 10, 2008

Ok, so this weekend I went out with some girlfriend’s to one of Rome’s newest restaurants – Ru San’s. What a cool place! Once inside it is easy to forget you are in a small northwest Georgia town. The trendy decor and lighting definitely set a fun mood. The menus (yes, there are more than one) have numbered pages because there are literally hundreds of options. I recommend going with a friend who knows sushi or doing a little research first or you will have no clue where to start. Lucky for me a few of my friends knew what they were doing. So, I decided to be adventurous. I ordered 5 things, just to give it a try (it was tons of food and by bill was still only $13!). So I ended up with a baked California roll, a Special Nigiri, sweet potato tempura, zucchini and, for the grand finale, baby octopus. Yes, for real. I thought, at $2, why not give it a try? It was actually my favorite things of the night. I learned that anything tempura style is basically going to taste like savory funnel cake, so you can’t really go wrong with it. Other than that, I discovered that I do not like seaweed and a lot of sushi has seaweed. Some of their other dishes were great, though. The swordfish was quite tasty. Thanks for the bite, Nichole. The chicken teriyaki was pretty good, too. Kristy shared a bite with me – that is how you know the portions were HUGE! Really, plan on splitting a dinner if you go for a full on meal there. So, it was a fun night, trying new things, but I learned that I am not a sushi fan. And by the way, while my bill was cheap, it certainly did not have to be. There was plenty of pricey stuff to choose from, too.

So, what’s next? I’d love to try tapas. Anyone know a good tapas restaurant nearby?

Best Ways to Fall in Rome October 25, 2008

Now, I know a few people are thinking I am going to blog about my infamous tumble down my porch steps the eve of the Chili Cook-off a few years back, but you are going to have to read about that on a previous blog. This one is about all the fun stuff you can do in the Fall in Rome. Now, you have already missed some of them, so don’t slack off and miss those that are still coming up:

• The Chili Cook-off – Held every October at Ridge Ferry Park and is sponsored by Trout Unlimited, so your entry fee helps local wildlife and wild lands. Hundreds of chilis to sample, live music and always a big crowd. A fun way to get outdoors, be with friends and eat lunch all for $5. Too late for this year, but make plans for 09 because the WRBC booth is always great thanks to Ronnie and Janice Stokes and their friends.
• Coosa Valley Fair – Can something that has been happening for 60 years be wrong? Not when it is the fair! Corn dogs, rides, animals, caramel apples, TURKEY LEGS, exhibits and carnies – everything you could ask for in a fair is on hand the first week in October at the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds. $5 per person or $5 a carload on the first night is a steal, but the rides are pretty price. Better go on $20 armband night if you (or your kids) want to ride all the rides. I was pumped because my mom and sister got to go with me this year. A little tip – the homemade tacos near the boiled peanut booth are VERY good.
• Chiaha – Going on this weekend, so head over after church tomorrow. The Hallo-weenie dog costume contest is on Sunday from 2:45-3:30PM and it is a site to see! Hundreds of artists and craftsmen sell their work and some even show you how it is done right at their booths. Great food – kettle corn, free apple cider, yummy chicken salad from some church ladies and my own personal favorite – a fudge covered apple. I accidentally bought it my first year thinking it was caramel. I have gotten one every year since! Again, only $5 to get in. There is live music, activities for the kids and more, too!
• Haunted Walking Tour of Rome – Now, I missed this last weekend because I was out of town, but some friends said it was really cool. Get to know downtown Rome and the “spooky” legends that go along with it on a Saturday evening in October. Definitely making plans for this next year!
• Heritage Holidays – Tons of different events throughout the month of October that shows off Rome’s talent, sights and benefits our community. Check out this year’s events calendar online. The covered wagon and horse parade on Broad is one of my favorites.
• Festival 31 – Candy, kids and the best Halloween alternative Rome has to offer is at West Rome Baptist Church. Friday, October 31 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm bring the family to ride ponies, climb the rock wall, get a balloon animal, go through the obstacle course or play the carnival games. A Little Tykes area and inflatables for the little ones means the whole family can have a great time. There is candy at every booth and door prizes, too. ALL FOR FREE!!! The concession stand has the usual fare of hot dogs, popcorn, pizza, pretzels, chips and drinks for minimal cost. If you are a West Rome member, make sure you’ve brought your bags of candy and have your volunteer spot all ready to go.

I know there are events I have missed, but these are my favorites! Mark them for next year if you missed them and MAKE SURE you make it to Festival 31 next week. Things to do during the holiday season will be coming soon! I love fall in Rome!

Shattering Paradigms September 6, 2008

Ok, so God has been doing some pretty mind-altering stuff in my life lately. It’s like He’s taking the way I think of things and showing me brand new ways to look at them. Some of the things He is showing me are new concepts to me. A lot are not new ideas or things I have never heard or been taught before, but it’s just like He is not just providing the info, but also the ability to see what that info really means in my life. I thought I would share some of those here and would LOVE to hear the things God is teaching you, too!

• Jesus does not flee from my life ever (John 10:13-14). Sometimes other people do, but Jesus never does.
• Jesus is not supposed to be the filling station in my life. He is the very source of it at every moment, not just some place I go when I need a fill-up. I can’t expect to spend time with Him and then not need to do that again for a while. I need Him all the time, every day.
• Keeping God’s commands preserves joy (John 15:11).
• My worth is stable and established. The proof? God’s love displayed through Jesus on the cross.
• Everyone else’s worth is as unchangeable as is mine because Jesus declared it so to Himself and the world from the cross.
• Knowing my unchanging value and worth and trusting God’s goodness at all times are the 2 keys to being content in every situation.
• Faith is trusting God enough to do what He says. This is why obedience is equivalent to us showing God that we love Him. When we know Who He is and trust Him, we do what He says. When we love Him, we do what He says (I John 3:16-22).
• It is up to God to keep me from stumbling, not me. He is the one who is able, not me. Sticking with Him is my part (Jude 24).
• I do what I do because I am called to it. Not because of my skills or lack of skills, not because of my education or lack of education, not because of connections or lack of connections, not because of options or lack of options. I do my job because it is what God has called me to do. He can change that when He wants and He can keep me at it for as long as He wants. I work for Him.

Green is my favorite color

This is one of the reasons Gretchen’s idea was so appealing to me. Recently Rome has acquired a fleet of green bicycles that you can rent for $5 per day for $25 for a year of unlimited use. I would put a link to the website with info on it here, but that would require the website listed on the bike brochure to actually have info about the bikes on it. So, the bike program has a few kinks to work out still – like the fact that the Visitor’s Center is listed as renting bikes and actually has them on hand (we saw them there today) but is at this time unable to rent them since they do not have the right forms. But, I digress from the real point of this blog…

So, Hawthorne Suites does indeed have the bikes AND the right forms so Gretchen and I rented a couple today. After a few rounds of the parking lot to get used to them, off to the Forum trail and the new foot bridge we went. I felt like I should be a in a movie with birds signing, lovely music in the background, a bell on my handlebars and a basket of flowers on the front as I road. That is what my mind was saying. All other parts of my body were saying, “Whoa, it has been a looooooong time since you have ridden a bike!” People who were unfortunate enough to be in my path were saying things like, “whoa, who let that girl on a bike and does she know that it has brakes and that the handlebars turn?!?!?” ( I have never been so great on a bike. My sister will gladly share the story of when I hit a parked car on a bike with anyone who asks and some who don’t.)

But, really, the bikes are a really cool deal. A dad and his son rented some at the same time we did and it was cool to see them riding together and having a great time. The area around the new foot bridge is really nice, too, and quite bike friendly. Some other rental places have trail access to Ridge Ferry Park which is really cool and soon Ridge Ferry is supposed to have a rental spot, too. So, if you are looking for a fun way to see Rome, the $5/day bikes are not a bad choice.

And, to the lady with the giraffe print purse, I am sorry. I had just come down off an incline and trying to navigate a turn without losing speed. I apologize for the close call, but you should know your purse was cute!

Don’t Believe Everything you hear August 23, 2008

Ok, so there is a new book out that is causing some controversy in Christian circles. The Shack is a fictional book by William P. Young. I do not want to give too much away, but it is a unique story that really serves as a platform for new perspectives of God’s character and our relationship with Him. Not so much new ideas about God, but new ways of looking at who He says He is, and really, who we are as humans.

A friend recommended the book and I just finished it. I will say there were some moments when I thought, “what in the heck is she doing telling me to read this book?”, but mostly there were moments of, “wow, I want to wrap my brain around this because it is crazy good stuff.” Some Christian leaders have called it heresy or simply warped. But, I’m saying read the book before you make that call. I do not, however, recommend that you read it with an open mind. Having a open mind is overrated in my book because we mostly take that to mean believe and accept whatever is put before you as valid and true. I encourage you to read this with your faith and beliefs intact and see what you can learn from it. What from the book can be tossed and what can give more depth, application or reality to what you already know? But, don’t toss the book without reading it. It’s one that’s worth deciding about on your own.

Why I like watching the Olympics with my roommate August 12, 2008

A few quotes from my roomie as we’ve been watching the Olympics these past few days:

• He didn’t fall off! If you don’t fall off it is not a mistake.
• It’s not that you are just doing a handstand. That is hard enough. You are doing a handstand on poles.
• It’s not that you are just holding yourself up using just your arms. You are holding yourself up on wobbly rings with just your arms.
• Oh, he fell the heck off that mat. That was a bad landing.
• Those Russian divers sure look pasty.
• Why are they taking showers? They just were in the water.
• She did what she had to do to win, which is go fast. Well, she was quoting a commentator on this one.

Other funny things I have heard other people say about the Olympics:

• Is that a man or a woman?
• Men’s synchronized diving is just wrong.

Weird Things that wear me out August 6, 2008

• The first day of a new semester in school. Syllabus day was worse than test day for me. It’s been a while but I still get tired thinking about it.
• Balancing my checkbook.
• Difficult conversations.
• A lazy day at the beach.
• Washing sheets and bedding. It seems like such a chore!
• Being too tired to sleep. I have yet to figure this one out.
• Emotional days.
• Slumber parties, but I love them anyway!
• Thinking too much (no comments, Meredith!).
• Flying.
• Doing math in my head and percentages even with a calculator.
• Trying to picture something without a picture of that something.
• Riding in a car for a long time.
• Dancing all night long – the like 2 times I’ve done that. Unless you count middle school. Wow, middle school dances were so fun. Those did not wear me out, but they definitely fall in the weird category. Boys on one side of the school cafeteria, girls on the other; slow dancing with a boy who is all awkward just like you are; trying to look cool while flailing about to “Funky Cold Medina” like all your other friends,; tucking your skirt into your pantyhose by accident just before walking in front of Jason Wood, the cutest boy whom you’ve had a crush on forever. Anyway, I digress…

I was just thinking that sometimes I feel wiped out and wouldn’t it be great if that was because I had just run a marathon or at least gotten in a good work-out?  But, usually it’s just one of these things here.  Oh, well. 🙂