I am a food snob...and proud of it!

Today I went to one of my favorite food shopping places - the DeKalb Farmers Market, affectionately called the DFM by those in the know. What an amazing place to shop if you are a "foodie" like me. Fruits, vegetables, produce from all over the world - they got stuff there that I don't know what it is or even how to begin to prepare it. And I am not yet brave enough to go up to complete strangers (as my mother has done) and ask, "what is that and what do you do with it?" (but I feel the courage to do that coming...) As I shopped today for things to prepare a healthy, nutritious and delicious meal for the evening, and as I got home and started chopping and storing and otherwise immersing myself in all the stuff I bought, I realized and (finally) admitted to myself that I am a food snob. My cousin Kelly and I discussed this a while back - she is one as well - and I didn't want to admit that I was a snob when it came to food, but I am finally able to admit it...and here's why:


- I will probably NEVER eat jarred salsa again. After eating fresh pico de gallo every day while I was in Mexico, I got spoiled. I came back home and tried to eat some chips and salsa and totally gagged. If I cannot make it fresh, I won't be eating chips and salsa. So, now you will always find roma tomatos, cilantro, fresh garlic, red onions, limes and fresh peppers (jalapenos, habeneros and green) in the fridge. Yes, it is more work, but SO TOTALLY WORTH IT!

- I like limes instead of lemons

- I like pepper jack and smoked gouda cheese and prefer those on my sandwiches over sliced American cheese - and I will NEVER eat Swiss cheese again - stuff tastes like plastic

- Fresh garlic is the only way to go - unless you are making a pot of brown rice, then dried minced or chopped will do

- I want to know how I ever lived 43 years of my life without knowing the pure joy of cilantro. I have years to make up.

- Fresh herbs are the way to go. I want one of those herb container gardens for the kitchen. I'll have one before the year is over.

- I like salmon more than tilapia or whiting or croaker or any other fish on earth

- Grilling on the George Foreman is the only way to cook said salmon. (Ok, my grill is a George Foreman knockoff, but it serves the same purpose)

- Marinades make everything - salmon, chicken, beef, vegetables - taste better. Go crazy and experiment, you might be surprised.

- I like grape tomatos - not cherry, grape tomatos - on my salads

- Pink olives in corriander sauce are better than black or green olives any day. (But yeah, that is a DFM speciality...) And they make a much better (and healthier) late night snack than potato chips or ice cream.

- And speaking of potato chips, they have to be rippled - and please, NO BAKED! What is the point of that?

- Cashews are the ultimate when it comes to nuts - although pistachios, almonds and dry roasted peanuts are ok as well. And all of these: lightly salted please

- Kosher salt brings out the best of everything, but use it sparingly


So, there you have it. My off the top of my head list that proves that I am indeed a food snob. Oh well. What are you a snob about? Have you admitted it to yourself and/or to others? You should try it - it is very liberating.


Be blessed.

Greener on the other side? Maybe...not

Yesterday I confessed in a Facebook status that I was feeling a little bit jealous of some friends and their happiness. It was a momentary (and relatively brief) period of feeling sorry for myself [Yes, even as God's Favorite Child I have those moments!]. And it wasn't really so much about feeling jealous or envious of what was going on in my friends' lives - I AM happy for their successes and dreams achieved and loves and triumphs and positive things happening in their lives...TRULY!

BUT for a minute, I got caught up in the "well, why aren't my dreams being realized? Why haven't I achieved the goals I set for myself in 2008? How come I haven't found the man of my dreams and immersed myself in a relationship? And why isn't the bank account just a little bit more flush? And..." Ok, you get the picture...we all go through those periods of questioning and doubt and self-recrimination. And when you are in that dark place, it is easy to look at someone else's life and, without knowing the truth of their situation, making the assumption that they've got it going on and it's all roses and champagne for them.

A friend of mine (my twin) reminded me (ever so gently), that from the outside looking in, I don't know what they have gone through to reach that goal; they might be in a relationship that looks all bright and shiny from that outside, but is full of torment and torture; the bank account may be flush but the health is shot...the grass often looks green from the other side of the fence, but the water bill is probably a lot higher also. Thanks, Shun!

As I type this, my iPod suddenly started playing Martha Munizzi's I KNOW THE PLANS - a praise and worship song based on my favorite Bible passage, Jeremiah 29:11. I think that was God's way of reminding me, even today when I am past the state I was in yesterday, that He has wonderful, marvelous, fabulous things in store for me...if I will just patiently wait on Him and stop looking at what I perceive as going on for others. His plan for my life is perfect and in time, I will come into my own.

And so will you.
Be blessed.

Making the most of it...

My morning devotion this morning included the following quote: When you look at life's adversities as adventures, life becomes much more interesting and exciting. Wow. A simple statement, but it packs a punch. I mean, don't get me wrong - I've heard similar quotes in the past (as I am sure you have): "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." "Your attitude determines your altitude", etc. etc., blah blah blah. We've heard it before, but do we put it into practice?

It is very easy when you are going through a trying situation or time in your life to want to play the "woe is me" pity card...and for a minute, you may need to do that. But at some point, you have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and analyze the situation to find out what lesson you need to be learning. Got a bunch of financial woes? - maybe the lesson is that you need to be more frugal with your spending. Having relationship issues? - maybe it's not all about him or her and maybe you need to focus on YOU for a minute. Body riddled with health issues? - maybe you need to get up off the couch, put down the potato chips and TV remote and go take a walk and then reward yourself with some nice refreshing carrot sticks and/or grapes. OUCH! That stepped on my own toes.

I'm just saying, whatever the situation you find yourself - good or bad - make the most of it. When it's raining, think about how you are being saved from watering your lawn. When the sun is shining, enjoy the warmth. When your baby is screaming its head off, be thankful that the child has good lung capacity - they may grow up to become a famous gospel or jazz singer. And when there are trials and tribulations (and there will be some), stop, look, listen and learn the lesson you are being taught...then move on.

Be blessed.

The Bucket List...

Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman (two of my favorite actors) recently did a movie together entitled "The Bucket List". The premise of the movie: two old farts, who meet in the cancer ward of a hospital as they are about to die, decide to make a list of all the things they want to do before they...(wait for it)...kick the bucket. As I sat in the movie theatre and watched this movie, in the back of my head I kept thinking, "hey! that's a good idea. I need to make me up one of those lists." And then promptly forgot about it...although, the idea kept coming back and retreating and coming back again - even this morning, my devotion was about things the author wanted to do before she died. I remember when my stepmother was approaching her 50th birthday, she had a goal of visiting all 50 states before she turned 50. I think she made it. Now her goal is to visit all the continents (except Antarctica) before she turns 60.

I think it's good to set goals and to dream big, so here's my off-the-top-of-my-head "bucket list"...no set deadline (pun fully intended):

- visit the pyramids
- go view the glaciers before they melt away
- go to Australia
- stand at the top of the Eiffel tower
- meet an old boyfriend at the top of the Empire State Building (just because they did it in AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER and SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE)
- visit all 50 states before I turn 50 - I've got 5 years...and probably 15 states to hit - better get cracking
- go to a really fancy restaurant, order anything I want - from appetizer to dessert - and not cringe when I get the bill
- see Roberta Flack in concert
- learn how to juggle
- learn how to dance salsa and ballroom
- go skydiving and hang gliding
- meet Lisa Bonet in person so I can see if we really look THAT much alike
- save enough money so that I really do have three months of living expenses stacked away somewhere for a rainy day (yeah, good luck with that!)
- become credit-card debt free...again! And then, stay that way.
- be kinder
- love more openly and freely
- tell the people who are important to me how and why they are in a tangible, long lasting way

OK, that's enough. That's 17 things...a good start. Some are realistic and definitely do-able...others may take a little bit of planning ... and courage. As I mark things off, I'll probably share, so keep your eyes and ears open for progress reports.

What is on your "bucket list"? I'd really like to know, if you'd like to share.

Be blessed.

Spiritual GPS...

They are EVERYWHERE: GPS or global positioning systems. You know a woman had to have developed this gadget because (Warning: sexist remark coming!) men won't ask for directions, but they sure will buy a gadget that will give them directions - especially if it will talk to them in a sexy, seductive, female voice. UGH! Nuni, Garmin, I am sure there are others, but ... are they really necessary? I know for my brother it is, and my friend Conrad used it as a backup when we got "slightly" lost headed to the restaurant when I visited with him in NYC in November. I sat there in amazement as he hooked up this little gadget that, after he entered the address, told him stuff like, "make a left in 200 yards"...ok, I don't know about you, but do you know how far 200 yards is? I'd rather it say stuff like, "at the next light, hang a left." That's what I do when I'm giving out directions from the passenger seat (although I have to admit, I am usually driving and impatiently waiting for my mother to serve as navigator...) I doubt that I will ever get a GPS for my car. Call me old-fashioned, but I'll go to aaa.com and get directions there or horror of horrors, actually pick up a phone and call for directions! (Although, sometimes that will make you want to poke a stick in your eye if the person on the other end doesn't know how to give good directions..."turn left at the Big Chicken" doesn't mean anything if you are not familiar with the famous Marietta GA landmark.)

Aren't you glad that when God gives directions, they are usually pretty straight forward? If you are listening for them, that is. I know there have been many times when God has given me a clear direction or instruction and I failed to listen - and ended up paying for my disobedience. Sometimes He speaks in a still, small voice and sometimes it is through the counsel and wisdom of His children. I will never forget the time my godsister tried to pray me out of a situation and in my desire to do my own will, I would not heed the counsel she was giving me - and in strict defiance of what I knew was the right thing to do - I ended up driving around, lost and without direction, in a neighborhood that I thought I knew like the back of my hand. God truly has a funny sense of humor when dealing with His favorite child sometimes...but it was a lesson learned.

Isaiah 30:21 admonishes us, "...your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way; walk in it'..." That's your spiritual GPS at work. I know I need to tune in more often and not only listen to what is being said, but to act when moved. I wonder if you do as well. I pray that as we move through this year, we will listen more to the instructions being sent to us from above. I know it is for our good and in our best interest.

Be blessed.

Undivided attention...

Ok, I have a confession to make. I am a multi-tasker...yes, it is true. It is very rarely that I devote all my attention to a single task. While washing dishes, I'm on the phone. While on the phone, I may be doing laundry or getting ready for work or...well, you get the picture. In today's society, this can be seen as a good thing to be able to do and accomplish. I mean, there are only 24 hours in every day and there are things to do, people to see, tasks to complete - you need to have the ability to do more than one thing at a time, right? Hmmm.

I just wonder: how much am I missing out on by not truly focusing on one thing at a time? How many nuances in a conversation do I not catch because I am busy focusing on getting the temperature of the water for the dishes just right? How many silent cues that something is not quite right are flying over my head in the hustle and bustle of my trying to do this while doing that?

Lately I am convinced that maybe I need to slow it down a little. Stop and give some people in my life my undivided attention. Listen more to that "still small voice" that is telling me to focus on someone or something. And when prompted, move into action. I believe that one of the spiritual gifts that God has given me is the gift of encouragement - but how can you be an encourager if you are unaware of the area in which a person truly needs to be encouraged? You might look at a person's situation - i.e., they are in prison - and think "aha, that's what I need to encourage them about", when their true need is not a focus on WHERE they are, but on WHAT they need - support, kindness, a hug...something more tangible and real.

So, I need to focus. I need to follow up on conversations where a hint may be dropped about a situation or a need. I need to stop trying to do it ALL and just do what is truly important. I need to stop and listen to conversations - truly participate in them, instead of doing the "uh huh", "really", and "wow" automatic responses as I try to complete my "to do" list of the day. I need to send more cards, write more letters, get more involved. It won't be easy, I know. Old habits are hard to break, so pray for a sista, will ya? Thanks.

Be blessed.

The Circle of Life...

"To every thing there is a season, and at time to every purpose under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance...." Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

A very familiar Bible text. One I am sure you have heard before. What a promise though when you think about it. It is a promise that, no matter what is going on, how chaotic things may seem, there is still order. There is still control. Everything happens as it should in its time and place. Spring will always follow winter. The sun will always rise in the east and set in the west. At least once a month, there will be a full moon in the night sky. Some things just will happen whether I want them to or not. I found that out in a very profound way on the first day of 2009.

The day started off with the great news that my high school friend, Alex, and his wife were celebrating the birth of their daughter, little baby Grace. Alex is currently stationed in Afghanistan, but through the marvels of modern technology, he was actually able to hear Grace cry for the first time shortly before 9a on New Years Day. I was blessed to be the first one to comment on his Facebook status after he posted the news. Congratulations to the entire family as they celebrate this wonderful event.

However, by the end of the day, another high school classmate, Susan, called me to inform me that her father suffered a massive heart attack and died at the age of 77. I never had the opportunity or privilege of meeting Susan's dad and listening to her reminisce about who he was and what he meant to her - I truly feel like I missed out by not knowing him. My heart goes out to her family as they gather to celebrate his life and say their goodbyes over the next week.

As I was talking to Susan and trying to provide comfort in a time of sorrow, I remarked to her, "you know, this is just the circle of life. There was the miracle of birth and now the sorrow of death, literally within hours of each other." As one life began, another ended. There is a symmetry and beauty (is that the right word?) to it, when you think about it. I know that Susan is comforted by the thought of her relationship with her father ("I was his favorite") and is secure in the knowledge that he loved her and knew that she loved him as well. That will help sustain her in the days ahead when she is missing him...and those days will come. Believe me, I know. I pray that Alex and Terri will every day let baby Grace know how much she is loved and wanted and how blessed they feel that she has joined their family. Based on the pictures already posted on Facebook, I am sure that will happen.

Things happen. In their time. In their place. As they should. I hope that as you face the challenges, trials, sorrows and stresses that are sure to come in the 365 days that will make up 2009, that you will remember that there will also be times of joy, happiness, laughter and pure unadulterated pleasure. I pray you have more of the latter than the former.

Be blessed.