Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Tuesday's Truths

The nature of man does not change. 

Truth is absolute.

America is blessed.

We have turned over to government, those things which are actually governed by God.

Whatever you compromise to keep, you will eventually lose.

Don't confuse fact with truth.

You may not be able to change the government today, but you can change your household.

Jeremiah 17:5-8
Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.  Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.  For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Coleslaw & Other Yumminess

What a fun bowl of slaw this was to make, so simple and so fresh!

I'm not usually the biggest fan of coleslaw (unless it's atop a pulled pork sandwich, but this is so crisp, it's perfect just as a side "salad". Tonight, I had a bit with my brisket; made using a recipe from the same cookbook.  Both were delightful!  The coleslaw is called "3 Day Coleslaw" because it's advised to marinate it anywhere from 8 hours to 3 days (I marinated it one day before eating it).  Both recipes are inexpensive, easy, and healthy.  I paired the brisket & coleslaw with cheesy biscuits, and pink beans and snap peas.  Aaaan, now I'm hungry again.  Ha!  G'nite!

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Building Details


Building Details
Originally uploaded by misscaroliner
We have friends coming to stay with us later this week and as I look around the spare bedroom & bathroom, there are squillions of things I notice that need attention. Forget about the fact that I couldn't be satisfied with the space even if I spent a fortune on decorations & details & guestly conveniences...I just want them to feel comfortable, but I don't know what would make them feel comfortable because:
1. I fail to understand men.
2. I have never met said guest man's girlfriend.

Do they need chintzy pillows? Can I get Number's Man to take his beer signs off the walls? Why did I ever let him put those up in the first place? He doesn't even drink Coors?

I'm tempted to buy a family of mirrors and hang them up over the beer signs. I'm tempted to buy a new area rug, but what's the point since we're really just talking about a room that's primarily used for an office...in other words, I wish we had a bonafide guest room to welcome our friends. And because we don't, I'll probably end up overwhelming them with morning muffins, coffee, chips & dips of every variety, a schmorgasboard of bath and body products and ambient music.

Lord help us all.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Blind Instruments


American Flag
Originally uploaded by misscaroliner
"The various occurrences of national existence have everywhere turned to the advantage of democracy: all men have added it by their exertions, both those who have intentionally labored in its cause, and those who have served it unwittingly; those who have fought for it, and those who have declared themselves its opponents, have all been driven along in the same track, have all labored to one end; some ignorantly and some unwillingly, all have been blind instruments in the hands of God."

from Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville
Referring back to "driven along in the same track"...isn't it funny how our prepositions change as our engineering evolves?  These days we would say "on".

Monday, May 17, 2010

Safety

Confession, I have a friend that was violated by a sick, sad soul when she was a teenager; a man who hurt the bodies and spirits of many other women and girls. I, personally, have filed multiple restraining orders against men. I do not trust male strangers. I hold my head up high and walk with purpose whenever I am outdoors to ward off any possible predators. I do not consider myself a victim, but I am very aware of who is around me, how they are acting, and what they say to me (if they speak to me). I sometimes think to myself that I'm more at risk simply because I'm small (short and thin), easier to overpower, more like a girl than a woman.

I dropped my dog off for his annual check up this morning and returned home to an empty house. I immediately looked behind doors, shut the blinds, and turned on the television to tune out any nagging fears. Irrationally, my ten pound pup makes me feel safe. He's like a little alarm system and despite his diminutive size, he guards the house well.

I know I should put my trust in the Lord to keep me safe and sound, but hearing about what John Gardner did to those poor girls has sent me into an emotional tailspin. I have been feeling this heightened awareness since Chelsea King first went missing and it has not abated since. I feel for their families, I feel for their friends...and I simply cannot be moved to feel for John Gardner, which puzzles me because I know an incredible woman who has learned to turn a negative into a positive, who stands to face her fears every day and rises above them...and I still, still can't break free of these feelings of hate and anger. We toss around the word "fair" as if justice has anything to do with evil. Our lips speak from our hearts before they derive wisdom from our seeking souls. We divulge, sting, and finally retract in order to get the upper hand, if only for a minute or two.

I remember the investigation of my palm print in hopes of finding him.

I hear her friends singing her favorite song.

I see him cry and I don't care.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

A Seattle Clock

Time collapses between the lips of strangers
my days collapse into a hollow tube
soon implodes against now
like an iron wall
my eyes are blocked with rubble
a smear of perspectives
blurring each horizon
in the breathless precision of silence
One word is made.

Once the renegade flesh was gone
fall air lay against my face
sharp and blue as a needle
but the rain fell through October
and death lay a condemnation
within my blood.

The smell of your neck in August
a fine gold wire bejeweling war
all the rest lies
illusive as a farmhouse
on the other side of a valley
vanishing in the afternoon.

Day three day four day ten
the seventh step
a veiled door leading to my golden
anniversary
flameproofed free-paper shredded
in the teeth of a pillaging dog
never to dream of spiders
and when they turned the hoses upon me
a burst of light.

~Never to Dream of Spiders by Andre Lorde

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

I See Eggs


Red Buds, White Flowers
Originally uploaded by misscaroliner

Doesn't this flower look like an egg? I see eggs in everything, and if I don't...I want to. I love paintings of market scenes. The idea of being connected to food and connecting through the community of consumption. Creating a meal, sharing time with the ones you love over food. It's such a delicious experience for the mind, heart, and palate.

Isaiah 10:14

" As one reaches into a nest,
so my hand reached for the wealth of the nations;
as men gather abandoned eggs,
so I gathered all the countries;
not one flapped a wing,
or opened its mouth to chirp."

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Hammering the Point Home


047
Originally uploaded by misscaroliner

When trying to hammer a point home, I do not always hit the nail on the head, so the hold my nail (concept) has on an audience, is fragile and bent.

How does one speak with clarity and conviction, exactitude and enthusiasm?

By understanding your group of listeners and speaking to them specifically.

I feel I have less and less time to understand my aquaintances and co-workers. I am purposed with the "how" after I've wrangled the "why", and wrestled the "who."

For all my verbosity, I lack effective communication skills. A trip to the library is a must. After all, you can learn anything from a book, right?