So Saturday night I hit up the Korean K-box (Karaoke Box, click here for the wikipedia entry for explanation). Let's just say if this current career doesn't pan out, I may have a career on the Karaoke circuit. Anyway, it is always a lot of fun, and since you're in a private room with just your friends, you can be daring. Take the below video for example.
This video is my friend Jared pumping out a mean version of Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman." (Michael Bolton also recorded a version of it. Let's just say it's rare and unusual, but mighty confident.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Eggs
The only egg that is cooked over high heat is the omelet. To achieve the properly cooked egg you desire, use low heat. Did you ever notice the water that oozes out of your scrambled egg? That is because it was cooked on high heat. Low and slow. And lots of stirring makes the perfect, non-watery scrambled egg.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
My Niche of Prayer
After watching some boring Olympic events, I wandered onto a site that my future brother-in-law, Martyn, has written for, KillingtheBuddha.com (KtB). I was drawn to one of the headlining, recent post by Dr. Stephen Prothero, as he is Martyn's dissertation adviser.
Prothero discusses his visit to the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem and his thoughts on Obama's visit and prayer offered to the Wall. One of the lines from the article struck me. "And the mystic in me knows if God is anywhere then God is everywhere." I read this line a few times. It is simple and powerful. And really makes me contemplate my connection to the Divine, right down to the core belief in something that powerful and omnipresent.
You see, religion has weaved an interest tale in my own history. I was raised a Roman Catholic. I was baptized and confirmed in the RC Church and attended, albeit mostly forcibly, for the better part of my youth. Yet as I learned more history and science and moved past what I was supposed to believe to how I want to believe, my connection to the Catholic traditions faded to oblivion. While I believe the intentions and underlying principles of Catholicism are good-natured, I can not look past its artificial traditions that are exclusive and damning, instead of inclusive and open-minded.
How can a woman not be as divine as a man. Why do priests in the Catholic church have to be male? Why has this patriarchal tradition held women to second class status, in both positions of power and trust in their strength to decide what is right for themselves and their bodies? The definition of catholic (lower case "c") is "universal in extent, involving all; of interest to all." At some point, perhaps at the Councils of Nicaea, the church failed to recognize this simple meaning. It failed to involve or be of interest to all. But I digress.
The reason I felt a connection to Prothero's piece is that this professor has struggled with some of the many issues I to have with religion. One reason I still struggle is my conflict with prayer. There are many times when I wish to pray and begin to even. Yet I don't know who or what to? What is it accomplishing? Thinking about it now, I don't know if there is a right answer. Perhaps just praying to myself is sufficient. Perhaps the act of silent contemplation and sharing myself with myself is okay. Perhaps the multitude of thoughts, struggles, and conflicts that I keep unshared and couped up should be openly discussed, even if its only with myself and in my "prayers."
So, like many others, I struggle to understand it all. I strive to believe in the strength and beauty of the human spirit, while recognizing the short-comings in ourselves as well.
And for now, my "church" doesn't have to be anywhere, it can be everywhere.
Prothero discusses his visit to the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem and his thoughts on Obama's visit and prayer offered to the Wall. One of the lines from the article struck me. "And the mystic in me knows if God is anywhere then God is everywhere." I read this line a few times. It is simple and powerful. And really makes me contemplate my connection to the Divine, right down to the core belief in something that powerful and omnipresent.
You see, religion has weaved an interest tale in my own history. I was raised a Roman Catholic. I was baptized and confirmed in the RC Church and attended, albeit mostly forcibly, for the better part of my youth. Yet as I learned more history and science and moved past what I was supposed to believe to how I want to believe, my connection to the Catholic traditions faded to oblivion. While I believe the intentions and underlying principles of Catholicism are good-natured, I can not look past its artificial traditions that are exclusive and damning, instead of inclusive and open-minded.
How can a woman not be as divine as a man. Why do priests in the Catholic church have to be male? Why has this patriarchal tradition held women to second class status, in both positions of power and trust in their strength to decide what is right for themselves and their bodies? The definition of catholic (lower case "c") is "universal in extent, involving all; of interest to all." At some point, perhaps at the Councils of Nicaea, the church failed to recognize this simple meaning. It failed to involve or be of interest to all. But I digress.
The reason I felt a connection to Prothero's piece is that this professor has struggled with some of the many issues I to have with religion. One reason I still struggle is my conflict with prayer. There are many times when I wish to pray and begin to even. Yet I don't know who or what to? What is it accomplishing? Thinking about it now, I don't know if there is a right answer. Perhaps just praying to myself is sufficient. Perhaps the act of silent contemplation and sharing myself with myself is okay. Perhaps the multitude of thoughts, struggles, and conflicts that I keep unshared and couped up should be openly discussed, even if its only with myself and in my "prayers."
So, like many others, I struggle to understand it all. I strive to believe in the strength and beauty of the human spirit, while recognizing the short-comings in ourselves as well.
And for now, my "church" doesn't have to be anywhere, it can be everywhere.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Vivid Dreams
This morning's alarm interrupted another vivid dream. It would seem lately that I have been having an increasing amount of vividness in my dreams. I have not tried to remember these dreams, but I have taken note of the beauty, amazement, and utter craziness of their occurrences. Recently I did a little bit of research, aka googled vivid dreams, and was not pleased with the results.
I found little other than the fact that many pregnant women experience them with the hormonal changes that occur during the pregnancy. Being that I am not pregnant, nor a woman, I am unsatisfied with that explanation. Yet, I am also somewhat reassured. I am definitely entering REM Sleep and therefore getting into the deeper stages of sleep.
I found little other than the fact that many pregnant women experience them with the hormonal changes that occur during the pregnancy. Being that I am not pregnant, nor a woman, I am unsatisfied with that explanation. Yet, I am also somewhat reassured. I am definitely entering REM Sleep and therefore getting into the deeper stages of sleep.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Tomatoes are Back
In season, local tomatoes are back and fresh and amazing. As a kid I never appreciated the joy of a wonderful tomato. Now, it certainly is different. Summer is such a wonderful time for fresh vegetables.
Jenn had some wonderful tomatoes this weekend. Gorgeous, red, terrific. A dash of salt is all they needed, if that. But with a bit of fresh mozzarella, basil, a bit of salt and pepper, just plain amazing. Heirloom tomatoes are great and a luxury. But even the standard tomato are wonderful too, if they're local and fresh. And I'm the person in the store and market touching everyone and smelling the stem for odor and freshness.
This is the time of year to eat raw, fresh foods. When it's hot and humid, there is nothing like an al fresco meal. It's quick, easy, and so fulfilling.
Jenn had some wonderful tomatoes this weekend. Gorgeous, red, terrific. A dash of salt is all they needed, if that. But with a bit of fresh mozzarella, basil, a bit of salt and pepper, just plain amazing. Heirloom tomatoes are great and a luxury. But even the standard tomato are wonderful too, if they're local and fresh. And I'm the person in the store and market touching everyone and smelling the stem for odor and freshness.
This is the time of year to eat raw, fresh foods. When it's hot and humid, there is nothing like an al fresco meal. It's quick, easy, and so fulfilling.
Friday, August 8, 2008
In Memory of Joanne Cwikla
It has been a week now that my dear friend Emily's mother passed away. Joanne Cwikla was an extraordinary woman who raised three remarkable daughters. I spent a few hours with Emily and I marvel at her strength, her vulnerability, and her love. I have many fond memories of the Cwikla family but most of all, I remember the Birthday Bear singing and Joanne with her wonderful smiling all through the song. May the spirit of Joanne live forever in her daughters and granddaughter.
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