......and I have not been able, in all that time, to summon up the brain activity and will power to get myself to post on this blog.
So I choose now, at a time when I am waiting to leave, when I have nothing better to do, and when I feel quite useless.
I should probably be doing homework, but I know that I will be doing much of that later today. So there is not much incentive. Plus, most of my assignments will take a while, and I am not really the type of person to do a little bit of something, and then come back to it- mostly because when I do do that, I end up completely restarting. So what's the point?
I was supposed to write this super insightful and interesting post titled Millenials and Entitlement. But who cares about my biased, tired and pessimistic opinion? The answer is: no one. And that is ok. Because I need to realize that my life isn't about me; its about everyone else. Everyone I come in contact with and have friendships with, everyone who is affected by something I say or do, whether I am aware of it or not. And that is probably a lot more insightful and soul-searching that any shpeel I could come up with, whether or not it is relevant and accurate.
Right now, the only thing in daily life that I am concerned about is that I have to do this violin workshop for a few of Dad's kids at his school. And I have no idea what I am going to do. Like at all. Its scary. What if all the kids start acting out because they are bored? So that is kind of stressful.
In the meantime I am actually going to prepare a post which will be mostly pictures taken by a dear friend Brittany Barb. Go check her out at Brittany Long. She took some gorgeous photos of me making pizza monkey bread. (Yes that is as amazing as it sounds.) I had wanted to do food pics for a long time (as food is basically my biggest obsession). Britt kindly agreed to do them with me. I have some work to do as far as figuring out a more interesting to photograph item, and timing the sprinkling of delicious herbs so that it looks awesome, but all of that is to come.
Food is simply absolutely exciting in every way, and hopefully the photos to come tomorrow will wet your appetite!
sophie
Friday, 30 September 2016
Thursday, 8 September 2016
The Problem of Texting
I should probably start with a caveat to this post. I understand that there are way bigger problems in the world than texting. But I am choosing to talk about texting because it is the thing that has the biggest effect on my circle and the lives of the people around me as far as technology goes. And because I have a personal beef with texting which you, the reader, will soon find out about. (Btw, I am amazed that only 15 days have gone by since I last posted :)
I recently had a conversation with a very good friend that was very enlightening and interesting for me (I am not sure how she felt about it :), and during that conversation the topic of texting came up. I am not sure how, but it did. I basically was saying how much I hate texting, and our discussion eventually led me to realize what it is really that I hate about it. So here goes the big reveal: I hate texting because it created the needs that it fulfills.
So here is my argument: the big push for texting is that it is faster than a phone call. (ok, five more seconds is really gonna ruin your day? really?) Regardless, that need for something faster than a phone call simply didn't exist before texting said, "Hey, I can get a thought to someone faster than a phone call. Won't that make your life easier?" And the world replied "Yes!!". But the joke was on the world, because that extra five seconds just made their lives harder by making them faster and faster and full of more and more things.
But my argument really has nothing to do with the American "do more do more do it faster" mindset. It has to do with the fact that before texting was around no one had the need to tell someone they would be there in five minutes. Now, because you have the option, you feel compelled to tell someone you'll be there in two minutes. There is no reason behind it. You just have to.
So then my question is: why don't you just call? Isn't it actually faster to press call than to type a bunch of text into a little box? Yes, it is faster!! I can prove it to you right now!! So why?? Why do we have to type it??
Here are some classic answers: Their phone might be off so they will probably not answer anyway. (To that I reply: then why do you need to tell them something if they don't want or can't talk to you?) Another answer: His or her work is loud so they can't here their phone ringing, so its better to text. (My answer: Wait until they can hear their phone ringing and call them. Or leave a message). My point is that before texting, if someone had a loud job and couldn't answer their phone, you had to wait and call them when you knew they were on a break, or you had to leave a message. But texting created the possibility of leaving a message for them on a screen so that they wouldn't have to take the extra ten seconds to listen to a voicemail.
Nobody asked for that. Nobody said: Wow, leaving a message is such a time waster, I really need something that gets rid of those 20 seconds of wasted time. Nobody asked for that!! Really!!! Texting created the need!! It created the need for constant connection (not constant communication. constant connection).
It used to be that people didn't need to verify meeting times 20 minutes or 20 seconds before they were supposed to happen. Now that has become the norm. And if there is no response they assume you are not going to show up. What if you were just having a conversation with someone on the subway instead of looking at your phone? God forbid! Texting has created the need to be near one's phone all the time, just in case of a message. No one needed to do that before. Now all of a sudden it is a necessity of life (and yes that was all of the sudden compared to thousands of years; no one can argue that.)
I could come up with dozens of scenarios that texting has created, but what is the point? Plus I have probably already bored to tears whoever is reading this, and should cut it short. My main beef is that texting created the market for its necessity, and duped an entire continent or two in the process.
Don't even get me started on fb.!!!!!
Peace out.
sophie
I recently had a conversation with a very good friend that was very enlightening and interesting for me (I am not sure how she felt about it :), and during that conversation the topic of texting came up. I am not sure how, but it did. I basically was saying how much I hate texting, and our discussion eventually led me to realize what it is really that I hate about it. So here goes the big reveal: I hate texting because it created the needs that it fulfills.
So here is my argument: the big push for texting is that it is faster than a phone call. (ok, five more seconds is really gonna ruin your day? really?) Regardless, that need for something faster than a phone call simply didn't exist before texting said, "Hey, I can get a thought to someone faster than a phone call. Won't that make your life easier?" And the world replied "Yes!!". But the joke was on the world, because that extra five seconds just made their lives harder by making them faster and faster and full of more and more things.
But my argument really has nothing to do with the American "do more do more do it faster" mindset. It has to do with the fact that before texting was around no one had the need to tell someone they would be there in five minutes. Now, because you have the option, you feel compelled to tell someone you'll be there in two minutes. There is no reason behind it. You just have to.
So then my question is: why don't you just call? Isn't it actually faster to press call than to type a bunch of text into a little box? Yes, it is faster!! I can prove it to you right now!! So why?? Why do we have to type it??
Here are some classic answers: Their phone might be off so they will probably not answer anyway. (To that I reply: then why do you need to tell them something if they don't want or can't talk to you?) Another answer: His or her work is loud so they can't here their phone ringing, so its better to text. (My answer: Wait until they can hear their phone ringing and call them. Or leave a message). My point is that before texting, if someone had a loud job and couldn't answer their phone, you had to wait and call them when you knew they were on a break, or you had to leave a message. But texting created the possibility of leaving a message for them on a screen so that they wouldn't have to take the extra ten seconds to listen to a voicemail.
Nobody asked for that. Nobody said: Wow, leaving a message is such a time waster, I really need something that gets rid of those 20 seconds of wasted time. Nobody asked for that!! Really!!! Texting created the need!! It created the need for constant connection (not constant communication. constant connection).
It used to be that people didn't need to verify meeting times 20 minutes or 20 seconds before they were supposed to happen. Now that has become the norm. And if there is no response they assume you are not going to show up. What if you were just having a conversation with someone on the subway instead of looking at your phone? God forbid! Texting has created the need to be near one's phone all the time, just in case of a message. No one needed to do that before. Now all of a sudden it is a necessity of life (and yes that was all of the sudden compared to thousands of years; no one can argue that.)
I could come up with dozens of scenarios that texting has created, but what is the point? Plus I have probably already bored to tears whoever is reading this, and should cut it short. My main beef is that texting created the market for its necessity, and duped an entire continent or two in the process.
Don't even get me started on fb.!!!!!
Peace out.
sophie
Wednesday, 24 August 2016
What Does Immaculate Mean?
On the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary that was celebrated yesterday, the priest celebrating mass gave a very helpful and interesting sermon, so here goes with what I remember and have taken away from it.
Father asked us to consider that when Mary was born she was already as holy as the holiest saint. Her immaculate state even at the moment of conception earned her the highest place in heaven. It is clear that in the religious sense of the word, we place Holy and Immaculate on the same plane. However, immaculate has more of an idea of purity and perfection in it, while holiness refers really to a being's closeness with God. So Mary's purity and perfection, what I will call her holiness, was at least equal to that of the greatest saint at her birth. And it has been increasing infinitely since then. That is a lot of merit and grace that she in her generosity has offered to share with us in so many ways.
But this feast specifically refers to the Immaculateness of her Heart. What is so special about the heart? This is not in reference to the heart beating in Mary's body, neither is that the reference that humans mean when they say that someone has a good heart. Heart in this case refers to that area of the soul that is not covered by reason and will. Reason and will are the two areas of the human soul that we usually consider in any discussion of man's intangible attributes. Often we forget that the heart is a vital third aspect of our humanity. After some thought I have decided this: In every choice in one's life his will dictates the what, his reason dictates the why and his heart dictates the how. As Father was talking about the heart being a part of the soul, I was trying to decide what aspect of human decisions it corresponded with, and that is what I came up with. And I think we will all agree that most of human life is basically just a bunch of decisions all in a row.
So if the heart dictates the how of something that we intend to do, we could almost in a sense say that it is the most important aspect of the soul, just like St. Paul said that Charity is the most important of the three theological virtues. It seems almost backwards at first, but only because reason and will (or hope and faith) really occur in the soul before the heart comes into play (or charity). In other words, a child can think and demand things long before he can consciously love or use his heart to decide how he is going to do something. It is also true that in order to use his heart he must first use his reason. Just as in order to be charitable, we must first have faith.
All this from a simple sermon on the Immaculate. That is what critical and valuable thinking is all about. It is hard to remind myself of that sometimes.
Father asked us to consider that when Mary was born she was already as holy as the holiest saint. Her immaculate state even at the moment of conception earned her the highest place in heaven. It is clear that in the religious sense of the word, we place Holy and Immaculate on the same plane. However, immaculate has more of an idea of purity and perfection in it, while holiness refers really to a being's closeness with God. So Mary's purity and perfection, what I will call her holiness, was at least equal to that of the greatest saint at her birth. And it has been increasing infinitely since then. That is a lot of merit and grace that she in her generosity has offered to share with us in so many ways.
But this feast specifically refers to the Immaculateness of her Heart. What is so special about the heart? This is not in reference to the heart beating in Mary's body, neither is that the reference that humans mean when they say that someone has a good heart. Heart in this case refers to that area of the soul that is not covered by reason and will. Reason and will are the two areas of the human soul that we usually consider in any discussion of man's intangible attributes. Often we forget that the heart is a vital third aspect of our humanity. After some thought I have decided this: In every choice in one's life his will dictates the what, his reason dictates the why and his heart dictates the how. As Father was talking about the heart being a part of the soul, I was trying to decide what aspect of human decisions it corresponded with, and that is what I came up with. And I think we will all agree that most of human life is basically just a bunch of decisions all in a row.
So if the heart dictates the how of something that we intend to do, we could almost in a sense say that it is the most important aspect of the soul, just like St. Paul said that Charity is the most important of the three theological virtues. It seems almost backwards at first, but only because reason and will (or hope and faith) really occur in the soul before the heart comes into play (or charity). In other words, a child can think and demand things long before he can consciously love or use his heart to decide how he is going to do something. It is also true that in order to use his heart he must first use his reason. Just as in order to be charitable, we must first have faith.
All this from a simple sermon on the Immaculate. That is what critical and valuable thinking is all about. It is hard to remind myself of that sometimes.
Saturday, 16 July 2016
Omelette
Dear Friends,
Today I share with you my directions for a pretty darn good omelette, if I do say so myself. However, I did eat it on a very emotional morning (today), that was marked by lots of tears and confusion. I am happy to say that there is a little bit of clarity coming on now, and less sadness. But I have reminded myself that this is a blog and not a diary, so that is all I will say; because this post is all about the omelette.
My suggestion for a perfect omelette is: you need a non stick pan. A real one. Otherwise I am at the level where I cannot guarantee that it will not stick.
Also, if you are any kind of serious home cook, invest in a good non stick pan. It will change your life.
Alright that is all I need to say I think.
Directions:
Heat 8 or 10 inch non stick skillet.
Dice finely: 1/4 cup each white onion and any color bell pepper
Add 1 tblsp butter to skillet
Allow to melt
Add vegetables and brown them. Give them a good dose of salt and pepper.
Once the veggies have a good sear, turn heat to medium-low and cook them until soft.
While veggies cook, whisk 3 eggs together in a bowl with a fork till just combined.
Grate a few tblsps of good cheddar cheese, or any cheese you wish that melts well.
Once veggies are soft, remove from pan.
Turn heat to lowest setting.
Add another tblsp of butter to the pan.
Pour in the eggs without stirring at all.
Make a couple of lines in the eggs with a rubber spatula, and tilt pan to allow raw egg to fill the hole.
Repeat this step 2 times more, until eggs are almost entirely cooked.
Sprinkle uncooked side with a little salt and pepper
Using a long spatula, lift the omelette and carefully flip over. It does not have to be perfect, just make sure there is enough surface area to fold the omelette in half.
Immediately remove from heat.
Layer cooked veggies over half of the egg surface area. Sprinkle with 3/4 of your grated cheese.
Fold the other half of the omelette over the veggies and cheese with a spatula.
Sprinkle top of omelette with remaining cheese.
Eh, Voila!! Serve immediately, preferably with toast and avocados. :)
If anyone is reading this and does make this recipe, please comment and tell me how it goes, and how bad or good my directions are!!
Today I share with you my directions for a pretty darn good omelette, if I do say so myself. However, I did eat it on a very emotional morning (today), that was marked by lots of tears and confusion. I am happy to say that there is a little bit of clarity coming on now, and less sadness. But I have reminded myself that this is a blog and not a diary, so that is all I will say; because this post is all about the omelette.
My suggestion for a perfect omelette is: you need a non stick pan. A real one. Otherwise I am at the level where I cannot guarantee that it will not stick.
Also, if you are any kind of serious home cook, invest in a good non stick pan. It will change your life.
Alright that is all I need to say I think.
Directions:
Heat 8 or 10 inch non stick skillet.
Dice finely: 1/4 cup each white onion and any color bell pepper
Add 1 tblsp butter to skillet
Allow to melt
Add vegetables and brown them. Give them a good dose of salt and pepper.
Once the veggies have a good sear, turn heat to medium-low and cook them until soft.
While veggies cook, whisk 3 eggs together in a bowl with a fork till just combined.
Grate a few tblsps of good cheddar cheese, or any cheese you wish that melts well.
Once veggies are soft, remove from pan.
Turn heat to lowest setting.
Add another tblsp of butter to the pan.
Pour in the eggs without stirring at all.
Make a couple of lines in the eggs with a rubber spatula, and tilt pan to allow raw egg to fill the hole.
Repeat this step 2 times more, until eggs are almost entirely cooked.
Sprinkle uncooked side with a little salt and pepper
Using a long spatula, lift the omelette and carefully flip over. It does not have to be perfect, just make sure there is enough surface area to fold the omelette in half.
Immediately remove from heat.
Layer cooked veggies over half of the egg surface area. Sprinkle with 3/4 of your grated cheese.
Fold the other half of the omelette over the veggies and cheese with a spatula.
Sprinkle top of omelette with remaining cheese.
Eh, Voila!! Serve immediately, preferably with toast and avocados. :)
If anyone is reading this and does make this recipe, please comment and tell me how it goes, and how bad or good my directions are!!
Monday, 4 July 2016
Sucker Punch
I thought I knew to a certain degree what this phrase really means, especially after watching that Castle episode of the same name. But then a moment happened yesterday that truly was a sucker punch right where it hurts the most. And it felt horrible. And I was in a car with a bunch of other people, and couldn't have really explained why I needed to sob right now. So I just looked out the window and tried to hold back the tears. A few escaped, but since I had/have a horrible headache, no one noticed anything odd. We were listening to a cd, and a song came on that had a very specific connection to someone who basically is dead to me, who meant a lot. And it was so unexpected, because I had completely forgotten about that memory and it all just came flooding back in one big sucker punch. Now I feel like I actually am starting to understand what that really means. There is just no air, only gasping.
It makes me a little bit sad to realize how year after year, I have less and less desire to celebrate the 4th of july But this year I decided it is also true that without this day, we probably would not be in Idaho, and I probably would not have my awesome family, so that makes me want to at least Thank God for that.
It makes me a little bit sad to realize how year after year, I have less and less desire to celebrate the 4th of july But this year I decided it is also true that without this day, we probably would not be in Idaho, and I probably would not have my awesome family, so that makes me want to at least Thank God for that.
Tuesday, 28 June 2016
Catalysts
That first paycheck felt really good, especially since I am going to pay my loan off after posting. I am eating French Silk Pie, the Cook's Country recipe, and it is so good.
Brittany is expecting. For some reason it makes me so happy to think about, I guess because she is the first close friend who has had a baby. Well, who will have a baby, God willing. It reminds me of how much I have to be thankful for. When I think of all the people who are burning their children and throwing them in the trash, of how miserable I could be, if I did not have such amazing parents. It is a depressing thought, but also extremely uplifting. There is so much that I have that a fraction of people in the world have. It was not an exaggeration when the children of Fatima said that souls were falling into hell like snowflakes. I look around me at all the blank faces that have no joy in them, because they have no grace. I can be sad about the reality of this bleak world, but I have to be happy for those blank faces and try to inspire them to think on something eternal, even if for a moment. And I have to be joyful for myself. Every moment that i can I have to say thank you to Him for every grace and every happy moment. Most importantly for my family. They are the rock I stand on, sitting steady in the earth that is Christ.
Brittany is expecting. For some reason it makes me so happy to think about, I guess because she is the first close friend who has had a baby. Well, who will have a baby, God willing. It reminds me of how much I have to be thankful for. When I think of all the people who are burning their children and throwing them in the trash, of how miserable I could be, if I did not have such amazing parents. It is a depressing thought, but also extremely uplifting. There is so much that I have that a fraction of people in the world have. It was not an exaggeration when the children of Fatima said that souls were falling into hell like snowflakes. I look around me at all the blank faces that have no joy in them, because they have no grace. I can be sad about the reality of this bleak world, but I have to be happy for those blank faces and try to inspire them to think on something eternal, even if for a moment. And I have to be joyful for myself. Every moment that i can I have to say thank you to Him for every grace and every happy moment. Most importantly for my family. They are the rock I stand on, sitting steady in the earth that is Christ.
Sunday, 26 June 2016
Time Flies
I cannot believe it is already the end of June! This month flew by. I am sitting on my bed on a gorgeous sunny Sunday. Father gave his sermon on the compassion of the Sacred Heart. It was a great pick me up for the end of June. Feast of St. Peter and Paul on Wednesday!! Sadly I probably won't be able to go to mass, as I have to go to the dentist that morning. Ugh.
So of course, right when I get in a sort of groove of exercising and blogging and getting my life together, I have to work two double shifts two days in a row, and the whole great plan, and attitude completely goes out the window. But thankfully I think I have been able to bounce back. I just got back from a run, and it went even better than the last one. And after I finish this post, I am going to tackle a bit of yoga I think.
My sister has gone and done a horrible thing, and become addicted to Downton Abbey. Anyone who reads this take it as a warning! Avoid this mistake at all costs! Psyche is bad enough!
I am off to work tonight as a favor for a coworker, and for once, even though it is Sunday, I am actually kind of looking forward to it! I don't know why. Probably because I really don't have anything better to do, and I am getting my first paycheck tomorrow.
To conclude, I leave this blog with the pasta recipe that I made for a friend's wedding. I personally catered it, and it was a great experience and turned out awesome!
Heat: 1 cup cream and 1 cup milk over low to medium heat
Turn heat to low
Add: 2 cups good quality parmesan cheese
Wait till it melts, whisking carefully
Add: 1 tblsp. all purpose flour.
Whisk until all lumps are gone
Take off the heat
Add: 1 tsp chili flakes ( or any amount you prefer )
1/4 cup rinsed sundried tomatoes
1 tsp garlic powder
lots of salt and pepper
Mix with one pound cooked pasta and enjoy!! Feel free to add chicken or sausage!
This is my own personal recipe, so please refer people to this blog if you want to share!
So of course, right when I get in a sort of groove of exercising and blogging and getting my life together, I have to work two double shifts two days in a row, and the whole great plan, and attitude completely goes out the window. But thankfully I think I have been able to bounce back. I just got back from a run, and it went even better than the last one. And after I finish this post, I am going to tackle a bit of yoga I think.
My sister has gone and done a horrible thing, and become addicted to Downton Abbey. Anyone who reads this take it as a warning! Avoid this mistake at all costs! Psyche is bad enough!
I am off to work tonight as a favor for a coworker, and for once, even though it is Sunday, I am actually kind of looking forward to it! I don't know why. Probably because I really don't have anything better to do, and I am getting my first paycheck tomorrow.
To conclude, I leave this blog with the pasta recipe that I made for a friend's wedding. I personally catered it, and it was a great experience and turned out awesome!
Heat: 1 cup cream and 1 cup milk over low to medium heat
Turn heat to low
Add: 2 cups good quality parmesan cheese
Wait till it melts, whisking carefully
Add: 1 tblsp. all purpose flour.
Whisk until all lumps are gone
Take off the heat
Add: 1 tsp chili flakes ( or any amount you prefer )
1/4 cup rinsed sundried tomatoes
1 tsp garlic powder
lots of salt and pepper
Mix with one pound cooked pasta and enjoy!! Feel free to add chicken or sausage!
This is my own personal recipe, so please refer people to this blog if you want to share!
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