So tonight is finally here – Friday night at last!! I sit now on the couch, having just a nice little walk(up Heights to 11th and then back down again…). I must confess I am ever so thankful that I’m able to live in this gorgeous neighborhood where the walk is so beautiful. Tonight sadly wasn’t that cold out(alas – the cold is fleeing!), but my feet still felt like wandering. The skies grey and almost depressing…but not quite, for the bare branches of winter waved to me in the breeze and all was well. Now time to make a (somewhat delicious!) burrito dinner…and hopefully after that a relaxing reading evening will be had. Looking forward to reading some J. Edwards biography. And then later tonight, Julie is planning to stop by after she finishes work…so I have no doubt we’ll enjoy some quality chat time. Now my friends – this short entry comes to an end. My mind is restless and can’t dwell upon the page. My thoughts fly up to the heavens. The skies are grey and wistful yet. And I sigh for I have been given rest.
Tag: dinner
Souvenirs
It is a peppermint mocha Friday!! I am oh so happy that Friday is finally here and rest is almost at hand…been a long and busy week(full of fun things and work things, just lots of things all around) and so not much sleep has been had. I’m very much looking forward to a quiet night tonight! Planning on making up a big batch of burritos, enjoying that for dinner…and then reading in peace. It shall be glorious. I so declare. As for the main reason I decided to post today, trying to continue to keep records of my reading…latest completion is as follows:
3. The Broken Eye by Brent Weeks. This is book 3 in a series known as Lightbringer. Received book 1 from Maryanne for Christmas and consequently devoured(along with Caisson – as we both got this, so it was fun to read in parallel when we were home for Christmas break!)…bought book 2 at the airport as I went to Calgary for Robbie’s wedding. Now I have also obtained books 3 & 4 via the Amazon and so now have completed this one and one more to go before the long wait for book 5(tentative 2019 release date?). Anyways! This is your typical fantasy novel set in a new world with a very colourful magic system and super rounded, real-feeling characters. Because of some crudity of language and content here and there, it’s hard to unreservedly recommend these, but I must confess I have much enjoyed reading – the plot and storylines are gripping and keep you reading and again…the characters are such a delight – even the minor ones I’ve fallen in love with! I also wonder if the author is Jewish and/or Christian…it’s hard not to when his characters have names such as Ben-Hadad and there are evil characters named Abaddon!! There are numerous quotes that convince me of his at least familiarity with the Bible – “You shall be repaid for the years the locusts have eaten…” Anyway, finished this last night so on to Book 4. And again – while I can’t wholeheartedly recommend these, I can say this book was a most enjoyable read, and has me thinking deeper thoughts than with most fantasy I read. Quality writing, indeed.
that Danish charm
So this is a bit of a cruel post…just sitting here on the couch(watching Vikes/Eagles NFC championship game!) as my dinner cooks on the stove. Creamy chicken and vegetables(carrots, onions, parsley and mushrooms!) with mashed potatoes is the plan for this evening. Bit of a new recipe, but I felt in the mood for a nice hearty, warming meal…and I think this will suffice! Mmm, my mouth waters. Alright, I really have nothing more to say. Hope your Sunday has been peaceful and filled with joy. Love you all, dear friends!
the Julii
Happy Sunday friends!! A quick post here as I wait for my pizza…since today is Sunday and it is playoff football time(currently Saints v Panthers – go Carolina!), I decided it was time to get Pizza Hut, mmm…will walk down and pick it up shortly. Anyways, apart from my dinner plans, nothing much going on right now…it is truly nice to rest this night! I’ve had a busy little weekend…Julian’s bachelor party on Friday night(a poker night, where as is tradition I performed valiantly and flamed out quickly!)…then Saturday morning took my car to the shop to get brakes done. Following that, went over and helped Julian move into his new apartment(which will be his and Kelsey’s following their soon coming wedding!! I truly can’t wait for that wedding a week from today….so so excited to see one of my best friends get married. Me and Julian had a great time chatting yesterday and then this morning as I was making coffee for deacon duties…I truly love that guy). The moving took longer than I thought and then had to go do my final fitting for tux, so didn’t get home until late in the afternoon. Later that evening, I went to airport to pick up Julie – she’s now back from her home holidays in Pennsylvania. We had nice chat driving…then once got to her place, she made tea and we got more chat time yay! It was good to catch up after not seeing her for some…three weeks? We chatted about our respective holidays and other sundry things…beautiful conversating, as always. Today was a busy day at church, doing deacon duties from 8 to 1…then had some good times hanging out with Earnie, Mandy, Joe and others…I have good friends here, I must confess. And this afternoon, started my workout routine for first time post Christmas holidays. I put it off long enough…could delay no longer! And just now, had a nice chat with Maryanne…I will get to see her in Charlotte in a little over a month – can’t wait!!! Alright, now it’s time for this very dense paragraph to be over. Hope you don’t mind me just dumping all my weekend activities on you…just thought it was worthwhile to share this snapshot…as busy and tired as I often am, at the end of the day, I simply cannot help but thank God and praise His name for all He has given me. Amen? Amen. Now…time for a nice brisk walk down Heights Boulevard…pizza time is upon us!
Oathbringer
Today was a quite productive day at work. Yay? But sadly I now feel that I’m getting sick and so I’m forgoing my normal workout routine and as soon as I got home, got in my pajamas and sat on couch. Reading a good book sounds like the plan for the evening. Leftovers of roast beef won’t hurt. And early bed, of course. I do also feel I need to do some writing of some sort – but no muse is present at the moment. I’m half torn between writing weary wintry poetry or workmanlike prose commentary on the year just now past…but again, no muse. Perhaps someday soon. Perhaps someday.
No Ticket
A little couple sentence post is in order, I think! I’m feeling a bit under the weather today(I guess my body is angry at me for not sleeping enough???) and so decided to not go to concert tonight. Instead, a restful evening ahead! A dinner of meatloaf and mashed potatoes and green beans…and then an early bedtime so that I don’t mind (as much) waking up early for flight tomorrow. One day from now, I will be in Tampa, hanging out with Dad, Mom, Laura and Caisson! Can’t wait. Peace and love, dear friends.
Taffy
A short post just now! I sit down here at the computer here in the family room…minutes away from Thanksgiving dinner time. Stuffing is in the oven, turkey and mashed potatoes and asparagus and cranberries and cherry pie and apple pie await…and Mom is currently pouring the wine. A fine turkey dinner awaits – and I very much doubt any of it will taste like sand! (Wrinkle in Time reference, for you uninitiated…) The Minnesota/Detroit game is on TV, but we aren’t really watching that, as we’re all far more excited for upcoming dinner! I shall attempt(if I find time) to write a more proper Thanksgiving post at some point today…but for now, this will have to do. I am ever so thankful to my God for all that He has given me – blessings immeasurable!! Every good and perfect gift comes from our Father God – may I ne’er forget that. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Muffy
I really don’t have long to write so my fingers must fly! I may come back and edit this post later this afternoon, we shall see…anyways, I’m soon off to pick up Katheryn from the airport and have a nice catch-up lunch with her! I haven’t seen her since…a few years ago at Laura(once Garrow, now Helmly!)’s wedding. So – a proper face-to-face conversation is due and eagerly awaited! So that gives me approximately ten minutes to chronicle the past few days here in Tampa(also Gainesville). Hm.
Anyways! Yes I am in Tampa – arrived last Thursday morning…Dad picked me up and it was simply wonderful seeing him again(for first time since my surgery back in August – so very glad to get to properly talk with him now!). I was quite exhausted from my last few nights in Houston(in which I did a simply terrible job in going to bed at all on time…especially the last Wednesday night in which hot chocolate and good conversations figured prominently!). Anyways, I got some good naptime in on Thursday afternoon and then Mom came home and we had great times all together – a delicious homemade spaghetti dinner. Nothing better than Mom’s spaghetti. True?
And so that night ended with more lovely conversations with parents(and watching a bit of the Steelers/Titans football game!) and soon enough I woke up on Friday morning and embarked upon my Gainesville adventure! It’d been over a year(and a half?) since I’d been in Gville – so a return was due. I got to stay with Laura and Caisson for the whole weekend and it was amazing!!! On way up, listened to my classic eyes closed, Heart Open – I’d forgot how good that CD was. Then arrived at their apartment in Gainesville…got to hang out with Caisson and chat for a few hours – then Laura came home from work – hurrah! We had a delectable dinner of cube steak and mashed potatoes…though we did have to eat a bit quickly since they’d planned a game night with friends. The game night was amazing even though I didn’t know any of their friends – I’d heard some of their names but now I got to meet them and talk with them! – and so the evening was full of fun games(Four on a Couch, Code Names, Avalon…oh Avalon – what a web of lies and deceit and laughter do you weave…) and yummy Laura-made chocolate sheet cake and I have to say I’ve almost never had a more fun game night – Laura and Caisson have pretty cool friends, I must admit! When the last people left after the last cutthroat game of Avalon(in which me and Laura assassinated Merlin to win my first Avalon game of the night, hah!)…we wondered why were so tired then realized it was 12:20 and it was probably bedtime. Yup, quality game night indeed.
Now…I think I really need to roll off so I shall attempt to either finish this post later or maybe just write another one to further chronicle my Gainesville adventures…
What is Not to Love?
Hello friends – happy Saturday!! I am posting at a later time than usual this Saturday…and a not-normal place. Currently sitting on my couch as I enjoy my raspberry/banana/spinach smoothie…most notably not at Starbucks, shocker! But I’ll explain why in a bit. It’s been a beautiful Saturday so far…starting off with sleeping in until 6, which was much enjoyed(and much needed). It’s been a long week, with work just being crazy busy and moderately stressful and most tiring all the way around. So last night was an enjoyable relaxing evening. Dinner of fish and potatoes followed by reading…started reading John Owen Vol 3 – “The Holy Spirit”. It may take me a year to read it but it will be glorious. Over six hundred pages of very small words…in sentences that are not easy to understand. But oh so worth it and oh so beneficial and encouraging to my soul. Thus continues my lifetime quest to read all of John Owen.
Anyways! This morning as said previously, woke up at 6, enjoyed a nice coffee and reading time here at the flat. Then went down to Black Walnut for a nice breakfast with Julie! We haven’t had time to get together in quite some time…so as I enjoyed my salmon eggs benedict and honey-sweetened coffee, we had much good chat(and at least on my side – I was much encouraged!!). Oh what a sweet friend is she. Following that, went to Men’s Wearhouse to get fitted for my suit for Julian’s wedding(which is in January and I can’t wait! Kelsey and him are perfect together – such a God-honouring couple. Truly glorious shall this wedding be!). After that, did a few other errands…then stopped at Starbucks where I truly meant to sit down and get some writing done. I got distracted by Katie who had just got off her shift and was having lunch before preparing to study for some of her classes. We ended up talking for over an hour about sundry topics…a totally unplanned conversation that was very enjoyable nonetheless! I do so love talking with someone that loves God and seeks to honour Him in all things. Very thankful to God for this random talk that He blessed me with!!
Following chat with Katie, I realized it was past lunchtime and I still needed to do my food shopping. No time to stay at Starbucks and write alas! So left Starbucks and went and did my HEB/Trader Joe’s run and finally made it home…talked with John and Camille for a bit before they ran off and I sort of enjoyed some leftover soup that needed to be eaten.
Now…I’m sitting here on the couch, half-watching the Michigan State/Indiana game(incredibly boring 3-3 game at the moment…) while I write this entry. This is a bit of rambling entry, but it’s been a while(I think?) since I’ve done one of these, so I will indulge myself. Soon I shall be off to Starbucks(yes, again!) to meet up with Earnie and Julian. It will be a sweet time of fellowship with dearest friends, of that I have no doubt. And because I really have nothing else to write…I guess I’ll sign off? Oh! I do have a poem that I need to finish and post at some point, but don’t think I have the muse at the moment. It’s the kind of poem that needs to be written at early-weekday-morning time…with the melancholy that can only come from brooding at work in the early dark. So – maybe next week you’ll get to see that.
Oh one more thing. Pizza Hut commercial just came on. I cannot wait until I can eat that again. It will be BEST NIGHT EVER.
Now I really shall end this. Peace out!
Cauldrons and Kernels
Ingredients: Four cans tomato sauce. Two cans stewed tomatoes. Two baby cans tomato paste. 1 can water. Small amount of sugar. Copious amounts of: celery salt, oregano, parsley, garlic powder, ground black pepper. Chopped: two green peppers, 1 white onion.
Directions: Cook until done
Addendum: Delicious amounts of spicy italian sausage(cooked, please)
Further directions: Blend all until…smooth?
Result: Delicious concoction?
I don’t know if I would go that far, but it is more tasty than many things I have eaten, this is for sure.
It was fun seeing Julie today for the first time in…weeks? We had a most wonderful chat. Driving in much Houston traffic constrained by many flooded roads was not as nice.
I also was somewhat productive in mailing a nice fat letter off to far away lands of St. Louis.
Also – my phone decided to rebel as it apparently does not want to celebrate its fourth birthday this month!! After literally hours of research and trial and error and some fun phone hacking, I think I have stomped out the rebellion. For now.
This is a bit of an odd format for an entry – I know!! I am in a bit of a spacey and meditative mood just now, methinks.
Following the closure of this post, I will begin evening reading time. (I have just finished David Copperfield – marvelously overwritten and I care not – the characters were so beautifully drawn, I was pulled speedily through the story!) I have just now(as of last night) begun The Yearling. A long treasured book that I have not read since I was a boy. So far – wonderful.
Now I truly shall bid you all adieu. It has been a long and strange week here in the rain-sodden land of Houston. God is sovereign and God is good. Always.
Love and peace, dear friends.
