Friday, November 25, 2011

NESCO Simplicity (Michael)

Dinner has become the daily challenge.  Usually by the end of the day, Jared and I are just ready to eat "something."  Today, though, we had more than just "something."  The turkey that had been thawing in the refrigerator was too thawed to go back into the freezer.  So, another plan was hatched.  A quick check of the NESCO site, and we had a recipe for cooking the turkey.  Yeah, it is after Thanksgiving, but we had turkey at the Dining Facility on base for Thanksgiving.  Yesterday was too busy with airplane tickets and stuff, but today, well, that was very different.  Using the NESCO roaster was actually an easy way to cook a turkey, and it even got done a bit early (yup, 190 degrees inside).  Sufficiently satisfied!



Living large, loving life and choosing joy!!! 
Michael


Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Snippets

Rather than share all my witty thoughts throughout the day on Facebook, where they are not easily accessible for family posterity, I'll blog them - snippets:


  • "May the Lord continue to richly bless them." (Stated when we were given fresh towels.)
  • "Keep Santa Clause away from your sister!" 
  • Researching the difference between onsens and hot tubs. 
  • Zander says, "Stacia, raining is what it DOES in OR. Probably because it's so high in the mountains."
  • The older Gherkins watched Wallace on VHS; Stacia and Nolan watch him on my ipad!"
  • Zander at 11:30 pm as we entered our hotel room, "It's good to be home. Home is where ever you sleep." ::snort:: 
  • I explain to Stacia that old men in America should NOT be rubbing her head or arms.
We woke up in time for our free breakfast at the hotel. Denny's is better for $2, $4 or $6. ::snort:: BUT we could go to breakfast in our pj's....then on to the POOL. 


See the little hot tube in the upper left corner - I AM diligent about my research. ::snort:: 

Today was a GORGEOUS day for a picnic in Eugene. Can you believe it? We drove to Skinner's Butte (because I was lost and trying to meet with the Girls and my folks at the park), had lunch in the park and then walked along the river. 

Six Gherkins and a Grandpa! 
Zander HARD at work! 

His work pulled this little car with several children on it

I played on this same whale as a child
After the park, Gma and Gpa went home.  We went to Bre and Krista's apartment. We admired the girls' Christmas decorations (put up sometime before or after midnight madness)....the kids played games....I napped....

Krista
 Shawn, Marsa, Kent and Taleena (7) came over and most played a rousing game of Monopoly. Goecker's rule as Krista won a hard fought game.  Taleena, Stacia and I baked cookies.


During the drive we saw this...and I figure I must not totally understand America's culture.

I've been pondering this all day. If you have valid complaints, how will sleeping in a tent on public property and being hateful to all who walk by help  achieve your objectives....and WHY would you occupy Eugene or Wall street rather than simply working to bring about changes? And do you REALLY think you are the 99%? WHAT does WALL STREET have to do with YOU being homeless? Maybe. I wanted to think of some creative and Christ-like response....but I was perplexed when faced with the question, "How many homeless does it take to make a billionaire?" The premise is faulty. It doesn't compute. I keep wondering what they are asking. First, I'm not a billionaire. And I would guess that THEY are probably part of the 1%, most of us are part of the 98% and the billionaires are part of 1%. If you take 100 penniless people you would have 100 penniless people....they would never spontaneously combust to form a billionaire. Like I said....the whole thing perplexes me. I can tell you THIS....food and supplies to TROOPS in the Pacific (as in Japan and Korea) have been delayed due to the Occupy Oakland. How is that helping them? Do they not care who they hurt to "be heard"?

  I keep thinking of other scenes with folks living in temporary shelters which I've witnessed....

Cardboard walls, all their belongings in a box
 

these folks lost EVERYTHING....yet they stood up and are fighting their way back to some sort of "normalcy".  Yes, I maybe should have kept quiet as I'm sure there are subtleties I'm not understanding...but it's been on my mind...and I'm still wondering if there is something the kids and I could do while here? Maybe they just want to be heard. I've been warned many of the drifters and rowdy elements of town are in the fence and it may not be the best idea to take the kids down.  But then the kids went into the devastation of Northern Japan....shining the light where it's dark.

On the way home to the hotel the gas light came on. I happened to be a mile from the cheapest spot in the area to buy gas. Done....gotta remember they like to pump for you in OR. ::grin::

I stopped by the front desk and they'll extend me a couple of days if I'd like. I will check for the best prices for flights to TX tomorrow - now that I know where the kids and I need to end up to find our way back to the pacific. We ARE going to try for Space A so need to eventually end up back in Seattle.  Which means I now know I need to fly from SEA to TX and back to SEA - rather than Portland to TX to Tokyo. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

The Morning After

Thankful for:

  •  5 hours of sleep with Stacia and Zander. 
  • Sweet EARLY a.m. whispers
  • Getting all up for FREE breakfast (though I'm thinking $2 at Denny's may be worth sleeping in)
  • Comfy beds to sleep in 

Thoughts: 
  • No, sir and maam, your CHILD is not bad nor crazy....you are questionable for taking a toddler shopping at midnight and then screaming in hotel hallways about how bad they are at 03:30. 
  • Strange santa men handing out treats and candy ONLY to little girls are to be held  suspect
  • Swimming after such few hours of sleep may not be the most relaxing way to spend the day - but it will work....
  • Can't believe we didn't take even ONE photo of Thanksgiving! 
  • Observing families in the pool - one very sweet LARGE family with well behaved children is much nicer to share with than 4 extended families of two ill-behaved each....not to worry they shopped all night and should sleep soon. LOL 
  • Wonder when the midnight lions and lionesses will check in. LOL 

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...