Late July 2015

For all those counting, I am about 3 and a half years down and just past halfway home. I am so thankful to have people that love me and care for my will being. People who support me: I love you all and look forward to a long life of paying you back in some way. In here we dream. We dream of getting out. We dream of coming home. We dream of cars and houses. We dream of meals. We dream of fishing and golf. We dream of mountains and beaches. We dream of living life outside of these walls. And for some that will never happen. For some it will happen sooner than later. For many the world has changed and left us behind. I am so grateful to be on your radar so as to not be left behind. I know things have changed in the world I remember, but you all make me feel like I’m still a part of it. And I thank you.

No new recipe lately. Honestly I’m working on one. It’s gonna be part chocolate oatmeal cookie and part peanut butter /corn syrup and cornflake things my mom used to make. I’ll let you know. I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be amazing. Later.

July 4th 2015

I recently told my mother a quote about swearing. You know, I live in an environment where there tends to be a general acceptance of all things profane. Right or wrong, most people that know me may have heard a bad word once or twice. I mean no disrespect and I would never give someone a lashing that didn’t deserve it, but admittedly I have always been fond of those words. The kind that when written “makes you squint” someone once said. Anyways, I found a Mark Twain quote that said “Let us swear while we may, for in Heaven it will not be allowed.” I guess I say “amen” to that! Another quote that got my attention is by Victor Hugo – “Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones. And when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.” It seems that I have a lot of quotes on my mind these days. I won’t share any more, but instead will give you all a homework assignment. If you’ve never read “The War Prayer” by Mark Twain, you should. It’s strange and thought provoking. It makes me think of the Old Testament battles and the empires, dynasties, and wars since then. I know our military personnel face difficult decisions every day and I’m thankful for all they do. But it is at a cost. A financial cost, a cost of lives, and the cost of their sanity when they return home. I know people in the military right now and I pray for them and their safety daily. We all should. Happy 4th everybody!