One Good Quote

Tonight I was sitting outside in the bitter cold here in Indiana, and I remembered a quote I had read in high school:

"In the depth of winter I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."

---Albert Camus

What I Saw Today

One good thing I saw today was a redwood tree in the light fog, presiding over a beautiful rose garden. I wish I had taken a picture of it; didn't have my camera.
This one doesn't do it justice, but you get the idea.

The Angels' Share of Bourbon

30% of the alcohol evaporates off whilst the bourbon is aged in the barrel---the Angels' share---I love that.
I have a nice bottle of Maker's Mark in the pantry--I will have to try these recipes.

Iraqi Weddings

Read about how the Everymen and Everywomen of Iraq are promoting peace by doing normal things--like getting married. Hope springs eternal. :)

A New Kind of Tupperware Party

Read about these women who make beads for positive change.

Baby It's Cold Outside!!!!

One good thing about Christmas is the music! Here's one of my favorites.

Why Am I A Sucker for United Airlines Commercials?

God, this one brings a tear to my eye EVERY time I see it on CNN!!! It is so sweet!!!

The Church of Stop Shopping

"...He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone..." John, 8:7

I put that quote here because I went to Nordstrom this evening, Christmas shopping. Having said that, since Sunday is about religion and spirituality, one good thing to remind us of what the holidays are really about is Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping. Check out Rev. Billy's Blog-Allujah. He also has an online confessional, to which I will be soon paying a visit to be absolved of my consumerist sins.

:)

PS-- Ok, so Rev. Billy is really a perfomance artist. But his message about sweatshop-free goods, fair trade, reducing waste and promoting economic justice is a good reminder for us all this holiday season. And I love what Reverend Billy says: "Love is a Gift Economy."

One Good Thing--What I love to eat

I didn't get a chance to post last night--I was tired!! So in honor of the Friday theme of food, here's an interesting link to a message board on chowhound regarding what people love to eat but would never serve to anyone else. I had never even imagined cold spaghetti sandwiches!!

I love a mini-pretzel (6 lb. bag available at Costco for $3.99) with a small slice of cheddar cheese on top. It's best when paired with a Diet Sprite--the salt from the pretzel and the carbonation of the Sprite go well together. This is an absolutely hoopty food/beverage pairing and I would never serve it to guests. But if I were stuck on a desert island this is probably what I'd want to eat first upon returning to civilization. That, and some dried Blenheim apricots from Andy's Orchard. Andy's a true hero, lovingly cultivating rare and delicate varieties of stone fruit so we can continue to enjoy their wonderous flavors. If you visit me, I would serve you the apricots! :)

Gift Idea x 2

Sunlight Solar was founded by a diplomat with the mission to: "use the latest scientific advances in solar and lighting technology to provide light to people in developing countries who would otherwise be in darkness or forced to use outdated, expensive, and harmful sources of illumination. "
For every bogolight that is purchased, one is donated to a relief agency for use in developing nations. Imagine---in order for kids to do their homework and read after dark, they need light.
These nifty lights are 100% solar powered--You just leave them on the window sill, and they charge up and last for hours. What a perfect solution for emergencies, or camping, or just regular household use! (I love mine--I have a pink one!!)
And what a good thing that for every one you buy, a life across the world is illuminated.

A Special Post for My Dad

One good thing I found today is: My Dad's favorite music video from the 80's. We would watch it on VH-1 and we kids all loved it. I am not exactly sure why, but it probably had something to do with the airplane and the lady's blue hair.

The Meeting

This kinda sums up my day today.
The really good thing: Just like the commercial, my day had a happy ending. :) Someone was kind to me in the end.

Be a Tigger!!!!

Many of you may have already heard of this, as it's taken it's trip around the web, but just in case you haven't, it's worth your time to take a look at this excerpt of Randy Pausch's Last Lecture.
Dr. Pausch is in his mid-forties and has untreatable pancreatic cancer.
He reminds us what's really important in life and why dreams are so crucial and to never give up on them, or on other people.
This story seems, on the surface, VERY depressing, but I urge you to listen to his message (the lecture itself is about 12 mins--so it doesn't take too long). You won't forget it. :)

The Fr. Mulcahy's of the 21st Century

I really enjoyed the book: "Here If You Need Me" by Kate Braestrup, the Chaplain for the Maine Warden Service. In this wonderful book, Kate describes the death of her husband, her decision to enter Seminary School, and her experiences as a chaplain.
My favorite passage was this, when her four children asked why their father was killed in a car accident (whist on duty as a Maine State Trooper), Kate replied:

"It was an accident...No one meant it to happen. It just happened...God does not spill the milk or bash the truck into your father’s car. Nowhere in Scripture does it say ‘God is Car Accident’ or ‘God is Death.’ God is justice and kindness, mercy, and always, always love. So if you want to know where God is in this or in anything, look for love.”

Here's a story from the Christian Science Monitor about how Chaplains minister in the military today.
Have a great week. And look around for the good things, and always the love.

Cooking is an Act Of Love

One Good thing that happened to me today was:

I picked this story up from one of my favorite websites: chowhound.com, about a chef who takes care to prepare special meals for the Alzheimer patients in his care:

http://www.chow.com/grinder/4279

DIY Storytelling

In yesterday's post, I linked to the StoryCorp's projects tour schedule. Well, lo and behold, they also have some great tips on how to record stories on your own in case you can't come to them:

http://www.storycorps.net/record-your-story/cant-come-to-us/diy-guide

What's Your Story?

One good thing that I think about often, is the miraculous story of how my brother and I were rescued on Thanksgiving weekend in 1994, by a few gracious members of the Indiana Towing and Wrecker Association. When my brother is visiting from Munich at Christmastime, I am planning on making a recording of us telling the story together, which you should be able to reference here in a future posting. Long story short, it involves my white 1984 Chevy (with burgundy velvet upholstery), $6 between my brother and me, a split water hose, a cabbie, a closed Wal-Mart, desperation and then (I swear) divine intervention.

Indiana Towing and Wrecker Association


If you have a story that you want to tell, check out the StoryCorps project, sponsored by NPR. They have a mobile van that goes around the country recording people's stories. Everyone has one. What's yours?

click here for the schedule of the StoryCorps tour


Here is a link to a special story of kindness: (note: just click on "Listen Now" towards the top of the page and don't read the synopsis beneath----listening to the spoken word does this story much more justice.)

Romantic Tuesday

How about theme days?:
Monday: Work theme
Tuesday: Something romantic (Tuesdays need a little romance, don't you think?)
Wednesday: Potpourri
Thursday: Friends, family, home, and fun
Friday: Food and cooking
Saturday: Wine
Sunday: Spirituality

We'll see how it goes.
So here's Tuesday's romantic story:
Hmmm...I couldn't find one.
But, I did find this---and my apologies to my male readers here---there is something indescribably romantic about a man who can play a double bass:

I just lose my nerve as I've done from the start

And, speaking of double basses, they don't have any in stock at the moment, but this is a fun website to peruse:
A catalog of string insruments---who knew??

ScanCafe Review

Ok, I know I already posted today. But my day kinda went south, and I needed to find another good thing.
Last summer, I visited my Dad and we talked about how he had thousands of old photographs and slides in the attic. The old projector and screen that we used to look at the slides have long since been given to Goodwill.
And then I found out about:
www.scancafe.com
You simply estimate the number of photos/slides/negatives you have, UPS them to ScanCafe, and voila---6 weeks later, you get a disc of all the images. And there are 2 really, really good things here:
1) you only have to buy the images you want (there's a 50% minimum)--so you don't end up with all the double copies and photos where people had their eyes closed----AND,
2) it's inexpensive--only 19 cents per negative, 24 cents per slide, and 27 cents per paper photo.

They also have gift cards available for the Holidays, in case you're looking for a cool gift--I just can't tell you what a trip down memory lane this has been.

So here's the picture that I looked at today that made me cheer up, with 2 of my favorite people in the world, so it's actually 2 good things as well. :)

One Good Thing: Monday after a Long Weekend

It's Monday after a long weekend.
I need to Pimp My Chair too.

I'll start posting in the evenings from now on, at least during the week.

Have a great Monday!!!

One Good Thing International

Go around Twice If You're Happy: Check out these motorists in Dubai expressing their feelings!!


And, since we're jetsetting today, take a look at what people consider to be the best food they've ever eaten around the world. What's yours?
The Traveler's Lunchbox

When (Blog) Worlds Collide

What a great idea!! People living their passion up to the very end. An RV-oriented Assisted Living run by volunteers:

Click Here for the Entire Article
Assisted RV living

Retired RVers should take to the road "with the full knowledge that the day will come when you won't be able to do it anymore," says Kenny. "If you're a full-timer, you need to set aside a nest egg for making that transition -- buying a home and car, and so on."

For die-hard RVers, Escapees CARE Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, has another solution for those at the end of the road.

CARE, which stands for Continued Assistance for Retired Escapees, is an RV park in Livingston, Texas, where ill or disabled Escapee Club members can continue to live in their rigs, says director Robert Brinton.

"Some come for a recovery period after a knee replacement or eye surgery," he says, "and are gone again in a few weeks.

"We have others who -- due to failing sight, health issues or declining mental abilities -- have to hang up their keys. For a fee of $800 a month, they get a full hook-up site, meals, laundry and cleaning service and any assistance they need getting around. We have an adult day care center that's open weekdays."

Active Escapee members volunteer at the CARE Center for stints of a month or two, Brinton says, "so our residents always get a fresh group of RVers to talk to about what was their passion."

Who Wants to Be Sister Rosetta Tharpe?

One good thing I came across this on You Tube today: http://youtube.com/watch?v=dOmRm0-acJw

Check out the end where Sister Rosetta jams on the electric guitar. How cool!!

Here's a story from the "Where Are They Now File"---about Joe Trela, the local kid who went all the way on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire several years ago. Read about how he's used his winnings to take care of his family:
Not Your Average Joe

Thanksgiving Day

Today is a cool, crisp, but sunny Thanksgiving Day.
One good thing that happened to me today already: I opened the mail and found the Yoda postage stamps I ordered. These are what I will be using to send my Christmas cards this year. I guess poor Yoda didn't rank as much as Elvis did to merit 2 versions of the stamps: Phantom Menace Yoda and Empire Strikes Back Yoda.
One good thing that happened in this world today:
A nice grocerystore worker was bequeathed $15,000 for being so kind to an elderly customer: