Have You Been Touched?

... By His noodly appendage, that is!

I would like to take a moment to do something I've never done before... That is to witness. Forgive me, but when you feel as strongly about something as I do, it becomes a moral duty to share.

Pastafarianism is a growing religious movement with thousands of members. The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) offers something for everyone- including Heaven. For those of us devout enough to hope to gain entrance to FSM Heaven have many glorious things to look forward to- beer volcanoes and stripper factories are only a few of the amazing rewards awaiting us in the afterlife.

Pastafarians in the Midwest walk a fine line and while many of our brothers and sisters around the world worship openly, we remain hidden- worshiping our Maker in secret.

But alas, I feel compelled by His presence and I must share His good news. In that light and in the spirit of spreading His goodwill. I share these photos from a recent FSM meeting (at an undisclosed location). Please note that names have been changed to protect the innocent as we still fear persecution. Until then we continue to pray that one day we can all live in harmony and acceptance- praising His noodly visage. In the name of Semolina, we pray... Ramen!

(We honor our Heavenly Beer Volcanoes and break bread together! Beer Volcano Communion was created by Reverend Brother Pocket Gopher and his spiritual sister and legal wife, Sister Doctor Ocelots.)

(Here we have a most creative expression of one of our most Holy joys awaiting us in the afterlife- the Stripper Factory. Complete with Strippers!)

(Sister Euphemia laughs, embarrassed by the great praise she earned honoring His Noodly Appendages with her art. Well done Euphemia, you made us all proud!)

(The culminating event of the evening was to create FSM shirts for each of our members in hopes that one day we will be free of persecution and may share or love of Pasta and all things Noodly with our heathen neighbors.)

Children's Book Workshop

I spent the last two days in the James Kirkpatrick Library at UCM enjoying the Children's Book Workshop. During my two days I had the opportunity to listen to several authors and artists (Veda Boyd Jones, Cheryl Harness, Carolyn Mulford, and Jaime Thome), to practice the art of bookbinding, and to hobnob with other aspiring writers and published authors. Part of my requirements for taking the workshop for graduate credit is to submit a book proposal to a publishing house. I received good reviews from the two authors who reviewed my proposal. I am looking forward to incorporating their suggestions, finding a publishing house or two that might be interested, and sending off my proposal in two weeks.

Mind Suck!

Hulu! Is it a leisurely walk down memory lane? A chance to catch a few movies you've missed in the past? Or a total mind suck!

Who cares!?! Visit http://www.hulu.com/ to catch that movie you've been dying to see again. There you'll find movies like Ghost Busters, Fiddler on the Roof, and Fifth Element. You can also watch full episodes of your favorite TV shows. Orion seems to really enjoy Simon & Simon. Of course, Gerald McRaney is a total hottie.

Tree, you'll be pleased to note that Hulu currently has 22 full episodes of Silver Spoons! So tell me readers, what's your favorite TV show?

Sauced!

Six quarts of spaghetti sauce, thirty giant meatballs, savory simmered ribs, and two lasagnas later the kitchen has been laid to waste. Now I must return order where there is none.

Next week: Chicken soup with matzo balls.

Catching Up

It has been a week since my summer term ended. In that time I have driven to and from Arkansas. Spent the night with my friend, Shannon. Caught up with my sister and her family before they moved south of the border where Tree will begin her first foreign assignment as a diplomat in Mexico City. Visited with my brother and his family. Purchased a nifty little chest freezer for $5 (Thank you, Shannon!). Cleaned house. Caught up on laundry. Drove to Kansas City and back. I am currently making a huge vat of spaghetti sauce complete with meatballs to freeze for the hectic fall semester. At the same time I am cleaning out my camping supplies and packing them into smaller, more manageable totes in hopes of some serious camping time this fall when temperatures drop. I'll be leaving again soon. Another trip to Kansas City, a trip to D.C., and perhaps another trip to Arkansas before the fall semester begins in roughly one month! I'll try to catch up on my blogging and at the same time keep you posted on current events as well!

Lettuce Pray

I recently found a recipe in my old Betty Crocker cookbook for Crab Louis. An average salad (greens, hard boiled eggs, olives, and tomatoes) made special by adding crab and Crab Louis Dressing. The recipe also had a very 70s ring so I had to try it.

I went to Wal*Mart to pick up the necessary items: fresh salad, tomatoes, and chili sauce for the dressing recipe.

I found everything but lettuce. Well, interesting lettuce that is. I found one head of hydroponically grown Boston lettuce. I had since wilted and turned brown. I found bags and bags of mixed salad greens that were quickly turning to wine (yuck!). And I found rows and rows and rows of Iceberg. I wanted something interesting!

So I picked out the best bag of mixed greens and threw in a bag of spinach. I made it work.

The Crab Louis was quite tasty, however I must add that the dressing tasted remarkably like 1,000 Island. Interesting...

Crab Louis

What you need:

For the Salad:
4 cups lettuce (your choice)
4-5 hard boiled eggs
4 medium tomatoes
black or green olives
14 oz of crab (2 7 oz cans, fresh, or surimi)

For the Dressing:
3/4 cup Chili Sauce
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon instant minced onion
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire

What you do:
1. Mix up the dressing and place in the fridge.
2. Toss up the salad. Add whatever else is in your fridge and wants to come out! Use eggs and tomatoes to decorate the top of the salad.
3. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Adapted from Betty Crocker's Cookbook: New and Revised Edition, Golden Press, New York, (c) 1979, 8th Printing 1983, p. 79

Running on Empty

Running on - running on empty
Running on - running blind
Running on - running into the sun
But I'm running behind

I had forgotten how much I like Jackson Browne until this week when I couldn't get his song, Running On Empty, out of my head! It was a litany that kept me going for the past several weeks as I put in 12+ hour days on campus, 6+ hour stretches of grading, all while averaging about 4 or 5 hours of sleep! It's just a reminder that I am not as young or as resilient as I used to be.

4:30 yesterday I said good-bye to my last group of summer students. I've enjoyed getting to know all of my students this summer. I only wish I had had more time to devote to them individually.
7:02 last night I completed grading my 'last' paper, test, reflection, website, whatever! (I'm waiting on two items from two students.)
7:05 I began grading a portfolio that had been turned in late and needed immediate grading for admission to student teaching.
8:50 I finished grading said portfolio and headed home.

I spent several hours with the boys straightening up the house and doing a load of laundry in preparation for our very quick trip to Arkansas. We'll essentially be driving down, visiting with Tree on her way to Mexico City, and driving back! I'm not looking forward to the driving, but I am looking forward to visiting with nephews and niece.

Now for all of you Jackson Browne fans, a little clip of Running on Empty from 1979.

Introducing...

A Day in the Life of Orion... Orion has his own blog! Several days ago Orion asked to start his own weblog, so I took a few minutes and showed him how Blogger operates. He's hungry for a blog audience, but being a semi-good mother, I have restricted access to his blog. It is invitation only. Unlike some blogs where you enter a name and a password to visit, you will have to log into Blogger to see Orion's goods. So far he's posted a picture, bragged about his Guitar Hero scores, and shared several funny jokes. If you are interested in becoming one of Orion's readers, send me an email and we'll get you invited.

Birthday Pics

Orion's 11th Birthday was held at our favorite restaurant in town, Monetti's Pizzeria. Yum! We invited several of his good friends and ordered the Gigunda Pizza! The boys only thought they were hungry!

Orion wanted a John Deere cake! And so we made that happen! It came from the local grocery store, Parker's, and was very tasty.

Orion watches me intently as I place the candles on his cake! One for each year and another to grow on!

Mr. Monetti guides his staff as they sing Happy Birthday to Orion in Italian! What fun!

Pre-Camp

Here's a photo taken at Uncle Michael and Aunt Robin's house. We briefly visited on Saturday, June 21. We spent about an hour hanging out with Grandpa Doug who comes up every year from Florida to volunteer at Camp Subi as Chauffeur Extraordinaire, Aunt Robin who volunteers as Camp Physician, and Cousin Dominic who is a Counselor in Training. This was Orion's third year to attend camp. He loves it! Visit the Camp Subi website to learn more or to check out the slide show of camp pictures (Orion was part of Session 2!). I enjoyed the slide shows so much I am considering coercing my friend Shan to volunteer with me next year. Shhhh! Don't tell anybody!

I Fought the Lawn and the Lawn Won!

Friday, July 4th! Independence Day! Early Friday morning I snuck over to my friend R's house to borrow her awesome push mower (It's more like a drag you behind it mower!). Upon returning home I immediately started in on the front yard. Our mower has been out of commission for weeks. The grass in the yard was up to my calves. In fact, in the back yard, the last 15 feet to the fence hadn't been mowed previous and was up to my knees! Some weeds were chest high! (We've been getting a good deal of rain!) I mowed. And I mowed some more. R's mower rocks! The grass was high, so I took it easy, mowing in four to six inch passes (Did I mention we have a HUGE back yard?). I would stop regularly to make sure grass wasn't sticking to anything and refilled the tank at least once. By 2:00 I had mowed to the line where the grass had grown too high. I didn't want to risk a stroke OR R's awesome lawn mower. I called it quits and considered letting that last bit of yard serve as a "Prairie Restoration."

I stumbled into the house, dropped my drawers in the laundry room, and stood in the shower for several minutes wondering how I got grass on the inside of my under garments. Shortly after my shower I heard the doorbell ring. John answer to find our neighbor, Mr. Droege. Mr. D began, "While I was napping, my wife was watching your wife mow the yard. I don't think you all will be able to mow that back part. Would you like me to make a few passes with my riding mower?" Of course, we accepted. Mr. D made a few passes and in NO time the prairie was tamed. I am humbled by the kindness of my neighbors and reminded why I like Warrensburg so much! Thanks to my friend R for lending me her mower (for an unspecified time) and to Mr. D. for getting the big stuff!