Random

I know I have been on a random, themeless track with this blog, but I figure I am not a theme kind of person.  This is who I am, blame it on meds 8), blame it on my crazy upbringing, or chalk it up to personality it doesn't matter.  I am who I am,  now of course I am aware that my randomness can be problematic for some, and so I try to really focus being better for really important things, or being an example for my daughter.  Which that last sentence is causing me to switch gears mid-blog...

My daughter has definitely caused me to be a better person.  In my quest to be a good example for her, I have improved on a lot in the last decade or so.

• I cross the street at crosswalks, even when she is not around
• I eat cooked carrots, even though it makes me want to gag
• I have a bowl of fruit and a drawer of veggies to snack on, and they don't go bad near as often
• I say thank you and please a lot
• I don't yell as much, and I am not as demanding even if I do want it RIGHT NOW
• I am firm but not abusive to people might possibly deserve it... you know who you are
• I don't curse nearly as much as I used to, though I still drop the F bomb on occasion  "What the FRENCH.... TOAST!  (well maybe I should thank orbit gum for that one) 

I'd like to think there are more, but for now this is all you get!  I don't want to seem like I am bragging,  which in its self should get listed too.  But we all no parenting is hard, mostly because you have to be an example.  If you toss out all these rules, you can't be a hypocrite, I know that was my big argument growing up.  

Funeral of the "I can'ts"

Recently I did a class called "the Funeral of the I can'ts" The purpose of the project is to help each woman realize how much strength it took to leave her abuser and come into the shelter. To affirm that she took the power with her when she left. To say “goodbye” to her “I Cant’s” — the fears she faces as she thinks about building a new life (I can’t drive, I can’t get a job, I can’t find a place to live, etc.) We start in a circle, all holding hands, and ask the question... "What have you accomplished or done in your life, that at the time you didn't think you could do" Opening Circle: As we went around the room, there was stories of women who "stopped doing drugs", "quit drinking", "I left the person who beat me up", ... there was tears and there was laughter. Art Time: We all sat down, we talked about the fears of leaving the shelter, and "anything you felt you could not accomplish before entering the shelter" We journalized this question "Is there anything you felt afraid of or felt that you couldn’t do?", "Can anyone think of any “I Cant’s” you felt when you arrived here?" We talked about how to use our experiences of the past for the future. It was a quiet moment as everyone began writing down on a piece of paper her list of the “I Cant’s.”) Each woman had an opportunity to read her list if she wanted to everyone, some took part others didn't. Each woman began to shred her “I Cant’s” in the shredder, and saves the shredded paper. Then took that paper and creates an art piece from it. What I loved about the projects was how they used those pieces of paper. Some used them as roots on a tree saying "those things made them stronger" or "my can'ts are the leaves falling off of me, so I can continue to be strong" There was a boat that was made of the I can't shreds in a tumultuous sea scene that one woman said "I will use these things to arrive to my new place, where I am confident and successful"

Conversation with the Fireplace guy

Conversion with the guy at Buck Stove....  
me: I am looking for a blower motor for my fireplace insert... how much do they run.

guy: It depends (long pause)

me: okay... so if I tell you about the motor will that help.

guy: I need the make and model is there a gas line

me: Its a Dove, I don't see the model # and there is no gas line

guy:  is it wood?

me: I guess, there is no gas line

guy: I need the model #

me: I don't see it...How do I find it, where are they usually at


guy: it depends (long pause)




me: click!

Arts Council presents: Art in the Alley

I am forwarding this from our Executive Director!

Hello Artist, and Art Lovers

Discover Art in the Alley, an outdoor arts market, the 3rd Thursday in April, May, and June from 5-8pm in Downtown Visalia’s Garden Street Plaza and alleyway connected to the Visalia Farmers Market.

This community event features local artists from throughout the Valley, live music, and children’s activities. Come out to enjoy Visalia’s beautiful springtime evenings and support the arts. Then stop by the Farmers Market, open every Thursday, to pick up the freshest best tasting produce, gourmet products, and handmade crafts available.

This is a free event, open to the public. Hosted by Art Council of Tulare County. Interested artists contact David Castro 625-1520 david@acoftc.org.

Attached are the Artists Entry form, if you or someone you know is interested in displaying work please read and mail in.

Also Attached is the Sponsor Packet, if you are interested in supporting Art in the Alley and the Arts Council of Tulare County, a non-profit organization. Please let us know.

**contact David for entry forms and packets david@acoftc.org **

Thanks
David Castro
625 1520

Jesus served me today?

Okay so I was going through my receipts, and packing up my 2009 tax folder for storage, when I came across a receipt that made me fall on the floor laughing.  It is from Walgreens, it is a feel good customer service phrase that also tells you who the cashier was.  Mine reads...

I'm JESUS. Thank you for allowing me to serve you today

Exactly like that too, with JESUS all in caps.  I still haven't recovered from it, and giggle as I type.  Now you have to think what a fun name to have, and this guy probably hears alot about this.  Which is probably why the good Lord allowed me to miss that little gem.  After all I am my fathers daughter, bad jokes and all.

At first I was thinking... that must be a real switch for Jesus (not walgreen's jesus) to serve us.  And I thought well maybe not.  I mean sure we are here to serve him, but how often has he served us, I can't tell you how many times that my butt was saved and the first thought was "thank you god, or wooo Lord that was a close one, thanks for that"  Or blessings that I have credited to God.  Is that a way of Jesus serving us in a sense...

And here's another thought, this one is for pastors cardiologist 8) cause I remembered something and could actually find it in the bible, he tells us this story in the bible:

Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet

² The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" ⁷ Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." ⁸ "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."  Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." ⁹ "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" ¹⁰ Jesus answered, "Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." ¹¹ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.  ¹² When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. ¹³ "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ Very truly I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

If Jesus serves us, then how can we not consider serving each other, or blessing each other.  So how can I do that, I think that it is more than just writing a check, not to discount that, because if I don't write a check then things don't get done at church and shelters, that I am not capable of doing, like jackets to kids in thailand, or food at the local shelter, or even paying those fabulous people at church who listen to me when all hell breaks lose... again!

But how else can I serve/bless/support someone.  Maybe just by listening to someone in need, drop off a bag of groceries for someone and run off before they see you, volunteering at an organization religious or otherwise, just offering a helping hand and being there to fill a need.  Kind of the ultimate pay it forward from God right...




i'm just sayin'

A taco without cheese!!!!!

So yesterday, I was at Taco Bell, and they have all these signs up with this incredibly scrawny chick, describing her 50 pound weight loss with her "drive thru diet" I was thinking to myself, how incredibly fat I felt at the moment. Of course they made a life size version of her next to the line. Now as you may have remembered I had been on a challenge and had lost some weight, the bad news is, when the challenge stopped, I also stopped challenging myself. I let myself go back to the old excuses using my pain issues, time, family, etc. The good news is I still remembered the things I learned, and have not gained, my pants size is still the same too. I'll take that.

However, As I was standing there I realized I need to push myself. So I ordered the Chicken Ranchero soft taco, it has something like 140 calories and minimal fat I think about 9 grams. Now this taco has only chicken, lettuce, salsa... thats it nothing else, no cheese, sour cream, yummy red sauce, nothing!!! You see, when I order say a bean burrito, I get extra cheese, extra sauce, and easy on the beans, so everything fits.... that means I raised the calories from 370 to 410 and the fat from 9 to 12! Thats just the burrito, interestingly the fiesta bean burrito is 340/8 so not much off from the regular item.

So does this new fresco menu release us from checking labels and making thought out decisions... no, while researching this article, I learned that, Christine aka... scrawny chick (I can't wait till one day I am scrawny chick) has a favorite, or so says all the marketing for this newish menu, and that is what I ordered the Chicken Ranchero soft taco. According to the theTaco Bell Nutrition Calculator which is awesome, the Fiesta version is 170 calories to 4 grams of fat while the regular version is 270/14. I think that is pretty significant a difference.

Now this thing was pretty good, surprisingly! Once I mentally got over the cheese hang up, I enjoyed the flavor of it. So it is something I will order again, and again. And the nutrition calendar was pretty easy to use, and you can customize it to include all the special things you do to it. So check that out for sure, just not on your iphone while you are at the counter ordering, cause that would stink for everyone else... just sayin'

Back in the Day

Here is a video that an old buddy of mine from my days in the United States Marine Corp (wow... that makes me sound like a REALLY OLD MAN, which I am not... a man that is!). The video is pretty fantabulous!

This video represents what he is doing now.

Your Cleaning Lady product review

On a recent shopping trip I was looking for steel wool pads. I was just about to grab my usual box, when I saw a new one by Scotch Brite Never Rust Soap Pads they look just like steel wool but they are made of plastic. My first reaction was... so what, plastic scrubbies never work for the real cleaning jobs. But I thought I should try it, to know for sure.

When I got home I opened it up, they look the same except for they are blue. I set out on my quest and grabbed my cast iron skillet from last nights dinner, I had burnt some taco meat into it, and was just too tired/lazy to look at it. I brought it over to the sink added water and started scrubbing. And WHOA! It was coming right out fairly easily too! Amazed I ran place to place, scrubbing, it is pretty good stuff, it even worked on old soap scum.

I am still nervous about using it on things like metal sinks, or scratch sensitive areas, but otherwise A+ for sure. My favorite part of this is it is made from recycled material... specifically, the pad fiber is 100% recycled (100% post-consumer material) and the box is 100% recycled (35% post-consumer material). So it is also good for the environment.

I found mine at the 99 cents store, however they are in new packaging in many stores, hardware stores, and online

this blog is in no way associated with Scotch Brite its company and its affiliates.... its just a review ya'll

The power of cash... another day at Financial Peace

Why do you think cash carries so much power when you’re looking for a bargain?

Though I don't have a particular moment that sticks out in my head from my personal experience where I was the purchaser; I do however remember my cash customers.

When we had the glass shop store front, we decided not to carry credit card, which some tell us they would have been able to purchase alot more glass. But it was a personal decision long before Dave Ramsey, that was stimulated because of our discontent with credit card fees etc. Even then, when a customer came in with cash rather check, there was a feeling of security. Because cash is solid. Cash doesn't bounce or come back as fraudulent, well as long as you have one of those nifty pens, and it doesn't get a hold put on it.

It also helps purchases move faster to, no waiting periods or wondering if it will go through. Cash is trustful, because credit may be good but temporary, at any time decisions can be made and payments put on hold, and lets face it when we can't make a payment, it doesn't really matter how many fees are added on... it still stinks.

The other nice thing about cash is that it is a way to stay within the perimeters of spending. If you can really tell yourself and believe that $20 is all I have for this purchase, because your looking at a $20 bill and dust in the wallet, then 1 of 2 things will happen; if you really want it you will negotiate or find it for that price, or 2 you will just have to wait.

... and waiting doesn't kill you and neither does negotiating!

A taco without cheese!!!!!

So yesterday, I was at Taco Bell, and they have all these signs up with this incredibly scrawny chick, describing her 50 pound weight loss with her "drive thru diet" I was thinking to myself, how incredibly fat I felt at the moment. Of course they made a life size version of her next to the line. Now as you may have remembered I had been on a challenge and had lost some weight, the bad news is, when the challenge stopped, I also stopped challenging myself. I let myself go back to the old excuses using my pain issues, time, family, etc. The good news is I still remembered the things I learned, and have not gained, my pants size is still the same too. I'll take that.

However, As I was standing there I realized I need to push myself. So I ordered the Chicken Ranchero soft taco, it has something like 140 calories and minimal fat I think about 9 grams. Now this taco has only chicken, lettuce, salsa... thats it nothing else, no cheese, sour cream, yummy red sauce, nothing!!! You see, when I order say a bean burrito, I get extra cheese, extra sauce, and easy on the beans, so everything fits.... that means I raised the calories from 370 to 410 and the fat from 9 to 12! Thats just the burrito, interestingly the fiesta bean burrito is 340/8 so not much off from the regular item.

So does this new fresco menu release us from checking labels and making thought out decisions... no, while researching this article, I learned that, Christine aka... scrawny chick (I can't wait till one day I am scrawny chick) has a favorite, or so says all the marketing for this newish menu, and that is what I ordered the Chicken Ranchero soft taco. According to the the Taco Bell Nutrition Calculator which is awesome, the Fiesta version is 170 calories to 4 grams of fat while the regular version is 270/14. I think that is pretty significant a difference.

Now this thing was pretty good, surprisingly! Once I mentally got over the cheese hang up, I enjoyed the flavor of it. So it is something I will order again, and again. And the nutrition calendar was pretty easy to use, and you can customize it to include all the special things you do to it. So check that out for sure, just not on your iphone while you are at the counter ordering, cause that would stink for everyone else... just sayin'