Unexpected

I had no clue that my compost posting would generate so many comments. Thanks to the people that provided starter information. I will keep you updated on my compost progress :)

This past year has been by far my most treacherous journey because it's required trekking into the deepest parts of my heart -- places I typically avoided, or I was completely unaware existed. Certain stretches have been exhausting while other lengths have been rewarding. I would not be so bold as to claim I have completed the journey --that is a lifelong process. I will be bold enough to presume I have certainly covered many miles and am much farther ahead than I had hoped to be. If there is anything I have learned in my short 30 years it is everything hinges on the "unexpecteds". For better or worse, the unexpected incidents are the ones that shape us. Whether it be an unforeseen tragedy, an unexplainable courage, or a moment of grace, we react, and those reactions form the person we are. For the largest portion of my life my reactions were generally the same toward the "unexpecteds" resulting in the formation of a person I did not always like or understand. Throughout this last year I can confidently say a change has occurred in me, and my reactions do not always follow the pattern they have in the past. I am seeing changes in my reactions to the "unexpecteds", and I find that progress encouraging and freeing. Even more encouraging is witnessing the same changes in those closest to me.

Robert Hastings wrote, "Sooner or later, we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is in the trip."

I hope your "unexpecteds" or rather your reaction to your "unexpecteds" makes it a truly joyful trip.

Compost Virgin

Thanks to my mother's influence, I have become a huge recycling advocate over the past two years. The city here has a strange way of doing trash. You buy bags with the high school name on it, fill it with your trash, and put it out every Monday morning. The city does the rest of the work. Due to recycling, I usually don't have enough trash in one week to fill half the bag, yet most of my trash is comprised of vegetable peelings, fatty meat, etc. I am thinking if I composted then I would rarely ever take out trash, saving me from buying the over-priced trash bags and from adding to the landfill roughly six miles from where I live. So, for any of you that have composted or tried, do you have any tips on how to start from scratch? I am a virgin composter and have no clue about any of it so I will need the "Idiots Guide to Composting" version. Liv and Du, I am thinking you may be experts on this. Lori, I am thinking you may not care :) Meg, I know you find this irritating and stupid and are having flashbacks to your German bug-infested compost. If you have any tips or ideas, please let me know. I would very much like to get a compost in place and start using it.

Smokin'

Despite the fact I have been a neglectful blogger since my job kicked in, I have good reason for neglect this time. My kitchen caught on fire, and I have been homeless for the past week. Yes, I started the fire. No, it was not arson in order to get an updated kitchen. I was experimenting with frying, and all of a sudden -- whoosh-- there are the flames. I panicked for a moment which served no purpose. Realizing this, I ran to the door, opened it, found a potholder, proceeded to steadily carry the blazing skillet from the stovetop to the backdoor, and launched the skillet into the snow. In the meantime, my oven hood, cabinets, and ceiling were charred. By the time the firemen came, I had the fire completely out. The only remains were the black smoke pouring out of my front door and the smell of singe. Sigh. I am now back in my house and by mid-February should have new cabinets, along with a new countertop and floor. Wow! To fulfill your curiosity, deep frying banana/cinammon eggrolls was the unaccomplished feat. Next time, I'll just purchase a deep fryer. :) That is my January saga. I have included a picture of the Thai Lettuce Wraps I enjoyed shortly before the flames occured. Mother, I hope you have another good laugh.

Do I like to work?

Ok. Sorry, I have not updated in quite awhile ( Lori) :) I am starting to wonder if I really do like to work and have avidly denied it for years. Since I returned from Christmas break, I have been working non-stop to revamp our program. Some of the ideas (given to me by Freddie) are working and quite successfully. In turn, I am spending numerous extra hours at the office or on my laptop to make the program the best it can be. For example, I awoke at 6 this morning, journaled, read a bit, worked on the laptop, and hit the gym! All this happened before 9 a.m.! What in the world? Now that I have shocked my family, I will proceed with my newest "kick". I am beginning to train for a mini-triathalon. The running has been a habit for about 4 months or so. The swimming and biking are new, and trying to build the endurance to do all three is trying. Depending on how quickly I progress, I will let you know when my first "mini" is. My cappacino/espresso maker is a delight and is being heavily used ( thank you, meg). I am joining a tennis league now that I have a raquet ( thanks, mom and dad). And I look forward to some good reads in National Geographic (thank you, Pat.) I am currently reading "Fast Food Nation" which is quite intriguing. No, Meg and Lori/JR, you would not be interested, and yes, I do think the fries taste good when piping hot. :) That is about all happening in my world. A skiing trip was in the works but had to be cancelled due to a huge water problem in my house -- maybe next month. No pics this time, but next time I promise to post some. Hope all are well.