My America,
your America,
our America
is beautiful.
THE NASHVILLE EPIPHANY
16 years ago
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
I must be butter
I'm making cilantro and lime marinated steak with either Trader Joes garlic fries or roasted potatoes. I'm finding my wanting to experiment more in the kitchen is costing me more money at the grocery, but I think it's worth it. My pork chops the other night were really good. I'm making rosemary pork loin on Saturday for a bunch of people who are coming over. I hope it's good.
I'm starting to feel like a woman always blogging about food. My brother got me a Tyler Florence cookbook, a strainer, and a peeler for Christmas. We already had a peeler, but it's the thought that counts; plus, this one is a lot nicer than the one someone had given us before I moved down here.
I think I like to cook good food because it makes both me and other people happy. It's kind of an instant reward competition type thing for me I guess. If I can make something really good, where I know it's good and other people like it, too, then I'm going to feel gratification for my efforts right away; almost a sense a of victory.
I recently purchased an XBOX 360 with NCAA Basketball '09 and a few other games. Having never really played any of this generations, or even lasts', gaming systems, I initially started the game on its easiest setting. I struggled at first to figure out the two joysticks and eight buttons, but got the hang of it after a few games and was quickly winning easily. Of course I picked Indiana State as my dynasty team, which was a good and a bad choice. It was good because I had a fairly easy schedule; it was bad because I had pretty bad players. Thankfully the ease of difficulty along with my ability to run the same play repeatedly made the game a lot easier than it really is. To make a long story short, I ran off 39 victories on my way to a perfect season and a National Title.
I decided I would start the next season on the medium difficulty level. My first couple games were against pretty good teams, but no one extraordinary. Keep in mind, at this point I was used to blowing everyone out by 20-30, and sometimes more, points in 26 minute games. My third game was against Syracuse at the Maui Invitational. Nothing I did in this game worked. They were the 12th ranked team, I think, and absolutely destroyed me. I ended up losing by 18 or 20. I constantly yelled at the television almost the entire game. I couldn't figure anything out to beat them or even chip into their lead. By the end of the game I was so mad I couldn't handle it. I had to put my mp3 player on and do the freaking dishes (which needed done anyways) to get my mind off it and cool off. My brother was ready to kill me at this point.
The moral of the story is I absolutely can not stand to lose. For example, I told a 16 year old I was going to punch him in the face if he didn't stop cheating during ultimate frisbee this summer. I would never punch a 16 year old in the face unless it were in self-defense or in defense of a friend or family member in trouble, let's make that very clear. That was just an example of my competitive drive.
So maybe this is why I like to cook. It's something I can gain a sense of reward and pride from without really doing anything. And my lack of physical ability has nothing to do with it. I can't imagine how bad I would be if I were in really good shape and had real talent at a sport I loved. Even if a sports team I rooted for were dynastically-victorious (that might be the coolest thing I've ever said), I'd be overly arrogant and annoying about them.
So why the crap am I a Cubs fan?
Good question. I gave a speech in college about why being a Cubs fan is the best thing in the world. It was in a sales class, so I had to pitch it to the class like a product. Most of them thought it was funny so they went along with it and I got an A. I think losing keeps me humble. If I were a Yankees fan or a Red Sox fan, I would definately be a different person that I am today. Watching my team lose year after year has made me a better person. I can't remember the other points of my speech, but that was the main one.
People from TN don't know what real cold is (says the kid from Indiana),
B
I'm starting to feel like a woman always blogging about food. My brother got me a Tyler Florence cookbook, a strainer, and a peeler for Christmas. We already had a peeler, but it's the thought that counts; plus, this one is a lot nicer than the one someone had given us before I moved down here.
I think I like to cook good food because it makes both me and other people happy. It's kind of an instant reward competition type thing for me I guess. If I can make something really good, where I know it's good and other people like it, too, then I'm going to feel gratification for my efforts right away; almost a sense a of victory.
I recently purchased an XBOX 360 with NCAA Basketball '09 and a few other games. Having never really played any of this generations, or even lasts', gaming systems, I initially started the game on its easiest setting. I struggled at first to figure out the two joysticks and eight buttons, but got the hang of it after a few games and was quickly winning easily. Of course I picked Indiana State as my dynasty team, which was a good and a bad choice. It was good because I had a fairly easy schedule; it was bad because I had pretty bad players. Thankfully the ease of difficulty along with my ability to run the same play repeatedly made the game a lot easier than it really is. To make a long story short, I ran off 39 victories on my way to a perfect season and a National Title.
I decided I would start the next season on the medium difficulty level. My first couple games were against pretty good teams, but no one extraordinary. Keep in mind, at this point I was used to blowing everyone out by 20-30, and sometimes more, points in 26 minute games. My third game was against Syracuse at the Maui Invitational. Nothing I did in this game worked. They were the 12th ranked team, I think, and absolutely destroyed me. I ended up losing by 18 or 20. I constantly yelled at the television almost the entire game. I couldn't figure anything out to beat them or even chip into their lead. By the end of the game I was so mad I couldn't handle it. I had to put my mp3 player on and do the freaking dishes (which needed done anyways) to get my mind off it and cool off. My brother was ready to kill me at this point.
The moral of the story is I absolutely can not stand to lose. For example, I told a 16 year old I was going to punch him in the face if he didn't stop cheating during ultimate frisbee this summer. I would never punch a 16 year old in the face unless it were in self-defense or in defense of a friend or family member in trouble, let's make that very clear. That was just an example of my competitive drive.
So maybe this is why I like to cook. It's something I can gain a sense of reward and pride from without really doing anything. And my lack of physical ability has nothing to do with it. I can't imagine how bad I would be if I were in really good shape and had real talent at a sport I loved. Even if a sports team I rooted for were dynastically-victorious (that might be the coolest thing I've ever said), I'd be overly arrogant and annoying about them.
So why the crap am I a Cubs fan?
Good question. I gave a speech in college about why being a Cubs fan is the best thing in the world. It was in a sales class, so I had to pitch it to the class like a product. Most of them thought it was funny so they went along with it and I got an A. I think losing keeps me humble. If I were a Yankees fan or a Red Sox fan, I would definately be a different person that I am today. Watching my team lose year after year has made me a better person. I can't remember the other points of my speech, but that was the main one.
People from TN don't know what real cold is (says the kid from Indiana),
B
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Too tired to sleep.
In church today, we reaffirmed our baptisms. After the sermon (which was very good), the entire congregation stood, as they were able, and responded together to the traditional baptism ceremony questions. Once we had affirmed our belief in God, Jesus the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, we were invited to the front of the church to touch the water in the baptismal font and, if we wished, touch or make the sign of the cross on our foreheads.
I must add here that for some reason I have always been very hesitant about things like this. It's not that I don't want to do it, it's that I don't want to do it the wrong way. Because I sit and watch each person before and after me do exactly what I just did, but in their own way, and then analyze it in my mind, I assume they are doing the same thing when I partake. I know I shouldn't be this worried about others passing judgement on me, especially in church, but I am and always have been.
Watching those go before me this morning was different than any ceremony like this I've ever been apart of. I've taken communion by intinction several times and been to many Ash Wednesday services or anointing, which are all performed in a similar fashion (the congregation goes to the front of the church and performs the act one by one, then returns to their seat). This morning, it wasn't a rush to return to ones seat, after dipping a finger in the water, like it often seems. This morning, it seemed like we really were all children being baptized. Perhaps it was my own state of mind driving my perception, but it all seemed so calm and refreshing.
For the past 11 months, we've had a leak in the ceiling of our living room. Our landlord has attempted to fix it on a few occasions to no avail. About a month ago (it's been a long month), my brother and I returned home from work one rainy day to a constant stream of water coming from our ceiling and pooling about two feet from my sound system and television. A few strategically placed trash cans and one harshly-toned e-mail later, we finally had real progress being done to fix the leak. During this month, we've had many of the contents of our living room in our dining room in piles, which has made living in our apartment more difficult than normal.
This past week the holes the cut in our ceiling to find the source of the leak were filled and painted over. Tomorrow morning, we're having our carpets cleaned. By tomorrow night, I hope that our living room and dining room will be returned to their "normal" state. We also had a new couch and chair delivered last week, so having new furniture amongst the mess only added to it. Being able to arrange our furniture and set everything back in place tomorrow evening will probably take awhile, but it will be very rewarding to have our apartment back.
I spent most of the day Saturday at church helping to set-up for the youth group's carnival, silent auction, and talent show (all one large event) that were happening that evening. It was a very long day spending more than nine hours at church, but a very fun day as well. I have been working with the youth group here for almost a year now, but this weekend was the first event where I felt 100% comfortable with everything I was doing. It takes a lot of time to get to know 20+ seventh through 12th graders. This weekend was the first time I felt like I could ask any of them to help me, or any of the other leaders, and not feel uncomfortable doing so.
I hope this weekend stays fresh in my mind for many weekends to come. It has been a very tiring weekend, but I'm almost too tired to sleep because of how excited I am for the days and weeks to come. It has been a weekend where I've renewed my baptism and reaffirmed myself as a follower of God's only Son, Jesus. It has been a weekend where I've (almost) got my apartment back and better than ever. It has been a weekend where I've found a new church home here in Nashville. I even genuinely rooted for Vanderbilt in their game against Tennessee today.
All of these thoughts come with a sense of guilt, like I'm turning my back on my church and youth group in Indiana and my Indiana State Sycamores, but if I don't realize that life moves on, I never will. I love the youth I worked with in Indiana more than they know and I will come to love the youth I work with here more than they know, it comes with the territory. I will always be a Sycamore and no one can ever take that from me. And I will always be a Hoosier by birth, for the great state of Indiana is my home.
With those thoughts also comes great joy. Two years ago I never would have fathomed moving away from home. I am a better person for moving to Tennessee. I am my own person because I moved to Tennessee. I look forward for what's to come. Thanks for reading.
-B
P.S. I'm reminded each year upon attending the Vandy/UT game that if, somehow, my children have southern accents, I will be giving them up for adoption.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
I FORGOT TO ADD A TITLE!
I wore a sweater vest, for the first time, to work last week. My arms got so cold I had to go home and change into a sleeved-sweater. I'm not overly proud to admit this.
I listen to ESPN radio five or six hours a day; the last hour of Mike & Mike, three hours of Colin Cowherd, and two hours of Tirico & Van Pelt. I stop listening at 2:00 for some reason. Why do I love listening to Mike Tirico with Scott Van Pelt but switch to my mp3 player when SVP goes on by himself? I don't get it either, but it's what I do.
I don't use soap when I wash my hands at work because it smells like baby powder. I used the soap when I washed my hands after lunch. I regret doing this regardless how gross it might be.
I can't get the thought out of my head that I should move to Indianapolis in the fall. I love my life in Nashville and I know I will grow to love my new job, but Indiana is home. I don't think I'll move this soon though as I hate job-searching and am only in my second month of a job I have yet to even get a solid grasp on.
I listen to the same three or four songs every morning while I'm getting dressed and packing my lunch: In Your Atmosphere, Daughters, and Free Fallin' from John Mayer's "Where The Light Is." I do it mostly because I enjoy these songs, but also because they take approximately 15 minutes to play through and I know when I need to leave without looking at a clock.
I have over 12,000 songs on my computer. I would guess I've listened to maybe half of them at some point. I'm a music whore, but I have this idea that the best song I've never heard is floating out there somewhere and the only way I'm going to find it is if I keep looking/downloading/stealing.
Seriously, my hands reek of baby powder smelling green soap.
There should be hyphens used in the sentence above. You tell me where they go.
I'm currently hooked on NCAA Basketball '09 for my 360. I have my Indiana State Sycamores at 22-0 and ranked 9th. I'm only playing on the Junior Varsity difficulty because I'd never played the game before I started playing this season. I beat Illinois State 91-46 in a 26 minute game last night. I think I could step it up to the Varsity difficulty, but I'm so afraid of losing that I don't want to until next season when I have 4-star recruits coming.
I'm even afraid of losing in video games. I love it. My first Nintendo was a victim of my hatred for losing. I'm glad I've matured to a point where I don't beat my video games anymore. Those were the days...
I watched Home Alone and Home Alone 2 this Christmas season. They're both hilarious movies, with the original obviously being the best. I'd forgotten about the neighbor kid who tells them to bring him something French. The part where he's asking the van drivers questions cracks me up.
I haven't seen a John Mayer show in more than a year and a half. Rumor is he won't be touring again until the fall. Someone should probably make up some new rumors just to get my hopes up.
I'm making rosemary & olive oil marinated pork chops for dinner tonight. I hope they're good. I also hope I come home to a fixed ceiling in our apartment. It has had two huge holes in it for almost a month now and I'm sick of not having a livable living room.
There should be a hyphen there, too. It seems like I would just add them instead of commenting on it, but what fun is that? Blogging is about quantity and quality.
It's been approximately 11 months since I've had any fast food (I eat Subway, we've decided it doesn't count). I'm going to make it at least a year and who knows how long from there. The thought doesn't even cross my mind anymore to get it. I spend a little more money this way on food sometimes (on things like rosemary & olive oil marinated pork chops and roasted potatoes), but I know in the long run I'm better off. I don't know what switch flipped in my head where I just gave it up, but I'm glad it did. I have a lot of friends who tell me they could never give it up. I would have told you the same thing a year ago, but look at me now. I wish I had this kind of will-power and control with the rest of my life.
I like not having cell phone reception at my desk with the exception of about one square foot next to my desk phone. It allows me to text, but if someone calls me I can just tell them I don't have any reception and didn't get their call.
I probably shouldn't have said that last part...
I went on a mission trip to Arkansas with my youth group after my sophomore year of college. Our friend Derek, who is four and a half years older than me, went along. We'd drive by this mailbox everyday that was made out of an old plow. This is what we'd say:
By about the fourth day we were really tired of saying that, but we'd do it every time we passed it. I can still see that mailbox in my head. Maybe she'll be mine someday...
If only,
B
P.S. I would never allow myself to have such a hideous mailbox.
I listen to ESPN radio five or six hours a day; the last hour of Mike & Mike, three hours of Colin Cowherd, and two hours of Tirico & Van Pelt. I stop listening at 2:00 for some reason. Why do I love listening to Mike Tirico with Scott Van Pelt but switch to my mp3 player when SVP goes on by himself? I don't get it either, but it's what I do.
I don't use soap when I wash my hands at work because it smells like baby powder. I used the soap when I washed my hands after lunch. I regret doing this regardless how gross it might be.
I can't get the thought out of my head that I should move to Indianapolis in the fall. I love my life in Nashville and I know I will grow to love my new job, but Indiana is home. I don't think I'll move this soon though as I hate job-searching and am only in my second month of a job I have yet to even get a solid grasp on.
I listen to the same three or four songs every morning while I'm getting dressed and packing my lunch: In Your Atmosphere, Daughters, and Free Fallin' from John Mayer's "Where The Light Is." I do it mostly because I enjoy these songs, but also because they take approximately 15 minutes to play through and I know when I need to leave without looking at a clock.
I have over 12,000 songs on my computer. I would guess I've listened to maybe half of them at some point. I'm a music whore, but I have this idea that the best song I've never heard is floating out there somewhere and the only way I'm going to find it is if I keep looking/downloading/stealing.
Seriously, my hands reek of baby powder smelling green soap.
There should be hyphens used in the sentence above. You tell me where they go.
I'm currently hooked on NCAA Basketball '09 for my 360. I have my Indiana State Sycamores at 22-0 and ranked 9th. I'm only playing on the Junior Varsity difficulty because I'd never played the game before I started playing this season. I beat Illinois State 91-46 in a 26 minute game last night. I think I could step it up to the Varsity difficulty, but I'm so afraid of losing that I don't want to until next season when I have 4-star recruits coming.
I'm even afraid of losing in video games. I love it. My first Nintendo was a victim of my hatred for losing. I'm glad I've matured to a point where I don't beat my video games anymore. Those were the days...
I watched Home Alone and Home Alone 2 this Christmas season. They're both hilarious movies, with the original obviously being the best. I'd forgotten about the neighbor kid who tells them to bring him something French. The part where he's asking the van drivers questions cracks me up.
I haven't seen a John Mayer show in more than a year and a half. Rumor is he won't be touring again until the fall. Someone should probably make up some new rumors just to get my hopes up.
I'm making rosemary & olive oil marinated pork chops for dinner tonight. I hope they're good. I also hope I come home to a fixed ceiling in our apartment. It has had two huge holes in it for almost a month now and I'm sick of not having a livable living room.
There should be a hyphen there, too. It seems like I would just add them instead of commenting on it, but what fun is that? Blogging is about quantity and quality.
It's been approximately 11 months since I've had any fast food (I eat Subway, we've decided it doesn't count). I'm going to make it at least a year and who knows how long from there. The thought doesn't even cross my mind anymore to get it. I spend a little more money this way on food sometimes (on things like rosemary & olive oil marinated pork chops and roasted potatoes), but I know in the long run I'm better off. I don't know what switch flipped in my head where I just gave it up, but I'm glad it did. I have a lot of friends who tell me they could never give it up. I would have told you the same thing a year ago, but look at me now. I wish I had this kind of will-power and control with the rest of my life.
I like not having cell phone reception at my desk with the exception of about one square foot next to my desk phone. It allows me to text, but if someone calls me I can just tell them I don't have any reception and didn't get their call.
I probably shouldn't have said that last part...
I went on a mission trip to Arkansas with my youth group after my sophomore year of college. Our friend Derek, who is four and a half years older than me, went along. We'd drive by this mailbox everyday that was made out of an old plow. This is what we'd say:
B: You see that mailbox, dude?
D: Yeah, dude.
B: It's made out of a plow.
D. No way!
By about the fourth day we were really tired of saying that, but we'd do it every time we passed it. I can still see that mailbox in my head. Maybe she'll be mine someday...
If only,
B
P.S. I would never allow myself to have such a hideous mailbox.
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