The Protective Powers of Food

Got home last night and wanted to cook the big Russet potato I had, so I sliced it up, sautéed it in olive oil (good so far, right?), sprinkled on onion powder and garlic powder (I was out of the real thing), and freshly milled black pepper. Then I thoroughly enjoyed each bite ... with catsup. Yum! I hardly ever use catsup. It's good! 

Okay, so my diet went due south when I added the catsup; but, after relaxing in my La-Z-Boy and reading for awhile, it went even further south when I brought out the tequila and fresh limes. Lemme see. What is the pattern of doing this? Oh, yeah: Salt, tequila, lime. Repeat. 


Only two shots. All natural ingredients, right? 

Even though I sat and read another hour or more, I never felt the tequila. The olive oil and potatoes must have protected me! Yes?

Or ... maybe it was the catsup!

Coincidence? Sure Makes Me Think....

Last week, I happened to catch the movie Deep Impact on TV—an asteroid races toward earth, hits the southeast coast of the US, and tidal waves wipe out the eastern seaboard within minutes. Then, last Friday, the Japan quake and tsunami. Taken in context, the special effects on TV were amazing; but the actual photos from Japan were horrifying. So many people dead with little or no warning, unable to escape in time. 


Makes me think how life can change in the blink of an eye ... or a twitch of the ground. Makes me think about appreciating what I have while I have it. Makes me think I need to be sure to say 'thank you' and 'I love you' more ... before an unexpected blink of the eye takes away a person I love. 

Make Mine a Double

What's the point behind single-ply tissue? 

Does anyone actually count it out by the number of squares? 

Heck, no! You go by feel! 

Single-ply? Roll out twice as much, or until it feels right in your hand. 

Don't argue with me now. You know I'm right....

Temptation? Or Maybe Not...

Does temptation exist if you don't resist? Or does the term 'temptation' imply resistance on one's part? And resistance to something you should not have, should not do, or should not think? 


I can't be 'tempted' with beef liver, for example. I hate it. Always have. Always will. Even my wonderful kitchen goddess of a grandmother could not spice it up or saute it up with enough onions to cause me to ask for more. And I'm never 'tempted' to do an extra push-up or run an extra lap ... or do much formal exercise at all, frankly! But a piece of rich, dark chocolate or a glass of full-bodied red wine? No resistance there! So are chocolate and wine temptations for me, or not?


Maybe temptation contains the idea that something pleasurable could be harmful if you overindulge. Chocolate or wine, in moderation, bring pleasure to my senses—and even benefit to my body. Perhaps temptation kicks in only with that desire to go back again and again, to have more, to overindulge! Desire. Temptation. Yep, twins....