I read blogs. Lots of blogs. I have a list on my computer of ones that I follow and ones that I will someday read, and that list is long and grows everyday. Actually it's not that much different than my list of books to read.
Why do I follow blogs? Mostly it's that I just love to read. I believe reading ANYTHING will teach you something new, whether it's reading a great novel or just reading the back of your shampoo bottle. You always learn something new.
Another reason I read blogs is because I am truly interested in how other people live, how they deal with problems, how they interact with the rest of the world, what they do for fun, etc. Reading about someone's life in NYC is pretty fascinating to me, since I've known nothing other than small town life.
I read the blogs of people I know and lots of people I don't know. Maybe that makes me a bit of a snoop, but I'm not trying to invade anyone's privacy. I'm just curious. But, I guess if you have a blog, some of your privacy is out the window anyhow. Also, I should make a point here that I follow most of these blogs anonymously because I'm too much of a chicken to make my presence known. Stupid, I know.
That being said, I just read today on one of my favorite blogs that the writer has decided to take an indefinite break because of so many hurtful comments she's received in the past few days regarding what people think she's like, how she lives, her outlook on life, everything. In her words, she's been "raked over the coals", and she's decided that to protect her heart and her head, she needs to step away. I'm disappointed on many counts. Firstly, because I really enjoy her writing. But mostly I'm disappointed because it's just more evidence of the cruelty some people inhibit.
I've never understood how people can take satisfaction out of the misery of others. How they can treat people like garbage and live with themselves. What justification does someone have in saying that a certain person deserves to be a punching bag and the world is better without them? It makes me sick, sad, mad, depressed all at the same time. If you don't like someone, avoid them. If you don't like certain music, change the station. If you don't like what someone is writing, don't read it. Pretty simple.
Maybe I'm naive. I believe the world should be worth living in, and everyone should treat others as they themselves would want to be treated. A difference in opinion should never be a deal-breaker. I don't care for country music, but I don't hate country music fans. I dislike the Dallas Cowboys, but I don't hate Cowboys fans. I may not agree with what everyone writes, but I always have the option to stop reading. It's called freedom of choice. And, it's also freedom of choice to make the decision to treat people with respect and kindness, instead of derision and meanness. Or as the old saying goes, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all".
It just makes me incredibly sad to know that there are people who derive happiness by treating others so terribly. What do they truly get out of it?
I mean, really, what's the point?
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Hop Up on the Bandwagon
Tonight I'm going to become something I always abhorred during high school: a bandwagon fan.
A little background:
I played basketball in high school. I was never a starter (I got as close as the 7th man), but I got a fair amount of playing time. We were good, and I'm not bragging when I say that. We were really good (okay maybe a little bragging). As in, we went to the state tournament three times in a row in the mid-1990's. (when I was a junior and senior, and they went again after my class graduated). One local area coach remarked, after he was asked if Milnor would be able to regroup after graduating my class of 5 players, that Milnor doesn't regroup, they just reload. We never won state, but to be one out of the 8 teams in the state tournament is a big deal. Let me rephrase, in North Dakota it's a huge deal. North Dakota Class B basketball is the king among sports in our state. Heady times in those days.
However, you always knew when it was tournament time because our hometown crowd would at least double in size during the tournament games. You would see faces in the crowd that you hadn't seen since the previous year's district, regional or state tournaments. And, I didn't really like it. You would think that having a bigger crowd to root us on would have made me happy. But, whether it was being an obstinate teenager or if it was just sour grapes, I felt slighted. Why couldn't these fans show up during the regular season games when we worked our asses off to get to where we are now? Now that it's time to receive a trophy for what we've done, now you want to see us play? Bandwagon fans. And, I didn't appreciate them one bit.
And, now here I am. A bandwagon fan. Something I told myself I would never become. My hometown (and current town) girls basketball team is playing in regionals this week. They won in a quarter-final game last night that not many people thought they stood a chance in. And, I want to send a huge Congratulations!! to them for that. The semi-finals are tonight, and I'm going to watch them play. This will be the first game I've seen all year in person, boys or girls. And, I'm pretty shamed by that fact.
Every year before basketball season starts I tell myself that I'm going to go to the games. Maybe not every game, but most of the home ones anyway. It never happens. I always decide that I don't have enough time, I'm too tired, yada-yada. Sorry excuses. And, in turn, I now realize that the "bandwagon" fans during our day are just like me. Life and time pass by fast. What was once the start of the season is now almost the end.
So, I will head to Wahpeton tonight to cheer on the Milnor Bison. Win or lose, they finished out the year strong, and that's something to be proud of.
And, I will reflect tonight on my own time spent playing and then winning the Regional Tournament. It was an awesome time, and I would never have traded it for anything in the world.
Go Bison!!!
A little background:
I played basketball in high school. I was never a starter (I got as close as the 7th man), but I got a fair amount of playing time. We were good, and I'm not bragging when I say that. We were really good (okay maybe a little bragging). As in, we went to the state tournament three times in a row in the mid-1990's. (when I was a junior and senior, and they went again after my class graduated). One local area coach remarked, after he was asked if Milnor would be able to regroup after graduating my class of 5 players, that Milnor doesn't regroup, they just reload. We never won state, but to be one out of the 8 teams in the state tournament is a big deal. Let me rephrase, in North Dakota it's a huge deal. North Dakota Class B basketball is the king among sports in our state. Heady times in those days.
However, you always knew when it was tournament time because our hometown crowd would at least double in size during the tournament games. You would see faces in the crowd that you hadn't seen since the previous year's district, regional or state tournaments. And, I didn't really like it. You would think that having a bigger crowd to root us on would have made me happy. But, whether it was being an obstinate teenager or if it was just sour grapes, I felt slighted. Why couldn't these fans show up during the regular season games when we worked our asses off to get to where we are now? Now that it's time to receive a trophy for what we've done, now you want to see us play? Bandwagon fans. And, I didn't appreciate them one bit.
And, now here I am. A bandwagon fan. Something I told myself I would never become. My hometown (and current town) girls basketball team is playing in regionals this week. They won in a quarter-final game last night that not many people thought they stood a chance in. And, I want to send a huge Congratulations!! to them for that. The semi-finals are tonight, and I'm going to watch them play. This will be the first game I've seen all year in person, boys or girls. And, I'm pretty shamed by that fact.
Every year before basketball season starts I tell myself that I'm going to go to the games. Maybe not every game, but most of the home ones anyway. It never happens. I always decide that I don't have enough time, I'm too tired, yada-yada. Sorry excuses. And, in turn, I now realize that the "bandwagon" fans during our day are just like me. Life and time pass by fast. What was once the start of the season is now almost the end.
So, I will head to Wahpeton tonight to cheer on the Milnor Bison. Win or lose, they finished out the year strong, and that's something to be proud of.
And, I will reflect tonight on my own time spent playing and then winning the Regional Tournament. It was an awesome time, and I would never have traded it for anything in the world.
Go Bison!!!
Friday, February 12, 2010
Valentine's Day
Ah the weekend of love is upon us, and another Valentine's Day approaches. To say I am ho-hum about the whole thing is really overstating how much I care about Valentine's Day. I think I used to care, but that would have been many, many years ago. Now it's just another day, sadly kinda like my birthday.
I know that there are people out there in love with love. Hallmark has made mega-bucks with the promotion of this particular holiday. Cards, flowers, chocolates galore! You can't walk into any store without being bombarded with the fact that you need to get on the ball and get your sweetie something special. And, for your effort, your love shall be eternal. All because you plopped down $10 on a card, whose uttering of love was written by someone else, and a cheap box of chocolates. I can feel the romance in the air. Can't you?
Maybe it's just sour grapes on my part. I haven't received a Valentine's-branded gift in years. My husband doesn't show his love with flowers and candy. He does it by making most of the meals in our house, giving our vehicles oil changes, and trudging in the snow to cut wood to keep our house warm in the winter, among other things. He may not be the most romantic person in the world, but I'm not either. I like candy, but we still have stockpiles of Sofia's Halloween candy left. I like flowers, but they only last for a few days. I don't need the usual trappings of Valentine's to know that I'm loved. I'm quite content without.
There you have it. I'm not anti-Valentine's Day, but I don't mark the day on my calendar with a giant red heart either. It will come and go. I do love love, but I'm not shelling out to Hallmark to prove it. They're doing just fine without me.
Just a note to those of you who do like flowers: Do not ever, under any circumstances, ever mention to your significant other that you think flowers are impractical. You will never receive another one again. Never. I am living proof. Ok, there are some sour grapes. But, I digress.
So for those of you who care:
Happy Valentine's Day!
I know that there are people out there in love with love. Hallmark has made mega-bucks with the promotion of this particular holiday. Cards, flowers, chocolates galore! You can't walk into any store without being bombarded with the fact that you need to get on the ball and get your sweetie something special. And, for your effort, your love shall be eternal. All because you plopped down $10 on a card, whose uttering of love was written by someone else, and a cheap box of chocolates. I can feel the romance in the air. Can't you?
Maybe it's just sour grapes on my part. I haven't received a Valentine's-branded gift in years. My husband doesn't show his love with flowers and candy. He does it by making most of the meals in our house, giving our vehicles oil changes, and trudging in the snow to cut wood to keep our house warm in the winter, among other things. He may not be the most romantic person in the world, but I'm not either. I like candy, but we still have stockpiles of Sofia's Halloween candy left. I like flowers, but they only last for a few days. I don't need the usual trappings of Valentine's to know that I'm loved. I'm quite content without.
There you have it. I'm not anti-Valentine's Day, but I don't mark the day on my calendar with a giant red heart either. It will come and go. I do love love, but I'm not shelling out to Hallmark to prove it. They're doing just fine without me.
Just a note to those of you who do like flowers: Do not ever, under any circumstances, ever mention to your significant other that you think flowers are impractical. You will never receive another one again. Never. I am living proof. Ok, there are some sour grapes. But, I digress.
So for those of you who care:
Happy Valentine's Day!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Changes
Nothing too big. Just decided to change my moniker. Small town girl was fairly simplistic, and I had originally decided to title my blog as that because I really am not all that creative. But, I wanted something different, so I turned to where I always turn for answers: music. As you know (because I've beaten you all into submission with it), I love Led Zeppelin, so I decided to go that way. I debated calling this blog Tangerine Tales (decided that was definitely not me), Black Dog, or What Is And What Should Never Be (still kind of partial to this one). But, in the end, I settled on Over the Hills and Far Away. I like it because, not only is it one of my favorite songs, but also because it can describe a place, a state of mind, or any of the other generalities of my life. So there you have it, what is old becomes new again...to me anyway. I am still a small town girl, can't escape that fact. But, I'm now over the hills and far away. Unless the Led Zeppelin legal team decides otherwise and issues me a cease and desist order. That wouldn't be the coolest.
Although maybe it could be my ticket to meeting them...yeah, I seriously doubt it too. I'll have to keep scheming to make that particular dream come true.
Although maybe it could be my ticket to meeting them...yeah, I seriously doubt it too. I'll have to keep scheming to make that particular dream come true.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Chicken Spaghetti Recipe
Because I rarely cook and because this was the first recipe I ever went free-style on, I thought I better record it for posterity. It actually turned out really well. Delicious even. And, although I almost blew up the stove (I think it was pissed at me - I've ignored it for quite awhile. Who was I to think I could cook on her? The very idea.), the meal turned out. This happened in the middle of boiling chicken (I didn't even know you could do that. How ignorant am I?). But, after Lee did some handyman work, we were back up and running, no worse for the wear. And, I actually fed my family. Score! But, I haven't done it since. Fail. Oh well, I'll give her another go soon. However, I will be donning some protective gear next time in case the stove wants to get up in my business again. Not in my...er, Lee's kitchen.
Chicken Spaghetti
1 (7 ounce) package ready cut spaghetti
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 (10.75 ounce) can cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
1 (10.75 ounce) can cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 can diced tomatoes w/chile peppers, drained
1 cup milk
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. garlic powder or salt (I used powder because that's all I had)
1/4 tsp. onion powder
A pinch of salt (I have a low tolerance for salt, so I use a minimum)
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1. Bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Add chicken, then turn down to a simmer. Let simmer about 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. - If stove blows a fuse, this step may take a little longer. :) When chicken is cooked through, remove from water. Cut into bite-size pieces.
2. Using the same water used to boil chicken, cook the spaghetti according package instructions. When spaghetti is finished cooking, drain and rinse, then return to pan.
3. Add to the pan the chicken, both soups, the diced tomatoes, milk, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Combine until ingredients are mixed through.
4. Transfer to a greased 13x9x2-inch baking dish and sprinkle with the shredded Cheddar cheese.
5. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.
Delicious? Yes. Low-fat? Ummm no. Do I care? Not one bit. I thought it was great, and I actually made it without any help from Lee (well except for fixing the stove). That's all that matters to me.
Chicken Spaghetti
1 (7 ounce) package ready cut spaghetti
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 (10.75 ounce) can cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
1 (10.75 ounce) can cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 can diced tomatoes w/chile peppers, drained
1 cup milk
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. garlic powder or salt (I used powder because that's all I had)
1/4 tsp. onion powder
A pinch of salt (I have a low tolerance for salt, so I use a minimum)
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1. Bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Add chicken, then turn down to a simmer. Let simmer about 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. - If stove blows a fuse, this step may take a little longer. :) When chicken is cooked through, remove from water. Cut into bite-size pieces.
2. Using the same water used to boil chicken, cook the spaghetti according package instructions. When spaghetti is finished cooking, drain and rinse, then return to pan.
3. Add to the pan the chicken, both soups, the diced tomatoes, milk, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Combine until ingredients are mixed through.
4. Transfer to a greased 13x9x2-inch baking dish and sprinkle with the shredded Cheddar cheese.
5. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.
Delicious? Yes. Low-fat? Ummm no. Do I care? Not one bit. I thought it was great, and I actually made it without any help from Lee (well except for fixing the stove). That's all that matters to me.
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