Overkill!!!

So James and I decided to make curry last night....

We started with the recipe on the jar of curry paste and decided to double it. We like leftovers! I think the recipe called for 16 ounces of vegetables (that's already doubled) and by the time we had cut up garlic, ginger, onions and celery we had already met that requirement. So we proceeded to add about 2 lbs of chicken, 5 lbs of potatoes, half a head of cabbage, a bunch of bak choy, carrots and red bell pepper. Do you think we over did it a bit?

We added the remainder of the jar of curry paste and are still needing more. James gets to go to the store to buy more curry paste today.

This is not the first time (nor will it be the last) that I have over done it when cooking. I tend to cook enough food to feed somewhere around 5-10 times the people I am really cooking for. I remember in college I made beef stew and fed our household (with some guests) the guys house, a leftover pot in the fridge and at least 2 big containers in the freezer. I just can't help it! It might have a little to do with the fact that I don't cook with recipes...or rather I don't follow the recipe if I have one. I use recipes as general guidelines or ideas, also I don't usually measure things (with the exception of baking, then I measure at least half the ingredients).

Thankfully James and I both like to eat and he doesn't complain about anything I make! I guess it's a good thing that I don't mind having people over to our house. So if you're hungry, come on over, I can pretty much guarantee that we will have enough food for you too!

Happy Birthday Marines!

Today marks the 233rd Birthday of the United States Marine Corp! My dad retired after serving 21 years as a Marine, so "Happy Birthday!"

Side note: There are NO Ex-Marines, "Once a Marine, Always a Marine!"

James found this year's Commandant's Birthday message, and my dad forwarded a Birthday Card created by GoDaddy. Enjoy!

If you know a Marine or see one around, wish them a "Happy Birthday!"

I also want to say "Thank You!" to all of our Service Men and Women! I appreciate all that you do and the sacrifices that you and your families make to allow us and others to enjoy the freedoms and safety that we have. Thank You!

I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but....

Believe it or not, I do realize we are still in the first half of November, but.....


I still couldn't help watching a Christmas movie and listening to some Christmas music yesterday. James had to go to work early and after I got up, fed the dogs and cats, read a book and couldn't find anything good on TV, I decided to put on a movie. I looked through our DVD stash and kept coming back to all the Christmas movies we have (much to James' dismay I am sure; I can't help buying them). It was cold outside, slightly chilly inside (I don't keep our heater turned up very high: I figure it is cheaper to use a blanket or sweatshirt that we already own, than to spend more money running the heater), so I filled up my mug with hot coffee (with Peppermint Mocha creamer, very fitting) and put on "The Santa Clause." I quite enjoyed my little precursor to the holiday season. Then, I remembered that Barlow Girl put out a new Christmas CD; so I went on iTunes and downloaded it. While I was there I remembered another Christmas cd that had been broken, so I downloaded it as well. Thus ensued my listening to Christmas music on November 8th.


I did manage to keep myself from putting up any lights or other decorations. That usually happens just after Thanksgiving. I will do my best to wait until then, but as far as movies and music...I figure I already opened the floodgate, so why stop now :) James is not working today, so the likelihood of a Christmas movie is next to none, but tomorrow is another day!

STMLIG

So I know you are all asking: "What the heck is STMLIG?"


Well, I have to confess that I did not come up with it. I have to defer all credit to my dad.

It all came about many years ago, back when I was still using a dial-up internet connection (I have upgraded quite a bit since then). My dad created an email address for me with the name "stmlig". It took him repeating himself several times, for me to believe that indeed I had written the email address correctly. Now before I let you in on the meaning, you have to understand a little about my dad. He is nearly always positive. One of his favorite sayings is: "it's like water off a duck's back." I learned to go with the mentality that if you can't change something, then it's not worth worrying about. Now this is not to say that we should give up or give in; but that our efforts can be best used toward something productive, of which worrying is not. My dad is such a great inspiration to me. He is strong, kind, compassionate, protective, loving and fun! I am thankful that I have gained a similar personality, although I am far from attaining all of those characteristics that I find in him. Now back to the email address....

Once I became convinced that I had spelled it correctly I became rather silent, still not sure how in the world my dad picked this email address for me. After all, I have a rather unique name so one would think that you could create an email address with that (remember this is back when many people didn't have an email address, much less 5; so there were still a lot of options to choose from). He finally asked me if I new what "STMLIG" meant and I of course replied "umm, no."

He thankfully did not wait long to share the secret of STMLIG with me...........

Seize The Moment, Life Is Good!


It helps me remember some important things (here are a few):

I need to be thankful in my present circumstances

I can take advantage of opportunities that present themselves

I won't back down in the face of fear

I need to take joy in today, not worry about yesterday and not fret about tomorrow

I know God is Good and has good in store for me

I have a lot more energy to focus on making a difference, if I spend less time concerned with things that I have no control over