Guest Blogging

My friend Denise is a regular blogger - and writes a blog I actually take the time to read. When I do read her blog/look at the fun pictures/read the comments from fellow readers I'm inspired to do more writing of my own. View From the Glen is the kind of "normal person" blog that reminds me that there are other people out there who have busy lives, sometimes have messy houses but who find ways everyday to appreciate their kids, their dogs (okay, I don't have a dog), their husbands - and all the good stuff that is not quite as huge as these things but still make a difference.

It doesn't always happen - the writing, I mean. I tend to have a slight obsession with digression and strangely, that translates into meaning to write but getting distracted by a thousand other things. Sometimes at the end of the day, I'm discouraged that I didn't write more; I'm disappointed that I let a lot of other things (like sub-par television, my strange obsession with the entertainment page of Huffington Post) get in the way of something I love to do.

Why don't I write more? I'm sure there's an answer but, just for today, instead of letting myself digress, I took a few minutes to blog.

Quick Dinner Party Help

A girlfriend sent me a text this morning asking what she could cook for a last minute dinner party that was impressive but really easy. My recommendation (sent over several texts):

Pork Tenderloin
Rub with rubbed sage, thyme, garlic, salt and pepper
Combine Balsamic Vinegar with Honey (and some optional olive oil)
Marinate if there's time
If not, use an oven proof skillet
Sear tenderloin on all sides
Place in 350 oven for about 25 minutes
Let rest about 5-10 minutes
Slice and serve

Serve with rice pilaf and steamed veggie of choice - oh look! There's dinner. :)

My Girl

I'm pretty lucky when it comes to friends. I have funny, smart people that are a text or fb message away and great friends who can talk to me on the phone for hours. But in this day and age of global careers and opportunities, not all of my people are close enough to go for coffee dates.

One of my best friends lives a longish plane ride away from me. She comes home much less frequently than I'd like but things like life, money, jobs and family tend to get in the way of weekend jaunts, casual mini vacations and the like. So, when she came home for a week-long stay due to a family emergency, I was concerned for her family member but grateful that she was able to spend time with me and my family. Our visits, however infrequent and brief are always filled with the kind of conversation I don't have with any of my other friends. They're full of laughter, horoscopes (?) and usually things I'd forgotten all about but which come flooding back to my consciousness while she's here.

Example: "Hey, did you ever finish the cookbook you were almost done last time I was here?" (Um, no - but in my defense, my hard drive crashed and it is still there "waiting.")

Example #2: "Hey, remember you were going to start a book club - whatever came of that?"
(Um, nothing - I still think I COULD start a book club - I just haven't actually done that yet.)

The thing that strikes me each time she gets back on a plane for her new tropical home is how much I miss having her here when she leaves. While she's visiting, all of these things seem possible and likely. All of the wine we drink is slightly more delicious and appreciated. She sees qualities in me I tend to forget exist without her gentle reminders and I love how she thinks I'm so much more "everything" than I suspect I actually am.

Years ago, when we lived together, she was still that same staunch supporter of everything I am/was - but in a constant dose I believed her more of a dreamer than an "inspirer." It was like a constant ego stroke. I made the best chocolate chip cookies (not even close), the best chicken and dumplings (which ironically, she couldn't eat because she was a vegetarian back then), the best exaggerator (which I sort of still am) and a million other things.

She got on a plane this morning and will most likely be gone for a long time. I shall do my best to remember how great she thinks I am while she's gone. I suspect she'll still be a better supporter of me than I ever can be.

The Errant Blogger?

Here we are with a new year - and a new blog post. Once a year sounds about right doesn't it? (sigh)

Blogging is clearly not my strong suit. I've begun making reading them more of a priority, except that even then I tend to stray or neglect even the ones I like...

I've been reading more books. Perhaps I'll actually blog about some of them. When I was pregnant some time ago a cousin told me to read all I could while on bedrest because that would probably be the last I read for quite some time. When she said it, I dutifully nodded - but thought - pfffft - as if I won't read with the same voracity as I do now - and then my kids turned two and I began reading again... (sigh again)

Regardless, I have to tip my hat to all the serious bloggers out there who entertain me and others. There's a lot more to it than it seems...

Officially Autumn

I was supposed to have plans this morning and had arranged for a babysitter. The plans did not materialize but I didn't want to cancel the sitter as the kids were very excited to have a "playdate" - so here I am at my favourite coffeehouse with a grande house blend and a laptop.

I've been reading other blogs and accidentally stumbled back on my own pitiful blog - with three posts in 3 years. Not exactly indicative of all thing things I "intend" to say.

As I walked out the door this morning I immediately turned back around for my wrap - and realized that if I were chilly enough for a wrap, it mean autumn had finally arrived. I'm not complaining; I love the crispness in the air and the smell of the falling leaves, even if my perennial brown-eyed susans are now in need of being cut down for next year and the remnants in the garden need to be pulled.

It also means there's new soups to try and crock pots to dig out.

Fall is here. Let the comfort food cooking begin!

Once a year?

Wow - I just decided to try to remember what the title of my blog was so I could post something new. Several of my friends and acquaintances have begun working on new blogs and I thought I might join them.

It was somewhat disheartening to discover that I've posted twice in the last two years. Sigh.

I wonder if I'll have a better track record now that I'm putting the kids on the school bus each morning.

Let's Try Again

More and more of my friends have begun to blog. Some of them write really wonderful blogs (Alyssa, Denise, Betty) and others are only in the "thinking about it" process.

I'm particularly intrigued by Alyssa's blog based on the Day Zero Project. (I'd post the link to her blog but she isn't ready for the world to see it yet.)

I do believe it makes sense for this to be my new blog project - and will, coincidentally, be the first thing listed on my 101 when I sit down to write it.

As I read through the previous posts on this blog, I note the first post noted that I was about to start a new job. I did start that job - but I left it just short of a year in. I'm in month 4 of my new job - I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed to discuss it as per my agreement - but I have a feeling some of it will work into the words found here.