"Cookies are made of butter and love."
~Norwegian Proverb

It is that time of the year when baking takes precedence over house cleaning in my household. My father in law requested baklava and cookies for Christmas. That signaled the open baking season. I dusted off the baking pans and opened my mother in law's gift. She got us a Kitchen Aid Professional Mixer and said, "Bring it home and use it to make "THE" cookies. You will thank me when you do not have to do all the mixing and kneading." I do not have the heart to tell her that I use my primitive baking implements (bowl and my hands) because that is where LOVE comes from. My mother in law also gave me several pounds of pecans so it will be the main nut this year.

I am sorting out my recipes last night and I thought about all the people I fed my cookies to and their favorites. I was grinning like a fool, reminiscing about my cookie memories. One memory I treasure is when my kids were small and they came home with their friends for milk and cookies after school like clockwork. I used to be a baking maniac on steroids. My cookie jar is always full and kids in the neighborhood knows that they can always get cookies at my house. Now my kids are grown and milk and cookies are not one of their priorities anymore. I only bake now-a-days for the holidays and a few special occasions.

I still get into the "zone" when I bake. It is like meditation. My senses are heightened and I feel blissful. The feel of the batter in my hands is glorious. The buttery aroma wafting from my kitchen is wonderful. The brown cookies and the colorful frosting and sprinkles makes me smile. The products of my labor are delicious. The butter and love reeks from their pores.

An article I just read proclaimed this:" I am not rich but I want for nothing. I am adequately housed and fed. I am well traveled and loved."

What a beautiful passage and how apropos for me and for a lot of people who are worried about the US economy. At least for now, I have a roof over my head and some food. I cry for people on foreclosures and those that are unemployed and hungry.

I listen with heavy heart to stories being told about the 1929 stock crash which precipitated the Great Depression. I do not want to spread gloom and doom but there is a possibility that our present recessionary status could slide to a full depression. I am praying fervently that it will not happen.

I guess what I am doing here is counting my blessings and reflecting on what I can do to help others in dire straits. Tears are good but action is better.

"Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do. Do without."
Jan DeBlieu, Less is More, Southern Journal.

Name Change and Blogspot

I am a tad disconcerted about AOL Journals closing its doors.

Though I am not a frequent journaler, I have met a lot of wonderful people through  J-Land. It is my second home where I can go when I am feeling joyful or sad. It's like that bar on the "Cheers" TV series.

I changed my journal's name in anticipation of the blogspot migration because I know another J-Land journaler also have my old journal name.

I signed up for Google and initiated a blog there. Here is the link if you are interested. http://gulfcoastdeesdiary.blogspot.com/

I am quite confused as to the migration process. I have another blog that I started for my kids with memories and recipes and I do not know if I have to create another blog to have that migrated too.

Here's to one and all: Cheers!

 

                                                        

 

 

TO: You-Know-Who-You-Are

 

"Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values. "

 

 

~Ayn Rand, US novelist (1905 - 1982)

                           

 

                                                           

 

I was driving to the airport today and this song came on the radio.  It made made me smile and I thought about you. This is our song, remember? I miss you and I love you.

Dad for 22 Years and Still Kickin' A$$!

 

 

Happy Father's Day to the Best Dad Ever!

 

 

 

L-O-V-E!

 

 

"One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life. That word is LOVE."

 

~Sophocles (496 BC - 406 BC)

 

US Economics

 

"An economist is a surgeon with an excellent scalpel and a rough-edged lancet, who operates beautifully on the dead and tortures the living."                         

 

~Nicholas Chamfort (1741 - 1794)

 

Thank you, Mike, for the graphics! 

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_1

The Mundane

 

"Humor is a spontaneous, wonderful bit of an outburst that just comes. It's unbridled, it's unplanned, it's full of surprises."

-Erma Bombeck

 

 

 

 

 

Hubby: Why is Paris Hilton on the cover of National Geographic?

 

Me: Because she is a party animal.

All I Want For Mother's Day

                     

My advice to you is get married:
if you find a good wife you'll be happy;
if not, you'll become a philosopher.

Socrates (470-399 B.C.)

 

                                    

Hubby: You know what to do. My seven sisters' roses need it. I know you're jetlagged but Home Depot is just around the corner. (Please!).

 

Kids: No iPod or Zune (I can't even find my cellphone most mornings!). Just download my music and send it to me or put it in CD(s) so I can listen to it on my laptop.  Why did I put this here? Because I know you little rascals read my blog!

Mother's Day Invitation

I am taking my family this weekend to see Anita Renfroe, a phe-Mom (genius, witty and wise), who somehow filled the void that  Erma Bombeck left. Check the You Tube below with her singing Momsense Song to the tune of William Tell Overture.

This entry is dedicated to all my friends who are MOMs for real and those who are MOMs in spirit.

I invite you all to my house on May 10th for a "Southern Belle Style High Tea." No hoop skirts required, come naked if you want but hats and gloves will be de riguer. Bring your twangiest accent or fake a British accent. I am concocting a surprise menu. Do not flinch, this will not be one of the "Bayou Nights" party I throw where I serve some bizarre stuff like nutria stew.               

(This is the edited version. I learn something everyday. Lesson learned the day I wrote the original entry: Though riesling and blogging rhyme, they are not compatible. Typos and grammar lapses result from the combination.)

                       

Life Changing Lecture

 

"Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night."

 

~Edgar Allan Poe, "Eleonora"
US short story author, editor, & poet (1809 - 1849)

 

                            

(This is Dr. Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture" video. He is smart, funny and awe inspiring. He is dying of pancreatic cancer. Check out his website at: Randy Pausch's Home Page )

 

To my daughter who dreams to be a math teacher, a biomedical engineer, a writer (oh, the agony of choosing a college major!)...

To my son who wants to be all of these: Doctor of Medicine, Broadway playwright, actor and director, Hollywood screenwriter and musical scorer, Disney Imagineer, poet, songwriter, fiction writer, and musical composer (among others)... 

 

Follow your dreams and live them! 

Aloha, Josh!

                           

In Loving Memory

Joshua Kalai Nakata, 23

Mililani, Hawaii

 

                           

May you rest in peace.

You died doing what you loved most, surfing the North Shore's banzai pipeline.

I remember you jovially teasing Gary as Jessi walked up the path to your house carrying an Easter Basket.  I remember your Mom "borrowing" Jessi because Gary will not go to his football practice not unless Jessi was there . I can still hear you and Chaz giggling and chanting, "Gary has a girlfriend!" at the back of your Mom's van when Gary came with a Teddy Bear and flowers for Jessi when we got in a car accident.

I feel for your Mom and Dad, Belinda and Gary Senior, for I would not like to survive any of my children. I wish I could hug Gary, Chaz and Rose, your brothers and sister, for I know their hearts are breaking.

 Aloha!  Hope the surf's up always where you are.  

Live Your Dreams!

"There is nothing like dream to create the future. Utopia to-day, flesh and blood tomorrow. "

 

~Victor Hugo, Les Miserables, 1862, French dramatist, novelist, & poet (1802 - 1885)

 

             

 

To my son, an Anglophile, who can't wait to go across the universe:

 

You have my permission to explore the world whenever you decide to do so. I will miss you so much that I will be filled with anxiety for your safety and well being while you are away but I will get over it.

 

Writing this may be  premature because you promised me that you do not intend to live in England until you get your college degree.  I guess I am concerned about your plan of going on an European trip. Though I know you have a record of making good decisions, your great passion for English artifacts and culture scares the bejeesus out of me. 

 

You got it here in writing. I will never hold you back and will support your decision whatever it is. You can't take me with you but you can take my unconditional  love in your heart. I do not have to write it but I will anyway: I love you more than you'll ever know.   

 

Mom

Love is...

"Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal."

 

- C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves

 

 

              

 

Three Years Ago.

 

Me: Why do you push away those who love you the most?

Her: I do not know. 

 

A Week Ago

 

Me: He adores you. Why do you push him away?

Her: Because I am scared.

Me: Scared of what?

Her: Scared that I am not the person he thinks I am. Scared thatI will be a burden and a hindrance from achieving his goals, ambitions, and dreams. Scared that he will have to give up something he loves because of me. Scared that I could die young and leave him confused, angry, and lonely.  

Me: Have you discussed this with him? 

Her: No. I am scared to.    

 

 

"Advance, and never halt, for advancing is perfection. Advance and do not fear the thorns in the path, for they draw only corrupt blood."
-Kahlil Gibran

Happy Valentine's Day

                                       

Since you're away and I can't buy you your favorite flowers, here's the virtual equivalent of giving them to you today. Someday, I'll take you to Holland and buy you all the tulips you'll ever want in your lifetime!  

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hear Me Roar!

 

I am Woman

by: Helen Reddy (1972)  

 

 I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again

CHORUS
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

You can bend but never break me
'cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

CHORUS

I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long long way to go
Until I make my brother understand

Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
Oh, I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong

FADE
I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I am woman

 

 

The Secret?

.

I read the book, The Secret. It is touted as "life changing." 

I like the book so I also watched the movie. That was a waste of time because the movie is the book, verbatim. The only thing added in the movie is the visual.

There's no secret in The Secret. The book renamed Peale's and Carnegie's concept of Positive Thinking and called it Law of Attraction. It's a mind over matter theory. 

I found a short clip of the book's concept on YOU TUBE and I thought it is share worthy. Watch it and tell me what you think.