I'm sure that we all can agree that we have skewed memories of childhood. We all remember things larger, better, worse, and forever when compared to the reality of the situation. This is just for perspective.

This morning, we have enjoyed an idyllic provincial and perfect weekend beginning. I remember 2 things that have long been favorite family rituals from my youngest days. Some of my favorite Saturday mornings included my old man making waffles. Other favorite moments include quiet moments sponsored by my mother and our old turntable playing J.S. Strauss waltzes. I had put a playlist on the Winamp which started with some accapella, and ended with der Koenigswalzer, Tales from the Vienna Woods, and the Beautiful Blue Danube. The Blue Danube ended just minutes after we had finished breakfast.

I had timed it out approximately, but it had worked better than I had hoped. What a beautiful way to properly begin the weekend. Now we're off to visit a friend or two. We hope that you enjoy your weekend too!

I don't usually get to watch 60 minutes, and I usually enjoy it. Even by the standards that they usually set, this is a well done piece. It has references to several studies that should probably be looked at by myself and anyone else who really has an interest. Most importantly, it seems to be a really good jumping off point for some excellent discussion on what makes each of us individually happy.

The Truth is Out There

and this seems to me, to be some of it!

http://60minutes.yahoo.com/segment/140/happiness

take the few minutes to look at this whole bit. Post a thought here if you care to.

Peace!

I would like to thank anybody for their patience of waiting for the return to posting. I hope that you are not disappointed by what you find here today:

This evening, I had a hankering for the flavor of stuffed shells. I did a little web crawling and found the backbone of the recipe that I needed and this is what it turned into. Please bear in mind that the measurements are approximate, and you should play with them to your taste. I eyeballed the volumes that went in to be about what I've put down here.

STUFFED SHELLS MARINARA a la SPEC2RE

1pkg shells, Boiled, then cooled for handling

The Marinara
16 oz. Tomato Sauce
16 oz. Diced Tomatoes (1 can)
2 oz. Sliced mushrooms (1/4 of a large jar)
4 cloves of garlic
1/4 white onion
1 Tbl. Basil (moist from jar)
1/2 cup finely chopped Kale
Other Spices:
Oregano
Thyme

Simmered in a small saucepan for about 1/2 hour while I prepared the cheese mixture, and boiled the Pasta which I then cooled in cold water.

The Cheese mixture:
1/2 package Ricotta
1/2 lb. Mozzarella, shredded
1/3 cup Romano
1/3 cup Parmesan
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
2-4 Tbl yellow label syrup (if you're not in Dixie, then try light corn syrup)
2-4 Tbl Garlic Powder

Mix these in a bowl and stuff the shells with them, placing them into a casserole dish which you put half of the Marinara in the bottom of. Once the dish is full, cover with the rest of the Marinara, and dot the shells with any remaining Cheese Mixture.

Bake in preheated oven @ 375 for about 30-35 minutes depending on if you're using glass or other insulating dish.

Serve and enjoy! This looks like it should feed about 4-6 hungry people... or 8 birds like my sister.

I hope that anybody who tries this would please let me know what they have to say on the subject. I like the results, and find that this particular sweet/garlic in the cheese was rather nice, although I will be trying it without the syrup in the future.

Thank you for reading! Happy cooking!

So, there we are: car payment, regular rent check out, couple of credit cards.

Check, Check, Check. I'm just a-pluggin' along, singing my song.

It strikes me as I notice that my son has lodged a suction cup dart from his dart gun on the globe for the light in the entryway. It strikes me: We are a middle america household! Dog: Check. Cat: Check. Pets get along although dog chases squirrels and other cats out of backyard with glee: Also Check.

life is good

my life is wierd. I like it.

Soon may be pugilism in my back yard a la SCA Heavy Combat.

That would be nice.

Catharsis is what I've been missing in my down time... what little I have.

full time soldier, father, husband, college student, and then some.

Life is good.

My life is wierd.

I like it.

All this, and I can't quite get the basic Turkish March right!

eh, Back to the keyboard for more... ;)

enjoy y'all!

I haven't seen somebody handle a guitar this way before, and this was a nice choice for his style. I hope you all enjoy it. :)

<it's good to be doing anything, again>

ok, so I've been watching too much muppets, but bear with me.

Note that I have a new photo album up: New Sewing Projects. I have recently been the glad recipient of a wonderful old solid Singer Zig-Zag Sewing machine. The pictures are of my first couple of projects: a jeans pattern in fun-fur, and a black flannel pair of over alls for my son's dilapidated sleeping buddy: Twinkle Bear.

My Son, as you can see in the picture above; Has been shooting right up. This summer, he got plenty of sunshine between being with his mother's parents, his grandparents on my side for a week, and being chased out of the house anytime it's sunny here in LA (usually).

L.A. is a running joke: Lower Alabama. The most cultured thing about htis region are the people that leave, or the movie house which shows anything that Hollywood has sent us. I will admit that I was amazed that there is an organization in Montgomery, by the name of "Shakespear Festival" which keeps decent plays coming into the middle of the state. That's only an hour and a half from us, so I'm not too unhappy about it, let me tell you. Also, NPR is represented in one radio station that comes in clear here. I'm still glad about that too... I try to balance the Fox and CNN news with an early dose of NPR on my way in to work in the morning. But of late, I've been going in earlier than All Things Considered, so I've gotten the wonder of Audiobooks!

James Patterson Rocks!

And in unrelated News: Cary Elwes is fun to listen to. I get a kick out of his subtle, and physical humor in his acting and am not dissapointed in his reading of "The Jester" which I have been enjoying for the last few days.

If you ever see this, Cary, Thank you! I'll shake your hand and buy you a coffee, or whatever you prefer, if you have the time!

Now that I'm back, I'll resume sharing my occasional insights and fun notices in Life, The Universe and Everything ... that I see about me.

Peace!

THis Holiday Season.

It is a blessed time. This has become the happiest most peaceful of moments in my life. We Are the Family Gray. this is True. This is Life. Here is Happiness. To those of you who have supported me: I love you, and thank you. I continue to wish blessings upon everyone of you who have done anything to help me along in my life.

Yes, Jess, You too! You have helped me lots in the last decade. I hope that you find the happiness that you search for.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

there were 2 best presents this year (maybe 3 depending on who you ask) The favorites around included the handcrafted cigarette case that I made for Janine, The REAALLLY COOL R/C helicopter that is now Aidens, and my parents gave me a really complete Dremel Tool set!!! WOOT!!! Sawdust everywhere! God only knows what will emerge from the din! I don't think that the day will pass, except that I use that tool for something or three. ;)

Thank you~

Peace!

I had thought that this wouldbe in my purview, but alack, and alas; the landlord decided that he does, indeed; want to not sell in the new year. oh well, I thought that this would be about a perfect starter real estate item. oh well.

Friends are excellent, tho I do wish that I could miracle the replacement to my gaming library into place without having to piecemeal it all together. but that does hint at the idea that I'm running my favorite chronicle, and it seems to be going really well. (hooray for great gamers, new and old~ Thanks Guys! There's no story without the heroes!)

Well, this was a quick update to let you know that I"m alive and well enough to type ;)

Peace Prosperity and Excellence in the coming year to you all!!!

~c