Do it!

Power is of God, but like all God’s gifts, humankind has the freedom to misuse power. When this happens, it becomes corrupt, and it violates and dehumanizes others. Powerlessness limits human development and denies persons their promised fulfillment.... We have each been given the power to do what we can do, but are we willing to claim it? To accept it? Or is it safer to ignore or rationalize it away? Is claiming this kind of power worth the cost of change or the risk of rejection?

- Helen Bruch Pearson

Do What You Have the Power to Do

Ten-pin Bowling

This is another one of those odd American experiences for me, a child of a now third world country. But my youngens are American and this is a must have experience for them.

A local bowling spot.

Individually chosen balls.

The accessories.

Set...

The thingie aka keypad used to set up the game.

Anthony Lewis on C-SPAN

I'm back watching C-SPAN and I caught an "After Words" interview with Anthony Lewis who discussed the First Amendment and his book Freedom for the Thought That We Hate: A Biography of the First Amendment.

These "After Words" interviews are, in my view, really about several elements. The guest, and the topic/book, but just as importantly, the guest interviewer. This one piece was outstanding, and, of course, informative.

Who knew

That I would miss the sun so much. It is dark and gloomy in Phoenix today. It drizzles and it is cold.

Bacalhau - Part 2

It hydrates in the water. It's thicker.

In the pan with potatoes, egg and later some greens. This boils until cooked (30-40 minutes).

Remove from the water. Drizzle with olive oil and serve hot. The cod here was still a little salty. As I said yesterday it is best after soaking 48 hours.

I've rejoined the multitude of bacalhau lovers.

:-)

Bacalhau

If you are Portuguese, bacalhau is a familiar food, prepared in a variety of ways, the most popular being this. I haven't had bacalhau in over 2 years, so I asked my youngest sister to pick me up some in NJ and ship it over to me. The long awaited package arrived yesterday.

The smell, although difficult to bear for my family, was heaven to me, bringing back memories of the salt tanks from my grandmother's business.

Price - $50.34.

It is dry and salted.

It goes in water to soak and de-salt. I do it for about 48 hours.

Hey, that's a fin!

I'll post pictures of what it looks like when it is done soaking.

Thanks, sister! You have made me happy.

Festival

We helped set up and stayed around as audience.

A drum group.

Their drums.

Local group

Local organization supporting arts in education.

AZ Renaissance Festival

Our first time at the AZ Renaissance Festival.

Two Maidens.

Lots of shoes on sale.

The Knight in shinning armor.

Some high powered dude "Sir something".

The chat after a game played with fruit.

The Spirit of Creativity

Has touched me: Go see what's been a sewing and crocheting chez moi:

The Pink Needle

Feeding hunger, in more than one way.

Click here!

For the love of living ... moving!

The inflated race and obstacle track.

Grasshopper, the rock climber.

Snowden, the racketball afficionado.

Sweet Valentine's to you!

:-)

Moving on...

It's inevitable.

A room with a view

Feet

There's a tree outside that window. It is my friend. It is my companion as I chug away at work.

Living history

The school where my children go everyday is a very welcoming place and I get to enrich my life with the stories from children's book writers, or, in this case, the stories of a woman who lived the Civil Rights Movement and knew Mrs. King personaly. She talked about a book commissioned the the Smithonian Institute that depicts MLK's legacy. Pretty high on my coolness scale.

Made and given with kindness

Cookies for the office Divas.

The blankie for a future baby. This one was left for her without a note. I have no clue if the receipient kept it. I really wanted to just let it go with an initial person in mind, but ok with it's actual final destination, knowing it was hand made with my love.

CAOK 2008 - I'm in!

CAOK is the Calculated Acts of Kindness Campaign. During Lent, I try to surprise strangers and loved ones with acts of good will. I encourage anyone else interested in participating to please join in. I'm just optimistic enough to believe this world is full of good people who want to do well by others. Whether it is baking a loaf of bread for a neighbor or staying late at work to help a colleague, it's the little things that add up to make our communities a nicer place.

- Africankelli

What I watch - Visual food from TV

Joan of Arcadia. I watched Season One two plus years ago. I find it to be a thought provoking view of a teenage girl's relationship with God. It' s all there, the lessons we must learn to grow as people, as part of everyday life.

In Treatment, new this week on HBO. This is what therapy is all about: presenting issues are not usually the real problem. I ended up feeling quite disturbed at the content, but then, it was all very real and I plan on watching more. When we look closely, there is always more and more.

And my old time favorites - The Pooh Bear movies. We have a bunch of VHS tapes and a TV that plays them. Grasshopper and I spent Sunday morning watching Tigger, Roo, Piglet, Rabbit, Kanga, Pooh, Eyor, Owl, and Christopher Robbin. They are us... they are flawed, they are brilliant, they are unique, and they overcome, always in friendship.