Favorite Song?

Lynne over at everyday life got me thinking today with her answer to the question:

What is your favorite song?

Now, I've never been good at answering "favorite" questions because I love so many, many things for such different, different reasons. So I usually have to simplify the question by adding "today" to the end of these questions.

What is my favorite song . . . today?

Still a tough one.

So I will go with the song that is playing and replaying in my head lately. It is not a catchy song; it was not a hit; it is not a toe-tapper.

It is not an upbeat song, and if you're flying high today, watching this video may heavy your heart for a time -- it does, me.

But it is almost literally a soul in song form, and I find that moving, beautiful, and unforgettable.

It is quite poignant to note that Jeff Buckley died in a freak accident shortly after this performance.


I know, I know . . . happy day!   But my answer is the truth and it is who I am today.

Saturday 9

It's Saturday.  Time for the Saturday 9.  Check out Crazy Sam for more participants or to participate yourself.

1. When was the last time you were told to go your own way?  Probably when I was in college.  I was trying to decide whether to go on to law school or not, and asked the advice of one of my English professors (who was also a practicing attorney).  He encouraged me, reminding me that you only get one chance at life, to grab what I want.

2. What one experience has strengthened your character the most so far?  Raising my daughter who is a highly traumatized former orphan who cannot feel or accept love.  She challenges who I am, all my parts, every single day.  It is my most fervent wish to help her, to heal her, but it is my deepest concern that we will not be the ones to do it.

3. What's your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?  Get all my "musts" done quickly and then curl up, knit, and watch chick flicks. 

4. How long can you go without your cell phone?  Having it?  Not long at all, because I like to feel like I'm reachable should my small kids need me.  Using it?  I could go quite a while.  I've worked very hard not to become dependent upon it.

5. Do you wish you were somewhere else right now?  Yes, I wish I were off on the outing my son and husband are on, but, alas, only one parent to a child, as usual at these things. 

6. Of all the people you've ever known, who have you most feared?  My mother.

7. Do people tell you that you look your age?  Some people tell me rather emphatically that I look younger, but I don't honestly believe them.

 8. Your ex shows up randomly at your house, what do you say?  Kiss me, you devil!  (kidding, only kidding)

9. Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance?  No.

Have a weekend!

Hot Dog Days of Summer

It is so hot here, I don't even know what to say about it:  102*F (39*C), gah!

So rather than regale you with descriptions of the searing heat, crunchy grass, and suffocating humidity, I will share what we had for supper last night.  Some recipes are just suited for hot weather, I've always thought.

Chicago Dog Salad*

1/4 cup yellow mustard
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 rounded teaspoon sugar
1 tsp. celery seed
2 tablespoons canola oil

1/2 of a 16-ounce sack shredded cabbage blend for slaw salads
1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced 
1 romaine heart, shredded
2 vine ripe tomatoes, diced
3 large half sour or garlic pickles, chopped
Salt and pepper
8 pork or beef hot dogs, cut into 1-inch-thick slices on an angle

 
In the bottom of a large bowl, combine mustard, vinegar, sugar, celery seed, and oil. Add the onions, cabbage, romaine, tomatoes, and pickles and toss the salad. Season with salt and pepper, adjust seasonings, and reserve.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Arrange the sliced dogs in a single layer. Sear them a couple of minutes on each side. Remove to paper towels to drain.

Mound up the salad on plates, top with seared dogs, and serve.

* as found in Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine

You might also notice that if you leave out the sugar and choose your dogs carefully, this is a very, very low carb recipe.



Keep cool!

America The Beautiful

God Bless America . . .
      and all who love her.
 

Saturday 9

1. Do you feel that you need to keep repeating yourself when talking to a particular person?   Yes, my son.  He's 9.  I think he just tries to wear me down.

2. It's July. Do you have anything special planned?  Independence Day with the family and my son's 10th birthday (I can hardly believe it.)!

3. Who is your big celebrity crush?  Harry Connick, Jr.

4. Tell us about a local restaurant you are sure we'd love.  Wag's in Frederick, MD.  Great little "below the sidewalk" pub.

5. Tell us about the shyest person that you deal with regularly.  Our pastor.  Sometimes I think a pastor needs to be a bit more outgoing, but he means well.

6. What is your vision of heaven and hell?  The usual cliche's.

7. What is your neighborhood like?  Our neighborhood is nice and quiet, but sometimes too quiet -- it seems all the kids disappear during the summer and it makes me sad for my own kids. 

8. What's your favorite cook-out food?  It's hard to beat a good burger on the grill -- accompanied by an ear of corn, yum.

9. When was the last time that you saw fireworks?  Let's see, maybe the last time I kissed my hubbo . . . or, no, wait, the last time we had a big fight!  Oh, okay, last Fourth of July . . . if that's what you want to hear. 

My thanks to Sam at Saturday 9 . . . check her blog to join in or read more. 

My Own Family Circus

Our garbage pick-up is on Friday.

Yesterday, I noticed that our garbage can was unusually full for only 3 days since pick-up.  I couldn't imagine what had been thrown away to fill that garbage can so quickly.

So I asked the kids.

"What's with the garbage can already being all filled up?"

"I don't know.  I didn't put anything in there," my son said.

"It must have been Daddy," I concluded aloud.

My daughter added, "Or maybe he just put a lot of stuff in there."


~ Well, yeah . . . what did she think I meant?