Eating Green: SOLSC 14 of 31

I love food. I also love food blogs. While growing up, cooking was always seen as a labor of love. Many staples live among the recipes in memory, books, and on slips of paper. 

After the first of the year, I got one of those coupons for a discount on a food box subscription. I have long wondered and been curious about these kinds of delivery services. That coupon came when I needed a bit of a lifeline, so I jumped and started an account. 

We've received two meals a week, all plant-based (yay for me), for the past four weeks. It's been great. I've loved getting new recipe ideas. I think my favorite part, though, is the seasonings and sauces that come with the kit. 

I talked with my mom about the kits and told her what a great idea they are, especially for new cooks. The recipe cards read much like a blog post, minus the anecdotes. All the photos are there, and the timing of the steps allows for all the parts of the meal to come together simultaneously. So much of making a meal is the planning, preparation, and then all of it coming together. I have loved not having to think about this as much each week. AND I have all these new recipes too!

Here is tonight's meal--Peruvian Spiced Cauliflower with Avocado Slaw and Quinoa

Football Movies: SOLSC 13 of 31

I have long loved a good football movie. In my growing wisdom (really just aging), I've realized that most football movies, and nearly all sports movies, can be problematic.

That "based on a true story" stuff, well, it's typically more "based on" than "true." At least, that's been my experience when looking deeper into a film that makes me feel a certain way, in particular, a movie centered on racism as the core problem.

It doesn't change that sports and stories centered on sports attract an audience. It's fun to watch drama wrapped up in a competition. I have to admit, I love it. I also ask myself to think past the plot's surface. 

Just enjoy the movie.

Well, that would be easy for me to say, so I try to at least think on it longer than that feel-good feeling I might find myself getting. 

This weekend, we've watched Remember the Titans about four times. This is a movie I enjoy (again, check Google, you'll see major parts of the plot are just plain false), but we were watching it for a different reason. My son was working on a paper for his communications class. He was tasked with choosing three characters and picking apart their leadership skills. I thought it was a pretty neat assignment. Also, I didn't mind watching the movie four times. 

Similar to reading a book multiple times, I saw how aspects of the storyline were inflated and falsified for entertainment. Now, I know a movie is meant to entertain. My question, the one swirling in my head over and over, when is entertainment more important than the truth? If someone says a story is based on truth, people may watch and believe it as truth. So, what narratives are created when this happens? That's what bothers me and picks at my thought process. And, I don't mind. I'll keep letting it pick.

Zoom, Zoom: SOLSC 12 of 31

Today is my nephew's 27th birthday. We celebrated over Zoom with family since we would all be in different places today. One of those things learned by all of us because of the pandemic. 

We've had a lot of Zoom birthdays, anniversaries, and family celebrations over the computer. Even though it isn't the same as being together, it is a nice substitute for no other alternative. 

During the call, my sister told the story of Adam's birth, minus a few details. We all talked about where we were, what we were doing, how different things were back in 1995. Like, we all had to make calls on payphones from the hospital to tell other family members. My husband was my boyfriend, and I was still in high school. So much has happened. 

It was a fun chat, catch-up, and birthday song sing-along. Even when you are 27, you can still have a little family party. 

Weather Wondering: SOLSC 11 of 31

It's not a genuine surprise. This is Michigan. The season is in the midst of transition, and with that comes a back and forth in temps and weather activity. 

Yesterday, Arie and I went to look for some snowdrops in the backyard. I felt like it was probably way too early, but we both felt like a walk was in order, and the weather was incredibly spring-like. There were no snowdrops, but lots of deer droppings, pine needles, and leaf litter. All the unruly grass was exposed, and many green bits poked up. 

This morning I woke up. My phone showed several weather alerts. I thought there was a chance we might get some snow, but I was ill-prepared for what we got. Several inches of fresh fluffy powder coated every inch. A quick shift in my thinking reminded me of the extra time I would require to:

• Shovel a little path.
• Clean the car.
• Start the car.
• Leave early.

All went well, a slick and slow drive, but manageable. I appreciated the care other drivers used, even though many are ready for spring driving. They remembered their jobs: slow, steady, nothing crazy, and never pass a plow. And now I'm left wondering what the weekend weather will bring?

Cherry Surprises: SOLSC 10 of 31

I was what I would classify as an excellent eater as a kid. I loved veggies and fruits from the start. So much so, I almost always (back when I ate meat) finished any vegetable in sight before the main course. Now I eat almost only vegetables and plant-based foods--so the veggies come first, second, and last.

One thing as a kid I did not eat, however, was cherries. This always created a bit of a conundrum because my dad grew up in the literal cherry capital of Michigan. Cherries often made an appearance in desserts, fruit salads, or the occasional jello mold. 

Growing older, I always kind of thought I would eventually like cherries. That day has yet to come. I will say, I tried this tart cherry blend of kombucha and it is by far my favorite. So, maybe this is the turn toward cherry I needed. That said, I will forever and always refuse to eat maraschino cherries. I most certainly draw a line for those artificially flavored and colored supposed fruits. 

Geometry: SOLSC 9 of 31

Geometry.

Every day, a new formula

Making sense of complexities,

listening,

watching,

doing,

practicing,

re-doing, just to understand. 

Cassie, the lap weight

to ease the anxiousness.

Cassie, also in the way

making it hard to see as

Dad explains and demonstrates.

Geometry,

You are fascinating,

You are unique.

You sometimes make my eyes go wide

with things like pi (π).

And sometimes, 

I find you to be--

frustratingly--

dramatic!

The way you... 

take up...

so...

much...

time!

Attention!

Focus!

Energy! 

Could you maybe,

sometimes, 

just 

be chill?

What Story Do You See: SOLSC 8 of 31

Here you see my two-year-old pandemic puppy, Cassie. She's in both the top and bottom sections of this collage photo. She's the one we said we'd do so well training. The one we love intensely, even though puppies do what puppies do. 

So, my question for you is:

What story do you see here?

Feeling like I need to reveal a bit more information. 

As I was busy in the kitchen, I heard," Cass..." 

My son says her name in a low and long way with a slight intonation shift upward when she's done something she shouldn't do. 

I responded, "What did she do?"

As I turned around, there she was with something in her mouth. (Yes, I grabbed my camera before getting it from her).

I couldn't immediately tell what it was. My son, however, was gesturing toward the living room. 

The thing I find funny is she decided to jump on the couch directly next to a chew toy of hers and proceeded to destroy something else. Mmmmhmmmm.

And since puppies do what puppies do, we had to put her in puppy jail while it got cleaned up. Wouldn't want her knowing we actually clean up after her since she refuses to clean up after herself. 

Dogs.

Gosh, I love her.