I had a great conversation with my friend Doug over the weekend.  I had several good conversations actually but durring this particular one I was reminded of a movie I saw.  I don't remember the name of the movie as it wasn't really all that great a movie but they did manage to make one very good point.  In the movie there are two opposing parties arguing over some political issue and the main character makes the statement that we (everyone) need to start being as concerned with our opponets well being as well as our own because we are all interconnected and dependent on each other.  It's a valid point.  Especially in the world of politics.  We have parties and individuals fighting to "win" and to get their way when we should have more people looking eash other in the eye and honestly caring about the other guy's/parties's feelings and needs as well as their own.  So I got to thinking about how that would work out weither or not we as a species could ever get to that point.  Some would say that it is in our nature to think of ourselves and some would say that it is a learned behaviour I don't know.  Is that maybe the next real step in human evolution?  Will there ever be a human who is by design open, honest, and calm enough and smart enough to stop and listen to the other person's point before making a decision?.... hmmm.
So while I was mulling all of this over in my head sitting here all alone at work I flipped past the movie Pay It Forward and It occured to me that the premise of the movie really IS a good idea.  Could we really change the world if we just helped 3 people and those people helped 3 people etc...  So I thought to myself I'm gonna try it.  The next time I get a chance to help someone I will (I'd like to think that I do that part anyway) and if they mention "paying me back" I"m gonna tell them that the real way to pay me back would be to help someone else if they get the chance.  Who knows maybe, if we get enough people working on it, we can change the world.  Worse case sinario someone will roll their eyes and laugh at me and I can live with that.  SO.... if you are reading this, the next time you get a chance to exersise a little generosity do it!  And explain to the person that the only thing they have to do to even the books is to show a little generosity the next time they are given the cnace.  Here's Hoping.  Peace

A very dear friend shared a dream with me.  I was stunned by how much her dream reminded me of a dream I have also had....

The room is warm both in temperature and in mood.  There is a fire place in one corner which casts a very inviting light.  The majority of the furniture is arranged in a circular pattern facing one central point.  There is a low table in the center upon which many glasses are placed.  Some are full of red wine, some full of white, some empty, some being refilled.  The furniture is low to match the table.  Really not much higher than the pillows and cushions which are also arranged around the central table.  Reclining on one of these cushions is the dark-haired beauty I share my life with.  I sit on the floor just in front of her and she has her arms draped over my shoulders.  Sitting around me on other cushions and on the comfy furniture are my friends, all of them.  For every friend there is a companion.  Some were my friends before they became companions to my friends and some were introduced to me after they became companions.  We all sit and talk and laugh and tell stories of past adventures.  I've known many of these people for many years and yet the conversations are never dull.  Somewhere a window is open and the smell of autumn drifts through the room.  We sit and talk into the early hours of the morning.  Some friends doze off while others replenish the wine and snacks.  The most memorable part is the dark haired beauty by my side.  Throughout the whole evening she is close.  Sometimes she will squeeze me in a gentle hug or nuzzle my neck.  Sometimes I feel her hands gently rubbing my back and other times it is I giving the back rub.  But, the whole time I'm happy.... really happy.

It's strange though.  I call this a dream but I don't know that I've actually had it as a "Dream".  I don't remember what I dream at night.  I believe it's a mental block I've developed when I was a child.  I used to have nightmares very badly so I would pray every night that I would not dream.  It's only in recent years that I've begun to remember what I dream as I sleep.  But I know that I have had "waking" dreams.  I believe that a person can dream while awake.  I'm not talking about fantasies.  To me fantasies are deliberate.  Fantasies are what I have when I try to imagine a certain situation or sinario.  My waking dreams come to me while I'm just relaxing or sometimes while I'm working or doing something that doesn't require much mental attention.  Anyway  I'v had this dream more than once and there are subtle differences in each occurrence.  For instance, in one instance we are actually outside around a campfire.  But despite the subtle differences there are some elements that are always there.  I'm always with friends.  There is always conversation.  Everyone there is always with a companion, be it a husband/wife or boy/girl-friend.  And I always have a female companion with me as well. 

Well usually I find unsolicited emails as annoying as anyone else but today I got one that had some interesting information in it.  Read on.


# Rolling out crust, roll from the center out, very lightly, then cover with a large piece of plastic wrap – continue to roll carefully and turn crust over so that the crust is now on top of the plastic wrap. Place another piece of plastic wrap on top and finish rolling to desired thickness, refrigerate if necessary. With butter based crusts, the plastic helps hold the shape of the crust, eases annoying splitting of the crust, and helps keep you from adding too much flour.

# Lumpy gravy - Simply drain the sauce or gravy through a fine sieve to remove lumps and discard them. Soups can also be drained with the addition of a coffee filter.

# Quick Whipping - A teaspoon of cold water added to the white of an egg causes it to whip more quickly while increasing the quantity of the egg.

# Cottage cheese will remain fresher longer if you store it upside down in the refrigerator. This slows the effects of oxidation.

# To keep milk past it's expiration date add salt. A pinch of salt in a gallon will do it. The salt slows the rate of bacteria growth.

# Brown sugar will not harden if stored in the freezer.

# If you freeze wild rice it will last 3-4 months compared to a week in the refrigerator.

# Regarding tomato paste, it seems a whole can of tomato paste is many times too much for some recipes. Suggestion: take a piece of waxed paper, putting it on a cookie sheet and putting teaspoonfuls of the leftover paste on the paper - another sheet on top and freeze this. When frozen just peel them off and put them in a baggie and when you need a tsp. or tbs. of paste you have it without opening a whole can and there is no waste --OR-- put small amounts in an ice tray and then just pop them out when you need them.

# Pecans can be tough to shell. To make it easier, soak them in boiling water for 10 minutes, or you can soak them (or Brazil Nuts) in 1 cup of water for 5 to 6 minutes on High in the microwave.