Stories and other stuff

I should have added this little clip to my last post.  This song was sung/signed twice (one of the ladies of the church knows sign language) and it's truly inspiring, along with one of my favorites!  I was fortunate enough to be early to church to see it performed twice, once before the service, once during.  I was really feeling the Holy Spirit today and this just added to the moment. I hope you enjoy it!

I hate losing stuff.  Or even misplacing stuff.  Here's the story: Hamburger is almost $4 a pound and I'm on a budget.  I wanted to make some chili today, so I thought to myself; self grind your own.  You have a grinder.   So I purchased sirloin steaks that were only $2.78 a pound.   But do you think I could find my grinders?  Yes, grinders.  Plural.  I own three of them.  Two are the old fashioned, metal hand crank grinders.  The other is an attachment that hooks up to my Kitchenaid mixer.  But I couldn't find the power grinder.  Nor the metal grinder that used to live under the sink.  It's  among the missing and I'm fixin' to tear apart my kitchen to try and find said items. But not today. Because I found the third grinder with the cooking gadgets that live in the garage.  Those are my wok, my Jerkey Blaster (best bargain cave buy ever!),  the vegetable strainer I have and of cours...

As I drove up the circle the other day, I took a good look at my house and I decided I needed to change a few things. For far too long, I've been doing just what I needed to, to get by with keeping the lawn mowed and the garbage picked up, for the most part (except the mess in the back yard), but I saw some things I didn't like. For instance, one of my window screens fell out of the window.  Another was coming out of the frame.  I had a ladder out back I used to pick apricots.  That was in July.  My boat had a flat tire and was kind of starting to be a catch-all for this or that thing. No longer. The ladder is put away for the evening.  Tomorrow I have to get out the 20 footer to fix the other screen.  All of the junk is gone.  ALL of it.  I still have a couple of shelves to clean out and some cupboards to clean out and can do that this weekend.  But the non-working appliances, broken and disgusting furniture, and garbage is removed f...

I don't post stuff on my blog like I used to and thought I owed an explanation.  The best one I can proffer up is that much like the teacher doesn't speak during the test, the students ought not to either. I'm going through a little set of trials that I don't understand, but the one thing I do know is that the last thing I need to do right now is to be blogging about them. No matter what the outcome of these difficulties are, I know two things:  God loves me, so ultimately, things will work out for my good, and that God is still in control. But if you could, and I don't often ask this, but I sure could use it, would you please be willing to say a little prayer for me to ask God to deliver me through this storm and to give me a big dose of wisdom for use until it quits raining? Thank you, Dale

Today is my friend's birthday.  But friend is too little a word for this man.  We may not be blood, but if I'd had a brother of my own, I'm not sure I could be closer to him than I am to my friend. Our friendship started in a far away place and has taken us through many different journeys.  He taught me how to hunt, set examples for me to follow in caring about and taking care of the people I was responsible for. He showed me what integrity looks like, and had I followed his example of how to be a husband and father, I would never have been in the mess I find myself in now, and even through this hard slog, he's always been there for me with good advice.  I know I frustrate the hell out of him sometimes because the things I do and don't do don't make a lot of sense, I couldn't have made it through this nightmare without his support and friendship. And as he celebrates a landmark birthday, I thought it right and good to use the blog today to just honor h...

I've been on my feet pretty much all day.  And, I'm tired.  I made a meatloaf about ten minutes ago, not realizing that it was almost ten p.m.  I haven't eaten what anybody would call a meal yet today.  I've been busy in the kitchen (we'll quit there!).  But I did make one thing that I wanted to try and I think it's pretty good. Roasted red pepper spread.  It's got more peppers in it than anything.  I had to buy peppers to make it, but Winco had huge red peppers for dirt cheap.  Everything in this spread got roasted, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, all of it, except the fresh basil.  It turned out well; tastes a lot like some stuff we bought from Harry & David last year at Christmas. I finally found a recipe I like for salsa, too, but it took almost all of the anaheim chiles I had in the freezer to make it.  I'm surprised.... some of those chiles had some heat to 'em.  That salsa is way good, so no need to ever mess around with t...

A lot can happen between now and election day and a lot probably will, but I think it's a pretty fair bet to say unless something really big happens, we're going to get four more years of Mr. Obama.  I'm not thrilled by that, by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm hoping that if that's the outcome of the election, both Republicans and Democrats realize that the course of divisive politics we've been on for the last four years just isn't going to cut it anymore. Another term for Mr. Obama makes him a lame duck President by default.  He can't run again.  If we allowed for more than two terms, I'd vote for Bill Clinton again in a nanosecond.  Anyway, because Mr. Obama can't run again, that means in four years, we're going to get two brand new choices.  Mr. Romeny, if not elected, is done.  I think clearly, that while Mr. Romney may be a good businessman, he's not all that great of a politician.  You can't be all things to all peopl...

I wrote a post about delays the other week.  It was one of those little divine appointments with God and although it still stands out, sometimes the lesson that God uses delays to suit His purposes gets lost in the day-to-day of living this life in "exile" and I forget that. It's like with the basement.  There was delay after delay, and now, almost a month later, the pile of stuff still sits on my lawn.  I'm nowhere near closer to getting a new windshield for my truck, and there's yet another delay in getting started.  I'm in no particular hurry for the basement to be done, but I do need to get this stuff off my lawn.  I got the paperwork from the mortgage company on Tuesday but it's going to take the contractor until Saturday to prepare the paperwork I need from him.  Then I have to mail it back to the bank, then I have to wait for a check.  I'm thinking another three weeks.  I may be knocking snow off this stuff before its gone, all because th...

Have you ever just really wanted to?  I mean just really want to, but there's that little thing in you that just says "don't do it". It would feel so good to get it off your chest, though.  I mean, you fight with it, you struggle with it, but in the end, what good would it do besides just making you feel better? The high road isn't always easy.  I know that, and I also know that there's that temptation sometimes to just do it my own way.  It's a constant battle, but today I'm going to win it... NO MORE!   posts about tomatoes. I'M SICK AND TIRED OF IT!   You're probably as tired of reading about them as I am picking, boiling, coring, peeling, chopping, cooking, then bottling them.  And my vegetable keepers are both full of the things! I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!   I don't care if I never look at another tomato for at least a year. IT'S TIME!!! to move on to other subjects. well, I think I'm witty, anyway.

First and foremost, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my friend, mentor, pastor, and all around great guy, KARL DUMAS!  I hope you're having a great day! I'm not getting much done today, but much is getting done today.  That sounds kinda counter-productive, but today I'm getting lots of help.  Some kindly people in Ogden who really do put their, well, for lack of a better word, "money where their mouth is", are taking several pussycats off our hands.  At last count, I think there were anywhere from seven to ten.  Pussycats go BYE-BYE, and I'm really happy it's to no kill peeps. The pussycats were out of time.  Today was their day.  And quite honestly, if I'd felt better, they'd have been gone the minute the immigrant walked out the door today.  They're gone now, though!  A big thanks to those folks. We've been trying since the flood to find homes for these critters.  OK, we  is a bit of a stretch... we would be Miss June, and the Mrs.  Y...

Sometimes, there just isn't much to say, and this week is like that.  Lots of stuff going on with dealing with the mortgage company about the basement.  Waiting to see what will happen at the end of the week.  And I still have that sore throat. The only reason I'm posting this is so that regular readers won't think I've fallen off the face of the earth.  I haven't slept well the last couple of days and there just isn't much to say.  If I feel better tomorrow, I'll begin the saga of trying to get your basement fixed after a flood. It's not a pretty story, so far.

I figured out what I need to get through this "season" of my life.  I need a GF.  NO, not a girlfriend.  I had one of those once and God said NO! I'm reading this book about God saying YES.  I'm waiting for some yesses.  The no's have, well been quite clear.  Ask me about the flood, the broken foot and the tomatoes the lid blew off of.  I can't divorce, I can't date, and I'm beginning to wonder if it's safe to even be just friends.  I don't say those things lightly.  They cause me consternation, and that's putting it mildly.  I'm curious to know what the yes is going to be, because it seems that if I try to do anything to move the ball forward, the answer is NO.  Maybe the no's are a part of the yes I just don't see yet. What I need, I thought, is just a Girl Friday.  You know, it's an old term for a helper.  Bachelors used to have them.  She'd come in, tidy up, maybe do some shopping or a few errands.  She c...

I sometimes ask the Lord if there's anything He'd have me know for the day and open my Bible to just whatever page.  Today was one of those days and I landed on 1 Corinthians, Chapter 7. Chapter 7 is the marriage chapter. It's applicable because in response to my post yesterday, my pastor encouraged me to read vv 1-8, and 9 if I were so inclined.  I did.  My problem though isn't with these verses, it comes a verse or two later in vv 10-11, and somewhat in the following verses. There's this whole command thing.  I know, I know, Jesus himself said in Matthew 19:9 that infidelity is grounds for divorce, and we're both guilty as charged.  I also know that just because you can, doesn't mean you should. It's interesting about what Paul has to say in the first verses.  A wife for Paul may not have been a good thing.  He was in jail a lot.  He roamed from town to town.  People kept trying to kill him.  He was involved in a couple of ship...

Some things in life change on a dime.  I know this but still, you get excited for things then you get disappointed when they don't work out. I was going to take this class that starts next Thursday, but things changed and the class will go on without me. Such is life. I didn't do what I set out to to this morning.  It'll have to wait one more day.  I'm not feeling well.  I have the worst sore throat..., but anyway, there were things I needed to do around here.  We picked a bunch of stuff last Sunday from the garden and I had to take care of it today or it was gonna spoil.  Miss June has been busy all week, so it kind of fell on me to do something with the things.  So today, I did. I picked more corn.  I picked tomatoes and there are lots more that will be ready by Monday or Tuesday of next week.  I found a cucumber that wasn't ginormous, and picked it.  There will be another one in a few more days.  Think it's funny they fin...

Things are looking up.  Unfortunately, I forgot to look up last night and my head really hurts from smacking it on two different things.  They're gonna get me a "bump cap" which is like a really heavy baseball style cap, so I don't do that anymore. Bump cap?  What's next, a rubber suit that inflates if I trip over something?  Bump cap. Great... I'm wearing a helmet. I actually do have a hard hat.  It's shiny red.  We have to wear them when we're using a crane to hang big pieces on the airplane. I have my first appointment with a contractor.  This guy does basements (think man cave).  I'm kind of excited to talk with him about what we can do within the budget and what issues we're gonna have.  He's the first one.  I e-mailed another one but got no response.  I'm calling another guy tomorrow.  Today just kind of got away from me.  I think it was good to give the foot one more day of rest and I got some laundry done. ...

I was looking for this scripture passage when I wrote the very long post on Saturday. I knew it was there but couldn't remember where.   As luck(?) would have it, the book of Lamentations was the part of the Bible in today's "Bible in a year" reading schedule.  The following is from Lamentations 3:31-42 (NIV) and for those that don't think or understand that the things that happen in my life are either of God or allowed by Him in my life, I think this should make you think twice about that. 31 For no one is cast off     by the Lord forever. 32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,     so great is his unfailing love. 33 For he does not willingly bring affliction     or grief to anyone. 34 To crush underfoot     all prisoners in the land, 35 to deny people their rights     before the Most High, 36 to deprive them of justice—     would not the Lord see such things? 37 Who can speak and have it h...

I have an incredible story to tell, but even I'm not quite sure what to make of it.  Please bear with me because this might get long, and in typical Dale fashion, it might go in about twenty different directions and gel at the end. When I write the blog, I start out with the story I want to tell, then it just kind of runs its course.  As with a lot of my little experiences, it's this thing over here, that thing over there, and then comes the whipped cream and cherry on top.  For this one, though, there's no whipped cream or cherry.  It's just a synopsis of the last two weeks of my life. I spend my lunch time at work usually listening to a Bible study program on the radio.  I get quite a bit out of it.  A couple of weeks ago, I heard a lesson explaining a bit of human nature.  The man was talking about the stoning of Stephen which is described in the book of Acts.  Overseeing the events, was Saul, who would later become Paul.  The pastor t...

I had to go out to the garden today.  I haven't been up there for a week and it's a good thing I went. There are 271 tomatoes in my kitchen.  104 of them are Roma tomatoes.  I need jars.  I'm gonna be canning my backside off.  The total does not include the tomatoes my mom took home.  She came up to help me pick stuff from the garden. We harvested over 40 green peppers.  I'm seriously thinking about canning these.  I might even jar up some salsa.  I have plenty of tomatoes. We lost quite a bit of stuff to, of all things, deer.  The deer have been munching down the corn plants.  They've enjoyed some of June's broccoli.  They trampled my Anaheim chile plants.  I have plenty of them in the freezer already, so that's all right.  We maybe got two dozen ears of corn for all that I planted.  I know now how to plant corn so it will grow and produce ears.  Lesson learned for next year. I might even jar up som...

The thing with lightning is that the closer you are to the place it hits, the shorter the time between the flash and the thunderclap.  When they're about simultaneous, you're pretty close to ground zero. Such was the case early this morning.  There was no sleeping through that!  It was pretty spectacular, but then so was the downpour I drove through on the way back home from Salt Lake yesterday afternoon.  I hate driving down there.  I almost got dead a couple of times.  I changed lanes right before the car in front of me in the lane I left locked up its brakes.  I almost got dead again, trying to get over to take the airport exit because something bad happened on I 15 North and fortunately, I had just enough time to safely get over to take Legacy home.  But courtesy is something you don't often see.  Tailgating is something I saw a lot of and if I'd have tapped my brakes, I would've gotten creamed a couple of times.  The wet roads did...