My days can be pretty random sometimes, but mostly they seem the same.
 |
| A "Ron Lee" Clown from my parents' collection (Photo by Arlee Bird) |
Sometimes I'll just stay quiet about things rather than risk offending anybody. Other times I'll just prattle about this or that--nothing with intended controversy. Some people will manage to find an argument in anything.
Which is the most important knowledge to have: Who you are? Where you are? or Why do you exist?
Much of the time I tend to think of things geographically. I think we all probably slant our perceptions in regard to occupations, loved ones, our own feelings, or whatever the case might be.
I'm fixing a small batch of chili for supper tonight. It's gotten cooler outside of late, but another heat wave is supposed to be coming next week. Somehow chili seems like a good thing to have today.
Good chili in restaurants has been somewhat difficult for me to find over the years. I've often been disappointed. Ironically, Chili's Restaurant doesn't have chili that I'd recommend and I had high hopes for their chili. What a disappointment. Personally, I like the chili at Wendy's. But when you come down to it, no one makes chili or spaghetti better than what I make. That's my objective opinion.
Just heard a bunch of fireworks and people outside yelling. I was trying to remember if it was some special Mexican holiday or something of that nature. Then I turned to the local news and heard that the Dodgers had won their game and would be going to the World Series for the first time since 1988. Maybe I can get a little more thrilled about this as the Series starts. I'm not much of a sports fan these days...
Battle of the Bands Results
My latest Battle pitched Fernando Ortega against Van Morrison both singing their renditions of the hymn "Be Thou My Vision". Morrison definitely had the edge of familiarity working in his favor and came out of the chute in the lead and stayed there until the end. Van the Man won this match while Fernando proved a worthy opponent.
Morrison is a favorite of mine and his Hymns to the Silence album is still an album that I play on occasion. However, I could listen to Ortega all day any time of day. His voice and orchestrations are so peaceful and calming. My vote went to Fernando Ortega.
Final Vote Tally
Fernando Ortega 8 votes
Van Morrison 13 votes
Next Battle on Wednesday November 1st
That will also be the day of the monthly Insecure Writer's Support Group posting, but I will try to meld the two posts seamlessly. Or something like that. You might even see a post or two before that one.
Are you ready for November 4th? What will you be doing that day? How about a big ol' batch of biscuits and country sausage gravy?
I can relate Lee to those questions "Who Am I?"
ReplyDeleteWhat am I? Why do I exist?. I have gone through quite a life style change these past 2/3 years and I don't like it. But at the end of the day there are people worse off than I and I'm thankful for that.
I see I had the winner in the BOTB.
Enjoy your week-end Lee.
Take care.
Yvonne.
Yvonne, I'm starting to wonder what the future might hold for me. As you say though there are always folks worse off than we.
DeleteLee
I've never thought about the Chili's thing before. What false advertising!
ReplyDeleteHarry, their chili is supposedly an award winning recipe, but there are a lot of different kinds of chili. I won't say their chili is bad, but it didn't strike my fancy. I ate all of mine when I ordered it.
DeleteLee
That's funny you said that about Chili's chili. I was there last week and got their unlimited chips, soup and salad (and only had one of each...but brought home a second soup because hey, I wanted to make the most of my money!) and one of the choices was chili. I thought the same thing as you. I make a mean chili, why would I want their not so fantastic chili?
ReplyDeleteElsie
Elsie, I guess there are probably some folks who love the chili at Chili's.
DeleteLee
No surprise Van Morrison won.
ReplyDeleteAnd there's a good chance the Dodgers will win it all.
Alex, it will be good for L.A. if they win--unless a bunch of crazies make trouble.
DeleteLee
I kind of like Chili's chili, but I've definitely had better and made better. Spaghetti was my mother's forte: not really Italian, but it tasted the best. I liked it, anyway.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd rank the three questions (basically who, where, and why) in about that order, but it changes from day to day. In my post yesterday, for example, it helped to know where I was. When I wake up, it helps to know who I am. Why I am is one of those questions I can spend hours thinking about.
Glad the Dodgers knocked off the Cubs. It took them 108 years until they won a World Series until last year, and I was afraid we were going to hear about it for the next 108. I'm a White Sox fan...
John, I basically use my mother's "recipe" for both chili and spaghetti. Everybody loved it when she made those things.
DeleteIt helps to know who you are I would presume. It would be strange to have amnesia. I'd still put knowing where I am high on my list of priorities.
Lee
So very sorry to hear of Phil's passing... still saddened of this... a pleasant weekend to you and yours, good Sir Arlee...
ReplyDeleteStacy, I still haven't called any of the family. I need to do so.
DeleteLee
I feel Chili's has betrayed me. Their food from early 2000 was varied, lots of choices. Now their menu has become a rerun of other Mexican restaurants. No chili there. Wendi's does make a good chili. Mine is better.
ReplyDeleteSusan K, I think a lot of restaurant chains have gone downhill in recent years. And some have been losing or going out of business which would be no surprise considering that the food hasn't been as good. We have a Chili's across the street from us, but we don't go too often and when we do we've been disappointed over the past year.
DeleteHome cooked usually is better when the cook is at least decent.
Lee
The Dodgers may give it a go. Hopefully they beat the crummy Yankees if they get there.
ReplyDeletePat, I don't really have a baseball in this race other than I live in L.A. so I guess I'll root for them out of local pride. I doubt whether I'll watch any of the games.
DeleteLee
I always love it when people share their random thoughts because it gets me thinking too. And btw on Nov 4th it's my birthday (and a Saturday) so hopefully I'll be lunching somewhere nice :)
ReplyDeleteLeanne, Something else is supposedly scheduled for November 4th from what I've been hearing so I hope that doesn't adversely affect your birthday plans.
DeleteLee
I haven't had a yummy plate of biscuits and gravy for years. I don't even crave it anymore. But a pot of chili sounds delicious and perfect for a windy/chilly day.
ReplyDeletePatricia, I went and got some biscuits and gravy from our nearby Carls Jr (Hardee's) just a couple weeks ago. It was disappointing. I make far better gravy. Our chili dinner last night was excellent. My wife liked it and that's what matters most to me.
DeleteLee
LEE ~
ReplyDeleteThis Battle ended fairly respectably considering that for the longest time Van seemed to be on his way to a major blowout.
>>... Which is the most important knowledge to have: Who you are? Where you are? or Why do you exist?
Oh, man, that's a slam-dunk!
It's really not important WHO you are nor WHERE you are if you don't know WHY you are.
November 4th? That's a Saturday, so I will be off from work. I don't know what I'll be doing that day. I don't have any particular plans. But I'll just do whatever I want or need to do. And if anyone wearing a mask so much as puts a finger on me, I'm going to let out 58 years worth of blind-rage on that person, whoever they are, and regardless of which of the 58 genders they identify as on that date.
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
Yes, Stephen, I was afraid Fernando was going to lose big time for a while there. It was a nice ending.
DeleteI like your philosophical/spiritual take on the questions and in that context I wouldn't disagree. But from the standpoint of pure survivalist instincts I'd want to know where I was so I knew how to get the hell out if things weren't quite right. But in the bigger scheme of the universe, the knowledge of why we are where we are has a lot to do with the answer to the other questions.
I'll likely be at home on Nov 4 and I don't think there'll be much action on this side of L.A. unless the resistance actually is big. It could be big, but I doubt whether it will be organized or brave or intelligent.
Lee
Complicated question you asked at the beginning of the post. I'm getting over being sick, so it's kind of breaking my head to think about it.
ReplyDeleteI love when the weather starts cooling off. Chili sounds nice.
With Love,
Mandy
Mandy, I like the cooler weather--not too cold, but crispy cool.
DeleteLee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteThere will always be people who want to make anything into an argument. I say, just speak what's on your mind and brush off those who want to complain. This is your blog, do with it as you feel. If folks can't take it then they shouldn't be here but if they love you then they'll respectfully state their differences in a low-key manner not intended to bash your views.
I think knowing who I am is the most important because knowing this means I know where I am or where I want to be. Why I exist isn't important because I know God has a plan for each of us. Home-made chili is always the best and like you, we haven't found any store bought or restaurant chili that matches what I make. The same goes for spaghetti. However, whenever we eat at an Italian restaurant, we normally get lasagna. Our weather is beginning to cool off here, too. In fact they are saying Saturday night's low is forecast for 32º and we might even see some snow or ice by the end of the month. I remember the Halloween I was pregnant with DS (1993). It was cold and windy. Instead of rain, the winds carried an icy snow mix. Brrr! I didn't like that one bit, either. It sounds like we may have a repeat of that Halloween this year. It looks like my BoTB pick wins! Yay, me!! I'll see ya around, my friend. Keep warm!
Cathy, I'm not as concerned with people disagreeing with what I write on my blog as with those who I encounter in my life and most importantly family and friends with whom I don't want to engage in nasty arguments. Educational, informative, or enlightening debate is always welcomed by me, but it seems that anymore there is a contentious divide that leave parties separated and upset with each other. I'd rather converse than be chastised for my beliefs.
ReplyDeleteI looked at the upcoming Maryville forecast for the week and it sounded much more pleasant than what we have coming in the next few days. I think the weather on Halloween will be fine though--not that it makes much difference to me on that account.
Lee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteI'm the same as you. Social media friends' disagreements or opinions don't weigh heavily on me as family or close friends. These are the folks you deal with on a personal level and if things can't be discussed in an intelligent, sensible fashion then hard feelings are forged leaving both parties distant for some time. That's never a good thing, either.
Autumn is definitely more distinct causing me to take notice that the seasons have actually changed. I like fall but I'm not ready for winter. :)
~Cathy
It's sad to see family ties and friendships slip away, but I'm not going to be anyone's whipping boy because they don't agree with me and feel like it's fine to lecture me but I don't have any right to speak on my account. Then again, I realize who the most important people in my life really are. There are some who just suck up my time and drain my energy, but they don't care much about supporting me when I need a hand or just somebody to listen to what I have to say. I'd be better off doing something else rather than spend unfulfilling and often frustrating time with those kinds of people.
DeleteLee
I love the vegan chili from Fantastic Foods, which is made with TVP (textured vegetable protein) and can be bought either in a box or bulk. You just add diced tomatoes, some oil, and beans of your choice. It's one of my favorite things to make. I love eating it with corn chips and hummus.
ReplyDeleteCarrie-Anne, sounds like it could be good, but my wife and I both like meat so I'm not sure we're ready to take that step.
DeleteLee
If you know who you are, the other things will fall into place.
ReplyDeleteHR, most things fall into place eventually as far as the tangible things to which we can easily attach some identity. The more esoteric questions can baffle us often.
DeleteLee
Hi Lee -
ReplyDeleteI'll have to try to get back here on the 1st for your next battle. I forgot that you were trying to stick to the twice a month plan that everyone used to adhere to. I liked twice a month better, anyway.
I am quite introspective lately myself. Without going in to public detail, money is very tight and hence I am drastically changing traditional behaviors to adjust to it. I hope you get your own thoughts where you want them, and feel happiness and joy.
As for chili: I love good chili... but not a fan of Wendy's. I LOVE a good "chili-size" (hamburger smothered in chili). Do you remember "Bob's Big Boy" restaurants? They had spaghetti chili: no beans chili used live spaghetti sauce. I loved that!
Sixgun, Cincinatti style chili serves as a spaghetti sauce and I've heard of other places that serve spaghetti that way. I'd try it, but I probably wouldn't make it that way myself. They still have some Bob's Big Boys around here, but I've never tried their chili.
DeleteMoney could always be better for me, but I'm comfortable for now. I do ponder the future though. Living in California doesn't help much.
Lee
I like the traditional version of the song (BTW, my favorite hymn), so would have voted for Fernando, but either way, great hymn! I'd argue that I make even better spaghetti :) My grandfather made a family favorite chili with okra added.
ReplyDeleteSharon, I can almost guarantee that if I made chili with okra my wife wouldn't touch it. I like okra though, but I've had it in chili.
DeleteLee