I feel good today.
Monday, a co-worker at the food bank gave me a couple of boxes of cookbooks. She's trying to downsize.
Yesterday, Gwendy and Sara came over to go through them with me. They each brought wine. After golf, Gil came over, then Dale followed George in. The party started. The phone rang. Beth asked if we were home and could they drop something by.
Bill and Beth brought smoked salmon and cream cheese. I even had capers!
Sara called Nate and told him to bring himself over.
Voila! From three of us looking at cook books to an instant party!
One of the many things I love about living here is having friends close enough by that these things CAN happen.
I feel as if I am more open to possibilities here. Of course, not having to get up and drive 30 miles through Southern California traffic to work helps too.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Thought for the Day -- Good or Bad?
It occurred to me today that I myself, as a percentage of the entire population of the planet am so infintesimal that I may not actually exist. Even if EVERYONE who knows me is added to the equation, the percentage is still too small to register on most hand-held calculators. (In fact, is there a hand-held that can register the population of the earth as a whole number?)
So, as a point of perspective, is that good or bad?
Neither, I suspect. Why should a moral value (good or bad) attach to a percentage number?
Morality does not depend on percentages. Morality is the ultimate undefinable.
A "Good" person may do a bad thing. A "Bad" person may do a good thing. Somethng done with good intentions may have a bad outcome. The reverse is also true. What I preceive as a good and moral act may be preceived by another party as the opposite.
Think about it. When you watch television, almost all of the speakers use the same voice, the same accent. Occasionally, a different speech pattern will be introduced for effect. (frequently comic) Our usage, our structure, our English has become homoginized. That is good. It means that a phrase can be understood in every part of the country.
But what have we lost? Once upon a time, a Southerner, a New Englander and a Mid-westerner were all very, very readily identifiable by their speech. Today, we all sound alike.
Guys - remember when every year, car models changed, and ever line of cars was entirely distinct?
Good, or bad?
Or is it simply the way things are?
Thought for the day: Even if, in a global population perspective, I don't exist, I still want to be myself and perhaps make some difference in the people around me by what I say, what I do, and what I blog.
So, as a point of perspective, is that good or bad?
Neither, I suspect. Why should a moral value (good or bad) attach to a percentage number?
Morality does not depend on percentages. Morality is the ultimate undefinable.
A "Good" person may do a bad thing. A "Bad" person may do a good thing. Somethng done with good intentions may have a bad outcome. The reverse is also true. What I preceive as a good and moral act may be preceived by another party as the opposite.
Think about it. When you watch television, almost all of the speakers use the same voice, the same accent. Occasionally, a different speech pattern will be introduced for effect. (frequently comic) Our usage, our structure, our English has become homoginized. That is good. It means that a phrase can be understood in every part of the country.
But what have we lost? Once upon a time, a Southerner, a New Englander and a Mid-westerner were all very, very readily identifiable by their speech. Today, we all sound alike.
Guys - remember when every year, car models changed, and ever line of cars was entirely distinct?
Good, or bad?
Or is it simply the way things are?
Thought for the day: Even if, in a global population perspective, I don't exist, I still want to be myself and perhaps make some difference in the people around me by what I say, what I do, and what I blog.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Manners
When do you speak out, and when do you remain silent?
In a social situation, an individual makes a statement that you, personally find offensive. Do you say anthing? Do you take that person aside later and explain that their statement offended you?
These things are/can be incredibly nuanced.
Years ago, when I was still working, I attended a "Diversity Day" observance. Throughout the day, various ethnicities and cultures that we regularly encountered in the workplace did presentations. Most of the presentations were cultural. There were songs and dances by a variety of groups.
Before lunch, a prayer was offered by one of the Native American presenters. The prayer was evangelical Christian.
Why would I find this offensive?
REGARDLESS of my own beliefs, this was a gathering celebrating a multiplicity of cultures. I found the prayer to be highly exclusive as a reflection of multi-culturalism. There were persons there who were not evangelical, nor even Christian.
I also found it offensive that a Native American who had been invited to share something of their culture that had not been assimilated into western european culture was evidencing a rejection of any pre-anglo religious beliefs and practices they might have still retained.
I said nothing. I did nothing. I did not even discuss it (until now).
Was I a coward?
Subsequent to the observence, a co-worker commented very derogatorily regarding two of the different dance troups. With respect to one, he opined;"I could do that dance. There was nothing to it!" The steps might have been simple. But his demeaning it indicated that he took away NO comprehension of the type of culture where such a dance would develop.
With respect to the second troup, my co-worker stated that if we had heard one of the (absloutely outstanding) dancers speak, we would have known that he was gay. (This co-worker was extremely homophobic.)
I have always regretted that I did not speak out to my co-worker. Whether or not the dancer was straight or gay had NO bearing whatsoever of a striking performance.
I was a coward. My co-worker's comments offended me. There I had NO excuse for not stating that the simplicity of the steps of a dance might have indicated the hardships of the life in a culture where such a dance developed. The sexual orientation of a dancer takes nothing away from the admiration of the performance.
So, the question remains, when I hear somone espousing a position that is not representative of EVERYONE in the room, should I speak up, or just quietly wince and castigate myself later?
In a social situation, an individual makes a statement that you, personally find offensive. Do you say anthing? Do you take that person aside later and explain that their statement offended you?
These things are/can be incredibly nuanced.
Years ago, when I was still working, I attended a "Diversity Day" observance. Throughout the day, various ethnicities and cultures that we regularly encountered in the workplace did presentations. Most of the presentations were cultural. There were songs and dances by a variety of groups.
Before lunch, a prayer was offered by one of the Native American presenters. The prayer was evangelical Christian.
Why would I find this offensive?
REGARDLESS of my own beliefs, this was a gathering celebrating a multiplicity of cultures. I found the prayer to be highly exclusive as a reflection of multi-culturalism. There were persons there who were not evangelical, nor even Christian.
I also found it offensive that a Native American who had been invited to share something of their culture that had not been assimilated into western european culture was evidencing a rejection of any pre-anglo religious beliefs and practices they might have still retained.
I said nothing. I did nothing. I did not even discuss it (until now).
Was I a coward?
Subsequent to the observence, a co-worker commented very derogatorily regarding two of the different dance troups. With respect to one, he opined;"I could do that dance. There was nothing to it!" The steps might have been simple. But his demeaning it indicated that he took away NO comprehension of the type of culture where such a dance would develop.
With respect to the second troup, my co-worker stated that if we had heard one of the (absloutely outstanding) dancers speak, we would have known that he was gay. (This co-worker was extremely homophobic.)
I have always regretted that I did not speak out to my co-worker. Whether or not the dancer was straight or gay had NO bearing whatsoever of a striking performance.
I was a coward. My co-worker's comments offended me. There I had NO excuse for not stating that the simplicity of the steps of a dance might have indicated the hardships of the life in a culture where such a dance developed. The sexual orientation of a dancer takes nothing away from the admiration of the performance.
So, the question remains, when I hear somone espousing a position that is not representative of EVERYONE in the room, should I speak up, or just quietly wince and castigate myself later?
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Decadence, here I come!
Had dinner at a French resturant. For desert, had a crepe aux trois creme. FABULOUS!! So, I want a recipe for trois creme. Googled it. No luck. Will have to try on my own.
What is it? A combination of cream cheese, sour cream and heavy cream with lemon zest.
I'm figuring on making minature cream puffs, filling them with trois creme and dusting them with powdered sugar (perhaps with a touch of lemon zest in the sugar as well.
Sound good?
What is it? A combination of cream cheese, sour cream and heavy cream with lemon zest.
I'm figuring on making minature cream puffs, filling them with trois creme and dusting them with powdered sugar (perhaps with a touch of lemon zest in the sugar as well.
Sound good?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
