Okay, so time has sped by here lately, as it often does during adulthood. Time has flown by so quickly that my wooden spoon microphone has even been neglected and my feet are feeling the fire.
Taking a leap of faith and starting a new job, new not only in the job itself, but new in the factors of using a temp agency, taking on factory work, working an assembly line, leaving food service and retail has been challenging on every front. Add in another factor, work 4-10 hour shifts, the adjustment and transition period is putting my “norm” in a whirlwind of changes.
In truth, I would like to be handling it with a lot more ease and skill but each day has proven to be a bit different-from adjusting my sleep period (I have worked nights for years but never 10 hour shifts), switching swimming times (which, admittedly, my swimming has sometimes taken the back burner while adjusting) and picking up pre-crafted Sandwhiches and Salads at the grocery store have become the norm. Frustrating, yes! Wonky? Certaintly! Will it all work out for the best? I pray for it. I commit the unknown the God and the rest will be taken care of, despite my wonkyness, it is in his hands.
Okay, there are some days that life just needs to be made easy; yes, there are times even when i don’t want to cook for myself because I am just not feeling groovy or adventerous in making different food. When one lives alone, one gets to do all the cooking and cleaning and sometimes, a little easyness is needed!
My meal today for lunch was made easy by using sliced strawberries, bananas, chopped walnuts and a bit of feta to create a quick and easy meal for myself. Who else needs quick meals sometimes?
My Neighbor is from Alexandria, Egypt-and her friendship has been a really nice gift to me. It’s so nice to have someone to chat with that lives so close; a lady friend to share odds and end with and today, she shared a Egyptian dessert with me. She had atteneded an event that served international cuisine through her college, hosted by a professor and she brought me a dessert commonly served in Egypt.
I love that she shared a bit of her home food with me! It’s honey and has maybe a bit of cinnamon in it? It’s an adventure with food and having someone bring me something so special melts my heart.
In truth? If Egyptian food is all similiar to this and the other food Nour (my neighbor) has made and shared, I am more than happy to try new things. God’s goodness can be seen in many forms, through the kindness of a neighbor, the delight in sharing a meal together and more.
Taking a moment to slow day and enjoy the day, with the cold, chilly weather outside. Being thankful, especially today, that I don’t have to work outside and have something lovely to enjoy; prayer time, and being thankful, in my opinion, can happen anywhere, any time.
Devoting time, each day, to prayer and quiet time has proven to be very good for me; it helps to strengthen my time with God and during Lent, I am striving to do more of this.
Taking the time to walk with God, through prayer or whatever method is chosen, is essential to making a spiritual path in my life. Is it easy? No but with God’s mercy it’s possible.
During this Lenton season, reducing my stress and doing better at living life, a good cup of joe is called for, the local Starbucks is just around the corner from my house and the baristas are so nice! I am enjoying a Cinnamon Dulce breve latte, paid for with bonus stars! Prayers and coffee are an essential.
A friend introduced me to knitting a couple of years ago; I still am learning and building my skills but taking the time to enjoy the hobby and be content in a quiet, home hobby is important, at least in my opinion, in a person’s well being. I find it also helps reduce my stress and it feels great to have a hobby that produces something pretty.
I am currently using up some leftover skeins from other projects and skeins that were partial when purchased (grab bags from thrift stores, goody bags from yard sales, etc.) I also de-constructed a couple of practice pieces to add to the large throw/small blanket that is my current knitting project.
Packing a lunch for my work tonight. We’re all thinking ahead.
I packed myself two wraps, bananas, a couple of trail mix granola bars, and raisins. I also included a little chocolate for myself as dessert. I’m excited about starting my new job tonight. Yes I’m working two jobs now technically but I’m starting a new job tonight and I’m nervous but excited and my lunch is ready.
This morning, about 90 minutes ago, I struggled big time. My co-worker, in efforts to be super sweet and nice, offered me a McDonald’s breakfast sandwhich when she came into work. The sandwhich smelled wonderful; I really wanted to say yes and gobble it down with delight.
I politely declined, despite my tummy rumbling, my mouthing salvating with the warm aromas wafting from the paper wrapped food.. She asked if I didn’t care for McDonalds, I told her, no, I absolutely love McDonald’s breakfast sandwhichs but I am giving up fast food for Lent.Her face turned quizical in expression and I gave the brief description that Lent is the 40 days before Easter and many Catholics and Protestants give up something during this period as part of their faith and journey. I wasn’t expecting this struggle this morning at all.
While on my way to my job, I do pass several fast food chains to and from work. In the past, even recently, especially on the days I go to the Rec center to swim, I often imbibed and picked up a breakfast at one of the fast food chains;it makes things easier and tasty for me before I hit the lanes for laps. I can eat in my car (likely not a good habit to have anyway) and then realizse, as I evaluate my bank account weekly, just how much I am/was spending on fast food-especially lately as I have become passive, lazy about making breakfast for myself. But when does easy and convienent become a lifestyle? Why is this passively okay for when it’s not really okay as a norm? These are the questions I ask myself-and many more.
One lingering question, just a few days into Lent, is how do I make/cook more interesting food for myself? There are times, when I do need a quick meal, and I am learning that I need, at times, to practice better time management since I am eating solely homecooked meals at this point-with the exception of when I get invited to a family or friends house for dinner (or the like.) I didn’t anticipate that the struggle would also be with getting tired of my usual routine meals and recipes, especially so quickly.
While I did make myself breakfast (seen below), and while it settles down, I wonder, what easy meals can I make myself on short notice or with some prep work that are tasty and contian easily found ingredients? Please, do comment and share if you have ideas!
Multigrain Flat Bread
1 green onion
One small carrot shredded
1 tablespoon cream cheese
1/2 an avacodo
1 teaspoon parmesan cheese
Drizzle of Thousand Island Dressing
Left over Chicken breast shredded up
Spread the cream cheese on the flat bread, load veggies and avacado on top,add chicken, sprinkle parmesan and drizzle thousand island dress, roll up like a buritto. I also drank cold drip coffee with it. It was a B- meal.
My Travels 