In our bed,
I want to hold you
until my neck
and shoulder
hurt
and I have to roll over
only to be held
by you
(and maybe,
that’s what I wanted
all along)
Excuse To Be Held
What Is a “Wake Up” Story?
“I love my house.
I love my nest.
In all the world,
My nest is best!”
-Mr. Bird’s song from,“The Best Nest” by P.D. Eastman
A “wake up story” is the bedtime story you didn’t get to read because you were playing Wiffle Ball and collecting Camellia blossoms until dark.
What was your favorite read-aloud story when you were four?
To love at all is to be vulnerable.
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket – safe, dark, motionless, airless – it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.”
-C.S. Lewis, from The Four Loves
Pepperoni Rigatoni : A One-Pot Meal
“I’m tired of my mother
in my dreams
playing Rita Hayworth leaping
on restaurant tables stomping
a fiery flamenco barefoot
on half-eaten pepperoni pizzas.”
Pepperoni Pizzas & Salsa Dancers (excerpt) by Bob Genevro
Sometimes 3lb bags of pepperoni at the bulk food store cost just as much as the half-pound bag at the regular-old-grocery stores.
According to my panel of five amateur food critics, today’s made-up dinner recipe needs to added to the list of acceptable weeknight dinner foods.
Pepperoni Rigatoni
2lbs of Rigatoni (2 boxes)
Jar of tomato sauce (about 3 cups )
1 cup mozzarella cheese (Stella is my favorite authentic-tasting brand)
Pepperoni (I used three Sarah-sized handfuls. I promise you, your hands are bigger than mine.)
3 TB olive oil (cheap stuff is fine)
1. Cook rigatoni according to package directions for Al Dente firmness, drain and set aside.
2. Drizzle some olive oil in the bottom of the pasta pot and add pepperoni slices. This releases the pepperoni’s flavor goodness into the oil and warms them through.
3. Add the pasta to the pepperoni and stir to coat with the pepperoni and olive oil.
4. Add the sauce and cheese. Stir until sauce evenly coats pasta and cheese is melted.
You could make this dish more gourmet by dumping it in a baking dish, topping with additional mozzarella cheese, and baking it at 350F for 20 minutes or until the cheese is a beautiful golden brown. However, if daddy’s not home… it’s perfectly fine to spoon it right into bowls :)
Serve with a side salad and a buttered piece of crusty Italian bread.
“Thanks, Mom! This is awesome!” – Tabitha
“Can my friend Ethan try this? I think he’d LOVE IT!” – Thomas
“I like this spice, Mom. May I have some milk?” – Micah
“Would it be okay if I had thirds?” – Leah
“Tastes kinda like pepperoni pizza… only it’s pasta.” – Aiden
Love, Springtime and Cherry Trees
“I want to do to you what spring does with the cherry trees.” – Lewis Blackwell from “The Life and Love of Trees”
The Life and Love of Trees was on display at the library tonight. I love trees, and its oversized shape beckoned me to pick it up. I’m so glad I did. This exquisite photographic tribute to trees is a feast for the eyes and tree-loving heart.
Ever since living in Japan, I have a special place in my heart for cherry trees. Their blooms mark the beginning of springtime, as the daffodils (which, I recently learned are poisonous!) and crocuses do in the United States. Entire festivals are inspired by cherry blossom viewing in Japan — and it’s no wonder why. They are breathtakingly lovely.
Blackwell’s photograph brought back fond memories of hanami picnics with my husband.
If you know someone who feels at home in a forest (like my dad), this book would make an excellent birthday present.
I leave you with a photograph of my own — blooming cherry trees in a park near our house in Aomori Prefecture:
What’s your take on businesses offering a percentage of sales for disaster relief?
“What’s your take on businesses offering a percentage of sales for disaster relief?” – @SethSimonds
It always makes me happy when individuals and companies donate money to help a cause. I prefer this over the US government borrowing from China and then paying back the bill, with interest, using taxpayers’ hard earned money.
That being said, it bothers me when companies opportunistically use disasters to make money.
If a company responds to a disaster, the corresponding campaign should have the feeling of a somber, heartfelt sympathy card — not clever marketing. The message should be 100% about caring and 0% about their products or services. A logo + disaster relief campaign URL suffices. If consumers (ie. potential donation partners) want to learn more about the company itself, they have a lead.
If a company specifically designs a product for disaster relief, 100% of profits should go to the cause. (As a consumer, I understand that they have to pay overhead costs. I’m cool with this.) Think of it this way — the product wouldn’t even exist unless thousands of people weren’t hurt (or killed) in the first place. Anything less than 100% of profits indicates the company is stepping on victims’ souls to get a boost up the corporate ladder.
When a successful new product comes out of a disaster relief campaign, once the dust settles a little, the company may continue the product line with fresh marketing.
Companies don’t always make products specifically to support disaster relief, but still want to donate. In this case, a percentage donation is perfectly acceptable on existing products. The larger the percentage, the better.
Even more exciting than donating money is when a company additionally donates their products and volunteers their expertise to go above and beyond to help victims. Not only are they cutting into profits when they do this, they’re also paying out-of-pocket to make it happen. It’s acceptable to respectfully let the world know they’re helping in this way, which encourages others to do the same.
Certainly any disaster response from companies potentially boosts profits. It’s delusional to think otherwise. Good companies have a history-backed identity of being socially responsible, and are always looking for ways to help others. Their brands have a relevance that surpasses the products and services they sell. Companies dance a fine line at times, but savvy consumers who are intentional with their money will research a company’s business practices before buying any product, regardless of whether or not a donation is attached.
Good question, Seth.
( Oh… and in case you’re wondering, I’m listening to Joan Jett and the Blackhearts ;) )
Readers, what do you think?