The Infamous To Do List

Do you have a To Do List? I have a to do list - sometimes it feels like I have a to do list for my to do list. Is the to do list ever complete? I don't think so, I think the completed to do list is an urban myth. Where I struggle with the list is never getting it completed. It seems as soon as I cross off one thing I can think of half a dozen other things to get completed.

Now, it's important to realize that I am not about to advocate not using lists. I love lists, I make lists that are detailed and organized and sometimes I make them just for fun....yes, what if lists. I realize this admission will make a few people chuckle, and some might accuse me of insanity. I'm okay with that :).

What did cause me to think about this was lovely reading week which is now almost done...sigh. I had and have a to do list for reading week and of course I didn't get it all done. BUT I did get some of it done. I also still have the better part of the weekend to get even more on the list done, provided I don't expect to start Monday morning with absolutely nothing left to do. I am actually feeling pretty good about the fact that I got stuff done and I know I'll feel even better by the time the weekend is over.

Yup, all in all a great week where my to do list is far from complete but the important things are done or started :).

Banding

I play an instrument...it's a great instrument, admittedly not the most useful one if you're me, but it's one I love. It's the Eb horn and the reason I say it's not the most useful is because while there are some talented folks who can play anything on the horn I am not one of them. However, I love the horn and quite enjoy my harmonic parts in the band.

I've been missing the GTB lately (who wouldn't) even though I'm in a couple of bands here, and so we have a blog about being in a band :). This isn't a discussion about whether or not there should be bands anymore but just about how great a support the band has been to me.

I've been playing for over 20 years now (don't let this fool you, I started young, and so am still young) and for all of that time have been in a band of some sort - church, school etc...The support that I've been able to experience can't be underestimated. This was a group of people who were all coming together for the same reason - to make music. I will admit to finding the brass band experience at church the most fulfilling because to the level of making music you add the fact that everyone is now coming together to make music in praise to God. I think I can say without question that without the people who were in these groups. They have prayed for me, encouraged me and been shoulders to lean on pretty well my whole life.

So yes, I have had a great experience that has taught me to appreciate band. I love the music we create and the diversity that's available to a brass band. I mean hey, everything from marches, jazz, Broadway, Disney and much more is available. So for today - a nice shout out to the brass band world which has helped make me who I am today - geekiness and all :)

Recipes

I feel the need to preserve a couple "accidental" recipes that I've....made up(?) recently. The reason I put the question mark there is because I'm sure many people have similar recipes to these ones. However, this frog likes to cook so here are some recipes for you. None of these are really properly named either so feel free to offer suggestions or use your own name if you use these. The recipes are guaranteed bad for you but have both tasted really good.

Ground Beef Quesadilla Things

Ingredients:

1 lbs ground beef

Garlic, Cayenne, Chili powder, Red Pepper Flakes

Soft Tortilla Shells

Grated Mozzarella Cheese

Spaghetti Sauce

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425 C. Brown ground beef and season to taste with the above spices. Add in two TBSP of spaghetti sauce. Let simmer

Spread thin layer of spaghetti sauce on tortilla shells, add layer of mozzarella cheese, add cooked/seasoned beef, layer of mozzarella cheese and second tortilla with spaghetti sauce side down. Place in oven until cheese is melted and bubbly - makes a half dozen or so small tortillas.

Baked Penne Pasta

Ingredients:

1 lb Ground Beef

1 Bottle Spaghetti Sauce (or make from scratch if you're so inclined)

Penne Pasta

Grated Cheddar/Mozzarella Cheese (really any kind/combination of your standard pasta cheeses will do)

Garlic, Oregano, Rosemary

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 C. Brown ground beef and season to taste. Add spaghetti sauce and simmer. Boil pasta. Put small amount of sauce on bottom of small casserole dish. Put layer of cheese, noodles, sauce - repeat until dish is full. Top with layer of cheese, cover and place in oven. Bake until cheese is bubbly and brown on edges (if you're like me and enjoy some crispy cheese, otherwise you might want to take it out earlier).

Well those are them and at least now I can find them again if I'm so inclined. If anyone else enjoys these recipes that's great too.

Reflection

I still remember a discussion that I had in my Old Testament class in my very first semester here at training college and it was about the fairness of life. I was reminded of it recently as I was watching Babylon 5 and I heard a quote from my favourite character Marcus Cole. It's an episode where someone shows up who believes that they are King Arthur (Late Delivery from Avalon). However, even before the Arthur character arrives Marcus is having a discussion with the doctor and he says the following:

"You know, um…I used to think that it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe."

The discussion in class was about that very question - is life fair. Of course my automatic inclination is to say no! How could it be? But then a point was raised that made me see the question from a totally different perspective. If life were fair would the Son of God have come to earth and died for our sins? Now if you aren't a Christian this may not change your perspective at all, but it did change mine as I was reminded of the greatest gift to humanity that was ever given.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:12-13

My little reflection for the morning.