Journal Prompt 22 Jun 2020 ~ Fathers

Today's Writing Prompt: Fathers

It was Father's Day on the weekend, so today, tell me a little about your dad.

I can't tell you much about my father.  He was well respected in our community.  Everybody seemed to be his friend.  He had a sense of humour.  He drank.  

I didn't know him very well.  To me, growing up, he seemed a distant figure; not really part of the family but rather peripheral to it.  I always felt sad about that.

Journal Prompt 27 May 2020 ~ Doing it in Public

Today's Writing Prompt: Doing it in Public

Have you ever fallen asleep in public? On the train on the way home maybe, or laying on the beach perhaps? Do you consider sleeping in public embarrassing, or dangerous, or just relaxing fun?

Once in a while . . . Sometimes there was a break between classes when I was a "mature" student at Western University and I would find a comfy chair to relax in.  At one point in time we had to read this horrible boring droning somnolent book about why it wasn't the AXIS soldiers fault that they did bad things during WWII.  Not only was the argument lame and stupid (to use technical jargon) but it was just awful writing.  I could never get more than 2-3 pages read before I would just nod off.  It didn't matter where I was.  But if I was in a comfy chair I usually only lasted 1-2 pages before crashing.  I was fair game for anyone who wanted to steal my books or purse . . . and oh how I wished they would steal that particular book . . . so I developed a system of wrapping my book bag and purse handles around one ankle and tucking the bags between my legs and the chair.  I knew I was going to fall asleep.  And I always did.

I never did finish the book but managed to get far enough in to it to write a decent paper.

Rosemary Chicken

Quantity : 2 servings
Preparation : 15 min Cooking : 40 min
280 calories/serving

Ingredients
2 tsp olive oil 10 mL
1 slice bacon, finely chopped 20 g
2 chicken legs, with back 600 g
1/2 onions, finely chopped 100 g
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 sprig rosemary, fresh, finely chopped 5 g
1 tbsp Parsley and Garlic Base 15 mL
1 tbsp tomato paste 18 g
3 tbsp white wine 45 mL
1 pinch salt [optional] 0.2 g
ground pepper to taste [optional]
3 tbsp water 45 mL

Before you start

Keep the serving plates in the oven at the lowest setting so they are warm when you serve.

Method

Heat the oil in a pan over high heat. Finely chop the bacon then add it to the pan. Sauté 2 min, then add the chicken legs and sauté thoroughly on each side until golden, about 10 min. Take the chicken out of the pan then set it aside
Finely chop the onion, garlic, and rosemary, then add them to the pan. Cook 2-3 min over medium heat, taking care not to let them burn. Add the Parsley and Garlic Base and the tomato paste then cook 2-3 min over medium heat. Deglaze with the wine. Cook 2 min until the alcohol has evaporated. Put the chicken back into the pan. Season with salt and pepper.
Pour in about ½ cm of warm water, cover, and simmer over low heat until the meat is tender, 30-35 min.
Serve on the warmed plate.

https://www.soscuisine.com/recipe/rosemary-chicken

Journal Prompt 26 May 2020 ~ What Do You See?

Today's Writing Prompt: What Do You See?

What do you see, right now, as you're reading this prompt?

The room where I spend most of my time and it is kinda messy right now.  I often leave out projects I am working on.  I love that I can see out my window when I'm working.  My rose of sharon bush attracts birds and I can watch their antics.  

Book Review: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua

I loved reading Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua.  It is definitely a controversial book, but it is written in an honest and humorous fashion that is appealing and easy to read.

Amy Chua is determined to raise her two daughters in what she considers the stereotypical Chinese style.  She points out that you don't have to be Chinese to parent this way.  Chinese style parenting is about discipline and focus, preparing your children for the future, instilling excellent work habits and confidence and self-esteem resulting from accomplishment.  The Chinese parent stresses accomplishment in academics and extra-curricular activities.  This is extreme parenting.

Chua compares her style to Western parenting in which parents nurture their childrens' individuality, allowing them to find their own passions and creating a soft, entitled, untalented child unprepared for life.  Western parents believe self-esteem comes first and then accomplishment.

Chua has certainly created some controversy with these extremes.  But she learns that there has to be some compromise when her second daughter turns out to be very opinionated and stubborn, creating a collision of wills which, I am happy to say, ends in compromise.  Chua shares what she has learned about the rewards and costs of raising children the Chinese way.

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is funny, honest, shocking, controversial and a great read.  Perhaps somewhere between Western and Chinese parenting we will find the compromise which will lead us to parenting happy children who are ready to face the world when they are grown.

Journal Prompt 25 May 2020 ~ Six Words

Six Word Saturday

Describe your world today in just six words

It's nice just to enjoy quiet.

Dark Shadows (2012)

If you had asked me a few years back what I thought of Johnny Depp I would have probably said eh, he's okay I guess.  But for some reason I am becoming addicted to his movies.  It all started with Sweeney Todd.  I have developed a real enjoyment of his quirky characters .  

Anyway, the movie is silly and parts of it just don't make any sense.  And yet I really did like it a lot.  It is funny.

The story is about Barnabas Collins who spurns the affections of a witch.  Her revenge is to kill his fiance, turn him into a vampire and then bury him alive.  

A couple of centuries later Barnabas is inadvertently dug up by a construction crew and, after a quick snack, returns to his family estate to find it in ruins.  His family are totally dysfunctional and going broke.  Barnabas is determined to fix everything.

Only one problem, his ex-girlfriend is still around.

This is not a great movie.  But it is funny and I love when Alice Cooper performs.  Check it out some rainy day.