tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71121342196438287442024-03-15T21:11:13.041-04:00My4SenseA life-affirming blog hidden in the plain sight of a grumpy world. Posts include my book reviews, experiences, narratives, interviews, recipes, snapshots and other eclectic stuff. "My4Sense" connotes my 4 cents worth in honor of "common sense." (Yes—good old "horse sense" DOES exist—tune in and you'll see...)Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-61212330220661195832023-11-06T20:02:00.000-05:002023-11-06T20:02:23.282-05:00PLASTIC PUMPKINS <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMMLfwMuLUZ6J01NXucRSg8Xm8ujoVqF25hGd22Q_alYrmZZoua-pYM1Q7snC6uIKylJHndQ9ostNa2i8fypzt6iMkKLgx1ctcdgsQS5KtyqlTckS1egsqnvu1WXQKNFxeOgA3Q4uAcmS0kO1uZ2pSY-sKqwp9gjrdy6H0pxBDO48yebBJBRAOoQ32J8/s185/plastic%20pump%20pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="121" data-original-width="185" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMMLfwMuLUZ6J01NXucRSg8Xm8ujoVqF25hGd22Q_alYrmZZoua-pYM1Q7snC6uIKylJHndQ9ostNa2i8fypzt6iMkKLgx1ctcdgsQS5KtyqlTckS1egsqnvu1WXQKNFxeOgA3Q4uAcmS0kO1uZ2pSY-sKqwp9gjrdy6H0pxBDO48yebBJBRAOoQ32J8/w400-h262/plastic%20pump%20pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Globe Soup awarded my story a finalist nod in their Micro Contest. 100-words or less.</p><p>Theme: Halloween.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>PLASTIC PUMPKINS</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">The year <i>Night of the Living Dead
</i>premiered, my younger brother and I were a couple of hobos. Baggy pants, tattered
jackets, shabby fedoras, ivory cheeks charcoal-rubbed. In chilly dense fog, we
were lone trick-or-treaters; our plastic pumpkins jingling with goodies.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A flickering red speck accented a silhouette approaching
from the rural roadside. We gave each other a <i>what's that</i> look.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Run.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Brother shivered, <i>no way</i>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Let’s race. Ready. Set. Go.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He bolted. I tripped. Candy spilled from the plastic pumpkins
into a puddle. A smoldering cigarette butt flew into the mix, hissing. Whiskey breath,
smacking me in the face.<o:p></o:p></p>Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-60916588443453552702023-05-29T16:30:00.001-04:002023-05-29T16:49:37.662-04:00Wind Trees<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9zkkBvv9Z1-6eBBGUvSqlRIN7jdp0fxov1ggU4RQCNvO4GGtiLTIWX-xrOl04YqtX41Vh3JOTDCi9FIvqilBJhmSna8_RO8OEGTKE8YRV4SNVD4q-AdL2evCIhT_UM0C3adLl_B4pyx_RaAxOO84V9_14IChh0D1oD6aunl7YgHShwr4p6YZc6v3/s4032/IMG_2458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9zkkBvv9Z1-6eBBGUvSqlRIN7jdp0fxov1ggU4RQCNvO4GGtiLTIWX-xrOl04YqtX41Vh3JOTDCi9FIvqilBJhmSna8_RO8OEGTKE8YRV4SNVD4q-AdL2evCIhT_UM0C3adLl_B4pyx_RaAxOO84V9_14IChh0D1oD6aunl7YgHShwr4p6YZc6v3/w300-h400/IMG_2458.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwXv54x3l5j2X1FDU5Lgn3Hjgm3eZ6J0JIu-fBlhvgRnSOG82SdjaL6Xmt0OxjKhyTmVuwnRWC2EPB1dvQDpw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-53478529008585719562023-05-29T15:56:00.002-04:002023-05-29T17:20:24.148-04:00"Own Worst Enemy" Earns Finalist Nod<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGiCWEmhdDNrVn6XoQ4ROxjiFoDEXLwXuF0BW3VWJ2SmpisGWGmThf_cKJ9ihWq2i1gIJWdNos3ziLwTVzewuwuLU0MgldlWRO3LqxL4L58DdF8qC8CHW1dTwu_Bd1aBj5RKMofYyq_w_a6McxVkZ93kUvAKgQRVin4camBEOOvaipQMiJzJ7htEj/s752/lighthouse%20stairs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="752" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGiCWEmhdDNrVn6XoQ4ROxjiFoDEXLwXuF0BW3VWJ2SmpisGWGmThf_cKJ9ihWq2i1gIJWdNos3ziLwTVzewuwuLU0MgldlWRO3LqxL4L58DdF8qC8CHW1dTwu_Bd1aBj5RKMofYyq_w_a6McxVkZ93kUvAKgQRVin4camBEOOvaipQMiJzJ7htEj/w400-h255/lighthouse%20stairs.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />Entered <a href="https://www.globesoup.net/enemies" target="_blank">Globe Soup's May Micro Contest</a>, one-hundred words or less. The theme assigned was "enemies." My poem earned a finalist nod. Thanks, Globe Soup!</p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Own Worst Enemy</span></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">Friends loaded.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">My head in the
toilet<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">spewing Tequila
Sunrises.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">I drove thru a
red light at a four-lane intersection</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">side-swiping a
steel utility pole.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">Car totaled.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">Mum said, “You’re
your own worst enemy.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">Snorting <i>rush</i>
on the dancefloor<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">drivel dribbling
from misused maws.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">Beds reeking of
filthy feet and excrement.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><i style="text-indent: 0in;">You’re your
own worst enemy.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 86.95pt; text-indent: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">Powdery snowflakes
mounded on the kitchen counter.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">My shoulders
pinned, torso and pelvis crushing sofa cushions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">“Did you think
this was free?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><i>You’re your
own worst enemy.</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">Recovery by the
Sea’s double-doors clunked shut.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">“This way to your
room, Miss—” <o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">“Own-Worst-Enemy.”</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><br /></p>Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-52259549416387175752023-03-14T10:07:00.030-04:002023-03-14T15:16:50.168-04:00Haiku: Log Dissection<p></p><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Glacier dissects log.<span><a name='more'></a></span><br /></span><span style="text-align: left;">Feathers burn, freeze, fossilize.<span><!--more--></span><br /></span><span style="text-align: left;">Third eye inspects me.</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILOd7n469xEhmHhfdOi4tyHNecfyTT3j3A_KLYcnBsKvl8kSvXSxxiW0wncBNQcpf-rzaEj6p9BXQxjjAVvgTr0BFHHnrOGHQBYzx8n2EzVZDzkNOFG-pOdpd2lX4TmhnCZiOKakdznlfVNlTA24hu1066y3W8uGdGhJ--XInugiOUWo-JcPi9RaB/s2157/Haiku%20Log%20Pattern.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="976" data-original-width="2157" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILOd7n469xEhmHhfdOi4tyHNecfyTT3j3A_KLYcnBsKvl8kSvXSxxiW0wncBNQcpf-rzaEj6p9BXQxjjAVvgTr0BFHHnrOGHQBYzx8n2EzVZDzkNOFG-pOdpd2lX4TmhnCZiOKakdznlfVNlTA24hu1066y3W8uGdGhJ--XInugiOUWo-JcPi9RaB/w640-h290/Haiku%20Log%20Pattern.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-45106539504132690702023-03-10T21:14:00.003-05:002023-03-10T21:25:00.765-05:00Amelia's Run<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kib8URnNbU4T9dBPVr43rSB1OZ4k8g7wZNe1RgRJMjb2e0jrRR73El-bmyAgABlQf0JXgLmp6MOAYJOxuBWljJRQdL1PvtmRtK9SzmmbPI29i81fR5VzWrioHNNUThXRkV5OfkoKV9yQoooQ3gqOlL4XXHL_XWYRXWk9gItHKgYe-6q9FY3hfiV1/s2592/IMG_3045.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8kib8URnNbU4T9dBPVr43rSB1OZ4k8g7wZNe1RgRJMjb2e0jrRR73El-bmyAgABlQf0JXgLmp6MOAYJOxuBWljJRQdL1PvtmRtK9SzmmbPI29i81fR5VzWrioHNNUThXRkV5OfkoKV9yQoooQ3gqOlL4XXHL_XWYRXWk9gItHKgYe-6q9FY3hfiV1/w293-h320/IMG_3045.JPG" width="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrpEvER1ArRszLo-MoXT_kXwYRRvepxrJzcmvzYl2UGOZEQcFuh-vluEeUIBqOdWfUwsNC1WVmoJW0zsQ0JEptKwZNeFcO-maNgOz5t_gCk4WLijKk_uA2F06AU5HZsUj0f6XyObOZPrOF-1sEohlFr2haMA5PBBiyBWfs-3-itk7NJ3brh1uBrI4/s3143/amelia%20run.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3143" data-original-width="2251" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrpEvER1ArRszLo-MoXT_kXwYRRvepxrJzcmvzYl2UGOZEQcFuh-vluEeUIBqOdWfUwsNC1WVmoJW0zsQ0JEptKwZNeFcO-maNgOz5t_gCk4WLijKk_uA2F06AU5HZsUj0f6XyObOZPrOF-1sEohlFr2haMA5PBBiyBWfs-3-itk7NJ3brh1uBrI4/w282-h320/amelia%20run.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cormorant, serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Amelia dodged the potholes of a heartless Minnesota spring, coasting past his address as if piloting a hearse. Rounding the corner, her faded, black Ford Taurus sped up the hill overlooking his property. She parked her makeshift crow’s nest and positioned her binoculars. Bingo. OCD routine intact, Don sauntered to his classic Volvo and wiped a flee-sized smudge from its hood before driving off.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cormorant, serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">******</span>The memory of him, serving her coffee in bed, stung like a territorial hornet. His words tumbled into her mind, “Booked our usual weekend tee-times at Fox Run. Have a good day, honey.” She’d cringed at the gentle click of the door latch; then bolted from bed to spend the day milking every second of freedom like a famished kitten.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cormorant, serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cormorant, serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">******</span>Amelia edged her Taurus into the carport. <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Crunch, crunch, crunch.</em> The familiar sound of tires grinding gravel triggered latent qualms and a cold sweat seeped from her armpits. Yet the instinct to retrieve her life <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">burned</em>. Making her way to the front door she tripped over the old oak’s knobby tree-flare root, as she’d done a thousand times.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cormorant, serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">******</span>Her shaky hand met with an unlocked door. <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">New lover? Already?</em> She breached the entryway. A blanched woman in her sixties, wearing a dress with the logo, “Maid-in-America,” was washing dishes in the horseshoe kitchenette.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cormorant, serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">******</span>“Oh, sorry. I used to live here. Don said I could come grab my stuff. Only be a minute.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cormorant, serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">******</span>Cleaning lady’s body stiffened into an unnatural pose, eyes glazed, like a Macy’s mannequin.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cormorant, serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">******</span>Amelia was scrounging around the house like a thief when Don returned. With the tone of a novice drill-sergeant Don said, “Amelia. Leave. Now.” He swung the door wide open.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cormorant, serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">******</span>She breezed through a fog of whiskey-and-weed breath, escaping to her car.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cormorant, serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">******</span>A maelstrom of pride and despair paralyzed forward movement. Blue and red strobes suddenly flashed across pewter clouds hugging the horizon. Squad cars yelped towards the neighborhood, like killer whales triangulating their prey.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cormorant, serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">******</span>What was once a quaint hamlet was now a blustering maze; and she, a rat, tethered to confusion and denial.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cormorant, serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">******</span>Amelia’s nerves vibrated with the velocity of harp strings plucked by the devil. Her mind juggled the restraining order she’d just broken, hunting rifle in her trunk, plate-glass wall of the county jail cell, nail-chewing cell-mate mumbling rap, the hazardous affair with Don—a tight-lipped programmer by day, and a Charlie Parker wannabe by night.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cormorant, serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">******</span>Her thirty-something-self had vowed to be leery of Don-like-dudes with a Napoleon complex. And who, instead of cultivating actual friends, collected drinking buddies and golf partners, as she collected vinyl. Nonetheless, desperate daiquiris in a tavern of loneliness, bred a Don relationship—and it stewed for months in a sweet-and-sour broth of contempt.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cormorant, serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">******</span>Buckets of dimpled notions spun in Amelia’s brain, like golf balls churning in a ball-washer on a holiday weekend—Nineteenth hole of inflated egos…Fairway to court…Hitting fat legal fees…Reputation in the rough…Self-esteem, sliced into the bunker…Eagle Run Golf Club…Wolf Run Golf Club…Fox Run…Prison Run…Amelia…Run.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cormorant, serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Cormorant, serif; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><span style="font-size: large;">First published on Free Flash Fiction: <a href="https://freeflashfiction.com/fiction/amelias-run/">https://freeflashfiction.com/fiction/amelias-run/</a></span></b></span></span></p>Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-41058392992945752572023-02-08T20:45:00.008-05:002023-03-10T20:29:59.396-05:00Sandy Rises: A micro-story to honor my quadriplegic cousin<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYzurfmyHPJTV8r4vJOB-xnVui8hD9OkDTaWKVtWtmiVARsOEtyHcczthmHpQJjlmT52hWP-U03k_NxinQy8nPg0zJOAb8uuKsYWqBiyyAB7vAYCcrLGb_4EMIpFvO07UB9IKCAl4i9a7y92E9SMK-AJSD4s9zLfVVD0wWD1SDHRh9T5fWS78YQo8/s2964/000000100006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1933" data-original-width="2964" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYzurfmyHPJTV8r4vJOB-xnVui8hD9OkDTaWKVtWtmiVARsOEtyHcczthmHpQJjlmT52hWP-U03k_NxinQy8nPg0zJOAb8uuKsYWqBiyyAB7vAYCcrLGb_4EMIpFvO07UB9IKCAl4i9a7y92E9SMK-AJSD4s9zLfVVD0wWD1SDHRh9T5fWS78YQo8/w400-h261/000000100006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">Sandy Rises</span></h1><p class="MsoTitle"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Sandy drifted from the bed into my
arms.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I can walk by
myself.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’d dreamt of this moment since I was ten—my quadriplegic
cousin, who’d babysat me before her accident—ambulatory again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The day we visited; she was dangling upside
down from a hospital bed. I’d surreptitiously pinched her arm…testing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sandy took steps like a stilt-walker. I hovered, ready to
catch her, certain she would fall. She took my hand, “Let’s dance.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We sang and waltzed to Sinatra.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I glanced in the mirror. My lined eyes framed by thin, gray
hair. Sandy’s face smooth, her hair raven.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEAxwssxXJioc8XgrCR5m48iIjtJhRdCdiOER0uY-Lxt57qei8wHlpe6AWtjG44le7zdWMBl2sZbbwAyjZG9SGQ4gZRotgKBKid9olbHQ64rRyCRhJEYabcfpxeHT3ac1ArcbxphkFlaSDZFbwka28IdUFKcNuU-s4QngWg6xBzM9FAFfUYIMBQvx/s2744/000000100020%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2744" data-original-width="1877" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEAxwssxXJioc8XgrCR5m48iIjtJhRdCdiOER0uY-Lxt57qei8wHlpe6AWtjG44le7zdWMBl2sZbbwAyjZG9SGQ4gZRotgKBKid9olbHQ64rRyCRhJEYabcfpxeHT3ac1ArcbxphkFlaSDZFbwka28IdUFKcNuU-s4QngWg6xBzM9FAFfUYIMBQvx/s320/000000100020%20(2).jpg" width="219" /></a></h2><div><br /></div><div><h1><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">My micro fiction entry earned finalist in </span><a href="https://www.globesoup.net/paranormal" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;" target="_blank">Globe Soup's contest</a><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">. A 100-word story with a beginning, middle and end? Good luck with that.</span></h1></div><div><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-5975842358555911232023-01-21T20:53:00.012-05:002023-03-14T18:43:07.997-04:00Haiku: Drunken Winter<p></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB25hL-CxCzVLSJ3BzjhHy-X0fPsEtzhwc5QapkMmcAKd_MndNnDNKeK1bdUFL0T9EC66gbWrBcGtcks4ouKOdkIGtgsdjV73xXIw1C7NRTz1lRXpyDXrL-iHfkfDM5UcZkt7S2l8_wpUnrf2jJqQWHU3vq0s3xXXa0Sfo3BqfkTy8ldM8nvI5ctCC/s1024/winter%20tree%20heart.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1024" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB25hL-CxCzVLSJ3BzjhHy-X0fPsEtzhwc5QapkMmcAKd_MndNnDNKeK1bdUFL0T9EC66gbWrBcGtcks4ouKOdkIGtgsdjV73xXIw1C7NRTz1lRXpyDXrL-iHfkfDM5UcZkt7S2l8_wpUnrf2jJqQWHU3vq0s3xXXa0Sfo3BqfkTy8ldM8nvI5ctCC/s320/winter%20tree%20heart.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><h1 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h1><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Winter knows dying?<br /></span>"She’s a screamer,"<i> </i>he said twice.<br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Snowflakes dance, I swerve.</span></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">
<br /></h2>Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-9509350586666972552023-01-20T20:25:00.006-05:002023-03-14T10:31:28.579-04:00Haiku: Winter Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzWZIQ32LLziyMOVTq2Y3z2_T9R5ulIM_qNDDctJHU-af4f63oRZ1TQi3oPWxVJCw_llS3niFyfDp0lQI0wk7J2PKvWmYuuYahb1Qvmaa7X_Q13r_-2ZVK8fS7r3bCVWaxAip50C7Zyr1Zj50cgk9yGiM0JNoV91Fr5m-O68EA0W0wf6o79lUw7hV/s1800/snow%20covered%20condo%20porch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="1800" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzWZIQ32LLziyMOVTq2Y3z2_T9R5ulIM_qNDDctJHU-af4f63oRZ1TQi3oPWxVJCw_llS3niFyfDp0lQI0wk7J2PKvWmYuuYahb1Qvmaa7X_Q13r_-2ZVK8fS7r3bCVWaxAip50C7Zyr1Zj50cgk9yGiM0JNoV91Fr5m-O68EA0W0wf6o79lUw7hV/w400-h270/snow%20covered%20condo%20porch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brittle winter thrives<br /><span>ensconced in an Irish pub<br /></span><span>Arresting the clock.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-72278080726475286652022-08-03T21:27:00.000-04:002022-08-03T21:27:40.152-04:00’Twas<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXX_si335L0zwV-f3zR91mHOS7nFqekAT6W15ckczkQ69Ny8kKxv7Ixheh4ktdgWSifH7dy5WWWxDdmJUKmfqIw05L9pUVuvx02ANgeA44FJPwto7YIFAS5fsMJSTQ3aTscrhalwd_IlyIoRJLv_BMvZKrJY_N9iWlHMMRF8S1rBWeSZd2w72XN4R/s4624/20210302_173929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXX_si335L0zwV-f3zR91mHOS7nFqekAT6W15ckczkQ69Ny8kKxv7Ixheh4ktdgWSifH7dy5WWWxDdmJUKmfqIw05L9pUVuvx02ANgeA44FJPwto7YIFAS5fsMJSTQ3aTscrhalwd_IlyIoRJLv_BMvZKrJY_N9iWlHMMRF8S1rBWeSZd2w72XN4R/w300-h400/20210302_173929.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5in;"></h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><b>’<span style="font-family: arial;">Twas<br /></span></b></h1><o:p> </o:p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">’twas
not he who<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">swayed
shallow stares<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">in
a devil’s lair<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">’twas
not he<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">who
lassoed lax limbs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">flailing
in winds of prairies wild<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">’twas
not he<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">who
raised a ruckus<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">dust,
smoke and cracked mirrors<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">’twas
not he<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">shadowing
the dives of early morn<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">’twas
she</span><o:p></o:p></p>Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-68078312836888018072022-06-16T20:57:00.002-04:002022-06-17T15:16:43.479-04:00A TOAST—SLEEP WELL TONIGHT<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaQABIdSqi0Xa_9Eq-xg3Ywa4WT9xGf4gatKOGBI6JcPgIecA9mF0xex0F407UkqYgO7HwLb2rDv4q4mlvywd4Cz9hf8cJSNrcIaeBUwjthdJ2E2eQpD2rWoGHjYSs2zO68F-ubyhSnQawYkbGK73pKAcKPb4KF2KBwvxR0ISQOajV8TnzTj8lZVvd" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1517" data-original-width="2792" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaQABIdSqi0Xa_9Eq-xg3Ywa4WT9xGf4gatKOGBI6JcPgIecA9mF0xex0F407UkqYgO7HwLb2rDv4q4mlvywd4Cz9hf8cJSNrcIaeBUwjthdJ2E2eQpD2rWoGHjYSs2zO68F-ubyhSnQawYkbGK73pKAcKPb4KF2KBwvxR0ISQOajV8TnzTj8lZVvd=w571-h347" width="571" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">A TOAST—SLEEP WELL TONIGHT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Here’s to sleeping well tonight<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Rebels of indiscretions<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Slay your rights and quell transgressions<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Here’s to sleeping well tonight <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Knights of yesteryears<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Rally forth and fell the phantoms of the
night<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Love’s cousins wild and mighty<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Meet me where reality dissolves<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I rest my head on a pillow of camaraderie<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">The plight of <i>awakening</i>, ever
present<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I flail, scorn, wail in fright, but<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Here’s to sleeping well tonight<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-55888038361496602182022-03-14T21:33:00.002-04:002023-02-15T20:50:07.172-05:00FARMER’S MARKET FUN<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5o_9PukImh7X6-rWzKPgPJvAQTuyAg3T497mpy1HTrAfMctkswhahV8vQNT5g1oEuDpvHRJghb92rZJUqS9UDm6I6FYQF5rp1Gfdw0Ouy0zcKp4m69n5O1kvUvReFdldEfA-corqLSUjmK3ykuDqTjjdkfKaNqW-00oZRsNnWKtbNOkHcFTDPKiXT=s4032"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj88AP-DMxFYaXGK2vGQ1kUi0NOYTs1vDn-Uz3ynUrSP8DZk-3zRFzioNsqyQRbjOSxhDeITAWgaZe6yDVmpcXgk7HDmumjWw5ocZ0aZhuQO1zj_3W6rJVm7TkR2k4lx5X8ga7rakWmN6uC9ib3id47YMwRf_Wg4wIbIev0fFu_v7taPPeUZA-CBwSX=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj88AP-DMxFYaXGK2vGQ1kUi0NOYTs1vDn-Uz3ynUrSP8DZk-3zRFzioNsqyQRbjOSxhDeITAWgaZe6yDVmpcXgk7HDmumjWw5ocZ0aZhuQO1zj_3W6rJVm7TkR2k4lx5X8ga7rakWmN6uC9ib3id47YMwRf_Wg4wIbIev0fFu_v7taPPeUZA-CBwSX=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I pulled up the hood of my
jacket and exited the car in a torrential downpour. As soon as I made it to the
covered area, the rain let up. My Saturdays are busy and regimented. So, I was
in a hurry to gather farm-fresh goodies and get going. But this Saturday, the
parking lot was flooded. A breeze created waves in an asphalt lake. A child was waltzing through the deep puddle, clad in tall rubber boots.
Is there anything more captivating than a child being a child? Exploring his
world?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ24i6ky0aPCvnnxxiNf6E-ZnlOhVVaTz8qqDHu1qWwLXrrfmzf9TtGYMfOMXn76ZyD0bn0DrsFQeJX3PRRX5oMF8xy0WSsY15aeOQh42CHTwVrficNFy6Id6c0uwmVhtMGy5MUdh_7yj9SeD3tAjsCQJW7zWKRRUhcYB2mRj7pkUFCPu_UdQTfoUV=s1078" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="814" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ24i6ky0aPCvnnxxiNf6E-ZnlOhVVaTz8qqDHu1qWwLXrrfmzf9TtGYMfOMXn76ZyD0bn0DrsFQeJX3PRRX5oMF8xy0WSsY15aeOQh42CHTwVrficNFy6Id6c0uwmVhtMGy5MUdh_7yj9SeD3tAjsCQJW7zWKRRUhcYB2mRj7pkUFCPu_UdQTfoUV=s320" width="242" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">A tinge of jealousy struck me,
as I turned to go. I stopped short and told myself, “For once, I’m going to
enjoy this moment, even if my shoes get soaked. Maybe I could snap a picture of
a child enjoying the giant puddle?” When I was his age, I loved dancing in the
rain and splashing in puddles. The fond memory is still there, appearing in dreams</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px;">—</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">where arthritic limbs whirl free again.</span></p><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I pivoted back to the asphalt-pond
and asked the boy if I could take his picture. He stood like a statue, until I
raised my arms and grinned. He mirrored my gesture, and I captured his joy with
my smartphone camera. In a heartbeat, the moment passed.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjICCWOxdehOTFTc88E8QtitG3uoyJh1e-bMbijzLZJojzXyKYFFhXrfAyGWKJBUKS9IPOX50utEP6y3NLLKwz-ZtwOUvtfqLMblUn7Tk99YiBjPULitzikhvRiOTQ2HUhC2mViTa9E4s_rRg6tMV8RbNmTDso60jL4_NuSpyZIFrQUjPs7pd7PDRz2=s2622" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2622" data-original-width="1885" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjICCWOxdehOTFTc88E8QtitG3uoyJh1e-bMbijzLZJojzXyKYFFhXrfAyGWKJBUKS9IPOX50utEP6y3NLLKwz-ZtwOUvtfqLMblUn7Tk99YiBjPULitzikhvRiOTQ2HUhC2mViTa9E4s_rRg6tMV8RbNmTDso60jL4_NuSpyZIFrQUjPs7pd7PDRz2=s320" width="230" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Then a toddler caught my
attention. He nibbled a treat, contemplating his future in concentric circles of joy. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfLo2tq3BLjPbKXnv2CLHREXFlri_gKqikmgIZJO8f_pE_40cIe5FgKdtO5zdp1W58zHHMH4DI9uyD6pE6h9z87iBvC86bK_FM2m_R3-L3EX9QghPwLNoH8WDqtqy1DS-WgEq0K707_aN5ZPKgOhH6Yb4thXN9rVnTLFdE3pQezkMp63MYZOIoP9AQ=s2070" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2070" data-original-width="1804" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfLo2tq3BLjPbKXnv2CLHREXFlri_gKqikmgIZJO8f_pE_40cIe5FgKdtO5zdp1W58zHHMH4DI9uyD6pE6h9z87iBvC86bK_FM2m_R3-L3EX9QghPwLNoH8WDqtqy1DS-WgEq0K707_aN5ZPKgOhH6Yb4thXN9rVnTLFdE3pQezkMp63MYZOIoP9AQ=s320" width="279" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">These two children made my day. Showing the parents, the pics of their puddle-loving children, I hope, made theirs as well.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I returned home with a warm
memory—proud of myself for taking time to '<i>stop and</i> <i>smell the roses'</i>—not to
mention, a colorful bounty of tasty greens, tomatoes and honey.<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></p>Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-59577038642939628872022-02-04T15:51:00.004-05:002022-02-04T16:09:29.578-05:00ADVENT'S SHADOW——MY GLOBE SOUP CONTEST ENTRY<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEfGV6vUCRPPOkXKG8HvD9Pl1ZLJqMXmhwkMM3xlCqzoBCnwYlD_-pnEiYW-Y8Bya4bdZYHlPfdN8HpsERKJCGUecBOW0m6tTajYVRXRygrc6dRSnWYFjk5p0ulvTSxq2723Itr6r9NXfQksOF97AMYbOyeJsmjI3oiE1CIr-WT4enPu9qPaYeqcKF=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEfGV6vUCRPPOkXKG8HvD9Pl1ZLJqMXmhwkMM3xlCqzoBCnwYlD_-pnEiYW-Y8Bya4bdZYHlPfdN8HpsERKJCGUecBOW0m6tTajYVRXRygrc6dRSnWYFjk5p0ulvTSxq2723Itr6r9NXfQksOF97AMYbOyeJsmjI3oiE1CIr-WT4enPu9qPaYeqcKF=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0in;"></span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">Wow. I was
long-listed in Globe Soup's 7 Day Challenge for the second time. It was the
first time I'd written in my assigned genre (historical fiction), and I am
thrilled from my eyebrows to my toenails! Thank you, Globe Soup peeps! Congrats
to winner, Dr. Bethan Charles, for her edgy sci-fi piece. Loved it. </span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">Here is the link for contest winners: <a href="https://www.globesoup.net/7-day-story-writing-challenge-winners" target="_blank">Globe Soup 7 Day Contest Winners</a></span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Here is the piece I wrote in only seven days—</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Assigned Genre: HISTORICAL
FICTION</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span color="windowtext" face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">THEME: A CHRISTMAS LIKE NO OTHER</span><span color="windowtext" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">ADVENT’S
SHADOW<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The 4<sup>th</sup>
Century port city of Myra, Lycia, was a brutal place for Christians, but Bishop
Nicholas was undaunted by threats and persecutions. The bishop was in his
study, leaning over the open window, his gnarled knuckles locked onto the sill
like vice grips. His curly gray beard whipped like a widow’s scarf in the high
winds, refracting his thoughts to his beloved parents who had died too long
ago. The view from the study window overlooked the cliff above the bay and the
Mediterranean Sea’s briny mineral scent clung to his nostrils. The bishop stepped
back and struggled to shut the window door. He sat in meditation, preparing to
absorb the barrage of prayers that would soon invade his conscious and
electrify every cell in his body until it became a phantom limb. His reputation
of performing virtuous, miraculous acts was well-known and endangered souls occasionally
prayed to him directly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Myra’s craggy coastline coveted
vessels, lying in wait to masticate their keels as if it were an orca stalking
seals. Nature was pitiless and without malicious intent, when its razor-sharp
teeth severed the throats of men tossed into its mouth. The metallic flavor of bleeding
men would be regurgitated into the abyss without a care. As the tempestuous sea
whooshed the fishing smack towards imminent doom, its crew of twelve prayed for
salvation. Their gullets raw from hacking up salty sea spray, they prayed first
to God and then to Bishop Nicholas. Many of the fishermen had seen a comrade’s head
crushed by a falling mast. Or their shipmate’s neck strangled by a snapped halyard.
The gurgling fear of slowly drowning, entangled in a fishing net, added
piercing volume to the sailors’ pleas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Bishop Nicholas’s chest
throbbed in response to the sailors’ hellbent prayers. His lips parted with a
long slow exhalation, as Eldar and his mates’ screams for help penetrated deep
into his awareness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Bishop Nicholas, we know God
performs miracles through you…save us, save us for our unborn children. God
have mercy on our souls.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A haze of light engulfed Nicholas
when a candle spontaneously ignited from an adjacent wall sconce. Echoing
Jesus’s supplication posture, Nicholas beseeched God’s intervention on behalf
of the sailors in fatal peril—<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Sea mist stung his eyes and
his boots slid across the slick wooden boat deck. Nicholas lashed himself to
the railing near Eldar, utilizing his woolen omophorion as a tether. Drenched,
his beard glazed with saltwater, Nicholas prayed for salvation while helping to
push the boat into deeper waters with sculling oars. His calming essence, directing
the path of the storm back into the clouds of thunder, where he disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Beneath clearing skies, the
boat drifted to shore and the weary, confused sailors disembarked on pairs of
legs as wobbly as those of a newborn colt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A crowd gathered as Eldar led
his fellows into town. Eldar said, “Listen to our story. Our ship was headed
for disaster. Your Bishop Nicholas, to whom we prayed, appeared on the deck of
our boat. He shouted prayers and aided our navigation out of the treacherous bay.
He quieted the storm. Was there not a tempest less than two hours past? Your
bishop is a wonderworker. I shall take a collection for the church and deliver
it at first light.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The following morning, Eldar entered
the church. Standing before him in the church nave, was Bishop Nicholas. Eldar dropped
to his knees, kissed the feet of his savior and said, “We would have been
ripped to shreds without your presence aboard.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Nicholas assured Eldar that
he’d been in his study the day of the storm; yet, had heard the prayers of
Eldar and his comrades. “It was God who manifested my bilocation to your ship,
through the power of our prayers to Him. It was not my doing.” Indeed, his
omophorion was clean and dry. The bishop appeared rested and peaceful.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Eldar said, “Bishop Nicholas,
could it be, I wonder…if Christ Jesus then, is God who bilocated? Is that why some
say Christ Jesus and God are one and the same? And Jesus is not merely God’s
adopted son?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Nicholas chuckled. He patted
Eldar’s shoulder, bidding him to rise. “Eldar. I was imprisoned for punching that
heretic Arius in the face for proposing Jesus was a separate being from God.
You are very clever. I’ll consider your approach at the next Council of Nicea.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I am in your service, Bishop
Nicholas. I renounce all but the one true God.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Eldar spent the rest of his
days fishing and serving the bishop and his church, until Nicholas insisted, he
marry. The widower next door had a daughter. Vesile had been curious about
Eldar, watching him go to and from the ocean with his stinky loads, always
humming or praying aloud to God, as if they were brothers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Why do you pray so?” Vesile
said as they walked a portion of the path together.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The sun blinded Eldar and he
squinted. When he faced Vesile, the <i>Son of God</i> was in her cobalt eyes.
He lost his voice in her gaze. And his hands in a tangled mass of shimmering
black.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Eldar’s and Vesile’s
tête-à-têtes became more frequent and intense. After Nicholas had secretly
given Vesile’s father the money for her dowery, they married.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">With a pure gaze, Bishop
Nicholas lifted his voice to his third-ever Christmas congregation, “The Roman
Emperor Constantine chose December 25, 336, to celebrate Christ’s birth for the
first time. Christmas. Pagans had celebrated the ‘Unconquered Sun’ on December
25<sup>th</sup>. In choosing the same date, the Church of Rome has successfully
supplanted the pagan celebration. Let us give thanks, and pray to our Lord, who
is with us, always.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It was his last Christmas.
Bishop Nicholas died December 6, 343.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The breezy December air
flowing from the Mediterranean scoured Vesile’s disturbing thoughts as she
awoke from yet another wraithlike dream. She’d grown up in a turbulent town by
the sea. Poor. Hard working. Mother dead. Sisters to care for. Religious rules
more daunting than life itself. But Christmas, despite her confinement and the
reign of terror enveloping the world—she hoped would be a <i>Revelation</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The labor pains were
relentless. After thirty hours of labor, Vesile slipped in and out of
consciousness. She was a wet rag that had been used to cleanse scores of filthy
souls. Strange mutterings sliced through her painful moaning.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Vesile’s water broke on
December 25<sup>th</sup>; a full moon directly overhead, among a halo of stars,
with planet Neptune hiding in the shadows. Nicholas, who had died months
earlier, was aiding the passage of her baby through the birth canal, sliding the
fetus out in a gush of icky burgundy. Before she succumbed to exhaustion, Nicholas
draped the infant over her belly and said, <i>“You and the Virgin Mary are now
one.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The sun was eclipsed for three
hours as Vesile slept. The baby, his skin still covered in the creamy vernix
caseosa, was nestled between Vesile and Eldar on the floor mattress and half-swaddled
in a purple blanket. They named him Mustafa—<i>One chosen by God.</i> They would
call him, “Tafa.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Vesile awoke with Tafa
suckling at her breast. Illumination from the world’s first Advent candle cast
a shadow of mother and child upon the wall. Vesile’s tears flowed over the drying
vernix pasted to Tafa’s skin, and trickled over his shoulders and down his
back—a map to heaven? Or hell? She couldn’t tell. Her imagination reeled and
pitched in concert with the churning curse of her heart—<i>and then, she knew.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">THE END<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-4943074038451095842021-11-26T15:54:00.003-05:002022-10-03T21:03:23.050-04:00GRAY DAY<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_TKlLglJXC79aiDFZkLYjtCHcCmsE8ZiW1OOIEbAxJOov7J7901w2voXlIZkL05_23QnN9M3i9OEm2nD1sDkpHZrDRUkoJKAdCTwOfcTxeKlWhqia3ij_fg0LhM7T-fYcmq2mDqCq-E/s2048/IMG_3891+%25281%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_TKlLglJXC79aiDFZkLYjtCHcCmsE8ZiW1OOIEbAxJOov7J7901w2voXlIZkL05_23QnN9M3i9OEm2nD1sDkpHZrDRUkoJKAdCTwOfcTxeKlWhqia3ij_fg0LhM7T-fYcmq2mDqCq-E/w299-h400/IMG_3891+%25281%2529.JPG" width="299" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><span style="font-size: large;">I’m thrilled to shout from the treetops my story,
“Gray Day,” made the Long List in Globe Soup’s 7 Day Writing Challenge Contest.
Globe Soup is a highly respected writing community that offers both free and
paid writing contests and challenges that are judged anonymously. I’ve rarely
entered my work in contests. This year, as I fruitlessly scoured the planet for
my one true friend, aka a literary agent for my debut novel, ECHO THE BIRD’S
CALL, I decided to enter a smattering of contests for the hell of it. I budgeted
a few bucks and entered my work in <i>legitimate</i> publisher-sponsored
contests. The fees started at around $3.00. A pittance you say? Well, a fee for
every submission adds up mighty fast, pal. I splurged on a few ten and
fifteen-dollar entry fees as well. Turned out, entering my work in contests was
just another form of rejection—only now I was paying for the “privilege.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">Throughout my months and months of researching the
traditional path to publication, I discovered Readsy.com. Their YouTube channel
is stellar. The Readsy.com blog curates legitimate contests, which is how I
discovered GlobeSoup.net and their free 7 Day Challenge with a 500-pounds-sterling
prize for the winner. That’s $667.16 American-dollars, according to today’s
exchange rate. Globe Soup’s Facebook group, of which I am a card-carrying
member, offers critiques and other goodies. I applied to their 7 Day Writing Challenge
#2 and lost in the Crime Genre I was assigned. Undeterred, I entered their 7 Day Writing Challenge #3 and was assigned to the Romance Genre. Today I discovered I was long-listed, which
put me in the top 11% of entrants. (I did the math. They had nearly 1000
entries, of which 110 entrants were either finalists, honorable mentions or
long-listed.) The long list honor is akin to fourth place, which I consider a
huge success, especially since I actually wrote the 944-word story in seven
days. Validation at last. I’m a writer!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">I know you’re dying to read my story, so here it
is. Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">GRAY DAY</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;"><b><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The man of my dreams was sharing
a suite with me and my best friend, Kat. The seminar rooms were overbooked, and
his room wouldn’t be ready for another night. Two nights with Anthony, the
Adonis, snoring in the same room as me, was more than I could bear. He was in
his bunk, fiddling with his phone under the covers. Kat was already asleep.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">I plopped onto his bed. “What’re you up to, roomie?”
I coyly fidgeted with the covers, hoping it wasn’t porn; because, the last dude
I fell for, couldn’t escape that addiction, which had crippled our relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">He handed me the phone and showed me what he’d
been researching. Pilot stuff. He was a pilot? “What kind of phone is this?” I
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">“iPhone 9.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">“It’s too big. I want one I can operate
one-handed.” I stretched out at the bottom of his bed and we lay talking until
we drifted into sleep. But how could I sleep in such close proximity to a man
whose presence kept me wide awake with anticipation? I felt his breathing, his
movements, his arm reaching towards me, his hand holding mine beneath the
covers as he slept. I couldn’t quiet the snare drum in my chest for what seemed
like hours.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">The next morning, the Nevada sun was a desert
yellow in a cloudless blue sky, and we all headed to the sessions we’d signed
up for. Kat and Anthony were taking the same session and locked arms like
mates. Over their shoulders they chimed, “Bye Anna.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">I nearly collapsed from what felt like a blow to
my solar plexus. My feet carried me into the tide of people flowing into a
large, shell-shaped, multi-tiered seminar room. I passed a frumpy man, with a
week’s worth of whiskers on his face and curly, gray hair. I nearly snubbed him,
after the casual disregard I’d just received from Kat and Anthony. I did a
double-take. This man’s face was kind and handsome, despite his resigned
expression of invisibility. I turned to him. He immediately sensed my heartache
and offered me his arm. His touch was personal, gentle, giving, and invited an
immediate trust. I collapsed into his body like a broken child. He led me down
to the front of the room and found us seats. I was on the verge of crying, when
he folded me into his torso, hugging me like a father.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">“Kiss me,” I said to Gray. He kissed me ever so
lightly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">The room’s lights extinguished for the
presentation, and we were left in momentary darkness. “No. <i>kiss me.</i> Like
a lover. A real kiss.” And he did. And it was wonderful. Soothing. Made me feel
sexy and appreciated like a goddess. I’d never get enough of a kiss like that.
A surreal trust like that was nothing but a fairytale. <i>Right?</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">#<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The next time I ran into Anthony,
he was standing like an army general in front of me, chuckling. We joked around
and before we parted, he’d said, “Someday, I’m going to marry you, Anna.” His
statement confused me, thrilled me to the core. A man, such as he, was clearly accustomed
to getting anything he wanted. Movie star handsome. Smart. Confident. Sexy.
What the hell did he want with me?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Gray, with
dashed hope plastered over his face. His posture, dejected. My gut wrenched for
Gray, yet also yearned for Anthony in a way I’d been dreaming of my whole life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">#<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">A few days later, I asked
Anthony, “What do you make of Gray?” We were sitting at the top of a stairway
leading to the beach. No answer. He gazed at me and then the ocean.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">So, I asked a different question, “What should I
make of you?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">Without a word, he tucked me into his body like a
loyal partner does, until my muscles relaxed and my breathing slowed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">Gray was perched on a knoll down the beach,
staring into the ocean. It made my heart ache, to see him so alone. I longed to
wash away his sadness, like the woman in the original <i>Star Trek</i> episode,
“The Empath.” I stood. “Excuse me, Anthony. I’ll meet you at the café in an
hour.” I walked down the steps and over to Gray. Anthony was watching us at
first, then turned to go.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">“Gray? I—’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">“My dear, Anna. You look so much like my beloved
wife, Anthony’s mother, who died of cancer when he was only seven. That is why
I kissed you…reluctantly…yet, wantonly. Do you understand? I’m happy for you
and Anthony. You are marrying him? Yes?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">“But why? Why haven’t either of you said anything
until now? I’m done.” I stormed off.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">#<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Driving to the airport in
a brief and sudden downpour, Kat said, “You know, Anna, I think Anthony loves
you, but…he’s got a lotta growing up to do, and I’m not talking age.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">Kat and I dissected each other’s encounters with
Anthony all the way to the airport. Kat admitted her attraction to him. But
instead of being jealous, I was relieved. Freed, even. <i>How could that be?</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">We returned the rental car and proceeded to the departure
gate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">Kat placed her hand on my shoulder, “Anna? You may
want to change your flight.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: large;">I looked in the direction in which she was
gesturing. An infinite compassion coursed through me as if I’d been shot with
an EpiPen. I gave Kat a warm, confident hug and strode over to my new life—that
would soon include a loving man who would never break my heart, ever again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-21238551232778436022020-10-30T21:46:00.012-04:002024-03-15T16:56:36.724-04:00BOOK REVIEW: MY NOISY CANCER COMEBACK: RUNNING AT THE MOUTH WHILE RUNNING FOR MY LIFE—by Fitz Koehler<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfYGGqCO3IY0KE7B363sdmN9Gj-M1Qj2CTXY0qgvkIdcIk4rpanuUcHC-VXmSYbd9IJtYBojy4wlW08-_VGpp32LUDN4Hey6eMX0dpsawGFN79lTUtmheq5k8Whlyc40KlAwI9737wv0/s2048/fitz+book+read.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1106" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfYGGqCO3IY0KE7B363sdmN9Gj-M1Qj2CTXY0qgvkIdcIk4rpanuUcHC-VXmSYbd9IJtYBojy4wlW08-_VGpp32LUDN4Hey6eMX0dpsawGFN79lTUtmheq5k8Whlyc40KlAwI9737wv0/w408-h640/fitz+book+read.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Book
titles are important, as writers know. My writer’s brain was curious about the story
behind the “noisy” in Fitz Koehler’s, <i>My Noisy Cancer Comeback: Running at
the Mouth While Running For My </i>Life. Her cancer comeback was noisy because
she dealt with her ordeal the same as she dealt with life. Fitz has a zest for
life, passion for her race-announcing career, and enthusiasm for her tribe of
racers. Race announcing? Is that a job? Indeed. When Fitz announces during a
race event with her colleague, Rudy Novotny, their moniker is Team Noisy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">#<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Fitz
Koehler’s memoir of breast cancer hell chronicles her heroic stomp through nauseating
chemotherapy, surgery and potentially skin-burning radiation. Fitz tells her
harrowing tale with levity. I was belly-laughing by page forty-three. My
husband appeared from his mancave, “You sound like you’re having fun out here.
What’s so funny?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">“It’s
Fitz’s cancer memoir.” I proceeded to read aloud the cranky MRI lady excerpt
that simultaneously had me in stitches while being flabbergasted that Fitz was
so poorly treated during her initial MRI appointment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
train wreck that cancer inflicts on its prey packs an emotional wallop of
terror. Crying tears of sadness, pain, and frustration are inevitable. Sobbing
is the human body’s release valve. The powerhouse Fitz, who was in fantastic health
when diagnosed, was not immune from cancer’s onslaught and she wailed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Patients
diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses experience the grief stages of
denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Denial is an interesting
coping mechanism. Fitz touches on how weird denial feels amid a cancer battle.
One day she’s on stage entertaining and informing thousands of runners and
spectators. The next day, she’s pumped full of poison, flirting with despair
and trying to eat with deadened tastebuds that caused all food to taste like
black dirt. The ambitious disparities she put herself through, in the name of
sanity during an insane time, impressed the hell out of me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Despite
the emotional turmoil and energy drain, Fitz stuck to her plan. She launched
into assault mode—bobbing, weaving, and blocking cancer’s tricky sweeps with
her plucky attitude while maintaining her demanding schedule as wife, mother,
and race announcer. She did not miss even one of her twenty-two race events
across the country and credits those adrenaline-inducing events with boosting
her resolve to move forward. Her approach was akin to Norman Cousins, who
developed a laugh-therapy routine to heal his illness. Cousins, like Fitz, was
also an incurable optimist.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpLast"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">However,
Fitz’s optimistic demeanor also took many hits:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 74.9pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">She
had three mini-goals during treatment<a href="file:///C:/Users/annst/Documents/Fitz%20Koehler.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> and none were attained.
For example, she ended up in the hospital for a transfusion of ‘grody bags of
stranger blood.’<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 74.9pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">As
most women can attest, it’s all about the hair. Fitz loved her long blond
locks. Although she’d come to terms with her baldness, Fitz burst into tears
when a guy said to her, “Hey buddy…Oh! You’re a ma’am! Sorry!” I chuckled at
Fitz’s expense, having been addressed as “sir” throughout my entire life—hey
dudes—I’m a girl!<a href="file:///C:/Users/annst/Documents/Fitz%20Koehler.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 74.9pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Fitz’s
remarks regarding <i>what not to say to cancer patients</i> were violated when
a few folks greeted her with phrases like, “My mom died of breast cancer last
year.” (I wanted to go back in time and slap the crap out of those clueless
morons for Fitz, having endured similar stupidities.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 110.9pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">#<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Fitz
Koehler is the embodiment of how exercise, proper nutrition, gutsy attitude,
and nurturing environments are crucial factors to surviving life-threatening bouts,
such as breast cancer. She challenges her readers to prioritize their health
and fitness. She stresses the immense value of facing trauma as a champion,
rather than a victim.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Had she not been in top shape before her
ravaging cancer treatments, Fitz posits she’d have been homebound instead of
crisscrossing the country doing the job she loves amidst the people she inspires
and admires. Love was a main theme in her book. It was clear to me that her
love and connection with people and life propelled her to success. Beating breast
cancer may be her greatest personal victory—and we are grateful she’s <i>noisily</i>
back.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
</p><div><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1">
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><a href="file:///C:/Users/annst/Documents/Fitz%20Koehler.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Avoid hospitalization, keep eyelashes, and maintain muscles.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2">
<p class="MsoNormalCxSpLast"><a href="file:///C:/Users/annst/Documents/Fitz%20Koehler.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
I burst into commiserative laughter; because I too, a card-carrying female,
have been called sir. Last month, at the fishmonger where I am a loyal
customer, the guy said, “Sir…oh, sorry, ma’am. What can I get you?” That was
the second time in one day I was addressed as “sir.” I had styled my hair and
was wearing my new push-up bra.<i><o:p></o:p></i></p>
</div>
</div><div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><div id="edn2" style="mso-element: endnote;">
</div>
</div>Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-60782168253242346362020-10-15T20:53:00.011-04:002020-10-16T09:22:06.980-04:00HOMEMADE PORK LIVERWURST RECIPE<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAKgBUc7waQgFRGZW1Y_oAMjpeo6Llk_ln2VAnNUhZ3W2vy1qO5VBC-xsYdbwF64i2wGRhtc_mzsY-0x9Vd8Gonj3QjFrY7M1pAdiYJinzkuX_nCiQzUysjMfpam5A3-rOmnxHnu8UlA/s2048/IMG_4999.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAKgBUc7waQgFRGZW1Y_oAMjpeo6Llk_ln2VAnNUhZ3W2vy1qO5VBC-xsYdbwF64i2wGRhtc_mzsY-0x9Vd8Gonj3QjFrY7M1pAdiYJinzkuX_nCiQzUysjMfpam5A3-rOmnxHnu8UlA/s320/IMG_4999.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I had a nostalgic hankering for liverwurst that would not leave me
alone—me and dad, eating liverwurst sandwiches on rye bread with ketchup and a
dill pickle. Sweet, creamy, pinkish, porky, salty deliciousness. I gotta have it—<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I couldn’t find liverwurst, a.k.a. Braunschweiger, in most Florida
grocery stores. When I finally did find it, I read the ingredients. Very
unappetizing. I wanted an organic product as well. Not in this jurisdiction.
Why not make it myself? How hard can it be? It’s simply liver and whatever the
“wurst” part was, right?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Off to the Internet to learn about liverwursting. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Making liverwurst from scratch is a more complicated process than I
imagined. No pork fat to be found. Most recipes call for grinding a fresh pork butt. Why not use ground pork? It has lots of fat globules and it’s already minced. Using ground pork also saves me from buying a meat grinder and
grinding pork butt.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">More decisions must be made: use raw ingredients or cooked?
I opted for the raw method, thinking it was more authentic and German. It’s
not.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Glove up and let the experiment begin.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYH0UqMo3M5lI2LHcQEEmN4uSERyV2K2nqSAmbYK_44-67gGcBqFR6ACUm-DfGjTWUfUHgylMlCleY8-9cnBco6nDCMZ7BfbVlPizf1OBCI_CkUfq-Tjj5fZxJLp9ld-4yhe1Gqdl3mQE/s2048/IMG_4989.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYH0UqMo3M5lI2LHcQEEmN4uSERyV2K2nqSAmbYK_44-67gGcBqFR6ACUm-DfGjTWUfUHgylMlCleY8-9cnBco6nDCMZ7BfbVlPizf1OBCI_CkUfq-Tjj5fZxJLp9ld-4yhe1Gqdl3mQE/s320/IMG_4989.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">As you may have guessed, liquefied liver is gnarly.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">One jar burst during cooking.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD42_bBgyvh6mPwY7Gyp8ukxTq0CnUdQke1nTxMEfo6odaVRCYhMRuvgjileDjM85mSSOYrKD91xBXf1cvdRoayJwxNHfIeGlFIkmsa04mR-zwpHHBLd4JBCeqFm8w6y81mwSJrZJ3UCM/s2048/IMG_4985.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD42_bBgyvh6mPwY7Gyp8ukxTq0CnUdQke1nTxMEfo6odaVRCYhMRuvgjileDjM85mSSOYrKD91xBXf1cvdRoayJwxNHfIeGlFIkmsa04mR-zwpHHBLd4JBCeqFm8w6y81mwSJrZJ3UCM/s320/IMG_4985.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Food safety guidelines insist pork be cooked to between 145-160 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the cut of meat. </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">Since I don't have a meat thermometer,</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: 0in;"> I was afraid to eat the end product for two days. (See note.) </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: 0in;">I was determined to take one for the team. I got my
affairs in order and gave myself a pep talk: "Eckkehard the German Butcher tasted his raw pork and he's still here. I eat raw fish in sushi....I'm going in." </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: 0in;">I gingerly tasted the liverwurst. It turned out better than
I’d expected. I had made sublime liverwurst to die for. I slathered it on my
homemade sourdough caraway rye bread with a dollop of tomato paste, instead of
ketchup, and was transported to my childhood—dad sitting across the table from me and chowing down on a liverwurst sandwich and dill pickles, amidst giggles and burps.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Here is the recipe I concocted, after hours of research, including the
botches and fixes—<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">HOMEMADE PORK LIVERWURST RECIPE</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ingredients</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">1 pound organic local pork liver<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">1 pound organic local ground pork<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">1 large yellow onion, finely diced<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">3 tablespoons homemade Kefir
milk<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">3 tablespoons Japanese Sake<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">1 teaspoon fine white pepper<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">1 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">½ teaspoon baking soda<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">2 teaspoons paprika<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">1 teaspoon cumin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">1 teaspoon ground black pepper<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">1 teaspoon allspice<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Directions</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Put ground
pork in food processor and puree. Cut pork liver into pieces (it’s very tough,
so use a sharp knife and discard any sinewy bits.) Add liver to food processor.
Add the spices, milk, sake and onion. Puree into a smooth paste.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">[The fun
part: here is where you would pump the mixture into a casing. I didn’t have
casings. I used jars instead of casing. I also used parchment paper as a “pseudo-casing,”
in case the jars exploded. (One did.)]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">[MY SEMI-BOTCHED PROCESS] Add two-thirds of the meat mixture to one-quart canning jars. Place
the rest of the meat mixture on parchment paper in a small casserole dish and
seal the mixture in the parchment as best you can.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqxJfW9waDXYAy_HanuNmgGdCyfxAh9OufRMwygMFcHANd0a8bfiua0BrxuoCm4nDL6BTRHCMFw0pAhlZA3j1ikKvoCJfD7YyE7yNloSXB-L7_2-EDY2UPVb6qeG6woPr_UtZymqulP8/s2048/IMG_4991.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqxJfW9waDXYAy_HanuNmgGdCyfxAh9OufRMwygMFcHANd0a8bfiua0BrxuoCm4nDL6BTRHCMFw0pAhlZA3j1ikKvoCJfD7YyE7yNloSXB-L7_2-EDY2UPVb6qeG6woPr_UtZymqulP8/s320/IMG_4991.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: transparent; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span color="windowtext">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Bring a
large pot of water to a simmer. Place a rack in the bottom of the pot and put
the jars on the rack.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">For the
casserole dish, cover with foil and place in a shallow baking pan filled with
water halfway up the side of the dish. Bake in a preheated 175-degree
Fahrenheit oven.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">[MY FIX] When one jar
burst, I removed the unbroken jar and put it into the baking pan along with the
casserole dish.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Bake for 2
and ½ hours.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Cool
immediately. I placed the surviving jar and casserole in the fridge and surrounded them
with ice packs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Cool
overnight before serving.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV2519CacbDjAspBZQ-6MCOLKAr7WfaUqksrZrG2LmhR_pX4RHKBPJYPQd3dF87YgsEBm0AJgrZN8VITHOhay_NPctPy5UAg-yqmEbSEpQCfKzTFel751grz8IKZkAqS0SnY9pXWNLF4/s2048/IMG_5001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV2519CacbDjAspBZQ-6MCOLKAr7WfaUqksrZrG2LmhR_pX4RHKBPJYPQd3dF87YgsEBm0AJgrZN8VITHOhay_NPctPy5UAg-yqmEbSEpQCfKzTFel751grz8IKZkAqS0SnY9pXWNLF4/s320/IMG_5001.JPG" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">NOTE: I only ate the liverwurst that was cooked in the
parchment casserole dish. I suggest this is the better method over the jars
simmering in a pot. Safer and more appetizing too. The stuff in the jar
separated and still looked gnarly, although it smelled fine.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0in;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I used the jarred liverwurst in a meatball recipe. I
added the entire jar contents to one pound of organic, lean ground beef and made my
usual meatball recipe, sans the salt and onions, which were already in the
liverwurst. The meatballs were very light and I added them to a tomato sauce
that became a ragu. The remaining meatballs I stored separately for sandwiches.
Awesomeness!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-82113410889235070672020-08-06T13:53:00.004-04:002020-08-08T17:00:03.189-04:00BOOK REVIEW: BORROWING LIFE—How Scientists, Surgeons, and a War Hero Made the First Successful Organ Transplant a Reality<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWG0EcmgLAUYPCyPGNVDoS0vLV2wWYp19LBVAH4oJLAijWJ37-m1K9CHnkfplhbLKDi-qDgQWa3a7Xsy4uEW4DFwqXPh4EkNpnsteTa0Cx7a_hp54LlDBW4Y_ZRHvihuJn0rUSaDOl5Zk/s1600/reading+BL.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1421" data-original-width="1600" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWG0EcmgLAUYPCyPGNVDoS0vLV2wWYp19LBVAH4oJLAijWJ37-m1K9CHnkfplhbLKDi-qDgQWa3a7Xsy4uEW4DFwqXPh4EkNpnsteTa0Cx7a_hp54LlDBW4Y_ZRHvihuJn0rUSaDOl5Zk/s320/reading+BL.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>THE BRILLIANCE EMANATING FROM THE PAGES OF <i>BORROWING LIFE</i> NECESSITATED MY PROTECTIVE READING ATTIRE</b>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
I’ll never be or pee
the same again after reading Shelley Fraser Mickle’s book tracking the first
successful organ transplant—a kidney. That famous kidney flooded the surgical
room floor with the transplant patient’s pee before Dr. Joseph Murray had even
finished rerouting it to the bladder.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Not interested in
scientific minutia you say? Me neither, until <i>BORROWING LIFE—How Scientists,
Surgeons, and a War Hero Made the First Successful Organ Transplant a Reality</i>.
Shelley treats the medical science share of the equation like pieces of the
humanity puzzle, exquisitely snapping those pieces into place for us—and
presto—medical science springs to life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
The people in <i>Borrowing
Life</i> are akin to characters in a novel. Brought together by individual
scientific and medical pursuits and motivated by their obsessive curiosity and
exceptional intellect, men and women crossed borders and boundaries to cure,
hope and love. Rather than fame or money, their ambitions were driven by their
empathy for the awful human condition, whether caused by war, accident or
disease.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
You could write
books on every person in <i>Borrowing Life</i>, which spans decades. In the face
of overwhelming failures, the doctors, nurses, patients and scientists bonded
to create the magic of saving human lives. I want to know more about Joe,
Franny, Peter, Charles, Jean, Miriam and Bobby and meet these exceptional folks
for lunch. Shelley also highlights the relationship factor too, introducing us
to the wives supporting those on the front lines while rearing their families.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Flames consuming
his comrades inside their engulfed plane, how does WWII pilot Charles Woods
escape a burning cockpit, sit nearby and converse with onlookers after his face
and hands had just been burned off? How does a burn victim, on the precipice of
death, survive dozens of cadaver skin grafts not expected to work, but they did
work? Those initial successes ignited the imaginations of treating physicians
Francis Moore and Joseph Murray and they were hellbent on transplanting
internal organs without rejection, despite mountains of evidence to the
contrary. Manipulating the immune system was the key, and British scientist
Peter Medawar experimented on cows, mice, chickens and dogs to fashion the key.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Turning the last
pages of <i>Borrowing Life</i> my eyes popped and my jaw dropped to the floor like a cartoon character when I learned the
fates of those involved.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<i>Borrowing Life</i>
is a diary of urgency told via the vanguards who sacrificed their time, talent
and energy to both alleviate the inevitable pain associated with physical and
emotional mutilations, and to extend the lives of individuals suffering the
effects of late stage kidney disease. Kidney transplant surgery laid the
foundation for all other organ transplants we now take for granted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
I’ve read
Shelley’s heartwarming memoir, <i>The Polio Hole, </i>as well as her thrilling
account of a triple crown winner in <i>American Pharoah, </i>including why the
horse’s name was misspelled. I was enchanted by her award-winning novels, <i>Queen
of October </i>and <i>Replacing Dad. </i>Shelly has mastered the brilliance of
elegant simplicity in both fiction and non-fiction.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Considering America’s
current landscape of both racial/social and viral pandemics, we are living our
“time of war.” <i>Borrowing Life </i>is a startling reminder that every
generation confronts horrors with either grace and dignity or anger and fear.
It’s a choice of morality and courage.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Thank you, Shelley
Fraser Mickle, for showing us the power of dedicated, relentless team work and
individual integrity through a fascinating real-life heroes’ tale of the
miraculous.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-28203223461855878592020-06-08T16:37:00.004-04:002023-03-12T09:42:53.017-04:00Birth Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5q5OVr-OyV26i59dzc6BELVNPlEIlVaAwaf0Q2Iuh1I1CkHgmuAcNPU-h_9YZVMiSuAQgLFV3m2feqmnUeQ0qpDzut_XW7N_sjAd-mZ8Qk5WdTDIhJygENNJ3xWo0g0S3bz9RkDf-xkisFL0GPThpaMDTEOUEav7ZOZmFD1Mhg2OPKQfmZNduwc9/s1734/Ann%20holds%20infant%20Harrison%20Quinn%20Struck.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1734" data-original-width="1168" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5q5OVr-OyV26i59dzc6BELVNPlEIlVaAwaf0Q2Iuh1I1CkHgmuAcNPU-h_9YZVMiSuAQgLFV3m2feqmnUeQ0qpDzut_XW7N_sjAd-mZ8Qk5WdTDIhJygENNJ3xWo0g0S3bz9RkDf-xkisFL0GPThpaMDTEOUEav7ZOZmFD1Mhg2OPKQfmZNduwc9/w216-h320/Ann%20holds%20infant%20Harrison%20Quinn%20Struck.jpeg" width="216" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
was born yesterday, June 4, 2020, yawning close to midnight. I’m nine pounds,
two ounces, twenty-two inches. People latch on to details, especially when
they’re beneficial. Swaddled in animal pattern jammies, I shut my eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mum
writhed all day, amid songs of joy and sighs of trepidation, before introducing
me into a viral world defined by Covid-19. I’m compelled to solve the human-condition
equation with mathematic precision like Isaac Newton.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
have a fleeting desire to return to the safety and warmth of the womb, but I’m
certain it’s on lockdown. No wonder I took so long to pop into existence with
all the craziness out here. Sorry, mom. I have a feeling I’ll be saying that a
lot—sorry, mom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
digress.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Anyway,
I’m super cute. Exhausted like my mom, I sleep peacefully for what seems like
an eternity after my dad’s honied breath and cooing lull me into a coma and I
relax into his fuzzy beard and long dark hair. I hope he and mom slept too.
They need it more than me, probably.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">All
in all, it was a superb first day joining life in the Badger State, a beautiful
day. Oh, I have a name. It’s William. The name has family significance, and I’m
fine with the moniker, as long as no one calls me Billy-boy or Wee-Willy. Bill
would be fine, or Will. William I am. I think there’s a rapper named "will.
i. am.” He likes black-eyed peas…no…his band is a pop group called “Black Eyed
Peas.” I’m getting confused. How do I know these things? I’m still shedding the
heavens, or whatever this ethereal stuff sticking to my psyche and my skin is that
feels utterly sublime. I hope life feels this good. Little-by-little earthly
existence sucks me into its fold, and I’m losing my grip on universality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What
is “feeling” anyway? I guess I’ll need a vocabulary and philosophy while I’m
visiting. How hard can that be? Time will tell. Oh no. I’m already spewing
clichés. Damn. Note to small self—be original.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Although
my parents are smiling, my gut tells me they have depths of sadness behind
their lovely faces. Maybe I can fix that with my magic? I want them to be happy.
They’re gazing at me with such intensity. Their flowing voices, like rolling
rivers, comfort me. They’re already great parents. <i>Hi mom. Hi dad. </i></span><i>I
love you both very much</i><i><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">.</span></i><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> On the radio, Louis Armstrong is singing “What a Wonderful
World.”<i> </i>I’m swaying in mum's arms—dad embracing us in a
dance.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div>
</div>
Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-52903232284849464892020-03-28T21:10:00.000-04:002020-04-05T18:40:33.991-04:00HAWK WALKOn my walk this noon, I was startled by a hawk being dive-bombed by eight
black crows. Despite the barrage, Hawk refused to move from her spot at the
base of an old oak tree, her squirrel-catch in her talons.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I couldn’t stand it. I was already pissed off I hadn’t swum
in days, and was in a foul, depressed mood. (Only fellow water-babies would
understand how a beached dolphin like me feels.) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I marched over to the tree, shouted at the crows and waved
them off. At first, they ignored me; but then moved to the branches, crowing
loudly. Only fifteen feet from Hawk, I gave her a wave, like an old friend, before
returning to the paved path to begin my walk. But the crows immediately
dive-bombed again, so I returned, waved them off, and stood my post. Hawk stared at me like I was either a lunatic or her dinner guest. I
wondered why Hawk refused to fly away—it’s the closest I’ve ever been to a wild
hawk. Eventually, the crows flew to trees further and further away, until they disappeared over hundred-foot-high tree tops.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I distanced myself about fifty yards from Hawk, hoping she’d
eat that damned squirrel and fly off with her catch. She ripped into her prey. I took it as a good sign, and walked the perimeter trail. When I circled back, Hawk was
nibbling her prey.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Can’t you eat any faster?” I asked her. “Of course not.” I
answered for her. The coast appeared clear, so I exited the park and headed for
home, telling a neighbor about Hawk. In a moment, we heard the crows, and I
trucked back to the tree where Hawk was again being dive-bombed by the crows. I
waved them off more easily this time, but they only flew to a tree a few feet
away, and stopped crowing. Silence. Those crafty crows were waiting me out. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was Hawk’s sentry,
while she ate lunch. I was thirsty and hungry too, missing breakfast, but T.S.
for a sentry. To pass the time, I performed squats and lunges. Mountain poise. Paraded back and forth
on the path. <i>Okay, Hawk. Hurry it up. I gotta go.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, over an hour into my attempt at nurturing nature,
Hawk, squirrel remains in her talons, flew into a tree on the forest edge.
Naturally, I had to go say goodbye to her, especially since she flew in the
direction of the crows. There she was, perched on a branch above the paved
walking path. “You ate that whole squirrel already?” I asked her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hawk hopped one foot to the left, picked up the squirrel in
her talons, and offered it to me, nearly dropping it onto the ground. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No thank you, Hawk. You finish it.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hawk ripped into the squirrel. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I didn’t mean to rush you.” I backed away. “Bye Hawk.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back in my nest, I made a turkey sandwich and ripped into it—my
teeth like a hawk’s beak—the turkey tasting nothing like raw squirrel. But how
would I know?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-53999251539964548832020-02-14T16:57:00.000-05:002020-02-23T08:33:07.302-05:00SHELLEY FRASER MICKLE'S HUMOR WRITING WORKSHOP<br />
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZN-soti4-e4CsR_pX7LBrG34EVMM2ICSb3vfLgFl_mrV8Vgionwi2fJg39ScGcrCa-mdet3sJQtYI8kooDIct9u0OW58MK_1kFYu5rtRsoMw5S-rle9_ozCiB8aLNY8o5ISeSHK51Hk/s1600/shelley+and+horse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="1600" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZN-soti4-e4CsR_pX7LBrG34EVMM2ICSb3vfLgFl_mrV8Vgionwi2fJg39ScGcrCa-mdet3sJQtYI8kooDIct9u0OW58MK_1kFYu5rtRsoMw5S-rle9_ozCiB8aLNY8o5ISeSHK51Hk/s320/shelley+and+horse.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SHELLEY FRASER MICKLE (wearing the hat)<br />
PHOTO by Rob Weitzel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 250%;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Award-wining writer and former NPR commentator, Shelley
Fraser Mickle, is hosting a Humor Writing Workshop at the Library for free,
down the street from me, after lunch, once a week. All my stock excuses of why I
cannot attend an event have been <i>removed by the administrator.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thrilled to meet a mentor, nevertheless, I showed up
unprepared for the <i>work </i>part of the workshop. She assigned homework—</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To get our<i> creative funny-bone juices flowing</i>,
Shelley gave six topic suggestions for us to write about and share with the
class:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-left: 19.65pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 55.65pt; text-indent: 16.35pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Any experience you’ve had in the past week.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-left: 19.65pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 55.65pt; text-indent: 16.35pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Teach something.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-left: 19.65pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 55.65pt; text-indent: 16.35pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Most embarrassing moment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-left: 19.65pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 55.65pt; text-indent: 16.35pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Why I’m sure I’m going to hell.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-left: 19.65pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 55.65pt; text-indent: 16.35pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->An interview taking an unexpected turn. (Shelley’s
favorite.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 55.65pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Why I’m an unhappy individual.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I completed my homework and handed it in the next session. My
essay made Shelley laugh! Hooray! Here’s my masterpiece:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<b><i>THE
AVIAN FLU<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: 0in;">
At first, I chose “most embarrassing
moment,” to write about. However, that would involve blood and other motley
excretions. Perhaps inappropriate in mixed company, unless that company
comprised only gynecologists and gastroenterologists. Therefore, I chose an
experience I’ve had in the past week: this class, which is also a tad
embarrassing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
I entered the library meeting room, a gray-haired-women, embodying a lost grade-schooler on the first
day of class. I recognized the librarian, Sammy, who was setting up chairs and
tables, seminar style. There were four tables and eight chairs.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
“Oh, we need
tables? I thought there would only be chairs. Doesn’t seem to be adequate
seating,” I said.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Sammy said, “Well, it is a writing class, so I’m setting up for
note-taking. I’ll bring out more seating as needed.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
“Note taking? I didn’t consider taking notes. I thought it was a
speech. I’ll just listen.” <i>I hope this doesn’t mean she’ll assign homework.
Can she do that?</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Sammy eyed me over the rim of her glasses.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
I changed the subject. “Sammy? May I have a chair off to the
side? I can’t sit for long periods. I’d like to be able to stand at some
point.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Sammy dutifully complied and placed a chair in the back corner.
Was I the disruptive pupil? I half expected Sammy to pop a pointed dunce cap on
my head. What kind of a writer comes to a writing class without paper and pen?
Sammy must think I’m an idiot.<br />
<br />
I side-winded from the room in search of note
paper. At least I carried a pen. <span style="text-indent: 0in;">The librarian offered me scratch paper and
pointed to a small notepad.</span><br />
<br />
“May I take the pad?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
“Just tear off a couple of sheets.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
“Of course.” I tore off three sheets. “May I bring a book from
the shelves to the meeting room?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
“Yes.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
I scurried to the bookshelves for an over-sized book to use as a
lap-desk in my corner chair in the meeting room, with perfectly good tables. <i>Why
do I have to be different?</i> After handling several large, heavy books about
comics, I chose a book on maps. Perfect. A neutral-subject book I can skim as I
await class.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
I return to the room. Sammy has added tables—the first four now
occupied by people with pens and notebooks. Serious people, who have done this
before. Just like my spin class at the gym, I don’t measure up. Furthermore, I
can’t recall the last time I’d attended a seminar—2004? Well at least I have
three sheets of note paper. Hope I don’t need more…<i>And </i>I’m back in grade
school, nudging my classmate: <i>Hey, Becky, can I borrow a piece of paper?</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
The trouble with my note-taking is that after the class, I file
the notes in a folder and rarely read them again. Ten years later, there they
are—the little guilt-tripper slips of paper. Later on, in the class, my
note-taking ineptitude fears were confirmed when a woman offered a comment,
deftly referring to her notes. <i>How the hell did I ever make it through
college?</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
By the end of class, I’d used all three sheets of paper. And
instead of filing my notes, I typed them on my new computer, and penned a first
draft of my assignment, just like my sister, the straight-A student, used to
do. I didn’t want to be the boy in Anne Lamott’s book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bird by Bird</i>, who waited until the last minute to do his homework,
freaked out, and shedding frustrated tears. No. For once in my lackadaisical
student career, I wanted an “A.” MY birds shall sing to the tune of Tina Fey
and Paula Poundstone.<br />
<br />
However, as I reread what I wrote, I heard Shelley Fraser
Mickle’s voice say she’d like us to, “read-it-to-the-class.” <i>But that’s
public speaking!</i> A queasiness arose in my gut—and my birds were now
chirping the Murder scene tune from Hitchcock’s <i>Psycho—Jhree—Jhree—Jhree—Jhree!</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
My final diagnosis: This class assignment has infected me with
the avian flu.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="Body" style="text-align: center;">
<br />
THE END<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_deZvwOFrCXCj_EZ5fuQunQa0PjPZ2hiSmPDJhdYW4UzwUuRQ6BIU9q-GmDyzwKH585M5Vb9GKndSecLW347ZGIhqa7_aVBPdt6hROVxn9xiz7gRNGkglEH3qgcaDqVYLOUqyXAYNW4/s1600/borrowing+life+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="278" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_deZvwOFrCXCj_EZ5fuQunQa0PjPZ2hiSmPDJhdYW4UzwUuRQ6BIU9q-GmDyzwKH585M5Vb9GKndSecLW347ZGIhqa7_aVBPdt6hROVxn9xiz7gRNGkglEH3qgcaDqVYLOUqyXAYNW4/s320/borrowing+life+pic.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">Shelley Fraser Mickle has penned a new book, </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">BORROWING
LIFE: How Scientists, Surgeons and a War Hero Made the First Successful Organ
Transplant a Reality.</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> She has a knack for transforming serious non-fiction
subjects into heartwarming stories. For example, when I read about her polio
experience in her memoir, </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">THE POLIO HOLE, </i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">I found myself rechecking the
book’s binding to make sure it wasn’t mislabeled, because it was an enthralling read--better than fiction.</span></div>
<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="text-indent: 0in;">
Here's a link to her amazing new book:<i style="text-indent: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Borrowing-Life-Scientists-Successful-Transplant/dp/1623545390/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=borrowing+life&qid=1581000067&sr=8-1" style="text-indent: 0in;" target="_blank">BORROWING LIFE</a></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-47969180597457021002019-11-10T09:01:00.015-05:002021-07-06T18:35:21.461-04:00CRAZY KIND<p style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Time for an original poem. (You're welcome.)</span></h2><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzWVLwy70gMdTwypKamK6oSOIclFf_0CgysELdgty_4_sKlvjMvwvuh4OMV71JRwdcWL0nE0PYu-9mLkDAcxNyPtz5i4cZFg2TqVGbeWlcRWlt9LX7mSGgs5HGBr_18WRVwUyilavcGc/s1600/crazy+kind+pic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1270" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzWVLwy70gMdTwypKamK6oSOIclFf_0CgysELdgty_4_sKlvjMvwvuh4OMV71JRwdcWL0nE0PYu-9mLkDAcxNyPtz5i4cZFg2TqVGbeWlcRWlt9LX7mSGgs5HGBr_18WRVwUyilavcGc/s400/crazy+kind+pic.jpg" width="317" /><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">CRAZY
KIND<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Crazy flew the coop again this month.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Uncaged, she’s well-armed with shenanigans.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">And me, with my pea-shooter.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Controlling her is preposterous.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I'd sooner surf a cyclone.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">For years, I’ve allowed Crazy to haunt me,
unreservedly,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">almost feeling sorry for her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">She’s visited countless others<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">but they shun her, so she sticks with me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I’m her only friend.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">She’s in an awful rage this time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Her eyes are wild, unfocused. Did someone
drug her?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I’m helpless and lonely—why? Do I miss her
pizzazz?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I don’t know. I can’t think, because today
she’s driving me crazy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">When I cold-shoulder Crazy, she greedily devours<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">first me <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">and then my family.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Although we run and hide from Crazy <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">she finds us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">She’s everywhere—like the Holy Ghost.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I try and be nice to her<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">but nice doesn’t cut it with Crazy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">She throws her head back<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">like a bucking stallion<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">laughing in my face.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">The laughing in my face<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">unhinges me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">It’s my cue<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">to catch her off guard.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Although, she’s gargantuan, sneaky<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">and gets meaner if she whiffs me stalking
her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I must beguile.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I could never harm her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">She doesn’t hurt me intentionally.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Like the snake </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">in <i>The Farmer and the
Viper </i>fable,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">it’s her nature to poison and consume.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">It takes all my paltry human powers<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">to cajole Crazy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">She’s leery. A wounded stray.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I offer her treats.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Insatiable, she snatches my pleasures<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">retreats to a corner<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">noshes on my goodies<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">grunts in contentment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Her claws of madness, retracted.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I entice her like a lover<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">And prepare a soft warm bunk<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">in the security of a cubby.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Crazy cocks her head at me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“It’s alright, Crazy. You’re safe here.
I’ll patrol the perimeter. You rest.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Crazy loops me<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">but doesn’t scratch or bite this time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">She crouches on the bunk, burrowing
beneath its covers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Sleep well, Crazy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">She snores like a gosling.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Crazy can sleep forever—she’s Rip Van
Winkle.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I shut the door on Crazy with a sigh.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Phew</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">. Crazy is exhausting.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">A tough round this time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">She almost got the better of me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I still have a few tricks she doesn’t know
about though.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">So long, Crazy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">I may miss your drama<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">you’re an admirable foe—<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">but I’ve got vital work to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Fear not, Crazy <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt;">the business of life will again conjure
you.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
</p>
</div><p style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"></p></span></span></div>Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-66945487396574467102016-05-31T15:49:00.002-04:002018-09-03T15:05:30.559-04:00Fresh Fig Barbecue and Dipping Sauce Recipe<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrE46QmUOPR0mgH2ZAeXeSkmVa28JUoOZGaxOJKZ2BfDGCzhQa1e9_V651hJmGGG7FojZdJNr9nInryUinVZCXlWc3VFaOjrV7ut-QM_OUKzO4q3Ozzj27iLB5yT6phuMynsFJ6D4GqkA/s1600/IMG_4199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrE46QmUOPR0mgH2ZAeXeSkmVa28JUoOZGaxOJKZ2BfDGCzhQa1e9_V651hJmGGG7FojZdJNr9nInryUinVZCXlWc3VFaOjrV7ut-QM_OUKzO4q3Ozzj27iLB5yT6phuMynsFJ6D4GqkA/s400/IMG_4199.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Fresh fig season is nearly here. I may have eaten a fresh fig before,
but don't recall, so gave them anther try last season. Turned out I
loved the fresh fig--much better than fig newtons. In my fig-fanatic
enthusiasm, I got too many figs. I needed to find other uses besides
popping them in my mouth, or slicing them in salads. How about blending
those fresh figs into a barbecue and dipping sauce?<br />
<br />
<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
<br />
About 12 fresh organic figs<br />
1 to 3 fresh organic chili peppers<br />
1/2 large onion<br />
4 garlic cloves<br />
1/2 inch ginger<br />
oil for sauteing (I used coconut and EVOO)<br />
1 rib celery<br />
2 or 3 Tablespoons tomato paste<br />
3 to 4 Tablespoons fermented black beans (fermented soy beans available at most Asian markets)<br />
1/2 to 1 cup dry red wine like Cabernet<br />
2 to 3 Tablespoons organic balsamic vinegar<br />
<b>spices:</b><br />
1 Tablespoon fennel seeds<br />
1/2 teaspoon black pepper<br />
1/4 teaspoon white pepper<br />
1/4 teaspoon chipolte powder<br />
1/4 teaspoon coriander or ground nutmeg<br />
1/4 teaspoon cumin<br />
<br />
<b>Directions:</b><br />
<br />
Saute veggies in about a tablespoon or two of oil until translucent.<br />
Blend veggies with the rest of the ingredients, to desired texture.<br />
<br />
<b>USES:</b><br />
Meat or chicken Marinade<br />
Dipping sauce<br />
BBQ sauce<br />
<br />Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-67149787757777809702016-02-29T16:56:00.001-05:002023-05-01T15:23:06.348-04:00BIG MAGIC: CREATIVE LIVING BEYOND FEAR, by Elizabeth Gilbert: Book Review (Audio Version)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZr3TnauW4mYmyXzWjK47uBLcRT7X4_NSEK2CrJ9L3gkoF8IBjRy4lBOU_1v8xi3e-uYCz6xLEz8M40VZltkXD24mDsK0h5PSlHSg-NPThW7B2wBs-6PiMM4IViXMixmV0xlzmh1YMGU/s1600/elizabeth-gilbert-big-magic1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZr3TnauW4mYmyXzWjK47uBLcRT7X4_NSEK2CrJ9L3gkoF8IBjRy4lBOU_1v8xi3e-uYCz6xLEz8M40VZltkXD24mDsK0h5PSlHSg-NPThW7B2wBs-6PiMM4IViXMixmV0xlzmh1YMGU/s400/elizabeth-gilbert-big-magic1.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:none;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Why should we even bother about creating
anything or living a life imbued with creativity? Who has time for creativity
when we need to make a living? Elizabeth Gilbert advocates that as human
beings, we desperately need to express ourselves through creativity—and many
times that creative expression has no other purpose than to please the senses
and be enjoyed, or not, on its own merits, like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">art.</i> Even better if you can use the creation for shelter or eat it.
We are consumers, after all. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Creativity belongs to all great disciplines,
including art: science, medicine, math, teaching and philosophy, to name a few.
Furthermore, without the urgency to create something, we’d all be naked and
sucking our thumbs in a bramble patch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">We tend to think of art first, however, when
thinking of living a creative life. What is art? Who knows? I’d need a few
hundred pages to figure that one out, probably. Instead, I’ll simply say that
art is anything we say it is, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">almost</i>.
I’d qualify that by saying that art must be relevant to the nature of the
relationship between the one making the art and the one viewing it. (I just
made that up, but it sounded good.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Does some art offend? Yes. Does some art make
you feel great joy, love, and heartache? Surely. But art must come through the spirit
of the maker; otherwise, it’s just junk. I’d liken it to what makes yoga, yoga.
And as all first-class yogis have learned—it’s the intention which makes yoga,
yoga; instead of simply a bunch of weird poses and atypical breathing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">The intention of union with the mind, body
and breathe turns odd stretching into yoga. The intention of union with the
universe and human inventiveness turns by-product into Big Magic. Satisfying
the intention of creation conceives art, music, science, philosophy, and life,
for that matter. No wonder Gilbert calls it magic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Enough preaching and
on to an appraisal of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">BIG MAGIC: Creative
Living Beyond Fear:</i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m
writing a book to help people;” a budding author announced to Elizabeth
Gilbert.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Elizabeth Gilbert’s reply: “Please. Don’t.
Please don’t write a book to help me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Well said, Ms. Gilbert, Gilbert acknowledges
that she has written a book categorized as self-help. She defends such an
appalling gesture by telling us that she wrote it for herself. She likes the
subject of creative living and wanted to write about it—if the end product
helps motivate others to pursue creative living with an artistic bent, then so
be it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is what makes Big Magic
happen—you create something for the simple pleasure of creating; and if you’re
lucky, you experience big magic flowing through you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Gilbert reads her book very well. She begins
with a question: “What is Creativity?” Answer: Creativity is the relationship
between a human being and the mysteries of inspiration.” Inspiration, however,
tends to play hide-and-seek, so best not to depend upon it to show up on command.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Creative inspiration is a treasure hunt that
the universe has arranged for its amusement, muses Gilbert. We all have hidden
treasures, and the universe wants us to uncover them and bring them to light.
The hunt is living creatively, and that requires courage. The results of that
hunt are another of what Gilbert calls “Big Magic.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Gilbert asks the reader wanting to live
creatively: “Do you have the courage to bring forth the treasures that are
hidden within you?” (And if not, why not? What else have you got going on?) However,
Gilbert acknowledges that courage entails facing fears. We have all met these
fears before; but Gilbert trots them out for another performance and then walks
us through those fears while demonstrating ways to side-track them. She uses her own
creative life and lifestyle to illustrate how it can be done. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Here’s an example of her laundry list of
fears that face those on the quest for creative living:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Fear you’re no good</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">No market for your creative works, so why
bother</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Ideas stolen</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Unserious</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Won’t change the world</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">It’s been done before</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">I’m undisciplined have no training,
experience, intellect </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Family won’t like it</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">What will people say?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Don’t want to discover my demons</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">SCARY</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">and you’re FAT</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Do your art anyway, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">damn the torpedoes</i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">ART DOES NOT APOLOGIZE</span></i></b><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Gilbert says make your art, put it out there
and move on to the next project! Forget perfection (you know it does not exist
anyway.) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Gilbert maligns the ubiquitous “passion”
argument for pursuing your work. She reproaches the “follow your passion and
riches are yours” imperative of the self-help and money-making genres. To rely
on passion to fuel your creativity cramps the inspiration-god’s hands. Also,
maintaining intense passion requires too damn much energy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Instead of “passion,” Gilbert espouses
passion’s sister: curiosity. When passion or inspiration wanes, ask yourself
“What am I interested in, even just a little bit?” Then follow all clues that
those answers provide. That is how Gilbert got the idea for her novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Signature of all Things</i>, which she
considers her best work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">After a period of drifting, Gilbert asked
herself what, if anything was she interested in? She had just moved to a small
town and felt like putting a garden in her back yard. Gardening? Her gardening
interest led to her latest novel about botanical adventurers and took her
around the world and through history. I read<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
The Signature of all Things</i> and found it a fascinating read, despite
myself. I learned what detailed research means to the structure and nuance of
novel writing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Passion may be creativity's soul, but curiosity is creativity's energetic soulmate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">HOLY ADJECTIVE BATMAN!</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Gilbert must have paid extra for the expanded
version of the Thesaurus, as she seems excessively fond of adjectives, lists
and metaphors. For example, she often uses at least three adjectives to make a
point; which I found a bit draining, raining, exhausting and redundant. On the
other hand, I like driving a good point home—I have a short attention span and
need repetition. I also like words. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">CREATIVE CAVEATS</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Gilbert cringes when an aspiring creative
creature tells her they plan to quit their day job to write their novel, or
screenplay, or symphony, etc. Gilbert kept her day job until she hit it big
with her fourth book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Eat Pray Love</i>.
She literally made a pact with her writing: that she would do the work of
writing and not expect it to support her. And that she loved it enough to do it
for life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">A creative life does not mean that you must
make a career out of it. Very few can live off their art in a consistent
fashion, so do not expect to, or your creativity, and your art, will suffer and
so will you. She also reminds us that some of the greatest novels were written
in only one hour a day, over a period of years. Go for it, but pay the bills! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Gilbert notes that maintaining a day job to
support yourself, and that means also supporting you art, is an honorable way
to live. Providing yourself financial support frees up your creative spirits
because you have relieved them of the demands and stress of obligatory money-making. Gilbert held many odd jobs to support her art including bartender and working in Montana as a cowgirl. That's courage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Gilbert’s sentiments on that score reminds me
of the Zen quote, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Before enlightenment,
chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.</span></i><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .25in;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">I put in my hour of creative writing today. I’m
off to chop some wood and carry some water.</span></div>
Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-52178463174507369182016-01-21T09:23:00.000-05:002016-02-19T10:44:34.064-05:00OPERATION KENYA: "DAYS FOR GIRLS" Betters the World, One Girl at a Time<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="s0improvedImageItemimageimage" data-reactid=".0.$siteAspectsContainer.$imageZoomComp.0.0.0.1.0.$image_hsq.1" height="292" id="imageZoomCompimage_hsqimageimage" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1150cf_c9b7c6e7576d4a0a81e4a387a19f967b.jpg/v1/fit/w_830,h_609,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/1150cf_c9b7c6e7576d4a0a81e4a387a19f967b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; object-fit: contain;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girls in Kenya receiving their feminine hygiene kits. Photo courtesy of http://www.daysforgirls.org/ </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:none;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:none;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The wild and wonderful Maria
Rattray asked me to help her with her Kenya, Africa project. Maria, acting as an
ambassador for the <a href="http://www.daysforgirls.org/" target="_blank">Days For Girls</a> organization, recently
spent a few weeks in a small Kenyan village teaching and working with the
village girls. The trip objective: to promote healthy living and education in a
place where girls continue to have a high incidence of dying during
childbirth—mere children themselves.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Keeping the village girls in
school elevates the whole community, and that is a paramount goal of the <a href="http://www.daysforgirls.org/" target="_blank">Days
For Girls</a> organization. The main way to maintain school attendance for the
girls is to deal with an issue that forces girls to quit school: the beginning
of their menses. In an effort to continue going to school, the girls try using
leaves or corn-husks to absorb the blood. Some girls even utilize rocks in an
attempt to block the blood flow<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.(Can you imagine
your 8<sup>th</sup> grade daughter jamming rocks up her vagina?)</i> The girls'
futile methods result in their leaving school by age 13 or 14 to sit at home on
a piece of cardboard until the messy business of being an adolescent girl subsides.
Or worse, they end up pregnant and leave school to tend to their baby.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Maria, who <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">manages</span> a Friday
afternoon enrichment program for disenfranchised kids, in addition to her day
job as ruler of aquatic therapy at the gym, requested we send a message of love and
hope to the girls in Kenya. She asked us to share snippets of what life is like in America<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">;</span> in<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">clude a bio<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> with p<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">hotos</span> and relate a personal triumph<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> over an obstacle.</span></span> </span></span>
She <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">rec<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">ruited</span></span> her “Friday Kids” to write messages as well. I told her that
my life was hardly a good example, but she wanted my input, so I obliged. How
often does one get asked to help change the world, anyway?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I gave a brief bio, and included photos of me growing up American
girl style: Midwest spoiled; yet lacking the self-esteem gene—a<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> personal</span> obstacle
I used as an example for Maria’s project.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">What message of hope did I
send to those girls in Kenya who rank below the chicken in their society? I
wanted to tell them what to do; but that would be condescending, perhaps
misunderstood and no doubt unappreciated. I know little about the people of
Kenya, other than a few Public television shows and the occasional news report.
I just want us to adopt them all and move them to <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">the Uni<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">ted States</span>.</span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Instead,
I offered a message of <i>Silent Hope</i></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">:
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Dear
girls of Kenya, consider quietly practicing self-respect; because I think
whatever one does in life, especially girls and women, evolves from self-respect<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> and</span>
self-love. It’s still a man’s world. Boys are <span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">granted</span> self-respect;
and men naturally embrace it. Girls seem to have to chase it down—and it always
seems to outrun us just when we need it most. Even as women, we battle for that
badge of self-respect and the right to realize it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">How
can a girl in a Kenyan village, practice self-respect? Learn to love your
body and your mind. Treat these gifts with kindness, reverence and gratitude.
Understand that while your body houses your spirit, it comes with a solid mind
intact. Use it well. Consider that you originated from the spiritual plane, and
you will return to that realm when you have lived your life according to your
destiny. Meanwhile, you have a spiritual responsibility to care for your spirit’s
temple—you.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But
you don’t have to utter a word about your practice. Outwardly you may look the
same, and do the same chores. However, inwardly you are becoming confident in
who you are and how you want to be in this world.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Follow
the example set by the author of <i>Man's Search for Meaning.</i> <a href="http://my4sense.blogspot.com/2011/11/meaning-of-life.html" target="_blank">Victor Frankl</a><i>.</i> Frankl
endured his internment in Nazi concentration camps by giving his external
suffering, as a prisoner, an empowering meaning <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for his future and
the future of his progeny.</i> Frankl used the power of his mind to live
through horrible conditions—engulfed in death and destruction. He silently
practiced self-respect and self-love. Use his story to fashion your own fresh narrative.</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">A MESSAGE OF LOVE AND HOPE FOR THE
GIRLS OF KENYA</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Young
girls of Kenya</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">your
everyday life is a journey in spirit</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Your
daily actions </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">provoke
meaning and power</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Your
power is choice</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
meaning you <i>choose</i> to give </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">to
what happens in your life</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">determines
your character</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">and
guides how you will feel</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">You
have special gifts to share with the world</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Even
if that world is less than a square mile</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
whole world anticipates you </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We
need your uniqueness</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">You</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> are the world’s special gift</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We
honor you </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We
champion your endeavors </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">of
education</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">and
bettering your life</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">in
any way you can </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Because
in bettering your life</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">you
better the universe</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Thank
you!</span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />
</div>
Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-54364039094894978122016-01-05T16:44:00.006-05:002023-03-30T09:21:14.905-04:00Simple Sourdough Bread Using Water Kefir Grains!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:none;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxnnRWWX56Hkr1DOOI7oIcSrmfYt-zHXhgENrN5Wjau-xS8fsdNwEEJDD_LtVlOFeVjNpNlqpE71YoWIfGzHJQcEyw3iYFj8ECIYrXYK27jk_JYEVk6dLaqHfsxoTxGe14QOeZSyBMyk/s1600/kefir+bread.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxnnRWWX56Hkr1DOOI7oIcSrmfYt-zHXhgENrN5Wjau-xS8fsdNwEEJDD_LtVlOFeVjNpNlqpE71YoWIfGzHJQcEyw3iYFj8ECIYrXYK27jk_JYEVk6dLaqHfsxoTxGe14QOeZSyBMyk/w400-h298/kefir+bread.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">KEFIR SOURDOUGH BREAD<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;">WOW!
I created a new recipe for quicker sourdough bread that takes only 3 days (one day for starter) and
not the traditional 5 days for the starter(and an additional 2 weeks to mature the starter) that is usually required for a sourdough starter to
grow using only flour and water. <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/making-a-sourdough-starter-levain-from-scratch-351330" target="_blank">Traditional sourdough starter recipes</a> necessitate
feeding the starter at least once a day while discarding half of it. I didn’t
like the waste and waiting, so decided to experiment with another way to make a bread starter, using NO commercial yeast.
Previously I used a tiny amount of commercial yeast for my sourdough starter. However, using commercial yeast is not considered a “true” sourdough by purists. Thus the sourdough dilemma for those who do not bake every few days and do not wish to feed, clothe and shelter a sourdough starter for years.<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""> (That's what kids<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""> and </span>baby goats are for<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">.)</span></span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;">For my first sourdough starter experiment I found a recipe using the kefir water after the second fermentation. My attempt failed. A boozy, stinky liquid resulted, and the starter didn't rise. I threw it out, lamenting the loss of expensive flour and precious time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipY_hH_7qeV9NMs_KobtcUGx6RcxsCsNlQos-u34mZtHY-pRd1bqK0Ivmx1LA17wl3ulmnBEe_9DHPeTBaL6aYhpW1SwuqtZGRpWD3VLyBRZ9s74xtoV4Ntv9vRePiLFGVY2s9aAvnEwM/s1600/kefir+grains.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipY_hH_7qeV9NMs_KobtcUGx6RcxsCsNlQos-u34mZtHY-pRd1bqK0Ivmx1LA17wl3ulmnBEe_9DHPeTBaL6aYhpW1SwuqtZGRpWD3VLyBRZ9s74xtoV4Ntv9vRePiLFGVY2s9aAvnEwM/w320-h238/kefir+grains.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water Kefir Grains</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;">For my second experiment, I figured: Why not use some of those proliferating water kefir <i>grains</i>, instead of the kefir water, to get the starter fermenting? Why not try using it as a commercial yeast replacement for the dough? (Yes, I add a bit more leavening agent to the final dough, because I want extra insurance that it will rise. When I get adventurous, I may omit adding any leavening to the final dough and rely solely on the ambitious sourdough starter.) </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;">It worked! The starter was ready the next day, without using commercial yeast. The final bread rose better than expected. Crispy crust. Soft interior crumb. Tangy buttery flavor and indescribably delicious! Besides that, I found another use for water kefir grains that I would have otherwise discarded. I am such a genius! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWzS51a8dmjHUvm7tmgZG5esLzKeJqR-dkULum5VRZD9alfq-Jd5734tr0nSSbYjXuNVYg9A8c3HFWfDDfoQrU0by9LQ6Uw3GuA4iwS0urIZJ7AyulPjTky2m9StucZn-0BL8Xa36ths/s1600/domed+starter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWzS51a8dmjHUvm7tmgZG5esLzKeJqR-dkULum5VRZD9alfq-Jd5734tr0nSSbYjXuNVYg9A8c3HFWfDDfoQrU0by9LQ6Uw3GuA4iwS0urIZJ7AyulPjTky2m9StucZn-0BL8Xa36ths/w320-h264/domed+starter.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at how the plastic wrap "inflated" from the fermenting Levain!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span>
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: large;">My grandmother got me started on my quest for better bread. She would be so proud.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqE0M3iyEUItfNcgqU1vdEpIKo0ymwwK8wA-kXcLOW3jciWWNad-Oc51EL9Bba4yciu-E441oxEYggRLndTzD0NSPpel4ZggyIcSqBhc2qxFbtAqxYzvy8aHBAEfVYlRG2NpP4gSzgEA/s1600/Ann+making+bread+with+Grandma.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqE0M3iyEUItfNcgqU1vdEpIKo0ymwwK8wA-kXcLOW3jciWWNad-Oc51EL9Bba4yciu-E441oxEYggRLndTzD0NSPpel4ZggyIcSqBhc2qxFbtAqxYzvy8aHBAEfVYlRG2NpP4gSzgEA/w400-h270/Ann+making+bread+with+Grandma.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my grandmother, Marie, baking bread together.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;">SIMPLE
SOURDOUGH BREAD RECIPE</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">(IMPORTANT:
Use all non-reactive tools and bowls, like glass or plastic—no metal.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">INGREDIENTS FOR SOURDOUGH STARTER/LEVAIN</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">("Levain" is the </span>French term for <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">sourdough</span> starter<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">)</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">3/4</span> Cup Organic Spelt flour</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">1/2</span> Cup Spring Water</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">2
Tablespoons Water Kefir grains</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">(For
the feeding on day <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Two</span>: <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">heaping 1/4</span> cup spelt flour and <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">1/4</span> cup spring water.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">INGREDIENTS FOR BREAD
DOUGH:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">All
of the starter/levain</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">1
Tablespoon Kefir grains</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">About
3-4 cups all-purpose, organic EINKORN flour</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">2 teaspoons “Real” salt or sea salt</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">3/4</span> cup spring water</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-o1-7et3iXdj8n9rVUow22fof7Ngy7eygfA6aB-oxdlIlO1JOkFm3Y6ycl6CMwKG-nqRwIVwL-QuPAu6bQulM11kO0iT6G_ZmxDj08dgvt8_z16YSxM6WEFKYOW_DlkCHGOb1kbyOo9I/s1600/2016-02-18+17.12.45.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-o1-7et3iXdj8n9rVUow22fof7Ngy7eygfA6aB-oxdlIlO1JOkFm3Y6ycl6CMwKG-nqRwIVwL-QuPAu6bQulM11kO0iT6G_ZmxDj08dgvt8_z16YSxM6WEFKYOW_DlkCHGOb1kbyOo9I/w238-h320/2016-02-18+17.12.45.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starter stirred and ready to go</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">STARTER/LEVAIN DIRECTIONS: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Afternoon or <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Evening</span></span> of DAY 1 –</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">MIX
together 1/2 cup Spring Water and 2 tablespoons kefir grains in a bowl.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">ADD 3/4 cup Spelt flour and stir about 100 strokes.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">The <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">consistency</span> should resemble <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">a thi<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">ck pancake batter.</span></span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Cover
with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Morning of DAY 2 –</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">“FEED”
the starter a few hours before making the final dough: STIR the starter and add <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">1/4</span> cup Organic Spelt flour and, <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">1/4</span> cup
spring water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let rise until bubbles
form: about 4 – 8 hours. (<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">Consistency</span> should still resemble thick pancake batter.)</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">When starter is ready:</span></b><br />
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">STIR
starter (with rubber spatula)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">MIX
Kefir grains into <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">3/4</span> cup Spring Water. (This is the "insurance" step that may not be necessary.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">ADD
kefir mixture to starter and stir until combined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">TRANSFER
starter to a large bowl.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">ADD
1 cup All-Purpose Organic Einkorn flour and stir to combine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc76iRXWEu5MUPiJuzroNVZR9CQA3-UsI53A3fxeh6bCbq47ABFMIp_-gbDJSJ1SKvG2VCLjBFnqaRKAmgRFkXO8eOyMWPvGot9dUlgkTvHHZQTZvkTAv8bKIU58bc0d8uSzgXJv0Xchk/s1600/starter+bubbbling.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc76iRXWEu5MUPiJuzroNVZR9CQA3-UsI53A3fxeh6bCbq47ABFMIp_-gbDJSJ1SKvG2VCLjBFnqaRKAmgRFkXO8eOyMWPvGot9dUlgkTvHHZQTZvkTAv8bKIU58bc0d8uSzgXJv0Xchk/w238-h320/starter+bubbbling.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bubbling starter</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">STIR
in salt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">ADD
Einkorn flour, one cup at a time and stir to combine as dough begins to form.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">KNEAD
dough until smooth and elastic. (I first used the rubber spatula and finished kneading
by hand.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">(Pinch
a small amount of dough--it will spring back when ready.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">TRANSFER
dough to greased bowl.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">COVER
bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">DAY 3 –</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">REMOVE
dough from refrigerator and bring to room temperature (I place bowl in oven
with a bowl of boiling water for about 1 hour<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">.</span>)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">PUNCH
dough down and knead briefly on lightly floured counter top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">FORM dough
into 2 loaves<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">PLACE
loaves on greased and floured baking sheet. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">SPRINKLE
loaves with flour to prevent sticking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">COVER
loaves with parchment paper and then a clean towel or cloth napkin<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">, ONLY while the loaves rise.</span> Let rise until almost double in bulk,
about <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">2</span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">0 <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">to <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">40</span></span></span> minutes.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">PREHEAT
oven to 450 Degrees Fahrenheit<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">, while waiting for the<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""> loaves to rise.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">About <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">1</span> minute before baking, pour about <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">1/2</span> cup hot or boiling water in the bottom of the
oven to create steam. Even better: spritz the sides of the oven with a <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">spray b<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">ottle</span> filled with water. You do not w<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">ant a pool of water sitting in the bottom o<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">f the oven<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">CUT 1/4 inch slices into the tops of the loaves with a sharp knife<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">, <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">just before they go into the preheated<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""> and steamed oven.</span></span></span> </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Place <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">loaves</span> in oven<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">.</span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">BAKE
loaves for about 10 minutes until they take on color and begin to puff up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">REDUCE
oven temperature to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">BAKE
until done (about another 20<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""> to <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">30</span></span> minutes.) </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">ROTATE <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">the loaf pan(s)</span></span> halfway through baking time, to
ensure even baking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">COOL
loaves on wire rack.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">STORE <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">in <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">sealed plastic bag when completely cool<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">. <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">R</span></span>efrig<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">erate <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">after a<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif""> couple of days</span></span>.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7112134219643828744.post-26769226420397667432015-12-24T10:36:00.002-05:002016-03-06T08:08:42.271-05:00Homemade Kefir Water<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6LGi7UjqYsBRc3VyN2KM7WVcSjfl2_qh3YpuWJJX7tFd35Oe54W6B7KRPa5AqQZNbUA6NHfUXYl2jDPb4e9ugUZivuv4wSAGe_a4dgW8CsE2uMtIM-c7rLgLUNxE3NS1RONlXEpwssc/s1600/2015-12-02+15.05.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6LGi7UjqYsBRc3VyN2KM7WVcSjfl2_qh3YpuWJJX7tFd35Oe54W6B7KRPa5AqQZNbUA6NHfUXYl2jDPb4e9ugUZivuv4wSAGe_a4dgW8CsE2uMtIM-c7rLgLUNxE3NS1RONlXEpwssc/s320/2015-12-02+15.05.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Greg the goat-herder at the farmers market gave my a cup of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibicos" target="_blank">water kefir</a> grains, so I had to give water-kefir-making a try. Why? Because water kefir is easy to make and supposedly good for you. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probiotic" target="_blank">probiotics</a> in the kefir benefit your gut. Also, I wanted to drink a tasty, fizzy beverage that did not come in a can.<br />
<br />
My first batch of kefir water turned out surprisingly well, although it did not look like much in my water bottle containers and mason jar. I experimented with adding flavors to the second fermentation: fresh ginger, wild frozen blueberries, frozen pineapple. <br />
<br />
How did it taste? The pleasant taste reminded me of a mild apple cider with a slight effervescence. I only let the first batch ferment for 2 days, so it still had some residual sugar that added a bit of sweetness.<br />
<br />
My second batch of kefir water turned out fantastically delicious! I let the first ferment go a day longer, for 3 days, which allowed the magical grains to consume mostly all the sugar.<br />
<br />
Here's what the process entailed: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Day one looked like a vat of diarrhea:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcqvR028SKKKIEzziAe3z2TLeGinuGa6Z9H4DfTeXUMStfDvtrw1j2jSVpjyWZZqPF0pco1wvDee3aRHo2RYNvs_9bVl8i29ijRN2w19VcOAnGaWo5LpycCa_c5IIS6Oue2_RYak0fc4/s1600/2015-11-28+15.43.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcqvR028SKKKIEzziAe3z2TLeGinuGa6Z9H4DfTeXUMStfDvtrw1j2jSVpjyWZZqPF0pco1wvDee3aRHo2RYNvs_9bVl8i29ijRN2w19VcOAnGaWo5LpycCa_c5IIS6Oue2_RYak0fc4/s320/2015-11-28+15.43.02.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
But then, the kefir grains propagated and began to fill up the bottom of the container. As the grains "ate" the sugar, made kefir babies and produced carbon dioxide, the water turned a golden apple cider color. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DdMSXt5heTby1bTwxMs6La5A76nyyxBIJUKC6dxJIT6szeiKRaM_hGCKPHx7vbPvs18ZVLF0TE1Jw47rJ-E1p1qdrhl7RYnJRUFt9trasmefMYI89hXUb5gX22laFxdu71fKLbSCFhI/s1600/2015-12-16+08.46.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DdMSXt5heTby1bTwxMs6La5A76nyyxBIJUKC6dxJIT6szeiKRaM_hGCKPHx7vbPvs18ZVLF0TE1Jw47rJ-E1p1qdrhl7RYnJRUFt9trasmefMYI89hXUb5gX22laFxdu71fKLbSCFhI/s320/2015-12-16+08.46.30.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I strained the grains and bottled the water kefir, added fresh ginger chunks to all the bottles and berries and pineapple to separate bottles. I let the bottles ferment for one day and then refrigerated.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrBMO3oaML0o9ELmUyxGBfl6Dj61cCQ5eFsoozPmAFnpGtBZNPBSo6bgyaPFnV6sB8A6XUw2toqXsYy_eKHTviWddayeWozImsl-NBFWWtt70N1-F-He6WJrS1RX_E-wOSPINAEjXo10/s1600/2015-12-16+17.16.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrBMO3oaML0o9ELmUyxGBfl6Dj61cCQ5eFsoozPmAFnpGtBZNPBSo6bgyaPFnV6sB8A6XUw2toqXsYy_eKHTviWddayeWozImsl-NBFWWtt70N1-F-He6WJrS1RX_E-wOSPINAEjXo10/s320/2015-12-16+17.16.34.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>KEFIR WATER RECIPE</b><br />
<br />
<b>Day One</b><br />
In a large plastic container pour 1 gallon spring water (chlorinated water will kill the grains, so do not use tap water.)<br />
Stir in 1 cup raw brown sugar. I used <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucanat" target="_blank">Sucanat</a>. White sugar works too, but honey, because of its antimicrobial properties, may very well kill off the grains, or at least inhibit their growth.<br />
Drop in a cleaned, organic egg shell and a pinch of sea salt (kefir grains love a mineral environment.) <br />
Add about 1 cup kefir grains.<br />
Cover container with lid and let sit out on counter-top for 24 hours.<br />
<br />
<b>Day Two</b><br />
Visit the container and look for activity.<br />
I noticed more grains than day one--a good sign that the little buggers were having fun.<br />
<br />
<b>Day Three</b><br />
Either ferment for another day (four days total,) or bottle the brew, depending upon how sweet you want the water. <br />
Discard the egg shell, strain out the grains and store them in a container with a little sugar water in the fridge until you need them for another batch.<br />
<br />
I used a funnel to pour the brew into plastic water bottles (and one mason.) I added the flavorings and let sit on the counter top for 27 hours and then refrigerated my newly fermented kefir water. Burp the containers every 8 to 12 hours or so to let the carbon dioxide escape or the bottles may explode.<br />
<br />
CHEERS!Ann Marie Struckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405485015885076890noreply@blogger.com0