The Sign of a Good Book

I finished reading Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré today. It's a spy novel, but not written in the tradition of spy novels. It's not fast paced. There aren't anxiety induced scenes. The characters aren't flat. There aren't super cool gadgets involved. There are no martini's. What, no martinis?!?

The plot unravels slowly, with much detail, which if forgotten, will leave holes in the story for you later. Each character is thoroughly vetted for the reader. When you've finished the book you will know more about these characters than some of the folks you see everyday.


The name of the book comes from an English child's rhyme which we Americans have our own version.

English Version                 American Version
Tinker, Tailor,                      Tinker, Tailor,
Soldier, Sailor                      Soldier, Sailor,
Rich Man, Poor Man,          Rich Man, Poor Man,
Beggar Man, Thief               Beggar Man, thief,
                                           Doctor, Lawyer,
                                           Indian Chief.

Why we Americans felt the need to add the last three "professions" is beyond me. I've heard folks say this before when counting or making some type of choice; very similar to how you've probably heard someone use eeny, meeny, miny, moe.

In the case of the book they were not counting or trying to make some random decision, but rather they were trying to figure out who the spy was in the Circus, or what we know as the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), or MI6, in Britain. The titles were assigned to the suspected spies so that when it is found out who the spy was, it could be communicated without fear of tipping them off.

Throughout the book you are subjected to classic storytelling of past events by the characters trying to pull together their memories to help in the investigation.

While the end of the book wraps quickly, it also does it cleanly without leaving loose ends.

An interesting note about the book is that it's based on a true story the author experienced while he worked for MI6. There really were Russian moles planted in the Circus. The investigation went very much along the lines of what's laid out in the book. There really weren't any martinis. Although there does seem to be an abundance of sherry and scotch in its place. Cheers!

So with all of that said, I know it was a book worth reading for myself because today I have found myself continuously thinking over parts of it, trying to recall bits of it and "flipping through the pages" of my nook to reread sections. I have a lot of books that I've read and reread over the years, but I'm not sure of the last one that made me want to sit down and go back through it so immediately. I take this as a sign of a good book.

Books to Read

I was a member of a Birkman personality assessment this past year as part of a team building exercise at work. It was a neat experience and tremendously accurate. One of the traits it listed for me, with a score of 99, was reading. Now with a score of 99 it actually indicates that reading is actually a need for my personality.

If you know anything about me, you know I enjoy reading. I am happiest when I am on the couch or in the bed with a good book, reading a book with a friend and chatting about it, or being able to recommend a book to someone that they end up enjoying.

I was talking with someone at work a couple of weeks ago about some of the books I've read lately and he laughed at how odd my tastes were; they're like me, unique!

I always have a list of books ready and waiting on me. They are from different genres and cover different subjects. It's an ever growing list and I'm always open to recommendations.

So here it is. Let me know if you have an recommendations of your own.

• J.D. Salinger: A Life - Kenneth Slawenski
• The Tiger's Wife - Tea Obreht
• Arguably - Christopher Hitchens
• The Devil All the Time - Donald Ray Pollock
• Hemingway's Boat - Paul Hendrickson
• 1Q84 - Haruki Murakami
• The Paris Wife - Paula McLain
• The Mill River Recluse - Darcie Chan
• Vortex - Robert Charles Wilson
• 11/23/63 - Stephen King
• Black Mass - Dick Lehr
• In My Time - Dick Cheney
• Area 51 - Annie Jacobsen
• The Postcard Killers - James Patterson
• Little Bee - Chris Cleave
• The Grand Design - Stephen Hawking
• Kitchen Confidential - Anthony Bourdain

Happy New Year!

It seems this is always the time of year when we look back on what we experienced over the last 365 days. It wasn't until I decided to write this blog a bit ago that the reflection started. Here we go...

• I brought in 2011 at work in our break room drinking bubbly grape juice from plastic cups and watching the ball drop in NYC.
• This year was the first year since the early 2000's that I haven't had to work on New Years. Wish I had felt better.
• I had a doctors appointment last March that scared me. 
• I'm on track these days. Nothing to fear here.
• We became debt free! 
• All I can say is Thank you Lord!
• I found out that I have a green thumb.
• I'm looking forward to warmer weather and the yumminess (yeah, I made that word up) that will come from our container garden.
• I decided it was time to lose all of this weight I've put on over the last 5 years.
• In 7 months I've lost, and kept off 13 lbs. I lost more than that, but I'm told it only counts if you keep it off!  :o)
• We lost my uncle Billy this year to cancer.
• I am thankful that I was able to see him before he passed and that I was able to go home and spend time with my family, especially my dad, afterwards. Those visits home really touched me and made me ponder where we're supposed to be. 
• My nook has really made it easier for me to not have piles.
• My nook has really made a dent in our pocketbook. haha
• I started a photo project and have a bunch of pictures already.
• I need to get them organized. I'm having fun with it. Here's to the finished project.
• Meal planning has become a habit and has proven to be helpful and yummy!
• Do you have any favorite recipes you want to share?
• We switched from T-Mobile to Verizon...
• ...and haven't looked back.
• Was able to spend a week with my college roommate and her family. It was a great getaway
• Love you guys!
• My niece came and spent a week with us this summer.
• It was a lot of fun to have her here and we're looking forward to the next visit.
• Ray was able to experience his first NHRA drag races this year when my dad came to visit. 
• Hopefully this becomes a tradition!
• My sister from another mister made her now annual December trip to visit. 
• Miss you. Sorry there wasn't snow for you!

So what's on the slate for this year? Well, knowing that the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry, let's see what I'm willing to throw out there:

• Continue to eat healthier
• Meal planning
• Eat food a la Michael Pollan's Food Rules
• Continue to become a healthier me
• Eating better
• Losing weight
• Being more active
• Fly somewhere
• Yeah, I can't believe it either. 
• Be a better wife, aunt, sister, daughter, and associate
• Wow, that's going to be a lot of work.
• Get promoted
• So many ways this could turn out...

We have elections this year and the end of the Mayan calendar. Which one causes you more trepidation? 

I hope you and your family and friends have resolved to have a wonderful 2012. I know I have. No matter what happens, remember, "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens." Ecclesiastes 3:1 

My Response

Ray wrote a blog post with a subject matter that I am passionate about and I thought I'd share with everyone my response. The subject of his blog was hunger here in the US.

Ahh, a topic near and dear to my heart. 

The fact that there are families in this country that haven't a clue where their next meal is coming from infuriates me. When we talk about basic human rights, free speech, bearing arms, due process, trial by jury, suffrage, etc, why isn't a daily meal included? Our government has decided what we can't have, drugs, alcohol (even though they changed their minds on that one)high powered firearms, but what about things we should have; what about basic needs being met? I have to wear my seat belt when in the front seat of a vehicle, even though if I'm in a wreck the only person that will be injured because of my lack of seat belt is me. They're so worried about things like this, but not something so basic as a meal. 

Now, for my real stand...

The problem isn't our government, It's the Church. I'm not talking about the buildings, I'm not talking about the people who show up on Wednesday, Sunday, Christmas and Easter. I'm talking about the Body of Christ. The body of Christ is the problem. As a whole we are not doing our job. We are not following the second greatest commandment. We are not loving our neighbors as ourselves. We are not assisting "the least of these".

We have fallen so deeply into the pit of the world that we have actually forgotten, as a whole, what we are supposed to do, what we have been commanded to do.

I am thankful for the family that was put in my life as a teen. If it weren't for them being in my life, I don't know if my relationship with my parents would have improved, ever. It took years, but I finally figured out what it meant to honor my parents. It's the only reason those relationships still exist. It's the only reason that I can consider moving back home. And for anyone that might read this and not know my background, yes, hunger played one of many parts in the gross dysfunction of my family.

So no, I don't blame our government. And no, I don't think the government is the one who is failing. I blame the church as a whole. We are failing in so many areas, but this is one that is inexcusable. 

I don't know why food and shelter are not basic human rights in our country or any other country, but it should be a priority of the Church.

I know we have a need to spread the gospel around the world to those who have never heard the name of Jesus, but we need more people "staying home" and fighting the good fight on our home front. We need the Church to take care of their communities, their neighbors, each other.

Mediterranean Chicken Salad Pitas

These are really very good. It's a different twist on chicken salad. It all works together very well and is very filling.

I hope you try it and enjoy.

Ingredients:

3 cups   Cooked, chopped chicken

1 cup     Plain Greek yogurt

2 tbls     Lemon juice

½ tsp     Cumin

¼ tsp     Crushed red pepper

1 cup     Chopped red bell pepper (1 large)

½ cup    Chopped pitted green olives (about 20 small)

½ cup    Diced red onion

¼ cup    Chopped cilantro

1 can     Chickpeas, rinsed and drained

6           Whole wheat pitas, cut in half

6           Slices tomato, cut in half

12         Bibb lettuce leaves

Directions:

1. Combine first 4 ingredients in a small bowl; set aside.

2. Combine chicken, red bell pepper, olives, onion, cilantro, chickpeas in a large bowl.

3. Add yogurt mixture to chicken mixture; toss to coat.

4. Line each pita with lettuce and tomato

5. Add ½ cup chicken mixture to each half pita

Calories: 404

Fat: 10g

Carbs: 46g

Fiber: 6g

Black Bean & Cheese Enchiladas

Ray and I made these enchiladas tonight and thought they were yummy!

Makes 6 servings
2 enchiladas per serving
300 calories per serving







Ingredients
2 dried ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded
2 cups water
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 cup chopped onion, white or yellow
5 garlic cloves, sliced
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups vegetable broth
2 tablespoons fresh oregano
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups reduced fat shredded Mexican blend cheese
3 sliced green onions
12 corn tortillas
6 tablespoons light sour cream
Cooking spray

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°.

2. Combine chiles and 2 cups water in a saucepan; bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand 5 minutes. Drain chiles in a colander over a bowl, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid.

3. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Add onion; saute 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium; add garlic and salt. Cook 5 minutes or until golden, stirring occasionally. Add broth oregano, tomato paste and cumin; cook 8 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally.

4. Pour onion mixture into a blender; add chiles and cooking liquid from chiles. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); put lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in lid to keep sauce from splattering. Blend until smooth; stir in lime juice and red pepper.

5. Combine the beans, 1 cup cheese, and half the green onions in a bowl. Spread 1/2 cup sauce in the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Warm tortillas according to package directions. Spoon 3 tablespoons bean mixture down center of each tortilla; roll up. Place, seam-side down, in dish. Pour remaining sauce over filled tortillas. Top with the remaining cheese. 

6. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Sprinkle with remaining green onions; serve with sour cream.

Bits & Pieces

UH football has really rocked it out this season. Keenum, the QB, has been terrific against the opponents faced. It has been fun to read, listen and watch them march through their schedule this season. It is an up and coming program that someday, if managed correctly, will be a contender against the big boys, or maybe just the medium ones, of the college football world.

So with the great play of the Coogs thus far this season, College Game Day was at Robertson Stadium for the first time. By the looks of it there was a great crowd present. Each week Lee Corso does something crazy when he makes his pick for the team he believes is going to win. This week, he did something the FCC isn't going to like. The clip is below so you can see it yourself. Once you realize what Corso says, make sure you pay attention to the reaction of his fellow reporters. I love Herbstreit's reaction! But then again, I just really like Herbstreit in general!

My Astros have a new owner. I'm excited about this change. I'm looking forward to the team becoming competitive again. Their fan base is loyal, but we do require a carrot every once in a while. Now, while I'm excited about the new ownership, I am saddened about the move to the American League. The Astros have always been my team, but I've always rooted for the Rangers as my "AL team". This move is going to make this difficult. I won't be able to root for the Rangers anymore. Then there's the rule differences between the NL and AL. In the NL all players are baseball players. In the AL, most players are baseball players and some are pitchers and some are just hitters. I don't like that at all. If you're going to play baseball, then play baseball. 

Peter King Challenge Update: Ray's middle brother is leading the pack with a 94. I have a 93. Ray and his cousin's wife have 92. Then there's indyjeepgurl that's not doing so well, but is really giving us a run for our figurative money in the college football picks. Really? How'd that happen?!? After this week, there's only 6 weeks of regular season NFL football left.

Meal planning has never been my strong point. Usually I make a list of some basic stuff for the store, buy it and throw it together in different ways each week depending on how I feel and what sounds good. Last week I actually sat down and choose meals for the week. I made a list, bought the groceries, then came home and cooked 5 of the 6 meals I had chosen, leaving one for Ray to make during the week when he was off. It turned out well. The grocery bill was actually lower than normal. The meals were 350 calories or less per serving. We didn't eat out during the week for lunch/dinner. We saved almost $100 last week just spending the time and effort to cook at home. Oh, and our grocery bill this week, even less. I think this just might work. One last thing, this should definitely lead to a lighter, more healthier me.

The past few months Ray has spent his Thursday nights off at a place here in town playing poker (Thanks Yi-Vet!). He has found another place that plays on Monday nights. He's talked me into going with him. I'm a bit nervous. It's been a long time since I've sat down with folks and played.  I think it'll be fun, but I guess we'll see how it turns out.