enroute365

Enroute 365 is about ...

... the life journey with all its scenic twists and unexpected turns.

Enroute 365 is about:

Travel with me on this metaphorical highway, Route 365, as we share the stories and insights along our journey (some 365 days per year)! 

7 tips for killer cuisine

You might be surprised to see that I'm dispensing culinary advice. Especially since I admittedly cannot cook (revealed in earlier posts, "Cookbook Clearing" and "Following the Recipe.") Still, I've always been a big fan of Julia Child, the chef who has recently been revealed to have been a spy. (Ooooh! French cuisine AND intrigue! My favorites!) So, in Julia's honor -- and in a departure from my usual fare here -- I'd like to offer up these seven tips for killer cuisine.

1. Don't place Cumin next to Curry in the spice rack. They are too easily confused.
2. Never sample the cooking wine while cooking, especially when cooking with said Cumin or Curry.
3. Adding enough Curry (or Garlic when preparing Italian) should mask any spice-related snafu. Well, almost.
4. Don't drink the table wine before serving.
5. If you've made a mistake during meal preparation, ignore the impulse to admit it. Market the results instead: Mmm! We  have a special ethnic blend for you tonight!
6. What your spouse doesn't know about his supper won't (necessarily) kill him. Let's not analyze the statistics.
7. Just don't let PETA get ahold of the fact that you served the leftovers to the cat. Where IS she anyway?

Disclaimer: There are only two facts embedded in this lesson. Everything else is pure imagination. I have no intenshun of settng th record straaaaight as to whatttttttttt's fiction ... and whatz da truth. Julia knows the truth.

Finding good (a year later)

Once again today, I beg your indulgence as I recycle stories from my archive. For today I chose one that brings me hope whenever I feel the world is out-of-control ... that reminds me to put aside my personal agenda whenever I can contribute to the greater good.

From time to time, I’ve fretted over the degree of hatred being unleashed across continents and peoples. Every day, headlines give evidence to new hostilities. But, I’ve rationalized, the stories of love and humanity don’t always get the best coverage.

Four weeks ago, however, I knew the world was in bad shape. Knew, because I’d caught one too many commentaries on TV. I didn't have to ponder; the talking heads spelled it out. Said we all knew the mess the world was in.

Maybe the moderator and panel experts were right. That’s what I believed one Saturday morning in March. And why I’m glad for the perspective of that same afternoon.

3:00 p.m. I was in a hurry. I’m always in a hurry. I had just left one event and was busily checking items off my To Do list before heading home. One last stop to pick up craft supplies.

I entered the art store with a sense of purpose and moved directly to the specialty paper section. There, I found myself stymied by choices. In the background I heard the cashier greet a customer at the counter. I held a paper up to the light, faintly aware that a monologue had begun.

“If you take the time, you'll find a silent bond that unites us.”

5 chances to give

The Fearless Blog, one of my favorite online stops, recently presented me with a Brillante Weblog Premio 2008. As much as I am honored by the award (it's an honor just to be nominated!*) it is really the sentiment that I cherish! (You like me! You really like me!*) More importantly, now I have the chance to share my abundance with the opportunity to give!

According to the custom, the award may be passed on to up to seven blogs. The rules for the Brillante Weblog Award are as follows:

l. The award may be displayed on a winner’s blog.
2. Add a link to the person who you received the award from.
3. Nominate up to seven other blogs.
4. Then add their links to your blog.
5. Add a message to each person that you have passed the award on to in the comments section of their blog.

I have chosen five recipients ... five bloggers that I am thankful for on this particular day. These are writers who I may not have featured recently, but whose messages are truly brilliant!

My 5 Brillante Weblog Premio 2008 recipients:  

• St. Vincent's Hospital Darlinghurst -- Male Nurses
• Oh, Fer Cryin' Out Loud (Monica Ford's Thoughts & Such Journal)   
• First Life 360
• Finding Life's Enchantments
• Evenstar Art (the art of the positive, loving and spiritual life)    

Thanks to you for your positive messages, your thought-provoking comments and your candor!

 

*Overheard at the Academy Awards.

5 points of gratitude (and lots of links)

Every time I visit  Are you Grateful? and 365 Days of Gratitude I am torn. Although I'm always inspired by the abundance mindset I find there, I know I should be reserving some time here for gratefulness as well. And now ... that time has come!

My statement of gratitude (what I am thankful for today):

• Good news from the doctor. After I gained an unprecedented 15 pounds in two weeks, friends insisted I visit my physician. Luckily I passed the physical (after all, no studying was required)! A subsequent x-ray proved that for some reason my only problem is that I am -- quite literally -- full of it! With some medication this, too, shall pass, so today I am relieved ... well, I soon will be! 
• A husband who thinks my situation is hysterically funny! Actually, I'm not really thankful for Frank at the moment ... but I am working on it. My gratitude toward my spouse is a very fickle thing which has a lot to do with how many hours he spends sleeping in front of the TV and how often he laughs at my jokes. My jokes ... not my predicament! Still, he has a heart of gold and the very best intentions. And for that I am forever grateful.
• My outdoor world. Even though it's August, the last several days have brought comfortable temperatures to central Iowa where I live -- perfect weather for enjoying the sights and the songs of a variety of bird life. No flooding or wildfires threaten my home ... and for this I am incredible thankful!
• A new contract. In my work as a consultant, I had just ended one project early due to a client's budgetary woes and was scrambling to get more work lined up. I was beside myself with worry ... well, I was worried anyway. But today I got the phone call I needed and will begin my new job next week. Somebody's looking out for me and for that I give thanks!
• Blogging. Why is it that every time I question the value of maintaining a blog, something happens to refocus me? Someone's comments or online friendship. An exciting new find in the blogosphere. Or, as has recently happened, the receipt of an award. I'll have more on that tomorrow ... but for now let me just say "Thank you" to all you bloggers who inspire me, challenge me and those who remind me to count my blessings!

What are you grateful for today?

In order to be able to achieve and maintain happiness we need to, actively, be able to do two things:

1. Complain and then let go (Dump the baggage, the roadblocks to happiness.)
2. Openly Express Gratitude (The open expression of gratitude promotes happiness.)

In order to be able to achieve and maintain happiness we need to, actively, be able to do two things:

1. Complain and then let go (Dump the baggage, the roadblocks to happiness.)
2. Openly Express Gratitude (The open expression of gratitude promotes happiness.)

After all, everyone has something to be grateful for and/or something to complain about. If you would like to accept the challenge, please follow the appropriate link and do so: "Are You Grateful?", "Complain Complain Complain."

Contributors to "Are You Grateful?" & "Complain Complain Complain" are: 1-Attitude, the Ultimate Power 2-Max 3-DianaCA's Metamorphoses 4-Mental Poo 5-My Thoughts 6-Baba Doodlius 7-Wake Up America 8-Life is a Roller Coaster 9-Life and Me 10-pinay mommy's love blog 11-My Happiness Haven 12-And Life Goes On for a Filipino Mom 13-Blessed Sanctuary 14-Expressions And Thoughts 15-Memories by Jenn 16-Reminiscence of My Adventures 17-In the Life of Mne 18-Juliana's Lair 19-Pinay Wahm 20-Lucid Creativity 21-Winged Words 22-Irresistible Fascinations 23-A Little Time 24-See Me For What You Will 25-Greatest Reviews 26-ETC ATBP 27-Gandacious 28-We Are Family 29-Journey to this thing called LIFE 30-www.rajeshrana.net 31-www.rajeshrana.com 32-BaReFooTeD Me 33-Uncomplicated 34-Points of View 35-Pride & Prejudice 36-Colorful World 37-Nora's Notes 38-A Daily Walk With Bill & Gina 39-Strange but True 40-Everything Under The Sun ( Beth Rebokon ) 41-Kaleidoscope 42-Fil-Oz Blog 43-By Osc@r Luiz 44-Comedy Plus 45-Blogging by Sandee 46-Soul Meets World 47-Mae's Memoirs 48-Beyond the Rave Reality 49-Amori, poesie, arte, chat by Hanna 50-Attached at the Hip 51-Carver's Sight or is that Site? 52-Empress Reviews 53-Simple Pleasures In My Heart 54-Lourdes' mia 55-A Grateful Heart 56-Majorsleepyhead 57-Scrappy n Happy in Ohio 58-CHOC MINT GIRL 59-Extraordinary Things 60-ZOOROPAZOO 61-BeNolSatuEm 62-As The World Turns 63-Your Caring Angels 64-Life Is Wonderful To Know Everyday 65-Sugar Magnolias 66-Little Peanut 67-Creative In Me 68-Me and Mine 69-Pea in a Pod 70-the diary of the Pink & Brown Wedding 71-good thoughts, good trades, good life 72-My Blog - all things me 73-Rainbows 74-Little Corner of Mine 75-Me, Myself and I 76-My Planet Purple 77-Amel's Realm 78-A Handful of Surprises 79-A Detour 80-Something Purple 81-Vanity Kit 82-Are You Grateful? 83-A Simple Life 84-BlogTips.Com 85-Balitang Kalye 86-Mariuca 87- Emila Yusof 88-A Total Blog 89-My Life in this Wonderful World 90-MommyAllehs 91-Things That Suck 92-A Mother's Stuff 93-Princess Vien 94-My Inner Thoughts Revealed 95-Roxiticus Desperate Housewives 96-Apples Of The Eyes 97-Nita's Random Thoughts 98-Nita's Corner 99-Thomas Digital Services 100-A Mother's Thoughts101-Meltwater. Torrents. Meanderings. Delta 102-My Perfect Escape 103-Vanidosa. Marie 104-Confessions of a Supermodel Wannabe 105-Lynda's Loft 106-Listening..Learning..Living 107-LadyJava's Lounge 108-The Painted Veil 109-Poeartica 110-Maryannaville 111-the life of a psychotic weirdo 112-CARPE DIEM 113-Turn-u-Off 114-asian mutt international 115-Petty Ramblings of a Petty Queen 116-LIFE IS A ROLLER COASTER 117-AZZY'S BLOG-A-ROONIE! 118-glad to be here 119-WilStop 120-Dare to Blog 121-WebGeek Journal 122-Foster Me Up 123-This is My Life 124-DaveylynneDR 125-Life Realities 126-aNgRiAniWorld Dot Com 127-All That Matters 128-My Inspiration Sharing Land 129-Hidup Biar Sedap 130-Mutiara Hati 131-EM Muhammad 132-I Digress 133-Mapped Memories 134-Working It 135-Startin' A New Life too, 136-Little Secret 137-FEEL FREE to Express Yourself 138-iAM-Mai 139-SOLOFLIGHT 140-BLACKNICKEL 141-NEUROPATCH 142-EMJEI SAYS 143-Big Money List 144-daily information 145-TRCoach 146-LOVE YOUR LIFE! 147- INSTANT MESSAGES 148-MEME ME 149-mEldita's untamed world 150-mEldita's uncensored life 151-i.MEL.dific 152-SNAPSHOT 153-DAILY STOCK PICKS 154-The Pet Haven 155-Pet's Garden Blog 156-Ketuk_angel Weblog 157-Laketrees 158-Enroute 365

More butterflies, more meanings

After my August 12th post, it's no secret that I'm fond of butterflies! But I am just now realizing how these beautiful creatures have come to symbolize real transformations in thought within the lives of others.

My blogging pal Emily at Be in Wonder is a case in point. In March she wrote a very revealing post entitled "Butterly Wings" that I've only recently became aware of. It refers to this insect in terms of individuality and worth.

In her story, Emily refers to a silky piece of cloth that was imagined to be butterfly wings by her son. She observes:

I had often felt like those butterfly wings [after they had been seen more than once and were no longer considered special]; That because I wasn’t unique I didn’t have any joy to offer those around me. I grew up thinking that if I didn’t have anything unique to say that it wasn’t worth saying at all.

I was wrong ... What I have to say is worth expressing--even if it's been said before ... Like butterflies, I will spread my wings -- even if they’ve been seen before. I may be the 1,000 Monarch butterfly you've seen, but I’m the only one dancing in this moment before you.

A second writer, Donna at Amazed By His Grace is the mother of an autistic son. One day she was surprised to see the boy "enacting a butterfly coming out of the cocoon." In response to what she had witnessed, Donna wrote a short but poignant poem which she shared in a recent post. Her words refer to the cognitive breakthrough made by her son and among this mother's heart-felt lines are these:

You broke from your small abode, no longer crawling
But fluttering in the sun, soaking up the rays
Bringing delight to all who would stop to gaze and reflect on the wondrous transformation
My son, I see your passion for the vibrant winged insect and I ponder...
Do you love them so, because they are so much like yourself?
You too were once encased, enclosed, hibernating
Now, you've emerged even more beautiful than I could imagine
Full of life, full of energy, full of love

I can give neither of these posts full justice, so I encourage you to visit the blogs through the links provided above and read these inspirational messages for yourself. Each story is transformative in its own right ... and shows how real empowerment can be found in something as fragile as a butterfly!