Leaving Church by B.B. Taylor

The other night, while riding out a caffeine buzz, I finished Leaving Church. Wow! What a great book. The author has been named one of the top ten preachers in the United States. It is her story of finding herself and leaving her love and her profession, being an pastor. While I can identify with the point of her devotion to working for the church, I think the book is one that others who are find themselves defined by their work in anyway.

Photos

I have a photo site down where my links are. They have various digital photos I've made since I got my first digital camera. The big part of those photos are our wedding photos. So check them out on the right side.

Netflix

We recently defected to Netflix as blockbuster decided to cut down on the amount of in-store rentals you could do. We also like the streaming video option more than the in-store rental exchange thing.

As we probably have a few friends who have Netflix please become a friend with the link below.

Become a Netflix friend!

swimming part 2

I am reading a book called Leaving Church - where the author says:

As hard as I have tried to remember the exact moment when I fell in love with God. I cannot do it. The Divine Presence was strongest outdoors...(God feels like) my father holds me up in the swimming pool teaching me to float. As frightened as I am of getting water up my nose. I gradually relax into his open arms, trusting him to bear me up. ONe day he will let me go, but so far he hasn't. Until he does, there is no better feeling in the world than resting on his open arms with my body half in and half out of the pool, the sun in my face, and enough water in my ears so that I can really hear is my heart. Barbara Brown Taylor

A theological reason to like swimming....yippee!

swimming

I love swimming always have. I have gone the last three days straight to the local pool to swim and I went several times last week as well with plans to go tonight.

That's all....I love it, enough said.

fun with leftovers

So, I must admit I am indeed having fun with leftovers...I love figuring out ways to use up stuff...and the last two days have been good days for that. Yesterday, I chopped an onion, threw it in some broth (leftover) to brown, threw some broccoli (meaning to use for awhile, frozen), and then added rice and for the liquid a mixture of milk and broth. After that was all done, I cut up the leftovers veggie burgers and regular burger and mixed it in. Jim loved it - and I was impressed with the difference in taste with the creamness that the milk in the rice made (fat free milk, even).

Today, I was flipping through a magazine before I threw it out and saw a recipe that I thought I might like to try sometime - the more I thought about it the more I realized I could make it tonight with a few changes. So, here is the recipe I made.

Salad:

About a cup of diced cukes, a handful of diced onion, 1 diced jarred bell peppers, about 1 1/2 cups canned tomatoes, and one diced avocado and a bit of salt.

Hot Dish:

With a bit of wine act as oil - I added about 1/2 lb green beans (frozen, Trader Joe's) and about 3/4 lb of shrimp to a hot pan. Once cooking was on the way I threw in some garlic, some beef seasoning, and some ginger. Once all warm and wonderful smelling -

I took a scoop of the salad and a scoop of the hot stuff and served over baked tortilla chips. (The orginal recipe was to be served as tacos - but we still had the chips from the birthday party.) Wow was it good!

Highly recommend the whole thing but the salad was awesome.

Harry Potter

Sorry...Jim usually keeps this blog updated, and he is investing his time in his Homer Puzzle and his Harry Potter book.

The Homer puzzle is cool; and I like the fact that my husband reads so that is fine by me!

weekend

We had a crazy weekend including Jim's 27th birthday party where he got Omni Mash Prime and got to open his Homer Simpson puzzle - that is way cool, even for me.

When I asked Jim what he wanted at the party he said burgers - so I decided that I would make several kinds
A. Chicken burgers with thyme, oregano, rosemary, vinegar, garlic and a bit of olive oil
B. Regular burgers
C. Heart Attack Burgers - hot sauce, worchester, diced cheese hot dogs and bacon and cheese on top.
D. Chicago Diner Burger- mushrooms, oatmeal, soy sauce, garlic, onion, flour - these are really good for my first try at home made veggie burgers.


We also had watermelon, grilled veggies, chips, and ice cream and cake.

Redeye Chicago...

We've been posted in the local free Chicago magazine called "The Redeye." Krista responded with this after an article about a company advertising to pay for the engagement ring if someone proposed on the blue line.

Here's the quote:

CTA wedding day

My husband and I did not get engaged on the CTA, but I love it, so when he read your article ("Nothing says 'I love you' like the Blue Line," July 10 column by Kyra Kyles) he said to me: "I wish I had thought of that."

However, we did take the CTA from the church to our wedding dinner, along with about half of our wedding guests--15 or so--and our photographer. The best pictures from our wedding are actually [on] the CTA.

Krista Dutt, 30, Pilsen

Heres the link to redeye's website with our quote

Sparkpeople

I joined this website that helps track fitness and nutrition goals - I like it and it is helping me so far.

My friend, Chris, recommended it to me.

Bueller...Bueller?

This was a fun read and makes me want to watch the movie again.


The secrets of life can be found in Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Link

White House Chef

Some of you know that my goal used to be that I wanted to be the White House Chef - this was before I realized that until the current head chef you had to be a man - not that I would have let that get in the way. HOwever, I heard Chef Cris in an interview today - I still want her job!

I love cooking, and maybe it wouldn't be as fun if I had to do it. But, it seems like the dream job for me - and it will mostly stay in the dream category.

Tonight, I am making a green bean salad and chicken bbq burgers. I am excited!

Wait Wait...Live!

July 19, 2007 @ 6:30 pm

Free Show - Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me! Live!

No tickets are available or necessary - bring a blanket and enjoy the show!
Join host Peter Sagal and scorekeeper Carl Kasell and a rotating roster of cultural pundits at they try their hand at the week's top headlines.

Millennium Park

201 E. Randolph StreetChicago, IL 60605

Any of our local friends join us thursday night!

B-day fun

Yesterday was my birthday. We had fun going minigolfing and I got to see the Kwik-E-Mart version of 7-11 here in Chicago it was an awesome thing to see. Had fun and I've had someone make such a big deal out of my birthday as much as Krista did which is nice.

At 7-11 I didn't get to take pictures as my camera was dead but I am a long time reader of a geek/80's website called X-Entertainment and he has an article with pictures on it. I had a lot of fun checking out the Simpson themed store and just had to buy a Squishee and a pink donut.

We went to a mini-golf/arcade place called Haunted Trails. We played a round of mini-golf. I lost by 1 point to my friend Sam.

Most of my birthday's with my parents were just me sitting around the house with a few friends while my father grilled and we usually went swimming...

Oh yah btw the Amazon link will be put up until my birthday party happens on the 21st.

ginormous

The other day I said the word "ginormous." Krista giggled and pointed out that there's no such word. I replied that there should be....

Lo and behold it's now in the dictionary

This conversation just happened something like a week ago....

Spuds

I love toys...just ask Krista. She's the first to point out to me the existence of

Optimash Prime!

On more kidlike toys I have been collecting Mr. Potato Head themed geekness. I currently have Spider-Spud and Darth Tater. I am looking forward getting, Spud Trooper, and Artoo-Potatoo.

Yes I know I'm a kid...

article of interest

So - I am glad this was not offered at my seminary!

Click Here

Bye to Bandit and Socks

After awhile of trying to live with two cats, Jim and I decided to say good-bye to our cats. While I got choked up giving Socks away, I know that a better home exists for her. One that will give her all the attention she needs as well as the independence she needs. Bandit is back with Jim's parents and seems happy adjusting back to life with a dog and another cat other than Socks.

Brian, my assistant got a cat this weekend and so I am not catless - but just at home, I am.

Bono and Africa

My dear husband does know me well and usually can speak on my behalf - not this time.

I think Bono does do a lot of great things - as a urban educator, I respect his ways of raising the awareness of wealthy Americans (and other upper class around the world) that there is huge debt in the world - and most of it is owed to the United States. The One campaign has seen great success due to U2's pitching it at concerts and events. The One campaign is basically the idea the if the US would forgive 1 percent of what it is owed - many 2/3 thirds countries would be out of debt and then could thrive with out the UN helping them.

HOWEVER, this is where my husband didn't get my view right - I don't believe that a wealthy band or any group should tell a people what they need. If Bono hasn't spent enough time talking to the tribes mentioned in the article to listen to what has been spelled out as a need or a want instead of what Bono wants to give - then Bono and then U2 needs to leave. I deal with this at work all the time. People from the suburbs or from out in the middle of nowhere want to tell the folks in the inner city how things should work - without listening to what is working here in the inner city.

I have read many times that the RED campaign was a flop because of all the money it wasted. While I understand the problem of spending all that money that could have been given to AIDS research, I also understand that education is sometimes immeasurable. So what about the people who saw Bono and Oprah parading down Michigan Ave in Chicago and got tested for AIDS. I am not saying that the RED campaign was all good - in fact it was probably a mistake. BUT I AM A BELIEVER IN AWARENESS - its my passion to make people aware of issues in the city - and therefore I feel like the campaign did have some good - and hopefully can learn from its mistakes and try again.

More Marriage News

7 secrets to a long and happy marriage

Check it out

We currently do a lot of these things so we are on the right track...

Bono and Africa

Krista and me have this small debate on Bono and U2 on occasion. I don't care much for Bono it always seems to me like he's just doing all these charitable things for attention. U2's music is just passable as "lite" or "elevator" music. She likes the music and as she is a non-profit director loves almost anything that has to do with charity.

My side:

Bono's red iPod failed so much that they spent more on advertising than actually making money. They spent $100 million on product and advertising and ended up only raising $18 million. They could have easily just have handed over $100 million to Africe for aid....

Now this article comes out saying that there are certain tribes that do not want Bono's help. The article states that the "saving" of Africa won't come from aid but from the "ingenuity of it's people."

Interesting.

Now I'm sure he's done lots of good things for Africa and charity but me being a technology geek I see these bunglings more often than most stories...

Nun In The Bathroom

thanks to shellybelly of t-six for this one.

Nun In The Bathroom

A nun, badly needing to use to the restroom, walked into a local Hooters.
The place was hopping withmusic and loud conversation and every once in awhile the lights would turn off. Each time the lights would go out, the place would erupt into cheers.

However, when the revelers saw the nun, the room went dead silent. She walked up to the bartender, and asked, "May I please use the restroom?The bartender replied, "OK, but I should warn you that there is a statue of a naked man in there wearing only a fig leaf." Well, in that case I'll just look the other way," said the nun.

So, the bartender showed the nun to the back of the restaurant. After a few minutes, she came back out, and thewhole place stopped just long enough to give the nun a loud round of applause. She went to the bartender and said, "Sir, I don' t understand. Why did they applaud for me just because I went to the restroom?" "Well, now they know you're one of us," said the bartender, "Would you like a drink?"

But, I still don't understand," said the puzzled nun."You see," laughed the bartender, "every time someone lifts the fig leaf on that statue, the lights go out. Now, how about that drink?"

Birthday's coming up

On July 12th I'll be ripe old age...of 27. Yeah yeah I know it's not that old but tell that to my knees.

Anyone wanna get me something check out my Amazon wishlist

videogames & violence

Slightly heated debates happen between Krista and me about this topic and this comic sums up my opinion a little...

from a favorite comic/blog Extralife

We went away this weekend

Hi - I know I haven't posted for awhile, and I am sorry. This time each year I am not sure who I am any more - but this week Brian is taking more and more of the week long program from my hands. Marriage is helping me give it up actually - there is a reason to go home for supper instead of stay here. I am actually cooking supper for Jim for the first time in a month tonight and I am excited!

This past weekend - we went away, not far, just to the suburbs and stayed in a hotel and did stuff that we wouldn't do if we just drove up there for the day - went to a water park, went to a mall that is like the Worthington Mall for those of you in Ohio, and for the rest of you that means we would have both needed to start new jobs to afford anything. We also went to see the new Pixar film but I will let Jim review that for you.

The thing I like about this stage of marriage is that I seriously don't get tired of spending time with Jim. Maybe that is because I have crazy hours - but really there is no place I would rather be than spending time with him in some way (which is big for the girl who loves her job that she might have married it if she hadn't married Jim). We are both quality time folks on the 5 love languages which is helpful - lots of times women are this but guys aren't. So we both see it as equally important to spend time together.

I know that JIm and I are still in the honeymoon phase and there most likely will be a time when I say - I have had a enough of you, I need a break - but I am enjoying this phase right now.

hey all Simpsons fans

So...I heard this morning that some 7/11 stores are turning into Abu's Quiky Mart from the Simpson in time for the movie. The one in Chicago is going to be on 63rd street near Midway. I even want to go there.

This would be the time to mention something about marriage. In the beginning of creating a blog together - I mentioned that it would be easy to tell Krista posts from Jim posts. However, I am posting about a very Jim topic and he often posts about Krista topics.

Marriage is turning out that way. I notice what he likes to notice and he notices Krista things (he is actually better at this than I am). I guess friendships are a little like that too - I will always notice frogs thanks to Chris' obsession with them. However, this noticing goes a little further - I mean, I want to take Jim to the 7/11 and buy him all the stuff they have changed specifically for the movie.