Sunsets, Stars, West, Wind
I mailed out ten cards today to the American Red Cross’s post office box, which closes this Friday, December 10th. I may send out another ten tomorrow and again on Friday.
Such a small thing that could brighten the day of one of our service men and women.
When it gets cold outside, I make it hot in my kitchen with some spicy nearly all-veggie chili. Besides chopping an onion and celery, there’s not much prep work to this crockpot concoction.
This morning, I pulled out two cans of Bush’s medium chili beans, one can of Bush’s hot chili beans, a can of black beans, a can of original Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilis, a bottle of Spciy V8 juice and a pound of ground turkey.
I browned the ground turkey. I put all the canned items in the crockpot. I added the celery and the onion. I stirred it up well and turned the crockpot to high heat (since I want to eat this in a couple of hours). I use Williams Famous Chili Kit for my seasoning and extra kick. Did you know Williams is headquartered just twenty-five miles away from me in Lenexa, Kansas?
I removed the large chili packet from the chili kit box and add it to the crockpot. Then I add the browned ground turkey. Then I pour about a third of the 46 ounce bottle of Spicy V8 over the top and stir it all up.
About fifteen minutes before I’m ready to eat, I can add (if I need more ‘heat’) the Red Pepper packet from the chili kit and the Corn Masa packet (which thickens up the chili).
For the all-vegetarian version, substitute cracked wheat for the ground turkey. You’ll have to soak a couple of cups worth in the Spicy V8 (16 ounces or so) in a small saucepan so that the cracked wheat puffs up and absorbs the tomato juice. I sometimes add various peppers (red, green, yellow, orange) and chickpeas.
I’ll let you know in a couple of hours how well the chili turned out. Usually, it’s good and hot!
Moss Family Christmas Letter 2010
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given,
and the government shall be upon His shoulder;
and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,
The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
— Chorus, Handel’s Messiah
We are grateful for the Child born in a manger, come to save us all. We are grateful for our own children, born just two decades ago, now released upon the world, making it a better, brighter place. We are grateful for the bounties bestowed upon us this year. We mourn for the passing a grandmothers and cherish the memories their lives bequeathed to us.
Spring:
Bitter cold snowy weather in January like I haven’t seen in Kansas since the 70s. February/March attended the funeral of Barbara Parsons and visited with relatives in Winfield. April/May traveled to Nebraska and Iowa to attend a couple of science fiction conventions.
Summer:
Rachelle flew back home in late May, but only stayed a few days before traveling overseas to study abroad in Europe, specifically Leipzig, Germany. She celebrated her twenty-first birthday half a world away from where she was born. During her five weeks in Europe, she visited many cities in Germany, Austria and also Prague in the Czech Republic. She returned to the States on the eve of the Fourth of July and remained with us for the rest of the summer.
While Rachelle deeply immersed herself in learning German, my grandmother began to suffer from rapidly advancing congestive heart failure. Just two days before my daughter’s birthday, and actually on my grandmother’s 88th birthday, she passed away.
I was glad to have visited her in her final days and to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her with my aunt and dad. The next week became a blur as plans for the memorial service were ironed out and I offered my house as a staging area for family gatherings. The first, and hopefully last time for many years to come, I actually took advantage of my bereavement leave employee benefit.
The following week, my husband finally attended his Social Security Disability hearing before an administrative law judge (via video conference since the judge lived in New Mexico). We had been waiting years for this hearing, having been denied twice by bureaucrats in the SSA. Just last week (middle of October), he received his first regular disability check, but the settlement check for previous years is still several weeks away. The hearing, while stressful for Terry, relieved some of our agony of waiting.
In August, we mailed, er flew, Rachelle back to Texas and life settled back into it’s routine. I’d joined a vanpool mid-Summer so I wasn’t putting any miles on any of my vehicles. We received the welcome news that Terry’s appeal of denial of SSD benefits was awarded by the judge.
Autumn:
Fantastic birthday present from my father – an amazing telescope with a plethora of accessories, which I’ve been exploring and learning how to use.
We traveled to North Texas last week for Thanksgiving, leaving the dogs behind boarded at a local Leavenworth kennel and doggie day care facility. We enjoyed the balmy weather and the kids.
In mid December, we will return to Texas, taking my dad with us, to attend my son’s graduation from SMU’s Guildhall, on Saturday, December 18, 2010. The best news of the year came in mid November when Derek informed us he had been hired by Halliburton for a very nice salary (close to six figures). If you’d like to send a card to Derek congratulating him, please send me an e-mail (jon@mossfam.net) and I’ll send you his mailing address, as I know most of you won’t be able to attend the graduation ceremonies.
We learned this week that Rachelle earned a retro-active scholarship for this school year (2010/2011) which allows her to attend UNT at the in-school tuition rate. She’s being reimbursed for the out-of-state tuition she paid in August.
As with most years, 2010 had it’s ups and downs, and it’s sideways diversions, but we survived, we thrived, we lived and we loved. And with God’s Grace, we will see many more to come.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Jon and Terry Moss
And the angel said unto them,
Fear not; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
— Recitative (Soprano), Handel’s Messiah
A hard copy of the above will be included with our annual Christmas card mailing to family and friends.
And if you’ve made it this far down on this post, why not take a couple more seconds (or minutes) to vote on my unHoliday decorations poll? 🙂
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The tangled knot of plot threads weave a tapestry of convergence. The Last Hunt begins, prelude to the Last Battle.
Of the main characters, Perrin’s growth and acceptance sealed him as the rising, shining star among the brilliant cluster of Two Rivers misfits out to save or damn the world. Mat’s character surprised me most this novel. Normally, I skim through chapters devoted to Mat’s point of view. Not so this time around. I wonder if I’m seeing Brandon’s influence on Mat or if Jordan’s plan included more maturity for Matriam at this point in the epic. The Aes Sedai (Nynaeve, Egwene, Cadsuane and even Elaida, briefly) had their moments, but the support staff (i.e. Warders) shined. Lan, Gawyn, Galad (by osmosis mostly as Gawyn’s step brother), Brigitte – all received long overdue attention. I wanted more from Aviendha’s thread. Rand and Min sporadically pounced in and out of various hot spots, spectacularly so in Maradon.
With the end so close, I fear I’ll break with the strain of waiting another year (or more) for the epic conclusion to a saga I started over two decades ago.
It’s darkest before the dawn … or the end of all things. Tarmon Gai’don breaks.
Join our online discussion at the GoodReads Fantasy Book club where Brandon Sanderson will be answering questions about The Towers of Midnight and his own new epic fantasy series The Stormlight Archives novel The Way of Kings.
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Before falling asleep Thanksgiving evening, I remembered to turn off my weekday alarm on my cell phone. When Terry and I finally woke up, we discovered a house transformed (see photo to the left). Being gracious guests, we refrained from comment and chortles.
Rachelle cooked her dad an egg-white, ham and cheese omelet and I sampled her beer biscuits. Derek and Royna fell asleep on the couch so they woke up after we ate and came along with us for a short ‘painless’ shopping spree on ‘Black Friday.’
Our first store was Rachelle’s old employer, Ross, where I found a new purse and wallet, an electric razor for Terry and some reasonably priced extra virgin olive oil for Rachelle. I had a thirty percent off in store coupon for Barnes & Noble, so we trekked all the way across the Golden Triangle Mall. Unfortunately, I didn’t find the appropriate gift I wanted to use the coupon for, but I did spy a newer version of the Lightwedge that’s now rechargeable and thinner and lighter. Oh, well.
Next, we stopped at Hobby Lobby pricing small air compressors for Derek (a requested Chrismtas gift wish list item). The prices were mind boggling, so that item will be bought online. Rachelle prowled around for fabric paints and aprons for a Christmas gift idea. She was disappointed in the selection and variety of fabric paints so we eventually made it to Michaels near Bed, Bath and Beyond, where Terry and I found our next hopefully dog-proof stainless steel trash can (no, we didn’t buy it and haul it back here to Kansas from Texas; we’ll buy it at our own local BB&B).
By then, the morning had melted away so we stopped at Paulio’s Pizza Cafe for lunch. We ordered the King and Hawaiian Sunrise (my favorite pizza bar none!). After lunch, we returned to Kent’s ‘Redskins Christmas Extravaganza’ where he and his significant other spent the rest of the daylight putting up the exterior decorations. After Nic returned from work (and Derek and Royna returned to Plano), all four of us (Terry, Nic, Rachelle and I) spent the evening wasting time playing Peggle on the Xbox 360 in the spare bedroom. Rachelle and Nic left ‘early’ to create spring rolls for tailgating on Saturday but Terry and I toughed it out and made it to the credits by 1:00 a.m.
After a quick and meager breakfast of English muffins and almost oversleeping (one o’clock in the morning is way way way past my bedtime), we joined Kent and several others for tailgating on the University of North Texas campus in a parking lot near Fouts Field stadium. This football game was the last ever to be played in the old stadium since the new stadium on the other (south) side of I-35 will open next spring.
Can you guess who was invited to play against the UNT ‘Mean Green’ Eagles? Oh, the irony! The Kansas State Wildcats! Quite funny, if you think about it. Here’s our daughter, sporting her green UNT T-shirt (the girl on the left with short blond hair and white framed sunglasses) prior to the flood of purple pouring down from the north. You couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day for an outdoor party and a final college football game for UNT, providing a great game but ultimately a victory for the Wildcats.
We returned to the house, Terry took a nap, and I read a book while everyone else watched several college football games (sometimes simultaneously) on Kent’s amazing LED HD 3D television.
Sunday morning, Terry and I quickly packed the Bonneville and headed north, pushed relentlessly home by another stiff wind. Our gas mileage on the routine trip was nothing short of miraculous. We stopped in Wichita for a couple of hours to visited some old friends but still made it home before seven o’clock.
Monday I relaxed and recovered from all the driving and almost finished the latest Wheel of Time novel published last month. I’m within one hundred pages of finishing The Towers of Midnight. Terry and I went to pickup the Rotts from the kennel around noon, but the groomer hadn’t given them a bath yet, so we went back at two o’clock for some squeaky clean excited Rottweilers.
What a great time we all had, including Roxy and Apollo. Just wish there had been more time to spend with everyone.
Terry and I drove five hundred miles in record time against a stiff south headwind yesterday to visit our offspring and their significant others. Even though we left over an hour later than I had planned, we arrived in Denton before the sun set and to a balmy 84 degrees. We were so early, Rachelle and I had time to make our first of three trips to the largest Kroger store in Texas (just five minutes away from her residence).
After Terry and I retired to the spare bedroom, Kent (Rachelle’s landlord/homeowner) decided to decorate for Christmas. We woke up to Christmas a la Redskins (I’ll let Rachelle explain that one to you. Or, if you’ve seen the DirecTV commercial about Cowboys and Redskins fans, you’ll have some idea of what I’m talking about). I forgot to reset my cell phone alarm, so I was up by five o’clock since it’s technically a weekday.
I only had to make two more trips to Kroger before I got the turkey in the oven. This year Derek had requested a ham instead of turkey, so I also had to juggle warming up a sprial cut ham with the usual side dishes and the family tradition of sticky buns. Derek and Royna arrived from Plano just shortly after noon, as the turkey was cooling and the ham was in the oven. Everything turned out well and we all sat down for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
Everyone pitched in to clean up and we soon had the kitchen back to normal and sat down to enjoy Toy Story 3 on Kent’s amazing Samsung LED HD 3D sixty inch television.
Here’s hoping all of you are having as great a family gathering as we’re having here in chilly north Texas this Thanksgiving.
I’m at a distinct disadvantage, compared to my daughter, never having read any of the Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling. I once attempted to listen to the first book as an audio book. While entertaining, it still didn’t appeal because I am not the intended audience. Perhaps forty years ago I would have liked it, but not at this stage in my life.
Before venturing to the theatre, and parting with the outrageous price of a ticket these days, I read reviews by well known film critics. Since I also subscribe to Netflix, I use this method as an aid to deciding whether to wait for the DVD release or not. Yesterday’s USA Today review by Claudia Puig proved very informative and helpful. And, after watching the film yesterday evening, I agree with her assessment.
Terry mentioned afterward he missed the action. I had forgotten to warn him this was a darker more intense movie than the previous Potter releases.
I liked the film for providing powerful character growth among the three principal protagonists: Harry, Hermione and Ron. Hermione’s courage and sacrifice threaded through the film, revealing her poignant grief and resilience. Ron surprised me the most with a turn from adolescent flippancy to steadfast fierce young man. Harry tries, but fails to astound me. Although, I glimpse the end and see the telegraphed but twisted triumph foreshadowed in the tale of the Three Brothers and the Deathly Hallows and hope he can avoid miring himself in martyrdom.
I give the movie four stars out of five. It feels like the middle dark misfit installment of a trilogy, leaving you feeling dread that darkness has the upperhand, but, wait, it is always darkest before the dawn.
God is good! All the time!
Just a couple of months ago, I had a hard time counting my blessings as I’d been taught. Striving to praise Him during the storms, instead of just when the sun shines, so to speak.
Now, just a handful of weaks later, my cup overflows, my heart is bursting with joy and pride and my blessings seem as uncountable as the stars.
Yesterday, while I was shutting down and packing up to return home from work, I received a jubilant call from my son. He’s currently wrapping up his college at SMU’s Guildhall in Plano, Texas. The reason for the call? He’d accepted an offer from Haliburton for an astounding salary (which I won’t repeat here to protect the parties involved). As soon as I got off the phone with Derek, I spent the next few minutes bouncing off the walls and sharing the great news with my co-workers, who probably thought I’d lost my mind. Once my feet touched the ground again, I rushed down to the lobby to catch my vanpool ride home. I shared the news with them as well and phoned my dad during the commute home.
Once home, I told Terry, because Derek hadn’t called him yet. Later that evening, I received a call from my uncle and aunt in Virginia to congratulate and share in the good news. Overall, Tuesday ended on a very high note.
Today, I received even more good news from Rachelle‘s boyfriend. He also finally found employment in Denton, Texas, within just a mile or two of their house.
I’m so excited for all my offspring and would-be-offspring. Next week, when Terry and I head south to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with all of them (Derek & Royna and Rachelle & Nic), I plan to continue my continual prayer of thanksgiving with them.
One week to go before I can be reunited with my kids! Lord, let the days fly by and my heart overflow with Your peace and grace.
Amen!
My family tree is full of veterans who served this great nation of ours. I can’t begin to list all of them, or even get their ranks and service times correct, since I don’t hold those records currently. My father is the genealogical guru at present for the family. Some day, I know, the torch will be passed to me, but I pray not any time soon.
My great-grandfather, Rev. John Hodge, served in the Army at Ft. Leavenworth in the 1920s (and probably the 1930s, but again, I’m not the expert on this information). I remember him as the pastor of the church I grew up in, the Easton United Methodist Church in Easton, Kansas.
Both of my paternal grandfathers served in the military. Daniel Dempsey, my father’s biological father, did, but I don’t remember what branch. I remember him as a bagpipe playing Shriner and all around musician and showman. My dad’s step-father, Ralph Andrea, served in the Army Air Corps during WWII and in the Air Force during the Korean War. He retired either as a Lt. Col. or a Col. I remember him as a fun grandpa hosting us for summer visits to St. Paul, Minnesota where he worked for 3M until he retired yet again.
My uncle (my dad’s brother) is a retired Air Force Colonel. He lives in Virginia, after a long stint in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He dabbles well in watercolors, writing and reading books I mooch, swap, trade and bargain buy for him like mini-Christmas gifts year round. One of his authorial projects include stories his dad told him of his war and military experiences. Someday, I hope to be an alpha reader for that project.
A couple of my mother’s brothers were Marines and one or two of my cousins (from among her five brothers and sisters’ offspring) also joined the military.
For many months I carpooled with a veteran of the Army, whose wife is also a veteran. Many of my fellow church members are either active and/or retired military, veterans one and all.
I even thought of joining the Air Force when I turned eighteen; my dream to be a fighter pilot. Sadly, that was impossible in 1982, since women were forbidden combat. My hat’s off to the women who blazed the trail without me.
My whole heart, my whole being thanks each and every veteran, whether I’ve met them or not. Your service is unequaled, your courage unmatched.
After Terry’s appointment at St. Luke’s Hospital, he spent an hour or so in my office while I wrapped work up. We debated the merits of a couple of barbecue places he wanted to try on the way home from the Country Club Plaza. If I’d known how much ‘fun’ it was going to be getting home from North Kansas City, Missouri (to Lansing, Kansas), I might have voiced a louder opinion about his other suggestion.
Taking the scenic construction route east from the Plaza Library along Volker to US-71 North, and a second more leisurely scenic byway through the construction zone along the I-29/I-35 bridge across the Missouri River, we found ourselves exiting onto Bedford Avenue which deposited us in a railroad track infested industrial area. We gingerly navigated the railroad crossings and arrived to front row street parking before the Smokin’ Guns BBQ establishment.
Terry ordered the burnt ends platter (reasonably priced at just a bit over ten bucks) and I wanted to order a quarter of chicken, but was informed they were out of chicken for today. So, I had to quickly review the menu and settle for a regular sized turkey sandwich with a side of green beans. Terry’s sides included baked beans and potato salad.
We seated our selves in the very clean but still slightly small eating area with the cliche’d red and white checked plastic table clothes. We were served within a couple of minutes of getting our drinks. My turkey was flavorful and moist. The green beans disappointingly bland but very hot (temperature wise, not spice-wise). They could have used some pepper and some ham or bacon as the white onions were more garnishment than flavor.
I tried a bit of Terry’s burnt ends and found them acceptable but not as sweet as I had expected. The baked beans had a slightly smokey flavor, but nothing that exploded or excited my taste buds. I’ll pass on the potato salad as I’m not sure it was made in house.
Neither one of us could finish our portions (nothing unusual there, I’m on a diet and Terry’s medicines often cause his digestive system to suffer). Our return trip was an adventure, since Smokin’ Guns was located in a ‘peninsula’ of the Missouri River (almost surrounded on three sides by the river) and I needed to go almost due west to get to Lansing, which is impossible if you look at a map and where the roads lead from that area.
So we took another scenic route north using 9 highway up through Parkville. I only made one wrong turn (left on Main Street in Parkville) and dead-ended to a railroad crossing (with a train racing me to the road) near the Farmer’s Market pavilion. I turned around and headed up the hill on Main Street, eventually reuniting with 9 highway, which I somehow left in one of the construction zones.
From there, it was a quick jaunt through more police directed traffic constructions zone on 45 highway west. We finally spied I-435 and zipped back over the Missouri River to the Land of Ahs (aka Kansas) and enjoyed K-5, the sunset and the autumn foliage. I retrieved the Firebird from the Hallmark parking lot and still managed to make it back home as Terry was pulling into the garage.
Construction zone headaches aside, Smokin’ Guns BBQ will not be on our return list in the near future. It’s Kansas City … so many barbecue joints, so little time.
