Friday, June 5, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Bon Appetite! A Collision of Traditions at the Dinner Table
My first introduction in to the house of in-laws was totally food orientated. A few hugs and names exchanges was a merely a short introduction into a tradition of food. It could have been no more then 10 minutes into meeting everyone (probably forty of them) when I was told that I should not be shy and help myself, or else I would probably starve. At first I did not really get take it serous. But, after the frenzy had cleared I found my modest time of waiting was up and I was going to go in there and get some food. All I found was crumbs…crumbs so puny that it would not have even filled a small mouse. With the sympathy of the aunts that have seen similar episodes go down with new comers, let me get into the fridge and make a sandwich on Thanksgiving Day. But let it be clear, that it was a get out of jail free card. Reality is that their are not so nice when it comes to their kitchens and facing the humiliation of being the only one that did not get dinner was my problem; and in the future I should no better.
I guess at this point I should tell why there was no food left. To every aunt there are four or more children, one husband, and at least, speaking in the past, a few grandchildren. There are five aunts, one mother-in-law, and two uncles. There’s grandma and grandpa, and all the cousins first, second, third and some twice removed. They are self proclaimed Tar Heals, have you ever heard of corn bread feed. I swear it like standing in a group of green giants, male and female a like. They have an appétit as well.
I can admit it after 10 years of being in the family; I’ve gone from scrappy ally cat that was starving, to an intrigued food seeker. The food is so good it impossible to make anything like what is prepared in the smoregusborge of down right tar heal traditions. But out of all the types of food that they prepare, it likes the theory of teaching an old dog a new trick. It’s the same when a new dish is introduced to the tables. At first it gets a nosed turned up, and then it get ate by the boys that will eat anything; but to see the old timers with that dish on their plate is unheard.
It could drive a person mad, thinking about their family traditions. From pepper to salt, flour to milk, generic to name bran has all to do with their food traditions. But I can not believe it’s a tradition of the past just merely their interpretation of what is traditional. I think that they all have a pretty good idea what their predecessors before them did, but I think each and everyone of the traditionalist have put their own twist on their recipes. So my question to them is why, would you try my dish, I watch cooking shows and everyone but them will try my foods, yet only my mother-in-law will allow me to cook for her. At the same time she teaches me tough’s old great traditional recipes. I guess family traditions are a little give and take
I guess at this point I should tell why there was no food left. To every aunt there are four or more children, one husband, and at least, speaking in the past, a few grandchildren. There are five aunts, one mother-in-law, and two uncles. There’s grandma and grandpa, and all the cousins first, second, third and some twice removed. They are self proclaimed Tar Heals, have you ever heard of corn bread feed. I swear it like standing in a group of green giants, male and female a like. They have an appétit as well.
I can admit it after 10 years of being in the family; I’ve gone from scrappy ally cat that was starving, to an intrigued food seeker. The food is so good it impossible to make anything like what is prepared in the smoregusborge of down right tar heal traditions. But out of all the types of food that they prepare, it likes the theory of teaching an old dog a new trick. It’s the same when a new dish is introduced to the tables. At first it gets a nosed turned up, and then it get ate by the boys that will eat anything; but to see the old timers with that dish on their plate is unheard.
It could drive a person mad, thinking about their family traditions. From pepper to salt, flour to milk, generic to name bran has all to do with their food traditions. But I can not believe it’s a tradition of the past just merely their interpretation of what is traditional. I think that they all have a pretty good idea what their predecessors before them did, but I think each and everyone of the traditionalist have put their own twist on their recipes. So my question to them is why, would you try my dish, I watch cooking shows and everyone but them will try my foods, yet only my mother-in-law will allow me to cook for her. At the same time she teaches me tough’s old great traditional recipes. I guess family traditions are a little give and take
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Who Your Community?
Monroe Taekwondo is a community. Monroe taekwondo community has a range of ages and groups: children tiger cub taekwondo, junior taekwondo, kid-jujitsu, adult jujitsu and the waiting-lobby participates. The Academy is a community because it is based, on the ITA mission that “strives to inspire a sense of responsibility and commitment to our community, challenging students to do what is right and ethical.” There are several events that hold an individual together as group; such as, the gathering of belt awards ceremony, the kid’s party, community events, and the daily conversation about the neighborhood and roads, schools and teachers, news and work etc. Communities offer help to others that have limited funds; and the ITA offers scholarships to students who need help. The instructors also reach out to the student’s academic teachers, called partners and learning; this is show the student that life is successful with a net of support.
Honor, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, courage, and COMMUNITY are the seven tenets of Taekwondo. The seven tenets are expected to be used daily. I find it is a well rounded group, shinning through to the local community. There is always the talk of the positive activities that the group keeps up with, such as, volunteering and participating in locals sports. Individual integrity demonstrates courtesy to others; honor for oneself, family, and community; and self-control to be able to focus. There is an emphasis that taekwondo is for protection and an art form only! Taekwondo is not to be used it in spite or harm; and that why the tenets are essential.
Taking marital arts classes take is a large commitment, which takes a lot of time, and an underlying amount of money. This makes for very serious people which can be a little intimidating. The Dojo (mat/class room) is a serious place to be, it work on different levels of intensity; the older an individual is, the more serious the focus becomes. This would have tension on individuals that were not focused on changing lifestyle to meet the requirements. There is not much conflicts when it comes to the kids, but the lobbyist (the parents) that are forking the cash out all have their individual beliefs as to why their child is in the class. It’s like being at a little league game except each kid is on his or hers own team. It’s the push to the front to see the little start learn marital art.
Every six weeks or so the tension in the air starts to rise, because in additional to the membership and the monthly fees, there it is the sigh of awe to another testing fee. At that time how to forget about how much it really cost, it as if the colorful sense of community becomes white wash and the community becomes opaque. There tends to be the people that just can’t keep up with it or don’t have the time to do it. And, that takes something out of the sprit of the community.
But, like always the games are back on and the colors return.
It was a little over a year and a half ago my family was introduce to the mission of the Monroe Taekwondo Academy. There we have met a great community of inspiring people. There has been an amazing transformation for our family. My two older boys are in the cub’s program; and in fact the oldest is moving up to the junior’s class in the next month. My husband, Chris, also goes to the academy; he hits the mat in the jujitsu class. The baby and I sit out on the side lines; with a lot of rout and a bunch of love. The growth and tie that are family is made by the firm set of values has made are family unit whole. Watching the boys grow and do well in school is well worth every hour that we put into them. And, my belief, as long as, everyone is meeting their individual needs, then as a family we are happy and undivided.
Honor, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, courage, and COMMUNITY are the seven tenets of Taekwondo. The seven tenets are expected to be used daily. I find it is a well rounded group, shinning through to the local community. There is always the talk of the positive activities that the group keeps up with, such as, volunteering and participating in locals sports. Individual integrity demonstrates courtesy to others; honor for oneself, family, and community; and self-control to be able to focus. There is an emphasis that taekwondo is for protection and an art form only! Taekwondo is not to be used it in spite or harm; and that why the tenets are essential.
Taking marital arts classes take is a large commitment, which takes a lot of time, and an underlying amount of money. This makes for very serious people which can be a little intimidating. The Dojo (mat/class room) is a serious place to be, it work on different levels of intensity; the older an individual is, the more serious the focus becomes. This would have tension on individuals that were not focused on changing lifestyle to meet the requirements. There is not much conflicts when it comes to the kids, but the lobbyist (the parents) that are forking the cash out all have their individual beliefs as to why their child is in the class. It’s like being at a little league game except each kid is on his or hers own team. It’s the push to the front to see the little start learn marital art.
Every six weeks or so the tension in the air starts to rise, because in additional to the membership and the monthly fees, there it is the sigh of awe to another testing fee. At that time how to forget about how much it really cost, it as if the colorful sense of community becomes white wash and the community becomes opaque. There tends to be the people that just can’t keep up with it or don’t have the time to do it. And, that takes something out of the sprit of the community.
But, like always the games are back on and the colors return.
It was a little over a year and a half ago my family was introduce to the mission of the Monroe Taekwondo Academy. There we have met a great community of inspiring people. There has been an amazing transformation for our family. My two older boys are in the cub’s program; and in fact the oldest is moving up to the junior’s class in the next month. My husband, Chris, also goes to the academy; he hits the mat in the jujitsu class. The baby and I sit out on the side lines; with a lot of rout and a bunch of love. The growth and tie that are family is made by the firm set of values has made are family unit whole. Watching the boys grow and do well in school is well worth every hour that we put into them. And, my belief, as long as, everyone is meeting their individual needs, then as a family we are happy and undivided.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
What In Your Wallet?
On the go life…everything is in there; there begin my oversized, overstuffed, and overly used wallet. I find it funny, to imagine what someone would think of me, if they were to come across my wallet. I have had this wallet ever since my second son was born about four-years-ago. My wallet is definitely large and in charge of my whole life. I would assume that most would find my life a little out of control. But what mother’s life is not busting the seams that hold them together. Ever since I had my three boys, my wallet seams to grow wildly with every year and every new event. And I could honestly say that my wallet is at odds with the battle of the bulge.
Once a clean wicker color weaved wallet now entirely dinged with smudges of oily overlapping fingers prints. In the first compartment you find all the necessary cards including my banking card, all shopping-reward cards, the entire families’ library cards, and many different activities cards. Adjacent to the cards is all my banking information including pin numbers and account pass words (which I am incredibly fortunate no ones found, yet!). Also in-between the two spaces is where I compulsively keep all my coupons.
The second compartment is divided in to four separate uses. I have the nice little cash part, which is by rare chance I have more then a dollar or two at anytime. My big money-maker is my change pouch, not really, but there are a few nice scores in there. I like to collect coins, rare ones and until I get too my coin box, that where they lay. In my change pouch is also where I keep my personal Id’s, because it is easier than putting anywhere else in my cluttered wallet. On the other side of the change pouch is where I keep all the business cards, appointment cards, medicals cards, and car insurance cards. The numbers of cards I have is some where upwards of thirty cards. Lastly I have a little pocket that has a promissory note, that is well past it statutory limits of do anything with; but I sure like that I have it (for just-in-case reasons---what ever it maybe).
Based on what someone would think of me from the items in my wallet is pretty complex. I would assume that they would look at my wallet and get a headache before they could even find a sheared of ID. They would find that I not lazy because of the fact of how many appointments and family actives that I am involved in. I could see them thinking that I was a little naive for having so many taboos, in my wallet, such as banking pin numbers and rare coins. But like the Queen of England, my handbag never leaves my side; and it would take a pretty big buff to pry my handbag out of my hands.
If all they had to go on is what is in my wallet they would see they complexity of how I my schedule works. But they would miss out on that I’m an extreme artist that also has a passion for music. They would not be able to tell that I am in deep with my family, other than there names printed cards because I have no relics or photos of anyone. But if they were to come to my home they would also see that I don’t even have pictures hanging on the wall. Yet, all the children’s art work is scatter throughout the walls of my home. Even though there are more then a thousand pictures on my memories cards. I guess I could blame it on the lack of time but not lack of love, passion, or drive.
By taking a closer look at my wallet it really gave me a personal foresight on where I stand as a person. I don’t think that I would assume that a person is what is found in their wallet but it defiantly gives one a good insight on what their business matters might be like, if any business at all---mines family business, what yours?
Once a clean wicker color weaved wallet now entirely dinged with smudges of oily overlapping fingers prints. In the first compartment you find all the necessary cards including my banking card, all shopping-reward cards, the entire families’ library cards, and many different activities cards. Adjacent to the cards is all my banking information including pin numbers and account pass words (which I am incredibly fortunate no ones found, yet!). Also in-between the two spaces is where I compulsively keep all my coupons.
The second compartment is divided in to four separate uses. I have the nice little cash part, which is by rare chance I have more then a dollar or two at anytime. My big money-maker is my change pouch, not really, but there are a few nice scores in there. I like to collect coins, rare ones and until I get too my coin box, that where they lay. In my change pouch is also where I keep my personal Id’s, because it is easier than putting anywhere else in my cluttered wallet. On the other side of the change pouch is where I keep all the business cards, appointment cards, medicals cards, and car insurance cards. The numbers of cards I have is some where upwards of thirty cards. Lastly I have a little pocket that has a promissory note, that is well past it statutory limits of do anything with; but I sure like that I have it (for just-in-case reasons---what ever it maybe).
Based on what someone would think of me from the items in my wallet is pretty complex. I would assume that they would look at my wallet and get a headache before they could even find a sheared of ID. They would find that I not lazy because of the fact of how many appointments and family actives that I am involved in. I could see them thinking that I was a little naive for having so many taboos, in my wallet, such as banking pin numbers and rare coins. But like the Queen of England, my handbag never leaves my side; and it would take a pretty big buff to pry my handbag out of my hands.
If all they had to go on is what is in my wallet they would see they complexity of how I my schedule works. But they would miss out on that I’m an extreme artist that also has a passion for music. They would not be able to tell that I am in deep with my family, other than there names printed cards because I have no relics or photos of anyone. But if they were to come to my home they would also see that I don’t even have pictures hanging on the wall. Yet, all the children’s art work is scatter throughout the walls of my home. Even though there are more then a thousand pictures on my memories cards. I guess I could blame it on the lack of time but not lack of love, passion, or drive.
By taking a closer look at my wallet it really gave me a personal foresight on where I stand as a person. I don’t think that I would assume that a person is what is found in their wallet but it defiantly gives one a good insight on what their business matters might be like, if any business at all---mines family business, what yours?
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