Life
Author: chungwipff
Teen Lashes Out
She didn’t mean it.
Take nothing personally.
Someday, she’ll see the error of her ways,
and buy you a house.
The Weight of Words
Replacing the word “should” with “could” will emit more positive energy.
Art is Hard (for Me)
I’ve always wanted to draw. I had a babysitter (Julie) who shut that dream down when I was six. She told me I couldn’t draw or color well.
Yet, when shopping for art supplies for my daughters, I’ve always lingered in front of the pencils and drawing tablets, the paints and brushes a bit longer than necessary. I’ve saved tons of art supplies for “someday” when I have time to take a class.
I realized that “someday” is pure imagination. We only have TODAY.
For my birthday, I treated myself to Lisa Congdon’s book, 20 Ways to Draw Everything. It got 5 out of 5 stars! I’ve watched her videos. She’s really good. It arrived in the mail today. But page after page just shows 20 dogs, 20 rabbits, 20 flowers, etc. perfectly drawn! There are no step-by-step directions. In the very beginning of the book, she instructs “Draw the big shapes and lines first, then add in the smaller details.” Really?
That’s it?
I need a lot more help.
So I drew and drew and the whole time, my inner critic was talking snidely to me. Seriously, do you call that a leg?
Look at Jazz. He looks like he’s had a craniotomy.
Oh for Pete’s sakes! Why do all of your dogs look pregnant?
Precious looks broken.
Is Brutus a dog or a deer?
I have to laugh. My inner critic is funny. My drawings are funny. I want to get good, but in my own way. I’ll never be Lisa Congdon good and that’s OK. I also ordered Milk and Honey. Look at one of her illustrations:
Her illustration is not “perfect.” It’s impactful. Her poetry has resonated with so many readers that her volume of poetry is a New York Times Bestseller.
So, I’m not going for perfect. I’m on a quest to develop my own style.
Screw you, Julie!
Time is Money
My biggest inefficient use of time: preparing food for the family.
I grocery shop, of course, but I rarely think past the next meal or two. Consequently, I stress out a bit 5x/week, deciding what to cook for dinner and what to pack for lunch. We get Blue Apron delivered 2x/week (skipping weeks where the recipes are not to our family’s liking), but then we’re either out and about and I buy the kids dinner (can’t be helped – they go to symphony practice straight from school and don’t get home until 8 or 9pm.) Or I am too tired and fussy and we eat something which I cook in a groggy state. Sometimes, it tastes halfway decent.
This Sunday, I am going to plan the entire week ahead of time, prepare it, and freeze it.
This will free up time during the weekdays (our busiest days!) and lessen stress.
I’ve had this idea in the back of my mind for a long time, but I’ve always countered it with I don’t want to cook all day Sunday. However, I’m using those hours (Monday – Friday) when I’m at my most fatigued.
I am going to use recipes from this book:
But I’m not sharing the title with my family. Knowing it’s healthy, they’ll decide they don’t like the meals before they even eat!
True Wealth
My sister gifted this book to me for my birthday, along with a magnifying mirror:
Thus, I’m becoming knowledgeable about microcredit and I have a freshly tweezed face.
I’m only on page 28, but this is what I’ve learned thus far:
Mr. Yunus has been involved with working for the benefit of poor people in India for most of his life. He is now 77. Through his work, he has enabled the poorest of the poor to gain credit, become entrepreneurs and thus, productive members of society.
The American economic system works in the favor of the rich. This is plainly obvious. Our banks do not believe in our poor. We believe that given credit, the poor will never pay the debt back. However, Yunus says his experience is the opposite: his Grameen Bank “lends over $2.5billion in U.S. currency a year to 9 million poor women on the basis of trust only.” The repayment rate? 98.96%!
Grameen Bank has 19 branches in the U.S. with “86,000 borrowers, all women*, who receive business startup loans averaging around $1,000. As of 2017, the loans disbursed…total over $600 million, and the repayment rate is over 99%.”
Yunus believes our emphasis on GDP is inaccurate and incomplete. We are not taking account the “Whole Person” in our economy. Our focus is on the selfish and our system is based on rewarding the selfish. So what do we get? Corruption, inflation and more and more people in poverty.
This man’s work is proof that it only takes one person to make an enormous difference globally. The secret? See a need, work to fulfill that need to help others and do not focus on fame or wealth. (Never mind that Yunus has a net worth of $10million and he won the Nobel Peace Prize!)
*You might wonder why Yunus is loaning money to women: He wanted to help the poorest of the poor.
Spats
Their fighting is your inner battle – your own malcontent
when the volume rises and their words get sharp
when your heart seeks shelter and your fingers flutter
let it roll over you
they’ll work it out with fists of hurt
and lash each other with words of stone
until they’re bruised and bloodied
let it roll over you
let it go
it’s theirs
not yours
49 and Feelin’ Fine
Faith
When it seems hopeless, envision this:
A man in his forties, dressed in his best gray suit, sits alone at the table. His eyes are on the door. Gorgeous flowers wrapped in cellophane stand stiffly in a vase of water. He’s anxiously waiting for her.
Does she show up?
We hope she does…
And if she doesn’t? Imagine him crestfallen. Imagine his disappointment. What would you want to say to him?
***
Next, a young teenage boy is at a fast food restaurant. He orders a #4 (cheeseburger, fries, and a drink) and a #6 (chicken nuggets, fries, and a drink). He takes them to a booth and spreads them out, neatly. He waits, nervously looking at the door every time it opens. People come and go. He checks his watch four times. Thirty minutes later, he realizes she (or he) is not coming. He throws it all in a bag and heads home, dejected.
Wouldn’t you tell him he will find that special someone someday? Wouldn’t you urge him to not give up on the good in life?
Well, we’re all rooting for you, too.
Fuego Bistro
I don’t write restaurant critiques very often, but hubby took me out tonight for an early birthday date and Fuego Bistro was AMAZING!
We live in Mesa, AZ which is basically where fine restaurants come to die. After having lived in San Francisco (food mecca) for fifteen years, it’s been challenging to dine out in a city where McDonald’s, Taco Bell and Burger King monopolize the chow real estate. We have to drive to Scottsdale or Phoenix (or Gilbert or Chandler) for decent dining. (With the exception of Dolce Vita!)
Fuego Bistro
We ate at a table near a small waterfall on the outside patio. Lit by strands of patio lights, it was romantic. They are a self-styled “urban Latin” establishment. I ordered their seafood kabob with the Fuego house salad and green chile cornbread sides. I also had a cabernet. ALL of it was amazing. Normally, I like cornbread, but I LOVE theirs!
Willey had the chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans. This is his favorite meal and Fuego’s twist on this common comfort food was adding a slightly spicy sauce over the chicken. He had a Malbec and gave it his rare sign of approval.
The service was incredible: the host, our waitress, the water girl (seriously, I think she was 16?), all the other wait staff and bussers were super positive, energetic and attentive.
It’s obvious the owners fully appreciate the employees. Take a look at their message.
It goes to show you that if you acknowledge and applaud your human capital, you can achieve anything. They’ll love their work and do their best.
If you’re in the Phoenix area, you must check them out!
713 E. Palo Verde Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85014
602-277-1151
Kismet 