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It was a joyous moment when I opened up my daily email from BookBub, today. What is BookBub? It is a free daily subscription email that shows the latest ebook deals. As a subscriber, a person tells BookBub what type of books they like to read. Then, BookBub will send a daily email with the bargains in the selected genres. Sometimes the books are free and sometimes the books are dramatically reduced in price. A link to log on and subscribe to BookBub will be at the end of this article. Feel free to use it. I will not receive monetary compensation for the use of the code.

Anyways, the joyous moment was caused by one of my top five recommended nonfiction books being on sale. The title of the book is The Artist’s Way. Its author is Julia Cameron. Ms. Cameron wrote The Artist’s Way after she had been teaching a class on “creative recovery” at the university level for several years. The stated purpose of the book is to assist creative people in overcoming whatever is blocking them and start creating, again.

My daughter suggested that I read this book sometime in the first decade of the 2000’s. A family friend had given it to her to encourage my then teenaged daughter who wanted to pursue a career in a creative field. She let me borrow her copy, but soon I bought my own.

The Artist’s Way is what encouraged me to write. It also revealed what was stopping me from doing it. Like a lot of people, I am my own worst enemy. The Artist’s Way guided me to treating myself a little kinder.

In The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron calls her unblocking process “creative recovery.” A recovery program attacks the life-coping mechanisms that prevent people from being whole. The Artist’s Way details actions and activities that help the struggling creative become more fully themselves.

I used to recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It is very helpful to me dealing with negative self-talk and other issues that prevented me from picking up a pen. I wanted everyone to feel the freedom and exhilaration to embrace their inner selves. Now, this wonderful book is on sale. There’s nothing to prevent anyone else from discovering or developing the artist inside of themselves.

https://www.bookbub.com/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006H19H3M?_bbid=189161571&tag=bookbubemail1-20

I received exciting news. I have been selected to be a member of a book launch team! A new book by one of my favorite authors and speakers is going to be released in February. The title is Untangle Your Emotions by Jennie Allen.

Jennie Allen is also the author of the book Get Out of Your Head. Two days after my lowest point, which I wrote of in an earlier post, I read this book. It was the starting point of getting me out of the downward thought spiral.

Get Out of Your Head didn’t work a miracle and change my thoughts. God did. But, the author, Jennie Allen, shared how to stop the toxic thoughts. Initially, after reading the book, I was angry at how I had let the dark thoughts overwhelm me. My anger quickly turned to gratitude. I was thankful to God for leading me to check this book.

Now, I am pleased that Jennie Allen has written a new book on emotions. In God’s perfect timing, it just so happens that I am talking about unpacking and examining emotions dealing with episodes of the past. This, I hope, will help me to be a better person.

As I read this new book, I will be posting my opinions on it. I will also share quotes that I find compelling. It will be interesting to see how the book unfolds.

In the upcoming weeks, I promise to space out my thoughts on Untangle Your Emotions. But, rest assured that I will be reading it intensely and taking notes to share.

These pictures are some that I found on the themes of caffeinated beverages and love. Thursday mornings, starting with today, are a set-apart time for me to enjoy both. I have called it “Coffee with Monica”, but it’s not like a class or a lecture by me holding a cup of coffee.

It’s difficult to schedule visits with friends. Everyone is very busy and blocking out an hour of time or more is something that doesn’t happen casually. But, getting together with friends should be casual, like during school when you would bump into a friend at the library, dining hall or changing classes.

It feels like as we get older, there’s less time for spontaneous gatherings. To bring back a little casual spontaneity, I was inspired by the author, Bob Goff. Bob Goff will go to different locations and invites anyone who wants to visit to just show up and stay for as little or as long as they would like.

In my case, I would announce the city where I am planning to be in advance. Then, if the city and time is convenient, I would message privately the location to those that are interested.

This morning, I was at a location in East Cobb County. The coffee shop is not a chain, but an independent local gathering place. Having a dad who was a small business owner when I was a teenager and a spouse who also ran a small business, I have empathy for those who are working to build something for others. In the upcoming Thursdays, I will seek out independent caffeine stores wherever I plan to be.

As a heads up, next Thursday, instead of morning, it will be closer to tea time because of a doctor appointment, (As I age, it feels like I have these doctor visits more often). I hope if you have time next Thursday afternoon, that you will message me. I would love to see you and hear all about what is happening with you.

I am a little late, but Happy Mardi Gras! I know, Christmas, New Year, and Epiphany are over. Decorations are being taken down. However, the celebrations are not over! Mardi Gras season has begun.

Mobile, Alabama is said to have the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States. But, the Mobile parades begin almost three weeks after New Orleans parades, on January 26. New Orleans, Louisiana, probably the most popular Mardi Gras celebration city, began the party on January 6, which is traditional. The parades and parties will last until Mardi Gras Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday in the Anglican Church, which will be February 13 this year.

That means February 14, Valentine’s Day, will also be Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. In the Christian church, Lent is a season of abstinence from excess, fasting, prayer, and repentance leading up to Easter Sunday. In keeping with the JOMO (joy of missing out) theme of yesterday, I am looking forward to Lent.

Maybe it’s just me getting older. But, I don’t mind spending a quiet night at home. I lived in New Orleans as a preteen and teenager. Back then, going to parades on the weekends was fun. The people-watching was quite an education for the sheltered child I was then. I also enjoyed the noise, crowds, and the floats.

Now, several decades later, I don’t go into situations where there will be crowds and noise, casually. I need to prepare myself in advance and make an escape plan, just in case. My first panic attack came as a surprise to me.

I was a mother of four children under the age of eleven. My youngest daughter was in a stroller, while I was doing some Christmas shopping. She and I were waiting in line at a popular store to make some holiday purchases. All of a sudden, I felt the walls of the store begin to close in on me. I felt my heart begin to pound. Then, I felt sweaty and clammy at the same time. I could not get out of the store and into fresh air fast enough.

After that experience, I began to take steps to avoid feeling that way. My first step was to simply not go to crowded places. This didn’t work well, because I enjoyed (and still do) going out to activities where crowds gather. After realizing that avoidance of public places wasn’t practical, I began to pot strategies in place for dealing with crowds.

Step one is to find a pocket of isolation in a crowd, where I can feel air moving and don’t feel confined. Step two is to put people I trust between me and the rest of the crowd. If I am in a crowded restaurant, I try and sit with my back to the smallest portion of the room. In the event I am overwhelmed, I will “zone out” by reading books on my phone or doing four by four breathing. If I am in a crowded store, like Buc-Ee’s, I will imagine that I am in a protective bubble and just not get close to others.

These strategies have helped me navigate Walt Disney World, sporting events, and Dragon*Con, which is often referred to as “Nerdy Gras.” This gives me some freedom. I am not trapped at home by my fears.

In general, I prefer smaller and quieter outings or remaining at home. This is when JOMO occurs. I intentionally choose to be happy where I am.

If crowds are unavoidable, my companion of choice is my spouse. We have been together long enough that my spouse, almost by instinct, finds a good place for me to sit or stand. This consideration on her part, makes her my favorite traveling companion. Maybe, one day, we will be able to go to a Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans – as soon as I can get over my last visit. It’s only been forty-one years since I was there last. Maybe by the time it’s an even fifty, I will be old enough to not care!

The article that I have linked here details a new phenomenon, JOMO. Most everyone knows the acronym FOMO, which stands for “fear of missing out”. Now, the acronym, JOMO, joins our casual language usage. JOMO is short for “joy of missing out”.

Last May, a friend asked me to spend a few days with her dog, until her regular pet sitter was available to watch her dog. For several days, I focused my attention on the dog. I had to be attuned to his actions and observe him to see when he was hungry, wanted to go out, or wanted affection.

Watching this floofer, not only focused my mind on the present, but it allowed me to nurture and receive nurturing. I believe the dog could sense that I was grieving. Because, he would make sure to spend time on the sofa with me, sitting as close as possible to me.

Through word of mouth and social media, people found out that I would watch their homes as well as their pets. Soon, family and friends asked me to take care of their pets when they couldn’t. I enjoyed keeping an eye on the dogs and cats that I watched. Whether the dogs were playing or chasing a ball or exploring their backyard, the dogs were always acting in the present moment. The cats, while not as active as the dogs, were also very present, whether eating or napping. I learned from them the importance of present time.

By its nature, pet sitting is all about being present to care for the furchildren. Acting in the present moment, I was not reminiscing about the past or dreaming about the future. I enjoyed what I was doing at the moment I was doing it. The world was going on without me, but when I was spending time with the animals, I had strong JOMO.

Below are some pictures of the pets that taught me about remaining in the here and now. Spending time with them was a joy. I don’t feel like I missed out on much, because I had so much fun with them.

www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/01/04/fomo-jomo-joy-missing-out/

Creative play is not limited to children using finger paints or clay. Adults can also engage in creative play. But, somewhere along the way, it is assumed that “real artists” are paid for their output. Plus, anyone else who creates out of their imagination is wasting time which could be better used by making a living.

That’s incorrect.  In fact, I would argue that people who only do tasks that pay will make less money overall than people who engage in creativity for fun alongside their occupations. Creativity engages a different part of the brain than work does. Both are important for overall health.  

Yesterday I took some time to play in the kitchen. I experimented with my sausage cheese ball recipe. Instead of using shredded cheddar cheese in my sausage cheese balls, I made pimento cheese and used it. I was pleasantly surprised by the result. The pimento cheese added a delicious unique flavor to the sausage. I will post the recipe at the end of the article.

The first Christmastime after I married, I called my grandmother long distance to get her recipe for making sausage cheese balls. I have probably made them at least once a season since that time. That’s thirty-three years of making the same recipe. It’s fine, but I wished to do something different for year thirty-four.

Step number one is to make pimento cheese, rather than buy, even a very good quality pimento cheese. After the pimento cheese is prepared, let it sit out of the refrigerator for thirty minutes.  During this time, measure out four cups of Bisquick. Then, brown one pound of bulk sausage until cooked through and crumbly. Drain the fat off of the sausage and set aside.  

At the end of the thirty minute rest, mix the sausage, pimento cheese, and Bisquick together.  Be sure to combine the ingredients very well. Don’t let the pimento cheese  be in clumps. Rather, incorporate it with the sausage and Bisquick into  a smooth thoroughly combined mixture.  

Preheat the oven.  Put parchment paper on a cookie sheet or sheet pan to make cleanup easier. Or, spray the pan very lightly with cooking spray. 

Roll the dough into small balls, about an inch in diameter, and place each ball about half of an inch apart on the baking sheet. Bake the sausage cheese balls for fifteen minutes or until they turn light brown. Let the sausage cheese balls cool for a minute or two and then put them on a plate to cool the rest of the way. 

Today, the grandmother who gave me the original sausage cheese ball recipe would have celebrated her birthday, if she were still living. It would have been her ninety-eighth birthday. In a bit of culinary coincidence, that’s right about how many sausage cheese balls this recipe makes.

The recipe that I used for the pimento cheese came from The Garden of Eatin’ cookbook that was compiled by the United Methodist Woman of Ellijay First United Methodist Church in Ellijay, Georgia. It’s a moist, but not liquid-y pimento cheese. It’s great as a dip, a sandwich, or a cheese ball with crackers. 

Homemade Pimento Cheese 

Ingredients: 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated – don’t use pre-shredded cheese, because of the anti-clumping substance that is added to pre-shredded cheese

4 ounce jar diced pimentos, drained 

1 tsp. dry mustard 

2 T mayonnaise 

Directions: Mix all ingredients together and let sit for a half hour.  

Sausage Pimento Cheese Balls 

Ingredients: Homemade Pimento Cheese 

1 lb. bulk pork sausage 

4 c. Bisquick baking mix – Don’t substitute a generic baking mix for Bisquick.  If generic ingredients need to be used, get generic sausage and cheddar cheese, but not the Bisquick. 

Cook sausage. Drain. Mix together with pimento cheese and Bisquick.  Form balls and bake. I baked the ones I made at 375 degrees in a convection  oven for 15 minutes. 

This recipe makes 99 balls. If it’s too many, all at once, freeze the sausage cheese balls on a parchment lined baking sheet until frozen solid. Place them in a freezer container or freezer bag. There’s no need to thaw the frozen sausage cheese balls before baking them.

This is my son’s first blog article. Feel free to subscribe to his blog too! 😃

WONKA – A Review

Wonka charms as it regales the viewer with the answer to a burning question that they had never asked.

Wonka- A Review

Step out of your comfort zone! Think out of the box! Take the road less traveled!

These slogans are popular memes. They are also echoed in social settings indicating that people should live innovative lives, eschewing the pathways laid out by prior generations. Newer is better. I respectfully disagree.

There’s something to be said for doing things the way they have been done for years. One of my favorite things to do the old way is make hot chocolate. When I was a child, instant cocoa mix became available in grocery stores. By the time I was a teenager, it was adopted as the go-to method for making a piping hot drink on a rare snowy day. I believe that the popularity of the microwave oven contributed to this. After all, heating water for the instant hot chocolate only takes thirty seconds using a microwave.

Yes, making a batch of hot chocolate from scratch takes longer than thirty seconds. But, it’s not really that much more complicated. A liquid, milk, in this case, is heated on the stove. Then, the solid ingredients of cocoa, sugar, and a pinch of salt are added. Then, more heat is applied. This process is pretty simple, but the taste of this hot chocolate is vastly superior to that of the instant mix.

If only I had remembered all of this when I was grocery shopping yesterday. If I had, I might not have bought the Swiss Miss Peppermint Hot Chocolate made for the Keurig, I still might, though. After all, it was on sale. Plus, crushing up peppermint candies probably takes hours to do, right?!

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art … It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.” C.S. Lewis

Lewis is correct. Friends give value to survival. In my case, they are essential to survival.

Once, after one of my moves as a child, I had no friends for an entire calendar year. As a “people person” this was extremely painful at a time when emotions were magnified times a zillion.

That experience was the start of my learning how to make friends quickly. I knew that I needed friends to survive my teenage years. I also knew that I had no idea how long I would remain in any given city or school. Friends must be made and they must be made immediately.

As a result, I was “real” with people right away. The clock was ticking. There was no time to be wasted on a fake personality or fake friends.

This coping skill continued into adulthood. I have been very thankful that I have lived in the same county since 1994. As a result, there are many close friends and other friends (I don’t make acquaintances) who live relatively close by, but I don’t see regularly. I don’t like it! I miss seeing them.

Towards the end of 2023, I made a decision that, hopefully, will result in seeing more people. I am starting “Coffee with Monica” on Thursday mornings. The way it will work is that on the prior Friday, I will post on social media which city the coffee shop of the week is located. Then, any friends who will be near that area can message me to receive the time I will be at the coffee shop as well as the name of the shop.

It will be a little like an open house where people can stay for as little or as long as they want. I want to catch up on lives, look at pictures of children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, pets, and vacation locations. In short, I want to connect, but I don’t like having to schedule a time with someone. Usually, one of us will cancel due to some last minute emergency and then we won’t see each other for years.

My life is much richer because of the people who have been a part of it, even if it was only for a brief amount of time. I enjoy praying for friends when I don’t see them and connecting when I do.

Thursday I will be at a coffee shop in East Cobb. Please message me for times and location. I look forward to seeing you!

Some days are easier than others. Today was stressful. I hurt I am in pain. Tomorrow is another day and I will get up to try again. God has not abandoned me.

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