Poem In My Pocket

I have carried this folded up piece of paper in my wallet for years.
I sometimes forget...in my search for answers...that I am sitting on them :)

La Baguette - Poem by Oscar Romero

A FUTURE NOT OUR OWN

It helps, now and then, to step back
And take the long view.

The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
It is beyond our vision

We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of
the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.

Nothing we do is complete,
Which is another way of saying
that the kingdom always lies beyond us.

No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection…

No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about:
We plant seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
Knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces effects beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything
And there is a sense of liberation realizing that.
This enables us to do something,
And to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way,
An opportunity for God’s grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results…
We are prophets of a future not our own.


Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador was assassinated for speaking up for God's Kingdom and justice in 1980.

I count him among one of my heros and inspirations.

Peace - Rene

See you all on Monday! Have a Great Weekend.

For more about Archbishop Oscar Romero ( click here )

Whiter Shade Of Pale

It's been abnormally hot in NH these past few days. Being that it is school break my daughter and I decided to head to the beach.

Yes, We have beaches in NH! But the water is freeeeeeezing!

It's not yet Memorial Day so things are not quite ready for prime time yet "down the shore", as we would call it in NJ, and the beaches were not so crowded.

I noticed a pale eerie glow coming off of the water and realized it was the reflection of my legs.

Are we human? Or are we Casper?

Now, when I was 16 I would have not been caught dead looking like the undead. I would have diligently worked on my base before I even thought of setting foot on the beach.

So much "do ahead" prep work, base, highlights, nails, Above the knee shaving....

Whew!...and I thought I was free in those days.

Times have changed.

Although there is still some "prep work" for beach season, it's not nearly as detailed as it was when I was 16.

A shifting of priorities is to blame.

Me became We.

And I am thankful to be liberated!

But yegads! I gotta soak up some sun!!! ( click here )

If you take a look at my followers I'm back down to 99! I guess my celebration was a little too premature! :) Next time I'll show a little more restraint.

Story of my fookin' life! :P

Whoever becomes my 107th follower gets to hang out on the sidebar for a month.

Why am I caught up in the numbers? I'm totally missing the point of this whole exercise.

Last summer I was writing for myself, offline.

Best 3 months ...ever.

It is nice to get feedback, though...

Time to re-focus.

Blergh.

Peace - Rene

Cue The Confetti!

It's a special day for me here at Not The Rockefellers because a milestone was achieved. Something I never, ever in a thousand years thought would be possible.

100 Followers!

THANK YOU ALL A MILLION!!!!!!!!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my very first follower on Not The Rockefellers:

Mommy's Nintendo at The Itsy Bitsy Monkey! It's your day to shine. ( click here )

Please visit her site for her clever poetry and observations of life through the eyes of her children and Husbandguy.

I would also like to spotlight a truly beautiful post by Jeff at My Life...Lived My Way ( click )and get out your Kleenex cuz there ain't gonna be a dry eye in the house. Don't miss it!

Thanks again to each and every one of you.

You have helped me find my voice and my direction, and for that I am forever grateful.

God Bless you all.

I am disabling my comments, show me love by visting Itsy Bitsy Monkey and Jeff and dropping them a line.

Peace - Rene

One of the seven words you can't say to my neighbor...

Apparently my daughter has quite the potty mouth.

According to my neighbor.

What did she say?,I asked bracing myself.

Did I want to hear this?

I, too, can be quite the potty mouth.

But I try not to be around my kid,but...
I do occasionally slip.

My neighbor winces. She makes the lemon face.

She is overly dramatic and a bit annoying, I think to myself.

Jeez, this must have been a doozy.

Almost fainting, she reports that my daughter used the C word.

The C word?!!

She doesn't even know that.

I don't even say that word.

Really, she said that? I ask incredulous.

Are you sure?

Yes, my son said that he heard her, she nods, horrified.

OK. Stop.

Second hand C word ?

I call the offender and the offended to the stand.
With parental permission I ask my daughter to whisper into my ear the offending c word.

Hmmm...

She looks at me, both frightened and confused by the power of this word.

I motion to my neighbor and whisper into her ear the offending c word to confirm it.

She blanches making the lemon face, again and shudders.

OK, she has really got to stop that.

Was it really causing her that much physical pain?

WE don't say that around here, my neighbor sniffs.

I'm sorry, I'm sure she wasn't aware.

She glares at me expectantly...

Why am I not hot saucing my daughter's tongue right now?

I look over at my confused daughter and my violated neighbor...

I'll make sure she doesn't use that around here anymore.

Again, I'm sorry.

The sound of crickets on Mt. Rushmore.

OK, then.

Talk to you later.

I bid my neighbor a fond adieu.

Meanwhile, I mutter, back turned.

The C word...

which was........

Chill-ax

Whewww...

For an absolutley brilliant short from Tribeca, and a dose of Irish humour
( click here )
Peace - Rene

I've been one poor correspondant...

I just wanted to thank everyone who follows, subscribes, reads, comments or prints out and lets the birds poop on my stuff.

I really appreciate it!

REALLY!!!!!!!!

I don't always get the time to comment back but, I swear, I read every one.

I am flattered and deep fried that you all take the time to drop me a line!

And when time permits, I sneak in time to read your blogs.

I wish I had another hour in the day.

Again, Thank you all!

( click here ) for a YouTube gem.

PS: Do me a favor and check out Lindsey's blog "At least the dog thinks I am interesting."(click here ) she's the daughter of nikkicrumpet from Blah, Blah, Blah blog




It's her first post.

Remember when?

Peace - Rene

Drankin' Food Recipes

No your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. I've redecorated.

Because the last post left many of you craving trailer treats I felt it was my duty to provide you with the recipes as I know them,

First I want you to scroll on down and hit play on the tv for some background music.



7-Up Cake

Ingredients:

3 sticks unsalted butter, softened
3 cups sugar
2 TB lemon extract or lemon juice
5 eggs
3 cups flour
1 cup 7-Up

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Cream butter and sugar together.
Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.
Add flour and 7-Up, in shifts, a little bit at a time.
Beat in lemon extract.
Bake in a Bundt pan for about 80 minutes ( check with toothpick. DO NOT use the one in your mouth)




Ro-Tel Dip

1 lb pasteurized process cheese (like Velveeta)
1 can diced Rotel tomatoes with chilies (10 oz)

Cut the cheese ( heh heh ) into small chunks and put in pot on top of stove.
Stir in Rotel tomatoes.
Cook over low heat until melted.
Serve with Fritos or, if you want to get all high and mighty about it, tortilla chips.




For some good laughs, links, recipes and ass kicking music visit "Southern Culture On The Skids" It's In High Fidelity so it's "the shit" folks.

Whatcha' waiting for ( click here! )

Go on now...scoot!

Peace - Rene

Twice The Self Absorbency Of Regular Blogs

What I Am...

Laid back but a bit guarded at times.

More white trash than white lace...7-Up cake anyone? How about some Ro-Tel dip?

Quirky funny. My jokes are way outside of the box, they are actually in a jar by the door...who are they for?

A better follower than a leader, really, the only thing I am good at running is my stockings. But I am a damn good assistant, I know what you need before you even ask for it. Kinda like Radar from M*A*S*H. :)

Sensitive about stupid crap, like getting yelled at by an old woman at the deli for "apparently" being in her way. Or being talked to in a condescending manner by a school parent because I am "her child's classroom aide and not the teacher".

Trying to be a part of my time here. Paul Newman said that, shortly before his death, in his last interview with Barbara Walters. It turned on a light for me. How can I do that? What can I do? Where am I needed?

The answer is everywhere.

The only limit is how far I am willing to stray out of my comfort zone. That is my biggest obstacle and something I work on daily. When it comes to taking charge of something, like a project, or facing opposition and negativity, I am a wuss. Although I may have great passion and knowledge, I lack confidence and I back down. I am too easily thrown.

I Am...Not Sasha Fierce :)

Where does one get the confidence to push back after facing defeat?

And fight another day?

Less seriously now...

I Am...

a tad narcissistic. Yeah,well... I scored a 14 !!!

Are you? Find out! ( click here )

Peace - Rene

Wicked Wednesday

"Ain't No Rest For The Wicked" by Cage The Elephant.



If it's disabled ( click here )

Peace - Rene

HAPPY EARTH DAY!!! ( click here ) to hear Carlin's thoughts on it! :)

Comments are turned off :) Just enjoy the music!

Unbridled Apathy

I get no kicks from champagne flutes,and flatware bores me terrifically, too...

Sad, but, true

Practically everything gift ware leaves me totally cold
The only exception I know is when I suddenly turn and see...

Bridezilla.

Most people would flee but, for me, it meant showtime.

More than a decade ago I worked in the bridal registry department of a housewares store.

I think it was then and there that I developed my acting chops.

If there were awards for feigning interest in things like cream soup cups and drip less candles my mantle would be sporting some serious hardware.

My days were spent walking through aisles and aisles of all the pretty little things necessary for a happy marriage.

Or designing the world's most perfect wedding invitation.

Sometimes the quest for having it all became too much...

Boredom.

Thank God for Bridezillas.

Yes, that's right, Thank God for them.

The over the top drama, the hissy fits, the berserker rage, The mother of the bride with a mouth like a trucker.

They grounded me, entertained me and intrigued me.

They kept me from falling asleep...

Royal Doulton Bitch.

That was the codename for one of them.

Yeah, you get a codename and the punishment fits the crime.

RDB would sit criss-cross on the floor, with a magnifying glass in her hand, inspecting the hand painted flowered detail on each piece of her pattern for an hour or two. If a leaf or a petal on a flower didn't pass her inspection she would reject the item and want to re-order.

There was no need explaining the difference between hand painted and machine stenciled,your words would be shaken off by a nodding head and a wave of a hand.

No one wanted to deal with her because of this freak show but there was something, something about the way she scrutinized each piece with the skill of a surgeon that had me at hello.

That and the fact that she had so much time to devote to this task.

Clearly not of this earth.

I wanted to tell the pieces of china that had passed her rigid inspection that they were absolute perfection and works of art.

We never did meet her husband-to-be and wondered if he too received the magnifying glass treatment.

Raging Bull In A China Shop

There are some people who just live for confrontation. They are only truly alive when there is a bone to pick or a head to roll.

Remember that song by Garbage "I'm Only Happy When It Rains?" If not, Google it because it is awesome :)

This gal would stomp in with her entourage of mean girls, looking for a fight, and would spit fire at anyone who dared to utter the words "It's on back order" to her. "Discontinued" would leave you peppered with obscenities and possibly breathing from a tube.

She had horrific taste and fiercely stood by her choices.

She could be easily soothed with freebies. Silver cleaning cloths, pens, chip clips...

Freebies soothe the savage beast - embroider that on a pillow. :)

When anyone would come in to purchase from her registry we would have to stifle our laughter from the rude and unkind comments that they would make.

They could have been informants! :) We wouldn't have put spying on us past her!

She was extremely rude and combative. I hope she got the wedding that she deserved :)

The Mother Truckers.

Loved them. The foul-mouthed mother of the brides.

Would mispronounce Oneida so it would sound like Ore-Ida.

Would scoff at china and boast about their Corelle(which they pronounced like Core-Elly) that they've owned for 20 years.

Would grab a dinner plate as if they were throwing a discus.

This is my favorite Mother Trucker quote of all time. "Who needs a fucking gravy boat! Use a measuring cup!"

Exactly.

These were my kinda peeps.

Digression : Once upon a time, I was a girl from NJ who had never heard of a bridal registry because everyone gave you checks at wedding. No-one wanted to schlep a gift to your reception and what the fuck were they supposed to do? Leave it in the car during your ceremony? ( Assuming they were even going to the ceremony) God forbid someone break into the car! And whaddaya want me to do sit in the church with the gift like a chooch?

Even though I totally understood, I wasn't there to sell measuring cups so I'd bribe them with cigarettes or free coffee.

Mostly free coffee.

In my heart of hearts I really wanted to tell every single gal that registered that all of this stuff, all of this glittery, blindingly beautiful shit...did not matter.

For a good many of us,(hand up over here),this stuff was going to end up in a pretty cabinet in a rarely used room.

Cream soup cups and drip less candles would someday be replaced by drip less sippy cups.

And the things that mattered most in our lives were going to eat their Cheerios straight out of the box, drink their milk from the carton and use one of the knives from your "best" flatware to open packages from amazon.com.

But again, I was paid to sell china and not to deliver sermons.

Ahhh...Bridezillas, I couldn't hate on you because... I got a kick out of you!

Peace - Rene

Dutch Treat

I blame my Dad. He was one hep cat.

Always on the cutting edge, he faithfully read every issue of "downbeat" magazine from cover to cover as soon as it arrived.

I remember him playing record upon record asking me, "Y'hear that? Y'hear that?" That's the Krupa beat.

And "There's no sweeter sound than Bird."

He instilled his love of music in me and I am always thirsty...

As a result I am always on the lookout for new music. Thank goodness for Google and YouTube because it has made the world smaller and my job easier.

I found this beautiful song on The Netherlands music chart. The artist is Ilse DeLange and the song is Miracle.

The embedding has been disabled but ( click here) and you will be directed to her song on the Universal Music - Netherlands site.

Please take a moment to listen, you'll be glad you did.

Peace - Rene

Too late for Lawn Doctor, call Lawn Coroner.

Today was the day. The day everyone in the neighborhood decided to clean up all of the branches and brush brought to us by the lovely ice storm.

And since everyone else in the neighborhood was doing it...

We had to, at least, make the effort.

I didn't want to do it as much as my husband didn't want to.

We are just not on the same page as the rest neighborhood in achieving the look and feel of Augusta National golf course.

We somehow threw that memo out, along with the multitude of lawn care advertisements that we receive on a daily basis.

It's not that we are terrible neighbors.

We just aren't good sports.

You wouldn't exactly be living next to "Moose Miller" or "The Addams Family" if you lived next to us.

It's just that, well, we are lawn impaired.

We don't winterize, fertilize or grub proof.

We don't irrigate or even aerate.

But I'm sure we irritate.

We're not running off to Lowes or Home Depot unless something dreadful has happened to one of the toilets.

We don't spend our summer weekends pruning and preening unless it involves a beach.

And for me, chemically treated lawns are just way too green.

I like a little pop of color, now and again, that doesn't require me to scratch around in the earth.

Something adorable, yellow and low maintenance.

And what could be cuter than a dandelion? :)

Unfortunately, for my neighbors, I don't think we are ever going to become lawn warriors.

Both husband and I are missing that code in our DNA.

Truthfully,we should be renting somewhere, other than being property owners.

And Sorry... if your Christmas card photo shows a bit of our lawn, you'll probably have to photoshop it out.

Yep, our lawn is pretty much as green as it's going to get, without the aid of Krylon.

So our chances of being accepted as part of the golf course are zero.

But how about mini golf?

Peace - Rene

A Perfect Day For Ice Cream

I have been waiting all year for a day like today. Simply gorgeous. Not too cold, not too hot...Goldilocks would have loved it.

Daughter and I kicked off our shoes as soon as we got home from school and enjoyed some ice cream.

No talk of school work, homework or housework.

We sat, we two, on the front stoop and dug our way into our tiny treasures with little wooden spoons.

There is something about the sound of that little wooden spoon scraping along the ice cream that is like heaven to my ears. I could honestly listen to that all day.

Perfection.

Peace - Rene

Wednesday Whistling Tune

New music from Franz Ferdinand. "No You Girls". I love this acoustic version, it's very laid back and chill and a bit different from what's on the radio. Enjoy!



If it's disabled (click here)

Peace - Rene

Yummy Penne and Chicken Bake

1 lb box of Penne Rigate
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast cut into tenders
(If you are in a hurry use 2 pkgs of the pre-cooked Perdue Shortcuts "Grilled Italian" and skip cooking the chicken in the olive oil)
2 T Olive oil
2( 26 oz) jars of your favorite Pasta sauce
1 15oz container Ricotta cheese
1 8 oz pkg of shredded Mozzarella cheese
1 cup frozen, chopped spinach, thawed. Squeeze to get most of the moisture out.
1/4 C Parmesan cheese
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350
Boil the Penne according to the directions on the package.
Cook chicken over medium heat in the olive oil until browned
Add pasta sauce and heat
skip if you are using Perdue shortcuts, just add them to the pasta sauce
Combine with the chicken and sauce the ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, spinach, eggs and any kind of spice that you may want. I use garlic, oregano, salt and pepper.

Fold together the sauce mixture and the Penne.

Pour into a 13x9 baking dish

Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes at 350

If you'd like to melt mozzarella on the top, uncover add desired amount of mozzarella and bake for 5 more minutes.

Enjoy !

Peace - Rene

Sing A Song Of Sixpacks.

On my top ten list of most romantic things #3 is "Serenade Me"

There's just something so hot diggity damned adorable about being straight up sung at.

And when it's done right, it just melts my heart.

But sometimes, it can be a little...awkward.

Like today, in Kindergarten...

Me: "Welcome back everybody! I hope you all had a Happy Easter! ( OK, cuz it's a Catholic school :))

Class: wired and spinning from having 23 jellybeans a piece for breakfast YEAH!!!
YEAH!!! YEAH!!! CAN I GO TO THE BATHROOM!!! ME TOO!!! YEAH!!! I GOT X-BOX!!! I GOT THE NEW DSi!! I GOT HANNAH MONTANA STUFF!!!

Digression: When did Easter become the new Christmas? Economy Beschomony! I just gave my kid a white chocolate rabbit and a Clarice Bean book! :(

Me : OK! Whoa guys. Let's all calm down a little bit and get morning meeting going.

Little guy in class: Mrs. F you have your hair in a ponytail today. How come?

Me: Mrs. F was too tired this morning to style it up so I put it in a ponytail. Neat, huh?

Little guy: You were tired from Easter?

Me: ( trying to change the subject) What's the weather like outside, weather watchers?

Little guy: If you were tired you can blame it on the alcohol!

Me: ( trying to ignore the comment) But....

class serenades me with....

Blame it on the aa..aa..aa.cohol!

Heads up to Jaime Foxx and T-Pain, who currently sing the top 40 hit, "Blame It ( on the Alcohol), you had better watch your backs!

Me: No guys ( distracting crazy face made) you're being sillyheads.

I felt like Arnold in Kindergarten Cop... "It's not a tumour!"

Yeah, this would be a good time for Father to walk in.

Thank God he did not.

Control was again wrestled back from my pint sized choir.

As for me?

I have been laughing about it all day.

Peace - Rene

If you are curious about the song ( click here )

Let there be Peace and some cake, too

Happy Easter to everyone who observes.
Love your family.
Yeah, I know you love your family, already. :)
But love them a little bit more today.
Especially if they are hogging the TV with golf all day long.
Even more if they are just getting out of bed around noon.
"He has risen!"
And telling you that you are not making the ham glaze the "right" way.
Or constantly texting or Im'ing and avoiding human contact.
Look up to the heavens and love them the length of the sky.

Peace - Rene

Corny, yes, but can you say these three words enough?



If it's disabled (click here)

Friday

I cannot comprehend
What you did
In the name of love

For me

I wish I could say
That I would do
The same

For You

I do believe
And I am grateful

It is just that

The spirit is willing
But
The flesh is weak.

Remember me
As you come into
Your Kingdom.

Peace - Rene

Dinner With Friends

Over dinner you told him that you were going to die
And somehow he would be the reason why
"You're crazy, he said uneasily, I won't listen to this!"
And he leaned over and gave you a kiss

Where will he be tomorrow?

Later you asked me if I was your friend
Why should you ask? I'm yours till the end
"Even if that meant, you would be saved by a lie"?
Yes, yes, yes! Can't you hear me?
I say I would never deny.

What will I be saying tomorrow?

After dinner you wanted to go for a walk
But we really just wanted to relax and listen to you talk
We didn't see that you had something on your mind
We were sleepy and our heads were full of wine

How will we feel tomorrow?

We shall see tomorrow.

Peace - Rene

This Time Tomorrow

I discovered this video on Youtube and thought it was worth sharing with all of you.
It is the perfect blend of sight and sound. I am moved every time I watch it and I hope you will be too.

My friends from Australia may recognize a few things!

If you have a Youtube account please drop by the creator of the video and leave a comment.



If the video doesn't work (click here)

btw - click on "Links To This Post" to comment.

Peace - Rene

Finding my inner Sasha Fierce.

Beyonce was recently on Oprah explaining that she takes on a different persona on stage. Someone who is the exact opposite of who she is in real life, She named that gal Sasha Fierce.

Sasha is bold, sure of herself, naughty, wildly flirty...a real hellcat with no boundaries and someone who is only truly alive on stage. Once the show is over, so is Sasha, we are led to believe.

How handy is that?

I could have used a bold Sasha persona when dealing with my insurance company, recently.

Or when dealing with people who are rude. Like the woman who needed a spoon at an event I was volunteering at the other night.

She walked up, looked at me with the stank face and snapped "spoon?"

So, of course, I fetched her a spoon. But I did so very passive aggressively and took my time.

I imagined licking it several times.

I chewed and picked on this encounter all night like a ju-ju-be in a molar.

On the way home I came up with the perfect comeback to her request.

Noun or verb?

Agghh...she probably wouldn't have understood that, anyway.

"I know you're not asking me for a spoon that way!" is more like it.

I do have a Sasha in me somewhere, she just has incredibly bad timing.

Peace - Rene

(click here) for my favorite Beyonce song.

Friday, the third

Sitting in my car this rainy afternoon, enjoying a cup of coffee and some good music on the radio.

This has become a recent lunchtime ritual.

45 minutes of peace, quiet, and interrupted, commercial free bliss.

The raindrops were drumming on my windshield. Big, fat rain sacks.

The River's play list was meant just for me, The One I Love by R.E.M., Babylon by David Gray, Is It Like Today? by World Party.

The coffee, Starbucks Pike Roast, Tall, with a splash of cream.

Piping hot and heaven in my hands.

A flash of lightning dashed across the sky, followed by a low rumble of thunder.

All of my senses are pleased.

All agree, yes, this is what is considered to be a perfect moment.

Friday afternoon, April 3, 2009.

Peace - Rene

May you all enjoy your own perfect moments this weekend.

Inspired by hormones

Watch your back Hallmark greeting card writers :)


You get me

You know how to get me to

Laugh

Sing

Flirt

Relax

You get me

You make me

You know how to make me

Think

Love

Create

Release

You make me

You love me

Even though I sometimes

Nag

Ignore

Criticize

Forget

You love me

And I love you

But best of all

I get you

Peace - Rene