Doober's Diner

I have recently become an addict of the Food Network. Now, I’ve never been too much of a TV watcher, but it’s begun, and it really is quickly becoming a full-blown addiction. I realized this the other day when I got up, and as I was brushing my teeth, went out to turn on the Food Network to see what was on. Then there was that night where I watched four hours in a row. You see, I’ve always loved cooking, and recently, Joy and I have decided that we want to have a show on the Food Network. Now, I’m not sure it will ever happen, but we now regularly find ourselves talking about our show, what we’ll call it, what our signature stuff will be, etc. We are in fact planning on beginning to video tape each other cooking meals in our kitchen as we pretend we’re on TV. Yes, we know we’re odd and we’re working through that.

Now, you must not think that this food and cooking through is new. I mean, most of you have probably never heard of Doober’s Diner. Well, Doober was the name of my late three-legged dog that I got during my freshman year of high school. (Actually, for the record, when Doober’s Diner began, he probably still had four legs. After he lost one during that rough winter, he became known as Tripod.) But back to the Diner. You see, omelets were always my specialty, so I decided I was going to open up a restaurant right in my home where we would make the best breakfasts known to Shelby. So I made up a menu, listed the ingredients, thought of some prices, and printed them off. And for those of you who think this may be joke, let me assure you that it is not—I was dead serious about this diner. I would regularly tell people at our church about it and ask them when they were coming. For some reason, they never did. And then I would try to get my family to come to Doober’s Diner, but for some reason my parents didn’t want to pay to have their breakfast made at the Diner in their kitchen when they had paid for all the ingredients stored in the fridge. So needless to say, Doober’s Diner did not last long, but the dream has lived on.

So I’ve got some ideas for my show for the TV network. Joy and I have thought about doing a show where we show how cooking in the kitchen can be fun when done with someone else. We can teach some basic and easy meals to young couples or friends. If I had a show by myself, I would work on showing guys a good time in the kitchen, showing them how to cook for the ladies, have a good time, and enjoy their time amidst veggies and pots and cutting boards and a freezer without frozen pizzas.

Maybe someday I’ll have my own restaurant. Fine food, cheese, and wine…it doesn’t get much better than that, right? But that may never happen it seems, but if anyone is in town and wants a good omelet or a lamb rack in a red wine reduction glaze served over asparagus, you just let me know.

Bachelor Again

Joy is in Florida for her spring break. No, she didn't go to try to get on MTV or Girls Gone Wild or anything like that. Our church youth group goes to Florida for spring break, and since Joy's spring break lines up, she's there with them. As for me? Well, I'm at home in Chicago wondering why I am not eating meals at the dining room table and wondering why my lunches aren't packed when I get up for school. Yeah, she takes good care of me. I'm finding that you really get used to living with someone very quickly. I suppose I've always lived with someone, but marriage is different, and the apartment is just a little lonely this week. Hopefully (yet doubtfully), I'll get a significant amount of school work done, because it certainly is building up entirely too fast.

In other news, I pulled out to grey hairs this morning. I think it has something to do with
1) taxes still not being done,
2) trying to figure out my class schedule/work schedule/practicum schedule for next fall,
3) none of my teams are in the final four.

Taxes

I've just about had enough. I always heard about taxes in negative terms while growing up, but I never really understood. I mean, from my end, I didn't do a thing AND I would get a surprise check in the mail. Well, those fairy-tale thoughts of the IRS have ended. I am officially an adult, and with that comes the obligation to hate tax season. You see, I don't know a thing about taxes. And my parents don't either, which is why they've always just taken all of our W-2's to some man in the city who would fix us up all nice, tell us where to sign, and then send them out. It was pure bliss. Well, as I looked to doing taxes for the first time, I decided that, by golly, I was going to learn how to do them myself. I mean, it should be easy this early in life, right? It's not like we have a house, any property, any investments, or any of that stuff that's supposed to make it really hard, but it still has been a challenge and I'm beginning to wonder if it's been worth it.

First of all, I got married last year, so Joy and I are filing jointly. Sounds good so far, right? Well, it gets complicated when the states get involved. I was a part-time resident of Ohio and a part-time resident of Illinois. So I've been on the phone several times with each of those states, trying to figure out what to check, where to sign, what form to fill out, and really, what numbers to put on that form once I find it. Although we are federally joint, we are filing "married but separate" in Illinois, putting all of Joy's stuff on her's and all of mine on mine with an added form for part-time residency. I thought that would work for Ohio too, but alas, they are different from Illinois and if you file your federal jointly, then you have no choice but to file Ohio jointly as well. And yes, you better believe there is another form for my part-time residency stuff. I'm actually getting to the point where I think I understand what's happening and am not too afraid that the IRS is going to track me down. At least I can prove that I took the effort to do everything right. Now I have just two small hurdles left: Indiana and Local Tax. Joy got a tiny check for doing something at Taylor, so we haven't figured what to do with that W-2 yet and Ohio does local tax and no one has a clue as to what to do with that. I think I might just ignore them both and hope it doesn't catch up with me at some point.

I will be pleased when this is all over. And yes, when that check comes (or more accurately, that direct deposit comes...), I will be glad of the work, but still, it just plain aint very fun. But this is grown-up land and I don't want to go to any man in the city.

Spring Break

My spring break is officially over. After ten wonderful days without classes, I was back at school for class at 7:30 on this foggy Monday morning. Needless to say, I wasn't happy about it.

Jack & Pocahontas

This week has been Theatre Week for Joy and me. On Thursday night we went to see "Jack and the Giant," the 3rd and 4th grade musical at Joy's school. Joy helped be in charge of set design, and yes, the set was fantastic. You should have seen that beanstalk. Before the show started, we found some seats that were right behind two mothers of children in Joy's class. We chatted for a while and then settled in for the show. Well, after one particularly strugglesome number, I said, I thought quitely to Joy, "Oh gracious that was out of tune." Well, thankfully the mothers in front had a sense of humour (and their kids weren't in the show) and laughed with me, but for a second I felt like a rude and unappreciative critic. I mean, most of the people on American Idol can't sing on tune, I certainly can't have too high of expectations for 4th grade harmony.

Tonight Joy and I went to see "Pocahontas." And no, it wasn't the Disney version. No "colors of the wind" here. We went to support two of the best young performers around: Ellen and Khalia Wightman, the two girls of the family I lived with for the six months I lived in Chicago before getting married. And I am gonna brag here and I'm unashamed. These girls are THE BEST. I mean, they both have got loads and loads of talent. Ellen had some fantastic solos, and let's just say, a commanding attention and poise far beyond her years. And both Khalia and Ellen certainly know how to dance. They've got moves.If either of them go to Taylor (and it may be years away, but the interest just may be there...), they will most definitely be living it up in Airband and the Chorale.

As the show started, Joy and I realized we felt just like proud parents. I was so proud of them both, and honestly, am so thankfully for their consistent humility and down-to-earthness. Yup, they inspire me. I really think I'd like to get back to the theatre. I loved performing and these girls helped me remind me of just how fun it can be. It's a ton of work, but everyone who's been in a community show knows there's a sense of ache (and often some relief) when the final curtain goes down. Ladies, you both rocked it tonight. Enjoy your final show tomorrow and know that our love for you goes far beyond those quickly-dying flowers we stepped on during intermission.

Lenten Thoughts

First of all, Happy March.

Now, I find the subject of Lent an interesting one. I did not grow up in the Catholic tradition and never practiced lent while growing up. Well, upon going to college, I began to become fascinated with certain aspects of the Catholic faith and Lent (although not solely Catholic) was at the top of the list. I think there is something beautiful about setting time apart before the Last Supper, before the Crucifixion, before the Resurrection. Forty days is a traditional number of discipline, devotion, and preparation in the Bible and I think the crucifixion and resurection is worth preparing for.

"Moses stayed on the Mountain of God forty days (Exodus 24:18 and 34:28), the spies were in the land for forty days (Numbers 13:25), Elijah traveled forty days before he reached the cave where he had his vision (1 Kings 19:8), Nineveh was given forty days to repent (Jonah 3:4), and most importantly, prior to undertaking his ministry, Jesus spent forty days in wilderness praying and fasting (Matthew 4:2). Since Lent if a period of prayer and fasting, it is fitting for Christians to imitate their Lord with a forty day period. Christ used a forty day period of prayer and fasting to prepare for his ministry, which culminated in his death and resurrection, and thus it is fitting for Christians to imitate him with a forty day period of prayer and fasting to prepare for the celebration of his ministry's climax, Good Friday (the day of the crucifixion) and Easter Sunday (the day of the resurrection)." (See Source.)

I wonder if the Protestant faith has really lost some of the beauty surrounding the weeks of Easter. In thinking about Lent over the last few years, I find myself wondering about what to "give up." I understand the dilemna of wanting to give up something simply to give something up, not to really come and prepare for the death and raising of Jesus Christ. I can see how it becomes something we do more for us and not something we do for more of Him.

Today, I decided that I'm not going to give something up this year. Instead of committing to give something up, I think I will commit to doing. I hope to meet with God consistently for 40 days. I certainly think was one aspect of Christ's time in the wilderness.

I find this very interesting. As I was talking about Lent with Mr. Taylor Horner earlier today, I realized that starting tonight, I am on Spring Break (YES!). But then I realized that over my break, I have to write my paper for my Biblical Theology class. For the paper, we had to pick a theme found in the Old and New Testaments and dive in. Well, months ago, during the first week of classes, I chose to do my paper on "wilderness." I plan to research the Israelites and Christ. I certainly didn't put it together when I chose the topic that I would begin the paper on the first day of Lent.

I want to prepare for the meaning and beauty found in the weeks surrounding Easter. I want to strengthen the disciplines in my life. I want to devote myself to Christ and prepare anew for what it means to be His follower.