Happenstance life happens • March 5, 2010
Inside • What is Happenstance? p 2 • Reviews p 3 • Preservation p 4, 5 • How is Lisa doing? p 6, 7 • Happenstance Kitchen, p 8 • The Best of the Web, p 9
Happenstance…
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Books by F.S. Vander Meer
These books are available in Las Vegas at Tome on the Range Bookstore. Online purchases may be made at Amazon, Xlibris, and Barnes and Noble. Not Just Another Day is a series of daily reflections that celebrate the gift of life. Based on the author’s Christian faith tradition the book uses Bible passages, prayers and readings to capture the common experience of living a life of faith in an ever-changing world. In Future Imperfect conflicting forces control two individuals seeking stability and sanity amid escalating political and environmental chaos. Their lives are fraught with lies, treachery, and an altered environment. In The Ballad of Bawdy McClure short hauler Jake Casey is confronted with the age old question: Who can you trust? From the opening scene in which he finds the body of his murdered friend to the end he is constantly questioning the motives of those closest to him.
f you are reading this, that’s happenstance. Whatever appears in this little magazine, that is happenstance too. What is Happenstance? I love to write, but I also want my writing to have purpose, value and be interesting to other people. I’ve tried the blog route, and quite honestly, I don’t get it. Unless you have something earth changing to share it just seems way too self-indulgent. I suppose if you have a large extended family it’s a way to keep in touch, but for me, having one more thing to keep up with is a test. Facebook? Forget it! I’m on there but I rarely go there. I have a newsletter, Vander Meer Books and more, but the same thing applies: too self-aggrandizing and only interesting to a handful of people, most of whom have better things to do than read about me talking about… uh, me. In truth, I’m not comfortable with either of these vehicles for networking. What I do know how to do is put together interesting stories about life and people and places and activities, and that’s where my focus will be in the future. So, I’ll include on these pages whatever I come across that is interesting to me that I think might be interesting to you. It will be in digital format only. I’m working on getting it published in flip format so the pages will turn like in a magazine… sort of. I’m also interested in hearing from readers. I will consider publishing short stories, poems and essays from other writers. Sorry, I can’t pay a fee for printed works but I’ll be happy to include a brief bio and link readers to contact information. What can you expect to find in Happenstance? Book reviews, website reviews, projects (craft, writing, entertaining, decorating, remember, it’s Happenstance), cooking, travel, community and connecting. The latter will explore the opportunities to make a difference locally, statewide, nationally and globally. Since this is my town and I love it, there will be articles about Las Vegas and the area as well. Expect to see excerpts from books I’m currently working on, as well as excerpts from books already published. The bulk of the writing will be from my pen (keyboard) so unless otherwise noted, the content is unofficially signed by —Sharon Vander Meer sharon@vandermeerbooks.com Send comments, suggestions and criticisms to me at that address. Enjoy Happenstance; life happens.
Happenstance life happens
Vol 1, No. 1, March 5, 2010
Happenstance is a digital publication of vandermeerbooks.com Copyright, Sharon Vander Meer, Vander Meer Books Selected content may be used with appropriate attribution: Sharon Vander Meer, sharon@vandermeerbooks.com Cover photo: A snowy day in Las Vegas, NM, Sharon Vander Meer Preservation and Prosperity images courtesy of CCHP Some images from: clipart.com Happenstance • March 5, 2010 • Page 2
HAPPENSTANCE REVIEWS The Book: The 13th Hour
Author: Richard Doetsch Available at: Tome on the Range in Las Vegas; bookstores everywhere Price: Hardcover, $25.99
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enjoy reading books that test the imagination. Richard Doetsch’s, The 13th Hour, does that in spades. First off you begin with the ending, Chapter 12. I have to say that put me off and I almost set the book back on my bookshelf to be read when I didn’t have anything better to do, but author Steve Berry’s accolade on the book jacket, “What an innovative concept—a thriller in reverse,” caught my attention and I had to see what that meant. Nick Quinn, the hero (and he is a hero, folks, in the truest sense of the word), is given an opportunity to change the tragic ending, the death of his beautiful wife, Julia, by leaping back through the day, one hour at a time. Accused of her murder he is in a police interrogation room awaiting his attorney and dreading the next onslaught of good-cop/bad-cop questioning by officers convinced he is a heartless murderer. When a man arrives who isn’t Nick’s attorney, Nick’s life in turned on end. The man gives him a letter and a rather ordinary looking antique gold watch with the instructions to keep them in his possession. “Keep an eye on that watch,” his unknown benefactor tells Nick. “You have twelve hours.” Twelve hours to change events so Julia does not become the victim of a fatal gunshot that takes away her beauty and her future. Unconvinced yet wanting to hang onto any hope that might end with Julia alive, Nick finds himself in a standoff with his police interrogators that ends when he experiences the first leap backwards. After determining that he hasn’t lost his mind, he takes the gift of the gold watch and tries to untangle the events that lead to Julia’s death. Complicating his efforts is the crash of a plane that results in the death of more than 200 people. The story moves backward quickly through the hours of the day. Every action Nick takes falls short and Julia dies time and again, and so do others not originally caught up in the tragedy. The 13th Hour kept me engaged from beginning to end, or, given the premise, from end to beginning. Nick is a sympathetic character and it’s easy to relate to his challenge. Don’t we all wish we could go back and undo some act in the past so the future would be different, hopefully
better? What Nick finds is that every attempt to alter the past has tragic consequences in the future. It isn’t until He sees how Julia’s death and the plane crash are connected that he begins to understand what he has to do. Author Richard Doetsch is the president of a national real estate company based in New York where he lives with his family. He is a best selling author with two previous thrillers, The Thieves of Heaven and The Thieves of Faith. His website is www.RichardDoetsch.com. The 13th Hour is published by Atria Books, a division of Simon and Schuster, Inc., and is available locally and in bookstores across the country.
The Magazine: Guideposts
Founded by: Ruth Stafford Peale and Norman Vincent Peale in 1945 Content: Inspirational and timely Published: Monthly Annual Subscription: About $20
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ne of my favorite magazines is Guideposts. The masthead page has a banner paragraph that states its purpose: …a monthly inspirational, interfaith, nonprofit magazine written by people from all walks of life. Its articles help readers achieve their maximum personal and spiritual potential. It does that and perhaps a bit more. Guideposts publishes articles that explore life-changing experiences. The March issue includes: Anne Curry of the Today Show talking about her childhood and her father; a soccer mom who came to understand her yelling during her daughters’ games was not helpful but hurtful; a woman whose depression was locking her inside herself until she began to spend time with an elderly woman who at nearly 90 was as excited by life as she had ever been; a CEO who went from being the head of a major corporation making big bucks to heading up World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization making a difference all over the world; a football player who refused to allow Crohn’s disease to do him in. This is the biggest little magazine we get every month. It includes stories that are touching, inspirational, thought provoking and stimulating. There is even a section on cooking, with tasty foods connected to stories about where the recipe came from and how it plays a part in the life of the family. Guideposts is a quick read that can make a big difference. To subscribe log onto their website at www.guideposts.com.
Happenstance • March 5, 2010 • Page 3
Preservation and Prosperity
“In a recession economy like the one we’re in, local community revitalization and development has become more important.”
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—Elmo Baca, consultant and contractor with New Mexico Main Street
formed in 1977 to encourage the preservation of and apprehe National Trust ciation for Las Vegas and San Miguel County historic refor Historic Presersources, is a linchpin in all these efforts. vation At the outset proponents for preservation saw the eco(www.preservation.org) denomic value of renewal and restoration. In the mid-1980s fines cultural heritage the district most commonly referred to as Old Town, had a tourism as traveling to expeStern and Nahm Building small number of businesses, but there were also many rience the places, artifacts 114 Bridge St.; Built 1885 boarded up buildings lining the streets. Demolition by negand activities that authentilect was the order of the day for commercial and residential cally represent the stories and people of the past and present. Cultural heritage and preservation success stories span properties. Farsighted organizers saw the possibilities not the the nation. The value of preservation is exemplified with problems, and went to work. CCHP was organized to profine examples of revitalization efforts in cities and small mote preservation, educate the public regarding the rich towns. Denver’s 16th Street exemplifies urban renewal that cultural heritage represented by architecture combined took existing historic structures and turned them into a viwith history, and to investigate and implement ways the brant business district. The tiny town of Kentwood, buildings could continue to play a vital role in the infraLouisiana, population 2,600, capitalized on its African structure, culture, economy and future of Las Vegas and the American influence creating Sweet Home Folklife Days, an area. annual heritage event. Elmo Baca, a Las Vegas, NM native, is a contractor and Las Vegas, NM can be included on the list of successes consultant with the New Mexico Main Street Program. As a if for no other reason than it has more than 900 properties participant in past and present preservation efforts in Las listed on the National Historic Register. Add to that the Vegas, and one experienced in economic development and Places With a Past annual tour focusing on architecture and revitalization, Baca said Las Vegas has benefited from history, and the annual 4th of July Fiesta showcasing Hispreservation by recognizing its historic buildings are an impanic heritage in a colorful three-day event filled with portant resource equivalent to climate, culture, natural music, dancing, food and family fun. scenery, and people. In 2007 Las Vegas was one of two communities in New “Las Vegas has been actively working on preserving Mexico to be awarded an Arts and Culture District designaand developing its historic architecture for at least thirty tion. The other was Silver City. This brought to bear planyears, maybe more, and when you take the long view of it, ning resources that would help the community further we have accomplished quite a lot,” Baca said. “Of course enhance its cultural and heritage tourism appeal. One outmuch remains to be done. With buildings, it’s a continual, come of the process is a Second Saturday event each month on-going process that never ends. Looking at the benefits of featuring arts and entertainment throughthis work, one could break it down into the out the district, which includes home stutangible benefits and also intangible qualidios and venues as well as established Q u i ck Fa c ts ties that make Las Vegas a great place to galleries and events. MainStreet Las Vegas live. In the past thirty years, there have been Location: 116 Bridge Street and the Arts Council of Las Vegas have Contact: PO Box 728, many small businesses created in rehabilibeen key players in taking the Arts and CulLas Vegas, NM 87701 tated buildings, many jobs created, property ture District concept to the next level. Phone: 505 425-8803 and sales taxes generated, and lodgers tax The Las Vegas Citizens Committee for historic@cybermesa.com revenues increased. The one benefit that Historic Preservation, an organization www.lasvegasnmcchp.com helps many is stabilized and increased Happenstance • March 5, 2010 • Page 4
that are almost extinct.” property values. Community pride Rheua Pearce Houses, 1208-16 South Pacific; Baca said the economic impact and enjoying one of the best urban Built ca. 1846 The former residence of Rheua Pearce (1894-1993), of local revitalization extends beenvironments in New Mexico is a an educator and founder of the Las Vegas historic yond the local economy. “Espewonderful benefit.” preservation movement, is a handsome row of adobe cially in a recession economy like Baca said the best incentive rooms that is actually two houses, both lovingly preserved by Rheua. the one we’re in, local community for communities to preserve herrevitalization and development has itage, culture and properties is that become more important,” he said. it creates a unique identity. “Every city, including Albuquerque “In this hyper-competitive and Santa Fe, is suffering from deglobal economy, special places are creased business activity, job losses going to be the ones that attract the and depleted revenues, and everybest talent that helps a community one is back to the basics of growing survive and grow. The most crejobs one at a time. In times of recesative professionals in our society sion, it’s the smart towns that rewant to live and work in special group, reinvent and keep working. This is what Denver did places like Las Vegas. We are already seeing depopulation when a recession hit back in the 1980s. Cities will need to and poverty in some of our New Mexico and southwestern be creative with financing strategies, and we’ll need to towns as highly qualified young people are moving elsehave more economic partnering and joint ventures and where. Las Vegas has a solid urban fabric with some wonpooling of assets to keep competitive.” derful buildings. But it might not be enough. We need to Magee Poler, CCHP staff member, said tourists are create unique businesses, offer high quality amenities and services to be competitive. It helps a lot to have unique cul- drawn to explore Las Vegas because it is an outdoor architectural museum. tural, historic and architectural resources to work with,” “One of the best PR things the city did was to host Baca said. travel writers from all over who went back to their home Murphey’s Drug (the Crocket Building), a once thrivtowns and wrote articles in their local newspapers. We get ing center of the Douglas/Sixth Street economy and percalls and visits from people who saw those articles.” She haps the heartbeat of the downtown economy, has been said casual visitors, people driving through, are amazed empty for several years. Renters in what had been a and captivated by the buildings and ambience. bustling business block have left, abandoning it to the ravShe attributes a growing interest in renovation of the ages of time and weather. That will all change with the purstately Victorian houses and some of the old adobe or terrichase of the building by Community First Bank in Las torial style homes to people wanting to live in small towns Vegas. The bank intends to fully renovate the property and move its primary operations into the space. What effect will where there is a spirit of community. “Folks visit, like the place and come back to retire and this have on the local economy and the Douglas/Sixth buy a fixer upper as a retirement project,” she said. “Or Street business district? Baca said the building block concept was a unique type they’re ready to get out of the big city.” This all affects the economy in ways that may not be immediately recognizaof building that combined several different types of comble, yet it is an economic reality that injections of new mercial uses. He hopes that will continue. money strengthen local economies. “On the ground floor there was, of course, Murpheys’s Poler said there are good financial reasons to invest in Drugs and other retail shops. Upstairs, the Crocket Buildrenovation. Tax incentives are still available to help offset ing was home to some of Las Vegas’ most distinguished the costs of construction, whether you are looking at a resiprofessionals, including doctors, lawyers and architects,” dential or commercial property. The state preservation ofhe said. “Preserving the wonderful architecture and Murphey’s fice has information about qualifying and applying for incentives. For details go to: interior is essential as well as preserving the spirit of the ‘business block’ by encouraging mixed uses in the building. www.nmhistoricpreservation.org and click on Programs. While there are no grants for brick and mortar conThe more uses that attract people to the building to see it and enjoy it the better.” Baca said it would be a tremendous struction, low cost loans from various lenders and through USDA Rural Development programs are available. For public relations gesture if the bank could make use of the more information contact CCHP. soda fountain, an element of the drug store that people re“The past is our future,” Poler said. “Saving the hermember fondly. “It would be a good business move for the itage, buildings and history of this area is key to the future bank to preserve the soda fountain and offer its customers economy and tourism.” ice cream sodas. Old-fashioned service and amenities like Happenstance • March 5, 2010 • Page 5
How is Lisa Doing? A Love Story “Our worst fears were realized when, after the obligatory battery of tests, Lisa was diagnosed with stage four cancer.”
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—Marc Conkle
y wife, Lisa, has been my everything for a little over thirty-five years. We have three adult children and one perfect little grandson. Our oldest son, Seth, is in a management position with a state agency. He is our firstborn and as such he had to endure our training period as parents. He has overcome many obstacles and challenges on his way to becoming a man of unparalleled integrity and courage. Seth is a single parent of our grandson, Carter. Carter has been a blessing to us in ways we never considered early on. He is, by my own unbiased opinion, perhaps the smartest, most intuitive little boy ever born. He demonstrates a love, an understanding, and a perception of the world around him that is inspirational and creates an opportunity for those of us closest to him to learn from him. Lisa and I have had a substantial role in our grandson’s life to this point. Lisa has had an even greater part in his young life than I. She makes sure he brushes his teeth, does his homework, and even though he and his dad live right next door to our house, she insists that he gets to bed on time. These are all the routine mom things she did for our own children. Stefan is our second child, and as such he learned early on from his brother the myriad ways in which he could manipulate and beguile us. Seth and Stefan are only sixteen months apart in age and as a consequence they presented quite a challenge for us when they were toddlers, adolescents, and teenagers. Truly it is only until they reached adulthood did we all find common ground and it has become a bond that was born of a little fire and an abundance of compassion. Stefan also works for a state agency in a managerial position. While Seth is the indoor office type, Stefan is the outdoor wildlife ranger kind of a guy. Stefan grew up with a bit of a rebellious streak and a devil-maycare attitude. He presented a persona that was as hard as nails and an exterior that implied he could not be hurt. Lisa and I both knew all along that this was a facade and that it was fragile at best. Stefan has a heart that is all too easily broken and not readily repaired. People have always gravitated to Stefan because he exudes a confidence that is validated by his actions. Together our sons suffer such an affliction, and their mom and I are blessed that they are such caring individuals. Our third child is our daughter, Audrey. She is our late
in life child and our princess. I, whether by design or circumstance, spoiled her in every sense of the word. That fact sometimes infuriates her mother, in fact more often than not. Yet Lisa and Audrey share the secrets and confidences that only go between a mother and daughter. Audrey has grown into a woman whose inward beauty compliments her outward loveliness. Recently another young man entered into our family. While attending the state university Audrey met Devin. Devin won Audrey’s heart and they were married on a warm summer day. I tell everyone that if I had to shop for a son-in-law, Devin would have been my pick. He is a good man and I know that he loves our daughter. Our lives, albeit unremarkable, have been even more blessed and full than I could have ever imagined when Lisa agreed to become my bride. Change comes to all of us in an abundance of ways. No one is exempt from this truth. For our family change came on a day in June 2008. It was at that time that our family physician, Dr. Elliot, informed us that he needed to refer Lisa to an oncologist. Thus began what has become a brutally savage challenge in a fight against cancer. Our worst fears were realized when, after the obligatory battery of tests, Lisa was diagnosed with stage four cancer. After this news spread among our extended family, our friends, and even acquaintances, there has always been one recurrent question asked by those who care, and it is this: “How is Lisa doing”? It is a simple question on the surface, but the depth of it is more than I can adequately answer. My response is usually one of these variables, “Oh, she has her good days and bad days,” or, “She’s hanging in there,” or simply, “She’s fine,” or some such other inane quip that does not convey the enormity of the situation. The reality is that she is not fine. The people who ask about her are genuinely concerned and they care about and love her because of the way in which they know her. When I hear this question, and while I may respond in
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some pedestrian manner, I inwardly want to scream to the query, “She is sick beyond description, please help her if you can”. We are touched by the interest of those who love her and we desperately need to know that we are not alone in sorrow, in a desire to be of assistance, and most important for us, in prayer. Yet sometimes I find myself, at least privately, in a state of anger at those who are not fully immersed in this struggle. They can walk away after their well-intentioned concern is voiced and proceed with their otherwise normal healthy life. Yes I know this admission is unreasonable and unwarranted, but there it is and I would be remiss not to acknowledge it. Therein lies the conundrum, we covet the support of all who would give it and we are grateful for it, and yet I have such loathing for the circumstance we are in that I visit my gut wrenching animosity upon those who least deserve it. I think this recognition exemplifies the confusion and desperation that accompanies that which is before us. It is imperative that I articulate all that I can relative to the virtues of my wife and how much our life together has meant to me, but I can only do that through my eyes. As a result, it may appear that this is all about me. Nothing could be farther from the truth. For everyone who has been where we are now, and the number is legion, one can only plumb the depths of one’s own soul in an attempt to relate to others the Pandora’s Box of emotions that abound throughout the course of this engagement. For instance, the common terms used in dealing with cancer do not do it justice. Terms such as battle, struggle, and fight fall so very short in the conveyance of absolute immersion in cancer. They are good words and appropriate in the absence of anything more descriptive. It would be an appropriate parallel to suggest that placing your hand in a blast furnace may cause a burn, so too is how battle, struggle, and fight relate to cancer. Likewise words and sentiments of inspiration have become more abundantly clear in the face of this nightmare. “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow death,” has become more than a favorite Bible scripture, it is now the very essence of our existence. Clarity of thought and confusion to the point of insanity are diametric opposites, and still these two elements abide in a macabre symbiosis as we, and everyone else who is embroiled in the challenges of cancer, have learned to embrace. Secrets are a part of every individual’s character. Secrets are a refuge, a cocoon of escape, a hidden place upon which no other is allowed to intrude. Of the many elements
that cancer strips away from someone, it is quite possible that the sanctuary of mystery is one of the first to be taken away as a matter of necessity. No longer is someone entitled to this most jealously guarded possession. This special reality has always been an important piece of the puzzle that is my wife. Lisa has never been one to burden her physical or emotional condition on those in her company. To the contrary, she is forever more concerned about others than she is about herself. Now all of a sudden, she is questioned endlessly by doctors, attending health care providers, loved ones, friends, and strangers about every aspect of where she is on her pathway. She has had to learn, however reluctantly, to respond to those of us who have come to be known as her “caregivers” in a blunt and truthful manner so that we may address her needs in the most effective and efficient way that we are capable of. There is nothing that is redeeming or good that can be attributed to the horrific nature of this disease. There is however a great deal of goodness that presents itself as we combat this enemy. Lightning is an unstoppable and uncontrollable force of nature that strikes unpredictably and frequently with great devastation. This awesome display of power can fragment a target into millions of bits of unrecognizable debris never to be whole again, or it can weld the target into a solidified mass that may be altered and scarred but continues to persevere even in the altered state. Lisa’s faith and determination have been the catalyst for us that continues to bind us together. She has truly exemplified the glue that welds us into who we are as a family, even though we are forever altered, we are yet as one heart and soul. She continues to demonstrate a steadfast knowledge that she will not be defeated spiritually and we are the better for it. We who know her are humbled and inspired in her presence. It is now and will always be our promise to her that her witness and testimony will be with us and we will not fail to abide in the faith and concrete values that have been instilled in us by her.
—Marc Conkle may be reached at marcplum@desertgate.com
(Editor’s Note: Marc Conkle is my brother, Lisa is his wife. By sharing their story they hope others will be lifted up. Cancer is a brutal master and can take over a person’s life to the degree everything else is washed away. Lisa and her supportive family, through their faith, have not allowed that to happen. The struggle continues and so does the strength.)
Happenstance • March 5, 2010 • Page 7
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THE HAPPENSTANCE KITCHEN
Cooking for two; yes, it can be done
love to cook. Growing up with two brothers and two sisters, I had lots of opportunities. My problem is that cooking for a crowd is in my genes. Cooking for two, not so much. After many years of leftovers left over so long they morphed into something else not even marginally food-related, I took the problem and applied to it my organizational skills. I decided that if I can put together a marketing plan, a business plan, or an event involving hundreds, surely I could come up with a way to cook for my husband and me without having a ton of food left over, or worse, too much on the plate so we overeat at every meal. It begins with shopping. We prefer to eat fresh fruit and vegetables so I make several trips to the store each week and try to get whatever is in season. Meat, fish, pork and poultry shopping I do about twice a month. I buy a large package of chicken breasts, three or four pounds of extra lean hamburger, a three to four pound roast, and sometimes pork chops. We don’t eat a lot of pork so it isn’t a big item on my shopping list. I confess to reserving fish meals for dinners out. I have never been able to do justice to fish of any kind so I avoid the problem by not cooking it at all. The hamburger As soon as I get home with the meat I divide about half the hamburger into patties and freeze them, separating each patty with waxed paper to make defrosting easier. About half the remainder I fry using spray oil on the frying pan to keep the hamburger from being greasy. This is divided into baggies in 1 to 1½ cup portions to be used in spaghetti sauce or for tacos, enchiladas or burritos. With the remainder I make a meatloaf that can be frozen for later use, or prepared immediately for the evening meal. The chicken Wash the chicken and pat dry. If the chicken breasts are thick, you might want to butterfly them for easier cooking. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare a marinade (anything that suits your taste), and dredge the chicken pieces through it, coating both sides. Arrange in a large baking dish and pour ½ cup of the marinade over the chicken. Put into oven and let bake until done, usually 30 to 45 minutes. If you want the chicken to be brown on both sides, toward the end of baking, pour off liquids and put the chicken back in the over for five to ten minutes, turning once. Remove the chicken and allow to cool completely. Package
into two-meal portions and freeze. Take out as needed and defrost in refrigerator. To reheat, place in a pocket of tinfoil, along with a little liquid (chicken broth if you have it) seal well, and bake at about 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Be careful when opening the tinfoil packet to avoid burns from hot steam. While the chicken is baking, steam a combination of vegetables as an accompaniment to the baked chicken. Other ideas include chicken and rice, chicken salad, chicken tacos, or any other creative way you can think of to take this already seasoned and cooked chicken to a new culinary level.
The roast I slow cook the roast. There are several good recipes on the web for seasoning rubs to flavor the meat. The key is to let the roast cook, according to directions, and not open the lid every so often to check progress. Every time you open a slow cooker you release the compressed heat adding to the cooking time. The first meal off of this roast is a dinner of sliced roast, seasoned roasted carrots and potatoes, and a mixed salad. I then slice the remaining roast and divide it into two-meal portions. I can sometimes get enough for sandwiches the next day, a third meal of sliced roast and gravy that can be rounded out with mashed potatoes and green beans, and a fourth of salad with slivers of roast beef topped off with your favorite dressing. Here are several benefits to my cook ahead plan. • No leftovers! • Having guests over is a snap because you can prepare as many of the two-meal portions you need. • It is cost saving. • It is time saving. • The pressure of meal preparation is reduced. • It’s easier to be creative. • So far my husband is delighted with the results!
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THE BEST OF THE WEB
Dine out but eat healthy
The American Heart Association website is easy to navigate and has excellent tips on good heart health and lifestyle choices that are doable at any age.
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From the American Heart Association Website
on’t be shy about making special requests when you eat out. Foods on most menus will probably fit into a heart-healthy diet if prepared with low-fat ingredients and less salt. Ask your server if the kitchen can alter preparations to meet your needs, or call ahead before you choose your restaurant. If your food isn’t prepared as you requested, send it back. Equally important is the portion size. Help control your weight by asking for smaller portions, sharing entrees with a companion, or putting half of your meal in a to-go box to enjoy another time. Below are some hints about what to look for.
• Fried, au gratin, crispy, escalloped, pan-fried, sautéed or stuffed foods are high in fat and calories. Instead, look for steamed, broiled, baked, grilled, poached or roasted foods. If you’re not sure about a certain dish, ask your server how it’s prepared. You can request that visible fat be trimmed from meat and skin be removed from poultry before cooking. • Request that your meal be prepared with vegetable oil (made from canola, olive, corn, soy, sunflower or safflower) or soft margarine instead of butter. Ask for soft margarine for your bread. • High-sodium foods include those that are pickled, in cocktail sauce, smoked, in broth or au jus or in soy or teriyaki sauce. Limit these items. Ask that your food be prepared without added salt or MSG. • Have gravy, sauces and dressings served on the side, so you can control the amount you eat or skip them completely. • Ask if the restaurant has fat-free or 1 percent milk instead of whole milk.
• Even if they aren’t on the dessert menu, many restaurants can offer you fruit or sherbet instead of high-fat pastries and ice creams. • Many supermarkets and specialty stores offer prepared entrees to take home when you’re in a rush; the same tips listed here for restaurants also apply to takehome foods.
The American Heart Association website, www.americanheart.org, has a wealth of information about eating right for heart health whether you are eating at home or at your favorite eatery. It’s worth checking out if you’re watching your health, your heart and your waistline.
Tips for Eating at Family Restaurants
Too tired to cook? When you pack the family off to one of the many mid-priced “family style” restaurants, keep these healthy selections in mind.
• Avoid dishes with lots of cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise. • Instead of fried oysters, or fried fish or chicken, choose boiled spiced shrimp, or baked, boiled or grilled fish or chicken. • Choose bread or pita pockets over croissants. • Salads make great meals, but be careful of the dressing. • Split a large entree with another family member. You’ll save dollars — and calories! • Try to avoid all-you-can-eat buffets because you’re more likely to eat more than you need.
What you can expect to find at www.americanheart.org
• Nutrition Center • Health Tools • Women and Cardiovascular Disease • Exercise and Fitness
• Heart at Work • How your Heart Works • Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease
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• Children and Youth • African American Search Your Heart • Managing Your Weight • A link to publications
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Journal Writing in Five Easy Steps
Something happens every day and if it doesn’t, or you think nothing happens, the journal may be a way of evaluating options you’ve been missing.
ournal writing is more than a way to pass time. It is an opportunity to explore your life in a more in depth way. There are no hard and fast rules about writing a journal. Format and media is up to you. For years I kept written journals because I like the tactile feel of words flowing from a pen onto the page. There was a sort of magic to it, creation at work. For the last four years all of my journals (I keep three) are digital. The value of a digital journal is you can do a word search and more quickly find information you might be looking for, like what the weather was like last year when you were at the beach.
I keep a prayer journal, a devotional journal and a life journal. The first two are easy for me to keep up with because it is my commitment to write in them every day. The life journal is a little more problematic because I start to think, “Nothing really interesting happened today and I really don’t have time for this.” Something happens every day and if it doesn’t, or you think nothing happens, the journal may be a way of evaluating options you’ve been missing. I have a friend who has been writing in his journal for as long as I’ve known him, more than 40 years. He is a rancher and records ranch-related information, but his journal also includes general information about life, family and travel.
Whatever your reason for keeping a journal, recording your thoughts does bring about greater appreciation for and deeper understanding of how you spend your days. It is also a legacy for your family. Several years ago we came across diaries kept by my husband’s mother. In one it said simply, “Bobby came to visit today.” There was something so poignant about that. My husband’s visit was significant enough for that to be the only entry on the page for that day.
The following are five easy steps to starting (and keeping) a journal. Once you start you’ll find you become addicted to the process.
What you need Pick your media. You can find beautifully bound blank journals in all shapes and sizes at bookstores. Prices range from economical to outrageous. Select something durable. You want your journal to be around for a long time. If you decide to go digital keep in mind that once you are gone it may be overlooked after your death. If that’s okay with you, no problem, but if you want this to be a legacy for your family, save your journal to a CD or other portable media and let someone in your family know where you keep the copies. Of course it is always wise to back up your journal.
Writing implement If you are keeping a paper journal, use a pen. Yes, I know it’s nice to be able to erase and start over, but writing in ink preserves what you write better than pencil, which tends to smear over time. Plus, journal writing is heart writing, not head writing. While punctuation, grammar and spelling are important getting your thoughts down as you experience them will have more value.
When to write Every day. A journal is a history of your life. Believe me, you won’t remember next week what you did today, not in the way you remember it today. A lot of editing will occur between then and the day you decide to ‘update’ your journal. Time of day to write Whatever works for you. Some people are energized early in the morning; others wait until the evening. Some people do it all day long.
Happenstance • March 5, 2010 • Page 10
— More on page 11 —
Not Just Another Day, Inspiration in Today’s World
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rom author F.S. VANDER MEER comes a series of daily reflections that celebrate the gift of life. Not Just Another Day is a heartfelt collection of insights based on her Christian faith tradition. Bible passages and prayers accompany the readings, which make this collection a literary treasure. Vander Meer uses poetry and prose to capture the common experience of living a life of faith in an ever-changing world. In The Gift of Today, an essay about her mother, the author writes, “When the anniversary of my mother’s birth comes I think of questions I should have asked her when she was still with us.” In a few short paragraphs Vander Meer expresses what many experience upon the passing of a loved one. It is a reminder that the gift of today is also an opportunity to share the gift of caring. Who cares? is an essay about the ways one can make a difference by merely listening to the needs of another and responding to that need in appropriate ways. These are two examples of the 365 short readings that cover a variety of human experiences that are part and parcel of living in the world and being confronted with opportunities and challenges at every turn. Not Just Another Day is available in soft cover at Tome on the Range in Las Vegas, NM., and by order at bookstores across the country and online at Xlibris.com, Amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com. The author may be contacted at fsharon@msn.com.
Journal Writing
Continued from page 10
What to write • That is entirely up to you, it is your journal, but for starters here are some ideas. • What is the weather today? • Who did you see? • What unexpected event occurred? • Where did you go? • Why did you go there? • What happened in your family? • Whose birthday (or anniversary) is it? • What did you give for a gift (for any event)? This can be valuable information for the future!
The power of prayer
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Ephesians 6:18-20
ost people are timid when it comes to talking about their faith. I know I am. I don’t want to be pushy or over the top. “Sure, I’m a believer and sharing the Good News is important,” I think, “but golly, I’m not really fit to, you know, be evangelical. Besides, being evangelical sounds a little too… fanatical.” Does anyone see contradictory messages here? It’s easy to talk about one’s faith and spiritual journey… in church. I fall into that category. Get me out among others and my tongue gets tied and I worry that I’ll come off sounding smug or condescending. There is also the fear that I’m setting myself up as judge and jury. Am I reflecting God’s place in my life by keeping my love of the Lord a secret only to be shared with a select few? There is a power available to us that can change our weakness into strength, our timidity into courage. Prayer is putting aside all doubt and being open to guidance. Lord, thank you for the power of prayer.
• What are your hopes and dreams? • What have you wanted to do in your life that you haven’t done? • Why?
You have your own ideas but these are reminders of events that occur that you can write about to make your journal a history of your life.
Where to write Everywhere. In bed, at your desk, when you travel, anywhere you are comfortable and not distracted by all the other activities in your life.
That’s it. Five easy steps and you can
Happenstance • March 5, 2010 • Page 11
The Power of Prayer is from the book Not Just Another Day by F.S. Vander Meer
start today. I would offer a caution about journal writing. While I don’t encourage editing your words as you write them, remember that someone will read them some day. Keep that in mind as you write.
In summary, pick a media, get your pen or sit at your keyboard, think about your day and get to it! One final suggestion I might offer is to use a ‘to do’ list method of starting a life journal. If you have a list of expectations for the day you can check them off as you do them (and write about them) and by the end of the day you may end up accomplishing more than you ever imagined.
Happenstance life happens
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E-mail submissions to: fsharon@msn.com Happenstance is a digital magazine available free from the publisher. Please forward this on to anyone who you think might be interested in receiving it in the future. If you would like to subscribe please e-mail your request to fsharon@msn.com If you have received this and do not wish to receive it in the future, please send your request to unsubscribe to fsharon@msn.com Happenstance is in the development stage and all recommendations will be appreciated and considered. It is intended to appeal to a wide range of readers. Material will be selected based on its general appeal to a broad readership, with a focus on Las Vegas, NM, and the area. Thank you for reading this first issue of Happenstance. Happenstance is a publication of Vander Meer Books PO Box 187 • Las Vegas, NM 87701 www.vandermeerbooks.com Copyright 2010 Material may only be used by permission with appropriate attribution.