"Do you remember the time..."

What a weird week. In the space of three days, we lost three well-known celebrities.

When I was a kid growing up in the 1970s & the 1980's, all three of these people were larger than life. I remember seeing Ed McMahon on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson"...that is, the few times that I stayed up late enough to watch it. He was the "second banana" to Carson, but a funny man in his own right. Later, we'd go on to watch him with his pal Dick Clark in "TV's Blooper's & Practical Jokes". I always loved to watch that show...to see all the out-takes of the various television shows of the time...and the practical jokes...that was way before Ashton Kutcher had his "Punk'd" show.

In elementary school, Farrah Fawcett was everywhere. All the boys, who had newly discovered that girls ‘weren't so bad’ tacked up copies of her famous swimsuit poster. We girls were ga-ga for her thick blonde hair...and we all got our hair "feathered" like hers.

And Michael Jackson. In 1983, I don't think I knew anyone who didn't have a copy of his "Thriller" album. I remember getting mine for Christmas. My cousin, Tom, got one too. We were thrilled, pardon the pun. We listened to him sing with his brothers in the '70's as "The Jackson Five" and even watched their cartoon with the same name. I wouldn't call myself a huge MJ fan, but I do like some of his music. He got a bit…eccentric…since the 1990’s, and I’m sure that he had a multitude of emotional and/or psychological problems, but you can’t deny the man was an artist.

Despite whether or not I was a big fan of any or all of these celebrities, they've all left their mark indelibly upon pop culture history. They’ll be missed by their friends, family, and friends…but their legacies will live on … on video, in photos, and in music...as well as in the hearts of those they left behind.

“He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man.” ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

"I'll have mine with lettuce and tomato..."

Well, next Sunday (June 21) marks the Summer Solstice, and hence, the first official day of the summer season.

Summer has never been my favorite time of the year. I don’t particularly like to be hot. Nor do I enjoy the sauna-type humidity that one experiences here in the Ohio Valley during the summer months. I’m not a big fan of swimming pools...the smell of chlorine and coconut suntan lotion (or coconut anything) makes me queasy. Amusement parks do not amuse me, and roller coasters make me nauseous.

Not much to look forward to…except for one thing.

Summer FOOD. Summer food is amazing. Here are a few highlights of summer eating, in my opinion:

GRILLING
I could kiss the caveman who invented the concept of “grilling”. Hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, ribs, veggies, fish…it’s ALL GOOD. So is grilled pizza. If you haven’t tried it…do. I prefer the lighter end of grilling. It’s much healthier than frying, plus in the oppressive heat of summer, eating light is always a good thing. Grilling out over some charcoal is divine, or if you can’t use charcoal…propane is a decent back-up. Grill up some juicy burgers… grab a flank steak & sprinkle some seasoning or rub on it before tossing it over the coals…spear some veggies & grill some kebabs…it’s all good!

FRESH PRODUCE
Be it from your backyard garden, your local farmer’s market, or roadside stand, fresh produce is at its peak in the summer months. There’s nothing better than the crunch of biting into some sweet corn straight off the cob, slathered in butter & a dash of salt…or slicing into that bright red, juicy tomato while assembling your sandwich…or sinking your teeth into a fresh peach, strawberry, plum...whatever your favorite fruit may be. These fruits and veggies taste & smell better than anything that was trucked across the country (or the world), plus they’re chock full of nutrients, so buy local & buy often while they’re still around!

SUMMER FESTIVALS
Here in the Miami Valley, summer starts with the Strawberry Festival & ends with the Greek Festival. Festivals & fairs can be a good way to try new foods & see things you might not have seen before. There seems to be a festival for just about everything, so there’s something out there that’s sure to please just about everyone. Some of my favorite things:

* Cotton Candy (from anywhere) – takes me back to when I was a kid at the Brookville Community Picnic. I would watch them take the paper cone & form a giant cloud of pink around it. Love it!

* Apple Butter (Apple Festival at Aullwood Farm in Vandalia, OH) – they make this stuff in huge kettles over an open fire. They can it right there. You’ve never had apple butter until you’ve had it made like that!

* Gyros (Greek Festival in Dayton, OH) – Oh my…the Greek Fest. Probably my all-time favorite festival in Dayton. The church does it right & they’ve got it all down to a science. Their “Gyros Express” line is the best & fastest way to get one.

* Loukoumades (Honey Puffs) (Greek Festival in Dayton, OH) – another one from the Greek Fest. These little puffs of goodness are drizzled with honey & sprinkled with cinnamon. Absolutely delicious!

PICNICS & GET-TOGETHERS
Ok, so I really do not like eating outdoors…especially with all the bugs flying or crawling around. BUT…when the weather is perfect in the early, early summer and there aren’t as many creepy-crawlies around…it’s so nice to eat al fresco. Summer is the family reunion/picnic/get-together season. Kids are off school & it’s warm enough to spill out into the yard, rather than be cramped up inside someone’s house. When I was a kid, we’d have 9 kids running around during our family get-togethers. The men would fire up the grill and the ladies would get all the salads, chips, dips, veggies, etc all set. Occasionally, Grandpa would be just inside the garage, churning some homemade ice cream. THOSE were the days! Why not keep the tradition alive & have your own family get-together this summer? Give your kids some good memories.

So…although I might be cloistered indoors with the air conditioning on this summer, avoiding pools and amusement parks…the summer traditions surrounding food will still get me out the door. I’ll enjoy it…after all, these tomatoes aren’t going to be as good come October!

Sex is good, but not as good as fresh, sweet corn. ~Garrison Keillor

"...I can change the world..."

“I’m just one person…what can I do? I can’t change anything.”

Every now & then I’ll hear someone say something like that. It drives me nuts how people can be so complacent about things, using that excuse.

18 years ago, guy named Philip Hayden travelled to China to teach English and ended up volunteering in his spare time helping with China’s orphans. After awhile, he brought along his friends, Tim and Pam Baker, who were also there to teach…and they began volunteering. This led to Tim & Pam adopting an orphaned baby named Esther. Tragically, at the age of 28, Philip Hayden died, while in China, from a rare heart defect.

A seed had been planted by Philip. That seed began to grow following his death. He had introduced the Bakers to China’s orphans. His love for these children spread to them and they continued volunteering, but soon realized that they needed to do more. In 1995, the Bakers established The Philip Hayden Foundation (PHF) in his memory.

Originally, PHF supported local orphanages financially and by donating time & supplies. Four years later, in 1999, they opened “Luke’s House”, which was a foster-style home for orphans. Within five years, the one house in Langfang, China grew into five houses and a preschool.

In 2002, a new children’s village took shape on government donated land located 10 minutes away from their original children’s village in Langfang. Christened “Shepherd’s Field”, it includes children’s homes, an inn for visitors, a clinic and their main office. A vocational center is currently being built there to help older orphans learn a trade so that they do not end up as beggers.

PHF takes in children who are at-risk or have special needs. Sometimes other local orphanages will ask PHF to take a child that they are unable or unequipped to handle. Other times, babies will be left on their doorstep. Still other times, the police will bring a child who they have found to be abandoned. PHF takes in these children, loves them and cares for them, and provides the medical care that they need. They have provided children with over 2,600 surgeries, and have helped hundreds of families adopt from China.

All of this developed…and thousands of people were affected…due to one single solitary guy who decided to go to China and help.

So when you here someone say, “I’m just one person, what can I do?”…tell them this little story. One person CAN make a difference.

If you are interested in more information about PHF, or are interested in donating or sponsoring a child, please visit their website at www.ChinaOrphans.com. You can make a difference in the lives of others.

"The greatest proof of Christianity for others is not how far a man can logically analyze his reasons for believing, but how far in practice he will stake his life on his belief." ~ T.S. Elliot

"It takes different strokes to move the world..."

Those who know me know that I hate politics. I hate talking about politics and I hate listening to people talk about politics. I also hate reading about politics. It just seems to me that everyone has their own opinion about things like that and they become raving idiots when they start spouting off about their favorite (or least favorite) politician or political party. It drives me bananas.

It was out of character that I would ever read anything labeled "political", but I did so this morning. I was checking out some of the headlines on Yahoo & saw an AP article about the nation's fascination with the Obama's eating habits. Now, I'm not into politics, but I do have a love for things culinary, so I read on. Apparently, everybody & their brother are buzzing about what the Obama's eat, where the Obama's eat, etc., etc. Ok. I can get it...I mean, they're celebrities, so...ok. But then I read a paragraph that slightly irked me. It basically started out with a quip from the First Lady saying that she doesn't really miss cooking since moving into the White House. Then it went on to quote Amanda Hesser, former food editor for the New York Times Magazine, who was apparently offended at Mrs. Obama's honesty. She said, "...the message was unmistakable: that everyday cooking is a chore."

"everyday cooking is a chore"

Um...that's because it IS! I thought to myself just last night as I was throwing together a favorite casserole for dinner, "jeez...I just put in over 8 hours at my job at the hospital. Then I come home and put in another 45-60 minutes preparing dinner for my family. Boy, I'm tired!"

Cooking is a chore. Doing the dishes afterward? A chore. Going to the grocery store to pick up ingredients? A chore. Don't get me wrong...I like to cook! But still, it is most times a chore!

So why jump over someone for being honest? I don't get it. I know, I know...celebrities are looked up to as role models. I don't know why, but whatever. (I know some are more worthy than others...I'm not trying to lump in a graduate of Harvard law school with Paris Hilton...but I'm just sayin'.) Still...First Lady or not...she's a real person. She has real opinions. She probably likes to do stuff that other people don't like to do...so who gives a flyin' fig if she likes to cook or not? Who's to say she doesn't like to cook? She didn't say that either! She just said she doesn't miss it. Big deal. I'm sure if she really got a penchant for whipping up some blueberry pancakes or whatever, she'd do it.

I just wish people wouldn't blow things like that out of proportion and make a federal case out of it. Everyone just needs to relax and rejoice in the fact that everyone is different for a reason. Thank God that there are people who honestly LOVE to cook...so that those of us who are too tired after work can be fed by them!

"My mother was a good recreational cook, but what she basically believed about cooking was that if you worked hard and prospered, someone else would do it for you.” ~ Nora Ephron