Icky Food

 The topic of Food is a fun topic, but today I pulled the statement; I'll never eat another...
I use to think I was super brave when if came to food. I know so many people who go out to eat only to order the same thing over and over again, even worse when they are bland boring food. I like to try new things, I enjoy asking the person taking my order for recommendations and most the time have enjoyed discovering new things. I would love to be so trained and skilled as to be a food critic or better said food taster, knowing all the flavors and lets be honest eating super fancy well made meals by individuals who spent years learning the craft would be AWESOME. That dream died when I moved to Taiwan. I still love an amazing cooked meal, but I found myself challenged to try new things. Enter the "thousand year egg".
It did not smell as bad as the stinky bean curd (that was the name someone else said, though I agree it is properly named), but it did stink. It is an egg curiously preserved I believe for several months leaving it completely black with the center a Carmel consistency of a green slime. OK confession time, I know the statement above said "I'll never eat another..." I DID NOT eat this egg, so in all fairness I cannot say I'll never eat another since I never have in the first place. Oh the shame I am a sissy food taster. If you are still curious about the egg YouTube Reme eats... its this little kid who takes the phrase 'will eat anything' seriously far. Go Reme Go! I did eat many other "icky"(by American cuisine standards) things while living in Taiwan that I guess would be fair to say I'll never eat again. Oh and Almond Roca! Now before you think I am crazy cause Almond Roca is a pretty wonderful treat, I did once love it, and may in fact someday be reformed. Basically there is a story about the Almond Roca I will tell another time. 

Bully's

So my wonderful sister in law says its time for another blog. So I went to my handy dandy idea jar (a jar full of topic ideas and questions) and pulled out today the topic; My first encounter with a bully.

To be honest I don't know if it was my "first" encounter but when I read the word bully, it was the first memory that popped into my head. So here goes. I was in middle school in Rockville Maryland dutifully attending a choir class. I was walking along the riser type setup in the classroom when my foot caught a kids backpack strap throwing me into the all embarrassing "in front of everyone"moment of falling flat on my face. The best thing to do when the whole class is laughing at you is to laugh with them, so I did just that, face turning red I bounced back to my feet with lightning speed and laughed along. No harm right?Well...

The backpack I later understood belonged to a kid named Jay who viewed the whole experience quite differently. He interpreted the scene as my "kicking" his back pack and laughing along with the entire class about it. (He must have missed the face to the floor part I played). So Jay I can only imagine felt his pride needed defending and waited patiently outside the class room door that day. Now back to me...

Having somewhat recovered from landing on my face I sheepishly finished the class and headed out after the bell rang when WHAM!!! I was slapped in the face. No it was not a punch but this was one of those slaps that turns you whole body around while seeing black for a second. To use the kleshay I didn't know what hit me, but it hit me hard. As I came to my senses the cheers of "fight! fight! fight!" rang out as kids came running to the scene. Like a movie, part of my brain said (little devil on the shoulder) Yeah do it, I maybe a girl, but I had 2 brothers and could probably take this kid. (John, Sean no laughing at that thought please, I said probably). But then like the good little angel on the other shoulder all the lessons of Family Home Evening and Sunday school came flooding in and it took some courage to push my way through the crowd of kids and walk away. That's right one of the bravest things I did in middle school was walked away. I had no intention of mentioning the incident but my Mother's first words when I jumped in the car 20 min later was "What happened to you face?" Like a kindergarten finger paining I had Jay's entire hand print on my face, if it hadn't hurt so bad I would have thought it looked kinda cool. I of coarse had many other run ins with bullies growing up, every school had one and growing up in dozens of schools I avoided some and others met head on. I have been hit, spit on and threatened, threatened threatened but for me each time I simply walked away. OK in at least 2 incidences I had to run away, but for me it never was me fighting back. Well at least no physically I kinda had a mouth sometimes. 

There you go Britt hope you enjoyed- Love Jenny

Destini Donates

A few days ago Destini came home excited about locks for love. Her aunt Melanie had told her about how you cut your hair and donate it to be made into wigs for children whom have lost or do not have hair. It was kinda cute because she was explaining this all to me unaware that I myself have in years past donated I believe 4 times. Inside I was so proud that my little baby girl was feeling empathy and charity towards others. Destini has long beautiful hair which she has worked hard to grow out. I say worked hard because she has over and over resisted the temptation to cut it while her sisters have been treated to almost spa like trips to the salons complete with treats and balloons (thank you cookie cutters). So I was more than surprised when unprompted to told me she would like to donate because she is sure some little kid would love to have long blond hair like hers. I wanted her to think it over and make the final decision in a few days. The last few days she has fretted no doubt about the sacrifice she starts middle school in a few weeks, we have a family reunion and picture coming up and I of coarse put in my two cents. I encouraged her explaining "hair grows back", you always looked cut with any length hair and reminded her all wonderful feelings donating would give her. (Has anyone noticed how easy giving your two cents is?)

This morning came and Destini still wanted to donate but was clearly nervous and ill at ease. The thought came maybe I should donate with her. I quickly texted the man of the house and William gave 2 thumbs up. I fully expected him to talk me out of it. I video chatted with Michelle Young for support but as Destini and I left for the mall I was the nervous one now. Luckly we ran into Tyler and Marla and I recieved the final push I needed to take my own advice (the same advice I so freely offered Destini earlier) and we both went under the chopping block.

Mad Hatter's