Here we are!

Not entirely sure how this will work but if it does work, Welcome!

Here I am, a complete modern day cliche! 43 years old right now and feverishly looking for something I can cross off on 'the list of accomplishments'. In 11 days I won't be 43 and truth is belly fat and a long list of excuses is all that is showing in the 'done' column.

Don't worry, this blog will not be a poor pitiful me rant. Au contraire! My theory is, you can write down your goals, ambitions, dreams - all you want. But it isn't until you tell another person that you really feel the pressure to achieve. So I am putting it all out there for millions to see, or the four or five of you. Then there can be no turning back. It is inevitable the Catholic guilt will kick in and I will be forced to get off my arsenal and complete at least one thing on my list. I am not sure if this same motivation would work if I were Baptist. So as all good famous athletes and rap stars will tell you, I first give the glory to God! And second, I thank Father Nelson, who put the fear of God in me at a very young age and lastly to Brother Michael, because you called me out in front of all the school for 'borrowing' your Holy card of St Teresa I am sufficiently 'guilt ridden' for eternity. I am confident this will work in my favor.

Yes, the blog is called Recipes, Road trips and Renovations for a reason.

First, I have quit my job - well turned in the notice, 15 more work days remain - (I know, right, in this economy, apparently I think I am bulletproof). I had this great job too. Working for the State, isn't that everyone's goal, the security of a State job? Leaving it behind. Why?

Ever since I was a little girl, I had a fascination with food. What some of the four or five of you may not know is that when I was young my family did not have much. As Daddy would say, "truth is we were never middle class, we were down right poor". I do remember sitting in the single wide making pizza's for Christmas dinner, and being yelled at in Judy and Hollis' double wide because I threw my bowl of buttered rice in the trash 'cause I was just so bored with rice. But I never knew the connection to not having money.  Food has always been vocal in my life. The lore of the rutabaga, Thanksgiving stories, the Cream of Cod Fish Stew, sitting around with Daddy making the 'relish' tray, mother's baked macaroni and cheese before I moved South and learned it was actually a side dish. Oh and we can't forget the countless meals of edible weeds and years later realizing Mother was not cooking pigweed after all. And my personal favorite is a toss up between liver covered in tomato sauce and American cheese and Mother swearing that was Veal Parmesan or the lovely breakfast of puffed rice/wheat that would usually still be there, soggy, in the fridge when we returned from school as we did not waste food in our house!

Food is like a favorite sweater laced with memories and moments that fill me. It is just as valuable in the story of me and belongs on the U-haul with all my other possessions and emotions along side the record player and the wooden baby doll cradle Daddy made for me when I was 6.

So I quit my job so I could keep my fascination with food going. I want to attend the Culinary Arts program at Coastal Georgia College. If you are taking notes, that is the first thing on my list you need to call me out on this time next year.

Road trips! Yep, gonna go on a few of those. And, the two or three of you left are welcome to come along. Again, my youth plays a part. I remember so many trips in the truck, or the station wagon, with the windows rolled down, the sibling bickering and the adventure of ending up where you did not begin.

We will take a few of those!

I chose 'Renovations' because truthfully, I was once full of audacity. I had a vigor about myself that could not be denied. Then I got stuck and sad and lazy. So I am looking to restore to life, vigor and activity the self I can be. And I just hope, you, the one person left, will call me out when I am not waking up and going to sleep to my fullest potential.

Here we go!

Recipe of the day:  Chicken Bok Choy Soup = chicken broth, 3 cups; 2 tsp soy sauce and 2 tsp sesame oil, 1 tsp red pepper flakes, 1 chopped garlic clove, 3 cups chopped Bok Choy.... starting off healthy, good cleanse ; read two chapters of The School of Essential Ingredients

Road-trip: go to Royston BiLo and get wine, carpet cleaner, lemons and blue cheese...stop at vegy booth and see what is available

Renovation: help the daisy patch see the sun.