Recently while out of state, I attended a dinner party hosted by some old friends. After dinner, desert, and a period of vegetation, a series of games began. We had typical card games for those traditional types, Guitar Hero for the electronically coordinated, and a heated game of monopoly for the fiscally minded. Somehow during this time, someone proposed a Jello-O eating contest to which I say—don’t ask. Long story short, I won. Apparently their high school career of Jell-o shots couldn’t compare to my lifetime attendance of Mormon birthday parties, weddings, and funerals. For any out-of-state readers, Jell-O is the mainstay of any Utah social gathering and the icon of our weird culture—in fact, the official Icon. In 2001 the Utah Legislature voted Jell-O, with all of its glossy sheen and incandescent colors the official snack food of Utah. Also on the ballot sat another Utah favorite: ice cream. But as Senator Gene David argued, “Ice cream is not sexy. It’s not wiggly and jiggly.” I must say, I agree. The sultry shine and jovial bounce of Jell-O definitely says “Fun with Food” much more than sticky melting ice cream, regardless of any minty flavors or accompanying chocolate sauce.
And why shouldn’t Jell-O enjoy precedence over other Utah snacks? It’s such a versatile product; regardless of the occasion there’s a Jell-O recipe to match. Take the following examples: For a multi-cultural celebration, no need to run to IKEA for Swedish meatballs or Gualverto’s Mexican for fajitas, keep it simple and make a Jell-O Bavarian cream. Or for any weekend bash, throw out the traditional chex-mix and make everyone’s favorite Pretzel Jell-O, the combination of crunchy pretzels, velvety satin cream cheese, and strawberry Jell-O. Throwing a baby shower? No problem. Prepare for motherhood with Lemon Snow Salad: Blend 1 can pineapple, 2 large jars of junior baby food delight (that's right, baby food), cream cheese, evaporated milk (not sweetened) and of course, lemon Jell-O. Yummy!
While I would like to report these recipes are figments of my imagination, I have to admit I’m not that creative. They’re legit—straight outta mormomchic.com. That’s right, Mormon housewives and party planners alike are making these delightful little deserts and apparently feel the need to share the recipes on the wonderful world-wide-web. As a native Utahan I feel obligated to support the state’s decision and endorse their love of Jell-O—I just hope we’re not judged for it…
In the end while other states like New York and Maine enjoy the blueberry, Georgia the peach, and Florida the Orange, I will love and embrace our state elected food of Jell-O. So for all those out-of-state, you may choose what food you will, but as for me and my state, we’ll choose Jell-O.
For those interested in sources, and recipes:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1156021.stm
www.mormonchic.com
Monday, March 16, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Frigorific
Word of the Day:
Frigorific: causing cold: chilling.
While snowshoeing my toes become frozen due to frigorific conditions.
Frigorific: causing cold: chilling.
While snowshoeing my toes become frozen due to frigorific conditions.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
A Few Musings
So the entire population on Facebook has posted their “25 Random Things”—a collection of random tidbits and loving anecdotes about their life which I believe annoys more people than actually sparks any third party interest—it’s a fun idea but such activities are usually reserved for chain emails, speed dating activities, a psychology assignment when your high school teacher is gone, etc. However, after leafing through a few friends’ comments I couldn’t help creating a list of my own. In an effort to break the norm of 25, and in defiance of ‘following the crowd’ I will only post my top 15.
1. I don’t like swimming.
2. I secretly fear one night I’ll sleepwalk to my computer and change my facebook status to something completely inappropriate.
3. I’m convinced that in the last year I’ve grown 2 centimeters taller and my shoe size has shrunk half a size. No comment.
4. I love the smell of sagebrush after rain and pine needles during a snow storm.
5. I feel guilty killing spiders. Really guilty.
6. I was once offered 2,000 camels to become an Egyptian shop-owner’s wife.
7. I received a DVD player for Christmas from someone who knows I don’t have a T.V.
8. I usually insist on driving. It’s a control issue of sorts.
9. My dad was kidnapped in Mexico.
10. I’ve prayed in the Vatican, a Mormon Temple, an Israeli synagogue, an Orthodox church, and an Egyptian Mosque.
11. I wear mismatched socks almost daily.
12. My car’s name is Iris Almira.
13. I walked the city of Jerusalem so quickly it’s fair to say “Today I ran where Jesus walked”.
14. I cannot sleep on airplanes.
15. I want to live my life as if I’m filming the movie Baraka.
Toodles,
Juel
1. I don’t like swimming.
2. I secretly fear one night I’ll sleepwalk to my computer and change my facebook status to something completely inappropriate.
3. I’m convinced that in the last year I’ve grown 2 centimeters taller and my shoe size has shrunk half a size. No comment.
4. I love the smell of sagebrush after rain and pine needles during a snow storm.
5. I feel guilty killing spiders. Really guilty.
6. I was once offered 2,000 camels to become an Egyptian shop-owner’s wife.
7. I received a DVD player for Christmas from someone who knows I don’t have a T.V.
8. I usually insist on driving. It’s a control issue of sorts.
9. My dad was kidnapped in Mexico.
10. I’ve prayed in the Vatican, a Mormon Temple, an Israeli synagogue, an Orthodox church, and an Egyptian Mosque.
11. I wear mismatched socks almost daily.
12. My car’s name is Iris Almira.
13. I walked the city of Jerusalem so quickly it’s fair to say “Today I ran where Jesus walked”.
14. I cannot sleep on airplanes.
15. I want to live my life as if I’m filming the movie Baraka.
Toodles,
Juel
Friday, January 30, 2009
A Thought Regarding Pride
The Cold Within
Six humans trapped by happenstance…In dark and bitter cold
Each possessed a stick of wood, Or so the story's told.
Their dying fire in need of logs, but the first one held his back,
For of the faces around the fire, he noticed one was black.
The next one looked cross the way and saw one not of his church,
And could not bring himself to give the fire his stick of birch.
The third one sat in tattered clothes, he gave his coat a hitch,
Why should his log be put to use to warm the idle rich?
The rich man just sat back and thought of wealth he had in store,
And keeping all that he had earned from the lazy, shiftless poor.
The black man's face bespoke revenge as the fire passed from his sight,
For he saw in his stick of wood a chance to spite the white.
And the last man of this forlorn group did naught except for gain,
Giving just to those who gave was how he played the game,
Their sticks held tight in death's stilled hands was proof enough of sin;
They did not die from the cold without. They died from the cold within.
Six humans trapped by happenstance…In dark and bitter cold
Each possessed a stick of wood, Or so the story's told.
Their dying fire in need of logs, but the first one held his back,
For of the faces around the fire, he noticed one was black.
The next one looked cross the way and saw one not of his church,
And could not bring himself to give the fire his stick of birch.
The third one sat in tattered clothes, he gave his coat a hitch,
Why should his log be put to use to warm the idle rich?
The rich man just sat back and thought of wealth he had in store,
And keeping all that he had earned from the lazy, shiftless poor.
The black man's face bespoke revenge as the fire passed from his sight,
For he saw in his stick of wood a chance to spite the white.
And the last man of this forlorn group did naught except for gain,
Giving just to those who gave was how he played the game,
Their sticks held tight in death's stilled hands was proof enough of sin;
They did not die from the cold without. They died from the cold within.
--James Patrick Kinney
~
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Introduction
I have a fetish with quotes. In fact, I fill my everyday conversation with whatever maxims I can pull from memory and most of my writing centers around one type of aphorism or another. With that as my introduction, let me explain my motives for starting this blog and what purpose I hope it will serve—and why not start with a quote? Ernest Hemingway declares, "There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly; sometimes it's like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges." I believe writing is hard and it’s painful, but it’s also cathartic. I enjoy writing and it serves as an emotional outlet for the many thoughts swirling in my head. I’m hoping if I weave these numerous thoughts into systematic sentences and paragraphs I’ll reach some level of clarity and understanding.
This blog is not geared towards anything specific, nor is it written with any purpose in mind. It is my simple desire to write whatever observations I might have as well as experiment with the power of writing. It will also be an exploration of form and the various methods of syntax and diction—all with the intention of writing with a clear, fluid, and readable tone. It is not my objective to write an electronic journal with the mindless rants about my life and the latest drama I encounter, but at a certain point life IS the latest drama and its inevitable emotions caused by friends, family, or lovers; an occasional dialogue on the subject will be required. However, in the end, as cliché as it may sound, I will write for writing’s sake, for as E.L Doctrow says, “Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.”
This blog is not geared towards anything specific, nor is it written with any purpose in mind. It is my simple desire to write whatever observations I might have as well as experiment with the power of writing. It will also be an exploration of form and the various methods of syntax and diction—all with the intention of writing with a clear, fluid, and readable tone. It is not my objective to write an electronic journal with the mindless rants about my life and the latest drama I encounter, but at a certain point life IS the latest drama and its inevitable emotions caused by friends, family, or lovers; an occasional dialogue on the subject will be required. However, in the end, as cliché as it may sound, I will write for writing’s sake, for as E.L Doctrow says, “Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.”
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