All I can say: Oh, wow.

Mmmmm...

The best looking dessert I've ever made:  3 layer strawberry cake with chocolate fudge icing and fresh strawberry slices on top...and it tasted as good as it looked.

psalm 13:5-6

But I trust in Your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in Your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
for He has been good to me!

Bad idea.

I like to laugh when I do something funny, or stupid, or clumsy. I think it helps to lighten the mood and instead of getting angry or letting it ruin my day.

So I was making caramel corn... homemade... from scratch... with air-popped popcorn. And I blew up the in-the-process-of-becoming caramel mix in the microwave. All over the place, stickiness. What a mess.

I started to get mad at myself, and at the microwave, and at the caramel mix... until I realized who my captive dessert audience happened to be...

keep in mind: sugary, gooey, popcorny caramel corn. And I was making it for my diabetic boyfriend and his friend who has braces. What was I thinking?

Needless to say, I gave up on the dessert for the night. I'll think through my audience before the next dessert adventure :)

Hal Higdon...Underrated Hero

So it's official. I'm signed up for the Boston Marathon, April 20. As I sat down today to plan out my training and figure out exactly how far behind I already am in my mileage, I thought it necessary and good to give credit where credit is due.

There are many marathon plans online... pay $49.99 to get in marathon shape in 16 weeks... just $35 for the marathon training plan to make 26.2 miles feel like nothing at all... they go on. And I'll never believe anyone that says that 26.2 miles will feel like nothing.

But Hal Higdon is my hero. I have used his plans for half marathon and marathon alike. They have never failed to train me well. He gives no false promises. No fancy 'buns of steel' slogans. And he doesn't charge a dime.

He even has a special "Boston Bound" plan... to train properly for the crazy uphills and downhills of the Boston course. Heartbreak Hill, here I come... thanks to you, Hal.

Life's not worth living if you can't eat cannolis.

A great reminder of the importance of hope, humor, and humanity in medicine, and really in life in general.

Wise words from a cartoon kid.

Charlie Brown:  Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?

Linus: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.

Lights, please.  "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you:  Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.'  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"

That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.