Red beans & rice makers & lovers - I need your help!!

Red beans & rice makers & lovers - I need your help!!Share


Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 1:34pm
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HELP! I am looking for short quotes from all my cooks & lovers of southern food to tell me what makes Red Beans & Rice special to you. I am doing a paper on it and need quotes from people that know the subject. I will post the paper here later in the month. It was a "how to" paper that I will be putting my recipe in it and how to make it steps, but I believe that there is so much more to the story so I have permission to add history of the dish and quotes from those who make or love the dish. Simply add a comment. I will be giving full credit to each comment in the paper unless you wish just to be a first name last initial or anonymous. I am hoping if the story is really good I may try to get it published up here. Anyone and everyone has a story or a memory attached to Red Beans n Rice...I'd love to share yours.

Two-weeks to revamp my 'tude

Is it Mississippi I miss or is it the people or is it the ability to be yourself and no need to put on appearances?

I am not sure why I feel I need to be someone or something living up here but no matter how hard I try to be myself the more I hide under the layers of what others expect of me.

I was looking through a friends pictures and everyone was so happy and relaxed. Comfortably dressed and it reminded me of how good I felt when I went back home last summer. After I pulled the stick outta my ass and just was in the moment. I relaxed and enjoyed every last bead of sweat falling down my Wal-Mart tank top as I sat in the sun with my fat ass in jean shorts and flip flops. I wasn’t trying to be anything but present. And you know what it was amazing.

Then I came back hope to Ohio, got fired, freaked out and decided to return to college where I attempt to be something I am not—18 again. Sure I feel 18 inside but dressing in their catchy clothes and latest fads is exhausting. I go home feeling frumpy and fat. I go back the next day and feel like they are laughing at me. It is like I am 18 all over again but in the-back in high school-need to fit in-I am not good enough way.

So what do I do? For that I am taking the two weeks off between classes to start to figure that out. How do I find balance with myself and with whom I feel I need to be? Only time will tell.

PS: My grades are totally awesome and I am excelling at the academics of it all. Just having a mid-thirties crisis.

Here we go again…

I hate that saying, yet at this moment I am sitting as I was 3 years ago. Sunday night, flipping between CNN, the Weather Channel and Fox News, hoping and praying that a hurricane would keep heading westward and listening to government and media persons running their traps about how "if you stay you will pay". So many did but not just at the hands of a storm, but at the hands of the government, police, politicians and storm born militias.
I sit on a Sunday night praying for the safety of my family and friends in the path of whatever weather comes their way. Not sure of what the coming hours hold for them and the rest of the people of the gulf coast. All I can do is watch and pray.

Part 3: Home again home again, jiggity jig….

Now that my internet is up and running again here is the next installment...

18 hours is a long drive and even longer when you are towing a Bronco.

We were bringing to Ohio John's Bronco that we had to leave behind when we transferred from New Orleans to North Carolina in June 2005. He has been chomping at the bit to get it home so he could get it running for three years now, thus why we were in a truck, not the van to drive down. We borrowed Aunt Robin's very awesome truck (which I loved driving around MS, I was afraid of such a big truck after driving a Mustang for 4 years, but that quickly changed) and rented a tow-dolly to bring her home with us.



I has still super relaxed because of the awesome time we had in Mississippi. The trip opened my eyes and mind to the way I perceived life and the way it really was. It showed me that at the pace I was living, worrying, stress, etc, I was not really enjoying the little things in life like I should be. The perception of the South is that life is slower and laid back, and it is that and more. Being in the South opened my eyes to way of life that I didn't realize I missed until I was immersed in it. Not to bash living in the north because it is wonderful in its own way.



People were respectful of each other and they were friendly. I met so many of my brothers friends and neighbors and everyone of them treated me as if they had know me for years, not just a few minutes. When we were hanging out at Erik's house there was this great energy all around us. I wish I could have bottled it. Don't get me wrong they work their asses off when they have to, but life wasn't about all work and no play. It was a life of working hard deserves playing hard and you work to live not live to work. They soaked up every last drop of off time whether cooking and eating great food, watching a game, or simply sitting in the front yard listening to stories or listening to nature. Whatever they did they did it so that they and their families could relax and enjoy life. This was something that I needed to rediscover so desperately and it happened at the most perfect moment when I needed it most. It was like recharging my batteries and boy did they need recharging.



Another wonderful lesson that I needed to relearn is one that I observed in my brothers amazing fiancé Ashley. When we met I instantly loved her to death and admired her confidence and attitude. She told me she was who she was and didn't give a shit what anyone wanted her to be because take or leave she was herself and that wasn't going to change. To me this is a foreign concept. I try to be so many things for so many people. I dress like I think I should for work and other things, even though I am miserable and super self conscious. Now, Ash is no slob and she has effortless beauty, but above all she is comfortable in her skin. I was envious. I decided then and there I was going to learn or rather relearn how I thought of myself. Once these thoughts began to process, I was feeling the weight of all this self consciousness lift. I was regaining Me back.



So I send a great big thanks to Erik and Ash for everything and more.



Back to the drive home…



We took our time driving home because we planned to stop for the night in Kentucky so we could sleep and drive home the next day. We stopped in every state, both because we drank too much and needed breaks and because I was determined to get a shot glass from every state on the way home. Plus, I had to replace the Bama one I got because I gave it to Ash because she is a HUGE Alabama fan. I got some great ones from all over. My collection tripled in size on this trip. (pictures to follow)



I felt great up until we stopped for the night in Ky. That is when I started stressing out. I got sick to my stomach, couldn't sleep and was extremely anxious. I tried to hide it and said it was because of the driving. John was worried that I would lose my happiness I gained on the vacation, I was worried I was walking into a huge trap when I returned to work. Don't ask me how or why, but my intuition told me this was the calm before the storm.



The next day we continue on our journey. I slept a lot to make up for the non-sleeping in the hotel. The further we got into Ohio the more dread I felt. Mind you I loved my job, just not the abuse I was receiving. My last week there was a huge push to drive me over the edge and every time I thought of quitting, I reminded myself of the vacation coming up and how I'd feel better when I got back. I was just overstressed and needed the time off to refresh my spirit. But I began to feel like I had never left. I tried to sleep between the very boring parts of the drive (between Cincinnati & Columbus) but I kept having nightmares of returning to work. Because we stayed longer then expected we would have no recovery time when we got home. We got in around 4:30 Sunday night.



We unloaded and I felt so anxious that I decided to take a trip to Wal*Mart. I walked around trying to shake this feeling of dread. Usually shopping (even if I don't buy anything) had a calming effect on me, but not today. I picked up a couple of things and checked out. I ran into Aunt Daisy and Uncle John while there which was cool. I headed home.



When I got back I tried to busy myself by unpacking and getting everything ready for the next day at work. I tried to go to bed early but despite all my sleeping and anxiety meds (most of which I had to start taking due to my work environment) I tossed and turned all night. When I finally would doze off I would have nightmares. I gave up trying to sleep at 5. I knew I needed to get up soon anyway.


I got ready for work and drove in. I parked in my usual spot and headed in for my morning routine-pick up paper, unlock door, start computer, turn off answering service, start coffee. But something was amiss. The paper was not there, the door unlocked, the phones on, the coffee started. Hmm. That was odd. No biggie, maybe they were giving me time to catch up on my emails and get settled in, after all I was gone for 12 days (on a vacation that was approved in March). Boy was I in for a surprise…

Small victories are still sweet ones

I just came across a story from Biloxi, MS (near where I grew up) that said that a couple that was sueing its insurance company for not paying on their claim for the destruction of thier property during Hurricane Katrina actually one their case. They weren't going all crazy asking for billions of dollars, only what the policy should have paid for the damages in the first place. Finally, some justice for the little guy.

Jury Returns Verdict In USAA Insurance Case

PASCAGOULA (WLOX) -- Friday morning, a jury awarded almost a million dollars to a Pascagoula couple suing USAA Insurance. James and Gladys Lisanby sued the USAA for paying them less than $42,000 on their $800,000 homeowners policy.

USAA's lawyers argued the couple's policy did not cover water, even if it is wind driven. But the jury ruled that the insurer should have paid more on the couple's claim.
The jury ordered USAA to pay $909,641 to the couple for damage to their home, garage and cottage.

After the verdict was read, the judge dismissed the jury until
Monday when punitive damages against USAA will be considered. Danielle Thomas is in Pascagoula covering this story and will have more later today on WLOX News.

Faith: Mississippi is Their Mission

The Signal

Original source: http://www.the-signal.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=52977&format=html

Faith: Mississippi is Their Mission

Members of Grace Baptist Church work to rebuild what Kiln, Miss. lost.
By Tammy Marashlian Signal Staff Writer

The destruction of Hurricane Katrina may be out of the minds of most Americans, but for Grace Baptist Church, rebuilding the southern states that were torn apart by the 2005 storm has turned into a series of relief missions focused on aiding the area’s devastated churches and families.

Right after ringing in the New Year in 2008, a team of Grace Baptist members took a trip to the small Mississippi town of Kiln to frame the building for the city’s First Baptist Church.

But that mission wasn’t a one-time thing for the Valencia church.
For the past couple of years, members and leaders of Grace Baptist have been visiting Mississippi to offer hands-on help that goes beyond dropping change into an offering plate on Sunday.

However, before giving any help, Grace Baptist had to get in touch with families in need by traveling to Mississippi.

Paul Leitzell, administrative pastor for Grace Baptist Church, said after Hurricane Katrina hit in August of 2005, the church saw a need to go down to the area and understand what needs could be fulfilled.

“We didn’t want to hit and run,” Leitzell said. “We wanted to make a long-term commitment.”

Knowing they could cause more damage by visiting the area unprepared, members and leaders from Grace Baptist conducted a series of “survey trips” to Mississippi to meet with contacts from Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization that offers assistance to people in need.

“We tried to assess where we could make an impact,” Leitzell explained.
After getting an understanding of what could be done, Grace Baptist took on the major project of building a home for the family of Pastor Willie Tebo in Mississippi.

But rather than traveling to the state, in 2006 Grace Baptist Church dedicated the patio space of its hilltop church to building the framework and walls of the house.

In coming up with blueprints, Leitzell said the structure was built so that it could be taken down and driven across the country to the town, and then reassembled on site.

As a personal touch, Leitzell said Grace Baptist members and supporters signed their names on the framed home as a way for the Tebo family to remember them.

One of the assemblers was Stephen Beckwith, a Grace Baptist member who has been part of the mission trips since 2006.

“We got it completely sealed from weather, dry wall and plumbing,” Beckwith said.

From there, Leitzell and Beckwith said the relief work continued to include a 2007 visit to build a garage for the Herron family, a local family that had adopted children over the years, and the donation of care packages to 200 families in need.

Grace Baptist’s charity work was topped off earlier this month when Beckwith and six other men framed a church for the First Baptist Church of Kiln.
During the six days in the small town, the seven men applied their construction skills to securing a hurricane-resistant structure.

While there, the group found that the people of Kiln and the church members had faith in God, despite the trauma that Katrina had created.
“I was definitely expecting people to be totally devastated,” Beckwith said. “It definitely was the opposite of my expectations.”

Although Beckwith said he’s been to Mexico to do charity work, he had never taken part in a relief trip on the same level as the Mississippi one.

He hopes the visits to Mississippi will become annual, but understands that planning additional trips will be difficult financially and time-wise.
Regardless, Beckwith said, “We all want to go back.”

Justin Klopfenstein was also on Beckwith’s team that went to Kiln.
Although he had been part of the logistical planning for the previous trips, this was his first time he went to Kiln.

“It was an eye-opener to just how much work has to be done,” he said, noting that the focus has always been on the city of New Orleans rather than Mississippi.

“If nothing else, you see just how people can help other people,” he said.
Even though Klopfenstein had never been to Mississippi, the Grace Baptist member is familiar with doing charity work as he previously spent summers teaching English to people in the Czech Republic.

As for what draws him to do charity work, he said, “I enjoy it, first of all. It’s a lot of fun to help people.”

He also sees the experience as a way to share the teachings of Jesus Christ and a message of hope.

Ultimately Klopfenstein believes the relief work is a way to bring people together.

“That’s the coolest thing I could bring back,” he said. “Seeing two separate churches coming together ... helping each other in a time of need.”

tmarashlian@the-signal.com
Copyright: The Signal

Dedicated to Brandi's Army

Dedication to the army of Brandi's Friends and Family:

While driving home the song Who Knew by Pink came on the radio. At first it sounded like a "break-up" song but the more I listened to it the theme became clear; it was about the death of some one special.

With the court date looming for the bastard who killed Brandi, I thought I would post the lyrics to Who Knew as a way to say we miss you Brandi and "If someone said three years from now, You'd be long gone, I'd stand up and punch them out, Cause they're all wrong"

"Who Knew"

You took my hand
You showed me how
You promised me you'd be around
Uh huh
That's right
I took your words
And I believed
In everything
You said to me
Yeah huh
That's right

If someone said three years from now
You'd be long gone
I'd stand up and punch them out
Cause they're all wrong
I know better
Cause you said forever
And ever
Who knew

Remember when we were such fools
And so convinced and just too cool
Oh no
No no
I wish I could touch you again
I wish I could still call you friend
I'd give anything

When someone said count your blessings now
'fore they're long gone
I guess I just didn't know how
I was all wrong
They knew better
Still you said forever
And ever
Who knew

Yeah yeah
I'll keep you locked in my head
Until we meet again
Until we
Until we meet again
And I won't forget you my friend
What happened

If someone said three years from now
You'd be long gone
I'd stand up and punch them out
Cause they're all wrong and
That last kiss
I'll cherish
Until we meet again
And time makes
It harder
I wish I could remember
But I keep
Your memory
You visit me in my sleep
My darling
Who knew
My darling
My darling
Who knew
My darling
I miss you
My darling
Who knew