the innocent days

The past few days I've been sick and lying around the house which has given me ample time to day dream and think about useless crap. It has also allowed me time to read through letters from high school. You know, the ones that you would write to your friends, fold up in a square, and give to them at lunch even though you were going to see them and talk all through lunch? Most of them are pretty pointless with the usual "I'm totally stressing about my math test" garb, but a lot of them are full of meaning and bring back a lot of memories. The majority of them are from friends, but I've also kept every single love note I've ever received. And sadly, that's a thing of the past. Not to harp on Brook or significant others of recent past, but the most beautiful things that people have ever written to me have been in high school. Maybe it's a technology thing and printed out emails will have to suffice, but handwritten love letters seem to be so much more meaningful in some way.

Or, maybe it's that the men of high school (or shall I say boys) haven't been through love's twists and turns yet and are completely content telling someone they barely know that the sun rises and sets with them. I had a guy ask me out 11 times before he finally quit. I would bet my life's savings that that wouldn't happen in an adult setting. Maybe for good reason, but you get the point. It's just so much more innocent!

One wrote to me, "Kaylynn, I wanted to get you flowers for Valentine's Day, but none are beautiful enough to even begin to match what you deserve. You are unbelieveable. You are the most beautiful and the most thoughtful person I have ever met. In fact you're perfect."

I get that this was back in high school when we probably all thought we were in love with someone at one point, but seriously, where has this type of writing gone? I understand that love now has much more depth, but seriously, a little cheesy romance does wonders for me.

Another sent me poem after poem, and in the few years of high school sent me more flowers than the combined effort of every boyfriend after that. And, we didn't even date!

I guess I'm just reminiscing, and remembering the innocence of sweet love letters that meant a lot, and still mean a lot to me.

Psycho Donuts

Brook and I were driving through downtown Campbell the other day and we saw this huge group of people, at least 100 strong, protesting. We couldn't really see what it was about, but we saw a few signs that said something about donuts. I just assumed a chain store was trying to enter a boutique area and they were trying to stop it. It's a common occurance.

But, I heard on the radio that they were actually protesting this:

http://www.psycho-donuts.com/donuts.html

I guess a mental health coalitition was upset about the lack of sensitivity these donuts show to the mental health community. Interesting.....I find it pretty creative and harmless. Regardless, the donuts are pretty creative!

Cereal Killer:








Mood swing:

Hives update

I HAD to find out if it was the bread or the soup, so I conducted a little experiment. I went back to Whole Foods yesterday and got a different soup - chicken noodle - but the same bread. Tricky Tricky.

I ate about half the baguette and no dice. I ate all of the soup and no dice. So, I figure it has to be the soup.

Here are the ingredients

* 4 teaspoons olive oil
* 8 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
* Pinch of salt, plus more to taste
* 1 medium onion, diced (about 1 ½ cups)
* 2 stalks celery, diced (about ½ cup)
* 1 medium carrot, diced (about ½ cup)
* 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or ½ teaspoon dried
* 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
* 1 cup orzo, preferably whole-wheat
* 2 large eggs
* 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
* Freshly ground black pepper to taste

The only thing I rarely eat is orzo, but isn't that just a kind of rice? Anyhow, disaster averted but without scientific conclusion. Booo.

On Thursday Carmela and I went to Whole Foods for lunch. I picked up this yummy looking Lemon Chicken Soup and a wheat baguette.

We come back to work and I'm sitting at my desk enjoying my lunch. All of the sudden, I feel this burning go up the skin on my neck. I thought maybe it was from my scarf, so I took it off. Then, I felt this wierd burning all over my arms and I looked down and this is what I saw!




























I had hives all over my neck and arms! I've never had hives from anything ever. This nurse that I sit next to was asking me all kinds of questions, but I felt fine. No shortness of breath, no tightening in my chest. Just burning and itching!!

I don't even know what they truly are. This was obviously them! Luckily I had some benadryl in my purse, popped 2 in my mouth, and they were gone within about an hour.

But really, WTF??

Possibly the most adorable thing ever

Jimmy Carter's religious resignation

Losing my religion for equality
Jimmy Carter
July 15, 2009

"Women and girls have been discriminated against for too long in a twisted interpretation of the word of God.

I HAVE been a practising Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around the world. So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when the convention's leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be "subservient" to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service.

This view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or belief. Women are prevented from playing a full and equal role in many faiths. Nor, tragically, does its influence stop at the walls of the church, mosque, synagogue or temple. This discrimination, unjustifiably attributed to a Higher Authority, has provided a reason or excuse for the deprivation of women's equal rights across the world for centuries.

At its most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities.

The impact of these religious beliefs touches every aspect of our lives. They help explain why in many countries boys are educated before girls; why girls are told when and whom they must marry; and why many face enormous and unacceptable risks in pregnancy and childbirth because their basic health needs are not met.

In some Islamic nations, women are restricted in their movements, punished for permitting the exposure of an arm or ankle, deprived of education, prohibited from driving a car or competing with men for a job. If a woman is raped, she is often most severely punished as the guilty party in the crime.

The same discriminatory thinking lies behind the continuing gender gap in pay and why there are still so few women in office in the West. The root of this prejudice lies deep in our histories, but its impact is felt every day. It is not women and girls alone who suffer. It damages all of us. The evidence shows that investing in women and girls delivers major benefits for society. An educated woman has healthier children. She is more likely to send them to school. She earns more and invests what she earns in her family.

It is simply self-defeating for any community to discriminate against half its population. We need to challenge these self-serving and outdated attitudes and practices - as we are seeing in Iran where women are at the forefront of the battle for democracy and freedom.

I understand, however, why many political leaders can be reluctant about stepping into this minefield. Religion, and tradition, are powerful and sensitive areas to challenge. But my fellow Elders and I, who come from many faiths and backgrounds, no longer need to worry about winning votes or avoiding controversy - and we are deeply committed to challenging injustice wherever we see it.

The Elders are an independent group of eminent global leaders, brought together by former South African president Nelson Mandela, who offer their influence and experience to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity. We have decided to draw particular attention to the responsibility of religious and traditional leaders in ensuring equality and human rights and have recently published a statement that declares: "The justification of discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition, as if it were prescribed by a Higher Authority, is unacceptable."

We are calling on all leaders to challenge and change the harmful teachings and practices, no matter how ingrained, which justify discrimination against women. We ask, in particular, that leaders of all religions have the courage to acknowledge and emphasise the positive messages of dignity and equality that all the world's major faiths share.

The carefully selected verses found in the Holy Scriptures to justify the superiority of men owe more to time and place - and the determination of male leaders to hold onto their influence - than eternal truths. Similar biblical excerpts could be found to support the approval of slavery and the timid acquiescence to oppressive rulers.

I am also familiar with vivid descriptions in the same Scriptures in which women are revered as pre-eminent leaders. During the years of the early Christian church women served as deacons, priests, bishops, apostles, teachers and prophets. It wasn't until the fourth century that dominant Christian leaders, all men, twisted and distorted Holy Scriptures to perpetuate their ascendant positions within the religious hierarchy.

The truth is that male religious leaders have had - and still have - an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter. Their continuing choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world. This is in clear violation not just of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Moses and the prophets, Muhammad, and founders of other great religions - all of whom have called for proper and equitable treatment of all the children of God. It is time we had the courage to challenge these views."

Funeral and Oats, a perfect combination

If you read my latest post you saw the obituary of my Grandma - my dad's mom. I went to her funeral which was this past Friday in Utah. Interestingly enough, our "beach week" that we've been having for the last 40 years didn't pan out for everyone 2 weeks ago, but everyone was able to make it to the funeral. So, for the first time in a long time, all 8 siblings were together. As well, every single grandchild was present except for 1 who had torn his achillies heel and had surgery that same day.

Most of my Callister cousins I see extremely rarely - like once every 5 or 10 years. Needless to say, half of them had no idea who I was since last time they saw me I was probably a teenager. I got a lot of blank stares from some I got kind of sarcastic with and said, "Do you want to guess which one I am?" Some people didn't find that very funny. I suggested nametags, but that didn't fly either. The problem is, I'm the 2nd to youngest cousin and the oldest is 49. So, by the time I was even born these kids were married and off with new families and didn't even know I had arrived. One of them said to my sister (after she mentioned something about me) "Who's Kaylynn?"

The funeral itself was very nice. Each of the children of my Grandma spoke and I thought they did an awesome job. President Eyring (the first counselor in the LDS church) attended, along with several other General Authorities, and gave a lovely talk. It was a beautiful ceremony and more of a celebration of her life since Grandma was almost 98!

While in Utah I was unable to make it to Pizza Factory, the very thing I often almost jump on a plane just to eat. Supposedly the one in SLC doesn't exist anymore and the only ones are down south....?? Insanity. That place is heaven.

So this is a little late, but I can't believe I haven't told you all about my new wheater grinder/oat flaker! What what!! Holla to the homemade wheat pancakes and freshly flaked oatmeal. I have to give a big thanks to my sis Karalynne for finding this gem several years ago (it's taken me that long to buy one...actually I didn't even buy it, Brook bought it for my bday).

Soapbox........

Oatmeal that you buy from the store orginally started once as an oat groat:



















But then before it's packaged for you to eat, it's "flaked" and turned into what you would normally call oats:

















The issue is that once any type of grain is "opened" (wheat, flax, anything) it starts to oxidize. Oxidation causes the nutrients to deteriorate the longer they come into contact with oxygen (just like cheese, milk, etc.) except fcr that oats generally lose most of their nutritional value within 3 days. SO, by the time it even gets to the store, it's worthless. The oatmeal you buy at the store is crap, and does nothing for your body (just like the wheat you buy there, but more on that).

Can you tell I care about this stuff?

Anyway, with an oat flaker, you buy the oat groats (which haven't been opened) and you flake them right then and there, and have nutritionally valuable oatmeal! This stuff will keep you full for hours....and also make you poop....but hey, that's a good sign.

As for the wheat flaker, you can really just use a blender if you are patient and allow it to grind for quite a while to get it fine enough. But, you just buy wheat grains at the store and grind and get fresh flour - same concept as above.


Oh, if you don't want to buy an oat flaker and you are good at planning ahead, you can just let oat groats sit in hot water overnight (like in a crock pot) and make them open up that way. My sister says if you add some apple juice it's awesome.

Enjoy!