Courage

"Courage is not limited to the battlefield or the Indianapolis 500 or bravely catching a thief in your house. The real tests of courage are much quieter. They are the inner tests, like remaining faithful when nobody's looking, like enduring pain when the room is empty, like standing alone when you're misunderstood."
 - Charles Swindoll

Like-minded

"They are two minds with but a single thought--hers."

Informed

"Her acquaintances may not be the best informed people, but they certainly are the most informed."

Giant Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

I admit--this blog is just here so I can find this recipe next time I want it.  Don't fool yourselves into thinking I write these things for your benefit.

Bree's Silly Griffindor

Giant Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

5 to 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup solid vegetable shortening
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups molasses
2 eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 325 °F.  Lightly spray pan with vegetable pan spray.  Thoroughly mix flour, soda, salt, and spices.  Melt shortening in large saucepan.  Cool slightly.  Add sugar, molasses, and eggs; mix well.  Add 4 cups dry ingredients and mix well.

Turn mixture onto lightly floured surface.  Knead in remaining dry ingredients by hand.  Add a little more flour, if necessary, to make a firm dough.  Divide dough into two equal parts (recipe makes 2 giant cookies).  Press dough portion into prepared pan.  Bake 23-25 minutes.  Cool in pan on rack for 5 minutes.  Turn pan over to release and cool completely.

Speechless

"She always talks about things that she says left her speechless."

Bucket List 2012

I figure now's a good time to update the ol' bucket list.

First, I like to keep track of the things that were on my bucket list that I've accomplished.  It's usually not much, but it's something. :)

• Run ten miles.  This is a terrible goal, and I do not recommend it. I've done it a bunch of times now, and it's really not a ton of fun.
• In the quest to visit every state (again, if applicable), I feel satisfied with the time I have spent in:
  
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Maryland
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin (including Wayne's Drive-In!)

There's still plenty left to do.  With those things done, here's what's left:

• Buy or build a house (for me) with an indoor pool.
• Pee on the continental divide
• Pilot an airplane
• Ride my bike to Belgium
• Skydive
• Successfully pull off a caper.
• Take a honeymoon in the Virgin Islands. Oh, the irony.
• Trick someone into taking me to a five-star restaurant.
• Visit (or return to) these fine places (or, if I have already, one more time): Australia, Canada, Columbia, England, Fiji, Norway, and every state in the United States.  While I am touring the U.S., I want to be sure to see Disneyland, Disney World, the Grand Canyon, Jackson Hole, Las Vegas, Metropolis (Illinois), San Diego Zoo, and Yellowstone National Park.
• Whitewater Rafting - At any class, but at some point at least Class 4!
• Write the book (or two?)

And here are some things that were on the list that I changed my mind about:

• Adopt a kid.  I think it's a wonderful thing to adopt, I just don't think it's really for me.
• Buy a place in Muskegon, Michigan.  I'm actually re-thinking the other housing-related goal, too.  Buying responsibility isn't as appealing as it used to be.
• Convert the PT Cruiser into an electric vehicle.  I think it'd be fun, not terribly difficult, and a much more earth-friendly thing to do than not, but it's also expensive and...who cares?
• Make out with Keira Knightley.  This isn't as appealing if (a) you've got somebody and (b) you've seen that picture of her where she's so thin she looks like she has an exoskeleton. 

As always, let me know what I should add to my list and if I should visit your town (and if I can sleep on your couch).

Taking License

"She seldom repeats gossip--the way she heard it, anyway."