Cathy Burnham Martin's Blog, page 65

Blessings!

Each year on September 30, National Love People Day is recognized. For me, it was particularly remarkable this year to spend that day attending the wedding ceremony of the daughter of very special friends. Every now and then, it’s warmingly wonderful to be reminded of the sheer bliss of a young couple crossing that threshold. Congratulations Elizabeth & Connor Keehn! And thanks for including us in your joyous celebration on the shores of Chesapeake Bay. May your lives sparkle with many blessings.

 

September 30 is National Love People Day

“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.”

— William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616)
English playwright, poet & actor
(from “All’s Well That Ends Well”)

Write On!

“Some editors are failed writers, but so are most writers.”

— T.S. Eliot (1888-1965)
Nobel Prize-winning American poet, playwright, & editor

Celebrate Drink a Beer Day!

“Beer, it’s the best damn drink in the world.”

– Jack Nicholson (1937 – )
American actor & filmmaker

 

“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”

– Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790)
Founding Father of the United States, inventor, publisher, political philosopher

Have Fun!

Photo by Stefan Keller

 

This is National No Excuse Day!

So, go have fun and make no excuses for it!

For the Birds

 

“Television has done much for psychiatry by spreading information about it, as well as contributing to the need for it.”

— Alfred Hitchcock (1899 – 1980)
English-American film director & producer

Celebrate National Cooking Day

Favorite foods in the US range from Buffalo chicken wings and hot dogs to crab cakes, mac & cheese, popcorn, and nachos. If Americans are cooking at home, grilled cheese sandwiches, pizza, chicken, and apple pie rank highly. So, on National Cooking Day, what are you cooking?

We just had friends Bill and Angie Leffort give us some delightful fresh veggies from their North Carolina garden. I instantly knew I’d be stuffing the bell peppers, as that is a hubby favorite. I have several variations on this… some including such goodies as sausage and mushrooms, but I thought I’d share my Super Simple version, that anyone can whip up easily.

Super Simple Stuffed Roasted Peppers
2 large or 4 mini bell peppers (any color), halved vertically, seeds & pitch removed
Olive oil spray
1 med sweet onion, chopped½ lb ground beef, seasoned with favorite steak seasoning & mixed Italian herbs
½ c shredded muenster cheese
½ c shredded jack or mozzarella cheese
½-¾ c long grain & wild rice, cooked (or cauliflower rice, if preferred)
2-3 c tomato basil or marinara sauce

Place peppers, cut sides up in large Pyrex-type baking dish, spritz with olive oil, and roast at 425°F for 20 min. Meanwhile, in large microwave-safe bowl, cook onion on high for 2 minutes. Stir in seasoned beef and microwave 1 min; stir; microwave 1 more minute. Stir in half of both cheeses, all the rice, and 1 c sauce. Spoon into roasted pepper halves. Top with remaining cheeses; return to oven for 10-15 minutes and serve with warmed remaining sauce on the side.

Celebrate Bluebird of Happiness Day

Bluebirds are associated with concepts of joy, happiness, and harmony. They are symbols of love, positivity, and renewal in many books, poems, songs, movies, and plays. The symbol dates back thousands of years to ancient Chinese mythology.

In the face of adversity, may the thought of a bluebird bring you hope. And perhaps a bit of humor. May the Bluebird of Happiness be with you all day… just not directly overhead.

Intimacy

 

We all want intimacy. Sometimes we help ourselves, and sometimes we can be our own worst enemy. Through the ups and downs, the roller-coaster of relationships, I like to believe we can learn to recognize and improve both our weaknesses and our strengths. It’s a matter of choice. These relationship faux pas became a central focus in my 2017 book “The Bimbo Has Brains… and Other Freaky Facts.” Nobody is perfect, but we can all work to tip the scales in a more positive direction.

 

We gain intimacy:                                         We lose intimacy:
Open; Communicative                                      Closed; Evasive
Honest                                                                  Dishonest
Forgiving; Merciful                                            Unrelenting; Merciless
Attentive; Connected                                         Preoccupied; Disconnected
Accepting; Nonjudgmental                               Censuring; Critical
Compromising; Negotiating                             Inflexible; Heartless
Aware ; Connected; Sensitive                           Oblivious; Distant; Unfriendly
Appreciative; Grateful                                        Overcritical; Thoughtless
Gentle ; Tender; Kind                                         Forceful; Harsh; Abusive; Belittling
Humble; Unpretentious                                     Arrogant; Domineering
Compassionate; Civil; Considerate                 Unconcerned; Insulting; Inconsiderate
Vulnerable                                                            Guarded
Trustworthy                                                          Untrustworthy
Consistent; Committed                                      Inconsistent; Wishy-washy
Caring; Considerate                                            Unfeeling; Apathetic; Inconsiderate
Positive; Gracious; Good-tempered                 Negative; Disagreeable; Ill-tempered
Respectful; Supportive                                        Controlling; Belittling; Contradictory
Loving; Affectionate                                             Hateful; Indifferent
Empathetic; Understanding; Perceptive          Hostile; Narrow-minded
Charitable; Humane; Big-hearted                     Pitiless; Cold-hearted
Encouraging                                                            Oppressive

Freedom of Speech

As Americans, we have the right to express our opinions, right or wrong, without fear of repercussions or cancelation… that was until certain politicians started mistakenly believing they are the intelligentsia, determined to drive the US into a USSR-style demise. SOS