Wit of Winston Churchill

Hi again,

Because I love history and politics I thought I would challenge myself and read a book about Winston Churchill's famous wit. Sir Winston's role in history is undeniable. He is known, to me, anyways to have given great speeches, and ruled Britain at a time when a strong leader was necessary.

What I didn't know was that Sir Winston was quite fond of himself and had a wicked sense of humour.

I enjoyed the book immensely as it gave me a better sense of who Winston was.

Some examples of his wit from the book:

-"My idea of a good dinner is, first to have good food, then discuss good food, and after this good food has been elaborately discussed, to discuss a good topic- with me as chief conversationalist."
-"I wonder what God thinks of the things His creatures have invented. Really, it's surprising He has allowed it - but then I suppose He has so many things to think of, not only us, but all His worlds. I wouldn't have his job for anything. Mine is hard enough, but his is much more difficult. And - umph- He can't even resign..."

Here is a short anecdote:
At a reception in Richmond, Virginia in the USA, his hostess, an ample lady, led WSC, the guest of honour, to the buffet table. When she offered him some cold chicken, he asked if he could have a breast. As she helped him to a particularly succulent looking piece his hostess informed him genteely that 'We southern ladies use the term "white meat"'.
The next day a corsage arrived for her- with the flowers was a card from Churchill on which he had written 'I would be most obliged if you would pin this on your "white meat" '.

He also provided some insight into life:
-"The worst quarrels only arise when both sides are equally in the right and in the wrong."
-"Too often the strong silent man is silent because he does not know what to say, and is reputed strong only because he has remained silent."
-"Difficulties mastered are opportunities won."

He was a very interesting person. I could read this book again when I need a laugh.

Thanks for reading.

In terms of what is upcoming, I have to take some courses for work in the next few days. I am hoping on completing these as soon as possible and then resuming my blog. I'll write back again as soon as I have completed another challenge.

Lynn

Sushi Lunch

Hello,

Wow what a day. Between the snow, getting up early to catch the bus to attend a doctor's appointment and a last minute job interview, I barely had time for my sushi challenge.

Things I tried today:
-Sashimi (raw pieces of thinly cut fish): Not bad cold. The salmon they use is farmed, so not a lot of fish taste.
-Hokkigai (surf clam) sushi: One of the most disgusting things to eat. It's hard to chew.
-Saba (mackerel) sushi: This had a strong fish taste and was kind of mushy.
-Inari (cooked tofu) sushi: Kind of sweet and gushy. Not my favourite
-Tamago (cooked egg) sushi: Actually very mild tasting. Could eat again if had to.
-Oshinko roll (Japanese Pickle): Crunchy with a wasabi like taste. Not bad.
-Salmon cheek: This was grilled. It was from a farmed salmon and was the piece of salmon that connects to the gill plate. Not bad but could have used some lemon.
-Oyster Motoyaki (oyster and onion cooked in a cheese sauce): The oyster was not overpowering but chewy. Not my favourite.
-Unagi Don (cooked eel in rice with Japanese style barbecue sauce): One of the most disgusting things I have eaten. It was surprisingly bitter. Will never eat again.
-Shishamo Karaage (whole smelt including eyes and internal organs battered and deep fried): One of the most challenging things I had to eat today due to the sight of the fish. However, if one could get past that, edible and nicely spiced.
-Sanma (barbecued mackerel): Disgusting and it even included the internal organs! My husband removed the fish's liver, tail and eyes before I could even attempt to eat this. I will never ever eat this again.
-Scallop cone (raw scallop, mayonnaise, rolled into a cone with sushi rice): The scallops taste quite mild and have a very unique taste.
-Tako sunomono (pieces of octopus with a vinegar noodle salad): The octopus was quite chewy. Won't eat again.
-Crispy chicken skin (pieces of chicken skin after they have been deep fried): Hello heart attack!
-Chicken curry japanese style: Different. Not to be tried again.

Okay, so here's how I did it today: I went to an all you can eat sushi place where quality is not exactly a priority but the variety was amazing. I had little bites of everything. My husband has a stronger stomach than I do, so he finished what I couldn't. I also had things to eat that I don't mind mixed in so that I could eat something disgusting and follow it with something I didn't mind too much. It went a lot nicer that way.

Lessons learned: If you think you like some sushi before attempting this, don't analyze what you're eating and the possibilities of where it came from. Today I ate a female mackerel and let's just say I know it was a female. I don't think I can eat any sushi except vegetable rolls ever again. It is weird food!

Thanks for reading!

Lynn

Next challenge: Finishing a book about Winston Churchill and his wit

Horror Movie

Okay, I have to admit I get scared rather easily. Because of this, I don't watch horror movies. However, tonight I decided this would be a good challenge for me. So, tonight I watched 1408 starring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson.

I noticed a few things in the movie that I will mention now:
-Fax machines do not fax fabric. If they did, the cost to ship items would be cheaper. However, in the movie, the fax machine faxed one miraculously.
-When a sprinkler head is spewing water, to turn the water off, it does not help to knock off the sprinkler head from the pipe. This just makes the whole ordeal more messy. In the movie, doing this fixed everything.

I have also learned a more valuable lesson: Real life is far more scary than any horror movie.

There are those people who enjoy horror movies and those that don't. Clearly I fall into the don't category. I don't think I need to revisit this challenge again.

Then again, maybe I just think too much. Or the events from the past year have corrupted my sense of fear to the point that there is nothing that will scare me anymore. Except maybe snakes...

Lynn

Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet"

I just finished reading "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran. This book was more challenging for me to read. I like thinking in concrete terms, and this certainly was not concrete. However, I enjoyed the imagery the author used in trying to dole out his advice about life.

I was quite surprised actually at my reactions to this book. I thought I would enjoy it. However, I didn't really. I don't think Kahlil was a realist. I mean, it's fine to dream about loving everyone and living in utopia. However, the reality is: life sucks and there will always be people out there who try to make it tougher. Perhaps another read of this book at a later time, will provide more insight.

For now, I will leave some quotes from the book:

- On Giving : "See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving. For in truth it is life that gives unto life - while you who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness."

-On Self Knowledge: "The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed. The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals."

-On Pain: "Much of your pain is self chosen. It is the bitter portion by which the physician in you heals your sick self."

Next challenge: An interesting sushi treat.

Lynn

Walking on the Pier

Tonight I went for a walk on White Rock Pier. That may not be challenging to everyone, but to me I overcame something I never thought I could.

While out walking on the pier at night, I always had to walk in the very middle of the pier. To me, walking along the edge of the pier and looking over the edge have always been frightening. I am afraid of becoming disoriented and falling either over the edge or on the pier itself. Further, looking over the edge at night always made me face my fear of the unknown. I don't know how deep the ocean is there and I don't know how far down the water is from where I am. Both of these are terrifying to me when I'm totally in the dark.

So tonight, after supper, my husband and I went to the Pier for a walk. It was very stormy and the wind was causing quite a large number of waves with whitecaps on them. But I did it. I walked to the end of the pier and back on the edge and was even able to look at the whitecaps as they rolled in towards the pier! I was also able to walk on the lower pier near the sailboats and look over the edge at the bottom of the pier and the dark stormy waves as they rolled in. I enjoyed this evening very much and I can accomplish a lot more than I thought I could.

Next Challenge: finish reading Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet"

Thanks for reading!

Lynn

Confucius

Good evening,

I just finished reading Confucius' "The Analects". It was an interesting read for anyone who hasn't read this before. It acts to serve as a guide on how to conduct one's life.
I will be able to take some of his words of advice and use them in my life.

Some memorable lines I will leave:

-"The self-restrained seldom err."
-"If wealth were a thing one could count on finding, even though it meant my becoming a whip holding groom, I would do it. As one cannot count on finding it, I will follow the quest I love better."
-"He who demands much of himself and little from others will avoid resentment."
-"The noble man seeks what he wants in himself, the inferior man seeks it from others."

Next challenge: An interesting sushi lunch!

Thanks for reading

Lynn

January 1, 2011

Hello Again,

Well 2011 is officially here. Part of the plan for the New Year is to discover new things that I haven't accomplished before, particularly those that are challenging to myself.

So it all began today.

My husband, father in law and I decided to try our luck Ice Fishing! We got up prior to 6 this morning and headed out to Tunkwa/Leighton Lake which is just outside Merritt BC.

The road up to Tunkwa on the Coquihalla Hwy was quite clear today. It can get quite treacherous on this road, especially near the Coquihalla summit. This was part of the challenge of today. However, it couldn't have been a better day for travelling.

Once we arrived and set up (which included axing out an existing hole) we sat down and waited. Tyler, my husband, caught the one and only fish of the day. Granted, we only stayed and fished for an hour and a half total, it was a very productive day. I will also try and post some of the photos I have taken.

Other personal goals for January include cooking something challenging and reading a book that challenges my perceptions of the world. I'll blog again once I complete another challenge

Thanks for reading.

Lynn