Notification of Name Change

Ok I'm not really changing my name, but I am changing my "username."  I have changed my online identity from "Zarathustra" to "Pilgrim in Progress."  I found that most folks were confused by both the meaning of "Zarathustra" and why I would choose that name as representative for what I was doing.  The ensuing conversation was inevitably too complex and too confusing.  Therefore, I borrowed Ockham's razor and lopped the name off.  For now, I shall present myself as a "Pilgrim in Progress."  That should prove easier to understand and explain!

I also have a secondary  motivation - I plan on creating another blog where I will delve into difficult and perhaps somewhat controversial topics from time to time.  Stay tuned for details on that one! 

Boys Always Get the Blame

"They" want us to believe that "they" never do this.  "They" want everyone to believe that this is only an issue for the crass male species.  Apparently the process of inculcating this mindset into the young male starts earlier than I realized.  Or maybe my daughter is just creative in her writing and has the mindset of a junior high boy!

At least she did it in love 

Hope of Brighter Days!

Hope arrived today on the Frozen Tundra in the form of a flower.  

Winter, get the behind me!

Spring, we welcome your entrance!

Domestic Dad

There has been a definite shift in our home life patterns since my company gave me the proverbial "pink slip."  Fracture Girl is putting in more hours at work, and I have become Domesticated Dad.  I have always helped around the house, spending my youthful years as a bachelor affected that mindset.  However, when it came to shopping and cooking, Fracture Girl handled that arena.  Why not?  She is a really great cook/baker while I just make "grub."  

But change has arrived!  I made my first trip to Costco last week to buy vast quantities of food.  I ventured into Pick N Save (with two little ones in tow, even!) to finish filling our cabinets.  I even looked up some recipes and had meal plans!  Yikes!  What has happened!  

So here I present to you a couple of recent forays into my new domestic frontier!

Here we have the beginning of the Pioneer Woman's Perfect Pot Roast

But it looks even better after a few hours on the stove!

But the best is when you pair it with a tasty salad

 (dried cherries, blue cheese, toasted nuts, carrots, home made vinaigrette)

And put it in your tummy!

Here is one from the good folks who supply that most wonderful commodity -- butter!  

Stay away, Michelle  Obama, don't even think of taking my butter away!  

Good health starts with butter.  

I know.  

I live in Wisconsin.

 

Here it is getting ready to slow cook for 7 hours.  I forgot to take an after picture, but just imagine  - it was delightful!  Notice the furry feline friend in the background hoping to get a piece of the action - no luck for him!  Go catch a mouse and cook it yourself, buddy!

Last, but not least is the Pioneer Woman Chile that I whipped up yesterday afternoon.  I would link it up for you, but it came out of her cook book.  I guess you'll have to go the bookstore and surreptitiously copy it onto a notecard when the clerk is not looking!  Or come over to our house and see for yourself!  I'll pretend not to watch while you make a copy.  See the bits of green in that picture?  Fresh Jalapeno peppers.

 YUM! YUM! YUM!

Of course, chile would not be complete without some of Fracture Girl's cornbread to go along with it!

It just goes to show that dark clouds have silver linings, even here on the frozen tundra.

Oh So Predictable

I did it again.  I do it all the time.  I can't help myself.  I started another book while I am still reading two others.  This one came from the library, though.  That's code for "I can't mark up the pages with a pen."  That's killing me!  N.T. Wright recently published "Simply Jesus" and I started reading it this morning while sitting at the Solid Gold McDonalds drinking a $1 coffee.  

I love reading Tom Wright.  I find that he often challenges my Weltanschauung (worldview).  I realize that some folks have been taught to flee from anything that causes them to question, but I find myself attracted to that very thing.  I find that great writers who challenge my views ultimately make me stronger.  One of my professors used to say "All truth is God's truth" and I agree completely.  It does not matter where one finds that truth, true truth is a gift from God.  To declare that something is not true merely because we do not like where it comes from is to commit the "genetic fallacy."  

When we allow our beliefs to be challenged we are really in the process of building a stronger foundation.  Perhaps we will find that our belief system needs a bit of adjustment - this is good!  And strengthens our understanding and our faith.  Perhaps we will find that our belief system is correct - this is good too!   Now we have faced an argument, found our understanding to be valid and have strengthened our understanding and our faith!  We have in both cases also increased our ability to dialogue with others regarding matters of truth and faith ("always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (I Peter 3:15))

All that is to say that I came across the most marvelous quote in Tom Wright's book today.  Without its surrounding context, it might be a bit opaque at first, but with a bit of reflection, I'm guessing you will correctly ascertain its meaning. 

"It's a dialogue of the deaf."

                                 -N. T. Wright

The dialogue of the deaf.  It takes place around us every day.  Perhaps you or I were even one of the involved parties this very day.  At work, at home, at church - anywhere that people meet this dialogue occurs on a daily basis.  But think deep here.  I'm not just describing tonight's conversation with the 7 year old gymnast who wasn't listening to her dad.  I am talking about that polysyllabic profundity in the first paragraph.  The Weltanschauung.  Think it over.  Then tell me what you think.