A chance encounter at the library.

I love my job at the library. Where else could I meet such diverse customers on a daily basis? While I was showing a lady where the magazines were, I noticed an elderly gentleman that had nodded off. I made some noise as I passed him and continued on. When I was done with the lady, I returned to the man and said, "I'm sorry, but you're not allowed to sleep in the library." He smiled and said he was waiting for his wife and had just nodded off. "At 93, this happens often; the seats here are comfy, and the room is quiet." I agreed that it was a nap inducing spot and began to walk away. He called out to me and said, "Let me show you a letter I received the other day." I returned and took the letter. It was from the French consulate in D.C. inviting this gentleman to be honored by the country of France for his service in liberating them during WWII. He said he had entered the service near the beginning of WWII and had served throughout. A ball cap was on the chair next to him, notifying all that he was a WWII vet and pinned to this hat were two full bars. He said he had received the Purple Heart and another that I'm sad to say I forgot. He told me had married that "little girl I'm waiting for" before he shipped off. Said her father warned her not to marry him. "You'll be a widow before your 19." They have been married 73 years. She's 91. I told him the invitation was quite an honor and asked if he was attending. He said no, he had an eye doctor appointment with Dr. Susan Bressler, that day. "Can't you change it?" I asked. He said no. He has macular degeneration and he needs to get his monthly eye drops. His vision is more important than a commemorative gathering, and I really couldn't argue with that.
   What a lovely five minute encounter. At the end of it, he looked me in the eyes and told me how nice it was to meet me. How glad it made him.

How nice it was to meet 'me'.

When was the last time someone said that to you that you truly felt like they meant it? And yes, it was really "I" that was truly glad to have met him.

Financial Help Needed For The VanHorn Family After Fire Destroys Their House

Heather Mays wanted you to see this FundRazr campaign. Check it out!

Here's the campaign by Heather Mays: https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/bfkD2/ab/42Z5bd?utm_campaign=share-campaign&utm_medium=email&utm_source=01-2014

Let's Help Team VanHorn Replace & Rebuild!!!! by Heather Mays $1,555 raised · $50,000 goal · Ends April 05, 2014 The VanHorn family, Jim, Lisa, Abbey, Olivia, Sheridan, Abby, Pam and Jim's mom Ellen, suffered a devastating house fire on January 3, 2014.  All are safe and I'm sure still in shock. They are in for months of rebuilding and insurance companies can move slowly. While I'm sure there will be an initial outpouring of clothing and household items, what they will need over the next few months is money to help cover the many bills and incidentals. Jim & Lisa are such wonderful people and such valued members of our community. Let's show them our support and love! I've set our goal as $50,000. That may seem steep and insurmountable. But really, most of us can afford to send $50 and many of us can afford to send $100 or more. Think of contributing what you would spend for a nice dinner out. I'm positive we can reach this goal AND surpass it! Thank you in advance to ALL of the Team VanHorn supporters. Sincerely, Heather                            How donations will be processed.: If you donate to the VanHorn fund here, your donations will go into a PayPal account that I set up. I'm sure at some point I can switch this to go directly to Jim & Lisa, but on short notice this will have to do. I plan on taking whatever funds are raised by next Friday morning and turning that over to them. You do not have to set up a PayPal account to donate. Just click the PayPal payment box and then say you want to donate as a guest. This is in smaller print towards the bottom of the donation page.

With best wishes, The FundRazr team

Baltimore - "The Greatest City in America"

I love Baltimore City. I love its varied neighborhoods. I love its history. However, on the way to my son's school I saw a city bench that read "The Greatest City in America". Now I'm obviously not the most observant soul as I'm sure this is not a new motto, but seriously, who came up with this one? How about some of the past ones? 

"Baltimore - Independent City" - independent of what?! of Baltimore County?! Tell that to my taxes.

"Get In On It" - (motto) - 2008 

This one I think was to promote tourism & to get people to move back to the city.

 

"Charm City" - (nickname) hmm, aren't we like the 9th rudest city?

 "The City That Reads" - okay, our literacy rate is getting better. 18th place in 2010 but Pittsburgh, yea PITTSBURGH! was 5th!! 

"Believe" - (motto)  what? What? 

"B-more" - (nickname) So much for the city that reads. oye

"The Land of Pleasant Living" - (brewery induced motto) Tell that to the 32.97% of 4 member household living below the poverty level. Think about that. Almost 1/3 of the households in Baltimore city! 

So yes, I think this new motto of "The Greatest City in America" is pushing it a tad. 

How about we just go for honesty. "Baltimore - Come For Our Crabs, Just Don't Blame Us If You Leave With Them"

Pat Boyd's Shrimp Creole

OMG I found Mom's recipe!! I doctor a lot as I cook creole, but this looks like a good base recipe.

Ingredients:
1 box quick frozen shrimp (I'm assuming a lb box)
1/2 c diced green pepper
1/4 c minced onion
1/2 c diced celery
                   (I use a good tsp of minced garlic, if not more)
3 T butter
1 T flour
3/4 c canned tomatoes
1/2 tsp salt
1 T sugar
1 bay leaf (I personally use several)
1 sprig parsley
1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce (I used a lot more)
                  (I add several shakes of hot sauce)
1/3 cup cooked rice

Directions:
Saute green pepper, onion and celery in butter for 5 minutes.
Add flour and blend.
Add tomatoes, 1/2 the salt, sugar, bay leaf and parsley
Cook gently 30 minutes
Remove bay leaf
Add shrimp.
Cook until shrimp are done, about 5 minutes. Pink and curled. 
Serve over cooked rice.

Pat Boyd's Chicken Salad

Ingredients:
8 cups cooked chicken or turkey, diced
2 8oz cans water chestnuts thinly sliced
2 1/2 lbs seedless green grapes
2 cups celery thinly sliced
2 1/2 cups toasted slivered almonds
1 T curry powder
2 T soy sauce
lettuce leaves
28 oz can pineapple tidbits, drained

Directions:
Combine chicken, water chestnuts, grapes, celery and half of the almonds.
Mix mayo, with the curry powder and soy sauce.
Toss mixture into chicken mixture.
Chill.
Spoon over lettuce leaves and garnish with remaining almonds and pineapple.

Serves 16

Crab Cheese Puffs

Ingredients:
1 pkg English Muffins
2 jars of Kraft Old English Cheese Spread
1 can crab meat
2 Tbsp mayonnaise
1/4 t garlic salt
1 stick margarine melted

Directions:
Pick crab meat to remove any shells
Mix with cheese, salt, mayo and margarine.
Melt in saucepan.
Mix with spatula and spread on cut muffins
Immediately broil 'til bubbly.

Betty Baker's Sauerkraut Balls

Betty Baker's Sauerkraut Balls

Ingredients:
1 lb sausage
27 oz sauerkraut drained & chopped
1/2 onion chopped
4 T bread crumbs
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 tsp garlic salt
4 tsp parsley flakes
1 t dry mustard
1/2 tsp pepper
2 eggs

Directions:
Fry sausage and onions.
Blend in sauerkraut and all the rest of the ingredients except the eggs
Make balls and dip in beaten eggs
Deep fry 'till golden brown