SOUL FOOD

Barbara Ward-Finneran

You'll never truly know what you can do until you force yourself to believe that you can and push yourself to do it. Failures may dot the path but your actions combined with tenacity bring the empowerment of success! 

Keep the promises that you make to yourself!

Photo Courtesy of Barbara Ward-Finneran and Drawn 2 Design, LLC

©  All Rights Reserved

MAKE IT STOP!

Barbara Ward-Finneran
There are times when the days run into weeks and you find yourself needing a recharge.  Desperate for some time to regroup.  The whole get a grip, "get things organized", get really organized thing.  Sort through a pile of mail.  Catch up with daily chores.  Make a shopping list.  Carve out time to run the errands that keep getting put off.  Get your emotions in check. De-stress. "Wine" down. 


Call it what you want...  The annoying fact that you are only human.  The constantly growing mental "to-do" list always seems to have more things added on then crossed off.  The mind blowing truth that there are only 24 hours in a day despite what you unrealistically dare to pack into them.  The certainty that despite all our technological advances, at least for now, time continuum escapes us.


That said, try to be productive. Finish all that "has to be done" and really can't wait.  Do it now.  Or as much as you can now.  Or until your eyes burn and sleep later.  Only later comes way too late.  Once again you are up way past what should be a reasonable hour even for the over active hours that you keep.  The cycle of sleep deprivation continues.  


I'm exhausted.  It's been a long week and it's only Wednesday. 


Ha!  I hope you are laughing, because you can all too easily relate.  But, damn, it's just not funny.  Especially not in that "ha ha" kind of way.   


Is it time to take a break?  Yes!  Beyond time.  Yep, there are only 24 hours in day.  I can't do it all.  Despite my best attempts.  So in the very near future I will resign myself to the reality that another day flew by without a work out.  I will finish writing this piece and then shut down my laptop without finishing other work.  I'm not going to organize anything, not even, the kids things for morning and once again attempt to have lights out before midnight without failing sleepily. And trust that things will work out in morning and fall into place during the day.  What can get done will, and the rest will wait or still be there for tomorrow's tomorrow.  In the very near future summer arrives and all this time juggling will settle.  Still have it's chaotic moments but bring with it a little bit of "easy".  I'm counting the days till that break.  Just seventeen school days.  So close but yet so far.  Counting the days, wishing I could "make it stop" but focusing on that light I see, or at least a change, I see at the end of the tunnel... day... week... month.  Then I will take a break.  Then I will get myself back on the priority list. Then I will breathe, at least a little.


Yeah, yeah... Promises, promises...


Oh yeah. I need to practice what I preach...
Keep the promises you make to yourself! I will take a much needed "break" soon.  And, I'm thinking if your are nodding your head reading this, you should too!

SOUL FOOD

Barbara Ward-Finneran

Never abandon hope. It doesn't leave you - you leave it. Feed it. Foster it. Let it grow and multiply. Let it be your wings and let dreams and faith make you soar. There is never a hopeless ending if you hold onto endless hope.

Keep the promises that you make to yourself!

©  All Rights Reserved

THE EATERY IS OPEN ~ HEART SHAPED PIZZA

Ingredients

Perfect Pizza Dough
Olive oil for coating or cornmeal for dusting
1 cup homemade or store-bought tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 cups grated Muenster cheese

 Directions

Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Punch down the risen dough, knead it a few times to remove all the air, and divide it in two. On a lightly floured work surface, use a rolling pin to roll one portion into a 12-inch round. Place on a lightly oiled baking sheet.

Spread a thin layer of sauce on the crust--not too much, or else your pizza will become soggy. (A word on sauce: if you don't have time for homemade, spruce up a 14-ounce jar of store-bought by adding 1 crushed garlic clove, 1 1/2 tbsp. of dry red wine and 1/2 tsp. of dried oregano.)
Top your pizza with half of the mozzarella and Muenster cheeses and garnish with the toppings of your choice. Bake 12 to 15 minutes; subtract a few minutes if you're using a pizza stone. When done, the crust will be golden underneath. Makes two 12-inch pizzas.

HE SAID... Give me a break!

TONY WALKER

This week's He Said should be called He's Begging.

With the summer approaching my wife & I are trying to figure out what to do with our son for the summer.

Our daughter is Autistic. Our school district has a wonderful summer program for the special needs population. 

Our son used to attend that program but the program is geared more towards the Autistic Spectrum so he doesn't go there anymore.

Our boy is ADHD.  Last year was the first year he didn't attend our district's special needs summer program. Instead he attended a summer "rec" program for all the "typical" kids. What a disaster that was.

So this year we're looking for a program that is sensitive to ADHD.

WOW! Look at all the programs here on Long Island! There are a ton of programs that appear to be perfect for him!  COOL!!

Wait.... what? $6000?? That can't be right.... let's check another program.... $4000??? WHAT?! Another program.... a 2 week program at a local college.... $3900 FOR A 2 WEEK PROGRAM????

How can this be?????

We can hardly afford the $400 price tag for a week at Scout Camp!!! How the hell are we going to do a summer program that is worth more than my wife's car????

So I am begging for answers.... have you ever been in this situation? What did you do? 

I was thinking of selling my body but I'd most likely end up owing more money!!!

Nothing against the "typical" kids but they have so many options. Our special needs kids can't go without some kind of structure for the whole summer. We pay the same school taxes yet we have to pay more for special needs after school activities & summer programs! It's so unfair!!

I'm begging!!! Someone give me a solution..... one I can afford!!!

SOUL FOOD - DRAFT

Barbara Ward-Finneran

To expect results you must stay committed. 

Flexibility and courage rather then excuses 

are necessary to face the challenges. 

Push through with everything you've got to give.  

Promises, faith and hope lifts your spirit, however your commitment gives you the wings to soar to new heights and fly! 

Keep the promises that you make to yourself!

Photo Courtesy of Barbara Ward-Finneran and Drawn 2 Design, LLC

©  All Rights Reserved