2344 Days since retiring July 1, 2005!

"Rely on Peace
To activate your
Manifold powers;
Pacify your environment
And create a beautiful world."
from Art of Peace

Read on and fall sound asleep

Sounds ominous but after reading translations I am unconcerned. I have no reign and do not know any Medes. What are we to make of the prophecies in Daniel? I read them as accomplished long ago with nothing relevant to us. So why are they in the Bible?

My systolic blood pressure for the 24 days since starting Preservision with Lutein (PWL) averaged 140 mm Hg. In the same time interval prior to PWL it averaged 134 mm Hg. Since I started with these BP measurements July 25, 2011 my systolic BP has averaged 133 mm Hg. I am going to continue with the PWL for another 6 days and check to see if the systolic BP drops back to normal average. I love being a geeky antihypochrondiac. I specify anti because I am not obsessively worried about a serious illness when I “KNOW” that I have all ailments supported by celebrities and fake doctors in TV ads, up to and including mistreated animal syndrome.

The Dennis Abrams group I am in is reading Henry VI part 1. In its own way it is a bloody as “Titus”. It doesn’t seem so savage and “strange” since the deaths in Henry VI are mostly as a result of warfare. I realize it is twisted to think some violent deaths are better than others. Americans were horrified by the Japanese Kamikaze pilots but our airmen apparently had no qualms flying into certain death to attack the enemy. I believe it was the battle of the Coral Sea in which a whole flight of American torpedo bombers were destroyed attacking a Japanese fleets despite knowing they were flying into certain death. I hope someday this becomes an academic discussion because no living person can remember war. Oh how I hope I live to see that day.

I am afraid I have had a brain blow-out caused by excessive Sudoku activity. I have hit a spell where even the puzzles rated simple have me flummoxed. I am still working on the Monday Houston Chronicle puzzle. Monday is the easiest of the week with Friday being the hardest. Maybe what has happened is that I have developed mental tools of such complexity that the logic involved obscures the route to simple solutions. I should switch puzzles for a while.

Strangely I miss the Thanksgiving food. How fast we forget!

Remember to cheer for the University of Houston Cougars when the play Southern Mississippi Saturday for their conference championship and a possible chance at a BCS berth.

I received the first Christmas card of the season today. Thank you Shirley H. I hope to get mine addressed and mailed this weekend during the Houston Cougars and Texans football games.

11/29: Strong and loving God, help us to trust you completely. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 11/30: Guiding Spirit, teach us to receive help graciously. Amen. 12/01: God of all grace, when clouds obscure your face, help us to remember that you are always present. Open our eyes, ears, and hearts to you. Amen. The prayers are from the Upper Room. For your own free E-Mail Devotional visit : http://upperroom.org/devotional/email/ and click on the link “Other Ways to Receive the Daily Devotional”

Chicken with Peppers and Artichokes

1(6 ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts
1/3 cup white wine or white wine vinegar
4 skinless boneless chicken breast halves (1 pound)
2 medium bell peppers -- each cut lengthwise into fourths
4 medium green onions -- sliced (1/2 cup)
1/4 teaspoon pepper



Drain marinade from artichoke hearts; reserve marinade. Mix marinade and wine in shallow nonmetal dish or heavy-duty resealable plastic bag. Add chicken and peppers, turning to coat with marinade. Cover dish or seal bag and refrigerate at least 8 hours but no longer than 24 hours.

Brush grill rack with vegetable oil. Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat.

Remove chicken and peppers from marinade; reserve marinade. Cover and grill chicken 4 to 6 inches from medium heat 5 minutes. Turn chicken; add peppers to grill. Cover and grill 10 to 15 minutes longer or until peppers are tender and juice of chicken is no longer pink when centers of thickest pieces are cut.

Strain marinade. Mix marinade, artichoke hearts, green onions and pepper. Heat to boiling; boil and stir 1 minute. Serve artichoke sauce with chicken and peppers.

”The public is the only critic whose opinion is worth anything at all.”
Mark Twain

SGGP