Condiments

I have been deluged with requests to write a post about the condiments I prefer. Not really, but I have written about almost everything else, so why not write about condiments?



Condiments are taken for granted. They do not get much respect. The spotlight is on the meat. Men stand around the grill drinking beer and talking as they dote over the hamburgers, steaks, and chicken. Some even conduct a formal procession carrying the meat from the grill to the serving table. When those first bites are taken around the table, noone says, "Ooohhh, that is the best mustard and ketchup blend I have ever tasted." They say, "Oooohhh, this hamburger is soooo good."



Condiments may not get much respect, but they are certainly noticed if absent. "What, no mayo? How the hell am I supposed to eat this burger?" "Hey, where's ya'lls Tabasco Sauce?" "Are we out of parmesan cheese?" These are all common statements when various condiments are not available.



I often forego adding condiments to burgers or hot dogs out of sheer laziness. Impatience and hunger outweigh my desire for mustard and ketchup at times.



Here are some of the ways I use condiments:

Hamburgers: Mustard (hot mustard if available), ketchup or BBQ sauce, no mayo, but I can eat it.

Hot Dogs: Mustard, ketchup, and chili (in this case, chili is a condiment).

Fried egg sandwich: Mustard.

Scrambled eggs and grits: Tabasco sauce.

Pizza: Hot peppers and parmesan cheese.



I have been told this is weird: Dipping a grilled cheese sandwich in ketchup. I don't know why I get grief over this. Folks put ketchup on a cheese burger and a grilled cheese sandwich dipped in ketchup is the same thing, minus the meat.



Raw Oysters: Cracker, oyster, mixture of ketchup, horse radish, and Tabasco.

Popcorn: Salt, no butter.

Ice Cream: Chocolate syrup.



I like hot and spicy and I love BBQ sauce. Down here in the south, Tabasco sauce sits on most folk's tables along with the salt and pepper.



This could go on and on. What is your favorite condiment? Do you do anything weird with condiments (get your mind out of the gutter, I mean on your food).



Happy Friday,

John Strain

What's in a Heart?

One aspect of human nature is to doubt the good in people, but to automatically believe the worst until there is proof to the contrary.

Jim: Did you hear about Bill? He was awarded a full ride scholarship because of his good grades.

Sam: Ya sure, I'll bet his old man is paying. Bill's not that smart.



Jim: Did you hear about Bill? He was suspended for cheating.

Sam: That doesn't surprise me one bit; how else could he make such good grades?

We have all done it. As a matter of fact, we have to work not to do it. We make judgments and form opinions all the time about what we think is in someone's heart.



Have you ever been misunderstood or accused of something you did not do? Have you told the truth to someone, only to have them look in disbelief, then tell you why you really did it and what you were really thinking? It is not a good feeling is it? It is extremely arrogant to presume to know what is really going on in someone's heart.



Darrell Wrinkles was the school bully in sixth grade. He had orange hair, pink skin, and was very fat. He was bigger than most kids at school and he took advantage of the size difference. He was made fun of, mostly behind his back. He did not have any friends and he lived with his mother. In those days, divorce was unusual. I thought I knew the heart of Darrell Wrinkles. He was mean and did not like people, I deduced, but I was wrong.



One day Darrell and I found some common ground; we both had a pet white rabbit. Once he found out, Darrell began to act different toward me. We talked about our rabbits and one day he invited me to come to his house on the way home from school to see his pet - Bugs. Reluctantly, I agreed and walked with Darrell to his house. He was a different person one on one than when he was in a group. Individually, he was more like a regular kid.



His mother was very nice and gave us some Kool Aid and cookies. She seemed happy Darrell had a friend with him. I spent some time there then went home. After that day, Darrell ceased to be the school bully to me. I had misread Darrell's heart. What I thought was meanness was really his way of expressing his own frustrations and hurt. Darrell may have been a bully, but the rest of us inflicted more pain on him than we will probably ever know.



Another human attribute is to polarize things or think in terms of "all" or "nothing." Look at how pundits talk about our politicians. They describe people who are either diety or satanic. I am sure George Bush and John Kerry have their faults, but they no doubt possess redeeming qualities as well.



Have you ever not liked someone, but after spending some time with them changed your mind? It is far easier to hate someone you do not know than to hate someone you do know.



In my line of work, I sometimes meet people who have done bad things like murder and child molestation. I am often amazed at how normal and even likable these folks can be. I suppose there are people who are nearly 100% evil, but most folks are a mixture of good and not-so-good.



If you cannot integrate the good and the bad in the same person, then you will most likely accept or reject an entire race, religion, and gender based on your good or bad experiences with it.



The woman on the bad side of an abusive relationship may reject all men. A crime victim may conclude that all young black men are muggers. Discrimination is useful when we are trying to distinguish good mushrooms from the poisin kind or if we are a parts inspector at an auto plant, but if we overgeneralize, discrimination is a liability.



The end result of these two human aspects, believing the worst while rejecting the good and all or nothing thinking, is lonliness. These behaviors are relationship killers. To correct these human aspects, one must simply be more realistic and objective. We must move from our emotions to our thinking. We must exercise restraint and patience before setting our opinions in cement. Get to know people. Place yourself in their shoes before you exercise your extreme arrogance and presume to know what makes them tick better than they do themselves.



It is difficult to improve on "The Golden Rule." Treat people the way you would like them to treat you.



What's in a heart? It is revealed a little at a time. One bad behavior does not make one bad anymore than one good behavior makes one good. It is over time, through a person's words and deeds, that the contents of their heart is revealed.



Until the next time

John Strain

Law of the Jungle

Every now and then I run across the source of something familiar to me. It just happened again. The familiar of which I speak is a phrase: "The strength of the wolf is in the pack." That phrase is often used as a metaphor in team sports. A local high school has it printed on their basketball court. They are the Wolves of St. Paul's School. When my son attended basketball camps at the University of Kansas, that phrase was used and the boys were often compelled to yell it in unison.



This evening, I was browsing around reading poetry. Wow, that sounds intellectual, anyway, one of my favorite poets is Rudyard Kipling and in the Jungle Book, he writes of the "Law of the jungle."

Now this is the Law of the Jungle -- as old and as true as the sky;

And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die.

As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk the Law runneth forward and back --

For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack. -Source

I admire Mr. Kipling even more now that I know he penned this phrase.



Until the next time

John Strain

Juno 2005

For quite some time now, Barbara and I have attended the Juno Ball. This has become a Mardi Gras tradition and a lot of fun. This year, John and his girlfriend Ashley came along too. The Mardi Gras season is in full swing. This year the holiday is early, February 5.



Usually, at a Mardi Gras ball, one partakes of the food and drink. Since I had to run 16 miles Sunday morning, my challenge was to practice the rare art of moderation. Everything worked out fine. By 8:30 Sunday AM, I was pounding the pavement feeling good. Boy was I glad I controlled myself the night before.



I am a bit bummed over the fact I won't be in town during the Olympia parade. Again, Olympia is an annual event. The parade route is near our house and we usually have a party. Not this year. Instead, I will be in Kansas City celebrating my father's 80th birthday. At least I am missing the parade for a good cause.



Here's to a good week.



Until the next time

John Strain

Saturday Morning Brain Teaser

You have one minute to find the difference in the two photos before the answer is automatically posted. Once you actually know the answer it is surprisingly easy to spot but the way the photos sit next to eachother make the inital discovery nearly impossible. Good Luck!



Click here to view the photos



Until the next time

John Strain