Computer finally working

Thanks to my friend Cris, who told me about an external hard drive that is allowing my computer to actually work now.

I have been going crazy making jelly. Look!

Shana's slow cooker meal

Stuck once again with what to make for dinner, I decided to take a pork shoulder (BOGO at Byerly's), cover it with my neighbor's homemade peach jam, some soy sauce, a little homemade ketchup (also made in the slow cooker) and little garlic. Low for 8 hours. Served with basmati rice. Rave reviews from Jim and even Small Fry, who's not usually paying any attention.

The slow cooker bags really make life easier, too.

Will the secret service allow PB and Js?

On Saturday, Small Fry and I had one of our most exciting days ever: we and 17,000 others went to see President Obama at Target Center.

We left at 9 am. We were finally seated at 12:15.

Being one who plans ahead, I figured we would need a little brunch during that time, but, given the security statements (no bags, no liquids, etc), I wasn't sure what to do. Would Target Center have their nacho stand open?

So we packed some PB and Js and some chips, put them in a purse-like bag and tried our luck.

Security checked our bag and squished our sandwiches, but we didn't get wanded. And when we finally got a seat, the wadded up PB & J wasn't all that bad.

Even better, the exhilaration of getting to see the President of the United States! A once-in-a-lifetime experience that neither of us will ever forget.

Spontaneous volunteering

I decided to catch the last half hour of the Farmer's Market today. There, I run into Peg and she is loading up way more than a normal Farmer's Market run of produce into her van.

(BTW, her van sports my favorite bumper sticker: What Would Scooby Do?)

It turns out that she is collecting donations from the farmers for Keystone Community Services, who runs a foodshelf on University Avenue.

The farmers donate this food - and it's not just end-of-the-day produce, but beautiful vegetables - unblemished cauliflower the size of a steering wheel, boxes of tomatoes, etc. In fact, the farmers are on their way to their next market, so the generosity is amazing.

She asks if I have extra space in my car, which I don't. It's filled with Small Fry's stuff and there's a computer on the front seat that I am taking in for a free tune-up at Staples.

As I am heading to Staples, I decide to drop off the computer, clean out the car real quick and go back to meet Peg, if she's still there.

She is, and we load up everything and head out. When we get there, they bring out a miniature shopping cart. We'll need at least 17 more of those, I think. But more carts come out, and as it turns out, Peg has collected 650 pounds of fresh produce. 650 pounds!

The Keystone people ask me to fill out a form for the donation. I said I couldn't - I didn't even know who it was from. I said, "I just went to the Farmer's Market to get a few potatoes." They laughed, then Peg came and said it's from St. Cecilia's church and handled the form.

I was so glad she recruited me. It helped turn a bad day around. We've heard it before - that when you're feeling bad for yourself, do something for others. I'm here to tell you: it works.