Melting Pot

This past week I have been printing out papers and collateral pieces that I have written in preparation for graduation. I have to assemble them into a "learning portfolio" that is turned into the Communications Department in which they use for accreditation purposes.

When I read over past papers that I have written, I think to myself , "This is quite good!" For some reason it shocks me that I had such control over the words in conveying a message. At the conclusion of a paper I wrote on "Diversity in the Media," during my first semester back at school, I still feel satisfied at these thoughts:

“Many refer to our nation as a melting pot of different people and nationalities.  Yet, the reality is that the majority of people have not “melted” or assimilated into one flavor, they have retained their sense of identity.  With truthful representation and active contributions to media content, minorities can honorably continue to enrich our country’s legacy. 

Rather than become a melting pot, why not empty our pockets of color into the pot, so that we can easily identify each diverse color and people, and appreciate how it flavors our nation.”

Today, I am writing two more papers on diversity - on how the Internet impacts cultures and individual identity and the benefits of diversity in the Public Relations industry. After all I have read, my conclusion in that first research paper three years ago is still true. 

Winter Semester Classes

This semester I have four classes; Print Publishing, International Communications, Accounting 200 and my Communications Capstone class.

Print Publishing is turning out to be my fun class. I get to be creative with Adobe CS5 InDesign. I had to learn it last semester for my Communications Writing and Production class. But here we are learning the principles of good design. OK, I will be a little snotty here - I already know the principles of good design, I am just learning to articulate and fine tune them better with this program. My instructor is only 22 yrs. old, and it is hard to keep up with her in class some days. Thank goodness for free tutoring sessions during her office times. Well worth it!

Anyway, the final assignment is a book project. My sister has written some history on my parents, so I will be using that text and pictures to put together something for my family. I thought of doing my cookbook, but having to reformat 150+ pages seems a little daunting to me at this time. That will be a project for over the summer - when I am through with school :)

For my International Comms. class we read this book consisting of academic papers on various international communication issues, and also have to read the NY Times about world news for our weekly quizzes. We have a group presentation once a week on different world problems, such as Emergence of China. Threat or promise?; International abuse of women; Propaganda, etc.. My week is coming up soon. I was assigned, "Illegal Immigration. What to do?" My classmate is from Japan. We decided to narrow our discussion because it is huge! I spoke with our professor yesterday about what we were planning, and he informed me that this was the hottest topic. He likes robust discussions!

I do like numbers, and I do like them to add up and balance. However, remembering what name to give a journal entry does confuse me most times. I thought this class would be a piece of cake. Not so. I am doing a little better in my quizzes - now it is a matter of remembering all that I have learned for my next exam. However, I do remember what a FIFO and LIFO are.

Then there is my capstone class. I love going to class. There are some students who have had the same teacher for four of the required classes for PR. She is an incredible teacher, and I am fortunate to have had her for one of them. But I like the variety of these instructors different teaching stylses. I think it adds balance to what you are learning. The client we have, Singular Humanitarian Experience is interesting. My group has a good idea as to how we are going to form and present our campaign. We have just finished our research, and now we will be working hard to finish up the campaign and collateral pieces - I can already tell it is going to be crunch work before the end of March.

I am phasing out of my job on campus these next few weeks. After 3 months, they finally were able to hire someone. It has been a bit stressful this past month, feeling guilty that I wasn't in the lab when I was needed. But they knew it would be a hit-and-a-miss with my schedule. I started doing some PR work with an agency this semester, to get experience, but because of my campus job I haven't been able to give the time needed to do the work they have for me. It has been frustrating. Next week will be better.

The Carpenter

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building industry and live a more leisurely life with his wife, while enjoying his extended family.

He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work, the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."

The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we'd do it much differently. But we cannot go back.

You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. "Life is a do-it-yourself project," someone has said. Your attitudes and the choices you make today, build the "house" you live in tomorrow. 

Build wisely!

A Singular Experience

Tonight, my whole house smells like White Chicken Chili. Though I really like this chili, right now it is a little too much. I need more candles – or some system for food odor eaters in our home.

Why does my home smell like this? Tonight my Communication Capstone class conducted a focus group study. We had no budget, so we decided as a group that we would feed our participants as an incentive. They all came – so it must have worked! I volunteered to make White Chicken Chili – two crockpots worth. I was going to make some yummy cornbread muffins, but I got off to a late start this morning so it didn’t happen!

Our focus group study or discussion was with single LDS professionals. We had a great group of people that participated. For our research we got some great insights and learned about the needs for singles as well as understand how we can assist our client, Singular Humanitarian Experience, in reaching their audience of LDS singles. 

 As we concluded and asked if there were any more questions – it was asked if they could get my recipe. So here it is for you to cut and paste!

BEST-EVER WHITE CHICKEN CHILI                                                                        

2 TBSP. Vegetable oil

1 lb. ground chicken or turkey, or 2 large chicken breasts, cubed**

2 small onions, finely chopped

6 cloves of minced garlic

1 – 3 tsp. cumin

1 TBSP. dried oregano leaves

1 – 2 jalapeno peppers (opt.)

1 tsp. each, salt and cracked peppercorns (to taste)

1 can (28 oz.) chopped tomatoes, including liquid

2 cups chicken broth

3 – 15 oz. cans of drained white beans – or a variety of beans (black, pinto, white cannellini, kidney)

2 green bell peppers, thinly sliced lengthwise, or chopped

1 ½ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1 - 4 ½ oz. can diced mild green chilies

1.      In a skillet, heat 1 TBSP. oil over medium-high heat.  Add chicken and cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until it is no longer pink.  Remove with a slotted spoon to slow cooker.  Drain and discard liquid.

2.      Reduce heat to medium.  Add remaining oil to pan.  Add onions and cook, stirring, until softened.  Add garlic, cumin, oregano, jalapeno peppers, salt and pepper and cook, stirring for 1 minute.  Add tomatoes and broth and bring to a boil.  Cook, stirring until liquid is reduced by one third, about 5 minutes.

3.      Add beans to slow cooker and pour tomato mixture over them.  Stir to combine.  Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until mixture is hot and bubbling. 

4.      Stir in green pepper and green chilies.  Cover and cook on HIGH for 20 to 30 minutes, until pepper is tender. Ladle into bowls and top with cheese, sour cream, salsa, chopped cilantro and avocado.

** In a hurry? Omit cooking chicken in step #1, by either using 2 cans of chicken meat or chicken meat from a rotisserie roasted chicken. 

It is BYO_ Night!

I think it is time for another BYO_ Night.

(BYO_ means Bring your own spoon, fork, plate, bowl...)

What do you think?

Does Saturday night work, January 29th?

Or should I make it a Cinnamon Roll Sunday?

That would be Sunday night, January 30th.

Willing to take suggestions on what to prepare.

But you have to make a comment.

Also, letting me know if you are coming would be helpful.

ROUTINE=POWER

On Sunday, the theme for our church meeting was on making goals and working through them. Those that spoke did an excellent job. But one quote that was shared has taken root in my thoughts this week.

“That which is not routine

has no power.”

As I have thought about this, I have seen the truth of these words. Because of school, I have let slip even further the routines that bring me closer to my Heavenly Father - temple attendance, reading my scriptures and personal prayers – and even further – kneeling at the end of the day to express my gratitude! 

For many of us, the reminders of what and where we need to be come subtly, but are we really listening? I keep hearing, but am I listening and more importantly - doing? The Lord has truly blessed my life and I have become negligent in doing simple things that He asks us to do. Hopefully this year I can get back to finding those routines that will afford me the power to do the hard things in life I am asked to do.

Hmmm, this is interesting.

Can you guess what I am?
This is the "One" sofa from the furniture makers, 
Nusa Furniture Collections.
It has a bronze finished base with white cushions. 
Only 30 pieces have been made, and it sells for $23,000.

Personally, when I first saw it, I immediately thought
of a bean/nut pod with a cocoon and bean seeds!
Hmmm, I wonder how comfortable it is?