Target Darryl

I went to Target today to get some last minute supplies for my trip this weekend. I saw the gentleman who works there taking the shopping baskets from the parking lot and brings them back to the store front for the next customers to use. He kind of reminds me of Darryl from one of my favorite TV shows, The Office.

Today, Target Darryl was wearing shorts since it is summer which made me think of all the times that I have seen him working while battling the elements such as heat, cold and rain. He is always concentrated on getting his job done and being efficient. He doesn't always seem too happy just focused, but he never seems to be unappreciative about his job. I can't imagine anyone who hates their job work as hard as this man does. Even The Office's Darryl needs to pull a few stunts every now and then to get away from the monotony of his job.

If most people had the mentality towards their job as Target Darryl, then I think a lot more would get done in this world. He even inspires me to work harder and try to focus more on my duties at work. If more people took notice of him, I think they would see how much of an inspiration and blessing that he could be to them too. The fact that he has a mental handicap makes me feel even more inspired and blessed since he doesn't let this get in the way of doing his job well.

I know some of you may think you are above Target Darryl because of what his job is and his mental state, but do you use your gifts as well as he uses his?

That's What It's All About!

I want to first apologize to those who read this blog purely for comic relief.  I may not always be the wittiest person; but I am sure a few of my readers may use this blog as a break from reality while they are at work.  For the record, I do have more than one reader, but I only have one who is brave enough to become an official follower.  I cannot apologize for what I am going to talk about.  I know it may be more serious than what everyone has come to think about me, but this is my blog.  The whole point of my blog is writing about whatever is on my mind, and this post is just what happens to melt my enchilada today.  In the end, thinking about the following subject of this post makes me feel very happy and blessed.  I just wanted to share what made me feel this way.

Today was absolutely awesome!  It started off with a quiet time drinking some coffee while reading from my one-year Bible and then Rich Stearn's book, The Hole in Our Gospel.  After hearing him speak at our church last week, I feel like everyone should read this book.  It really gets people to think about their purpose in life, better than some guy in California made people think.  Then I went to church.  Last Sunday was amazing, and I did not think it could be any more amazing with the new changes in our summer program which started last week.  I could not be more wrong.

For once, I was actually able to focus long enough to have a decent takeaway that keeps me thinking about how I can live my life in a way more pleasing to the Lord. This is a miracle since I do not have the best track record for paying attention during sermons.  There are many reasons for my inability to listen, but that is for a different post.  I must point out that it is a personal issue and is no way reflective of the teaching abilities of the priests.  Someone once said that the best way to judge a sermon is whether or not Jesus had to die for the sermon to be true.  This sermon did pass this test.  Our rector spoke about what it means when you say "I believe in God" when you recite the Apostles' Creed. He discussed the weight of these words and what exactly one is saying when they say them.  Ultimately, God is so big and complex that these words should not be taken very lightly.  He is a living God.  He died, but He rose again and is still alive.  He is not some old, distant figure that we cannot be close to.

Following the service, there were a few options for people to go to.  There is adult Sunday school.  I do not know what it is about since I have never really gone because of previous commitments to children's ministry.  I did hear some favorable reviews of the lesson and and anticipation for what will be taught next week.  While adults were doing their thing, the children and youth were doing something new which started last week.  This summer the youth are teaching the younger kids.  From my understanding, there is a lesson taught by an adult for everyone and then everyone breaks into smaller groups.  The beauty of this is that the youth pay attention more closely than they have in the past because they know they will have to help the children understand the lesson.  The children still get their lesson because they always only get a few concepts; so it's okay if the youth are only able to discuss a few topics because that is all that the kiddos will be able to remember and comprehend.  The youth get an opportunity to practice discipleship, and the children get an opportunity to see what they can aspire to in the near future.  Whoever thought of this program gets a gold star, and I hope this concept is able to continue in some format for the rest of the year.

I chose to go to our parish hall where there was a small mission project going on as well as the revamped church cafe was serving food.  I did this last week as well.  It gives you the opportunity to serve those in need and spread God's Word which we are commanded to do in the Great Commission as well as to love our neighbors as ourselves.  It also allows the opportunity for fellowship with people that I may not necessarily talk to on a regular basis.  Cliques within a church community never help people grow in their faith; so this diverse fellowship is a definite plus. 

Then the I stood in line for lunch at the other end of the hall.  The food has been some of the best that I have ever eaten served from the church kitchen, and I have sat with a different group each Sunday with people that I probably would not go with to lunch after the service. This fellowship helps people including myself see that God did not use a cookie cutter when he created us.  I always find it amazing how diverse God's people are, but at the same time we can all come together to glorify Him. 

As I was getting ready to leave church, I realized how blessed I am to be in a church that gets what it is all about to be a Christian.  The section I read in Stearns' book was about faith and works.  Not everyone gets this argument, and many people choose to focus on only one.  The book stated that we are saved by faith and saved for works.  Neither one is more important that the other.  Why would God save us if He didn't have a plan for us? He does loves us, but we are not toys that he just plays with.  We are called to serve Him.  Also, it is rare that a message from the pulpit does not need Jesus' death and resurrection to be complete.  Many churches focus so much on being relevant to today's society that they completely forget what it means to be a Christian.  I am very thankful that my church has not forgotten and that my faith can grow in a way that is pleasing and glorifying to God.  My church realizes that following God means living at the foot of the cross while serving out His plan for us.

Later in the day, I returned to church for a class on Revelation that a friend is teaching.  The lesson reinforced what I realized earlier in the day and showed how incredible and important God's Word is.  It was just another blessing that the Lord has provided, and I will go to bed thinking how thankful I am that God is a living God who just also happens to be my Lord and Savior.  I am also very thankful and happy that my church gets what is important.

Amen!

My Favorite Enchiladas

In my first post, I mentioned that enchiladas make me happy. Also, enchiladas is in the title of my blog. With these two tidbits in mind, I thought I could discuss my love for this delicacy of cross-culturalism.

My favorite type of enchilada is chicken. Depending on the restaurant, I will either order chicken enchiladas with either a mole or tomatillo sauce. Mole or more specifically mole poblano sauce has an assortment of different spices including chili peppers and cacao (Mexican chocolate). The typical chocolate lover may be disappointed since it does not taste like chocolate at all. I must warn you that it can be an acquired taste which I have been fortunate to acquire.  Tomatillo sauce is made using the tomatillo pepper which is typically green. Many places call enchiladas with tomatillo sauce, "enchiladas verdes".

My favorite mole enchiladas are served at Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen. Sylivia is from around the border, and she knows how to cook! The rest of her menu is absolutely delicious as well.  If you need your enchilada fix but your copatriots for the meal are not feeling it, they have many other options to choose from. I know a few people, including myself, who consider it to be one of the best Mexcian restaurants in town, if not the best! The tortillas and queso are worth the extra calories. The only downside is that they have not perfected the frozen margarita. Have no fear, Mexican food lovers! The margaritas on the rocks can be the PERFECT combination of taste and potency.

My favorite enchiladas with tomatillo sauce can be found at Cyclone Anaya's Mexican Kitchen. To me, they are the perfect combination of chicken, cheese and goodness. The ultimate end to any good Mexican food meal is taking a chip and scooping up the leftover enchilada goo, beans and rice. I feel as if Cyclone's had this in mind when they created their cuisine. I am a fan of some of the healthier options they have in their kitchen's arsenal. Besides baked chips and a skinny margarita, they have the Mexican Chopped Salad. At first glance, this salad is one of the most depressing looking salads you will ever see, but you will not be disappointed when you pick up your fork and start eating.

A close runner up to the tomatillo enchilada and the ultimate ending is Laurenzo's El Tiempo Cantina. Many people will disagree with this, but I will point out that Everclear is rumored to be in their margaritas which means any one's judgement while dining at El Tiempo is questionable.

My wild card vote for enchiladas are the Special Enchiladas-A-La-Taylor at Spanish Village Restaurant.  These are some of the best cheese enchiladas ever!  They have a nice blend of spices and a chili con carne sauce, plus plenty of cheese which makes any meal happier.  The cook who came up with this recipe is a genius.  I would not be surprised if this recipe has been perfected through serveral generations because it is just that intriguing.  I must warn you that this place may seem a bit sketchy at first, but once you walk in, there is an eclectic clientele.  I am sure you will find someone who could have a margarita with if you actually knew them. 

The last Mexican eatery that I must mention is Molina's on Westheimer.  It is part of the Molina's Restaurant family.  I rarely order enchiladas here, but they do have some excellent queso gratis during happy hour in the bar at its Westheimer location.  You can definitely taste the processed cheese, but at the same time I do not know of another cheese seasoned to such perfection as this.  They also have the ever popular Jose's Dip which is a must for any queso connoisseur.  I am also a fan of the margaritas.  Good margaritas seem to go hand in hand with good enchiladas.  When you go, you must go to the bar since two of Houston's bestwaiters work in that area.  One of them now hangs mostly behind the bar which is a waste to those who choose to sit at a table, but Jorge still roams between the tables and booths.  They have mastered the art of giving you space to enjoy your margarita but not going too far when you need another round or actual food.  It is a gift that very few waiters have. 

There are many other places in town that have excellent enchiladas and margaritas.  Some of you may even feel that I have not named the best enchiladas in town, but these are the places that I frequent the most.  I like to go to places where I can feel like a regular since Mexican food to me is one of the best comfort foods and relaxing experiences for me. If you feel that I have made a grave error by leaving not mentioning the best enchiladas in town, then you are welcome to post it in the comments section.  I am always on the search for my perfect enchilada and Mexican food experience.

I need cafeina stat!

My Latest Attempt!

In the past, I have made several attempts at keeping up with a blog. When blogs first came out, I had to have one because I went to a school full of nerds who think they're cooler than the Fonz. I kept up with that blog randomly. When I graduated, I made even less of an attempt to keep up with another one which who knows what it was about. I didn't think anyone would read it or that I had that much to say. My last attempt was about my life at work and my attempt to do a half marathon. I used one of my favorite TV shows and a circus as metaphors to be cryptic. I decided that might be bad since the mayhem that can ensue from any workplace or any attempt by a fat person to get fit could be very dangerous to discuss. I needed to keep the blog clean which is not always easy for this Texas debutante with the occasional mouth of a sailor.

For my latest attempt, which is this attempt, I think I will write whatever is on my mind. The blog has been inspired by the phrase "whatever melts your enchilada" which means whatever makes you happy or works for you. Enchiladas make me happy; so I feel the title has an extra dose of happiness thrown into it.

I hope this attempt either makes you happy or at least get you to think which is how I seem to approach my relationships. I either like to make those close to me happy or get them thinking about life from different perspectives. In other words, you will have some of the dumbest conversations or some of the most brilliant conversations with me. It just depends on the day and whether or not I have taken my meds in a while.

Let's do this!