“What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us.”
― Henry David Thoreau
December 19, 2011
It’s well past my 10am third round audition with Tony’s hands (well, he bailed on using his fingertips and forefeited to using his elbows & kneecaps to drive deep into my most devoted “Holy Mother of Knots” congregations) and my body is attempting to understand the shockwaves of yet another phenomenal massage! It feels good – really good, the blood is finally getting to the head (God knows how many brain cells I’ve been working with these past few years!) . . and well, apparently some other places.
My body all but beaten like a North Dakota cattle ranch wife, I had to undergo yet another loss yesterday . . . . the Superbowl Champs of 2010, the infamously Midwestern football team . . the undefeated until yesterday, Green Bay Packers! And so, I feel it appropriate we touch on this beloved American rendition of the Roman inspired Olympic competitions.
de•feat (d -f t )
tr.v. de•feat•ed, de•feat•ing, de•feats
1. To win victory over; beat.
2. To prevent the success of; thwart: Internal strife defeats the purpose of teamwork.
3. Law To make void; annul.
n.
1. The act of defeating or state of being defeated.
2. Failure to win.
3. A coming to naught; frustration: the defeat of a lifelong dream (hello???)
4. Law The act of making null and void.
“Defeat” is nearly synonymous with “Failure” but how does one become defeated or remain undefeated in a world such as ours? The answer: it is resolutely impossible to avoid defeat, failure, victimization, the un-in-fortune . . . . . . .
For to play the game with any true intent to win, you run the risk of loss, injury, fumbled mistakes, mis-guided throws, windy days that just won’t let that leather bound ball penetrate the distant goal post. Our involved world, the stadium, our external surroundings participating afar from Sony High-def TV’s, the asphalt parking lot just outside the coliseum -grilling up hotdogs and consummating their “almost immediate presence” with gallons of Miller Lite; the majority of Earth just not giving a shit, and rightly oblivious to your own American drama story.
You? You are the leader of your internal battle, the quarterback whether you like it or not . . . if you’re second or third string QB, that likely means your content to ride the bench of life, letting other people play out your life, ignorant to your own purpose and potential.
Fortunately for you, the coaches, linebackers, even the fans are all in your field of decision making. That’s right, you draft the participants in your life and you can just as easily excommunicate any of ’em at your owned damned leisure. You’ve got eleven “main” players on the field at any one time, but the rules allow unlimited substitutions between plays, the types of players on the field for each team differ depending on the situation – it’s your call, your show, your people!
Here’s a Chef Scotty life-analogy lineup:
The playbook: your sub-conscious, your knowledge and experiences of the past, the alternatives
Line of Scrimmage: short-term goal baseline, your present disposition, the challenge before you
The Endzone: short-term goal destination, the accomplishment of your intended task
Stadium: your immediate world, your home, your work environment (outside of the stadium you pretty much have a parking lot of chaotic society wanting to get in)
Fans: your acquaintances, the people who’s life you grace for a glimpse of a moment & vice-versa. Some of them are season pass holders, always cheering you on & some just ride the bandwagon when life is good “we’re number one man!!!” and off to another team & QB when you’re struggling.
The Football: electronic perception, instantaneous intuition, fate???, energetic vibration?????? This is nothing more than the median to the entire game – it can do nothing if you don’t pick it up!
A Fumble: one of your best friends hands-over, cough’s up all your drive, forfeits the ball of endless possibilities. He’s not gonna be on your good side – forgivable? I think so, I think any given situation whether accident or intentional is worth forgiving. But on the other hand, anyone who screws up too much is going to find themselves a broke ass, free-agent that next morning!
An Interception: Well, really nobody to blame but yourself (and yes, you too can cause a fumble!). Now, it’s all too easy laying the blame on anybody & everything but yourself – take accountability & try not to loft a hell mary unless really necessary – you’ve been picked off 3 times this year already!
Touchdown/Fieldgoal/Safety: Points = Successes in your life, get enough of them and you accomplish goals (ie: graduating, learning to paint, losing 15 pounds, paying off a credit card, getting that ellusive promotion). Miraculously you can learn from losing the game and become a better team for it . . . so live it up, work hard/play hard, be true and look at the big picture? Hell, until you’re dead and buried . . . your stuck with this game, so play for the win but understand you’re going to fail in the process!(Hello, Green Bay Packers???)
The Other Team: this scenario, these players typically change in accordance to the circumstances of your life with some individuals all dragging on season through season – you can evict them though!
The Officials: Pretty simple – the law, the judges, the damned pain in the ass meter-maids . . these folks are here to keep some semblance of morals & values applicable to both sides.
Your Team: the people in your life that love you dearly and look to you for friendship, love, memories, babysitting, crying on your shoulder during losses, cheering for your TD’s, practicing in their own efforts but participating in your own long-term goals.
Headcoach: Your best friend or family member for practical advice, possibly a close mentor who corresponds with you directly, giving you the play by play and the authority to override impromptu
Asst. Coaches: Your other intellectual friends contributing their experienced opinions – whether requested or not (ie: your boss). Often, somewhat older confidants with the wisdom of past years.
Quarterback: You in all of your entirety, the play-maker in ever which manner of your life! You control the final decisions and impact the game more than anyone else. You’ll have good days, even Brett Favre days, but you are not perfect and will flounder from expectations both self-imposed & externally.
Your Tackle: This is the guy who protects you night & day from getting sacked – Your best all around friend, life-long partner or family member of stability, a protector that would die for you. This person has nothing but unconditional love & lives to see you shine, knowing they had their own silent part in it
Your Offensive Line: Most likely made up of your immediate family members & the friends that personally call you on your birthday or better yet – get you a gift; these people allow you the possibility to put forward your best efforts & performance, to gain the yardage necessary with perhaps the least amount of gratitude received, persecuted by you, the fans & the coaches when you let the opposing linebacker break through and nail you onto your back.
Widereceiver/Tightends/Runningbacks: Ok, these are your flashy folks that like the attention you give them not to mention the gratification and benefit of scoring. You’ve got your favorites at any given time . . . a new lover, your leo sister, your fellow leaders and personalities that you “just click with” Game on & off the field you talk regularly, dine occasionally & party regularly– move the chains mother f’kr!
Your Defensive Line/Linebackers: Muscle to muscle these men (or women) are those peeps that don’t take shit from nobody . . & they aren’t about to let their team down. You want to fight – it’s on! They live to set things right in your life and put the possession of opportunity back In your hands. Who you got that has your back, yet doesn’t require any thanks in return? The pleasure in the patriotic duty.
Your Safeties/Cornerbacks: In defense, these guy’s are the ones who knock down those obstacles, determined to get you back on the field of play. They are the ones who strive to keep the oppositions point off the board – making it more feasible to win should you & the offense not be at optimum performance level. I’d like to think these are your guardian angels, perhaps? Otherwise we’ll have to settle for your loyal co-workers, veteran business associates & clients, your lawyers (as much as I hate to admit?), your accountant, your mechanic, your Farmers Insurance agent . . get the drift?
The Kicker: This is that one particular, professional or financially sound friend who‘s just in that spot of life to help you save your ass and put some points on the board with above 80% ratio of coming through for you (despite your team squandering the opportunity on those last 3 yards). They’re on the field the least – but their consistency is unequivocal in winning the games!
Need I say more??? My head is swimming right now with some adjustments to the roster, the playbook mentally shifting, my bicep flexing in anticipation of the next throw!
Thai Candied Cashews
Thai glazed cashews are a tantalizing combination of sweet, salty and spicy, making them an excellent beer nut or snack food. Perfect for the holiday season or football game these glazed nuts can be made in a matter of minutes and served alongside your party platters. Great with beer and cocktails, but also delicious sprinkled over salads or desserts (excellent on ice cream!).
Ingredients:
• MAKES 3 cups glazed nuts
• 3 cups unsalted cashews, roasted or unroasted (other types of nuts work too, such as pecans and walnuts)
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 tsp. dried crushed chili
• 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. canola or other vegetable oil
• Optional: fresh ginger minced, sambal, crushed lemongrass or cumin
Preparation:
1. Spread cashews out on a baking sheet and place in the oven at 350 degrees. Allow to bake until cashews appear golden brown in color (15-30 minutes) If your cashews are already roasted, allow to bake for 10 minutes (this will just crisp them up nicely).
2. Remove from oven and slide nuts onto a plate or onto your counter-top to cool slightly.
3. Place a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the oil plus the chili flakes and cayenne pepper. Stir the chili into the oil.
4. When oil is hot, add the nuts. Stir-fry until nuts are coated with chili oil (about 20 seconds).
5. Add the salt and sugar. Stir-fry about 1 minute, or until the sugar has dissolved. Don't over-cook, or the sugar will start to burn.
6. Remove from heat. Slide nuts onto a sheet of wax paper, parchment paper, or tin foil and allow to cool. While cooling, do a taste-test. Add another sprinkling of dried chili flakes if not spicy enough. Add a little more salt if you prefer them saltier.
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