burnt baked goods & other burnt stuff

I can tell I've been very distracted lately - burning cookies and bread sticks (these photos don't do the level of burn justice but believe me, they were inedible) and forgetting things and walking around my house in circles. I'm getting a LOT of exercise running from the top floor to the basement and back - not remembering what I was doing and then having to go back to the point of thought to figure out what I'm up to. I can tell I need to do something unconventional like check into a hotel all alone and write... just write. And figure out where I am and where I need to be. And how to do it...meaning do everything I want to do AND should do. Delicate balance there and the major cause of distraction problems for women.

Maybe I could bring the grandkids with me...that'd be fun. Or maybe we could all go together to Disneyland for spring break and do some shopping and go to the beach or something. Or Moab - haven't been there for years. Hiking would be good for all of us and we could take bikes and....yeah.

Japan was prepared - are we?

Earthquake preparedness - it's suddenly a topic that's on my mind. I'm going to have to act on my nervousness in order to get rid of the sick feeling I have in my stomach.

The one thing that really struck us on the day of the earthquake in the the days after until we went home was how calm the people seemed. Especially on the day of the earthquake when we were riding in the taxi through the streets of Tokyo. The buildings had been evacuated and the streets were filled with people, but there seemed to be no panic. Many people were wearing helmets and masks.

I've copied a simple list that was made for international visitors living in Japan. It was interesting for me to scroll through it and check off my levels of preparedness. Even though preparedness is emphasized in church and in our community, there were several areas that I have neglected lately. For example, right now, our family water supply is pathetic. And old. I doubt we'd even be able to drink it. That's where I'm going to start. Here goes:

Japan is an earthquake-prone country. Be prepared and don't panic when it happens! Check your emergency survival kit regularly to see if the food is outdated or any items are missing so that the kit is usable when it's needed. Getting ready for an earthquake Prepare your emergency survival kit. Pack the following emergency items in a backpack or a bag and keep it in a place where all family members can easily locate it: Flashlight Batteries Portable radio Lighter Matches Candles Nonperishable food Thick cotton gloves Waterproof tarpaulin Extra clothes Pens and notepad First-aid kit Bankbooks Passport Alien registration card Cash Nonprescription medicines You also need to keep drinking water, approximately 2 to 3 liters per person per day. Pay attention to safety measures for your home. Do not leave objects near doors, hallways, and/or staircases. Do not put anything heavy or breakable on the top of furniture. Secure furniture to prevent it from falling. It is also recommended to secure TVs, personal computers and stereo units. If you put something on the top of furniture, make sure it stands securely. In addition, place some non-slip material under it to prevent it from falling off the furniture. Take steps to prevent fires. Unplug electrical appliances after use. Check the safety of your house. Check the roof of your house to see if any tiles are loose or if antennas etc, are unstable. Be informed about local evacuation area / center. Do you know where yours is? Each community has designated evacuation area to be established in case of major earthquakes. Identify and remember where your evacuation area is located. If the earthquake happens while you are at work, you may have to walk all the way home. It is therefore important to plan in advance walking route to your home, otherwise you may find it very difficult to return home in such emergency situations. Make sure to keep in mind several locations of designated "return-home aid stations," which will be established along major roads in case of a major earthquake to help people return home by providing water, restrooms, and necessary information. What to do in case of earthquake If you are at home: Do not move until the main quake ceases. Protect yourself by sheltering under a table. If there is no place to hide, protect your head with a pillow or a cushion. Turn off all heat sources immediately. After the main shock calms down, immediately turn off the gas appliances as well as heating appliances. Anything that could cause a fire should be turned off. Secure a way to evacuate the premises. Open the doors to rooms and the entrance of the house. Always wear shoes even when inside a house to avoid injury as there could be pieces of broken glass or other dangerous objects on the floor. Do not become panicked by aftershocks. It is possible that small shakes may occur following the main quake. Remember to stay calm even when you feel the aftershocks. Get ready to evacuate. Before you leave the house, make sure you shut off the gas supply valve as well as the circuit breaker. If you are in a building, always use the stairs to evacuate. You should not use elevators. Evacuate on foot. You should always walk when you evacuate. Never use cars, motorcycles or bicycles. Do not try to take more than you need for emergency survival. FOOD & WATER Water: 3 gallons per person or animal. That’s a gallon a day for 3 days for everyone. This is the most important thing you have in your kit. Pay attention to expiration dates! It’s true that water expires. If you make your own bottled water, you need to replace those every 6 months. Food: Buy canned, high-calorie foods that will feed your family for 3 days like chili, tuna, veggies, soup, peanut butter, crackers, snacks. And some comfort foods like chocolate or candy. Buy foods with the similar expiration dates to make it easier to refresh your kit. Formula for babies. Storable milk for toddlers. Medications: Have extra supplies for children and grandchildren. First aid kits don’t include these! Specifically, they don’t have children’s medications. Include Children’s or Infant Tylenol and 1 container of Sunscreen (50 SPF or higher). Also, write down your infant or young child’s dose of Tylenol because often the bottle doesn’t include it. In a stressed situation, you may forget. Ideally you should have a 7 day supply of any prescription medication you or your child is taking. This is seemingly impractical with the way that insurance companies allow prescription refills (ie they only give you your month supply). If you or your child is on an important daily med, ask your pediatrician for a prescription for a one-week supply.

open letter to Kneaders Bakery

Dear Kneaders Bakery,

I'm coming to visit you tomorrow, because I haven't been able to stop thinking about those Cream Cheese Brownies that you knocked me over with last week.


Just because I love your brownies so much doesn't mean I want you to come to my town. In fact, I DO NOT want you to open in Logan. I couldn't handle it if you did. Better if you and your brownies and your best-on-earth-and-so-crazy-that-you-only-make-it-in-the-fall pumpkin bread stay ninety minutes away from me so I don't have to "exercise integrity in the moment of choice" every day.

Sincerely, Debbie

ps - actually, it's all about the chocolate

it was the calm before the storm

On the day before the earthquake, we went with Gary and Lesa to the beautiful town of Nikko. This town is home to a famous Buddhist and Shinto shrine area that honors one of the powerful shoguns and was built in the 1600s.

Thousands of wood carvings and large amounts of gold leaf were used to decorate the buildings. This elaborate decor is not seen elsewhere in Japan, where simplicity has been the traditional emphasis. The cat carving above is an image that is seen everywhere in Japan because of the legend that goes with it.

This is one of the most famous images in the world - and it originated here, carved above the stable door on the grounds of the shrine. Such humble beginnings for the world-used phrase, "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil."

The Toshogu is the mausoleum of the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled Japan for over 250 years until 1868.

It was a cold day, but the snow seemed to make everything even more beautiful. We were able to see almost everything and were actually warmed up by the walking and stair climbing.

Back at the town of Nikko, we stopped in a shop that Lesa remembered from a past trip to Nikko and bought some old prints. The shop owners were happy to tell us about the history of some of the items we were looking at. I'll never forget how cold I was - there was no heat in that shop.

Mike was constantly watching for a place to get a bowl of ramen. We lucked onto this little "mom & pop" cafe with the most delicious AND WARM noodles.

:: hope for Japan ::

Memories of lovely images and experiences keep surfacing as we remember the beauty of Japan and pray it will soon be restored.

We feel the same feelings our friend Nancy Crookston expressed in an email to me today, "My heart hurts for Japan. I feel such a kinship with that country as I am sure you do also, and I just can't believe the news." (Nancy is an award-winning oil painter and was honored to be a special guest artist and teacher at an exclusive gallery in Osaka, Japan.)

Scott's wonderful photographs of our time in Tokyo on the days before and after the earthquake are our tribute to the charm of Japan and its people. Tonight our special hope and prayer is for things to get better and not worse. And, of course, we pray for a special blessing on Gary and all those working with him.