This I Believe

"This I Believe (edited by Jay Allison & Dan Gediman) is an international project engaging people in writing, sharing, and discussing the core values that guide their daily lives. These short statements of belief, written by people from all walks of life, are archived here and featured on public radio in the United States, as well as in regular broadcasts on NPR. The project is based on the popular 1950s radio series of the same name hosted by Edward R. Murrow."

The short essays in this book all express what the author believes. They range from the religious to the practical, from political to inspirational, from optimistic to pessimistic. Some are from well-known figures such as Leonard Bernstein, Isabel Allende, Albert Einstein, and Bill Gates to people only known to their friends and families like Josh Rittenberg and Jackie Lantry.

Here's a sampling of beliefs. Each is elaborated in the short 3-4 page essay by the author.

• "I believe in America, and I believe in our people." (Colin Powell)
• "I believe in barbecue. As soul food and comfort food and health food, as cuisine of both solace and celebration." (Jason Sheehan)
• "I believe in always going to the funeral." (Deirdre Sullivan)
• "I believe it is possible for ordinary people to achieve extraordinary things." (Jody Williams)
• "I believe that the world is inherently a very dangerous place and that things that are now very good can go bad very quickly." (Newt Gingrich)
• "I believe I have to remove myself from the voices that barrage me in order to find my true compass. This includes a daily walk just to listen." (Susan Cosio)
• "I believe that everyone deserves flowers on their graves." (Eliva Bautista)
• "I believe that curiosity, wonder, and passion are defining qualities of imaginative minds and great teachers; that restlessness and discontent are vital things; and that intense experience and suffering instruct us in ways less intesne emotions can never do." (Kay Redfield Jamison)

I have a statement and essay of my own sketched out in my head... someday I might share. What about you? What do you believe?

The Wilkin Drink & Eatery - Breckenridge, MN

Just east of the main crossroads in downtown Breckenridge, MN, is the Wilkin Drink & Eatery (508 Minnesota Avenue). Housed in an historic building, it is one of the few establishments in the Wahpeton-Breckenridge area that seems to make an effort on food and atmosphere. The ceiling is lined with pressed tin and there are remnants of a bank dividing part of the space. In other areas are large booths and a bar. The casual atmosphere and familiar menu selections makes for no-pressure dining experience.

I have only visited twice and never ventured far on the menu. My sense is that it includes extended pub fare. A variety of burgers and sandwiches are available. Servers are friendly and portions and price are reasonable. If you know anyone from the area, you'll probably see a familiar face when you're there! It seems to have a local following.

Patty Melt & Fried Potatoes

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

A few bits of trivia regarding Valentine's Day courtesy of wikipedia:

• The holiday is named after two Early Christian martyrs named Valentine.
• The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.
• The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide.
• Valentine's day is the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas.
• In the United States, men spend on average twice as much money as women for Valentine's Day.
• NECCO manufactures nearly 8 billion sweethearts a year. Other companies make similar products. Lots of heart-shaped candies!

Café Patachou - Indianapolis, IN

Café Patachou (8691 River Crossing Boulevard) has many locations throughout the Indianapolis area. I visited a location in a strip mall near the Fashion Mall. On the Saturday morning I was there, the place was packed. I waited for 20 minutes for a spot at the counter. The patrons seemed cheerful as they waited, helping themselves to coffee from one of two pump pots sitting on the counter. The wait staff bustled from table to table serving typical breakfast/brunch food.

While they have several "Namesake Omelettes" with interesting combinations of ingredients (e.g., The Overachiever: Bacon, Cheddar, Sour Cream and Horseradish), I chose the simpler omelette with a choice of one ingredient: ham for me. Omelettes are prepared with "three fresh jumbo cage-free eggs from local farms" and served with cinnamon toast (or another bread option). It had been a long time since I had eaten cinnamon toast so it was a nice treat.

While I waited I took this blurry photo of a "community" table. There were two couples here who did not know each other. But, as the breakfast on their plates diminished, they had gotten to know each other a lot better. Notice they ordered fresh fruit. (The cinnamon toast was better tasting!)