As most of you know, I read a lot. In addition to this, I am usually open to learning new things and new ways and opportunities.

On Thursday, Memama and Pepa had doctor appointments scheduled in Brownwood. She had told Jake and I (The regulars at their lunch table) that she would have lunch in the oven before she left. Thursday morning, I received a call from Pepa and he said the power was out at their house and lunch wouldn't be ready. I wasn't worried. It doesn't hurt me to skip a meal now and again. But, I find I do enjoy a break from the store. I decided I would go to their house at lunch and read the newspaper and relax and maybe fix a sandwich.

When I arrived, the power had been restored. In the refrigerator I found the left over birthday lunch from Sunday (steaks and bakes). So I put some on a plate to microwave. I read the newspaper and ate my meal.

Just as I finished, Jake drove up and came in and started him a plate warming. While he ate, we visited briefly and then cleaned up and left.

When I returned to the parts store, Sylvia asked me if I ate. I told her what I did and she said, "I brought some bean burritos for you. They are on the desk in the office."

Late in the day I went into the office and opened the foil and removed a burrito. I didn't want to insult Sylvia and her cooking I have sampled has been superb! I offered the other workers a burrito, but everyone declined. As usual, it was excellent.

I was trying to determine exactly what different tastes I was experiencing. This was just a plain bean burrito, not loaded with cheese or picante, but it was quite tasty.

I asked Sylvia how she fixed them and she told me the flour tortillas were hers, and she re-fried the beans herself.

Years ago, we had a Mexican National who worked for us (read wetback) named Guillmo. We spent a lot of time in his small apartment with him trying to teach me how to make flour tortillas. Actually I got pretty good at it. I think I could be even better now because I could buy masa and not have to mix it. My big problem was, I couldn't duplicate the tortillas at home. I finally too "Willie" (the wetback) to my home to let him see what I was doing wrong. We walked in and he looked at my electric stove and began scolding me. "You can't cook Mexican food on an electric stove. You have to have gas to regulate the heat better!"

Maybe one these days I will have a gas stove top. But for now I will just buy the tortillas.

Back to Sylvia. She told me she cooks the beans, and then she chops some bacon and fries it in a skillet. Then she drains some of the grease, adds the beans and fries them in the bacon grease. As they are getting done she mashes them with a fork and to regulate moistness she will add either beans (if it is too wet) or more bacon grease (if it is to dry). Whatever she is doing she is doing right!

I brought the burritos home and Krl agrees, they are excellent.

If I come back in this world I want to be Hispanic. (Then I would be fluent in Spanish and be able to cook Mexican cuisine!

It is strange sometimes, how things that are very relevant to situations in my life, appear out of no where. Yesterday I wrote about the vehicle dilemma with idiot daughter #2. Most of the day we talked with the man who sold her the car, and by days end we had a deal. He had the car in his possession, and he will deliver it to us today at an undisclosed location. He will give us the title and a statement of facts, signed and witnessed.

I guess investing another $520 on top of the initial $2219 is better than losing the initial investment. He says we can recoup our money. We will see.

I.d.#2 had told Krl she had to pay for insurance on the car, but when Sergio picked it up she told him "Drive carefully, there is no insurance on it".

Once again, she would rather lie to us than tell the truth. I have decided she is a con-artist, alcoholic, druggie, who will stop at nothing to attain her short term goals.

It is a good thing her goals are short term, because I think it is only a short time before she becomes a ward of the State.

In a weird occurrence. I ran across an article on the internet that addressed "How to handle requests from friends and families who are experiencing difficulties in the economic downturn".

I realize they were talking about people who have lots more than us, wealthy millionaires and billionaires. But on a smaller scale, the shoe still fits. One of these men had received requests in December totalling half a million dollars. The following month it escalated to one and a half million dollars! He enlisted the help of some financial counselors.

When he first became wealthy, this man tried to spread the wealth in a one time fix for all this family and friends. He paid off all their debt and gifted them money. Some of them were smart, and nothing changed in their lives. Others quit their jobs and began living above their means. The second group were the ones who returned, asking for help again. This time, with the counselors help, each individual help request was handled on its on merit. None of the second time requests were granted.

All of them had been deemed "irresponsible". To gift additional moneys would only enable them.

Homes that had been mortgage free, were heavily leveraged, credit cards maxed out (again), and lavish lifestyles were the norm.

For the most part, these second requesters found gainful employment, and salvaged their situations.

Give a man a fish and he eats a meal. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.

There are no free rides.

We are not wealthy. We are struggling. We are blessed. We have seen good times, we have seen bad times. We are survivors.

Rian and Erica are on a weekend get away with two other couples. They have gone to Colorado Springs. The boys are with Erica's Mom and Dad. They should return Monday night, then Rian will have to get on task with his pulling project! (They are out for Spring Break next week!).

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU. YOU are faithful to meet our needs. FATHER, help us as we work through this latest dilemma. Help us to learn from the lies, and hurt, and deception. For I know WHOM we have believe-ed.