Tag: Greek

A New Year with New Possibilities & New Adventures

On By dotluvs2writeIn Beauty, Christmas and other Holidays, humanity, Inspirational, Life, Religious3 Comments

The end of 2022 was a bit of a rough one for me.

This past Thursday, December 29, 2022, God was with us and helped me stay calm and clear headed when my youngest son, Christopher, my older son’s friend, Alex, and I were in the terrible accident that afternoon.

Thank God we’re okay. But I can’t get over the erratic driver in front of me that drifted off the road from the right lane as if asleep or on his phone. The car slammed into the concrete side of the overpass and jumped back on the road only about 20 feet in front of me, swerving and slamming on his brakes.

I slammed on my brakes but realized he was too close and I’d hit the back of his car head on, so I turned the steering wheel to the left to get away from his crazy swerving.

And BAM!

I was hit from the side or rather I must have hit someone in the lane next to me but couldn’t see because my door was hit, the window shattered into small pieces, and the airbags took up the whole window space. I kept saying, “Oh my God!”

I’d taken Alex with me after getting off work (we work at the same place) and Christopher from his workplace and headed home. It happened close to the exit for my workplace on I-25.

I was so so shocked after I moved to the side of the road and stopped, I kept rambling about the crazy driver and couldn’t believe it had happened. Small pieces of glass from the window were on the door and inside the the front driver seat area and apparently on the seat.

I was a little sore where the seatbelt was against my chest but so thankful that and the airbags kept me safe.

And I‘m most thankful to God that we’re all okay and to my guardian angel as well that I’m okay. If I hadn’t banged into the pick up truck next to me (found out after I stopped and saw their car), if I’d been T-boned, I’d have been seriously injured or dead.

Alex called 911, which apparently they were overwhelmed with calls and he had to wait a couple of minutes for someone to answer. Anyway, they called the police so they’d come to where we were.

The dangerous driver apparently left the scene. How awful.

I’m also thankful that the guy in the pick up truck saw it all and confirmed my report and experience.

My car was towed to a repair shop and I’ve requested a rental car. The policeman was kind enough to drive us home and said I did the best I could in that situation.

Thank you, God.

Now, I must wait 2-3 weeks for an estimate on my car, but from what the woman told me at the repair place this past Friday, it’s likely my lovely 2021 Mazda CX-3 is totaled because the airbags alone are between $8,000 and $10,000 and take months to obtain and be replaced.

I’ll be driving a rental for the next couple of weeks or so (hoping it’s less), preparing to hear from my insurance company and whatever they need to do to send me a check or whatever to go out and get another vehicle hopefully sooner rather than later. I’m the sole driver for Christopher and Alex for their work, as well as my own. I also do delivery as part of my job, and having a car is crucial to my livelihood.

My oldest son, Nicholas, told me to take a picture of my wrecked car.

But today is a New Year, and I’m planning to enjoy it with these traditional treats:

My St. Basil’s New Year bread is ready to be sliced up for Christ, His Mother, the Poor, St. Basil, and my family members. There is a coin hidden inside. Whoever gets the coin in their slice has blessings for the year!

My Greek honey cookies (melamakarona), a tradition in my family. I make them every year for New Year’s Eve and the New Year. They are my favorite Greek sweet. 🙂

After nearly facing serious injury or possible death, my perspective on life is much more precious and vivid. I’m even more grateful each day for everything in my life than before. God is good. He makes something good out of something bad. I look forward to this year’s journey.

I hope you all have a wonderful, blessed 2023!

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A Peek Inside

On By dotluvs2writeIn Beauty, blogging, Cultural and Political, Fiction Writing, humanity, Illness and Medical Treatments, Inspirational, News Events, Religious, Travel, Writing TechniquesLeave a comment

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Do you appreciate the ability to peek inside books on sale on Amazon and other retailer sites? They allow you to see the interior format, a chapter or two to read to see if the book jives with your reading tastes, and the writing style. For me, the latter has a lot to do with the books I choose to read.

I have so many books stacked on my night stand to read, it takes me a while to get through them. But I do!

So, an update for you. 🙂

The ebook version of my debut novel, Passage of Promise, released today. Now both my ebook and print book are available for purchase. Via Amazon, you are now able to take a peek inside the book and read the first couple of chapters for free.  You can also peek in Barnes & Noble’s Nook.

I hope the chapters you read you like and consider picking up a copy!

 

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Now For Something Deliciously Different

On By dotluvs2writeIn blogging, Cultural and Political, Food2 Comments

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In the midst of a terrible cold virus/sinusitis, forcing me to take a break from packing and getting ready for an upcoming yard sale, weather permitting, I thought I’d present to you a delicious Greek recipe. It’s one of my favorite Greek meals.

My favorite is pastitio, but my one attempt at it years ago wasn’t a success due to the tricky béchamel topping that is also used in moussaka.

So, I’m going with another favorite that I make quite regularly.

It’s spicy Greek meatballs (soutzoukakia in Greek). It has a savory flavor and a nice spicy kick to it that isn’t too spicy and not too dull. It’s just right. The recipe is my mother’s, who is 100% Greek, so you know you can’t go wrong. 🙂

Recipe:

1 package of hot Italian sausage

2 pieces of bread toasted

1/2 cup red wine

1/2 cup water

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 cloves garlic, smashed (I just mince mine)

1/4 teaspoon pepper and cumin (each)

1/2 cup butter and oil (each)

Soak toast in mixed wine and water. Squeeze lightly to drain excess wine. Mix meat, toast, egg, garlic, pepper, and cumin. You can use a mixer or do it by hand (I use my hands). They should feel smooth and fluffy. Shape them into short, oval balls. Brown into the mixture of butter and oil. Then put them into a baking dish.

Make tomato sauce:

In same butter and oil, sauté 1 can 14-1/4 oz. tomatoes cut up (I get the petite tomatoes already cut) , 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 1 teaspoon sugar. Boil the sauce for 15 minutes. Pour over the meatballs. Bake at 350° for 20 mins.

It doesn’t say in the recipe how many meatballs that makes. I would say around eight.

You can serve over rice or noodles or whatever starch you want. I like it with rice. I have three men in my family (hubby, adult son, and teenage son), so I double the recipe.

Kali órexi!

 

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