Happenstancelife happens • March 5, 2010

Inside

• What isHappenstance? p 2

• Reviews p 3

• Preservation p 4, 5

• How is Lisa doing? p 6, 7

• Happenstance Kitchen, p 8

• The Best of the Web, p 9

Books byF.S. Vander Meer

These books are available in LasVegas at Tome on the Range Book-store. Online purchases may bemade at Amazon, Xlibris, andBarnes and Noble.

Not Just AnotherDay is a series ofdaily reflectionsthat celebrate thegift of life. Basedon the author’sChristian faith tra-dition the bookuses Bible pas-sages, prayersand readings to

capture the common experience of liv-ing a life of faith in an ever-changingworld.

In Future Imper-fect conflictingforces control twoindividuals seek-ing stability andsanity amid esca-lating political andenvironmentalchaos. Their livesare fraught withlies, treachery,and an altered environment.

In The Ballad ofBawdy McClureshort hauler JakeCasey is con-fronted with theage old question:Who can youtrust? From theopening scene inwhich he finds thebody of his mur-

dered friend to the end he is con-stantly questioning the motives ofthose closest to him.

HHaappppeennssttaannccee……

If you are reading this, that’s happenstance. Whateverappears in this little magazine, that is happenstancetoo. What is Happenstance? I love to write, but I also

want my writing to have purpose, value and be interesting toother people. I’ve tried the blog route, and quite honestly, Idon’t get it. Unless you have something earth changing toshare it just seems way too self-indulgent. I suppose if youhave a large extended family it’s a way to keep in touch, butfor me, having one more thing to keep up with is a test. Face-book? Forget it! I’m on there but I rarely go there.

I have a newsletter, Vander Meer Books and more, but thesame thing applies: too self-aggrandizing and only interestingto a handful of people, most of whom have better things to dothan read about me talking about… uh, me. In truth, I’m notcomfortable with either of these vehicles for networking.What I do know how to do is put together interesting storiesabout life and people and places and activities, and that’swhere my focus will be in the future. So, I’ll include on thesepages whatever I come across that is interesting to me that Ithink might be interesting to you. It will be in digital formatonly. I’m working on getting it published in flip format so thepages will turn like in a magazine… sort of.

I’m also interested in hearing from readers. I will considerpublishing short stories, poems and essays from other writers.Sorry, I can’t pay a fee for printed works but I’ll be happy toinclude a brief bio and link readers to contact information.

What can you expect to find in Happenstance? Book re-views, website reviews, projects (craft, writing, entertaining,decorating, remember, it’s Happenstance), cooking, travel, com-munity and connecting. The latter will explore the opportuni-ties to make a difference locally, statewide, nationally andglobally. Since this is my town and I love it, there will be arti-cles about Las Vegas and the area as well. Expect to see ex-cerpts from books I’m currently working on, as well asexcerpts from books already published.

The bulk of the writing will be from my pen (keyboard) sounless otherwise noted, the content is unofficially signed by

—Sharon Vander Meersharon@vandermeerbooks.com

Send comments, suggestions and criticisms to me at thataddress. Enjoy Happenstance; life happens.

Happenstance • March 5, 2010 • Page 2

Happenstancelife happens

Vol 1, No. 1, March 5, 2010Happenstance is a digital publication of vandermeerbooks.com

Copyright, Sharon Vander Meer, Vander Meer BooksSelected content may be used with appropriate attribution: Sharon Vander Meer, sharon@vandermeerbooks.com

Cover photo: A snowy day in Las Vegas, NM, Sharon Vander MeerPreservation and Prosperity images courtesy of CCHP

Some images from: clipart.com

The Book: The 13th Hour Author: Richard DoetschAvailable at: Tome on the Range inLas Vegas; bookstores everywherePrice: Hardcover, $25.99

Ienjoy reading books that testthe imagination. RichardDoetsch’s, The 13th Hour,

does that in spades. First off youbegin with the ending, Chapter 12. I

have to say that put me off and I almost set the book backon my bookshelf to be read when I didn’t have anythingbetter to do, but author Steve Berry’s accolade on the bookjacket, “What an innovative concept—a thriller in reverse,”caught my attention and I had to see what that meant.

Nick Quinn, the hero (and he is a hero, folks, in thetruest sense of the word), is given an opportunity tochange the tragic ending, the death of his beautiful wife,Julia, by leaping back through the day, one hour at a time.Accused of her murder he is in a police interrogation roomawaiting his attorney and dreading the next onslaught ofgood-cop/bad-cop questioning by officers convinced he isa heartless murderer. When a man arrives who isn’t Nick’sattorney, Nick’s life in turned on end. The man gives him aletter and a rather ordinary looking antique gold watchwith the instructions to keep them in his possession.“Keep an eye on that watch,” his unknown benefactor tellsNick. “You have twelve hours.” Twelve hours to changeevents so Julia does not become the victim of a fatal gun-shot that takes away her beauty and her future.

Unconvinced yet wanting to hang onto any hope thatmight end with Julia alive, Nick finds himself in a standoffwith his police interrogators that ends when he experi-ences the first leap backwards. After determining that hehasn’t lost his mind, he takes the gift of the gold watchand tries to untangle the events that lead to Julia’s death.Complicating his efforts is the crash of a plane that resultsin the death of more than 200 people.

The story moves backward quickly through the hoursof the day. Every action Nick takes falls short and Juliadies time and again, and so do others not originally caughtup in the tragedy.

The 13th Hour kept me engaged from beginning to end,or, given the premise, from end to beginning. Nick is asympathetic character and it’s easy to relate to his chal-lenge. Don’t we all wish we could go back and undo someact in the past so the future would be different, hopefully

better? What Nick finds is that every attempt to alter thepast has tragic consequences in the future. It isn’t until Hesees how Julia’s death and the plane crash are connectedthat he begins to understand what he has to do.

Author Richard Doetsch is the president of a nationalreal estate company based in New York where he liveswith his family. He is a best selling author with two previ-ous thrillers, The Thieves of Heaven and The Thieves of Faith.His website is www.RichardDoetsch.com.

The 13th Hour is published by Atria Books, a divisionof Simon and Schuster, Inc., and is available locally and inbookstores across the country.

The Magazine: GuidepostsFounded by: Ruth Stafford Peale and Norman Vincent Peale in 1945Content: Inspirational and timelyPublished: MonthlyAnnual Subscription: About $20

One of my favorite magazines is Guideposts. Themasthead page has a banner paragraph thatstates its purpose: …a monthly inspirational, in-

terfaith, nonprofit magazine written by people from all walks oflife. Its articles help readers achieve their maximum personal andspiritual potential.

It does that and perhaps a bit more. Guideposts pub-lishes articles that explore life-changing experiences.

The March issue includes: Anne Curry of the TodayShow talking about her childhood and her father; a soccermom who came to understand her yelling during herdaughters’ games was not helpful but hurtful; a womanwhose depression was locking her inside herself until shebegan to spend time with an elderly woman who at nearly90 was as excited by life as she had ever been; a CEO whowent from being the head of a major corporation makingbig bucks to heading up World Vision, a Christian human-itarian organization making a difference all over theworld; a football player who refused to allow Crohn’s dis-ease to do him in.

This is the biggest little magazine we get every month.It includes stories that are touching, inspirational, thoughtprovoking and stimulating. There is even a section oncooking, with tasty foods connected to stories about wherethe recipe came from and how it plays a part in the life ofthe family.

Guideposts is a quick read that can make a big differ-ence. To subscribe log onto their website at www.guide-posts.com.

HAPPENSTANCE REVIEWS

Happenstance • March 5, 2010 • Page 3

The National Trustfor Historic Preser-vation

(www.preservation.org) de-fines cultural heritagetourism as traveling to expe-rience the places, artifactsand activities that authenti-

cally represent the stories and people of the past and pres-ent. Cultural heritage and preservation success stories spanthe nation. The value of preservation is exemplified withfine examples of revitalization efforts in cities and smalltowns. Denver’s 16th Street exemplifies urban renewal thattook existing historic structures and turned them into a vi-brant business district. The tiny town of Kentwood,Louisiana, population 2,600, capitalized on its AfricanAmerican influence creating Sweet Home Folklife Days, anannual heritage event.

Las Vegas, NM can be included on the list of successesif for no other reason than it has more than 900 propertieslisted on the National Historic Register. Add to that thePlaces With a Past annual tour focusing on architecture andhistory, and the annual 4th of July Fiesta showcasing His-panic heritage in a colorful three-day event filled withmusic, dancing, food and family fun.

In 2007 Las Vegas was one of two communities in NewMexico to be awarded an Arts and Culture District designa-tion. The other was Silver City. This brought to bear plan-ning resources that would help the community furtherenhance its cultural and heritage tourism appeal. One out-come of the process is a Second Saturday event each monthfeaturing arts and entertainment through-out the district, which includes home stu-dios and venues as well as establishedgalleries and events. MainStreet Las Vegasand the Arts Council of Las Vegas havebeen key players in taking the Arts and Cul-ture District concept to the next level.

The Las Vegas Citizens Committee forHistoric Preservation, an organization

formed in 1977 to encourage the preservation of and appre-ciation for Las Vegas and San Miguel County historic re-sources, is a linchpin in all these efforts.

At the outset proponents for preservation saw the eco-nomic value of renewal and restoration. In the mid-1980sthe district most commonly referred to as Old Town, had asmall number of businesses, but there were also manyboarded up buildings lining the streets. Demolition by neg-lect was the order of the day for commercial and residentialproperties.

Farsighted organizers saw the possibilities not theproblems, and went to work. CCHP was organized to pro-mote preservation, educate the public regarding the richcultural heritage represented by architecture combinedwith history, and to investigate and implement ways thebuildings could continue to play a vital role in the infra-structure, culture, economy and future of Las Vegas and thearea.

Elmo Baca, a Las Vegas, NM native, is a contractor andconsultant with the New Mexico Main Street Program. As aparticipant in past and present preservation efforts in LasVegas, and one experienced in economic development andrevitalization, Baca said Las Vegas has benefited frompreservation by recognizing its historic buildings are an im-portant resource equivalent to climate, culture, naturalscenery, and people.

“Las Vegas has been actively working on preservingand developing its historic architecture for at least thirtyyears, maybe more, and when you take the long view of it,we have accomplished quite a lot,” Baca said. “Of coursemuch remains to be done. With buildings, it’s a continual,on-going process that never ends. Looking at the benefits of

this work, one could break it down into thetangible benefits and also intangible quali-ties that make Las Vegas a great place tolive. In the past thirty years, there have beenmany small businesses created in rehabili-tated buildings, many jobs created, propertyand sales taxes generated, and lodgers taxrevenues increased. The one benefit thathelps many is stabilized and increased

Preservation and Prosperity

QQuuiicckk FFaaccttss

Location: 116 Bridge StreetContact: PO Box 728,

Las Vegas, NM 87701Phone: 505 425-8803

historic@cybermesa.comwww.lasvegasnmcchp.com

Happenstance • March 5, 2010 • Page 4

Stern and Nahm Building

114 Bridge St.; Built 1885

“In a recession economy like the one we’re in,local community revitalization and

development has become more important.”—Elmo Baca, consultant and

contractor with New Mexico Main Street

property values. Community prideand enjoying one of the best urbanenvironments in New Mexico is awonderful benefit.”

Baca said the best incentivefor communities to preserve her-itage, culture and properties is thatit creates a unique identity.

“In this hyper-competitiveglobal economy, special places aregoing to be the ones that attract thebest talent that helps a communitysurvive and grow. The most cre-ative professionals in our societywant to live and work in specialplaces like Las Vegas. We are already seeing depopulationand poverty in some of our New Mexico and southwesterntowns as highly qualified young people are moving else-where. Las Vegas has a solid urban fabric with some won-derful buildings. But it might not be enough. We need tocreate unique businesses, offer high quality amenities andservices to be competitive. It helps a lot to have unique cul-tural, historic and architectural resources to work with,”Baca said.

Murphey’s Drug (the Crocket Building), a once thriv-ing center of the Douglas/Sixth Street economy and per-haps the heartbeat of the downtown economy, has beenempty for several years. Renters in what had been abustling business block have left, abandoning it to the rav-ages of time and weather. That will all change with the pur-chase of the building by Community First Bank in LasVegas. The bank intends to fully renovate the property andmove its primary operations into the space. What effect willthis have on the local economy and the Douglas/SixthStreet business district?

Baca said the building block concept was a unique typeof building that combined several different types of com-mercial uses. He hopes that will continue.

“On the ground floor there was, of course, Murpheys’sDrugs and other retail shops. Upstairs, the Crocket Build-ing was home to some of Las Vegas’ most distinguishedprofessionals, including doctors, lawyers and architects,”he said.

“Preserving the wonderful architecture and Murphey’sinterior is essential as well as preserving the spirit of the‘business block’ by encouraging mixed uses in the building.The more uses that attract people to the building to see itand enjoy it the better.” Baca said it would be a tremendouspublic relations gesture if the bank could make use of thesoda fountain, an element of the drug store that people re-member fondly. “It would be a good business move for thebank to preserve the soda fountain and offer its customersice cream sodas. Old-fashioned service and amenities like

that are almost extinct.” Baca said the economic impact

of local revitalization extends be-yond the local economy. “Espe-cially in a recession economy likethe one we’re in, local communityrevitalization and development hasbecome more important,” he said.“Every city, including Albuquerqueand Santa Fe, is suffering from de-creased business activity, job lossesand depleted revenues, and every-one is back to the basics of growingjobs one at a time. In times of reces-sion, it’s the smart towns that re-

group, reinvent and keep working. This is what Denver didwhen a recession hit back in the 1980s. Cities will need tobe creative with financing strategies, and we’ll need tohave more economic partnering and joint ventures andpooling of assets to keep competitive.”

Magee Poler, CCHP staff member, said tourists aredrawn to explore Las Vegas because it is an outdoor archi-tectural museum.

“One of the best PR things the city did was to hosttravel writers from all over who went back to their hometowns and wrote articles in their local newspapers. We getcalls and visits from people who saw those articles.” Shesaid casual visitors, people driving through, are amazedand captivated by the buildings and ambience.

She attributes a growing interest in renovation of thestately Victorian houses and some of the old adobe or terri-torial style homes to people wanting to live in small townswhere there is a spirit of community.

“Folks visit, like the place and come back to retire andbuy a fixer upper as a retirement project,” she said. “Orthey’re ready to get out of the big city.” This all affects theeconomy in ways that may not be immediately recogniza-ble, yet it is an economic reality that injections of newmoney strengthen local economies.

Poler said there are good financial reasons to invest inrenovation. Tax incentives are still available to help offsetthe costs of construction, whether you are looking at a resi-dential or commercial property. The state preservation of-fice has information about qualifying and applying forincentives. For details go to:www.nmhistoricpreservation.org and click on Programs.

While there are no grants for brick and mortar con-struction, low cost loans from various lenders and throughUSDA Rural Development programs are available. Formore information contact CCHP.

“The past is our future,” Poler said. “Saving the her-itage, buildings and history of this area is key to the futureeconomy and tourism.”

Happenstance • March 5, 2010 • Page 5

Rheua Pearce Houses, 1208-16 South Pacific; Built ca. 1846 The former residence of Rheua Pearce (1894-1993),an educator and founder of the Las Vegas historicpreservation movement, is a handsome row of adoberooms that is actually two houses, both lovingly pre-served by Rheua.

My wife, Lisa, has been my everything for a lit-tle over thirty-five years. We have threeadult children and one perfect little grand-

son. Our oldest son, Seth, is in a management position witha state agency. He is our firstborn and as such he had toendure our training period as parents. He has overcomemany obstacles and challenges on his way to becoming aman of unparalleled integrity and courage. Seth is a singleparent of our grandson, Carter.

Carter has been a blessing to us in ways we never con-sidered early on. He is, by my own unbiased opinion, per-haps the smartest, most intuitive little boy ever born. Hedemonstrates a love, an understanding, and a perception ofthe world around him that is inspirational and creates anopportunity for those of us closest to him to learn fromhim. Lisa and I have had a substantial role in our grand-son’s life to this point. Lisa has had an even greater part inhis young life than I. She makes sure he brushes his teeth,does his homework, and even though he and his dad liveright next door to our house, she insists that he gets to bedon time. These are all the routine mom things she did forour own children.

Stefan is our second child, and as such he learned earlyon from his brother the myriad ways in which he couldmanipulate and beguile us. Seth and Stefan are only sixteenmonths apart in age and as a consequence they presentedquite a challenge for us when they were toddlers, adoles-cents, and teenagers. Truly it is only until they reachedadulthood did we all find common ground and it has be-come a bond that was born of a little fire and an abundanceof compassion. Stefan also works for a state agency in amanagerial position. While Seth is the indoor office type,Stefan is the outdoor wildlife ranger kind of a guy. Stefangrew up with a bit of a rebellious streak and a devil-may-care attitude. He presented a persona that was as hard asnails and an exterior that implied he could not be hurt. Lisaand I both knew all along that this was a facade and that itwas fragile at best. Stefan has a heart that is all too easilybroken and not readily repaired. People have always gravi-tated to Stefan because he exudes a confidence that is vali-dated by his actions. Together our sons suffer such anaffliction, and their mom and I are blessed that they aresuch caring individuals.

Our third child is our daughter, Audrey. She is our late

in life child andour princess. I,whether by designor circumstance,spoiled her in every senseof the word. That fact some-times infuriates her mother, infact more often than not. Yet Lisa andAudrey share the secrets and confidencesthat only go between a mother and daugh-ter. Audrey has grown into a woman whose inwardbeauty compliments her outward loveliness. Recentlyanother young man entered into our family. While at-tending the state university Audrey met Devin. Devinwon Audrey’s heart and they were married on a warmsummer day. I tell everyone that if I had to shop for ason-in-law, Devin would have been my pick. He is agood man and I know that he loves our daughter.

Our lives, albeit unremarkable, have been even moreblessed and full than I could have ever imagined when Lisaagreed to become my bride.

Change comes to all of us in an abundance of ways. Noone is exempt from this truth. For our family change cameon a day in June 2008. It was at that time that our familyphysician, Dr. Elliot, informed us that he needed to referLisa to an oncologist.

Thus began what has become a brutally savage chal-lenge in a fight against cancer. Our worst fears were real-ized when, after the obligatory battery of tests, Lisa wasdiagnosed with stage four cancer.

After this news spread among our extended family, ourfriends, and even acquaintances, there has always been onerecurrent question asked by those who care, and it is this:“How is Lisa doing”? It is a simple question on the surface,but the depth of it is more than I can adequately answer.

My response is usually one of these variables, “Oh, shehas her good days and bad days,” or, “She’s hanging inthere,” or simply, “She’s fine,” or some such other inanequip that does not convey the enormity of the situation.The reality is that she is not fine.

The people who ask about her are genuinely concernedand they care about and love her because of the way inwhich they know her.

When I hear this question, and while I may respond in

Happenstance • March 5, 2010 • Page 6

“Our worst fears were realized when, after the obligatory battery of tests, Lisa was diagnosed with stage four cancer.”

—Marc Conkle

How is Lisa Doing? A Love Story

some pedestrian manner, I inwardly want to scream to thequery, “She is sick beyond description, please help her ifyou can”.

We are touched by the interest of those who love herand we desperately need to know that we are not alone insorrow, in a desire to be of assistance, and most importantfor us, in prayer. Yet sometimes I find myself, at least pri-vately, in a state of anger at those who are not fully im-mersed in this struggle.

They can walk away after their well-intentioned con-cern is voiced and proceed with their otherwise normalhealthy life. Yes I know this admission is unreasonable andunwarranted, but there it is and I would be remiss not toacknowledge it.

Therein lies the conundrum, we covet the support of allwho would give it and we are grateful for it, and yet I havesuch loathing for the circumstance we are in that I visit mygut wrenching animosity upon those who least deserve it. Ithink this recognition exemplifies the confusion and des-peration that accompanies that which is before us.

It is imperative that I articulate all that I can relative tothe virtues of my wife and how much our life together hasmeant to me, but I can only do that through my eyes. As aresult, it may appear that this is all about me. Nothingcould be farther from the truth. For everyone who has beenwhere we are now, and the number is legion, one can onlyplumb the depths of one’s own soul in an attempt to relateto others the Pandora’s Box of emotions that aboundthroughout the course of this engagement.

For instance, the common terms used in dealing withcancer do not do it justice. Terms such as battle, struggle,and fight fall so very short in the conveyance of absoluteimmersion in cancer. They are good words and appropriatein the absence of anything more descriptive. It would be anappropriate parallel to suggest that placing your hand in ablast furnace may cause a burn, so too is how battle, strug-gle, and fight relate to cancer.

Likewise words and sentiments of inspiration have be-come more abundantly clear in the face of this nightmare.“Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadowdeath,” has become more than a favorite Bible scripture, itis now the very essence of our existence.

Clarity of thought and confusion to the point of insan-ity are diametric opposites, and still these two elementsabide in a macabre symbiosis as we, and everyone else whois embroiled in the challenges of cancer, have learned toembrace.

Secrets are a part of every individual’s character. Se-crets are a refuge, a cocoon of escape, a hidden place uponwhich no other is allowed to intrude. Of the many elements

that cancer strips away from someone, it is quite possiblethat the sanctuary of mystery is one of the first to be takenaway as a matter of necessity. No longer is someone enti-tled to this most jealously guarded possession. This specialreality has always been an important piece of the puzzlethat is my wife. Lisa has never been one to burden herphysical or emotional condition on those in her company.To the contrary, she is forever more concerned about othersthan she is about herself. Now all of a sudden, she is ques-tioned endlessly by doctors, attending health careproviders, loved ones, friends, and strangers about everyaspect of where she is on her pathway. She has had to learn,however reluctantly, to respond to those of us who havecome to be known as her “caregivers” in a blunt and truth-ful manner so that we may address her needs in the mosteffective and efficient way that we are capable of.

There is nothing that is redeeming or good that can beattributed to the horrific nature of this disease. There ishowever a great deal of goodness that presents itself as wecombat this enemy.

Lightning is an unstoppable and uncontrollable force ofnature that strikes unpredictably and frequently with greatdevastation. This awesome display of power can fragmenta target into millions of bits of unrecognizable debris neverto be whole again, or it can weld the target into a solidifiedmass that may be altered and scarred but continues to per-severe even in the altered state.

Lisa’s faith and determination have been the catalystfor us that continues to bind us together. She has truly ex-emplified the glue that welds us into who we are as a fam-ily, even though we are forever altered, we are yet as oneheart and soul. She continues to demonstrate a steadfastknowledge that she will not be defeated spiritually and weare the better for it. We who know her are humbled and in-spired in her presence. It is now and will always be ourpromise to her that her witness and testimony will be withus and we will not fail to abide in the faith and concretevalues that have been instilled in us by her.

—Marc Conkle may bereached at marcplum@desertgate.com

(Editor’s Note: Marc Conkle is my brother, Lisa is hiswife. By sharing their story they hope others will be liftedup. Cancer is a brutal master and can take over a person’slife to the degree everything else is washed away. Lisa andher supportive family, through their faith, have not allowedthat to happen. The struggle continues and so does thestrength.)

Happenstance • March 5, 2010 • Page 7

Happenstance • March 5 • Page 8

Ilove to cook. Growing up with two brothers andtwo sisters, I had lots of opportunities. My problemis that cooking for a crowd is in my genes. Cooking

for two, not so much. After many years of leftovers leftover so long they morphed into something else not evenmarginally food-related, I took the problem and applied toit my organizational skills. I decided that if I can put to-gether a marketing plan, a business plan, or an event in-volving hundreds, surely I could come up with a way tocook for my husband and me without having a ton of foodleft over, or worse, too much on the plate so we overeat atevery meal.

It begins with shopping. We prefer to eat fresh fruit andvegetables so I make several trips to the store each weekand try to get whatever is in season. Meat, fish, pork andpoultry shopping I do about twice a month. I buy a largepackage of chicken breasts, three or four pounds of extralean hamburger, a three to four pound roast, and some-times pork chops. We don’t eat a lot of pork so it isn’t a bigitem on my shopping list. I confess to reserving fish mealsfor dinners out. I have never been able to do justice to fishof any kind so I avoid the problem by not cooking it at all.

The hamburgerAs soon as I get home with the meat I divide about half

the hamburger into patties and freeze them, separatingeach patty with waxed paper to make defrosting easier.About half the remainder I fry using spray oil on the fryingpan to keep the hamburger from being greasy. This is di-vided into baggies in 1 to 1½ cup portions to be used inspaghetti sauce or for tacos, enchiladas or burritos. Withthe remainder I make a meatloaf that can be frozen for lateruse, or prepared immediately for the evening meal.

The chickenWash the chicken and pat dry. If the chicken breasts are

thick, you might want to butterfly them for easier cooking.Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare a marinade (anythingthat suits your taste), and dredge the chicken piecesthrough it, coating both sides. Arrange in a large bakingdish and pour ½ cup of the marinade over the chicken. Putinto oven and let bake until done, usually 30 to 45 minutes.If you want the chicken to be brown on both sides, towardthe end of baking, pour off liquids and put the chickenback in the over for five to ten minutes, turning once. Re-move the chicken and allow to cool completely. Package

into two-meal portionsand freeze. Take outas needed and de-frost in refrigera-tor. To reheat,place in apocket of tin-foil, alongwith a littleliquid(chicken brothif you have it)seal well, and bakeat about 375 degrees for15 to 20 minutes. Be carefulwhen opening the tinfoil packet to avoid burns from hotsteam. While the chicken is baking, steam a combination ofvegetables as an accompaniment to the baked chicken.

Other ideas include chicken and rice, chicken salad,chicken tacos, or any other creative way you can think of totake this already seasoned and cooked chicken to a newculinary level.

The roastI slow cook the roast. There are several good recipes on

the web for seasoning rubs to flavor the meat. The key is tolet the roast cook, according to directions, and not open thelid every so often to check progress. Every time you open aslow cooker you release the compressed heat adding to thecooking time. The first meal off of this roast is a dinner ofsliced roast, seasoned roasted carrots and potatoes, and amixed salad. I then slice the remaining roast and divide itinto two-meal portions. I can sometimes get enough forsandwiches the next day, a third meal of sliced roast andgravy that can be rounded out with mashed potatoes andgreen beans, and a fourth of salad with slivers of roast beeftopped off with your favorite dressing.

Here are several benefits to my cook ahead plan.• No leftovers!• Having guests over is a snap because you can

prepare as many of the two-meal portions you need.• It is cost saving. • It is time saving.• The pressure of meal preparation is reduced.• It’s easier to be creative.• So far my husband is delighted with the results!

Cooking for two; yes, it can be doneTTHHEE HHAAPPPPEENNSSTTAANNCCEE KKIITTCCHHEENN

From the American Heart Association Website

Don’t be shy about making special requestswhen you eat out. Foods on most menus

will probably fit into a heart-healthy diet ifprepared with low-fat ingredients and less salt. Ask yourserver if the kitchen can alter preparations to meet your

needs, or call ahead before you choose your restaurant. Ifyour food isn’t prepared as you requested, send it back.

Equally important is the portion size. Help controlyour weight by asking for smaller portions, sharing entreeswith a companion, or putting half of your meal in a to-gobox to enjoy another time.

Below are some hints about what to look for.

• Fried, au gratin, crispy, escalloped, pan-fried, sautéedor stuffed foods are high in fat and calories. Instead,look for steamed, broiled, baked, grilled, poached orroasted foods. If you’re not sure about a certain dish,ask your server how it’s prepared. You can request thatvisible fat be trimmed from meat and skin be removedfrom poultry before cooking.• Request that your meal be prepared with vegetableoil (made from canola, olive, corn, soy, sunflower orsafflower) or soft margarine instead of butter. Ask forsoft margarine for your bread.• High-sodium foods include those that are pickled, incocktail sauce, smoked, in broth or au jus or in soy orteriyaki sauce. Limit these items. Ask that your food beprepared without added salt or MSG.• Have gravy, sauces and dressings served on the side,so you can control the amount you eat or skip themcompletely.• Ask if the restaurant has fat-free or 1 percent milk

instead of whole milk.

• Even if they aren’t on the dessert menu, many restau-rants can offer you fruit or sherbet instead of high-fatpastries and ice creams.• Many supermarkets and specialty stores offer pre-pared entrees to take home when you’re in a rush; thesame tips listed here for restaurants also apply to take-home foods.

The American Heart Association website, www.ameri-canheart.org, has a wealth of information about eating rightfor heart health whether you are eating at home or at yourfavorite eatery. It’s worth checking out if you’re watchingyour health, your heart and your waistline.

Dine out but eat healthy

Tips for Eating at Family Restaurants

Too tired to cook? When you pack the family offto one of the many mid-priced “family style”restaurants, keep these healthy selections in

mind.

• Avoid dishes with lots of cheese, sour creamand mayonnaise.• Instead of fried oysters, or fried fish orchicken, choose boiled spiced shrimp, orbaked, boiled or grilled fish or chicken.• Choose bread or pita pockets over crois-sants.• Salads make great meals, but be careful ofthe dressing.• Split a large entree with another familymember. You’ll save dollars — and calories!• Try to avoid all-you-can-eat buffets becauseyou’re more likely to eat more than you need.

Happenstance • March 5, 2010 • Page 9

TTHHEE BBEESSTT OOFF TTHHEE WWEEBB

The American Heart Association website is easy to navigate and has excellent tips ongood heart health and lifestyle choices that are doable at any age.

• Nutrition Center• Health Tools• Women and Cardiovascular Disease• Exercise and Fitness

• Heart at Work• How your Heart Works• Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease

• Children and Youth• African American Search Your Heart• Managing Your Weight• A link to publications

What you can expect to find at www.americanheart.org

Happenstance • March 5, 2010 • Page 10

Journal writing is morethan a way to passtime. It is an opportu-

nity to explore your life ina more in depth way.There are no hard and fastrules about writing a jour-nal. Format and media isup to you. For years Ikept written journals be-cause I like the tactile feelof words flowing from apen onto the page. Therewas a sort of magic to it,creation at work. For thelast four years all of myjournals (I keep three) are digital. The value of a digitaljournal is you can do a word search and more quickly findinformation you might be looking for, like what theweather was like last year when you were at the beach.

I keep a prayer journal, a devotional journal and a life jour-nal. The first two are easy for me to keep up with because itis my commitment to write in them every day. The life jour-nal is a little more problematic because I start to think,“Nothing really interesting happened today and I reallydon’t have time for this.” Something happens every dayand if it doesn’t, or you think nothing happens, the journalmay be a way of evaluating options you’ve been missing. Ihave a friend who has been writing in his journal for aslong as I’ve known him, more than 40 years. He is arancher and records ranch-related information, but hisjournal also includes general information about life, familyand travel.

Whatever your reason for keeping a journal, recording yourthoughts does bring about greater appreciation for anddeeper understanding of how you spend your days. It isalso a legacy for your family. Several years ago we cameacross diaries kept by my husband’s mother. In one it saidsimply, “Bobby came to visit today.” There was somethingso poignant about that. My husband’s visit was significantenough for that to be the only entry on the page for thatday.

The following are fiveeasy steps to starting(and keeping) a journal.Once you start you’llfind you become ad-dicted to the process.

What you need Pick your media. Youcan find beautifullybound blank journals inall shapes and sizes atbookstores. Prices rangefrom economical to out-rageous. Select some-thing durable. You want

your journal to be around for a long time. If you decide togo digital keep in mind that once you are gone it may beoverlooked after your death. If that’s okay with you, noproblem, but if you want this to be a legacy for your family,save your journal to a CD or other portable media and letsomeone in your family know where you keep the copies.Of course it is always wise to back up your journal.

Writing implement If you are keeping a paper journal, use a pen. Yes, I knowit’s nice to be able to erase and start over, but writing in ink preserves what you write better than pencil, whichtends to smear over time. Plus, journal writing is heart writing, not head writing. While punctuation, grammarand spelling are important getting your thoughts down as you experience them will have more value.

When to writeEvery day. A journal is a history of your life. Believe me,you won’t remember next week what you did today, not inthe way you remember it today. A lot of editing will occurbetween then and the day you decide to ‘update’ your jour-nal.

Time of day to writeWhatever works for you. Some people are energized earlyin the morning; others wait until the evening. Some peopledo it all day long.

Journal Writing in Five Easy StepsSomething happens every day and if it doesn’t, or you think nothing happens,

the journal may be a way of evaluating options you’ve been missing.

— More on page 11 —

Happenstance • March 5, 2010 • Page 11

Continued from page 10

What to write• That is entirely up to you, it isyour journal, but for starters hereare some ideas.• What is the weather today?• Who did you see?• What unexpected event oc-curred?• Where did you go?• Why did you go there?• What happened in your family?• Whose birthday (or anniversary)is it?• What did you give for a gift (forany event)? This can be valuableinformation for the future!

• What are your hopes anddreams?• What have you wanted to do inyour life that you haven’t done?• Why?

You have your own ideas but these arereminders of events that occur thatyou can write about to make yourjournal a history of your life.

Where to writeEverywhere. In bed, at your desk,when you travel, anywhere you arecomfortable and not distracted by allthe other activities in your life.

That’s it. Five easy steps and you can

start today. I would offer a cautionabout journal writing. While I don’tencourage editing your words as youwrite them, remember that someonewill read them some day. Keep that inmind as you write.

In summary, pick a media, get yourpen or sit at your keyboard, thinkabout your day and get to it! One finalsuggestion I might offer is to use a ‘todo’ list method of starting a life jour-nal. If you have a list of expectationsfor the day you can check them off asyou do them (and write about them)and by the end of the day you mayend up accomplishing more than youever imagined.

Journal Writing

The power of prayerEphesians 6:18-20

Most people are timid when it comes totalking about their faith. I know I am. Idon’t want to be pushy or over the top.

“Sure, I’m a believer and sharing the Good News isimportant,” I think, “but golly, I’m not really fit to,you know, be evangelical. Besides, being evangelicalsounds a little too… fanatical.”

Does anyone see contradictory messages here?It’s easy to talk about one’s faith and spiritual

journey… in church. I fall into that category. Get meout among others and my tongue gets tied and Iworry that I’ll come off sounding smug or conde-scending. There is also the fear that I’m setting myselfup as judge and jury.

Am I reflecting God’s place in my life by keepingmy love of the Lord a secret only to be shared with aselect few? There is a power available to us that canchange our weakness into strength, our timidity intocourage. Prayer is putting aside all doubt and beingopen to guidance.

Lord, thank you for the power of prayer.

The Power of Prayer is from the bookNot Just Another Day by F.S. Vander Meer

Not Just Another Day, Inspiration in Today’s World

From author F.S. VANDER MEER comes a seriesof daily reflections that celebrate the gift of life.Not Just Another Day is a heartfelt collection of

insights based on her Christian faith tradition. Bible pas-sages and prayers accompany the readings, which makethis collection a literary treasure. Vander Meer uses po-etry and prose to capture the common experience of liv-ing a life of faith in an ever-changing world.

In The Gift of Today, an essay about her mother, theauthor writes, “When the anniversary of my mother’sbirth comes I think of questions I should have asked herwhen she was still with us.” In a few short paragraphsVander Meer expresses what many experience upon thepassing of a loved one. It is a reminder that the gift oftoday is also an opportunity to share the gift of caring.Who cares? is an essay about the ways one can make adifference by merely listening to the needs of anotherand responding to that need in appropriate ways.

These are two examples of the 365 short readingsthat cover a variety of human experiences that are partand parcel of living in the world and being confrontedwith opportunities and challenges at every turn.

Not Just Another Day is available in soft cover atTome on the Range in Las Vegas, NM., and by order atbookstores across the country and online at Xlibris.com,Amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com. The author maybe contacted at fsharon@msn.com.

Happenstancelife happens

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Happenstance is in the development stage and all recommendationswill be appreciated and considered. It is intended to appeal to a

wide range of readers. Material will be selected based on its generalappeal to a broad readership, with a focus on Las Vegas, NM, and the area.

Thank you for reading this first issue of Happenstance.

Happenstance is a publication of Vander Meer BooksPO Box 187 • Las Vegas, NM 87701

www.vandermeerbooks.comCopyright 2010

Material may only be used by permission with appropriate attribution.