The Third Rule of Ten by Gay Hendricks
Third Rule of Ten – A new kind of hero
by Gay Hendricks, Tinker Lindsay
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book to review*
“Do that which you are most avoiding.”
“Be honest and tell the truth.”
It is so refreshing to read about an action-hero who is not out to kill everyone and win all the glory, but rather yet find peace and do what is right and honourable.
When I read the book’s description it said that the main character, Tenzing Norbu was a former Tibetan Monk, ex-LAPD officer turned private investigator. How was that combination going to work and would it be a plausible character?
The easy answer is, yes!
The Third Rule of Ten is actually the third book in a series about Tenzing Norbu. I was worried that coming into the middle of a series I would not understand what was going on. This was not the case. Although the novel does refer to events in the past, it does not shadow the action in the present book. In fact, it just made me want to go back and read the first books to learn more about this fascinating character!
In The Third Rule of Ten, a wealthy politician hires Tenzing to find her family maid who has gone missing. This simple request turns into chaos when the Mexican drug cartel, become linked. Tenzing must solve the mystery, while staying true to himself and doing what is right.
Through this book, I learned a lot about not only the Mexican drug cartel, but also about the Mexican culture as well as the Buddhist belief systems.
If you are looking for a new kind of hero, try Tenzing. It’s a well-written book, and you will think about the characters even when not reading about them. This is a refreshing change to your typical action hero!
To get another opinion, I asked my Mom, an avid reader, to read this book, too. Here’s what she says:
Our unlikely protagonist is Tenzing Norbu, an ex Buddhist monk, ex-LAPD officer now private investigator – quite an unlikely combination. The main story line is that Norbu is asked to find a missing housekeeper which leads him into conflict with the Mexican drug cartel among other villains.
We learn that the third rule of Ten is: Keep current with the truth; we’re only as weak as our secrets – especially the ones we keep from ourselves.
The chaos in Norbu’s life is reflected as chaos in his case. As he gets his life together so does the case start falling into place. When he acknowledges the truth within himself he is able to see what is happening around him. This enables him to go forward and not get mired in the past.
As this is the third book in a series I wondered if I would understand what had happened previously and if it mattered to this particular story. This was not so as the authors handled past events skillfully. The story stood on its own with strong characters and a griping, twisting plot leading to a satisfying conclusion. An edge of your seat, nail biting epic tempered with a humanity and soul searching hero.
Not only did I enjoy reading this particular story but I plan to read the first two in the series as well.
Here’s what the book says: Keep current with the truth: we’re only as weak as our secrets- especially the ones we keep from ourselves. That’s the Third Rule of Ten.
As the go-to private detective for a bevy of high-profile clients, our beloved ex-Buddhist monk, ex-LAPD officer, Tenzing “Ten” Norbu, has finally found his stride. With his beautiful pathologist girlfriend, a healthy bank account, and a steady stream of clients, courtesy of middle-aged movie star Mac Gannon and rising political star Bets McMurtry, Ten’s life is bursting with activity. But it’s not all joy and happiness. The death of his father and a growing abundance of secrets-both personal and professional-leave Ten feeling an unexpected depth of sorrow and confusion. Even with the emotional turmoil, nothing can stop Ten from taking the case when McMurtry’s housekeeper goes missing.
The investigation leads him down a dangerous path littered with bodies, untraceable prescription drugs, and human organ trafficking. But nothing is as shocking as the realization that the mastermind behind it all is none other than-Chaco Morales, a criminal that slipped through Ten’s hands once already. The Third Rule of Ten will have readers on the edges of their seats, as they learn, along with Ten, that there is a fine line between healthy privacy and unhealthy secrecy. Knowing the difference may just determine whether Ten will stop Chaco or lose himself.
Cook an Egg in a Bag
How to Cook an Egg in a Bag
We decided to experiment with another form of outdoor cooking. This is another flashback to my days at Girl Guide camp. This one is cooking eggs and bacon in a paper bag over a fire.
Materials:
Paper bag
Cooking spray, butter or shortening
2 strips of bacon
1 egg
Fire grill or roasting stick
Open fire
How to cook breakfast in a bag:
1. On the inside of the paper bag, smear shortening or butter or spray cooking spray. Make sure you cover the bottom and up 1/4 of the sides.
2. Lay two strips of uncooked bacon side by side on the bottom of the bag.
3. Crack an egg and pour it over the bacon.
4. Fold the top of the bag over several times.
5. Let the fire smolder down to coals.
6. If you are using a roasting stick, spear the top of the bag and hold it over the coals. If using a grill, place the grill over the coals and rest the bag on top.
7. Leave the bag over the coals for about 20 minutes. Peak inside to make sure the egg and bacon look cooked.
The end result:
The eggs and bacon cooked well. Even with the greased bag, it was still a bit tricky to get the food off the bag, so go slowly when you scrape it off.
The bacon and eggs tasted a bit smokey, but it worked! Another unique and fun way to cook a meal outside.
Recommendations:
In our experiment we used a roasting stick, however, in Girl Guides we always used a grill. I think the grill works much better as you can set the bag down and walk away, whereas with the stick you have to constantly stand there. I did find a spot to rest the bag on some logs, but this did not work as well.
Happy Outdoor Cooking!
What ways have you experimented with?
Baby Banz for Hearing Protection
Protect your Children’s Hearing with Bandz Ear Muffs!
*Disclosure: I received a pair of the Banz Ear Muffs from Go as you Grow to test so that I can tell you about the importance of protecting your child’s hearing!*
Do you ever worry about loud noises and your child’s hearing? Do loud noises cause your child distress?
Now, with Banz Ear Muffs, you can help protect your child’s hearing and help to reduce anxiety.
According to the Canadian Academy of Audiology noise can be defined as any unwanted sound and when loud enough, can damage your hearing permanently. As a rule of thumb, if you have to raise your voice over the noise, you should be wearing hearing protection. The best protection is to avoid exposure to any loud sounds. If that is not an option, wear some form of hearing protection such as earplugs or muffs.
Over the years, we’ve had the need to use ear protectors for the boys on several occasions.
It started when Daniel was a baby. He would often ride on David’s lap while sitting on the ride-on lawn mower.
This continued through his childhood until now when he can actually mow the lawn on his own at age 8.
At the time, I phoned every hardware store in the Valley to see if they had a pair of ear protectors that would fit a child. The answer was always “no”. We ended up using an adult pair on the smallest setting, as something was better than nothing!
Thomas on the other hand, is stressed by loud noises. He hated going to parades because of the fire engine sirens and fireworks because of the noise. Every year we go to a Natal day ceremony where they fire muskets and canons. He makes sure we pack protectors each time. Every year, we also go to the local shooting range’s open house family day. The kids (and adults) must wear protection here as well.
The topic of the Banz Ear Muffs came up with a teacher friend who works with children with behavioural concerns like autism. Apparently, many students wear ear protectors when they are in large groups at school (like assemblies) to help block the noise and reduce the stimulation and stress!
Here are some examples of when kids should/could be wearing protection:
On or near lawn mowers or lawn equipment
On or near farm equipment (like tractors)
Hockey stadiums and other sporting events
Fireworks
Parades
- Digby Wharf Rat Rally (loud motorcycles!)
Vicinity of gun blasts (firing ranges, military reenactments, etc)
School assemblies (for children with sensitive hearing and special concerns)
Water skiing, boating and other water sports
Music concerts or band rehearsals
Calming young children in noisy environments
The Banz hearing protectors effectively attenuate harmful loud noises without shutting out other ambient sounds. The earmuffs are easy to wear, with a low profile and no protruding parts that can catch on things. The wide, foam-filled cushions ensure that the set doesn’t squeeze uncomfortably, and there is plenty of space for the ears inside the shells. Banz earmuffs have a comfy leather cover over the headband to ensure all over comfort! The weight is also important to comfort; each ear muff weighs just 190 grams.
To the Test:
Daniel tested the Banz Ear Muffs when he was mowing the lawn. He said that they did a great job of staying of blocking out the noise and not falling off or flopping around like the adult pair does!
Availability
Ear Muffs by Banz are available at Go as you Grow in New Minas.
They come in two sizes: 0-2 years and 2-10 years. They retail for $39.99
Protect your child’s hearing with Banz Ear Muffs!
Win a pair of Banz Ear Muffs from Go as you Grow!
Mabel Labels
*This post contains affiliate links. which means I may receive a (very) small commission if you click a link and purchase something. While I wish these commissions were enough to stock my wine shelf, they’re really how I pay the fees to keep this site up and running. All opinions are my own. Trust me. I have a lot of them. Thanks so much for your support!*
Do you know how many times I spent digging through the lost and found bins at the school? I have lost count. It’s a lot.
Each week I would trot into school with a list in hand, dump the bins on the floor in the hallway and start my search. Mittens, coats, lunch boxes, one shoe (how do you lose one shoe?), and the list goes on.
Thank goodness everything was labeled with Mabel’s Labels!
Having everything labeled makes finding things a lot easier! And for kids who aren’t so distracted as mine, it helps them to keep their things together!
Before my kids started school, friends told me I had to buy Mabel’s Labels. Being a newbie at this school thing, I listened.
Mabel’s Labels are great stickers that are designed to stick to everything. They are colourful stickers with a design (you pick the colour scheme and the graphic to go on them). They are even dishwasher safe! I personally prefer the School Combo kit as they come in all shapes and sizes – including ones to fit in shoes!
I received my newest kit in the mail and have already labeled their gear for the coming year.
My Tips:
1. Buy Mabel’s Labels
2. Stick them on everything your child takes to school
3. Just put on your last name (unless it’s a super common name!). This way, you can use the stickers for more than one child, or if you are lucky to pass it on to the next child, it will still have the correct label on it.
4. Order now so they are here before school starts.
Ultimate Back to School Combo
These labels are the perfect solution for keeping your little scholar organized. This combination package includes 40 Skinny-Minis, 50 Tag Mates, 16 Shoe Labels and 2 Teeny Tags.
Gymboree
*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means in exchange for me telling you about these great deals, I may compensated or given a bonus for any click throughs or purchases.*
Looking to do some back to school shopping for the kids without having to leave the comfort of your home?
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Nacho Burgers
Nacho Burgers
We weren’t at the table for 5 minutes and Daniel had his burger almost entirely eaten!
Thomas was giving two thumbs up.
I guess that means the Nacho Burgers were a hit!
I received a copy of Michael Smith’s new cookbook called Family Meals to review. I love to bake and my husband loves to cook so we make a good team!
David picked up the cookbook and immediately started oohing and aahing over all the savoury dishes including an entire section of slow cooker meals.
I, on the other hand, headed right towards the sweets! I am dying to try the flaming banana dessert!
Quickly skimming through the ingredient list I noticed that all the recipes included items that I already have in my pantry. This is a HUGE selling point for me. I don’t want to have to buy a lot of new things to only use once in a recipe. That is expensive and wasteful. I could have made a dozen recipes from what I had, right there on the spot!
Also, there is an index at the back full of pictures with the corresponding page number. This is the best way to tempt me!
To put the cookbook to the test David decided to make us the nacho burgers. Usually, we buy boxed burgers and grill them up. David was tempted to skip the step of making our own burgers for ease sake, but one bite into the burger convinced us that this extra step was not in vain.
David says that the nacho burgers were really tasty and, as far as making burgers go they were not onerous – three very easy on-hand spices, the meat, and onion.
“If I could do it over again I’d get the kids to make the patties. And I’d probably make the patties a bit smaller (I made smaller ones for the boys, and I should’ve made all of them that size). I like the taste of the cumin in the burgers – I’d never had that before and it was good. The toppings combination was also good as well. I’d make them again.“
I do not like anything spicy at all. I was worried that the chili pepper (mixed with melted butter and spread on the hamburger buns) would be too much for me. But, it wasn’t. It was so flavourful!
The kids loved the fact that it had crushed nacho chips in it, too!
Here’s the Recipe for Nacho Burgers:
Makes 6 large or 8 smaller burgers
For the burgers
2 pounds (900g) of ground beef
2 tablespoons (30mL) of ground cumin
2 tablespoons (30mL) of dried oregano
1 teaspoon (15mL) of salt
Lots of freshly ground pepper
1 onion, minced
For the burger buns
1 teaspoon (5mL) of chili powder
2 tablespoons (30mL) of butter, melted
6 or 8 of your favorite burger buns
To garnish the burgers
1 heaping tablespoon (20mL) of your favorite salsa per burger
1?4 cup (60mL) of any shredded cheese per burger
3 or 4 tortilla chips, crushed, per burger
Build a hardwood fire and ultimately a bed of glowing coals. Or prepare and preheat your grill or stovetop griddle to high.
To make the burgers, have a clean plate on the counter and a few sheets of wax paper or plastic wrap nearby. Place the ground beef in a large bowl. Break it up a bit and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle the meat as evenly as you can with the cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and onions.
Using your hands, thoroughly and evenly mix the works together. Form the proceeds into 6 or 8 evenly shaped thin burgers and place them on the plate, with the wax paper in between layers.
To ready the buns for the grill, stir the chili powder into the melted butter and brush the fragrant fat onto the cut sides of the buns. Just before grilling the burgers, toast the buns until lightly browned and delicious.
Grill the burgers until browned, 4 or 5 minutes a side.
Move the finished burgers straight from the grill to their toasted buns so the juices soak into the bread. Top with the salsa, cheese, tortilla chips and bun tops. Serve and share!
About the book:
Family Meals features 100 recipes straight from Michael’s home kitchen – his passion for real, homemade food and his love for simple, healthy cooking comes through in every recipe. On top of amazing meals for Breakfast & Brunch, Simple Salads, Soups, Stews & Casseroles, you’ll also find ideas for Family Meals in Minutes, Cook Ahead, Meatless Mondays, Slow Cookers & Pressure Cookers, Lunchbox & Snacks – and of course every family’s favourite – Sweets & Treats!
Michael has also included easy and helpful top ten tips for Family Cooking (“Begin by Shopping Together), Weekday Meals (“Plan Ahead”), Tidying Up (“Clean as You Go”), Easy Snacks (“Pita Pizza”), and Lunchbox Ideas (“Hand Fruit”) all designed to keep your family kitchen running smoothly.
With beautiful full-colour photography and easy-to-follow instructions for every recipe, it’s simple to try some of Michael’s favourites, such as Weekend Pancakes, Nacho Burgers, Old World Chicken Cacciatore, Special Shrimp Fried Rice, Tortilla Lasagna and Boston Cream Cupcakes. Family Meals is the must-have cookbook for families to enjoy cooking and eating healthy, delicious food together.
Our family will put this book to good use! We highly recommend picking up a copy and trying it for yourself. Your only problem will be deciding what to make first!
