To get you started in new directions for your life as a cook and eater in 2010, we asked people with real-life experience to offer up tips for making life better, in and out of the kitchen. Try these on for size.
1 Eating healthfully.
From chef Jon Dubay of Blynk Organic in Charlotte.
"Each day, replace one unhealthy snack with fruit. Think about what you eat (and) detect the unhealthiest snack - the high-calorie smoothie, the chips, the candy." Choose a variety of fresh fruits you like and take them to work or have them ready on your kitchen counter.
"Fruits help strengthen your immune system, decrease the risk of cancer, and if they replace an unhealthy snack, will help you lose weight."
2 Cutting fat.
From Denise Hairston of Charlotte, founder of the Black Women's Health Network ( www.blackwomenhealth.org) and author of "Meatless Soul Food" (self-published, 2009).
"Bake, boil, steam or poach rather than fry." To get crunchy results without frying, oven-fry in a 425- to 450-degree oven. Dip meats or vegetables in milk, then in bread crumbs and place on a cookie sheet or shallow pan coated with cooking spray, and spray the breaded item for extra-crispy texture.
"Panko (Japanese-style bread crumbs) are best for oven-frying. They don't get soggy on the bottom like regular bread crumbs."
3 Saving money.
From Tara McAlister, Charlotte Observer columnist and a blogger on www.momscharlotte.com.
"Look at leftovers in a whole new way." Use bread left at dinner to make croutons; put leftover mashed potatoes or grits into muffin tins, top with cheese or bread crumbs and bake for a new side item; or combine leftover chicken and beef to make quesadillas.
4 Cooking better.
From food writer Debbie Moose of Raleigh, author of several cookbooks, including "Fan Fare."
"Refresh your repertoire. Break away from those standby recipes once in a while. Trying something different can change how you look at preparing meals. Pick a recipe you've always been curious about from a cookbook. Ask a friend for her favorite, or start an online recipe exchange among your friends. Or cruise an ethnic market for new ingredients to spice up those old standbys."
5 Baking better.
From food writer Nancie McDermott of Chapel Hill, author of "Southern Cakes."
"Do what Grandmama did - bake a lot. Bake every day if you can, or at least three times a week, and not only for company or show. Make sure you do the same thing over and over again. It's the secret to biscuits, pie crust, caramel icing, poundcake, yeast bread, meringue, cornbread, tea cakes, all those old-school baking triumphs...
"Things come to you over time, and doing it as an everyday endeavor lightens you up - less performance, more just showing up and giving it a shot."
6 Feeding kids.
From Dean McCord, Raleigh attorney and food blogger ( varmintbites.com), and father of four children, ages 9, 11, 14 and 15.
"Here's a tip that has saved my wife's sanity. She put together a comprehensive list of dinner options for the kids, broken down into proteins, starches, fruits and vegetables.
"On Sunday morning, one child chooses the meals for the week, ensuring there is a balance across the board. I shop for the necessary items that day, and if advanced preparation is needed (such as stuffed shells), we do that, too. The next Sunday, another child gets to choose. And so on."
7 Feeding teenagers.
From Cheri Wiles, Charlotte blogger ( cheri-femininewiles.blogspot.com and www.momscharlotte.com) and a single parent with two teens.
"Be very flexible when it comes to scheduling meals. My kids have plenty of after-school and social activities, and it is too easy and tempting to just grab fast food en route to an activity. I've got a couple of quick-to-prepare, one-pot recipes I can use on busy nights. I also keep chicken stock with chopped chicken in the freezer, for making a quick and hearty chicken-orzo-vegetable soup."
8 Planning ahead.
From Andrea Weigl, food writer for The News & Observer.
"Create space to stock up. What helps me really save money is my strategy of only buying the loss leaders (deeply discounted items) at the grocery stores and a few perishables: milk, bread, eggs, produce.
"To take advantage of sales, I had to make space. My husband turned an underused hall closet into a pantry and we bought a second refrigerator for $50. Once I had pantry and freezer space, I could wait for a really good deal to stock up.
"Now I plan a week's worth of meals based on what I have on hand, and supplement with the perishables."
9 Widening your repertoire.
From Kathleen Purvis, food editor for The Charlotte Observer.
"I plan most of our meals, but a couple of times a month, I leave one meal blank and make myself come up with dinner from what I have on hand. It helps me use up things I never get around to using, and it teaches me to trust my creativity."
10 Trying new foods.
From Sarah Blacklin, manager of the growers-only Carrboro Farmers Market.
"Sign up for a CSA (community-supported agriculture) box from a farmer. Each week you receive a surprise box of seasonal fresh produce picked that week. Many farmers provide recipes and cooking tips. If you don't want to purchase your own box, you can always share a box with a friend who can be a fun motivator to cook intimidating produce, exchange recipe ideas and share weekly local meals."
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
easy resolutions for the unrealistic in all of us
1. Lose 5 pounds. DON’T resolve to lose 100, just lose 5 pounds at a time. It’s relatively quick and achievable.
2. One family day each month. Plan a day with your family that’s just for fun. Go to a museum, have a picnic, play touch football at a nearby park, visit your cousins. This requires only a small amount of planning and results in a lot of fun and great memories.
3. Sign up for a class. This is another short-term goal that’s easily achieved. Sign up for a sewing class to tap your inner crafter. Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn about interior design, so look at offerings at local community schools and adult ed courses. Many local groups offer one-day classes on topics as diverse as Tuscan cooking or make your own soap. Enlist a friend for even more fun.
4 .Lose one dress size. Dropping from a 14 to a 12 is much more realistic than going from a 14 to a 4! Once you fit into a 12, you can start to work down to a 10. Baby steps guarantee success.
5. Eat vegetarian one day a week. This is an easy eco-friendly change that helps your waistline, your wallet, and the planet. All it takes is a dish like pasta primavera or veggie pizza for dinner.
6. Track your spending for one month. Wonder where the money is going? Write down all your expenses for 30 days to get an eye-opening view of what your budget really is. Then you can make simple adjustments to help save more money and spend it on what you really want, like a fabulous vacation! Speaking of which…
7. Plan a vacation. We all work so hard and don’t take the time to unplug and relax! Plan at least one vacation a year and, if you can, throw in one or two long weekends, too. It doesn’t have to be expensive; a tent pitched in the woods is dirt-cheap and can be a blast with the right travel companions.
8. Lose the fabric softener. Fabric softener, especially most dryer sheets, are loaded with chemicals, which you then wear against your body 24/7. Buy some dryer balls which make your clothes just as soft as before but without that chemical smell. You’ll save money and the effort needed to meet your resolution is practically nil!
9. Read a book a month. This one is especially for the Moms who miss their reading habit. Buy a book (or check one out from the library), and after the little ones go to bed, take some you time to work through the chapters. It might not be like those “lost weekends” of the past when you’d get lost in a book, but it can still be entertaining and you’ll get a little piece of your “old self” back.
via Lisa Johnson / twitter
http://www.lisajohnsonfitness.com/author/admin/
2. One family day each month. Plan a day with your family that’s just for fun. Go to a museum, have a picnic, play touch football at a nearby park, visit your cousins. This requires only a small amount of planning and results in a lot of fun and great memories.
3. Sign up for a class. This is another short-term goal that’s easily achieved. Sign up for a sewing class to tap your inner crafter. Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn about interior design, so look at offerings at local community schools and adult ed courses. Many local groups offer one-day classes on topics as diverse as Tuscan cooking or make your own soap. Enlist a friend for even more fun.
4 .Lose one dress size. Dropping from a 14 to a 12 is much more realistic than going from a 14 to a 4! Once you fit into a 12, you can start to work down to a 10. Baby steps guarantee success.
5. Eat vegetarian one day a week. This is an easy eco-friendly change that helps your waistline, your wallet, and the planet. All it takes is a dish like pasta primavera or veggie pizza for dinner.
6. Track your spending for one month. Wonder where the money is going? Write down all your expenses for 30 days to get an eye-opening view of what your budget really is. Then you can make simple adjustments to help save more money and spend it on what you really want, like a fabulous vacation! Speaking of which…
7. Plan a vacation. We all work so hard and don’t take the time to unplug and relax! Plan at least one vacation a year and, if you can, throw in one or two long weekends, too. It doesn’t have to be expensive; a tent pitched in the woods is dirt-cheap and can be a blast with the right travel companions.
8. Lose the fabric softener. Fabric softener, especially most dryer sheets, are loaded with chemicals, which you then wear against your body 24/7. Buy some dryer balls which make your clothes just as soft as before but without that chemical smell. You’ll save money and the effort needed to meet your resolution is practically nil!
9. Read a book a month. This one is especially for the Moms who miss their reading habit. Buy a book (or check one out from the library), and after the little ones go to bed, take some you time to work through the chapters. It might not be like those “lost weekends” of the past when you’d get lost in a book, but it can still be entertaining and you’ll get a little piece of your “old self” back.
via Lisa Johnson / twitter
http://www.lisajohnsonfitness.com/author/admin/
oh Michigan oh Michigan...
Jeff Foxworthy on my homestate:
If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through 18 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by, you might live in Michigan .
If you're proud that your region makes the national news 96 nights each year because Pellston is the coldest spot in the nation, you might live in Michigan .
If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March, you might live in Michigan .
If you instinctively walk like a penguin for five months out of the year, you might live in Michigan .
If someone in a store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you might live in Michigan .
If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his
forehead, you might live in Michigan .
If you have worn shorts and a coat at the same time, you might live in Michigan .
If your town has an equal number of bars and churches, you might live in Michigan .
If you have had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you might live in Michigan .
You know you're a true MICHIGANIAN/MICHIGANDER when:
1. "Vacation" means going up north on I-75.
2. You measure distance in hours.
3. You know several people who have hit a deer more than once.
4. You often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day.
5. You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching.
6. You see people wearing camouflage at social events (including weddings).
7. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
8. You carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend knows how to use them.
9. You design your kid's Halloween costumeto fit over a snowsuit.
10.Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.
11.You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction.
12.You can identify a southern or eastern accent.
13.Your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next to your blue spruce.
14.You were unaware that there is a legal drinking age.
15.Down South to you means Ohio ..
16.A brat is something you eat.
17.Your neighbor throws a party to celebrate his new pole barn.
18.You go out to fish fry every Friday.
19.Your 4th of July picnic was moved indoors due to frost.
20.You have more miles on your snow blower than your car.
21.You find 0 degrees "a little chilly".
22.You drink pop and bake with soda.
23.Your doctor tells you to drink Vernors and you know it's not medicine.
24.You can actually drink Vernors without coughing.
25.You know what a Yooper is.
26.You think owning a Honda is Un-American.
27.You know that UP is a place, not a direction.
28.You know it's possible to live in a thumb.
29.You understand that when visiting Detroit , the best thing to wear is a Kevlar vest.
30.You actually understand these jokes, and you forward them to all your Michigan friends
via Eileen
If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through 18 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by, you might live in Michigan .
If you're proud that your region makes the national news 96 nights each year because Pellston is the coldest spot in the nation, you might live in Michigan .
If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March, you might live in Michigan .
If you instinctively walk like a penguin for five months out of the year, you might live in Michigan .
If someone in a store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you might live in Michigan .
If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his
forehead, you might live in Michigan .
If you have worn shorts and a coat at the same time, you might live in Michigan .
If your town has an equal number of bars and churches, you might live in Michigan .
If you have had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you might live in Michigan .
You know you're a true MICHIGANIAN/MICHIGANDER when:
1. "Vacation" means going up north on I-75.
2. You measure distance in hours.
3. You know several people who have hit a deer more than once.
4. You often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day.
5. You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching.
6. You see people wearing camouflage at social events (including weddings).
7. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
8. You carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend knows how to use them.
9. You design your kid's Halloween costumeto fit over a snowsuit.
10.Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.
11.You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction.
12.You can identify a southern or eastern accent.
13.Your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next to your blue spruce.
14.You were unaware that there is a legal drinking age.
15.Down South to you means Ohio ..
16.A brat is something you eat.
17.Your neighbor throws a party to celebrate his new pole barn.
18.You go out to fish fry every Friday.
19.Your 4th of July picnic was moved indoors due to frost.
20.You have more miles on your snow blower than your car.
21.You find 0 degrees "a little chilly".
22.You drink pop and bake with soda.
23.Your doctor tells you to drink Vernors and you know it's not medicine.
24.You can actually drink Vernors without coughing.
25.You know what a Yooper is.
26.You think owning a Honda is Un-American.
27.You know that UP is a place, not a direction.
28.You know it's possible to live in a thumb.
29.You understand that when visiting Detroit , the best thing to wear is a Kevlar vest.
30.You actually understand these jokes, and you forward them to all your Michigan friends
via Eileen
Monday, December 28, 2009
I'm just sayin' - when HIS OWN FATHER (an ex-government official and prominent citizen) calls up and says his son has developed EXTREME VIEWS and might be in YEMEN, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO PAY ATTENTION! WTF??
This is an excerpt from the NY Times article:
... A law enforcement official said it was not unusual that a one-time comment from a relative would not place a person on the far smaller no-fly list, which has only 4,000 names, or the so-called selectee list of 14,000 names of people who are subjected to more thorough searches at checkpoints.
The point of the Tide database, the official said, is to make sure even the most minor suspicious details are recorded so that they can be connected to new data in the future.
“The information goes in there, and it’s available to all the agencies,” the official said. “The point is to marry up data from different sources over time that may indicate an individual might be a terrorist.”(www.nytimes.com)
This was a bit more than one random comment by A relative, and though privacy is important, shouldn't a one way overseas ticket with no baggage just by sheer oddity raise at least one red flag? Obviously their Tide database is not as interactive as it should be and is not to be counted on as an important working part of 'the system'. The 'system' didn't work, but rather, the system was dependent on diligent passengers acting above what should be assumed behavior - thankfully! Perhaps too, we might have been fortunate that due to such in-climate weather, many flights were cancelled. We'll likely never know.
This is an excerpt from the NY Times article:
... A law enforcement official said it was not unusual that a one-time comment from a relative would not place a person on the far smaller no-fly list, which has only 4,000 names, or the so-called selectee list of 14,000 names of people who are subjected to more thorough searches at checkpoints.
The point of the Tide database, the official said, is to make sure even the most minor suspicious details are recorded so that they can be connected to new data in the future.
“The information goes in there, and it’s available to all the agencies,” the official said. “The point is to marry up data from different sources over time that may indicate an individual might be a terrorist.”(www.nytimes.com)
This was a bit more than one random comment by A relative, and though privacy is important, shouldn't a one way overseas ticket with no baggage just by sheer oddity raise at least one red flag? Obviously their Tide database is not as interactive as it should be and is not to be counted on as an important working part of 'the system'. The 'system' didn't work, but rather, the system was dependent on diligent passengers acting above what should be assumed behavior - thankfully! Perhaps too, we might have been fortunate that due to such in-climate weather, many flights were cancelled. We'll likely never know.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Our bravest.
When doing your Christmas Cards this year, take one card and send it to this address. If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful special people who have sacrificed so much would get.
A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20307-5001
If you approve, please pass it on.
(courtesy of Diane)
A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20307-5001
If you approve, please pass it on.
(courtesy of Diane)
Friday, November 27, 2009
The sound of freedom...
The complaint:
'Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base:
Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 A.M, a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird special?
Any response would be appreciated.
The response:
Regarding 'A wake-up call from Luke's jets' On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four- ship fly by of F-16s from the 63rd fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt Jeremy Fresques. Capt Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.
At 9 a.m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter writer's recount of the fly by, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured..
A four-ship fly by is a display of respect the Air Force gives to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.
The letter writer asks, 'Whom do we thank for the morning airshow? The 56th Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.
Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you....Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr
courtesy of Jim (the anti FB) and Diane. Thank you for the little reminder of how to keep things in perspective. As a former 20yr resident of Hampton Roads Virginia, the sound of jets was common. While sometimes it made it hard to hear, I was never far away from the known that the sound of our Air Force and Navy fliers, IS the sound of freedom.
'Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base:
Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 A.M, a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird special?
Any response would be appreciated.
The response:
Regarding 'A wake-up call from Luke's jets' On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four- ship fly by of F-16s from the 63rd fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt Jeremy Fresques. Capt Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.
At 9 a.m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter writer's recount of the fly by, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured..
A four-ship fly by is a display of respect the Air Force gives to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.
The letter writer asks, 'Whom do we thank for the morning airshow? The 56th Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.
Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you....Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr
courtesy of Jim (the anti FB) and Diane. Thank you for the little reminder of how to keep things in perspective. As a former 20yr resident of Hampton Roads Virginia, the sound of jets was common. While sometimes it made it hard to hear, I was never far away from the known that the sound of our Air Force and Navy fliers, IS the sound of freedom.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Dear God,
On this Thanksgiving day, just a few things I want to acknowledge.
* Thanks God, for placing me in this most awesome family. It's a perfect fit (as you know) and I love them all, even the weird ones. Give Dan a hug for me, I miss him.
* And especially thank you God, for my children. They make my heart swell with love and pride every time I think of them. Ok, some times they can be a pain in the..; well you know, but they're the best kids in the world, even at their worst.
* Thank you God, for giving me the capacity to believe in you. As you know, there have been times in my life, where my faith was shaken, but then you go and do something totally awesome, and I love you for that.
* And God, I know it's your world and you control the seas I sail, but thanks for letting me steer the ship.
* Thanks God, for placing me in this most awesome family. It's a perfect fit (as you know) and I love them all, even the weird ones. Give Dan a hug for me, I miss him.
* And especially thank you God, for my children. They make my heart swell with love and pride every time I think of them. Ok, some times they can be a pain in the..; well you know, but they're the best kids in the world, even at their worst.
* Thank you God, for giving me the capacity to believe in you. As you know, there have been times in my life, where my faith was shaken, but then you go and do something totally awesome, and I love you for that.
* And God, I know it's your world and you control the seas I sail, but thanks for letting me steer the ship.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
microwave cake in a mug!
Subject: Most Dangerous Cake Recipe.
THE 5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE CAKE FOR ONE PERSON
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug (MicroSafe)
Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT!
(courtesy of Diane)
THE 5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE CAKE FOR ONE PERSON
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug (MicroSafe)
Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT!
(courtesy of Diane)
Monday, October 26, 2009
bye bye 40's
It's the last day of my forties. All in all, it's been a pretty good decade. I've seen a lot of cool places, met some pretty awesome folks, survived some pretty crazy stuff, and changed my entire life.
Top 5: Of course, Darryll. Seeing my kids make it to adulthood successfully. Getting my degree from Va Wesleyan. Staying close to my family.
On the low side: the car crash (wow, that was bad!). the ruptured disc (that was really bad too). moving too many times (moving sucks). my weight STILL a little too much. That nagging feeling that I'm not getting enough done.
I can't help feeling a little sad today. It's kind of like I've lost an old friend. Oprah said your 40's are better than your 30's, and she's right. She also said your 50's are better than your 40's, so I'm going with that. Given that physically I'm feeling pretty good, I have no reason to doubt it. Maybe my head will feel better in a week or so (sigh).
Top 5: Of course, Darryll. Seeing my kids make it to adulthood successfully. Getting my degree from Va Wesleyan. Staying close to my family.
On the low side: the car crash (wow, that was bad!). the ruptured disc (that was really bad too). moving too many times (moving sucks). my weight STILL a little too much. That nagging feeling that I'm not getting enough done.
I can't help feeling a little sad today. It's kind of like I've lost an old friend. Oprah said your 40's are better than your 30's, and she's right. She also said your 50's are better than your 40's, so I'm going with that. Given that physically I'm feeling pretty good, I have no reason to doubt it. Maybe my head will feel better in a week or so (sigh).
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
healthy AND yummy!
Chicken and sweet potato chowder:
large potato & large sweet potato - chopped
can of low sodium chicken broth
corn
chicken (cooked and cutup) or turkey
1 1/2 c milk
pepper to taste
parsley
cook potatoes in chicken broth about 12 minutes, until tender. Do not drain - mash/mix potato mixture until nearly smooth.
Add meat, milk, corn, pepper. Simmer another 12 to 15 minutes. sprinkle servings with parsley. You can also add a sliced piece of corn on the cob for presentation purposes.
EXCELLENT AND EASY!!
Monday, October 19, 2009
I'm sorry God
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events.... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Pass it on if you think it has merit.
If not, then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein
courtesy of an email from my brother Jim, and yes, I passed it on to everyone except the ones he already sent it to.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events.... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Pass it on if you think it has merit.
If not, then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein
courtesy of an email from my brother Jim, and yes, I passed it on to everyone except the ones he already sent it to.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Rules of the Universe
1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
2. Don't worry about what people think; they don't do it very often.
3. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.
4. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
5. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
6. A person, who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person.
(This is very important. Pay attention! It never fails.)
7. For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program.
8. If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.
9. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.
10. A conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel so good.
11. Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.
12. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it. Embrace your differences. Love each other.
13. No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes.
14. A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.
15. Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.
16. Opportunities always look bigger after they have passed.
17. Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.
18. There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.
19. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
20. By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.
21. Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.
22. Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.
23. It ain't the jeans that make your butt look fat.
24. There is a very fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness.'
25. People who want to share either their religious or political views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.
26. You should not confuse your career with your life.
27. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
28. Never lick a steak knife.
29. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.
30. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.
31. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can
see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.
32. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background,
is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.
33. Your friends love you anyway.
34. Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the ARK. A large group of professionals
built the Titanic.
35. How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?
via Diane
2. Don't worry about what people think; they don't do it very often.
3. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.
4. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
5. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
6. A person, who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person.
(This is very important. Pay attention! It never fails.)
7. For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program.
8. If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.
9. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.
10. A conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel so good.
11. Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.
12. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it. Embrace your differences. Love each other.
13. No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes.
14. A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.
15. Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.
16. Opportunities always look bigger after they have passed.
17. Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.
18. There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.
19. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
20. By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.
21. Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.
22. Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.
23. It ain't the jeans that make your butt look fat.
24. There is a very fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness.'
25. People who want to share either their religious or political views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.
26. You should not confuse your career with your life.
27. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
28. Never lick a steak knife.
29. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.
30. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.
31. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can
see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.
32. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background,
is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.
33. Your friends love you anyway.
34. Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the ARK. A large group of professionals
built the Titanic.
35. How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?
via Diane
Monday, August 24, 2009
VERY
INTERESTING STUFF
In the
1400's a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed
to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb.
Hence we have 'the rule
of thumb'
------------
--------- --------- --------- ----
Many years ago in
Scotland , a new game was invented. It was ruled 'Gentlemen
Only...Ladies Forbidden'.. .and thus, the word GOLF entered
into the English language.
------------
--------- --------- --------- ----
The first couple to
be shown in bed together on prime time TV was Fred and Wilma
Flintstone.
------------
--------- --------- --------- ----
Every day more money
is printed for Monopoly than the U.S.
Treasury.
------------
-- ------------ --------- --------
Men can read smaller
print than women can; women can hear better.
------------
--------- --------- --------- ----
Coca-Cola was
originally green.
------------
--------- --------- --------- ----
It is impossible to lick
your elbow.
------------
--------- --------- --------- ----
The State with the
highest percentage of people who walk to work:
Alaska
------------
--------- --------- --------- ----
The percentage of
Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get
this...)
------------
--------- --------- --------- ----
The percentage of
North America that is wilderness: 38%
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
The cost of raising
a medium-size dog to the age of eleven:
$ 16,400
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
The average number
of people airborne over the U.S. in any given
hour:
61,000
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Intelligent people
have more zinc and copper in their hair..
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
The first novel ever
written on a typewriter, Tom Sawyer.
------------
-- ------------ --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- -
The San Francisco
Cable cars are the only mobile National
Monuments.
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Each king in a deck
of playing cards represents a great king from history:
Spades - King David
Hearts - Charlemagne
Clubs -Alexander,
the Great
Diamonds - Julius
Caesar
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
111,111,111 x
111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987, 654,321
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
If a statue in the
park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air,
the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in
the air, the person died because of wounds received in battle.
If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died
of natural causes
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Only two people
signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, John Hancock
and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but
the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Q. Half of all
Americans live within 50 miles of what?
A. Their birthplace
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Q. Most boat owners
name their boats. What is the most popular boat name
requested?
A.
Obsession
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Q.. If you were to
spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you
would find the letter 'A'?
A. One
thousand
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Q. What do
bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser
printers have in common?
A. All were invented
by women.
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Q. What is the only
food that doesn't spoil?
A.
Honey
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Q. Which day are
there more collect calls than any other day of the
year?
A. Father's
Day
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
---
In Shakespeare's
time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes.
When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened,
making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the
phrase...'Goodnight , sleep tight'
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
It was the accepted
practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the
wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with
all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because
their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the
honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
In English pubs, ale
is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England , when
customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them
'Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down.'
It's where we get the phrase
'mind your P's and Q's'
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Many years ago in
England , pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or
handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill ,
they used the whistle to get some service. 'Wet your whistle'
is the phrase inspired by this practice.
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
At least 75% of
people who read this will try to lick their
elbow!
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
-
Don't delete this
just because it looks weird.
Believe it or not, you can read it
I cdnuolt blveiee
taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The
phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at
Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the
ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the
first and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a
taotl mses and you can still raed it wouthit a porbelm. This
is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by
istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2009 when...
1. You accidentally
enter your PIN on the microwave.
2. You haven't
played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list
of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of
three.
4. You e-mail the
person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for
not staying in touch with friends and family is that they
don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in
your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is
home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial
on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen
8. Leaving the house
without your cell phone, which you didn't even have the first
20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic
and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in
the morning and go on line before getting your
coffee
11. You start
tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
12 You're reading
this and nodding and laughing.
13. Even worse, you
know exactly to whom you are going to forward this
message..
14. You are too busy
to notice there was no #9 on this list.
15. You actually
scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this
list
INTERESTING STUFF
In the
1400's a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed
to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb.
Hence we have 'the rule
of thumb'
------------
--------- --------- --------- ----
Many years ago in
Scotland , a new game was invented. It was ruled 'Gentlemen
Only...Ladies Forbidden'.. .and thus, the word GOLF entered
into the English language.
------------
--------- --------- --------- ----
The first couple to
be shown in bed together on prime time TV was Fred and Wilma
Flintstone.
------------
--------- --------- --------- ----
Every day more money
is printed for Monopoly than the U.S.
Treasury.
------------
-- ------------ --------- --------
Men can read smaller
print than women can; women can hear better.
------------
--------- --------- --------- ----
Coca-Cola was
originally green.
------------
--------- --------- --------- ----
It is impossible to lick
your elbow.
------------
--------- --------- --------- ----
The State with the
highest percentage of people who walk to work:
Alaska
------------
--------- --------- --------- ----
The percentage of
Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get
this...)
------------
--------- --------- --------- ----
The percentage of
North America that is wilderness: 38%
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
The cost of raising
a medium-size dog to the age of eleven:
$ 16,400
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
The average number
of people airborne over the U.S. in any given
hour:
61,000
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Intelligent people
have more zinc and copper in their hair..
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
The first novel ever
written on a typewriter, Tom Sawyer.
------------
-- ------------ --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- -
The San Francisco
Cable cars are the only mobile National
Monuments.
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Each king in a deck
of playing cards represents a great king from history:
Spades - King David
Hearts - Charlemagne
Clubs -Alexander,
the Great
Diamonds - Julius
Caesar
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
111,111,111 x
111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987, 654,321
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
If a statue in the
park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air,
the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in
the air, the person died because of wounds received in battle.
If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died
of natural causes
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Only two people
signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, John Hancock
and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but
the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Q. Half of all
Americans live within 50 miles of what?
A. Their birthplace
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Q. Most boat owners
name their boats. What is the most popular boat name
requested?
A.
Obsession
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Q.. If you were to
spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you
would find the letter 'A'?
A. One
thousand
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Q. What do
bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser
printers have in common?
A. All were invented
by women.
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Q. What is the only
food that doesn't spoil?
A.
Honey
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Q. Which day are
there more collect calls than any other day of the
year?
A. Father's
Day
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
---
In Shakespeare's
time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes.
When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened,
making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the
phrase...'Goodnight , sleep tight'
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
It was the accepted
practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the
wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with
all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because
their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the
honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
In English pubs, ale
is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England , when
customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them
'Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down.'
It's where we get the phrase
'mind your P's and Q's'
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
Many years ago in
England , pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or
handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill ,
they used the whistle to get some service. 'Wet your whistle'
is the phrase inspired by this practice.
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
At least 75% of
people who read this will try to lick their
elbow!
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
-
Don't delete this
just because it looks weird.
Believe it or not, you can read it
I cdnuolt blveiee
taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The
phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at
Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the
ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the
first and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a
taotl mses and you can still raed it wouthit a porbelm. This
is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by
istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?
------------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------
YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2009 when...
1. You accidentally
enter your PIN on the microwave.
2. You haven't
played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list
of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of
three.
4. You e-mail the
person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for
not staying in touch with friends and family is that they
don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in
your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is
home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial
on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen
8. Leaving the house
without your cell phone, which you didn't even have the first
20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic
and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in
the morning and go on line before getting your
coffee
11. You start
tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
12 You're reading
this and nodding and laughing.
13. Even worse, you
know exactly to whom you are going to forward this
message..
14. You are too busy
to notice there was no #9 on this list.
15. You actually
scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this
list
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Just a couple of things...
Michael Vick got a job. Good! While what he did is deplorable, he served his time in prison and was suspended from his job for 2 years. And honestly, I think if he were just an everyday guy (or white), he probably wouldn't have gone to prison, or at least for not as long. I really don't like the idea of using someone's life to 'make your statement'. At any rate, he did everything (and more) that he was asked to do. He happens to be a professional football player and for the NFL to disallow him the opportunity to work his unreasonable. He should've been eligible to play the day he stepped out of prison. Whether a team wishes to hire him or not, should be their decision based on the dynamics of their organization. Felons are released from prison every day and no one says, "yes, we know you're an accountant, but we're going to not allow you to work in that field for 6 more months".
On health care reform. Why do I think the insurance companies are behind all the opposition. Probably getting assistance from the pharmaceuticals. Just sayin.. it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for this much opposition without any proposed solutions. Are you part of the problem or part of the solution (to quote somebody). As a person who spent most of my life not going to Doctors because I couldn't really afford the co-pays, prescriptions, time away from work, etc., I completely agree that reform is long overdue. IT IS A NATIONAL DISGRACE that so many of our citizens can't afford BASIC healthcare. I have affordable healthcare now (as long as I don't get seriously ill), and my children are grown, so I don't feel like I'm taking money away from the table, or clothing/shoes for the kids, but I know exactly how that feels, and United States citizens should not have to choose between food or an office call with a prescription. Just sayn..
I love to watch Tiger play!
Thank ya Jesus.. it's almost football season!(baseball bores me to tears)(..and yes I know that's nearly unAmerican) There, I said it.
Wish I didn't feel so bummed out. I really don't have a good reason to, I've been blessed.
On health care reform. Why do I think the insurance companies are behind all the opposition. Probably getting assistance from the pharmaceuticals. Just sayin.. it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for this much opposition without any proposed solutions. Are you part of the problem or part of the solution (to quote somebody). As a person who spent most of my life not going to Doctors because I couldn't really afford the co-pays, prescriptions, time away from work, etc., I completely agree that reform is long overdue. IT IS A NATIONAL DISGRACE that so many of our citizens can't afford BASIC healthcare. I have affordable healthcare now (as long as I don't get seriously ill), and my children are grown, so I don't feel like I'm taking money away from the table, or clothing/shoes for the kids, but I know exactly how that feels, and United States citizens should not have to choose between food or an office call with a prescription. Just sayn..
I love to watch Tiger play!
Thank ya Jesus.. it's almost football season!(baseball bores me to tears)(..and yes I know that's nearly unAmerican) There, I said it.
Wish I didn't feel so bummed out. I really don't have a good reason to, I've been blessed.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Terrell Owens
I've been watching the TO show (dvr'd it), and I'm very impressed with it. I don't know what I thought it was going to be as a reality show, but it, so far, has seemed quite real. It portrays the man in a new light from what we have grown accustomed to and is quite touching. He seems humbled and appreciative. Sometimes knowing the history gives incredible insight to the subject.
Airs on VH1
Recommended!
Airs on VH1
Recommended!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
I'm either terribly boring or too too busy.
Probably A. I have been remiss about blogging. I don't think I have anything THAT interesting to say and have done NOTHING significant toward reaching most of my goals. D and I have been doing a lot together and shared some very good times, and maybe, you just have to take some time and live your life every now and then.
So I still have a job and the bills are paid, yeah!! We went to Myrtle Beach this summer and will try to get back there again in August, if we can get a room, and we're planning a trip to So. FL in September. I'm hoping to go to Europe in the spring (let me know if you can recommend a travel agent).
The dog is still a goofy bully and I REALLY want to have lost 25 pounds by my birthday in October. That's about it. I might not be boring to me, because I've really enjoyed the summer, but probably boring to those who might read this.
TTFN
So I still have a job and the bills are paid, yeah!! We went to Myrtle Beach this summer and will try to get back there again in August, if we can get a room, and we're planning a trip to So. FL in September. I'm hoping to go to Europe in the spring (let me know if you can recommend a travel agent).
The dog is still a goofy bully and I REALLY want to have lost 25 pounds by my birthday in October. That's about it. I might not be boring to me, because I've really enjoyed the summer, but probably boring to those who might read this.
TTFN
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Choices
1. Predictability or spontaneity?
2. Known and safe or Unknown and exciting?
3. Dependent partner or Independent without a net
4. Lonely or Alone
5. Unfulfilled or Searching
How do you decide and what do you choose?
2. Known and safe or Unknown and exciting?
3. Dependent partner or Independent without a net
4. Lonely or Alone
5. Unfulfilled or Searching
How do you decide and what do you choose?
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