"Politics is not the art of the possible. It consists in choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable."
-- John Kenneth Galbraith
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Back to the creative grind . . .
I've enjoyed Christmas with all it's preparations, extra baking, and gifting. I have, however, missed my sewing machine and free moments for creativity. I'm looking forward to doing some Spring cleaning, clutter reduction, and getting my fabric and needles back into play.
Hard to believe it is 2010 coming up. I'm amazed at how much history we have lived through over the last few years. Not sure if I'm looking forward to some of the stuff that seems to be on the horizon for us in the next few years!
After a lot of mornings of waking up and worrying about the state of the nation (someone has to do it!), I've decided to keep informed but send off a prayer instead of fretting. In many ways, it is out of my hands. Naturally, I will fight against things that will jeopardize my life and my children's future but I hope to learn to turn it more over to God. Hey, He is in control even if He allows some of His children to wander drastically off the given path.
I'm also looking forward to being more politically aware and active. There are a lot of re-elections coming up that need our attention and educated vote. We need to keep justified anger going so the wrong politicians can't slip into office for any more years.
Now, I'm off to my clean up chores and should probably start with the leftover Christmas candy. I need my energy to keep up, you know!
Hard to believe it is 2010 coming up. I'm amazed at how much history we have lived through over the last few years. Not sure if I'm looking forward to some of the stuff that seems to be on the horizon for us in the next few years!
After a lot of mornings of waking up and worrying about the state of the nation (someone has to do it!), I've decided to keep informed but send off a prayer instead of fretting. In many ways, it is out of my hands. Naturally, I will fight against things that will jeopardize my life and my children's future but I hope to learn to turn it more over to God. Hey, He is in control even if He allows some of His children to wander drastically off the given path.
I'm also looking forward to being more politically aware and active. There are a lot of re-elections coming up that need our attention and educated vote. We need to keep justified anger going so the wrong politicians can't slip into office for any more years.
Now, I'm off to my clean up chores and should probably start with the leftover Christmas candy. I need my energy to keep up, you know!
Homeland Insecurity . . .
What is wrong with the Homeland Security people who are supposed to look out for our welfare? Recently, a Nigerian managed to board a plane and almost bring it down in flames during the holiday season. The quick thinking of the passengers and airplane staff prevented the unthinkable from happening. Good thing everyone had to board with little bags of miniature toothpaste and shampoo otherwise it could have been much worse, right?
I imagine that the terrorists have gottens ome good laughs over airport antics since
9/11. Instead of profiling very suspect people (we must be politically correct above all!), the people punished are the ones just trying to fly from one place to the next. The more rules and regulations that are put in place for average passengers, the less people want to bother, the flights lose revenue, and who wins? An ongoing, minor victory for the terrorists. They weren't looking for that but propbably don't mind the side benefit of inconveniencing the American people.
In view of the current aborted terrorist attack, flight passengers cannot have anything in their lap an hour before landing and cannot leave their seats for any reason in the last hour. No magazines or books? What about parents traveling with small children who live by the will of their bladder and won't understand why they can't make a quick trip to the restroom when needed? Do the powers that be really think that this will thwart any terrorist who really, really wants to make trouble? Are they going to board and mutter, "Oh, dear! Can't do anything an hour before we land. Guess that puts a stop to my mission." I can see a mass exodus from assigned seating to the restrooms an hour and a HALF before landing causing a lot of commotion.
From what I have read and heard, holding books or makeup kits in laps before landing did not contribute to the current terrorist attempt. It goes back to the security who let a reported terrorist board the plane. It goes back to inadequately screening passengers for information on file that should have prevented them from boarding any plane. Our administration let us down and ordinary people turned heroes saved a lot of people's Christmas.
Yet, in spite of the information of an administration failure, who is getting further punishment for wanting to fly home for an event, go on a vacation, and make a business trip? The American people get punished for the terrorists. I hear more horrer stories from people taking a plane trip than I do about terrorists. Now, you can only take one item on board. If you are a woman and carry a purse, you can't have a carry-on bag. You can't even have gel inserts in your shoes and if you happen to have a pair of shoes that have gel support built in, they will have to be checked thoroughly.
I was in Munich when there was the terrorist murders of the team from Israel. I was traveling with friends, one of whom was Hispanic. Let me tell you, the border guards at each and every country we passed through had absolutely no problem with profiling my friend because of his darker complexion and checking out their photo books against his passport picture, etc. He didn't mind because he respected their efforts in safeguarding their countries. He knew he wasn't a wanted character.
It seems to me that if we want to keep ahead of possible problems, we should take a closer look at people traveling from known countries that harbor terrorists. We shouldn't consider it profiling to stop someone and do a quick check of their documentation. There is a data base of people who shouldn't be allowed on the plane. They should make it their flight Bible. Right now, all I see are people missing planes, limping along to a flight about to take off and not having time to put their shoes back on, and little children getting frisked because the lost the check point 'lottery'.
You think the terrorists don't watch and enjoy making American sweat like this? Their first goal, of course, is physical distruction but I don't think they mind undermining the American way of life and leaving it to our government to inflict it on us, too.
I imagine that the terrorists have gottens ome good laughs over airport antics since
9/11. Instead of profiling very suspect people (we must be politically correct above all!), the people punished are the ones just trying to fly from one place to the next. The more rules and regulations that are put in place for average passengers, the less people want to bother, the flights lose revenue, and who wins? An ongoing, minor victory for the terrorists. They weren't looking for that but propbably don't mind the side benefit of inconveniencing the American people.
In view of the current aborted terrorist attack, flight passengers cannot have anything in their lap an hour before landing and cannot leave their seats for any reason in the last hour. No magazines or books? What about parents traveling with small children who live by the will of their bladder and won't understand why they can't make a quick trip to the restroom when needed? Do the powers that be really think that this will thwart any terrorist who really, really wants to make trouble? Are they going to board and mutter, "Oh, dear! Can't do anything an hour before we land. Guess that puts a stop to my mission." I can see a mass exodus from assigned seating to the restrooms an hour and a HALF before landing causing a lot of commotion.
From what I have read and heard, holding books or makeup kits in laps before landing did not contribute to the current terrorist attempt. It goes back to the security who let a reported terrorist board the plane. It goes back to inadequately screening passengers for information on file that should have prevented them from boarding any plane. Our administration let us down and ordinary people turned heroes saved a lot of people's Christmas.
Yet, in spite of the information of an administration failure, who is getting further punishment for wanting to fly home for an event, go on a vacation, and make a business trip? The American people get punished for the terrorists. I hear more horrer stories from people taking a plane trip than I do about terrorists. Now, you can only take one item on board. If you are a woman and carry a purse, you can't have a carry-on bag. You can't even have gel inserts in your shoes and if you happen to have a pair of shoes that have gel support built in, they will have to be checked thoroughly.
I was in Munich when there was the terrorist murders of the team from Israel. I was traveling with friends, one of whom was Hispanic. Let me tell you, the border guards at each and every country we passed through had absolutely no problem with profiling my friend because of his darker complexion and checking out their photo books against his passport picture, etc. He didn't mind because he respected their efforts in safeguarding their countries. He knew he wasn't a wanted character.
It seems to me that if we want to keep ahead of possible problems, we should take a closer look at people traveling from known countries that harbor terrorists. We shouldn't consider it profiling to stop someone and do a quick check of their documentation. There is a data base of people who shouldn't be allowed on the plane. They should make it their flight Bible. Right now, all I see are people missing planes, limping along to a flight about to take off and not having time to put their shoes back on, and little children getting frisked because the lost the check point 'lottery'.
You think the terrorists don't watch and enjoy making American sweat like this? Their first goal, of course, is physical distruction but I don't think they mind undermining the American way of life and leaving it to our government to inflict it on us, too.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas 2009 . . . A day of mourning?
Through tricks and no transparency, the senate may actually bring their health care fiasco to 'light'. The people spoke, as the president stated in a recent speech, too bad he didn't listen.
There are people who don't care what goes on in the country. They will find some financial surprises in their future paychecks.
There are people who think we are heading for FREE medical care. They will find some problems with that when they go to future doctor appointments.
There are elderly who think it is about time to ease things up for them. Should have read the bill and determine if they WANT rationed care because they are elderly.
There are families who thought the insurance burden would lift with the health care reform. Should have read the independent financial reports which showed it was impossible to make this work. What will they do when more and more of their income goes for health care they won't receive.
And, if any pro-life people thought the bill was a good idea, and I know a few, how will they face the babies that will die through tax dollars. I don't want to be in their shoes come Judgement Day when they have to see the thousand and thousands of aborted babies they 'helped' kill.
I get tired of people quoting 'hope and change' to me. Our country didn't need this kind of change and it certainly did away with a lot of hope. Hoax and chains is more fitting given the Christmas Eve gift presented to us by the Senate.
I contacted our Senators OFTEN. People told me it was no use. I have a friend who wrote or e-mailed our Senators EVERY day. Seems that even if the situation is on the hopeless side, NOT doing anything makes you less of a voter.
There are people who don't care what goes on in the country. They will find some financial surprises in their future paychecks.
There are people who think we are heading for FREE medical care. They will find some problems with that when they go to future doctor appointments.
There are elderly who think it is about time to ease things up for them. Should have read the bill and determine if they WANT rationed care because they are elderly.
There are families who thought the insurance burden would lift with the health care reform. Should have read the independent financial reports which showed it was impossible to make this work. What will they do when more and more of their income goes for health care they won't receive.
And, if any pro-life people thought the bill was a good idea, and I know a few, how will they face the babies that will die through tax dollars. I don't want to be in their shoes come Judgement Day when they have to see the thousand and thousands of aborted babies they 'helped' kill.
I get tired of people quoting 'hope and change' to me. Our country didn't need this kind of change and it certainly did away with a lot of hope. Hoax and chains is more fitting given the Christmas Eve gift presented to us by the Senate.
I contacted our Senators OFTEN. People told me it was no use. I have a friend who wrote or e-mailed our Senators EVERY day. Seems that even if the situation is on the hopeless side, NOT doing anything makes you less of a voter.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Merry Christmas!
Every child on earth is holy
Every crib is a managaer lowly,
Every home is a stable dim
Every town is a Bethlehem,
Every star is God's own Gem &
every kind word is a hymn,
For Christ is born, born again,
When God's love lives in the hearts of men.
Author unknown
Every crib is a managaer lowly,
Every home is a stable dim
Every town is a Bethlehem,
Every star is God's own Gem &
every kind word is a hymn,
For Christ is born, born again,
When God's love lives in the hearts of men.
Author unknown
Friday, December 18, 2009
Too true . . . !
"Everybody hates me because I'm so universally liked."
-- Peter de Vries
"As a matter of principle, I never attend the first annual anything."
-- George Carlin
"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."
-- Douglas Adams
"A lot of fellows nowadays have a B.A., M.D., or Ph.D. Unfortunately, they don't have a J.O.B."
-- Fats Domino
-- Peter de Vries
"As a matter of principle, I never attend the first annual anything."
-- George Carlin
"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."
-- Douglas Adams
"A lot of fellows nowadays have a B.A., M.D., or Ph.D. Unfortunately, they don't have a J.O.B."
-- Fats Domino
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Sugar rush . . .
After a day of candy making, I'm surprised I can even thing sugar much less be eating a piece of said product even as I type. What can I say? I make quick recoveries! I usually go with baking for Christmas (as I did recently), but decided to try a few interesting candy recipes I ran across. For the most part, they were pretty successful. I found out, however, that trusting my instincts still works best!
I found an easy recipe for chocolate truffles. I elaborated on the basic chocolate ingredients with orange zest and extract. The vanilla extract enhanced the flavors nicely. A quick test taste promised a good outcome. The recipe said to put the mixture into the refrigerator for at least three hours then form into small balls and roll in ground nuts and such. Great! I made this one first and went about my other recipes.
At the designated time, I got my bowl of truffle mixture out of the refrigerator and it was ROCK solid. Okay, I thought, I'll let it reach room temperature. Two hours later, it was ROCK solid. I finished off my other candy projects and took to the bowl of chocolate with a wooden spoon. It WAS my favorite wooden spoon and will be sorely missed!
Giving up on a seemingly hopeless mess, I ran hot water into the bowl and let it set while I cleaned up the kitchen. Guess what? It was still ROCK solid. I left it soaking overnight and it has now been over 18 hours later and it still resides in the sink with no intention of going away. I hate truffles!
On the bright side, I ended up with a great assortment of candy to gift. Even better, I managed to find all but one recipient at home to gift with the candy. Anyone interested in some easy but tasty candy recipes, I can post them here or on my other Blog - College Cusine.
Successful reciped enacted yesterday were:
Crispy Peanut Butter balls dipped in chocolate.
White Peppermint Cups
White Almond Cups
Cookie Dough Filled Chocolates
Walnut/Date/Cherry Filled Chocolates
White Chocolate Crispy Cups
I found an easy recipe for chocolate truffles. I elaborated on the basic chocolate ingredients with orange zest and extract. The vanilla extract enhanced the flavors nicely. A quick test taste promised a good outcome. The recipe said to put the mixture into the refrigerator for at least three hours then form into small balls and roll in ground nuts and such. Great! I made this one first and went about my other recipes.
At the designated time, I got my bowl of truffle mixture out of the refrigerator and it was ROCK solid. Okay, I thought, I'll let it reach room temperature. Two hours later, it was ROCK solid. I finished off my other candy projects and took to the bowl of chocolate with a wooden spoon. It WAS my favorite wooden spoon and will be sorely missed!
Giving up on a seemingly hopeless mess, I ran hot water into the bowl and let it set while I cleaned up the kitchen. Guess what? It was still ROCK solid. I left it soaking overnight and it has now been over 18 hours later and it still resides in the sink with no intention of going away. I hate truffles!
On the bright side, I ended up with a great assortment of candy to gift. Even better, I managed to find all but one recipient at home to gift with the candy. Anyone interested in some easy but tasty candy recipes, I can post them here or on my other Blog - College Cusine.
Successful reciped enacted yesterday were:
Crispy Peanut Butter balls dipped in chocolate.
White Peppermint Cups
White Almond Cups
Cookie Dough Filled Chocolates
Walnut/Date/Cherry Filled Chocolates
White Chocolate Crispy Cups
Friday, December 11, 2009
Man, that global warming is sure cold and wet . . .
According to REAL scientific facts and not the made up, forced conclusions of Al Gore and company, the last time there was a temperature change out of the ordinary was in 1998 and it was minimal. I always enjoy rainy, cold weather as it makes all the global summits on this 'warming' trend a bit amusing. Besides, what kind of carbon footprint did they all leave by flying into the current one in their private jets, etc.? If they let God be in charge, more would be right with the world.
Lots of sunny, California rain today. I promised myself during the last rain storm earlier in the week that I would remember to find that tin pan under the eaves that makes a delightful noise during the rain . . . in the middle of the night . . . when I would like to sleep!
Not complaining as my older daughter has taken up ice slipping for a hobby this week. The storm that hit California went on to Kansas and surrounding areas leaving them with snow and icy paths. Her record, yesterday, was five falls on the black ice and she added another one when she was talking to me on her way back to the dorm.
In spite of the dark, rainy forecast, I'm thinking about making dinner that requires long and hot use of the oven today, probably vegetable cheese pizza on a whole wheat crust. We don't use our central air so savor any activity that includes the use of the oven these days!
Just to brighten the gloomy day, here are some quotes that hit a bit too close to the truth!
"Communism doesn't work because people like to own stuff."
-- Frank Zappa
"Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago."
-- Bernard Berenson
"Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing."
-- Redd Foxx
"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first."
-- Mark Twain
Lots of sunny, California rain today. I promised myself during the last rain storm earlier in the week that I would remember to find that tin pan under the eaves that makes a delightful noise during the rain . . . in the middle of the night . . . when I would like to sleep!
Not complaining as my older daughter has taken up ice slipping for a hobby this week. The storm that hit California went on to Kansas and surrounding areas leaving them with snow and icy paths. Her record, yesterday, was five falls on the black ice and she added another one when she was talking to me on her way back to the dorm.
In spite of the dark, rainy forecast, I'm thinking about making dinner that requires long and hot use of the oven today, probably vegetable cheese pizza on a whole wheat crust. We don't use our central air so savor any activity that includes the use of the oven these days!
Just to brighten the gloomy day, here are some quotes that hit a bit too close to the truth!
"Communism doesn't work because people like to own stuff."
-- Frank Zappa
"Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago."
-- Bernard Berenson
"Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing."
-- Redd Foxx
"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first."
-- Mark Twain
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Christmas is coming . . .!
Rain, rain, and then some more rain yesterday! Our dogs took the rain as a personal affront but I decided it would make a great day for Christmas baking.
My early baking days (way back in the stone age of my youth!), often left the kitchen in complete shambles. The product result of those days was quite good but my baking time seeped into fixing dinner time and some of the ho, ho, ho went out of the holidays when hungry children and husband wanted something more than another cookie for dinner.
Old age has a few compensations! I've discovered organization and my baking shows the improvement. I actually got seven batches of cookies baked, iced, and packed away with time to spare. My one secret to getting a jump on the baking is to bake the brownies first. They take one pan and while they are doing their 20-minute time in the oven, I have time to mix up another batch of bar cookies. After that, comes the molded cookies likes snow ball cookies. Once the bulk of the baking is either under way or done, I get to think about more labor intensive types. At the close of baking, yesterday, I just has a few dishes left to wash (no dishwasher at our house) and an hour to work on some crocheting projects. Dinner was on time and it was definitely a nice beginning of the season. The end results of my cookie baking was white and chocolate chip cookies, almond snowball cookies, chocolate/cherry/nut cocoa snowball cookies, Snickerdoodles, brownies, date bars, Amish Sugar cookies.
Plates of cookies were distributed to friends today and the exclamation from one friend, "Oh, I'm so happy! Snowball cookies, my favorite!" made it all worthwhile.
Anyone interested in any of my recipes, please let me know and I'll post it. Anyone having a family favorite to share, please let us know and share.
A word to the wise . . . For the best (in my opinion!) spices, flavorings, and extracts, check out, on-line, Cook's Vanilla, Penzy Spices, and Spices, Etc. Did you know there is more than one kind of vanilla? Or, that cinnamon comes in different strengths and flavors?
My early baking days (way back in the stone age of my youth!), often left the kitchen in complete shambles. The product result of those days was quite good but my baking time seeped into fixing dinner time and some of the ho, ho, ho went out of the holidays when hungry children and husband wanted something more than another cookie for dinner.
Old age has a few compensations! I've discovered organization and my baking shows the improvement. I actually got seven batches of cookies baked, iced, and packed away with time to spare. My one secret to getting a jump on the baking is to bake the brownies first. They take one pan and while they are doing their 20-minute time in the oven, I have time to mix up another batch of bar cookies. After that, comes the molded cookies likes snow ball cookies. Once the bulk of the baking is either under way or done, I get to think about more labor intensive types. At the close of baking, yesterday, I just has a few dishes left to wash (no dishwasher at our house) and an hour to work on some crocheting projects. Dinner was on time and it was definitely a nice beginning of the season. The end results of my cookie baking was white and chocolate chip cookies, almond snowball cookies, chocolate/cherry/nut cocoa snowball cookies, Snickerdoodles, brownies, date bars, Amish Sugar cookies.
Plates of cookies were distributed to friends today and the exclamation from one friend, "Oh, I'm so happy! Snowball cookies, my favorite!" made it all worthwhile.
Anyone interested in any of my recipes, please let me know and I'll post it. Anyone having a family favorite to share, please let us know and share.
A word to the wise . . . For the best (in my opinion!) spices, flavorings, and extracts, check out, on-line, Cook's Vanilla, Penzy Spices, and Spices, Etc. Did you know there is more than one kind of vanilla? Or, that cinnamon comes in different strengths and flavors?
Friday, December 4, 2009
Words of Wisdom . . .!
"Saying what we think gives us a wider conversational range than saying what we know."
-- Cullen Hightower
"Wine makes a man more pleased with himself; I do not say that it makes him more pleasing to others."
-- Samuel Johnson
"An economist is an expert who will know tomorrow why the things he predicted yesterday didn't happen today."
-- Laurence J. Peter
"The trouble with America is that there are far too many wide-open spaces surrounded by teeth."
-- Charles Luckman
-- Cullen Hightower
"Wine makes a man more pleased with himself; I do not say that it makes him more pleasing to others."
-- Samuel Johnson
"An economist is an expert who will know tomorrow why the things he predicted yesterday didn't happen today."
-- Laurence J. Peter
"The trouble with America is that there are far too many wide-open spaces surrounded by teeth."
-- Charles Luckman
Saturday, November 28, 2009
What's so hard with 'yes' or 'no' . . .?
I think our society has come to such a level of wanting to be nice and tolerant, they have lost sight of being practical and straight forward in their approach and social interaction with their fellow human beings. Things might improve if people had a mandatory class in good manners in their formative years.
Thanksgiving always reminds me of this. One year, we invited a friend to share Thanksgiving dinner with us. We asked a month ahead of time so he had time to figure out his schedule. We waited and waited for his response. Finally, a day or two before Thanksgiving, we asked this person directly if he was accepting our invitation or not. He said, "Oh, I decided to accept another invitation last week." I often wondered if he was afraid of hurting our feelings and thought that just not responding would be a better course of action.
Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to be an isolated incident and I have heard from other people who has experienced this. Two years in a row, we felt sorry for a student unable to get home for the holiday and offered an invitation. Should have learned our lesson the first time. The first year, she didn't bother to turn us down until almost the day before and we found out later, she 'got a better invitation'. This year, she never got back to us and we discovered she had accepted an invitation a week prior to ours. She KNEW at the time we extended our invitation that she already had other plans! Makes you wonder if we were a 'just in case' invitation, she didn't want to say no, or she just has horrible manners.
My children have always moaned and groaned when I insisted they send thank you notes or immediate replies to invitations. I'm hoping the early training makes them appreciative and well-mannered as they go on in life.
My favorite non-response concerned a niece. She had turned eleven or twelve and we decided to send her a 'grown up' Christmas gift - her own hair dryer. About five years later, it came up in the conversation with her mother who said that her daughter had been SO thrilled with the gift and wore it out using it. She absolutely loved it!
Not to worry, however. We are getting better at selecting out holiday guests these days. Two years in a row, we invited a family with six delightful young adults who promptly accepted our invitation and showed up for Thanksgiving! We felt very blessed with the company! And those other people? Well, they don't know what they missed and we can only pray they get more blessings out of life than they are currently extending!
Thanksgiving always reminds me of this. One year, we invited a friend to share Thanksgiving dinner with us. We asked a month ahead of time so he had time to figure out his schedule. We waited and waited for his response. Finally, a day or two before Thanksgiving, we asked this person directly if he was accepting our invitation or not. He said, "Oh, I decided to accept another invitation last week." I often wondered if he was afraid of hurting our feelings and thought that just not responding would be a better course of action.
Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to be an isolated incident and I have heard from other people who has experienced this. Two years in a row, we felt sorry for a student unable to get home for the holiday and offered an invitation. Should have learned our lesson the first time. The first year, she didn't bother to turn us down until almost the day before and we found out later, she 'got a better invitation'. This year, she never got back to us and we discovered she had accepted an invitation a week prior to ours. She KNEW at the time we extended our invitation that she already had other plans! Makes you wonder if we were a 'just in case' invitation, she didn't want to say no, or she just has horrible manners.
My children have always moaned and groaned when I insisted they send thank you notes or immediate replies to invitations. I'm hoping the early training makes them appreciative and well-mannered as they go on in life.
My favorite non-response concerned a niece. She had turned eleven or twelve and we decided to send her a 'grown up' Christmas gift - her own hair dryer. About five years later, it came up in the conversation with her mother who said that her daughter had been SO thrilled with the gift and wore it out using it. She absolutely loved it!
Not to worry, however. We are getting better at selecting out holiday guests these days. Two years in a row, we invited a family with six delightful young adults who promptly accepted our invitation and showed up for Thanksgiving! We felt very blessed with the company! And those other people? Well, they don't know what they missed and we can only pray they get more blessings out of life than they are currently extending!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Don't Follow the Crowd . . .
I'm pretty good about eating right during most of the year but those candy canes and chocolates that start appearing around the holidays can often sidetrack me! It is interesting that when I've avoided candy and cookies for awhile, eating one isn't that terrific BUT my mind tells me that I used to like it so try another one! Before I know it, I've stored a few dozen cookies around my waistline.
What frustrates me when I let my guard down around the cookie jar is that fresh fruit tastes so much better yet my tastebuds get lured into the holiday season all too easily if I don't watch out.
Given this weakness in my otherwise stellar (!) personality, I'm making sure I keep the makings for green smoothies around the house to forestall temptation with something equally tasty but much better for me.
One of my children and I LOVE green smoothies and don't even mind the vibrant green color anymore. It is amazing how spinach, pears, kiwi, apple, and broccoli can taste so good blended into an icy drink. One of my daughters prefers an orange, carrot, cranberry smoothie which I've never passed up, either. We used to treat ourselves to the popular juice places that provide you with a fruit smoothie in exchange for quite a sum of money considering you are paying for much ground ice. I checked the calorie count on them and discovered it was much cheaper and healthier to make smoothies at home. The calories were lower, too.
I can't believe the holidays are upon us even as I face the cooking and baking of the next few days. Good thing I have that stash of cranberries put away because I think I'm going to need a few homemade fruit/vegetable smoothies to see me through.
What frustrates me when I let my guard down around the cookie jar is that fresh fruit tastes so much better yet my tastebuds get lured into the holiday season all too easily if I don't watch out.
Given this weakness in my otherwise stellar (!) personality, I'm making sure I keep the makings for green smoothies around the house to forestall temptation with something equally tasty but much better for me.
One of my children and I LOVE green smoothies and don't even mind the vibrant green color anymore. It is amazing how spinach, pears, kiwi, apple, and broccoli can taste so good blended into an icy drink. One of my daughters prefers an orange, carrot, cranberry smoothie which I've never passed up, either. We used to treat ourselves to the popular juice places that provide you with a fruit smoothie in exchange for quite a sum of money considering you are paying for much ground ice. I checked the calorie count on them and discovered it was much cheaper and healthier to make smoothies at home. The calories were lower, too.
I can't believe the holidays are upon us even as I face the cooking and baking of the next few days. Good thing I have that stash of cranberries put away because I think I'm going to need a few homemade fruit/vegetable smoothies to see me through.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
A black market venture . . .
Except for canned, it is difficult to find fresh or frozen cranberries during the time after Christmas. Unfortunately, my family has a definite, year-round craving for the little red berries. I love cranberries with a beef and gravy meal. My husband wants cranberry muffins more often than during the holidays. My son likes chocolate cream pie with a cranberry glaze topping.
This year, I'm hoping to extend our cranberry fields forever! Costco is selling large bags of the fresh berries. I'm double bagging them in freezer-proof bags and plan to indulge when everyone else is looking to summer and watermelon! Okay, we have jumped the gun a bit on our stash and have almost use a whole bag on said chocolate cream pie, muffins, and cranberry sauce for a beef and gravy dinner. I'm not TOO concerned as we have a few more weeks of holiday eating and I plan to raid Costco for a couple more bags.
Just remember that when the summer heat arrives and you find me enjoying a cranberry smoothie, I MIGHT share some of my stash . . . for a reasonable price!
This year, I'm hoping to extend our cranberry fields forever! Costco is selling large bags of the fresh berries. I'm double bagging them in freezer-proof bags and plan to indulge when everyone else is looking to summer and watermelon! Okay, we have jumped the gun a bit on our stash and have almost use a whole bag on said chocolate cream pie, muffins, and cranberry sauce for a beef and gravy dinner. I'm not TOO concerned as we have a few more weeks of holiday eating and I plan to raid Costco for a couple more bags.
Just remember that when the summer heat arrives and you find me enjoying a cranberry smoothie, I MIGHT share some of my stash . . . for a reasonable price!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Getting hungry . . .
Thanksgiving is a great holiday. It is a simple one where people get together and eat. No need to shop for gifts, send flowers, or take pictures with Santa. You cook, visit, and eat! We usually have a Thanksgiving-type menu on other days of the year but turkey and all the trimmings seems to taste so much better when shared with a full table of friends and family.
I just got back from shopping. We are looking forward to having eleven people sitting around our Thanksgiving holiday table. I love to cook and enjoy going after a shopping bargain so it is a win/win scenario for me. I have been fixing Thanksgiving dinner since I was around twelve and love the whole process.
Preparing for Thanksgiving also points out our blessings, too. I have learned to never complain about not having enough room in the cupboard when I have to stock up. A crowded cupboard means God provided most adequately for us this year. We should be grateful and enjoy it.
Although, I pretty much do a straight forward menu for Thanksgiving, I always come up with an extra item or two to enhance the meal. This year, there will be a coconut custard pie joining the pecan, pumpkin, and apple pies. Bread stuffing is a positive staple at Thanksgiving and I could face eviction from the family if it didn't make an appearance. This year, however, I'm thinking about adding a dish of cornbread sausage stuffing. Bread and butter is kind of overkill with all the other food but, I'm thinking, cranberry muffins wouldn't be too much, right?
I hope everyone is anticipating a good holiday next week with family and friends. Remember to be also grateful for our freedom of Faith and the best government in the world because these things often hang in balance and we can't guarantee the same in the future.
I just got back from shopping. We are looking forward to having eleven people sitting around our Thanksgiving holiday table. I love to cook and enjoy going after a shopping bargain so it is a win/win scenario for me. I have been fixing Thanksgiving dinner since I was around twelve and love the whole process.
Preparing for Thanksgiving also points out our blessings, too. I have learned to never complain about not having enough room in the cupboard when I have to stock up. A crowded cupboard means God provided most adequately for us this year. We should be grateful and enjoy it.
Although, I pretty much do a straight forward menu for Thanksgiving, I always come up with an extra item or two to enhance the meal. This year, there will be a coconut custard pie joining the pecan, pumpkin, and apple pies. Bread stuffing is a positive staple at Thanksgiving and I could face eviction from the family if it didn't make an appearance. This year, however, I'm thinking about adding a dish of cornbread sausage stuffing. Bread and butter is kind of overkill with all the other food but, I'm thinking, cranberry muffins wouldn't be too much, right?
I hope everyone is anticipating a good holiday next week with family and friends. Remember to be also grateful for our freedom of Faith and the best government in the world because these things often hang in balance and we can't guarantee the same in the future.
Where do our donations go . . .?
There is a second collection this Sunday or next for the annual Campaign for Human Development. Before you even think about dropping a single coin into this collection basket, check out the link from RealCatholicTV.com: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n_YseZ7Cog
In addition to using our Catholic money for ACORN, in past years, the money we put into the collection has also been used for Pro-Abortion, Pro-Homosexual, Pro-Contraception, and Pro-Prostitution groups. Our Catholic money is being funneled to liberal, left wing agendas that go against our Catholic teaching. Money has also been used to promote Democratic concerns which go against our beliefs and morals.
One suggestion has been to drop a 'No, Thank You!' note into the collection basket for this collection. Perhaps an outpouring of objection will enlightened our priests and bishops to take a second look.
In addition to using our Catholic money for ACORN, in past years, the money we put into the collection has also been used for Pro-Abortion, Pro-Homosexual, Pro-Contraception, and Pro-Prostitution groups. Our Catholic money is being funneled to liberal, left wing agendas that go against our Catholic teaching. Money has also been used to promote Democratic concerns which go against our beliefs and morals.
One suggestion has been to drop a 'No, Thank You!' note into the collection basket for this collection. Perhaps an outpouring of objection will enlightened our priests and bishops to take a second look.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
How clean is YOUR desk . . .? and other thoughts.
"If a cluttered desk is the sign of a cluttered mind, what is the significance of a clean desk?"
-- Laurence J. Peter
"Americans detest all lies except lies spoken in public or printed lies."
-- Edgar Watson Howe
"I have often depended on the blindness of strangers."
-- Adrienne E. Gusoff
"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear."
-- Mark Twain
-- Laurence J. Peter
"Americans detest all lies except lies spoken in public or printed lies."
-- Edgar Watson Howe
"I have often depended on the blindness of strangers."
-- Adrienne E. Gusoff
"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear."
-- Mark Twain
Saturday, November 14, 2009
The first quote is certainly our government right now . . .!
"The government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."
-- Ronald Reagan
"Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily this is not difficult."
-- Charlotte Whitton
"I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me."
-- Noel Coward
"An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field."
-- Niels Bohr
-- Ronald Reagan
"Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily this is not difficult."
-- Charlotte Whitton
"I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me."
-- Noel Coward
"An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field."
-- Niels Bohr
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Who's sorry now . . .?
On more than one occasion, our current president has apologized for the United States. I don't know if he thinks this will make friends and influence enemies but he certainly doesn't do it in a humble way. It now looks like he should be doing the apologizing.
He made a much-heralded trip overseas to demean himself by asking for and expecting the next Olympics to be bestowed on the United States because HE wanted it that way. I think the powers that be enjoyed calling out in the FIRST round that Chicago was in no way going to get the Olympics. There were more pressing events going on at the time yet the president made this special trip over specifically for receiving this expected 'gift'.
The anniversary of the end of the Berlin Wall was today. Although my mother wasn't in Berlin, at the time, she was visiting in German when this happened twenty years ago. She wept because many relatives she hadn't seen since the Wall went up, were now free to go about their lives as they chose to do so. My grandmother died in East Germany. I have many cousins I never got to meet because they lived behind the Wall. It certainly meant something to my family when this event played out so dramatically. Definitely one for the history books!
Our president turned down an invitation to be there for the occasion! Travel for an olympic beg-fest, yes. Travel to honor the fall of communism, no. And, what good is a vice president who doesn't take up the reins when the president is too busy?
This president owes the German people an apology. He owes all the people who lived without family during the time of the Wall, an apology. He owes the United States an apology for embarassing us in front of the world.
He made a much-heralded trip overseas to demean himself by asking for and expecting the next Olympics to be bestowed on the United States because HE wanted it that way. I think the powers that be enjoyed calling out in the FIRST round that Chicago was in no way going to get the Olympics. There were more pressing events going on at the time yet the president made this special trip over specifically for receiving this expected 'gift'.
The anniversary of the end of the Berlin Wall was today. Although my mother wasn't in Berlin, at the time, she was visiting in German when this happened twenty years ago. She wept because many relatives she hadn't seen since the Wall went up, were now free to go about their lives as they chose to do so. My grandmother died in East Germany. I have many cousins I never got to meet because they lived behind the Wall. It certainly meant something to my family when this event played out so dramatically. Definitely one for the history books!
Our president turned down an invitation to be there for the occasion! Travel for an olympic beg-fest, yes. Travel to honor the fall of communism, no. And, what good is a vice president who doesn't take up the reins when the president is too busy?
This president owes the German people an apology. He owes all the people who lived without family during the time of the Wall, an apology. He owes the United States an apology for embarassing us in front of the world.
Mixing ideas with your own . . . quotes!
I especially liked the last one as you meet so many people who are just passing through this life without any ambition, original thoughts, and real hopes for the future. They seem to live for the moment without any quality. Kind of makes death a highlight of their life when God provided us with so much to enjoy and be thankful for in this world. It isn't always easy and you can make it worthwhile! : - )
"I like an escalator because an escalator can never break, it can only become stairs. There would never be an escalator temporarily out of order sign, only an escalator temporarily stairs. Sorry for the convenience."
-- Mitch Hedberg
"Elections are won by men and women chiefly because most people vote against somebody rather than for somebody."
-- Franklin P. Adams
"Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius."
-- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
"Is there life before death?"
-- Graffito
"I like an escalator because an escalator can never break, it can only become stairs. There would never be an escalator temporarily out of order sign, only an escalator temporarily stairs. Sorry for the convenience."
-- Mitch Hedberg
"Elections are won by men and women chiefly because most people vote against somebody rather than for somebody."
-- Franklin P. Adams
"Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius."
-- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
"Is there life before death?"
-- Graffito
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Seems to apply . . .
This quote kind of reminded me of the recent health care legislation:
"All human situations have their inconveniences. We feel those of the present but neither see nor feel those of the future; and hence we often make troublesome changes without amendment, and frequently for the worse."
-- Benjamin Franklin
"All human situations have their inconveniences. We feel those of the present but neither see nor feel those of the future; and hence we often make troublesome changes without amendment, and frequently for the worse."
-- Benjamin Franklin
What happened to Democracy or is it Demo-crazy?
What a greeting to a beautiful Sunday morning . . . Headlines blaring that the House has passed the first step in health care reform by a margin of five votes! I read an article on-line by the Wall Street Journal and they were running a poll. The vote was 69% AGAINST this type of health care reform! Most of the polls over the last few weeks have run in the same direction. What is wrong with our government representatives who have decided to use the votes that got them into office to propose their own, personal agenda? And, once again, the feminazi, Pelosi lied as I don't recall we had 72 hours since yesterday to read the proposed Bill. They are in the middle of putting a huge burden on the future salaries of our next generation yet show little remorse or forethought as all these people voting this into law will not have to be under the proposed plan.
I hope everyone takes note and lets their representative and senators know that the vote they are casting now will effect the vote we cast come their reelection years.
You have to wonder what is wrong with Pelosi and any other woman in office who agrees to a bill that could include abortion paid by everyone's taxes and rationed treatment for the elderly. Don't they have any womanly feelings for preborn children? They all have children yet they advocate the outright killing of them?
We have to be vigilant in this because IF this totally passes into law, the full effect won't be felt until AFTER obama's hoped-for reelection and then POW! They plan on this lull to see that he IS reelected. To me, this seems unconstitutional to MAKE everyone have the SAME insurance.
We do have prayer on our side because I get the feeling (trying not to judge here!) that many of those who voted last night don't deal in the Godly spiritual. Prayer is still a fight we can engage in and they can't outlaw that . . . although they may try!
I hope everyone takes note and lets their representative and senators know that the vote they are casting now will effect the vote we cast come their reelection years.
You have to wonder what is wrong with Pelosi and any other woman in office who agrees to a bill that could include abortion paid by everyone's taxes and rationed treatment for the elderly. Don't they have any womanly feelings for preborn children? They all have children yet they advocate the outright killing of them?
We have to be vigilant in this because IF this totally passes into law, the full effect won't be felt until AFTER obama's hoped-for reelection and then POW! They plan on this lull to see that he IS reelected. To me, this seems unconstitutional to MAKE everyone have the SAME insurance.
We do have prayer on our side because I get the feeling (trying not to judge here!) that many of those who voted last night don't deal in the Godly spiritual. Prayer is still a fight we can engage in and they can't outlaw that . . . although they may try!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Flipper, call home . . .!
"It is of interest to note that while some dolphins are reported to have learned English -- up to fifty words used in correct context -- no human being has been reported to have learned dolphinese."
-- Carl Sagan
"A man with a watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure."
-- Segal's Law
-- Carl Sagan
"A man with a watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure."
-- Segal's Law
Blending the seasons . . . to much . . .
I know the various stores are anxious about the economy but it is always so sad to see them rush the holidays ahead of time. It takes away the anticipation.
When I was growing up (just after the dinosaurs left the earth!), Christmas items started appearing in the stores a week after Thanksgiving. We didn't have time to lose the upcoming joy because of weeks and weeks of seeing Christmas products line the shelves right next to the day after sale on Halloween goodies.
I used to mark my childhood time by the store shelves. These days, the holidays practically pile on top of each other and blur our eagerness because we have already been watching the celebration wants and necessities gathering dust for weeks now.
Nothing much one can do about the current ways of the world at large. Guess I had better line up my New Year's champagne, cut out some Valentines, and get to hiding those Easter eggs. Time's a wasting!
When I was growing up (just after the dinosaurs left the earth!), Christmas items started appearing in the stores a week after Thanksgiving. We didn't have time to lose the upcoming joy because of weeks and weeks of seeing Christmas products line the shelves right next to the day after sale on Halloween goodies.
I used to mark my childhood time by the store shelves. These days, the holidays practically pile on top of each other and blur our eagerness because we have already been watching the celebration wants and necessities gathering dust for weeks now.
Nothing much one can do about the current ways of the world at large. Guess I had better line up my New Year's champagne, cut out some Valentines, and get to hiding those Easter eggs. Time's a wasting!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Current quote . . .
"As an American I am not so shocked that Obama was given the Nobel Peace Prize without any accomplishments to his name, but that America gave him the White House based on the same credentials." - - Newt Gingrich
My favorites . . . especially the last one . . .!
"It had only one fault. It was kind of lousy."
-- James Thurber
"My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four. Unless there are three other people."
-- Orson Welles
"Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless."
-- Thomas A. Edison
"Food is an important part of a balanced diet."
-- Fran Lebowitz
-- James Thurber
"My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four. Unless there are three other people."
-- Orson Welles
"Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless."
-- Thomas A. Edison
"Food is an important part of a balanced diet."
-- Fran Lebowitz
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Good thought for All Saints' Day . . .
Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps,
if you are not willing to move your feet!!!!
if you are not willing to move your feet!!!!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Democracy at work . . . NOT!
The health care reform debate goes on and on. The aspect that appalls me the most is the way House Speaker Pelosi has used the democratic system to her benefit in order to be elected to a position of power and now abuses that power to deprive the American people of their say in the rest of their lives.
All polls show that most Americans do not favor the system for health care proposed and strongly supported by Ms. Pelosi. She, however, disrespects the concerns of the people and calls the ones who actively use their American right insulting names because they dare oppose a losing proposition.
An independent poll, that favored neither Democrats nor Republicans, showed the cost would be horrendous and tax the American people into the next generations. Pelosi and her cronies do not care. They want what they want when they want it regardless of the people who made the mistake of electing her.
History in other countries has shown that government-run most anything but especially health care does not work to the advantage of the people it is supposed to care for. Yes, our country could use some kind of reform but the arrogance of these politicians to think they can rush such far-reaching legislation into being within a few short months is shocking and pretty scary! They hardly represent the people who have the vote.
It is like these politicians are playing a huge board game and are using us for the game pieces, moving us here and there regardless of the rules. They are fine with this because the health care system they want to burden us with, will not be the one they have to contend with in the future. Their health care plans will not change and will probably be covered by our taxes, too.
All polls show that most Americans do not favor the system for health care proposed and strongly supported by Ms. Pelosi. She, however, disrespects the concerns of the people and calls the ones who actively use their American right insulting names because they dare oppose a losing proposition.
An independent poll, that favored neither Democrats nor Republicans, showed the cost would be horrendous and tax the American people into the next generations. Pelosi and her cronies do not care. They want what they want when they want it regardless of the people who made the mistake of electing her.
History in other countries has shown that government-run most anything but especially health care does not work to the advantage of the people it is supposed to care for. Yes, our country could use some kind of reform but the arrogance of these politicians to think they can rush such far-reaching legislation into being within a few short months is shocking and pretty scary! They hardly represent the people who have the vote.
It is like these politicians are playing a huge board game and are using us for the game pieces, moving us here and there regardless of the rules. They are fine with this because the health care system they want to burden us with, will not be the one they have to contend with in the future. Their health care plans will not change and will probably be covered by our taxes, too.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
All too true . . .!
"All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I myself deny it."
-- H. L. Mencken
"It is not worth an intelligent man's time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that."
-- G. H. Hardy
-- H. L. Mencken
"It is not worth an intelligent man's time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that."
-- G. H. Hardy
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Still waiting . . .
Winter is taking it's time about descending upon sunny California this year, that's for sure! I want to go into pre-holiday baking mode and it is hard to feel the spirit of the approaching season when you have to turn on a fan to survive a baking cake.
I did take a step in anticipation of Thanksgiving and made a couple of pumpkin pies yesterday. Oh, not for mere consumption (one is already gone!) but to make sure I'm still an expert at preparing one . . . I am!
Reading cookbooks is a favorite hobby of mine. My husband picks up interesting ones from the Friends of the Library for me and some of them have become stand bys while others were quickly donated back! The Translyvanian Cookbook did not have one recipe that I could see myself trying or adapting. Besides, I have never seen bear paw on sale at my grocery store so no use trying to prepare that one! The latest 'find' was one called something about from my grandmother's kitchen. I approached it with an open mind but have to tell you, I think those grandmothers were abusive when it came to food! Either that or it didn't take much to impress their relatives.
Since the bear paw was unobtainable, I suppose we will go with turkey this Thanksgiving! We are having guests and that is something to look forward to as I think the wonderful smells of turkey cooking and the lingering scent of pies cooling on the counter should be shared.
I did take a step in anticipation of Thanksgiving and made a couple of pumpkin pies yesterday. Oh, not for mere consumption (one is already gone!) but to make sure I'm still an expert at preparing one . . . I am!
Reading cookbooks is a favorite hobby of mine. My husband picks up interesting ones from the Friends of the Library for me and some of them have become stand bys while others were quickly donated back! The Translyvanian Cookbook did not have one recipe that I could see myself trying or adapting. Besides, I have never seen bear paw on sale at my grocery store so no use trying to prepare that one! The latest 'find' was one called something about from my grandmother's kitchen. I approached it with an open mind but have to tell you, I think those grandmothers were abusive when it came to food! Either that or it didn't take much to impress their relatives.
Since the bear paw was unobtainable, I suppose we will go with turkey this Thanksgiving! We are having guests and that is something to look forward to as I think the wonderful smells of turkey cooking and the lingering scent of pies cooling on the counter should be shared.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Your choice . . .!
“Girls: You will catch the kind of guy that reflects your character.”
Don't know who to credit with the quote but it says it all about the state of the world today. Funny to think that women's lib actually made life easier for men to be immoral!
Don't know who to credit with the quote but it says it all about the state of the world today. Funny to think that women's lib actually made life easier for men to be immoral!
Real life in quotes . . .
"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered."
-- G. K. Chesterton
"Silence is the virtue of fools."
-- Sir Francis Bacon
"Men who never get carried away should be."
-- Malcolm Forbes
"Friends may come and go, but enemies accumulate."
-- Thomas Jones
-- G. K. Chesterton
"Silence is the virtue of fools."
-- Sir Francis Bacon
"Men who never get carried away should be."
-- Malcolm Forbes
"Friends may come and go, but enemies accumulate."
-- Thomas Jones
Sunday, October 25, 2009
In line with what's going on today . . .
"When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators."
-- P. J. O'Rourke
"Trying to determine what is going on in the world by reading newspapers is like trying to tell the time by watching the second hand of a clock."
-- Ben Hecht
"Pity the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
-- Don Marquis
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
-- Albert Einstein
-- P. J. O'Rourke
"Trying to determine what is going on in the world by reading newspapers is like trying to tell the time by watching the second hand of a clock."
-- Ben Hecht
"Pity the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
-- Don Marquis
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
-- Albert Einstein
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Quotable quotes . . .
"The world is governed more by appearances than realities, so that it is fully as necessary to seem to know something as to know it."
-- Daniel Webster
"When I was born I was so surprised I didn't talk for a year and a half."
-- Gracie Allen
"We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don't like?"
-- Jean Cocteau
"Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people."
-- W. C. Fields
-- Daniel Webster
"When I was born I was so surprised I didn't talk for a year and a half."
-- Gracie Allen
"We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don't like?"
-- Jean Cocteau
"Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people."
-- W. C. Fields
Heading for Purgatory . . .
My husband and I disagree on this topic. He likes to push the freeway speed five or six miles over the speed limit 'to keep with the flow' of the traffic. I asked a patrol officer about this and he said that if he perceives someone going over the speed limit, he will stop and ticket them. If there are several speeding, he gets to pick and chose and it is the luck (or misfortune!) of the draw if you win that particular lottery.
I also feel that obeying the traffic laws comes under 'give to Caesar what is Caesar's and what is God's to God'. Seems obeying traffic laws comes under obedience to the Fourth Commandment, too. How we act in any situation is an example to our children.
Anyway, this topic provides travel conversation for myself and my husband and insures my job security . . . as a backseat driver!
I also feel that obeying the traffic laws comes under 'give to Caesar what is Caesar's and what is God's to God'. Seems obeying traffic laws comes under obedience to the Fourth Commandment, too. How we act in any situation is an example to our children.
Anyway, this topic provides travel conversation for myself and my husband and insures my job security . . . as a backseat driver!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Quotes that seem to go together . . .
"It is even harder for the average ape to believe that he has descended from man."
-- H. L. Mencken
"When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer 'Present' or 'Not guilty.'"
-- Theodore Roosevelt
-- H. L. Mencken
"When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer 'Present' or 'Not guilty.'"
-- Theodore Roosevelt
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Huh?
I know of a woman who has taken upon herself the job of being an extraordinary minister at Mass sans the required training. This is evident in the way she performs the task. Many of us tend to cringe when we approach Communion time and this wannabe minister starts looking around for help using elaborate hand signs, trying to draft other untrained people, and clumping up and down the aisle.
While I'm not in favor of the laity trampling all over the sanctuary space, a well-trained, devout, reverent extraordinary minister is sometimes a necessity but should be an unobtrusive necessity. This particular person is hardly any of the above and often detracts from the sacred moment.
Since she is the first to rush up to perform as an extraordinary minister, I was shocked and amused today at morning Mass. She wasn't in the ministering line up and when we started going up for Communion, she headed out the opposite way, up the aisle and over into the other Communion line - the line where the priest was distributing Communion rather than to the gentlemen extraordinary minister in the closer line. It was almost laughable that SHE feels herself uplifted to distribute Communion but goes out of her way to avoid another extraordinary minister.
Sure keeps life interesting but not a distraction we need played out during Mass!
While I'm not in favor of the laity trampling all over the sanctuary space, a well-trained, devout, reverent extraordinary minister is sometimes a necessity but should be an unobtrusive necessity. This particular person is hardly any of the above and often detracts from the sacred moment.
Since she is the first to rush up to perform as an extraordinary minister, I was shocked and amused today at morning Mass. She wasn't in the ministering line up and when we started going up for Communion, she headed out the opposite way, up the aisle and over into the other Communion line - the line where the priest was distributing Communion rather than to the gentlemen extraordinary minister in the closer line. It was almost laughable that SHE feels herself uplifted to distribute Communion but goes out of her way to avoid another extraordinary minister.
Sure keeps life interesting but not a distraction we need played out during Mass!
My favorites of the day . . .
"Today's scientists have substituted mathematics for experiments, and they wander off through equation after equation, and eventually build a structure which has no relation to reality."
-- Nikola Tesla
"One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity, there ain't nothin' can beat teamwork."
-- Edward Abbey
"If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm."
-- Vince Lombardi
-- Nikola Tesla
"One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity, there ain't nothin' can beat teamwork."
-- Edward Abbey
"If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm."
-- Vince Lombardi
Friday, October 16, 2009
A break from quilting . . .
I figured that having three quilts finished, I deserved a treat. Afterall, wouldn't you say that sewing burns off more calories than, say, jogging? Okay, leave me with my wishful thinking!
Anyway, for my husband's birthday weekend, we indulged in a favorite recipe we haven't had in years - Rice Waffles! Although this might sound odd, the addition of cooked rice to the waffle batter makes for a great, filling, waffle . . . and the melting butter and real maple syrup didn't hurt, either!
It is a simple recipe. You make your favorite waffle batter and add a half cup of cooked rice to the batter and proceed as usual. Although most any rice works well, we discovered that Jasmine Rice, with it's aromatic smell and taste, works the best.
We had a few days of rainy, cool weather in sunny California so it was fun to have a cozy breakfast without breaking a sweat!
Anyway, for my husband's birthday weekend, we indulged in a favorite recipe we haven't had in years - Rice Waffles! Although this might sound odd, the addition of cooked rice to the waffle batter makes for a great, filling, waffle . . . and the melting butter and real maple syrup didn't hurt, either!
It is a simple recipe. You make your favorite waffle batter and add a half cup of cooked rice to the batter and proceed as usual. Although most any rice works well, we discovered that Jasmine Rice, with it's aromatic smell and taste, works the best.
We had a few days of rainy, cool weather in sunny California so it was fun to have a cozy breakfast without breaking a sweat!
How come . . .?
Now, I believe in being tolerant but it seems that in today's world, tolerance is becoming a one-sided agenda. Our freedom of speech has become 'believe what WE believe and don't contradict otherwise you are exhibiting hate speech.' The scary part is that the government is intervening and trying to pass a bill to counteract acts of hate. This is confusing as we already have a law in effect to punish people who deliberately, physically hurt people or incite acts of violence. What is with this new bill? Are they trying to govern even our feelings and thoughts now?
A worry is that it will most likely invade the way we worship. There are some factions that don't believe the Bible is very 'Christian' so if our pastors preach on certain passages from the Bible within the confines of our churches, will we be punished for hate speech? What happened to separation of church and state?
I've been listening to a lot of talk show radio and it is amazing how so many people not only want to be what they want to be or do but it isn't enough that they are allowed this freedom, they insist, seemingly so, that we have to believe it, too. Our tolerance is insisted upon yet it doesn't have to be reciprocated. Certainly makes for an anxious future and not one envisioned by our founding fathers.
A worry is that it will most likely invade the way we worship. There are some factions that don't believe the Bible is very 'Christian' so if our pastors preach on certain passages from the Bible within the confines of our churches, will we be punished for hate speech? What happened to separation of church and state?
I've been listening to a lot of talk show radio and it is amazing how so many people not only want to be what they want to be or do but it isn't enough that they are allowed this freedom, they insist, seemingly so, that we have to believe it, too. Our tolerance is insisted upon yet it doesn't have to be reciprocated. Certainly makes for an anxious future and not one envisioned by our founding fathers.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
explains a lot . . .!
"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
-- Bill Watterson
-- Bill Watterson
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Truth in quotes . . .
"If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion."
-- George Bernard Shaw
"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest."
-- Mark Twain
-- George Bernard Shaw
"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest."
-- Mark Twain
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Blast from the past . . .
The temperatures have finally decided to dip into a bit of winter here in California. Although we are no where near the need of central heat or a blazing fireplace, we all had a hankering for hot cocoa last night.
When the children were little, I relied on the instant packets that came with the tiny, faux marshmallows. Dump the contents in a cup, add hot water, and call it cocoa. Yeah, it is sufficient but I didn't have any of the convenience stuff on hand last night. With three of the four children away at college, not a lot of call for hot cocoa these days.
Last night, however, we developed a definite craving for a hot cup of the stuff. I got out the reliable can of Hershey's baking cocoa powder, read the directions on the side of the can, and came up with a pot of wonderful potion! It had been too long. The premade packets of cocoa are okay but there is something about the edge of the homemade Hershey's receipe that fills a deeper need! : - )
Of course, not having made cocoa from 'scratch' in so long, I was a bit clumsy in my efforts but a kindly husband (who belongs to me!) happily cleaned up the dusting of cocoa powder all over the counter and the splashes of cocoa.
When the children were little, I relied on the instant packets that came with the tiny, faux marshmallows. Dump the contents in a cup, add hot water, and call it cocoa. Yeah, it is sufficient but I didn't have any of the convenience stuff on hand last night. With three of the four children away at college, not a lot of call for hot cocoa these days.
Last night, however, we developed a definite craving for a hot cup of the stuff. I got out the reliable can of Hershey's baking cocoa powder, read the directions on the side of the can, and came up with a pot of wonderful potion! It had been too long. The premade packets of cocoa are okay but there is something about the edge of the homemade Hershey's receipe that fills a deeper need! : - )
Of course, not having made cocoa from 'scratch' in so long, I was a bit clumsy in my efforts but a kindly husband (who belongs to me!) happily cleaned up the dusting of cocoa powder all over the counter and the splashes of cocoa.
Appropriate quotes for our times . . .
"There are some that only employ words for the purpose of disguising their thoughts."
-- Voltaire
"Our constitution protects aliens, drunks and U.S. Senators."
-- Will Rogers
-- Voltaire
"Our constitution protects aliens, drunks and U.S. Senators."
-- Will Rogers
Monday, October 12, 2009
Uplift my heart . . .!
Okay, Vatican II was supposed to bring the Mass more in line with the masses - no pun intended. Fine, they translated the Mass, shortened, changed my beloved Mass but I try to be obedient with what is supposed to come out of Rome. It seems to me, however, that once the window was opened, too many people took advantage of it.
One of my first exposures to the 'new and better' was being sent on a Search for a weekend. Only three from our CCD program volunteered to attend only because our parents SAID we volunteered. The first thing they did was to take away our watches and then kept us up to all hours of the early morning to kind of break down our inhibitions. THEN, they wanted us to talk and 'share'. I heard a lot of stupid rambling because we were exhausted and just wanted to escape to our uncomfortable bunks.
The next day, we had talks which were very forgettable and were asked to break into small groups of three to 'share'. The two girls that went to the Search with me and I stuck together. The last day of the weekend, we were told that we didn't seem open to sharing . . . and they were quite correct!
There were a lot of group games with a lot of rough and tumble horseplay. There was a thin, older teen who was always in the midst of it, being dragged around by the teen boys, joking, grabbing, etc. Found out she was SISTER Ruth. Amazing what happens when you don't have the respect of a habit.
The worst of the whole 'adventure' into modern Catholicism was the music for our literally impromptu Masses. I always felt the music would have been better enjoyed by a campfire with a roasting marshmallow at hand.
This event happened years and years ago and I have never forgotten it and it did make an impact on my life . . . I shudder whenever I recall that wretched weekend! My two friends and I did not fit in, were told we did not fit in, and rejoiced in the fact that we did not fit in.
The older I have gotten, the more I realized that bringing down the Faith to MY level didn't encourage me to ascend to a higher level. Comfort is everything when you are a teen, so why change?
One of my first exposures to the 'new and better' was being sent on a Search for a weekend. Only three from our CCD program volunteered to attend only because our parents SAID we volunteered. The first thing they did was to take away our watches and then kept us up to all hours of the early morning to kind of break down our inhibitions. THEN, they wanted us to talk and 'share'. I heard a lot of stupid rambling because we were exhausted and just wanted to escape to our uncomfortable bunks.
The next day, we had talks which were very forgettable and were asked to break into small groups of three to 'share'. The two girls that went to the Search with me and I stuck together. The last day of the weekend, we were told that we didn't seem open to sharing . . . and they were quite correct!
There were a lot of group games with a lot of rough and tumble horseplay. There was a thin, older teen who was always in the midst of it, being dragged around by the teen boys, joking, grabbing, etc. Found out she was SISTER Ruth. Amazing what happens when you don't have the respect of a habit.
The worst of the whole 'adventure' into modern Catholicism was the music for our literally impromptu Masses. I always felt the music would have been better enjoyed by a campfire with a roasting marshmallow at hand.
This event happened years and years ago and I have never forgotten it and it did make an impact on my life . . . I shudder whenever I recall that wretched weekend! My two friends and I did not fit in, were told we did not fit in, and rejoiced in the fact that we did not fit in.
The older I have gotten, the more I realized that bringing down the Faith to MY level didn't encourage me to ascend to a higher level. Comfort is everything when you are a teen, so why change?
Friday, October 9, 2009
New meaning for peace . . . ?
The first news to hit me today was the report that the president had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. First of all, the nominations for this has a deadline of February 20th . . . at that point in time, the president had been in office less than a month. And they say these things are not political.
My second confusion at the choice was the 'peace' in the title. This president has gone out of his way to take down the restrictions on abortion that President Bush put into place during his administration. He changed the rules on embryonic stem cell research which President Bush had curtailed. Sounds like a lot of quiet violence against the unborn yet he is awarded a prize for peace.
I imagine there is an outcry today from the deceased unborn of the world in view of this award to an anti-life individual. Abortion is not a peaceful event and based just on our president's adamant mind set on the subject, a peace prize is not an award he really deserved.
My second confusion at the choice was the 'peace' in the title. This president has gone out of his way to take down the restrictions on abortion that President Bush put into place during his administration. He changed the rules on embryonic stem cell research which President Bush had curtailed. Sounds like a lot of quiet violence against the unborn yet he is awarded a prize for peace.
I imagine there is an outcry today from the deceased unborn of the world in view of this award to an anti-life individual. Abortion is not a peaceful event and based just on our president's adamant mind set on the subject, a peace prize is not an award he really deserved.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Mortality in a reflection . . .
After years of making due with only adequate cooking pots and pans, we finally found the cookware of our dreams and it was selling at an unheard of price. My husband and I treated ourselves and have enjoyed using these stainless steels pans ever since.
I was busy scrubbing out one of my pots, wanting to keep it's like-new shine. My husband remarked, "You know, these pots will out live us!" That brought me up short as I looked at my reflection in the pot's surface. It was hard to take in that, some day, the pot might still be around and useful while I was long gone from the physical world! My children are all growing up quickly and I had to face the fact that I was of an age where I could soon cease to exist on earth. Yes, anyone can be taken anytime but the older you get, the more you realize that you are more likely than a youth to finish out your time. It made me think.
The pots were extremely sturdy and durable. Unless something of an extreme nature occurred, they would be useful long after they became too heavy for me to lift. It makes you start considering your present usefulness and if you are taking full advantage of the time you have left. Since you don't know what time you have left, you start feeling that you have to fill in the now with whatever usefulness brings joy into your life, makes your family happy, gives tribute to your friends, and puts your soul in line with what God expects of you.
Interesting how much thought can be provoked in the process of washing out a pot, how much mortality can be found in a reflection.
I was busy scrubbing out one of my pots, wanting to keep it's like-new shine. My husband remarked, "You know, these pots will out live us!" That brought me up short as I looked at my reflection in the pot's surface. It was hard to take in that, some day, the pot might still be around and useful while I was long gone from the physical world! My children are all growing up quickly and I had to face the fact that I was of an age where I could soon cease to exist on earth. Yes, anyone can be taken anytime but the older you get, the more you realize that you are more likely than a youth to finish out your time. It made me think.
The pots were extremely sturdy and durable. Unless something of an extreme nature occurred, they would be useful long after they became too heavy for me to lift. It makes you start considering your present usefulness and if you are taking full advantage of the time you have left. Since you don't know what time you have left, you start feeling that you have to fill in the now with whatever usefulness brings joy into your life, makes your family happy, gives tribute to your friends, and puts your soul in line with what God expects of you.
Interesting how much thought can be provoked in the process of washing out a pot, how much mortality can be found in a reflection.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Shared by a friend . . .
If a conservative doesn’t like guns, they don’t buy one.
If a liberal doesn’t like guns, then no one should have one.
If a conservative is a vegetarian, they don’t eat meat.
If a liberal is a vegetarian, they want to ban all meat products for everyone.
If a conservative sees a foreign threat, he thinks about how to defeat his enemy.
A liberal wonders how to surrender gracefully and still look good.
If a conservative is homosexual, they quietly enjoy their life.
If a liberal is homosexual, they loudly demand legislated respect.
If a black man or Hispanic is conservative, they see themselves as independently successful.
Their liberal counterparts see themselves as victims in need of government protection.
If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.
If a conservative doesn’t like a talk show host, he switches channels.
Liberals demand that those they don’t like be shut down.
If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn’t go to church.
A liberal wants any mention of God or religion silenced.
If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.
A liberal demands that his neighbors pay for his.
If a liberal doesn’t like guns, then no one should have one.
If a conservative is a vegetarian, they don’t eat meat.
If a liberal is a vegetarian, they want to ban all meat products for everyone.
If a conservative sees a foreign threat, he thinks about how to defeat his enemy.
A liberal wonders how to surrender gracefully and still look good.
If a conservative is homosexual, they quietly enjoy their life.
If a liberal is homosexual, they loudly demand legislated respect.
If a black man or Hispanic is conservative, they see themselves as independently successful.
Their liberal counterparts see themselves as victims in need of government protection.
If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.
If a conservative doesn’t like a talk show host, he switches channels.
Liberals demand that those they don’t like be shut down.
If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn’t go to church.
A liberal wants any mention of God or religion silenced.
If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.
A liberal demands that his neighbors pay for his.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Truths for the day . . .
"Maturity is a bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists, unless laughter can be said to remedy anything."
-- Kurt Vonnegut
"Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment."
-- Barry LePatner
"The goal of all inanimate objects is to resist man and ultimately defeat him."
-- Russell Baker
"Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half the time."
-- E. B. White
-- Kurt Vonnegut
"Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment."
-- Barry LePatner
"The goal of all inanimate objects is to resist man and ultimately defeat him."
-- Russell Baker
"Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half the time."
-- E. B. White
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Lots of good thoughts to live by . . .
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written." By Regina Brett
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13.. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".
26. Always choose life.
27. Forgive everyone everything.
28.. What other people think of you is none of your business.
29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
31. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
32. Believe in miracles.
33. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
34. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
35. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
36. Your children get only one childhood.
37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
38. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
39. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd
grab ours back.
40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
41. The best is yet to come.
42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
43. Yield.
44. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13.. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".
26. Always choose life.
27. Forgive everyone everything.
28.. What other people think of you is none of your business.
29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
31. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
32. Believe in miracles.
33. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
34. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
35. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
36. Your children get only one childhood.
37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
38. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
39. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd
grab ours back.
40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
41. The best is yet to come.
42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
43. Yield.
44. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
You might be a racist . . .
Source: Patriot Humor 09/21/2009
If you think that a czar is unconstitutional
... you might be a racist!
If you are opposed to a government run health care system
... you might be a racist!
If you think that it is unAmerican to bow before the Saudi King
... you might be a racist!
If you think that the stimulus plan has been an utter failure
... you might be a racist!
If you think that this administration is driving the deficit up at alarming rates
... you might be a racist!
If you think that this is a nation based on Christian values
... you might be a racist!
If you think that communism and socialism are NOT the solution
... you might be a racist!
If you value the 1st Amendment, but think that the media is state-run
... you might be a racist!
If you are sick and tired of the race card being played
... you might be a racist!
If you are a racist according to the current liberal agenda
... you might just be an American!
If you think that a czar is unconstitutional
... you might be a racist!
If you are opposed to a government run health care system
... you might be a racist!
If you think that it is unAmerican to bow before the Saudi King
... you might be a racist!
If you think that the stimulus plan has been an utter failure
... you might be a racist!
If you think that this administration is driving the deficit up at alarming rates
... you might be a racist!
If you think that this is a nation based on Christian values
... you might be a racist!
If you think that communism and socialism are NOT the solution
... you might be a racist!
If you value the 1st Amendment, but think that the media is state-run
... you might be a racist!
If you are sick and tired of the race card being played
... you might be a racist!
If you are a racist according to the current liberal agenda
... you might just be an American!
Words to live by . . .
"It is a profitable thing, if one is wise, to seem foolish."
-- Aeschylus
"After two years in Washington, I often long for the realism and sincerity of Hollywood."
-- Fred Thompson
"When I am abroad, I always make it a rule never to criticize or attack the government of my own country. I make up for lost time when I come home."
-- Sir Winston Churchill
"Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city."
-- George Burns
-- Aeschylus
"After two years in Washington, I often long for the realism and sincerity of Hollywood."
-- Fred Thompson
"When I am abroad, I always make it a rule never to criticize or attack the government of my own country. I make up for lost time when I come home."
-- Sir Winston Churchill
"Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city."
-- George Burns
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Quilting on the sidelines . . .
Another couple of weeks and I'm done with my seasonal costume business. It is very small-scale but I enjoy contriving saint costumes for children celebrating All Saints' Day. It is fun to make a basic tunic and drap for over the shoulder and imagine how each child will envision what saint he or she will say it is going to be. I also made some definite costumes like St. Joseph and his coat of many colors. I came up with a Sacred Heart costume with a white tunic, red drap over the shoulder and an appliqued Sacred Heart on the chest. No doubt about that costume. I even figured out a couple of Juan Diego costumes complete with our Lady of Guadeloupe appliqued on the tilma.
My major costume adventure was one for my nineteen year old daughter! I chose a pattern company that is kown for it's, well SIIMPLICITY - not to mention the company name, you know! This was a terror of a pattern and I spent more time reading it than it took me to finish that tome, Gone With the Wind. The outfit is comprised of a full, cream-colored skirt, matching, lacy blouse, blue overskirt, blue bodice (with boning!), a soft, plaid shawl and matching hat. She is calling it a merchant's daughter. Having put in a week and over 15 yards of fabric, I'm guessing it is a rather well off merchant's daughter!
I'm anxious to get back to quilting, again. I like making my own rules and quilts don't have zippers!
My major costume adventure was one for my nineteen year old daughter! I chose a pattern company that is kown for it's, well SIIMPLICITY - not to mention the company name, you know! This was a terror of a pattern and I spent more time reading it than it took me to finish that tome, Gone With the Wind. The outfit is comprised of a full, cream-colored skirt, matching, lacy blouse, blue overskirt, blue bodice (with boning!), a soft, plaid shawl and matching hat. She is calling it a merchant's daughter. Having put in a week and over 15 yards of fabric, I'm guessing it is a rather well off merchant's daughter!
I'm anxious to get back to quilting, again. I like making my own rules and quilts don't have zippers!
Obeying Commandments AND the law . . .
One of my children lives away from home in an apartment complex right by a very busy street. In order to get to many of the grocery stores, the students need to get across this street. Many of the student take the easy way and jay walk rather than walk down half a block and go with the lights and the crosswalk. My daughter gets teased but she always goes the 'legal' way across the street. I encourage her in this approach. It's called obedience. Obedience isn't only to God and parents but to laws that are put into place for our welfare.
This really hit home, last week, when two eight year old girls in our city darted across the street to their school. They weren't in the crosswalk and a car couldn't stop in time. One of the girls died the next day. Why didn't their parents teach them right and wrong? The police came down hard on this situation and I heard they handed out over 40 jay walking tickets in that very, same area after the accident. The police also targeted other schools in regards to jay walking and handed out many tickets to the tune of a $40 fine for each one. The recipients of the $40 fine got off cheaply. They made it across the street and lived to be cited.
This really hit home, last week, when two eight year old girls in our city darted across the street to their school. They weren't in the crosswalk and a car couldn't stop in time. One of the girls died the next day. Why didn't their parents teach them right and wrong? The police came down hard on this situation and I heard they handed out over 40 jay walking tickets in that very, same area after the accident. The police also targeted other schools in regards to jay walking and handed out many tickets to the tune of a $40 fine for each one. The recipients of the $40 fine got off cheaply. They made it across the street and lived to be cited.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Smiles in spite of the state of the world . . .
"The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work."
-- Richard Bach
"No human thing is of serious importance."
-- Plato
"The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office."
-- Robert Frost
-- Richard Bach
"No human thing is of serious importance."
-- Plato
"The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office."
-- Robert Frost
Friday, September 11, 2009
Is it fair . . . ?
I'm amazed at the people who are blaming the banks for their financial distress these days. When it comes down to it, many of them refinanced to pay for trips, house projects, education . . . Now, they are complaining about the interest rates they should have noted when they signed the papers and are objecting to the larger than normal mortgage they are carrying. I hear some of them bragging at how they got the bank to reduce their principal balance and I have to wonder at their thinking. Did they or did they not benefit from the money they borrowed against their home? Isn't it stealing, in a way, to demand various reductions because you bit off more than you can chew? I guess I'm of an ultra-conservative nature when it comes to finances. I grew up poor and learned early that you can't always have everything.
I'm also amazed at the line up of credit cards I see displayed at the check out counters! A priest told me once that if you use the card and know you can't pay it back in a timely manner, you are essentially stealing and definitely living beyond your means. Yes, we have had to carry a balance on occasion when we've had an emergency but once it got beyond our ability to pay it off the next month, the card was not used.
Everyone seems to want it all NOW these days and put off facing up to the costs until later. It kind of illustrates why out country is in such a mess today. The government uses our tax money in the same way.
In these difficult times, it seems to me that our number one priority would be to drastically reduce our debts. Being Catholic and conservative and home schooling, you can bet that if push comes to shove, we could be harrassed in some way by government offices. Keeping our debts within bounds, we stand a better chance of keeping our homes and lives in order if jobs are lost, reduced, and even harder times hit.
Just watching the news makes you feel vulnerable to the powers that be in our government who are governing us as THEY see fit not the way we want to live. Got to stay one step away from the bad guys, that's for sure.
I'm also amazed at the line up of credit cards I see displayed at the check out counters! A priest told me once that if you use the card and know you can't pay it back in a timely manner, you are essentially stealing and definitely living beyond your means. Yes, we have had to carry a balance on occasion when we've had an emergency but once it got beyond our ability to pay it off the next month, the card was not used.
Everyone seems to want it all NOW these days and put off facing up to the costs until later. It kind of illustrates why out country is in such a mess today. The government uses our tax money in the same way.
In these difficult times, it seems to me that our number one priority would be to drastically reduce our debts. Being Catholic and conservative and home schooling, you can bet that if push comes to shove, we could be harrassed in some way by government offices. Keeping our debts within bounds, we stand a better chance of keeping our homes and lives in order if jobs are lost, reduced, and even harder times hit.
Just watching the news makes you feel vulnerable to the powers that be in our government who are governing us as THEY see fit not the way we want to live. Got to stay one step away from the bad guys, that's for sure.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Reality . . .
A real-life conversation with my son! Even half asleep, they exhibit a sense of humor!
Marc: I'm TIRED! I didn't sleep well.
Mom: Why not? Weren't you warm enough last night?
Marc: I was warm enough. It was this annoying voice that kept saying,
"Marc! Marc! It's time to get up for Mass!"
Marc: I'm TIRED! I didn't sleep well.
Mom: Why not? Weren't you warm enough last night?
Marc: I was warm enough. It was this annoying voice that kept saying,
"Marc! Marc! It's time to get up for Mass!"
When it hits home . . .!
The Sin
Two elderly, excited Southern women were sitting together in the front pew of church listening to a fiery preacher.
When this preacher condemned the sin of stealing, these two ladies cried out at the tops of their lungs, "AMEN, BROTHER!"When the preacher condemned the sin of lust, they yelled again, "PREACH IT, REVEREND!"
And when the preacher condemned the sin of lying, they jumped to their feet and screamed, "RIGHT ON, BROTHER! TELL IT LIKE IT IS... AMEN!"
But when the preacher condemned the sin of gossip, the two got very quiet. One turned to the other and said, "He's quit preaching and now he's meddlin'."
Two elderly, excited Southern women were sitting together in the front pew of church listening to a fiery preacher.
When this preacher condemned the sin of stealing, these two ladies cried out at the tops of their lungs, "AMEN, BROTHER!"When the preacher condemned the sin of lust, they yelled again, "PREACH IT, REVEREND!"
And when the preacher condemned the sin of lying, they jumped to their feet and screamed, "RIGHT ON, BROTHER! TELL IT LIKE IT IS... AMEN!"
But when the preacher condemned the sin of gossip, the two got very quiet. One turned to the other and said, "He's quit preaching and now he's meddlin'."
A smile for today!
I loved this joke reading list and had to share!
CHILDREN'S BOOKS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT
1. You Are Different and That's Bad
2. The Boy Who Died From Eating All His Vegetables
3. Dad's New Wife Robert
4. Fun Four-letter Words to Know and Share
5. Hammers, Screwdrivers, and Scissors: An I-Can-Do-It Book
6. The Kids' Guide to Hitchhiking
7. Kathy Was So Bad Her Mom Stopped Loving Her
8. Curious George and the High Voltage Fence
9. All Cats Go To Hell
10. The Little Sissy Who Snitched
11. Some Kittens Can Fly
12. That's It! I'm Putting You Up For Adoption
13. Grandpa Gets a Casket
14. The Magic World Inside the Abandoned Refrigerator
15. Garfield Gets Feline Leukemia
16. The Pop-Up Book of Human Anatomy
17. Strangers Have the Best Candy
18. Whining, Kicking, and Crying to Get Your Way
19. You Were an Accident
20. Things Rich Kids Have, but You Never Will
21. Pop! Goes the Hamster ... and Other Great Microwave Games
22. The Man on the Moon is Actually Satan
23. Your Nightmares Are Real
24. Where Would You Like to be Buried?
25. Eggs, Toilet Paper, and Your School
26. Why Can't Mr. Fork and Ms. Electrical Outlet Be Friends?
27. Places Where Mommy and Daddy Hide Neat Things
28. Daddy Drinks Because You Cry
29. The Attention Deficit Disorder Association's Book of Wild Animals
of North Amer -- Hey, Let's Go Ride Our Bikes!
30. The Care Bears Maul Some Campers
CHILDREN'S BOOKS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT
1. You Are Different and That's Bad
2. The Boy Who Died From Eating All His Vegetables
3. Dad's New Wife Robert
4. Fun Four-letter Words to Know and Share
5. Hammers, Screwdrivers, and Scissors: An I-Can-Do-It Book
6. The Kids' Guide to Hitchhiking
7. Kathy Was So Bad Her Mom Stopped Loving Her
8. Curious George and the High Voltage Fence
9. All Cats Go To Hell
10. The Little Sissy Who Snitched
11. Some Kittens Can Fly
12. That's It! I'm Putting You Up For Adoption
13. Grandpa Gets a Casket
14. The Magic World Inside the Abandoned Refrigerator
15. Garfield Gets Feline Leukemia
16. The Pop-Up Book of Human Anatomy
17. Strangers Have the Best Candy
18. Whining, Kicking, and Crying to Get Your Way
19. You Were an Accident
20. Things Rich Kids Have, but You Never Will
21. Pop! Goes the Hamster ... and Other Great Microwave Games
22. The Man on the Moon is Actually Satan
23. Your Nightmares Are Real
24. Where Would You Like to be Buried?
25. Eggs, Toilet Paper, and Your School
26. Why Can't Mr. Fork and Ms. Electrical Outlet Be Friends?
27. Places Where Mommy and Daddy Hide Neat Things
28. Daddy Drinks Because You Cry
29. The Attention Deficit Disorder Association's Book of Wild Animals
of North Amer -- Hey, Let's Go Ride Our Bikes!
30. The Care Bears Maul Some Campers
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Apple Season!
The fires in California are finally under control. Our favorite place to buy apples in the Fall, Oak Glen, was completely saved from the fires. At one point, it didn't look good but with God's blessing, lots of prayers, and terrific firemen, not a tree or home was lost.
We went up the day after they lifted the evacuation ban to see how some friends fared. They weren't back yet but just seeing their grove and house still standing was wonderful. We made a trip on Labor Day and they were back and selling their wonderful apples. We purchased a lot as evidenced by the apple pies in the refrigerator. For some reason, the family didn't mind me turning on the oven for that!
All the apple eating must be inspiring me as I finished five tote bags today and started in on a quilted vest with printed fabric of Our Lady of Guadeloupe.
I did find something besides apples on our recent visit to Oak Glen. We stopped to get some cash, I looked up, and there was a wall of the most beautiful quilting fabric in a corner of the gift shop! Not only that but the owner of the store was a quilter, too, so we could both talk with some 'authority'. Since I had just been to my favorite fabric warehouse a couple of weeks ago, I didn't give into temptation and left Oak Glen with only apples!
We went up the day after they lifted the evacuation ban to see how some friends fared. They weren't back yet but just seeing their grove and house still standing was wonderful. We made a trip on Labor Day and they were back and selling their wonderful apples. We purchased a lot as evidenced by the apple pies in the refrigerator. For some reason, the family didn't mind me turning on the oven for that!
All the apple eating must be inspiring me as I finished five tote bags today and started in on a quilted vest with printed fabric of Our Lady of Guadeloupe.
I did find something besides apples on our recent visit to Oak Glen. We stopped to get some cash, I looked up, and there was a wall of the most beautiful quilting fabric in a corner of the gift shop! Not only that but the owner of the store was a quilter, too, so we could both talk with some 'authority'. Since I had just been to my favorite fabric warehouse a couple of weeks ago, I didn't give into temptation and left Oak Glen with only apples!
Cooler weather, thoughts of baking . . .
Although we are no where near cold temperatures yet, we are learning to feel blessed when the mercury goes below 100 degrees! I prefer colder weather because it I can show off my vocation as a housewife more fully - I can bake, stew, simmer, and enjoy the way the food smells and how it helps to warm the house!
With thoughts of frost on the ground (hey, it can happen in California!), I have been going through my stacks of old magazines searching for new recipes. This one seemed like a good find and I plan to try it soon.
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans
2 sticks of butter
2 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon orange extract (if you have it)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
5 large eggs
Preheat over to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a large tube pan 20 by 4-inch.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Lower speed on mixer and gradually add flour and baking powder. Beat in extracts, zest. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Once the eggs are all incorporated, beat for an additional five minutes.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for approximately one hour and 15 minutes. Test for doneness after one hour. Cool cake in pan on a cooling rack for about 30 minutes. Turn the cake onto the rack and cool completely.
You can drizzle the cake with an icing composed of 1 cup powdered sugar and enough lemon juice to form an icing.
With thoughts of frost on the ground (hey, it can happen in California!), I have been going through my stacks of old magazines searching for new recipes. This one seemed like a good find and I plan to try it soon.
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans
2 sticks of butter
2 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon orange extract (if you have it)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
5 large eggs
Preheat over to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a large tube pan 20 by 4-inch.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Lower speed on mixer and gradually add flour and baking powder. Beat in extracts, zest. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Once the eggs are all incorporated, beat for an additional five minutes.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for approximately one hour and 15 minutes. Test for doneness after one hour. Cool cake in pan on a cooling rack for about 30 minutes. Turn the cake onto the rack and cool completely.
You can drizzle the cake with an icing composed of 1 cup powdered sugar and enough lemon juice to form an icing.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Is suffering REALLY in our vocabulary . . .
Someone called a talk show host and asked what she could do to stop eating so much. The talk show host said it all depended on how much she was willing to suffer for the end results.
You think back on the Early Christians and how they were willing AND able to suffer much for what they believed in when it came to their Faith. I imagine they were pretty strong people in all aspects of their life, too. I don't think you can suddenly be martyr material if you don't have some discipline in your every day life and actions.
In the years that followed our first Christians, we have built a seemingly large religion but, behind the outward appearance, we have so many divisions. The Catholic vote put an adamant anti-life candidate into the White House. If so many Catholics weren't willing to stand up for the unseen, unborn, how will they stand up for a Faith and God they have to trust is there even without the physical appearance? How much are they willing to SUFFER for their Faith?
According to the lastest statistics, we are just about even in population when it comes to the Muslim Faith. In a few years, it is estimated that the Muslims will far exceed the Catholic population. The reason? Muslims aren't afraid to suffer for what they believe in. They aren't afraid to bring children into the world. It is said that the birth of a child is God's renewed interest in the world or something to that effect.
We had some Catholic friends who married about the same time we did and they were proud of the fact that they WOULD use birth control and that no 'guy wearing a dress in Rome' was going to tell them what they could or could not do. Not to be judgmental, but they didn't come across as martyr material!
Yes, we have programs in our Church to promote our Faith but it seems to be that raising children in our Faith will go further in increaing our Church. The Muslims have figured this out and could eventually outnumber us and be a threat to our way of life. They have the suffering down and wouldn't think twice about being a martyr. Meanwhile, I have met too many Catholics who limit their families in order to provide all the material things they want for their children.
It will be an interesting Judgement Day when we find out how many children we should have had and how they would have impacted the world.
You think back on the Early Christians and how they were willing AND able to suffer much for what they believed in when it came to their Faith. I imagine they were pretty strong people in all aspects of their life, too. I don't think you can suddenly be martyr material if you don't have some discipline in your every day life and actions.
In the years that followed our first Christians, we have built a seemingly large religion but, behind the outward appearance, we have so many divisions. The Catholic vote put an adamant anti-life candidate into the White House. If so many Catholics weren't willing to stand up for the unseen, unborn, how will they stand up for a Faith and God they have to trust is there even without the physical appearance? How much are they willing to SUFFER for their Faith?
According to the lastest statistics, we are just about even in population when it comes to the Muslim Faith. In a few years, it is estimated that the Muslims will far exceed the Catholic population. The reason? Muslims aren't afraid to suffer for what they believe in. They aren't afraid to bring children into the world. It is said that the birth of a child is God's renewed interest in the world or something to that effect.
We had some Catholic friends who married about the same time we did and they were proud of the fact that they WOULD use birth control and that no 'guy wearing a dress in Rome' was going to tell them what they could or could not do. Not to be judgmental, but they didn't come across as martyr material!
Yes, we have programs in our Church to promote our Faith but it seems to be that raising children in our Faith will go further in increaing our Church. The Muslims have figured this out and could eventually outnumber us and be a threat to our way of life. They have the suffering down and wouldn't think twice about being a martyr. Meanwhile, I have met too many Catholics who limit their families in order to provide all the material things they want for their children.
It will be an interesting Judgement Day when we find out how many children we should have had and how they would have impacted the world.
Friday, August 28, 2009
The difference between men and women - explained!
Found this, years ago, on the Internet and it is a favorite of mine. Thought I'd share!
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN
Let's say a guy named Roger is attracted to a woman named Elaine. He asks
her out to a movie; she accepts; they have a pretty good time.
A few nights later he asks her out to dinner, and again they enjoy
themselves. They continue to see each other regularly, and after a
while, neither one of them is seeing anybody else.
Then, one evening when they're driving home, a thought occurs to Elaine,
and, without really thinking, she says it aloud: "Do you realize that,
as of tonight, we've been seeing each other for exactly six months?"
And then there is silence in the car. . . To Elaine, it seems like a
very loud silence. She thinks to herself:
Jeez, I wonder if it bothers him that I said that. Maybe he's been
confined by our relationship; maybe he thinks I'm trying to push him
some kind of obligation that he want, or isn't sure of.
And Roger is thinking: Gosh. Six months.
And Elaine is thinking: But, hey, I'm not so sure I want this kind of
relationship, either. Sometimes I wish I had a little more space, so I'd
have time to think about whether I really want us to keep going the way
we are, moving steadily toward. I mean, where are we going? Are we just
going to keep seeing each other at this level of intimacy? Are we heading
toward marriage? Toward children? Toward a lifetime together? Am I ready for
that level of commitment? Do I really even know this person?
And Roger is thinking: So that means it was ...let's see ...February
when we started going out, which was right after I had the car at the dealer's,
which means...lemme check the odometer. Whoa! I am way overdue for an
oil change here.
And Elaine is thinking: He's upset. I can see it on his face. Maybe I'm
reading this completely wrong. Maybe he wants more from our relationship,
more intimacy, more commitment; maybe he has sensed-even before I sensed
it-that I was feeling some reservations. Yes, I bet that's it. That's
why he's so reluctant to say anything about his own feelings. He's afraid of
being rejected.
And Roger is thinking: And I'm gonna have them look at the transmission
again. I don't care what those morons say, it's still not shifting
right. And they better not try to blame it on the cold weather this time. What
cold weather? It's 87 degrees out, and this thing is shifting like a garbage
truck, and I paid those incompetent thieves $600.
And Elaine is thinking: He's angry. And I don't blame him. I'd be angry,
too. I feel so guilty, putting him through this, but I can't help the
way I feel. I'm just not sure.
and Roger is thinking: They'll probably say it's only a 90-day warranty.
Scumbags! And Elaine is thinking: Maybe I'm just too idealistic, waiting for a
knight to come riding up on his white horse, when I'm sitting right next to a
perfectly good person, a person I enjoy being with, a person I truly do
care about, a person who seems to truly care about me. A person who is in
pain because of my self-centered, school girl romantic fantasy.
And Roger is thinking: Warranty? They want a warranty? I'll give them a
warranty. I'll take their warranty and stick it right up their...
"Roger," Elaine says aloud.
"What?" says Roger, startled.
"Please don't torture yourself like this," she says, her eyes beginning to brim with tears. "Maybe I should never
have... Oh God, I feel so..." (She breaks down, sobbing.)
"What?" says Roger.
"I'm such a fool," Elaine sobs. "I mean, I know there's no knight. I
reallyknow that. It's silly. There's no knight, and there's no horse."
"There's no horse?" says Roger.
"You think I'm a fool, don't you?" Elaine says.
"No!" says Roger, glad to finally know the correct answer.
"It's just that... it's that I... I need some time," Elaine says.
(There is a 15-second pause while Roger, thinking as fast as he can,
tries to come up with a safe response. Finally he comes up with one that he
thinks might work.)
"Yes," he says.
(Elaine, deeply moved, touches his hand.) "Oh, Roger, do you really feel
that way?" she says.
"What way?" says Roger.
"That way about time," says Elaine.
"Oh," says Roger. "Yes."
(Elaine turns to face him and gazes deeply into his eyes, causing him to
become very nervous about what she might say next, especially if it involves
a horse. At last she speaks.) "Thank you, Roger," she says.
"Thank you," says Roger. Then he takes her home, and she lies on her
bed, a conflicted, tortured soul, and weeps until dawn.
Roger gets back to his place, he opens a bag of Doritos, turns on the
TV, and immediately becomes deeply involved in a rerun of a tennis match
between two Czechoslovakians he never heard of. A tiny voice in the far recesses
of his mind tells him that something major was going on back there in the car,
but he is pretty sure there is no way he would ever understand what, and
so he figures it's better if he doesn't think about it.
The next day Elaine will call her closest friend, or perhaps two of
them, and they will talk about this situation for six straight hours. In
painstaking detail, they will analyze everything she said and everything
he said, going over it time and time again, exploring every word,
expression, and gesture for nuances of meaning, considering every possible
ramification. They will continue to discuss this subject, off and on, for weeks, maybe
months, never reaching any definite conclusions, but never getting bored with it, either.
Meanwhile, Roger, while playing racquetball one day with a mutual friend of
his and Elaine's, will pause just before serving, frown, and say, "Norm,
did Elaine ever own a horse?"
And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the difference between men and women!
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN
Let's say a guy named Roger is attracted to a woman named Elaine. He asks
her out to a movie; she accepts; they have a pretty good time.
A few nights later he asks her out to dinner, and again they enjoy
themselves. They continue to see each other regularly, and after a
while, neither one of them is seeing anybody else.
Then, one evening when they're driving home, a thought occurs to Elaine,
and, without really thinking, she says it aloud: "Do you realize that,
as of tonight, we've been seeing each other for exactly six months?"
And then there is silence in the car. . . To Elaine, it seems like a
very loud silence. She thinks to herself:
Jeez, I wonder if it bothers him that I said that. Maybe he's been
confined by our relationship; maybe he thinks I'm trying to push him
some kind of obligation that he want, or isn't sure of.
And Roger is thinking: Gosh. Six months.
And Elaine is thinking: But, hey, I'm not so sure I want this kind of
relationship, either. Sometimes I wish I had a little more space, so I'd
have time to think about whether I really want us to keep going the way
we are, moving steadily toward. I mean, where are we going? Are we just
going to keep seeing each other at this level of intimacy? Are we heading
toward marriage? Toward children? Toward a lifetime together? Am I ready for
that level of commitment? Do I really even know this person?
And Roger is thinking: So that means it was ...let's see ...February
when we started going out, which was right after I had the car at the dealer's,
which means...lemme check the odometer. Whoa! I am way overdue for an
oil change here.
And Elaine is thinking: He's upset. I can see it on his face. Maybe I'm
reading this completely wrong. Maybe he wants more from our relationship,
more intimacy, more commitment; maybe he has sensed-even before I sensed
it-that I was feeling some reservations. Yes, I bet that's it. That's
why he's so reluctant to say anything about his own feelings. He's afraid of
being rejected.
And Roger is thinking: And I'm gonna have them look at the transmission
again. I don't care what those morons say, it's still not shifting
right. And they better not try to blame it on the cold weather this time. What
cold weather? It's 87 degrees out, and this thing is shifting like a garbage
truck, and I paid those incompetent thieves $600.
And Elaine is thinking: He's angry. And I don't blame him. I'd be angry,
too. I feel so guilty, putting him through this, but I can't help the
way I feel. I'm just not sure.
and Roger is thinking: They'll probably say it's only a 90-day warranty.
Scumbags! And Elaine is thinking: Maybe I'm just too idealistic, waiting for a
knight to come riding up on his white horse, when I'm sitting right next to a
perfectly good person, a person I enjoy being with, a person I truly do
care about, a person who seems to truly care about me. A person who is in
pain because of my self-centered, school girl romantic fantasy.
And Roger is thinking: Warranty? They want a warranty? I'll give them a
warranty. I'll take their warranty and stick it right up their...
"Roger," Elaine says aloud.
"What?" says Roger, startled.
"Please don't torture yourself like this," she says, her eyes beginning to brim with tears. "Maybe I should never
have... Oh God, I feel so..." (She breaks down, sobbing.)
"What?" says Roger.
"I'm such a fool," Elaine sobs. "I mean, I know there's no knight. I
reallyknow that. It's silly. There's no knight, and there's no horse."
"There's no horse?" says Roger.
"You think I'm a fool, don't you?" Elaine says.
"No!" says Roger, glad to finally know the correct answer.
"It's just that... it's that I... I need some time," Elaine says.
(There is a 15-second pause while Roger, thinking as fast as he can,
tries to come up with a safe response. Finally he comes up with one that he
thinks might work.)
"Yes," he says.
(Elaine, deeply moved, touches his hand.) "Oh, Roger, do you really feel
that way?" she says.
"What way?" says Roger.
"That way about time," says Elaine.
"Oh," says Roger. "Yes."
(Elaine turns to face him and gazes deeply into his eyes, causing him to
become very nervous about what she might say next, especially if it involves
a horse. At last she speaks.) "Thank you, Roger," she says.
"Thank you," says Roger. Then he takes her home, and she lies on her
bed, a conflicted, tortured soul, and weeps until dawn.
Roger gets back to his place, he opens a bag of Doritos, turns on the
TV, and immediately becomes deeply involved in a rerun of a tennis match
between two Czechoslovakians he never heard of. A tiny voice in the far recesses
of his mind tells him that something major was going on back there in the car,
but he is pretty sure there is no way he would ever understand what, and
so he figures it's better if he doesn't think about it.
The next day Elaine will call her closest friend, or perhaps two of
them, and they will talk about this situation for six straight hours. In
painstaking detail, they will analyze everything she said and everything
he said, going over it time and time again, exploring every word,
expression, and gesture for nuances of meaning, considering every possible
ramification. They will continue to discuss this subject, off and on, for weeks, maybe
months, never reaching any definite conclusions, but never getting bored with it, either.
Meanwhile, Roger, while playing racquetball one day with a mutual friend of
his and Elaine's, will pause just before serving, frown, and say, "Norm,
did Elaine ever own a horse?"
And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the difference between men and women!
Signs of a Liturgist . . .
Signs of inhabitation by a Liturgeist
Olympic swim team tryouts are held in your baptismal font
Your church is more bleak than a Turkish prison
The only icon in the church is the picture of the Dalai Lama on the
priest's stole
The priest's stole is any color but white, Red, Purple, Green, Old Rose,
Gold, or black (unless used together as a plaid).
The homilies have the depth and theological exactness of a Barney song
The music is not elevating but fit for an elevator
They use every musical instrument created but the organ
The last time you heard the word sacrifice was at a baseball game
People kneeling to receive Communion are zapped with a stun gun and taken
outside
The word sister always precedes the word brother
Male pronouns have been banned by a liturgical interdict
The document "Environment and Art in Catholic Worship" is carried in and
held up instead of the Bible
Vatican II is extensively quoted but no documents of this council can be
found anywhere on church grounds
Confession is held for an hour on January 29th.
Extraordinary Eucharist Ministers are stationed at every row, if there is
a concelebrating priest he is bound and gagged until after the EEMs are
done
Liturgical dance, enough said
Liturgeist vocabulary to watch out for includes: worship space, inclusive
language, participation, worship environments, assembly, Easter people,
presider. Words never used are dogma, doctrine, Ratzinger (unless with a
sneer), GIRM, orthodoxy, man or mankind; if these words are used or
reverence is given to the Holy Father than subject is not a Liturgeist.
Liturgeist disturbances can also be detected in the "The raising arm
effect." This can be seen if the arms of Jesus have broken away from the
cross and are directed upwards. Depending on the intensity of Liturgeist
activity sometimes the cross will appear to be entirely gone. The
"raising arm effect" can also be detected prior to the Our Father where
peoples arms mysteriously levitate and through some magnetic force their
hands become attached to those next to them.
If any of these Liturgeist disturbances are detected, run don't walk to
your Bishop. In normal circumstances the parish priest should be gone to
first, but once this activity has been detected he has usually been
neutralized by the hypnotic effects of the Liturgeist. Your Bishop will
then appoint a priest who he has given the faculties for conducting the
"Rite of Liturgical Exorcism."
Rite of Liturgical Exorcism
The Liturgical Exorcist begins with the sign of the cross, and then a
sprinkling of Holy Water on the Liturgeist. It has been reported that
Liturgeists are deathly afraid of Holy Water. This has been noticed
because of their habit of putting everything in a Holy Water Font except
Holy Water.
The Liturgical Exorcist then traces a cross on the Liturgeists forehead
using the The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM). A number of
helpers are required to hold the Liturgeist down since they will struggle
with supernatural strength to resist the GIRM.
At this point the Liturgeist will usually start supplicating to the
spirit of Vatican II for help. If they start quoting anything, the
Liturgical Exorcist asks for a reference to an actual Vatican II
document. The Liturgeist will normally show symptoms of shock at this
point.
The Liturgical Exorcist will then begin reading from James Akin's "Mass
Confusion" while any of the faithful present chant "Orthodoxy." Again,
make sure enough people are present to hold the Liturgeist down during
this reading.
If the Liturgeists starts to calm down during the reading of "Mass
Confusion" and says an occasionally Amen, then the Liturgical Exorcism is
successful. This can be verified by having the subject read from the GIRM
or look at a picture of Cardinal Ratzinger with no ill effects.
A Liturgeist with a university degree is especially hard to eradicate,
much prayer and fasting will be required.
Olympic swim team tryouts are held in your baptismal font
Your church is more bleak than a Turkish prison
The only icon in the church is the picture of the Dalai Lama on the
priest's stole
The priest's stole is any color but white, Red, Purple, Green, Old Rose,
Gold, or black (unless used together as a plaid).
The homilies have the depth and theological exactness of a Barney song
The music is not elevating but fit for an elevator
They use every musical instrument created but the organ
The last time you heard the word sacrifice was at a baseball game
People kneeling to receive Communion are zapped with a stun gun and taken
outside
The word sister always precedes the word brother
Male pronouns have been banned by a liturgical interdict
The document "Environment and Art in Catholic Worship" is carried in and
held up instead of the Bible
Vatican II is extensively quoted but no documents of this council can be
found anywhere on church grounds
Confession is held for an hour on January 29th.
Extraordinary Eucharist Ministers are stationed at every row, if there is
a concelebrating priest he is bound and gagged until after the EEMs are
done
Liturgical dance, enough said
Liturgeist vocabulary to watch out for includes: worship space, inclusive
language, participation, worship environments, assembly, Easter people,
presider. Words never used are dogma, doctrine, Ratzinger (unless with a
sneer), GIRM, orthodoxy, man or mankind; if these words are used or
reverence is given to the Holy Father than subject is not a Liturgeist.
Liturgeist disturbances can also be detected in the "The raising arm
effect." This can be seen if the arms of Jesus have broken away from the
cross and are directed upwards. Depending on the intensity of Liturgeist
activity sometimes the cross will appear to be entirely gone. The
"raising arm effect" can also be detected prior to the Our Father where
peoples arms mysteriously levitate and through some magnetic force their
hands become attached to those next to them.
If any of these Liturgeist disturbances are detected, run don't walk to
your Bishop. In normal circumstances the parish priest should be gone to
first, but once this activity has been detected he has usually been
neutralized by the hypnotic effects of the Liturgeist. Your Bishop will
then appoint a priest who he has given the faculties for conducting the
"Rite of Liturgical Exorcism."
Rite of Liturgical Exorcism
The Liturgical Exorcist begins with the sign of the cross, and then a
sprinkling of Holy Water on the Liturgeist. It has been reported that
Liturgeists are deathly afraid of Holy Water. This has been noticed
because of their habit of putting everything in a Holy Water Font except
Holy Water.
The Liturgical Exorcist then traces a cross on the Liturgeists forehead
using the The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM). A number of
helpers are required to hold the Liturgeist down since they will struggle
with supernatural strength to resist the GIRM.
At this point the Liturgeist will usually start supplicating to the
spirit of Vatican II for help. If they start quoting anything, the
Liturgical Exorcist asks for a reference to an actual Vatican II
document. The Liturgeist will normally show symptoms of shock at this
point.
The Liturgical Exorcist will then begin reading from James Akin's "Mass
Confusion" while any of the faithful present chant "Orthodoxy." Again,
make sure enough people are present to hold the Liturgeist down during
this reading.
If the Liturgeists starts to calm down during the reading of "Mass
Confusion" and says an occasionally Amen, then the Liturgical Exorcism is
successful. This can be verified by having the subject read from the GIRM
or look at a picture of Cardinal Ratzinger with no ill effects.
A Liturgeist with a university degree is especially hard to eradicate,
much prayer and fasting will be required.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Looking forward to Fall . . .
I'm looking forward to Fall and, hopefully, some cooler weather so I can start baking in the oven again. The smell of cookies on a 100-degree plus day isn't as pleasing as wrapping up in a sweater and biting into a chocolate chip cookie that is hot from the oven. You want a bite in the air when you bite into the cookie!
My favorite part of Fall is the onset of apple season. We are blessed to live within 45 minutes of many apple orchards. There is nothing like an apple fresh from the tree. We survive on store apples when we have to but indulge greatly when apples are in season in Oak Glen.
Last year, we discovered a small apple orchard tucked away in the turns and bends of the road. The owner retired about 30 years ago from his job, purchased the property, planted apple trees and fell in love with this particular type of fruit. Besides the regular species of apples, he has several kinds that I've never seen or heard about before. The owner is very elderly now but he still mans the store along with his equally frail wife. They are pure joy to visit with and get apples.
There is only one catch to buying apples from this wonderful gentlemen - you HAVE to sample each apple available that day and you HAVE to listen to his stories and jokes. We always plan the time to enjoy the entire experience. It seems to make the apples we bring home taste all the better. You can't hurry his process and if you jump ahead, buy a bag of apples, and leave, you will be on his sad face look forever. Besides, when he likes you, he is extra careful about the apples he packs up for you.
We always eat several apples on the ride home but the real joy is using them in apple pies, apple sauce, stewed apples, and apple crisp. This is our annual treat/vacation. We go up for apples about every two weeks. There are many, many species of apples and they all ripen at different times. We never know what we will bring home but we know they will be worth it. Besides, quilting goes better when the air is filled with the scent of baking apple pies.
My favorite part of Fall is the onset of apple season. We are blessed to live within 45 minutes of many apple orchards. There is nothing like an apple fresh from the tree. We survive on store apples when we have to but indulge greatly when apples are in season in Oak Glen.
Last year, we discovered a small apple orchard tucked away in the turns and bends of the road. The owner retired about 30 years ago from his job, purchased the property, planted apple trees and fell in love with this particular type of fruit. Besides the regular species of apples, he has several kinds that I've never seen or heard about before. The owner is very elderly now but he still mans the store along with his equally frail wife. They are pure joy to visit with and get apples.
There is only one catch to buying apples from this wonderful gentlemen - you HAVE to sample each apple available that day and you HAVE to listen to his stories and jokes. We always plan the time to enjoy the entire experience. It seems to make the apples we bring home taste all the better. You can't hurry his process and if you jump ahead, buy a bag of apples, and leave, you will be on his sad face look forever. Besides, when he likes you, he is extra careful about the apples he packs up for you.
We always eat several apples on the ride home but the real joy is using them in apple pies, apple sauce, stewed apples, and apple crisp. This is our annual treat/vacation. We go up for apples about every two weeks. There are many, many species of apples and they all ripen at different times. We never know what we will bring home but we know they will be worth it. Besides, quilting goes better when the air is filled with the scent of baking apple pies.
In case you had any doubts . . .
Obamacare-Point and Counterpoint
By Frank S. Rosenbloom, M.D.
Mr. Obama has gone back on the campaign trail to try to sell his health care reform to the nation. He continues to make the same points regarding health care reform, which need to be addressed specifically:
1. We need health care reform.
We do not need health care reform. We have the best health care system in the world. We need health insurance reform.
2. Free market health insurance has caused our current problem.
It is the government that has caused the current problem. We have not had free market health insurance in this country since 1965. It is not possible to consider our system of medical payment free market when the government controls $.60 of every dollar spent on health care.
3. The evil and greedy health insurance companies have caused prices to skyrocket.
Again, it's the government that has caused prices to skyrocket. Medicare and Medicaid are the 800 pound gorilla and insurance companies are the fleas on the gorilla.&n bsp; Nothing can be done by the privat e insurance companies that has not been done by Medicare and Medicaid. The federal government opens the door and the private insurance companies follow. It is the government manipulation of the free market that has caused our current health insurance problem. The out of control medical costs in Britain and Canada, as well as in Massachusetts and other states that have tried government health care prove this point.
4. Nearly 50 million Americans are without health care.
Nearly 13 million Americans are without health insurance. No one in the United States is without health care. Government regulations prohibit patients from being turned away from hospitals, which must provide medical care to anyone. The huge number that the Obama administration has used is highly inflated.
5. A government option will lower costs and improve quality of care.
A government option will increase costs and reduce quality of care. In every instance so far government involvement in medical services has caused prices to increase. Medicare spending has increased at a rate greater than 10 times that which was projected. Medicare and Medicaid will be broke in less than nine years. Adding another entitlement program will cause economic disaster. The Congressional Office of Management and Budget has stated that the president's plan is unaffordable. Further, the necessary rationing in order to even begin the program will reduce quality of care.
6. If you like your insurance and your doctor you can keep them.
The same things were said at the inception of Medicare. Medicare was supposed to be a supplemental insurance plan for retired people. It now covers the disabled as well and those over the age of 65, who are now ineligible for any other type of primary medical insurance. The government option will become the only option. Therefore, it's not an option and in the end hospitals, doctors, and all health care companies will be working directly and only for the government.
7. Government medical insurance is more cost efficient.
Government medical insurance is less efficient. The government, by force of law, transfers administrative costs to the private sector. Hospitals and doctors' offices must assume the burden of administration under threat of criminal penalty. This unfunded administrative burden transferred to private individuals and private insurance is then added to the cost of the supposedly free-market healthcare system.
0A
8. The government20option is necessary in order to prevent loss of insurance by individuals with medical problems.
Government regulations make it mandatory for hospitals to treat patients regardless of their ability to pay. The government can certainly pass a simple regulation making it illegal for medical insurance plans to be canceled due to illness on the part of the insured. This would be a simple solution but of course would not increase government control over our lives.
9. The government option would ensure treatment for sick individuals who would otherwise have lost health care insurance. It would prevent lifetime limits on medical care.
This is blatantly untrue. There are definitive limits to Medicare that are not being publicized. For example, a review of Medicare regulations shows it will pay up to a maximum of 90 days in the hospital for each medical incident. After that, a patient must be in a rehabilitation facility for 60 days in a row in order for Medicare to begin another cycle of payment. Similarly, there are limits on most other Medicare services.
10. A government option will not result in rationing.
The major government options already in existence employ rationing every day. Prohibitively difficult preauthorization, statements of medi cal necessity, convoluted and complicated paperwork, and often impossible to meet requirements result in rationing on a huge scale. Furthermore, delay in payment, denial of payment for services already rendered and other tactics reduce access to medical care on a widespread basis. The government may not call this rationing but it is an insidious form of rationing that will be an integral part of any government plan. Medicare misuses and abuses its funding and is guilty of literally stealing from hospitals and physicians.
As an example of this thievery, due to a change in the corporate status of my practice I was required to apply for a new national provider identification number (NPI) in March of this year. Within several weeks, without exception, all of the private insurance companies had registered the number and were paying on claims. After five months and exhaustive work of over 140 hours by my office staff Medicare and Medicaid had still not paid on a single claim. Finally, on August 14, Medicare made their first payment on claims that were five months old. Yet, if we do not bill Medicare within three months of the date of service, Medicare will not pay us at all. Government regulation and control permeates the entire medical system.
11. A government option will simplify the payment for medical services.
The government has always made things more complicated and expensive. This is part of their rationing system. The government has a habit of requiring new provider numbers every couple of years that must be used for all claims, including private insurance claims. When these are instituted, payment can be delayed for as long as six months. To see how "simple" the federal government makes medical claims, what follows are my required identification numbers: UPIN #G16766, OMAP#079496, Medicare#R0000BLCGY (PTAN) OLD, Medicare # R147304, (PTAN) **NEW** R147303, Railroad Medicare#110162014, NEW Tax ID # 264520277, OLD Tax ID# 911768627, DEA # BRxxxxxxx, Clia # 38D0933946, NPI# 1306924691, NPI Group # 1235371485.
Every point the president has made regarding his health plan is either a gross misrepresentation or an outright lie. The purpose of this plan is to ensure dependence on government and a financial windfall for his cronies, including trial lawyers, and has nothing to do with concern about the cost of medical care or about the health or lives of American citizens.
By Frank S. Rosenbloom, M.D.
Mr. Obama has gone back on the campaign trail to try to sell his health care reform to the nation. He continues to make the same points regarding health care reform, which need to be addressed specifically:
1. We need health care reform.
We do not need health care reform. We have the best health care system in the world. We need health insurance reform.
2. Free market health insurance has caused our current problem.
It is the government that has caused the current problem. We have not had free market health insurance in this country since 1965. It is not possible to consider our system of medical payment free market when the government controls $.60 of every dollar spent on health care.
3. The evil and greedy health insurance companies have caused prices to skyrocket.
Again, it's the government that has caused prices to skyrocket. Medicare and Medicaid are the 800 pound gorilla and insurance companies are the fleas on the gorilla.&n bsp; Nothing can be done by the privat e insurance companies that has not been done by Medicare and Medicaid. The federal government opens the door and the private insurance companies follow. It is the government manipulation of the free market that has caused our current health insurance problem. The out of control medical costs in Britain and Canada, as well as in Massachusetts and other states that have tried government health care prove this point.
4. Nearly 50 million Americans are without health care.
Nearly 13 million Americans are without health insurance. No one in the United States is without health care. Government regulations prohibit patients from being turned away from hospitals, which must provide medical care to anyone. The huge number that the Obama administration has used is highly inflated.
5. A government option will lower costs and improve quality of care.
A government option will increase costs and reduce quality of care. In every instance so far government involvement in medical services has caused prices to increase. Medicare spending has increased at a rate greater than 10 times that which was projected. Medicare and Medicaid will be broke in less than nine years. Adding another entitlement program will cause economic disaster. The Congressional Office of Management and Budget has stated that the president's plan is unaffordable. Further, the necessary rationing in order to even begin the program will reduce quality of care.
6. If you like your insurance and your doctor you can keep them.
The same things were said at the inception of Medicare. Medicare was supposed to be a supplemental insurance plan for retired people. It now covers the disabled as well and those over the age of 65, who are now ineligible for any other type of primary medical insurance. The government option will become the only option. Therefore, it's not an option and in the end hospitals, doctors, and all health care companies will be working directly and only for the government.
7. Government medical insurance is more cost efficient.
Government medical insurance is less efficient. The government, by force of law, transfers administrative costs to the private sector. Hospitals and doctors' offices must assume the burden of administration under threat of criminal penalty. This unfunded administrative burden transferred to private individuals and private insurance is then added to the cost of the supposedly free-market healthcare system.
0A
8. The government20option is necessary in order to prevent loss of insurance by individuals with medical problems.
Government regulations make it mandatory for hospitals to treat patients regardless of their ability to pay. The government can certainly pass a simple regulation making it illegal for medical insurance plans to be canceled due to illness on the part of the insured. This would be a simple solution but of course would not increase government control over our lives.
9. The government option would ensure treatment for sick individuals who would otherwise have lost health care insurance. It would prevent lifetime limits on medical care.
This is blatantly untrue. There are definitive limits to Medicare that are not being publicized. For example, a review of Medicare regulations shows it will pay up to a maximum of 90 days in the hospital for each medical incident. After that, a patient must be in a rehabilitation facility for 60 days in a row in order for Medicare to begin another cycle of payment. Similarly, there are limits on most other Medicare services.
10. A government option will not result in rationing.
The major government options already in existence employ rationing every day. Prohibitively difficult preauthorization, statements of medi cal necessity, convoluted and complicated paperwork, and often impossible to meet requirements result in rationing on a huge scale. Furthermore, delay in payment, denial of payment for services already rendered and other tactics reduce access to medical care on a widespread basis. The government may not call this rationing but it is an insidious form of rationing that will be an integral part of any government plan. Medicare misuses and abuses its funding and is guilty of literally stealing from hospitals and physicians.
As an example of this thievery, due to a change in the corporate status of my practice I was required to apply for a new national provider identification number (NPI) in March of this year. Within several weeks, without exception, all of the private insurance companies had registered the number and were paying on claims. After five months and exhaustive work of over 140 hours by my office staff Medicare and Medicaid had still not paid on a single claim. Finally, on August 14, Medicare made their first payment on claims that were five months old. Yet, if we do not bill Medicare within three months of the date of service, Medicare will not pay us at all. Government regulation and control permeates the entire medical system.
11. A government option will simplify the payment for medical services.
The government has always made things more complicated and expensive. This is part of their rationing system. The government has a habit of requiring new provider numbers every couple of years that must be used for all claims, including private insurance claims. When these are instituted, payment can be delayed for as long as six months. To see how "simple" the federal government makes medical claims, what follows are my required identification numbers: UPIN #G16766, OMAP#079496, Medicare#R0000BLCGY (PTAN) OLD, Medicare # R147304, (PTAN) **NEW** R147303, Railroad Medicare#110162014, NEW Tax ID # 264520277, OLD Tax ID# 911768627, DEA # BRxxxxxxx, Clia # 38D0933946, NPI# 1306924691, NPI Group # 1235371485.
Every point the president has made regarding his health plan is either a gross misrepresentation or an outright lie. The purpose of this plan is to ensure dependence on government and a financial windfall for his cronies, including trial lawyers, and has nothing to do with concern about the cost of medical care or about the health or lives of American citizens.
It doesn't get easier . . .
Last year, both my daughters went off to college within a month of each other. I already have one son attending college overseas so this brought my in-home children population count down to only one left at home.
It was quite hectic getting things packed and organized for both daughters their first year, and the busy atmosphere kept my mind off the fact that THEY WERE LEAVING! In the back of my mind, I thought that I was prepared because I had already sent one son off on his own. It wasn't enough 'preparation' because I missed them terribly.
Summer is over and, again, my daughter is headed back to college. Suitcases are sitting by the door as she makes last-minute preparations to get in the car and head for the airport. I can see that leaving is much less stressful for my daughter this year. Me? I'm going to miss her (and the other two college siblings) terribly.
Having to be a grown up AND a parent sure ain't for sissies!
It was quite hectic getting things packed and organized for both daughters their first year, and the busy atmosphere kept my mind off the fact that THEY WERE LEAVING! In the back of my mind, I thought that I was prepared because I had already sent one son off on his own. It wasn't enough 'preparation' because I missed them terribly.
Summer is over and, again, my daughter is headed back to college. Suitcases are sitting by the door as she makes last-minute preparations to get in the car and head for the airport. I can see that leaving is much less stressful for my daughter this year. Me? I'm going to miss her (and the other two college siblings) terribly.
Having to be a grown up AND a parent sure ain't for sissies!
Friday, August 21, 2009
Voices of reason . . .
"I used to think that the brain was the most wonderful organ in my body. Then I realized who was telling me this."
-- Emo Phillips
" There is no nonsense so gross that society will not, at some time, make a doctrine of it and defend it with every weapon of communal stupidity."
-- Robertson Davies
-- Emo Phillips
" There is no nonsense so gross that society will not, at some time, make a doctrine of it and defend it with every weapon of communal stupidity."
-- Robertson Davies
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Personal justice and being Christian . . .
We have a young lady at morning Mass who very much wanted to learn how to do the readings. We've noticed her because she always comes to Mass in a rather tight sweat suit with her hair yanked back. I have since discovered that she usually does her walking/running either before or after Mass. Technically, she is in her 'work' clothes and I should not have judged!
The first day she went solo for the readings at Mass, I didn't recognize her when she came up the church steps. Her hair was styled softly around her face, she was wearing heels and stockings as well as her Sunday best dress. She said that she would not feel right standing in front of the altar in anything but her Sunday best even if it was a daily Mass. Her reading was perfect and you could tell she had taken the time to practice the scripture.
The same, young lady read again last week. She kept to her decision and was dressed very nicely. The next day, we found out that someone in the congregation had soundly chastised her for being inappropriately dressed for doing the readings. Very confusing as her dress was not low-cut, the sleeves were long, and the dress hit her just at the knee. The young woman was so upset, she almost decided to quit.
Thankfully, she read yesterday and came, as always, dressed in a nice outfit. I couldn't tell any difference between any of the outfits she has worn to date. They were all decent and attractive. I wondered what the crabby woman in the congregation could have been offended about. I was glad the young lady stood her ground and didn't leave. Unfortunately, I know of a couple other cases where people were 'talked' to by the same irate woman in the congregation and they never came back.
I always thought being Christian was being kindly and showing by example. I don't see how you draw people into the fold by publically telling them all that's wrong with them. Yes, people do show up inappropriately dressed for Mass. However, we don't know what brings them to Mass, in the first place, or why they are dressed that way. Everyone has a history and if you judge before you find out, you could create a turning point in that person's life that you will have to answer for come Judgement Day.
The first day she went solo for the readings at Mass, I didn't recognize her when she came up the church steps. Her hair was styled softly around her face, she was wearing heels and stockings as well as her Sunday best dress. She said that she would not feel right standing in front of the altar in anything but her Sunday best even if it was a daily Mass. Her reading was perfect and you could tell she had taken the time to practice the scripture.
The same, young lady read again last week. She kept to her decision and was dressed very nicely. The next day, we found out that someone in the congregation had soundly chastised her for being inappropriately dressed for doing the readings. Very confusing as her dress was not low-cut, the sleeves were long, and the dress hit her just at the knee. The young woman was so upset, she almost decided to quit.
Thankfully, she read yesterday and came, as always, dressed in a nice outfit. I couldn't tell any difference between any of the outfits she has worn to date. They were all decent and attractive. I wondered what the crabby woman in the congregation could have been offended about. I was glad the young lady stood her ground and didn't leave. Unfortunately, I know of a couple other cases where people were 'talked' to by the same irate woman in the congregation and they never came back.
I always thought being Christian was being kindly and showing by example. I don't see how you draw people into the fold by publically telling them all that's wrong with them. Yes, people do show up inappropriately dressed for Mass. However, we don't know what brings them to Mass, in the first place, or why they are dressed that way. Everyone has a history and if you judge before you find out, you could create a turning point in that person's life that you will have to answer for come Judgement Day.
Projects begat projects . . .
Finished my All Saints Day costume projects. In all, I have made 15 costumes to sell on-line. Not sure if the project has been cost productive but I had fun doing it and helped out a lot of moms. After a hectic day of realizing it wouldn't be a great profit and swearing off any more project ideas, I'm thinking about making quilted Christmas stockings now. Hope springs eternal . . . and keeps me out of real trouble!
All too true in this day and age . . .
"There is a tragic flaw in our precious Constitution, and I don't know what can be done to fix it. This is it: Only nut cases want to be president."
-- Kurt Vonnegut
"How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin."
-- Ronald Reagan
"Sometimes people carry to such perfection the mask they have assumed that in due course they actually become the person they seem."
-- W. Somerset Maugham
-- Kurt Vonnegut
"How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin."
-- Ronald Reagan
"Sometimes people carry to such perfection the mask they have assumed that in due course they actually become the person they seem."
-- W. Somerset Maugham
Monday, August 17, 2009
History always repeats itself . . .
The reason we have wars and repeat problems in the world is a lack of historical education because history tends to repeats itself over and over. I ran across this and it brought it to mind.
In 1961, Ronald Reagan joined the American Medical Association in opposing the Democratic Party's attempt to force socialized medicine on the American people.
President Reagan's advice is just as relevant today as it was then. In part, he warned:
"One of the traditional methods of imposing statism or socialism on a people has been by way of medicine. It's very easy to disguise a medical program as a humanitarian project. . . . Now, the American people, if you put it to them about socialized medicine and gave them a chance to choose, would unhesitatingly vote against it." - Ronald Reagan
In 1961, Ronald Reagan joined the American Medical Association in opposing the Democratic Party's attempt to force socialized medicine on the American people.
President Reagan's advice is just as relevant today as it was then. In part, he warned:
"One of the traditional methods of imposing statism or socialism on a people has been by way of medicine. It's very easy to disguise a medical program as a humanitarian project. . . . Now, the American people, if you put it to them about socialized medicine and gave them a chance to choose, would unhesitatingly vote against it." - Ronald Reagan
Saturday, August 15, 2009
What quilting?
Quilting is still on the sidelines this week. I'm reliving the childhood of my children with a seasonal business - making All Saints Day costumes to sell. So far, they seem to be popular. I'm enjoying making the outfits for toddlers and such and remembering how much my brood liked getting dressed up for such events.
The year my oldest was four, he wanted to be a lion for Halloween. I found some fuzzy, brown fabric and contrived a costume complete with a head covering sporting a bright, orange mane. He was in seventh heaven. He went out to show an older friend next door. When Samantha saw him, she pretended to be SO afraid of this lion. My son had a kind heart and immediately tried to put her at ease with, "Don't worry, Manta! It's just me!"
Sadly, my bunch is way, way past the dressing up stage. However, my current project is fun as I can let my imagination go and figure out unique ways to depict various saint costumes. Right now, I have eight of them cut out and ready for sewing. It's fun to relive memories and keep your hands busy, too!
The year my oldest was four, he wanted to be a lion for Halloween. I found some fuzzy, brown fabric and contrived a costume complete with a head covering sporting a bright, orange mane. He was in seventh heaven. He went out to show an older friend next door. When Samantha saw him, she pretended to be SO afraid of this lion. My son had a kind heart and immediately tried to put her at ease with, "Don't worry, Manta! It's just me!"
Sadly, my bunch is way, way past the dressing up stage. However, my current project is fun as I can let my imagination go and figure out unique ways to depict various saint costumes. Right now, I have eight of them cut out and ready for sewing. It's fun to relive memories and keep your hands busy, too!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Digging up the past . . .
I have to admit that I do not like cleaning and sorting out my sewing cupboards. There are too many memories and way, way too many unfinished projects that my children have now outgrown. It's a bitter sweet endeavor as I sighed over little dress patterns I never had time to sew for them. Then it gets worse! I have to make decisions about what memories get to clutter up my cupboards another year and which ones absolutely have to be given away. Most of me realizes that I'm only on this earth a certain number of years but there is a tiny segment that is still trying to figure out how to take it all with me! I have a feeling that God doesn't want me to bring junk to my mansion in the sky. I'm hoping to have an eternity to clutter it up in a heavenly way! : - )
Cleaning up is good for the budget, too. I now realize that it will be years before I have to buy another needle having unearthed several packages that fell between the cracks in my organizational abilities from other years. Pencils, pens, and markers are not longer an endangered species, and it would be interesting to know how many times my unintentional thread collection could go around the world.
Even though the cupboard doors are closed on my sewing supplies, I know that the shelves are dusted and organized. You can just sense it when you walk into the room . . . that and the fact that the doors actually close all the way now!
Cleaning up is good for the budget, too. I now realize that it will be years before I have to buy another needle having unearthed several packages that fell between the cracks in my organizational abilities from other years. Pencils, pens, and markers are not longer an endangered species, and it would be interesting to know how many times my unintentional thread collection could go around the world.
Even though the cupboard doors are closed on my sewing supplies, I know that the shelves are dusted and organized. You can just sense it when you walk into the room . . . that and the fact that the doors actually close all the way now!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Get a smile going . . .
"My definition of an expert in any field is a person who knows enough about what's really going on to be scared."
-- P. J. Plauger
"Idealism is what precedes experience; cynicism is what follows."
-- David T. Wolf
"Some mornings it just doesn't seem worth it to gnaw through the leather straps."
-- Emo Phillips
"When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading."
-- Henny Youngman
-- P. J. Plauger
"Idealism is what precedes experience; cynicism is what follows."
-- David T. Wolf
"Some mornings it just doesn't seem worth it to gnaw through the leather straps."
-- Emo Phillips
"When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading."
-- Henny Youngman
Friday, August 7, 2009
Favorite thoughts for the day . . .
"Home computers are being called upon to perform many new functions, including the consumption of homework formerly eaten by the dog."
-- Doug Larson
"Given a choice between two theories, take the one which is funnier."
-- Blore's Razor
"And that's the world in a nutshell, an appropriate receptacle."
-- Stan Dunn
-- Doug Larson
"Given a choice between two theories, take the one which is funnier."
-- Blore's Razor
"And that's the world in a nutshell, an appropriate receptacle."
-- Stan Dunn
Where have all the nuns all gone . . .?
After Mass, yesterday, two ladies in matching beige skirts, white shirts, and beige sweaters walked past us. Only by word of mouth, on other occasions, did we know they were nuns. An older man looked after them and then to me and said, "Where have all the REAL nuns gone?" Okay, we both realized they WERE real nuns but, from outward appearance, they just looked like two, middle-aged women with similar outfits.
I wonder how many vocations go missing because young girls do not have the example of nuns in their lives. Although I know that clothing does not make the person, or, in this case, the vocation, example does!
I grew up around nuns. Almost all my teachers were nuns. After school, we'd see them all head for the convent and wondered what 'nunly' things went on to keep them so happy with their road in life. WE wanted to BE a nun and wear the wonderful sign of their Faith and vocation. Seeing a whole row of nuns at Mass was truly an uplifting experience and made me want to pray as hard as they were to attain that gift. Every time a nun would come onto the playground, the children, especially the girls, would be immediately by her side.
Today's modern nuns, I'm sure, have just as good a prayer life but they don't stand out in the crowd. It is often hard to tell a nun from a middle-aged woman attending Mass. Yes, a devout woman IS a good example but a nun in full 'uniform' makes a profound statement.
We used to have a sweet nun at our parish who didn't have a habit of any sort but pretty much dressed like the rest of us. My girls loved sister but never really got the point that she was a nun.
I know I'm old-fashioned but I think the various orders gave up a lot when they decided to give up their habits. It is also interesting to note that the orders that still respect the dignity of wearing a discernable habit seem to have more vocations. Wonder if any of the powers that be have made this connection?
I wonder how many vocations go missing because young girls do not have the example of nuns in their lives. Although I know that clothing does not make the person, or, in this case, the vocation, example does!
I grew up around nuns. Almost all my teachers were nuns. After school, we'd see them all head for the convent and wondered what 'nunly' things went on to keep them so happy with their road in life. WE wanted to BE a nun and wear the wonderful sign of their Faith and vocation. Seeing a whole row of nuns at Mass was truly an uplifting experience and made me want to pray as hard as they were to attain that gift. Every time a nun would come onto the playground, the children, especially the girls, would be immediately by her side.
Today's modern nuns, I'm sure, have just as good a prayer life but they don't stand out in the crowd. It is often hard to tell a nun from a middle-aged woman attending Mass. Yes, a devout woman IS a good example but a nun in full 'uniform' makes a profound statement.
We used to have a sweet nun at our parish who didn't have a habit of any sort but pretty much dressed like the rest of us. My girls loved sister but never really got the point that she was a nun.
I know I'm old-fashioned but I think the various orders gave up a lot when they decided to give up their habits. It is also interesting to note that the orders that still respect the dignity of wearing a discernable habit seem to have more vocations. Wonder if any of the powers that be have made this connection?
Thursday, August 6, 2009
How come I didn't get one . . .?
Our credit card company called today to verify that some debits to our account were actually made by us. They do this periodically so I was ready to okay whatever she was going to read out to me . . . Until she got to a $460 debit from an on-line computer company. I KNEW I would remember something like that and I was pretty sure we weren't in possession of or waiting for $460 worth of any kind of state-of-the-art gadget. As we got further in the list of debits, it became apparent that someone, way, way outside our family circle, had obtained our number and treated themselves to a touch phone/computer deal and took the open opportunity to also download some tunes to go with it. I joked with the credit card company that I didn't even have such a neat item and he said he didn't either. He went on to say that whoever was helping themselves to our credit line was also going to be disappointed as he was closing out the card immediately, refusing payment to the stupid company that just took the card, and issued us new cards.
I also called LifeLock and they jumped on the situation with a vengence. Someone is going to wish they hadn't put dream to reality when they tried to steal our identity via our credit card. Poor person (NOT!) who either hasn't received his longed-for item yet or has it and the credit card company, the on-line store, and LifeLock on now on his case.
I also called LifeLock and they jumped on the situation with a vengence. Someone is going to wish they hadn't put dream to reality when they tried to steal our identity via our credit card. Poor person (NOT!) who either hasn't received his longed-for item yet or has it and the credit card company, the on-line store, and LifeLock on now on his case.
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