Couldn't resist . . .

Being intelligent is not a felony, but most societies evaluate it as at least a misdemeanor.

- Lazarus Long

A Price for Everything . . .

Yes, we love peace, but we are not willing to take wounds for it, as we are for war.

- John Andrew Holmes

Funny but sadly true in some cases . . .

I enjoy the music and comedy of Tim Hawkins. He has a tweet every so often that is always on the humorous note. This morning, it was no exception:

I'm getting the evil eye from a lot of people in church service today. Makes it hard for me to focus on games of Temple Run.

I laughed but with a mild grimace as I remembered an incident from morning Mass last week. During the sermon, I kept hearing this soft click, click, click. It was distracting and I wondered if there was a problem with the light fixtures or something. I glanced over and a woman was busily using sermone 'break' time at Mass to text back and forth with someone! She did this the entire fifteen minutes of the sermon without looking up once. When the sermon ended, she closed her phone and put it away. I had to wonder why she even came to morning Mass if not to attend morning Mass. If there was an extended emergency at home, shouldn't she have gone outside to finish the conversation? These are the times I'm glad my children are grown up and I don't have to figure out ways to answer their questions about the incorrect behavior of people at Mass.

One time, a woman's phone went off during Mass and she picked up and started talking as she walked down the aisle outside. She came back in, sat down, and the phone almost immediately went off, again! She headed back down the aisle, speaking loudly and clearly as she went out. You would think that by this time, she would have put her phone on vibrate but, no, it went off again and we shared in her continuing conversation. She came back into church just as Communion finished. She sat down, looked around expectantly and said out loud, "Did I miss Communion?" No one responded.

Yes, I know Tim Hawkins was joking and this woman was clueless!

Winter Vegetable Roast . . .

Overcast but no rain today which is a blessing from God as we can meet and greet with friends after Mass. Cold, yes, but no damp drizzle seeping down our necks! Found out a friend is having cancer surgery this coming Wednesday. We saw him and his wife going to their car, arms linked, and realized how short and fragile life can get. They have been married 61 years but I imagine they are wondering how the years got past them so fast. If you have a prayer for Carlos' surgery, that would be great. He is open to God's Will but has strong ties to this life . . . as do we all.

I'm enjoying the cold turn in the California weather this weekend. Last night, I made Pita bread to go with our soup. I don't do that much in the summer heat as the oven has to be set at 500 degrees to get the bread to 'pop'. Last night, I was eager to turn on the heat.

Today, I'm thinking of a winter vegetable roast. It is one of the easiest ways to prepare vegetables and even my picky eaters almost enjoy it. What can I say? Some offspring will never face off with vegetables happily.

What I like about roasted vegetables (besides turning on the oven!) is the recipe can be anything you want. I'll list what I usually include and you can add or subtract to your own tastes.

Zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch circles
Miniature bell peppers
Small, whole potatoes (These should be cooked until just done)
Steamed carrots, cut into 1/2-inch circles
Wedges of red onion
Mexican squash, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
Parboiled Brussels Sprouts, barely tender and cut in half
Cauliflower, cut into 1/2-inch flowerettes
Broccoil, cut into 1/2-inch flowerettes

Place all the prepared ingredients in a large bowl. Sprinkle generously with olive oil, salt, pepper, and onion power. Peel, smash, and dice 8 cloves of garlic and toss with the vegetables. The vegetables should have a light sheen of oil on them.

Scatter on a large, parchment-lined baking sheet (Or grease with vegetable oil spray) and bake in a preheated, 350 degree oven for approximately 15-20 minutes depending on your oven. Check after 10 minutes to see how it is going.

When done, remove from oven and sprinkle with finely grated Parmesan or Romano cheese and serve.

United States . . . beware!

Socialism is Bolshevism with a shave.

- Detroit Journal

Paula Deen didn't do it!

I seem to be in the minority here but I'm shocked at the reaction of people to Southern Cook, Paula Deen's revelation that she is and has been diabetic for three years.  She is being called all sorts of names because she continued her cooking show in spite of her disease. To my thinking, she has always had a cooking show based on Southern recipes. Traditionally, Southern recipes are rich, savory, and sweet to a greater degree than many cuisines.  She is not telling people they have to eat this stuff. She is just sharing what she has cooked over the years. If I were a diabetic watching the show, I'd enjoy the entertainment value, find the recipes interesting, but be grown up enough to know that they would not fit into my dietary requirements and good for anyone who can or wants to cook that way. It's a free world!

The sense of entitlement and the nanny state mentality seems to slip into every avenue of life these days. The uproar is that Paula Deen didn't tell people she was diabetic yet continued to cook all the wrong foods for a diabetic. First of all, she didn't ever have to reveal her private medical situation. Second, she is cooking traditional Southern cooking with her own twists. I have a Southern cooking book and I have absolutely no interest in whether the author can or should not eat the recipes included there.

It is much like the people who blame fast food places for their obesity problems. I have yet to see them load up people in a truck and force them through the fast food drive-thru and stuff them with fries and fatty hamburgers. People take themselves there. They put the food into their mouths on their own. If it jeopardizes their health, they have no one but themselves to blame. There are commercials for candy and cookies. Should they include a mini-sermon directed at the diabetic and obese about not eating the product they are advertising? No, because adults who have health issues, should educate themselves about what they put into their mouths. And, as parents and adults, we are in charge of what our children eat and drink, too.

I've known a lot of diabetic people over the years and more than a few of them just shrug when I raise my eyebrows watching them consume a sugary treat. One of them just said, "Okay, I know I shouldn't but I'll just inject a bit more insulin to compensate." The person didn't give the family that brought the donuts to the potluck a talk about the dangers of sugar. She knew and ate them, anyway, Isn't that kind of the same thing with Paula Deen? I watch the show for entertainment value. I watch my weight so as soon as she adds two sticks of butter, I know I'm never making that reciple. I don't need her to preface every ingredient addition with a warning.

The whole world will be a better place once we take responsibility for our own actions. Paula Deen's recipes didn't jeopardize any diabetics. Paula Deen's recipes didn't make anyone fat. Not being a grown up in charge of your own destiny compromises your health as the spoon is  in your own hand.