VIGIL AT THE TOP

Photo by Annisa Lam (former member of Stock.exchng)

Licensed photo DO NOT COPY

Currently I am keeping the following in my thoughts &  prayers:

-----Natalee Holloway has been declared dead. :-( The main suspect, Joran Van der Sloot, has been sentenced to a 28-year prison term in another murder. He may be extradited to the U.S. on extortion charges and I hope something in this can be leveraged or inspire him to tell the whereabouts of the remains of Natalee Holloway. I pray for the family to have closure as to what happened to Natalee...to truly know whether she is out there somewhere.
-----Among other things, Greece is allowing pedophilia as a disability.
-----I feel badly for this woman who claims a hotel gave a key to a drunken stranger claiming to be her husband. She said that she was molested and is traumatized by it.
-----Friends who have been having relationship troubles for some time now.
-----A friend who has cancer(s) and experiences a lot of side effects.
-----Hopefully, the best candidate is elected in 2012.
-----Demarco Harris. A 13-year-old who was found guilty of murder. I hope that he is able to turn his (young) life around and that juvenile detention is actually beneficial. Demarco's case will be evaluated again when he turns 21. Demarco will stay in my thoughts and prayers until he turns 21.


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Note:

This post is in no particular order. Prayer/thought requests just go to the top as I hear more about what is going on. If you can think of a way to help these people, PLEASE do so. This post will be second-from-the-top during the midst of an emergency (such as an Amber Alert).

Note: I would not advise linking to this post...you will wind up with a broken link each time I have to change the post-dating to keep this a Vigil at the Top.

At JPUSA. Summer 2011.

That's different. McDonald's has some sort of Build-a-Bear Workshop Happy Meal toys.

Tassimo has a massive coffee maker recall...burn risk.....spurting liquid.

In My Life.....

-----Planning for when we go to Cornerstone Festival.. I do not think Little One is old enough to tent camp...so we will have to budget for  a hotel and that won't be easy. I have not found a safe, reasonably-priced hotel close by yet
-----My Jade Plant seems to have eaten up most of its soil.
-----I just finished with my second editing piece for Darkest Goth Magazine. I normally find editing to be something that comes naturally...but this piece was primarily emotions and theories. I am on emotion overload right now as this editing coincided with considering Big Life Changes and the first time I have ever tried to write a Christian Testimony.
-----I am still not finished writing my Testimony. This is a concept radically different than my upbringing ( I may have first heard the term this summer). I want this to sincerely mean something.

Beef and Beer Stew
Slow Cooker Winter Vegetable Stew
Slow Cooker Classic Beef Stew
Rustic Slow Cooker Stew

We have purchased the ingredients:
Hopi Corn Stew. Possibly an authentic recipe.We will be making it in the slow cooker and adding rice, The next time we try this recipe, we might add beer.
Pizza Arizona
Arizona Sun-Dried Tomato Chili

Gerber has upset us. :-(

This is sad and scary. I am frustrated with Gerber.
I kid you not, I am calling Gerber as I have found what was definitely mold in the lids of baby food jars three times this month....two of those being yesterday and today.

We are now going to switch to Beechnut...but I have at least a couple hundred Gerber jars, 10 Gerber smoothies, a couple Gerber Grabbers and many boxes of the rice cereal. :-(

The moldy-lidded-jars all expired in 2013, all had the "pop" when opened and were stored well. I did notice that the first was hard to open. The second moldy one had a dent on the lid and was hard to open. No other anomalies.

Ham, pears and bananas. I don't know what store....we buy baby food primarily from Walmart but also two HyVees.

THE QUEEN'S MEME.....

1. In a traditional Dragon or Lion Dance, the loud drums and cymbals are thought to chase out evil spirits. How do you do YOUR traditional Dragon Dance to drive out any evil in your life? (Do you dance with dragons?......or just old Elvis records....inquiring minds want to know)
I dance to music that usually helps....I have eclectic music tastes so it can be anything from Glen Miller to John Lennon to the Aggrotech band "Grendel." Sometimes taking a shower helps. When angry, I tend to start cleaning and cleaning and cleaning. I try to attend two online prayer groups each evening.



2. Have you experienced any good or bad omens this year?
I do not believe in such. As far as how the year is going....it has been mixed. There have already been many blessings and good times. There have been some less-than-nice people. I am worried about my Mother.
 ---I have decided to look into joining MADD this year. Our New Year started with great fun but then turned scary. We (myself,Husband,Little One and our good friend) were heading home from Walmart where we had gone to walk off the dinner we had at a diner...it was about an hour and fourteen minutes after midnight and the roads were pretty much EMPTY. All of a sudden what we could only assume was a drunk driver came halfway into our lane. They were doing at least 50 in a 35! Husband would have been badly hurt or dead, if there was a (head-on) impact. I am so thankful that my Husband is a good and quick-thinking driver.

3. I believe that good fortune has more to do with personal integrity, honesty and character than ancient symbolism. Treating people the way you would want to be treated goes a long way in warding off that pesky negative Karma.  Dragons are considered evil creatures according to European culture , but in Chinese culture the dragon symbolizes supernatural power and goodness. Which one do you believe? Or would you rather just try the good ole' Golden Rule.......

I believe in the Golden Rule and wish everyone else did. I do not like people that show no respect for others...especially when you have been only respectful and nice to them.


4. Chinese couples will attempt to have "Dragon babies" in the year 2012. In order to take advantage of astrological predictions of wealth and success, name one thing you should attempt to "birth" that could bring you good luck.
Again I don't believe in such. I want to be super-organized in the things I do online. I occasionally do paid reviews on this blog and I am going to be a deskman for DarkestGoth Magazine which premiers in June. I was going to culinary school in the Fall but have decided it will be best if I continue to pursue that study through my own efforts (which includes a lot of online studying which is easy to get disorganized or sidetracked on). I also may be taking a social marketing opportunity at some point. There is just to much info to keep track of on the computer in this day and age.


5. You are in charge of the Chinese New Year Parade in your town. Who will ride on the first float?
If he were alive, Don Ho....singing "Tiny Bubbles."  Since he died in 2007, I suppose a person dressed up as Snarf from the "Thundercats."



6.  What is your favorite Chinese food?
Kung Pao chicken.



7. Chinese people often think of themselves as descendants of the mythical Dragon creature. Do you have any mythical creatures in your family closet?
None. Little One is particularly fond of his stuffed dinosaur, a Christmas teddy bear and Spot (the dog) from the Eric Hill stories.

My second-favorite dragon sculpture.

See more from this artist.....

PARTICIPATE IN THE QUEEN'S MEME. :-)

UNCONSCIOUS MUTTERINGS.....

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Rivals ::
Muhammad Ali....Cassius Marcellus Clay. Bitter rivals. Arch enemies. Sibling rivalry. Coke vs. Pepsi...that reminds me, I haven't found a good cooking-with-soda-pop recipe lately and I should start a "CookingWithSodaPop" board on Pinterest. "There can be only one."
2. Automatically ::
Automatically...writing what comes to mind for this memory. "Automatic writing" in the spiritism sense, is scary. Don't automatically assume. "Well this car is automatic, it's systematic, it's hydromatic. Why it's greased lightnin'!"
3. Bathroom ::
The little girls' room...to powder your nose. In movies, and on TV, the bathroom is always the place to go for an impromptu,urgent conversation.  Women going to the bathroom together. Toilet paper is expensive. I do not like public bathrooms.
4. Jerk ::
A dance. Jerked meat. Dennis Leary...I'm an asshole...A-S-S-H-O-L-E. 
5. Preference ::
Dark meat or white with chicken. Would you prefer to tell them, or should I? Preference Hair Color. Personal preference. They are retiring one of the lines of preference...."Dream Blonde" or something like that.
6. Parenting ::
My issues of Parenting Magazine have not been arriving and it is supposed to be a 3-year subscription.
7. Helmet ::
Thor's helmet. Football helmet. Motorcycle helmet and all the people who don't want to wear one.
8. Wave ::
Doing "The Wave" at football games. Little One is so cute when waving at people.Wavy Gravy. Ocean Waves.
9. Judo ::
10. Flat tire ::
I know two people who have gotten a flat tire in the past week.

PARTICIPATE IN UNCONSCIOUS MUTTERINGS. :-)
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 How to Change a Flat Tire
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 Remember:
Increased U.S. Postal Rates take effect today!

Saturday 9.....

1. Do you live close to where you grew up? Why?

I stay within the realm of arranging travel as there are many illnesses in the family. 

2. Have you ever been so angry that you almost lost control?

Yes, once. It was in reaction to someone who made a daily habit of LOUDLY and grossly provoking others. Among other maddening things, everyone they encountered knew way too much of this person's personal life and exploits. Not one person I knew (who knew them) was left out of being a target either for messing with or trying to shock. I hope things have changed as this person had so much potential to do good with their chosen career-path.                   

3. Are you a fan of a musical act that slightly embarrasses you?

I like "Nod Your Head" by Paul McCartney and "The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins" sung by Leonard Nimoy. Some of the older New Kids on the Block music.   

4. Is there a movie that always makes you cry?

Anything where someone dies...particularly if it is similar to tragedies I have experienced with loved ones.

5. Who is the most famous person that you've met?

Alice Peacock.
I am friends with members of bands in the Christian Goth scene.
Eric Clayton.
One of the Miss America's.  

6. Before you leave your home, what must you have?

Keys, diaper bag. miniature Bible kept in the diaper bag, cell phone, pen and paper

7. What do you miss the most about being a kid?

Learning new things all day and being healthy enough to run in the sunshine. I may have asthma and I have leg issues. I don't want to jog...I mean run with wild abandon. 

8. Tell us about a passion of yours that your readers would not expect.

I want to have my Little One visit all 48 of the continental United States in some meaningful way at least once before adulthood. We have visited 5 last year and have plans  for others this year.

9. At what age do you think you'd be to think, “I've had a great run”?

As in being ready to die? I don't know. 

PARTICIPATE IN SATURDAY 9. :-)

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IKEA high chair recall.
This goes back to 2006! 

On my maybe list:
Butterfinger Cheesecake. I am not always fond of Butterfingers.

-----The only fireplace HEPA vacuum
-----Video Screen  Microscope. Perfect for homeschooling.

"The Beginning."

T-shirt I would like to have. 

Space, the moon & an upside-down tree.  

Friday Fill-Ins

1. When I looked out the window this morning _____.
I saw that it is snowing (still morning right now). I need to go get some blood taken and this is not good.

2._____ doesn't make sense to me.
Obama doesn't make sense to me. He does a lot of good....but he is just unpredictable. Some of his proposals just cause so much chaos.

3. Remind me _____.
that I have library books to finish and return in a few days. Also, I must check to make sure I got the return date right. I am reading "660 Curries," "Barbarians at the Dinner Plate," and a book about Chinese food. I finished "Cleaving"....a disgusting book, by the author of "Julie & Julia," featuring several infidelities and much self-indulgence.

4._____ is something I love to do!
Blogging (of course) Lately, I like putting things that I like on Pinterest. :-)

5. TP is _____.
expensive.

6. I cleaned the refrigerator recently and I found _____.
The lemon juice had expired. It used to be we needed the concentrated lemon juice too much and now we don't get through the big bottle. We switched to the little squirt bottle.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____, tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____!
Tonight: 
Shopping for bread, milk and using a pasta sauce coupon that is about to expire. A grandparent visit. IF this stupid snow lets up.
Having a berry cheesecake (homemade,no-bake). Showing Little One the swirling snow after I get done typing this. Editing some photos from a trip to the childrens' museum and other outings. Calling my Mother.
Tomorrow: 
Having a homemade bean soup with lots of onions in it...I need to sort and soak the beans tonight.
Sunday: 
Church...the (huge) cross below is on display at one of the churches I sometimes attend.

 

See more from this artist.....

PARTICIPATE IN FRIDAY FILL-INS

Thursday Thirteen.....

1.

Coaster I eventually want to get a set of.
I have temporarily misplaced the name of the artist.

2.

I felt sorry for this turkey.

Part of a temporary petting zoo. 

Sadly, I found a permanent petting zoo online where the cage was only SLIGHTLY bigger.

If the turkey would have somehow flown away, I would have applauded. 

3. LOVELAND CASTLE (Loveland, Ohio):

Resurrection Lilies.

The foliage comes up by itself ...

and these flowers  on stalks come up as a surprise later.

I want to try growing them. 

4.

Roses at the hotel in Liberty, Kentucky.
We went to a music festival.
Small town.....has only one hotel and no all-night restaurants.

5. THE FAMILY AND  LOVED ONES OF  THOSE LOST IN THE ITALIAN CRUISE SHIP WRECK ARE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

6. George Lucas plans to retire from making big movies. There may still be another Indiana Jones.

7. Recipe:
Greek Gingered Pear Drink. Simple recipe.

8. Recipes Using Bourbon:
Nutella Bourbon Cookies
Bourbon Meatloaf. Uses a 1/4 cup of bourbon. The recipe is from Harry's Bar & Grill in Milwaukee.

9.  12 New Year's resolutions for the TSA.

10.  "What Does It Mean to Be From Kentucky?" Humorous.

11.
In My Life:
-----I finished reading "Son of a Witch." It is a part of the "Wicked" series (in case you didn't know or guess).  I did not like this as much as "Wicked" as it was not as fast-paced. I suppose the pacing of the book truly reflected the indecision and pace of the main character's life. I want to look up some of the many words I did not know in this book...particularly to find out what things are real. I especially want to know what plants and foods mentioned in this book (and the previous one) are real. I thought the ending was pretty clever.
-----I gave my Mother "Son of a Witch" when I was finished with it. I bought her the first book when she was hospitalized and she liked it a lot.
-----I have been watching some tutorials on how to do latte art. I was surprised to discover, it should not be too difficult to learn.
-----We took the little one to have professional photos done. Leaving the store was very cute...we were walking slowly because the parking lot was slippery in places and because Little One was holding onto the foot of the beloved stuffed dinosaur (Little One was in Daddy's arms and the big dinosaur was in mine).
-----I am finally on Pinterest. I couldn't figure out why I wasn't getting an invite. It turns out that it had gotten lost in all the e-mails I get and I could have been on there back in June!

12.  There is a new virus that may have time to raid your bank account without being noticed!!!

13. SPRING GROVE:

Ducks.

Spring Grove Cemetery and  Arboretum

Cincinatti, Ohio 

I thing Husband took this photo. :-)

One of the 15 lakes in the cemetery. 

A pretty exit.

Apparently, the 7-year-old who wants to be a girl is now a Girl Scout. There is a call for a boycott of Girl Scout Cookies in response to this.

Guns N' Roses 2011 Welcome to the jungle

World Changes?

So the blog prompt that I was supposed to be working on today was "Social Media Goals in 2012." I ended up spending the day at Church and thinking about the blog prompt in ways I hadn't expected.

What are some of the things I would like to see changed that social media might be able to help with?
-----Drunk driving.
This year I will look into joining MADD. On New Year's Eve, we were coming back from a diner (and Walmart-wandering for exercise after) to pretty much empty roads when suddenly a drunk driver came into half of our lane. If this driver had hit us, my Husband would likely have been very injured or dead. It would have been a head-on crash and the person was doing about 50 (in a 35).
-----TSA
I feel there are necessary security procedures but I would like alternative methods to be looked at. Having to choose between invasive touching and radiation is not good.
-----Walmart
Another thing I have mixed opinions on.
-----Holding politicians more responsible. This does not mean just complaining.

This was off the top of my head.
I have some further notes on this....but that is some of what I will be blogging about this year.

Elderly lady claims TSA strip-searched her. This woman is not the only elderly person claiming to have this happen recently.

The weird things that happened in Florida this year.

Bacon candy canes. They do not sound appetizing but I will try them sometime (and might be surprised).

New York okays burying human ashes in pet cemeteries. For those who want their final resting place to be next to furry loved ones.

THURSDAY THIRTEEN.....

1. Soup and Stew Recipes:       
-----Heineken Sweet Potato Stew. We made this in the crockpot. Husband is not fond of Heineken so we  used a different German beer...Warsteiner (Dunkel).
-----Roasted Tomato and Pepper Soup with Cheese Sticks

2.
------Spiced Sweet Potato Latkes with Yogurt
-----Conan O'Brien's "Human Centipede Menorah"  was pretty disrespectful.

3. Healthy:
-----Cashew Smoothie

4.

Apple strudel with persimmon sauce made by our Italian Experience students.

They are preparing for their last practical in NYC before they head to Italy.

-The French Culinary Institute

5.

Humorous little story and great camera work.

This video has more views than the band's official video.

6. COFFEE:
-----I am hoping that a coffee shop which will help mentor veterans gets off the ground and does well. It would be great if there were more shops like this.
-----"Is Your Morning Coffee Run Making You Fat?" (Thanks to Calvin Lee of Mayhem Studios for the link)
-----The "Alarm Clock" at Arcadia Cafe. Interesting. Orange juice with coffee on top. I am supposed to try this at some point and let someone know what I think of it.

7. IN MY LIFE:
-----I am very disappointed that we will not be able to see Adam Ant when he comes to the United States next year. We can't figure out anyone to lodge with and the tour stops are likely to be during dangerous winter weather. It is possibly one of those once-in-a-lifetime things and I would really like to have gone. :-(
-----We had to cancel a weekend getaway in Wisconsin (hosted by a wonderful friend). There was an illness in our family and miraculously our loved one was able to walk out of the hospital after almost dying...so thankful she is alright. Re-scheduling the trip...it will be the fourth time we have needed to do that. Life can be a little like a pinball machine sometimes.
-----I am hoping that I am not going to be let down on another production (one which I have been waiting at least 7 years to see). We are going to make every effort to get there...more on this later. :-)
-----I am reading the Broadway Musical tie-in of "Wicked." Husband got me it and "Son of a Witch" for Christmas I am finding it to be a great read and my Mother really enjoyed the copy I bought her when she was hospitalized. "Wicked" has a lot of bad reviews on Goodreads. Hmmm.
-----I have applied to a culinary school! It will take me approximately 5 years and 1 semester to complete...that is the pace I can move at financially. There is more internship and hands-on-experiences than I have seen at a lot of culinary schools. I have started preparing by reading all that I can online of what is taught and what experiences the instructors bring. I am going to learn as much as I can during this time and might be able to start my coffee shop a few years early!
-----I want to explore the music of Ellie Goulding. Daiv Russell (of Ninja-Nerd.com)  recommended listening to her. I didn't realize I had heard Ellie before until I Googled it and found "Lights"( a most awesome song). This afternoon I have been listening to the acoustic version of "Lights." :-)


8. From "The Wizard of Oz" Facebook page:
Did you know? The "tornado" was a 35-foot-long muslin stocking, spun around among miniatures of a Kansas farm and fields in a dusty atmosphere.

9. Miracle:
One of the 2004 tsunami victims was found alive!  A young girl.

10. :-(
It is possible that there has been an infant death related to the formula Enfamil.  

11. Taco Bell is now charging for lettuce. Of course, they are not charging a minor or reasonable amount.
On a  similar note: I got a Seattle's Best iced coffee at Burger King as part of breakfast when we got my Christmas gifts. There was no indication on the menu or by the cashier that they were going to charge me for every component they asked if I wanted (and I did not see the price adding up on the screen as I was in the passenger seat) . It was excellent...but I ended up getting a surprise when the price was over three dollars!! Never again and I am sending them some feedback about this. I had no clue that Burger King thinks their coffee is worth so much. On the bright side, it was a nice Christmas treat.
(Update: Husband informs me that the coffee actually cost around 5 dollars! I still need to write that complaint letter.)

                         
12.
Taco Bell Chalupa copycat recipe
Taco Bell Limeade Sparklers copycat recipe 

13. Child's Play:
-----After Christmas,  Lego is introducing a new line targeted at girls, I just don't think pastel Legos look right.
-----The ABC scratching game. Not good.
-----Uproar over a pizza slice "gun."

"Old man on a bench in Downtown Disney constructed with Legos. 

If you get close enough to the statue, he actually snores."

Licensed  photo. Taken by Michael Sult.

This post is a work-in-progress. :-)

THURSDAY THIRTEEN.....

1. In My Life:
-----Husband took me to the thrift store for "Quarter Day" and I was able to get two carts of beautiful clothes as my Christmas present. I will have to post photos.
-----We had to cancel both a planned roadtrip and a weekend getaway. :-(  I am hoping that one of these can be rescheduled.
-----I have been missing prayer group the past few nights.
-----Learned that I now much prefer 90% lean hamburger to 80%. I can tell the difference easily...there is much more grease with the 80%. I wish that grass-fed items were more affordable.
-----I am thinking about trying to get on the writing staff for a new online magazine.
-----I have a couple of cans of tomato soup that we were given a while back. I need to find recipes to use these. We might serve them alongside homemade fishsticks.
-----Yes, I think that is the answer for the tomato soup. We finally have a fish market and I am excited to explore it. We will wait until next month and get some cod. :-)

2.

3. Word review for today..."patrimony." In the case of things I read, it means property handed down from one's father...like the sacred burial mounds of the Native Americans.

4. FreddieForADay

5. $1.50 off a bag of Seattle's Best coffee. 
The coupon is for use at Walmart. The expiration date is January 31st. I don't know how long the coupon will stay up (but internet coupons get so popular that they often stay up five days or less).


6. Crematorium may sell body heat from burning corpses.
"While the proposition may seem a bit morbid, the crematorium insists that most of the energy will come from gas used during the cremation process, with a negligible amount coming from the actual bodies."

7. SPIN's 50 Best Albums of 2011
".....how were musical provocateurs like Kanye West or Lady Gaga supposed to shock anybody when a craven disgraced troll like Newt Gingrich was getting away with posing like a distinguished statesman?"
~~~An album by Britney Spears is 50th. I guess I will be somewhat open-minded and make myself listen to it.


8.
-----SPIN's 20 Best Songs of 2011
-----SPIN's 40 Best Rap Albums of 2011. I don't listen to rap (pretty much at all). I have resolved that I will go through and give each of these a try.
-----125 Greatest Albums of the Past 25 Years
-----SPIN's 40 Greatest Comedy Albums of All Time
-----"50 Mixtapes You Need Now"

9. Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cakes. From Paula Deen. I will try making the pineapple variation.

10. I am currently working on a review of "What's Age Got to Do With It?" by Robin McGraw (Dr. Phil's wife).

---I am closer to 40 than I would like to think about and this book has really got me thinking about it.
---Despite thyroid issues, I am currently in better physical shape than the majority of my childhood classmates. This is not through intentional exercise efforts. I have done a lot of things in my adult life that naturally involved extreme physical activity or that I put a lot of effort into.
---For my birthday next year, I will make something with a big number for the photos. We teach children to be proud of the fact that they have grown ... being proud of your age is a good thing.


11.Stuff that surprised me!!!
---Gary Numan has Asperger's.
---I may have a non-verbal learning disability that was never diagnosed. I feel much better about my higher math problems now. Now that I am armed with this new knowledge, I am trying to figure out what the next step for me is academically.
---Woman accused of trying to cook meth at Walmart. I hope that someone will actually help with her problem now. I would assume she might try this again if no help is offered and she feels she needs meth. I am wondering if she is just the first person to get caught doing this and if there will be copycats.
---I never heard of Richard Branson's "Virgin Coke." It is still available in some places. Apparently, Virgin Cola was product-placed on "Friends" a few times.

12.

At Loveland Castle.

Ohio. August 2011.

13.

Garden at Jesus People USA (JPUSA). Summer 2011

I want to make a bookmark of his.
JPUSA. Summer 2011.

This post is a work-in-progress. :-)

UNCONSCIOUS MUTTERINGS.....

I say ... and you think ... ? 




Dedication :: 
Dedicating a memorial or new building. Dedicating a baby to God. Loyalty. Dedicating a book. Thank for all you hard work...here is your gold watch. A whole volume dedicated to a subject. The Crow being dedicated to Brandon Lee and Eliza Hutton (I was glad to read that she eventually remarried...about 9 years after his death). Some spammers show a lot of dedication...some show a lot of stupidity...many show both.

Dream destination :: 
Vacation "All I ever wanted...Vacation...time to get away." I don't currently know what my dream destination is. I would like to return to Disneyworld and intend to do so to compete in the Walt Disney Marathon...after MUCH training). For a lot of people, their dream destination is some sort of cruise. I would like to be invited to the "White Dinner" in Paris and actually have the ability to go. I hope that I don't get sunburn on any vacation. Unless it was a guided trip, we could not leave the GPs behind! I wish Israel were safe.

Licensed photo. Taken by Aaron Gardner.

On the way out of Blackpool, England.

Games :: 
Leapfrog. Frogger. Burgertime. Donkey Kong. Video games, in general. Little girls playing jacks or jump rope on the playground. People playing mind games with each other and relationships end because of games. It's all fun and games until. Olympic games. Watching "the game." Card games. I like the "Munchkin" games and own three of them.

I have heard good things about an online gaming platform called "Steam" and will be downloading this once I get my own computer fixed.
Note: Some of the things on Steam are FREE.

Hard as :: 
Brass tacks. A Nail. It's only as hard as you make it. Maylene and the Sons of Disaster..."Tough as John Jacobs." Today I  "blipped" AC/DC's "Hard as a -Rock"  and then wished I hadn't after I read the lyrics. Hard as Nails Ministry.

Convict :: 
Escaped felon...jails that don't have good security. God convicting you about a belief or lack of action. Lacking conviction. The men working on the chain gang. I occasionally wonder what O.J. Simpson is doing and  how long it has been since he last played golf. I read somewhere recently that O.J. is very bored in prison.

Submit :: 
A wife is supposed to "submit" to her husband. Submitting a proposal. I have a book called "The Surrendered Wife" that I need to read further.

Alcohol :: 
People who drink too much or drink their paycheck. Rubbing alcohol. Setting alcohol on fire for Steak Diane, Bananas Foster or a flambe.

Clippers :: 
Nail clippers. I have a pair of nail clippers that are missing. Buy quality nail clippers...because a cheap pair breaks easily. Hedge clippers. Extreme couponing. The barber. Edward Scissorhands and Sweeney Todd. Shearing sheep.

Hormonal :: 
Of course, all the stereotypical talk of womens' cycles. Hormones messed up when one has thyroid issues. Raging hormones. Growth hormones. Cattle that have been given growth hormones.

Diet :: 
So many strange diets. The Atkins diet. Something like 40% of cancers might be preventable by good health choices.

 This post is a work in progress. :-) Participants can "take all week if you want."
PARTICIPATE IN UNCONSCIOUS MUTTERINGS. :-)
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Speaking of convicts.....
PRISON AND JAIL RECIPES:
-----Beef Cakes with Spaghetti
-----Egg Pumpkin Pie. the egg is eggnog.
-----Chicken Cheddar Parmesan. Includes pancake mix.
-----Fried Vegetable Rice. White or yellow.
-----Rice Caribbean. I am not sure where to get Carolina rice, coconut cream paste or kipper snacks.
-----Jamaican Stew. Uses coconut cream paste.

Lifestyle changes can prevent 40% of cancers?

"Smoking was "far and away" the lifestyle factor most related to cancer, the study showed, contributing to 23 percent of cancers in men and nearly 16 percent in women. The rest of the factors differed between the genders."

-----A very expensive car crash!
-----"Dumpster-Diving Urban Robin Hood"

Rodarte for Opening Ceremony dress

Rodarte for Opening Ceremony dress (see more long day dresses)

I just really don't like this dress.

Becky Kelso ring

Becky Kelso ring (see more facets jewelry)

Conrad Murray Sentencing.....

Michael Jackson's former doctor was sentenced to the maximum term....though he will likely serve only half of it.



I hope that he uses some of this time to reflect on what actions could have been taken to help Mr. Jackson.
I also hope that this does not discourage him from trying to do something to bring good into the world.
I pray that, at some time in the future, he is a financial support to doctors that heal.
Maybe he will be able to encourage doctors to take greater precautions in what they do.

Up until this incident, it could be argued that Mr. Murray seemed to have good intentions (and certainly a very impressive resume).
________________________________________

Hugs to Michael Jackson's children, family and loved ones.

Looking at chocolate gifts on Sees.com:
~~~ Pretty reasonable prices. There are several items under $10. :-)
~~~ I have never tasted an egg nog truffle.

Thursday Thirteen.....

1. LETTUCE:

Licensed photo. Taken by Christa Richert

I like this photo as the lettuce looks like a rose. :-)

-----Another bagged lettuce recall.  I am tired of bagged lettuce recalls. This voluntary recall includes Trader Joe's and Safeway. E.coli.
-----Lettuce Link. A program to try to help break the cycle of poverty.
-----Potato Salad Sandwiches have lettuce in them. I will have to try this. Simple and seems like people really enjoy it.
-----Lettuce-Wrapped Plum Chicken
-----PETA wants to put an ad of a woman in a lettuce bikini on an incinerator.

2.

3. I got an e-nail concerning P90X2. The e-mail featured this photo. That looks DIFFICULT.

4. In My Life:
-----Requested the 2012 Burppee Catalog. They are mailed out in December.
-----Unsure if I want to see "Super 8." It sounds kind of boring.
-----Some people are finding my blog by searching for "norcrest porcelain rocking chair frog bank." I will have to look around in my posts and find out why that is.
-----The last visit, my doctor stated several times that my thyroid was pretty much dead. The blood test I just took said that it had improved slightly. I am hoping that my thyroid does not die out (making me very dependent on the medicine).
-----I haven't heard anything in a long time about "A Kind of Magic"...the film in which Sacha Barron Cohen (of Borat fame) was supposed to play Freddie Mercury. I did not think this would work well but reserve judgement. Apparently, Sacha Baron Cohen is a good singer. Could he be that good of a singer??

5.  From my life back in 2007:
-----Earlier this month a raccoon made the mistake of attacking and re-attacking the spunkiest cat in our neighborhood. The raccoon was much bigger but the cat won every single round. Both parties managed to survive. I kept thinking "Thunder, Thunder,Thunder Cat" when my husband came in & told me about seeing this. The raccoon was huge in comparison to the cat.
-----Today I was flipping through channels & saw this horribly acted horse movie. The young girl, who was riding a horse, said, "Steady, girl." I thought that she said "City Girl"...wouldn't that be a great name for a race horse?

6. Recipes:
-----Southwestern Bean Chowder. Thinking about this one for next month. It has a lot of ingredients and some people have commented that it is bland.
-----Apple Brandy Chicken.  Southern cooking. I would like to try this when we can work apple brandy into the budget. Suggestions for a good apple brandy?
-----Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken. One we haven't got around to trying yet.
-----Fresh Apple-Pecan Pound Cake. I like chopped pecans. :-)
-----Roasted Cornish Hen With Mushroom and Apple Brandy Sauce. This involves flambe and Husband is not at ease with us doing that.
-----Pork Chops With Apples and Applejack Cream.  I am not a fan of pork chops but we will try this at some point.

7. Apparently, chimps who throw feces are the more intelligent chimps.


8. "Cat in the Hat" Eco-Plush Toy

9. Learned something:
-----Gordon Ramsay will have a new reality show called "Hotel Hell."
-----I did not know that some places have laws prohibiting sexual offenders from going near public pools. California really took precautions this year at Halloween:
"So this year, as part of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's annual Operation Boo crackdown on sex offenders, homeless sex offender parolees in three of the four state parole regions were ordered to report to designated centers to remain there under supervision from 5 to 10 p.m. Halloween night."
-----A "sage gun" fires a plastic bat at the lower body. I read that one was used on someone who would not be compliant for a stun-gun!
-----Isaac Asimov died of AIDS-related complications.


10. DEAN KOONTZ'S NEW BOOK:

-----Stand-alone novella.
-----Available exclusively as an E-book. This will be a present-to-myself at some point (to read on Kindle for PC).
-----Described as low-priced. I did not look through all the retailers that carry it...but did find it for $2.99 on Amazon.
"It's the mesmerizing tale of Crispin, a twelve-year-old boy who lives wild in the city and has no friend but Harley, though Harley never speaks. Plagued by fearsome memories, Crispin moves in the shadows, through a metropolis both familiar and infinitely strange, evading an evil that also knows the city well and hungers for this special child." 

11.  REDEFINING VEGETABLES:
Congress says that tomato paste on pizza is a vegetable. a ridiculously small amount of tomato paste qualifies as a serving.
Recipes for healthier pizzas:
-----Nectarine and Prosciutto Pizza.  Bleu Cheese might be a little strong for some children.
-----Eggplant Parmesan Pizza. For the adults, this would pair well with a pale ale or amber ale.
-----Black Bean Nacho Pizza. Beer pairing for adults: India Pale Ale or a brown ale.
-----Arugula and Prosciutto Pizza. I have never had fontina cheese or arugula.
-----Mushroom-Prosciutto Pizza. Quick to make. Another that includes fontina cheese.
-----Pizza Bianca With Arugula, Bacon and Mushrooms 
-----Green Pizza. Broccoli and arugula. Spinach can be used for something milder. Uses pesto...I am a big fan of pesto.
-----Pizza With Caramelized Fennel, Onion and Olives. Includes 4 cups of chopped fennel bulb and kalamata olives.
-----Spinach and Sun-dried Tomato Stuffed Pizza. Good for dipping in marinara. Includes tofu (a no-no at our house as Husband is allergic to soy and I should avoid it).
-----BBQ Chicken Pizza. Includes tomato chutney. How to make your own tomato chutney is explained (it can apparently be a hard-to-find ingredient).
-----Quick Pizza Margherita
-----Turkey Pizza. I wish it looked more appetizing.
I will be finding pizza recipes that are considered healthy (for one reason or another) as a form of protest until this "vegetable" decision improves.
NUTRITION INFO FOR TOMATO PASTE (WITHOUT SALT ADDED)
NUTRITION INFO FOR TOMATO PASTE (WITH SALT ADDED)

12.  Might be on our menu soon:
Easy Slow Cooker Pork and Sauerkraut 

13. I would like to try the "Mincemeat Cream" chocolates that I found on Sees.com. There are two brick-and-mortar locations that I might be able to get to and try this at some point. :-)

".....a creamy center filled with pieces of citron, raisins, lemon peel, orange peel, glace fruit, brandy flavoring, spices and English walnuts. Covered in rich dark chocolate....."


This is a post-in-progress. :-) Hmmm. OK...I never did finish this one.

-----Boys shorter who were born as a result of fertility treatment

-----Chicken Breast Calvados. I need to find out if Newtown Pippin Apples  grow easily in our area.
-----Pork Tenderloin Calvados. I have never cooked with hazelnuts.
-----Baked Ham With Apples and Apple Brandy. Includes dry white wine. May include Pippin apples.
-----Camembert Normand

Thanksgiving-ish Recipes

-----Pumpkin Tiramisu
-----Baked Pumpkin Pudding. Makes use of the pumpkin seeds.
-----Mr. Food's suggestions on how to doctor up store-bought stuffing.
-----Cheddar and Jalapeno Stuffing
-----Turkey, Cranberry and Avocado Sandwiches

Adventures with Capers.....Capers With Capers :-)

 Next month we are trying some recipes using capers.

Things I have learned about capers:
~ They have a  lot of vitamins and minerals
~ Some people add even more salt when they make a dish containing capers (which are already high in salt).

I want to learn about capers:
~ Specifically, what vitamins and minerals do they have?

We are trying next month:
-----Tomatoes, cucumbers and capers with homemade Italian dressing. No lettuce. I am leery of bagged lettuce lately and don't feel like going through the trouble of fresh (we don't own a salad spinner).

-----Chef Meg's Simple Zucchini Caponata. We may actually make this tonight. :-) We will add capers, canned tuna, sweet onion, minced garlic, basil and red bell pepper. I am tentatively calling our version "Butterfly Caponata."
~ I noticed that this recipe calls for trimming the ends of the eggplant and zucchini. Who doesn't do that??

I would like to try:
Potato Salad With Tuna, Capers and Anchovy Vinaigrette.  I have never had anchovies where I could discernibly taste them. Husband does not like them but maybe I could persuade him sometime. What dishes do you like that have anchovies in them?

Thursday Thirteen.....

1. "Knit a Sweater, Save a Penguin." How to help he penguins who were victims of an oil leak in New Zealand.



2.




3. Free download of Kid Rock's album "Born Free." For those in the military and must have military e-mail.



4. The Total Body Support Pillow, This might be helpful for someone I know with fibromyalgia.



5. Money:
-----10 "great" deals that usually aren't.
-----Some restaurants want to (or now do) charge if you do not show up for a reservation. One restaurant actually charged the full prix-fixe of $165 per person!

6.
Huggies Camo Diapers



7. Various homemade Hamburger Helper ideas.
Chili Mac. Strogranoff. Potato Beef Casserole. Quick Lasagna.

8. "Diary of a Bipolar Breakdown"

9. "And the Doctor Said....." :-)

10. All-Dixie Deep South Potato Salad recipe

11. How was your Halloween?
Mine was drawn out...full of stops, starts and postponements. Missed both of our planned trips due to having colds and not wanting to weaken immune systems further..
---Staying home wasn't all bad...one day Husband wasn't there and I indulged in my very own guilty vice...macaroni and cheese from a box (Husband detests it). Made rice pudding. Listened to a lot of Mar Poppins music.
---Still had not gotten the pumpkin carved Halloween night. It was kind of nice having a pumpkin in such good condition to light on the nights after Halloween...we called it "Scary Pumpkin Time." When the pumpkin rotted, we had our annual "Pumpkin of Sorrows Toss" where we right everything that upset us on the pumpkin and then toss it from somewhere high.
---My brother came to visit when we weren't contagious anymore.
---Husband tried to bob for apples but the pan was too small. He was a good sport and posed for photos with the apple anyway. He choose a 2009 Berringer Cabernet Savignon as his prize.
---Among the things I missed was a Halloween masquerade to benefit The First Church of The Living Dead. Our friends, the Christian band "Dark Valentine," were performing. Husband went and took this awesome-do-not-copy photo of Simon.

12. German:
-----Neat German shooting range.
-----"The Gummy Bear Song." Long German version. "Three times you can bite me."



13. Copycat recipes:
-----Taco Bell seasoning. Wondra is carried at our local Walmart.
-----Cadbury Creme Eggs. I don't like the corn syrup though. I am finding that a lot of things might be possible substitutes for the corn syrup...including sugar syrup.
-----York Peppermint Patties

PARTICIPATE IN THURSDAY THIRTEEN. :-)

The Italian I learned today.....

Alla griglia e al forno.....grilled and baked
Contorni.....side dishes
Insalate e tramezzini.....salads and sandwiches

-----I wanted to try making stewed duck the other night but Husband says that this is oily. I will look around to see if there are recipes that are not.
Another thing I will not cook with...chicken or duck blood. I found an Asian recipe that calls for this. Eurasian Stewed Duck (Pato de Cabidela)

-----Carpaccio has been added to the list of things I will not eat ( should actually make a list). Carpaccio contains raw meat.
               ~~~ Have you ever tried carpaccio?
              ~~~ It does not look appetizing.
              ~~~I note that some restaurants neglect to mention that it is raw and expect you to know this. I hope  
                     that waiters/waitresses advise what carpaccio is.