AGeekyMom

The Spoken and the Unspoken

2008-05-27T18:59:00.002-04:00

An excellent depiction of Mark Twain's The War Prayer
(Sorry it's a bit larger than it should be, but well worth blocking my bio.)

Happy Mothers Day!

2008-05-11T08:22:00.001-04:00

Natalie Merchant - Wonder

Heart Smart Banana-Berry Bread

2008-04-22T10:35:00.002-04:00

Try this tasty recipe for a fresh-as-spring delicious quick bread!

* Exported from MasterCook *

Banana-berry Bread

Recipe By :Heart Smart Recipes
Serving Size : 16 Preparation Time :0:30
Categories : Breads Brunch
Desserts

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
Vegetable Cooking Spray
1 1/2 cups Flour
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder,Double-Acting
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 egg whites -- beaten
1/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup Sugar
3/4 cup strawberries, frozen -- about1 1/2cwhole
1/2 cup Bananas -- mashed
1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
1 1/2 teaspoons orange peel -- fresh grated

Spray a 9x5" loaf pan with veg. oil spray. Set aside. Preheat oven to
350F.
In a large bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and
nutmeg. In a medium bowl, combine egg whites, orange juice, sugar,
berries, banana, oil and orange peel. Add berry mixture to flour mixture,
stirring until just combined.
Pour mixture into prepared loaf pan. Bake in oven 60-70 minutes or until
a wooden toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool 10
minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack. When
completely cooled, wrap and store overnight. Makes one loaf per recipe,
16 servings per loaf.

Yield:
"1 loaf"
Start to Finish Time:
"1:45"
T(Baking Time):
"1:10"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 130 Calories; 4g Fat (24.5%
calories from fat); 2g Protein; 23g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 0mg
Cholesterol; 47mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1/2 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 1/2
Fruit; 1/2 Fat; 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.

Baby Bump?!? Pul-lease!

2008-03-13T21:39:00.001-04:00

Who thought up the term "Baby Bump"?!? May I slap them now?

Me, Myself and I

2008-03-01T07:19:00.005-05:00

Could someone please tell me when we changed the rules for the words myself, and yourself, and other reflexive pronouns, making them interchangeable with I, me and you? I started noticing this trend a few years ago, as in "How are you?" - "Fine, and yourself?" ARGH! I'm tempted to respond by saying "Myself is fine, too."
Today I found it in a blog: "myself and sixteen other bloggers released an e-book..." Do these people think that it sounds more sophisticated? If the sixteen other bloggers weren't involved, would the writer have written "Myself released an e-book?" (UPDATE: The author of the above-quoted blog wrote and thanked me for pointing out the error. She has since corrected it on her blog)
Grammar Girl has a great explanation of when and when not to use reflexive pronouns. It should be required reading!

End of Rant.

Playing with Clay

2008-02-23T10:20:00.003-05:00

Last year I broke out some polymer clay that I had bought over 10 years ago. I had been afraid that I would screw it up and I wasn't sure of what I wanted to do with it. I also didn't have a place to dedicate to crafting. So, it went unnoticed in a closet.
So, last April, as I was relocating our daughter to a new room, I found my clay. I decided that it was time to try it out. The wealth of information online was a big help to nudging me to unwrap my clay. I found many great sites that took me through the steps of creating clay objects, but the one that got me motivated was How to Cover an Altoid tin.
I needed a place where I could set up a table and be able to leave things out. I decided to locate me craft center in the basement, on an old desk where the kids computer used to be. Here is what has evolved:

It's not beautiful, or even luxurious, but it's all mine!
This is what I've been creating:

My Aunt Liz

2008-02-10T19:14:00.000-05:00

My Aunt Liz lives on a homestead outside of Rockglen, Saskatchewan. Aunt Liz writes a weekly email, keeping numerous relatives up-to-date on the births, deaths, weddings and birthdays of our widespread family. This week, after pondering the fact that, while others flee to warmer climes, she and my Uncle Cliff remain, braving the bitter cold, Liz compiled a list of why she loves the winter.
Here is her list:
After some thought, these are the reasons I've come up with for loving winter.
1. I love the sound snow makes when it crunches underfoot. You always know how cold it is by the sound of the crunching. When it's deep and chunky-sounding, the temperature is around minus 4 to 16. But when it squeaks and has a high-pitched "skreek, skreek" sound to it, the temperature is usually much below that. Between the sound of the snow and the noise made by your jacket sleeves rubbing on your jacket and the legs of your ski pants rubbing together, you can make your own kind of music -- kind of like a one-man band!

2. There is nothing so spiritually uplifting as the sight of a whole, untouched, pristine field of snow absolutely covered with diamonds glimmering in the sun against a deep blue sky. It takes your breath away. It can fill you with awe. The fields seem to go on forever and you feel as though you truly do own the world!

3. I love the feeling you get when you take a deep breath of cold, fresh air. It's bracing. It's shocking. It can even make you shake your head like a dog coming out of the water. It revives you immediately, and for some reason it makes you feel happy. When you breathe in that cold air, it's absolutely cleansing. All your troubles seem to evaporate. You just can't help but grin from ear to ear.

4. The unique blue of a winter sky is worth waking up for -- even when it's forty below.

5. There's a restfulness to the land in the winter -- a calmness. It's reflected in the soft greys, blues, pinks and mauves of the sky. The colours envelop you and make you feel like snuggling into a pile of warm blankets and pillows and nesting while you watch the incredible sunrises and sunsets.

6. If there were no winter, we wouldn't experience that special thrill that occurs when you suddenly feel the warmth from the sun again after a couple of months of its absence. There's a period of time when you can see the sun in the sky, but it just appears to be like an ornament above you and it has no effect on the land. With that first warm feeling comes a huge sigh. It's like realizing that "yes, the world will continue, the seasons will go on and spring will come again."

7. There is nothing like the inspiration you get from the beauty of sculptured snow. The waves, the incredibly sharp, carved, undulating edges, the curls and serpentines seem to be frozen in time and yet are changed on a whim by the actions of a fickle wind.

8. Hoar frost must be one of the seven wonders of the world. There's nothing quite so beautiful as seeing the whole world clothed in white. It takes all th "edges" off everything. The land -- hills, trees, everything -- becomes rounded and softened. Snow and frost take all the angularity off the hills and leave them "gentled".

9. There is something wonderful about the smell of woodsmoke in the air. It reminds you of family gathered around; of laughter, warmth and home. There's a kind of a juxtaposition between walking in the cold and thinking about the indoor warmth that awaits you. When you're driving, even the slightest scent of woodsmoke can call up those visions immediately. There's a comfort in it.

10. I have a fascination for the way sound travels over huge distances in the cold air. Far away sounds seem to be right beside you. Alternatively, there are times when there's no sound at all. The world is empty and silent. When fog or low cloud covers the bench, sounds swirl all around you. You can't tell where they come from because they're encased and muffled in cotton batting clouds.

11. I love the wooliness of animals in the winter. Horses, deer, cattle, rabbits, cats, dogs are all covered in coats that look thick, rich, and plump. The colours are deeper. You just want to hug them all. Even birds have thicker feathers, incredibly dark colours, wonderfully feathered feet. They just look cosy.

12. Winter covers all the sins of the world. Every yard, every piece of land, every corral and barn looks clean, neat and fresh. There are no comparisons to be made. Snow is the great equalizer.

13. I love the gentleness of the days and the quiet rhythm of winter. You can take time to think, drink coffee late in the mornings, try things you never have time for at other times of the year.

14. There is nothing like a bowl of homemade soup on a brisk day to hit the spot. It's sheer comfort food!

15. Curling up with a seed catalogue or a gardening magazine during a long winter day is wonderful. Everything seems possible. Every dream can become a reality.

16. A simple cup of coffee or afternoon tea with a homemade cookie is a winter treat not to be ignored. There's nothing that's as much fun as a little conversation and a warm 'cuppa' while the snow is blowing outdoors.

17. Opening all the windows and airing out the house in winter is a treat. Feeling that cool, brisk air and smelling it on all the furniture and bedding after the windows are closed is just wonderful. It's worth doing even if you're chilled for awhile.

18. There's a coziness to days spent indoors while you watch a storm raging outside. There's a bit of bravado connected with it as well, I think. "We're survivors! Look at that awful mess out there and we're still alive and comfortable." Maybe it's even a bit of hubris and we'd better be careful!

19. Crawling into bed on a cold winter's night and snuggling down under the duvet is a treat only people who live in a cold climate can appreciate. Of course, it's twice as difficult in the winter to get out from under it in the morning, but who cares? It's still dark out anyway. Who wants to be up?

20. Wearing bed socks to bed is a winter treat.

21. Watching the days lengthen and the angle of the sun changing from late November until early March is one of the most interesting (and time-consuming) parts of winter. Each day you can plot the hours of daylight and watch to see when the afternoon hours begin to change and when the morning hours are earlier. Which happens first? Why? It's a chance to see the scientific part of our world at work.

22. There's nothing as beautiful as snow when it's picture-postcard soft and falling in huge feathery flakes. There's nothing that's more fun than walking and running through powder snow when it flies up in your face and seems almost weightless. Watching the dogs run through that kind of snow, frapping with the pure joy of running every which way is just the best.

23. There is nothing that's more fun than making snow angels on soft days, and snowmen on sticky days. Snow provides its own fun. It's great to toboggan on, ski in, snowboard over or just hike through. It's best, though, when you catch the fresh falling snowflakes on your tongue. Mmmm.

24. It's a feeling of sheer power and joy when you're the person who's the first one to make footprints on a field of new snow. Walking through the yard and looking back to see where you've been and looking forward to an open space in which the possibilities are endless is like nothing else in the world. Connected to that is the fun of seeing who else is inhabiting your world after a snowfall. The tracks of mice, birds, rabbits, deer and coyotes tell entire stories if you look carefully enough. You can tell when the rabbits have had a party -- especially when the moon is full. In fact, in winter all wildllife is more visible. It's a great time for watching deer, winter birds and examining all the habits that change with the weather and the seasons.

25. There is a kind of macho feeling and a challenge to doing anything in the winter -- travelling especially. Where else would one experience the thumping of square tires, the blinding fog in your vehicle when the snow is sucked into your defoggers, or the fun of trying to find the best tool to remove the frost from your car windows. The problems and questions that are raised are enormous with many possible repercussions. Is a credit card better to use than a bookmark? Which is stronger? Will they accept your credit card when it's been cracked? How do you glue your social insurance card back together? And of course there's that timeless question every person who lives in a winter wonderland has to ask at some time or another: "Should I or shouldn't I put my tongue on that metal pipe?"

26. There is something wonderful about seeing Christmas lights through the winter frost. What a welcoming sight when you drive out of the darkness into that soft, light in your own yard knowing that someone you care about thought enough to put those lights there and to turn them on knowing you were coming home.

27. Add to all of these the fun of walking free of any jackets or heavy clothes inside the school, with a friend to talk to, while the weather outside is "frightening"; and barbecuing on the patio when you have to run in and out as quick as you can to keep from freezing; and eating rink burgers -- at least once a winter -- complete with french fries dripping with ketchup, vinegar and salt and a cup of hot chocolate and you have most of the reasons why I couldn't live without winter in my life.

Aunt Liz is a former teacher and principal in the Rockglen School District. She still remains active in town festivities and functions, as well as being beloved Nana to two grandchildren, wise mother to two grown children and an all-round amazing woman!

Has it come to this?

2008-02-04T09:15:00.000-05:00

Obesity Action Coalition Calls on the State of Mississippi House of Representatives to Withdraw House Bill 282 Discriminating Against Those Affected by Obesity
I can't even imagine how they propose to enforce this farcical bill. Do they plan to stand at the doors of restaurants and make patrons stand on a scale before they enter?! Will those judged obese be required to order from the "salad menu?"
Although it has a snowball's chance in hell of passing, the premise is really creepy to me. What's next? Policing pregnant women to make sure they don't have a cup of coffee?!
Call me crazy but, I thought Republicans favored less government intervention, not more. I guess that only applies to business, not individuals.

Wee Forest Folk Collection FOR SALE

2008-01-07T13:31:00.000-05:00

Let me know if you are interested in buying anything.

Happy New Year!!!

2008-01-01T11:54:00.000-05:00

Welcome to 2008! It was a quiet night here last night, just Bill, Nick & me, watching CNN's coverage of Times Square.
We woke up this morning to a silent, white world. 10 inches of snow fell overnight, leaving everything clean and beautiful.

Lola's Holiday Greeting

2007-12-22T11:39:00.000-05:00

Lola demonstrates the special modification downloaded from PleoWorld.com She looks especially festive in front of the Christmas tree!

2007-12-21T14:59:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays!

An Idiot Bakes a Cake

2007-12-14T10:55:00.000-05:00

I should have known! If an idiot can do it, I'll screw it up!
I found this recipe for Chocolate Idiot Cake from David Lebovitz and thought I would try it before possibly serving it for Christmas dinner. I even ordered the glass-bottom springform pan! I tested the pan's watertightness beforehand and found that it wasn't, so I wrapped it in foil, as directed (except the foil wasn't wide enough, so I used several sheets.)
Well.. as the picture shows, I'm an idiot!
The foil wasn't watertight and I forgot to cover the pan before baking... ARGH! Although it was ugly and slightly overdone, it was very tasty and I will try again!

Lola Video Console

2007-12-11T09:17:00.000-05:00

I've created a video console to organize video of Lola.

Pleo Joins the Family

2007-12-05T17:47:00.000-05:00

Pleo arrived today! It is the cutest thing! I had thought of naming it Lola, but I keep calling it Pleo... It took about 3 hours to charge the battery and then the fun began! Below is a short clip of Pleo meeting our cat, Beezus. UPDATE: I've decided - Lola is her name.

OK, this amazes me!

2007-11-15T22:07:00.001-05:00

Apparently, sugar is more addictive than cocaine.. read on to see what I mean.

The Wanderers

2007-10-28T10:29:00.001-04:00

Well, it's been almost 2 months since we said goodbye to the Fox and Hounds. Bill and I torment each other every time we pass by the darkened building by saying "Wanna stop in to the Fox for a nightcap?" The answer is, of course, always "Yes!"
The Tower Table Gang is still orphaned, searching for a place to land. We have checked out a few places, such as:
Northern Lakes - Location is good. Drinks are slightly pricier in some cases. Cigars are welcome. Bar is a bit bright. They do have a few high-tops in the corner that could accomodate a larger group. It can get a bit "fishy" in there. Staff is competent.
Charlie's Crab - Bar is not really conducive to a large group. Drink prices are comparable to the Fox, but their liqour selection is lacking. The staff can't compare at all to the Fox. Cigars are welcome.
Forte - With a gaggle of former Fox and Hounds staff, this is quickly becoming Bill's and my favorite lunch place. Needless to say, the staff is what we expect - Great! Evenings are a bit trickier with rush hour traffic. Cigars are welcome. Free 2-hour parking in the structure behind the theater. Has a couple of areas that could accomodate a group.
Morton's - Costs are slightly higher than the Fox. Cigars are welcome. Staff is good. It's possible to fit a larger group, though probably not the whole gang.
Maggiano's - We had a "field trip" here on Friday night. We were able to fit 9 people comfortably and could take over more tables to fit more. The drink prices were reasonable. The staff was competent. Not sure about cigars here.
Heroes - Jeff, Julie, Bill and I checked this place out a month, or so, ago. Certainly not fancy. Drink prices are very reasonable. There are a couple of spots in the bar area that could accomodate our group. The staff, if not always professional, is friendly.

In With the New

2007-10-14T12:41:00.000-04:00

I am in the process of setting up my own website.
I am still in the planning stages. I've had the domain for a while now, but haven't made it public.
I am hoping to migrate my blog over there, when I can figure out how to do that!

The Good Old Family Road Trip

2007-10-11T09:48:00.000-04:00

The long version of my response to this post, entitled How To Survive That Road Trip.

Loved the article! It takes me back to the annual road trips from Michigan to visit my grandparents in Rockglen, Saskatchewan from the mid-60's to the mid-70's. My mother would bravely drive me and my 3 brothers, 1500 miles, alone, before there were interstates routes and DVD's. The scenery was the entertainment and, at the tender age of six or seven, the trip seemed interminable.
Now, almost 40 years later, when I return to Saskatchewan, I find the scenery to be some of the most beautiful I've seen. (I know, I know. It's the prairie, quite desert-like, really.) I believe that those early road trips are a huge factor in how I see things now.
Having made this road trip with my own children with electronic gadgets, in-car video(a TV-VCR combo, strapped to the back of the van driver's seat, atop a cooler), books and toys, I feel that they just didn't get as much out of the trip as I did. Sad!
They missed out on sleeping two to a sleeping bag (Dangerous! Don't try this at home!), in the back of station wagon. They missed out on off-the-beaten path diners and motels, now near extinction from chain restaurants, fast food and hotel chains. We traveled in times of few "rest areas" and made do with pit stops along the side of the highway, along with infrequent gas station stops.
Back then, my parents didn't have a credit card, just a Shell/Conoco gas card. All gas stops had to be at Shell/Conoco stations. Because of this restriction, we became quite adept at the roadside pit stops. My children have no such talent. Pity!

YouTube gems

2007-07-24T09:11:00.000-04:00

Lately I've been downloading more and more YouTube music videos to upload to my iPod and iPhone. I found a great little program that makes it quite effortless. Unfortunately, when I went to look for the link, I found that the program (iTube) doesn't seem to be available anymore. Sorry! (Updated below)

Anyway, I thought I'd post a few videos that I've recently added. Here's one:

This is from Israel Kamakawiwo Ole.
Update: 10/11/07
iTube has been renamed. You can download Ares Tube here

I Call Her "Beeba"

2007-04-01T08:11:00.000-04:00

My first born. My wise one. She is twenty-one now, an adult, living in an apartment at school. This will be the first summer since she went away to college that she won't be here.

It all hit home when, a few days ago, I found the fortitude to clean up her bedroom, something I've been asking her to do for the past two years. It is not an easy job, and, three days later, I'm still working on it. I have found $53 in bills and coins strewn around the floor. I filled a garbage bag with empty Coke and root beer cans. Apparently, my daughter thought that underwear was disposable, as evidenced by the 15 pair that I found shoved in her closet (yes, I threw them out!) I've found Japanese condoms, incense, a book on Great Sex (yikes!) and her "Chicky Baby" Puffalump (a la Pee Wee's Playhouse) along with elementary school class photos and snaps of friends at Prom.

As I boxed up her treasures, I was struck by the mix of personalities that lived in that room over the past 18 years since we moved to this house. A little girl with her stuffed animals, a lover of dolphins and horses, a magician with her box of tricks, a world-traveler with her Japanese souvenirs, a brilliant writer with her spiral notebooks filled with stories, a young woman with her emerging sexuality, all rolled into my Beeba.

The photo above really sums up how far she's come. A Teddy Bear Bank, given as a baby shower gift, (created by a friend I no longer know,) sitting next to her sushi dishes, boxes of books and DVD's. All of these things give a glimpse of the complex, beautiful young woman she's become. My beloved Beeba.

Milt's Mini Bottles

2007-03-16T13:52:00.000-04:00

My late father-in-law, Milt, collected mini bottles for over 30 years. He kept them next to the bar in his office building, in a specially designed case. When DeliBoy and his siblings sold the building recently, I volunteered to catalog and sell the mini bottles.. over 500 of them!
Here's just a sample..

MiniBottles

Brrrr!!! No School Today!

2007-02-05T07:51:00.000-05:00

Nick is so happy! Even if he did wake up, take a shower, get dressed and arrive at school to an empty parking lot. He's happy as a clam, now, back in bed, playing Wizards of Warcraft, or whatever it's called.
I checked the school website when Bill and Nick got home. Yep, there on the front page was the statement "School is closed for all of BH School District today January 5th." Very reassuring that they couldn't get the date right! I checked the local TV station website and found that there were 388 schools or districts closed today. Don't want those little munchkins freezing their fingers and noses off at the bus stop!
The weather widget on my computer is reading -6 degrees and it's not going to get much warmer. It's not fit for man or beast outside today. We even have a mouse somewhere in the family room. With four cats, that's one brave mouse!

The Vanity Press: As Low As It Gets

2007-01-31T09:34:00.000-05:00

The Vanity Press: As Low As It Gets

Technorati tags: military, video

I'm somewhat speechless about this video. I worry for the soldiers who were brave enough to speak out about these high pressure tactics to get troops to re-enlist.

Add this to the stories about extending the tours of National Guard soldiers and it's a wonder they can get anyone to enlist in the first place. Can it really be that some units learned of the Pentagon's changes to deployment policies via relatives or web sites, instead of their commanding officers?

We must demand total transparency and honesty in recruitment practices to ensure that the brave men and women who do enlist go into their contract with their eyes wide open.

'Help' Lara Logan

2007-01-25T21:43:00.000-05:00

This is a link (sorry, it's convoluted to get to the video, but persevere! It's worth it! Yes, you have to watch the commercial first!) to a video from CBS' web site. The reporter, Lara Logan, has put out a plea for help to let this report be shown.
from: Lara Logan
subject: help

The story below only appeared on our CBS website and was not aired on CBS. It is a story that is largely being ignored, even though this istakingplace verysingle day in central Baghdad, two blocks from where our office is located.

Our crew had to be pulled out because we got a call saying they were about to be killed, and on their way out, a civilian man was shot dead in front of them as they ran.

I would be very grateful if any of you have a chance to watch this story and pass the link on to as many people you know as possible. It should be seen. And people should know about this.

If anyone has time to send a comment to CBS – about the story – not about my request, then that would help highlight that people are interested and this is not too gruesome to air, but rather too important to ignore.

Many, many thanks.

Please, if you feel as I do, let your friends know about this report. Contact CBS to let them know that they should air this report. It is time that we stop disinfecting the news that comes out of Iraq, if, for nothing more than, to let the supporters of the war know the real situation over there.

I support our troops. I don't support this "war."

Want to see more of Lara Logan? Watch this video.

Blog for Choice

2007-01-22T11:06:00.001-05:00

Why do I choose to participate in this Day? I wish to educate über-conservatives such as an acquaintance who wrote this to DeliBoy in an email regarding illegal immigrants:

Bill you mean like abortions? Liberals support over 3500 a day in the USA. At that rate how long before we could get rid of all the Mexicans?

Repugnant, I know. Since I was cc'd on this email, I responded:

Where did this come from? The misguided belief that Liberals encourage abortions? I don't know anyone who is in favor of someone having an abortion (although you would admit that it would be cheaper than supporting a welfare mother - which conservatives are obviously against). What Liberals support is the personal choice of what medical procedures will and won't be performed on our bodies (don't forget Terri Schiavo). Period.
Conservatives seem to subscribe to the belief that government should not intervene into "Business", that a free market will take care of itself. And yet, they find no problem with involving themselves in our personal lives.. how do you reconcile that?

He never responded. Coward! I believe that I know what is best for me, thank you very much!

Wired 15.01: It's Alive!

2007-01-17T09:02:00.000-05:00

Wired 15.01: It's Alive!
If you haven't seen this cute little guy yet, it's worth taking a look! I never thought I'd want a robot (unless it could clean my house, do my laundry and cook dinner) but I definitely want one of these!

Technorati tags: robot

Yummy!

2007-01-15T07:31:00.000-05:00

Want to tell someone they're special? How 'bout saying it on an M&M? Masterfoods, parent company of M&M's has a cool new option -- personalized M&M's! Okay, they're not cheap ($11.95 for a 7oz bag, with a minimum order of 4 bags required) but I couldn't resist buying some for my son's upcoming 18th birthday. You get two different colors and 2 lines of print, 8 characters per line. No profanity or corporate names, but you can get creative with them!

The Peace We Seek

2007-01-07T16:36:00.000-05:00

It still holds true...

"What kind of peace do I mean? What kind of peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war. Not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and to build a better life for their children - not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women - not merely peace in our time but peace for all time."

-- President John F. Kennedy at American University 10 June 1963

Why not?

2007-01-06T08:15:00.000-05:00

My husband, Bill (aka DeliBoy) has begun publishing his own blog called What the hell, why not. Everyone else has one. I believe that it will be political in nature, but I'm not sure yet. I'll have to wait for the 2nd post to see where it goes!
Good Luck DeliBoy!

Birthday in Las Vegas

2007-01-05T09:31:00.000-05:00

My daughter, Danni, turned 21 on December 26th! She and I went to Sin City to celebrate. We took a helicopter ride over the Strip at night to see the lights, went to see The Phantom at the Venetian and gambled.. alot! Danni won over $200 playing penny slots. We had a great time!

Help for the Masses

2007-01-03T09:10:00.001-05:00

The Kim Komando web site is a wealth of information for the non-geek. I still go there to find software recommendations such as the WinStatDir program which will show you graphically what you have on your computer.

She also sends out a weekly newsletter to keep you up to date.

Christmas Party at the Ritter's

2006-12-31T10:38:00.001-05:00

Gift exchange at the Fox & Hounds

2006-12-31T10:26:00.000-05:00

The Sunday golf gang got together to exchange Christmas presents at the Fox & Hounds. Check out the slideshow!

In case I forget...

2006-12-16T11:20:00.001-05:00

For the Friend Who Has Everything!

2006-12-07T07:35:00.001-05:00

Trying to figure out what to get Uncle Harry? How 'bout a few rolls of personalized TP?

A Spooky Good Time at the Fox & Hounds

2006-11-01T09:48:00.000-05:00

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Customer Service - Above & Beyond!

2006-10-20T09:07:00.000-04:00

Ask anyone who knows me, I love gadgets and I love to shop. I do a lot of my shopping online, and have done so for years. I have had my share of disappointments, but, for the most part, I have made out alright.
This morning, while reading through the Popgadget blog, I ran across a product called Voltage iGlow, a self-illuminating hair gel. Since Halloween is just around the corner, I ordered three of the four colors of hair gel available. I also requested the most expensive shipping option, 1-2 day express.
Imagine my surprise when, not more than a 1/2 hour later, I got a phone call from Carlton (I think!) asking me if I wanted to take advantage of their special limited-time offer of "Buy 3, get the 4th free"! Not only that, but he also asked when I needed my order. I told him that I wanted it for a Halloween party next weekend. He suggested that he would ship it out first-class, saving me oodles of cash, and I would have it by the middle of next week! WOW! I can't ever remember such great customer service! If you have ANY need for glowing hair gel, please, visit Voltage iGlow and tell them Lisa sent you!

Our TV Debut

2006-10-15T15:11:00.000-04:00

HGTV came and filmed a short segment about a couch that we own. Here's the video clip:

Another Good One!

2006-10-06T09:45:00.000-04:00

Replay video | Share video | Watch more videos

Love the Daily Show!

2006-10-06T08:46:00.001-04:00

"First Try"

2006-08-23T16:00:00.000-04:00

If you haven't had a chance to view this gentleman's video blog, I encourage you to take a look! Note: The volume is a bit loud on occasion. Headphone users, beware!

Rev it up!

2006-08-15T21:08:00.000-04:00

This week is Dream Cruise Week (unofficially) in the metro Detroit area. Saturday should bring about 40,000 custom and classic cars, along with over a million spectators. The Woodward Dream Cruise is largest single day car cruise in the world. It originated as a fundraiser for a kids' soccer team. According to the official Woodward Dream Cruise website,

The Woodward Dream Cruise celebrates the heydays of the ‘50s and ‘60s when Woodward Avenue was the heart and soul of cruising in the city that put America on wheels. Combined with music and fashions of the era, the Dream Cruise celebrates the nostalgia of bygone days in the cars that made them so special. The Woodward Dream Cruise is sponsored by a volunteer committee that coordinates the efforts of the nine host cities, the County of Oakland, media organizations, transportation authorities, corporations, small businesses and charities.

Woodward Avenue from Ferndale to Pontiac is lined on both sides with magnificent classic and custom automobiles. It's a 16-mile long car show that is educational, historic and fun for all ages. There is no charge to attend the Woodward Dream Cruise. The Woodward Dream Cruise is the world's largest one-day celebration of car culture that attracts over 1.7 million visitors, and more than 40,000 muscle cars, street rods, custom, collector and special interest vehicles.

Ok, so that's the official description. I have lived along the route since the Cruise's inception, and except for the first year when I was out of town (but listened to the radio coverage), I have attended them all. I love to watch the cars rumble by, many still in need of a paint job, others polished to unbelievable shine, all much-beloved by their owners. People of all ages and backgrounds gather to admire the vehicles and swap stories. There is a pride that is palpable. We are The Motor City!

In 2004, I was no longer content to sit on the sidelines. I bought a purple, customized 1956 Bel Air Sedan Delivery on EBay and had it shipped from California. Firends and family thought I was a little nuts, afterall, why would a 42 year-old woman buy such a car?!
I look at these old cars and see the voluptous beauty and ageless grace, much like an older woman

Vegas Baby!

2006-04-27T15:27:00.000-04:00

OMG! The place is addictive! I've got reservations on hold for a trip in June with both kids this time. We're going to give the Hyatt a try. We had lunch there on our previous visit and when we saw the pool and beach there, we knew we wanted to come back for a stay.

Better than writing on the wall!

2006-04-27T09:58:00.000-04:00

Many years ago we hosted a party after a friend's wedding reception. Our house was under construction, and the walls had yet to be papered in the entrance hall. I had the "genius" idea of handing out crayons to the guests. Some of the "art" they created would have been better suited to a bachelor pad, as opposed to a famliy home. We lived with the art for about 6 months before we papered over it. I would always cringe when my mom would stop by and stand in the front doorway, under the triptych of breasts.
This Genius Table would be ideal for those wild parties - if we still had them! Arash and Kelly +++ Genius Table +++

PEACE TAKES COURAGE

2006-04-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

When I was 15 years old, I spent my days thinking about boys and parties, typical teen-aged things. I was not worrying about global strife and warfare. Times have changed for current teenagers. Here is a website created by a 15 year-old girl, wise beyond her years. Check it out. PEACE TAKES COURAGE

Lake Las Vegas, here we come!

2006-04-13T07:04:00.000-04:00

Sunday my husband, son and I are flying to Las Vegas for 4 glorious nights at the Ritz-Carlton at Lake Las Vegas. Lake Las Vegas is about 30 minutes drive from the strip and is home to the Ritz and Hyatt resorts, along with the MonteLago resort. MonteLago is a nice little shopping and dining "village" with a casino and resort accommodations.
I visited the village in January and knew that I had to go back as a guest.
We had conisdered staying somewhere on the Strip, but the idea of leaving a 17 year-old to his own devices while we gambled was not an appealing thought. MonteLago will allow him to have some freedom without the ability to get into too much trouble, I hope!

Quick Meal

2006-01-25T18:27:00.000-05:00

An entry in 43 Things entitled Learn how to prepare 10 excellent meals brought to mind a favorite menu that I found in a Pillsbury booklet. The menu consisted of broiled lamb chops, steamed asparagus, Zesty onion couscous and with Amaretto Strawberries with almond slivers for dessert.
Here is the recipe for Zesty onion couscous:
Serves 4
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup uncooked couscous
2 tablespoons diced green onion
2 tablespoons diced carrots
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth (you can use any kind, really)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

In a 1 quart saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, melt the butter. Saute the onions and carrots over medium heat for about 5 minutes, add cayenne pepper. Add broth and bring to a boil. Add couscous, cover and remove from heat. Let stand, covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve.

The Amaretto Strawberries were equally easy:
1 quart strawberries, washed, hulled and quartered, if large
1 small container vanilla yogurt
1 tablespoon Amaretto
slivered almonds for ganish (maybe a 1/4 cup)
Mix yogurt and Amaretto and set aside. Spoon strawberries into individual bowls. Top with yogurt mixture and garnish with almonds.

One Answer to Too Much Tech: Sorry, I'm Not Here

2006-01-17T11:05:00.000-05:00

One Answer to Too Much Tech: Sorry, I'm Not Here
This article speaks to me! Currently, I own a cell phone with camera/video (which I never use), email and web browsing capabilities (which I very rarely use.) I probably make about 20 calls a month. I also own a Blackberry, which is stuck in a drawer someplace, which I bought to replace a dead Palm Pilot. I used my Palm daily, but I never got used to the Blackberry. We went for about a year without an answering machine. It drove our families nuts, but we loved it.

Crazy Shirt Folding - Google Video

2006-01-16T18:06:00.000-05:00

Crazy Shirt Folding - Google Video
This is really very easy! I will never fold my short-sleeved shirts any other way again!

David Lebovitz Archives: January 2006 Archives

2006-01-16T12:58:00.000-05:00

David Lebovitz Archives: January 2006 Archives
Here's a recipe for Cocoa Nib and Spiced Lamb Sausage Pizza. It sounds very different and I'm tempted to try this out on someone unsuspecting. I think if I told people what was in the pizza, they wouldn't give it a fair shake...

Let the projects begin!

2006-01-15T20:23:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was my last day of work at the restaurant. My free time is seemingly indefinite. I've been working at various jobs for the past ten years after staying home with my kids for ten years. People think I will get bored, I know I won't. My house has been sadly neglected during my tenure and I am looking forward to getting it back to the source of pride that it once was. We're having a superbowl party, so I've got my work cut out for me. Nothing better than having a party to get things done around here! I can't wait!

Murphy Laws Site - The origin and laws of Murphy in one place.

2006-01-13T09:21:00.000-05:00

Murphy Laws Site - The origin and laws of Murphy in one place.
A Murphy's Law for every occasion!

The Million Dollar Homepage - Own a piece of internet history!

2006-01-11T09:58:00.000-05:00

The Million Dollar Homepage - Own a piece of internet history!

I wish I'd thought of this!

Fuzzmail

2006-01-10T11:05:00.000-05:00

Fuzzmail
I'm not quite sure why one would want to use this email site, but it was kind of fun testing it out! I sent myself an email. I had to click on a link in the email and then I could "watch" the email being typed (hesitations, deletes, etc.).

Starbucks Economics - Solving the mystery of the elusive "short" cappuccino. By Tim Harford

2006-01-09T08:45:00.000-05:00

Starbucks Economics - Solving the mystery of the elusive "short" cappuccino. By Tim Harford
I'm going to try this today when I go to work. I rarely buy Starbuck's, but I want to see their reaction to my order. I wonder how many others have tried this since this article came out.

Cool Hunting: Essence: Vitamin Enriched Underwear from Aussiebum

2006-01-08T16:08:00.000-05:00

Cool Hunting: Essence: Vitamin Enriched Underwear from Aussiebum
Crack me up! What will they think of next? I love the company name!

Finding something black

2006-01-04T08:54:00.000-05:00

Another work day, another mad search for black clothes to wear. If I were an organized geeky-mom, I'd have all of my blazers and pants in one area of my closet. Instead, I have to search through various piles to find something.
I'm not sure how much longer I'll last in this job.. Two of my managers are complete idiots.. and it doesn't help that they are about 20 years younger than I am.

A Blog begins

2005-12-29T19:40:00.000-05:00

I guess, as the inaugural blog posting, I should give a bit of information about myself. I am married, I have 2 kids -- a teenaged son and a daughter who just turned 20 after Christmas. I have lived in Michigan most of my life, with brief stints in Luxembourg and Germany in high school and college.
I currently work as a hostess at a restaurant in an upscale mall and this time of year is HELL! I'd like to know why, the more financially successful some people get, the snottier they become?