Mr. President

Food - More goodies from Valli Produce in Rockford, IL.

Food - the one thing that is certain, even in this economically bleak time is: FOOD. A downturn in the economy is the cause of people assessing and ultimately requiring them to change their budgets. What once was a necessity (or it least it felt like one,) has now become a luxury that one can no longer afford. This is true with food as well.

Eating out, becomes sparse, if at all, and the venue may change all together. Our grocery list may go from; indulgences to basics. But when push comes to shove; we all still need to eat! "Milk it does the body good; food fuels our bodies, and nourishes our souls." Our deep love for food does not stop even when our pocket books shrink. We become selective in our indulgences. We become creative in the dishes we prepare. We may be on a budget, but we still have a repertoire of recipes that we have collected over the years to draw from. Now maybe the time to actually stop collecting and start cooking.

To paraphrase from a recent article in the Star Tribune reads: "There is too much inherent suffering during a recession to ever welcome it." They also highlight something good that can come from it: "During touch economic times, people seem to increase exercise, take fewer car trips, reduce smoking and cook healthier foods as home - choosing to control the remaining things in their lives they are capable of controlling."

Dish - Mr. President: "It's time for America to lead again!

A few observations, that I noted, from tonight's address to Congress:
As the President, Barack Obama, was being announced tonight, it was so much fun to see the excitement displayed on all of the members present! In these hard economic times, it is nice to see that many people in one room smiling and cheering loudly! It doesn't matter who you voted for President anymore, this is our new President and he is bringing a sense of hope to those in need.
He talked of stricht oversight, having America lead again and that all eyes are upon us! He spoke of hope: "Hope is found in the most unusual places."
He stated something to the effect that those making under 250,000 would not see a tax increase...and who can't use that? The thing I find ironic in that statement is that the majority of people in the room (Clinton comes to mind) probably have incomes in excess of 250,000 -- what are they cheering for?

All in all, I think he did a wonderful job! And while it is early for everyone to start judging the job he has done so far (at least I think it is too early), so far he is trying his best to lead us out of the disarray we are in.

"OBAMA promises oversight!"


"Day of Reckoning has arrived!"
"We will recover!

Embellish - Hope is having faith when doubt would be easier!

Plastic Surgery is on the rise!?

Food - Luscious Lemon Cake from Valli Produce in Rockford, IL.

Dish - Plastic surgery is on the rise!? Studies show the better looking you are the more successful you are. Which usually equates to having me money, and well, more of everything. The more successful and better looking you are, also starts people lining up to be your friend.

Don't believe me, take a "look" in the friend dept. Take yourself for example; when was the last time you spotted an unattractive person and said "now they should be my friend!" Didn't think so.

Actor and rapper Mos Def's had this to say:"When I saw [Obama] on the cover of Men's Vogue, I said, 'This guy's gonna win because he looks good,’" the rapper recently told Rolling Stone. "America's too vain, and [Obama] appeals to America's sense of vanity. People also want a rock-star quality to the president, which he has."

Gordon Patzer, author of the book: "LOOKS: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined", offers this: “Physically attractive people are perceived to be more likable, more intelligent, more trustworthy, and more of an expert in their field,” says Patzers.

And while beauty is in the eye of the beholder, there are objective determinants on which physical attractiveness can be judged; height, hair and weight. America has not elected a president who is under the national height average of 5 feet 9 inches, since Benjamin Harrison in 1888, and has not elected a bald president since Dwight Eisenhower in 1953. So far so good for Obama. He is 6 feet 1½ inches, has a full head of hair, and he loves playing basketball. Physical attractiveness can also be a boon in the business world. “People who are tall are literally looked up to, and more likely to be influential,” says Patzers, who adds that the average CEO is 6 feet tall. Meanwhile, a recent University of Pittsburgh survey reports that their tallest student’s average starting salary was 12% higher than that of their shorter colleagues.

And we wonder why plastic surgery is on the rise? Is it any wonder?

Embellish - Yes, I can!

"It" happens when you least expect it!

Food - Here's looking at you kid! Yummy, so full of frosting. This is another scrumptious treat from Valli Produce in Rockford, IL.

Dish - LOVE - Why does it happen to you when you least expect it? Does the mere act of looking for it, drive it away? Have you heard the poem: "

Love is like a butterfly, the more you chase it,

the more it will elude you, but if you ignore it,

it will softly come and sit on your shoulder.

Proving the theory that: "You'll find love when you least expect it."

And this theory applies to many things in life; not just love. Some things happen when you least expect it? It does? Yes, they do.

About a month or so ago, I was painting the interior of our home. We have a 2 story house, which means we also have a very high stair case - lucky me! Reach for the stars...well almost, I was reaching for the celling. It wasn't a glass ceiling, but I felt a lot like Hilary Clinton Jr., all the same. While Hilary was making history being the 'first" women to run for President Of The United States I was making history too (it's in the genes). I was the "first" female in our home to paint that high stair case of our home. Somehow, I don't think my "first" will make any history books though.

With the high stair case done, I move on to the rest of the Mona Lisa work that needs a fresh face. I had climbed the tall, tall, ladder many times recently. Up, down, up, done - nothing bad happened (and I even have a black cat.) I had to "jiggey-rig" a scaffolding system to reach parts of this HIGH stair case because I wasn't able to reach. This was not the safest thing to do, I admit, but I somehow felt safe with my McGuyvor skills - nothing bad happened.

So, I was taken by surprise when I was painting the bathroom that required only a normal size ladder and not much height was involved. "Just when I didn't expect it" it happened! I went to get down off the ladder "and missed a rung - I was straight tripping boo - I went flailing down to the ground hitting my head, face, and arm on the wall and then stopping myself from fully diving face first into the toilet by hitting my arm on the back of the toilet breaking the lid - ouch!

If they could see me now! Face full of paint from sliding down the "wet" wall; unable to move my arm because it hurt so bad I was sure I it was broken. I laughed, it was comical....I had to laugh or I would have cried.

Proving once again, "It happens when you least expect it!"

Embellish - Begin each day with thoughts that bring out the best in you.

Life, Dessert, Laughter and Music -- What they can do for you?

Food - You can call me late for dinner, but you can never call me late for dessert! Pictured at the left is a piece of decedent chocolate fudge cake that I purchased at Valli Produce in Rockford, IL.





Dish - We have spent the vast majority of 2008, and most of our life for that matter, searching for answers to many of the events that life happens to throw our way. When the events are of a happy nature, not much searching is required, we simply accept that it is supposed to be; either because we believe we are deserving of, or we have the firm belief that life is meant to be made up of good things.

Contrarily when bad things happen, these events are what shatter our belief that life is made up of "all things good, fair, and deserving." They leave us grasping, sometimes, begging, for answers that can somehow explain why certain things happen to us, or to those around us. These questions are the questions that we would rather not have had thrust upon us; nudging us to search for an answer that somehow makes sense out of a seemingly senseless event.

Not all of us have the same events thrust upon us that need answered, but collectively, we have had many similar ones. But when these senseless events happen to us, we sometimes feel lost and all alone in our search. As if feeling lost and alone isn't bad enough we have "well meaning people" give us explanations such as: everything happens for a reason, God knew you could handle it (what, that means you are too weak? - I'll take being weak then), time heals all wounds, it was his or her turn to die, something good will come from this, it is better to have loved and lost then to have never loved before, it was never meant to be, when one door closes another will open...and the menagerie of one liners can continue for as far as the day is long.

Part of life's events happening is the shock that it has happend to us, as if we are immune to them. We would all like to think that life's bad experiences will skip us; and maybe some of us are fortunate enough to say that they have, but I am not immune. For I have suffered the loss of a loved one when I was young, I have endured the pain of a broken heart that I thought was never going to mend, and I too, have felt the disappointment of unfulfilled dreams. And while all of these were earth shattering events, that no amount of answers could ease the pain of, the search for the answer has led me to who I am today.

Truth be told, most of the answers to life's questions can be found in all genres of music, poetry, quotes, and books written by people who have walked before us, behind us or beside us that have experienced many of the same things. Proving that we need not be alone, if we choose to reach out to those "well meaning people" around us.

When good things happen to people they sing of: "Trees of green, skies of blue, the colors of the rainbow and people saying I Love You! (What a Wonderful World)

But when something bad happens to people they sing: "Sometimes in our lives we all have pain. We all have sorrow. But if we are wise. We know that there's always tomorrow. Lean on me, when you're not strong. And I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on." (Lean On Me)

How do you mend a broken heart? How do stop the sun from shinning? What makes the world go round? Please help me mend my broken heart and let me live again. (not many answers her, but a bea-u-ti-ful song, none the less. Search on.)

For those who feel sad and all alone at Christmas they think of songs such as this one by Joni Mitchell: "It's coming on Christmas. They're cutting down trees. They're putting up reindeer. And singing songs of joy and peace. I wish I had a river I could skate away on." (However, there have been other times, Christmas withstanding, when we feel the setiment of the last sentence and we wish we could escape from it all and we say - I wish I had a river I could skate away on.)

Dr. Suess has been quoted saying: "Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple."

Whenever evil befalls us, we ought to ask ourselves, after the first suffering, how we can turn it into good. So shall we take occasion, from one bitter root, to raise perhaps many flowers. - Leigh Hunt

Like so many Americans, she was trying to construct a life that made sense from things she found in gift shops. - Kurt Vonnegut (This quote may explain why women love gift shops so much.)

Whatever your mood may be, you can always find a song, a poem or a quote that can help ease the pain. If these don't ease the pain, at least you were distracted from your problems for just one brief moment in time. If this distraction hasn't helped, call a friend and find something, anything, to laugh about....they say; "Laughter is the best medicine!"

http://www.metrolyrics.com/

http://www.poemhunter.com/songs/joy/

http://www.quotationspage.com/qotd.html

http://www.brainyquote.com/


Embellish - If I have one person that I can call friend, then I am truly never alone.

The adventures that travel can bring

Food - If my name was Rachel Ray, you would hear me say: "Yummo!"

On a recent trip home from Rockford, IL., I made a stop at a grocery store; Valli Produce. The assortment of produce was unbelievable! But, before I could even made it to the produce department, I had to walk past the bakery. That is never a good thing. You had me at bakery!

They bring in baked items from ethnic bakeries daily, to ensure freshness. There was everything from Greek Baklava, Italian Cannollis, Cannolli Cake, Tiramisu, Lobster Tails, Chocolate Mousse Mice, Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake, Lemon Layer Cake, and Eclairs to name just a few of the delectables that I had found - I had hit the jackpot! I was in pastry heaven. So, I did what any sweet tooth lovin' person does, I bought a few items. I will let you drool, as you look at them here on my blog, for the next few days. (Today's picture is a Lobster Tail.)

Caution: looking...may cause you to run out to the nearest bakery!

Dish - February is Go Red for Women!
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200000
CASTING call at MOA http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3062593

February is Black History Month!
http://www.history.com/minisites/blackhistory
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_History_Month

Fun things to do in Minneapolis in February 2009:
42nd Annual Minneapolis/St Paul RV Vacation & Camping Show (Feb 5 - 8)
28th Annual International Motorcycle Show (Feb 13 - 15)
7th Annual Twin Cities Pet Expo (Feb 21 - 22)
15th Annual Twin Cities Food and Wine Experience (Feb 28 - March 1)


My Dish on Travel - It has been about 3 months since my last trip out of town via an airplane (all my bags are packed and I'm ready to go...fly away, come fly away with me....take me away, take me away, I'm leaving on a jet plane) and I must say: I love to travel! It seems as though I go through withdrawals if I don't travel on a regular basis. I will elaborate more about all the fun facts of travel a little later in the blog, like when we land in sunny California!


But first....we will start at the very beginning - the airport! Every time I do travel, I am quickly reminded of some things I don't like much about traveling; such as the security lines where you have to take off just about every piece of clothing, just to pass through security to get to your gate. Now that I think about it, it is more the blood curdling screams that I detest when I un-robe that bothers me more than the act of un-robing. But, I gladly do this all in the name of safety.

And then....there is the sound of the toe tapping that is done by the passenger behind you as they impatiently wait for you to put all of your clothes back on and tuck everything back into its proper place.

---But the thing that really stinks, literally, is the women's bathroom! Now, out of fairness to my gender, I feel the need to let you know that I have never done a "sniff test" on the men's bathroom - but GIRL - all I know is that sometimes I don't even want to admit I am a woman! You'll hear me roar alright! As I walk into the women's bathroom and think: "who died in here?!" or "what crawled up what hole and couldn't get out?!" (Pardon the crudeness, but I know you have all thought it, I just typed it.) I have actually had to pull my blouse over my nose to block the smell, or stop breathing all together, until I exit the bathroom. Turning blue as I stumble out of the restroom I am suddenly in dire need for someone to call 1-800-GET-ME-AIR-NOW -please!

As soon as I am out of the restroom, I let out a big exhale and inhale quickly to fill my lungs with FRESH air. And I say to myself, it is times like these that I wish, (actually my nose wishes) that I had a much larger, (like really large) stronger bladder, but I don't. This may be the first, no wait, the second time, I have ever wished one of my body parts were larger; the first was my brain, of course. No comments from the "pee-nut" gallery please!

While it's true, we should "enjoy the journey." And normally I do. But I'll tell you what, this is one part of the journey that I must say I cannot, do not, enjoy! Nope! Never will! And if my bladder were larger, I would forgo this pit stop of an experience all together. For you see, I do not like the smell of this at all. But, I am forced to find some relief, and so I endure.

Now, for more of the positive adventures that travel can bring.
The airplane tires hitting the pavement as we land is always a good thing!
You get to go some where other than where you live, I love that part.
You don't have to clean at all, better yet, you have maid service - whewewee!
No cooking, you get to eat out three times a day, even more if you want to.
You get to pretend that you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want without gaining a pound.
You can sight-see all day long, exploring all the beauty and wonders that the destination holds.
You can get quite an education through travel, most of us are "hands on" or in this case "travel there" learners.
You have no budget, in fact, you're rich - I call!
You can forget all your troubles...if only temporarily. You can, in other words, escape from reality.
And the smell, ahhhh, this one is a pleasant aroma of California's tropical floral, mixed with fresh ocean breeze scent!
The birds chirpping in perfect harmony.

It is sometimes just what is needed - if you don't believe me - try it, you'll like it! If you don't like it, I guess you will just be forced to go back to the airport and visit the women's restroom and "sit a smell," I mean, "sit a spell." As for me and my nose, we say: "Bon-voy-age!"

Oh, how I love to travel!

Embellish - Today I will......