Fans of The Apprentice will remember Raj Bhakta from the second season. Kind of a ladies man, he wears bow ties, red pants, and carries a cane. Memorable, to say the least. I've been following his campaign for a congressional seat in Pennsylvania. I don't know if he'll win, but he is fun to watch and he has a good message. I wish there were more young politicians like him.
There are several YouTube clips of his campaign. You can watch the first here.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Awesome Violinists
Those of you can can watch videos on YouTube, check these out. Amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ROriAM_gUY&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXGg_4Zd2vI&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ROriAM_gUY&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXGg_4Zd2vI&mode=related&search=
Monday, October 09, 2006
Boring TV
There is never anything good to watch on tv on Saturday nights. Out of boredom, I watched baseball. It wasn't even good baseball. It was Dodgers vs. Mets. How did they get to the division series anyway?
Sunday nights aren't much better, though football is back on NBC. The Broncos weren't playing, so I watched baseball again. I usually only watch the World Series. The Cardinals and Padres are more fun to watch than the Dodgers and Mets. I don't much care who wins the penant this year, as the Yankees aren't playing, but I'll probably watch the Series anyway.
"Heroes" and "Studio 60" are on tonight. Hurray for Mondays! NBC finally has some good new shows.
Sunday nights aren't much better, though football is back on NBC. The Broncos weren't playing, so I watched baseball again. I usually only watch the World Series. The Cardinals and Padres are more fun to watch than the Dodgers and Mets. I don't much care who wins the penant this year, as the Yankees aren't playing, but I'll probably watch the Series anyway.
"Heroes" and "Studio 60" are on tonight. Hurray for Mondays! NBC finally has some good new shows.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Dentist
We had a family trip to the dentist yesterday, all of us except the angel(baby), who stayed with her Grandma for a few hours. Nobody had any cavities. I haven't had a cavity in three years. So, brushing my teeth on a semi-regular basis has paid off.
In other news, the angel can climb stairs and pull herself to standing. She's ten months old already. And she has another tooth.
In other news, the angel can climb stairs and pull herself to standing. She's ten months old already. And she has another tooth.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Funny Quotes
I got these in an email today.
1) When I die, I want to die like my grandfather--who died peacefully in his sleep Not screaming like all the passengers in his car."
--Author Unknown
2) Advice for the day: If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle: "Take two aspirin" and "Keep away from children."
--Author Unknown
3) "Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar."
--Drew Carey
4) "The problem with the designated driver program, it's not a desirable job, but if you ever get sucked into doing it, have fun with it. At the end of the night, drop them off at the wrong house."
--Jeff Foxworthy
5) "If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there is a man on base."
--Dave Barry
6) "Relationships are hard. It's like a full time job, and we should treat it like one. If your boyfriend or girlfriend wants to leave you, they should give you two weeks' notice. There should be severance pay, the day before they leave you, they should have to find you a temp."
--Bob Ettinger
7) "My Mom said she learned how to swim when someone took her out in the lake and threw her off the boat. I said, 'Mom, they weren't trying to teach you how to swim.'"
--Paula Poundstone
8) "A study in the Washingt on Post says that women have better verbal skills than men. I just want to say to the authors of that study: "Duh."
--Conan O'Brien
9) "Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant?? I'm halfway through my fish burger and I realize, Oh my God.... I could be eating a slow learner."
--Lynda Montgomery
10) "I think that's how Chicago got started. Bunch of people in New York said, 'Gee, I'm enjoying the crime and the poverty, but it! just isn't cold enough. Let's go west.'"
--Richard Jeni
11) "If life were fair, Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead."
--Johnny Carson
12) "Sometimes I think war is God's way of teaching us geography."
--Paul Rodriguez
13) "My parents didn't want to move to Florida, but they turned sixty and that's the law."
--Jerry Seinfeld
14) "Remember in elementary school, you were told that in case of fire you have to line up quietly in a single file line from smallest to tallest. What is the logic in that? What, do tall people burn slower?"
--Warren Hutcherson
15) "Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same."
--Oscar Wilde
16) "Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress.. But I repeat myself."
--Mark Twain
17) "Our bombs are smarter than the average high school student. At least they can find Afghanistan."
--A. Whitney Brown
18) "You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'"
--Dave Barry
19) Do you know why they call it "PMS"? Because "Mad Cow Disease" was taken.
--Unknown, presumed deceased
20) "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
- W. C. Fields
1) When I die, I want to die like my grandfather--who died peacefully in his sleep Not screaming like all the passengers in his car."
--Author Unknown
2) Advice for the day: If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle: "Take two aspirin" and "Keep away from children."
--Author Unknown
3) "Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar."
--Drew Carey
4) "The problem with the designated driver program, it's not a desirable job, but if you ever get sucked into doing it, have fun with it. At the end of the night, drop them off at the wrong house."
--Jeff Foxworthy
5) "If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there is a man on base."
--Dave Barry
6) "Relationships are hard. It's like a full time job, and we should treat it like one. If your boyfriend or girlfriend wants to leave you, they should give you two weeks' notice. There should be severance pay, the day before they leave you, they should have to find you a temp."
--Bob Ettinger
7) "My Mom said she learned how to swim when someone took her out in the lake and threw her off the boat. I said, 'Mom, they weren't trying to teach you how to swim.'"
--Paula Poundstone
8) "A study in the Washingt on Post says that women have better verbal skills than men. I just want to say to the authors of that study: "Duh."
--Conan O'Brien
9) "Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant?? I'm halfway through my fish burger and I realize, Oh my God.... I could be eating a slow learner."
--Lynda Montgomery
10) "I think that's how Chicago got started. Bunch of people in New York said, 'Gee, I'm enjoying the crime and the poverty, but it! just isn't cold enough. Let's go west.'"
--Richard Jeni
11) "If life were fair, Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead."
--Johnny Carson
12) "Sometimes I think war is God's way of teaching us geography."
--Paul Rodriguez
13) "My parents didn't want to move to Florida, but they turned sixty and that's the law."
--Jerry Seinfeld
14) "Remember in elementary school, you were told that in case of fire you have to line up quietly in a single file line from smallest to tallest. What is the logic in that? What, do tall people burn slower?"
--Warren Hutcherson
15) "Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same."
--Oscar Wilde
16) "Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress.. But I repeat myself."
--Mark Twain
17) "Our bombs are smarter than the average high school student. At least they can find Afghanistan."
--A. Whitney Brown
18) "You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'"
--Dave Barry
19) Do you know why they call it "PMS"? Because "Mad Cow Disease" was taken.
--Unknown, presumed deceased
20) "Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
- W. C. Fields
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
9-11
It seems every generation has a tragic, monumental event to remember. We've gone from "where were you when Kennedy was shot?" to "where were you when Challenger blew up?" to "where were you on 9-11?"
I'm sure most of us remember where we were and what we were doing when we heard about or witnessed the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in Septmeber 2001. I was in my kitchen, having breakfast with my husband, who had just come in from the barn. He turned on the television and we saw the fire in the first tower. We knew a plane had hit it and we thought it was a tragic accident and wondered what had happened and how many people had died.
We were watching live when the second plane hit and at first we weren't sure what had happened. Then it dawned on us that it was deliberate. We stared in shock at the television. "Who would do something like that?" we wondered.
We still wonder at the senselessness of it all. Why do people think that violence solves problems? Why would anyone think it ok to murder thousands of people?
My husband and I handle 9-11 quite differently. He reads every article, every website, every theory he comes across. He watches videos and listens to 9-1-1 audio and watches all the Dateline specials.
I try to avoid most of that. I watch an occasional tribute and listen to the President's speaches. But when I think about what I was doing that morning, I have to take a minute to regroup. I still sit in stunned silence as the images play over and over in my head. I'm not trying to foget; that would be impossible. But I'm not trying hard to remember either.
I hope and pray the War on Terror will be successful and we can help end the bloodshed and fear they have brought to the world over the centuries. Someone needs to stop them. This is a fight to the end. The end of terrorism, I hope. Then end of everything, maybe. But we can't just let this continue. It's about time the world stood up to Al Qaeda. Enough is enough.
I'm sure most of us remember where we were and what we were doing when we heard about or witnessed the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in Septmeber 2001. I was in my kitchen, having breakfast with my husband, who had just come in from the barn. He turned on the television and we saw the fire in the first tower. We knew a plane had hit it and we thought it was a tragic accident and wondered what had happened and how many people had died.
We were watching live when the second plane hit and at first we weren't sure what had happened. Then it dawned on us that it was deliberate. We stared in shock at the television. "Who would do something like that?" we wondered.
We still wonder at the senselessness of it all. Why do people think that violence solves problems? Why would anyone think it ok to murder thousands of people?
My husband and I handle 9-11 quite differently. He reads every article, every website, every theory he comes across. He watches videos and listens to 9-1-1 audio and watches all the Dateline specials.
I try to avoid most of that. I watch an occasional tribute and listen to the President's speaches. But when I think about what I was doing that morning, I have to take a minute to regroup. I still sit in stunned silence as the images play over and over in my head. I'm not trying to foget; that would be impossible. But I'm not trying hard to remember either.
I hope and pray the War on Terror will be successful and we can help end the bloodshed and fear they have brought to the world over the centuries. Someone needs to stop them. This is a fight to the end. The end of terrorism, I hope. Then end of everything, maybe. But we can't just let this continue. It's about time the world stood up to Al Qaeda. Enough is enough.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Quadruple Stuf Oreos
Today is my wedding anniversary. My wonderful husband bought me the most perfect card in the store(he has a knack for picking good cards), and presented me with two packages of Double Stuf Oreos. I love Oreos and especially Double Stuf. He only likes regular Oreos, so we don't get Double Stuf too often.
Of course, I can't eat Double Stuf Oreos without making at least one quadruple stuf. For those of you who are unaware of this wonderful treat, here is how to make them:
Carefully twist open two Double Stuf Oreos, leaving all the cream on one side of each cookie. Eat the leftover chocolate parts, or throw them away if you like. Lick the cream on one of the half-cookies and stick cream sides together. For a better seal, run the tip of your little finger around the edge of the cream(licking it works, too). Enjoy.
It's a great way to overload on the best part of the Oreo: the cream filling.
Of course, I can't eat Double Stuf Oreos without making at least one quadruple stuf. For those of you who are unaware of this wonderful treat, here is how to make them:
Carefully twist open two Double Stuf Oreos, leaving all the cream on one side of each cookie. Eat the leftover chocolate parts, or throw them away if you like. Lick the cream on one of the half-cookies and stick cream sides together. For a better seal, run the tip of your little finger around the edge of the cream(licking it works, too). Enjoy.
It's a great way to overload on the best part of the Oreo: the cream filling.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Never-ending Fanfic
I have written over 100 pages of fanfic in Microsoft Word and I'm far from being done. Over 40,000 words in one fanfic alone. Wow.
I guess I won't have to worry about being able to write enough words for a novel, several of which I have planned out or started. I think I'll celebrate page 100 by starting yet another novel. This one is science fiction and I've had the idea for a while now. In fact, I have two unstarted science fiction stories, one of which will will likely be a short story. Wish me luck, Reader.
I guess I won't have to worry about being able to write enough words for a novel, several of which I have planned out or started. I think I'll celebrate page 100 by starting yet another novel. This one is science fiction and I've had the idea for a while now. In fact, I have two unstarted science fiction stories, one of which will will likely be a short story. Wish me luck, Reader.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Tubby Tragedy
The kids and I were watching clips of cartoons on youtube.com and came across a Teletubbies slide show. At the very end was somebody's sick drawing of Tubby death. Sick bastards. Our 7-year-old told our 4-year-old that the Teletubbies were dead. She believed it and kept talking about it and even shied away from toy Teletubbies. I explained to her that they were ok, but she wouldn't believe me until I went to the PBS Kids website this morning to show her. Poor kid. Just so you know, the Teletubbies are just fine. They're not dead, they're not sick, they're ok. I'll have to preview everything from now on.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Fiesta Time
Hello, reader. It's Saturday again. This afternoon, we are off to my in-laws' for a "Mexican Fiesta". There will not be any Mexicans there(I asked), nor will there be anything even remotely Mexican besides the food(which itself is reason enough to go - Mexican food is awesome).
I am making this:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mexican Chicken and Rice
2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 med. green pepper, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 can(8 3/4-oz.) whole kernal corn, drained
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup salsa
1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt
1/2 to 1 teaspoon chili powder(opt.)
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 to 1 1/2 cups uncooked instant rice
1/2 to 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
In a large skillet, saute chicken, green pepper and onion in oil until chicken is no longer pink and vegetables are crisp-tender. Add corn, broth, salsa, salt, chili powder, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Stir in rice; cover and remove from heat. Let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and let stand 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I use maximum cheese, if not extra. I love cheese. I have no idea where I found this recipe. Either the internet or a cooking magazine. It's delicious. Definitely worthy of a family fiesta.
I am making this:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mexican Chicken and Rice
2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 med. green pepper, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 can(8 3/4-oz.) whole kernal corn, drained
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup salsa
1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt
1/2 to 1 teaspoon chili powder(opt.)
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 to 1 1/2 cups uncooked instant rice
1/2 to 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
In a large skillet, saute chicken, green pepper and onion in oil until chicken is no longer pink and vegetables are crisp-tender. Add corn, broth, salsa, salt, chili powder, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Stir in rice; cover and remove from heat. Let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and let stand 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I use maximum cheese, if not extra. I love cheese. I have no idea where I found this recipe. Either the internet or a cooking magazine. It's delicious. Definitely worthy of a family fiesta.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
The Invisible Parent
My husband has a superpower. He can become invisible to children. If they need something, they can be standing right next to him, but for some reason have to come and find me to solve all of their problems. It's like they don't see him. I sure would love to borrow this power for a while.
Saint Soapbox Debate #3
Well, it seems participation has dropped. Debate #2 was awfully short. Here's a nice controversial topic for our third debate:
The War in Iraq
Is the war in Iraq a legitimate part of the War on Terror?
The War in Iraq
Is the war in Iraq a legitimate part of the War on Terror?
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Lost, but not quite...
Have you ever gotten lost in a place you know you should know your way around? That happened to me today. There's a little lane out in back of the barn that leads through the fields and to a back road. Easy enough to see where it goes from this end, but I've never taken the lane coming back by myself before.
I was bringing the 4-wheeler back from the neighbor's along that back road and I couldn't find the far end of that little lane. It should have been easy to find, but it wasn't. I could see the barn from where I was, but I couldn't find my way back to it. I found what I thought was the lane, but then I found myself sourrounded by corn and soybeans and figured it was the wrong way. I did know where I was, so rather than drive around like an idiot in full view of other neighbors, I took the long way home, which brought me around the in-law's place down the road, and a half-mile stretch of highway. I think I might have run the 4-wheeler out of gas, cause when I stopped, it did too.
I really need to learn how to navigate around my home.
I was bringing the 4-wheeler back from the neighbor's along that back road and I couldn't find the far end of that little lane. It should have been easy to find, but it wasn't. I could see the barn from where I was, but I couldn't find my way back to it. I found what I thought was the lane, but then I found myself sourrounded by corn and soybeans and figured it was the wrong way. I did know where I was, so rather than drive around like an idiot in full view of other neighbors, I took the long way home, which brought me around the in-law's place down the road, and a half-mile stretch of highway. I think I might have run the 4-wheeler out of gas, cause when I stopped, it did too.
I really need to learn how to navigate around my home.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Something to think about...
I used to be a very quiet person. For the first fifteen years or so of my life, I hardly said a word. Then for some unknown reason, I began to talk. Since then I have this odd combination of shy/quiet in person and talkative online.
Sometimes, I think I should go back to being quiet and especially apply that to the Internet. Why? Because I usually end up saying something stupid, thoughtless, and/or downright embarassing. There are many times I am thankful for having kept silent because I found out later that I misinterpreted something and really would have made a fool of myself.
Sometimes, I think I should go back to being quiet and especially apply that to the Internet. Why? Because I usually end up saying something stupid, thoughtless, and/or downright embarassing. There are many times I am thankful for having kept silent because I found out later that I misinterpreted something and really would have made a fool of myself.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Saint Soap Box Debate #1
Since I haven't yet got suggestions to choose from, this week's debate topic will be Blogger's Choice.
And the topic is:
Paparazzi: celebrity vs. privacy
Should being famous include sacrifice of privacy?
And the topic is:
Paparazzi: celebrity vs. privacy
Should being famous include sacrifice of privacy?
Let the Debate Begin....
This is a brand new feature here at the soap box. I will host weekly debates, to be conducted in the comments. The debate will go on for one week only, after which time, the comments will be turned off and we will move on to a new debate. Please keep your arguments clean and try to stay on topic.
What would you like to talk about? All suggestions are welcome. At the beginning of each week, I will choose a suggested topic at random.
What would you like to talk about? All suggestions are welcome. At the beginning of each week, I will choose a suggested topic at random.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Comments
I just realized that I failed to enable the comments option on every single post I've made this year. So, I have gone back and republished all of them.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Happy Birthday, America!/Pizza Hut sucks!
Happy Independence Day, reader! It's America's birthday! Or, as my 4-year-old says, "Makaka bothday". She asked me if "Makaka"(America) could have a cookie. Isn't that sweet?
We went to the small parade in a town about 4 miles from here. This year's parade ran a little longer than usual. We decided to leave a little early, so I gathered the children from the roadside where they were catching candy(with supervision) and there it was. My dream car. The most heart-stoppingly beautiful automobile ever manufactered. And I was close enough I could have reached out and touched it. Awesome!
Then we met up with the in-laws again at Pizza Hut. Keep in mind the building number is 666. This particular Pizza Hut is plagued by lousy waitresses. The service sucks and always has. Every Independence Day, my husband's family eats lunch at Pizza Hut. Every year, they debate returning. I guess this year's experience was the final straw. The local Pizza Hut has officially lost their patronage.
The place wasn't especially busy. There was only one other table occupied when we arrived. We waited twenty-three minutes just to get our cheesy breadsticks. It took thirty minutes to get our pizza. While I don't mind the seven minute interval between appetizer and entree, the overall wait was ridiculous. This wasn't just a random occurance either. This happens almost every time we eat there.
I picked up a few of those "how are we doing" cards and passed them out to various family members. The customer service department will be hearing from us.
But, it's still a good day and we have lots of leftover pizza.
We went to the small parade in a town about 4 miles from here. This year's parade ran a little longer than usual. We decided to leave a little early, so I gathered the children from the roadside where they were catching candy(with supervision) and there it was. My dream car. The most heart-stoppingly beautiful automobile ever manufactered. And I was close enough I could have reached out and touched it. Awesome!
Then we met up with the in-laws again at Pizza Hut. Keep in mind the building number is 666. This particular Pizza Hut is plagued by lousy waitresses. The service sucks and always has. Every Independence Day, my husband's family eats lunch at Pizza Hut. Every year, they debate returning. I guess this year's experience was the final straw. The local Pizza Hut has officially lost their patronage.
The place wasn't especially busy. There was only one other table occupied when we arrived. We waited twenty-three minutes just to get our cheesy breadsticks. It took thirty minutes to get our pizza. While I don't mind the seven minute interval between appetizer and entree, the overall wait was ridiculous. This wasn't just a random occurance either. This happens almost every time we eat there.
I picked up a few of those "how are we doing" cards and passed them out to various family members. The customer service department will be hearing from us.
But, it's still a good day and we have lots of leftover pizza.
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