07 November 2008

Plastic?

There will be a rain dance Friday night, weather permitting.
~ George Carlin


Here in the Scandahoovian Hinterlands, the weather will either permit a rain dance or a snow dance tonight. We're breaking out the winter jackets today, and likely won't be putting them away until late April.

I'm not sure what's on my agenda for the weekend, but I'll find something...I've got a few books to read and I feel like baking. I should also start playing with the chocolate "plastic" I am planning on using to make penguins for Christmas. I figure if I start playing with it now, the penguins might actually look like penguins by the end of December.

Yeah, I think that's what I'll do. Make penguins. Now to find the recipe and buy the ingredients to make the "plastic".

Until later...

06 November 2008

Politics and Mr. A

Okay...this is my last "political" post for this election season.

Mr. A is about the same age for this election as I was the first election that I remember paying attention to. He also really paid attention to the election and he read up on both candidates for two different classes in school. He and I had quite a few discussions about each of the candidates and their positions.

Tuesday night he spent the night glued to the computer, bopping between CNN and MSNBC to see what the news sites were saying about how the election was going. He kept calling out to me (I was in another room) as each state was called for a particular candidate.

He bounced through the house as he came to discuss something he'd read online. He asked intelligent questions about things that were being said about the election process. He was INVOLVED right up to the time I sent him to bed. Or so I thought.

It turned out that he went to his room and tuned his radio to a news station that was covering the elections and stayed up until they'd called it for President Elect Obama.

I don't know if I can express just how much this pleases me. Instilling an interest in politics in the monsters at a young age in their lives is important to me. Knowing that they think about all aspects of the candidates before making a choice is important to me. I don't care if they vote the way I do or go their separate way, but I do care that they are involved.

And he is. It warms my heart.

Until later...

05 November 2008

Change

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.

~ Anatole France


This morning the nation wakes up to a new President Elect. Many have dreamed for this change, many have feared it.

The nation will not change overnight, and likely, it will take years, even decades for us to see that change that comes from the decision my fellow countrymen and women made yesterday.

My hope is that we will work together instead of against each other to bring about this change. My fear is that we will become even more divisive.

Let's hope that working together is what happens.

Until later...

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Whelp!

Hope the next 35 treat you as well as the first!

Until later...

04 November 2008

Civic Sacrament

The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.

~ Lyndon B. Johnson




Lower voter participation is a silent threat to our democracy...It under-represents young people, the poor, the disabled, those with little education, minorities and you and me.

~ Nancy Neuman




The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter.

~ Dwight D. Eisenhower




To make democracy work, we must be a notion of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain.

~ Louis L'Amour




Voting is a civic sacrament.

~ Theodore Hesburgh


Until later...

03 November 2008

Milk's Immortality



Cheese - milk's leap toward immortality.
~ Clifton Fadiman


Cheese is one of the Wonders of the World...at least to this Nonnie. Everything is better with cheese, and there can never be too much cheese. This week's menu is no different. Everything on it has cheese. If I didn't eat cheese, I don't know that I'd get my daily dairy recommendations in.

So...last week's recap. White Chicken Chili is something we've had before, but the monsters decided that they hate it now. Sigh... Easiest No Boil Lasagna is the only lasagna we eat and so easy to put together!

This week's menu is as follows:

Monday ~ Scout Night

Hot Ham and Cheese Roll and chips

Tuesday ~ Get out and vote!

Monsters' Mexican Meatloaf with refried beans

Wednesday ~

Homemade pizzas ~ probably sausage and pepperoni

Thursday ~

YOYO

Friday, Saturday and Sunday ~ Monsters at their dad's

I didn't get around to the Buffalo Chicken Dip last week, so I may do it this weekend.

So that's it for this week. Stop by this week's MPM to see what other's are planning.

Until later...

02 November 2008

Extra Snooze

An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later.
~ Winston Churchill


So today is the first day of Daylight Savings Time. We're in the "fall back" portion of the "screw with the clock" yearly program. And like normal, I completely forgot that it started today when I went to bed last night and when my internal alarm woke me up, I didn't try to roll over and go back to bed.

Bugaboo told me on Friday that he thinks this the time change is "stupid" and they should leave it alone. I heartily agree.

But I'm up and there's no sense in going back to bed now. I should get a few more things done around the house today, and then I'm going to relax the rest of the afternoon.

Have a wonderful Sunday and don't spend that extra hour all in one place!

Until later...

01 November 2008

Warmth

It's the national addiction: warmth on chilly winter nights, innocence on Saturday afternoons, the essence of hearth, home and blissful abandon.
~ Patricia Linden


Last night I had the warmth, even though it wasn't chilly, nor was it a winter night. The monsters are with X, so I didn't have to deal with the chaos of Halloween.

I went out for lunch with my parents yesterday. A nice relaxing meal just to touch base. Even though we all talk a few times a week, we haven't seen each other since September, so it was nice to spend the time. We sat in the restaurant for almost 3 hours chatting.

After we went our separate ways, I ran some errands. I stopped and got some new sweaters because I wanted to, not because I need them. Then I stopped by Sam's for a few things and then the grocery store. The grocery store has yet to get in the holiday coffee creamer that I so love, so I ran over to the Super Walmart and picked up the creamer there. I'm sure you're wondering why I didn't do all my shopping at Wally World, and the answer is that the quality and selection at the grocery store across the street is much better.

Then I came home. I got home in time to miss the majority of the kids running around, but before the college kids went out to the bars. The cats and I had a nice quiet meal and I did some Nonnie pampering before going to bed.

Today, while the quote says there is supposed to be innocence on a Saturday afternoon, I have some work that I brought home and I have to run to the library. I also should reorganize the laundry room.

Innocence on a Saturday afternoon means playing and doing what you want to me, but I'm thinking I won't hit the innocence portion of the program until tonight...and really, with the plans I have for the evening, that doesn't follow either.

Until later...