So, I’ve been internet-less for about 3 days now. It’s not nice since it’s my main source of communication & entertainment. However, I just got a text message from the internet provider and they say things are back to normal. Guess I’ll find out when I get home.
Since I don’t get paid to blog at work I’m outta here. Hopefully a better update will follow later this evening.
Okay, so many of you may remember that Gabe kinda challenged me to write something nerdy about technology or something of the sort. So here I was living it up on a Saturday night, you know surfing the net, and I came across this. Now, can you imagine the use you can get out of this? I mean my life with kids just may get a little bit easier.
The first wee wun in line, Justin. Could you please come forward and speak into the mic?
You know this technology stuff is not so bad!
Tonight, I am going to begin another challenge, my Tuesdays With Dorie Kugelhopf challenge. Wish me luck! Success or failure, my Kugelhopf attempt will be posted for your entertainment!
Kugelhopf what a funny word.
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| From dorie |
Don’t miss the 2hr movie on November 23rd. The series starts again on January 11th. I’ll be gone for both… Thank goodness for DVR’s!
Sorry, last one. Promise.
Click here!
Since when did we need anyone’s permission to be free to be American and proud?
Ex Pats like this idiot need to be schooled!
I have always been proud to be an American, no matter where I go. I do not need anyone’s permission, especially those who would like to see us cower and fall to our knees.
I would really be scared if I did not know there were more people out there like me who would fight and die before we would let our country become a Little Europe!
Ok, back to the fun stuff. Although, this is kind of election related. Do any of you remember the Princess Leia Hologram from the first Star Wars moive waaaaaay back in 1977? You know, the “Help me Obi Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.” Yea, you probably do. Then there were the holographic chess pieces when Chewbacca & C-3PO were playing chess on the Millennium Falcon. Then there were all of the holographic conversations between Darth Vader and the Emperor. Yea, I’m sure you all remember those. That was 31 years ago (same age as yours truly). Well, it looks like life-size holograms are now being used in the mainstream media.
If any of you watched CNN last night you probably saw this. I didn’t watch so I didn’t see it until now. A short video is below for your perusal. You know how cool this is? Think about it. Who needs Skype when you have holograms. I could have a life-size holographic family show up in my living room in Nigeria one day! I could have a holographic baby momma cooking dinner, a holographic James & Justin playing soccer, a holographic Savannah acting like the Little Mermaid’s sister, and a holographic Gabby being entertained by her own hands and feet. Life size. Moving & talking in the same room. Would be cool huh?
One day… Hopefully I won’t be working in Nigeria anymore when that special holographic day comes.
I’m off to bed. Check out the video. It’s cool.
I had just finished talking to Gabe and was about to go to sleep when I saw that McCain had already given his speech. After watching it, I am even more confused how my fellow countrymen could not see that he is a man of integrity and goodwill. He truly is an honorable man.
Thank you, Senator John McCain, for reminding us what a true American hero is and should be. Thanks for your service and genuine love for our Country. And I wanted you to know, that my grandmother who has voted Democratic all her life, voted for you, because she knows a true American hero when she sees one. I also wanted you to know that like you, my grandfather served this Country. He was the most patriotic person I have ever known. He only had a third grade education, but managed to become a foreman for the Railroad and raised 12 of us on his income, with my grandmother’s help. When I graduated college, I made more than he ever did (he was proud).
He worked hard and saved all his life. Never once did he or my grandmother ever need or ask for government assistance. They also never asked for money, for a hand out, from any one. It was just the way they were. They did not think they were owed anything from anybody. In fact, my grandpa would always tell anyone who would listen how much he loved his country and serving it. Lee Greenwood’s, Proud to Be an American, was his favorite song. One of his proudest moments ever was seeing my sister graduate from Basic Training and entering the Army. He never forgot to put out his American flag on holidays. And while he voted straight Democratic ticket his entire life, mostly because of the union, I am sure he would have voted for you, just as my grandma did. He would have seen the true love you have for our Country, just as I do, and he would have admired it.
Your legacy will be bigger than the Presidency. It will be that you actually fought and served diligantly for what most people take for granted and never truly appreciate, America. Land that I love. And all that she represents,or used to, and hopefully will again.
To my children, I hope that we will raise you to love your country and never be ashamed of doing so, to be hard workers, to never want to have anything you did not earn, and to be honorable, humble, and kind.
Note:Back to funny and light-hearted tomorrow.
So, it’s election day. Did you get out and exercise your right to vote? I’m over here so I didn’t but I wish I would have. Not that it would have made a difference but at least I wouldn’t get any flack from MBM… She did vote today.
I’ve never been a fan of politics (not even the office kind) but this particular election peaked my interest. I even managed to watch all of the Presidential debates as well as the VP debate. A first in my lifetime. Not only did I watch the debates, but a certain person around our household who is interested in politics kept the TV on the Fox News Network (when it wasn’t on the Food Channel) so I learned quite a bit.
So now that you know that I’m an expert political analyst I’m sure you’ll agree with me when I say I can’t believe Barack Hussein Osama Obama is going to be our next President. His name alone is enough to scare most people away. Who did we go to war with the last two times? Hussein & Obama Osama (sorry, keep confusing the two). Then you have the terrorist dude he likes to hang with, ACORN, and all of the other crazy scandals he’s been linked to.
Do people really think his economic plan is going to fix the country quicker? You’d think people would be tired of scandals after Enron, Fannie & Freddie, AIG, etc… Guess we all just want more punishment. Better buckle up folks because it’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better!
**NOTE** This is all true because Joe Sixpack said so. 
Okay, so last night the kids and I used our imagination and had “Fancy Restaurant” Night. Even though, it was not that fancy, it was still fun to do with the kids. I will not say it did not have its moments. Unlike a real fancy restaurant, I had interruptions from the kids in and out of the kitchen and a demanding infant, so my Rachael Ray inspired 30-minute meal took more like one hour and a half. True to the cooperation of a baby, Gabby fell asleep before mealtime, so she did take not take part in this first event.
The menu was as follows:
App (somthing I threw together with the kids in mind)
Tortilla strips crisped with olive oil topped with diced grilled chix and bacon with cilantro lime salsa and lightly melted fresh mozarella tossed with olive oil and grilled tomatoes
Main Course
Turkey Thyme Meatloaf Patties with Mashed Sweet Potatoes (Everyday with Rachael Ray, November edition, pg. 106)
Dessert
Fresh Strawberries with cream lightly sprinkled with cocoa and drizzled chocolate, accompanied with glazed lemon biscotti.
Drinks
Sparkling Apple Cider
Of course, I have short cuts I will take next time to make the same meal, with a similar taste, without so many steps and ingredients. This meal would only take 30 minutes with no interruptions, prepped ingredients, and experience. However, the meal itself was very delicious and the whole house smelled of Thanksgiving. Another tip, next time, I will probably add dried cranberries to the sauce.
Of course, the critics had their say. The boys appreciated the attempt, but would prefer no onions next time. Other than that, they liked it.
As you can tell by the pics, Savannah really liked the meal. This means a lot, because she normally does not like Meatloaf. My secret, I left out the ketchup the recipe called for to take away some of the “meatloaf” taste. I also added in soy sauce with the Worcestershire sauce to add some sweetness to the dish. Since Savannah helped me with the prepping of some of the food, she found out the hard way, that sweet potatoes can be difficult to peel and cut. The secret, nuke four good sized ones for about ten minutes on high in your microwave. Then, you are in business. Another shortcut, buy canned and go from there. I think this is what the magazine must have done or used a different variety, such as a real YAM, because I did not achieve the same brick color as is expected by using the fresh sweet pots.
Okay, there are a few more shortcuts I could add, but it would make this blog too long. The kids did a great job playing along with mom and getting themselves all dudded up for the occasion. Next to Gabe, they are my favorite culinary guinea pigs! My friends come in a close second.
Don’t forget to scroll down and look at Gabe’s Culinary Creation and our Halloween Pics!
So, Friday I had a hankerin’ for some pancakes. I asked the cook to go to the store and buy some pancake mix and make’em on Saturday with some bacon and eggs. The store was out on Friday and Saturday was sanitation day which means nobody can be on the streets until 10:30am. So, he went back Saturday morning and got the stuff but by the time he returned the moment was gone. It was too late. No pancakes for me on Saturday.
I woke up this morning at my usual time, 5:30am, talked to MBM for a while and then decided to attempt my own pancakes (the cook has Sundays off). The result is below. Not too shabby if I do say so myself. The pancakes are just regular old pancakes. For the eggs I chopped up a FRESH clove of garlic, threw in some salt & pepper, and a little bit of cheese. Cheesy garleggs and pancakes.
Since it’s Sunday, the day of rest, I plan on doing as little as possible. I’m still on my push up quest and still trying to run as often as possible. I did a measly 2mi run yesterday, but I did a whopping 72 push ups on Friday! This Tuesday is my two week test to see how many I can do consecutively. Should be interesting.
That’s all I have for today. If you haven’t seen the Halloween pics MBM put up make sure to scroll down and check them out.
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| From POTD's |
Okay, here are the pics from last night’s Halloween happening. Not much went on. The boys were grounded from trick o treatin’ and had to stay indoors to help pass out candy. They did a great cheerful job. Savannah helped me decorate outdoors and the cupcakes. Both were a lot of fun. Even though we did not go trick o treatin’ we did manage to get dressed up. Gabby had a total of four costume changes, being the lil’ diva that she is. We did watch some light scary movies, The Corpse Bride and Jaws. It was a pretty tame night. Hardly any trick o treaters. Did anyone else get an unbelievable amount of high schoolers at their door? I mean I am a believer in being youthful and all, but 6-foot high school boys with “OMG”-girlfriends should really stick to their own crowd! Although, I guess trick o treatin’ could be a creative, cheap date and it is better than drinking and driving! Okay, I have second thoughts. Maybe it is not so bad after all.
Speaking of teenage boys, Savannah’s sweetie surprised her again this week with flowers AND and an Easy Bake Oven. He delivered the oven in a cute way by leaving it at the door and brought trick o treatin’ to her, or maybe he was just too scared to face me! Either way, I am so jealous. I have always wanted an Easy Bake oven. I think we will use it tonight or tomorrow.
Okay, well after an already busy day with still a lot more to go, I think I am going to go take a nap with hairball. Tonight, the kids and I are having “Fancy Restaurant” night at home. Something new and CHEESY I thought we could try. We are all going to get kinda dressed up (even Gabby) and eat at the rarely used formal dining room table.
