T. T. J.

Still winter!

2012-03-19T10:51:00.001-06:00

It is snowing! Beautiful but I'm tired of winter & snow!

Jackie boy

2012-03-03T13:41:00.003-07:00

A much better picture!

Simple joy!

2012-02-29T09:34:00.005-07:00

Jack is a wonderful cat! Love this boy so much.

One of my favorite desserts: Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

2012-01-26T14:11:00.001-07:00

LEMON POPPY SEED CAKE

CAKE:

1 c. butter
1 1/2 c. sugar, divided
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
5 eggs, separated
1 c. lemon juice
2 2/3 c. flour, sifted
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/3 c. poppy seed
1 tbsp. grated lemon peel

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Beat 1 1/4 cups sugar and cream cheese in large bowl at medium speed with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Blend in egg yolks and juice. Add combined flour, baking powder and baking soda; mix well. Beat in poppy seed and lemon peel; set aside.

Beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add reserved 1/4 cup sugar, beating until soft peaks form. Fold egg whites into batter. Pour into greased and floured 10-inch tube or bundt pan. Bake 55 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pan. Cool.

GLAZE:

1/2 c. sifted powdered sugar
1 tbsp. lemon juice

Mix powdered sugar and juice. Drizzle over cake.

Baur’s Confectionery and Restaurant - Denver, Colorado

2011-10-14T19:46:00.000-06:00

When I was growing up in Denver my grandparents often took me to the Baur Confectionery Company Building that housed the favorite Baur’s Confectionery and Restaurant, located at 15th and Curtis Streets (1512 Curtis Street). I loved the candy (Old Fashions were one of my favorite). But my absolute favorite thing from the restaurant was the Deviled Crab. Luckily I have the recipe:

Baur’s Famous Deviled Crab

3/4 cup enriched flour

2 cups coffee cream

1/2 cup butter

Bread crumbs

2 egg yolks

4 teaspoons chopped parsley

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon celery salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 pound flaked crabmeat

Method of preparation:

The enriched flour, coffee cream and butter make the basic sauce from which the crab is made. Follow the procedure of making a smooth paste of the flour and cream then heat slowly until warm, then add the butter. Cook this cream base until thick. Stir constantly. Add some of this hot mixture to slightly beaten egg yolks, then stir in the remaining hot mixture and add the other ingredients.

Chill two to three hours and then shape into portions, either patties or croquettes. Dip into fine bread crumbs. Allow the crab portions to warm to room temperature. The crab portions are deepfat fried at 350 degree until a golden brown.

Absolutely delicious!

Otto P. Baur, who was a German immigrant, established the Baur Confectionery Company in 1871. In 1891, Baur moved the confectionery to 1512 Curtis Street and the company quickly emerged as an innovative and successful purveyor of candies, cakes, and other confectionery items. Baur reportedly invented the ice cream soda, by substituting ice cream for cream and combining it with seltzer water.

Must remember

2011-10-06T09:46:00.003-06:00

* That you will try to be a better person today than yesterday.
* That you will exercise your body as well as your mind.
* That you will tell the persons dear to you that you love them.
* That you will defend the rights of those who are unable to defend themselves.
* That you will not hurt your family members emotionally or physically.
* That you will respect your elders and care for them in time of need.
* That you will respect the rights of others in their religious beliefs.
* That you will respect the rights of others in their sexual orientation.
* That every man, woman and child has the right to be here and is equal regardless of race, creed or color.
* That you will act honorably in all aspects of your personal and business life.
* That your family is first and foremost the most important thing in your life.
* That when you make a mistake, that you admit it and make amends.

and of course...
Stay hungry, stay foolish (Steven P. Jobs ~~ 1955-2011)

The pest...

2011-09-22T07:24:00.002-06:00

Of course for every blessing there is a "problem" - Jill! She came to live with me on September 18, 2010. She is really an amazing cat and she can be so incredibly sweet but she has an evil side which certainly does cause problems. The picture shows her at her best and being very docile. It is almost impossible to get a picture of her when she is running wild through the house. Silly cat!

7 years old!

2011-05-21T10:06:00.000-06:00

It is hard to believe that Jack is seven today! He is the most incredible cat that I’ve ever had, he is so gentle, sweet and incredibly loving - what a JOY!

I didn’t actually find Jack until December, 2004; but from what I could track down from the Morris Animal Refuge and a veterinarian technician who volunteered there we assume that Jack was born on May 21, 2004. Jack’s first six months of life were not very happy and he lived in a couple of homes before he came to live with me. I can’t imagine anyone not loving Jack he is a marvel! Every single day that I share with Jack is a gift - he is a loving gentle boy!!

Happy Birthday Jackie!

A.M. Holter Co. & P. Louquet

2010-02-09T09:38:00.004-07:00

I found a very strange postcard in an old book that I purchased. The postcard appears to be advertising material for a hardware store but I'm not really sure. The card is addressed to: A.M. Holter Co., Helena, Mont. requesting: Please send me 1 Keg 50, 1 Keg 60 Common nails. Postmark May 25, 1913 Avon, Mont.

This is the postcard (front and verso):

Turkey Tetrazzini

2010-02-04T09:25:00.000-07:00

I really like turkey tetrazzini. I reduced the amount of salt, since I remember that my mother's recipe was much too salty. Also I really like the taste of crimini mushrooms, my mother probably used canned mushrooms.

My Mother's Turkey Tetrazzini

1 lb. button or crimini mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
4 c. milk
10 tablespoons butter, divided
1/2 c. flour
1 c. turkey gravy (or however much you have left over, if less than that)
1 to 2 c. leftover turkey meat, shredded into bite-sized chunks
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 lb. spaghetti
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large saute pan and saute mushrooms until soft and slightly browned. Set aside. Make bechamel sauce: Over medium heat, melt remaining butter in large saucepan, add flour, and whisk over medium heat for several minutes. Whisk milk into butter/flour mixture gradually until all milk is incorporated. Simmer sauce until it is thickened slightly and very velvety. Add turkey gravy and mushrooms and mix well. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Meanwhile, cook spaghetti in boiling water until a minute or two before al dente. Drain and return to pot. Mix in half of sauce and stir to coat. Pour spaghetti into 9" x 13" pan and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake for 30 minutes until top is bubbling and delicious-looking. Add turkey pieces to sauce and serve over slices of spaghetti casserole. Enjoy thoroughly.

Lemon Ice Cream

2010-02-02T12:04:00.001-07:00

I have fond memories of home-made ice cream!

Grown-up Lemon Ice Cream
6 Lemons
1 C Sugar
6 egg yolks
2 C heavy cream
pinch of salt
2 C evaporated milk (since many cans of evaporated milk are about 1.5 cups, you could also do 1.5 cups evaporated and .5 cup of regular milk)
1 t vanilla

Prep:
Use a grater and zest the 6 lemons into a bowl. Mix the sugar into the bowl with the zest. Squeeze 3/4 C of juice from the lemons and set it aside.

Cooking:
Whisk the egg yolks with the cream and salt in a heatproof mixing bowl. Put the evaporated milk and lemon-sugar mixture in a medium non-aluminum saucepan. Bring the liquid to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove pan from heat. Slowly whisk the hot milk into the egg yolk mixture. Then return the combined stuff to the saucepan. Stir constantly over medium-low heat until the mixture begins to thicken slightly and coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Pour the hot custard into a bowl without straining (unless you are the nice mom who makes this for her kids). Stir in the vanilla. Put a sheet of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the custard to prevent skin from forming. Chill custard--can be refrigerated for up to 48 hours.

Freezing:
Stir the lemon juice into the cooled custard and transfer mixture to an ice cream maker and freeze. Makes about 1.5 quarts.

Brown Sugar Drops

2010-01-22T07:17:00.003-07:00

I don't remember eating these cookies but I might try making them (I can't have nuts but they might be okay without them?). The recipe is obviously cut from a brown sugar box.

Great cookies

2010-01-21T09:20:00.002-07:00

I remember these, unfortunately it was when I ate one that we all discovered my terrible allergy to tree nuts. I got so sick! They just don't taste the same without nuts.

The note attached to this recipe: Julius made these cookies for Ann's office parties.

Sugar Cookies

2010-01-20T09:37:00.007-07:00

This is my favorite recipe for sugar cookies and I use it all the time. This is probably from the 1970s, possibly earlier.

(clipping probably from the Rocky Mountain News or The Denver Post)

Old English Apple Pie

2010-01-15T12:28:00.002-07:00

Old English Apple Pie (no crust)

1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoons vanilla
Beat well, add,
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
2 cups apples, peeled & diced

Pour into 9 inch pie plate that’s well greased.

Bake at 350° until brown about 30 minutes.

Note on card “Jeans Happy Talk” program.

To the best of my knowledge I never had this pie, but it sounds good.

Pound cake

2010-01-13T14:37:00.002-07:00

Pound cake

1/2 # sugar 1 cup
1/2 lb. Butter 1 cup
1/2 lb eggs 1 cup
1/2 lb flour 2 cups
vanilla – 1 tsp.

Bake 370° – 1 hour or until baked when tested.

My grandfather wrote this recipe – since he owned two bakeries he probably had to think about the amounts since he would never have baked just one cake. The recipe is fine, I did beat the sugar and butter together and then add the eggs, gradually adding the flour.

Coffee cake

2010-01-12T09:41:00.003-07:00

Coffee cake

1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup milk
2 eggs – mix one at a time
2 1/2 cups of flour
2 teaspoons baking powder – heaping

bake 20 minutes

topping

1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon – heaping nuts

This recipe is rather vague, but I made it last night and it works just fine. I put the topping on prior to baking which I’m sure is implied but want to make sure everyone understands the concept of coffee cake topping. Also I used brown sugar for the topping.

Dumpling recipe

2010-01-11T19:24:00.002-07:00

Dumpling recipe

My grandmother clipped recipes constantly.

Tiny clipping I found:

From Glendale, Calif., Lorraine Benton wrote that my Grandma Fiedler’s dumpling recipe didn’t hold a candle to her Aunt Lydia Carter’s. It calls for two eggs, one half shell of water and one-half cup of milk beaten together. Sift together two cups of flour, four teaspoons of baking powder, one teaspoon of salt and one teaspoon of sugar. After combining, spoon onto stewed chicken in a pot. Cover and cook at low temperature for 20 minutes.

Swedish Christmas Cookies

2010-01-10T08:41:00.001-07:00

Swedish Christmas Cookies

(Yield: 3 dozen cookies)

Combine 2 cups of water and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a saucepan and heat. Separate 4 egg yolks from the whites and drop them from a saucer, on at a time, into the hot salted water. Cover and simmer until hard cooked. Mix 1/2 cup sugar with 1/2 cup butter or margarine and stir until fluffy. Blend in 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract. Put the hard-cooked egg yolks through a sieve and add. Sift 1 1/3 cups sifted all-purpose flour with 1/2 teaspoon salt, add to the creamed mixture alternately with 2 tablespoons top milk or light cream. Mix well. Put mixture through a cookie press onto ungreased cookie sheets. Decorate as desired with colored sugar or glazed fruit. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in a preheated moderate oven (350 degrees F.)

(clipping probably from the Rocky Mountain News or The Denver Post)

Yorkshire Pudding

2010-01-09T15:22:00.001-07:00

Yorkshire Pudding

1 1/4 cups milk
1/4 cup water
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
2 tablespoons melted beef fat (from the roast)

(1) Beat the milk, water, flour, salt and eggs with a rotary or electric beater until very smooth and bubbly. Set aside for half an hour. (2) Beat for 1 minute. (3) Put 1/2 teaspoon hot beef fat into each of 12 muffin pans. Heat in very hot oven, 500°F, for a minute or two. (4) Put 3 tablespoons of batter into each pan. Bake in a very hot oven, 500°F, for 8 minutes. Reduce temperature to 400° F and bake 8-10 minutes more until browned. Makes 12 servings. Yorkshire puddings bake in about 15 minutes. Bake them while the roast is “resting” out of the oven before carving.

(clipping from unknown source)

Baked Rice Custard

2010-01-07T07:44:00.004-07:00

My grandparents really liked rice custard (pudding), I think this is the recipe that they usually made.

Baked Rice Custard

[Julius’s recipe—my grandfather]

Bring to boil: 3/4 cup packaged precooked rice, 3 cups milk, and 1/4 cup raisins. Mix: 2 beaten eggs, 2/3 cup granulated or brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg. Add hot mixture, stirring. Pour into baking dish, and bake in pan of hot water in 375° oven, 35 minutes, stirring several times during first part of baking. Serves 4 to 6.

Try 1/2 cup sugar—too sweet

Chocolate Frosting

2010-01-06T14:30:00.002-07:00

Chocolate Frosting

Melt 6 squares unsweetened chocolate. Beat 3 egg yolks until thick add 1 1/4 cup sugar, 3/4 cup milk and 1 1/2 tablespoons butter. Cook in a heavy sauce pan over very low direct heat, stirring constantly. (Watch and stir). Bring to a boil. Boil 1 min. Remove from heat stir in the melted chocolate a pinch of salt and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Beat until it will spread nicely. Put the layers together with a good layer of icing, then frost the sides and top of the cake. This chocolate frosting has a gloss stays soft and doesn’t run.

(Handwritten in pencil on small piece of paper)

I remember this frosting and the cakes were always beautiful. I've used it a few times and I love the way the cakes look.

Pickled Beets

2010-01-05T08:18:00.002-07:00

I have not idea where this recipe originated and given the number of corrections on the card I doubt it was originally my grandmothers, she was just too careful about her recipes. I love beets but this really has too much sugar for my tastes.

Pickled Beets

1 cup red vinegar (cider or white)
2 cups sugar
4 tablespoons white karo
1/4 teaspoons salt
Cloves
-penciled in: 3 cans Beets

Mix all ingredients together, and boil (slowly) for at least 30 minutes or longer. Pour over (drained) diced beets while steel [sic. still] hot.

Crimson Beet Salad

2010-01-04T07:23:00.003-07:00

I love beets but this just does not sound very good, probably the mayonnaise and sour cream mixed with beets.

Crimson Beet Salad

2 cups cooked beets, grated
1/2 cup finely sliced leeks or green onions
1 cup shredded cabbage

Dressing
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup sour cream
1/4 teaspoon dehydrated horseradish
1/4 teaspoon curry
1 teaspoon salt
Ground pepper

Mix together salad dressing ingredients. (Flavor improves if made a day ahead). Fold dressing into vegetable combination gently. Garnish salad plate or bowl with lettuce leaves. Makes 5-6 servings.

Sand tarts

2010-01-03T05:30:00.002-07:00

Sand Tarts

Cream together 1/2 cup butter or margarine and 3 heaping tablespoons sugar until light and frothy. Add 1 1/4 cups sifted flour (preferably cake flour), 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 1 cup pecans or walnuts, ground – run through the food chopper. This is refrigerated half and hour or so until the dough is firm enough to roll into small balls. Press flat with a fork and put a nut in the center of each cooky. Bake 12 to 15 minutes in a moderate (350°) oven. While hot dust with granulated sugar. These are delicately brown and frosty with sugar.

(Handwritten in pencil by grandma)

Chocolate Icebox Pie

2010-01-02T14:26:00.003-07:00

Chocolate Icebox Pie

This recipe will take some interpretation and since I have not made it I will leave this to my audience.

Filling:

1 pkg. sweet chocolate (I will assume my grandmother means semi-sweet chocolate chips – I could be wrong)

3 Tbls. water. 1 tsp. Vanilla
1 cup cream whipped

Melt chocolate in water over low heat stirring constantly. Cool until thickened, add vanilla and then fold in whipped cream.

Pour into graham cracker shell, and chill 2 hours. Decorate with whipped cream.

Crust:

20 graham crackers
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup softened butter

(Handwritten by grandma in pencil on 3 x 5 card)

Pineapple Angel Pie

2010-01-01T07:19:00.003-07:00

First I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year!

This dessert is one I would never eat, I really don't like pineapple or maybe it doesn't like me since I always get a very upset stomach when I eat it. I remember my grandmother making this for my aunt.

Pineapple Angel Pie

1 c chopped pineapple
1 c pineapple juice or water
1 c sugar
1/4 tsp salt
6 tbs. cornstarch
2 tbs. sugar
1/2 c cold water
3 egg whites
1/2 pt whipping cream
Pecans and maraschino cherries

Combine pineapple, pineapple juice and sugar bring to boil add cornstarch which has been mixed with cold water and cook until clear, stirring constantly. Cool. Beat egg whites with salt and sugar until creamy. Fold into pineapple mixture. Pour into cooled baked pie shell. Cover with whipped cream. Use nuts and cherries as garnish.

Black Magic Dessert

2009-12-31T09:52:00.002-07:00

I don't remember eating this but it sounds pretty good if you like rich desserts!

Black Magic Dessert
Makes 8 servings

Melt in double boiler:
1 6 ounce package semi-sweet chocolate pieces

Add – 2 teaspoons water, 1 teaspoon sugar

Stir in gradually – 4 egg yolks, well beaten.

Beat well; let cool to room temperature.

Beat – 4 egg whites
Add 1/4 of the beaten egg whites to the chocolate mixture; blend.
Fold in remaining beaten egg whites.

Whip -- 1 cup heavy cream. Fold into chocolate mixture.

Tear into bite size pieces: 1 – 10 inch angel food loaf cake.

Grease 9 1/2 x 5 1/4 x 2 3/4 inch loaf pan.
Fill loaf pan by alternating layers of cake pieces with chocolate.
Top with layer of chocolate; chill 24 hours.

(Handwritten by grandma in pen on 3 x 5 index card)

Chocolate Dainties

2009-12-30T06:53:00.003-07:00

My grandmother enjoyed desserts and cookies and she tried any new recipe that she found. I don't remember these.

Chocolate Dainties

Cream together 1 cup butter or margarine and 1 cup C and H Powdered Sugar*; add 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 tablespoon water. Sift, then measure 2 1/4 cups enriched flour and sift again with 4 tablespoons cocoa; stir into butter-sugar mixture. Add 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts; mix well. Form into small rolls about 2” long. Bake on un-greased cooky sheet in slow oven (300°) about 20 minutes. While hot, roll in powdered sugar; cool and roll in powdered sugar again. Makes about 3 dozen small cookies.

*…pure CANE, of course!

(Recipes obviously cut from a powdered sugar box)

Waffles

2009-12-29T08:32:00.003-07:00

I'm going to start with basic recipes of my grandmother. She made these often and I loved them. I remember that any extra waffles were refrigerated and then warmed in the toaster.

Waffles

3 egg yolks beaten
2 teaspoons sugar (correction added: 3 teaspoons)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup melted butter
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups flour (correction added: 1 cup regular 1/2 cup cake)
3 egg whites – beaten stiffly

(Typed on 3 x 5 index card)

Hippie Coffee Can Bread

2009-12-28T07:21:00.006-07:00

This entry really dates me. I haven't made it for a long while but I remember it is pretty good. If I made it today I'd probably use loaf pans mainly because it is so hard to find a suitable coffee can. The recipe card mentions that it is from the New Mexico Commune.

Bake in 350 degree oven for 37 minutes (the time might need to be adjusted using loaf pans).

1/2 cup warm water (warmer than luke)
1 large can condensed milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ginger
2 Tblsp. oil
2 Tblsp. sugar
4 c flour (2 white - 2 whole wheat)
1 pkg dry yeast

In bowl mix water, yeast, sugar, & ginger - add oil & milk. Gradually add flour & stir & stir & stir - (Bob will have to help). Fill can 1/2 full cover with towel in warm place & let rise for 1 hr. (Should be above can about 1 in.) Grease cans well - very important - take out of can immediately & cool.

Old recipes

2009-12-25T10:56:00.002-07:00

This coming year I am going to post old recipes. Some of these recipes are from my grandfather's bakery, some are recipes that my grandmother, grandfather and aunt regularly used. Also I have a few old recipe pamphlets that I will include. Hopefully I can do some everyday, we'll just have to see. Check back.

Hebgen Lake earthquake

2009-08-04T14:15:00.006-06:00

My father worked for Mountain Bell and was sent to Hebgen Lake after the earthquake to assess damage done to Mountain Bell equipment and transmission lines. I found some of the pictures that he took. I'm sure there are more but I still haven't found them.

The 1959 Yellowstone earthquake also known as the Hebgen Lake earthquake was a powerful earthquake that occurred on August 17, 1959 at 11:37 pm (MST) in southwestern Montana. The earthquake was registered at magnitude 7.3 – 7.5 on the Richter scale. The U.S. Weather Bureau reported that the quake lasted 30-40 seconds. During the earthquake the surrounding landscape dropped as much as 20 feet (6 m) and shockwaves caused numerous seiches to surge across Hebgen Lake for 12 hours. Water pushed by the seiches poured over the dam which did not collapse. Several aftershocks ranging from 5.8 to 6.3 were reported after the quake.

Scanned pictures can be seen here: Hebgen Lake Earthquake

Mammograms

2009-06-19T08:12:00.002-06:00

I can not emphasize enough the importance of getting an annual mammogram. I just had mine and went through my annual scare, anxiety routine because I generally have to go back for diagnostic mammograms and ultrasounds, which I had to do this year. Everything is fine and I thank all the gods for this good health news. But please remember to schedule your mammograms!

Slightly other news my cousin will be visiting and that is a huge drag. He is extremely parsimonious and just finds ways to irk me but then I only see him once a year and for only a few days. I suppose I will survive this visit.

Modeling

2009-02-23T09:53:00.002-07:00

I keep finding pictures of me as a model. Most are from 1953 to 1956. I like this one, it is unfortunate that they are all newspaper clippings.

Slovenia

2009-02-19T12:32:00.004-07:00

My grandmother was from Slovenia and she had great respect for her heritage. I think she was from a town near Nova Gorcia. Since I've moved back to Helena I think fondly about the Linden tree in the backyard and it may be because of this article that my grandmother gave me many years ago.

Mt. Saint Helens

2009-02-16T10:31:00.003-07:00

My father was so excited about the eruption of Mt. Saint Helens, a geologist's dream come true. Well I have jars of the ash and I'm trying to decide what to do with it all. But I really love the note he wrote and put with the jars.

One of my best vacations

2009-02-08T10:25:00.001-07:00

Venice, Italy -- I love it!

Venice 2002

The things I've found!

2009-02-04T15:15:00.003-07:00

It is so amazing to me the things I have kept!

I've been cleaning up and cleaning out and I came across this business card and a related article. I met Richard Nixon in 1969 and got this autograph and I guess I just kept it.

Watching

2009-01-25T07:10:00.003-07:00

Always watching!

Carpe diem

2009-01-23T14:23:00.002-07:00

I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read and all the friends I want to see. -- John Burroughs

Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out. -- Oliver Wendell Holmes

In theory one is aware that the earth revolves, but in practice one does not perceive it, the ground upon which one treads seems not to move, and one can live undisturbed. So it is with Time in one's life. -- Marcel Proust, The Past Recaptured (1927)

What would be the use of immortality to a person who cannot use well a half an hour. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

And yes I do think it is important to seize the day, everyday -- I just think I need more practice!

Raison d'être

2009-01-22T15:00:00.001-07:00

This is my daily question and I'm still striving to find just what is my reason or justification for being.

This guy is a creep!

2009-01-21T06:44:00.002-07:00

My only complaint about the inauguration was Rick Warren -- this man is an asshole! He has no soul and certainly no compassion. There are so many people who have written so much more eloquently that me so I will only say that Rick Warren was an extremely poor choice for the Inaugural Invocation.

Inauguration Day

2009-01-20T06:42:00.005-07:00

The day has finally arrived, I am so excited. The 44th President of the United States and hopefully some new thoughts, new ideas, and changing and mending the problems and mistakes of the last eight years.

"Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today." - President Barack Obama

"In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short–cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk–takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom." - President Barack Obama

Obama's Inaugural Address: Full Text

Sincere admiration

2009-01-16T07:03:00.002-07:00

For the captain and crew of US Airways Flight 1549 that is really an amazing story with a very happy ending. Congratulations on your landing the plane and getting all the passengers to safety.

Winter Solstice

2008-12-20T06:44:00.003-07:00

The Winter Solstice marks the time in the year when the Sun is farthest away from the northern hemisphere, which causes the longest night and shortest day of the year. This links to a map that shows the current position of the Sun and indicates which parts of the Earth are in day and which are in night.

This also means that everyday will have just seconds more of daylight and the slow creep toward spring will begin in earnest.

Congratulations!

2008-11-05T06:35:00.002-07:00

Congratulations Barack Hussein Obama on your election! It will be an exciting eight years and I wish you every success. Thank you.

Vote!

2008-11-04T08:09:00.001-07:00

Please vote! It is so important that everyone vote -- no matter who you decide to vote for -- PLEASE VOTE!

ALCAN Highway (Alaska-Canadian Highway)

2008-10-20T15:23:00.003-06:00

Constructed during World War II the highway connects the contiguous U.S. to Alaska through Canada, the pioneer road completed in 1942 was approximately 1,680 miles from Dawson Creek to Delta Junction. My father worked on this highway and talked about it often during his lifetime and I always enjoyed his stories. I have been going through many of his old photographs from his time in Alaska and I'm going to write a few entries and include some of the photographs. I think it is sad that they killed the bear but think it is interesting that anyone would be so foolhardy!

Colin Powell

2008-10-15T13:52:00.003-06:00

It is entirely possible that Colin Powell is going to endorse Barack Obama; apparently he will make his decision after the final debate tonight. I sure hope he decides to do this. I have so much respect of Colin Powell even when he was a member of the Bush administration.

"$3 million for an overhead projector at a planetarium in Chicago, Illinois"

2008-10-10T06:46:00.002-06:00

My friends John McCain is an idiot! Please read the statement from the Adler Planetarium in Chicago:
http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/pressroom/pr/2008_10_08_AdlerStatement_aboutdebate.pdf

OMG!

2008-09-04T15:11:00.002-06:00

I just keep hoping that Palin is some bad joke -- I know that it isn't possible but why? The only thing that Palin shares with Hilary is a vagina so who in their right mind would think that Hilary supporters would migrate to the Republicans just because of a woman VP?

I know I'll be voting for the Democrats!

I am who I am!

2008-04-23T06:24:00.003-06:00

Perhaps I am not meant to be anyone's wife. I can love truly, madly, deeply. I really can and do! Loving Roy taught me that above all else. Unfortunately I am so fiercely independent. I can actually be quite happy on my own.

In memory of a very nice man

2008-04-20T08:10:00.002-06:00

I just learned of the death of Arthur (Art) F. Kussman, he was 97. I met Art when my father moved to an assisted living facility in Helena, MT -- Art had just moved to this facility with his wife. Art's wife needed more care than he was able to provide for her at home so they both moved to an assisted living facility.

Somehow during this "move-in" period my father and Art met and they became friends -- given that Helena, MT is a relatively small town I was surprised that they didn't already know each other but they didn't. This friendship was the best thing for my father. Art was very patient and seemed to realize instinctively that my father had some serious memory issues (everyone assured me not Alzheimer’s disease but definitely short term memory loss). These memory problems never bothered Art or maybe it just gave him the opportunity to continually retell stories and never bore my father.

It was also wonderful because my father loved being outdoors, something Art also enjoyed so they would take walks and drives around the Helena area (sometimes to the consternation of the nurses and staff especially when they would disappear for prolonged periods of time).

Art was a lifelong Republican and we just finally decided that there were discussion we couldn't have -- he wasn't going to change his mind and neither was I.

I'll miss Art, I only saw him a couple of times last summer and I didn't get back to MT in time to see him but I will remember him and think about him often.

Clinton/Obama -- Obama/Clinton

2008-04-17T18:26:00.002-06:00

I'm tired! This campaign is wearing me out and the money that is being wasted! The Democrats need to get this over and focus on winning the election -- PLEASE!

Bobby is the best boy!

2008-04-09T12:49:00.002-06:00

I really do enjoy my little dog -- he was suppose to be a toy Yorkshire Terrier, but that is not the case! On his last vet visit on April 1st he weighed 13.66866 pounds and that is all muscle. Considering his rough start he is doing very well and I love him a lot!

I love it!

2008-03-01T13:09:00.001-07:00

Jack Nicholson is one of my favorite actor!

Governor Brian Schweitzer and Coal

2008-03-01T08:44:00.002-07:00

I am really not happy about Governor Schweitzer being such a proponent of Montana pursuing the development of the ultra-clean coal technology in the areas of our major coal deposits in central and eastern Montana. The technology to convert coal into synthetic petroleum products or natural gas has existed for almost a century, and modern versions of this technology offers great promise for reducing American dependence on foreign oil and developing Montana’s natural resources in a responsible manner.

The plant closest to Montana is in Beulah, North Dakota, at the Dakota Gasification Plant the largest gasifier in America. This plant produces synthetic natural gas from lignite coal. CO2 from this process is piped several hundred miles to oil fields at Weyburn, Saskatchewan, where it is sequestered in the process of enhanced oil recovery.

There have to be better ways to plan for our energy future -- the price tag for the new plant will be 4 (four) billion dollars, that is a lot of money!

I am a Rat!

2008-02-09T11:10:00.000-07:00

This is the year of the Rat and I am a Rat! Went to Chinatown to celebrate, ate wonderful Dim Sum -- my favorite. Watched the parades, jumped out of the way a madly flung fireworks. So much enthusiasm!

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-22T13:28:00.000-07:00

I love it!

A site for the collection and hopeful reunion of Pittsburgh's dropped gloves: One cold hand? onecoldhand.com is a project that connects the Pittsburgh community through one unfortunate event - the loss of a glove. The website creates a method for dealing with the conundrum of finding these lost articles. Do you leave it and hope the owner comes back to find it? Do you pick it up? Throw it away? With onecoldhand.com, the abandoned object now becomes a symbol of benevolence and hope.

Just when you thought it was safe!

2007-12-19T06:02:00.000-07:00

There are new plans for the use of COAL

Don't be deceived:

Big Coal's Dirty Plans for Our Energy Future
Big coal is hoping for government subsidies to replace oil. But its "clean coal" plan is an ecological nightmare for everyone.

Remember to get this coal involves strip mining a devastating ecological process, just amazing what strip mining does to the landscape.

Using this resource also involves burning the coal, something that needs to stop. What should be done cannot easily be defined as picking one fossil fuel over the other. We need to find clean renewable energy such as solar or wind or the combination of both if we want to save the planet. The new efficiencies should be applied to current coal power plants, but we should not keep investing more and more money into non-renewable resources. The individual has to become self-reliant. We need to find a source of power that does not require us to burn something!

Another reason not to use coal -- Over the past few decades, however, a series of studies has called these stereotypes into question. Among the surprising conclusions: the waste produced by coal plants is actually more radioactive than that generated by their nuclear counterparts. In fact, fly ash—a by-product from burning coal for power—contains up to 100 times more radiation than nuclear waste.

Top 11 Warmest Years On Record Have All Been In Last 13 Years

Al Gore for President

2007-12-15T06:09:00.000-07:00

AL GORE could change my entire opinion about the 2008 Presidential election -- if he decided to run for president I would definitely work for his campaign and I would vote for him. Check out this site and possibly make a difference for the United States and the world! AlGore.org : the 2008 grassroots draft campaign

Please run for President in 2008!

Talk about a crock of shit, Michael Vick!

2007-12-14T18:08:00.000-07:00

He LOVES animals, I really doubt he loves anything or anybody but himself! It makes me sick that he expects leniency. Just love his hand-written letters to the judge -- CNN

Art class

2007-11-28T17:20:00.000-07:00

I really do enjoy my art class. I enrolled in a Basic Drawing class at The Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial, the class I'm taking is one of the special adult workshops and I have to pay tuition but so far it is worth every penny. The instructor is great. I think my drawing skills are improving but I have so far to go. This is one of my drawings.

2008 Presidential election

2007-11-27T08:23:00.000-07:00

I am already SO sick of hearing about the 2008 Presidential Election and the election isn't until November 4, 2008. It is just so much never ending rhetoric. In the past I've always considered myself a Democrat and for the most part I vote for Democratic candidates but in the upcoming election I have serious doubts that I could vote for the Democratic Presidential Candidate since it appears it will be either Barack Obama or Hilary Clinton -- in good conscience I could not vote for either of these people. And voting for them will keep the United States on exactly the same predictable course we are currently following. So I've made a choice and I am going to actually try to help this candidate get elected and my choice is RON PAUL. If you are interested in him and his opinions please check out Ron Paul 2008, Congressman Ron Paul is the leading advocate for freedom in our nation’s capital. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Dr. Paul tirelessly works for limited constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies. He is known among his congressional colleagues and his constituents for his consistent voting record. Dr. Paul never votes for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution.

A Brief Overview of Congressman Paul’s Record:

He has never voted to raise taxes.
He has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
He has never voted to raise congressional pay.
He has never taken a government-paid junket.
He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.

He voted against the Patriot Act.
He voted against the Iraq war.
He voted against regulating the Internet.

He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.
He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.

Thank You!

2007-11-19T13:55:00.000-07:00

I have so much to be thankful for and I seldom give thanks in any consistent, affirmative way. Every morning when I wake up I'm going to try to remember to think of at least five things that I am thankful for and I'm going to try to do this everyday.

Another thing to consider -- simplicity. Yes less is more but it seems we aren't satisfied with what we have and there is the compulsion to acquire more and more. The 6 Paths to Simplicity:
1. Simple is Enough
2. Simple is Thrifty
3. Simple is Flexible
4. Simple is Timeless
5. Simple is Sustainable
6. Simple is Refined

Something to consider: I don't support the war in Iraq, but I do support the soldiers fighting there and those who return to the United States with severe injuries. The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is to raise public awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, to help severely injured service members to aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.

And last but not least -- SOLAR WINTER: We are now in the quarter of the year that is considered solar winter by meteorologists. This period begins in early November and lasts until early February and is characterized by having the least amount of solar radiation reaching the surface and the least amount of sunshine. What this all boils down to is dark and cool days ahead with our darkest days coming in late December around the winter solstice and our coolest days lagging behind that in January and February.

What is it about the cooler weather?

2007-11-06T03:39:00.000-07:00

There really is something about cooler weather, the meals I cook are much different. Last night's dinner -- I really enjoy this dish and the leftovers are great, the number of servings is four, these are good size servings and meant to be the main dish -- if you serve this as the vegetable course you can probably count on six (6) servings.

MOOSEWOOD Cookbook: CAULIFLOWER CHEESE PIE
Yield: 4 servings

POTATO CRUST:

Butter (for greasing pan) [I use Olive oil spray]
2 cups grated raw potato
1/4 cup grated onion
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tsp. salt
1 tbl. flour
Olive oil (for brushing the potatoes)

FILLING:

1 tbl. olive oil
1 large onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely chop
Salt & pepper to taste
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. dried thyme (I don't use this)
1 medium cauliflower, coarsely chopped (I don't chop, I just break the cauliflower into small flowerets)
1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
Paprika (for sprinkling)

POTATO CRUST:
1. Set the oven at 400F. Use butter to grease a shallow 9 inch baking dish
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the grated potato, onion, egg, salt, and flour. Transfer the mixture to the buttered pan and pat it down with a rubber spatula (or lightly floured fingers)
3. Set the pan in the hot oven and bake for 30 minutes. Brush the crust lightly with olive oil, return the pan to the oven, and bake for 10 minutes more. Set the crust aside
4. Turn the oven temperature down to 350F

FILLING:
1. In a saute pan, heat the olive oil until it is hot. Add the onion, garlic, salt pepper, basil and thyme. Saute over medium heat for 8 minutes or until the onions are translucent. Stir in the cauliflower and cook for 5 minutes more.
2. Spread half of the cheese on the potato crust. Spoon the sauteed vegetables on top, then sprinkle those with the remaining cheese
3. In a small bowl beat together the eggs and milk, and pour this over the vegetables. Sprinkle with paprika and transfer to the oven
4. Bake the cauliflower for 35 minutes or until the custard is set and the top is browned. Serve at once with a salad.

Other news
Our puppy -- he had his routine vet appointment yesterday (routine for him, he has to go every 6 weeks), well yesterday they told us he was improving and he doesn't have to return except for routine care -- vaccines, etc. and will only need the chest radiographs once a year unless he should get sick or start coughing. This news is great and really makes me happy!

Tomorrow is Halloween

2007-10-30T17:42:00.000-06:00

There was a time when I really enjoyed going out dressed up in costumes and celebrating but anymore the people I see out are disgusting -- too many drunks! So I'll just think about traditions and know that I still enjoy the day I just celebrate in a much quieter manner.

Celtic Holidays of the Harvest and Renewal Season; of gods, ghosts, faeries and bonfires
Throughout the centuries, pagan and Christian beliefs intertwine in a number of celebrations from October 31st through November 5th all of which appear both to challenge the ascendancy of the dark and to revel in its mystery.

October 31st and November 1st marked the end of the Celtic autumn quarter and the start of the winter quarter of the year and is noted as a quarter-festival.

October 31- November 1st: Hallowe'en or Samhain; also known as Shadowfest and Old Hallowmas. The Celts called it Samhain, which means Summer's End, according to their ancient two-fold seasons of the year, the light and the dark, summer from Beltane to Samhain and winter from Samhain to Beltane. Some believe that Samhain was the more important festival, marking the beginning of a whole new cycle, just as the Celtic day began at night. For it was understood that in dark silence comes whisperings of new beginnings, the stirring of the seed below the ground. Whereas Beltane welcomes in the summer with joyous celebrations at dawn, the most magically potent time of Samhain is November Eve, the night of October 31st known today as Halloween. For the Celts Samhain was not constrained by our modern conception of midnight-to-midnight, for them it started at sundown on October 31st and extended until sundown on November 1st.

Samhain (Scots Gaelic: Samhuinn) is pronounced (depending on where you're from) as sow-in (in Ireland), or sow-een (in Wales), or sav-en (in Scotland), or (inevitably) sam-hane (in the U. S., where most wouldn't know and don't speak Gaelic). Samhain is a corruption of Sainfuin - sain (summer) and fuin (ending), meaning summer's end. This Sabbat can also be known as: The Feast of the Dead (Fleadh nan Mairbh), Last Harvest, Summer's End, Hallowmas, All Hallow's Eve, Festival of the Dead, All Saint's Day (November 1), Third Festival of Harvest, November Eve, Feast of Apples, Hallows, Shadowfest, Martinmas, Hollantide, All Hallows Tide, and The Great Sabbat.

In Scotland and Ireland Halloween is known as Oiche Shamhna, while in Wales it is Nos Calan Gaeaf, the eve of the winter's calend, or the first. Samhain hosted a time of family reunion and reaffirming ties of friendship and social bonds. Also, in the agricultural communities, this was the time when the herders led the livestock down from the summer hills to the shelter of stable and byre, and slaughtered those animals that would not survive pasture for the winter after being ritually devoted to the gods. It was the time of the third and final harvest of the summer. All the harvest must be gathered; barley, oats, wheat, turnips and apples. For come November the faeries would blast every growing plant with their breath blighting any nuts and berries which remained unharvested. Peat and wood for winter fires was stacked high by the heath to guard against the coming cold and dark. It was a joyous time of family reunion, when all members of the household worked together baking, salting meat, and making preserves for the winter feasts to come.

Samhain marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter. A time of year that was often associated with human death. This was a period of the year when it was thought the veils between the world that we know and the realm of the dead were in particular thin and easily passed through. It was a time for divination and honoring the dead. The Druids believed that the Lord of Death gathered all of the spirits of the dead who had been made to enter the bodies of animals as punishment for their sins and redistributed them, on Samhain, the last day of the Celtic year. On the eve of the Celtic New Year witches and evil spirits were believed to roam the earth playing tricks on humans to mark the season of diminishing light. Spirits could also return on this night to visit their kin and friends during the celebrations should they wish to do so; many customs revolve around the return of spirits. It was a natural thought that the approach of winter should drive the poor, shivering, hungry ghosts from the bare fields and the leafless woodlands to the shelter of the cottage with a familiar fireside. The Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids to predict the future. For a people entirely dependent on the ever changing, sometimes violent natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.

Burial cairns were opened and the village folk lit torches lining the walls and path out so the dead could safely navigate their way out. Candles were set in windows to guide spirits safely to the house (some say as a guide to Summerland); elemental beacons. Plates of food, sweets, and drink were left outside for the souls of the dead, and apples or pears were buried in the Earth to nourish those who had died but chosen not to rise. For the Celts this was the "Feast of the Dead" and the "Night of the Wild Hunt." Additional places were laid at the table for dead family so that when they came to visit, they would feel at home and not go hungry. People would dress themselves as one of the roaming spirits to avoid demonic persecution from evil or unfriendly ghosts.

Hallowe'en, the poem by Robert Burns provides a vivid description of many of the customs and rites common to Scotland on the bewitching night. Under pressure from Kirk elders of the Church of Scotland men were punished by the Kirk for dressing up or taking part in some of the divination rituals, and through time these customs were abandoned and left in a watered-down fashion for today's children to carry on when they dress in costumes while demanding "trick-or-treat."

In early Ireland people gathered at the ritual centers of the tribes for Samhain and the principal feast of the year. The greatest assembly was the "Feast of Tara," focusing on the royal seat of the High King as the heart of the sacred land, the point of conception of the New Year. In every household hearth-fires were extinguished. All awaited for the Druids to light the new fire of the year, not at Tara but at Tlachtga, a hill twelve miles to the northwest. It marked the burial place of Tlachtga, the daughter of the great Druid Mogh Ruith who once may have been a goddess in her own right during a former earlier age. At the end of the feasts and celebrations fire brands were lit from the great fire of Tara to rekindle the heath fire of the tribes, as at Beltane. As they received the flame that marked this time of beginnings, people surely felt a sense of kindling of new dreams, projects, and hopes for the year to come.

With the rise of Christianity, Samhain was changed to Hallowmas, or All Saints' Day, to commemorate the souls of the blessed dead who had been canonized that year, so the night became popularly known as Halloween, All Hallows Eve, or Hollantide. November 2nd became All Souls Day, when prayers were to be offered to the souls of all who had departed and those whose souls were waiting in Purgatory for entry into Heaven. In England small offerings known as soul cakes were traditionally set out for the dead every year on this date. All Souls Day was originally a Roman festival called Ferralia celebrated in February during which families visited graves of relatives and prayers and sacrifices were made on bonfires. In 933 A.D. the Christian Church changed this celebration date to November the second and renamed it All Souls Day. Alms were given to the poor - but they had to ask for them first.

November 3, Night of Hecate. The medieval Irish prophet St. Malachy, the "Irish Notradomus" is commemorated on this day. In Celtic tradition this is the day for starting new enterprises and the day the cattle are taken from the hills to the lowlands for winter.

A fire festival known as the Night of Hecate was held one a year at the dark moon in November to honor the goddess Hecate. Modern Witches invoke Hecate for protection and fertility, as she is both protectress of all Witches and an ancient deity associated with fertility. Most of Hecate's worship, and especially on this night, was performed at a three-way crossroad at night. Food was left there as an offering to her. She was known to rule the passages of life and transformation, birth and death. Her animals were the toad, the owl, the dog and the bat. Some of the common symbols associated with the season today.

November 4, Eve of Guy Fawkes Day. In England every year on this night (the Eve of Guy Fawkes Day), a Pagan festival celebrated in ancient England honoring the Lord of Death took place. Today bonfires, fireworks, and pranks associated with England's Mischief Night are actually remnants of the old pagan customs. In Scotland the effigies of the radicals Thomas Paine or Wilkes were burned and not Guy Fawkes, even though the news of the discovery of the Gun-Powder Plot in 1605 was received with rejoicing in the northern lands.

Celtic Bonfire Traditions
As on all major festivals, bonfires were an integral part of the traditional celebrations with spiritual and pagan ritual significance. On Samhain the original fire was lit only by friction, and was a fire for sacrifices of crops and animals to the sun god as a thanksgiving for a good harvest. It was called the fire of peace. Bracken or heather torches were lit from this fire and the families walked in procession, headed by the father, mother and each child in order of age plus any relatives living in the house, three times sunwise around their house carrying the torch in their right hand to protect the house, family, and livestock from the evil eye, illness, or death. After circling they tossed their torches into a heap and danced around the bonfire. During the Samhain bonfire celebration, the early Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. Queen Victoria is known to have taken part in this ceremony at Balmoral.

An interesting part of the fire festivities, the significance of which has now been forgotten, involved a fragment of bone. Once the bonfire was burning brightly, a piece of bone was thrown into the fire. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

After the bonfire festivities, girls often carried home a partially burned peat which would be completely extinguished in a tub of "strang bing"(urine) and placed on the door lintel. The peat would be taken down the next day, broken in two and the color of the peat within would foretell the color of the girl's future husband. Stones were also buried in the ashes of the bonfire. These were marked so they could be easily identified by their owners. When the fire burned itself out the stones were examined for omens.

The Wild Hunt and the Tree King
This is a combination of two ancient myths; firstly, that of the Oak and the Holly Kings, and secondly that of the Wild Hunt and the Horned God. The two Kings represent two aspects of the yearly cycle: the Oak King governs the time of waxing light, and the Holly King that of the waning light (now you know why Oak is a common summer symbol and Holly a Yule symbol). The Oak King is crowned at Beltaine and sacrificed by his dark aspect, the Holly King. The Wild Hunt emerges from Faerie during Samhain to roam the countryside during winter and returns to the mystical realms of Faerie during the Festival of Imbolc for the rest of the year. The Horned God leads the hunt while it is at large during winter, and takes on his aspect of the Forest King while it is in Faerie during summer.

Say what you think...

2007-10-19T13:34:00.000-06:00

"Everyone should have a place where they can say what they are thinking" if this were only a reality! I'm a great believer in speaking one's mind and it really can be difficult. Too many laws, too many feelings, but I know that periodically long walks in the woods are really good for just venting and no one has their feelings hurt (also no one thinks you are completely deranged while you walks around talking to yourself). I really need that escape right now just too many little pressures and I feel like I'm going to explode; I know it will get better just not sure when.

There is the gym, I'm really proud of myself for sticking with this and I do feel so much better! I found the following articles, interesting but many of the suggestions don't appeal or apply to me.

31 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Exercise

4 Simple Steps to Start the Exercise Habit

Of course we are all reading about bottled water and that there are no particular benefits to bottled water over tap water. Take the Think Outside the Bottle Pledge: The Think Outside the Bottle Pledge is the collective effort of major national organizations, cities, prominent people, communities of faith, student groups, and concerned consumers across North America. Think Outside the Bottle encourages consumers to choose tap over bottled water and support the efforts of local elected officials to do the same at the city, state, and national level.

And of all the things I wish I could get rid of my purse, it is either too heavy or too cluttered but I still carry the damn thing. The Handbag: finding the right one can be as complicated as keeping track of what's inside.

Wandering the web ...

2007-10-17T13:19:00.001-06:00

Phil Gyford’s website
A beginner's guide to freelancing
It’s been over a year since I first thought of writing down everything I’ve learned about freelancing. I’ve now been freelance for more than three years but the title still has a double meaning — this is both for beginners and by a beginner, because I know I still have a lot to learn.

Architonic
Even for large firms of architects it is difficult to keep track of the current wealth of materials, furnishings and fittings on the market, not to mention the constant flow of new designs. For private property owners and design enthusiasts it is all the more difficult. Architonic provides the solution to this problem by constantly monitoring the worldwide market with its team of architects and designers, making it quick and easy for you to find the products selected by the team.

Daily Candy
DailyCandy is a free daily e-mail from the front lines of fashion, food, and fun. Sign up to get the scoop on hot new restaurants, designers, secret nooks, and charming diversions in your city and beyond.

Food ...

2007-10-16T04:26:00.000-06:00

I’m not really fixated on food but with the weather getting cooler and the lack of humidity I’ve been in the mood to cook (maybe I should say bake, when it is hot and humid I hate to use the oven). It will be such a joy to return to Montana the weather is more to my liking plus when I return I’ll have a completely redesigned kitchen – yippee!

I found some fresh blueberries (I was going to use frozen even though the recipe warns not too but then I found some fresh). These turned out great and they were a nice breakfast treat.

Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze

Makes 8 scones
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Blueberry Scones

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the blueberries
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons sugar
5 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut in chunks
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup fresh blueberries (avoid using frozen blueberries because the color bleeds into the dough and spoils the look of the scones)

Lemon Glaze

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 cups confectioners’ sugar, shifted
Zest of 1 lemon, finely grated
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter

Wash, drain and dry the blueberries; roll blueberries in flour to coat, this will help prevent the fruit from sinking to the bottom of the scone when baked.

In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar; mix thoroughly. Cut in butter using 2 forks or a pastry blender. The butter pieces should be coated with flour and resemble crumbs. Add blueberries and toss to mix.

Slowly pour the heavy cream into the dry ingredient. Mix just to incorporate, do no overwork the dough.

On lightly floured board, shape the dough into an 8-inch round. Cut into 8 wedges. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until brown. Cool before applying lemon glaze.

The Gym

2007-10-15T13:07:00.000-06:00

I've started going to the gym, this will be my third week. Last Friday and today I worked with a personal trainer just to get a good start with the weights and other equipment. So far I feel great! I can't say I love it but I think it is important to keep the muscles toned. Probably the worse part is some of the shows to which they keep the televisions tuned. I tend to go in the morning and the main show seems to be The Regis and Kelly Show, I don't watch much TV and if this is an example of the programming I'm obviously not missing much. But this morning they interviewed Jessica Seinfeld, she was talking about her new cookbook -- "Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food." The recipe she prepared was: Brownies (with Carrot & Spinach), (I was never been a picky eater so find it hard to imagine that children need to be enticed to eat good food) – anyway this recipe sounded so good I came home from the gym and baked them and they are GOOD! The recipe:

Jessica Seinfeld's Brownies (with Carrot & Spinach)

INGREDIENTS
3 oz. semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
1/2 c. carrot puree
1/2 c. spinach puree
1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tbsp. trans-fat-free soft tub margarine spread
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 large egg whites
3/4 c. oat flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat an 8x8-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Melt 3 oz. semisweet or bittersweet chocolate in a double boiler or over a very low flame.

In a large bowl, combine the melted chocolate, carrot puree, spinach puree, firmly packed brown sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 tbsp. trans-fat-free soft tub margarine spread, and 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes.

Whisk in 2 large egg whites. Stir in oat flour, baking powder and salt with a wooden spoon.

Pour the batter into the pan and bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely in the pan before cutting into 12 bars. Sprinkle with sifted powder sugar [or not].

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB!

2007-10-14T13:42:00.000-06:00

Bob [aka Robert Bruce] is one year old today! As sick as Bob was for awhile I never expected him to be here but he is doing very well! He is a large Yorkie, a little over 11 pounds and he is all terrier. He can be a real handful and does he love to hear himself bark.

I'm back in Philadelphia and working with the Montana contractor long distance. The contractor is wonderful so I'm not anticipating any problems or concerns. He keeps in touch via email and I get pictures from him so I can keep track of the project. I'm anxious to have the project complete but I don't anticipate that being done before April 2008. The addition and re-doing the whole inside of the house is a lengthy (and expensive) project.

Puppies

2007-02-17T13:45:00.000-07:00

I got a dog! What a change from the felines I've always had. I still have my cat but for my birthday my husband decided to surprise me with a dog - he remembered that I said I wanted a Yorkshire Terrier so he decide I needed a surprise. I DID NOT need this surprise! I've had many dogs but never anything this small all my other dogs were Doberman Pinschers, quite the other end of the scale in terms of size and temperament. Also Dobermans are NOT terriers and terriers have a very specific personality: The terrier is a group of dog breeds initially bred for hunting and killing vermin. While usually small, these dogs are brave and tough, and have a lively, energetic, and almost hyperactive personality.

The Yorkshire Terrier, though a toy breed, still retains much of its terrier ancestry in terms of personality. Though personalities differ from dog to dog, they are generally intelligent, independent and gutsy. Yorkies, especially males, are very territorial and are known for their disregard for the limitations of their own size. They will often attack much larger dogs despite their extreme size disadvantage. Because of their pugnaciousness and tendency to pounce and "hunt" they can nip and are not suitable for homes with very young children. Their small size also puts them at risk of being injured inadvertently by children. Small children should be carefully watched around Yorkies. Generally speaking, yorkies should not be homed with families with small children. Yorkies typically get along well with other dogs and love to play together with them. However, they are terriers, and even an old, sedentary lap dog may eagerly hunt rodents. Yorkshire Terriers tend to be more difficult to train than some of their canine cousins; however, this difficulty is considered to be a result of the breed’s characteristic prey drive rather than any major deficiency of intelligence as they were bred to work without human intervention.

All that said Robert Bruce, aka Bob is adorable, loving, smart and generally willing to please us. The downside is that Bob has some major health issues and is spending time in and out of Pennsylvania Veterinary Medicine: The Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital. Within one week of Bob coming home it was obvious that he had some major respiratory problems - coughing, wheezing, and general respiratory distress. My husband and I have had a major disagreement about how Bob was acquired, my husband bought him at a pet store and I know it was because Bob was suppose to be my surprise birthday present but god pet stores are a disaster in terms of acquiring animals. The agreement my husband signed at the pet store said we could return to dog for a full refund if there were health problems within the first ten days of ownership but this is NOT an appliance, how the hell do you take a very sick animal back knowing you are condemning it to certain death? Returning Bob was just never a consideration. But please if anyone reads this post please remember and also tell everyone you know - DO NOT BUY ANIMALS AT PET STORES!

Bob's diagnosis is: Bordetella bronchiseptica pneumonia - which is also the infection that causes kennel cough but in this case it infected the lungs and is extremely serious, actually life-threatening. Bob spent a week in ICU at Penn and the doctors and staff were wonderful. They have these great visiting rooms where they let you spend time with your pet. Now Bob is home and takes oral antibiotics everyday and returns to Penn every two weeks for X-rays of his lungs. They are telling us that often this pneumonia gets so advanced in a lung lobe that the infected lobe has to be surgically removed. I hope he won't need surgery!

father-daughter relationships

2006-09-01T11:15:00.000-06:00

I've been thinking about my relationship with my father more and more, especially since my mother died in 2003. My father died on January 16, 2006 and I still don't know how I really feel about him, my relationship with him and his death. He was 89 and lived a great life but I miss him and really wish he was still here to talk with.

Everyone who attended the funeral and the reception had the most wonderful things to say about my father and this made me very happy. But when I think that most of the people who spoke about my father were approximately my age and male it really makes me wonder how I missed out on so many good times with my father. Maybe it was being his daughter instead of his son, maybe it was my mother who "seemed" to drive a wedge between my father and me, maybe it was being an only child -- I'll never know.

Since 2003 I've been visiting my father frequently -- he had to moved to assisted-living after my mother died and I really did enjoy all the visits but the man I visited wasn't the man I remember from my childhood. I won't say that my father was the best or the greatest father but he was always there for me, he was a good provider, and he was a fair disciplinarian. I wish I could have been with him more when he was still the vital person everyone talked about at his funeral.

I let my relationship with my mother keep me away and I suppose I'll always regret this. I just didn't visit my parents much at all. Starting in 1970 I moved away and it wasn't really until the late 1990's that I ever really wanted to visit home. Each and every visit was a challenge. My mother and I were always fighting and only short visits seemed to work out at all and even those visits could turn sour very quickly.

"Some say we never really know another person, that we really have only our perceptions of another while the real person remains a mystery, perhaps even to himself. At no time does this seem truer than after a person's death when perceptions are all that remains. It's a truth that came home to me vividly after my father's death."

Poems about fathers

"It doesn't matter who my father was, it matters who I remember he was" written by Anne Sexton.

Sylvia Plath's terrible childhood depicted in her poem DADDY

Brandie, you were a wonderful companion

2006-05-27T16:15:00.000-06:00

I am going to miss Brandie so much. She wandered into my life in 1989 and she has been a constant in my life ever since. I love you so much Brandie, thank you so much for everything! Brandie died yesterday, May 26, 2006 -- the vet was wonderful!

Too Long!

2006-03-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

It seems like forever since I posted anything but my father died in January and I just have not felt like posting anything.

Now my 16 year old cat is very sick -- we go to the vet this Friday. Hopefully the news won't be terrible.

It feels like SPRING!

Courtesy

2005-11-23T07:48:00.000-07:00

I don't want this to sound like an rant, but people really don't have good manners. In fact, I'd say most people are down right RUDE! This book is great! I think it should be mandatory reading for everyone.

“Talk to the hand ’cause the face ain’t listening,” the saying goes. When did the world stop wanting to hear? When did society become so thoughtless? It’s a topic that has been simmering for years, and Lynne Truss says it’s now reached the boiling point. Taking on the boorish behavior that for some has become a point of pride, Talk to the Hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of Everyday Life (or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt the Door) is rallying cry for courtesy.

Farewell to Peter Drucker!

2005-11-19T08:16:00.000-07:00

Peter Drucker passed away on November 11, 2005, at the age of 95. I always admired him. If you haven't read his works, please at least read this article. Also find out what he said about "knowledge workers" extremely good assessment. Farewell, Peter Drucker: A Tribute to an Intellectual Giant

LINK SPAM...

2005-11-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

Link spam (also called blog spam or comment spam) is a form of spamming or spamdexing that recently became publicized most often when targeting weblogs (or blogs), but also affects wikis (where it is often called wikispam), guestbooks, and online discussion boards. Any web application that displays hyperlinks submitted by visitors or the referring URLs of web visitors may be a target. This is from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

What a PAIN! Just stop it with the SPAM! What makes you think I'd buy anything you were selling after you clog up my email, my blog, my life with your crap?

Good-bye Gracie!

2005-11-07T14:20:00.000-07:00

Gracie is no longer with us. She died on Saturday, November 5, 2005.

Gracie [2]

2005-11-02T18:23:00.000-07:00

Gracie is still alive; the vet in Knoxville is making house calls and says that Gracie "is still pretty happy." Mark knows it won't be a lot longer but she is okay and comfortable and I know just how hard it is to make this decision. Love you!

Gracie

2005-10-30T18:57:00.000-07:00

Roy's son may have to have Gracie euthanized. She has cancer and her quality of life is in serious decline. She is a great dog and I will really miss her. Love you Gracie!

It has been ages

2005-10-30T13:29:00.000-07:00

Not that it stops most people but I just haven't had that much to say, so why waste my time or anyone else's.

I am sick of the war in Iraq. It is hard to imagine that over 2000 American soldiers have died. Is anyone counting the Iraqi dead? I certainly hope so they all have families and loved ones and their deaths are just as relevant as the American war dead. I just hope that somehow we'll be extricate ourselves from this debacle. I'm sure it will never happen with Bushie in office -- F*ing War-Monger! Interesting sites: What I Did in the War and Political T-Shirts.

I have to try to figure out the new Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage for my father. It might be an improvement but the literature provided by the government isn't very much help. At least he has options since he can afford the cost of his coverage.

Climate Change Your choices about energy use and transportation can have a direct impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and therefore, on reducing the threat of global warming. Specific examples of what individuals can do to reduce energy use at home include purchasing energy efficient appliances, minimizing waste and maximizing product reuse and recycling, purchasing green power where available, reducing daily electricity use, and planting trees (which take CO2 out of the atmosphere). Transportation is another area where the individual can have a significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions reductions. For every gallon of gasoline burned, 20 pounds of carbon dioxide go into the atmosphere. By walking, taking public transportation, carpooling, and purchasing fuel efficient or alternative fuel vehicles such as gas electric hybrids, we can significantly reduce the amount of gasoline that we use. Purdue Climate Change Research Center

AND

The U.S. EPA has developed several web-based tools to assist individuals, communities and states estimate their greenhouse gas emissions and calculate the emission savings that come with specific reduction strategies. Global Warming - Resource Center Maybe it's just me but I think it is extremely depressing to actually have a site named GLOBAL WARMING - RESOURCE CENTER. The next question do the cretins running the government and major corporations pay any attention to global warming?

I may have to read this:
CHRIST THE LORD: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice (Hardcover/Knopf/Fiction/November, 2005/$25.95)

Do not follow
where the path may lead.
Go instead where there is no path,
and leave a trail.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is GREAT [very SAD but a great commentary!]

2005-09-13T19:05:00.000-06:00

The "city" of Louisiana (Keith Olbermann)

SECAUCUS — Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff said it all, starting his news briefing Saturday afternoon: "Louisiana is a city that is largely underwater..."

Well there's your problem right there.

If ever a slip-of-the-tongue defined a government's response to a crisis, this was it.

The seeming definition of our time and our leaders had been their insistence on slashing federal budgets for projects that might’ve saved New Orleans. The seeming characterization of our government that it was on vacation when the city was lost, and could barely tear itself away from commemorating V.J. Day and watching Monty Python's Flying Circus, to at least pretend to get back to work. The seeming identification of these hapless bureaucrats: their pathetic use of the future tense in terms of relief they could’ve brought last Monday and Tuesday — like the President, whose statements have looked like they’re being transmitted to us by some kind of four-day tape-delay.

But no. The incompetence and the ludicrous prioritization will forever be symbolized by one gaffe by of the head of what is ironically called “The Department of Homeland Security”: “Louisiana is a city…”

Politician after politician — Republican and Democrat alike — has paraded before us, unwilling or unable to shut off the "I-Me" switch in their heads, condescendingly telling us about how moved they were or how devastated they were — congenitally incapable of telling the difference between the destruction of a city and the opening of a supermarket.

And as that sorry recital of self-absorption dragged on, I have resisted editorial comment. The focus needed to be on the efforts to save the stranded — even the internet's meager powers were correctly devoted to telling the stories of the twin disasters, natural... and government-made.

But now, at least, it is has stopped getting exponentially worse in Mississippi and Alabama and New Orleans and Louisiana (the state, not the city). And, having given our leaders what we know now is the week or so they need to get their act together, that period of editorial silence I mentioned, should come to an end.

No one is suggesting that mayors or governors in the afflicted areas, nor the federal government, should be able to stop hurricanes. Lord knows, no one is suggesting that we should ever prioritize levee improvement for a below-sea-level city, ahead of $454 million worth of trophy bridges for the politicians of Alaska.

But, nationally, these are leaders who won re-election last year largely by portraying their opponents as incapable of keeping the country safe. These are leaders who regularly pressure the news media in this country to report the reopening of a school or a power station in Iraq, and defies its citizens not to stand up and cheer. Yet they couldn't even keep one school or power station from being devastated by infrastructure collapse in New Orleans — even though the government had heard all the "chatter" from the scientists and city planners and hurricane centers and some group whose purposes the government couldn't quite discern... a group called The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

And most chillingly of all, this is the Law and Order and Terror government. It promised protection — or at least amelioration — against all threats: conventional, radiological, or biological.

It has just proved that it cannot save its citizens from a biological weapon called standing water.

Mr. Bush has now twice insisted that, "we are not satisfied," with the response to the manifold tragedies along the Gulf Coast. I wonder which "we" he thinks he's speaking for on this point. Perhaps it's the administration, although we still don't know where some of them are. Anybody seen the Vice President lately? The man whose message this time last year was, 'I'll Protect You, The Other Guy Will Let You Die'?

I don't know which 'we' Mr. Bush meant.

For many of this country's citizens, the mantra has been — as we were taught in Social Studies it should always be — whether or not I voted for this President — he is still my President. I suspect anybody who had to give him that benefit of the doubt stopped doing so last week. I suspect a lot of his supporters, looking ahead to '08, are wondering how they can distance themselves from the two words which will define his government — our government — "New Orleans."

For him, it is a shame — in all senses of the word. A few changes of pronouns in there, and he might not have looked so much like a 21st Century Marie Antoinette. All that was needed was just a quick "I'm not satisfied with my government's response." Instead of hiding behind phrases like "no one could have foreseen," had he only remembered Winston Churchill's quote from the 1930's. "The responsibility," of government, Churchill told the British Parliament "for the public safety is absolute and requires no mandate. It is in fact, the prime object for which governments come into existence."

In forgetting that, the current administration did not merely damage itself — it damaged our confidence in our ability to rely on whoever is in the White House.

As we emphasized to you here all last week, the realities of the region are such that New Orleans is going to be largely uninhabitable for a lot longer than anybody is yet willing to recognize. Lord knows when the last body will be found, or the last artifact of the levee break, dug up. Could be next March. Could be 2100. By then, in the muck and toxic mire of New Orleans, they may even find our government's credibility.

Somewhere, in the City of Louisiana.

Greed, stupidity, or both?

2005-09-09T09:43:00.000-06:00

Philadelphia looks into some of the stupidest proposal in the world! Car racing on the Parkway would be terrible!

Champ Car World Series Paul Newman and his colleagues still want to hold a high-speed auto race on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. My god in heaven are these people that arrogant that they can think this would be a good idea. I don't mind car races but there is a place for them RACE TRACKS, not city streets. Give me a break! "They" fuck the Parkway with every event known to man and now they want to endanger the buildings, the residents, with something like this. Stop with all the money grabbing and do some positive things for the beautification of the Parkway.

Some of the recommendations needed for the race are at least four pedestrian bridges and the widening of some of the roads to meet Champ Car World Series minimum requirements. These enhancements would do "irreparable damage to all the parkway institutions as well as the parkway itself."

Stewart Graham, a spokesman for Councilman Frank Rizzo, one of the supporters of a Champ Car race, said he thought an agreement could be reached because of the dramatic visual appeal of the parkway. "I think it might be possible to adjust these plans," Graham said. "If it's that attractive, maybe they'll just make adjustments in their proposal."

Please help if you can...

2005-09-08T11:25:00.000-06:00

Here are more resources to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina:

Habitat for Humanity Help Hurricane Victims Rebuild Their Lives. The situation on the Gulf Coast is grave. Reports of devastation are staggering. Thousands of families are left homeless or with homes that are severely damaged. Katrina was nothing short of catastrophic--especially for families in low-income housing and mobile home parks. In a disaster like this, families who were hanging on by a thread before the hurricane will sadly suffer the most in its aftermath. They have lost so much. We must help them piece their lives back together.

ACORN the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, is the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, working together for social justice and stronger communities. Since 1970, ACORN has grown to more than 175,000 member families, organized in 850 neighborhood chapters in 75 cities across the U.S. and in cities in Canada, the Dominican Republic and Peru.

NAACP Disaster Relief Fund In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the NAACP has launched the Disaster Relief Fund to raise monies through its members and those citizens of good will who want to help. The funds raised will be used to: 1) provide immediate assistance to the worst affected victims, 2) mobilize resources to feed, cloth and shelter displaced victims, and 3) to ensure the equitable distribution of money and resources from Federal, state and local government and other relief agencies.

Great work by a "blogger"!
Katrina - IF YOU WANT TO HELP :: Where to send goods/supplies.

An online resource to help architects and students resume work and school until New Orleans' infrastructure is stable enough for its citizens to return. This resource also contains updated disaster news and related discussions, targeted primarily toward the architecture and design industry.

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!

2005-09-04T09:12:00.000-06:00

You can help those who can not help themselves Noah's Wish dedicated to sheltering and rescuing animals in disasters throughout the United States.

I have so little respect for the current administration and then I read this and feel all the more frustrated. It is so terrible that billions of dollars are wasted everyday to fight a war and the infrastructure of the U.S. is failing because of mismanagement, egotism and poor judgment.

and if that isn't enough... Did New Orleans Catastrophe Have to Happen? 'Times-Picayune' Had Repeatedly Raised Federal Spending Issues.

Let's toast New Orleans:

My favorite and a truly quintessential "old" New Orleans cocktail: The Sazerac Cocktail
1 teaspoon of simple syrup (or 1 sugar cube or 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar)
3 - 4 dashes Peychaud's bitters
2 ounces rye whiskey (most New Orleans bars use Old Overholt)
1/4 teaspoon Herbsaint, a New Orleans brand of anise liqueur
(You may use Pernod, or some other pastis or absinthe substitute)
Strip of lemon peel

Of course there is the Pimms Cup (never one of my favorites)
Ice cubes
2 ounces Pimms Number 1 Cup
6 ounces ginger ale
2 ounces lemon lime soda or club soda
1/4 cup cucumber pieces or 1 cucumber spear
Put ice in a highball glass or mug. Add the Pimms and then the ginger ale and soda. Stir and garnish with cucumber. Serve.

And ever tourists favorite -- The Hurricane (I don't like these either)
1.5 ounces light rum
1.5 ounces dark rum
1 ounce orange juice
1 ounce fresh lime juice (NOT Rose's or RealLime)
1/4 cup passion fruit juice, or 1 tablespoon passion fruit syrup
1 teaspoon superfine sugar
1 teaspoon grenadine
Cherries with stems, and orange slice to garnish
Ice cubes
In a cocktail shaker, mix the rum, passion fruit juice or syrup, the other juices and the sugar until sugar is dissolved. Add the grenadine, and stir to combine, then add ice and shake. Half-fill a hurricane glass with ice, then strain drink into glass; add ice to fill. Garnish with orange slice and cherries.

And if this isn't enough check out the following page and remember and enjoy New Orleans.

Exactly...

2005-09-02T17:43:00.000-06:00

Can we recover? I really have to wonder with George W. Bush running this county. This blog expresses it so well -- listen to the music playing in your head Economically speaking, the Bush administration has depleted our resources in the Iraq war with an eye towards its own imperialist agenda. The war was waged by a group of men seeking to benefit financially on an individual level, exercising an inhumanitarian version of free market capitalism that bred international scrutiny, fueled domestic distrust, and most notably from an economic standpoint, cost quite a lot of money.

More ways to help...

2005-09-02T11:47:00.000-06:00

Operation USA assists developing communities here and abroad in addressing problems relating to natural and man-made disasters and chronic poverty through the creation of sustainable health, nutrition and disaster response programs. We provide essential materials, training, advocacy and financial support for such programs.

Bnai Brith International Disaster Relief Donations Form In response to the tremendous devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, B’nai B’rith is activating its disaster relief fund. The fund will collect funds that will be used to provide assistance to victims of this vicious storm.

AmeriCares: Humanitarian lifeline to the world.

I have no idea what to do…

2005-09-01T20:14:00.000-06:00

Hurricane Katrina is overwhelming and I just wish I could go there and help. Since that would be unrealistic here are some ways to help:

Network for Good: Resources for non-profit organizations.

Architecture for Humanity Our thoughts are with all those left stranded without food or water, those coping with the loss of loved ones and those left homeless by the disaster. Over the course of the next several weeks we will be evaluating ways that we can help locally-based architects and community groups rebuild their homes and communities.

Animal Evacuation and Recovery Plan for New Orleans The Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (LA/SPCA), the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association (LVMA), the Louisiana Animal Control Association (LACA), and the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) are managing animal evacuations and recovery plans for New Orleans pets and displaced animals.

Imagine

2005-09-01T07:17:00.000-06:00

What a great use for all those old audio cassette tapes SONIC FABRIC

What next?

2005-08-31T18:35:00.000-06:00

The situation in New Orleans is so sad. I've visited N.O. so many times and the city is wonderful but there are so many people who live in and around the city that are so poor I can not imagine how they will recover from this tragedy.

It also disturbs me that so many people have left their pets behind and are now forced to leave their animals. The "reason" is that human life is more valuable and that people need to be saved -- this just does not seem right.

I really want to do so much more for the people of New Orleans -- I can give money but that just doesn't seem to be enough.

Another very HOT day

2005-08-11T12:15:00.000-06:00

typical guy, atypical situation -- a solid soul trapped inside of a broken body This blog is amazing. Really made me think -- none of us has any guarantee. Make sure you appreciate everyday of your life and enjoy the smallest things in life!!

Some interesting things I came across:

Architecture for Humanity

Recycline was established, first and foremost, to provide high-quality recycled content & recyclable products to our consumers. We strive to make sure that our products introduce a new function – improving upon what is currently offered in the marketplace.

Gone to the Dogs is a surreal comedy about the trials of canine metamorphosis. When wayward Jack retires to the seaside with his wife Rose, he thinks the end is in sight. But he soon discovers that life isn't a one-way ticket. After a fatal heart attack Jack returns to earth as a stray dog and is unwittingly adopted by Rose. So begins Jack's bizarre journey of self-discovery as he struggles with his new existence and finally learns what a good marriage is all about.

Early Children's Books: The Fox Collection at San Francisco Public Library The San Francisco Public Library holds a unique archive for the study of early children's books, which will interest scholars of printing, parents, artists, writers, or anyone curious about the book arts. It wasn't until the eighteenth century that children began to be treated differently from adults and a special class of literature beyond ABCs was provided for them. I would really like to write children's books! I know nothing is stopping me except I don't think I have the talent.

Book lust

Update: Dilworth House [August 12, 2005, meeting]

2005-08-10T07:04:00.000-06:00

Here is a waste of time, taxpayer’s dollars and for what? To save a piece of property that by all rights should be destroyed. It has no historic relevance; it is ugly and not maintained. It is a pity that some people are wasting their time trying to save this building when so many Philadelphia buildings are under the wrecking ball. Just proves how short sighted most people really are! Save Dilworth Now Save Dilworth Now is a cooperative effort of the Society Hill Civic Association and the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. Our purpose is to advocate for the preservation of the historic Dilworth House, located on 6th Street on the eastern side of Washington Square in Center City Philadelphia. Under Philadelphia’s Historic Preservation Ordinance the house is already designated as having “significant” historic value. This is the highest level of legal protection. Nevertheless a real estate developer has recently applied (on May 27, 2005) to the Philadelphia Historical Commission for permission to raze the house to make way for a 15-story luxury condominium tower. Save Dilworth Now is working to preserve the Dilworth House.

On May 27, 2005, owner/developer of the Dilworth House, John and Mary Turchi, filed an application with the Philadelphia Historical Commission to “reclassify” the Dilworth House as a “non-contributing” site in the Society Hill Historic District (the property is presently classified as “significant”). Concurrently, the property owners asked the Commission to review and approve the demolition of the Dilworth House for the purpose of constructing a new condominium tower on the site. The plans for the new construction will be reviewed by the Commission’s Architectural Committee on July 26, 2005. The consideration of the reclassification of the property by the Commission’s Designation Committee will be July 28, 2005 with an expected report to the full Historic Commission at its August 12, 2005, meeting.

Please if you read this consider the buildings that are destroyed everyday in Philadelphia, much of what is torn down and paved over for parking lots has much more historic significance than the Dilworth House! Please think about what these people are wasting their time trying to save and your tax dollars trying to save!

Women's health issues

2005-08-02T10:29:00.000-06:00

Last Thursday I received a call, the radiologist had found a problem with my mammogram and I needed additional scans and possibly an ultra-sound scan. I went yesterday and thank god everything was fine and I have no problem. My best friend who lives near D.C. is not so lucky and she still faces a daily battle dealing with the effects of breast cancer. Please get your annual mammogram and do monthly breast self exam (BSE). If you take the pill start doing self exams I discovered my first benign lump in my 20s when I was taking birth control pills. One out of every 8 women will get breast cancer in the course of a 90-year life span.

What Can Make Your Risk for Breast Cancer Go Down?
Eating a healthy diet, losing extra weight, regular exercise, reducing alcohol use, quitting smoking, and minimizing/eliminating extra estrogen.

What Can Make Your Risk for Breast Cancer Go Up?
Personal or family history of breast cancer, smoking, excessive weight, prolonged estrogen exposure, abnormal breast cell growth, first full-term pregnancy after age 30, never having a full-term pregnancy, heavy alcohol use, early start of menstruation, late menopause.

Another friend was just diagnosed with endometrial cancer . Endometrial cancer is one of the most common cancers in American women. In fact, about 40,000 American women receive a diagnosis of endometrial cancer each year, making it the fourth most common cancer found in women — after breast cancer, lung cancer and colon cancer.

ALCOHOL—IS AN IMPORTANT WOMEN’S HEALTH ISSUE: While it’s true that men are more likely to drink alcohol and more likely to drink greater amounts, women have a higher risk of developing problems from alcohol consumption. When a woman drinks, the alcohol in her bloodstream typically reaches a higher level than a man’s even if both are drinking the same amount. This is because women’s bodies generally have less water than men’s bodies. Because alcohol mixes with body water, a given amount of alcohol is less diluted in a woman’s body than in a man’s. Women become more impaired by alcohol’s effects and are more susceptible to alcohol–related organ damage. That is, women develop damage at lower levels of consumption over a shorter period of time.

And there are significant diferences between men and women when it comes to health. Just the Facts: Differences between the sexes exist and whether a person is male or female matters in the prevalence and severity of a broad range of diseases, disorders, and conditions. It matters at every stage of life - from the very beginning to the very end. It matters at every level - from the single cell to the entire body. Women and Men: 10 differences that make a difference When it comes to health, there are many crucial health differences between men and women. Yet many women do not know that they react differently to some medications, are more vulnerable to some diseases, and may have different symptoms.

And most important please feel good about who you are BODY IMAGE: Are you imagining the wrong body? In general, women seem more dissatisfied with their appearance than men. Women most commonly complain about their thighs, abdomen, breast, and buttocks while men are dissatisfied with their abdomen, upper body, and balding hair. Sometimes, the problem is imaginary, such as the runner who complains about her fat thighs, or the bikini wearer whose stomach is not absolutely flat. Sometimes, the problem is real and ranges from a mild complaint about cellulite to a major preoccupation with "thunder thighs" that results in relentless dieting and exercise akin to punishment.

Dilworth House [Philadelphia, PA]

2005-07-29T15:05:00.000-06:00

There was a meeting of the Philadelphia Historical Commission on July 28, 2005, the outcome: Philadelphia Historical Commission's Designation Committee voted unanimously to recommend that the commission retain its designation of the Dilworth house as a significant contributing building within the historic district.

What is a designation: Designation means the listing by the Historical Commission of a building, structure, site, object or district on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. Cultural resources on the Philadelphia Register include neighborhoods, houses, churches, cemeteries, stores, bridges, street surfaces and horse watering troughs. They all have a recognizable place in the historical, cultural, architectural, archeological and educational values of the City, the State or the Nation. The Commission exercises a jurisdiction over any work that requires a building permit or that changes the appearance of designated properties.

Personally I think this is all bullshit. The Dilworth House located at 223-25 S. Sixth St. is in total disrepair, no one lives in or occupies the house; most recently it was occupied and used as office space. There is no question in my mind that the house should go and I am quite sure given Mayor Dilworth’s “accomplishments” as mayor he would agree that development of the property is more important than the structure, which was at one time his home. The neo-Colonial brick Dilworth house was built by Mayor Richardson Dilworth in 1957; designed by George Edwin Brumbaugh, well known for his Colonial Revival work. The house is seen as symbolic of Dilworth's commitment to Philadelphia. Richardson Dilworth was mayor of Philadelphia from 1956 to 1962. He died in 1974.

State Senator Fumo, who appeared briefly at the July 28th meeting, vowed to fight any demolition on the site and to find state funds to place the Dilworth house in a public trust, should it comes to that. Why should my tax dollars be wasted on this house? I would really love to hear an explanation.

The Society Hill Civic Association, the Queen Village Neighborhood Association, and the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, all oppose altering the Dilworth designation.

CREME BRULEE

2005-07-24T20:47:00.000-06:00

God I love crème brulee. I could eat this stuff everyday! I enjoy making it but since it is important to limit my intake I buy it pre-made. Some of my favorite recipes are available at Cooks.com

Recently found a frozen variety that is wonderful; it is available at Trader Joes in their frozen food department (it is a Trader Joes brand). This is a very bad discovery it makes it just too easy to prepare and eat!

Architectural musings:

2005-07-20T14:19:00.000-06:00

I love beautiful buildings and great architecture. I appreciate very little modern construction -- just what is going on with modern architecture. There are the ubiquitous MacMansions: "a new, out-of-scale structure that is usually quite large (3000 sq. ft. on average) that does not fit into any neighborhood. These structures are usually tall and massive, losing the side yards to this mass and losing the front yards to large three-car garages and driveways. These ‘Tara on a quarter acre’ overwhelm the homes next to them. "MacMansions" stick out like a sore thumb, both architecturally and culturally." I really hate these houses and doubt if serious architects have anything to do with them. They are the product of greed and the bloated consumer economy.

I love this site -- architecture.com "architecture.com is one of the world's most extensive built environment portals, all courtesy of the Royal Institute of British Architects."

Another site I often look at is: Architecture Internet Resources a database of valuable internet resources created and maintained by the UNLV Architecture Studies Library.

Like everything else I have very specific opinions about what I like and what I don't like. And I guess I am highly critical of current architectural trends. Philadelphia has more than its share of new and current architecture and very little has any appeal to me. One architect that has some appeal is Robert Venturi, his firm is Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates. I won't begin to describe his work but some is very interesting.

So I was surprised to see this design done by Robert Venturi [personally I think it looks much too industrial and it is too tall]: The Dilworth House. I have no problem with the demolition of the current house and reuse of the property but this building won't contribute to the neighborhood.

From the press release about the building "The Dilworth House, which will grace the east side of [Washington] Square, is flanked by the Athenaeum and the Lippincott Condominiums (the former L.P. Lippincott Publishers Building). The new building will replace a Chester County-style farmhouse designed by colonial revivalist G. Edwin Brumbaugh for Mayor Richardson Dilworth and his wife in 1957. The Chester County replica replaced two important early 19th century townhouses. Ironically, Brumbaugh’s design was a suburban gesture in an urban renewal context. The Venturi design honors both the scale and magnificence of the Square. The building will complete the composition of the Square’s east side, aligning the building with the streetscape. The materials of the façade complement the buildings of the Square with brownstone and limestone, and replace Brumbaugh’s colonial-revival brick and marble. The Dilworth House is designed to preserve light in the Athenaeum’s great stair and rear garden."

(more) RANTS about Philadelphia:

2005-07-19T11:58:00.000-06:00

What is this with torturing horses -- it is so hot and humid and they still allow the horse drawn carriages to operate. The horses are miserable and NO ONE does a thing to stop the abuse. My husband refers to me as a bug-hugger and I guess I am. I just hate to see these animals suffer so much for absolutely no reason! Tourism bull-shit!

Philadelphia smells like raw sewage! I walk to and from work everyday and pretty much traverse Center City and it stinks and the hotter it gets, the worse the smell gets. Odors escape from the street drains, people piss and shit on the street, people don't clean up after their pets, the list goes on and on and the city smells worse and worse. Not to mention all the exhaust fumes and people standing around outside smoking -- this is not a pleasant place to be.

City of Philadelphia Water Department: Urban Water Cycle Philadelphia has over 2,960 miles of sewers. That’s enough to stretch from the east to the west coast of the United States. Philadelphia's neighborhoods use a separate sewer system. This system collects and transports sanitary waste to a water pollution control plant in a sanitary sewer. Stormwater is transported to a stream via a storm sewer. Our combined sewers are currently designed so that during heavy storm events, stormwater overflows are diverted to our local streams and rivers. Combined sewers transport a combination of stormwater and sanitary waste. When overflows occur, the water is diverted to waterways instead of going to one of our water pollution control plants where we would normally treat it to remove pollutants and debris.

Doesn't that sound reassuring? All that crap I see and smell is just washing into either the Delaware or the Schuylkill River.