Cooking

Those who know me know how much I love to cook. Those of you who don't know me, well, I love to cook. My Aunt and Uncle sent me a cookbook for my birthday and since they are coming up next week I would like to cook for them out of that cookbook, if I have the time. Here is the dinner menu plan:

Pineapple and Avocado Salsa, used as bruschetta:

minus the onions. I HATE onions and nothing I cook will have them!

Sauerbraten (a type of German Pot Roast)

over potato pancakes OR buttered noodles, your choice;

Califlower and Tomato Casserole

Basically with cheese and breadcrumbs

and a homemade Angel Food Cake with a fresh chunky berry glaze and hand whipped cream for dessert.

Well? What do you think?


***All images were obtained off the web as examples as I have not yet made this *GRIN*

What's your favorite.....

Don't you hate it when people ask you about what your favorite                 (fill in the blank)! I do. Such pressure. I mean let's be honest, how can you pick your favorite movie, favorite song, favorite book, and my personal favorite food/ that needs a category all itself.....favorite sweet? Favorite ethnic food? Favorite snack? Favorite movie snack...etc etc...

I can pick my favorite general of most things but lets be real....once you pick something, another person will say theirs and it sparks your memory and you think, "hey, I loved that one too!". Course nay sayers will say, but if you really loved it it will stick in your memory. Sorry, it doesn't really work like that, not when there is 2-3 movies released every week, when new songs are created daily, and when there are so many foods untasted.

I can't pick my favorite song, there are too many, but I can narrow down my top favorite bands. I can tell you my favorite type of food, if you categorize it...i.e., favorite American Food is hot dogs, favorite ethnic food is Indian, followed close by Thai, favorite snack food are fries..

I know my favorite place in the world is Ireland but my favorite vacation so far has been my trip to Jordan and Egypt. So you see, when people what is your favorite.....I cringe! *giggle*

Irish yearnings

Yesterday I was listening to some of my podcasts about Ireland and they were just bringing up little hidden gems and things that you don't know think about doing or learning something new about the things you DO always want to visit.

I don't know if you know this about me but Ireland is my favorite place in the world. I know the geography of Ireland better then I know the US.

I went several years ago and in that 9 days I was able to squeeze in the whole bottom half of the country and got most of the touristy things out of the way so that the next visit can be a hunker down and explore one area and take your time. (I did have to cut out a few things that still need to be done, and will be since I will go back to Ireland several million times,  but for the most part I accomplished a LOT and even snuck in some of those hidden gems I had discovered before hand as well.) I had some Ah-mazing experiences and stories to remember.

So as I was listening to these and hearing about things that I would have never ever really thought about doing: like going to Valentia Island and seeing the tetrapod tracks that have been revealed from lower tides that is amazing! I had never heard of that before so onto my new checklist it went along with a few other things they mentioned. And by checklist I mean a file in my Internet folder labeled Ireland, the next trip! They mention checking out touristy things that are touristy for a reason but go with this little story in mind and keep the experience intimate.

The whole time I just was getting a huge desire to go back as soon as possible. The thing is, I have this philosophy that I don't go to the same place twice until I have been to all the places I want to go once. When you think about it, it makes since, why spend money you are saving to see the world on a place you have already visited when it puts you behind again a few years to seeing the other places you want to see...HOWEVER, I think I need the return trip to Ireland sooner rather than later and I may have to put off a couple of places that aren't as important to me to get back before moving on.....so I am thinking 2015 a return trip to Ireland, (next year is Italy, already in the planning), with a whole new list of adventures to discover. And no matter how many days i spend i will never be able to get it all in.

If anyone wants to go in on an international property for a little cottage set in the county Clare or Kerry, you just go ahead and let me know!*GRIN* *Giggle*

Jordan, the country

I was watching a documentary on Queen Noor and it just made me remember how much I love the country of Jordan. Something about it appealed to me and I fell in love with the people, the country and the culture. I can see how she quickly became a part of it and never looked back.

I am reminded of a time when we spent the night at a Bedouin camp, there was entertainment of course and us not really knowing what was going on, a reenactment a traditional Jordanian/Bedouin wedding. We were next to this cute bombastic couple just in for the dinner as they were on their way to their vacation in Aqaba. They were from Qatar? I want to say Qatar because I am pretty sure it was a country with a Q, but I would have to look it up in my journal at home later to be sure. SOOOO nice, he made sure to include the dumb blond American girl in the whole thing and encouraged us to follow the dancers, and explained what was going on. His wife talked to us and laughed with us and we all just felt like old friends! THAT is what you can expect from the people out there. Granted, they were not Jordanian but it is just the way you are out there. Literally, they will give you the shirt of their back if you ask

We are so immersed in the culture of reciprocity that if someone gives us something we immediately feel indebted to them because for the most part, we are…people DO in a way expect a turn of favor at some point in time. Not Jordanians. In fact, to them, it is almost insulting to turn down their offer, it offends them. They WANT to give it to you and don’t think twice about it. Example. My traveling companion love the music our driver was listening to (we had a private tour), and commented asking where she could find the CD…he took it out and gave it to here. She tried to protest and he didn’t understand why…..I had to tell her to take it and just say thank you which led us all to the discussion previously mentioned above. I had the time of my life and they were just so awesome. PLEASE if you get the chance, go to Jordan!

Reading standard changes....

I was just listening to an NPR story about people who are changing the reading standards for education in high school. It may sound fantastic but let me warn you, it is NOT all it sounds to be.

They have decided somewhere in their research that fiction is not developing the intelligence that non-fiction does and that by cutting that out and focusing on non-fiction, kids are smarter....I say PHOOEY! and I have decided to do my own research on this just to ease my mind and see how stupid they are. In case you don't understand, that means they are taking out the classics....Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mocking Bird, Catcher in the Rye, Great Expectations...oh they say they are going to balance it, yet then say they are going to focus mainly on non-fiction? Make up your mind.

I couldn't tell you when General Lee's birthday is and what his fathers occupation was but I can still tell you about the actions of Boo Radley and Scout were along with George and Lennie's story!

In my mind, using creative fiction as a lesson is imperative. Kids have to use their imagination to see the story, to feel the words and what they are trying to say; using your imagination that way allows the brain to develop. AND, with creative writing, there is more vocabulary choices, expanding the words which kids are exposed to. You can't use a lot of words to talk about Civil Rights movement unless someone creates new texts embellishing the environment around the situation at the time...see what I am saying.

Oh, but they ARE keeping in some Shakespeare (though not all of it and they only read some acts)and poetry. I actually can't stand Shakespeare or poetry...who decided that that is what our kids need to get smarter. Ok, to be fair, that is what all school curriculum focuses on but really, I HATE poetry. I can't understand it, get lost in the rhyme and metaphors and focus to much on the logistics to understand the point they are trying to make. I can't read it, I don't enjoy it and if that was ALL we were allowed and given to read in school I would be SO behind. I am not the only one. The only one I like is Poe because it is not really poetry in the normal sense and I can understand what he is trying to say.

By limiting what we expose our children too, we limit their ability to flourish. Teenagers don't want to focus on school and reading anyway, by taking about interesting stories and replacing most of that with boring non-fiction, you are going to lose a lot of kids.

Here, listen, you decide. This has GREAT points on my side of the argument hahaha while telling you why they are deciding to do this

NPR.org New Reading standards

Simple pleasures

I LOVE going to the movies; the whole experience, the smell, the walking up the aisle to enter the theater. One of my favorite pastime's is going to a movie. (hes i have tons of other favorite things to do and a lot of them are active! lol). As i pulled into the parking lot of the movie theater last night and parked out in BFE yet again I was thinking how movies will always prevail. People will always go to the movies in good times and bad. Even old war movies show people going to the movies and even if it is a treat, it IS a treat and everyone wants to go. I had a friend once who loved going to the movies as much as me and always said we should just own a movie theater! She was somewhat serious too lol!

Parking rant

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a real problem with people who back into parking stalls. The only time where I feel it is fine is in a parking lot where you can pull through, other than that it is a huge inconvenience. Seriously. Those who do it try and tell me it is "safer" and that if you are good at it it doesn't take any longer than pulling into a spot. I say bull!

Oh and on top of that it is annoying because you KNOW that one way or another you are looking over your shoulder and "backing" up....at least when you are doing it as backing out, you are not making it harder on others. To back in does, and let me just tell you about those:

No matter what you say, it DOES take longer. Because by backing in, you have to align your car with the stall and make sure you are not hitting another car.
The problem with that is that not everyone can do that well and so the number 2 issue is the way it is parked. Especially big trucks. How many times have you had to squeeze into your car because the car next to you is too close to one line or the other? Not many but it does happen. Now when they back in it happens SO much more often. Many times I have been forced to park at an odd angle because they can't park straight pulling in backwards.

Another issue is that if there are cars behind you while looking for a spot, or a car coming up the aisle, then those parking backwards make US have to back up too. They have to pull forward to swing backwards so we just keep following to have them back up, meaning then we have to stop, put our car in reverse and then back up etc etc....LAME

So what brought this to a head for me today, besides the fact that this has always bugged me and I have said this many times, is that stupid lady at work who always pulls in backward had her door wide open into the adjoining spot, that was empty, that I was going to pull into, but because the door was swinging the other way I had to WAIT for her to close it before I could pull in. Now, if you saw someone waiting to pull into the spot that you were preventing them from doing so, you would have closed your door and waited to finish your getting ready to get out until they had not been inconvenienced anymore...At least I would hope that was your thought process. BUT NO! she continued to gather her things and haul herself out of her car. Seeing that she wasn't going to be courteous, i REVERSED, and pulled into a spot a few stalls down. I had parked, gotten out, and started walking just as she finished getting out and started walking. I mean seriously!

On a side note, she is so inconsiderate that she got to the door before me and opened it and then just let it close, didn't hold it open knowing someone was coming so if that is how she is i should just expect that kind of thing from her. Her parents did a major fail on teaching her life manners and norms. She is not a young kid either.

Woe is me

It is definately a "I need french fries" kinda day.....'nuff said

Where or where has creativity gone...

Has anyone noticed the noticeably lack of creativity in Hollywood these days? TV shows seem to all reality (whole stations are dedicated to them, TLC) and they get trashier and trashier as they go along. Can we NOT see that DC Cupcakes is totally scripted?

Movies are sparingly innovative or original, and most are now adaptations of books or sequels that never die (can we say Die Hard). Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the books I love being made into movies and seeing the story come to life, IF they do it right that is lol and since whenever do book readers ever feel the movie does the book justice. This is not a new concept, some of the best movies are from books (Anne of Green Gables, Pride and Prejudice) but now that seems ALL they are doing.

That being said.....COME ON! Use your imaginations again. Bring us movies like the Brat pack movies that live on forever in stardom, movies like Inception that make you think, Signs and The Others that have such twists you can't help but talk about it for years to come (and give you such classic one-liners). ET, Star Wars, Raising Arizona, Thelma and Louise, Pulp Fiction, Never Been Kissed, The Never Ending Story, North Shore (I didn't say they had to be great movies. *innocent smile*), etc etc...I could go on but I am not at home at the moment to look at my array of DVD's to get more examples lol.

Anyway, I look forward to the few and far between movies that are not based on another person's all ready published imagination


PS, Admission? I will be first in line when they make Wicked into a movie, doubt it not! *GRIN*

What next.......?

You know that old catch phrase, when it rains it pours? Well it does. Amazingly though, I have come through it all with only a modicum of a bad attitude. Monday started off like any Monday, that is bad enough in itself right? There were some issues at work that I had to spend all day fixing and it was just annoying.

Then, on Tuesday, I get a phone call that my mother is driving herself to the hospital for what turned out to be appendicitis. They were going to "fit" her surgery in so I had no time frame of which to use to take time off of work. I was also working my second job that night so I had to figure something out there. Then I found out that a friend who is fighting cancer was not doing well and stopped breathing and was put back in ICU.  Great drama day.

As I was leaving the hospital to go home and get a few things for the mother, my car started acting funny and now my car needs to go into the shop (SERIOUSLY better not be anything expensive :(). So that happens, I have to leave for my other job and then not get home till midnight, finally fall asleep just after one to have to get up at 6:00 (after working all day and night 6 hours of which was on my feet) to go check on the hospital patient.

I leave work early and pick her up, take her home and then work from home to monitor her. I HATE working from home. To distracted, slow connection, can't print etc. Even though the mom was doing well and it seemed like things might settle down, I then find out an old colleague was murdered early that morning, and that my friend in the hospital with cancer really wasn't doing well and may not recover.

After a good cry I finally slept, to have to face another day and wonder what lies in store for me in the not so subtle drama department....please let it not be anything.

Morning commute....

Driving to work this morning I notice three things:


1) The tire/rim van driving next to me with the naked girl on the back covered by only a rim? Sure, it definitely made me look twice, but not in a good way. Instead I had to make sure that was what I really saw and instead of making me want to go there I will stay far away from a company that uses classless/tasteless advertising. Sadly, guys probably will go because of the same reason!

2) The mini van riding my ass this morning had stupid skull and crossbones on the back window to indicate the family. I notice this as i get over to let her pass me and she does going over 80 but then gets over into the express lane and all of the sudden I see the van slowing and I actually pass her, to notice the police van up ahead. Ha! Reminds me of yesterday and a red little car does the same thing to me and there was a highway patrol up ahead, car finally notices, slams on the breaks, gets over into the cops lane...the cop slows down, moves over, red car passes, cop pulls him over. lol

3) As much as I like listening to a part of the radio from hell show, i sometimes want to smack Kerry and Bill. Those two have the most narrow/closed minded opinions, all in the name of Liberalism. And they think THEY are so open minded and stupid Utah (aka Mormons) need to open up. Oh the hypocrisy. Oh, and KOHS Orem rocks. I LOVE that these little Orem High boys and girls know what is great music! *GRIN*

SAY THE WORD CORRECTLY!!!!!

I know this isn't fair but I REALLY don't like the southern accent. And to save myself the greif of the gripes and judgements of others I won't go into why. BUT, I will say just one thing.......

TOMATO AND POTATO DO NOT END WITH AN "A"!!!!!!!!!!

I am sorry but EVERY time I hear someone pronounce tomato or potato as "tamata" or "potata" I visibley cringe. (I also cringe when Jalapeno is pronounced Hal-a-pee-no....come on now, you watch TV, have seen ONE cooking show., you KNOW it is not pronounced that way. *sigh*) Don't get me started on the word Crick, better known to all us other people as creek. Or Iran and Iraq (can we just say that we don't say I-taly, I-lliois, so WHY do you say I-raq and I-ran...the natives don't, so why do you make us sound uneducated and disrespecting of the country by constantly mispronouncing it!)

I could go on and on and on about the words people mispronounce, as it is is on my top ten of an albeit very long list of pet peeves but this post is about Tomato and Potato having just watched one of my cooking shows where it was said several times and I just about screamed.

I say again...THERE IS NO A AT THE END! There is a ditty about you say po-tay-to I say Po-toh-to/I say to-may-to you say to-moh-to, but no where in that ditty does it say either of you say tamAta. So WHY do you do it? Why? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

I leave you with this:
Tomato
Iraq
Jalapeno
creek

Second job woes

There are a lot of reasons that I am sick of having two jobs. Mainly though, I just miss my get up and go desire to do...thing, anything. I heart cooking and I heart movies, both of which I just don't have the desire to spend my precious stolen moments doing. As much as I love movies, I don't have the time to go because I am always working the weekend and then I say, well, I can just go after work sometime during the week that I am not working at Target but then the time comes and I think, " but that is 3 hours and I still have to go home and walk the dog, make something to eat, "settle" and then go to bed because I have to work the next day both jobs". So, movies become something I don't get to as often int he theater which makes me sad because I just love the whole experience of going to the movie. I love the atmosphere, the smells, etc. Sad face :(

But as I made a chilled avocado soup tonight I lament at not enjoying it. I LOVE to cook, and taking my time and turning out a spectacular meal. But to do that, to me, it has to be a craft, not a necessity. I got a new cookbook from my aunt and saw this soup that looked so good. But my umph to do it wained as i had to go to the store and get the stuff and then 3days later it was something I had to do instead of wanted to do. I got home from work and started it, again, just because I had the stuff and my mother kept asking about it. It called for chicken consume but I couldn't find any at the store, grazing a recipe on-line it looked like a souped up version of chicken broth so the cook in me thinks of substitution. As I make the soup, I try it, and it tastes like Avocado with chicken broth :(. I look at the recipe more in depth, and it takes a lot more then jazzing up chicken broth and I have no desire to do it. It would take 2 hours to reduce etc and I just give and and say, "nah".

6 months ago it wouldn't have phased me, I would have delved into the chore and relished in the outcome. So I reiterate, this job is doing taking the fun out of the things I find fun. Woe is me

Phones, ipads and tablets oh my...

OK. So. I have an issue. I have an issue with the fact that we are such an electronic world. I enjoy it, I revel in it and I admit to feel a disconnect when I don't have my phone. In the spirit of embracing technology, it is great, but sadly, we use it way too much as a crutch now. People do not interact with each other let alone be alone with their own thoughts. This comes to my attention when I see everyone on their phones in the movies, or doctors offices....anytime they are waiting. i am guilty of this and will most likely still do this. When wait time is long I can understand....what I can't understand is using the smart phone as a means to avoid ANY spare time with yourself. Going down an elevator. Yes, i think people do this more now when others enter to avoid the awkwardness but still, it is 3 floors people (at least in my building). And when everyone in the elevator pulls out their phone for the 20 second right it is down right sad.

Other examples are the lines at lunch or fast food or checkout lines at stores....if you are waiting, you are pulling out the phone. Or when you see people eating together and they are all on the phone; when people are driving in the car and all are on the phone talking to other people; even walking down the hallway.

When I went to Greece with a friend, we didn't have use of our phone internationally (neither of us had a smart phone yet) and for the first few days it was fine, then it was time to check in, found an Internet cafe and that was that. Everyday for at least 30 minutes she was, g-chatting, emailing, etc, haha. I will brag and say I refrained and only did it once in a while! Course it was her first experience abroad and i was a veteran.

My first time it was really funny, 2003, no such things as smart phones, and international calls were done with phone cards! I was doing study abroad in Cambridge, England. We didn't even have Internet access. Finally, about 1 1/2 -2 weeks later we realized we had access to their computer lab and logged in....there is a movie in which someone is in Ireland and she says she feels disconnected and she "long to fax something"...lol..well that is kind of how we felt. There was an audible sigh as my email came up! hahaha

Then, came Peru where I added an international plan and chatted when necessary. Recently in Egypt I had it all and yes, yes I did connect to the free wi-fi when I could, I will not tell a lie.....BUT, in general......

Why can't people spend that 20 seconds looking around you, thinking of...anything. Are we so afraid of using are minds and brains instead of having thoughts provided for us. I may be dramatic but what is going to happen to our kids. To take it to a bigger dramatic level, same goes with using portable DVD players or handing over video games or your phone to keep kids occupied.. We are taking away the ability for them to develop their imagination. Ok, enough of a lecture. And trust me, I have used the electronic babysitter many times before and will again, but I do pay attention to how much I use it :)

I heard of the challenge where people put their phones on the table upside down in a pile at the end of the table and the first person to pick it up pays! I like the concept and have used it a few times out with family and friends. I extend the challenge and say leave your phone in your purse while you go to lunch at work, even if it is downstairs; make a personal goal to never pull your phone out walking down the hallway or in the elevator. Start simple, take a look around instead, people watch and imagine, dream, or even pick apart people haha, just use the noggin.

Stupidbowl

When did the stupidbowl...ah hem, I mean superbowel become such a food oriented "holiday" Don't get me started on football but let's think about it for a minute. I can understand drinking, If I drank I would have to be drunk to enjoy the game too (tounge in cheek) but of all the food holidays, where did this one get's it's place. If I had to guess, I would think it came from tailgating and I would probably be right. Still, it amazes me that there are food shows dedicated to making Game Day foods, cookbooks, grocery sales and parties all centered around the food...oh, and I guess some of them actually watch the game. Sorry, is my distaste for football and the stupidbowl coming through?

So the US has Thanksgiving and Christmas and Easter as food planning events, and now we add Stupidbowl Sunday......just, think about that in context! *GRIN*

Careful....religious talk ahead

OK, so I am very curious about a lot of things concerning religious judgments and things like shunning. I am a very religious person, and proud of it. There are things in my religion I don't always agree with and make decisions based on my faith in the gospel I know to be true, and will accept the consequence for things I may not follow perfectly.

But I ask, where in the Bible does it ever talk about God turning his back on anyone because they didn't follow his rules. That is what we are down here for right, to make our own choices and reap the consequences of them but HE is the consequence, He and Christ make those judgements and decisions of the outcome of said choices. Even then, he is always there to hear you, listen to you, guide and accept you and welcome you into his arms. So where do religions decided that shunning is an acceptable practice. It is a bit hypocritical isn't is? In the 10 commandments it says to love one another, to treat your neighbor and he would, which is with unconditional love.

This all came up as I was watching the latest episode of Grey's. It is all about the controversial blood transfusion with the Jehovah Witness's. If you do anything against their beliefs, you will be shunned. Why would anyone think that God would condone that behavior.You are turning your back on someone who needs you because you feel they didn't make the right choice?  Maybe they didn't but the God I believe in would be more disappointed in you for taking into your hands that which is his to decision to make and for not doing what he asked of all of us; to love and accept each other and not to make judgements. Again, i reiterate....that is his job, not ours. Even if what someone did was against something I believe is right (or wrong), I will voice it, but then I will also sit down to a move and dinner with that someone, I will invite them to dinner, I will talk to them on the phone and invite them to my wedding/birthday etc. Because I accept them and the decisions they made as their own and not anything to with me and MY relationship with God. They will deal with whatever happens on their own....how does that affect me again? Oh that is right...IT DOESN'T. Don't get me wrong, respect their belief's by all means but I just wonder what answer they have to that. I am sure they have one, but I am just as sure there is something else out there to counter with.

My religion is not perfect. The other day a leader in our church publicly said that basically, women should accept what they have achieved so far and stop pushing for more; to basically, get back in the kitchen, have babies and be happy with that!. Don't worry, all of us that know better laugh it off as the personal belief on someone stuck back in the day and not what the Presidency of the church asked her to say....and that she shouldn't really be in charge of our youth. But, to others, they are going to be offended, use this as a soundbite, an excuse to diss the church etc etc. That is where faith comes in.

My point is, the Church is run by people, and people are made to error. Accept that, find your own relationship with your religion (and no, that is not an encouragement to pick and choose the things you like. If you believe, you need to follow....who cares if you think it is stupid and no one does that these days, it won't hurt you to follow it either now will it.) But regardless of all it's faults, even my religion, which excommunicates people from the church, will not shun them. Quite the opposite.  They may be "kicked" out of the church, but they are always welcome back with open arms and even encouraged. More attention and acceptance is given to help them find their way instead of punishing and ridicule. At least, that is what should happen and what is supposed to happen. I cannot account for everyone as there are zealots and people on the wrong path in our Church just as there is in any other.

Rant done.

Past Musings

These are thoughts I have had in the recent past, but never got around to setting up the blog in time to post them, so I jotted them down and vowed to included them...so...here are a few! As time goes on I will work on format etc....just to warn you, I am NOT a creative person! *GRIN*

1) As cashiers you can kinda of make a judgment on people without judging them, so for example, the couple that comes through buying both a  pregnancy test AND condoms….makes you wonder a bit. (and yes, WE DO actually think about what you are buying, sorry, we just do, lol) maybe the condoms are for just after in case it comes out negative?  But my favorite is when a young couple, the girl very pretty, skinny and stylish, both look barely 22, comes through to by their groceries and there is Kraft Mac and Cheese, Frozen Budget meals, top roman and soda……you KNOW you are thinking the same thing right now! POOR COUPLE! It like watching teenagers try and live on their own with their boyfriend/girlfriend, like they don’t know how to be grownups! If neither of them cooks and THAT is how they live…..then it is just so sad. Buy some fresh meat, some fruit, veggies, pasta and sauce, rice, bread, etc ..etc etc..*sigh* It is ok for the young bachelor college student. When they come through with all frozen meals, the typically spaghetti, top roman, peanut butter and jelly, frozen pizza…That I just smile at because it is so obvious it is their first time on their own…but this…

2) Cashier pet peeve #10021

When people come up to your line and ask if you are bored, or say “you look bored”, etc… Ha Ha, you are SOOO FUNNY (note the sarcasm in my words please) because you are the first person to say anything to me like that already or ever….or maybe  like the 50^th! So unoriginal yet they all seem to think they just made the funniest conversation piece. *gee, I’m so clever”.. NOT! Let me let you in on a little secret….we have heard that before, many times, that same shift

3) Look, I understand needing to do your make up in the morning at work but to do it all the time, and when the space is small, and you are taking up most of the area, someone walks up to the sink and you don’t really move over……get up earlier and do your make up at home!

4) What do you take for granted living in America? When I first read the story of the Icelandic girl who was only referred to as girl officially because they rejected the name her mother chose because it was not feminine enough….and not on the approved list of names dictated by the government….I was in shock an awe and thought to myself, how can a government pick your name for you! I was incensed and in disbelief. Growing up with the freedoms we have we totally take little things like being able to name your kid ridiculous names like Blue Ivy, Kal-el, and Radio science for granted.  I guess there are several countries that have a policy on what you can name your children. There was a story in Hawaii that a kid went to court to change her name because it was so embarrassing that she never used it and the court did something to the parents for choosing the name (never heard what it was) but THAT is the closest I have ever heard of government getting involved in the naming of its citizens. God Bless America!

5) As I am listening to my music today and being quite happy in my choice today, I think of those who don't have the benefit of my musical taste. My nephew is a huge country music fan. I can’t stand it. Being from SoCal, I am a pure punk rocker! Even to the point of snobbishness (as in when my favorite underground band becomes popular I get annoyed lol). So I constantly give him a hard time. The other day my mom asks him why he likes it so much and to her he explains “what other choices do I have out there?” And when you look at it like that, I guess country is the wholesomeest…..sort of. It is mellow, talks of heartbreak and hard times. I despise rap more than country but not by much more. My brother loves rap. (not this nephew’s parent) and I just cannot understand. Rap is full of oppressing, degrading, violent-ness and NOTHING good comes from that music other than the ability to dance to it. Only the few songs that talk about something other than killing, racest remarks, ho’s, drugs, guns, smacking the bitch, sex, lust etc etc etc are worth anything. So why my brother likes it….well, I actually know lol. My point in the roundaboutness that is my mind, is that my nephew has a point. HOWEVER, my music is STILL a better choice than always talking about lowliness, cheating others, drinking and depressiveness and heartbreak. My music has a point. They are always talking about statements, the environment, politics, love, aliens, uhm…doll parts (but hey its symbolic!) ….*GRIN* etc etc….and yes, sex but not In the degrading keep the unworthy women as a sex object only way rap does…so in the end my music is the “other choice” he has….but he is too far gone L lol