They Heard Me !?!?

How many readers remember my proposal last year at election time about citizens getting to vote on what projects they wanted their tax dollars to fund?

Well.. check out this little gem! Little did I know it was already underway. We may not be voting on it yet, but at least we can be informed. Get reading!

http://usaspending.gov/

Poor Man's Toffee

I can't take credit f or this recipe. Consider it another in my "great recipes of friend's" series. Emily Harris was the first to introduce me to this. Every time I've made since then (3 years ago), it lasts only seconds before complete devouration (is that a word?).

Try it for your next Christmas party. You'll be a hit. I promise.

Ingredients:
2 sleeves of ritz crackers
3/4 cup br. sugar
3/4 cup butter
chocolate chips
chopped nuts/sprinkles

Directions:

Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil, lightly spray with pan spray.

Break crackers in half, or thirds, and place on cookie sheet.

Preheat oven to 350.

Bring sugar and butter to boil for 3 minutes --

Pour mixture over crackers -- toss to evenly coat the crackers.

Bake for 5 minutes -- turn oven off.

Sprinkle chocolate chips over crackers and place back in oven to melt chocolate for 3 minutes.

Once melted, spread chocolate over crackers and top with chopped nuts or sprinkles.

Best if cooled completely and then refrigerated and broken up.

Number Of Servings:Lots

Preparation Time:15 minutes?

Another Road Trip and Random Thoughts

Early tomorrow morning, I'll be enroute to Iowa via plane and R.V. I wish I could give all the details, but suffice it to say it should be a fun time and I'll be gone for a month. I'll try to still blog periodically, but know that I will be very busy - and it may be sporadic.



Random Thoughts:

Nail Salons - Is it too much to ask to find a nail salon that speaks English well and doesn't try to upsell EVERYTHING under the sun? I've been a patron for several years. In the last year or so, going to the very same place, I have gotten accustomed to saying, "I need a fill. Just acrylic. No, I don't want gel. I don't want a pedicure. I don't want an airbrused design. I don't want anything waxed. I ONLY want an acrylic fill". I try to say it with a smile.


Christmas Shopping - After many retailers announced this year that they would open at 4am on black Friday, I officially decided I'm done with conventional Christmas shopping. I can't believe companies truly believe consumers want to start shopping more than sleep on a family weekend. I can't believe consumers actually go and do this, and feed the frenzy. I'm sorry if you were one of those consumers.

A Needed Blast from the Past

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/156/story_15656.html

Playlist Experiment

I thought I'd give this a try. Enjoy a little soundtrack to your reading.

A few dedications -

• Tarzan Boy - To Kim. I'm not sure why, but this song always reminds me of you.
• Independent Love Song - To Megan, Eryn, Kristy and Becky (aka Club 22) - here's to watching "Bed of Roses" repeatedly and requesting this at the Rollar Rink.

BTW- Listen to One Republic's "Stop and Stare". It's been a while since I've fallen so instantly in love with a song. Holy cow. I have to restrain myself from putting it on repeat. It just makes me wish I had a new crush to daydream about!

Thanksgiving Sans Guilt

This recipe was in my inbox this morning from RealAge.com. The Busse family is headed to TN for Thanksgiving, and won't be baking our own pies this year for sake of refrigerator space at the family reunion. However... I'll look forward to using this soon. I'm a firm believer that pumkin pie should be fully taken advantage of!

Healthied-Up Pumpkin Pie Crust
That flaky, rich crust makes pumpkin pie one luscious treat. But it sure doesn't do your figure any favors. What if you could have your pie and eat it, too, without the pastry guilt? You can! We've got a pumpkin pie crust recipe that cuts carbs, fat, and calories and still tastes delicious.

RealAge Benefit: Avoiding saturated and trans fats can make your RealAge more than 4 years younger.

References: EatingWell's Pumpkin Pie Crust. EatingWell.com, 2007. More about this Tip: EatingWell's Pumpkin Pie CrustOften the crust is where all the saturated fat and calories are lurking in a pumpkin pie. (Learn how saturated fat affects blood sugar levels.) But not with this tender crust. Here's what you'll need:

Ingredients
3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons ice water

1. Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. With your fingers, quickly rub butter into the dry ingredients until the pieces are smaller in size but still visible. Add sour cream and oil; toss with a fork to combine. Sprinkle water over the mixture and toss with a fork until evenly moist. Knead the dough in the bowl a few times -- the mixture will still be a little crumbly. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead a few more times, until the dough just holds together. Shape into a 5-inch disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

2. Remove the dough from the refrigerator; let stand for 5 minutes to warm slightly. Roll between sheets of parchment or wax paper into a 13-inch circle. Peel off the top sheet and invert the dough into a 9-inch pie pan. Peel off the remaining paper. Trim the crust with kitchen shears or a butter knife so it overhangs the edge of the pan evenly. Tuck the overhanging crust under, forming a double-thick edge. Flute the edge with your fingers.

3. Proceed with your favorite pumpkin pie recipe.

Nutrition information (per serving): 104 calories; 12 g carbohydrates; 6 g fat; (2 g sat, 2 g mono); 2 g protein; 7 mg cholesterol; 1g fiber; 10 mg potassium; 118 mg sodium.

Check out all the healthy-but-still-yummy Thanksgiving recipes at EatingWell.com.

If I were a Crayon...

Thanks to Shelly for the idea of this one...

you are lightcyan #E0FFFF

Your dominant hues are green and blue. You're smart and you know it, and want to use your power to help people and relate to others. Even though you tend to battle with yourself, you solve other people's conflicts well. Your saturation level is very low - you have better things to do than jump headfirst into every little project. You make sure your actions are going to really accomplish something before you start because you hate wasting energy making everyone else think you're working. Your outlook on life is very bright. You are sunny and optimistic about life and others find it very encouraging, but remember to tone it down if you sense irritation.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

These are a Few of my Favorite Things

In no particular order:

1. Fuji apples- self picked from the orchard
2. Locations with loads of books - chiefly Barnes & Noble and public libraries
3. Fall colors
4. Peppermint and Spearmint herbal teas
5. Ghiradelli 60% Cacao chips
6. BYU Football
7. Cross-country roadtrips
8. Moby Dick's House of Kabobs
9. Campfires
10. Falling asleep to Frasier reruns
11. Green Chile - from Luna Co. NM
12. Sitting on the marble of any DC monument
13. Watching for shooting stars
14. Pedicures
15. Good lectures
16. Fleece blankets

To be continued....

Veteran's Day

I'm a few days late this year in wishing Happy Birthday to the Marine Corps. I suppose the observance of Veteran's Day is a good time to get it in, if I'm going to be tardy. Tonight, I will be joining the family with our favorite Veteran (and Marine) my dad for the annual Golden Corral Military Appreciation Night.

Take a minute to see Go Daddy's 2007 video for the Marine Corps Birthday. You can find it here.

It only takes a moment to send an email, text message or phone call to someone in your life who has answered the call to serve our country, to say thank you. Don't let that moment pass you by today.

Blast from the Past

I can't help it. I admit that I loved watching the Brady Bunch in syndication. Here's a little cheesy chunk of sunshine for you today.

A Great Night

I have to be honest. Tonight is a close 2nd to Christmas Eve in the running for the night I look forward to most with childlike anticipation. Tonight, I get an extra hour. As I posted last year, as someone who frequently wishes for more than 24 hours a day, daylight savings is a very joyous occasion.

This year, I am celebrating in a Super 8 in Bristol, VA. Say what you will, but a king-sized bed in a one star hotel with a big screen TV and a room all to myself without interruptions is a little slice of heaven. And, in case you were wondering, I came to this corner of Virginia for business. It wouldn't have been the first location to pop into my head as a great weekend getaway.

Here's wishing you the best possible use of your gift of an extra 60 min. tonight!

If I were Ice Cream...

Thanks to Mer for the idea of this quiz. I was pretty happy with the results. It is my favorite flavor, afterall...

A Halloween Message

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!I couldn't resist putting it together- this program made it too dang fun!!!

Our 50 States

Here is a map of the states I have traveled to. It looks like I need to plan vacations in New England, the Upper Midwest and the Pacific Northwest! I will be in Tennessee for Thanksgiving, so that will be one more to check off next month. I don't know that I'll ever hit Arkansas. I can't fathom an excuse to go to there.

(I think my template is too narrow to support the whole map. You'll have to trust me that everything north of Massachusetts is unshaded.)

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Please turn a blind eye to the early 90's hairstyles and take a few minutes to listen.

This is my favorite arrangement and instrumentation for this angelic hymn. Tomorrow morning I'll get to sing another arrangement of it with the Young Women in our ward. I can't wait.

Do we not all feel prone to wander at some point? And, haven't you felt to offer up your heart to courts above? The honesty and humanity of the hymn are my favorite attributes.

Oh, How I Love Jib Jab

My initial love for Jib Jab came during the 2000 election cycle and their Bush/Gore rap. "GWB, I got the family tree.. you know my rhymes are goin' burn you to the third degree..." (I hate to admit I could probably still remember the whole thing).

Here's one that I also love because of my non-secretive feelings for Walmart. Enjoy!

Big Box Mart Funny Jokes at JibJab

An Ode to Books

In danger of sounding too much like the nerd I can be, I hestitate to tell you I spent last night watching C-Span. But, I did.

I found myself glued to Irshad Manji's address to the American Library Association's annual conference. I could go on about her message, which really resonated with me. But, I just wanted to pass on the poem she closed with. It's better outloud than on a screen. Go ahead and memorize it. I dare you.

P.S. Yes, I already get the irony of watching TV to hear the poem.

From Ronald Dahl's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

The most important thing we've learned,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never, NEVER, NEVER let
Them near your television set–
Or better still, just don't install
The idiotic thing at all.
In almost every house we've been,
We've watched them gaping at the screen.
They loll and slop and lounge about,
And stare until their eyes pop out.
(Last week in someone's place we saw
A dozen eyeballs on the floor.)
They sit and stare and stare and sit
Until they're hypnotised by it,
Until they're absolutely drunk
With all the shocking ghastly junk.
Oh yes, we know it keeps them still,
They don't climb out the window sill,
They never fight or kick or punch,
They leave you free to cook the lunch
And wash the dishes in the sink–
But did you ever stop to think,
To wonder just exactly what
This does to your beloved tot?
IT ROTS THE SENSES IN THE HEAD!
IT KILLS IMAGINATION DEAD!
IT CLOGS AND CLUTTERS UP THE MIND!
IT MAKES A CHILD SO DULL AND BLIND
HE CAN NO LONGER UNDERSTAND
A FANTASY, A FAIRYLAND!
HIS BRAIN BECOMES AS SOFT AS CHEESE!
HIS POWERS OF THINKING RUST AND FREEZE!
HE CANNOT THINK–HE ONLY SEES!
'All right!' you'll cry. 'All right!' you'll say,'
But if we take the set away,
What shall we do to entertain
Our darling children? Please explain!'
We'll answer this by asking you,
'What used the darling ones to do?'
How used they keep themselves contented
Before this monster was invented?
'Have you forgotten? Don't you know?
We'll say it very loud and slow:
THEY...USED...TO...READ! They'd READ and READ,
AND READ and READ, and then proceed
To READ some more. Great Scott! Gadzooks!
One half their lives was reading books!
The nursery shelves held books galore!
Books cluttered up the nursery floor!
And in the bedroom, by the bed,
More books were waiting to be read!
Such wondrous, fine, fantastic takes
Of dragons, gypsies, queens, and whales
And treasure isles, and distant shores
Where smugglers rowed with muffled oars,
And pirates wearing purple pants,
And sailing ships and elephants,
And cannibals crouching 'round the pot,
Stirring away at something hot.
(It smells so good, what can it be?
Good gracious, it's Penelope.)
The younger ones had Beatrix Potter
With Mr. Tod, the dirty rotter,
And Squirrel Nutkin, Pigling Bland,
And Mrs. Tiggy–Winkle and–
Just How The Camel Got His Hump,
And How The Monkey Lost His Rump,
And Mr. Toad, and bless my soul,
There's Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole–
Oh, books, what books they used to know,
Those children living long ago!
So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,
Go throw your TV set away,
And in its place you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Then fill the shelves with lots of books,
Ignoring all the dirty looks,
The screams and yells, the bites and kicks,
And children hitting you with sticks–
Fear not, because we promise you
That, in about a week or two
Of having nothing else to do,
They'll now begin to feel the need
Of having something good to read.
And once they start–oh boy, oh boy!
You watch the slowly growing joy
That fills their hearts. They'll grow so keen
They'll wonder what they'd ever seen
In that ridiculous machine,
That nauseating, foul, unclean,
Repulsive television screen!
And later, each and every kid
Will love you more for what you did.

Stars, Stripes and Essence

Symbol - 1. Something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance. 2. An object or act representing something in the unconscious mind. 3. An act, sound, or object having cultural significance and the capacity to excite or objectify a response.

Declaration of Indepence by John Trumbull

US Capitol Rotunda

Tomorrow flags will be waving and red, white and blue clothing will be the norm. Parades will be marching, watermelon will be sliced, fireworks will fulfill the measure of their creation and stressed Americans will revel in a day away from the workplace.

I can't help but wonder what a state our nation would be in if each of her citizens internalized the meaning behind the symbols of the stars and stripes,.. to be as inwardly American 365 days a year as we are outwardly on one.

I'm sure it's been going on since the dawn of our nation, but I seem to notice more UNcivil disobedience lately. News coverage of crime and even small town instances of petty theft and destruction are more prevalent. The attitude sometimes seems to be "I will do these things "because I can". And, this makes me think two things. 1. Thank goodness you can, because I have no interest in living in a society where law enforcement outnumbers regular citizens and 2. You're a bozo and are going to ruin that system.

Living in a free society means bearing the responsibility of living responsible lives. To me, the real essence of being an American is to live a good life. Basic? Yes. Why? Because we end up with fewer laws that way. New laws emerge when some element of human decency is interpreted as being bridged.

It's sometimes easy to view the government as a thing rather than a product of the people. But, it is true that our government is a product of the citizenry. We elect decision makers on a local, state and federal level. You cannot remove yourself from the election process or following what laws and statutes (or local ordinances) are being considered and then complain.

The 4th of July commemorates:
1. Independence from an oppressive government
2. Freedom to struggle and implement a divinely inspired framework of rule
3. Creation of a system whereby men are free to choose their path and talent and drive are the keys to future progression rather than caste.

In order to continue to have something to celebrate, we each need to "be good". Is that so hard?