A Little Ditty for You

Subtitled: An Ode to Kathy

It's been so long since I've posted regularly. In fact, the argument could be made that I never have. I would guess that I've lost what few readers I had.

Imagine my suprise and delight when I received an email yesterday about a comment from "Kathy". At first look, I wasn't sure who this was, so I clicked the profile link and found the former Ditty!

Nothing makes you feel as good as finding an unknown reader. Thanks for making my day. It makes me want to be a better blogger.

Also... as a side note - Bryan, I promise I got rid of my playlist before I read your post about them.

An Ode to METROMINT

I stumbled upon this little bit of heaven on my shopping trip today. In my blogging hiatus, I've neglected to tell you many things. One of these, is that I have given up Diet Dr. Pepper yet again and am drinking water. While looking for deals in the health/organic section, I saw this:

I have happy childhood memories of chewing on mint leaves in my Great Aunt Kay's backyard. Stemming from this, I love most things with a real mint (and sometimes not so real) flavor: herbal peppermint tea, the spearmint tea at Marrakesh, thin mints, wrigley's spearmint gum, etc. Add this now to the list. If you like a hint of mint, maybe you'll like it as much as I do.

Plus... the only ingredients are purified water and mint. Gotta love it!

www.metromint.com

Glenn Beck - President Hinckley

Part of what I've missed being on the road is my regular TV line up, Glenn Beck being a part of that. I am grateful I did have the opportunity to take time out to attend the broadcast of President Hinckley's funeral, though. It was so touching and moving to recall all I have learned from him and the number of times I quietly borne witness to that he was a man of God.

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