These Are a Few of My Favorite Things....

With the holidays approaching, I was thinking yesterday about all the cooking that goes on during them~ preparing special foods for company or visiting relatives, preparing the holiday meals, making specialty foods for gifts, and cooking for parties.
I LOVE cooking. I love making a whole bunch of different things and the best part is knowing that it will be enjoyed by people you care about. It's a lot of effort but it's so worth it.
There's a few things that make all this cooking and preparing even more enjoyable though, and these are a few that I am ga-ga over: the Williams-Sonoma veggie chopper and cute aprons, which you can find HERE.

The veggie chopper is something I wanted ever since I saw it on a TV infomercial, LOL. My mom had one and told me she got hers at Linens N Things or Bed, Bath and Beyond...I forget now. But then, several online cooking friends had all gotten one at Williams-Sonoma, and I just happened to have won a $500 gift card there (which you can read about HERE ), so I got myself down there and that was the first thing I bought! I am THRILLED with it! So much easier than hauling out the food processor for smaller amounts of things and it does quite a nice job. I don't use the garlic mincing part of it, b/c I prefer to chop my own garlic, but it's an option for those who aren't so picky about their garlic, LOL.

And, if you aren't wearing an apron while you cook, you MUST! It gives the whole process a totally different dynamic! These aprons are just the cutest ones I've ever seen, and when you're dressed up (or even if you're not) it's just nice to have something cute and "girly" on. Makes you feel kinda flirty while you're cookin' with gas, LOL.
Plus, it reminds me of simpler times~ grandma always wore an apron.
And what would be cuter on Christmas Day when you're all dolled up than wearing a really beautiful apron over your pretty Christmas ensemble? Love them! Check this catalog out; she's got some gorgeous aprons!


And one of my favorite luxuries is voluptuous vanilla~ and I get the best direct from the vine :D; my dad grows it~! I am currently on the prowl for a phenomenal vanilla muffin of some sort. When I find it and test it, I'll post it.

My other little kitchen luxury is candles~ my all time favorite is Yankee Candle's Fig and Olive, but for the holidays I try to find something a little more festive and fitting, like Bayberry or Christmas Pear~ which you can find HERE, along with some other interesting and unique holiday scents.

After talking about these lovely things, I feel like getting into the kitchen, putting on a cute apron and making something interesting!

What now, my love??

"What now my love? Now that it's over,
How can I live, through another day,
Watching my dreams turn into ashes;
And my hopes into bits of clay..."




I'm still in a state of shock. History has been made. And now we'll have to wait and see what we're left with....will it be promises kept or promises abandoned? Only time will tell.

I am a dreamer, and I believe that people are basically good. I believe when people show faith in you and support you, that you rise to their hopes and expectations in order to not let them down. To show them that their faith and their trust have not been misplaced. And to show them that hope can and will be, rewarded when we bother to care.

Will Obama rise to the challenges that are ahead of him and make decisions that are best for the nation and the world, and for the glue that holds us all together?

I hope so.

But I'm scared of the enormity of what lies ahead~ health care, environment, an impossible war, the economy, homeland security and rebuilding the optimism of this great country. It's a very big order.

The die has been cast; let this be a lesson to those who think it's useless to take the time to vote. Shame on you. We can no longer sit back and hope that we have a majority when the cultural demographics have so drastically changed. I wish Mr. Obama good luck and pray that he will surround himself with experienced and intelligent advisors and rely on them when he is overwhelmed by what he's about to experience. That he will listen to the good people of this country and respond appropriately.

Change is never easy. But it's how this nation was even conceived and established; and it's the only certain thing.

Aside from the presidential race, I am thrilled by the overwhelming victory of Prop 2 in CA. I'm sorry that people who raise livestock for food didn't set things up humanely to begin with, and now it will be a burden on them to do so, but IMO, we ought to be down on our knees worshipping animals who's only purpose in life (unbeknownst to them of course) is to provide us with food. I just think it's disgraceful what some people think is acceptable or tolerable conditions to keep animals (or ANYTHING that sustains us). Just disgraceful. I'm VERY happy about the passage of this proposition.

In the words of Ghandi: "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
Word.

I'm dismayed however, by the passing of Prop 8~ banning same-sex marriage. I think we need to move beyond this bias. And I'm totally, completely and thoroughly DISGUSTED by the media's handling of this proposition. AS IF it's not been going on for time immemorial, and as if it will not continue. To turn a blind eye does not make it not so. It's so incredibly hypocritical that it makes me ill to think of how many people fell for that crap about it being taught in schools. AS IF kids aren't going to learn about it on their own. Just because information (I.E., "teaching") is provided, doesn't mean that it's encouraging it. I mean, for God's sake; slavery is taught about in schools too, does that make it mainstream or encouraging it? NOOOO. WAKE UP PEOPLE. It makes me ashamed to know there's so many hypocrites out there. Look at your own family, look at your friends, look at your acquaintances....if you think you don't have gay people in your inner circle, you're ignorant. SOMEWHERE, they're there, for sure whether you know it or not. And if you don't truly want happiness and safety and security for them, WHETHER you agree with their choices or not, then I feel very sad for you, b/c you can't expect it for yourself if you can't want it for them too. We're all different; and it's not MY lifestyle either, but we're all human beings and deserve the same civil liberties and freedoms and respect as each other.

I won't even say anymore about how disgusted I am with the media; they do this all the time.
I call it abuse of power; they know the power of the written word, and yet, they refuse to be unbiased. Because, somewhere, sometime, palms are getting greased; they twist and turn things to reflect their own opinons (or the opinions of whoever signs their paycheck), when they are well aware of the fact that what they're saying is basically dishonest. Why even communicate if you can't be truthful and unbiased? Anything else is just a lie and worthless rhetoric.
Well, over and over again, they prove that "the pen is mightier than the sword". They must be so proud of themselves.

Oh...did I say I wasn't going to say anything else about them????

Even after all this verbal purging, I'm still scared.

So I'm going to make bread....put the anxiety to good use for a change, LOL.

My weekly sourdough will be interesting (at least to MOI) this time; it's previously been really warm outside (and inside), but yesterday was fairly cool~ my dough turned out very very sticky; I added extra flour b/c it was practically unworkable. I used 2/3 cup more flour than called for and it was still sticky, but I was afraid to add any more and at least I managed to get it out of the mixing bowl and into the oiled bowl to rise. This morning, it had risen higher than any other batches I've made to this point. I used a well-floured surface to divide and knead it on before putting it into loaf pans and it firmed up nicely. So, I'm anxious to see what the results will be after it's been baked. I need to keep a journal of this stuff if I'm going to be serious about it.

The YE's are presently snoozing away after their midmorning "snack", I'm sure they're dreaming of their noon-time "treat". I swear, Max has an alarm clock in his stomach. Those sweet, dark brown eyes will be boring a hole thru me in about 33 minutes, LOL. Oh, I Love them soooo much! Sweetness personified!

Age of Aquarius

THEY WON!!!!


"I will feel equality has arrived when we can elect to office women who are as incompetent as some of the men who are already there". Maureen Reagan


Wow. All I can say is "wow".....well, not really, that's not really all I can say of course....like my friend Roy says, "you can talk a dog off a meat wagon". And I take that as the supreme compliment, haha.

But really...WOW! I thought working with heart transplants when Stanford was the only place in the WORLD doing them was seeing history in the making. And it was. .....but this...THIS, is MUCH BIGGER. A BLACK man has been elected PRESIDENT of the United States of America!!! I truly, honestly, sincerely, never thought I'd live to see the day!

Now, I'm not saying I voted for him~ obviously, I wouldn't have needed to anyway. But, I think we can all appreciate the historical significance of it. It's HUGE, MASSIVE, and amazing. I only hope that it will be the dawning of a more united and compassionate country (within our own borders), and that it will bring a better understanding and appreciation of each other. I have to mention also, it was kind of heartwarming to see Oprah and Stedman and Gail in the CROWD as opposed to at his right hand ;).

McCain's speech was, as always, classy and generous. He's such a good man, it makes me feel so badly for his loss. Doncha wish you could have a crystal ball and see how things would be if one got elected and another one showing how things would be if the other was? We'll never know how things may have evolved if McCain had won; he won't be running again. But we will know how things will evolve with Obama as our President. Doggone it, I really wanted Sarah Palin in there....but, she's young....hopefully, she'll be back. I liked her. I really really liked her; even if she did say she killed animals...I guess that's an Alaska thing though. I have friends who live there; that's what they do all day long I guess. Another story.

One thing for sure: I think we need to hang onto our hats; we could be in for the ride of our life. Let's just hope it's a fun one! I have faith and will pray for our new President to make prudent decisions and lead our country back to greatness; we deserve nothing less.
I'm going to bed, saying "WOW! Martin Luther King Jr. must be beaming up there on his cloud! I am LIVING history!". Just Wow. What will tomorrow bring?

Ain't That America?

"Ain't that America, for you and me,
Ain't that America, something to see;
Ain't that America, home of the free....
Little pink houses for you and me.."

I love John Mellencamp!

It's election day! My stomach is tied up in knots~ don't know why; it's in the hands of the American Public now....will we make US history today or not? It's really almost overwhelming to think about; no matter which way the chips fall. The very fact that we have the choices we do is overwhelming alone.
There's a few propositions I'm intested to see also....namely, Prop 2 and Prop 8. There's either going to be a lot of celebrating in this area, or it's going to be very dismal; as this is a very gay-centric demographic.

I will DEFINITELY be glad that the campaigning is over though; I'm SO SICK of those manipulative ads they put on....ALL of them! It's so annoying and if I NEVER hear that stupid, stupid ad with Gavin Newsom (SF mayor) saying "Whether you like it or not" it will be TOO SOON! Word to your mother. Not only does it send a horrifically ugly message at it's very root, it's just plain annoying to hear that over and over and over. Even if I were against Prop 8, I'd vote "No" b/c that ad was so aggravating. One of my many quirks.

It's Tuesday again, so that means gardening day; the YE's are getting all tuned up and wouldn't you know, we were graced with a visit from the Fed Ex guy....I think I need to do some training.....it would probably be easier to train the Fed Ex guy, but he HAS to ring the doorbell so I can sign sometimes....O, the trials and tribulations of owning a guard dog or two, LOL.

I guess I need to go work out so I can get into the "endorphin nirvana" phase of my day...it didn't help getting another supercilious, self-aggrandizing, communique (that's military speak, doncha know, cuz he's UBER impotent in the Reserves) brother in law. He's a "2" if ever there was one. Yeah, that's on a scale of 1-10 people. He's actually more like a "1", but I'm a nice person, so I gave him an extra point for no other reason :S. I really hate liars and cheats, along with thieves. But that's just between us ;). Off to the gym with my sorry butt before any more garbage crosses my mind or falls from my lips!

Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?

Did you ever have to make up your mind?
Pick up on one and leave the other behind
It's not often easy, and not often kind
Did you ever have to make up your mind?

Remember the Lovin' Spoonful? Crazy name, great band though :).

But yes, I have a dilemma! With a capital "D"! I have committed to volunteering at a big Food and Wine event being held here in town next weekend. And not only that, I said I'd work an extra shift on Sunday b/c some people who had volunteered earlier had dropped out and they needed me then.

I kept Friday paper's business section b/c I noticed an article on Martha and KB homes coming to the desert; La Quinta to be precise. I assumed it was just an article about plans on building some of those homes here, and was curious about them; since in these pitiful economic times, there are quite a few large, brand new housing developments that have been started, and the homes are sitting half done, which is how they've been for over a year now. So I thought it was interesting that someone would be serious about building now.

ANYWAY, I finally get around to reading the article and when they said Martha and KB homes were COMING here, they meant COMING here. Martha will be HERE!!

AND, they're running a contest which 100 people will win a lunch with Martha and compete in a cupcake making contest .....on SUNDAY :(.

Anyone who knows me, knows I am a long time Martha admirer. I have all her books, stationary, if it says Martha, I've probably got it~ almost as bad as my Ironman stuff, LOL. My two passions; Martha and Ironman.

So, I'm torn. I really can't flake on the Food and Wine Event. That's not right.

But I'd give ANYTHING almost to be even in the same ROOM as Martha. There's not a lot of people who I am longing to meet~ I get to meet celebrities often, and that's nice, but.....it's not Martha or Cher, or Ellen, or...hmmm...who else am I dying to meet???? Irene Pepperberg, maybe...Bobby Flay! Or Gordon Ramsey~ those are MY heroes. Andrea Immer. I guess the people who you share the same passions with and are your mentors. People who you learn valuable things from that make your life more complete and enjoyable. I don't remember the last valuable thing I learned from Posh Spice or Madonna...even though I like them and their craft, and it would be fun to meet them, I won't feel incomplete if I never do so.

I'm getting off on a whole other subject...oops.

So, do I enter the contest, and then be angst-ridden if I win and can't go to meet her? Or should I enter it, and if I do win it, try to "fix" my volunteer schedule, making more work for the organizers for my own selfishness?

UGH, why do I have to be so responsible to a commitment I've made? I have some thinking to do....and I need to get over to La Quinta to submit my contest entry, haha.