Thursday, October 31, 2013
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Happy Birthday Juliette
Dear Juliette Gordon Low:
I’m writing to you today to wish you a Happy Halloween! And
probably more important to you Happy Birthday! Aren’t birthdays grand? I’ve
always believed that they are just as good as Christmas. I mean people are nice
to you, they give you presents, and they may throw a party or take you out to
eat as a celebration. I know there are people who don’t enjoy their birthdays,
but I’m not one of them. I hope that you’re not one of those people who view
aging as a bad thing. I doubt it since you did so many positive things during
your lifetime. I’ve found that people who do positive things look more
positively toward aging.
I was also wondering if when you started Girl Scouts if you
imagined thousands of little girls across the nation selling cookies each
spring? I know every time you go to the grocery store on Saturday there are
little girls asking if you would like to buy some cookies. Personally, I think
it’s kind of great. The cookies taste great, and it encourages those young
ladies to develop the courage to ask for something they want. That’s not always
an easy lesson for everyone to learn.
I also wonder if you had any idea how many you ladies would
gain valuable skills from the program you started. Some of those young ladies
have gone on to become some real power houses in the modern world. They include
Sandra Day O’Connor, who was the first female appointed to the Supreme Court,
Dr. Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, Lucille Ball the comedian,
and Martha Stewart the businesswoman. That’s a pretty impressive group of
alumni from the program you started.
I wonder if your desire to start a program like the Girl
Scouts came out of the many personal problems you experienced during your life
time. I mean it probably took a lot of courage to divorce that husband who
cheated on you and had a slight drinking problem. It must have been difficult
for you since divorce had such a negative stigma in the early 1900’s. But your
program has lasted for a long time, and benefited tons of young ladies.
So I want to wish you Happy Birthday Juliette, and thanks
for starting such a great organization.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Tailgate Party Want List
1. Printed Football Tailgate Party Kit UnlimitedPartyThemes
SASSY GARLIC mild BBQ Grilling Rub JamnSalsa
Handmade Football Ear Flap Hat yankeerose
Football Tailgate Party Pie Bites (12) OldTimeFavorites
Vintage Egg Basket Picnic Basket Tailgate Party grasshoppercafe
Monday, October 28, 2013
Spinach and Italian Sausage Casserole
Casseroles are some of my favorite meals. It’s usually the combination of foods that I really enjoy. In this case spinach, Italian sausage and cheese, and it’s something that I can prepare ahead of time and toss in the oven. So here’s what you need to make this fabulous casserole.
½ pound Italian sausage
¼ cup olive oil
½ pound sliced mushrooms
1 medium chopped onion
6 eggs
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 minced garlic cloves
½ teaspoon basil
¼ teaspoon marjoram
Brown the sausage in a skillet. Drain the sausage and the pan and set aside. Heat oil and add the spinach, mushroom, onions, and garlic and sauté. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a small casserole dish. Now put the eggs, cheese, basil, and marjoram in a bowl, and mix well. Mix in the sausage, onions, mushrooms, and garlic. Now pour the mixture into the casserole dish, and bake for 25 minutes. It’s just that easy.
½ pound Italian sausage
¼ cup olive oil
½ pound sliced mushrooms
1 medium chopped onion
6 eggs
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 minced garlic cloves
½ teaspoon basil
¼ teaspoon marjoram
Brown the sausage in a skillet. Drain the sausage and the pan and set aside. Heat oil and add the spinach, mushroom, onions, and garlic and sauté. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a small casserole dish. Now put the eggs, cheese, basil, and marjoram in a bowl, and mix well. Mix in the sausage, onions, mushrooms, and garlic. Now pour the mixture into the casserole dish, and bake for 25 minutes. It’s just that easy.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Lel Brothas
As soon as I saw the video for the song She Wanna by the Lel
Brothas, I thought if the rest of their upcoming album called The Epidemic is
as good as this song that is going to be one great release. I really liked this
song because each of the artists told about their preferences in women. One
wants a down to earth girl, one wants a girl with attitude, and one wants a
party girl. The entertainment world is often criticized for encouraging women
to fit into certain molds, but these young men are saying everybody has
different tastes you have to find the right guy who will treat you right.
Cheers to Lel Brothas for encouraging the ladies to be themselves!
When I visited the bands page on reverbnation I heard the
song I Like to Party, and if this song doesn’t make you want to dance, I don’t
don’t know what will make you want to dance. The lyrics of the song are simple
I like to party, but they are combined with synthesizers, and a great beat. In
the end it makes great music to party by.
The band recently returned from a tour of Japan and Brazil.
And they soon leave for a tour of the Middle East. The big question is when
will they begin a tour of the US to promote their new album? Hopefully, it will
be soon.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Guest Blogger Captain
I thought I would share the pictures from my recent photo
shoot with our friend Summit’s pet human Gloria Diaz. If I do believe that the
pictures she shot turned out quit well.
Please let me know which photo you like best.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Make a Difference
You can make
a difference on National Make a difference day
October 26th is National Make a Difference Day. There
are so many ways that we can make a difference in our world, but often most of
us don’t recognize what we can do. So let’s take a look at a couple of things
that each of us can do to make a difference in the world.
1.
For most of us the easiest and least time
consuming is donating to charities. Choose a charity that supports your
beliefs. Large charities provide many options on how you would like your money
to be spent. They also provide disclosure of how they spend their money, and
often show the amount of money that is spent on administrative costs compared
to what is spent on actually providing services.
2.
Donate to local charities either financially or
with your time. Both of these are always needed. Local volunteers keep many
charities going. The options are often limitless, and pretty much everybody has
skills that can be used. Whether it’s assisting with transportation of
veterans, to tutoring a child with reading, to washing dishes at your local
food kitchen, you have a useful skill.
3.
Do something extra for someone in your life.
Remember the people we see each and every day are the people’s lives we are
able to make the most difference in every day. A kind word to someone can
actually change someone’s day. Giving a compliment can actually make someone
feel better about themselves. Taking a couple of minutes to speak to a neighbor
may mean the world to them. Remember being nice is a choice!
So it’s up to you to decide how you want to make a
difference, but remember the world will be a better place if you decide to do
it!
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Halloween Want List
1. Halloween Nail Art Hailthenails
2. Clawed Temporary Tattoo Buttonhead
3. Scarecrow - Temporary Tattoos SugarTats
4. Child Size Witch Broom Halloween Costume Accessory BROOMCHICK
5. Devil Horns BatcakesCouture
Monday, October 21, 2013
Oh, The Places I'd Go
We all dream about what we would do with unlimited funds.
Well at least everyone I know does. Oh, the places we would all go if we could
go anywhere without having to worry about a budget. Here are three of the
current places I would love to visit if I could go anywhere today.
First place on the list would be Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Yes, I want to visit the land of the tango and Evita. Of course I want to see the monuments to
Evita, she just fascinates me.
But the real reason I want to go is the houses in El
Caminito. The residents of the area have painted their homes with leftover
paint, and as you can see they are quite colorful. Even though the neighborhood
is a little rough I believe it’s worth the risk.
The next place on my list is India. Of course I want to see
the usual sites in India. But I really want to go during the Hindu festival of
Holi. It just sounds like so much fun to be able to throw water balloons, and
paint on individuals as part of a celebration. It’s something I want to see.
And the last place I would go with unlimited funds at this
point in my life is Philadelphia, PA. Yep, I know, it’s not what you expected,
but Philadelphia has to be included. I want to see The Dream Garden. Now I’ve
caught a couple of people’s attention. Imagine a 15’ x 49’ Tiffany mural. That’s
what I want to see.
So I’ve shared some of my travel destinations, now where
would you go?
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders
Sliders are one of the greatest culinary inventions in my
opinion. Little bite size sandwiches
that are perfect for a small meal. So here’s a simple recipe for Hawaiian
pulled pork that tastes great on a slider bun.
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup soy sauce
¾ cup brown sugar
2 sliced jalapeno peppers
1 clove minced garlic
1 tablespoon Worchester sauce
1 pound pork loin
Cut the pork loin into cube sized pieces, and brown. While
the meat is browning mix the first 6 ingredients in a bowl. When the meat is
finished browning put it in a crock pot, sauce mixture and cook until the meat
is tender and pulls apart. Then place the pulled pork on a slider bun and
enjoy!
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Guest Blogger Bobaloo
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
Slightly Left of Centre Music Review
Remember all that dance music from the 80’s and 90’s? You
know the music that played while you partied the night away? Slightly Left of
Centre’s music reminds me of that music. The song Getting Over It is definitely
a song that you expect to hear at the beginning of a night of partying. The
song has a funk feel to it. And it is definitely a call to the dance floor. And
I absolutely love the band’s use of synthesizers in the song Love the Way You
Move. You can watch the video for the song below. Their use of animation in the
video is so much fun.
And I was really glad to hear a great cover of the song Mad
World which is one of my favorite songs of all time. SLC’s version does the song
justice too. I’ve heard some bands cover this song, and it hasn’t really worked
out too well, but this cover is excellent.
Overall, the Melbourne based band has loads of potential,
and hopefully their music will hit the States soon. You can visit their website
to learn more about the band, and purchase some of their music.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Columbus Day
Dear Leif Erikson:
While I was growing up in Minnesota, the local park had a replica of a Viking Long Ship. The ship always fascinated me. I always wondered what a voyage across the ocean to North America was like. Did you and your fellow Vikings actually know that you were going to be the first Europeans to reach North America? Followed by another question how, did any of the adventurers in your party experience sea sickness? I would imagine some of those days on the water could be pretty rough. And was the guy who got sea sick made fun of? I mean you Vikings are known for being a pretty tough group so I would imagine anybody who couldn’t handle a little rough water got to hear about it.
Then one day I read how your ships were equipped with oars. And I wondered is there a Nordic version of Row, Row, Row Your Boat, and did you guys sing this song as you rowed across sections of the ocean? Or did you all have some other means of motivating yourself as you rowed your boat?
But most of all I wonder what do you think of Christopher Columbus? I mean he kind of stole your thunder. For such a long time he was given credit for discovering the New World, which has been proven wrong. And then he ends up with a National Holiday. I mean the government, and the banks shut down for him. So does that make you feel a little slighted or are you happy for him? I hope you are happy for him, but it has to hurt a little.
So I hope you have a great Columbus Day Leif!
While I was growing up in Minnesota, the local park had a replica of a Viking Long Ship. The ship always fascinated me. I always wondered what a voyage across the ocean to North America was like. Did you and your fellow Vikings actually know that you were going to be the first Europeans to reach North America? Followed by another question how, did any of the adventurers in your party experience sea sickness? I would imagine some of those days on the water could be pretty rough. And was the guy who got sea sick made fun of? I mean you Vikings are known for being a pretty tough group so I would imagine anybody who couldn’t handle a little rough water got to hear about it.
But most of all I wonder what do you think of Christopher Columbus? I mean he kind of stole your thunder. For such a long time he was given credit for discovering the New World, which has been proven wrong. And then he ends up with a National Holiday. I mean the government, and the banks shut down for him. So does that make you feel a little slighted or are you happy for him? I hope you are happy for him, but it has to hurt a little.
So I hope you have a great Columbus Day Leif!
Saturday, October 12, 2013
K-Camo Bygones Music Review
Sometimes you hear the intro to a song, and you think where
is this song going? That what I thought when I first heard the song Bygones by
K-Camo. The song starts out with slowly with lyrics saying New Dawn New Day and
builds into a rap. As I listened to the song I realized that the song was about
letting go of hate. And that the artists were trying to encourage the listener
to see that the past is the past. Now that is a message that I really like!
Since the message of the song is powerful, the artist has chosen simple rhythms
and mixing so that the song sounds really great. And the other songs that the
artist listed on soundcloud are just as good.
This is pretty good stuff coming from an 18 year old from
Dayton, Ohio. It’s obvious that this young man has a love for music. He has
also started his own music label called DopeLogic so he has plans for a future
in music, which I think is a great thing since this K-Camo definitely is
encouraging something positive.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Mona Lisa Shares some Words of Wisdom
Remember the part in Harry Potter where the pictures talk to
everyone? That’s always kind of fascinated me. I mean what would the pictures
hanging in everyone’s home say? I wonder
what Mona Lisa would say if she could talk. Would she simply tell everyone to
stop staring at her? Or would she have some sort of words of wisdom? I believe
that she would have a combination of both. Here are some of Mona Lisa’s words
of wisdom.
1. Every day thousands of people stare at me all day long don’t they have other things to look at? The world is full of beauty so
why am I what they choose to look at every day.
2.
I was never surprised that the French Revolution
occurred, after all those skirts Marie Antoinette wore were a bit much. Don’t
worry so much about fads they come and go classics survive the ages!
3.
Since I spent some time hanging in Napoleon’s
bedroom, I can assure you that he truly did have “little man complex”. He was a
nut job! If you have a child who is a little different than other children in
some way shape or form, make sure you spend time with him so he develops into a
healthy individual.
4.
The view from a salon at the Lourve is far
superior to the view in a broom closet. At least I can see different people as
they pass, and I can hear their conversations. In a broom closet you simply
have brooms, and they aren’t really known for their conversations. Make sure
you get out and see the world a little!
5.
And everyone wonders why I am smiling, it’s
simple everyone else who had their portrait painted at that time was very
serious. I thought a smile would make me stand out. I was right everyone asks
why I’m smiling. Dare to be a little different.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Things That Have Made This Week Fabulous
The taste of guacamole on a burrito. I’ve never figured out how something that looks so awful can taste so good.
Seeing a squirrel sit on its hind legs looking across a lawn. I wonder if he was trying to figure out just how many acorns he can bury in that yard.
Listening to a song, and thinking to myself I really like this. Check out Laslow Simplex’s Music review.
That feeling of relief when you finally get all the work you have to complete in a day finished even though it took longer than you planned.
The smell of a match when you strike it to light a candle. It’s a scent that fades as soon as the candle is lit.
Seeing a squirrel sit on its hind legs looking across a lawn. I wonder if he was trying to figure out just how many acorns he can bury in that yard.
Listening to a song, and thinking to myself I really like this. Check out Laslow Simplex’s Music review.
That feeling of relief when you finally get all the work you have to complete in a day finished even though it took longer than you planned.
The smell of a match when you strike it to light a candle. It’s a scent that fades as soon as the candle is lit.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Stalin Music Review
Metalheads are going to be thrilled, when they hear the new
music from the San Francisco based band Stalin. The band plays hard hitting
metal. The song California starts with great bass work then it add some drums,
followed by guitar that leads into the lyrics. And with lyrics like, “It takes some kind of
illusion to see into my state of mind” you know the song isn’t just fluff. The
artists seem to want people to think about what they see and what’s going on
around them. And if you watch the video of the song you will see that things
that feel good may just have some twists and turns in the end. You can visit their website to see the video.
Like a lot of heavy metal and alternative music the band does use profanity. So
don’t be surprised if you hear it in their music. And the video does have some
explicit sexual content in it. It is not porn, but the video they produced for
youtube was edited so that it could it be viewed on the site.
StalinStalin
But the song More of the Same was the one song that the band
has listed on soundcloud that is my favorite. I really liked how the song had
piano, and it moved back and forth from a slow pace to a fast pace. It reminded
me a lot of how life has its ups and downs. I’m not sure that is what the
artists wanted to convey, but that’s what I thought the first time I heard it.
And I felt like the band was trying to add something a little different to the
metal formula. I think it worked. Once
again I will remind readers that the lyrics do contain profanity so you are
warned.
Overall, I enjoyed listening to their music. I felt like
they were trying to produce something that isn’t heard on mainstream radio, and
I am always in favor of that. But if you are looking for a sweet pop song this
band will be something completely different from that. The band is due to have
an album released soon, and I can’t wait to see how they shock the world with
their next videos.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Grape Leaves Stuffed With Rice, Dill and Walnuts
When I went to Greekfest earlier this summer I had some
really wonderful stuffed grape leaves. So here is a version of stuffed grape
leaves that is kind of fitting for fall.
What you’ll need
1 16 ounce jar grape leaves
8 cups of water 1 pound brown rice
2 teaspoons salt
1 cup olive oil
1 ½ pounds chopped onion
1 cup chopped parsley
4 garlic cloves minced
¾ cup finely chopped walnuts
¾ cups chopped dill
1 teaspoon ground pepper
2 cups crumbled fet cheese
½ cup fresh lemon juice
Place grape leaves in a large bowl. Cover with water. Let
soak while preparing rice filling.
Cook rice until it is tender and set aside.
Heat ½ cup oil in a pot. Add onions and sauté for 15
minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
Remove from heat and stir in parsley, walnuts, dill, pepper
and 1 tsp salt. Then add feta and the rice. Allow this to cool.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place a grape leaf with the
vein side up and make sure the stem is cut off. Patch with piece of other leave
to form a 6 inch surface area. Spoon in ¼ cup rice filling in center of leaf.
Fold bottom of leaf over filling . Fold in sides. Roll up to enclose filling in
leaf. Arrange seam side down on baking sheet. Arrange these on a glass baking
dish.
Now mix 4 cups water ½ cup oil and lemon juice in a medium
bowl to blend. Pour it over the stuffed grape leaves. Cover with foil. And bake
until the lemon oil mixture is absorbed. About 1 hour.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
The Mother of All Meltdowns Book Review
I was really fortunate to receive a copy of The Mother of
All Meltdowns Real Stories of Moms’ Finest (Worst, Completely Awful) Moments! from
Crystal Ponti to review. The book is a collection of stories by mommy bloggers.
I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading the book. When I started
reading the anthology of stories about motherhood, I soon began to laugh. As I
read the stories about women who found they were pregnant, and their reactions,
I laughed. Then I read more of the stories that told how mothers dealt with
some of their children’s behavior, and I laughed again. I read about meltdowns!
I read about how people treated women with babies. I read about what happens when
the kids are being too quiet. And I laughed! So in case you haven’t figured it
by now this book is humorous.
The stories in the book reminded of things from the pages of
Fannie Flagg’s or Erma Bombeck’s books. They are humorous, but they have a point.
And the point is that there are times when you can’t be the perfect mother, but
it’s best to look at the humor in those moments and not fret over that moment. There
are so many other moments that can make up for that meltdown. But the book also
offers a few helpful hints to moms who have had a meltdown.
This is a fun book for moms of all ages, and for anyone who
knows a mom. Visit Crytal’s blog Mommifried to learn more about the book.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Guest Blogger Captain

Friday, October 4, 2013
Things That Made This Week Wonderful
Seeing a grasshopper jump in the grass. I’m always surprised
at just how far something so small can jump.
The smell of fresh paint. It just always smells so clean.
The taste of cinnamon in chili. I love Cinncinati style
chili it’s the greatest.
The sound of crickets. The sight of them is kind of creepy I
think, but the sound they make is awesome.
The feeling of relief you get when you hear about somebody
doing something completely foolish. You know the thought wow, that sounds like
something I would do, man I’m glad it wasn’t that did it this time.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Laslow Simplex's Music
Laslow Simplex is a musician who doesn’t fit into just one
genre. And that’s one of the reasons I like his music. His music is a little
bit country, a little bit folk, a little bit jazz, and a little bit old time. And we all know that a mixture like that adds
up to interesting music with a twist of fun.
As I listened to the song Never Going Back, I was reminded
of a Johnny Cash song, and when I read a little more about the songwriter I
wasn’t surprised to find that he is one of his influences. There’s something in
the rhythm and lyrics. Okay pretty much everything about the song. Then I
listened to Feel It in My Bones and I thought yeah, this is just a little
jazzy. It’s a song that you would listen to late, late, late on a Saturday
night. You know the ones you listen to as a great party is winding down.
Then I looked him up on youtube. And I was glad to find a
list of videos by him. It was hard to pick a favorite out of the videos that he
has available, but I think Missile in the Dark is my favorite. Why? I don’t
know the catchy tune or is it because it has a line about cats? Who knows, but
I do know that I like it!
You can learn more about him and his music by
visiting his website. And when you visit make sure you go through the gallery
of oddities it’s full of fun pictures.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Ghost Want List
Ghost Hair Clip PinsandNeedles0
Ghost Hoodie emandsprout
Ghost Costume Tutu TutieCutieTutus
Ghost Bottle MandisCreations
Ghost Pillowcase Dress RufflesandMudPies
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