Ever heard the expession "can't think straight? " My whole life is the anthem for that expression.
It drives me crazy. You know how fb or twitter will only let you type a certain number of characters in the status box? You can keep typing, but it doesn't show up, like your status just hit a wall and can't continue...um hmm, that's how my brain works. Unfinished or lost thoughts are my new norm.
What causes this? I mean, everyone I'm around seems to "have it together". Where's my "it" and why isn't "it" all together in the same place, at the same time? It is exhausting.
Maybe I just have so much more to deal with than the average wife-mom-business woman-secretary- housemaid-cook woman out there. That's it. Those who have it together have noting better to do with their time than have it together. I don't like you. You make me look bad. You make me feel inadequate. You make the boss in me wonder what the heck I was thinking when I hired me. Do you think if I fired myself, i'd have more time to get the rest of my "it" together?
That's all of the unallotted time I can use for this. I must move on to my next unscheduled task while pushing aside all of the things I'm supposed to be doing. Look out...here
comes a day of "Patti-ness"
LYMI!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Fed Up
I am so sick of the politics in this country. The very people who are supposed to be working for us, are taking from us and walking all over us. Corruption runs rampant in our government. Our hard earned dollars are hap hazardously spent on false stimulus packages. Liberals think they know what we need and how we should live better than we do. Seriously! Nancy Pelosi knows whats best for me? SERIOUSLY. As if that's not enough, the Constitution has been referred to as "just a document" and efforts are being made to rewrite it.
PEOPLE WAKE UP! Where will this stop? Bail outs...did you receive one? I didn't. My business has struggled for several years now to support our family and the families of those we employ. Did the government throw some funds our way? NO. Health care...can they make yours better? NO. Illegals...they want to just wave a wand and make them legal...after all, they are already here, right? NO. EPA...do we need more regulation, more ethanol, less energy production here? NO. We need to drill here and drill now.
What pesters me the most is the attitude of oblivion that people my age take towards all of this. How many of my friends and family politically in-tune with what's going on...NOT ENOUGH! In fact, very few. Where did this attitude of "burying your head and everything will be okay" come from? WELL SISTA, IT AIN'T A GONNA BE OK! Do I really belong to a generation of uninterested, un-patriotic, self concerned idiots? Well, it is starting to look that way, now isn't it.
Yes, SOME of my friends and family care about what is going on with our country. They understand that we have to stop the liberals from taking OUR country any closer to communism. They know what the Constitution says, believe it and stand up for it. But are there enough of us?
I'm just going to tell you, if you like your freedom, your Constitution rights (including your guns and freedom to say what you want and be a Christian), your money, the doctor who has taken care of you for 20 years, the ability to do a better job so you can earn more money, that gas guzzling car parked in your driveway, the money that says "United States of America" and "in God we trust", your aging parents to receive the care they need and want, and so much more that makes this country the greatest place on earth to live, then you better put your grown up, give a damn, fightin' panties on and pay attention. If you can't do that, don't come whining to me when Obamacare, Dream Act, Communist supporting liberal Pelosi's of this world take it all from you and tell you what to do and how to do it for the rest of your life. PEOPLE WAKE UP!
PEOPLE WAKE UP! Where will this stop? Bail outs...did you receive one? I didn't. My business has struggled for several years now to support our family and the families of those we employ. Did the government throw some funds our way? NO. Health care...can they make yours better? NO. Illegals...they want to just wave a wand and make them legal...after all, they are already here, right? NO. EPA...do we need more regulation, more ethanol, less energy production here? NO. We need to drill here and drill now.
What pesters me the most is the attitude of oblivion that people my age take towards all of this. How many of my friends and family politically in-tune with what's going on...NOT ENOUGH! In fact, very few. Where did this attitude of "burying your head and everything will be okay" come from? WELL SISTA, IT AIN'T A GONNA BE OK! Do I really belong to a generation of uninterested, un-patriotic, self concerned idiots? Well, it is starting to look that way, now isn't it.
Yes, SOME of my friends and family care about what is going on with our country. They understand that we have to stop the liberals from taking OUR country any closer to communism. They know what the Constitution says, believe it and stand up for it. But are there enough of us?
I'm just going to tell you, if you like your freedom, your Constitution rights (including your guns and freedom to say what you want and be a Christian), your money, the doctor who has taken care of you for 20 years, the ability to do a better job so you can earn more money, that gas guzzling car parked in your driveway, the money that says "United States of America" and "in God we trust", your aging parents to receive the care they need and want, and so much more that makes this country the greatest place on earth to live, then you better put your grown up, give a damn, fightin' panties on and pay attention. If you can't do that, don't come whining to me when Obamacare, Dream Act, Communist supporting liberal Pelosi's of this world take it all from you and tell you what to do and how to do it for the rest of your life. PEOPLE WAKE UP!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Life: Not American Behavior
Recently, I went to my local Barnes & Noble to pick up a copy of "Sacred Fire" about George Washington. It turned out to be an interesting tale.
I forgot the name of the author, which makes it nearly impossible to find a book at B&N. So, they have this desk in the middle of the store where you can find employees who will help you. Well, who are supposed to help you. This particular night, there was a short, skinny, unhappy looking lady working. I asked her if she would help me find the book I was looking for. She wanted the title and author. So, I explained my dilemma to her and she promptly told me that there were so many books on George Washington that I would never be able to find it if I didn't know the author. Here is where the interesting part comes in. I explained that I would recognize the cover because I saw it on the Glenn Beck show and that's how I knew the title. Talk about body language. She immediately stiffened and became brash, to the point that my then 13 year old daughter picked up on it.
To make a long story even longer...every time I opened my mouth, she seemed to be less and less willing to help. I said surely she had heard of it recently and others were asking for it since Glenn recommended it. Boy, was she getting impatient with me. After a few minutes, I spotted the book on her computer. She looked at it and told me it was no longer in print. No longer in print!!! REALLY! So, the host of the most listened to talk show in the universe is recommending a book that is no longer in print? I asked her if I could order it. She told me she would order it for me, they would email me when it comes in and I could pay for it then. With my daughter in tow, I left the store with a skip in my step, excited that my book would soon be in. We laughed all the way to the car at the way the lady behaved after I mentioned Glenn.
Several weeks go by and I didn't hear anything from B&N, so I stopped in to see if the book had arrived. The same lady was working, but was busy with another customer. There was a nice gentleman who asked what I needed. He looked up my account, looked somewhat confused and asked if I was sure I ordered the book. He read the notes on my account and asked who helped me order the book. When I told him, he said that explains everything. Explains what? After I left the store the day I ordered the book, the clerk cancelled my order. She said that she didn't think I really wanted to order the book. Now, if she isn't a liberal, you can butter my butt and call me a biscuit.
The guy helping me was very uncomfortable. She was standing a few feet from him and he didn't want her to overhear him. He said he watched the show that Glenn recommended the book on, so he knew exactly what I was looking for. He was not at all surprised that the liberal heffer had cancelled my order. Turns out he had two copies of the book in the store, but they were both ordered by the same person. He called them and asked if I could buy one of their copies. They said I could, so I left the store with my copy of "Sacred Fire" despite the liberal heffer. Again, my daughter and I laughed at her all the way to the car.
I didn't complain, I didn't get ugly with the heffer, I didn't cause a scene...but then, I am a Conservative. This got me to thinking about her behavior the day I thought I ordered the book and my behavior on both visits. The difference epitomizes the difference between a liberal and a conservative...unAmerican behavior and a Patriot.
A liberal knows what is better for you than you do.....A Conservative believes in your right to live your life Independently.
A liberal knows that the Constitution is an old, out dated document...A Conservative believes in the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, the Bible and the authors of all three.
A liberal knows that a woman has the right to have an abortion...A Conservative believes that life begins at conception and our Unalienable rights are also the rights of that child.
A liberal knows every person in this country needs healthcare...A Conservative believes we have the right to decide what we spend our money on and the right to make our own healthcare decisions.
A liberal wants socialism / marxism / communism...A Conservative believes in freedom, capitalism and working hard to get ahead.
Liberal: wealth distribution...Conservative: Independence
Liberal: god...Conservative: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit
Liberal: government handouts...Conservative: Loves to help others, but has the freedom to choose how and who
Liberal: Taxes for you, not for them...Conservative: Taxed Enough Already
Liberal: UNAMERICAN....CONSERVATIVE: PATRIOT!
If the liberal heffer had her way, she would have controlled my reading material, denying me the right to read about my forefathers, the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the founding of our country that, yes, has it's basis in Christianity. But, she didn't get her way. I didn't cause a scene, complain or get angry. But, you better bet that I could have and would have...because I am a PATRIOT. I believe in Conservative values, God, Country, Family. Yes, I am a gun totin', Bible thumpin', redneck girl. No "change" is going to budge me from my beliefs. No skinny, uneducated, miserable liberal is going to dampen my PATRIOTISM.
The book is good. Thanks to Glenn for recommending it. If you wish to read it and the liberal clerk won't order it, I've got a copy and I share. BTW, I can't stand liberals. Here are a few I despise:
Barack Obama
Nancy Pelosi
Harry Reid
Barney Frank
Mayor Bloomberg
Keith Olbermann
Bill Maher
Sheriff Dupnik
Nancy Pelosi
Michelle Obama
Rachel Maddow
Arianna Huffington
B&N Heffer
Nancy Pelosi
There's too many to name...
Nancy Pelosi
Thank you for reading my ramblings. I hope you got some enjoyment out of it. Feel free to comment. LYMI!
#conservatives #tcot #teaparty #Patriots
I forgot the name of the author, which makes it nearly impossible to find a book at B&N. So, they have this desk in the middle of the store where you can find employees who will help you. Well, who are supposed to help you. This particular night, there was a short, skinny, unhappy looking lady working. I asked her if she would help me find the book I was looking for. She wanted the title and author. So, I explained my dilemma to her and she promptly told me that there were so many books on George Washington that I would never be able to find it if I didn't know the author. Here is where the interesting part comes in. I explained that I would recognize the cover because I saw it on the Glenn Beck show and that's how I knew the title. Talk about body language. She immediately stiffened and became brash, to the point that my then 13 year old daughter picked up on it.
To make a long story even longer...every time I opened my mouth, she seemed to be less and less willing to help. I said surely she had heard of it recently and others were asking for it since Glenn recommended it. Boy, was she getting impatient with me. After a few minutes, I spotted the book on her computer. She looked at it and told me it was no longer in print. No longer in print!!! REALLY! So, the host of the most listened to talk show in the universe is recommending a book that is no longer in print? I asked her if I could order it. She told me she would order it for me, they would email me when it comes in and I could pay for it then. With my daughter in tow, I left the store with a skip in my step, excited that my book would soon be in. We laughed all the way to the car at the way the lady behaved after I mentioned Glenn.
Several weeks go by and I didn't hear anything from B&N, so I stopped in to see if the book had arrived. The same lady was working, but was busy with another customer. There was a nice gentleman who asked what I needed. He looked up my account, looked somewhat confused and asked if I was sure I ordered the book. He read the notes on my account and asked who helped me order the book. When I told him, he said that explains everything. Explains what? After I left the store the day I ordered the book, the clerk cancelled my order. She said that she didn't think I really wanted to order the book. Now, if she isn't a liberal, you can butter my butt and call me a biscuit.
The guy helping me was very uncomfortable. She was standing a few feet from him and he didn't want her to overhear him. He said he watched the show that Glenn recommended the book on, so he knew exactly what I was looking for. He was not at all surprised that the liberal heffer had cancelled my order. Turns out he had two copies of the book in the store, but they were both ordered by the same person. He called them and asked if I could buy one of their copies. They said I could, so I left the store with my copy of "Sacred Fire" despite the liberal heffer. Again, my daughter and I laughed at her all the way to the car.
I didn't complain, I didn't get ugly with the heffer, I didn't cause a scene...but then, I am a Conservative. This got me to thinking about her behavior the day I thought I ordered the book and my behavior on both visits. The difference epitomizes the difference between a liberal and a conservative...unAmerican behavior and a Patriot.
A liberal knows what is better for you than you do.....A Conservative believes in your right to live your life Independently.
A liberal knows that the Constitution is an old, out dated document...A Conservative believes in the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, the Bible and the authors of all three.
A liberal knows that a woman has the right to have an abortion...A Conservative believes that life begins at conception and our Unalienable rights are also the rights of that child.
A liberal knows every person in this country needs healthcare...A Conservative believes we have the right to decide what we spend our money on and the right to make our own healthcare decisions.
A liberal wants socialism / marxism / communism...A Conservative believes in freedom, capitalism and working hard to get ahead.
Liberal: wealth distribution...Conservative: Independence
Liberal: god...Conservative: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit
Liberal: government handouts...Conservative: Loves to help others, but has the freedom to choose how and who
Liberal: Taxes for you, not for them...Conservative: Taxed Enough Already
Liberal: UNAMERICAN....CONSERVATIVE: PATRIOT!
If the liberal heffer had her way, she would have controlled my reading material, denying me the right to read about my forefathers, the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the founding of our country that, yes, has it's basis in Christianity. But, she didn't get her way. I didn't cause a scene, complain or get angry. But, you better bet that I could have and would have...because I am a PATRIOT. I believe in Conservative values, God, Country, Family. Yes, I am a gun totin', Bible thumpin', redneck girl. No "change" is going to budge me from my beliefs. No skinny, uneducated, miserable liberal is going to dampen my PATRIOTISM.
The book is good. Thanks to Glenn for recommending it. If you wish to read it and the liberal clerk won't order it, I've got a copy and I share. BTW, I can't stand liberals. Here are a few I despise:
Barack Obama
Nancy Pelosi
Harry Reid
Barney Frank
Mayor Bloomberg
Keith Olbermann
Bill Maher
Sheriff Dupnik
Nancy Pelosi
Michelle Obama
Rachel Maddow
Arianna Huffington
B&N Heffer
Nancy Pelosi
There's too many to name...
Nancy Pelosi
Thank you for reading my ramblings. I hope you got some enjoyment out of it. Feel free to comment. LYMI!
#conservatives #tcot #teaparty #Patriots
Monday, January 24, 2011
Give Me a Challenge, I'll Face It...Faith & Love
It has been a little over a week since our lovely South Korean foreign exchange student graced our presence with her beautiful smile, entertaining pronunciations and brilliant laughter. It has been uncomfortable at times, enlightening, enjoyable, funny, emotional and yes, challenging.
We waited FOREVER at the top of the escalators at the airport, nervous that we missed her and she was waiting all alone by the baggage carousel, scared out of her mind. Then, finally, she appeared, spotted our ridiculous sign and came over laughing. She had a good trip because she met another student who was coming over to go to the same school and they became pals. The first thing we noticed was her smile and she giggled a lot. She told us her flight was "un-a-comfort-a-bllle," which made us giggle.
The first few days were strange. We felt uneasy in our own home, trying not to fuss, yell, cuss or make her un-a-comfort-a-bllle. I'm positive that all of the "trying" made us fail miserable. But, school started back and we got into the swing of things. Routines always seem to help settle people into something new. With school and regular life came the challenges we knew would be coming our way.
We take our understanding of the English language for granted. I didn't realize that until I began to try to parent a Korean speaking teenager who had only a small vocabulary of English words. Sentences seem to no longer fit into our daily communications. I am sure she has been thrown onto a merry-go-round unwillingly with no way to get off for the next six months. I am also sure that the way we do things, like parenting, differ from her homeland. Strict rules don't seem to be something she is used to.
In my house, what my hubby and I say goes. Just ask our two girls. We are strict, demanding and expectant. We don't apologize for it either. So, anyone who visits is expected to follow house rules too. This includes understanding and acting upon things like "hurry up," dinnertime round up, lights out, no spend the nights on school nights, getting permission to do certain things, etc... Try communicating that to an independent demanding non-English speaking teenage girl!
Jet lag was definitely expected after a 7100 mile, 15 hour direct flight from Seoul. It was also expected that it would start to wain after a few days of sleeping constantly...almost in her spaghetti plate at one dinner. So, I didn't understand why she was nodding off in the middle of conversations later in the week. Come to find out, our "lights out" rule wasn't one she liked and she had no plans to adhere to it. When questioned about being so tired, she informed me that she was staying up until 2 or 3 in the morning, talking to another Korean she met at our school. What? Sympathy for her exhaustion disappeared immediately, fire flashed in my eyes and submission to our "house rules" began. The threat of removing her phone, computer and ipod at bedtime each night seems to have straightened that out.
There have been a couple of more "rule" challenges like that, which were dealt with swiftly and successfully. RJ doesn't seem to be doing much of the "dealing" and gets this look on his face like a scolded little puppy when I correct her. He's no help...the sissy! He does have a soft spot for her and he helps me make compassionate choices in dealing with her.
Yesterday was a hair pulling experience that turned into a heart melting moment. Communication was not in our favor from the time we started our day. She was going to another Korean's host family's house to study for a test...or so I thought. With their address plugged into our GPS, SEATBELTS ON (challenging house rule) and everyone in agreement that we were dropping her off at her friend's house, we headed out on the 25 minute trip across town. Logic tells me that she should have realized what was going on and corrected the miscommunication, but that didn't happen...well, not quickly anyway. We pulled into the driveway and she said "what is this place?" The other host family's house. Apparently, she had plainly stated to us prior to leaving the house that we were supposed to take her somewhere else. Maybe another place, further away, but with the same address as the house we were sitting at? Obviously annoyed, I try to hold my tongue while figuring out where she wanted to go. It seems that a Korean BBQ restaurant across town the other way was her intended destination. Climbing back in the car, I could see on RJ's face that he could tell how disturbed I was getting. This communication thing was really getting to me. I knew where the Korean BBQ restaurant was, so we drove "all the way" over there. She apologized many, many times on the way. Apparently, she can read my body language too. About 25 more minutes and we arrived to find that her friends were not in the restaurant. Luckily, the hostess knew where they were. We walked around the corner to the karaoke room and found her friends, who speak fluent English and were able to tell me where and when I could pick her up. Relieved to get her where she was going and longing to get back in the car, out of earshot to release the tension on RJ, I turned to leave. That's when I was stopped in my steps..."Bye Mom." Awe!!! My heart melted, we giggled and hugged goodbye. She was so happy to be with her people and so appreciative that we brought her "all the way" over. How can you be mad with that?
Now, she's calling me "Mom" and RJ "Dad" and giggles every time she says it. She seems to be adjusting, as do we. Those adjustments aside, she seems to be a really great girl, far away from home, a little scared, a little lonely, missing her own Mom. What can I say, my heart bleeds with compassion. Bedtime, communication, house rules and all considered, I think we're doing ok.
I loved here before she arrived. I love her more now. I love her more everyday. I have said this before and I will say it again...She isn't the only one receiving the blessing here, she seems to be a bigger blessing to me that I am to her. So, my hair still intact, my attitude adjusted and my heart filled, I sit here amusing myself with the memories of the past few days while praying for her to do good on the tests she has today because she left for school this morning terrified and completely stressed out... Kinda feels like one of my kids already.
We waited FOREVER at the top of the escalators at the airport, nervous that we missed her and she was waiting all alone by the baggage carousel, scared out of her mind. Then, finally, she appeared, spotted our ridiculous sign and came over laughing. She had a good trip because she met another student who was coming over to go to the same school and they became pals. The first thing we noticed was her smile and she giggled a lot. She told us her flight was "un-a-comfort-a-bllle," which made us giggle.
The first few days were strange. We felt uneasy in our own home, trying not to fuss, yell, cuss or make her un-a-comfort-a-bllle. I'm positive that all of the "trying" made us fail miserable. But, school started back and we got into the swing of things. Routines always seem to help settle people into something new. With school and regular life came the challenges we knew would be coming our way.
We take our understanding of the English language for granted. I didn't realize that until I began to try to parent a Korean speaking teenager who had only a small vocabulary of English words. Sentences seem to no longer fit into our daily communications. I am sure she has been thrown onto a merry-go-round unwillingly with no way to get off for the next six months. I am also sure that the way we do things, like parenting, differ from her homeland. Strict rules don't seem to be something she is used to.
In my house, what my hubby and I say goes. Just ask our two girls. We are strict, demanding and expectant. We don't apologize for it either. So, anyone who visits is expected to follow house rules too. This includes understanding and acting upon things like "hurry up," dinnertime round up, lights out, no spend the nights on school nights, getting permission to do certain things, etc... Try communicating that to an independent demanding non-English speaking teenage girl!
Jet lag was definitely expected after a 7100 mile, 15 hour direct flight from Seoul. It was also expected that it would start to wain after a few days of sleeping constantly...almost in her spaghetti plate at one dinner. So, I didn't understand why she was nodding off in the middle of conversations later in the week. Come to find out, our "lights out" rule wasn't one she liked and she had no plans to adhere to it. When questioned about being so tired, she informed me that she was staying up until 2 or 3 in the morning, talking to another Korean she met at our school. What? Sympathy for her exhaustion disappeared immediately, fire flashed in my eyes and submission to our "house rules" began. The threat of removing her phone, computer and ipod at bedtime each night seems to have straightened that out.
There have been a couple of more "rule" challenges like that, which were dealt with swiftly and successfully. RJ doesn't seem to be doing much of the "dealing" and gets this look on his face like a scolded little puppy when I correct her. He's no help...the sissy! He does have a soft spot for her and he helps me make compassionate choices in dealing with her.
Yesterday was a hair pulling experience that turned into a heart melting moment. Communication was not in our favor from the time we started our day. She was going to another Korean's host family's house to study for a test...or so I thought. With their address plugged into our GPS, SEATBELTS ON (challenging house rule) and everyone in agreement that we were dropping her off at her friend's house, we headed out on the 25 minute trip across town. Logic tells me that she should have realized what was going on and corrected the miscommunication, but that didn't happen...well, not quickly anyway. We pulled into the driveway and she said "what is this place?" The other host family's house. Apparently, she had plainly stated to us prior to leaving the house that we were supposed to take her somewhere else. Maybe another place, further away, but with the same address as the house we were sitting at? Obviously annoyed, I try to hold my tongue while figuring out where she wanted to go. It seems that a Korean BBQ restaurant across town the other way was her intended destination. Climbing back in the car, I could see on RJ's face that he could tell how disturbed I was getting. This communication thing was really getting to me. I knew where the Korean BBQ restaurant was, so we drove "all the way" over there. She apologized many, many times on the way. Apparently, she can read my body language too. About 25 more minutes and we arrived to find that her friends were not in the restaurant. Luckily, the hostess knew where they were. We walked around the corner to the karaoke room and found her friends, who speak fluent English and were able to tell me where and when I could pick her up. Relieved to get her where she was going and longing to get back in the car, out of earshot to release the tension on RJ, I turned to leave. That's when I was stopped in my steps..."Bye Mom." Awe!!! My heart melted, we giggled and hugged goodbye. She was so happy to be with her people and so appreciative that we brought her "all the way" over. How can you be mad with that?
Now, she's calling me "Mom" and RJ "Dad" and giggles every time she says it. She seems to be adjusting, as do we. Those adjustments aside, she seems to be a really great girl, far away from home, a little scared, a little lonely, missing her own Mom. What can I say, my heart bleeds with compassion. Bedtime, communication, house rules and all considered, I think we're doing ok.
I loved here before she arrived. I love her more now. I love her more everyday. I have said this before and I will say it again...She isn't the only one receiving the blessing here, she seems to be a bigger blessing to me that I am to her. So, my hair still intact, my attitude adjusted and my heart filled, I sit here amusing myself with the memories of the past few days while praying for her to do good on the tests she has today because she left for school this morning terrified and completely stressed out... Kinda feels like one of my kids already.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Love, Fatih and Life....All in One!
Tomorrow is the day...
The day we go to the airport and pick up the foreign exchange student that will be staying with us for the next 6 months. I am so full of love right now. I always feel immeasurable amounts of love, but right now, I fell as if I just might burst. Happiness has taken over and I feel so giddy. Butterflies are dancing in my stomach and I just want to skip up and down the hall singing "she's on her way, she's on her way."
Just a couple of hours ago, I got a call from M's Cousin. She told me that M has boarded her plane and is now on her way. She told me that her Mom wanted to make sure we would be there to pick her up at the airport. Apparently, she was very scared and lonely when she got on the plane. I wish I could give her a hug right now and make her feel better. She has no idea what kind of people she is flying across the world (7135 miles and 13.5 hours) to stay with. I wish I could reassure her that we are going to be so good to her and she is going to do great. I wish I could relieve the stress she is feeling leaving her family. She will have to make such an adjustment. I love her already and I haven't even met her yet.
Just trying to wrap my mind around this is blowing me away. We are "getting a Korean!" Us, RJ, Patti and L ...Kim too, but she's a little busy with her own thing right now. :-) A Korean...Us...unbelievable. Talk about trying something new, something you would never think to do, something so outside your box that it has to be a God thing for it to be happening. I am so excited, happy, in awe. I can't wait to share our experience and tell stories of how things are going. God is awesome and provisional. This is happening because of Him, through Him and for Him.
BTW, please understand that we don't say "getting a Korean" in a demeaning way. When we first started talking about this, Land I knew that RJ would say NO WAY. So, we started praying about it, asking God to make RJ receptive of the idea and open minded about it. I knew if RJ even considered doing it, it would be because God touched him. Sure enough, RJ didn't make the first negative remark. When L introduced the idea to him, he began asking questions like "where is she going to sleep?" "Will Mom take her to school with you?" "Do you think she will like our house?" I couldn't believe my ears. I didn't even speak, I just listened as God "did His thang!" After that initial conversation, there was a lot of praying, thinking, wishing, hoping and more conversations. RJ and I told L that we had decided to do it. She was so excited, she started singing "we're getting a Korean, we're getting a Korean." We laughed at her, maybe even shed a tear or two, and celebrated with her. It stuck..."we're getting a Korean." It isn't a negative thing, the phrase reflects the excitement behind one of the most wonderful decisions our family has ever made. We're getting a Korean and I love her without even meeting her yet. She is going to thrive with our family...because of God.
LYMI!
The day we go to the airport and pick up the foreign exchange student that will be staying with us for the next 6 months. I am so full of love right now. I always feel immeasurable amounts of love, but right now, I fell as if I just might burst. Happiness has taken over and I feel so giddy. Butterflies are dancing in my stomach and I just want to skip up and down the hall singing "she's on her way, she's on her way."
Just a couple of hours ago, I got a call from M's Cousin. She told me that M has boarded her plane and is now on her way. She told me that her Mom wanted to make sure we would be there to pick her up at the airport. Apparently, she was very scared and lonely when she got on the plane. I wish I could give her a hug right now and make her feel better. She has no idea what kind of people she is flying across the world (7135 miles and 13.5 hours) to stay with. I wish I could reassure her that we are going to be so good to her and she is going to do great. I wish I could relieve the stress she is feeling leaving her family. She will have to make such an adjustment. I love her already and I haven't even met her yet.
Just trying to wrap my mind around this is blowing me away. We are "getting a Korean!" Us, RJ, Patti and L ...Kim too, but she's a little busy with her own thing right now. :-) A Korean...Us...unbelievable. Talk about trying something new, something you would never think to do, something so outside your box that it has to be a God thing for it to be happening. I am so excited, happy, in awe. I can't wait to share our experience and tell stories of how things are going. God is awesome and provisional. This is happening because of Him, through Him and for Him.
BTW, please understand that we don't say "getting a Korean" in a demeaning way. When we first started talking about this, Land I knew that RJ would say NO WAY. So, we started praying about it, asking God to make RJ receptive of the idea and open minded about it. I knew if RJ even considered doing it, it would be because God touched him. Sure enough, RJ didn't make the first negative remark. When L introduced the idea to him, he began asking questions like "where is she going to sleep?" "Will Mom take her to school with you?" "Do you think she will like our house?" I couldn't believe my ears. I didn't even speak, I just listened as God "did His thang!" After that initial conversation, there was a lot of praying, thinking, wishing, hoping and more conversations. RJ and I told L that we had decided to do it. She was so excited, she started singing "we're getting a Korean, we're getting a Korean." We laughed at her, maybe even shed a tear or two, and celebrated with her. It stuck..."we're getting a Korean." It isn't a negative thing, the phrase reflects the excitement behind one of the most wonderful decisions our family has ever made. We're getting a Korean and I love her without even meeting her yet. She is going to thrive with our family...because of God.
LYMI!
Food: Snow Day Cooking
It started simply enough with an idea to cook some bbq in the crockpot. Kim told me about a recipe for bbq sauce a while back, so I thought I'd try it. Turns out, the recipe is one Alton Brown used with some ribs on Good Eats. So, the sauce was loosely based on his recipe:
5 Chicken Breasts w/ Ribs & Skin
Dry Rub:
4 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 tsp Kosher Salt
2 tsp Cajun Spice
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1/4 tsp Cayenne
1/4 tsp Old Bay
1 tsp Cumin
Rub breasts with Dry Rub. Cover and refrigerate for about an hour.
Braising Liquid:
1 Cup White Wine
2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tbsp Honey
2 Cloves Garlic, chopped
Heat braising liquid in crock pot. Brown skin of chicken breasts in frying pan (use 2 Tbsp butter if needed). Place breasts in braising liquid. Cover crock pot and cook until chicken is tender and cooked thoroughly. Remove breasts and wrap in foil to keep warm. Pour liquid in pot and reduce to thickened sauce. Add 1 Tbsp Mustard and 3 Tbsp Ketchup if desired.
This recipe was balish. We ate 3 of the breasts and I put the other 2 in the fridge to use later. Remember, the snow and ice was keeping us at home. Boredom overtook and the need to cook was overwhelming. So, I went to the fridge to see what I had to work with. With the chicken breasts, I also served creamed corn. There was some of it left too. An idea began to develop...
Chicken White Bean Chili
2 Chicken Breasts, cooked and shredded
1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Cup Creamed Corn
3 Carrots, diced
2 Celery Sticks, diced
1 Onion, chopped
2 Tbsp Garlic, chopped
2 Cans White Beans (I used Navy Beans)
1 Packet White Chili Spice Pack
32 oz Chicken Stock (I use reduced sodium, fat free, no added msg)
In a skillet heat oil, cook onions, garlic, carrots, celery until onions are clear and tender. Add corn to skillet and stir until corn is warm. Stir in spice pack Put in preheated crock pot. Add Beans and Chicken. Stir in Chicken Stock. Cook until veggies are soft. Add water and salt if needed.
The soup turned out delish and we have snacked on it several times. This got me to thinking that I love soups on cold days. RJ and L like potato soup...hmmm...so, we had to make a trip, on the icy roads, to the grocery store for more ingredients. The store was surprisingly well stocked, except for potatoes, but I managed to find some I could use. So, this is what I did...
2 Tbsp E.V. Olive Oil
1 Cup Chicken Stock
2 All Purpose Idaho Potatoes, chopped
8 Purple Fingerling Potatoes, chopped
1 Onion, chopped
2 Tbsp Garlic, chopped
3 Carrots, chopped
2 Celery Stalks, Chopped
1 Qt Half & Half
1 Tbsp of your favorite spice mix. I use one from Mercier Orchards that I can't recall the name of right now.
Salt
Water
Heat Oil in a large pot. Add Onions, garlic, carrots and celery. Cook until onions are clear and tender. Add potatoes and chicken stock. Cook until most of the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let cook for a few minutes. Add half & half, spices and salt. Cook on low heat until potatoes are soft, stirring often to prevent scorching. Serve with grated cheese, sour cream and bacon if desired.
While this soup was cooking, I put a roast in the crock pot to cook. For the roast, I did the following:
1 4-5 lb. Rump Roast (you can use a different cut, but I really like the rump best)
1 Onion
2 Tbsp Garlic
2 Carrots
2 Celery Stalks
2 Potatoes, Medium
2 Tbsp Herb & Garlic Spice Mix
Cut into 3/4 to 1" pieces the Onions, Carrots and Celery. Place in preheated crock pot. Add Garlic and Potatoes. Brown the Roast in a skillet and place on top of veggies in the crock pot. Sprinkle with spice mix. cook on high until roast is tender. Add liquid if needed.
It smells really good, but I don't know how it tastes yet. My crock pot doesn't seem to be cooking as hot and quickly as I would like, so the roast is still cooking. Since we were supposed to have it for dinner, I had to scramble to prepare something for us to eat. I have been craving rice lately, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to make my favorite Red Beans and Rice Recipe. I love this stuff!
1 Pkg New Orleans Johnsonville Sausage Wieners
1 Tbsp E.V. Olive Oil
1 Onion, chopped small
2 Tbsp Garlic, chopped small
1 Tbsp Cajun Spice
1 Cup Basmati Rice (you can use any kind of rice, but basmati is so balish)
4 Cups Chicken Stock
2 Cups Water
3 Tbsp Butter or Margarine
Heat the oil in a large skillet. Cook onions and garlic until they are tender. Add Cajun spice. Cut wieners into 1/4" rounds and add to skillet. Brown the wieners. Add Basmati rice and brown lightly. Combine Stock and Water and warm in a pot. (keeping it warm prevents the cooking process from being interrupted by cooling the pan with cold liquid.) Add 1 cup of stock/water to skillet and cook until all of the liquid is absorbed. Add 1 cup at a time until the rice is tender. Just before serving, add the butter, let it melt and stir it in well.
Dinner was a hit with RJ, L and CL (L's friend). We had a friend stop by while I was cooking, so I packed up some of the rice and some of the potato soup for him to take home. I bet he liked it too!
Somewhere in the middle of all of this cooking, I also baked a cake. Yes, me...baked a cake. You KNOW I must really be bored and have cabin fever if I take to baking. It was a box cake, so I won't add the recipe here. Just go to the store, buy a box, buy the ingredients pictured on the back, take it all home, follow the directions on the box, and viola', you have a cake.
The snow / ice is melting slowly, so it looks like we will only have another day or two to endure. It doesn't look like I will have a lot of time to cook. If that changes, maybe I will share the recipes for the meals I make.
Try some of the recipes...or all of them. Let me know how you like them. If you put your own stamp on them, let me know what you did. I love to change up recipes and try new things. Enjoy and have fun in the kitchen.
LYMI!
5 Chicken Breasts w/ Ribs & Skin
Dry Rub:
4 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 tsp Kosher Salt
2 tsp Cajun Spice
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1/4 tsp Cayenne
1/4 tsp Old Bay
1 tsp Cumin
Rub breasts with Dry Rub. Cover and refrigerate for about an hour.
Braising Liquid:
1 Cup White Wine
2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tbsp Honey
2 Cloves Garlic, chopped
Heat braising liquid in crock pot. Brown skin of chicken breasts in frying pan (use 2 Tbsp butter if needed). Place breasts in braising liquid. Cover crock pot and cook until chicken is tender and cooked thoroughly. Remove breasts and wrap in foil to keep warm. Pour liquid in pot and reduce to thickened sauce. Add 1 Tbsp Mustard and 3 Tbsp Ketchup if desired.
This recipe was balish. We ate 3 of the breasts and I put the other 2 in the fridge to use later. Remember, the snow and ice was keeping us at home. Boredom overtook and the need to cook was overwhelming. So, I went to the fridge to see what I had to work with. With the chicken breasts, I also served creamed corn. There was some of it left too. An idea began to develop...
Chicken White Bean Chili
2 Chicken Breasts, cooked and shredded
1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Cup Creamed Corn
3 Carrots, diced
2 Celery Sticks, diced
1 Onion, chopped
2 Tbsp Garlic, chopped
2 Cans White Beans (I used Navy Beans)
1 Packet White Chili Spice Pack
32 oz Chicken Stock (I use reduced sodium, fat free, no added msg)
In a skillet heat oil, cook onions, garlic, carrots, celery until onions are clear and tender. Add corn to skillet and stir until corn is warm. Stir in spice pack Put in preheated crock pot. Add Beans and Chicken. Stir in Chicken Stock. Cook until veggies are soft. Add water and salt if needed.
The soup turned out delish and we have snacked on it several times. This got me to thinking that I love soups on cold days. RJ and L like potato soup...hmmm...so, we had to make a trip, on the icy roads, to the grocery store for more ingredients. The store was surprisingly well stocked, except for potatoes, but I managed to find some I could use. So, this is what I did...
2 Tbsp E.V. Olive Oil
1 Cup Chicken Stock
2 All Purpose Idaho Potatoes, chopped
8 Purple Fingerling Potatoes, chopped
1 Onion, chopped
2 Tbsp Garlic, chopped
3 Carrots, chopped
2 Celery Stalks, Chopped
1 Qt Half & Half
1 Tbsp of your favorite spice mix. I use one from Mercier Orchards that I can't recall the name of right now.
Salt
Water
Heat Oil in a large pot. Add Onions, garlic, carrots and celery. Cook until onions are clear and tender. Add potatoes and chicken stock. Cook until most of the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let cook for a few minutes. Add half & half, spices and salt. Cook on low heat until potatoes are soft, stirring often to prevent scorching. Serve with grated cheese, sour cream and bacon if desired.
While this soup was cooking, I put a roast in the crock pot to cook. For the roast, I did the following:
1 4-5 lb. Rump Roast (you can use a different cut, but I really like the rump best)
1 Onion
2 Tbsp Garlic
2 Carrots
2 Celery Stalks
2 Potatoes, Medium
2 Tbsp Herb & Garlic Spice Mix
Cut into 3/4 to 1" pieces the Onions, Carrots and Celery. Place in preheated crock pot. Add Garlic and Potatoes. Brown the Roast in a skillet and place on top of veggies in the crock pot. Sprinkle with spice mix. cook on high until roast is tender. Add liquid if needed.
It smells really good, but I don't know how it tastes yet. My crock pot doesn't seem to be cooking as hot and quickly as I would like, so the roast is still cooking. Since we were supposed to have it for dinner, I had to scramble to prepare something for us to eat. I have been craving rice lately, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to make my favorite Red Beans and Rice Recipe. I love this stuff!
1 Pkg New Orleans Johnsonville Sausage Wieners
1 Tbsp E.V. Olive Oil
1 Onion, chopped small
2 Tbsp Garlic, chopped small
1 Tbsp Cajun Spice
1 Cup Basmati Rice (you can use any kind of rice, but basmati is so balish)
4 Cups Chicken Stock
2 Cups Water
3 Tbsp Butter or Margarine
Heat the oil in a large skillet. Cook onions and garlic until they are tender. Add Cajun spice. Cut wieners into 1/4" rounds and add to skillet. Brown the wieners. Add Basmati rice and brown lightly. Combine Stock and Water and warm in a pot. (keeping it warm prevents the cooking process from being interrupted by cooling the pan with cold liquid.) Add 1 cup of stock/water to skillet and cook until all of the liquid is absorbed. Add 1 cup at a time until the rice is tender. Just before serving, add the butter, let it melt and stir it in well.
Dinner was a hit with RJ, L and CL (L's friend). We had a friend stop by while I was cooking, so I packed up some of the rice and some of the potato soup for him to take home. I bet he liked it too!
Somewhere in the middle of all of this cooking, I also baked a cake. Yes, me...baked a cake. You KNOW I must really be bored and have cabin fever if I take to baking. It was a box cake, so I won't add the recipe here. Just go to the store, buy a box, buy the ingredients pictured on the back, take it all home, follow the directions on the box, and viola', you have a cake.
The snow / ice is melting slowly, so it looks like we will only have another day or two to endure. It doesn't look like I will have a lot of time to cook. If that changes, maybe I will share the recipes for the meals I make.
Try some of the recipes...or all of them. Let me know how you like them. If you put your own stamp on them, let me know what you did. I love to change up recipes and try new things. Enjoy and have fun in the kitchen.
LYMI!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
What is all this "PC" talk about?
My number one New Year's Resolution for 2011 is to avoid being "politically correct." Why would I want to do that? Because I believe liberal media outlets in this country (and other countries who should stick their nose OUT of our business) pressure us to change the way we speak, think and communicate based on the model they want us to fit into, that they (the governing body) control. Doesn't that sound like this form of ugly governance we call "communism?"
The term "Politically Correct" or "PC" is defined by Wikipedia as "a term which denotes language, ideas, policies and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, religious belief, disability and age related contexts." As I understand, in plain English, being PC means changing what you would say or how you would naturally say it so that you don't hurt the feelings of someone who is oversensitive or offended by truth and honesty.
Former Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan states "PC is cultural Marxism...Its trademark is intolerance." Richard Bernstein further defines it as "pressure to conform to currently fashionable ideas." Doesn't the very definition of PC go against our Constitutional First Amendment right of Free Speech? Am I no longer free to call a "spade a spade" without suffering repercussions from someone who has a different view or opinion? I believe that freedom to express differing opinions and beliefs without rebuke is part of what makes this country great. Isn't that partially what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they declared our independence?
Making certain terms taboo or repressing the use of certain descriptions is an attempt to control communication and thought patterns. Again, I ask what form of ugly government that sounds like. For instance, it is now PC to say "firefighter" instead of the offensive "fireman," or "physically challenged" instead of "blind" or "handicapped." My favorite is the adjective "Caucasian culturally disadvantaged" instead of "white trash." Come on, really!
The "Politically Correct" are so egotistical that they go against the very meaning of the term in describing those who do not subscribe to their way of thinking. If someone is not PC, they are characterized as racist, bigoted, or hate mongers instead of just honest and outspoken. A "politically incorrect" person then is bullied into shying away from speaking based on their personal beliefs. Those bullies strive to force me to adhere to their standard of expression based on their judgement that mine is unacceptable. They will not concede to the fact that outside of God's laws of kindness and love, there is no basis for an authority to enforce "Political Correctness." The liberals, communists and progressives in this country desire to be just that. They cannot succeed if patriots like me and you stand up for the Constitution and the unalienable freedoms we are granted by our Creator and prevent the denial of the rights we have simply for being Americans. Our Founding Fathers fought and died for this and it is our responsibility to keep it alive.
Still not sure what it means to be "Politically Correct?" Here are a few examples:
"The Arizona shooter is an idiotic uneducated white trash cultist raised by idiotic, sorry excuse for parents who should have been sterilized" is not PC. Rather, "He is a victim of an untreated mental and psychological imbalance who was raised by Caucasian culturally challenged individuals."
Killer = Innocent victim of his upbringing
Nancy Pelosi talks too much = She is abundantly verbal
Hillbillies = Appalachian Americans
A few common ones:
Black = African American
Indian = Native American
Gay = Alternative Sexual Orientation
Short = Vertically Challenged
Tall = Vertically Advanced
And the all time worst:
Merry Christmas = happy holidays ( I hate that...I mean, I strongly dislike it...No, I mean I HATE THAT!)
What are the PC statements that stand out most to you, funniest, most offensive or just down right tee you off?
Thanks for reading.
The term "Politically Correct" or "PC" is defined by Wikipedia as "a term which denotes language, ideas, policies and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, religious belief, disability and age related contexts." As I understand, in plain English, being PC means changing what you would say or how you would naturally say it so that you don't hurt the feelings of someone who is oversensitive or offended by truth and honesty.
Former Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan states "PC is cultural Marxism...Its trademark is intolerance." Richard Bernstein further defines it as "pressure to conform to currently fashionable ideas." Doesn't the very definition of PC go against our Constitutional First Amendment right of Free Speech? Am I no longer free to call a "spade a spade" without suffering repercussions from someone who has a different view or opinion? I believe that freedom to express differing opinions and beliefs without rebuke is part of what makes this country great. Isn't that partially what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they declared our independence?
Making certain terms taboo or repressing the use of certain descriptions is an attempt to control communication and thought patterns. Again, I ask what form of ugly government that sounds like. For instance, it is now PC to say "firefighter" instead of the offensive "fireman," or "physically challenged" instead of "blind" or "handicapped." My favorite is the adjective "Caucasian culturally disadvantaged" instead of "white trash." Come on, really!
The "Politically Correct" are so egotistical that they go against the very meaning of the term in describing those who do not subscribe to their way of thinking. If someone is not PC, they are characterized as racist, bigoted, or hate mongers instead of just honest and outspoken. A "politically incorrect" person then is bullied into shying away from speaking based on their personal beliefs. Those bullies strive to force me to adhere to their standard of expression based on their judgement that mine is unacceptable. They will not concede to the fact that outside of God's laws of kindness and love, there is no basis for an authority to enforce "Political Correctness." The liberals, communists and progressives in this country desire to be just that. They cannot succeed if patriots like me and you stand up for the Constitution and the unalienable freedoms we are granted by our Creator and prevent the denial of the rights we have simply for being Americans. Our Founding Fathers fought and died for this and it is our responsibility to keep it alive.
Still not sure what it means to be "Politically Correct?" Here are a few examples:
"The Arizona shooter is an idiotic uneducated white trash cultist raised by idiotic, sorry excuse for parents who should have been sterilized" is not PC. Rather, "He is a victim of an untreated mental and psychological imbalance who was raised by Caucasian culturally challenged individuals."
Killer = Innocent victim of his upbringing
Nancy Pelosi talks too much = She is abundantly verbal
Hillbillies = Appalachian Americans
A few common ones:
Black = African American
Indian = Native American
Gay = Alternative Sexual Orientation
Short = Vertically Challenged
Tall = Vertically Advanced
And the all time worst:
Merry Christmas = happy holidays ( I hate that...I mean, I strongly dislike it...No, I mean I HATE THAT!)
What are the PC statements that stand out most to you, funniest, most offensive or just down right tee you off?
Thanks for reading.
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