Tennis Time

We went to Kaleb's first tennis match of the season this afternoon. I took my fancy dancy camera with it's fancy dancy telephoto lens. The good news is, I was able to figure out how to switch the lenses on that darn camera (after 10 minutes of trying before finally getting out the manual, of course). The bad news is...I still have no idea how to take great pictures. Who knew it could be so hard??? But I got a few action shots of Kaleb playing that should be good enough to scrapbook anyway. Here's him looking rather pensively at his opponent: Now the serve...he looks so intense, eh?
Another serve (this is only one of two shots that I actually got the ball in. lol):
Headed down court:
Kaleb said after looking at this shot that he could now see what he was doing wrong. Something about his left arm being too low. I really have no idea what he was talking about, but I was glad that the picture taking was able to help him out with that.

Check out his forward momentum. He was all ready to go for the return:
I love this shot. The look on his face just says it all to me.
And here he is after the match, ready for a break:
Sometimes when I watch Kaleb, I see shades of his older brother, Nick. I guess they have some of the same mannerisms and similar features. What do you think, Jodie? Do you see it, too?

I have to add a picture of Jake to this post since he was there cheering Kaleb on. Here he is, sitting along the fence line talking to Randey as we watched Kaleb's match. I think he was trying to explain the scoring system to Randey...for the umpteenth time. Randey had it down pretty good last year, but lost all his tennis acumen sometime over the summer (I never had any - baseball is my game. Tennis is harder to keep track of!). lol So now Jake and Kaleb have to walk us through it all again. (Love this, love that...I'll never get it right.)
This look Jake's giving Randey is one we both see a lot of. It's almost like the boy can't believe his parents are so totally ignorant. 'Course, at the same time, we can't believe our little darlin' is such a flippin' genius either. (Did that sound like sarcasm 'cause I sure meant for it to. LOL)

Howdy Strangers!

See this?Know what it is? It's my new laptop (and somewhere in Florida, Susan just fell off her chair laughing because one of the last things I said to her before she left Texas was that I "hated to break the news to Randey, but we're NOT getting a laptop!"). See, Randey suddenly started talking about the need for a laptop during their visit. Remember I had computer problems fairly recently, but that Randey had fixed the problems? Well, apparently, Randey the Soothsayer knew more than he was letting on about the health of my computer. I, however, was blissfully ignorant so when he started talking about a laptop "just for me", I thought he'd lost his mind. I mean, sure...it was a nice thought and all, but a laptop was a luxury, not a necessity because, after all, he'd fixed my computer, right? Well here's a little lesson for all of you. Apparently your computer simply cannot withstand the ravages of having three teenagers using it for all manner of downloads to Zunes, downloads of games, myspace discussions, etc., etc., etc. And while my old computer will still turn on (eventually) and it will still allow me to do certain things, it has also developed an annoying habit of totally locking up for no particular reason. I tried using Randey's work laptop for a while, but after I'd typed out this big, long, detailed comment on someone's blog and his computer opted for the "blue screen of death" rather than actually posting said comment, I lost my temper and threatened to send our family back to the stone age as far as computer ownership goes. Then, after we'd run to Target the next night for some little something, Randey casually suggested we head next door to Best Buy. And before I knew it, I was the proud owner of a new laptop of my very own. Now I just have to figure out how to use it - it took forever and a day to figure out how to download photos to it (and took even longer to find the stupid cord. I used to download pictures via the printer). But I think I'm back on track now. I've finally been able to do the "snack tip" post (which is right beneath this one). I also have a few more recipes to post and will be writing that post over the next 2 days. Meanwhile, check out the snack tip post and check out these cute little Halloween things we found for our youngest granddaughter, Kara:
Cute, huh? The little pumpkins on the booties rattle when you shake them. (Yes, ma'am - it's almost that time of year again!!!) Kara will be wearing little noise makers on her feet - hope she finds them as entertaining as I do (the boys and Randey are probably sick of hearing me shake them. lol). Speaking of the boys...Kaleb came home from work the other night and, after a stop in the kitchen, came to ask us "what's with the George Bush spaghetti sauce sitting on the counter?". Randey and I looked at each other, wondering what on earth was he talking about. This is what he saw:
Kids today. I mean really. I'm apparently only one of about 28% of Americans who actually still like W, but even I would never compare him to Paul Newman. Geez. My first instinct was to rush out and rent a copy of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in order to educate my child on the natural wonder that is Mr. Paul Newman. And if he ever looks at Robert Redford and calls him Dick Cheney, maybe I will. LOL

Our Favorite Snacks

This post is ONLY over a week late. Sorry about that. Some things just can't be helped, though. But hey - better late than never, eh? So here goes...

Several people chimed in on their favorite snack foods. Seems like our choices aren't as limited as we might have thought (and that's really good news!). Here's the snack tips we got:

From Julie: "I like to use high protein foods. Depending on how hungry I am - make chicken (or tuna) salad using drained canned chicken, low fat Miracle Whip, sour pickles or sweet ones made with Splenda (Mount Olive brand is a good sugarless bread and butter pickle)..then I eat it with celery sticks for a big crunch. That way I don't miss the bread or crackers. Another good snack is fat free cottage cheese with some sugar free Cool Whip mixed in. Even better - stir in some sugar free jello powder - Yummo! My favorite flavor is orange jello."

I don't know about you guys, but I have a weakness for good chicken salad. The irony is, I only figured out a couple of years ago how to make it (I've told you that cooking has never been my forte' in life. lol) "Normal" chicken salad is too high in calories, though. But Julie's method of fixing it gives me back one of my favorite foods. It also demonstrates how we can make healthy choices with our recipes - the low fat miracle whip/mayo versus regular miracle whip/mayo. The sugar free pickles versus regular pickles, the celery in place of crackers or bread, etc. Thanks for the tips, Julie. Great advice.

This is what we got from Jodie: "Truth is I eat things that are already made or fruit for a snack. But I did think of something I used to do that was so wonderful. I may do it again if the prices of fruit goes down. I would make a fruit salad and let it sit in the refrigerator for a day or so. It makes it's own juice/syrup that is wonderful. The best things to use are peaches and strawberries for the juice. You can really add in any type of fruit. You just can't go wrong with fruit."

Fruit is higher in sugar than say a vegetable, but come on...fresh fruit is just plain good for you, regardless! (f you're on weight watchers, be sure to count the points accurately). I agree with Jodie, though, that you just can't go wrong with fruit. (Unless you're Annie and simply can't stand the thought of eating it! lol)

This is a tip from Donna: "Here's a great snacking tip! These are especially yummy in the summertime - frozen seedless grapes! I like the red ones the best. Wash thoroughly, drain, put on a cookie sheet, pop in the freezer, then transfer to a container with lid when the grapes are frozen. Great for snacking while watching TV!" Mary and I heartily agree! Frozen grapes are the best. Even Randey's hooked on them now. He prefers the green ones, but I think the red are the best. If you guys haven't tried this yet, DO IT! Talk about refreshing! Yowza!

From Kat: "Take one no sugar added fudgesicle and let soften until you can scrape it off the stick. Add one heaping tablespoon of peanut butter (I use Simply Jif since it has less sodium and sugar) and one heaping tablespoon of Sugar Free Cool Whip. Stir together until the three ingredients are blended. Put in freezer for 30 minutes. Enjoy! Oh.My.Word! I almost licked the bowl!"
I'm going to add this bit of nutrition information because I know some of you will question the use of peanut butter as a healthy snack. This comes from:

http://www.annecollins.com/calories/calories-peanut-butter.htm

Calorie Table for Peanut Butter
Please note: all calorie values are approximate
Calories:
Peanut butter, chunky (2 tbsp) 190
Peanut butter, chunky (1/2 cup) 760
Peanut butter, smooth (2 tbsp) 190
Peanut butter, crunchy (2 tbsp) 190-220
Bad News About Peanut Butter :
Two tablespoons of Peanut Butter contains 190 calories and 16 grams of fat - as much fat as in a Burger King hamburger. Peanut butter is a high-calorie source of protein. Two tablespoons contains about 8 grams of protein/200 calories, the same protein as 1oz of roast turkey with only 50 calories!
Better News About Peanut Butter:
Peanut Butter is high in fat, but most of it is monounsaturated, the same "good fat" that's found in olive oil. Some studies show that a diet high in monounsaturated fat may actually be good for the heart. In fact, it may even be true that adding Peanut Butter to your weight loss diet may help you lose weight, although the reasons for this are unclear.
Finally: Peanut Butter - A Weight Gain Warning
Peanut Butter remains a high calorie food. So irrespective of it's benefits, you may not consume it in large quantities without upping your calories and gaining weight.

Peanut butter is indeed high in fat, but it's also high in protein. And if you are absolutely craving something, there are worse things to eat, keep that in mind! I think the important thing is to make sure you don't overdo the P.B. content of this snack. It sounds so wonderful, doesn't it? Now me? I don't know if I've got the willpower to limit my peanut butter content as directed so I might leave it out. I've got stars in my eyes just thinking about the chocolate and the fat free cool whip. Oh yeah, baby...this sounds like THE best "guilt-free guilty pleasure" I've ever heard of (food wise, of course)! lol

This came in from Pam: "I like the Jello Sugar Free Pudding cups--both chocolate and chocolate banana. Also, I add one of the sugar free "mix" things to my water, and drink it at the same time. That's usually my afternoon snack. It's sweet and filling!" I've heard quite a few people talk about the Jello Sugar Free Pudding cups - and they all say they're great! I have GOT to pick some up, the next time I'm at the store. Adding flavors to your water is also a great way to get yourself to actually drink all the water you're supposed to every day (who knew making yourself drink enough water could be so flippin' hard?).

This from my Aunt Sandi: "For anyone who loves fruit, this is so easy...take two granny smith apples and 1 large sweet potato...peel the sweet potato and steam for about 10 minutes...while steaming the sweet spud, peel and core two granny smith (or any kind of cooking apple, winesap or what have you...)cut the apple into large chunks, throw in with the potato and steam together...when fork tender, mash or mix together adding 1/8 tsp salt...enjoy! Wonderfully filling, as well...learned this one when we lived in New Jersey (South Jersey, of course). "

Finally, a non-snacking tip from Vee: "Okay, here's a tip, not a recipe. Sometimes I find myself feeling "fatter" when wearing baggy clothing than when I'm actually heavier wearing clothing that fits. Beware of this one...it's subtle! :D" This is so true. I thought I'd feel like I was just really dropping pounds left and right if I wore my bigger clothes as I started losing weight. Unfortunately, though, all I felt was sloppy! And while it's impossible for most of us to buy a whole new wardrobe as we lose those pounds, it's important that we try to wear clothes that we actually feel good in. Go check out your local thrift stores and/or Goodwill - you can often find clothes to "fill in" your wardrobe as you progress from your beginning size down to your goal size. And buy a belt. It's great when you start to feel your britches getting looser...then it just gets annoying as you find yourself constantly hitching up the waistband of those pants about a hundred times a day. Yeah, there are worse annoyances to fight through, but knowing that doesn't make you any happier when your drawers are forever sagging.

Here's a few more snack tips I want to share with you before I sign off. If you do have trouble drinking water throughout the day (like we talked about before), try drinking it through a straw. I don't know why that makes it easier, I just know it does. I fill a glass with crushed ice, pour water in it, grab a straw and before I realize it, I've refilled it a half dozen times and am still ready for more. Give it a try, see if it helps you, too.
For snack food...I'm a big fan of the 100 calorie Orville Redenbacher 94% Fat Free mini bags of popcorn. That's probably my very favorite snack in the whole wide world (after the frozen grapes, of course). I also enjoy the Nabisco Itty Bitty packs of Nilla Wafers. They go great with an afternoon double shot, decaf, no-fat milk cappuccino from Starbucks. In fact, maybe they go a little too great...I sometimes catch myself making a special trip just to have these. lol A bowl of cherry or grape tomatoes goes along way towards taming the munchies for me, too. I could eat those things any day of the week - but then again, I'm a tomato freak so maybe that's not such a revelation. I think the most important thing to remember about snack foods is this: your snack should be something you actually like, not something you're suffering through just for the sake of losing weight. Food is merely fuel for your body - but that's no reason why you can't eat good tasting food, right? Enjoy your snacks. It's okay to do that. Just make sure you're enjoying the right snacks and for the right reasons.

As for my own personal weight loss odyssey...this week was a little wonky, but not enough to freak me out. I'm now at a total weight loss of 36.2 pounds and that's just pretty darn awesome, if I say so myself. I'm a little over halfway to my goal and while I get the feeling the second half of my weight loss aspirations may be a little tougher to achieve than the first half, I'm pumped just knowing how far I've come. I feel like I can do this. With my own determination and a little help from my friends - friends like you guys, who are going through this same thing. Together, we can break free of our unhealthy eating habits and become the active, fun, vibrant, sexy, fit people we all secretly believe ourselves to be underneath all our layers of fat and food indulgence. Right? (Altogether now, say "Right!")

Until next time!

Notice Re: Finding a Weigh Out of Fat Post

This week's Finding a Weigh Out of Fat post will be delayed until Friday. I'm sorry for the delay, but then again - it will give you an extra couple of days to send your "best healthy snack" tips for that post. Everyone wants to know what everyone else is doing for those times when they get the munchies - so come on, people! Share, share, share! I'll put any and all tips I get into one post for Friday. I'll also have more meal recipes by then, too.


Sorry for the delay on this week's post, but I'll try to make it up to you with the recipes and the tips!

And they're off!

Today was the boys' first day of school! At long last. I've been waiting on this day for what seems like WEEKS! So why am I so bummed about it now? lol This is their idea of together time with Mom before the first day of school...lounged out on the couch, basically counting the minutes until they could leave (ha!). And here's where I made them "pose" for me before they left (although Jake's thumbs up thingy was his own idea. I think he was mocking me....). Now I ask you, does Kaleb look excited to be going to the very first day of his senior year of high school?? Not so much, does he?
I miss 'em already. It's gonna be a long year.

My blogging is still a bit sporadic. We have out of town company this week. My very best friend in the whole wide world (Susan) and her husband are here for a week (her husband, who is also in the Air Force reserves along with Randey, is here for work). Naturally, I feel morally obligated to take Susan around to every shoe store within a 50 mile radius, as well as any and all book stores we can manage to locate. I know, I know, it's a pain in the butt to look at all those shoes and find all those books, but somebody's got to do it and I'm willing to make the sacrifice because, well, she's my best bud and I know she'd do it for me (and has, actually!). Wish me luck and good shoe hunting, eh?

The Day Started So Beautifully...

I got up the other morning to a sky full of soft sunshine and a freshly brewed pot of coffee. Ahhhhhhhh. Bliss. I stood at the backdoor, sipping my coffee, asking myself why is it that I never drink coffee sitting out back, especially on such a lovely day. And then I saw why. The sunlight glinted off something shiny over by the outdoor clock. I looked closer. Here's what it was: Yeah. A big, honkin' spiderweb. Eeewwww. This is the part of the story where I realized I have been blogging way too long. Instead of the usual SCREAM OF PANIC I normally would have given, I promptly went in search of my camera so I could share this vision with all of you. I got as close as I could....that is to say about 6 to 8 feet from it... and then zoomed the camera as much as it'd go. How's this for a giant YUCK, EEECK!, GROSS, SAVE ME, HELP, SEND IN THE ARTILLERY sort of creature?
I'm here to tell you, if Little Miss Muffet has been sitting on her Tuffet and this thing had sat down beside her?..Little Miss Muffet would have either dropped dead from a heart attack or passed out and drowned in her curds and why. And who could blame her. As for the creature? Let's just say he suffered a none-too-soon demise from a biological weapon I like to call Bengal Bug Spray.

Political Correctness Be Damned and More WW Recipes (how's THAT for a strange combination of topics?)

What qualifies as "Politically Incorrect" these days? Lots of things. Lots and lots and lots of things. More things than I could possibly count. Personally, I'm so damn sick of being told what's correct and what isn't, that I could just scream. People don't want you saying "Merry Christmas" anymore because it might offend someone. Instead, you're supposed to say "Happy Holidays". I've got no problem with saying "Happy Holidays". But rest assured that if and when I do say that, it'll most likely be followed up with a loud and hardy "Merry Christmas Everyone!". Why? Because December 25th is a celebration of the birth of Christ, that's why! So while I surely do hope that any and all holidays you may experience be as happy as can be, I further and most assuredly hope that your Christmas season is full of joy, love, merriment and laughter. And I hope my saying "Merry Christmas" to you gives you just one more reason to reflect on the whole entire meaning of life and what we're suppose to accomplish while we're here in it.
Another Politically Incorrect thing these days is "racial profiling", specifically at airports. Yeah. We're not supposed to be suspicious of anyone of Middle Eastern descent simply because they are of Middle Eastern descent 'cause it might offend an innocent person of the same race. Huh. See the thing is, each and every one of the murdering jackasses from 9/11 were of Middle Eastern descent. Sorry, but that's a fact. I darn sure wouldn't want to offend an innocent, really I wouldn't. But then again, I don't want to be taking a header into a national monument while snugly encased in a 747 just because no one had enough cojones to eyeball the terrorist sitting 6 rows ahead of me. You know when I flew to Florida from Texas in 2005 for the birth of our grandson, I was pulled out of line and searched. Why? Because I had a one way ticket in first class and only carry on luggage. All red flags. Cool. They "wanded" me, they patted me down, they took my shoes, they searched my luggage and my purse. No problem. I understood. I mean I was only in first class because it was the only ticket I could get and I only had a one way ticket because Randey and the boys were following by car so I was going to ride back home with them, but okay - I got that I met certain parameters that said "SEARCH THAT PASSENGER". But if I'd been wearing a burka, do you think they would have searched me then? I honestly doubt it. Why? Because I might have screamed "Racial Profiling!" and no airline wants to be accused of that...simply because it'd be Politically Incorrect. HORSE. PUCKY. Middle Eastern people tried to kill us. I hate that for us and for the innocent people of Middle Eastern heritage. But screw that "racially insensitive" crap and keep us all safe, if you don't mind too much. And if saying that induces you to call me a racist, then you're calling me a racist only induces me to call you a willfully blind and woefully ignorant idiot.
One other example of Political Incorrectness...all these people out there all across America who are going through foreclosures. They all blame Bush, the economy, the oil companies, the 3rd phase of Venus, whatever. And yes, some people truly have been victims of circumstances beyond their control, i.e, those who lost their jobs, etc. But I know for an absolute fact that a number of those people who have lost or are losing their homes to foreclosure are suffering because of their own damn stupidity. Back when real estate was booming, many of these people took out larger mortgages. They suddenly had all this equity in their homes because home values skyrocketed. So they borrowed against the "new" values of their homes and lived high off the hog. Woo-hoo! Ain't life grand! Then that "creative financing" that they were so thrilled with earlier became unaffordable. They found themselves with ginormous mortgage payments and no way to pay them. Well, I hate like all get out that those people made poor financial decisions based on current conditions without so much as considering the future, but that's hardly anyone's fault but their own. And yeah, I know it's extremely Politically Incorrect to say things like that, but I. don't. much. care. It's simply stating a fact. And by the way, I'll go even further to say that those ill-planning, whining ass bunch of morons who got greedy without giving one thought to the future have made it even tougher for those who genuinely have suffered because of the downturn our economy is experiencing. And for the love of Pete, stop your crying because you've lost your home due to your own greed. Suck it up, start over and learn from your mistakes. Thank God Randey and I have never lost a home due to our own idiocy, but we have suffered through financial hardships in the past brought on entirely by a syndrome known as "Living Above Your Means". It's a syndrome that affects a lot of people in American today. And it's not a condition that can be cured by the federal government.
So - why the big rant over "Political Correctness"? Because...I want you guys to understand that I know what that term means. And I'm as fed up with it as the next person. Truly I am. I could rant and rave about it for the next 24 hours solid and never even begin to scratch the surface of just how much it irritates me that we are supposed to tip toe around everyone's feelings because it'd be so flippin' horrible if we offended someone. I received several e-mails from very well meaning friends telling me that I had done nothing wrong when I "reviewed" the movie Tropic Thunder and I didn't need to apologize to Michelle like I did. I beg to differ. The reason being this...a person of a different religious persuasion can express those beliefs to me if they get offended by my "Merry Christmas" greeting. They can tell me all about how it offends them because they don't believe in Jesus. And I can tell them to get over it. Why? Because they can actually get over it. A person of Middle Eastern descent can get all kinds of ticked off at me for thinking people who look like them should be given extra scrutiny at the airport and I can also tell them to get over it. Why? Because they can. A person who's driving a Hummer that they bought with the proceeds of their home equity loan before that loan went belly up can get indignant and cry because I've expressed my belief that they've brought their tragedy upon themselves and they, too, can get the heck over it. None of these people have to agree with me, none of them have to accept what I say without debate. They can all fight back, in other words. The mentally handicapped can't. They are a segment of our society who are totally and completely innocent and free of guile. When I said that people who are "easily offended" should skip that movie, I lumped people who have no control over their condition into the same category as those who do. And that was wrong. I still say that was a funny movie. But I hate the thought that something that gave me so much laughter could, at the same time, cause pain and humiliation to innocents. I wish to heck that Ben Stiller had used a more worthy target for his lampooning. There's plenty other segments of our society out there who could use a little poking fun at. Again, I don't think that Stiller and company set out to make fun of the mentally disabled, but rather they used language that is hurtful to the mentally handicapped, as well as those who love them, in their efforts to illustrate the ridiculousness of Hollywood itself. That hurtful language was unnecessary and uncalled for. And that has nothing to do with being Politically Correct or Incorrect. It has to do with being a caring and thoughtful human. Michelle did not try to pressure me into retracting my endorsement of the movie, nor did she chastise me for being insensitive. She merely made a comment on my review because she felt that we were good enough friends to do that. I'm so very pleased that she was comfortable enough with me to express herself without fear of being snubbed or mocked. Her comment was well thought out, it came from personal feelings and experience and it was a point of view I hadn't truly considered. I felt terrible after having read it. Why? Because I knew that she was right. Yes, it was a funny movie, but it was also hurtful to the innocent. The defenseless innocent. That's why I answered her comment as I did. Because it came from the heart. NOT from any pressure to be Political Correct. I thank all of you for your kind words regarding this issue. It's been very much appreciated. It's one more reason why I love being part of this community!!

Now - to lighten up a bit - how about telling me some of the "Politically Correct or Incorrect" things that drive you insane?? I'd love to hear about them. It really gets my blood pumping. LOL

TODAY'S RECIPES

Finally, here's a great idea for a low point Weight Watchers breakfast. This comes from Joan over at Joan's Journeys. Joan has been eating 3 egg whites (just the whites, people!) every morning and has been adding vegetables like mushrooms and broccoli. Three egg whites count for only 1 point on the WW system and in fact, if you were feeling particularly hungry, you could have six, count 'em SIX, egg whites for just TWO points. Not bad, eh? And of course, small portions of most vegetables don't garner any points. Joan says you can even add half a bag of the WW shredded cheese for only 1 more point. She also enjoys a half cup of Sunfresh Del Monte Red Grapefruit because she says they taste so sweet (can't wait to me some of that up the next time I go to the store - I luvs me some sweet grapefruit!). Great breakfast ideas. Remember everyone, it's very important that you eat breakfast every morning. I know it seems like the less you eat, the more weight you'll loose, but if you don't eat on a regular basis, your body starts storing absolutely everything you do eat because it thinks it's starving. So feed your body regularly and do it with mostly healthy stuff. Also remember this: A treat isn't a treat if you give it to yourself everyday! Save those special things for special times. Fuel your body with the healthy foods day to day. Your body will thank you!
Here's a little factoid that surprised the fool out of me...did you know that a "normal and healthy" portion of chicken breast is only 4 ounces? The average chicken breast (raw) is 7 to 8 ounces. I was appalled when I saw that most WW recipes called for only 1 pound of chicken for 4 servings. What the heck? Who could live off that? Well, apparently - anyone! It's the size we should be eating. While I don't always adhere to this portion size (but I try!), it's truly not a hardship to adjust to eating healthier. And I promise you, it gets easier over time, too. Now check out this recipe which is made with only 1 little ol' pound of chicken breast meat:

Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan
4 servings 6 points per serving

Ingredients:
Olive Oil spray
6 Tbsp seasoned bread crumbs
1 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 oz reduced fat parmesan cheese
1/2 cup egg beaters (or 3 egg whites)
1 cup Paul Newman marinara (if you use a different brand, check it for calorie, fat and fiber count!!!)
2 oz part-skim mozzarella cheese
16 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Spray bottom of crock pot with olive oil Pam. Combine breadcrumbs, garlic powder and parmesan cheese. Dredge chicken in egg beaters or egg whites and then dredge in breadcrumbs mixture to coat chicken. Place chicken in crock pot. Sprinkle chicken with mozzarella cheese and pour marinara/spaghetti sauce on top of chicken. Cook on low 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

This is a fantastic recipe. I've never made chicken parmesan in my life until I used this recipe. It's so easy - and my family was so impressed - I darn near declared myself a good cook after the first time I served this. (And before I get an e-mail from Aunt Sandi, let me state that calling myself a "bad cook" is no exaggeration nor am I putting myself down by saying it. I don't normally like cooking, I'm not terribly good at it, and I'd just as soon leave the cooking chores to someone else. I have no shame and/or embarrassment about my lack of cooking skills. It's just how I roll.) Anywho - this recipe almost made me change my mind about the Joys of Cooking. It gave me hope that I could make something quick, easy, healthy and full of good taste without resorting to carry-out or a nervous breakdown. I serve this with a side portion (2 ounces) of Ronzoni Smart Taste thin spaghetti (discovered through my friend Susan! Check this stuff out - it's even better for you than whole grain pasta!) and a 1/4 cup of marinara - for an additional 4 points. I also make a lettuce, tomato and cucumber salad (o points). This meal is a lot of food for 10 points, and it's one my family thoroughly enjoys eating.

Here's one more recipe, courtesy of Vee over at A Haven for Vee. In her own words, no less!

Peel slices from one apple into pan with artificial sweetener of choice and cinnamon to taste and water. Stew until apples are softened and water is nearly evaporated.

Place one slice of American cheese (lowfat, if you insist) on one slice of whole-wheat toast. Add apples on top and broil until cheese melts. Yummy!
(I've been eating this for forty years whether dieting or not.)

I ran this thru the WW Recipe Builder and it comes to only 3 points. Yippee!

Please, Let Me Explain!

I have a huge mea culpa to issue here. It's regarding my review of the movie Tropic Thunder. I enjoyed the movie - thought it had a lot to recommend it. That part is fine and I, of course, stand by my right to express that opinion. However, (and this is a BIG however) I was insensitive in the extreme to a certain aspect of our society. When I said "if you're easily offended, skip it", I carelessly trivialized the feelings of people who either are or know someone who is mentally handicapped or disabled. God help me, I don't even know the proper term or if there is one. Please, if I've said the wrong thing, correct me. I'm willing and able to learn from my mistakes. Like now. With that "easily offended" statement. I received this comment from my good blogging friend, Michelle @ Big Blueberry Eyes. It was an eye opener for me, to say the least.

I guess you can count me among those easily offended :) I admit I haven't seen the movie, but that scene between Stiller and Downey Jr talking about why Stiller didn't win an Oscar playing Simple Jack? That scene offends me. In particular Downey Jr's character saying "you went full r*tard. You never go full r*tard" offends me. That phrase is already on shirts being sold online, kids will probably be wearing it in school, and I dread the day Kayla will have to see something like that. I've heard Stiller's response that it wasn't meant to offend, it was a satire poking fun of Hollywood and other actors etc, and taken in the context of the movie it's supposed to be funny. Regardless of what the context is, and that it was supposed to be funny, it just isn't - at least not for me. Ditto with the scene between Stiller and his agent talking about Stiller's plan to adopt. His agent saying "at least you get to chose your son" and then showing a picture of him with his son who appears to have a disability.
Anyway, just my opinion coming from a different point of view of why it offends me :) Hope you don't mind my long comment in response!

I truly did not mean to minimize or dismiss anyone's feelings over this movie. But I did. The truth is, the movie contains offensive language and references to mentally disabled people. That is a fact that I cannot deny. As Stiller said, I don't believe the makers of the movie specifically set out to make fun of mentally disabled people, rather I think the purpose was to show the ridiculous lengths Hollywood and, more pointedly, actors go to for their "art". This is something I agree with so whole heartedly, that I lost sight of the hurt those particular scenes could cause the innocents in our society who least deserve to be subjected to that sort of pain. I mean heck, I was laughing my butt off during most of the movie and, while I found the parts referring to the mentally handicapped to be in poor taste, I took them as a poke at Hollywood, not a poke at the disabled so I skipped right over them in my review of the movie. And honestly, I didn't understand the reference about the agent's kid when he told Stiller "at least you get to pick yours". They just showed a picture of a kid, a kid who looked like a million other kids out there. (Which may show that not only am I insensitive, I'm dense as well.) But the point is, it was real easy for me to laugh at certain things and dismiss others because I haven't had to endure the agony of knowing a loved one who is living with the realities of a handicap. Michelle, Joe and Kayla, if I live to be a hundred years old and apologize to you all every hour on the hour, I will never come close to expressing exactly how bad I feel for my total and complete lack of empathy for your feelings. I still think the movie, apart from the horribly unnecessary language regarding the handicapped, was funny, but (A), it would have been immeasurably funnier without those parts and (B) I never, ever should have even thought, much less said, "easily offended" in reference to anyone's feelings. It belittled what is obviously a very real and true emotion and one that, as a person who hasn't lived with this reality, I could never have any true grasp of understanding. If I had to do it all over again, and knowing what I know now, I believe I'd skip that movie. Sure, parts of it were hysterically funny. But 2 hours of laughter just doesn't measure up to the thought of hurting your feelings and I ache with every fiber of my being just thinking of little Kayla having her feelings hurt by this. I promise you now that I will work towards improving my empathy and sympathy and will be much more mindful of these things in the future. Thank you for your very kind and gentle reminder to me that there's a difference between being "politically incorrect" and being just plain wrong. I hope you'll forgive me my ignorance.



One other thing, today is my oldest son's 28th birthday. Happy Birthday, Nick! Sure wish I could talk to you and I hope you can at least read your birthday greetings. I miss you like crazy and think of you every moment of the day. You're my baby, my "Elvis", my pride and my joy. I love you, son.

P.S. Look one post down for the Weigh Out of Fat Recipes

Finding a Weigh Out of Fat, Volume III

Some of you guys really came through with your recipes! Thank you. You came through so well, in fact, that rather than try to post them all in one day, I think I'll try to break it down to maybe 3 to 5 a post because, wow! my typing skills may not be up to doing it all at one time. lol

This first recipe came from Mary @ Bookfan-Mary. I actually tried to make this myself and it was my own poor planning that prevented it from coming out as intended. I'll explain more on that after the recipe:


Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

4 svgs 8pts/svg

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup salsa
1 pkg reduced sodium taco seasoning
1 can reduced fat cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream


Add chicken to slow cooker (sprayed with PAM)
Sprinkle taco seasoning over chicken
Pour salsa and soup over chicken
Cook on low 6-8 hrs
Remove from heat and stir in sour cream
Serve with rice or baked potato (add pts for this)

Notes:I don't use the whole pkg of taco seasoning
Soup is right from can, not mixed with anything
I use it with brown rice
You could use fat free ingredients and that might lower the pts value/svg


When I went to try this recipe, I knew that I didn't have the taco seasoning or the salsa so I made a special trip to the store to get those things. By the time I made it home, it was too late to put it all in the crockpot so I decided I'd just cook it in the oven, instead. So, a few hours later, I start dinner and realize that, despite my firm belief to the contrary, I had no cream of anything soup in my pantry and my reduced fat sour cream was woefully out of date. Great. Now what??? Well seeing as how it was so late in the day and I couldn't handle another trip to the store (once in a day is quite enough for me, thank you) I went ahead and made the recipe without those things. I sprayed the dish and lightly sprayed the chicken with Olive Oil spray, I lightly sprinkled the taco seasoning on the chicken, I put about 1/2 the contents of the salsa jar (approximately 11 oz) on top and poured about 3 ounces of vegetable broth in the bottom of the Pyrex dish. Slapped it in the oven for about 45 minutes at 350 degrees and hoped for the best. And wouldn't you know it? The boys and I thought it was fantabulous! Randey liked it quite a bit, but would have liked it more if I hadn't used such a spicy salsa (he's never been one for the jalapenos, etc.). I can just imagine how good it'll be if I manage to follow the recipe correctly. LOL (FYI for those of you doing WW, my Kari, the Bad Recipe Follower version came out to 6 points per serving).

Next we have Teriyaki Burgers from Joan @ Joan's Journey's:


Teriyaki Burgers

4 servings 5 points per serving


1 pound 93% lean ground beef (or turkey or turkey/lean beef mixture)
2 tbsp teriyaki sauce
4 English muffins
1/4 cup ketchup
4 lettuce leaves
1 large beefsteak tomato
1 red onion


In a large bowl, combine beef (and/or turkey) and teriyaki sauce. Mix together and shape into 4 patties. Grill or broil until cooked through. Arrange lettuce on the bottom half of an English muffin. Top with burger, ketchup, tomato, onion and top half of muffin.


I can't wait to try this one. I've never been a huge fan of homemade burgers, but I can't afford the points for eating them out anymore (ha!) so these should be a good alternative for me.

Here's a recipe from Jodie @ Mommy of a Princess.


LEMON CHICKEN PASTA TOSS
Prep:20 mins Cook:20 mins Makes: 4 servings

2 cups dried multigrain penne
12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 1 inch pieces
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup finely chopped shallot (3)
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup chicken broth
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons capers, drained
3 tablespoons snipped fresh Italian parsley
Fresh grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Return pasta to hot saucepan;cover and keep warm.

2. Meanwhile, in a bowl toss together chicken and flour until chicken is lightly coated. In a large skillet cook and stir chicken in 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat for 6 to 8 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Remove chicken from pan; set aside.

3. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining oil to skillet. Add garlic and shallot; cook and stir about 1 minute or until tender. Carefully stir in broth, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Cook, uncovered, for 2 to 3 minutes or until reduced to about 2/3 cup. Stir in chicken, capers, and parsley; heat through.

4. Toss pasta with chicken mixture. If desired, add parmesan cheese.

Per 1 1/2 cups: 339 calories, 9 g total fat (1 g saturated fat), 50 mg chol., 589 mg sodium, 36 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 29 g protein.

I'll have to do this one soon, but first of all, could someone tell me what capers taste like? lol The whole recipe sounds delicious, but I'm a little leery of those caper thingys...Also, I haven't run this through my Weight Watchers Recipe Builder yet so I can't say how many points per serving. The calorie count per serving looks pretty good, though.


Now we have a soup recipe from Lynne over at Lynne's Little Corner of the World:


TACO SOUP

(makes around 15 cups, 1 point/cup)

1 large onion chopped (I use frozen chopped onions, about a cup)
1 package taco seasoning mix (low sodium)
2 cups frozen corn
1 can chicken broth, fat-free
1 can black beans, undrained
1 can white beans, undrained
1 can refried beans, fat free
1 can Rotel tomatoes, undrained
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained


Put all ingredients into a big pot, stir well, simmer about an hour.


I was able to run this recipe through my Weight Watchers Recipe Builder and, using the ingredients (brand names, etc.) I had on hand, this came out to 2 points per 1 cup serving instead of 1. Which brings up what I think is an important point. Not all foods are created equal! Long Grain Brown Rice, for example.The calorie total for one serving of Uncle Ben's rice is 170, but the calorie total for one serving of Mahatma is 150. The fat and fiber contents also differ from brand to brand. It's important to read your labels and chose the product which offers the best nutritional balance. By the way, this recipe would be great to serve with the Salsa Chicken for a Mexican food themed night. Add in a tossed salad and those of you on Weight Watchers can have a great meal for around 7 to 10 points (depending on your ingredients and how badly you can screw up a recipe - I'm referring to my "version" of the Salsa chicken, of course. lol).


Finally, here's a chicken recipe that Randey practically begs for whenever he sees that I've gotten chicken out for supper. Which is often. Why you ask? Because chicken is good for you! And so is fish, but I don't eat seafood, therefore, I don't cook it either. 'Cause YUCK! I know that some of you may be thinking that you just can't eat chicken every single night (and really, who could, besides me? ha!) but if you cook it enough different ways, it doesn't seem to get old. It's all about the flavors! And this recipe I'm going to give you has some of the best flavor out there. Trust me on this!


Honey Balsamic Glazed Chicken Breast
4 servings 7 points per serving (and worth every one!)


4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tsp olive oil
4 tablespoons honey
4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar


Heat olive oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle thyme, salt and pepper over chicken. Add chicken to skillet, cook 7 to 8 minutes on each side or until chicken is done. (You can also cube the chicken prior to cooking, which is what we've been doing). Transfer chicken to plate, cover with foil to keep warm. Reduce heat to medium-low, add vinegar and honey to pan. Simmer 1 minute or until glaze thickens; stir constantly. Pour glaze over chicken (do this quickly and, if your chicken is cubed, stir the glaze around on it a bit because the glaze will "set up" - and you most certainly want it "set up" on the chicken and not the plate!).
I told my friend Susan about this recipe and she said she didn't think she'd like it because she doesn't like balsamic vinegar. Like I told her, though, you don't taste the balsamic. The combination of it and the honey gives the chicken an almost oriental sort of flavor, but very light. It's so darn good. I feel like a gourmet every time I make it. Also, the original recipe called for 1 1/2 tsps of thyme, but I reduced that amount because thyme is such a strong spice to me. Feel free to add more, if you'd like to, however.

Okay, that's enough recipes for one post, I think. Stayed tuned, though, as I'll try to post more throughout the week.
I had good news at my Weight Watchers meeting this afternoon. I lost another 2.4 lbs. for a total of 31.8. I can't tell you how much it boggles my mind to think that I've actually been able to lose that sort of weight. I'm thrilled silly and just knowing what I've accomplished thus far has empowered me to believe I can continue on this path and lose even more. How about you guys? - tell us some of your successes. I've found that hearing about others weight loses is a huge inspiration for me! It tells me that all of us are capable of doing this...and we're capable of helping those who are struggling with it, too. And speaking of helping, how about giving us your best snack tips. This was a suggested topic for next week's post and I think it's a GREAT ONE! Tell us what you eat to tide you over between meals or for those times when you feel like you'll eat anything that doesn't move fast enough - what are you eating instead of the potato chips or ice cream or whatever? Here's one of my favorite snacks: frozen grapes. Ohhhhhh, they are soooooo good. And since they're frozen, it takes longer to eat them so I end up not eating as many. lol You just pop one in your mouth and it sort of melts just a bit and then it's like eating an awesomely flavored bite of fruit Popsicle. Give 'em a try if you haven't already discovered these. And then share with the class your favorite snacks. This is a great way to help each other out. I look forward to reading what you've got to say!

Tropic Thunder, My Baby's Movin' on Up, More Art, Maddy's Masterpiece and a Plea for Recipes!

It's been a hectic weekend. I'm on another one of my "gotta get organized" kicks so naturally, everything in the house is a total mess. lol What I wouldn't give for more storage in this house!! Geez. Seems like I'm constantly shifting stuff from one pile to another and not making any progress whatsoever. But that's a whole other story. I'd just as soon not think about it right now so I'll move along, okay? :)
Randey and I saw Tropic Thunder Friday evening. It was offensive on so many levels, it was stupid, it was gross, it was sometimes over-the-top bizarre...and man, did we love it! I haven't laughed so hard in a theater since we saw Blades of Glory. Robert Downey, Jr. is pure genius. I'm normally not too impressed with anyone who makes their living in Hollywood, but this guy is an exception. I loved him in Ironman, I loved him in Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang and I totally and completely adored him in this movie. Nobody plays a character better and nobody pokes fun at himself better, either. Genius, I tell you, genius. Another stand out performance in this movie was that of Tom Cruise. Yeah, I know. I stopped diggin' Tom Cruise right about the time he kicked Nicole to the curb and started couch jumping over Katie. But his performance in this movie almost made me like him again. Almost. (He played a great role, but afterwards, well - he's still Tom Cruise - couch-pounding maniac.) If you can enjoy a whole lot of un-politically correct humor, this movie is for you. If you're easily offended, skip it. And there you have it. Another movie review from me. Woo-hoo! lol
Check out Jacob, my baby. He was headed to a job interview so he broke down and dressed in something other than a t-shirt and plaid shorts. It worked for him, too. He got the job and has gone from working fast food to working in retail sales. He's already planning on how to spend the big bucks he'll be making. lol
Remember our fetish for cheap art? Well, check this out:
It's a watercolor painting of an actual windmill. It's the Berney Arms Mill in Norfolk, U.K. It actually has a sticker on the back with the name of the artist and the artist's contact information. I googled the name of the mill and found several webpages with information regarding the origin and the current use of the mill. I think it's a beautiful little watercolor and, at $3 (sorry, Kat, I can't help myself - I have to tell how little we paid! lol), an absolute steal.

When Maddy Moose (our oldest granddaughter) was visiting earlier this month, she and I went to Granbury and painted ceramics together. As you can see, Maddy's granny (moi) has not found her calling when it comes to painting these things. Who knew the brush strokes would show up so much??? Here's the front of my piece:
And here's the back:
Now here's Maddy's. This kid is so creative and so free-spirited, it was a given that I would love her piece. Here's the front of hers:
And here's the back:
I am kicking my own butt for not having her do two pieces so that I could keep one. What was I thinking??? Well, now I know better. Next time around, Moose will be painting something for herself and something for her granny. lol

One more thing. I haven't received many recipes yet for the "Finding a Weigh Out of Fat" post coming up this Wednesday. You only have a day or two to get those to me!! If you have one, please e-mail me with it ASAP (or type it into a comment). Come on, guys! Share what you've got and help the rest of us out! If we're going to lose weight together, we need to do it all together. Including helping each other out in the kitchen (metaphorically, anyway. You'll have to find your own helpers to do the dishes. lol).

Finding a Weigh Out of Fat: Volume II

This has not been a good week for me with my weight loss! I guess all the traveling and eating out has finally caught up with me. I think I've actually gained a couple of pounds and I am not happy about it. But. To dwell on that is just too frustrating so I'm going to put this down to experience and do my best to learn from it. (She said with tears in her eyes and teeth gritted tight. lol).

Last week I asked for any tips you guys wanted to share with everyone else. You left some pretty good ones. Lynne over at Lynne's Little Corner of the World gave what could arguably be the most important tip to remember: Don't expect miracles! So often, we'll start a weight loss plan and if we don't see dramatic results right away, we get discouraged and quit. The irony of that sort of thinking is, if you're losing more than 2 pounds a week, odds are you're doing something unhealthy anyway and you're probably going to gain all your lost weight back as soon as you stop whatever "diet" it is that you're on. Keep in mind, people: It took a bit of time for your arse to get to its current size...give yourself a break and understand that it's going to take time to get that chunky butt back to the size it ought to be. (I know, I know...I speak so eloquently about the human body, eh? lol). Lynne also suggested that we drink plenty of water, get in our daily recommended amount of calcium and that we write down everything we eat (you'd be surprised at how much you actually eat in a day). Also, it's important to not deprive ourselves of something we really, really want. The key is to learn to eat that special treat in moderation! (That means no diving head first into that vat of ice cream! Use a spoon, not a shovel!) Finally Lynne says we should exercise (even just a little bit every day) and that we should forgive ourselves when we slip up (I'm working on that one this week myself) and that we should be accountable to someone. Good advice, every single bit of it. Donna over at Cottage Days and Journeys also recommends exercise. I know! It sounds like so much work when you say those words, huh? But it's necessary, it truly is. You've got to get your body moving more, that's all there is to it. Take a walk in the evenings or early mornings. Park further from the door when you go to the store. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. You've all heard these things before and there's a reason people keep saying them - in order to lose weight once you reach a certain age, you not only have to eat right, you have to move more, too. And vice-versa. Exercise alone won't shrink that butt of yours. You've got to watch what you're eating, too. (I came to that realization the hard way. lol) Donna also shared a favorite saying of hers: Success is a decision. Think about that for a minute. All of us reading this and interacting with one another have made a decision to do better for our own good. Just taking this first step means we've achieved one level of success. One step at a time, people. One step at a time. And every step forward is a success. Jodie at Mommy of a Princess has changed up a lot of the foods she brings into her house. She's switched to whole grain pasta, brown rice, etc, and she only buys the snacks that are 100 calories or less (Speaking of which, have you tried the Nabisco Itty Bitty Nilla Wafer packs? OMG - I love Nilla Wafers. These packs are only 80 calories - 2 points for Weight Watchers. You just can't beat 'em!). Anywho, Jodie is also exercising more and she's also recognizing the fact that you shouldn't deprive yourself of something if you've really got a craving for it. Again, just eat that "something" in moderation. I think it's important for all of us to understand that we shouldn't be doing "diets". We should be doing "lifestyle changes". That means we need to learn the fine art of portion control - you can eat any darn thing you want, as long as you exercise portion control. Well - you shouldn't be having something outrageous for every meal, but you get the idea, right? Kathy at Remembering the Moments recommends Leslie Sansone's DVDs. She says that you can do these DVD's in your home and don't have to worry about bad weather, etc., and that's why she enjoys them so. That and she likes Leslie's personality. I, personally, haven't ever seen one of these, but they might just be worth looking into. Especially with winter headed our way (I can dream about cold weather, can't I? lol) Kathy says that the most important thing we can do for exercise, is to find something we really enjoy doing, be it walking, dancing, belly dancing, hula hooping or whatever! That's actually a great point. If you enjoy the activity, you're much more likely to keep at it. Good advice, Kathy! Mary at Book Fan-Mary exercises five days a week (Go Mary! You're my hero! lol) and she also journals. I know it seems like everyone is recommending pretty much the same thing over and over, but that's because these are tried and true methods that work. Exercise and journal. Exercise and journal. And cheat a little bit so you'll know you're human. (As do most of us, I believe the best weight loss plan must include a little wiggle room for the occasional cheat. Nobody can be happy if they're constantly feeling deprived. Just don't cheat too much or you wiggle will fast become a wobble!) Joan from Joan's Journeys left a little recipe for some Pita chips using butter flavored Pam. She also puts it on her no-fat popcorn. Cool, huh? Which sort of brings me to Robin @ Thrifty Miss Priss who suggested that we do a recipe thing in the future (seems like maybe she and Joan were on the same wave length there). What a great idea! How about we do that for next week? Any of you have a good recipe that works for losing weight, either post it in my comment section or e-mail it to me. I'll compile them for next week's Finding a Weigh Out of Fat post, that way you can print them all out at once if you want to. This shouldn't be too difficult to compile - heck, there's only about eight of us involved in this at this point. So you might could even send more than 1 recipe, if you've got them. I have a recipe for chicken that is out of this world. You'll love it. Randey's gotten to where he asks for it 2 and 3 nights a week. I've also got a pretty good dessert recipe, too. And I'd really like to have some recipes for vegetables. That's the hardest part of fixing dinner for me now that I'm trying to cook healthier. I'm from the South, you see. Most of my vegetable recipes call for tons of butter or bacon grease. lol We eat a lot of salad around here, but it'd be nice if I could serve something a little different every now and then. So send me your favorite low-cal or WW or whatever works for you kind of recipe! Can't wait to try them!

I'll close this post with the best tip I received last week. I think you guys will all love it as I do. Robin @ Thrifty Miss Priss said that the one thing that keeps her going is "fitting into smaller clothes because nothing tastes as good as THIN FEELS"! LOLOLOL I love that! I'm thinking of etching it onto to my refrigerator door. :)

P.S. Vee @ A Haven for Vee asked me last week what was I doing for exercise. To honest, I've been a real slacker lately. All that traveling kind of got me out of the habit. Bad Kari. Bad, bad Kari. But before my slump (a temporary one, I'm sure) Randey and I were walking around our neighborhood for about 20 minutes in the evenings. We usually went out about 4 nights a week. And tonight I rode my bike for the very first time. Yeah. I need a little more practice with the bike before I venture too far from home. lol Oh, and I wanted to tell you guys that another of our blogging friends, Sandy over at Dream, Create, Inspire, has started a blog with her 2 sisters, Linda and Debbie, about losing weight. They've named their blog Three Hotties Trapped in Fat Bodies (gotta love that name!). Go on over and check them out if you get the chance!

An Example of a Self-Absorbed Voter

I recently received an e-mail from someone regarding a story about one of the candidates running for office. This e-mail was sent to just about every address in this person's contact list - we're talking lots and lots of people. Unfortunately, this person failed to verify the story before he forwarded it to everybody and their brother. This is a giant pet peeve of mine. I deplore getting these sorts of things because: A) who needs or wants incorrect information on any subject ever, and B) you can pretty much find out enough genuine information about the candidates to help you make up your mind about them without resorting to make believe. Well, one person on the list who received this forwarded e-mail chose to address that very issue. She sent her reply to everyone who had received the forwarded e-mail and she clearly expressed her dislike of receiving unverified information. She even went so far as to suggest that those sorts of stories be researched at a place such as snopes.com for authenticity prior to forwarding it to dozens of people. Personally, I thought that was a fabulous idea and it's one I actually preach about often. Check your facts before you share information! It might just save you from looking like a bigoted, ignorant jackass at some point. Anywho, as I said, I agreed with what this person said about verifying the information, etc., but then she said something that just blew my mind. She said this:

"And in case you're wondering about my own political stance, I vote for the person who is going to do the least amount of damage to my quality of life. They're both going to screw me, it's trying to figure out whose (sic) going to screw me the worst and then vote for the other guy. "

Hello!! Lady! Can you be anymore self centered?? Do you honestly think that YOUR personal quality of life should be the deciding factor in who becomes the most powerful human being on the planet? My gosh, woman. Talk about leading a sheltered little life! You must be one of those "special" people. You know the ones...the ones God liked best, that's why he made you a middle class American, right? I mean for real...you must be some kind of greatness all unto yourself to actually think your quality of life is what democracy is all about.
This attitude just burns me up! This person doesn't seem to care about character or leadership qualities or strength or ideas or plans for the future. Heck, no. She's not worried about poverty here in this country or across the planet or famine or war or terror or oppression. No, ma'am. And she's certainly not worried about some farmer or sheep herder on the other side of the planet who may be murdered for speaking out about his quality of life. No, sir. This woman is worried about her very own, personal quality of life. Wow! What a fine example of American patriotism. What an exemplary example of a member of the human race. My heart is just swelling with pride knowing that this chick has my e-mail address now. Yippee! Not.

Geez. Hope this election turns out okay for her. Wouldn't want something like world democracy to spoil her plans for the future. And I certainly wouldn't want something like the plight of strangers to touch her oh so perfect middle class American lifestyle. After all, God did put her soul into a free body in a bountiful land with all the comforts of modern living. If he'd of wanted her to worry about something or someone other than herself, he'd have had her born poor or better yet, into a body on the other side of the world.

Yeah, I know it's harsh and I know I should work at being a tad bit more accepting of others concerns, but my first thought when I read her little missive was this: What a woefully ignorant, self absorbed, narrow minded wench. And, two weeks after receiving her opinion, I still feel that way about her. Why? Because this is AMERICA! The heart of democracy! We should be voting for the person we believe in, not the person we think will do the least amount of harm to us. I firmly believe that America is supposed to be about optimism and opportunity, not cynicism and contempt!

What about you? What do you believe America is about?

We Are Family!

This past weekend, I traveled to Birmingham, Alabama for what I'm calling the "First Annual Cousins Get-Together". Actually, it was more like a Mini-Get-Together than a full-blown one. And calling it an "annual" event might be jumping the gun a bit, but I'm sure hoping we manage to turn it into such a thing. Anywho, Randey, the boys and I drove to Florida Friday (we had to bring our granddaughter back to her mom) and then my sister Sherri and her daughter Megen and I drove from Florida to Birmingham early Saturday morning and met our cousins, Kristie and Sunshine, for some cousin "bonding" time. lol We started out with some shopping which naturally gave us all an appetite for lunch. Here we are at P.F. Changs: From left to right: Sunshine, Sherri, me, Megen and Kristie. I had never eaten there before and was excited to get to try it. I gotta tell you, their Mongolian Beef and Pork Fried Rice were fabulous (so much for that Weight Watchers will power I've been so proud of lately!).

Here's a picture of Sunshine, all laid up in a chair at Pottery Barn.

And here's a picture of Megen, Kristie and Sherri telling Sunshine to get her butt up out of the $1600.00 Pottery Barn chair. lol
Once we fed our faces, we headed to the hotel for check in. Then we went to Sunshine's house and visited for a bit and then headed back out for more shopping. Kristie and Sunshine's brother, Trey, wanted to join us for dinner. And even though this was a chick weekend, we let him. (ha!) Here he is with Kristie.
Who could resist that face? And here we all are together:
That's Sunshine, Megen, Trey, Kristie, Sherri and me. We ate at a place call Firebirds and it was delicious! I had a pepper crusted steak that was so tender, it was all I could do not to inhale the whole thing. (Yeah. Weight Watchers did indeed take a beating this weekend.)

Here's a picture of the place we stayed at, the Ross Bridge Golf and Spa Resort (we didn't do any golfing or spa-ing, though):
Check out the pool area. Sweet, eh?

Check out the waterfall going into the pool. Luckily, I didn't bring a swimsuit and even luckier, it was sort of overcast Sunday morning or I might have been tempted to swim (and nobody really wants to see that, trust me. I swim like a rock).
Sunshine went home Sunday morning to tend to her youngest son while Sherri, Megen, Kristie and I partook in the breakfast buffet at the resort. Had we known how much the breakfast buffet cost, we might have partook in an Egg McMuffin instead. Yowza! Check out the bill:
Yessir. Sixty nine dollars and 76 cents. For four people. And not one glass of champagne in sight!

Here's Megen, Kristie and Sherri looking down onto the pool after breakfast. (They were still in sticker shock over the cost of breakfast, hence the leaning on the banister. lol)

Another guest at the hotel offered to take our picture together. We kind of scratched our heads over this "sculpture" when we first saw it. Then we figured out that it represented the University of Alabama Roll Tide (from l to r: me, Sherri, Megen and Kristie).
There was also an Auburn War Eagle "sculpture" hanging from the ceiling. I forced Kristie to stand in front of it so I could take her picture:
Speaking of Kristie, I have to tell you guys something awful that Kristie accused me of (I'm still shattered by it). She and I were bedmates Saturday night and, first of all, she told some wild and crazy tale about me snoring. Oh please. Like such a delicate flower like myself could possibly snore, right? Then she said some garbage about the noises I make when I sleep. Some nonsense about me moaning ever so slightly as I snoozed...well, let's just say she accused me of dreaming impure thoughts, okay? Now I ask you...what kind of cousin says things like that? Anybody who knows me would naturally assume I sleep like an angel, a quiet and sweet tender angel. Kristie was obviously tipping back a few brewskis when the rest of us weren't looking because I mean really! Me, snore? Never. And me make strange and obnoxious noises in addition to snoring?? P-u-l-e-a-s-e. But, thanks to her spreading these vile tales about me (and by spreading, I mean she told me, Sherri and Megen!), I'll probably have to bunk alone on the next Cousin Adventure. I don't know that I'll ever get over her scandalous accusations. (heavy, heavy, painfully sad, sigh).
Oh okay. So maybe I do snore. A little. Maybe. So what? But I'm not owning up to the other stuff. Uh-huh. No way. And now that I've cleared that up, let's move on, shall we?
Sunshine and her youngest met us back up at the hotel later on and we headed back towards Kristie's home to do a little more shopping before the weekend ended. Randey and the boys drove up from Florida and picked me up around noon and we four headed straight home to Texas. Approximately 10 hours later, we pulled up in our driveway.

It was a wonderful weekend with the cousins and I really hope we can make this a regular thing. Special note to Michael and Wallace: We've now proven that this generation can get together and have fun without any conflicts whatsoever! (As long as you don't count Kristie's bizarre-o talk about my sleeping habits, that is! ha!) That means you guys need to start getting serious about whether or not you want to join in on the next one. We're thinking of meeting in Vicksburg, Mississippi next time. No dates yet (although Trey has expressed a preference for Spring or Fall). Don't worry - we'll "talk" plenty before any plans are set in concrete!

Now that all the excitement of this last trip is over, though, I have to say I'm pretty much maxed out on my traveling this summer. Between the trip up north to Montana, South Dakota and Minnesota, the trip to Oklahoma, the first trip to Florida, the second trip to Florida with an add on to Birmingham, Alabama - we've traveled more than 7,500 miles (all by car!) since school let out in May. It's all been great fun and I wouldn't trade it for anything, but I'm ready to chill out here at the house for awhile now. I need my rest, you know. After all, Christmas is right around the corner! LOL