Daylight Savings Time

Don't get so caught up in all the election broohaha that you forget to set your clocks back Saturday night!  

Yay!!

Are you watching this?

Yes, I'm watching this infomercial that NBC is playing tonight. I'm not sure if they just really really support him or if they just wanted his money. I've never been a political person. I've never really discussed it outloud, outside of my house and immediate family at least. I've never really declared outloud who I was voting for. I say not really b/c my views really weren't that different from the people I was discussing the views so I never really had to declare outloud who I was voting for. However, these past few months I've just been lashing out. You probably shouldn't read any more of this post if you are pro-Obama.



I do not like Barack Obama. I am not voting for him. I don't know why anyone would. I don't know why the supporters truly canNOT see past his suit. What has he done for this country? What is he going to do for this country? What is he going to do to this country? If he could back up anything he says, I don't think I'd have such a problem with him. But he can't. And he flip-flops. I don't know what he stands for. I don't think I'll ever know.



I watched some of his ridiculous infomerical tonight. I especially loved the part where a spokesperson said that Obama has Kansas roots. Obama has Kansas roots like I have South Carolina roots. My mom spent the first few years of her life in South Carolina so I can claim Carolina roots right, even though I was born and raised in Alabama. I thought he was born in Hawaii? Lived there for a little bit and then moved to Indonesia for awhile? I guess it wouldn't have sounded good to say he's proud of his Indonesian roots. Give me a break, people! I stopped watching the infomercial after that. It's nonsense! I can think of a few other things to call it but I'll just stick with that and not let his antics get the best of me.



WHY the do you want someone to run this GREAT nation (whether you think it's great or not is your opinion but I like the fact that I have more clothes than I know what to do with...even if I don't like most of them, I do have plenty to stayed clothed).....WHY do you want someone to run this great nation who has the middle name of Hussein? Or the first name Barack? Or the last name Obama? Heck, I don't have any kids but there are certain names that I definitely will not be using when the point comes for me to have kids. If you think there is not much meaning to names, I beg to differ. But anyway. And why was he called Barry as a kid and now it's Barack? To me, there's a whole lot of difference between "Barry" and "Barack." Again..give me a break!

There are a lot of things that are making headlines in this country. To me, this isn't about universal healthcare or gay marriage or even taxes. It's about living in a country that is FREE that is NOT under tyranny rule. It's about living in a country where I am allowed to speak my own language and make up my own words like "Hone your hornk!" (This is Trish-speak for "Honk your horn.") All I can do between now and Nov 4 is speak my mind via this post and a couple of other outlets and PRAY PRAY PRAY.

Back to Basics

After doing some reading this morning it has become clear who I will be rooting for in next week's election. I didn't take the usual route of FoxNews or MSN or CNN or Snopes, but found my information the old fashioned way. How? Remember that song...."the Bible tells me so" ??

"A wise man's heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man's heart directs him toward the left."
Eccl. 10:2

All in good fun of course, but there is some pretty good stuff in that Book. Who needs Oprah's Book Club? :)

Good night, Sleep tight

I posted the link to this video about a month ago, but in light of the tragedies facing the country I wanted to post the video.  These stories remind us that we really should seize each day that is given to us.  That's all--each day is given to us.  It's not something we deserve.  

Jennifer Hudson's Family

Anne Pressly

Go and make the most of your tomorrow!

Pumpkin Patch

Pictures from PumpkinVille:

Moment of Clarity

Good Monday Morning!

I was reading over my last post of the night from last night and realized that it makes no sense. :)

When I got onto the blogging scene a couple of years ago, it would always take me so long to write a blog because I would go over and over and over what I wrote, making sure everything made sense, as though I was writing a research paper. After all the hard work, the site I was using would--more often than not--freeze up or produce an error and all my words would be gone. Poof! Then I would get frustrated and walk away with a blank screen.

Now I tend to write whatever is in my head and as you can see that doesn't always work out. With Blogger I really don't have the problem of losing my words and ideas so I don't get as frustrated. But anyway...what I was trying to get across in that last post was this--

The video I posted is not new. It's a few years old, but I came across it and had to post it. It's really inspiring. Also, I didn't buy the cd when it first came out, but more like a year or so afterwards. Not that it even matters that I clear that up, but I did so now you can go on with your morning. Ha! :)

See ya 'round!

Last post of the night

I've been focusing my musical palate toward Jason Mraz in the past few weeks. He's got this sound that is groovin' and relaxin' and inspirin'. I know it's been a few years since he flew onto the scene. I do have his cd from when he first came out (or probably more like a year after he came out) but I never listened to it that much. I came across this video a short while back and found it very inspirational. It's 3 minutes short, and I love the view on life provided.





Have a great weekend!

50% of Voters Believe Ayers Issue Has Hurt McCain Campaign

Take a step back and think. Forget your party affiliation or favorables/unfavorables. Just think about this:

Two candidates are running for President of a country. One candidate served as a POW in a time of war. The second candidate served on boards with a person who was terrorizing said country in the same decade that the first candidate was serving as POW. The second candidate tries to hide the fact that he had a relationship with said terrorist. First candidate brings this up in his campaign because he feels that the people voting for the next President have a right to know the truth. A poll is released saying that the first candidate's campaign is hurt by the issue. Does this even make sense?

Like many things, issues of the day, topics of the week, are seen clearly in my head but unlike some speakers I'm not always eloquent in my delivery of the thoughts. I'm not sure how you take the above paragraph, but hopefully I got my point across.

Why should this hurt John McCain's campaign? IMO, Obama has NOT been clear and truthful with the American people on his relationship with Ayers. I will keep saying this and keep saying this: I don't care who he associates with, just be honest with me! At least that way I can make an informed decision on who to vote for. Oh but wait....being honest with us might make us see you in a different light, right? And it's not that Ayers may or may not be advising Obama if he is elected President--I just want him to be upfront and honest. I don't understand why he can't understand this.

Here is the poll:
Just 28% of voters believe that John McCain’s campaign has been helped by talking about the relationship between Barack Obama and William Ayers. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 50% believe talk of that issue has hurt McCain’s effort while 15% say it has had no impact.
Ayers, now a college professor in Chicago, was part of a domestic terrorist group in the 1960s and remains unrepentant for his activities during that era. Just 13% of American voters have a favorable opinion of him while 62% hold an unfavorable view. Twenty-five percent (25%) don’t know enough to have an opinion either way.
Among political liberals, 25% have a favorable opinion of him while 44% give Ayers negative reviews. Seventy-three percent (73%) have an unfavorable opinion of Ayers, including 59% with a Very Unfavorable opinion.
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).
Overall, voters are evenly divided as to whether Obama has told the complete truth about his relationship with Ayers—41% say he has and 42% disagree. Obama and Ayers met during the 1990s in Chicago and travelled in similar political circles at the time Obama launched his political career.
In terms of how they will vote, 39% say the Obama-Ayers relationship is at least somewhat important, including 24% who say it is Very Important. Fifty-seven percent (57%) disagree and say that the issue is not an important voting consideration.
Sixty-eight percent (68%) of Republicans say the Ayers issue is at least Somewhat Important. Only 16% of Democrats agree along with 37% of voters not affiliated with either major party.
If Obama is elected, just 15% of all voters believe Ayers will have a lot of influence over the policies of the Obama Administration. Another 18% say he will have a little bit of influence. Fifty-nine percent (59%) say he will have hardly any influence or none at all.
See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs are available for Premium Members only.

Charley

My sweet Charley!

Wow!

Check this out!

Peekaboo

This is Chena hiding from the camera. She did not want her picture taken!



This is Chena looking when she heard the word "T-R-E-A-T!"

The Incredible Hulk

On a lighter note, I'm watching "The Incredible Hulk" and am enjoying it. :)

TWP

Yes, I'm still stuck on this. Even though it happened seven months ago, ever since I heard it, it just irks me. Keep in mind, I was on the road between Alaska and the Lower 48 when this was going on. Not easy to keep up with the news when you can't get a radio station.

I have no idea who all reads this blog. There could be 5 of you, there could be 500 of you. Either number is fine, although admittedly, I hope there are more than 5. If there aren't, it's still okay. You may know me, you may not. You may or may not know that I was raised to treat all people with respect, no matter their background or origin. You may or may not know that I was also raised to be aware of my surroundings, no matter where I am. I haven't been all over the world, but I have been from the east coast to the west coast (Alaska, not California) and people are people no matter where you go. We each have our own ways of doing things and not everyone is going to agree with how we do things. But I'm still upset that a person running for POTUS is allowed to say "typical _____ person" --you fill in the blank. If you read yesterday's blog, I'm sure you're thinking ENOUGH ALREADY! But as a typical white person, I wanted to let you know that I ate, drank, drove, walked my two dogs, and used a cell phone today.

Isn't that what the typical white person does?

Really?!

"Typical white person", as defined by Barack Obama:

..."a typical white person, who, if she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know, you know, there's a reaction that's been bred in our experiences that don't go away..."


I am a white person. There is no denying it. I do have Cherokee and Spanish ancestors in my lineage, but they go way back. Both of my parents are white. My skin has the luxury of being able to absorb the sun well, so when I'm out in it I am able to get a tan pretty easily. When I was a kid, many many summer days were spent outside and I was actually scared that I was going to turn so dark that I would have to leave my family and go live with another one. This startling fear was just recently unveiled to my family, who got a kick out of it.

But I digress.

I just cannot believe that Barack Obama is in the running for President of the United States of America. I can't. I just love how he has interviews and press conferences and then has to have more interviews and press conferences to explain what he said in the initial interviews and press conferences. Why don't you just SAY WHAT YOU NEED TO SAY the first time? (Kim and Joey, I know you dislike that song with a passion, but it served its purpose here. :)

Why.....would someone running for the Oval Office.....say anything like "Typical White Person" or "Typical Black Person" or "Typical Mercedes Driver" or "Typical Hip-Hop Mogul"?? First of all, I don't like to think of myself as typical, but to me, Obama was speaking of all white people when he made the above statement. On that note, it sounds like white people are scared of non-white people, or can't tolerate them, or will go out of their way to get away from them. Speaking as a TWP, that's just not the case for me. I go out of my way to avoid ALL people at ANY costs. I'm joking there, but I just don't understand his statement. Apparently, he says he was referring to his grandmother's generation. Oh really?

Here are a couple of links that have the story:


http://www.usnews.com/blogs/news-desk/2008/03/21/obama-typical-white-person-comment-delights-clinton-aides.html

Day 30

Today concludes my "30 Blogs in 30 Days" trek that began in September. If I were actually doing the 30 blogs in 30 days for a certificate of sorts I woudn't be receiving one because I didn't post everyday. And I'm actually glad the 30 days is up. Trying to come up with something everyday? (Even E! slows down on the weekends!)

Having said that, I am glad that I took on the challenge. Before doing so, my blogging was sporadic. The point of doing the 30 blogs was to form a habit. And while no specific habit was formed (I didn't post each of the 30 days, I didn't post at a specific time each day, and there really was no theme) I think it has helped me to actually become a blogger, not just one who blogs.

Did that make sense?

Dreams

Have you ever had one of those dreams? You know, where someone is in it? And if you have had a dream that featured someone else, have you ever wondered if you were in that person's dream too?



The reason I'm asking is a while back, when John Mayer was dating Jennifer Aniston, he was in my dream. I don't remember the dream or his role, I just remember he was there. And then a couple of days later I read a story that said he had a dream about a girl. There's no way to confirm the story and it was probably nothing but hearsay, but I was wondering: Am I that girl? :p



While we're on it, what is up with these two?

And this one?

I've never been a fan of Angelina Jolie. There is a softness to her in the above interview though, and the cover of the W Magazine is the most relaxed picture I think I have seen. Of anybody. Any time. Any where.

Picasa

I finally loaded my pictures onto Picasa, or downloaded Picasa to my computer, or made an account with Picasa. However you say it, I am using Picasa and am enjoying it! It's really nice to be able to pull up a picture and email it, or blog it, or edit it all, all with a simple click of the mouse.  I don't know how easy it is to use with other programs, but since I use Google's Mail and Google's Blog, it's simple simple for me!  (Picasa is by Google.)

A few years ago, my mom, my sister and her family and I stopped in NYC on our way back from spending Christmas with my other sister and her family. 5 years ago to be exact. I think it was the first year we all had digital cameras and so pictures were being taken from every direction. I loved that trip!

Here is one of my favorite pics from that trip. We stopped to get some food from the street vendors (which was oh-so good!) and I loved how this vendor was sleeping! I guess the vendor next to him, at the umbrella with the cart, was keeping an eye out for this guy's fruit, but I just loved it!

Mudsters

It rained this morning. Chena and Charley decide they want to be muddy. All day. In the 60-degree weather. They are both covered, up to their knees, in mud!!! They're still cute though. :)




Proud of her accomplishment, at first


The accomplishment




Charley--mud on her face


"Why did I do this? Why??" -Chena

It's a full moon

so what do you expect?

-I rented Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull today.  (A couple of weeks ago was Iron Man. )

-Chena and Charley are going through their food like mad.  It's crazy!  They ate supper earlier tonight, and then they had MORE food just a few minutes ago!  I bet their bowls were filled up twice tonight...and each time they were done, they'd bring the empty one and throw it at my feet.  Thanks guys (girls!)  I wouldn't be surprised tomorrow there is a stash of dog food somewhere.

The absentee voting ballots arrived in the mail today.  I was beginning to worry, but good thing I didn't, b/c there was no need!  In all fairness, there usually is no need to worry ever.  

Have a great week!

Hummmm

It's been a couple of days since I cried about having to find another Friday night restaurant.  This weekend was spent doing things around the town...you know the usual--flea markets, city fests and/or state fairs, and slushes from Sonic.  

22 Days 'til election.  

Have a great Columbus Day!  

Friday Night

The Friday night ritual used to consist of eating at the best restaurant in town.  It's this hole-in-the-wall, and as you know, those are always the best kinds.  

There's this great one in Anchorage called Ski and Benny.  I wish I had one of their salads right now.  They were so good!  And the dressing...   Everything that you order from there is just wonderful, and you can always eat for 2 days off of one meal.  (That comes in handy, especially on those snowy days.)  It isn't just the always hot food or the overabundance of food.  I think what makes it so great is that they know their customers...whether you're stopping by to pick up an order, or whether it's being delivered, they know who you are.  

Well, that's how this place is here in town.  BUT it's being sold, and I know that when the new owners take over, the service and hospitality and atmosphere won't be there.  I don't know "without a doubt" know but I know "Tupac is still alive" know.  (Meaning I can't prove it, but it's my gut feeling.)  It'll be worth paying a visit just to check it out when the new owner takes over, but that's about it.  Call me cynical, or cuckoo, or stubborn but it just won't be the same.  A new Friday night ritual will have to be started.  This may mean that I have to start cooking again on Friday nights.  Don't get me wrong--I love to cook. I love almost everything about it.....except for figuring out what I'm gonna cook and then cleaning up afterwards.  :)  I love the smells of spices and sauces and deciding for how long those noodles really need to cook.  I love the sound of the knife cutting through the onion, but not the tear gas emitted by the onion.  As much as I enjoy the culinary life, it is nice to take a break once every few days.

It's like another restaurant back home. You definitely want to visit at lunch b/c the manager is there, keeping everybody on their feet and conversing with the customers.  I remember stopping in there a couple of years after having moved away and he actually remembered where I had moved to!  I thought that was so neat!

So, here's a toast to your Friday Night Ritual and may it ever be what you hoped for!  :p

-T

Re-do

I was reading over my blog from a couple of days ago and realized, first off, that I must have been in a tailspin because some of the wording didn't make the most sense, or words were missing here and there.  And then I thought that maybe, just maybe I'd revisit my thoughts and make sure I was clear on what I had to stay and what I still stick to.

The whole Obama/Ayers debacle...it's not that Obama met with the guy or didn't meet with the guy.  But if I hear "I was only 8 years old," or "This is just some guy who lived in my neighborhood," ONE MORE TIME.....agh!  It's just frustrating to me how Mr. Barack pushes relationships aside every time they are seen in a negative view by the public.  

For me, the point here is not that Obama was only 8 years old when Ayers was involved in whatever it was he was involved in.   

I'm not sure the exact age, but I'm gonna go with 8.  When I was that age I really really loved The Beatles.  I had a couple of tapes with their earlier hits and would sing sing sing.  I was a child of the 80s, but between the tapes and the tv shows I was addicted to, I was pretty well-versed in their music.  I heard a country-station morning DJ make a joke, something involving the Fab Four, drugs (illegal), and a yellow submarine.  'How dare they make a stab at these musical geniuses!' I thought.  'They did NOT use drugs!'  Fast-forward a few years later and can you believe it?  Straight from the horse's mouth (Sir Paul):  they did in fact use drugs.  He's not even sure that they would have been able to make all the wonderful music they made had they not been under the influence at times.  He thinks it allowed them to tap into unused portions of their brain and mind.  Although it is an interesting perspective, it is not one I share nor recommend nor tolerate.   But having said that, at 8 years old I didn't know what was going on, or what went on in a different era.  Heck, sometimes I still don't know what is going on!  :)  It doesn't make it right for me to play dumb or act as if it never happened.  This is an extreme example, but hopefully it works!

 

The point for me is that when asked and confronted, Obama denounces that there is any relationship at all.  I'm assuming they weren't having dinner together every night, but at some point, Ayers' past must have come up, either from Ayers himself or from someone in the circle.  What do people do when they get together?  They talk.  And things come up.  A lot of times, more than you want to hear about or need to hear about.  But I don't buy it when Obama says he knew nothing about Ayers.  I just don't.  If you know the guy, you know him.  If you believe what he believes, fine.  Just be upfront about it.  Don't try to hide it.   

I still like The Beatles, btw.  

And for your viewing pleasure, because I get a hearty laugh out of this everytime I see it, click here.

Oh wait--here's one more.  

-T

Mail Goggles

Check this out!   Maybe they should make this available on blogs, too.

http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/new-in-labs-stop-sending-mail-you-later.html

One more thing

I can't believe I forgot to put this in there.   It's not like I had a million ideas going through my head at the same time.

Obama says he's all for change, right?  My fear is that if he is elected, everything that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., worked for and strived for and died for will be in vain.  I wasn't alive during that time and to be honest, I only know what I was taught in school.  A school in Montgomery, AL.  I see him in a good light and think he put a lot of sweat and tears into his cause.  I can see all of those efforts being washed away if BHO is elected.  

Please please please be diligent in your research in the next 28 days!!!

-T

Schmoozing the News

This is why I don't watch the news. And this is why I watch the news.

When I woke up this morning, something was telling me to turn on the tv. It rained last night and there were clouds out, not as light as usual, and so turning on the tv seemed like the logical thing to do. And if I'm going to have the tv on at 7:30 in the morning, it might as well be the news. Let's get the day started out right!

I saw that with all the sarcasm I can muster.

(The last time watched the news upon waking...not so great. I don't remember the newsflash, but I remember being very agitated.) Back to regularly scheduled programming-

There are so many things that need to be covered and so little time to cover.

Do you know who Bill Ayers is? I didn't until this morning. He has been labeled a domestic terrorist, radical, fugitive and I'm sure many other things.  You can google him, or read a short briefing from Wikipedia.  He appears to be one of those people who is too smart for their own good.  He's one of those people who instills fear to produce results and to get a reaction out of people.  There are so many observations I want to add to the first paragraph of the Wikipedia info, but that would take a whole 'nother blog.  After doing some brief research on him, I want to believe that somewhere deep deep down, this guy means the best in all that he does.  He appears to be involved in education (he is a professor), but I don't know that it's the most effective approach. 

Why am I blogging about Bill Ayers?  Because Barack Obama has ties with him.  The Obama campaign is saying there are no ties, that Obama doesn't believe in the radical ways of Ayers, and that even though they served on boards/committees together Obama had NO idea of the person's background?  Are they serious??  What did I miss here?  

Yes, I think it possible to share the same space with someone who has different beliefs than you.  Yes, I think we can all learn something from people who share different beliefs.  Just take a look at your family at Thanksgiving.  And this quote from a book by Mr. Ayers:

"You could not be a moral person with the means to act, and stand still. [...] To stand still was to choose indifference. Indifference was the opposite of moral"

I think that is a very nice quote.  However, I'm not going to invite this person to my house for dinner so we can talk politics or last night's Monday Night Football game, let alone run a marathon with him while raising money for educational purposes.  Unless it was in high heels.  Neither would I invite Osama bin Laden to get tips on camping, even though I'm sure he has the most valuable tips in the world.  I'm rambling on and on, but my point is coming.  The people you hang around really do influence you as a person.  No matter how strong you are, or how much good you think you may be doing, the people you are around will make or break you.  

[The Following Deals with Sensitive Issues]

Barack Hussein Obama is hailed as being the first black person to run for President of the United States.   I think that's great, I really do.  

I had a boy in my kindergarten glass named Dino and when the teacher would ask what we wanted to be when we grew up, he would always say that he was going to be President of the US.  Not that he wanted to be, but that he would be.  I'm still looking for you out there, Dino!  Good luck!  :)

But here's the thing:  Obama is the child of a black father and a white mother.  I don't know him personally, but from what I've read he seems to denounce his mother.  And from what I've read his father wasn't too much of a father.  How does this make him black?  How does this make him white?  I'm not sure where I'm going with that one, if anywhere.  I do have a couple of more thoughts though.

The whole thing with Rev. Wright?  Obama said again that he doesn't believe any of what the Rev. teaches and preaches.  If he does believe it, let him go ahead and believe it.  But at least stand up and say, "I believe it.  If you don't believe it along with me fine, but this is what I believe."  That's not what he did.  He turned his back on the Rev and the church.  Supposedly he doesn't have any contact with them but I'll believe that when I see pigs fly.  

Now the whole Bill Ayers controversy.  Again, I'm not saying that just because you hang around someone that you agree with their values or the way they lead or have led their life.  I'm not saying you will become that person.  But if you are going to hang around them and then be questioned about it a few years down the road, why can't you just man up and say, "Yes. I did serve on a board with him.  Yes, I was aware of his background and all he had accomplished and blown up.  However, we were serving on a board to feed the needy and I felt it was the right thing to do."  What is absolutely infuriating me is that Obama is denying that he knew anything about the guy.  Nobody is saying that Obama is going to bomb federal buildings and government buildings and police headquarters and statues.  All we (I) want to hear is that he did have interaction with Ayers, that he did know of his past, and that when he's questioned about it by the American people that he can answer yes to those questions, not deflect it.  

Do you see a trend here?  If something is not "politically correct" or popular, or seen in a negative light, Obama washes his hands clean and tried to act that it never happened.  Or that he had no clue about the person's ideals or beliefs.  He's too wishy-washy.  He believes something until it's unkewl, or unpopular, or until he gets too much heat about it.  

What makes you think he won't turn his back on the American people?

Mr. Magorium

If you haven't seen the movie Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, you should definitely check it out!  At first it seems it is just another story that takes place in a toy store, but it is so much more than that!  Quirky at times, but also inspiring and heart-warming.  

Go here to make your own toy!  :)

The Race is On

32 Days 'Til Election.

I was going to predict that McCain-Palin will win the race.  After hearing the numbers this morning though, McCain is trailing Obama in the polls.  I don't like to focus on what the polls say because it really becomes a full-time job.  Plus, there's not a whole lot you can do about it!  The polls were conducted via telephone , and I know they're scientific (the polls, not the phones) but the election isn't here yet.  So when the election does come and is over with, then we can become excited or frustrated or numb.  

I watched the debate last night--actually watched the whole, commercial-free debate.  I was quite pleased with it.  Actually, it's too bad that these two aren't running for President.  

I am a supporter of Sarah Palin.  She is, after all, my governor.  But I'm not loyal to her just because she is my governor.  She has consistently stood up to the good ol' boy system, she doesn't give in to what may be the popular thing to do.  She does that which is right and what will benefit the people.  She doesn't do it for her own selfish gain.  She hails from Wasilla, AK, and having been there, I can say it's not a place where you go to live above your means.  It is the fastest-growing city/town in Alaska but it's not elaborate.  Many people live in Wasilla and make the 45-60 minute commute to Anchorage everyday.    It's a great place to live and visit, and it's definitely not the 90210 area code.   

Gov. Palin is like your mother (or the mother you never had.)  If you ask her for help, she'll do whatever she can, as long as you are learning and she is not doing for you what you are capable of doing yourself.  If you ask her for advice on something, she'll give it to you, even if it's not what you really want to hear...she doesn't sugar coat.  And...you don't want to make her mad.

The media says she doesn't have experience.  She was on city council, then became mayor, then governor, all while being a full-time wife and mother.  Can you please tell me what experience she needs?  "Experience" is good, but sometimes having a decent head on your shoulders is even more important.  

I don't really know anything about Sen. Biden except that he is running with Sen. Obama.  

I really enjoyed the debate last night.  The candidates seemed to address the questions, for the most part, and they didn't mention 100 things they were going to do while in office.  They talked about the state of the country now and where the problems are and what needs to be done.  This is so much better than saying, "I promise to..." because you don't really know what that candidate will do once becoming elected.  They can promise all they want, but that doesn't mean it's going to happen.  I like how problems and ideas were addressed last night...just addressed.  No promises.  

And will the media stop talking about how Gov. Palin used catch phrases such as "doggone" and "darn"?  I like that she was actually talking to me, to you, to the American people.  I just wish she had thrown in a couple of "dadgummits!"    :)

I'm off to save the world now.  

http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/story/530763.html

Flat Iron Steak

The vice-presidential debates are happening in about 20 minutes, so I won't be very long tonight.  I don't normally keep up with the debates, but when I discovered The Office wasn't coming on tonight, and when my mom told me that the debates were going on, I figured I'd at least tune in.  I did tune in last week, for a little bit, but it's just hard for me to get interested.  To me, the candidates say what they believe in and what they intend on doing and maybe a little of what the public wants to here.  They talk about how they are going to do "this" and how they are going to change "that" and how everything is in the drain.  Give me a candidate who will take one area, focus on that, and stop saying how the person before them has no clue about what's going on.  Wake up, people!  A country isn't run by the President alone!

Ok, onto my subject for tonight.

Have you ever had a flat iron steak?  If not, you should check them out the next time you're going to fire up the grill.  I'm not sure if I had one at some point before last week, but last week is the first time I remember having one.  The first time I cooked them, I let them go too long.  Portions were tough and really overdone.  The good thing, is there was a second pack in the fridge.  I did a little bit of research before cooking them and boy was I glad I did!  

From what I read, most people who cook these don't do anything special to them.  They don't marinate them or put special seasonings on, or many seasonings for that matter.  The steaks get cooked for 5-10 minutes on each side and that's really all there is to it.  So, I tried that with the second go 'round.  I didn't marinate them, which is a must when I'm doing the cooking.  Instead, I put salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder, and then through them on the heat.  They were so good that I didn't even need any kind of sauce.  In fact, when I did throw the good ol' A1 on it, the steak was overpowered.  I'm a saucy person so it was difficult to not dip it and dunk it, but it really did not need any extra sauce.  I'm guessing it would probably be good even if you didn't have seasonings.  

Check it out sometime!   

Off to *watch* the debates!

-T