Ima Leavin' on a Jet Plane

I am all packed and the alarm is set. Mike is driving me to the airport at 5:45 a.m. He's a nice boy....as we all know.

Jenn had a "Pampered Chef" party tonight. It was fun. I know her friends from the neighborhood. One happens to be an excellent cosmetologist and she waxed and shaped my brows for me. Hell, I need one hell of a magnified mirror to even see the stray hairs!

Pampered Chef stuff is expensive...at least their knives and cookware is! Has anyone used it? All the ladies here seem to really like it. I got a great artichoke dip recipe...which we made tonight....in a bread bowl. It was so very delicious. I'll share it when Jenn sends it to me.

I gave Ethan a big hug before bed...he'll be walking the next time I come up. Elaina didn't want to hug me goodbye. I wouldn't be surprised if she hides my shoes again..so I can't leave. She'll be reciting the Bill of Rights by the time I get back. I plan to return for her 3rd birthday on March 7th.

I've missed my husband and our home. I look forward to getting back to Sac.

Boycot Cinemark..if you have a choice. Please.

Don't let Cinemark profit from Harvey Milk's legacy!

This group is specific to the promotion of Gus Van Sant's incredible film "Milk" and raising visibility around Cinemark CEO Alan Stock's $9,999 donation to Yes on 8. If 1,000 of us commit to see "Milk" at a competitor's theater instead of Cinemark, at an average cost of $10 per ticket, that's $10,000 of lost revenue.

Help us reach 1,000 members so we can send a message to Mr. Stock: You will not profit from hate!

We are organizing this boycott to support the complete "Boycott Cinemark" movement. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48645921092

We want you to see Gus Van Sant's MILK.

We REALLY want you to see Gus Van Sant's MILK.

But the CEO of Cinemark Theaters (Century Theaters, CinéArts and Tinseltown) thinks he can make large donations to Yes on Prop 8 and still profit off Harvey Milk's legacy.

This is wrong, and we cannot support it.

*If you have the choice*, SEE THIS FILM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

Thanksgiving at Jenn's Parents House

Mike deep-fried a turkey and grilled one. Both delicious. I made Grandma Rosenberg's dressing, and Jenn made a wonderful green bean casserole. We were set to go on over.

I never found my shoes...I think Elaina hid them after telling me she didn't want me to go home. I wore Jenn's fuzzy pink house slippers.

It was a great time. Lots of relatives and friends..just the kind of thanksgiving I grew up with. No plates to wash either! Paper plates and a buffet line. Perfecto!!

Jenn's step-mom made me a cocktail..in her past life she was a bartender and clearly not stingy with the booze. I only had one...I would have been flat on my back if I'd had more.

Elaina and Ethan were passed around like a football....and we enjoyed watching football too. I don't know how the Philly/Arizona game turned out. For my sista's sake, I hope Philly won!!

Speaking of games, I sure did enjoy going to the Rose Garden the other night to see the Kings and Blazers play. Arco looks like a total slum compared to that place...well, compared to an arena really.

I still have not found my shoes...but that will make it easy when we go for pedicures today!

My Son Turns 38 today!

Happy Birthday Mike...at 2:35 p.m. today. I was 17 when I gave birth. Geez. He sure is a great daddy. We got him that GT bicycle he always wanted when he was a kid. He, Jenn, and the kiddos looked so cute riding down their street. I'll have to get a pic of that.

It's Go Time!

How Do I Spell Relief?

The Little Puddin' Heads

P.S. gramma's brain is pretty mooshy right now.

Pre-Portland Cookfest---blast from the past

I usually cook a few meals for Dave and his folks before going to Portland. I put together a lasagna and will cook it today, I made a small tri-tip for sandwiches, and made my version of "chicken cordon bleu" over noodles. I also have a huge tub of turkey/orzo soup. Notice my big fat shadow head in the picture of the tri-tip. Damnit.

I think I needed one more layer for my lasagna, but ran out of noodles. At least this time I cooked the noodles first. I made a big batch of marinara sauce (with veggies). I'll post a pic of the lasagna..if it doesn't look like shit. [it looks and tastes great..so posted the pic] I took a bunch over to my in-laws. Oh, I did add another layer.

For the chicken dish, I pounded the hell out of two chicken breasts until they were about 1/4" thick. I sprinkled swiss and parm cheese over, added cooked bacon pieces, rolled em up and then pressed them with a garlic,rosemary, and panko bread mixture. I tied the chicken rolls with string and then seared them on all sides and then baked for an extra 15 minutes on 350. I then cut them about 1/2" thick and placed them on top of lemon- parsley-buttered noodles. Dave said it was the best chicken dish he has ever, ever had. I must say..it was quite delicious. :)

One More Reason I Love Living in California

I picked these tomatoes 3 days ago..mid November! Is that a hoot or what? I also have tons of sage and rosemary still growing.

I Pooped!

My phone rang last night as I was cleaning up the kitchen. I answered, "Hi Gramma, this is Elaina. I pooped!."

"You did? In your own potty?" she said, "yes, and I did it before". I praised her..as this was clearly a big deal for her. She knew when she had to go, she took her pants down, and sat on her little potty. She read a book for awhile before she went (her dear mom had it all set up for her) but she did it!

Can you imagine? Being so excited to poop in the potty for the first time?

I just cannot wait to get to Portland on the 24th to see my Elaina and Ethan!

Roasted Chicken... with mama-loshen

I'm no shtik or shiksa when it comes to making a really good roasted chicken, although I am a shtikl slow when it comes to making latkes. But I try. I am a simple mensh, afterall.

Regarding the potato latkes, I put a shmeer of chicken gravy on top. I may be a meshuggeneh, but I liked it that way. From so much pleasure, one could plotz! I am such a shmo.

Don't be a shlep or a shlump, try making latkes. Add some chives and bacon like I did. Oooops..didn't mean bacon. Don't like bacon...never eat bacon. :)

I did stuff the cavity with half a lemon and a quarter of an onion, fresh rosemary & sage. If you really want the recipe for all of this, ask and I will tell you. It's basically a roasted chicken recipe..with salt, pepper, and rosemary on the outside. I also basted it with melted butter and lemon juice..about every 15 minutes after the 1st half hour of cooking.

Shalom

(my spellcheck went nuts with the yiddish)

Thanks Uncle Doreen!

Fabulous video of the equal rights for gay marriage rally on Saturday in Sacramento. Go to her website below this post. Great video and music! There is a pic of all of us in the first few shots...and my sign later. Wonderful day!

It was one of the greatest experiences of my life and I am so glad I went. I met so many wonderful gay people..and so many straight people with kids...and gay people with kids. I totally believe that gays and straights must mingle more. It is critical. I was lucky enough to get to know Lori http://www.hahnathome.com/ when I had the Sacramento Food Group. It was "kismet". Through her, I met her wonderful children, Uncle Doreen, Allen, Viv, and now Kim. I have had gay friends in my past life, and have even had a couple of short "relationships" with women.

I always say, and Dave knows, "if I had not met Dave and fell madly in love, it could easily have been a woman instead". In my opinion, sexuality is fluid. I also believe, and know, that age in relationships is fluid. I dated a wonderful man who was 27 years older than me. He taught me about true love, he taught me how to flyfish, he taught me patience, and he was a great cook! Hell, Dave loves the guy because "anyone who treats you so well, I love in return". ..and they met when we went back to Wyoming on vacation. Did I say how much I love my husband? He is one-of-a-kind...and a 'proud' honorary lesbian.

BTW...I did get a hug from the current mayor, Heather Fargo. :) She told me to keep fighting for my cause.

Check out this wonderful video of the equal rights rally from Saturday, November 15th.
http://www.uncledoreen.wordpress.com/ posted today. Turn up your speakers!

Posters for Protest

Dave and I talked about what to put on our protest signs for tomorrow. We discussed the idea of having a "straights for gays" sign and then decided we didn't care/or want anyone to know which side of the fence we were on. So, we came up with those signs.

I want to mention that my dear husband has been suffering from shingles for weeks now. Even with sunglasses on, his left eye is so sensitive to the sun that it feels like someone is putting a knife into his eye...even with his sunglasses on. He has been to the eye doc twice a week, for 3 weeks, to make sure that shingles have not invaded his left eye. It has not..thankfully, but it is still so very painful for him. My ankle is still swollen most of the time..and hurts like hell. We are both total "gimps". We still plan to go and protest..because it is so important. It is a civil rights issue.

Straight (or Questionable) Friends for Equal Rights

We are joining the protest to make sure our gay friends get equal rights to marry and have the "benefits" that go with that right. (and the headaches..let's be honest)

Bring friends and signs (not hateful ones). If you voted No on 8, or wish you would have, please offer your support.

We are thinking about meeting first for breakfast and then go protest..or protest and then meet for lunch. What are your thoughts?

Just show for the protest! 915 I Street, City Hall in Sacramento...Saturday, November 15th at 10:30 a.m.

UPDATE: The Natomas LGBT group has invited us to join them at Capitol Garage at 9:00 a.m. for eats and then head to the protest. I have accepted their gracious invite. Hope to see you there!

Pork Butt Meal #1

Opted for "roast" tonight..with veggies. Pork Dumplings
tomorrow night!

Butt and a Crock

It's that time of year so dust off your crock pot. I stuffed

garlic in this pork butt and then drizzled a bit of Stubbs

Pork Marinade over the top..with just 1/2 cup of water.

I'll cook it on high for a couple of hours and then lower it

for a few. As you can see, I threw in half an onion as well.

I can't decide if I want to make pulled pork sandwiches,

pork bings, pork dumplings, or stop the cooking sooner

..add some carrots, celery, and potatoes and call it a roast.

Ming Tsai was making hot water dough the other day and

he made the best dishes from it.

TOP CHEF begins tonight....on Bravo!

Musings One and Two

1. A while back I was using my noodle to figure out ways to make money for charity. I thought it would be totally cool to get some food bloggers together (12 to be exact) for a "semi-semi-nude calendar". A fundraiser to feed the hungry would be appropriate.

I emailed a few food bloggers to see what they thought. Most never responded. One gave a certain, "no", and one thought it was a "fun idea". It was supposed to be a fun idea. Geez..one would've thought I sent the idea out to a Huderite Colony or something.

Of course, the bloggers would be covered-up with aprons, mixers, big bowls, cookbooks, etc. Nothing would actually show.

I wonder..maybe if I broadened the search to include all of N. CA food bloggers...then what? I know a great photographer!

2. How about the Sapulpa Herald (in Sapulpa, Oklahoma) not printing the Obama win on November 5th?! There was an article on the front page about McCain/Palin running a good campaign or something like that..also reported on the Sherrif's win and on page two how the county election results panned out. Not a thing about the Obama win. The publisher of the paper (5,000 readers) said it was a "small-town paper and people 'round town already done seen what happened on the tv or on the radio." Think "Deliverance" and you'll get an image of what the publisher looked like. Can you say, "racism?"

The paper did run an article about how the "Afro-American community" protested down in front of the paper. http://www.sapulpaheraldonline.com/ . Darren Sumner is the owner/publisher. Oh, those darned red states! It reminded lots of townsfolks about how back in the 50's the city done closed the community pool rather than let those blackies mingle with the regerlar folk.

That is frightening. We already know how they'd feel about a proposition in their state supporting gay marriage. Hell, they probably still have a city ordinance against interracial marriage.

From Gnarly to Toasted

Another wine that looks great photographed in the bathroom.

Toast and Tea

I am worried about how my MIL eats. She doesn't. She tells me she eats "toast and tea" in the morning and then isn't hungry the rest of the day. I know, for a fact, that she crams Oreo Cookies and other sweets down her gullet on a daily basis.

So, I went online to find out about the elderly and nutrition. There is a a term called the "tea and toast" syndrome. It came about due to old people living alone and all they could make was toast and tea. These seniors suffer from malnutrition..which is not diagnosed because if their vitals are okay..then the dr. never asks what they eat.

Well, my MIL had a sudden spike in blood pressure last week..so she happily takes more pills. I have been hounding her to eat more meat and veggies...which she will not do. She wobbles down the hall and says she has no energy. Hello?? I asked her if she told her Dr. what she eats on a daily basis. "He didn't ask", she said. Malnutrition also contributes to dementia....and her memory is getting worse by the day.

I take food over daily...good food, healthy food. I go and look in the frig 2x a week and see that the food I brought over is still there.

My FIL had his last chemo-type treatment on Friday. His temp came up today..I went over and took his temp. It was 100.4 and then 100.3. I told him I'd bring some soup over. My MIL called to say that he didn't want to eat....they had some leftover meatloaf in the frig that I'd brought over on Thursday. I questioned that decision, saying..."but I thought dad wanted soup or pasta...and you should eat too". She said..."thanks, but to be honest, we are not hungry at all. Why eat if we are not hungry? We don't want to get fat". I tried to tell her that our bodies and organs need nutrients...even if we don't feel like it. It's like running a car on fumes. She said, "don't bring food...we are fine".

I am worried. They both look skinny to me.

Debunking is a good thing

[This is a fantastic article from the LA Times, the opinion section. It's never too late to educate yourself ....and others. We shall overcome....one day]

Debunking the myths used to promote the ban on same-sex marriage. LA Times

Clever magicians practice the art of misdirection -- distracting the eyes of the audience to something attention-grabbing but irrelevant so that no one notices what the magician is really doing. Look over at that fuchsia scarf, up this sleeve, at anything besides the actual trick.The campaign promoting Proposition 8, which proposes to amend the state Constitution to ban same-sex marriages, has masterfully misdirected its audience, California voters.

Look at the first-graders in San Francisco, attending their lesbian teacher's wedding! Look at Catholic Charities, halting its adoption services in Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage is legal! Look at the church that lost its tax exemption over gay marriage! Look at anything except what Proposition 8 is actually about: a group of people who are trying to impose on the state their belief that homosexuality is immoral and that gays and lesbians are not entitled to be treated equally under the law.
That truth would never sell in tolerant, live-and-let-live California, and so it has been hidden behind a series of misleading half-truths. Once the sleight of hand is revealed, though, the campaign's illusions fall away.

Take the story of Catholic Charities. The service arm of the Roman Catholic Church closed its adoption program in Massachusetts not because of the state's gay marriage law but because of a gay anti-discrimination law passed many years earlier. In fact, the charity had voluntarily placed older foster children in gay and lesbian households -- among those most willing to take hard-to-place children -- until the church hierarchy was alerted and demanded that adoptions conform to the church's religious teaching, which was in conflict with state law. The Proposition 8 campaign, funded in large part by Mormons who were urged to do so by their church, does not mention that the Mormon church's adoption arm in Massachusetts is still operating, even though it does not place children in gay and lesbian households.How can this be? It's a matter of public accountability, not infringement on religion.

Catholic Charities acted as a state contractor, receiving state and federal money to find homes for special-needs children who were wards of the state, and it faced the loss of public funding if it did not comply with the anti-discrimination law. In contrast, LDS (for Latter-day Saints) Family Services runs a private adoption service without public funding. Its work, and its ability to follow its religious teachings, have not been altered.

That San Francisco field trip? The children who attended the wedding had their parents' signed permission, as law requires. A year ago, with the same permission, they could have traveled to their teacher's domestic-partnership ceremony. Proposition 8 does not change the rules about what children are exposed to in school. The state Education Code does not allow schools to teach comprehensive sex education -- which includes instruction about marriage -- to children whose parents object.Another "Yes on 8" canard is that the continuation of same-sex marriage will force churches and other religious groups to perform such marriages or face losing their tax-exempt status. Proponents point to a case in New Jersey, where a Methodist-based nonprofit owned seaside land that included a boardwalk pavilion. It obtained an exemption from state property tax for the land on the grounds that it was open for public use and access. Events such as weddings -- of any religion -- could be held in the pavilion by reservation. But when a lesbian couple sought to book the pavilion for a commitment ceremony, the nonprofit balked, saying this went against its religious beliefs.The court ruled against the nonprofit, not because gay rights trump religious rights but because public land has to be open to everyone or it's not public. The ruling does not affect churches' religious tax exemptions or their freedom to marry whom they please on their private property, just as Catholic priests do not have to perform marriages for divorced people and Orthodox synagogues can refuse to provide space for the weddings of interfaith couples. And Proposition 8 has no bearing on the issue; note that the New Jersey case wasn't about a wedding ceremony.Much has been made about same-sex marriage changing the traditional definition of marriage.

But marriage has evolved for thousands of years, from polygamous structures in which brides were so much chattel to today's idealized love matches. In seeking to add a sentence to California's Constitution that says, "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized," Proposition 8 supporters seek to enforce adherence to their own religious or personal definition. The traditional makeup of families has changed too, in ways that many religious people find immoral. Single parents raise their children; couples divorce and blend families. Yet same-sex marriage is the only departure from tradition that has been targeted for constitutional eradication.Religions and their believers are free to define marriage as they please; they are free to consider homosexuality a sin. But they are not free to impose their definitions of morality on the state. Proposition 8 proponents know this, which is why they have misdirected the debate with highly colored illusions about homosexuals trying to take away the rights of religious Californians.

Since May, when the state Supreme Court overturned a proposed ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional, more than 16,000 devoted gay and lesbian couples have celebrated the creation of stable, loving households, of equal legal stature with other households. Their happiness in no way diminishes the rights or happiness of others.Californians must cast a clear eye on Proposition 8's real intentions. It seeks to change the state Constitution in a rare and terrible way, to impose a single moral belief on everyone and to deprive a targeted group of people of civil rights that are now guaranteed. This is something that no Californian, of any religious belief, should accept.

[I am still sad...but hopeful that people can change] melly

California Cares About Animal Rights

Prop 2 passed, so now chickens can relax on mini-chaise lounge chairs while waiting to lay their eggs.... and pigs can stretch out and relax before going to slaughter. (satire people, satire)

But gays and lesbians still don't have the same rights as everyone else in this country.

I care about animals too....but I care more about people, and their children...and their future.

What gives California? What is up with that Yes on 8 vote to ban gay marriage??

I am going to cook some poached eggs, then I'm going to grill a bit of ham...and I am going to eat it!

Later, for dinner, I am going to make a huge meatloaf with ground pork and I always add eggs for binding.

I always cook when I feel frustrated and sad. It makes me feel better. Tomorrow we are having chicken.

Meditation is good for the soul

I sure am happy to have Obama as the new Prez!!! Hopefully it will light a fire of hope and unity in this here country of ours. I mean it damn it!

Blue Light Special.....Priceless

I stole this from Lori Hahn (http://www.hahnathome.com) who took it from Tammi Jo. It's too good not to be repeated!!

Dear Red States:

We’ve decided we’re leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we’re taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren’t aware, that includes California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California.

To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood. We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get Harvard. You get Ole’ Miss. We get 85 percent of America’s venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama. We get two-thirds of the tax revenue you get to make the red states pay their fair share.

Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian Coalition’s, we get a bunch of happy families.

Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we’re going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they’re apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they don’t care if you don’t show pictures of their children’s caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq and hope that the WMDs turn up, but we’re not willing to spend our resources in Bush’s Quagmire.

With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80 percent of the country’s fresh water, more than 90 percent of the pineapple and lettuce, 92 percent of the nation’s fresh fruit, 95 percent of America’s quality wines (you can serve French wines at state dinners), 90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Stanford , Caltech and MIT.

With the Red States, on the other hand, 92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100 percent of the tornadoes, 90 percent of the hurricanes, 99 percent of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia. We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.

Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe life is sacred unless we’re discussing the death penalty or gun laws, 44 percent say that evolution is only a theory, 53 percent that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61 percent of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher morals then we lefties.
Finally, we’re taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt weed they grow in Mexico.

Peace out,
Blue States

Studs for NO on 8

"I'm afraid that when I die and go to Heaven, I'll walk in and the lights will be off. All of a sudden the lights come on and all of my dead relatives yell, "Surprise!!!". As I'm crying with overflowing joy, the Devil walks out and says, "That trick never gets old. All right you bastards, back to work!" Mike Betancourt- from Will the Circle Be Unbroken? Reflections on death, rebirth, and hunger for faith, a book by Studs Terkel.

My husband bought me the book back in 2004..which had been a transformative year for me. I am not religious by any means...but I do believe in angels and other spiritual-type stuff.

There are many moving true stories in this book, but in light of the upcoming NO on 8 vote, the story of Kathy Fagan and Linda Gagnon comes to mind. Here are two lesbians, one in Chicago and one in Florida, who each have eighteen year-old sons (fathered by the same gay guy--think turkey baster), and they eventually end up together. Their sons get acquainted with their father, and later he dies of aids. They met in 1993. I hope they are still together, hope they live in CA and are married (if they want to be), and I pray to the angels that they are able to stay that way.

Below is an excerpt from Mother Jones Mag's interview with Studs:

MJ: The epilogue interested me. It's about two lesbians who were artificially inseminated by a gay activist named Ron Sable, who later succumbed to AIDS.

ST: As soon as I met those two women, Kathy Fagan and Linda Gagnon, I knew I wanted to end the book with them. Here were two lesbian women, and each of them wanted a child. And then, in 1982, this marvelous guy, Ron Sable, said, "I'll give you my sperm." So they each had a baby thanks to him, but they didn't know each other. Then in 1993, a few months before he died, he brought the two women and their sons together at a house on Lake Michigan. Kathy and Linda fell in love, and they eventually became a family. Ron got to watch his kids play. So that's how I end this book—that moment of heaven. I also wanted to get a lick in on those bastards who talk about family values. What's the greatest of all the family values? Love.

As for Studs, he died the other day, at the age of 96. An activist and radio guy all his life...I Love ya Studs!

For Jenn

Michael Bublé - EverythingMichael Bublé Everything Reprise Records Directed by Sean ...3 min 32 sec -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPUJIbXN0WY

My DIL listened to this CD while giving birth to Ethan. Whenever she hears this song..she gets misty-eyed. Me too.

Do yourself a favor and click on the link. It is a very 'happy song'. Just imagine unloading a 9 pound baby as you listen!!

Braised Short Ribs

Looks good, right? I love short ribs. I served them over

noodles...with a nice, big salad on the side. Luscious.