Jeff Dunham - Achmed the Dead Terrorist

normally these ventriloquists (sp?) bug me but this guy's characters crack me up! he has quite a few of them. this one is my favorite one so far. thought i would share.

one of my faves!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

a fork in the road

when i owned my scrapbook store i used to read blogs from wholesale companies to try and keep up on what was going on in their world. one of the blogs that i read was that of Melody Ross, the owner of Chatterbox. her blog didn't really do much for me but one day she posted something that hit me up side the head like "i could've had a V8!!". i ran across it last night and thought i would share it with you. it seems to hit home right now in some way.....

What Are You Afraid Of?

Afraid of Being the Adult.....This is a beautiful photo of a fork in the road...in case you can't tell......when you are the adult...you have to be the one to decide which road is to be taken........ugh. Remember when the biggest choice you had to make every day was whether you would wear your hair in a half-ponytail or in pigtails? Remember when you'd contemplate for HOURS, every day in November about what you were going to tell Santa when you sat on his lap next month? Remember when the only fork in the road was the one that went to your friend Susie's house or your friend Gina's house to play Barbies?

Sometimes I just totally hate being an adult. I hate that I have to always make these giant choices that mean giant things either way. I want to throw myself on the ground and throw a fit and say..."I don't want mac and cheese OR pb&j....I only want a cooooookieeee!!!! WAAAHHHHHH!!!" Of course, my mac and cheese and pb&j just happen to represent large decisions that could potentially make way bigger messes than even grape jelly on champaign colored carpet.

You know what I always tell my kids when they throw those kinds of fits? "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit!" Is that how life works sometimes? I am not sure yet........I guess I have to think about what I had to do before I said that to my kids...I had to give them what I thought was best for them, when they really believed that a diet of cookies was the best thing for them....I had to hand over the carrots and some diced up little pieces of chicken, pull the cookie away and say "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit...." So, I guess in the end, it really was what was best....

......and maybe that's just how life works? Always? Even when you are the adult.....sometimes God has to give you what HE knows is best.....and even with all of our kicking and screaming and silent treatments and starvation tactics....sometimes He just has to say...."you get what you get and you don't throw a fit...."

right?

......maybe I'm still in spiritual babyfood mode and I have to grow my teeth before I can start eating the solid food? I don't know.........maybe I would choke if I got what I really wanted.....maybe I just have to eat my vegetables and I'll finally get surprised with a cookie if I'm really good.

Who knows...........I'll be a good kid and eat my vegetables......

and......don't you wish someone would wrap you up in a blanket every day at 2pm and MAKE you take a nap????

i'm a sucker for jack nicholson

put him in any movie and i will watch it. this one looks like i will laugh, cry, and watch it over and over, and over. morgan freeman is in it as well and he is another of my favorite actors. and isn't it great to see sean hayes in something since will & grace? so watch this preview and see whatcha' think.

The Bucket List

holidays

i don't 'host' family holiday dinners. that is still in my Mom's department for now. i am keeping an eye on her every move though, so hopefully when it is my turn i can make some of the same amazing dishes that she does.

this recipe is one that i make that she doesn't. it's not traditional (so my Dad thinks because it hasn't been made by my Mom forever) but my husband loves it.....and he doesn't like stuffing. i was given this recipe from a friend that i had a long time ago and it is amazing. give it a try....it might just surprise you.

WILD RICE MUSHROOM STUFFING

1/2 cup uncooked wild rice

day-old french bread (about 4 ounces)

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 large onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms*

1/2 tsp. rubbed sage

1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves, crushed

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans (i leave these out)

Rinse and cook rice according to package directions; set aside. Cut enough bread into

1/2-inch cubes to measure 4 cups. Spread in single layer on baking sheet. Broil 5 to 6 inches from heat 4 minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring after 2 minutes; set aside.

Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook and stir 3 minutes. Add mushrooms; cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sage, dried thyme leaves, salt, and pepper. Add cooked rice; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in broth. Add pecans and toasted bread cubes; toss lightly.

Transfer to 1 and 1/2-quart casserole dish.**Preheat oven to 325F. Cover casserole with lid or foil. Bake 40 minutes or until heated through.

*or, substitute 1 1/2 cups sliced shiitake mushrooms

for 1 1/2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms(this is what i do)

**At this point, Wild Rice Mushroom Stuffing may by

covered & refrigerated up to 8 hours before baking.

Bake 50 minutes or until heated through.

and if you want to satisfy you sweet tooth (and almost everyone else's) make these!!

PEANUT BUTTER ROCKY ROAD

1 lb. white bark

1 cup peanut butter

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups rice krispie cereal

1 cup mini marshmellows

1 cup roasted peanuts

In a 2 qt. bowl melt the bark and the peanut butter for 3-4 minutes on 50% power in the microwave, stirring once half-way through. Add the vanilla and stir until well mixed. Fold in the cereal, marshmellows, and peanuts. Spread into a 9x13 pan that is lined with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set. Cut into squares and serve. Store in air-tight container.

i have a few other recipes i would like to share but have to head out right now. have a great Sunday.

peace.

Veterans Day Tribute

I am so thankful that my family who served are still here with me today. My heart goes out to those families who cannot say that.

God Bless all of those who have served and who are currently serving to protect our Country.

the mid-term it over

and i got....

84%!!!!

boy am i glad that is over. now i begin a new section of chapters (11 of them i think), a final test on those chapters, a short course on using the transcribing equipment and i'm done. i can't wait for that!

peace.

i hate tests

well, i took my 2nd review test last night and got an 84%. that's pretty good i think.

but, tonight my proctor, Dawna, is coming over to watch me take my mid-term and i am nervous as hell. what if i bomb? do i get to retake it? i can't find any info on that. i guess i have to call and ask. wish me luck. i will keep you posted.

on a good note....i have been selling all of my Longaberger baskets on Ebay to make money while i am trying to finish school. i have been doing OK. sold a set of nested serving baskets (that i adored) for $165. i have to head into town and ship 4 boxes today.

Monday i am headed out to Cocoa Daisy with Pam to start putting together the kits for December. i can't wait to see what they are going to have in them!

peace.

Timbaland - Apologize (feat. One Republic)

i finally found this song! i have been looking for it since i heard the chorus on a promo for an upcoming episode of "Without a Trace". love it!