Friday, October 31, 2008

Love It!



EARLY VOTING ENDS TODAY!

Don't forget to go and vote today! The polls open at 7:00 A.M. and close at 7:00 P.M. Check this link if you are not sure where to go. You can vote at any of the listed locations. All you need is your driver's license. I hope that you will join me in supporting John McCain and Sarah Palin!

Have a great day and a fun and safe Halloween!

I Love It When The Little People Speak Up!

Thank you Tito the Builder! Please do watch, and enjoy!



Thursday, October 30, 2008

BOO!

Happy Halloween!



We have a sort of Halloween tradition around here as you can see above. We've been creatively carving our pumpkins for many years now. When the kids were little I was a member of the Better Homes and Gardens book club and ordered a book filled with patterns along with carving tools. We had the coolest pumpkins in our neighborhood! Everyone marveled at how talented we were while trick-or-treating. Little did they know how very easy it actually was. That was before the patterns and tools were available everywhere. Now it's fun to see so many creative pumpkins! Usually all four of our kiddos carve one up but this year Cameron and August said they were okay not carving. I had bought two pumpkins from H.E.B. the other day and planned on buying two more but just hadn't gotten around to it. I would have bought all four at once but I would have had to crawl into those huge cartons they keep the pumpkins in at the store. Once the carving is done we roast the seeds. This year I am trying the recipe on Pioneer Woman's blog. The seeds have to dry over night. Hopefully we will have yummy pumpkin seeds to munch on tomorrow night while passing out candy to trick-or-treaters! We also save the pumpkin that is scraped from the inside and make pumpkin pies. Lot's of pie for neighbors, friends, family and teachers over the years. Mmmmmm...you should try it too! It's a great tradition that our family looks forward to each year!

A Little Recession...

goes a long way...







I'm just saying...

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

They're Coming For Me!

I just went outside to move the car and I spied with my little eyes members of the Kingdom Hall making their way to my front door. Why, oh, why, do they keep knocking on my door? I thought telling them "I'm Catholic" would scare them away forever. Not so...they continue to want to welcome me into their faith as they insist I read their literature. But, here's the thing, I have actually read some of it and I don't agree! I've told them this too, but yet, they still continue to knock. I've tried being nice but now I've just decided to "hide out!"

My mom and dad have long told stories of the Mormons recruiting in our neighborhood years and years ago. That was when my sister was a little girl. They also took the "hide out" approach, even going as far as hiding in the closet, so the story goes! It was entertainment and great fun as my sister held her tiny finger to her lips and whispered "shhhhhh, mormons soutside, mommy. Mormons soutside."

I do admire the tenacity of these religious warriors, but, I wish that I could somehow mark my door in such a way (like Gandalf in "The Hobbit") to let them know I've already made up my mind on this topic. I suppose though, that eventually, I may have to take up residence in my closet!

Oy!

Just a Dog

My sister sent this to me this morning. I liked it so I'm sharing here. How many times do we hear this phrase from people who just don't get it. It's "just a dog!" And the author, though unknown, speaks to my heart! Click the image to get a better view. Enjoy!



Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Hmmmmm.....

Watched a report this morning on The Today Show on NBC. The reporter stated that early voting was going on in what could be a "historical election." Obviously he was talking about America possibly electing the first African American President in history. My thoughts? Uh, hello? Is not the opposite outcome equally historical? The first woman Vice President would also be a historical election. But, nah, there is no media bias going on, right?

And then there is this Halloween display in West Hollywood, CA. But it's okay because it's October and it's Halloween, so it's fair game, right?



Stay classy West Hollywood...

Monday, October 27, 2008

Friday, October 24, 2008

MCCAIN FOR PRESIDENT

I love Charles Krauthammer! Enjoy reading his sensible approach to who is the best candidate in this election. Shake the fairy dust and get with the program people! :-)

By Charles Krauthammer
Friday, October 24, 2008; A19

Contrarian that I am, I'm voting for John McCain. I'm not talking about bucking the polls or the media consensus that it's over before it's over. I'm talking about bucking the rush of wet-fingered conservatives leaping to Barack Obama before they're left out in the cold without a single state dinner for the next four years.

I stand athwart the rush of conservative ship-jumpers of every stripe -- neo (Ken Adelman), moderate (Colin Powell), genetic/ironic (Christopher Buckley) and socialist/atheist (Christopher Hitchens) -- yelling "Stop!" I shall have no part of this motley crew. I will go down with the McCain ship. I'd rather lose an election than lose my bearings.

First, I'll have no truck with the phony case ginned up to rationalize voting for the most liberal and inexperienced presidential nominee in living memory. The "erratic" temperament issue, for example. As if McCain's risky and unsuccessful but in no way irrational attempt to tactically maneuver his way through the economic tsunami that came crashing down a month ago renders unfit for office a man who demonstrated the most admirable equanimity and courage in the face of unimaginable pressures as a prisoner of war, and who later steadily navigated innumerable challenges and setbacks, not the least of which was the collapse of his campaign just a year ago.

McCain the "erratic" is a cheap Obama talking point. The 40-year record testifies to McCain the stalwart.

Nor will I countenance the "dirty campaign" pretense. The double standard here is stunning. Obama ran a scurrilous Spanish-language ad falsely associating McCain with anti-Hispanic slurs. Another ad falsely claimed that McCain supports "cutting Social Security benefits in half." And for months Democrats insisted that McCain sought 100 years of war in Iraq.

McCain's critics are offended that he raised the issue of William Ayers. What's astonishing is that Obama was himself not offended by William Ayers.

Moreover, the most remarkable of all tactical choices of this election season is the attack that never was. Out of extreme (and unnecessary) conscientiousness, McCain refused to raise the legitimate issue of Obama's most egregious association -- with the race-baiting Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Dirty campaigning, indeed.

The case for McCain is straightforward. The financial crisis has made us forget, or just blindly deny, how dangerous the world out there is. We have a generations-long struggle with Islamic jihadism. An apocalyptic soon-to-be-nuclear Iran. A nuclear-armed Pakistan in danger of fragmentation. A rising Russia pushing the limits of revanchism. Plus the sure-to-come Falklands-like surprise popping out of nowhere.

Who do you want answering that phone at 3 a.m.? A man who's been cramming on these issues for the past year, who's never had to make an executive decision affecting so much as a city, let alone the world? A foreign policy novice instinctively inclined to the flabbiest, most vaporous multilateralism (e.g., the Berlin Wall came down because of "a world that stands as one"), and who refers to the most deliberate act of war since Pearl Harbor as "the tragedy of 9/11," a term more appropriate for a bus accident?

Or do you want a man who is the most prepared, most knowledgeable, most serious foreign policy thinker in the United States Senate? A man who not only has the best instincts but has the honor and the courage to, yes, put country first, as when he carried the lonely fight for the surge that turned Iraq from catastrophic defeat into achievable strategic victory?

There's just no comparison. Obama's own running mate warned this week that Obama's youth and inexperience will invite a crisis -- indeed a crisis "generated" precisely to test him. Can you be serious about national security and vote on Nov. 4 to invite that test?

And how will he pass it? Well, how has he fared on the only two significant foreign policy tests he has faced since he's been in the Senate? The first was the surge. Obama failed spectacularly. He not only opposed it. He tried to denigrate it, stop it and, finally, deny its success.

The second test was Georgia, to which Obama responded instinctively with evenhanded moral equivalence, urging restraint on both sides. McCain did not have to consult his advisers to instantly identify the aggressor.

Today's economic crisis, like every other in our history, will in time pass. But the barbarians will still be at the gates. Whom do you want on the parapet? I'm for the guy who can tell the lion from the lamb.

I COULDN'T AGREE MORE!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Am I The Only One?

Do you ever get e-mails from Mailer Daemon? Cameron and I were talking about this today because she had sent an e-mail to the Sean Hannity show and she said she got a Mailer Daemon e-mail back. Got me to thinking, what in the heck does that mean and how in the heck do you pronounce it?!? When we first got the internet many years ago I was kind of afraid of it. You know to let our kids freely roam out there on the information super highway. That was so long ago and the internet was still so new to us. We've come a long way since then! I still insist on them being careful and our family computer is in a family room but that Mailer Daemon sure did scare me in the beginning. I thought the Devil himself was e-mailing me! So, today, I decided to Google it. This is what I found:

MAILER DAEMON

So, I hope I helped you clear that up. I feel better...no need to call an exorcist afterall. Whew!

Ciao!

Monday, October 20, 2008

Tito Knows His Rights!

Way to go Tito Munoz! Please read the article below:

John McCain and an Army of Joes

Friday, October 17, 2008

What I've Learned (well some of it anyway!)

When my journey into motherhood began I had a completely different view on many things than I do today. I took the investigative approach when interviewing preschool directors about the degrees their teachers had obtained. I was also intent on saving my girls from the evil that was Barbie. And my boys? Well, suffice to say "my boys would never play football." All of this has shaped the advice I sometimes offer to new parents...which is to say "never say never." What have I learned you might ask? Well, for starters, 1) it doesn't take a college degree for someone to lovingly teach my children their ABCs. 2) Barbie isn't evil at all. She grew up quite well here in our home while suffering the indignation of bad haircuts, amputated limbs, and almost constant nudity while residing in her town built from wooden blocks. And 3) Football is a helluva lot of fun! See evidence below...



Getting ready to rumble! Leighton sports his brother's #33...he has big shoes to fill.



This tackle netted a fumble and recovery by little man!



The helmet tap from his coach says "job well done."



Waiting for more action...



Comraderie exists between players and coaches too.

As for me...well, I'm still learning...and happy to do so!

Until next time,

Friday, October 10, 2008

While the Boys Are Away...Momma Will Play

and eat Mexican food! Oh, my goodness...all three of my boys are off hunting in Cotulla with Cousin Kevin for the weekend. Now to decide what to do with myself. Oh, I could eat some more Mexican food. That's already started...a yummy Maria's Special from El Potosinos. It just doesn't get any better than that! And on the menu tomorrow, my favorite mexican casserole. David cringes when I make this but it's free game around here when he is gone. I may gain 10 pounds before they get home.

I actually like to have a little time at home without any boys here trying to boss me around. I'm kidding really. I'm glad that they get to go have fun and do some male bonding, you know, kill animals and eat them...all that stuff. And there are truly so many things I could occupy my time with while they are gone. Jacque has already started needling me about going to the mall. The truth is, I loathe shopping. I can think of about 25,000 things I'd rather be doing other than shopping. Including scraping the pig poop off the five pairs of shoes that are piled on my front porch. But, baby girl wants a new dress for homecoming next week and I'm sure I will drag my big butt to the mall and buy her one. Baby girl deserves a new dress. She's doing a great job in school and fulfilling all of her obligations in the extra curricular activities she is involved in. Maybe part of the reason I hate shopping so much are the stores we must visit in search of the prize. Seriously...here's a little run down on the stops we will make. Number 1 could possibly be The Gap. We saw a cute dress there the last time we went shopping. I really have no complaints about The Gap...I can handle this store so maybe it is a good starting point. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could just stop here? Number 2: Charlotte Russe. UGH! I hate this store. Have you ever seen so much cheap, crappy merchandise crammed into one store. They rival Palais Royal! Occassionally we will find something that works so it is an obligatory stop. Number 3: Claire's. Too many people and too much plastic jewelry crammed in too small of a space. I'll wait outside! Number 4: "Welcome to Hot Topic! All of our dog collars are half price today! Let me know if I can help you!" Alright, I'm not going to be judging here, but seriously, who wants or needs a dog collar, okay?!? But what really bothers me about this store are the sales associates that are so committed to stretching their ear lobes. I can't stand to look at that! Why on earth does anyone want to stretch their ear lobes?!? Number 5: Hollister. Is it just me or is it really dark in here? Do you have the lights turned down so low so we can't see the outrageous prices on these little bitty clothes? Number 6: American Eagle. I can live with this store but I promise you we won't find a dress here. Number 7: Abercrombie & Fitch. Not going to find a dress here either but it's sometimes fun to shop the clearance rack. Smells good too! Number 8: Forever 21. More cheapie clothes and why are all these 40 something women in here shopping for themselves? Didn't they get the news bulletin...no mini skirts after 40, lol?!? Number 9: Express: We might actually find something here but will pay a pretty price. At this point, I won't care because I will be ready to head home to eat Mexican food!

And just in case you want to join me in the Mexican Food Free For All that will be going on over here this weekend, here is the recipe for one of my favorite casseroles. It is from the Galena Park Cook Book and is Diane Foshee's recipe. It is wonderful but oh, so fattening...you've been warned!

Diane's Mexican Dish

Soak 12 corn tortillas in 1 cup water + 2 T picante sauce. Drain before using.

Brown 2 pounds of hamburger with chopped onion; drain. Add small can of tomato sauce. Add: 1 1/2 tsp salt, 2 tsp cumin, 1 T chili powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 3/4 cup sliced ripe olives. Cover and simmer 5 minutes.

In another skillet, melt 1/2 cup butter and 2 T flour. Stir until smooth. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly until smooth. Add 1 1/2 cups milk; stir until thick and bubbling. Remove from heat and add 16 ounces sour cream. Put 1/2 tortillas in dish. Pour 1/2 meat, then 1/2 sour cream. Sprinkle 1 cup cheddar cheese. Repeat. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes. Do not overbake.

Yummy, I promise!

Thursday, October 09, 2008

True Story...

twine-thirty (or something like that!) Laura, please tell everyone what twine-thirty is! On to the story (a true story at that!) Most of you know that we raise pigs for FFA. Hey, it's fun and I love pigs. They are smart and sometimes sweet. We are currently raising a pig for our school show which takes place in November. Her name is Clover, she likes to eat and she can open her stall gate all by herself. I don't have any great pictures of her yet...I'm working on that. Anyway, I have a friend that I met through FFA. Her name is Christy. (I call her my pig friend and she doesn't even mind!) Christy and her son, Robby, have two pigs for the school show. Each FFA member can only show one animal in each breed which means one of them has to go. Christy and Robby have decided exactly which pig has to go and she is going to be made into tamales. I can't believe I just said that! OMG! That whole "going bye bye" thing is the part I hate the most about raising animals. Yes in the end they are, well...made into food. Okay, so, guess what? I have a friend (Anaida) who, it just so happens, has a sister-in-law who makes tamales. Christy spoke with Anaida about this the other day but she forgot to ask Anaida what part of the pig that her SIL would need to make the tamales. That was my task. Ask Anaida just exactly what cut of meat her SIL would require. The conversation went something like this:

Anaida: Hey Darla, I called my SIL about those tamales. She said she uses the head and the leg...you know the part above the thigh. Do you know what I'm talking about.

Me: Uh, well, no, actually you lost me at "head".

Anaida: (laughing) Well, that's what she said she uses.

Me: (gagging) Oh, Lord, Anaida, and all this time I thought I was eating roast in my tamales. That's what David said (the liar!) You mean to tell me I have been eating PIG HEAD!!!???!!!

Anaida: (laughing so hard she can't speak!)

Me: Uh, do you think that maybe a roast would do? I really can't imagine Christy carrying a pig head over to her! Ewwwww, seriously, Anaida....PIG HEAD???????

Anaida: That's what she said!

Now, I'm just going to tell you, I love (or loved) tamales! Love em! I can eat a whole dozen all by myself. Somehow...somehow...I don't think I am going to be eating anymore tamales anytime soon! Pig head...seriously????????

UGH!

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