America is the best country in the world?

I will give it to Mother America with your robes of red, white, and blue you have beautiful beaches, beautiful mountains and beautiful deserts, but so do other countries around the world...you have a rich history of independent historic figures...the U.S. Constitution..but does that really qualify for us for such an award...that we make food bigger, people bigger, and problems bigger than anywhere esle in the world, but...does that really mean we deserve this distinction?

I love America dearly, she is my Mother country and I wouldn't leave her embrace lightly...except to travel abroad, but I am occassionally suprised by the ingenuity of her people. I attend one of her Higher Learning Institutes two times a week for 8 to 10 hours each of those days. Today when I was on campus, I began across the crosswalk two cars stopped in the middle of it and wouldn't move. I preceded to slowly make my way around these two cars and another passed them on the right and almost removed one potential life from the embrace of Mother America. These individuals driving these vehicles are our future American Doctors, Lawyers, Social Workers and Burger flippers...and they can't even obey remedial traffic laws on a University campus?

Scary...yes...Mother America maybe you should sit down with your children and have a little discussion about how we might want to think about our future rather than continue to roll the dice...we might just roll snake eyes nex time...

Silver 25th Nightmare

I try not to complain when I put myself into situations that turn out bad, because I believe in talking responsibility for myself. I am a proponent of the "buck stops here" philosophy. So, It becomes really hard occassionally when others don't exactly hold up their side of the bargain. What do I mean exactly?

Well, I have been planning a 25th anniversary party for my parents for the last 6 months. At first all was going well. That is until I started to try and get my younger sister to do her part. Seriously, how much work is it to put stamps on envelopes and put them in the mail? How much work is it to make a list of groceries, especially when the menu is already planned? Is it really too much to ask to have her look at me and say something other than...my name isn't on it. What age is it that siblings stop havin rivalry and pick up the banner of peace? I am stuck...I can't fire her because she is my sister and my parents want her involved. Yet, its my money, my time, and my irritation.

I've been dreaming in silver lately trying to finish up last minute preparations. I'm just curious what do you think RSVP by the 18th means? I was under the silly assumption that this meant reserve a spot by 18th. Yet, most of the guests didn't start RSVPing until the 18th and I am still currently recieveing calls. And people get angry when you don't confirm their RSVP. GRRR...I had no idea that middle aged people could be so picky.

Yet, when I assess the overall experience and I look at how happy this party had better make my parents...its all worth it. They have through my whole life from kindergarten to Grad School supported me emotionally, financially to the best of their ability no matter how small, and with an occassional swift kick. So heres to you Mom and Dad, your 25th anniversary party, even if it drives me slightly insane.

KOA puts the S.O.S in Camping

What is camping? Reuniting, Reconnecting with nature. Refreshing and Rejoining the community of our industrous ancestors. Roasting hot dogs, marshmellows, BBQ and popcorn. Beer, Juice, bottled water. Owls, wolves, coyotes, trees...and WIFI, movie night, arcade, pool, pancake breakfast and ice cream social? I don't think so. I had never been to a KOA campground before, but we went to one this weekend for a family reconnect weekend.

And boy was I confused, it was kinda like camping in your backyard. With individuals ranging from men who think second home means the camper on their truck to women who play drink expensive wine and sun by the pool. It was sorta like a tourista cheapo resort. You can dine in the Kampers kitchen or catch a cocktail in the evening, but there was no wildlife, no native bushes, grasses or trees. I did however one night think I might have heard coyotes, but realized it was the dog lovers in site 23's German Shepherds.

Schedule was: Friday ice cream social, Saturday balloon race, balloon toss, water tag, and movie in the park, Sunday pancake and sausage breakfast....no nature walks, hikes or survival training...lol

Yet, the KOA was an international experience we had peoples of all colors and diversities. While we were camping I meet people from the Bavarian state in Germany, other parts of Germany, Europe, India, Mexico, and numerous places throughout the United States.

Tack this trip up to Gobalization, Consumerism, and Americans love for convenience. Its like staying in a hotel where you sleep under the sky...that is if you don't have a RV, House Trailer, Motor Home or tent trailer.

Goodbye Cyberspace!

Dinner Anyone?

Empanadas Espana

Delicious & Easy! I've developed this recipe over a couple of tries. I tried this a couple of nights ago. Friends, Family and I enjoyed them very much and they were very easy.

Part 1:

Filling:

1. 1 1lb ground meat, tofu, cream cheese

For ground meat:

1 medium bell pepper diced

1 small onion diced

3 carrots, peeled and diced

2 stalks celery

1 small boiled potato or 1/2 bag of precooked frozen chopped potatoes

1 can of ortega peppers or two small jalapeños

2-3 cloves of garlic smashed, crushed

1 tsp. chili powder, cumin, & paprika

1 small bunch of finely chopped cilantro

pinch of salt & pepper

Directions:

Toss together ingredients into skillet, cook till meat is throughly cooked and veggies tender. Drain and set aside till ready to used. When adding filling to crust, you can add a little grated cheese.

For Non-meat:

2 pkgs. cream cheese or 1 pkg. or tofu

1 cup grated cheese (sharp cheddar, jack cheese)

1 medium bell pepper diced

1 small onion diced

3 carrots, peeled and diced

1 can of ortega peppers or two small jalapenos

2-3 cloves of garlic smashed, crushed

1 tsp. chili powder, cumin, & paprika

1 small bunch of finely chopped cilantro

pinch of salt & pepper

Directions:

Toss together ingredients. Cover & refrigerate until used.

Part 2:

Crust:

1. Two refrigerator pie crusts (pillsbury or flat rolled up kind)

2. cold water

3. melted butter

Directions:

Preheat oven 350. Unfold dough, press the top of a cup or jar into the dough and use a knife to cut out small circles. Drop a tablespoon of preferred filling on half, fold dough over and dab water on the edges. Use a fork to press edge closed. Brush with butter. Cook for 8-15 minutes until the crust is golden brown.

Where do I get off saying being Married wouldn't Rock...

FOR MEN

weight: 26 grams or 3 quarters and a penny

how many diamonds? : 12.21 ctw

How much? : $15,000

FOR WOMEN

weight: it will make your finger ache ladies

how many diamonds? : 9 ctw

How much?: $2 million

War, What is it a good for?

I have been interning for the last 9 months at a Adult Day Care center. You might ask why in the world? You must not really have ever spent much time around a group of active, feisty seniors. They are more of a handful than a group of high school seniors. Old women survey the atmosphere like hungry cougars on the prowl. Old men can run your blood pressure up with just a look. One day in group of 65-90 years old is never a repeat of the last. They exhaust me and my 23 years. I had to start taking B vitamins...in case your wondering their are numerous supplements...number in the 100s at your local supermarket. On top of upping my IV of caffeine from two big cups a day to 3 big cups a day.

Up till yesterday I loved every minute of it. Its amazing the challenge and the reward in Social Working them. Essentially this is how it all happened...I looked over at a coworker noticing a occasional sigh, downcast face...etc...and asked, "Hey Monique, You alright?" she preceded to turn to me, give her nicest scowl and give me a lecture on how bad of a human being I was, that she had a very low opinion of me and that I was profiling her and judging her based on her appearance. The lecture ranged from simple to complex forms of insult.

Suffice it to say, that I was a bit surprised. Up until today, I was under the naive assumption that Monique and I were comrades of sorts. Yet, in this world of human frailty I never am failed to be surprised by how often you can anger and miscommunicate without trying. What exactly did I do? In my opinion I was being a friendly coworker, concerned about the low lying body language of a comrade. But to her what nerve exactly did I strike?

Well Cyberspace, Thanks again, for sharing my sorrows and wonders!

Back in 2010!

I am going to give blogging another try. I have been so busy in the last two years, that I gave up blogging. I suppose you can say I've had a slight identity crisis. Not much different than that experienced by the American economy. Yet, I am going to try and make it back. Wondering how some of the old blogger friends are doing. Want to send a Shout out to Mr. Stark, How is it going? I've got the summer ahead of me. I think i will be doing a lot of late night blogging. I may change the name of my blog form the softhearted hardhead to the Sleep deprived MSW student. Geez...it has been a long time. I am not even sure where to start back. But here we go cyberspace, Welcome me back with open arms.