Holiday lore

Tonight as I ran errands before my yoga class, I was listening to a local station playing X-mas music and they had this little segment asking kids if they know why we celebrate Christmas... of the 7 or 8 kids, one sited religious reasons, most though sited the need for new toys and the final little girl indicated Christmas was for celebrating presents. It was all meant to be innocent cute from children, but it brings me to my yearly conundrum over the whole "holiday" season... I like the tradition, I like the decorations, I like the idea of showing appreciation for those we love, I'm not even opposed to the idea of presents--I think presents are quite good, actually, consumerism in excess in the name holiday spirit, well, not so much. But essentially, Christmas, at its very root, is a religious celebration. Argue that the Christians took over a pagan celebration to convert the masses--I do when I have the energy and feel like pissing someone off--but not being Christian, nor Catholic (despite my upbringing) I have a sense of guilt (refer to the upbringing) of absconding the holiday and the traditions without the faith in the greater religious beliefs. I suppose I could hold fast to the concept that while the Winter Solstice was nabbed to ease the transition into Christianity, I am simply reclaiming the time of the year to celebrate that what nature has given us, recognizing that in some sense, we are all celebrating something that represents good; hope; peace; and community.

Purrrrrrr

::Ah yes, the sweet smell of a female in need.::

That is courtesy of Big Cat Challenge on Animal Planet... I think that is as close to Leopard porn that they are allowed to get. Meanwhile, Calvin is paying keen attention to the plight of the big cats... and so it seems, like their domestic brothers, the big cats of the plains also have squirrel problems, as just a few moments ago, one of those evil squirrels ruined the hunt of a cheetah. Overall though it seems this Big Cat Challenge is more about these big kitties getting their groove on and the misogyny of male Lions.

And all the Whos down in Whoville...

Ah, sweet figs... a rarity in PA at the end of November, but with just a little environmental waste, I was able to enjoy a sweet, mostly fresh fig this evening with dinner. And it was decadent. What tops off this evening is the eager anticipation of Dr. Suess' How the Grinch Stole Christmas on tv shortly... and not the Jim Carrey mess, the cartoon set to the classic poem. The Whos down in Whoville are happy to oblige.

Of course, the evening isn't all figs and Whos... I did come home to cat vomit on my comforter and the papazan chair scattered over the living room. Apparently there was havoc to be wreaked and then hacked. So, with the comforter in the dryer and the Whos set to spread the Christmas-y joy over the airwaves, it is high time to make some popcorn, get my jammies on and cozy into the big chair with a purring feline and my Diet Cranberry soda. It isn't December, yet, but I will accept the Grinch into my life now, as I still have no replacement VCR and my copy of the Grinch, like my copy of Charlie Brown is VHS.

Peace.

Not much to say

Just been taking some quiet time here... had a nice but firm chat with myself over the weekend about getting back on track and making time to do the things that are important to me again. I'm working on learning to love my new gym, and now that I've changed my attitude, it helps. Also, I ran into a guy who works there that I met when I was here back in May who asked me how I liked it and when I started to explain how it was different and realized that it is just different, not bad... so, I started again this week with a new attitude and it seems better. Isn't it amazing what a change in attitude can accomplish?

Saturday Expedition

Perhaps it is another birthday looming; perhaps it was the dire lathering of expensive creams on my neck in the vain hopes of eliminating signs of aging; perhaps it is the perplexity of craving kale and turnips for the first time in my life... perhaps it is these and so much more lately that made me stop outside the Lancaster Farmers Market today and wonder, not quite aloud, if the Amish boy was flirting with me only in the hopes of selling more root vegetables. That thought was only slightly worse than the other thought of whether the Amish boy was even old enough to flirt with me. I'm sure he was at least 16 or 17 even if he looked like he was 12.

Although, I was somewhat reassured that I have not completely lost my cognitive skills because as I was standing at another vendor, looking for kale, a woman walked up and asked about the Boston Lettuce. They guy said that it wasn't Boston lettuce is was bibb. And the woman, nodded and said, she would take the Boston lettuce. The man, ever patient, said, I don't have Boston lettuce. To which, the woman again nodded and asked what kind of lettuce that was, then, if it wasn't Boston. "Bibb" the guy said, again. "I see," said the woman, "So, no Boston lettuce?" I left. They had no kale and I didn't want to be that woman.

One amazing find, however, at the pet stand was a little product called "Pawbreakers" The name a bit ghastly until you realize it is simply a take on Jawbreakers candy. It is a somewhat large, hard ball of catnip. This caused some great bit of excitement around here today--as well as more than one fight as I only bought one of these treats. Ahhh, there were also green-colored chins where white fur once was from the drooling and rubbing of the ball on the face. Of course, Jake, being the super genius cat that he is, couldn't quite figure out where the ball was--or that it was the catnip ball he smelled and was tracking down. Exhaustion finally set in and after the wicked scare of the vacuum, much sleeping and stretching has been accomplished.

As for me, the successful completion of shopping has resulted in a nice Kale and Chicken Sausage soup with white cannelli beans for dinner. Also in the crock pot is a beef stew--complete with all those tasty root vegetables. One thing I learned today, as I paid attention to where my products came from, and worked to choose those that were closer to local (in some instances, that just wasn't an option)--it is very difficult to do. I've also really been trying to avoid sweatshop meat products... i.e. factory farms. Ever since I tried to watch the HBO documentary on Ingrid Newkirk (PETA President), I'm stuck with horrible images in my head. Mostly I have tried to avoid factory farm product, but with fresh reminder of why... it's even easier to do.

Getting Presidential

I've taken a lot of time to think about the political posturing leading up to a presidential election next year; and while I love Obama, and his decency, I just don't think a decent president is one that will be effective. Don't confuse my intent, we certainly don't have a decent president at present, but if anyone of the candidates that I can stomach ideologically has the tenacity and vicious rigor to effectively reverse any of the last eight years of ruthless and senseless destruction, I have to believe it is Hillary.

It was my full intention to let this election flow over me like so many things these days, but Anita Thompson's Post Script to today's blog provoked my sense of responsibility. I want a revolution; and maybe it was her pointing out that one wasn't happening yet, that really got me thinking... and then there was the headlines today that hate crimes have risen 8 percent in the last year (and that is only of places reporting, places like Jena apparently don't report in on hate crimes--they also apparently don't prosecute them, either).

Now, Obama, I believe, will have his time; and I look forward to that day. But for the time being, the times are brutal and we need someone with less of a soft touch, someone that doesn't remind me of President Carter (proof that great men with integrity just can't always maneuver the system). We need someone to use their evil for good... and to me, that is Hillary. So thusly goes my support... and that she was called a bitch recently and basically retorted with a "Yeah, so" kind of attitude, well, that alone deserves something.

WGA - another take...

The news this weekend is that the Writers Guild (WGA) will sit down with the producers for the first time since the strike began two weeks ago on November 26... BUT, another take on this strike was blogged on the Huffington Post. Admittedly, I don't spend a lot of time on the Huffington Post, but I occasionally check for something new by Harry Shearer -- just another example that our comedic figures have emerged as a new journalism. And really, that is the point of Steve Young... it might be a little far-fetched, but he has a point that this strike is silencing a faction of our entertainment in which people get their news from... and while you might call it sad, what does it really say about our current state of "real" journalism?

And while some may argue that the writers are paid well enough and are already millionaires, etc... bear in mind that those are the high profile members of the WGA that you see in the media--they are not the average Guild member. And think about direct-to-video sales, those who might sell one script a year, and Internet or new media only shows. In this case, I have to support the writers.

So I am corrected.

I guess it is time to point out that my rant on Thursday finally was picked up this weekend by the major news networks. Apparently, what I view as a sickening disparity in race and health care is merely a weekend side note.

Rachel Ray's Newest Fan

This morning, I decided to watch the Rachel Ray 60 Minute Thanksgiving show on Food Network. Now, for those of you who have had the discussion with me directly know, Rachel Ray gets on my very last nerve... it's a love/hate thing on par with how I feel about Martha Stewart as well. Like some of the ideas and concepts, but listening to either one of them is like nails on a chalkboard. But what I learned this morning is that my Vinnie-kitty absolutely loves Rachel Ray. He situated himself on the chair in front of the TV and for an hour was attentive and all indications were is that he was watching her and purring the entire time. And with Vinnie, it is all about intonation and food--both of which Rachel Ray much have.

A cat watching TV... can you really be serious? Yes. It doesn't happen often, but my favorite story regarding that was Calvin watching Big Cat Diaries, then emulating the cheetahs as he crawled, creeping around the apartment, sneaking up on his food dish. Of course, if Vinnie suddenly whips up a turkey dinner and stuffin' muffin's, I'll be convinced to get rid of the TV forever.

84 minutes in lock down, sicko

Isn't it a shame when Lindsey Lohan's 84 minutes served in jail for her second DUI offense makes a top headline over something of more importance? I mean there is the next story about Barry Bonds' indictment. Nothing in the major news sources even touches on the CDC report that more black children are dying from diabetes, mainly due to inadequate health care resources.

And here is where I'm torn. I would like to watch the Michael Moore film Sicko, but I know it is biased. Not that I think our health care system is at all adequate or right, but I think Moore's ego and slant gets in the way of the issue. Much like our media's fear and sick infatuation with all things coked up and blonde, or coked up and sports-related to keep the minds of the masses away from things like children not having adequate education, access to proper nutrition and health care, Moore feeds off a population waiting to be enraged about something intellectual but not motivated enough to illicit change. It's a harsh statement to make, considering how many of my colleagues and friends are devout to Moore's work... but I don't think many have been moved beyond the rhetoric of their intellectual circles.

Of course, here I sit with a career spanning more than 10 years associated with health plans in the US. I would, however, gladly welcome socialized medicine in this country even if it meant a professional sacrifice. Sadly, until the revolution, I doubt that anyone will see that happen.

Ahhh, spam

I've noticed, lately, that my spam mail folder has suddenly received a lot more mail than is what I typically see. Which is fine, I guess. But I never cease to be amused by the countless emails about how I can enlarge my penis... or buy a bigger one. These emails are interlaced with spam from God, too... and interesting things can happen when tired mind and eyes misread and juxtapose subject lines while waiting on the delete all button to process. Still, tomorrow I will find the same amusement in the fact that all my spam messages appear to be about free money, expensive sex and getting reborn... sometimes, all at once.

Cop Shootings

Breaking news here in Phila this evening... more cops shot. These cops will survive, but for anyone keeping score these days, this is something like 5 or 6 within weeks... But what is discouraging is the description of the suspect given by Fox news: Black male, 5' 10" and wearing a black coat. And we wonder why racism persists in this country?

So, instead of the Seinfeld rerun I was expecting to listen to whilst I do other things, I am listening to some talking heads saying nothing. Now, we are getting a live update from the helicopter pilot to explain what we are seeing from the "SkyCam" because we should waste as many resources as possible rubbernecking from above.

There are though, a lot of reports lately, of police being shot (and many killed) in Phila. It's only bound to lead to many more problems and undoubtedly higher incidents related to racism. And instead of sitting around asking what we can do, we need to stop pretending that it doesn't exist--we need to to talk about it and loudly. The methods and tactics of yore won't work anymore--marching, protesting and gathering are only symbolic, but cannot create change anymore. We need to elicit change through the mediums of today that spark people to action. Music, movies, television, internet, media files... the revolution of today will be fought using these media and those to come. But, when we look at the top messages of today... the top single is Chris Brown's Kiss Kiss which implies that the character in the song is an 18 year old pimp. Whether it is being used to lure the woman the song is about or not, it is standard. The top movie, "American Gangster" based on the real life crime boss Frank Lucas. Television, still arguably the most popular medium, still very Caucasian.

Not to minimize the tragedy of violence, but we live in an extremely violent society. Our country is at war with itself on so many levels, it would take numerous full time people to even begin to keep track. Case in point, I scheduled a hair appointment this weekend in a part of Phila that is called University City. The location was at the northern part of UC... and my coworker advised that I might reconsider as it starts to get sketchy and rough not too far from there. I didn't and it isn't a bad part of town, but there are not so good parts north of there.... and south of there, and west of there and even east... We have to stop living in fear of what might-be, what is unknown and start to know. It's cliche, but it's truth: there is nothing we should fear but fear... and maybe if a few more of us remember that sentiment, things would be a whole lot better all around.

Thank god it's Nekkid Friday!!

I don't really know how to break the news to folks, but gasoline prices--they aren't going back to $1.86/gal. They aren't going back, because despite my last post, drilling in the US won't make a difference and no elected official can lower the price--nor should they. Gas is not like Kool-Aid, you can't just whip up a batch; it takes a SIGNIFICANTLY longer with a helluva lot more science behind it. And when it comes down to it, we have it pretty damn good by comparison with the bargain price of $3/gallon. Learn to love conservation.

And now, there are a few headlines today I would like to point out.

So, ever wonder what it takes to be a Mafioso? Apparently, there are some documented commandments. In fact, there are 10... and while they originate from near the Vatican, they are not quite the same; but I'll bet they are coveted.

Speaking of religion, a 2-year old girl in India underwent a 24 hour surgery to remove her extra limbs. Little Lakshmi, named after the goddess she was thought to be the reincarnation of, was born with 4 arms and 4 legs after a "parasitic" twin died in the womb and was incorporated into her development.

Finally, and then there was one. One survivor from the Titanic is now left following the death of the other one. I wasn't really impacted by this story or even found it particularly interesting except in as much as we will find anything as a deterrent to real news these days. Including Mickey Rourke's arrest in Florida for drunk driving on a Scooter

Campaign Issues

Today, I had the um, "opportunity" to overhear a diatribe given by one to another over the phone. I was not eavesdropping--that would imply I was trying to hear the conversation, when in fact, I was not--I was trying to not hear it; however, it was unavoidably boisterous. And here is what I learned:

There is no point in purchasing a vehicle that is good on gas mileage because we have an election coming up and we vote for people that have our interests in mind and we vote for people that will govern us. What this means is we will vote for a president who will lower the price of a barrel of oil because that is what we want--we are angry with the current price of gas and will elect accordingly.

There is no need for the United States to be dependent on foreign oil. Our only problem, from what I overheard, is that we are not drilling in the United States. We apparently have enough oil to support out needs here in the US if only we started drilling.

So, there you have it... and what I'm thinking is that yesterday's post about people not voting, maybe I was off point; maybe we don't want everyone voting.

Exercising my rights today

Today, in the United States, is election day... and as I walked the half mile to my voting locale, I couldn't help but notice the utter lack of droves of citizens acting upon not only their right, but their duty as citizens. Granted, here in PA, there were no Congressional or Legislative people on the ballot, it was, in fact quite a local deal with some state judicial seats... but that in no way negates the importance or significance. In fact, you would think you would be more apt to vote locally than not.

The only thing I felt badly about was that in my reading and researching and cramming like a undergraduate these last few weeks to learn about the issues in my area, who the candidates were and making as best a choice I could given what I know... I missed some of the judges and wasn't able to fully make a vote on all parties involved.

So here's what I'm saying... if you did not vote today, don't tell me how I don't support our troops because I don't agree with our current bomb first, ask questions never foreign policy. If you didn't vote today, get your flag out of my face. Just because I vote doesn't mean I believe in your red, white and blue false prophet. And speaking of prophets, I don't care if you voted today or not--keep your religion to yourself.

Dinner Simplistic

Most evenings, IF I cook dinner for myself, I have a somewhat unwritten rule that it cannot encompass the use of more than one pan. I never knew this about myself until I was reading one of the short stories within "Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant" and the writer was describing her friend and I had a light bulb moment that, yes, that it how I, too, manage cooking for myself. But, being that I was ambitious today and being that it feels like Fall and I wanted to cook and prep for the week to avoid the necessity of Health Choice or Lean Cuisine hell at lunchtime--it was a multipan kind of day--and that meant dinner for tonight as well.

Now, this is not something I normally do, but I'm so in lust with the dinner I had this evening I feel the need to share (and for those wondering why I'm eating so early--as it is only coming on 6:30 EST, let me say, dinner was a lunch/dinner combo and we are back to Standard time... which means at 6 p.m. it is now dark outside and my body thinks it 7 p.m. still).

Thai Pumpkin Soup

In your very nice soup pan, add the following

2 cups water
1 chicken bouillon cube (or vegetable, if preferred)
1 cup mango puree
2 cups pumpkin puree
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons vinegar (preferable rice, but I only had balsamic--it worked)
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup fresh cilantro (or about 2 tablespoons dried--which is what I did lacking fresh)
3/4 teaspoon of ground ginger (though, again, I think fresh would be much better here)
1/2 cup evaporated milk
crushed red pepper to taste (I used about 1/2 teaspoon, which added flavor and a heat in the aftertaste)

So, someone more apt at this kind of thing would tell you how to put this all together, but well, I just threw it all in the pot, stirred and cooked on low heat for about 20-30 minutes.

Next, I made a Pomegranate Ricotta Dish:

1 cup low fat ricotta (admittedly, the original recipe that I nabbed this concept from called for hand packed fresh ricotta, but I wasn't heading to the Italian Market today for that)
1 cup pomegranate seeds
1 tablespoon honey
splash of vanilla extract
dash of cinnamon

Mix, chill and serve. Really, it's yummy.

So there you have it... my dinner this evening and probably a lunch or two this week as well.

And because I cooked pumpkin today, I now have toasted seeds cooling in the kitchen... because no, I did not use canned pumpkin or mango for the soup, one reason why it probably turned out as good as it did. Which means, the soup alone used a pot and a steamer, the soup pot itself, a food processor, cutting board and several knives. So, it was a cooking day and a dishes day--and my hands are showing it. It is definitely not a case of "Madge, I soaked in it".

Pay the damn writers

Yes, I have an opinion on the impending writers strike--pay them what they are worth. No one is going to watch Matthew McConaughey (no matter how fine his ass is) without lines--okay, not for very long anyway... and he is well paid. It's coming on an election year, and by god people, we need our Jon Stewart's and Stephen Colbert's to get us through it--and they will be hugely impacted by the strike... i.e. we get reruns. More so, however, is the news that NBC may air more WWE if the strike carries on too long, as it is expected to. Apparently the world of "Big Time Wrastling" as it is referred to by male members of my family, is not impacted by the strike--you don't say? So you see folks, if the actors have to come up with their own plots, scripts and direction, THIS is what we get... WWE. Let's not go there.

The writers want more than 4 cents per DVD sale.... if it's good writing, you will sell MILLIONS of copies... a million sales only equals $40,000.

The writers also want residuals on internet and online sales, which the companies argue is too soon to know if it will be profitable... too soon? Half my friends watch tv online or pay to download per episode...

Writing is inherently hard work with little appreciation or recognition--the compensation should not be another slap in the face.

Git 'r' Done?

So, after a long day of errands and cleaning and laundry and more, unexpected errands so I could finish cleaning I have finally sat down, turned on the TV and prepared some of my new blueberry green tea. And as I was reading a sad email from a friend, I began to notice that what was playing on my TV was Larry the Cable Guy... Now, I have to admit, I would really rather be listening to two 15 year olds oogle a fellow shopper at Target while a woman I've never seen before pops out of nowhere to try to push a particular vacuum on me, then lay in wait for the other woman on her cell phone to try to push the same vacuum ("It's on sale, too!")... and I thought that experience was excruciating about 90 minutes ago. And by the way, the woman was not affiliated with Target or Bissell (the vacuum she was pushing on her fellow shoppers), she just happened to be in the vacuum aisle and felt the need to spread the word of the Bissell. I bought a Dirt Devil...

Now, I was pondering yesterday the racial tensions of our country; yet tonight, I wonder why only certain segments are targeted. As I listen to Larry the Cable Guy--out of sheer laziness to find the remote or walk over to the tv--I find him incredibly objectionable. It isn't just bad taste, it is flat out bigotry--everything from race and ethnicity to women and gays. Intermittently scatter, of course, with more "jokes" about feces and gas than one should really ever be subjected to.

And, I think Larry gets away with it because he plays the part of the redneck buddy that isn't all that bright. Larry also gets away with it because he is walking a fine line of the comedy routine. Unlike other comedians that take the stance of uber Americana, Larry and many of his cohorts do not do so to poke fun at the idiocy of it. When he talks about the difference between toddlers and terrorists and states that one wears a diaper on his head, it isn't to make fun of those that actually believe that sentiment--it is to entertain those that believe that sentiment. And given the very large, packed stadium he is performing to and the reaction he got, it's pretty fucking scary.

Imus, Dog, Barack and Hillary and the Court Jester

This morning, I woke to hear the news covering Don Imus' return to radio. I had a problem with his being fired for his statement... not that I thought it was right, but you aren't going to stop racism and bigotry in this country by hiding it. So, as Imus is coming back in, Bounty Hunter "Dog" is going out. I'm even MORE trouble by the fact that A&E has indefinitely suspended the guy for use of a racial slur in a PRIVATE phone conversation. But what I find incredibly interesting is that while I'm reading the article on Bounty Hunter, I see the other most popular headlines on Reuters: Obama accuses Clinton of hiding behind gender

And I have to wonder, if Clinton made the accusation that Obama was hiding behind race, would that be the end of her career? Don't get me wrong, I don't think any candidate is hiding behind anything more than fear that they truly might have to make a stance and see it through all the way... accountability is something we've long lost the expectation for in an administration, so I think the fear is unfounded... but whatever. I just wonder how it is okay for Obama to make such a statement. And it comes down to sexism being so ingrained in our culture that we don't even bat an eyelash when it is blazoned across a top headline... but we are uber sensitive to racism and it all comes back to fear....

And we should be afraid; afraid that our rights have disintegrated to the point that freedom of speech, expression and press are merely sideline snickers to most. Fear that our Constitution has been so mangled and shattered that all the Kings horses and all the Kings men could not put it back together again. Fear that anyone who stands up for the injustice will find themselves water-boarded at Gitmo... Fear that a private conversation can be exploited.

But we can't be running scared every time some half-wit exposes their ignorance--we simply don't have the capacity for that in this country.

Now, speaking of a candidate that would bring an interesting twist and some much needed integrity to the process: Stephen Colbert denied South Carolina primary run. Yep, that's right, DENIED... and isn't it interesting that so many breathed a sigh of relief when Colbert announced his intention to run (if only in SC)? Finally, someone with something to bring--and you can argue that Colbert is playing a part, but can you argue the others are not?

Obama even dodged a question this week about Colbert's bid... you could smell the fear. And it is sad when it takes comedians to be relevant... haven't we seen this in history already? And doesn't a revolution follow? Where do I sign up?