Gordon Ramsay's Perfect Scrambled Eggs

via videosift.com

Digital Stalking: A Big Issue for Teens

Electronic bullying, harassment and stalking is becoming a real problem for teens. There is no protocol established for teens to deal with some of this digital violence, which can include the transmittal of nonstop text messages, cruel comments on Facebook and MySpace, and inappropriate photos via cell phones and email. An ad campaign has been established to encourage teens to set boundaries. ThatsNotCool.com is intended to appeal to all teenagers and offers an area where kids can seek advice on drawing their digital line.
Hat tip to Wild Willy

Go Steelers!

Tampa's getting crowded!

6th Bird Flu Case in China this Year

A couple years ago, the Blogson's pediatrician said this about a bird flu pandemic, "it's not if, it's when."  He was on a number of medical boards and employed by an international drug company, when we had a discussion about the possibility of a pandemic.  In fact, he recommended that we keep particulate respirators handy and wrote us a Tamiflu script for safe keeping. 

Look Like a President

No experience necessary to be President, you'll just need a cool poster and slogan.  Start your campaign.

Thanks to TigerHawk

Modular Shoes

No time to change your shoes?...Unzip and you're good to go.
From Neatorama

1984 Apple's MacIntosh Commercial

Introduced 25 years ago at the Super Bowl XVIII
Get well soon Steve! I love my Mac;-)

Squirrel Stew

Who isn't trying to save a few dollars these day?

INGREDIENTS
- 10 squirrels.
- 11/2 cups lean ham (diced).
- 3 large potatoes (chopped into 3/4″ dice)
- 2 medium onions (chopped)
- 1 28-oz can whole peeled tomatoes (chopped and drained)
- 1 16-oz can whole kernel corn (drained)
- 1 10-oz package of baby lima beans (frozen)
- 1/2 bay leaf
- 1 tbs Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup K.C. Masterpiece barbecue sauce (original)

DIRECTIONS
Salt and pepper squirrels. Place in large soup pot, adding enough water to cover them. Bring to boil and reduce heat to simmer. Cook it for 45 minutes or until meat begins to fall off the bone. Remove from stock. Allow to cool and remove meat from bone. Add all ingredients to the stock (leaving out the squirrel). If it’s a little thick just add water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add squirrel and simmer for 30-45 min, stirring occasionally. To thicken, mix 1/4 cup of flour with 1 cup of cold water and add to stew. Serve with corn bread.

Aretha's Hat

Aretha Franklin did a beautiful rendition of My Country 'Tis of Thee at the inauguration, but I'm not so sure about the hat.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”



Simon Pearce, Irish Artisan

In 1971, Simon Pearce opened a glassblowing workshop in Kilkenny, Ireland. Ten years later, Simon moved his operation to Quechee, VT on the Ottauquechee River, where potters and glassblowers still create simple designs for function and durability. It's always such a treat to visit the restored woolen mill, which also features a retail store and a fabulous restauant overlooking the Falls. As a tribute to my ancestors, I always feel compelled to support these artisans by adding to my collection of Pearce's work each year.
Bottom photo credit

Quintessential Vermont

Covered bridge

Snowshed Lodge, Killington

Tired riders, Billy and Jack

Sweet little house with icicles

Our home base

Heads Up, Know the Code

Mountain Chills and Thrills

The men are heading to the mountain and the women are driving north.

Miracle Near 54th Street

Each and every day something really amazing happens, and sometimes it's right in our backyard. The crash landing of the U.S. Air flight in the Hudson River is nothing short of spectacular. The skill of the pilots and crew, FDNY, NYPD and the NY Waterway all contributed to a miracle near 54th Street. The bloghusband shot this cellphone picture on his way home from work at about 5:30pm. The tail is still visible in the center right. Thank God for this happy ending!

Big Chill in Chicago

There are some things that I just don't miss about my hometown.

Good Dog!

Photo credit: Stix Blog

Live a Life of Service

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. - Mahatma Gandhi

Learn to Embrace Hunger Pangs

Calorie restriction is more about a long-term health plan rather than weight management. That's the mantra. Say that several times and day and you will find yourself getting used to those pesky pangs in no time. The cabbage soup diet is over. I blew off the last day and a half for several reasons, but I'm down five pounds in seven days. A good start.

Amelia's Health Concerns Stabilize

Young Amelia takes a few steps forward each day. After the setback with the GI tube and the Nissen disruption, health concerns have somewhat stabilized. The VSD (hole in heart) is shrinking as anticipated, so Amelia can eliminate the need for continuing those meds. There are some concerns with Amelia's kidney performance. Doctors are now testing and keeping a close watch on her kidney function. Amelia is now in her final weekly recast phase to correct her feet. Next, doctors need to cut her Achilles tendon in order to gain the 90 degree rotation. Then Amelia will enter into a fairly long phase of physical therapy, which will include a type of brace to wear at night. Amelia is gaining weight again and is tipping the scale at 10 3/4 pounds. She is going to start working with the speech pathologist for oral feedings again soon. God bless this little angel.

Hotel Confirmation

Getting ready for the Shamrock Shuffle, we booked a $99 room in Chicago. Love this confirmation:

Breathe easy. Affinia Hotels are 100% Affinia Fresh - All rooms are now non-smoking. If you choose to smoke, you may do so at an additional cost of $250 per stay.

Laughing Out Loud

Hat tip to Nahn Si

A Sword and Some Pineapple

You're the cool kid at school.

Illinois Plates

As a Chicago native, I feel great pride and accept Illinois's rich history of corruption. New Jersey comes in a distant second.
Hat tip to Nancy

Always on my Mind

On this anniversary of Elvis's birth in 1935 here's a recording near and dear to many fans. Elvis recorded this beautiful rendition of the tune Always on my Mind in 1972, but Willie Nelson's version won a few Grammy Awards ten years later.

What the World Eats

Back to the topic of food. Day three of the Cabbage Soup Diet allows the dieter to incorporate fruit into the vegetable and soup routine for the day. As rigid and boring as this diet is, it creates an element of anticipation with the addition of something new to eat each day. Who knew it would be so exciting to be able to eat fruit for a day. Perhaps because I'm simply starving, I found this photo essay from Time to be so amusing.

Renewal in the New Year

It takes a lot of work to become the person you want to be.  It takes practice and mental exercise every day.

“The inability or rather unwillingness of the human mind to let go of the past is beautifully illustrated in the story of two Zen monks, Tanzan and Ekido, who were walking along a country road that had become extremely muddy after heavy rains. Near a village, they came upon a young woman who was trying to cross the road, but the mud would have ruined the silk kimono she was wearing. Tanzan at once picked her up and carried her to the other side.

“The monks walked on in silence. Five hours later, as they were approaching the lodging temple, Ekido couldn’t restrain himself any longer. ‘Why did you carry that girl across the road?’ he asked. ‘We monks are not supposed to do things like that.’

“’I put the girl down hours ago,’ said Tanzan. ‘Are you still carrying her?’

“Now imagine what life would be like for someone who lives like Ekido all the time, unable or unwilling to let go internally of situations, accumulating more and more ‘stuff’ inside, and you get a sense of what life is like of the majority of people on our planet. What a heavy burden of past they carry around with them in their minds.”
- Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening To Your Life's Purpose

Think Before You Eat

One of the benefits of a calorie-restricted, but short-term diet is that it makes the dieter aware of common, and perhaps impulsive eating behaviors, which sabotage a healthy weight. It affords the opportunity to examine nutrition vs. indulgence very closely.

Carrots for Breakfast

Today is day two of the Cabbage Soup Diet. In addition to eating the soup, the dieter must incorporate all the vegetables that they can eat today. Day one dieters enjoyed only fruits and soup for the entire day (I was in bed at 7:30pm, heh).

2009 Officially Begins

The holiday season can be just exhausting!  It's kind of nice to get back to some sense of normalcy and order.  Now is the time to focus on the things that matter, such as diet and exercise; at least for the first month or two;-)

A Milestone for the Van

Farewell to the Vineyard

After ten days on the island, we're heading home. Here's a parting shot.

Ruby Red Vodka

Mixed with club soda and a splash of cranberry juice, ruby red (grapefruit infused) vodka is going to be my drink in 2009.  What's your drink going to be?

RIP Mary A. Dolan

March 30, 1923-January 2, 1991

It's been eighteen years since my mother's passing.  The death of a mother becomes the benchmark for an individual's life before and life after.  As a newlywed in 1991, the profound sadness I felt, and the resulting difficulty the family had with coping, was the first challenge to my marriage.  Now, as a mother myself, I can't help but think of my mom everyday, and how she handled the many challenges of parenting.  I still miss her so much and still get weepy each January 2nd.

Senator Bill Clinton

Not that anyone really cares, but that makes a little more sense than Caroline Kennedy's appointment to the New York Senate seat.  Think of all the comedic material.  Opps, I forgot.  The comedians are on the same side.

The Obligatory New Year's Herring

Nasty stuff. Even on a cracker.

Mad Men Marathon

We're almost finished watching season one of the award winning AMC drama, Mad Men. Not being one to sit around and watch TV (I'd rather sit around the Mac) I'm enjoying the whole retro saga. It just makes me want to smoke and drink heavily. Quite frankly, the male chauvinism so prevalent throughout the advertising industry in the 1960's is reminiscent of my early career days on Wall Street. I'd be a rich woman if I got on that sexual harassment lawsuit bandwagon many years ago.

Oak Bluffs with the Old Folks

Plenty of seating at the restaurant this morning. By the looks of the
diners, everyone was in bed by 9pm last night.

Resolve to Make This Year Your Best

This year, may you fill your soul with peace of mind, nurture good health, find joy in the most unusual places, spread laughter, reap prosperity, grow friendships, fall in love and bestow gratitude for all gifts, big and small, everyday.