My favorite things.

Today's my birthday. A lady never tells her age, but I will share with you a few of my favorite things.

Just a few of my favorite things. (When I wrote that I totally heard Julie Andrews singing in the back ground.)

1-Reading a book in the bathtub.

2-Eating and smelling grapefruit in the morning.

3-Sitting outside and sharing a meal with my family.

4-Kissing the man I love.

5-Talking to my best friend on the phone.

6-Hearing my favorite song on the radio.

7- Listening to a good rainstorm with thunder and lightning.

8-Snuggling deep into a blanket while I watch a chic-flick with my girls.

9-Laughing with friends and family

10-A clean and organized house.

These are some of my favorite things.

By the way they are in no particular order.

I only listed ten things, but this list would not be complete without chocolate. I eat it every day and love, love, love it so much. And all of these things are much better when you do them eating chocolate.

Example: Reading a book in the bathtub and eating chocolate. See better.

What's your favorite things?

THe LDS Storymakers Conference

I'm saddened that I missed the LDS Storymakers Conference last weekend. A few months ago I decided to be a county delegate. I wasn't pleased with the way things were going and I wanted to make a difference, so I decided I would ask my constituents in my district if I could represent them. They voted and I became a delegate. Little did I know that becoming a delegate would be like cutting off my nose. UGH! I hate it when you try to do something good and then it comes back to bite you in the cheeks.

Anyway, as you can probably guess I was unable to attend the conference. I've been surfing everyone's blogs and hearing and seeing what I missed and I feel nauseated.

My only consolation in missing; is that I did vote at the delegate conference and the people I wanted to win-did. I think they will be good candidates to represent us in the next election. This is still not totally making me feel better, so everyone please keep writing about the conference and telling me what I missed. I'm learning a lot by you all being there.

A new day has dawned

The other day as I prepared another meal for my family. I yelled, "dinner is ready," and then I realized the boy was at baseball, the oldest at work, and the youngest was hanging out with friends. So I sat down with my husband right-wrong he was on a long distance business call and so I asked myself. Why do I do this? The answer; because this is what a good mom does. So I placed things in the microwave to be warmed and waited for all to return home. We ate around eight thirty that night.

The oldest came home and said, "I'm not really that hungry. I ate late."

The boy came home, I placed his food before him and with nose wrinkled. He said, "We're having this again."

Next was the youngest, "I'm not eating that. You know I hate that stuff."

That's it!" I said reaching for a notebook and pencil. "Your job is to make a healthy food menu for dinner this week. One in which each one of you will take a turn making and cleaning up."

Their eyes went wide, but they reluctantly agreed thinking they were going to make a menu of take out and drive throughs.

"Oh no, no." I said wagging a finger in the air. "This will be a menu of home cooked meals not ready made chicken nuggets and ardery clogging materials."
Let's be real for a minute it wasn't going to be the healthest menu, but it was going to be homemade. Our first family meal was Monday. The oldest cooked spaghetti. Tuesday was blueberry pancakes, sausage and scrabbled eggs.

Right now, I am doing the happy dance. I haven't had to cook, or clean up in two days and this has made me very happy. Do I care whats for dinner? No, because I don't have to cook it and no one right now is complaing because their cooking. YAY! This moment isn't going to last but please let me revel in it while it does.

Some days are just harder than others.

Today has been a very hard and trying day. Most days are not like this at school but today was just one of those that make you thankful for your wonderful blessings and breaks your heart in two. First thing this morning I was met by a teacher who has a new student. He leaned in and whispered, "I have a new student who gets easily irritated. If he explodes hit the panic button the office will come running."

Luckily, I didn't have to hit the button. The new student seemed to be fine while I was there. I left and returned less than an hour later to watch him being hauled out of class. He had, had an episode. (He is exibiting signs of schitophrenia) I entered the class while his teacher took care of the students needs and I tried to settle the others down. Next, I read with my kids and then was off to the next class where my teammate asked one of her students where he was yesterday because she missed him. The child broke down into tears. The teacher came over and dismissed him to go to the bathroom for a minute, then filled us in. He was beaten yesterday by his mother with a belt. She was taken out of the home and isn't expected to return for a while.

These are the kind of days some of these kids go through and my biggest complaint is I don't have enough time in the day to do everything I want.

This was just my day. I can only imagine what the school councelors and principals day is like.

So tell me how was your day? My prayers are with both these kids.

PC verses Mac.

Sorry I haven't written in awhile my computer got a virus from a facebook app and it's been at the computer doctor for over a week. Today's its first day back and my fingers are finally happy and feeling at home plunking on the slippery black keys to type my next blog.

This brings me to the actual subject of this blog which is PC verses Mac.

I chose to buy a PC because I thought it would be easier to work in the writing world with one. My thinking was that most people I know own a PC. The only people I know that own a Mac are graphic artists and designers. So naturally I felt as if I should buy a PC-- which I did. I have sucessfully written six novels, a couple of short stories and a magazine article. However, amongst all my writings I have had the occassional virus and not being computer savvy myself I have to rely on others to fix it and get me running again. Whereas if I owned a Mac my husband would be able to fix it. (I know what was I thinking.) Well here it is. I was thinking that when I sent in a query letter that the publishing companies would have an easier time reading my ms and my formatting would not get messed up in the electronic transfer which all of this is very important when your trying to impress the pants off a publishing company.

Mac side; If I had a Mac computer I would not have gotten a computer virus from facebook. I would not have been without a computer for over two weeks which has put me behind on writing, emails and keeping up with other varies callings. My husband works on Macs and could have fixed my computer. And lastly I would not have had two viruses in the last six months. Yes two so as you can see I'm tired and a little cranky that I keep getting these dang viruses and from facebook no less.

So, today Mac's win! ( I still love you my little computer pal.)

Tell me what's your opinion PC or Mac?

Just a few quick tips.

Here are a few quick tips to keep you healthy, wealthy and wise. Okay I don't know about the wealthy or wise part, but I do know about the healthy.

1 cup of butter is 1600 calories
1 cup of sour cream is 800 calories

But 1 cup of yogurt or greek yogurt (Which is thickier. I only like to cook with it. I don't like it by itself as a yogurt but it is great to make dips with.) is 120 calories.

Bad oils: Palm oil, Seasame oil

Good oils: Canola, olive, and grapeseed. Canola and grapeseed oil have a higher flash point to fry or saute in. Olive oil is best in dressings or to roast with.

Bad Starches: White rice, and enriched flour pasta

Good Starches: Quinoa, brown rice, and whole wheat pasta (Check the ingredients on the back of the box. I've ran into wheat pasta looked on the back and the first words are enriched. Yikes! There is your sign all good stuff taken out and your left with most of the bad and processed.)

Now you probably already new these things but I thought a reminder wouldn't hurt since were moving into spring. But to make your visit worth it I thought I'd leave you with a Quinoa recipe.

Quinoa Muffins
1 C quinoa, rinsed
1/4 C canola oil or safflower oil
2 C flour
3/4 C brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 C raisins or craisins
3/4 C whole milk
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla

In medium saucepan bring 2 c water and quinoa to boil. reduce to simmer, cover and cook until water has been absorbed and quinoa is tender (11-13 minutes) I use my rice cooker.
Meanwhile brush a standard 12 cup muffin pan with oil and dust with flour. In medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt raisins and 2 cups cooked quinoa, reserve any leftover for another use. In a small bowl whisk together oil, milk, egg and vanilla. Add milk mixture to flour mixture and stir until just combined. Divide batter among prepared muffin cups. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 25 - 30 minutes.
These are also good with banana and chocolate chips. Adjust the mild and vegatable oil a bit and add a smashed banana and choc chips instead of raisins.

Enjoy!

The who, the when, and the why of the Health Care Bill

Let’s talk about how all this got started or the reason they say all of this got started. I’m talking about the Health Care Reform Bill. Currently, there are 32 million without health insurance. The new health insurance coverage expansion begins in 2014. When fully phased in, 95 percent of eligible Americans would have health insurance coverage, compared with 83 percent today. I have to admit I thought there was a wider gap between insured and uninsured. The difference here is twelve percent and yet it will cost $871 Billion. (Chump change.)
There are several expletives I’d like to use as I watched Washington these last few days. (I’ll leave what they are to your capable imaginations.) However, I thought I’d like to know the who, the when, and the why of the health care bill. Maybe you’re not as curious as I am, but here is a small run down of what I found out.
Thursday afternoon the Senate passed the reconciliation portion of health care reform. The vote was 56 to 43, with all Republicans and three Democrats voting against it.
Included in the no votes were Democrats Ben Nelson of Nebraska, both Arkansas senators, Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln, and both of Maine's Republican senators, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, who Democrats had once hoped would vote for the bill. Georgia Republican Johnny Isakson missed the vote due to illness.
Among The Republican amendments were defeated Wednesday those amendments defeated were Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) to prevent convicted child molesters and rapists from getting reimbursed by the government for drugs to treat erectile dysfunction; an amendment from Sen. George LeMieux (R-Fla.) to require all members of Congress to enroll in Medicaid; a measure from Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) to certify that no households earning less than $250,000 will see increased taxes as a result of health care reform; and an amendment by Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) to certify that Americans will not have to change their health insurance as a result of the bill if they do not want to. However the Senate parliamentarian, Alan Frumin, ruled in favor of Republicans on two objections to portions of the student loan reform section, a decision that changes the text of the reconciliation bill and thus requires the House to vote again. When did students loans become a health care issue? Weather you believe in the health care plan or not or your Republican or Democrat can we both agree that student loans has nothing to do with heath care. Isn't this a streeeeeetch even for government? At least they are going back to vote on this again. I would encourage you to write your senators and house representatives on this matter because it will come up again and soon.
Health insurance mandate - Almost everyone is required to get health insurance or else pay a fine. There is an exemption for low-income people. This exemption though is for households who will earn less than $25,000 a year. The Mandate takes effect in 2014.
In 2014, the IRS penalty of $750 per individual or 2% of income – whichever is greater – kicks in for those that choose not to purchase health insurance. No one can be denied access to insurance for pre-existing conditions, and annual caps on benefits are banned altogether. In addition, the temporary high risk pools are now done away with as states will have to have exchanges put in place.

Pheew! Did you get all that. I hope you learned something and I'm hoping that whatever your opinion is that you will take a moment and get involved. We really do live in the best country in the world--The United States of America. We are truely blessed.

I found my information at: Politics Daily—written by; Patricia Murphy, Health Bill 2010 Info; CNM News Network