Well, I've got a couple of winners here this week.
While getting Erin ready for school picture day, she turned and looked me dead in the face and asked, "Dadoo, do I look pretty."
"Yes. Absolutely. You look very pretty today. Pretty like Mommy."
With that, Erin smiled a genuine ear to ear grin and turned to look at herself in the full-length mirror on the closet door of mine and Laur's room.
"I DO look pretty. Just like Mommy," and this is when I saw the wicked glee in her eyes that I always see when she is preparing to tease me. "Hmmm. Mommy looks pretty, I look pretty... and you look STINKY!!" As always, I filled my role by playing along.
"STINKY!?!? You think I look stinky?!?!"
"Yes Dadoo... just like Uncle Pat."
"What?!?! Uncle Pat and I both look STINKY?"
"YEP," she replied as a fit of giggles began to well up inside of her.
"What about Uncle Bri? Does he look stinky?"
"No Dadoo, Uncle Brian does not look stinky."
"He doesn't? Well, what about Uncle Tommy, Uncle Mark, and Uncle Matt?"
"They all look stinky, too."
"But not Uncle Brian?"
"Nope, he doesn't look stinky. Not like you guys."
At this point, Erin was laughing uncontrollably and mugging for her own amusement into the mirror.
"OK, now you're in big trouble... I'm gonna catch you and tickle you!!"
At that threat, Erin ran away shreiking as only a little girl can. I'm not entirely sure how one can "look stinky", but apparantly myself and all of her Uncles except Brian qualify.
The second "Erinism" comes from the car ride to school today.
"So Erin, are you excited to get your class picture today?"
"Yes, Dadoo."
"Me too. I love getting my picture taken in school! Do you think Miss Dolores will let me wear my hat for the picture?"
"UGHHH! Dadoo, we ALREADY talked about this, REMEMBER?"
"No. What?"
"You can't come to my school."
"Why not?"
"Because, you would need a, like, giant shrinking machine."
"But why?"
Erin slapped herself in the forehead and slowly pulled her hand down her face as she shook her head in disbelief.
"Because, Dadoo, my class is only for 4 year olds. And you're, like, almost 100 years old."
"100 YEARS OLD!!!"
"Dadoo, calm down. I didn't say 100 years old. I said ALMOST 100 years old."
Oh, thanks for the clarification. Now I feel much better.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Justice?
Murderous terrorists of the world take heart and rejoice!! The politically correct higher-ups in the U.S. Military are so concerned with your well being that they are willing to court martial their most elite members over something as trivial as bloody lip received during your capture. That's right!! You can go right on maiming and killing innocents the world over with impunity!! You can feel free to to continue to flout the rules and guidelines of the Geneva Conventions, and still enjoy the protections afforded those soldiers and nations that abide by the rules. And you can continue to do everything possible to destroy the Great Satan, The United States of America, and we'll still provide you the rights of one of our own citizens!!
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH US HERE!?!?!?!
How can we allow three elite American heros, men who put their lives on the line for their countrymen on a daily basis, to stand trial and have their careers and reputations at jeopardy over what amounts to a terrorist who sustained a fat lip during his apprehension? This is the same man who planned and carried out the execution & mutilation of the 4 American Blackwater contractors in Fallujuah, Iraq and had their burned bodies hung from a bridge over the Euphrates River... we're not talking about some peaceful political dissident here. If the worse he got from these Seals was bloody mouth, than he should cut his losses and consider himself lucky.
As far as I'm concerned, if this is the shabby treatment we are going to give our heroic servicemen, then they should make it their "unofficial" official policy to not take live prisoners. When one of these slimey cowards tries to surrender from now on, our guys should just put a double tap in the center of his forehead and call it a day. First the non-terrorist terrorist murderer at Fort Hood, and now this ignominy. The civilian military leaders and the top men at the Pentagon need to decide to commit us to winning this war. It's long past time to throw off the crippling shackles of political correctness and let our military do its job the way that noone else in the world can. Pray for these Navy Seals, that REAL justice will be served and they will be acquitted of all charges.
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH US HERE!?!?!?!
How can we allow three elite American heros, men who put their lives on the line for their countrymen on a daily basis, to stand trial and have their careers and reputations at jeopardy over what amounts to a terrorist who sustained a fat lip during his apprehension? This is the same man who planned and carried out the execution & mutilation of the 4 American Blackwater contractors in Fallujuah, Iraq and had their burned bodies hung from a bridge over the Euphrates River... we're not talking about some peaceful political dissident here. If the worse he got from these Seals was bloody mouth, than he should cut his losses and consider himself lucky.
As far as I'm concerned, if this is the shabby treatment we are going to give our heroic servicemen, then they should make it their "unofficial" official policy to not take live prisoners. When one of these slimey cowards tries to surrender from now on, our guys should just put a double tap in the center of his forehead and call it a day. First the non-terrorist terrorist murderer at Fort Hood, and now this ignominy. The civilian military leaders and the top men at the Pentagon need to decide to commit us to winning this war. It's long past time to throw off the crippling shackles of political correctness and let our military do its job the way that noone else in the world can. Pray for these Navy Seals, that REAL justice will be served and they will be acquitted of all charges.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Relay For Life
What exactly is Relay For Life?
Relay For Life is a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society.
Why a Relay? Do you race around the track all night? How does it work?
No, there is no racing. The term Relay is symbolic. The goal is to have someone from your team walking the track during all hours of the night. It is a Relay in the sense that teams share the responsibility of covering the track all night long.
Why is the event held all night long?
We Relay through the dark of night because Cancer is a disease that does not sleep. The night is a symbol of the struggle with this disease, and dawn is the light of hope.
How can I help?
Oh, so many ways. You can form or join a Relay team and raise money for research towards a cure. You can buy luminaries in Honor of a Survivor or in Memory of someone lost to Cancer. You can buy sign sponsorships. You can donate goods or servives to the event. You can make a donation to an existing Relay team. Or, if you don't have a Relay in your community, you can speak to your local American Cancer Society office about forming a local Relay.
Why should I choose to support the American Cancer Society through Relay For Life?
Since Relay's inception in 1985, it has literally poured hundreds of millions of dollars into cancer research. The only larger source of funding for cancer research in the world is the U.S. Federal Government. Thanks to funds sourced largely from Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society has been able to fund the research of over 40 Nobel winning scientists.
Cancer is a disease that affects us all. Everyone can relate to it. We've all had loved ones fight this disease... most of us have lost someone to it. Cancer does not discriminate. While certain choices and lifestyles may increase one's risk, cancer can strike anyone at anytime. I dream that my daughter will grow up in a world free of Cancer's sinister touch, a world where her only exposure to the disease is from reading of it in history books. This is America. We put men on the moon. We can beat this disease. Join us in the fight.
American Cancer Society Website
www.cancer.org
Find your local Relay in the NY/NJ Region:
www.relayforlife.org/nynj
The website for our West Orange Relay (use this to join our team):
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=20937
Relay For Life is a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society.
Why a Relay? Do you race around the track all night? How does it work?
No, there is no racing. The term Relay is symbolic. The goal is to have someone from your team walking the track during all hours of the night. It is a Relay in the sense that teams share the responsibility of covering the track all night long.
Why is the event held all night long?
We Relay through the dark of night because Cancer is a disease that does not sleep. The night is a symbol of the struggle with this disease, and dawn is the light of hope.
How can I help?
Oh, so many ways. You can form or join a Relay team and raise money for research towards a cure. You can buy luminaries in Honor of a Survivor or in Memory of someone lost to Cancer. You can buy sign sponsorships. You can donate goods or servives to the event. You can make a donation to an existing Relay team. Or, if you don't have a Relay in your community, you can speak to your local American Cancer Society office about forming a local Relay.
Why should I choose to support the American Cancer Society through Relay For Life?
Since Relay's inception in 1985, it has literally poured hundreds of millions of dollars into cancer research. The only larger source of funding for cancer research in the world is the U.S. Federal Government. Thanks to funds sourced largely from Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society has been able to fund the research of over 40 Nobel winning scientists.
Cancer is a disease that affects us all. Everyone can relate to it. We've all had loved ones fight this disease... most of us have lost someone to it. Cancer does not discriminate. While certain choices and lifestyles may increase one's risk, cancer can strike anyone at anytime. I dream that my daughter will grow up in a world free of Cancer's sinister touch, a world where her only exposure to the disease is from reading of it in history books. This is America. We put men on the moon. We can beat this disease. Join us in the fight.
American Cancer Society Website
www.cancer.org
Find your local Relay in the NY/NJ Region:
www.relayforlife.org/nynj
The website for our West Orange Relay (use this to join our team):
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=20937
The Weekly Erinism- Sunday, November 22, 2009
This conversation really happened. Please note that the use of the word guy or guys to represent potential siblings stems from an earlier conversation with Erin, in which she referred to the members of our family as guys. It is her word, not mine.
"Erin, do you think you're ready for a new little baby brother or little baby sister?"
"No Dadoo."
"NO!?!?! But you asked me the other day when we were going to have another guy in our family. You asked why we don't have 4 guys in our family. You said EVERYONE else has 4 guys in their families. Now you don't want another guy in our family?!?!"
Erin sighs her usual, talking-to-the-idiot-adult, exasperated sigh.
"Dadoo. I still want another guy in our family. I just don't want a little brother or a little sister."
"Oh no?"
"No. I want another big guy in our family."
"Well... that's not how it usually works, Erin. If you get another brother or sister, they will most likely be younger and smaller than you."
"Dadoo, you're not listening to me. I already TOLD you, I don't want another baby guy in our family!"
"But why not?"
"Because, Dadoo. If the new guy is smaller than me, than I can't have bunk beds, and I really want bunk beds."
"Wait... what? How did bunk beds come into this? What are you talking about?"
"Mommy said I can't have bunk beds until I have a sister or brother who is big enough to sleep in a bed. But babies can't sleep in a bunk bed. I have to wait for the baby to get big. But if the new guy is big already, than I can get bunk beds."
Well, at least she is finally open to the idea of having a sibling, even if it is to further her own, selfish ambitions of one day sleeping in a bunk bed.
"Erin, do you think you're ready for a new little baby brother or little baby sister?"
"No Dadoo."
"NO!?!?! But you asked me the other day when we were going to have another guy in our family. You asked why we don't have 4 guys in our family. You said EVERYONE else has 4 guys in their families. Now you don't want another guy in our family?!?!"
Erin sighs her usual, talking-to-the-idiot-adult, exasperated sigh.
"Dadoo. I still want another guy in our family. I just don't want a little brother or a little sister."
"Oh no?"
"No. I want another big guy in our family."
"Well... that's not how it usually works, Erin. If you get another brother or sister, they will most likely be younger and smaller than you."
"Dadoo, you're not listening to me. I already TOLD you, I don't want another baby guy in our family!"
"But why not?"
"Because, Dadoo. If the new guy is smaller than me, than I can't have bunk beds, and I really want bunk beds."
"Wait... what? How did bunk beds come into this? What are you talking about?"
"Mommy said I can't have bunk beds until I have a sister or brother who is big enough to sleep in a bed. But babies can't sleep in a bunk bed. I have to wait for the baby to get big. But if the new guy is big already, than I can get bunk beds."
Well, at least she is finally open to the idea of having a sibling, even if it is to further her own, selfish ambitions of one day sleeping in a bunk bed.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Someday, Somehow
Someday, somehow,
We will have answers
Just wait and see
Someday, somehow,
Things will get better
For You and Me
Someday, somehow,
The mundane trivialities
Will all disappear
Someday, somehow,
We'll settle down
Somewhere other than here
Someday, somehow,
Your stress will be lifted
You won't cry anymore
Someday, somehow,
We'll know true comfort
Like never before
Someday, somehow,
The dawn sun will drive
the dark from the skies
Someday, somehow,
Life's beauty will grab us
It will open our eyes
Someday, somehow,
We'll be blessed and
Our family will grow
Someday, somehow,
We will be happy
This much I know
Someday...
...Somehow...
We will have answers
Just wait and see
Someday, somehow,
Things will get better
For You and Me
Someday, somehow,
The mundane trivialities
Will all disappear
Someday, somehow,
We'll settle down
Somewhere other than here
Someday, somehow,
Your stress will be lifted
You won't cry anymore
Someday, somehow,
We'll know true comfort
Like never before
Someday, somehow,
The dawn sun will drive
the dark from the skies
Someday, somehow,
Life's beauty will grab us
It will open our eyes
Someday, somehow,
We'll be blessed and
Our family will grow
Someday, somehow,
We will be happy
This much I know
Someday...
...Somehow...
Sunday, November 15, 2009
More Gloom & Doom
As a retailer, I see first-hand and hear from my aquaitances that if any economic recovery exists, there is little to no evidence of it in NJ. And now, even if things do start to show some signs of turning around, this new book shows we're not out of the economic woods yet. Check out this link:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/the_next_bubble_xgWBulf5HcOUkkpsZz0WoN#
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/the_next_bubble_xgWBulf5HcOUkkpsZz0WoN#
The Weekly Erinism- Sunday, November 14th, 2009
On Friday morning, Erin and I were sitting in the living room when she abruptly turned to me and asked, "Do you want to play a game with me?"
"Sure, why not? What did you have in mind?"
"Umm, I want to play checkers."
"Oooh... checkers is a good idea, Let's play, Erin."
She pulled out the box and went about setting up the board. After giving her a brief refresher course on the rules (made necessary because initially she wanted to put our checkers on opposite color squares, and jump in any direction, as many squares as she desired), we got down to playing. As we played, I coached her as to where she should move her pieces, and taught her to think about the potential consequences of each move. I jumped a bunch of her checkers, but also sacrificed a bunch of mine in the interest of teaching the game. After a while, she was doing pretty well on her own, and I began to give less instruction. Inevitably, her concentration lapsed and she put one of her checkers in harm's way which I obligingly had to claim by jumping it with one of my own.
"DAMN!!"
Somewhat surprised, I looked up from the board at her face. She was still looking down at the checkerboard, as if nothing had happened.
"What did you say, Erin?"
"I SAID DAMN!!"
"Damn?!?!"
"Yes Dadoo, Damn. That's what I said. I said Damn. Damn is what you're supposed to say when you're angry, right? What's wrong?"
"First of all, stop saying Damn. It's not a nice word for anyone to say, and you're too little to say it."
"But I'm a big girl."
"Yes, you are a big girl... but not big enough, OK? And secondly, when you're mad or frustrated, I don't want you saying Damn, OK? You can say darnit, or sheesh, or gosh, or gee, or just put your hand on your forehead and groan like this," I demonstrated the gesture and said, "arghhhhh! Got it?"
"Got it. Can I say Damn when I'm as big as you? Because you say it all the time."
"Sure, why not? What did you have in mind?"
"Umm, I want to play checkers."
"Oooh... checkers is a good idea, Let's play, Erin."
She pulled out the box and went about setting up the board. After giving her a brief refresher course on the rules (made necessary because initially she wanted to put our checkers on opposite color squares, and jump in any direction, as many squares as she desired), we got down to playing. As we played, I coached her as to where she should move her pieces, and taught her to think about the potential consequences of each move. I jumped a bunch of her checkers, but also sacrificed a bunch of mine in the interest of teaching the game. After a while, she was doing pretty well on her own, and I began to give less instruction. Inevitably, her concentration lapsed and she put one of her checkers in harm's way which I obligingly had to claim by jumping it with one of my own.
"DAMN!!"
Somewhat surprised, I looked up from the board at her face. She was still looking down at the checkerboard, as if nothing had happened.
"What did you say, Erin?"
"I SAID DAMN!!"
"Damn?!?!"
"Yes Dadoo, Damn. That's what I said. I said Damn. Damn is what you're supposed to say when you're angry, right? What's wrong?"
"First of all, stop saying Damn. It's not a nice word for anyone to say, and you're too little to say it."
"But I'm a big girl."
"Yes, you are a big girl... but not big enough, OK? And secondly, when you're mad or frustrated, I don't want you saying Damn, OK? You can say darnit, or sheesh, or gosh, or gee, or just put your hand on your forehead and groan like this," I demonstrated the gesture and said, "arghhhhh! Got it?"
"Got it. Can I say Damn when I'm as big as you? Because you say it all the time."
Monday, November 9, 2009
Historic Anniversaries
With today being the 20 year mark since the fall of the Berlin Wall, and having passed the 20 year mark for the Tianenmen Square Massacre in China back in the spring of this year, I got to wondering what other important milestone anniversaries came about in 2009. Turns out, quite a few. In fact, this has been a big year for significant historic anniversaries. Here are some examples (bear in mind, I am not implying that these are all good things, just significant historical events):
60 years since:
Formation of NATO
50 years since:
Alaska becomes 49th state
Fidel Castro becomes Premier of Cuba
Debut of the Barbie doll
Dalai Lama flees Tibet for India
Debut of Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone"
40 years since:
Yasser Arafat becomes leader of the PLO
Golda Meir becomes Prime Minister of Israel
Ted Kennedy leaves woman to die at Chappaquiddick
Manson Family murders
Ho Chi Minh dies in Vietnam
Wal-Mart incorporates
Debut of Sesame Street
30 years since:
The United States and China establish full diplomatic relations
The Khmer Rouge of Pol Pot in Cambodia fall to Vietnamese backed insurgents
Ayatollah Khomeini seizes power from the Shah in Iran
Sino-Vietnamese War begins when China invades Northern Vietnam
Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident
Idi Amin deposed in Uganda by Tanzanian troops
Pope John Paul II visits Poland-first visit by a pope to a communist country
Iran hostage crisis begins
Soviets invade Afghanistan
25 years since:
U.S. Marines pull out of Beirut, Lebanon
Famine in Ethiopa kills over 1 million people
Indira Gandhi assasinated by her own bodyguards in India
20 years since:
Exxon Valdez oil spill
Solidarity movement victorious in Poland's elections
USS Iowa gun turret explosion kills 47 U.S. sailors
Central Park Jogger rape case
Tianenmen Square Massacre in China
Disney MGM Studios opens to public in Florida
Hungary dismantles 150 miles of barbed wire fence along border with Austria
Gorbachev visits China
Death of the Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran
Premiere of Seinfeld on television
The Baltic Way- An unbroken chain of over 2 million Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian people join hands over 600 km to demand freedom from the Soviets.
Pete Rose banned from baseball for life for gambling
San Fran earthquake kills 67 people and delays World Series for 10 days
David Dinkins elected mayor of NYC
Fall of the Berlin Wall
Velvet Revolution overthrows the Communists in Czheckoslovakia
The Simpsons premieres on television
Ceausescu and the Communists of Romania overthrown by the people
Soviets pull out of Afghanistan
60 years since:
Formation of NATO
50 years since:
Alaska becomes 49th state
Fidel Castro becomes Premier of Cuba
Debut of the Barbie doll
Dalai Lama flees Tibet for India
Debut of Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone"
40 years since:
Yasser Arafat becomes leader of the PLO
Golda Meir becomes Prime Minister of Israel
Ted Kennedy leaves woman to die at Chappaquiddick
Manson Family murders
Ho Chi Minh dies in Vietnam
Wal-Mart incorporates
Debut of Sesame Street
30 years since:
The United States and China establish full diplomatic relations
The Khmer Rouge of Pol Pot in Cambodia fall to Vietnamese backed insurgents
Ayatollah Khomeini seizes power from the Shah in Iran
Sino-Vietnamese War begins when China invades Northern Vietnam
Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident
Idi Amin deposed in Uganda by Tanzanian troops
Pope John Paul II visits Poland-first visit by a pope to a communist country
Iran hostage crisis begins
Soviets invade Afghanistan
25 years since:
U.S. Marines pull out of Beirut, Lebanon
Famine in Ethiopa kills over 1 million people
Indira Gandhi assasinated by her own bodyguards in India
20 years since:
Exxon Valdez oil spill
Solidarity movement victorious in Poland's elections
USS Iowa gun turret explosion kills 47 U.S. sailors
Central Park Jogger rape case
Tianenmen Square Massacre in China
Disney MGM Studios opens to public in Florida
Hungary dismantles 150 miles of barbed wire fence along border with Austria
Gorbachev visits China
Death of the Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran
Premiere of Seinfeld on television
The Baltic Way- An unbroken chain of over 2 million Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian people join hands over 600 km to demand freedom from the Soviets.
Pete Rose banned from baseball for life for gambling
San Fran earthquake kills 67 people and delays World Series for 10 days
David Dinkins elected mayor of NYC
Fall of the Berlin Wall
Velvet Revolution overthrows the Communists in Czheckoslovakia
The Simpsons premieres on television
Ceausescu and the Communists of Romania overthrown by the people
Soviets pull out of Afghanistan
Saturday, November 7, 2009
The Weekly Erinism- Saturday, November 7, 2009
This one occurred yesterday, as I was getting ready for work.
I had just finished dressing in the bathroom, and was putting on my belt in the living room, when Erin shouted, "Dadoo, will you come here for a minute please?"
"I'm getting ready for work. I'll be there in a minute," I shouted back, "What's the matter?"
"DADOO, you need to come here RIGHT NOW."
Never knowing what to expect with our little one, I went around to where Erin was standing in the hallway next to our shelf of towels and linens. There was a towel on the floor, and Erin was straddling it looking up at me. She had a look of disgust on her face.
"Dadoo, did you knock this towel on the floor?"
"I don't know, maybe. Are you sure that you didn't knock it down?"
"No Dadoo. I didn't knock it down. Did you?"
"I guess I did..."
"Yes or no? Did you knock it down?"
"Uh... yeah, I guess I did."
"Dadoo, you know when you knock something over, you need to pick it up, right?"
This is insane! My four year old has got me feeling guilty as I sheepishly reply, "Yes, you're right Erin. Let me pick that up."
"And put it back on the shelf where it belongs, OK Dadoo?"
Arggghhhhh!! "Yes Erin, I'll put it away on the shelf where it belongs. Thank you for pointing this out."
"You're welcome, Dadoo." She turns and walks away. As she turned, I caught a glimpse of a smug grin sweeping across her face.
I had just finished dressing in the bathroom, and was putting on my belt in the living room, when Erin shouted, "Dadoo, will you come here for a minute please?"
"I'm getting ready for work. I'll be there in a minute," I shouted back, "What's the matter?"
"DADOO, you need to come here RIGHT NOW."
Never knowing what to expect with our little one, I went around to where Erin was standing in the hallway next to our shelf of towels and linens. There was a towel on the floor, and Erin was straddling it looking up at me. She had a look of disgust on her face.
"Dadoo, did you knock this towel on the floor?"
"I don't know, maybe. Are you sure that you didn't knock it down?"
"No Dadoo. I didn't knock it down. Did you?"
"I guess I did..."
"Yes or no? Did you knock it down?"
"Uh... yeah, I guess I did."
"Dadoo, you know when you knock something over, you need to pick it up, right?"
This is insane! My four year old has got me feeling guilty as I sheepishly reply, "Yes, you're right Erin. Let me pick that up."
"And put it back on the shelf where it belongs, OK Dadoo?"
Arggghhhhh!! "Yes Erin, I'll put it away on the shelf where it belongs. Thank you for pointing this out."
"You're welcome, Dadoo." She turns and walks away. As she turned, I caught a glimpse of a smug grin sweeping across her face.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Some footage of Erin "helping" me rake leaves. She really committed to this job, working dilligently in pretty much the matter you see here in the video for a good 45 minutes, before finally succumbing to hunger and exhaustion. At that point, she collapsed in a heap into the pile of leaves and said, "I think I'm too tired to get back up. Raking leaves sure makes you hungry, doesn't it Dadoo?"
So I picked her up, fished the leaves out of her hair, and brought her inside for a snack of marshmallows and some relaxation watching "Little Bill" on Nick Jr. Even though having Erin "help" me with the leaves took a lot longer than if I had done it myself, we had so much fun together (with plenty of laughing) and she impressed me so much with her determination and work ethic... I mean, she is only 4 years old.
Energy Crisis? Think Again
According to the Congressional Research Service, the United States currently has the largest reserves of energy of any nation in the world. If this is true, it seems borderline shameful to me that we import so much fuel from outside the U.S. Check out the article from Investors.com and judge for yourself:
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=511487
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=511487
Monday, November 2, 2009
Wonderful Recipe
Talk about comfort food! Here is a recipe for a beautiful (it comes out a bright orange color) & delicious (blend of sweet and slightly salty) carrot soup that I made this evening to accompany our dinner (hint: a little horseradish can be added for some spicy kick):
3/4 lbs of carrots (I used the already washed and peeled baby carrots that you can buy in a 1 lb bag at the supermarket) Chop into 1/2 inch pieces.
1 large potato- Chop into small cubes (I cut mine about the size of a thumbnail).
1/2 cup chopped green onions- Again, I cut them into about 1/2 inch slices.
6 cups low sodium chicken broth
3 tbsp butter or margarine
salt & pepper to taste
Put butter in pot to melt over medium heat. Add green onions and cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Add remaining vegetables and chicken broth. Raise heat to high and bring liquid to a boil, then reduce heat back down to medium-low. Cook at medium-low until vegetables are tender (approximately 30 minutes). Remove from heat. Using a ladle, remove vegetables from pot and add to a blender. Ladle in just enough broth to cover the vegetables in the blender. Cover with lid and puree the vegetables (add more broth to blender if consistency is too thick). Pour into a serving bowl, and you're ready to go.
3/4 lbs of carrots (I used the already washed and peeled baby carrots that you can buy in a 1 lb bag at the supermarket) Chop into 1/2 inch pieces.
1 large potato- Chop into small cubes (I cut mine about the size of a thumbnail).
1/2 cup chopped green onions- Again, I cut them into about 1/2 inch slices.
6 cups low sodium chicken broth
3 tbsp butter or margarine
salt & pepper to taste
Put butter in pot to melt over medium heat. Add green onions and cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Add remaining vegetables and chicken broth. Raise heat to high and bring liquid to a boil, then reduce heat back down to medium-low. Cook at medium-low until vegetables are tender (approximately 30 minutes). Remove from heat. Using a ladle, remove vegetables from pot and add to a blender. Ladle in just enough broth to cover the vegetables in the blender. Cover with lid and puree the vegetables (add more broth to blender if consistency is too thick). Pour into a serving bowl, and you're ready to go.
The Weekly Erinism- Monday, November 2, 2009
Tonight, I happened to be walking by Erin's bedroom as Laur finished reading the last bedtime story, and overheard the following:
"Mommy, will you stay with me?"
"Erin, you know I always stay with you until you fall asleep. Is everything OK?"
"Well, if you don't stay, I'll be scared."
"What will you be scared of?"
"I'll be scared of that I might have another bad dream."
"Oh yeah? What kind of a bad dream? What are your bad dreams about?"
"Well, I dream that I'm playing Tic Tac Toe, but I never win."
This was too much for me... I had to walk away so as to not burst out laughing within earshot of Erin. I don't know how Laur maintained her composure. But for all of its hilarity, there was such a sincerity to Erin's explanation... I think that this is genuinely a recurring nightmare for her. The world must look so different through the eyes of a 4-year old. So much is new and exciting. And even the mudane can inspire fear.
"Mommy, will you stay with me?"
"Erin, you know I always stay with you until you fall asleep. Is everything OK?"
"Well, if you don't stay, I'll be scared."
"What will you be scared of?"
"I'll be scared of that I might have another bad dream."
"Oh yeah? What kind of a bad dream? What are your bad dreams about?"
"Well, I dream that I'm playing Tic Tac Toe, but I never win."
This was too much for me... I had to walk away so as to not burst out laughing within earshot of Erin. I don't know how Laur maintained her composure. But for all of its hilarity, there was such a sincerity to Erin's explanation... I think that this is genuinely a recurring nightmare for her. The world must look so different through the eyes of a 4-year old. So much is new and exciting. And even the mudane can inspire fear.
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