Senior discoint at IHOP

To celebrate the end of the book fair I went to IHOP for dinner. Thet have a senior menu which I now qualify. A short stack is about a dollar cheaper.

On Mon. I'm looking for some PTA members to come in and help me back up.

I just finished the Book of names. the prize winner I borrowed over the weekend from the book fair.

Last vestige of my back

I pulled crumpled dollar bills out of sweaty hands for 7 hours today at our book fair to raise 909. dollars. It goes uo every day.

Today, the counselors came in to protest my mandate that the kids take off their jackets and backets before coming into the faire. I replied that we certainly could close the fair if they prefered. They went out and made an announcement to inform the teachers that complained, that no backbacks or jackets could be worn in the book faire.

We have a lot of thieves.

Book Fair

The Book Fair is here again. The PTA was to help me this year. Again, That has not happened.

The kids love it.

I'm not such a fan.

It's a lot of extra work.

Everyone was watching

The first hour of our meeting during the in service was decicated to watching the innaguration. 50 or more teachers watched. We were all moved and glad it was 70 mot 30 here.

There was a moment when the flag pin on Obama's label made a star hit by the sun...and I thought there's a new sherrif in town.

Shoot Out

On Friday, there was an attempted car jacking up on the corner from my house. The road was blocked from 9 till 4. I saw the signs on the Hy. when I came home and talked the police into letting me turn left down my street. Everyone else was turned around. When I got home I saw what was happening on the news.

The fellow jumped out the car and ran into the gas station. The clerks fled and finally the cops shot him and stormed the place.

Today I'm meeting my SJPL friends for my birthday breakfast.

Obama

Amazing in 200 years then 40 years ago MLK and B Kennedy said there would be a black president and here we are. I thought we'd have a woman first. Who knew that would be a harder concept to take.

Caro's birthday dinner

Dad once sent me roses for my birthday.


I played around with a friend's laptop and put my photo chip into her computer and got the photos to come on on the screen and thought I got them to post into my blog but it's still a work in progress.

I'm meeting with the disability guy again today to see if I can get the long term care insurance for a whopping 286. a month.

Caro's mom was put into a nursing home yesterday. I knew when her sister took her she couldn't keep up the quality of care Caro provided, unfortunately, she just wanted the social security money without realizing what went into the bathing, changing, maintenance and cooking et al. Caro once before put her in a home for just a few days and took her back out when she saw the level of car and rapid deterioration.


I'm looking forward to this 3 day weekend. On Monday I meet with my librarian friends from SJPL to celebrate my birthday over breakfast.

Inventory

Over Christmas break, I discarded a lot of old t.v's and a scanner and an old printer. Now the principal is coming around to ask about the serial numbers of our equipment. I must say that I did write the serial number's down on the work forms but did not keep a record on the computer. The district is looking for the equipment so I am looking for the numbers. Maybe it will take a trip to the AV graveyard./storage area.

Today I assigned the kids a section of the fiction shelves that it was their responsibility to keep up. Every day they are responsible for shelf reading and making it neat. One of my smart ass TA's said, "as long as it's neat no one will ever know if it's in order." I said " I will know." "If we need to find a book and the author is a COO and it's in the S section we won't find it."

Another beautiful day in CA.

I'm taking inventory. May I say this has never been done before and a lot of things are missing...or misfiled.

That's why in other schools and the public library it's done each year.

Something to think about...

met with the long term disability insurance guy today and he gave me a rate of 286. per month and it was 25 percent more because of my weight. If I drop it I drop the rate 25%.
Not to pressure me or anything but if I do it today or tomorrow it will go in at 54 and be 10 dollars a month less than in tomorrow. The policy is with John Hancock thru NEA. National Educational Assn. It pays 70 percent home care, skilled nursing or assisted care. There is more involved questionnaire to come and a 30 min. phone conversation with the company and then they contact my doctor.

They figure I'll be paying for 20 or 30 years and then it will be much more expensive. Not something to take on now and have to drop it when times are tough.

It takes 90 days for the underwriting to go into effect.

Marilyn called last night. She would like to have disability insurance. The social security money she gets is used up in insurance and drug payments.

I remember trying to move Kim's mom from a chair to a bench and it was hard with someone. Usually she only had a tiny Filipino woman. You have to figure the kind of people that generally take these home health care positions are resident aliens and are low skilled. Yet, we entrust them with our well being and care. AN assisted living facility but the state may have 7 people in them. They can run 75,000. a year. How many years could you afford that? Could you afford to stay in your house?

If Mom and Dad hadn't died I was envisioning their care taking. Dad at 350 would have been very difficult to move. I would have needed help if I could have kept him at home. There would have been a person to care take while I was at work and to help shower him and so forth depending on the level of impairment after his stroke.

Mom too as much weight as she lost would have needed help bathing getting in and out of the tub or shower. It would probably need to be the shower because even with help we couldn't lift her out of the tub.

Caro who took care of her Mom used to do this every day. She also gave all the injections for her diabetes.

a white outcrop

It's another sunny beautiful day in CA in the 70's We worry though since we usually get rain between Thanksgiving and Feb. what is going to happen the summer. We still are on water rationing.

I like Wednesday and Thursday's when kids are gone by 1:30 and I have the after noon to get things done.

Things I wish for:
for my neck and back not to hurt
for my friends to get together more
for my family to be closer...

I will get up in the morning to go swimming. It felt so good to sleep in this morning.

I applied for a job today in Brentwood at a high school there. Brentwood is 22 percent Hispanic and 70 some percent white. It is a affluent enclave in the Bay Area. Again over an hour away, near Concord or at least they have the same area code.

Michael called to tell me that I couldn't just put a C/D/ in the drug store kiosk. He told me and I think I knew I needed something else. My assistant, Ramses says I need a cord that I have to plug into the computer. I have the cord because I borrowed one for a project and misplaced it and found it again after I cleaned out my car. I had already bought him a new one so now if I can find it again and it works, I'm set.

We've got a mini race war going on in Oakland over the killing of a black man by a BART policeman when he was on the ground. The policeman resigned but there are fires in the streets and vandalism going on. The protest in S.F. was not as bad, but the ones in Oakland were so stupid. The protesters broke windows, looted, started fires, rocked police cards, broke windows and into cars. It reminded me of the MLK downtown Washington D.C. There were a lot of section totally burned down.

It looked like Hamas.

Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore. We have seen the future, and the future is ours.
Cesar Chavez (1927-1993) activist, founder national farm workers association

If you had only one phone call to make and knew you were going to die soon, who would you call and Why? What are you waiting for?

It is so beautiful out again today. We're breaking records for the last 125 years.

I was up at 6 and thought about going to swim but...didn't.

I made stuffed mushrooms to go with our dinner with beet tops, sauteed and button mushrooms then a tad of Colby and Jack cheese topped with a bid of Parmesan. I had one to test it last night.

Yum...Beet tops are really good for you but I have a hard time just sauteing them.
I made the beets too but took a muscle relaxer and fell asleep and they boiled. I cut the peel away. They were small to begin with and there is not much left but I like beets.

I even get them in a can on rare occasions. Fresh is better. I but too much and sometimes they get cooked but go bad before I can eat them. I am trying to perfect the art of buying and cooking for one.

Certainly my grocery bill is less I am buying much less. I think. Everyone else seems to be too.

The kids at school are trying to earn money for a field trip so I supplies from recipe's for muffin quiche, oatmeal raisin muffins and cookies and a breakfast pie.

I thought zucchini muffin too ambicious for them.

Disc

The results of my 2nd MRI show that I have a bulge in a disc and a fragment in the spinal canal which is causing the pain. I can have surgery but a core conditioning class is needed in addition to my swimming.

Acupuncture is recommended but no chiropractor or twisting or jumping and no lifting over 10 lbs. I go back in a month. My back is killing me every time I bend over and reach for something.

I mailed my package off to Gwen today. Did you know that you can't mail in a beer box...tried in a Corona box and they said I had to cover up all the Corona and beer on the box so traded it for another and threw the Corona one inside. Too bad... it was just the right size. I guess it was lucky I have a whole book room of boxes I save to pick from. It's like using a card as a mailing label, you have to pay postage on the card too.

Remember when there was airmail and stamps were 11 cents?

Twas a pain and 2x to the p.o.

2 weeks till my book fair is here.

I have a date with Caro to have dinner for her birthday.

It is the most spectacular beautiful day out with the sun shining and the temp
77..my favorite weather.

I got out of work by 4. I need to stay and do some of my own work tomorrow.

I came home and took some pictures of flowering jade my orange trees, snapdragon and geraniums on the patio in bloom.

I understand you can take the memony chip out of the camera and transfer pictures on a disc then I can put it in my computer...we'll see.

Zumba

I went to my zumba class this morning at 7:30 then swam. I love that class. A lady that I swim with found my dropped face medicine held it and returned it today then she blew dry my hair! amazing! I got out near 10 because I reached the 300,000 fitness level and won a T shirt.

I hit the farmers market, grocery store and library next. Gas is up to 1.97.

I made short ribs and mashed potatoes and veggies for Caro's birthday dinner. While O re watched sex in the city the movie I made a meatloaf. Then I cooked up some carrots, cauliflower and broccoli.

It was 72 degrees today going higher tomorrow. I took some pictures of the green hills and Lacey sleeping in a sunbeam in the living room while I watched the movie. then she jumped up on the window still to watch the street out front.

I'm going to watch the Golden Globe's tonight.

It will be 75 tomorrow.

Back in the saddle again

I got up at 5 and went to swim at 7, swam 15 crawl laps and one back then did an hour of aqua aerobics. burr! Getting out I had my pareo and 2 towels and flip flops. Couldn't wait to get under that warm shower. I need 4 towels and a pareo because?It's a lot to carry. I smell the chlorine again...boo! it gets in your skin.
I need to find my lock.

Do those car fobs you press need new batteries? Mine won't beep anymore. Fortunately it had a little key but one you click and everything is a button and smart system we get spoiled and it's hard to go back.

I deep conditioned my hair worried about the pool and recent chemicals. I need to get a cap like the swimmers use and put conditioner on and use ear plugs. I still think it's too light. I blew it a bit need rollers and everything...goop for heat and gel and then to aid insult to injury rollers and heat.

Afterwards I hit the grocery store for a calendar for the library batteries and some veggies. Cereal was on sale I think for 4.50 a box. I hate the auto checkouts. Reduce my bill if I do your work.

Then I drove to Sunnyvale about 20 miles N to have brunch with a teacher from school. I've been concerned about her. She's out on disability with a brain aneurysm and is scheduled for surgery. She's been out since October on full pay covered with disability and catastrophic illness.

We had a nice breakfast. I don't know her very well but I like her very much.

I went to the drug store to get another calendar for my office and turn in a prescription.

I pulled the poncho mom made for me and took out the aqua knit suit she knit and a sweater, I bought in Italy for Gwen at 3, now to pass on to Clare; packed them up to mail to Gwen. I found a nice skirt, twin sweater set too I wanted to pass on. I'm reluctant. When she was here at 18 I offered her some and she wasn't interested. Maybe it's time for some grown up clothes now though she's 32.

I got into my boots and got them zipped and unzipped by myself today. If I sit in the drivers set and put a boot up I can reach the zipper and eventually pull them on and it up.

I want to see the movie

Slum Dog Millionaire

. Gwen would like it's set in Delhai or Bombay, India where she was.

Fell asleep on the computer!

I napped after the evening news till 10:30 and was up on the computer till I fell asleep trying to download Suzie Orman's 09 book from Oprah..never did, but it's free to download all this week so go get your financial plan copy and worksheets now. I woke up at 5 and slept till 6:30 coming in for a faculty council meeting at 7:30. My assistant was late again so I opened the library at 8.

I'm actually taking a lunch today to hit the post office, library and get a donation for the book fair. I've only been there 4 times! Think they don't want to or what?

It's near 60 today. I had to crack the windows and out the sunshade on again! This weekend they are predicting 70.

I'll have to get to the gym and swim some and do my water aerobics class.

The kids had to zip me into my boots again. Fortunately, they don't mind and I have a rotating array.

I stayed till after 5 and managed to fax my application to Santa Cruz.

When I got my hair cut I also got my eye brows waxed but there is another process. It involves string and they grab the hair between the string and yank. I had her try that first. Give it to me all at once. That is too much like plucking.

Insomnia

Up at 4 again, can't turn the brain off. Lacey and I slept hard from 12-4. Now the body is buzzing and the mind races. I try doing mind meditation, visualizing the inside of the nose and the area behind the eyes and down the throat...says O mag.

Now3 that I have both Ugg slippers and boots my feet at warm. Today I am going to wear my boots for the first time. They may be too warm,,what a change,,,warm feet. It's 50. My feet are warm but I couldn't zip them alone. Fortunately, they kids here helped me!

I'm having a favorite book contest at school and the book fair at the end of Jan. We're also taking inventory. I need to clear out some books published before 1990.

Finished my book and am not reading Robert's Pagan Stone then on to Steel's

A Good Woman

and Oprah's

Big Book of Happiness

which is really cool filled with articles from her mag, on insomnia mental illness, bipolar disorder....

It was such a long drive to Concord yesterday. Some was carpool lane but, I's have to be there and get a roommate here. It's only 80 percent too.It's part public library since Baypoint is unincorporated and so my thoughts of sleeping there went out the window. bad idea anyway...I'd have to rent a room or something. But poor Lacey would miss me. Commuting would get old fast.

I made a sandwich today f avocado on my punpernicle swirl bread with turkey, cheese mayo and humus with red pepper on the other side. I made it during a literary magazine and the girls all wanted some! I didn't know what an avocado or humus was then!

I ate up all that wonderful casserole of scalloped potatoes and ham. I NEED to make a new one. Not with heavy cream this time as lovely as that was. I want to make some ass kicking mac and cheese too with 3 kinds of cheese,rue, milk, condensed milk...mac, and toasted homemade bread crumbs on top. Yummy! Comfort food,

I need to make my butternut squash in to soup or risotto or something soon too.
Made some stuffed red peppers now for some mushrooms too.

Boy, a lot gets done wen I'm manic and Lacey just watches amazed and puzzled as I rush from one thing to another. She stays and sleeps.

Things I realized...

Times with family for me are few and far between I need to go to all screw the cost..time dwindles down to a precious few, as the song and dad said,days together. Just go! The next time, la proxima vez...said that about Gwen too...still haven't seen any of her wedding pictures or video.

At least with Nancy I got a picture and Bob too.

It's 10:30 and I need a nap and I'm ready for lunch. Due to my meeting I actually got one.

---------------------a Christmas list of questions.......................

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate. hot chocolate

Does Santa wrap presents or set them under the tree? Presents are always wrapped.

Colored lights on tree or white? When we had a tree, I liked the colours. Had some snowballs and bubble lights and still do but now the ones I find are white. We also put decorations around the door an wreaths on the double doors which are now red so the evergreen wreaths and red ribbons look good.

When do you put your decorations up? There are decorations?? Er, not very often these days. Last year I did a tree this year not... I hate taking it down.

What is your favourite holiday dish? ham and scalloped potatoes

Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Having time to read endlessly, balloons on the tree

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I don't remember

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes after midnight mass

How do you decorate your Christmas tree? I have collected for 30 years from around the world and from my mother. Unfortunately my brothers Zorro one was broken in the hand over. He still has the plastic ones but he put them all in a paper bag together instead of wrapping things separately and with two little kids it was hard for him. These days, unless I have Christmas here, I don't bother. It is so liberating!

Snow! Love it or Dread it? I loved it, because we didn't ever have much, & it seemed special, & was soon gone.

Can you ice skate? Yep! Used to in Mi on the sidewalk and my brother and me on the Rouge River in MI...he fell in! When Joe was at USNA we skated a lot on the indoor rink. They have outdoor holiday rinks here and in S.F. and although I still have the skates from age 16, I haven't used them since then. Like the sled I left behind with Mickey when we moved to HI and CA gone.

Do you remember your favorite gift? A huge doll when I was 6, as big as me! Always books.

What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Family get together, midnight mass, friends over for brunch, New Years dinner with friends.

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?

What is your favorite tradition? balloons on the Christmas tree, Christmas in the Adobes in Monterey, La posada, Shopping in S.F., looking at the Christmas windows in D.C..

Which do you prefer, Giving or Receiving? I enjoy both, but I do love to give something, even if it is only an ear to listen.

What is your favorite Christmas Song? White Christmas, Whose Child is this

Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Yum a little

Ever recycled a Christmas present? Honestly? yep I re gift

*********
I stole this from one of the Sunday paper magazines, because it appealed to me.

What would you like for Christmas....

If you were feeling greedy?
A trip to the spa, progressive supper in Charleston with carriage rides between courses
If you weren't feeling greedy?
time with my family
If you were being practical?
a clean house and yard work, clean the garage
If you had to share your present?
A first class trip for two around the world.
If you had a present for one day only, (then had to give it back)?
A chance to give the homeless 2 great meals for Christmas Day, with a bed for the night, in comfort & luxury. Well, one day is 24 hours right?

Try it if you like, I found it quite hard to think of things that were not flippant or ridiculous... after all it is just a fantasy...

I have Christmases when company alone is priceless.

Up at 5

At work by 6:30, couldn't see to find my key, the janitor had to come and turn off the alarm. I was the first one on campus. I figured since I was up after reading until 1:30 last night or this morning I'd come in and get some work done while it's quiet. I never get the time during the day. This keyboard is easier to type on than my laptop too. I was going to do this yesterday but the Internet went down.

Those Ugg slippers are so warm filled with sheep shin and the boots too. You don't wear socks with them who knew...

I also got these orthotics to put in my SAS shoes I bought last Fri. Hopefully with my new socks I can stand a little longer. Loosing 100 lbs would help too but in the interim....

I'm working on resumes for a part time community college librarian/faculty slot, technical services manager in Santa Cruz and as a Manager to the library in Santa CLara.

Well the interview went well but its only 80 percent there is money for this year but who knows how stable it is with budgets for next...? It was over 2 hrs up and back too bar for each day. Glad I had a sub.

Another busy day. Came home read, scalded my hand on hot scalloped potatoe lava" and took a nap till Bob called.

Got my hair done

cut and colored and highlighted...not sure I like it.

They are called highlights and low lights or as one of my TA's said, "did you die your hair?"

I spoke to my principal today....

I have an MRI scheduled for tomorrow at 9 then at 11 I leave to drive to Concord for my interview, It's about an hr. I think. Then an hour back and I don't know if I'll get back. I may get a sub. It's a short day. School is out at 1:30.

We have so much to do I hate to leave Ramses alone. He's overwhelmed. I'm putting a lot on his shoulders.


I woke at 2:30 last night after 4 hrs of sleep and took a sleeping pill till 7. Yesterday I was so tired.

It feels like bugs are under my skin it buzzes and the mind races.

I spilled some tamarind on my comforter cover and it's in the wash. Fortunately, Duvets protect the down comforter, and my comforter was not leaked on.

I got another 400. dollar reimbursement check today. That's about it.

I'm watching "The biggest looser...I need to go on there." Back to the pool. Time to christen my new bathing suit and towel

I went back and got the Ugg boots and some slippers along with 3 more pair of socks.

It was up to 50 today. What a nice change from Mon. It was so cold and in the library 55 degrees just like home.

Couldn't be under the down comforter though.

Tess of the Durberville's

I watched Masterpiece Theater again last night and

Tess

by Thackeray U think, again. Last week I saw

Great Expectations

by Dickens which U never saw before though I have the book. It was much different than I thought.

I slept from 11 ish to 3:30 and after tossing for an hour trying meditation and visualization, I hot up and packed my lunch, put the tamales in the frig and did dishes. I read some and the question was to swim or not. Blogging,resumes and a to do list won I also did a Dec. accomplishment list for my principal. I decided not to take a sleeping pill cuz it was so close to 7.
Time to make so,e oatmeal with raspberries. I made cranberry bread last week. I'm ready to do some yeast baking /pancakes.

I've got to get back in the water and to walking or on the treadmill if not outside.

Yesterday it was lovely. I pulled some weeds. The first paperwhite came up. Thank you Bob.


I applied for this job


Technical Customer Support Specialist
Work for a Dynamic Start-up in Silicon Valley!

Our client is seeking a Technical Customer Support Specialist. Duties of this challenging and never boring position include: Respond to and resolve incoming Customer Support requests from end-users, customers, librarians, technical staff and partners. Document, escalate and resolve second level Customer Support requests. Contribute to documentation including knowledge bases and internal Wiki. Technical Support Specialist to provide world class support for our web-based library products. You will be a key member of the Customer Support team, providing direct support to customers worldwide. Although IT/Desktop Support/Developer/QA roles may be applicable, this is not a pure IT or Engineering role. Please send a resume that highlights your technical skills from the requirements below, as well as specific examples of how you solved problems for internal or external clients. We are a small company - every hire we make is extremely critical.
Required Experience
• An MLS!
• Staff experience with an academic/public/special library
• Knowledge of library ILS, OPAC, CMS and proxy server systems
• MARC cataloging experience
• Experience with web application programming and servers (ASP/.NET on IIS, Perl, PHP, JSP/Java or Apache/Tomcat etc.)
• Database experience (SQL, Oracle, FileMaker)
• GUI scripting (VB, AppleScript)
• UNIX skills
• Experience using salesforce.com for CRM
• Understanding of quality and feedback processes and measurement
• Spanish fluency (both written and spoken)
• Experience with electronic information databases and library systems
• At least 3 years of level I/II support or supervisory role, preferably in an internet-based call center and/or email environment
• Get-It-Done attitude!
• Ability to work well with different levels of internet customers, from novice end-users to arrogant experts
• Experience with technical aspects of websites, browsers and the Internet protocols (TCP/IP, HTML, HTTP)
• Proficiency with the major web browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari), desktop applications (Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat) and their quirks
• Whole system holistic problem solving skills
• Strong verbal/written communication skills
• Practical desktop support experience (Windows and Macintosh)
• Self-motivated multi-tasking with well developed personal organization, proven detail oriented problem solving and follow through to completion
Required Skills
• Database

Probably over my head and I will be vested for retirement in June but interesting. I'm also looking at a community college part time, and at a technical services manager at Santa Cruz Public library where I used to work. I'd like to live there. Like the commute to Monterey, the mountain at 2k in the winter can be a bitch of a commute.


I doubled my extra heavy down comforter I got in Copenhagen and Lacey and I are snug. I love the flannel sheets and comforter duvet.

Wisdom

------------------------------


The Journey to Greatness by Noah Ben-Shia
Words of wisdom for life…
The journey of life is not a rehearsal and the lessons you learn

Don’t live life in the past lane.
Personal liberation is also to others

If you want to give God a good laugh tell him your plans
We have all the time we need until we don’t
We get dragged screaming to a better place
You are in control of how you react to what life delivers to your door.
Honesty,love and faith are the 3 magic doors in your life.
Self transformation requires self witnessing.
Tell yourself the truth
What isn’t said between people is also heard.
If you can’t be honest to can’t get to love.
To find a friend be one.
Forgive others forgive yourself

Faith
letting go or letting God
life is a gift, prayer is a thank you note

Humility
something greater than yourself
out your faith not your fear in front
a sheep lead by a lion can defeat a lion lead by a sheep

It's not what job I'm going to but who I am going to that job.

The greatest opportunity in life is daring to be who we might yet become

the only one with a clear conscience is one with a bad memory

insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results
We inherit from both parents
nothing lives heavier on children is the unlived life of their parents
we are all vulnerable
the past is infectious of the future
struggle is a necessary dignity of life...the butterfly had to struggle to get out of the cocoon for a reason
People don't do things to you they do things for them
Wisdom is more than laughing at our self
when you die you will be asked why you were not all you could be the path ahead is always under construction
play the part not the result
Laugh at yourself
everyone gets rained on but they can also be God blowing us kisses
We are alone but all alone together
Put your faith not your fear in charge
Peace and Blessings
----------------------------------
I'm reading Hand of Evil by Jance

I'm in a manic phase and have reversed my sleep cycle. In an effort to reverse it for the work week to come I tried to sleep. I was tempted to make a list of monthly accomplishments, a to do list for work and a grocery list on the computer but didn't.
I finally took a sleeping will near 4 when I couldn't turn the brain off after and hour or 2.
I got up at 8 and then 11 and went to the farmers market and to the supermarket to get some things i forgot yesterday and still forgot the mushrooms and to take back my Jif peanut butter for the creamy with honey variety. It had been so long I forgot I liked the new kind, the other one went rancid. I used 1/2 the jar. Why don't they sell the smaller jar the way they used to?

The same with olive oil. How can it be 5.00 for a small bottle of the regular stuff? How can people taste the stuff and vinegar? Blah! I don't like olive oil much anyway.

I was going to treat myself to cranberry raspberry juice I passed when I saw it was 5. a bottle for a litter.

Yet at the farmers market I spent 12. on 3 baskets of blueberries and one of raspberries. peas sprouts are here. You stir fry them.

Time to get the oatmeal out and use those frozen raspberries.

I watched the movie Indiana Jones Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I liked it.

Went to get gas and to the library and to get the dangeling plastic thing pulled off from under my car.

I made cube steak last night for this week. Cream of mushroom soup can't compete with heavy cream. The 50's cooking used it a lot. Mom made tuna, potato chips and c o m soup casserole we loved for comfort food. Wonder why she didn't do mac and cheese/ We got pizza but no Chinese or Mexican till I was a teenager and no spaghetti. I remember roast on sunday meatloaf and chipped beef, mashed potatoes and peas burried under,

At 3 a.m. I put a computer box in the garage filled the bottom with 2 bags of plastic bags them an old blanket and a cat pillow and put it outside for the stray black cat that lives in my yard. Today he got the ham scraps. I think he may be the kitten I fostered. Now he's a bit feral again I can't touch him and he growls at me. I call him Diablo. He doesn't mess with Lacey on the rare times she goes out.
The other one, Brutus, does and he attacked me but i can touch him.

Pj sent me a blue dolphin towel for Christmas and my new bathing suit is blue.

I'm glad it finally arrived. Since my other disappeared from the car, I was wearing an old one and had almost popped a boob so I started wearing a bra under it and a t shirt on top.

Missed Michael's call. He said the Bar Mitzvah was great and I was missed during the luncheon.
Wish I was there, I should have gone.

I made scalloped potatoes and ham today. I made the rue and add heavy cream and 1/2 and 1/2 and jack and cheddar cheese much better than my Christmas one. Outrageous.

This is the Thai from last night:

Thai long beans
Ingredients
• 2-4 cups regular green beans OR 1 bundle of Chinese "long beans"
• 3 Tbsp. very small dried shrimp (available at Asian Markets, either by weight or in packets), OR add 1 extra tsp. shrimp paste to the stir-fry sauce
• 1/4 cup hot water (only if using dried shrimp)
STIR-FRY SAUCE:
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 thumb-size galangal OR ginger, sliced
• 2 shallots OR 2 slices cooking onion
• 1 tsp. shrimp paste (available by the jar at Asian stores• 1 tsp. brown sugar
• 1-2 red chilies, OR 1-2 tsp. red chili sauce (to taste)
• 2 tsp. sesame oil
• 1 Tbsp. fish sauce
• 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
First, measure out 3 Tbsp. dried shrimp (if using). Place it in a cup or small bowl. Note: This kind of dried shrimp can be purchased by weight at Asian spice and herb stores, or in packages at Asian food stores.

Tamarind fish

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
• SERVES 2
• 2-3 fillets of talapia, or other white-fleshed fish (cod, sole, snapper, etc...)
• generous handful fresh coriander
• 3 spring (green) onions, sliced
• TAMARIND SAUCE:
• 1 Tbsp. tamarind paste (available by the jar at Chinese, Asian, or Indian food stores)
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 Tbsp. palm or brown sugar (or substitute 1 1/2 Tbsp. white sugar) - adjust to taste
• 3/4 tsp. shrimp paste (available by the jar at Asian/Chinese food stores)
• 3 Tbsp. fish sauce
• 1/3 loose cup chopped fresh coriander (include both stems and leaves)
• 2 tsp. Nam Prik Pao (or substitute other red chili sauce)
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 thumb-size piece ginger, grated or cut thinly into strips
Preparation:
1. Rinse and pat dry fish. Place fillets in a flat baking dish (preferably one with a tight-fitting cover - or you can use tin foil to cover it).
2. Place all "Tamarind Sauce" ingredients together in a sauce pan. Gently warm over low to medium heat until you get a uniform consistency.
Tip: The amount of sugar in the recipe may seem like too much, but it's needed to balance out the extreme sourness of the tamarind - unless you're one of those people who prefers very sour flavors. The Thai way is to always keep a balance of the 4 big "tastes": sweet, sour, spicy, and salty.
3. Taste-test the sauce, adding more sugar if too sour, or more fish sauce if not salty enough. Also add more chili sauce if you prefer it spicier - again, looking for that special Thai balance of flavors.
4. Pour 1/4 to 1/3 of the sauce over the fish fillets. Cover the rest and keep warm over minimum heat for later.
5. Turn the fillets over several times in the sauce/marinade, then cover and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, or until the fish is cooked. Fish is done perfectly when the flesh flakes easily and is no longer translucent. Note that thick fillets may need 20-25 minutes.
6. When fish is cooked, remove it from the oven. Lift fillets out of the baking dish and place on a serving plate or individual plates. Pour reserved tamarind sauce over, then top with spring onion and fresh coriander.



• Yellow Curry
Sauce Ingredients:
• 1-2 red chilies (or substitute green), depending on desired spice level (you can also leave out the chili for an extra mild curry)
• 2 shallots (or 1 small cooking onion)
• 1 thumb-size piece galangal (see Glossary) OR ginger, sliced
• 3 large cloves garlic
• 1 tsp. ground coriander
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp. fresh nutmeg (or substitute cinnamon)
• 3 Tbsp. fish sauce (available at Asian/Chinese food stores)
• 1 tsp. dried turmeric OR 1 thumb-size piece fresh turmeric, thinly sliced
• 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 4 fresh or frozen kaffir lime leaves, snipped into small pieces with scissors (discard central stem)
• 1 can coconut milk
• 1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (or juice from 1/2 lime)
• 1 Tbsp. ketchup OR 1 Tbsp. tomato paste + 1 tsp. sugar
• Other ingredients:
• ½ chicken chopped into pieces
• 1 stalk lemon grass (for more information, see below)
• 2 potatoes, chopped into wedges or small chunks
• 1 green and/or red bell pepper, de-seeded and sliced
• 1-2 additional kaffir lime leaves, left whole
• approx. 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 loose cup fresh coriander OR fresh basil to finish the dish

First, make the curry sauce by placing all sauce ingredients together in your food processor or blender. OR, you can also mince the ingredients by hand, or pound dry ingredients together with a pestle & mortar.

Ingredients: Thai coconut soup•

1 onion, diced
• 2 red bell peppers, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 carrot, sliced
• 1 can chickpeas (optional)
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp coriander
• 1/4 tsp cayenne
• 2 1/2 cups diced tomatoes
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth
• juice from 3 limes
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup fresh chopped basil or cilantro
Preparation:
Saute the onion, peppers and garlic in olive oil in a large pot until onions are soft, about 3-5 minutes.
Add the remaining ingredients, except for the basil and bring to a simmer. Allow to cook over low heat for one hour.
Transfer half of the soup to a blender and puree until smooth, then return to the pot. Add basil or cilantro and enjoy your coconut soup

last day waste of time

I went to get my MRI and the traffic was horrible and accidents galore; then I waited for 2 hrs until they finally told me they had no record of my appointment. I went out for a sandwich and found the honey baked store closed and since it was 3 they next 5 places closed too finally I stopped at Safeway and got a horrible sandwich and some groceries and returned to see that they could squeeze me in at 8. so I went home.

what a waste of my last day off.
Then I went to get some shoes and socks.

I also tried on UGg's. I finally got them on after much struggle and they were comfortable and warm. I determined minimum use, difficulty putting them on even the low ones, and they were still 133 even on sale. I was tempted to get some nice slippers though. I did get Thrlo socks. I love them at 13.50. I keep loosing them though. today though I wish I got them. It's cold.

I got some in Williamsburg but held off earlier waiting for the Jan sale.

I needed a 1/2 size up and a w. At the beginning of the day a 7/5 is fine but by noon I need the wide. For my aerobics class I need the smaller size to hold my foot firmer.

Gas is 1.81 again.

I ran errands for 4 hrs.

Everyone else in my family is in Charlotte. Wish I was too. Too expensive for me this year. If I had notice no problem.

I had frequent flier miles for a flight but by the time I got the invitation it was not 20k but 50k miles. I went from going to Charleston for this great progressive supper, Savannah again and St Augustine and St. Simeon's to the MRI fiasco,

I feel guilty I didn;t go. As time said, time is precious... as they song says it dwindles down to a precious few....

Hope Steven had and has a great Bar Mitzvah. I stopped at the p.o. to get stamps so I could mail your check and card.

Even today I was looking for a flight.

My fried PJ called from OR. He's a design engineer. We email but I talk to him once a year. We exchange Christmas gifts. We had a good chat. I met him at Doe Bay on Orcas Island in the San Juan islands off Seattle. Or weather and economy is even more depressed. His health is not good.

Karen's husband won 25k at the slots!

Made some spinach fettuccine with basil sun dried tomatoes sauce which you don't heat...hum

Next year I'll have to make some with my fresh basil. Last night it was butternut squash from the farmers market and Alfredo. I need to make some butternut squash risotto or angel hair pasta.

This morning i made these souffle pancakes. whip 3 eggs and 1/2 c milk in blender then add 2 T flour and cook a bit at a time in butter rolls up and serve with jam and powdered sugar... rolls up and serve with jam and powdered sugar...hum like Martha Stewart's silver dollar pancakes better or cranberry apple phylo tart.

I went to the store and spent 100. on groceries. It seems like everything is so expensive.

I got some Thai coconut soup, tamarind fish and green log beans. I need to make it.

I'm cooking cube steak.

It's 33 degrees burrrrrrrrrrrr. Although it's always 55 in my house the heat has been kicking on.

I'm think of selling my Waterford on eBay and my gold for cash.

I've lost 45 percent or 125k on stocks and more in the ira et al. poor us....

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons bring
the best to you and yours!


_____________________________Happy Bar Mitzvah Steven.==========

Happy 2009

May the New Year's bring us all more health, wealth and happiness,

I have an appointment for my MRI on Friday. 2008 was the worst year for everyone not over 70 -- holy smokes.

Happy Birthday to Mary Helen. She was born in 1929. I guess she has seen but may not remember worse.

Gas went back up.

With all the forclosures I think all the fireworks and muncipicial parties and parades should be canceled.

I need to fax some documents back to Mt. Diablo and figure out how far Concord is, abour an hour I think.

I read Scarpetta by P Cornwelland Artic Drift this holiday.