bowtwi

God bless you and your lovely family! Congratulations and many, many more sets of 7 years to you!

I've got quite a few eggplants in my garden. I've heard it's best to soak them overnight in milk before using. Anyone do this? Know why? I'm going to try a few of the recipes I've copied from here - thanks!!!

Polar Bear - Might be a bit late, but I just read your post about looking for singalongs for gigs. Do you do any John Hartford? He's got several that work well for that audience participation stuff. Takin' Me Back to my Mississippi River home comes to mind, as does Boogie, Mississippi Queen and a few others. If you're interested, just say so and I'll gladly make you a list.

Gee, Jonny, it's not like anyone said they hate Diet Pepsi and brownies... Mr. P - That's hysterical - it would have been quite clear if you had left it at simply "I want them to die and I'll piddle on their grave" but when you went on to add in front of their mother, I about spat out my coffee and I'm using the expensive cream today!!! You said, " When you hate someone, it isn't the same as a "dislike", it's more like, "I want them to die and I'll pi$$ on their grave in front of their mother" type thing." You, Sir, are an outstanding communicator! I bow down to you! I may never ever forget that line! Good Monday Mornin', GreaseSpotCafe!!!

I'm packin'!!! Do you know how 'spensive a CASE of that stuff is? Woo hoo!!!! Party time! Umm, is this a private party or can all the gs lesbians come?

Thanks so much, Sudo!!!

Pond - It was DIET Pepsi and a BROWNIE that I combined. That's what made it so odd. I go to McDonald's, order a Big Mac and Fries - with a DIET Coke. Dooj and Dot - gotta love us, don't we? Sudo - you crack me up.

I'm an energetic lively woman, full of fun that just can't seem to find a male partner to get along with and live peaceably. I've come to decide it's time to just aim my energies on my princess and myself. Oh well... I'm also a Christian woman that's actively looking for a church home... My kids are my favorite people. I drink diet Pepsi while I eat a brownie. And, I'm a bluegrass, folk, blues and "oldies" rock fan - woo hoo hoo!!!

I'm a relative newby to the art of making gravy, myself. Fortunately, rascal taught me over a few years, beginning at the second Weenie Roast. I believe I make rather good biscuits and sausage gravy now. The first time I ever ate biscuits and gravy was at a roa in the early 80s. Imagine that! My daughter prefers brown gravy and asks for it whenever we eat out and she gets mashed taters. I did make turkey gravy for the first time last Thanksgiving - I'm looking forward to next years - I imagine I'll improve considerably. No more jars of Heinz gravy for me! Rascal - you set me free! I'll never be able to thank you for all your kindness upon my family. (((((Rascal)))))

I made this salsa the other day - will be making more today. I'd never thought of sweet salsa before - I tripled the recipe, but only doubled the Splenda and it was delightful. Any more Splenda and I think it would have been too sweet. (I reduced the Splenda by 1/3.) Splenda's Sweet Summer Salsa 4 cups chopped and peeled fresh tomatoes (I used romas) 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion 1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper 1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper 1 cup Splenda granular 2 T chopped fresh basil or 1 t dried basil leaves 1/8 t black pepper In a medium saucepan, combine tomatoes, onion, red pepper, and green pepper. Stir in Splenda, basil, and black pepper. Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place saucepan on a wire rack and let set 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spoon mixture into a covered container. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Makes 3 full cups. Will keep up to a week. 1 T serving equals: 8 Calories + 0 gm Fat + 0 gm Protein + 2 gm Carbohydrate + 1 gm Sodium + 1 gm Calcium + 0 gm Fiber Edited to change stiffing to stirring - LOL and to mention that I never posted my zippy zucchini recipe 'cause it's basically the same as what you posted, WG. Good stuff, eh!

I know what you mean, Rascal - in one split fraction of a second, our children can lose the innocence that they deserve to enjoy as long as they will, not someone else wills. Whenever the princess goes overnite it's only after I've done my homework on the family and have driven the parents half-nuts with my questions. It's so worth the extra energy it takes to keep them safe. I go on all the field trips I possibly can so I'm there to supervise personally. She has friends overnight here plenty, but rarely goes out for overnights. Normal Human Responses to Rape is a fascinating concept to me, as I've known more women that have been raped or at least molested than I know women that have not. I'm intrigued by women who were protected to that extent as girls. I almost interview them, I ask so many questions about their lives. I think whatever a person (female OR male) has to do in order to heal from the emotional injury is between them and God. I know that I went through a promiscuous stage - those exact words you used above, catcup - at least I'm choosing who, where, and even what specifically - I told myself those words. Fortunately, I didn't live like that for too long. Looking back, I notice that I had a son right around the time I was heading down a path of self-destruction with alcohol. I had to stop drinking heavily in order to take the care of my precious boy I required of myself. When he was 16, I had the princess. I've had to take reasonably good care of myself in order to take care of them properly. I feel very fortunate, as I know my siblings aren't nearly as healthy that way as I am today.

WARNING - GRAPHIC DISCUSSION I've had rape and near rape experiences. The near rape was tougher to get over than the rapes. The rapes were by strangers. That was one thing to deal with. I don't feel any leftover pain or scars from them - this all happened no less than 30 years ago and today really feels more like a movie I saw than something I actually endured, except for the near rape. I can still feel it today. The near rape was by my brother. I didn't speak to him for close to 6 years after that. When we did speak it was only because our mother died and there were decisions to be made. We had no dad. I was barely 18 at that time. My brother acknowledged the fact when I called him to tell him Mom had died and he needed to get to the hospital. He offered to pick me up to go to the funeral home and I told him I'd NEVER be alone with him again as long as I lived. He said he understood and would have his fiance along. His acknowledging the fact somehow allowed me to feel safe enough to be around him as long as there was someone else with us. I was 12 at the time of the incident with my brother. He was a drunken 16-year-old. We were unsupervised children. He tore my clothes off of me and fondled me here and there. When I quit fighting, he seemed to sort of snap out of it and stopped short of actual penetration, but he was 'right there'. He picked me up off the floor and apologized about 10 times, kissed me on the forehead and then told me he'd kill me if I ever told Mom. He left home when I was 13 or 14. I left home when I was 14. I was never able to tell my mom although it remained in the forefront of my mind every time I spoke with her - I couldn't trust her not to tell him that she knew. I knew he'd kill me if I ever told her. I did confide it in a foster mother when I was 15, and she told my mother. My mother died accusing me of making the whole thing up. My brother had raped all of our siblings as we grew up. I was the least of it. He'd been "fondled" by a step-uncle that had to babysit us one night when my brother was around 12. I understand that's what triggered him becoming a rapist. He went on to have 4 kids of his own and a stepdaughter. He molested the stepdaughter when she was 2. He left his own kids alone as far as I've heard. We'd enjoyed a friendly relationship over the years as we'd never been alone anywhere and I had always believed that he was as much a victim of our upbringing as the rest of us were. I never felt in danger of him raping again. Our kids grew up knowing each other. We talked a few years ago about some of our childhood horrors and he made an interesting comment to me. He asked me if I ever found it odd that both he and I very rarely allowed our children to be cared for by anyone other than ourselves. I told him right off the top of my head, "No - supervised children are less at risk of rape." It was in that conversation he told me what had happened to him when that uncle babysat. All the remaining pieces of the puzzle fell into place for me. We've since quit talking as a result of a conversation between his wife and me where she told me what he'd done to her daughter. I then called him and was foolish enough to think he'd talk honestly with me. I've stopped all communication now and didn't even attend his daughter's wedding as I just can't be anywhere that he is. All these years I thought he had dealt with his demons. Today I believe he never will. I have a full-grown son who's NEVER had any sexual contact he hasn't wanted and am raising a daughter now - my goal is to be able to say the same thing when she's the age my son is at now. My children are never left unsupervised.

The AFLAC Scam Watch out for this scam. Police say that the gang usually is comprised of four members, one adult and three younger ones. While the three younger ones, all appearing sweet and innocent, divert their "mark" (or intended target) with a show of friendliness , the fourth -- the eldest -- sneaks in from behind the person's back to expertly rifle through his or her pockets and purses or bags for any valuables being carried. The picture below shows the gang in operation. AFLAC_Scam.bmp

It was the VA in Youngstown, Ohio, that has the program someone I know was successful with.

Coolman - I know a guy that went to a 17-week outpatient rehab through the VA (he lives in Youngstown, OH, but it might even be in PA where he went). He had to submit urine samples 3 days a week during this program. He only had a dirty test once and it wasn't alcohol that showed up. This was someone I knew very well that had gone to some very expensive in-residence rehab center in Baltimore, but he went right back to drinking almost as soon as he left there. I'm sure he's really not drinking at all now. This 3-day a week one taught him to live in the real world alcohol-free. It's been only a few months now since he graduated, but he sent the paper to me to prove he did it. I've sent an e-mail asking for which VA he went to - don't know if the person you're checking this out for is a vet with that type of benefit, but if not, I'll ask him to ask them who they recommend in your neck of the woods when he goes next to their AA meeting, which he's doing as an alumnus of the program, being an example to those in the 17-week program.

A Russian woman married a Canadian gentleman andthey lived happily ever after in Toronto . However, the poor lady wasnot very proficient in English, but did manage to communicate with herhusband. The real problem arose whenever she had to shopfor groceries.One day, she went to the butcher and wanted tobuy chicken legs. She didn't know how to put forward her request, andin desperation, clucked like a chicken and lifted up her skirt to showher thighs. Her butcher got the message, and gave her the chicken legs. Next day she needed to get chicken breasts.Again she didn't know how to say it, and so she clucked like a chickenand unbuttoned her blouse to show the butcher her breasts! The butcherunderstood again, and gave her some chicken breasts. On the 3rd day, the poor lady needed to buysausages. Unable to find a way to communicate this, she brought herhusband to the store... (Please scroll down) What were you thinking? Hellooooooo! Herhusband speaks English! .............I don't know about you sometimes!

I never buy generic toilet paper. Paper towels, tissues, yes, but not toilet paper.

Happy Birthday, act2!

A few months back, bow jr.'s house was broken into. They live on a corner with traffic lights in St. Pete, FL. He got a call from the next door neighbor after the meter reader that noticed what was going on while he was reading jr's meter and took down the license plate of the car the robbers loaded all his and his fiance's most valuable and most treasured possessions. The license plate came back to a stolen car. Within 10 minutes of the robbers leaving, bow jr was home, the police arrived shortly thereafter. He has 6 or 8 ecurity cameras around his house, which had beautiful shots of the bad boys' faces. The detective took the printed copies of the pictures around some informants and were given names and addresses. Within a week they had the first guy and it wasn't too long after that they had the second. They were held on around a quarter million dollars each. The police said they'd never see their laptop, plasma tv, family heirlooms, oh I don't remember what all, again. The robbers were crackheads and there'd just be no way to trace the loot. Bow jr's fiance had seen those two rats casing their place the day before, she recalled, after seeing the video the cameras had. She even remembered getting the creeps as the boys walked past their home, obviously looking in their windows. The good part is that the police restored bow jr's faith in their ability. It's sure sad what people will do to others.

Interesting... click on the now button (after opening) for a real-time view. http://www.poodwaddle.com/worldclock.swf

My 10-year-old will be in that line in Kansas City, MO at midnight!!! Rascal - How far we've come since those early days, eh? I remember talking with you a few years back about this Harry Potter series. It was your view on them that settled my heart about allowing my daughter to read those books and then see the movies. She's absolutely devoured each book like the delicacy they are! She attended the midnight movie premiere of the last movie as well. Fortunately, her best friend's entire family, grandpa included, are Harry Potter nuts, so she gets to enjoy those festivities with them. I, however; will be soundly asleep at that hour. I did take her to see one of the movies, but she judged me lame for falling asleep while Harry was battling a fire-breathing dragon! LOL She mentioned the other day that same anticipation of loss you mentioned earlier - she was stricken by the realization that this book will be IT. I tried to understand and spoke kindly and patiently, but I could see I was no comfort. I handed her the phone and invited her to call her friend's mom, who comiserated properly with her and all was well. Funny, her best friend doesn't read the books, so both the princess and the friend's mom get what they need from each other in terms of talking about the books. LOL

A friend of mine just sent her husband over with a bag of zucchini and squash their neighbor gave them and she doesn't know what to do with! I'm going to make zucchini bread and Grandma's zippy zucchini - oh baby, that's good eatin! I gave them a half dozen roma tomatoes and at least that many bell peppers, a dozen or 15 jalapeno peppers and a handful of Hershey kisses. Ooh la la - I love harvest time!!! I also picked 4 eggplants this week - but my friend asked me not to send any over! Tee hee I'll post the recipes over the next day or so - I think it's a grand idea to share zucchini recipes! I've never made pickles of any kind - interesting idea! I'm wondering what dooj does with zucchini!

Very interesting subject, here. For me personally, I was from "the wrong side of the tracks" so when those nice, clean-cut folks who clearly had hotlines to God, welcomed little ol' me, why, I was ripe for the pickin. They had all the answers I'd been looking for and were patient and kind with my "unbelieving believer husband at the time," I was so thankful to be included in the household of God, not just the everyday family of God. I think it was Oak that once talked about boiling a frog by raising the water temperature slowly, just a little bit at a time, and that's stuck with me whenever I've felt it had been weakness in my character that allowed me to be suckered by twi. It wasn't a weakness in me - it was a weakness in twi leadership. Also, speaking just for myself and my experience - the way I knew for my first 14 years' involvement was nothing like the way of my last 6 months, which was an episode worthy of the Twilight Zone series. I left in the fall of '94, so I didn't even get the really intense micromanagement I'd heard of starting in '94, '95. I was one of the wows they said was a homo infiltrating the program and then of course, bringing that contamination into "their" corpse household. Fortunately for me, they threw me out - else I might not have noticed what was going on ever and could be one of those still in today!!!

Sam's Club or Joanne Fabrics is where I got mine when I was a Brownie leader a few years ago.