My Wish For You

May your Scrooge find a little wonder in surprising ways.

What You CAN do This Holiday Season...

     *This was originally posted in 2015 for Thanksgiving.  Those days were filled with the "fun" of getting kids to school, on time, keeping them in a good mood, free of drama, (any parent of school age kids, know what I'm talking about); my car not starting, thanks to evolutionary savvy squirrels; and more.  So, while we get through Covid, and the craziness this year's entailed, I hope enjoy this post and pass it on, because of the message.  Plus if you're a snow lover like me, I hope the fun picture above brings a smile.  'Cause many will not get a white Christmas.  

     Also, ladies, please check out and consider submitting to The Sadie Project!  We'd love to hear your story!

     Now, to the original~

     Just a thought, inspired by the cast of Sesame Street's performance on the Macy's Parade today.  They did a fun song, I'm not sure of the title, (searched extensively for a video of it), but a reoccurring line was, "I'm growing kinder everyday."  So... that got me thinking...

Money may be tight, or even if it's overflowing, here's a suggestion that I am also going to try for this holiday season.

Speak sincerely kindly to "EVERYONE YOU MEET", and if you can add a smile, all the better.  You may give someone the gift of HOPE, and that is a powerful thing.

Holiday Pet Peeves

I considered putting a Santa hat on a Peeve, till I saw this! Thank you Michael!

A repost from 2015; considering how crazy 2020, and 2021's been; and I've tried to keep seeing the silver lining of all the unprecedented chaos... some things never change...

❅❅❅

Not to be a Scrooge... but... I'm human, and during the hustle and bustle of this time of year, I find there are a few things extra, that grind my nerves...

Shopping Carts.  

     From my list of Pet Peeves.  I know everyone is a little bit crazy during this time of year, still if they've gone aisle after aisle in the store filling it; is a few feet to the nearest corral that difficult?  Nothing can turn St. Nick into Scrooge quicker than a stray cart carried by the North Wind right into his new Jaguar.

People who force their kids to see Santa.  

     Much less, sit on his lap.  And to have it all captured by photo.  Not sure where this tradition came from.  Dr. Boogie has the moxy to suggest that it derived from an Al Capone torture method.  Nice.

    As parents, we spend the majority of the other 11 months in the year educating our kids on stranger danger- no touching and never accept candy from a stranger.  Then come December, and the hope to capture something(?)- we throw caution to the wind.  At least we'll have the photos to show our child's future therapists. 

People who bring their kids shopping after 7pm.  

     Kids are tired by sundown, sometimes earlier, and Lord Almighty they'll let the whole store and everyone know it.  I know sometimes there's no other way.  But during the night in our house, while one parent struggles with bedtime, the other heads out to tackle the crowds, traffic, and to search high and low to find sugarplums for our little angels.  Even so there is a tad of relief to be out of the house.  Short lived when I hear someone else's bundle of joy being less than joyful.  And I can't win.  If the parent is losing it, I think,"Awe...what did you expect?"  If the kids is waling like a banshee, I think, "How long till you get your brat out of here?!"  I know; nobody will ever mistake me for Mary Poppins or Mother Theresa.  

Of course, THE ELVES.

     I am not anti-elf.  Hats or antlers off to those who find time to come up with the energy and holiday cheer to endure the little imps' shenanigans and clean up after them.  However they do offend my pet peeve of UBIQUITY.  Click HERE if you need further explanation.

Fruitcakes.  Literal and other.  

     I don't care what Alton Brown says, I've never tasted one that I wanted a second bite of.  Waste of good liquor.  In Colorado,  there's a special day for folks to hurl these in competition.  Saw somewhere: NEVER HURL AT SOMEONE, (such as a family member).  Good tip.   

As for the other fruitcakes, allow me to quote Jack, "Go sell crazy somewhere else; we're all stocked up here."

Will never quit griping about PACKAGING.  

     ~The wax paper that crackers are packaged in, tears because superglue is used to fasten the opening and is stronger than the wax paper of the package.  

     ~The triple triple stitch, used to secure scratchy tags to kids clothes.

     ~The itty bitty whateveryoucallems, that are used to secure Barbie, and Barbie's clothes to the cardboard.  

     ~The razor sharp plastic that's used to encase every single toy, that pretty much guarantees the need for bandaids for anyone who dares to open a package.  Ever.

Toys that break before the sun sets on the 25th. 'Nough said.

Less than Santa's Nice List worthy behavior in my kids. 

     Might have to endure one of those elves after all.  

When your kids get to be teens, this, quality,... cranks up.  Go get,

 a cup of cheer.

Lastly,

People that dress their pets up in holiday wear.  

     Actually, this doesn't bother me.  We now have a dog.  Most always brings a smile and/or laugh, when I see, other pets, in holiday clothes.  I do agree however with the notion, that this is why pets bite, claw up curtains, and leave special little presents for you in your favorite pair of shoes.

Here's hoping this brought a few smiles. 

Happy Holidays.

Originally posted 12/13/2015

To The Class of 2021!

       I wrote this in 1986 when I was graduating high school.  I don't think I finished it till the summer, so I don't think I had the opportunity to share it with many friends.  I loved high school, and I remember being sad, about leaving and nervous about starting the next chapter of life.  The uncertainty of what would happen when close friends who had seen me through so much, scattered.  I am blessed to be able to say that I am still in touch with many of them.
      As graduation rolls around again, I thought I would share it here on Sadie's.  Hope you enjoy.

The Graduation Poem

Quiche Me Dahling!

   

     With spring upon us, and us still dealing with Covid-19 and its family--- one of the ways to look on the bright side, is to cook together as a family.  Since we have soooooooo much time together.  

Won't always be this way... I think.  We'll see.  

     

Wishing you and yours many memorable moments--- of the good kind.  

Here are the Quiche recipes:

There are gobs of quiche recipes out there, so keeping with the main benefit of a quiche and the idea of KISS (the acronym- Keep It Simple Sweetheart, not the rock band), this post will be short and sweet.

You need:
1. A Crust- you can make one- really easy; or buy one- even easier.  Pre bake at 375 F for 7 minutes.
2. What ever filling you want - more on this in a moment
3. The Custard- 3 eggs + 1 1/2 cups of half and half, good pinch of salt, and pepper.

Take your crust, line with filling; top with custard, then bake for 30-40 minutes at 375F.   That is  it.

Now for my contribution.

First, Mornin' Nawlins' - I lined the crust with andouille sausage, 1 can of crab, some left over shrimp, that had been cooked with Old Bay, and topped with Queso Fresco. 

Next- The ABC Quiche- I crumpled cooked bacon, (got you now don't I?) then chopped peeled apple, that I had tossed with a wee bit of sugar and cinnamon, then topped them with 10yr aged sharp cheddar.

     These flavor combos got wows all around, so thought I'd share.

     Now just a note about the crust and the custard.  If you "go the distance" you will be richly rewarded.  Meaning: the more you put in, the more you get out of it.  Bought crusts are actually pretty good these days, but pie crusts and pate brisee are really easy to make and don't take that much time.  

Also, as with all food, when you make it, you know what's in there.

     For the custard, I used 1 cup of half and half and 1/2 cup of heavy cream.  I had the heavy cream left over from making whipped cream, so I figured, "might as well use it up".  The quiche came out great.  I have had other quiche that were "grainy and watery" and I figure this is due to lower fat options being used.  Here's my reason for using the higher fat options:  it's better.  It's called custard for a reason.  Also, a 1 inch wedge of each of these is filling.  So, "lighten' up Francis and indulge."

     Lastly, in keeping with spirit of Memorial Day, (originally posted 5/27/13) where we acknowledge and remember those who have given us so much, so that we may enjoy life; allow me to suggest you catch the joie de vie spirit by coming up with your own crazy wonderful ideas for a quiche.  Cause in 2021- we got the time.

Ciao for now.  
     

Original post: May 27, 2013:

So, 6 Years Later... How Many Rapists Do You Know?

     I originally wrote this at the beginning of 2015.  Then 6 months later, I posted again, due to many reasons.  One, after reading Bomani Jones's "Death of Bill Cosby's Legacy"  which raised several valid points.  Among them the prevalence of rape and assault, and the prevalent apathy towards women.  Which got me thinking about how that apathy is not only when women are victims, but also in so many other subtle ways.  

     I recently watched Promising Young Woman, starring Carey Mulligan.  Thus the inspiration for the repost.  Add ons/new thoughts, will be in italics.  Please read and pass on.  Thank you.

Let's start with the more common, perhaps easier to assess, of these 2 questions.

How many rape victims do you know?  Actually, how many rape victims are there?  

When you consider that it wasn't until 1993, that it was illegal in all 50 states to rape your wife; difficult to say, how many women as well as men, acknowledge what classifies as rape.  Even if you are a survivor, or of any degree of a victim, it takes, a great amount of self esteem to acknowledge that you were raped. 

In the late 1970's to the early 1980's, there was a video of a man giving a talk to an audience primarily of women, advising of ways to avoid being raped.  He spoke of physical defense, and ways to outwit a rapist.  Even told some humorous stories, of how women had outwitted a potential rapist.  Toward the end of the presentation, he stated a perception to consider if you were ever raped, and survived; to be grateful you were still alive, and to realize, rape, was just having sex, when you didn't want to.  He did his best to clarify that he wasn't trying to negate the devastation of being raped; but if you had survived, be grateful, and try to move on. 

I've looked online for the video, to no luck. Which is fine.  While it did have some helpful points; it referred to rape as an act that is done by a stranger.  

But in 2021, while rape can happen with strangers, but more than likely, the rapist can be someone the victim knows; even a so called love connection, a friend, or a family member. 

Off the top of my head I know of a few survivors.  If I thought about it for more than 5 minutes, I'd think of more.

I know of those whose first boyfriend raped them.

I know of those during their college years who were,
              -raped by men unknown 
              -raped by a "train", (unknown number of men) while      they were inebriated to the point of being passed out 
              - gang raped, in a major city.

All were over the last 40 years.