Frozen Food Friday

Ok, ok, ok... it has been a long week and I just could not come up with a "Free-Verse-Friday" entry. (sorry Dave). So I will do what I do best....segue.... And today I will blog, what is now to be called; "Frozen-Food-Friday". According to a recent survey, only 47% of 'mericans think that a microwave is a necessity. So here is a shout out to the microwave: WHAT WOULD I DO W/O YOU?? (especially on a friday evening). And, for another segue... Here is a video of our grandbaby. I wasn't home at the time of it's filming; it is a product of Uncles in action. Incidentally, I was assured she was not dropped at the end.

soap box sunday- Big Brain

Since I rank 3rd amongst my friends on the Facebook- application called “Who’s Got the Biggest Brain”; I must be as qualified as anyone to host my own AM-radio talk-show. Unfortunately there are very few employment opportunities in that line of work, so I will have to settle for speaking out on my own blog site.

Recently, while listening to Hannity and his caller-inners I was reminded of the infamous ancient Chinese tapestry called “The Vinegar Tasters"

As you can see, the first taster pines for the days when the barrel was filled with sweet apple juice. He reminisces about life before Roe-vs Wade and Brown vs Board of Education. Perhaps he thinks life was sweeter before the Dred Scott and Scopes trials. In any case, something evil turned his juice into vinegar. One way or another this taster fervently believes that our U.S. of A no longer ranks #1 on God’s most favored nation list.

If only the Gays had stayed in the closet, If only the women had stayed in the kitchen, If only the CIA interrogation memos had not been released. If only we could go back to a simpler time when torturing blacks/ gays/ children/ women/ small pets and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was a sport and not a crime. If only the vinegar was still apple juice... and pasteurized. Then there is the high expectation Buddha taster. He gulps up the wine only to end up with a mouth full of bitter vinegar. Our first black president of the United States promised change; but 100 days later and we still have late term abortions,war, terrorism, aids, poverty, drowning polar bears, deficits, pirates and earthquakes. Bush and Co. are zipping around carefree in golf carts. Taxes need to be paid. People need to go to work. Public transit prices are going up. Disappointment has set in. The vinegar did not turned into wine and neither did the water. Personally, I relate to the smiling third vinegar taster. Vinegar is vinegar, expecting no more or less. Besides, as you can clearly see, This guy loves spending time with his vinegar tasting Buddha buddies. From the deepest recess of my ”smartest brain”, I believe that I am in the middle of middle ‘merica. The place where “We the People” work hard, play hard, pay our taxes and donate to charity. I care about you and you care about me. We taste vinegar right along side the best and the brightest in the world. Americans are an honest, good-hearted, generous and humble kind of people. We keep our windows clean so we can watch the birds feasting at our bird feeder. I like to label myself as a “capitalistic social humanist” and I am perfectly content with being under the big umbrella of a bell curve. Best of all I find joy in the fact that I am culturally bound to, and delighted with, the ritual of sticking my fingers into the vinegar vat, testing its validity; then grinning like a fool. So hang in there fellow citizens, enjoy the day. Start your own blog. BTW, Did you know that a daily tablespoon of vinegar will bring relief to achy bones and joints? It’s also good for acne and will give your hair extra shine and bounce. Best of all, vinegar doesn’t leave streaks on your windows when mixed in equal parts with water. One more thing I want to mention; everything I know about vinegar... I learned from email.

AVID class of 2009

This is my AVID class and today we were celebrating a 4 year scholarship that was awarded to Sidra. I thought they were cute when they were sophomores; now I think they are absolutely brilliant!

The class has now earned three 4-year scholarships. The other two were awarded to Juan and Sergio; (see if you can identify them) These boys are USU bound. (they have already been accepted into the engineering program.) AVID: Advancement Via Individual Determination is a national college board program that focuses time and resources toward lower income, 1st generation students, in hopes that they will rigorously prepare themselves for a college education.

Below is photo of Sidra's scholarship list (notice all the cross outs, those are all the ones in which she has received letters of rejection.) It's not easy being rejected. The situation was particularly dire for Sidra, either get a scholarship or her father's plan would kick in; Sidra was to be sent back to Pakistan and face certain marriage and a life without school. So we have a lot of reason to celebrate! As a side note, her scholarship was awarded through the Granite Education Foundation and it is specifically aimed for future teachers. It is similar to the scholarship that I was awarded a long, long, long, time ago.

As another side note, Sidra wants to become a high school Chemistry teacher. (awwww gee, I love this girl!)