Monthly Archives: May 2008

31 May 2008

Recount – An HBO Movie

By Nicki

I don’t normally watch a lot of television.  I like a few shows but seldom watch movies on TV.  I was intrigued by the teaser I saw about Recount - an HBO original movie.  The movie starred some of my favs – Kevin Spacey to name one – and was about a timely issue – the 2000 presidential election and recount in Florida.

While I do not know, and am not sure that anyone other than those involved will ever know, what really went on as the campaigns of then-Vice President Al Gore, the democratic candidate for president, and then-Governor George W Bush, the republican candidate, took to fighting for the actual elections, I do know that it was a behind the scenes fight that most people wanted to watch in reality.  I wanted to know what happened.  I wanted to know who knew what and when.  I wanted to know if the actual winner of the election was the actual winner of the election.

This movie portrays many political powerhouses in a fairly good light.  My guess is it is extremely difficult to do that in a movie about such a hot topic.  The movie’s only bad characterization, and it may be a true one but is just not good in my mind’s eye, is that of Katherine Harris, then Secretary of State in the state of Florida.

If you ever wondered how the 2000 presidential election ended up in the Supreme Court, you should watch HBO’s Recount.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Just my Thoughts, Politics

30 May 2008

Sex and the City – The Movie

By Nicki

I admit that I am not a kid anymore.  I admit that life in your 40′s is not as much fun as it is in your 20′s.  Hence, the reason I am exhausted this morning.

My daughters – 20 and 21 – and I went to the 12:01 a.m. showing of Sex and the City – The Movie.

It was wonderful catching up with Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha.  It was fantastic “seeing” Samantha’s new neighbor.  It was an interesting drive home trying to decide if a second big screen show can be made.

I won’t spoil the movie for anyone.  I will say it was worth the cost of a ticket but not the loss of sleep.

1 comment   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Just my Thoughts

27 May 2008

Memorial Day Activities

By Nicki

We always start Memorial Day with the local parade.  My youngest’s Boy Scout troop, and his Cub Scout troop before that, marches.  Below is a gallery of photos from the day.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Family, Just my Thoughts

25 May 2008

Friday Pics at the Family Picnic

By Nicki

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25 May 2008

Strawberry Tart

By Nicki

This Strawberry Tart would be a big hit on Semi-Homemade on the Food Network.  I do not remember where I first read how to make it but I believe it was in an article in a women’s magazine that was doing items on margaritas.

Strawberry Tart

INGREDIENTS
1 store bought tart

1 pint ripe strawberries, washed and sliced

Vanilla pudding

Rum or rum extract

DIRECTIONS 

1.       Open tart.

2.       Brush tart with rum or rum extract.

3.       Spread vanilla pudding over tart so it is evenly covered

4.       Place sliced strawberries on pudding, pressing in slightly.

 

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Family, Just my Thoughts

25 May 2008

Brown Basmati Rice and Black Bean Salad

By Nicki

This is a modified recipe that I received through SparkPeople.  The original recipe calls for quinoa but I couldn’t find it at the local grocery.  I made due with what I had on hand.

Brown Basmati Rice and Black Bean Salad

INGREDIENTS


1 cup brown basmati rice
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1-1/2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1-1/2 cups cooked corn (fresh, canned or frozen)
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
4 scallions, chopped
1 tsp. garlic, minced fine
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 cup fresh coriander leaves, chopped fine
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/3 cup olive oil
 
 

 

DIRECTIONS


1. Cook basmati rice according to directions on package.  This rice takes approximately 50 minutes to cook.

2. Fluff rice with a fork and transfer to a large bowl and allow to cool.
3. While rice is cooking, in a small bowl toss beans with vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.
4. Add beans, corn, bell pepper, scallions, garlic, cayenne and coriander to the rice. Toss well.
5. In a small bowl whisk together lime juice, salt, cumin and add oil in a stream while whisking. Drizzle over salad and toss well with salt and pepper. Salad may be made a day ahead and refrigerated, covered. Bring to room temperature before serving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 comment   |  tags: , , | posted in Family, Just my Thoughts

23 May 2008

Holiday Weekend

By Nicki

Since my kids are not traveling – other than to get home – for the holiday weekend, we are having a huge family gathering tonight at my house.  All six kids will be here.  Susan will be bringing her roommate, Margie.  Ben is bringing his girlfriend, Liz.  The kids’ dad is bring his girlfriend, Regina, and possibly, if softball doesn’t disturb the plans, Regina’s daughter Ashlyn.

Tonight’s menu consists of Andrew’s home brew, Meditarranean Cucumber Cups - modified to my liking as I forgot to pick up Kalamata olives, veggies and dip.  I will also have wine on hand for those who don’t want Irish Stout which is the brew du jour, I believe.  Main course will include potato salad, brown basmati rice and black bean salad, spiedies, deviled eggs, and marinated mushrooms for the vegetarian.  A Strawberry Tart is for desert.  Pics of the dishes to come. 

 

 

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Family, Just my Thoughts

22 May 2008

How Far Do You Push?

By Nicki

How far do you push others to do what you think is “the right thing?”

You may think this is a huge ethics question.  It can be, that is for sure.  Not this time, though.  This time it is all about family.

My ex’s mother was admitted to a hospital earlier this week for congestive heart failure.  After a diuretic and rest and observation, she was released.  It is my understanding she basically told the doctor she didn’t want paddles or a pacemaker or a ventilator if it came to that.  She will be 86 this year and says that she is ready for whatever God has in store for her.

If you read here frequently, you will know that my ex had emergency brain surgery about six weeks ago.  He cannot drive from upstate New York to South Carolina.  I am not totally sure that his going in a weekend, even this upcoming long weekend and without having to drive, is a totally good idea.  That is the idea I am pushing, though.

We have six children.  Four of them are licensed drivers.  A fifth is a permitted driver – which I believe does not work in other states but a driver non the less.  The six kids and their dad could go to South Carolina.  At least one of our college-aged kids has not yet started summer work so does not have to be back by Monday evening.  My ex could stay longer.

My thought, as it has been in previous situations, is that it is better to go visit now while gramma is still alive than to go to South Carolina for a funeral.

Just how far do you push your own opinion?  Do you force an issue like this?

3 comments   |  tags: , | posted in Family, Just my Thoughts

20 May 2008

Beading

By Nicki

I belong to a group of artists – The Latest Trends in Mixed Media – and monthly we have been doing either a charm or pin challenge and swap.  This month the swap was beading.  I carefully considered all the different beads I have on  hand.  I didn’t have the time or money to go purchase new beads.  Then, it struck me.  I had an old watch that I loved the beads on the strap.

I took the watch apart, keeping the watch face itself for a different project.  I put the beads, not all but the ones I liked the best, together with some similar feeling/looking beads I already owned.  Voile!  My beading project – slightly unfinished as the recepient may want the dangle on a post or on some other type of earring or necklace or bracelet.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , | posted in Art, Just my Thoughts

17 May 2008

Crusade 20 – Casting Call

By Nicki

No, Michelle Ward and the GPP Street Team are not casting a new movie.  But the Street Team is casting paper into all kinds of things.

I missed, or haven’t yet caught up with Crusades 18 & 19 but will get back to them eventually as I do have all the items gathered to do both stamp carving and stencil creation.

Anyway, I am not a big pulp maker.  I keep all those small scraps of paper thinking I am going to some day make pulp into paper and use these scraps, along with that huge, industrial-sized bottle of Elmer’s glue and the brown lunch bag full of dryer lint.  This time I took the easy way out.  I made castings using water and toilet paper.

I started with good, ol’ fashioned Scot’s toilet tissue that is single-ply.  I always have tons of this on hand as it is good, well just better than other types, for the septic system.  I dusted my stamps that I had chosen - The Latest Trends group has a few challenges going involving vintage wedding so I used mostly wedding oriented stamps – with Antique Gold Pearl Ex.  I, then, started placing the toilet paper on the stamp – alternating tp with squirts from my gigantic water squirter.

 

There was a lot of water going around and pushing the tissue into the crevices on the stamp.  Then, came the tough part – waiting.  You have to wait until the tissue castings dry to take them off the stamp.  So off to watch Grey’s Anatomy and sleep.  The next morning found the casting dry.

            

After I took these rather dark shots, I started coloring the castings.  I didn’t color the wedding dress and tux at all but the other two were markered up.

Another crusade come to pass.

 

8 comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Art, Just my Thoughts

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