Wowbrary

I signed up for Wowbrary http://www.wowbrary.org/ last week. I had read about it on Stephen's Lighthouse and wanted to see how it worked. Wowbrary is a free service that lets you know through email or RSS what new items are at your chosen library. Of course I choose HCPL and since I catalog new materials I can easily check to see if it works and if it's current. In addition to seeing what items are new you can also click on the item and get more information and also place a hold. Since I had cataloged quite a few CD's this last week I checked the new CDs and the ones I had cataloged were there along with nice descriptions and pictures.

Here is a picture and description from Wowbrary of one of the CD's I cataloged last week:

1997 album for the late folk singer/songwriter. 11 tracks including her classic cover of Christine McVie's 'Songbird'. Blix Street.

Simply Sinful Salty Chocolate Bark

Simply Sinful Salty Chocolate Bark

2 sticks of butter
2/3 cup sugar
Club Crackers
1 12 oz bag chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350.
Line crackers on a large foil-lined cookie sheet.
Melt butter and sugar together and pour on crackers.
Bake for 10-15 minutes.
Remove from oven and immediately spread chocolate chips on crackers using a spatula to gently spread.
Sprinkle with pecans, gently pressing down.
Place in refrigerator until set.
Break apart and enjoy.

My favorite Greek, Chrysanthe, brought these to work yesterday and they were a big hit. Today she brought in more, this time made with black and white chips and butterscotch chips. They were gone in about 30 seconds.

FourDogMom's Dewey Decimal Section:

930 History of ancient world to ca. 499

FourDogMom= 110825541454 = 110+825+541+454 = 1930


Class:
900 History & Geography


Contains:
Travel, biographies, ancient history, and histories of continents.



What it says about you:
You're connected to your past and value the things that have happened to you. You've had some conflicted times in your life, but they've brought you to where you are today and you don't ignore it.

Find your Dewey Decimal Section at Spacefem.com

Cute Dogs

Michelle Obama

Our new first family promised to make the White House accessible to more people and on Wednesday, Michelle Obama did just that by inviting 200 6th and 7th graders to a Black History Month celebration in the East Wing. Mrs. Obama talked to them about how slaves built the White House, how the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by Lincoln in the bedroom named after him and how civil right leaders met in the White House with Kennedy and Johnson to discuss ending segregation. She also encouraged them to work hard, "put your best foot forward, even when no one is looking" and to help out at home with chores.

The children also got to hear from Stephen Rochon, the first African American to be named chief usher and director of the executive residence and were entertained by the Grammy Award winning group Sweet Honey in the Rock. First daughters Sasha and Malia also attended the event.

In case you haven't guessed this already, I love our new First Family. I think the president is doing a terrific job, and I absolutely love having such a beautiful and most of all smart woman in the White House. She is a wonderful wife, mother, and role-model for all women.

Socks

Former First Cat Socks was euthanized on Friday. He was 19 or 20 years old and had been diagnosed with cancer. Socks was a stray who was adopted by Chelsea Clinton when her father was governor of Arkansas. When Clinton was elected president, Socks moved to the White House and was so popular the White House had to issue a statement asking reporters to leave him alone. Socks had his own fan club and was featured in many books including one written by Hillary Rodham Clinton called Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids' Letters to the First Pets. Not to be outdone by his family, Socks was involved in his own scandal when Indiana's Republican Representative, Dan Burton questioned the use of White House staff and postage to answer the many letters Socks received.

When the Clinton's left the White House, Socks went to live with Clinton's' secretary Betty Currie. She and Socks had become very attached over the years and she asked if she could keep him. In the last few years Socks made few public appearances choosing to enjoy the company of his family, his special home-made chicken dinners, and the occasional visit from his former family.

The Clinton's issued this statement: "Socks brought much happiness to Chelsea and us over the years, and enjoyment to kids and cat lovers everywhere. We're grateful for those memories, and we especially want to thank our good friend, Betty Currie, for taking such loving care of Socks for so many years."

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo starts on March 3rd and goes on until the 22nd. I can never understand why anyone would pay to see animals being abused. It makes me sick just to think about it. Every year at least one person asks me if I'm going to the rodeo and I reply "only as a protester." I have never actually protested at the rodeo but that's the only way you could get me there. When I was little the rodeo was a big deal. It was in the Coliseum downtown and Roy Rodgers was always there. We got to dress as cowboys or cowgirls and shake his hand when he rode on his horse around the ring at the end of the show. I loved going but that was before I realized what was happening to the animals who were "entertaining" us. It seems like every year one of the kids who is raising animals for the livestock show has an animal stolen. The kid goes on TV crying about how much they love their cow or whatever, pleading for it's return. This is an animal they are going to sell to the highest bidder for slaughter. Please spare me the tears. Someone said to me this year how good it is because the kids who participate get scholarship money for college. How about making good grades or borrowing the money or working to go to college. Why do animals have to be tortured so you can attend college. Someday I hope to move to a more progressive place. One of the requirements is that there isn't a rodeo.

Pink Panties

Last month a Hindu mob attacked women who were drinking in a bar in the Indian city of Mangalore. The men who brutally beat these women, calling them whores and prostitutes, are members of a group called Sri Ram Sena, or Army of Ram. They consider themselves the "custodians of Indian culture" but others see this attack and others on women in India as an attempt to "talibanize" India. The group, led by Pramod Mutalik, is also against Valentine's Day. Last week he said: "Valentine's Day is definitely not Indian culture and we will not allow celebration of that day in any form."

Here's where the pink panties come in. A group of women in India have formed a group on Facebook called The Consortium of Pubgoing, Loose and Forward Women to fight against Mutalik and his group Sena. They also have a blog: http://www.thepinkchaddicampaign.blogspot.com/ The group, with over 40,000 members, last time I checked, is asking people to send pink panties (chaddis) to Mutalik on Valentine's Day. The website says: "most women in this country have enough curbs on their lives without a whole new franchise cashing in with their bully-boy tactics. Join in. Be imaginative, have fun and fight back!"

I joined the Facebook group because I love the name and I love the fact that women are fighting bullies like this is such a humorous way. Women really should be in charge of the world.

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day everyone!

Ringo

Ringo the cat came in again tonight and drove the dogs crazy by jumping up where they couldn't get to him.

Charles Darwin

Today is Charles' Darwin's 200th birthday. 2009 is also the 150th anniversary of the publication of his most famous work On the Origin of the Species, so we will probably be seeing a lot about him in the coming months. Anyone interested in Darwin can go to this website: http://darwin-online.org.uk/ where Cambridge has digitized the complete works of Darwin including more than 30,000 items and 90,000 images. Cambridge University Library is the only place that has the complete collection of Darwin publications. It's wonderful that so many libraries are digitizing collections like this one, making material that was previously available to only a few, available to anyone with access to a computer.

Puzzled

Today I discovered a new puzzle similiar to Sudoku called KenKen which means "square wisdom" or "cleverness squared" The New York Times has just started putting this puzzle on their website and I managed to do an easy one. I'm going to try a harder one this evening. I love Sudoku and KenKen actually looks like it will be more challenging. I also did a crossword puzzle from the NYT. I was totally convinced that I couldn't do crossword puzzles because the only ones I ever tried were in the Sunday paper (the hardest). LibraryLioness8 convinced me that I could and even printed one out for me. It was from a Monday paper and the easiest. I didn't know that and just assumed that if I couldn't do the Sunday one I couldn't do any of them. Thanks LL8!

Hungry Hungry Kitteh (from I Can Has Cheezburger)

New Ice Cream Flavors Inspired by the Last Eight Years

Ben & Jerry created the "Yes Pecan!" ice cream flavor for Obama.
For George W. Bush, they asked for suggestions from the public.
Here are some of their favorite responses:

Grape Depression
The Housing Crunch
Abu Grape
Cluster Fudge
Nut'n Accomplished
Good Riddance You Lousy MotherF**ker... Swirl
Iraqi Road
Chock 'n Awe
WireTapioca
Impeach Cobbler
Guantanmallow
imPeachmint
Heck of a Job, Brownie!
Neocon Politan
RockyRoad to Fascism
The Reese's-cession
Cookie D'oh!
Nougalar Proliferation
Death by Chocolate... and Torture
Freedom Vanilla Ice Cream
Chocolate Chip On My Shoulder
Credit Crunch
Mission Pecanplished
Country Pumpkin
Chunky Monkey in Chief
WMDelicious
Chocolate Chimp
Bloody Sundae
Caramel Preemptive Stripe
I broke the law and am responsible for the deaths of thousands...withnuts

A friend sent me a link to some unusual hotels. Of course my favorite one is the Dog Bark Park Inn http://www.dogbarkparkinn.com/ in Idaho, a bed and breakfast inside a huge beagle. You enter the beagle through a 2nd story deck and there is a sleeping alcove in the muzzle.

For more unusual hotels see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/4397883/The-worlds-weirdest-hotels.html

I watched a wonderful movie this weekend. The Visitor was written and directed by Tom McCarthy who also wrote and directed another favorite movie of mine The Station Agent. Both stories are about how and why people from different backgrounds connect. In The Visitor, Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins), a professor in Connetticut who has lost his passion for teaching and for life, ends up befriending Tarak, a Syrian and his girfriend Zainab who is from Senegal when he discovers them living in his apartment in Manhattan. The couple, victims of a real estate scam, have no place to go so Walter allows them to stay. In return, Tarek teaches him to play his African drum, the djembe. This unlikely friendship transforms Walter's life by opening up a whole new world of drummers and jazz clubs to him. When Tarek is arrested and threatened with deportation, Walter feels compelled to help him and when Tarek's mother shows up, Walter reaches out to her too. Through these new friendships, Walter is able to regain a passion for life that he thought was lost forever.

The Real Reason Obama Ran for President

Springsteen's new album Working on a Dream is being released tomorrow and every review I've read says it is as good or better than his last album Magic which I have been playing almost non-stop since it came out. It's nice to know that our wonderful new president loves Springsteen too. This is what he said at a concert before the election:

"... the reason I'm running for president is I can't be Bruce Springsteen. I can't be Billy Joel. I can't sing like John Legend and India Arie," he said. "All I have is words. In some ways words are always inadequate. You guys have just heard four of the finest musicians in the world."

Health Benefits of Tea

I'm trying to drink more tea. I would like to give up my one cup of coffee that I have in the morning and switch to tea but so far haven't been able to. I did stop drinking expensive bottled Honest Tea, except on the weekends. I now buy 2 bottles a week rather than 7. My favorite flavor is Mango Acai White Tea. I switched to tea bags and my favorite is Allegro China White Citrus. White tea is supposed to be the best health wise because the leaves have been processed the least and I like the taste of white tea better over green or the more traditional black tea.
Eat Drink Better http://eatdrinkbetter.com/ just had an article about some of the health benefits of tea which I will sum up here:
Tea contains antioxidants which help with cell regeneration and may prevent cancer.
Tea can lower stress hormone levels.
Tea fights cavities and reduces plaque.
Tea keeps you hydrated.
Tea may reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack by preventing formation of blood clots.
Tea can help lower blood pressure.
Tea aids your body in digestion.
Tea may help prevent diabetes.
Tea can help beat bacteria.
Tea aids your immune defenses.

Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Pasta

I found this recipe on Care 2 http://www.care2.com/

It looks delicious and nutritious. I may make it this weekend.
INGREDIENTS
8 ounces whole-wheat angel hair pasta
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups shredded, peeled sweet potato (about 1 medium)
1 large red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 cup diced plum tomatoes
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
1 tablespoon white-wine vinegar or lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta until just tender, 4 to 5 minutes or according to package directions.

2. Meanwhile, place 1 tablespoon oil and garlic in a large skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is sizzling and fragrant, 2 to 5 minutes. Add sweet potato, bell pepper, tomatoes and water and cook, stirring occasionally, until the bell pepper is tender-crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and keep warm.

3. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Return the pasta to the pot. Add the vegetable mixture, the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, parsley, tarragon, vinegar (or lemon juice), salt and cheese; toss to combine. Add the reserved pasta water, 2 tablespoons at a time, to achieve the desired consistency.

Recipe Nutrition: 4 servings, about 1 3/4 cups each

Per serving: 402 calories; 12 g fat (3 g saturated fat, 6g mono unsaturated fat); 7 mg cholesterol; 62 g carbohydrates; 12 g protein; 9 g fiber; 546 mg sodium; 738 mg potassium

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (140% daily value), Vitamin A (120% dv), Potassium (21% dv), Iron (15% dv).

3 1/2 Carbohydrate Servings

Exchanges: 4 starch, 2 fat

Barack Obama's letter to his daughters

Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.
When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me-about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.
I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential-schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college-even if their parents aren't rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity.
I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other.
Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to protect our country-but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free-that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.
That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean something.
She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better-and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be.
I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you've had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much-although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.
These are the things I want for you-to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure.
I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.


Love, Dad

Campbell Brown's response to Bush's Katrina remarks

"We had fun"

Yes, that what George Bush said during his exit interview. During the last 8 years our country suffered the greatest terrorist attack in it's history, New Orleans drowned during Katrina, thousand of Americans died in a war he lied to get us into, hundreds of thousand of innocent Iraqis have been killed in a war they didn't deserve, Iraq has been destroyed, the constitution has been trampled on, the world hates us, the economy is in ruins... but bush and his partners in crime had fun.
Another quote: "In the darkest moments of Iraq and every day when I was reading the reports about soldiers losing their lives, no question there was a lot of emotion, but there were times where we could be lighthearted and support each other." He was unapologetic but admitted there were a few "disappointments" like Abu Ghraib, not finding WMDs, and having the "mission accomplished" sign.
Seven more days and this evil, lying piece of garbage will be gone. If we ever recover from the last 8 years maybe the rest of us can have fun too.

Here's what I've been working on in my spare time, a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle.

For the fourth year, Chicago health commission Dr. Terry Mason is urging everyone in his city to give up meat during the month of January. On his Sunday morning radio show Doctor in the House he had this to say: "For the entire month, I'm not eating any meat. If it walks, runs, hops, flies, swims, crawls or slithers, I won't eat it. If it has eyes, I won't eat it. If it had a momma and a daddy, I won't eat it. I'm going to focus on eating a healthy and delicious variety of fresh vegetables and fresh fruit and I want you to do the same."
Last year Mason managed to stay a vegetarian for 7 months and this year he is hoping to make it a permanent change.

YES PECAN

In case you are wondering what to eat on inauguration day, Ben and Jerry's has come up with a new flavor to celebrate our new president called YES PECAN. It's described as an inspirational blend with amber waves of buttery ice cream with roasted non-partisan pecans. If you go to a Ben and Jerry's shop during the month of January and order a scoop, the proceeds will go to the Common Cause Education Fund, a "nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization founded as a vehicle for citizens to make their voices heard in the political process. They are committed to honest, open and accountable government, as well as encouraging citizen participation in democracy. Their Education Fund conducts research, education, and outreach activities." For more info: http://www.commoncause.org/ If you join Common Cause or donate a dollar to the education fund, Ben and Jerry's will match your one dollar donation.

Freezebubbles

In places a lot colder than Houston, if you blow bubbles in the air, they have time to freeze before hitting the ground. Here is a link to a website with beautiful picture of these frozen bubbles: http://www.skipweasel.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/freezebubbles/album/index.html

New Year's Resolutions

What to wear (under) on New Year's Eve

Here is a New Year's tradition I had never heard of before. I guess I'll have to go out and buy some new underwear after I decide what I most want in the New Year.

red underwear = luck in love
yellow underwear = luck with money and business
green underwear = health

Nochevieja

Nochevieja is the name for New Year's Eve in Spain. People traditionally eat 12 grapes at midnight, one for each strike of the clock.

New Year's Eve in Ecuador

In Ecuador, people make and burn an effigy of someone who has had a negative impact that year. They are called Años Viejos, (Years Old). These are often politicians. I know who I would make one of.

New Years in the Netherlands

Here is a recipe for Olie Bollen which is a Dutch style doughnut that is traditionally eaten in the Netherlands on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. This certainly sounds better than the southern tradition of having blackeyed peas and greens on New years day.
Olie Bollen
INGREDIENTS:
2 (.25 ounce) packages active
dry yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water (110
degrees F to 115 degrees F)
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups chopped apple
1 cup raisins (optional)
1 quart vegetable oil for frying
white sugar for decoration
DIRECTIONS:
1.
Warm oven on lowest possible temperature setting.
2.
Dissolve the yeast in the warm water in a small mixing bowl. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Add the eggs, yeast mixture, and milk; beat with an electric mixer until blended.
3.
Turn off the oven. Cover the prepared dough with a greased piece of plastic wrap, and place the bowl of dough on the lowest rack of the warmed oven. Allow to rest and rise for 1 hour.
4.
Heat the oil for frying to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) in a heavy bottomed, deep skillet.
5.
Mix the apples and raisins into the dough. Then, carefully slide the dough by heaping teaspoons into the preheated oil. Do not crowd the pan. Fry the fritters until they are golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. They should turn over on their own when they are ready to brown on the other side, but keep an eye on them and flip them as necessary. Remove them to a paper towel lined plate and repeat with the remaining dough. Dust with sugar while warm.

The Texas Bowl 2008

Tonight I went to the Texas Bowl at Reliant Stadium where Rice played Western Michigan University. I went with a group of people from the Rice Library. It was a fun night with beautiful weather and so they left the roof open the entire game. Rice won 38 to 14 so that was nice. I sat next to my friend Keith (aka Kee) not knowing until tonight what a huge and very loud fan he is of football. He was a hoot (pun intended). I took a few pictures just to prove that I was really there.

Everybody is tired after their long walk.

FourDogMom's Dogs

I had dinner with my friend Ginny tonight and when we got back the dogs decided to be extra cute.

The Good Life

The good life @ Yahoo! Video

Here is a beautiful batik cloth picture of a market scene that I bought in Kenya many years ago.

Adorable Dogs

Snowflakes

Here is a really fun site where you can create your very own snowflake. My friend Fayrae found it and sent me the link. Thanks Fayrae!
http://www.popularfront.com/snowdays/

This is only way we will see snow this Christmas in Houston as it is warm and humid outside today.

For some lovely snow pictures you can go to Fayrae's blog: http://snypers-world.blogspot.com/

Official Santa Tracker

For over 50 years, The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has been protecting North American airspace from aerial attacks. The same technology that is used to protect us is also used to track the annual Christmas flight of Santa Claus and his reindeer. According to NORAD, a network of 47 radars tell them when Santa's sleigh leaves the North Pole and infrared satellites track his flight. Once the sleigh lands there are "Santa Cams" that can track his deliveries. For more information go to noradsanta.org which has videos from last years tracking of Santa, interactive games and activities, information about Santa Claus, information about NORAD, and a link to track Santa in 3D using google earth. There are also daily updates from Santa's staff. Today update: "NORTH Pole staff have advised NORAD that it is the final day to send Santa an email because Santa and the elves will begin loading the sleigh later today. This is such a huge task that they will not have time to check emails!"

This is a pretty fun website!

99 Things (and some more I added)

Here is something fun I found to do on Stephen's Lighthouse.
Copy the list and then:
Things you’ve already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven’t done and don’t want to - leave in plain font

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland/world.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37.Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person.
41. Sung Karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.

Some things I've done that are not on the list:
Watching the sun rise in a hot air balloon over the Serengeti, then landing in an area where wildebeests and zebras had been grazing only moments earlier.
Sitting on a beach in Antarctica surrounded by hundreds of thousands of penguins, some curious enough to come up and investigate.
Swimming with penguins off of an island in the Galapagos.
Sitting on a rock surrounded by many, many, many iguanas.
Petting a rhino and a warthog in Kenya.
Holding a full grown tiger in my lap at a fair in Brenham, TX.
Going over a waterfall on the Devil's River (not recommended)
White water rafting in Costa Rica.
Kayaking in British Columbia.
Seeing millions of monarch butterflies in the mountains of Mexico.

Portland, Oregon is getting an "official city doughnut." The mayor, Tom Potter, is planning to introduce his official doughnut resolution during a meeting of the city council on Christmas Eve day. The lucky doughnut is a chocolate covered, cream filled doughnut with 2 "eyes" called Portland Creme. It is made by Voodoo Doughnuts (the magic is in the hole). Here is a link to the website where you can see some of their other very original creations such as Triple Chocolate Penetration, Dirty Snowball, Nyquil Glazed, and Pepto Bismol: http://www.voodoodoughnut.com/ They even have a selection of vegan doughnuts. I wanted to put the picture of the one called Tasty on my blog but decided it might be a little suggestive.

We had Shipley's plain glazed here this morning, always a crowd favorite. Lawrence Shipley, Sr. started making donuts here in Houston in 1936 and they sold for 5 cents a dozen. Today there are over 190 stores, with 86 in the Houston area, and a dozen donuts sells for about 5 dollars a dozen (still a great deal).

Bush and Hanukkah

Since Hanukkah began at sundown last night this seemed like a good time to look at a Hanukkah White House blunder and at a bushism from long ago on the subject.

This year, bush and the missus invited leaders of the Jewish community to a Hanukkah reception at the White House with a card with the image of a Clydesdale horse hauling a Christmas tree. In case you are thinking that no one is that stupid and it must just be a tree or shrub that needs planting, there is a sign on the wagon that reads "White House Christmas Tree 2008."

Back in December of 2001 Bush said "I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama Bin Laden understanding the joy of Hanukkah."

I'm thinking bush doesn't understand Hanukkah either.

"You know we have libraries"

This is from The M word http://themwordblog.blogspot.com/ via Stephens Lighthouse http://stephenslighthouse.sirsidynix.com/ : A young producer at NBC pitched a story to Brain Williams about the newest craze- a Netflix system for books , you would simply put in your request for you book, one that had been read by someone else, and it would be delivered to you. Brian Williams responded, "You know we have libraries."

1,000,000 Shoes for George W. Bush

There is a new group on Facebook that I just joined called "One Million Shoes for George W. Bush" The goal is to have 500,000 members = 1,000,000 shoes for George W. Bush by Jan. 20.

Throw Shoes on Bush (The Game)

The Norwegians have come up with a little game for those of us who would like to throw a shoe at bush. Here is the link: http://flash.vg.no/grafikk/2008/bush/kast_sko.html

There are numerous reports that AL-Zaidi, the man who attacked bush with 2 non-lethal shoes is being tortured and his family threatened because of his actions. He may also spend up to 7 years in prison. It's a sad world when a man who is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people and the destruction of a country will get to spend the rest of his life in a luxurious multi-million dollar home in Dallas, supported and protected with America tax dollars, and a man who threw shoes at him in protest for all the lives lost is being treated like a criminal.

One of the things I been doing this year to save energy and money is to use cold water to do my laundry. According to Treehugger: "Just selecting the "cold/cold" cycle has the potential to save as much CO2 emissions each year as thousands of miles driven in a car, or even an airplane flight or two."
I have a gas water heater which is a greener option and I also have a front loading washing machine which is more efficient than a top loader. I'm considering getting a tank less water heater when I have to replace the one I have now. During the summer I turn the temperature to the lowest setting on the hot water heater and then I turn it up in the winter. This year I'm just going to leave it on the lowest setting. I'm also using the heater very sparingly. The house is pretty cold but I'm layering my clothes and am comfortable most of the time. The dogs keep me warm at night and they of course love the cold weather. My water bill this month was under $10.00 and my gas and electric together were around $75 so my efforts are paying off.

Hershey Kiss, Pretzel, M&M Treats

I made the pretzel, Hershey, M&M treats that I blogged about earlier. I used plain kisses and mint kisses and plain M&M's and mint M&M so there are 4 different combinations. I should have done the plain kisses and the mint kisses at different times because the mint kisses melted a lot faster but everything turned out ok. I know this because I have tasted them and they are delicious. This would be a fun thing to do with kids.

"This is a farewell kiss, you dog"

During a surprise visit to Iraq, Bush had not one, but two size 10 shoes thrown at him by Muntadar al-Zeidi, a reporter for Al-Baghdadia television. Unfortunately Bush ducked and wasn't hit by the shoes.
It was also unfortunate that the reporter called Bush a dog, an insult to dogs and dog lovers everywhere. In Iraq, throwing shoes at someone is a sign of contempt. People threw shoes at the statue of Saddam when it was toppled after the 2003 invasion.
Bush should probably stick to giving speeches at A&M, one of the few places where people can still stand him. Two faculty members organized a small protest when he was chosen to deliver a commencement address on Friday, but county Democratic chairwoman Maggie Charleton said his visit wasn't worth making a fuss over. ''I don't like George W. Bush. I don't think he's been a good president," she said. "But, you know, in a little while, he's going to be gone. Not a moment too soon, thank goodness. Why bother?"

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