A Long List of Have Nots

Like my friend Carmyn, I like a good list. She found this list and highlighted the ones that were true for her. I will do the same. What I found out about myself is that I haven't done a lot. I haven't been to a lot of places. Oh, well.

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
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...or as far as they let you go.
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 in 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
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at 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. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
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 Guards 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. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Christmas Post #1

I am one of those people who start the holiday season a little early. The tree is up. The Christmas dishes are being used. The gifts are almost all purchased. I think it is because I am highly nostalgic and enjoy all sorts of yearly rituals, but Christmas never bores me even though I do the same things year after year.

Holiday Movies
Every rule has an exception. My rule is that I do not rewatch movies...except holiday movies. I love them. Last night, I watched Love Actually and I can say with certainty that I love that scene with Hugh Grant dancing to "Jump" just as much as I did the first time. I love that movie along with most other holiday movies. It is a genre that can be terrible. But it can also be great. Elf. A Christmas Story. Charlie Brown. It's a Wonderful Life. I even like mediocre holiday movies like Christmas with the Kranks. However, I draw the line at Tim Allen Christmas movies.

Holiday Cups and Dishes
My mother-in-law gave us two cups and saucers a few years ago. They have little snowmen on them. We only use them at Christmas time, but I love them. It seems that warm and toasty drinks just taste better in these cups. I think it might have to do with the fact that we are usually cozied up with blankets and each other, but I still look forward to pulling them out each year. The same rule applies to a set of dishes I received many years ago from my friend Sara. It's weird. We usually use those dishes first even though our everyday dishes are available. I think it is Christmas spirit.

Christmas Music
This year, I am enjoying the new Rosie Thomas Christmas album. Itunes has some amazing music that is holiday, but not cheesy. Is that possible, you ask? I think so, but it is all a matter of taste because I witnessed a lady crooning along to Neil Diamond at the Target listening stand the other day and we might just have different views on what is cheesy Christmas music.

Today, I am off to finish my Christmas shopping!

Wash This

How do I say this delicately?

I hate my washer. It is about as old as I am and it could be the very most un-fun thing to purchase as a grown up. Here is an item that you use to do work that is so not fun and then, it has the audacity to not work properly.

I won't bore you with the details of my domestic woes. I can see it now. Tim and I will travel to one of the boring stores that I try to avoid like Best Buy or Sears. We will spend hours looking at washers when neither of really care which washer we should buy. After years and years of using apartment complex washers, we are not picky. It just needs to wash, spin, rinse. I don't even know if it needs to do it in that order. All I know is that this purchase is going to have to happen soon.

See...we are doing our part to get this economy going.

Sleepy Girl

What is wrong with me? I am a reasonable 32 year old woman who has stayed up too late for about a week now. I am the kind of girl who always goes to bed by 11PM and have since I was 16 years old. Even in college, I was the girl who would get grumpy when the other college girls were having some shenanigans in the hallway in the middle of the night when I wanted to be sound asleep.

I had to stay up and watch history last night when Obama gave his acceptance speech. I am thrilled for our country. That late night was totally worth it.

Even tonight, I am watching the post-mortems on the campaigns when I should really be in bed. Okay. Here is the plan. I will go to bed in 20 minutes. I will go to bed at 10PM tomorrow night and Friday. Then, I will sleep in on Saturday! By then, I should be all caught up on the goods.

Vote Barack Obama for Change in our Country

Tonight, I am asking the big questions.

1. How many minutes/hours/days will it take for "Joe the Plumber" to realize that he has been a stooge for the McCain campaign?
2. Will I be able to go to work on Wednesday if Barack Obama doesn't win the election?
3. Why do I avoid conversations with people that I know support John McCain/Sarah Palin? I know that I won't change their mind. More than anything, I am scared that I will judge them. I am just being honest.
4. Should I vote before work or after?
5. What have I been putting off until after the election?
6. Who can I still convince to vote for Barack Obama? Who is the undecided voter? Do I need to e-canvas you? Do I need to call you? I'll do it if there is a chance that you will vote for Barack Obama.
7. Does anyone else remember what the election was like before there was a Sarah Palin? I don't. It's like she was always here.
8. Will I be sad when I don't see Chuck Todd as much after the election?
9. What should I serve for my election party?

Yes We Carve!

Is it just me or does everyone else feel crazy busy? It is true that most of the busy is self-made and I could cut back on what I put on my agenda. I could also prioritize better. For example, I don't have to watch three hours of political news shows a night. This would probably help ease my election anxiety. I hoping that on Tuesday, my candidate with win.

Speaking of candidate...I carved an OBAMA pumpkin and it was posted on YESWECARVE.COM.

I am hosting an election party. It is more of a gathering than a party since it is Tim, TC, and Laura. I have been thinking about the menu for some time. I wanted to make some OBAMA themed dishes, but I am coming up blank. I know he has a chili recipe out there. I thought about CHANGE Chicken. I thought about French Dip sandwiches, but calling them American Dips. That is corny but still delicious. I have an apple cobbler recipe that Michelle Obama makes that I could try. We'll see. We might just order pizza and keep the focus on the numbers. No matter what, vote on Tuesday (even if it is for the other candidate).

Weekend Update

I have been neglecting the blog. If you know me, you know that I do not like to be busy. I like to have plenty of time on my hands. I do not like having every moment scheduled. Sadly, for the next week and a half, every moment will be scheduled. So, let me take this moment to get you up to date on my doings for the past week.

I traveled to New York City this weekend to see my friend Amy. For the first time, I took the Bolt Bus. I am huge fan of the Bolt Bus. It picks up at a great location in Philly and it drops you right in the middle of New York City. It was clean and quiet and under two hours for the trip. When I take the transit system in Philly and New Jersey, it takes over three hours. The price is right too. It cost $23 for a round trip.

After walking through Central Park where we enjoyed the fall leaves, we stopped at the Museum of the City of New York. The exhibit was Campaigning for President: New York and the American Election.

The pins, paraphernalia, and propaganda from every Presidential election displayed at the exhibit. I was surprised and interested in the propaganda and to see that some things never change. When FDR was running with Harry Truman, the opposition tried to link Truman with the KKK. Shocking, right. Well, as I thought more about it, the same kind of loose, unproven connection is happening with the present election.

I always look forward to eating when I travel to New York. I wasn't disappointed. I had brunch twice with a yummy omelet with gruyere cheese and ham and a Sunday morning brunch with pumpkin pancakes. I loved them. I am now searching out a tasty recipe for pumpkin pancakes at home. If I find one, I will post it for all to enjoy.

World Series Bound...and Rocky

There are just some truisms when you live in Philly.

One, you like sports. A lot. The sports teams are very important and people have crafted a love/hate relationship with the Eagles, Flyers, and Phillies. And in time, it all pays off. Last night, the Philadelphia Phillies sealed the deal for the National League Pennant. They are going to the World Series!

I was even let out of class early for the game.

Usually, I don't care. But I was reminded of the second truth of Philadelphia during the celebration in the streets last night.

I was sleeping soundly when I was awaken by the BLARING of my neighbor's car stereo as he played the theme from Rocky. Philadelphians love Rocky. My neighbor was overjoyed and screaming, "Finally! Phillies are goin' to the World Series!" It is one of my favorite Philly moments so far.

Apple Pickin'

Tim and I made our first trip to the apple orchard this weekend. Along with our friends, Laura and TC, we picked a box of Stayman Winesap apples. After picking apples, we enjoyed the orchard's market where they had local goods like maple syrup and baked goods.

Of course, I will be making these apples into sweet treats. I am checking out some recipes and would like to try a few new ones.

The leaves are just starting to change here. I'd like to spend as much time outside on the weekends before winter sets in and we aren't able to enjoy the fall any longer.

Midwestern Recipe: Urban Myth Chocolate Chip Cookies

I received an email a few years back telling a story about how a woman paid $250 for a recipe from Neiman Marcus when she thought she really paid $2.50. It is not a true story, but the recipe is still very good. I think it is the ground oats that make this cookie so good. I like it more than the recipe on the back of Nestle Chocolate Chips.

This recipe makes a lot. I always cut it in half. Also, I do not add the grated chocolate bar. They are great without it.

2 cups butter
24 oz. chocolate chips
4 cups flour
2 cups brown sugar
2 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
2 cups sugar
1 8 oz. Hershey! Bar (grated)
5 cups blended oatmeal
4 eggs
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups chopped nuts (your choice)

Measure oatmeal, and blend in a blender to a fine powder. Cream the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla, mix together with flour, oatmeal,
salt, baking powder, and soda. Add chocolate chips, Hershey Bar, and nuts.

Spoon and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees.

Makes 112 cookies.

Midwestern Girl Roadtrip

I had a New Jersey/Pennsylvania day trip weekend. The leaves are just starting to change and in a few weeks, they will be something very beautiful. The photo is from the bridge that covers the Delaware River and connects New Hope, Pennsylvania to Lambertville, New Jersey.

A few months ago, I wrote my endorsement for the memoir Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. As a continuation of my admiration for this book, I checked out Elizabeth Gilbert's store in Frenchtown, New Jersey this weekend. The name of the store is called Two Buttons.

Two Buttons sells a variety or worldly treasures from her travels. It is stored in a warehouse and has everything from garden Buddhas to silk scarves to sandstone sculptures. Everything they had was beautiful and exotic.

From historic Frenchtown, New Jersey, we traveled on to New Hope, Pennsylvania. New Hope offered art galleries, jewelry stores, and more. It was the perfect place to get a few Christmas presents. We enjoyed an early dinner at Marsha Brown's Creole Restaurant. Marsha Brown's is located on the main street of New Hope and is in an old church. The food was amazing. I had lobster and crab bisque and tourenados (beef medallions with mashed potatoes). A few lemon and lime martinis were enjoyed too! After a cafe au lait from a little back alley coffee shop, we hit the road through the beautiful roads of New Jersey where the leaves are just starting to change.

Midwestern Endorsement: Rachel Maddow

I am a big Rachel Maddow fan. I have a feeling like I might have showered her with praise on the Midwestern Position before this post, but I must do it again.

Being a Rachel Maddow is quite a commitment. She has a show every night on MSNBC where she asks the tough questions, illustrates the nonsense in politics, and holds politicians to a high standard.

It shouldn't surprise you that Rachel is a left-leaning pundit, but I appreciate that she holds all accountable on her show. She is respectful to all politicians, right and left. She has this great segment called "It's Pat" where she discusses a topic with Pat Buchanan who is undoubtedly on the opposite end of the political spectrum than she is. Rachel is wicked smart and has the chops that bring us back every night to her show.

Pie Lessons 101

After a summer of pie making, I entered my friend Laura's kitchen to help her make her first pie. Laura chose a very challenging and highly rated pie recipe, Grandma Opal's Apple Pie from allrecipes.com.

Laura is a natural pie maker. She used her new pie making materials to make a pretty lattice crust top along with the leave cut outs that made this fall pie even more pleasing to the eye.

The special thing about this pie is that you do not toss the apples in cinnamon and sugar like I have done in the past. Instead, you make a yummy caramel sauce and pour it over the lattice top. The sauce drips down into the apples and is cooked into the crust to make it sweet and crunchy. Tim and I went back over to TC and Laura's place in the evening to enjoy a piece of pie with vanilla ice cream.

Midwestern Endorsement: Collapsible Market Tote

Thanks to Laura, I have a new obsession. For my birthday, she gave me my first collapsible market tote. Mine is red perfect for storing just about anything. It is easy to find them online, but they are more expensive than I would like. However, if you have TJ Maxx where you are, you can find them for $10! I see these as the perfect gift. You can store items in your car, bring them to the store, or carry your food when you are invited to a potluck. So, if I know you, chances are, you are going to be receiving one of these at one point this year!

My Day

People always ask, "How was your day?" I have decided to tell you every detail of my day.

I wake up at 6AM. I pack my lunch and head out about 7AM. I drive in the right hand lane at about five miles over the speed limit, but that still doesn't seem to be fast enough for Philadelphia drivers. They like to pass me with disgust.

I pull into the Dunkin' Donuts drive through. It is a cut throat drive through. I have had many drivers/drinkers think that the rules of the road do not apply to the drive through, but let me assure you. They do. It's funny what people try to do with their bumper.

After I get my medium hazelnut coffee with cream and sugar, I turn my ipod onto shuffle. Why do I wait until I get my coffee? Because it just seems right. I am just not sure that I could hear the music until I can taste the hazelnut.

I take a road that is mildly deserted in the wee hours of the morning. It's pretty and curvy.

I arrive at my little kindergarten center located on a beautiful college campus. I spend the hour and thirty minutes before the children arrive preparing plans, activities, and lessons for five and six year olds. During the next seven hours, I comfort the boo-boos. I sing the songs. I teach the lessons. I manage the young. I read the books. I build the blocks. I play the tag. I encourage. I admonish, if needed.

After all of the children are on the buses home, I head out to the local drug store. I can't believe how much stuff costs. I needed some odds and ends and those odds and ends add up.

I head home to discover three new netflix movie envelopes, one birthday card, two catalogues, and one bank statement in my mailbox. I call my friend. We chat. I write one email. I watch Hardball with Chris Matthews. And now, I am writing this blog post.

And now you know all about my typical day.

Philly Goodness

I know that I often come to the Midwestern Position to lament rude behaviors that I encounter in my life in Philly, but tonight, that all changes. Tonight, I toast you, little old librarian at the Ardmore Public Library! I toast your sweet nature who wanted to find all of my books for me on my list even when I told her that I could do it. I toast you and your pretty impressive computer skills that found my books at other libraries. Little, Old Librarian, thanks for your extra effort and enthusiasm at your job.

More of the Same

Cindy McCain is Filthy Rich

I know that I have been writing a lot about my two cents about the election, but I simply cannot help myself tonight.

I like Laura Bush. I just do. I think she is a classy lady and I think she speaks with grace and empathy. I do not have anything against Cindy McCain, but I do have one issue with her.

On Monday night, Cindy McCain and Laura Bush spoke to the Republican National Convention and the American people to ask for donations for victims of Hurricane Gustav. Little did we know, Cindy was wearing an estimated $300,000 worth of clothing and jewelry.

Yes, you read that right. $300,000.

I can't swallow that she is asking people to donate in the middle of a near recession as she stands in an outfit that costs more than my house. I would happily donate to many causes, but Cindy standing there in her Oscar de la Renta and her three-carat diamond earrings does not convince me to give. I do not have my giving or not giving wrapped up in this Cindy McCain outfit, but I think it is something to consider when we have John McCain telling us that he can relate to our problems.

Yes, you could argue that it isn't John McCain's money, but trust me. John McCain is not eating Chef Boyardee at his seven kitchen tables.

Back to School

This might be news to a few people, but I have decided to go back to school. It isn't for anything glamorous or life changing. I am going to get my Reading Specialist certificate so that I can one day be a reading teacher. This won't be for several years, but I know that I like to have lots of different doors open to me. In my professional life, I have taught three different grades. I have taught the same group of children for two years in a row. I have taught in public schools and a private school.

I received my class syllabus by email tonight and realized that I will be spending every waking minute reading young adult and children's books this semester. I am not exaggerating when I say that I will be reading at least 20 young adult novels. Twenty books is not a big deal, but I was also the student who got through junior high without ever EVER reading an assigned book. I know that sounds crazy, but I was just really good at absorbing information from class discussions. It wasn't that I was not reading during those years. I just wanted to read what I wanted to read.

So, now, I am going to be reading a lot of young adult literature again. I decided that since this is grad school again, I cannot resort to my 14 year old behavior of 'fakin' it till I make it' in class. I read my first book Star Girl by Jerry Spinelli. I picked it up at 9 PM and finished it in two hours. If you know me, I like any junior high love story especially if there is a quirky girl and a smitten boy in it.

I am going to try to take advantage of the required reading and use it as a time machine back to my own junior high and high school days.

History Being Made on Both Fronts

John McCain chose Sarah Palin, the year and a half Governor of Alaska, as his vice-presidential running mate. Lots of political pundits are trying to interpret the purpose and strategy behind John McCain's choice.

Well, most of the pundits are stating the obvious. He is trying to win the women who may be disgruntled with Hillary Rodham Clinton's loss. As a woman, I feel the need to comment on his choice. I am going to be all over the place, but that is how my brain is reacting to this choice.

I am thrilled that another woman is at the front of a major political party. I look forward to even more women making the scene in our political parties. That being said...McCain is either completely delusional or 100% out of touch...I am going with out of touch on this issue and so many more. He can't possibly believe that simply choosing a female running mate will bring women to vote for him.

If that is his motivation, it is insulting to women. Women care about issues more than just gender. I don't care if she is a mom, a wife, a worker, a woman. She stands on the opposite end of every issue that I care about.

She is enthusiastic. I like that. However, I fear that pundits and media will be hard on Joe Biden because he will smoke her on every issue and they will play the gender card.

Along with this, I think it is irresponsible to choose ANYONE who has had a year and a half in executive government to be second in line of a 72 year old President who has battled cancer four times.

Lastly, I don't want to see any pundits, politicians, and journalists going easy on this hockey mom who looks like she could be your next door neighbor, your right-wing-gun-lovin'-hatin' on gays and choice neighbor. We all know that no one should be given a pass because she is a novice in the game. No one has taken it easy on Hillary Clinton. The pundits are saying that if Palin simply gets through her debate with Joe Biden, she will win.

THAT IS NOT RIGHT. She should have to stand, defend, and explain with depth and passion to win a debate. Just because she is inexperienced in comparison to Biden, doesn't mean she should get a pass. As a woman, I want all women treated as equals and that includes in politics.