life, politics, and homemade dog treats.

 1.VERY, VERY, VERY BAD-- i saw this unfinished email on my computer when i sat down this morning...

Dear Bandera,

This is very, very, very, bad. My sister(Leah) ate a penny!!!!!! She is in the emergency room. she was going to bed, and then she came up and my mom told her to go back down then in like 20 sec. she came back up crying, then said” mom, I swalloed a coin.”

it is true.

leah swallowed a dime last night.

we were going to the ER but ended up at the fire station... she had fallen asleep in the car.

the chief told me she was just fine if she could scream and talk.

she was up a lot last night but is sleeping now.  

we'll see what this day brings.  

she won't willingly take a bite of pasta with spaghetti sauce on it, but i guess coins are different?

2.THE BACHELOR PRIMARIES--  i have the same feeling when i watch the republican debates that i do when i watch the Bachelor.  Sick to my stomach.  Politics remind me of Soap Operas or reality TV shows.  Is this really what our country has come to?

3. I'M MITT-- as i go throughout my day, i ask myself who i am more like?  am i more newt/obama-- very good at convincing people with my words?  not afraid to be blunt?  bold even if i'm wrong?  people like someone who has guts.  sometimes i'm like that.  sometimes i'm not afraid to voice radically different ideas (like Ron Paul) or radically conservative ideas (like Santorum).  But, most of the time i feel like Mitt-- trying to be political and more moderate.  Trying to keep the democrats happy and the republicans happy and really not doing a great job with either side.  hmm.

 

4.  HEALTHY SNACK--  Try these Roasted Garbonzo Beans.

Spicy Crunchy Chickpeas
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon allspice (I didn't have so left out)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
I added 1/2-3/4 t chili powder 
2 15 1/2-oz. cans chickpeas, rinsed, drained, thoroughly patted dry

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. In a large bowl, combine olive oil, cinnamon, cumin, allspice, salt and pepper. Add chickpeas and toss to coat thoroughly. Turn chickpeas out onto baking sheet and roast, stirring or shaking baking sheet often, until chickpeas are browned and crunchy, 45 to 50 minutes (start checking them around 35 minutes...that's all mine took). Transfer to a bowl and let cool before serving, stirring occasionally.

i got the recipe off a blog on my sidebar... and i'm going fast today so i'm not going to find that link.  

(i will tomorrow.)   

i like the concept of this snack.

i'm excited to try it with other things...  like CORN for homemade CORN NUTS.

i also think it would be good with some sugar on it-- my kids would like it better that way.

leah said, "mom, i DO like these.  I think Jesus helped me like them.  They are my very own doggie treats."

5.  LOOSING BUDDHA-- Buddha didn't have seven kids.  i'm going crazy trying to be slower.  (if truth be told.)  i miss my lists.  i miss my fast mornings where i get lots done.  i set a goal to be in bed by 10 and up by 6.  and, last night i rebelled.  i watched a movie till 1:30am.  then leah woke up, then eve woke up- four times.  i took three cleansing breaths and was still tired...  today i have a houseful of friends coming over to make quilts for humanitarian aids.  i'm excited... but have to go straighten up REAL fast.

have a great day.  

eat more Garbonzo Beans.

watch less politics.

take three cleansing breaths.

just say what you think even if you end up offending half the world.

i really LOVED this article on Callista Gingrich.  It's from the New Yorker.  (read to the end- it actually helped me to understand Newt better)

this part made me laugh--

Though Callista is central to Gingrich’s life, her public role in his campaign has been largely ornamental. She accompanies him on the trail, smiling behind him at events; in December, she appeared with him in a Christmas video to ask, “Is there anything more inspiring than American towns and neighborhoods brightly lit for the holidays?” But she does not have a stump speech, and though she’s happy to exchange pleasantries with reporters, she has not been granting interviews, with the exception of a brief on-camera conversation with the Christian Broadcasting Network. The resulting story, which also included interviews with Rick Perry’s wife, Anita, and Jon Huntsman’s wife, Mary Kaye, was called “A Tale of Three Wives.” Until recently, the title appeared on the home page of Gingrich’s campaign Web site, leading many visitors to wonder if they could click through to an explanation of the candidate’s complicated marital history. (hah!)

 

life is good.  

i know! stick to granola...

i have to.
it's my blog anyway.
i have to say SOMETHING about tonight's debate.
ok, thanks.

first, amber- i did like Ron Paul a little better tonight.
i really don't think he can win the nomination,
but he has some good ideas.
and, i like him.
he's growing on me.
i loved his "what do you wish you could do differently"
where he answered "I need to talk slower and express my opinions more clearly."
honest and heartfelt.
i liked how he handled his 50% pro life voting record--
saying he thinks it's a state decision and that laws can't dictate morals.
the problem is our nations morals not the laws.
GREAT ANSWER.
another great answer-- border control.
when he said we have troops in Afghanistan trying to protect their border and we can't even protect our own.
really- that made sense.
before i would ever vote for Ron Paul he needs to convince me
1.that he won't start a WW3 by disrupting the whole world's military involvement and
2. that he has a CHANCE of winning the nomination.

second, NEWT GINGRICH...
ugh.  BLECH.
did you hear that his ex-wife did an interview (which she was not paid for) and explained that newt asked her for an "open marriage".  He wanted to continue his affair with callista (his current wife) while remaining married to his former wife.  Blech.  puke.  she had just been diagnosed with MS at the time.
when Newt was asked about the recent interview he said he was disgusted at the question.
i HATED his "anti-media"
"how could you ask me that question"
"this is a political debate"
"that was 20 years ago"
answer.
standing ovation-- oh please.
all the post-debate analysts think newt scored big on that answer.
WHATEVER.
Newt is scummy.
he was leading the accusations against Clinton while at the same time having an affair with one of his staffers.
it IS relevant to this campaign.
JUST as relevant as Mitt Romney's Bain Corporation...
honestly, i don't care if Mitt had to cut jobs when he was trying to save a bankrupt company.
but i DO CARE that Gingrich was speaking on Family Values days after ditching his wife for his mistress.
and newt has the NERVE to say "i have come to God and repented."
Please.
This is not a question about Newt's standing before the Lord.
it's like Santorum was saying about illegal immigrants-- it's not just that they broke a law once.
that they broke into the US and they continue to break laws...
and that is the issue with Gingrich.
it's not whether or not he is forgivable or forgiven.
he lied and he cheated CONTINUALLY on his wife.
while at the SAME time condemning Clinton for his affair.
he's a hypocrite.  he is not honest.  SIX YEARS he had an affair.
SIX YEARS he lied to the person closest to him.
and now you TRUST that he isn't lying to America?
i would NEVER vote for him.
Honestly, as a MAN, i would rather have Obama.
don't make me choose between Gingrich and Obama... please.

third, Santorum.
he did well, i thought.
it was the first time that i saw him standing up straight and really voicing his beliefs.
i do think he is a good, conservative man.
i liked him more tonight too...
i liked his bold, "i'm different, i'm your man"
BUT, i'm still not convinced that he is man enough to run for president.
he still seems little boy to me.
i did LOVE his tax answer--
will you publish your taxes?
sure, but i do my own and i'm not home to print them out.
i make a heck of a lot less than the other guys and i pay more taxes.
true.  and sad.  and it made me like him a little bit more.

and, what is up with IOWA?
have you heard about IOWA?
first they say that Mitt won by 8 votes.
now they say Santorum won by 34 votes but that they LOST 8 precincts so they are calling it a tie.
WHAT??
how the heck hard it is to COUNT votes?
seriously??
i don't get this vote counting crap.
(sheesh, you're turning me into a cussing woman.)
i just don't get it... why is it so hard to have people vote and tell us what the vote results were??
it's been TWO weeks since Iowa.

Now fourth, on to MITT.
i have one thing to explain to you about Mitt.
He is getting hammered about not releasing his tax forms... and i didn't understand it.
his answers sound squirrel-ly.
he said he was an honest man and i KNOW he is.
i know it.
so, why else would he not want to release his taxes?
Bill O'Reilley thinks it's because he only pays a 15% tax bracket because most of his income is investments.
NOPE.
that's not it.
ready, i'll spill the SECRET.
i bet it has to do with his RELIGION.
seriously.
Us Mormons pay A LOT of money to our church.
we do.
it's part of who we are.
most pay 10% tithing.
plus we fast once a month and donate money called "fast offering" to help the poor.
we have many welfare programs, international education funds, temple building funds, and Proposition 8 in California.
I'm sure Mitt contributed to Prop 8.
seriously.
once mitt releases his tax forms he will not only be defending the amount of money he has, the amount of taxes he pays, but he will be defending the whole Mormon church.
and, the guy wants 12 years... how long ago was prop 8?
this tax release thing-- it's not republicans who want it... it's democrats.
and, Newt knows it too.
that's why he said, "if there is something in there that we are going to have to deal with, lets deal with now in the primary."  he knows.
and Newt's acting all "I released my forms, where are yours?"
yeah. he released them today.  one hour before the debate.
ron paul hasn't released his and he won't.
and rick santorum hasn't released his.

the biggest hit on Romney came from the debate mediator NOT from the other candidates.
want to talk about "liberal media"?

that's all i have to say.
i don't like Mitt best because he is Mormon.
i don't.  i'm not sure who i like best yet...
BUT, BUT i do HATE that his Mormonism could keep him from being the nominee when Newt Gingrich is an alternative.
when Barack Obama is PRESIDENT and he went to a white-hating, America-hating very weird church but he was ok because that church was considered to be "Christian."
come on?!

i am Mormon.
i consecrate my life to Christ and i give money to my church because i believe that money will be used for good.
my church has given my family money, when we were more needy... and i considered it a gift from God.
this may not ever be an issue...
but i bet i'm right.
i bet mitt is more nervous about showing his charitable contribution than he is about showing his taxes.
we'll see if i'm right.

now, time to put my kids to bed and clean up dinner.
oh... this political debate is starting to raise my blood pressure.
and really, it's ok to write a comment and disagree with me.
i have MANY friends and family that love Obama or hate Mitt or like Ron Paul or Santorum... fine.
disagree.
actually, MOST of my family AND my husband's family are democrats.
If you think Mitt is scummy or too moderate... don't vote for him.
there are scummy Mormons- just like any religion.
but, if you really wouldn't vote for someone because they are Mormon... that kills me.
Us Mormons are good people.
really, really good people.
not ALL Mormons are good-- but there is much goodness in Mormonism.
we are Christian.
we are committed.
we are conservative.
we have integrity.
most of us are normal.  :)
most of us are pretty smart.
Really, Mormons are good people.
and, personally i think a Mormon would make a great President.
if not Mitt than who??!!  Newt Gingrich??
oh, gag me.

and, guess what?
i think most baptists are good people too.
and, i would vote for a good Jew.
i would.
(i liked Lieberman)
i love immigrants-- many of my friends have immigrated from other countries.
i believe a man should be judged by his character NOT by stereo-types.
and, maybe i'm wrong.
maybe this isn't all about religion.
we'll see.
(i just bet that the same people who have NO PROBLEM with bashing Mormonism are yelling "racist" at every mention of "poor people" or "welfare"...)
the end for now....

{do you know that i STINK at basketball?  why you ask?  because i'm not skilled at basketball and i'm VERY competitive.  i foul out quickly.  dang it.  i kinda feel like that in politics.  i don't know as much as i wish i knew, but dang it, i am pretty opinionated at the little i think i know.  hah!  insert barking chihuahua here.}

politics by me.

last night we watched the republican national debate.

let me tell you how i see the candidates.

warning--

i am going to vote republican. 

i am more interested in their families than the issues.

i do care about issues, kind of.

but, i vote for who i FEEL would be best.

call me shallow... i'm fine with that.

1. HUNTSMAN

:: he just dropped out yesterday and is endorsing Mitt.

:: he is Mormon- but not very active.

:: he has 7 children.  5 biological, one adopted from China and one adopted from India.

:: some people have made videos of jon with his adopted daughters saying that he is a "Manchurian candidate" or in other words, a spy for the Chinese government.

PLEASE... that makes me mad.

:: 3 of his daughters "Jon's Girls" are cute, trendy and have been actively campaigning for him... making spoof you tube videos that gained some popularity.  They were making fun of a Hermain Cain video where he was talking and smoking a cigar.  I thought it was funny and sort of dumb.  I particularly liked one quote I read where one of Huntman's campaign advisors contacted a magazine to remind them that his daughters comments were not necessarily the views of the nominee.  :) 

:: Rick Perry really likes Jon Huntsman's family.  This is what he said...
"I was hoping I'd get the Huntsman girls. We love the Huntsman girls, our kids get along well, and Mary Kaye and Anita are best friends. Jon’s a dear friend too, and we’ve had a wonderful time getting to know the candidates.

"They will continue to be great and good friends. This process is an interesting one, it’s very intramural-scrimmage wise, but we love them and they’re a great family...(They're) a beautiful, wonderful fun family."

2. ROMNEY
:: very active Mormon
::  has lots of kids... 5 boys i think and his wife has MS.

:: glenn beck, another prominent Mormon-- likes Santorum better.
:: comes from Massachusetts-- where he was governor of a liberal state.  A lot of the junk he gets for being liberal comes from his record in that state.  When i hear the details it sounds to me like he was just trying to be a good leader-- doing what the people in his state wanted him to do.  i really don't think ANY ONE in America can just plow their own agenda through without some mediation. 
:: i like him when he talks.  i feel he's a good man-- but he isn't the most fun to listen to.

3.  PERRY
:: current Governor of Texas.
::  i love Texas and i LOVE this man.
seriously, when he talks i smile.
last night he said something about securing the border... i'm paraphrasing... "the people of America don't ask how much will it cost they ask when will we GET ER DONE."  go Texas!  i LOVE it.
:: i don't love his religion bashing comments about romney. (or those of his staff)
:: he is a no nonsense, non-apologizing, very conservative guy. 
it works in Texas.  not sure it would work in Washington.
::  Perry is married to Anita- his childhood sweetheart.  They have one daughter named Griffin, and a son named Sydney.  he's a politician and a cowboy. 


4. GINGRICH
:: oh Newt.  this guy has been married 3 times, with 3 different affairs (if i'm not mistaken).
:: his current wife is kinda cute, but it makes me sick to think of them in the white house.

:: Newt in the white house-- NEVER.  NEVER.
:: to me, he is the picture of a dirty politician.  i do not trust him.
:: after he lost his Congressional seat he was hired by Freddie and Fannie as a consultant where he made millions.  he says he was advising him but they didn't listen to his recommendations.  i believe him, but i think he's one of those guys that would cheat, lie and steal for a few million dollars.  morally-- NO WAY JOSE.
:: now, intellectually-- i love that guy.
he is RIGHT.  very, very RIGHT.  and he is BOLD (like Perry).
i love that.
really, he makes me laugh.
:: he said we should hire poor kids to be the janitors in schools.  when asked if that was an offensive comment he said, "republicans think work is good.  because of unions janitors in New York make a ridiculous amount of money.  We could fire one New York janitor and hire three kids and raise them out of poverty."  hah!  it made sense to me and i love that he doesn't apologize for his beliefs.  (well, maybe he owes his ex-wives a few apologies.)
:: i think Newt Gingrich belongs on TV as a political analyst and a talk radio commentator-- teaching the people NOT leading them.

5. SANTORUM
:: he's also very conservative.
:: Glenn beck wonders if he is the modern-day Winston Churchill.
:: I really wanted to like him... BUT,
I don't find him very inspiring.  When i hear him talk he sounds kind of whiny. 
He reminds me of Jerry Seinfeld.

:: he was in the Senate, but lost in the last election-- so he is currently unemployed as he runs for President.

i believe this is a financial worry for his family.

:: he is very Catholic.  he has seven children.  (sometimes i confuse his oldest daughter- dark hair, for his wife-lighter.  his oldest daughter looks just like him in girl form.)

:: his youngest daughter has trisomy 18, she wasn't supposed to live a year and is now 3 and a half.  they think she could pass away any day.  many have given him a hard time for campaigning with a sick baby-- he says she inspires him to change things.  (this is similar to the heat Palin took for campaigning with a Down's baby.)  I admire him for living what he believes.  I trust Santorum is doing what he believes to be right.

:: his wife delivered one baby early, at 20 weeks.  They opted to take the baby home with them to show their other children before they buried her.  Alan Colmes (on hannity and Colmes) gave him a hard time for this.  i do think it's a bit odd... but who am i to judge how a family decides to mourn the passing of their child?

:: and, this picture makes me laugh-- it is Santorum's daughter with her american girl doll... i'm not sure why she was so sad...

:: i always think his poor wife looks exhausted.  she's probably so stressed and busy.  here is a picture of her introducing her husband, the baby threw up on him so he is handing her to a family friend.  don't you know that santorum's wife just wishes she was AT HOME watching this on TV?  what a saint.

:: overall, i think he should get a great job in the Republican Nominee's cabinet-- but i'm not sure he is presidential material yet.

6. Ron Paul

:: oh ron paul.

i hardly know what to say.

:: i don't think he's republican... i think he is libertarian.

he's smart.

he's funny.

he reminds me of a grandfather. 

the debate guy says, "OK, we'll give you 30 seconds to respond."  He replies, "I need a minute, at least." 

he's funny.

he says, "You guys just don't get it do you?"

and he's right. 

he's trying to explain the details of politics to a country that really has no clue how things in Washington REALLY happen.

he's too "out there" for me.

too extreme... too philosophical.

i don't think he would make a good president... but i hope somebody takes that man and uses his knowledge for some applied good.

he's smart.

i do want to check out his cookbook though...

:: ron paul has five children.  they were baptized episcopalian.  he was raised Lutheran and attends a baptist church.  some of his sons are also in politics-- i love that.  and, his wife would be a Barbara bush first lady-- cute. 

and that, my friends, is my political moment.

laugh, if you may.

but know-- i do spend some time learning about our candidates.

have a good day!

political laughs...

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

I heard this on Dr. Laura today and thought it was funny... SARAH PALIN: Before it got to the other side, I shot the chicken, cleaned and dressed it, and had chicken burgers for lunch. BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a change! The chicken wanted change! JOHN MC CAIN: My friends that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road. HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure right from Day One that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn’t about me. GEORGE W. BUSH: We don’t really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here. DICK CHENEY: Where’s my gun? BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken. What is your definition of chicken? AL GORE: I invented the chicken. JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken’s intentions. I am not for it now and will remain against it. AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens. ANDERSON COOPER, CNN: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed access to the other side of the road. NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he’s guilty! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks. PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American. MARTHA STEWART: No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer’s Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information. DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I’ve not been told. ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain, alone. GRANDPA: In my day we didn’t ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough. ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road. JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together, in peace. BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken 2008, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your checkbook. Internet Explorer is an integral part of eChicken 2008. This new platform is much more stable and will never crash or need to be rebooted. ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken? COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?

Here is a reader's digest laugh...

"The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, taller, richer and remove the crabgrass on your lawn. The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work, and then they get elected and prove it." P.J. O'Rourke

(Yes, this is funny even to a Republican...)