For Americans, the fourth Thursday in November is our national Thanksgiving holiday. Canadians, you have a Monday in October. But we have a long weekend, a parade, a dog show, football, and of course, the Godfather Marathon. I'm not Italian, but I love the Godfather. Call me crazy, but I like the loyalty and tradition in killing mobsters. And of course the cannoli. "Don't forget the cannoli." I've been watching the first one and I still seem to miss the very beginning. I'm sure they'll be doing the marathon again.
So back to Thanksgiving. It's a great day- it was a beautiful here in Vermont- a bit warm and very sunny. I should have soaked up some sunshine, but instead I watched some (too much) television and then cooked up a storm.
My wonderful cousin Steffi came up for the weekend and didn't arrive until 5-5:30, so we (I) delayed most of the cooking until later. Most was easy- cooking up fresh butternut squash that my friends Becky and Kurt grew, cooked up mashed potatoes, and cut up and cooked fresh brussel sprouts with onion and garlic. That was easy- just a lot of prep work. My mom made her cranberry and orange relish (it might actually be my father's mother's recipe, but my mom does it proud). She also prepared the turkey and stuffing and made the gravy when Steffi arrived. I made the crust of my apple pie late (after everything else) so we had pie for breakfast and it was de-lish! I'm not a fan of the crust- it had more of a sugar cookie consistency instead of the old fashioned flaky crust- but it had Cabot Cheddar in the crust, so it ultimately was great. (I found the recipe in Women's Day if you want to check it out..)
So now that the eating and feasting is done (though we have tons of leftovers! Whoo hoo!), it is time to think about Christmas. Some wonderful retailers have had their decorations up since SEPTEMBER! They're just eager is all. I can now play Christmas music, decorate with old and new decorations, finish my Christmas shopping, and wrap my gifts. I have just about everyone done- an order from Amazon to purchase soon (make sure I have enough money) and then a couple odds and ends between now and Christmas. And of course ship a few boxes and mail Christmas cards (and a Hanukkah card thrown in there, too)
I AM READY! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Election 2012
I know that the word election makes many of us cringe. Another 'curse' word for me is politics. I hate politics and how divisive it is. I thought politics was a relatively new and horrible concept until I read the biography of John Adams by David McCullough. If you though elections and politics are bad now, you should hear what they did back in John Adams and Thomas Jefferson's day. They didn't have facebook and the internet back then, but that didn't stop them from spreading slander and all kinds of political retaliation.
I'm also not a fan of elections because of the famed electoral vote and the electoral college. We go out and vote today and create the popular vote. Then, our representatives vote "again" initially as part of the electoral college. It's pretty confusing when a candidate can win the popular vote but loose the election because of electoral votes. Only in America can we screw up our own democracy like this. Sheesh.
But then I watch movies like "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and "Dave". Movies about people who might be nieve, but really set out to change the world in their own little way. It makes me have hope in our decisive country of ours- that elections, political retoric, red and blue- all this is not in vain. Just look at our soldiers and servicemen and women- what have they been fighting for? Step back and think about that.
No, it's not just about oil and power. Yes, we are a greedy nation. God, please forgive us for that. But what our wars and police actions and the like have been about for 200 plus years is about Freedom. (ah... I hear the great quote from "Braveheart" now...) All kidding aside, millions of people have died for this simple but powerful word. Freedom. It means we, here in the United States, have a voice. We take for granted this freedom- many won't vote today because of multiple reasons (including the electoral college thing). While they give this freedom the pushover, millions of people around the world would DIE to have such a freedom. And many will, in fact, because of regimes that won't hear their plea.
So please vote. No matter whether you vote red or blue (which is a fairly new concept by the way- thanks to the 2000 election http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_states_and_blue_states#Origins_of_the_color_scheme
but I learned it from "How the States Got Their Shapes" TV show).
Use your freedom that so many have fought long and hard for.
I'm also not a fan of elections because of the famed electoral vote and the electoral college. We go out and vote today and create the popular vote. Then, our representatives vote "again" initially as part of the electoral college. It's pretty confusing when a candidate can win the popular vote but loose the election because of electoral votes. Only in America can we screw up our own democracy like this. Sheesh.
But then I watch movies like "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and "Dave". Movies about people who might be nieve, but really set out to change the world in their own little way. It makes me have hope in our decisive country of ours- that elections, political retoric, red and blue- all this is not in vain. Just look at our soldiers and servicemen and women- what have they been fighting for? Step back and think about that.
No, it's not just about oil and power. Yes, we are a greedy nation. God, please forgive us for that. But what our wars and police actions and the like have been about for 200 plus years is about Freedom. (ah... I hear the great quote from "Braveheart" now...) All kidding aside, millions of people have died for this simple but powerful word. Freedom. It means we, here in the United States, have a voice. We take for granted this freedom- many won't vote today because of multiple reasons (including the electoral college thing). While they give this freedom the pushover, millions of people around the world would DIE to have such a freedom. And many will, in fact, because of regimes that won't hear their plea.
So please vote. No matter whether you vote red or blue (which is a fairly new concept by the way- thanks to the 2000 election http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_states_and_blue_states#Origins_of_the_color_scheme
but I learned it from "How the States Got Their Shapes" TV show).
Use your freedom that so many have fought long and hard for.
Monday, November 5, 2012
please stay on the line...
My patience is being tested right now as I'm typing. I am currently on hold with the Vermont Unemployment helpline to figure out what the heck my PIN number is so I can make my weekly claim. I tried (multiple times) to redo it online, but it said to call the 800 number. This hold music is nice, but driving me crazy.
I know people use and abuse the system, and so they need to make it hard to get unemployment. I have been what the politicians and news media use the term "underemployed" for the past 6 years. That doesn't mean I've been on unemployment benefits for that long or have even tried applying for unemployment until now. I've always just "gotten by" on multiple temporary and part time jobs- substituting in 4 school districts, part time work where I can. I guess I'm lucky that I have 2 seasonal full time jobs that sort of get me by.
It feels weird applying for unemployment because I want to work. Not that people who are unemployed and apply for help don't want to work, it's just that I'm 34. I have a BA plus 6 credits towards my masters. I am a hard worker and love to work. Have I just not looked in the right area for jobs? Apparently not. I could still be teaching in South Florida. I could be teaching overseas somewhere. But I'm not. I'm sitting here at the computer at a little after noon on Monday waiting for someone to pick up the phone and let me get my unemployment benefits that I've been working for this far in my career.
Applying and taking unemployment benefits does not mean I'm giving up. I may have given up on teaching here in the State of Vermont, but I have not give up on working here in the state that I love. I applied to 3 jobs last week, like they asked I do. I went to my seasonal job's orientation (even though I don't start until December 10th or so). I signed up to substitute teach- just to get by (pay my bills) until my seasonal job starts.
In other words, I'm not a slacker! I might still be in my pj's, but I'm not a slacker!
I know people use and abuse the system, and so they need to make it hard to get unemployment. I have been what the politicians and news media use the term "underemployed" for the past 6 years. That doesn't mean I've been on unemployment benefits for that long or have even tried applying for unemployment until now. I've always just "gotten by" on multiple temporary and part time jobs- substituting in 4 school districts, part time work where I can. I guess I'm lucky that I have 2 seasonal full time jobs that sort of get me by.
It feels weird applying for unemployment because I want to work. Not that people who are unemployed and apply for help don't want to work, it's just that I'm 34. I have a BA plus 6 credits towards my masters. I am a hard worker and love to work. Have I just not looked in the right area for jobs? Apparently not. I could still be teaching in South Florida. I could be teaching overseas somewhere. But I'm not. I'm sitting here at the computer at a little after noon on Monday waiting for someone to pick up the phone and let me get my unemployment benefits that I've been working for this far in my career.
Applying and taking unemployment benefits does not mean I'm giving up. I may have given up on teaching here in the State of Vermont, but I have not give up on working here in the state that I love. I applied to 3 jobs last week, like they asked I do. I went to my seasonal job's orientation (even though I don't start until December 10th or so). I signed up to substitute teach- just to get by (pay my bills) until my seasonal job starts.
In other words, I'm not a slacker! I might still be in my pj's, but I'm not a slacker!
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