Hindsight happens: even when you're already an ass

"If only you were my President, Hugo."

Ah, truth: that bitter pill. Catching up with a growing number of his fellow Americans Danny Glover Sees No Difference Between Obama and Bush:

“I think the Obama administration has followed the same playbook, to a large extent, almost verbatim, as the Bush administration. I don’t see anything different,” the activist movie actor said of Obama’s policies in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. “On the domestic side, look here: What’s so clear is that this country from the outset is projecting the interests of wealth and property. Look at the bailout of Wall Street. Why not the bailout of Main Street?”

Translation: "Where's our stuff?" Glover is just echoing what we have to a large part heard from a good number of his like-minded friends: Obama was going to make life fair for people by paying their mortgages & buying their gas, spreading his stash of free Obama money, and handing out new cars. Okay that last part I made up. It's actually Oprah who is known for handing out cars; Oprah who was coincidentally Glover's co-star in the only good movie I can recall the two of them ever starring in: "The Color Purple". They're not so much speaking for those who throw rocks at glass houses as those who just want their own glass tile McMansions.

I'm sure Chavez has a room for you, Danny. Don't mind the people you have to step on between the airport and the palace. They're willing doormats, after all.

Red alert: Chavez' sets up shop

That beloved all-around good guy and pal to the President and Communist organizers, er COMMUNITY organizers everywhere, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez on Tuesday announced a new chain of government-run, cut-rate retail stores that will sell everything from food to cars to clothing from places such as China, Argentina and Bolivia.

I for one am delighted to hear this news. What a fantastic idea! How great would it be if all that substandard garbage we import every day would start going to another market. I of course don't wish anyone who is simply looking to buy some one-of-a-kind wedding invitations any dreaded lead engravings but I imagine that Chavez has a whole department ready for that as well. I mean, what responsible world leader would knowingly up the imports from a country who continuously shipped lead-laden goods to its allies? And then distribute those tainted goods at a huge discount from state-run stores to its downtrodden and oppressed peoples?

No one in the above picture, I am quite certain.

Never too old to Learn

Between the economy, skyrocketing unemployment rates and the piles of college brochures coming to my daughter, I've had education on the brain. I'm not a big fan of college as an idea, but I'm one of the first to acknowledge there is something to be said for directed learning. I've been reading that one of the recession-proof trades out there has to do with IT security, but was put off by the thought of having to go back to school... until I found out about the online university IT programs at Western Governors University.

Not only are their courses accredited which was of interest to my daughter, but tuition is amazingly affordable for what they offer. Where can you find tuition set as a flat rate for a 6 month study period instead of a rate per credit? They even have financial aid programs which are of interest to both me and my husband considering higher education is a luxury when you have a family of 6. I really appreciated that the university was reviewed and recommended by both Time Mag and NBC News. Most online schools these days are little more than infomercials that are so generalized they have nothing special to offer anyone. Just perusing WGU's Degrees & Programs list showed me that this is a serious school with a lot to offer everyone. A few of my family members work in health care, another recession-proof industry but the RN to BSN online program offers a little more job security as well, and who doesn't want that?

Hmm... I wonder if my daughter would mind if we were both college students together?

Six Geese a Laying

Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? Mailed out Christmas cards? Baked Christmas cookies? Have you even started any of the above?

Last year even with online shopping I waited, as usual, until very late in the game both out of need... and indecision. Our girls are all making lists of items to buy dad: everything from new work gloves to power tools to some primo coffee. This year, I was awfully proud of myself to realize I'd gotten quite the jump on Christmas for at least one of the 4 children in our home and saved a BUNDLE as well just by shopping on ebay instead of everywhere else. I can't name the present here in case she reads it but what I bought for $20 is now selling everywhere for $70!

Insane, right? 'Tis the season -- for spending without reason. Remember the Wii selling for upwards of $500 a few years ago? We didn't buy one either. And my kids still love us, too.

Sweet Seduction

Photo courtesy: Come Undone

The requests have trickled in. Enough to make me feel warm and tingly and needed. Christmas cookies and biscottis and melbas and liquor balls and meringues and truffles: all for some Season's Greetings.

I love fulfilling the requests and making everyone happy with sweet treats. And sampling the new recipes: mon dieu! Ah, how I envy my teenager. She can shake and bake right alongside me in the kitchen, surrounded by delightful and tempting confections of every kind with nary an appetite suppressant in sight. After the fourth child I'm still doing fairly well in the figure department but if I ever fed my sweet tooth the way it craved I'd be as round as the Violet the Blueberry Girl from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Favorite new found recipe: Aztec Chocolate Bark... for when the same ol' Peppermint Bark just doesn't have that same kick.

Aztec Chocolate Bark Recipe

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup of hulled, unsalted pumpkin seeds
* 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, plus a dash extra
* 3/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, plus a dash extra
* 3/4 teaspoon of ancho chili powder, plus a dash extra
* 12 oz. of bitter or semi-sweet chocolate

Method

1 Place the pumpkin seeds in a skillet over medium-low heat. Toast the pumpkin seeds for about 5 minutes, they'll pop and jump a bit as they release their oils and moisture. Allow to cool.

2 Melt the chocolate according to the manufacturer's directions. Once melted add the cinnamon, cayenne pepper, ancho chili powder, and most of the pumpkin seeds saving some to decorate the top with.

3 Spread onto a flat baking pan lined with a silpat or wax paper. Sprinkle over and press into the chocolate the last few pumpkin seeds and sprinkle on a dash more of the spices for color and taste. Place in the freezer for 5 minutes or until hardened. Break into pieces and serve or store in the fridge in an airtight container. Best consumed in one or two days.

Oh yeah.