Thanksgiving

The usual Thanksgiving drill at our house is lots of grand/kidlets, and the aromas of turkey and dressing and rolls and pies wafting throughout the house before anyone ever gets up. Well, almost anyone. I seem pretty much always to be up, at least according to BB1: "Poke stays up late and gets up early."

But today, for the first time, we had none of that.

C and hers are at the in-laws' this year. I always wanted my kids to marry orphans, but I had not imagined that orphans would be in such short supply, and so far that hasn't happened. We have one more chance, and meanwhile we share. This year it is "their turn."

S and Gi are hard at work. The perils of life as a police officer married to an ER nurse.

D and the little girls have gone off to Kansas. Enough said.

M made out like a bandit. He took off after school yesterday to visit the aunt of one of his classmates (Is that what they call them?) somewhere in the vicinity of West Point; today he and a bunch of other strays are invited for Thanksgiving at Major Minor's; and Saturday there will be one more dinner, at the home of the chem prof.

So my Man and I had Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant for the first time in our 34 Thanksgivings together. When we go to Ryan's, which isn't often, I generally sample everything that looks remotely interesting, but, today notwithstanding, Thanksgiving is for tradition, so I decided to stick to traditional Thanksgiving foods: turkey, ham, dressing, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and pecan pies, and the like. It was an interesting change, but to be perfectly honest, our turkey and our pies are waaaaay better than Ryan's, and I don't think we will be repeating this experience. Now we are back at home, with no leftover turkey and no mid-afternoon pies ;-( No, we definitely will not do the restaurant dinner again.

My Man sat down to watch the football game and is now happily asleep on the couch, accompanied by Miracle on 34th Street, while I am looking out the window, thankful for the perfectly drizzly, perfectly grey, perfectly chilly Thanksgiving Day.

This year things are a bit different, a bit less comfortable than they have always been, but we always have something to be thankful for. The Scripture is replete with examples of gratitude and admonitions to be grateful, even when things don't look quite as we think they should, all summed up in I Thessalonians 5:18~"in everything give thanks..."

Now there's something to think about. And it's humbling to realize that there are worse things than being home alone for Thanksgiving.

One of *Us*

So. Obama hasn't moved into the White House yet, but he's gearing up. And he's already made one important decision.

Unlike Jimmy Carter, an ineffectual but sincere (Dem, to give credit where credit is due) president from the last century who sent his daughter to public school while living in the White House, Obama has selected none other than the elite Sidwell Friends School, of Chelsea Clinton fame, for his little darlings.

Not that I blame him. It's just that, well, you know, we elected him because he's a regular, everyday guy. One of us. A champion of the downtrodden and the blue collar worker and all that. He's all about that equality stuff. Community. Sharing the wealth. That sort of thing. Yep, he's all about it. Until it comes to his family. All of a sudden we're not quite so equal anymore.

But I understand. Really. I wouldn't want my children in public school in Washington, D.C., either. No parent wants their children's personal security guards to be outnumbered. Or outgunned. Fortunately, unlike all those poor sods who elected him, he has the wherewithal to do something about it.

Welcome to the New USSA

Obama is now recycling the Clintonoids as his "new" cabinet. How's that for Hope and Change?

Wah, Wah, Waaaaahhh...!

Disgraceful. I am less than even the slightest fan of NObama, but I do find this somewhat, uh ... "inappropriate." There is, however, the matter of *free speech* which the Dems invoke endlessly to legitimize a multitude of the most egregious of transgressions. Their transgressions, that is. More of that one-way business... It never seems to matter whom they offend, but woe betide the miserable cur who offends their delicate sensibilities.

Tonight on the news there was a good deal of hand-wringing going on amid loud lamentations over the anti-Obama posters in MacGregor: "Oh, my gosh, Obama hasn't even been inaugurated, and already he is the target of such hatred and criticism, and it is making the people and businesses of MacGregor look bad, and what has he done to deserve such animosity, and ..."

Now here is what disturbs me:

When Obama was elected, "At last, we have a president that represents all the people" was heard throughout the land (Huh?! I don't recall voting for him, and he certainly doesn't represent me.), followed by "It's time for everyone to set differences aside and support the new president." Hmmm....

The sycophantic media then proceeded to fawn over Obama in the most shameful fashion. He was courted by the press. He was featured prominently on television, radio, and in the newspapers. His every word was quoted as though from the mouth of the president himself. His ideas and opinions were sought after as if he actually had some authority. An alien dropping in from another world would have, altogether reasonably, assumed Obama to be the president. The media was, and is, doing its utmost to influence the mindless public in favor of its darling.

But now, all of a sudden, here is at least one private citizen who clearly isn't in love with Obama. And what does the media have to say about that? "Wah, wah, wah, it isn't fair, he isn't even the president yet, why does everyone hate him so much, what has he done to deserve this treatment, etc, etc...."

So here is my question: If Obama is worthy of pre-presidency laud and glory and honor, then why is he off limits for pre-presidency criticism? The answer, of course, is that the Dems are the masters of the Double-Standard. And it is that simple.

As I say, I find the posters tasteless. I would never display them myself, but, America being the bastion of free speech that it is, this guy is squarely within his rights to display his own posters in his own windows.

And yes, I agree. We should all come together and the Reps should support the new president. Perhaps in the same spirit in which the Dems have supported the current one....?

Brain Overflow

• If they scheme with you, they will scheme against you.
• Forget what's right. People only care about what is convenient at the time, or whatever gets something for them.
• I love America. I love that America was conceived by godly men.
• I still believe in the "Silent Majority."
• Lose the "get out the vote" mentality. If people aren't motivated enough to inform themselves and vote on their own, they don't deserve to vote. And they certainly don't deserve the right to mess up my life, because:
  
• Airheads are easily enticed by lies and false promises, and:
• Forget the heck out of tomorrow; shallow minds can't even see past the moment.
• Colleges in general are bastions of liberal non-thinking.
• TANSTAAFL.
• It is the "young voters" the media is always catering to that are out of touch with reality, especially the ones of today who have grown up in lala land with the idea that life should be "fair." As if it could.
• The governments are ordained by God, not necessarily for our comfort.
  
• And how is it that the ignorant are so cocksure about everything, while the intelligent are full of doubts?

Faith keeps a close eye on the facts, and it is time to put our faith to practice.

Good Mourning, America

A week or two ago we had the choice of voting for socialism or capitalism. Socialism won. Now socialism is a wonderful theory, the problem being that it does not translate well into practice, though of course there are worse things than socialism: communism for instance, or fascism, or possibly anarchy.

The thing that disturbs me...well, one of the things that disturbs me, is that there are many, many happily oblivious socialistic countries out there, where all these short-sighted, welfare- and entitlement-minded miscreants could have moved to live happily ever after, but there was only ever one America.

Why is it that you don't see Americans, or anyone else for that matter, beating a path to any other country's door? No, people the world over want nothing the way they want to come to America.

A year or two ago, M had the pleasure of meeting several Frenchmen who had come over for an American history re-enacting event, an intriguing proposition in and of itself. They were professional, educated men in their 30's, and they carried on a good deal of thoughtful, intelligent conversation about politics and history and current events. At some point in the discussion, M asked them what they, as Frenchmen, thought about America. Their profound and simple answer:

"In our hearts we are all Americans."

Follow the $ Trail

Did Obama buy the election?

They Won the Battle...

Luke 22:3: "Satan entered into Judas..." leading ultimately to the crucifixion of Jesus. Satan won that battle, and he thought he won the war. But what he actually did was to further God's cause, only he was too stupid/prideful/arrogant to realize that God would use his own wickedness against him. I see a parallel here.

There were many, many times throughout history that God used ungodly leaders and even other enemy nations to bring His own people back to their senses. Perhaps we have finally come to that point ourselves. As a nation we have certainly become a shame and a disgrace. Well, at least some of us; there are *some* of us that still get it. The trouble, of course, is that the ones that get it are going to have to pay along with the ones that don't. It has been a habit through history that the innocent pay for the guilty. To go off on a tangent, it's why Jesus took the hit for us. With all due respect, on a whole different level, I see a parallel here, too.

I am not saying that Obama is the Anti-Christ, but whoever he may be, we may be assured that God will use him to His purpose.

...but they didn't win the war.

Pie Party!

My friend Li had this great idea for a Pie Party! So tomorrow it is. Everyone is bringing their favorite pie, or at least a pie of some kind. I usually like to experiment on groups of friends, but I am afraid of too many desserts, so I am bringing an old family favorite:
~~~~~~~
Chicken Pie
chicken~whatever looks right
onions~little pearl onions are wonderful, but any kind will do
2 julienned carrots
1 c. peas
1 c. white wine
2 c. water or chicken broth
1/4 c. butter
1/3 c. flour
salt
pie crust

Cook chicken, onions, carrots, and peas in 2 c. simmering salted water or broth and wine until tender. Drain and set aside.

In large skillet, melt butter. Blend in flour and salt to taste. Add broth all at once. Cook and stir till thick and bubbly. Stir in chicken and veggies, and pour into casserole dish. Put pie crust on top, and you can put one on the bottom, too. If you want to make your own pie crust, you're on your own. Otherwise, use one of those pre-made ones, and if you're like me, not so crazy about those, well, forget about the crust. This stuff is perfectly good without it! Bake in 375 oven for 30 minutes.
~~~~~~
P.S. A whisk is wonderful for that "cook and stir" part. I don't know why, but my mom never had one when I was growing up, so I never made its acquaintance until I had my own kitchen. My advice: If you don't have one, get one!

TA-DA! Another YUM-YES!

AN OrdiNary November Day

D and the Princess and the Gingerbread Cookie left yesterday, so after the last two+ months of continual, relentless little girl chitter-chatter, today has been unusually quiet.

D reports that it is snowing in Kansas today; M reports mist in New York. Here has nothing so wondrous to offer: It's a bit windy, though far short of blustery. But still, it's unmistakably fall. I hope that it mists and rains and snows in Heaven. That alone would make it worth going ;-) Well, almost. Any way it would be a definite plus.

I spent a good bit of the day just sorta catching up. Changing sheets, doing laundry, picking up, doing errands, answering the phone.

I packed up some goodies and mailed a package to M. He costs me way more at West Point than he ever did at home. But he's way worth it ;-)

Tonight we are back in "dinner at the old folks' home" mode. Small pans, small plates, small portions.

After dinner I am making a chicken pot pie to take to the Pie Party tomorrow night, followed by solo kitchen duty and laundry folding. Alas, now that D is gone, the work is all mine. Mine alone.

Who's Next?

So now the automakers need bailing out. When is this going to stop? Who will have their hand out next?

I know that car sales are down, placing the automotive industry in dire straits. My newest car is seven or eight years old, and I have an idea that will help both of us. Instead of a gargantuan gift of government grants to the automakers, I propose a bailout payment to the beleaguered taxpayer, who can then purchase a new car. Business growth for the car manufacturers, and a new car for me. Voila'!

New for November?

Barack Hussein Obama, America's first hAlfrican-American president (or is he...?).

Seen on the back of a t-shirt popular with black Obama supporters: "BLACK MAN RUNNING AND NOT FROM THE POLICE." This would be hilarious if it weren't so totally tragic. The clear implication is that when you see a black man running, the cops won't be far behind.

Question: Why, oh why, would a black man want to promote such an idea?

Answer: Because he just doesn't get it. Obama is culturally, educationally, socially, and financially, one of the elite. Hardly the type to need to run from the police. I wonder how long before his supporters notice?

And by the way, just how black is he exactly? According to the reports, he is 1/2 white, and only 1/4 black, with the remaining 1/4 being Arab. Rumor has it that his Arab family owned black slaves in Kenya, but maybe that's just a rumor. And why is his white half so blatantly disregarded? Could it be that it just wouldn't play well among the mindless masses who only recognize one-way racism?

Some of us may be in for some rude surprises to discover that Obama was one of "us" only long enough to influence and manipulate and use us in order to place himself in a position of power. Now that he has succeeded, he is already backpedaling. Already beginning to renege on his promises by trying to modify and lower expectations.

Some of us still get it. Unfortunately, we will be paying right along with those who don't.

Buckle up, America. Time will tell what "we" have signed up for.