Archive for the ‘Living Life’ Category
The beginning of this grand tradition is lost in the sands of time.
I’m sure it was just a casual thing when the kids were young. I was probably desperate for a witness to help convince Velda that she said something that she wouldn’t admit to. Just sayin’.
In any event, the family vote began to evolve.
It’s simple. Really. We sit at the table for dinner. We converse. Someone makes a statement that is controversial for some reason. With that, you state your objection and raise your hand. No words are needed: you just raise your hand. Anyone at the table is free to vote with you … or not. Everyone in the family has led votes, won votes, and lost votes. You disagree with a statement made? You vote. You agree with a statement? You vote. You just raise your hand, and let the chips fall where they may.
Today, the kids are grown. Friends, significant others, and now spouses have joined in votes at our table. When guests first see a vote, they don’t know what to make of our family tradition.
Votes are remembered. They become topics of discussion days and weeks later. People remember when they get support, and who won’t support their votes.
Votes are celebrated. Our extended family and friends revel in leading their first vote.
Votes are entertaining. It’s all in fun. It’s a reality check. It’s another way to stick your tongue out at the annoying people in the family. Politely.
When you win, that is. When you don’t win, well, you become the object of “scorn.”
And it’s all wonderful entertainment, and wonderful fun for everyone.
Next time someone in the family makes a mistake – in your opinion – then you should lead a vote. Good luck!
More
MrsMowry: Ode To Effort
Management and Parenting: Making It Work
Tammy’s Top Ten Reasons To Have Family Dinners
Parentables: If You’re Not Voting Republican, Leave The Dinner Table
1. No More “Check’s In The Mail”
In just 2 weeks. the US Postal Service loses another customer: Social Security checks will no longer be physically delivered after March 1. All “checks” will be delivered electronically … even if recipients don’t request that.
Here’s how the Social Security Administration explains it.
We are forcing our most senior citizens into the electronic age. I’m not against it, but I’m certain this is controversial with a population that doesn’t trust what they can’t physically hold in their hands. Electronic Fund Transfers? Not so much.
2. The Penn State Mess
Here’s what Freeh said in his statement this week: “I stand by our conclusion that four of the most powerful people at Penn State failed to protect against a child sexual predator harming children for over a decade.” That statement is true.
The problem, though, is that Freeh drew many more conclusions that were supported by his prosecutorial opinions, not provable facts. And in spite of that shaky foundation, Penn State agreed to pay $60 million in penalties, which I wrote about, here. The backlash continues, as the Paterno family released a counter-report this week. Now you’ve got politicians calling for another investigation into the original investigation’s findings.
The whole mess is heartbreaking, and it’s still not resolved legally. Only the convicted molester Sandusky is in jail; no one involved in the alleged cover-up has even gone to trial.
And the opinions continue to fly.
3. The Inaccessible President
A couple of weeks ago we learned that Obama often doesn’t take press conference questions from TV networks he doesn’t like … now we learn that he’s avoiding newspapers as a group as well. New media choices continue to make the old media path more and more difficult.
It’s another example of how tightly Obama’s administration controls their image in an effort to shape the national dialogue.
4. 1 in 6 married in 2010 met online
The number of people meeting through friends is declining. Online dating is expensive: up to $60/month to belong to a dating service like Match.com. Read “10 Things Dating Sites Won’t Tell You” from the Wall Street Journal.
Dating just isn’t what it used to be!
5. Watered Down Whiskey. Did’ja Notice?
There was a time that I thought Maker’s Mark was pretty good bourbon. But when I read how they’re watering down their product … well, I’ve purchased my last bottle.
Dear marketers: when it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
6. Parental Mistakes
I’m pretty sure that I am a perfect parent, but here are 3 excellent suggestions on things NOT to do.
7. Gun Control Debate
I like to believe that I have a well-stocked kitchen. If you ask my husband, I have an over-stocked kitchen. This is also true.
I am not alone though! My mother-in-law beats me in this category by a landslide. While our cabinets may overflow with some strange foodie gadgets, asking us to throw one away would be akin to asking us to get rid of a beloved pet. We may not make fresh pasta for every meal, but we do make fresh pasta occasionally!
In large part, it is due to her that I have such strong opinions on what every young cook should have in their kitchen, beyond the basics.
1. A Dutch Oven
Every person should have a dutch oven. Whether it’s a Le Cruset or a 50-year-old iron behemoth from Ebay, it’s a must. A Dutch oven is a great way to slow-cook stews, roasts, sauces, you name it. The thickness of the iron helps cook foods evenly and keeps them hot. A Dutch oven also helps keep meat juicy while you cook it. No one can say no to tender meat!
2. A Food Processor
A food processor doesn’t just help make meal prep faster, it’s a great tool for making salsa, bruschetta, humus, etc. While most food processors are tricky to clean, the time you spend cleaning the Cuisinart is less than the time it would have taken to chop all of those vegetables. Think about it.
3. A Great Set of Baking Pans
If you have crappy baking pans, you will have crappy cookies. Throw away your old, burnt, ugly pans and buy new ones! I love Chicago baking pans. They’re not shiny, they’re non-stick, and they’re durable. I got an entire set for our wedding and I use them for nearly every meal. I even got a roasting pan that made my roasted chicken a family favorite! Invest in a set of Chicago pans, they’re not that expensive and so worth it.
4. A Crock Pot
Now, one could argue that a Dutch oven and a crock pot are basically fraternal twins. They’re not. They’re distant cousins that do two very different jobs. A crock pot is a gift to the working people. Prepare a meal in the morning, set it up in the crock pot, leave it alone all day and have something amazing when you get home. A Dutch oven requires time and attention which are great for a Sunday night dinner that you started cooking at 3 pm. A crock pot, however, requires little effort and has a great pay-off. It’s just so easy.
5. A Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer
I saved the best for last. My baby. The star of my kitchen counter- my Kitchen Aid. I adore this mixer. I’m glad I got married, not only because I love my husband, but because I got this mixer as a wedding shower gift. Velda was the person who gave it to me. Many say that having a stand mixer is a waste of counter space. They say that it just sits around going unused. WRONG. That mixer has helped me make amazing cookies. It’s helped me bake cakes, whisk eggs, beat dough, and make muffins. My Kitchen Aid has helped me smile on a sad day. It made me famous at work for Peanut Butter Cup Cookies. It helped me surprise my husband with tasty treats after a rough day at work. I should probably give it a name. Or take a photo with it. If you want to become a great baker, get a Kitchen Aid. I am a pretty fine baker, if I say so myself and half of the credit goes to my mixer. It’s reliable. It’s sturdy. It has multiple attachments and a flour shield. It has a great warranty and you can buy so many awesome accessories for it! I’ve definitely got my eye on a pasta-making attachment. Needless to say, this mixer is worth it’s hefty price tag.
This is my short list of kitchen tools. I could go on about fancy skillets, garlic presses, rolling pins, or fine knives, but I won’t…at least, not yet. With these five things, you can convince anyone you’re a good cook. Even if you’re not, you can at least prepare decent meals for yourself with very little effort. Incorporating cooking dinners into life can be challenging, especially for the inexperienced. Practice makes perfect! And great tools make everything easier.
It was an incredible gift. The greatest gift. And most people don’t even believe in it. But they want to.
I believe.
I proposed to Velda on our first date. It was love at first sight. Well, not quite first sight … but this is our story.
It was 1974. I had resolved to go to the best college I could imagine attending. For this dirt-poor boy, that was the University of Missouri. I won scholarships, applied for financial aid, got part-time jobs … and stitched together the money to make it work. That was the deal I had with my folks: if I could pay for it, I could go.
When I was one of two in the nation that won the $500 annual scholarship from Dad’s employer, Skelly Oil Company, I knew I could pay tuition and it would all work (yes, $500 was all it took for my annual tuition).
Come August 1974, it was off to Columbia, MO to discover what life had in store for me.
My eyes were opened in amazing ways. My first roommate only lasted a week, then he moved out to become a dorm Resident Assistant. My next roommate … well, let’s just say this Eagle Scout wasn’t cut from the same cloth as that idiot. I moved across campus at the semester break to Hudson Hall, and that proved to be a very, very good move.
I had graduated from Nodaway-Holt High School, in a class of 36. Of those 36, 4 went to Mizzou. All were my good friends, of course, and one of those was Janie, who lived across the street in Schurz Hall. Her roommate was Charity, and Charity had a friend named Velda.
With me so far?
Not sure when I first met Velda, but it was probably February of ’75. She was a friend of a friend of a friend, and I paid her no mind. I was a theatre major and she was, uh, different. She came from the big city, and I’d never even been to the big city. I remember her giving me advice on how to cut my hair (which I disregarded). She was in the same big chemistry class that I was, but it was a big lecture with 400+. That class was a dog fight to get grades, because it was the class required for anyone in the bio sciences: pre-med, bio, PT, nursing … all of high school’s “A” students were in that class. Me, I was the theater major in the honors lab just trying to survive. Velda, she was in a different lab and a totally different place. Again, no connection there.
There was a mixer (AKA dancing to a DJ before that was the least bit cool) at Hudson Hall one night, and I was there. Velda was there with a bunch of people. That night we didn’t talk at all that I recall, but we did have one dance. It was the 70s: we danced to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s classic “Free Bird.” It was electric. Please, allow me to repeat that. Electric. One dance … and that was that.
Done.
We still weren’t a couple, but I’d never felt anything like that before … or since.
The end of the semester came and we were freshmen no more. I had resolved to return for summer school, as had Velda, come to find out. I was living in a campus dorm; she was in the more expensive private dorm. Neither of us knew anyone else that was at summer school. That first week, I called to ask her out (the first time I had ever called her), and Friday night was our first date.
June 13, 1975.
Instant connection. Instant communication. Instant.
I proposed that night. And she said YES!
We were 18 years old. I was 3 years from graduation, working 2 jobs to pay my bills. A ring wouldn’t happen for another year, and it was not that impressive.
But Velda was. And is.
Love at first sight. I believe.
More
WriteMeg! On HER Love At First Sight
Making Snap Romantic Decisions In The Medial Prefontal Cortex
Kylie Minogue’s “Love At First Sight”
Random Thoughts In A Random World
1. Detroit is going bankrupt, government dawdles
The cash will run out as soon as this month. The result of this bureaucratic gridlock could be the largest municipal bankruptcy ever.
The city can’t overcome the white flight that has lowered the tax base. Now, it’s trying to fix crushing problems with no money. Oh, and apparently its island is sinking, too. The New York Times offers no solutions.
All of those residents and businesses that fled the city aren’t coming back. City government? Still fiddling around while the cash is almost gone. Irresponsibility in governance is everywhere it seems.
2. No more Saturday mail, government dawdles
This issue has been around for a while … the US Postal Service could save billions by not delivering on Saturday. The USPS announced Wednesday they were unilaterally ending Saturday delivery, because Congress hasn’t told them they can’t do that this year. Previously, Congress has always specifically blocked the initiative, which they still could. For now, however, they haven’t said NO, so the Postmaster General has taken the initiative.
This week’s LA Times editorial blames the Republicans for mandating the USPS fund the retirement program for its employees. The vicious plot imagined by the LA Times is not seen by the Washington Post, which observes the bureaucratic nightmare is the problem:
Like Gulliver tied down by the Lilliputians, this supposedly independent, self-supporting entity answers to a presidentially appointed board, Congress, several labor unions and a regulatory commission — not to mention the demands of corporate mailers and, last but not least, the general public.
But what’s really to blame? Revenues are down 37% over the last 5 years. Losses last year were $15.9 billion. Any business – any business – would struggle with losing over a third of its revenue over 5 years. Add in a rigid cost structure with bureaucratic oversight, and you’ve got a mess. And we do.
Who’s for ending Saturday delivery? According to the NY Times, the American people. And, the Obama administration.
Here’s a piece from George Will about the controversy when we ended Sunday delivery – and it was just as controversial.
Personally, I am a supporter of sending and receiving mail, but have no problem with 5-day delivery to save money. As the saying goes, a billion here and a billion there … and soon, you’re talking real money.
3. 92% of electronic data is under two years old
Let that statement sink in a minute.
Almost all electronic information – 92% – has been created in the last two years. Imagine the profound differences in our world when data mining matures as a business. Feeling like you have lost some privacy? You ain’t seen nothing yet. And the perspective of one of the chief data miners is that by marrying databases, we aren’t even losing privacy, as it’s all anonymous!
Personalized ads are already popping up on cellphones and news feeds everywhere. It’s just a matter of time until that personalization adds geographic proximity and we’re confronted with ads from nearby stores specifically targeting us based on past behavior. We saw that in the 2002 film Minority Report, starring Tom Cruise. It was frightening then, and it’ll be frightening when it’s “normal.”
Gian Fulgoni was a co-founder of comScore; he’s definitely on the leading edge of getting this massive amount of data to work for companies. To see what he’s thinking about, read this fascinating piece about the priorities and progression of data, here.
4. Congressional drones object to the President’s drones
Here’s what the Washington Post has to say on the topic, here. And, some other views….
Here’s to next week being better for us all!
1. Check your pockets.
2. See if the door is actually locked.
3. Check your pockets again.
4. (swearing optional)
5. Decide to check the other doors and windows.
6. Rejoice when you find a single downstairs window unlocked.
7. Find tools to remove screen from unlocked window (revel in the discovery of a shovel and long BBQ tongs).
8. Insert shovel and pry screen off.
9. Discover the little flippy thing is out, which means the unlocked window will only open 2″.
10. (ed. note: you know)
11. Compare the cost of breaking a window vs. the humiliation of calling for help.
12. Check wallet. Decide to call for help.
13. Discover your Droid auto-updated overnight, and it now won’t work until you figure it out, log in and confirm some new settings.
14. (eye roll)
15. Call Little Girl to see if she can get you in the house. She hangs up laughing hysterically.
16. Call MrsMowry to see if she can get you in the house. Winner! Sit on the bench and wait.
17. Finish updating the phone.
18. Consider how cold you’ll be in 30 minutes (I know, I know, but it was in the 50s today. Brrrrr.).
19. Walk around the house to see how bad the yard is.
20. Look for a place to hide a key.
21. Remember the last time you were locked out of the house (a hot tub was involved, and it was not my fault. All I’m saying.).
22. Think about buying a hide-a-key.
23. Look for more places to hide a key.
24. Play games on the now-functional phone.
25. Put your hands in your pockets. It’s probably in the low 50s.
26. Thank MrsMowry for helping you. Watch as she steals a weird radish as compensation. It’s weird that it was in the fridge, it’s weird that she knew it was in the fridge, and it’s weird that she wanted it. But you now have your keys. Let it go.
27. Time passes.
28. MrsMowry spilled the beans to Mrs. Mowry. Weigh the advantages of getting even with MrsMowry against the possibility you’ll need her help again. Hmmmmm.
My candle burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes,
and oh, my friends-
It gives a lovely light.
– Edna St. Vincent Millay
A long time ago, not very far away, I began a phase in my life where I tried to cook. Things didn’t go smoothly. The food I made in my parent’s kitchen as a 13-year-old wasn’t good enough for the dog to eat, let alone my human family. However, I had to cook for someone in order to practice for my Foods class at school. My poor family suffered (Don’t let me make cinnamon rolls. EVER.). Anyway, after I passed this junior high elective (How? I still don’t know. Thank goodness for group work.), I gave up any hope of learning how to cook…until I met my future mother-in-law.
As Henry has mentioned before, Velda is a wizard in the kitchen (He might have given her other titles, but I lean towards the spell-casting folk. Personal preference, if you will). We’ve spent many a night packed around the kitchen table, eating to our hearts’ content. When our family of ten (now eleven!) gathers for a meal, we need two sets of bowls for each side dish. Otherwise, it would probably take 20 minutes to get a single bowl passed around the table! The conversation is filled with jokes about making sure there is a bowl of mashed potatoes set aside specifically for me, or casting family votes on some silly topic (usually not in my favor). We watch as Christopher gets all of his food last (usually Lauren has already cleaned her plate). At meal’s end, we help move empty plates to the kitchen and congratulate Velda on another great meal. Our star chef loves the praise, but doesn’t always want to be alone in the kitchen. This is where I came in.
I began my part in the Mowry Cucina as a sous-chef. I did small things like chop garlic and mix sauces. Occasionally I would season chicken or man the stir-fry. Though my jobs were small, it felt important and I enjoyed doing it. When Michael went away to college, Lauren and I spent time in the kitchen with Velda learning how to cook. We started the clamor for VMICA: The Velda Mowry Institute of Culinary Arts. Later, Jeremy and Michael joined the crew and started cooking. That didn’t last long, but it was definitely fun! Lauren and I were the first graduating class. As we got more confident we did more complicated things. I would make a side dish, or bake some rolls. Lauren would make sauces or put together salads. When Velda hurt her back at work and couldn’t cook, I was named temporary chef. I remember the first meal I made … it was awful. I put way too much raw garlic in the potatoes. Overcooked the chicken. Burnt the broccoli. It was a Murphy’s Law type of dinner and everyone ate it. They were too kind. It still haunts me.
Years have passed since that day and I like to believe I’ve gotten much better. I love to cook. I’m not amazing, but hope I get an “A” for effort. I have my own set of signature dishes that the family enjoys, and I torture my husband with my cooking at home. Since we’ve gotten so focused on losing weight, finding ways to make healthy meals that taste good has been very difficult. You never know how much whole milk and real butter make a dish taste amazing until you can’t use them. But sometimes, the point of making dinner isn’t to impress your guests with your cooking, it’s to spend time with the people you love. I know that’s cliché, but it’s true. We spend our entire family dinner laughing, telling stories, talking about our lives. We make faces at our beautiful niece and mock each other endlessly. Eating family dinner happens two or three nights a week, which is rare for most families. Before college, family dinner was five nights a week. We’re lucky the food is great, but we’re luckier to have each other.
I cook because I love to assemble ingredients and go grocery shopping. I cook because I love food. But, mainly, I cook because I love to have a reason to surround myself with my friends and family.
More
Management and Parenting: Making It Work
Tammy’s Top Ten Reasons to Have Family Dinners
(ed. note: MrsMowry cooks fine meals … and she sets a great table, too!)
Dinner at Cora Cook Baugher’s home, circa 1930. This would be my Great Great Grandmother.
I wrote the title of this post MONTHS ago. I was thinking about doing a commentary on obesity in schools and completely forgot what inspired that decision. As I was going through drafts and came back across this post, I realized it applies to something completely different…myself.
Last week I joined Weight Watchers. A while ago my doctor told me I needed to shed a few pounds to help my heart health (I have a heart thing. It’s not serious. We don’t think.) and the things I tried at home weren’t working. So I gave in.
The program is simple. Using a top-secret algorithm based on your age, height, and weight, WW gives you a number of points to spend on food every day. Veggies and fruits are free. Carbs have an inflated cost. So does wine (sad face). The website has meal ideas, recipes, and helps you keep track of all the points you’re working with. It’s pretty great.
What I’ve noticed is this: being forced to write down what you eat is enough to change your eating habits. If you want to lose weight, start there. If you write down all the foods you eat for one day, you’ll be surprised. You’ll feel guilty about eating potato chips or going out for burgers. With that alone I could completely change my diet. But that isn’t all of it. It’s the pride in noticing the good foods. This week I’ve had five servings of fruit or veggies every day. I don’t know that that’s ever happened to me. Pair that with five trips to the gym this week and suddenly you’ll not only feel better, but look better too. More annoying clichés, I know.
I’m lucky that being overweight has never really been a huge issue for me. An errant 15 pounds has chased me around since I graduated from college. Those last two years were probably the most stressful in my life (hence the heart issues). But beyond that I’m a pretty active person. That isn’t always enough. Looking ‘good’ and being healthy are two completely different things. I love my curves, but I haven’t been healthy. Changing my bad habits was surprisingly easy. Eating better is not only good for you, it feels amazing too. I lost nearly three pounds this week. It’s a small hurdle, but a hurdle nonetheless. And I’m proud of that. I’m proud to have cooked some tasty, low-fat chili. I’m proud of how hard I’ve worked out. The pride helps with weight loss too. Celebrate all the small steps and suddenly being healthy is a habit and not a diet. It’s not a chore, it’s enjoyable. It’s wonderful.
– MrsMowry
Off to the theater in 1976.
I’m an expert on dating. Don’t believe me? Let me share what has made me an expert:
- While I was single, I went on about two dozen dates. That’s right, me, more than 20 dates!
- I have dated girls from two different states.
- I have dated girls in two different cities.
- I have been on dates that included food and movies. Both! Two activities, one date. Is it any wonder that Velda accepted my proposal so quickly?
See, I’ve been there and done that. And with cred like that, you know that I can help all of the lost souls out there that are staring at the Mount Olympus of dating in just 21 days.
Gentlemen, let me help you.
13 Tips for a Great Valentine’s Day Date
- You’ll need to decide who you want to stare at over a chocolate dessert. Don’t worry about her looks: it’ll be dark. Do worry if she’s a criminal or lives with criminals. Choose someone who doesn’t need deprogramming.
- About that. Get a reservation at a dark place. Darkness is your friend. What, you think she wants to look at you?
- Don’t be an idiot. Don’t wait. Ask her nicely. In person. Do not text. Do not call. Ask. In. Person. Do not sing a song for your invitation, and don’t sing a song of thanks when she says yes. In fact, don’t sing. Don’t dance, either. Just avoid the arts, except for the lively art of conversation when you Ask. In. Person.
- A few days in advance, talk about what she’s wearing. Tell her you want to match. Give her approval over what you’re wearing. Big cred here. Don’t doubt me … look at the vintage dating photo of Velda and I. We were already engaged here … but look at how complementary our outfits are. Look at her dress. My suit. My tie. My shoes. Back in ’76, I knew how to show big style to my lady.
- Do you have a reservation yet? You’re not taking a lady to Taco Bell, dude. Go big, or stay home. (ed. note: the blog editor tells me that the word “lady” is biased gender language. Yes. Yes it is. I have a bias towards ladies. Thanks for noticing.)
- Ditch the 7-11 roses & Wal-mart candy. You need to up your game. Bring her a potted plant. Bring her a kitchen appliance. Perhaps an emergency automobile kit. Be memorable.
- Wash your car. Dump the empty beer cans in the back seat. In fact, if you can borrow a car better than yours, do it. Nothing impresses a lady more than a guy that has friends or family with better cars that are available to him on demand.
- Call on your lady at her front door. Do not sit in the car and honk unless the lady lives behind pit bulls and a shotgun wielding Uncle. And if that’s true … you failed at # 1.
- If you are greeted by a roommate, parent, or sibling, be polite. Say “Good Evening. I’m here to see … (insert ‘first name’ if you are on that familiar of a basis, otherwise, it’s ‘Miss last name’).” If you are speaking to an elder, use “sir” and “ma’am.” Always. Bowing is optional. Decline any offer of water or other refreshment – it would just delay your exit. Your lady wouldn’t want to be around these people any more than you do.
- Open the car door for your lady. In fact, open every door for her. And don’t first clean the door knobs with an anti-bacterial wipe. You’re manly enough that your touch will kill those germs that delicate ladies must be shielded from.
- Lots of idiots out there on V Day. Leave plenty of time to get to the restaurant. Expect to wait. Expect to stand in line. Unless you’re paying a ridiculous amount of money to go to an incredibly expensive restaurant, you’re going to wait. Oh, and at expensive restaurants, you’ll wait even more.
- Put your electronics away. Turn the phone OFF. You only have eyes for her. What kind of a person looks at their phone during dinner, anyway? Geez. And if she looks at her phone … see # 13.
- You’ll need to have cocktail chatter. Prepare. Here are some places to go to load up so you can impress with your knowledge and wit (these will impress your young & beautiful miss):
- MentalFloss.com: great water cooler chatter, delivered to your in box daily.
- The Art of Manliness: You’re a manly man, and this site helps you know why. But don’t talk about sports or testosterone.
- TheBlaze.com: Be topical – discuss gun control. Ladies love a man that likes to shoot things that annoy.
- Ten Best Conspiracy Theories: Chicks dig paranoia.
- Facebook: read all of those memes for material. Seriously, they are great humor, because everyone posts them. Love me some memes.
The next day, send a bouquet of 3 dozen yellow roses to where she works. The card should say “Unforgettable. (your first name).”
That way, she’ll remember your first name, at least.
