Some say my second cousin and I look alike.  Personally, I just don't see it ...

Oh, hello!  It's been a bit since I last popped in.  Actually, it's been awhile since I've done anything but type away on the manual project from hell.  To those who I've faithfully ignored, many apologies.  I'm bound to be better in 2009 ...

This week has been a mad dash trying to finish four (count them, 4) chapters.  So did you accomplish this mountainous task, you ask?  Um, no, no I did not.  Still working on it.  I refuse to stress. I am going to frolic with my mom, aunt, and cousins this weekend ... I'm not going to think a minute on such things as maximum power point trackers, states of charge, or series-interrupting, pulse-width-modulated charge controllers ... instead I'm going to eat copious amounts of food, applaud the others as they drown themselves dunking for apples (my eyelashes will float away, so I'll have to refrain), and laugh until I cry. 

I figure stress is always a good thing to put off 'til next week anyway ...

Since my life at the moment basically consists of: eat, work, eat, work, eat, work ... thought you might like to know what I ate (I imagine it's a might better than listening to me complain).   

In case your curious, this is one of my all-time favs - just a little bit of autumn right on your plate... 

Servings: 4

INGREDIENTS

2 acorn squash, halved and seeded

3/4 pound ground sausage

3/4 cup chopped celery

3 Tablespoons chopped onion

1 medium cooking apple, peeled, cored, and chopped

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup sour cream

3/4 cup shredded American cheese

DIRECTIONS

Place squash halves, cut side down, in shallow baking pan.  Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees (F) about 45 minutes - or until tender.  Turn cut side up; sprinkle with a bit of salt.  Meanwhile, in a skillet, cook sausage, celery, and onion until meat is browned and onion is tender.  Stir in chopped apple; cook for 3 minutes more.  Drain fat.  Combine egg and sour cream; stir into sausage mixture.

Fill squash halves with sausage mixture.  Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes.  Sprinkle with shredded cheese.  Bake about 5 minutes more or until cheese is melted. 

Note:  If the thought of doing all that work after you get home makes you want to cry simply prepare it ahead.  You can complete the first half (basically the first paragraph of instructions) the night before; storing the stuffed squash in the fridge.  Then just throw it in the oven - about 40 minutes will do! 

Though it may be hard to imagine someone actually requesting me to blabber about, it's true all the same.  That's right - I'm a guest blogger over at Shop Wise Bags. 

For those of you unfamiliar with Shop Wise Bags - GASP!  You're missing out!  What began as a fun take on the reusable grocery sack, has morphed into artisan bags and housewares of all sorts and varieties.  Add to that a blog, recipes, projects, and links to the fun and fanciful - not to mention lively color and photos - and it's a site not to be missed! (obviously I mean it - after all, how many exclamation points can one person use?!!!)

So even if you've had quite enough of my pattering on, do check out Shop Wise Bags.  You'll thank me ...

This woman waltzes into the park and all we get is this stupid photo op

Fifty years ago today, Russian poet and novelist Boris Pasternak was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for “Dr. Zhivago.”  The book that had to be smuggled out of his home country and printed in Italian, was receiving international acclaim. 

In response to the great honor, Pasternak telegrammed the Swedish academy the following message:  Immensely thankful, touched, proud, astonished, abashed.

Four days later, however, he sent another telegram: Considering the meaning this award has been given in the society to which I belong, I must refuse it.  Please do not take offense at my voluntary rejection. 

Thirty-one years later, decades following his death, Pasternak finally received the recognition he so deserved.  His son accepted the award on his father’s behalf.    

So in honor of Pasternak and his great work: 

I don't like people who have never fallen or stumbled. Their virtue is lifeless and it isn't of much value. Life hasn't revealed its beauty to them.
Boris Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago

It’s October. And I see Christmas trees everywhere.

Granted, it may seem a tad early to be thinking of such, but no doubt some have already begun their Christmas lists. Perhaps you included. So, what have you listed? A goat? A dairy cow? Maybe a freshwater well? Wait … I know … a sleeping net! No?

While many of us would never consider giving such items, for those living in impoverished countries they may be the greatest gift of all. And Samaritan’s Purse provides a one stop shop. Visit their website to view their Christmas gift catalog – 40 Gifts of Hope for a Hurting World. Select what you wish to give; name the person you wish to give on behalf.

So this year, don’t forget to add something extra to your Christmas list. Give the gift of life; give the gift of hope. After all, that’s what Jesus gave you …

Interested in this charity?

Samaritan’s Purse received an overall rating of four stars on Charity Navigator. Click here to review the full report.

My mum and I were out running errands when we decided to stop off at Panda for some orange chicken and pork fried rice.  When all was said and done, we opened our fortunes - and oh what fortunes they were!

Mum:  You will have gold pieces by the bushel. 

Moi: Your foot will tread upon the soil of many nations.  Sigh. 

We both agreed that we'd never seen bushels of gold before.  So we're pretty excited about that.  Not sure we quite agreed that said gold pieces will be funding my trips abroad, but she loves me.  So I'm sure it's only a matter of time. 

I will certainly keep you posted ...

One of my all-time-favorite cartoons depicts a goofy looking fellow, sitting in the middle of nowhere, with a frazzled look on his face, holding a handle. It reads: I use to have a handle on life, but then it fell off.

For some reason, it’s not quite so funny as it use to be. Sigh.

I’ll spare you the details, but between working a full time job, working on the immense manual, and desperately trying to retain some sort of semblance of a normal life, I’ve lost it. The culmination was Thursday. Thursday I ran into the grocery store to grab a few things only to find I had no cash. Couldn’t find my credit card, attempted to use my business credit card, found it had expired, quickly scribbled a check – and since I was checking myself out – gathered up all my things, waddled to the main station, and handed my payment to the cashier.

She took one look at my check and exclaimed, “The 13^th? The THIRTEENTH?!! HELLO, it’s the 16^th! That’s like three whole days you’ve missed. What have you been doing?! Sleeping for three days?!” Then she shook her head and LAUGHED, like it was the most hilarious thing she’d ever seen.

Naturally, I felt the need to tell her some back in the butcher block may not have heard everything, so perhaps she should consider repeating it over the speaker phone. Then I wanted to inform her that no one really likes her. You’ll be glad to know, I refrained.

Needless to say, at this point it’s questionable whether or not I even possess the handle.

Yet I remain hopeful. My grand plans for the weekend include getting a grip on that dadgum handle and holding on for all I’m worth.  After all, a girl's gotta start somewhere ...

And now we know why the candles were on clearance.  Sigh. 

Never leave your partner behind.

Rating: PG

Genre: drama-romance

Verdict: See it; live it

The gist: As a firefighter, Lt. Caleb Holt (Kirk Cameron) is a hero to everyone, but his wife (Erin Bethea). After ten years of marriage, it seems their relationship is little more than a heap of ashes. Before he files for divorce, Caleb’s father (Harris Malcom) challenges him to The Love Dare. Each day, for 40 days, he must he must perform a selfless act of love. Despite Caleb’s aversion to his father’s newfound faith, he agrees. And as he goes thru the steps, he begins to see anew that fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when [it does] … you will be able to withstand it.

My take: Fireproof is a good movie, with a great message. The cast is made up of volunteers; and while it's obvious many are not professionals, others shine.  Kirk Cameron gives a strong performance as Caleb Holt. Ken Bevel, as Michael Simmons, also deserves recognition. His performance in the train incident is so convincing I actually gasped – out loud – and had to avert my eyes (which was a tad humiliating, I might add). In addition, the actors who play his neighbors, fellow fire fighters, and Catherine’s co-workers provide the much needed comic relief for the film. Lastly, Christian films tend to waffle between sappy and preachy. While Fireproof has elements of both, it remains a joy to watch. And if you allow it, it just might strengthen your marriage. How many big budget films can boast that?!

An aside: The premise of this movie has sparked a book, The Love Dare. Have I read the entire book myself? Um, no, no I have not. But I know the movie makes some very strong points – and I read the sample chapter. That said, I highly recommend this book for anyone who is married … for marriage counseling … for wedding presents … basically, I recommend this book all around!

Have I mentioned how I love autumn?  Sigh.  Here's the dessert I made for my grama's birthday last weekend.  If you would like to see how it went over, simply follow these instructions, light a few candles, brew some coffee, seep some tea, and invite those you love on over...

Ingredients

3 ½ cups white bread; cubed

1 egg

3 egg yokes

1 ½ cups milk

2/3 cup sugar

¾ cup canned pumpkin puree

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

¾ - 1 cup milk chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease 6 large custard cups.
2. Distribute bread cubes evenly between the cups.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg and egg yolks. Add the milk, sugar, pumpkin puree, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Mix until smooth.
4. Pour batter evenly over bread.
5. Sprinkle brown sugar and chocolate chips over the top.
6. Arrange custard cups in a baking pan. Pour hot water into pan, ¾ of the way up the sides of the cups.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 50 minutes; or until pudding is puffy and golden brown.
8. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Of course, I recommend serving with fresh whipped cream. If you’ve never attempted made such, don’t be alarmed … simply add a cup of heavy whipping cream to a chilled bowl. Mix vigorously. When the cream begins to thicken add a Tablespoon of sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla. Continue mixing until it holds soft peaks (usually about the time your arm feels like it will fall off).

October 14, 1926, Methuen Children's Books Ltd. of London, England, published a little book called Winnie-the-Pooh, by A.A. Milne.  It didn't take long for a little bear to capture the hearts of children of all ages, the whole world over.  After all, the Hundred Acre Wood is the innocence of childhood.  Who doesn't want to visit every now and again?      

So in honor of the day, a word from our favorite Pooh bear:

You can't help respecting anybody who can spell TUESDAY, even if he doesn't spell it right; but spelling isn't everything. There are days when spelling Tuesday simply doesn't count.

I have only to read the newspaper to be reminded of why I could never be a journalist. Take yesterday, for instance. Yesterday I’m reading the Idaho Statesman. I was quite enjoying myself, reading pieces of historical interest – a welcome reprieve from the doom and gloom of today. Then I came upon An old farmstead made new again, by Anna Webb. Speaking of the gentleman who built the house:

Schick died in April 1902 in a mysterious manner described in the Idaho Statesman.

He and his wife were traveling along a road near the farmstead in an open wagon, when Schick's body caught fire.

He refused to believe that he was on fire, because he felt no pain. But he died the next day, so badly burned, his backbone was visible.

Seriously. I would call spontaneous human combustion a little more than mysterious. Freakish, perhaps … and what about that nut who refused to believe he was on fire? What was THAT about? If someone is screaming, gaping in horror while pointing to my back, and uttering words that even sound like fire, I’m gonna stop-drop-and-roll! And I'm fairly certain I'd have to be a bit more lively just writing about it.  Pretty sure.

You know those moments in life ... when you're surrounded by those you love ... when you laugh until you cry ... when the food you eat is all the better, because of those you're sharing it with ... when you feel all snug and warm, despite the frigid temps?  You know those moments?  Well this weekend was made up of such moments.  And I wouldn't trade them for the world ... sigh.

Of all the questions posed at the Presidential Debate last night, one shone above the rest. Emailed from a lady in her 70’s, she noted that since WWII, we as individuals have not been asked to sacrifice anything but the blood of our sons and daughters. As President, she asked, what would you require citizens to give up for the good of the Country.

Such an amazing question – sadly, the answers did not rise to the occasion. I can’t say I blame them. Who wants to be the candidate to say they will make Americans – of all people – sacrifice for the good of their – GASP! – neighbors!

Yet it may be the only answer worthy of breath …

With the economic crisis of today being compared to the great depression, I can’t help but wonder if we have character enough to rise above. We’ve lived a lifetime getting what we want, when we want it. But if you look back to those who walked this road before, the road to recovery required each person doing his or her part – everyone, not just the government. They didn’t charge more – they didn’t have that luxury. If they couldn’t afford it, they went without. They learned to share, to cut back where they could, to be ingenious at making a living. When it came time to ration, they rationed – and they did it for the good of the nation.

Do we have it in us to do the same? The question demands an answer not only from the future president, but you and me as well.

As a citizen of the United States of America, what are you willing to sacrifice for the good of our country?

The so-called longest word in the dictionary is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis [noo-muh-noh-uhl-truh-mahy-kruh-skop-ik-sil-i-koh-vol-key-noh-koh-nee-oh-sis - … in case you’re dying to say it aloud]. It refers to lung disease caused by silica dust. Of course, Webster’s dictionary touts it as fictional – but it’s there, all the same. So for those of you who enjoying spouting exceedingly long words, this one's for you. Do enjoy …