Rant & Rave...World AIDS Day

We are celebrating World Aids Day Dec.1st....is that a celebration? A remembrance? What in the hell is it? AIDS took my handsome, sweet, talented cousin, Eric, away from me and his very supportive family and friends...taken away because of a person who he trusted, who infected him with HIV, and that person knew he was infected!!!! I'm angry about that, angry that Eric died, angry that we haven't found a cure, that innocent women are dying, and that children are dying or orphaned because of this horrible disease. I could go on.........
I guess remembrance is the best way to go....remembering how this affliction has affected us personally, culturally, globally.....will help us to continue the fight by supporting groups that deal with AIDS related efforts in our communities, and support for continued research for a cure. Mostly, don't forget it's still out there. People who can get the newest medications, are living longer and having productive lives, but it doesn't mean it's a cure.
I will be wearing my AIDS ribbon pin, and my 'until there's a cure' bracelet, that I wear everyday, what will you be doing?

Rant...Political Ugliness!

Okay, now I've been able to articulate through comments on other people's blogs about this subject, so let's see if I can do the same on my own blog.
I'm having a very hard time hearing "troll" comments on a couple of the blogs that I follow because they are so disturbing...hateful, cultish, bigoted, and confusing. These are people that scare me to death!
Example:

good luck, obamunists. You ranted and whined and (or said NOTHING when the left) shouted “Bush/Hitler” for 8 years - you think only you tissue-stalinist union/AARP suckups know how to obstruct?


We will NOT let you destroy America and turn into some multicultural kumbaya Detroit-esque hell.

Keep your illegal (or in your language “undocumented”) affirmative action “president” - we’ll see you at the barricades you left littering the streets.

Counting the days until America will be free of jihadi-appeasing leftist swill… 1/20/13…

PS - you aren’t woman enough to shine Sarah’s shoes. Go ahead, please make abortion free, especially for more libs.


This is only one of many, but they are all much the same in content....like they were FED the information. This is an example of the many who are out there.... no education, no facts...or not listening, because of the dogma already in place and of course NOT A CLUE!!!! But, I do think they need to be taken seriously, just as Sarah Palin still needs to be...many of these fringe members of our society are touting her as the next president as far as they are concerned. Will probably never happen, as Americans have already showed they couldn't be duped this time around, but we still need to be vigilant.
Let me know how you feel about this...I'm feeling so joyful and positive about the future now, and I want to stay that way!!!!

Rave...Creativity!

Anyone who knows me or has been to my home, knows that my house and garden have been my canvases, my creative outlets....It's very satisfying to get awesome feedback, just as if I had painted a picture or made a piece of pottery that someone loved. Even though I will still continue with these projects, which are always a work in progress, I have realized how much I have missed other creative venues. AH! retirement!!!!!!!!!
The first crafty thing I have missed is sewing. Now that I have the time to sew for the little girls, and they can actually wear things a little longer, I have crossed over into the roll of seamstress again! What fun, and seeing their reactions to the finished product, was priceless! Now they want to learn how to sew! Can't wait to start on my next project....
I have to do a little commercial here, and give credit to my cousin Kim and her daughter, Megan, who have inspired me to sew for the girls...they have a new clothes line called 'Bridget&Lucy'....I have been blogging with Megan, and enjoying the wonderful things that the two of them make....thanks ladies!!!!!!!!

Rave...Thankfulness

Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday around here....we've perfected our gourmet menu, and have served it now for several years. Any mention of changing it, brings a resounding NOOOOO! One of the reasons we have returned to a more traditonal way of celebrating this holiday, is grandchildren... No more sitting at a beach restaurant in Cabo, with our toes in the sand, enjoying a perfectly grand sunset, eating lobster and drinking wine for Thanksgiving! But I digress!!!!
This year we have been planning a Krejsa family dinner, as we lost our wonderful Lois, and my mother-in-law, in June. Everyone thought it would be good to all be together, so of course, being the person who has never learned to not have great expectations, I have been putting my all into it for the last few months. That's why 6 days before Thanksgiving, when I learned that the only person coming was my sister-in-law, and everyone else has bowed out for one reason or another, I was in tears. When my grand-daughters learned we had changed our plans, decided not to cook here, but instead go to Nepenthe, where my daughter works, and take advantage of an awesome menu done just for employees and their families, they were in tears!!! "It won't be the same!" Then they found out their father is going to have them, and we won't be together at all, and so more tears all around!!!
Holidays can be a joy and a curse sometimes! Since we have our share of joys, and more than most, I'm am trying to remember the reason for the season...to be greatful. We have a chance for a new, and brighter future for our country with an able and committed leader...my family is good, including healthy parents, a wedding and new baby to look forward to this year...a wonderful, beautiful place to eat our Thanksgiving dinner (a place where people from all over the world travel to...) I'm also thankful for and proud of my little girlies, who feel so passionately about family and tradition. I've got the best mate in the world! And....as much as I love to do it...I don't have to cook!!!!!!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!

Rave...Cranberry Chutney

I posted this once already in my fall post,

but with the holidays coming up,  I decided

to do it again...I was never a cranberry relish person,  but when I got this as a gift from a friend,

it's been my mainstay for many fall dinners as well

 as the holidays,  and also gifts for friends and family.

It goes well with poultry,  pork and vegetarian dishes like

a wild rice stuffed squash...Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!

CRANBERRY CHUTNEY

Simmer for 5 min:
1 c. water
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 clove chopped garlic
4 whole cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 c. vinegar
dash of cayenne

Add:
2 c. fresh cranberries
1/2 c. raisins
1/2 c. chopped dates
1/4 c. chopped preserved ginger
1/4 c. brown sugar

Simmer until thickened...usually after 12 min. Cool
Makes 3 cups.

I find bags of pre-chopped dates and ginger which is much easier......
If you keep it refrigerated, it will last a long time!

Rants and Raves...Life Happens

Lately I seem to have words when discussing politics or other issues with friends, or commenting on other people's blogs, but not when I sit down to write on my own. Since I haven't posted since Nov. 7th, I guess I've been taking a break....of course there's always that thing about life happening!!! Feeling confident that things are in good hands helps too...Obama is diving in with both feet, the gay community is finally making itself heard, and even President Bush is saying nice things about the president-elect! (the economy could be better) Even though I remain interested, I'm just going to have to say "Well said" a lot to you fellow bloggers, as we seem to say the same stuff anyway, only in different words...yours are usually better than mine!! Here's what is replacing my blog moments:
I did a 3k with my grandaughters and husband last weekend, made cranberry chutney for the holidays (recipe in my Fall Post), lost sleep for three nights dealing with ear/throat infections and chasing fevers, had a much deserved lunch with my nurse girls, making dresses for the holidays for the little ones (pics to follow), put together a "grandma" toy box for a friend (the girls love to give away "baby" things for a good cause!), starting the plans for Thanksgiving dinner here for 10 people, and getting my garden ready for the winter...tried that with my clothes too, and now it's 85 degrees on Nov. 15th and my summer stuff is packed away!! That was this week....good thing I'm retired!!!!
Today I am being paged for various things, not to mention sharing my computer with an anxious 8 yr. old, and helping the four yr. old with her tutu!! So, I guess it's time for a commercial break!!!!!!!!!!!! (that would be the cat barf!) Thankfully Grandpa is taking the girls to the library on their bikes to return books, bring home more, and play on the playground equipment for a while...he's the best...good thing he's retired too!!!!!!
More later......thanks for putting up with me!

Rant...Hate!

In the wake of joyfulness, there has also been an outpouring of anger and hate. Some from disappointed Repubs and the like, but also from both sides of the Prop 8 situation here in Calif. I don't know if I can formulate words for this today...I'll briefly try.
Hate will unfortunately be a part of our lives here in America, as well as around the world...maybe forever...I don't see it going away any time soon. My simplistic way to negate the effect is to counter it with a positive move, use it as a force for good, get organized, fired up and busy changing things for the better...hate only begets more hate......which do you choose?

Rave...A New Day!!

The start of a new day is always exciting and hopeful, and with much anticipation...that's how I'm feeling this morning, but with much more emotion!! This isn't just any day!! It's an incredible day!! It's an historic day!! Since I was a young person, I've always worked to shed light on the civil wrongs of our society. Today, every insult, setback or disappointment, I ever experienced was worth it...I feel vindicated, relieved and joyful. I shed some tears during Barack's speech to the country...but , today I can't stop the tears from flowing. We've seen, first hand, our country's conscience shift toward a new direction, and I don't think we can ever go backwards now, only forwards....

This morning I went to some of the blogs that I've been following, as I needed read about the "family" of people who have poured their hearts out to each other over the last weeks. As I'm also feeling that there have been some bittersweet moments, I had to comment on one of them..."I am so relieved and proud of my country…why when we’ve come so far, could we not have also honored our gay friends and family buy voting down Prop 8? I don’t get it. My heart is full and sad at the same time………"

I apologize if I'm rambling...haven't been able to get my thoughts down on paper...maybe it's because there are no words right now, only feelings!!! Maybe if I wait a few more days!

Rave...Election Day!!!!!!!!!!

Well...here we are at the final hour!! I'm taking time out, from my house cleaning, party preparation, making lentil soup and a peach pie, getting my guest room ready for a friend, and all the stuff that is keeping me so busy that I don't freak out! I couldn't stand it any more...the energy, the joyfulness, the hopefulness that I am hearing...yes, I DO have the TV on...I had to write something! I was overcome with emotion watching people standing in lines...I've NEVER stood in a line to vote! People were upbeat and proud to be a part of this election, tellling stories, sharing their experiences...many , of their first times at the polls!!
We took our grand daughters campaigning on Sunday and they had a blast. One day they will have pictures, thanks to Fritz, of their involvement in this process and hopefully in what will someday be HISTORY!!!!!!!!
Gary and I received an e-mail from our niece in Illinois about a "prayer day"...we knew what THAT meant!!!!!!! We have had other notes from her...we can never pass up a chance to respond, carefully but with conviction! Here's what we said:

Yes, we will be praying for Obama to lead and heal our country...we think if Christ were here today, he would want the most for the disenfranchised, would embrace those that are turning the other cheek and not engaging in name calling, bigotry, divisiveness, nor using Christianity for their own political ends (In spirit with the Chronicles quote you sent us). We think all Christians have a voice in what they feel God is telling them, not just the few who feel they are the only ones with the answers. That feels really dangerous and counterproductive. Hopefully our values guide our actions.
We are happy that you are engaged in this political process, but we hope you remember that religion and politics are two different things...the founding fathers set it up that way on purpose, so as not to confuse the two. And despite differences in political persuasion, we are all family who still love one another.
We are a country of many religions, and hopefully tolerant of those with different beliefs.
We like what Barack said, "We are not Red states or Blue states, but the United States".........
Love, Aunt Chris & Uncle Gary

Okay this is getting to be a crazy, disjointed post, just like I'm feeling!...No more until tomorrow......

Rave...2 more days!!!

Okay...I'm a mess. My eyes are red from blogging, reading, and watching MSNBS and CNN to get the last minute scoop! I know from reading blogs all week, that everyone's writings are filled with the same anxieties and feelings in general as mine...it's like we are writing carbon copies of each other's blogs, or comments...
I'm doing my last minute stuff...wearing my button and t-shirt, signs in the yard, blogging, and hopefully, weather permitting, going to a last march for Obama and No on 8 tomorrow, with grand-daughters in tow. Then we are hosting a party for like-minded friends to watch the returns on Tues. night....like I've said before, the champagne is getting cold!!!!!!!!
I saw a video tonight of what it might be like to hear Obama on the 5th, talking to us about the future.......I was so overcome by emotion...so energized, joyful, relieved, and thankful........let's hope we all feel that on Wed. am!!!!!!!!!!