Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Produce Binge
If you ever have wondered what would happen if a six pound ball of insanity horked down a one pound bunch of raw asparagus in thirty seconds you'll be thrilled to know I'll have an answer to that question shortly. Yep, she did.
This photo was take post binge with a stand in bunch of veggies. Notice how Little Lu doesn't seem really eager to gnaw on it? Asparagus is not poisonous to dogs, but her general disinterest does not bode well for her tiny tummy...
Labels:
pets
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Elephant Toothpaste
"Elephant Toothpaste"
What you need:
1 12oz plastic soda bottle
Funnel
Hydrogen Peroxide
High quality dish soap
Active Dry yeast
Dissolve about 3t active dry yeast in warm water and set aside. Place the funnel in the bottle and add 1/2 C hydrogen peroxide and 1/4 C of dish soap. Pour in the yeast mixture and remove the funnel. If you do this in the house, place a 9x13 pan under the bottle to catch the "toothpaste."
Buckle Up
Sometimes it helps to have a powerful image serve as a little reminder when something is this important. I love it when movement sends a message!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Things that make you go hmmm...
My childhood friend, Ione, shared this on facebook and I simply had to repost the piece. It is quite extaordinary, really.
"Imagine if the Tea Party Was Black" - Tim Wise

So let’s begin.
Imagine that hundreds of black protesters were to descend upon Washington DC and Northern Virginia, just a few miles from the Capitol and White House, armed with AK-47s, assorted handguns, and ammunition. And imagine that some of these protesters —the black protesters — spoke of the need for political revolution, and possibly even armed conflict in the event that laws they didn’t like were enforced by the government? Would these protester — these black protesters with guns — be seen as brave defenders of the Second Amendment, or would they be viewed by most whites as a danger to the republic? What if they were Arab-Americans? Because, after all, that’s what happened recently when white gun enthusiasts descended upon the nation’s capital, arms in hand, and verbally announced their readiness to make war on the country’s political leaders if the need arose.
Imagine that white members of Congress, while walking to work, were surrounded by thousands of angry black people, one of whom proceeded to spit on one of those congressmen for not voting the way the black demonstrators desired. Would the protesters be seen as merely patriotic Americans voicing their opinions, or as an angry, potentially violent, and even insurrectionary mob? After all, this is what white Tea Party protesters did recently in Washington.
Imagine that a rap artist were to say, in reference to a white president: “He’s a piece of shit and I told him to suck on my machine gun.” Because that’s what rocker Ted Nugent said recently about President Obama.
Imagine that a prominent mainstream black political commentator had long employed an overt bigot as Executive Director of his organization, and that this bigot regularly participated in black separatist conferences, and once assaulted a white person while calling them by a racial slur. When that prominent black commentator and his sister — who also works for the organization — defended the bigot as a good guy who was misunderstood and “going through a tough time in his life” would anyone accept their excuse-making? Would that commentator still have a place on a mainstream network? Because that’s what happened in the real world, when Pat Buchanan employed as Executive Director of his group, America’s Cause, a blatant racist who did all these things, or at least their white equivalents: attending white separatist conferences and attacking a black woman while calling her the n-word.
Imagine that a black radio host were to suggest that the only way to get promoted in the administration of a white president is by “hating black people,” or that a prominent white person had only endorsed a white presidential candidate as an act of racial bonding, or blamed a white president for a fight on a school bus in which a black kid was jumped by two white kids, or said that he wouldn’t want to kill all conservatives, but rather, would like to leave just enough—“living fossils” as he called them—“so we will never forget what these people stood for.” After all, these are things that Rush Limbaugh has said, about Barack Obama’s administration, Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama, a fight on a school bus in Belleville, Illinois in which two black kids beat up a white kid, and about liberals, generally.
Imagine that a black pastor, formerly a member of the U.S. military, were to declare, as part of his opposition to a white president’s policies, that he was ready to “suit up, get my gun, go to Washington, and do what they trained me to do.” This is, after all, what Pastor Stan Craig said recently at a Tea Party rally in Greenville, South Carolina.
Imagine a black radio talk show host gleefully predicting a revolution by people of color if the government continues to be dominated by the rich white men who have been “destroying” the country, or if said radio personality were to call Christians or Jews non-humans, or say that when it came to conservatives, the best solution would be to “hang ‘em high.” And what would happen to any congressional representative who praised that commentator for “speaking common sense” and likened his hate talk to “American values?” After all, those are among the things said by radio host and best-selling author Michael Savage, predicting white revolution in the face of multiculturalism, or said by Savage about Muslims and liberals, respectively. And it was Congressman Culbertson, from Texas, who praised Savage in that way, despite his hateful rhetoric.
Imagine a black political commentator suggesting that the only thing the guy who flew his plane into the Austin, Texas IRS building did wrong was not blowing up Fox News instead. This is, after all, what Anne Coulter said about Tim McVeigh, when she noted that his only mistake was not blowing up the New York Times.
Imagine that a popular black liberal website posted comments about the daughter of a white president, calling her “typical redneck trash,” or a “whore” whose mother entertains her by “making monkey sounds.” After all that’s comparable to what conservatives posted about Malia Obama on freerepublic.com last year, when they referred to her as “ghetto trash.”
Imagine that black protesters at a large political rally were walking around with signs calling for the lynching of their congressional enemies. Because that’s what white conservatives did last year, in reference to Democratic party leaders in Congress.
In other words, imagine that even one-third of the anger and vitriol currently being hurled at President Obama, by folks who are almost exclusively white, were being aimed, instead, at a white president, by people of color. How many whites viewing the anger, the hatred, the contempt for that white president would then wax eloquent about free speech, and the glories of democracy? And how many would be calling for further crackdowns on thuggish behavior, and investigations into the radical agendas of those same people of color?
To ask any of these questions is to answer them. Protest is only seen as fundamentally American when those who have long had the luxury of seeing themselves as prototypically American engage in it. When the dangerous and dark “other” does so, however, it isn’t viewed as normal or natural, let alone patriotic. Which is why Rush Limbaugh could say, this past week, that the Tea Parties are the first time since the Civil War that ordinary, common Americans stood up for their rights: a statement that erases the normalcy and “American-ness” of blacks in the civil rights struggle, not to mention women in the fight for suffrage and equality, working people in the fight for better working conditions, and LGBT folks as they struggle to be treated as full and equal human beings.
And this, my friends, is what white privilege is all about. The ability to threaten others, to engage in violent and incendiary rhetoric without consequence, to be viewed as patriotic and normal no matter what you do, and never to be feared and despised as people of color would be, if they tried to get away with half the shit we do, on a daily basis.
Game Over.

http://ephphatha-poetry.blogspot.com/2010/04/imagine-if-tea-party-was-black-tim-wise.html
Labels:
politcs
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Night Blue
I thought it was great fun to get all dressed up and head into the city with friends!
A longtime Night Blue Artist also works as a teacher at Irving and it is a pleasure to support his love of the theater! We enjoyed a nice meal and several yummy mojitos before dancing part of the night away. It was nice to get out!
Labels:
events,
friendship
Friday, April 23, 2010
Practice.
This evening the staff appreciation committee practiced the varied dishes we'll serve at our 2010 lunch. We've made adjustments to our menu, but overall things are looking good! In a day and age when volunteerism is facing a crisis, I am happy to report things are alive and well within this old committee. After all, we are in the process of celebrating the folks taking care of our children everyday. Talk about inspiration.
Labels:
school
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Time Warp
Scenes from the Fair
I always love this special day at Irving!
One parent told me about her conversation with Finn at the fair:
Finn: So, you see this is a picture of England's national team and I think they are going to win the World Cup. Do you see this tall guy in the middle?
Her: Yes, I see him.
Finn: He is the tallest one there, right?
Her: Yes, he sure is.
Finn: His name is Crouch. Isn't that funny?
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Chilly Little Brunch
Everything was delicious! Leif's Bloody Mary's were a hit as usual and our friend's homemade blueberry, banana, pecan coffee cake was divine. I made a baked egg dish and I think it has some decent potential!
Labels:
friendship
Friday, April 16, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Social Studies Collision
Two days ago, when Emma returned from school she wasn't quite her usual bubbly self and I asked her if anything had happened at school and she responded, "Nothing out of the ordinary, but something just a little AWFUL happened." My curiosity was piqued to say the least. Emma went on to explain her social studies class was holding a mock town hall meeting about the possible expansion of slavery into the north. Students were assigned various roles for the assignment an Emma's AWFUL moment came when she was assigned her role...she was cast as a southern land and slave owner who had moved north and was classified as a "pro-slavery radical. " Those kids assigned the pro-slavery roles were expected to be vocal and quite mean.
During dinner we were careful to remind Emma that no-one would think she was really a pro-slavery radical just because she was assigned a role. A big help in understanding history is bringing events to life. Emma had an acting job to do and nothing more. She seemed to understand what we were saying, but lamented,"You know, this casting is like exactly the opposite of my personal beliefs and you know, acting is just not my thing. I really hope I can do it." We did a little role playing at the dinner table and spoke in poor southern accents in hopes of inspiring Emma to succeed in her social studies acting challenge.
The following day I picked Emma up from school and asked her how the town hall meeting went. She replied, "Mr. P said he really wasn't sure if I had it in me, but was happy I pulled it off! I made a couple of good points during the debate and I am just glad it is over." And that was pretty much the last comment she made on the subject.
After dropping her off at dance I continued on my way to drop a couple of boys at soccer practice. As I was driving down Chicago Avenue I was thinking how I wish I could have been a fly on the wall for that mock debate or at the very least talk to Mr. P about how he thought his class handled the assignment. Meanwhile, traffic eased to a stop and an oncoming vehicle was attempting to make a left turn. The car in front of me backed up a little to make some room for the car to make the turn and I checked my rear view mirror and did the same, but CRUNCH...
I totally hit the car behind me.
Now let me be clear, I have never hit anything with my car (except for the pole in my alley) and I have never even received a speeding ticket. I am a stranger to most all traffic altercations
I pulled over immediately and got out of the car saying, "I am so sorry, but I totally have insurance because I am a good girl." Apparently I regress when involved in a traffic incident.
The man said, "You are Emma Elsmo's mom."
During dinner we were careful to remind Emma that no-one would think she was really a pro-slavery radical just because she was assigned a role. A big help in understanding history is bringing events to life. Emma had an acting job to do and nothing more. She seemed to understand what we were saying, but lamented,"You know, this casting is like exactly the opposite of my personal beliefs and you know, acting is just not my thing. I really hope I can do it." We did a little role playing at the dinner table and spoke in poor southern accents in hopes of inspiring Emma to succeed in her social studies acting challenge.
The following day I picked Emma up from school and asked her how the town hall meeting went. She replied, "Mr. P said he really wasn't sure if I had it in me, but was happy I pulled it off! I made a couple of good points during the debate and I am just glad it is over." And that was pretty much the last comment she made on the subject.
After dropping her off at dance I continued on my way to drop a couple of boys at soccer practice. As I was driving down Chicago Avenue I was thinking how I wish I could have been a fly on the wall for that mock debate or at the very least talk to Mr. P about how he thought his class handled the assignment. Meanwhile, traffic eased to a stop and an oncoming vehicle was attempting to make a left turn. The car in front of me backed up a little to make some room for the car to make the turn and I checked my rear view mirror and did the same, but CRUNCH...
I totally hit the car behind me.
Now let me be clear, I have never hit anything with my car (except for the pole in my alley) and I have never even received a speeding ticket. I am a stranger to most all traffic altercations
I pulled over immediately and got out of the car saying, "I am so sorry, but I totally have insurance because I am a good girl." Apparently I regress when involved in a traffic incident.
The man said, "You are Emma Elsmo's mom."
As soon as I looked at him I realized I had gone all bumper to bumper with Emma's social studies teacher, Mr. P. Now I ask you, what are the freaking chances of that? I totally hit Emma's teacher in the exact moment I was thinking about his class. Weird...weird and well, embarrassing. He shook my hand and we had a good chuckle. I did a good deal of nervous laughing. We inspected his car and he declared it was damage free save for a small crack in his fender. He jokingly accused me of backing my car into his to get back at him for giving Emma a B on a paper. We even had a nice little chat about the mock debate and Emma's role as a pro-slavery radical on the side of the road. It was a bizarre "ask and you shall receive" kind of moment to say the least. We parted ways with a promise if his fender fell off he would let me know.
Emma was wildly embarrassed when I told her about my driving error, but she thought it was quite a humorous coincidence. I was left feeling grateful she gets to spend her days with such a quality individual. In a moment where Mr. P could have been quite upset with me, he treated me with kindness and grace. He is clearly a tremendous role model for his young students and I am grateful Emma has been under his influence this year. He is a superstar both in and out of the classroom and if I looked at this experience as a social studies assignment, Mr P would surely get an A+!
Emma was wildly embarrassed when I told her about my driving error, but she thought it was quite a humorous coincidence. I was left feeling grateful she gets to spend her days with such a quality individual. In a moment where Mr. P could have been quite upset with me, he treated me with kindness and grace. He is clearly a tremendous role model for his young students and I am grateful Emma has been under his influence this year. He is a superstar both in and out of the classroom and if I looked at this experience as a social studies assignment, Mr P would surely get an A+!
In lieu of a business dinner.
It was such a comfortable evening.
Thanks for choosing us Annie!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Dinner with the Pfour
Labels:
friendship
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Staff Dinner
Namesake
Labels:
pets
Gratitude
Labels:
around the house,
friendship
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Holy Rollers
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