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My Thoughts on Two Whiny Brats

My "You're a Tool" Award goes to two worthy co-losers...



Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps is a phenomenal swimmer. What he did in the last two Olympics is unfathomable. I admire him for the discipline and dedication he showed to his sport and for his remarkable athleticism.

OK, now that I have that out of the way...

He's a tool. Come on. DUI in 2004 when he was 19. 18 months probation. What lesson did he learn? Don't drink and drive, rather stay at the party and take bong hits. So he wants to be the average young person. Well, he's not the average young person. Don't make yourself a world-wide celebrity if you want to go around doing stupid crap. And let me add this...if he wasn't the famous Michael Phelps, Olympic swimmer, he'd be the nonfamous Michael Phelps, relatively unattractive dork doing bong hits at a party.



Christian Bale

Patrick Bateman. Batman. Or in the role I know him best as...Big Arrogant Tool. Is he nice looking? Sure. Can he act? Eh. Is he a jerk? Hellz yeah. Arrested for allegedly assaulting his mother and sister in 2008. Denied it. Just busted on the set of the next Terminator movie (ooooo, such a profound piece of work that must be) for ripping a new fill in the blank of the poor Director of Photography for walking too close while a scene was going on. I just listened to his 3 minute and 30 second rant, rife with F bombs. Um, yeah, you're a real gentleman, Chris. First of all, you just PLAYED Jesus in a movie...you are NOT God. Second, get a grip. Third, you're a tool.

I'm sure most are aware of my vehement disdain for those with a false sense of entitlement, flagrant inconsideration, and utter stupidity. The subjects of my blog today fall into all three categories.

This is how we do it baby...

My Big Date

As a rule, I never look forward to Valentine's Day. I've had more dreary ones than mushy ones, and I've come to expect that I will be sitting at home watching slasher movies and plotting the demise of all men with the exception of my dad. And maybe Hugh Laurie.

But this year is different. This year I have a DATE!!!! Yes, I'm already planning for the big day. What should I wear? I'm thinking maybe a red sweater and jeans. My date isn't too picky.

I've already made the plans. Lunch at the Red Canoe on Harford Road. I just have to plan around my date's schedule. There's the nap to consider, teddy bears to be hugged, touch and feel books to be read...my date is a little high maintenance, but so, SO lovable.

My date has big brown eyes and curly, curly hair. Good dresser. Kind of a messy eater. GREAT conversationalist. "Ba ba ba. Uh-ohhhhhh. Hi! Hi! Uckie!" (ducky, of course).

This is going to be the best Valentine's Day ever. What more could I hope for than to spend it with the love of my life :-)

Good Eats

I'm getting ready to head out to Trader Joe's to expand my dinner time selections for Claire. I just wanted to share some of her (and my) current favorites...

1. Nature's Promise Organic Whole Milk.



Nature's Promise is Giant's affordable organic line. Claire is on whole milk until she's 2. She gets three cups a day, 21 to 24 oz. (the maximum she should have per the pediatrician). She'd probably drink two gallons if I gave her the chance. Like Mommy, she loves her milk!

2. Nature's Promise Organic Shredded Cheddar Cheese




Again, like Mommy, Claire is a cheese hog! I use this to entice her into eating broccoli, as an additive to eggs, and for many other things to add flavor, protein, and calcium. I've tasted it and it's wonderful!

3. Motts Healthy Harvest Applesauce cups



Claire LOVES applesauce. I give it to her as a "dessert." I love these cups because there is no sugar added, and they come in great flavors like blueberry, strawberry, mango peach, and mixed berry. They also contain a full day's supply of Vitamin C.

4. Annie's Organic Mac and Cheese



I love Annie's brand...lots of kid-friendly organic choices. And I love the single servings of this mac and cheese. To add nutritional value, I steam and puree cauliflower and mix it in with the cheese after heating and Claire doesn't know otherwise. This is a definite favorite.

5. Annie's Organic Cheddar Bunnies



Another Annie winner...Annie's version of Goldfish. When I dump these on Claire's tray, she gets so excited! A fun thing to give along with soup or a sandwich for lunch.

6. Health is Wealth Organic Chicken Fingers



This is a new find, and I love them. I tested them and I think they're delicious. Quick and easy in the microwave, with antibiotic and hormone-free chicken and organic stone-ground whole wheat breading.

7. Nature's Promise Omega-3 Natural Brown Eggs



Claire loves scrambled eggs, and they're a quick and easy dinnertime dish. I'll puree some cauliflower or carrots and mix them in w/the eggs along w/some Nature's Promise shredded cheese and scramble them up.

8. DelMonte No Sugar Added Mandarin Orange Cups



Claire eats these like they're candy. I can't get them out of the cup and onto her tray fast enough. I have to hand them to her one at a time or she will literally just jam about five in her mouth at one time. When she's done, I drink the leftover juice in the cup...so good!

Hopefully I can keep finding things that are easy to make and that she likes as much as the products listed above. I'm off to Trader Joe's to explore!

Witness to History

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

A Day of Hope

"It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to where we are today, but we have just begun. Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today." --President Barack Obama