I'm not going to talk presidential primaries. What I would like to talk about is the new level of oppression I'm experiencing as a lesbian. Not a great way to start off a topic, I'll admit. The problem is that now that the baby is nearly due, my partner and I are getting our "affairs" in order, as they say. Wills, powers-of-attorney, adoption. Because we're not married, we can't assume our family is secure. We have to weave our safety net together from scratch. We own a house together, but because we're not married, I have to specifically leave my interest in the house to my partner in a will. It doesn't even matter that both our names are on the deed! How crazy is that?
She's not my next of kin, so I have to label her the beneficiary to my life insurance. She's not my wife, so I have to create a living will which names her as my health care agent. She's not our child's mother until some court says so, so if something goes wrong when I give birth, our lawyer's number is on the speed dial. We have to prove to the court that we conceived of this child together, even though we truly conceived the child together! She gave me the sperm. She was there too. And when she files her taxes, she has to say she's single, even though she and I are about to have our first child together. We can't put each other on our health insurance plans even though it would save us money. We can't protect one another without a litany of legal documents.
It's unfair. It truly is. These are not the principles our country was founded on. Just because a history of oppression exists, doesn't mean it is right. I've thought a lot about this. Gays and lesbians are not receiving equal representation under the law. If someone is being denied their rights, our elected officials should stand up and do something about it. Neither of us has committed a crime, but we're treated with hostility by the law. As a matter of fact, both of us work for society's greater good, doing non-profit work. That's not a requirement for rights, mind you, but it's just ironic.
This year, the Maryland General Assembly is going to consider gay marriage, but I'm not holding my breath. There's no way that bill will get further than committee. Our legislators already pushed the envelope with higher taxes (which I supported) and they aren't going to cast another difficult vote this year. Unfortunately, I'm feeling more urgent than ever that something needs to happen. My family's well-being is at risk. Now may not be the time for politicians, but the time is long overdue for me and all the other GLBT families out there.
No one gains by oppressing and denying others. I'm frustrated by this everyday. No one has a right to define my family for me or take away my ability to care for it and protect it.
I could go on and on, but I'll stop here.
Just a quick note, I like feeling right. Since I said no presidential primary talk, I'll make this brief. I know I've said it recently, the Dems will have a really difficult time winning back the White House if McCain wins the primary. It feels good when someone who gets paid to have opinions agrees with me. Check out this Op-Ed piece from today's Washington Post.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Watch out for McCain!
And this is what I'm saying... McCain is really the only candidate out there we could lose 
the White House to. Toles demonstrates this perfectly. The same thing is happening in the Republican primary. While Romney and Giuliani have peaks and valleys in their campaigns, McCain stuck it out and is actually winning races. The first year of the campaign, Romney and Giuliani were fighting for the number 1 spot, while McCain's campaign seem to tank before it got started. Months later, voters are showing that they are uninterested in the "unknown" adventures of America's Mayor and his Mormon counterpart. McCain isn't a very exciting guy, but he's always been straightforward. His candidacy is something we should be afraid of.
I'm getting a little nervous, frankly. I figured, just like most people, that Rudy or Mitt would be the Republican candidate. McCain has very little money. I don't know how he's sustaining his candidacy. Actually, once he won in New Hampshire, I'm sure some funds started rolling in. It gives contributors confidence that their money won't go to waste. I'm still enjoying the Republican race, but with Fred dropping out, others will follow. At some point, the Republican party will find their candidate. And that moment is approaching.
Meanwhile, it's getting pretty ugly for the Dems. After Iowa, the most interesting candidates aren't even given the time of day anymore, thereby limiting our choices. Why aren't Kucinich and Gravel and whomever else was running allowed in the debates anymore? It's really unfair and counter to the democratic process. I hope their ideas will make it into the Dem's platform, which is why I'm going to vote for one of them on February 12, Maryland's primary.
If I had to vote for Hillary or Barack, I wouldn't know what I was going to do. I'm really torn. I think their platforms are really close enough in terms of being alike, that either is fine. Where I'm annoyed at Hillary's position on gay rights, I'm equally annoyed at Barack's position on healthcare and social security. I think Barack is truly inspirational and a smart enough guy to have a decent cabinet and staff to support him. I mean Bill Clinton was no genius, but he was a good president in part because of his staff. On the other hand, I think Hillary is very smart and she's been getting a really raw deal as a woman. I don't think Barack has suffered nearly as much criticism for his race (nor should he) as Hillary as suffered for her gender. I'd rather see no criticism for either on those issues, but nonetheless, Hillary has been stabbed by the double edged sword way too much. And the amazing thing is that she's still going strong. That says a lot about her desirability and electability. But I think she lacks the ability to inspire. One could say her campaign is in itself an inspiration, but I think she has to take it further. And that's where Barack is clearly stronger. Not only is his candidacy an inspiration, but he can inspire with words and vision.
The end of the primary season is approaching. Soon we'll know what we're dealing with. I'm still hoping for a Romney/Giuliani win. That will make for a much more entertaining campaign. Let's hope the Republicans don't wise up to McCain's electability.
the White House to. Toles demonstrates this perfectly. The same thing is happening in the Republican primary. While Romney and Giuliani have peaks and valleys in their campaigns, McCain stuck it out and is actually winning races. The first year of the campaign, Romney and Giuliani were fighting for the number 1 spot, while McCain's campaign seem to tank before it got started. Months later, voters are showing that they are uninterested in the "unknown" adventures of America's Mayor and his Mormon counterpart. McCain isn't a very exciting guy, but he's always been straightforward. His candidacy is something we should be afraid of.I'm getting a little nervous, frankly. I figured, just like most people, that Rudy or Mitt would be the Republican candidate. McCain has very little money. I don't know how he's sustaining his candidacy. Actually, once he won in New Hampshire, I'm sure some funds started rolling in. It gives contributors confidence that their money won't go to waste. I'm still enjoying the Republican race, but with Fred dropping out, others will follow. At some point, the Republican party will find their candidate. And that moment is approaching.
Meanwhile, it's getting pretty ugly for the Dems. After Iowa, the most interesting candidates aren't even given the time of day anymore, thereby limiting our choices. Why aren't Kucinich and Gravel and whomever else was running allowed in the debates anymore? It's really unfair and counter to the democratic process. I hope their ideas will make it into the Dem's platform, which is why I'm going to vote for one of them on February 12, Maryland's primary.
If I had to vote for Hillary or Barack, I wouldn't know what I was going to do. I'm really torn. I think their platforms are really close enough in terms of being alike, that either is fine. Where I'm annoyed at Hillary's position on gay rights, I'm equally annoyed at Barack's position on healthcare and social security. I think Barack is truly inspirational and a smart enough guy to have a decent cabinet and staff to support him. I mean Bill Clinton was no genius, but he was a good president in part because of his staff. On the other hand, I think Hillary is very smart and she's been getting a really raw deal as a woman. I don't think Barack has suffered nearly as much criticism for his race (nor should he) as Hillary as suffered for her gender. I'd rather see no criticism for either on those issues, but nonetheless, Hillary has been stabbed by the double edged sword way too much. And the amazing thing is that she's still going strong. That says a lot about her desirability and electability. But I think she lacks the ability to inspire. One could say her campaign is in itself an inspiration, but I think she has to take it further. And that's where Barack is clearly stronger. Not only is his candidacy an inspiration, but he can inspire with words and vision.
The end of the primary season is approaching. Soon we'll know what we're dealing with. I'm still hoping for a Romney/Giuliani win. That will make for a much more entertaining campaign. Let's hope the Republicans don't wise up to McCain's electability.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Shhhh... lest you talk about race and gender
Wow, race and gender are being forcefully stuffed back in the closet by both Clinton and Obama. Seems we just can't be grown up about this.
I'm a little behind the times regarding the all the gaffes this week that led to yet another Clinton oopsie, but I decided to check it out today. Hillary did make a big oopsie, and then she just made it bigger ... and bigger. First let me say, that I don't think Bill's "fairytale" comments were bad at all. It's really the fact that he was so animated about it that made people pay attention. He clearly isn't talking about race in his comments about Obama's position on the Iraq war.
Now that I got that out of the way, what the hell is wrong with Hillary??? Is she pulling a Howard Dean on us? I really think she is. Her comments did truly diminish Dr. King's role in getting civil rights legislation passed in this country. Clearly, Hillary is trying to say that as president, she knows it's her role to get important legislation passed and it takes a lot of work - not just a hope and a prayer, which she implies will be Barack's strategy. But she's taking this campaign theme too far and every time she gets caught up in trying to explain herself, it just gets worse and worse. Okay already, being president is hard work, but what Barack is saying is being president is about being a leader. Being a leader is about having a vision for the country. Hillary has the nuts and bolts of it down; Barack has the vision. Morph them together and they'll make a great candidate.
But Hillary's foot-in-the-mouth episode has opened up the Democrat's Pandora's box. I know we're all really proud of ourselves for having two viable candidates who are also minorities, but that's as far as we're willing to take it, apparently. Now that we got the minority representation out of the way, let's not discuss what this means and how it will impact the way we will vote. It won't impact our decision, right? We're beyond that, right? Here's the real fairytale.
"We both have exuberance and sometimes uncontrollable supporters," Clinton said, adding that "neither race nor gender should be part of this campaign." I found this quote in today's Washington Post. This is the worst thing I've heard her say yet. And unfortunately, Barack whole-heartedly agrees.
Race and gender are ABSOLUTELY a part of this campaign. Hello??? A Black man has a real chance at winning the nomination. Oh, and a woman has a real chance of winning the nomination. This is historic. How could we not talk about it? For one thing, if the campaigns talked about it, they'd be giving their opponents' campaigns some credibility. At least Bill Clinton had the guts to admit that the African American community has a lot to be proud of with Barack's success as a candidate. It is significant, and each campaign would have to acknowledge it if we talked about it.
No, I don't think Hillary should be standing around saying "Vote for me and FINALLY get a woman in the Oval office." Nor should Barack be asking for votes because he's black. The discussion should be about what work is left on our race and gender issues and how this historic moment might bring the country closer to healing the wounds of oppression.
Our country is desperate to heal and this campaign provides the perfect opportunity to move forward. However, the Democratic leaders are afraid of having their record reviewed on this topic. Frankly, the Democrats have been pretty complacent in allowing the demise of the Black middle class, urban centers, education for the poor and disenfranchised, and I could go on and on. Republicans haven't done a better job. Frankly, I think they could care less. But that's not the point. If the Democrats are going to claim to be the party for minorities to have safe haven, then they have to relentlessly advocate on their behalf. And let me make clear that the list above may look like I'm targeting the causes of African Americans, but they are women's causes too. Who make up the majority of the poor? Women. Women of color are disproportionately represented, but it's women nonetheless.
So why shouldn't race and gender be a part of this campaign? All of our progressive initiatives are really about race and gender because of the disproportionate representation of minorities and women in the big gaping cracks of the American Dream.
These two need to grow up and demonstrate the leadership they say this country so desperately needs.
I'm a little behind the times regarding the all the gaffes this week that led to yet another Clinton oopsie, but I decided to check it out today. Hillary did make a big oopsie, and then she just made it bigger ... and bigger. First let me say, that I don't think Bill's "fairytale" comments were bad at all. It's really the fact that he was so animated about it that made people pay attention. He clearly isn't talking about race in his comments about Obama's position on the Iraq war.
Now that I got that out of the way, what the hell is wrong with Hillary??? Is she pulling a Howard Dean on us? I really think she is. Her comments did truly diminish Dr. King's role in getting civil rights legislation passed in this country. Clearly, Hillary is trying to say that as president, she knows it's her role to get important legislation passed and it takes a lot of work - not just a hope and a prayer, which she implies will be Barack's strategy. But she's taking this campaign theme too far and every time she gets caught up in trying to explain herself, it just gets worse and worse. Okay already, being president is hard work, but what Barack is saying is being president is about being a leader. Being a leader is about having a vision for the country. Hillary has the nuts and bolts of it down; Barack has the vision. Morph them together and they'll make a great candidate.
But Hillary's foot-in-the-mouth episode has opened up the Democrat's Pandora's box. I know we're all really proud of ourselves for having two viable candidates who are also minorities, but that's as far as we're willing to take it, apparently. Now that we got the minority representation out of the way, let's not discuss what this means and how it will impact the way we will vote. It won't impact our decision, right? We're beyond that, right? Here's the real fairytale.
"We both have exuberance and sometimes uncontrollable supporters," Clinton said, adding that "neither race nor gender should be part of this campaign." I found this quote in today's Washington Post. This is the worst thing I've heard her say yet. And unfortunately, Barack whole-heartedly agrees.
Race and gender are ABSOLUTELY a part of this campaign. Hello??? A Black man has a real chance at winning the nomination. Oh, and a woman has a real chance of winning the nomination. This is historic. How could we not talk about it? For one thing, if the campaigns talked about it, they'd be giving their opponents' campaigns some credibility. At least Bill Clinton had the guts to admit that the African American community has a lot to be proud of with Barack's success as a candidate. It is significant, and each campaign would have to acknowledge it if we talked about it.
No, I don't think Hillary should be standing around saying "Vote for me and FINALLY get a woman in the Oval office." Nor should Barack be asking for votes because he's black. The discussion should be about what work is left on our race and gender issues and how this historic moment might bring the country closer to healing the wounds of oppression.
Our country is desperate to heal and this campaign provides the perfect opportunity to move forward. However, the Democratic leaders are afraid of having their record reviewed on this topic. Frankly, the Democrats have been pretty complacent in allowing the demise of the Black middle class, urban centers, education for the poor and disenfranchised, and I could go on and on. Republicans haven't done a better job. Frankly, I think they could care less. But that's not the point. If the Democrats are going to claim to be the party for minorities to have safe haven, then they have to relentlessly advocate on their behalf. And let me make clear that the list above may look like I'm targeting the causes of African Americans, but they are women's causes too. Who make up the majority of the poor? Women. Women of color are disproportionately represented, but it's women nonetheless.
So why shouldn't race and gender be a part of this campaign? All of our progressive initiatives are really about race and gender because of the disproportionate representation of minorities and women in the big gaping cracks of the American Dream.
These two need to grow up and demonstrate the leadership they say this country so desperately needs.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Who the hell is gonna win this thing???
I was going to write a blog about what happened in Iowa. Then I waited too long and decided to write a blog about New Hampshire. Now that's old news. But what is surprising is that there's no clear front runner in either the Democratic or Republican race. I love it.
I'm going to hypothesize, theorize and opine about the primaries. I'm going to make random predictions. I'm as qualified as anyone. Just consider how well the pollsters called it in New Hampshire.
The next primaries to watch are South Carolina, Michigan and Nevada. I love that we've come this far in the race, which really isn't that far, and we don't have a clear winner. Now we get to hear the bullshit the contenders will heap upon these states. This is actually a good thing. Usually, after New Hampshire, the primaries fade a bit from the news and we don't get to hear the rhetoric. The thing is, the rhetoric we hear in New Hampshire is dramatically different than the rhetoric in Michigan. Michigan is the solid blue collar state with a deep history in the auto-making industry which has suffered massively for decades. I want to know what the contestants believe is important to this crowd. The Republicans should be afraid to step foot in this state. It's their policies (which the Dems have been complacent with) that allowed the auto industry to take their jobs overseas.
I predict that Clinton will win this state. Why? Just call it a gut feeling. Actually, there was a poll released today in the Washington Post with Obama nearly erasing her lead, but I think her strong showing in New Hampshire is going to help her in Michigan. It won't be over by a long shot for Obama if he comes in second, but he'll really have to work his ass off to keep in it.
The more interesting race by far is the Republicans. The same Washington Post poll showed McCain taking the lead in public opinion. This concerns me. I think he has a good chance of being elected president if he wins the nomination. I think he's the only Republican with a chance of winning. And a race between him and Hillary would be ugly. Frankly, this is a worst case scenario. Obama needs to be the Dem's nominee if McCain wins the Republican nomination. Obama is squeaky clean really. The baggage that Hillary brings to race would sink her and the rest of the Democrats.
Of course, if anyone but McCain wins, I think Hillary or Obama have it in the bag. I can't wait to see the Republicans take a hit. Unfortunately, McCain's been vetted. He's a good guy, reasonable even. I don't agree with him 98% of the time and I'd hate to see him win, but he can't be attacked with much. On the other hand, it makes me giddy to think of the mud-slinging that would go on if, say, Rudy Guilliani wins the nomination. Evangelical Christians would be bombarded of pictures of Guilliani in drag. Not to mention, pictures of his many wives!!! This would be the best. Far better than any of Hillary's crap.
My prediction: McCain wins it. It's bound to happen that my anticipation of a good, juicy race would be ruined by the rise of McCain. And why should he win? He is the best Republican candidate. That's just a fact. The others are jokes.
Let me just note my fear of Mike Huckabee. A win by him would be truly scary. If the evangelicals mobilize around that guy, welcome to hell. Check out these books for a glimpse into the future: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk. These are two of my favorite books, and both describe some sort of takeover of the country by the Christian right-wing conservatives. These are the same evangelicals that put Bush in office. We can't underestimate their mobilizing capabilities.
So we'll see what happens tomorrow. Maybe by the time the primary comes to Maryland, my vote will actually count. But count me out. I'm voting for Gravel. Neither Hillary or Barack need my vote, and the things that bother me about both of them cancel each other out. By voting for Gravel, I'm letting the Dems know I like what he has to say and maybe they ought to consider his ideas. I think he's still on the ballot. If not, the socialist from Ohio gets my vote.
I'm going to hypothesize, theorize and opine about the primaries. I'm going to make random predictions. I'm as qualified as anyone. Just consider how well the pollsters called it in New Hampshire.
The next primaries to watch are South Carolina, Michigan and Nevada. I love that we've come this far in the race, which really isn't that far, and we don't have a clear winner. Now we get to hear the bullshit the contenders will heap upon these states. This is actually a good thing. Usually, after New Hampshire, the primaries fade a bit from the news and we don't get to hear the rhetoric. The thing is, the rhetoric we hear in New Hampshire is dramatically different than the rhetoric in Michigan. Michigan is the solid blue collar state with a deep history in the auto-making industry which has suffered massively for decades. I want to know what the contestants believe is important to this crowd. The Republicans should be afraid to step foot in this state. It's their policies (which the Dems have been complacent with) that allowed the auto industry to take their jobs overseas.
I predict that Clinton will win this state. Why? Just call it a gut feeling. Actually, there was a poll released today in the Washington Post with Obama nearly erasing her lead, but I think her strong showing in New Hampshire is going to help her in Michigan. It won't be over by a long shot for Obama if he comes in second, but he'll really have to work his ass off to keep in it.
The more interesting race by far is the Republicans. The same Washington Post poll showed McCain taking the lead in public opinion. This concerns me. I think he has a good chance of being elected president if he wins the nomination. I think he's the only Republican with a chance of winning. And a race between him and Hillary would be ugly. Frankly, this is a worst case scenario. Obama needs to be the Dem's nominee if McCain wins the Republican nomination. Obama is squeaky clean really. The baggage that Hillary brings to race would sink her and the rest of the Democrats.
Of course, if anyone but McCain wins, I think Hillary or Obama have it in the bag. I can't wait to see the Republicans take a hit. Unfortunately, McCain's been vetted. He's a good guy, reasonable even. I don't agree with him 98% of the time and I'd hate to see him win, but he can't be attacked with much. On the other hand, it makes me giddy to think of the mud-slinging that would go on if, say, Rudy Guilliani wins the nomination. Evangelical Christians would be bombarded of pictures of Guilliani in drag. Not to mention, pictures of his many wives!!! This would be the best. Far better than any of Hillary's crap.
My prediction: McCain wins it. It's bound to happen that my anticipation of a good, juicy race would be ruined by the rise of McCain. And why should he win? He is the best Republican candidate. That's just a fact. The others are jokes.
Let me just note my fear of Mike Huckabee. A win by him would be truly scary. If the evangelicals mobilize around that guy, welcome to hell. Check out these books for a glimpse into the future: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk. These are two of my favorite books, and both describe some sort of takeover of the country by the Christian right-wing conservatives. These are the same evangelicals that put Bush in office. We can't underestimate their mobilizing capabilities.
So we'll see what happens tomorrow. Maybe by the time the primary comes to Maryland, my vote will actually count. But count me out. I'm voting for Gravel. Neither Hillary or Barack need my vote, and the things that bother me about both of them cancel each other out. By voting for Gravel, I'm letting the Dems know I like what he has to say and maybe they ought to consider his ideas. I think he's still on the ballot. If not, the socialist from Ohio gets my vote.
Friday, December 28, 2007
THIS is What a FEMINIST Looks Like!
This is me from the neck down. I'm 7 months pregnant. Caroline liked the juxtaposition of the "This is what a feminist looks like" t-shirt over my large pregnant belly. I have to agree. This is what a feminist looks like. My face looked pained so I had to cut it off. I've had this t-shirt since college.I'm not going to talk about being pregnant much here. This week, I've been consumed by two news stories - the Siberian tiger, Tatiana, who killed one person and mauled two others in San Francisco, and the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
I'm not going to pretend to know a lot about Bhutto. I just know that her death is a huge set back for Pakistan and the Middle East. More importantly, I'm frightened by the fact that Musharref is one of the U.S.'s greatest "allies" against terrorism in the region, yet his own relationship with democracy is pretty poor. How alike are we to him? It gives me an uneasy feeling in my stomach. It's not just gas.
The story of Tatiana is a truly sad one. We can't be shocked that the animal was vicious or barbaric. She's a tiger for goodness sake. They are instinctual and they prey on and kill other animals. Just because we stick them in a pretty "enclosure" doesn't take their natural desire to hunt away. But it is a tragedy. Those poor boys are maimed and one dead at seventeen. Can you imagine dying that way? Unfathomable. Zoos can be a good place. It allows us to learn about other animals and respect their need for survival as well as our own. Zoos have become a place of sanctuary for near-extinct animals like the Siberian tiger. I don't have anything profound to say about this. I wish I did, but I'm just saddened for both the victims and the tiger.
My last random thought will be about Facebook. I was hesitant to join yet another online community (aside from MySpace) and I couldn't figure out how to use it. But after several invitations to view profiles, etc. I gave in. It's been very interesting. And provides for hours of trivial amusement. Not many folks my age are on it. If you've heard of it, you know it was designed for colleges and that is the major user. But it's catching on worldwide and I've found some folks I haven't talked to in years. That's fun. It's not that I have to find these people. I'm happy with my current friends. But it's nice to catch up with people and see what they are doing now. Natural curiosity. Check it out. I like it better than MySpace because you don't get random friend requests from people you don't know. Somehow, that seems to make it more "intimate."
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Cookies and Coffee
This is been the weekend of cookies. Caroline and I are having some friends over for a Christmas Eve dinner tomorrow, so this weekend, I was chained to the kitchen. It's been fun. I am really enjoying it. I found some new cookie recipes on the internet (Myrecipes.com), and for the last two days I've been baking up a storm. The first cookie I made was actually a biscotti, cranberry and chocolate chip. I have never made biscotti before so this was a treat. Actually, I've never made any of the cookies I made this weekend. The biscotti turned out pretty yummy. The next cookie I made was pinolli. Caroline found this recipe in some Martha Stewart Magazine called Blueprint, which she will apparently stop publishing some time soon. We had some pinolli at Iggie's Pizza in Mt. Vernon. Mine didn't come out as good, but I was still impressed with myself nonetheless.
I also made two drop cookies - Oatmeal, chocolate chip, pecan and cranberry coconut chews. Neither of my cookies seemed to come out the way they're pictured on the website, but they both taste good. Frankly, I can't see how either of these cookies could be considered "drop" cookies. I thought the dough for both was very crumbly and I had to mold it into cookies before I put it on the baking sheet. However, they taste good and I hope they'll be a hit with the guests. It's really satisfying to try out new recipes. I haven't enjoyed cooking in a long time so it felt good to get back in the kitchen and cook things from scratch.
My other "from scratch" accomplishments for the weekend are cranberry sauce (I grew up eating that jello stuff from the can) and corn bread (to be used for the stuffing). However, what I am most proud of is the chocolate covered strawberries! Yum! Another new experiment for me.
You may be wondering if we're going to prepare any food that isn't dessert. Well, we have a full menu, most of which will be made tomorrow by Caroline, with the exception of the turkey and the stuffing. Caroline is making all the vegetable dishes, of which there are 4 or 5. She's also making yummy savory scones. I'm making the turkey (cross your fingers for me), the stuffing, and kugel. It should be a yummy feast.
And now for topic #2 - Coffee. I'm on a coffee tasting exhibition with our local roast masters, Zeke's. I've switched up my habits a bit. During the week, we set up our coffee to brew in advance of our waking. For this, we use Peet's. They deliver. But on the weekends, I wanted no shortcuts. We grind whole beans right before brewing. So for my whole bean fix, I've been patronizing Zeke's. They do their own roasting and I'm impressed with their selection of organic fairly traded coffees. What I'm even more pleased about is how they package the beans. I mean, they package it like everyone else, BUT they offer a half and half blend. Half regular, half decaf. Let me tell you what a pain in the ass it is to do that yourself at home. Getting two bags of coffee, one regular, one decaf, scooping some from each, etc, etc. It is a real treat. I recently tried their Ethiopian Sumatra and found it just wasn't dark enough for me. Today I broke into a French Roast. I enjoyed it, but I'm still looking for something a little more full bodied. Whatever is the next blend, it's sure to be good. Zeke's has really brightened my weekends. I highly recommend checking out their website or stopping by their store. They also have a great stand at the Waverly Farmers Market on Saturday mornings.
Happy brewing!
I also made two drop cookies - Oatmeal, chocolate chip, pecan and cranberry coconut chews. Neither of my cookies seemed to come out the way they're pictured on the website, but they both taste good. Frankly, I can't see how either of these cookies could be considered "drop" cookies. I thought the dough for both was very crumbly and I had to mold it into cookies before I put it on the baking sheet. However, they taste good and I hope they'll be a hit with the guests. It's really satisfying to try out new recipes. I haven't enjoyed cooking in a long time so it felt good to get back in the kitchen and cook things from scratch.
My other "from scratch" accomplishments for the weekend are cranberry sauce (I grew up eating that jello stuff from the can) and corn bread (to be used for the stuffing). However, what I am most proud of is the chocolate covered strawberries! Yum! Another new experiment for me.
You may be wondering if we're going to prepare any food that isn't dessert. Well, we have a full menu, most of which will be made tomorrow by Caroline, with the exception of the turkey and the stuffing. Caroline is making all the vegetable dishes, of which there are 4 or 5. She's also making yummy savory scones. I'm making the turkey (cross your fingers for me), the stuffing, and kugel. It should be a yummy feast.
And now for topic #2 - Coffee. I'm on a coffee tasting exhibition with our local roast masters, Zeke's. I've switched up my habits a bit. During the week, we set up our coffee to brew in advance of our waking. For this, we use Peet's. They deliver. But on the weekends, I wanted no shortcuts. We grind whole beans right before brewing. So for my whole bean fix, I've been patronizing Zeke's. They do their own roasting and I'm impressed with their selection of organic fairly traded coffees. What I'm even more pleased about is how they package the beans. I mean, they package it like everyone else, BUT they offer a half and half blend. Half regular, half decaf. Let me tell you what a pain in the ass it is to do that yourself at home. Getting two bags of coffee, one regular, one decaf, scooping some from each, etc, etc. It is a real treat. I recently tried their Ethiopian Sumatra and found it just wasn't dark enough for me. Today I broke into a French Roast. I enjoyed it, but I'm still looking for something a little more full bodied. Whatever is the next blend, it's sure to be good. Zeke's has really brightened my weekends. I highly recommend checking out their website or stopping by their store. They also have a great stand at the Waverly Farmers Market on Saturday mornings.
Happy brewing!
Saturday, December 8, 2007
I'm Back... and Just In Time
Hi all, I'm back from a hiatus. This has been a challenging month, one in which blogging the randomness of my mind just wasn't going to happen. Basically, I've been preoccupied with my friend's family crisis. I didn't want to blog about it, but I will a bit today.
My best friend, T, had a family emergency in October. Her husband had a stroke caused by a large brain tumor. He has brain cancer at 43. The surgeons didn't expect him to survive the surgery, but he did. His prognosis for the cancer, however, is uncertain. And the stroke itself caused significant damage. He's lost all mobility on his right side. He's been in the hospital since the stroke, though he could be released any day now. He's currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for the cancer. They have two children, 6 and 3.
I can't believe T has to go through this. My heart is breaking for her. I can't imagine what it is to have life change so drastically and so permanently in a moment's time. She's trying to make sure her husband gets the best treatment while also keeping life as stable and normal as possible for their children. A 6-year old and 3-year old can't be expected to understand what's happening to their father. For them, it must be the worst feeling in the world to see him in the hospital, head shaved and unable to talk.
Caroline and I went to see her the week of Thanksgiving. T lives in California and I'm here in Baltimore. I feel so helpless being so far from her and the kids. My brief visit wasn't all that helpful. What can I do in a few days to help with a lifetime of changes? I struggled with my need to be helpful and T's need to be independent, strong, and normal. She deals with this day in and day out. She knows she has to find time to go to the grocery store, do the laundry, play with the kids. She can't rely on me who's only there a few days. It was hard.
I love them all so much. But really, what could anyone do? One of the worst things that could happen has happened, not to me but to her. I will be here however she needs me and I hope that brings her a little bit of comfort.
So as I bring myself back to my here and now, this situation makes me think about universal healthcare. It's what the Democrats want to bring to the table if they are elected president. Most of the major candidates have a universal healthcare proposal. Paul Krugman has recently criticized Barack Obama's plan (read this column and this one). The basic flaw in Obama's plan is the lack of a mandate stating everyone must buy into the plan. He's throwing out some Republican garbage about not having mandates, but the effect is to weaken the plan. He says you don't have to buy into the plan if you don't want to but the plan will be there when you need it. So many folks won't buy the insurance until they need it shifting the cost of the plan onto those who buy it now.
This has given me some pause with Barack. A few months ago he was saying all the right things about gay marriage. I was almost ready to settle on him as my candidate. But then he invited this anti-gay minister to speak at one of his rallies and now there's this misguided anti-mandate in his "universal" healthcare proposal. He's heading down the same path Howard Dean did for me four years ago. I was a Deaniac. I liked him a lot. But then Howie stuck his foot in his mouth over and over again on some foreign policy issues (long before the infamous Iowa screaming) and I became disappointed in him. I didn't care for Kerry or Edwards and so I was left without a candidate.
The same is going to happen this time around. I'm not thrilled about Hillary. Not at all. She certainly won't advance the gay agenda very far, if at all, and that's important to me as I bring a child into the world with my partner. It doesn't really matter what I think though. The nomination will be wrapped up before Maryland has its say.
However, if you want some help picking your candidate, the Washington Post has crafted this handy Candidate Quiz. It takes a little time to work all the way through it, but it's comprehensive. It's based on candidate answers to a bunch of questions. I quit a little over half way through since it seemed like there was one candidate that was standing out above the rest. Turned out to be John Edwards. Thing is, I don't really believe Edwards is genuine. I think he's just saying what he's saying to win the nomination. His "son of the working class" theme just hits me the wrong way. That's the flaw in the quiz. You have to take all the answers at face value. By the way, there's a quiz for the Republicans too. I'm thinking about trying it to see who the least detestable candidate is.
My best friend, T, had a family emergency in October. Her husband had a stroke caused by a large brain tumor. He has brain cancer at 43. The surgeons didn't expect him to survive the surgery, but he did. His prognosis for the cancer, however, is uncertain. And the stroke itself caused significant damage. He's lost all mobility on his right side. He's been in the hospital since the stroke, though he could be released any day now. He's currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for the cancer. They have two children, 6 and 3.
I can't believe T has to go through this. My heart is breaking for her. I can't imagine what it is to have life change so drastically and so permanently in a moment's time. She's trying to make sure her husband gets the best treatment while also keeping life as stable and normal as possible for their children. A 6-year old and 3-year old can't be expected to understand what's happening to their father. For them, it must be the worst feeling in the world to see him in the hospital, head shaved and unable to talk.
Caroline and I went to see her the week of Thanksgiving. T lives in California and I'm here in Baltimore. I feel so helpless being so far from her and the kids. My brief visit wasn't all that helpful. What can I do in a few days to help with a lifetime of changes? I struggled with my need to be helpful and T's need to be independent, strong, and normal. She deals with this day in and day out. She knows she has to find time to go to the grocery store, do the laundry, play with the kids. She can't rely on me who's only there a few days. It was hard.
I love them all so much. But really, what could anyone do? One of the worst things that could happen has happened, not to me but to her. I will be here however she needs me and I hope that brings her a little bit of comfort.
So as I bring myself back to my here and now, this situation makes me think about universal healthcare. It's what the Democrats want to bring to the table if they are elected president. Most of the major candidates have a universal healthcare proposal. Paul Krugman has recently criticized Barack Obama's plan (read this column and this one). The basic flaw in Obama's plan is the lack of a mandate stating everyone must buy into the plan. He's throwing out some Republican garbage about not having mandates, but the effect is to weaken the plan. He says you don't have to buy into the plan if you don't want to but the plan will be there when you need it. So many folks won't buy the insurance until they need it shifting the cost of the plan onto those who buy it now.
This has given me some pause with Barack. A few months ago he was saying all the right things about gay marriage. I was almost ready to settle on him as my candidate. But then he invited this anti-gay minister to speak at one of his rallies and now there's this misguided anti-mandate in his "universal" healthcare proposal. He's heading down the same path Howard Dean did for me four years ago. I was a Deaniac. I liked him a lot. But then Howie stuck his foot in his mouth over and over again on some foreign policy issues (long before the infamous Iowa screaming) and I became disappointed in him. I didn't care for Kerry or Edwards and so I was left without a candidate.
The same is going to happen this time around. I'm not thrilled about Hillary. Not at all. She certainly won't advance the gay agenda very far, if at all, and that's important to me as I bring a child into the world with my partner. It doesn't really matter what I think though. The nomination will be wrapped up before Maryland has its say.
However, if you want some help picking your candidate, the Washington Post has crafted this handy Candidate Quiz. It takes a little time to work all the way through it, but it's comprehensive. It's based on candidate answers to a bunch of questions. I quit a little over half way through since it seemed like there was one candidate that was standing out above the rest. Turned out to be John Edwards. Thing is, I don't really believe Edwards is genuine. I think he's just saying what he's saying to win the nomination. His "son of the working class" theme just hits me the wrong way. That's the flaw in the quiz. You have to take all the answers at face value. By the way, there's a quiz for the Republicans too. I'm thinking about trying it to see who the least detestable candidate is.
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