I Need Not Go

Single vs. Engaged vs. MARRIED!!

Sipping her drink, the single girl leered and said, "Last Friday at the end of the work day I went to my boyfriend's office wearing a leather coat. When all the other people had left, I slipped out of it and all I had on was a leather bodice, black stockings and stiletto heels. He was so aroused that we made passionate love on his desk right then and there!"

The engaged woman giggled and said, "That's pretty much my story! When my fiancé got home last Friday, he found me waiting for him in a black mask, leather bodice, black hose and stiletto pumps. He was so turned on that we not only had sex all night, he wants to move up our wedding date!"

The married woman put her glass down and said, "I did a lot of planning. I made arrangements for the kids to stay over at Grandma's. I took a long
scented-oil bath and then put on my best perfume. I slipped into a tight leather bodice, a black garter belt, black stockings and six-inch stilettos.
I finished i t off with a black mask. When my husband got home from work, he grabbed a beer and the remote, sat down and yelled, 'Hey, Batman,
what's for dinner?

ஜ~§Quote of the Day§~ஜ

Room service? Send up a larger room.
Groucho Marx

ஜ~§The Question Of The Day§~ஜ

Who had the best outfit at the Oscars this year? Who had the worst?

I had a terrific time, chatting with my Books and Lit friends, and watching the Oscars. Exchanging our opinions on people's outfits, who shoulda, woulda, coulda won. It was a fun little experience! The whole room was in on it. Good times!

ஜ~§The Word Of The Day§~ஜ

Contumacious

PRONUNCIATION:
(KON-tuh-may-shuhs, -tyoo-)

MEANING:
adjective: Stubborn, insubordinate.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin contumacia, from contumax, contumac- (insolent).

USAGE:
"Without the disciplining presence of the two heavyweights, contumacious councillors busied themselves with procedural obstruction and shouting 'corruption' at each other."

ஜ~§What I'm Reading§~ஜ

Jewels of the Sun and Opposites Attract, both by Nora Roberts. Oh ... and I read a people magazine yesterday.

ஜ~§What I'm Watching§~ஜ

Tonight is: Heroes!! Yay!! Also, The Closer and Trust Me.

ஜ~§Poem Of The Day§~ஜ

"I Need Not Go"

I need not go
Through sleet and snow
To where I know
She waits for me;
She will wait me there
Till I find it fair,
And have time to spare
From company.

When I've overgot
The world somewhat,
When things cost not
Such stress and strain,
Is soon enough
By cypress sough
To tell my Love
I am come again.

And if some day,
When none cries nay,
I still delay
To seek her side,
(Though ample measure
Of fitting leisure
Await my pleasure)
She will riot chide.

What--not upbraid me
That I delayed me,
Nor ask what stayed me
So long? Ah, no! -
New cares may claim me,
New loves inflame me,
She will not blame me,
But suffer it so.

Thomas Hardy

ஜ~§Recipe of the Day§~ஜ

Tofu Stir Fry

Ingredients:
1 package (14 ounces) extra-firm tofu
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 small red bell pepper, seeded, cored and thinly sliced
1 small green bell pepper, seeded, cored and thinly sliced
6 green onions, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1 package (8 ounce) whole-wheat lo mein noodles
6 tablespoons white miso paste
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 piece ginger (1 inch), minced
1 teaspoon orange zest
1/4 cup orange juice
1 can (15 ounce) baby corn, drained and rinsed
1 can (8 ounce) water chestnuts, drained and rinsed

Preparation:
Place tofu in a colander; set a heavy pot on top 10 to 15 minutes to press out moisture. Halve; sprinkle soy sauce, garlic powder, then flour over halves. Heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Cook tofu until golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Slice; set aside. In same skillet, cook peppers and onions, covered, until peppers soften, 7 to 8 minutes. Cook noodles as directed on package. Whisk miso paste, garlic, ginger, zest, juice and remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a bowl. Add pepper mixture, noodles, corn, water chestnuts; toss. Top with tofu.

Brightest Blessings,
~S~

No Man Is An Island

Hey guys!

I've been a bad little bloggy friend. I haven't really blopped or done anything. No particular reason for it, except I've been playing alot on FB and less on BS and Twitter. I'll try to do better, I'm following so many interesting blogs, and now that I'm so far behind, it's like I'll never get caught up!

Anyway, I taught my first Safety Culture class as a certified instructor the day before yesterday. I think it went really well. There are some people who are completely against the process, and that was forseen. It's still difficult when there is dissention though, as I really believe in the process, not only for safety but as a philosophical way of life.

In addition, I found out the other day that one of the other certified trainers, one that I spent two weeks with in Denver for the train-the-trainer courses is currently bad-mouthing the way we're progressing with the Safety Culture roll-out. That is also disconcerting to me, how are we to expect other's to keep an open mind when one of the trainers won't even do it. It's very frustrating. I'll keep ya'll abreast of how things are shaking down on that front, as I'm sure you're waiting with bated breath for the information on the outcome. :)

and now ... for the REST of the story!

ஜ~§Quote of the Day§~ஜ

He who laughs most, learns best.
John Cleese

ஜ~§The Question Of The Day§~ஜ

What is your personal motto or favorite quotation?

My personal favorite motto is: Two things are infinate, the univers and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. (Einstein)

Keep in mind folks, I love it when you answer this question in comments, but feel free to expand upon any of my questions of the day in your own blogs, if it suits you. (love and light)

ஜ~§The Word Of The Day§~ஜ

Mug's Game

PRONUNCIATION:
(mugz gaym)

MEANING:
noun: A foolish or futile activity.

ETYMOLOGY:
From mug (slang for a fool), from Scandinavian word mugg/mugge (drinking cup). In earlier times drinking cups were adorned with grotesque faces, which resulted in the various senses of the word, nouns (face, dupe, thug) and verbs (to assault, to make faces, to photograph).

USAGE:
"'Because we're dealing with so many unknowns, forecasting is an absolute mug's game at present,' says Westpac chief economist Brendan O'Donovan."

ஜ~§What I'm Reading§~ஜ

Jewels of the Sun and Opposites Attract, both by Nora Roberts.

ஜ~§What I'm Watching§~ஜ

Tonight is: TV Catchup night. Last night BSG was freaking amazing again. I had stated that Ghost Whisperer, Flashpoint, and Numb3rs was on my radar for last night, but they were re-runs, so I don't have too much catching up to do. :)

ஜ~§Poem Of The Day§~ஜ

No man is an island

No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

John Donne

ஜ~§Recipe of the Day§~ஜ

Ginger Glazed Mahi Mahi

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
1 clove garlic, crushed or to taste
2 teaspoons olive oil
4 (6 ounce) mahi mahi fillets
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Preparation:
In a shallow glass dish, stir together the honey, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, ginger, garlic and olive oil. Season fish fillets with salt and pepper, and place them into the dish. If the fillets have skin on them, place them skin side down. Cover, and refrigerate for 20 minutes to marinate.

Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove fish from the dish, and reserve marinade. Fry fish for 4 to 6 minutes on each side, turning only once, until fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove fillets to a serving platter and keep warm.

Pour reserved marinade into the skillet, and heat over medium heat until the mixture reduces to a glaze consistently. Spoon glaze over fish, and serve immediately.

Yield: 4 servings

Brightest Blessings,
~S~

Echoes

Here are some funnies for today:

"This year, taxpayers will receive an Economic Stimulus Payment.
This is a very exciting new program that I will explain using the Q and A format:

Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidgen.

Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.

Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China ?
A. Shut up.

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the US economy by
spending your stimulus check wisely:

If you spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China.
If you spend it on gasoline it will go to the Arabs.
If you purchase a computer it will go to India.
If you purchase fruit and vegetables it will go to Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala (unless you buy organic).
If you buy a car it will go to Japan.
If you purchase useless crap it will go to Taiwan.

None of it will help the American economy. We need to keep that money here in America. You can keep the money in America by spending it at yard sales, going to a baseball game, or spend it on prostitutes, beer and wine (domestic ONLY), or tattoos, since those are the only businesses still in the US.

A man owned a small ranch in Montana. The Wage & Hours Board
of the Montana State Department of Labor claimed he was not paying
proper wages to his help and sent an agent out to interview him.
"I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them,"
demanded the agent.
"Well," replied the fellow, "there's my ranch hand who's been
with me for 3 years. I pay him $200 a week plus free room and board.
The cook has been here for 18 months, and I pay her $150 per
week plus free room and board.
Then there's the half-wit. He works about 18 hours every day and
does about 90% of all the work around here. He makes about $10 per week,
pays his own room and board, and I buy him a bottle of bourbon every
Saturday night. He also sleeps with my wife occasionally."

"That's the guy I want to talk to ... the half-wit," says the
agent.
"That would be me," replied the Rancher.

ஜ~§Quote of the Day§~ஜ

Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.
John Quincy Adams

ஜ~§The Question Of The Day§~ஜ

What is the best thing that would happen in your life if fear had no effect on you whatsoever?

ஜ~§The Word Of The Day§~ஜ

Philomath

PRONUNCIATION:
(FIL-uh-math)

MEANING:
noun:
1. A lover of learning.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Greek philomaths (fond of learning), from philo- (loving) + math- root of manthanein (to learn.
USAGE:
"Why was the library given this name? ... Tomasz Zan simply appealed to them as patron by virtue of having been a philomath and an exile who remained faithful to his country."

ஜ~§What I'm Reading§~ஜ

Jewels of the Sun

ஜ~§What I'm Watching§~ஜ

Tonight is: Family Guy, new eppies. YAY

ஜ~§Poem Of The Day§~ஜ

Echoes

Lady Clara Vere de Vere
Was eight years old, she said:
Every ringlet, lightly shaken, ran itself in golden thread.

She took her little porringer:
Of me she shall not win renown:
For the baseness of its nature shall have strength to drag her
down.

"Sisters and brothers, little Maid?
There stands the Inspector at thy door:
Like a dog, he hunts for boys who know not two and two are four."

"Kind words are more than coronets,"
She said, and wondering looked at me:
"It is the dead unhappy night, and I must hurry home to tea."

Lewis Carroll

ஜ~§Recipe of the Day§~ஜ

Hanger Steak with Shallots (from Simply Recipes)





Ingredients:
1 Tbsp canola or grapeseed oil
4 hanger steaks, 6-8 ounces each (trimmed of main gristle running through center)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
6 medium shallots, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1/2 cup red wine
2 Tbsp finely chopped Italian parsley

Preparation:
1 Heat oil in a large heavy-bottomed skillet or sauté pan over high heat. Pat the steaks dry with a paper towel and season them with salt and pepper. When the pan is hot, place the steaks into the pan, and brown them on all sides. (Do not move the steak pieces until they have browned on one side, if you move them, they won't brown easily.) Continue to turn them until they are cooked to your preference, 6 minutes total for medium-rare (the steaks will continue to cook as they rest), a few minutes longer for more well done. Transfer the steaks to a warm dish and cover them with foil and let them rest while you prepare the sauce.

2 Reduce the heat to medium, add a tablespoon of butter and the shallots. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until the shallots are softened, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the vinegar and cook until it boils away, then add the wine. Bring the wine to a boil and let reduce to about half. Remove pan from heat, stir in the remaining tablespoon of butter and the chopped parsley.

To serve, cut each steak against the grain into thin slices. Fan the slices out on a warm dinner plate. Drizzle the warm shallot sauce over the meat and serve immediately.

Serves 4.

Brightest Blessings,
~S~