News of the Day

I am just going to say this one time because if I don't I will feel like a jerk, Michael Jackson rest in peace.

I said it. Now I can go on with my day listening to all of the radio stations playing all of the songs we used to listen to before he became a creepy old man.

Adios Amigos!!!

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

Didn't you ever hear your mother say that?

I had a discussion with my oldest daughter recently about her going through the awkward stages growing up. You know, how your nose is too big for your head or your butt is too big for your body?

I told her, "Angel, the things you think are ugly now will be your greatest features later in life. You will learn to appreciate your body for it's uniqueness."

When I was younger, I had a large nose and huge butt. Thankfully, my nose doesn't stand out quite as much and well, the butt is an asset. Hardy har har.

Recently, I came across a group that I really love, called The Suicide Girls, who do not want to look how Hollywood has depicted as beautiful, they just want to be themselves. I love you Suicide Girls. You are what we all should strive to be- proud of our own unique beauty.

Feelings

It's a funny thing your feelings.

Some days your feelings run you and other days logic takes the lead.

I have become a person that is trying to be one hundred percent honest with the people around me. I am not a liar but I have had problems expressing how I feel to people and sometimes it is to my own detriment.

There have also been times when because I did not say how I feel other people have taken my actions to mean something entirely the opposite of what I felt.

As of this day forward, I am not going to hold back. I will say what needs to be said when it needs to be said, how it needs to be said.

There is a VirtuaGuy!!!

Maybe some of you are wondering how I found out about this in the first place.

Let me explain. It was my little brother.

There it is. The cat is out of the bag.

Anyway, I did a genius move and typed into the toolbar Www.VirtuaGuy.com and viola!!! Magic dancing man all over my desktop!!!

So here you are ladies, it's raining men!!!

By the way, KT, doesn't this one look like that georgeous soccer hunk we have been dreaming about???

Strippers in the Dust

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How Not to Date a Married Man

Okay, so maybe you are wondering why I am posting this. Well, it recently became a major factor for me to investigate whether or not a guy who was interested in me was really a married cheater.

He was definitely acting strange.

I only had a cell phone number. He only usually would text me in the evening, very late and then would cut me off short in the middle of conversations. Very strange, indeed.

I am not dumb. I have dated a few other married men, unbeknownst to me at the time. I know what the signs are...now. It was becoming obvious. Then, I just found an article about the signs of a married man and he fit them to a T!!! Aaaahhhh MEN!!! So for all of you single ladies out there trying to avoid the cheater, here is what I found:

1. You've never been to his house. How could you? You would run into the wife and kids.
2. You only have a cell phone number, so as not to disturb the wife and kids.
3. He does his own dishes and such. Trained.
4. He always wants to have sex. Yeah. Sounds kind of normal, except that it's CONSTANT. You go Bob.
5. Tighty whiteys. Nothing sexy because the wife will know something is up.
6. He pays for everything in cash so as to keep things on the dl. Nice. No paper trail.

Oh, yeah, I don't really know about the tighty whiteys because it never got that far. He did however start acting like a jerk when I told him I want to get to know him a while longer before I had sex with him. Yeah. NEXT!!!

There are also ways of checking public records and when I researched this particular man, he didn't have a criminal record but a woman's name kept appearing with him. Yes, I do criminal background checks and to see if a man is married because for some reason, I attract every jerk within a hundred miles. All you have to do is go to your local county website and look under clerical records, then criminal or family or probate. It varies from county to county. Check the sex offender lists as well. You just never know.

Good luck ladies!!! It's slim pickings.

Road Construction

If you live in Michigan then, you know what time it is: Road Construction.

I am going to be doing a lot of driving this weekend so I can't wait to get in line!!! :D

Anywhere you go it is the same, long lines, pot-holes and men in orange and yellow suits. Kind of sounds like a horror movie. If you have ever been caught in traffic for an hour in eighty-degree weather with three kids in your backseat tired, hot and sticky, then maybe you can relate.

That is why before I hit the road I am going to load up on food, drinks and lots of entertainment.

I was thinking, what are some good car foods and entertainment and I came up with these:

Pretzels, pecans, peanuts, Twizzlers, apples, jerky, meat and cheese sandwiches, Bug Juice, apple or white grape juice, water and for entertainment, Nintendo DS, the DVD player of course, books, Hannah Montana anything for the girls, not sure what all the boys are into, crossword puzzles, coloring books, Ipods, and lots and lots of car games and songs.

Happy Road Construction!!!

I love Italian Food!!!

If you know me, you know I am addicted to anything with noodles and/or cheese, so you also know that I love Italian food.

I have found such a wonderful little website that I wanted to share with all the other Italian food lovers out there. It is called Www.ItalianFoodForever.com.

It features a blog, recipes, journals, a glossary, cookbooks and even a photo gallery.

Talk about heaven!!!

Here is a recipe for Sausage Spinach Ravioli with Tomato Cream Sauce featured on their site:

Dough:

2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

3 Eggs

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil


Filling:

8 Cups Fresh Spinach, Cleaned And Coarsely Chopped

4 Large Italian Sausage Links, Removed From Casings

1 Medium Onion, Chopped

2 Cloves Garlic, Peeled And Minced

3 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

1 Egg

Salt & Pepper


Sauce:

2 Tbsp. Olive Oil

2 Cloves Garlic, Minced

1/2 Tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

1 (28 ounce) Can Crushed Tomatoes

Salt & Pepper

1/2 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream

1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Parsley (Or Basil)


Additional:

1 Egg

Grated Parmesan Cheese To Serve


Combine the flour and salt on a flat work surface; shape into a mound and make a well in the center. Add the eggs and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to the well and lightly beat with a fork. Gradually draw in the flour from the inside wall of the well in a circular motion. Continue to incorporate all the flour until it forms a ball. Wrap the ball in plastic wrap and let rest 30 minutes.

While the pasta is resting, prepare the filling. Steam the spinach and drain well, pressing the spinach to remove all excess liquid. In a heavy frying pan heat the olive oil and saute the onion with the sausage meat until the onion is tender and the sausage meat lightly browned. Add the garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Place the sausage mixture, spinach, egg and cheese in a food processor and pulse just until the mixture is combined. You want to retain a coarse mixture so be careful not to over process the filling.

Cut the ball of dough in 1/2, cover and reserve the piece you are not immediately using to prevent it from drying out. Dust the counter and dough with a little flour. Press the dough into a rectangle and roll it through a pasta machine, 2 or 3 times, at widest setting. Pull and stretch the sheet of dough with the palm of your hand as it emerges from the rollers. Reduce the setting and crank the dough through again, 2 or 3 times. Continue tightening until the machine is at the second narrowest setting; the dough should be almost paper-thin.

Beat 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water to make an egg wash. Dust the counter and sheet of dough with flour, lay out the long sheet of pasta, and brush the top surface with the egg wash, which acts as a glue. Drop 1 tablespoon of the filling on 1/2 of the pasta sheet, about 2-inches apart. Fold the other 1/2 over the filling like a blanket. With your fingers, gently press out air pockets around each mound of filling. Use a sharp knife to cut each pillow into squares and crimp the 4 edges with the tins of a fork to make a tight seal. A fluted pastry wheel also works well to make an attractive edge around the pasta. Dust the ravioli and a sheet pan with cornmeal to prevent the pasta from sticking and lay them out to dry slightly while assembling the rest. If not using within an hour or two refrigerate until needed.

To prepare the sauce, heat the two tablespoons of oil in a heavy pot and cook the garlic for just a minute. Add the tomatoes, salt, pepper, and pepper flakes and cook over medium low heat for 10 minutes. Add the cream and fresh, chopped herbs and mix well. Cook over low heat an additional 10 minutes. Keep warm while you cook the pasta.

Cook the ravioli in plenty of boiling salted water until tender. They will float to the top when ready, so be careful not to overcrowd the pot. Drain the ravioli and return to the pot. Pour half of the sauce mixture into the pot and carefully stir until the ravioli is lightly coated. Serve the ravioli with a spoonful of additional sauce and a sprinkling of grated cheese. Serve hot.


Buon Appetito!
Deborah Mele 2008

We Made You by Eminem

Junk Food Junky

Okay, so I have put on a few pounds since I came home.

Mostly because my family's diet is cheese, cheese, more cheese and noodles with cheese. Oh, yeah, and potatoes.

Then you add to it that I work at a fast food establishment and that doubles the impact.

I am always on the road. Triple whammy!

So I am taking a good, long look at my diet and have decided to start eating like the bird that I am. Tweet, tweet. Flit, flit.

Back to my healthy diet of meat, veggies and nuts and berries, lol. Sounds horrible but it really is good. I just need to stay away from the CHEESE!!!

Oh, yeah, and the chocolate. :(

No worries, I am only in a size five, one size up from the four. I think it's all in my hips. lol