Christmas Aebleskiver Tradition

This Christmas we continued our family tradition of preparing Danish Aebleskivers for breakfast.  With fresh strawberry jam and powdered sugar, they are DELICIOUS!

   

Living Nativity in Santa Monica, California

The city of Santa Monica, California, recently outlawed their yearly Christmas Nativity that had become a tradition over many years.

Not to be discouraged, a group of Christians organized a Living Nativity inside one of the city malls, complete with costumes, a manager, and a choir.  As you can see in the link below, the nativity drew quite a crowd and soon everyone joined in singing Silent Night.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/christians-stage-stunning-nativity-flash-mob-inside-ca-mall-in-response-to-atheist-led-war-on-christmas/?fb_action_ids=4437100238438%2C4437065077559&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%224437100238438%22%3A397969050281113%2C%224437065077559%22%3A475490355822520%7D&action_type_map=%7B%224437100238438%22%3A%22og.likes%22%2C%224437065077559%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

Merry Christmas everyone!

More Association - Windy

Here is another of my favorites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiQgDzeJV2s&feature=related

Enjoy

The Association - Cherish - 1966

 

I have always loved this song and listening to it brings back fond memories of slow dancing with my date at the local dances.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwAjGsuyF2M

Dancing 11 Month Old Twins - GREAT!

   

My wonderful sister posted this adorable YouTube video on Facebook.  What a couple of happy little girls.  I especially love how they look at each other when their daddy starts playing the music.  Take a  look and enjoy!
 

Different Meanings for Traffic Light Colors

      

We recently moved to a different state and since arriving we have noticed that the colors of the traffic lights have a different meaning in this new state.  For example...

If you are sitting at a RED light waiting, and the light turns GREEN it does not mean "Go" as it used to in our previous state.  Here is means "Wait a little to make sure the opposing traffic has finally stopped before proceeding cautiously into the intersection."


Additionally, if you approach an intersection with a GREEN light, it used to mean that "It was okay to drive through the intersection."  Here is means "Proceed with caution."


In our previous state a YELLOW light meant that the light was getting ready to change to RED, so you should try to stop, but if you couldn't it was okay to "Proceed with caution."  In this new state, a YELLOW light means the same that a GREEN light used to mean in our old state, namely "Go."  In fact a YELLOW light in this new state means "Drive even faster through the intersection."


The biggest difference in this new state is the meaning of a RED light.  In our previous state a RED light meant to "Stop."  Here in the new state, a RED light has an entirely new meaning.  Here is means to "accelerate through the intersection."  The RED light only means "Stop" if there are cars blocking your path.  In fact, unless there are cars blocking your path,  it is okay to drive through an intersection in this new state no matter what color the light is, RED, GREEN or YELLOW.


It has taken some time to get used to this new color scheme, but I am finally learning.  I basically have had to ignore the color of the traffic lights and pay attention to whether or not there are cars blocking my path.  If a car runs into me, that is a different story, but that has yet to happen.
    

Paula Dean, Chef or a Hypocrite?

 

My wife and I enjoy watching many of the cooking shows on TV.  They make it look so easy with their pre-measured dishes of ingredients that they drop into the bowl.  One of my personal favorites is Rachael Ray when she makes great dishes in just 30 minutes.  Rachael was a bit different in that she didn't have those tiny dishes of ingredients.  She started the show by gathering all the items she needed from the refrigerator and food pantries on the TV set.

All of these TV Chefs prepare a wide variety of dishes that people love to eat, and they are like my grandmother, in that they take great pleasure in having people enjoy their delicious creations.  They love to watch you eat and enjoy the food.  It thrills their hearts when people ask for seconds and thirds and fourths and....

Perhaps the TV Chef most like my grandmother is Paula Dean.  She loves to create dishes that nobody can resist.  She recently came under attack when she revealed that she suffers from Type 2 Diabetes and that she has teamed up with a drug company that sells medication to those who suffer from Diabetes.
Some are calling her a hypocrite because she promotes all kinds of foods that she should not be eating since she is a diabetic.  Her response to them was "Get a life!"

Are overweight chefs considered hypocrites because they create dishes that are so delicious that people love to eat them and then gain weight as a result?

Is a hamburger flipper at McDonalds a hypocrite if a customer eats too many Big Macs?

Is Paula Dean a hypocrite because she shows people how to prepare meals that may cause problems if a diabetic eats too much?

What is a "Hypocrite?"

According to my dictionary, a hypocrite is someone who pretends to have virtues, beliefs or principles that they don't.  It includes those who criticize others for something that they themselves do.  A hypocrite is a pretender and a deceiver.

By this definition, Paula Dean is clearly not a hypocrite.  However those who are criticizing Paula ought to watch out for themselves.  Hypocrites are usually seen running around being critical of others and finding fault.  Paula is only guilty of one thing...She makes some of the most delicious and irresistible dishes in the world.