This is the person I would like to see receive the Republican nomination for president in 2008. Take a look at his website if you’d like to learn more.
January, 2007
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Duncan Hunter
January 30, 2007 by Karen of Scottsdale
Category politics | Tags: | 1 Comment
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Random Minutia
January 29, 2007 by Karen of Scottsdale
Is There a Conspiracy Going on Here? Over two years ago Norm and I discovered prepared meat dishes by Harris Ranch at our local Safeway. I enjoy their boneless beef short ribs and their beef stroganoff. Last week we went to go pick up some for dinner and lo and behold not one Harris Ranch item was on the shelf in the meat department. I made some inquiries with the store management and it turns out they have discontinued carrying that product for some stupid product by Hillshire Farms. So we went to Albertsons and they didn’t have it either. It’s the best precooked meat product on the market and yet nobody will carry it. It’s far superior to anything by Hormel or Tyson.
Other of my favorite but never to be found items at our local grocery store: Welch’s Red Grape Juice and Smuckers Apple Jelly. Maybe I just have unique tastes?
Ace of Cakes: I’ve seen this program a couple of times on the Food Network and it has given me the willies over the thought of ever eating one of those overly decorated artsy cakes. Sure, there’s a lot of artistic talent and creative ingenuity that goes into designing a cake that looks like Wrigley Field, but I wouldn’t eat it. Why? Because when you watch them preparing one of these cakes you see how much they handle the fondant to model it into some form such as you would with clay and yet they aren’t wearing gloves. Also the cake artists are constantly scrutinizing their work and talking to each other in such a way that they could be spitting all over your cake and you would never know it. That’s just plain gross! Maybe not all cake artists are as careless as these people.
Years ago I went to a wedding where they served one of these fancy cakes made of fondant and it’s the toughest icing I’ve ever had. Sure it looks pretty, but I would prefer regular old-fashioned cake with butter cream icing any day in the week.
Cravings: I don’t know why it is but today I’m craving meatloaf sandwiches. I love the meatloaf my mother makes, too bad she lives six hours away and Norm doesn’t cook very well. I’ve tried to find good meatloaf in restaurants around here but everybody puts bell pepper and/or Italian sausage in their mix. Both are anathema to me.
Tapioca pudding fresh from the stove sounds really good right now. I like it served warm — bummer — I forgot to get some at the grocery store today! Norm, why didn’t you remind me?
Out-Blogged! Norm has really gotten the blogging bug now that he’s podcasting again. He’s already prepared blogs for the rest of the week. I’m lucky if I blog once a week anymore. It’s nice to know that he has a good hobby! I’m not jealous — no not one bit! Actually, I’m rather proud of him.
Category blogging, food critic, miscellaneous stuff | Tags: | 2 Comments
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A Special Day
January 23, 2007 by Karen of Scottsdale
Today Norm and I celebrate eight years of marriage. We survived the seven year itch. LOL They have been interesting years, wonderful in many ways. They have also been years of learning to love.
This morning Norm surprised me with a gift. You can see it in the photo below — jewelry from Brighton, my favorite jewelry company. I like their stuff because it’s got that handcrafted look. Norm picked these out all by himself and I’m very proud of him for doing such a good job. I love the colors of the amethyst, raspberry and jade beads. Here’s what Norm told me about the jewelry:
“You are the reason that the jewelry is beautiful. By themselves they are nothing, placed with love on your body makes them sparkle and glisten, simply a reflection of you and your wonderful love of life.”
Isn’t that the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard? I’m taking him out for lunch!
Category life with Norm | Tags: | 6 Comments
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It Snowed!
January 21, 2007 by Karen of Scottsdale
Well, not actually at our home, but we did get hail very late this afternoon. Just east of us in the town of Mesa they got quite a bit of snow this evening and in North Scottsdale this morning and this evening it snowed, as well as in parts of north Phoenix. We mainly got rain around our house. Since the hail started near sundown I didn’t go out to see if there was any snow. I really didn’t think there would be and was surprised to find out it snowed everywhere else when I looked at the online papers this evening. Check out the Arizona Repugnant and the East Valley Tribune for the photos of snowfall around the valley today.
Category life in Scottsdale, weather reports | Tags: | 2 Comments
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Friday Rain
January 19, 2007 by Karen of Scottsdale
Finally we are getting some rain here in the Valley of the Sun. I can’t believe it’s Friday already and I haven’t blogged all week. Oh what a tragedy! I’ve been busy with projects and I really don’t have time to be writing this post right now, but the rain has inspired me.
The big chill left its mark around Scottsdale with lots of dark brown trees and shrubs. It looks like the ficus and citrus trees along with Bougainville took the worst of the freezing temperatures that we had for about three days. Fortunately we have pine trees in our yard which seemed to do OK.
Oh, yesterday I saw a kestrel land on the sidewalk three houses down from us! We were driving home and had just turned onto our street. I saw this bird land on the sidewalk and couldn’t believe it was a kestrel. I’ve only seen them away from town out on the highway when we are traveling to California. They’re a small hawk. You can see a picture of one here.
I kept telling Norm to look at it and he couldn’t figure out what I was talking about. He’s not as familiar with birds as I am. I know a lot of the names of the birds we see around here. A couple of weeks ago I saw a chickadee on one of the low branches of our pine tree right in front of our living room window — it was so cute. That’s one of the nice things about living in a southern climate during the winter. You see birds who have migrated south. If you’ve never been to Scottsdale then you wouldn’t realize how many Canadian geese we have here and other waterfowl who make this place their home in the winter. Of course, we get all snowbirds from everywhere here in Scottsdale and Phoenix metro. It’s getting crowded everywhere we go because of all the snowbirds.
OK, I’ve got to get back to work!
Category blogging, life in Scottsdale, weather reports | Tags: | 5 Comments
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The Big Chill
January 14, 2007 by Karen of Scottsdale
I don’t envy those people who ran in the Rock ‘n Roll Marathon early this morning. We woke up to temperatures around 25°F this morning and when we left for church around 10 o’clock it was about 35°. I’m not used to temperatures that cold. I think our high today was in the 40s which is usually where our overnight low is. It’s going to be another freezing night tonight and probably tomorrow night as well. At least we don’t have snow or rain. Actually, if it rained it might be warmer.
Other than the cold temperatures it was a beautiful day. We had a nice service at church this morning with an inspiring message from Pastor Mark on how God seeks us out. “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10 I’m really glad that God sought me out!
After lunch I spent the afternoon watching the Chargers play the Patriots. It was exciting until the end when the Chargers lost. Big bummer!
This evening Norm and I watched 24. For some reason it wasn’t as exciting as I thought it would be. Perhaps tomorrow night will be better? It was still a good program, but perhaps there was too much hype leading up to it. Either that, or I’m getting used to expecting the unexpected from 24 and not been surprised by it anymore.
Well I’m going to bed now because somebody has to keep the cats warm. LOL actually they are the ones who keep me warm because I wake up in the morning with at least one of them curled up on my body. They make great legwarmers.
Category 24, cats, faith, life in Scottsdale, weather reports | Tags: | 3 Comments
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I Didn’t Know He Was The Sheriff
January 9, 2007 by Karen of Scottsdale
Last Friday I went to Scottsdale Fashion Square to get my hair cut. Generally Norm drops me off just before my appointment and then I call him when I’m finished and we meet outside the mall. He doesn’t like malls. However, things were different this Friday and Norm accompanied me into the mall. I went to my hair appointment at the salon and he went off to do an errand on the other side of the mall. We agreed to meet after my appointment at the salon.
About an hour into my appointment Norm showed up at the reception desk at the salon. I was in the back so I didn’t know what’s going on, but here’s what happened: he went up to the front desk and said, “I’m here for my prisoner.” Everyone at the front desk of course gave him a strange look, so he added, “my prisoner of love.” Yes, that’s what he said! LOL
Category life in Scottsdale, life with Norm | Tags: | 3 Comments
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It’s Coming!
January 9, 2007 by Karen of Scottsdale
The season 6 opener of 24 starts January 14. Norm and I will be unavailable Sunday evening between 7 and 9 p.m. and Monday evening between 7 and 9 p.m. Arizona time.
I’m counting the days and hours.
Category 24 | Tags: | Comments Off