Hope everyone had a happy Santa visit! Mine was SUPER! Well, other than all the damn COOKING I had to do that is. But... it was a big hit (at least thats what was said to my face and that is all that matters, right?). I have been doing a bunch of NON-STOP baking and shopping and shipping and stressing for the past week+ but it's OVAH now!! I found this recipe for rocky road fudge that you can make in the microwave. I sent it to everyone in the family and would you believe it was a HUGE hit? I'll post it at the end of this entry in case anyone wants to make it.. (easy easy!)

Gads I'm so full. I cooked LOADS of comfort food.... we had baked ham, homemade (read FATTENING) macaroni and cheese, homemade broccoli/cheese casserole, green beans (with bacon and potatoes cooked til they're fallin' apart... oh GAWD they're good) and some field peas and cornbread. Sheesh... can you tell I'm a southern gal or what?? Get me some pork rinds and Nehi and I'm good to go. Anyway, now I'm up... uh.. yeah, I took a nap. Did you NOT see the food I listed above?? How was I supposed to stay awake after THAT?

Anyhoo... got the bestest present in el mundo from the hubster. He got me an AlphaSmart Neo (I always want to imitate Morpheus in the Matrix when I say that: "Neeeee-oh" but I digress), this is the coolest thing I've ever seen! It weighs maybe a pound and get this, it runs on 3 AA batteries!! I'm loving THAT!! I'm serious -it's the schnizzle! Check it out, ain't it cuuuute??


Here's some of the RAVE reviews it's been getting, too.... http://www2.alphasmart.com/company/reviews_2004.html

And get this... I started a NEW story! Yes I did! I did! DID!!! I don't care if you believe me or not, I'm done arguing with you because I GOTTA WRITE! I'm doing a first-person story this go-round and will pick up Serenity's Chance once I get back into the swing. As it is now, I'm just floundering with that story and "ain't feelin' the love" on that one -- for the moment. I fully expect to finish it up after I flush my brain out with something new. I just needed something new to spark the ol' creative juices and all that. Let's hope I can pull this one off.

Well, I'm off to write!! And get this... DH not only got me that marvelous gift, he also is in the porcess of updating my site! Okay, HE'S the schnizzle and the Neeee-Oh is pretty aight!

God, I'm hip.

Uh...


PEACE...OUT!

---as promised, here is the recipe! Lemme know if you try it.. it's YUMMMMMY!----

Super-Easy Rocky Road Fudge



Estimated Times:
Preparation - 10 min
Cooking - 2 min
Cooling Time - 30 min refrigerating
Yields - 48 pieces
Rich and truly divine fudge! The easy way is the microwave method. Each piece is made by a smooth mixture of chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, marshmallows and walnuts. Easy to make to bring to all of your holiday parties!

Ingredients:
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 can (14 oz.) CARNATION Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups miniature marshmallows
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped walnuts

Directions:LINE 13 x 9-inch baking pan with foil; grease lightly.MICROWAVE morsels and sweetened condensed milk in large, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 1 minute; STIR. Morsels may retain some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted. Stir in vanilla extract. Fold in marshmallows and nuts.

PRESS mixture into prepared baking pan. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Lift from pan; remove foil. Cut into pieces.

Got a reply about my "cause" (the red-tailed hawks). Here's what they wrote me:

WITH YOUR HELP, AUDUBON WINS VICTORY FOR FAMED HAWK
Great news! Audubon Society negotiators and the Co-op Board of a posh Manhattan building reached an agreement that will allow Pale Male and his mate Lola to rebuild their nest! Within days, a network of steel spikes that previously held Pale Male’s nest in place, and will hold his new nest in place, should return to the hawks' 12th-floor home, just in time for mating season.

Many thanks for your inspiring commitment to help Pale Male by signing our petition. Your signature, and that of thousands upon thousands of other concerned citizens will help ensure Pale Male is going home for the holidays! As this is not the only or last fight we’ll see on issues that impact bird like Pale Male across the nation, we hope we can count on you to participate in future efforts to protect America’s special birds, as your involvement is truly effective!
Just as our fight to save Pale Male’s nest proves, your help makes a world of difference! For more information, visit our website at: http://www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/

All our best wishes to you and your loved ones this holiday season.

So, I'm thrilled about that. And now my sounding board on that issue is over (for now) and I get back to banal things like talking about my day. Hmmm... well, it's Xmas and I have 4 pkgs under the tree. That's pretty sad. I'm so broke and everything is sky-high price-wise (like Joe Pesci says, "They *F&#k* you at the drive-thru... er... the checkout lane." :) I went to ebay (my old fave) and tried to buy SOME new stuff w/tags etc and GOOD LAWD -- the prices for SHIPPING is OUTRAGEOUS! There oughta be a law on that... at least a CAP for crying out loud. It's like, "Bid on this beautiful feather barrette." and in fine print is says "Shipping and handling on this item is: $25.00 -- insurance an extra $10.00.) WTF is that???

So I'm Bah-humbugging today.
Bah
Humbug

So I was still sitting around stewing over Pale Male's eviction, when I get a letter back in reply to the note I sent to BHSUSA.com yesterday. Here's what it said (made me feel a little better that they are persuing this further).

December 9, 2004

Dear Friend of Pale Male,

I am writing to you to tell you that I am as sad and as upset as you are
about what has happened to Pale Male's remarkable nesting site.

Your message, however, is being directed to the wrong person and
company. Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales is a real estate
brokerage firm. We do not manage properties and are not involved in
this event.

An affiliated firm owned by the same holding company, Brown Harris
Stevens Property Management, acts on behalf of the building cooperative
owners at 927 Fifth Avenue in a management capacity.

I assure you that I will forward your message.

Thank you for allowing me to respond to you.

Sincerely,

Hall F. Willkie
President
Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales

So that's the latest. Other than that, not a lot going on as far as happy days. Pissy, moaning, bitchy holidaze is what we're having nowadays. I'll be glad when the money-spending season is over.... argh!

I'm still VERY angry over the heartless eviction of the red-tailed hawks in NYC. You can read more about it here and you can sign a petiton to have it restored or give a donation, whatever you feel like doing.

Oh, this kind of insensitive crap really pisses me off. My soapbox speech starts off something like this: We are not the only species living on this freaking planet, idiots! Stupid, stupid people with more money than sense!

Now, just a quick FYI. I don't jump aboard every good-cause wagon, but this is one I feel really strongly about. Animals and environment issues will always garner a large amount of protective feelings from me. Anyway, I have visited all the sites that are trying to help get the birds their home back before the next mating season (February).



The NYC Audubon Society had the following info where people could write the jackholes that tore it down: Please make your voice heard and contact your elected officials as well as the building manager, Brown Harris Stevens, at info@bhsusa.com Tell them how you feel and that you want the nest put back. Please cc info@nycaudubon.org on all your correspondences so that we may collaborate our efforts and work as a group to see that Pale Male's nest is returned.

So I did exactly that... here is the letter I sent:

--------------start of letter---------------
What's the matter with you people?? Evicting Pale Male?!? He's an
ambassador to your city for crying out loud!

Put back the nest!

How would YOU feel being evicted from YOUR home without warning -- in
the winter, no less? Thoughtless is what it is. Thoughtless and
cruel.

- (my signature)

cc: Mayor Bloomberg
Senator Clinton
Senator Schumer
Governor Pataki
--------------end of letter---------------

And I also sent notes to the people who may have some say in the matter (as suggested per Pale Male's Site).

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
PH 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK outside NYC)
Send him Web E-MAIL

Hillary Clinton
476 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4451
Send her Web E-MAIL

Charles Schumer
313 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6542
Send him Web E-MAIL

Liz Kreuger (26th District)
302 Legislative Office Building
Albany, New York 12247
(518) 455-2297
Regular email: lkrueger@senate.state.ny.us

Assemblymember Jonathan L. Bing (73rd Assembly District)
360 E. 57th Street Mezzanine Level
New York, NY 10022
(212) 605-0937
Regular email: bingj@assembly.state.ny.us

I just got through reading the news highlights and found that some IDIOTS pulled down the hawk's nest in NYC. Did you hear the story of the Hawk (Pale Male) that lived on a ledge on the 12th floor in a Manhattan apt bldg right off Central Park? It's the GREATEST story.... I saw it on PBS and it was so fascinating! You can read about it here:

Pale Male's Story

Now... NOW some freaking BONEHEADS have knocked down the nest -- and here it is getting COLD in that part of the country. DUMB ASSES!!! Gads... there is nothing more frustrating than ignorance!

Anywya, read about what the nitwits did. They ought to be evicted from THEIR houses for doing something so stupid.


Hawks Evicted From New York City Perch

*SCREAM*

SO yeah, that's one of my MOST favorite Johnny Depp movies. But enough about him. I'm talking about the real dealie-o. CHOC-O-LATE! I wanted some today and I'll be damned if everyone who had access to it wasn't hoarding it like their last name was Hershey or something. NO ONE WOULD SHARE!!! Meanies! *SCREAM* Yeah, yeah, you'd think I'd have had enough what with all the CANDYLAND hoopla. But no... I think I'm addicted. You can't just cut me off cold turkey like this *scratches forearm* Man, I need a fix! *sweating* I may have to go down to the 'hood and get me some. I know the secret knock at Circle K....

Oh, here's a fun thingie for the holidays. Give it a go and no cheating on the answers... it's too fun trying to figure them out. I got all but 2...but then again I was hopped up on chocolate so my mind was totally expanded, man. Like, wow.

Here ya go!

Can you name these Christmas songs?
(answers are at the verrrrrrrry bottom)

1. Oh, member of the round table with missing areas
2. Boulder of the tinkling metal spheres
3. Vehicular homicide was committed on Dad's mom by a precipitous darling
4. Wanted in December: top forward incisors
5. The apartment of two psychiatrists
6. The lad is a diminutive percussionist
7. Sir Lancelot with laryngitis
8. Decorate the entryways
9. Cup-shaped instruments fashioned of a whitish metallic element
10. Oh small Israel urban center
11. Far off in a haybin
12. We are Kong, Lear, and Nat Cole
13. Duodecimal enumeration of the passage of the yuletide season
14. Leave and broadcast from an elevation
15. Our fervent hope is that you thoroughly enjoy your yuletide season
16. Listen, the winged heavenly messengers are proclaiming tunefully
17. As the guardians of the woolly animals protected their charges in the dark hours
18. I beheld a trio of nautical vessels
19. Jubilation to the entire terrestrial globe
20. Do you perceive the same vibrations which stimulate my auditory sense organ?
21. A joyful song of reverence relative to hollow metallic vessels which vibrate and bring forth a ringing sound when struck
22. Parent was observed osculating a red-coated unshaven teamster
23. May the Deity bestow an absence of fatigue to mild male humans
24. Rose-colored uncouth dolf is aware of the nature of precipitation, darling

..........answers below..........

....keep

..................going......

......almost.......

......there......

ta-da!......here they are!

ANSWERS:

1. Oh, member of the round table with missing areas = Oh Holy Night
2. Boulder of the tinkling metal spheres = Jingle Bell Rock
3. Vehicular homicide was committed on Dad's mom by a precipitous darling = Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
4. Wanted in December: top forward incisors = All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth
5. The apartment of two psychiatrists = The Nutcracker Suite
6. The lad is a diminutive percussionist = Little Drummer Boy
7. Sir Lancelot with laryngitis = Silent Night
8. Decorate the entryways = Deck the Halls
9. Cup-shaped instruments fashioned of a whitish metallic element = Silver Bells
10. Oh small Israel urban center = Oh Little Town of Bethlehem
11. Far off in a haybin = Away in a Manger
12. We are Kong, Lear, and Nat Cole = We Three Kings
13. Duodecimal enumeration of the passage of the yuletide season = The Twelve Days of Christmas
14. Leave and broadcast from an elevation = Go Tell It on the Mountain
15. Our fervent hope is that you thoroughly enjoy your yuletide season = We Wish You a Merry Christmas
16. Listen, the winged heavenly messengers are proclaiming tunefully = Hark the Herald Angels Sing
17. As the guardians of the woolly animals protected their charges in the dark hours = Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night
18. I beheld a trio of nautical vessels = I Saw Three Ships
19. Jubilation to the entire terrestrial globe = Joy to the World
20. Do you perceive the same vibrations which stimulate my auditory sense organ? = Do You Hear What I Hear?
21. A joyful song of reverence relative to hollow metallic vessels which vibrate and bring forth a ringing sound when struck = Carol of the Bells
22. Parent was observed osculating a red-coated unshaven teamster = I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
23. May the Deity bestow an absence of fatigue to mild male humans = God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
24. Rose-colored uncouth dolf is aware of the nature of precipitation, darling = Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

So, I've been working non-stop on all the Decemberfest stuffage we're doing for work. Basically, it's a big presentation of crafts that we set up in booths for 2 days so the kids can come in and oooh and aaah and we let them make a craft or two and they can get instructions on all the other stuff we've done as well.

*take a breath from that really long run-on sentence*

*dive right back into another one*

...And so we've got millions of kids milling around because our booth this year is "Candyland" and so all our crafts are made out of candy and the kids' eyes are literally bulging out of their head as they gaze over at us from their perch by the children's section which only has "How to make a pinata" and "Let's make poinsettia napkin rings" crafts going on and they're soooo not wanting to do that but their parents have their hands and they can't get free so they whine and whine and whine and then they finally arrive at our booth!

*inhale*

But their parents are stupid peanutheads and they just smile as their kids chubby little fingers grab hold of one of the Lifesavers trains with the inverted Hershey kiss as its whistle and start wrestling with it, trying to yank it out of its dried lump of hot glue.

*shriek!*

So I'm like, "Sweetie, you can't have that." and the mother is like *blank expression, smile plastered on her face, tripping on perhaps more than one prozac.* and the kid is like *yank! yank!* and I'm like, "Whoa there, pardner...!" and I finally had to snatch it out of his hand and he's like *squeal!* and I'm like, *ugh* and his mom is like *I like visiting the magical land of tie-dyed rainbows and glittery unicorns* and so I hand the kid a reindeer made out of peppermint sticks and let him glue the googly eyes on it and he's okay.

*making googly eyes*

So that was my day yesterday -- well that was the latter part of it at least. I had to go with my mom to her doctor appt because her doc moved an hour away and she loves him as her doc, so we followed him (is this stalking??)... but my car is on the fritz, so we had to take Bran's truck and OH MY GAWD I do soooo hate driving that monster. And to top it off, it rained all yesterday and we had an hour of country driving.... now, driving down the back country roads of Louisiana isn't GREAT during GOOD weather... so driving in the rain pretty much sucked big time. I dodged a murder of crows eating roadkill -- probably did this about 5 times there and back (those crows are sooooooo pissy too. They will NOT move!). A couple of buzzards were in there too, but they moved. The crows just shook their fat pointy beaks and me and squawked insults. I *DID* miss the roaming cow herd that had wandered onto the highway (back road highway, mind you) so that was a PLUS. Glad I saw them thru the blinding rain. Then, when we got to the doc's office, we had to wait 3 hrs... so I became obsessive about washing my hands. I don't want to get sick!! But still, I did feel my throat start to get a tad bit scratchy last night. *eeek!* But I had some of my homemade meatloaf, so I hope it scared away the sick bug there. My meatloaf is like a Pokemon.... Meatloaf, I choose you! Except I don't want to see what it morphs into once I've eaten it.. ewwwww....

Welp, I'm off to work now. The last day of Decemberfest is going on today and I gotta protect my chcolate. If you want to take a gander at some of the things I made, I stole them fair and square from the Hershey site. You can too ;) Here's the link:

(oh and BTW - it's Mocha cookies for the party! Danke!)

Yahoo! It's Friday! Whatta week! I think I was sick yesterday -- rather last night -- because about midnight I was BURNING up and had the shivers and shakes and no matter how many blankets were piled on me, I was freeeeeezing! Plus I drank nearly 3/4 of the gallon of water beside my nightstand! Eeek! Felt more like I was dehydrated. But anyway, I felt a lot better today and refrained from calling in sick (like I really wanted to do!).

We're having our Christmas luncheon @ work on the 22nd and I'm wondering what should I bring? It's a toss-up. Either I'll bring my fav-o-rite cookies (mocha chocolate chip) or my fave-o-rite cake (Holiday poke cake). What a a quandary.... both are deeeelish. Help me choose... here are the recipes for both (feel free to copy them for yourself, too -- they're both fantastic!)

MOCHA CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES (a coffee lover's dream!)
(pic & recipe can be found here):

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour
4 teaspoons NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Baking Cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 tablespoons NESCAFÉ TASTER'S CHOICE 100% Pure Instant Coffee Granules
2 tablespoons warm water
1 cup NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

Directions:
PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Lightly grease baking sheets.

COMBINE flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl until light and creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla extract.

COMBINE Taster’s Choice and water in small bowl; stir until coffee is dissolved. Add to sugar mixture; mix well. Gradually mix in flour mixture. Stir in morsels. Drop by rounded teaspoon onto prepared baking sheets.

BAKE for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are crisp. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

-----------------------------
Holiday Poke Cake (so pretty and EASY, too!)
(pic & recipe can be found here):

2 baked 9-inch round white cake layers, cooled

2 cups boiling water

1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Brand Gelatin, any red flavor

1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Brand Lime Flavor Gelatin

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed


PLACE cake layers, top sides up, in 2 clean 9-inch round cake pans. Pierce layers with large fork at 1/2-inch intervals.

STIR 1 cup of the boiling water into each flavor of dry gelatin mix in separate bowls at least 2 minutes until completely dissolved. Carefully pour red gelatin over 1 cake layer and lime gelatin over second cake layer. Refrigerate 3 hours.

DIP 1 cake pan in warm water 10 seconds; unmold onto serving plate. Spread with about 1 cup of the whipped topping. Unmold second cake layer; carefully place on first cake layer. Frost top and side of cake with remaining whipped topping.

REFRIGERATE at least 1 hour or until ready to serve. Decorate with fresh raspberries, if desired. Store leftover cake in refrigerator.

------------
Off to beddie bye for me. This fever thing has wiped me out!