Well duh...

For the first time in nearly three years I've been at the house by myself all weekend. It's kind of nice not to have be courteous or quiet. But then after I've read all the old periodicals laying my chair and nightstand, it starts to get old. Nobody else is going to get up in the middle of the night and put the dogs out. Nobody else is going to take the trash...reminds me of a song by the Cars..."Who's going to drive you home?"

Beside the minor inconveniences of life that are often eliminated by having a partner in life, I've also realized that I don't like to be the one left out or waiting at home. This is a well duh moment that carries a little more significance for me. I'm always leaving, traveling for stories, working late, having meetings, book clubs and girls night out etc. I have a life outside of my marriage. I try to encourage my hubby to do the same. But I guess I wonder if I really mean it, or just say it to be polite. I'm always calling home and telling him about the exciting things I've done or experienced. It's not often that I'm home, making sure the dogs get fed and the trash gets taken out.

I notice has been a pattern in relationships in the past. I want to the one with a dynamic life, and by all means you should have one too...but can you spare 20 minutes to talk to me or make sure the dogs get fed?

The hardest part of it is not so much the separation. My husband compares to a cat...love me, love me... ok thanks, now go away. The part that is most difficult is that we have separate lives for a few days, We're experiencing different things and not sharing them. It doesn't help that he's in Austin, Texas, one of my favorite cities, seeing great bands, and great friends and I'm not.

Show Choir Moves

This is gem that a co-worker found. It's really so good that I can't help watching it, over and over. It reminds of the days in show choir. I can almost see them counting this out.

This church apparently is doing quite well because they've paid a lot of for their dance moves. Or they've been watching Billy Banks. Nonetheless, this should make you at least laugh out loud.

The Real Apple Pie

Maybe it's a Yankee thing, or my Wisconsin roots are showing. Apple pie with cheese. I'd heard about, thought maybe it was an urban myth. Now I know. It is legit and pretty darn good. The pie extravaganza began with a trip to my dad's in Rolla, Mo., where apples hung heavy from the branches of his tree. His promise was that they were ugly, but mighty fine eating apples. I took him up on the offer a little too enthusiastically. We brought home two pounds (or more!) of apples.

We made apple crisp. Threw them into oatmeal and just tried to plain eat some of them. But this may be their best use. It was once illegal in Wisconsin to serve pie at a restaurant without Cheddar cheese. It's the British way to eat apple pie apparently. But I'm sure their pie is served with a very sharp piece of cheddar, instead of shredded from a bag.

Nonetheless, pie has been conquered.

Here's the recipe if the urge should strike you.


6 lg. tart cooking apples
1 c. sugar
2 tbsp. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. grated lemon peel
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1/8 tsp. salt
1 (9 inch) pie shell

Peel, core, and thinly slice 6 apples. Toss with ingredients listed above and arrange them overlapping in pan lined with your favorite flakey unbaked pastry. Now, combine and pour over apples the following: 1/4 c. sugar 1/8 tsp. salt 1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese 1/4 c. melted butter
Bake in hot oven at 400 degrees for 40 minutes or until crust and topping are golden brown.

To be fair...

The Republican National Convention has come to end, to be fair I must weigh in. However, I'll admit my appetite for this this bout of patriotism and oration was limited. When McCain first came on the scene I was glad. His candidacy at least would be a change, a different kind of Republican. I was eager to hear his policies, but sadly politics or at least elections are really just a popularity contest based on few things that matter. "Is the candidate somebody I can sit down and have a drink with?" "Does she do laundry and cook too?" "Is he like me, does he know what it means to be 'working class."
Honestly to me, none of that is important. My questions would be more like, what is the policy on Iraq, taxes, is person going to think things through or simply have a knee jerk reaction? To me having a drink with them, or where they went to school is irrelevant. However, I realize my own feelings about the GOP veep are pretty petty.

Regardless of politics (or maybe politics are at the core of this)the difference in the conventions is this: Watching the Democratic convention was inspiring, gave me hope and a desire to affect positive change. Watching the Republican convention I was stunned by the devisive us vs. them rhetoric, and worried for the future of our country and military.

I think the best way to some the RNC up might be a few Haikus and choice photos.
Enjoy.

Sarah
A clip in your hair,
you talk of security,
fear is what I hear.

John
Veteran with high hopes,
bucking the system,
too smart for the machine.

Delegates
They're faces are red,
offset with hair so white,
this is my country?