Sister Day

My four sisters and I try to get together to celebrate birthdays each year. The birthday girl gets to choose where and what type of birthday celebration she desires. Sometimes we just get together and craft at one of the other sister's home. Other times the day includes a trip to a small town within a couple of hours driving time. Last weekend we went to one of our favorite small towns about 40 minutes away from home. We shopped at the antique stores, gift shoppes and boutiques in the town. Part of the celebration includes trying to find a new place to eat and deciding if we want to go back next time. This particular town has a great bakery, but you have to get their early on Saturday if you want the best selection. The best thing about this trip is that we supported the businesses in this Midwestern small town. The trip also tends to be very nostalgic, it reminds me of Christmas shopping trips when we were growing up. Even the main street reminds me of the town we grew up in before so called urban improvements and the dissolving of downtown stores took its toll.

Storytime

For the past couple of weeks, my creative writing class has been working on a horror story. At first they were concerned about how long did it have to be? Or did it have to have a happy ending? My criteria-make it believable and make me afraid. In some instances, I did cringe at the storyline, not just because I was uncomfortable. Unfortunately there was little editing on their part and the stories became very confusing. Still there was a lot of blood and things that go bump in the night. They shared their stories on Halloween along with some wonderful goodies from MySuzyHomemaker's blog. Can't wait to see what plots they will come up with for their children's books.

Saving The Dome

For teens and young adults of the 1950's, 60's and 70's, it was the place to go during the warm months of May through October. Even after fast food places moved in, the destination was "The Dome". It was the home of the best hamburgers and the thickest malts.

Carloads of boys and girls met there or it was where you went after the movies. The management provided a speaker phone and a lighted menu behind glass and your order was delivered by the newest crop of car hops from the local high schools. Leaving the parking lot of the Dome, you could "drag the ave" and check out the cars and the opposite sex. In the 1980's, the building was destined for destruction after the land sold to a chain retail store. The son of the owners taught at the high school and after some finding some money The Dome moved to its new location at the end of the foorball field where it has served as a concession stand for athletic events. Fast forward another 20 years and the building is in need of repairs. School board members, parents and residents who remember the building fondly have come together to raise money to repair it. At the football games they have offered hamburgers and malts. It is a great effort and I hope it succeeds, but there is something missing from those thick malts, or maybe it is just nostalgia for a time gone by.

Due to Technical Difficulties

I made this big deal about writing and getting back to being creative for myself and my students, however, it hasn't worked out so well. It is the fifth week in the school year and I haven't posted one blog. My uncle reminded recently that there is a book in my future. Right now, I am lucky if I even read one page much less write one.

I told my students I would share some of my writing with them and that hasn't worked out as well as I wish. We are blocked at school on personal blogs, I wish that each one of them could set up a blog and I could use it as a teaching tool. Then I would have to commit also to writing everyday.

Lately I find myself saying, "Well, we were going to do this or that, but something is wrong with the electricity (try teaching with no lights in the classroom!) or the internet is down or the laptops are not working. All this wonderful teaching tools and not enough infrastruture to support it.

Oh, bad words.

Valentines

I decided that I needed some R and R last week and got out my Cricket, stamps, stickers and went to work. The cards are all made and I have no excuses except I need to address them and sent them out. For some reason that always seems to be a problem.

I wanted to send a Valentine to all of my friends who never got the Christmas cards I made. One of my colleagues at work reminded me that I haven't made any sugar cookies either lately and Valentine's Day is on Monday. I see a baking day coming up. The following is a recipe a friend gave me many years ago that I use.

Shirley Swander's Sugar Cookies

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees

In a large bowl mix: 4 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup shortening

In a small bowl combine: 1 tsp soda
1/3 cup milk
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs beaten

Pour small bowl into larger bowl and mix well and roll out using your favorite cutter. Bake to 8 minutes.

Battle Hot Wings 2010

Three years ago, one of my nephews proposed for his birthday that we would have a competition similar to the Food Networks "Iron Chef". The first year was ribs, the second was hamburgers and last January it was hot wings. My brother-in-law and his two sons and their wives brought their best recipes to the table.

Just as in the television competition, the entries were judged on originality, taste and plating. The winner was my nephew, Drew, with his Saviche wings. The next competition is appetizers with everyone looking over recipes, trying to revise old ones and looking for the unique plating. I almost have my recipes ready to go and will be ready to take pictures and write out the recipes. Bon Appetit and Bon Chance to the competitors.

EBooks, IPods, and WII's

I downloaded my first ebook the other day and read it on the computer. Mainly I read it on the computer, which is fine because I have a big monitor and it is easy to read, because I don't have Wi-Fi at home to download on to my IPod Touch or my digital notebook. As one of the young people around me mentioned the trouble with new technology is learning how to use it. I definitely like the convenience, I was able to get a book I wouldn't have been able to at the local bookstores. I would have had to order from Amazon, Borders or Barnes and Noble.

I am still learning how to use the IPod touch and can at least download music. I like to buy gift cards instead of using my credit card, the same with the books and I can control my expenses this way. Also it makes a great suggestion when people ask me what I would like as a gift.

I am learning how to use the Wii. I rationalized its purchase by saying it was cheaper than joining a gym, which I have joined in the past but didn't attend regularly and let's face the games on the Wii are much more fun.