Off-topic? Try BFE!

A comment from yesterday's entry:

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "In sickness and in health":

It was the TREASURY SECRETARY who set the terms for AIG. It was Obama who picked the Treasury Secretary and claimed he was "too big" to not overlook his tax cheating.
It was the Congress that passed the bill WITHOUT READING IT and without putting any rules in it for companies accepting the money from bailouts.

It's the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, with heavy emphasis on CONGRESS, to blame for these bonuses being paid out.

PERIOD..

Obama's attempt to act "outraged" at the bonuses is completely phony. His administration had already said on Sunday that there was nothing they could do about the bonuses.

They knew these bonuses would need to be paid, (and will be paid next year too,) but must feign anger because they want more bailout money to pass out to their friends, and this debacle could cost them dearly.

I don't like incompetence being rewarded either, but it's not the workers at AIG, but the idiots in our government who are to blame for these being handed out.

Posted by Anonymous to Nutwood Junction at March 18, 2009 2:32 AM

What the hell? Did I miss something in my own entry? While I'm impressed by your strategic use of CAPITAL LETTERS, Anon, I have to say that you are pretty far off-topic. I'm not sure how my comments about Charlie Sheen's CBS sitcom and how Ken and I handle being ill made you think of the AIG thing, but maybe you need to chill just a bit. I do have to wonder at why you feel there is nothing wrong with hijacking my blog to express your own opinions. I suggest you start your own blog, where you can write whatever you want to write about. You may even eventually get your own "special" Anon, but it won't be me, because I won't bother you. Trust me on that one.

On to bigger and better things! I have some pictures for you.

Before I left on my errands yesterday, I saw a smallish band of turkeys in the back yard. (I just saw them again a few moments ago. In fact, I just looked, and they're still out there--walking down the driveway! Ha ha!) It's getting to be that time of year when a young tom's fancy turns to thoughts of love, and there were two toms in this band that were displaying. (Oh wow, now there are four toms displaying! Cool!) It never fails to amuse me to see the way they puff up and strut their stuff. It always makes me think of that old song: "Bend over, let me see you shake your tail feather...shake it shake it shake it!" Ha! Neighbor Dave tells me that it's good to put out egg shells for them this time of year, or crushed oyster shells. They need the calcium for when it comes time to lay their eggs. Eggs were on sale this week, so I got three dozen more, and I'll be saving the shells (and asking Ken to save them from his hard boiled eggs at lunch) to put out for the turkeys. C'mon turkeys, I'll help you lay eggs of steeeeeel!

So I went shopping yesterday. I didn't start out looking for shoes, but while I was out, I decided to see what I could find. I've been on a quest lately for some wedge gladiator sandals. I have a pair of flat ones that I love and have had for at least ten years--I was gladiator sandal before gladiator sandal was cool--but I wanted to find some that would be comfy and cute, but even a little bit dressy depending upon the outfit. I went to several stores and even tried some on...came close to buying some in Kohl's, but I just wasn't quite happy with the style. Oh my God, there were such cool ones at DSW, with really high platform heels and leather bands going all the way up the ankle. I loved them, but I was out for comfy and cute, not excruciating but smokin' hot. I tried one pair on that was a pretty good combination of both, but the buckle on the ankle strap hit me right on the bone. I knew that it would irritate me to no end, so I put them back.

I finally found a pair at, of all places, Target. I rarely buy shoes at Target, because I don't think they hold up well, but I'm not going to be running a marathon in these babies, am I? I really like them, and they're really comfortable! They have the wide T-strap running up the middle, the smaller crosswise straps at the ball of the foot, and a couple around the ankle. A nice wedge heel that isn't too big and is fairly stable, and I can wear them with shorts, a miniskirt/skort, jeans, a casual sundress, or even a slightly dressy pants suit. Sweet!

I'm generally not a girly-girl, but man, I do loves me some shoes!

While I was at Target, I also found a picture that I just love. I had seen it before, and loved it then, but couldn't justify paying the price they were asking for a Target wall hanging, you know? It was on clearance for half price, and that I could justify. You all know how much I love Vegas, Baby. A few years ago, Ken got me a tabletop Las Vegas sign for Christmas that flashes and lights up, and it always makes me happy to turn it on and watch the star light up. [sigh] So how could I resist this take on the iconic Vegas sign? How, I ask you? I'm not sure where I'll put it--either in the basement or in the office--but I love it. Kitsch makes me a happy girl.

Hodgepodge

Just a few odds and ends today.

A big thanks to Hollie over at Life in a Small Town for this award. Does anyone know Spanish? Maybe I shouldn't be thanking her! Ha ha! No, apparently it's the Look How Cool Blog Award, and I thank you very much, Hollie. As with other awards, I balk at choosing just a few on which to bestow this, so if I read you, I pass it on to you!

Ken and I have tickets for the Notre Dame game tonight (I think they're playing Rutgers), so let's see if they can win for us this time!

Over on Facebook, I mentioned seeing 47 turkeys in our back yard yesterday. I've seen a larger number at other times, but it's always fun to see a big flock like that. I saw at least 7 toms, so I'm sure we'll have some babies around here this spring and summer! Here is a portion of them--they filed off through the marsh after stopping for a drink at the pond. They are amazingly large birds! (Click the picture to enlarge. The picture, not the birds.)

Did everyone watch the speech last night? I thought President Obama did a good job, walking the fine line between optimism and scaring everyone to death. I think everyone needs to understand that a turnaround isn't going to happen overnight. I hate to say it, but I don't think we've hit bottom yet. Around here, it seems like every day brings an announcement of another place closing down, 50 more workers out of a job, etc. However, I agree with our President that we are not quitters. I believe there will be a recovery, and if we can all ride out this storm together--and help each other along the way--we'll be stronger and smarter. Or at least we'd better be smarter.

Wow, Bobby Jindal is getting slammed big time for his Republican response, from some of his fellow Republicans. (I'm watching CNN as I type.) As they just said on CNN, I don't think Jindal is in any position to be slamming the Democrats for running up the debt. What did your President do for the past 8 years, Governor?

Did you see Raaaaaahm afterwards? Lookin' good, Rahm!

I made jambalaya Monday night, using Harry Connick, Jr's recipe. It turned out great! I almost left out the ham, but I had some in the freezer, and followed the recipe pretty much as written. With the andouille, it had just enough spice for me (the cayenne pepper and Creole seasoning helped, too), although Ken added some Tabasco. And could someone please tell me why it's almost impossible to find andouille around here? The grocery store I go to used to have Aidell's (I had some in the freezer), but they don't have it now. I suppose you could use regular sausage, or maybe even chorizo, but it's just not the same. I love that smoky, spicy flavor. I need to find a new dealer source for andouille.

Harry Connick, Jr's Jambalaya

4 T butter (I used a combo of butter and olive oil)
1 1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 large green pepper, chopped
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs (I used turkey thighs), cut into 1/2-inch chunks
3 Tbs minced garlic
2 bay leaves
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp Creole seasoning
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 pound andouille sausage, sliced
2 15-ounce cans diced tomatoes
28 ounces chicken broth
2 1/2 cups long grain rice
1 cup chopped ham

In 6-quart Dutch oven (mine is a 5-quart, and it all fit), melt butter. Add onion, celery, and green pepper; cook till soft (about 6 minutes). Add chicken, garlic, and seasonings; cook 2 minutes. Add tomato paste, then sausage. Cook 2 minutes longer.

Add tomatoes with their juice, broth, rice, and ham. Heat to boiling on high. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook 20-30 minutes or till liquid is absorbed. This makes quite a bit, definitely enough for 2 meals for me and Ken, and maybe a lunch or two for him.

Very tasty! Thanks, Harry!

Speaking of food, as well as our local grocery store, they had some fish on sale that I investigated. It's called swai, or basa, and it's sort of an Asian catfish. I consulted my handy dandy fish guide that Kim and Steve sent from the Monterey Aquarium. It lists sustainable fish and recommends the best, some good alternatives, and ones to avoid because they aren't harvested in a sustainable manner. I was happy to see that farmed basa was on the good alternative list, so I picked up a couple of packages. Since I read that it was similar to catfish, I dipped it in some Zatarain's Fish Fry and fried it in a little oil. Very good, mild fish flavor. And like I do with fried catfish, I put a little Tabasco on mine, which really surprised Ken because I'm not usually a spice girl. (Ha!) I have no idea why I do that--I think it must be something I picked up in Florida from my relatives when we used to have fish frys all the time.

I hadn't been buying fish for a while, because it seemed like almost everything I looked at was on the "avoid" list. I was happy to find a good fish to buy besides tilapia (US farmed), and I might go back and pick up some more. I think next time I'll just fry it sans Fish Fry coating, in a little butter. I really would like us to eat more fish.

And why sustainable, you ask? If you didn't ask, I'll tell you anyway. It's the whole environmental, planning-for-the-future thing. You can't just fish a species into extinction; you have to protect the ecosystem and preserve all species in order to maintain a healthy ecosystem, as well as protecting the fishing industry and those who make their living in that way. Visit the Aquarium's Seafood Watch site, and click on "Seafood Guides" to find information about various types of fish. You can also print a pocket guide like Kim and Steve sent to us--I carry mine in my purse. Fish is good for you--let's be good to the fish, too.