Wie geht's, y'all?

Ahhh, things seem a little quieter today! Everyone seems to be as busy as little bees, copying their files, working on your new blogs, and I hope having fun! I've been able to get caught up with most of you, although I still need to make the rounds for a meet & greet with some of the folks I don't know. As Dr. Evil would say, "Some of you I know, some of you I'm meeting for the first time." Don't worry--I'm not one of Dr. Evil's henchmen...er, henchwomen...no, henchpeople. There we go.

Today I'm channeling my inner German and making a crock pot dish with cabbage. Ken isn't all that fond of cooked cabbage (although he likes cole slaw), but this is a combination of ground beef, a tomato sauce, rice, and cabbage...it's like cabbage rolls without the rolling part! I made it years ago for myself and really liked it, so I hope it's as good as I remember it. I love cabbage rolls, but Ken doesn't...I don't really mind not ever making them, though, because what a pain! Blanching the cabbage leaves, trying to roll 'em up and not have all the filling goosh out, trying to keep them together...nah, that one is just a little too labor intensive for me. They are tasty, though. I hope this crock pot dish will satisfy my craving.

I haven't made anything with cabbage for a long time, and I have to say, this was one of the densest, tightest heads of cabbage (locally grown!) I've ever encountered. That baby was SOLID. I had to get out a large butcher knife and really put some effort into it. I'm happy to report that my Mafia name didn't change from Extra Arm to Nine Fingers! After I got it all chopped off of the core, I remembered that when I was little, and Mom was cutting up cabbage, she'd split the core between me and Dad. For whatever reason, we loved gnawing on that tough inner core. Today I couldn't resist...I stood there in the kitchen and chomped away. I didn't eat the whole thing, but it was as good as I remember it! Mmm, I love cabbage!

It seems like I recall hearing something about some event on TV tonight...some kind of political thing...something called a...is it a debate? Is that the word? Yes, of course I'll be watching. I'm a political junkie, remember? (Oo, that reminds me...I need to get that electoral vote widget up here.) I think a lot of people are hoping for a Palin meltdown (I suppose there are plenty waiting for a Biden meltdown, as well), but I doubt if that will happen. She'll have enough good sound bites, and if she can keep from saying something totally out there, she'll come across as okay. She's been coached all week, so if they stick to fairly scripted topics and format, she won't be able to keep talking and get herself in trouble. In reading up on debates, it's not so much about the content of the argument, it's about the presentation. People aren't listening to be educated about policy, they're watching to see how the candidates express themselves and whether or not they appear presidential, or in this case, vice-presidential.

How many times have you watched a debate and yelled at the TV, "That's not true!" or "Oh, come on--that's a bald-faced lie!" None? Oh...well, I guess that's just me. That's why body language is so important, and why there was so much ballyhoo over McCain's refusal to look at Obama in the first debate. A sort of "dismissive" attitude...get away from me kid, you're buggin' me. Should be interesting to see if that changes in the next debate. Anyhoo, I find the whole psychological aspect of it fascinating. Style probably counts for more than substance in a debate. It doesn't seem right, but that's exactly the way it is.

In the meantime, we'll see if Biden manages to put his foot in his mouth, and we'll see if the Palin train completely jumps the tracks. I had an email this week in which the person wrote, "As long as she doesn't vomit on the microphone, it will be considered a success." Probably...but THAT I'd pay to see!