I've Moved to a New Blog Site

I am an admittedly impatient woman. But I find the number of times this site goes down for maintenance is similar to what it feels to have had broadband since it was available (and I have), and being forced to use only a dial-up.

So I have launched a new blog and have moved most of my newer posts over there. Find me now at:

http://www.eheavenlygads.wordpress.com

I also have the link in the list to the right.

Today's post is my own tribute to the High Holy Burns Nite Supper and my secret recipe for American Haggis.

I know the Rabbie would wholly support me here...

Dallas Woe: Sleet & Snow

I don't know about you and where you are, but we in Dallas can't trust our meteorologists farther than we can pick them up and throw them. A more unreliable bunch, we've not known... ;-)

Last weekend, and for days before, we were warned far and wide about a huge ice storm headed our way. And we all watched avidly, hour by hour, for the storm that never materialized...until two days late. The "ice storm" that manifested here in North Dallas was tremendously mild. Another missed bullet. Pretty stuff on the plants, but very little on the elevated roadways. All roads dried up in the first few hours of sun. Thank goodness!

Just last night, our local stations -- all of them -- projected a near miss of ice that has paralyzed Austin and the Hill Country. We have about a 20% chance of precipitation, likely sleet, they all agreed. More coming this weekend.

At the ripe hour of 4:30 a.m. this morning, the sleet was falling and followed by the huge, wet "blobs" of particles we commonly see of snow around here, and it still falls now five hours later. After spending a few years in the Northeast, I'm always amazed at local folks here who think they can not only drive on icy overpasses easily, but do so at normal breakneck speeds. The end result is that State Farm will be exceptionally busy with auto accidents here for the next few weeks...

I'm staying put and making a big pot of Meteorologist Soup today. It starts by boiling beef bones for several hours...

Scenes from the back yard:

A modest showing of our rather expansive covey of quail. Morning doves, ringnecks and white wings feasting.

The Pittosporums are covered in long, thick icicles, caused by the melting of ice from the rooftop on Monday. Our temps have remained well below freezing since Sunday night. And thankfully, the ice melted from tree leaves and branches, too, sparing us here from significant breakage.

The True Crime Blog: Bill O'Reilly on the Ben Ownby/Shawn Hornbeck Disappearance

I have been a frequent watcher of Bill O'Reilly, but find his rhetoric last night regarding Shawn Hornbeck to be nothing less than eggregious. For the most part, I have enjoyed his shows, found them informative and enlightening. But I have certainly taken personal issue with O'Reilly often. This dialogue about Shawn Hornbeck he held with a well-spoken Greta Van Susteren was dispicable and it shows Bill's ignorance (or perhaps mere aging beyond understanding) of children in general.

I find today a well-known blog by Steve Huff to state well Bill's oversights and arrogant citations, fellings I echo about him right now. Read his comments here, and for Heaven's sake, keep a close watch on all of Mr. Huff's writings, the incredible work he does for unsolved crimes nationwide, if you don't already. I know that I will.

So, LULAC...Why aren't my sons criminals?

This week has seen a new level of stupidity added to the local debate of illegal immigration. In a Monday interview on KRLD, Dallas LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) President Jesse Diaz responded to the fed's recent study of a 100 illegal aliens who were arrested and released for breaking local and state laws. (These were aliens already in the States, not seized by ICE, and all of whom broke laws after their arrival. The report cited that the 100 had been arrested for an average of six times each.)

The reason why these and other illegal aliens are criminals is obvious to Mr. Diaz: it's OUR fault. These folks are merely victims of the American culture.

"Now that they come to the United States, they're picking up those bad habits of shooting [and] drinking drugs," he said.

(Read the Dallas AM News coverage in this link: )http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/tv/stories/wfaa070109_mo_lulaccontroversy.24698bb4.html

Mr. Diaz's interview on KRLD went on to describe how our American culture is the root cause of the deterioration of their Catholic upbringing, their rampant teenage pregnancies, their love of exceptionally baggy trousers, the destruction of their family structure that "stays together forever." In his mind, life is good and wonderful and clean and wholesome in the Mother Country Mexico. It's only after their arrival in our country that all Hell breaks loose and they lose themselves to the degradation that is America.

I don't think so, Scooter.

It seems to me that these 100 had a huge headstart. Perhaps with those loving drug cartels Mother Mexico is reknown for...?

Mr. Diaz, you've committed an incredible disservice to your own community by espousing this ludicrous drivvel, at least to the Hispanic families who invested in teaching their children right from wrong AND holding them strongly accountable! Instead of giving these criminals a justification for their illegal behaviour, you should be hammering home AND SUPPORTING the rebuilding of strong families, going to church instead of snorting crack, USING CONDOMS, staying in the free schools we so generously supply (even if you're an illegal alien), and holding these thugs accountable when they screw up as royally as these 100 have done and apparently continue to do!

So, if the good ole USA is at fault for these poor, poor scumbags, how come my sons and the so many other Mothers' sons, including a huge ton of Hispanics, are not criminals? They've been here ALL of their lives, subjected to daily onslaughts of our American culture, but they don't do drugs, stay in school, pay for their own cars and gas, and their only brush with the law has been in driving faster than the speed limit in municipalities???? Could it be the American culture that embrues them in the truth that hard work, dedication and self-respect are the keys to success?

And could it be that the reason why my sons don't wear baggy trousers is because I came up behind them, time after time, and yanked the damned things to their knees, and as often as possible in public?

God bless America. And if you don't like it, Mr. Diaz, you know the road South. And please take a few "guests" with you when you go.

EGADS! Hello 2007!

Yes, Mother. You're right: The older you get, the faster time flies...! I shall remember 2006 with exceptional fondness, as sincerely one of the happiest years of my life. And if 2007 is only half as great as 2006 was, the year will be astronomically stellar!

Topping the list of 2006 Greats....

Officially moving in with the man I love more than I can ever relate.

Spending that year sharing everything in our lives together. And I do mean everything.

Meeting his entire wonderful family and he meeting mine.

Meeting so many wonderful folks, most his clients and colleagues, and spending so much time enjoying their company throughout the year. Many are already becoming true friends.

Gaining 20 pounds. EGADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finding the Whale Watch Inn in Anchor Bay, CA, so that he could touch the Pacific shore for the first time. (Everyone, EVERYONE should stay there!!!! No phones or TVs, but 5-star service, killer suites, and the morning awakenings of the nearby sea lion colony. Google it -- I insist!) Then spending the rest of the week in Napa and Sonoma, and lastly in San Francisco.

Making 400 Bourbon-Soaked Chocolate-Covered Cherries (my recipe, totally from scratch)
Making 5 pounds of Buttermilk Pecan Pralines (Ditto to above)
Making 2 pounds of Date Candy (Double-ditto)
Making 6 pound cakes (triple-ditto...) and drizzling them weekly in Knob Creek Bourbon

Gaining 20 pounds. EGADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Being too fat to fit into last year's drop-dead gorgeous navy beaded evening gown for this year's round of holiday parties...and having to get a brand new one from Terry Costa's. (Talk about a happy accident!)

Having his support to quit my job and go take care of my mother when she fell and broke her hip. How many men would do that?

Being able to travel with him between Halloween and Christmas and see even more wonderful folks at various gatherings or dinners. Most important of all was to be able to spend this time with him. I have been a tremendous test of his driving patience....


Being able to spend as much time as life has allowed me to spend with my two sons. My oldest is quite successful working in a top steak house as a waiter (probably rivaling my top salary) and is happy living with his two pals he has known since high school. I just wish he would take that extraordinary brain of his and get back into college. The youngest remains in college, is doing exceptionally well there, and has a wonderful girlfriend.

Greatest Christmas Gifts: A beautiful engagement ring and the pleasure of my sons' company on Christmas Eve.

God has so blessed me and all of my family this year. May He have blessed yours also and shall continue to do so in 2007.


Happy New Year!