Vodka & Cupcakes

Phillips Out, Garrett In

Wade Phillips.  I’ve always thought that he was just another fan in the Texas Stadium crowd when one day Jerry Jones decided to draw a section and seat number to determine who would take over the Head Coach job.  I mean, really, Wade looked more like a fan on the sidelines than a coach with his jubliant touchdown celebrations, tearful losses, or even total confusion at times.  Since moving into Jerry World, Wade spends more time watching that 60-yard jumbo screen than he does watching the field.  Yes, it seems Wade Phillips belongs on the fan wagon and not the sideline.

Fortunately that is where he will now reside as he has been fired.  In the Dallas Cowboys’ 51-season history, a coach has not been terminated mid-season but with a 1-7 start, it was warranted.  Losing to the Packers last night 45-7, one could question whether or not the Cowboys even wanted to be there; it seemed to me they’d rather be anywhere than playing football.  But I can’t say as though I blame their downtrodden moods - do you honestly think Wade Phillips could inspire you to do anything?  Then again, it's not like that team is disciplined enough to keep going when things get tough and again I blame Phillips.

Jason Garrett, formerly the club’s Offensive Coordinator, has been promoted to Head Coach.  I would speculate that this is strictly an interim position and, if Jerry has other ideas, I would urge him to consider otherwise.  When talks came of who would replace Parcells, Garrett’s name came up but he made it seem quite obvious that he didn’t want the job.  It appeared that he was content having at least one buffer between him and Jerry; moreover he didn’t want to be the public face of the team, nor did he want to take the heat for all of the mistakes.  At least that is how it was perceived. 

So who will come up in the conversations for the new Head Coach?  That remains to be seen, but there are already some names flying around - no need to mention them here and perpetuate any myths.  Cowboys fans have known this for years and what football fans around the country will come to find over the next weeks and months (if they haven’t already) is that just like Wade was a wide-eyed, bushy-tailed fan who dreamed of being a coach, Jerry Jones is a deep-pocketed, egotistical owner who dreams of being a coach.

Jerry calls the shots when it comes to coaching, drafting, business, and all things aesthetic.  He has a finger in every pot.  Jerry has no problem spending millions of dollars on talent because, honestly, he collects it but he absolutely refuses to hand over the reins to someone who can mold that talent into something substantial. When it comes to play-calling, he wants to throw the ball instead of running it because hail marys sell tickets and get top spots on Sports Center.  Never mind that the running game is an integral part of any successful team.

I have said it for years and will continue to say it until Jerry Jones is just another piece of Dallas Cowboys’ history, but he is the root of the problem.  His ego is the biggest obstacle that cannot be overcome with players or coaches, managers or PR specialists.  He wants what he wants and he’ll get what he wants as long as he foots the bill.  Whoever takes the Head Coach position for the Dallas Cowboys will either be another “yes-man” like Wade Phillips or a talented, qualified man who will only find solace in beating his head against a wall until he’s fired or quits.

 

Rick Perry for President? About that...

Rick Perry, well-known Texas Governor, won a third term on Tuesday and now people are “speculating” as to whether or not he will run for President in 2012.  I must admit, the very thought of this makes me chuckle and cringe at the same time.  Do I think it will happen?  No.  Here's why:

Not enough time has passed since George W. Bush.

Conservatives are tired of hearing W. blamed for everything from the economy to global warming to starving children in Africa, but that doesn’t mean the mantra is going anywhere.  Considering Rick Perry is following in George W.’s footsteps, it wouldn’t be hard for the MSM or the left to brand him as “George W. Bush, Jr.”.  

Perry took over when Bush went off to Washington in 2000.  Several of the policies Bush put in place during his 5 years in office have carried Perry’s popularity and success the last decade.

 

He might have won, but his 2010 campaign wasn’t great.

Even in the Republican primary, unknown Deb Medina garnered a corner of the market with 17% of the vote - even after her truther gaffe as heard on Glenn Beck’s radio program.  Medina appealed to the strong conservatives and left Perry with the moderate label over his head; Kay Bailey Hutchison got caught in the height of the anti-Washington mood.  After Medina’s comments on Beck, many of her supporters got behind Perry.

In the general election, Perry refused to participate in any debates until Democrat opponent Bill White disclosed some tax returns.  This was construed as a child throwing a temper tantrum and did not do him any real favors, although I feel obliged to give him credit for sticking to his guns.  Perhaps if he had participated, he would have come away with a landslide victory but with the rumors flying and the bad press, it was a 55/45 margin.  

Perry snubbed the newspapers, didn’t answer too many questions, and lost the urban vote to White.  Some said he was too arrogant for his own good.

 

He has made some questionable decisions.

Trans-Texas Corridor: This $145 billion project brought into question Perry’s stance on imminent domain.  Seen as a land grab for a 4,000 mile long, 1,200 feet wide network of roads, rails, and data lines, it was met with harsh criticism on all fronts.

Gardasil: The HPV vaccine is available to teenage girls as a means of preventing a type of cervical cancer.  Rick Perry issued an executive order in 2007 mandating that all girls receive the vaccine unless the parents comply with an opt-out process.  Naturally, social conservatives were not pleased.  A few months later, Perry signed a bill into law that trumped his executive order.  Oh, and there was that little tie between Perry and Merck, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Gardasil.

 In-State Tuition for Illegals:  As long as they graduated from a Texas high school and sign an affidavit claiming they will apply for citizenship when they become eligible, illegals can receive in-state tuition for Texas public universities.  U.S. citizens who live in the other 49 states that want to go to UT or A&M have to pay out-of-state tuition.  Foreign students that are in the country legally on a student visa have to pay out-of-state tuition.

 Is he sincere?

If you’ve ever met Rick Perry you know he is one smooth-talking, amiable guy - a true politician.  While he claims to oppose big government and support the 10th Amendment, he doesn’t want to do anything on the state level to close the border and prefers to wait for the feds to do something about it.  Sure, it’s a federal issue, but Texas has a huge problem with illegals putting a strain on the state economy, as well as the drug cartel violence along the border.

He puts forth the true Texas stereotype image of a gun-toting, Bible thumping, capital punishment-supporting guy that has a deep, unexplainable love for his state.  He carries a gun when he goes out to run, but he also takes an entourage with him so is he out for exercise or is he out for show?  It’s hard to say because the guy never turns off the politician.  We’ve never seen Rick Perry not in campaign mode, whether he’s vying for re-election or support for a new piece of legislation.

 

Don’t get me wrong, Rick Perry has done some wonderful things for Texas and, as a result, Texas is weathering the recession better than most places.  I support Rick Perry, but I don’t always agree with him.  

I think he wants to run for President but I also think his ego would dictate that the right person or people have to ask him to do so.  I think he’ll accept an offer for VP only if he believes he can be President after that.  While I can think these things all day long, I would hope that the RNC is smart enough to recognize the obstacles they would have to overcome putting Rick Perry on their 2012 ticket, that is if he even survives the primary. 

 

Manual Labor the Obama Way

Nothing says “Working In The Garden” like $500 designer boots.  Really, who wears Tory Burch to do anything in the dirt?  Michelle Obama, that’s who.

 

Yesterday the First Lady participated in the annual fall harvest with area elementary school students.  Surely she wouldn’t think that Tory Burch would impress a bunch of second graders, so who was she trying to impress?  Celebrity chefs Daniel Boulud and James Kent were in attendance, but I doubt she was trying to one-up them.  Of course the media was there to perpetuate their on-going love affair with Michelle O, but she doesn’t have to try to keep their attention.  

The thing is, I don’t think she was trying to impress anyone.  Now, I’m all for looking fabulous in all occasions, but I also know the virtues of practicality.  What’s that?  They have a 1 1/2” rubber heel?  Sure, that’s better than stilettos, but they’re $500!

 I believe Michelle Obama doesn’t give a rat’s behind that her shoes are expensive because she’ll just get another pair (or rather, have another pair given to her) if she ruins them.  Sense of entitlement anyone? 

This First Lady and her husband have no regard for the value of a dollar - it’s evident in the way they spend.  Whether it’s their money, tax payers money, or money they don’t have, it will undoubtedly be spent lavishly in the hands of an Obama.  

$500 shoes to harvest vegetables in the mud...

Patriots, They Are Distracting You.

Perhaps instead of being angry at the government for saying "No" to soda, we should instead focus our energies against the fed's Food Stamp Recruiting Effort:

Food Stamp Outreach Program Radio Ads (English & Spanish)

When the pundits got ahold of NYC’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s food stamp request, they turned it into quite the fiasco.  Recently released numbers indicate 41.8 million Americans are currently enrolled in the food stamps program, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).  I can’t seem to find anyone too upset that 13% of the United States population is on food stamps, but there are plenty of folks outraged that New York City is asking the USDA for a 2 year waiver that would prohibit the purchase of sodas with food stamps.  

 The city claims it is part of it’s War on Obesity (I don't think that's the official title, but it works here for all intents and purposes), but this restriction on food stamp purchases has already been applied to beer, liquor, wine, cigarettes, and prepared foods.  

 No one refutes that removing sodas from one’s diet is a way to substantially reduce caloric and sugar intake, thus leading to weight loss and a lesser risk of diabetes.  Moreover, most children hyped up on Mountain Dew are a school teacher’s nightmare.  However, does the state have the right to take over one more facet of life?  Should Uncle Sam tell you that you absolutely cannot buy cases Dr. Pepper to support your 12-can-a-day habit?

 

Yes, if you’re participating in the food stamps program.

 

For starters, the program is appropriately named the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. 

• Supplemental meaning it’s not the only source.  
• Nutrition does not mean “calories”, it means vitamins, minerals, and all that other junk that’s good for you.  
• Assistance Program in government terms means they will give you vouchers when you enroll in the program.  

You want to drink Fanta?  Either buy it with your own money or get out of the program.  You want to put chicken nuggets on the table so your kid doesn’t go to bed hungry?  Cut the Coca Cola.

 Most importantly, let’s remember that no one is forcing anyone to apply for the food stamp program - it’s 100% voluntary.  If hard times have fallen on you and your family so much so that you need help putting food on the table, I think forgoing the soft drinks is a minor concession for not starving.  Call me crazy.  But we all know there are people who manipulate the system...and the feds aren't stopping them.

 It's like the guy on the street corner that's asking passersby for money: You can give him money and he very well could go buy a bottle of booze instead of a sandwich or, you could escort him to the nearest eatery and buy him lunch.  It depends on how you want your money spent.  

Food stamps are the government's way of "going with them" to ensure they spend government money (yah, yah, I know - save your breath) in the way that the fed sees fit.    

But if you have to have your Pepsi to get out of bed in the morning and can't scrape together a dollar and some change to buy that Pepsi, then perhaps we have some bigger fish to fry.

It's hard for me to be Ms. Crabby Pants about the government actually discerning how to spend taxpayer dollars when that discernment is the kind I would make in my private life.  My big problem is the program has grown so big that it is no longer keeping Americans from starving; it seems almost anyone can get in on the handouts.  Did you know that if you have a job and a car, you may still qualify for food stamps?  

If people are angry about the size of government, maybe they should realize that banning sodas isn't the nudge that turns into a shove - playing the Pied Piper to struggling families in order to grow government welfare programs is the bigger offense that will lead us to the point of no return.

All I'm asking is that you consider the more important fight: banning sodas or exponentially growing government.  Don't be distracted, patriots.

 

Groups like Share Our Strength and Feeding America can help us reach out in our own communities to combat hunger.  

 

New York Times Op-Ed article: No Food Stamps for Sodas by Thomas Farley and Richard F. Daines

 

I Was Heckled. And So Were My Shoes.

I work in Southlake, Texas, an affluent, upper-class suburb of Dallas and in this neighborhood are haute couture retailers, gourmet grocery stores, and exotic car dealerships.  While I primarily window shop the pricey fashion and simply drive right by the swanky car lots, I do frequent the gourmet grocery store with it’s organic produce and fair trade or whatever items.  It’s 100 yards from my office building and they have several eateries inside which makes lunch quite convenient.

 

Last week we had one of the first days under 90 degrees that wasn’t a torrential downpour.  This beautiful afternoon afforded me the chance to walk from my office to the store to buy lunch, so I trekked along in my 4” stilettos as happy as could be to be enjoying the day.  I selected soup, some fruit, and a bottle of water.  As I am walking back to my office, this middle-aged woman starts yelling at me from across the parking lot; heckling, really.  She was upset my lunch was packaged in a *gasp* plastic bag.  There was also some name calling; she might have been a member of PETA as she had a serious problem with my obviously-not-real-leopard-skin shoes.  Anyway...

 

I just smiled, thought about giving her the finger but didn't (you're welcome, Mom), and walked on.  But I started to turn the situation over in my mind and came up with the following:

 

I know most of these lovely people see “green” as a religion and they set out to “convert” and “save” as many lost souls as they can.  They don’t have any skill or tact in doing it, but at least they try.  What blows my mind, however, is that nothing is ever good enough.  I walked to the store instead of driving.  I purchased food free of chemicals.  I contributed money to fair trade something or another.  Everything these people want, except the bimbo cashier put my stuff in an evil plastic bag.

 

Now, I'll admit, I didn’t walk to save the environment or ozone or whatever; I just wanted to enjoy the sunshine.  I didn’t buy organic and fair trade food because it was those things; I bought it because that’s what I wanted to eat.  And I didn’t ask for a stupid plastic bag, she just put the stuff in there without asking me and I didn't stop her.

 

But when is it ever enough?

 

That’d be like me saying: You know, Bob, you haven’t killed anyone and I’m pretty sure you’re not harboring any false idols in your house to worship, but I saw you look at Bill’s wife so that must mean you’re lusting after her and, therefore, you’re coveting your neighbor’s wife.  Straight to hell with you - do not pass GO, do not collect $200.

 

The whole ordeal was ridiculous and gave me a little chuckle, but really, who was this woman and why was she so sure she was in a position to cast judgment on me?  If she would have taken two seconds to engage in a productive and civil conversation, she would have found out that silly plastic sack was going to be reused and then recycled anyway. But as far as my shoes go, I think she was just jealous that her bubble gum pink Crocs didn’t look as fabulous as my leopard-print stilettos.

 

One Nation Victories

Saturday's “One Nation, Working Together” rally generated quite a buzz both online and in the MSM, but what were they really setting out to accomplish?  They bragged that over 400 organizations supported the group and roughly 150,000 people showed up.  They carried signs for “Jobs, Education, and Justice” and voiced their desire for “Freedom for Everybody”.  In fact, there were even signs pertaining to Afghanistan: “14,200 Afghan Civilians Killed (9,500 by U.S.)”.  

 

How did they do in achieving their goals?

 

JOBS: Hundreds of jobs were saved or created by yesterday’s rally when the unions hired bus drivers to bring everyone in.  Moreover, some unions were in an advantageous position to use stimulus funds to pay their members up to $22 an hour to attend the event and hold a sign.  While that’s not exactly job creation, it is American tax dollars hard at work.

 

EDUCATION: Books about Socialism were sold on street corners for those literate enough to be interested in such heady material.

 

JUSTICE: It was unanimous that justice was served because Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally on August 28th was trumped.

 

FREEDOM FOR EVERYBODY: You know, the definition of “freedom” fluctuates so often, so it’s safe to say that this objective was indeed accomplished by free transportation, free signs, and free entertainment for rally attendees.

 

AFGHANISTAN: Well, they’re still working on this one because this topic didn’t interest the unions as much but, hey, 4 out of 5 ain’t bad!

 

Overall, it was a pretty successful day for the leftists and unions.  By one-upping Fox News, they were all able to go home last night and sleep a little better knowing that they had really stuck it to Beck, Hannity, and O’Reilly.  While there aren’t any documented accounts of hand-holding and Kumbayah, there was plenty of chanting affirmations for socialism and who doesn’t love a good chant?  As long as it isn’t Christine O’Donnell chanting a hex over some steaming pot of brew because that’s not cool.

 

It comes down to this: Not wanting to be outdone by 8.28, the liberals and unions threw together a rally at the last minute and had the standard speakers give the same old “Yes we can!/Si se puede!” speech.  Who would have thought the left would be Jonesing after the Tea Party?  Oh, wait...

 

If they want to get together and whine, fine.  That’s their 1st Amendment right and I have no real issue with it.  Even lying is covered under “Freedom of Speech”.  All I know is spewing hate and lies is the result of exceptional insecurity and fear.  Or, in some cases, pure ignorance.  There are plenty of these people that truly believe that George W. Bush is the Antichrist and the “Rich” want to enslave everyone making less than $250,000 a year.  Whatever.  They will never be open to considering another point of view because they are obviously intellectually and morally superior than everyone else.  Long live the tolerant left!

 

If they want to cram on the Metro and pile into busses to raise a stink about something, they have the right to do that but they should at least have some decency while doing it.  Disrespecting the flag, urinating on monuments to fallen heroes, and littering the National Mall is unacceptable.  But, hey, maybe they’re on to something: 

 

Parks & Recreation had to clean it up - how many jobs did that save or create?  Media coverage had to be there to cover the plethora of journalistic gold - that was at least 100 jobs when you include producers, writers, and those talented people who worked their magic with PhotoShop.  

 

Pamphlets about Socialism, the SEIU, and Islam were conveniently distributed all over the grass, sidewalks, and subways for other unenlightened souls to pick up.  Sneaky tactic to further the success of the EDUCATION objective of their mission.

 

In fact, now that I think about it, maybe desecrating war memorials was their way of discouraging young men and women to volunteer to serve in the military.  Perhaps Afghanistan wasn’t on the back burner.  Victory after all!

 

So take note, Tea Partiers I mean, um, Tea Baggers: If you want to be truly effective when it comes to spreading your message, get all of your co-workers together and toss your manners to the wayside; if anyone has a problem with your behavior, just tell them you have been oppressed, are being oppressed, or will be oppressed by The Man.  Forget the Constitution.  Nevermind past precedent of failure.  Just get out there and bitch.  You might just exceed your own expectations. 

 

Review: Georgia Brown's (Washington, D.C.)

Georgia Brown's
950 15th St NW
Washington, DC 20005 

Tonight I joined 4 of my friends for dinner at Georgia Brown's to celebrate two upcoming birthdays and the fact that we were all in the same town.  When I first ate at Georgia Brown's in February 2010, I was impressed by three things:

1. It seemed like the whole city was crammed into this place
2. The service was impeccable
3. The food was unbelievable.

For 7 months I have been raving about this place to anyone who would listen.  Yes, I have dreamed of the Sugar & Spice Pork Loin with Honey-Laced Yams & Brussels Sprouts - yah, it's that good.  

The restaurant was very accommodating with our reservation; originally made on OpenTable for two people, I called twice to increase the number and was never made to feel as though it was an inconvenience.  Upon arrival, it was moderately busy and we were seated right away.  The service was hospitable but a little slow and, on a side note, Bob (our server) highly resembled The Most Interesting Man In The World.  If you choose to dine at Georgia Brown's, I would recommend asking to sit in his section if he is working.

When it came to appetizers, the Fried Green Tomatoes with herbed goat cheese and green onion mayonnaise elicited tremendous praise, as did the Pan Roasted Diver Sea Scallops with roasted seasonal mushrooms.  The Deviled Eggs which I was certain would rival my grandmothers failed.  Although garnished with a healthy amount of bacon, the eggs were completely flavorless.  The best part of the Deviled Egg appetizer were the Potatoes O'Brien simply used to keep the eggs from sliding on the plate.

For main courses  we ordered Fried Turkey (pretty tasty), Southern Fried Chicken (delicious but insanely rich), Louisiana "Devil" Shrimp (amazing), and of course my Sugar & Spice Pork Loin.  Much to my dismay I had to send the pork back because I literally had to put in some elbow grease to drag my steak knife across the meat - far too over-cooked for "Medium".  When it came back, it was the exact same story.  I was told "the temperature is perfect for medium, but the meat is unexplainably 'tight'", whatever that means.  Disappointing for sure, but they were gracious enough to take it off the bill.  The yams and brussels sprouts were better than I remembered!

Dessert entailed coffee (wonderful and aromatic), seasonal Honeycrisp Apple Cobbler with caramel sauce that was good enough to call for an eye roll, and a seasonal Peach Creme Brulee.  The Creme Brulee was perfectly crisped and creamy, boasting bits of real peaches but the overall peach flavor was lacking.

Bob (our server) was patient enough to split the bill five ways between three cards and two cash payments.  I firmly believe that Georgia Brown's is reasonably priced for the amount and quality of food they serve.  We were informed that the produce comes daily from the White House Famers Market (note: not to be confused with the White House garden).  The wine selection is modest but high-quality.

The next time I eat at Georgia Brown's because I will inevitably be back, I will probably skip the pork and creme brulee but there are so many other menu choices, it shouldn't be hard to find something delectable to try.  

If you're in DC, give Georgia Brown's a try.  Make reservations, be prepared to pay $20+ per entree, and enjoy the best Southern gourmet cuisine I've found to date in DC.

 

Let's Talk About Bullying

Let’s talk about bullying for a minute.  Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers University freshman committed suicide this week.  Emotional turmoil and all-consuming pain led this young man to believe there was no way out, no hope, and no solution.  Except death.  Leaving this world was the only liberation he could trust.  Tyler Clementi is not alone.  Thousands of children and young adults feel this way every hour of every day because of bullying.  More often than we would like to think, these young lives succumb to the relief found in oblivion and are cut short.

I am not being poetic or spewing dramatic hyperbole.  My words are what they are because I’m a survivor.  I was in that dark place for a while and know how lonely and hopeless and out of control it feels.  When you’re in a room full of people and feel completely isolated, when pain is the only thing that reminds you that you’re alive - this is only a glimpse into what it’s like to be bullied to the extreme.

My peers began to bully me at the age of 10.  In a small, secular private school, most of my 35 classmates and I met in Kindergarten and grew up together five days a week nine months a year.  Around fourth grade, cliques started to form and I was stuck between strata: there were the “cool” kids and the “rest” of us.  I liked people in both groups so who to sit with at lunch was stressful.  Most of the time I chose to sit with the “rest” because on the occasions I did eat with the cool kids, it was just a bunch of making fun of everyone that wasn’t elite enough to be in their club and, honestly, it just wasn’t fun.  After a time, I came to be a permanent fixture in the “rest” and I paid dearly for it.

In fifth grade, none of the girls I went to school with were “developed” but I was the only one singled out by it.  Before and after gym class the girls would tease me.  The boys, however, would make public comments in class in front of teachers about my physical “inadequacies”.  I’ll never forget the name or face of the boy who opened a Coke only to find it was flat and then said, “Well, at least it’s not as flat as Ashley.”  This type of behavior continued almost daily until ninth grade and only grew in scope.  Nobody ever said anything about it - teachers, administrators, classmates, no one.

Once I reached high school, I had proved that I was as athletic (if not more so) than the rest of them and most of them wanted me to help them with their homework.  At that point, however, it was too late: I had already sunk into depression and decided to transfer to public school.  

Suddenly I was one of 2,500 kids and it only got worse; I carry the remnants of a scar on my wrist every day.  I remember the fights I had with my parents over therapy and medication.  It took a car accident that nearly took my life to bring me out of the depths of misery.  I was one of the lucky ones that survived and, eventually, found happiness again.

The people who carried me through this dark time were the outcasts and rejects, the gays and the freaks and the nerds.  These were some of the best people I have ever known and I will never forget their compassion.  Or their own pain.

 

The is only one difference between me and Tyler Clementi: I survived.

 

Bullying happens in every school and university in the country.  Today there are the advances of technology that project this humiliation to the world, but technology cannot advance the agony of pain and depression - raw human emotion does not evolve.  It is what it is, has been, and will continue to be.  

To single out bullying incidents because of race, creed, or sexual orientation only makes matters worse and drives that particular group into further isolation.  Our country has lost moral guidance and our children are not being taught the true meaning of respect.  Jenny Erikson said it well when she said,

“Children should be taught to respect others because they are people, not because of their background. God made all of us, and He made each of us for a purpose. That is worthy of respect.”

The "tolerant" Left thrives on the exploitation of people’s differences: if you’re not white, there’s racism involved and if you’re homosexual, you’re being persecuted by bigots.  This.  This is why I love being a conservative.  I believe in individuals and the power manifested within their own being.  Personal liberties grant us the ability to choose what is best for us as individuals.  Couple this principle with respect and you have a 180 in the wings of American culture.

Because I am a conservative, I believe that what is best for you may not what’s best for me and we can agree to disagree if it's not.  If being gay works for you, that’s awesome and I’m glad you’ve found that puzzle piece that fits.  If aborting babies is your schtick, that’s your choice but I would encourage adoption or struggling through the choice you made to have sex and raise the child, but I’m not going to force my beliefs on you.  And, yes, I know there are a very few extenuating circumstances out there; thank you.  If you want to believe that God doesn’t exist, that’s okay too; I’d warn you that if He does, you’re in trouble but it's not like I'm not going to lobby Washington because I think your soul needs to be saved by American tax dollars.  

You live your life and I’ll live mine.  I will respect you even if you don’t respect me.  You see, I’ve been the target of hate before and know how to survive; I don’t need to throw it back at you to feel vindicated.  But let me tell you this: teach your children to respect others and remember that the best teaching tool is example - yours.  Your example affects lives.  What your children learn from you can make or break hope.  No pressure.

 

Review: Cacharel (Arlington, TX)

Cacharel Restaurant
2221 E. Lamar Blvd
9th Floor
Arlington, TX 76006
(817) 640-9981 

After a weekend of fantastic food & football, I think I've finally recovered enough to tell y'all about it!  Friday night was date night and rather than fussing with cooking & dishes, my boyfriend took me out to Cacharel (say it with me, cash-uh-rell), a fancy little French restaurant in Arlington.  

I ordered the watercress & endive salad with apples, walnuts, and bleu cheese as an appetizer.  This salad is fantastic & I highly recommend it; however, I would encourage you to eat it solely around people you are comfortable with.  The watercress is impossible to gracefully eat as bits and pieces are springing off in every which way.  So, if you're trying to impress a prospective client or love interest, pick something else out.  

Next was the salmon served with a champagne dill sauce.  The waiter informed me that on a menu that changes nightly, this staple has remained the best-seller for years.  You know that's good!  And it was, but it couldn't hold a candle to a couple of the sides that came with it.  On each plate, diners get a couple of bites' worth of 4 sides: French green bean almondine, what appeared to be carrot mousse, roasted cauliflower, and potatoes au gratin.  Green beans: okay. Carrot mousse: didn't get past the first bite.  Roasted cauliflower: OMG, I didn't even think I liked cauliflower all that much until this beauty hit my palette.  Potatoes au gratin: Can I have more please? No really, can I?

Seriously, the next time I go back, I'm going to ask them to ditch the orange mousse and green beans and give me as much cauliflower and potato as they can get away with.

Then it was time for dessert.  Bananas Foster Souffle.  It came out a whopping 5 inches tall and looked perfect.  I couldn't help but think of Audrey Hepburn in "Sabrina" when she failed the souffle lesson because whoever was responsible for creating this masterpiece finished at the top of their class.  With a tiny dollop of whipped cream, I devoured every last fluffy bit of it.  There were actual pieces of bananas in it which gave a nice textural appeal, but the caramelized sugar and cinnamon throughout made it heavenly.  Oh, and the coffee - don't worry with the fancy pants cappuccino because the regular coffee is easily the best I have ever had.  You heard me.  Ever.  Had.

So there you have it.  I'm sorry I don't have any pictures, but it was too dark to get anything good with my incognito phone.  If you live in the DFW metroplex, this place is definitely worth the drive & if you're coming in town for the Super Bowl, put this on your list of places to eat.  It's right down the street from the Cowboys Stadium; in fact, you can see it from your table.  Reservations are recommended but not required and the dress code is pretty nice - you can get in with nice jeans and a starched shirt, jacked preferred.  Menu options include the popular prix fixe 3-course dinner at $48.50 per person or a la carte appetizers, entrees, and desserts.  

You'll get the best bang for your buck going the fixed price (for those who aren't familiar with the term "prix fixe"), but the a la carte menu boasts the most amazing fillet of ostrich and, for the less exotic, steaks.  

For more information and the menu offerings of the day, definitely check out the Cacharel website.

Review: Gingerine (Southlake, TX)

Gingerine
2750 E Southlake Blvd, Suite 100
Southlake, TX 76092 

This Thai restaurant hasn't been open but a month or two (if that) and caught my eye as it now fills the space that was once my beloved Red, Hot & Blue, so I popped in for lunch today.

Making two circles around the parking lot because, well, the parking situation there is pitiful, I finally parked in the back and walked around half of the building.  I was seated immediately at a tiny table barely big enough for two people; the rest of the place was full.  It took a few minutes for the waiter to greet me and another few minutes to get my iced tea.  When he brought my drink, I asked him (as I do all waitstaff in a place I've never dined) what is the best offering on the menu.  He asked if I wanted vegetables or meat, rice or noodles, spicy or not and I simply came back to one point: I want the best thing on your menu.  We settled on the "Drunken Master" with chicken, his personal favorite.  Good enough for me, but it's always a little unsettling when a waiter cannot confidently give you a recommendation, or at least 2 or 3 suggestions.

A few moments later, I was presented with a small cup of chicken and rice soup and a vegetable spring roll.  The chicken was unseasoned and the broth was salty, the rice overcooked, but it wasn't all bad - I ate it.  I was surprised to find little matchsticks of greatness hiding at the bottom: fresh ginger.  This salvaged the soup from being a complete disaster.  The spring roll was about the width of a nickel and served with a tiny paper ramekin of sweet chili sauce.  Interestingly, the spring roll was too wide to be dipped in the paper cup so I was left to pour the sauce directly on the roll.  Not a huge catastrophy, just kind of funny.

No sooner than I finished those two offerings did my entree arrive.  
And it looked like a hot mess.

This flat noodle/chicken dish has onions, bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, and basil all tossed in an unimaginative brown sauce.  The tomatoes were entirely out of place but the basil wasn't a bad idea.  Entirely too hot to savor any real flavor, it was simply a combination of heat, overcooked noodles, and some crunch from vegetables.  The only thing that did stand out was the chicken.  And not in a good way.  Like the soup, it was unseasoned and reminiscent of canned chicken - that tinny flavor that permeates the meat.  The big leaves of lettuce served no purpose other than to wilt and get caught in my fork.  Moreover, the dry and raw cabbage "salad" on the plate was perplexing - were you supposed to mix it in, or did they just need something to fill up that space?  

I can't say as though I will visit Gingerine again, but I can't say I won't.  Perhaps after a few more months of operation, I'll return to find an improved situation.  Until then, I think I'll just hop across the street to Thai Chili the next time I'm hunting for some southeast Asian fare in Southlake, TX.

Good Ol' Aqua Buddha

In case you’re late to the Rand Paul party, let me catch you up.  GQ ran an article  on Monday titled “GQ Exclusive: Rand Paul’s Kooky College Days (Hint: There’s a Secret Society Involved)”.  Click here for the full article.  

Basically, the big hoopla came from an anonymous woman who came forward for the interview and claimed Paul and another guy came to her apartment, kidnapped her, forced her to smoke pot, and then made her bow down and worship “Aqua Buddha”.  Yah.  Kind of kooky.  Unless you know the back story:

Paul was a member of Baylor’s notorious NoZe Brother secret society, a group that has been around since 1924 and done everything they can to be a royal pain in the rear to Baylor Administration and Chamber for the last 86 years.  While Rand attended Baylor in the early 80’s, the University held on to its Baptist roots and forbade dancing but that’s not to say the cultural element of the day wasn’t there - pot.  Granted, I was barely born when Rand Paul left Baylor to attend Duke Medical School, but I attended Baylor and was NoZe Brother savvy (note: I am a NoZe infidel - in regular speak: not a member).

The Noble NoZe Brotherhood, as they prefer to be called, has been the force behind many memorable Baylor pranks: painting a particular bridge pink and, after it was re-painted, painting it pink again (subsequently, it was set on fire so as to prevent it from being re-painted the administration-approved white), dropping 4,000 ping pong balls from the catwalk during Chapel (yes, each Baylor student must have Chapel credits to graduate), and turning the Student Union into a “shantytown”.  Not that I’m at all condoning pot, but you can see how adding the substance to pranks would lead to the worship of “Aqua Buddah”.  You see, Baylor University is the largest Baptist school in the world (yes, the whole world) and there are always students running around trying to save people.  Seeing as how the NoZe Brothers thrive on mischief, requiring the worship of a goofy idol is comical to the majority of Baylor students.Click here to see footage of the 4,000 ping pong ball drop. 

Yesterday the anonymous woman who claimed Rand Paul and another NoZe Brother “kidnapped” her came forward and said her story had been blown out of proportion and neither Paul nor his counterpart forced her to do anything but be weirded out.  “I went along because they were my friends,” she says.  For more on her retraction and correction, visit this link to The Washington Post.

Smart Girl Report: A few minutes of chick chat

Last night I was Jenny Erikson's guest on her radio show, The Smart Girl Report, as heard on From The Right Radio.  We talked about everything from ridiculous government spending projects to feminism to the current racism debate.  You can check out the audio, as well as Jenny's blog "Candid Conservative", by clicking here.

(Tip: You'll find the audio in segment "The Smart Girl Report -- Episode 0039")

Jenny's show airs each Tuesday at 9pm CST on www.ftrradio.com.  

Writing Is Hard.

    Although I am not an avid reader of the The New York Times, I will admit that every now and again the publication provides us with a piece of journalism worthy of praise.  Trip Gabriel authored such an article appearing this morning on the front page entitled, “Plagiarism Lines Blur for Students in Digital Age”; you can find the entire story here.

    In summary, the article describes the growing issue of plagiarism among current college students and their apathy towards it.  Cited reasons for this trend include easy access to information via the internet, students’ unpreparedness for college-level writing, and my personal favorite: “writing is hard.”

    Yes, the internet offers infinite information but, as we all know, anyone can post anything on the world wide web so just because it’s out there does not mean that it’s credible.  Secondly, it’s not that students aren’t being prepared for collegiate writing, but they are often not primed for the work, discipline, and rumination needed to excel in college.  More on that in a moment.  Lastly, it’s true that writing is difficult because mastering the effective use of language is a skill that is to be studied, practiced, and honed.

    The American education system has become so focused on standardized test scores, budgets, and appeasing teachers unions that is has practically forfeited the most valuable facet of a child's schooling: teaching them to think for themselves.  It is true that not all schools are guilty of this, nor are all teachers.  But this approach to education is arduous and does not lend itself well to teachers unable to consistently go the extra mile.  With 20 or more kids in a classroom, it can be trying enough just to manage behaviors.  Having attended a private school for 10 years and a public school for 3, I recognize stark differences between public and private teaching philosophy, curriculum implementation, and performance evaluation methods.

    

    From kindergarten through my freshman year in high school, private school immersed me in an environment that sought to engage students in their education, to empower them to own their knowledge and become constructive thinkers.  While my sophomore through senior years in public school were overwhelming learning experiences for me on a social scale, there was little I came away with academically - notably, a distaste for Jane Austen and general idea of how to use a graphing calculator.  Within the first few weeks of my university journey, however,  my love of learning and passion for contemplation were rejuvenated; I was not only forced to once again cultivate my own thoughts, theories, and reflections, but I was made to do so quickly and articulately in case I was called on.

    This process of intellectual refinement, of my conjectures constantly being challenged, taught me to revere the Socratic method but, more importantly, to respect my peers who were also struggling to organize their thoughts.  How does this translate to my life today?  I might not agree with you, but I will respect you immensely for having the courage to think for yourself.

    Students today are lacking that sense of propriety when it comes to their own intellectual power so it’s only natural that they should be remiss when it comes to others’ scholarly contributions .  You can tell me that public domain is expanding or professors are being too hard on students, but I will politely disagree and adhere to the value of individual reason and understanding.

A Capitalist Quagmire

    In 1632, John Tuttle arrived on American shores from England and settled his family on 20 acres in New Hampshire, thus the Tuttle Family Farm was established.  378 years and eleven generations later, America has seen war, revolution, growth, modernization, and globalization.  While preserving the freedom to fail, She has seen tremendous success and earned the description of “the last best hope of man on earth.”    The Tuttle Family Farm has seen it all but, now, there’s a new site to see - a “For Sale” sign.

    Taxes, lack of manpower, competition, and debt have driven the Tuttles to give the twelfth generation a new direction.  As of 2008, the tax rates for Dover, NH were over 20% (21.10% to be exact) and, with the property now spanning 134 acres, you can imagine the weight of that burden.  Moreover, the amount of work that goes into maintaining that volume of crop is overwhelming.  The current owners are in their sixties and, having convinced their children to pursue other career paths, are short on people willing to put in the grueling day’s work needed.  Add to that mega-marts and chain grocery stores with super hero buying power, the American farm stand faded into the background.  Staying afloat required borrowing and there’s only so much banks will lend.

    So this story is quite a quandry.  As Americans believing in the American Dream, that hard work and perseverance have the opportunity to yield success, who could we say is the “bad guy” here?  Capitalism is the benchmark of prosperity and a free market economy is a key element in the very definition of America.  Everyone has the chance to succeed, including the super stores.  After all, even the largest of chains had to start somewhere.  This begs to question if there is a place for blame in the arena of capitalism.

    All I can chalk it up to is the American buying culture becoming one of convenience and low cost, which is not a bad thing.  There are, however, those that remain dedicated to the specialists - people like the farmers, the fish mongers, the butchers, and the bakers.  Which brings us back to the beauty of America and Her freedom to choose.

For more information about your local farmers markets, visit www.localharvest.org. 

Original story source: Yahoo! News