Excited About Obama!

This has been the most exciting Democratic National Convention I've witnessed since the Clintons were running!! The speeches have been spellbinding. Hillary and Obama both hit a home run as far as I'm concerned.

"With profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for the presidency of the United States."

When he uttered that acceptance, making history I didn't think I'd see in my lifetime, I burst into tears!

Other favorite quotes...

Eight is enough...

Tonight, I say to the American people, to Democrats and Republicans and Independents across this great land - enough! This moment - this election - is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive. Because next week, in Minnesota, the same party that brought you two terms of George Bush and Dick Cheney will ask this country for a third. And we are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look like the last eight. On November 4th, we must stand up and say: "Eight is enough."

10% chance on change...

But the record's clear: John McCain has voted with George Bush ninety percent of the time. Senator McCain likes to talk about judgment, but really, what does it say about your judgment when you think George Bush has been right more than ninety percent of the time? I don't know about you, but I'm not ready to take a ten percent chance on change.

He just doesn't get it...

Now, I don't believe that Senator McCain doesn't care what's going on in the lives of Americans. I just think he doesn't know. Why else would he define middle-class as someone making under five million dollars a year? How else could he propose hundreds of billions in tax breaks for big corporations and oil companies but not one penny of tax relief to more than one hundred million Americans? How else could he offer a health care plan that would actually tax people's benefits, or an education plan that would do nothing to help families pay for college, or a plan that would privatize Social Security and gamble your retirement?

It's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because John McCain doesn't get it.

What is that promise?

It's a promise that says each of us has the freedom to make of our own lives what we will, but that we also have the obligation to treat each other with dignity and respect.

It's a promise that says the market should reward drive and innovation and generate growth, but that businesses should live up to their responsibilities to create American jobs, look out for American workers, and play by the rules of the road.

Ours is a promise that says government cannot solve all our problems, but what it should do is that which we cannot do for ourselves - protect us from harm and provide every child a decent education; keep our water clean and our toys safe; invest in new schools and new roads and new science and technology.

Our government should work for us, not against us. It should help us, not hurt us. It should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American who's willing to work.

That's the promise of America - the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation; the fundamental belief that I am my brother's keeper; I am my sister's keeper.

That's the promise we need to keep. That's the change we need right now.

bin Laden...

John McCain likes to say that he'll follow bin Laden to the Gates of Hell - but he won't even go to the cave where he lives.

We all put our country first!

But what I will not do is suggest that the Senator takes his positions for political purposes. Because one of the things that we have to change in our politics is the idea that people cannot disagree without challenging each other's character and patriotism.

The times are too serious, the stakes are too high for this same partisan playbook. So let us agree that patriotism has no party. I love this country, and so do you, and so does John McCain.

The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America or a Blue America - they have served the United States of America.

So I've got news for you, John McCain. We all put our country first.

I get it...

I get it. I realize that I am not the likeliest candidate for this office. I don't fit the typical pedigree, and I haven't spent my career in the halls of Washington.

But I stand before you tonight because all across America something is stirring. What the nay-sayers don't understand is that this election has never been about me. It's been about you.

"No turning back, no turning back"

America, we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate, and so many veterans to care for. Not with an economy to fix and cities to rebuild and farms to save. Not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend. America, we cannot turn back. We cannot walk alone. At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise - that American promise - and in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess.

The American Promise

Celebration of Cooking

My sweetie left very early this morning. Not much that's exciting about that! We've agreed to plan our next visit within the next 2 weeks, so we'll have something to look forward to and soon.

But I did console myself just now with a bacon and cheese dip I made myself! It was YUMMY!!

So I thought it might be fun to make a list of all the yummy things I've made since the Great Cooking Experiment began :) ...

spaghetti
mediterranean herb foccacia bread
apple spice cake
almond pound cake w/ strawberries & whipped cream
almond pound cake with pineapples & whipped cream
basil pesto spaghetti
basil pesto dip
cheese sauce (for pasta)
bacon and cheese dip
Parmesan bread
green beans with garlic & onion seasoning
brown rice with garlic & onion seasoning
mashed potatoes with bacon and garlic seasoning
garlic bread

And probably a few more that I haven't thought of that I just tried on the spur of the moment.

Many of these cooking successes were made with seasonings, mixes or recipes from Tastefully Simple. My consultant has been a very encouraging cooking coach.

I even bought a cooking set from Martha Stewart (on sale) which I have totally fallen in love with and use almost every day! They clean up do easily!!

I think, looking ahead, that I'd like to experiment with rice dishes, more pasta & cheese recipes, sandwiches, breads and desserts. My son and I are trying to move toward more vegetarian living, but we haven't gotten there yet. Meanwhile, I'm trying to focus more on meatless recipes.

It's much more fun than I thought it would be but that's because of all the things I discovered that have made it easier!

BTW, I made dinner for my sweetie the other night and she loved it!! I call it the night I conquered the cheese sauce.

And cooking with her this week was a blast, as well. I also like cooking with my son.

I'd say the Great Cooking Experiment is going well!