The Sugar Booty Chronicles

Happy Buy Nothing Day!

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:32:00 +0000

Is it just me, or has Black Friday become a pox on society? This is a day that was once a cheerful, albeit busy shopping holiday for Americans the day after Thanksgiving. Stores opened at 8am, then 6am. Last year, Wal-Mart opened its doors at midnight and Target opened at 4am. This year, however, in a bid to outdo other retailers, Wal-Mart opened at 10pm on Thanksgiving night, while Target opened two hours later at midnight. And people flocked to the stores in the hopes of getting so-called "door buster" deals.

Today so far, we've heard of people pepper spraying other customers in what can only be called a territorial tactic, an older gentleman was tackled by police for putting a game in his waistband so he could carry his grandson (cops thought he was stealing), two women were injured after a fight broke out between other customers and they were caught in the middle.

In North Carolina, off-duty police officers used pepper spray on the crowds lining up to shop because they thought the crowds were fighting. A retired cop told WNCT News that there was no fight and that one officer was doing it wrong. Gordon Jackson, the retired officer, took his granddaughter with him, when one of the off-duty cops "was raining it over the whole crowd, so it will rain down on their heads." Some of that pepper spray, he said, hit his granddaughter, who is asthmatic. She ended up in the emergency room as a result of the officer's overreaction, and Jackson ended up arrested over a fight that he says never even occurred.

In South Carolina, a shooting was reported, likely the result of an attempted robbery. The majority of these incidents happened in or near Wal-Mart. What does that tell you? Does it tell you Wal-Mart shouldn't be opening at 10pm on Thanksgiving night? Does it tell you that Wal-Mart shoppers willing to brave the crowds are certifiable?

At what point did Thanksgiving become a shopping holiday, rather than a day of giving thanks? At what point do retail stores open at 5pm on Thanksgiving Day just to have another edge on the competition? In a lousy economy like this, you'd better believe there will be people willing to sacrifice time with their family to work that day. It's bad enough that gas station and convenience stores have to be open. Someone has to sell you gas and toilet paper when you run out unexpectedly, but retail stores have no reason to be open at such ungodly hours other than to get as many sales as possible.

It's tragic. Do you remember the Wal-Mart employee who was killed in the stampede in New York state during the Black Friday madness in 2008? That year, a total of three people died in the post Thanksgiving Day rush to get the latest deals. In that same Long Island store, an 8-month pregnant woman miscarried due to the violence that erupted during the 5am opening.

Do people never learn? How is it that, year after year, folks are lured by the promise of incredible deals to shop on the most dangerous day of the year? It's madness, nothing more. Until more people boycott it, nothing will change.

Here's a link of the 13 most brutal Black Friday incidents to remind you why you should stay very far away from the madness. This comes in handy whenever I dare to think about venturing out of the house other than to buy toilet paper or milk.

And for your viewing pleasure, here's some retro Christmas music: WHAM!

Ever Read Through Old Emails From Your Exes?

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:17:00 +0000

I finally escaped the toxic relationships of my past!

I was looking at my old email inbox -- the one I haven't used in about 2 years -- because I felt it was time to clean it out and see if there was anything there worth saving. I came across a folder where I held all of the emails I'd gotten from an ex-boyfriend (let's call him "Bob") I dated many years ago.

Reading through them was hard, especially those where the relationship was clearly over and I was stubbornly hanging on. Even though several years have passed and I am happily married now, I felt physically stressed and upset after reading through them. I had to stop and find something fun to do just to get my mind off of it all.

It made me wonder why people continue on in toxic co-dependent relationships. It was clear from about 3 months into our relationship that "Bob" didn't know what he wanted and began to say things that made me question myself. I'll admit, I'm not the most tidy person in the world, but my fear of his disapproval had me frantically looking for tiny scraps on the floor just in case I'd missed something. One time, he complained that I left store tags on the floor, but then the next day he left his socks on the stairs. When I brought that to his attention, he'd say, "They're on the stairs because they're on the way to the washing machine. I'm doing laundry soon." And then he's say my mess had no purpose and that I just dropped things wherever.

He may have been right about it, but looking back, it still didn't excuse his own behavior.

Everything became my fault. "If only you'd do _____, then I might love you more."

It was a classic case of me trying to jump through hoops and he was secretly enjoying every minute of it. When this behavior first started, it was subtle, and apologetic. I remember distinctly one day he couldn't bear to kiss me because I hadn't waxed my upper lip and some of the hair had grown back. He acted embarrassed about it, and said it was just distracting, so I ran out immediately and bought a facial wax kit. I wanted to look perfect for him!

It was really pathetic, and too many women fall for this, even the smart ones. Some women fall for this over and over again, and never find a man who really loves them for who they are because they're so focused on pleasing someone who will never be pleased!

During the latter part of our relationship, he'd send me copies of his resume and cover letter to look over. Being an employment specialist, I'd look them over and give him my opinion. Here's a typical exchange:

How not to treat your significant other...

After we'd broken up, Bob had continued to string me along for a while, making me think we'd get back together by spending time with me and inviting me over for the night. He always ignored me the next morning, as if I didn't exist, so I knew I had to break free from this cycle. I finally did, and opened myself up to being alone when I accidentally found my soulmate -- a man I'd gone to high school with.

When I told Bob that I was getting married a few months later, he didn't believe me. He was convinced that I could never let him go. What he didn't know was that by that time, I'd already let him go and moved on. I was only with him for 7 months, but he strung me along for another 5, and I'd grown tired of it. Bob knew through a mutual friend that James had spent some time living in a religious community, Jesus People USA, which is a communal environment where people live, work, and serve the poor. When I made it clear to Bob that I was, indeed, marrying this man, he said, "FINE! Have fun with your Jesus freak!"

Funny thing is, James isn't what you'd call a "Jesus freak." He's just a guy who believes in God and thinks Jesus should be followed, not worshiped. There's a big difference in that line of thinking and I agree with it. Neither James nor I are overly religious, which made Bob's outburst all the more ridiculous. We don't even attend church, although I've visited a Unitarian Universalist congregation here, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

After reading all of these emails and saved IMs (I knew I was saving them for a reason!), I realized how lucky I am to have gotten away from the toxic sludge of that relationship. I realized how truly gifted I am to have a husband who isn't above serving others selflessly. I realize how childish I was to cling to something that clearly wasn't working, and how the overall relationship was built on nothing more than flattery and sex.

My husband doesn't call me princess. He rarely buys me flowers (he's bought them once, on my birthday this year after I told him I'd really love some). He doesn't manipulate me. He doesn't play mind games, and he certainly doesn't compare me (favorably or unfavorably) to other women. He doesn't care if I forget to shave my armpits every now and then, and he isn't repelled by the fact that I've obviously gained a few pounds since Stella's birth.

He still sees me as the woman he fell in love with -- a chaotic, messy woman who couldn't balance a checkbook to save her life!

My Failed Attempt at Crayon Art

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 08:27:00 +0000

It's depressing. It's dark. It's globby. It's completely different than I'd originally anticipated. My intention was to go for a 'Peace' symbol, but it didn't exactly work out that way. I ironed my design through wax paper as instructed, lifted the paper and was greeted with a big blob of melted wax.

So, I tried blow-drying it, to get some drip effect going. The result was spectacularly ugly. It wasn't just ugly, it was downright scary. I posted the result to my Facebook page, and a few people were brave enough to comment on its otherworldly quality.

I, for one, saw an alien monster emerging from an imploding earth, while another friend said she saw a frog-leg on the bottom left. Another friend said it looked like "a twisted vision of Earth from space," but with Africa backwards. Some friends were disturbed by the image, and suggested a ritual burning to rid the world of its creepiness.

My husband told me to not give it to anyone who is depressed because it'll just make them go into hysterics and jump off a bridge. Or something. He insisted on hiding it and forbade me from hanging it in our daughter's room. Not that I'd do that, anyway.

So, what does this say about my deep, inner psyche? Is there any hidden message here?

Why yes, yes there is. The message is, stick to sewing. I suck as an artist.

And here it is, ladies and gents. The failure. The miserable attempt at...something...I made last night.

I wonder if Van Gogh was ever frightened by his own art.

Guilt-Free Meatless Lasagna!

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 07:50:00 +0000

A slice of guilt-free heaven.

James and I are trying to reduce our meat intake because the price is getting a bit too high for our comfort and because it's the healthy thing to do. Really, humans don't need the amount of meat that we normally consume, so it's no wonder Americans have all sorts of health problems.

I could go on about all the nasty, over-processed foods, but that's a topic for a different day. In any event, I decided I was in the mood to make a vegetarian lasagna, so I hit up my local Sprouts market to see what I could find. What I came out with ended up in the most delicious, delectable vegetarian lasagna I've ever eaten.

I'm going to say right now that I didn't measure these ingredients precisely, so if you need more or less, go ahead and experiment. I have a really bad habit of just throwing things together and trying to figure out how much of something I had, and I'm trying to get better. Sometimes I forget and just wing it, though. It's a damn hard habit to break, I tell you. Kind of like remembering to put on my apron so I can get in full domestic diva mode. Anyway, here's the ingredient list:

Pasta

No-boil lasagna (this is the stuff you don't have to cook before laying it down in the pan.

Sauce

3 to 4 oz. fresh spinach

3/4 cup fresh chopped broccoli (should be chopped into small pieces.)

3 cloves of fresh garlic, minced (instructions on mincing with a mortar and pestle here).

2 stalks celery, chopped

4 to 5 stalks of fresh cilantro, minced. (I have no idea what measurement that comes to!)

6 green onions, chopped

1/2 green bell pepper, chopped

1/2 red bell pepper, chopped

1/4 large yellow onion, chopped

2 tblsp dried basil

1 can diced tomatoes

1 8oz can tomato sauce

1 6oz can tomato paste

1/4 cup water

A few shakes of salt from the shaker

2 tsp ground black pepper

1/2 tsp paprika

2 tsp Italian seasoning

Cheese mixture

1 8oz package shredded mozzarella cheese

1 egg

1 cup ricotta cheese

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

2 tblsp sour cream

Topping

4 slices provolone cheese

***Don't let the long ingredient list scare you away, because this lasagna is incredibly easy to make. It's a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and the final result is a vegetable lasagna that will have you melting with pleasure. Like my husband said, "I almost don't miss the meat." With him being a meat-lovin' guy, that's saying a lot! ***

The meatless ingredients.

1. Drop a few dashes of olive oil in a large pot and add the vegetables. Sautée them until they're coated in the oil and slightly cooked.

2. Add the canned tomatoes, tomato sauce and paste. Stir.

Simmering in the pot.

3. Add the spices and water, stirring until well-blended. Cover and let the concoction simmer for about 20 minutes. Stir it a few times to make sure it's not burning or sticking to the pot.

4. Combine the cheeses, the sour cream, and the egg. whisk together and add a bit of pepper and basil to the mixture if you want. Some recipes call for oregano and that's perfectly fine. I don't use the spice because it simply does not agree with me!)

5. Spray your lasagna pan with cooking oil, or spread butter on the bottom. This is to help prevent any sticking of the cheeses while it cooks.

6. Turn off the heat for the sauce and spoon a light layer of it on the bottom of the pan.

7. Put in the lasagna strips, overlapping slightly.

Adding the cheese layer.

8. Add a just enough of the sauce mixture to cover the pasta.

9. Add the cheese mixture. I only had enough of this for one layer.

10. Lay another layer of pasta strips and add more of the sauce. If you have any cheese mixture left, add it, too.

11. cover it all with cut or torn up provolone slices. It really doesn't matter how you arrange the pieces because they'll melt and ooze a bit during the cooking process.

12. Cover with foil, puffing it up at the top to prevent it from touching the top layer of cheese. Cook for 30 minutes.

13. Remove lasagna from oven and remove foil, scraping off cheese that melted to it.

14. Put the uncovered lasagna back in the oven for another ten minutes so the provolone cheese can brown.

The finished product. Bulging at the seams.

15. Remove from oven and let sit for about 20 minutes before eating.

16. Slice and enjoy!

I hope you've enjoyed this recipe. There will be lots more where that came from. Let me know what you think of it, or any twists or improvements you might have.

**I don't know why my food pictures always turn out like something from a 70's cookbook, but I can attest to the fact that it tastes really good!

My Daughter's Happy Obsession

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:21:00 +0000

When did you learn to read? Age 4, 5, or 6? I remember I didn't learn to read until I was in the 1st grade, although I loved looking at pictures in the books. I think part of that was because I was the youngest and my parents didn't have the time needed to spend with me. Then again, my brothers and sister didn't learn to read until they were in school, either.

My daughter just turned two in September and she's been showing a lot of interest in letters and numbers. Letters, especially. She can count to ten and recognizes some numbers, but her obsession is with the alphabet. In fact, she knows every letter and can recognize almost all lower case letters, too.

Is it becoming more normal for children at such a young age to be early readers? Just the other day, she sounded out the work 'great' and said the word. She read. My husband has been saying for a while that she'll be reading the newspaper by age 3 and I think she'll actually be reading before that.

We haven't done anything special. She has a few alphabet toys and watches Word World religiously. I bought some flashcards to test her to see just how much she really knows. The video below, to me, is amazing. She not only knows the letters, but the sounds they make.

You have to admit, my kid is pretty darned cute, too.

the Great October Bread Disaster

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 16:55:00 +0000

I was going to post my awesome bread here, but it's looking more and more like I might be posting an unmitigated disaster. A waste of a banana and a couple of eggs, it is. I went into this project last night enthusiastic, hopeful for a tasty, chocolatey bread with almonds, and a hint of banana. Instead I got something that looks like it jumped off the pages of a bad 1960s cookbook and onto my plate. The fact that my plates are circa 1960-ish just accentuates its wretchedness.

A tragedy, a disaster -- truly, a horrific event.

I used regular flour when the recipe called for self-rising.

What came out of that oven is something that appears undecided about whether it wants to be biscotti or brownies. And so, it crumbled in a sad and pathetic mess.

I took photos, to try to make it appear somewhat appealing. I tried to save face and say, "Hey! You can dunk it in your coffee and milk!" But the sad fact remains, this batch is headed for the garbage. The crows will love it. They're not picky.

Drizzle it with a little butter and pretend it's supposed to look like poop

The 60s called. They want their crappy food back.

My Favorite Collectible

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 16:20:00 +0000

I have a few collectible horses and cows I got from Hallmark when they were selling the Trail of Painted Ponies and the CowParade lines. I haven't been able to add to my small collection in several years, though, which saddens me. I've always loved the creativity that went into each piece and the artists always amaze me with their distinct styles.

This one is my favorite. It's called 'War Pony,' by artist Olena Kalayda. I love looking at it. It makes me daydream.

Stella, My Beautiful Two-Year-Old

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:21:00 +0000

It's the simple things -- riding the carousel, having lunch, playing in the park -- that bring a two-year-old joy. Everything is still new, even if she's seen it a hundred times.

I may have entered into the realm of motherhood relatively late in life, but you can bet your life I'm relishing every moment of it.

Nothing brings me joy more than being with my lovely little family.

With Daddy waiting for carousel on her 2nd birthday - September.

Stella's gotten to be an old pro on it.

Nap time: Resistance is futile, my child.

Cap'n Crunch encrusted on her face.

Climbing. That's what she does.

And sliding. Like her parents, she loves adventure!

Not sure about those kids, eh?

Creamy, Cheesy Homemade Potato Soup

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 06:57:00 +0000

Doesn't it look delish?

It's the end of October. Cold fronts have moved in and in some places it's actually snowed. I don't know about you, but the change over to cooler weather makes me want to cook comfort foods, and it seems as though I'm not alone. I was at the store around 7pm on a weeknight and the store was crowded with people stocking up on dinner fixings. Highly unusual for a weeknight.

I decided I wanted to make some potato soup, so before I headed to the store I looked up some recipes, but none really seemed to appeal to me completely. So, what did this chick do? I created my own recipe!

So, without further ado, here it is. Enjoy!

Warm and Comfy Potato Soup

8-10 small-medium sized red potatoes, quartered

1 15 oz can of vegetable stock

1/2 cup water

2 cups milk

3 tblsp butter or margarine

1/4 cup bacon bits

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon ground paprika

1 teaspoon coarse ground pepper

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

1/2 cup chopped yellow onion

4 green onions, minced

4 cloves fresh garlic, minced (or 1 tblsp minced)

Dollop of sour cream

Wash and cube the potatoes and set aside. I don't skin my potatoes, but if you don't like skin, peel them before you cube them.

Peel and chop the onion and set aside in a bowl. Wash and mince the green onions. Use up as much of it as you can. Throw out the root end and any shriveled up or drooping green parts. Set these aside for later, as well.

Now for the garlic! Fresh garlic is best, but it can be tricky to get off the outer skin. There are two practical and easy ways to do this: By using a mortar and pestle, or by using a wide-bladed knife. I prefer the mortar and pestle method myself. Just put one clove in the bowl, hit it a few times with the pestle, and hard shell should come right off.

If you use the knife method, make sure you use a wide knife, and not a small coring or butter knife. Trust me. A Kukri knife would be a better choice than a peeling knife. because the thinner the blade the bigger the chance you'll end up doing nothing more than slicing your hand open.

So, back to using the knife -- lay the knife blade flat against the garlic clove and hit the blade with the butt of your hand hard enough to crack the shell. the movement should be hard and brief, like a quick karate chop.

Once you've gotten the cloves clean, put them in the mortar (bowl portion) and grind. Don't bang the pestle against the cloves, or they'll fly out, trust me. Press and grind, using the wall of the mortar to your advantage to shred the cloves. Don't worry about mincing them into tiny little pieces. When you're done, put them together with the onions.

Turn on stove top to about medium-high heat. Don't turn it to the highest setting. Pour in the water, the vegetable stock and milk. Add the butter and let it heat up for about five minutes.

Add the potatoes, onion (yellow and green), and garlic. Add the bacon. Don't forget the bacon bits! Let simmer for ten minutes to soften the potatoes.

Add the spices and mix. I don't add too much; just enough to give the soup a subtle flavor kick. Lower heat to medium-low. Cover the pot and let simmer for another 20 minutes. Stir occasionally to make sure the soup doesn't scald.

When the soup is almost ready, the potatoes should be very soft. Add the parmesan cheese and stir, mixing it in thoroughly. When ready, ladle it into your bowl, add a dollop of sour cream to the top, and you've got yourself a yummy, nutritious and filling winter soup!

I like to eat it with some french bread to sop up the last delicious drop of soup.

Now, dish up, and eat up.

Your Ad Here

Domestic Abusers in Kansas just Got a Green Light

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:29:00 +0000

Can you believe this? In Topeka, Kansas, it is now no longer against the law to commit domestic violence. Lawmakers in the city voted to repeal the local domestic violence law because they say they don't have enough money to prosecute violators.

If you think that's stupid, read on. It gets worse. You see, Topeka is located in Shawnee County. And the county's district attorney in September said he was going to stop prosecuting domestic violence cases in Topeka due to a 10 percent budget cut. So, what did Topka's brilliant city leaders do? They repealed their own law in the hopes of forcing the county to take responsibility. In just a few weeks, barely a month, 35 new cases of domestic violence have occurred and 18 people have been released.

CONTINUE READING HERE

Rick Perry: George W. Bush 2.0?

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:34:00 +0000

Texas Governor Rick Perry is running for president. Everyone has pretty much expected this for the last several months, but he will soon make it official with a statement this weekend. Although he's got plenty of fans in Texas and in the South, does we really need another evangelical Texan in office? The prospect of Perry winning scares the hell out of me, no pun intended.

Perry is the longest-serving governor of the state, and he is either adored or reviled among his fellow Texans. The fact that he's an ultra-right wing conservative could help or harm him in the long run. In fact, some analysts say his close association with George W. Bush could actually act against him. This is a man who played preacher on August 6th during a prayer rally in Houston, blatantly blurring the lines between church and state. This is another Texan whose moral and religious ideology will often clash with reason.

It's interesting to note that the man who, just a few years ago, voraciously suggested that Texas secede from the Union now wants to be the president of said Union. Hypocrisy? Perhaps. Or maybe he's just an opportunist.

Even though Perry has his share of Tea Party Supporters, he has his detractors, as well. In fact, his critics within the movement are angry that he signed into law a bill giving in-state tuition to illegal immigrants. In other words, they're mad Perry gave kids an opportunity to get an education, despite their illegal status. They've also mocked his border fence idea as useless. However, his fans love the fact that he once shot a coyote he claimed threatened his daughter's dog while out jogging with him. Surely, he'd support shooting wolves from helicopters, too, if it came to it.

Rick Perry is George W. Bush all over again. He's G.W.B. 2.0. The only real difference between Perry and Bush, is that Perry has nicer hair and that's about it. Perry likes to take credit for Texas' economy, which remains relatively healthy in the midst of a national economic crisis. However, some reports contradict Perry's assertion that he is responsible for the thriving economy. In fact, the Houston Chronicle's blog, Chron.com, reports that factors having nothing to do with Perry's policies have helped the state ride out the recession with nary a hiccup.

Rising oil prices, a healthy housing market, cheap immigrant labor, and even drug trafficking are credited with keeping the economy stable. You heard that right. You see, when drugs are smuggled through the state, the money that results from sales "flows through Texas, driving consumption and investment in the state and possibly contributing substantially to the state's economy." While this isn't necessarily a good thing for those who are opposed to illegal drugs, one could argue it's certainly beneficial to the economy. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars, of drug money pass through the state.

Another factor is cheap immigrant labor. Texas has a virtually endless supply of immigrant labor, either legal or illegal, and many companies don't bother to verify foreign employees' immigration status. In the early 2000s Anderson Merchandisers, a warehouse distribution center that exclusively serves Wal-Mart, experienced an immigration sweep, where several employees were found to be working under assumed names. The management in this company didn't bother to verify photo identification, and regardless of whether the social security card looked fake, as long as the number was good, the applicant was accepted to work.

It's policies and business practices like this that have driven the Texas economy, and Rick Perry can't claim these as accomplishments. In fact, he knows if he were to create policies that cracked down harder on these, Texas would lose a lot of business and money. Just look at what happened in Georgia when the idiots made laws banning illegal immigrants from working. Farmers throughout the state struggled (and are still struggling) to get their crops picked. Just as everyone with a brain has said, immigrants are the force that drive this nation, so we need to accept and embrace it, and treat them with the respect they deserve.

And if Perry thinks the gas and oil supplies will last forever, he's got another thing coming. Once those very finite resources run out, game over. Texas' economy will most assuredly suffer.

Perry is driven by his evangelical Christian ideology, and his stand against abortion, his lack of committment to sound education, and his desire to introduce Christianity to public schools—as evidenced by his desire to add Intelligent Design in the classroom, is a very bold mark against him.

What is the Mommy Tummy?

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 01:42:00 +0000

I found a funny new device today, created by the Japanese! It's called the "Mommy Tummy," and it's designed to mimic pregnancy, including the feelings of the baby kicking, wiggling and weight gain. It looks pretty cool.

Here's an excerpt from an article. The link to the full story is below. You have GOT to watch the video embedded in it, too. The subtitled translations from Japanese to English are hilarious!

The Japanese gave us Karaoke, anime, and talking robots, so it makes sense they're bringing us what every expectant father needs: A Mommy Tummy. Ladies, if you're pregnant and the father-to-be just isn't all that empathetic with your plight, put this clever jacket on your "must-have" list for next Christmas.

If you're not interested in the device itself, the video promoting it is worth watching just for the yucks. While it does a pretty good job of visualizing the device, the translations from Japanese to English will leave you chuckling. Words like "maternity" and "pregnancy" take the place of "pregnant." But the funniest phrase has to be, "The point where the user touch is detected by fondle own abdomens."

So, how does this thing work?

Deaf Lipreader Decodes What Kate and William Said

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 18:25:00 +0000

Being deaf does have its advantages. One of them is that you learn how to read speech. Some people are excellent at this. Others, not so good. I know a woman who can read lips from across a large, crowded room. Everyone wanted to know what everyone said during the Royal wedding between William and Kate. What did Harry say? What did the Queen say?

Enter Tina Lannin, deaf forensic lipreader, to the rescue! Click the link below to read the whole story.

Deaf Lipreader Decodes What Kate and William Said

Ice-T Tells 'Today' Show 'It's Never too Late to Change'

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 01:40:00 +0000

I've always liked Ice-T in the TV show "Law & Order SVU. His interview with the Today show was really quite interesting. Did you know he served in the military because he was a teen father? He went through so much as a child, and yet he never felt sorry for himself. He's got some character, for sure.

Ice-T Tells 'Today' Show 'It's Never too Late to Change'

Thoughts on the Cleveland, TX Rape

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 04:31:00 +0000

The rape of the little 11-year-old girl in Cleveland, Texas has been nagging at me lately. It's not just the fact that 18 males (men and juvenile boys) raped her, but the response of the national and international community to this.

People have begun to blame the victim and her family. It blows my mind how this could happen. I have to ask, is childhood no longer sacred? Is it a crime to become a victim of crime? And how, pray tell, can an 11-year-old girl fight off 18 men, some of them very large football players?

Questions are roiling about this case. How is it that she was raped on three separate occasions and still went back? How did she not know what was going to happen? Conclusion? She must have been asking for it. She must have wanted it. Right? Right? I mean, if there's no logical explanation and the victim was raped three times, then, it must not have been rape.

This is how people are rationalizing the behavior of the men who raped this girl. This 11-year-old child.

The men accused of gang-raping an 11-year old girl.

I will tell you a story I haven't told many people in the past. When I was 12, I was new to Texas. I'd just moved from California and was still trying to make friends. It was a difficult year for me. Texas was a completely different culture and it was a hard adjustment to make.

One day I got a phone call. It was one of the starters for the local high school football team. He asked for me specifically. Being new in town and being in 7th grade, I marveled at how this guy had gotten my phone number. Surely, my brothers hadn't given it to him. They'd never allow that.

The phone call was strange all-around. The boy, who was a senior, and I suspect the starting quarterback, was talking to me flirtatiously. He asked me questions about myself, told me his name, and asked me about myself. I was giddy. I recognized his name and remembered seeing his photo in a playbook for the football team. He was a hunk. I still wondered how he'd gotten my number, but at that moment, it didn't matter. A cute older boy was interested in me!

Then the conversation took a weird turn. He invited me to a party. I told him I would like to but I'd have to ask my parents. He didn't have a problem with it. He said he'd heard about me from some friends of his, and thought I'd enjoy what he and his football buddies had in store. He really wanted me to come to his party. He said there would be a bon fire and lots of people and lots of fun.

He then mentioned a gang-bang. I had no idea what a gang-bang was.

I said, "What's that?"

He replied, "It's a party where all the guys take turns with you."

Still clueless, I asked, "Take turns doing what?"

"You know, having sex with you."

Mortified, I blurted out the first thing that came into my head, "But I'm only 12!"

Nonplussed, he said, "Hey, that's ok."

I was shaken up at this point, and my mother walked into the kitchen where I was sitting. I told him no thank you. He seemed disappointed that I'd turned him down. After I thought about it, it seemed as though he had the impression that I should have been a willing participant. As if someone had told him I'd be easy.

I told my mom what happened, and she was disgusted. But no one called the police. I mean, this was 1981, no one really thought about doing that back then. But, what if Mr. Football hadn't been completely honest with me? What if he had just invited me to a cool party and never mentioned the gang bang?

What if this popular guy had lured me there, knowing he and his buddies were going to have a little fun with a 12 year-old girl?

I was innocent, clueless. I had no idea that something as sinister as a gang-bang was even possible. What if I had gone and been raped?

In 1981, would I have been blamed? Should I have known better than to go to a party with older boys? Should I have automatically expected something horrible would have happened to me?

No. I was young, innocent, naïve. I was sheltered, and never once thought that I could have been raped by an entire football team!

And yet, an 11-year-old girl is being blamed, and being scolded by people who don't even know her, for failing to understand that this might happen to her. And she's being blamed for going back.

Perhaps her life was threatened, or the lives of her family members. She might have been intimidated by these big guys. Have you seen the pictures of them? They're huge. No one knows yet why she went back. But most importantly, she was never legally able to consent to any kind of sex. Ever.

In Texas, the legal age of consent is 17. The men who were 17 and older knew they could get into serious trouble if word got out, or at least should have known. What the hell were these guys thinking, gang-raping a child?

And she is just that: a child.

The oldest guy who did this is 27. Words cannot describe what I think of this sick, deranged jerk. All of them, sick. Disgusting, inhuman. There is absolutely no excuse for what they did, and they should all be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

No child, no matter her life conditions, her family situation, her ethnicity or economic status, should ever be blamed for being a victim. In fact, no female should ever be blamed for being a victim of sexual assault.

When I was 24, I was raped by an ex-boyfriend. He would certainly beg to differ on the term, but rape is rape. I told him no, he did it to me anyway. After it was over, I showered for a long time. I felt dirty, filthy, violated. I also felt numb. No, he didn't hold a gun to my head or threaten to beat me. But he forced his way with me and I felt powerless against it.

He showered after I did. And when he emerged from the shower, wearing a bathrobe, he was drying his hair with a towel. His whole demeanor was smug, as if he'd taught me a lesson.

"So, you wann fuck again? Since I know how much you like it." He smiled cryptically, and I huddled into the sofa, with my big red dictionary open in my lap.

"No," I muttered humiliated and angry.

He shrugged his shoulders and walked into the bedroom to get dressed. It was his birthday.

I never told anyone but his youngest brother. I knew, that because I was living with him still, that I wouldn't be heard. No one would believe that I'd been raped. In fact, I knew that I'd be accused of trying to ruin his life. His family hated me, except for his youngest brother. He is the only person I told for years.

My point is, that we, as a society, have a habit of blaming the victim, of telling the victim she should have known better, that she should have done more to prevent the rape from happening.

What if this had happened to your daughter? What if your daughter was innocent about gang-banging and gang rape? What if your daughter was just so excited to be noticed by a popular boy that she didn't consider the danger?

I always suspected who gave that football player my phone number. There was only one person I knew in school who had it, and she had decided she no longer liked me. She had become viciously mean to me. Soon after this happened, though, she moved away, and I began making more friends.

It was a hard year for me, but I adjusted, and I am thankful that I didn't accept that party invitation.

Am I Doing Enough For Her?

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 04:07:00 +0000

Every night, when I put my now 18-month-old daughter to sleep, I walk away wondering if I've done enough for her. It's not a sharp feeling. It's more like a gnawing, gut wrenching self-doubt where I analyze every little thing I've done throughout the day.

Did I give her enough attention? Did I give her enough freedom? In giving her a taste of independence, did I risk her safety? Do I talk to her enough? Am I reading to her enough? Should I read to her more...even if she won't sit still long enough to get through one or two pages?

Have I held her long enough, have I let her run enough, did she get enough sun today? Did she eat enough? Will those two waffle fries I let her eat turn her into a junk food junkie?

I often get the urge to awaken her to tell her how much I love her. To ask her what she needs from me, and let her know, in no uncertain terms, that I will always be here for her. No matter what. I have this driving need to make her understand that I will never abandon her, that I will do anything to make her strong, independent and, yes, a productive member of society.

I do my best not to worry. I tend to be a relaxed mama. I let my little girl do her thing with minimal interference. There are times she pushes my buttons, though. She knows she's not supposed to get up on the table. She knows she's not allowed to play with the computer. She knows mommy and daddy don't like it when she grabs things off the table. She does it all anyway...multiple times a day. She challenges us. When we catch her doing something naughty, she'll look up at us, smile, and say, "hiiieee!"

It's a game for her, and no matter how much I frown and tell her firmly that she's not supposed to do it, she goes right back to it five minutes later. And even though I sigh and get frustrated, I know I wouldn't have it any other way.

She's only 18 months, she's still figuring things out.

She understands that "down" means "down." When she sees the cat on the table, she will point down with both hands and say, "down, down, down." And when her dad or I take the cat off the table, she will smile and run off, content that her new words have power.

She doesn't like being in her high chair for long. She wants to run around and play. When she points down and raises her eyebrows, she knows it means "down." I'll ask her, "Can you say, 'please?'" And she will happily rub her hand on her upper chest, the sign for "please."

I thank her for being polite, and let her down. At the store, she will want to get out of the cart seat so she can push the cart herself. Sometimes I let her. If she's too cranky or wound up, though, I tell her, "No, not now." At first she will accept it. If she's cranky, though, she'll cry.

I'm lucky. Stella isn't much of a fusser. But when she does have a tantrum, her screams are piercing. In my deaf ear, the one without the implant, her high-pitched screams dent my ear drums, causing me physical discomfort. It's as if someone's poking my eardrum with a rubber-topped Q-Tip, pressing, nudging it, until she stops.

Which is two minutes, max. Like I said, I consider myself lucky. She could go on and on and on, wailing and screaming at frequencies high enough to scare away rats. But she doesn't. She gets it out and moves on.

I like that attitude.

But still, at night, after she's asleep, I'll look down at her beautiful face and wonder if I've done enough for her that day. If I've helped her learn her language, if I'm being too lazy and easy-going.

And then I think of that Tiger Mother, and I know. I think I'm doing just fine.

What a Hard Topic to Write About

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 23:11:00 +0000

This is a hard one to think about, especially if you're single or young.

Oral sex can now cause mouth cancer. If the man or woman has the HPV virus, you (the giver) can contract it. Left untreated, it can develop into mouth cancer.

Read the whole article here. http://news.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474979095725

Yoga Just Kicked My Fat Butt!

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 05:28:00 +0000

I've had an orphan yoga DVD since Christmas. It was meant to be a secret santa gift, but I found something better to give my recipient. I alway intended to take it back, but never got around to it. Tonight I said, "what the hell," and put that sucker in and played it.

Let me tell you something: yoga is deceptively simple. You'll see these slow-motion moves and think, "piece o' cake, totally doable." Thirty minutes later you're huffing and puffing wishing you could strangle all the calm and contented karma out of the host.

It kicked my ass.

I supposed it's a good thing. I am still having a hard time getting out to Curves because of James' weird schedule, so having a program I can do at home makes it harder for me to screw around and say, "I'll exercise when I can get outside!"

So now, I'm on this trip where I absolutely MUST buy accessories in order to achieve my weight-loss goal (you know women, we love our accessories!)

Things on my list to buy:

Yoga mat.

Hmm, which color should I pick?

Latex exercise bands

I like that this set is interchangeable.

An ab wheel exerciser

Perfect for working the abs and upper thigh muscles.

I've had items like these before and loved working out with him. Maybe I'll finally make headway with my weight loss.

Social Security at a Glance

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:46:00 +0000

You don't have to end up like this when figuring out your
Social Security Benefits.

We all want to know what we can and can't do in terms a social security. It can sometimes be confusing to figure out how you qualify for receiving it. The following article offers up a snapshot of benefits, along with an earnings ceiling for those currently on it.

Social Security Retirement Benefits
In the midst of the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act. This law, enacted in 1935, created a form of insurance for retired workers. The intention was to give retired persons a safety net for financial security. The Social Security Administration calculates your benefit amount based on the number of years and amount of taxes you've paid. Retirement benefits are available to individuals aged 62 and over.

Proof of Residency
The Social Security Administration requires you to submit documents via mail or in person at your local Social Security office. Documents you must include are your Social Security Number, proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency, a birth certificate, the previous year's W-2 forms and military discharge papers, if applicable.
Read more here: Social Security Retirement Benefits

Completely Fondue of You!

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 06:41:00 +0000

The Yin and Yang chocolate dessert.

The Melting Pot is, by far, the best fondue restaurant the Dallas area has to offer. The establishment has won Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence every year from 2004-2009. If this doesn't convince you to give it a whirl, I don't know what will. When you do try it, be prepared. With each bite of rich, creamy, cheesy fondue, your mouth will experience an explosion of flavors. In other words, get ready for a major foodgasm.

A word of advice: eat light throughout the day because this fondue joint offers up a four-course meal: the Big Night Out. This menu choice is the most bang for your buck. Seriously, if you get this particular menu choice, you will have to be rolled out after completing the last course.

Another tip: make a reservation, especially on the weekends. This place is so popular that you could be waiting for a table until the crumbs on the floor start to look appetizing. So, come hungry and with reservation in hand. Want to read more? Click here.

The Melting Pot

Neighborhood: North Dallas

I Am Fat - Still

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 06:36:00 +0000

Seven months ago I posted here that I was going to dedicate my life to losing the fat. Well, um, that hasn't exactly happened, and I feel like I've let myself down.

Life happened. I had a baby to care for alone for two months. I had to pack and move. Our new neighborhood isn't walkable, and all the stores are miles away. We live on a busy street with lousy sidewalks.

I gained about 15lbs after I moved back to Texas. I pushed me over 200lbs and it sucks.

So I told James back in November that I was joining Curves. He gave me his blessing and there I went.

And then our car went. For over one month I was under orders to drive as little as possible because our old car could leave me stranded at any time. It actually did on one occasion, and I was stranded at a Target for two hours before I was able to get my father-in-law to come get me.

And so, naturally, I haven't gone to Curves in over a month...until today. Oh glorious day!

We got a new car on Friday and I now have the green light to actually go places! Yippee!

And oh, my aching back!

My OCI is acting up and my back is hurting like a mofo, but that's alright. I'll get better. As long as I keep consistent and stay with it, I am confident I'll finally get down to a decent size.

My health and life depend on it. I do not want to be one of those women other people look at and say, "I never want to look like her." I probably am right now, but that's going to change. I'm not spending $40 a month just to keep sitting on my corpulent fundament.

My goal is to lose 5lbs a month - 25lbs by June, which I think is perfectly reasonable. Who knows, I might actually surprise myself.

So, peeps, give it up for Ms. Sugar Booty again. Let's see how it goes this time.

I will look this good again!

Decorate Your Rental with Flair

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 03:03:00 +0000

Decorating a rental space may seem like a daunting task. Why create a homey environment for a place you don't even own? You may not have a lot of money to spend and feel stuck. You're not alone in feeling that way. With today's economy, record numbers of Americans are giving up their mortgages, going under, or simply selling and downsizing.

Patrick Killelea, of the real estate forum, Patrick.net, suggests that it is actually cheaper for folks to rent rather than buy for now. With that in mind, how can one go from big and roomy to small and cozy without overwhelming the space? What if you have no furniture and have to start all over with little or no money? How can you optimize what you have to create the most inviting and "homey" feel for your rental home? These tips will help you get started on the road to decorating your home on a budget.

Look for discarded wood furniture in alleys and curbs. You'd be surprised at the good quality items people just throw out. If the "bones" of the piece are good, refinishing and re-upholstering can...

Want to read more? Click here.

Zesty, Crunchy Cowboy Candy

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 22:14:00 +0000

My delicious, homemade cowboy candy is a sure hit for the Super Bowl!

In honor of Dallas' first ever hosting of the Super Bowl, I've tweaked an old favorite to make it more festive. This is a great winter treat, and you can change it up a bit to suit your own preferences.

All you need are some jarred jalepenos, some cranberries, an orange, a cinnamon stick and a few other ingredients and you're half-way there.

Read on for the full recipe and instructions. Zesty, Crunchy Cowboy Candy

Christmas Spirit

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 19:56:00 +0000

We're a little late getting into the Christmas spirit over here. No, I don't mean emotionally. I've been anticipating the holiday for months. I mean, Christmas spirit in terms of decorations. My sister-in-law gave us one of her trees her family no longer uses. We just put it up a few days ago. It isn't completely decorated yet, but we're going to finish before the big day! (hopefully).

Stella, thankfully, hasn't shown much interest in the ornaments or tree. Once we get more decorations on, let's hope that disinterest lasts!

In the meantime, here's a photo of my little girl's new Christmas dress. She wanted the camera. Every time I whip out the camera, she reaches for it. When I don't let her have it, this is what happens:

I was so tickled with this photo I nearly put it on our photo cards! Oh, yeah. Cute dress, isn't it?

Christmas Stuffing

noreply@blogger.com (SugarBooty) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 06:31:00 +0000

If you're looking for a tasty stuffing recipe for the Holidays, have a gander at these 5 easy Christmas stuffing recipes. Prepare these for your family and friends and you'll be revered as a god in your own right.

Click here for more.