Beer Batter Onion Rings

My great-aunt Rene has a recipe for Beer Battered Onion Rings. Dad and I decided to try it yesterday.

We made the batter and let it set overnight. Today, we fried up the onion rings and they were delicious! I couldn't keep up with making the rings as fast as we were eating them in the beginning!

But - I do need to make a point for those of you who share recipes. If you change something in the recipe, update the recipe!!!!

The recipe says let the batter sit for at least 3 hours. Dad pointed out that Rene once said it's best to let it sit overnight.

My mother use to do that! I would make something and it wouldn't be quite right and I would ask her. She would then tell me that she changed something. Oh, yeah, thanks for telling me! I'm using her recipe, written in her handwriting, but it's not right....geez woman!

So, if you change something, let the people know!

Anyways, the onion rings were incredible!

Mally is one happy dog!

Dad arrived today and Mally is so happy to see him!

I, too, am happy Dad is visiting. I earned Daughter of the Day for picking out a good place to eat on the way home from the airport, so I'm happy with that!

Despite what some people think, I can actually cook, so tomorrow, hopefully, I will earn Daughter of the Day again when I make chili.

Unfortunately, the time will go by quickly, Dad is only here for a long weekend. But, we will make the most of it. He is already asleep on the couch.

Good night all!

Shoes Glorious Shoes!

As I said in an earlier post, my friend Jodi ordered a pair of shoes for me for Christmas. They arrived today! I'm so excited. I am known for my shoe collection.
I love them!
As you can see, I had to try them on immediately! They have some damn high heels! And a high platform! I love it!

I originally saw these shoes online about a year ago, in silver. I wanted a pair for Angie's wedding. Could not find them anywhere in the Atlanta area. Now, I own them in black, which will go with so many more outfits.

Can't wait to wear them!

Thank you Jodi!

And by the way Alex - if something should happen to me, you will inherit my shoe collection.

Anti-Valentine

Those of you that know me well, you know that I hate Valentine's day.

Yes, it is because I am single. Ironically, the years that I have been in a relationship, Valentine's day was worse than being single.

I am a hopeless romantic at heart. Over the years, I have come to call February 14th "Evil Day".

As Evil Day approaches, I do a few things to prepare myself. This coming week, I will be watching horror flicks. The Shining and the Exorcists are good stand by's.

On Evil Day itself, I will wear all black. My best friend back home, Angie, wears all black also. She hates the day as much as I do, and we show solidarity by wearing all black.

The other thing I do, and have done for the last 7 or 8 years, is create a "mixed tape" for myself. Angie receives a copy of it each year also. It is called "Anti-Valentines CD".

Side note - last years CD did not go out until this year. Since we were planning Angie's wedding, it didn't seem appropriate to send her a copy.

Some of the songs are cheeky fun songs that just 'dis' on love in general. Some songs are about true broken hearts.

This year, Angie's daughter - my "love child" Alex, also received a copy, of both last year's and this year's CD. Alex is now 16, and Angie and I both feel she is ready to learn about love and it's ups and more importantly, it's downs. The child has been through a few, and maybe these CD's will help in the future.

Tonight, Angie and Alex received their copies. Through Facebook, I got a smiley face, so I assume she liked it!

So - if you hate Valentine's day like me - pull out your black clothing and put together your own mixed CD of anti-valentine's day songs!

Retired Racers....

I have seen this picture on Facebook a few times and just felt the need to share. I think it is way too cute.

Yes, this is the life of a retired racing greyhound.

There is an ad tonight during the Superbowl for Skechers that features Greyhounds. There is a bit of controversy surrounding the ad. At this point, I won't go into my position on Greyhound Racing, but it's awesome to see greyhounds featured in an ad that will be seen by so many people!

Just like the greyhound above, I have a feeling that my Mally will sleep through the whole thing.

THUNDERSNOW

I live in Georgia now, but I grew up in Nebraska. I didn't mind the snow and cold, but I hated shoveling. When I lived there - I still lived with my parents, and Dad wouldn't buy a snow blower!

The one weather phenomena I loved was Thundersnow. When it was a thunder storm and snowing at the same time. Yesterday, when I was talking to my dad back home, he said the weatherman was predicting thundersnow for this weekend. I am so jealous!

I don't know if it is still in the forecast, but the midwest is due to get hit with a nasty snow storm. I hope everyone is ok during the storm - but if anyone gets thundersnow - think of me! I love thundersnow!

I am WOMAN!

Here me ROAR!

As many of you know, I am fiercely independent. I have lived on my own for many years. Which, means I have learned to do simple home repairs.

Today, I fixed my toilet. The chain for the flapper broke. Yes that is a very simple repair, in most cases. Well, the toilets in this house have a plastic "chain". Not so simple. And it broke off at the flapper.

So, I had to replace the flapper. I purchased one with a real chain, not that dang plastic strip. And smooth as silk, replaced the flapper, reattached the chain, adjusted it and it works!

I just had to brag a bit about myself!

How Old Does Google Think You Are?

I've been hearing some about Google predicting people's age by their on-line activities. Well, I decided to try it myself.

Here is the result:

Age: 18-24

Gender: Female

If you would like to try it yourself here is the link:

http://gawker.com/5879895/how-old-does-google-think-you-are

Personally - I am liking Google's result!

What is your new adopted Greyhound thinking?

What is your new adopted Greyhound thinking?

This breed has never been asked to do anything for itself, make any
decisions or answer any questions. It has been waited on, paw and
tail. The only prohibition in a racing Greyhound's life is not to
get into a fight -- or eat certain stuff in the turnout pen.

Let us review a little. From weaning until you go away for
schooling, at probably a year and a half, you eat, grow and run
around with your siblings. When you go away to begin your racing
career, you get your own "apartment," in a large housing
development. No one is allowed in your bed but you, and when you are
in there, no one can touch you, without plenty of warning.

Someone hears a vehicle drive up, or the kennel door being unlocked.
The light switches are flipped on. The loud mouths in residence,
and there always are some, begin to bark or howl. You are wide
awake by the time the human opens your door to turn you out. A
Greyhound has never been touched while he was asleep.

You eat when you are fed, usually on a strict schedule. No one asks
if you are hungry or what you want to eat. You are never told not
to eat any food within your reach. No one ever touches your bowl
while you are eating. You are not to be disturbed because it is
important you clean your plate.

You are not asked if you have to "go outside." You are placed in a
turn out pen and it isn't long before you get the idea of what you
are supposed to do while you are out there. Unless you really get
out of hand, you may chase, rough house and put your feet on
everyone and everything else. The only humans you know are
the "waiters" who feed you, and the "restroom attendants" who turn
you out to go to the bathroom. Respect people? Surely you jest.

No one comes into or goes out of your kennel without your knowledge.
You are all-seeing and all-knowing. There are no surprises, day in
and day out. The only thing it is ever hoped you will do is win,
place or show, and that you don't have much control over. It is in
your blood, it is in your heart, it is in your fate-- or it is not.

And when it is not, then suddenly you are expected to be a
civilized person in a fur coat. But people don't realize you may not
even speak English. Some of you don't even know your names, because
you didn't need to. You were not asked or told to do anything as
an individual; you were always part of the "condo association"; the
sorority or fraternity and everyone did everything together, as a
group or pack. The only time you did anything as an individual is
when you schooled or raced, and even then, You Were Not Alone.

Suddenly, he is expected to behave himself in places he's never
been taught how to act. He is expected to take responsibility for
saying when he needs to go outside, to come when he is called, not
to get on some or all of the furniture, and to not eat food off
counters and tables. He is dropped into a world that is not his, and
totally without warning, at that.

Almost everything he does is wrong. Suddenly he is a minority. Now
he is just a pet. He is unemployed, in a place where people expect
him to know the rules and the schedule, even when there aren't any.
(How many times have you heard someone say, "He won't tell me when
he has to go out." What kind of schedule is that?) Have you heard
the joke about the dog who says, "My name is No-No Bad Dog. What's
yours?" To me that is not even funny. All the protective barriers
are gone.

There is no more warning before something happens. There is no
more strength in numbers. He wakes up with a monster human face two
inches from his. (With some people's breath, this could scare
Godzilla.) Why should he not, believe that this "someone," who has
crept up on him, isn't going to eat him for lunch? (I really do
have to ask you ladies to consider how you would react if someone
you barely knew crawled up on you while you were asleep?) No, I will
not ask for any male input.)

Now he is left alone, for the first time in his life, in a strange
place, with no idea of what will happen or how long it will be
before someone comes to him again. If he is not crated, he may go
though walls, windows or over fences, desperately seeking something
familiar, something with which to reconnect his life. If he does
get free, he will find the familiarity, within himself: the
adrenaline high, the wind in his ears, the blood pulsing and racing
though his heart once again--until he crashes into a car.

Often, the first contact with his new family is punishment,
something he's never had before, something he doesn't understand
now, especially in the middle of the rest of the chaos. And worst
of all, what are the most common human reactions to misbehavior? We
live in a violent society, where the answer to any irritation is a
slap, punch, kick, whip, or rub your nose in it. Under these
circumstances, sometimes I think any successful adoption is a
miracle.

He is, in effect, expected to have all the manners of at least a
six-year old child. But, how many of you would leave an unfamiliar
six-year old human alone and loose in your home for hours at a time
and not expect to find who knows what when you got back? Consider
that if you did, you could be brought up on charges of child abuse,
neglect and endangerment. Yet, people do this to Greyhounds and
this is often the reason for so many returns.

How many dogs have been returned because they did not know how to
tell the adopter when they had to go out? How many for jumping on
people, getting on furniture, counter surfing, separation anxiety,
or defensive actions due to being startled or hurt (aka growling or
biting)? So, let's understand: Sometimes it isn't the dog's "fault"
he cannot fit in. He is not equipped with the social skills of a six-
year old human but you can teach him. With love."

~From Kathleen Gilley~

I have read this before and wanted to share this. It is so true.

The first greyhound I had, Gemini, was straight off the track. He was also the first dog I ever had. It was a joy and a challenge to train him. I have since had 4 greyhound and have fostered many more. Greyhounds are quick to learn and want to please.

Now that I know things, the joy of watching a greyhound learn that carpet is comfortable is so much fun. Teaching one how to navigate stairs is worthwhile, but frustrating. Watching one learn what a mirror is, well that is just hilarious. Watching them develop their personalities outside of the kennel is one of the greatest pleasures I've had.

Unfortunately, I am not in a position to foster greyhounds right now. But as soon as I can, I will be fostering again! The joy from fostering is so worth everything and the things the dogs taught me were priceless.

Home Owner's Associations

Tonight, I am getting ready for my community's Annual Home Owner's Association meeting. I am currently President of the Board.

Our community does not have the great of participation in the HOA. Mostly, people only get involved when they are cited for a violation of the covenants, then they complain, we (the board) explain, and hopefully work it out, then they go about their lives again.

I hear of communities that have great participation, and I am jealous. I have been on the board for 4 years now. Mainly because we can't get a quorum (10% of the eligible voters) to attend an annual meeting, so the current board remains.

What I am telling you is that if you live in a community that has an HOA, please get involved. Go to meetings, see what your board is doing, ask questions. You are paying dues, know what your money is being used for.

The board's primary responsibility is to enforce the covenants. The covenants are there to protect the homes and property values. The board must act in a fiduciary manner with HOA's money.

Being on the board is a thankless job. I've been verbally accosted, yelled at, told to go to hell, had lawsuits threaten against me personally, and may be a hero to some in the neighborhood and the most hated in the neighborhood at the same time. But, it is important to me, because this is where I live, my home, and I want to be involved. If not as a board member, I will still be involved in the HOA. If I move to a different place, I will do the same.

Please, be involved in where you live, your home, your community.