Tuesday, May 6, 2008

My Research Paper

I just got my grade back on my research paper and I got 100%!!!

I'm so happy, I really was resigned to maybe getting a B on the paper. I never dreamed of a perfect score!!

My professor said my paper was well-written, comprehensive, organized and fair. He said I presented complete information and raised interesting points with my research. And that my APA formatting and sources were "excellent"!

I am over the moon!

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Eat This

White Chicken Chili

Adjust the heat in this dish by adding the minced ribs and seeds from the jalapeño as directed in step 6. If Anaheim chiles cannot be found, add an additional poblano and jalapeño to the chili. This dish can also be successfully made by substituting chicken thighs for the chicken breasts. If using thighs, increase the cooking time in step 4 to about 40 minutes. Serve chili with sour cream, tortilla chips, and lime wedges.

Serves 6 to 8 3 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken breast halves , trimmed of excess fat and skin
Table salt and ground black pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 medium jalapeño chiles
3 poblano chiles (medium), stemmed, seeded, and cut into large pieces
3 Anaheim chile peppers (medium), stemmed, seeded, and cut into large pieces
2 medium onions , cut into large pieces (2 cups)
6 medium cloves garlic , minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 tablespoons)
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 (14.5-ounce) cans cannellini beans , drained and rinsed
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 2 to 3 limes)
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro leaves
4 scallions , white and light green parts sliced thin

1. Season chicken liberally with salt and pepper. Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add chicken, skin side down, and cook without moving until skin is golden brown, about 4 minutes. Using tongs, turn chicken and lightly brown on other side, about 2 minutes. Transfer chicken to plate; remove and discard skin.

2. While chicken is browning, remove and discard ribs and seeds from 2 jalapeños; mince flesh. In food processor, process half of poblano chiles, Anaheim chiles, and onions until consistency of chunky salsa, ten to twelve 1-second pulses, scraping down sides of workbowl halfway through. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Repeat with remaining poblano chiles, Anaheim chiles, and onions; combine with first batch (do not wash food processor blade or workbowl).

3. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from Dutch oven (adding additional vegetable oil if necessary) and reduce heat to medium. Add minced jalapeños, chile-onion mixture, garlic, cumin, coriander, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften, about 10 minutes. Remove pot from heat.

4. Transfer 1 cup cooked vegetable mixture to now-empty food processor workbowl. Add 1 cup beans and 1 cup broth and process until smooth, about 20 seconds. Add vegetable-bean mixture, remaining 2 cups broth, and chicken breasts to Dutch oven and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until chicken registers 160 degrees (175 degrees if using thighs) on instant-read thermometer, 15 to 20 minutes (40 minutes if using thighs).

5. Using tongs, transfer chicken to large plate. Stir in remaining beans and continue to simmer, uncovered, until beans are heated through and chili has thickened slightly, about 10 minutes.

6. Mince remaining jalapeño, reserving and mincing ribs and seeds (see note above), and set aside. When cool enough to handle, shred chicken into bite-sized pieces, discarding bones. Stir shredded chicken, lime juice, cilantro, scallions, and remaining minced jalapeño (with seeds if desired) into chili and return to simmer. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper and serve.

Per Serving:
Cal 370; Fat 6 g; Sat fat 1 g; Chol 115 mg; Carb 25 g; Protein 52 g; Fiber 7 g; Sodium 710 mg

From America's Test Kitchen

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Out of Shape

Yesterday evening I took the kids to play with the Frisbee for a while. We threw it around the park, ran after it, laughed and had a general fun time. Then I spotted a trail that led into the woods so we followed the trail. It was kind of neat, it went to a creek and we saw a giant crane fly away as we approached. I thought that was not enough exercise for the day--the walking, running, frolicking, playing--so I promises the kids tennis once Jeff got home.

We get to the tennis courts, have a blast playing tennis! And I was playing pretty good I must say--not Justine Henin good but good enough none the less. We played for an hour before we came home to make dinner.

As the evening went on I realized I hurt more and more. My legs, my arms, my ankles...all over I was sore. I woke up this morning super exhausted and super sore! Seriously? Just the little exercise I got yesterday made me this sore?!

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Monday, April 28, 2008

Term Paper Complete!!

I have finally finished my term paper! Whoohoo--I am so so so done learning about the craziness that is abstinence-only education! NOTHING I read confirmed that the program is working--NOTHING. There is no difference in the number of children who choose to have sex and who choose to abstain based on which program they were taught. Except the children who were taught abstinence only had limited knowledge of sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy! So anyway, I'm done being subjective about it!! It's a ridiculous program that needs to go so we can begin giving our adolescents comprehensive, accurate information about sexual behaviors!!

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Thursday, April 24, 2008

Fall 2008--Update

I was able to log on right on time this morning to choose my classes. I still almost signed up for three classes. Then I thought that would make me a glutton for punnishment considering I've been saying all semester how I can't get it together. So I stuck with two.

I am taking U.S. History since 1877 and Human Development. I have been trying to get in the U.S. History class since I first enrolled a few semesters ago! It fills quickly because everyone needs it and everyone wants to do it online since it is regergitation. The Human Development class is one of the concentration classes I need.

It's all good!

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Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Fall 2008

Thursday I get to register for Fall classes. I am hoping to get on quick enough to get the classes I really want. The classes fill up quickly. I'm only taking two in the Fall. I stressed myself out way too much this semester with the 4 and dropping two of those made me feel like a loser and threw off my entire semester.

I'm hoping to get:

U.S. History Since 1877
Human Development

Or my alternates:

Introduction to Philosophy
Social Problems

One of these semesters I'm going to have to take a public speaking class...ask me how much I'm looking forward to that one!

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Finally! After 10 Long, Expensive Years

I am no longer the parent of a child IN diapers!

Yes, you read that right. I've been buying and changing diapers for 10 Years. I've been a mom for 12 years and have 4 kids. Once one child got out of diapers another came along! In the last 12 years there has only been 2 of those years diaper free.

So on this day, Earth Day April 22, 2008 when I declair my diaper independence I would like to reflect on the cost we have likely spent. Let's do the math. 1 huge pack of diapers a week for 10 years at $20 per pack. There are 52 weeks in a year so 52 x 10 = 520. That's 1 huge pack of diapers a week for 520 weeks. $20 x 520 = $10, 400. So in diapers alone, we have spent an estimated $10, 400 in the last 10 years on diapers. That's a nice chunk of change. Perhaps Pampers should send us a thank you card.

Now let's think about the baby wipes. They are less expensive but we purhcased them once a week as well. So a wipes refill is about $7. So $7 x 520 = $3, 640. We have spent an estimated $3, 640 in the last 10 years on baby wipes.

Which brings our, estimated, total to $14, 040 on diapering, not including the manual labor.

Now for the perspective...

$14, 040 is the cost of a nice used car--or a not-so-nice new car.
$14,040 is a good down payment on an average home in our area--a great down payment on a home in the city.
$14,040 is the cost of a few awesome vacations

I suppose it goes without saying that I am thrilled to be through with diapers. I'll be waiting for our thank you from Pampers!

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Thursday, April 17, 2008

I Messed UP!!!

I was looking through my exams in Child Development and I saw that I MISSED an EXAM on April 2nd. I was making an A in the class--a high A...I have no idea how this is going to hurt my grade! I am so mad at myself!! I could scream.

How did I miss a test?

Seriously, something is way up with me this semester and I cannot get it together!!

:(

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Sunday, April 13, 2008

New Forum

Jeff and I have been looking for an online weight loss/fitness forum that is both inviting and family-friendly. And we haven't had much luck really. We have come across so many forums that have so many members that they are reduced to questions and answers without any sense of community or personal interaction and other forums that are as unfamily friendly as you can get with obnoxious trolls and forums that are so boring with no features there's nothing to do.

What to do? We made our own! Right now it's very basic--no need to pay for a large forum and server space if there's limited membership but we will expand it as needed, if a need ever arises.

Finish Line Fitness Forum is our new "baby". It is for both men and women who are looking to lose weight or become physically fit by adopting a healthy lifestyle.

We hope to see you there.

http://finishlinefitness.bigforumpro.com/index.htm

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Saturday, April 12, 2008

Outside!

I just want to get outside and our weather is not cooperating!

We had planned today to take the kids to play tennis then we were going to walk on the fitness trail at the park. Neither happened because it was snowing!

This spring has hardly been spring. It's been either too rainy or too cold and windy to get outside. They are saying next week should be nicer and more spring-like--let's cross our fingers!

We are all stir-crazy.

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Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Crimson and Blue


Far above the golden valley
Glorious to view,
Stands our noble Alma Mater,
Towering toward the blue.

Lift the chorus ever onward,
Crimson and the blue
Hail to thee, our Alma Mater
Hail to old KU.


Far above the distant humming
Of the busy town,
Reared against the dome of heaven.
Looks she proudly down.

Lift the chorus ever onward,
Crimson and the blue
Hail to thee, our Alma Mater
Hail to old KU.

Greet we then our foster mother,
Noble friend so true,
We will ever sing her praises,
Hail to old KU.

Lift the chorus ever onward,
Crimson and the blue
Hail to thee, our Alma Mater
Hail to old KU.


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Monday, April 7, 2008

GO KU!!!






Rock.....Chalk.....Jayhawk.....KU


Rock.....Chalk.....Jayhawk.....KU


Rock.....Chalk.....Jayhawk.....KU


Rock.....Chalk.....Jayhawk.....KU


Rock.....Chalk.....Jayhawk.....KU






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Friday, April 4, 2008

The George W. Bush Loyalty Quiz

Click: 10 Questions to Test Your Allegiance to President Bush


My Results:

Your score is 0 on a scale of 1 to 10. You hate Bush with a writhing passion. You think he is an idiot, a liar, and a warmonger who has been an utterly incompetent, miserable failure of a president. Nothing would give you greater pleasure than seeing him impeached and run out of the White House, except maybe seeing him dragged away in handcuffs.


Yep, this is pretty gosh darned true!!

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By Golly...



...I think I've got it! What do you think of the layout?


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Thursday, April 3, 2008

Changes

under construction

I'm working on finding a new template for my blog...I can't seem to find that PERFECT one, yet. So things are a bit messy here!

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