No, You Am't!

This post is about those things our parents used to say to us that we swore we'd never say, but it's really hard not to.  Should we admit they were right?

Now that it's summer, most people are going crazy, thinking of fun things to do, enjoying vacation, soaking in some rays.  What am I doing?  Counting down the days until I can go back to work!  Just like when I was a kid, summer vacation really wasn't that fun because I longed to be back in school, this is how it is now.  I'm just not that nurturing type of mom who wants to spend every waking moment with my children.  I wish I was and I envy the women that are, but that's not me.  I love my kids to pieces, but absence makes the heart grow fonder!  It's just not in my genes to spend 16 hours a day telling a preschooler and a toddler to stop running, screaming, hitting each other, licking the walls, drinking water out of puddles, etc.  My mind is turning to mush in a hurry.  And it doesn't seem sensible to get a minimum wage job over the summer, because it would barely cover daycare.

Anyway, so lately my daughter yells at me (she's got that "I'm 4 going on 16" attitude) and she'll say "I AM!!!"  and I have yet to say it, but the first instinct I have is to say, "no you am't," which was a phrase my dad used on me quite a few times.  And I always wanted to never respond with, "because I said so" because kids really do need answers to many of their questions.  But it's hard.  I've said it.  Cause sometimes the why's are never-ending and I just don't have a good answer.

Then of course I've inherited the phrase, "if you push your brother again, I'm going to stick bamboo chutes under your fingernails and burn all your toys while you watch, tied to the swingset."

Okay, so that last one was not true, but it does sound like it'd be effective, right?

I'm sure you've all got phrases you inherited from your parents... want to share?

My Thoughts On: Immigration

Before I start this post, I have to first say, Dad if you are reading this, stop.  Let's just pretend we both agree and don't taint your opinion of me with further reading of this blog.  And thanks for helping me with the lawnmower tire!!

Okay, now onto my thoughts.  What sparked my idea to post about this now is that my husband got this survey to fill out for the republican party in the mail today.  It was asking about all the things that the Obama administration has "done wrong" and what he thinks the priorities should be for the Republican party in terms of 2010 elections.

One of the biggest things they talked about was immigration laws.  I just don't get it.  I know, I know, there's not enough resources or room for people to come to the United States.  But aren't we all immigrants?  Didn't we murder Native Americans and steal their land so that we can settle here?  We came from Europe, we came from Asia, Africa, etc. at different points in time in order to try to make a living in this new world.  (Of course the Africans didn't have much of a choice.)  So, why was it okay for our ancestors, but not Mexicans?  Why would we want to see fellow human beings, children, women living in huts with dirt floors, no ceilings, no plumbing?  Everyone deserves a chance at a better life.

So you're saying, "but they steal our resources!"  Well, Americans are living off the teat of the government at well.  Have you ever heard the term "Welfare Queen?"  I'm not saying welfare is bad, I'm just saying there are a lot of deadbeats who take advantage of it.

And our jobs?  Yeah, they work for cheap wages, but would you break your back at their jobs for their pay?  No!  Cause as Americans, some of us have become lazy and just expect the cash to flow in, never having broken a nail working in our lives.  There's a Mexican restaurant and a Chinese restaurant in our town that I am speaking of:  the same people are there working open to close and in most cases, these are owners.  They work ALL DAY EVERY DAY.  How many Americans are willing to do this for as little money as they are making.

I think this is getting long enough, so I will stop.  I'd like to see everything work out for the best because we were all immigrants at one point in time.  Or I guess the Mexicans can just start doing to the Americans what we did to the Native Americans... they can kill us and steal our land.

Panera Macaroni & Cheese Recipe (copycat)

I snagged this recipe from RecipeZaar.

SERVES 6 -8 

Change to: Servings US Metric

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Ingredients

• 12 ounces pasta shells
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 8 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups milk
• 6-8 ounces grated vermont white cheddar cheese
• 1 ounce grated American cheese (optional)
• 1 egg (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   Boil 2 oz of pasta shells. Slightly undercook the pasta. Set aside.

2. 2

   Microwave 4 tbs of butter with 8 tbs of flour for two minutes, stirring with a whisk after each minute.

3. 3

   Then slowly add 2 cups of milk, stirring with the whisk constantly.

4. 4

   Microwave the entire mixture for several minutes, stirring after each minute, until sauce thickens and takes on a matte finish. How many minutes will depend on the power of your microwave. (Mine took about 6 minutes).

5. 5

   Add grated Vermont white cheddar to sauce. The sauce should be hot enough that the cheese will melt as you stir. If not, you may add the cheese then microwave a little more.

6. 6

   For an extra creamy sauce, pour a small amount of the pre-cheese sauce into a separate bowl, add one egg and beat vigorously, then return the reserved sauce to the original sauce.

7. 7

   Add cheese to taste. I used an entire 8oz block.

8. 8

   Add a dash of grated American cheese (optional).

9. 9

   Combine pasta and sauce, then pour into a well-greased baking pan. The pasta will absorb some of the liquid, so don't worry if the mixture seems more liquid-y than the way you would normally serve pasta. I used a 9 by 9 inches pan.

10. 10

    Bake at 350 degrees covered for about 25 minutes or until bubbling and starting to become golden.