Health Care

I'm praying that the Senate Health Care bill does not pass. I do realize that something must be done about health care. I don't have a clue what. I just know that both bills are not the answer. How can they be? Mind, I'm no scholar on either bill. But how can a 1200+ page House of Representative bill truly help the uninsured, the underinsured, and the insured? It's not simple enough to help. And how do the compromises on the Senate bill help us? I truly want to know how we, the American people, are going to pay for it?

Once again, I'm not a scholar on this subject. But I can see that it won't help anyone well. Please pray also that this won't pass and that a better solution will be sought.

Traditions

One of my favorite traditions of Christmas is receiving the letters, cards, and pictures from family and friends. I remember when I was young pouring over the letters and pictures my parents received from family and friends. Over the years, I got to know these people - what a treasure!

Now, as we have been a few places we have collected a few friends as well as family that we exchange letters and cards with each Christmas. I do so appreciate finding out how they are - their ups and downs over the year. As I prepared our picture this year, I looked at my children and asked when did they grow to be so tall? (Sounds of Fiddler on the Roof?) It seems only yesterday they were little. I marvel how we all age (and just get better looking, right?!).

I hope all of you send a card or letter to those you have had contact with over the years. And send one to me.:o)

Popcorn Popping

I love popcorn! I share that love with one of my children. It's always frustrating to go to the cupboard and not find a bag to throw in the microwave. (Yes, it brings out the "grrrssss".)

A number of years ago, I learned the trick of microwave popcorn in a paper bag. If you don't know it - here it is: 1 brown paper bag, 1/4 c of unpopped popcorn, and microwave. I program the microwave for the "Regular Popcorn" setting and let it pop. Make sure you fold the open end of the bag closed at least twice before starting the microwave.

Lately, I haven't felt quite right about pre packaged microwave popcorn. Perhaps, all the media stories are finally infilitrating my psyche, I don't know. I've been making excuses for not buying microwaveable popcorn, much to the chagrin of my popcorn loving child.

Many of you know, I'm also very attached to Tupperware. Did you know that some of the Tupperware is made from bullet proof material? Well, I've been meaning to test that, not with bullets, but with popcorn. (I figure the popcorn popping is like bullets being shot off, wouldn't you agree?) I DID IT!!! And I'm happy to report that neither the popcorn nor the Tupperware let me down. (You should have seen my happy dance, then again perhaps not...)

I used a larger Vent N Serve, the large round one first, with butter and programmed the "Regular Popcorn" setting. Apparently, the microwave cannot sense the popcorn popping or not popping. So I burned my first batch (which I'm sure the birds are grateful for). Sometime in my past my brain had stored the fact that popcorn takes about 3 minutes to pop. I then programmed the microwave for 3 minutes and listened for the popping (you know 5 seconds between pops...). It worked. (Oh, and make sure you pop the vent or it will do it for you - talk about bullets.) Later in the week, I tried popping in my stack cooker (largest configuration) without any fat. That worked also.

Once again, I know there are those of you that are not partial to microwaves. Please just enjoy my joy in finding another way to enjoy popcorn.