getting to be a habit

Sorry to go a month again. Tammie reminded me at the wedding to post. I'm sure if I had cute grandson pictures to post I would more often. (Lyn and Aaron, that was not a dig or a hint. I'm fairly happy with my 35 surrogates right now.)

I was so glad to see Jennifer at the wedding. Last time I actually saw her was probably at College Church during/after a "dinner on the grounds" when a couple of someone's had wet hair for some reason. I believe that caused a barrage of postcards for a few years. That is still a good chuckle.

The wedding of one of the wetheads was certainly beautiful. I especially liked the location and the music choices and everyone looked lovely. Even Nate looked nice in his kilt hose. That bagpiper was a pip!

Lyn and Aaron are under the tremendous stress that only occurs in college. Lyn has a demanding Bible prof - which she shares with Aaron - an equally demanding and apparently clueless graphics prof - and it just isn't gee-hawing with her unrelenting art schedule. I am excited to see the six foot wings next semester. Being the "only" in your major does have perks.

Aaron has had stress to the eyeballs, too. Wish someone who's reading this would ride to Dallas with him tomorrow. Jen, think your mom might want a ride for the weekend? He was supposed to speak at the Comicon, don't know if that is still happening since his registration was late. Next week is his symposium. This does determine whether he graduates, so please keep him in thoughts and though I hesitate to ask for prayers for grades, please pray for that, too. His personal life seems smoother this week, but I think it must be lonely when your best friends have started dating each other.

Second grade is still great. It is a bunch of work, but I'm enjoying it. However, I am pretty much too tired to read and even too tired to knit much. I find I am keeping my strength up enough to eat chocolate.

It is almost time to make the twice per winter hot chocolate "mix." If you've not had it, you muuusssst! Whip one pint whipping cream till very thick. While whipping, add a scant 1/2 tsp finely ground salt. Melt between 6 and 12 ounces of your favorite chocolate. I usually do semi-sweet chocolate chips because it is easy, but I also like to use Lindt's 85% cocoa bar. (That one is a bit on the bitter side for lots of folks.) Blend the two together and store in a tightly closed container (like a tupperware) in the fridge for up to a month. When you are ready for hot chocolate, heat a 1/2 cup of milk and then add about 3 heaping tablespoons of your chocolately goodness. Zap it again in the microwave for a minute to be really hot. The stuff is especially good right off a spoon - skip the milk and the heat.

How about the election? I have some good friends who are Democrats. One is especially over the moon. One however is afraid our governor is about to go to Washington as a cabinet appointee (the man has been lobbying for it for months) but that will mean that her husband will be out of a job. The republicans have taken over the house and senate in Tennessee - first time since reconstruction - and he is probably going to lose his political appointment. That will probably mean they will lose their house.

Another aspect of the election is that the price of ammo has already gone up. Suppliers are charging 125 to 500% more than they did a week ago to replace ammo in stores. Mr. Obama may claim to support the second amendment, but his campaign promise pre-debates was to just do the same to gun manufacturers as he wants to do to coal-fired plants. Just tax them all out of business.

A dear friend commented that she was frustrated living around a bunch of rednecks. My concern is that constitutionalists whether they be rednecks, blue collars, or professionals, will rise up and defend the constitution if it is abridged (I don't mean amended) and the rights of the people trampled in the process. The Supremes have sung on the 2nd Amendment just this year; we'd best not have to hear anything about the First being curtailed or some folks are going to get hot under the collar like they did in West Virginia during the miners' strikes when the term "redneck" got its start. End of history lesson, but look up early unionizing efforts if you are confused.

Almost 7:00. Ugly Betty time. I know...but that America just is the cutest! Scott has built a fire every night for nearly two weeks. I could ALMOST like cold weather. As long as I'm inside. And I don't have to walk the dog. Or go outside for wood. And it isn't raining. And I have chocolate. Or at least popcorn. And there is a good movie on. Oh well, spring is only 4 months away....