I've Become an Election Junkie

Ok, I admit I've become a little bit of an election junkie lately. But maybe that can be a good thing. With all the mud-slinging, it's hard to not just give up and say "what the heck!" But it is so important to be an informed voter -- so I'm including some of the more amusing -- and maybe a little educational -- parts of this year's election.

During the first debate between McCain and Obama (this was my first year of watching all the debates), McCain mentioned the website Citizens Against Government Waste. Well, that is one of my pet peeves -- politicians wasting my hard-earned tax money. I'm like Jeff Foxworthy -- if 10% is good enough for God -- it should be good enough for the government. But no, they have to take 30% or more -- and along with state tax, property tax, auto tax, Social Security, sales tax, and it goes on -- I barely get to keep half of what I make. So check out the website and sign up for emails to alert you about the Porkers of the Month. This month it's the head of the FCC who used our tax money to sponsor a race car -- that crashed in its first race. Check it out.

There is more than you can ever think of to look at on YouTube about the election. Some of the best:

• An Atlanta video "Why I'm Voting for Obama" -- Although the title can be misleading to some, this is a video made by some of the girls in Anna's small group at her church in Buckhead -- a must-see!
• Howard Stern show asks people in Harlem why they're voting for Obama
• Cute little 4-year-old says "vote"
• 2008 Candidate Girl Olympics -- this is pretty funny and bi-partisan -- Obama Girl vs McCain Girl -- this is the first in a series.
• Iraq War Vet message -- This is really good and gets you at the end.

In the Alabama State election, I didn't understand the amendment about the Rainy Day fund. This is an explanation from Voices for Alabama's Children, a PACT for the Dept. of Education, so I'm sure it's biased for the schools -- but since my husband is a teacher and our income depends on the county board of education being able to pay him -- I'm for it! Read about Amendment 1.

I still don't understand the Home Rule Amendment for Geneva County. I'm getting too many conflicting opinions. It may be a good thing -- but could lead to too much government telling property owners what to do.

Information about Alabama's election amendments at BallotPedia.org

And about the latest email going around about voting a straight ticket -- it's true for some states. Check it out on Snopes.

Here's another interesting website -- DonorSecrets.org. You can look up by zip code the names of people who have donated to presidential candidates this season.

Most importantly -- pray for this important election -- and VOTE on Tues., Nov. 4. Anna stood in line in Atlanta for 2 hours to vote early the other day -- and was told that was a good wait -- most have been 4 to 8 hours. It's a priviledge and honor most people around the world do not have. Plus, if your guy loses -- you can feel better by complaining for the next four years!

My Vacation at Home!

Well, my vacation is over! Stacy got home last night from taking his FFA group to the National Convention in Indianapolis. Four nights of having the house to myself and not cooking. Now my closet is nice and neat -- for a while anyway!

I spent the day shopping and doing errands on Fri. and took my mom (Nanny) and her friend Inez to the Olive Garden Fri. night. It was sooo good and I pigged out -- and even took enough home for dinner last night! I got some cute tops to wear to work at Penney's and Belk's -- but found the most things at Sears which I forget about because it's downtown. My feet hurt so bad that I bought some shoe pads for my boots!!!

Tonight I'm trying to catch up on some emails and Scattering Seeds details. I've got my care packages for church college students ready to mail and need to address some baby gift cards. Seems like everyone is either pregnant or having babies right now! And it's back to work tomorrow -- but I don't want to think about that now! We have to set up our Peanut Festival booth on Thurs. this week - plus I have a dental appointment Thurs. morning that may include a root canal -- and an Annual Meeting wrap up committee meeting -- and it's time for my next magazine to be worked on. Guess I am thinking about it!

The Litchield, MN, group gets in Sat. and I have my nephew Brian and his fiance Amanda's shower in Trussville on Sunday -- plus a Sister Cities BBQ that night. Back to business!

I have a new favorite author -- Jennifer Crusie. All of her characters are off-beat and a little wierd, but funny wierd! I just finished "Faking It" which was very good! Can't wait to read another one! And one of my long-time favorites is Dorothea Benton Frank, a great southern author. I just finished "Isle of Palms" -- her characters are funny and quirky also. One of the best I've read of hers is "Plantation".

I've also added to a "Wish List" on Amazon.com for possible Christmas gifts. Go to Amazon.com and click on "Wish List" on the top bar. Enter my email address (hatch@alaweb.com) and it should bring it up.

Peanut Butter Pie

Anna asked for my Peanut Butter Pie recipe yesterday, and I knew I'd forget. Actually it's Judy's recipe, and I stole it! So here it is . . . save me a piece! So good!

Peanut Butter Pie

1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese (or 1/2 a bar)
1/3 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 cup powdered sugar
9 oz. Cool Whip
Graham cracker pie crust

Soften cream cheese; mix with peanut butter and sugar with a fork until well blended. Fold in Cool Whip and pour into graham cracker crust. Refrigerate. (May be frozen)

Mid-Week Musings

I'm so excited now that we know Casey is having a girl! Her name will be Kate -- and now I can start shopping for her -- expected in March! Yes, I guess I really will be spoiling her! Everyone keeps telling me how great grandchildren are -- I can't wait!!

After the havoc and frenzy of Annual Meeting last Saturday, I've decided to take off two days this week. Annual Meeting is a lot of fun and I get to see and talk to so many people that I don't get to see anymore since I have a "secluded office" now instead of being front and center in the middle of the lobby -- but it is also very hectic. Now I'm the "bingo queen" I guess since I was the one who called out the numbers . . . you know, B5, 074. Ha! The people LOVED bingo and you could hear a pin drop when I started to call out numbers. It was so funny -- they would be looking up until I said the letter, then all their heads would drop searching to see if they could move that little window over! I also found out who the "professional" bingo players were -- who ever heard of "four corners"? I told them were were playing plain old across, up and down or diagonal bingo -- "and just one card per person please!"

So now I'm on my "holiday!" Stacy's off to Indianapolis to National Convention with his FFA group, so I have the house to myself and can catch up on some of those things I've put off -- like changing out the clothes in my closet, weeding the garden, and getting rid of some of the clutter on the bar in the kitchen -- and shopping! Maybe I'll get up in the attic and rummage in my grandmother's old leather trunk for the cute little baby clothes I saved for baby Kate! This cooler weather has given me new energy -- so glad the hot summer is over!!

Last night, my BFFs Ann and Judy and I took a "girls night out" and ate at David's Seafood in Enterprise. I had the fried catfish filets -- cooked perfectly -- with great cheese grits and onion rings. It was so much fun to be together eating out again -- we haven't done that in a long, long time. Ann is has been battling cancer for a long time now and is on chemo, so it was great that she felt like going out. We laughed and talked and promised to make this a regular thing. Life's too short not to spend time with your BFFs!

Has anyone but me noticed that the new buzz word is "global"? Every freaking thing is global now -- global warming, global economy, global hunger. Bugs me alot! So does this election whining. I want it over -- but it may be worse when it's over!

I've been in a slump lately -- so now I'm ready for a change! I've decided to color my hair again and have an appointment on Nov. 6! Maybe I'm crazy because everyone keeps telling me they love the color of my hair, but I just can't get used to seeing it in the mirror. Or maybe it's because I'm going to be a grandmother and don't want anyone to think I look old enough to be a grandmother! Anyway, if I don't like it I can always let it grow out again! And it's cheaper than redecorating! Maybe I'll redecorate something too! So glad I'm out of my slump!

Mom & Daughters Week

I had the pleasure of the company of my two daughters this past week and it has been so much fun! With one in north Alabama and the other in Atlanta, we don't get to do this much. A couple of years ago when I had the opportunity to attend a conference at the beach, Daughter #1 decided this would be "her" conference rather than letting dad go with me! So each year, she has come and I go to meetings and programs during the day and she lays out on the beach! Daughter #2 was always either in school or unable to get off work, but this year she went too and I had the company of both of my girls! They even put up with my snoring!

So I got to shop a little at night (at the outlet mall, my chance to shop at the Dress Barn). One night we ate at the Seagrove Village Market Cafe at Seagrove Beach. We discovered this little place a couple of years ago when vacationing at the beach and have eaten there every chance we get now. They have wonderful shrimp po-boy sandwiches and some of the best hushpuppies we've ever thad! Try it sometime -- it's on 30A where Seagrove and Seaside meet east of Destin, Florida.

Daughter #2 left early Fri. morning to get back for another beach trip with her roommate Savannah in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Casey and I shopped a little that afternoon and headed back to Hartford so I could help husband in the GCHS concession stand for the FFA (it was Homecoming). So busy -- I don't think the line ever let up -- and those kids loved the fries, cheese fries and chili cheese fries!!!

So yesterday, we took Daughter #1 back to her husband and went to the Auburn-Arkansas football game. It was definitely NOT a great day on the Plain! Auburn's offense -- if you can call it that -- is practically non-existent and the defense struggled. The special team did run a kickoff back for a touchdown!! But losing to Arkansas -- what a bummer!

Learning about Websites

This has been a busy week. I had a conference in Atlanta by Apogee Interactive, a leading provider of Internet-based software solutions for the energy industry and the company that designed and hosts our website at work http://www.wiregrass.coop/ -- and got to visit with daughter #2 Anna while there!

Anna, Zach and I ate at The Watershed in Decatur on Tues. night. The chef there, Scott Peacock, is originally from our hometown of Hartford and the food is wonderful. This was just my second time to eat there -- I had the barbecue chicken, corn and veggies -- and a fantastic Chocolate Praline Parfait for dessert that was to die for!!! The Watershed is a casual, trendy restaurant located in a refurbished service station and has an array of gourmet-caliber dishes that pay homage to the traditional Southern kitchen -- where Scott is from. Watershed is co-owned by Indigo Girl Emily Saliers.

The last night (Thurs.) the three of us ate at Maggiano's Little Italy in Buckhead. I had a Pesto Chicken Pasta that I never could have eaten all of but it was wonderful -- and the Tiramisu was fantastic. Now I need to start that exercise program again!

Anna and I got to get in a little shopping and pedicure before dinner. It was so fun to spend some time with her just having fun! It's pretty hectic when she comes home to visit - so this was great "girl time"!!!

I get to have that "girl time" with daughter #1 this next week when I have a conference at San Destin. Casey has decided this is "her conference" and has gone with me the past two years. While I have meetings, she gets to lounge on the beach and shop! Oh well, more good beach eating and I'll get in a little shopping too!

What I learned at the conference -- clean up our website (keep content above the fold) - how to get our videos to load faster (use YouTube) -- and that the new wave for web design is be cleaner and more simple to work with the mobile web. With so many now having I-Phones and Blackberries -- a website with too much content to load will take too long and will not be easily readable. Just check out google and netflix for "keeping it simple." Browsers don't care how "pretty" it is if the website isn't easily navigated. Can't believe how much has changed in such a short period of time as far as the Web is concerned. It blows my mind sometimes!