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Monday, June 20, 2011

My Dad is my Hero essay Winner

So I won my first writing contest, "My dad is my Hero Essay Contest!!" I won my pops a weekend retreat! Funny I live in Chicago, he is SF, but my cousin Supervisor Malia Cohen and her dad Evered Cohen were at the event, not knowing about my participation, and accepted the award for my father!! Love it! Thanks!! Here is the essay

One warm Indian summer day, on September 19, 1955 a son was born to an ever growing family.  Lionel James Armstrong was lucky number 7.  The streets of San Francisco raised him from a boy to a man.  Surrounded by family and friends who believed he could make it.  His senior year of high school at one of those old fashion red-light belly rub parties, he met his future wife, Karen Smith.  Their lives were forever changed on July 14, 1977; I was born.
Growing up, my daddy was the king of kings in our house.  At every turn for as long as I can remember I asked him one question, “uh daddy?”  Constantly looking for his approval from, my outfit to my homework, his opinion meant the world to me.  And then one day, it stopped.  I was about twelve and I knew everything anyways so why did I need the approval of anyone, especially my old (34 years old) dad!  And so for a few years I thought I wasn’t listening to him tell me “What is done in the dark will always come to light” and “FIFO, Tiffany, first in, first out.”
So now those teenage years are right upon me, and I hear him speaking, but I don’t want him to know I am paying him any attention.  “Don’t let that boy honk for you, tell him to come to the door, “he said, as I rolled my eyes in my head like, geesh, and secretly tell my boyfriend to come to the door for me next time.  I didn’t fully understand all that he was preparing me for until I went away to college.
Four years in Nashville, three years in Providence, and I always remembered those little nuggets he would spew at me.  I didn’t allow the college men to disrespect me, I tried my hardest not to call him for money, and worked it out on my own.  I left school feeling safe and secure in my future because of the foundation my father had given me on life concerns.
Newly armed with a sense of real independence, I move to Chicago.  This was the first time I saw my daddy act unsure about me.  I didn’t realize until later, that it was his love, and concern of his only child going out into the real world that scared him a bit.    But nevertheless, he helped me sell my car, and ship my things and put down a deposit on my new digs in a far off city.  Over the years I became a mother, and then a wife that he gave away at a beautiful ceremony created by him.  My daddy is my hero because he shows me with actions what a real man does for his family; he is my hero because he loves me dearly.  He’s my hero because he has never been afraid to say sorry, and show vulnerability.  He is my daddy.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Great Food Benefits Chart Sweet - Yogurt

Sweet potatoes Saves your eyesight Lifts mood Combats cancer Strengthens bones
Tomatoes Protects prostate Combats cancer Lowers cholesterol Protects your heart
Walnuts Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Boosts memory Lifts mood Protects against heart disease
Water Promotes Weight loss Combats cancer Conquers kidney stones Smooths skin
Watermelon Protects prostate Promotes Weight loss Lowers cholesterol Helps stops strokes Controls blood pressure
Wheat germ Combats Colon Cancer Prevents constipation Lowers cholesterol Helps stops strokes Improves digestion
Wheat bran Combats Colon Cancer Prevents constipation Lowers cholesterol Helps stops strokes Improves digestion
Yogurt Guards against ulcers Strengthens bones Lowers cholesterol Supports immune systems Aids digestion

Great Food Benefits Chart Flax-Strawberries

Flax Aids digestion Battles diabetes Protects your heart Improves mental health Boosts immune system
Garlic Lowers cholesterol Controls blood pressure Combats cancer Kills bacteria Fights fungus
Grapefruit Protects against heart attacks Promotes Weight loss Helps stops strokes Combats Prostate Cancer Lowers cholesterol
Grapes Saves eyesight Conquers kidney stones Combats cancer Enhances blood flow Protects your heart
Green tea Combats cancer Protects your heart Helps stops strokes Promotes Weight loss Kills bacteria
Honey Heals wounds Aids digestion Guards against ulcers Increases energy Fights allergies
Lemons Combats cancer Protects your heart Controls blood pressure Smooths skin Stops scurvy
Limes Combats cancer Protects your heart Controls blood pressure Smooths skin Stops scurvy
Mangoes Combats cancer Boosts memory Regulates thyroid Aids digestion Shields against Alzheimer's
Mushrooms Controls blood pressure Lowers cholesterol Kills bacteria Combats cancer Strengthens bones
Oats Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Battles diabetes Prevents constipation Smooths skin
Olive oil Protects your heart Promotes Weight loss Combats cancer Battles diabetes Smooths skin
Onions Reduce risk of heart attack Combats cancer Kills bacteria Lowers cholesterol Fights fungus
Oranges Supports immune systems Combats cancer Protects your heart Straightens respiration
Peaches Prevents constipation Combats cancer Helps stops strokes Aids digestion Helps hemorrhoids
Peanuts Protects against heart disease Promotes Weight loss Combats Prostate Cancer Lowers cholesterol Aggravates 
Diverticulitis
Pineapple Strengthens bones Relieves colds Aids digestion Dissolves warts Blocks diarrhea
Prunes Slows aging process Prevents constipation Boosts memory Lowers cholesterol Protects against heart disease
Rice Protects your heart Battles diabetes Conquers kidney stones Combats cancer Helps stops strokes
Strawberries Combats cancer Protects your heart Boosts memory Calms stress

Great Food Benefits Chart A-Fish

Apples Protects your heart Prevents constipation Blocks diarrhea Improves lung capacity Cushions joints
Apricots Combats cancer Controls blood pressure Saves your eyesight Shields against Alzheimer's Slows aging process
Artichokes Aids digestion Lowers cholesterol Protects your heart Stabilizes blood sugar Guards against liver disease
Avocados Battles diabetes Lowers cholesterol Helps stops strokes Controls blood pressure Smooths skin
Bananas Protects your heart Quiets a cough Strengthens bones Controls blood pressure Blocks diarrhea
Beans Prevents constipation Helps hemorrhoids Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Stabilizes blood sugar
Beets Controls blood pressure Combats cancer Strengthens bones Protects your heart Aids weight loss
Blueberries Combats cancer Protects your heart Stabilizes blood sugar Boosts memory Prevents constipation
Broccoli Strengthens bones Saves eyesight Combats cancer Protects your heart Controls blood pressure
Cabbage Combats cancer Prevents constipation Promotes weight loss Protects your heart Helps hemorrhoids
Cantaloupe Saves eyesight Controls blood pressure Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Supports immune system
Carrots Saves eyesight Protects your heart Prevents constipation Combats cancer Promotes weight loss
Cauliflower Protects against Prostate Cancer Combats Breast Cancer Strengthens bones Banishes bruises Guards against heart disease
Cherries Protects your heart Combats Cancer Ends insomnia Slows aging process Shields against Alzheimer's
Chestnuts Promotes weight loss Protects your heart Lowers cholesterol Combats Cancer Controls blood pressure
Chili peppers Aids digestion Soothes sore throat Clears sinuses Combats Cancer Boosts immune system
Figs Promotes weight loss Helps stops strokes Lowers cholesterol Combats Cancer Controls blood pressure
Fish Protects your heart Boosts memory Protects your heart Combats Cancer Supports immune system

Lasagna


A friend asked me to give him my recipe for lasagna so here it goes. It’s really easy if you use no boil noodles, my favorite.

1 lb ground beef
1 jar favorite tomato sauce or homemade sauce
8 oz ricotta
1 egg
1 box no boil lasagna noodles
8 oz each mozzarella, Parmesan, cheddar cheeses


Homemade sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large can crushed tomatoes
1 cup red wine
1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme chopped
2 teaspoon fresh rosemary chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Homemade sauce
In a large heavy gauge pot heat oil on high, add onions and cook until soft with no color.  Turn down fire to medium and add garlic.  Cook until soft careful not to burn, add crushed tomatoes, wine, and herbs, salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil, and then turn down to a simmer until all the alcohol flavor is cooked out, about 20 minutes of so.  Taste and adjust seasoning.  Set off to the side.


Lasagna
Preheat oven to 350
In a large heavy skillet, heat up 1 Tablespoon of oil, brown meat.  Once brown, add tomato sauce and warm thru. 
In a small bowl, mix egg and ricotta until well mixed.
Add sauce to the bottom of a 9x13 oven-safe pan.  Layer noodles down, making sure they don’t touch.  These are easy to break if you need to fit a piece in.  Spread sauce, ricotta, and all cheeses, layer with noodles and continue until pan is full.  Top with sauce and cheese. 
Because the noodles are going to cook in the oven, use a little extra sauce to make sure end product is moist.  Cover pan tightly around the edges with foil with a little tent to allow steam to move freely inside.  Bake for 45 minutes or until noodles are soft.  Take cover off and let cheese brown for 5-8 more minutes.  Take out and enjoy!


The best thing about lasagna is that you can use any type of filling that you like.  Spinach is a fav in my house, try something different and let us know what you did!

Thursday, June 9, 2011

New Chapter

I have finally put together a real outline for a story.  About to go and write until I see the story really take shape and form.  Very excited about this idea!  I am learning that following your dream, is great, if you are willing to do the work.  But only if you are willing to do the work.  The work cannot work itself.  And so on that note, I am gone from this computer screen, and back to to the old fashion writing for me.  Wish I had a doughnut though....

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Haikus for The SoulPeople






untitled #1


pale pink and dusty blue sunrises
when that fireball is grandest
indigo skies still and cold
sight of a bat's
dewy smell of morning grass
the flight of what seems impossible
it's body is so long for those wings way up there
blue, red, gold in colors
dragons of the fly world
sticky, scorching burn
blood-thirsty swarms
with hypodermic attached
parasite in true definition
satin between fingers with thumb in mouth
never really lost thoughts of a different time
the skip, flutter, flip, dancing
the heart makes every time
the nose takes a whiff