She's No Betty Crocker

So how's this for funny? Remember a couple of months ago when Cindy McCain got in trouble for using some Rachel Ray recipes and claiming they were her own? Well, she's back at it again. Apparently, she submitted a plagiarized recipe from the fine folks at Hershey, when she with the (then) other two remaining potential first-spouses were asked to submit a family cookie recipe to an online magazine. Not to say that this is a valid reason that her hubby shouldn't be president--heaven knows there are plenty of those--but it just makes me wonder if her addiction to Percocet and Vicodin have caused some permanent damage. But then again, I have a feeling that Mrs. McCain isn't much into baking cookies. I gather they don't do that too much on her home planet, and I am sure that it wasn't her cookie-baking skills that won over John McCain when he was cheating on his first wife, who had been crippled in a car accident, with her.

Here's a link to the story. I just think it's kinds funny. And the cookies look delicious too. Maybe I can make them and claim them as my own.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-weiner/re-heat-offender-cindy-ba_b_107428.html

It's Funny 'Cause It's True

So, in case you didn't know, my best girl just left me for the summer. Well, it's been about two weeks now. And she'll be getting back in exactly seven weeks and one hour (not that I am counting).
Anyway, I find that my evenings have been extremely open since she left to Russia. I enjoy hanging out with my roomie and playing Mario Kart, but that can get old--particularly so when the roommate beats me and I pout like a child. So we (well, at least I) need fun activities to do during this summer. Suggestions?

Before and After

Yup, the last time I shaved my whole face was on March 16th--well, that is until this morning. I think it'll be my new summer-time look. But, I have a slight feeling it will return at the beginning of August. Thoughts (other than my looking like a complete gomer in the photos)?

Why I'm Voting Republican

I've had a change of heart, and here's why:

Recent Additions

Last week, I got to thinking (and we all know how dangerous that can be at times). I thought to myself, "Self, you haven't used your iTunes gift card that you got for Christmas yet." Then I realized that two bands I like had both recently released CDs and I could use it to buy at least one of those, so after much thought and deliberation, I decided to download Narrow Stairs by Death Cab for Cutie, which left $5.01 on the card. Since that wasn't enough for the other CD, and since I could get it on sale at Target for cheaper, I went there the next day and purchased Weezer's Red Album.

Critical Review:

Both offer very nice sounds. Neither is an aberration from their band's normal stylings, so as a fan I appreciate that, but would kind of like to hear a little more from them--I must note, however, I am not a die-hard fan of either group, and am not super-familiar with either group's earliest stuff.

Narrow Stairs, by Death Cab was not one that I popped into the CD player and instantly loved. I don't think any of their albums have been yet. However, in listening to it in my car during my commute (FYI, I don't Metro anymore--thank goodness), I have become a big fan of it. My favorite song is number seven, "Grapevine Fires." It's so smooth and cheerful. However, I do like other songs on there like "No Sunlight," "Your New Twin Size Bed" and "Long Division." I would say that the first radio release from the album, "I Will Possess Your Heart," is arguably the weakest song on the CD.

Weezer's self-titled Red Album is a catchy one. The first three songs are the best (my favorite of which is "Pork and Beans," which has the best music video to accompany it), and number four is really good. After that, they blend into the background in my office, so I can't tell you right off the top of my head if I like the rest of them a lot or whatnot. But I do like the CD as a whole.

Both CDs are really good, but I wouldn't say they're life-changing. They don't fit in the lines of say, Stadium Arcadium, by the Red Hot Chili Peppers or some of my other most-favorites. However, they are sure to get plenty of play time in my car and on my iPod.

So now I have five dollars left to use towards songs or an album on iTunes. Suggestions?

I Heart New York

Two weekends ago for Memorial Day weekend, Melanie, her former roommate, Marin (Muh rin), and I went to the Big Apple and stayed with Melanie's sister, Amber and brother-in-law, Tim. Turns out it was a trip that the two had planned way before I was ever in the picture, but since Mel was leaving only a week after, I was able to work my way into the plans.
We left on Saturday morning, and got there in the afternoon after a decent bus ride. We went to Amber and Tim's, dropped our stuff off, and promptly went sight-seeing. First off, we went to Rockefeller Plaza and went to the "Top of the Rock," which I had never done before, and actually found preferable to the top of the Empire State Building.

Mel and Me on the top of the building

St. Patrick's Cathedral from above.

After we came down from the top, we went to the Nintendo World store. It was a nice chance to play the Wii, since I hadn't done it before. Now, I want to buy one more than ever.

Then to Times Square

While in Times Square we found Junior's, which has the most amazing cheesecake. I got Devil's Food, and the others got Carrot Cake cheesecake. It was just about life-changing. We walked to Bryant Park and rested our weary legs while enjoying some of our delectable treats.

View of the Chrysler building at sunset.

The next day we went to Central Park with Amber and Tim, had a picnic, and played frisbee for a while. Thousands of others had the same idea of going to the park to enjoy the amazing weather.

Marin, Tim, Amber and Mel

After Tim and Amber left, we went to further explore the park. This is my favorite bridge ever. and we got an adorable picture together. Don't mind that it looks like I've got a death grip on her.

After we left the park, I got a hold of a friend of mine from Brazil named Everton, who is here in the states, living in New York. We went to FAO Schwartz, and then to SOHO and Little Italy. We got pizza and then got some fantastic rice pudding at: The next day we went to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

This was my third trip to Ellis Island, and the first time that I had looked at the museum stuff they had there (don't ask why, I don't know). It was fascinating. Probably one of my favorite things to have seen this time. After we got off the ferry, we went to see Wall Street, and Ground Zero. We then went to Amber and Tim's I said goodbye and went to get a bus home. Mel and Marin stayed another day so they could go see Wicked (the original purpose of their trip).
I think I really do heart New York. Definitely not a place I think I would like to live (who knows for sure), but it's a lot of fun to visit.

Decision 2008

Now, after five long months of campaigning, caucuses, primaries, 3 a.m. phone calls, bickering, crazy pastors, superdelegates and the kitchen sink, we have a presumptive Democratic nominee for the 2008 general election. Though I am glad that now it's official, and that my guy is the winner, I can't help but feel a little bad for Hillary Clinton. I know, I know, after all the negative things I've written here, and angry feelings that I have had for her throughout this process, I may sound crazy saying that. But with as much drive and ambition and desire that she has had to win the presidency, it's hard to not sympathize with someone whose life goal falls out of their reach--and just barely by the way this worked out.
Ultimately though, the stronger candidate prevailed, and through this whole process, he's come out even stronger for a general election match up. People may say he lacks experience, but to take on the Clinton political machine and come out on top is no small feat. He set up and ran a successful national campaign. Sure he lost some races big, but he's shown to be one who can learn from his mistakes and improve from them. He's shown he has sound judgment and is willing to admit when he is wrong. He also has the courage to tell us what we don't want to hear but what is right.
There may be Clinton supporters who will see her loss to Obama as his stealing from her, and as such may be willing to support McCain. They shouldn't. Though the campaign may have had sexist tones, they have no more right to blame that for her loss than Obama did for his setbacks due to racial overtones--he won't and they shouldn't. If anything, her gender helped her to gain votes from millions of women who may not have voted had they not had the historic opportunity to vote for a viable woman candidate. Barack Obama ran a clean campaign, always rising above the mudslinging that went on. If he tried to fight dirty, it didn't suit him and it did him no good. His message has always been a message of change, and those who wanted to see change through Hillary would be foolish to vote for a continuation of failed Republican policies by supporting John McCain.
McCain is truly out of touch with America. He provided great service to this country, but should not be it's president. He's admitted to not know much about the economy, which is not what we need during these trying economic times. He's certain that all is well in Iraq, professing this yesterday while yet three more American lives were taken over there. As Barack Obama said in his speech last night "John McCain has spent a lot of time talking about trips to Iraq in the last few weeks, but maybe if he spent some time taking trips to the cities and towns that have been hardest hit by this economy – cities in Michigan, and Ohio, and right here in Minnesota – he’d understand the kind of change that people are looking for." At one point in his career, he may have been a "straight-talking maverick," but certainly is not now that he's trying to woo his party. He's embraced Bush's failed policies and offers nothing different, except possibly "bomb-bomb-bomb-bomb-bomb[ing] Iran."
So now, though no one knows exactly what Hillary will do from here (I, and many others, wish she would have graciously bowed out last night), it is time for the party to come together uniting around our candidate, and work for change this fall.