Somerset Avenue Chicken (Odessa Chicken)

"I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food. "

-W.C. Fields

I am being a very good girl by continuing to keep my word about creating new recipes. My grandmother actually created the base recipe for this dish, and passed it down to us. My grandma Katarina was a really neat lady, she was really young when she married my grandfather, but from what I have been able to learn about her, she was already pretty accomplished at cooking. She was born in Austria, and at an early age she and her parents moved to Germany. She met my grandfather in Bonn, and they were married when she was about 16. I think they were together for about five years, when grandpa decided to move to Odessa Russia, to be with one of his brothers who needed some extra help after an illness. They stayed there for about a year, before deciding to move to the United States. As my grandmother moved from town to town across eastern Europe, she collected many regional recipes and added her own touches to them to make them her own. I think she might like the little changes I have made to her "Odessa Chicken" recipe. :)

"Somerset Avenue Chicken" (Odessa Chicken)

2 lbs. Chicken pieces
18 oz. Jar Apricot Preserves
1/2 pkg dried Apricots (about 4 1/2 ounces)
1 8 oz. bottle Russian Salad Dressing
1 pkg 1/2 oz. Green Onion dip mix
1 tbs. Spicy Brown Mustard
1/4 cup fresh Parsley chopped

Sprinkle in a gallon size ziplock bag, 1/2 pkg. Green Onion dip mix and then add the chicken pieces. Toss to coat well. Place the chicken pieces and dried apricots in a 3-4 qt slow cooker. In a medium size bowl add the Apricot Preserves, Russian Salad Dressing, the remaining Green Onion dip mix and the Spicy Brown Mustard. Mix well. Pour 1/2 the mixture over chicken, and turn temperature to high. Cook for approximately 4-6 hours. About 15 minutes before serving, cook remaining sauce mixture in a heavy sauce pan with 1 tsp cornstarch to thicken. Remove from heat when it reaches desired consistency for glaze sauce. Remove the chicken and apricots to a serving platter, top with glaze and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Makes 6 servings. Enjoy!

Next week I have a Super Bowl Appetizer! :) And don't forget the real half-time event...Cheese Racing! :)

-OndineMonet
"Somerset Avenue Chicken"
Berkeley, California
January 25th, 2006
Evening

The Truth As You See It

"A lie hides the truth. A story tries to find it."

-Paula Fox

As I watched the Oprah Winfrey show today, I couldn't help but wonder how a situtation, such as what was being discussed could possibly occur. That situation being, someone getting away with not only getting a book published that was represented as one man's personal memoir, but that was in fact duplicitous fiction. The really odd part is that the lies may not have even been unearthed had the book, "A Million Little Pieces," by author James Frey, not been featured by Ms. Winfrey, for her monthly book club last fall.

As the author sat, facing Oprah one-on-one, it was apparent that he had been caught, and caught good. But still he displayed, at least to it seemed me, that he really doesn't understand why someone would feel lied to about the truthfulness of his "memoir."

As the conversation flowed between Winfrey and Frey, and fact after fact of the book fell apart, the emotions were evident. Winfrey was sad, angry and embarrassed, while Frey seemed embarrassed, defensive at times and at the same time steadfast in his opinion that he had lived through these times and experiences...to a degree. I couldn't help but wonder, in that he had some kind of story to tell, why didn't he try to get his work published as fiction? Well, he did and was turned down by several major publishing houses. Well then, why didn't he just put a disclaimer in the front of the book that indicated that he had fictionalized at least a portion of the book in the name of protecting the innocent? This is a common practice among authors particularly of true crime stories. And how could something so profound as the advice and situations contained in this book go unchecked by the publisher and fact checkers at Doubleday?

Also appearing on Thursday's Oprah Winfrey show, was the very publisher of this book, Nan Talese, who admitted that no fact checking had actually been done on the book. Apparently this has become a common practice in publishing, because there isn't enough time to check the factuality of every book being published. There isn't enough time? Sigh. I always believed that this was a certain process, if for nothing else, then to prevent plagiarism. Sometimes I wonder if we don't need a reality check every seven years, or so, so everyone can catch up to things, after they change. I was always lead to believe that books...especially books that claim to be non-fiction or self-help in nature, would be checked and rechecked for clarity and accuracy. Diet books, How To succeed In Business, How To Please A Lover, How to Survive Divorce, How To Train Your Hamster To Read Shakespeare, How To Get Your Groove Back, How To Write A Book...and so on.

I have bought one or two of those types of books in my lifetime, as well as other non-fiction books and biographies. I have got a lot from many of them, while others were not as useful to me. It happens. But another odd dynamic to this controversy is that apparently many people who purchased James Frey's book, got a great deal out of it. They liked it. It inspired them. They felt that if this man could overcome such tragedies as spending 3 months in jail, to enduring the suicide of a dear friend...then there was hope that any of us could face the challenges of life.

All this reminds me of the Milli Vanilli scandal several years ago. In that case it was disclosed, after the artists won Grammy Awards, that they weren't actually the one doing the singing on their albums. The public was outraged and their careers as singers was over, but one question always bugged me a little bit. If you bought their albums, did you enjoy the music you purchased or didn't you? I listened to several interviews with fans who demanded their money back and who, after the story came out, decided that they no longer appreciated the music that was attributed to the duplicitous singers.

The difference in the two cases is this. Milli Vanilli was billed as the artistry behind the sound. James Frey was billed AS the sound. He was the talent, the strength, the hope, the pain, the promise , he was the whole package. When you hear a piece of music on the radio, even before you know anything about the singer, don't you usually either feel inspired or not? Now, Milli Vanilli lied, they admitted as such, and suddenly the public no longer enjoyed the music. I don't know, I don't think that would make me suddenly dislike the music, I may not think much of the performer, but the music would still be ok. In the case of the book,"A Million Little Pieces," I can understand a little better folks are wanting to discard the book and ask for a refund. It is much more then a case of not knowing what you have actually purchased, it is a case of lying for profit, while not really caring how it may affect another. It's about giving false hope to folks who need something to cling to for direction. It's about knowing you are taking advantage of people who have nothing but trust to go on. Trust in you, and trust in the publishing house who chose to put your words out there...over someone else's work.

Sigh. Doubleday has offered a refund to those who purchased the book through their mail order house. Refunds can be sought for those who purchased the book at a retailer, by returning the book to where it was purchased. As for remaining copies still in stores, Doubleday is sending an author's note insert to be placed in the books which are still on the shelves. All subsequent copies of the book will have the author's note included in the future printing of the book. It will still be classified as a "memoir," despite the revelations of it's truthfulness. Milli Vanilli albums can still be purchased at Amazon.com. So tell me, do you think the book by James Frey, "A Million Little Pieces," be pulled from the shelves? Would you demand a refund? Do you believe it should be a common practice for publishing houses to not fact check a book for accuracy and truth?

-OndineMonet
"Breezy Contemplation II" By Blue Sorsdahl Phrase

John Scalzi's Weekend Assignment #96: Becoming Your Parents

"A lot of parents pack up their troubles and send them off to summer camp."

-Raymond Duncan

Weekend Assignment #96: "For ladies: Name an incident when you thought: "OMG I AM my mother! For guys: Same with your father!" As suggested by Debbted.

Extra Credit: What did your parents do when you told them about it?

-John Scalzi

I can say, quite happily, that it is an extremely rare occasion when I am anything like the circus folk I was raised by or was a sibling to. Yep, I said it...CIRCUS FOLK. See, mom was the "three-headed woman, and dad was the "Human Cannonball." LOL. But still, we do share DNA and although I work at being my own person and leaving all the bad stuff behind me, it is probably inevitable that I will, at times, display some of their wackiness. I do after all give mom credit for my imagination and I know that I got my weird sense of humor from dad. I guess it is the times when I am feeling at my most creative that I actually do stop, and say a little thank you to heaven and hell...LOL...and then remember and appreciate them for the positive parts of my life that only they could give me. I don't really have one defining moment as far as this weeks assignment asks for, unless you count the fact that I am now making middle-age noises, or that I remember when bread cost $1.15 a loaf. LOL. :)

-OndineMonet
"Two Views"
Apple Farm
San Luis Obispo, California
June 29th, 2005
Late Morning

Missing Pam

"Friends are the family we choose to give ourselves."

-Edna Buchanan

I am worried tonight, as I sit here typing this. It has been nearly a month since Pam, author of the journal, "One Girl's Head Noise UK, " and the winner of two, 2005, Journal Land "ViVi" Awards, has updated her journal. As most of you know, Pam was diagnosed, this past June, with Lung Cancer. Since she found out the news, she has kept us updated at least once a week with her progress. Her fight has been a brave one, but I could tell by her last couple entries that she was needing help and strength more then ever. So, I want to believe that she is simply taking a step back, to gain some strength, and that in a few days, she will post an update, and give us all a smile by posting a new picture. Pam is a sweet lady, she is my good friend...and I am worried. I was lucky enough to be able to speak with her on the phone last summer, several times, and I wasn't at all surprised to find out that she sounded on the phone, exactly the way I always thought she would. Like an young, beautiful girl. Pam, I miss you...I am going to send you a snail mail letter later this week. So, for now, I will just say...TTYS. :)
Update: Holly has left me a comment that Pam's journal has been updated by her sister Nancy. Thank you Holly for letting us know!
-OndineMonet
"Love Is"
Apple Farm
San Luis Obispo, California
June 29th, 2005
Late Morning

Unconscious Mutterings

"There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast."

-Unknown

Ugg. I slept 14 hours on Tuesday, and believe it or not, I am still tired. Like my doctor says, it really isn't the quantity...it's the quality. Sigh. I have been reading my Mayo Clinic newsletter though, and it has some wonderful tips about handling chronic health conditions as well as recipes that seem like they would be kinda fun to try. In the most recent issue is a recipe for Zesty Tomato Soup. I am looking forward to trying that one. :) So, the beat goes on...

Unconscious Mutterings
Week 155

1. Alone:: Quiet
2. Science:: Stem Cell Research
3. Deposit:: Return
4. Faithful:: Companion
5. Tender:: Sensitive
6. Chocolate:: Torte
7. Homework:: Learning
8. Tamper:: Messed With
9. Friend:: Foe
10. Wire:: Hanger

You should play along with Unconscious Mutterings also. Just pay a visit to LunaNina and get yourself a copy of the words then post your responses and then leave them a link. It's easy and fun. I might actually take my muttering to my therapist tomorrow...LOL...I haven't been awake long enough to have anything to talk to Sarah, my therapist, about. Unless you consider Alan and I had a debate this evening over who is the cutest character on West Wing. LOL. I say Josh, played by Bradley Whitford. OOOOHHHLALA! Alan thinks Abby Bartlett, Stockard Channing, is HOT, HOT, HOT. LOL. He may be right, she has a ton of style and her character is a strong, sexy woman. Oh, but Josh is just, well, ummm, Hunk-O-Yum. LOL. Do you have a favorite West Winger?

-OndineMonet
"Aubergine"
Berkeley, California
January 12th, 2006
Afternoon

Better Living Through Chemistry

"Politicians are like diapers. They both need changing regularily and for the same reason."

-Unknown

Sigh. Another day another denial, only now it seems like the Bush administration isn't even trying to make it look good. Do you believe the story that the photos of Jack Abramoff and George Bush are simply a coincidence?

"He (Bush) doesn't have a personal relationship with him. We acknowledge he (Abramoff) attended some Hanukkah celebrations. Any suggestions by critics or anyone else to suggest the president is doing something nefarious with Abramoff is absurd."

- Dan Bartlett, White House Counselor

It makes sense that photos of Abramoff and Bush could have been taken during many different public functions at the White House, but it seems like a little more then a coincidence, in that Jack Abramoff was declared a "pioneer" for releasing at least $100,000 for the Bush/Cheney '04 election campaign.

What do you think? Does this sound plausible to you?
"Aide Says Bush Photos With Abramoff Coincidence"

Sometimes I have to wonder...

"Countries such as ours have an obligation to step up, working together, sanding, sending a common message, to the Iranians, that, uhh...that it's...the behavior...kind of...trying to...uhh, clandestinely develop a nuclear weapon, or using the guise of a civilian nuclear weapon program to get the know-how to develop a nuclear weapon is unacceptable."

-George W Bush, White House, January 13th, 2006

So can you explain to me what a "civilian nuclear weapon program," is?

"In order to safeguard the civil liberties of the people, we have this (NSA domestic eavesdropping) program fully scrutinized on a regular basis. It's been authorized, reauthorized many time. We got lawmakers looking at it from different branches of government."

-George W. Bush, Louisville Kentucky, January 11th, 2006

And who exactly would that be Mr. President? Feel free to leave the answer to my question in the comments section of THIS entry.

According to Biography.com the early to mid 1970's is called by Bush his, "nomadic years." During this time, it has been said, President Bush was involved with heavy drinking and possibly drug use. While I don't believe there has ever been a clear substantiation of drug use, I find it interesting that Bush stated that he would, " pass a background check going as far back as 1974." Hmmm. Better living through chemistry I suppose.

Where do our values, as Americans, lie right now? It is worrisome to me that Roe v. Wade may in fact be overturned sometime in the not too distant future. That would be tragic for the nation. The plain fact is that making abortion illegal will not stop it from taking place. Some of those who like to quote the bible, may want to consider that there is still nothing new under the sun. It has always seemed to me, I could be wrong, but it seems that most Republicans that I have spoken to at any length, want the things that they find unseemly or contrary to their personal ideals to simply...go away. There is never much follow through to what will happen on the other side of their moral agendas. What should come next? Counseling? By who exactly? Is the counseling available to both the woman and the man or the boy or the girl? Is it state funded, is it federally funded? Do you need a parents permission? Who absorbs the increase in welfare claims? What happened to the child who cannot be cared for? I never seem to hear about what should come next. If you close your eyes to a problem it doesn't simply cease to exist.

Now, more then ever before, we are losing our civil liberties on a daily basis. Our president is chipping away more and more at what makes this a great country. He wants to make us believe that speaking our mind, will somehow harm our men and women in Iraq. No Mr. President...spying on the American people without a warrant, sending our soldiers to war without the proper equipment, having scandal after scandal after scandal come out of the White House, revealing the identity of an undercover CIA agent, and wife of one of your critics, pushing for the country to regress more the 30 years in social responsibility, hiring under-qualified individuals for important cabinet posts, and phrases like, "I could pass a background check as far back as 1974," is what is hurting our men and women in the armed forces. Today is a new day Mr. Bush, start it out right, and admit what you have done.

"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy."

-Ernst Benn

-OndineMonet
"Better Living Through Chemistry"
Berkeley, California
January 19th, 2006
Evening

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Monochromatic

"The artists world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep."

-Paul Strand

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Show some of your favrite black/white photos.

-John Scalzi

Here are a few of my favorite subjects...tee hee...but you already knew that! Right?

1. A butterfly I found in Alamo Square Park, San Francisco, California.
2. An abandoned prison I found sitting in the bay. Alcatraz. San Francisco, Ca.
3. The Golden Gate Bridge as seen from Fort Point. San Francisco, California.
4. A gorgeous flower after a rainfall. Berkeley, California.
5. The Lone Cypress, on the 17 Mile Drive, Monterey/Carmel, California.
6. A rose I found in Berkeley, California.

-OndineMonet
"Life In Black & White"
A few moments from 2005/2006

La Law

"We need a law that will permit a voter to sue a candidate for breach of promise."

-Unknown

It's been a while since I went jogging through the land of idiotic laws...so I thought to myself last night, "Self...it's important to keep your friends and readers and readers of friends and lurkers and friends of lurkers and heck just the whole bleeping Internet up to date and well informed, should one of those folks decide to go on vacation. Heck...something really strange could happen and gas prices could come down. Who knows...one more scandal out of the Bush administration and we could all be getting gas for free. :) Hee Hee. Oh...come on...I tease the president. LOL. Heck he is a big fan of mine, why I bet he has a file on me this {>>>>>>>>>} thick. He keeps it stored at the Office of Homeland Security for safe keeping. I don't suppose he will be reading this entry however, since we all know HE is above the law...I mean he never does anything wrong...I mean...oh heck...on with the list. Be sure to take notes...

Alabama
1. It is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle.
2. Boogers may not be flicked into the wind.
3. No persons may sell "blow-out nuts."

Colorado
1. No liquor may be sold on Sundays or election days.
2. One may not mutilate a rock in a state park.

Georgia
1. Donkeys may not be kept in bathrooms.
2. All sex toys are banned.

Maine
1. You may not step out of a plane in flight.

Mississippi
1. The fine for waving a gun in public is higher than actually shooting it.
2. Unnatural intercourse, if both parties voluntarily participate, results in a maximum sentence of 10 years and $10,000 fine.

New Hampshire
1. It is illegal to pick seaweed up off the beach.
2. On Sundays citizens may not relieve themselves while looking up.

Rhode Island
1. Any marriage where either of the parties is an idiot or a lunatic is null and void. Section 11-40-1.
2. One must make a loud noise before passing a car on the left.

South Dakota
1. No horses are allowed into Fountain Inn unless they are wearing pants.
2. If there are more then 5 Native Americans on your property you may shoot them.

Virginia
1. Driving while not wearing shoes is prohibited.
2. It is illegal to tickle women.

Wisconsin
1. As people used to smuggle it in from Illinois, all yellow butter substitute is banned.
2. State law, at one time, made it illegal to serve apple pie in restaurants without cheese.
3. Tattooing is illegal unless it is done for medical reasons.
3. It is illegal to display an unclothed mannequin in a store window.

Thank goodness my favorite scofflaw mannequin lives here in Berkeley! Tee Hee.

"To retain respect for sausages and laws, one must not watch them in the making."

-Otto von Bismarck

-OndineMonet
"Sunbathing In Berkeley"
Berkeley, California
Spring, 2005
Mid-Afternoon

First Impressions

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."

I was reading today, on AOL Entertainment news, that quite a little fashion faux pas took place at this year's Golden Globe Awards. It seems that the beautiful dress that Reese Witherspoon wore was very similar to a dress worn to the 2003 Golden Globes by Kirsten Dunst. So similar in fact, that it wasn't just similar, it was the very same dress! A fashion no-no to be sure, and not one that the actress herself would have committed on her own. Reese, I am afraid had some help in this fashion mix-up, from none other then the prestigious fashion house that owns the dress... Chanel. Coco must be turning over in her grave! I kinda doubt something like this would have occurred in her lifetime, but if it did...how might it have been received in her day as opposed to now?

"Dress shabbily they notice the dress, dress impeccably they notice the woman." That is one of my favorite quotes by Coco Chanel, because it is really speaking about more then just the apparel we choose to wear, it is also says a lot about how we conduct ourselves and the impressions we might make. I have never believed that clothes make the person, but they do say a little about us. If we carry ourselves with a certain amount of class and character however, it will come across clearer then what we wear, although one should never forget that our clothes do have the first opportunity to make the first impression for us. What we choose to wear directly influences the first initial impression we make in person.

I have seen some gorgeous people, by usual society standards, wearing only the finest and most current of trends in fashion, here a label, there a label and look like a million bucks, only to ruin their whole appearance by opening their mouth and allowing something hurtful or socially unacceptable to spew forth from their lips. Believe me you can dress some folks up, but outside packaging will not change the fact that they are spoiled on the inside. I have yet to find the fashion house that can accomplish a personality change with a bolt of fabric and a spool of thread. I am thinking about some of the parties that my good friend June used to throw.

Every year I was expected to attend two events at June's house, without excuse. Academy Awards night and New Year's Eve. Now, most of the time I looked forward to her parties, she knew some very interesting people and I except for a few duds that I knew would be there, it was a classy way to spend an evening. June always had a nice cross section of folks at her parties as well, and she just had a way with making folks feel comfortable because she knew who would enjoy each other's company. For instance she rarely invited too many of her more politically opposed friends to the same function...except for Oscar night and New Year's Eve. LOL. It was on those nights that I suppose she figured that we could all try for the one night to put our attitudes and ideals aside, and just enjoy the food and the fashion and the atmosphere. Sometimes it worked sometimes it didn't but it was always interesting.

In that I am a people watcher, by nature, I usually enjoyed just jumping in and allowing myself to absorb whatever happened around me. Don't get me wrong, I am not a wallflower at this kind of gathering, I will join in, but I like to take in the room I am in and the people gathered around me for a little while when I arrive at a party. Listening is such an important part of getting along with people. Sometimes that is all they really want...someone to listen. To their politics, their life story, their charitable work, their interests. Now, there is nothing like getting cornered by an absolute bore, lol, but I always had to wonder when it would happen...who didn't listen to them? I am right here, I am at the same party, instead of being bored to tears because their interests couldn't interest me less, couldn't I share a little about myself with them? What is the worst that could possibly happen? After all, for one night we are on the same path, so why not check to see if the journey can be a less lonely one. Besides, there is never a good excuse for poor behavior.

Do you suppose that last Monday night, when Reese showed up at the after party for the Golden Globes, having just won her award for her performance in, "Walk The Line," that the other guests made sure they pointed out the embarrassing coincidence to her? No, probably not. Not if the had any kind of acceptable manners. In fact, Reese showed up to the affair knowing there had been some kind of mistake made. She SHOWED UP. No running off in a fit of tears, no demanding answers in a divaish high-pierced fit of rage, and no histrionics. No, but she did however request some answers. Not hard to understand I think, considering she had been promised vintage Chanel. Chanel's response regarding the snafu was an apology for the "oversight," and a gratulations to the actress on her win. It's hard to say where the mistake was made, according to the actresses publicist, Reese Witherspoon was told her dress would be vintage, but according to a press release from Chanel the gown was described as vintage, but the gown was actually from the 2002 couture collection and isn't considered vintage.

The mistake does seem to rest with Chanel, and it proves my point that you can have the most elegant of style, and the best of intentions and still get it all profoundly wrong. Celebrity stylist Phillip Bloch said it best when he told the AP that Reese Witherspoon, "...was a victim of the fashion powers that be." I kind of admire the fact that she didn't go overboard to make the mistake much worse then it already was. So far, from every indication, she carried herself like a lady, and that will never go out of style. She didn't make herself a victim that night. She knew demeanor is the impression that people of substance will remember years from now. You just can't fake class, you can't rent it, and you can't pretend it doesn't matter. She knows her self-worth and she wears it everyday no matter what clothes she chooses.

Tell me what you think. Is too much importance put on style? If you had been Reese would you have handled things differently? Have you ever met someone dressed a certain way and made a snap decision based on what they were wearing before they spoke to you? Were you right with that first impression? Is there anything wrong with staying current to the trends in fashion? Is it a good idea to change your personal style from time to time? Is it true that you, "Never get a second chance to make a first impression?" Do manners go before personal style?

-OndineMonet

Silly Animals...A Round Robin Promotion

"Ever consider what pets must think of us? I mean, here we come back from the grocery store with the most amazing haul...chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth."

-Anne Tyler (The Accidental Tourist)

Does it get sillier then a cat who enjoys apparel? Ok, so Elvis is a little on the pampered side, but he deserves to have his little quirks, because his silly nature brings us a lot of happiness. I am pretty sure it's true that owning a pet lowers the blood pressure of it owner, I know that after some terrible days, all I had to do was spend a little while with Elvis, and before I knew it I was feeling settled and content again.

So, I thought it was very cool that our next Round Robin challenge subject is "Silly Animals" as chosen by Celeste, author of the journal, "My day and Thoughts." All of our pets have a certain quirk or funny trick they can do, and sometimes even the animals in the wild like a bird or opossum will come by to share their lives with us, and in doing so, we get little glimpses into their lives which at times can be very silly. Like last summer, when I saw Elvis's opossum friend Agatha, walking across the back yard, carrying her babies. Some were in her pouch, some were on her back, but the silliest thing was watching her littlest baby, Ipson, following behind her. One night, as she made her way to a bowl of food I had set out for her, somehow Ipson was left behind. In a mad dash to catch up with his mom and siblings, he made one, big, jumping, leap and landed right on poor Agatha's nose. LOL. Poor girl. Silly it was! :)

If you would like to join us for this Round Robin challenge, we would love to have you come along. Just pay a visit to the official Round Robin journal and leave your name, the name of your journal and the full URL of your journal address, in the comments for this challenge, then post your entry on Wednesday, February 1st, anytime between the midnights. If you haven't played before, please take a moment to read the *Welcome Entry & Rules Of Play.* You may want to read that entry even if you have played along with us before, because a few of the rules have changed since last year. I hope you will join us this time around, the sillier the better...right? ;)

-OndineMonet
"Silly Elvis"
Berkeley, California
Spring, 2005

John Scalzi's Weekend Assignment #95: The Best Money You Ever Spent

"Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you, and scorn in the one ahead."

-Mac McCleary

Weekend Assignment #95: The best money you ever spent. Welcome to the first of five journaler-suggested Weekend Assignments, leading up to the 100th Weekend Assignment a few weeks from now. This week's special Weekend Assignment was suggested by Teeisme57:

"My ex-husband always said the best 10 bucks he ever spent was buying his dog, Ace, from the local animal shelter. What's the best money you've ever spent? Whether it's something you love, something you use all the time or something that doesn't owe you a nickel, what is it?"

Extra Credit: Aside from food, what's the next purchase you plan to make?

-John Scalzi

In 1998 it became real apparent that we were going to have to make a new car purchase. Ugg. I have a difficult time buying things like new cars, because I get hopelessly, emotionally attached to inanimate objects...especially cars. Cars do so much for us. They take us to work, to school, and sometimes they take us to profound moments in our lives such as births and funerals. Yep, in good times and in bad, a car is a place of comfort and a shield when we have to travel in fierce weather. So, imagine how completely displaced I felt when not only did we end up having to replace Alan's car, but my car as well.

Off we drove to the Saturn dealership. He was wanting a slightly bigger car then he had been driving, so he chose a Saturn wagon. A week later I chose this Saturn, a 1999 SL1. We have been extremely happy with our cars. They have never given us a moment of grief and have already lasted 2 years longer then the cars they replaced. They were moderately priced and worth every cent. I love my car, Angelica, and when the day comes that I will have to put send her to live on a farm, I will be a mess. She is a friend, she was there the day I went nuts, and then she was there later to drive me home. ;)

Extra Credit: We are thinking about buying a new Bakers rack for our kitchen.

-OndineMonet
"Angelica"
Land's End
San Francisco, California
March, 2005
Late Afternoon

Out Of The Past

"One need not a chamber to be haunted; one need not a house; the brain has corridors surpassing the material place."

-Emily Dickinson

I read an interesting article last week, about research that is currently being done on a new drug that may have the capability to ease the bad memories we store after we experience a traumatic event. Even in such extreme cases such as rape, other types of violent attacks and, maybe even after surviving a natural disaster. The pill, Propranolol, would be given to the sufferer in the weeks following the traumatic event to help block the naturally released hormones that help store the memories in the brain. During times of stress, the body produces adrenaline and other, "fight or flight" hormones which over time can produce panic attacks, and post traumatic stress disorder. Propranolol is from a class of drugs called beta blockers.In initial testing the new drug shows some promise in easing the traumatic experiences, according to a Canadian and Harvard research report. It is hoped that one day a cure may be found for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

I personally, have suffered from panic attacks in the past, but I was able to successfully gain control of them after attending a 13 week stress management group therapy program that was offered by my HMO, Kiaser Permanente. The group was called, "MAP" (Managing Anxiety and Panic). One of the elements of the therapy was to learn to recognize the "triggers" of our panic and anxiety. With panic attacks, this can be difficult, because often, one is not aware of what the trigger might be. Sometimes a scent, a sound, a sight which may not register as an obvious trigger, may in fact have a stored memory attached with it of something traumatic. So, we students had to play detective, and find out what symptoms of the panic feelings bothered us the most, and in that more then likely lived our trigger. For me the sudden onset of a pounding heart and the almost out-of-body, surreal feeling was most troublesome. Even today however, I am not sure if it was one event stored which brought about the type of PTSD I was eventually diagnosed with, or if it had been a series of events.

When I think about what could have been the triggers, I think it would be a good thing to have a medication that could ease those memories. I don't tend to dwell on the painful times in life, if I can help it, but sometimes I wonder if I didn't make myself ill because I didn't face the hurtful memories head on before now. If there had been a magic pill offered to me when I was in deep excruciating pain, I would have more then likely taken it...who wouldn't welcome the relief? But the thing I am wondering about now is, could it be a bad thing to forget the initial psychological pain associated with, as an example, assault? Would it make one a less reliable witness if the psychological pain could be eased? Would it make someone less likely to report a crime? Or press charges? How could this drug be manipulated? Could someone request the medication to forget long term abuse, because the patient wants to remember why the care about their abuser?

Ok, I know, my questions are kind of in the abstract, but I do wonder about most psychological medications. I have gained greatly by them personally, and at the same time I have seen them mask some larger illnesses in my family. Like with everything, it is an individual choice and they must be monitored closely by the right physician or therapist. I am not sure today, as I sit here, that I would want to take a medication to lessen the degree of stress should an incident happen again like ones that have happened in my past. I think for me, at this point, I am personally better off facing the trauma as it occurs rather then suppressing it. How about you? Would you want to try this medication if you were in the position to need it, such as surviving a natural disaster? Tell me your thoughts.

Trauma Pill Could Make Memories Less Painful

-OndineMonet
"Memories"
January 18th, 2006
Berkeley, California
Afternoon

Round Robin Challenge: Super Model

"My boyfriend thinks I lost my true calling to be a librarian."

-Paulina Porizkova

I was thrilled when I heard what Becky's choice was for our current Round Robin challenge, because I could think of so many different images that could apply. Like these mannequins for instance. Now they are Super Models! I hate the new department store mannequins that have no head. To me it's...I don't know... creepy! So, when I happened onto this fun, trendy, very cool clothing store here in Berkeley, one day last year, and saw these girls I just knew had to photograph them. Suddenly I got to live out the fantasy of not being a Super Model, but a Super Model photographer! Now that would be a dream come true for me. I would love to have one of my photographs featured in a beautiful magazine like Vogue, and know that I got it right! Thanks Becky, cool challenge subject!

Be Sure to pay a visit to the other Round Robin participants

Becky, Karen, Derek, Kimberleigh, Betty, Tess, Gem, Nancy, TJ, Julie, Steven,
Sassy, Dorn, DesLily, rRose

-OndineMonet
"Glamour Girls"
Berkeley, California
Spring, 2005
Late Evening

Tagged By Wil...What Are My Top 5 Guilty Pleasures?

"Most men pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that they hurry past it."

-Soren Kierkgaard

My good friend Wil, author of the fabulous journal, "Daily Snooze," has tagged me to list for you my Top 5 guiltiest pleasures. :) Ok. I love doing memes, I find them challenging and fun, so it will be my pleasure to share with you my top five favorite guilty pleasures. Let me know if I surprise you...

1. Food. I love fresh fruits and vegetables, I like trying new cuisines and experimenting with creating new recipes. Food is art, and that is how I view it when I start with a few ingredients and then eventually come up with something good. It's art. Food should always be great to look at.

2. Music. I have a pretty wide variety of favorite songs in my Real Player. Alan is always making fun of the homemade CDs I make for long car rides because the music I put together never seem to go together. One such CD included Mozart, REM and Alvin & The Chipmunks. He actually asked me about 45 minutes into the 4 hour car ride, "Honey...do I need to phone Sarah?" LOL. Sarah is my therapist you see. LOL. "No darling," I explained, "I am doing just fine now." Tee Hee.

3. Humor. I LOVE the sound of laughter, either my own or someone else's. It's one of those universal things that can break down the highest wall and put one at ease. I remember I made a joke one time, at a moment when everyone around me was feeling very serious, it was a simple thing and the reaction could have been anything from anger to total indifference...I got lucky and the humor was understood. Laughter, caused by humor, is a nice sound.

4. Chocolate. I am not a big chocolate eater as far as it goes. I don't consider myself a chocoholic per se, but when I do have some I like specific chocolate experiences. Black Forest cake, Hot Chocolate with Raspberry syrup from Starbucks and I like Chocolate Mint ice-cream. I enjoy white chocolate as well, but again in moderation.

5. My photography is my top guilty pleasure. I can spend hours working on my photographs, either editing them, or planning for them. I was absolutely manic last year taking photos. I have estimated that I put about 4500 miles on my car last year just on photo jaunts alone, and except for a couple special trips, we stayed mostly in the Bay Area. I like the variety of subjects, I liked that even places I had seen my whole life, suddenly seemed all brand new when I was photographing them. It was like making a great discovery that no one else ever saw before. I get lost when I am with my camera, and sometimes I don't want to be found. :)

There are my five! Now if could just find a way to photograph David Duchovny, eating some chocolate at Starbuck's, while all the while laughing at one of my jokes, and then singing along with me to whatever great jazz is being played on the stereo. Bliss. Do you wanna play? If so, list your five guiltiest pleasures on your journal or blog, then come back and leave me your link so I can see what you come up with. Come on, you know you want to. :)

-OndineMonet
"Pure Guilt"
Berkeley, California
Spring, 2005

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Whoops!

"The one good thing about repeating your mistakes is that you know when to cringe."

-Unknown

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Show us a picture that didn't quite come out the way you wanted...but is still interesting.

-John Scalzi

I could have sworn I had it straight! Even with the tripod I seemed to be missing the mark as far as having my subject straight in my photos. I am happy to report however, that I have improved in this area of photo taking, if you don't count the photos I take after I have either fallen, slipped or otherwise lost my footing. Which seems to happen a lot. God help me...I truly am a dizzy dame. :)

-OndineMonet
"Dizzy Moments"
2005/2006
Lick Observatory, Palace Of Fine Arts,Red Robin

Ellipsis Flashback : January 16th, 2004

"I can't believe out of a hundred thousand sperm, you were the quickest." -Steven Pearl

It's a brand new year in the fictional town of Berkeley California. As you know, I am no longer Mayor of Berkeley because I was chosen "Pork Queen" at the "Winter Ball" and I am no longer "Pork Queen" because of my illegally spreading SPAM on the Internet, so I have gone back to my previous occupation...Romance Writer/Brain Surgeon. I was performing a lobotomy on my 3rd and 9th husband Rex Juan Don-Carlo MacKinsey, when one of the muses bit me on my butt and gave me the inspiration for my next romance novel, titled "Heading Back to The Love I Lost On A Beach In Saint Lucia While Snorkeling Nude." I know the title seems a bit long, but it's a grabber huh?

The new year brought a few surprises. My half-sister, the longshoremen, Bitty, was unloading a trawler when she suddenly, spontaneously gave birth to twins. With one sneeze, out they came. She didn't know she was pregnant, so imagine her surprise! Two boys, one named Rumor and the other named Trivia. Rumor was born with a full set of teeth and 13 toes, Trivia was born with a full head of hair and an extra nipple. Now that she is a Mom, Bitty has gone back to her former occupation...Sword Swallower. Good thing there is a high demand for them, as Berkeley can be somewhat of a circus. Her ex-boyfriend the de-seated Senator, Phillipe Timothy Steven Montoya, is joining her soon to help raise the young ones. Oh no, not again...Really folks, don't take a nap after snacking on raw Oysters and Red Cream soda.

Note: I am still under the weather, so, I thought I would bring you an Ellipsis flashback. This entry was originally written on January 16th, 2004 and is part two of my soap opera parody "As The Stomach Burns."

-OndineMonet

"New Rose" 1/15/06

Berkeley, California

And Now For Some Whine

"Never let yesterday use up today."

-Richard Nelson


Don't wanna! I don't wanna be profound, don't wanna be funny, don't wanna be cleaver, don't wanna be informative, don't wanna be intriguing, don't wanna be democrat, REALLY don't wanna be republican, don't wanna be pretty, don't wanna be a glamour puss, don't wanna be a writer, don't wanna be photographer, don't wanna be the first person to win the Nobel Peace Prize for blogging, don't wanna climb every mountain, don't wanna switch my long distance phone carrier, don't wanna sign a petition that says cell phones are instruments of the Devil, don't wanna have a debate on whether the Easter Bunny should be banned. I just don't wanna.




I do wanna find my heating pad, I do wanna be able to blow my own nose, I do wanna find my Buffy The Vampire Slayer 6th season DVD set, I do wanna eat some cantaloupe ice-cream with chocolate sprinkles and a half a can of Red-Whip on top, I wanna not have the flu...but I do! Kachoooiooooooooooooooooiiiooo! You see, I have the flu,which I apparently caught over the Internet from Karen. Thanks Karen :) Is there anything you, "Don't Wanna," or "Do Wanna?" Feel free to tell me all about it! Leave me a comment, speak up and speak out. Unless, you "Dont Wanna."

PS Drop by my photoblog to read an entry at least as interesting as this one!

-OndineMonet
"The Glass Is Neither Full Nor Empty"
October 24th, 2005
Reno Nevada
Late Afternoon

Shattuck Avenue Fondue {Recipe 1}

"The perfect lover is one who turns into a pizza at 4:00 a.m."

-Charles Pierce

Ok, so I have now officially kept my New Year's resolution, which was to begin creating more original recipes. This was a fun one to come up with. I took a simple Cheese Fondue recipe, and added a few ingredients that I thought would make it more interesting. I named my creation, "Shattuck Avenue Fondue," because my favorite cheese shop, the place where I buy all the scrumptious, yummy, sinfully delicious cheese for my recipes, is located on Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley. This is so easy, and very enjoyable to make. I made it just the other night for dinner, on a night when I just didn't have to energy to fuss too much, and then relaxed in front of the TV with it.

Shattuck Avenue Fondue

1 10 3/4 oz can Cheddar Cheese Soup
1/4 cup milk
1 /4 cup each of the following cheese, shredded
Cotswold, Mild Yellow Cheddar, Prima Donna Gouda, Gruyere
1/4 Vegetable broth
1 tbs. Cornstarch
2 tsp. Nutmeg
1/2 Loaf Extra Sour Dough French Bread, cubed

Pour milk into an electric, 3 Qt. Fondue pot, or medium sized, heavy, non-stick saucepan, and heat until it just begins to simmer. Set temperature setting to 200 degrees. Stir evenly as you add the canned soup and continue stirring until it reaches a nearly smooth consistency. Slowly stir in the shredded cheese in small quantities, while continuing to stir. Half way through, slowly stir in the vegetable broth and allow the mixture to begin to bubble slightly. Continue to stir gently while adding the remaining cheese mixture. When all the cheese appears to be well blended add nutmeg and stir thoroughly, but gently, making sure the cheese is not sticking to the bottom of the pot. The last step is to add the cornstarch to the cheese sauce depending on your preference of consistency. Turn the temperature gauge to warm, and serve with cubed French Bread, 4 cups mixed vegetables or your choice of cocktail meats. Makes 2-4 servings.

My kitchen is decorated with Pillsbury Doughboy everything! LOL. As you can see, he got the fondue all over his face! LOL. I think he liked it also. Tee Hee. I need a lot more practice photographing my fondue recipes. I had a difficult time with it for some reason, but the fact that there is apparently a challenge in it for me is a plus. It will be good to get some practice in photographing a subject that is new to me...food preparation.

-OndineMonet
"Shattuck Avenue Fondue"
Berkeley, California
January 11th, 2005
Evening

John Scalzi's Weekend Assignment #94: Evil Earworms

"Without music, life would be a mistake. I would only believe in a God who knew how to dance."

-Friedrich Nietzsche

Weekend Assignment #94: What's the worst possible song to get stuck in your head? You know: the song that once you hear it you cannot drive from your skull, even with an ice pick and a centrifuge. They have a word for that kind of song: "Earworm." We want to know what you consider to be the most evil earworm possible.

Extra Credit: Is there a song that can drive the evil earworm out?

-John Scalzi

Ahhh...music. This week's weekend assignment was chosen by AOL Journal Land's very own Editor Joe, and a fine fun weekend assignment it is! I have been haunted by many a tune, and YIKES, doesn't it always haunt one at the most inconvenient time possible? Cool idea for an assignment Joe! Now, speaking of being haunted by a tune, in late 2003 and most of 2004, I couldn't get "Take The Long Way Home," by Supertramp, out of my head. Ugg! Well, at least it was pleasant to hear day and night for months at a time. Thanks goodness it wasn't my choice for the worst song ever. Either to have to listen to one time, let alone over, and over, and over again, Unceasingly, unending, like a stuck needle on a turntable. No, THAT song would be the melodramatic wonder, MacArthur Park, as sung by Richard Harris. My whole life...I have NO idea what the heck it is about...

Spring was never waiting for us girl
It ran one step ahead
As we followed in the dance
Between the parted pages and were pressed
In love's hot, fevered iron
Like a striped pair of pants.

MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh No!

Huh? I mean I kinda get the feeling that maybe the relationship wasn't working out. I think. Shrug. But what's with all the food references? Is he hungry? Is he a chef in a fancy restaurant? Maybe he is a fry-cook in a greasy spoon. Shrug. And what's with, "In love's hot fevered iron...like a striped pair of pants." Sigh. LOL.

Extra Credit: There is help for irritating earworms, yep help is as close as your nearest copy of Chuck Berry's humorous hit, "My Ding-A-Ling." It just makes one smile. Observe...

When I was a little biddy boy
My grandma bought me a cute little toy
Two silver bells on a string
She told me it was my Ding-a-Ling...

My Ding-A-Ling, my Ding-A-Ling, I want you to play with my Ding-A-Ling
My Ding-A-Ling, my Ding-A-Ling, I want you to play with my Ding-A-Ling

When I was a little boy in grammar school
Always went by the very best rule
But everytime the bell would ring
You'd catch me playing with my Ding-a-Ling...

My Ding-A-Ling, my Ding-A-Ling, I want you to play with my Ding-A-Ling
My Ding-A-Ling, my Ding-A-Ling, I want you to play with my Ding-A-Ling

Once while climbing the garden wall
I slipped and fell and had a terrible fall
I fell so hard that I heard birds sing
But held onto my Ding-a-Ling...

My Ding-A-Ling, my Ding-A-Ling, I want you to play with my Ding-A-Ling
My Ding-A-Ling, my Ding-A-Ling, I want you to play with my Ding-A-Ling

Once while swimming cross turtle creek
Man them snappers right at my feet
Sure was hard swimming cross that thing
With both hands holding my Ding-A-Ling...

My Ding-A-Ling, my Ding-A-Ling, I want you to play with my Ding-A-Ling
My Ding-A-Ling, my Ding-A-Ling, I want you to play with my Ding-A-Ling

Now this here song it ain't so bad
Prettiest little song you ever had
And those of you who will not sing
Must be playing with your own Ding-A-Ling!

Imagine having this song stuck in your head! LOL. :) Now imagine humming it to yourself while shopping at the grocerie store. Now, imagine singing the lyrics to yourself while shopping and not realizing your buddy, Rabbi Gold, is walking right behind you...Giggling...Hi again Rabbi Gold! ;) LOL. Be sure to pay a visit to Joe's journal, "Magic Smoke," to read his entry for this week's assignment. :)

-OndineMonet
"Musician In The Rain"
By Dorsineau

Great Finds In Blogging

"He who wonders discovers that this in itself is wonder."

-M. C. Escher

It's a new year, and a new chance to share with you some great finds I have been coming across the blogsphere. Some are entries by old friends,that have inspired or touched me some way but one is a new friend I found by simply allowing myself to explore the new neighborhood of Blogspot. Thanks everyone, for having so much patience with me. And now on to the amazing talent around me...

Old Friends...

I was thrilled to find out that Duane, author of the AOL Journal, sotto voce, and contributing writer for The Blue Voice , has returned to blogging after taking a leave of absence from the land this past summer. Duane has recently updated his journal and written an excellent entry, this past week, for The Blue Voice, which can be found here. You should go by and give it a look see. Duane is one of the best political writers I have come across in Journal Land and the great work continues. Good to have you back Duane.

Another excellent entry I came across this past week comes by way of Patrick, author of, Patrick's Place. Every once in a blue moon Patrick and I will see eye to eye...well actually, it's a lot more often then that...LOL...but when that happens it's kinda fun to say, "Good for you! Point well made." In this particular entry Patrick discusses the folly of judging a book by it's cover. And a lot of other good points as well. Thanks Patrick for a thought provoking entry. Good for you! :) Check out the entry here.

Phinney...

The other morning I decided to drop by Phinney's journal, Paragon, to have a look at what she has been up to recently with her photography. I was stunned. Phinney has a talent with the camera that is amazing. Each of her photos displays such a deep well of emotion, even with the simplest of subject matter. If I had to choose one word to describe Phinney's journal it would be "Poignant." Her photographs need no words to accompany them...they speak volumes. Thank you Phinney! Don't ever put the camera down my dear one!

Wil...

Wil, you just amaze me everyday. LOL. Wil is definitely someone who keeps me on my toes. He has one of the better written journals in the land and he always displays an honestly which can't be beaten. I was surprised once to find out he enjoyed my writing so much, I think I even asked him why? He answered me in a way that had me laughing, and at the same time, taking some things a lot more seriously...such as my desire to be a writer. I have also appreciated his comments regarding my photography. I think I did a little better at it after some encouragement from him. I don't have one particular entry of Wil's to link to, how could I choose just one? Pay an visit to his journal, Daily Snoozee, and see for yourself. Thanks Wil! :)

A New Friend...

Just after the first of the year, I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood and pay a friendly, "hello" visit to my new neighbors. So, I clicked the little button in the upper right hand corner of my blog that reads, "Next Blog." The very next blog on the block was titled,Virtual Matter, and is authored by my new pal Jordy. His blog touches a little bit on political news, a little bit on the environment, he displays some very thought provoking images and shares some well thought out personal observations on many different topics. I think you will be as impressed with Jordy's blog as I am, please pay him a visit and see for yourself. He is one of those true, great, rare, finds that one is lucky to find not nearly often enough.

So there you have it...my first promo entry of the year. I want to do more of these, because I do see greatness all around me and I am inspired by so many here in the land. It makes me feel good to say thank-you for so many reasons, mostly for your friendship, your patience and for you being you. :) Now I am off to remember a fond memory, my fantasy dinner this past summer with David Duchovny...David I am right over here. :) Sigh.

-OndineMonet
"Dinner With David"
Berkeley, California
Summer, 2005
Early Evening