quotes..part 1

i'm not going to talk about wise saying by famous people and take the famous quotes from google or books but i'm going to write bout some quotes that i will never forget either from my parents, friends, teachers, strangers or other people around me..1. love that has been shown off is a fake one..at the end, only money that matters -momthis is quite funny..but it's kinda true right?..call my mom a

tag..tag..tag..

i din get tag by anyone..i just wanna do it myself since i feel like doing it..XDDhere we go..1. adakah anda rasa anda hot? --> hot?..haha..never..i'm not even a slim or pretty person..how come i become a hot one?..LMAO2. update wallpaper yang anda guna sekarang.. 3. cerita pasal gambar ni --> it's changmin!!..my favourite and handsome youngest maknae ever!..i miss him much and i

Monday's Music Moves Me: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

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First off, let me apologize for posting SO late, my laptop died at 1:30am Saturday morning - URGH!!  I think it is just the power adapter and I'm waiting for that to come in,

Old Friends, New Friends

It's so hard to say goodbye. A couple of weeks ago I learned that Flying Dog would be discontinuing the 21-year old Wild Goose line of beers. Wild Goose was a creation of the original Frederick brewing company which was purchased several years ago by Flying Dog. Apparently Flying Dog needs more space in the brewery to grow the Flying Dog brand. My favorite Wild Goose brew is their winter seasonal, Snow Goose. After checking for it this year at Norm's, I was informed that the final batch of Snow Goose would only be distributed in MD. While in Mason Dixon line state for Thanksgiving I stopped by the Perfect Pour to pick up a few things you can't get in Virginia. While there I came across Snow Goose and had to pick up a sixer for old times sake.


Last weekend I didn't have time to brew, but I still felt the urge to ferment something (it's a sickness). So I thought I'd try my hand at another cider. Cider is incredibly easy to "brew." A couple of gallons of organic cider and yeast is about all that's needed. Last night I decided to throw in a third ingredient, a quart of cranberries. Why a quart? Why not. I think I will finish this off with about a pound of turbinado sugar to add some residual sweetness and rummy undertones.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

-Brew

Brandcation: Day at Disney World

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The final day of Brandcation we were so lucky to be given a one day park hopper pass to Walt Disney World - which right now is all decked out for the holidays! Now you all know that I was extremely excited to show the ladies I was with all the fantastic places in Disney!




Lisa and I started out at the Magic Kingdom and had such a wonderful time visiting some of the best places. Then we 

A Family Thanksgiving

Gary and I celebrated Thanksgiving this year with my entire extended Italian family (with the exception of my sister and mom - who we "skyped" in from San Diego, CA via laptop computer). The meal was a typical 5-course Italian holiday dinner:

Antipasto (my contribution - pictured)

Primo: lasagna
Secondo: organic turkey (Griggstown Farm)
Contorni: yams and marshmallows, two types of stuffing, green beans, breaded asparagus, spaghetti squash, mash potatoes, cranberry jello, stuffed mushrooms
Dolce: cannoli, chocolate cake, pie (apple and blueberry), cookies, pumpkin cheesecake

The nicest part of the dinner, however, wasn't the incredible food - rather it was the people around the dinner table who made it a day I'll always treasure - Gary, my uncle, my aunt, my grandparents, my cousins...we were all together, in one place, simultaneously sharing memories and making them.

Of course, one dinner table topic of conversation was my health - everyone wanted to know: is the cancer gone? I guess you could say that I'm in remission, since technically that means that you aren't showing signs or symptoms of the cancer. Remission, however, does not mean "cured" - even if you do not show signs or symptoms, cancer cells may still be growing like crazy. Also, my neuroendocrine system has been forever effected as a result of the cancer- and fevers and pain are still a daily struggle. So I guess I just don't have a solid answer. There is part of me that wants to say, "yup - 100% A-OK, don't worry - nothing to see here - everything is perfect"... and then there is the other part of me that wants to say, "it's too early to tell so don't leave my side for too long"... Regardless of what the cancer may or may not do in the future, right now - I am so very grateful for the time I have.

A Pre-Dinner Read
Three Generations: my grandmother, aunt and cousin

Watching Thanksgiving Football
Three Generations: my grandfather, uncle and cousins
Bonus: a picture of my great grandfather and his father playing bocce ball
Double Bonus: Gary!

Thanksgiving Cartoon of the Day - What are you Thankful For?

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{Click to Enlarge}

I'm thankful for my family, friends and for cranberries!  :-)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING MY FRIENDS!!!

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To all my dear friends... I wish you all a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving!
I hope you are able to share the day with the ones you love enjoying good food, friendship, health and love.



While you are enjoying your time with your families, please remember the troops who are deployed and are far away from those that they love. Please say a prayer that they all come home safely to their

Another Thanksgiving Cartoon To Make You Smile

Happy Thanksgiving...

Remember all that we have to be thankful for!

Brandcation: Airboats, Birds and Gators, OH MY!

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Part of our spectacular Brandcation weekend included adventures to two amazing places where we had the greatest adventures and saw some incredible sights.





Our first stop on Saturday morning was Boggy Creek Airboat Rides for a wonderful, albeit COLD, glide through the wetlands on a beautiful wildlife tour.  While we didn't see any alligators because of the weather, we did see some

support us!

dearies..can u guys show us your support??..please watch this vid and like..we are entering MBC audition..hope u guys can help us..thanks in advance..=Dbut you guys have to watch it on YOUTUBE!..CLICK HERE AND 'LIKE'

Wordless Wednesday: Brandcation Fun with Lisa

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WORDLESS
This is Lisa from 50 in 8, we became such great friends, I really miss her, and talk to her almost every day via email or Twitter. 








We had SO much fun, I cannot wait to get together again with these absolutely fabulous women!

Cartoon of the Day - Thanksgiving

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A Thanksgiving funny to start getting you in the mood.....


{Click to enlarge}

Wishing you all fun as you prepare for the holiday. Be safe if you are traveling and please remember our troops and their families who will not be together this holiday.

 

Holiday Gift Idea

For the men in your life. Guaranteed to please. Nothing says I love you better than a side saddle for a man's brew. See the following link for details.

"The Closer" on TNT - Season 5 Giveaway

.**GIVEAWAY CLOSED - WINNERS CHOSEN!!!**




If you recall, I wrote a post a little over a week ago about my LOVE of the TNT TV show "The Closer" and how the final shows of season 6 will begin showing on TNT on December 6th at 9:00/8:00c - I already have my DVR set to record all the episodes just in case I'm not home.  :-)
Well, the extremely generous people of TNT have offered THREE of my

memories..

there are many types of memories, right?..but what i'm going to talk about is a few of my memories that can't be forgotten..they are not important events..it just happen that they can't get out of my brain..XDbear with me..they kinda random..1. my mak long's milo!!..her milo seriously is a taste that i can't forget..2. the way of my pak long eats his rice with kuah masak asam..i don't know..maybe

Monday's Music Moves Me: "T" is for.....

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Welcome back to our rockin' good meme Monday's Music Moves Me! The exciting music meme that XmasDolly and I are hosting, now along with Larry from Cakeblast and Callie from

My 1st cheese!

I've taken up cheesemaking! With my ample free time available to silly hobbies, I've started dedicating myself to the art of cheese. I figured Ashton is making beer, Andy was making bread, what's the next best thing? Cheese! For someone as decidedly un-sciencey as myself, cheese is actually a pretty big challenge (what's a mesophilic culture??), but TOTALLY satisfying and REALLY fun. So far I've only got 1 cheese under my belt, but I've assembled a few more supplies and am ready for round 2!

The first cheese I made is probably one of the most basic ones around- a simple lemon basil cheese, made from a half gallon of pasteurized whole milk from a cow + 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice, salt to taste, and some freshly picked basil from our pet plant. I slowly brought the milk up to 165 degrees F while stirring to avoid scalding, and once it was removed from the heat I added the lemon juice and let the mixture rest for 15 minutes. After that, I poured it into a cheesecloth lined colander and tied into into a ball and placed it in a large pot to catch the drippings while it sat in the fridge for an hour. Once I took it out, it had clumped into a ricotta-esque spread to which I added the salt and basil and voila! It's one of the few recipes that doesn't call for calcium chloride, rennet, or cultures, so for my first time it was absolutely perfect. In the end I could have used a bit more salt and maybe a tad more lemon juice for some zazz, but overall it was wonderfully spreadable and lent itself beautifully to a breakfast schmear.

Next I'll making paneer (the basic Indian cheese) and I've just gotten my cultures in the mail and some goat's milk chilling in the fridge, so stay tuned!

Jumbo Slice, Adams Morgan

Nothing helps curb a hangover like a big, greasy slice of pizza, and there are no bigger slices around than Washington, D.C.'s Adams Morgan neighborhood
Jumbo Slices! They nightly serve up their humongous 'slices' to hungry crowds of barhoppers desperate for some calories. Each piece is about the size of my entire torso, and to say it's just one is a cruel joke to play on your digestive system. However, two warring establishments lay claim to the best jumbo slice in DC, and having patronized the original recipe Jumbo Slice Pizza after a night of drinking and debauchery I can safely give my stamp of approval to it as the superior jumbo slice available. If you find yourself in the Adams Morgan area with a rumbling stomach, dare to compare and take on one of the mighty slices to declare your own winner. Really, it seems like win-win, doesn't it?

Image taken from Yachad-DC.org/

Island Spice Jamaican Restaurant

Last year as I was preparing to head to Jamaica with my family for an island Christmas extravaganza in lieu of gifts, the owner of my company handed me a business card for Island Spice Restaurant and suggested that I give it a whirl. I tucked it absentmindedly into my pocket and forgot about it, despite working only a few blocks down the same street. After experiencing the claustrophobic joy of a Sandals resort, where all-inclusive food doesn't necessarily represent the local potential or even variety, I have to say I wasn't exactly enthused on the idea of some more mediocre Americanized dry chicken rubbed with pseduo-jerk sauce and cold beans with rice.

However, the idea and hope that Jamaican food might actually have something to get my tastebuds tingling led me to re-evaluate my previous prejudice, and a few of my more adventurous co-workers decided to join me for a meat-filled feast of curried goat, Jamaican BBQ chicken, and jerk chicken, each served with a side of red beans and rice and warmed vegetables. Ordering over the phone was easy, and based on the brief conversation with the harried employee your feelings are not taken into consideration, which leads me to believe that the food had better be damn good for them to stay in business.

Although I was told that each lunch plate came with fried plantains, none were to be found, and at $1 for a side I was disappointed with the lack of them despite our request. However, the meats themselves were surprisingly tender and absolutely wonderful; the BBQ chicken especially had a tender, juicy quality and the sauce packed a wallop that I had trouble not licking from the plate. The jerk chicken was no American falsetto; rather it did the nation proud with just the right amount of rubbed spices and tender meat hanging from the bone. The curried goat could easily be shared, unless one has a soft spot for a gutfull of the wonderfully greasy meat and marrow-filled bones. I was pleased with the amount of delectable marrow I was able to suck from the bones themselves, and while the curry lacked the spicy punch of the two chicken dishes, the meat was a unique and flavorful treat the likes of which I have not experienced within the city limits.

The dark greens and corn were wonderfully prepared and added an exotic, almost African quality to the entire plate. The red beans and rice were mediocre at best- a basic addition that served only to sop up the wonderful juices now running from our chins as we moaned in delight. Happily, my co-workers were more than willing to split all of the lunch meats so we could all have a taste of each dish, and while I think the vegetarians are out of luck in this particular restaurant, I recommend it as an off-the-beaten-path experience for those looking for an adventuresome, meatcentric meal.

Island Spice
2820 Market Street
San Diego, CA 92102-3105
(619) 702-9309

Does Not Play Well With Others

I've been away too long.  Using the worn-out excuses of "no time" and "no blog ideas" I skipped a few weeks.  Back to it!

I have never hosted Thanksgiving.  We have always gone to a family member's home and enjoyed the holiday there.  This year, I wanted to host it myself.  I wanted a nice, quiet holiday with my husband, my kids, their significant others, and my dad and his wife.  Small, lots of food, cozy.    Everything was in place until I received a call tonight from my former sister-in-law.  My ex's mother is not doing well, and I was asked if my kids could spend some time at her home on Thanksgiving (typically "my" holiday with the kids).  Thanks, Universe!  So...what was I to say?  "Nope, too bad, I already bought $200 worth of turkey and stuffing?"  Of course not.  My first response was to suggest that they host their dinner a little early, and I could push mine back so the kids could do both (we all live in the same town).  Sounds reasonable, right?  Then, I thought about it.  Hmm.  My ex is not known to be reasonable when it comes to scheduling.  How often has this worked?  How many times have I compromised and had the plan bite me in the backside anyway?  Every other time I have sat waiting, sometimes for hours, while the kids were delayed and late.   Grrr, what to do?

So, I called my stepmother and told her what was going on, and that we weren't sure what time we'd be doing  dinner because we were going to try to accommodate the kids visiting their grandma.  She in turn said that they had heard there was a large blizzard that was supposed to hit on Thanksgiving, and they were wondering if we might want to do dinner on Friday so they wouldn't have to drive in it.  AHHH!  Another variable.

Gotta think.  For crying out loud, the poor woman is nearing the end of her life...Thanksgiving is just a day...I like leftover turkey...and hey, Thanksgiving is about being thankful and enjoying the people around me.  It isn't about requiring others to meet my perceived need to host this holiday dinner, and it certainly isn't about stressing because I'm trying to make an unworkable situation work.  Would the kids be happy at my place knowing that their grandma is NOT seeing them?  Would that make me happy?  NO to both questions.  Will anyone win if we sit around holding dinner until it gets cold and clammy, hoping they will arrive, while they stress about leaving their grandma to come to my house?  Do I want my dad and his wife driving in a blizzard to get here?  BAH!  Game off.


So, my wonderful, wonderful husband and I talked it out.  Bottom line, we want to do a big dinner on Thanksgiving, and whomever can come can come.  I called everyone and told them they were free to do whatever they needed.  We are doing dinner, come if and when you can, and no hard feelings.  You know the funny part?  There really ARE no hard feelings.  I don't feel badly at all.  I am totally happy stepping to the side of the whole game, not trying to play with ever-changing rules and conditions, not trying to accommodate everyone's wishes and needs, not playing!

Does not play well with others, and couldn't be happier.

kpop collections..

these are my current pics for my kpop collections..i got few more others that dun have in the picture..but yeah..these are some of it..this pic is my other kpop stuff..SuJu,UKISS,MBLAQ,2PM,Big Bang, B2ST n others..DBSK stuff..

XmasDolly: FAVORITE WIGS.COM Review/Give-Away A WIG Valued up to $75

My friend Dolly, you all know her, has this amazing giveaway going on at her blog, XMasDolly, for a WIG valued up to $75 from Favorite Wigs ... I'm really excited about this because now that I got all my hair cut off, I'm kind of missing the long curls I used to have. It would be nice to be able to have long beautiful hair when I get dressed up for holiday parties this year and if I can win

tag...

i was tag by purpleKyua. create your own title..b. write 25 things that you think people should know about you..1. a full time Cassiopeia..part time as others..^^2. ultimate Jaejoong bias..3. get angry easily if people bad-mouth about my idols..i don't touch yours..why touch mine?...>.<4. love to spend money on buying kpop stuff instead of other things..5. don't like SNSD..fullstop..*but i like

My Little Boy is Back on American Soil

Just wanted you all to know that my little boy Nikolaus arrived back in the U.S.A. on Wednesday morning around 10:30am - talk about a totally relieved mom!!


He still has some things to do at his post in Connecticut, where he lives with his girlfriend, Michelle, and where he is based out of, but as soon as everything gets settled, he and Michelle are going to come down here to visit us... You

Thanksgiving Recipes From Butterball *Giveaway*

{Image Credit}
My friend Caryn from Rockin Mama has a terrific giveaway on her blog, Rockin Mama, just in time for Thanksgiving. She is giving away two gift checks good for a Butterball Turkey. I don't know about you, but I LOVE Butterball turkeys... they are the only ones we eat in our house. They just have that special flavor and juiciness that no other kind of bird offers.

Click on this link

Happy 82nd Birthday Mickey Mouse

Most of you who read my blog know that I am a HUGE Disney fan and my favorite character of all is Mickey Mouse!
So it is only fitting that today on his 82nd birthday that I honor him with a special cake:




So have a piece of cake and sing along with me:







Happy Birthday, my dear friend Mickey Mouse!!

everything is DBSK..

♥I LOVE THEM FOREVER AND ETERNALLY♥see the five guys up there?..guess you guys already know them right?..all kpop fans should be recognized this amazing group..it is super weird if you don't..anyway, in this post i would love to tell why i love the boys..people often ask me why i'm so into them..why not attracted to others just like i attracted to them..as for me..i will tell u why...1. they can

don't know bout these...

call me outdated or whatsoever u wanna call me but yes..i admit that i don't even know about these freakin' applications..their existence seems so silence to me to get acknowledge..anyway..i don't even know that personas can be applied in cometbird..*stupid me*..i know the features and everything is similar to firefox..it's just that i didn't expect that the persona theme also can be applied..

We've Moved!

Now that our new website is up and running, you can access our blog directly from our main website. Follow this link to get you there, http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/blog/, and be sure to change your bookmarks!

See you over at the new site!

We've Moved!

Now that our new website is up and running, you can access our blog directly from our main website. Follow this link to get you there, http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/blog/, and be sure to change your bookmarks!

See you over at the new site!

Brandcation + Dinner Shows = AMAZING

During Brandcation last weekend we had the opportunity to visit two of the dinner theaters here in town and we had a fantastic time.

On Friday night, we went to Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show... here is what the website says about Sleuths:

"Join us in one of our three intimate and climate-controlled theatres as you mingle with outrageous characters. Watch out, you might be chosen for a cameo

The Evolution of Toys

I bought a new car; it is the first new car that I have ever owned.

It is green ... the kind of green that prompted my grandmother, the day after she first saw it, to write me an email asking permission to name it the Green Hornet; permission granted.

When I picked up the Green Hornet from the dealer, I was struck by the irony of the situation; here I was buying a brand new bright green car while simultaneously teaching Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby in senior honors English. Gatsby is a symbolic novel, and may be best remembered for the green light at the end of Daisy's dock, which serves as a beacon for Gatsby's romantic, albeit naive, optimism. The 1920s American automobile is also used in symbolic fashion as a metaphoric vehicle for rebellious self-indulgence - speeding past landscapes of the materially wealthy and spiritually poor until all that is left is a blur of moral irresponsibility. In the end, Gatsby's rose-tinged longing for the past spectacularly crashes head-first into an ash-grey wall of reality, constructed from the burnt-up reminents of the American dream.

As Americans, our fascination with "stuff" starts at an early age. When I was growing up in the 1980s, every kid wanted a "Green Machine" - a three wheeler by Huffy with serious pizazz. Thinking back, I can almost hear those oversized black plastic wheels chewing up driveway concrete, and the joyful squeels of excitement from rider and onlookers alike. I think somehow we have misinterpreted those childhood memories - we remember the toys more than the experiences, and try to regain those innocent delightful feelings by acquiring things rather than enjoying moments.

Cars can be symbols for traveling back to the past or hurrying into the future; both trips however have the same destination: to transport us away from the hurts and insecurities of the present. So as I set out for new adventures in my Green Hornet, I will try my best to drive toward a place of fresh possibilities rather than following detours back to a land of worn-out dreams.

"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter - tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther ... And one fine morning -- So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past" The Great Gatsby

Wordless Wednesday: Three of my Babies at Veteran's Day Ceremony

WORDLESS

Nano Bytes

Mandie Kathryn

Lady Mia

To see more Wordless Wednesday posts, visit the WW Hub (along with several other places throughout the blogosphere), link up and don't forget to leave a comment.

 
{Thank you to my good friend Jan for these wonderful photos of my precious babies - love you, Jan!!}
 
 

News from Afghanistan.... Guess Who's Coming Home

I got a message on Facebook from my son Nikolaus in Afghanistan... he should be back in the United States in a few days... WooHoo!!
Guess who is doing the happy dance???    

Brandcation Event - Florida Ecosafaris

On Friday during Brandcation we got up really early (at least really early for me   ) and headed deep into St. Cloud to Florida Ecosafaris for an amazing day of adventure.


From their website.....

"Let Us Take You On An Unforgettable Journey into Forever Florida, a 4700 acre eco-ranch and wildlife conservation area boasting beautifully untamed wilderness, natural streams, wetlands and dense

Monday's Music Moves Me: Elvis is Still the King

Welcome back to our rockin' good meme Monday's Music Moves Me! The exciting music meme that XmasDolly and I are hosting, now along with Larry from Cakeblast and Callie from

Cartoon of the Day - Bath Time

When I saw this, I thought of my friend Kathleen from Life with 4 Boys that I really got to know while at Brandcation last weekend:

(click to enlarge)

I am also REALLY happy that Kathleen got to take home the vacuum that Sears donated for our conference - she totally deserved it!!

Hokie Victory, IPA Joy, and Carbonation Woe

Mrs. HolzBrew and I had some friends over to watch VT play UNC on ESPN. The game was fantastic, despite an early Carolina lead the Hokies came roaring back in the third quarter and that's all she wrote. As Natie always reminds me, we are a second half team.

The VT game was a great chance to unleash the Hopping Mad IPA and see what everyone thought. For the most part the reviews were positive. Most people went back for seconds, or even thirds. Lot's of citrusy flavors and all around hoppiness!

At half time I broke out a bottle of my holiday ale, reindeer games. Again I think it was well received. It is a Golden Strong ale in a similar vein to Duvel. I also broke out a bottle of our Noir Favorite Ale (a belgian dark ale blended with Framboise). I corked the bottles two weeks ago and they weren't exactly carbonated yet. We'll have to see if a couple more weeks does the trick or will I need to take more extreme measures? Hopefully the yeast is just slow moving. Otherwise it will be a pain in the arse to pitch new yeast in such a small batch (only a 2.5 gallon batch) and then recork the bottles.

Let's go Hokies,

-HolzBrew

Choikang Changmin

few days back as i watched DBSK old vids..i cried so hard when i saw our handsome and mischievous maknae..i miss him so bad..his ridiculous high-pitch voice..his mismatch eyes..his smirk..his tease to the members..everything..yes!..once again i said i miss SHIM CHOIKANG CHANGMIN!..as for Yunho n JYJ boys..often heard news about them and know their whereabouts..but it's a different situation for

The Beginning....

what is the difference can be made when looking at sunrise and sunset in pictures?..can't really make a difference right?..except the fact that in our mind we know it rises from the east and set in the west..but as for me...sunset is a mark that we have made another day as a history..whether it's a bad or good experience on that day..it doesn't really matter..take it as a lesson and guideline to

niagara falls.....

you must be wondering why suddenly i post about niagara falls right?..take a break from kpop a while..actually i dun have anything to blog yet i must find something to post..and this picture of fierce pouring water popped up in my head..and dang!..this what i have found..LOL..well, niagara fall has caught my attention long time ago and it never fails to amaze me everytime i look at it..one of my

MTV JYJ Wallpaper

THE BOYS LOOK SO GOOD!!...=Dcredit: MTV Site

PC Students Join the Fight Against Carcinoid Cancer

PC Students Advocate for Carcinoid Cancer Awareness

Last year, I made the difficult decision of sharing my Carcinoid cancer diagnosis with the students, faculty and staff of Paramus Catholic High School (PC), where I teach 11th and 12th grade English. Since then, the outpouring of care and concern from the PC community has been overwhelming; and when I mentioned that this year was the first ever Worldwide NET Cancer Awareness Day (WNCAD), my students were eager to advocate for an increased awareness of this rare disease. Below are just a few of the ways that PC joined the fight against Carcinoid cancer:

Paladin News Network Anchors

Every morning, the students, faculty and staff of Paramus Catholic High School tune into a live broadcast over Paladin News Network (PNN) for prayer, the pledge, and announcements. During the month of November, the students of PNN decided to help raise awareness about neuroendocrine tumors by delivering their telecast in front of a greenscreen featuring zebra stripes and a Carcinoid Cancer Awareness logo.

Paladin Awareness Cancer Team Table

On November 10th, the students of PACT - PC's cancer awareness club - set up a table outside of the cafeteria to distribute information about NET cancers. They also created and administered a quiz on Carcinoid cancer, which over 300 students took in order to win prizes such as zebra striped pins, stickers, and bracelets. PACT also decorated their bulletin board with zebras and facts about Carcinoid cancer.

792 Signatures: WNCAD Proclamation

In addition to student-sponsored advocacy, on November 10th my colleagues in the English department took a break from vocabulary, grammar, composition, and literature to talk about my story and encourage students to sign the WNCAD Proclamation, which acknowledges the need for increased awareness about NET cancers and better access to treatment for Carcinoid cancer patients. Because of their efforts, we gathered 792 signatures in a single day.

Our school's mascot, a Paladin, is a knight of uncommon valor and virtue who fights injustices in the world - I'd say that the students and faculty of PC have certainly lived up to the Paladin legend through their incredible efforts in supporting the Carcinoid cancer community.

Brandcation Stay at Global Resort Homes - THANK YOU!!!

  

{Banner courtesy of UPrinting.com}

While I was at Brandcation this past weekend, I had the privilege of staying at Global Resort Homes at Windsor Hills Resort in Kissimmee. There where 33 of us that stayed in 4 of these gorgeous homes... here is the house that me and 8 other women stayed in.... and I would like to thank those women for being SO generous in allowing me to have the bedroom on

The Closer on TNT Season 6 Final Episodes

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One of my FAVORITE shows on TNT is "The Closer" staring Kyra Sedgwick, among others, including the adorable G.W. Bailey (whom I have loved since M*A*S*H).  TNT will show the rest of season 6 beginning December 6th 9/8c - and I can hardly wait.  Here is a mid-season 6 recap:




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Want to learn more about "The

Wordless Wednesday: My Goofy Pirate

WORDLESS


Meeting Pirate Goofy at Disney World during Brandcation this past weekend was one of the most exciting things - it was SO much fun!
To see more Wordless Wednesday posts, visit the WW Hub, link up and don't forget to comment.

The Wait is OVER: WNCAD is Here!

visit: http://netcancerday.org

What is WNCAD you ask? Only the first ever Worldwide NET Cancer Awareness Day (Nov 10th). Wear zebra print (or at least black and white) tomorrow to show your support for the Carcinoid Cancer community.

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." ~Jane Howard

Monday's Music Moves Me has Gone Country

  *** By the way, I want to thank my cohosts for holding down the fort this week and last week - with particular mention to my good buddy Dolly  as I was getting ready for my

Hi, Kids.... I'm Home!

Howdie everyone!  Did you miss me???  Boy, do I have a ton of things to tell you about my trip...
I took over 400 pictures that I have to upload and go through and a million thoughts in my stuffed up head to go through - I got a little cold over the weekend.

I first of all want you to know how much I LOVED meeting all the fabulous women that were at Brandcation with me. We had SO much fun,

Lamplighter Roasting Company, Richmond, VA

What gets you mentally and physically going in the morning? For some, it's coffee. For some, it's bikes. If you happen to bike to get coffee, so much the better, and if you happen to bike to get coffee at Lamplighter in Richmond, well then it sounds like your day is off to a good start! The eternally-vacant gas station fell into disrepair long before I breezed through River City, but it's finally gone to great use as Richmond's newest revamped coffee shop/roaster/cafe/hangout of hipsters and hoboes alike. Catering to a quirky and hugely varied clientele, the things that keep people coming back in droves are the coffee and eats. Despite having become a permanent West Coaster pre-opening, I had the opportunity to stop by Lamplighter due to countless word-of-mouth praises and now every time I'm back in Richmond I make it a point to stop by; we've even been able to spread the tall bike coffee love in San Diego, bringing back pounds of various roasts to distribute amongst like-minded coffee aficionados (while keeping a few for ourselves).




One of the especially great things is their policy of giving a free iced coffee if you buy a pound of beans (any roast). I'm not exactly how stringent this policy is (the entire staff seems to be in their early to mid twenties and nary a tattoo-free employee is to be found), but it seems consistent enough to pass along as gospel. Their menu is large without being overwhelming or even too varied; lots of the breakfast basics are covered, along with plenty of animal-free dishes as well. Kitschy touches abound, and DIY details lend a complete air of freedom without becoming sloppy; despite being run by a young group of bike hooligans, professionalism is not compromised with comfort and a cozy repertoire. Feel free to bring your mom along with your dog, and if possible squeeze outside on the covered patio to avoid the slightly claustrophobic dining space (it's a bit too small to even really be called a room). Coffee is a must, and while the food isn't to die for, it's yet to prove to be a disappointment.



Richmond continues to undergo various facelifts in sections of the city, and with Acacia Midtown just around the corner and new condos springing up all along Cary Street, Lamplighter is another welcome addition to the neighborhood. Recommended for ages 1-100, animals welcomed, biking is encouraged.


Lamplighter
116 S. Addison Street (corner of Parkwood and Addison)
RVA 23220

Hopping Mad

A couple of pictures from kegging the Hopping Mad IPA. The first picture is a shot of the left over dry hops in the fermenter and the fresh whole leaf dry hops added to the keg. The second picture was taken while checking the finishing gravity, which is done to calculate the ABV %. Isn't it beautiful? The Hopping Mad ABV came in around 7.7% ABV.

Keep it hoppy,

HolzBrew

last paper...

i will continue blogging maybe after friday which is my last paper for finals..^^wish me luck k...=D

speechless..................

few days back i've joined JYJ vid contest and apparently my vid was not selected and i guess i'm not among the lucky ones..well, my intention to do the vid was to show my support to the boys and i don't know i'm going to be this sad coz not being chosen..well, maybe i'm this sad coz they said the vids have been reviewed by the boys themselves..seriously, i'm not a good speaker and not someone who

Monday's Music Moves Me: I Love Bill

 ***For those of you who played along with us this week and I didn't visit: I am SOOOO sorry!! I haven't been feeling too well and I have been so busy getting ready for a conference this weekend (I will be away all weekend) that time just got away from me and I got really behind. I hope you won't hold it against me and will still play with us next week... I will do better next Monday and try to

Cartoon of the Day - Husband's Can Be So Clueless, Sometimes

Did he REALLY just say that?????

{Click to Enlarge)

R-I-G-H-T!!! 'Nuff said!!

Wordless Wednesday: Halloween Candy

WORDLESS


This is the candy I started with.

This is how far I got on Saturday.

Half-way through on Sunday morning....
I made 210 baggies with 10 pieces of candy and a little spider ring in each baggie, we started getting trick-or-treaters at around 5:00pm and ran out just before 8:30pm ~ we had a lot of fun!!
For more Wordless Wednesday go to the WW Hub, link your post and visit the other

Team Ra-Ras Kicks Breast Cancer - Susan G. Komen for the Cure Philadelph...

My friend Dolly ~ you all know her ~ sent this to me in honor of her mother, Carmela Seminara Chamberlin Kary, who was a breast cancer survivor and lived to the ripe old age of 84. I was so impressed with Dolly's love of her mother, that I wanted to share this fabulous video with you. For every person who views it, United Healthcare will donate to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization.

Food Wars- Lobster Rolls

Lobster rolls are to Maine what cheesesteaks are to Philly, and if you haven't had the opportunity to head to the cold netheregions of the Maine coast to enjoy one of the delectable seafood-stuffed sandwiches, I strongly advise you to turn off your computer and hustle there ASAP by any means necessary. Traditionally, lobster rolls contain a generous portion of lobster meat tossed with mayo and served on a hot-dog style bun; however, there are endless variations to the classic, ranging from the slight to unrecognizable. Lobster contains a lot of connotations in the food world representing power, wealth, and huge debates continuously arise around the world about the sustainability and availability of the clawed crustacean. However, with Maine waters teeming with these prized creatures, it remains one of the staple foods of the Northeast and the pride of generations.

While there are thousands of tiny clapboard buildings littered all over the state, each with their own unique spin or traditional homage to the lobster roll, Kennebunkport, Maine lays claim to two powerhouse institutions each boasting the best rolls fresh from the source of the Kennebunk River. I've actually been to the Clam Shack in my ventures to the ever-chilled state, and while there are few foods that San Diego can't reinvent or simply execute better than anyone else anywhere in the world, there's simply no duplicating the lobster roll eaten at the source. When anything is pulled from its home, killed in front of you, and served within moments of its death dressed on its coffin plate with only slight garnishes to enhance the still-living flavor... well, there's just nothing quite like it. Food Wars visited the seaside town to umpire the clash of the crustaceans between the Clam Shack and Alisson's Restaurant, so if your tastebuds are salivating (which they should be at this point), check out the episode's sneak peek below.



My own first lobster roll met its demise a few years ago at the Maine Lobster Festival in Portland, which is a fantastic food festival dedicated to the king of the sea and all his attendants. Let's just say it took a few bottles of suds to get that hat on me.



As convoluted as lobster's history has been and remains to be, it continues to uphold a crowning glory of a long, proud American tradition. I sincerely hope that the seas clear and lobster settles back into its rightful place as ruler of the sea. In the meantime, a hot buttery bun and some fresh lobster meat would do me just fine.

Been Brewing

I haven’t been blogging much lately. There, I said it. Why? I’ve been busy brewing:

1) A few weeks ago I corked the 2010 HolzBrew Holiday Ale, dubbed “Reindeer Games.” This was my first experience using a corker, but after a test run it was pretty easy to figure out. I basically followed the steps laid out in the following excellent article in BYO magazine.
If you brew and are interested in presentation, investing in a corker is the way to go. I think for something like a Holiday Ale that you pass out to friends and family as gifts, it really makes your homebrew unique.

The beer is a Belgian strong golden ale that I brewed back in July and subsequently lagered for approximately two months. I understand that Duvel-Moorgat lagers Duvel and I hope to emulate some of the fantastic flavors you find in that beer.

2) A few months back I was inspired to focus on brewing Belgian ales after reading Brew Like a Monk by Stan Hieronymus (a great gift for the holidays), an excellent book for those interested in trying their hand at Belgian brewing. To contrast with Reindeer Games, I brewed a Belgian dark strong ale a few weeks later. My main inspirations for this ale were St Bernardus Abt 12 and Ommegang Three Philosophers. The end result is probably leaning more toward Three Philosophers as the beer definitely has a fruity-raspberry kick. Long story short, I bottled that beer this weekend and am eagerly waiting for an opportunity to crack one open.

3) About two months ago I brewed an Extra Stout. This is currently on tap at la casa HolzBrew. I dry hopped the keg with 3 ounces of cracked espresso beans, which really imparts a fresh coffee flavor. I love dry hopping kegs and I'm not sure why it me until recently to start doing this.

4) About 5 weeks ago I decided to get back to my roots and brew up a good 'ole fashion tongue scorching IPA for kegging sometime in the next couple of weeks. This is the first time I have brewed an IPA with something other than California Ale yeast. I decided to branch out and try some yeast from the other side of the pond, Ringwood Ale Yeast. I hopped with a combination of Centennial, Simcoe, and Warrior hops. The IBUs on this thing is off the charts, can't wait!

5) This past weekend I brewed up a batch of lambic. I stuck pretty closely to a partial mash recipe that I found online. This brew should be done fermenting sometime in 2012 (no kidding), so I'll have to exercise some patience. I'm already planning on splitting the batch and bottling some of it unblended and blending the other half of the batch with Marionberries (that's right, there is a berry that shares it's name with the infamous DC mayor).

That's the basic run down of brewing operations over the last month. I'll keep up the blog better in November. Go Hokies!

-HolzBrew

Bike Race in Thompson Park

10/31/10: Thompson Park, Jamesburg NJ

I do not know how to ride a bike. When I tell people this, inevitably the next question is: "Can you swim"? I never got the connection between the two sports - but yes, I can swim.

While I have never balanced on two wheels, one of our dearest friends, Chris Gozick (orange jersey), is a top-notch cyclist who competes all over the State. On Halloween, Chris was racing close by, so it was the perfect excuse to go spend a beautiful day outside with Gary and my best friend Christine (Chris's wife) ... we even got an added bonus when our friend Alastair joined us with his new rescue bull terrier, Frank.

Spending time with Gary in the crisp fall air, with our friends and Frank, obliterated any lingering aches and pains October had been harboring, and left me refreshed and renewed - ready for anything.

Frank

Christine

"The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love." - Hubert Humphrey

Try a Little Kindness

I noticed something today. Or, rather, I questioned something. Have people lost their ability to accept kindness? I was shopping at Target, and at checkout was given a coupon for the Starbucks located in the store. Now, I am not a fan of Starbucks, not because they are a chain but because they over roast their coffee and I don’t like it. So, being nice, I offered my coupon to people standing in line for their coffee. First I offered the coupon to a man in fatigues, thinking, “Hey, people in the service deserve thanks.” He declined three times as if I were offering him a dead mouse. So I went to the next guy in line, and he gingerly took it out of my hands, frowned at it, and then mumbled, “OK.” Um…I am offering you money off something you are about to buy. Why aren’t you happy?



People are suspicious. People expect that you are in it for something, that you’re going to want something in return, that there must be some catch. Gee…I was just being nice. Are we really so cynical that we can’t just smile and say, “Wow, thank you” instead of staring blankly while we assess the perceived dark underbelly of an act of kindness?


I searched for quotes regarding accepting kindness. I found one. Just one!


One who knows how to show and to accept kindness will be a friend better than any possession. --Sophocles


In accepting a kindness, we experience a moment of intimacy with the giver. I think it can be easier to show kindness, since we aren’t looking for a connection. “Hey, I’ll pick up that item the lady dropped and return it to her.” But RECEIVING kindness requires that we open ourselves to another’s act. We have to drop our guard just a bit.


During difficult moments in my life, I have found that the only way to stay sane was to accept kindness. If someone offered help, I swallowed my pride and took it. Sure, I could go it alone. Sure, I could be miserable and slog it out solo. But why should we do that? Why not acknowledge that we’re really all in this together? That means not only being the powerful giver, but the humble receiver.


So, my challenge to you and myself this week is to accept kindness when it is offered to you. You just might find that it is offered more often than you imagined. In this challenging world in which we live, kindness should never be relegated to the back of the closet, whether given or received.

Halloween Treat: Dinner at Elements

Elements, Princeton NJ

Gary and I love amazing food, and have flown everywhere in search of it; from celebrity-chef-owned restaurants like Moto in Chicago that use molecular gastronomy to create avante-garde cuisine, to historical restaurants like The Olde Pink House in Savannah that improve upon quintessential comfort food. For obvious reasons, we haven't indulged in such gastric delights in a long time.

One of our favorite restaurants in New Jersey is Elements in Princeton. When we learned that they had a tasting menu during the month of October to celebrate their 2-year anniversary, we decided to take the dive back into fine dining.

If you've never eaten at Elements and you live anywhere near New Jersey - go. Firstly, the space is unbelievable; they actually transformed part of a garage into an architectural marvel. Secondly, the food is incredible. Dinner was perfect, and I've done my best to remember all seven courses, listed below.

Amuse Bouche - Champagne, Coconut-Broccoli Cream Soup, Winter Barley Salad
First Course - Hamachi Tartare with Cilantro
Second Course - Squash Soup with Corned Beef and Cabbage, and Caraway Ice Cream
Third Course - Pacific Halibut with Chopped Geoduck, Toasted Pumpkin Seeds, Broccoli, and Pumpkin Puree
Fourth Course - Wild New Jersey Mushroom Risotto with Mushroom Froth
Fifth Course - 48-hour Short Ribs with Red Potatoes and Kale
Sixth Course - MY FAVORITE - Bacon and Eggs
Seventh Course - Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingerbread Sorbet
Complimentary Dessert - Chocolate Plate (6 homemade chocolates...the best being caramel peanut-butter filled dark chocolate truffle)

"Bacon and Eggs" at Elements

Ok - that sixth course deserves a pause and further description. It is the chef's signature dish that serves as a bridge between the savory and sweet courses. On one side of the plate is a hollowed out eggshell with three layers of gooey goodness inside: the bottom is brioche French toast, the middle is bacon custard, the top is maple foam with smoked sea salt. On the other side of the plate is a mini French toast with homemade bacon and bourbon maple syrup. It's insane.

Although my appetite is much smaller than it used to be, I took my time and managed to at least savor a little of everything. It was an absolutely wonderful night.

I Finally DID It.... The Haircut!!

So, I finally went and got my haircut ~ after a year and a half ~ and I'm really happy with how it came out... Let me know what you think.

Before: (I did get caught in the rain this morning - TeeHee)




After:



Quite a difference, huh?  It will be SO much easier to take care of and something wonderful happened by having so much cut off:  I was able to donate 10" to Locks of Love ~ so some

I Need Help ~ Dining Room Tables By the Hundreds

Most of you know that we are building a new house (good times!) and we have been looking to maybe replace our dining table because it is really just too big for the two of us.  I only use it for blog work and scrapbookking and when we occasionally have company for dinner.

Here is a photo of the dining room in the model home, it is kind a square room and my dining room table is rectangular, so I