Refried Wednesday

Here are my refried thoughts for today...

Seriously? Sarah Palin delivered cookies to a school in PA that is considering implementing a reduced sweets policy. Is she really that stupid?? She remarked that it is not government's place to be involved in school nutrition- that it is up to the parents to determine what their kids get to eat.  Ummm, yeah, this kind of thinking is what has contributed to America being the fattest (most unhealthy) nation in the world. Get a clue Sarah. You, above all others, should know that it takes a village. Today's parents are too busy, either by necessity or by choice, to be the Cleavers. And, the small percentage parents who are able to well-monitor and control their children's nutrition, must certainly appreciate schools who support their efforts with "healthy school foods." Again Sarah, you, of all people, should recognize this. Hello, Bristol-teen-mom. So, here is what I think. Spend less time playing devil's advocate with a school system which is, clearly, attempting to do right by their students and start focusing more on your own children. Isn't Bristol a little young to be frolicking about in skimpy outfits on a show like Dancing with the Stars? Or, have you just given up on Bristol's reputation anyway? And, why are you in the audience instead of home with your own children (and Bristol's) being sure that they are eating nutritionally? And, exactly HOW are you monitoring your children's caloric and fat intake while filming your new reality show? How about we applaud the school in PA for their efforts? Why don't we support the efforts and consider them a model-school rather than fatten their kids up with Sarah's cookies?
Sorry, Sarah, this was an epic FAIL.

Look at the Scars...

We all have scars.
The skinned-knee scar is an instant reminder to tie my shoelaces when bike-riding. The small, round scar, just below my 3/4 sleeve-line, a reminder of the chicken pox I had at nine years old. The C-section scar, a reminder of exactly when I really fell in love for the first time.
These are the scars that people can see; that, perhaps (depending on where they are), people inquire about. The scars that aren't so visible to others run much deeper; some are still painful and some still turn my cheeks red with shame or embarrassment, anger or humiliation. We all have them; they are the scars we don't talk about but we feel them and live with them every day.

First Day Back Layer Cake

I vividly remember what it was like to go back to school after summer vacation (or any extended time away). It was a mess of emotions; a layer-cake of fear, excitement, nervousness, and anxiety all topped with hope. It didn't help that I was a kid who would get homesick at the thought of being away from home. I can remember many first days back when all I wanted was to be back home; I am fairly certain that I even walked home and hid in our hall closet one time, but maybe this is just what I'd only dreamed about doing. Thankfully, the homesick feeling lessened with each passing year; had it not, I could have developed a huge problem with skipping the "first day back" once I was able to drive myself to school. The small break I took from this recipe (during my early twenties, and during the twins' birth to five years stage) didn't serve to dull my memory... or taste buds.