Food For Thought

"Bush is a Book Lover" was alluded to in "Out with the Old, in with the New" when discussing the media's depiction of President Bush as dumb, stupid etc.
I have added two others that were also thought provoking. Yes, I am a huge Karl Rove fan and all three were written by him for the Wall Street Journal.

Bush Was Right When It Mattered Most

Bush Is a Book Lover

Welcome to the White House, Mr. Obama

Out With The Old, In With The New

I am excited about tomorrow, history will be made, hope is alive, yet I have mixed feelings about the inauguration of President Obama.

However, let me talk about the old first, President George W. Bush. No matter what the critics say, no matter how the media has painted him, no matter what your personal party or leaning may be, he has been a president who kept us safe, has high moral character, physically fit (even though at this time the goo-goo media touts Obama as the ideal man), Bush is a smart man (great article in the Wall Street Journal by Karl Rove …, he is an everyday kind of guy. Yes, there have been mistakes along the way, but if you don’t take risks, you don’t make mistakes. One of my favorite sayings by Theodore Roosevelt pretty much sums up how I feel:

“ It's not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or when the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.”

I wish the best for President Bush as he leaves office. I thank him for his presidency and for him quietly going about the business at hand without looking for a photo opportunity at every turn. May he and his family enjoy their time at home in Texas.

Tomorrow there will be gala after gala, I would have hoped Obama would have looked at this as an opportunity to start off right with a nation in trouble, to go the economic route, as a “do as I say”, example. But with tinsel town taking over our capital and the unrealistic lives they lead and what they are accustom to that wouldn’t have drawn the crowds.

So, on January 20, 2009, I wish President Obama the best. I refuse to be one of the hate mongers that followed President Bush’s every word and deed. I will pray for him and his presidency to succeed. For our Founding Fathers to be proud of what we are doing with this nation, for our children to have hope in their future, for Obama to change what needs to be changed and strengthen what has worked and for the wisdom to know the difference. I hope for him the courage to stand up for the morals and values this nation was founded on and not kowtow to the special interest groups that feel Obama owes them something. Obama will be my president and may I disagree with him at times and at other times agree with him. I live in a country that allows me that freedom. May God bless America and President Obama too.

The New Year Bath and Letting Go

I know, I know, it has been ages since I added to my blog and what does this title have to do with politics or food. Well, everything is political and there will be a recipe involved and mojo does involve magic, voodoo, hoodoo etc.

Today I woke up to a beautiful day and went for an early morning walk with my friend, Rose. Of course we discussed the ills of the world and solved most of them. We also discussed the baggage we carry with us when hurt by friends, or guilt of not being perfect and that we judge too harshly at times not knowing what experiences makes them so difficult. ☺

I worked on the computer, paid some bills, but became so cold and tired, and it was only 11 am! I decided to take a bath, yes in the middle of the day. It could be I was just reading “Warming Winter Baths” and the different types to take whether it be a de-stress or an energizing bath etc. My sister Jojo introduced me to essential oils (EO) years ago, she is a wise sister and part of the witch sister trilogy. Since I was going to do bath bombs for my friends for Christmas and their birthdays, but never did, I had all the ingredients. So, I whipped up a potion of bath salts and a potion for shampoo build-up for my hair and headed to my claw foot tub with a picture of the Carlsbad flower field and ocean in the background hanging in view. It is my peaceful place. Step-by-step pictures were and will always be unavailable.

As I lay there I thought of the previous year, previous years and generational buildup and baggage we carry with us. So, as I soaked I decided to let go. Let go of the fear of the coming year and what I didn’t do right last year or years before. To let go of worry if my sister will lose her job, if my son-in-law will find one, if I am a good wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend. If I weigh too much, if I said something wrong…if, if, if, then the song from South Pacific started playing in my head…I’m gonna wash that man right outta my hair, and I changed it to, I’m gonna wash that guilt, baggage and so on right out of my hair, off my mind, outta my heart and down the drain.


Years ago my friend Jane gave me a book called “ The Art of Doing Nothing: Simple Ways to Make Time For Yourself”. I had time once to read it as it sat water splashed next to my tub. It is a short book that reminded me it is ok sometimes to do nothing.

So, this year I am letting go, I am going to unburden myself from things I can do nothing about, forgive myself for the things I can, and be more grateful then wanting. I am running a campaign, which I love to do. I am taking Herbalogy classes, a four-day energy-training seminar and if luck will have it a cooking class far away in Vermont. I love to learn.

As promised “The Energizing Bath”
By Laurel Vukovic

Lavender, rosemary, peppermint and basil make a refreshing and energizing aromatherapy bath. Because peppermint and basil can cause skin irritation, you should dilute the essential oils in whole milk, vodka or witch hazel extract before adding them to the bath.

• 5 drops lavender essential oil
• 2 drops rosemary essential oil
• 2 drops peppermint essential oil
• 1 drop basil essential oil
• 1 tablespoon whole milk, vodka or witch hazel extract

Mix ingredients together and add to the bath after the tub has filled. Agitate the water vigorously with your hand to disperse the oils before entering the tub.

I added the oils to a mixture of: (without using the milk, vodka or witch hazel)
• ½ C. each sea salt and Epson salts
• 1 C. baking soda

Mix well and use about 4 Tablespoons in your bath water.

Hair rinse for product build up:
1 part vinegar
2 parts warm water

Pour over your hair after shampooing and rinse.

Now if I can only get my home organized.
Happy New Year to all you old and new blog followers.