POP: 2009

Good morning. Today is Monday, July 6, 2009 and I just wanted to remind everyone to click on the blog below and let it transport you to what I have written. When you get to The Hub, please sign up as a fan. I'd love to hear from you, I really would.

A Breakfast Toast to Helen Thomas and Chip Reid

Friday, July 3, 2009

A QUICK BREAKFAST AND A LONG FAIRY TALE

Thursday, July 2, 2009

A Cheesy Chicken Politician Omelette

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

A Common Sense Breakfast

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Oops, I Did It Again

Good morning. Today is Tuesday, June 30, 2009 and if you are reading this now, please click on the Blog below and become a fan. I really appreciate all of you and thank you for your support.

A Breakfast Celebration

Monday, June 29, 2009

Just A Click Away

Today is Monday, June 29, 2009. I know, I know I am repeating myself. Please know that I can't help it. I want everyone to click on the blog below and join me for breakfast. Oh, one other thing, please sign on as a fan. I think you'll like it, I really do.

A Breakfast Tribute

Friday, June 26, 2009

One More Time

Good morning, everyone. Today is Friday, June 26, 2009. Here I go again. Just a reminder to click on the Fairy Tale below to read it in its entirety. When you arrive at the HUB please sign on as a fan. Thanks and have a great week-end.

A Fairy Tale Breakfast

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Breakfastpop Is Just One Click Away

Good morning. Today is Thursday, June 25, 2009. I am once again compelled to remind everyone that a simple click on the blog "A Liquid Breakfast and Gun Control" will take you to the blog in its entirety. Click away and have a great day.

A Liquid Breakfast and Gun Control

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Am I Repeating Myself?

Today is Wednesday, June 24, and at the risk of overdoing a good thing, I just want to remind everyone to click on the blog below and you will be transported to the Hub. Please sign on as a fan and you will then receive E-mails every time I write a new Hub(blog). Thanks so much.

The 852 Ingredient Breakfast Muffin

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Breakfastpop Explains

Good morning. Today is Tuesday, June 23, 2009. Forgive me, but I feel the need to repeat myself this a.m. I have decided to try something a bit different with my blog. I am writing my original blog(now called a hub) on a new site called the Hub. There are many advantages to this new move. I can write my piece and post it on Blogspot, Facebook, Digg, Stumbleupon and Twitter. This provides me with a much wider audience for my thoughts.

All you have to do, if you are on this site and reading this is click on the title below, 'The Breakfast Banana Anti-Public Health Care Muffin" and you will be transported to the Hub. Please sign up as a fan. It really makes things easy, because you will be notified by e-mail every time I write a Hub (blog) and one simple click on your E-mail will take you directly to the site.

So, as you can see there are many ways to get there, so please drop in for a visit and a chat. Oh, don't forget your appetite, because I have some great recipes to share.

THE BREAKFAST BANANA ANTI-PUBLIC HEALTH CARE MUFFIN

Monday, June 22, 2009

Something new

Good morning everyone. Today is Monday, June 22, 2009 and I have decided to try something new. If you are reading this blog, then you must have already seen the blog Butterscotch Toast to the People of Iran, which is directly below what you are reading now. The blog is not there in its entirety, but if you click on it, it will bring you to another site which has the full story. This site is called the Hub. It would be wonderful if you signed on as a fan. Thanks to all for your support. There are no words adequate enough to express my appreciation.

Butterscotch Toast to the People of Iran

Friday, June 19, 2009

The Mea Culpa Senate Breakfast Quiche

Good morning. Today is Friday, June 19, 2009 and I am preparing a Ham and Grits Crustless Quiche good enough to serve to a senator to commemorate a ground breaking resolution passed in that august chamber yesterday. If you care to cook along with me you will need 1/2 cup water, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/3 cup grits, 1 can evaporated milk, 1 1/2 cups chopped ham, 4 ounces of cheddar cheese, 3 large beaten eggs, 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, 1 teaspoon dry mustard and 1 or 2 teaspoons hot sauce. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bring water and salt to a boil in saucepan. Stir in grits, remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in milk and next 6 ingredients and pour into quiche dish. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Cut into 6 wedges and mail 5 wedges to your favorite senators to thank them for spending all day Thursday trying to apologize for slavery!

...POP...That's right boys and girls, in the midst of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression our elected officials are hard at work crafting a strongly worded resolution of apology for the fundamental injustice and cruelty of slavery of African Americans. Do we still have slaves down south? Is this a hot, burning issue on the national scene? Apparently, the Senate thinks it is, ergo it must be so.

When you Fed-X your quiche wedges to your favorite senators you might want to enclose a note reminding them that the people who actually owned slaves have been dead for about 150 years! You might further suggest that perhaps their time in the Senate would be better spent trying to solve problems occurring in our country right now.

Just a thought..Perhaps we should add some more hot sauce to our quiche mixture to wake up the men and women in the Senate and force them back into this century!

Have a great week-end and let's get together Monday for breakfast.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Mock Cheese Souffle and the Death of Democracy

Good morning on this rainy Thursday, June 18, 2009. This morning I will be preparing a Mock Cheese Souffle. If you wish to follow along be prepared to eat this breakfast for lunch, because that is how long it takes to cook. While we wait endlessly for the souffle to bake, we can discuss all the outrageous, insane, frightening and ridiculous things that have occurred in just the last few days.

For the recipe you will need 4 slices of old bread, 1/4 pound grated sharp Cheddar cheese, 1 1/2 cups milk, 2 teaspoons chopped onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon dried mustard, 2 beaten eggs and the patience of a saint! Lightly grease an 8 inch shallow baking dish. Remove the crusts from the bread and cut bread into small squares. Combine cheese, onions and seasonings and arrange the bread and seasonings in layers in the dish. Combine eggs and milk and pour mixture over the bread. Let stand for 45 minutes or longer. Place dish in 350 degree oven in a pan of hot water and bake for 40 minutes. This is where the patience enters the picture, so let's talk while we wait.

...POP...Well it looks like we have some more regulation coming our way. Under Obama's financial plan the government will have the authority to seize key companies whose possible failure might jeopardize the financial system. The Federal Reserve will be given unprecedented powers to regulate and control absolutely everything. Is this the same Fed that brought us Alan Greenspan? It seems certain that yet another Czar is on the way and the thought of all this meddling and manipulation makes me sick to my stomach. I'm glad the souffle is taking so long, because I don't have much of an appetite right now.

...POP...The firing of Inspector General Gerald Walpin is another example of the White House believing and acting as though they are the only branch of government and need not explain their actions to the American people. Inspector Generals have a duty to report to Congress and not be subject to intimidation or retaliation for their actions and findings. Mr. Walpin was dismissed by President Obama without explanation, a move that is unheard of. Only when pressed for an explanation did the White House produce a letter that accused Mr. Walpin of acting disoriented and confused at a May board meeting of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a charge that Gerald Walpin says is a lie. He believes his dismissal is an act of retaliation because he openly criticized the Board and spearheaded an investigation of Obama supporter Kevin Johnson for misuse of Federal funds. I saw Mr. Walpin on many, many news shows and he seemed quite sane and totally in control of his faculties. More and more the actions of this administration remind me of the old Soviet Union, where people who disagree with the powers that be disappear in the middle of the night.

...POP...Talk about disappearing, it is clear that President Obama would like to see Fox News disappear from the radar. Apparently we have a President who cannot and will not tolerate criticism. He's open to praise and nothing short of that will do. Someone should remind him that although we are hanging on by our fingertips, we are still a free country and the presidency is not a job for life..

...POP...One final thought...Apparently, the White House is infested with flies. Personally, I don't find this surprising at all given the amount of garbage the administration has been producing lately!

...POP...As I suspected, the souffle is still not ready . Enjoy your lunch!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

A Fair and Balanced Breakfast

Good morning! Today is Wednesday, June 17, 2009 and I am preparing a balanced meal this morning because we all know that a breakfast that hits all the food groups is the most healthy. I'm feeling a bit lazy today, so I am toasting a cranberry vita muffin (emphasis on the vita) and I will brew a cup of tea which, as we all know, is loaded with anti-oxidants.

Apparently, ABC News hasn't been eating a balanced breakfast lately, because the decision to broadcast a program from the White House, pushing government run healthcare is biased, outrageous and unhealthy for the nation.

Let's face it, the media, with the exception of Fox News, is in bed with the President. ABC News should come to terms with the fact that they are no longer considered a news station by independent rational thinkers. Instead, the station is an extension of the Obama administration's long arm of government. They have joined together with the White House to convince the American people that government run healthcare is the answer to our nation's problems. The network has planned a prime time special, "Prescription for America" that will effectively silence all opposing viewpoints.

Is this the same President who promised an open bipartisan approach to government? We are not a nation of one voice or viewpoint. We are a diverse nation of citizens with the right to speak our minds and participate in decisions that will affect all of our lives for years to come. Our freedoms are being eroded and diminished and we must not sit back and allow this to happen.

...POP...After I finish my muffin, I am going to write a letter of protest to my elected officials to remind them that I, along with many other people, are very unhappy with the direction our nation is taking. Care to join me? It's good for your health and the health of our country.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

To Your Health

Good morning. Today is Tuesday, June 16, 2009 and in light of the current and never ending debate about healthcare reform, I will be preparing an egg white omelette for breakfast. Follow along if you like, there really isn't that much involved. You will need two egg whites, a non-stick pan and some healthy butter substitute. Throw in a few tomatoes or anything else you consider healthful and voila! breakfast is served.

I am personally very confused about the healthcare issue. Who exactly are these people that are uninsured? From what I can gather approximately 45 million people are without healthcare in our country. Of that 45 million, 20 million are here illegally. When did the word "illegal" stop meaning "forbidden by law"? Apparently, people who are here illegally have all the rights, privileges and benefits as those who are here legally. I'm not happy about this and I don't want to pay for their healthcare. If we subtract 20 million form 45 million we are left with 25 million uninsured people. Studies I've read suggest that 10 million people don't have insurance by choice. Usually this group is young and healthy and don't see the need to spend their salary on healthcare. Spending hard earned money on health insurance is far less exciting than a trip to the Bahamas. If we subtract 10 million uninsured from 25 million we are left with 15 million people who are without health insurance, a far smaller number than the original 45 million estimate.

Do we really need to destroy our current healthcare system in order to provide 15 million people with healthcare? Despite all its flaws we still have the best healthcare system in the world. Does it need tweaking? Yes, it does, but it doesn't need to be destroyed.

Despite President Obama's assurances that we will be able to keep our current plan if we are happy with it, I am not convinced that he is telling the truth. I believe that slowly, but surely the government will be running the show and personal choice will be a thing of the past. We all need to pay attention to the current debate because literally our lives may depend upon it.

...POP... If I have the right to choose to eat a healthy breakfast, I should also have the right to choose a doctor that I trust and a plan that is right for me.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Breakfastpop Returns

Good morning! Today is Monday, June 15, 2009 and I have returned from two weeks in the caribbean not quite as relaxed as I had hoped. I'm preparing a bacon, cheddar and pea frittata this morning because the number of ingredients mirrors the number of things on my mind. If you wish to cook along, you will need 6 eggs, 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 4 slices of bacon, 1 cup peas and 2 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat the eggs with milk and pepper and set aside. In a skillet, cook bacon and stir in peas and cook for one minute more. Pour frittata mixture over filling and sprinkle with cheese until eggs set. Place pan in oven and bake for 10 minutes.

The saying" you can run, but you can't hide" is certainly apropos of my trip to the islands. It seems that what happens in America doesn't stay in America because everyone from the waiter to the bartender was tuned into the United States and very up on all the news. So try as I did, I still heard about things that ranged from the ridiculous to the even more ridiculous.

One day over pina coladas everyone was buzzing about the Obama's date night. Personally, I think a date night is a great idea for every couple including the President and his wife. Where it went wrong is that it took place in Manhattan and not in Washington D.C. Once again, good idea..wrong execution. Did it not occur to anyone in the White House that it would have been more prudent to patronize a restaurant in D.C. and see a show in town?

During my vacation, Washington named a new"czar.". I believe he is the "pay czar" and he joins a very crowded field of 20 other appointed "czars" . When did we start having "czars" in the United States? It feels like we are emulating the former Soviet Union and I don't know about you, but it makes me very uncomfortable. We are putting way too much power in the hands of people who we didn't elect and that is a very, very bad idea.

Reverend Wright has reared his ugly head in the news again. It seems that he has decided that the Jews are keeping him away from his protege Obama. Obama is keeping his distance from Wright, but he has yet to give a good explanation of his association with the man for over twenty years.

Nancy Pelosi popped into the news again, in my absence ,with her insistence that the Gitmo pictures be released despite strong opposition from the President, the generals and people in her own party, not to mention those who are not in her party. Exactly what tune is she marching to?

And then there are the detainees themselves, who are being released to islands a lot like the one I vacationed on. Next time you happen to be in Bermuda, your friendly bartender may be an Al Queda terrorist. I would insist on mixing my own drinks if I were you!

How about the government"s little publicized decision to offer Miranda rights to terrorists. We will be telling these killers that they have the right to remain silent. Does it get more outrageous than this?

Clearly, the blush is off the rose, or should I say the frittata. I will end my re-cap of the news with the always entertaining group, PETA, who are opposed to the way people in fish markets throw around dead fish from stand to stand. They believe this treatment is cruel and disrespectful. Uh, hello, PETA.. the key word here is "dead". And by the way, they are dead because we eat them!

...POP...The moral of this story is , one way or another the news is "gonna get you."

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Bailouts, Billions, Bombs and a Pina Colada

Good morning! Today is Thursday, May 29, 2009. I don't feel like preparing breakfast this a.m. so I will be eating last night's dinner instead. Sometimes, it's good to mix things up and step out of the box a bit. Today's "breakfast" will be a pork tenderloin sauteed with mushrooms and finely minced veggies. Roasted garlic and pine nuts sprinkled over the dish gives it a delectable flavor, so I'm good to go and ready to dig in.

I woke up this morning with my head spinning from news overload, or should I say bad news overload. N.Korea is threatening to attack U.S. and S.Korea warships; we have pledged to defend S.Korea to the bitter end; Iran is cooking up nuclear disaster; President Obama is printing money in the basement of the White House; Joe Biden is, well, Joe Biden; the government is now running the private sector; free choice for medical care is going the way of the dinosaur; we will all have to drive the kind of car Washington tells us to drive; we will all be taught to embrace our enemies and sacrifice our lives for the greater good; our children and our children's children will be burdened with unimaginable debt and last, but not least, we will all be required to paint our roofs white!

...POP...Someone, please tell me that this has all been a diabolical joke to get my attention.

All I hear is the deafening roar of silence, so I guess I am not dreaming and that life in the United States is changing in unbelievable ways that are probably going to be very hard to accept. I can only conclude that it is time for me to re-group, refresh, kick back, lighten up, find my inner peace and my sense of humor and drink as many pina coladas as I can over a two week period.

Breakfastpop will be floating in the Caribbean without access to television, newspapers and radio for two luscious sun kissed weeks. I suggest that everyone out there try to do the same or a reasonable facsimile to bring the blush back to our cheeks and the spring back to our step.

When I return and we meet again, I hope our nation won't have changed so much that I don't know where I am. I'm tired of change, really sick of the word and the concept. Right now, I crave the familiar feeling of a mindless summer idyll. That's the kind of change I can live with.

Bye-Bye! See you soon...

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

A Hot and Spicy Breakfast Choice

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, May 27, 2009 and in honor of the new Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, I will be preparing a Jalapeno Omelet. If you wish to join me, you will need 5 eggs, 1 jalapeno pepper, 1/3 cup each diced red and green peppers, 1/3 cup diced onion, 1/3 cup sharp grated cheddar cheese, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1 or 2 tablespoons butter for frying. Melt the butter in a skillet and saute peppers and onions. Season with salt and pepper. Beat the eggs with a little water and slowly add to sauteed mixture. Simmer covered over low heat until eggs are set. Add cheese and wait about 1 minute for the cheese to melt. Eat up!

President Obama has nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. I watched the news conference yesterday and heard her speech. Her story is a great American success story, just the kind of thing Americans are most proud of. She came from humble beginnings and achieved so much, not unlike the President.

However, having said all of the above, I still long for the day when nominees to any position will be based solely on expertise and not on race or gender. President Obama's choice of a Hispanic woman to sit on the highest court of the land was a political decision more than it was a search for excellence. Perhaps the day will never come when we just pick the best person for the job. Electing President Obama to the Presidency is clear evidence of that premise. The country chose a President who barely had any experience at all, but was poised and ready to put an African American in the White House. It made the country feel good, which is not the best way to choose a leader, but nevertheless it happened and an important chapter in our history was written. Judge Sotomayor will no doubt be confirmed. There aren't enough opposition votes to block her confirmation, so the Supreme Court will have another woman, and for the first time a Hispanic woman, on the bench. I believe all parts of our society should be represented in the Supreme Court as well as in government, and the private sector. I may be very naive, but I wish we could come to this balance, naturally , without engineering the proper ratio of all kinds of people.

There is one thing about Judge Sotomayor that I find very perplexing. Last year a case was brought before her court that involved employment discrimination. Firefighters in New Haven, Connecticut went before the court because they were refused promotions despite the fact that they passed the test and were qualified to move ahead. The group was composed of 18 white firefighters, one of them Hispanic. The promotions were denied because none of the African American firefighters scored high enough to be promoted. When the case came before Judge Sotomayor it was dismissed with only a single brief paragraph of reasoning.

I have no doubt that this particular case will come up for discussion and questioning during her confirmation hearings. Despite the President's request that she be confirmed quickly, I hope Congress takes the time to do their homework.

...POP...What's the hurry? Where's the fire?

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Morning Breakfast Blues

Good morning! Today is Tuesday, May 26, 2009 and I 'm not really that hungry today. Upon awakening, I discovered that we still have all of the problems we had before with no viable solutions in sight. I'm talking about bail-outs that aren't working, jobs that are disappearing, mortgages that were once considered sensible and safe going into foreclosure, home prices that are still tanking, 401ks that are shrinking and a deficit that is mind boggling and growing as we speak. I need a cup of tea, a piece of toast, and some Tums. That's all I can handle this morning.

If all of the above isn't enough to kill your appetite, how about the prospect of two lunatics rattling their nuclear swords at the world and in particular at the U.S. Perhaps the only intelligent thing V.P. Biden has said is that Obama would be tested very shortly after coming into office. Iran and N.Korea seem to fill the bill in that area.

Iran has sent six warships into international waters. This outrageous and unprecedented move comes on the heels of missile tests that were conducted last week. Ahmadinejad is a loose cannon who is a few fries short of a happy meal. The prospect of such a man controlling nuclear bombs is incredibly frightening.

North Korea is playing with nuclear weapons as well. There have been reports that the nuclear bomb that North Korea detonated on Monday was comparable to those that obliterated Hiroshima.

So we wake up this morning to the stark realization that in addition to our mounting problems at home, we have at least two, if not more, insane leaders playing with powerful nuclear material that could bring death and destruction to thousands , if not millions, of people with just the flick of a wrist.

This is the kind of morning that makes me just want to pull the covers over my head and go back to sleep. President Obama has a full plate this morning. I wonder if he has much of an appetite for what he has to face. The one thing I am totally certain of is that the President is going to have to get tough and forget about his "let's reach out and touch" our enemies approach.

It isn't working Mr. President, they are not listening and despite all the hugs and kisses you exchanged with our enemies they still hate us...POP...

Friday, May 22, 2009

Breakfast With The King

Good morning! Today is Friday, May 22, 2009 and I have a fairy tale I'd like to share. Breakfast today will be quite simple, cornflakes and a banana. Take some cornflakes, put them in a bowl, add milk, slice up a banana and chew. Now for the story.

Once upon a time there was a kingdom called Dem. It was ruled by King Teleprompter and his word was law. There were many bad and dangerous people in the kingdom who often gathered together in secret to plot the overthrow of the government. Upon their capture they were sent to a prison far, far away called Gitmo. The prison was built by the former King of Dem whose name was George. It seemed like a good idea back then, because these bad people were far away from the kingdom and could only talk amongst themselves.

One day King Teleprompter declared that he was going to close Gitmo, because he didn't think the prison was good for public relations. An uproar arose across the land. Where were these bad people going to go? The answer was to a neighborhood near you. Fear and apprehension spread across the land. Women were wringing their hands, children were crying and men were arming themselves with extra sharp swords.

King Dem was unmoved by all the sadness in the kingdom and he moved forward with his plans to close Gitmo. A wise man in the kingdom consulted with a soothsayer, Madame Itoldyouso, to find out what would happen when the King's plan was brought to fruition.

The news was very, very disheartening. Madame Itoldyouso predicted that a time would come when the terrorist population would rise dramatically. The bad people who were returned to the kingdom would recruit thousands of people to march beside them and terrorize the people.

The wise man pleaded with King Dem to change his mind, but the King wouldn't budge.

And so...POP...Madame Itoldyouso's predictions came true and the bad people ruled the land and the people were sad.

The End.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Charge That Brie!

Good great morning everyone! Today is Thursday, May 21, 2009 and I am preparing an Apple and Brie Omelette for breakfast. If you wish to follow along with the recipe you will need 2 large golden apples, 4 ounces of Brie cheese, 8 eggs, 2 green onions, 2 tablespoons butter, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1 dash of vanilla extract and three other people who are hungry. Place the apple slices in a microwave dish and top with 1/2 half of the butter. Microwave for 3 minutes. Now, in a medium bowl, beat the eggs with the vanilla and salt.

Melt butter in a skillet and pour half of the egg mixture into the skillet. Cover and cook until set. Place the egg on a cookie sheet and place the apple wedges on top. Sprinkle with onion and place cheese on top. Place in preheated oven. Now we are ready to remove the bottom of the omelette and slide it on to a serving platter. Cook the remaining mixture in the skillet. Place egg layer from the skillet on top of the bottom of the omelette from the oven. Garnish with nutmeg and serve.

Wow, a lot to do for breakfast, but probably well worth it.

The ingredients may cost quite a bit. Personally, I put the stuff on my Amex card because the Brie can be very expensive.

But wait, the morning newspaper catches my eye and I am incredulous. Congress has re-vamped the credit card industry, in about three minutes, and the end result will be that those that manage their credit well will subsidize those that have problems. I was horrified to learn that those people who pay off their credit cards are known as "deadbeats" in the industry.

Personally, I fall into that category of people. I pay my balance at the end of the month and that's it. Under the new rules, it's possible that some of the programs like mileage awards may go the way of the dinosaur. I already pay 150 dollars a year to use my Amex, which strictly speaking is not a credit card, but rather a charge card. My balance must be paid off at the end of the month and that is just fine with me. However, if my fees rise dramatically on my Amex or my more traditional credit card because I don't carry a balance , then I have a new course of action that won't need Congressional approval. I will take my cards, deadbeat that I am, and while eating my breakfast will feed the cards into the shredder.

I don't dispute the fact that credit card companies are in the business of making money. It's a very lucrative industry that employs thousands of people. I also have no problem tweaking some of their practices to make them treat customers more fairly. That said, I do take issue with the notion that because I live my life responsibly, I am considered a "deadbeat".

Annoy me enough, and cash will be king.

By the way, we should all rest comfortably knowing that attached to the bill that the President will sign into law is a completely unrelated measure by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., that would allow people to bring loaded guns into national parks and wildlife refuges.

...POP... Not only will I not pay higher fees for good behavior, but now I have to cancel my trip to Yosemite!

He's a Smoothie

Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, May 20, 2009, isn't it? Sometimes it's hard to be sure, because lately each morning brings so many changes to our nation that I feel like I fell asleep like Rip Van Winkle and awoke to a whole new world order.

I'm preparing a Banana Coffee Smoothie today. Unless you were clairvoyant and froze two bananas last night, you won't be able to follow along with me. I am going to combine 2 frozen bananas, 1 1/2 cups low fat milk, 8 oz. low fat coffee yogurt, 1/4 tsp cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg in a blender. I'll blend till smooth (hence the name smoothie) and voila, I'm done.

It was my intention to say something positive about President Obama and his administration today because, truthfully, I would like to see him succeed as president. The problem is that his vision of success clashes completely with my view of the kind of nation I want to live in. However, having said that, here goes. I am very supportive of the President's stance on stem cell research and also on a woman's right to choose.

For now, that is the best I can come up with, because everything else he is trying to do is very uninspiring at best and very frightening at worst. Clearly, the President's quest for power and control overshadows every decision and every shift in policy. He says one thing and does another. He says he doesn't want to run the car companies, but that is exactly what he is doing. He says he does not want to be in the banking business, but he is, isn't he? He says he doesn't want to nationalize health care, but it's coming isn't it?

Do you see what I mean? I am trying so hard to be positive. I am really trying not to be one-sided. I am giving my all to present a fair picture of events, but I am having a very hard time.

I'm glad I chose to have a Smoothie for breakfast today, because it goes down so easily. I wish I could say the same for the President's agenda. I find that pretty hard to swallow.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Breakfast On The Fly

Good morning! Today is Tuesday, May 19, 2009 and I don't have a lot of time to prepare breakfast. I'll toast a cranberry muffin and make myself a cup of tea. I wonder what President Obama eats for breakfast. I mean his routine is very arduous, up at the crack of dawn, change healthcare for the nation, overhaul the credit card industry in a week, decide what kind of cars Americans will be allowed to drive in a few years, threaten a few banks, tell the Prime Minister of Israel how to run his country, and dictate levels of compensation for big companies.

Whew! I'm exhausted just thinking about all that he does in a day. I'm also terrified of the impact all of this will have on my life and my family's life now, and for generations to come.

All of the President's plans come with a timetable that is unrealistic at best and dangerous at worst. I use the word "dangerous" because, for example, if Congress is pressured to change the face of healthcare before they go into recess you can bet the ranch on the fact that a bill will be passed that no one has read and the American people will have to live with the awful consequences.

What's the hurry? Where's the fire? It's my opinion that the White House is operating on the magician's trick of sleight of hand. If you do something very fast and divert the audience's attention from the real issue, then the trick succeeds and nobody is the wiser. I don't like being fooled. I resent being given the bum's rush when it comes to issues that will have a significant impact on my life. I do not appreciate being told what kind of healthcare I must have, what kind of car I will be allowed to drive or how much money I can expect to earn.

I live in America, not the former Soviet Union. I appreciate and value my freedoms and I want to keep them. We all better pay attention, because before we know it, all that we have come to love and expect in our lives will be changed forever. That change will not be for the better.

I think it may be time for another round of tea parties. I'll bring the muffins.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Breakfast and the Sweet Smell of Success

Good morning! Today is Monday, May 18, 2009 and I am famished. I am preparing Tofu Breakfast Burritos this morning. If you want to follow along, you will need 2 flour tortillas, 1/4 cup salsa, 2 eggs, 1/4 cup pound tofu, 1/4 cup feta cheese, 1/4 cup mozzarella , 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, 1/4 teaspoon oregano and salt and pepper to taste. Beat the eggs and tofu together and saute mixture in a nonstick pan. Add oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Now heat up the tortillas and place egg and tofu mixture inside and top with feta. Roll up the tortillas and top with mozzarella and microwave until the cheese melts.

What I like about this recipe is all the different steps and layers of ingredients. The omelette is a metaphor for life, real life. There is no magic formula for success, no one right path that everyone should take in their journey for a successful and satisfying existence. The decision belongs to us and us alone.

In his commencement speech at Arizona State University, President Obama urged the graduates to resist the temptations of materialism and status. Instead, he suggested that they choose a life of service and commitment to help rebuild America.

Apparently, the First Lady didn't get the message when she purchased that pair of five-hundred dollar sneakers. How about that really expensive home they own in Chicago. The President went on to urge the graduates to steer clear of a life of mere financial gain. Personally, his message irked me and if I were a new graduate I would find his advice disingenuous. His wife was earning over 300,000 dollars a year, before his election, not working in a soup kitchen full-time. Being a first term Senator wasn't enough for Obama, it was the presidency that fueled his fire.

With all due respect Mr. President, if your message resonates with these graduates you won't have a tax base for your grand agenda. Instead, you will have fostered a nation of selfless mediocrity.

You should have told these graduates to follow their own personal dream, whether it be to Wall Street or Main Street. There is nothing shameful or wrong with wanting to succeed. There is no need ever to apologize for attaining wealth and a comfortable lifestyle. Turning on the rich smacks of socialism, envy and ultimately of failure.

Friday, May 15, 2009

breakfastpop

Today is Friday, May 15, 2009 and I am having Cheerios for breakfast. I know I ate Cheerios yesterday, but I am living the movie "Groundhog Day", so I feel the need to repeat yesterday's breakfast.

...POP... I can't believe that we, meaning the media, the nation, the Congress are still carrying on about water boarding. Personally, I am sick and tired of the entire issue and if this insane probing of who knew what when doesn't stop, I will personally water board Nancy Pelosi!

First of all, it is my understanding that we subject our own troops to water boarding as part of their training. Torture takes on a whole other meaning for me. Something like chopping off a body part sounds like torture. Confinement with insects such as a caterpillar would be "torture" for me, but not for an terrorist. Sleep deprivation isn't pleasant, just ask any new mother, but torture for a terrorist, I don't think so.

We need to move forward as a nation and re-gain our dignity and status as a super power. Lately, all we have been doing, thanks to the new administration, is saying"mea culpa" to the world and making collective jack-asses out of our country.

I have a suggestion for a new "enhanced interrogation technique". Lock the suspect in a room with Nancy Pelosi for 5 minutes and, in return for getting out of that room, the bad guy will tell all.

It's worth a try. I have to get back to my Cheerios now. Enjoy the week-end!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

breakfastpop

Good morning, today is Thursday, May 14, 2009 and I have a fairy tale for you.

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Frederica Danielle Adams. Her family and friends nicknamed her FDA and she loved the sound of it. One day FDA wandered away from home without permission and stumbled upon a little cabin in the woods. The cabin door was open, so FDA peeked in and saw that nobody was home. She made herself comfortable and began going through all the cabinets. It wasn't the right way to behave but for FDA it was quite typical behavior.

In the first cabinet, FDA found all sorts of prescription drugs. Some of these pills had terrible side effects printed on the label. FDA found it very interesting reading and she set the pills aside and closed the cabinet.

In the second cabinet, FDA found all sorts of herbal concoctions that promised to do many wonderful things. One jar promised instant weight loss, another instant nirvana. Once again, FDA found this all very, very interesting and she set the herbs aside and closed the cabinet door.

Now FDA opened the third and last cabinet and was shocked and dismayed. The cabinet was filled with box after box of Cheerios. FDA's heart began to race when she read the front of the box. It seems that General MIlls, claims that eating Cheerios for breakfast can help lower cholesterol by 10 percent.

...POP...Blasphemy, horror of horrors, call the police, tell the world how criminal such a claim is!

This time FDA did not put the Cheerios back in the cabinet. Instead she put all the boxes of cereal in her basket and took them home to Washington, D.C.

And so boys and girls, that is why you will have to ask mommy to go to the pharmacy to buy your Cheerios. Remind mommy to bring her license and passport or she won't be able to bring home the cereal.

If you haven't already guessed, I am having Honey Nut Cheerios for breakfast today. Am I breaking the law?

The End....

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

breakfastpop

Good morning! Today is Wednesday, May 13, and because it is five o'clock somewhere in the world, I am having Amaretto French Toast for breakfast. First I need to prepare some amaretto butter to use as a topping. I will combine 1/2 cup butter with 2 tablespoons of amaretto and set it aside. Next I will soak 12 slices of bread( I've invited a few friends for breakfast) in a mixture of 4 eggs, 1/2 cup milk and most importantly 6 tablespoons of amaretto. I've pre-heated a large skillet with melted butter and I will cook the bread until the slices are golden brown. Some amaretto butter and syrup on top will be a perfect antidote to VicePresident Joe Biden's views on higher education. If he aggravates me, all I need to do is eat a piece of toast and I know I'll calm down.

V.P. Biden recently told a group of very young students that he and President Obama want them all to go to college and that he and the President were going to make that possible.

...POP... First of all, it isn't nice to lie to children and promise them things that probably won't come true. Where is the money going to come from to pay for all this? Could the budget be any more bloated and out of control than it is? The answer is no, it couldn't.

Second of all, is it really necessary or practical for everyone to attend college. Once again, the answer is no. College is not for everyone. There are many important and valuable jobs that need to be filled that do not require a college education. Not everyone is college material. I know this is probably politically incorrect of me, but it is the truth.

When I was in school, students were offered a choice of different programs to choose from. Taking an academic program put them on the road to higher education. Taking a commercial course prepared students for work immediately upon graduation from high school. The program worked because it was realistic and practical.

In 1968 the City College of New York instituted a program known as open enrollment. Prior to that year, each city college had strict requirements for admission that were always adhered to without exception. In order to gain admittance to Brooklyn College, for example, a student had to have a certain average. If your average was one point below the requirement, the college rejected you and you had to live with it. By 1968, with the advent of open enrollment, everyone was encouraged to attend college and the schools introduced remedial courses for students who did not meet the school's already lowered standards.

The program was a complete failure. The number of remedial courses continued to grow as did the number of students attending them. If that program was still in existence today, I believe the same students would still be there, trying to graduate!

If we are to have a society that utilizes everyone's unique talents and recognizes that there are differences in people and that we are all not the same, the end result will be a society that functions better on a more realistic and practical level.

I really want another piece of toast...Bartender!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

breakfastpop

Today is Tuesday, May 12, 2009, and I am feeling a bit nostalgic. I am preparing a Blueberry Breakfast Shake this morning using a simple recipe handed down to me by my grandmother. I need 1 1/2 cups of frozen blueberries, 1/2 cup of apple juice, 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt, 1/4 cup skim milk and a little cinnamon. All I have to do is combine everything in my blender and I'm good to go!

My grandmother followed one simple rule in conducting her life and it was simply this: Everything in moderation, nothing to excess. It worked for her and no doubt it would work for everyone, everywhere, if only the principle could be applied intelligently.

Clearly President Obama's grandmother didn't find this particular truism important enough to pass along to her grandson. If she had, we wouldn't be faced with the biggest deficit in history. If grandma had told Barack to "think before you speak", then we wouldn't have had to endure the painful spectacle of watching an American President apologize for America.

My Grandma also loved the expression, "don't throw out the baby with the bath water". In this case, the baby is just about everything we have built in this country, both good and bad, and like it or not, this administration is intent on throwing it all way.

I guess I 'm on a roll this morning with sayings and proverbs, so how about, "love is blind." In this case, the love is coming from the press which, with few exceptions , has completely forgotten to apply critical and objective thinking to their news coverage. We, the public, are not really getting the hard facts, but rather the watered down, dreamy version of current events.

"To the victor, belong the spoils" seems very apropos right now. We no longer have a two party system in this country, because the democrats have swept the nation and effectively shut out millions of people and their representatives from participating in making decisions so crucial to our way of life.

I suppose I could go on and on, but ...POP... I only have one more saying that is directed to the current administration and all those who put them in office, "Be careful what you wish for."

Monday, May 11, 2009

breakfastpop

Good morning! It's Monday, May 11, 2009, and I ate so much yesterday I have no right to eat breakfast. I am opening a container of fruity yogurt and I'll make myself a cup of tea and that will be my meal. Sometimes you just have to know when enough is enough.

...POP...Enough is enough is exactly the way I feel about the Miss California debacle. Later this afternoon, Miss California USA co-directors Shannon Moakler and Keith Lewis will hold a news conference to discuss the controversy surrounding Carrie Prejan. The state pageant has been investigating whether the 21-year old violated her contract by making public appearances with groups opposed to same-sex marriage and by failing to inform the pageant that she had posed provocatively as a teenager. If their view is based upon these criteria then I would be inclined to say that she did, indeed, violate her contract. The fact that she answered Hilton's question honestly with respect to her views on gay marriage is not at the core of the issue.

I am sure we will all be waiting with baited breath to hear what today's news conference brings. Tomorrow should be even more interesting because Donald Trump will be holding a conference to settle the issue once and for all. I suppose just one combined appearance would be sufficient, but not if you are Donald Trump and have an insatiable need for publicity.

The one thing to definitely emerge from this controversy, for me, is this: Pageants are out-dated, embarrassing, irrelevant and patronizing. It is unbelievable that we still hold contests that require young women to parade around in bathing suits and be judged on their appearance.

In a perfect world, young girls would refuse to be exploited like show ponies by parents who use them to inflate their own damaged egos. Donald Trump would have to get out of the pageant business for lack of interest on everyone's part, and young girls could seek out more appropriate role models.

I can dream, can't I?

Friday, May 8, 2009

breakfastpop

Today is Friday, May 8, 2009 and finally the sun is shining. My breakfast choice this morning is one that I used to have all the time in my youth, Cinnamon Butter Toast. It's very easy to prepare. All I need are 2 slices of bread, butter, cinnamon and sugar. I am going to brown the bread in butter in a skillet and then I will sprinkle a combination of sugar and cinnamon on both sides and brown the bread a bit more.

Mmmm! Delicious and just the way I remember it tasting as a kid. Speaking of kids, boys and girls, I have a story to tell you this morning. Once there was a woodcarver who carved a little girl out of wood. Her name was Nancy Pelosi and all she really wanted was to be a real little girl and grow up to be Speaker of the House. As soon as the woodcarver finished carving her nose, Nancy came alive and went off to Washington to run the world.

Faster than a bunny rabbit, Nancy rose to power and with each statement she made to the press a strange thing began to happen. Nancy's nose shot out like a pogo stick, growing faster than the speed of light.

In a panic, Nancy consulted the Blue Fairy who told her that her nose would grow every time she told a lie. Well, children, this very morning Nancy's nose is longer than 1,000 pogo sticks because she was caught in a very big lie.

Nancy told the world that she had no idea that "enhanced interrogation techniques" were being used to extract information from terrorists. She really was quite emphatic about it. But poor Nancy wasn't telling the truth. The CIA released a memo that clearly showed that Nancy knew all about the use of these techniques as far back as 2002.

So now, boys and girls, Nancy's nose is growing non-stop. She had people on her staff consult the Blue Fairy and they learned that there was only one way Nancy could be a real Speaker of the House and get her nose to stop growing . The Blue Fairy said that Nancy had to learn to be brave, honest and generous.

...POP...Too late for that! Nancy is destined to remain a puppet of the Democrats until the end of time.

The End.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

breakfastpop

I just turned my breakfast into stone by placing it in the microwave for 18 minutes instead 18 seconds. Good morning, today is Thursday, May 7, 2009 and I am going to eat my pulverized cranberry muffin anyway! Maybe a cup of tea will help it go down.

Recently, I registered for Facebook and Twitter because my curiosity got the better of me. I'm still on both, although I must admit I haven't a clue as to what Twitter is all about. At first it is fun trying to locate old friends that you haven't spoken to in years. And then...POP...the glow begins to fade as you come to the realization that once you've caught up, there really isn't much left to say. You also run the risk of getting your feelings hurt when you reach out and touch and they don't touch back!

There is really more to this movement than a desire to find old friends and keep up with current ones. I believe that it is symptomatic of a society that is moving away from the personal one- on- one relationship and heading towards a world where our relationships are nothing more than a collection of sound bites.

Just take a look at Twitter. Normal everyday people comment on their status with remarks like this...I'm yawning or I'm going to eat clams for lunch! First of all, who cares? Second of all are you kidding?

Check out Facebook and you will find the same phenomenon and you will also find me making the same inane remarks. My own daughter is beginning to ask me to join her for lunch on Facebook and that is really scary.

It is possible that we are entering into an era of communication that doesn't require the human touch, the human voice or the human presence. It is a way of having relationships without really relating at all. With the advent of these types of sites, you can have hundreds of friends who you will never have to invite for dinner or see in person! Initially, it seems like fun, but if you look a little deeper it really is indicative of a society that is talking all the time about nothing at all.

I hope that we make every effort to hold onto the world that existed before the computer age. Remember the days when a friend made you a cup of chicken soup when you were ill. Now it is possible to send a virtual bowl of imaginary soup to a sick friend without buying one ingredient or leaving the house.

When was the last time you received a handwritten letter from a friend? My guess is that it has probably been quite some time. The antidote for the current trend is this: Call a friend, go out to lunch, bring someone flowers to cheer them up and above all, don't post any of this on the internet!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

breakfastpop

Good morning, it's Wednesday, May 6, 2009 and the White House is really getting on my nerves....POP... I am having a calming breakfast of Apple Oatmeal which I can prepare in the microwave, because I can't be trusted around a hot stove today. I am going to combine 1 1/3 cups quick cooking oats with 2 2/3 cups water in a microwave-safe bowl. To this mixture I need to add 1 chopped apple, some walnuts, raisons, sugar and a bit of cinnamon. It's only going to take about 1 1/2 minutes to cook, which is fine with me because I have a lot on my mind.

The Obama administration is starting to bear a very strong and frightening resemblance to the supposedly defunct KGB. It has been reported that the administration applied hard-ball threats and tactics to force Chrysler's creditors to tow the line and not risk Obama's wrath.

What kind of country are we becoming? The administration behaves in an outrageous fashion and then categorically denies it. These people are reckless in their arrogance and obvious belief that it is their way or the highway. Speaking strictly for myself, I find this all incredibly frightening. It seems apparent to me that the creditors involved in these negotiations would rather comply with the threats than risk all kinds of trouble.

I understand their position, but at the same time, I wish they were more willing to step up to the plate and expose President Obama and his people to the nation. Strong armed tactics are always repugnant and sometimes illegal, but when it's the administration that 's doing it, we all have to wonder and fear what's next.

It is clear to me that the President and Congress no longer feel any obligation to the American people. They came into power with an agenda so sweeping in scope, that it is obvious they will stop at nothing to get their personal view of America into practice.

The fact that "their" view is not my view or yours appears to have very little relevance in their world. The President's refusal to acknowledge the "tea parties" or give credence to the message they sent is proof positive that Washington is hell bent on turning my country and yours into a shadow of its former self.

My oatmeal is sweet and soothing, but I may need something stronger to calm me down. It must be 5 o'clock somewhere, right?

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

breakfastpop

Today is Tuesday, May 5, 2009, but it feels more like February 5th. It's cold, it's rainy and I need something to warm me up this morning. I'm going to have a delicious corn muffin with butter and jelly and a hot cup of tea.

...POP...I just saw a video clip of Senator Dodd suggesting that water boarding terrorists is the evil equivalent of the extermination of 6 million Jews by the Nazis. I nearly choked on my muffin and now I need some kind of medication to calm me down. His twisted mind has come to the conclusion that President Bush should be put on trial for authorizing these techniques, because, after all, we prosecuted the Nazis so going after the former President is the only just course to follow.

It's a really good thing that this most certainly will be Dodd's last term in the Senate, because having to put up with his garbage is really too painful to contemplate.

Excuse me, Senator Dodd, but aren't you the one who helped our country get into the worst financial mess since the Great Depression? How about we prosecute you for poor judgement in your shady dealings with AIG? It sounds like a plan to me.

If bringing up water boarding was your attempt to divert the public's attention away from you and onto the former President, I don't think you succeeded. No wonder you are so interested in digging up the past, your future seems a little bleak to me. Oh, one other thing, these poor people who you are so worried about are terrorists. Their sole mission in life is to hunt us down and kill us. Does that bother you at all?

If you are so concerned about their well-being why not go down to Guantanamo and bring them a picnic basket full of goodies from your home state. Even better, why not invite a few of them to come live with you when the President closes down the prison.

To quote another prominent resident of your state, "It's a good thing."

Monday, May 4, 2009

breakfastpop

Good morning on this very, very rainy day. Today is Monday, May 4, 2009 and I am preparing a dish called Apple Toast for breakfast. I have to pre-heat my oven to 375 degrees and butter a baking dish, in which I will place 4 slices of bread. I have peeled, cored and sliced 3 apples and I melted butter in a dish to which I have added 1/2 cup of sugar. I need to dip the sliced apple in the melted butter and place the slices on top of the bread. Once I accomplish this, all I have to do is place the pan in the oven and wait about 10 minutes for the apples to brown and become tender.

The dish is fruity which is totally in sync with my thought process today. I woke up this morning wondering if I can believe what so called experts tell me is true.. For instance, after all these years I still don't know if tuna is safe to eat. One day it's laced with mercury that will turn me into a babbling lunatic and the next day it's perfectly fine. The same is true of salmon. Is farm raised salmon poison? Should I only eat wild salmon and how do I know which is which? How about vitamins..are they a waste of time as has been reported recently? Should I toss them in the trash? I take calcium every single day despite a study that showed no broad benefit from taking the pills. Why do I bother? Sally Fields took calcium and still developed osteoporosis, so why don't I throw the pills in the garbage disposal? I stopped taking hormones because of a study that told women to get off the pills or risk heart attack. I woke up the other day to discover that scientists are re-thinking the benefits of hormones! Does anybody know anything for sure? Are the glaciers really melting and do I have to keep worrying about the polar bears?

I really can't take it anymore. ...POP...the one thing I am sure about is that my breakfast is delicious and I don't need an expert to confirm this for me. It's in my mouth and my taste buds are dancing. I had better eat it quickly, though, before I find out that apples emit radiation!

Friday, May 1, 2009

breakfastpop

Today is Friday, May 1, 2009 and I am preparing a French Toast Casserole for breakfast. I have a loaf of sour dough bread and I am going to remove the crust. I am going to beat together 3 eggs, 1/2 cup of milk and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. After I cut the loaf of bread in half, I'll place it in my baking dish. I need to pat on 1/2 package of cream cheese, sprinkle some sugar and cut up an apple and layer it in top. I'm ready to pour my egg mixture on top and now I have to wait while the casserole bakes in a 375 degree oven for 35 minutes.

I think it will be worth the wait, so in the meantime I'll flip through the paper to catch up. It appears that once again Vice President Biden's mouth has left his brain behind. In the blink of an eye, he has managed to enrage the travel industry, alarm anyone thinking of taking a vacation to any destination in the world, and instill , in all of us, a fear of elevators, subways, airplanes, classrooms, office buildings and just about any place on the planet that could be considered a confined space.

Good job, Mr. Vice President, you've just about suggested that the entire world ground to a halt lest the Swine Flu kill us all.

And then there is the one man comedy act of Press Secretary Gibbs. How this guy stands at the podium and tells the world that what they heard was not really what was meant is beyond me. We all heard Biden say that he would tell his family to cancel travel plans and stay out of confined places. But no..Secretary Gibbs insists that what Biden actually said was that people should take precautions if they are around others who appear to be sick.

...POP... Huh? What? Could you repeat that? Am I imagining things? Are you sure? How can that be?

Vice President Biden really needs to get that foot of his looked at and find out if there is an explanation of why it keeps flying into his mouth!

Thursday, April 30, 2009

breakfastpop

Good morning... Today is Thursday, April 30, 2009 and I am going to have a bowl of Cheerios and top it off with some luscious, healthy blueberries. I realize that my choice for breakfast lacks creativity, but I am pressed for time and it seems like a good idea.

I wonder what the President eats for breakfast these days. It's not easy to appear in a different venue every ten seconds and still have time for a nourishing meal. It may be my imagination, but I swear I see Obama on television every single day, sometimes twice a day. He travels around the country like the Fugitive in search of the one-armed man. Air Force One must have spent a hefty stimulus package on fuel hauling him and his entourage around.

Do you think it could be restless leg syndrome that keeps him bouncing around the world non-stop? Perhaps, someone forgot to tell him that the campaign ended when he actually won the election. I can't help but wonder how he finds the time to get any substantive work done. Does he sit in the Oval Office and read documents and formulate policy, or is he flipping through travel brochures and planning his next trip?

No matter what channel I turn on, eventually, I see the President either apologizing for America's wanton ways or pitching something. Unless I was hallucinating, I believe I saw him doing a infomercial for the company that produces TelePrompters!

I am so bummed. Every time I see President Obama on television the Joe Jones song...POPS...into my head...

You talk too much

You worry me to death

You talk too much

You even worry my pet

You just talk,

Talk too much

Enjoy the rest of the day. My Cheerios were quite delicious.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

breakfastpop

Today is Wednesday, April 29, 2009 and I am preparing a Cheesy Noodle Omelette for breakfast today in recognition of Arlen Specter's defection to the Democratic party. His announcement was cheesy at best and proof of what happens when you have noodles for brains!

I'm using 2 eggs, a little salt and pepper, 1/2 cup of cooked noodles and 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. A little pimento will give the dish some added flavor. I'll prepare the dish by combining all the ingredients in a heat-resistant covered casserole and placing it in the oven for three minutes. I'll let it sit for a few additional minutes and then it's good to go.

Arlen Specter's defection to the Democratic party places him in the dubious company of Benedict Arnold and Tokoyo Rose. His move is selfish and self-serving and doesn't have a fig to do with the philosophy or leanings of the Republican party. It concerns only Sen. Specter's desire to be a senator until the end of time.

Everyone should be offended and disgusted by his defection, because it undermines democracy and silences an entire group of people who are entitled to have a voice in government. It gives the Democratic controlled Congress and White House carte blanche to pass whatever legislation they deem fit. His move silences all opposition and puts all of us at risk regardless of political affiliation, because dissent and discussion are essential to the workings of a democracy, a point that can't be stressed enough. If this country ends up with a health care system patterned after Canada's we will have Arlen Specter to thank when we have to wait two years to get an MRI.

Let's all join hands and hope that the Dishonorable Arlen Specter Benedict Arnold goes down in defeat in the Pennsylvania primary in 2010...POP...

Monday, April 27, 2009

breakfastpop

Today is Monday, April 27, 2009, the beginning of a new and hopefully uplifting week. I am preparing a Three-Pepper Quiche for breakfast using a green, yellow and red pepper cut into strips. I need an unbaked pie shell, 4 eggs, non dairy creamer, a little water, basil and cayenne pepper, just to heat things up. When I think about it, I really don't need the cayenne because I have the news to fire my jets...POP... Wall Street is planning on giving out huge bonuses with my money. Please say it isn't so.

I need to spoon all the ingredients into the pie shell and bake for about one hour. I'm glad it will take that long, because I need time to get control of my anger!

In the world I live in, when a company has to tighten their belt they tell the employees the truth and raises are either severely cut or eliminated and bonuses are non-existent. In the rarefied world of Wall Street, people are rewarded lavishly despite poor performance.

I am a staunch advocate of the free marketplace, but when an institution takes billions of dollars of taxpayer money, your money and mine, I believe they should be held accountable for their actions. The minute they accepted these funds, they forfeited the right to conduct business as usual until every nickel is paid back. It has been reported that bonuses are back to to pre-crisis levels. The average compensation at some of these bailed-out firms is $500,000 a year. Bonuses will be in the millions! Are you mad yet? I know I'm fuming!

My Three Pepper Quiche laced with cayenne pepper may just have to wait for lunchtime. I've already heard more than I can swallow.

Friday, April 24, 2009

breakfastpop

Today is Friday, April 24, 2009 and the sun is shining . I am going to prepare a grilled cheese sandwich for breakfast because it's quick and delicious. I'm sure I won't be as lucky as the South Carolina woman whose cheese toast looked exactly like ...POP... Jesus Christ! She keeps the toast, or should I say Christ, in a tupperware container beside her bed.

My breakfast is almost ready and, so far, it still looks like a grilled cheese sandwich. I read somewhere that in 1977, Christ made an appearance on a flour tortilla. I wonder where that tortilla is now. My sandwich is ready, but I will carefully inspect the pan for any signs of a visitation. I remember a man in Texas who, while preparing breakfast for his mother, saw the face of Jesus scratched into his frying pan. I just checked my pan, it's scratched, but it doesn't look like anybody I know.

As I munch on my sandwich I am reminded of the woman who saw the Virgin Mary on her grilled cheese and sold it for $28,000. I also recall a potato chip that looked like Mary selling on E-Bay for a nice chunk of change.

Well, my breakfast was delicious and uneventful. I now regret throwing out those blueberries that looked a lot like President Obama and Jay Leno.

I will, from now on, be more observant when I prepare my breakfast each morning. Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky and find Nancy Pelosi in my scrambled eggs!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

breakfastpop

Today is Thursday, April 23, 2009 , and I have decided on a simple whole wheat pancake as my choice for breakfast. I plan on following the directions exactly, so the dish should be very simple to prepare. The only extra thing I need is a picture of U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, because I want to fashion her likeness out of my pancake. You are probably scratching your head right about now, wondering what I could possibly have in mind. My plan is to drown her pancake image in syrup and ...POP...her down my throat. WHY? Because she is insane, uninformed and misguided and really should take under advisement the pursuit of another line of work.

Ms. Napolitano believes that our border with Canada is just as problematic as our border with Mexico. She supports this moronic statement by reminding everyone that the terrorists of September 11 entered our country via the Canadian border! Madam Secretary, I hate to contradict you, but the terrorists entered our country legally with visas.

Oh, one other thing, does the phrase" Mexican drug cartels" resonate with you in any way? Have you heard anything at all about about the rising rate of kidnapping and murder, that have spilled out of Mexico into our cities?

How about that document that was sent out to law enforcement officials throughout the country warning them that our returning soldiers may pose a threat to our national security. The memo suggested that the returning soldiers might be recruited by right wing groups for possible terrorist attacks. May I be blunt here? Are you out of your mind?

You have a lot of people to apologize to and a lot of statements to retract. Once you're finished you might want to get out your resume and update it. If you continue on the path you've been on you are definitely going to need it!

By the way, the pancake was delicious. Vengeance is mine!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Breakfastpop

...POP... It's Wednesday, April 22, 2009 and I haven't even thought about breakfast. When I went to sleep last night, President Obama told the nation that he had no intention of looking any further into interrogation techniques used in the Bush era. He did, however, approve the release of highly classified documents which gave our enemies a "heads-up" of all the things we will no longer subject them to should they be captured.

Well, what a difference a day makes. As of this morning the president has changed his mind and is, once again, turning his attention backwards to the Bush administration. What a complete waste of time, money and energy. Unbelievably, people who advised the former president about the parameters and legality of interrogation techniques could be charged with conspiracy to commit felonies, along with those that ordered the military to initiate them.

President Obama and his administration would be better served to pay attention to what they are doing and forget about blaming President Bush for everything that is wrong in the world today. I along with many other people are sick of the blame game; we're done!

What I'm wondering about now is how the Obama boys in Washington are going to obtain vital information that will keep us safe at home. Instead of harsh interrogation , are they going to invite the terrorists to brunch in the hope that a little hummus will go a long way to loosening their tongues? How about a free ride to college if they tell us what building they are planning to blow up next?

If the actions on the part of the current administration aren't proof of the death of common sense, then I don't know what is. War is a brutal act. It should be brutal so nations don't come to it easily. It is not a game, it is a matter of life and death. Terrorists took down the Towers on September 11th and there are other people out there willing to do the same thing all over again. Innocent, hard-working men, women and children lost their lives that day. I can say unequivocally, that I am not concerned about the animals that took such joy in killing innocent people. I am perfectly willing to let the C.I.A do its job to keep us safe from further harm.

President Obama and his administration are trying to tie the hands of those we have always trusted to keep us safe. Whether you liked President Bush or despised him, after September 11, our country was safe under his watch. In any case, he is not the president, Obama is. It is time for him to formulate some policy that makes sense and to stop kissing the asses of those who would like to see us fall.

I don't have the time or inclination to make anything fancy for breakfast today. Just like Janie Rossman, a loyal follower of this blog, I will have a Vita Muffin and a skim latte.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

breakfastpop

Good morning! Today is Tuesday, April 21, 2009 and I am in the mood to prepare a breakfast with an international flair. I've decided on a dish called Acapulco Baked Eggs and once I gather all my ingredients, it should only take about ten minutes to prepare. I have to mix together 4 large eggs, 2 tablespoons butter, a little milk, salt and pepper. I'm ready to pour the mixture in a greased baking pan and I will bake it for ten minutes in a 350 degree oven. Once the eggs set I' m going to sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese, chiles and taco sauce on top.

Now this is the kind of breakfast that can get my engine going but...POP...I don't need chile peppers when I have the news. President Obama is starting to bear a very strong resemblance to Brenda Lee singing "I'm Sorry". Some of you are old enough to remember this song, but for those of you too young to know what I'm referring to, the lyrics go something like this: " I'm sorry, so sorry, please accept my apology."

In three short or very long months, depending upon your perspective, President Obama has managed to apologize to just about everyone, for every action, decision or practice that preceded his presidency. He told the Europeans that America deserves blame for the world crisis because of greedy Wall Street; moved on to Mexico where he blamed the U.S. for providing guns to the cartels, told the Russians he wanted to make amends for the the behavior of George Bush; shook hands more than once with the psycho Hugo Chavez and accepted a book from him that attacks America and capitalism; and last but not least released highly classified doctrines about our interrogation policies for all the world to see, including those who want to kill us.

The only thing left to do is to join hands with our enemies, form a circle and sing "Kumbaya." The lyrics are very apropos... "Someone's praying lord, Kumbaya."

I know I'm praying he doesn't get us all killed!

Monday, April 20, 2009

breakfastpop

I'm having an Apricot Smoothie for breakfast today, Monday, April 20, 2009. I need 1 cup of canned apricot halves in light syrup, six ice cubes and one cup of vanilla yogurt. All I have to do is place everything in a blender and pulse until smooth.

It's the perfect choice for breakfast today because it's smooth and easy to swallow. I wish I could say the same for the news. I read in the paper this weekend that the Obama administration is going to release top-secret memos that provide explicit details of U.S. interrogation techniques. Has the White House forgotten the meaning of the phrase "top-secret"? Information like this is classified secret for a reason, because according to people who know, letting our enemies know our methods seriously endangers our safety. What is the rationale behind such a move? If President Obama is trying to make "nice" to our enemies he is putting our nation at risk.

I'm not an expert on national security by any means, but I do know how to take advice. When five former heads of the CIA declare the release of these memos a danger to our security, I believe them. When they further state that the techniques they employ yield useful information , I feel safer.

Don't be surprised if the identity of our operatives in other countries are revealed in the name of transparency. Whatever the ACLU wants, the ACLU gets!

My smoothie is delicious, but a little apricot brandy mixed in could be just what the doctor ordered. Now that we don't have any secrets to guard, I'm feeling exposed and on edge. What's next ..a guided tour of the Pentagon for the Guantanamo detainees with refreshments to follow?

They might consider serving my smoothie, but I won't reveal the recipe. It's classified information!

Friday, April 17, 2009

breakfastpop

Hi everyone..Just wanted to let you know that today's post can be found by clicking on the third breakfastpop listing on the right side of the page. The publishing tool is acting a bit weird today and I apologize. Today's blog might be more aptly described as breakfastoops!!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

breakfastpop

Today is Thursday, April 16, 2009. In tribute to the fantastic turnout for the great American Tea Party, I am preparing tea and biscuits for breakfast. I'm making yogurt biscuits and I need to gather together the following ingredients: 2 cups flour; 1 tsp. baking powder; 1/4 cup skim milk; 1 cup non-fat yogurt and 1/4 tsp baking soda. I need to pre-heat my oven to 450 degrees and sift all the dry ingredients together. I'm ready to stir in the yogurt and milk. Now I will turn out the mixture onto a floured surface and knead gently. I've shaped the dough into little biscuits and I will place them in the oven for 12 minutes.

While sipping my tea, I am looking at the front page of the N.Y. Times and ...POP...They have done it again! I can't find one word about the unbelievably successful turn out for the grass roots "tea parties" held all over the country. Not one word. The mainstream media dismissed these parties as being a gathering of right-wing lunatics. A reporter on CNN took things even farther by suggesting that Fox News was behind the entire movement. I watched her completely unprofessional and fleeting coverage of these events and was appalled by her outrageous accusations and horrible behavior.

ABC's Dan Harris reported on "Good Morning America" that "The White House says the president is unaware of the tea parties and will hold his own event today". What!! Impossible!!

Let's set the record straight once and for all. The "tea parties" were an enormous victory for democracy. Ordinary people of all walks of life and political affiliations gathered together to express their outrage over massive government spending, bloated budgets, failed bail-outs and high taxes.

This may have been democracy's finest moment.

My biscuits are ready and my second cup of tea is calling out to me. Let's breakfast together again tomorrow.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

breakfastpop

I picked up some gorgeous, plump, ruby-red strawberries the other day and I am going to have them for breakfast this morning. I'll add some sour cream and a bit of sugar and I'll be good to go. Today is Friday, April 17, 2009.

As I put together my very easy to prepare breakfast, my mind wanders to something I read just the other day.

We all know that having sex on a regular basis is very important for the health of a relationship, but as it turns out sexual activity may be far more important for your health. Studies have shown that sexually active people have a greatly reduced risk of heart disease, provided they don't drop dead while in the act. Barring such an outcome, frequent sex can help you lose weight, build strong bones and muscles and alleviate depression.

The reports further point out that a romp in the hay will greatly reduce the frequency of colds and flu, produce better bladder control, strong , healthy teeth and a very contented prostate. Does it get any better than this?

I think not, but I do have something I'd like to point out. It's just a guess, but I have a very strong feeling that Americans are too stressed out to be in the mood for sex as often as necessary to produce the resulting benefits to their health.

So...POP...I have a prescription for a healthier life. Pickup a bunch of delicious strawberries and a bottle of bubbly. Not only are strawberries a sexy fruit, but they are loaded with fiber and are believed to have nutrients that prevent heart disease. Now turn down the lights, get cozy with the one you love and don't call me in the morning. I'm sleeping in.

breakfastpop

Today is Wednesday, April 15, 2009 and I am going to have last night's leftovers for breakfast today. Yesterday, I prepared porcini mushroom pasta with pesto for dinner. I put together a small warm goat cheese salad as a side dish and the combination was luscious. Coating the goat cheese in egg white and panko breadcrumbs and then browning the cheese rounds in olive oil was the perfect finishing touch to the meal. It should taste even better this morning or...POP...it could be a culinary mistake as a breakfast choice.

Speaking of mistakes, culinary or otherwise, President Obama , in a speech he made yesterday, referred to the piracy issue as a privacy issue. I guess his TelePrompter malfunctioned. It wouldn't be a big deal, but I can't help but wonder what would have happened if President Bush had made this same mistake. Actually, I don't need to wonder. It would have been the laugh of the day, heard loud and clear in the mainstream media.

Clearly, the nation's love affair with Obama is thriving. The honeymoon period that all Presidents go through is chugging along despite many incidents that normally would have sparked outrage had anyone else been president. One perfect example of the nation's ability to be selective in their scrutiny is Reverend Wright. To be sure there was some talk about the Obamas' willingness to sit in the Church of this hate monger for over twenty years, but that's all it was...talk. President Obama's friendship with terrorist bomber Bill Ayres also caused only a minor ripple during the campaign. It would have derailed anyone else. Michelle Obama's comment that she had never been proud of America should have sent alarm bells ringing throughout the country, but once again the spark those words caused burned itself out quickly.

When the President referred to small town Americans as people who cling to their guns and religion, I was pretty sure this would do him in. Even his connection to racketeer Tom Rezko, rolled right off his back. Finally, his awful Special Olympics remark only reinforced the fact that he should never travel without his friend, the TelePrompter.

So far, his Presidency reminds me of the O.J. Simpson trial. Instead of a jury in denial, we have mainstream media engaged in the nullification of the obvious.

I could go on and on with other examples, but my breakfast is ready and I'm starving.