Making A Chocolate Amends

Good people, I have f-ed up on you. I forgot to tell you about this elixir for the gods that I made a few weeks back. It was hot chocolate made with COCONUT MILK. If you are a lover of Mounds candy bar, you must try this. I got the idea from an article in the NY Times, yet added my own special touch with the assistance of Marcos and a buddy.

One 15 oz. can of Coconut Milk (unsweetened)
One 12 oz. can of evaporated milk (not condensed, too sweet)
One 12 oz. bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips (brand of your choice)
Two tablespoons of brown sugar
One cup of water.

Pour all of the liquid ingredients into a pot. Make sure you shake the can of coconut milk and get every bit, including the solids out of that can. The stove should be on medium heat. Don't want it to hot. The mixture may look broken, but it will all come together once you start adding the chocolate.

Bring to a simmer and stir in the chips a little at a time. Use a ladle to stir and constantly aerate the mixture while it's coming to a low boil, by scooping up some of the orgasmic liquid love with the ladle and pouring it back into the pot. The higher your hand goes the more air you will get. This will make it frothy. Once all of the chocolate is melted and the mixture is well combined you are ready to enjoy.

I guarantee you this will be the most decadent, silky and complex cup of hot chocolate you've ever had. Garnish however you like. Please let me know of any unique variations you create.

I truly apologize for not sharing this early. No worries we still have a chill in the air, so you can still curl up with a mug.

GOP - Lies Like A Rug

Are the Republicans up to their old dirty tricks? Do you feel that some of what they are saying is downright bullshit? FactCheck.org has found a few claims they are making about the stimulus packages are "wildly exaggerated or downright false."

- It's not true that the bill contains spending for "golf carts." It has $300 million to buy fuel-efficient vehicles, some of which may be electric cart-like utility vehicles like those already in use on military bases and at other government facilities.

- Money claimed to be for "remodeled federal offices" is mostly designated for upgrading buildings to "green" status through such things as thicker insulation and highly efficient lighting, not new drapes or paneling.

- A widely repeated claim that $8 billion is set aside for a "levitating train" to Disneyland is untrue. That total is for unspecified high-speed rail projects, and some of it may or may not end up going to a proposed 300-mph "maglev" train connecting Anaheim, Calif., with Las Vegas.

There's no money in the bill specified for butterfly parks, Frisbee golf courses or water slides, despite a GOP congressman's claim that the bill "will fund" those projects. He culled those silly-sounding items from a list of 18,750 city projects that the U.S. Conference of Mayors cobbled together as examples of "shovel-ready" projects.

Conservative politicians have also claimed that the stimulus bill requires that doctors follow government orders on what medical treatments can and can't be prescribed. But the bill doesn't say that.

- Rep. Tom Price of Georgia says the measure creates "a national health care rationing board." Not true. What it creates is a council to coordinate research into which treatments work best, and are most effective for the money. And in fact, the new law states quite specifically that the council has no power to "mandate coverage" and that its recommendations are not to be construed as "clinical guidelines for ... treatment."

- Betsy McCaughey, a Republican former lieutenant governor of New York, claims that the bill creates a "new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology." Not true. The office was created in 2004 by President Bush. McCaughey, an adjunct fellow at the conservative Hudson Institute, also says the office "will monitor treatments" and " 'guide' your doctor's decisions." But that's nothing new. Bush's initiative called for creating a health IT system to transmit information to "guide medical decisions." (McCaughey became a Democrat in 1997 and ran for governor of New York against her former boss, George Pataki.) Source: FactCheck.org

One Word Answers

Hey Todd, here is the answer to your response for question number 33.

1. Where is your cell phone? Coat
2. Your significant other? Marcos
3. Your hair? Short
4. Your mother? Survivor
5. Your father? Heaven
6. Your favorite thing? Learning
7. Your dream last night? Bizarre
8. Your favorite drink? Juice
9. Your dream/goal? Philanthropist
10. The room you’re in? Office
11. Your fear? Sickness
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Teaching
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. What you’re not? Stupid
15. Muffins? Nope
16. One of your wish list items? Travel
17. Where you grew up? Brooklyn
18. The last thing you did? Read
19. What are you wearing? Pajamas
20. Your TV? On
21. Your pet? Gino
22. Your computer? Mac
23. Your life? Evolving
24. Your mood? Determined
25. Missing someone? Usually
26. Your car? His
27. Something you’re not wearing? Watch
28. Favorite store? Supermarket
29. Summer? Hot
30. Favorite color? Many
31. Why did you laugh last? Gino
32. Why did you cry last? Music
33. Who will repost this? Junior
34. A place I go over and over: School
35. Someone who emails me: Joslyn
36. Place I would rather be right now: Disney World

'Member This Couple?

I'll probably click on the Oscar telecast periodically throughout the evening. The only nominees I've seen this year are Wall-e and Benjamin Buttons. I'm not really hyped about award shows that much anymore. Well, with exception of the AVN Awards, which celebrates the best in adult videos and the Juicies, which celebrates pop culture through the wit of Jun. Who probably enjoys a good adult video.

So anyway, I was really happy to see Kevin and Phoebe together. She looks absolutely darling. What a doll. As for Kevin, he's holding up pretty good. I had crushes on both of them back in the day. Glad to see they are still doing there thing together and they actually look happy with one another.

NY Fashion Weak

After indulging in the couture collections, looking at the highlights of NY Fashion Week's Fall '09 collections, was a bit of a let down. Mind you, there was some interesting stuff out there. However, the level of innovation is no where near what you see in couture. I know this is all ready-to-wear sportswear, but that doesn't mean you can't offer some level of scandal.

SPOILER ALERT: Do not read the following if you are a Project Runway fan:

While Project Runway is on lockdown due to legal issues, they filmed the season, and the final three contestants showed at NY Fashion Week. The pic above is from one of the designers. I picked that image because I believe that is Jaslene, the first Latina to win ANTM. I'm so gay.

Click here to see the highlights of NY Fashion Week

Dining On A Dollar

Back in the 80s my Titi Maria prided herself on the fact that she was able to feed her family of four, for just a few dollars a day. She was very creative, and most of the meals were nutritious. The one dish that was sorta suspect, yet tasted good, was her cubed Spam and Ragu pasta sauce over spaghetti. Occasionally, I still get a craving for it. Don't judge me!

I don't know about you guys, but I have found food to be so expensive lately. With that in mind, I offer the following to help ease the budgets of my good people.

Minding The Store

I'm keeping an eye on what's going down to the best of my abilities. After my previous hat tip of a post, to President Obama, let me share this video to maintain a sense of the full picture. Go to Chains We Can Believe In for a take on how our Mr. President is handling other affairs. Let's mind the store good people.

P.S. I still truly believe we are in much better hands. Lord, may I maintain this hope as I watch his actions unfold.

Do Your Thing Pres. Obama

I know everyone is focused on the stimulus package, however, President Obama has some other interesting accomplishments in his first month as president.

$10 Billion for High-Speed Rail
One day in the next decade you may find yourself rolling silently through the cornfields of Wisconsin at over 200 mph, on your way from Chicago to Minneapolis...

Broadband Initiative
High-speed rail isn't the only piece of American infrastructure getting a much-needed boost with the stimulus bill. More than $7 billion has been marked for the expansion of broadband access.

Commission to Review Faith-Based Initiatives
On Feb. 5, Obama signed an executive order renaming the Faith-Based and Community Initiatives entity created by President Bush. The new title of the organization is Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships...the White House has said it will not direct federal dollars to groups that proselytize or advocate for so-called reparative or conversion therapy for homosexuals.

A Reform-Minded Drug Czar
Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske...comes from a city that has been a pioneer on policies such as needle-exchange programs, lowering marijuana as a law-enforcement priority and innovating overdose-prevention strategies.

Swift Action on Arms Control
By all accounts, Obama appears serious about meeting his campaign pledge to drastically reduce the world's largest nuclear stockpiles and initiate a new era of arms control... For the first time in eight years, committed nonproliferation experts are being slotted in senior positions at the State Department's relevant agencies.

Go to Alternet.org for the full story.

Sharing Is Caring

Good people! If you look to your right you will see a new blog link to V's spot. "Maybe It's Just Me..." is a consistently good blog for getting a take on this world we live in. The writer is a Southern gentleman transplanted to California. He's also an educator and has a point of view. Please pay him a visit.

Also, don't forget all the other darling blogs on that section. Those bloggers are doing their thing.

Did You Feel That?

I just had an intense premonition. What came to mind is that many of my single family, friends and readers are going to find love this year! I am not on a Valentine's Day chocolate sugar high. The feeling was authentic and sincere. So, with that said, good people, make sure you get out often and look cute.

This Is A Rerun

Forgive me good people, but Marcos is taking me out tonight for V Day. Therefore, I'm recycling my V Day post from last year. I hope you all took a moment today to give and feel love.

If you care for something more fresh, head over to Juice with Junior. A link to that lovely man's blog is on the right.

Peace, Love and Souuuuul


Door opens and slams shut.
Venus: Cupid, darling? Is that you?
Cupid: Yeah mom!
Venus: So,how did it go.
Cupid: Mom, I'm real tired..
Venus: Oh come on, tell me how did it go.
Cupid: It went good. But, I'm exhausted.
Venus: Poor thing. Yeah, look you're all out of arrows. (Venus tugs on bow) And, looks like you'll need to get your bow restrung.
Cupid: Yeah. Man my wings are sore.
Venus: Honey I told you to pace yourself this year. And, I really wish you would take my advice and outsource some work to Eros.
Cupid: Mom!
Venus: Ok, ok. I'm just trying to be helpful. What a temper you have. This is what I get for fathering a child with Mars...
Cupid: Oh Jupiter! Mom, please I'm not in the mood for this.
Venus: Ok, ok. Darling, it's ladies night at The Pantheon so I'm going out. Your aunts Fortuna and Minerva should be here soon. I got Juno to babysit. Let me finish getting dressed.
Cupid: (mubles incoherently and lays down on the sofa.)
Venus: (giggles) Hey maybe I'll find love tonight.
Cupid: (rolls his eyes and falls asleep)

Did You Know?

We had a kiki in my Women's Studies class today. We talked about the fact that the "Hunter & Gatherer" term should actually be called "Gatherer & Hunter." You see folks there is evidence to show that for the most part it was the gathering done by the women, that provided enough food to sustain the prehistoric people. The men didn't always bring home the bacon.

FYI - The age of the Goddess is returning. Need proof? Look how everyone is thinking about living more "Green." Also, women are turning it out in colleges and universities around the world. With that said, many women are still catching a lot of hell around the globe. Lots of work to still do.

Look What I Did!

I'm pretty mama!
I got a letter today from the Interim Dean for the School of Education. Basically he said I done a good job and have made it to the Dean's List! I'm in the top 10% of my class in the School of Education with my 3.60 gpa.

Those of you near and dear to me know that 2008 was one rollercoaster of a ride for me. There was a lot of intense moments, personal challenges, and moments I felt like I wasn't on the right path.

What has made this accomplishment possible was me kicking into High-Riding Bitch mode on many occassions. While I have the ability to push myself into a downward spiral at times, I can also rally the spiritual and mental troops to get the job done. I often have to say to myself "C'mon bitch, get it into gear and handle yours!"

Thank you to my ancestral spirits that always inspire me. A big thank you to family and friends for always sharing encouraging words. I'm gonna keep on keeping on. I got work to do, if I want to share my love and desire to help create positive change for those around me.

P.S. Marcos was so happy and proud of me he did a ton of dishes! And, I cooked a killer pot of Chili and made homemade Guacamole. We celebrate with food in this house! LOL

Theatre Queen - Pissed Off Patti

Awhile back Todd over at Postcards... did a post about Patti LuPone having a Diva moment during a performance of the musical "Gypsy," by stopping a show to have someone in the audience removed from the theatre, because he or she was taking pictures, while Patti was belting out "Rose's Turn" (a show stopper of a song by the way. The irony!). A couple of his readers, along with Todd, felt Patti was a bit over the top and should have went on with the show.

I'm taking Patti's side on this one, and here's why:

Imagine you are on stage giving it your all. You have to dig deep in order to hit and carry those notes, while being in character. It takes a lot to do that folks. The amount of focus and awareness of all around you is higher than usual. Then you see flashes of light coming at you, one, two, then three (yup, the offenders took three pictures). There you are struggling to sell it and a damn light is breaking your concentration. It's just not right. The rules were explained before the performance; no flash photography!

I also want to add that many of my friends that performed as dancers, have said that it is dangerous to have a flash go off in your face while you are dancing.

I'm glad Patti called them out. This is something you have to nip in the bud, because if you don't, I can see future shows being fucked up by a bused in tourists, trying to get yet another snapshot souvenir from their trip to NYC. Imagine if audiences get over this rule and you have a series of flashes going off throughout a show. Not good! You want a picture of the star, wait till the curtain call, or go to the stage door and get a shot of you and your favorite performer.

I also have to admit, if I was there and got to see the drama in person, it would have been gravy! I'm okay with seeing rude and inconsiderate people get their hands slapped.

Beware Evil Doers...I'm Fearless

That adorable cub in Canada, Aaron, posted a link to the Hero Factory website (click here). Head over there now good people and create an image to go with your own inner superhero!

The image above is my alter-ego superhero, known to the world as, Guerrero Rojo! I possess the power of the Sonic Snap, that has been know to crumble buildings.

It's Your Thing...Do Want You Want To Do

Most of my blogs of choice have been putting the Passion for Christ Movement on blast for their new line of t-shirts they are selling to young folks. The picture above is one of the slogans available.

As many of you know, I work with teenagers. Here's my take on what would happen if they saw a fellow student with the "Ex-Masturbator" t-shirt:

- Laugh till the point that they either cry or throw-up.
- Think about that student masturbating
- Think about themselves masturbating
- Think about masturbation period
- Think about sex

For those already masturbating some would:

- Think that there aint nothing wrong with masturbating and continue to have long private bathroom time
- Feel guilty about pleasuring themselves, resulting in their heads being messed up about sexual urgings and themselves

Wouldn't it be better to teach them to have healthy attitudes about sex and to practice behaviors that are about self-respect and protection. Yes, I would include the option of abstinence. However, to promote a message that makes young people deny or feel weird about urges concerning sex, and that center around guilt, is twisted.

Ted Better Watch His Back

Ted Allen is showing up on Food Network doing all kinds of knock-off shows.

Food Detectives has this food-science connection that reminds me of Alton Brown's Good Eats. I think Junior or Miss Kitty may have blogged about that similarity in the past. Now he is doing Chopped, which is a short version of Top Chef.

He better be careful because I feel Alton will litigate his ass into the ground, but Tom will put a beatdown on him.

FYI - It's been reported the Queer Guys didn't make a lot of bank during their time at Bravo. I guess Ted is being a crafty one and figuring out how to keep the paper flowing in order to maintain the Fire Island and Manhattan properties.

Damn, I'm gossiping again.

It Was A Matter of Time

This is what Michael Phelps had to say after a picture of him smoking pot was put on blast:

“I engaged in behaviour which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I’m 23 years old and despite the successes I’ve had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again,”

Child, if you are a celeb with million dollar endorsements, you should suck on a bong in the privacy of your own home! There's a lot of haters out there that would love to blow up your spot.

Interesting how the media is making him feel bad about pot smoking, yet if he went to a keg party and did massive hits of booze, he would just be one of the boys. Funny how one type of high is bad and another is allowed.

There goes the Coke endorsement.

The Kids Are Gonna Be Alright?

Okay so here's the deal, I've been at school getting my Special Ed credentials. I have this and one more semester to go, then I student teach and will graduate! Yay for me! It's been a long process, that has actually gone by rather quickly (figure that one out). Now, what I want to share today is some of the observations of my fellow students, that are all mostly half my age!

- I am writing this from the computer lab, and this one kid next...I meant student...to me has been looking at this computer game demo of this gun just shooting up people for the past hour! I kid you not. He's creeping me out. Do you think his parents should have let him go to a vocational school or just do his own thing for awhile? He seems really disconnected and a bit angry. Poor thing.

- What the fuck is it with these 19 and 20 years olds and pictures. Everytime I walk to the printer to get something, and I look at other students' monitors, all I see are images of them partying, cuddled up with someone, or striking a sexy pose. I've never seen so many people wrapped up into looking at themselves and their friends.

- Plus they text each other constantly. Is there really that much to say? Why not just wait till you see them. I wonder if they have anything to say to each other when they finally meet up for $3 pitchers of beer.

- College going males love...no worship..wait that's not it...would kill a loved one, for Buffalo Wings! These guys eat them by the bucket.

- Everybody, myself included, has a Facebook page! I check my once every two-weeks. They check in every other hour! And, they actually care about that friend rating system bullshit.

- I constantly hear them talking about how wasted they got last night, and that now they are "so hungover man."

- I sound like an old guy going to school with a bunch of yungins.