Presidential Debate 2020: #1

 

2020 Presidential Debate Topics: The Trump & Biden Records – The Supreme Court – Covid-19 – The Economy – Race & Violence in Our Cities – The Integrity of the Election.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SqNymAHjdk)

It was VERY PAINFUL to listen to biden stutter and stammer his way through the debate.

PITIFUL - hard to sit thru to the bitter end.

1st of 3 ... and not a tear in sight, even though biden was clearly stressed out: his handlers have got to have cryin' biden' on drugs.

And it was just as obvious, that Wallace was jumping to biden’s defense at every opportunity – most notably when biden was confused and disoriented in his responses. Wallace had to – several times – prod biden back on track: biden’s mind wanders. biden attacked President Trump for “attacking my son” … AND CONFUSED SONS & ISSUES!

Can you imagine the global pandemonium that would ensue if biden confused serious global political issues?

biden makes noise, but he never makes a direct hit with an honest answer.

biden, when asked how he would improve the economy – gave a litany of ALL of obama’s FAILURES: and when he gets over-excited, he stops mid-sentence to gather his thoughts before stammering forward and slurring his words. biden said he “doesn’t support the new green deal” – then goes off on a tangent of how he’s going to “implement the new green deal: it will pay for itself {as we move forward}”; when Wallace, confused by biden’s confused litany, broke in and questioned him: “so, do you support the new green deal?” … biden said, “pardon me? No – no, I don’t support the new green deal.” THIS IS THE PERSON WANTING THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE WORLD! Imagine him having to make serious decisions – life and death serious decisions – not just rambling party line talking points … and getting lost in the Twilight Zone!

MPO is that biden handed president Trump the RELECTION point.

biden is obama's tool ... and he whines!

biden is not Presidential material.

It was very hard to watch the debate to the very end … the saddest thing I’ve seen in 53 years of watching Election Debates.

The counting of the ballots will ba another drawn out 'chad' situation.

It's shameful. The demonrats need to be reined in!

Pitiful.

There are more debates coming up, but I don’t think they will go any smoother than this one:

*The 1, and only, Vice President Debate will happen in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 7^th, 2020. Susan Page will moderate.

**The 2^nd Presidential Debate will take place, October 15^th, 2020, in Miami Florida with Steve Scully for C-SPAN moderating.

***And the 3^rd Presidential Debate will be hosted in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 22, 2020. That debate will be moderated by Kristen Welker.

A COLLECTION OF TASTY RECIPES

These recipes are not part of a “Cookathon” lineup … they are just some of the things I’ve cooked up while the wildfire smoke trapped me indoors until the rain cleared the air: I needed something constructive to do, and I needed to whip up the Garlic Syrup anyway, to keep Fall/Winter ailments at bay – I like the syrup … some don’t. BUT IT WORKS 😉

==ORANGE ZEST APPLE PIE ~makes 8 – 10 servings

2-3/4 to 3 pounds apples (6 cups) * 2 teaspoons grated Orange Peel * ¾ cup firmly packed Brown Sugar * 1/3 cup all-purpose Flour * 1 teaspoon EA ground Cinnamon and Nutmeg * Pastry for a 2-crust 9-inch pie, rolled to fit pan (*recipe follows) * 1 Tablespoon Butter or margarine * 1 Egg * Orange Sauce (**recipe follows)

Peel, core, and thinly slice apples into a large bowl and mix with orange peel. Stir together the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg; add to apples and mix well.

Line a 9-inch pie pan with 1 round of the pastry. Pour apple mixture into pan, patting to compact mixture and mound in center. Dot fruit with butter, cut into small piece. Lay remaining round of pastry over fruit. Trim pastry to within ½-inch of pan rim and fold edges under, flush to pan rim. Flute edges to seal; or press together with fork tines, then scallop edge with the cupped side of a teaspoon for a pretty edging.

If you want to, combine pastry scraps, roll out, and cut into decorative shapes. Beat egg to blend, brush lightly over top of pie, place decorative pieces on pie, and brush them lightly with beaten egg. Slash pastry top in several places so steam can escape while baking.

Bake pie in a 375-degree oven until crust is a rich golden brown – about 45 – 55 minutes depending on your oven. Cool on a rack, then serve warm or at room temperature. If made ahead, cover loosely and let stand in a cool place until the next day. Cut into wedges and top with orange sauce to taste.

PIE FILLING READY FOR FREEZER

*9-inch TWO-CRUST PIE PASTRY

2/3 cup plus 2 Tablespoons Shortening OR 2/3 cup Lard * 2 cups all-purpose Flour * 1 teaspoon Salt * 4 – 5 Tablespoons Water

Cut shortening into flour and salt until particles are the size of small peas. Sprinkle with water, 1 Tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost cleans side f bowl (1 or 2 teaspoons of water can be added if necessary).

Gather pastry into a ball; shape into flattened round (for a 2-crust pie, divide the ball into equal halves and shape into 2 rounds). Roll pastry 2 inches larger than inverted pie pan. Gently fold pastry into quarters, unfold and ease into upturned pie pan, pressing firmly against bottom and sides.

Fill pastry as instructed in ORANGE ZEST APPLE PIE recipe above.

**ORANGE SAUCE

In a 1- to 2-quart pan, stir 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch with 1 Tablespoon Water. Add 1 cup Orange Juice and ¼ cup Orange Marmalade; bring to a boil, stirring over high heat. Serve hot or at room temperature. If made ahead, cover and chill up to 24 hours; let come to room temperature, or stir over medium-high heat until hot – about 2 minutes.

==GARLIC SYRUP

This expectorant syrup is most useful for relieving spasmodic cough and lung congestion; and will be found especially appropriate for children.

Avoid using metallic containers or utensils when making this syrup.

1. Slice and bruise 3-oz. of fresh Garlic

Garlic cloves weighed for accurate amount.

Garlic cloves skinned.

2. Measure ½ pint of Cider Vinegar (1 cup)

Cider Vinegar measured.

3. Measure 1 pound of granulated White Sugar (2 cups)

4. Infuse the garlic in the vinegar for 4 days. I like to blend the garlic and vinegar – this makes it more pungent, and much thicker than the original recipe calls for (pic/video are MY method). If you want a thin pulp-less concoction, follow the directions in gold text, exactly.

Garlic and vinegar liquified in blender.

Liquified garlic mixture scraped from sides – don’t want to miss any of that goodness!

Garlic and vinegar mixture put in 'fridge to marinade.

5. Strain and press.

6. Add the sugar.

7. Whisk vigorously, or gently warm the liquid until sugar is fully dissolved.

Dissolving the sugar to make syrup body.

8. Bottle in small clean bottles.

Garlic Syrup ready to be bottled.

Bottle Garlic Syrup. 1-oz bottles, except for Herb Bottle - probably about 2-oz. 

==ITALIAN SPAGHETTI ~makes 6 servings

1 pound Ground Beef * 1 large Onion, chopped (about 1 cup) * 1 clove Garlic, minced * 1 cup Water * 1 teaspoon Salt * 1 teaspoon Sugar * 1 teaspoon dried Oregano leaves * ¾ teaspoon dried Basil leaves * ½ teaspoon dried Marjoram leaves * ¼ teaspoon dried Rosemary leaves (optional) * 1 Bay leaf * 1 can (8 oz.) Tomato Paste * 1 can (16-oz.) canned Tomatoes * 4 cups HOT COOKED Spaghetti noodles * Parmesan Cheese

Cook and stir the hamburger, onion, garlic in a saucepan until hamburger is lightly browned; drain on paper towels to sop up the grease.

'Burger, onions, and garlic browned.

Stir in remaining ingredients except the spaghetti noodles. Heat sauce to boiling – reduce heat, and cover. Cook, simmering, and stirring occasionally for 1 hour.

Tomatoes, tomato paste, and herbs added to meat mixture.

Cook spaghetti noodles (about 2 ounces of dry pasta/per person; 4 ounces if there are no side dishes added to the meal).

Serve sauce with hot, cooked noodles. Sprinkle with grated cheese if desired.

**What I did: I ate 1 serving for Supper, and froze the rest for Freezer Meals.

Spaghetti portioned and ready for freezer.

2 teaspoons Parmesan Cheese added to each serving container.

==NEW ENGLAND POT ROAST ~serves 8

4-pound Beef arm, blade, or cross rib pot roast * 1 Tablespoon Salt * 1 teaspoon ground Black Pepper * 1 jar (5 ounces) prepared Horseradish * 1 cup Water * 8 small Potatoes * 8 medium Carrots * 8 small Onions Kettle Gravy (*recipe follows)

Cook beef in Dutch Oven over medium high heat until brown; reduce heat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spread horseradish over both sides of the beef. Add water. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover; simmer on top of range or cook in 325-degree oven for 2½ hours. Add vegetables. Cover, cook until tender – about 1 hour. Remove to a warm platter. Prepare gravy; serve with beef.

*What I did: I cooked my meal in my crock pot, on Low setting for about 6 hours. I ate 1 serving for Supper … and froze the other portions for future meals.

Pot Roast smeared with horseradish.

Cooked Horseradish Pot Roast

Horseradish Pot Roast & Baking Powder Biscuit Sticks Freezer Meals.

*KETTLE GRAVY: Skim excess fat from broth. Add enough water to broth to measure 2 cups. Shake ½ cup cold water and ¼ cup all-purpose flour in a tightly covered container; stir gradually into broth. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute.

==CHICKEN TERIYAKI ~makes 2 servings

1/3 cup Apple Juice, no sugar added * 2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce * 1 Tablespoon Rice Vinegar * 1 teaspoon Honey * ½ teaspoon grated Orange peel * ¼ teaspoon minced fresh Ginger root * 12 ounces skinned and boned Chicken breasts, cut into 1”-dice * 1 teaspoon Vegetable Oil * COOKED Rice for 2

Combine first 6 ingredients in a medium bowl; add chicken. Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least 6 hours; stirring occasionally. Heat oil in a medium saucepan; remove chicken from marinade and sauté in heated oil 8 minutes, stirring often. Add marinade – cook 2 minutes longer.

*What I did: I cooked this meal in my crockpot, on Low for 6 hours.

I used frozen breasts, and removed them when they were slightly thawed to dice as instructed above. Then I returned them to the crockpot and continued cooking them.

Teriyaki Chicken

Cooked Teriyaki Chicken

Teriyaki Chicken w-Baking Powder Biscuit Sticks Freezer Meals

==BAKING POWDER BISCUIT STICKS ~16 sticks

1/3 cup Shortening * 1¾ cups all-purpose Flour * 1½ teaspoons Baking Powder * ¾ teaspoon Salt * ¾ cup Milk

Heat oven to 450-degrees. Cut shortening into flour, baking powder and salt with a pastry blender until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in just enough milk so dough leaves sides of bowl and rounds up into a ball (too much milk makes the sough sticky; not enough milk makes biscuits dry).

Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead lightly – about 10 minutes. Roll or pat dough into an 8-inch square. Cut dough into halves; cut each half into eight 1-inch strips.

Baking Powder Biscuit Sticks

Heat 1/3 cup margarine or butter in a baking dish, 9x9x2-inches, in oven until melted.

Dip biscuit strips into melted margarine, coating all sides. Arrange strips in 2 rows in pan. Bake until golden brown – about 15 minutes.

SO DELISH!

Baking Powder Biscuit Sticks dipped in melted butter ...

Baked Baking Powder Biscuit Sticks

MONKEY ARMS

Bob was 6’2” … and his outstretched arms were just about as wide; I always teased him about his ‘monkey arms’ 😉

1974. Wedding night.

He earned that teasing in our early months of married life.

We were both young and head strong – not graciously giving way; we were both the oldest sibling: and at times it showed. I was 17, and used to having my own way … I pretty much raised myself. I wasn’t used to backing up. Bob was 7 years older, and used to being the voice of authority to those who were younger. Needless to say, there were a few fiery moments in those early months until we got used to each other’s personalities. When we would be at logger-heads over some stupid disagreement, and engaged in a mexican-standoff in the debate over who was right, and who was wrong; sometimes I’d act like the tomboy-teenager I was, and get royally pissed. When I had worked up a sufficient head of steam, I’d come off the couch swinging. And Bob would just shoot his long right arm out and place his hand against my forehead – effectively holding me back while I swung at the empty space between him and me: laughing the whole time and telling me, “You’re so damned cute when you’re angry”.

Which made me swing harder and faster … and he laughed louder while I wore myself out. Every once in a while, he’d ask, “Are you done, now?” And I’d snap, “No!”

Like 2 overgrown kids.

And when the dust settled, and we were sitting side by side again and talking things out; I’d make a remark about the “unfairness of his long arm pitted against my short arm range” which had had me laughing and crying in frustration at the same time. And he’d smile and wrap those long arms around me and pull me onto his lap – squeezing me tight and chuckling into my hair while I giggled into the hollow of his neck … and I was thankful, then, for those long ‘monkey arms’.

I was thankful for those arms too, that could easily retrieve things for me from heights I couldn’t reach, and from behind things where my arm length fell short – even from my extended fingertips.

This morning, while doing laundry, I sure could have used Bob’s long monkey arm reach.

I was retrieving towels and wash/dish cloths from the laundry room rack, above the washing machine when a pile I was cautiously retrieving started teetering. I remember thinking, as a dish cloth slipped out of grasp: “please don’t fall into the space behind the washing machine and dryer!”

It ignored my plea … and promptly fell into the space behind the washing machine and dryer.

My next thought was: “Oh great!”

I had to find a way to retrieve it – I couldn’t see it, but if it had fallen near or on top of the metal dryer hose … or landed on top of the electrical plug-in, it could overheat and catch fire.

It had to come up, out of that space.

And pronto.

Normally, I would have called for Bob to come and help me – “Babe! I need your monkey arms!”

But, Bob is no longer present in the flesh; and his long arms are no longer available.

So, I stared at the wall, drummed my fingertips on the top of the dryer and thought of the few times Bob had retrieved other errant things from behind the washing machines throughout our 44 years together. Yes, he used his long arms … but even then, he had help in reaching what needed retrieving.

He had contrived a ‘laundry hook’ from a wire hanger.

I HAD A WIRE HANGER!

I could make myself a laundry hook.

So, I walked to the back bedroom, grabbed a wire hanger, and did :-D

It wasn’t fancy, but it was workable:

Wire hanger Laundry Hook. A wire hanger, needle-nose pliers, and a little elbow grease … and voila! A workable tool 😉

Bob would have been able to easily lean his tall torso over the washer and dryer to slip the hook down into the yawning gap; but I am a shortie: I needed my little step-ladder to get high enough to {lightly} kneel with one knee on the heavier edges of both machines (tricky balancing act – I didn’t want to dent the tops, but I needed some solid support) and peek over the backside to see where I needed to aim the hook …

The errant dish cloth ... and rampant dust bunnies.

Retrieved dish cloth.

I hung my improvised hook on the laundry room bar where it will be handy f needed again.

I was happy to have that dishcloth in hand again … now, I need to clean up those dust bunnies: that is not going to be so easy. I have no idea how to get them cleaned up – shifting the washer and dryer around is not an option.

And though I had some satisfaction in that small triumph, I missed Bob’s arms.

My heart reminded me that after he would have retrieved the dish cloth, we would have shared a laugh; and a cuddle with his long monkey arms wrapped around me, pulled into his chest: with “I love you”’s spoken together, almost with the same breath.

My eyes burned with unshed tears.

We will never share a laugh or a cuddle again.

I will never be wrapped in Bob’s long monkey arms again.

 

My cheek will never again rest against his manly chest.

I will never again hear my husband’s voice, telling me he loves me.

Never again.

Widowhood sucks, and solo loboing satisfactions can be hollow triumphs.

BLACK & BLEU

My laptop died a year ago, and I started using Bob’s – about 6 weeks ago, I noticed that Bob’s laptop was losing juice: it started holding even at 54% charge; so, I’ve been leaving it plugged in ‘round the clock, hoping to keep it alive long enough to track down and purchase a replacement battery.

Hoping a replacement battery is available: I really want to keep this laptop as long as I can. It is Bob’s laptop; it is a tangible piece of the life Bob lived.

I do not want to replace this laptop unless I absolutely have to.

So, this morning, I decided to take Bob’s laptop into town and see about getting a replacement battery.

The sky was heavy with rain-saturated black clouds.

I drove to Office Depot, downtown, in the Triangle Mall center.

As I was waiting in line to be helped, another customer pointed out that overhead signs were indicating liquidation sales. What?

Obviously, there would be no help available for what I needed.

So, I got out of line and walked back to the Highlander.

About then the clouds began to leak in earnest with heavy drops of pavement pelting wet missiles: they had a decidedly blue tinge to them. Office Depot was the last computer store in town – the other had closed shop 3½ years ago. Bob had driven to Janzen Beach Mall, in Oregon to buy the laptop I am hoping to find a fix for.

Darn it!

With Office Depot closing, the necessity for me to engage in dreaded big city driving is becoming crucial.

Help me, Yeshua.

My thoughts started darting all over the place … is there a computer store in Centralia? I’d rather risk the freeway to Centralia, than Vancouver, Portland, Tacoma, or Seattle. I’d rather avoid ALL freeway travel, but if I have to drive the freeway – I’d rather end up closer to home, than further away.

Centralia is closer.

Centralia from Longview. 47 mins via I-5 N

And the streets should be easier to navigate: please, Elohim!

But, right now, the closest thing to what I need, and who may be able to help me now was in Kelso: so, that’s where I headed.

Along the route, I noticed several businesses were setting up sidewalk sandwich boards announcing more liquidation sales – I was not happy to see that. I honestly so not know if our great Nation can rebound from the disastrous political games the demonrat governors have forced on The People.

Washington State has struggled for decades since logging and fishing was sidelined … the technological and eco-‘friendly’ businesses that promised ‘lots of job opportunities’ never caught on here; they were quick flash-in-the-pan failures statewide.

And that empty-headed, black-hearted, goose-stepping demonrat nazi party liner media whore, inslee, has pretty much destroyed our economy, and our communities with all the asinine mandates he has ordered since March of this year.

It was still raining buckets of water from overhead, but I got some news inside that felt like warm rays of sunshine :-D

They can and will order me a battery if and when I really need one … right now, I can continue using the laptop “as is”, even at the mid-% holding charge; and when I asked if they could retrieve pictures from the old hard drives Bob had hung onto, they said they could – the service gal texted her partner to get me an accurate quote of what to expect for prices.

There is a replacement battery still available on the market – new, not used – and the price seemed reasonable.

While I was standing around and waiting for the return text concerning the retrieval fees, I laughed when I saw this pic tacked to the wall:

Computer humor ...

I left the store walking on a nice white, dry, fluffy cloud 9.

I called my granddaughter, Alyna, when I got inside the car. I wanted to let her know that I took her up on her advice, and looked into a replacement battery – and had found a place that could do that for me when the time came to get it done … I plan on doing that sometime in the Spring of 2021: I am making plans that will include the necessity of a replacement battery.

Everything was going well with the phone convo: until my little grandson wanted to talk with me – I was okay with that; Stacey was not.

As soon as Azariah said he missed me and wanted me to come for a visit, I expected the interruption, and rude intrusion; so, I was prepared.

It happened right on cue.

She can’t help herself.

She insinuated herself into the conversation, tried to make me feel bad … and angrily ended the call.

Normally, I would have been reduced to tears, wondering what I had done – and called back to ask why she hung up the phone: pleading to be allowed to continue talking with my grandson.

But, things have changed.

I don’t care anymore what her reasons are.

When I heard dead air instead of Aza’s voice, I surprised myself when all I did was just looked at the phone – slip it into the dash niche; turn the ignition on and drive away.

I don’t care anymore what her fickle reasons are for treating me badly.

She has to live with herself.

She has to explain to her children why she’s a miserable bitch.

I’m done.

I’m done apologizing for whatever imagined slights she feels.

I’m done groveling to enjoy my grandchildren.

I’m done crying over the weight of baseless fickle abuses she heaps on my shoulders.

I’m done trying to fit into a life she has closed the door on.

I.a.m.d.o.n.e.

I am healing.

I decided I needed tangible comfort.

I drove to Country Folks Deli for lunch 😉

It was busy, but I found a booth and settled in to wait for a waitress to notice me.

This is good news for me; and it gives me time to save $$$ towards eventual replacement.

Already looking towards 2021 Goals 😉

I enjoyed talking with the grandkids: brief as it was.

Aza asked me to come visit: not gonna happen any time soon. As I mentioned in July, I can stay away if my grandkids are going to be traumatized.(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2020/07/education-of-road-virgin.html)

Apparently, now, Stacey is putting an end to phone calls too: ON ALYNA’S PHONE no less! Alyna is 25, Aza is 6. Stacey is overbearing ...

Country Deli lunch - comfort food for comfort.

My waitress eventually found her way to my booth, and I ordered a Black & Bleu Burger – I normally have a Reuben this time of year, but a Reuben today would have had me thinking of the Reubens Alyna makes in the German Deli she manages … and I didn’t want to have my emotions taken hostage when I was doing so well at pushing the blackness away. Even though the perimeters of my emotions were edged in blue, I did not want to be fighting tears in public; I knew biting into a Reuben sandwich would do me in.

So, I steered clear of the Reuben, and got a burger.

Maybe I will be brave enough to make the drive to get a Reuben made by Alyna’s own hands sometime in 2021 … maybe.

Menu - I got the Black & Bleu Burger w-Beer Batter Fries.

The Name of the burger fit the mood of the bruising end of the earlier phone call, but it really is delicious; and I was anticipating the pungency of the bleu cheese, tasty bacon, and grilled onions topping: perfect food fare for a Fall day 😉

With everything topsy-turvy, I don't need Stacey's hate in my life.

I'm not the only grandparent that doesn't get to see their grandchild.

I am so thankful Elohim loves me … it is a great comfort.

Stacey is engaging in a revenge scenario; she is driving herself crazy with misguided hate.

Honesty is not Stacey's strong point. And I am not going to let her hate ruin my days anymore.

My lunch arrived – and it tasted as delicious as it looks :-D

Soul Food 😉 Black & Bleu Burger; for once Stacey did not make me cry – and I ate without forcing my food down over a lump in my throat ... I am healing.

I’ve lost significant weight over 21 months’ time.

I’ve toned all of my body, all of 2019.

I am wearing clothes that were regulated to the back of the closet and bottom dresser drawer for years because they were too tight … now they are kinda loose (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD8JfkD9jm8): I don’t think today’s lunch will do that much damage to all the good …

I ate with a clear conscious 😉

When I got back home, I took the opportunity of a break between rain showers, to go out and harvest everything that was ripe for the picking:

A small harvest, big in nutrients :-D

And I called a window-washing-gutter-cleaning business and set a time for them to come, estimate; and make an appointment for a November cleaning. Bob was meticulate about making sure the gutters were cleared and in top shape before Fall got too far underway; I’m trying to keep to that regimen – but that moron, inslee, keeps getting in the way of things that need to get done.

I also called another business to get someone to come help me with my printer – the guy will be coming tomorrow to see what needs to be done to get it up and running again. I hope it’s a simple fix he will be able to do, without too much running back and forth between downtown and here to get it running smoothly.

Bob would know what needs to be done; and he’d do it.

I don’t know, so I need to hire someone.

The hired help will be spendy, but worth it for my sanity’s sake – I am tired of asking friends and family that can’t find time to free up time to actually be of any real help to me in my hour of need: these things need hands-on-help … not phone convo guesstimates and no-show frustration.

I’ve had 21 months of black and blue interactions – my heart, my emotions, and my thoughts can’t take any more.

I really, really miss my Mr. Fixit man …

I love you, Babe.

Bob; always my ray of sunshine. 2006

Always ~ OX