Election Day Feelings

My husband and I voted today in the West Virginia special election for Governor. We took the boys with us, and one of them went into the voters booth with each of us. I really want to instill in them how important it is to exercise your right to vote, be patriotic and be a responsible citizen.  My parents did that for me, and I think it made me a better person.  Every time I vote, I feel so good about participating in my government. I mean, that is what it is all about in this country, isn't it? I can remember thinking when the whole Florida debacle occurred during the Presidential election between Bush and Gore, "this isn't pretty, but a lesser nation would have broken into civil unrest or even war". There was NO violence. Certainly people complained and were unhappy, but we worked through the entire process with no unrest to speak of. I don't know if people truly understand how incredible it is that we live in a nation that can stay intact through a process like that. How proud I was ~ even though I was disappointed in the final outcome  ;)
Depending on whose in office and what is going on, we all may have issues with the government from time-to-time, but what an incredible blessing it is that we can voice our feelings and debate with others without fear of imprisonment or even death. Many people don't realize the enormity of that. I do, and I am thankful everyday for the blessing of being an American. God Bless our founding fathers for their foresight. Unbelievable when you really think about it!!!! Whoo Hoo ~ America ROCKS.

Mom's Potato Salad

I would swear my husband married me for my mom's potato salad. Yes. It's that good. If you don't believe me, I can give you references. No one knows why its so good. Could it be the way she cuts up the potatoes so small, or the special dressing she mixes up herself, or the celery she chops into it? Nobody knows! Not even her. She is happy to show anyone how she makes it, and she'll tell you there is no special secret. Well  maybe there's no secret, but it sure is special.

One time when a high school friend was getting married back home, she picked up a 10 lb bag of potatos and dropped it off at my parents house with a note from my husband and one of his friends to my mom that said, "You know what to do." They wanted to be sure when they came in for the wedding that weekend, there would be plenty of potato salad. As always, mom was happy to do it.

Now potato salad isn't the only thing mom is best at. I swear she is the greatest cook ever. From her haluski  to cabbage rolls to pineapple squares to her homemade bread . . .  . she rocks the kitchen! Then comes holiday time. Oh my, her stuffing is to die for. Everyone wants to eat Thanksgiving dinner at my moms and rightly so ~ pumpkin pies, stuffed celery, broccili & cheese casserole, and on and on.

Her potato salad remains her signature dish though. She's known far and wide for that potato salad, and there isn't an event that goes by that she isn't asked to make it. Like I said, its been talked and talked and talked about and no one knows what makes that potato salad so good, but if I was a bettin' woman, I'd bet it has something to do with all that Love she puts in it.

No Turning!!! Really?????

Have you ever seen a sign in someone's driveway that says "No Turning" ? What??? I mean, what is that about??? I saw one coming home from work yesterday at a house on a straight stretch of road. Okay, so this is what I'm thinking, do you really have to put up a sign??? I mean, how often can it actually happen??? Surely, it doesn't happen so often that you have to put up a sign, right????? And, how much can it really hurt if once or twice a year somebody turns around in your driveway???? Jeez, lighten up.  Just sayin'. . . .