My Thanksgiving at AA

Among the turkey, mashed potatoes and classic pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dinner, there is always drama.
Yes, I said drama.
This may not seem like a foreign concept to some, and certainly not to me, but without fail every year my family gets harder and harder to be around.
It is the constant bickering about nothing, having to explain your life plan and “future” to the grandparents I see twice a year and drunken or high, embarrassing slurs in front of family friends that wears on my patience.
Oh yeah, and there are about five dogs, big and small, barking and clawing at my legs begging to be petted that also wears not only on my patience but also my wardrobe.
I love my family of course, but is it too much to ask that they behave themselves? I think not.
This year was different however.
This year will go down as the first time that I can remember since a young girl that everyone actually got along and sober.
My aunt who was hosting dinner said there is to be no alcohol whatsoever, which, I’m not going to lie, wasn’t that great for those of us who don’t have a drinking problem but it’s a small sacrifice to make.
It was almost unbelievable the way that everyone helped out and didn’t have anything to complain about, even me.
To keep myself from complaining too much, I kept busy.
I went to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting with a close family member.
I know that doesn’t scream holiday fun but it was important for me to support my loved one and also to be reminded of how I have it so great when many others do not.
All of the people listen to each others stories, feeling their pain and rubbing their backs in support and comfort, which silently tells the person in pain, “I understand. I’m here for you.”
When I first got there I met a woman who seemed to be friends with everyone.
She was hugging and talking to everyone outside the meeting and when the meeting started she even waved hello to a bunch of people in the room.
She was smiling and looked like miss popular.
Then right before the meeting was over, and people were sharing about the story we had just read, this woman decided to share too.
Except her story was about to make everyone cry, including me.
Her story was long and very sad but her point of sharing was to tell everyone how important they were to her, especially in hard times like the kind holidays bring.
As tears streamed down her face she held a mans hand that was sitting beside her and she thanked everyone in the room for coming to a meeting on a holiday and that we will never know how much it was helping her coup with her problems just by being there.
It was inspiring to say the least.
In a very Hallmark sort of way this woman made me even more grateful for my family, even if we do have a few bad times because there are people out there who have it bad all the time.
When we got home from the meeting I was suddenly filled with ease and glad that I went to a meeting even though I didn’t have to.
My family member doesn’t have to, she is not ordered by the court, she chooses to and that choice is helping her and all of the people that choose to go also.
My Thanksgiving was not a traditional one but it was still the best one I’d had in years.

Passion for Pinot

For those of you that are of age to drink, I have just the thing for you to bring to your significant other’s Thanksgiving dinner or even your own. And if you’re family is as crazy as most peoples, listen up.
This month is a great time to try a new wine, or wine in general if you are not that familiar.

Pinot Noir is the wine of the month, say it with me, PEE-noh nwahr. Very good!
According to The Wine Club, A Month-by-Month Guide To Learning About Wine With Friends by Maureen Christian Petrosky, November is a great time to try Pinot Noir because of all the great food that goes along with Thanksgiving.

Pinot Noir is often called the “noble grape of Burgundy” because it is the red grape from this world-famous winegrowing area in France. So, if the wine is red and it says it’s from Burgundy (or Bourgogne in French) then the grape is most likely Pinot Noir.

This wine is very special because it may take awhile to really appreciate its unique aroma and flavor.
It is said to have the aroma of a barnyard, so Petrosky says. I know, I know it doesn’t sound that appetizing but the juice beneath the aroma, especially ones from France, can be the best you’ve ever tasted. It just may take a couple of tries.
Anything worth having is worth the wait right?

To help you properly taste the wine, Miguel Garza, host of winetasterstv.com can be found on you tube.com and is waiting to give you the tips you need to have the best wine tasting experience yet.


For most wine you can usually just use a basic red wine glass or white wine glass (yes they are different) and it won’t matter that much. This is not as true for Pinot Noir.
A Pinot Noir glass is larger than other red-wine glasses, with a bulbous shape that allows more flavor and aroma to develop. If all you have is an all-purpose red-wine glass, no worries it’ll be just fine.
To get the “bang for your buck” Petrosky suggests Castle Rock Pinot Noir 2003, Carneros California; $10. It holds strong flavors such as black cherry and vanilla with the aromas of mocha, cedar and spice- all for just $10!

Pinot-Noir is a “true food-loving wine” says Petrosky, because it is made to enjoy with food.
Here is a delicious, and no bake, twist on a Thanksgiving favorite that will go fabulous with a glass of Pinot Noir.
Leftover Pumpkin Pie Parfaits
1 leftover 8 or 9 inch pumpkin pie
2 cups sour cream
¼ cup pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons orange juice
½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 cups whipped cream
¾ cup crumbled graham crackers

1. Remove pumpkin filling from piecrust; discard the crust.
2. In a medium bowl whisk together sour cream, maple syrup, orange juice and pumpkin pie spice.
3. In the bottom of 10 small parfait glasses (or bowls) place 2 or 3 tablespoons pumpkin pie filling. Add a layer of the sour cream mixture to each.
4. Top with a layer of whipped cream and crumbled graham cracker.

Bon appetite!

Boring "American Cooking" Anyone?

When someone asks you what your favorite kind of food is, you normally give examples like Italian, Japanese or Mexican. Not once have I ever heard someone say American Cooking. What does that even mean?

That is how Malabar, a Natomas based restaurant, describes itself.
So, what does “American Cooking” mean to them?
It means that they specialize in many different kinds of food. I guess they are trying to say that their menu is very diverse, just like America.

There are Asian, Mexican and Italian references and tastes for almost anyone’s craving.
Unfortunately the first thing that I thought when I saw so many different dishes was, “Can they possibly do them all well?”

Upon arriving the outside of the restaurant was huge and seemed as though it was a business casual place, although I showed up late in jeans and a t-shirt and fit right in.
The front door however had the appearance of a back door that might lead to the dumpsters and did not give you the “Come on in!” appeal.

The dining area and especially the bar was surrounded by big flat screen televisions that were set to the presidential election coverage and football. Very pro-American.
The lights were dim and it had a very cozy feel along with the booth that comfortably fit five people.

The waitress came to the table with a sincere smile ready to take our orders.
It didn’t take long before there was a glass of chardonnay and colorful plate of rare ahi tuna sitting in front of me. Along side the tuna came a balance of hot and sweet cilantro-wasabi vinaigrette and a soy glaze.
As I looked around for chop sticks I realized I was not in a Japanese restaurant where I might normally order this, so I ate it with a fork instead.

After taking my time to eat and enjoy the company of my fellow classmates, some of us decided to order dessert.
After salivating over the classic cheesecake description, I decide to order it and share it among the others at the table.
It was a classic cheesecake with a drizzle, emphasis on drizzle, of raspberry sauce.
When it was placed in front of me the cheesecake looked amazing but the “drizzle” of raspberry sauce was a couple of little swirls on the plate.

It was after seeing this that the waitress explained that it is more of a garnish, but that wasn’t going to cut it for me and I decided to order a side of raspberry sauce to pour on top.
The cheesecake was light with a slight vanilla bean flavor and was not too rich as some have a tendency to be.

When it came time to get the check the waitress didn’t hesitate to get us all separate checks.
All in all it was a good dinner, although very mundane. It wasn’t great but it wasn’t terrible, it just was.
It looked, acted and tasted like every other chain restaurant I’ve been to. There were no sparks or unique flare that stuck out, just a forgetful face in the crowd.

Rules for Dining on a First Date

　
So, you’re on a first date and everything is going great.
He brings you flowers, she laughs at all of your jokes and you have so much in common that time is flying by and before you know it, 10 p.m. turns into 2 a.m.

The last thing you want to worry about is whether or not you have something stuck in your teeth or if your breath smells bad, right?
We can fix this little problem.

The first date is all about making a great first impression and hopefully getting that wonderful goodnight kiss or something more if you're lucky.

There are certain rules to follow when your first date involves food.

Rule number one, do not order pesto pasta or spaghetti.
The little green pieces of pesto will get stuck in your teeth and you‘ll be chatting away about your annoying roommate with green all in your teeth. It‘s not a good look.
Spaghetti was cute for the dogs in Disney’s Lady and the Tramp, but it is too messy for a date.
If you have to keep putting the napkin up to your face and you are even a little bit worried about the spaghetti sauce splattering everywhere then don’t order it.

Rule number two, do not order something with a lot of garlic, or a medium amount for that matter.
If you’re not sure just ask the waiter. Your date will greatly appreciate this and hopefully get the hint too.

Rule number three, do not order anything that might upset your stomach even a little bit.
If your date wants to go to a new Indian place and you want to get lucky at the end of the night, I’d suggest Chili’s.

Some of these rules may seem like no brainers but sometimes we are so comfortable with ourselves and used to what we like, we forget to think of how it will affect other people.
You need to be able to eat and carry on a conversation because that is the whole purpose of a date, whether it‘s the first one with a really hot girl or a family member.
Here are some more helpful hints to help you lock in the make out session at the end of the night.

Try to eat more protein and less bread.

We all get nervous sometimes and eat way too many chips with salsa or bread sticks because we don’t know what else to do but bread along with the rest of your entrée will feel too heavy and protein will give you energy for whatever it is you will be doing after dinner. Wink, wink!

Like I said, we all get nervous on first dates and along with eating or fidgeting with everything around us, we tend to drink a lot more alcohol than we normally would.
This can be a very bad decision if you cannot hold your liquor.
You could end up talking about things that you will regret the next day and possibly not even remember.
Depending on your size and weight, you should probably only have two drinks maximum.

If you think the end of the night could be a little more than just kissing, there are some foods that can work in your favor.

According to Foxnews.com, protein is a good energy source and it also provides an increase in stamina.
You can find protein in foods besides meat like beef or chicken, there is also a lot of protein in pine nuts.
Asparagus contains foliate which is necessary for histamine production and histamine is necessary for both males and females to reach orgasm.
Oysters are a well-known aphrodisiac and contain zinc which increases libido.

Last, but certainly not least is dessert!
Chocolate is known to release serotonin, which can provide a calming effect in your brain and helps get you in the mood.

Good luck! And remember, just be yourself (unless you love garlic like I do and tone it down a notch).

Different Types of Vegetarians

Girls Next Door blonde bombshell, Holly Madison, poses nude while saying, “I’d rather go naked than wear fur.”

Do I have your attention now?

Madison, along with many other celebrities like Paul McCartney, Alicia Silverstone and the rock n’ roll goddess herself, Joan Jett, have all been apart of spreading information about vegetarianism.

In a time when the percentage of obese Americans couldn’t be any higher, it is no wonder why so many people are choosing to eat more natural and organic foods.
People are not just eating natural and organic but they are also becoming vegetarians.

Vegetarian seems to be a very confusing word and topic for some people.
When I tell people I’m a vegetarian I often get the response “ So does that mean you don’t eat cheese or eggs either?” or “Why? Is it because of animal cruelty or you just don’t like the way it tastes?”

There are so many questions because so many people know nothing about being a vegetarian or the different types there are and why.

According to Dictionary.com the definition of vegetarian is “A person who does not eat or does not believe in eating meat, fish, fowl, or, in some cases, any food derived from animals, as eggs or cheese, but subsists on vegetables, fruits, nuts, grain, etc.”
But it doesn’t stop there because there are many different kinds of vegetarians out there.

Lets jump right in there and start off with Lacto vegetarian.

A Lacto vegetarian eats dairy products but they do not eat eggs or anything made with eggs like pancakes, bread, cookies or cake.
Lacto-ovo vegetarians eat dairy products and eggs just not meat of any kind.
A Pesca vegetarian eats dairy, eggs and seafood only.

The last one and the one that confuses almost everyone is the dreaded Vegan.
Yes they have tattoos that say vegan and they do not wear or buy anything that is animal related like leather shoes or fur coats, but they are regular people too, I promise.
The vegan is the most extreme vegetarian there is.
They do not consume anything that was made with eggs, milk or anything else that has a face.

So you might be thinking, “What do they eat then?”
In a country that prides itself on diversity with numerous fast food and chain restaurants to choose from, we have yet to make it easier for Vegans or even regular Vegetarians.
There are stores and some restaurants in big cities that support vegetarianism but let me tell you, it’s not easy for them.

Think about how hard it would be if you were lactose intolerant and everywhere you go you have to explain your dietary restrictions like when you go to a dinner party or casual BBQ.
It is even harder for vegetarians and especially hard for vegans.
Luckily there are many different foods that can substitute the protein and other nutrients in meat.
Tofu, beans, nuts, peanut butter and seeds are a great source of protein for vegans.

For Pesca vegetarians they can add tuna or other fish to their diet for protein and Lacto-ovo vegetarians can add eggs and cheese to the list for meatless protein.
Although it is surprising how many food products there are, essentially for non meat eaters, that are made with tofu but look like a chicken nugget.

What’s up with that?!
Who knows, maybe it makes them feel cool because they can still eat a “chicken” nugget too.

Vegetarianism is sweeping the nation and you might even have a friend that is a vegetarian and not even know it.

The point is, next time someone tells you they’re a vegan or vegetarian you will be able to sympathize with them and have a better understanding of where they’re coming from.

This is only scratching the surface, so for more information go to Peta.com or chooseveg.com and I bet you’ll be surprised at the amount of information they have and how many celebrities are supporters of the vegetarian movement.

Peta.com also has tons of yummy vegetarian recipes available for you to try and experiment with like their recipe of the week Caramel-Apple French Toast, so get cooking!

Maybe Some Pie will Cheer You Up

Sacramento Magazine is pretty notorious for having a great food and wine section. A dedicated team to let readers know the best wines with what food, the best summer salads and, of course, the best restaurants.
While on their website, Sacmag.com, I noticed that there are numerous columns by Kira O’Donnell, that are not only good but always leaves my mouth watering.
O’Donnell’s recent column is about one of my favorite things in this world- cheese.
She writes about the different kinds of cheeses from gruyere to one of my favorites, Stilton, how to use them, what to drink them with and where to buy them.
She starts off by naming the specialty food shops in Sacramento such as Corti Bothers, David Berkley and the Sacramento Natural Food Co-op, then lists each cheese and how to use it when cooking.
She uses words like tangy, nutty and creamy to get you in the mood for a cheesy pizza or a simple quesadilla.
For November, O’Donnell has chosen to review the restaurant Biba, an authentic Italian restaurant, calling Biba Caggiano the “Doyenne of Italian cusine in Sacramento.”
She describes Caggiano’s dedication, persistence and passion for writing cook books, cooking and even hosting a cooking show called “Biba’s Italian Kitchen.”
One thing O’Donnell said in her review really caught my attention.
“For those of us restaurant diners used to loud background music, saccharinely friendly waiters and oversize televisions in every available corner, this was a refreshing and genteel step back in time.”
This was a great observation, only I am too young for it to be a “step back in time” but I know exactly what she means.
Besides the appearance, every detail in the food is mentioned, from the way it looks on the plate to every sensation of how it tastes.
The final verdict was that it simply wouldn’t be right to compare Biba to other Italian restaurants because it would be like comparing “biscotti and breadsticks” or “pantyhose and tube socks.”
What has this talented food and wine columnist done in the last year?
This pastry specialist, who used to work at restaurants like Auberge du Soleil in the Napa Valley, Original Joe’s in San Francisco and Chez Panisse in Berkeley, definitely knows what she is talking about.
Not only are her columns delectable but she has opened up her very own pie shop called the Real Pie Company, located on 1201 F St. in Alkali Flat.
While doing an interview with food columnist Mike Dunne, she explains, why pies?
O‘Donnell says, "I have had a lifelong love affair with pies - there's just something special about them. And they make people happy.”

Life is Just Better on the Dark Side

Come to the dark side. Of chocolate that is.
Chocolate, dark chocolate, is the healthiest of all the chocolates.
You might be thinking, “chocolate is healthy?!”
And the answer is yes, it can be, in moderate doses.
According to WebMD.com, dark chocolate has less sugar than milk chocolate does.
Plus, dark chocolate bars with a high-cocoa content, like Dove Dark Chocolate bar is loaded with something called epicatechin. Epicatechin is a particularly active member of a group of compounds called plant flavoniods. Flavoniods keep cholesterol from gathering in blood vessels, reduce the risk of blood clots, and slow down the immune responses that lead to clogged arteries.
In fact, dark chocolate keeps up to 95% of its falvonoid.
So, the higher the percentage of cocao on the label, the better it is for you.
This means that if you have high blood pressure, it can help you lower it and you will be on your way to a healthier heart.
It is also a great source of anti-oxidants.
But studies have shown that eating it with milk can interfere with the way your body absorbs the anti-oxidants.
Dirk Taubert, MD, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Cologne, Germany, signed up six men and seven women aged 55-64.
All had just been diagnosed with mild high blood pressure -- on average, systolic blood pressure (the top number) of 153 and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) of 84.
Every day for two weeks, they ate a 100-gram candy bar and were asked to balance its 480 calories by not eating other foods with similar nutrients and calories. Half the patients got dark chocolate and half got white chocolate.
Those who ate dark chocolate had a significant drop in blood pressure (by an average of 5 points for systolic and an average of 2 points for diastolic blood pressure). Those who ate white chocolate did not.

For those of you that are willing to try something new and very fun here is a recipe from Foodnetwork.com that will get you in the right direction:
Ingredients
4 medium ripe but firm bananas
8 wooden craft sticks
3 tablespoons finely chopped lightly salted peanuts
6 ounces good quality dark chocolate (60 to 70 percent cocoa solids), chopped
Directions
Peel, then cut each banana in half crosswise and insert a craft stick into each half. Place on a tray, cover with plastic wrap and place in the freezer until frozen, about 3 hours.
Place the peanuts in a shallow dish or on a plate. Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over slightly simmering water, over the lowest possible heat, stirring frequently. Make sure the water is not touching the bottom of the top pan. Pour the melted chocolate into a tall glass. Dip each frozen banana into the chocolate, turning it to coat, and immediately roll in the peanuts. Place on a tray covered in waxed paper. Serve immediately or wrap individually in plastic wrap or waxed paper and freeze for up to 2 weeks.
This recipe is really easy and is good for those times when you have a sweet tooth and don’t want to feel guilty.
There are so many choices out there for an unhealthy snack so spread the word and get messy with a little gooey, melted chocolate.
Or, if you’re feeling lazy, Haagen-Dazs makes ice cream bars made with pomegranate ice cream covered in dark chocolate.
Bon Appetite!

An Alternative to Leatherby's

Over-sized sweatpants? Check!
Television set to Greys Anatomy? Check!
Frozen yogurt with a mountain of toppings? Check!

Thursday nights would not be the same without my recent obsession with frozen yogurt.
I appear to not be the only one that loves this delightfully fat-free snack considering all the different frozen yogurt shops moving in everywhere I look.
The trend hadn’t hit me until I was in the East bay and tried Coco Swirl, a frozen yogurt shop in Pleasant Hill.
The craving for it was almost unbearable.
Since my friend lives very close to Coco Swirl and it is relatively inexpensive, there has never been an excuse not to go.
After noticing this obsession of mine, I decided to see what the frozen yogurt status was in Sacramento.
Over a period of three weeks I’ve tried four local frozen yogurt shops.
The first one I tried was Mochii, an all natural and fat free form of frozen yogurt, located on the corner of 16th and P st. in Midtown.
It has a great artsy Japanese feel and even though parking is on the street, it was doable.
They get their name from a Japanese and Chinese rice cake made of glutinous rice that is pounded into paste and molded into shape.
They make the mochi fresh in their shop and even have flavors like cherry, strawberry or lime.
It may not sound very appetizing based on the description, but think about it like mix between a gummy bear and a marshmallow.
Their yogurt was very good, but a little over my price range. They do not weigh the cups, instead they charge per size and per topping, which can get very expensive if you like a lot of toppings like I do.
There was another frozen yogurt place that just opened that I kept seeing on my way to work called Yogurt A Go-Go, located on 18th and L st. also in Midtown.
This place weighs your cup to know what to charge you and has up to five different flavors of yogurt, even some in sugar free, to choose from, not to mention the array of different toppings from Oreo cookie to any fresh fruit you can think of.
They also have mochi in many different flavors.
This place was not only a good price but they give you a punch card so that every time you come you get a punch and on the tenth time, you get one free. Now that’s good motivation.
Most of these yogurt shops are health conscious, but if you have a little more of a sweet tooth then I suggest Big Spoon Yogurt, located at the Arden Fair mall and just past 37th on J st.
The display of toppings is pretty impressive. They have everything from hot fudge and whip cream to many different cookies and candy you can think of.
The only problem is, if you are looking for fresh fruit, forget it, this is not the place for you.
The final yogurt shop and winner of this “yogurt challenge” was Yo Yo Yogurt, located on Fair Oaks blvd. less than two miles from Sacramento State’s campus.
Not only are they close to campus but they give a 20% discount to Sacramento State students with their I.D. cards.
They also have a punch card that works just like Yogurt A Go Go.
At this rate, there is no reason why you shouldn’t go out there and try something new and delicious.
Instead of going to Leatherby’s go try some tart raspberry yogurt with fruit and that yummy mochi I was telling you about, you won’t regret it. Unless you’re lactose in tolerant and then you’ll just have to watch Greys Anatomy without this yummy dessert.

Hockey Moms and Joe Six Packs Listen Up!

Tonights debate seemed to come with a lot of catch phrases that do not seem to be helping the presidential candiates Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain.
Maybe I haven't been watching John McCain talk enough but tonight's catch phrase was "my friends."
"My friends"?
He is definitely trying to connect with everyday people that way but is it really working or going to work?
It only irritates me.
McCains Vice President, Gov. Sarah Palin, has a few catch phrases of her own.
Palin's favorite so far is "Joe Six pack."
She believes that she can help all the "Hockey Moms" and the "Joe Six packs" of the United States though these tough times we are facing.
The problem with using phrases like that is that there are many interpretations of these stereotypes.
Any mother can pick her son or daughter up from hockey practice but one may grab a Starbucks on the way or a 40 oz. of beer at the liquor store.
These phrases are dangerous and they make stereotyping seem acceptable when they are not.
McCain's phrase isn't a stereotype but it is just over used so much that it seems insincere.
They are not the only ones with catch phrases to help the campaign.
Barack Obama wants everyone and their mother to know that he is going to help the "middle class."
Obama is focusing on the middle class because he knows they have been ignored for a very long time and is also repeating it over and over. We get it. You are coming to our rescue.
Among these friendly phrases, there were many topics brought to the table such as the economy, of course, the bailout package, energy, education and taxes.
McCain called the bailout package a "rescue" package and insinuating that it is not going to help the economy but create more problems.
The tax issue had to be cleared up by Obama because McCain kept referencing Obama's tax plan and it was very confusing.
The point is that they can call us "friends" or "hockey moms" or whatever they want, but at the end of the day, one of them is going to be our next president of the United States and we need to look beyond the catch phrases and decide which one can do a better and more honest job.
Without annoying everyone.
Thank you and have a great night, my friends.

Gossip Girl, about high school but definitely not MY high school.

Imagine that you have unlimited access to money, drugs and whomever tickles your fancy. Did I mention that you are 17 years old and in high school?
This isn’t just any teenagers life, these are the lives of the young, wealthy and privileged who attend a private high school in New York City’s Upper East side.
Their lives are so riveting that there is actually a show about them called Gossip Girl.
Every week Gossip Girl gives us the update on all of our favorite characters and lets us in to their world for an hour a week.
Gossip Girl is a website in the show where everyone’s lives are documented for everyone to see.
At all times.
The Gossip Girl herself narrates the show and explains exactly what she would be writing on the website to taunt everyone readying.
The characters are having sex with their best friends girl in the back of a limousine, finding their fathers cocaine hidden in the study and black mailing everyone around them to get what they want.
Sounds like a soap opera doesn’t it?
It basically is without so many characters. I always feel like there are so many characters in a soap opera that I can’t even keep track of everything that is going on.
Anyway, back to the rich kids.
It is very hard to remember that these “kids” are in high school but the new season, that started this fall, is transitioning them into college. Thank goodness for kids in the real world.
This show is definitely not suitable for kids in high school or younger and not a real representation of high schoolers in the real world.
The main character is Serena van der Woodson who is played by the lovely blonde actress Blake Lively.
She is a sweet girl but always getting herself into trouble and giving in to temptation.
The other main character is a beautiful brunette bombshell that everyone loves to hate and hates to love.
I am talking about Blair Waldorf played by Leighton Meester.
Blair is the queen of the school and a flat out “mean girl.”
The boy version of Blair is Chuck Bass, whom everyone also loves to hate and hates to love, played by Ed Westwick.
Chuck is gorgeous, charming and, oh yeah, a womanizer.
Everyone tunes in every week to see what scandalous thing is going to happen and who will end up on top.
That is why everyone watches it right? Because of scandal? Lets not forget sex and relativity.
Sex sells. We’ve all heard that before and up until now it is still true.
The sex appeal in this show is unbelievable that it’s surprising that it is aired at 8 p.m. pacific standard time when shows that have curse words in them on the Comedy Central are only aired after 10 p.m.
Shows are also very successful if they are relatable in some way.
You might be thinking, “How does this relate to me?” Well, it might not.
But to the everyday college kid it does because this show is more about the college life than the high school life, even if they do have more money than the average college student.
The fashion is fun to see these girls in Dior, wearing Tory Burch flats and carrying L.A.M.B. purses that most college students will never own but that’s the point, to create something relatable but also an escape.
Gossip Girl has been compared to Dawson’s Creek that was popular in the 90’s and very dramatic.
It hasn’t yet reached the popularity level as Dawson’s Creek but I have no doubt that they’re on their way.
With all the characters betraying one another and sleeping with everyone who would get sick of that?
Not me.
For those of you with cable, or even without, Gossip Girl airs on the WB Mondays at 8 p.m. pacific standard time.

"How's It Gonna Be?"

8:30 a.m. ...Nothing. 2:30 p.m. ...Nothing. 10 p.m. … Still nothing.

These are the times of day when I would normally get a text message or a call from my boyfriend. Now, I’m looking at my phone and nothing!

After being in a relationship for three years, I got used to hearing from him at certain times of the day or calling him to tell him that hilarious thing that only he would laugh at.
So after it’s over, who do you text or call that’s going to understand? You can call your friend and explain to them a hilarious part in a Seinfeld episode, but they might not get it unless they’ve seen it.
If you haven’t guessed it yet, my boyfriend and I just broke up.
You may be asking yourself, “Why did it end?”
Why does anything end?
In this case it was boredom, repetition, fighting, frustration, jealousy, annoyance.
It was all those things that I never wanted for myself.
Unfortunately, the decision to break up with “Joe”, we’ll call him, was and has not been easy.

It really hadn’t occurred to me that there were any problems until I went on a tour of Europe this August.
A fight, that I knew too well, broke out about the same old thing.
“Why did you have to go to Europe by yourself? All of my friends are asking me and I don’t have an answer!“
I of course responded, “ It’s none of their damn business and I’m having a great time, thanks for asking.“
I was at a payphone in Switzerland at that time and because he couldn’t call me back I was left with a terrible feeling in my stomach. I was thinking to myself, “What kind of person am I with that is so angry and jealous, that they can’t even be nice to me when I’m thousands of miles away?”
After meeting so many different people and seeing an array of beautiful things I started thinking that maybe this path I was taking with “Joe” was not the one for me at this time in my life.
I’m young, motivated and have my whole life ahead of me and I don’t want to waste my time.
So I got back from Europe, and of course had him pick me up at the airport, because we know what a pain that can be, and then ended it the next day.

The first couple days after the break up were fine. I had more time for myself and I hung out with friends, and thought, “This is great! I don’t have to check in with anyone.”
Then after a week, I realized that I wasn’t fine.
The calls weren’t coming in and the inside jokes were being ignored.
I was regretting my decision all because of a bunch of little things that were reminding me of what used to be.

I missed the comfort and the security that I felt when we were together.
Now, we are trying to be friends but, as some of us already know, it’s never easy to be friends with an ex. At least not right now.
So until then, I have my real friends, my family and Gino, my new boyfriend.

Just kidding! Gino is my dog. I have to someone to snuggle with!

Five foods everyone should know how to make CORRECTLY.

There are certain foods that everyone should know how to make.
It is polite, appreciated and can be unforgettable- if you do it right.
This is the kind of thing that is good to know but that no one tells you.
It is good to know that when you go to someone’s house for dinner or a party, that you bring something.
If you know how to make at least one thing, you‘re golden.
The first food that is always appreciated and easy are cookies.
Everyone loves a good chocolate chip cookie and they can be brought to a party or as a dessert option at dinner.
If someone does something really nice for you, repay them with cookies!
They are a great way to say thank you.
And they are perfect for a poor college student to show they really care, because we all know how precious time and money are to a student.
Anytime you cook or bake for someone it is showing them that you are putting in the effort when they know you could have just went to the store and bought it.
Scrambled eggs are the second thing that are really good to know.
I’m sure you are probably thinking, “Any idiot knows how to cook scrambled eggs!” but honestly, they don’t.
Scrambled eggs are over cooked a lot!
It is important to make scrambled eggs at a low heat setting instead of a high “I’m in a hurry” setting.
Cooking the eggs at a lower temperature guarantees that the eggs will not get dry and hard.
Here’s a hint, if you see any brown then it’s not cooked correctly.
Once people have good eggs they can definitely tell the difference.
Plus, it is always good to cook eggs for that special someone in the morning instead of tossing them a pop tart.
It once again shows them how much you care. I just don’t see I Love You from a pop tart.
Another food that is over cooked quite often is fish.
Fish should be tender and should flake off with your fork.
It is a great staple in a meal because it is high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for a healthy diet.
Fish has no carbohydrates which makes it ideal for people with diabetes or trying to loose weight.
Salmon is a great choice of fish, for example and there are so many recipes.
Salmon can be used in breakfast, lunch or dinner and a great alternative to meat.
Another food that is small, but still equally important, is a green salad.
Salad is important because it provides nutrition in many different ways.
It is versatile and it provides an option for every diet.
It is also a good thing to bring to a party or dinner.
Salads are one of those foods that are easy and can usually make everyone happy.
They can be made with anything and are a good way to use leftovers.
The fifth and last food that everyone should know is spaghetti sauce.
Who doesn’t love spaghetti?!
It is good hot or cold and is always substantial.
Everyone should know how to cook something they can serve for dinner.
This is a simple and delicious meal that anyone can make.
It is important to know these things because food is the way to everyone’s heart and it never hurts-even if you get it wrong.
All of these foods are versatile, quick and tasty and will put a smile on anyone’s face, just for trying.

This whore ain't empowerin' sh**!

In case you haven’t heard, a Sacramento State alumna is selling her virginity to pay off her debts and most importantly to go to grad school and get her masters degree.
Natalie Dylan needs to go back to school, but not for the reason she is giving.
She wants to go to grad school to get her masters degree in family therapy but she NEEDS to go back to school because she her views of empowerment are all wrong!
She thinks that by selling her virginity she is gaining power but, any prostitute can tell you, they are usually not the ones who’ve lost power.
Dylan claims, “I think empowerment of women is picking yourself up and doing something on your own to better yourself.”
That’s funny, because I think she needs a guy to make this awful idea work.
She basically needs a knight in shining armor to come and save her from her debt and in the process he will be taking advantage of her for God knows how long.
That doesn’t sound like “doing something on your own” to me.
The women’s studies department at Sacramento State University probably didn’t teach her that empowering women means sell your body to fix your financial problems.
In fact, her fellow classmates from Sac State do not really agree with her at all.
They are saying that she should loose her virginity to someone she loves instead of giving it to a stranger.
But in Dylans own defense, she claims that she is not giving up her virginity to the highest bidder. (We’ll have to see it to believe it.)
She wants the winner to be intelligent and nice.
Huh?! This isn’t Match.com so why does it matter what kind of personality this guy has?
When Dylan was asked why she is doing this, she says, “ I think this is empowering.”
What is empowering about selling sex?
It’s more demeaning than empowering.
And what do her friends think about all this?
Oh yeah, no one seems to have found any friends of hers, at least none that have commented.
Her mother, a teacher of the forth grade, does not approve. Gee, I wonder why?
I wonder how she is going to explain her daughters actions to her students parents or even to friends and strangers who think she is the worst mom on the planet for not helping her daughter find a darn scholarship!
So many women would kill for the opportunity to go to school period, let alone get their masters degree.
This decision will ruin her life.
She will probably have a really hard time getting clients, making new friends and even dating because she will always be known as, “that whore that sold her virginity.”
Dylan is not empowering herself or women.
She is a bad example of women in general and what women represent.
Women are not sex objects and that is what she is demonstrating, that if you want something bad enough then it is okay to have sex with a guy and they’ll make everything better.
If anything this is empowering the man because he has the control.
Money=control.
He pays the money and he gets to have his way with her.
Sure, she walks away with the money but he will always have that part of her that she cannot get back, her innocence, freedom and her dignity.
She will be considered tampered with.
None of the articles stated whether or not there would be a screening process for the guys bidding but she expects us to believe that she is picking, out of the thousands of guys, that he will be nice and intelligent and that makes it okay.
I find it hard to believe that she is going to go through and interview each and every guy or at least read their profile and expect them not to lie.
I hear sociopaths are very charming, intelligent and nice so good luck with that Nat!

The recipe calls for what?!

Have you ever gone to make a meal that sounded so good and then half way through the recipe you realize, “I need what? What ingredient is that?” and then gave up because it got too confusing?
There is no reason that food needs to be that complicated.
There was a restaurant review in the Contra Costa Times this weekend on a restaurant in Oakland called Camino.
It got a great review of three stars, which makes it better than Good but not Extraordinary.
As the critic and author, Chrissa Ventrelle, explained what she ordered there were a couple of words that were not obvious to the average cook, like myself.
One of the first things Ventrelle ordered was a tomato, cucumber and chervil salad.
Chervil? What is that? For someone who cooks regularly and watches the Food Network, this word has yet to come up.
It was time to use dictionary.com.
The definition of chervil is an herb of the parsley family, having aromatic leaves used to flavor soups, salads, etc.
Okay, that is not bad, right? That is something we can understand and possibly use in the future.
The next starter, which Ventrelle didn’t care for, was the ling cod brandade. Hmmm.. Never heard of the word brandade either. Let’s look that one up as well.
The definition of brandade is a Provencal dish of salt cod pureed with olive oil and milk or cream and sometimes mashed potatoes and garlic.
Well, my mouth is watering already!
It seems simple enough and yet there is a need to use fancy words with no acknowledgment for those of us who do not speak French or have gone to culinary school.
There were a couple of other words that did not ring a bell, for example rapini.
The dish Ventrelle tasted was a side dish of black-eyed peas and bitter rapini.
The word is also in another language, Italian this time, and means the leaves of the turnip eaten cooked or raw as greens.
Besides the fact that that does not sound very tasty, why is there such a fancy word for what it really is?
News papers are supposed to be at a fifth grade reading level. So why is this column filled with vocabulary that involves dictionary.com?
Ventrelle should really ask herself, “ Is this a technique, ingredient or instrument that a high school student would know?”
Not being a regular reader of Ventrelle’s column, who knows if it gets more complicated or not but the point is that this kind of negligence is intimidating people not educating them.
This is the exact reason why most of my friends hate to cook.
They tell me, “How do you know how to do all of this? Where did you learn?”
When you have a growing interest in something, it is easy to teach yourself.
Unfortunately, not all people share this interest and decide to eat out at fast food “restaurants.”
Do not get me wrong, fast food is fine sometimes, but it is always healthier and beneficial to cook your own meals, not to mention a turn on FELLAS!
The beginning to every dish that you are going to make should start off with the foods you know and love.
Do not make a dish that involves ingredients that “sound” good or that someone told you were good.
If you already know that you like cheddar cheese, there’s no need, at least in the beginning, to use a fancier cheese like feta or fontina.
Another helpful tip is to think of the meals you enjoy and try and create your own version.
For example, canned albacore tuna is a good source of protein and omega 3 fatty acids and can be made several different ways.
All you have to do is mix it up plain and then add whatever sounds good to you, pickle, celery, tomato anything will work and it’ll be easier to remember because you’re not reading it from a cook book.
Don't be afraid to get a little dirty and creative.

Listen to your grandmother, NEVER hold your pee!

Everyone remembers their high school experience whether it was five years ago or 25 and if it was anything like mine, there were a lot of rules.
Looking back, almost too many.

Compared to the freedom as adults, it is amazing that they even let us breathe on our own.

You needed hall passes, you couldn’t chew gum in class, you couldn’t eat or drink in class, and the one that always bothered me, was that you couldn’t go to the bathroom unless you had permission.

That is absurd! There was always a pass involved with a huge thing attached.

So because you’re going to the bathroom you had to carry a huge, and germ infested, pass with you while you do your business.

It was almost like a privilege to use the bathroom even though it is a human right that no one can control.

Obviously there are maturity issues when you’re in high school, but should a student have to wait 20 minutes, or anytime at all, to do, what is basically a human right?

Imagine getting yelled at, or even detention, for running out of class for food poisoning because “someone else was already using the pass and you should’ve waited your turn”.

According to Goaskalice.colombia.edu, holding urine for long periods of time can increase the chances of getting urinary tract infections (UTIs).

The website also said that if you frequently hold your urine for long periods of time, you can start to loose sensitivity and could have an accident or leak and not be able to control it.

Obviously, not all high schools are like the movie Sixteen Candles, or any other fantastic movie about high school, but there are usually always people who are always making fun of kids for every little thing, we call them “Bullies” or “assholes” later in life.

As mentioned earlier, the maturity levels are a tad bit lower in high school than in college, but kids can be particularly cruel in high school without a reason like peeing your pants because Mr./Mrs. so and so wouldn’t let you go to the bathroom until lunch time.

And we’ve all heard the reasons for the rules like, “ if I can’t go then you can’t go” or “only one boy and one girl at a time”, once again, the maturity level is lower in high school than college!

Teenagers in high school are going through puberty and have hormones raging and in my experience it only made kids a little more ADHD(Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) and even a little more obnoxious, if that was possible.

Kids in high school may have a tendency to run off for twenty minutes talking to their friends or even ditching school all together but don’t you think that is their problem?

I know, I know, high school is mostly public and required BUT for one, if there are going to ditch school they are going to do it no matter what. And two, how else are they going to learn that there are consequences to their actions?

In college if you do not come back for forty five minutes because you ran into a close friend, then you are on your own to figure out what you missed. If there happen to be a pop quiz then that is something that you can’t make up and have to deal with.

The same should go for high school kids.

There were so many rules in high school that it was too easy to be rebellious because there were so many things to rebel against.

It’s like with a puppy. If you hold a puppy and don’t let it go, it will push and push to let itself free. But if you just relax then it will come to you because it wants to, not because it’s being forced.