My name is Albus Dumbledore, and I approve this message.

Tonight my mom floored me. She said she wants to vote for Sarah Palin, because "that woman is a breath of fresh air." I actually feel in a kind of mourning.

The McCain/Palin ticket isn't a breath of fresh air. It's drumming up support by pounding the same platform of hatred the Republican party has relied upon the last 20 years: anti-abortion, anti-gay-marriage, pro-war, pro-guns.

Barack Obama has gone out on a limb--you can read it in his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention--to reach out to people on both sides of these divisive issues. He has tried to connect people, shining a light on the things we have in common, no matter how we stand on issues like this.

Everybody gets fired up about these issues because we have deep commitments to our moral codes, moral codes that we interpret in ways that give us very different perspectives on issues like abortion, gay marriage and sending people to war.

Republicans prosper when we hate each other for those different perspectives. Some Democrats prosper, too. But Obama is the first politician I have ever seen raising himself above the election-winning tactic of stirring up hatred.

He is a voice of love.

I don't know if I like Barack Obama. He is a cautious, career politician who is difficult to read, restrained, and unemotional. It's hard to love a man like that. But I believe that in these times--with terrorism on all our minds, with war and atrocity across the globe, with global economic devastation, with our own nation wracked by its own ideological schisms--that the only weapon we have is love. It is the only way we are going to fight through these perilous times.

Damn straight, I'm an Oregonian!

I finally have a raincoat!

Okay, so it's not Goretex, but it is still lovely and it is waterproof. It's blue and cute. I can totally fit a sweater under it without looking like a marshmallow.

It was really time to do it. The other day I had to use an ... uggh ... umbrella.

Reading and writing

We have cable internet! How exciting! Wheee!

Other than that, just hanging out, reading and editing the old book, gearing up for Nanowrimo. And baking Gingerbread Pumpkin Muffins!

David Lynch in a Tux

I was just trying to post this recipe on the Nanowrimo forum, because we ate a lot of it last November. Quinoa is full of protein and calcium, and it cooks in about 15 minutes.

We were inspired to create this recipe from the special features on the Inland Empire DVD. I remember watching it at a friend's house and then *immediately* demanding we go to Fred Meyer and pick up quinoa. It is definitely worth watching Mr. Lynch make this dish, because he tells the most wonderful stories while he's cooking. And he manages to smoke several cigarettes.

David Lynch in a Tux
1 tsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 C quinoa
2 C water, boiling
1/2 Tb Better than Bouillon Vegetable Soup base -- or 2 cubes veggie bouillon
2 C broccoli florets
Fun veggie additions:
sliced mushrooms, jarred pimentos, fresh basil, corn (any or all)
walnuts or pine nuts
French fried onions (I like Trader Joe's brand)

Heat olive oil in 1 quart saucepan over medium heat until shimmery. Add garlic, cook until fragrant, then stir in quinoa. Toast about 2 minutes so it can soak up garlicy oil. Add water, bring to a boil while stirring, then reduce heat to low and cover. Allow to simmer about 7 minutes. Stir in bouillon, and if there is still liquid present, cover and simmer another 3-5 minutes. When water is absorbed, stir in broccoli and other vegetables. Remove from heat and keep covered for at least 3 minutes. Top with nuts and onions when serving.

Serves 2 hungry grown-ups and 1 not-too-picky kid. If you use prepped veggies and garlic from a jar, this will take about 15 minutes to prepare and cook.

Tasty eats

The focus of the food world here in Chez Kazwagner has definitely began to change to a healthier front. After a whole summer of pie, cookies and donuts, I found myself eating a tofu taco this morning for breakfast, downed with a kale-and-strawberry smoothie (with an added tablespoon of "Green Power" to really kick it up a notch).

It's fall.

When it's fall, it's important to kick up the fire in your belly and eat less yin foods. Eat more orange foods, more quality proteins, less dairy, wheat and sugar. And crank up the heat with spices.

Here's a tasty, tangy dessert shake that fit the bill the other night:

I'm Spicayy Pumpkin Shake
3/4 C pumpkin puree (mine was from a can)
1 6 oz container vanilla soy yogurt
1 Tb molasses
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
dash of fresh, finely ground pepper, if you're into spicy
1 C apple cider
1 scoop vanilla ice cream, dairy or not, to taste/health OR 1/2 a frozen banana

Put pumkin, yogurt, molasses and spices in blender and blend on low to combine. Add cider and ice cream (or banana, if you prefer) and blend on high till fluffy. Taste--might need a dash of honey or sugar, depending on the sugar content of the yogurt.

We had ours with a dollop of whipped topping, so it looked very decadent and yummy.

Does anybody else remember that "I'm spicaayyy" Burger Kinger ad? I still love that line!

Oregon City is romantic

...so take your dates down by the river and smooch!

That's what John and I did on Saturday, while our dear daughter enjoyed birthday party extravaganza with her cousin. It was SO nice to have a date day. We just about floated off the Willamette Falls viewpoint.

And I'm not kidding--Oregon City is a really cute little town. It also has this bizarre, retro-future (think Jetsons) elevator that goes from the riverside to the top of a bluff. There's a big viewing platform at the top and a bizarre art project--holographic historical photographs!--to enjoy. Plus, there's a pizzeria with awesome salad!

Crazy cool weekend

So my brother came to visit! And Fiona spent the night at her cousin's house, so brother, John, and my eldest sister all hung out playing crazy games (after we enjoyed hearty eats at Dot's Cafe. Which has amazing vegan options.).

Anyway, back to the party...

Cream of Broccoli Soup

I have gotten out of the habit of posting on Blogger. It's easy; on my Myspace blog, I get instant feedback from the folks who always read, but my lone Blogger reader signed up to be a sailor until November, so I gave up a little. But November is almost upon us, and let's not forget--there's a link to my Blog on my Nanowrimo profile. I could have readers!

Tonight I made a delicious Cream of Broccoli Soup with Edamame and Corn. It was so beautiful in the bowl! We gobbled it up with kaiser rolls from New Seasons. Wow!

We are almost settled into the new kindergarten routine. It has been hard for me. There's a lot more to do and coordinate I have really been wallowing in chaos. I had visions of all the wonderful free time that would come with my new work schedule, but honestly? Fiona has needed so much more Mom time that I feel more exhausted and get less done than ever.

It's all very, very ugghy. But my soup was good.