My sister Cathy lost her battle with Pancreatic Cancer on November 12, 2013. Pretty cool date to go in my book. I was not there at her bedside, but her family was, along with my mom, brother and her chosen sister was there. I consider Sandy, our sister-in-law, a gift that I gave my brother and sister. After all, it was my constant nudging to date my younger brother that helped get them together, eventually married and parents to two young, smart, and challenging girls.
Cathy and I were both okay with me not coming back to see her again before she passed. I'd known when I'd seen her in May that I would not see her alive again. But you cannot tell a cancer patient that you do not think they will make it. The pathetic excuse for doctors at Kaiser had missed her cancer for 18 months and when it was finally found it was inoperable. (Long story there that I won't delve into now). And I could just tell, no matter how good she may have looked or felt that it was too far gone at that point.
A big reason for me to not be at her side is that I know how to override morphine pumps. We did not know at the time that she wouldn't be on a pump but would be on oral meds at the end. Another reason is that I am a fierce patient advocate and would have caused her family undue stress if I perceived any lack in her care...it's just my nature. I have a friend who refers to me as a "force of nature", this is not a bad thing, but it is a very accurate assessment.
My brother-in-law did an AMAZING job taking care of her until the very end. It is not fair that he should lose the mother of his children, the woman who taught him to love again (he lost his first wife unexpectedly), and his partner in life so young. He held it together well at her Celebration of Life, but wondered why I didn't shed a tear.
Truth be told, I've been walking with death for too long now and have become numb to it. I've almost lost my husband several times, and the fact that he is still alive and functioning baffles his doctor. I know she's in a better place, pain free and enjoying herself with all of the other people and critters I love that have passed on.
I stayed to spend Thanksgiving with my family. One of my stress relievers is baking, and with the cookbook due to be formatted any day now, I did a lot of baking while there. I made Satan Muffins (a.k.a. Snickerdoodle Muffins) for breakfast, not realizing my sister-in-law had NEVER had them before. I don't know how that happened as these were one of my favorite things to eat after a night of unbridled drinking during our college days.
I asked everyone if they wanted anything special. My brother asked for just two things: banana cream pie and Charlie Brown's Brownies. I'm not a banana cream pie fan, but I did find a recipe (which of course I had to tweak a bit) and made him banana cream pie from scratch. I hear it tasted wonderful.
The Charlie Brown's Brownies took a bit to find. The recipe was in a Peanuts Cookbook put out by Charles Schultz in 1969. Cathy and I had both been given the book by Maga and Grandad (our mom's parents) that Christmas. Luckily for me, there are other fans of that cookbook who've posted the recipe on the internet. The first batch came out as blondies, which my middle nephew loved, the second batch was perfect.
Brownies are one of my comfort foods, Banana Cream Pie is one of my brother's. My sister was a social butterfly and had started several traditions for her cul-de-sac family. The neighbors get together often for Drinks-on-the-Court and one tradition is to have a second "dessert" for Thanksgiving at someone's house. So I took requests and started baking. In the end, I had made 2 banana cream pies, a batch of Devil Truffles, Peanut Butter Chocolate cookies, Pumpkin Cake, real whipped cream, Charlie Brown's Brownies, accidental Blondies, Snickerdoodles, and I'm sure I'm forgetting something else.
It is no surprise that my sister's cul-de-sac is named Corazon...Spanish for heart. She was well loved by many and will be missed...even if I never shed a tear at her passing.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Check Yourself, Know Your Normal
Most people know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and even though we are now rapidly approaching Thanksgiving, it doesn't mean we can forget. Please check yourself,
every month, and every year if you're off "that age" to get mammograms -
this includes you men as well! Get to know your "normal". And always trust your instincts.
Last year around this time I learned a dear friend had an agressive form of breast cancer and due to a lab mistake it had been overlooked. When she was diagnosed it was late Stage 3 HER breast cancer. At one point her odds were down to 30% survival, after completing part of her planned double mastectomy her odds went up to 90% survival. Everyone who loves her was ecstatic and extremely grateful.
I'm a dense girl, so more difficult to test, much like my mom. However, my mom and I have an advantage: her mother. My grandmother had a double mastectomy and was a guinea pig for much of our protocols in use today. She handled it all with style, grace, and fight. My mom also handled hers well, and was fought for what was right for her. As a result, I've done a lot of research and had made all my decisions on treatments plans years ago. I never want to have to make these decisions while in the throes of the diagnosis.
My dear friend didn't have that advantage, but she has had tons of love and support, many fund raisers, an amazing employer, and a very strong family. She didn't feel that things were right, so she kept going back to her GP, who also didn't feel that things were right and got her in front of a specialist who immediately spotted the cancer. So trust your gut, you know your normal, if something is off be ready to fight your doctor, insurance or whomever to get a second opinion and have someone listen to you.
My only request is this: Check yourself. Now, and each month. If you don't know how, there are tons of resources online. Start with the Susan G. Komen site at a minimum.
Last year around this time I learned a dear friend had an agressive form of breast cancer and due to a lab mistake it had been overlooked. When she was diagnosed it was late Stage 3 HER breast cancer. At one point her odds were down to 30% survival, after completing part of her planned double mastectomy her odds went up to 90% survival. Everyone who loves her was ecstatic and extremely grateful.
I'm a dense girl, so more difficult to test, much like my mom. However, my mom and I have an advantage: her mother. My grandmother had a double mastectomy and was a guinea pig for much of our protocols in use today. She handled it all with style, grace, and fight. My mom also handled hers well, and was fought for what was right for her. As a result, I've done a lot of research and had made all my decisions on treatments plans years ago. I never want to have to make these decisions while in the throes of the diagnosis.
My dear friend didn't have that advantage, but she has had tons of love and support, many fund raisers, an amazing employer, and a very strong family. She didn't feel that things were right, so she kept going back to her GP, who also didn't feel that things were right and got her in front of a specialist who immediately spotted the cancer. So trust your gut, you know your normal, if something is off be ready to fight your doctor, insurance or whomever to get a second opinion and have someone listen to you.
My only request is this: Check yourself. Now, and each month. If you don't know how, there are tons of resources online. Start with the Susan G. Komen site at a minimum.
Monday, October 21, 2013
How do you know when it's done?
That's a question I hear a lot when teaching people to bake for the
first time. Lately I've been asking myself that question. Every time I
think I have the absolute last recipe for my cookbook, I get stressed
out by yet one more thing and end up coming up with some new recipe that
I just "have" to included.
My alpha tester all along has been my husband. He's honest when something isn't working and doesn't oversell a recipe that is tasty but not truly outstanding. My beta testers are the crew at a local diner (Red Geranium) and they've been awesome as well.
I've got beta testers to proof out the recipes all lined up and I'm planning on getting them the recipes before the end of the month. I've refined my oldest recipes, making sure I have the steps and methods outlined correctly. Section titles have been determine, a book title has been selected, and formatting has begun.
So, how do you know when your book is really done? I'm not sure. I'm still new to this self-publishing business. My best guess is to set an absolute, drop dead date for getting the book formatted and ready to be proofed by an editor. Or perhaps it's the fact that I just had another cover shoot for the book - which involves a flurry of baking for models. Either way, I need to wrap up this book soon. Which means I need to quite baking for awhile and find another form of stress relief.
My alpha tester all along has been my husband. He's honest when something isn't working and doesn't oversell a recipe that is tasty but not truly outstanding. My beta testers are the crew at a local diner (Red Geranium) and they've been awesome as well.
I've got beta testers to proof out the recipes all lined up and I'm planning on getting them the recipes before the end of the month. I've refined my oldest recipes, making sure I have the steps and methods outlined correctly. Section titles have been determine, a book title has been selected, and formatting has begun.
So, how do you know when your book is really done? I'm not sure. I'm still new to this self-publishing business. My best guess is to set an absolute, drop dead date for getting the book formatted and ready to be proofed by an editor. Or perhaps it's the fact that I just had another cover shoot for the book - which involves a flurry of baking for models. Either way, I need to wrap up this book soon. Which means I need to quite baking for awhile and find another form of stress relief.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Diving into the Self Publishing Pool
I've been working on a cookbook for the
past several months. What started out as something for my friends and
family is rapidly growing into a much bigger production. I decided to
self publish it for many reasons: 1) my friends and family are
scattered across the globe, 2) most of them are big eBook fans, and
3) I want to keep the cost as close to “free” as possible.
Because a few of them want a print copy, I need to price it at
Amazon's minimum to be eligible for their CreateSpace print-on-demand
option.
Several of the GRRWG members have had
great success lately going this route. As a new author, I am not
holding out hopes for large number of sales, but hope to at least get
my setup costs covered. ISBN's must be purchased, a publishing
company name needs to be selected, I need to develop the book cover,
have it edited, get testers to test the recipes and pick a name for
it. Lots of work yet to do for what I thought would be a “quick”
side project.
The biggest obstacle is simply me being
me. An IT geek by trade, I'm always thinking of ways to improve
thing, and my recipe list is growing as I keep thinking up recipes to
add. My “beta tasters” are growing to hate me as their waistlines
have grown since I started down this path. I've selected my most “kid
friendly” recipes for this book as I'm a big believer in teaching
kids bake and cook simple things for themselves. The one thing I
can't really do for this book is the artwork, as I am not an artist
or photographer.
I'm still debating about the photos
after seeing how much work it may be to get the layout I see in my
head to work for an eBook. So for the first edition it may end up
with no photos, but I gave myself to the end of the year to get this
book out, so I may have to give up a few things to get the first
edition out. Plus it's a lot of work to get all the samples ready for
a photo shoot, and I'm a horrible procrastinator.
Another thing to consider when
self-publishing is which platforms you want to publish on.
There'sjust so many: Amazon vs. Nook vs. Smashwords, just to name a
few. The decision may end up being a tad easier for me though as
Amazon seems to be the one platform that all of my potential readers
can get to.
Who know that self-publishing could get
so complicated?
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Brownie Cookie Perfected!
Note: This can also be found on my crafting blog at pyrhaven.blogspot.com (in case anyone was worrying about copyrights).
It's taken me longer than expected, but I finally got the recipe down. These turned out nice and chewy once completely cooled and are very close to my all-time favorite one that I used to get in high school. They're not exactly alike though as I refuse to use corn syrup in my recipes whenever I can avoid it.
So here's the basic recipe and if you're a corn syrup fan, you can take out 2 tablespoons of the sugar in exchange for 2 tablespoons of light corn syrup to get a moister, chewy brownie cookie.
First whisk together (or use a mixer) the following:
Put the mixer on slow and add the following:
When the eggs are just blended turn off the mixer and stir in the dry ingredients by hand:
The dough will be thick. You can either spoon them onto a parchment lined cookie sheet (non-stick may work too), or do what I do which is roll them into a ball, much like Snickerdoodles. For a thinner cookie, use wax paper and the bottom of a glass to flatten them out, otherwise they spread fine and end up about as thick as my Snickerdoodles.
Bake at 350 degrees Farenheit for 8 minutes (undercooked is ok) and leave them on the still hot cookie sheet for at least 4 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cook. These are at their chewiest after they are completely cooled.
Feel free to add in whatever you wish, chocolate chips do really well in these as do nuts, cinnamon chips, white chocolate, and vanilla chips.
These are a good cookie to involve your kids in too as there is no need for a mixer and kids are always good to have around for rolling cookie dough. Just remember to kick the dog out of the kitchen - the cocoa powder is a major no-no and my dogs kept trying to sneak back in while I made these. Be kinder than I was and put them outside where they (hopefully) won't be able to smell the heavenly aroma.
It's taken me longer than expected, but I finally got the recipe down. These turned out nice and chewy once completely cooled and are very close to my all-time favorite one that I used to get in high school. They're not exactly alike though as I refuse to use corn syrup in my recipes whenever I can avoid it.
So here's the basic recipe and if you're a corn syrup fan, you can take out 2 tablespoons of the sugar in exchange for 2 tablespoons of light corn syrup to get a moister, chewy brownie cookie.
First whisk together (or use a mixer) the following:
- 2 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup butter (melted) or you could substitute for shortening, but then why bother?
- 2 teaspsoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon instant coffee/espresso (optional)
Put the mixer on slow and add the following:
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder (regular or dark cocoa) - add this 1/4 cup at a time
- 2 eggs - extra large or jumbo size
When the eggs are just blended turn off the mixer and stir in the dry ingredients by hand:
- 1 teaspoon baking soda (if you like "cakier" brownies use baking powder)
- 2 1/3 cups flour
The dough will be thick. You can either spoon them onto a parchment lined cookie sheet (non-stick may work too), or do what I do which is roll them into a ball, much like Snickerdoodles. For a thinner cookie, use wax paper and the bottom of a glass to flatten them out, otherwise they spread fine and end up about as thick as my Snickerdoodles.
Bake at 350 degrees Farenheit for 8 minutes (undercooked is ok) and leave them on the still hot cookie sheet for at least 4 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cook. These are at their chewiest after they are completely cooled.
Feel free to add in whatever you wish, chocolate chips do really well in these as do nuts, cinnamon chips, white chocolate, and vanilla chips.
These are a good cookie to involve your kids in too as there is no need for a mixer and kids are always good to have around for rolling cookie dough. Just remember to kick the dog out of the kitchen - the cocoa powder is a major no-no and my dogs kept trying to sneak back in while I made these. Be kinder than I was and put them outside where they (hopefully) won't be able to smell the heavenly aroma.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Accidental Whoopie Pies
I'm still adding a few last-minute recipes to my cookbook that I'm planning on self-pubbing by Christmas.
Imagine my surprise and joy when trying to develop the "perfect" chocolate brownie cookie I accidentally whipped up my grandmother's old Whoopie Pie/Moon Pie recipe. It wasn't planned as I haven't had her recipe in my hands since I was a Tween. I was simply fiddling with a cookie recipe, and accidentally had these come out of the oven.
Maga (my grandmother) made hers with Carob powder, I made these with Cocoa powder, but either way works wonderfully. My "tasting crew" at my favorite local diner all gave me thumbs up on these, so I figured it's worth posting here. Pictures will come later.
The key to these is the way they are mixed, so read the instructions before you start pouring stuff into the bowl.
What you'll need for the cookies:
1 cup butter, softened (nuked in the microwave works too)
1 cup Cocoa powder (I prefer Nestle or Hershey's_
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt (optional)
Parchment paper
Wax paper (just a little piece will do)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cream the sugar and butter really well. Turn off the mixer, add in the Cocoa powder and mix on low/medium speed until really well mixed then increase the mixer speed. Add in the eggs and vanilla, mix until "fluffy" or well blended. Add in the baking soda, flour and salt and mix well BY HAND, until all the flour is incorporated.
Roll into balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (non-stick may work too). Place wax paper over the cookies and press flat using the bottom of a glass (if you don't have waxed paper, you can dip the glass in some cocoa powder to keep it from sticking).
Bake for 8 minutes, remove from the cookie sheet after a few minutes and let cool completely.
What you'll need for the icing:
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
2 tsps. vanilla
2-3 tablespoons milk
Place all of the ingredients in the mixing bowl. Start out slow, scrapping the sides until it is all incorporated, it will be thick at first. Add 1 tablespoon of milk, increase the mixer speed and continue mixing, continue adding milk until the icing is of the right consistency (thick but spreadable). When it looks "right" whip it for a few minutes more until it gets fluffy.
Place the icing in a frosting bag or baggie that you will cut the end off of and pipe the frosting onto a cookie bottom and top with another cookie. If the frosting is a bit loose, place the cookies in the freezer or fridge for a few minutes and it will firm up. I would not suggest spreading the icing on as you would a cake, the cookies are a bit too fragile to hold up to that.
Serve with milk and don't worry about the calories!
Imagine my surprise and joy when trying to develop the "perfect" chocolate brownie cookie I accidentally whipped up my grandmother's old Whoopie Pie/Moon Pie recipe. It wasn't planned as I haven't had her recipe in my hands since I was a Tween. I was simply fiddling with a cookie recipe, and accidentally had these come out of the oven.
Maga (my grandmother) made hers with Carob powder, I made these with Cocoa powder, but either way works wonderfully. My "tasting crew" at my favorite local diner all gave me thumbs up on these, so I figured it's worth posting here. Pictures will come later.
The key to these is the way they are mixed, so read the instructions before you start pouring stuff into the bowl.
What you'll need for the cookies:
1 cup butter, softened (nuked in the microwave works too)
1 cup Cocoa powder (I prefer Nestle or Hershey's_
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt (optional)
Parchment paper
Wax paper (just a little piece will do)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cream the sugar and butter really well. Turn off the mixer, add in the Cocoa powder and mix on low/medium speed until really well mixed then increase the mixer speed. Add in the eggs and vanilla, mix until "fluffy" or well blended. Add in the baking soda, flour and salt and mix well BY HAND, until all the flour is incorporated.
Roll into balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (non-stick may work too). Place wax paper over the cookies and press flat using the bottom of a glass (if you don't have waxed paper, you can dip the glass in some cocoa powder to keep it from sticking).
Bake for 8 minutes, remove from the cookie sheet after a few minutes and let cool completely.
What you'll need for the icing:
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
2 tsps. vanilla
2-3 tablespoons milk
Place all of the ingredients in the mixing bowl. Start out slow, scrapping the sides until it is all incorporated, it will be thick at first. Add 1 tablespoon of milk, increase the mixer speed and continue mixing, continue adding milk until the icing is of the right consistency (thick but spreadable). When it looks "right" whip it for a few minutes more until it gets fluffy.
Place the icing in a frosting bag or baggie that you will cut the end off of and pipe the frosting onto a cookie bottom and top with another cookie. If the frosting is a bit loose, place the cookies in the freezer or fridge for a few minutes and it will firm up. I would not suggest spreading the icing on as you would a cake, the cookies are a bit too fragile to hold up to that.
Serve with milk and don't worry about the calories!
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Cancer just sucks!
Cancer is eating up too much of my life of late. I'm fortunate, I'm not the one who's sick, but my sister and a very dear friend are both battling different forms of the disease. My mother already fought and won her battle with it and remains clear to this day. Another dear friend's daughter has done the same and is back to being a sweet, funny, smart vibrant girl.
My dear hubby shaves his head every few days, and sports a pink ribbon tattoo in support of our dear friend battling breast cancer. I'm trying to squeeze time in to sew (working around a big project at work) and throw together some comfy, lightweight pants for my sister who is battling pancreatic cancer and needs "adjustable" pants as the tumor progresses. I'm also putting togethre pink ribbon tote bags to sell via Etsy, with profits going to cancer reseearch.
Chemo makes both my sister and my dear friend crazy. It's not just the nausea, but it's what it does to their heads, both in mood and in the capability to think clearly. While my sister has made the brave decision to stop chemo for her own sanity and quality of life, my friend continues on in her attempt to beat the cancer which is slowly trying to take away her life. She battles it bravely, dealing with the nausea and chemo-brain issues. She is forutnate, her employer is extremely supportive of her, sending gifts, continuing coverage, and being active in every fund raiser.
Even my writing is taking a back burner, except for the rare occasion when my characters bug me to write. Publishing is taking a back seat to life, finding an agent is taking a back seat to life, but my cookbook continues to move slowly forward. After all, this book isn't about trying to get "known" but simply putting together something for my family and friends who've requested my recipes multiple times.
I haven't been blogging lately due to all the demands. Doing the math tells me it's been almost six (6!!!) months since blogging here. How does one find more time in the day without giving up sleep?
My dear hubby shaves his head every few days, and sports a pink ribbon tattoo in support of our dear friend battling breast cancer. I'm trying to squeeze time in to sew (working around a big project at work) and throw together some comfy, lightweight pants for my sister who is battling pancreatic cancer and needs "adjustable" pants as the tumor progresses. I'm also putting togethre pink ribbon tote bags to sell via Etsy, with profits going to cancer reseearch.
Chemo makes both my sister and my dear friend crazy. It's not just the nausea, but it's what it does to their heads, both in mood and in the capability to think clearly. While my sister has made the brave decision to stop chemo for her own sanity and quality of life, my friend continues on in her attempt to beat the cancer which is slowly trying to take away her life. She battles it bravely, dealing with the nausea and chemo-brain issues. She is forutnate, her employer is extremely supportive of her, sending gifts, continuing coverage, and being active in every fund raiser.
Even my writing is taking a back burner, except for the rare occasion when my characters bug me to write. Publishing is taking a back seat to life, finding an agent is taking a back seat to life, but my cookbook continues to move slowly forward. After all, this book isn't about trying to get "known" but simply putting together something for my family and friends who've requested my recipes multiple times.
I haven't been blogging lately due to all the demands. Doing the math tells me it's been almost six (6!!!) months since blogging here. How does one find more time in the day without giving up sleep?
Thursday, July 4, 2013
King George's "Sins"
From the Declaration of Independence
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Friday, June 7, 2013
Declaration First Part
In Congress, July 4,
1776.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Declaration of Independence
In Congress, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Georgia
Button Gwinnett
Lyman Hall
George Walton
North Carolina
William Hooper
Joseph Hewes
John Penn
South Carolina
Edward Rutledge
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Arthur Middleton
Massachusetts
John Hancock
Maryland
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia
George Wythe
Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Harrison
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Carter Braxton
Pennsylvania
Robert Morris
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Franklin
John Morton
George Clymer
James Smith
George Taylor
James Wilson
George Ross
Delaware
Caesar Rodney
George Read
Thomas McKean
New York
William Floyd
Philip Livingston
Francis Lewis
Lewis Morris
New Jersey
Richard Stockton
John Witherspoon
Francis Hopkinson
John Hart
Abraham Clark
New Hampshire
Josiah Bartlett
William Whipple
Massachusetts
Samuel Adams
John Adams
Robert Treat Paine
Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island
Stephen Hopkins
William Ellery
Connecticut
Roger Sherman
Samuel Huntington
William Williams
Oliver Wolcott
New Hampshire
Matthew Thornton
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Historical Research
I'm working on some alternate-history research which requires me to got through a lot of US history. I'll be posting bits and pieces here over time (as I have time and depending on when the characters decide to "talk" to me). So please bear with me.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Preamble to the Declaration of Independence
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Time Traveling Blog
I can time travel! At least my blog posts can, thanks to being able to back date posts. :)
It took me awhile to figure out what to post this month. I've been a bit preoccupied with a bazillion different life interruptions, including the banking issues in Cypress and the gun control talks in DC. Both of those events have affected my writing though.
One of my characters is a former UK spy for the US during World War II. In my "version" of WWII, he became one of Hitler's inner circle and is still on a quest to kill off Hitler, who's still alive and protected in the USA. I've been doing a lot of research for this series and can see us repeating some mistakes from the past, especially when it comes to our current financial situations - both global and domestic. Humans are fickle creatures, we want we want and when we want. Patience is not something we seem to be good at (myself included) and credit cards make it too easy to feed our desires.
The most interesting part of my research is comparing the media from back then to the media now, and to be able to see where the extremes are drawing their comparisons (or denial of any comparisons) of current governments to the former Nazi movement. Extreme views in either direction existed then as they do now and it's interesting to see how little they've changed over the decades, the bigger difference is in the language used then. Lucky for me, I actually have some original papers from back then.
It is no surprise to me to hear that some journalist from today called someone else an "idiot", "moron" or something even more foul, or to hear them berate guests during their shows in today's media. Not that it didn't happen back then, but the language used was far more clever, and more polite than in today's media. I really miss the creative use of language to show their disapproval or disdain for another's work.
I'm enjoying my time travels back to that bleak time in human history as it makes me thankful for what we have now. Things may be rough today, but we still have it so much better than the world did back then. Things may be expensive, but food is plentiful, new methods of communication pop up everyday (social media anyone?), our water supply is relatively safe, and we're not having to ration energy. Better yet, more of the world is tapped into each other, providing us an opportunity to - hopefully - prevent such atrocities from happening again.
It took me awhile to figure out what to post this month. I've been a bit preoccupied with a bazillion different life interruptions, including the banking issues in Cypress and the gun control talks in DC. Both of those events have affected my writing though.
One of my characters is a former UK spy for the US during World War II. In my "version" of WWII, he became one of Hitler's inner circle and is still on a quest to kill off Hitler, who's still alive and protected in the USA. I've been doing a lot of research for this series and can see us repeating some mistakes from the past, especially when it comes to our current financial situations - both global and domestic. Humans are fickle creatures, we want we want and when we want. Patience is not something we seem to be good at (myself included) and credit cards make it too easy to feed our desires.
The most interesting part of my research is comparing the media from back then to the media now, and to be able to see where the extremes are drawing their comparisons (or denial of any comparisons) of current governments to the former Nazi movement. Extreme views in either direction existed then as they do now and it's interesting to see how little they've changed over the decades, the bigger difference is in the language used then. Lucky for me, I actually have some original papers from back then.
It is no surprise to me to hear that some journalist from today called someone else an "idiot", "moron" or something even more foul, or to hear them berate guests during their shows in today's media. Not that it didn't happen back then, but the language used was far more clever, and more polite than in today's media. I really miss the creative use of language to show their disapproval or disdain for another's work.
I'm enjoying my time travels back to that bleak time in human history as it makes me thankful for what we have now. Things may be rough today, but we still have it so much better than the world did back then. Things may be expensive, but food is plentiful, new methods of communication pop up everyday (social media anyone?), our water supply is relatively safe, and we're not having to ration energy. Better yet, more of the world is tapped into each other, providing us an opportunity to - hopefully - prevent such atrocities from happening again.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Dragon Dreaming
No, I'm not referring to dragons as in a new book direction, but rather the Dragon software by Nuance (formerly Dragon Naturally Speaking). I was a tester back in the dinosaur age of computers for voice recognition software. It worked well, but had difficulty understanding my cadence and occasionally dropping of a consonant when speaking.
Fast forward from ancient history to today and I'm a happy camper. I picked up the home version for less than $100 on sale before the end of the year. After just 10 minutes I had it installed, trained and ready to go. This time it understands me just fine, performance is greatly enhanced by newer hardware and the headset doesn't require batteries, yay!!
If you're a writer who has arthritis and who's hands hurt when it's cold out (like me), I'd strongly recommend picking it up. The software is very powerful, but to just to basic dictation doesn't require a degree in IT...in fact I think this software would be easy enough for my mother to use, which is saying a lot!
The trouble I have now is finding the time to actually sit and write with it. My poor phone has several voice recordings of ideas to transfer over (yes, it will take a recording from your smart phone and translate it!) and I'm itching to test it out, but first I must finish my tech writing contract.
Fast forward from ancient history to today and I'm a happy camper. I picked up the home version for less than $100 on sale before the end of the year. After just 10 minutes I had it installed, trained and ready to go. This time it understands me just fine, performance is greatly enhanced by newer hardware and the headset doesn't require batteries, yay!!
If you're a writer who has arthritis and who's hands hurt when it's cold out (like me), I'd strongly recommend picking it up. The software is very powerful, but to just to basic dictation doesn't require a degree in IT...in fact I think this software would be easy enough for my mother to use, which is saying a lot!
The trouble I have now is finding the time to actually sit and write with it. My poor phone has several voice recordings of ideas to transfer over (yes, it will take a recording from your smart phone and translate it!) and I'm itching to test it out, but first I must finish my tech writing contract.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Blaming the Pounds on Writing
I decided to put together a cookbook as
my first self published eBook. Since then I've been testing out a few
different recipes that are inspired by a single cookie. Luckily, I
have some taste-testers to help out, but I've gained several pounds
while testing the mixes as I go along.
The cookbook has been requested by
friends and family to assemble all my cookies, muffin, and bread
recipes together. I don't expect it to sell even 100 copies, but
making it available by eBook will make it easier for everyone who's
had a particular cookie or muffin to get the recipes in one fell swoop. It will also be a nice exercise in formatting for the various sites.
Baking is my hobby, not my profession,
nevertheless I've been told I make “evil” goodies. They are evil
in the sense that they will call you from the kitchen to come eat
them and you can't possibly eat just one. Some of my favorite recipes
have been nicknamed “Satan” and one of my newest recipes has been
called “Heaven”. It will be fun to include all the nicknames that
the recipes have been given.
I wish there was a way to deduct my
pounds like I can deduct expenses from my taxes. The tax man would
probably want proof of my weight before and weight after with
increases along the way attributed to each trial. Maybe if I gave
each pound a name I could deduct them as dependents?
Nah! That's too much work, think I'll
make another batch of cookies instead.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
A Temporary Change of Direction
So, I'm taking a quick detour off of my Jess Barker series to do a cookbook. Yes, I am aware there are 300 gazillion or so cookbooks out there. This one is being done at the bequest of many friends and family members who've asked for recipes like the "Satan" muffins, my banana bread, and several cookie recipes.
I did ask first. And the consensus was most would buy at least one copy for $0.99 on Amazon. My mother want's a print copy so I will have to format it for print-on-demand as well. The formatting will be a learning experience for certain. Not sure how I'm going to make that work, but I'll figure it out.
Stories on some key recipes and my "philosophies" on making the particular recipe sets will be added in as part of the book. My great-grandmother used to just take handfuls of flour, sugar, and whatever else until it was "just right", she didn't measure. I take after her a little bit on some things, but for the most part I have all the measurements down.
There will be one component lacking though, and that is pictures. Because to do pictures means I have to make a batch of every cookie, muffin, and bread recipe I include. That's a lot of pictures and I'm most definitely NOT a good photographer. I might be able to sweet talk a friend into doing a photo shoot for me, but I'll have to have everything made up and trek it to his studio. And then I'd have to figure out how to include them in the electronic and POD copies.
Too bad I have a full time job, these is going to take a lot of research!
I did ask first. And the consensus was most would buy at least one copy for $0.99 on Amazon. My mother want's a print copy so I will have to format it for print-on-demand as well. The formatting will be a learning experience for certain. Not sure how I'm going to make that work, but I'll figure it out.
Stories on some key recipes and my "philosophies" on making the particular recipe sets will be added in as part of the book. My great-grandmother used to just take handfuls of flour, sugar, and whatever else until it was "just right", she didn't measure. I take after her a little bit on some things, but for the most part I have all the measurements down.
There will be one component lacking though, and that is pictures. Because to do pictures means I have to make a batch of every cookie, muffin, and bread recipe I include. That's a lot of pictures and I'm most definitely NOT a good photographer. I might be able to sweet talk a friend into doing a photo shoot for me, but I'll have to have everything made up and trek it to his studio. And then I'd have to figure out how to include them in the electronic and POD copies.
Too bad I have a full time job, these is going to take a lot of research!
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