While on a recent trip out of state, I ran into a convenience store in Branson Missouri for a couple of 6 packs and a snack.  On the Frito-Lay “Big Grab” rack, I noticed a flavor of Doritos I had never seen in a bright lime green bag.  HOORAY, a new Doritos flavor.  There was no indication of what it might be on the bag which only adds to the excitement of opening the bag, smelling the aroma of fresh Doritos and the fun of a  new flavor.  With the first bite I immediately recognized the flavor and burn of Wasabi, a Japanese horseradish.

I love odd tasting snack foods. I’m capable of eating Vegemite like peanut butter which might make an Aussie sick. I have to say these are awesome. I tried them in SE Missouri and unfortunately I couldn’t find them at home in Central Arkansas. I actually stopped the Frito Lay man in the middle of his deliveries to ask when he would be bringing them to town and he stated they were only available in West and NW Arkansas as they come from a plant in Kansas City and are not manufactured in the Jonesboro Arkansas plant which supplies our area.

My Dorito loving family all tried them and basically hated them. I on the other hand loved them. The only other Wasabi flavored snack I had had up to that point was the Diamond Wasabi Peanuts (also not available in my area). After a little research and sadly, they are a temporary flavor available only through July. I’m heading to a market tomorrow that potentially sells these chips and if I find them, I’ll be stocking up. If you request additional portions of Wasabi with your sushi or Japanese food, you’ll love these.

Using the F word a big fucking deal, no.  The Health Care Reform just signed into law, yes, a Big Fucking Deal.  Or could it be more correctly stated, A Big Fucking.   I just can’t get on board with this whole universal health care legislation without thinking I’m getting ready to be Fucked.  But, standing on the steps of the capital and yelling threats and racial slurs didn’t help one side, and the decision was ultimately up to those on the legislative floors there’s not really a whole lot I can do about it except to just lay back, act like I’m enjoying it and make the best of it.

It sounds like something Rodgers and Hammerstein should have included in the musical Oklahoma.  Here’s the video of the song  Я очень рад, ведь я, наконец, возвращаюсь домой  OR “I Am Very Glad Because I’m Finally Back Home” (English Title translated by Google).

Here are the Lyrics I was able to transcribe.  Have fun and Sing Along:

Lyrics – I Am Very Glad Because I’m Finally Back Home (English Title)

By Eduard Hil   Transcribed by Yo_Frient (3/4/10)

 Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ya ya yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Ya ya yaaaaa yaaaaaa yaaa ya.

 Oh o oo ooo oooohhh Ohhh Yaaaaaaaa

Ya ya yaaaaaa yaaaaaa ya yaaaaa

Yeaa yeaa yeaa yeaaa yea, yea yea yea, yea yeaa yeaaaa

Oh Oh Oh Oh Ohhhhh

Yeaa yeaa yeaa yeaaa yea, yea yea yea, yea yeaa yeaaaa

Oh Oh Oh Oh Ohhhhhhhhhhh Ohhh Ohh Ohhhhhhhhhh

Oh Oh Ohhhhhhh Ohhhhhhhh Ohhh Ohhh

Na na na na nao nao nao nao nao na naooo

Na Na Na Na Nam Na na Nam na Na Nammmm

(Key Change)

Na na na na Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

No do doooooooooooooooooooooooo

Na na naaaaaa naaaaa naaaa na

Lo lo lo lo loooooooooooooooooooo

La la laaaaaaaaaaa la la laaaaaaa laaaaaaa la la

Oh Oh Oh Oh Ohhh Ohhh Ohh Ohhh Ohhh Ohh ohh Ohhh

Oh Oh Oh Oh Ohhh Ohhh Ohh Ohhh Ohhh Ohh ohh Lo Lo Lo Lo Looooooo

(Key Change)

(Yodel) Ah-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee yeeee eeeee eeeeee

(Low Register) La La Laaaaaaa Laaaaa La La

Oh Oh oh Oh Oh Oooooooohhhhhhh

Bop ba da da da daaaaaaa da da daaaaa

La la laaaaaaa laaaaaa la la

La la la la laaa laa laaa laaaa la la laaaaaa

La la la la laaaaaaaa

Luh Luh luh luh luh luh luh luh luh luh luhhhhh

Huh Huh huh huh Hooooooo

Huh huh huh huh hoooooo

Huh Huh huh huh Hooooooo

Huh huh huh huh hoooooo

(Melodic) La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la laoo

(Key Change)

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh lah la lahhhhhhhh

Lah lah lahhhh lahhhhh la la

Oh O O O Ooooooooooo Oh Oh Ohhhhhhhhhh

Lah lah lahhhhh lahhhhhh la la

Tra la la laa laa laa laa laaa,  

ohh ohh ohhhhhh

La la la la laaa la la laaaaa la la laaaa

Oh Oh Oh Oh Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I posted about that dumb shit who entered my kids classroom and basically harassed my 5th grade (at the time) son back last year.  A similar incident happened in a community close by in which a school board member threatened a young man on the basketball team by telling him that if he didn’t stop what he called “harassing” his daughter, he would use his position as the school board Vice President to get him kicked off the basketball team ( the SB  VP actually texted the threat).  Apparently this kid wasn’t harassing the guys daughter and he told his coach about the threat who in turn informed the superintendent.  It was brought out in a school board meeting and this out of control member got censored, was told not to make contact with ANY student in the school system and lost his  position as school board VP.  The local paper thought it important enough to report it in the paper.  There had already been another situation where he used his position to get his daughter reinstated to the cheer leading squad after she quit whaich was apparently against school  rules.  The last I heard, the school board was discussing further actions against this member.

If you read my earlier post about our  SB member gone wild, you’ll see that my situation was not  much different except for the response.  To go a step further, instead of offering up real punishment for this out of control school board member, our folks here in Danville instead elect him to another 5 year board term, hire another one of his relatives (remember his wife was the science teacher) and the school board nominates and positions him as the school board vice president, which further goes to this ass holes head.  Needless to say,  we’re packing up and going elsewhere.  I personally campaigned for his opponent in the last election, told my story to whoever would listen and all in all, it meant nothing and folks around here even joked about it.

I’ve said all along, when you are sick, you have symptoms.  If you have a stomach ache, vomiting and diarrhea usually follow as a symptom.  In our community, racism and apathy are the sickness and Brad Reddin, the current Danville School Board Vice President is the vomiting and diarrhea.

There are more people that go to church (mosque, temple, etc) than there are actually people that adhere to the faith they choose.

Zealots are simply folks who are very vocal about their beliefs, unfortunately a lot of them have lots of beliefs.

Racisim is not dead, it’s alive and well in my community.  It’s just too bad that those who spout it off are too stupid and chicken shit to do it in a crowd other than with those who feel the same. 

My new phone, a Motorola Hint is awesome.  Multifunction at it’s best.

I ended up losing 34 lbs with Weight Watchers and fully recommend this program to anyone serious about losing weight to join a group near you.  I’m currently maintaining and staying with it.  I hope those battling their weight issues would give it a look and I wish them the best.

The best thing anyone can do for themselves as far as finances are concerned is to be content with driving a paid off car.  Driving the “’99 Man Van” and the Yellow 2001 Escape has managed to help us put away approxmately $30,000 (and counting) for who knows what will cross our paths.

Later

We are not trouble makers nor are our kids (yeah, I know what you’re thinking).  We volunteer in the school regularly, we attend our kids conferences, we go to their assemblies, we monitor their grades on line.  Our kids stay out of trouble and are very good students.  So enough about us.

My problem is that a school board member, whose wife is also one of my kids teachers, heard through a verbal argument with one of his ex-wives (who is also my sister in law) that my son stated that this teacher was his least favorite teacher.  Yeah, that’s right, “adults” sounding just like kids.  SO-This school board member goes into my kids classroom DURING CLASS, calls my son away from his desk, and basically asks him if he said that.  And that if he did, he wouldn’t tell the teacher (who you remember is also his wife).  My kid never said that and even told us that if his science teacher thought he said that, that his grade might be lowered (you know how kids think).

This is a gross abuse of power and a critically bad display of terrible judgement and it’s not the only time.  My wife and I asked to be put on the School Board meeting agenda to discuss our concerns.   The school board president (who has begun circling the wagons to protect this other school board member) had my name removed from the agenda because I would not elaborate on my concerns.  She also did this 10 minutes before the close of the day Friday so I would not have time to try to be included on the agenda for Mondays meeting.   I was also told that after I disclosed what my concerns were, only then would she decide if I would be included.  This probably won’t happen since she has taken extraordinary steps to keep herself and other board members out of hot water before because of their stupid underhanded and inappropriate decision making.  You have to understand that if you give them too much of a heads up on the problem, they will begin spinning excuses and diminish the seriousness of the matter with everyone they can.  Eventually they lie and falsely discredit anyone who might cause them problems.  It has happened before, and there’s no doubt in my mind it would happen again.

It’s too bad when a school board president is more concerned with her own welfare and that of a moronic school board member than our kids having a comfortable learning environment free from immature interference in the classroom from a school board member.

By the way, my kid is 11 years old.  We’ve contacted the state school board association.  No help there because they say they are advocates for school board members.  The person answering the phone was sympathetic enough to suggest calling the state department of education which I will do Monday.  If that doesn’t help, there is really no where else to go short of hiring an attorney which I really don’t want to do.   Does anyone have suggestions?

• $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient. I agree here but not with the reasoning Repubs are stating.  Continuing to justify the use of fossil fuels when there are other clean methods is foolish.    Besides, ask those folks living near that dam that collapsed containing coal plant sludge that was cleaned from plant emissions how clean “Clean Coal is.  Whoops, I almost overlooked the state in which this project is located.

• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film. I Pay 8 bucks a ticket to see a movie and these guys gross millions on films and now the government wants to get into the movie business.  Agree with GOP

• $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program. Not much stimulation here, just more liberal agenda handouts.

• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship). Build it in the US with US labor and Parts, go for it.  People are working

• $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters. US Labor force at work again, however, one wonders if this government department is even worth a new out house. 

• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters. See previous, however, buy American and lots of furniture factory workers are working.

• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees. Ford, GM or the other company would appreciate this.  But to overpay a Union worker to build these would only net about 100 cars.

• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD’s. Are you kidding.  We can make all kinds of “Stimulate” jokes with this.  Agreed with the GOP, eliminate this porking.

• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs. Now we know how much rural waste costs.  Strike this please

• $125 million for the Washington sewer system. Putting people to work again.  Is this the DC version of Washington?  If so, they’re going to need about 3 times that much to handle the sewer that is generated in DC.

• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities. Are they buying relics or building or upkeeping.  One puts legal Americans to work and made in America materials to good use, the other, doesn’t.

• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion. No Way.  I’ve never believed those population signs and numbers can always be manipulated where needed.  Agreed with GOP.

• $75 million for “smoking cessation activities.” Haven’t we wasted enough on weak willed people.  If they choose to die by smoking, so be it.  Remember the waste of tobacco settlement money,  75 million is a drop in the bucket but it still flushes the same.  Agreed with the GOP.  We can’t govern stupidity. 

• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges. I have to think about this…

• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI. What happened to that salary freeze.  Now, if we’re hiring new agents and employees, maybe I can accept this. 

• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction. See my comment on the smoking program above.

• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River. How about printing more flood maps that show that if you build here, your house will flood.  When are we going to quit trying to tame mother nature.

• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas. Throwing more tax dollars away in New Orleans.

• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into “green” buildings. Are we spending 6 Bil on legal US labor and materials?  if so, go for it.

• $500 million for state and local fire stations. That 500 mil would build what, 100 fire stations? What’s a state fire station?  Agreed with the GOP, strike it.  Too many unknowns. 

• $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands. Screw the USFS.  I get so sick of smelling prescribed burns, lousy timber management and forest rangers sleeping on the job.

• $1.2 billion for “youth activities,” including youth summer job programs. What’s wrong with putting lazy kids to work.  It’s a well known fact that kids have no concept of saving so the minute the check is cashed, they’re out buying booze and video games.   Good for America!

• $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.

• $412 million for CDC buildings and property.

• $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland. The last 3 fall under that “Green Building” thing above.

• $160 million for “paid volunteers” at the Corporation for National and Community Service. Oxymoron’s don’t qualify for tax dollars.  However government morons do.  I would be OK with this if they weren’t called “paid volunteers”.  Just call them more government morons and I approve.  At least they’re “working” and doing the public a service.

• $5.5 million for “energy efficiency initiatives” at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration. Do we really even need this department?  Remove this please!

• $850 million for Amtrak. To do what?  Refurbish rails and tunnels.  I see lots of workers improving an energy efficient and recently growing mode of transportation.  Besides, I like trains. 

• $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint. Shouldn’t be here as part of a stimulus package.

• $75 million to construct a “security training” facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies. Agreed.  Get it out.

• $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.Get em a DELL and I guess this is OK.  Now if DELL could find a way to build all those PC’s somewhere other than China and not at Union wages. 

• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations. I thought we already did this earlier.  My thoughts are the same as previously stated above.

Also, to my good friend and co-worker who occasionally wastes some of his valuable time reading this dribble.  Consider quitting smoking.  I’ve told you I’ve already watched a good friend die from lung cancer.  I hope to never see that again.  I’m sure his daughter never wanted to see it in the first place.  I’ll do what I can to help you in that respect, then we can work on those Moobs.

My simple changes have been portion control, elimination of unnecessary calories, no recreational eating and being aware that all the BLT’s (bites, licks and tastes) can sneak up on you.  I ’ve also figured out that a treat should be a treat, not an every day addition to your eating.  If you want a bag of Peanut Butter M and M’s, have one but don’t make it a constant part of your daily routine.  Find substitutes for sweets.  When I get a craving for something sweet, a Diet Soda usually cures that.  A smaller portion sweet also is fine after all the good eating is done.  Brownie in a mug has been a life saver:  4 Tablespoons chocolate brownie powder mixed with 2 Tablespoons of water in a mug.  Put it in the microwave for about a minute then add 1 tablespoon of fat free cool whip and eat it.  Eat it slowly, enjoy every little taste and once it’s done- it’s done.  Don’t make another thinking that since it’s only 2 points, you’ll have room for another.  The key, EAT SLOWLY.  Every meal you should eat slowly.  It took me forever to eat that laughably small cut of steak at Applebees but as far as I can remember, it was the best steak I’ve had.  Oh yeah, a lady in our group said that when you eat at Applebees, the steamed broccoli refills are free.  I didn’t know that and they’re a Zero point food.  

For those of you that are having a hard time, stay with it.  My weight loss is Atypical and I’ll have my Zero loss weeks and even a few gain days.  We all do but let’s not let that derail the program.  Keep going to the group meetings.  I never imagined that folks sitting around talking about weight loss would be fun, but it is.

Thing I’m missing right now most is a Snickers Bar and I know I’m entitled to one with all the points I have but I’m still holding off.  This may be a mistake because I fear when I finally allow myself that treat, I may end up over indulging.

I’m still leaving a lot of points at the end of the day.  Two days last week I had 15 points left at the end of the day.  BUT, I was never hungry.  I’m eating filling foods and they’re doing the job.

This simple fact of the success of week one for me was portion control.  Savoring every little bite and actually tasting food.  I remember once when I was in college between semesters at home dad suggested we drink a beer.  Because I knew it wouldn’t be a good idea to chug that beer down I sipped it.  It was the first time I had actually tasted beer and it was good.  You see, before that day, the whole goal in drinking was to drink it fast so you could line up in front of the keg for another.  There was no effort to actually taste the drink.  It all had to do with how fast you can get it in and get another.  I think we have the same attitude with food.  A good eater in America is a guy who can put down several pounds of food at a time.  Well, I decided that a good eater should be one who respects food and the folks who prepare it.  I’m also trying to be mindful of the lack of food in a lot of the world.  For us to shove in so much with so little need is so wasteful.

This weeks topic was “Get Moving”.  In reading over the material, I’m “Not Interested”.  Since I’m losing weight without a lot of unnecessary movement, I think I’ll stick to that for now.  But, like the extra weight of shoes coming off after a bad week, it may be needed later.