Book Review - "The Christmas Sweater" by Glenn Beck

I just finished reading "The Christmas Sweater" by Glenn Beck. As you might know Glenn Beck had his own show on CNN and in a few weeks he will be on FoxNews. He's actually done radio for a number of years. Anyway this book is about a story based on Mr. Beck's own personal experiences. It was a fast easy read, although there were some parts that I had trouble following until the end. When the story is complete I understood more and then Beck goes back and explains more of the story from his personal life. When I read the acknowledgments and then more about him from his website, I found he was Mormon. This is key to understanding the story more and seeing where he comes from if you can't quite follow from a non-Mormon background.

The truth I came away from this read is to let pride and stubborness go. Try not to self-sabotage and lose your joy. Who are you and what is important to you? It is also important to make the best of your circumstances and surroundings because sometimes bad things do happen to good people.

What's Cooking: Pasta e Fagioli (Soup)

Pasta e Fagioli

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced (1 cup)
1 large carrot, julienned (1 cup)
3 stalks celery, chopped (1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes
1 large garden tomato, diced
1 15-ounce can red kidney beans (with liquid)
1 15-ounce can great northern beans (with liquid)
1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
1 12-ounce can V-8 juice
1 tablespoon white vinegar
½ teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1 can beef broth
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon thyme
1/2 pound (1/2 pkg.) ditali pasta

1. Brown the ground beef in a large saucepan or pot over medium heat.
2. Drain off most of the fat.
3. Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic and sauté for 10 minutes.
4. Add remaining ingredients, except pasta, and simmer for 1 hour.
5. About 50 minutes into simmer time, cook the pasta in 1 1/2 to 2 quarts of boiling water over high heat. Cook for 10 minutes or just until pasta is al dente, or slightly tough. Drain.
6. Add the pasta to the large pot of soup. Simmer for 5-10 minutes and serve.

Serves 8.

Notes: I couldn't find ditali pasta in our stores, so I used small pasta shells. If you have leftovers and the soup seems thicker than you like, add some V-8 or beef broth to thin it out, depending on your tastes.

UPDATE: I was able to stumble upon ditalini pasta at our Kroger! - Kroger's brand Private Selection Ditalini. It comes in a one pound paper bag like package. Love it!

Happy New Year

2008 ended on a good note and I am hopeful 2009 will be better. The last news at work on 12/31/2008 was a plane ticket, hotel reservation and conference pass to the biggest yearly event in my profession. It was very uncertain if my admin and I would make it to the conference this year because of severe cut-backs and extremely tight budgets. However, our IT Director really felt it was a necessity for us to be there and I really appreciate that. So I am eagerly planning the sessions I will attend and what kinds of things I can load up on to better myself and keep myself valuable and employed.

2008 was better than 2007 although it really started out rough for me. About two-thirds or half way through the year things started improving. I can finally say I am getting back to the old happy me. There is still a long way to go and heal but every day is better. Although many around me are seeing bleak, uncertain and depressing times, I am seeing bright, certain and encouraging times. The last 3 or 4 years have been excruciatingly painful for me and things are looking up now - so you see where I am opposite of most around me?

I hope your 2009 is better than ever! :-)

Movie Review: "Marley & Me"

Well, this has been an unusual thing for me to actually go to a theater to see a new movie in one week! We went Christmas Eve and then I had a left over coupon for a ticket that was going to expire on 12/31. So I decided on "Marley & Me" with Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson.

This was a pretty good movie. It was funny, sweet, and emotional. There wasn't a dry eye in the place at the end of the movie. I heard sniffles all over. It was pretty clean but families should be warned that there is one scene where Marley gets a little "friendly" with the dog trainer and then the ending might be difficult for kids to grasp or handle.

It seemed as though there was something for everyone to relate to in this movie. Since it was based on a true story it was very real. I would highly recommend this movie for a guilt-free indulgence and a possible family movie.

Movie Review: "Seven Pounds"

My husband and I decided to go out for a movie for our anniversary over the holidays. There was way too much food to warrant a nice dinner and the movie was a little cheaper. ;-) There were several good movies at the theater, but we finally settled on "Seven Pounds" with Will Smith. Typically, you can't go wrong with Will Smith.

What are the words to describe this movie? All I can think is.....different. Not good, not bad, not even alright - just different. As the movie starts out we really had no idea what was going on. Was he an IRS agent giving gifts, was he a wealthy philanthropist giving everything away, who is this person? At one point as he talked quite rudely to a blind telemarketer (Woody Harrelson) and it was almost more than I could bear, but my gut said to stick it out and see what played out. Once you meet several of the characters in the movie, you start to vaguely piece together what is going to happen. The plot does twist and turn to the point you almost doubt what will happen. But after the movie is over you go back and figure out the seven pounds and still come out scratching your head.

This isn't a movie I would buy but it wasn't a bad movie. It is worth a rental if you wait for it on DVD.

Updated lists

I have updated my book list of what I am reading right now. I am updating my music list also.

Back in the blog again...

Here we are back on blog - as a fellow blogger says, "I'm always blogging in my head even if it isn't on my blog." I always have great things to say but by the time I have time to get it here, I forgot. Shoot!

Well, I have a list now and I have been busy! :-)