Why I don't cook OR Why I drink in the kitchen

I thought it would be nice to give cookie packages this year on Christmas Eve. I went to a cookie exchange a few weeks ago and discovered some delicious trailer trash delights made from Ritz crackers and peanut butter dipped in chocolate. Sounds disgusting and yet surprisingly delicious. I wanted to share my discovery with my loved ones. I didn't have a recipe but how hard could this be - right.

I headed for Costco and bought Ritz crackers, organic peanut butter and the industrial sized bag of toll house chocolate chips. I made one hundred peanut butter and Ritz sandwiches and proceeded to dip them in different mixtures of chocolate. The organic peanut butter was to oily. I needed good old fashioned Skippy extra creamy. Good thing I bought the industrial sized box of Ritz. A quick trip to Albertson's for another jar of peanut butter.

When straight toll house chips turned out to be too thick for dipping I found some instructions on the back of the package directing me to add Crisco to the melted chocolate for dipping. Another trip to Albertson's for Crisco and I dipped some more. I waited for the chocolate to set. I'm still kind of waiting.

I went to the Internet for instruction. It referenced 'dipping chocolates'. I went in search of dipping chocolates which after 4 stores and and equal number of hours I found is not sold in the chocolate aisle, nor is it sold in the baking aisle, it is carried in the produce aisle. Don't ask me why, we've already established that I don't cook.

And so I bought the dipping chocolate which came in it's own microwave safe cardboard bowl and I again proceeded to dip. And again I waited for the chocolate to set, but this time it did set. I moved to the next step in the process which was cookie decoration. White chocolate piped on top of the cookies in a decorative fashion. I used the dipping chocolate in white since I knew it would at least harden when done.

My finished cookies are delicious - all 40 of them. No, the chocolate did not set perfectly and yes they do seem to be sweating. You must eat your cookie very quickly once you've chosen it from the plate lest it melt in your hand.

My kitchen is not back to normal. It may never be. Please stop me if I ever mention the desire to make cookies again.

A Boycott you can get behind

Once again I will boycott OJ news coverage. I did it during his murder trial and I'll do it during his already highly over-hyped armed robbery, kidnapping, grand theft -what ever it is he's charged with, I wouldn't know cause I'm boycotting the news coverage -trial.

Nancy Grace, Larry King, Geraldo, I beg of you, please find something more worth while to report.

When your local news leads with an OJ story, change the channel. How can a robbery in Las Vegas be the lead story in your city (unless you live in Las Vegas that is.) Leading the local news with OJ is irresponsible.

Please join me.

Love Walk 2007 - Team Wagner

Today was the second annual Love Walk for Peppermint Ridge. The event was a great success. Everyone had a great time and we raised over $40,000 for the Ridge.

Team Wagner thanks everyone for their generous support. We raised over $4,500 in donations in Paul's memory.

Every year I'm encouraged by the support for this event. Team Wagner received donations for $10 all the way up to $500. Our friends and family seem to give what they can and every little bit matters. And since it's an event directly sponsored by the Ridge, it's refreshing to know that every penny is going to the residents. None of this money goes to future marketing or more fundraising. If you donated $10, then $10 will go straight to the developmentally disabled residents of Peppermint Ridge.

As for the walk, we had a couple hundred walkers and great weather. The Corona High School Junior ROTC handed out water along the course and cheered the walkers. The residents of the Ridge walked with the community - even if they used walkers or needed other help.

After the walk Chick-fil-a and Backwoods BBQ served lunch (yum). That's Backwoods cooking up some burgers and dogs in the picture.

Again, thanks for your support. If you forgot to send your check you can still do so. Also, remember to submit your receipt to your employer if they match charitable donations.

Next year come walk with us. It's fun.

Paul's Memorial

Sunday September 9th at 2:30 pm at

Corona First Baptist Church
111 W 8th St
Corona, CA 92882
(8th and Main)

Casual Attire
Reception with Refreshments following service

We are asking for donations to be made to Peppermint Ridge in Paul's name in lieu of flowers. You can donate in Paul's name at the service or at Paul's Memorial Page for the Love Walk.

If you are unable to attend the memorial and/or would like to join us in honoring Paul at the Love Walk on September 15th, you may register at the following link.
Walk to Remember Paul

Paul Wesley Wagner 06/02/64 - 08/29/07

My Brother, Paul Wesley Wagner died this morning of a heart attack. He was 43. It was unexpected. We're all still in shock. We love Paul very much.

This afternoon I learned that an essay I wrote about Paul has been published in the August issue of Corona Business Monthly. I wish I had been able to share my essay with Paul but you know how things are - we're busy and we always think we'll have time.

I'll share my essay with you instead. I'll add a link to the magazine later.

"A Sister's Story"

By Judy Wagner

My brother Paul lives in Corona. You’ve seen him, his girlfriend Missy, or one of their many friends in your place of business. They’ve been in line behind you at Target, next to you perusing the DVD’s at Best Buy, in the disabled seats at the front of the Regal movie theatre.

You may be confused when you see Paul and the other residents of Peppermint Ridge around Corona. You’re not quite sure what’s wrong with them, and you want to be politically correct. Don’t look, you think to yourself. You tell your children not to stare.

You’ve learned about developmental disabilities on the news. First it was Down syndrome. You learned about extra chromosomes and prenatal testing. Now all the talk is about autism. You’re finding out real people have autism and they can’t count cards in Vegas like Rainman.

When Paul and I were kids, developmentally disabled people were referred to as retarded and this is still a valid label for some people. Paul is retarded and I still refer to him as such, but Paul will correct me if I say he is handicapped. “I’m disabled, not handicapped,” he says.

Whatever you want to call the residents of Peppermint Ridge, they are first and foremost your neighbors. You sit behind them at the movies on Saturday nights and in front of them at church on Sunday mornings. You are the stylist who cuts their hair, the dentist who fixes their teeth, the nurse who remembers their name when they are re-admitted to the hospital for the third time this year.

This summer you might see Paul and the other residents of Peppermint Ridge walking in your neighborhood as they train for the one mile Love Walk for The Ridge. It’s OK to look at the walkers, and your children can stare, after all, they’re just curious. The residents of Peppermint Ridge won’t mind. My brother Paul is not ashamed of his disability, he is proud to be your neighbor.


If you’d like to walk the one mile Love Walk with the residents on Saturday September 15th, or if you’re interested in becoming a Love Walk sponsor, please visit the Peppermint Ridge website. www.peppermintridge.org

Established in 1959, Peppermint Ridge is a non-profit organization with the mission of providing loving homes and empowering support services for individuals with developmental disabilities. A broad base of financial and volunteer support allows The Ridge to offer a wide variety of residential options and training opportunities for its clients. As a supportive and loving community which nurtures every member and encourages each one to become more self-sufficient and responsible, Peppermint Ridge is more than a place to live - it’s "Home."

A Sad Day

On July 30th we finally had to put down our dog Boo. She'd been sick for months. We had been hand feeding her and coaxing her to eat but the last few days of July she wouldn't eat anything. She was telling us it was time.

Boo had been with my patents for 11 years. She'd traveled all over the country with them in their RV. We were all very attached to her.

Boo was wet with our tears when we handed her to the doctor last Monday. We'll miss her.

Paris

All I can get today on the news, or anywhere else on TV for that matter are reports on Paris Hilton. That’s OK, it’s not like there’s anything else important going on in the world at this moment – oh yeah – well the G8 summit is pretty boring. A bunch of world leaders talking about saving the planet and stuff like that. Snoozer! So I can understand why reporters feel the need to lead with the Paris Hilton story – nothing much else going on today. It’s not like we’re at war or something.

Double Whammy!

This morning I got the dreaded blue screen.

If you've ever seen it, you know what I'm talking about. You look at your computer monitor and expect to see a pleasant windows desktop full of program icons, perhaps some tulips in the background and if you're really cleaver a picture of your children or pets smiling back at you. But instead of this familiar and comforting collage, you're monitor shows you a blank blue screen.

The not unpleasant royal blue screen may also contain some white type, DOS style, really old school. This type could say anything but I can sum it up for you:

"You're Screwed!"

And so today I spent the day attempting to save what data I could from my hard drive so that I can try the fianl suggestion the Dell help desk had for me. Tomorrow I try to reload Windows. Pray for me.

Why not reload Windows tonight you might ask?

This evening I have to complete what I had on schedule for today before I was slapped off track by my computer troubles.

Tonight I must assemble my new Ikea entertainment center.

Yes, another prayer is necessary. I've already opened the wine.

NYPL Patience

NYPL Patience
Originally uploaded by judykay.

Also visited the New York Public Library. I asked my friend the names of the Lions and she said, "Simba and I don't know the other one's name." I almost peed my pants I laughed so hard. She has small children and didn't quite understand the question.

Updated 05-05-08 ...I've been corrected. The Lion pictured is on the North side of the Library. Patience is on the South side. The lion pictured is Fortitude. ooops.

My Birthday in Central Park

Central Park Great Lawn
Originally uploaded by judykay.

Got home last night after 5 days in New York City. We had excellent weather. I took some pictures of my first visit to Central Park. The trees were blossoming. A perfect day for the park.

10 Things about me

This is from my Match.com profile. I haven't been paying much attention to Match lately but someone wrote to me and raved about my profile so I took another look.

It's kinda funny. I'll bet my friends could add to the list. I'd love to hear what you have to say.

From Match.com

10 things you should know...

1. I can't golf. I've tried. My Dad just points and laughs at me. I come from a golfing family. I do well at the 19th hole.

2. I don't sing in the shower but I do sing in my car - mostly when I'm alone though. I don't sing well. ;)

3. I wash my own car but I don't clean my own house. Hence, my house is cleaner than my car most of the time.

4. Call me old fashioned but I think men should take out the garbage. Every week I resent dragging the trash cans to the curb with the neighborhood men. I'll empty the dishwasher.

5. I have trouble waking up in the morning and sometimes I drink soda pop. I know it's gross but I still do it.

6. I put half and half in my coffee. The low fat stuff just doesn't taste as good. My coffee is decaf.

7. My friends think I'm funny but sometimes I can't tell if they're laughing with me or at me. Either way it's fun.

8. I'm all for plastic surgery if you have lots of cash and low self esteem. I find that I rarely have both at the same time.

9. My parents have been married for over 50 years. I'm 40 and single so I don't think I'm going to break their record but you never know.

10. I run half marathons but this morning I couldn't run a full three miles and walked home like an arthritic old woman. If I were walking sexier, I would have lied in my profile and said I was 35. Why not! Everyone else does.

Happy New Year

New Year's Eve should be known as Girls Night Out at the movies. Hey - all you single guys out there who wonder where you can meet a nice girl, there were hundreds of them at the Big Newport Theater last night.

As for the movie, I saw Children of Men because of Clive Owen. Very strange movie. The Nativity Story meats Escape From New York with a little dash of Mad Max. Good story but I must have missed some major pieces so I might pick up the book.

2007 Resolutions - sure, why not:

Take my vitamins
Drink more water
Eat my vegetables

kind of boring but they're a requirement in Jan 1 blog postings.

Have a great year and remember to take your vitamins.