Month: September 2008

(A slightly different version of this post appears at NolanChart.com )

The government’s plan to fix the financial crisis? Buy the bad assets.

Last night, an emergency Capitol Hill meeting was called to address the nation’s financial crisis.

One theory behind this solution is that by cutting financial institutions free from the mortgages in default, banks will be free to make investments and loan money out to get businesses and individuals back on their feet.

You can’t make this stuff up! But, apparently it can be pulled from thin air.

Where will our drowning-in-debt government find the money to make this purchase? It’s simply not there. This burden is going to be reshuffled to the taxpayer by way of inflation – because even in 2008, even though “green” investments are en vogue, we still can’t grow money from trees. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. The money has to come from somewhere.

Even scarier than inflation, this bad assets solution requires the unconstitutional nationalization of financial institutions. I wonder if the act of Congress will include an amendment? How will Congress legally get away with this otherwise? It will be an entertaining song and dance for sure – the opening act to a muddy Presidential election.
Continue reading “Bad Assets and Band-Aids”

So just what happens when you use American cheese in a quiche?

Watch my video to find out!

I guess we’re having quiche for dinner!

Leah’s Surprise Quiche Recipe
(Created 9/17 with ingredients on hand!)

6 eggs – no shells!
1 1/2 c. heavy cream
4 slices of American cheese
3/4 c. sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp McCormick Italian seasoning

Pate Brisee , made according to the directions (you can freeze half of the dough or halve the recipe. Either way is a morally acceptable decision). Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees to set.

Blend together all ingredients (except for the Pate Brisse:) ). Pour into baked crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until slightly golden brown.

9/24 Update:
Surgery date is set for October 21

9/12 Update:
Myomectomy (and uterine reconstructive surgery) instead of hysterectomy!! While the short-term recovery for the abdominal incision will be the same, there will potentially be less long-term health issues, as it is not as harsh on one’s body.

Met with Dr. Glassner at Mainline Fertility. I did not want to have a hysterectomy, and it took a great deal of tenacity – talking to various doctors – to find Dr. Glassner, who is so skilled (at least 300 myomectomies a year!) that his patients are able to get pregnant afterwords — granted, it is a high-risk pregnancy and birth is via c-section.

I am considering a tubal ligation during the surgery.

To some women who have never had a child and have “endured it all” to have a baby, a high-risk pregnancy is a risk they may be willing to take.

However, I do have five children already. I am concerned about jeopardizing my health (uterus is very thin and distorted because of the tumor – even though it’ll be “reconstructed”), the health of a baby during pregnancy, and the well-being of my family should something go seriously wrong with the pregnancy.

I do learn a lot from some of my Quiverfull friends, but I have also said that it cuts both ways. We must trust God for the number of children that we have – even when He is saying, “you have your quiverfull, it’s time to be done.”

I still have not decided what to do about this. I am asking the Lord for wisdom.

From a note I wrote to my pastor this weekend:

Dr. Glassner’s office had framed articles featuring him, from all over the world, as well as TV stills, on his walls. The impression that it gave me was, “this person is a recognized expert in his field.” In the time that I had the ultrasound and was waiting, he had thoroughly read my file. He knew the names of my children, husband’s name, exact symptoms of the fibroid, test results and even that we were moving to Japan later this fall. He wasn’t shuffling through the file while he talked – he had memorized it. He said he does at least 300 Continue reading “RE: A different kind of writer’s block”

What a brilliant sketch. I found myself both laughing and cringing at the remarkable character portrayals at the same time.

Way to go, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, for beating Palin and Clinton to the performance – so that it ever did happen in real life, the address on sexism would underscore Oscar Wilde’s famous quote all the more.

Colombian roast
Beep! A thunderstorm begins
Steamy happiness