tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14204604574859623222024-03-13T20:07:00.484-07:00A work in progress.....Just doing what I can, with what I have.FuManthaChuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17589820043734705695noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420460457485962322.post-57897956548021736812011-04-23T21:34:00.000-07:002011-04-23T21:34:12.264-07:00Traditional American Dream, Only Some Are Deserving....?The traditional American dream was to work hard, provide for one's family, and enjoy life's little pleasures. The new American Dream? Win the lottery and eat any and every food that is deep fried.<br />
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The "America" I read about in my history books in school was a place that ANYONE could come to as a sanctuary from oppression, poverty. Somewhere people could turn to for a better life for their families and a place where they could build a foundation or the future generations of those families. And now America looks to me like some sort of exclusive club.<br />
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Clearly, I'm not Republican. I'm not a political person. The political labels are complete bullshit. We're to busy in this country fighting social wars between these labels about when "life" starts and whose fault it is that this country has become one of fried foods and lottery dreams. Too busy to recognize the complete lack of logic in arguing when life starts, but being okay with shooting someone on-site who merely wants to come into this country to live out the traditional American dream. Blue Collar Mexicans that simply want healthcare for their kids, and to build a future for their children, and to work and do the jobs that Americans are too good for these days. What happened to acceptance and humanitarianism?! We will give to charities and "adopt" children from other countries for $20 a month but deny a good life earned from someone wanting to work for it.<br />
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Have Americans really gotten this complacent and naive and unable to think for themselves that they don't see this? Yes.<br />
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I brought up Republicans because a few people who label themselves as such have told me that because of my opinion on these matters that I am not American. Labels are so important to people these days....<br />
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The Greed of society today sickens me. America. The healthcare and good jobs are okay for us to have. But Mexicans are lowly and disgusting and do not deserve the same respect as we clean American humans do. Our babies deserve those things because they were born here. Those Mexican babies do not.<br />
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WTF America? W...T....F? FuManthaChuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17589820043734705695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420460457485962322.post-36102345059240035802011-04-23T11:03:00.000-07:002011-04-23T11:03:01.309-07:00Need A Penny, Take A PennyWhat if everyone in the world acted like a "Need A Penny, Take A penny" cup?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x9EbmjP3AOQ/TbMUD8qjdxI/AAAAAAAAACk/MSh7m8tQvdc/s1600/50264_188532828480_8035679_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x9EbmjP3AOQ/TbMUD8qjdxI/AAAAAAAAACk/MSh7m8tQvdc/s1600/50264_188532828480_8035679_n.jpg" /></a></div>So many people live in so much access that they don't need, don't use, don't even know they have. Then there are so many people who don't have what they need. Whether what they need is material possessions, time, help, support, it seems that there are so many people who could offer their services or their surplus but don't. When did humanity become fueled by greed and selfishness.<br />
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How much better would our world be? How much happier would we be- as individuals and as a whole people...<br />
I remember the day that I was going for my job interview I think I had $5 in my pocket. I was starving and exhausted, and I stopped at Starbucks to get a coffee. My esteem was really down that day, because I didn't really have any office clothes that were suitable, I was nervous about getting the job, and I was just so stressed. The car in front of me in the drive-through was a new black Mercedes-Benz. I made a judgement. "Stuck-up rich person." I thought. That stuck up rich person paid for my coffee, and I payed it forward the next time I had enough money. Then I thought about the movie, Pay It Forward.<br />
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How novel is that idea?! Why can't people do that ALL THE TIME?!FuManthaChuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17589820043734705695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420460457485962322.post-11988574649954009762011-03-21T21:22:00.000-07:002011-03-21T21:22:02.276-07:00How to Kinda Sorta Almost Mostly Speak Like A CajunWent back to Maurepas (mar~paw), La this weekend to stay at my sister's house. I really love Louisiana more than I could ever really say, and though my heritage doesn't really qualify me as truly "Cajun," I will self-proclaim that I am, because it's generally more understood and associated with the manner and customs I grew up with. People understand the word "Cajun."<br />
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Being "Cajun" means a few things for me<br />
1) it's impossible for me to exactly follow any recipe...or write one down.<br />
2)I have small revelations each time I go home. Such as "if your vehicle ran outta gas on the way to make groceries, it would be much easier to paddle that vehicle than it would be a push it. Hence the ingenious of floating villages and waterways as highways.<br />
3)I never knew of a potato masher. And even now that I do, I still use a glass.<br />
4)I don't waste much, I reuse as much as I can.<br />
5) My good pots and pans are cast iron, and I NEVER wash them<br />
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There's probably many more. My main concern about not living in Louisiana anymore is that my accent, which I was so proud of, has dissipated. When I go back down and then come back to TX, I stutter. And this is why:<br />
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How to Mostly Kinda Sorta Speak like a South Louisianian.<br />
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Drink 1/2 of a 5th of vodka.. It will help to naturally slur your voice. We like to put as little effort as possible into talking. That means skipping lotsa vowels and combinin words that could otherwise be recognized without some unecessary components.<br />
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Change any sound that involves a long "i" sound to an "aw" sound. Think How ya doin? Howzya momma an' em'?" "Oh, dey fawn."<br />
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Don't worry bout any usual rules of the English language. Double negatives are completely fine (fawn). Notice i said "Make groceries" earlier in this post. Makes perfect sise in south Louisiana. it means grocery (groshree) shopping (shawpin).<br />
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My sister lives in Maurepas. Read that ya'll: "Maw-paw." there's only a slight hint of an "R" anywhere in there.<br />
Ya know how Canadians are known for sayin "Eh" at the end of thoughts? Our equivalent is "yeah" at the end of any thought warranting enthusiasm or concern. "You heard bout dat wreck down by Marchand's? It was a nasty one, yeah!"<br />
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And they shall be called "Cher." pronounced "sha."<br />
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When asking dircetions...in some areas....you will be on the receiving end of something like this:<br />
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"You go up da by-ya (bayou) a ways, then turn leff (left) ownnuh (on the) crawsroad (crossroad) then come back downnuh (down the) by-ya and lookin fuh dem beat up mailboxes an deyyago! (there you go!)<br />
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Go forth and speak easy. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb9bsy0DOR0&feature=related">Cher!</a>FuManthaChuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17589820043734705695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420460457485962322.post-41329687047475094182011-03-14T09:30:00.000-07:002011-03-14T09:30:13.428-07:00Louisiana, LucyAnna, Loozana, Louweezyannuh.I miss Louisiana. Sometimes, i miss it so much I'll watch documentaries about Hurricane Katrina or The Princess and the Frog just so I can try to get my accent back. I think it's impossible for anyone to truly understand the simplistic charm of Louisiana unless they've lived there. There's scattered old-world charm everywhere you go. Reminders of Louisiana's cultural diversity, foundations.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-348SEH5NmOs/TX5ASP821mI/AAAAAAAAABs/ljs_mAiXK1g/s1600/louisiana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-348SEH5NmOs/TX5ASP821mI/AAAAAAAAABs/ljs_mAiXK1g/s320/louisiana.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ssB4H10OJ-w/TX5ASoXroKI/AAAAAAAAABw/LuNtCPgf2pM/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ssB4H10OJ-w/TX5ASoXroKI/AAAAAAAAABw/LuNtCPgf2pM/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">sprawling lazy oak</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s1yA4KhbJCA/TX5CR1DXZNI/AAAAAAAAAB8/VM2YRKRggn4/s1600/770_d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s1yA4KhbJCA/TX5CR1DXZNI/AAAAAAAAAB8/VM2YRKRggn4/s1600/770_d.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">my all time favorite coffee!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LFESeH3iyDM/TX5BJ_JPK5I/AAAAAAAAAB0/jw8KhT3ujio/s1600/150221_133142933409259_100001406584527_215373_7336441_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LFESeH3iyDM/TX5BJ_JPK5I/AAAAAAAAAB0/jw8KhT3ujio/s320/150221_133142933409259_100001406584527_215373_7336441_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-I3j7bzHTFtY/TX5BMZ4xGsI/AAAAAAAAAB4/b9I7Bse6eLU/s1600/56988_133140146742871_100001406584527_215361_3533313_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-I3j7bzHTFtY/TX5BMZ4xGsI/AAAAAAAAAB4/b9I7Bse6eLU/s320/56988_133140146742871_100001406584527_215361_3533313_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lake Maurepas</div>Images-take me home!FuManthaChuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17589820043734705695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420460457485962322.post-13875725986382541382011-03-13T20:29:00.000-07:002011-03-13T20:29:39.827-07:00CookingLet me start off by saying this...I can't really stand Italian food. I like cooking things that make me feel like I created artwork, and leave me feeling light after I eat it. Most of the time. That means little or no dairy. Or pasta. Or grease. Except for my mom's CHicken N Dumplins, or her Roast N rice N gravy. Or my Pound Cake. That's right...MY Pound Cake. The first recipe I've ever concocted by myself that is brilliantly successful. <br />
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Tonight, I made California Rolls. Super easy thanks to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz9EAqTBrNw">THIS</a> YouTube video:<br />
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I didn't even have a bamboo mat, either. I MacGyver'd one by putting saran wrap around a sale paper. Pretty nifty, eh. I'm resourceful like that! (don't tell anyone i walked around WalMart for an hour looking for one, though. they were just selling them a week and a half ago!)FuManthaChuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17589820043734705695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420460457485962322.post-59252940698850692012011-01-20T08:32:00.000-08:002011-03-14T08:21:18.583-07:00Home remodeling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-EU_G2fX6MUs/TX4x9P3TOTI/AAAAAAAAABQ/YOoMXdooCzc/s1600/IMG_0657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-EU_G2fX6MUs/TX4x9P3TOTI/AAAAAAAAABQ/YOoMXdooCzc/s320/IMG_0657.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>I'm gonna take on a really big project this year, much to my husband's dismay. This project ( and all the projects contained therein) may actually become the heart of this blog altogether. I'm going to start remodeling the house, using almost completely free materials off of craigslist, and when needed, things from the habitat for humanity restore. My first projects: simple bathroom upgrade, banquet breakfast areA, outdoor space. Will post before photos and idea photos later!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LdrxVPatbEM/TX4x97csGLI/AAAAAAAAABY/WPPArnRxugM/s1600/IMG_0661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LdrxVPatbEM/TX4x97csGLI/AAAAAAAAABY/WPPArnRxugM/s320/IMG_0661.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i'm especially excited about picking out some lovely corbels for the open shelving around my kitchen window. My kitchen is configured exactly like the first photo up there, so this should all work out very nicely, and similar to that photo. </div>FuManthaChuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17589820043734705695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420460457485962322.post-19892343737170339432010-12-15T12:31:00.000-08:002010-12-15T12:31:56.941-08:00When the mood strikes me.NO...i'm not talking about that mood...silly!<br />
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I just want to say that I don't expect to accomplish a whole lot by writing this blog. writing helps to get my thoughts out and organized, and maybe some of the experiences that I've been through might give someone else insight for their own. Soe of the most profound words i've ever read were by people who selflessly put themselves out there on the internet in the hopes of doing the same, and i am forever grateful for having the opportunity to read theirs.<br />
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I know that I am no extraordinary person. I try to be consistent. I try painfully hard to be consistent. I try to convince myself myself and everyone else around me that I'm consistent...but I'm not. There are days that I am okay with that, and there are days i struggle with it. There are days that I silently suffer with the very reasons I am not consistent and days that I suffer not so silently. But if you find that you, yourself have been silently suffering, and reading my words has ever given you insight, then I feel that at least some things that have caused me so much pain have maybe brought some good to the world, brightened someone's day, helped someone work through their own problem, learn how to cope and/or come to terms with pain, and maybe learned something more about themselves in the process.<br />
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I have many regrets. I try not to linger upon them. That is all I feel that I can do some days. And that is all anyone can ask of me.<br />
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This is for you!FuManthaChuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17589820043734705695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420460457485962322.post-14629453239188417912010-11-21T06:59:00.000-08:002010-12-16T18:43:32.109-08:00People I admire....Sharon Osbourne<img height="126" id="il_fi" src="http://www.411mania.com/siteimages/ozzysharon_34509.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="187" /><br />
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After Lollapalooza told Ozzy that he wasn't cool enough and too drugged up to play there, Sharon flipped them the finger by setting up her own damn concert tour, Ozzfest. She's a backbone behind her husband, and she "don't take no shit." And she's admiringly graceful in the process. Plus, she's married to Ozzy, and that looks to be sort of an eccentric position to hold down in and of itself....so kudos to Sharon for always being strong, graceful sweet, and enduring. She always has something nice to say, and always stands her ground.<br />
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will add more later!<br />
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Natalie Portman<img height="265" id="il_fi" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:41KmLTNjYcUW2M:http://ic.maxabout.com/Celebrities/hollywood/actress/Natalie_Portman/Natalie_Portman_150408_826.jpg&t=1" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="190" /><br />
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There's nothing this woman can't do! A Bachelor's in Psychology from Harvard while filming Star Wars; speaks Hebrew, and also studied Japanese, German, French, and Spanish; um...Star Wars!; social activist; picture of health; never vain and always beautiful; soft-spoken and very intelligent beyond her years. You just can't not love her!FuManthaChuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17589820043734705695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420460457485962322.post-87153544528248389102010-11-05T08:36:00.001-07:002010-11-06T20:28:48.611-07:00My plans for our house...LIst format! yay. will post "before" photos soon.<br />
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</div><div>Dining room=banquet seating</div><div><br />
</div><div>living room=big sectional w/ chaise lounge-charcoal grey, structured, squared off, but still very soft and comfy. </div><div> Mount tv over mantle. </div><div> use wall where tv is now for family photos and to showcase some of my blue glass.</div><div><br />
</div><div>speaking of walls, i thought that it would be so awesome to showcase some of my favorite family photos in an eye level line all the way around the house in some little 2"X2" frames, chronologically from front door</div><div><br />
</div><div>crown moulding</div><div><br />
</div><div>kitchen:</div><div> white, black, grey color scheme w/ blue accents.</div><div> -paint cabinets white</div><div> -corrugated metal backsplash</div><div> -black granite countertops</div><div> -inside of cabinets and pantry electric blue</div><div> -blue pendant lights over island</div><div> -replace stove</div><div><br />
</div><div>our bathroom</div><div><br />
</div><div>-build all tile steam shower for michael</div><div>-claw foot tub for me</div><div>-closet revamp-cubbies, heel racks, the works!</div><div><br />
</div><div>outside!!!!!!!</div><div>-build front patio- slate floor, cover with pergola painted to match trim</div><div>-build pergola around east side of the house to accommodate a brick path, with vines covering all of it. </div><div>-continue that pergola to extend the back patio and a brick pathway leading to stand alone pergola </div><div>-upgrade stand alone pergola by painting it white, putting a double chaise lounge underneath it, covering it with wisteria, putting some more shrubbery around it. </div><div><br />
</div><div><div>yep, our house is gonna be really awesome in about...7 years or so!</div></div>FuManthaChuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17589820043734705695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420460457485962322.post-83855449100395292602010-11-05T08:35:00.000-07:002010-11-05T08:35:53.596-07:00Crimmus list...-A "make your own sushi" kit. barnes and nobles. $10 ppl. make a note.<br />
-Vibram 5 finger shoes.<br />
-Dave & Thomas popcorn!<br />
-Lowe's or Home Depot gift cards!<br />
-Gift card to The Container Store!!!!!!<br />
-a piano.....hello craigslist<br />
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What do you want for Crimmus?FuManthaChuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17589820043734705695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1420460457485962322.post-63888440800692056662010-11-05T06:18:00.000-07:002010-11-05T06:18:28.694-07:00Starting a blog<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've always wanted to start a blog, but I always figured that I'd have to do it like everyone else does...consistently. Being consistent is a forced thing for my personality. I could lie and say that I'm consistent because I just am that way, but ti's really not true. I have to try every moment of the day to maintain some sort of pattern for the sake of my own sanity, not to mention everyone else's!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So this blog will become one of those things that really goes the way I want it to. It will never be finished, and that's okay. I can come back to it when I want to, and not come back to it when I don't have the time. And right now I don't have time, so I'll come back to it later..</span>FuManthaChuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17589820043734705695noreply@blogger.com1