With that in mind, I’d like to offer some hints on how to make sure you’re invited back to visit next time and how to avoid driving your hosts crazy in the process.

When packing for a trip to visit with friends and family, make sure you pack your own towels and toiletries so that you’re not imposing upon your hosts. Even though they may provide towels and some toiletries, it would keep them from having to stock up or do extra laundry at the end of your stay. I recommend purchasing travel or trial size versions of toiletries so that you don’t have to bring your entire bathroom collection. Don’t forget the little things like soap, toothpaste, and Q-Tips. You should never assume that these will be available at your hosts’ home. They may use brands that you don’t care for or possibly have allergic reactions with.

As my mother often reminds me, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Don’t forget about medications you may need. An empty pill bottle can be used to store multiple medications you may need such as pain reliever, vitamins, or prescriptions as long as you can remember which ones are which. Make sure if they have pets that you’re aware of this and plan for any medication needs if allergic.

It is always appropriate to bring a gift for your hosts as a token of your appreciation. I know that it may seem simple, but it goes a long way. And, if you consider the costs, spending $50-$75 on something nice for your hosts is a small price to pay for a short stay in their home compared to at least $50-$75 per night in a less than reputable motel. A great idea is a gift basket filled with items the hosts’ whole family can enjoy. Some fresh homemade bread, candies, gift certificates for restaurants, bath products, or cookies from a local bakery in your hometown are all excellent starters to add for a gift basket. Try to find gifts from your home area so that you’re sharing something from your home with theirs.

Gifts are a great way to start a visit with your hosts as it shows them that you truly appreciate what they’ve done by opening their home to you. If you’ve never visited their home before, make sure to find something you like about their home and compliment it. It will smooth things over and make a great beginning to the trip.

Once you’ve settled in, make sure you pay attention to the rhythm of the house. Are there children present? If so, what time are they asleep? What time are your hosts’ asleep? When do they shower? Keeping an eye out for these details will allow you to integrate yourself smoothly into their routine without disrupting their daily lives. Make sure you make time for your hosts’ privacy. Following them around the house like a lost puppy is only going to exhaust and frustrate your hosts. Make sure to retreat to your guestroom or a quiet area of the house at least once daily to give them some time to themselves. Read a book or go for a walk even. This will ensure that they have their privacy in their own home.

Manners are an absolute must. If you’re not familiar with the common courtesies – brush up on them before you set foot in your hosts’ home. Always offer to clear the table or do dishes after a meal. This means every meal. Do not venture out on your own to re-organize their pantry or to sort their recyclables. Always ask – “Is there something I can do to help?”

If you have a snack or meal by yourself make sure to clean any dishes or cookware you’ve used as to create no mess for your hosts to pick up after. Do not leave clothes or dirty laundry lying about the house or even the guestroom if staying in one. If you’re staying in a guestroom you should make the bed every day when you wake up. This is not a hotel and there is no maid service. Be aware that everything you do while in their home is creating extra expense for them. Little things like leaving lights on when you leave a room, or taking long showers are causing their utility bills to go up. This isn’t to say you should take cold quick showers or not charge your cell phone, but be aware of your actions.

If you are a smoker and your hosts are not – make sure that you do not smoke in their home (even if they’ve said it is okay to do so). It will smell and they won’t be thrilled about it (whether they mention it or not). Don’t leave cigarette butts on their lawn, driveway, or patio. Make sure to take them inside and discard them in the trash when you’ve finished your smoke.

If you’re planning on visiting others while staying with your hosts, make sure to plan around their schedule. If they’re going to be at work from 9am – 5pm, make plans to visit with other friends and family during that time. Go shopping in that time. Go enjoy local attractions. This will eliminate that potentially awkward “I’ve got guests in my home while I’m at work” mentality from your hosts who won’t have to worry about you being home all day. If your hosts are not working during your trip, you can involve them in activities such as going to see a matinee (your treat of course), or going shopping at local stores together. Your hosts may be providing some meals while you are staying, however you should take them out for at least one meal during your trip so that they don’t feel they have to cook every day.

Remember, at all times, it is their house and therefore their rules. If you’re watching TV with your hosts and it is the series finale of your favorite show and they change the channel ten minutes before the end – don’t say a word. Unless you’re paying the cable bill, it’s not your call on what’s being watched. In general, go with the flow of the household. After a day you should get the hang of how things work in the home.

Make sure you’re not overstaying your welcome. You should have a set day that you’re arriving and leaving at least two weeks prior to your visit so your hosts can make accommodations to their schedules if necessary. Do not stay past this time under circumstances. If necessary to change your itinerary to stay longer – do so at a hotel. This way your hosts don’t have to worry about changing their plans after they’ve made them.

When the stay is over and it’s time to head back to your own home, make sure that you’ve packed everything and left no mess. You should remove linens from the guest bed or couch you’ve stayed on and offer to start them in the laundry for your guests. Of course thank them profusely for letting you stay in their home. As soon as you get home and get unpacked, sit down and write a thank-you letter to them. Make sure to include something personal for each of your hosts if possible. “I had such fun at lunch with Kate even though the waiter got our orders mixed up!” or “Your children are so well-behaved and mannered.” The letter should be sincere and heartfelt and thank them once again for their kindness and for sharing their home. Invite them to visit yours anytime. A good thank-you letter and using your best behavior during your stay will ensure that you’re invited back again.

Suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death in people of all ages. Also, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the average rate of suicides in the United States is 89 per day. This equals roughly one suicide every 16 minutes. In 2005, eight percent of U.S. high school students had reported at least one attempt at suicide at some point in the previous 12 months. The rate of U.S. high school students reporting that they seriously considered a suicide attempt in the last year was 16.9%. Also, males commit suicide at almost four times the rate that females commit suicide. In four out of every five cases, there are warning signs against possible suicide.

When the news of a loved one is given, the survivor goes through an emotional rollercoaster that never seems to stop. Grief, blame, anger, confusion, shame, relief, abandonment, despair, and betrayal are common emotions felt by survivors of suicide. They may feel angry at the person who has taken their life and feel as though they were not considering how it would affect others. They also may be confused by why that person felt there was no alternative. They may also face perceived stigma or shame at what others will think of the suicide.

The grieving process varies from person to person, and some stages may take longer than others. The grieving process may go away and resurface again later. For suicide survivors living life after their loss is never easy. Common phrases from friends and family such as “I’d kill myself before wearing that outfit!” or “I wish I were dead.” can feel like a slap in the face at what that person has just experienced. Survivors should understand that those phrases are often uttered without much thought and are not intended to be hurtful.

I lost one of my closest friends, Temple Kirkpatrick Smith Jr. on March 1^st, 2008. He was an all around great guy. He was pursuing a degree in science at Middle Tennessee State University on scholarships he had earned during High School just 2 years previously; he had just bought a house, had a great job, did volunteer work, had plenty of friends, worked as a youth minister in his church, and had a fantastic family. Kirk and I went to High School together, and we shared a lot of great memories. He had everything going for him, but somehow something made him take his own life. This revelation turned my sense of reality upside down. I knew it couldn’t be true; Kirk wasn’t depressed and didn’t exhibit any outward warning signs that are often associated with suicide.

On March 1^st, around 10:30am Kirk called one of his friends and made plans to spend time together the next day playing video games. Sometime around 11:45 a.m. he went to the Kroger near his home and purchased a candle lighter (the ones with the long stem). He then came home, entered his garage, doused himself in gasoline, and ignited the lighter. The call to police came in around 12:00-12:15 p.m. and the emergency services crew found Kirkpatrick, burned. They were able to stop the fire before it spread to the house.

As a survivor of his suicide, I’ll never know why he did this. All of the conclusions I can draw are that he felt there was no other method of resolving whatever problem he was having. The fact that he took this to such an extreme and violent means such as fire indicates to me that whatever was wrong had been torturing him for some time. In the month before this, I had spoken with him on the phone and we had caught up on the latest news on what was going on with each other, talked about summer camp (We were counselors together at a leadership camp we both attended previously) and argued over themes for camp. Nothing ever could have indicated that he was bothered or disturbed by anything.

For me, the most unsettling part of his passing is that I’ll never know the “why” that all survivors of suicide have a need to know. Some will securely take comfort in faith that they’ll see their loved ones again in the afterlife. I take comfort in knowing that Kirk will always hold a special place in my heart. Without the “why” some survivors find it difficult to work through the grieving process. I’ve found that the process never ends. Shortly after his passing, I saw Kirk in my dreams and heard his voice in my head. I still feel tears welling up in my eyes when I see his picture. I don’t know that I’ll ever get past these things.

Who is at risk?

Suicide survivors are at risk for suicide themselves. The entire experience brings suicide from the darkest shadows of our minds front and center and shifts our focus onto it. Because of this, suicide survivors may consider committing suicide themselves in an effort to be with their loved one. Often, they feel isolated and alone and may fall into deep depressions. Instead of being left to grieve on their own, friends and family of suicide survivors should encourage the survivor to talk about their feelings. Even when they say they don’t want to talk about it, you can still show your support by letting them know that you are available to talk with them. Let them know they are not alone, and continue to encourage them to talk about the suicide. Be considerate of any special days such as anniversaries and birthdays of their loved one. Don’t make assumptions or talk about things that you don’t know such as the suicide being a result of ongoing depression or commenting on the decision the loved one made. At that moment in time, they felt that suicide was the best option available to them and acted on it.

As time progresses, it will often be easier for the survivor to talk about their loss, and move along with life. I’ve found that it’s best for me to talk openly about what happened. I’ll still talk about Kirk as he was, such as “One of my best friends was a Titans fan.” I can’t just move on from our friendship as it was and not speak of him again. I can’t just erase the past six years of knowing him. I expect that other survivors feel the same way and don’t feel it’s appropriate to stop referring to their loved one, so you shouldn’t either. If they bring up the subject, you should feel able to do so as well. They talk about their loved one to remember them.

The warning signs

Everyone should be aware of suicide warning signs. They may very well save someone’s life. Watch out for friends and family who seem preoccupied with death and dying such as writing songs or stories or poetry about such. Be aware that people who feel hopeless are at risk as well. Making statements such as “Everyone would be better off without me.” are strong indicators that person may feel worthless and may see suicide as a way to stop being a burden. Also, people who start to settle their affairs suddenly could be preparing for suicide. Making out wills, making arrangements to care for children or other family members, and giving away all important possessions can indicate that person is trying to get things in order before a suicide. Major and often sudden changes in moods can indicate a risk. If someone has been sad or depressed lately and is very suddenly very happy and positive may have made a decision that they feel will bring them out of that sadness and depression by means of suicide. Isolation is often associated with suicide, withdrawing from normal activities can indicate depression which is frequently paired with suicide.

It’s important to make sure that the person exhibiting warning signs knows they can talk with you about their feelings. You should listen honestly and completely without passing any judgment on them or their thoughts. Offer that person hope. Let them know that their situation will pass and things will get better. Shift their focus from the problems in the now, to the goals and dreams in the future. Don’t promise to keep your talk a secret. If the time comes and you know they are going to commit suicide, you’ll have to choose to break a promise and lose the friendship or keep a promise and lose the friend. This is never an easy choice. Help that person seek out professional help. Research it with them online, find local help. Offer to drive them to an appointment with a therapist or doctor. Help them find ways to get their mind off of their problems. Join a gym together, go bowling with friends, or dine out at a favorite restaurant. Anything to get them out of their regular routine for a short while will help them clear their head about problems they’re having.

Listed below are some resources if you’d like to learn more about Suicide, Suicide Survivors, and Suicide Prevention. These were the main resources I used in this article and I hope you’ll find them equally helpful.

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/suicide_prevention.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/suicide/

http://ub-counseling.buffalo.edu/suicide.shtml

http://www.suicide.org/suicide-warning-signs.html

http://www.survivorsofsuicide.com/

http://www.suicide.org/suicide-support-groups.html

First, let’s talk about the all-important meal table. You’re probably planning on having some friends and family at a table together for the holidays, so why not give them something good to look at besides your cooking. For this project, a little bit can go a long way. First, consider a tablecloth. Nothing dresses up a dull table like a tablecloth. Even a cheap one from Wal-Mart can help spruce the kitchen up. And, don’t even think about forgetting the centerpiece. What else will guests have to talk about when the awkward silences and family feuds set in? This is where some creativity comes in play.

For my centerpiece this year, I used a simple glass candleholder with some festive poinsettias on it. I also had some holiday garland laying around, so I opted to wrap it around. Then, I added a pumpkin spice tea light. Presto! Instant centerpiece. You can get as creative as you like with this. You could also make a gingerbread house or even take a simple basket and fill it with fresh fruit and add in some greenery from your local arts and crafts store.

Next, let’s discuss stockings. Of course, you could go out and purchase beautifully hand crafted stockings or you could make your own and personalize them with glitter, fabric paint, feathers, ribbons, or whatever else you like. This is an excellent project for little ones because they get to create something that they will be able to enjoy for years to come. One day when they look back at what they created, they’ll think back to the excitement and joy of creating their own individualized stockings throughout the years. Be prepared to get messy, and give plenty of time for any glue or paint to dry. This year, we took new white tube socks that we didn’t need and fabric painted them to create some very unique holiday stockings.

Perhaps the crowning glory of your holiday decorations is the Christmas tree. This year, since our Christmas tree is only four feet tall, we wrapped a large box in Christmas wrapping paper and dressed it up as a present to place our tree on to give it more height. Next, we placed items on the branches that had special meaning to it. We have ornaments we’ve had since we were youngsters; I added a breast cancer awareness bracelet, a key chain that I liked, and we added items from trees of family and friends.

We strung popcorn to give it some more decoration, added lights, and even put some Halloween garland that was leftover on there. We topped it with a witch’s hat from Halloween and a pair of 3D glasses from my first 3D movie I ever saw. Some might call it tacky, they can even call it ugly, but there’s not a single decoration on that tree that doesn’t mean something special to us.

Now that your home is decorated for the season, don’t spend all your time there. Go out and enjoy the holiday season. Take a stroll through Christmas on the Cumberland. The light display is on Riverside Drive and is open from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM Sunday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday, it stays open until 11:00 PM. Or, you could go out and enjoy a live theatre production at our local Roxy Regional Theatre. They offer a “pay what you can” night to make live Theatre available to everyone. Go out and have a cup of coffee at one of Clarksville’s many local cafés. I enjoy Mugsy’s on Fort Campbell Boulevard. They’ve got a reward program where after ten drinks your eleventh is free.

So after you’ve managed to decorate and enjoy your holiday season on a budget, sit back and relax. Spend time with family and friends and let them know how much you enjoy having them in your life.

Don’t forget to leave milk and cookies out for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. Remember to wish for peace on earth, goodwill towards men, and money leftover to pay January’s bills!

Best Wishes,

If you’re fond of Heath Bars, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. The flavor is very close. It’s a rich and gooey treat with minimal prep time that will have everyone asking for the recipe. I remember this food growing up around holidays and it always takes me back home when I have a bite. As always, comments and criticisms are welcome in my inbox. Enjoy!

• 2 Sticks of Salted Real Butter (don’t try to go low fat with margarine, it won’t taste as good)
• 1 Sleeve of Saltine Crackers
• 1 Bag of Milk Chocolate Chips
• 1 Cup of Dark Brown Sugar.

Get started by warming your oven up to 400 degrees and greasing a regular 9” x 13” pan with some cooking spray. Next, spray the inside of a medium saucepan. Go ahead and line your pan with saltine crackers in a single layer. You can crumble them up if you prefer. Make sure to leave no empty spots.

Melt your two sticks of butter together in your saucepan. Be careful not to turn it up too hot, as you won’t want to burn the ingredients. Add the brown sugar and whisk it together until the consistency is a little smoother. Once it’s thoroughly mixed together and starts to boil (Again, make sure not to burn it by having the heat too high), whisk it for 2 full minutes continuously.

Remove the saucepan from heat and pour the mixture over the layer of saltines in the pan. Keep it evenly distributed and make sure the whole layer is coated. Place pan in over for about 4 minutes, or until the mixture starts to boil again. Remove from the oven and cover the top with the chocolate chips. Make sure to spread them out evenly and sit the pan on top of the stove to let it melt the chocolate a little faster.

Once the chocolate has all melted, let the entire pan cool completely. I recommend about 15-25 minutes in the refrigerator. Use a knife or spatula to break the layer up into pieces like peanut brittle. Or you could always cut into neat squares. Serve and enjoy. Remember to refrigerate leftovers to keep them from melting back together. Serve these at your next social gathering and you’re sure to get a positive response.

The first item on my list is my family. I have a loving partner of over two years. Christian is more than I could ever want in a partner. He’s my best friend through the good times, he’s my rock through the bad times, and he’s my shoulder to cry on through the sad times. Most people wouldn’t notice at first glance, but he’s the most sensitive and caring person I’ve ever known, and I love him more than he’ll ever know. His cousin John who lives with us is one of the greatest men I’ve ever had the privilege to know. He’s one of those rare souls you meet who you can always count on to get you through whatever is going on in life.

Christian’s family has taken me in and become an extension of my own family. They are outstanding people who are supportive and loving without boundaries. My own family has always been a big part of my life. They’re boisterous, caring, funny, compassionate, crazy, and supportive and I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. They’ve taught me more than values and morals. They’ve taught me about living, loving, and laughing.

The next item on my list is my friends. I don’t know what I’d do without them. They’ve been with me throughout everything, always there when I need them, and some of the greatest people I know. I believe firmly that family is more than just the people you share a biological connection to. These people are a big part of my family.

The final item on my list is my life that God has given me. I have a home, a partner, family and friends, a job that pays the bills, and a few extra dollars in my wallet. I’m a lucky man. I’m breathing, walking, and talking so I really can’t complain too much. I have most of what I want, and more than enough of what I need. I couldn’t ask for much more in life.

I hope that sometime between the shopping, cooking, and commotion this year that you’ll stop, if only for a moment, to remember all that you’re thankful for. Let the people in your life know just how much they mean to you. Take time to call those people you don’t see often and tell them how thankful you are that they’re a part of your life. Take notice of what you have and what you really need to survive. Chances are, you’ll find that you’ve got an abundance of love, laughter, and life. Remember to share it with those people who are a part of your life. Happy holidays, from my home to yours!

Regards,

First, let’s start in the pantry. Are you one of those people who must have name-brand items stocked in your cupboards? If so consider switching to generic brands for items like cereal, spaghetti noodles, and baking supplies. You can even store these in plastic or glass jars so that nobody will ever see the packaging and know the difference. To quote Julia Child, “Remember, you’re alone in the kitchen.”

We all know that that those kitchen sponges can harbor major germs that can cause you to get sick, but you can actually disinfect those very easily and replace them much less frequently. Just get your sponge sopping wet, put it onto a plate and microwave for 1-2 minutes to kill the germs and bacteria that live inside of the sponge. Use a potholder to remove the plate and let the sponge cool before touching it as it will be scalding hot, but sanitary. And also, the moisture from the sponge can loosen some of the baked on splatters and spills inside of the microwave and make it much easier to clean. Just wipe down with a damp paper towel and see how much easier the food comes off of the top and sides of the microwave.

You can also use natural ingredients you may already have in your cabinets to clean around the house. They’re cost effective and much gentler on the environment. Vinegar is a wonderful cleaner for many items in your home. You can clean your refrigerator with a solution of equal parts of vinegar and water. It can also help with odor control as vinegar is a natural odor eliminator. Use vinegar and baking soda to unclog your drains periodically and rinse with hot water to avoid costly calls to a plumber. Make your windows shine by using full strength vinegar in a spray bottle and wiping it off with old newspaper. Freeze vinegar in an ice cube tray and put the cubes down the garbage disposal to clean and deodorize the disposal.

Citrus peels are also fantastic for cleaning garbage disposals and giving them a fresh scent. Of course, there’s always the standard open box of baking soda in the fridge to help with odor control.

Next, let’s focus on your bills.

If you have service with Charter Communications, they often run promotions that allow you to change your services and get discounts for a certain timeframe (usually 3-12 months). Contact them at 1-888-438-2427 for details.

With those holidays approaching rapidly, who has time to sit down and watch movies? Consider placing your NetFlix subscription on a hold. Login to your account at www.NetFlix.com to set that up at any time. This can be done for up to 90 days at a time, and your movie queue is saved for you (You can even still add movies to your queue!). You just pick the date you want your service to start back, and they’ll ship your movies out on whatever day you choose.

Clarksville Department of Electricity offers a budget billing program that will average your past year’s usage at the same address and make that amount your monthly bill for 11 months. On the 12^th month, they’ll add the difference in what you used and what you were billed. If there’s a credit remainder, they’ll cut you a check or if there is a balance, it’ll be billed to you. This is great for those of us whose bills fluctuate based on the seasons. Call CDE at 931-645-2118 for details.

It’s also a great time to review your cell phone bill. Review the last three months and see how many minutes you’re actually using versus how many you’re paying for. Consider changing if you think it’s worth it, but be cautious as overages on your minutes can cause major headaches and high bills if you don’t monitor your usage. Most major providers offer a way to monitor your minute usage. AT&T Mobility allows you to dial *MIN# then press send on your phone to receive a free text message with your minutes used so far in your current billing cycle. Check with your provider to see if they can review all of your services with you to see if there are features you don’t need anymore that could save you some money. Always ask about any penalties or restrictions for changing your features as some providers may extend your contract or impose other restrictions on you for changing features or plans.

Finally, let’s check out our energy consumption. CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs can save money by using about 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs. They also last much longer. I’ve had one in a living room lamp that’s used everyday for several hours and it’s been running for over a year already. They’re somewhat more expensive than the standard incandescent bulbs initially, but consider that you’ll replace them far less often. These are also available now in the Wal-Mart Great Value brand so the price gets even lower. You can also save energy by keeping your thermostat at 68 degrees during cold months. If nothing else, keeping the air in your home slightly cooler gives you an excuse to snuggle up with your special someone. Of course, you should also turn off lights and appliances when not in use for additional savings. Buy nightlights with light sensors to keep lighting to a minimum when you’re snuggling in bed with that special someone. Don’t forget to power down your computers at night or put them into a sleep or hibernate mode to save some more energy.

Now that we’ve covered areas in which to save money, relax and enjoy your extra savings. You’ve earned it. Go and see a movie with family and friends. As a matter of fact, make it a matinee and stop by the Carmike Theater in Governor’s Square Mall on a Tuesday and fill your own bucket from home with hot and delicious popcorn for only 50 cents. Or you could just take the money you’ve saved and splurge on some holiday treats for yourself. Either way, you’ll be on your way to a thriftier holiday season. I’d love to hear your ways of saving money, feel free to e-mail me and let me know. Until next time!

Best Regards,

It’s an easy recipe that anyone can make with a few simple ingredients that you may already have in your pantry. Now, I must warn you that my recipes often leave a lot of room for creativity and interpretation based on individual preferences. I truly believe that recipes are only guidelines and exact measurements get in the way of true creation. If you find that you’re stuck when preparing a recipe, go with what your taste buds are telling you. They’re always the greatest measuring tool in your kitchen.

Comments and criticisms are always welcome in my inbox. Feel free to drop me a line and let me know how the recipe turned out for you. Enjoy!

Best Regards,

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups sugar

1 ½ sticks of butter (melted)

Enough milk to make a pancake batter type of consistency

2 big cans of sliced peaches (You could substitute this for canned blueberries, cherries, apples, or anything else you like)

*If you decide to use fresh peaches – you’ll want an average size can of peaches for the juice

**You could always add some pecans or anything else you think would improve upon this recipe.

Start by pre-heating your oven to 350 degrees and greasing your pan with some cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, combine your flour and sugar with a mixer to ensure you don’t get pockets of flour or sugar. Then, pour in the butter and mix again. It’s going to start looking gritty, thick, and yellow. Next, add the milk. Typically ¾ of a cup of milk works, but it’s open for preference. You’ll want to add enough to make the consistency similar to pancake batter – it should be smooth, but not runny. After mixing really well, and tasting it to make sure it’s not too “flour-y” pour it into your already greased up pan.

Next comes the fun part! Open the first can of peaches just enough to drain the juice straight out of the can down your sink. Once that’s done, finish opening the can and start putting peaches on top of the batter in the pan. Enjoy the squishy feeling between your fingers until the first can is empty. Next, open the second can and drain the juice from that into a separate cup or bowl. Once you’ve got that done, go ahead and start putting those peaches into your batter also. It’s desirable to have some space between the peaches to let the batter fluff up and rise.

Once you’ve got all that done, you can now take the juice we saved and gently pour over the pan. Think moist and juicy – not wet and soggy. At this point, you could make a small portion of batter to drizzle over the top of the pan. I typically don’t, but it’s all about personal preference and creativity.

Finally, put your pan in the oven let it do its thing. You’ll know it’s done when it looks golden brown and you can stick a butter knife in the batter and it comes out fairly clean. Pair this with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and some good coffee for a fantastic treat for a cool autumn day.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Now we have information at the push of a button in mere seconds. It seem strange the type of culture that the internet has produced. Patients are becoming the doctors with the help of self diagnostic tools and information readily available online, people who can’t leave their homes are finally earning their college degrees via internet classes, and everyone can become an expert on anything they like with a few keywords typed into Google.

Perhaps the greatest of these are creative outlets such as YouTube and MySpace. These sites have allowed users to express themselves in an entirely new way – networked. Previous to these internet giants, people had their ideas and thoughts individually on their own sites with a few sites with interconnected users. Now, millions of people now have their own MySpace pages, which is a powerful outlet for expression of these thoughts and ideas.

Consider how political MySpace became during the recent elections. Many users had their particular party’s logos and values all over their pages. Just imagine how far it will go when the 2008 Presidential elections come into play. YouTube should also be an interesting site to keep watch over during that time. Right now there are over 80,000 political videos to view on YouTube. Think of the amount of videos related to the elections that will be available to millions of users at YouTube in the months leading up to the election.

Will these two online communities play a pivotal role in the results of the 2008 elections? Will they determine who the next President of the United States is? Who would have guessed during that 4 minutes it took to log onto AOL 2.0 that the internet those people were dialing into would be the future political arena?

Perhaps this wired world will provide for more well-informed voters. Will grassroots movements be made in a world of bits and bytes? Maybe it will bring an era of honesty with the amount of information that can be found about candidates by a simple Google search. Postulating on the possibility of honest politicians and informed voters seems like a distant dream, but with the age of information, anything is possible; just think of how far we’ve come already.

Click here to view the embedded video.

First of all, what are we going to be seeing? For this question, I’ll point you to this handy dandy PDF document that is the official sample ballot provided by the Montgomery County Election Commission.

Click Here for a Sample Ballot

Next, how is my vote counted? Paper or electronic ballots? For this election the Montgomery County Election Commission will be using the Micro Vote Infinity model. Fancy stuff!

Click here to view the embedded video.

What about the election results? I’m desperate for details of how the results came out. Give me more than percents! Well, of course! Here’s the handy dandy link to where to find the results of the election, neatly broken down for you. With columns and rows and everything you need!

Click Here for Election Results

Hopefully these will help prepare you in your quest for democracy and voting in Montgomery County. Remember that early voting is from October 18th until November 2nd. I’ll tell you what; I’ll even throw in this list of dates and times for early voting as well. Consider it a bonus! Enjoy! And happy voting to you!

Click Here for the Early Voting Dates and Times

Continuing with this logic, if we don’t want homosexuals to upset traditional marriage, shouldn’t we also prevent couples of different races from marrying too? That’s not very traditional, when you consider that from 1776 until then, it wasn’t legal for those couples to marry. Personally, I would consider 191 years more of a tradition than 39 years. So, why is there not an initiative to protect the “sanctity of marriage” from the harms that interracial marriage can do to it? The answer is that to not allow those couples to marry is simply discrimination.

Now, those supporters will reply to your reasoning with the cliché statement that someone’s race is not a choice, but homosexuality is. To which you should promptly remind them that the American Psychological Association does not consider sexual orientation to be a choice.

The next thing they’ll tell you is that children do better with opposite-sex parents. According to a U.S. Study by the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institution, and also the American Psychological Association, children do no better or worse with same-sex or opposite-sex parents. Yet again, the supporters of Amendment 1 want you to believe that they’re in this to protect the “sanctity of marriage,” but really they’re in this to spread their hatred and discrimination into our state’s constitution.

Of course, any discussion of the same-sex marriage wouldn’t be complete without the all-too-familiar reminder of the “slippery slope of same-sex marriage.” Don’t forget that same-sex marriage will lead to polygamy, since I’ve seen such a barrage of homosexuals demanding the right to marry sixteen people. Also, I’ve noticed a trend of people interested in marrying animals. Now who wouldn’t want to marry Snowball, their beloved feline companion of 5 years? And, I almost forgot to mention incest. But wait, Tennessee already allows for first cousins to marry. It’s completely legal, so let’s just forget about that. I’m quite sure that marrying Ellie-Mae is still upholding the “sanctity of marriage.”

What about those fabulous Las Vegas weddings. There’s nothing more sacred than getting married in a drive-through window by Elvis Presley. Or perhaps, marrying someone and getting an annulment within days (Oops, I did it again!). So this alleged “sanctity of marriage” seems to have a lot of problems with it right now, this begs the question of “Why would it hurt to allow marriage to exist between two loving partners?” The answer is simple. It wouldn’t. On November 7^th, don’t forget to Vote No on TN 1. Live above the lie, the “sanctity of marriage” needs to be reminded that the “equality of marriage” is much more important. Marriage equality matters.

More information against the amendment can be found at http://www.VoteNoOn1TN.com/

Conversely, more information for the amendment can be found at http://www.RealMarriage.org/

Overall, I enjoy my job. I come home, eat dinner, watch my DVR recorded TV shows (The West Wing, The Simpsons, and Eureka), read a chapter or two from a book, and fall asleep until the next day. I truly hope that my “gay lifestyle” is not offending anyone reading this quite yet. I have a townhouse near the hospital, a loving partner (Whom I don’t see enough of as I’d like.), and a kitchen table that has more paperwork than the IRS director’s desk.

I drive a 1997 Ford Escort that needs new spark plugs and has a broken driver’s seat. My dishes and laundry are piling up right now as you’re reading this and my bills are probably getting close to being late.

This “gay lifestyle” must have politicians and religious leaders concerned about how I am going about my daily routine promoting this abhorrent lifestyle. How am I so different from them? The answer is simple. I’m not. My life is probably very similar to yours actually. The only real difference in my life and heterosexuals is who I have sex with.

This is, quite frankly, none of their business. Why do they care who I am dating? I’m not trying to date them, so how do they have any say in who I do date? To re-tool a common phrase used by these so-called “leaders,” discriminating against someone based solely on who they are attracted to is going to open Pandora’s Box.

After they outlaw my ability to choose who I want to spend the rest of my life with, what’s going to be next? Are they going to start mandating what books I can read? Are they going to tell us what times we can be out of our homes? What lengths will they go to in order to have control over what we do? What lengths will they go to in order to have control over who we are? Are we going to continue to allow these tyrants to determine our lives for us?

I believe that God gave us all free will. I find it difficult to believe that if he wanted us all to be the same; he wouldn’t have made us all so different and special. That’s the real founding principle this great country was founded on. That’s what makes America the country that immigrants from all over the world die every day trying to come to; a place where each one can come to and start a life of freedom from oppression.

America was founded so that we could all have the freedom to live our lives as we saw fit, so long as we didn’t harm others. How can we forget such a basic principle of the Declaration of Independence; “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?” How can we allow our society to take back one of its most important promises? How can we condemn something that is so obviously none of our business?

If we’re truly not so different, which so far seems to be a reasonable argument, why are you not worried about being discriminated against next? Who’s to stop these people from telling you where you can go to church? Who’s going to be there to stop them from preventing you from watching your favorite television shows? Now, a question has presented itself to us all; what’s next?

“I was truly saddened to hear of your post on how you feel that this will “open Pandora’s Box.”

To amend the wording to state “one person and one person” would not change any stipulations on how many persons, which family members, or which species could marry. It would simply change the gender of the two persons marrying.

I have yet to see anyone running off to Canada in order to marry his or her daughter. Or, for that matter, anyone jetting across the pond to Spain to marry their beloved cat, Mr. Whiskers. It doesn’t make any logical sense that you would draw the conclusion of same-sex marriage leading to anything of the nature suggested in your post.

This amendment will discriminate against people in every aspect of Clarksville’s community. Let’s ponder that only since a Supreme Court decision in 1967 have mixed race couples been able to marry anywhere in the country. That’s right, 1967. Forty years ago my partner’s sister would not have been able to marry her husband. Maybe whoever reads this wouldn’t have been able to marry their sweetheart.

Generally, everyone realizes and agrees that discrimination based on ethnicity is wrong. Why is sexual orientation or gender identity any different? Where will we be in the next 40 years? I think that perhaps we’ll be looking back on this issue in forty years. How will our children perceive our response? How will our grandchildren perceive this? Will they think that we were completely prejudiced?

What if one day, your grandchild comes to you and tells you they are gay; will you be able to look them in the eyes and tell them that they don’t have the same rights as you? Can you honestly tell them that they deserve less than you? Can you explain to them why you voted their dreams away? I encourage each of you to search for your own answers.

Don’t listen to the lines that politicians will feed you. Have you ever met a completely honest public official that was able to see past his or her own re-election?

The issue is not whether you believe homosexuality or bisexuality is right or wrong. The issue is about whether you think it’s right to legally discriminate against someone based on religious beliefs. Do what is right. Do it for equality. Make a decision that you’ll be able to proudly tell your grandchildren about one day.”

Below is the original referenced text:

“This November, Tennesseans have the opportunity and responsibility to uphold marriage as being one man and one woman.

This thousands of years old tradition is the foundation of society for a reason. If we allow same-sex marriage, we open a Pandora’s Box that we can never close again.

If we open the door to man-man or woman-woman marriage, we cannot legally “discriminate” against a man marrying three women, or five men, or 23 people. We couldn’t “discriminate” on the basis of age or relationship either. A man can marry his children and sexually exploit them legally. We would not be allowed to criticize or prosecute pedophiles.

Illegal aliens would also be a thing of the past. One person could go to the border and marry a truckload of people and make them legal immigrant spouses. After all, who are we to judge his “love” for them? Please vote in support of traditional one man and one woman marriage on Nov. 7.”

BETH SABEL

Clarksville 37043

For more information on this subject, visit http://votenoon1tn.com/