Throwback Friday

Throwback Friday





GASP!What's this? Another post?? From me??? Yes, its true. I'm back a couple of days early. I mean, it was a holiday here, and that has a tendency to make me get all bloggy, so yeah. Here I am. I am still officially working full time until I leave work Saturday morning. And then my shift Saturday night into Sunday morning is part time! When I get out of work, we are planning to go for breakfast and then to the tree farm. We are having a real tree this year. I couldn't be more excited. The smell of pine makes me happy, and I am more than willing to keep the tree watered on the regular through the big day!So, the posts I've made the past day or two haven't really included a whole lot of updating of any kind.All in good time.Now for today.Well, I'm working. I had some days off at the beginning of the week, which was wonderful (with the exception of the migraine I had, but as it was my first in MONTHS, I'm not complaining too hard!) I was able to get my act together a little bit to prepare for all of the baking that is coming up! It seems like the rest of the people around here will be shopping. Not me. No way. I'm 99.9% done with my Christmas shopping. And its wrapped. I don't mess around. And while yes, I do enjoy saving money, my need to not have a panic attack in the middle of a store filled with crazed shoppers outweighs my being cheap. There was a difference this year with the shopping and the Black Friday...its kind of been brewing the last few years, but it just blew up this year. That picture there at the top of the post? Maybe you've seen it...yes, there was a chain of stores making employees work on Thanksgiving that asked for food donations to give their employees dinner. Mind you, this is a multi-million dollar company that can afford to cater dinner for their employees - especially if they are open on Thanksgiving. I don't know...I personally long for the days that stores weren't open on Sundays or holidays. Yeah...its convenient, I get that, but it really does take away from family. The industry I work in, we are always open. But we care for the sick. We don't sell electronics and toys and crap. Big. Huge. Difference.So know that I didn't shop on Thanksgiving.And I didn't last year either.So, this is kind of a long post, but let's look back at what I was thinking last year around this time.Yep.Pretty much the same thing.**********************************************Originally published Thursday, November 22, 2012Fuck it Friday - Do they know its Christmas?







Hi there. I trust you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving...or Thursday. Anyway. Today is a day that I can't stand. Black Friday. So in honor of it...let's go.


I thought about changing the logo up for today, but decided against it. Because I despise Black Friday. First of all, let me start with this. Stores open on Thanksgiving. Because retailers can't wait another day. Old Navy was open all day Thursday. What the fuck? Thanksgiving is about family and being thankful for what you have. And yes, I suppose a job is one of them. Now, I chose to work in a hospital. We have to be open on holidays. Just in case. And for those who are already sick. I knew that going in. And I have no problem with that. And I am thankful to have my job. Now, the person that decided to get a job at Toys R Us...I think maybe they were anticipating the holiday rush. They just didn't expect it to start at 8pm Thanksgiving. Bullshit. That is what I think about that. And the ones who make these decisions, they prey upon people wanting or needing to get a deal so they can make Christmas the magical holiday that it is. I can't think of one thing that I could buy at a store that I would stand in line outside in the cold waiting to purchase. Maybe there has just never been anything my kids wanted that bad. Or maybe my kids understand what the meaning of the holiday actually is and the presents are just an added bonus. Since I homeschool, every year we pick a different country and learn about their Christmas customs. We picked Italy this year. I think my kids are more excited about bringing a little bit of Italy into the house and spending time together baking or watching Christmas movies and seeing their grandparents. Don't get me wrong, they love them some Christmas morning, but neither of them went to Santa with a giant list of what they "need". They both told Santa one thing they want. One. Because its not about the presents. Its about the love. So fuck all of that commercialization. Fuck the stores that have to be open on Thanksgiving. And fuck all those crazy people that are going to keep me from going to Target Friday.And now a recipe to get you in the holiday spirit. Or the eating spirit. Whatever suits you.Amazing Red Velvet Cake
Ingredients1/2 cup shortening1 1/2 cups white sugar2 eggs2 tablespoons cocoa4 tablespoons red food coloring1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 cup buttermilk2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar5 tablespoons all-purpose flour1 cup milk1 cup white sugar1 cup butter1 teaspoon vanilla extractDirectionsGrease two 9 inch round pans. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.Cream shortening and 1 1/2 cups sugar thoroughly. Add eggs and beat well.Make a paste of cocoa and red food coloring. Add to creamed mixture. Mix salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla and buttermilk together. Add alternately the flour with the milk mixture to the creamed mixture. Mix soda and vinegar and fold into cake batter, but DO NOT STIR yet!!Bake for 30 minutes.To Make Icing: Cook 5 Tablespoons flour and milk over low heat till thick, stirring constantly. LET COOL THOROUGHLY! While cooling, cream 1 cups sugar, butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat this well till light and fluffy. Add to flour mixture and beat until of a good spreading consistency. DON'T ICE CAKE TILL COOL.Yeah. That's all kinds of yum!! Now it't your turn to get your "fuck it" on!!

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And yes, if you need to complain about something, by all means, please do so in the comments!!

And now some food for thought...