Wordless Wednesday - Lovin' Some Football

Head over to 5-Minutes For Mom for more Wordless Wednesday posts...

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday - Eva's Steak Milanesa

I was just rummaging through my freezer trying to find something for dinner when I discovered a package of frozen breaded palomilla steak. Not sure if many people are familiar with Cuban Food, but is is a favorite at Casa de Scarlet O'Kara...right up there with Thai, Japanese, Mexican, and Italian food.

One family favorite dish is Steak Milanesa...and my "super easy" recipe was given to me by a former co-worker.

Hope you all enjoy it on this "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday"...

~~~

Eva's Steak Milanesa

Breaded Palomilla Steak
Can of tomato sauce
Garlic powder
Sugar
Salt
Pepper
Hard Boiled Eggs
Frozen Green Peas

Mix the tomato sauce, garlic powder, sugar, salt, and pepper in a pan and simmer. Cook the steaks in Olive Oil.

Pour some of the tomato sauce over the steak. Crumble some hard boiled egg and peas on top. That's the recipe. Very simple!

~~~

On a side note, my family has a funny joke about this dinner. Every time I make it, a family friend always shows up. He says that the wonderful smells lure him to our dinner table. He says that this recipe is so good that it can "make a gay man propose marriage"...

Update On My Loved Ones -

My father was able to have a brief conversation with our loved ones in the Houston area. They are all doing well, but their neighborhood was hit pretty hard. Trees, cars, and houses were blown over...power is out for an unknown amount of time...but by the grace of God, they are all unharmed.

Thank you all for your prayers.

Please Pray...

For everyone in the Galveston / Houston areas of Texas...



We have family in the area who planned to "hunker down" and ride Ike out...

Now we are trying to check on them, but millions are without power...

So worried for them...

Do You Remember...

where you were 7 years ago?



I do...

~~~

I was sitting in my office at the Company I was working for at the time. There was an important conference call in an hour and I needed to prepare. The radio was on, providing the usual background noise that I need to keep focused.

During the usual every half-hour news break, the DJ casually mentioned some reports of a plane hitting one of the Twin Towers. The first thought that ran through my mind was that silly French daredevil that had be in the news for base jumping off of some other skyscraper as well as trying to fly his ultralight around the torch of the Statue of Liberty and getting caught.

I remember getting up from my desk and talking with my boss about it. Saying that that "idiot" probably got himself killed, but hopefully he didn't hurt anyone else.

When the news again reported that another plane hit the other tower...my blood turned cold and I knew that we were under attack. All other thoughts left my mind and I went into the Detailing Room where all of my co-workers were huddled around the TV. The Network News was on and the first chaotic pictures from NYC were flashing by.

It was then that I remembered that both my sisters, my brother-in-law, and my newborn nephew were in the Niagara Falls area of New York...due to fly back that morning. Sheer panic gripped me and I made frantic calls to my parents trying to find out what their flight information was....

My family was blessed that day. They all arrived home safely almost a week later. My husband, who was a Road Warrior at the time, was on one of his rare visits to his office.

We both left work and spent the rest of the day and the next few days afterwards walking around in a daze...trying to make sense of everything that happened. It was strange to not see planes in the air, especially since we live close to several major airports. When the planes did get back up into the air, I would find myself stopping to watch...making sure that they weren't going to crash into me...

Hard to believe it has been almost 7 years.



~~~

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'

You say you will never forget where you were when
you heard the news On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I
held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the
peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it
is OK..I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed
breakfast to their children. I held her up as she
tried to understand his words and as she realized
he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been
knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.
'Of course I will show you the way home - only
believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He
heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
believers there, comforting and assuring them that their
faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan ..
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me
for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the
smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take
my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You
may not know why, but I do. However, if you were
there in that explosive moment in time, would you have
reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey
for you. But someday your journey will end. And I
will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may
be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are
'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

Wordless Wednesday - I Love Beads!

Why Is It...

that some of my girls just wanna have fun...



while she just wants to be like Mike?



Bryleigh does love her Bubba...almost as much as he loves her.



Doesn't that just make you smile?

It's Midnight At Camp Scarlet O'Kara...

and all is blissfully silent.



No other words are needed.

Sleep tight my angel babies...

Camp Out At Scarlet O'Kara's...

and the kiddos are having a blast!



Don't you just love Friday nights?

Hope you all have a great one too!

I'm Wearing Teal...

Are you? So is my husband, both daughters, and my extended family. Being the "Julie, the Cruise Director" in my family does have its advantages!



I also wanted to mention that I completely forget to tell you all that my wonderful Grandmother-in-law is also an Ovarian Cancer Survivor. Not sure if you all remember her, but I did a post on her. She is truly an amazing woman.



We wear Teal to honor her, as well as my sister-in-law's mother, and all of the other women whose lives have been touched by this awful disease.



Will you join us by wearing Teal too?

Touched By Teal Friday - Don't Forget! (Update)

Tomorrow, September 5, 2008, women and men around this wonderful country will be wearing Teal in recognition of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Show your support by wearing Teal too! I already have my outfit picked out.

Help raise awareness for this deadly form of gynecological cancers by sharing this event with others.

GET INVOLVED!



Each year, more than 21,000 women will be diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. These women -- someones mother, daughter, sister, wife ,aunt, grandmother, cousin, -- will be in battle with the deadliest form of gynecological cancer. In 2008 15,000 women will lose this battle. Sobering isn't it?

What makes this dreadful cancer so deadly is that most cases are not detected until an advanced stage wherein these women have a 30% chance for surviving 5 years. If the cancer is caught early enough, there is a 90% chance of surviving 5 years.



The big problem is that presently, there is no approved test for the early detection of Ovarian Cancer. How unbelievably messed up is that!

The best tool is to be aware of the most common symptoms...

Bloating
Abdominal / Pelvic Pain
Difficulty Eating / Feeling Full Quickly
Urinary Symptoms (The Need To Go Frequently Or Urgently)

If you have one or more of these symptoms and they last more than two weeks, please your primary care physician and / or OB / GYN. If you don't get any answers, than seek a second opinion.

The best way for a doctor to diagnose the disease is with a combination of symptoms, a vaginal / rectal exam, a transvaginal ultrasound and / or a CT Scan. If cancer is suspected, consult a gynecological oncologist.

*** UPDATE - Received this information from my Aunt Carolene.

"REQUEST A "CA125" BLOOD TEST... BEST EARLY DETECTION OF OVARIAN CANCER"

Wordless Wednesday - Cupcake Training