A Prisoner of Algebra

My mind is absolute mush. It is not from lack of food or from the pain in my foot, but from something more sinister than can be imagined with the human mind...Algebra. Yes, I am once again having difficulties understanding this menace. I found out today that the end of the semester is going to be this Friday, so I need to devote what little free time I may have, to trying to figure out Algebraic Fractions.

Listen, I just got used to be able to understand regular fractions, now you have to throw in variables and exponents? Please, throw me a bone here! The main reason I majored in History in College, was to get away from math. I first wanted to be a computer programmer and to that end, I took several programming languages, such as COBAL, Assembly Language, and RPG. I did really well at it and soon became a computer lab assistant. All was going well, until MATH raised it's ugly head. Yup, I found out that I needed to take advanced mathematics.

Anyway, the main reason I am writing this, is to let you know that I will not be posting anything for the next few days, or until the math book mysteriously flies out the front door, lands on the road, and gets run-down by a cement truck. To that end, I will need to devote my last remaining brain cells to understanding this stuff and then teaching it. I will try to be back by Friday for Friday Photos.

Tom's Revenge, Losing that Holiday Weight

As you know the holidays are over and the turkey and all his friends have come home to roost...in our hips. Yes, it's Tom's (the turkey) final revenge and now something needs to be done about it. As our minds all turn towards losing the weight we have gained over the past few months, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, we must understand that we didn't put this weight on overnight, so we can't lose it overnight. What am I saying is: stay away from those lose-10-pounds-in-two-weeks pills. If you see one of those advertisements, just put the mouse down and move slowly away from the computer. The only thing you will lose from using those pills will be water and your hard-earned cash. Yup, you may lose weight, but it will only be water-weight, and you can lose that on your own.

You may also want to be think carefully about those terrific one-year membership offers by gyms. Yes, they are great values, but unless you are totally committed to working-out on a long-term basis for an entire year, you may end up losing money in the long run. If you want and can afford to go to a gym, PLEASE GO; However, if you are unsure whether or not you you will stick with it, then I would try and get a monthly rate to start, just in case you do happen to lose interest.

If I could afford it, I would be in a gym everyday. They have the equipment and the staff to help you lose the weight and tone and build your muscles in a safe and balanced way. As it is, I am on my own and must learn the hard way (violins playing in the background). All I am saying is, please be careful, the weight-loss vultures are out in force this time of year and are waiting to descend upon you. Don't give them that chance.

Thank You to My Advertisers: 12/29-1/4

As of November 2009, I will no longer be with Entrecard, so in order to free-up valuable file space, I have removed the images and contents from this page. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. However, I invite you to stop by my main page and see if there is anything of interest to you...

Everyday Living

homemade fries

Tired of frozen french fries or greasy fast-food fries? Well, here is a fast and easy alternative which will leave your family raving.
What you will need...

5-7 Potatoes
1/4 cup Vinegar
Knorrs Garlic and Herb Mix

Putting it together...

1. Take 5-7 potatoes and clean them thoroughly.


2. Take a knife and slice them in half, lengthwise.


3. Take each half and cut, lengthwise, 4-5 slices ( if you decide you want cubes, cut down the center of the potato, lengthwise, then make 3-4 cuts cross-wise).


4. After you have done all the potatoes, place them in a bowl and fill with cold water and add a few glugs of vinegar ( no more than 1/4 cup).


5. Place in the refrigerator and let soak for several hours, or overnight would be better.


6. When you are ready to bake get a baking sheet and line with foil, spray with Pam, and set the oven to 400. Drain the water from the bowel and towel-dry the slices.


7. Pour olive oil over the slices and toss to coat (or use your hands).


8. Add seasoning; I use a Garlic and Herb mix by Knorr's. Toss to coat and then dump unto the baking sheet.


9. Spread evenly and sprinkle with Kosher salt.


10. Place in oven for 20 minutes, remove and turn-over the fries (this will ensure a nice crusty coat). Place back into oven and bake an additional 20 minutes or until done.


11. Serve and enjoy.

Our Friday Night Movie Night

When Friday night rolls around our kids get excited. Not only is it the end of the week and NO School, but it is also Family Movie Night. I take out my pistachios, bake the pepperoni pizza (extra cheese, please), and we all sit down and enjoy the movie. In this age of video games and the internet, I feel that it is important to come together as a family. That is why our Movie Night is so important to us. Not only does it give our daughters something to look forward to, it also gives us a chance to create a stronger bond with them that will hopefully, last a lifetime.

Since all of our moods and tastes differ, from comedies to science fiction, mysteries to Disney, we usually end up watching a wide range of movies. Although, I should mention that a new style of movie has caught the attention of my daughters: the true story. Just before Christmas, my wife and I were watching a movie, which was based on actual events that occurred during World War II. It dealt with a Christmas truce between the German and American soldiers. Our daughters, in the other room playing their Wii, heard what we were watching and came out to investigate. A few minutes later, the Wii was turned-off and they were watching the movie with us. This was terrific, because it gave my wife and me a chance to answer questions our daughters had about the movie. I decided to try an experiment, so I rented another movie, based on a true story, which was about A.C. Gilbert, the toymaker and inventor of the Erector Set, and his effort to save Christmas during World War I. Again, they loved the movie and the fact that it was a true story, made it even more interesting.

On Jan 13, another movie is being released, again based on a true story. It is titled, All Roads Lead Home The Movie. I had my daughters watch the preview and they are excited to see the entire movie. I would like to take this time to invite you to watch this short preview and make this movie part of your Family Movie Night. If you do not currently have a movie night, this would be a great movie to begin a new family tradition. As for my family and me, we will be grabbing the pistachios and getting the pizza ready as we sit down and watch All Roads Lead Home.