Friday, December 21, 2007

Christmas Bells & FYI Recalls



Christmas Bells
by
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."
************

FYI...

Top Line Specialty Produce of Los Angeles Ca, is voluntary recalling its 12 x 1 pound boxes of "Green Paradise label" Fresh Italian basil, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with this organism often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with "Salmonella" can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), Endocarditis and arthritis.

The recalled "Green Paradise Basil" was distributed to Food Service Distributors through direct shipping on 12/06/2007 in Southern California, Illinois and Texas.

The product comes in a 12 x 1 lb box marked with lot # 1219 on the side of the box.
Consumers who have purchased the affected boxes of "Green Paradise Italian Basil" are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-213-747-9200.

Trader Joe's Company of Monrovia, California is voluntarily recalling 1,000 cases of 12 oz jars of Trader Joe's Pinjur (a traditional Macedonian condiment made with roasted peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes), UPC 00529068, Best By 10/2009. The Best By date can be found printed on the top of the lid. The product is being recalled because customers reported finding small pieces of glass in the product.

Trader Joe's Pinjur was potentially sold from Trader Joe's retail stores in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin.
Upon discovery of the problem, the product was removed from sale in all Trader Joe's stores and put on hold in all Trader Joe's distribution centers.

The product should not be consumed. Customers should discard it, or return it to any Trader Joe's store for a full refund. Customers with questions may call Trader Joe's Customer Relations at 626-599-3817, or write Trader Joe's through their website at traderjoes.com.
********
Have a safe weekend everyone! :)

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N Posted by Rain at 12/21/2007 01:12:00 AM

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Christmas Meme and Love




Your Christmas Sprit Level: 85%



Your Christmas spirit is almost as big as Christmas itself. Christmas is definitely your thing.

You celebrate Christmas with enthusiasm. You love every minute of the holidays.



Your Christmas spirit is inspiring to everyone who runs into you during the holidays.

You make everyone's day just a little bit brighter. And that's what the holidays are all about!





You Should Have a Blue Christmas Tree



For you, the holidays represent a time of calm, understanding, and peace.

You avoid family fights, and you don't get too stressed out - even when things are crazy!



You like to make Christmas about making everyone's life a little bit better.

You don't get caught up in greed or commercialism. You're too sincere for that.



Your blue tree would look great with: Lots of silver tinsel



You should spend Christmas Eve watching: It's a Wonderful Life



What you should bake for Santa: Chocolate chip cookies







You Know a Lot About Christmas



You got 5/10 correct



You know tons about the history and traditions surrounding Christmas.

When you celebrate the holidays, you never forget their true meaning - or all the little fun details.



Random Christmas fact: Some people believe that all animals can speak on Christmas Eve. But it's bad luck to test this superstition.





******



I was sent this in an email from my friend Benita

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends.


1. Wrapping or gift bags? I love to gift wrap! I also like to make my own bows for the gifts.
2. Real or artificial tree? I love the smell of a fresh tree however Rainman and I decided to use a fake tree this year.
3. When do you put up the tree? I try to decorate my home before the 10th of December.
4. When do you take the tree down? Before New Years Eve.
5. Do you like eggnog? Oh gross, I can't even stand the smell of it.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I am changing this one to the best gift I have EVER received. The best Christmas present was the birth of my son Rusty at 9:20 a.m. on Christmas Day in1982. He was so small just 4lbs, 3 oz. I really miss him, sigh.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes.
8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I've never received a truly bad gift. However, once I got a gift wrapped in duct tape at each end from my EX.
9. Mail or email Christmas cards? Email. I know it is not as personal as a handwritten note however it saves trees.
10. Favorite Christmas Movie? It’s A Wonderful Life.
11. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I bought my first Christmas gift this year in August.
12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? EVERYTHING! Even though I am a diabetic, I do not deprive myself, I just eat in moderation.
13. Clear lights or colored on the tree? I like white, but the fake one that we are using has multi-colored lights on it.
14. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night and Jingle Bells
15. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home is where the heart is.
16. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Yes, can you?
17. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? When the boys were young we would open presents at the crack of dawn. Now it is before Christmas Brunch.
19. Most annoying thing about this time of year? People trying to out give each other and listening to them complain about their credit card bills when they start coming in the mail.
20. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? When I have a real tree I use a theme. With the fake one I just use gold and burgundy glass balls.
21. What do you leave for Santa? Cookies and milk
22. Least favorite holiday song? Feliz Navidad, the radio stations in San Diego over play it and then it gets stuck in my head.
23. Favorite ornament? I was given a Disney ornament featuring the Villains. I love it!


Okay, I’m tagging everyone who reads it.



*****

Today I have the day off and I will be spending the entire day baking for upcoming Christmas parties! I will be making seven different kinds of cookies, and chocolate mint, orange and cream fudge and divinity....Yummy ;0) Have a wonderful day and drive safety!

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N Posted by Rain at 12/19/2007 12:17:00 AM

Monday, December 17, 2007

Hunky Mondays and Whisky

Hunky Mondays

One for the guys...


And one for the girls....


CHRISTMAS CAKE RECIPE
sent to me by Julie B.


You'll need the following:
1 cup of water
1 cup of sugar
4 large brown eggs
2 cups of dried fruit
1 teaspoon of salt
1 cup of brown sugar
Lemon juice
Nuts
1 bottle of whisky


Sample the whisky to check for quality. Take a large bowl. Check the whisky again. To be sure it's the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer, beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar and beat again. Make sure the whisky is still OK. Cry another tup. Tune up the mixer. Beat two leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Mix on the turner. If the fired fruit gets stuck in the beaterers, pry it goose with a drewscriver. Sample the whisky to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt. Or something. Who cares? Check the whisky. Now sift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Spoon the sugar or something. Whatever you can find. Grease the oven. Turn the cake tin to 350 degrees.

Don't forget to beat off the turner. Throw the bowl out of the window. Check the whisky again and go to bed.

Have a great week everyone. Go Chargers!

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N Posted by Rain at 12/17/2007 12:00:00 PM