angelm's Blog

3 carrots, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
3 medium stalks celery, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 teaspoons cooking oil
8 ounces cooked smoked sausage, halved lengthwise and cut into 1-inch pieces
1-1/2 cups water
1/2 of a 15-ounce can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 14-1/2-ounce can stewed tomatoes

directions

In a large saucepan cook carrots, celery, and onion in hot oil over medium heat about 5 minutes or until onion is nearly tender. Remove vegetables from pan.
Add sausage pieces to pan. Cook over medium heat until lightly browned. Return vegetables to pan. Add water, beans, chili powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, about 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in undrained tomatoes. Cook and stir about 5 minutes or until mixture thickens and bubbles.

Man opts for jail over New Year with relatives

ROME (Reuters) � A Sicilian man stole sweets and a packet of chewing gum so he could get arrested and spend New Year's Eve in a jail cell rather than be with his wife and relatives, Italian media reported on Friday.

The 35-year old Sicilian first showed up at a police station on Thursday asking to be arrested because he preferred spending the night in prison rather than with his family, but was rebuffed because he had not committed a crime, the Agi news agency said.

The man immediately went to a tobacco shop next door, where he threatened the owner with a box cutter as he grabbed a few sweets and a packet of gum. He then waited until police arrived to arrest him for robbery, the news agency said

Surely you're familiar with the usual advice offered when making New Year's Resolutions: setting realistic goals, taking baby steps and valuing each small and measurable result. You can also use the wisdom of astrology to aid yourself in contouring goals that reflect your own nature.

While the purposeful Sun is concerned with achieving New Year's resolutions, it is the Moon � your emotional center � that has the power to anchor them. By considering the emotional character of your Moon sign (determined by where the Moon lies in your birth chart), you can better understand your deepest needs and follow thorugh on your resolutions!

Aries
The Aries Moon is restless, excitable and seeks action. It bores in stagnation and wants the rush of feeling like the first sign of the zodiac that it is. This Moon will not sit well with stodgy or conservative goals that don't honor its thirst for adventure. The trick with this Moon sign is to keep it entertained by coming up with new and exciting ways to achieve mundane goals. If, for example, "losing 15 pounds by June" is one of your goals, then varying your routine and adding a competitive edge (kick boxing, tennis, triathlon training) to workouts is what will keep you in the game.

Taurus
A person with a Taurus Moon needs consistency and security if they are expected to stand behind the ambitions of their Sun sign. Practical aims that build on established successes is what will keep the Bull pulling the money cart in 2010; fad diets or experimental marketing techniques will wither under the influence of this gentle plodder. A reward of having such a stubborn Moon sign is using it to your advantage by setting a goal that appeals to its taste for familiarity, routine and nourishment. As an earth sign, however, they must make sure to write down exactly what will come from their efforts. Material rewards always inspire a Taurus Moon!

Gemini
Distractible and mentally dexterous Gemini Moons need goals that pique their curiosity and offer quick gratification. While The Twins love to multi-task, it may be better to instead focus on accomplishing one goal per month rather than starting out with a bunch. Conceptual or philosophical goals that deal in ideas and not specifics will not engage these giddy-eyed intellectuals for very long -- they need to make it a point to write out their goals and have specific outcomes in mind.

Cancer
Cancer Moons are tender, sentimental types who will thrive in 2010 if they really can stick to setting realistic, measurable goals. Because it's so important for them to stay emotionally rooted, they should make resolutions that are heart-centered and don't overwhelm them so much so that they retreat. Since cultivating a home environment is so important to nurturing Cancer Moon energy, resolutions that have to do with home improvements -- from installing a fireplace to buying new drapes -- will reflect their inner needs and inspire their motivation.

Leo
Leo Moons may want to consider the part of their nature that seeks validation and endeavors to share their gifts with others. Setting goals that garner attention in a positive way, such as resolving to showcase one's work for the enjoyment of others, will add an emotional incentive. When Leo Moon sets goals, they want to feel impressive and important at the end of the journey. While they want to keep goals reasonable enough to stick to, this Moon needs to constantly remind themselves of the incremental glory and prestige they'll experience along the way.

Virgo
Virgo Moons are probably the ones who invented New Year's resolutions! Ever fastidious about self-improvement, Virgo Moons need to work on self-acceptance, and commit to a few of their broader visions. These practical types love getting entrenched in the details and may benefit from painting bolder strokes -- then supporting them with a specific plan of action. It would also be healing for anyone with this Moon to do charity work. Since they are acutely aware of their progress, it would feed their caring souls to take the attention off themselves and do what they do best: offer service from the kindness and humility of their hearts.

Libra
For Libra Moons, cultivating balanced and harmonious relationships powerfully influences their feelings of well-being. Though naturals at making connections with others, deepening existing bonds and considering their personal return on their investments with certain people will clear the path for an emotionally rewarding 2010. Libra (as well as Seventh House Moons) need rapport with -- and feedback from -- peers. They should sign up a resolution buddy, and make plans to check in on each other's goals on a weekly basis. Combining their love of social contact with the down-and-dirty work of achieving certain ends will be an effective coupling.

Scorpio
Scorpio Moons tend to make resolutions that force them to confront their greatest fears. Not interested in glossing over the truth, putting goals in bare and utterly honest language will incite these lunar types into action! Cementing a routine that allows for consistent emotional expression and physical energy will enable them to reach their peak in 2010. Scorpio Moons like to express their hidden reserves of strength, and rigorous athletic resolutions allow them to zero in on broader concerns.

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Sagittarius
For enthusiastic Sagittarius Moons, no resolution is unrealistic. These folks are more likely to follow through with resolutions by anchoring a philosophy of life -- for example, losing weight for the sake of it will not enlist the support of a Sagittarius Moon. Adding a deeper layer of meaning and using their faith as a guiding star, these individuals will be undaunted by even the steepest climb.

Capricorn
Capricorn Moons feel best in positions that draw upon their impressive leadership abilities and personal strengths. While they adore being needed, these lunar types need to consider their emotional need for solitude and focused determination when considering which mountains to climb in 2010. They're probably more aware of the value of self-reliance than other Moons -- especially considering their emotional life. Setting goals that produce tangible results they can see, feel and touch is what these individuals should consider before making their resolutions.

Aquarius
Aquarius Moons will rebel if their resolutions feel like everyone else's. Those under this Moon would do well to link their self-serving goals with their broader place in the world. Aquarian Moons are clear thinkers and staunchly principled, and will not do well with superficial or petty aims. These folks are revolutionary thinkers and masters of seeing things from an original perspective. One or two visionary goals for the entire year would be better for an Aquarian Moon than trying to implement a daily and repetitive ritual.

Pisces
Pisces Moons have incredible imaginations to dream up resolutions, but they also need incredible support systems to follow through. These support systems don't necessarily have to be people, though it would be a blessing to have a business-savvy Cancer or mountain-climbing Capricorn with whom they can check in once in a while. Pisces Moons' power of follow-through lies in harnessing their imagination daily, enabling them to feel and see the beautiful outcomes of their goals. In tapping into their imaginative strength, positive actions will follow, and these darlings will get a euphoric taste of real-world results that are sure to nurture out-of-this-world dreams.

'Blue' moon to grace New Year's sky

A blue moon, which is a second full moon in a month, occurs every 2.5 years on average. Once in a blue moon there is one on New Year's Eve � and revellers ringing in 2010 will be treated to a so-called blue moon.

According to popular definition, a blue moon is the second full moon in a month. But don't expect it to be blue � the name has nothing to do with the colour of our closest celestial neighbour.

A full moon occurred on Dec. 2. It will appear again on Thursday in time for the New Year's countdown.

"If you're in Times Square, you'll see the full moon right above you. It's going to be that brilliant," said Jack Horkheimer, director emeritus of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium and host of a weekly astronomy TV show.

The New Year's Eve blue moon will be visible in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America and Africa. For partygoers in Australia and Asia, the full moon does not show up until New Year's Day, making January a blue moon month for them.

However, the Eastern Hemisphere can celebrate with a partial lunar eclipse on New Year's Eve when part of the moon enters the Earth's shadow. The eclipse will not be visible in the Americas.

A full moon occurs every 29.5 days, and most years have 12. On average, an extra full moon in a month � a blue moon � occurs every 2� years. The last time there was a lunar double take was in May 2007. New Year's Eve blue moons are rarer, occurring every 19 years. The last time was in 1990; the next one won't come again until 2028.

Blue moons have no astronomical significance, said Greg Laughlin, an astronomer at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

"'Blue moon' is just a name in the same sense as a 'hunter's moon' or a 'harvest moon,'" Laughlin said in an email.

The popular definition of blue moon came about after a writer for Sky & Telescope magazine in 1946 misinterpreted the Maine Farmer's Almanac and labelled a blue moon as the second full moon in a month. In fact, the almanac defined a blue moon as the third full moon in a season with four full moons, not the usual three.

Though Sky & Telescope corrected the error decades later, the definition caught on. For purists, however, this New Year's Eve full moon doesn't even qualify as a blue moon. It's just the first full moon of the winter season.

Fla. man wanting ride to bar calls 911, arrested

OLDSMAR, Fla. � Authorities say a Florida man who called 911 claiming he'd been beaten and shot at was hoping the tale would get him a ride to a bar. Instead, 37-year-old Gregory J. Oras is facing charges of misusing the 911 system and battery of a law enforcement officer.

An arrest report says Oras called 911 three times before his arrest early Tuesday in Oldsmar, northwest of Tampa. He told the dispatcher he had a broken nose and bleeding ears, and claimed people were shooting at him.

Authorities say he was actually looking for a ride to another bar.

The report also says Oras kicked a Pinellas County sheriff's deputy in the knees and a Taser was used to subdue him.

Online records show he is being held at the Pinellas County Jail but don't indicate whether he has an attorney.

Happy New Year Wish

My Happy New Year wish for you
Is for your best year yet,
A year where life is peaceful,
And what you want, you get.

A year in which you cherish
The past year's memories,
And live your life each new day,
Full of bright expectancies.

I wish for you a holiday
With happiness galore;
And when it's done, I wish you
Happy New Year, and many more!!!!!

Make decorative bags
Cut out your favorite design on the greeting card, or if you like the entire thing, cut off the entire cover and adhere it to a plain gift bag using two-sided tape or adhesive found in craft stores.Outline the design with glitter glue or markers and consider enhancing the design.

If it has snowflakes on it, add glue and glitter and make them shimmer. If you have nice hand writing, are well-versed in calligraphy, or know how to use a computer, you can add a sentiment related to the occasion. Use a brown or colored bag to match the artwork in the card. Complete it by adding matching curly ribbon around the handles and you have a nice way to present a gift without spending much money.

Create gift tags
Instead of buying gift tags during the holidays, consider cutting out the artwork from old greeting cards just as you did for the decorative bags. Only this time, punch a hole in the top, thread matching curly ribbon through it and attached it to a holiday present. Each tag will be unique and those receiving the gift will notice the extra attention to detail to their package.

Lower-back loosener
Lie faceup, knees bent, feet flat. Place balls under lower back, one on either side of spine. Lift upper body off floor, propping yourself on forearms. Keeping lower back on balls, raise hips and butt off floor. Roll lower back up and down over balls for up to two minutes.

Upper-back relaxer
Stand against wall. Place a ball on either side of spine, above bra strap. Walk feet out about 12 inches, hip-width apart, knees soft, arms down, back pressing onto balls. Squat, rolling back down over balls and raising arms overhead. Return to standing, rolling back up over balls and lowering arms. Repeat for up to two minutes.

Neck nurturer
Sit on edge of chair, feet flat, ball in right hand, head turned to right. Press ball on left side of neck wherever you feel tension. Holding ball in place, slowly turn head to left. Return to start. Reposition ball on another sore spot on the left and turn to left again. Return to start. Continue for up to two minutes. Switch sides; repeat.

Knee fixer
Lie on right side, legs extended, with right forearm supporting upper body. Place ball under right outer thigh, then bend left knee and position left foot in front of right thigh; put left hand in front of body for support. Slowly shift body so ball moves up to hip and down to knee, then back, for up to two minutes. Switch sides; repeat.

Wrist rescuer
Place balls inside their mesh bag and tie it. (If using tennis balls or racquetballs, substitute a sock.) Kneel; place right forearm, palm up, on balls. Roll forearm over balls, from wrist to elbow and back, for up to two minutes. Turn palm down; repeat. Switch arms; repeat.

Sole saver
Stand, holding back of chair for support with right hand, left hand on hip. Place ball under center of right foot, pressing body weight on ball. Roll ball under arch, up and down the length of sole and from side to side, for up to two minutes. Switch feet; repeat.

Crockpot Hawaiian Pork       

3 lb Pork Roast, Boneless, rolled
2 tb Orange Juice
6 Cloves
2 tb Honey
1/2 ts Nutmeg
1 tb Soy Sauce
1/4 ts Paprika
2 tb Lemon Juice
1/4 c Catsup

Place the roast on a rack and broil 15-30 minutes or until brown (can be
done the night before) Stick the cloves randomly all over the roast. Place
the roast into the crockpot on the meat rack. Mix together the nutmeg and
paprika, sprinkle over the roast. In a small bowl, stir together the
catsup, orange juice, honey, soy sauce, lemon juice
pour over roast. Cover and cook on LOW 10-12 hours or on HIGH 4-6 hours.
Remove the meat from crockpot and thicken juices by mixing together 1 1/2
tbps cornstarch and 2 tbsp water, whisk into juices and cook on HIGH until
thickened.

Italy toy store opens at 4 a.m. to help frantic mother

ROME (Reuters) � An Italian toy store opened at 4 a.m. on Christmas morning to help a frantic mother whose gifts for her children had been stolen from a basement.

After putting her two toddlers to bed on Christmas Eve, the mother went down to the basement storage room of the apartment block in northern Italy where she had hidden them, only to find that they had been stolen, according to Italian media reports.

Police found out about the theft while the mother was frantically making the rounds of all-night petrol stations looking for substitute gifts so her two daughters would have something under the tree when they woke up on Christmas morning.

The police contacted the owner of a toy store in a small town near Turin, who opened his store at 4 a.m.

Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration held in the United States honoring universal African heritage and culture, marked by participants lighting a kinara (candle holder).[1] It is observed from December 26 to January 1 each year, primarily in the United States.
Kwanzaa consists of seven days of celebration, featuring activities such as candle-lighting and libations, and culminating in a feast and gift giving. It was created by Ron Karenga and was first celebrated from December 26, 1966 to January 1, 1967

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas full of laughter and love!

LONDON � A cold alley in central London is a far cry from a palace � but it was the spot Prince William chose to sleep to highlight the plight of homeless British teenagers.

He spent a chilly night near Blackfriars Bridge last week with Seyi Obakin, the chief executive of British homeless charity Centrepoint. William has been the charity's patron since 2005.

"I cannot, after one night, even begin to imagine what it must be like to sleep rough on London's streets night after night," William said Tuesday. "Poverty, mental illness, drug and alcohol dependancy and family breakdown cause people to become and then stay homeless.

"I hope that by deepening my understanding of the issue, I can help do my bit to help the most vulnerable on our streets."

William, second in line to the throne, was exposed to some of the hardships found on London's streets when his mother, Princess Diana, took him to a shelter in 1996. Just 13 at the time, William spent an hour at the facility with his younger brother, Harry.

Diana was well-known for her charitable work and the homeless was a group she was particularly close to. She had also served as Centrepoint's patron, a position she held at the time of her death in 1997.

A photograph released by the charity shows William, 27, in the alley in jeans, a gray hooded sweat shirt and a knit hat pulled low.

In a post to the charity's Web site, Obakin said the idea for William to spend a night on the streets � known as "sleeping rough" in Britain � was hatched in March.

"He was determined, as he has always been, to understand deeply the full range of problems a homeless young person might face," Obakin said. "For me, it was a scary experience. Out of my comfortable bed. Out there in the elements. Out there on an extremely cold night, with temperatures down to -4 C (24.8 F). And it was the same for Prince William. But he was determined to do it."

Obakin said they found a secluded spot � tucked away behind some garbage bins � and settled in for a restless night.

"But there was no shielding from the bitter cold, or the hard concrete floor, or the fear of being accosted by drug dealers, pimps or those out to give homeless people a 'good' kicking," Obakin said

Top girls' names of the decade
1. Emma
2. Emily
3. Madison
4. Isabella
5. Ava

Top boys' names of the decade
1. Aiden
2. Jacob
3. Ethan
4. Matthew
5. Nicholas

Israel: First Jesus-era house found in Nazareth
  ...
NAZARETH, Israel � Days before Christmas, archaeologists on Monday unveiled what they said were the remains of the first dwelling in Nazareth that can be dated back to the time of Jesus � a find that could shed new light on what the hamlet was like during the period the New Testament says Jesus lived there as a boy.

The dwelling and older discoveries of nearby tombs in burial caves suggest that Nazareth was an out-of-the-way hamlet of around 50 houses on a patch of about four acres (1.6 hectares). It was evidently populated by Jews of modest means who kept camouflaged g<snip>s to hide from Roman invaders, said archaeologist Yardena Alexandre, excavations director at the Israel Antiquities Authority,

Based on clay and chalk shards found at the site, the dwelling appeared to house a "simple Jewish family," Alexandre added, as workers at the site carefully chipped away at mud with small pickaxes to reveal stone walls.

Nazareth holds a cherished place in Christianity. It is believed to be the town where Christian tradition says Jesus grew up and where an angel told Mary she would bear the child of God.

"This may well have been a place that Jesus and his contemporaries were familiar with," Alexandre said. A young Jesus may have played around the house with his cousins and friends, she said. "It's a logical suggestion."

The discovery so close to Christmas has pleased local Christians.

"They say if the people do not speak, the stones will speak," said a smiling Father Jack Karam of the nearby Basilica of the Annunciation, the site where Christian tradition says Mary received the angel's word.

Alexandre said workers uncovered the first signs of the dwelling in the summer, but it became clear only this month that it was a structure from the era of Jesus.

Alexandre's team found remains of a wall, a hideout, a courtyard and a water system that appeared to collect water from the roof and supply it to the home. The discovery was made when builders dug up the courtyard of a former convent to make room for a new Christian center, just yards (meters) away from the Basilica.

It is not clear how big the dwelling is � Alexandre's team have uncovered about 900 square feet (85 square meters) of the house, but it may have been for an extended family and could be much larger, she said.

Alexandre said her team also found a camouflaged entry way into a g<snip>, which she believes was used by Jews at the time to hide from Roman soldiers who were battling Jewish rebels at the time for control of the area.

The g<snip> would have hid around six people for a few hours, she said