It’s Thanksgiving week and all is well in Paradise! The weather in Key West has been superb and we are getting ready for our Holiday Christmas Parade on Saturday December 6th.  The Christmas decorations are up, the palm trees are aglow, and we are all planning our Conch Tour Train and Trolley rides for caroling.  Christmas time in the Keys is spectacular! It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

There is still time to book your room and get a good deal.  The new “Southernmost on the Beach” hotel rooms are now open and they are unsurpassed in quality and have ocean views that will leave you breathless! Check out the “Special Offers” banner on the home page of this web site for “Southernmost on the Beach”.

I am so grateful to be a full time Key West resident! There’s no place in the USA like Key West!

Which brings me to my recipe of the day, Thankful For The Good Times Trifle:

Bake a pumpkin bread.  Arrange slices of pumpkin bread in a glass trifle bowl. If you don’t know what a trifle bowl is, it’s a sophisticated dessert bowl that you could put jello and Twinkies in and it would look decadent!

Saute sliced fuji or other sweet red apples (for abundance)in brown sugar, butter, and a tablespoon rum.  Pour over cake layer.  Next, mix together pumpkin pie filling and Philadelphia cheesecake filling.  Pour on top of apples.  Make fresh whipped cream spiced with nutmeg, vanilla & sugar.  Spread on top.  Garnish with candied pecans and fresh mint leaves.

This dish is so rich and delicious that it will make anyone who comes in contact with it feel rich and delicious.  Let’s all be thankful for the abundance that we have been blessed with whether it is money, friends, food, good health or a loving family.  Now go shopping!

Obama-Nation! May the healing begin! Let freedom ring! One Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all! Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, we are free at last! A new dawn is upon us.  We the people, in order to form a more perfect union have elected Barack Obama as our next President.

As most of the Country breathes a sigh of relief and recovers from the emotional roller coaster ride of the past few months I can’t help but notice the feeling of brotherly love and compassion in my fellow Americans. The election was a beautiful thing.  That is something I never imagined myself saying.  If I had to sum it up in one word it would be HOPE.  Hope, that the Country is headed in a new, healthy direction.  Hope, that a sane man is our Commander in Chief.  Hope, that Barack Obama is as honest and humble as I think he is.  Hope, that the words “I am American” will be met with respect and admiration again.  Hope, that our Government has our best interest in mind.  Hope, that unnecessary wars will end.  Hope, that this Country can pull itself out of financial devastation.  Hope, that we can become “One human family”. Hope, a four letter word we can experience, together.

More will be revealed………..

Holy Reverend Wright!  I’m having a bi-poll-er meltdown! Republicans are red, Democrats are blue, the stakes are high and anxiety is too! One state, two states, three states, four, if Florida’s not blue, I’ll throw myself on the floor! When I close my eyes I see dead people and electoral maps! I’m having Hannity insanity! It’s giving me McBrain damage! A tisket, a tasket, a blue and red basket-case! Now take a nap so  you can stay up late tonight!

If you are reading this and you are still undecided then you are an idiot!  Sorry. And if you are one of those people that are refusing to even get out and vote, I can only pray that your heart of stone turns to flesh, your taxes go up and your teenage daughter has a pregnancy scare! Maybe then you’ll care enough to vote! If you believe that the state of the union is in good condition, the country is in a good place, and the earth is flat, vote Republican.  If you can see that the Country is in serious trouble and on the verge of bankruptcy and you would still  like to inherit something from your Parents, then vote Democrat. 

Now, to something seriously funny. Dick Cheney has come out of his undisclosed tomb and endorsed John McCain! Yes folks, the Crypt-keeper is delighted to support John McCain and is not afraid of some Mavericks shaking up Washington!

Which brings me to my recipe of the day:  Panic Attack pizza! Screw it! You’re too excited to actually make dinner! First, take a deep breath and any meds you may be on.  (now’s not the time to miss a dose)  Next, depending on which way the results are coming in, call 911 or your favorite local pizzaria.  Order a pie with half plain cheese (you might as well feed your kids tonight) and half with the works! Hell, throw in an order of wings while your at it! It’s  gonna be a long night! Open up a frosty diet coke (now’s no time to start drinking, you have lots of math and geography to do).  Plop yourself on the couch and have your husband tuck you in because you will be sleeping there.

Good night, and good luck! God bless America!