Election Day-2008 Presidential Campaign: Please Get Out There Today & Vote

Please go out and cast your vote today. It is the most important election of our time. Please go out and vote in this historic election.

No matter who is elected to become the next President of the United States, they have an unbelievably challenging job ahead of them to fix our economy, change the world view of us and bring change.

In 2001, I become a U.S citizen. I was so excited to complete the complicated two year process of being finger printed by the FBI, testing and finally I had a swearing in ceremony at the L.A. Staples Center (which was wonderful). I casted my first vote in the 2004 Presidential election. My first poll station was at a dark, seedy, motel/hotel in San Francisco and I voted with all walks of life.

I believed that my vote counted during my first election. I would still like to believe that every vote counts.

All of the world will be watching us today to welcome the change.

Please Vote!



http://www.voteforchange.com/
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/caoffices/

Subscribe: Become A Follower to Under the Sheets-Shhh

Do you want to be the first to read what I am thinking? Need some thought provoking email sent directly to you instead of spam?

Well, all you have to do is sign up to become a follower of my blog, if you like what your reading and want to be updated as soon as a new post is published. You can subscribe by choosing to follow this blog or subscribe to posts.

To foll0w this blog in your reader of choice by clicking on Follow This Blog on the right hand side. You can also choose to subscribe to the Posts or Comments.

Please become one of my followers...come on...don't make me beg :)

Laura

Our Love Story: Light at the End of the Tunnel

Interracial dating, love and our relationship. Story continued: Slowly I did it taking small, stiff steps. I practiced for 45 minutes and was tired at the end. Before I end and rest honey showed me that I had to walk without the crutches all together so I would know that I could do it.
One, two, three......
I took my first weak steps. We were both so proud of me. Then future honey reached for me, hugged me and then kissed me awkwardly on the forehead. Looking back, I am glad he kissed my forehead, as I wasn’t ready for more. I was concentrating on getting better from my knee surgeries so I could return to my life in San Francisco. I was trying to return to him.

Around this time, honey had visited me several times in L.A. His parents, especially his mother started to show concern. Honey's parents and family are Hindu and come from a small town in southern India. They came to America after honey and his sister were born. They moved and still live in Northern California, own a Store that they have worked very hard for and his father also works for a large hospital.

Mothers always know don’t they? Honey's mother asked him why was he coming to L.A. to see me so often. She suggested that I was leaning on her son too much. That honey only felt loyal to me because I had helped him get a job. She questioned our friendship, his loyalties and my intentions.

I will talk more about the parent friction in upcoming chapters, but I wanted to let you know that we have had obstacles to overcome as well.

So here's a funny story that I would like to share with you. I have talked a lot about giving mixed messages during this time of our friendship to my future honey. I gave ALOT of mixed messages. Honey gave some as well.

Honey was staying at my father's house for the weekend. He had gone to UCLA for college so he still had a lot of close friends that lived in L.A. He was looking after me during the day and it was getting late when I suggested that he stay the night and could sleep in my little brother's room. (Mixed messages.) He agreed to stay, but had no luggage with him. Before we fell asleep I asked if he needed anything like a clean towel for the bathroom or a toothbrush. (Mixed messages.)

Honey said laughing "Well then that would mean me getting two different toothbrushes from two different girls in one weekend!"(Mixed messages)

My heart sank.

Nice Honey :)

Stay tuned for the next chapter. Interracial dating, love and our relationship: Chapter 3 Part 4 Meet The Parents Opposite Reactions

The Best Bagel Restaurant: Toronto's Bagel World

I hope that there are no holes in this story. Last week I was in Toronto, Ontario for 10 days. My family took me for brunch at Bagel World which has been a Toronto tradition for 45 years. They had great grilled cheese bagels, but not great service. The bagel restaurant has great nosh, a full menu, but what I want to describe to you was the scene.

Although I was born and raised in Toronto, I think I was too young to really understand the Jewish Bagel Scene. Let me try to paint the picture for you. I could hear the Seinfeld music in my head as my aunt, best cousin and I walked through the doors into the restaurant. We walked through the Bagel World restaurant doors and I could feel all eyes on me. The customers were trying to see if they knew me or if they knew who I was with. The restaurant had no color on the walls, was packed and we combed the room to see if there was an empty table to sit at.

While walking through Bagel World, to the back empty table, someone grabbed my Aunt's arm as if they knew her. Turns out my Aunt hadn't seen this lady for years. I felt that since I had left Toronto and Canada at the age of fourteen, there was no way someone would know/remember me. I was wrong.

We sat down at the table, took a look at the greasy menu and all ordered coffee and orange juice. Every time the front door opened the restaurant customers seemed to stare at the fresh meat walking in. My Aunt asked my cousin " See that man...no not at that table at the table by the window. Isn't that Mr. Cohen and you went to school with his son?" My cousin looked over at the man. "No ma. But they do look alike."

I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich on a bagel and orange juice (can you hear the the Seinfeld music?). The good news is that the bagel was wonderful. I commented on how good the bagel was to my family and was told "of course it's great. Bagel World has been here for 45 years."

Then my Aunt tells me to look over at a table two tables away from us and asked me if I recognized the woman sitting there. "Come on Auntie. I moved to California a long time ago I am sure I don't know her!" My aunt told me that the woman knew my mother. I suggested that I should go over and say hello or kiss her on the cheek as my mother died 11 years ago and this could give her a fright.

Oy!

We finished up our meal and asked for the check. An elderly man walked past us and said, "Oh what lovely ladies." Bagel World a tradition, packed full of customers and I would go back to the restaurant just for the scene. Do you have the feeling that maybe they know something that we don't?


www.bagelworld.ca/

The Today Show Travel Award: Top Cities-United States

The Today Show last week announced that San Francisco won, by the Readers’ Choice Awards, the top U.S. city designation for the 16th consecutive year to travel to in the United States. New York City was voted third because of the visitor treatment by the New Yorkers. *(This was the commentators take not mine.)

*Photo: Palace of Fine Arts San Francisco, Ca

I totally agree that San Francisco has wonderful restaurants to choose from, sites that are beautiful, friendly locals and a European feel. During my recent trip home to Toronto, I let people know that I was not just from California, but living in San Francisco. A smile seemed to spread across their faces when they realized that I wasn't from L.A. but San Francisco. Wow. My Canadian friends asked so many questions about the city and asked me if I lived near a cable car or what the hills look like.

I too have left my heart in San Francisco and I seem to smile so brightly every time I think of the city and it's beauty.

"Take it from thousands of avid travelers out there: They’ve left their hearts in San Francisco, their minds in Salzburg and their loyalties with an entirely new airline." By Laura T. Coffey

Top Cities — United States:
1. San Francisco
2. Charleston, S.C.
3. New York City

Top Cities — Europe:
1. Florence, Italy
2. Rome, Italy
3. Salzburg, Austria and Venice, Italy

Top Cities — Asia:
1. Bangkok, Thailand
2. Chiang Mai, Thailand
3. Hong Kong

Top Cities — Africa/Middle East:
1. Cape Town, South Africa
2. Jerusalem
3. Damascus

Top Cities — The Americas
1. Buenos Aires, Argentina
2. Vancouver, British Columbia
3. Quebec City, Quebec

Top Cities — Australia/Pacific:
1. Sydney, Australia
2. Melbourne, Australia
3. Queenstown, New Zealand

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27208753/

Our Love Story: More Then Friends After Knee Surgery and Recovery

Interracial Dating: Our relationship was turning into trust and love. I remember watching him fixing my wheelchair so my family could take me out to the park for some fresh air. My father let my future honey take the lead, let him take care of me and let him show me his care and concern. Did my father know something that I didn't? Was I falling in love? Even though we had so much against us like culture and different religions. I asked myself "Is all that really matters is that we found each other?"

My surgery was much more complicated then we had all thought and scar tissue had built up in my knee so I had to have a second surgery a couple of months after my first surgery. I was still unable to put any weight on my leg and moved around by using crutches. (I am an expert with crutches now.) When we heard about the second surgery, my future honey took some time off of work and drove down to L.A. to help. I am was so glad that he was there for me.

While I was in surgery (very minor surgery compared to my last one.) He kept my dad company, they walked around the grounds of the hospital, got to know each other and when I woke up future honey and my father was there to greet me with a huge, warm smile.

After this second surgery I had to go through major physical therapy. If my leg didn't start moving then the scar tissue would build up again. There was no way that I was going to go through this again. He was there for me (forgive the pun) every step of the way. After months of a lot of shooting pain at odd hours and a lot of support from my loved ones I started to show some improvement. Future honey was determined that before he went home to San Francisco that I would take my first steps. There was no one that I trusted more to do this with. He calmly told me that he would help me the entire time and not to be scared.

I was very scared. I had already fallen three times on crutches and the pain was mind numbing.

So, slowly, I leaned on him and gave up one crutch and held the other side of the banister railing in my father's house. Future honey, talked me into taking my first steps. This was the strangest experience of learning to walk again. I was in such good hands but so scared of more surgeries.

Slowly I did it taking small, stiff steps. I practiced for 45 minutes and was tired at the end. Before I could end and rest, my future honey told me that I had to walk without the crutches all together so I would know that I could do it.

One, two, three......

Next chapter. Interracial Dating: Chapter 3 Part 3 Light at the End of the Tunnel

Green Beans with Almonds, Lemon and Fried Onions Recipe

As we are all cutting back on spending right now due to all that is happening with our economy, I wanted to share with you some quick, easy, inexpensive budget dinner recipes that can be made at home. I seem to save so much money when I cook these reipes at home and then I take leftovers for next day for lunch. Check out this recipe on a budget.

One of my new favorite networks is the Food Network. Some of my favorite chefs are Giada De Laurentiis and Paula Deen. I also took some cooking classes here in the city which were really helpful. I feel that cooking is like dancing ballet. There are a lot of moving pieces, but once you get the hang of it it all comes togther with the music.

Try out this easy recipe and let me know if you like it. You can also email at shhh.under.the.sheets@gmail.com to share your recipes.

Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh green beans or frozen French-cut green beans
• Salt
• 1 to 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds (2-ounce package)
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• Ground black pepper
• 1 can fried onions
• rosemary
  

Directions

Bring 1 inch of water to a boil in a high-sided saute pan. If using fresh beans, cut them lengthwise while you wait for the water to boil. Hint *To cut the prep time in half, you can also buy frozen Green Beans from Trader Joes.

Add salt and green beans to boiling water and cook until just tender. Drain beans and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Return the skillet to medium heat and add the butter. When butter is melted, add the almonds and cook until golden brown.

Return the green beans to the pan, along with the juice of 1/2 a lemon, add salt and pepper, to taste. When warmed through, top with fried onions.

*If you use the frozen Green Beans, defrost the green beans in a strainer under cold water in the sink for 5 minutes. Then put in the defrosted green beans into a large bowl. Put the beans into the bowl then add 1/2 a cup of lemon juice, kosher salt and pepper and some olive oil. Toss the mixture and green beans together in the bowl. Place the green beans on a flat oven pan covered in tin foil and then add almonds on top of the green beans and sprinkle rosemary. Place in the oven for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. After 10 minutes turn green beans over. After the 20 minutes, top with green beans.