Democrats, Republicans and Athletes

It started with a post I put up on my Facebook page. I said:

"All of these athletes, the ones who clap for their teammates despite their own disappointments, the ones who've finished the race but stand at the finish line to welcome those who came in last, the ones who hug athletes from other countries when they win, and also when they lose, the ones who understand that the Olympic village is a microcosm of our planet, the ones who give positive interviews in their most disappointed moments. These athletes who, on the world stage and under extraordinary pressure remember their manners and their sportsmanship, show kindness and compassion and hope, my wish is that they all go back to their countries and run for office.

I'm sad to say that it seems this generation has set a course to destroy morals and values and even the planet. 

But these athletes, these athletes give me hope. ❤"

From what I've witnessed over the years but has truly come to the forefront in this past year is that we need another political party in this country. Yes, I know there's the Independent party, the Green party, sadly all they have done is split one of the parties we already have, they're not a viable alternative. Bernie Sanders knew that, it's why he ran as a democrat.

I believe that both major parties in the United States are broken. Not just fractured, truly broken. Way more people hold their nose and vote for candidates from one of our two viable party options than truly support them.  

You know I believe that foods can provide comfort, leave us feeling satisfied. Exercising our right to vote should do the same, provide comfort, give us a sense of satisfaction. Not so. Not for most of us. Not with the party options currently on the table.

Crockpot French Onion Beef with Broccoli

In these recent days of watching the Olympics, both for the joy of a global representation in sports, but to take an emotional break from politics, I have come to a realization. What I want in a politician is what I see in these athletes. 

I know that any party, any candidate needs to (well, should) have a platform, a well thought out stance on a multitude of issues both domestically and internationally. And you know what, I'm not going to tell you that what specific positions these athletes might have is all that matters. There have been administrations, many in fact, whose politics did not gel with mine. And although I did not support their agenda, I trusted that it was one adopted after thought, research and discussion. It was one born of a vision for cementing our place in the world, nurturing our relationships with other countries and moving us all forward socially and economically. Not all athletes will have the same vision for our (or their) countries. and that's OK. It's not about wanting only candidates who reflect my views, it's about those who offer whatever their varied viewpoints may be with thought and compassion and respect.

  Because I've witnessed that what athletes do have is an ability to follow rules, to get along, to be respectful both to and in other countries, to lose with grace, to win with grace, to fight for their own dreams but live good sportsmanship by support others on their team or just in their sport, to not give up, to get along with others, to be mindful that they are representing and to do so with positivity and pride, to comport themselves on the world stage with dignity. 

I have learned, over this past difficult year, that character does matter. It matters in sports, it matters in life and it matters in politics. No matter what your politics may be.

Crockpot French Onion Beef with Broccoli        
                                    ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 cup frozen chopped onions

2 cloves garlic, minced

8 oz mushrooms, slices

1 can condensed French Onion soup

1/4 cup ketchup

1/4 cup white wine

1 cup water

2# stir fry beef, cut into bite sized pieces

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2 TBSP cornstarch

1 1/2 cups broccoli florets

2 cups brown rice

1/4 cup pignolis

Directions:

*Place the chopped onion, garlic, mushrooms, soup, ketchup, white wine and water into the crockpot on low heat. Cook for one hour. Stir.

*Season the stir fry beef with salt and pepper. Place into a sealable bag. Sprinkle in the cornstarch, seal the bag and manipulate until all of the beef is coated. Stir into the crockpot. Cook on low for 4 hours.

*Add the broccoli florets and cook one more hour.

*Cook the rice according to package directions. Serve the beef over the rice, sprinkle with pignolis.

Our Family Olympics

The boys and I have been in the Olympics.  Bet you didn’t know that.  It was the winter of 1998.  The US team was in Nagano and we were in the Midwest.  The boys were really little, and the flu was making its rounds.  In our house that flu turned into a team sport, and we were the champs.  I’m talking Gold Medals, all.

At that time Husband traveled to NY one week every month for business.  It was during one of those trips that all h*ll (heck) broke loose at home.  Older Son was first.  He was so sick:  fever, unable to keep food or drink down, poor kid.  I took care of him, trying to lower the fever and keep him hydrated all while caring for the not-yet-sick child.  I was next, and Younger Son joined the team right behind me.  There were times I couldn’t even raise my head, let alone care for 2 kids in different stages of the stomach-flu-from-h*ll.  Those days I remember waking up midday with my cheek on the cool kitchen floor to see the boys sleeping on the floor too.  When I was at my worst I would rim the kitchen table (the boys could reach the edges only) with sippy cups of water and juice and with mini bagels spread with peanut butter, with crackers, cinnamon banana bread, with whatever I could think of that wouldn’t go bad that the boys could help themselves to through the day.

Cinnamon Banana Bread

I don’t live anywhere near my family.  They are all on the East Coast and I’m in the Midwest.  We moved here 10 days after we got married.  My husband was in retail and retail was tanking on the East Coast.  He was recruited by a company here and I agreed to come out here for 2 years.  I didn't realize he meant dog years.

Shortly after purchasing our first home here, a Real Estate Agent made a cold-call to my home.  She was calling people in my neighborhood because she had a new listing and wanted to know if I had any family members looking for a house who might want to move close by.  I told her if she’d put in an ocean and a nice ski mountain I’d ask…

...So there was no family here to help us.  My Mom offered to come out but because you can’t get here directly from…well…anywhere, by the time she got here I figured I’d be minimally functional.  Friends tried to help in a “ding dong ditch” kind of way.  They’d put ginger ale or food or whatever they thought I might need in my front door, ring the bell, and then run for their lives.

In the end we conquered that sport.  It took time and effort and perseverance.  We were sore for days afterwards, but that’s the price an athlete pays. 

Years later, when the boys were in Elementary School, the Olympic Torch went through town. It was being passed from one runner to another nearby. I hadn’t given it much thought, maybe because it was winter and it was freezing out, or maybe because the kids were in school. Sometime during that morning I started to think about wanting the kids to see the torch. I went back and forth about taking them out of school but then I realized that as former Olympians, we probably had an obligation to be there. 

The (Salt Lake) Olympic torch
passed between runners not far from our home.

I’m sure Older Son & Younger Son were thrilled that I showed up at school and took them out in the middle of the day.  I know they didn’t even care that we were standing in a crowd on a street corner freezing and waiting for that exchange to happen.  My Olympians stood directly beside the 2 runners as that torch made its way through their home town, and that made it all worthwhile.  And if flu-fest ever becomes an official Olympic sport?  Sorry, we have no desire to relive those glory days.

Cinnamon Banana Bread
                                      ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

 

Ingredients, Dusting:  
3 TBSP sugar mixed with 3/4 tsp cinnamon

Ingredients, Bread:
6 TBSP butter
1 1/2 cups sugar 
2 eggs
3 overripe bananas
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
2 1/4 cups flour
2/3 cups cinnamon chips

Ingredients, Topping:

2 TBSP brown sugar
2 TBSP flour
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 TBSP butter

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 325 degres.
*For the pans: Grease 2 loaf pans and dust with the cinnamon/sugar mixture.
*For the bread: Cream butter with sugar. Beat in the eggs, bananas, sour cream and vanilla.
*Mix in the cinnamon, salt, baking soda and flour. Stir in cinnamon chips.
*Divide into the pans.
*For topping: Mix the brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in the butter.
*Sprinkle the topping over both pans.
*Bake for 60 to 70 minutes or until the top springs back to the touch. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing.