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November 2007

4 -- Daylight Saving's Time Ends
6 -- Election Day
11 -- Veteran's Day
13 -- Young Reader's Day
22 -- Thanksgiving Day
24 -- Full Moon Day

The most important work you and I will ever do will be within the walls of our own homes.
-- Harold B. Lee

Winter Is a Good Time to Enjoy the Movies

As the weather grows colder and outdoor activities become less appealing, suddenly "the movies" start looking good. Though, in some areas, movies have become expensive, especially if you're taking the family. Here are some tips to help you save a few bucks.

• Concessions -- Theaters make money from selling popcorn, candy and soda; they can cost more than the admission tickets. Instead, go out for a fun lunch or dinner before the movie. Munchies aren't as appealing on a full stomach. Buy the super-size popcorn or soda and share it if necessary.
• Matinees -- Many movie theaters offer a discount for movies during the afternoon. Be sure to call first to check the times, some stop discounting after 3 p.m. and others may not offer discounts on weekends.
• Local Dollar Theaters -- Some cities still have a "dollar theater" or "second-run theater" where they play older movies at discount prices.
• Movie Theater vs. Home Movie -- Let's face it: Some movies aren't any better in the theater. Learn what the movie is about and decide whether it's worth seeing on the big screen. Keep in mind the cost of renting one movie is less expensive than one just one ticket.
• Discounts & Coupons -- Check your local newspaper or coupon book for discount coupons. Many theatres offer AAA members discounts too.
• Purchasing Videos -- Most video rental stores sell previously-viewed movies at reasonable prices, some for under a buck. It's definitely worth buying children's movies, even if you pay full price, because they'll watch them over and over again.
• Discount Movies -- Online sites, such as half.com by ebay, offer a decent selection of movies at discounted prices.
• Libraries and Churches -- Most libraries and many churches will let you check out a movie, just like a book, for free. You may be pleasantly surprised at the titles.
• Family & Friends -- After someone tells you what a great move they saw, ask if you can borrow it. Be sure to return it promptly with a thank you gift (bag of popcorn) and return the favor.

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To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.
-- Thomas A. Edison

7 Tips on Winterizing Your Yard & Garden

1. Clean Up -- Cut down and remove annuals and vegetables. After the first hard frost, cut back faded or dead foliage on perennials. Never compost diseased or pest-infested plants and remove dead plants and debris immediately to avoid insects and disease the following spring.
2. Mow -- Rake the leaves up and bag or compost. Pull all weeds before mowing the grass for the last time of the year. Spread mulch around trees and shrubs to protect them.
3. Evergreens -- Give them a good watering and spray them with antidesiccants before the ground freezes. If it isn't raining, continue to water them weekly until the air temperature reaches freezing. You should protect your evergreens from wind damage by erecting a screen of burlap stapled to wood stakes if you don't want to spray them with an antidesiccant product.
4. Perennial Bed -- Cut back the plants for neatness and disease control. Leave a few inches of stem to hold snow for winter protection and cover tender perennials as soon as the ground begins to freeze.
5. Cover Up -- Cover any containers that will remain outdoors to prevent them from filling with water, freezing, and cracking. Clean terra-cotta pots and other containers before storing them in the garage or shed.
6. Put Away -- After you have finished winterizing, roll up and store your hoses, turn off outdoor taps, and take some time to clean, oil and sharpen any tools before stowage.
7. Mark It -- If you live in an area that snows, you may want to mark tree stumps, posts, fallen branches and other items that will get covered by the snow and become a hazard.

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It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.
-- Abraham Lincoln

Wine 101

In October we covered Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. Following are three other well-known varietals.

1. Syrah / Shiraz -- Wines made from Shiraz are often full-bodied with strong tannins and complex combinations of flavors including berry, plum and smoke. Aroma characters can range from violets to berries, chocolate, espresso and black pepper. No one aroma can be called typical though blackberry and pepper are often noted. It is called Syrah in France, Argentina, Chile and the United States, and Shiraz In South Africa, Australia and Canada. Winemakers may choose one name over the other to signify a stylistic difference in the wine they have made. Shiraz is widely used to make a dry red table wine, though it is often vinified on its own. It is also frequently blended with other grape varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Viognier. It is grown in many wine-producing regions around the world, with concentrations in Australia, the Rhone Valley in France and the U.S. In addition, it is used as a blending grape in Spain and Italy.
2. Petite Sirah -- Petite Sirah, a synonym for Durif, is a variety of red wine grape mostly grown in California and Australia. Petite Sirah produces dark, inky-colored wines with firm texture and robust, tannic tastes -- often with spicy, plumy or peppery flavors. The "petite" in the name refers to the size of its berries and not the vine, which is particularly vigorous. The wines are very tannic with aging ability that can exceed 20 years. Petite Sirahs may complement meals with rich meats.
3. Merlot -- Merlot is a red wine with medium to full body and hints of berry, plum and currant. Merlot's softness, combined with its earlier ripening, make it an ideal grape to blend with the sterner, later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon. This flexibility has helped make it one of the most popular red wine varietals in the United States and Chile. Merlot is primarily produced in France, Italy, California and Romania, but it is also grown on a smaller scale in about another dozen regions. Merlot grapes are identified by their loose bunches of large berries. The color has less of a blue-black hue than Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and with a thinner skin, the grapes also have fewer tannins. And yes, there is such a thing as White Merlot, which is made the same way as the more popular White Zinfandel.

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November Movie Releases

• Nov. 2
  • American Gangster
  • Bee Movie
  • Martian Child
• Nov. 9
  • Fred Claus
  • Lions for Lambs
  • P2
• Nov. 16
• Beowulf
• Love in the Time of Cholera
• Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
• Nov. 21
• August Rush
• Christmas in Wonderland
• Enchanted
• Hitman
• Stephen King's The Mist
• This Christmas
• Nov. 30
  • Awake
  • Thomas Kinkade's Home for Christmas

*Wide releases only. Opening dates subject to change.

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Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as
good as bacon.
-- Doug Larson

Chicken Noodle Stir-Fry

This is a quick, tasty meal -- and you can use whatever vegetables you have on hand at the time.

Ingredients -- Serves 6

• 1-1/2 (3 ounce) packages chicken-flavored ramen noodles
• 1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts -- cut into strips
• 1 tablespoon and 1-1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1-1/2 cups broccoli florets
• 1-1/2 cups cauliflowerets
• 1-1/2 cups sliced celery
• 1-1/2 cups coarsely chopped cabbage
• 3 medium carrots -- thinly sliced
• 1-1/2 medium onion -- thinly sliced
• 3/4 cup fresh or canned bean sprouts
• 3/4 cup teriyaki or soy sauce

Directions

1. Set aside seasoning packet from noodles. Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet or wok, stir-fry chicken in oil for 5-6 minutes or until no longer pink. Add vegetables; stir-fry for 3-4 minutes or until crisp-tender.
2. Drain noodles; add to the pan with contents of seasoning packet and the teriyaki sauce. Stir well. Serve immediately.

Wine Pairing

• 2001 Chalone Vineyard Chenin Blanc

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When the character of a
man is not clear to you, look at his friends.
-- Japanese Proverb

Cool/Free/Fun/Trendy: Online Courses

Study anthropology or the history of jazz, gain new skills related to your job, learn a new language, or just study subjects that interest you -- all for FREE -- online. Some of the courses offer podcasts, MP3s, videos, resources and downloadable courseware.

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology -- Offers most of its undergrad and graduate programs at: http://ocw.mit.edu.
• University of Washington -- Offers several courses at: http://extension.washington.edu/openuw.
• BBC Languages: Learn French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese and other languages at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages.
• Covenant Seminary -- Study theology at: http://covenantseminary.edu/worldwide.
• John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Heath -- Offers opencourseware on public health at: http://ocw.jhsph.edu.
• The University of Nebraska -- Offers economic studies at: http://ecedweb.unomaha.edu/teachsug.htm.

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