You Can Quote Me

“What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.”

― Thomas Paine, The American Crisis

If you are a regular reader of my blog  -- and there are literally TENS of you -- you already know that I love a good quote.  I'd like to say that I am an avid scholar of Paine and history and have always known this one, but of course I heard it on Top Chef Masters last season.  The winner Doug Keane said it in the last episode and I looked that sucker up lickety-split.

NOTE:  To all of you who are judging me right now -- I agree with you.

It seemed fitting for a Thanksgiving post.  

I'm thankful for those who founded this country.  For those who still keep it safe. 

I'm also thankful for those who keep children safe.  And for those who do a kind thing for those who keep children safe...

Yesterday one of our donors at Community Partners of Dallas called Joanna with a surprise for one of our hard-working Dallas County CPS caseworkers.  You see, the donor and husband were not going to be able to use their 2 great seats to see the Dallas Cowboys for the big Thanksgiving game, so they decided to pass them along to us.  We sent out an email and within 1 hour had 87 people who wanted the tickets.  When Joanna called the lottery drawing winner, the caseworker almost started crying.  She is a huge fan of the Cowboys and had never been to a game. 

Do I have a great job or what?

Now, you may think it's funny that I started this post about obtaining something cheap and am ending it with someone winning a free prize, but believe me, that caseworker works hard everyday protecting children.  And I bet she'll never forget the game.

The Best-Kept, Fool-Proof -- I Mean This Works, People -- Secret to Raising Money

The secret to raising money for charity is simple...

• First, be nice to everyone you meet.
• Be nice to everyone that those people introduce you to.
• Tell all of these people (who already think that you're nice) about the charity.

I promise you that this will work.

P.S.  This method only works if you get out there and meet people.

Damn -- That Makes Me Mad!

There are quite a few things that make me mad, so since today's the blog day, you have to hear about them...

• People who park in my driveway without asking.
• Men who wear too much cologne.
• Women who put on perfume to go work out.  Look, we know you didn't shower, lady, but your perfume makes it worse.
• When my DVR cuts off just before the end of The Voice, the game, or The Shahs of Sunset.
• People who flaunt their priority status at the airport.  Get over yourself -- we're all going to get there at the same time and I may just park my butt next to yours and dab on some more perfume...
• When food items don't have an expiration date.  How do I know if my alfredo sauce is going to kill me tonight?

Yes, these things all make me mad, but in the grand scheme of things they are "First World Problems" (as my friend and co-worker Vanessa Fuquay likes to say).

Will you get mad -- really mad -- with me about these?

• People who abuse children.
• People who treat children like property.
• People who belittle their dreams.
• People who put themselves first.

Who's with me?  Let's get mad together.

Four Favorite Things I Love Right Now! Part 13

It's that time again -- a new list of my Four Favs!

NOTE:  I know it's Tuesday, but it's Wednesday somewhere -- plus my hair looks so good that I want it to last longer, thus the loss of Tuesday.

NOTE for the NOTE:  I do realize that this logic makes no sense.  Sometimes I amuse myself alone.  Back off.

NOTE for the NOTE for the NOTE:  And since you were so rude to think about my non-logic, make a donation to Community Partners of Dallas right now at www.CommunityPartnersDallas.org.  I forgive you.

In case you've missed my other Favorites posts, you can view the most recent one here:  http://blog.paigemcdaniel.org/2013/09/four-favorite-things-i-love-right-now.html

Now, on to what you came for -- the list...

1. My brand new Neiman Marcus Calendar for 2014 -- I've been using these since my friend Lynn McBee took me to a TACA dinner in 2006 and it was the party favor.  The paper is so nice and damn-it, I am not going to leave paper, people.  I'm old.  You can buy them online with NM too, but then it doesn't have the Neiman Marcus lining.  The lining is only available in the store.  But you can get it monogrammed if you order online, so make your choice.  I like the lining because I'm old and like to be fancy.
2. Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus -- I cannot get enough of this song.  It is on super-high rotation in my car (just like Katy Perry's Firework was when it came out).  Maybe I'm not so old?
3. The novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is coming out as a film later this month, but I encourage you to read the novel first.  It is amazing.  I promise you that tears will shoot out of your eyes.  What?  That isn't what you want out of a novel?  You're wrong.
4. Cynthia's Yum Potatoes -- I haven't had these in awhile, but damn, they're good.  My friend Cynthia O'Kelly gave me the recipe and it's so easy that everyone needs to have this in your arsenal.  Make them tonight!

• 4 or 6 small potatoes, scrubbed and cut in half
• 1/4 cup butter
• grated parmesan cheese
• garlic powder

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Melt butter and pour into a 9x13 pyrex and spread evenly across the bottom (I usually just put the butter in the pyrex and put it in the oven while it's preheating.). Generously sprinkle parmesan cheese and lightly sprinkle other seasonings all over the butter. Place potato halves face down on the butter and seasonings. Place in preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Cool for at least a FULL 5 minutes before removing from the pan, otherwise the parmesan crust won't stick to the potato. Optional:  Serve with a side of sour cream for dipping (I don't do this -- love them just the way they are).

What are your four favs?

Last Night...

I didn't get to sleep at all.

NOTE:  If you recognize The Fifth Dimension reference, give yourself 100 points.

I only slept about 3 hours last night.

You'd think I'd be crashing by now -- it's 4 pm -- but actually, I feel pretty good.  Sometimes we think that we just can't make it without something because that's what we're used to:

• Sleep
• Coffee
• Sweets
• Television

Oh, you know -- just anything.  The over-dramatic -- gosh, I'm so tired, or I need my coffee blather.

But I usually find that I can make it. 

We keep going because we have to keep going.  Gosh, all I really need is some exciting work to do, some ideas to toss around, get those creative juices flowing, etc.

We can do a lot more than we require of ourselves.

I spent last night at Community Partners of Dallas Heart Program.  The Heart Program provides group treatment for child victims of sexual abuse and their non-offending family members.  Last night was the Halloween Party and everyone had a great time.  Every Tuesday night these kids -- some as young as 3 and 4 years old -- talk about their abuse with peers and they heal.

They keep going because they have to keep going.  God bless them.

What I know about "The Girl in the Closet"

It happened on June 11, 2001.  Our community (and the nation) was rocked by the story of Lauren Kavanaugh -- the girl in the closet. 

I didn't work for Community Partners of Dallas then, so like most of you I watched Lauren's story on the television and read about it in The Dallas Morning News and just shook my head in horror. 

How could people be so sick? 

If you've ever held a baby in your arms...

If you've ever had a child run and hug you...

If you've ever had a child look at you like you were the most important person in the world...

How could someone do this to a child -- any living creature?  I wouldn't leave a snake to live in it's own filth and slowly starve to death -- and I really don't like snakes.

If you don't know Lauren's story, The Dallas Morning News is publishing a series about her every day this week and is running it on the front page -- above the fold -- check it out here:  http://res.dallasnews.com/interactives/2013_October/lauren/

But before you read it, prepare yourself.

You'll have questions, just like I do.  Why did the judge return Lauren to a mother who had given her away? Why didn't CPS officials keep better tabs on this family?  Why didn't a family member, a neighbor, anyone, talk?  Why, why, why?

When I started working at CPD in March of 2002, Lauren's story was still discussed and I heard that she hoarded food, but that was about it.  CPD still received a toy periodically from the public mailed to the CPS office and addressed to "The Girl in the Closet".  We passed them along to her caseworker. 

But, time goes by and the horror fades. 

New children took Lauren's place:  the little girl who's mother super glued her hands to the wall, the 10 year old boy named Johnathan who was starved to death in 2012, and more.

I want to thank Scott Farwell and The Dallas Morning News for this series.  Because of CPS confidentiality laws, even I don't usually get to hear about what happens to a child after the abuse has stopped. 

But I do know one thing for certain -- there are more Laurens out there.

My Favorite TV Commercials Now!

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that I love TV.

My grandmother lived with my family most of my life and she loved TV.  Dandoo (I named her and my niece Lina -- my 2 claims to fame.) and I watched together and I even had my own TV in my bedroom when I was 11 -- she gave it to me.

NOTE:  Now, I know you parents are all thinking that was horrible.  Bite me.

So, I have many fond memories of TV and I will admit that it is my crutch -- pretty much when I'm at home, alone, and awake -- my TV is on.

NOTE:  Now, I do read books and work from home sometimes, so the TV is not on then.  At least most of the time it's not...

The thing that has changed semi-recently is the DVR.  Kids, in the olden days, we had to watch commercials -- or least you had to leave the commercials on.

NOTE:  Mute buttons were not invented way back then -- in fact we even had to get up and walk over to the TV to change the channel and since there were only about 4 stations, you looked at a thing called the TV Guide and decided what you were going to watch each hour and tuned in.  Truly, I don't know what men did without remotes to channel surf.  Lit a new cigarette and/or poured another scotch, I guess.

But now, I don't watch commercials much since I DVR my favorite shows and watch them later so I can fast-forward through the ads.  I know that all of us do this now.  Like me, I'm sure that even if your favorite show is on right then while you've parked your butt in the La-Z-Boy, you might watch something you have saved in the box, then watch your preferred show later so you can skip the commericals.

NOTE:  The girls here at CPD know that I really love a show when I tell them that "I watched that show live."  This means commitment, people.

So now, I pretty much only see commericals during The Today Show.  So, take this favorites list with that in mind:

1.  The AT&T Commercials with the guy in a suit sitting around the little kid table asking the kids about how fast something is, etc.  The whole series is pretty cute, but I think I burst the bubble of my co-worker Corinne when I told her that I know it is scripted.  One of the little boys mouths the words of one of the girls when she speaks. 

I am, at heart, a critic.  Sorry, but that bubble had to be burst.  Still like the series though.  Here's the link for the "Infinity" one.  Watch the boy's mouth when the little girl says "infinity times infinity" -- sorry, but you needed to know the truth.  The "Dizzy" one is probably my favorite, though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZh105_r2Qk

2.  As for more cerebral (Can that word even be used when we're talking about commercials?) ads, I like the Prudential one with the bald guy saying "We asked people to tell us about the oldest person they've known" and they have a huge chart with dots all in the later years of age like the 80's to 100's.  The point is that we're living longer, so we need to plan for retirement.  It hasn't made me add anything more to my Roth IRA, but I still think it's pretty good. 

This is a longer version:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3qj88J7-jA

3.  But my favorite of all is from Carters.  It's narrated by a little girl voice (And yes, I know it's an adult who sounds like a little girl -- critic, remember?) and starts with "I was born on a cold September Sunday" and goes through the life of the child.  The thing I love most is near the end -- something like "Because the moment I became yours, you became mine."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gza-yfENn_4

I just love that line and I had never thought about it before.  I think as parents, we think that our kids are ours -- almost like property.  Sometimes I think this is partially why child abuse happens -- the whole attitude of "that's MY kid and I can do anything I want with them/to them".

But this line in this commercial flipped it -- and I love it.  That line makes me cry every time.

That kid is yours, but YOU are also his. 

Remember that.  It's sacred.