The Day I became a Democrat.
I guess that header is kind of misleading. I don't consider myself to be aligned with either party. But for most of my adult life I supported mostly republican candidates and conservative causes. So what changed?
Anyone who wants to see the effects of policy first-hand should work in state-run psychiatric facility. It is very eye-opening. Large state hospitals often serve clients who can't afford the cost of going to a private facility. These folks are "the least of these". They are very sick and can't afford to pay for treatment. After just a few weeks of working at one of the largest psych hospitals in the nation, it was very clear which party cared what happened to these people and which did not. The republican contingent wanted to make massive budget cuts to mental health resources. This caused hiring freezes, which in turn affected the care of clients in state facilities. Many of these facilities are finding themselves woefully short-staffed. This puts the safety of clients, staff, and the community at risk. Some clients may end up on the street, and will probably end up in jail, or dead.
It would be nice if everyone with a mental illness could afford treatment. But due to the nature of their illness, lack of family support, and economic background, that just isn't possible. So someone has to take up the slack. It comes down to this: we can either treat persons with mental illness, or we can house them in the prison system. If they go untreated, that is where many of them end up. Unfortunately, policy makers and taxpayers are pretty short-sighted. I hate to admit it, but the Democratic party is more likely to come through with the funding. I wish more Republicans would make the connection that they can pay for sick people to be treated, or they can pay to build more jails.
The other reason I have "switched sides" is the quagmire we are in Iraq. And we have made a bad situation worse. Even as I am writing this, Iraq is on the verge of civil war, and their new government may collapse. It breaks my heart to think of the innocent people who die every day. And I am sick of seeing Americans come home maimed or in body bags. Have we helped the war on terror? And if we give up more of our civil liberties, will we be safer? Ben Franklin once said that those who choose safety over freedom don't deserve either safety or freedom.
There are other issues that play into my decision as well, from immigration issues to the environment. But I am still far from calling myself a liberal. I am pro-life (I don't understand how you can be against abortion and for the death penalty), feel marriage is between a man and woman, and support choice in education. And I am an evangelical (for the record, and evangelical and a fundamentalist are NOT the same thing. Look them up)Christian. This decision didn't come all at once or easily. I just know I have to do what my conscience and the tenets of my faith tell me. Yours, Fannie Ryan

So who is sexy?
I read a column in a small-town newspaper about about sexy men the other day. The author and a friend were perusing a copy of "People" magazine's 20 Years of the Sexiest Men Alive. These ladies decided the men profiled were decidedly tame. The author's preference tends to run to guys in Wranglers who drive pick-ups and carry pocket knives. This got me to thinking about the men I think are sexy.
I don't remember every guy on the "People" list, but there are some that are pretty unforgettable. Mel Gibson is one. Tom Selleck is another. I think Pierce Brosnan and Denzell Washington also made the list. All of these guys are-- wow! I see her point, though. The older I get the more I appreciate the innate sexiness of the Average Man. I look at pictures of Brad Pitt and other current "hotties" and yes, they are cute, maybe too cute. Too pretty. I guess I have learned to appreciate "flaws". Flesh and blood is sexier than plastic. It's just too smooth! I am just not interested in six-pack abs, or "buff". If a guy has a belly, that is more than OK, especially if he (the guy, not the belly) talks to me.
Other discoveries: hair is optional. Creativity is not. Neither is kindness, compassion, intelligence, or a sense of humor. And as a musician who has dated a number of non-musical people, musical literacy has become a must. Cleanliness remains a priority. So is kindness to animals.
Another trait I look for is a heart for God. This doesn't mean he has to be "There" yet, just on the journey.
I know lots of sexy guys. Some are young, some are middle-aged. Some have long hair, some have no hair. Only one or two might be considered "cut". All of them have the above attributes. And they all share a great capacity to love. Some are taken. Their wives are lucky women. One or two are still single. Maybe I can catch me one. Wish me luck! Yours, Fannie Ryan

Since I have some time on my hands while I am job hunting (Lord, please! Let me find a job soon!) I have taken over the cooking chores in my mother's house. Cooking isn't really a chore: I love to cook! Unfortunately, I also love to eat, so I am learning a new way of cooking--healthy and low-fat. I have called upon reserves of creativity to cook tasty dishes that are healthy and not boring. I have found that Asian and Mediterranean cuisine lend themselves well to this new way of eating.
I love prepare central European and southern soul dishes, which don't fit into my new life style quite as well. My favorite goulash recipe calls for round steak to be dredged in flour mixed with lots of sweet Hungarian paprika and pan-fried, then cooked slowly in a tomato-based sauce with mushrooms, onions, and sweet peppers until extremely tender. Then I add a yogurt-sized container of sour cream and heat it through, careful not to let it curdle. This is served over egg noodles with crusty peasant bread.(Oh gosh! I have made myself so hungry!)I know there is a way to lighten this dish, I just haven't figured out yet!
I have had better luck with my easy Thai curry, since I can find reduced-fat coconut milk. I just stir fry some chicken and veggies, add coconut milk and green curry paste, and, presto! A delicious, authentic-tasting thai-style curry served over brown rice with a green salad. I don't really like brown rice. I much prefer white, and if I make risotto, I use the white. The results with brown rice are less than satisfactory.
Tonight, I am doing my version of healthy italian: chicken marinated in balsamic vineger and sauteed in olive oil, roasted asparagus (love me some asparagus!), and mushroom risotto (made with real arborio rice. This weekend I am going to try to replicate an incredible bean soup I had last weekend at a new Portuguese cafe' that opened up recently. It won't be low-fat. Maybe next time! Yours, Fannie Ryan