Q= quesadilla

 It's a Letter Blog Day!  Go alphabetically to the next letter, and find a recipe that you love and to relate it to memories you have

Ingredients

• 4 (10-inch) flour tortillas
• 1 cup grated cheese, sharp Cheddar or Mexican blend
• 4 tablespoons butter
• Sour cream, for garnish
• Salsa, for garnish
• Guacamole, for garnish

Directions

Lay the tortillas flat on a cookie sheet. Like the cookies made on Christmas. The cookie cutters in different shapes and the pastel colored icing for a touch of sweetness. Putting on upbeat Christmas songs, on maximum volume and the whole house full of the sweet scent. 

 Sprinkle some of the cheese on 1 half of each tortilla. Try not to get it too close to the edge. Fold the tortillas in half over the cheese to make a half-moon. Looking up at the shining moon, coming into the house well past midnight; stomach growling with six boxes of Mexican leftovers in my hands. Opening each box when coming into the house and preparing myself a chicken quesadilla. The house smelling of melting cheese and chicken attaches the "midnight snackers." perfect ending to a perfect party.

Warm a skillet over low heat and add 1 tablespoon of the butter. Butter always makes everything better! Creamier, richer and melts into a creamy yellow color. Reminding me of cracking open lobster shells to search for their sweet meat by the Cape Cod Bay. Our skin the same color as the shells but still have the biggest smile across our face and little bibs wrapped around our neck. Spending the summer by the beach with a bunch of friends is how I want to spend my time. 

 Add the tortilla to the skillet and cook until it is lightly brown, about 2 minutes. Using a spatula, gently lift the edge so you can check. When 1 side is brown, turn the tortilla over and cook the other side until brown and the cheese is all gooey. Like flipping a pancake, praying it wont fall apart or fold into a doughy mess. Or waking up to the sweet scent of maple syrup on hot pancakes Sunday mornings. Sometimes even waking up early to help dad out with the pancakes or dropping blueberries into the batter. Whipping up a quick batch when babysitting and helping their little hands grasp the handle of the spatula. 

 Use a spatula to transfer to individual plates or a large platter. Repeat with remaining butter and tortillas. Top them with the sour cream, salsa and guacamole. After a long drive to a hotel for a tournament the next day we pull into Chili’s for a quick bite to eat. I turn to the quesadillas immediately; feeling as if this is a home cooked meal. When the plate comes out bubbling and steaming, I push all the sour cream, salsa and guacamole away and munch on the little cut triangles; smiling with every bite. 

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/cheese-quesadillas-recipe/index.html

famous poem starters

Begin your blog  with the line:  Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary
From The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary
eyes blinking to clear the foggy mind that has come
each foot stumbling onto each stair
a glance at the clock; 4:39 a.m.
body quivering from the sleepy chill
scattering clothes as you come closer to the bed
head heavy,
eyes droopy,
feet pulsing,
hands shaking.
sliding into the cool sheets
the weight from the blankets bringing security
each breathe evening out
sleep.

Nursery Rhymes ARE relevant to Life

 that makes you think about something relevant to your life today. and write about how it connects.

Hickory, dickory, dock

Hickory, dickory, dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down!
Hickory, dickory, dock.

Dickery, dickery, dare,
The pig flew up in the air.
The man in brown
Soon brought him down!
Dickery, dickery, dare.

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~pfa/dreamhouse/nursery/rhymes/dock.html

Right now it just seems I cannot keep up with school. I have always had a busy schedule and usually I'm ahead of the game but lately I just cannot keep up. It feels like teachers have been assigning more than usual and each assignment has been taking longer. It is hard to fit homework time with volleyball and dance and actually trying to get enough sleep! This nursery rhyme reminds me of that because the clock keeps ticking but I still seem to be falling behind even though I’ve been working so hard. It seems like I'm slowly slipping like the mouse on the clock. Soon dance and volleyball will end so I will have more time to do all my projects and have time to actually relax. 

Turn your Inkblot into a Butterfly

first seeming like a mistake

like spilled paint over a finished piece

wishing to take back that moment

why even try if this could happen?

                                                         but as we look closer
                                                          a shape my begin to form
                                                        only a creative mind may see
                                                        only a few brush strokes can begin
                                                          to reveal the true beauty underneath

                                                         the body begins to take life
                                                                   to take shape
                                                                   to take form
                                                        and take the idea to a whole new level

                                                         don't look at it as a mistake
                                                          or a reason to start over
                                                         look at it as a way to help you grow
                                                   to show you that you can take something dark
                                                                 and bring life to it

as it gains strength

and the image comes together

the artist takes a step back

proving through this experience,

something is never actually malformed,

it just needs the artists eyes to accept it.

Jennifer Gish

Jennifer Gish was born and raised in a "die-hard Penn State" family but now has been "hoping to be a fan again" after "Sandusky's alleged sex crimes against children broke."  Jennifer Gish is a Times Union sports writer and "Parent to Parent" blogger. The article I read was about how distant she has become over the years as she follows what is occurring with Penn State football. She doesn’t always agree with the choices that Penn State has decided but there is still a high hope to love them again. I have noticed that she thinks and writes in a style that only a mother seems to have because she seems to care about the team and wants to see it grow and succeed; the same of what a mother wants for her children. Which she can strongly connect to from raising twins. She seems to have high hopes for the team after "listen(ing) to sports journalists question Bill O'Brien." Jennifer Gish "hear(d) him talk about the importance of academics, the importance of character, (and) his guarantee players will volunteer" which gives the team a brighter outlook and she seems to like the idea of creating well rounded players. However she seems persuaded that "the Penn State faithful will forgive us a loss or two next season. They will not forgive us another scandal." she still seems to want the old Penn State she knew and loved, the one "my father, a die-hard Penn State fan who encouraged my love of the game and the school." But in the end she begins to show a little affection toward the new and thriving team.

  

http://blog.timesunion.com/parenting/author/jennifergish/

http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Hoping-to-be-a-fan-again-3475997.php

NYT tuesday

BSo, go to http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/30/our-third-annual-new-york-times-found-poem-student-contest/ and find out the details on how to enter this contest. follow the rules established below by the New York Times as the criteria for the blog.  Then, why not submit it!  Winning things like this is fun and a great resume-builder for colleges.

Graphic Novel Module - Do the following:  (1) choose a Graphic Novel that you want to read and bring it in;  (2)  talk to your partner (under Course Materials to the left) about whom you want to do for the voicethread and Facebook templates.  Make sure it is a hero/villain pairing that you can find sound clips for and do extensive research on (sometimes, if they are too contemporary, there isn't enough written about them yet).  Tell me whom you have chosen once you have made a decision.

he saved me

I was crossing The Place Beyond the Pines, sun beating down on my hairwhen i saw himdarkmysteriousdrawing one inenchantingyet not clear what sparked the blaze of interestwanting to morei stop.... stare saving (me) from a freight train beyond the pines i look back,gone.

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Toledo-casino-site-soon-ready-for-Ohio-regulators-3459515.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/2-Montana-men-escape-injury-train-hit-Jeep-3459214.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Frost-Offers-Exclusive-Line-of-Southwire-3458475.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Austria-finmin-under-fire-for-upstaging-colleague-3458568.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Nobel-winner-Grass-Israel-a-threat-to-world-peace-3459425.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Nissan-wants-to-woo-more-US-car-buyers-3459290.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Heart-Rate-Watch-Company-Publishes-Heart-Rate-3458609.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Opus-First-Quarter-Growth-Exceeds-Expectation-3458081.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Ford-increases-full-year-US-sales-forecast-3459289.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Transformer-fire-closes-Jersey-City-street-3459502.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Enchanting-Twist-on-Ankle-Bracelet-Fashion-Trend-3443467.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Environmentalists-press-for-review-of-wolf-death-3458933.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Environmentalists-press-for-review-of-wolf-death-3458933.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Plans-move-forward-for-RoboCop-statue-in-Detroit-3459427.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Trump-wishes-transgender-luck-in-Canada-pageant-3457496.php

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Twitter-claim-Ryan-Gosling-saved-me-3458832.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Bruce-Willis-offers-to-donate-Idaho-ski-area-3459421.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Ga-inmate-sues-prison-over-beating-3458922.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/US-eases-some-Myanmar-restrictions-3459140.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Review-Artist-meets-artisan-in-The-Morini-Strad-3458510.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Some-cases-being-compared-to-Trayvon-Martin-3459464.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Some-cases-being-compared-to-Trayvon-Martin-3459464.php

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/A-year-after-arrest-ex-teacher-rebuilding-life-3458516.php

what relationship had the biggest impact on your life?

 Honestly, the relationship between my friends and I have impacted me the most. They understand me and always know how to make me laugh. We are each a big part of each other’s life that we would feel empty or lost if someone wasn’t there to turn to. My friends are the ones that I turn to when ever I need help no matter what. We can talk to each other without being judged, it’s like a safe place to turn to. We share each other’s experiences and learn how to deal with problems. We learn through each other and grow and find who we really are. I've meet so many people and it did take me a while but I have a key group of friends that I couldn’t live without. I have met a few people that have hurt me but you learn from, become stronger and know who is fake and who is genuine. Through volleyball, I’ve been on four different teams with everyone from different schools and I've made so many new friends and they always know how to bring a smile to everyone’s face. Even when we are down, we know what brings everybody up! Honestly, the relationship between my friends and I have impacted me the most. They understand me and always know how to make me laugh. We are each a big part of each other’s life that we would feel empty or lost if someone wasn’t there to turn to. My friends are the ones that I turn to when ever I need help no matter what. We can talk to each other without being judged, it’s like a safe place to turn to. We share each other’s experiences and learn how to deal with problems. We learn through each other and grow and find who we really are. I've meet so many people and it did take me a while but I have a key group of friends that I couldn’t live without. I have met a few people that have hurt me but you learn from, become stronger and know who is just an obstacle in your path and who is genuine. Through volleyball, I’ve been on four different teams with everyone from different schools and I've made so many new friends and they always know how to bring a smile to everyone’s face. Even when we are down, we know what brings everybody up!