As I said, folks. It's all over. You can take your opinions, your polls, your prognostications, and just go on home. The race is over. Palin is back in Alaska with the FBI close on her heels looking to retrieve those pricey threads she allegedly stole. I like the characterization by McCain's staff of the Palin's, "hillbillies looting Neiman Marcus coast to coast". Had she and her boy McCain prevailed, I'm quite certain I could get used to looking at her over the course of the next four years. I'm not at all sure she wouldn't disappear from sight once McCain got into office but nonetheless she is an easy one on the eyes. You know who gave me the creeps? Her first dude, Todd Palin. He was a smirky confidant always at her arm and never without something to say beneath his breath and out of earshot of the press. He may well be the brains behind that twosome but we'll never know now and that suits me just fine.

Now, I may have to get used to the idea of having a black man for president. It really is quite amazing at just how quickly color becomes a non-issue in these types of situations. So, maybe it's not such a big deal after all and there really isn't anything to have to get used to. I may take some small pleasures here and there in knowing just how rankled those rednecks and racists from West Virginia to the bowels of the deep west are at the very sight of a black family and his extended family in the White House. Visions of the Jefferson's come to mind but that is far too bruising and simplistic an analogy to draw. This may be one of those rare situations where the sum of the parts is greater then the whole. We'll look forward to the next four years and I will continue to be one of his fiercest critics. You will not, however, hear me raise the spectacle of Reverend Wright, Bill Ayers, or any other associations deemed to be far left, insidious, or having anything to do with terrorists. That's terrorists as in washed up or not. We'll be pulling for you, Barack. We are now and have always been one nation, under God, indivisible, and with justice for all. Or so our Constitution says. Did I mention that for the first time in my life I am really proud of my country? Feel free to take that in context.

I may celebrate by making an especially smooth crock of humus for the family this weekend. Go heavy on the lemon, garlic, and garnish with a little red onion and you can have a falafel of a time for yourself. Ev has been making quick work of my chili lately and he will eat it all in the course of week if I make it on the weekend. After all these years trying to get him to eat more animal protein and protein in general I have finally found a dish that he will eat with great regularity. It helps that he eats like a horse at his age and I would worry if he didn't. I do have to be a little careful about making it too spicy and I do make it a point to use 93% fat free ground sirloin along with 1lb of chicken sausage in every batch. The dish would not be nearly as good were it not for the beans I add. Make sure you get the organic brand. Other brands usually have sugar and you want to exclude sugar in your diet when and where possible. As for varieties, I like to use red kidney as well as black beans. I continue to remind Ev that one of my favorite combinations in the world is chili and cottage cheese. I think he's catching on. For Christmas, I already told my little darling that I thought it might be nice to treat ourselves to a new food processor. Yes, ma'am. That means getting down and dirty with the accessories. Double batches of everything for the house! Ooooh. Can't wait. Can I turn you on to a site that I like a lot and one that turns me on now and then to dishes I might not otherwise consider? I'll sign off with a tip of my hat and the following link:

http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com/