Couple of days ago my great-uncle J.W. passed on without a bunch of funfare or hoopla, which is kindof funny cause he definitely caused a ruckus or two or maybe three. I'd like to say he was a good man that many admired, but that simply wasn't the truth. Facts are facts and when you live your life you can't escape the facts of the way you spent your days. Uncle J.W. spent many days being raucous, mean, and planning his next venture. His upbringing was rough, and he exemplified that upbringing. He'd been calloused by the abuse around him, and that toughening made him the man he became. There are many things I know about J.W. that I won't share, not because of respect for the dead, but because that wasn't how I knew him. My memories of Uncle J.W. were different than many encountered. When I was fifteen my Dad and I went to an auction to buy a car, Uncle J.W. was there. He'd wanted to help my Dad get me a car. Of course, Daddy didn't let him, but I realized then he respected my Dad. I knew J.W. was rough, but I never saw that roughness since I was with my Dad when I saw him. Uncle J.W. was kind to me. He talked to me like I was important when I came to see him. He always tried to give gifts to my Dad. He treated my Mother with respect. I loved the old guy, but don't be delusioned, I am very aware that he was disrespectful, gruff, criminal, and many other things to other people. However, I am going to remember him the day he showed me his prized rabbits or when he gave me an excellent deal on a washing machine or two.

Egg Beaters and Turkey Bacon....Seriously?

Let me be honest, when I first heard the term egg beaters I thought someone was talking about that whisk that has a crank on it. Awww..you know what I'm talking about. It's the old timey thing that makes your egg whites peak up before mixers. Then I noticed someone at work pouring what looked like eggs into a bowl almost every morning and microwaving them up, which transported me back to when microwaves were new and everyone thought they could microwave real eggs. Yes, they tasted like a shoe, but we were using our high priced popcorn popper for something other than heating something up. Curiosity made me ask, and I was intrigued by this eggy looking mixture...made with real eggs (**wink, wink**) without all that pesky cholesterol. Then I found that my cholesterol had hopped up over 200. When did that happen? I never even thought about cholesterol, which explains a lot, but doc said I needed to work on it. Joined up with Weight Watchers, who also suggested turkey bacon along with these egg beaters. Turkey bacon...seriously? Where does this bacon come from on a turkey and how is that going to be anywhere near similar to the deliciousness that had contributed to my two ax handle wide behind over the years. So I smartly pushed the egg beaters along with its bogus friend turkey bacon to the side. My cholesterol went down through diet and a lot less bacon and eggs..YAY! Then something happened. I decided to be committed to finding a healthier way to live, and that meant my old friend the pig was going to be pushed to the "on rare occasions" category of food. (An ode to the pig is coming in later blog editions.) I, Lori Teague, cooker of full fat meals and disciple of Paula Deen's butter filled dishes, changed my ways through surgery, commitment, and a lot of determination. As I throw out all the fatty goodness I have known growing up and out, last week I decided to purchase my first package of turkey bacon and carton of egg beaters. Starting slow, I prepared the made from real eggs Egg Beaters. As much as I absolutely hate to say, they weren't too horrible and were perfectly edible. Then I prepared for the next step. The turkey bacon looks a lot like real bacon, but frankly, it is kind of suspicious looking. It has a compressed processed look, and since the turkey does not have a pork belly, I'm pretty sure it was compressed and processed. What I was not prepared for was the terrible smell of turkey bacon cooking. All I can say is EWWWWW, but I trudged on and ate it. I'd love to say it tasted like my beloved piggy, but that's just a lie! Truly it tastes funny, but I am not giving up! I am gonna try to eat that whole package; I did pay $1.57 for it. Maybe it will grow on me, or maybe I won't ever buy that horrible stuff again. Well.....turkey sausage here I come!!

Recession got you down? GAME NIGHT

Okay okay...I'll admit that none of us are one bit enthusiastic about the RECESSION. Matter of fact, I find myself whining and sniveling quite a bit about the lack of fundage that seems to be going around. Truth is I am "a glass is half empty kind of girl," and I've been called a worrier on more than 1756427 occasions...last week. However, I'm trying to look for some positivity in the funk that is 2009. Who knew I'd find that positivity in Game Nights?

Yep, good ol' Game Night. Get some friends or family or both together, cook a chili, eat some chips, and laugh your butt off at some of the ridiculous answers you'll get for Scattergories. There are amazing things that happen on Game Night: #1 people turn off the TV...I know this is an unbelievable concept, but it happens unless you're using it for music channels; #2 folks talk to each other face to face...not just in IM, Text, or whatever else we do these days; #3 good times alleviate worries for a minute...seriously they do. When you're laughing at folks who simultaneously start singing with Bon Jovi "You Give Love a Bad Name" in the middle of a hand of Phase 10, that nasty worried furrow in your brow goes away (and since you can't afford Botox that's a good thing).

After being a part of a few Game Nights and enjoying more than a few games of Phase 10 at my parents' house, I've started to realize the blessing that has occurred in the middle of all the worry and doubt that is the Recession. We have an opportunity to rebuild, strengthen, and grow our relationships. Money being tight has opened up something bigger than the dollar. It has given us a gift that hopefully we take an opportunity to pounce on because just like all Recessions this one will end and times will be good again. We will spend our $$ like we don't need it tomorrow, and we'll all pronounce that good times have returned, which won't be a lie. However, good times exist here and now. They are a different kind of good, and frankly, they may just be a better kind of good when it comes to strengthen our bonds.