Karen’s Opinion

I made this bag for a friend. I noticed that I had cut off the witch’s head at every seam! Isn’t that crazy?

Thank you everyone for your good wishes and comforting words concerning my jaw pain. I just wanted to let you know that the medicine seems to be working. Each day my jaw feels better. I am supposed to start taking two pills a day beginning on Thursday. I check in with the doctor in three weeks.

My husband did a lot of cooking on Sunday. He wanted to use his new turkey fryer so badly and he finally had his chance! He deep fried a huge turkey. Deep-frying turkey produces much moister meat than oven-roasted turkey, and it’s not greasy at all. Deep frying a turkey is a great way to make a healthy meal. The hot oil has a flash-frying effect on the turkey, which seals the skin and all the moisture in it. The high temperature of the oil seals the skin, the result is moist, juicy meat. The high temperature keeps it from absorbing much oil — some studies claim a whole turkey absorbs less than a tablespoon of oil!

If you are wanting a new and delicious way to cook your turkey for the holidays, be sure to get your coupons and promos to save on the best turkey fryer. There are two basic types of fryers, gas burner and electric. The traditional outdoor turkey fryer, consists of a large stainless steel pot and an outdoor gas-burner stove/stand. The oil heats up faster using the this type. Additionally, you’ll be able to fry, boil or steam larger amounts of food using the gas-burner models. Electric fryers are safer because there’s no open flame to ignite the oil.

Important tips when frying your turkey:
# Large stock pot – get the largest stock pot possible to prevent overflow of oil.

# Smaller turkeys – for first timers, smaller turkeys (10 – 11 lbs) are going to be easier to handle than larger birds. I would generally recommend 12 lb turkeys or smaller to avoid any oil overflow. Additionally, larger turkeys don’t fry as evenly, as the outside maybe overdone and the inside underdone. It’s better to deep-fry two smaller birds, than risk the fire danger of frying a large bird.

# Submerge your bird – dunk your turkey in your pot filled with water to determine the required oil level.

Try it! You will love the taste and the mess will be outdoors.

Yes, I bit my tongue. That wouldn’t be a big deal except I really bit it hard. I took a chunk out of the center and it hurts like h*&&. Why would that be a good thing?

For about 6 years, I have had a throbbing sensation in my lower jaw. Just below my bottom teeth, it hurts. I always thought it was my teeth that caused the problem. At my yearly cleaning, I asked the dentist what I could do about this nagging pain. I spent over $300 on an apparatus to keep me from grinding my teeth while I slept. My jaw still ached. My dentist took x-rays and said my teeth, gums and roots looked fine. My tooth alignment was alright. He could find nothing that would cause such pain.

A week ago Monday, I bit the heck out of my tongue while eating dinner. I just happened to have a cleaning appointment on Wednesday of that week. Finally, the dentist said I might have neuralgia and needed to check with my doctor.

Sure enough, my doctor listened to my symptoms, which have worsened since I bit my tongue and he thinks I have Trigeminal Neuralgia. Finally, I can see a light at the end of this tunnel filled with pain. I am on an anti seizure medicine called Tegretol.

The way the doctor explained that this pain was the result of the nerves receiving the wrong signals. There are two trigeminal nerves, one on each side of the face. The Mandibular branch runs through the lower jaw and teeth. These nerves think something is causing pain and so they send pain sensations. The Tegretol is supposed to relax the nerves enough that the pain stops.

Wish me well please. I feel a bit loopy and sleepy but anything is better than pain.

My sister in-law is originally from Thailand. I have enjoyed seeing pictures of her journeys back to her homeland. My mother in-law was fortunate to be able to travel with Sandy when she visited a few years ago. That is the way to see a country; with an authentic tour guide. Perhaps, now is the time to travel across Asia Pacific. The travel ads are promoting record-low air fares across the Asia Pacific region. In case you are not familiar with the Asia Pacific region, the countries include:

• Thailand
• Korea
• China
• Japan
• Hong Kong
• Australia
• Singapore
• Vietnam
• Malaysia
• New Zealand
• Fiji
• Indonesia
• Taiwan
• India
• Bali

Accor Hotels is sponsoring a fantastic sale that coincides with the timing of those record-low air fares. Accor Hotels 3-Day Super Sale Asia Pacific will run from October 27-29 with a million hotel rooms on sale across Asia Pacific and rates will start at an amazing $30 US per night! Yes, you read that fantastic price correctly! Accor has a pricing structure for their hotels that allows travelers to choose a hotel that accommodates various needs and budgets. Book your room at one of the following hotels during your stay between December 09 to April 10, 2010.

Participating Accor Hotels:

That is a big list of hotels! No wonder it took me so long to look through the pictures and descriptions. Just look at this beautiful room at the Vie Hotel in Bangkok.

Book between Oct 27-29 for a stay between December 2009 and April 2010 and visit the beautiful Asia Pacific. See the Accor Hotels 3-Day Super Sale Asia Pacific page for more information. If you are ready to be pampered and visit some of the most beautiful places in the world, Accor is ready to show you their hospitality.

I see myself staying at this beautiful hotel in Singapore.

Novotel Clarke Quay

One thing I miss about not having kids at home any longer, (mine are adults and live elsewhere), is making crafts with them. Something just doesn’t feel right about carving a pumpkin without them. If you have children and they tend to whine about being bored, you should check out the post, Kids Love Halloween Crafts, on Squidoo. Making crafts with your kids is something they will enjoy during the moment and remember for a lifetime.