Chocolate Covered What?

Written By:  Andrew Eide

As previously mentioned my husband, Andy, is a certified Chocoholic, and he says everything tastes great when covered in chocolate. Although I eat chocolate occasionally I don’t enjoy chocolate at the level he does. As I talk about things people cover with chocolate, and then eat, you will see that I simply cannot believe everything tastes great when covered in chocolate.

Some of the traditional items people cover in chocolate and then enjoy eating include:  Raisins, peanuts, caramel, cream filling, ice cream, and strawberries.

Here is where it gets strange, my stomach begins to do somersaults, and I feel like losing something I ate from my last meal.

Some people enjoy encasing the following things inside of chocolate and then eating them:  Ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and a host of other critters which should be left out in the field and not in my stomach!

My husband told me about an odd one he experienced around in 2002 when he and his Supervisor went to a store during their lunch break. This item is not a traditional chocolate covered item such as raisins, peanuts, etc. This item is not some disgusting bug either. What my husband told me about was dark chocolate covered espresso beans sold by Trader Joe’s.

Andy told me that at first the thought of crunching on espresso beans was not appealing to him. Then he figured since the beans were covered in chocolate it would still taste great. Even my chocoholic husband admits that the bitterness of the espresso beans completely overshadowed his enjoyment of their chocolate coating. So maybe this disproves his theory that everything tastes great when covered in chocolate eh?

Chocolate Quotes

Written By:  Andrew Eide

Women love chocolates, many women are chocoholics, but I'm male and I'm definitely a chocoholic. Let this collection of sinfully rich chocolate quotes soothe your chocolate addiction.

All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt! -- Lucy Van Pelt in Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz

And above all... Think Chocolate! --"Betty Crocker"

As with most fine things, chocolate has its season. There is a simple memory aid that you can use to determine whether it is the correct time to order chocolate dishes: any month whose name contains the letter A, E, or U is the proper time for chocolate. -- Sandra Boynton

Caramels are only a fad. Chocolate is a permanent thing -- Milton Snavely Hershey

Chemically speaking, chocolate really is the world's perfect food. -- Michael Levine

Chocolate causes certain endocrine glands to secrete hormones that affect your feelings and behavior by making you happy. Therefore, it counteracts depression, in turn reducing the stress of depression. Your stress-free life helps you maintain a youthful disposition, both physically and mentally. So, eat lots of chocolate! -- Elaine Sherman

Chocolate is cheaper than therapy and you don't need an appointment. -- Catherine Aitken

Chocolate is nature’s way of making up for Mondays. -- Anonymous

Exercise is a dirty word... Every time I hear it, I wash my mouth out with chocolate. -- Author Unknown

I could give up chocolate but I'm not a quitter. -- Author Unknown

I never met a chocolate I didn't like. -- Deanna Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation

It's not that chocolates are a substitute for love. Love is a substitute for chocolate. Chocolate is, let's face it, far more reliable than a man. -- Miranda Ingram

Make a list of important things to do today. At the top of your list, put "eat chocolate." Now, you'll get at least one thing done today. -- Gina Hayes

Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of the pieces. -- Judith Viorst

The 12-step chocoholics program: NEVER BE MORE THAN 12 STEPS AWAY FROM CHOCOLATE! -- Terry Moore

There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles. -- Anonymous

There’s more to life than chocolate, but not right now. -- Author Unknown

There's nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with CHOCOLATE. -- Linda Grayson

When the going gets tough, the tough eats chocolate. -- Author Unknown

Saint Valentine

Written By:  Andrew Eide

Although Saint Valentine’s Day in the United States is focused on candy, flowers, and chocolate, along with greeting cards and a little Cherub who shoots love arrows into the heart of your person of affection, I am not going to talk about the commercialization of Saint Valentine’s Day. Instead I will focus on Saint Valentine the person.

Saint Valentine is the Patron Saint of Love, Young People, and Happy Marriages. Saint Valentine Feast Day is February 14^th.

Valentine was a holy Priest in Rome, who, with Saint Marius and his family, assisted the martyrs in the persecution under Claudius II. He was apprehended and sent by the Emperor to the Prefect of Rome. When attempts to make Valentine renounce his faith didn’t work, they commanded him to be beaten with clubs, and afterwards, to be beheaded.  The sentence was executed on February 14, about the year 270.

The origin of Saint Valentine remains somewhat of a mystery. One opinion is that he was a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up his Christian faith. Some say Saint Valentine was a Temple Priest who was jailed for defiance during the reign of Claudius. Whoever he was Valentine was a real person because archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to Saint Valentine. In 496 DC Pope Gelasius marked February 14^th as a celebration day in honor of the martyrdom of Valentine.

Perhaps this next item will give you an idea where the concept of handing a card or note to someone and commenting “Be My Valentine” or “From Your Valentine” originated.

Saints are not supposed to rest in peace. They are expected to keep busy performing miracles and to intercede. Just because you are in jail or dead is no excuse for non-performance of the supernatural. There is one legend which says, while awaiting his execution, Valentine restored the sight of his jailer’s blind daughter. Another legend states that on the eve of his death he penned a farewell note to the jailer’s daughter signing it, “From Your Valentine.”

Becx is Catholic and she enjoys honoring the Saints. It saddens us that Saint Valentine’s Day has become a major commercial holiday in the United States where candy, flowers, chocolates, and little Cherubs with a bow with love arrows, overshadows what Saint Valentine, the Patron Saint of Love, Young People, and Happy Marriages, stands for.

Aquarius

Written By:  Andrew & Becx Eide

I, Becx, was born on February 8, 1971, which makes me an Aquarius under the Zodiac. Allow me to give you some information about the traits and characteristics of an Aquarius.

Aquarius is a masculine positive fixed air sign. The polar opposite sign is Leo. The color for Aquarius is all the colors of the rainbow. The water bearer always thinks 50 years ahead of time. Okay, so far I agree with that.

The traits of an Aquarius fall into two categories which are positive traits and negative traits. The positive traits include:  Friendly and humanitarian, honest and loyal, original and innovative, and independent and intellectual. Gee I can’t argue with those traits as they apply to me!

The negative traits include:  Intractable and contrary, perverse and unpredictable, unemotional and detached. Hmmm, I have to conclude that not all traits of all Zodiac signs are applicable to the persons born under that particular sign because I have none of these negative traits! If you don’t believe me you may ask my husband.

Important parameters include the following:  Lucky number is 2. Lucky color is red. Lucky gemstone is Amethyst. Lucky day is Thursday. By the way I married my husband on July 15, 2010, which was a Thursday!

A typical Aquarius has the intense desire to communicate. They are interesting and attractive. They can be shy, sensitive, gentle and patient, or they can be enthusiastic and lively with a tendency to be a bit over the line. A typical Aquarius is opinionated with a strong conviction to fight for what they believe in. They are farsighted and innovative. They are generally without prejudice and quite tolerant of others’ point of view. A typical Aquarius is a good listener and they care deeply for their friends.

Finally a typical Aquarius is truly humane and known to be outspoken. They are refined and idealistic. They are romantic and practical. They are a personable and likable person. They can be counted on to come up with original ideas. These intellectuals excel in the arts as well as the technical trades.

There you have it! The positive traits fit me perfectly! The negative traits are not residing with this Aquarius! And that last line which states that Aquarius excel in the technical trades is the reason I do well as a Computer IT Tech.

Keira's Valentine Card for Daddy

Written By:  Andrew Eide

Last night Keira was working on the Valentine's cards for her classmates. When she was done doing the ones for her classmates she ran into the room to give me one. That's so sweet.

Today Is Keira's 6th Birthday

Written By:  Andrew Eide

Today is Keira's 6th birthday. I remember a little 1.5 year old girl leaping into my arms in July 2010 when I traveled to Manila to marry Becx (Keira's Mom). Now she is 6 years old and progressing well.

This week Becx is in Houston, Texas doing an installation project for their Franchise locations there. She could not change the dates of this travel since it was scheduled by her supervisor and CEO of her company.

When Keira comes home from school today Nanay and me will have a small cake for Keira and I will give Keira two small gifts. The rest of her gifts will be given to her on Saturday as we are having a combined birthday celebration for Keira and Jaida (daughter of our friend Joy).

Becx will try to call on a video call later today so that she can talk with Keira and wish her a happy birthday.

Travel isn't fun when you miss birthdays and holidays. Having served in the United States Navy for 20 years I can tell you I missed many birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays, and it hurts when that happens.

Becx is in Houston, Texas This Week

Written By:  Andrew Eide

Becx is in Houston, Texas this week to perform installations at several Franchise locations of Any Lab Test Now. She is accompanied by her CEO and Supervisor Clarissa.

Although I know Becx will do great with the installation thing I am sad that it had to be this week since Keira's birthday is tomorrow on February 3rd. Although we have arranged a combined birthday party at our friend Joy's house, combining her daughter's birthday with Keira's the fact that Mommy is away this week is hard for Keira. Since last week she has been sad knowing that Becx will be gone this week and this weekend was so hard to see the sadness in her eyes. But Becx has to do the work assigned.

The installation is very similar to what Becx did when working as an IT Supervisor in the Philippines supporting call centers. You have to set up and install computers, install programming on the computers, set up the IP phones, and then you have to connect the computers and phones to work with LivePOS and FiveNine for the Point of Sale accounting and phone service.

So although we miss Becx so much I will do what I can to help Keira feel better. Tomorrow Keira will bring cookies to her class to celebrate her birthday. I bought both sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies. Then on Tuesday morning I will purchase a small cake for Keira so that me and Nanay can celebrate Keira's birthday in a small way when she gets home from school.