Pottery Class 1

Here's my first bowl attempt, after drying for a week. I tried to do too much, too early. In other words, my vision outmatched my skill. I tried to make the walls to thin and too tall so it collapsed in one spot. After that, I intentionally collapsed a couple other places and voila! A flower shape! Anyway, I think it will make a nice decorative piece, perhaps to put colorful flower buds or rocks in it.

Gluten-Free Brownies

Today I made my first batch of gluten-free (and dairy-free) brownies. Yes, it was from a Betty Crocker mix, but I modified it. The box called for a 1/4 cup of butter and two eggs. I replaced the butter with an 1/8th cup mild olive oil and an 1/8 cup apple sauce. Then I replaced the one egg with two egg whites. The resulting 16 servings are 4 points each for anyone that keeps track of those things.
The final product was chewy and dense, just the way I like my brownies. I wouldn't recommend cooking them in anything larger than the 8"x8" pan, since they are rather thin. I ate two just to make sure they were acceptable. Now, to avoid eating them all. :)

Arguments for Recurring Driver's Tests

So lately as I've been wandering around Orlando, I've seen some rather disturbing driving habits that really make me wish we were required to pass a driver's test every 5 years or so. And not 75% or better pass, but 100% know all the answers kind of pass.
- Parallel parking against the flow of traffic. I still remember the one time I did this when I first got my permit. My mom practically yelled at me. It made an impression.
- And this one really scares me. At a traffic light at two 8 lane road intersections. On a red light. Making a U-turn. Could someone please tell me where this creative bit of driving has come from? I don't know where it's written that red means go.
- And then, of course, there's the drivers who refuse to share the road with bicyclists. As an avid cyclist, I strongly believe in the "Same Road, Same Rules" guidelines. This does require cooperation between motorist and cyclist. I admit to getting frustrated by bicyclists who don't follow the rules of the road, but I remind myself not to get too upset about it. Even the worst bicyclist does not deserve to have an angry motorist clip them with their car.
A friend of my sister's came up with an interesting idea, that I have expanded upon here. People should be required to first get lessons and a license to ride a bicycle on the road. Once that is accomplished (with a time frame of experience following), the next step would be a motorcycle. After each of these steps, you can finally learn to drive an automobile. The theory is that people would learn respect for everyone on the road--pedestrian, cyclist, biker or motorist. Because in the end, whoever is at fault for an accident between any of the above, the car wins.