Authentic or Staged?

On February 19, 2010, Tiger Woods issued a public apology to his family, friends, fans, supporters and followers.  In a 13 minute speech, he accepted the blame for his infidelity towards his wife and for the hurt and deceit he created towards her and everyone else.  In 13 minutes, he expressed how sorry he was and tried to convince his fans and the viewers that he has a problem and needs further help.

Was his speech authentic or staged?  It obviously was scripted; but, did it come from his heart?  Or, was he obliged to do this to cover up his image and hopefully come back to the game of golf to earn yet another billion dollars?   Tiger Woods is one of the most famous athletes around.  Some people have considered him a hero while others referred to him as their role model.  Regardless of how he has been portrayed or of the numerous questions we have his public apology demonstrated an individual who had aged significantly over his personal ordeals.   Yes, he was once a golf icon.  Yet, he was a man like every other who refrained from carrying his heart on his sleeve on February 19.  Therefore, composed, he humbled himself publicly to express his willingness to correct his wrongs.  It took a lot of courage for this man to come forward and admit that it was his entire fault.  Nevertheless, he did.

So was it worth all the fuss?  Do you believe that he has redeemed and his return to the religion he learned as a child will help him walk the right path?  Does it really matter?  Do we need to care? Watch the interview below and let me know what you think!

Heavenly Pleasure

If you have never had the pleasure of tasting Tiramisu, you are seriously in for a treat! Or if you are not a good baker, like me, then this is the perfect desert to prepare and impress your family and friends! It is easy, no baking required and absolutely delightful. I’m not one to be known to have a very big sweet tooth; however, I will never refuse this Italian specialty. Tiramisu, which means “Pick me Up,” is a traditional, decadent dessert which will leave you with an unforgettable impression!


In simple terms, Tiramisu is made of Italian sponge cookies called Savoiardi, also known as lady fingers, soaked in strong, Italian espresso and layered with a custard-like Mascarpone cheese mixture. (I’m drooling just thinking of it!) It could be topped with whip cream, if desired and sprinkled with some cocoa powder. Place it in the fridge and eat it after it has been cooled. You won’t regret it. The light dessert won’t leave you with an unwanted stomach pain or make you feel like you’ve gained 50 pounds. You will take a bite and will not feel guilty.


Try it out and let me know what you think!


Tiramisu
36 Savoiardi cookies (approximately)
4 eggs, separated
4 oz sugar
12 oz Mascarpone Cheese
12 oz espresso coffee


1. Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites. Place the yolks aside and peak the whites. Set aside.
2. Mix egg yolk, sugar and Mascarpone cheese until mixture is smooth.
3. Fold in peaked egg whites to Mascarpone mixture. Set aside.
4. In a 9 x 13 baking dish, line moistened Savoiardi cookies in single file until the pan is completely covered with cookies.
5. Pour ½ the Mascarpone mixture onto the cookies. Sprinkle with cocoa powder.
6. Line a second layer of moistened Savoiardi cookies. Pour the remainder of the Mascarpone mixture and sprinkle with cocoa powder.


Refrigerate for approximately 4 hours before serving. Buon apetito!

Video of the Week!

Use Somebody - Kings of Leon was one of the biggest hits of last year! Here it is sung by Paramore Brick! Amazing song!

False Alarm

Some people just don’t think before speaking. The other morning neither hot espresso nor an iced cold shower could keep me or several of my classmates awake. I have polled many CEGEP students and it is a common consensus that 8 a.m. classes are incredibly hard to get up for never mind staying awake in.  But, on what felt like the coldest day of the year so far, were we ever in for a rude awakening!

I sat in the biology lab, droopy eyed, as the lab technician explained the procedure for the day’s experiment. Thirty-two students were present, dressed in long white lab coats and huge, unattractive lab goggles.  Alex, the lab technician, explained the test that we were to conduct during the experiment - which to this day, I cannot remember.   Sorry Alex!  Mid-sentence, she was rudely interrupted by the fire alarm.

The piercing noise echoed through the halls and into the classrooms.  Fatigued students raised their heads in disbelief. “There is NO way I am going outside!” I blurted to my lab partner. “This is insane.”   As the teacher and the lab technician guided us outdoors we all asked if this was a joke.  Irritated, we all shuffled our way across the lab, down the hall and into the cold, frigid air.  “Am I dreaming,” commented one student who looked like he could have just woken up.

The cold air on a winter’s day made shivers run down our spines as our shoes made crunching noises on the compacted snow. We huddled like penguins to keep warm; but, what the intelligent Marianopolis students did not realise was that at -25 degree temperatures, everything is cold!  It was worth the try; so, we stood, huddled in a circle hoping to absorb the body heat emitted from our friends.   After two minutes, the biting cold became unbearable and it seemed like the irritated students turned into ferocious monsters!


We were informed that by law we must all stand nine meters away from the building when the fire alarm sounds. As if asking us to go outside almost naked wasn’t enough torture! So the monster-like penguins marched to the College’s courtyard and reassumed their huddle position just like pro-football players! Most of my class stood together joking about our sexy and   seductive, we actually meant nerdy, lab coats.  We felt like we were the coolest students there, but one student sporting a Louis Vuitton purse and a Blackberry in one hand and a medium-sized latté in the other, did not.  I won’t mention the color of her hair for fear of being accused of stereotyping, but I think there was a picture of Paris Hilton on her screensaver.  Not being able to button her lip she rudely offered her opinion to a friend of hers in an annoying, nasal voice.    “You know, it’s probably one of those F***’en science students who probably blew something up in the chem lab; and now, we all have to stand outside and suffer.” 

With a nauseating look on her face, she examined her entourage only to find science students, in sexy, white lab coats standing beside her!  Repulsed, we had no shame in staring her down.  “OH MY GOSH, I’M SOOO SORRY,” she blurted out, “I DID NOT SEE YOU THERE!” As if that would change anything!  Embarrassed, she paced up the driveway until she was out of sight.  As for the science students in their sexy, white lab coats….well, we toughed out the cold for several more minutes and then were allowed back into our lab for the next session of our REM cycles!

Video of the Week!

All I want to say is: I wish I was as skilled as this guy!
Enjoy.

4500+ prisoners escape

After Haiti's devastating earthquakes, more than 4500 prisoners escape from Port-aux-Prince jail. As if the Haitian people needed more to worry about.

"Lickle more" - A saying of goodbye

Saying goodbye. Saying goodbye is probably one of the hardest things anyone has to do. Saying goodbye and leaving someone behind, especially an orphaned toddler, who has already been left behind once before, is even harder. May 2009, 17 individuals, including myself, embarked on a humanitarian trip in the slums of Jamaica where poverty is the only life the people have ever known. We drove through the jungle, suffocated by the scorching heat, to arrive at a beautiful white mansion on the top of a hill overlooking the sea of green tree tops.

Robins Nest Orphanage was housed in the white mansion, where a world of laughter, giggles and wild imaginations of 33 little orphans excitedly welcomed us! Through the laughter and excitement, I heard something that sounded like a cry. Making my way through the numerous princesses, cowboys and Indians, I opened the door to the nursery to find a baby boy named Dwight crying behind the bars of his crib urging for someone’s attention. I grabbed Dwight, removed him from the crib and held him close to me. His heart quickly beat. He was overwhelmed with uncertainty. I took him in my arms and wrapped my love around him as he drank his bottle of warm milk. During my stay, I sat with Dwight, I sang to him and played with his toys. His brown teddy bear was old and ragged, his toy cars missed a couple of wheels and his ball was slightly deflated. Yet, that did not stop his gentle nature from expressing his contentment with smiles with the flashing of his white teeth.

With numerous hours of playing, holding, feeding and making Dwight smile behind me, I brought him back to his crib and put him down. During my stay, I gave Dwight all the attention, the love and the care that I could possibly offer. I said my goodbyes and as he saw me heading towards the door tears started to run down his face. When I was no longer in sight, Dwight started to scream as loudly as possible. I was overcome by guilt but was obliged to leave. I felt I was abandoning this little soul in what is considered the poorest of the poor in Jamaica. The screams of this baby echoing in the hallways of the orphanage haunted me as I left the home. Nothing can describe the hurt, and the broken heartedness I faced as I left this desperate child behind.

This heart wrenching experience has opened up new challenges in my life. It has been a rewarding and an inspirational time that has humbled me and has permitted me to evaluate the riches I am blessed with. I left Dwight in the slums of Jamaica in the loving hands of his foster mom with bigger hopes and dreams of one day returning to his side.