For the driver.

GRANT HER, O Sacred Heart, a steady hand and watchful eye, that none shall be hurt as she pass by. You gave life I pray no act of hers, take away or mar that gift Divine. Protect those, dear Lord, who travel with her, from highway dangers and all anxiety. Teach her to use her car for others’ needs, and never to miss through excessive speed the beauty of the world. Let her pledge to drive with loving concern to her every destination, offering each travel hour to You in a spirit of Reparation.

MOST Sacred Heart, her auto companion, have mercy on us.

Wheelchair user taken on wild 50-mph ride

Updated: 9:06 a.m. ET June 7, 2007

PAW PAW, Mich. - A man was taken on a wild ride when his wheelchair became lodged in the grille of a semitrailer and was accidentally pushed down a highway for four miles at about 50 mph, authorities said.

The 21-year-old man, whose name was not released, was unharmed but was taken to a hospital as a precaution. He had been secured to his wheelchair by a seat belt.

“The man spilled his soda pop, but he wasn’t upset,” said Sgt. Kathy Morton of the Michigan State Police.

About 4 p.m. Wednesday, a caller told police dispatchers, “You are not going to believe this: There is a semi truck pushing a guy in a wheelchair on Red Arrow Highway,” state police said in a release.

Prank call?
Authorities initially wondered whether the report was a prank call until others called with similar reports.

Officers stopped the truck — wheelchair still attached — at a trucking company. The driver didn’t believe officers until he stepped from his cab and saw for himself.

“When he saw us, he was like, ’What’s going on?”’ Morton said.

An investigation revealed the man in the wheelchair had pulled in front of the truck at a gas station and it somehow became lodged by its handles to the front grille.

Baked pasta

Last night I made a wonderful baked pasta dish, and I thought I'd share the recipe.

Ingredients: 1 medium white onion / 2-3 cloves of garlic / olive oil / 2-3 big cans of Italian plum tomatoes / pasta Orecchiette, Ziti, or something of the like / salt, pepper, other spices / lots of fresh grated Parmesan cheese / 9 ounces of fresh Mozzarella.

Preheat oven to 450. Chop a white onion and two cloves of garlic. Add these to an already heated skillet with olive oil and sauté for 5-10 minutes. When the onions are soft and a little bit clear, add 24 oz of skinned Italian plum tomatoes and stir. Simmer for 20 minutes. Start a pot of salted water boiling and cook pasta one minute less than the package says.(I used Ziti, but the recipe called for Orecchiette). You'll need to time this so that the pasta has about 2-3 minutes to go when the sauce is done. After the sauce has simmered for 20 minutes, remove- add sea salt, pepper, dried chili, other spices to taste-- and puree in a blender. When pasta is done, remove and drain. Place pasta in a large dish and add a handful of grated Parmesan cheese and half of the sauce. Mix together well. Splash some olive oil in a baking pan and add a third of the pasta, a layer of Parmesan cheese (handful) and fresh mozzarella. Repeat this until all ingredients are used and top with a layer of the fresh mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake for 15 minutes or until bubbly and a little crispy brown on top. Eat. This should serve about 5-7 people.