tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69488276720177084392024-03-14T04:18:49.049-07:00Beer, Food, and PhilosophyA Philosopher's taste on lifeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-38115351527308769302012-09-09T02:03:00.001-07:002012-09-09T02:03:24.638-07:00An Explosive Event<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I dont think that anyone can ever truly love their job. I know some of you are reading this and think, "I love me job!", well let me stop you right there. If you love your job so much, you should do it for free, you know, out of love and all. Still love it so much? The thing about jobs is that no one would do them if you didnt love PART of that job. See what I did there?<br />
I am not going to sit here and pretend that I am going to be in the Army for life. Im not. There is an expiration date to my time in uniform, but that doesnt mean I dont enjoy what I do. I am very proud of my position and have no regrets. There is one part of my job though that will always have my heart. I love shooting Artillery. I love it like I love chicken, like I love Bell's Two Hearted Ale, the point is that when a round is going down range, I want to be involved.<br />
We had our chance a few weeks back, we went out to the field for a few days to perform this art in motion. It was very hot, being the desert and all, but that did nothing to dampen the feeling of hearing a howitzer burst in the distance. We had a few exercises to work with but the main event was cross Battalion training with our local infantry friends. They wanted to practice asking us to blow things up, we really wanted to blow things up, its a match made in Military heaven.<br />
On my end, we dont get all the glory to sight a target, make the call, and watch it leave this earth in spectacular fashion, instead we get to see the nuts and bolts, the engine. There is a fine process making the act of artillery work and I am happy to be one of those that get to be involved. Safety and hard work go into every round. When you are sending a round out of your line of sight and destroying a football field, you want to be sure that you dot your T's and cross your I's.<br />
I also had a few firsts of my own this time. I am usually involved on my end in the production of a fire mission, but I ventured out and got into one of our howitzers. They allowed me to join in a crew drill, get out of their way, watch them be awesome, then they let me pull the lanyard and send a few rounds firing. The feeling? It was much as it sounds... AMAZING.<br />
Am I a fan boy? probably, but you should know that when the heat of battle hits, everyone is happy Artillery is around and we are some of the best. I love getting to actually do my job even if the other 90% of my time is not at all as glamorous. I just hope that everyone has something in their day that makes them as happy as this does for me. Otherwise, what are you doing working there?</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-59215386624212472622012-08-22T07:44:00.000-07:002012-08-22T07:44:03.859-07:00Real World Application<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
How many tests have you taken where you stare at the question, the unreal scenario, the math problem that you are pretty sure was made up in english class due to its vast use of letter, and thought to yourself, "When am I ever going to use this"? We surround ourselves with facts and knowledge that while legitimate, might not be pertinent to our lives all in the name of a higher understanding of the world. Its commendable, really, but what if one day you were told that you needed to learn something, that this particular something would be used for real, and people could die if you dont learn it well? Id say its time to pay attention.<br />
This is what happened to me when I began to refresh myself in the matters of manual field artillery safety. Basically, you are given a set of information and asked to calculate and construct the boundaries and angles a cannon can lob a 100lb round over the horizon where you are sure it will land without incident. Yeah, no big deal. For those not familiar, the effects of field artillery have been referred to as the wrath of god. The projectiles used have a kill radius of 50 meters. Its no joke and needs to be taken seriously. Its so important that the military would only trust their officers with this responsibility. Well, officers and the occasional soldier like myself who wants to learn something new.<br />
The parameters are set: spend two weeks learning things that officers get six to learn, then sit down and take a four hour test. Easy... wait, did you just say four hour test? It gets better than that! Turns out, safety is kind of a big deal in the Army, so only grades of 90% or higher will be considered passing. Alright, those are some steep needs, but I felt confident in myself, and why not? Just a year ago, I passed this same test and I might not have seen this material since then, but how hard could it be?<br />
This is where I will give credit to my LT, who spent a great deal of his personal time teaching me what he knew. I began to do scenarios, work with stock data, my workspace was a pile of papers, notes and books filled with data for the sole purpose of filling out the required information. I was packing alot of info into a short time but it was worth it. I was ready for the test. Fast forward to the afternoon post-examination where Im cursing up a storm. 60%!? You have got to be kidding me!<br />
I wasnt raised to be a wuss, and my mom taught me something that I took to heart, Whitworths are not sheep. I made my appointment and I sat down to review this sucker. Keep in mind that grades are recorded, so I would have to take the test again two days later (two days, no big deal, officers got a week to retrain) this was just for my sanity. I began to scour my test, line by line, I even proved an answer of mine right, then another, and then another. The man in charge looked at my test, then the answer sheet, checked the reference book, and threw away the answer sheet. JUSTICE. Im not going to lie, I didnt make 90%, but believe me when I say that I was no 60.<br />
The results speak for themselves, I went back the next day, dropped another chunk of my life into a test that demanded your utmost attention with the most deadly real world application, and I walked out of there with my head held high. This test means nothing to my career. Soldiers dont need it. If I fail again, I go back to work and my life goes on, pass and Ill get a pat on the back, but thats no reason not to push yourself for something you know you are capable of doing. I may not love this job enough to stay for 20 years, but I am really happy that I am the one doing my job. I wont have to do this for another year, but at least I can say I gave it my all.<br />
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By the way, I passed.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-33626013642265326602012-08-08T03:34:00.001-07:002012-08-08T03:34:56.716-07:00Fun and Games<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I tend to feel that the rigors of war are a bit unseemly. Maybe you agree and maybe you dont but lets face it, its not such a big party for those involved. Shocking, I know. But its not all bad, there are clean, cool, and fun for those that know how to enjoy it. Why just the other day, I was strapped into a glorified video game, shooting away at targets in the name of efficient military training. Thats right, I was training in a digital setting. Ill tell you all about it, I swear.<br />
Essentially the premise is simple. Some people can shoot and some cant. Anyone with any talent behind the trigger will tell you that its more than just aiming down a barrel and flexing that index finger of yours. There are mechanics involved, breathing to consider, you need to be stable, ready and clear minded. Ok, it also involves a bit of an index finger squeeze but even that has to be modified for that perfect shot. Lucky for me, somebody smarter than I am, descovered that teaching these methods in a practical setting was getting a little expensive.<br />
I dont know if you watch the news, but bullets are not cheap and war requires a few of them, so what about the soldiers that need to train? Well, its time we got 21st century about all this business and played some video games. I was at a driving range once that was located inside a shopping center. It involved a large screen that would calculate the speed and angle of your hit and show you where your shot landed. Picture this with an M4 Carbine. A laser attached to the front would spit out a little light when your, artificially gas powered, shots would go off. This way you could learn a few things about your shot in a safe, effective, and cheap manner.<br />
A few trigger pulls later and a computer, which is also smarter than I am, spits out a list of data telling you whether you are fit to serve or in need of some tweaking. Its all very low stress, just mentally make a list of corrections and be conscious of your shot. The results are awesome. I wont say that this training will make a sniper out of your average joe, so dont think this makes you a marksman, instead it enforces the fundamentals. After about 20 min, any soldier with basic rifle training will be able to put three shots into a space the size of a silver dollar. Not too shabby for a video game.<br />
As a new generation is born having never known life without internet, it is fitting that we all make the digital jump. I really dont want to compare this "amazing" technology to other branches or time periods, but I can think of worse training Ive done with less improvement. In a world where it seems that war is just a push of a button, dont forget that a bullet can push alot harder than a hand and the army is making sure its soldiers are able to perform the task. I wouldnt expect to see this next to your local driving range, but its a fun thing to think about. Video games, anyone?</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-41925217541653786762012-07-21T11:12:00.001-07:002012-07-21T11:12:23.549-07:00A Sweet Reward<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Lets face facts, life is nothing more than a constant stream of comparisons. Good times are only good because there are bad times to be had. If nothing bad ever happened they would just be called the times. This works both ways, mind you, If it werent for those pesky moments that make us so darn happy, we wouldnt know how bad things could get. That being said, I would like to say that everything is done for the reward, whether that be eating to stop being hungry, helping others to feel good, or catching a bandit for that money, you are all just looking to make things better in some way for yourself. I know reward and I know what Im after - Ice cream. <br />
Now, I cant speak for everyone but sometimes a man has to put an object just out of reach and force himself to hold back until such a desire is earned. This pedestal, trophy, icon of all that is good might as well be as simple as a scoop or two of your favorite ice cream on a hot day, in the middle of the desert, all because you earned it.<br />
The rules were simple. I set a goal weight that I wanted to achieve and I told myself that when I lost ten pounds toward this goal I would allow myself desert. Not just any desert, Im talking a sweet, creamy, delicious milk shake prepared by hand in my local dining hall. Now Ive been hard at work and I have been really good at not sneaking this delicious treat all while sticking to my work out regime. It consisted of going to the gym twelve times a week, twice a day for six days.<br />
Every day from about 1100-1200 my workout buddy and I would hit the gym hard for some weight lifting, focusing on one or two muscle groups, then going back to the gym from 2000-2100 (8-9pm) for some intense cardio using the INSANITY program. This has given us some pretty good results. At the time of writing this I have been in country for about 36 days and Ive been on this program for about 32 days. As of this morning I weighed myself at thirteen pounds lighter than when I got here.<br />
It basically comes down to a lot of work and determination. I just set my mind to a task and saw it done. The results are already showing themselves as I am thinner looking and becoming more defined. The real goal will be to keep this going for the remaining eight months that I will be here. Personally, I have nothing else to do besides work out, so Im not rubbing this in anyone's face. The point Im trying to make is that I am working hard, sticking to my goals, and today I ended dinner with a milkshake that I absolutely deserved.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-52727323624502589152012-07-19T00:49:00.002-07:002012-07-19T00:49:43.773-07:00A Thing of Memories<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Its hard to say with any certainty that there are days with much importance to the rest of my life. Sure, this experience is one that will shape me in ways I might not fully understand, but that is a judgement of the experience as a whole. As the tedium of the day-to-day drags on, one cannot help but get lost in each wake-up, brushing it off as "just another day" or "SOS".<br />
Its exactly this mindset which makes a special day, almost more special. Im sure we all have mile stone days in our lives, moments which we will never forget, which we can remember a clear as the day it happened. This deployment wasnt official for me until July 7th. That was the day I finally earned the right to complete my uniform. That was the day I was officially deployed. That was the day I received my combat unit patch.<br />
Now, I know that this may come as little significance to most, and to those who have been here, some multiple times, the act of receiving this patch is an empty gesture and probably a waste of their afternoon. This may be the case, but around the jokes and through the cynicism, you cannot deny the face that you were there, you gave it up and this is the day you are recognized for your efforts. I may not ever want to sit through that ceremony again, but Ill remember my that ceremony for the rest of my life.<br />
I have been in the Army for two years this month. For the entirety of my military career I have had a large patch of velcro on my right sleeve and I have been constantly reminded of that blank space. I was once told to show some respect to a guy I outranked because he had a combat patch and I didnt. Sure, this only happened once, but thats the kind of moment that leaves its mark. I finally have some validation to my choice to join the army. <br />
We could argue the ups and downs of history and experiences your friends or relatives had at war and maybe my experience isnt one that would make me heroic and I might not be in much danger, but I still went when and where I was told to go. I didnt back down from my orders and if I dont measure up to someone elses standards, so be it. Im walking under the same desert sun as anyone else who has seen the middle east, Im with the men Ive grown to trust, and I deployed in a time of war in the manner my country asked me to. I have no regrets and I am serving my country with honor.<br />
I cant say which days will leave their mark in this deployment of mine, but its nice to know that Im not just counting the sunrises numbly as I await my return flight. There needs to be a mix to the tedium and this is one day that felt better than the others. I advise everyone to pay attention to the days that mean the most. If its the destiny of such times to remain only as a good story among friends, then at least when youre asked, you can tell it properly.<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-88375948827614131012012-07-07T12:40:00.002-07:002012-07-07T12:40:37.828-07:00Living Like Twilight<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last time I checked, the Sun was hot. I dont know who decided to move so close to a star, but here we are and we might as well get comfortable with the idea. But that doesnt mean we need to be in the worst areas of the planet. What baffles me is that someone was walking through the desert, getting blasted by my new favorite weather pattern, "Sand", planted their flag and announced that they had found home.<br />
I mean, seriously, what was the original draw to live in such a barren waste land? I digress, I wanted to talk about the the heat and the way we are dealing with it, or rather, not dealing with it. The goal in the desert is to get maximum time of efficient work with minimum people dying out in the sun. Sounds like a reasonable idea, so a plan must be put into place to fit this goal. This is whats known as working a reverse cycle.<br />
Usually when you deploy there is no break in the action. The base is operational and pieces are moving 24 hours a day. If the enemy knew you went to sleep at a certain time, it would most certainly guarantee that they would be working at that time and then problems would arise. I am, however, not in such situation so it is not necessary to keep a full operational force at all times. Mind you, there are things happening all the time, just not to the same extent.<br />
In order to make sure that I could get my job done and not die (as I am wont to do) we have been working reverse cycle now for about a week. We wake up every morning at 2 am and work until noon with a combination of training, maintenance, and classes to keep our warrior minds sharp. The work is nothing more than we are used to doing on a regular basis so the real complication comes from a frustrating combination of: sleep, my need for sleep, the time difference home, and the schedule of the world around me.<br />
Its simple, really. I need to go to bed early to make up for the changed wake up time. The base, however is not on reverse cycle, so they have normal operating hours as if nothing is changed at all. My friends and loved ones are 7 hours behind me, so I can only talk to them in my afternoons, and I need to do this all with my time given before said 2 am wake up.<br />
Ive been working pretty well so far working til noon, getting lunch then going to bed. Ive been able to sleep from 1pm til 6-7 pm (6am - noon on the East coast) then waking up for dinner, gym and anything else my little heart desires. This way I can talk to friends, enjoy afternoon activities, and have my free time in the middle of the night. So far so good. <br />
Only problem is that the world doesnt sleep at noon, Meetings come and go, days off, holidays, and special events have been known to creep up so I am required to "soldier on" and meet the need. Thats fine but I seem to recall a study about poor sleep cycles and dementia. Probably not important, Id say. Time will tell how this all works our for me, but for now its really not so bad.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-11801519943228559812012-06-29T12:56:00.000-07:002012-06-29T12:56:52.731-07:00One day at a time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The position I find myself in is not one of choice. I cant help my location or the time I have to spend here, so I might as well make a goal. Any hobby or activity can be used to pass the time, but Im going to pick one that everyone else seems to pick, but Im not looking at that like a bad thing. Ive decided to spend nine months working on my health and fitness. I have 38 weeks to be here total and I have decided I want to lose 30 lbs. <br />
Its a big number for sure, but what else do I have to do. If youre like me, youve already done the math and seen that its less than a pound a week. When you say it like that it doesnt sound bad at all. I just need to have a little diligence and mind my diet. Now there is the problem.<br />
I dont know what it is about deployment but we get the sweet deal when it comes to food. I wouldnt say our quality goes up but the quantity does for sure. All the dining facilities (Dfacs) are civilian run, so they dont care how much you eat. Three scoops of white, two of brown, two slices of beef AND a chicken breast? Too easy. So how is one supposed to curb their appetite when such a feast is offered four times a day? It wont be easy, it means leaving food on your plate which any soldier will tell you is not a part of training.<br />
I am also setting reasonable expectations. I want to increase my workouts with my abs and in cardio training. I want to tighten this stomach of mine and sweat out what I want to lose. Lifting weights is a big part of my routine, but I am not interested in getting bigger. Its time to tone and when will I have more time than nine months in the desert?<br />
My favorite work out tool so far? TREADWALL. Its a rockwall on a rotating course so you can climb forever. It works with body weight so the speed is regulated. If you think this sounds easy, youve never gone climbing. I find myself falling off it after 5 minutes or so, panting and sweating. Do that three times and you wont have much left.<br />
Your body is yours to master. Its not easy to change your lifestyle but nothing good has ever come easy. Ive been at this for two weeks now and lost three pounds. so far so good. I need to get a steady workout schedule and start cutting back on what I eat, but I think I will hit my goal easily and when I come home I will be in the best shape of my life. All it takes is a plan and the will to do it. Maybe this will be easier than I thought.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-9210722581035376782012-06-21T10:06:00.001-07:002012-06-21T10:07:01.466-07:00Sand Magic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If youre like me, you must think, "Dust Storm", awesome. Movies show them taking down planes, burying hapless travelers, and rolling in like a wall on the horizon. Also, dont they sometimes have mummy faces?<br />
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I planned to answer these questions and more when I learned that certain activities were to be cancelled due to an imminent sand storm on the morrow. So there I was, thinking about life in my tent, knowing that we were being blocked in by walls of sand as i spoke. Exciting, no? The answer turns out to be no.</div>
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Luckily, Army wanted me to be an expert on sand storms so they made us work in one! There I was standing outside, being blasted by wind, thinking how much of a let down this was. No walls, no downed aircraft, and no mummies. Just wind and dirt. Its hazy, like someone is burning underbrush, thick enough to block your sight 20 feet in front of you like fog and its gusting winds. I do mean gusting. Constant winds of 15 MPH keep the air full of brown gold, and then at 25 MPH wind blasts fresh dirt into your eyes and mouth.</div>
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I was not amused.</div>
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Point is, I have yet again let a child hood dream ruin my adult day. If I had just thought it would be miserable, I wouldnt have been disappointed. Lots of eye drops, new uniforms, another shower and I still never found a magical city OR any of Saddam's gold. One week down, 37 to go.</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-17509245937665431132012-06-16T08:24:00.000-07:002012-06-21T10:07:27.598-07:00Kuwait or Bust<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I like this page of mine and even though Ive been a poor writer these past few... mumble mumble... I still enjoyed the existence of my dear Beer, Food, and philosophy. I have decided Ill use this as my public platform to keep you all informed about my whereabouts (a highly desired bit of knowledge to be sure)<br />
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I have recently deployed to the fine country of Kuwait. Kuwait, as Im sure you all know is a small country smack dab in the CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION! I know, youre all very excited. Read a bible sometime, Moses could have lived here. I dont know, Im no scholar.<br />
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So I got the PRIVILEGE to fly here on my day, the one day that facebook overflows with notifications and I am the coolest kid in town. Thats right, the Army decided my birthday was a fitting departure date. Army gives the worst presents. Combine that with a delayed flight and 15 hours of flying and you have yourself a dream birthday indeed. <br />
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Kuwait has laid out the red carpet, for sure. It made sure to show off its high temperature with a ballsy 120 degree day. Impressive. They have agreed to let us see this and temperatures like it for the foreseeable future. What good pals. My room is a comfortable loft style tent big enough for me and 49 of my closest friends. I have the top bunk.<br />
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The base here may not be my ideal situation but it is now home for the next 9 months, so no need to complain. The food is not bad, at least. The portions are large and the options are many. They even serve food at midnight. Thats right, midnight chow, I have truly brought this cash cow in and quickly got punished for my poor use of cows. Oh wait, wrong religion. Im not paid for my joking prowess. <br />
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So there you have it. Day 2 is almost at an end and if this country offers something to write about, I will make sure to record the memory here.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-39153801064036512482010-03-21T11:52:00.000-07:002010-03-21T12:11:59.360-07:00The silver lining...I have fallen on interesting times. It seems to me that from a young age we are all told that we will leave high school, attend college, get a job, and start a family. Its such a simple progression. I believed it. I didn't excel in high school because I didn't try. why would I? I was going to college one way or the other, and I did. In college I took little advantage of my extracurriculars and made my way through with as much fun as effort and although I have graduated, I still am missing something.<div>You see, like many people, and unlike just as many find myself bouncing from job to job. </div><div><br /></div><div>The economy sucks! There are no jobs! Ive tried but this is the best I can do!</div><div><br /></div><div>Ive said these things as many have and looking back I realize how badly I was crutching myself. My whole life I thought there was this master plan and now that its fallen apart, I see that there was no plan at all, and blaming things like the economics of our nation is taking my legs out from under me. These thoughts put the blame on a system that is not at fault.</div><div><br /></div><div>What is the truth then? The truth is that there ARE jobs out there and many people are finding great pay at rewarding experiences and the best candidates are the ones getting them. That's an interesting thought. I realize only after months of wandering that the problem isn't the system, the problem is me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now don't jump to insult or console me, I am not writing this to look for a cookie, I'm writing this to let people like me know that there is hope. It is possible to make yourself more desirable. There are many people out there that are just under trained. Go back to school, get certified, take a class, it is possible to get trained in your desired field without being hired. In fact, it will make you more desirable.</div><div><br /></div><div>I for one am tired of sending out the same resume and wondering what the problem is. In four years, I plan to look back on this recession and smile because I knew that when the going got tough, I got tougher and took my goals and my dreams back. My ambition is too great to be stuck here waiting to see the news man tell me its ok to go out and start applying.</div><div><br /></div><div>I challenge everyone who is not in the situation they wish to be in to do something about it. I for one have a plan, and I wont stop until I'm living my dreams.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-78069027793904440112009-11-29T18:19:00.000-08:002009-11-29T21:55:41.679-08:00Talking turkey...Thanksgiving is at an end, the family has returned home, football has been played, and its time to clean. We all go through the routine, we all get to do sit ups for weeks to pay for our bounty. But if the experience is the same, the why isn't the dinner? We all know what we love about thanksgiving, but what don't we know? I am taking the time now to look back on what I consider to be the three most underrated food items which may or may not be at your thanksgiving feast. You may agree with me, but be warned, by not agreeing, you only strengthen my case.<br /><br />3. Fruit Salad. Lets face it. Thanksgiving is a holiday for feast and good times, health should not be a consideration. But that does not mean that our taste buds must suffer. The author of <em>The Physiology of Taste, </em>Brillat-Savarin points out the distinction between hunger and appetite. He states that your appetite, ability to eat, is entirely separate from your hunger, your need to eat. This explains how you can eat a food item until you are full, but upon arrival of dessert you are renewed in your desire to feast. This is the point of a sweet and tart fruit salad. Have it in a bowl on the side, use it to cleanse your palate. This will give your tongue a break and keep the meal satisfying. Not to mention a few vitamins for your trouble.<br /><br />2. Cranberry Sauce. Bring 2 cups sugar and 1 cup water (simple syrup) to a boil. when sugar dissolves, add one bag (16 oz) whole cranberries. stir until cranberries pop and fall apart. Let cool. total effort? 15 minutes. Why do we bog ourselves down with a muddles canned product from the store when less effort than mashed potatoes will give you such a delight. A sweet jelly which rouses the spirits. It makes turkey sing, stuffing pop, and even lets your kids color the veggies as they enjoy. Cranberries are packed with vitamins and the smell is fresh enough to keep you in a good mood. Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, mushrooms, blah blah blah. that is a plate of grey and white. throw some bright red on there and look like you know what you are doing.<br /><br />1. The number one most underrated item at your thanksgiving dinner is... Stuffing. I know, I just lost some readers because all of you know stuffing and use it often, but you don't understand stuffing, so it is extremely underrated. First of all, it is only stuffing if it is cooked inside the bird, otherwise it is "dressing". Now stuffing is delicious, we all know, but it is also dangerous. That's right, stuffing is the leading culprit in a failed thanksgiving. did you know that? Stuffing packs the bird, thus giving more mass within the turkey. This means that more cook time is required to raise the internal temperature to the proper level of food safety. Fully cooked stuffing usually means dry turkey, since the proper internal temperature makes for a greater outer temperature. You can go ahead and make your turkey juicy and delicious, but now the stuffing is not at a safe temperature. I'm sure you will be fine, but Salmonella could lurk within. I recommend dressing in the future, instead, fill the turkey with citrus and aromatics, discard after, enjoy the meal.<br /><br />So you see, some things need a second look, and others need a harder look. don't change grandmas recipe, just give a little respect to your food. Happy Thanksgiving.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-76741473132102720962009-11-22T09:44:00.000-08:002009-11-22T10:02:32.223-08:00The Magical Fruit...There are few foods in the world as complex and as beneficial as the small bean. It is representation of human history and is a basis in many cultures diet. Beans are as complex a carbohydrate as you can find and packs enough protein to substitute meat at proper amounts. Beans will be around longer than you and I. Its about time we all take this little friend for what it truly is, delicious.<br /><br /><br />In a previous post I already discussed the merits of adding beans to rice, but what if you just wanted beans and you wanted them in the most delicious fashion possible? Well I think I have that covered for you. Start with one bag (16 oz) or pinto beans. empty the contents into a pot of cool water and let sit at least 12 hours before you plan to cook. The newly soaked beans are swollen and ready.<br /><br />Now this next step is up to you, but I think I have found the best option. You need some serious flavor. You want to add to the beans a bone, preferably with meat. Pork is the best option for this as it is salty and flavorful. Go to you local butcher and for a few dollars you can walk home with either a Ham Hock or a Ham End. Both have a ton of flavor, a good deal of meat, a lot of fat and will make your beans sing.<br /><br />I chose the Ham End and your butcher would probably agree with me. Put these pieces into the beans fill with enough water to cover a few inches above beans. You want enough water that after a long boil you still have a soupy mixture. Add maybe a tea spoon of salt and put the pot to boil. Reduce heat to simmer and let it sit for one hour.<br /><br />After the boil, remove the ham end and cut as much meat as you can from the bone, dice that meat up and return to the pot. Discard the bones and fat. Return to boil, then simmer for twenty minutes.<br /><br />Here is your choice. You can use a slotted spoon and remove your new treasures or you can use a ladle and get the broth as well. I choose the latter. A splash of tabasco sauce, or spicy white vinegar will make the flavor sing. Enjoy it, as I'm sure this will quickly become a family favorite.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-41063965819094799072009-11-02T11:50:00.000-08:002009-11-02T12:07:12.376-08:00Its Alive...When you take the remains of something to build something else, does it have to be a monster? Is it possible, or even probable that things are changing for the better or even for the good? I think that reusing is as close to good as you can get and I'm not just talking about your plastic bottles.<br /><br />I'm talking about soup. Not just any soup. I mean my soup. A creation that I saw coming together and made it happen and it did not start with soup, it didn't even start with broth, no this sordid story begins with grandparents and change of plans. Id like to tell you about how a plan can come together.<br /><br />Grandparents on both sides were coming over for dinner. We bought two giant (I can eat my beef, but these were mammoth) cuts of beef. If I had to guess I would say 48 oz a piece. We were going to grill them up and give meat to everyone for two days. Two short phone calls later, the guests are all skipping and we have a lot of food; Apples. My solution? Applesauce.<br /><br />I mean that figuratively. The crock pot was assembled, the meat seared, a sauce made. The sauce was tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire, Cayenne pepper, cumin, garlic, salt and pepper, a dash of soy and half a bottle rose wine. I know, sounds good. 24 hours later we are making tacos with some serious flavored meat. When that was all gone, we had about 4 cups of some serious flavored gravy.<br /><br />After some soul searching (calling my chef cousin) I had a plan, I had the ingredients, I was going to make this sauce better, tastier, more flavorful than it was before. I was going to make soup. Into a pot went some olive oil, garlic, and the parts of mirapoi (Carrots, Celery, Onion) that I'm allowed to use (onion is forbidden in my house, don't complain, I already feel the loss). When that cooked up, I added the super beef sauce, a large can of chicken stock, water, bouillon to compensate the water, salt, pepper, some chicken breast(raw), and a few dash spices (I don't remember exactly). When the chicken was cooked, I removed, chopped and returned it. I then added egg noodles and peas, let this simmer until noodles cooked, then I feasted.<br /><br />There you have it. A flavor explosion of a soup that is hearty, warm, perfect for these cold days. I have half the batch frozen for later consumption and the other half was eaten within days of it being done. Sometimes in life your going to have a lot of little when your looking for something big. Its up to you to make a plan, stick to it, get help when you need it, and make something big for yourself.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-55340477541031938482009-10-13T18:28:00.000-07:002009-10-13T18:45:24.715-07:00Fire of Life...I took a trip last week. This was no ordinary trip, I was traveling out to the expansive mid-west for an opportunity to see new additions to my family and spend some much needed time relaxing and taking my time to enjoy a new area. By relaxing, I mean I was working in the rain moving large rocks from the woods to a flower bed so that other people can marvel at how beautiful nature is. I needed a reward.<br /><br />I found this reward in the heart of the magnificent Greek district located in downtown Chicago. For those of you think of only greasy thick pizza when asked about the fine cuisine of the windy city, I dare say you are doing that town an injustice. Chicago is also home to some of the best hot dogs in the nation (even if I get a cross look when I request ketchup) and lesser known except for the locals who pride themselves of the fact, a fantastic Greek district.<br /><br />The time was 7:30, the place was the Parthenon. When you enter, you are greeted by a boisterous woman who says hello to every new face and leads you to a table which is very close to the surrounding tables, a bad sign? I might have thought so at first. As the night went on, you realized that they were going to fill their walls and the group was to feast together at the sights and sounds presented.<br /><br />We began with a delicious salad made with feta cheese and anchovies and a crusty bread. This led to a group of eight sharing three bowls of soup, we all tasted the Lentil, the Egg Lemon, and my favorite, the Navy Bean. We made our order, received our wine and little did we know what we had started.<br /><br />Quick additions were made immediately. A traditional Greek appetizer was brought to us, cheese wrapped in filo dough and lit on fire to the crowds amazement and shouts of "OOPA!". I still don't know what that means. Then the food came. The meals were put in place then immediately moved, portions passed, flavors tested, wine drank, laughter echoed. I had half my meal still on my plate when my body told me, "no mas". Put a fork in me, I was done.<br /><br />I am not Greek. Not even a little, but for two and a half hours, I was laughing, shouting, drinking the wine, and enjoying the flavors. I drank bitter Greek coffee and tried to read my fortune in the mud (I saw only mud - a bad sign?) I had more cheese than my digestion cared for and still I look back and see that as a high point of the trip. There were many Asians, Indians, Whites, Blacks, and of course the Greeks. They were all enjoying a culture other than their owns. They were all opening their eyes to another world. That's the beauty of life, some people don't have to move rocks for a relative but there heads are still hidden beneath one. See the light. Get out there and learn what someone else has to offer.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-40906539058121009102009-09-27T18:29:00.000-07:002009-09-27T19:01:45.861-07:00Too Much Good...Call me crazy. It seems to me that if you take a good thing and mash it together with another good thing, you should end up with a super good thing. What followed was a journey through my very being as a food lover. I love rice. I love beans. Join me now as I tell you my journey through the monster known as... Rice and Beans.<br /><br />I didn't eat beans until recently. I love them now. little sacks of awesome. But now I eat them and I am curious how to use them better. I decided that I must love rice and beans so I set out to create it. The first attempt was with Caribbean style. Basically it is beans prepared and flavored with coconut milk, Cinnamon, assorted other spices and rice is then added.<br /><br />This is an odd flavor. sweet. dessert like. in a word? unsatisfying. I didn't like it. It was just not a combo of flavor that I enjoyed. not to mention that I used a whole pepper with seeds and didn't get a bit of spice. oh and fun fact, the coconut milk burns acrid, bitter, and black if you over cook it even slightly. Ok, moving on.<br /><br />I was at a grocery store chain which I will refer to in code, Hole Foods. Hole Foods has a cafe area where they pride themselves on food options for all people, including a vegan food bar. They had a rice and bean dish there and I grew intrigued. The product!? miserable. poor flavor, over spiced. The dish was savory and cold. unappetizing and disappointing. So, I heated it up. Slightly better, but on a whole, the flavor was the same. No dice.<br /><br />Why was this so hard? I wanted to just get to basics. Bag of beans, check. Ham hock, check. Lets do this. I just boiled the beans with the ham hock until the beans were tender. I cut the meat from the bone and returned it to the pot and added the rice to the salty, meaty, hearty mixture. With a top off of water and a return to boil, it was ready to cook.<br /><br />This was great. Delicious. Meaty, not too salty. It was just as god intended it to be. Just rice and beans. how hard was that? I think that in the end its nice to know that two rights can make a wrong and that to each his own. I may not have liked the other options but its important to keep trying. I will try more in the future, but this is a start. I will continue to delight in life's most delicious flavors.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-5671922398321432442009-09-23T14:47:00.000-07:002009-09-23T15:14:09.471-07:00On Love...<div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">"I may not be a smart man, but I know what love is" - Forrest Gump</span></em></div><br />What does it take to fall in love? Is it a journey within the eyes of another, or a look within oneself that makes it love? What does it mean to love? They say, "It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all". I cry foul play at this sentiment! To love is to be open, to put your heart within the scissors blades and place the grips in the hands of another. Can you decide that you are in love or will love choose you? I dare say that I have chose the woman, but I did not choose to love her. Quite the contrary. I found myself in love with her. Love comes to man and makes him sing. A touch, a smile, a kiss, or even the frown beneath the eyes of a disapproving stare, all confirm what your heart knows already knows is true.<br /><br />In reality, a candle holding the night at bay from the wind has more a chance than love. Chaos. Two people run the roads of life hoping their paths connect. Disorder. Worlds within a world, trying to understand those they meet when they barely know themselves. Passion. The recognition of your ability to be strong and, at the same time, weak with another. Is man the sword and woman the sheath? But what of, "The souls recognition of its counterpoint in another"? Does this mean yin for yang, or is yin for yin possible? A dance, then, founded in challenge, a relationship that demands progress; only the best will do.<br /><br />What is love to me? Mutual association. My very being, split in two. An explanation of who I am which at first demands the description of another. Completed by another person, myself in them and they in me. To remove that piece means unthinkable pain. Reducing a soul to pieces so that one can try to start over. Is it best then to move on when uncertainty nears? Spare yourself the torment, collect your tears and whats left of your dignity and let that person go? I would sooner burn my house, the symbol of my safety and happiness, to the ground than, "let" that someone go.<br /><br />Symbols. A representation of something more. To love is to make a person into a beacon which shines with the light of everything good in your life. Could you throw away your childhood blanket, bear, or other item which you held so dear? Would it be any easier if these symbols spoke, moved, and knew you better than you know yourself? I know that out their, out the window of my life, I am imperfect. But with love, I shine immaculate and without fault. How can one desire that feeling to leave?<br /><br />At times, however, the heart cries. You feel the scissors tighten as you stare through tears, pain flowing through your very being. A short tone, a cold shoulder, bitter indifference can all erupt from your lover to you. However, you hold fast because you know that with a smile, a mere whisper, you will feel relief and more. You can forget the darkness fore it makes the light shine brighter as you dare to fly again.<br /><br />Without love, is this feeling possible? Meetings of the heart are the moments of Kings and Gods; should mortals have to suffer for such arrogance as to dare to love? Human nature and free will cannot be changed or controlled. It is in each of us the power to choose our own life. I do not wish the control or command of anyone else. I'm just a boy who's been in love. That's all I'll ever be.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-33119929235954231132009-09-15T19:17:00.000-07:002009-09-15T19:36:49.613-07:00Seems Impossible...Have you ever had one of those days? For that matter, one of those months, years, lives? Sometimes it just seems like no matter what you do, you cant get ahead. Life will challenge. You never know what is going to happen until it happens, but then what? I always see things as sink of swim. But you can just see how things are stacked so that if you so choose to sink, the world will put its foot down to speed things up.<br /><br />Well I say no more. I heard a great philosopher make a life statement that made me think. He said, "We will eat that elephant one bite at a time". The philosopher was my dad. He is no philosopher. And it made me laugh more than think. What a way to picture things.<br /><br />You see, its all about perspective. Did life give you lemons or lemonade? I know, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">I'm</span> sorry. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">I'm</span> as tired of that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">adage</span> as you are but hey. I am currently being trained at work. I sit in a room and learn and get paid. Its boring, its redundant, its <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">tailored</span> to the simplest denominator... but wait. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">I'm</span> getting paid to sit. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">I'm</span> stealing.<br /><br />This is a little exciting.<br /><br />Each hour ticks by and my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Grinch</span> smile curls and curls and curls. I put my finger tips together and eye ball my instructors... the fools.<br /><br />obviously this is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">ridiculous</span>, but hey. I had fun. Fun. Change the way you think. Your fired? big whoop, you complained about that job all the time, go do what you want. your poor? learn simple pleasures? Campfires and beer are just as good as movies and steak. When I find my fridge empty at dinner time, I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">don't</span> cry. I get creative.<br /><br />Life is an elephant. Maybe yours has his trunk sky high in the symbol of good fortune, or maybe yours is sitting (I said <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">SITting</span>) on your face. All you have to do is take a bite and make your way to the top. may take a while, but you can do it. One bite at a time.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-48034480967222864662009-09-12T06:05:00.000-07:002009-09-12T06:32:04.632-07:00Axiom #2<blockquote>The meaning of life is to find the very best of whatever your into and surround yourself with it at all times</blockquote><br />Since the beginning of time itself, life has existed. This can mean the life of a split second, crying out with its moment in the grand spectrum of time as it dies away just as quickly, the life of the universe, post big bang, an awe inspiring clock work of sophisticated and powerful forces colliding in the most dazzling and violent ballet ever written, or even the life of simple bacteria which one day will grow and evolve into a race of beings that can one day type their thoughts of their one celled ancestors upon their personal keyboards. Yes, life is not just how we know it and it is everywhere. The real question is, why? What is the meaning of it all? Well I don't know the answer to that. The lesser famous, but just as important question is more explicit. What is the meaning of our lives?<br /><br />Day after day, we humans wake up and proceed upon our lives with an almost animal instinct to remain active. But why? What is the point of it all. Most people will interrupt their one of their days for at least one moment during their cosmically insignificant time and wonder why they are on this earth and why they must toil endlessly. Why is their life significant?<br /><br />I'm here to tell you why. Of course I could preface this with many, "in my opinions...", and "maybes", but that's not the case, this is what I believe so I will proceed with my facts.<br /><br />Your life is significant because it is yours. Its the only thing that can never be taken from you. Your past, present, and future, are a book which you are writing. You may be helpless to change events or location, but your attitude, your thoughts, these are all yours and no one can touch them.<br /><br />That is why, as Ive stated, the meaning of life is to make this story as personal as you can. If you love beer, then try every last one until you have found your favorites, then drink them. If you like skiing, go to as many mountains as you can and find the one you enjoy most and love it. If you love God, then love him for ever, if you love sin, then go out and fill yourself to the top. This is not however an invitation to impede the life of another. Your purpose is not to convert, to harm, or change. Just be open and share. Smile when they say no, and be helpful when they say yes.<br /><br />If you cant afford these things, then work to get them. Dream of how to make your perfect toy, food, boat, car, your perfect life is not far. Make a plan, earn them. I bet its even better that way. Take the first step towards a life you can be proud of.<br /><br />Life is here for your enjoyment, if you are upset, mad, sad, or in general displeased, then you are playing the game wrong. The rules are simple, the odds in your favor. Your favorite thing is waiting. Go enjoy it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-56956993135622221772009-09-08T19:21:00.000-07:002009-09-08T19:34:00.531-07:00The Razor Thin Line...I just made a great Clam Chowder. It was thick. It was creamy. It was flavorful and meaty; everything a clam chowder should be. The truth is that I never made a clam chowder before. I am ever growing in my culinary talents and some stones are still being turned. For instance, I have made Rues for gravy but I have never made one for soup. I was scared, I was nervous. I watched it bubble on the stove like a hawk. As Ive said, Ive done it before, but never for a soup. What if I messed it up?<br /><br />The rue was fine, of course, the soup delicious, the dinner complete. I know what your thinking. If I never made one before, how did my clam chowder turn out so well. Ill tell you.<br /><br />It was stolen.<br /><br />I went online, I found a recipe, and I made something I have never made before. I didn't tell people I made someone else's soup, I told them it was mine. Home made. Did I lie? Truth is, I actually used two extra slices of bacon, an extra potato, and removed the onion from the original recipe. I also changed the spices. So, if the difference between two peoples recipe can be a secret ingredient, then how do we define ownership? The fact is that when it comes to a recipe, there is no owner. I changed it, I own it. The moment I deviated even a spice or two I took it for my own.<br /><br />That's the power of creativity. Why say 'yes' to anything handed to you. Take the frame, use the advice, but in the end its you that makes your world special. If you like spicy, make spicy. You don't have to follow every direction to the letter. Get out there and make your life something that you can enjoy. Make it unique. Just like you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-38921949203278915872009-09-06T15:41:00.001-07:002009-09-08T15:50:02.087-07:00Like a Pheonix We Rise...Summer is noticeably coming to its chilly end. The Days of heat, although relatively few these past months (where I live, at least,) are dwindling to cool afternoons and great "picnic" weather. The life of the world is being reflected all around me.<br /><br />As I look out into my yard, I see what is becoming of my garden. The once bushy, lush, green patch out my door is becoming thin and sickly. The Tomato plants which once stood as six foot ever mindful monitors of the life developing within its caged walls now fall over and become brown as the last of the fruit it produces is plucked from it by my hand or by ground hog. The zucchini plants which disappointed me are shrinking and you can see that their time is coming to an end. My garden, synonymous with the attitude of nature is smiling its last smile, producing its last effort to prolong itself through seeds, and bidding a fond farewell.<br /><br />The truth is that that garden will never be there again. Those plants die and the dirt changes and even if I mimic it next year, the garden I have this year will be gone forever. Like these plants, humans too wake up day after day, year after year, and look at themselves in the mirror and see the same face they saw yesterday. This face, however, is not the face they had a birth.<br /><br />So when did we change?<br /><br />We can see that we are as gardens. same body, same parts, and same scheme as we have always had, yet we change and that's all there is to it. I am not the man I was when I was 10, so I must have changed along the way. Its best to embrace the things we have now and look foreword to the changes of the future. It will make everything easier if we allow the "new" to enter us and embrace it as if it were a long lost friend.<br /><br />I have noticed change in my life; I am now an uncle to a healthy happy young boy. I was not an uncle a few days ago, but now my life has changed forever. I didn't even feel it happen.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-56293087949597644202009-08-31T11:54:00.000-07:002009-08-31T12:04:12.548-07:00No rain, No rainbows...Life is a garden, dig it. Crying a river? build a bridge and get over it. Every cloud has a silver lining, yes, we all have THAT friend, but when is it time to use such wisdom? I have a story of fighting the odds, making something out of nothing, pulling oneself up from the bootstraps and carrying on, I'm talking of course about muffins.<br /><br />A good friend of mine welcomed my family home from a two day trip with muffins. Mmm, muffins. However, all was not well. The recipe was found online and the batter may have been tampered with and over mixed, resulting in the final product being way too dry, yet delicious. There was even fudge in the middle. So here we have great flavor in a desert of a dessert.<br /><br />I'm sorry to say it was not my brain child which followed, but the recommendation was fantastic. Bread Pudding. Bread pudding, to those that don't know it, sounds weird. What a combo. The reality is that it is just an absorbent bread soaked with a sweet custard and baked. So we took the muffins, cubed them, and covered them with a mixture of eggs, milk, and sugar, and let it all soak. We decided to make a crumb topping with brown sugar, butter, and slivered almonds (that's what we had, I would prefer pecans.)<br /><br />After a bit of time to soak and about 40 minutes in the oven, the final product was splendid. Savory and sweet, soft, moist, and all in all a delicious product. It was not perfect. In fact, if I did it again I would skip the brown sugar. But the muffin and the fudge? Oh baby, you cant miss with such all star ingredients.<br /><br />The point? Some things are not meant for the trash can. Take a second look and see how you can fix it. In retrospect, the bread pudding was tastier than the muffins would have been if they were moist. Just something to think about.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-87127627550722762382009-08-30T18:21:00.000-07:002009-08-30T18:48:29.277-07:00Stubborn or Blind...There was a time in my life where a few times a day I would have to inconvenience someone. I was like a king the way I was special amongst other people. My will was exacted or my fury wrought. I was a picky eater and I would not stop until I was feeding upon food of my liking.<br /><br />It began much worse than it is now. I would only eat ketchup with hamburger and then only when it was absent of the bun. I would not eat tomato sauce on my noodles, and anything green? forget about it. I would discriminate over color, shape, smell, and above all, texture.<br /><br />I got better. I warmed to ketchup and tomato sauce by my teens, but for the most part veggies were not my idea of a good time. Then in college something amazing happened. I began to cook regularly. I cooked for myself, for others, for groups, for ladies, I was a cooking machine. I realized something. I was having a great time imagining meals that I had no intention of eating, yet I still found my mouth watering (thank you Iron Chef.)<br /><br />So now I sit amongst all the other people in life who can order a salad with anticipation, ask for a menu item without changing it, I will even eat a few vegetarian meals each week now. But does that mean that I am right? I still go to Wendy's and ask them for my favorite meal, the Spicy Chicken sandwich, plain. I will only put pickles on a burger (see earlier posts.) I still cant eat raw tomato even though I love each and every one of its products, I wont touch brussel sprouts, and occasionally there are things that gross me out.<br /><br />In the end, I believe that everything should be tried. I spent a semester in Mexico. things were tried. Get out there and open your eyes. Its ok to be picky where picky is preferred, but you have no excuse to not broaden yourself. I now prefer onions on my cheese steak and mushrooms on my pizza. I look foreword to my next change of heart and so should you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-31664049240697475952009-08-25T13:25:00.000-07:002009-08-25T13:52:49.815-07:00Think About it...I would like to tell you a short story. This will not be a story like the ones you have heard before. There will be no noble knight, no dashing spy, and no unlikely hero who time itself has chosen to risk their life for the greater good. No, this is the story about a boy named Dave.<br /><br />Dave spends every day watching those around him. He need only look out his window and he can see them, all around. The most common sight are the flyers. These people need no wings or planes, yet they move gracefully and quickly through the air with no effort at all. Another popular ability is exhibited in the Strong-Ones. these people can lift enormous weight even though they are of normal build and normal height. Among the remaining people are the psychics who can read minds and those who can breath under water. Everyone could do something. Every one except Dave.<br /><br />Dave has no power. This is because Dave has something that no one else has, Dave has the truth. The truth stumbled upon Dave in the form of a book, which was discovered in a box in the woods. This book changed his life forever; it explained everything. You see, it all starts at birth. The child is reported as well as the names and abilities of the parents. A few months later, a card arrives with the childs future power. For the next fourteen years the parents regail the child with stories of what to expect. They let him play with others who will hold that power and on the their 14th birthday, the child wakes up and has a new power and a new life.<br /><br />The book made it so clear. The human brain is a magnificent thing. It can mimic pain and joy when there is neither, placebos are able to make your mind create symptoms when all is well, it can even kill itself if it is made to believe it must. With enough stimulus it can even make you fly. Why not? If a child knew, absolutely knew, that he would have a power when he was fourteen, and didn't know other wise, why wouldnt he? The brain will make it real because thats all it knows.<br /><br />Dave understood all too well. He is now seventeen. He was supposed to fly.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-45186793880189164802009-08-24T12:22:00.000-07:002009-08-24T12:40:38.833-07:00The Spice of Life...I don't think I have been shy to admit that I love pickles. My favorite batch of pickles is, as mentioned in previous posts, very spicy. This is because of the delicious pickled cherry peppers which float atop the brine. I am also particularly fond of pickled whole chilies, a la the canned ones you get in the Spanish section. I ate them like chips in Mexico. In my garden I planted two cherry pepper, and two chili pepper plants. I had little other plans for these jewels other than to pickle and enjoy them.<br /><br />About a week ago I had my first opportunity. I had about 6 or 7 cherry peppers and no chilies, but that was ok. I also wanted to get some hot oil out of the deal, so I began to do the following: First, I removed the stem and seeds of the peppers. Next, I sliced the peppers and put them in a pan with vegetable oil. After a quick saute, I added about one and a half cups veg. oil, and about one cup of white vinegar and let it boil. When the peppers were soft and resting in a red oil, I removed to a jar and let cool.<br /><br />I was so excited. I couldn't wait, a day later, I gathered my brother, mother, and grandfather, and bragged about what I had done. I made some crackers with cheese, served and watched. Not even my mother minded. I quickly threw one in my mouth... nothing. How could I have been so stupid?<br /><br />You see? I relied so heavily on the vinegar increasing the spice by opening taste buds that I forgot to put the spice in in the first place. you see, the peppers spice lies in the ribs and seeds. The very ribs and seeds that I removed in the first step.<br /><br />Round two. I have about 9 cherries, and close to 10 chilies now. I put slits in the chilies and sliced the cherries WITH SEEDS. I now want to make a spicy vinegar since I now have a pepper oil, so I boiled 2 cups white vinegar and half a cup water. I added to this a tsp Koser salt, 1 tbsp sugar, and a clove of garlic. I layered the peppers in a jar and poured the boiling mixture over, covered with a paper towel, and let sit til cool.<br /><br />The result. Very spicy. the aroma alone made me cough since I was not ready for it. Threw one in and chewed, spice filled my tongue, the vinegar made the whole flavor pop. Very bright and very delicious. I just cant get enough of these little treasures. Good and good for you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6948827672017708439.post-80136010518353004552009-08-20T10:25:00.000-07:002009-08-20T10:43:23.081-07:00my idea of a good time...I am shocked and at times appalled at what people will charge you for food these days. I understand that farmers need money and better ingredients mean better food but what are we really paying for? Are Wendy's commercials right? are we paying for the flair? the idea that you walk into a restaurant and it has its interior designed like an old villa, there are bottles of wine in view, and oil bottles organized like art, means that you have to pay for it all in the end is absurd. Even if that place offers endless soup, salad and bread sticks, I still don't want to pay like I just took some one out to propose. I don't think of myself as cheap. I am living within my means at the moment and shouldn't have to suffer because of it. I cant believe I'm about to say this... but I think the French have got something.<br /><br />I am referring to "Fooding". According to doubletongued.org, a dictionary (I think,) fooding is defined as:<br /><blockquote>A restauranting trend which emphasises food as a style choice, usually via new<br />or fusion cuisines in combinations or factors not related to food, such as a<br />unique or trendy atmosphere.</blockquote><br />In short, what this means is that you don't need the black tie to get a black tie meal. This all came about because there were more chefs arriving in the work place with classical and gourmet training and not enough gourmet positions to accommodate them all. These brave men and women then began to open their own restaurants with minimum funds. Imaging a bar that served you prime rib and fillet mignon, roast duck, and subtle cuisines that you only see on iron chef, yet at a price the matched the atmosphere. You could enjoy this presentation with a beer watching a sporting event. That is what I'm talking about.<br /><br />I say we all need to stop putting such a price on aesthetics. I understand that with food like fajitas we buy the sizzle, not the steak, but do we have to pay outrageously to enjoy a 3 dollars worth of skirt steak, tortilla and veggies? Don't abandon your favorite restaurant, just make sure you are getting what you pay for.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0