Administrativia

Vegas was fun -- it usually is -- but this was a nice respite from the daily drudgery. Let me start with: Elton John: the Red Piano It was a wonderful, adult semi-biographical romp through his career and music. Having not had the opportunity to see him in the glory days of his larger concerts, I can't compare experiences -- but this was a great and more intimate setting... with a bit of the "over-the-top" spectacle you would expect. It was a bit disconcerting to see young children in attendance, however. I can only imagine their parent's reaction to seeing the video display during the "Philadelphia Freedom" performance -- with vintage porn and strippers bursting onscreen in kalaidescopic melange of sixties imagery. "Candle in the Wind" -- poignant as ever... "Daniel" -- we got to see what the lyrics really meant. "The Bitch is Back" -- Pamela Anderson pole dancing, with giant legs and breasts filling the stage... were jus...

This week: Tex-Mex Chicken & Rice Casserole 1 cup chopped onion 2 tablespoons margarine, butter, or olive oil 1 6.6-ounce package regular chicken-flavored rice-vermicelli mix 1 cup long grain rice 2 14-ounce cans chicken broth 2-1/2 cups water 4 cups chopped cooked chicken or turkey 4 medium tomatoes, chopped 1 4-ounce can diced green chili peppers, drained 2 tablespoons snipped fresh basil or 2 teaspoons dried basil, crushed 1 tablespoon chili powder 1 teaspoon cumin seed, crushed, or 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (4 ounces) In a 3-quart saucepan cook onion in hot margarine, butter, or oil until tender. Stir in rice-vermicelli mix, including seasoning package, and uncooked rice. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Stir in broth and water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 20 minutes (liquid will not be fully absorbed). Transfer the mixture to a very large mixing bowl; stir in chicken or turkey, tomato, chili peppers,...

Well -- about to take on of my semi-annual trips to Sin City -- so very light blogging this week... not that last week was all that heavy either. I'm beginning to understand why it's so difficult to really keep a blog up and running with new content... I guess because I'm a little bit less inclined than some to post every innanity that pops into my head... not that they don't, it's just that I'm 1) not at my computer, or 2) working an unable to post or 3) usually have second thoughts about what comes pouring from my keyboard. Oh well -- off to get packed and then on to the airport in the morning!

Bunnies on the Bayou, Sunday... Man 1: I've said enough. I'm going to stop telling you these things, you remember too much. Man 2: Whatever. Man 1: I'm drunk. Man 2: No Sh*t.

Filling 1 pound ground raw turkey or ground beef 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup chopped green sweet pepper 1/2 of a 3 oz package of sliced pepperoni 1 15-ounce can or 1 15-1/2-ounce jar pizza sauce 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms 1/2 teaspoon fennel seed, crushed 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crushed 1 6-ounce package thinly sliced mozzarella cheese 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese Topping 2 eggs 1 cup milk 1 tablespoon cooking oil 1 cup all-purpose flour In a large skillet cook turkey or beef, onion, and green pepper until meat is brown and vegetables are tender. Drain fat. Cut pepperoni slices in half. Stir pepperoni, pizza sauce, mushrooms, fennel seed, oregano, and basil into meat mixture. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, for topping, in a small bowl combine eggs, milk, and oil. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 1 minute. Add flour; beat 1 minute more or until smooth. Grease the si...

Man 1: So he says that noone knows he's gay. Man 2: Seriously? Man 1: I know. Everytime he opens his mouth, a purse falls out. Man 2: Prada or a knock-off?

So spoke John Adams on his deathbed on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence (unaware that his compatriot had died but hours earlier that day). I've always been something of an American history buff -- especially the Revolution to Civil War... which is why I have so enjoyed the John Adams miniseries on HBO. The book by David McCullough was brilliant enough, but the acting by Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney breath much-needed life into what most people see as mythic figures rather than simple human beings who transcended much to set in motion this noble experiment called the United States of America.

This week: Chicken Rice casserole 2 large boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips 1 1/2 cups minute rice Pinch of rosemary Pinch of parsley 1 can mushroom soup (not cream) 1 can celery soup 1 package onion soup mix (dry) Salt / Pepper Grease a 13x9 baking dish. Sprinkle rice along bottom of greased pan and dust with rosemary and parsley. In a sauce pan, prepare and heat celery soup and mushroom soup together according to directions. Gently pour over rice. Lay chicken strips on top and evenly sprinkle package of onion soup mix over the top. Seal dish with foil and bake for 2 1/4 hours at 325F. (Do not peek.) *MWBC = Methodist Women Bearing Casseroles

Light blogging since last Friday -- between working my Rodeo shifts and the AIDS Walk on Sunday, I haven't had much time to get on the old computer (or even the new one). I'll post additional photos later this week (if I think about downloading them from my camera)... but this one from my phone of the seemingly endless line of people that were walking. We were working the Chevron water station -- aka "Hoopla Station #1" -- handing out water and wristband key-chains to all the walkers.

This week: Zucchini Casserole 8 cups diced or grated zucchini 1 large green pepper, chopped 1 large onion,chopped 1 cup breadcrumbs (italian seasoned works best) 1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar 1/2 cup grated monterrey jack cheese 1/2 cup olive oil 1 tbsp basil 2 large eggs, beaten well In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs well and add in other ingredients (add cheese last). Mix well. Pour into a 13x9 baking pan or dish and bake at 350°F for 45 minutes.   Note: I prefer the consistency you get by grating the zucchini rather than diced as this makes the dish more of a crustless quiche.

Winner An apt image to reflect day 4 of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo... and the post-Tuesday popular vote results. Photo: Sculpture garden, Reliant Park

Still waiting to see the final results of the primacaucuses, but one thing is clear: Hillary won the popular vote... and if my precinct meeting was any indication, the caucuses won't be quite the blow-out that the Obamaniacs were anticipating. And before anyone starts confusing the indignation felt by many fellow Clinton supporters as "sour grapes" or "being pissed because this was supposed to be a coronation", don't go there. The only folks talking in terms of entitlement right now are in the Obama camp... and their actions at the caucuses smacked of that attitude big-time. So, I'll be waiting to hear if I'm selected as an alternate or delegate to the Senate District Convention -- probably won't be since I had to leave before the final bit of the meeting -- but there were plenty of others there to take up the cause.

No wireless -- just chaos... and boy am I tired! I just got back from the caucus here in the Galleria area in Houston... all I can say is: wow. First, I don't think I've ever seen that many Dems in one room in this part of Houston -- more than 200 showed up for the caucus. We're a pretty GOP district, so it was kind of amazing. The overall crowd was very mixed -- old, young, black, white, gay, straight, and a few more men than women. The results wound up being evenly split for taking delegates to the next level in the process -- 10 for Clinton / 11 for Obama. That was the good. Now the bad. I wish I could say it was a cordial process or meeting. The Obama camp was out in full force and were pretty much badgering Hillary supporters all along the way -- looking over their shoulders as we signed in on the caucus sheets, telling people that they needed a photo ID (not true if you have your voter card), and generally being pains in the behind (but only to elderly and obviously H...

Well -- cast my first vote of the day and got my ticket to come back this evening for the caucus. It was very interesting, I ran into a little old lady who came by to get a ticket for the evening -- having already voted early... but she "heard from Bill Clinton that I had to come back and vote again." She wasn't sure how the whole caucus thing worked, but I explained it to her -- the election judge was pretty much worthless in his explanation -- and she was all happy to be back @ 7:00 this evening to take part (and vote Hillary). On the way back to my car, another woman stopped me to ask if this was the polling place -- she remarked that she wasn't sure since there no signs except for Obama's... but as she said, "That doesn't mean anything." My precinct generally tends to be older (mature) -- with the younger crowd being more transient and less likely to vote or participate. It will be interesting to see how that breaks (or doesn't) for Obama or ...