Backstory…

So, in case some of you thought I was off my rocker with my last post, here's the back story. While working at "The Puzzle Company," my coworkers and I were discussing movies and at one point someone said, "there is only one trilogy." And I piped up, "Yeah, Jurassic Park!" I do like the movies, as I really like dinosaurs, but c'mon—they're kind of goofy.

Anyway, one particular coworker would randomly play the Jurassic Park theme for me to hear and ultimately it was revealed that I breed raptors. We would even sneak in raptors into puzzle boxes on occasion for our Creative Director to find.* I would discuss at times that I would photograph them and reveal my plot to reintroduce these magnificent (albeit extinct) animals to the world again. Then last week, said coworker snuck it in again—the Jurassic Park theme. Do de do do dooo, do dee do do doo… It just had to be done.

So now you know the rest of the story.

*No, this did not take a lot of time and before anyone asks, I never missed a deadline and always worked long hours.

A Little Experiment…

BACK HISTORY:

As many of you know, I've been developing a program for the scientific community for a number of years now: the Raptor Breeding Program. After nearly 5 years of waiting for my permits, I was finally granted the opportunity to start breeding full sized dinosaurs—the Velociraptor. This fascinating species shall walk the earth again.

ENTRY DATE: Friday, April 24

Something horrible happened today. I've included a quick shot of my field journal. If I don't make it out of here, my only hope is that someone can carry on my work. The raptors got out today. I don't know if it was the weather or something more sinister. One of my three subjects is missing and I can only hope she doesn't run amok in downtown Tucson.


ENTRY DATE: Friday, April 24 … edit.

I've been able to round up the two with minimal effort. Turns out—they really like key lime pie! This is good to know, but I am worried about Subject 13. I'll have to start researching purveyors of key lime pie and warn them.

A Garden…Finally!

I have what you could call—a brown thumb. Most of my plants either die by under watering/over watering/too much plant food (oops!) or just plain old neglect. Much of that stemmed (hoo ha; did you get that pun?) from the fact that I used to work at the office about 50-60 hours a week. No way did I have any desire to do much of anything after getting home.

But, here it is—proof that my little planting experiment is working. Now I just hope that I have not started these woefully late. But, with the long growing season out here I'm not that worried. That's the blessing of living in Southern Arizona.

My experiment consisted of:

1. Using old natural no additives dirt put into recycled paper cups
2. Placing seeds, then adding more dirt
3. Marking all cups with a Sharpie marker so I knew what I was looking at
4. Placing all cups onto cookie sheets
5. Shooing away the cats now and again; no this is not catnip
6. Watering cups any time I notice the tops are dry

If all goes well, I will have

• Two types of tomatoes
• Tomatillos
• Jalapeños
• Annaheim peppers
• Peaches and Cream corn
• Silver corn
• Summer squash
• Zucchini

Air Conditioning…

or … “How I became an HVA/C Technician”

Last September, about a week after I started my own home-based business, my Air Conditioner met the great compressor in the sky. As an A/C is a rather expensive piece of hardware, we decided to readdress this situation come springtime. That time is now. I sat through a few days of 86° in the house but overall, winter has been kind to us—and cold! Now it is hot again and I'm feeling the need, the need for sp-coldair?

First step: I signed on with AngiesList.com, as heard about on NPR and found A-rated HVA/C service companies. First up, a gentleman came out to measure the house, check the duct-work and figure out the overall needs of our A/C. After these, he discussed the various options his company could offer, and off he went. Oh … he forgot his ladder, so we have great new $60 ladder sitting in our garage.*

QUOTE: $4,400 for new A/C compressor, coil and install

Second step: Contact next company with A-list rating on AngiesList.com. Another technician in our house, looks over everything and we discuss options. He addresses some issues with specific brands and provides some reading materials and advice.

QUOTE: ~$3,500 for A/C compressor, coil, furnace and install

Now, after getting quite a bit of information I find myself on THIS page. So glad I found this information. I now know what R-22 is (dupont, I'm looking at you!) and SEER and R410A (Puron), what the ratings actually mean and how they can be used. Also, I know that you can in fact buy too large of an A/C unit. Know your square footage before anything else.

Yep, I'm pretty much an expert now. So, I'll be getting my license and bonding downtown tomorrow and starting in on the lucrative career of A/C install.**

______________________________
* I will actually call this company and return their ladder
** No, no I really will not become an A/C technician. That's a joke on my part. A pretty lame one, but…

Green Pozole with Chicken

I adapted this recipe from an issue of Gourmet some years ago. If you are interested in the original recipe, click HERE. I've made the original recipe exactly as stated and altered it along the way to quicken the cooking time.

Green Pozole with Chicken:

• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1/2 onion
• 6 cloves garlic
• 1 lb. tomatillos
• 2 jalapeños
• 1 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup shredded chicken
• 2 15oz. cans hominy
• 1 bay leaf

Accompaniments:

• Diced radish
• Diced avocado
• Chopped fresh cilantro
  

1. Roast tomatillos and jalapeños until skins are browned in oven under broiler setting. After roasting, place peppers in plastic bag until skins are loose and peel from pepper. Slice peppers in 1/2, removing ribs and seeds; set aside for later.
2. Dice onion and chop garlic; sauté in 1 tbsp. olive oil in large pot.
3. Place tomatillos, jalapeños, onion, garlic chopped parsley, chopped cilantro into blender and blend until smooth.
4. Heat 1 tbsp. olive oil in large pan and add blended mix. Bring to boil and stir until thickened—about 5 minutes.
5. Add chicken broth, hominy, shredded chicken and bay leaf. Bring to boil and let simmer 1/2 hour. Add in seeds and ribs from reserved jalapeños to desired heat.
   
6. Serve as desired with accompaniments.

Thicken base under moderate heat about 5 minutes.

Serve with radish, avocado and fresh chopped cilantro.

I think this recipe could easily be converted to a vegetarian dish. The flavor is all in the broth and hominy.

Woo hoo! I'm the heaviest I've ever been in my life today. Yea for frustration and my sinuses making me feel like crud all the time. At least this gives me my starting point. I found THIS blog through the 31 Days to Better Blogging and it has inspired me to get serious about getting healthier. Plus I have that Disneyland in August goal to work toward.

Weekly weigh-in:

• Starting Weight: 189lbs
• Last Week’s Weight: N/A
• This Week’s Weight: 189lbs
• This Week’s loss: 0lbs
• Total loss: 0lbs
• Hip to Waist Ratio: 0.87
• Waist: 39"
  
• Hips: 44.5"
  
• BMI: 27.9
  
• Body Fat Last Week: 41.6%
  
• Body Fat This Week: 41.6%

Weightloss Journaling…

I thought about starting a separate personal blog on journaling my weight-loss and fitness goals, but then though, heck, I have so many readers here* that I might be doing them a disservice. So, I hope you guys don't get entirely bored with my interruptions about getting fit and lighter. Scooter and I are taking a week this summer to go to California. I told him, I don't want to be huffing and puffing my way through San Francisco, Monterey, San Diego and (wee!) Disney Land! So, I've got four months to get my butt in gear.

I'm also taking a virtual blog-building seminar that will help me shape my blog to be a much more interesting and concise blog. It's funny to me, as blogs (web logs if you will) were originally created as on-line diaries. They were about anything and everything—now it seems blogs have become specialized in their messages.

My first order of business: develop my elevator pitch.

*I think I have what—three readers? :P