Bogieblog

Tasty Pork Chops

The Weekend Pundit notes that he uses his George Foreman grill mostly during the summer, when he can't use the outdoor grill.

Even though it is winter, I'm really liking the George Foreman grill. Last night I cooked up pork chops that came out fabulously tasty - thought I would share the recipe (as usual, I started with a supplied recipe, and made it a little differently):

Whisk together, then marinade pork chops in:

• 1/4 C lite Soy Sauce (or low sodium - why can't they make low sodium lite?)
• 2 tsp Ginger
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• Chopped garlic cloves (or I use the canned chopped garlic - about 1 tsp)

Cooked on the GF grill for 8 minutes and voila, it was done.

The pork chops came out with lots of taste, nice and tender, and very juicy. Tonight it will probably be burgers on the GF grill. The middle of the week will probably be chili in the crockpot - it is supposed to be down in the single digits at night, so we will definitely need some rib sticking warmth!

First Cuteness of the New Year

For all you kitty lovers out there:

These cuties brought to you via AMCGLTD.

 

Ringing in the New Year

Happy New Year!

We tried out the George Forman grill that WS gave me for Christmas (I have been using one at work for making hot sandwiches, aka, paninies, and really like it). It did an excellent job of cooking the Omaha Steaks that Wichi Dude and Dudette  gave us for Christmas. It was very easy; heat up, flop the steaks on, close the cover, cook for 9 minutes, remove the steaks and enjoy. I'll have to figure out a shorter time for my steaks, as 9 minutes produces a medium to done steak. I prefer medium rare, although really, I'm not overly picky and the steaks came out great.

Karen came over for dinner and we watched a movie that I picked up at least a year ago, From Paris with Love. The movie was good, pretty much because John Travolta's character made it funny (the movie itself is supposed to be an action thriller). Some of the neighbor's lit off fireworks between 9 and 10, so I'm guessing they didn't ring in the New Year. We didn't either, WS fell asleep in the chair (after the movie was over and Karen had left) and I read until about 11 before going to bed. That, my friends, is called getting old!

Hope you rang in the New Year responsibly and may the coming year be good to you!

Yep, the Economy Still Sucks

A couple of weeks before Christmas, I got the word that of my previous employers (Hollis) had conducted a lay-off. I was surprised at the names of those that were let go; the names indicate the company has hit some really hard times. By looking at the list, it seems clear that if I had not left of my own accord, I most likely would have been one of those people that would have had a less than joyous holiday season.

Not that getting laid off ever really bothered me all that much; probably because I never have thought of myself as indespensible (especially since I moved out of the production jobs), nor have I ever been surprised by getting laid off. If I know a lay-off is in the works, I assume I will be one of those to go. I have probably been more surprised those times when I wasn't laid off (when it was more than just getting rid of the dead wood). I suppose that is because I have seen how people in the Documentation and/or Quality sectorare more likely to go than just about anyone in the company besides the Shipper/Receiver (funny how those things seem to trend).

Anyway, since then I have been busy writting recommendations on LinkedIn, and I recommended one of those people apply at my current place of employment. Unfortunately, I can't recommend more people to apply because the product of the two businesses are totally different and skill sets would not translate well.

I'm hoping those folks find jobs rapidly as they are all talented people.

Helping Out

Yesterday we went to Shaw's to grab a few things to ensure we were ready for Christmas day. We loaded everything into WS's truck (we had previously done the dump run, so were using his vehicle), and started wheeling out of the parking spot. I looked to the right, and saw and older gentleman raise his hand in a wave-type motion. I automatically waved back, then looked again. I didn't know the guy, and he looked like he was headed our way.

I told WS to stop and rolled down my window. It seems his car wouldn't start and could we give him a jump. Sure - so WS got the truck into position, attached the cables, and the car started right up.

The gentleman beemed at us and asked if there was anything he could do for us. We replied that he could have a Merry Christmas and continued on our way.

Helping out people has been our theme this fall/winter, this was just another paropportunity to help in a small way.

May the Spirit of Christmas be with everyone - please help out if you see a need that you can help meet.

Season's Greetings 2011

Merry Christmas!

Hope Santa was good to you.

Now, get off the computer, go see family and frieds, and stuff yourself silly!

This and That (Because I Got Nothing Else)

Last week when I was at the grocery store across the street from work (it was lunchtime and I was getting my bananas and salad for the week), I got in line behind an elderly gentleman. The cashier rang up his few groceries and he gave her a debit card that the state gives to those on food stamps. After having trouble getting it to read it at all, it turned up that he didn't have enough funds left to pay for all his purchases. As he was deciding what to take out of the mix, I gave the cashier the difference enough to cover it. He was astonished that I would do such a thing (it was only a dollar), but I wished him Merry Christmas and bade him to be on his way.

Such a little thing, but it felt good to help him out.

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Answered the phone yesterday, expecting it to be WS calling from work. Instead, I got a guy who, upon my saying "Hello" asked, Bob?"

After explaining he had the wrong number, and him apologizing, all I could think was; Do I sound like a Bob?

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Cop Car features some beautiful photos from NASA. One of the links she provides, is of Comet Lovejoy pasing thru the atmosphere of the sun. Contrary to all expectations, it survived and there is a video to prove it (check out both the entrance and exit videos).

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Buffy frets that she isn't ready for Christmas. I'm not either - boxes will ship after Christmas becausse I'm waiting for completion of some things, which will take a couple of weeks (some things just can't be rushed). Why, oh why, didn't I start earlier?

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Going to try to get to the range on Friday. Although it was great shooting while we were on vacation, it has been too long since I've shot the Sig (and WS hasn't shot the Springfield for the same amount of time).

Besides, I had to have a lead in to linking to the Gun Block Black List (if you don't know the story behind the BBBL, so sad for you).

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It's finally gotten cold here in NH, was 9 degrees this morning, never got above 20. The ski areas should be happy as they can make snow for the next week (since Mother Nature isn't providing the natural stuff). Funny how we had so much snow for Halloween (25.5"), had 6" of snow while we were away for Thanksgiving, but can't seem to buy more than a dusting in December. Hopefully that changes - it would be good for WS to get out on the snowmobile!

Other Doings While Away

We were driving around one day, taking the long way to Casa Cop Car, when we passed by Boeing. WS noticed a strange looking plane and I esclaimed that it must be the DreamLiner, but it looked strange. WS noticed that it had no windows.

Then, I saw the name on the side and did what any red-blooded American does in times like that; I whipped out my smart phone and Googled DreamLifter. I thought I had just remembered the name of the plane incorrectly. But no, DreamLifter is the largest cargo loader that hauls DreamLiner assemblies to reduce transport time from as much as 30 days, to as little as one day.

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The evening that we arrived in Wichita, we were a bit on the hungry side so we hit the hotel restaurant. While sitting there eating some appetizers (what we had for dinner) at the bar, somehow a conversation was struck up with another patron.

Turns out he was in the process of moving back to Hooksette, NH. Small world!

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I don't normally have a lot of time to read, and it has been taking way too long to finish even relatively short bookls (Im talking weeks for a lousy 400 pager - forget longer books, it literally takes months). Anyway, I got to finish one book and not only start, but finish another while on vacation (travel time helped!) They weren't very intellectual books, but light action thrilllers.

I had started Monster Hunter Alpha by Larry Correia a couple of days before leaving home. Alpha is book three in the Monster Hunter series (Monster Hunter International and Monster Hunter Vendetta were read previously) which is set in present day but there are werewolves, vampires and other nasty creatures that most people think of only as myth. One I finished MHA, I went on to Dead Six by Larry Correia & Mike Kupari. This book was set in present day and there are no monsters in this book besides the bad guys. It is a shoot 'em up with some twists and turns and made for good, fast paced reading.

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And that folks, is the end of my reporting on our vacation. It was a good time, great to see everyone, we were fed very well, we got to see sights we normally wouldn't see, and I got in some good reading - what a vacation should be all about!

Touring KC Before Take Off

Monday morning we left bright and early so we could get in a tour of the Harley Davidson Assembly plant in Kansas City. That plant assembles Sportsters, Dyna models and V-rods. The tour was about an hour long and very informative. We didn’t get to tour the entire Sportster line because they were doing some R&D for the next model year, which info is kept top secret.

At the airport, I got elected to go thru the X-ray (of course). Then I was told to stand over at the side while a lady TSA agent came over. Somehow I got lucky and she told the male TSA agent that I was all set without touching me (he never saw that as he was busy getting intimate with the guy who went thru the X-ray in front of me). Meanwhile, WS went around the machine (as instructed) and got his stuff off the conveyor belt. We boarded our flight and were waiting for the rest of the passengers, when WS (who was sitting at the window) noticed the honor guard. Later the captain announced that we had the honor of flying a service member to their final resting place.

All passengers were a bit somber after that announcement. The flight took off on time, our lay-over in Chicago was uneventful and we arrived in Manchester right on time. Both our suitcases were within the first 10 unloaded, so once again, we made good time getting out of the airport and we returned to our normal life, and normal routines.

Time Spent with WS's Family

Thanksgiving day WS and his brother set up a target so his brother D could use his Glock 17 for the first time (he’s had it several years). After we loaded the magazines, D offered the handgun to WS, who declined. D didn’t want to shoot first, so I was happy to do so. I shot a good grouping with the first 8 shots, then I offered it to D. H immediately got slide bit. I apologized to him as I has assumed that he had at least shot a handgun before and knew how to hold it so as not to get hit by the slide. I then showed him the technique that I use and he had a much better time.

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Friday we went for a drive and visited some people that wouldn’t be at the family event on Saturday. We were taken on the “scenic” route – in this case the scenery was of the windmill farms. Was told that there are somewhere around 500 windmills along the corridor that we visited. It was kind of cool to see. The pictures will give lie to the fact that everyone thinks that Kansas is totally flat. It was so un-flat that I could rarely get more than 3 or 4 windmills in a picture. We did top a bluff and I was able to get a good shot of dozens of the machines though.

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Saturday: A family get together (WS’s family) was held at a church function room. It was a pot luck lunch and there was lots of good food present (the Santa Fe Soup was one of the offerings). We also did family pictures, using personal digital cameras. A lot of the family that I have only met once (or never) was present as well as the immediate family that we always visit with.

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Sunday, WS’s sister and her boyfriend came over for more shooting fun. They brought with them a Hi-Point 995 rifle (an older model – not the newer type that has rails and all kinds of crap on it), a Ruger .22 and a BB. They were supposed to bring an LCP also (which we had gotten ammo for), but they somehow forgot it. Oh well, we all had fun with what was brought along with D’s Glock 17. We also had a new shooter, WD’s grandnephew, who is about 8 years old. He shot well, but needed reminding about safety rules a couple of times. He couldn’t handle the long stock of the Hi-Point (although as you can see by the picture, he tried), but there were enough other firearms there to keep him busy. It was a cold afternoon (lower 40’s, cloudy and windy), so after 90 minutes or so, everyone was ready to come in and get warm.

Early Monday morning we left for Kansas City, to return to our regular lives.