Time for a new addiction. One that my bariatric surgeon may not be so thrilled about, but what the hell...it's for the better. I AM ADDICTED TO VENISON JERKY. Not just any jerky, but my own. and now i'm getting into a full on addiction to making the perfect batch of jerky and I think i have my seasoning mix spot on.

My dehydrator can only dry 4 lbs of jerky at a time on a good day so I limit my batches to that much ground venison. here's my recipe.

1/2 cup Dales Seasoning
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
2 tbls garlic powder
2 tbls onion powder
2 tsp fresh ground pepper
2 tbls tenderquick
2 tbls red pepper flakes (flexible with this...do not exceed 5 tbls, it will be TOO hot)
1/4 cup worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup water

I mix all these ingredients (the Brine) in a large glass mixing bowl, and throw it in the microwave to a boil, and then let it cool to room temp. this gets the red pepper flakes to release their oils and you actually get the heat out of them, and it makes them a little easier to chew.

Once cooled, mix this brine into the ground venison. Here's where if you have your own grinder you can really do some creative benefit to the end product. DOUBLE GRIND YOUR MEAT WITH A MEDIUM PLATE. the fine plate is too fine, but doing a double grind will give you a good chewy texture when dried properly.

Once the brine is completely mixed. cover the meat with plastic wrap, and set in the fridge for 8 hours to allow the cure to well...cure. Mix it thoroughly again, and then put back in the fridge for another 8 hours to finish the cure. Now you can load the meat into your jerky shooter and up until 2 days ago i would go ahead and put the meat on the dehydrator trays and dry as high as your dehyd will go (usually 155 degrees) until your meat is dried completely but not crunchy. Finished product should be about 4-5 percent moisture.

I will now be following a different method purveyed to me by a guy "in the know" - Rodney from Con Yeager Spice Company. Pipe the jerky onto drying racks on cookie sheets and place in a pre-heated oven at 180 degrees for one hour. This will kill all fooodborn pathogens by heating the product to 165 degrees internally. this sustained temp for 20 mins or so will surely kill alll the little nasties, and THEN you can transfer the product too the dehydrator to dry thoroughly.

This process can be used for beef, turkey, chicken, fish, pork etc...but some people shy away from poultry and pork jerky but in fact, when prepared this way it is perfectly safe to eat. Between the heat and the cure, this dried meat is safe to store for a couple months on the shelf, frozen for up to a year. ENJOY!

A fathers need for legacy

Ever get placed in a job you didn't ask for or possibly think you are not prepared for?  This has been a common theme in my life lately, at work, church, home, etc.  I'm sitting here staring at an unopened copy of Chasing Daylight from Erwin Raphael McManus and right next to it is a little token from my employer that I chose as a future gift to one of my boys.  I want to make sure my boys are exposed to everything I know anything about and especially those things that I feel are important for boys to know.  No boy on this planet should ever not have whittled a stick into a tent peg or pitched a tent with poles made from natural materials.  These are things not taught in public or private school and though we may never truly NEED these skills, they teach many other valuable lessons about being independent, resourceful, and flexible.  

Nick is very inflexible.  If things are not just so, he's ready to blow a gasket and with both of us being as stubborn as we are - it's like oil and water sometimes.  Once I get him (and me) calmed down and try to explain the why's and wherefores he eventually comes around.  Bugs and camping are still not his thing, but we are getting there.  And if time comes that he doesn't want to be involved in such activities, that's fine - he can watch me enjoy them without him.  The legacy trinket i just got him is his first Buck knife.  A Buck Model 110 Folding Hunter - I plan on using it for a few years to establish it as "daddy's hunting knife" and when I think he or Jack is ready and open to the idea, I will hand it down.  Great...now the secret is out...hope they never find these pages :)

I've been thinking about what it means to be a dad...a father is easy - just donate sperm and you are done. Being "Dad" is a little harder - it requires enough loving involvement with your youngsters to keep them as close as possible, mixed with just enough sternness to make them want to move out on their own when the time comes.  I want my kids to love me, but to respect me and the things I stand for as well.  I'm horrified by the direction this world is going and I urge every one of my readers to get involved in preventing our country from having to re-learn historical mistakes.  We found out that ovens are hot during Hitlers world tour - there is NO need to touch the oven door again and re-learn what HOT feels like.  Chairman Mao had his go as well...I hardly feel that our kindergartners need to be singing political chants and ideals.  

http://michellemalkin.com/2008/09/30/the-obama-childrens-chorus/

Leaving a legacy for your kids means having a legacy to leave.  It means (at least to me) that we should pass on our beliefs and morals.  Morals that built this country from the ground up.  Maybe we are a bunch of tyrants, but I'd like to think the world is a better place because of us.  Obama's thoughts on the Iranian missile launch this week appall me.   We should just be nice to Iran, and ask them to play nice because we are all obligated to play nice on the playground.  I'm sorry...but I think Barry has never been punched in the face, or spit on.  Humanity doesn't work that way.  I know I am to turn the other cheek and I have faith in God but I struggle daily with the thought of Iran throwing a nuke at Jerusalem just for shits and giggles.  Their ideals are evil and Obama supports their actions indirectly by not opposing them directly.  How does that saying go...Stand for SOMETHING or you will fall for EVERYTHING?  It's high time we all take a stand and drop the apathy folks.  Apathy and sloth are both very similar.

We all need to take a good look inside and learn to act on that little voice in our head that tells us to help an elderly person across the street, or to help a person who has fallen or is hurt...and we also need to hear that voice that screams "something is wrong" and act on it.  If your heart and mind are with God - I highly doubt he will lead you wrong - If you act on something that is wrong morally, He will steer you right.  But apathy and sloth - inaction at it's best will prevent you from ever seeing this miracle in your own life.  I'm daily looking for my chance to shine and it looks right now like my kids are where my heart is - It's high time we get them involved with things that will actually teach them life skills down the road.  No propaganda - but self worth, self reliance, and team work.  And now i'm off to find the numbers for our local Boyscouts troop - Nicks at the right age for Cub Scouts - and it's high time he get involved too.  He just don't know it yet :) 

I hope you never have to know or live with an anal retentive over analytical jerk like me. Sometimes, I get so caught up in trying to figure out the optimal result of a particular decision that I forget all about the other things going on around me. A particular thought will consume my every waking moment and it ends up shaping my mood and attitude towards the really important stuff.

Take my latest obsession for instance... I have committed to getting a new deer hunting rifle as a small reward for working hard. I have a good job, with a good company, and I give it my all, all the time I am on the clock. I know to separate work from home and try not to mince the two. This quarter, I have literally busted my ass to get as many jobs completed on time as possible and after reviewing my quarterly numbers, I've done quite well. So I feel to some extent that I deserve a reward to me, and my family also should reap benefits. More on those later...lets talk about my gun.

I'm frugal. I hate spending more than I have to on something that will more than adequately do the intended job. Let's face it, a gun is a gun, right? Wrong. A gun is something that can be handed down from generation to generation, and hunting is a legacy to be handed down as boys mature to men. Nick is showing some interest, and Jack appears to be me, reincarnated...I can only hope that the only remaining future Bashams will enjoy hunting to the degree that their great grandfather did. I have two guns from Papaw and will always cherish them both. I want something to hand down to my kids, and I'll be damned if it's gonna be a POS Rossi single shot cus that's all I can afford. But I can't afford a Remington or Browning. Mossberg makes good guns, but recently there's been a bit of bad press about the Mossy Bolt Action guns, and I like my teeth right where they are. So...no ATR100 for me. But hmmm...Savage makes a good reliable gun...but it's just right out of my range this time around. THEN I find out about the wonderful new gun Marlin just announced last year. The Marlin XL7 is quite a piece of work, and given Marlin's long standing history I think this rifle will do just fine and it can be had just under the 3 bill mark leaving about a hundred bucks for a scope and enough overhead to get a few boxes of ammo to get the barrel broke in and sight in the scope in preparation for this fall.

But what caliber? If not for the restriction of the rifle of choice, I'd probably go for a .257 Roberts, .260, or some of the other low recoil guns that throw effective deer medicine. The Marlin only offers 6 calibers right now and my choices are limited to .243, 7mm-08, .308 for short action and the long offerings are .270, .25-06 and 30-06. I don't want the cannon, and .308 or .270 is the high end of tolerable recoil for a teenage boy. I have a good 8-10 years before Nick will be fostering the idea of hunting deer so we have some time to work up a decent load and put a few notches on the stock so he knows the gun has history. The .243, though a wonderful shooting caliber is on the light end of what I want to use. There is a chance of going to South Dakota to hunt with my uncles for muley and whitetail in the near future and after reading a bunch of writing by Jack O'Conner I think the .270 might just be the cat's meow. So okay...gun and caliber are chosen.

Now the scope. HOLY MOSES there's alot of choices. And did I mention I'm cheap? I mean FRUGAL? Frugality and rifle scopes don't work well together. Good optics and good money go hand in hand. Though I can't justify the $1000 price tags of Swarovski and Zeiss offerings, I know in my heart of hearts that to the right individual, these scopes are worth every penny. Just not on a $300 gun. Tasco, Simmons, BSA and Barska are the bottom of the barrel price wise and though they are okay scopes, with questionable quality, they are the only offerings in my price range. I set 125 as my max on a scope and was about to pull the trigger on one of Tasco's World Class scopes when I found www.swfa.com

I currently have a BSA 4-16x40 Mildot scope on my Marlin 882SSV .22WMR that does quite well for what I ask of it. It's quite a squirrel sniping machine, and delivers a 33 grain Remington V-max pill into a solid .75" group at 100 yards. It does far better than I can do, that's for sure. So I'm not against BSA but I'll never own another adjustable objective scope on a hunting rifle again. It's just not practical. I need something that I can mount quickly and fire, not fiddle with knobs. The PA woods are tight, and your shots present themselves in split seconds, fleeing just as fast. I found a BSA Panther 3-10x40 for 79 bucks. It does all i could want and my only complaint is the stupid sloped scope front that will negate using butler creek flip up scope covers. Though it comes with a goofy bikini cover, I'd rather have the BCSC's.

I like Mildots - they are easy for judging distance and if you have the formula memorized you can quickly calculate distance to target...if necessary. With the .270 and typical deer hunting distances as what they are in PA, a rifle sighted at 2" high at 100 will hit dead on at 200, and 4 inches low at 300. So just put the crosshair where you want the bullet to land and squeeze. A deer kill zone is about 8" circle centered on the elbow joint on the shoulder when standing still. So I don't need mildots. I just need a good quality hunting scope. Low and behold, SWFA has 2 3-9x40 Nikon's for 99 bucks each. Sold. Thanks for listening and helping me decide. The extra scope budget now allows for me to get the covers and the extra cleaning jags and brushes i'll need for the .27 caliber tube. I have lots of .22 caliber stuff, but nothing larger. I suppose I should pick up a couple brushes for the 12ga shotgun too...that poor thing hasn't been cleaned since I blasted the last two deer this past season.

I'm addicted...

to tea - www.tropicalteaco.com has a free tea club and a great blog - check it out

to hugs from my kids and wife - it's nice to FEEL loved

to dogs.  Cats are for tormenting

to the internet.  Mail a letter - the post office needs you.

to FPS games.  Look, it's either them, or real people...a great stress reliever

to nature.  my favorit subject for taking pictures...you don't have to tell mother nature to smile, she does it on her own

to microfiber - it's the new cotton

to mp3's - I used to think as a kid how cool it would be to digitize music and keep it on a chip you could put in a player.  Hmm...kinda missed the boat on that one.

to fast cars - I really miss my CRX

to tall trucks - I really miss my Amigo

to knives - to some a weapon, to me a tool.  Never without one.

to messes.  It's my mess, i'll clean it up when i can't find something i forgot i needed

to food.  that's about to end very abruptly in a couple days

to tea - oh, i mentioned that already - did you know one cup of rooibos tea has more anti-oxidants than a whole bowl of blueberries?

to venison jerkey - the last batch lasted all of 3 days...4 lbs of meat in 3 days.  I blame my coworkers.

to cooking.  I fear that I may lose this part of me after my surgery

to fishing.  I love teaching Nick about fishing, and soon Jackson will be following in his footsteps

to memories of dad before he got sick - he's just not the same.  I still love him dearly, he's still Dad, but not.

to memories of high school - if i only knew then what I know now.  

to directional tires.  My random thought of the day.

to noise isolation headphones.  All i can hear right now is the calm cool melody of Andrei Krylov's classical guitar.

to the first three StarWars movies.  the rest suck.

to church.  Even though i feel like the people can be very clickish and I don't belong, i feel the calling and cannot stray alone

to God.  He's awesome, in SO many ways.

to native american art.  I don't have enough, and probably never will

to writing, can you tell?

Addictions come in all shapes and sizes.  some good, some bad, all consuming.  I once thought that an addiction to something meant that you consumed that something....but in reality it consumes you...it eeks its way into your every thought and shapes the way you prioritize your day.  Addictions can be great motivators.  Just like the parent that bribes her child with a treat or something yummy, you can bribe yourself with your addiction.  

But what about your anti-addiction?  Those things you HATE to do?  Those things that consume your thoughts so that you may avoid them?  they consume you just as bad, but are more easily overcome.  Just eat your frog.  

Your frog is that thing you don't want to do and if you eat your frog first, then the rest of the day is simple.  do that which you loathe to get it out of the way and your day will run much smoother.  I once saw a program about a Marines survival camp.  During their stay, the soldiers were able to capture (snare) a coyote.  The instructors made the soldiers eat the lungs and liver cooked in a little water first.  The thought was that if they could make it through that little ration, then when presented with a true survival situation, they would be more willing to do what it takes to survive.  They already accomplished the worst they could ever do, it's all down hill from there.

Kinda like fire walking.  I want to do this really bad and hope to get Amanda to go with me.  We could both use the confidence boost from time to time.  

I'm addicted to being Big Jay.  I'm addicted to being the center of attention...not because I seek it (well...maybe I do just a little) but moreso because I just simply command attention when i'm around.  What happens when your addictions are taken from you?  The smoker finds another high.  the drinker finds another high.  the lard ass will find another "high"...

I hope it's a productive addiction.

Sounds good...

Recently started reading about speaker design again and my wallet can't afford to build the floor speakers I have in my head so for now I'm going to continue listening to my BA-635's on the computer and jot down some great tracks to test my eventual speaker system

Tribal by Benise on the album Mediterranea - 

great tambourine and other percussion, with crisp guitar.  Even on MP3 you can hear some of the guitar nuances.  Typical GREAT classical guitar with southern italian feel, almost flamenco-esque.  Great separation in the recording too.  Can't wait to pump this one thru some morel highs and mids.

Recuerdos A Zucarados by Gipsy Kings on Pasajero - 

another powerful acoustic guitar piece with at least 3 separate guitarists and rapid punchy percussion and some DEEP bass.  This should separate the wheat from the chaff with the right amplifier.

Stay tuned, more coming.

Little Things in Big Places

One month and counting till my RNY GB-WLS.  Yup, there's a mouthful.  Literally.  So this post will be dry and maybe a bit bitter like a good wine.  What is RNY GB-WLS? It's a Roux en-Y Gastric Bypass Weight Loss Surgery.  Hereon called my WLS.  This procedure is done thru 4 or 5 laproscopic holes in the abdomen (small things in BIG places) and aside from a new set of rules to follow, will allow me to re-embrace life. 

People who have never really fought the fight with weight just don't understand.  Diets work short term, as does working out.  My buddy Mike and I were religious about going to the gym and working out HARD for 4 or so months.  All I did was stay flat...the weight stayed the same and my muscles got big.  not huge, but definitely noticeable.  I'm still strong but I weigh one hell of a lot more now than I did then.  Proof again that lifestyle and diet are not the only keys to the battle.  sometimes genetics play a BIG role - both my families sides are large people - EXCEPT for my mom and dad.  They got the recessive genes.  We used to joke that my dad had a tapeworm.  He could put some food away...and yet he's never been over 190.  I doubt he's ever been over 180...not even in the height of his physical peak in the late 70's-early 80's in the USAF.  

What am I gonna miss?  

Holiday feasts, stuffing, ice cream, sweet things (i don't like alot of them...but once in a while I really like a good brownie), being able to chug some water...beer...diet pepsi...

I'm gonna miss standing in the spectator crowd while my sons ride the amusement park rides.  It's gonna be a real drag not being able to take their pics while I ride the roller coaster next to them.  It's gonna SUCK not being able to see the fishing boat drift out into the lake with my sons on it because I'm so caught up in the shore shrinking away.  I might miss being able to rest a beer on my belly when sitting in a camping chair.  Picking belly button lint used to be a comforting thing for me.  Scratching that big ol' buddha was pretty relaxing and felt very manly too.  I'm gonna miss being the poster boy for a Swanson Hungry Man meal.  I'm really gonna miss checking for load limit stickers on chairs at friends houses.  Blowing the airsoles out in running shoes.  Sweaty moobs. 

Until you are fat, you never really grasp just what a bad place the underbelly of the world is...I have one now...and the underbelly is a bad bad place.  I'm going to miss taking all them blood pressure drugs.  I'm gonna miss making my kids rough-house with me in the living room on the floor because I could not chase them.. They are SCREWED.  I'm gonna miss my pack of hot dogs on the back of my head that makes it hard for me to do my own hair cuts.  I'm gonna miss cutting my own hair.  I'm gonna miss judging a meal by the size of the plate.  I'll miss being Big Jay.  I'm gonna miss calling my skinny friends to come over and climb the ladder to clean out my gutters and fix my house because i can't find a ladder that has a 400lb weight limit.  I'm gonna miss walking on the roof for fear that I'll fall thru.  Telling - and hearing - all the fat jokes.  People assuming that I want that last piece of pizza.  I'm gonna miss not having the will power to pass up that piece.  I'm gonna miss the way my ankles swell up.  I'm gonna miss buying a new bed mattress every 5 years because my wife and I wear it out.  I'm gonna miss the way my wife turns me down because we must appear like walrus' getting their groove on.  Yeah, and I'm really gonna miss mis the hot sloppy walrus sex when she doesn't turn me down.  I'm gonna miss wearing out the mattress from sleeping on it.  I'm really gonna miss the way I can feel that slab of back fat whip around my side when I throw a football to my oldest son.  He's 5 now...I hope he doesn't miss his "fat daddy" and grows to like his new daddy quickly...I'm sure he will as it will be alot easier to keep up with him.

I only hope that once I'm back to my highschool size/weight that my personality makes up for the stage presence I have.  I hope I never become bitter because of the way the world treats obese people.  I hope that others can look to me for hope and guidance to a healthier lifestyle.  I hope that I can still eat venison...some people have strange inabilities to digest certain "favorite" foods post-op.  I hope I can afford all the new clothes.  I'm gonna miss spending $20 extra per pair of anything because it's in a 3 or 4x size.   I'm gonna miss joking about shopping at Ahmad the Tent Maker for my clothing.   I'm gonna miss being able to give the scary fat guy stare at people to intimidate them.   I'm gonna miss them thinking "what the heck is that fat fawker staring at?"...

I'm gonna miss being a fat fawker.  

Yeah right....I'm a walking Dodge commercial right now.  Grab Life by the Horns! :)

Big things in small places

If ever there was a person who had a red phone straight to Jesus - My Aunt Linda has that priviledge, hands down.  She's one of those insterestingly eclectic people that if you didn't know her, you probably wouldn't know her, and I'm glad I do.  She's alot like me in many ways, and taught me much about following dreams.  I rarely heeded her advice and kick myself often for it.  She championed my individuality, creativity, and nurtured the little artist within me.   I still remember how she endured many a pot of ramen noodles in which I had dumped a plethora of spices and seasonings with never a bad word to say.  I knew she was nuts then...I too have tasted some of my early creations.  

We call her...no wait...she asks that we call her CAL - Crazy Aunt Linda.  I love her to death.  She's one of those people that when you get a hug from them...you just KNOW it's for real.  She has had a life of trials and tribulations - many of them self wrought but who am I to judge...I just know that with a life of sparse materialism she has gotten to a place where the small things mean so much to her.

Last week an ice storm took over much of the midwest, much like the storm my father and I endured when I was moving my family back to the 'Burgh in the winter of 2007/2008.  CAL has been without power for 4 days.  Her biggest concern?  She wasn't gonna get to watch the Steelers play in the Superbowl.  CAL loves her sports.  Living in Kentucky, she sports the Wildcats colors every saturday and loves to watch UK basketball.  With her little baby brother and her little JayBird (my dad and I) living in Pittsburgh - she's a die hard Steelers fan.  I can't imagine what life was like in her house with the pending game looming closer and closer without power.

I remember staying at her apartment once...the cold never really bothered her.  Her oldest son told me once that she is part Polar Bear.  I'd believe it.  There was a time when we would open her fridge to warm up.  All she cared about yesterday was how she was gonna be able to watch the game.  Luckily, I have a buddy who has put together a home brew DVR and has recorded the game for me to burn as a DVD and send her a copy.  Just a small token of appreciation and admiration I have for her, it really doesn't seem enough but it's perfect for her.  She would want nothing more from me.  I hope someday to get into her camera bag and start scanning some of her photos...she is a WONDERFUL photographer and still shoots old school.  I need to send her some film.  

Back to God for a minute - Yesterdays church service was incredible.  Prayers do get answered, and needs met - Amanda has been given the courage to start a Womens group at church.  Another big thing...in a small place.  She's the best EVER!

Jesus Freaks and Steeler's Fans

Every time I have a conversation with someone about having lived in Las Vegas, I always get asked "What did you do in Vegas?" to which my usual quick witted reply is "I was a pole dancer."  Those who have seen me, get the joke right away and laugh nervously because it would be funny to see a 350 lb guy shakin' his..well...everything, 'cus at 350, everything shakes...and then they get a little nervous because of the visual they just had.  (BAD BRAIN!!!!)  Then I drop the Bomb.

My wife and I found Jesus in Vegas.  Yup, no joke.  The nastiest cistern of filth in the United States...one of the places on earth KNOWN for it's less-than-holy set of virtues and values has a very bright and shining star.  We first attended Central Christian Church on Easter in 2005 and I immediately felt as though we were finally "home."  Not HOME as in with family, the place you grew up, but like my SOUL was home.  

Over the next couple years we grew to really love this church and what it did for our relationship with Jesus.  Amanda was baptized there and I have fond memories of the Central Family.  Upon moving back to Pittsburgh in December 2008, we immediately set forth to find a church to fill the empty shoes left by Central.  It turns out, those were VERY hard shoes to fill.  We tried many churches in the area, and none of them felt...well...right.  Then one day, Amanda and I were seeing a relationship therapist/counselor to re-learn how to talk to one another, and our rugrats were with a friend of ours in Mars.  She had taken the kids to Mickey Dee's for lunch and we had a few minutes before they were to return so decided to go check out a "flea market" at a little church just back up the road.  We looked at the knickknacks and spoke to a few people in there for a few minutes.  

Turns out that one of the guys I was talking to happened to be the Pastor at this little church.  I had just got done telling this not so tall guy with a shaved head and well defined beard that as a pastor (talking about the pastor at our last church) you should not be afraid of pissing off the congregation.  If you always clean up the message to the church on Sunday, you are doing a huge disservice to the church.  Turns out, this is JUST the conversation Pastor Dan needed and he kinda felt like we were angels sent to help him get over himself for the sermon that following weekend.  We attended - not thinking we would like such a small church - I mean come on...Central is HUGE.  Central had 9 Christmas services the year we left, each near capacity of 3200 a shot.  YOU do the math.  Christian Community Church of Mars is barely 250 strong.  But they have heart...and they are all genuine, and they care about one another. 

We were immediately invited to join a small group - something we struggled with in Vegas - and I really like what God is doing in our lives.  Our small group is awesome and it's not really small anymore but it's not unmanageable either.  Last night marked our 5th(?) meeting with Dave Gilson leading the small group through many relevant chapters in the Bible.  It also marked the Division Championship win of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Small group last night was less about the Bible, and more about Football but in the end it all relates.  

God expected much from Jeremiah, and tested him often.  The ever present message when reading about Jeremiah is that we should  be obedient, and waver not from the plan.  Amanda and I have been battling with this lately and jumped back in with both feet.  

At many times during the game, we witnessed many players praying.  We saw alot of pain and struggle and we saw one team find victory over another.  One team - one way of playing the game - one method of making decisions came out on top.  At the end of the game last nite Big Ben stated in his post game interview "We had a game plan and we stuck with it" but he started with "the Lord is Good..."

Yes He is.

GO GOD!  and GO STEELERS!

Sexting?

so the news comes on right after American Idiot I mean Idol.  This show is a train wreck...why do I watch it?  Maybe it's my morbid sense of humor to watch humanity degrade itself for the sole purpose of having 10 minutes of fame and glory, and to hold on to that dream.  Some of these people actually believe they have a chance, and they walk to Simon and Dawg and team (who's the new chick, and what happens with a tie?) so proud and full of confidence...

And then they sing.  Dear Lord, they sing.  The belt out show tunes from years passed and stereotypical melodical monologues only to call in a goose or three.  And then they have the odacity to get MAD when they are denied their glory?  They go down in a ball of flames as they yell at the camera guy, sobbing and whining, mad at the world.  Only to find out that Simon and team kept the chick in the bikini because Simon could not stop drooling.  

Then the news comes on.  6 kids in Greensburg PA got in trouble for sending cell phone text messages with pictures of themselves..or their PARTS to each other.  The news reporter called it "sexting", a curious play on the word "texting."  Seriously, what the hell is this place/world  coming to?  Idol is evil.  I never would have thought that something so hope driven and healthily competitive would be brought down to the point that some chick flashing her sweater puppies would get a fair shot along with the girl that could actually sing.  And 6 young teens feel the need to play show and tell with each other using their cell phones.  It's disgusting.  

My kids will learn to hate me someday.  I only pray that I have the strength to get through those years.  I've read and been told that raising teens is like nailing jell-o to a tree.  My boys have the wonderful priviledge of having a very tech savvy dad, they will NOT do something on the computer/internet that I won't know about.  They have the pleasure of having a dad that got into plenty of trouble, and was smart enough to avoid the trouble the rest of the time.  I lied my way out of most times I got caught, and as the saying goes, you can't fib a fibber.  They are SCREWED.  Whatever they can do, I probably did it.  I won't be a helicopter dad though.   I subcribe to the theory that everyone needs JUST enough rope...not too much but just enough, to hang themselves.  They will not have the freedom of being able to text message and send images.  They will do as I do, take the pic, and download it to the computer.  On that note, I really endorse Sony Ericsson phones on the AT&T network, as they seem to be the only ones that don't neuter the functionality of the Bluetooth on the phone.  I can use my W580i as a remote control for the computer for crying out loud...this may come in very handy when I get the S-video and audio extension cable so I can play web content on my TV in the den.  My birthday is coming...

Back to the kids...the only option we all have as a country and parents is to get God back in the picture.  Amanda and I have been letting Jesus lead our lives since Easter of 2004 and we have not turned back.  We occasionally need a nudge from Him, but for the most part His influence has greatly shaped our lives and choices.  Every day we learn from Him and we both hope to be walking in His steps for the rest of our lives and then some.  

I think we need to ban Idol.  I think we need to ban cell phones for kids.  What 14 year old kid needs a cell phone?  I think we need to have uniforms in public schools.  I only wish we could afford to send both our boys to private Christian school, but aside from that we'll do our absolute best to keep God front and center in all our lives.  And finally, we won't lose sight of the small things.  

I read yesterday about a boy who was believed to have had a stroke, only to be released and returned...to be diagnosed with a tumor and given only days to live.  He's five years old.  So is Nick.  Nick called me today to tell me he knew his phone number...God I love my boys.     

I recently found out that my good friend in high school has a boy with autism.  At first, my heart sank for John, and I felt bad.  But after reading his blog, I was reminded of John's sense of humor, how good and fair his parents were, and just how big all their hearts were.  I've lost touch with John over the years...the last time I saw him he was shaking a hangover in Lincoln Nebraska where he was attending college.  We had lunch at denny's or perkins and have barely spoken since.   John's sense of humor and his strength will carry him through the difficult times ahead with his son William, and he has been given a wonderful gift to be able to bridge the gap between our world and how his son sees things.  I'm happy for John, he has found a woman who at least in part seems his equal in strength and vision.  They also believe.  Here's a prayer to John and family for continued strength and joy through all times with their kids.  Maybe we can have lunch again some time.  

I wonder what an autistic boy would take pictures of with a cell phone?  I've seen my son's artistic eye with a camera and no subject is avoidable.  I have pictues of a single chunk of dog food.  I have lots of pics of mommy, a couple of daddy, a couple of daddy's hunting boots, JayJay the Jet Dog, and countless random shots of things around the house.  I'm curiously reminded of the time when I got my first camera at graduation.  It was a Pentax K1000 with a couple lenses.  I taught myself photography (and fly tying and fly fishing and other things)  from various library books and my only artistic leash was the cost of film and developing.  Mom didn't understand what bracketing (thank you Greg Hartel!) was, and she lightly ribbed me for having 20 shots of the same thing.  My, oh my, how digital has changed all that.  Nickolas can take THOUSANDS of shots and our largest expense is some rechargeable AA batteries.  

Maybe what this world really needs is to go back to being able to see thru the eyes of a child.  Oh, and a few more black grandmas.  I can't imagine some of the things going on in the oval office going they way they do if a black grandma was watching over things.   I'm out.  Here's to seeing thru the eyes of a child.  

Frugality and Frivolity

Many years of experience have jaded me.  For the longest time I thought those really fine things, the memorable things, the enjoyable things came at a price higher than most.  The past 12 hours have put a huge hole in that theory.  

My wife and I (and the kids) have been trying to lead a healthier lifestyle.  At the same time, we've noted that it's much more difficult (at least on the surface) to be frugal at the same time.  It seems many of the healthier choices are far from frugal - downright rediculous if you ask me.  How is it that "natural" peanut butter (ground peanuts) is more than the processed goo that is half sugar?  DO peanuts cost more than sugar?  Then why don't we say "that guy is working for sugar?" instead?

Amanda has us hooked on a no sugar, no flour diet (well...she's hooked, I still sneak a little once in a while) and we had nachos for dinner last nite.  Yup, nachos, the healthy way, and not only was it delicious and healthier, it was CHEAPER too?  How'd that work?  I'm so glad you asked!

Venison Nacho's

Ingredients:

1 lb ground venison (or beef)

2 packets taco seasoning(low sodium if you can, or make your own)

1 can Campbells Fiesta Nacho Soup

10-12 corn tortillas (the big bag is about 4 bucks for over 50 6-7inch corn tortillas)

some cooking spray

lettuce, tomato, sour cream, salsa verde for garnish

Brown the venison in a sauce pan, and once browned add the taco spices and the soup can, along with about 1/4 cup water

cut the tortillas into 1/6th's with a pizza cutter or knife and arrange on a cookie sheet sprayed with a touch of pam, then spray the tops of the "chips" if desired.

Bake the chips @ 400 for about 8-10 minutes until they start to brown.  Remove, and serve warm with the taco meat/cheese mixture adding the condiments as desired.  

In the mood for something along the same lines, but different?  How about venison taquitos?  Same recipe, butdon't bother with the making of chips, unless you want some to snack on.  Rather, put about 2 tbls of the taco mixture on a warmed tortilla, roll, and then bake at 400 for about 12 mins - just until they start to brown.  Serve with shredded chedder or monty jack cheese, sour cream and guacamole. 

Okay, how does this fit into the original chat?  Simple - what could be nicer with a southwestern dinner than fresh chips, right?  and to be able to make them for less than 1/10th the cost of tortilla chips?  Yeah.  That's frivolous AND frugal.  

Want more?  How about Steel Cut Oats?  We all know oatmeal is good for us, but damn if I'm not sick and tired of textureless gloop in the bowl.  I just don't like quick oats anymore.  So last nite my wife and I spied a box of "steel cut oats" and I grabbed it to see if they were any different.

Yeah, they take a little longer to prepare, but the first bite was heaven in a bowl.  they are SO much better than regular oats, and they were very affordable too as hot breakfast cereals go.  Where Cream of Wheat is ~$4 a box now, the Hodgson Mill Steel Cut Oats were only $2.  I like saving money on my health.  

Got any tips of your own?  Drop me a line!

Recession Secession

Secession (derived from the Latin term secessio) is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity.

How fitting that our media is playing such a huge role in our lives these days.  It seems the faster we can communicate, the faster someone can screw up what the message was.  Every day we hear about how bad the economy is, and the media/news is chock full of gloom and doom and OMG, we will all be in bread and cheese lines by the end of the decade.  I have a different perspective than most.  I work for a large telecom - one of the largest in the United States and let me tell you something.  We are NOT in a recession.

The economic problems we see on the news are generated BY THE NEWS.  If they would get their stinking snout out of the soup for a while and let it simmer, everything will come together in short order.  I have more orders in my bucket today than I had last year at this time.  I'm actually SLAMMED, and have been for months.  Business slowed down for a couple weeks and we are now back to the races.

I hear many stories about how people are panicking and pulling retirement money out to stuff it under their mattress and all these banks closing - the bank closings are due to bad practice brought on by Govt regulation - another dick that needs removed from the soup but that's for another blog.  You want to help the economy?  Pretend we are NOT in a recession for a moment.  SPEND some money.  And send a stack of letters to long lost friends.  Stop sending emails for one month.  Print and mail every one of those damned forwards to your friends.  The postal service needs your change, and so does the paper industry.  Did you know that the USPS is faced now with consolidating routes, laying off employees and downsizing?  All because we are too damned lazy to buy stamps and mail a letter.  

Ignore the "recession" and quit letting the tail wag the dog for a while.  This pot of soup ain't done cooking yet and we still have some fat to skim from the top.  I sure hope Buck Ofama brought his waders...this pot's a little deep.  I hope he can handle it, because I can't WAIT to see what kind of stink hole America becomes if his VP becomes the incumbent.  

Lets start the Recession Secession.  Now go buy some consumables!

Lunch with Uncle Ted

Ever check your email and see an email that just really BURNS YOU?  My lovely wife saw fit to send me a link to http://www.ammunitionaccountability.com/

These left wing nuts are actually succeeding in getting legislature in front of our state politicians advocating the use of serial numbers on bullets.  The map above shows states where legislation HAS BEEN INTRODUCED.  Not only that, but they intend on imposing a tax to cover the tracking and paperwork for the implementation of this plan.  Ammunition expenses are already increasing due to the war effort and other factors but the thought

 of adding 2-5 cents PER BULLET to the cost of a box of ammo is just rediculous.  A brick of .22LR bullets - a mainstay in LEGAL recreational shooting could soon cost more in taxes than the bullets themselves.  A brick can currently be bought for around 8-15 dollars for 500 cartridges.  Add 5 cents PER ROUND to that cost, and we are now looking at an additional $25.00 in TAXES.  That same brick now costs $35 or more!

When is the radical left going to figure out that it is not guns that kill people.  it's the outlaws, the poor, the desperate that they so need in their constituency who continue to perpetrate these crimes.  The CRIMINALS.  OUTLAWS.  What makes them think that the OUTLAWS are going to abide by a law of ammunition sales and tracking?  It has worked really well with guns, huh?  Three of the most highly restricted cities to get guns have some of the highest murder rates, WITH GUNS.  New York, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles California, all leftist hotbeds, all liberal in intention and legislation, are fantastic examples of how current gun control methods and laws are NOT working.

And that's not the end.  The Libs want to track all kinds of information at the time of the sale - drivers license number, social security number, date and time of purchase, intent of use, etc.   I can't believe I'm even writing about this.  The blood pressure is just boiling right now to think that with the currently elected clown that this might actually HAPPEN?!?!  Guys and Gals, we REALLY need to get back to basics here and return America to what it was founded on.  America is NOT one big charity event.  The people that settled here worked HARD to ensure we did not have to live in tyranny again.  Yes, this great county  has endured her growing pains, but overall we have some core traits and values that must be upheld and reinstated.

WE have to get back to God.  WE MUST work with our children more.  Stop letting someone else give your kids their values...raise your own damn kids.  And if you can't, then keep your willy in it's holster or your knees together.  I've made a committment to raise my kids knowing our forefathers and where we came from.  I heard a couple months ago that many schools across the country are not teaching American History past the Civil War.  That's about as bright as providing a copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution in spanish to non english speaking immigrants.   

We have to put some morals back into this country and address social misfit for what it actually is.  Since when did it make sense that two homosexuals could get company benefits because of a domestic partnership clause, but a man and woman who have lived together for over 9 years cannot?  Jay, I applaud you for persuing this issue when you did, and I'm glad it worked out...but it still disheartens me to know that there had to be a fight for this. 

I'm sick of having someones cause jammed down my throat at every turn.  I'm reminded of a luncheon i had at a previous employer...I ended up writing to the company president about it on an anonymous company forum - a forum which all employees can see.

Dear ---, I've been sitting on this for some time and really don't want to be singled out for taking this to HR, so I thought I'd try this forum.  My first reaction to our multi-cultural fair was "Wow, what a great display of the spirit of learning and desire to absorb bits and pieces of our wonderful array of diverse ethnicity."  I proceeded to get a plate of the usual picnic foods and topped it all off with many of the items prepared by the volunteer staff.  The food looked wonderful...I could not wait to grab a seat and chow down.  As I got situated at the table I saw it.  Much like a new father with a stinky diaper, I picked up the flyer entitled "10 great sex tips for gay men" only to be confronted with images of very intimate interaction as I thumbed through it with morbid curiosity.

Leo, this type of thing either needs not show up at a CULTURAL event, or the organizers that saw fit to call it a cultural event should have called it a diversity event.  I know what DIVERSITY is, and it should not be confused with CULTURE.  Additionally, if literature like this is to be distributed at a company sponsored event, then other "alternative lifestyles" and some "none-alternative lifestyles" should be equally represented.  I'm sure there are people among our family who endulge and participate in a variety of activies like beastiality, bondage, S&M, scat games, water sports, etc. who were equally abhorred in light of the fact that their particular lifestyle of choice was not given the lime-light this time around.  We could even have demonstrations and possibly recruitments for that matter.  Many of us have never even heard of or know about some of these things and who are we to shelter our COMPANY NAME brothers and sisters from this knowledge?  We could have even used pamphlets full of sex tips for straight folks too.  My wives (yes, plural) would have been MOST delighted with that, and let us not forget the 10 great sex tips for bi-and bi-curious women.  Surely that would make for good reading material while in/on the head/john.  Why not bring religion into the picture?  Some pamphlets from some of the local churches, synagogues, temples, monastaries, etc. could have found a home on the table right next to the Gay Sex Tips pamphlets, and I hear some of the local Catholic churches make some stellar pierogies that they could have brought to our luncheon.

I'm really sorry to get so graphic, but to be honest, pamphlets like this are a hard thing to swallow while enjoying a good charred weiner in a soft warm bun.  Furthermore, I recognize and even embrace Company Name's willingness to accept other lifestyles.  It's just that recently it seems to me that we have gone a little further than accepting...straight to promoting. 

Which brings me to the title of todays Blog.  I just added "Lunch with Uncle Ted" to my bucket list.  I'm thinking he and I share at least a couple views.  Here's to one of the most written in people in the past 4 elections. Nuge for Prez.

With trial and strife comes peace and happiness.

Someone once told me that happiness is "backstraps in butter." I was but a teen when I heard this and I had NO clue what the heck he was talking about. It took me a LONG time to figure out exactly what he meant about that. Today marks a huge milestone in my life and the life of my wonderful wife. It hasn't come without a price though.

See, she's been an absolute royal...well...wife...of late. I love her dearly and she means the world to me but occasionally through various reasons known and unknown, her grouchy side shows. This week has been especially trying, and I too have had my momentary lapses in judgment, quick witted comebacks and general diarrhea of the mouth. I call it "having a case of the bitchies." None of this was healthy for us so I had to take a step back and think about why this is all happening. It goes back to the birth of our first son, then our second, and both of our battles with obesity. See, she and I are right back at the weight of when our second son was born just under a year ago. And we never really got back to pre-first kid weight either. I say we because it is not her alone, we are both snuggly...er...well, fat. This year though, matter of fact, this New Year's Eve, marked the point that she has absolutely had enough with the battle. After viewing some photos from the party (which i know better than to post here LOL) and not liking what we saw, the gloves have come off, She is hardcore now...no flour, no sugar, and the carbohydrate withdrawal has firmly attached sharp teeth, a sharper tongue, and a set of horns upon us.

In the interest of eating healthier, she is making great strides in eliminating those foods which we all know are not good for us and as of late last night, she's finally over The Bitchies. I went through the induction phase of Atkins twice, I know exactly what The Bitchies are, and now having seen them from the other side, I'm REALLY sorry I put my family through this. But here we are. For the better I hope, and we can all begin to eat better, introduce some healthier foods (see yesterdays post, and we also found out about Quinoa which we plan to cook soon) and make better choices in life. It is with this introduction to new healthier foods for the family which brings us to this point...which brings me back to Todd.

Todd was high school best friend who's dad taught me many things. Colonel Crank's the one that told me as a young teen that men sometimes have to wear deodorant...and then sent me to the store promptly to get some. He's the one that showed me that you could reload shotgun shells, make your own hunting clothing, and generally just taught me about respect out of love vs. fear, a trait my own father still struggles with from time to time. Colonel Crank taught me alot. He was fair but firm with his kids, we all addressed him as "Sir" and I remember one time asking him what his first name was. He replied with a warm even stare, "Mister."

I had my first wild game ever under the tutelage of Todd's family who was gracious enough to invite me over for a pot of squirrels and biscuits. I still remember the shot plate in the middle of the table and how utterly WONDERFUL the dinner was. Todd and I were having a short candid discussion one day about girls and life and happiness when out of the blue, Colonel Crank told us both at the same time what happiness really is.

And today, my wife asked me how she should prepare the venison steaks she thawed (on her own). Prophetic were Colonel Crank's words as my wife and I continue to grow closer and share in some of life's little moments. I love my wife...and though she might not agree,

Happiness really is "Backstraps in Butter".

Greenies, Tree Huggers, and Hunters

Something I could never get my hands around is how in today's talk about chemical-free this and that, and organic this and that, healthy foods, etc. - Why are so many people against hunting? I personally can't think of a more organic free roaming source of protein than venison.

Yes, I hunt, I enjoy the kill as much as I enjoy eating the venison. It's my own anti-drug. It's a huge rush when weeks of preparation culminate in 3 seconds of acquiring your target, selecting the animal from the herd that you want to harvest, and in the blink of an eye it's over. Yeah, gutting them is gross, but necessary, and my method of harvest is MUCH more humane than caged animals everyone buys from the grocery store.

I now process my own deer to boot. It has come to my attention that a lot of times the deer you drop off at the processor is not what you get back. I know where i shot my last deer, and the meat I got back didn't match. I know for a fact that some of my meat was given to the next guy down the road because he brought in a yearling doe or button buck that weighed 60 lbs soaking wet and he wanted 30 lbs of bologna. The butchers make a TON of money on the jerky and bologna, and if Johnny Button Buck wants to buy it, buy gum, that meat is gonna come from someplace. This time, it came from me.

Never again though. I processed my first deer 2 days ago, and all you need is a hack saw, a couple sharp knives, some zip locks and some butcher paper. It took us all of 3 hours to process 3 deer with 3 guys. by myself it would probably be about 3-4 hours for one deer.

Benefits? No fat, no sinew, no nasties, all lean meat, all MY meat, no fillers, just lean, clean healthy venison. The original organic fad.

I was asked today why I hunt, how I can kill (and eat) an animal as pretty as a deer. Let's face it, today the Game Commission of nearly every state has "managed" the deer herd to a fine balance between gross prosperity and nearly non-existence. Hunters claim there are no deer. Property and vehicle owners claim there are too many. Trophy hunters are glad that the great state - no wait, Commonwealth of Pennsyltucky is in it's fifth year of Antler Restrictions. We are seeing large numbers of good sized 2.5 and 3.5 year old bucks with 8 or more points, good mass and healthy disposition. We are also managing the herd size by harvesting larger numbers of does. Each doe we take out of the herd, reduces the herd size by 4 deer on average over her average life span. The typical doe makes it to her third year, producing offspring in her second and third years. If we were to stop hunting does right now, the population of deer would explode over the next 2 years. The available mast would not be able to sustain the population and we would see migration to areas of agriculture, impacting our farmers welfare, and as that food supply dwindled we will see a larger number of winter kill animals. This would cause a sharp spike in predators (fox and coyote mainly) resulting in urban encroachment by what the state could call "dangerous" animals. Who wants a coyote in their back yard in Pittsburgh? Certainly not the animal lovers and tree huggers - Coyotes do not belong here, and their existence already speaks of more troubled times to come. It's only a short time before we start to hear about missing pets and random dog tracks in our yards.

Why do I hunt? To protect YOU, the nay-sayer, the anti-hunter. To provide quality sustenance to my family. To eat healthier while still maintaining a budget (when the hell did chicken breast eclipse 2.50/lb? And sirloin @ $4/lb? You gotta be kidding me. The last doe I shot and butchered myself cost me 4 bucks in bullets, 1/2 of my license costs (about $15) and some necessary clothing for this year. I got nearly 55 lbs of meat this time around. Wanna talk real numbers? Equate the cost of the deer meat to comparable cuts of beef and my deer is worth in excess of 200 dollars, edging closer to the $400 mark. Add the second deer I shot earlier in the year and paid to have it processed - another 6 bucks in bullets, and the rest of the licensing, and the cost of processing($60) and we come out to just over 100 bucks in expenses, for 90 lbs of lean, healthy red meat. 90x$4.25 (average cost of beef per lb across all cuts) and you are clearly over the $400 dollar mark.

I make my own jerky and snack sticks (seems this is the easiest way to get the family to partake in eating furry animals at first) saving money at the processor too. Next year with the money I save, I'll buy my own grinder. It's a quality healthy snack, and I KNOW what is going in it, because I MADE it.

So I ask you, Why DON'T YOU hunt? If hormones and chemicals are on your do not eat list, join me in enjoying the outdoors, and consuming some of PA's finest cloven mammals.

Bon Apetit!

Venison Loin Cutlets (Medallions) sauteed with burgundy, butter and onions. No steak sauce needed and those in the know call them "Butter Steaks". Not because you cook them with butter, but because that is the consistency of the meat. They are possibly the most decadent red meat you can eat - I rate it so much higher than Kobe beef...