Telemarketers - Telemarketers are sub-human entities that fall easily under the heading of "time vampires," since they suck one's free time and bleed one of one's virtual blood. In the News - They walk among us! Enjoy - Relax and enjoy these images and videos!
I have registered my telephone numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry. I have done so many times, in fact, and the calls continue.
When a telemarketer calls, I generally do not answer. I either allow the phone to continue ringing until the telemarketer grows weary and disconnects, or I open the line and say nothing—leaving the vile creature to occupy himself with the sounds of whatever movie or television show I am watching.
When time permits, I entertain myself by answering, "You have reached a number that is no longer in service," or, "You have reached an active crime scene," or "I know who you are; I saw what you did," etc.
Telemarketers are an abhorrent group. The only group that I find more loathsome is spammers. I must stop there, else I would certainly fall quickly into a spewing so opprobrious that I would thereby embarrass even the most seasoned of visitors!
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Telemarketers, In the News, and Enjoy
Monday, November 25, 2013
Thanksgiving Dinner, In the News, and ENjoy
Thanksgiving Dinner - Laura and I shall enjoy our traditional Thanksgiving Dinner: (RECIPE: Cut a loaf of sourdough bread into 1/2-inch cubes. Spread evenly on a large baking sheet and bake in conventional oven for 30 minutes at 325 degrees or until crisp and brown. Set aside. Cook one pound of hot Italian sausage on medium heat in large sauté pan, stirring often. Add one large white onion, chopped; two large Jalapeño peppers, diced; four medium red, yellow, purple, and green bell peppers, chopped; two medium habanero peppers, finely chopped; four large celery stalks, chopped; 12 medium white mushrooms, sliced; 1 package of baby spinach; and 10 large cloves of garlic, peeled and minced. Season to taste with poultry seasoning, sage, rosemary, thyme, paprika, red pepper flakes, ground black pepper, and ground cumin. Cook for 30 minutes or until sausage and ingredients are thoroughly cooked, stirring each 15 minutes. Place toasted sourdough cubes into large stainless-steel mixing bowl. Add sausage mixture and one 12-ounce can of chicken stock. Mix thoroughly. Pour into Pyrex baking dish and bake at 325 degrees in conventional oven for 30 minutes or until top is crispy and firm. In the News - They walk among us! Enjoy - Relax and enjoy these images and videos!
Thursday, November 08, 2012
The wonderful (80+) warm weather we have been enjoying has departed us—likely until next spring. It was wonderful while it lasted. Today, the high is forecast to be a mere 54 degrees! Rather than complain, however, I shall simply treasure my memories of warmer days and anticipate with great enthusiasm the return of the warmth!
Laura produced another stellar breakfast this morning. I so hungered for it that when she brought it to the table, she found me immobile—great quantities of drool seeping from my mouth, my eyes glazed and fixed, my pulse rapid and irregular—producing odd animal-like sounds. She placed THIS before me:
Click image to enlarge
and I was quickly restored fully! Thank you, Laura!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Fighting Back, Matters of Life and Death, -and- The Termin-actor
Fighting Back - retiree fends off muggers with walking stick
Matters of Life and Death - Planned Parenthood offers gift certificates
The Termin-actor - thespian robot takes the stage
On this day in history: November 28, 1981 - Natalie Wood topples off her yacht near Catalina Island and drowns. Her husband Robert Wagner, and friend Christopher Walken, were onboard and unaware of her predicament.
Born on this day in history: November 28, 1962 - Jon Stewart (1962-) Born in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, comedian Jon Stewart is the anchor of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," the popular satirical news show critical of the political establishment and news media. He co-authored the best-selling "America (The Book)," acted in several films, and hosted The Academy Awards.
Scripture of the Day: He [Jesus] replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." — Luke 11:28
Video of the Day: The Geico Gecko
Thanksgiving Dinner - Click to enlarge!
Laura took this photograph of our Thanksgiving dinner. I was otherwise occupied--eating!
MENU:
Game hens: marinated in extra-virgin olive oil, ground black pepper, granulated garlic, ground Cayenne pepper, ground Chile de Arbol, lime juice, and ground cumin. On the grill, the game hen halves were grilled for 20 minutes over the front burner, with the skin side down, over a very low flame, with the rear burner on high. After 20 minutes, the halves were turned skin-side up and drizzled with honey. When the honey had flowed and coated the halves, they were turned skin-side down and grilled for 10 minutes. They were then turned every 15 minutes for 45 additional minutes. The front burner was turned off for the last 30 minutes.
Dressing: Ground hot Italian sausage, julienned white onion, minced garlic, diced red bell pepper, diced Jalapeño peppers, finely-diced habanero pepper, sliced mushrooms, baby spinach, chopped celery, poultry seasoning, Tony Chachere's More Spice, ground black pepper, ground Cayenne pepper, and ground Chile de Arbol were sautéed. Sourdough bread was cubed and toasted. The sausage mixture was added to the cubed bread, a can of chicken stock was added, and the dressing was mixed and placed in a Pyrex cooking dish. When the game hens were nearly done, this was baked in the conventional oven until the top was crisp.
Green beans: Fresh green beans were boiled for 3 minutes and placed in cold water to stop the cooking process. Bacon (cut into 1-inch pieces), julienned red onion, sliced mushrooms, minced garlic Gebhardt's chili powder, and lemon pepper was sautéed in extra-virgin olive oil. When this was cooked, the beans were incorporated, and the mixture was placed in a Corningware casserole dish.
Potatoes: Red potatoes wee diced and placed in a pot. A large head of garlic was peeled, and the cloves were added to the potatoes. This was cooked until the potatoes were done. The potatoes and garlic were drained and returned to the pot. Tony Chachere's More Spice, sea salt, ground black pepper, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, milk, and ranch dressing were added. The potatoes were whipped with an electric mixer.
Gravy: 4 chicken bouillon cubes were added to water, corn starch, poultry seasoning, and ground black pepper and simmered until the desired consistency was reached.
Monday, November 26, 2007
They're Not Here!, 'Tis the Season, -and- Come Fly with Me
They're Not Here! - alien ad campaign angers New Mexico tourism officials
'Tis the Season - Americans fed up with "Happy Holidays"
Come Fly with Me - regional airlines lower bar for pilots
On this day in history: November 26, 1975 - Manson family member Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme found guilty of attempting to assassinate President Ford.
Born on this day in history: November 26, 1938 - Tina Turner (1938 - ____) singer. She won Grammys for "Proud Mary," 1972 and "What's Love Got to Do With It?," 1984.
Scripture of the Day: "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe." (Hebrews 12:28)
Video of the Day: Laser Cats - submitted by Phillip
I hope that everyone had a festive and safe Thanksgiving. The weather here was beautiful throughout Thanksgiving and the weekend. Mornings were cool, but the sun was bright, the sky was clear, and the days were warm and wonderful.
Laura and I attended a candlelight Thanksgiving service at Harvest Christian Center Wednesday evening. It was an awesome experience.
Following the candlelight Thanksgiving service, we dined upon a 10-topping Freschetta pizza and retired early.
Thursday morning, we made preparations for Thanksgiving dinner. I poached two large bundles of asparagus and placed in the refrigerator to chill. I sliced a loaf of garlic sourdough bread into cubes and toasted in the oven. I sautéed two medium white onions, two heads of peeled and chopped garlic, six diced Jalapeños, a diced red bell pepper, four large sliced white mushrooms, three sliced celery stalks, and seasonings in extra-virgin olive oil. Laura tended to this as I drained two jars of Pacific oysters. Laura added the oysters to the sauté pan and broke them apart with wooden spoons. Laura then added a large package of baby spinach to the sauté pan and continued to tend it. I took the toasted sourdough cubes from the oven and placed them in a large stainless-steel bowl. Laura added the contents of the sauté pan and a can of chicken stock and stirred the dressing. She then placed it in a large Pyrex baking dish, covered with aluminum foil, and placed in the refrigerator. She did a spicy dry rub on a 5-pound turkey breast. I roasted the turkey breast at 350 degrees for one hour, uncovered, in a roasting pan. I placed an aluminum foil tent over the turkey and continued to roast for another two hours at 225 degrees. When the turkey was done, I removed it from the oven, covered with the aluminum foil, and allowed it to rest while I baked the oyster dressing for 30 minutes at 300 degrees. I sliced the turkey breast, removed the asparagus from the refrigerator and placed it on the dining table, along with the sliced turkey breast, oyster dressing, a pot of turkey gravy, and a bowl of cranberry sauce. The meal was delightful. Champagne accompanied the food.
Friday evening, we revisited the Thanksgiving meal—without the asparagus, which had been fully devoured on Thanksgiving.
Saturday morning, I made baked cubed white potatoes, sliced white onion, a head of whole, peeled garlic cloves, and two sliced Jalapeños in the microwave oven in a Pyrex baking dish for eight minutes. I removed this from the microwave, seasoned with sea salt, ground black pepper, and Cajun seasoning, cracked six jumbo eggs and arranged them on top, and baked in the conventional oven for twenty minutes at 400 degrees. Laura grated some medium cheddar cheese and distributed it atop the food when I removed it from the oven. It was a delightful meal.
For dinner Saturday evening, Laura made chicken enchiladas—using the four leftover chicken breasts I had grilled earlier in the week. I made a fresh salsa with diced Roma tomato and diced Jalapeño. It was a wonderful meal. Five enchiladas remain and shall be our dinner on Wednesday, following Bible class at Harvest Christian Center.
Sunday, I grilled a large tri-tip and made a casserole of steamed white potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, and baby carrots. We enjoyed this with an extraordinary Woodbridge Zinfandel.
Now, it is Monday, and it is time to toil once again!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
The Kids Are Alright, Online, -and- Never Too Thin
The Kids Are Alright - 3rd-grader rescues choking pal
Online - Wi-Fi causing autism?
Never too Thin - Web sites promoting anorexia shut down
On this day in history: November 21, 1997 - Lead singer of INXS, Michael Hutchence, found hanged in his hotel room at the Ritz-Carlton in Sydney Australia. Police have denied that his death was due to Autoerotic Asphyxiation.
Born on this day in history: November 21, Goldie Hawn (1945 - ____) actress, comedienne, producer. She won an Oscar for "Cactus Flower," 1969; other films include "Protocol," 1984 and "The First Wives Club," 1996.
Scripture of the Day: "I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way, in all your speaking, and in all your knowledge." (1 Corinthians 1:4-5)
Video of the Day: Thanksgiving - George Winston
Laura has set a beautiful table in preparation for Thanksgiving dinner. Click to enlarge.
Happy Thanksgiving!
We shall be attending a Thanksgiving worship service at Harvest Christmas Center. For dinner afterwards, we shall have one of the new Freschetta 10-topping pizzas. I described this pizza in an earlier post. It is wonderful and easily equal in taste and appearance to a take-and-bake pizza.
For Thanksgiving dinner, we shall have a roasted turkey breast, oyster dressing, garlic mashed potatoes, poached asparagus, turkey gravy, cranberries, and champagne.
Laura and I wish you all a very festive and safe Thanksgiving.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Got Milk?, Vanished!, -and- Helping Hands
Got Milk? - Heather Mills: drink rat's milk to save planet
Vanished! - wife can't find husband after he wins lottery
Helping Hands - neighbors catch baby thrown from blaze
On this day in history: November 20, 1912 - Mad Bomber Carl Warr enters Los Angeles city jail with 60 sticks of dynamite strapped to himself. After an hour, two detectives attack Warr who then pulls the bomb's trigger. Nothing happens, and the freakishly masked bomber begs police to kill him.
Born on this day in history: November 20, 1923 - Nadine Gordimer (1923 - ____) novelist. She is noted for her major anti-apartheid themes of exile and alienation in "Burger's Daughter," 1979; won Nobel Prize for Literature, 1991.
Scripture of the Day: "Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." (Psalm 95:1-2)
Video of the Day: How to charge an iPod using electrolytes and an onion
For dinner last evening, I grilled boneless, skinless chicken breasts. The chicken had marinated overnight in extra-virgin olive oil, rice wine vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, lime juice, crushed red peppers, sea salt, and lemon pepper spice. I grilled the breasts until they were approximately 75% done. I placed them in a Pyrex dish, covered the dish with aluminum foil, and placed in a 170-degree oven. After 30 minutes, I halved three medium red potatoes, baked them in the microwave, and added them—cut-side down—to the Pyrex dish. When we dined an hour later, the potatoes had absorbed a quantity of the delicious juice that exuded from the chicken breasts. We also had baby asparagus that I poached and chilled. It was a delightful meal. The chicken was fork-tender, moist, and delicious. The four leftover breasts will make some excellent enchiladas later this week, I am certain.
Photographs from the 12th annual Corning Hometown Christmas await your viewing pleasure. From the index for the Photo Gallery of Local Events, choose Corning Hometown Christmas. The photographs may be viewed individually, by clicking on the thumbnails, or as a slide show, by clicking on "start slide show" near the bottom left of the first photograph.