National Beautician's Day - Today is National Beautician's Day! Jambalaya - Yesterday was my birthday. Fourteen years ago, I chose June 25th as the wedding date for my marriage to Laura. In the News - They walk among us! Enjoy - Relax and enjoy these images and videos!
Celebrated each year on June 26, it is National Beautician’s Day. Today we honor and thank all of the amazing beauticians across the United States that work diligently at their jobs and make us look and feel more beautiful (and handsome).
Beauticians are more commonly referred to as cosmetologist. Cosmetology is described as the study and application of beauty treatment. The branches of cosmetology include hair styling, skin care, cosmetics, manicures, pedicures , and electrology.
Many close relationships have been developed between clients and their beauticians.
For all of you who work in any part of the cosmetology field, THANK YOU for all that you do, and have a wonderful day!
For our anniversary, I wished to provide a special meal for Laura. It seemed too impersonal to simply go somewhere nice for dinner—although we shall do that Friday evening.
I decided the best way to show Laura I was thinking of her on this special day would be by producing a special dinner for her. I decided it should be something exciting and difficult to make—something in which she would delight. Jambalaya was my choice! Laura once told me she had not enjoyed truly good jambalaya since dining at Chez Paul in New Orleans many years ago.
Knowing the jambalaya there to be known world-wide as the best jambalaya extant, I set to work with diligence and determination!
I shall not disclose all the ingredients—most particularly the spices and herbs—that I used, since I maintain my recipe in my head and keep it a closely guarded secret!
I cleaned and de-veined three dozen medium prawns.
I removed the breast meat from a rotisserie chicken and shredded it roughly.
I sliced two andouille sausages into quarter-inch sections.
I set all these aside.
I diced six Roma tomatoes. I roughly chopped 12 large cloves of garlic. I julienned two large Serrano peppers and two large Anaheim peppers. I chopped two bunches of green onions. I chopped a handful of fresh parsley.
I covered the bottom of a large pan with extra-virgin olive oil and set the burner to medium. When the oil was hot, I added the tomatoes, garlic, peppers, and green onions. I stirred and cocked the lid.
I simmered this for 10 minutes. I added 2 cups of Cal Rose rice, a cup of chicken stock, and a bottle of Hot and Spicy V-8 juice.
I added the parsley and my secret mix of Cajun spices. This simmered for 20 minutes. Laura arrived, shook her head, and said, "Great cook that you are, it's almost impossible to make good jambalaya, and I've had the best!"
I smiled.
After 20 minutes of simmering, Laura began testing the rice. She said, "WOW! I've got to say, the flavor is amazing!
I smiled.
After several testings, Laura declared the rice to be done. I asked her to add the prawns, chicken, and sausage and turn the burner to medium-low.
In 10 minutes, the jambalaya was ready to eat.
Laura declared with glee, "This is amazing! You are amazing! I've never had anything this good anywhere. It's even better than Chez Paul's jambalaya! How did you do it? How can you make the rice so perfect and all the ingredients perfect and all come together like that? And what in the world is in the seasoning/thickener mixture?
I was happy to see that I had pleased Laura!
Thursday, June 26, 2014
National Beautician's Day, Jambalaya, In the News, and Enjoy
Friday, June 28, 2013
Happy Anniversary, Anniversary Dinner, and Smile!
Happy Anniversary - Laura has long yearned for a necklace and earrings custom fashioned from white gold and Tahitian black pearls. Smile! - It is now time to smile!
The Tahitian pearl (or black pearl) is an organic gem formed from the black lip oyster.
She found the cost to be prohibitive, however, and such things existed only in fanciful daydreams.
I wished to display my great love for her and directed her to go to a local custom craftsman and have him create the necklace and earrings of her dreams. She protested initially—saying the cost was too great—but I remained steadfast.
It was necessary to endure a lengthy wait, since Tahitian black pearls are very rare, and it took a great deal of searching to find just the right pearls. As you can easily see, it was well worth the wait and expense!
Happy Anniversary, Laura!
Laura produced a delightful anniversary dinner. She made a pasta dish featuring shrimp, minced garlic, grated ginger, red pepper flakes, and lemon extra-virgin olive oil. It was delicious!
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Underground Railroad Discovered, Happy Anniversary to Laura, Happy Birthday to Me
Underground Railroad Discovered - Imagine the great surprise with which I viewed the DHS vehicles and personnel when I arrived at my office yesterday morning! Happy Anniversary to Laura - Today is the 13th anniversary of my marriage to Laura. Happy Anniversary to Laura! Happy Birthday to Me - Today is also my birthday! Happy Birthday to Me!
Details were unavailable until mid-morning yesterday, when this brief article appeared in a local newspaper:
Authorities explained to me that they would not share details with me until their investigation had been completed. I noticed a drone helicopter high in the sky over my office, and I quickly entered my office and relaxed with a frosty Diet Pepsi and watched the authorities climbing into a hidden passageway in the storage area of my office.
Yesterday afternoon, this newspaper article appeared:
Apparently, the evidence that elves built the railroad is incontrovertible.
Elves have long been suspected to live in this area—albeit this has never been proven empirically.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Happy Anniversary Blog
Happy Anniversary Blog - Today is the 11th anniversary of this blog! It is really difficult for me to believe it has been ELEVEN years since I began this blog, but gazing at the visitor counter and seeing the date, March 15, 2002, indicates that it has indeed been eleven years!
I wish to thank all visitors for making this blog popular, and I shall strive to make the next eleven years equally entertaining and informative!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Relax!, Monkey Business, -and- Slow Down!
Relax! - town wants to ban couches from porches
Monkey Business - Spanish parliament to extend rights to apes
Slow Down! - man arrested after speeding 22 times in 45 days
On this day in history: June 26, 1990 - Irish Republican Army bombs the Carlton Club, an exclusive conservative gentleman's cabal in London.
Born on this day in history: June 26, 1892 - Pearl S. Buck (1892 - 1973) Born in Hillsboro, WV, Pearl S. Buck was raised by American missionary parents in Chinkiang, China. She lived in China until age 40. Her second novel, "The Good Earth" (1931), won the Pulitzer and the Nobel Prize for Literature. In 1964, she established the Pearl S. Buck Foundation to help children.
Scripture of the Day: "I [Darius King of Persia] issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions." - Daniel 6:26-27
Video of the Day: How to Make Cheese - submitted by Danica
Here is the birthday/anniversary (she called it a "birthiversary" card Laura made for me! Click to enlarge.
The fires continue. The air quality is horrid. The sky is darkened from the smoke of many fires near here. This morning, there were ashes from the nearby fires on Mr. Nitro. While the ashes were lightly scattered about him, this is the first time I have seen such evidence of the fires. I continue to pray for the welfare of those who have been affected by the fires and for those still in danger from the fires.