Fathomable Depths

Back to the kitchen...

2010-01-31T20:45:00.004-05:00

So I haven't been inspired in a while and I feel like I have turned my back on an old and faithful friend. I take comfort in food. I love to eat it, but I also enjoy making it. I find there is something magical in the process. A jumble of raw ingredients soon transforms before our eyes into a delicious meal, at least in theory. Here is evidence of my most recent endeavor, hope you enjoy!

Right to Left=Blue cheese bread crumbs(Melt 3 tbsp butter w/ 2 cloves minced garlic and 2 oz. blue cheese crumbles in a saucepan, Mix in 1/2 c. breadcrumbs and set aside)+ 1 bunch washed, chopped Kale, 2 organic NY Strips, room temp, trimmed, and blotted dry+Dijon Mustard, salt, pepper, chicken stock, red wine. Let's do this!

Oven to 500F, skillet in the oven until hottt! Using an oven mitt(important, trust me) place skillet onto a burner on high and in with thy steaks(which you just coated w/ olive oil, sea salt and fresh cracked pepper!) SIZZZZZZLE!!!! 2 minutes on the first side and flip it with the tongs. 2 minutes on second side. While it's cooking on the second side, top the steaks with the breadcrumb mixture and get your broiler on at 500F. Put the skillet back into the oven and broil for 2-3 minutes until breadcrumbs are browned.

Scrape any leftover breadcrumbs out of the skillet and toss in your kale over medium heat. Wilt that bad boy! After it gets bright green, add 1 cup chicken stock and 1 cup red wine.

Heat on a high simmer until it is reduced by half, then stir in 4 tsp Dijon mustard.

Serve with mashed potatoes and some good company. Mangia!

Enough...

2009-11-07T04:36:00.002-05:00

...with the promises and excuses. Here's a new post!

I haven't felt like blogging in quite some time and it's been just fine with me, until now. Maybe it's because I can't sleep at 4AM, maybe I'm inspired because Wifey has a fantastic blog which you should definitely check out, or maybe, just maybe, I finally have something enlightening to share with you.....NOT!

The time I spent away has been nice. Lots of stuff has happened and most of it has been fun. Some has been challenging and some has been distasteful, but I have started to realize that I am happier when I take a few minutes for myself to reflect on my journey. I don't think I will attempt to catch you up on the happenings, rather, just pick up where I am.

Right now I am sick. This doesn't happen much but when it does, look out! I have been feeling yucky with some sinus funk that I am trying desperately to shake off. Come on Mucinex!

Work has settled down a bit after an intensely challenging period of flux. It has made me a stronger employee and sparked my desire for progress, but it has also made me dislike my job a bit. My oldest daughter always asks me if I am going to work, and when I say yes, her response is "I wish you could stay here with me". I try to explain that I have to work to make money to buy things. A big part of me wishes I didn't have to spend so much time away from family and the recent past only served to exacerbate that feeling. I like my job, don't get me wrong....but if I was offered a job travelling the world with my family and sharing my experiences with others, I would jump at the chance. My passion has always been food, but the fire is in need of some fuel. The longer I feel stagnant, the more I want to change paths. I am starting to get a bit jaded, you might say. What to do? I honestly don't know. I appreciate the stability. I don't think I am ready to trade that quite yet. Bills must be paid, things must be purchased, etc. and it is nice to know that paycheck is coming. There is a light on the horizon, however, that is calling me to do something different, something amazing, for myself and my family. One thing that I am afraid of is the time and energy that chasing the light requires. It would most certainly be more demanding on my time and energy and I don't know if I would trade any amount of monetary reward or personal fulfillment for those precious resources. I have to weigh the opportunity cost carefully and strengthen my resolve before attempting such a change and it's going to take some time to get there from where I am currently. Ideally, I would like a job that allows me to spend the days and nights together with my loved ones while sharing my passion for food with others. Wouldn't that be nice?! Now who's hiring?

Journey, realized

2009-05-25T18:18:00.003-05:00

I have sat down to write this post more times than I care to remember. Every time I do, I find myself instantly censoring all of my thoughts. It's as if some internal editor with a ragin' case of hemorrhoids and a espresso addiction has supplanted my gray matter. Well, not this time Mr. Editor! This one's got to come out.

Yesterday I was cruising down the highway on the way to play outdoor soccer. Radio up, windows down, straight-up Cruise-Inn! I was enjoying it so much, I almost didn't notice when a peculiar thought snuck into my head. At that exact moment 25 or so people were in various stages of converging on a soccer field. In this game there were sure to be lots of tackles, challenges, and shot opportunities. The success of these are largely determined by the ability to get to the right place at the right time and do the right thing. I started envisioning the road trip as something more than a noisy interlude juxtaposed between being at home and playing soccer. I started envisioning it as part of the soccer game itself. Each turn, lane change, stop sign became part of the multitude of things that must go exactly to plan if I was to arrive to make the play on the field at the moment of truth. Instead of my usual rocking out, I found myself getting mentally into "game mode". I thought about each footstep that I would take, the speed of the passes, how to strike the ball impeccably, the angles of pursuit. In the middle of this my inner editor said "What, do you think any of this will actually help?". "Nothing ventured...", I cliched back. So I continued. After I had gone through most of the iterations for defending(my main duty as a younger player) I dared to imagine myself finishing a great run with a stupendous strike, garnering the adulation of my adversaries and teammates alike. If you know me and my playing, you understand how far I had strayed from reality. Quite far, indeed. Nevertheless, I looked up into the rear view mirror to find a stalwart and purposeful soccer player staring right back at me. He looked ready.

At kickoff there was no rush of anxiety. My moves were deliberate. "Take your time, play to your strengths". The hypothetical advice echoed internally. "Patience, patience, choose your angles wisely" It was like I was coaching myself and playing at the same time. Near halftime our captain had given instructions to play "possession" soccer, which is to say that we had plenty of goals and should take it easy on them. I distinctly remember that NOW, but during the heat of the match his voice was outmatched by my inner coach. It was this coach that said "Put a move on that striker and carry the ball up the field." So I did. Not the most conservative play for an overweight central fullback whose team is up 3-0. "But so what, I will most likely end up passing it off anyway", I rationalized. The midfielder was on me quite a bit later than he could have been and I found myself at midfield facing his challenge. The anxious me would have tried to force it through him and end up behind the ball AND the man, racing back guiltily to defend his goal. This was not the anxious me. This was the patient me who waited for the man to commit to the tackle and maintained balance throughout, coming away with possession of the ball and an inordinate amount of space to play. The dogs were now coming full tilt. By now all the alarms were going off in my head. "What ARE you doing?", I thought. "You have crossed midfield, now PASS that ball!". Still, I nervously declined to heed.

Now two defenders were on me. "That happened fast!" was my first thought. "...because you are so slow! Now PASS", my editor intoned. Negative. I stopped the ball mid-run, just before both defenders could close me down and I cut hard to the middle of the field. They blew by me in an instant. When I got my head up, I noticed that I was running parallel to the top line of the 18-yard box with room to spare. I was bracing for the stiff challenge that usually comes when you try to dribble around the top of the box. To my amazement, it never materialized! What I did notice at this moment was my entire team screaming "SHOOT IT!". I tapped the ball out in front of me and wound up my leg muscles with a vision so intensely focused on the ball I could have etched my name, address, and number into it. I didn't bother to look for the goal frame, I FELT it in every fiber of my being. When I struck the ball, I knew it was good. I caught it perfectly with my laces and sent it cracking with a wicked spin that was not unlike something you see in professional bowling. It bent from high above and beyond the line of the right post, across the face of goal, and ducked into the left corner of the net, just clearing the crossbar at the last possible moment. Unstoppable. Completely, utterly unstoppable. I heard someone gleefully exclaim "Van der Saar couldn't have stopped that one!" A bent rope to the top corner from 20 yards out. Simply a brilliant strike. My team went crazy. The other team rushed over to congratulate me. I had the strange sensation of deja-vu and told my inner grouch "...nothing gained!"

I marvel about how much time we spend travelling from point A to point B mindlessly and how much better served we would all be to make that time more productive. I have a feeling my next soccer match will start even before I turn the ignition, and I am getting excited already.

Just don't ask me to play "possession"!

Testing, testing, is this thing on?

2009-04-28T07:06:00.001-05:00

Hi all. Back online for a minute to welcome my lovely Wifey to the blog community. Find her stuff right here! She's my FAVORITE!
Love ya,
The Wizard

New Year, New Post

2009-01-03T07:03:00.002-05:00

In an attempt to start the new year off properly, I decided to post again. We enjoyed a fabulous Christmas vacation in Florida and had tons of fun and sun in the process. The highlight was Annabelle's first trip to DisneyWorld, which she thoroughly enjoyed. I have always loved the Magic Kingdom, but this time my affinity was rekindled for a different reason. Seeing it through the eyes of a child is truly a magical experience, as always. As an adult, however, I took a different meaning than I ever had before. When I looked around, I realized that I was surrounded by people from every country, race, religion, and social status. I know this phenomenon, albeit rare, happens in other locations. The difference at Disney is that they are all smiling and having fun together. Truly magical; a Small World indeed. If only we could harness that peaceful coexistence and grow it on a larger scale.

Sabrina has blossomed into a wonderful little baby, complete with smiles and laughter( a welcome change from the throes of colic we have been enduring for the better part of six months). Wifey and I celebrated our six year anniversary yesterday with a dinner at Carrabba's(Thanks Papi!). I am amazed at how many changes we have experienced together and look forward to the next one with joyful anticipation. Life is GREAT! Knoxville is treating us well and things are better than ever with the Shroom. I hope this year has started well for all and I will try to keep this new leaf turned over for as long as possible. Until next time...See You Real Soon!

2009-01-03T06:58:00.000-05:00

2009-01-03T06:38:00.002-05:00

My Cinderella

2009-01-03T06:29:00.001-05:00

2009-01-03T06:18:00.001-05:00

2009-01-03T06:16:00.001-05:00

Hmmm, what's the best way to remove chocolate cake from a nose?

2009-01-03T06:10:00.001-05:00

2009-01-03T06:00:00.001-05:00

2009-01-03T05:59:00.000-05:00

2009-01-03T05:48:00.002-05:00

2009-01-03T05:46:00.000-05:00

2009-01-03T05:44:00.000-05:00

hee hee

2009-01-03T05:42:00.000-05:00

2009-01-03T05:39:00.000-05:00

2009-01-03T05:01:00.000-05:00

Not too cold this Christmas!

2009-01-03T04:59:00.000-05:00

2009-01-03T04:57:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!

2009-01-03T04:55:00.000-05:00

Hello ladies!

2009-01-03T04:46:00.001-05:00

All I want are smiles for Christmas!

small World

2008-12-30T20:16:00.004-05:00

World of laughter,

World of tears.

World of hopes,

World of fears.

There's so much we share

it's time we're aware

It's a small world after all.

just one moon

one golden sun.

a smile means Friendship to every one.

mountains divide

oceans are wide

It's a small world after all.

small

small world.

By Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman

2008-12-12T17:42:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas to you!
Love,
Annabelle

2008-07-02T15:59:00.000-05:00

Ni Hao Chopsticks!

New Addition

2008-07-02T15:54:00.002-05:00

WooHoo! The family has grown again. The Wizard & Fam want to give a warm "welcome to the world" for baby Lily, born today to her Strong parents! Great job guys, we love you and look forward to seeing pics of our new niece. We wish you lots of happiness in this exciting time. Congrats!!!

2008-06-20T21:46:00.000-05:00

2008-06-20T21:42:00.000-05:00

2008-06-20T21:38:00.000-05:00

2008-06-20T21:29:00.000-05:00

Mt.Leconte Redux

2008-06-20T21:24:00.003-05:00

Ahh, the call of the wild!

Picification

2008-06-17T07:36:00.002-05:00

Hi Blogfans, I'm Sabrina!

2008-06-14T22:56:00.003-05:00

Well, we've survived the first week of new baby. Things have been going well. Wifey is healing nicely and Sabrina has fallen into a regular routine of eat, poop,sleep,poop,eat some more,sleep and poop at the same time,eat,and poop again. She has christened all of her caretakers with both functions thoroughly. We have each developed our individual strategies for dealing with the barrages. I prefer the ol' "dirty diaper fake out" and am experiencing a high degree of success. My method involves going through all the steps of a normal dirty diaper removal, save the actual removal. Hence the baby is led to believe that she is resting on a pristine, unsoiled changing table cover. Upon believing she is in direct contact with a surface that we definitely do not want used as a toilet, she performs her duties(doodys?) with unparalleled vigor. She has begun to adjust to my creative maneuvering and thwarted my plan tonight. I refer to her response as "Shock and Awe" or the "Top-Off". She simply filled said diaper to its utter capacity. Seriously, the thing was like holding a boomerang. Oh well, enough of that. I hope you are all doing well and getting ready to watch the Celtics stomp some Kobe tomorrow. I have also been religiously watching Euro Cup soccer as well, which makes not playing much more poignant. I have been trying to keep my fitness level up, but I can feel the difference without the soccer workout. I have taken to working out at a fitness station I discovered near work. It is a nice way to spend a few minutes outdoors and shift to play mode. I haven't been on monkey bars or parallel bars in years. Boy are my manboobs sore! Here's to hoping you find simple pleasures and hidden gems that enrich your life and make you joyful. Have a great evening.

Homecoming

2008-06-09T13:24:00.003-05:00

Hooray, Wifey and Sabrina were released into the outside world! After an exhausting hospital stay it is fantastic to have our family reunited again. Sabrina looks even cuter without the harsh hospital flourescents shining on her. Wifey is gorgeous as always and handling the new duties with her trademark aplomb. It is a sweltering day here in the Tennessee valley with the mercury >90 degrees in the shade. Luckily the house is cool and the ceiling fans are operational. I installed the second car seat and turned our family SUV into an official baby shuttle. Everyone seems pleased to be together, even the dog seems extra chipper. Lots of rest will be the theme for the near future, so I have a chance to catch up on my soccer viewing. Euro Cup 2008 has completely taken over the DVR so I have to make a concerted effort to get some serious man TV time going. I got to watch Game 2 of the NBA finals last night....Go Celtics! I have always preferred them to the Lakers and it was nice to see them beat Cocky, er, Kobe Bryant, although the Celts did manage to make it a nail biter.
I want to send a special thank you out to all who have left comments on the blog, we love getting your feedback and good wishes. You are truly loved and appreciated! I will try to get some more pics up soon, but first a glass of wine! Have a great day and happy Homecoming!

Day 2

2008-06-08T11:45:00.000-05:00

Update!

2008-06-08T11:28:00.002-05:00

Hello blogfans! Hope you are all enjoying the resurgence in posting. I will do my best to keep the flow up, but no promises, because I am sure you understand that we have some priorities that take precedence. Wifey and Sabrina are still at the hospital and doing well. They are on schedule to be released tomorrow and things should be getting back to normal shortly thereafter. Annabelle is amazingly receptive to her new sibling. She wants to hold her new baby sister constantly and is so amazingly gentle with her. I have no doubt that she will continue to be a fantastic big sister. Thank you all for your support and comments, those are the little things that keep me coming back to post again and again. I am going to grab a bite of lunch so I will have to sign off for now. I will stick a few more pics up for you before the munching begins. Enjoy and stay tuned for more.

Sabrina's B-Day

2008-06-06T13:07:00.000-05:00

D(Delivery)-Day 2008

2008-06-06T13:04:00.001-05:00

D-DAY

2008-06-06T05:15:00.004-05:00

No, not the anniversary of the Normandy landing. The D stands for delivery and we are going to have a special one this morning. Today is our second daughter's birthday and I am super excited! I am blogging from the Wifey's bedside as pink-clad nurses prep her for surgery. This hospital offers free Wi-Fi so stay tuned for more blogging later. Wish us luck and let's celebrate this special day together electronically!

Pictures for Nana

2008-05-30T09:00:00.001-05:00

Childishness

2008-01-12T20:26:00.000-05:00

Is that a bad word? Sometimes it is, I suppose. If I was to say "I observed a bit of childishness at our annual homeowners meeting today" some might not be pleased. Personally I don't believe acting like a big baby is admirable. It became apparent after the nearly FIVE HOUR meeting(no longer hypothetical) that some of my neighbors disagree. That was the first annual meeting I have attended, and sweet potatoes that seriously sucked a**! I have since decided that I never, EVER want to be involved with any administration board, regardless of size. The only good that came out of it is that we are all still alive and we don't have to do it again for a year.

Speaking of still being alive, I had something happen tonight while I was reading a book with Annabelle. I was reading a story called Love You Forever which is about a boy growing up and his mother growing old, a powerful "circle of life" message. Every time I read that story out loud, I finish the book with tears in my eyes. I am overcome by a great sorrow when I think about our mortality. If I was an actor, I bet I could get great results pondering that thought for an instant wellspring. Annabelle gives me hugs and comforts me and that just makes me so completely happy that I cry ever harder. Then I explain that I am crying because I love her so much, because I am so happy to be with her. But there is still that part of me that is crying just for me. Just for all those moments of her life that I won't get to be alive. Is it childishness that makes me well up even now? Selfishness? I tell myself that death is the price of admission and I know it's the truth, but it doesn't make that lump in my throat go away. The only thing that helps me in those moments is holding her tight and thinking how much I should appreciate the Now. "Stop being a little boy, start being a Daddy" ,I hear my older self say. But part of me can't. I wonder if am I unique in feeling this way. Surely not. I wonder if that feeling ever goes away. I wonder if I will ever be happy about dying. Is joyful acceptance a myth? Somehow it feels so natural to be sad about being mortal. Is that childish?

Online

2007-12-30T19:49:00.000-05:00

Hello again. I haven't done this is so long, it feels kind of weird. But as I sit here typing, listening to Sam the Sham growl out "Wooly Bully" it is all starting to come back to me. I remember how to blog! It's been a while and I suppose it may be time to get back on track. Life has been good here recently and we anxiously await the arrival of our next child. We will find out the gender of our newest family member in a couple of weeks. Wifey is doing better, after a difficult first trimester, and looks absolutely fantastic. I'll try to get some pics up soon. Annabelle is healthy after spending the holidays with a cough. She has been having a fantastic time playing with her new toys, especially her Zoo(that's so GREAT, Daddy) and her Hello Kitty Teacup(that's my FAVORITE, Daddy). She has become extremely self aware and communicates on a level that surprises me. She is happy to become a big sister and I think she will be well suited to that role. Cassidy is doing much better after some health issues and has returned to being the companion our family loves so much. Sasha has been affectionate recently as well. I should go feed him now if I want that trend to continue. Hope you had a happy holiday and enjoy the last day of the year tomorrow! Good night all.

Testing the waters

2007-12-29T00:49:00.000-05:00

Could it be? The return of the blog?! Or maybe just a tease. Guess you'll have to wait and see. Goodnight.

2007-07-29T19:01:00.000-05:00

I just read this and this. Powerful stuff.

Happy Independence Day

2007-07-04T21:17:00.000-05:00

God bless America.
My home, sweet home!

Leconte via Alum Cave Bluff

2007-07-01T18:53:00.000-05:00

So I got a little shutter happy Friday on my second hike to the top of Mt. Leconte. We took the Alum Cave Bluffs Trail and enjoyed it immensely. It was a hazy day so the visibility doesn't do justice to the views, but I had a great time anyway. I am interested in staying at the lodge, but they are booked through the season already. Maybe next year! Hope you enjoy the snaps.

2007-07-01T16:07:00.000-05:00

Taking a moment at inspiration point.

This squirrel had some serious nuts.

Lunchin' at the lodge

2007-07-01T16:00:00.000-05:00

The morning started off a little misty

Which burned off gradually

and then the haze settled in

The clouds rushed in through the trees at Grassy Slide

The primitive shelter at the top of Leconte

2007-07-01T15:50:00.000-05:00

Good reason to stop hiking

Taking a break at Cliff Tops

Mountainside with flame azaleas in bloom

I like the little tree that grew with the mountain updraft

Watching the storm roll in

Top of the mountain!

2007-07-01T15:37:00.000-05:00

The edge of the cliff--fastest way down the mountain!

2007-07-01T08:52:00.000-05:00

2007-07-01T08:46:00.000-05:00

Going back down

Note hand wire on the left side of the trail. Necessary.

The Alum Caves

Fill 'er up

2007-06-03T18:12:00.000-05:00

Hello all! I know it has been a while since I have posted and for that I am sorry. No excuses, let's jump right back in! First the rundown. Wifey is doing well and getting more lovely by the minute. Annabelle, well, what can I say about that little woman. She is developing so rapidly it almost makes me sad. I have countered that emotion by making the most of our time together, but I think a Daddy&Daughter day is overdue. She speaks in sentences and has mastered half of the alphabet. She often amazes me by recalling things that were only taught once, even if it was just in passing several months ago. Just incredible. Wifey and I have continued with the preschool auditioning and have still not found one to our liking. The good thing about me being a big kid at heart is I that can evaluate the places quickly by determining if I would like to spend some time there! We looked at a "daycare" facility just for curiosity's sake and I have to say, it's really depressing to see the way some children are raised. The notion of letting a child(2 months until 12 years) spend 11 hours a day, five days a week with strangers is unfathomable to me, although I know of an ex-daycare employee that told stories of parents regularly coming to pick up their children from daycare on Friday evening and asking about the possibility of freelance babysitting during the weekend. I guess the point is that we are lucky to able to spend as much time as possible with our little one at this age. Soon enough she will not want to be seen in public with us!
Wifey and I were watching a commercial(a rare occurrence since the addition of the DVR) last night for the "Lap Band"-an adjustable device that helps people to control their eating habits by physically restricting the amount of food that can pass into their stomach. People actually pay money to some doctor to basically zip tie their stomach opening so they wont have the inconvenient task of deciding how much food to gorge on tonight. Just eat until the band makes you stop. This is not the most incredible thing of all, far from it. Wifey observed that in a world where so many humans are starving to death every hour, it seems so tragically ironic that here in the "developed" nations, one of the biggest(no pun intended) problems is obesity and compulsively eating ourselves to death. Why should this cruel condition be allowed to continue? Do something today.
I will do my best to get back soon. Until then, have a great time with life and enjoy it until you're full!

Flight 93

2007-05-12T01:19:00.000-05:00

I just watched The Flight That Fought Back on the Discovery channel. I am overwhelmed by the personal stories and transcripts of the phone calls completed in those last dreadful moments. After pondering what can be learned from their tragedy, my simple truth is this: Learn from their example. Facing their own mortality, the thing that lucky passengers were able to do was call their loved ones in order to share their feelings. Too often we decide we are too busy to do that simple thing. To let those you care about know it; to share those oft passed over sentiments. While it may not seem that important right now, one day it will be. And there are no guarantees you will get that chance tomorrow. God Bless all those who have been affected by that fateful day in September.

Updates

2007-05-05T18:34:00.000-05:00

Hmmmm. Its been a while so I figured I would run through the general updates. I am well--unscathed by my bear encounter of late. Cool pics, though?! Wifey is fabulous as ever--sporting her new 'do and with flair to spare. Annabelle is at the point where she makes dramatic changes almost daily. So smart. In a complete role reversal, she has taken to singing "Twinkle, twinkle little star" to us both several times a day. She was running around in her Union Jack tank today when I came home from work, and it was just about the cutest thing ever. Almost as cute as when she cheers me on when I play soccer(Go Daddeee, Go DADDIIIEE, GO!!! KICK-A-BALL!!!) Speaking of soccer, my team made a drastic improvement this session, finishing fourth after a ninth place finish last session. The new session starts this week and I am looking forward to improving my stat line. First session=1 Own Goal. Second Session=2 Goals(yes, both on the OTHER team). Third Session=Nine goals(six in one night--Double hat trick, baby!) By my calculations I should conservatively score about 19 goals this time if the trend continues! I will continue to be happy with just getting more playing time and losing more weight. Next week I will be going back into the wilderness since my black bear encounter. I am really at ease since the experience--almost like the fear of seeing a bear was worse than the actual experience. Don't misunderstand, I WILL be the fastest thing in the forest if I see young cubs, but I feel like the bears and I have achieved a certain level of maturity in our relationship. I don't act like an idiot, and they refrain from killing me. At least for now.

Things I have learned recently:
Trekking poles work well after you get used to them, which is just before you get back to the car.
You should only hike as fast as Mother Nature allows, and watch out for the unexpected!
Knee injuries can linger for a while.
Sometimes my best shots can be blocked by an alert goalie.
Kids ROCK!
Unicycles are always cool, no matter who/where you are.

Things I saw today

2007-04-27T19:30:00.000-05:00

oh sh*t

even the trees were scary!

2007-04-27T19:14:00.000-05:00

...and now the cascades
Cold lampin'
Tree hugging hippie!
Twin trees with fuzzy socks

Ramsey Cascade Trail

2007-04-27T19:05:00.000-05:00

The call of the wild(erness)

2007-04-25T06:57:00.000-05:00

Howdy Peeps, the Wizard here to satisfy your hunger for more posts. Today is Wednesday and the end of my work week. I couldn't be more pleased with that situation; I am ready for a break. Friday can't come too soon and my anticipation is slowly building. This Friday, weather permitting, I will be hiking in the Smokies with some friends. I began venturing out into the woods this January, in an effort to improve fitness and have some special time in the forests of the most visited national park in the U.S. The park is truly a place of immeasurable beauty and each week I find it luring me back with the promise of undiscovered trails and unparalleled vistas. This week we will be hiking to the Ramsay Cascades, the highest waterfall in the park. It is not the longest, nor steepest hike I have undertaken since rediscovering the outdoors, but if Harvey Broome is right, we are in for a picturesque trek. I will try to find some space in my pack for a camera so I can give you a glimpse of what waits at the end of the trail. Until then stay happy and healthy.

2007-04-22T16:03:00.000-05:00

Old Dog

2007-04-21T18:10:00.000-05:00

So by now my loyal blogfans, if there are any left, are probably wondering what has happened to their beloved Wizard. What could possibly make a marginally reliable blogger slow his posting down so much? Well don't hold your breath waiting for the answer. I could ramble on about how I can't remember the new password to the new Google-ized Blogger, how work has been busy,how I've been spending most of my spare moments hiking and playing with family, how the rigors of everyday life have beaten me down to the last bloody nub of existence, how I have had to learn to type with my toes because a Chinese hand lotion that contains urusiol oil has rendered my fingers useless, itching, oozing stumps, or how I have just not felt like it recently. Those are plenty of good reasons, just pick a few and let's make up already. Big Hugs!

Enough about me, how have you been? Do you still like pickles? Good, me too! Except not those little sweet nasties. Gerkins, gherkins, jerkins, yuck. One late night in college, I recall stumbling thirstily over to the fridge to grab a Coke after a night out on the town. The end result of my sleepiness plus booze plus more booze was mistaking a jar of gherkins for the can of refreshment I so desperately wanted. After unscrewing the lid (right about now is when the two sober brain cells briefly thought about sending up a signal flare, but the rest of my drunken brain cells promptly puked all over them both, rendering the flare useless) of my much-anticipated Coca Cola, I unhesitatingly knocked back a huge swig of sweet gherkin juice. Not the best idea on a drunk tum tum, 'nuff said. To this day I can't drink Goldschlager or eat sweet gherkins.

Things I have learned recently:
Car repairs are more expensive than you expect.
Everything weighs a lot if you have to carry it 7 miles up a mountain.
Bossy, yelly people are not fun to be around without earplugs or indifference
Some parents do horrible things to their children in public.
Some people kill other people for no reason.
Mass media sucks.
Thinking about losing my daughter makes me cry.
My wife can rearrange a room with the best of them, and look hottt doing it.
Grill season is good.
Father-in-laws are often right.
I miss blogging.

Have a good night and thanks for believing!

Picpost

2007-03-30T20:43:00.000-05:00

Cutting a rug!

Signs of life

2007-03-30T20:13:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the extended hiatus, loyal blogfans! I haven't felt inspired to blog recently, that is, until tonight. Since I am out of blogging shape, I'll have to keep it brief so I don't pull a finger muscle. Things have been good on the home front and Annabelle and I just finished up two solid days of Daddy-Daughter time. We had lots of fun playing outside in the beautiful weather and even snuck off to the zoo for a couple of hours. Spring is in bloom and all of our dogwoods are flowering. I enjoy this time of year more than any other; all the flowers and trees blooming and the cool, sunny weather makes me want to have a picnic and stay outside all day. I have been going to a physical therapist for about a month to correct a lingering knee injury I sustained playing soccer in November. I have been steadily improving and last night's match was the best I have felt this year. We were short-handed and started with just enough players to field a full team without substitutes. I ended up playing about double the usual time, which was simply exhausting. I attempted to ration my energy in such a way that I could remain an effective contributor. Incredibly, I ended up scoring five goals to lead our team to victory. I have never scored more than one goal in any soccer match, so this was fantastic affirmation of my rehab and training. We had beaten these opponents on several previous occasions and we finished the night with a 6-3 win. The whole thing still seems surreal and I hope my mates don't expect a repeat performance, which I doubt I could deliver. All I know is that this had better make up for any own goals I've scored! Time to watch a movie, so have a great night and thanks for believing!

2007-02-23T11:20:00.001-05:00

Celebrating the warm weather with a sunny slide at the park

Who's that baby in the mirror?

2007-02-23T11:17:00.000-05:00

Da Happs

2007-02-10T19:44:00.000-05:00

Well, I am still alive. I know I've been gone a while...I hoped you missed me as much as I missed you. Things are well and currently everyone is healthy. The dog has been a good girlie and has been "holding her water" reliably. We even let her spend the night in the bedroom sometimes! Annabelle is doing well and continues to progress rapidly. She just had her 18mo checkup and it was a real eye-opener to see how fast the average child develops compared with our precious girl. They are saying, on average, 6-10 words and just starting to put two words together. Annabelle knows over 100 words and is forming clear phrases. Annabelle's rate of learning is truly impressive. At the pediatrician's office, I read a sheet with detailed questions about developmental concerns that parents may have and it was reassuring to have none in common. I was saddened to think of how it would be for a parent to have any of the concerns noted. It really made me appreciate how amazingly fortunate we truly are to have our little one. Enough gushing, time for a brief update. Wifey has been cooking up a storm and I have been reaping the benefits. I am glad we like to eat, because I love to cook with my Wifey! We have been cooking more recently and it is fantastic. I can't imagine being one of those people who doesn't like to cook. I can't imagine a more completely rewarding activity than creating a delicious meal with people you care about, for people you care about. One minute it's just groceries in the fridge and the next it's a high quality entree ready to see, smell, taste, and feel. FANTASTIC! Another rewarding activity has begun paying dividends this week. My indoor soccer team snapped a five game losing streak this week by defeating our opponents 10-2. This was made even better because I managed to score my first offensive goal in the last 15 or so years. Earlier in the season I committed an own goal in a devastating match that we lost 11-3. Fortunately, I scored goal number 11 for them at the very end of the game, so I escaped culpability in the loss. This weeks strike should help equalize my prior indiscretion, although a couple teammates said I still had to score two more to be balanced out. Oh well. It felt great to finally get one in--maybe my days of strictly defensive soccer are over. The beautiful part is that I carried it from my third to their goalie and drove it in between his legs! I don't know who's expression was more incredulous, mine or his. What a rush, my heart is racing just typing that. I can't wait to play again next week! I have given some thought to playing outdoor this year, but have yet to find a team. I used to favor outdoor soccer, but I am beginning to think indoor is more exciting because of the fast pace and high scoring. Plus you get to play in climate control, which is always nice. Hopefully I'll find a way to play both this year. Time to stretch out these sore muscles, have a great evening and God Bless America!

Get back

2007-01-22T18:53:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday people! I am back, happy, and well rested. The getaway was a success, and except for feeling a little under the weather, I had a great time. Unfortunately, Wifey is not feeling well. Annabelle had a little croup while we were gone, but Nana and Granddad had everything well in hand. Annabelle rarely gets sick, it figures it would happen when we're out of town! I'm feeling better today and have been able to take care of Wifey, so it's actually kind of convenient to have staggered sicknesses. I mean if you have to be sick. It obviously wouldn't be preferable to being healthy. I didn't get any vacation pics for you visually driven types, so you are just going to have to imagine us smiling, relaxed, and full. We had a food and fun filled time together and both appreciated the chance to spend some quality time. I even saw a hawk hunting and a woodpecker family. It weird how, as a parent, it is great to get some time sans children, but as soon as you get settled in you end up wishing you could be with your baby. Luckily, I had an alluring Wifey to distract me from my baby withdrawals. I can't wait for more getaways! Have a great evening and bundle up.

Getaway

2007-01-17T19:58:00.000-05:00

Hi all! Long time, no blog. All that changes right now. Promise fulfilling time. Janet, you are first on the list. Scroll down the linked page to find the recipe for our fantastic black beans. Don't bother with the pork recipe on that page, because the real deal is over here. Those three guys also have the mojo recipe we used with the yuca. Same recipe for the pork, just w/o oil. The bread, although unspectacular in my estimation came from this website. It's not at all authentic, but the crockpot recipe is an easy way to shortcut a day of oven roasting. So tender! Good times can be had eating the pork made with this recipe as well, but I am not sure about the rum. Can't forget about the yuca recipe;I thought that it came out extremely well. What a fun time in the kitchen. I can't wait to cook with you again! Tomorrow Wifey and I are escaping to a cabin in the mountains for a few days to celebrate. I will try to get some pics of our trip when I am not in maximum relaxation mode. Although with a hot Wifey, hot tub, pool table, and mountain views...photo shoots may not be a great priority! Have a great time every day and stay warm!

I made it!

2007-01-07T22:40:00.000-05:00

31!
I never imagined my life past age 30, and now I don't have to. Last year was incredible, I hope this year will follow suit. Except for that whole mystery illness thing. Our soccer team placed third in the league and I am definitely seeing the results of weekly playing time. We scored an amazing 14 goals in our final match of the season! The next season starts Thursday, so we will be right back in the fray soon. Thanks again Nona y Papi for the new cleats, I can't wait to score my first goal in them! I was even asked to join an outdoor team. I don't know if I will have time for both but it sure is nice to enjoy exercising again, regardless. Have a good night and stay warm.

New Year

2007-01-03T17:33:00.000-05:00

Ahem. Please excuse my absence. I am okay, you can call off the rescue dogs. We have had a wonderful holiday season and the new year is off to a good start. Annabelle is growing up so quickly and talking up a storm. Wifey is doing well and we got a lot of QT in during the last few weeks. It all culminated with an anniversary dinner outing to Edison Park. Mmmm, steaks! We had a great time despite the cheesyishsleazyish waiter from Romania who laid his schtick on so thick that you felt a little dirty by the end of the meal. Hallo there, I'm Claauuude. It was such a blast! Tonight Wifey goes to work and I get to catch up on some me time. It's been a while since I've had some time to myself and I don't intend on wasting it all on the computer, so this is me signing off. Hope the New Year brings you all the new joys and challenges you can handle.

Picupdate

2006-12-12T18:14:00.001-05:00

I figured it was time drop a few recent pics that I have not had time to post since Thanksgiving. Enjoy and hi Amy-poo!

2006-12-12T18:13:00.000-05:00

2006-12-12T18:09:00.000-05:00

2006-12-12T18:08:00.000-05:00

Da Crew

2006-12-12T18:07:00.000-05:00

flashing those signs again...Gangstannabelle!

2006-12-12T18:06:00.001-05:00

Cool dude

2006-12-12T18:06:00.000-05:00

Looks like someone is melting faces

2006-12-12T18:05:00.001-05:00

Nona's totally rockin' out!

2006-12-12T18:05:00.000-05:00

Annabelle on the move with Tia

2006-12-12T18:03:00.002-05:00

Mmmmmm!

2006-12-12T18:03:00.001-05:00

Carvin' that bird

2006-12-12T18:03:00.000-05:00

Chip off the block

2006-12-12T18:01:00.000-05:00

Papi + Turkey =

Who Dat?

2006-12-11T17:38:00.000-05:00

Well, I have recently experienced a renewal of activity on my Myspace page. Wifey was actually the impetus for the rejuvenation, as her own page inspired me to actually use mine for the first time in six months. I set the account up a while ago, but just never saw the need for two separate blog hosts(those of you who are familiar with my increasingly sporadic posts will understand the reluctance to dilute my efforts). Oh, how times have changed. I threw myself into the task full-force last night and the results are a significantly expanded profile and growing friend list. Woohoo! A lot, well pretty much every one of my newfound friends are confounded by my lack of personal information and secret identity. To explain, I am highly suspicious of divulging personal info to random webbeings. I know some of you may think that defeats the point of networking sites like myspace, but that's just part of the fun when you're hanging with the Wizard. Besides, all of you took the time to investigate who was befriending you. So my plan has paid off, I get to keep my semi-anonymity with the rest of the potentially unsavory netcrawlers and my true peeps got to have a little fun sherlocking my info. Plus my blog site is getting mad hitz yo, and that always makes me smile B-) Well, that's the whole truth and now the mystery is over. Shame, I always think a little mystery makes people much more interesting. Anywhoo, I had a fine day at work today and when I arrived home my ladies were there to greet me before I stepped out of the car. Warm and fuzzies all over. I am getting excited to have our family and friends arrive for Christmas; I know we are going to have a total BLAST! I hope you are looking forward to your holiday plans and enjoying life thoroughly. Have a great knight.

2006-12-10T02:09:00.000-05:00

I can't sleep. My thoughts have been racing around like a champion greyhound on methamphetamines at a bunny farm. They always seem to come back to the same subject. James Kim. In case you do not know, here's the story of his tragic ordeal. I typically refrain from opining about news articles, but this particular one moved me deeply. I find my mind drifting across time and space to the day after Thanksgiving. I can imagine with great detail the events that might have taken place on that snowy afternoon in the mountains. The family on a road trip, diapers and Dora DVD's, baby food jars and driving songs, a few joyful glances between Mom and Dad, and lots of snowy trees zipping by the windows. The children must have been excited to see the snowfall increase and they drove on toward their destination. But it was not to be. It didn't happen all at once; no abrupt devastation. Little by little things began to unravel. I am sure at first the trip seemed delayed, merely sidetracked. Just a slight miscalculation. Just backtrack and start anew. But it was not to be. The car got stuck, the day receded, and the snowfall intensified. The kind of snowfall that makes you pull off the road and wait it out. It's okay though: just change and feed the baby, turn on the heat, and think rationally. It's a road, there will be someone along soon. If not, we can just wait it out until morning and continue on safely. The hotel will probably charge the credit card for tonight anyway...oh well, c'est la vie. More snow. All day, snow and freezing rain. Man, it was cold last night...and that was with the heater on. The gas gauge is running low, we're going to run out soon if we don't get out of here. Feed the baby. Use the last diaper. Do your business outside in the snowbank. Wife is getting scared and the kids can hear it in her voice. Relax and remain in control, let them know it will all be alright soon. But it was not to be. The calculations must have begun. Remember your survival skills, how long do we have? We have shelter, check. We have water, check. Once the water runs out, we have the snow. Food is lacking, but I know we can survive for a while before we start to starve. Did I just think about starving to death? No. I refuse to let my family starve to death. No matter the cost, I will not watch my babies starve to death. Anyway, a human can live up to three weeks without food. Wait, that projection is probably based on an adult's body. What about a seven month old? How long before the children start to starve? If wife is breastfeeding both kids, how long until she starves? How long do we have before this situation becomes really desperate? Okay, I am positive we can make it at least week. God, why didn't we take any of the leftovers they offered us? Stop it. No time for looking back. Okay so how long do we have? 150lb man=3 weeks. 15lb baby=two, three days tops. Once the food and mother's milk runs out the baby should have about 3 days. Out of milk, out of food, out of heat.....out of time. What to do? Find help. Bundle up and start walking, you're the strongest and your girls need you. Now. God it's cold. I'll get help, it's only a couple miles away at most...just have to hurry before I get too cold and fatigued. Hurry. Getting tired quickly. I can't make it back to the car if I go much further, my legs feel like lead weights and the cold has soaked through to my bones. Better turn back and try a different direction tomorrow. But help has to be a few steps away. When I find help, I won't have to walk back in the cold. If I can keep going just a little further. Just take another step. I can't do it, I can't even stand up. Keep crawling, dammit, keep going. The girls need you. I'm going to die here. Oh God, please save my girls! Please God, I love my darlings so much, take me and save them. And God listened. One father's desperate, fateful mission secured his family's salvation. God bless you James Kim. God bless your darlings. I will always remember you for being a great Dad and a true hero.

2006-12-08T16:24:00.000-05:00

annanook

2006-12-08T16:22:00.000-05:00

2006-12-08T16:21:00.001-05:00

2006-12-08T16:21:00.000-05:00

i'm a lumberjack and i'm okay

2006-12-08T16:20:00.001-05:00

2006-12-08T16:20:00.000-05:00

2006-12-08T16:19:00.001-05:00

2006-12-08T16:19:00.000-05:00

snowy valley

2006-12-08T16:18:00.000-05:00

toe touch

2006-12-08T16:17:00.000-05:00

2006-12-08T16:12:00.000-05:00

walkiee

2006-12-08T16:11:00.000-05:00

2006-12-08T16:10:00.000-05:00

On the run

Hodgepodge

2006-12-08T09:58:00.000-05:00

So, I finally made you a priority today. Sorry for the impromptu hiatus, but sometimes life gets in the way of blogging. I have had a great couple weeks--Thanksgiving was a blast and we enjoyed having my folks, my sis, and her hubby in town to gorge and play. Annabelle capped off the event by beginning to walk. She has not slowed down since, making it difficult to snap pictures. Wifey outdid herself again with the cooking and decorating--the consummate hostess. Since the Christmas season is rapidly approaching, we decided to venture out to secure our first real Christmas tree. I had heard Wifey talking about a Christmas tree farm in town and wondered what it was all about. Apparently this concept is not as foreign to others as it was to me. Being from the tropics, I have never had the chance to experience this ritual. The farm itself ended up being less then three miles away from our house-a reminder that parts of our town are still stubbornly resisting the prodigious development that has come to characterize west Knoxville. There was some trouble finding it at first, mostly due to inattentive navigation on my behalf. We circled back and, after venturing into a construction area(what else!), we found the little farm tucked into the rolling hills. They had all sizes and types of trees along the half mile driveway that led to the rustic rancher overlooking a greenish-brown pond. The owner walked me through the complicated process of securing a Christmas tree: Take eight foot measuring stick and old bow saw, walk down to trees, pick a tree, cut it down, drag it back, wrap with netting, and tie onto car. He was kind enough to do the netting himself and helped me get it on top of the SUV. It was bitterly cold yesterday and by the end of the exercise my face was stinging, but it was a completely worthwhile adventure. We got a gorgeous, living tree at a fraction of the cost--Grandpa would be proud. We had a lot of fun and discovered a new Christmastime tradition!