Super Sloppy Joes

Sometimes, sloppy Joes is the only thing the sounds good.  Let me rephrase, sometimes super sloppy Joes are the only thing that sound good because my cafeteria lady's sloppy joes left me dissatisfied. This is a great one because the average person who eats food will have all the ingredients on hand.  So I will let you in on the secret. Partly because I was too late for it to get published in a cookbook and partly because I like to share a good thing when I find it.

 To start you need to gather your ingredients:

Ketchup, BBQ sauce, Salsa (two nearly empty jars both = salsa) mustard and 1 lb. Hamburger--already browned with green peppers and onions.

I usually multitask when cooking. This time I was working on my dance moves, so I decided to mix the sauces first. 1 Cup ketchup, 1/2 C. Salsa

Smaller portions now: 1 Tb. mustard, maybe it calls for 2?

1Tb. BBQ sauce

Yep that bottle was nearly empty and exploded after shaken.

Clean as you go!  BBQ sauce is sticky!!

Now add the meatiness and go stir crazy.

And stir while on low. Only let it simmer for a short time. It just needs to be warmed but the longer it sits being warmed the better I think it tastes.

Especially on toasted buns. Better than the cafeteria ladies for sure...

S'mores Indoors

 Sometimes the weather is not favorable for bonfires and s'mores. Sometimes you don't have a brush pile in your backyard to burn as you please. Sometimes you are in a burn ban and you can't enjoy the typical s'mores treat. Don't worry because you can enjoy s'mores indoors!

Gather the standard ingredients: graham crackers, large marshmallows and chocolate.

 The first step is to melt the chocolate. Place a few small bars of chocolate on each graham as show above.

Into the microwave they go! I would try 20-30 seconds, watching it as I wait. I can tell the chocolate is soft when it starts to appear glossy or shiny.

The next step is to soften your marshmallows. They will not take as long as the chocolate, 15-20 seconds or even less. Again it is wise to watch while you wait.

This is probably my favorite part because the marshmallows expand and "grow," then they topple over.

The finishing touch is to put another graham on each cracker, spread the chocolate a little and bite in. Yum! I can tell you it is just as messy and sticky as it would be if you were eating outside.

After cleaning chocolate off my cheeks and fingers , I put my ingredients away, noticing the suggested recipes on each package. What do you know, the marshmallow bag said, "Use the microwave" to make s'mores with complete directions.

I know what you're thinking, "Wow, Nelson! Thanks for nothing! If I  can read, I can figure it out for myself."

What do I have to say to that thought? 

"Sure! Anytime I can be of not help at all! I am here for you."

What to do on a Snow Day

1. Sleep in - you really don't need to get up.

2. Laundry

3. Make yourself a nutritious breakfast, like cinnamon rolls, right out of the can.

4. It's about time to fold the laundry, but make sure you have a good mix of music playing to pump you up (Florence and The Machine was my choice).

5. Check your e-mail.

6. Check your facebook account.

7. Get some exercise while you're cooped up with DDR on PS2.

8. Cool down with some Sufjan Stevens.

9. Get in some banjo practicing time.

Check out what's available for free through Amazon's Video on demand. You'd be surprised how many special features are available for FREE.

10. Make yourself some ringtones, research how to make your own text-tone sound effects.

11. Clear the driveway. Think about running errands, then remind yourself it is 10 degrees outside and change your mind. 

Lost: If Found...

Doing a favor for a friend, I volunteered to drive them 3 hours and drive myself home that night. They were responsible for getting directions...No problem right? Just reverse the directions to get home.

It's dark, I forgot about that. So nothing looks familiar, oh wait that did, but from the other way. I need to turn around. 30 minutes later...so I should be running into I70 soon ...I don't remember being on this road before.

Oh that looks like a toll booth! Wait, those are US military guys...in uniform. Yep 100% sure I am lost....
Mr. Military police #1 -ID please.
Me - I am 100% sure I am lost.

Mr. Military Police #2 - Wait so you see the P-O-L-I-C-E and you don't want to talk to me?
Me - Actually no, I just need to find I 70.
Military Police #2 -Well, then we just need to get you turned around here. So you need to turn around on the 6th street turn rt and you'll run into ___ and that will take you right to I70. 

Me -What's the name of the street? 

MP#2- I don't remember but it's the 6th street back.

Me- Oh, no. I'm gonna have to count. OK thanks.

Is this street number 6? Does that count as a street or is that an alley? OK so this should be #6, nope it's a dead end. OK, so let's go back one street, so it was an alley and it doesn't count. Now we're on Walnut. So I'm looking for I70, but this is Walnut!?

I should say that since this experience I now carry a card with me that reads: I'm lost. If found, please call: Pheffer.  Which will come in handy the next time this happens.

God bless the armed forces anyways.

Banjo Lessons 1 - 10

Lesson #1 My Teacher
My teacher wears suspenders and speaks in rhyme. Coolest factor is really high right now.

Lesson #2 Tuning a Banjo
Teacher-Let's check your banjo to see if the cold weather outside got to it.
Me-(after plucking acrossthe 5 strings) How's that?
Teacher - Well, close enough for country music.

Lesson #3 The Scale

I had a lot of trouble finding B Flat until I remembered that A Sharp and B Flat are the same note.

Lesson #4 Sheet Music
There is no sheet music for banjo. Real banjoist play by ear/what feels right...I'm in trouble.

Lesson #5 Wall of Frustration
We all experience the wall of frustration. It's like El Guapo, we all have our own. Mine just happens to be learning how to play the banjo.  As my teacher said, The only thing you learn from success is that it feels good.

Lesson #6 Mistaken Identity 
My teacher has me confused with someone else, that is good at playing the banjo.

 Lesson #7 Clapping 

It's really helpful to sing while you figure out how you want to play the song. -Teacher Sing AND play banjo? At the same time? I can't sing and clap at the same time.

Lesson #8 Costume
If I ever get serious about performing...I need to consider a costume. Every other banjoist has one..


Lesson #9 Sickness
If you are sick, do not go to banjo lessons.


Lesson #10 Blizzard
If there is a blizzard, banjo lessons will be canceled.

RimRock Farm

 

 I had heard a lot of great stories, so I had to check it out myself. It started out as acres of untamed land and through more than a decade of blood, sweat and tears became a beautiful cross country course that's also been used for weddings, retreats, etc. In fact, they even have their own graveyard. It 's uniqueness, makes it ... unique.

 

 This feature is of a covered bridge over one of the many ponds. As you can see, I was not the only visitor. It's a busy place.

This is a view from inside the covered bridge. Can you find a rhombus? Triangle?

Another cool feature would be all of the silhouettes of folks relating to KU track history and beyond.This is one of Jim Ryun, he broke a lot of distance running records, went to the Olympics and such. As if that wasn't challenging enough, he served as a U.S. Congressman for quite a while.

This one is of Coach Timmons, the man behind RimRock Farm and former coach to a lot of driven, successful athletes and adults. Thanks for the boost, Pheffer...The silhouettes are larger than life size.

A lot of runners have told me it is a challenging course to run, and I only walked part of it. I can say, it does take a lot out of you, but it was worth it all.

How to Do Themed Christmas wrapping

First you need to gather the necessary supplies: a couple creative friends, desperate for entertainment,...

some sharpie markers, tape, rocks, tissue paper, scissors, you get the idea. 

Also if you can multitask a classic Christmas film adds to the experience. 

 

Next you need to determine what your theme is going to be. 
 If everyday has felt like a battle. Why not have a theme that fits your feelings?

Thus the theme is laid. Give those you care about everything they would need to fight the daily battle against....whatever it is they are fighting.

Go big or go home.

Not even kidding.

Always be OVERprepared.

What better way to say Merry Christmas?