
Friday, October 31, 2008
Halloween 2008

Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Live from Colorado Springs....
I have been getting lots of questions about A.J. that I do my best at answering. I thought, though, it would be best to go to the source. I asked A.J. a bunch of questions and he answered me in his own A.J. kinda way. With his permission I have done a bit of editing on the answers....
1. Do you enjoy the academy?
Eh, its ok, I guess
2. What do you like about it?
The football’s cool, and most of my squadmates are friendly.
3. What do you dislike about it?
I cant stand the military stuff. Especially the stupid freshman shit, like walking only on the right side of the hallway. And running the strips and shit.
4. Are you having fun?
Its not very much fun. It isn’t the college life I wanted. You’re supposed to go to parties and have fun on the weekends, you know, and I haven’t gotten a chance to do that, and I really wanted to.
5. How are you doing academically?
Are the classes hard?
School is going very well. My classes really aren’t that hard. My teachers seem to like me, and I get the material pretty easily.
6. Do you regret your decision to attend?
I don’t know if regret is really the right word. Do I wonder if things would be better at Harvard? Yeah. But regret just inst the word, I’m looking for.
7. How is football?
Football is going well. I really hope that we get into a bowl game.
8. Is it hard not to stand on the sidelines and not get in the game?
Its really not that hard to be on the sideline. Especially when I know that Lusk is better than me. I know I will get my time. Sooner or Later.
9. What are you hoping to do this summer?
This summer I will have to a bunch of training stuff so I don’t know how much time I will have. But I probably just want to relax, hang out with friends, stuff like that.
10. What foods do you miss and want your Mom to cook when you get home?
I think I want shepards pie, the dutch oven ribs, a good steak, and crushed carrots, maybe twice baked potato.
Of course, I discussed a few of his answers with him a bit more in depth. He did tell me he doesn't want to leave the Academy and is certain it will get much better after "Recognition" which is in March. At that time he will have more privileges and not have to "run the strips" and do the other "freshman shit" he doesn't like. He is looking forward to next year when he gets much, much more freedom on the weekends and he will be able to go out in the town and attend parties and, in general, have more fun. He was told in advance that Freshman year is hard and isn't like any other college. He is glad that no one sugar coated it and he knew what he was getting himself into. In addition, he says that it will really be all worth it if the team gets to a bowl game this year. At this time they are "bowl eligible". They currently have a 6-2 record and a team must finish 6-6 or better to be eligible. If they can win this week and next then they will be HIGHLY likely to play in a bowl game. I will keep you posted on that.
If you want to "talk" to A.J. send him an email. His address is c12austin.wallerstein@usafa.edu
I know he would love to hear from you.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Pictures from this weekend....
Maple Gorp (aka TAILGATE MIX)
MAPLE GORP
(you can use any nuts you like but these are the ones we happen to prefer)
¼ cup maple syrup
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup oats
1 cup cashews
2 cups whole natural almonds
1 cup peanuts, unsalted
2 tablespoons brown sugar
½ cup raisins, a couple of handfuls
½ cup shelled pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
1 cup plain M&M's
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place maple syrup on the stove with cinnamon and vanilla over medium low heat to infuse the flavor. Warm syrup a couple of minutes, remove. Combine oats, nuts, seeds and brown sugar in a bowl. Toss with maple syrup mixture. Spread the maple coated mixture out on a cookie sheet and roast 15 minutes. Remove the nuts from oven and transfer to another cold pan, tossing the mix to quick-cool it. Once cool, toss with M&M’s & raisins.
The BEST....

See these ladies I am pictured with? Well these are my aunts and my mom. I am so lucky to have them all in my life. They spoil me, my husband and my kids like you wouldn't believe. They are there for me in good times and in bad. They are there at the drop of a hat to have fun and do the dirty work. I am certain there is nothing they wouldn't do for me and my family. Not to mention, they are just fun to be with.
My Aunt Jean, my mom's sister, is to the left of me and over the years we have had some great fun and often at her expense. She takes it all it stride and laughs with us. She never takes anything too personal and sets a wonderful example in that department. One of her classic lines came one day, over 18 years ago, when we were out shopping for baby furniture with her then 6 month pregnant daughter. Her daughter said she was hungry and wanted to stop for a bite. My aunt replied, and she was NOT joking, "why eat lunch, you are just going to have dinner in 6 hours". It was then and there we gave her the name Auntie Rexic (like anorexia).
Then to the right of me is my Auntie Beverly (my dads sister), then my Mom and then my Aunt Hallie (actually no relation but raised with my mom and her sister so she is an aunt and family to me). My aunt Bev is more the sentimental type. She is an easy cry and when there are tears in her eyes then mine are not far behind. She is outgoing and adventurous. She adores my kids and even shares her birthday with Erin, just 50 years apart.
Most of you know my Mom and know she is just plain great. She will get up early and/or travel far to see her grand kids, or nieces & nephews, play sports or participate in a play. She makes great cookies and shares them all the time. She is strong and, despite a few health issues, NEVER complains.
Lastly, there is Hallie. She has no kids of her own but makes up for it by spoiling all of us. She is our connection to Dodger games, magazines and special pretzels. She is just as strong and determined as the other 3 ladies and, again, another tough cookie.
I guess you can now see where my spirit and drive come from. These 4 ladies have set great examples. They have taught me so much in their words and actions. They have certainly helped me become the person I am today. They all have hearts of gold yet are women who stand up for what is right. They are not afraid to speak their mind nor step up when action is needed. I would be lucky to have just one woman like this in my life so you can imagine how great it is that I have 4.
Thank you Mom, Auntie Beverly, Auntie Jeannie and Hallie for all you do!!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Food (and drink) for thought
The Very Good Taste Omnivore's 100
1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat's milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth $60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald's Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S'mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs' legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake