Yes She Can

During the summer months, when all the local schools are closed for a recess and the traveling all Girls Soccer Team is taking a break, my beautiful, smart and athletic daughter Taylor, chooses basketball to keep herself fired up. Its not as though we as a family are just sitting around doing nothing and getting bored, its just that she has so much competitive desire to achieve, that I would literally have to physically restrain her to keep her still. God knows its a blessing that her mom does most of the going here and there, while I the other parent... well, lets just leave it at that.

It all started way back when she started to learn how to walk. The next question should be, how fast did it take? Try fast.......real fast. This incredible feat didn't last to long either, because before I could get the hang of the video camera, she was up and running. Soon after the toddler track meet, swimming lessons started which required her to wear those plastic arm floatation thinga-ma-jigs. Personally, I thought this would slow things down a bit, but I was wrong again. She soon ripped those arm things off and to my surprise, was swimming like a fish.

This brings me to what she calls her featured event, "Basketball".

This is probably her true "I LOVE THIS GAME" sport. Of course, I assume this because, she talks about it, dreams about it and plays very well at it. She presently plays the point guard position and really has great ball handling skills.

This school year, she'll more than likely play both soccer and basketball, providing she can keep pace with her academics.

Who knows, perhaps in a few years, high school MVP; Then collegiate player of the year; and ultimately... the WNBA!

Nothing But The Best

This particular post, I promise will be brief, short and straight to the point. I usually write about success and life changing events, and this is truly one of them. All that needs to be said is, if you're one of the many who consume various types of stimulants to get you through the days task, because of the stresses and the lack of sustained energy needed just to function them. Then today, your quest for the only energy drink available to date that's ALL NATURAL, is right before your very eyes.

The END!!!

The Grill Masters

Well its that time of the year again, when every single one of those little or big, round or square, hot and steaming gadgets come out to play. The result of using one of these incredible and helpful inventions, will satisfy and bring even the pickiest eaters to their knees. I'm talking about the grill masters, those unique and skillful people who enjoy cooking in and over, bonfire's, open pits, charcoal, electric, gas, and propane.

You may have to get off the couch and out of the house, to go catch it and or kill it, but by golly if and when you do .. you can cook it and then you get to eat it. Or you can do what I'm going to do and go down to your nearest Publix supermarket and buy it, and then cook it.

It's called Time Management!!

When I decide that I want meat, I go for steaks. Not just any ole steak, I go for the biggest, tastiest rib eye, T-Bone (aka Porterhouse), I can get. Money is no option with me when it comes to food. Its about quality, quality, quality.

Once I get it home, I get to know that lovely piece of goodness in a nurturing and pampering fashion. Do not confuse this vital process with those who "play with their food", its not the same thing. Besides its my steak.

Now where was I... Oh, so as I was saying, I start with a little steak shower, by rinsing it off under a mild stream of cool sink water (steaks love it). Then I pat it dry with a 2 ply paper towel. After letting it rest for a spell, I pull out all my favorite spices and seasons and sprinkle them all over the steak (making sure to turn it over on the other side too). The steak really appreciates it when you gently rub all the spices in. It just seems to go, ahhhhhhh.

Next, you need to consider a liquid marinade of your choice, to bring everything together and then finally, slowly s-l-i-d-e your incredible creation, into a storage bag and put it to bed for the next 1 to 2 days to hibernate, in the refrigerator.

Finally, its judgement day. Take the rested, well marinated steak, out of the frig and set it on the counter to reach room temperature. In the meantime, you should be starting on all the additional side fixings. Hopefully, you already know and have decided on your desired cooking method, because there's some additional preparations to be done for that too, but that's another day and different blog title.

This weekend, I'm going the charcoal route. I love the flavor results and although its a little more work involved, it definitely works for me. After the coals are ashed over, I place my hand over the grill and count a few Mississippi's. This is a great way to determine the heat and temperature of the grill. It needs to be somewhat HOT, perhaps equivalent to medium high, so the counting will be short lived.

Place the steak(s) on the grill, and cook for about 4-6 minutes (depending on your preference of when its done). You can also pour any left over marinade on the steaks as they grill.

Be careful of the possible FLARE-UPS.

Turn the steaks and continue grilling to your desired preference.

Ring the bell... Ding, Ding, It's Time to EAT!!!!

Can We TALK?

HELLO....

There are times, when I wonder why and what is causing that burned out feeling, I sometimes get between my ears, as if my brain is screaming "ugh!, I'm FRIED!!" If this sounds familiar, then I'm happy to know that it's not just me.

A few days ago, someone very close to me suggested that I needed to catch up with the rest of the world, especially when it comes to communications. At first, I wanted to react vs respond to their statement. I said its their opinion; it's just an observation; after all everyone has one of these and they are, well... entitled to it.

NO way, I said to myself. I'm a great communicator, ask... never mind, calm down. I took a deep breath and realized that I had misunderstood their meaning. Oops!

It was not my communication skills they referred to, but the method and or types of communication I was utilizing day to day. Duhhhhh!

Think about it, we've come a long, long way since the beginning.

For instance:

There was the thundering voice of God. He spoke, man listened (just that simple). Remember the bird and the olive leaf; How about those numerous numbers of disciples who traveled to different part of the land, way back then; Some how drums got in the mix, and who could ever forget about the time when smoke signals was the game of the day; I'm not sure, but the US mail got in the act at sometime too; then we started using vibrations from a string tied between two cans, (that must have been fun, especially since the parties were standing right next to each other).

Then as people got smarter (go figure that), the telegraph and the telephone, then pagers, computers and then.... EUREKA, we exploded and out did ourselves with the Internet.

Whew!!

There's more because cellphones, email, texting, instant messaging, my Space, Facebook and its cousin Plaxo showed up, and then finally twitter ( I thought this was the return of the bird).

If you're still wondering what the heck I'm talking about and why is my brain FRYING, I'll let you in on a little secret.

You see, I personally have been around long enough to have used a whole lot of these communicators, but I'm NOT telling you which ones.

Its for me to know and for you to find out.

Have fun.