Winner Winner Chili Dinner

Third time is a charm. Rich has finally won first prize for our church chili cook off. He decided our first year that he wanted to make up a chili recipe and it turned out really good. That year he won second and then the first place winner moved away last year and he thought he had it in the bag, but alas you can't alway keep up with the Jones'. This year was finally his year and now that he has won, he is going to retire the recipe. So now for your cooking pleasure.

Rich’s Chili

2 cans Tomato Sauce (14oz or whatever the regular size is)
2 cans Diced tomatoes (regular, not Italian)
14 oz chicken broth
1 to 2 lbs Hamburger (2 for a heartier chili)
1 large onion
1 large green pepper
2 small really hot peppers (pureed)
2 can beans (kidney, drained)
1.5 tsp oregano
¾ tsp ground red pepper
3/8 tsp cumin
¾ tsp pepper
1.5 cup brown sugar
1.5 tbsp granulated garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
3 chorizos cooked and chopped

Cook meat separately with granulated garlic, onion, and green pepper, and salt and pepper to taste.

Cook chorizo separately and set aside.

Mix the remainder of the ingredients and cook for 30-40 minutes. Special notes: For easier puree of the Jalepenos, use a cup or so of the broth. When adding the brown sugar 1) add only 1 cup at first and cook as directed. If, after cooking, the sweet flavor is not coming through, add the additional 1/2 cup, or add to taste. Add meat and veggie mix to broth. Add meat and chorizos.

I'm so vain, I probably think this post is about me

Alright readers, I need your help on a matter of utmost importance. I have been informed that I have to do professional photos for our upcoming website at work. I am already worrying about it. I hope my skin is clear and the stye on my eye resolves beofore the picture (but I can't control that). So here are my questions.

1. Hair: Curly vs. straight vs. back in a bun
2. Clothes: sweater vs. collared shirt vs. suit (colors??)
3.Jewelry: Dangly earings vs none vs studs and ? necklace

What would you wear?

Death of an inspiring man

This man was such an inspiration to me during my first triathlon. I had tears come to my eyes as he gave an inspirational speech reminding us to enjoy every second of our triathlon, because you never know when it might be your last. Then he rode his wheelchair up and down the running path encouraging people. All I could say was thank you. I think it is good reminder to live everyday to it fullest.

10/15/09 - Roanoke Resident and VTS Speaker Dick Kelley Passes AwayYesterday,

Richard "Dick" Kelley, passed away after a courageous battle with ALS. Dick was an avid biker, skier and triathlete. He actually competed in every Big Lick event until this year. Dick was a triathlete for over 20 years. He was diagnosed in January of this year. The disease eventually left him paralyzed from the neck down. He never let the disease get him down and dedicated his final months of life to raising awareness of ALS and the lack of funding and treatments for this fatal disease. He appeared at the Angels Race Triathlon, Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon, Bath County Triathlon and Lake Norman Triathlon. Dick was the key driving force behind start of the Bath County Triathlon. He gave many inspirational talks despite the huge effort that was required by him to attend these events. Dick's last triathlon appearance was at Lake Norman 2009 which was the last triathlon that he completed in the summer of 2008. Dick is survived by his wife Carol. Donations in his honor can be made to alsa.org in the name of Richard Kelley.

Primary makes me smile

Sometimes I just sit in primary and smile, because children are strange and most of the time the things they do don't make any sense. They are so cute and most of the time innocent.
Here are some strange things that I noticed in primary today that made me smile.

1. I looked down and noticed that one of the boys had jeans hanging out the bottom of his church pants. I asked him if he was wearing a pair of jeans under his church pants and he told me that he was. So I asked him why and he just shrugged. Don't you know...wearing two pairs of pants is more comfortable.

2. I had to lead the opening song (fact: I just waved my arm to the 4/4 time and sang and my face turned red. Afterwards I looked at the song book and turns out that the song was actually 3/4 time, but its cool because the kids didn't know) and there was this cute little girl on the front row with pink bows on her pig tails and she covered her ears the whole time. Apparently this 3 year old can tell I don't have an angel voice.

3. There was a 5 year old that put his jacket over his face and kept shaking his head back and forth. Really? You are more fascinated by the inside of your jacket than by my lesson.

4. Right after the closing prayer two kids came running up to the front of the room jumped up on the stool in front of the microphone and yelled, "blah la blah blah" into the microphone. Everybody knows that hearing your own voice made loud is cool, even if you aren't saying anything important.

5. We did a spotlight time and the kids are supposed to sit down if the description of the spotlight child doesn't fit them, with the idea being that the last one standing is the spotlight person. Well the little kids don't get this concept at all and they jump up and down off of their seats throughout it. So this one sweet girl was sitting down apparently not paying attention to the fact that she was the person being described. Then Nicole said, "this person's favorite hobby is Thomas the Train." All of sudden her head popped up and she jumps out of her chair yelling, "I LIKE THOMAS THE TRAIN, I LIKE THOMAS." Ohh to be so excited about such a simple hobby.

Day PA Happy

I am sure you didn't realize that "PA Day" Even existed. I didn't either, until my nurse showed up to work with these beautiful flowers and balloons for PA day.

Philosophical questions

Philosophical questions #1:

If a tree falls in the forest and nobody hears it, did it really fall?



Philosophical question #2:

If my parents and brothers come to town and we tour downtown, go to belle isle, go on a fun bike ride, go on the sweet rides at Busch Gardens, watch conference, play games, laugh really hard and there are no pictures for proof because your husband loses the camera at Busch Gardens, did it really happen?

Answer:
Yes

My family came and we had such a great time while they were here.


Now we are in the market for a new camera.