All About the Journey

Cook. Camp. Kayak. Crochet.

[allabtthejourney]

Words from my minister, Rev Ian Riddell:

I have not posted yet about the death of Robin Williams, mostly because I'm just very sad, but also because it's hard to realize that there are millions and millions of our neighbors and kin who suffer silently around us, who can't or don't know how to reach out -- or don't trust that reaching out will be safe. As my buddy, Patrick Erwin said, "It's impossible to know what brings someone to that place, that choice." So what we can do is make ourselves open and lovingly available to those around us. We can be gentle with each other, we can step in and stop bullying and abuse, we can ask "Hey, how are you doing?" and actually listen to the answer, AND WE CAN WORK IN OUR OWN HEARTS AND FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO NEVER STIGMATIZE THOSE WHO GRAPPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. And if we hear or find out that someone we know is considering suicide, we can insist we're going to take them to the hospital. INSIST. (Thank you, Rev. Sharon Wylie, for the reminder of this) We can admonish those who suffer to reach out, but WE must also make reaching out a healing act by our own words and actions. We love how Robin Williams made us laugh until we were hoarse. May we remember that life can be painful and costly, even when it is hilarious and moving. May we be a community of safety, healing, and love.

A note from me: 

If you are struggling with something, you don't have to struggle alone. Reach out. We love you, we see you, you are worthy of love and life. 

[allabtthejourney]

Current crochet projects. The green afghan will be an oversized twin and used at the foot of my bed (not shown). The blue thing there at the bottom is a receiving blanket using a horizontal chevron pattern for my cousin's soon to arrive son. She lives in Florida. At the time I started the blanket, her husband was playing baseball in Canada. I thought she'd need something super warm for their Canadian visits. Also, she picked navy and gray for her nursery colors. Also, lots of her stuff is chevron.

Well, her husband has retired from baseball. Let's hope it snows in south Florida this winter or I'm afraid this blanket won't get any use.

[allabtthejourney]

I attended the taping on the Stossel show in Vegas last Thursday. The show will air today on FBN and again this weekend on the regular Fox News channel. 

As you can see I was pretty far back. I got there 5 minutes late after misreading my ticket. I thought the event was at 9pm, but it turns out it started "promptly at 7pm." I figured it out at 6pm and was able to get to the strip and in my seat before taping started. I live in Centennial Hills, and you can believe I had to boogie to make it in time.

It was a great experience being surrounded by others who believe that morality legislation should be abolished, the nanny state is an infringement on our privacy (and if we didn't have morality-motivated legislation there would be less of a need for the nanny-state) and the war on drugs has failed and only serves to fill the highly profitable prison industry that feeds on our tax dollars. Whew! We covered a lot that night. 

[allabtthejourney]

Karaoke GNO at Mulligan's Landing, Las Vegas, NV

I'm in the bottom photo, 2nd from the left.

[allabtthejourney]

Cave Lake Camping

I say camping because it wasn't, as I found out, really about the paddling. Our fearless leader left her boat at home. We did get the boats wet once--for the super moon on July 12th. THAT was a beautiful paddle.

The views are breathtaking. These photos are completely unedited.

Back-roading with friends is a load of fun. Especially when you've got greasy camp-hair.

After packing up camp on Monday, we headed out to the Ward Charcoal Ovens.

The ovens are located in Cave Valley. Here's the view opposite them:

They are very close to the lake, so if you visit Cave Lake, you should definitely check out this historic site as well. 

We then headed out to Garnet Hill. Directions were hard to come by, so let me tell you how to get there. From the lake, head north on Hwy 93. Go through town and hang a left to go west on Hwy 50. Keep trucking on Hwy 50 till you pass the Robinson Project open mine on your left. You'll then come  up on the Garnet Hill turnoff on your right. Just follow the signs.

We shared the site with a hotshot group from south of Flagstaff. They were having lunch and breaking rocks waiting for a fire to put out.

All of those normal looking rocks scattered around are full of tiny and, sometimes, not so tiny garnets. Just bring a hammer (and optional equipment like gloves, safety glasses and chisels) and get to work breaking up rocks. 

In the background of the above picture you can see the open mine activity from the Robinson project.

Here's the view from the other overlook at Garnet Hill:

There are a few picnic benches, so pack a lunch and come ready to break some rocks.

I had a blast with fellow Las Vegas Kayakers Rose, Allen & Larry, and loved the time spent with my dad who decided last minute to tag along. Can't wait to get outdoors again!

[allabtthejourney]

Cajun Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

I've made this a few times and it is always a hit. If you can get your hands on a few extra ingredients that I can't find in Vegas, it's out of this world.

Ingredients: 1 large pork loin 1 package thin sliced bacon Cajun seasoning like Tony's or Slap Your Mama Stuffing Ingredients: 2 cups cooked rice 1 cup seasoning veggies, sauteed (you can get this at grocery stores nationwide, it's a frozen or chilled veggie mixture of onion, celery & bell pepper) 1 cup rice stuffing meat mixture (you can get this at grocery stores in south Louisiana, it contains a cooked & ground mixture of chicken liver and pork) 2T Cajun seasoning --or-- 1 box Zataran's dirty rice cooked per box instructions In Louisiana, I'd make the stuffing using the first set of stuffing ingredients. I can't find the stuff here so I improvised with a box of Zataran's.

My pork loin came in 2 pieces. Whether you get it in 2 pieces or 1, the method to prep the meat is the same.

Cover with plastic and pound it flat. I haven't seen my rubber mallet since the move, so I used the back side of my hatchet which was out and handy because I was prepping for a camping trip.

After you've flattened the pork, trim it up so the pieces are somewhat uniform and dust with Cajun seasoning like so.

Make the rice dressing.

Stuff, roll and cover the tenderloin with bacon.

The amazing thing about wrapping the tenderloin with bacon is that it eliminates the need for toothpicks in the final product.

Bake at 425 for 40 minutes or until the internal temp of the meat is 160 F.

The beautiful finished product:

Okay, so what should go with it? That's up to you. Really, normal people would just do a veggie since your meat and your starch is conveniently in the same dish. We, however, do another starch.

Cheesy grits

Ingredients: 3 C Chicken Broth 1 C Bob's Red Mill Corn Grits aka Polenta 1 C Half & Half 1/2 C Parmesan S&P 4 T Butter Bring half of the chicken broth to boil, add grits, stir constantly. As temp comes back to a boil and mixture thickens, add remaining broth a little at a time, continuing to stir as if you were making risotto. Once broth is well incorporated, add the half and half and bring temp down to a simmer for 15-20 minutes until grits are tender. Fold in butter, parm and season to taste, then serve.

Cajun gravy Ingredients: 2 T butter 2 T flour 1 T Cajun Seasoning 1/4 c chopped Tasso 1/2 c seasoning veggies 2 c chicken broth

Directions: First you make a roux with the butter, flour and cajun seasoning, and let it get to a nice chocolate color.

Add the tasso and seasoning veggies and cook till veggies are soft. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Once it boils, it's done.

I forgot to take a pic of what the plate looks like. We were too busy eating.

If you do a veggie, I would recommend some fresh green beans or steamed collards.

[allabtthejourney]

10 posts!

[allabtthejourney]

As promised, here's my camping menu. For the meat, I marinate and freeze it individually. Actually, I freeze just about everything I plan to take as it helps keep the cooler cool. For hot potatoes, I slice a potato thinly, but not all the way through, then oil & season it, wrap it in tinfoil, then throw it into the coals. I have permanent black smudge marks on my hoodie from this activity :-)

I normally don't eat a lot of sandwiches, even when camping. On this trip, we will most likely be on the water during the midday meal. Hard to cook in a little boat.

To see how I will do the popcorn, click here. I'm just adding 2T sugar to make it kettle corn.

And go here to see a rough idea of how the potatoes will be done.

[allabtthejourney]

Is Vulnerability the Key to Connection?

I received a lovely subscriber email from soulseeds.com this morning. I've never been to soulseeds.com, so I'm not sure exactly how I got on their list, but it was a nice email with a nice message.

“If we’re going to find our way back to each other, vulnerability is going to be that path.” ~ Brene Brown

The email featured two writers showing some vulnerability. I am inspired to do the same. But I need coffee first. BRB.

Okay, coffee perked & poured. Here we go...

1. I'm an extrovert, but barely. I love seeing and being around people, but tend to hold back knowing that the head-strong, leader of the pack Aries that I can be is not always (read: hardly ever) needed.

2. I'm 30 and live with my dad....or he lives with me. There's a husband here too. We are part of a growing trend in the US that has been tradition in Latin and Middle Eastern cultures for centuries: the multi-generational household.

3. I'd really like to be a mom, and I know that hubby would make a fantastic dad. The blessing of parenthood hasn't happened yet for us, but we keep trying.

4. I'm a workaholic. I'm excited to be working from home, for myself. That way my above-and-beyond drive benefits my clients and, ultimately, me.

5. I moved to Vegas in December. It's been a culture shift for sure. The challenge has been unique because Vegas is so transient where the last place I lived was the exact opposite. The difference is there I was an outsider in a very stable, defined community. Here, where we want to settle in & stay, relationships are loose and naturally casual.

6. I miss boudin, tasso and inexpensive seafood that I had grown accustomed to in southeast Louisiana.

7.  I love the almost constant sunshine here. And, monsoon season. It's like just when you need it, I mean really, really need a rainy day, here it comes.

8. I struggle to not hoard. One of my grandmothers is a constant purger. Pretty sure she's thrown out things I really wanted to keep from childhood in her constant war against clutter. Another grandmother is a "collector". She's a child of the depression with a migrant grapes-of-wrath-esque upbringing, she surrounds herself with beautiful things. Lots of beautiful things. It's a constant war inside me. Collect. Purge. Collect. Purge. Side Note: American Pickers really should go visit my grandparents in Oklahoma.

9. I'm not a feminist but, .... Okay, you know what? I think that women should have equal standing in the church, equal pay for equal work, we should be able to make the same dumb decisions as guys, and no means no, women don't ask to be raped, and my body my choice, my employer should not be involved in my healthcare decisions. Gee, I guess that means I'm a feminist.

10. When I'm in the water, I'm free. 

11. I hate shoes. I once got in trouble for interviewing a prospective employee barefoot. My toes must be unbound.

12. I connect with music on the deepest level. What I listen to translates to my mood. I love action movies, but prefer to watch them at home because I can't handle the heart-pounding, gut-wrenching music they blast at full-level in the theaters.

13. I get giddy when its time to make the grocery menu and shopping list. I do them two weeks at a time. Each menu is a fresh challenge to provide tasty, wholesome food for my family and spend the least amount of money. 

14. I don't see the point of coupons. Okay, I do, I guess, in that they save you money. But, they don't save me money. If I were to use them, I would buy more processed food in higher quantities than my family of 3 needs. 

15. I wish my family (read: family that raised me, not the family I am making now) didn't think I was going to hell. Somehow, it equates to them thinking I am less than they are. I worship the same God, just in a different way. Their religious hard-line prevents me from connecting to them as fully as I want to.

16. I love to crochet and sew. It makes me feel like a homey housewife, which is not something I want to feel like all the time, but sometimes I do.

17. I love raw meat. Yes, sushi. But, also, steak. If I can eat it raw or close to raw, I love it. Pork and chicken have their place, but really I prefer the other stuff. I like my veggies cooked. Not really into raw or cold veggies at all.

Read the post that inspired this one here . It's in a blog archive from February '13, but I promise I just got an email about it this morning. lol

[2345987654321-deactivated201403]

Clear your mind

[allabtthejourney]

small things to do that make your mind feel clearer

close all your internet tabs except the one you’re using

delete all your text messages

delete negative people from social networks

throw some things away. just throw them away

tidy your desk. make a blank surface

drink 3 glasses of water

open the curtains

wash your face and brush your teeth

[allabtthejourney]

Tioga Pass and Yosemite in May '14

[allabtthejourney]

Full service dispatch and back office for owner operator truck drivers

We care about what you do and your bottom line. We work for you.

Finding your best paying loads and keeping you on the road in the right balance to maximize what you make is our mission.

In order to get the best loads, you have to sit in front of the computer and be on the phone. You can't do that and drive at the same time. If you're doing this in-between loads, you're missing out on the premium loads that come through while you're driving and you're sacrificing time to live your life when you aren't on the road.

Having a dedicated dispatch team gives owner-operators all of the benefits of large operations along with the benefits of being 100% in control.

Stop waiting in line at the truck stop for the fax machine and let the pros handle it. Contact us today to get the dedicated service you deserve.

[allabtthejourney]

Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.

Thomas Jefferson

[allabtthejourney]

Emerald Cave on the Colorado River near Willow Beach.

We paddled 12 miles on this trip pushing off at 8am, taking a few breaks on our way up to "Larryland". Larryland is a beach that stays above water at all times and is a popular place to overnight, especially for a member of our group named Larry. This picture was taken on our way back so we could catch the sun at a better angle as this was total shadow on our way up.

I have a little ten-footer and she's kind of slow next to the sea kayaks and native pedal-yaks that make up our group. My favorite thing is when the sit-on-tops show up. Their boats are slower than mine and it takes a lot of the pressure off!

I'm posting the cave pic in honor of my next trip. We're headed up to Cave Lake soon. I'm supper excited about my trip! It will be the longest (8 days) that I have been able to do in a while.

As I prepare, I'll post my meal plan, prep & list, etc. Paddle on!

[allabtthejourney]

Fried Sweetbread Poboy

1/3 lb sweetbreads, rinsed & cut into 1" pieces cajun seasoning flour 1/3 c veggie oil or butter french bread loaf cut to 6" Lettuce (romaine, pictured) Tomato (roma, pictured)

After rinsing & cutting sweetbreads, season with a cajun seasoning like Tony's or Slap Your Mama. Dredge in flour & fry up in oil or butter. To fry, I got an 8" cast iron fry pan hot then added the oil. When a splash of water sizzled immediately upon touching the oil, I added the sweetbreads (all of it) and fried it up in one batch. Only turn the sweetbreads once, so make sure that the first side has browned before flipping it over.

Cut the french loaf so that it is still attached on one edge and toast by broiling or on a hot griddle.

Slather with mayo or a 1/2 mayo, 1/2 dijon mixture

Add the lettuce & sliced tomato and serve hot.

You can do fried shrimp or oyster poboys using the same instructions, just fry them whole.

[allabtthejourney]

Full service dispatch and back office for owner operator truck drivers

Starting July 20th, we will begin accepting clients for our owner-operator focused freight services company.

Offering everything from dispatch to full back office support, we are excited to let truckers do what they do best--drive.

[allabtthejourney]

Here's a night owl that I painted for our peacock themed bedroom. I have enough peacocks & was just looking for a way to add to the wall decor while using the same color scheme. Everyone loves owls, right?