This evening for dinner, my wife had admitted to having a craving for shrimp scampi. Since I had plenty of free time(I didn't have to participate in the caucus today) I decided to make it from scratch.
Scampi is really pretty easy to throw together...get some butter and olive oil and shrimp going in a BIG skillet. Add some garlic, and peppers, and tomatoes, and then some lemon juice and a little wine(Desert Wind Semillon(got it on clearance)) before throwing in some angel hair pasta...and it's done. I was soooooo worried about overdoing the garlic I actually wimped out on it a bit...but it was good.
My older daughter likes shrimp, and she was trying to describe the texture as a little bit soft, and a little bit chewy.
'Daddy...I like the shrimp. It's like a meaty, fishy gummy bear.'
Now that's something you can't find in every grocery store...
3.03.2012
Complete Failure of the System.
I'm not a happy person right now. My attempt to participate in the political process was a complete and total failure this morning, and I'm not sure any of it was my fault.
My opinion is that 95% of the blame belongs to the Benton County Republican Party. Instead of doing a few precincts at this high school and a few more precincts at this fire station, like other counties did, Benton County decided to 'centralize' things, and have everyone other than the folks in Prosser get together at the Three Rivers Convention Center, in Kennewick.
Disaster ensued. The caucus was supposed to go from 10-11:30, with check in being from 8:30-9:45. I showed up at 9:03...and did not make it to the front of the line by 9:45. Or 9:55. I made it to the front of the line at 9:58. It wasn't a slow moving line either..there were 8 different stations checking people in on the computer...verifying people were registered voters, and telling them their precinct numbers. I had already used the Washington State Secretary of State's website to identify my precinct...but I still had to stand in line because I didn't bring my voter registration card. I would estimate that when I got there, there well over 1000 people in line in front of me...and when I made it to the front of the line, there were at least 1500 behind me.
I almost made it...I was at the computer when whoever was in charge said the doors were being closed on the caucus rooms. It didn't matter to me...despite the fact that two days before, I had verified my address and precinct # on the Secretary of State' Website...whatever database the Benton County GOP was using didn't have my name in it.
I stood in line for an hour...and I was doubly screwed...ruled out by a computer database, and locked out because the rooms were already filled to capacity.
Because I'm getting better, I was very polite with the volunteer working the computer...and I'd like to think my politeness wasn't directly related to the fact that she was young, female, and of good breeding stock. She has been at the computer for an hour and a half, and was in danger of being locked out of her caucus room herself. She even showed my the computer screen...when my last name was put in, my first name did not show up. I simply thanked her, and walked away.
I didn't stick around to see what happened when the 1500(AT LEAST) behind were told they weren't going to be allowed in to the caucus rooms. Up to that point, the people had been very polite. The line had more twists, turns, and double back then you would encounter at Disney World, and was entirely self-policing. There were no posts, or ropes...just common Americans doing what is right. Turn out was at least 3 times what was expected, but THAT IS NO EXCUSE FOR PEOPLES VOTES NOT COUNTING!!!!!!!!!
I'm still very emotional about this...I have been looking forward to supporting Ron Paul at the caucuses all winter...I had even researched what dates the County and State Convention were, in case I got to be a delegate to those(April and June).
What a Cluster...the Tri-City Herald already has story about it...but I'm telling you, their numbers are low...if there were less than 1200 people turned away, I would eat mushrooms with my dinner tonight.
My opinion is that 95% of the blame belongs to the Benton County Republican Party. Instead of doing a few precincts at this high school and a few more precincts at this fire station, like other counties did, Benton County decided to 'centralize' things, and have everyone other than the folks in Prosser get together at the Three Rivers Convention Center, in Kennewick.
Disaster ensued. The caucus was supposed to go from 10-11:30, with check in being from 8:30-9:45. I showed up at 9:03...and did not make it to the front of the line by 9:45. Or 9:55. I made it to the front of the line at 9:58. It wasn't a slow moving line either..there were 8 different stations checking people in on the computer...verifying people were registered voters, and telling them their precinct numbers. I had already used the Washington State Secretary of State's website to identify my precinct...but I still had to stand in line because I didn't bring my voter registration card. I would estimate that when I got there, there well over 1000 people in line in front of me...and when I made it to the front of the line, there were at least 1500 behind me.
I almost made it...I was at the computer when whoever was in charge said the doors were being closed on the caucus rooms. It didn't matter to me...despite the fact that two days before, I had verified my address and precinct # on the Secretary of State' Website...whatever database the Benton County GOP was using didn't have my name in it.
I stood in line for an hour...and I was doubly screwed...ruled out by a computer database, and locked out because the rooms were already filled to capacity.
Because I'm getting better, I was very polite with the volunteer working the computer...and I'd like to think my politeness wasn't directly related to the fact that she was young, female, and of good breeding stock. She has been at the computer for an hour and a half, and was in danger of being locked out of her caucus room herself. She even showed my the computer screen...when my last name was put in, my first name did not show up. I simply thanked her, and walked away.
I didn't stick around to see what happened when the 1500(AT LEAST) behind were told they weren't going to be allowed in to the caucus rooms. Up to that point, the people had been very polite. The line had more twists, turns, and double back then you would encounter at Disney World, and was entirely self-policing. There were no posts, or ropes...just common Americans doing what is right. Turn out was at least 3 times what was expected, but THAT IS NO EXCUSE FOR PEOPLES VOTES NOT COUNTING!!!!!!!!!
I'm still very emotional about this...I have been looking forward to supporting Ron Paul at the caucuses all winter...I had even researched what dates the County and State Convention were, in case I got to be a delegate to those(April and June).
What a Cluster...the Tri-City Herald already has story about it...but I'm telling you, their numbers are low...if there were less than 1200 people turned away, I would eat mushrooms with my dinner tonight.
And I rolled over...
Went to the range yesterday morning, and as is often the case on the edge of the Palouse, things were pretty breezy out there..sustained 15-20's, gusts to 30. I had packed both the carbine upper, and the 20-inch bull barrel upper for my AR, and instead of embracing this as an opportunity to get some long range practice and real world experience dealing with the wind, I took the easy way out, and worked mostly on my 'short game', as my golfing father would put it.
I must have looked quite as I unloaded my truck and lined up my long arms...it was a very mismatched set: My Rock River carbine, my Mossberg 500, my .50 Cal Traditions Muzzle Loader, and my Gamo Whisper. Yeah...I brought my pellet rifle to the range...being in the apartment, it just seemed the cleanest way to get some practice.
I started practicing at 80 yards, with the carbine and the black powder rifle. Very happy with the accuracy of the Traditions at 80 yards...but once again, not so happy with the reliability. In the past, I have admitted to mistreating this gun, and after a thorough boiling, cleaning and oiling, it still requires two strikes to ignite the percussion cap, which is bad in a hunting situation. Next step is either bolt disassembly and internal replacement, or puchasing a new bolt. I'll have to price up the options...although the disassembly option has the potential to be a 'learning' opportunity.
The AR Carbine continues to frustrate me with it's consistancy. It's just an old fashioned A1 site...and last time I had it ON at 100 yards, and I had to aim much lower than I thought I would to get it where I wanted at 80 and 50 yards. For close in work(under 100 yards) my lever-action Marlin continues to be my favorite...with .38's and .357's, the bullet goes where I want it to every time.
Tightening the heck out the scope mount proved to take care of whatever concerns I had about my Gamo Whisper. At 30 yards, I was able to shoot a quarter sized group...and I think I will only get better. If I take it out again, I might try it at 50 yards, just to see what it can do...but realistically, I think 30 yards is about the max range for this piece of equipment. Having seen what it can do to a potato, I'm not going to volunteer to step in front of one of these pellets moving 1200 fps...
Finally, I did some playing with my Mossberg 500. That's another one of those things that I bought because it was a great deal(under $300 for the 500 with a 28-inch and an 18.5-barrel). I used it once to shoot trap with a some buddies, and then it has lived in the safe(although, I did clean/oil this one before forgetting about it for 5 years). I've just never shot buck through it, and I really have no idea what kind of accuracy I can expect from that front bead, or what pattern I will get out of it.
Starting with it at 30-yards, I was not very impressed(but then since I had no real expectations, I'm not sure what would have impressed me). At 30 yards, my first round got 2 pellets in a 10-inch circle, and only with the 2nd round. That was with Fiocchi 00. Sellier and Bellot did not give an better results. Accuracy was hard to determine...so, not the first choice for use at 30 yards. I'd be better off with my CZ...
Moving into 12 yards, things were more what I expected. I was getting about 4 pellets per round into the 10 inch circle, which I more likely to catch someone attention. Accuracy with the front bead was acceptable...but, I am moving customization of the Mossberg up my list...I want to get a Knoxx Recoil Reducing Stock on it, and at a minimum, a set of ghost ring sites(and maybe even investigate getting some reflex type optics for it).
As soon as I get some slugs for it, I can see just how inadaquate the front bead really is...
I must have looked quite as I unloaded my truck and lined up my long arms...it was a very mismatched set: My Rock River carbine, my Mossberg 500, my .50 Cal Traditions Muzzle Loader, and my Gamo Whisper. Yeah...I brought my pellet rifle to the range...being in the apartment, it just seemed the cleanest way to get some practice.
I started practicing at 80 yards, with the carbine and the black powder rifle. Very happy with the accuracy of the Traditions at 80 yards...but once again, not so happy with the reliability. In the past, I have admitted to mistreating this gun, and after a thorough boiling, cleaning and oiling, it still requires two strikes to ignite the percussion cap, which is bad in a hunting situation. Next step is either bolt disassembly and internal replacement, or puchasing a new bolt. I'll have to price up the options...although the disassembly option has the potential to be a 'learning' opportunity.
The AR Carbine continues to frustrate me with it's consistancy. It's just an old fashioned A1 site...and last time I had it ON at 100 yards, and I had to aim much lower than I thought I would to get it where I wanted at 80 and 50 yards. For close in work(under 100 yards) my lever-action Marlin continues to be my favorite...with .38's and .357's, the bullet goes where I want it to every time.
Tightening the heck out the scope mount proved to take care of whatever concerns I had about my Gamo Whisper. At 30 yards, I was able to shoot a quarter sized group...and I think I will only get better. If I take it out again, I might try it at 50 yards, just to see what it can do...but realistically, I think 30 yards is about the max range for this piece of equipment. Having seen what it can do to a potato, I'm not going to volunteer to step in front of one of these pellets moving 1200 fps...
Finally, I did some playing with my Mossberg 500. That's another one of those things that I bought because it was a great deal(under $300 for the 500 with a 28-inch and an 18.5-barrel). I used it once to shoot trap with a some buddies, and then it has lived in the safe(although, I did clean/oil this one before forgetting about it for 5 years). I've just never shot buck through it, and I really have no idea what kind of accuracy I can expect from that front bead, or what pattern I will get out of it.
Starting with it at 30-yards, I was not very impressed(but then since I had no real expectations, I'm not sure what would have impressed me). At 30 yards, my first round got 2 pellets in a 10-inch circle, and only with the 2nd round. That was with Fiocchi 00. Sellier and Bellot did not give an better results. Accuracy was hard to determine...so, not the first choice for use at 30 yards. I'd be better off with my CZ...
Moving into 12 yards, things were more what I expected. I was getting about 4 pellets per round into the 10 inch circle, which I more likely to catch someone attention. Accuracy with the front bead was acceptable...but, I am moving customization of the Mossberg up my list...I want to get a Knoxx Recoil Reducing Stock on it, and at a minimum, a set of ghost ring sites(and maybe even investigate getting some reflex type optics for it).
As soon as I get some slugs for it, I can see just how inadaquate the front bead really is...
3.02.2012
Mr. Green Jeans.
Because moving next week isn't stressfull enough, I decided with spring time rapidly approaching(the extended forcast shows nothing below 35 in the week ahead), that the time had come to get a few seeds planted, even though we don't have a plot of ground to put them in right now.
This was the calm before the storm:
Look at that organization...the egg cartons are for getting seeds started, the bigger pots are for some seedlings that my wife started with the kids a few weeks ago(zinnias and sun flowers).
I haven't ever really done a garden before...I've done a few containers of peppers and tomatoes before, but not a full on plot of land, and one of the few things that always confuses me, is how many plants of each type I should put in the ground...I mean, how many peppers, or how much spinach do you get from each seed?
For starters, I decided to do 8 spinach plants(Giant Noble), 8 things of Pole Beans(Kentucky Wonder) and the 4 each of Early Jalapeno, and Grand Bell Peppers. Finally, I planted a dozen sets of Marigolds. I know that marigolds are a good natural repelant for pests, plus, my wife likes them, so why not.
We'll see how it goes...this is just a start, a few things we can get in thr ground right after we move in. I'm also hoping to do some carrots, and zuchinni, and tomatoes. For the fall, my wife wants to do pumpkins, and maybe butternut/acorn squash, and then some peas, as a cover crop.
At worst, it will be a 'learning experience'.
This was the calm before the storm:
Look at that organization...the egg cartons are for getting seeds started, the bigger pots are for some seedlings that my wife started with the kids a few weeks ago(zinnias and sun flowers).
I haven't ever really done a garden before...I've done a few containers of peppers and tomatoes before, but not a full on plot of land, and one of the few things that always confuses me, is how many plants of each type I should put in the ground...I mean, how many peppers, or how much spinach do you get from each seed?
For starters, I decided to do 8 spinach plants(Giant Noble), 8 things of Pole Beans(Kentucky Wonder) and the 4 each of Early Jalapeno, and Grand Bell Peppers. Finally, I planted a dozen sets of Marigolds. I know that marigolds are a good natural repelant for pests, plus, my wife likes them, so why not.
We'll see how it goes...this is just a start, a few things we can get in thr ground right after we move in. I'm also hoping to do some carrots, and zuchinni, and tomatoes. For the fall, my wife wants to do pumpkins, and maybe butternut/acorn squash, and then some peas, as a cover crop.
At worst, it will be a 'learning experience'.
Avengers Assemble!
In case there is any doubt about what I will be doing May 4th, let us put that doubt to rest.
Ummm...this movie looks like it is going to rock...but, after Iron Man, and Thor, and Iron Man 2(I haven't seen Captain America yet...need to get on it.), I would see it even if the trailer was a blank screen.
Guess I just need a Scarlet Johansson fix.
Ummm...this movie looks like it is going to rock...but, after Iron Man, and Thor, and Iron Man 2(I haven't seen Captain America yet...need to get on it.), I would see it even if the trailer was a blank screen.
Guess I just need a Scarlet Johansson fix.
It must mean something...right?
Over the past three weeks, with our impending caucuses, Washington State, and the Tri-cities area in particular, have been a target of the Republican Party. Usually by this point, conventional wisdom says that Primary Season is just about over...but since I'm not running this year, there is no clear cut front runner(and even if there was, you couldn't call him a 'favorite'.)
Last night, Rick Santorum hit the Red Lion in Pasco, and spoke to a reported crowd of 700 people at the Red Lion in Pasco last night.
The week before, Newt Gingrich appeared at the Red Lion in Kennewick, and spoke to a group of about 500 folks.
The week before that, Ron Paul(completing the first round of the Tr-Cities Red Lion Trifecta) spoke to an estimated 1500 people at the Richland Red Lion, including yours truly.
So...three of the Republican Presidential Candidates visited the Tri-Cities...and Ron Paul's crowd was bigger than that of Gingrich and Santorum combined. Is there anything we can take away from that?
Well, yeah...it kind of confirms what has been known all along...Ron Paul might(heck no might about it) not have the overall number of supporters needed to be the next President of the United States...but his core of supporters contains more people that actually BELIEVE in his answers.
Lets face it...there isn't a whole lot exciting about standing at the Red Lion for two hours waiting for Ron Paul to show up...and that crowd was pretty hopping the whole time. There was a lot of emotion, and a wide cross section of folks that were plain Fed Up.
Now, in the 'lets be realistic' disclaimer category, Dr. Paul had a few things in his favor...he was the only one of the three to speak during the day, on a scheduled Hanford Friday off, which meant more folks with free time. It was also an early school release date for the High Schools, and there were a few students there just to check it out....so, there might have been some artificial inflation of his numbers.
What I really take away from all this is that hopefully I won't the only crazy one backing Ron Paul at the caucuses tomorrow....
Last night, Rick Santorum hit the Red Lion in Pasco, and spoke to a reported crowd of 700 people at the Red Lion in Pasco last night.
The week before, Newt Gingrich appeared at the Red Lion in Kennewick, and spoke to a group of about 500 folks.
The week before that, Ron Paul(completing the first round of the Tr-Cities Red Lion Trifecta) spoke to an estimated 1500 people at the Richland Red Lion, including yours truly.
So...three of the Republican Presidential Candidates visited the Tri-Cities...and Ron Paul's crowd was bigger than that of Gingrich and Santorum combined. Is there anything we can take away from that?
Well, yeah...it kind of confirms what has been known all along...Ron Paul might(heck no might about it) not have the overall number of supporters needed to be the next President of the United States...but his core of supporters contains more people that actually BELIEVE in his answers.
Lets face it...there isn't a whole lot exciting about standing at the Red Lion for two hours waiting for Ron Paul to show up...and that crowd was pretty hopping the whole time. There was a lot of emotion, and a wide cross section of folks that were plain Fed Up.
Now, in the 'lets be realistic' disclaimer category, Dr. Paul had a few things in his favor...he was the only one of the three to speak during the day, on a scheduled Hanford Friday off, which meant more folks with free time. It was also an early school release date for the High Schools, and there were a few students there just to check it out....so, there might have been some artificial inflation of his numbers.
What I really take away from all this is that hopefully I won't the only crazy one backing Ron Paul at the caucuses tomorrow....
3.01.2012
Another sign that I just might be broken...
I felt much more depressed at the news that Davy Jones dies yesterday than I when I found out Whitney Houston had died.
My own personal favorite Monkees song is 'Last Train to Clarksville'...but since Micky sings lead on that one, I would have to say my favorite song with Davy singing lead is 'DayDream Believer'.
Rest in Piece Mr. Jones...you made a lot of people smile, and that has got to count for something.
My own personal favorite Monkees song is 'Last Train to Clarksville'...but since Micky sings lead on that one, I would have to say my favorite song with Davy singing lead is 'DayDream Believer'.
Rest in Piece Mr. Jones...you made a lot of people smile, and that has got to count for something.
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