Four.Twenty.Eight

How To Outsmart A Window Covering

Axel always finds some way to surprise us with his smarts.  This window is where he likes to look out and "hunt" rabbits.  He lounges over the cushion and will watch for hours if we let him.  Often I will close the blinds so he can't look out.  He will turn into a lunatic if he does see a bunny, and my heart can't take it much longer.  The shock from the sudden ear-splitting barking is sure to kill me soon.  In addition, he has gotten into a habit of standing on the cushion (see photo below...), and that is not allowed.

As you can see in the photo below, he has now called our bluff.  Yes, he has figured how to bump up one of the blind slats and look out with one eye.  He doesn't do it very long, but he somehow discovered the work-around.  Silly boy!  What a stinker.

Recipe of the Week

I haven't shared a recipe in a while, so I thought I'd share my healthy version of soft tacos.  It isn't so much a recipe as it is knowing what goes into them to make them healthy.

Healthy Soft Tacos

Ingredients:

1 pound ground turkey breast (the ground turkey breast is the healthiest)

1 can vegetarian refried beans (I buy the Rosarita vegetarian because even the "fat-free" version lists hydrogenated oil)

chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper to taste

Central Market wheat tortillas (I only buy these because, again, it is one of the few tortillas sold that doesn't have shortening or hydrogenated oil listed in the ingredients.  They are also the closest thing to homemade available.)

Topping options:

Chopped avocado

Chopped tomato

2% Mexican-style shredded cheese

Light sour cream

Salsa of your choice

Cook turkey breast with seasonings in a skillet over medium-high heat until done.  Mix refried beans into meat and heat through.  Remove from heat.  Fill tortillas with turkey-bean mixture and fix with your choice of toppings.

Note:  The main reason I use the beans is to keep the tacos together.  Instead of the ground meat rolling out of your tortilla onto your plate, the beans give good flavor and substance, helping to keep everything in there.

Book Review #16 and #17

Book Review #16

I am finally getting around to writing about the books I’ve been reading.  One of the most recent books I read is called My Hitch In Hell: The Bataan Death March by Lester Tenney.  If you know anything about World War II history, you will know that this is going to be a harrowing and difficult book to read.  It was, but it was also very triumphant.

 

The author was a participant in The Bataan Death March and eventually a prisoner of war for 3 and a half years in the Philippine Islands during World War II.  Never did he imagine upon enlisting in the Army that this would be the hand dealt to him.

This story was very interesting to me for the history, but also for the personal story.  I had one grandfather that served in the Pacific Theater of war during World War II, and another who served in Europe.  Sammy also had the same, but he also had a great-uncle who was a death-march participant and also lived as a POW for some time.  He is no longer living, but reading this account gives you a window into what he might have suffered during the war.  I have actually managed to find Sammy's uncle's name in some internet listings of the various POW camps and known march participants.

I really enjoyed this novel.  The author had a drive to stay alive and return home, and he constantly stated that if he just set short-term goals for himself, he could make it.  For instance, on the march, he would tell himself that his goal was to make it to that tree up there with the gnarled stump, and then he could worry about making it to the next point.  He witnessed atrocities that even the most imaginative could not dream up.  While reading, I would think that there wasn't possibly something worse that the Japanese soldiers could do.  It just couldn't be possible that they could commit a more barbaric and atrocious act, but then they did.  It was truly unbelievable, and lets us realize what heroes these prisoners of war truly were.

I highly recommend anyone read this book.  It gives a great insight to a place and time that many don't read much about or know much about.  It is wonderful that the author decided to write this novel because so many of the survivors did not and will not ever tell their stories.  I give it 4 stars out of 5 on my book rating scale.

Book Review #17

My next book, and the most recent that I completed was The Golden Willow by Harry Bernstein.  It is the third novel after The Invisible Wall and The Dream.

The Golden Willow is a continuation of his life, past and present, with the love of his life, Ruby.  The reason for the title you will have to discover if you so choose to read the series of books.

There is not a vast amount to say about this book except that it was a good read and a good continuation of the previous novels.  After The Dream, I definitely wanted more!  The Golden Willow is a portrait of his endearing love for his wife and the good times they shared together.  The novel also tells the story of how he finally began to write his first novel, The Invisible Wall, and how it finally became a reality in print.

It was not quite as striking and wonderful as the previous two, but it was endearing and delightful.  I give it 3 out of 5 stars on my book rating scale.

Vacation: Day 4 - The Kennedy Space Center

On the last day of our trip, we had planned to stay an extra night upon returning to Orlando.  We thought while we were in the area we should head out to Cape Canaveral and tour the Kennedy Space Center.  It was a very cool place to check out, and I got a few good photos.

It was interesting that we happened to be in the area at that particular time.  The space shuttle launch had been delayed and was rescheduled for the day after we were scheduled to fly out.  Sammy and I almost extended our vacation one extra day so we could see the launch (how many times do you get to see that in person in your lifetime?).  We decided against it, though, since it would have cost us even more money.  Turns out, the launch was scrapped yet again, and our extra night's stay and the extra money spent would have been for nothing.  I guess it all worked out in the end.  But it was a good idea and is something I still want to see someday.

This building can be seen for miles.  It can hold 3.5 Empire State Buildings and the Statue of Liberty can exit the big doors without having to duck.  See the flag?  A greyhound bus can drive down one of the stripes.  This is a massive building!




This is called a Crawler Transporter (named appropriately).  This contraption is what moves the space shuttle to the launch pad (full view top photo).  It moves at the astounding rate of speed of 1/2 mile per hour when the shuttle is on top.  When it comes back to this spot after dropping the shuttle off, it can speed up and go 1 mile per hour.  See the plates that make up the track?  Each one weighs 2,000 pounds (better known as one ton).  Last but not least, do you see the road it travels on?  As you can see, there is one path for each of the crawler's tracks.  If you look at my first photo in the bottom left corner, you can see a typical two-lane road.  One of the paths for the crawler is the size of the two-lane road.


The shuttle launch pad from a viewing area.  Didn't get the greatest photo, but it was a bit hazy that day.





The second tour stop (The Apollo/Saturn V Center) had a complete simulation of the mission control room used in the Apollo Missions (some of which include the moon landing).  They simulated a rocket launch and what all the computers and machines did in the course of the countdown.  The simulation even opened vents on the windows that created heavy vibration to make you "feel" the take-off.  It was pretty cool!  After stepping out of the simulation room, there was a large bay with rockets galore.  Photos of the rest of the Apollo/Saturn V Center are below.  The pictures can't begin to explain the size of the rockets.  It's pretty amazing!













That wraps up our little summer vacation.  It was fun and I hope you enjoyed the pictures!

Vacation: The "Entertainment"

One of the fascinating parts of vacation (at least in my opinion) can be the people watching.  It's always great entertainment, but there were some passengers on our boat that were a spectacle.  Every day the entire boat was up for a new show.

Turns out, we had a large group of guys who decided to go on this cruise for a bachelor party.  They not only went on a cruise, they played the part.  Every day.  I wish I had gotten more photos, but our first glimpse at the guys was, um, interesting.  In the terminal where you board the boat we noticed some guys in the most puzzling get ups.  They looked like they belonged on the Love Boat.  Short shorts, pink polo shirts, knee-high socks, converse sneakers, fake mustaches, wigs, and captain-style hats.  We never figured out the reason why they were around until much later in the cruise.  At this time, we thought they might work for Royal Caribbean and dressed in these ensembles to entertain the guests.  Little did we know that they were guests themselves!

A first glimpse.  Who are these guys??

The second day, we caught them at the bar near the water at the Atlantis Resort.

Last but not least, we came upon them all on the last night posing on the stairs for everyone to photograph and it was a sight.  Tacky, tacky 70s gear (complete with authentic platform shoes) and they played their parts well!  I only wish I could have caught better photos - the lighting in the area was not very good, and I had to work quickly to avoid missing the "event" all together!












I can tell you one thing, these guys were having a blast!  What a fun time.

Vacation: Day 3 - Cococay, Bahamas

On the third day of our cruise, the official stop on the itinerary was Cococay, Bahamas.  Turns out, Cococay is a private island owned by Royal Caribbean.  It is very small.  Everyone gets off the boat by tender and gets to roam the island as they please.  Lunch was served b-b-q style on the island, and there is a plethora of chairs to just sit back and relax on the beach.

See, this is a tiny island.  It's just that little one.  Compare its size to the island where Nassau lies.

I am very irritated at myself because the one activity (snorkeling) we actually paid money to do on Cococay I took no photos of.  If you weren't aware, I am not a good swimmer, and deep water makes me nervous.  Sammy had reason to brag on me, though, because with the snorkeling gear, I was swimming all the way out to the edge of the snorkeling area in deep water!  Far away from him, too!  I was a little surprised at myself.

You know, by the third day I guess I might have been tired of playing photographer.  You have to be careful on the beach with the camera, protect it from water and sand, and it kind of keeps you from just relaxing.  I did get some shots, though.  I didn't come away empty handed.

Cococay, Bahamas from the tender boat.


Waiting for the ride over.




A couple more shots of the island from the tender boat.





Possibly my two favorite photographs of the whole trip.





Meeting the island wildlife, Mr. Iguana.


The private island was fun.  We didn't really leave our chairs except to snorkel, eat, and visit the restroom.  It was a hot one, though!  I was trying very hard to not get sunburned.  At one point I had my towel over my legs and torso and Sammy's extra t-shirt over my head and shoulders.  Plus the SPF 60 I had smeared all over me.

Tomorrow: Day 4 and back on shore in Port Canaveral, Florida.  More pictures to come!

Vacation: Day 2 - Nassau, Bahamas

Well, now that you've seen what officially happened on day one of our cruise vacation, I'll fill in on day 2.  We flew to Orlando, Florida on Friday to make our way to Port Canaveral and board our ship and almost missed our flight.  So much for being prepared and checking the terminal before hand.  After an eventful engagement night, we geared up to get off the ship the next day for a stop in Nassau, Bahamas.

We ate breakfast and decided to watch the sunrise from the deck for a few minutes.  Sammy took the seagull shot.

We decided the most effective way to see the best of this island in an afternoon was to pay for access to the Atlantis Resort, a spectacular resort right on the turquoise waters.  So, we took a taxi van ride over and headed to the beach.

Look!  I actually do make it into some of the pictures!



The Atlantis Resort from a distance.  It is massive!









The area known as "Predator Lagoon" was a massive indoor/outdoor aquarium that had a viewing tunnel.






Do you see the bridge between the two towers?  Oh, no.  Not just any bridge.  That's a room.  Don't ask the price per night.  You don't want to know.


Made it to the beach!


Got in the water...














Had some fun and laughs...  I enjoyed playing with the continuous shoot mode on the camera!


Then we decided it was awfully hot and it was time for a drink.  This my friends is a "Mango Bango" and it might very well be the best mixed drink I have ever had.  Delicious.  They are not shy with the rum, either.  After resting with a couple of drinks, we decided to find the area on the property known as "Dolphin Cay."  We found it, and observed from the viewing area.











Overall, Nassau and The Atlantis were beautiful.  I especially liked the colorful beach-town architecture.  So sunny and bright!  Sammy and I both said that we wouldn't mind going to the Bahamas and just staying at the Atlantis for the whole vacation.  It was beautiful and there is no shortage of activities.  In our walking, we didn't even make half the property and I certainly didn't photograph everything.  You would never have to leave the property.  It's just getting together our spare change to make it happen!  Does anyone want to come over and accidentally drop, say, a couple thousand into our sofa cushions??




Tomorrow: Day 3 and the private island of Cococay.  More pictures to come!