John's New Career

After 8 months of trying to figure out what he wants to do with the rest of his life, John has started his new career in Financial Planning as a "Financial Security Advisor" for Northwestern Mutual  http://www.nmfn.com/

Another three weeks fly by....

This is a hard habit to get in to. I think I need to make it my browser home page. At least then I would be looking at it everyday!

I am still on my quest to find gainful employment. I have revised my resume and am happy with the outcome.So I am busy submitting it to CSUS, Sutter, Kaiser, PeopleSoft Consulting firms and Northrop Grumman of all places. I am also keep my eye on the state exam bulletins. Right now would be a good time to be a scientist! LOl. Will apply for an IT exam with the State Ins Fund.

It is amazing how easy and hard the Internet makes finding a job.

Tinga Poblana with Chicken

Last night I tried a new recipe.. I love Mexican food and this one was great and easy to make.  You can make it ahead of time and assemble and heat.  It is great for leftovers and I think it will probably freeze well.  Had a bit in my eggs this am.. yummy.

Tinga Poblana with Chicken

8 chicken thighs

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper
4 cloves garlic, 2 cloves slightly smashed and 2 cloves finely chopped
8 ripe, whole Roma tomatoes or 2 cans (141/2 oz chopped & drained)
4 cups chicken stock
4 chipotle chiles + 2 Tablespoons sauce
1/2 - 1 pound good-quality chorizo
1 white onion (1/2 cut in chunks and 1/2 finely chopped)
6 red potatoes, diced
2 Bay leaves

1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon Mexican oregano (not Greek)
1 large avocado, peeled, pitted and thinly sliced
1 cup crumbled Mexican queso fresco or feta cheese

Place chicken in a stockpot and add water to cover. Add salt, pepper  onion chunks and smashed garlic . Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat and cook for about 20 minutes. If possible, let the chicken cool in the water.

When chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the skin and coarsely shred the meat. Set aside.

Heat a saute pan over high heat and add the tomatoes (no oil). Blister and char the tomatoes all sides. Turn off heat and add chicken stock and chipotles. Allow to cool. Pour into a blender and puree until smooth. Set aside.

Place the chorizo and onions in a stockpot and cook over medium heat. When the chorizo has released some oil, add the diced potatoes.

Reduce heat to low and cook until the potatoes have browned and gotten a little tender. Add cumin, pepper, oregano,bay leaves the shredded chicken and the pureed tomato mixture. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add salt to taste.

To serve, scoop into deep bowls and top with avocado diced onion and cheese. Serve with corn tortillas and Mexican beer.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Approximate values per serving: 557 calories, 35 g fat, 125 mg cholesterol, 35 g protein, 26 g carbohydrates, 5 g fiber, 1,351 mg sodium, 56 percent calories from fat.

Holy Spirit Jog-a-thon

On Wednesday Cole's school had a jog-a-thon.  We were remiss in getting pledges until the last minute.  On Tuesday he had 20 minutes before his baseball game and he visited our neighbors and came home with $105.00 in pledges.  He told our friend Kathryn that it would be good if she pledged $100.00!  It was all she could do not to laugh until she called me to share.

Cole ran 10 laps.  He is not a runner.  The most laps by a classmate was 13, so his performance was respectful.

Monday Night at the Diamond

The Yankee's played game 4 last night and tied with the Indians. Cole started at 1st, moved to 3rd, then Right field. After I left, Cole caught a pop fly in Right field. Had to look at his glove to be sure it was there before he celebrated. He struggled a bit at the plate. The pitcher was very good and threw hard and Cole is a bit gun shy after being hit a couple of times.

I was off to meet Theresa for dinner at Todo Un Poco. Jeff was out of town and we were having a little girl face time. Dinner was almost as good as my Cosmo :-)

Another week whizzes by....

Another busy week in our household. Cole had Swim practice and Baseball practice on a couple of days this week. On Saturday his team (AAA Yankees) won their first game. They are now 1-1-1. Very exciting baseball at this age. You never know what is going to happen. Cole took another hit from a pitcher, this time in his thigh. He scored two runs in the game. Spent the rest of the time trying to look alive in all three areas of the outfield. Coach promised to start him at 1st base in the next game on Monday.

The weather has been a little cool. We are sneaking up to 70 on some days. Still could use some rain, but it looks like it will have to wait for next year.

I played in the 1st round of the Niner "Match Play" tournament. It was great fun. Jeanie Zaslove beat me on the 9th hole, but I feel good that it was respectably close.

No Golf this next Thursday. I have an interview at Sutter. The job is intriguing but the commute is not. Oh well. It is not as bad as what I used to deal with in LA/OC.

Back to chores... The pots around the pool are planted with herbs and flowers. I also put 4 tomato plants in the side yard. We should have plenty of basil and cherry tomatoes again this year.

2nd AA A Baseball game...

Cole's team (Yankee's) played the "A"'s last night and tied the game. Cole pitched (1st time) two innings. Very exciting and extremely nerve wracking. I think I was more nervous then he was.

The 1st inning he was on the mound he struck out 3 hitters and left the 1 guy he walked on 1st base. The 2nd inning was not as glorious and he walked a few guys and had a run scored on him.

Overall he looked great and knows he can pitch good innings.

His 1st at bat he took a wild ball in the left wrist and dropped liked a fly. Scared me! He got back up, shook it off and took his base.