What is wrong with people?

Not necessarily a "Blog O' Scorn" post, but some days I just don't know where we're headed as a species.

Friday was black Friday, a massive early morning rush for slightly better than average deals, and the start of the holiday shopping season. I mean, the time of year when people, in the mission of bringing good cheer to others, become worse than animals to each other over such things as parking spaces and place in line. I love the holidays, but I hate what it seems to bring out in so many people. This year it reached a new level for me. I read in shock about the trampling death at a Staten Island, NY Wal-Mart and then later listened to reports of the men shooting each other after the women they were with got into a fight in Toys R' Us in southern California. And after doing a quick search there was apparently a man that hit a 15 year-old girl in the throat in Rapid City.

Yep... Happy Holidays. Fighting, Shooting, Trampling. That certainly sounds like peace and enlightenment to me. How can a person's priorities get so skewed that $100 off a TV is worth trampling someone? This year all I'm wishing for is that we as a species wake up.

Happy Thanksgiving

Not much of comment-worthiness of late. Except for the fact that I start a new job (sort of) on Monday after the holiday. It's not with a new company, it's not even a new contract. I took an opportunity to do something similar, but more exciting for me. This is a pathway I thought I'd not be able to follow given the path through security I had taken, so once it was available I just had to jump on it. This is a chance for me to greatly expand a skill set that I have let slide over the last many years, and I am eager to jump in on Monday.

*EDIT: 11/27/2008 1:15PM*
Due to a few questions (comments and elsewhere) I will further clarify my new job as being a Lead Test Engineer. I'll be working with some very competent folks on test plan evaluation, system evaluation, and hopefully some other activities that line up with testing type work. It's sort of like joining the Lone Gunmen for me.
*End EDIT*


For now I look forward to "Cajun zebra turkey" this afternoon/evening (it's spice injected turkey cooked in a vertical no oil fryer - and it is DELICIOUS), a good meal with good company, and maybe even a nap!

May you all have a wonderful day!

Walk in the park

Sometimes life *is* a walk in the park. Take today for example...
Da Wife and I had postponed our annual anniversary trip to Great Falls this year, for a variety of reason (including a dog show). So as in years past, we grabbed a picnic type food, the dogs, and the camera and went walking at Great Falls park.
This year lunch consisted of sammiches from one of our usual local restaurants, Anthony's. I had my favorite sammich there, the gyro (very tasty and held up to travel decenty) while Da Wife had the steak and cheese. We enjoyed a very pleasant lunch under a thinning canopy and a light cool breeze on what seemed to be a day in early summer with it being in the mid 70s.
The dogs absolutely loved it. More on that from Da Wife (since they are her favorite topic!)
I managed to snap a few pics of the water


And the falls too



Here was a kayaker that was resting for a few minutes.


In the middle of the falls pictures, we had some excitement...

Still have no idea what happened, but this thing circled for a good 20+ minutes.

And my favorite for the day...

Fred Flinstone's car!

A good time was had by all (except maybe the helicopter crew), and the weather was divine.

Yeah... about that.

So since it's already 5 days into November, and I was otherwise occupied for those days. I am NOT in the NaNoWriMo event this year. Ah well, there's always next year, or the year after, etc. I still have an interesting idea for a topic, and perhaps after it has bounced around my brain for a year, it will be ready.

And now that the election is over, I suppose it's back to regular news again. Can't say I'm thrilled about Democrats (or Republicans for that matter) running EVERYTHING. I've always thought our country did better with split responsibilities. I sincerely hope they prove me wrong. At the end of the day, regardless of any issues or disagreements I have with "the management", there is no other country I would rather live in.

And that is the most political content I will ever put in here. ;-)

I'm just looking forward to the new 007 movie.

But it isn't Thanksgiving yet

No, it isn't Thanksgiving yet, but since Da Wife and I have birthdays so close together I decided I'd take a weekend and cook her favorite dinner. Turkey dinner, and I don't mean the country.
So today was the day I picked, and I made her a rotisserie turkey breast. I used one of the only "as seen on tv" items I own and swear by. The Ron Popeil Showtime Rotisserie from Ronco. Yes, this is the thing where everyone yells back in response to him saying "Just set it, and..." Crowd: "FORGET IT!" I tell you what, this baby does a great job. (I think I've mentioned that before.) It's going 6-7 years now, and still going strong. But back to the dinner...
Along with the turkey breast (it was nice and juicy btw) was homemade garlic mashed potatoes (mmmm), homemade mushroom stuffing (mmmm), fresh green beans (SNAP!), and the obligatory cranberry "stuff" (this time with whole berries - mmmm). Everything came out tasty, so I am pleased and I think she is too.
For a twist on the classic apple pie or pumpkin pie for dessert, I wanted to try and make one of her favorites - Tiramisu. Espresso and amaretto soaked lady fingers wrapped in a luscious sweetened and whipped mascarpone filling (almost tastes like a light whipped custard) and topped off with some cocoa. Took a little more work than brownies I used to make, but well worth it. A little more refinement and it will be just the way I want it. Hrmm... I wonder if Da Wife will volunteer to taste the next batch...
Oh, this is what it looked like:


Meant to snap some pics of the golden turkey breast, but got too hungry and carved it up quick! Maybe next time.