Month: June 2006

Categories
Current Events Politics

So I had an adventure tonight

The White House up closeLook at what The Washington Post had to say about it

WASHINGTON — President Bush was the host of the annual congressional picnic Thursday at the White House, but it was his chief of staff’s band that came close to stealing the show. (more)

A little over a week ago, my dad gets a call from Tabetha Mueller, a family friend of ours that I taught Vacation Bible School music with one year and my dad played in a band with for several years. She said that she was playing in a band and they needed a rhythym guitarist to help fill out their sound for an upcoming event at the White House. The CompassionatesShe explained that she was playing in a band called The Compassionates with Josh Bolten (the president’s current chief of staff, the president’s former economic advisor, and her father (the president’s former chief of staff). The set was three classic rock songs, and she could probably get my family in to the congressional picnic. He accepted.

Mom, Laura, and I with George W. BushMy mom, sister, and I took the metro downtown and walked to the White House. We enjoyed the beautiful house, appetizers, dinner, The Compassionates in concert, and dessert, interrupted by a photo shoot and autograph signing with the president. It was a beautiful evening for a picnic. It was originally scheduled for yesterday, but pushed back because of a chance of rain. The only downside of the date change was that we missed Laura’s high school baccalaureate service and Tabetha’s dad was unable to join the band. We couldn’t have asked for a nicer evening, and everyone that we interacted with at the White House was extremely nice.

The Family with Laura BushBush is much better with people than I realized. He may not be my favorite president (or even close), but it was amazing to spend an evening at an official event thrown by the president of the world’s super power nation. It’s also too bad that the rumors of Bill and Hillary attending proved to be untrue. Meeting two presidents in one night would have been ridiculous.

UPDATE: it appears a clip of me holding my camera from this event appeared on MSNBC around noon yesterday.

Categories
Computers Work

How to Erase a Dead Hard Drive

It’s data security. Digital Sandbox style. Hey, we couldn’t get the hard drive to load, but we wanted to make sure that the user’s personal data was gone. This is what happens when engineers put their heads together. And have access to fire.

Warranty void if seal broken Cutting her open Torching the drive The final result . . . pretty

Categories
Current Events General Work

Keeping Busy and Cooking

I’ve been busy the last few days. We’re getting a lot of new people at work, and I’m on a project in addition to doing IT, so I’ve been keeping busy. I’ve also been doing a lot of cooking in the evenings. Tonight, it was my oat fudge bars recipe. We’ll see how they came out in the morning. Also, if there is no rain, I will have a cool post for you (hopefully with pictures) tomorrow night.

UPDATE: they’ve picked the rain date, so the adventure is Thursday.

Categories
Recipes

Making a Great Steak . . . Indoors

Frying panThis weekend, I tried a new recipe. I decided to be brave and cook a steak indoors. I’ve had previous problems with cooking steaks inside. I tried to fry a ribeye about two years ago, and it was so disgusting that I couldn’t finish it. Thanks to some tips from my coworkers, especially Mike, I was able to create a masterpiece completely using a typical kitchen range.

Indoor Steaks

1 or more ribeye steaks (I actually used NY strip this time, but prefer ribeye)
Olive oil
California style garlic salt (garilc salt with parsley in it)
Oregano (optional)
1 tsp. real butter per steak
Oven safe frying pan

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Preheat the frying pan over medium high heat. Salt the steaks well. If desired, add a little oregano or other spices to the steaks. Pour a little olive oil on the side of the steaks that you will sear first. Place steaks in the frying pan and sear the first side until just before it starts to burn (no more than two minutes). Flip and sear the other side of the steak using the same procedure. Once both sides are seared, remove frying pan from the burner and place in the oven. Cook steak for about 10 minutes more for a medium steak. Once cooked to desired temperature and coloration, remove pan from heat. Place butter on top of steak. Let steak sit for five minutes before eating.

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE: remember to use hot mits while handling the frying pan after it has been in the oven. The handle will still be hot enough to burn you after sitting on the counter for five minutes.

GRILLING NOTE: I use approximately the same recipe when grilling steaks, except I omit the olive oil and do all the cooking time in a closed grill over medium to high heat.

Categories
Faith

Lived out Faith

Worship by sxc.hu user mrsdAnd they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47 ESV)

So often, it’s easy to get discouraged. At times, I’ve even found this text to be discouraging. There’s such a huge disconnect between what happened in Jesus’ day and how most believers live. It’s one of those problems that’s made worse by the fact that most Christians don’t even see a problem. They’re comfortable, and they don’t want to leave the Holy Huddle. What if we chose to believe that God can work through us in powerful ways? What if we chose to live lives so sold out to God that people couldn’t help but notice? What if we committed to lift up this generation in prayer? Let’s stop wondering and start believing.

Categories
General

Man Eats Monkey Chow for a Week

MonkeyUnbelievable. He finished at 9pm tonight. One more video still to come.

http://www.angryman.ca/monkey.html

Categories
Current Events

Judge Orders Lawyers to Play Rock-Paper-Scissors

Rock-Papers-ScissorsA Florida judge has ordered two lawyers to play rock-paper-scissors to settle a dispute. Unfortunately, all that was settled was who would pick the location for the deposition. Even still, I think it’s a great caricature of American society.

See the full story at CNN Money.

Categories
General

DC Fun

Ben's Chili BowlLast night, I took a detour through downtown DC on my way home from work. Even though it was one of the heaviest traffic nights I can remember, I had a good time downtown. I had dinner at Ben’s Chili Bowl on U Street in the jazz district. Ben’s Chili Bowl has probably the best hot dog I’ve ever had, and you can make it a chili dog with fries and a milkshake for even more eating enjoyment.

Washington Monument from the World War II Memorial at NightAfter dinner, I drove to West Potomac park, pulled my bike out of the trunk, and enjoyed the national mall and the memorials at dusk. I took several great pictures of the Washington Monument, some of which will likely make the Chris’ best pictures of all time gallery when I get that up. I also enjoyed walking through the FDR Memorial Sculptures at NightFDR memorial after dark. It’s my favorite memorial, and it’s best to see it on a ranger guided tour once it’s pitch black outside.

It was a wonderful evening.  Partly cloudy, but no noticable rain, low humidity, upper 70s.  The only thing that could have been better is if there had been no oak pollen in the air.  Since I realize that my time in this great city may be limited, I’m trying to get the most out of my proximity to the city while I can.  There’s so much that I love about this area, but I don’t know if it’s where I’ve been called to spend the next part of my life or not.

Categories
Faith

Renewed

eagle (photo by sxc.hu user dhany)27Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God”?
28Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:27-31

It’s much easier said than done. Honestly, I’d rather do things my way instead of God’s. I’d rather do things when I want to do them, not when God says it’s time.  I have to keep reminding myself that God’s plan is infinitely better than anything that I could imagine, so even if it doesn’t look like it makes sense at the time, I’ll be better off choosing God’s plan.  Think about that today: are you choosing your comfortable plan or God’s adventue?  Even though the right choice is not the safe choice, God will provide for all your needs along the way.

Categories
General Work

Happy National Doughnut day!

National Doughnut DayHope you all had an opportunity to celebrate national doughnut day. I celebrated by bringing Krispy Kreme in to work for breakfast today. Mmmm Krispy Kreme. Okay, I admit it. I’ve had four today.