Ron G.

It tastes a lot like possessed squirrel. Without the fur, of course.

Congrats!!!! That's WONDERFUL news!!! Remember...it's never too soon to book a good photographer to shoot your wedding and bridal portraits. Just thought I'd remind you :)

It's that time of year again, and I'm certain eveyone, just like me, is really craving some nutritious and delicious Uzbek Plov! Just the other day, I went down to the local Daisy Queen and asked the girl for some Uzbek Plov. She looked at me with a rather vacant expression for a few minutes and then just pointed to the menu hanging on the wall. I guess they were all out, but what else would you expect this time of year. I realize that each and every one thinks THEIR grandmother made the very best Uzbek Plov, so this recipe is somewhat generic and you may have to modify it some to match what grandma did. Make it! Eat it! ENJOY!!! Ron's Uzbek Plov 3 Tbsp canola or sunflower oil (ie. high smoking point) 1 lb lamb leg, cut in 1/2″ cubes 2 onions, diced 5 carrots, shredded 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 Tbsp ground cumin 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp salt 2 cups lamb or beef broth salt 1 cup basmati rice, rinsed well in a strainer pinch of saffron cilantro 1. Blot the cubed lamb with a paper towel or two and get the oil real hot until it starts smoking a little bit in a big ol' pot. Add the meat in one layer and start browning it. As it browns, turn the pieces so they don't get burned. Take the meat out, now, and put it somewhere where the dog can't get to it. 2. Sear the onions in the hot oil until they start to turn brown. Add the carrot shreds and fry them for a few minutes until they start to turn brown, too. Don't burn them or you'll have to start all over. 3. Add the garlic, cumin and paprika and fry for a minute, and then stick the meat back in. 4. Add the broth, bring to a boil, reduce and leave to simmer, covered, until the meat is tender, about an hour. 5. Taste for salt, and add some if you want to. Add the basmati and enough water to cover the rice. Don't stir it. Bring it all to a boil, reduce the heat to simmer it then cover and leave it for 10 about minutes. 6. Dissolve the saffron in a few tablespoons of hot water. Lift the lid on the plov and dribble the saffron water over it without stirring. Replace the lid and continue to cook for another ten minutes or so. 7. Taste it to see if the rice grains are cooked...maybejust a little al dente. Turn off the heat and let it set for a little while. 8. Dump the rice out, then put the meat on top then sprinkle it with some chopped cilantro. Uzbek Plov goes good with a salad after a bowl of Katya's Ukrainian Borscht. That recipe is around here somewhere.

Hiya Cindy! Remember me? I used to be ArkieRon back in the day. I know what it is, but I don't know much about it. It means there's two flaps in the aorta root instead of three. Besides that, I just know that it CAN lead to a blockage or slowing of blood flow. I'm not a doctor nor am I any sort of medical professional...not even an amateur nor did I ever stay at a Holiday Inn. I'm also a terrible patient and a number of cardiologists in Texas, California and Arkansas will eagerly attest to that. All I can say is I would belay that suggestion that he be monitored once a year and DEMAND at least TWICE a year. Find another cardiologist and seek a second opinion. I wouldn't say the doc you have now is wrong or bad, just two heads are better than one, and it's YOUR son. PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS JUST MY OPINION ON THE MATTER!!! I would make certain he isn't exposed to strep or rheumatic fever. I would treat him to antibiotics prior to any invasive dental work or surgery, no matter how minor. Endocarditis (heart valve infection..usually strep) is an unpleasant scenario that almost took my life many years ago. It can and usually does do permanent damage to the affected valve and when there's blockage (stenosis) of blood flow, the blood doesn't cleanse the valves properly, causing bacteria to settle and infect the valve. If he (or you) notices he's getting more short winded than usual or retaining water (swelling in the ankles)...or if he seems to have a lingering low grade fever i.e. "slight temperature", get very excited and take him to the cardiologist, pronto! I was born with an aortic malformation, although it's not the same as your sons. However, it can do some of the same things. When I was seven or so, I came down with the measles, which wasn't all that uncommon back then, and was laid up for a couple of weeks. The fevers led to all sorts of cardio complications that I didn't know about until I went for my physical when registering for the draft. The docs quickly classified me 4F which meant I would go AFTER the women and children. (See? there's a silver lining to every cloud!) Basically, just USE the docs and the system to the max and don't take any chances. So what if they think you're a cranky lady that gets overly protective of her kid. Fuggem! He's still young and a little prevention now could save him much misery and aggravation later in life. That much I do know. If you work at it, you can get all sorts of good medical care as hospitals just LOVE people like your son so they can send interns and students to prod and poke him. It might not hurt for you and his siblings to get an echocardiogram one of these days. The word "congenital" means something, too, ya know. Of course, like everyone else, my prayers are with you and yours.

A happy anniversary to the beautiful Abi and the snooty panned man of 87,760,443 (I know...I keep track) screen names!! Have a great one!!!

Happy Birthday, Goey! You're one of those people that when I see you've posted, I always make it a point to read the post. You're one of the superstars, here.

Good point, Groucho. I remember when I'd go to twig (this was more in the middle and later years) and we never seemed to actually KNOW each other. It was always this vapid banter... Hi, How are ya? I'm great and really blessed! Great, and so am I! Did you hear that last tape? Oh yes! The Word is really great! Oh yes, and Doctor was so dynamic! Oh yes, what a wonderful heart for the Word! Oh yes, and how about those singers? Oh yes, they have wonderful hearts for the word, too! Well, after the teaching, let's all enjoy a movie on that high quality Betamax machine we bought. WONDERFUL idea! It sure is high quality. Doctor was sure right! and blah, blah, blah.... Anyone remember? It was rare that I ever actually got past people's facades and got to really know them on a deeper level, although it happpened. It kinda reminds me of an old episode of Star Trek where Kirk and the gang landed on a planet dominated by something called "Landru"... Are you of the body? Yes and bless you... Maybe many of us are making up for lost time in getting to REALLY know each other in the context of REAL LIFE. In the ticks and tacks forum, I much prefer the discourse that goes on between folks than how it was before. Can you imagine... Hi, Rocky, Garth and Groucho, How are ya? I'm great and really blessed! Great, and so am I! Did you hear that last tape? etc. etc. etc. NOW, I know who they are and have a reason to like, enjoy and respect them. I'm really glad for that social aspect of GSC.

Once again, Doojable demonstrates great wisdom and understanding. I guess it's not a secret how (or rather who) first got me involved with TWI. Because of that same wisdom and understanding, in the very beginning, my family and I were treated to a wonderful experience which I tried to find again for the next 15 years but to no avail. It was a once in a lifetime experience which I will always treasure, and what TWI would, could and should have been had they been the real deal. I was never treated all that badly...mostly because something occurred during my WOW year that affected things for the next couple of years, and as a result, I never allowed myself to be vulnerable again and always stayed fairly close to the exit sign, but I saw plenty of tears shed and hurt people, never really understanding what was happening...or maybe just not wanting to recognize it...always thinking that original experience might be duplicated just around the next bend. I'll never discount or challenge the veracity of ANYTHING anyone says regarding their experience there. I think everyone's experience has merit and should be shared as people see fit. We can all learn from these experiences. To quote another wonderful friend, my time there was the best thing I ever did and it was the worst thing I ever did. Had I never gotten involved, I'd never have met the people here and made all the great friends I have here.

Twinky... When I was in Californey, I worked as an event photographer and tried to hire people from the fellowship I was in, for a while, as assistants (help set up lights, scream at the drunks, work the table, shoot candids while I shot formal ports etc etc etc) and although I was NUTTIN'...not an HFC or anything...I was required to call the LC (I won't mention his name, but it was the same as that of a 6 foot invisible rabbit) and report not only what I made, but what I paid my assistants...he even wanted to know how much we took in for the company I was subbing for. He wanted more details than the company did. Nosey bastard. Anyway, after a couple of months of all that nonsense, I quit using "believers" and got college kids to do that instead, like I had before. I got real sick, real fast, of his BS, and the college kids were a LOT more fun, learned faster, and were easier to work with.

I don't recall a syllabus with that in it, but at ROA '84, there was a TC meeting led by LCM his own self, where that was taught...exactly those words. There was a tape given (at no extra charge...I don't think) and I had it, but I've long since lost it. Well, I took it literally (according to usage) and about a month later decided to treat my twig to a barbecue. I took maybe $30 from the ABS that week and bought a couple of those plastic bags of chicken leg quarters, some chicken breasts, some potatoes etc. and proceeded to have the barbecue. I cooked...OF COURSE! I need to preface this by saying that ours was the largest twig in the branch (9 regulars...usually 15 to 20 every week) at that time and had 4 people who were ABSing over $100 per week. I typically sent $500 to $600 every week off to a gleeful limb. Okay, I called the BC and told him about it before doing it, just to make sure and he reiterated what was taught at the TC meeting about being self sustaining, self governing etc. etc. and thought that was a wonderful way to bless the believers. He went on to tell me that's what the ABS was for...to support the twig. Shortly thereafter, a new sheriff was in town..a new BC. Actually, she was assigned at ROA '84, but evidently couldn't take her throne right away...probably had spiritual duties of monumental import to attend to. When she arrived, she immediately came over and reamed me out good, accusing me of stealing ABS and buying groceries with it. She screamed for maybe 45 minutes (okay, okay, it wasn't nearly that long, but it seemed like it) and then proceeded to yell at the kids and everyone else who was there who partook of the EXPERTLY prepared chicken. Evidently, the previous BC ratted me out and now he was going to be the new TC for my twig. Well, after the drama and all the recrimination, there really wasn't a twig anymore. Those in attendance that night never returned and the twig died. That was the first of three incidents where I watched some leader kill their own cash cow...although, fortunately, it was the only one involving me directly. Although it was accepted practice for the TC's to use ABS to send limb materials back to the limb (like putting video equipment and tapes on the bus or in the mail), anything else was strictly verbotten.

I dunno about the rest of you, but I'm emmigratin' with BUMPY!!

I gotta admit...I had my eye on this. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Citroen-CX-...sspagenameZWDVW

If I'm not mistaken, the mole (pronounced Mo-Lay') sauce is made with unsweetened chocolate and peanuts or peanut butter. It's wonderful over chicken! Gotta be careful with Mexican food, though. The things you know and love in Texas might be something totally different in California..and vice verse...and yet something nearly unrecognizable in Mexico. I learned this the hard way in Juarez one year, not to mention differences from Juarez to Acuna to Matamoros. Bringing the post back to the subject of sausage, you must be espcially careful of chorizo. Mexican chorizo is a magnificent delicacy while Cuban chorizo is kinda like pepperoni with little flavor and chorizo from Spain is tough as jerky.

After much heartfelt consideration and deep thought, I've decided to make 9 New Years resolutions that I would most likely keep. It may be rough, but just keeping them will help build my resolve and tenacity, if nothing else. 1. I will consume no rutabagas. 2. I will not travel to Afghanistan and ride a camel through a field of daisys. 3. I won't buy a Citroen DS Palas. 4. Like Rocky, I won't get an abortion. 5. I'll always make certain I'm wearing clean underwear when I answer the door to Jehovah's Witnesses. 6. I'll teach Andrew to drive. 7. I'll go to Michigan this year. 8. I won't join the Army. 9. I'll set a limit of my computer time to a maximum of 22 hours per day.

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/218553.php UA law student, beauty queen faces kidnapping and robbery charges By Kim Smith Arizona Daily Star Tucson, Arizona | Published: 12.31.2007 A University of Arizona law school student and beauty queen has been indicted on charges that say she and three others held her former boyfriend captive for 10 hours while torturing and robbing him. Kumari Fulbright, a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Raner Collins, was indicted Dec. 18 on five felony charges – armed robbery, aggravated robbery, kidnapping and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Fulbright, 25, was named Miss Pima County in 2005 and Miss Desert Sun in 2006 and ran for Miss Arizona those years. According to court documents, Fulbright and three men used plastic cable ties and duct tape to tie up a 24-year-old man on Dec. 8 and held him captive at two residences, one on the North Side and the other in Midtown. The four suspects pointed pistols at the man, threatened his life and stole his wallet, cell phone, briefcase and between $500 and $600 in cash, court documents state. “(Fulbright) specifically bit him several times while he was bound, stuck a butcher knife in his ear and said she was going to kill him, pointed a pistol at him,” the documents state. The victim was able to grab Fulbright’s gun after eight to 10 hours, the gun went off and he ran out of the house screaming for help. Police said the man’s injuries were consistent with his story. Read more in tomorrow's Arizona Daily Star