Getting Older Isn't So Bad: consider the alternative

Especially when you have those thoughtful enough to send the World's Best Birthday Card.

And it says:

We don't stop playing because we grow old,
We grow old because we stop playing.
- C. Wyatt Runyan

Uncle Tom and Aunt Jan, awesome selection! Mucho G.

My Favorites - Real Texan Chili

Yes, I'm still pescaterian, but there's nothing like football, the state fair and cool weather to bring out the flexitarian in me. The weather/time of year/craving for beef allow me to think...

CHILL- EE!

I've judged several chili cook-offs, competed a few times and most importantly, used to make a large batch (about 5 gallons) every other day. I know a little bit about chili and I love chili.

First things first, lets get the misconceptions out of the way.

1. Beans? It. Doesn't. Matter. During every "pre-judging" meeting it's a topic. Most judges I've worked with won't use beans/no beans as criteria. I've made chili with black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans and without beans, and I'll tell you it's the balance of seasonings, spices and herbs that make a good pot of chili (friends and beer add lots, too).
2. Spiciness? A cook better have a good reason for the heat. Heat for heat's sake is a poor excuse and is used by mediocre cooks to cover the lack of skills/palate.
   
3. Vegetarian chili? Don't bother. Chili is a hearty dish, trying to "lighten" it up won't do much...except create gas.
   
4. Chicken chili? See #3. In Texas, we call it White Bean and Chicken Soup. It's good, but it ain't chili.
5. Here's the trick...are you ready for this? Cumin to chili powder ratio. Most recipes are heavy on the chili powder with only a smidgen of cumin. Wrong. The proper ratio is 3:2, cumin to chili powder.
   

Okie-dokie...here's the recipe for best chili ever.

2 lbs chuck roast, diced (slightly freeze it to make it more manageable, in a pinch use coarsely ground chuck)

1 medium yellow onion, small chop

2-14 oz can of peeled tomatoes with juice

1-14 oz can of tomato juice

5 large cloves garlic, mashed to a paste (about 2 tbsps)

14 oz can of beans, drained and rinsed (of your choice of bean type and optional)

2 bay leaves

3 tbsp cumin

3 tbsp paprika

2 tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp dried oregano

½ tsp cayenne

6 oz beer of your choice (drink the rest)

About a can of chicken stock

S&P as needed

Brown ground beef with S&P; add onions, bay leaves, spices and cook until onions are translucent and soft; add garlic and cook for 2 more minutes; deglaze with beer; add tomatoes, tomato juice, beans(optional) and chicken stock; cook uncovered to reduce to the consistency of your choice.

Garnish with shredded cheddar, fresh diced red onions and/or chopped cilantro.

Serve with tortilla chips, corn bread, over Fritos (hello, Frito pie) or simply, and my favorite, with a warm corn tortilla.

Dallas Cowboys and Jerryworld: Top 10 Biggest Surprises

10. I'd rather the Cowboys lose in September than in December, but I'm sticking with a 9-7 prediction. And the way they played last night they'll miss the playoffs.

9. The announcing team of Chris Collinsworth and Al Michaels are, by far, the best I've ever seen/heard.

8. Jerry Jones, you can pick who sits in your suite, and you can pick who you want to play, but don't pick your nose on national TV.

7. Overheard from 43 to Madden: Mr. Madden, I'm sure if I would have had one of those telemastrater thing-ys the whole Iraqi war would have turned out differently.

6. Will Flozell Adams never learn?

5. Say what you want, but Roy Williams was the most unselfish player on the field last night. And he was never acknowledged by the booth for his key blocks.

4. Felix Jones often ran like he was retaining water. Caught from behind? Really, Felix. Marion proved why he's called the Barbarian.

3. Wonder how those fine tax paying citizens of Arlington feel about NBC repeatedly referring to Jerryworld as the "Palace in Dallas"?

2. I was afraid Tony Romo wasn't as good as I hoped. Last night didn't build my confidence either. Hey Tony, winners don't go sit alone and pout.

And the #1 biggest surprise...

Cage Dancers!

Once a Runner - Book Review

Author John Parker, an attorney and contributing editor to magazines such as Outside, Runner's World and Running Times, updates his 1978 cult book "Once a Runner: A Novel" with a strong welcome from not only the running community, but the general public. Originally, the self-published book, was sold from the trunk of his car at road races and left in running stores to be sold for a commission, but quickly became required reading and a rite of passage for high school and collegiate track athletes. Serious amateur runners weren't far behind and well worn, dog-eared copies were passed from athlete to athlete.

But the book is not about running.

Yes, it uses running as a prop, but it's about love, friendship, a shinsei-like mentor, and mostly about hope and a rare passion toward a goal. A passion so powerful it drives a person to do things most would consider unhealthy. A focus causing lost love, self-endangerment and total disregard for all things considered secure. In short, a passion so strong it causes one to ignore inborn instincts of survival.

I'm drawn to it because it uses running to explain passion. And it uses running with enough accurate and technical details to not make a mockery of the endeavor, but to keep a serious runner engaged. However, being a runner is not a requirement to enjoy this book. One only needs a passion, or to have had a passion at one time.

Meaning most of us.

The story, like most foot races or other worthy sojourns , starts and ends in the same place. Similar to running a mile, a marathon or any distance in between, it builds slowly and methodically. Parker systematically develops his characters, locations and situations often by devoting a short chapter to each.

Close to the halfway point the pace quickens and many of the minor characters and sub-plots fade, leaving the spotlight to Quenton Cassidy (Parker's alter ego), the fictitious miler with a passion to run a sub 4 minute mile, and his mentor former Olympic gold medalist Bruce Denton. To keep the pace interesting a few sterotypical politicos and coaches are included in the mix, but they're simply "rabbits" bringing out the best of Cassidy and Denton and their passion.

The final chapters build to a sprint. Parker takes seven word-worthy pages to describe a four minute race. The pages left me with a clenched jaw, curled toes, and white knuckles. I was reading through watery eyes with a full-body isometric contraction, a chest thumping heart rate, climaxed by hyperventilation.

But I'm a runner. And this book is a perfect simile for running a distance race...

1. warm-up
2. start at a conservative pace
3. push the pace to a negative split
   
4. finish strong
5. empty the tank
6. cool-down
   

The original book was published the year I graduated high school. I became serious about running three years later and read everything I could get my hands on regarding running. How, in almost 30 years, have I miss this book?

And why hasn't Hollywood taken notice?

If you can find an original copy let me know...we'll deal, and you won't be sorry.

Once a Runner: A Novel; 275 pages; Hardcover; $24USD; available at most bookstores

I'm under pressure...my weekend picks

Thursday night NFL make me feel a little stressed about the weekend picks, but here goes...

Pick these for upsets and sure money:

College ranks -
Ohio State(+6)over USC
UNT(+3)over Ohio

NFL -
Pitt over Tenn(+6)
Tam(+6) over Dallas
Mia(+4) over Atl

Top twenty ways President Obama is trying to shape our youth

Can you believe O44 is trying to shape our youth with this agenda? Has another president set that precedent? (see what I did there?)

For those of you to busy to actually review yesterday's address to school children, I’ve pulled the twenty most important quotes from the four-minute read.

20. Pay attention to those teachers. Listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults.

19. Put in the hard work it takes to succeed.

18. Every single one of you has something you're good at. Every single one of you has something to offer.

17. No matter what you want to do with your life - I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it.

16. You can't drop out of school and just drop into a good job.

15. I did some things I'm not proud of, and got in more trouble than I should have.

14. Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up.

13. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.

12. I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education - and to do everything you can to meet them.

11. Being successful is hard.

10. You won't necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.

9. You can't let your failures define you - you have to let them teach you.

8. If you get in trouble, that doesn't mean you're a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to behave.

7. If you get a bad grade, that doesn't mean you're stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.

6. No one's born being good at things, you become good at things through hard work.

5. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

4. Find an adult you trust - a parent, grandparent or teacher; a coach or counselor - and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.

3. When you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.

2. I expect great things from each of you.

And the number one quote is:

Don't ever give up on yourself.

Now, would you really, really want your child to be influenced with this content…by the leader of our country? Some parents and ISDs should reconsider the taking of a stand.

Give it some thought.

T. Boone Pickens Punks Herschel Walker?

Big 12 south pick of the week: OSU vs. Georgia(+4.5); take OSU and give the 4.5.

Why?

Several weeks ago T. Boone Pickens and Herschel Walker crossed paths at a weekend long party in Canada. Finding himself chit-chatting with the former Georgia Heisman Trophy winner, Boone steered the conversation toward week #1 of the NCAA football season. Here's a portion of their conversation...

TBP: How does Georgia view the season opener?
HW: Not very seriously.

Um...okay, Maybe Herschel doesn't follow Georgia football very closely (unlikely) or maybe he isn't familiar with Pickens' affiliation with OSU (likely). Anyway the next day when their paths crossed again...

TBP: Herschel, thanks for your honesty yesterday and your observation has been relayed to Stillwater.
HW: What do you mean?
TBP: It's now on the wall of the locker room.

Oops!

Bulldog fans, you can contact Walker at Herschel's Famous 34 Foods, 912.961.0002 or email him at hwrmi34@comcast.net.

And in other Big 12 South news, Carnac the Magnificent picks...

OU gives 22 to BYU, take OU and give
Baylor upsets favored Wake Forest
UT crushes UL-Monroe, don't worry about having to give 42
No line on Tech beating North Dakota (isn't ND a D2JUCO?), but give...oh, about 50 and take Tech
And my upset of the week, New Mexico upsets A&M (sorry about that, Jim)

Bucket List Addition: save a life

It's easy with no risk, you can do it from the comfort of your home and best of all it's free.

Give yourself a reason to feel even better. Here's the link. Click on your state and you're on your way.

Go. Do it. Now. Then pass on the link.