Today's Youth...So Spoiled

This was passed along to me, it's pretty great. If people spent less time watching funny clips on the internet, maybe they would get more things done in a reasonable time frame. This one is worth passing on.

Sunday Night Dinner

Last night, I decided to try a Chicken Parmesan recipe by Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa). This dish is non-traditional Chicken Parmesan which, sits over a fresh bed of arugula sprinkled in a lemon vinaigrette.

Simple yet elegant, I wowed my dinning companion who is still talking about our dinner(Men really love helping make this dish as I found out because they get to use a meat mallet!).

The original Barefoot Contessa recipe can be found on the Food Network website: click here

Enjoy Sunday night cooking!

Social Media and the O.R.

I am one of social media's biggest fans, but I'm pretty sure there is a time and place for it...

According to CNN, Dr. Craig Rogers (lead surgeon in the Henry Ford surgery) said the reason for Twittering was to "let people know that a tumor can be removed without taking the entire kidney."

Sure, I understand that social media gives the general public the power to share their ideas with massive amounts of people instantaneously, but I'm pretty sure that you can share that information AFTER the surgery is over.

I want to be clear: I absolutely support the use of social media in the most innovative ways possible. I just seriously question the judgement of a medical practitioner that sees value in twittering DURING a procedure, as opposed to utilizing the same forms of media AFTER surgery. Again- time & place...

Don't you people watch medical dramas? Doctors don't need any more distractions.

Ski Locally

Winter is here and living in Boulder, Colorado you have access to some of the best ski terrain in all of North America. Call me biased, but the Rockies boast some of the finest terrain that gets regularly dusted with some of the softest deepest snow.

While Eldora is not as well known or as large as many of Colorado’s other famous resorts like Aspen and Vail, I can assure you that the runs are pretty neat. The best part, Eldora is located just 20 minutes from Boulder and you don’t have to drive up I-70 to get there.

1980 Ridge

Ridge, makes one of California's consistently great Cabernet Sauvignon wines. At least that's what they told me, I had never tried it.

This weekend my parents came to town, bringing with them a 1980 Ridge. My father had purchased the wine several years ago for somewhere between ten and twenty dollars. At the time, he and his collegues felt that giving the wine some time to age would only further improve its quality. A plane ride to Colorado and nearly thirty years later, he had decided to uncork it.

Maybe it was the whole experience, but I think I was destined to fall in love with the Ridge. Aged to perfection, with a cork the color of blood, the 1980 Ridge was fabulous. And the best part, was that he hadn't spent a fortune either.

Shedding Some Light

Last weekend, I saw the movie Taken with some friends. While it was a good thriller, I have to say that I found it disturbing and upsetting. I always knew human trafficking was appalling and mind boggling but, what I failed to understand was the scope and ignorance that surrounds the issue.

As I began researching, my thoughts and feelings about the issue only heightened. The statics are astonishing. Human trafficking is a global issue and nearly 40% of affected countries have not issued a single conviction. There is a neglect when it comes to reporting or prosecuting cases and my fear is that as a result the problem may be spiraling out of control. "We fear the problem is getting worse but we cannot prove it for lack of data, and many governments are obstructing." Upon reading this quote my blood began to boil. Why are governments in a state of denial? Very often these brothels and criminal networks are being supported and protected by high ranking officials. Perhaps, that's why?

The cases are outright sickening:
"Al Jazeera filmed secretly at several brothels, and in each case found much the same thing - rooms full of young women in their early twenties, as well as teenagers. "For my virginity they gave me $200," Ya Da, a 16-year-old former prostitute, said."

I could go on about the things I found online but, you get the point. I think more action needs to take form and more awareness needs to be drawn upon these acts against humanity. Personally, I would like to make some kind of contribution to shedding light on the issues that surround human trafficking. And let's pray that those suffering from this treatment find justice and peace.

The Hill Meets C-Span

The Results

For all you anxiously waiting...I did it! I ran the Kaiser Permanente half marathon in 1hour 59 minutes and 9 seconds!

This experience was certainly a lot more pleasant. The weather was perfect, I was hydrated, and well rested. Throughout the course, I stayed focused and my legs seemed to lift themselves. Not having to push myself to continue, I kept running through Golden Gate Park and out to the water. I felt the sunshine on my face as I passed each mile marker. As I eventually crossed the finish line a new sense of accomplishment came over me. I had shaved 12 minutes off my previous time and I actually felt good.

After working our way through the crowds, we headed back into the city to shower up and grab some well deserved grub! Now, I have to tell you that I don't eat red meat but, today I was celebrating. Drum roll please.....I went to Taylor's Refresher and ordered a bacon cheeseburger! The best darn burger I have ever had...it was decadent!

With all that being said, running in San Francisco was a success!