3/18/13 - Sad news (well to some anyways)
I have decided that for 2013, I will not be hosting a March Madness pool. This includes the Annual Little Rock office challenge as well as the Annual Walker pool. I hope to be back for 2014, but this year I am definitely out.Labels: MM2013
0 Comments - Leave one yourself10/25/12 - Candied Bacon, You are welcome and I'm sorry.
You are welcome for sharing this amazing recipe with you, but I'm sorry because you will begin wanting it on a regular basis, and this recipe probably wouldn't be approved by 99% of dietitians out there. I've learned to only make this for special occasions and to immediately cut pieces into 1 inch squares immediately after cooling. Otherwise, it's WAY too easy to pick up a whole strip and consume...and then repeat.I've made this several times in the past, but apparently never wrote down how I do it so it's trial and error for the first few batches every time. I'm going to write it down this time so no more burnt or soggy bacon!!!
Very important piece of information is the bacon used. I've tried this with off brand, thin cut, standard bacon and it simply wasn't all that great. I only use the nicer bacon, Hickory Smoked Petit Jean is my favorite. It's a bit more expensive, but worth the extra cost.
Between each batch of bacon, be sure to remove the excess sugar and bacon grease/fat from the pan. I've contemplated saving this for use in a different application, but have not come up with a solution. Share your ideas in the comments below if you have any.
Also, be sure to keep the bacon refrigerated between rounds. By the time you are done, you'll have room temperature bacon as opposed to the colder bacon at the beginning which will result in crispier (possibly burnt?) bacon.
I use a 13 minute, 14 minute rotation at 325, but bumping to 350 would result in a crispier bacon. Next time I prepare this, I'll play around with more time and temperatures, but the results from the following recipe were fantastic.
- Preheat your oven and stoneware pan to 325 degrees. When I make this, I make several batches of about 5-6 pieces per round. After the first batch, the stone will be preheated, so to enjoy a consistent product, preheating the stone allows for this.
- Lay down the bacon giving each piece a little bit of room, this will make it easier when flipping.
- Cover each piece with brown sugar. Don't mound the sugar, but rather just enough where you get a thin coating. As this bakes, the sugar will melt and spread.
- Put in the oven for 13 minutes.
- Pull out the stone, flip each piece and coat again with brown sugar using the same process as above.
- Bake for another 14 minutes.
- Remove from oven and pan, placing the now completed candied bacon on room temperature surface. I use our dinner plates, but any surface where melted sugar wouldn't have a good chance to adhere to. Stay away from paper towels.
0 Comments - Leave one yourself
10/10/12 - Proper running/driving etiquette?
Now that I've been running more lately, I've come across several situations where I question the ability of the average human to properly operate a motor vehicle. However, at the same time, I question if I'm the one that is not handling the situation properly. Although I have a pretty good feeling that the only responses I get to this blog post will be from an Anonymous commenter advertising the greatest anti aging cream ever, I still have to try.Here's the issue, at least for this post, there might be more in the future. When I'm running on a sidewalk, with the flow of traffic*, and a vehicle from the opposite direction is turning left down the side street that I am about to cross, there seems to be way too much confusion on the part of the driver as to what they should do.
As I come up to an intersection and I see a car turning onto a side street, I'll typically slow down if I think there come be any possibility that we meet at the same time. I feel that the car has the right of way, and even if they don't, I should yield to them for safety reasons. If I think I can make it with no issue, I'll speed up and pass.
The confusion comes in when the driver makes the turn, and gets halfway onto the side street, the rear of the car, or sometimes all of the car still in oncoming traffic of the main street. Apparently they didn't notice me on the sidewalk a mere 20 feet in front of them and they immediately stop when they do, even though I had come to a stand still jog. Instead of motioning for me to cross, or honking, they just sit and stare. It then becomes my responsibility to remind them that they are now blocking traffic and should go, so I wave them on.
I've had a handful of situations where they, in return signal for me to go ahead and cross...all the while, they are still sitting in traffic. I'm not sure who is correct, but it seems to me that from a safety viewpoint, the car should get out of the oncoming lanes. I'm pretty sure if the drivers were paying more attention, they could have waited to turn and allowed me to cross before making the turn. That seems like a pretty big stretch though to ask other drivers to pay attention to their surroundings.
So there's my question, all that to ask "How should the situation be handled when a driver attempts to turn onto a street that I'm attempting to cross?"
* I could be in the wrong by running with traffic. However, it is my understanding that running against traffic is only applicable when running on the shoulder or directly in the lane of traffic, essentially when no sidewalks are available. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong here. Should I as a pedestrian, always go against the flow of traffic even if a sidewalk is not available on that side of the road, or should the sidewalk always take precedence?
Labels: blog
2 Comments - Leave one yourself4/2/12 - March Madness Final results
The final results will be posted tomorrow. I have not had a chance to update from this weekend, but both the Annual Little Rock Office March Madness Challenge and the Walker Pool have been finalized, left over to a tiebreak for 1st and 2nd in the Walker Pool. Points in parentheses are current scores. If Kentucky wins, you can add 6 to each of the point totals as all of our winners have Kentucky winning the title. Those few that picked Kansas to win it all are too far behind to catch these entries.
For the Little Rock Office Challenge, Michael Hall (84) took 1st place followed by Darren Tillery (80) and Flint Allen (78).
For the Walker Pool, Eric Chilton (76) and Michael Pierce (76) will be battling for 1st and 2nd ($150 and $75). Eric has a tiebreak of 163 and Michael 164. 163 or less and the title is Eric's. 164 or more and Michael gets the big money. Third place and $25 has been wrapped up by Kyle Raible.
0 Comments - Leave one yourself
3/26/12 - Walker March Madness 2012: Day 8 - Into the Final Four
The spreadsheet has been updated with the final scenarios. If Louisville wins next Saturday, Cristi takes it all. If Kentucky wins saturday, Elizabeth wins if they face Ohio State, and Eric and Michael tie if they face Kansas. I'll let you view the document for 2nd and 3rd place breakdowns.I believe I have all the tiebreak points I need, and I'm pretty sure it will come down to that.
Labels: MM2012
0 Comments - Leave one yourself- LROMMC 2012: Day 8 - Into the Final Four
The way things went down this past weekend definitely moved things around a bit. I'm going to have to question Michael Hall though because I think he might have someone on the inside. 6 of the correct Elite 8 teams, and all the Final Four teams...seems a bit fishy to me.Whatever the case, Michael has locked himself in as the winner this year. Playing for 2nd and 3rd place are Darren, John and Flint. If Ohio State makes it to the championship game, BUT does not lose to Kentucky, then John gets 2nd and Darren comes in 3rd. Any other scenario and Darren gets 2nd with Flint coming in at 3rd.
Sejal has locked up the consolation trophy, with myself coming in at a close 2nd for that amazing award.
| Name | Points | Tiebreak |
| Michael Hall | 74 | 170 |
| John McDaniel | 72 | 83 |
| Darren Tillery | 70 | 131 |
| Flint Allen | 68 | 0 |
| Eric Chilton | 66 | 163 |
| Tracie Byrd | 63 | 200 |
| Patrick Bewley | 63 | 176 |
| Jeremy Kratz | 63 | 0 |
| Chris Johnson | 63 | 132 |
| Barry Settlemoir | 60 | 144 |
| Jon Albright | 60 | 140 |
| Stephen Shirley | 60 | 125 |
| Amy Chilton | 60 | 154 |
| Angel Cook | 60 | 164 |
| Tamra Upton | 59 | 183 |
| Levell Kinchen | 59 | 160 |
| Tony "Pick em" Lewis | 59 | 149 |
| Stacia Keough | 58 | 0 |
| Lynn McLaughlin | 58 | 142 |
| Jerald Caffey | 58 | 135 |
| Angi Orsini | 56 | 73 |
| Jason Holland | 56 | 156 |
| Jonathan Hill | 56 | 140 |
| Matthew Carpenter | 56 | 141 |
| Lydia Dixon | 55 | 0 |
| David Wagnon | 53 | 171 |
| Suzanne Gulley | 53 | 172 |
| Rob Nossaman | 51 | 147 |
| Kent Bryant | 51 | 0 |
| Randy Spellins | 50 | 155 |
| William Dunn | 47 | 173 |
| Donna Griffith | 46 | 132 |
| Carl Burks | 46 | 121 |
| Prashanth | 45 | 108 |
| Gaurav Berde | 44 | 140 |
| DJ Walker | 41 | 128 |
| Sejal | 27 | 100 |
Labels: LROMMC12
0 Comments - Leave one yourself3/24/12 - LROMMC 2012: Day 6
I think John has been in the lead since the first day of games. And with a UNC over Kentucky championship game, I'd say it will be difficult for anyone to catch him. Meanwhile, I'm down in the bottom battling Sejal, Billy and Carl for lowing points this year...I have no idea what happened.| Name | Points | Tiebreak |
| John McDaniel | 68 | 0 |
| Michael Hall | 66 | 170 |
| Darren Tillery | 62 | 131 |
| Flint Allen | 60 | 0 |
| Chris Johnson | 59 | 132 |
| Patrick Bewley | 59 | 176 |
| Tracie Byrd | 59 | 200 |
| Eric Chilton | 58 | 163 |
| Jon Albright | 56 | 140 |
| Angel Cook | 56 | 164 |
| Stephen Shirley | 56 | 125 |
| Angi Orsini | 56 | 73 |
| Barry Settlemoir | 56 | 144 |
| Levell Kinchen | 55 | 160 |
| Tony "Pick em" Lewis | 55 | 149 |
| Jeremy Kratz | 55 | 0 |
| Lynn McLaughlin | 54 | 142 |
| Stacia Keough | 54 | 0 |
| David Wagnon | 53 | 171 |
| Amy Chilton | 52 | 154 |
| Matthew Carpenter | 52 | 141 |
| Tamra Upton | 51 | 183 |
| Jerald Caffey | 50 | 135 |
| Jason Holland | 48 | 156 |
| Jonathan Hill | 48 | 140 |
| Lydia Dixon | 47 | 0 |
| Rob Nossaman | 47 | 147 |
| Kent Bryant | 47 | 0 |
| Randy Spellins | 46 | 155 |
| Prashanth | 45 | 108 |
| Suzanne Gulley | 45 | 172 |
| Gaurav Berde | 44 | 140 |
| Donna Griffith | 42 | 132 |
| Carl Burks | 42 | 121 |
| DJ Walker | 41 | 128 |
| William Dunn | 39 | 173 |
| Sejal | 27 | 100 |
Labels: LROMMC12
0 Comments - Leave one yourself- Walker March Madness 2012: Day 6
I'm pretty sure this is Day 6. I've been so busy that I haven't been able to keep track. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't also lost interest after losing all my Final Four teams by the Sweet 16...save UNC who should have lost.Now that we are down to half of the Final Four, I have determined all the possibly remaining 32 scenarios, and who wins for each. You can find it on this Spreadsheet and if you can't access the document, leave a comment and I'll get it fixed. I don't believe you'll be able to modify the document, but you should be able to copy to Excel if you want to change the sort and stuff. As you can see, there are still plenty of people who can still win and tons of interesting ways this can end.
Labels: MM2012
0 Comments - Leave one yourself3/23/12 - Walker March Madness 2012: Day 5
Once again, my wife is in 3rd place...meanwhile, I hang out near the bottom with my daughter.Labels: MM2012
0 Comments - Leave one yourself- LROMMC 2012: Day 5
I lost my champion last night and now only have UNC left to get me any points. I think I'll retire now.| Name | Points | Tiebreak |
| John McDaniel | 52 | 0 |
| Flint Allen | 51 | 0 |
| Tracie Byrd | 50 | 200 |
| Michael Hall | 49 | 170 |
| Stephen Shirley | 47 | 125 |
| Jon Albright | 47 | 140 |
| Tony "Pick em" Lewis | 46 | 149 |
| Jeremy Kratz | 46 | 0 |
| Darren Tillery | 46 | 131 |
| Chris Johnson | 46 | 132 |
| Prashanth | 45 | 108 |
| David Wagnon | 44 | 171 |
| Barry Settlemoir | 43 | 144 |
| Angi Orsini | 43 | 73 |
| Patrick Bewley | 43 | 176 |
| Lynn McLaughlin | 42 | 142 |
| Levell Kinchen | 42 | 160 |
| Eric Chilton | 42 | 163 |
| Rob Nossaman | 41 | 147 |
| Jerald Caffey | 41 | 135 |
| Stacia Keough | 41 | 0 |
| Matthew Carpenter | 40 | 141 |
| Angel Cook | 40 | 164 |
| Jason Holland | 39 | 156 |
| Amy Chilton | 39 | 154 |
| Jonathan Hill | 39 | 140 |
| Tamra Upton | 39 | 183 |
| Kent Bryant | 38 | 0 |
| Lydia Dixon | 37 | 0 |
| Randy Spellins | 37 | 155 |
| Carl Burks | 36 | 121 |
| DJ Walker | 35 | 128 |
| Gaurav Berde | 34 | 140 |
| Donna Griffith | 33 | 132 |
| William Dunn | 33 | 173 |
| Suzanne Gulley | 33 | 172 |
| Sejal | 27 | 100 |
Labels: LROMMC12
0 Comments - Leave one yourself
