BENGAL TIGER IN ALABAMA

BENGAL TIGER IN ALABAMA


So, while driving home today from work, I heard on the radio that there is a Bengal tiger prowling around the State of Alabama.

(No location given)
Supposedly it is a tiger with a red strap on its neck. Of course speculation is that someone had it and raised it since it was a cub and it got away from them or they actually let it loose.
Why in the world would you want a pet like that?....
I was afraid of the sharp claws that my cat “used to have”.
Each time I picked her up when she was a kitten, I’d be weary of the scratches I was going to get, now imagine a tiger cub.

What do you feed an animal like that?...
What size is their litter box?
Does it chase birds and mice?
Does is scratch at the window and howl while there are other cats outside?..

I do think every cat should have a colorful strap though…….

Do your pets have a red strap?????

Animal pets that is..

BRUINS ON TO THE FINAL FOUR!

Picture by AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez
They did it again..
Yes they are going to the Final Four. That in itself is an accomplishment, but not good enough. Now they must go for the big one; The National Championship. Just like they did 11 years ago.


Yes, time does fly.

What ever happened to; Ed O'Bannon, Cameron Dollar, Tyus Edney, Toby Bailey, etc, etc.?
If you know?.....Let me know..

Final Four Saturday and Monday, April 1 and 3, 2006

WEEKEND

Hot weather is coming soon to Vegas. Currently Spring Break is here. This means loud, obnoxious, dirty and inconsiderate college students are all over the place. I was once a college student too. But, not a loud one so I cannot identify with these brutes. The girls tend to be nicer, unless they are a little drunk, but hey, it's time to "live it up" right?..
Since I am on the subject of College and Spring Break, March Madness is here. March Madness is all about Collegiate Basketball. A tournament with lots of teams playing for The NCAA National Championship. Four teams (The Final Four) will play for the final two spots to select the National Collegiate Champion. Last night was a very wild one. The Bruins (UCLA) came back from behind to beat a team that "had" it already won..... But, it isn't over till its over..
Read on..

Bruins Win

GO BRUINS!

ONE YEAR

Yes, It's been a year since I've been blogging. It's been fun and educational. I still manage to read some bloggs in between working and everyday living. I have seen a few bail out. Some new ones, some that grow and evolve. I think eventually the blogg world will thin out to leave mostly those who are serious about writing about a particular or specific subject and those that serve a special "need".
Mine?..
Just to keep a timeline about my own personal happenings. someday when I sit down to write my memoirs, this blogg will serve as a reference for this part of my life. I do have an interesting life.

Chapter 1 will be

Hijo de la Sierra.
Or A Child of the Highlands

It is a story that takes me from a small village, nestled in the highlands of the state of Oaxaca in Mexico. From there to Mexico City and 15 years later to the city of Los Angeles. In between; tragedy, love, tears, despair, sadness, loneliness and all those emotions that make us stronger and able to continue facing what is ahead each day.

GREEN ENCHILADAS

Someone has been asking for recipes so here is my first one.
This is a recipe for "Green Enchiladas". Enchiladas are a very traditional Mexican dish. There are many variations, including "Enchiladas Swizas" "American Enchiladas-only found in the US-", etc.

I prefer the green ones:
I think of myself as a good cook, However, I am not much for following recipes, so I hope if you follow my instructions, you will turn out a good dish for about 4 people.

YOU NEED:

4-Chicken Breasts-with bones
A Packet of Tortillas(12 to 24)-Corn works best
A Bush of cilantro
Tomatillos( about 12)-very important part of recipe.
GourmetSleuth -� Tomatillos (Husk Tomatoes)Tomatillos provide the tart or sour flavor to the dish. Most big markets carry these nowadays.
Garlic- 1 head
Onions (4)
Some type of "Crumbly cheese"
Jalapenios (6)(Or chile Serrano)-Fresh-"Not Canned!"
Cooking oil
1 container of creme fraiche (Or mexican creme, thinner than sour cream)-not sour cream
Salt pepper and all other necessary kitchen spices.
1 Blender
2 Pots
1 Pan
1 Pyrex-glass type shallow and long

Begin by cooking the chicken breasts with quartered onions, garlic, salt and pepper.
While that is cooking, clean the cilantro, jalapenios, remove the husk from the tomatillos and wash. Gather a couple of pans for cooking (boiling) the jalapenios and tomatillos with onions.
(Clean the cilantro by removing the bottom part of the stem. Some people just use the leaves, I like to use the stems as well.)

Once the chicken is cooked, remove from pot and let cool, since you will be removing the breast meat from the bones. Save the broth. This will be used for making the sauce. The meat will be used to place inside the tortillas. More about that when we get to that part.

Preheat oven at 250.

Once the jalapenios and tomatillos are cooked, drain water and you will need to blend everything that you cooked with the tomatillos (onions, garlic, jalapenios). Instead of water, use the chicken broth to add to the Sauce in the blender. Be careful not to add too much or the sauce will be runny. While the blender is going, add handfuls of colanders. Add a bit more salt, depending on particular taste.
Set the sauce aside and begin to shred the chicken-by hand.

While you are shredding the chicken, place the salsa in a large pan and place on the stove to maintain hot and also to cook off some of the liquid in case it is too runny. No more than 10 minutes.

The chicken will be placed inside the tortillas.-Soft tortillas work the best, of course in Mexico you have the "luxury" of just walking to the corner tortilleria to get fresh tortillas. Here in the states, you have to microwavethem to make them soft and manageable. You can either roll the tortilla with the chicken inside or just fold over in half (Like and actual Mexican quesadilla)

You will need a pan with hot oil to fry the tortillas once they are folded with the chicken inside. Fry to a light brown, ,not too hard-place on paper napkins or plate to drain oil.
Place the already fried enchiladas into a long Pyrex type glass ocntainer. Lay them flat, side by side or however you want. The sauce will be spread over the enchiladas, add the cheese to the top and quickly place in the preheated oven.
While the pan is ine over for about 10 minutes, set the table, get your favorite beer out and then serve the enchiladas.
Add more cheese, add cream on top, sliced onions to tatse and maybe some shredded cilantro for garnish or whole leaves.
A dish with 4 or five enchiladas has enough nutrients and flavor tha you do not need anything else to go with them
However,
Enchiladas can be served with refried beans (That will be my next recipe for you) IN the meantime, canned refried beans are OK. You can also serve with rice (Another Mexican dish with lots of variations)

Enjoy!

Month Long Absence

Yes, it has been a month.

A month without writing, not that I don't have anything to write about, I have just been busy with work..and with everyday life.

At work- I cannot believe the stupidity of people over the simplest things---
"I cannot have any bread, so can you make a sandwich without bread?"
Of course the answer is yes (All for customer service).....
My questions is:

If you cannot have bread in your diet, why walk into an establishment where the specialty is Sandwiches?.... Why not try a coffe shop or buffet?, for crying outloud, it is Vegas!

Don't feel offended if you fall in this category-It is called "planning ahead"

Another one is:

"Can you make a sandwich with my own bread?----I have my own bread"
That is definitely a no- no.
It goes against health regulations, then again, if you carry your own particular kind of bread around, why not go to the store and buy the ingredients to make your own?..

At home- Just hanging out when I get the chance.
Reading books, trying to relax after the stress of work.
(Currently reading- The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova)

Just venting.......
and you.
How've you been?...

NOW WHAT!

Yes, now what!

Football season is over, Texas beat USC in college football. March madness is coming up (College Basketball) but still, NBA, don't follow it enough, at least not until the playoffs.
SO, the US Government "pressures" the Starwood chain of hotels (Westin, Sheraton, W, etc.) to kick out a Cuban delegation out of the hotel where they were staying to conduct meetings with US Businessmen.
Yes, I know there is an embargo against Cuba, However, this happened in Mexico City!. Of course the Federal Government there (Currently PAN) decided to stay out of this sticky situation by claiming that it was an issue between "private individuals." The hotel even kept all monies previously paid by the Cubans for their reservation.
I doubt that the embargo was the reason behind the removal of the Cubans out of their hotel. Simply because if the embargo was to be applied constantly and frequently, we would have plenty of people all over the world getting kicked out of their rooms, since most hotel companies or chains, tend to be American.
American businessmen, even Senators have gone to Cuba for one reason or another, why have they not been stopped?
Maybe it had to do with an American company trying to do business with a Cuban company which would have a negative effect on one of George Bush's interests or a friend's?...
Just pure speculation here.

Blogg Abandonment

Another blogger who I read on and off is giving it all up. Because of hackers and her constant "fixing" of her website, etc, etc... She is leaving and not writing anymore. Why do people take bloggs so seriously?..
I know there is time invested in writing, thinking, etc. But, is it that big of a deal that people mess with their; settings, pictures or just write negative comments on their bloggs?.
I think when you put something out there for anyone to see and read, you can expect a lot of reactions. Now, if they are accessing your personal files on your computer, that is more of a security issue that needs to be addressed by blogger or your own security settings, or software.
Maybe they will start a new blogg under a different name, then again,

who cares?

PATTERN

Last I blogged:
Monday January 2
Monday January 9
Monday January 16
Now I am getting ready to write a new post....Notice a pattern here?....
Anyways.
Today is Monday and though there is so much I could talk, write, post, blogg about, I cannot find something meaningful that you would be interested in.
Aside from telling you about the weather cold), there isn't much else. I am off from work on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Here is a topic-People that come knocking at your door to sell you stuff!
I just had to answer the door for some guy "raising" money for his class at UNLV(local university).
He is selling books and part of the collected price goes to the fundraiser. I was about to buy one when I realized that I had run out of checks to write.
He was OK with me not having checks and just left to bother someone else...

Now that I think about it he did have a nice silver Movado watch on (About 800.00 worth...)
I wonder how much of his own money he's contributing .......

I hate fundraisers.....(Including the ones for the kid's school)

SICK< SICK< SICK

What is going on in this world?
What is going on in this country?.
A little girl was found in a dumpster here in Vegas last week. Police are of course investigating....Read here
Another girl-was beaten to death by her step father, while her mom watched and did nothing.Daily News
This was in NY- (Heard it this morning in the news).
That is just the latest, now if we go back every month for the last year or years, there isn't a time when you do not hear or read a bout children being mistreated, starved, beaten, abused and more.
Do we as a society not give a dime about children?.. Is it the government that is not doing its job to protect kids? It sure isn't the church that is getting high marks either..
Somebody has to do something about it.
But whom.
I cringe at the tought of my daughter being hurt in any shape or form. As you've heard before from many caring and loving parents that they would kill anyone with their bare hands if they hurt theirs, I probably would too.
Is that kind of blindness, that would allow us to kill a stranger, the same blindness that allows other people to hurt their own kids or someone else's?..
Does any ounze of guilt or remorse go through their minds as they are commiting their crime?.. I don't know.
I just pray to God that I am never blinded by hatred, evil or malice to hurt someone, much less a child.
I will do my part by taking care of my kid and those around me and those whom I cannot protect I will say a prayer for them.
It has to start with us as responsible caring and loving parents.

GADGETS IN MY POCKETS

As requested:

What I have in my pockets.
It hardly varies, aside from small pieces of paper or coins, this is pretty much what you would find in my pockets any time of the day.

Car Keys,
Wallet,
Ipod-(Not always)
Palm pilot (Most of the time)

Now, if you were to ask me to take a picture of everything that I have in my car......Forget it!

SAD STORIES

I was tagged by Utterly DrunkBulb about writing sad stories.

Is it sad that you cannot see your parent or parents for over 7 years?..
Of course it is, even if it iis for a few days or years, or never again.
Yes That is sad. I was deprived of the presence of my mother from the age of 12 'till about 19.

Of course this was due to issues between my father and her. When they split up, I stayed with my dad. After that, she moved out of town, along with my younger sisters and brother, and that was it.
There were many days of sadness and tears and I don't think I ever got over not seeing her.
I always missed her to the point where I was ready to call "mom" to the couple of women that my dad dated or lived with after.
Once she came back into my life, Nothing was the same, I was happy to see her again, but I did not want to be around her as much as I would have thought. We still have a good relationship till now, but it is sad to say that There is no mother son love there, she might as well be an aunt that I haven't see for years.
Sad isn't it?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN 2006

bon bon

bon bon
Originally uploaded by Ciscokid1.

My daughter as a bon bon in The Nutcracker. She was very happy and excited to have participated in this production here in Vegas. She is already looking to next year's performance.

END OF YEAR

So what will 2006 bring us in the field of American politics?

One thing for sure is, the Bush White House will continue to "surprise" us with more and more revelations about the on-goings behind the much secretive administration.

Consider the latest "leak" about the NSA spying on American citizens...All this without a court order.
Frankly, I don't care about the spying or surveillance. I for one have nothing to hide, as I am sure most of the citizens of this country feel. If I am pulled over because I fit a certain description in their APB's, so be it. I have not committed a crime.
The only problem as I see it, is that eventually, someone will get carried away. A "right" minded law enforcement agent with his own agenda. At that point, who does he respond to?...Where are the guidelines for him or her to follow when they begin to trample on innocent people?
Right now the administration has a carte blanche in regards to law enforcement and by default, any and all other law enforcement agencies. This is something that you would find in any third world country. All you have to do is go back to any Latin American country in the 70's where most governments were of an authoritarian nature, thus they sequestered, jailed and executed any who would oppose them, without the smallest appearance of a justice system. (Of course, the tables have turned and many of these ex-leaders are now under "investigation" or in jail for the alleged atrocities committed agains their own people)
Another interesting aspect of these governments was the fact that most were supported by American administrations; whether Republicans or Democrats There were no doubts that millions of dollars were going to these countries to support these governments.
This is the risk that the US runs if it allows the "Patriot Act" and or other acts which undermine the freedom that citizens have enjoyed and still enjoy here in the States. It is a dangerous slope that our government could easily go down into.
It is taking the easy way out. By allowing Law enforcement the right to do as they please in regards to "law enforcement", they are being told that regardless of the way that they obtain information on any person, they will not be subject to prosecution.
Isn't that why the FBI was instituted to begin with?...
To investigate and prosecute any "domestic" crimes?...So what if the crime has not been committed (As they have explained-after the September 11 attack).
You suspect someone of planning an attack?...Spy on them listen to their phone conversations, follow them and prosecute them. However, only after all proper procedures have been followed (Obtain a warrant, or court order).
I want to be as safe as everyone else. I want to be protected against any attacks from anyone, including our own government.
Any law that pretends to protect us as Americans or other, needs to be tailored after our constitution. The FBI's procedures need to be revised to allow certain freedoms in regards to law enforcement, without breaking any laws.
The current actions by the current administration are an example of a government ready to turn the leadership to shady characters who feel above and outside the law. This is already a big revelation in 2005. What else can we expect in 2006?...
We have yet to see.

PICTURE

Today, I will take a picture for you.
A picture that shows the spirit of Christmas.

In the meantime.
Merry Christmas to all of you.

SHE READ THE BLOGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, she did. and if you are reading it right now, (Melissa). You made me realize that I have nothing to hide.
I was afraid that you might read it but then again..
It is posted online for the world to see. The world includes you.

Aside from making me look like a fool because of some of my writings, what can I say. I am a guy and every now and then I behave like one.
Nonetheless, if she needs to hear it or read it.
here it is.

I Love her.

I love you.
You are a wonderfull mom.
You are a great girlfriend.
You have been through so much with me that I cannot find the words to thank you other than to say , "I Love you".
I hope you know it.
We have had our issues, but they are meaningless and small.
Everyone has them. (Just read all the bloggs around)
I still have a lot of issues. You still your own.
Such is life and we just have to balance them out and make the best of it.

Yes, just last week you were asking me about reading my blogg.
and you've done it.

NO TITLE

Wow!
2006 coming up really soon.
When I was a kid I used to wonder about the year 2000. Whether it was religiuosly induced or just "cultural myth", my friends and I used to talk about the end of the world. I also used to count the years left till 2000. Of course this was back in the 70's....At some point I just forgot about the whole thing and 2000 came and went.
Now we are well into th 00's. Closing on 2010.

What were you like when you were a kid?...
what things did you worry about?....
Merry Christmas to you all.

El anio 2006 se acerca muy rapidamente. Recuerdo que cuando yo era un chamaco, siempre tenia preocupacion por el fin del mundo. Mis amigos y yo pensabamos que seria en el 2000. No recuerdo si era por religion o solo un mito en general. Y hoy ya estamos por finalizar el '05 y aceracndonos al 2010.

Como eras de puquenio?..
Que cosas te preocupaban?....

Feliz Navidad a todos

IMAGINE

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

John Lennon.
1940-1980

Where were you 25 years ago on this day?

CHRISTMAS

Yes, finally it is here.
Christmas.

Now, who is going to get what.........
I wonder. Why?
I get the question "What do you want for Christmas?"..
My answer is the usual; "I don't know" or "Nothing"..

What do you want?..