Bad Memory or early sign of Alzheimer's disease?

Sitting in the waiting room of a local cancer center this morning, I watched the faces of some of the elderly patients and their caregivers who were waiting to be seen by the doctors, when a story about testing for Alzheimer's disease came on the television. As the story progressed they talked about face recognition and lack of ability to put names to faces as one of the signs of early Alzheimers. I could see real concern on the faces of the folks watching the screen. I wanted to jump up and tell them not to worry because the story is probably bogus anyway.
If that's truly is the case, I don't have a snowball chance in hell of making it to the grave with my mind intact because I have never been able to remember names.

I know a guy who can remember the name of everyone he has ever met if only for a brief time yet he is one of those people who will embellish the details of a story every time. I have been with him as an incident occurs and later as he tells the story and adds details which have nothing to do with the actual event I sometimes wonder how he could get it so wrong. There have been times while listening to his account of a situation when I look at my brother who is looking at me because apparently the fellow saw something we did not see. Our minds have a way of  falsely filling in details which is why most "eyewitness" accounts are unreliable. Even if we have plenty of time to study a situation and absorb minute details we have a tendency to recall details different in most instances. 

So many people these days worry about getting "dementia" because it is publicized   much more than in the past. The era of 24 hour news cycles and talk shows do society a disservice in during their attempt to fill commercially driven airtime they touch on subjects which can not or should not be covered in 30 minutes or even an hour thus leaving their audience lacking crucial information and full of anxiety.

Education Reform?

Is there really a need to reform the education system in this country or does the problem lie with parents who don't care and kids who do not see the value of a good education?

The vast majority of kids who want to get an education in this country can and if they truly have a desire to learn they will although I'm not naive enough to think that the playing field is level for every child but it has never been and yet we have produced some of the greatest minds the world has ever seen.

There are more opportunities available today than at any other time in the history of civilization yet we have some of the most uneducated people. Why? It can't be the need for more money, more books, better schools because even if a kid does not have access to those things in his home, every city or town has a public library or if they have access to a college campus they can visit the library. There is no excuse for being uneducated in America today except that people are too lazy to care.

Here is a list of free education sites online, visit them and see for yourself what I am talking about:

Open Culture
Open Yale Courses
Khan Academy
Free Education Online - Berkley Courses
MIT OPENCOURSEWARE
The Open University
Free Utah State University Courses online
Carnegie Mellon
Tufts Open Courseware
Stanford courses on itunes
Public College and University Videos
Free Kutztown University Courses online
University of Southern Queensland Courses
University of California - Irvine

http://free-ed.net/free-ed/FreeEdMain01.asp
http://education-portal.com/academy/get-credit.html
http://www.learningcounts.org/

This page will continue to grow because I believe it can be an invaluable repository of Information if governed in a responsible manner.

Eggplant, Black Beans and Rice

I am always amazed at how much my cooking mirrors my day to day life. For instance; this dish started out to be just a simple dish consisting of eggplant, olive oil, salt, pepper and maybe some parmesan cheese but before it was done the whole process changed. In the end the dish was made up of eggplant, olive oil, margarine, bell pepper, onion, garlic, black beans, cayenne pepper, cumin, curry powder, paprika, a splash of lemon juice, salt, black pepper, basil, cilantro, parsley, garlic and herb spaghetti sauce, orzo rice and mushroom sauce pack. Oh and water...

Complicated but the flavor is off the hook.

Is God a practical joker?

Some folks think God doesn't have a sense of humor but all they have to do is look at me to understand that is not true. He gave a love for food, type two diabetes and a bad heart. A bald head, a hairy body, a love for women and a face and body that only a mother could love. I figure he either has a great sense of humor or loves pulling practical jokes.

I am broke yet I love the finer things in life.
I am on disability because it's the only way I can get insurance to pay for all the illnesses that seem to plague me from time to time. (Congestive heart failure being the main culprit)
I love to work but the government says I can't or I will be unable to get any assistance (Social Security or Medicare) to help offset my tremendous doctor bills.

Well you tell me? Is God a practical joker or am I reading to much into this ordeal  called life?

I flipping knew it!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/18/organic-eaters-mean_n_1528529.html#
According to Huffpo, "Eating organic food may make people develop a holier-than-thou complex, according to a new study in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science."

I don't know why but for years I have gotten this vibe from people who hang out around organic food stores and dog parks. They just seem to have an attitude like they believe their s**t don't stink when in reality they are the only ones who can't smell it because they have become accustomed to the odor.

I have a tendency to judge issues and people harshly because I am an a**hole but I know this and have accepted my own reality but these people seem to be oblivious to the way they act especially in groups. Alone, most of them are reasonable people but put two or more of them together and lord have mercy you would think they truly wished the rest of us would just go away and they really don't care how it happens.

If you ask me and no one has I think they are really afraid that whatever makes us different may rub off on them so they protect themselves by banding together.

JMO, I could be wrong but that is highly unlikely to be the case. :)

Oh and don't get me started on people who drive "green" automobiles or live in "green" homes.

My fishing partner and friend.

When I started this blog I said nothing was off the table, well there are a few things which will go unmentioned only because there are certain doors which once closed should never be reopened.

With that said, "Would you look at this guy? This is my fishing partner Denis Abbott and if I did not know any better I would think that this is the biggest fish he has ever caught. How in the world are we ever going to get any respect if he keeps this up? And look at that grin on his mug. Looks like Ahab has finally landed Moby Dick! :) " "Gotta love the enthusiasm, poor fellow!"

Look how pitiful...

Denny attempting to weigh his catch

Denny is amazed at the size of his catch!

Look at that smile... hahahaha

Now that is what I am talking about...you go boy!

Fried Catfish

Myself and some Mississippi Blue Catfish

A few catfish fillets frying

A few fillets ready to be eaten

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Seafood/FriedCatfish.htm
Fried catfish is considered a quintessential southern dish along with southern fried chicken, sweet tea, and hushpuppies. Once considered the "food of the Poor," chefs around the country are now inventing new ways to cook and eat this fish.

Don't wait...

Napoleon Hill once said, "Don't wait. The time will never be just right."

Was he correct or should he have said, "Even though the time isn't just right, proceed with caution."

Steak in a Black Iron Skillet

I cooked steak for a friend in a skillet for the first time in his life a few weeks ago and he loved it. He had always eaten it charbroiled and I am just the opposite I hardly ever cook a steak on a grill or pit because to me it is a waste of good juices. The fat that is rendered off during the cooking process can be used to flavor a gravy (Au Jus) or pour over the steak or some mashed potatoes as a side.

2 Ribeyes ready to cook

Ribeye cooking in a black iron skillet

Almost ready

Onions and Mushrooms 

Ready to eat

Photos of foods cooked over the past few months

Photos of foods cooked over the past few months. These are just a sampling of the meals I have cooked. I will be adding more pics as I find them.

    Grilled Eggplant

    Baked Chicken with Garlic and Onions

Chicken and Rice

    BBQ Ribs

    Grilled Chicken, Steak and Corn

    Fried Green Tomatoes

    Black Bean Soup

    Cornbread Dressing

    Cheesy Chicken and Spaghetti

|Southwestern Cornbread

Sausage Jambalaya, homemade biscuits and peach compote

Steak and Broccoli Stir-fry w/ chilies 

Fried Salmon Patties with Mayo based spicy dipping sauce

Fried Venison w/ Garlic Mash Potatoes

Oyster/Clam/Mushroom/Chilies Cornbread Stuffing

Cornbread

Venison and Carrot Stew

Goulash

Smoked Catfish

    Meatloaf, Creamed Potatoes and Baked Beans

Venison and Gravy

    Venison with Red Beans and Rice

Tomato Gravy and Rice

Baked Chicken w/ Spaghetti tossed with Herb Pesto

The ingredients needed for this dish are up to the cook.
Ingredients needed:
At least one piece of Chicken
Spaghetti as needed
Lite Italian Salad Dressing
Extra Virgin Olive oil
Lemon Juice
Italian Bread Crumbs
Parmesan CheeseWater

Seasonings: Sea-salt, Pepper, whatever else you want to add.
I used a couple of pinches of Cumin, Curry Powder, Garlic and Pepper, Parsley, Cilantro, Cayenne Pepper, Paprika 

Cooking Instructions:
1. Prepare Chicken as needed (wash, trim fat, etc...etc...etc...)
2. Place Chicken into a bowl or some sort of dish.
3. Pour Italian Salad dressing over Chicken and mix it around to make sure all
    pieces are well coated.
4. Cover dish or bowl and place into the refrigerator for at least a couple of hours
    I let mine sit over night or if possible.
5. Remove Chicken from dish (if not the one being used to cook chicken in) and
    place in a baking dish or pan bone side down
6. Pour Italian Dressing that the chicken soaked in over the chicken.
7. Add approximately 1/2 inch cold water to dish
8. Add a couple of dashes of lemon juice to water
9. Add Seasonings to Chicken one at a time being sure to coat the skin side(top)
    well with each in turn (or season as you wish) I like lots of flavor.
10. Bake in a 350 degree oven until done... Approximately, 45-50 minutes until
      juices run clear or 165 degrees internal temp.

Pesto: Prepare after chicken is baked because you will need the left over juice.
Pour juice from baked chicken into a bowl add a little olive oil, Parmesan cheese, Italian bread crumbs, cumin, garlic and pepper, parsley, cilantro, salt (if needed) and mix well.

Spaghetti:
Follow direction on package

Completion of Dish:
Once Spaghetti is cooked and drained add Pesto to Spaghetti and toss until well covered. 

Plate Spaghetti as a bed for the chicken.

Enjoy!!!