Guinness Pictures of the Week - 26 February 2012

Yesterday we had a baby shower for Jayme at the house. Guinness was bummed that Baby Sliger is not here yet because he figures she will be like Katie and drop him all sorts of goodies to eat! He looked longingly all day at the treats on the kitchen table and then just decided to hang out underneath the table just in case something happened to fall....

Pavlov would be proud....

Ken and I have always had a system for making the kids lunches... In the evenings I put together the whole lunch except the sandwich. In the morning Ken makes the sandwich (since he is much more of a morning person than I am.) On a separate note - we never feed Guinness from our plates or the table. The last thing we want to do is have him begging or looking at us longingly for food when we eat. So if he gets any food scraps etc. it always goes in his food bowl when he isn't looking. Well Ken started putting a little sliver of lunch meat in his bowl while making sandwiches in the morning. So now as soon as Guinness gets out of bed (because he pretty much always stays in bed with me since I don't get up as early as Ken) instead of immediately going to the door to go outside he has to do a "drive-by" of his food bowl to see if there's a treat there!

Sometimes we are awake when Ken puts food in the bowl and when he drops it (no matter how small the morsel is) it makes a bit of a plink noise. Guinness has become extremely in tune with that noise. He can be sound asleep on the couch and we can drop the teeny tiniest morsel into his bowl and the "PLINK" noise it makes has him up and running for his food bowl. It's hilarious because sometimes he slips and slides on the til getting there he's in such a hurry!

Well Ken has decided to be a bit evil and has recorded the "PLINK" sound on his iPhone... poor Guinness isn't wise enough to figure out that if both of us are on the couch with him then obviously there is no one to drop food into his bowl!! I think he thinks that the food just magically appears there! I know the whole recorded bit is sort of cruel but I have to admit I can't help but laugh!!!

Guinness Pictures of the Week - 19 February 2012

While I was in Australia, playing with the kangaroos, I kept thinking that Guinness would love to have a little roo to play with. I also thought if he smelled the roos he would go nutso wondering what kind of animal I had been playing with and how dare I play with another animal while I have left him alone. So I devised what I thought was going to be a hilarious plan.... When I went back to the wildlife park with Mel I took a washcloth with me (don't worry Vicki it wasn't one of yours!) and wiped it all over the kangaroo to grab some of his smell. The roo thought it was his new toy....

I sealed it in a ziplock bag to bring back to Guinness. Once I got home I waited an extra day so Ken could get home from his work trip too... I was convinced it was going to be hilarious when I have Guinness the cloth... well much to my dismay I couldn't have been more wrong. He looked at the cloth and looked at me like "What the heck is this? And why would I be interested in it?) So much for my grand idea ;) Back to the original idea of bringing him an actual roo!!

Guinness Pictures of the Week - 12 February 2012

Hey PAY ATTENTION TO ME!! I said pay attention to me ;) Very typical Guinness :)

Guinness Pictures of the Week - 5 February 2012

Apparently Guinness is a big fan of mashed potatoes. Ken found this out as he.... well take a look at the pictures :)

Dining Out

Many of you asked what a Dining Out is when I posted the pictures about a month ago for the AOD Dining Out. Sorry it has taken me so long to get around to writing this blog!!

(And for the record - AOD is Aircraft Operations Division - it's the division at NASA in charge of all the planes.)

I will admit that some of this event is shrouded in secrecy :) But most of it you can find info about on the internet. Dislaimer - I have copied most of this information from a "Letter of Instruction" about the event that Ken wrote by swiping most of the info from a formal Dining Out Letter of Instruction for the Military. The AOD one was slightly modified to fit the needs of the group.

Background.  Historically, officers have enjoyed each other’s company at dinner, and on special occasions, have arranged elaborate formal affairs appropriate to group participation.  The custom of celebrating special occasions, or events in a unit’s history, is the forerunner to the formal Dining-Out.  A well planned and executed formal Dining-Out should enhance unit esprit de corps, provide for a pleasant evening’s association among aircrew and their spouses, and, due to the formality of the event, add an air of dignity commensurate to the character, bearing and mission of the unit.

BRIEF HISTORY

1.    The term “Mess Night,” like so many service traditions comes to us from the British.  The dignity and elegance of a formal dinner by the Mess for its members and their guests became uncommon when the US Navy and NASA abolished the use of alcoholic beverages on board sea ships and space ships in 1914 and 2007, respectively.  Though recently revived in an effort to preserve tradition, the custom of intrepid warriors, raiders and explorers and their guests dining as a Mess or “Dining-Out,” is as old as the longship and battle ax.  A “Dining-Out” is NOT a “Dining-In!”  Many of the customs observed in the Mess during a typical “Dining-In” are, for reasons of propriety, not followed at a “Dining-Out.”  Since the general plan is similar,, however, the following paragraphs and subsequent enclosures will assist each member, spouse, and guest in understanding the proceedings.

2.    “Mess Nights” had their inception in the earliest military victory celebrations.  In the opening centuries of the Christian Era, they took their first step toward stylized format in the revels of the Viking clans on the occasion of their return from successful raids and forays against distant shores.  These celebrations saw all clan male members present, with the exception of the lookout or watch.  Feats of strength and skill were performed to entertain the members and guests.  The leader took his place at the head of the board, with all others to the right and left in descending order of rank.  Those of the clan that did not participate in the raid were seated below the salt, and did not share in the disposition of the spoils.  Warriors who conducted themselves with valor or distinction were “guests for the evening.”  In that way, they were seated closer to the leader than their rank normally entitled them.  These “guests” customarily received a bonus from the share of the leader for their deeds. 

3.    The celebrations of the Vikings were great feasts where vast quantities of food and drink were served.  Down through the millennium since the heyday of the Norsemen, the practice of recognizing and perpetuating the anniversaries of significant battles and feats of outstanding heroes by formal ceremony became adopted as the natural outgrowth of the special camaraderie of those that go in harm’s way.

4.    In 1649, Oliver Cromwell took over the government of England on the execution of Charles I.  The royal successor, James I, was in exile on the continent.  Thus, it came to pass that certain subterfuges developed in the military among those officers that remained loyal to the crown.  Water goblets formally remained on the table during the toasts, and the officers who were loyal to the uncrowned king always passed their wine over the water in the goblet.  In this manner, they were secretly and silently saluting the Royal Exile, who was “over the water.”  When the clandestine homage was exposed, the least of the consequences was the removal of water goblets prior to passing the port, a custom that remains with us today.

5.    A “Dining-Out” is a ceremony as old and as rich as the traditions of the quarterdeck or the mounting of the guard, and as essential to a close knit, smoothly performing flying organization, as are landing with fuel in the tank, achieving a timely rendezvous, and leading, following or staying out of the way.  Throughout the messes of the world, military men and women, civil servants and contractors meet to honor their units, ships, standards and their dead.  It is significant to note, irrespective of nationality, that these ceremonies vary in form only so much as do the traditions of the units.  It can not be too strongly emphasized that this ceremony is not a party in any sense, but is likened to honors, for it is the purpose to solemnly pay tribute to all of those intangibles for, and by which, the unit stands.  The ceremony ends with the lighting of the lamp, at which time an air of affability prevails.

And here's a wikipedia link about it....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dining_Out

Got more questions? Ask away because there is just way too many potential topics to type without some questions :)

 

I just love Colbert!

I love witty humor that is based in truth so needless to say I am a big fan of Colbert. Here are 2 videos that are great examples of other reasons I think this guys is awesome!!

http://gawker.com/5791100/watch-stephen-colberts-defense-of-planned-parenthood


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX_GZiNog_I&feature=player_embedded

Easy Dinner Idea - Italian Pork

I  made this a few nights ago for Ken and he LOVED it! It's super easy and worth having in your arsenal of quick fix dinners....

Italian Pork

INGREDIENTS NEEDED
flour
milk
olive oil
bread crumbs
pepper
boneless pork chops

Pre-heat the oven to 400F.
Pound the pork to 1/4" of 1/2" thick.
Dredge the pork in flour, then dip it in milk, then dredge it in breadcrumbs.
Pepper to taste.
Heat 2 Tbsp of olive oil  in a non-stick pan.
Brown the pork on each side (about 5 minutes each side)
Remove from pan and place on baking sheet.
Bake for 15 minutes.

I served this with a bit of pasta with pesto and it was delicious!

ENJOY!