Chinese Food

Posted on May 19, 2012 by shaunzie

"Rice is great if you want 1000 of something" -Mitch Hedberg

I’m certain that nicotine is an ingredient in all Chinese food, because I’m addicted.  Whenever my wife wants to go out to eat, I think, “I hope she wants Chinese food.”  It’s pretty much all I ever crave.  Here in Eastern Idaho, there are few places that stand out for good Chinese food, but my wife and I have (thankfully) found a nice place called “Mandarin Chinese Restaurant”.  Needless to say, we keep that place in business.  We’re trying to convince them to start punch cards just because we go there so often.  We probably have paid their last month’s mortgage.

Panda Express is pretty good.  PF Changs is okay.  However, nothing really beats the dingy, scary, dirty looking Chinese restaurants.  It seems like the worse they look, the better they taste.  I don’t know what half the menu means most of the time, but I know that if it has something along the lines of orange chicken, kung pao, or sweet and sour chicken, then I’m usually pretty happy.  In fact, as I’m writing this, I’m thinking of how great it would be to be at a Chinese restaurant right about… now.

I know this article is extremely interesting and insightful.  But come on, give me a break.  I’m in the middle of writing several intense research papers and they’re absolutely killing me.  In fact, the only thing that might make it all better is Chinese food.

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Just My Luck

Posted on May 15, 2012 by shaunzie

Have you ever won a contest/sweepstakes?  I know some people that have, and although I’ve won a few things here and there, I’ve never really “hit it big.”  I see advertisements for contests all the time, and I usually enter them, but I’ve yet to receive anything!  I guess when your odds are like 1 in several million, that’s to be expected.  However, some people really do have all the luck.

Did you hear about that woman that has won the lottery several times in her life?  How is that even mathematically possible?  If I won the lottery once, I would probably give up on the lottery and enjoy the rest of my days being fanned by a banana leaf while being fed grapes sitting on the beach in Fiji.

My sister, Juliann, has won a few contests.  She has won a few essay contests, as well as a large screen TV and a $500 Victoria’s Secret gift card.  Way to go, Juliann!  I know she’s still trying for that big vacation, and hopefully she gets it one of these days.  I wouldn’t mind winning one of those, either.

Now, it’s time for my total winnings!  When I was in the 3rd grade, we entered drawings of our mothers into a contest and I came out on top… and I won a small tree from a local nursery.  Yay!  It’s still planted in my parents backyard.  How exciting.  Then, in the 4th grade, I won the D.A.R.E. essay contest and received a stuffed animal.  Man, I was set for life.

Oh, I also once got a scratch-it lottery ticket in my stocking and I think I won $2.  Here I come, early retirement!  My worries about future finances are a thing of the past!

What about you?  Have you ever won anything?

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Food Storage

Posted on May 10, 2012 by shaunzie

No, I don’t believe that the end of the world is coming this December.  However, I do believe that today is a great time to start getting prepared for whatever comes our way.  Southern Asian was decimated by a tsunami, killing hundreds of thousands, Chile and Japan both suffered enormous earthquakes, and stateside, Hurricane Katrina caught us completely off guard.  On top of natural disasters, we also need to be ready for attacks such as the events on 9/11.  We just don’t know when life will take an unexpected and potentially deadly turn.  For that reason, it’s better to be safe than sorry.  It’s time to talk about food storage.  Aren’t you excited?!

First of all, you need something that is LONG-LASTING, INEXPENSIVE, GOOD QUALITY, and, of course, GOOD TASTING.  If your food storage plan includes nothing more than Ramen noodles and Kool-Aid packets, then you’re in trouble.  You need nutrients, calories, and sustainability.

The Honeyville Grain Company is an outstanding resource for your food storage needs.  They nice folks at Honeyville sent us some delicious samples, and I’ll have to say, their stuff rocks.  It taste great, it’s easy to make, they have an enormous selection, and the prices are right.  Be sure to visit them www.honeyvillegrain.com and take a look at some of the choice they have.  From eggs to strawberries, they will be sure to accommodate any order of any size.  Whether you’re just starting out or if you’ve already been stocking up for awhile, give them a try.  You won’t be disappointed!

Another great company that was kind enough to send out some delicious samples is the Wise Food Storage Company.  Whether you just want to buy individual meals or stock up on month or year supplies, they have you covered.  My wife and I tried their fettuccine alfredo and we loved it.  It certainly didn’t taste like something that you would be eating in an emergency situation.  With a 25 year shelf life, that’s a meal that could keep you and your family secure for years to come.  Find them at www.wisefoodstorage.com and check out their great selection and amazing prices.

One thing I’ve learned from researching food storage is that you don’t have to be rich to start your supply.  Don’t do all your shopping in one trip.  Do a little here, and a little there.  If you have some extra cash, go ahead and get a month supply from the companies I mentioned.  If not, get some single servings to at least have something on hand.  Set aside a few bucks each week so that it does’t become a financial burden to build up your reserve.

Be sure you take into account shelf life!  Both Honeyville Grain and Wise Food Storage offer extended shelf life, but the stuff you find at your local supermarket usually isn’t created to have that long of a life.  You wouldn’t want to face an emergency with a bunch of spoiled foods.  The longer the shelf life, the better!

Do any of you have experiences with food storage?  What works/doesn’t work for you?

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Our “Dam” Lives

Posted on May 8, 2012 by shaunzie

Does this look appealing or what?

Do you ever feel like you were meant for much more?  Do you ever feel like there is so much you want to do, but for some reason or another, you are incapable of doing it?  Does it ever feel like your life is being held back by a massive dam?  I’m feeling that way lately.

My wife and I are both college students and we also work.  It seems like, more than ever, we don’t get any time to ourselves. I’m sure you can all relate!  It’s something that most young adults (and many adults in general) experience.  I know it will be short lived (I won’t always be in school… thank goodness), but in the meantime, it doesn’t make it any easier.

I’ve found that, in order to beat this, you just have to be creative.  I write whenever I have a free moment.  That is, when the homework is done, I have enough energy, my house is clean, and the wife is happy.  Simply put, a “free moment” doesn’t come by very often.  But, I take what I can get!

My wife and I enjoy spending time together, but with overlapping schedules, we only get about 1 night each week.  Technically, I should be using that night to do homework, but I need at least a night with my wife!  Sadly, the professors here don’t seem to understand that.  We try to do something simple, like dinner and a movie.  With the weather getting nicer, we’ll usually try a picnic or go feed the ducks.  Anything that gets my mind off of school is a plus.

Homework is a real killer, isn’t it?  I’m a slave to my classes.  I have to keep telling myself, “All of these classes will bring great rewards someday: an enormous teacher salary).  Haha, okay, so that was a little sarcastic on my part, but at least our lot in life will be better than it is now.

During these busy college years, I’ve found that it’s still okay to dream too.  I want to travel the work.  I want my screenplays to be sold.  I want to go on a big family cruise with EVERYONE in my family.  I want healthy children, a cozy house, and lots of animals.  Those dreams aren’t unattainable, I just will have to work hard to get them.

So, I guess the point of this post is this:  Don’t get discouraged by the overwhelming demands of life.  Tomorrow always comes, and with will come new challenges.  It’s never easy getting from point A to point B, but if we have the right attitude, it will at least be worth it in the end.

Now, seriously, someone please give me a vacation.

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Attention All (Small) Screen Writers!

Posted on May 5, 2012 by shaunzie

I Go Here to Write the Things of My Soul

I have written before on my thoughts regarding Amazon Studios.  For those that don’t know, Amazon Studios is a start-up method for screenwriters to potentially have their works greenlit and bought by Amazon.  It may or may not be the best deal out there, but as I see it, it’s a start for anyone lacking the credentials of an established writer.  I have personally submitted a screenplay to them, and while I haven’t had any bites yet, I still think it’s at least worth a shot.

Recently, they added the ability to develop content for Amazon Instant Video.  They are now accepting pilot scripts for original television series, which is a new step for Amazon Studios.  I think it’s a fantastic opportunity to try your hand at writing a for television.  I’ve written several screenplays for the big screen, but I’m anxious to give this a try.  I’ve been developing an idea for a comedy television series for awhile now, and this might be a good way to develop it.  Of course, nothing is promised by my submission, but then again nobody ever made a difference without at least trying!

I think this is an exciting development because it is a way for non-established writers to get their name out in the world…. writers like myself!  I see something like this as being just as fruitful as sending query letters our to individual agencies.  Your chances of success are never great in screenwriting, but if it was an easy industry to get into, everyone would be doing it!  Go ahead, give it try!

 

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