The Way Back machine...

Some weeks ago, Amber bought us "Eagles" tickets for our anniversary and the concert was last night. We convened toward the BOK Center, along with about 100,000 other people.

I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed their music. SO different from what I usually listen to, either Celtic or Classical, but boy, those are pages out of my young adult life. Bruce and I were (unfortunately) up in nose-bleed and far enough around so that, if we hadn't been able to move over right before the lights went down, we would've been behind the screen.

But it worked out fine and was an AWESOME concert. *hee* Glen announced it as the "Assisted Living Tour" which brought a roar from the similarly-aged audience members. But I have to say that it was a huge audience with all ages represented. Oh my goodness but Glen Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy Schmidt put on a helluva show. Still strong vocally and instrumentally; they played all the old favorites (except "Seven Bridges Road" dammit!) and a bunch of stuff from their '07 album (which I now WANT!) I have to say that Timothy's high vocals are a trifle week in solo but in the characteristic tight harmonies, there's still nobody better. Oh, and the last song was "Desperado"; they came back for two encore songs and that was the last.

What a thrill and a whole lot of fun. I'd never have bought tickets on my own for a rock concert but I certainly enjoyed it. See, I've been to manymanymany more classical concerts than I have rock concerts. Shall I admit that other than Neil Diamond, James Taylor and John Denver, this is the only rock concert I've ever attended? Yes, I had a sheltered youth, why do you ask?

I'll also admit that I had to go wiki-educate myself on the Eagles. It's just been too long and I've had too many other things on which to focus. [ED: how very cool! I didn't know that Don Henley was the one primarily responsible for saving Walden Wood!]

Chicken done right...

Making dinner from scratch really isn't hard at all!

Here I took Kraft's "shortcut" version and made it into a "real foods" version:

Shortcut Chicken Manicotti

Makes:
4 servings, 3 stuffed manicotti each
Italicizing the original ingredients that I replace)

(1 can (10-3/4 oz.) condensed cream of chicken soup)
Replace with:
3/4 cup finely chopped onion,
1 clove minced garlic and
1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper
Saute in 2 tbsp butter or olive oil until cooked translucent but not browned
Stir in 1/2 cup flour til well blended but not browned
Stir in 1 cup milk and cook for 3-4 minutes (this is also known as a blonde roux)

1-1/2 cups water (or milk or wine combo - I dislike using water in a recipe because it adds nothing!)
(1/4 lb. (4 oz.) VELVEETA Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut into 1/2-inch cubes)
Replace with:
4 oz. grated cheddar cheese
2 cups frozen broccoli florets (I use fresh broccoli)
12 manicotti shells, uncooked
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
1/4 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese


HEAT oven to 400ºF. Cook the broccoli til barely cooked. Make the blonde roux; when done, add the cheese and keep stirring, add just enough liquid to have good texture when the cheese is melted. Add broccoli, stir and cook for 2 more minutes; pour 1/3 of soup mixture into 13x9-inch baking dish. Set aside remaining mixture.

STUFF manicotti with chicken; place in baking dish. Top with remaining soup mixture and Parmesan; cover with foil.

BAKE 45 to 50 min. or until manicotti is tender and chicken is done. (I would serve this with hot rolls!)

I LOVE this!

My dear friend, hdsqrl came up with a lovely idea which I'm copying.

Here:

If you are reading this, please leave a comment about someone I may not even know. No names are necessary, just leave a note of sorts for the universe to soak up, that says something nice about someone YOU know. It would be good to read happy thoughts about random people, I think. Then put this in your own journal so that it gets passed along; we can all use more positive energy! I'll even go first.

This is what I put in reply to her query:

You are like a sister to me in such a short period of time that we've met. I feel so comfortable with you, ready to laugh or cry, share good times and challenges. You are wise woman indeed, both a pillar of strength and willing to show frailties without fear of showing weakness; that takes a courage I greatly admire.

Something else wonderful!

I read this over at my friend, adammaker's LJ and wanted to share it.

PLEASE read this, no matter for whom you voted. This is wonderful stuff:

http://www.theroot.com/id/48726

This wise, wise woman shares advice from which we could all benefit.

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Yeah, I'm not ready to hear Christmas music in the stores yet either, but there it is, after Halloween and all the holiday stuff has been up in Hobby Lobby for several weeks now.

So you know the drill; if you want a Christmas/Yule card from us....but with a twist. IF you got a wedding invitation and you haven't moved since then, I don't need your address. But if you weren't on the wedding invitation list (and I don't know why not since it was a "y'all come" sort of occasion) and you want to be on our list (the nice one!) then I need your address.

And yes, all comments are screened so it's safe to leave your info...or as safe as such things ever are.

EDIT: Because I'm dyscalculic, please also leave names as you want the card addressed....I SO suck at names even if I love you dearly. You all know that if I were introducing a circle of my closest friends and family, I'd still get stuck for the names halfway around, right?