Vacation

Day 1 (December 3)

Our flight to Fort Lauderdale was early enough that I initially set my alarm for 4:30 am. However, I didn't fall asleep as early as I wanted, so I changed it to 4:45 am. Despite those sleepy intentions, I was wide awake at 2:30 am, so I got out of bed at 4 am, knowing it would be a long day.

Day 3 (December 5)

We went to Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park at lunchtime. I went to the concession stand and asked for the cuban mix without cheese or mayo. I was told that special requests would not be honored, and if I had food allergies, I should just get the turkey sandwich. I don't want a turkey sandwich! I want ham and pulled pork and pickles, the yummy parts of a cuban mix! I really didn't like the dismissive tone of "just get a turkey sandwich," so I biked to the closest deli instead. For 75¢ more, I got a cuban mix with chips and a drink! I apologized for my food allergies, and was told, "Hon, if you're going to eat it, you should have it exactly the way you want it!" Wow, what a change from my previous ordering attempt! I am so glad I went to the Courthouse Deli instead! That one nice comment made me Very Glad I went there; I had pedaled over there because I was annoyed, but those kind words made me happy I had picked that deli.

Day 6 (December 8)

The best part of today is that I had a really good nap! This is somewhat amazing since fire alarm testing was in progress. The alarms weren't long, so I just went back to sleep every time.

The Mustard Stain

I like mustard as a condiment. However, when the top flies off the mustard container while I’m squeezing, I get more mustard than even I wanted. All over my shirt, too. Eventually my shirt recovered; I think soaking overnight in detergent (well, oxygen cleaner) was the biggest help. If this happens to you, check out <a href=“http://web.extension.illinois.edu/stain/staindetail.cfm?ID=72”>one</a> of <a href=“http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-remove-mustard-stains1.htm”>these</a> references.

web100clt for Mac

# install the latest Developer Tools
cd /Developer
mkdir Source
cd Source/
curl -O http://software.internet2.edu/sources/ndt/ndt-3.6.4.tar.gz
cd ndt-3.6.4.tar.gz
cd ndt-3.6.4
tar -zxf ndt-3.6.4.tar.gz
cd ndt-3.6.4
./configure 2>&1 | tee configure.out
make 2>&1 | tee make.out
find . -name web100clt
file src/web100clt
sudo cp src/web100clt /usr/local/bin

iCade

I just saw the iCADE, iPad Arcade Cabinet (cheaper at Toys R Us right now), and now I know what I would do with an iPad if I had one. I'm not tempted, but at least I know what it's good for now.

Travel Warrior Chunk Chicken Noodles

Here's another dinner that's simple to fix on the road (with a kitchen). After I stop at a store to pick up chicken breasts (one of the few foods Karston will eat) and a small bag of mixed frozen vegetables (or fresh, depending on the season), I can make this comfort food. Cale will often eat a lot of green beans, so between Cale and this soup, we can finish a bag of frozen green beans in a few days.

1 pkg creamy chicken ramen noodles

1 to 2 cup mixed vegetables (corn, bell peppers, green beans, or whatever you like; fresh or frozen), diced

1/2 to 1 cup chicken, diced

I started from this Ramen Fried "Rice" recipe, so once again, you can tell I can't follow a recipe.

On the same theme of ramen noodles as the basis of a quick and simple meal, how about beef-broccoli (maximum 1/2 lb steak maybe restaurant leftover and pick up a head of broccoli), hot and sour soup (add julienned squash, green onions, and bamboo shoots if available), tuna casserole (add parsley if available), spinach-chicken casserole (use 1 pkg ramen and twice as much spinach by weight as chicken), or yatsobi (with half or less of the meat, and probably double the veggies).

Travel Warrior Oriental Beef and Noodles Dinner

Here's another dinner, Oriental Beef and Noodles, that's simple to pack for my family, but with fewer leftovers (sometimes none) than the spaghetti.

1 package ramen noodles, oriental flavor

1/2 pound ground beef (maybe leftover from spaghetti)

1 15 oz can diced tomatoes

1 small package frozen corn (freezer pack for the cooler, then use immediately)

Surprisingly yummy!

Travel Warrior Spaghetti Dinner

When we travel as a family, it's often nice to have a destination-cooked meal (since it's not home-cooked at home) without having to stop at a grocery store for supplies. We almost always stay somewhere with a small kitchen (kids need juice that needs a refrigerator), including pots, a can opener, and a stove. One of the easiest is spaghetti, except that I dislike commercially jarred spaghetti sauce for having too much sugar.

For the sauce, combine and heat:

1 29 oz can of crushed tomatoes

1 15 oz can of diced tomatoes with green peppers and onions

1 4 oz can of diced mushrooms, drained and rinsed

When we have the space, I add dried oregano, garlic powder, and a few shakes of habañero sauce. If we stop at a store, we add 1/2 pound ground beef (or a leftover hamburger from a restaurant).

Boil spaghetti according to the package directions.

Voilà, one spaghetti dinner! Since I pack the entire 1-pound package of spaghetti, we usually get four meals out of this. For us, this is better when we're traveling with another family so the leftovers aren't so oppressive.