Burgers with Bacon Onion Butter

This was a quick post with pictures of my Bacon Onion Butter burgers. The butter goes well with steak so I figured with Burgers it would work well. The pictures are out of sequence but you can see what I did. Half the ground beef on the press, a scope of butter, then the second half of the beef goes on the press and viola butter infused burgers.

Here is a recipe for onion butter but originally it was from the BBQ rubs, marinades and sauces book (my secret).


allrecipes.com/recipe/ulis-onion-bacon-sauce/

Talk at EVT

I spoke at a local High School May 9th. Eastern Tech is Baltimore County's answer to Poly. The students (juniors) were Engineering students on a college track. I didn't have much formally prepared except going over my path to Engineering and then my career. The students were prepared with question and they seemed very intelligent and ready to take their next step. I went over my education and jobs. One of the things I stressed it to make the most of your opportunities. No one is going to hand you anything but opportunities. Your job is to see them and take advantage of what you are presented. I had thought about exploring engineering as a sample project, but they were interested in what college classes are like and what to expect once there. I also took this time to stress getting along with your team and the importance of networking. As I left I offered to return to talk to other classes and I also asked the students to stay in touch with me as they move forward in their lives. It was fun and I really enjoyed talking to them and I hope they found my words helpful.

How's this for a title: Lost a Job but Gained a Hobby?

So it's been a few weeks and eventful that's why I haven't posted.  The job loss was not a shock I saw it coming for 6 months plus.  I had been planning for this and have saving and a plan which I may elaborate on.  For now I will say that I am pursuing several parrellel paths and each is promising to get me to the next level in my career.  The weeks I have been off I have felt better than I have for many years.  This is how I can tell I would be a great indepedantly wealthy or retired person.  I have a schedule set for week days.  Work in the morning, walk the dogs, then the afternoons gym, usually followed by cooking dinner.  The lack of the day to day stress of work is a feeling I have never felt before.  Of course a weeks vacation here of there is ok, but there was always that looming back to work Monday.  This is an entirely new feeling that has been so far great. Should I be more worried? probably so, but for now I am enjoying my "faux-retirement".   I also have begun learning a software language which I had on my to do list for years.  I found a class (insert Stanford online link) to learn Java.  I picked it because it is used for mobile app development.  This project is mostly for self improvemnt and now I have the time I am getting it done.  The other part is a small personal project that I will outline on another post when it gets closer to time (i.e. when I learn enough to start writing it).

So was learning Java the hobby? nope!  As if I needed another hobby in this time of financial uncertainty.  Well true to form I have been influenced to take up Golf.  I had hit balls in college at a driving range and it was a good time.  Around graduation set of clubs was given to me and I went a few times, but not having a partner it sort of died off.  In a cleaning mode one day led to the donation of the unused clubs.  Well 15 years later I find myself back at the range and basically as I do with every hobby into it big time.  Thanks to my cousin as he pushed this onto me.  I can't say I regret it.  I am taking a measured approach in that I am only buying a few clubs and the bare minimum to get on the course.  This is not my usual hobby MO of sinking lots of $ into it.  So far I have been to the driving range a few times and plan on my first round in the next couple of weeks.  In the short time back at the ranges I can say I have had some beautiful weather since the horrible winter and I have seen some beatutiful scenes (see pic below).

Other than that I have help my parents with a deck fix up project (see pics below) and done a few projects around the house (flat screen behind the wall install, gardening, got motorcycle out).   I have a big project that it seems I am procrastinating on which is wash, polishing and waxing the boat.  I wasn't going to put it in this year, but as the time came I said I have the time to save the cost of the detailing and frankly I don't think I could live with not fishing at all this year.  So there you have it and more to come.  

Insert picture from Rocky point
Insert pictures of deck
Insert picture of wall mo

Welding

So in my continual quest to keep from being bored I took a welding class.  Something I always wanted to learn how to do; although, I haven't had much cause to need to weld anything.  Now I think I could make a crude weld.  This class was offered by the Baltimore Foundery  . I found this through the meetup site.  

I made this!

Mid March

I have been working out pretty consistently and I am down to 218 or 10 less than Jan 1.  I have been warming up 10 - 30 minutes cardio, then lift for 30 and then most days 20 - 30 minutes boxing (shadow, speed bag, but mostly heavy bag work).  I still miss Muay Thai and once my job situation settles I will go back.

The Walking dead was pushing the edge this week with a bit of child murder, but If you were invested in the story it made sense.  I did actually think this episode needed more than the obligatory warning this week.  I was still going to watch but it was disturbing. I guess since it isn't broadcast TV and not basic cable it is OK to show. It still raised my eyebrows.

True Detective wrapped up last week.  The HBO series record continues to produce great TV.  The A level actors take the show to a new level.  It is almost a shame it is only 8 episodes per season, but when it comes out on media I am going to watch it like an 8 hour movie.  It was that good.

Took sometime off work to rest in this transitional time.  

I have to go back to court on the 25th.  

March End February

Went to the ski trip in wv.  Had fun until this lady told us this particular black diamond was the best trail.  Yeah she was trying to kill us.  It was like a vertical ice rink created to kill me.  I made it down somehow and didn't kill myself.  Add pics.

So I has the pleasure of attending a court session in baltimore county.  Juvenile trail for the terrible crime committed against my property last year. All my change was taken for my unlocked vehicle and now that I think about it they may have taken my multi tool.  Anyway I was struck by the fact only 1 kid had a suit on the females weren't dressed up at all.  Jeans hoodies all around and tennis shoes.  They were facing big fines and jail time, but couldn't give a damn about appearing to look good at all.  Almost like they didn't care what happened to them.  The parents looked the same for the most part.  I was just a witness and I was dressed about the same as most of the lawyers.  Then again some of the lawyers weren't dressed very well either.  The whole affair was surreal.  Sad for the kids and their futures. Sad for their parents who look to be a few years removed from the courtroom themselves.  Oh and by parents I mean mothers only 2 fathers were there with their kids.  The court hearing process was interesting very casual lots of handshake deals and informal agreements.  The schedule was crazy lots of sitting and waiting, when I thought I would get locked up if I was a minute late.  The economics of this seems out of whack.  I was in court for a handful of change for hours and I make $70+ at work hhhm.  I was going to give the court a five to pay his restitution and leave. I have a flight to catch.
Went to the Florida Panhandle for work.  Flew into Pensacola thru Nashville.  The work part went well and as a bonus I saw two things you don't see everyday a Feral Pig and a real life Prostitute.  I have a picture of the pig, but not the hooker...

Mid February Update

Actually not too much going on I can blog about for various reasons.  Needless to say I am stressed.  No hobby activity to report except I am still going to Merritt working out regularly and maintaining my low 220s weight.  I have been adding a good heavy bag routine into my workouts.  I miss the Muay Thai training though. I need to get back to it.  My thought was to get back February but I was going to have a bunch of work travel that would have interfered with the gym.  That hasn't happened but other things have taken up a lot of my gym time in the evening.  I have been making up for that by going before work which is actually pretty good time-wise and I have gotten use to the routine.  Planning on going to the annual ski trip this weekend and that is always a great time.  Pictures of that to follow.