Friday, October 28, 2011

A world of "unbelievers"!


  I enjoy what I do for a living.  If I could get by without getting paid to do it, I would still do it.  I take pride in it, and do my best to master my craft.  Let me give you a little background on me.  I am from a small town in Virginia, Orange County to be exact.  It's a quiet town.  During the 80's it was an area of much racism and a little still lingers there.  I was one of the fortunate kids to have awesome parent to emulate.  They taught me to turn the other cheek.  They taught me that I should allow God to fight my battles and that the unjust would get theirs in the end.  I remember looking up to my dad like he was the most perfect person to be like.  I wanted nothing more than to grow up and be like my father.  He was at home with us.  My mom didn't have to raise us alone.  He held down a steady job.  He even owned his own business.  He wouldn't over charge people even when we didn't have much money to put food on the table.  We would make do with what we had even though he could have charged people more for his work.  You see, he's a mason by trade.  He does beautiful work.  Even the prejudice people who would rather have a white man do the job went to my dad because he was the best.  Not only that, but everyone who knew him thought the world of him.  All the grownups would say, "You have a good father, you grow up to be just like him you hear?"  I took that to heart.  I wanted to talk like him and walk like him.  He made us work for money to by school clothes.  If we didn't work, we wore the same clothes that we had the previous year.  He instilled in us a sense of hard work.  Not that my mom didn't do the same, but this story has to do with being a "man".  My mom did her portion without a doubt, but to be a man it takes the teaching of a man.  My dad didn't have great words of wisdom.  The occasional, "that'll learn ya dern ya" was about as poetic as he was.
     This person that I have just portrayed to you was taken from me in the matter of minutes.  One late night when he did the unthinkable ended my wanting to be just like him.  Some people might say that I shouldn't air my family’s dirty laundry, but I have to paint this picture clearly.  He and my mom fought one night.  He hurt her pretty bad.  I had never witnessed anything like this.  I can remember this night like it was yesterday, because it was the day that my hero died.  My brothers had the courage to jump in to help my mom.  They came to her defense.  I watched it all.  I couldn't believe it was happening.  I felt like and still feels like a dream.  Then he walked out of the room.  Sweating and scratched up from the fighting.  Clothes stretched out from all of the tussling.  He looks down at me, a child of only 11 years of age and said, "What are you looking at, do you want some too" I couldn't believe my ears.  I didn't jump in, not because I was scared, but because I respected him so much.  I respected the man that I thought he was.  When he said those words to me, I knew that my life had just changed forever.  My mom came to me and asked me if I was ok.  I couldn't say anything to her beside, "I can't live here anymore".  For an 11 year old boy to come to that conclusion is monumental, but at that moment I knew that I could learn anything else from him.  My mom said ok and we left.  I've never called that place home since that day.
     There have been many things that have come to light since that day, but that won't help me paint my picture so there is no need to speak of those things.  The reason that I've told you the story about my dad is because when your "hero" becomes the total opposite, you don't just start hating the person that your hero was.  You remember all those good things and great memories.  You remember helping him when he didn't need your help at all.  You remember him helping others selflessly.  You still remember that person that you wanted to be and that never changes.  I hear stories about people who become evil when something like this happens to them.  I find it hard to understand that.  I think they were evil to begin with.  One thing that I learned from building houses with my dad is that the foundation is the most important part of the house.  So, the foundation of your life should never crack if the footers were poured right.  My foundation was strong and couldn't be shaken.  I still wanted to be the man that I thought he was.  You see, I wanted to be that man better than he was "that man".  I wanted to do it without letting the person down who looked up to you the most.  That drive has been in me since I was 11 years old.  I can't say that I haven't let anyone down in my life, but I have always given my best.  I have ALWAYS had the best of intensions.  Most people don't believe that because they don't understand what it took to make the man that I have become.  Most people can't fathom the notion that someone can be so set on not be like that person who let them down that they would do anything to see that it doesn't happen.  I am that person.  I am that anomaly.  I am that one in a million who is going to do what is right at all cost.  I'm not trying to paint myself a saint.  I'm just saying that the man that I have become obligates me to strive to be the best man that I can be.
     This week my integrity has been called to question.  I can't say that my word has always been bond, but you can always count on me to do what's right.  I pride myself in doing things by the book.  So, to have someone sitting back looking down there nose at me is incredibly hurtful, especially when the person doesn't try to get to know me as a person, and has no clue that I have more integrity in my pinky than she has in her whole body.  I'm telling you, the world has forgotten about the good people.  It's a dog eat dog world, and I don't like the taste of dog.  I feel that good will overcome, because it always has.  I just find it so crazy that people can't see the inherent good in others.  What happened to the days of walking into a store and saying, "my mom sent me to get some eggs and she will pay you on Friday with her check"?  What happened to helping the old lady cross the street?  What happened to innocent until proven guilty?  Above all, what has happened to a man's word being enough to make him stand by it?  I just don't know.  I can just continue being me and hoping that my effect on my little portion of the world will make a change, a change that has blossomed out to a beautiful tree of fruit for many others to pick from.  But please, don't just pick the low hanging fruit.  Climb the tree a little and see what's hiding on the high branches.  The view will be more than you could ever imagine.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Baked Pork Chops w/asparagus and potatoes!!!!!



This healthy meal was the first meal that I've cooked in many years.  I have been inspired by my best friend Jonathan Jackson.  This recipe makes enough for two.  As I am a bachelor, I won't be typically making large meals.  It was simple to make and very tasty.  Cook time is about 1 hour and 30 minutes.  Prep time about 30 minutes.

Ingredients:

4 six to eight ounce pork chops
4-6 small potatoes
1 bundle of asparagus
Natural Aromatic Oils: Olive oil with roasted garlic
Lemon Pepper seasoning
Salt and Pepper
McCormick Thyme Leaves
Butter

First pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  While your oven is preheating sear your pork chops on the stove top using olive oil for approximately 2-3 minutes per side.  Prep a deep dish pan with aluminum foil then lather with olive oil and roasted garlic.  Once you have prepped your chops, place them in the baking pan.  Slice a piece of butter and place on top of each chop.  Lightly sprinkle the chops with lemon pepper seasoning, salt and pepper, and thyme leaves.  (If you have a sauce that you like, you can apply it at this time.  This will prevent your chops drying out.  Mine didn't dry out, but I can see how they can.)  Cover with aluminum foil and place in oven.  Cook for 1 hour and 30 minutes.  Do not uncover until the chops are close to being don't (at least 1 hour 15 minutes).

You potatoes will take about 30 minutes to fully cook.  Place them in a deep pot and boil until tender.  You can test the potatoes tenderness with a fork.  Once cooked, season to your liking.  I added butter, thyme, salt and pepper.

Wait until you are almost done to cook the asparagus.  They will only take about eight minutes to cook.  DO NOT OVER COOK THEM!!!!  Prep them by cutting the ends off leaving about 5 inches to include the tips.  Place them in 3 inches of boiling water and cover.  Serve immediately for best flavor. (You can chill them in ice water if you prefer)  No season needed, asparagus have a great natural flavor!

Add your own flare and Enjoy!  I hope you like it.