Recipe of the Day - Chicken Satay Sandwich

1 1/2 pounds thin cut chicken breast meat (cutlets)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Grill seasoning (recommended: Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning by McCormick) or coarse salt and pepper
3 rounded tablespoons chunky peanut butter
3 tablespoons dark soy sauce, Tamari, eyeball it
1/4 cup apple juice, eyeball it
2 teaspoons hot sauce, eyeball it
1 lime, juiced
1/4 seedless cucumber, thinly sliced lengthwise then cut into sticks
1 cup shredded carrots
2 cups shredded lettuce, iceberg or hearts of romaine
4 crusty rolls, keisers or subs, split

Heat a grill pan or large nonstick skillet to medium high to high heat. Coat chicken in oil and grill seasoning and cook 3 minutes on each side in 2 batches. Pile up meat and shred it with a sharp knife.

Place peanut butter in a medium, microwave safe bowl and soften in the microwave on high for 20 seconds. Whisk soy, apple juice, hot sauce and lime juice into peanut butter. Toss chicken with satay sauce. Combine shredded veggies. Place 1/4 of veggies on sandwich bottoms and top with 1/4 satay chicken mixture. Set the bun tops in place and serve or wrap for travel.

This Recipe came from Rachel '30 Minute' Ray on foodtv.com. I brought this to work and ate one then shared the rest. Everyone loved it.

Enjoy

The Greatness of Ali G

Bodyguards tackle Ali G [link]

I don't know which is more bizarre...Ali G tackling Pam Anderson or Pam Anderson marrying her dogs?!?!

Gmail Anyone?

I'm sure that everyone in the world that wants a Gmail account already has one. If you still don't have one or whatever post a comment (including your email address) and it will be yours soon.

Man I have tired head today!

Brian's Notes: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Man oh man am I tired of motivational books where managers 'trick' their reports into 'finding their cheese' or whatever. This book, however, was refreshing. Written by the same guy that did 'The Five Temptations of a CEO' (Patrick Lencioni), this book pretty much skips the fluff and gets to the point through a nice little parable about a startup company.

It's pretty funny to see the different personality types and how they interact (you'll find you self saying...'Oh yeah! That's me!' or 'Man, that sounds just like something so-and-so would say.' Anyway, here is the main gist.

Look at your team. The people you meet with on your level. If you're a chick on the executive team it would be your executive team. If you're just some dude in a department it's the people you meet with in the department. After looking at your team, are you moving in the same direction, toward one common goal?

Do you trust each other? (Are you willing to show where you're weak within the group)
Do you fear conflict? (Are you incapable of engaging in unfiltered straight-up debate)
Do you lack commitment? (Are you completely sold out to your agreements)
Do you hold each other accountable? (Are you able to call people on the carpet if they commit and don't follow through)
Do you pay attention to results? (Are you putting your individual needs (ego/recognition) ahead of the teams one common goal)

It all builds like the pyramid at the top (the only one I could find is built backwards...go figure).

Trust each other so you can have blunt debates so you can totally commit so you can hold each other accountable so you can pay attention to the common goal of the team!

Hope that was helpful...Go get the book or have your company/organization start a library where you could 'read up' on some books...even the one about Cheese.

Tip Du Jour #2 - Fellowship One - People Search

The church my wife and I attend uses a Church Management Application called Fellowship One. I have learned a few tips and tricks from a few 'Portal Users'. For those of you that use this wonderful application, this tip is for you.

Alt-S

From anywhere in the portal you may access the People Search in the top left hand corner simply by holding the 'Alt' key and hitting 'S'. This is a pretty helpful short cut for those of you that do not enjoy using the ole' mouse.

Enjoy!

My Google, My Google, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?!?!

What has happened to Google? I noticed this weekend that some of their searches have changed. You cannot look up stock quotes easily at this time. Previously you could put in the 3 or 4 letters that identify a company on NYSE or NASDAQ (i.e. AMR, GOOG) and Google would pull up the live stock quote and all the company information. Also, the 'movies 76210' function where you could see what is showing close to you at a glance is not working. I've been relying on this for awhile now and it's just gone...

I have noticed that you can now use other search engines via Google (look at the top of your search now).

I know you guys and gals lead the innovation pack but come on!!! When something is great why revert to good???

Tip Du Jour #1 - Quick URL Entry

I don't know if I've told everyone what I do now at my job...since I left the hospital. I now work at a help desk for a startup company. There are two of us supporting our product for about 200 customers currently. People call or write us for tips using our product and along the way we find out little tips for using everyday software (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Word, Excel, etc.). So on Thursdays I've decided to start sharing an everyday tip.

Todays tip is for all you internet junkies.

Quick URL entry:

Try this out on your favorite web browser...mine's Mozilla's Firefox. Go to the address bar and type the word 'weather' (without the quotes). Now hold your CTRL key and hit enter. Voila!!! I'm not going to tell you what happens...just try it (you'll get the weather channels website).

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

I love to read and was very excited when our SVP (senior vice president) offered up a copy of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. Anyone else heard of it?

I'll let you know what I think...

Man, a baby is a lot of work...

Jonathan Schwartz - Fast Company

Checkout this recent interview with President and COO of Sun Microsystems in Fast Company. [link] (If it asks for an access code: FCAUGHR)

The two quotes I have taken away from it are:

"When you do what you love, you can't lose."

This goes back to "Now, Discover Your Strengths" by Marcus Buckingham. Focus on your strengths instead of weaknesses and you'll end up enjoying what you do even more and be more productive!!! He's even written an article in this months issue. [link]

and

"You are not about to send fewer email messages, watch fewer movies, or download fewer songs. Demand is unceasing. It is up to us to meet it."

Take that and chew on it...If people really want your product (that's normally a good thing), what
are you doing to meet it? As Tom Peters says, "You can't shrink your way to greatness!"

Hello

Man, after you have a baby everyone is picture crazy. I've played around with Hello since I started blogging but did not recognize the greatness of it until this past week! You can queue up pictures to send and it doesn't require an email to send them. I would highly suggest this wonderful tool especially if you have pictures to share with parents that don't live locally.

Oh yeah! Don't forget Picassa 2 to go with it. It will automatically index every picture on your computer and allow you to access Hello or Gmail to send them directly from Picassa. Or, select the pictures you like and have them printed via ShutterFly ($0.17 per picture and mailed within 2 days) or Wal-Mart ($0.20 pick up within an hour!!!) with the click of your mouse.

Did I mention that these programs are free?

But wait...there's more! If you still do not have a Gmail account and would like one, simply leave a comment (including your current email address) on this post!

Bunny With a Pancake On His Head

One of the guys I work with (Mr. Jackson not Michael's father) was on the internet and was 404'd. This picture was on the page...I thought it was funny.

Then Nick found the origin of the picture. [link] Turns out this little bunny is an expert at balancing stuff on his head!!!

Not too witty today...sorry.

Abbie's Official WebSite

My father (Abbie's Pe-Paw) has created a website all about her:

www.abigailvinson.com

Man are we exhausted...

We were at the doctors office (Dr. David Goff of Cooke's Children's) at 7:00AM this morning for her first checkup. By the way, we would recommend that early to everyone because it's nice to be first in line. All is going well. She's lost a little bit of weight so we're going to start on a 7-7-20 (that's all I'm allowed to post no detail...I'm sure the ladies can figure it out) regiment to help her out.

Inapropriate joke of the day (just a little vulgar) MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE TO CONTINUE!!!

Why are babies so fragile?



They are put together with one screw!!!

Thank you goodnight! or day...we're all mixed up

First Night = DONE!!!

I just wish everyone could marry an amazing wife like I did. Have I said how wonderful she's doing with this whole 'motherhood' thing? WOW!!! God will provide is right!

In keeping with the tradition of this pregnancy (thank you God), the first night went very very well. I stayed up late with Abbie and gave her a bottle around midnight so Mom could get as much rest as possible. That worked out pretty well since we're nursing...one and a quarter ounces of formula = about 3 and a half hours of sleep...does that mean 2 ounces = 6 hours of sleep? j/k

Thanks for the prayers last night and thank you Robin & Terry for the fantastic Chicken Lasagna (was that cream cheese???(we need that recipe!!!))

It's official Abbie has taken over the blog for awhile...

Okay...More Pictures

Click here for more pictures of the lovely, beautiful and talented Abigail 'Abbie' Morgan Vinson.

BV

Home at last

Praise Jesus we are already home. Everything is going great!!! The dogs are adjusting nicely to little miss Abbie. We're home and did I say...we're home. I know we were only in the hospital for like a day and a half but 'there is no place like home!'

Yes, I know...Life as we know it is over...we know it's true but man, if I had a dollar for everytime we heard that in the last 36 hours we would be rich.

Thank you to the wonderful staff at the Presbyterian Hospital of Denton's Center for Women. Debbie, Betty, Abby, Cindy, Stephanie, Carmen, Mitzi, Linda and of course Donna (the A-Team) you were all amazing and made the whole experience even more wonderful than it already was (thanks for the suite!!!). Dr. Marc Wilson, you are truly an amazing man of God and we appreciate your love, kindness and gentleness throughout this entire pregnancy.

Thanks to my parents (Tate and Lecil) and the Out-Laws (Donnie and Diane) for food and getting stuff and checking on the dogs.

Thank you McMaster's and Storch's for coming by and offering advice and assistance if we ever need it.

But most importantly...thank you God for trusting me with a wonderful precious healthy little girl and the amazing wife that carried her for us both. (I love you honey!)

Again, thanks to everyone for the support and prayers...
BV

Abigail Morgan Vinson

Hey everyone Abbie's here.

Born 12:23PM (like 4 and a half hours of labor...man Kristie's good)

5 pounds 13 ounces and 18 inches long...

Thank you for your prayers everyone!!! Everything went great and Kristie and Abbie are doing wonderful!!!
BV

Funny Stuff Day...

Death Star Subwoofer

A picture is worth a thousand quotes. [link]

"Now witness the full power of this fully armed and operational battle subwoofer!!!"
-DV

The Sponge Monkeys Song
The Quiznos Sponge Monkeys Like the Moon in case you didn't know.

Jeff is Cool
This German Aggie is a great lip syncer (sp)

Have a great weekend!!!
BV

Chocolate Chip Cookie #10

As stated previously on Life as a 20-Something, I am a huge Alton Brown fan. My wife on a whim one day bought me I'm Just Here For More Food and the baking began. Yes, I enjoy cooking. I would love to go to culinary school someday...eventually...so there. That being said, here's the Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe (very simple and a big hit anywhere I've taken them (hope this isn't illegal or anything)).

The Dry Goods
All-purpose flour - 2 and 1/2 cups
Baking Soda - 1 tsp
Salt - 1 tsp

The Wet Works
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Brown Sugar - 3/4 cup
Unsalted butter - 2 sticks (melted and slightly cooled)
Egg Yolks - 2 large
Vanilla extract - 1 tsp

The Extras
Chocolate chips - 2 cups

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Pulse all dry goods together in a food processor for 5 seconds (to sift) and move to bowl.
  
• Whisk together all liquid ingredients, including butter and eggs.
• Add the wet stuff to the dry stuff and mix just until batter comes together. Do NOT smooth.
• Using a disher (or ice cream scoop) scoop portions onto a pair of ungreased or parchment-lined baking sheets. At this stage, the cookies can be frozen on the pans then moved to zip-top bags; they'll keep for up to 3 months
• Bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until golden brown. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes, then remove to a rack to cool completely (yeah right).

Let me know what you think!

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

The wife and I sat down last night to watch a movie that was suppose to be 'fantastic.' The basic premise is [link] a couple undergo a procedure to erase each other from their memories when their relationship turns sour, but it is only through the process of loss that they discover what they had to begin with.

Now, if I had known this from the start it would have made it a little easier to get into the movie. At first your like, 'Dude, what is going on? Will this start making sense soon?'

Eventually you get it (what's going on) and it turns out to be pretty good. Overall, I would give it one and a half a thumbs up. The cast was great and the subplot with Kirsten Dunst was a nice little twist (stellar cast by the way).

In the end...just give me Office Space.

'Corporate accounts payable, Meana speaking...Just a moment!'

Congratulations to the Happy Couple

Yesterday's post was pretty heavy...here's a fun quick one for the day.

Pamela Anderson is considering a third stroll down the aisle with ex-Motley Crue drummer, Tommy Lee reports Radar. Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee first wed in 1995, divorced a year later, then remarried 18 months after that only to re-divorce in 1998 following Lee's conviction for beating Anderson in front of their two young children reports Radar Magazine.[link]

3rd times a charm???

The wheels have been off for a while.