Asian Lettuce Wrap Tacos

If you like Cheesecake Factory's Lettuce Wraps you'll love the Asian Tacos. They have the crisp, fresh vegetables with no carb lettuce in place of the tortillas and a light serving of peanut sauce. It is tasty but messy as a finger food. To enjoy the taste without the mess, tip the tray over onto your plate and. enjoy with a fork.

There's No Place Like Home

My favorite time of year is when my flowers bloom. I love Breck's of Holland. Normally tulips get weaker each year. A few years ago I ordered Breck's tulip collection. A few months ago I dug up twice as many as I bought. I split them into two flower boxes and replanted them. Free tulips, and so beautiful.

Because I live in deer country, I have to protect my beauties with anti-deer netting. The voracious deer will happily graze any unprotected tulips.

Mules Ears in the Forest

The Soup Springs Campground in the Modoc National Forest provided grand vistas and beautiful flowers. A surprise was Mule's Ears, named for the long, ear-shaped leaves. The flowers are a cross between a giant daisy or a very small sunf lower. They are bright, cheerful, and very common along the hiking trail. On our hike home, the flowers provided a welcome food source or resting place for a wide variety of insects. I was happy to see the insects on the flowers, and not around our hiking party.

Conquest Sacramento: Travels of a Military Sort

Military miniatures gaming offers the intellectual challenge of chess with the added challenge of maneuvering units against one or more opponents. The miniatures and landscapes are a tangible artistic accomplishment. More photos to follow.

Inca Rose in Buenos Aires

Inca Rose
The name evokes romance and mystery. This beautiful stone is said to have the power to draw love to the wearer and help in the development of inner freedom by helping to resolve inner conflict.
This beautiful necklace was on display in the luxurious Marriott Plaza Hotel near the restaraunt.

The geological name for Inca Rose is Rhodochrosite  Mark this down in your trivia books. Rhodochrosite became the official state mineral for Colorado in 2002.

Classic Cars in South America

I'm not much of a fan of modern aerodynamic cars. They just look like bubbles to me. But I love classic cars from the 1950's and 1960's. An unexpected pleasure in Buenos Aires was the number of classic cars we saw while walking around the Miraflores area.

Batman: Dark Knight Rising - Sneak Preview

Not only does my business take me on travels around the world, but occasionally we take flights of fancy with our clients. Thanks to Citrix, Microsoft, HP, and Allied Networks we were able to see the newest in the Batman series 10 hours before the midnight shows launch.

The newest in the Batman series picks up some time after The Dark Knight's conclusion. It stays true to the events of the previous movie and includes the elements Batman fans look forward to. There are the tried-and-true Batman motorcycle as well as a host of new technology created by the brilliant Lucius Fox. The new villain, Bain, is truly larger than life. He brings an evil to Gotham City that threatens to destroy it. The Cat Woman is back, in clingy black leatherette and silver stilettos. Ever so much like a real cat, we are never sure of her motives until the surprise ending.

Just as the Joker forces him to "confront everything he believes" in the previous movie, this movie shows Bruce Wayne's inner struggle to rebuild himself in a crime-free city that blames Batman for the death of a beloved character from the previous movie. The love affair between Bruce Wayne and Rachel Dawes drives the character and leads to tremendous torment and struggle. Yet somehow, Bruce Wayne and Batman triumph over the evil villain and their own inner struggles to save the day.

Did I mention the twist ending? No spoilers here, but it was very satisfying.