What's the difference between a Rock musician and a government bond?

The government bond eventually matures and makes money.

I am anxiously awaiting the start of a new concert year. I forgot how much I enjoy rehearsal, singing and being on stage…as long as I am with a group I am cool and don’t get nervous. The one time I performed solo (accordion, not singing), it was only 200 or so people and I was terrified. I got through it though. When the chorus performed Carmina Burana last year it was incredible, we had 2 sold out shows in the largest theatre in the PAC and 3 standing ovations each night. I was proud to be a part of it. I hope this upcoming season will be as inspiring.

The best concert of the upcoming season and the only concert I know for sure the when’s and where’s is (this is the one not to miss!):

Compassion and Light: Saturday, May 2, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Mozart Symphony no. 36 in C Major (“Linz”) and
Brahms “Ein Deutsches Requiem” (a German Requiem)

Featuring: Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, Anchorage Concert Chorus, Alaska Chamber Singers, Soprano Anita Johnson and Baritone to be announced.

Be sure to look for the redhead in the tenor section.

In mundane news, nothing much has been happening. Alan and Niall went to Fairbanks last weekend for a meeting that never happened. They had a nice drive though. Niall and Alaeric are dog sitting a friend’s schnauzer; Alan and I decided he looks like Sir Diddymous from the movie labyrinth. We were planning on going dip netting for reds at Kasilof this weekend, but it is rainy and miserable and we have the schnauzer. The new plan is to go in the middle of the week one night, catch 2 tides, turn around and come back home. This sounds like a good plan…as long as we get some fish hmmmmm.

Why were the Police called to the day care center?

A three-year-old was resisting a rest.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words; you tell me. This weekend was nice and quiet at the McQueen’s, kind of odd considering it is summer. The high point of the weekend came when Joe and Karen came over Saturday, Alan took Karen for a motorcycle ride, see the video here. Then we had dinner and watched a movie. Joe and Karen already had dinner, but I made them eat again.

Niall came home from Boy Scout camp, I will post videos soon. He had fun and earned a nice hacking cough. It matches my hacking cough which is still lingering. So to make myself feel better, I am making a top ten list of things to do while we are in Oahu and the big island of Hawaii. Please add your idea for number ten.

Top Ten List:

Things to do while we are on Oahu and the big island of Hawaii.

1. Shark Tour
2. Volcanoes National Park/ helicopter tour
3. Parasail
4. Polynesian Cultural Center/ luau
5. Submarine ride and Sunset Dinner Cruise
6. Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay and Shark’s Cove
7. Shopping at the International Marketplace and Aloha Stadium Swap Meet
8. Dole whips at the Dole pineapple plantation
9. Mauna Kea Observatories and visitor’s center
10.________________________________________________

Friend in Accident

Last night a friend who belongs to our church and also has a little girl with type 1 diabetes, was hit by a car while riding her bike to the same diabetes support group I was at. She is in critical condition and the family would appreciate your prayers. Her name is Lindsay and as far as I know she has a ruptured lung and a few broken bones.

Update: Linsay is out of ICU, has 4 fractured ribs, 2 fractured collar bones, a fractured scapula and her spleen was ruptured. She will be fine but it is going to be a long recovery. She was conscious through the whole ordeal; even while the car was running over her head, (yes she was wearing a helmet.) Talk about a tough chick!

What Do You Call a Baby Potato?

A small fry!

Since I was a young child I have been a connoisseur of potato salad...it is more American to me than apple pie, which is funny because kartofel salat is German. Anyhoo, I have been asked to give up my favorite recipe so please enjoy. I have also added two youtube video links for your watching pleasure, (Potato Salad Triplet Contortionists) and (The Potato Song) both videos are worthy of this magnificent tuber.

Tamiz Famous Potato Salad

Ingredients

8 cups diced raw red potatoes
4 hard boiled eggs
2 cups chopped dill pickles (kosher crunchy are the best!)
1 ½ cups bacon bits
¾ cup finely chopped green onion
1 cup *Best Foods mayonnaise
1 cup *Wishbone Italian dressing

In a small pot, place your eggs in room temp water, set on medium heat and boil. By starting the eggs at room temperature you avoid random shell cracking. Here is another cool thing to do to eggs: If you spin eggs before you boil them, the centrifical (the actual spelling of this word is centrifugal) force makes the yolk stay in the very center of the egg which makes for pretty deviled eggs.

While your eggs are boiling, place your diced potatoes in salted water and boil. Watch carefully, you don’t want to over-cook the potatoes or the skins will separate and become a mushy mess.

While this is going on, place the bacon bits, mayonnaise and Italian dressing in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Quickly chop dill pickles and green onions and add these to the dressing.

If your eggs are done, drain the boiling water and cool them off by running under cold water. By cooling the eggs off quickly, they contract and are easier to peel, but don’t leave them for long or they will expand a bit and peels wont slip off as easily. I really dislike chopping eggs and find it somewhat gratifying to don vinyl exam gloves and squeeze the eggs through my fingers so they make small crumbles. Really…who is going to care?

After you have added the egg crumbles to the dressing mix, the potatoes should be done. Drain the potatoes and if the skins are starting to slip off, run them under cold water…this will stop them from cooking. Drain the potatoes and stir into the other ingredients, I like to do this while they are still hot, but the potato salad tastes good hot or cold…

Serve and enjoy!

* I have found these brands to be the best and most consistent for yummy results.

What sea animal can be adjusted to play music?

The tune-a fish!

Okay, I know it has been a long time since I have blogged but since January of this year I have had 2 nasty sinus infections and have had pneumonia for the last three weeks…which I am still getting over. Never take your health for granted! I am still feeling sorry for myself because I missed father’s day, our 18th wedding anniversary and half of summer. Pneumonia sucks!

So far the highlight of the summer has been when Alan and I went on a halibut charter with his brothers David and Joe, and their wives Heide and Karen June 29th out of Seward. We got to visit with Alan’s Grandparents and his Uncles Jim and Bill, Aunt Teresa and Cousin Amy the day before. I was bummed (no really…) that I was not allowed to camp, but had to get a hotel room. Check out the videos here.



What is new with the McQueens?


Alaeric has a new respite worker whose name is Francis. They have been volunteering at the Anchorage Municipal Animal Shelter and going on a lot of outdoor adventures. He is also taking one class this summer to get him ahead with writing.


Niall went to Diabetes camp in June and had a blast! He is going to scout camp in July and may visit a friend in Oregon in August…we’ll see. He got a new bike but much prefers to play his X-box.


Alan continues to work for the street-light maintenance crew for Anchorage, Yukon Electric got the contract for another three years so he is relieved that he won’t have to switch companies. In his spare time (ha ha ha) he likes to take his baby for a ride. He bought a really pretty aubergine (purple) 1995 Harley Davidson dyna-wide-glide with lots of chrome, spikes, a few skulls and an eagle claw for a kickstand.


I have been working when not flat-on-my-back in bed. I am excitedly planning a trip to Hawaii for three weeks this October. My chorus starts back up in late August so I should get my concert dates for the next season up then.

That's all for now, chat at you all later!