Beamz

We were exploring this weekend and ran across this awesome Musical creation. It's AWESOME!
DH & DW actually had the chance to play around with it. Perhaps in the future we will own one. It's really cool. Enjoy!
www.thebeamz.com



Hope everyone is doing well. We miss all of you!

TnA

PHOENIX "NEWS"

In the "NEWS"
We posted a blog not too long ago about this place. It has the BEST chili dogs and the guys DH works with eat here probably once if not twice a month. "CRAZY"!! What is the world coming to?

PHOENIX -- Scottsdale police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are investigating an explosion that caused extensive damage to a restaurant in north Scottsdale.The explosion happened late Sunday at Dickie's Dogs, at Bell Road and Thompson Peak Parkway.The owner was inside the deli-style restaurant when he heard glass breaking followed by an explosion. He was injured, but not seriously.The same business was pipe-bombed four years ago.Police did not release information about the type of explosive device used in the latest explosion, but they said it was not a random act."It's just early in the investigation, so we're going to have to put the interviews together with the forensic evidence they collect to try and determine what happened," said Scottsdale Police Sgt. Mark Clark.The restaurant did not have surveillance cameras, Clark said."There is no videotape in the business or the immediate businesses next door, but we are going to be looking at other areas of this shopping center to see if there's other video that may give us some help," said Clark.The restaurant's appliances were pierced by shrapnel. Investigators were going through the business with a fine-toothed comb Monday morning, pulling fiberglass insulation and other items.A neighboring chiropractic office was also damaged.

Gathering of friends

Friday night we were invited to a friend's house for a small get together. We arrived at 8:15 p.m.
When we walked in, we were introduced to someone we had not met before. He is good friends with a friend of DH's friend's wife.
Come to find out, he is a world class Chef.
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Executive Chef
Paul Carter is the Executive Chef at The Phoenician, a 654-room luxury resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. Chef Carter supervises a staff of over 150 and nine kitchen operations including Windows on the Green, The Terrace, The Phoenician Café/ Ice Cream Parlor, The 19th Hole, Oasis Grill, Canyon Oasis, In Room Dining, and all the Banquet kitchens. He also oversees pastry, bakeshop, butcher shop, pasta shop and garde manger operations. As the resort’s Executive Chef, he takes charge of all menu creations and preparations, overseeing daily supervision and training of restaurant staff. According to Carter, “Perfecting simplicity, is the essence to great food.”

Chef Carter’s worldwide background has provided him with a culinary expertise that far exceeds his 17 years of cooking. His love affair with the kitchen dates back to his early teens. A native of London, Carter attend Colchester Institute of Culinary Arts in Essex, at the young age of 15 yrs. Upon earning a three-year culinary degree, he began his cooking career at the Hotel Sonnenhügel in Bad Kissingham, Germany where he held the title of Commis de Cuisine. He later served in the same capacity at Chateau de Montreil in France for three years. After rising through the ranks in the kitchens, he moved to the venerable Connaught Hotel in London where he held posts in all kitchen operations from butcher, to garde manger, saucier of fine dining, to banquets. In 1992, Carter moved to the United States to head up kitchens at world class resorts including Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, California where he held the position of “Saucier” for the fine dining restaurant. He held the position of Executive Sous Chef at the Ritz Carlton, Naples, Florida and also the Executive Chef at the exclusive Vinings Club in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to joining The Phoenician, he was Executive Chef at the Ritz-Carlton Cleveland, Ohio.

Carter is the 1991 recipient of the coveted William Heptionstall award, an honor given to “The Most Enterprising Young Chef in the U.K.” He also received the Maitrise Culinaire Diplome by Palmes Culinaire in 2002.
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We had a great time with everyone. One of DH's co-workers made what are known as "Tony's Nacho's". They're made with the "SCOOPS" you buy in the store. They consist of filling each and every "SCOOP" with blended beans, beef, and many other fixens. You place them on a cookie sheet and arrange them to stack on top of each other as a pyramid. You sprinkle assorted cheeses over each layer, then keep layering until the structure threatens to tip over. Then you place in the oven to melt the cheese and enjoy! It's a great idea and every "SCOOP" you get has everything in it. Brilliant idea! He owns the rights to this.

Chef made a treat for all of us for dessert. "Tequila Chocolate soufflé". We each had our own individual soufflé and believe us, they were to die for! Perfect melty chocolate with a warm gooey center and the best vanilla bean ice cream ever!
This was the BEST dessert we've ever had. We hope sometime in the future we can have a lesson in cooking from him to step up our cooking knowledge.

We hope all is well with each and everyone of you! We miss you all!

"WESTGATE" Entertainment

This past Sunday we were feeling like we needed to go do something. Some friends of ours said we need to go and check out the Westgate area. They said it's got great food and entertainment.

We headed out on an unknown adventure again here in AZ. They have so many unique areas to explore that you just wouldn't have the time to see them all if you tried during a short vacation! Westgate has really cool fountains that dance to music that plays through the speakers as you wander about.
This place was immaculate. Workers were pushing around carts with soap and water to wipe down everything. Tables, columns, chairs. It was really a great place to check out.
We noticed all the palm trees had Christmas lights on them and can only imagine what it looks like at night. We will venture back here at night and check it out.

This photo shows the stadium where the Arizona Cardinals football team plays. It is just a stone's throw away from Westgate. You can imagine what this place is like when a game is scheduled!

We stopped and had lunch at Jimmy Buffet's "Margaritaville"
The food was fantastic and the restaurant was really cool.
http://www.margaritaville.com/

DH had the jerk chicken. It was delicious! And the BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger DW had was Great as well!

We continued our exploring after lunch and ran across Lots of Harley riders. We thought "what in the world is going on here"? Well.............

We ran across a huge Pink fire truck that is on tour for Breast Cancer.

They had a huge turnout and all these big burly guys wearing Biker Jackets and sporting major Tattoo's all walking around with pink on. It was really cool to see. http://www.pinkribbontour.com/

We were even able to get the driver of the fire truck and the Military escorts to pose for a photo. We thanked them and DH said a special "Thanks" to the serviceman for all they do for us. They got bright smiles and said "It's our Honor".
We smiled and continued on our way. That was a nice surprise for us.

As we were getting ready to head for home, we ran across this sign that had all different cities and countries and how far away they were from the spot we were standing.
DH & DW looked at each other and said "Do you think we can make it to Paris?"
We took a big chance coming here to Arizona & we wonder if we will ever be able to make it to France. DW has wanted to go there for as long as she can remember.
"Follow your dreams to pursue your destiny!" - The Harpinator

We leave you with one last photo of Westgate. Definitely worth the visit!!

Trip to Oh-Wah-Tan-ahhhhhhh

We're back in AZ from our recent trip to O-Town MN. We had a GREAT time spending it with our family and friends. We were able to head to the local Steel County Free Fair (SCFF). It's the biggest county fair in the state of Minnesota.

We ran into people from year's past and met family and friends on Friday night at Ye Ole Beer Gardens. This in itself is worth the trip.

We never realized how much the "Yaaa, Sure, You Betcha" is said in everyday conversation. DH & DW looked at each other in amazement every time we heard that........ We actually laughed out loud! Only because people laughed at us due to our accent when we first arrived here in AZ. We've been told that our accents have almost left us completely, but they still hear a little of it in certain words....
We love our roots and if people find our accent funny, by all means, laugh. We know sure ya betcha did don't ya know. LOL! :-)~

We went non stop from Thursday night when we arrived, to Sunday early afternoon when we boarded our flight back to Phoenix. We can't say enough how wonderful it was to see each and every one of you. Thanks again!!!!
Below you will see a few photos we took of our short and quick trip.

Here we are at "SKY-HARBOR" airport here in Phoenix. It's great that they allow you to park your car and have a view of the flights leaving the airport. DH could stand out here for hours watching the planes take off. "HOW COOL"

No trip to the SCFF would be complete without a photo with Steely the Steer. As you can see in the background, the sky was perfect. Not a cloud to be seen. For a second, we thought we were still at home in Arizona!
It's true, you DO get a few nice days in MN!

Here is a photo we took of Fair Square. It's an entertainment area that has a variety of performances happening throughout the day. This picture shows a friend of the family that was called on stage to be a helping hand. We didn't even know he was around till the performer picked him out of the crowd. It was a show stopper to say the least! Thanks for the laugh Gener!! :-)

A trip back to Oh-Town would not be complete if you didn't enjoy a Pizza Pie from Nick's Pizza Palace. This pizza is the BEST in town. DH & DW devoured the whole pizza in Olympic time! Mmmmmmmmmm

Cars, Cars, Cars

With the auction in Las Vegas being only months a way now, a flurry of fine automobiles have graced the floors of DH's work place for a chance to become the new flavor of the auction world. DH helped the Photographer "Tony" with what he could as Tony took the shots.
DH was able to sneak himself into the driver seat of a few beauties to have his mug shot taken. "HEAVEN"

With the smell of the exhaust floating around, several of DH's work mates said, "If we could bottle this smell, we'd all be millionaires".
It's true!
It's amazing to think of putting the horsepower, the smell of exhaust out of a big block engine, and the shaking of the ground as these monsters fire up into a bottle of men's cologne, who would need to work?
Ahhhhhhhhh Boys will be boys!

Happenings

We are starting to feel settled now in our new digs.
We are loving the home and especially the pool. With the warm days and warm nights, nothing beats settling into the pool for a night's swim before bed.
DH has brought it upon himself to update the paint on the block wall in the back.
It's stucco so you can't just roll on the paint hoping it fills all the tiny little areas.
You have to have SO much patience to accomplish this task by using a brush and swirling it as you paint. We've already ruined two brushes! DH has been diligent on making sure this doesn't turn into a 6 month adventure. It is looking FANTASTIC!

Sunday, DH was at it again and was taken by surprise with Heat exhaustion. With a restless night of sleep and hydration issues, DH took his first sick day from work.
Anyone who knows DH knows that for him to take a sick day, it HAS to be bad.....

Tonight however, being hydrated with back still sun burnt, he had enough energy to "SHUCK" some bark off one of our palm trees that has been driving him mad since we moved in.

As we post the blog tonight, it is pouring down rain here as a monsoon has developed and is moving through the area..... SO far so good! :-)

We hope everyone is doing well and we miss you all!