stevemullis[dot]net

Been really slacking here, but man what a busy week it’s been.

Work
Friday at the Minnesota State Fair we did MPR’s first ever Photo Scavenger Hunt (the results of which are here). Considering that there were some technical issues, I would say it was pretty successful. The best part about it is that it was an idea my colleague Than and I conceived, executed and saw through to the end. I think it was probably a decent personal success for both of us.

I also had my review, I think I gets to keep my job. The upcoming year will be a year to learn more multimedia skills, possibly even doing some workshops and/or a community college class. We’ll see.

Cooking
Kind of been slacking on cooking new stuff, though this Saturday I tried my hand at my mom’s vegetable curry recipe.

Ingredients:

• Coconut milk
• Red curry paste
• Carrots
• Potatoes
• Fake chicken
• Soy sauce

Cooked it all together, served over rice. Slap it in the “win” column, it was delicious and super easy. No food pictures, as it wasn’t very photogenic.

Biking
Did a long ride on Labor Day, in fact I think I overdid it. Went from St. Paul out past St. Louis Park, milled about some trails and then made my way back. I was so out of gas on the last leg home on thought I’d have to push the damn bike home. Next week I think I’ll head east and try and find my way to Stillwater, I hear it’s nice. I really want to upgrade the bike or trade up and get a road bike. It just makes sense for the type of riding I’m doing. If anything, I’m going to switch out the handlebars, the straight bar is simply not comfortable on long rides.

That is all.

Yeah, the above photo pretty much sums up our State Fair here in Minnesota. It’s actually a lot of fun, despite some of the more nausea-inducing food choices that exist. And, full disclosure, I ate some things there that I said I would never eat and aren’t a part of my normal diet. However, as one of our producers found out, it’s not all that bad.

Kind of been slacking on the writing, and the cooking, oh and the picture taking. Work has just been busy with vacations, etc. This Friday is our big MPR Day out at the fair and my colleague and I are the overseers of the Photo Scavenger Hunt. Hopefully it goes well and we get some kudos for it. I have confidence that it will be successful enough to do next year.

I know it is the “hot topic” these days, but I’m really sick of hearing/reading/discussing health care. That’s all I really have to say about that.

More later, breakfast now.

Slowly I am porting my book collection from Florida, and by slowly I mean I’m at about 20/300+. This might take a while.

First week back at work was very busy: organizing special projects, MN State Fair stuff, breaking news, Bret Favre, tornadoes, oh my. The good thing is I’ve been feeling much more confident in my work, especially this week. I’m still finding it hard to dedicate time to some side projects, but that will iron out soon enough.

The weather has not been cooperative with my desire to ride my bike. This makes me angry. A co-worker says the whole El Nino business should keep the snow off the ground until later than usual. I aim to ride, even if cold, until I can’t ride anymore. This weekend I’m going to shop for some cooler weather riding clothes.

Vacation tapped me out a little, so it’s back to being frugal for a bit. I still need to save for the new camera, pocket video camera and some other vanity items. Plus, I plan on trying to make it back down to Florida for a wedding in November. The timing will make the flight rather expensive.

Enough random, carry on.

I came, I saw, I wore myself out.

The trip to Florida was a lot of fun. I hung out with as many people as I could, partied with friends, spent quality time with the family and even got a little sun. Florida still seems to be located a half-mile from the sun, which was fun to be reminded of.

It will be nice to get back to work, however it is going to be very busy over the next couple of weeks.

Next vacation though, I’m using the passport and going adventuring.

This is how I’m rolling today. Too windy to go for a ride. Hopefully tomorrow is better.

Also, cooked up some potatoes, onions and mushrooms topped with some razor-sharp cheddar. Phenomenal, excellent lunch fare. I’m trying to minimize any grocery buying due to the impending weeklong+ vacation coming up.

Can’t wait for the trip. Friends, family, sun, golf (hopefully even though I will stink) and relaxing.

Like I said before, this week marks one year being in Minnesota and at my job. I’m really surprised it’s already been a year, it went by so fast.

It doesn’t seem that long ago I was driving my little car packed with all of my belongings toward my new home.

Hmm, now what?

Just listened to Sarah Palin’s farewell speech, albeit the Daily Show recap. Wow, please let this woman fade away. Dare I say, for the sake of the Republican Party, let her go away. Anyone that says she has any political value is a blind idiot. Listening to Bill Kristol try and defend her is laughable.

In other news, t-minus two weeks until going to Florida and pseudo-reunion 2009. Can’t wait.

A.H. Belo reports $7.1M second-quarter loss

I came to Minnesota for my current job about a year ago. Before I made the long drive and battle against the heavy winters, I had the choice to go to the Dallas Morning News, which is owned by Belo. Despite favoring MPR initially, it was still a tough choice. A bonus offer was thrown at me from Dallas, I’d be working in a medium I was more familiar with and the weather was a bit more forgiving. On the surface, Dallas seemed to be the safer choice.

Obviously I chose MPR. Needless to say, if I’d gone with Dallas I would probably be unemployed right now.

Sometimes you’ve just got to go with your gut.

Went about 40 miles today, on a new route around five different lakes in the Twin Cities. I know, I know; it’s no Tour de France, but a good ride nonetheless. A lot of fun, but part of the ride was very crowded. I hate having to pass people, or wait, then pass. Kind of takes the wind out of your sails. The best part was that I did a circuit, so I didn’t have to ride back the same way except for the part near my neighborhood.

Now dinner.

OK, so this one was easy math. You can’t really mess up chili; I mean it’s a bunch of stuff thrown in a pot a heated slowly to let the flavors combine. Bingo, bango you’ve got chili. Served it up with a Summit Red Ale, summer style.

Ingredients:
• Chili beans
• Kidney beans
• One small, minced white onion
• Organic chili powder
• Minced garlic
• Chopped, roasted tomatoes
• Oregano
• Vegetable stock
• Organic, garden tempeh as a meat substitute. I pan-fried the tempeh in some olive oil before adding it to the chili
• Topped w/ shredded, smoked cheddar on serving

Full disclosure, I used canned organic beans. Next time, when I’m feeling more ambitious, I’ll cook the dried beans myself. As it stands, the whole deal only took about 30 minutes from beginning to end. I used two cans of beans though and a little less than two cups of stock, so I made too much.

Another delicious success…that I’ll be eating for a few days.

Looks like a drab, gray day outside today. Funny, last Tuesday was the same, meaning I have to ride the bus. Oh well, could be worse.

Thinking about buying a netbook in order to have an ultra-portable computer. It’s not an ultra-necessity, but would be a fun vanity purchase. However I’d rather have the new camera body first however.

The health care debate is dominating the news this week. It’s both funny and annoying to watch the two opposing forces feint and spar, though some just really don’t have the ammunition they think they do. “Bingo!” Really Michael Steele, that’s your answer?

/Facepalm

Have a good day.

Yesterday was a fun-filled day of biking, sun and pictures of things. Now back to the grind, if it can really be called that. Not really sure what we’re working on this week, but that’s part of the fun of my job.

Onward!

Definitely need this today.

This is honestly the most entertaining thing I’ve seen all day. Bonus appearances from Turbo and Ozone.