Steve Aves - My Thoughts , StuffSteve Aves - My Thoughts , Stuffhttps://www.steveaves.com/blogs/stuffSun, 08 Mar 2026 07:02:23 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Rockpile!]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/rockpileIt's Friday! Crank up tunes!]]>

It's FRIDAY! Crank It! Dave Edmunds "Repeat When Necessary"

"There are some things
You can't cover up with lipstick and powder
Thought I heard you mention my name
Can't you talk any louder?"
]]>Fri, 23 Aug 2024 13:18:48 -0600<![CDATA[Grandson Is Confirmed at Church]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/grandson-is-confirmed-at-churchMy grandson is confirmed into St. John's Lutheran Church.]]>

I'm a proud grandfather

Below is the video of the complete church service. I have it starting at the point where the confirmands are joining in the "children's sermon." Then I marked highlights if you don't want to view the entire service, though I recommend you do.

5:11 children's sermon
14:01 sermon. Good sermon, particularly if you are not familiar with the Lutheran traditions.
34:02 confession. The confirmands AND the church make the confession of faith.
37:10 Markell is confirmed.
49:35 photos of the confirmands
]]>Mon, 04 Dec 2023 08:44:06 -0600<![CDATA[My First Football Game in Town]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/My-First-Football-Game-in-TownGrandson performing with the marching band forces me to attend a football game.]]>

Grandson in the Marching Band Forces Me to Attend My First Game

I am not a football fan.

To the best of my knowledge, I have attended a total of 5 games in the last 50 years and never a local high school game.

But, when my grandson is performing with the Bloomington High School Raiders Marching Band, you bet I'll attend.

I am not a photographer. It is a challenge for me to remember my phone has a camera, because I prefer to be "in the moment." This explains my poor video and pictures below.

I considered editing the video, but I do not know how. So, focus on the good parts and note how well the band performed at their first time on the field this year.

BHS Band Organizes

BHS Band Organizes

BHS Band Prepares to March

BHS Band On The March

BHS Band On The March

The weather was perfect.

BHS Band On The March

BHS Band On The March

Band looked good for their first game.

Grandson Markell in the center of this photo.

Grandson Markell in the center of this photo.

I had to take this photo.

]]>Mon, 11 Sep 2023 12:48:06 -0600<![CDATA[Grandpa, what is Spam?]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/grandpa-what-is-spamAttempting to describe the undescribable at times requires you to just, let it be, because it just, is.]]>

File under, careful what you ask for

    My 13-year-old grandson noticed the image on the left as the wallpaper on my phone. He inquired about it.
                                                                                                                           

Markell: "What is that a picture of?"

Me: "21st Century Schizoid Spam. It is an artistic rendering of a famous album cover by the rock band, King Crimson. "

Markell: "OK. What is that made of?"
Me: "Spam."
Markell: "What's Spam?"
Me: "Spam is a canned meat product made by Hormel foods. I think it was introduced in the 1930s. Very popular worldwide."
Markell: "I want to try it."
Me: "Some people really like, and others really hate it. Let me show you........."
Monty Python's Spam Sketch
Attempt to explain Spam Sketch
    Markell: "WHAT WAS THAT?"  "WHAT DID I JUST SEE??!"
    Me: "Monty Python's Spam Sketch."
    Markell: Looking confused, "WHAT was that ABOUT?!"
    Me: "Ummmmm, Spam."
]]>Tue, 29 Nov 2022 09:43:49 -0600<![CDATA[Asparagus with Fried Rice]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/asparagus-with-fried-riceThis is my favorite dinner this week.]]>


This is my favorite dinner this week. Easy recipe to change for a slightly different flavor too.

Spring Vegetable Fried Rice



https://plantbasedandbroke.com/spring-vegetable-fried-rice/ 


Easy, 10-minute, vegan spring vegetable fried rice! A healthy, springtime recipe loaded with seasonal vegetables. Serve as a side dish or as the main meal.

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Total Time 15 mins

Course Dinner, Lunch, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Fusion, Vegetarian

Servings 2

Calories 468 kcal

Ingredients  

  • 1 tablespoons oil
  • 1 cup rice cooked and cooled. I recommend using long-grain rice list Jasmine or Basmati. Brown rice works too.
  • 0.5 tablespoon ginger grated/minced
  • 3 garlic cloves crushed
  • 1 green onions chopped
  • 0.5 cup carrots sliced
  • 0.5 cup asparagus chopped
  • 0.5 cup frozen peas
  • 1 cups spinach
  • 1 tablespoons soy sauce

Instructions 

  • Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large, non-stick wok or large skillet over high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the cooked rice. Stir, toast, and cook for about 3 minutes.
  • With a spatula, push the rice to the edge of the wok so there is clear space in the middle. Add one more tablespoon of oil.
  • Add the ginger, garlic, white part of the green onion, carrots, and asparagus to the middle. Fry for one minute, then combine with the rice.
  • Add the frozen peas, spinach, and soy sauce. Stir and cook until peas are tender, about 3-5 minutes.

Notes

  1. If the cooled down, cooked rice has clumped together, simply separate it with your hands or with a fork. 
  2. It’s best to use long-grain rice like Jasmine or Basmati rice for this recipe. 
  3. To go gluten-free, use a gluten-free soy sauce or tamari sauce. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1-ServingSodium: 546mgCalcium: 83mgVitamin C: 25mgVitamin A: 7343IUSugar: 5gFiber: 5gPotassium: 510mgCalories: 468kcalTrans Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gFat: 8gProtein: 11gCarbohydrates: 87gIron: 3mg

https://plantbasedandbroke.com/spring-vegetable-fried-rice/ 





]]>Thu, 30 Jun 2022 11:33:07 -0500<![CDATA[Happy Birthday to Me]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/happy-birthday-to-meThe Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 yr Port Cask is .... Scrumptious ]]>

The Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 yr Port Cask is ....


Scrumptious


]]>Sat, 14 May 2022 13:50:16 -0500<![CDATA[Snakes in a house ]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/Snakes-in-a-house

Two 9 foot snakes! Of course, in Australia

Quote: "A man in Australia got a shock when he returned home to find two snakes had crashed through his ceiling and were slithering around his Queensland house."  You think!?

Complete story at the BBC: click here.
Reminds me of  one of the funniest books I've read, "In a Sunburned Country" by Bill Bryson.  He had this observation when he visited Australia: " “But don't worry," she continued. "Most snakes don't want to hurt you. If you're out in the bush and a snake comes along, just stop dead and let it slide over your shoes."
This, I decided, was the least-likely-to-be-followed advice I have ever been given.”
]]>Tue, 01 Sep 2020 08:50:01 -0500<![CDATA[Why Nigeria's internet scammers are 'role models']]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/Why-Nigerias-internet-scammers-are-role-models

Letter from Africa: Why Nigeria's internet scammers are 'role models'
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-49759392


This part stuck out to me; "When Nigerians first attained notoriety in the 1990s for defrauding Westerners..." I remembered back in the 1980's travel agencies were constantly dealing with telephone scams dealing in pre-paid tickets. Nigerians were the vast majority of the callers.


Back then, airline tickets were physical coupons for travel. Prepaid tickets were the first "electronic ticket." You'd purchase the ticket at a travel agency like mine for someone to travel, we would complete the paperwork (there was still that) then call in the ticket number to the originating airline. Once we called that number in, that's it, the ticket was paid and there was no way for us to cancel the financial transaction. 


The scammers would have someone on the receiving end cash that ticket. The travel agency would be on the hook for the money when the stolen credit card would deny the charge.


We just did not do business with Nigerians because it was too risky.

]]>Fri, 27 Sep 2019 09:35:00 -0500<![CDATA[How to gross-out a Vegan Clarinetist]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/How-to-gross-out-a-Vegan-ClarinetistI went to the music shop yesterday to collect a used clarinet they cleaned up for my grandson. Though it has been 50 years since I last played, memory ]]>
Clarinet

I went to the music shop yesterday to collect a used clarinet they cleaned up for my grandson. Though it has been 50 years since I last played, memory still served me well that he would need something to put on the cork.


I inquired with the young lady behind the counter where they have "wax" or whatever it is that you apply to the cork.

She lead me to the section that had the cork "grease" for musical instruments. Just a little tube that is similar to "Chapstick." Only $1.95.

Following her back to the counter, I noticed the label on the tube described it as being "premium" grease. What other options are there? Substandard? Basic? What would the difference be? Grease from Long John Silver's I assume to be "substandard." So is this "premium" grease from a better quality animal?

I could not control my inquiring mind, so I asked if this "premium" grease was made from a higher quality animal fat then something labeled "standard."

The poor girl turned pale (well, more pale) and stammered she was a Vegan and played clarinet. The thought of animal fat on her clarinet was horrifying!

Being the sensitive man that I am, I zeroed in on my target. I asked her what could be more natural than high quality animal fat? Could "premium" mean fat from the beaver tail? What kind of "premium" can you have from some corporate manufacturing plant producing "cork grease?"

The poor young lady at this point is close to fainting. I quickly paid for my cork grease before she was unable to to complete the transaction.

Your content goes here...

]]>Sun, 18 Aug 2019 17:16:46 -0500<![CDATA[The End Times Are Upon Us]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/The-End-Times-Are-Upon-Us

I agree, the End must be near.

]]>Fri, 16 Aug 2019 12:46:48 -0500