You make your bed because even if your day is complete chaos and you cannot get anything done, at least you made your bed. It may only be one small achievement but you did it.

I love tomato soup, especially when I can have a delicious grilled cheese with it. I was looking for a recipe to make tomato soup and found this incredible, tasty pot of perfection! I got this recipe from Pinch of Yum. It was a big hit with the family, even though they all said they do not like tomato soup! I made it in a dutch oven that was passed down from my grandmother.

SIMPLE HOMEMADE TOMATO SOUP

Author: Pinch of Yum, inspired by The New Classics cookbook

Serves: 4

 

INGREDIENTS

• 4 slices bacon, cut into small pieces
• 2 carrots, chopped
  
  
• half of a yellow onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
  
  
• 1½ tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon flour
  
  
• 4 cups chicken broth (more to thin out the soup at the end as needed)
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 28-ounce can whole San Marzano tomatoes
• cream (optional - to add at the end as desired)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Fry the bacon in a large soup pot over medium low heat until bacon starts to get crispy and browned, about 5-8 minutes.
2. Add the carrots, onion, and garlic to the bacon in the pan; saute for 5-10 minutes until the vegetables are very aromatic and tender.
3. Add the tomato paste - stir for a few minutes until you can see/smell the tomato paste starting to brown and caramelize. Add the flour and stir for a minute or so.
4. Pour the tomatoes and their juice into a bowl and crush them with your hands. Add the broth, thyme, bay leaf, and tomatoes to the soup pot. Simmer for 30 minutes. Puree in batches and return to the pot. Add cream if you want.

Making your own life

I tried to call my daughter this morning on the way to pick her up. Maddy is 12 and is hilarious. I love her outlook on life and how much fun she brings to my life. Of course she does not answer right away and my call goes to voicemail and I hear, "Hi, this is Maddy. If you are trying to get ahold of me, I am probably off doing something AWESOME! So leave a message."
  As I was chuckling about her message, I really started to think. Here is a young girl in seventh grade. Her folks are divorced, she is working hard in school and she is still trying to create a great life. She is always my ray of sunshine. I do not think I have met anyone so totally positive and upbeat. When I pick her up she is smiling and happy and even though she is in seventh grade she still calls me Daddy. I know how lucky I am to be her father. I am trying to incorporate her upbeat outlook into my daily life.
  We make the choice on how we feel. It is my decision to either get upset by something or to accept what I cannot change, shrug and move on. Jimmy Buffett has a great song titled"Breathe in, breathe out, move on". That is great advice and I am trying to incorporate it into my daily life. It is HARD to not get angry over things. Other drivers, traffic, the line at the coffee shop, but I am sure trying.

The world

  There are some serious bad things in the world. I try to be prepared for what I can control. I carry a flashlight (it always gets dark), a pocket knife, a first aid kit (small personal size), a lighter and chap stick. I hate having chapped lips. This what I carry on me everyday, every time I leave the house. I also have a bag that goes with me when I leave that has a more extensive first aid kit with tourniquets, bandages, gauze... that is large enough and hopefully equipped enough for my family. I pray that I am never faced with having to use any of this but I would rather have it and never need it than to have the one time that I could have helped someone and not be able to. My best advice is to get first aid training. With proper training you can be an asset not a liability. An emergency does not necessarily mean a terrorist incident, it could be a car accident, a hunting accident or something small like a kid getting hurt on the playground. The key is to be prepared and knowledgeable.
  In my family we have contingency plans in place for high stress events. We discuss what we will do in the event of a tornado, fire, car accident... We also plan and discuss what each of our roles are in the event of an active shooter. It is important to talk about traumatic events ahead of time. When it happens it will be too late
  Flashlight: Pelican 1920
  Pocket knife: check your local laws. I prefer a knife with a pocket clip so it is ready, available and in the same place at all times.
Pocket Trauma kit: Concealed carry trauma kit
IFAK(Individual First Aid Kit): IFAK

Training: Use the Google machine to locate training. I recommend a Wilderness First Aid class because it teaches you how to conduct first aid in an austere environment. But just make sure you get good training. Look for training that is trauma oriented and get your family involved.

Family

I love my family. I know we all say that but when was the last time you looked at your spouse and felt that heart bursting love welling up from your heart? I think we take our loved ones for granted far too often. I know I do. So yesterday I just took the time to be with them. No distractions, no phone no worries just us together. We took the dog for a walk and talked, laughed and for a bit, we were all quiet. Just experiencing life right then. 

Disconnecting

One of my favorite places to get away from technological stimulus is a walk in the woods. I can leave my cell in the truck and just disconnect from today's hectic lifestyle. I like to find a spot to sit and just think. Just let my thoughts flow as I try to take in the peace. When it's time for me to get back to the real world, I have this sense of calm that I cherish until I can refill it again. 

Why I chose the title "Living my life like a song"

Why would I title my blog Living my life like a song? Well, to me music has always been an integral part of my life. From growing up listening to Willie Nelson that my dad played or the Beach Boys that my mom played, music has always been there. There are certain songs that come on the radio that immediately make you think, feel or relive an event. What is your song?

"It's a strange situation, a wild occupation, Living my life like a song." - Jimmy Buffett 

Where I go to recharge

Dornwood Park- Topeka Kansas

My church. It's a single track trail through the woods. My cathedral is the gorgeous fall sky supported by these talk oaks. The choir is the whispering of the leaves, the chirp of a bird and the rustling of the forest floor by the chattering squirrels. My communion is a protein bar and a sip of water as I rest near a gurgling creek. This is where I find peace, where I feel closest to God and where I can let down my guard and just be me. For a while I can just be the kid that climbs trees, the dreamer that sees the shapes in the clouds and a man that sits here humbled beneath the beauty that I am surrounded by . So if you ask if I go to church, I say yes.  

Office

Juli's Coffee and Bistro Topeka Ks

Where do you like to go to get away from distractions to get work done? I prefer a local coffee shop where I can jump on wifi, have a great cup of coffee and work. I usually put on music with no words, pop in my ear buds and block out a set time to accomplish what I need. 

What works best for you?

TOGS Grips

Togs are a product I have been using at work for almost a year now. They are thumb grips to give the rider a comfortable hand position while riding. I like the fact that it allows me to change my hand position to avoid carpal tunnel or other types of nerve damage. They also give me more climbing leverage. I am a bicycle cop so anything that makes me more comfortable and efficient is great. I now ride with TOGS on my work bike and my personal mountain bike. I really like how they do not get hung up on things like my old bar ends. They are light, easy to put on and very durable. I have only broken one and that was a crash I had where I also broke a shifter and snapped off a brake lever. So if you are looking for something to give you more hand placement options, check out TOGS.

http://togs.com/

Joe

Well, I am trying to get this going again. I have been spending as much time as I can with my family and friends. I have been trying to get out on my mountain bike as much as possible. That is my refuge and where I recharge. I am going to start adding photos, links and other things that interest me. Thanks for coming along with me. If you have any questions, let me know.
Joe