[Originally posted on the-signal.com: http://community.the-signal.com/blogs/detail/2133/]

I was eliminated from the Summer Slimdown contest last week. Although I have one of the lowest overall body fat change totals, I posted my biggest one-week weight and body fat loss of the contest thus far.

Being eliminated isn’t stopping me from keeping up with my diet and workout routine, though. I haven’t felt this good in a long time (maybe high school?), and want to see it completely through the nine weeks.

We’re halfway through the contest, but I’m more than halfway to my weight-loss goal. I’m feeling really healthy these days, and have more energy to keep up with my kids.

My back feels great so I’m trying to give it my all with my workouts, especially the group classes. I’m still having trouble with the kettle-bell weights, but I’ll get there.

It’s really great to see so many of us making progress. Best of luck to everyone in the second half!

You can vote to save me by registering at The Signal, and voting for me on the contest page. I’m the one on the couch with the baby.

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A sports talk radio caller mentioned that his boss says that there are two types of people: simplifiers and complicators. The caller was using these terms to prove a point about the current disarray of some NFL teams, but this classification of people struck a nerve with me. Bob Hoffman credits himself with writing an article about this where he made the point, “there are two kinds of people: people who simplify things and people who complicate them.”

This black-and-white classification simplified my view of people, especially in business. Hoffman defines a simplifier as one who has “the ability to cut down the weeds and clear a path,” while a complicator “cannot distinguish between the pertinent and the irrelevant.” This is not to separate the hard-working from the lazy or incompetent. An assiduous person can be a complicator, and a clueless person can certainly be a simplifier. However, simplifiers will typically be your visionaries, seeing the bigger picture, and helping a project or group thrive during difficult situations. How many complicators entangle a business in a larger mess for job security and to possibly further their own gain? I’ve seen many squeaky-wheel complicators that receive an undeserving share of oil.

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Why do I have to read about cougars in my Spider-Man comic book? In the now famous issue of Amazing Spider-Man #583, there are two references to the term “cougar.” One is right there on the cover. No, not on the Barack Obama variant, but on the John Romita guest-penciled cover. “Face it, cougars — you’ve just hit the jackpot!” is front and center in Peter Parker’s word balloon. This is also the “special tribute-to-dating issue?” I didn’t know dating needed a tribute.

What irks me is that there is a backup story about the meeting of President Obama and Spider-Man. The cover, dating, and reference to cougars does not fit. According to Obama, he collected Spider-Man comics growing up. Now, he gets to appear in a comic, backing up a story about Spider-Man participating in speed dating and referring to women as cougars. It’s disrespectful to women and to Obama. If you really wanted to pay tribute to the man, why not give us an issue about Dr. Doom and the Green Goblin ruining the U.S. economy and Spider-Man and President Obama teaming up to save the day? How? With a stimulus package, of course! See, it almost writes itself.

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At this year’s Super Bowl party, I ran a simple trivia game called twenty questions. I used questions about the Super Bowl and Super Bowl parties. Now that this year’s Super Bowl has come and gone, here are updates to some of the fun fact-related trivia questions I used.

For the coin toss in the forty-two previous Super Bowls, the coin has landed how many times on heads? The answer is twenty-one. This year, the Arizona Cardinals won the coin toss after the Pittsburgh Steelers called tails. The team that wins the coin toss has a losing record in the Super Bowl, posting twenty wins against, now, twenty-three losses. Even though the New York Giants won the coin toss last year and won the game, the winner of the toss has been the loser of the game in ten out of the last thirteen Super Bowls.

The average number of attendees for a Super Bowl party is 17. We had 14 people at our party this year; the most we’ve ever had. The number one day for avocado usage is Cinco de Mayo, followed by Super Bowl Sunday. Who knew a fruit could be so popular during a football game.

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Even tech minded folks like to drink, and when my friend BC recommended that I add my Blood Mary recipe to WTS, I said “Sure!”

Then I forgot to do it and a couple of weeks passed…

Well, he’s reminded me, and I figure sharing a great twist on a classic drink recipe is time well spent (beats working anyway), so here goes!

A warning:  As all great cooks will tell you, DON’T SKIMP ON THE INGREDIENTS!  This is true in most drink recipes as well as cooked dishes.  Quality ingredients make a quality drink.  Remember that young drunkawan.

You’re gonna need:

Vodka.  Better vodka makes a smoother drink.  Unlike all the other ingredients listed here, however, you can skimp a little on the vodka and still end up with a good drink.  It just won’t be a great drink.  ‘Nuff said.

Tomato Juice.  Get the best you can.  V8 works too.  Do not buy cheap tomato juice or you’ll regret it.  Seriously.

Celery Salt, Pepper and Cayenne:  We kept these all mixed together in a single shaker, but you can have them separate if you like.  Garlic powder can be a good add too if you’re into it.

Pickapeppa Sauce:  This is the SOOPER-SEKRET ingredient.  It’s a bit pricey, but do not omit!

Tobasco Sauce:  You cannot make a Bloody Mary without it.  Not even for the wusses out there.  You know who you are.

Fresh Lemon or Lime:  Either is good.

Ice:  Duh.

Garnish:  This is a matter of personal choice more than anything.  We added a couple of pickled string beans at the bar.  A lot of folks like olives or celery.  Personally, I like to add a vegetable kebob with olives, cucumbers, cherry tomatos, Greek peppers, etc.

Glassware:  Bigger is better.  A 20 oz to 24 oz glass is best.

Now let’s get to mixin’!

Bloody Mary’s involve spices and heat, and how much of each a person likes will vary widely from one to another.  Therefore, I’m going to give guidelines and not strict amounts on most of the ingredients.

Assumming a larger glass, you’ll want to start by filling it with ice.  Ice shape is important and it will affect how your drink tastes.  In general, cubes are better than crushed, and small cubes are better than big ones.

Now add vodka.  I personally would put in a double shot (2 oz), or up to four if I need to forget.

Next, add the seasonings.  Tomato juice is already loaded with sodium, so unless you like super salty foods I wouldn’t add too much celery salt or similar.  Lots of pepper is good though.

Grab the Pickapeppa bottle and adde a few “glops” with gusto!  A teaspoon is a good place to start, but up to double that can really zest up your drink.

The Tobasco is next.  Now, when I say “Tobasco Sauce”, I mean “Tobasco Sauce”, and not some other hot sauce.  The flavor of the Tobasco is what you want as much as the heat.  Other sauces do not blend as well with the other flavors in the Bloody Mary, although they may provide more kick.  If you really do want a super hot BM (insert joke here) add a drop of Dave’s Gourmet Insanity Sauce.  Then dial 9 and 1 on your phone and have your thumb over the one so you can press it again when you go into cardiac shock.  Personally, I’ll add a generous amount of the Tobasco for just enough heat and lots of flavor.  Woot!

Squeeze in some lime or lemon.  I prefer lemon in my Bloody Mary’s.  You may prefer lime.  Whatever.

Now add the most important ingredient – the tomato juice.  I hope you didn’t go and buy the grocery store’s house brand, because if you did you’re going to be one sad (but drunk) panda.  Fill what room remains in the glass with the red goodness.

Mixing is next.  The best way is to pour it back and forth between two same sized glasses until the concoction is thoroughly mixed up.  Stirring alone generally doesn’t do the trick unless you can stir it a lot, something that is usually messy in a glass packed to the rim with ice and booze.

Add your garnish.  Be creative.  Turn your Bloody Mary into a meal if you want.

The last step, of course, is to drink and enjoy!

Rinse and repeat as necessary.

You can mix things up some by trying other types of booze.  Some folks like tequila in lieu of vodka, for example.  I try not to hang out with those people though.  People who drink tequila for breakfast have issues that make mine look paltry by comparison.  I do like a Bloody Beer on occasion though.  Replace the vodka with half a glass of beer, ditch the ice, and everything else is essentially the same.  Not a bad variation for an early AM round on the golf course.

Cheers!

- Rod

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