A Successful Shot

A Successful Shot

As a hobby I like to to practice photography. I can never say that I’m an expert at it, but it is something I do enjoy. I am always looking for an opportunity to to snap photos.

Yesterday I went out with my family after a snowstorm to see what my camera would catch, and to my surprise as I was trying to capture a beautiful landscape shot something unexpected happened.

A family of deer came up to us and I had to take advantage of the situation and started shooting. It was amazing how close they came to us, so I figured I would share my favorite shot from yesterday.

I posted on Facebook and have gotten great reviews so feel free to let me know how you feel.


I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

via Daily Prompt: Successful

A Lot to be Thankful For

A Lot to be Thankful For

As we sit here ready to enjoy some quality time with the people we care for, and reflect on the past year to be thankful for the lives we have. I can’t help but reflect on my own life and realize how blessed I really am.

My early years are some that I some that I wish nobody had to endure. My entire childhood was spent in the foster care system until I aged out at 18, and was sent out into a world I was not prepared for. Thanksgiving was not a holiday I enjoyed very much. I was always the token child that everyone ignored. I witnessed multiple families come together, congregate and enjoy each other’s company, while I sat in the background and pretended that I was a part of them. In all reality I knew I was the black sheep  and I would be sent away to another home so I wouldn’t get too close to this particular family and actually have some sense of sentiment in my life.

Don’t get me wrong I am not writing this for anyones pity. I didn’t seek pity from people as a child and I do not seek pity now.

I beat the system, I grew up, paid my way to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in business, which I am very proud of, and married the love of my life, now I’m the father of a very beautiful 2-year-old daughter who takes my breath away every time I look at her.

I promise I am getting to the point.

Recently, I was working as a high school math teacher at the school I graduated from, but in May the administration decided that they would relieve me of my contract and before I knew it I was unemployed. What really made it hard was the fact that I was a father and just 7 months prior, We purchased our first house.

Talk about the shit hitting the fan, it felt like I was Macbeth watching  my own demise and refusing to accept it.

For six months I searched, applied, and interviewed for multiple jobs and  since I come from such a small community, it is harder to find a job that pays with my credentials. I always assumed that getting a degree would make obtaining employment would be easier, but I was wrong. It gets harder.

We were considering leaving our home, renting it and let someone else move in and pay the mortgage because it was coming to the point that my wife’s income would no longer sustain our bills.

Talk about heartbreak.

As I sit here writing this post I can’t help but reflect on everything I have accomplished up to this point, and realize that for the first time in my life I have a my own family. Not just my wife and daughter, but people who have come into my life through this journey over the years, who support me and have given me the greatest joys in some of the darkest of times.

I am thankful for everything that has happened to me, the ugly, the good, and the weird, because it makes me the man I am today. In all reality, I wouldn’t know the man I would have become if the state didn’t take me away from my biological family as a toddler. I honestly don’t know if I wouldn’t be alive today.

So as we sit and contemplate life today lets look at the blessings we have before us, along with everything we take for granted on a daily basis and be thankful for what you have at this moment in time.

In case you wondering if there is a happy ending to the story, there is.

After six months of searching and interviewing I was finally offered a respectable position as a bank assistant manager and we get to stay home!

No matter how dark you think your life is, there is light at the end of the tunnel and in the end, you can overcome anything.

Believe me this is not the ending of my story I’ve, only covered the first chapter!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

 

Go Out and Vote!

Go Out and Vote!

Today is the day! It is election day and we as a country have a civic duty to go out and vote. This election year is definitely one for the record books, and we as Americans can come together and change the course of history.

Today we find out who will be our next president, and it is our job to go and vote for who we think would be best fit for the office.

I’m not here to endorse a candidate our my own political party, I am writing this small blog entry to express them importance of your vote.

If you support Donald Trump, then vote for him.

If Hillary Clinton is your choice, vote for her.

You are the voice of your country and your vote counts, no matter what anyone says.

Be courteous of other voters and their right to choose, lets help this country move forward!

If you want to spread the word feel free to reblog!

Happy Voting!

Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino, not for a Foodie.

Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino, not for a Foodie.

OK, I admit, it has been a long time since my last blog post. Life has a weird way of deviating you from many things you want to pursue.

With that out of the way, lets get to it.

Recently, I accompanied my wife to a work training which happened to be at a hot location. Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino, and believe me, I was excited.  Every time we decided to go to Santa Fe, this resort was definitely on our list of locations to visit. This time though, I knew that I couldn’t really experience all this place had to offer, due to the fact that I had a toddler in tow and no babysitter, so I figured that I would try the the food.

Since, this is a popular resort I figured that this was a way I can experience the resort with my daughter and let the foodie in me explore a location I have never been before.

So here comes my opinion, this place truly is not somewhere you want to bring a family unless you have a nanny in tow. Honestly, I figured that this was going to a be a fun weekend for us but I slowly discovered that if you want to have fun in this place, do not bring your children.

Considering that this place considers itself a top getaway for any New Mexican, you would assume that gaming is not the only premise to lure people to its location. Its highway allure and T.V. marketing, will lure some families to find a way to escape the mundane activities that are so prevalent in our everyday lives.

Don’t get me wrong, there are many different activities that people enjoy, such as the golfing, and the beautiful accommodations that is offered, but the food is  terrible. When I say terrible, I am not holding back. I had such high hopes, that when I took my first bite, I was surprised. I have come to find that places like this have a generic taste.

When I took my first bite of the the food, I felt like I was taken back to my college days and I was eating in the cafeteria just to survive.  Its disappointing to see such a beautiful hotel stoop to such a low level, culinary speaking, that it takes away from such an amazing experience that you have drive south to Santa Fe, just to take the taste out of your mouth.

Honestly, this is not a foodie location. All you get is a generic taste provided by corporate hotel, and total disappointment of a culinary experience you expected.

Drive south to Santa Fe, and find a real restaurant.

Until Then, Happy Eating.

 

Stella’s Restaurant 210, Taking a Chance in a Spot With a Negative Reputation.

Stella’s Restaurant 210, Taking a Chance in a Spot With a Negative Reputation.

So there is a new restaurant in the Taos area, and it has not received the credit needed by anyone, So I am doing my civic duty. This little place has open up recently and I have observed such little activity and I fear that the people of the Taos area are not giving this restaurant a chance because of its location.

The restaurant is located at  210 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, and has opened its doors recently to the public. I myself have been skeptical of the place because of all the negative stigma that has been surrounded by the location. One thing for sure, is word of mouth, and the negative rumors surrounding the location is going to make it difficult for this little restaurant to survive.

There have been many times, I have passed by this place and cringed at the thought of eating there. I admit that my small town prejudice had came out. I can’t count on my two hands how many times I have passed this restaurant and cringed at the thought of eating there, but one day of indecisiveness between my wife and I, and she to my surprise, pulled into the parking lot and I obliged her decision.

I was very reluctant to walk in the doors because the location has a bad reputation. I can remember growing up , and this place was always an asian restaurant, and I would always hear despicable rumors as to their operations, some as bad that people would say they cooked actual cats and served them to the public.

Of course, there are no facts  behind this rumor but it was enough to crumble any restaurant that has tried to succeed it. I definitely  tip my hat off to the owners of this place because when I walked in, I was truly impressed, and I haven’t stepped into this place since I was a child.

When my wife and I, walked in, it was to my surprise that I was greeted by a familiar face, first I thought that the waitress that greeted us found a new opportunity and switched work-places, but to our amazement, that was not the case.

It turned out that the waitress, and I do not know her name, was the same waitress who served us at Stella’s Italian Restaurant.This is a place that I hold dear. I tend to spend special occasions there and I have yet to write  review of it, but that will be another article.

Now, sticking to the current subject, it turns out that this restaurant is owned by the same owners as the Italian restaurant I mentioned earlier, and our waitress turned out to be one of the owners. I found it cute that the restaurant is named after their daughter or granddaughter, I didn’t want to be impolite and ask.

This was definitely an experience that I will not forget due to the fact that my own daughter, who is two years old, decided that she wanted to be difficult. Let me tell you, when she wants to be heard, her scream can almost reach a pitch that can shatter glass.

To keep a too long story short, this has been the best meal I have had in a week. Sometimes it is the impulse, that can motivate us to try something new, and I am grateful it led us to this place.

We were lucky enough, that this place has not reached its popularity and we were the only patrons, because the screams of my daughter reached every corner of this place and despite my apologies the owner made us feel like it was not a burden. She even made it a point to make sure my daughter got her meal long before us, in order to make our dining experience better.

All that aside, I have to say it is a young restaurant, willing to make a name for itself because of their ability to delight anyone who walks in the door. You can tell there is a little bit of inexperience of the cooking staff but the menu is amazing and intriguing, and you will not be disappointed.

I am hoping to reach those people who have that negative stigma in the back of their heads and those who have no idea what this place has to offer as a new culinary experience, to try this Place, and I assure you that you will fall in love.

Lets make sure that this restaurant survives and serves our small community for a long while.

Until next time Happy Eating!

 

 

Red River New Mexico, a Culinary Rut

Red River New Mexico, a Culinary Rut

Growing up in Taos County, we are all familiar with Red River, New Mexico. It is a small ski town in northern New Mexico, that thrives on tourist revenue and many different businesses have made a name for itself because of the variety of adventures it has to offer. The Red River Ski area is definitely a huge contributor to sustaining the local businesses that line the Main Street of this small community.

As a local of this county I can’t help but notice that this town has no authenticity of New Mexican Culture. If you walk the main drag it is easy to see the allure that brings numerous tourist to the area and not to mention the annual bike rally that draws thousands of bikers every Memorial Day weekend. In all actuality the shops contain many of the same merchandise and junk trinkets that are aimed at the impulse buyer.

The one thing that this small tourist town lacks, is a restaurant that really stands out. All I have ever experienced is generic cooking that is way overpriced due to the touristic attraction. I’m not saying the the food is inedible, but the lack of flavor is very disappointing .

Honestly Red River has many appealing aspects to the average vacationers, but if you are a foodie, be fair warned this is not your destination. Take the fifty minute drive south to Taos, NM, an authentic town with multiple places to enjoy a true dining experience.
Until next time Happy Eating!

Family Date Night

Family Date Night

I know it has been a while since my last entry, because life has a funny way of leading you astray from many things. It is too easy, how work and grad school can occupy almost every minute of the day, and by the time you get a moment of peace, you are already falling asleep. We repeat this everyday and before you know months have passed and you can’t remember when the last time you did something fun.

It is so easy to get distracted by your everyday life, that your duty supersedes enjoyment. This simply cannot do…

of course we are obligated to be responsible for our families but wee also need to remember that we need to spend quality time with them as well.

I have been caught up with grad school for the last month and it seems to take up majority of my time. I was working as a high school math teacher for the last two years but my contract was not renewed this year and I have decided to enroll into grad school to further my education. Even though, I am no longer employed any free time I have is taken up with studying and homework. My wife still teaches while I am now a stay-at-home father for the time being.

I must admit it has been nice to be home with my daughter and make up the time lost after she was born. I still remember going to work the very next day after she was born because I didn’t have any paid time off.

Still with my wife still working and my schooling I felt like we were being negligent with our relationship, so we decided as a couple to make sure we make time just for ourselves and our family. Now we make a weekly family date night and a bi-weekly date night.

We wanted to make sure that we spent a whole day as a family and a couple. most of date nights tend to start at our favorite restaurants in Taos or if we find something new and intriguing we are sure to try it out. Even sometimes we just stay home and make a special meal for ourselves and sit down and watch a movie together.

We need to make sure we make the effort to spend more time with the ones we love, whether it is in a restaurant, at home, or anywhere else because these are memories we will always cherish. So I ask of all of you make a date night with your family and try a new restaurant or attempt a new cuisine, just make sure you do it all together.

 

Until next time Happy Eating!

 

Destination, The Burger Stand at Taos Ale House

Destination, The Burger Stand at Taos Ale House

It has definitely been a while since my last blog post, but I have been quite busy for the part month in a half with many houseguests in our home. Not that I’m complaining but after having that much company can get a little overwhelming. One thing for sure about having all that company is there is never a dull moment and the stove always seems to be on.

even so, I made it a point to take family around the area to different places to eat, even though they are now living out of state and crave the food of the mother land, I can get tired of chile, beans and rice. Don’t get me wrong, but the food scene in New Mexico is so diverse that I want to explore how much it has changed since I was a kid.

Just to get out of the house and exploring the local eateries I Found myself taking my in laws to The Burger Stand at Taos Ale house. Let me tell you when I was growing up we never heard of a gourmet burger. When you go to a restaurant and order a burger out here, all you would get is a simple and possibly frozen patty, cheap bun, and the normal lettuce and tomatoes. The Fries usually come in your basic pre cut freezer bag and they weren’t much better than an elementary school lunch.

I know there is another burger joint here in Taos serving gourmet burgers and has made a name for itself in the state, but hear in Taos this place is knocking it out of the park against their best pitcher. As soon as you walk in, the first thing you see is is a variety of in house handcrafted beers on tap as well as beer brewed from a variety of microbreweries. I’m sure anyone can find a brew to fit their taste.

The menu is displayed above the bar and each burger and fry variety makes sure that you will have the best in town. The last time I went, I wanted to try something a little different so I order out of my comfort zone and decided to order the Fire burger, made with fresh avocados and a habanero-cactus jam. (Pictured below) with the duck fat fries. Let’s just say this alone will keep me coming back over and over again. 


If Great burgers and amazing fries is on your list in Taos, New Mexico. Make this place a destination and not just a typical chow spot. 

The restaurant is located at

401 Paseo del Pueblo Norte,

Taos, NM, 87571

http://www.taosburgersandbeer.com/

Until next time Happy eating,

A week of green chile

A week of green chile

It is amazing what we take for granted in our daily lives. This concept has become more evident recently when my brother-in-law came to my family’s house for his annual vacation. We don’t realize how important the food we grew up with is to us, but you don’t realize what you take for granted until you no longer have it at your disposal.

I can still remember the fist time I came back to New Mexico after living in Arizona for 6 years, I went to the first Lotaburger I came across and ordered the biggest green chile cheese burger they offer. I can’t even fathom the number of Allsup’s Chimichangas I gobbled down.

We all dream of growing up and leaving home yet, after a long hiatus, we tend to seek out the simple comforts of home even if that means spending a week eating green chile in its many forms. I’m talking from enchiladas, chile for breakfast, green chile cheeseburgers, and I swear I tasted green chile in my toothpaste.

Believe me when I say that it is possible to get a green chile overload. I even tried something that I never would have thought I would, and that is green chile flavored peanut brittle… I shit you not.

With that note, I guess even a Native New Mexican can discover something new everyday. After a green chile filled week, I think I’m going to end it with a nice plate of spaghetti.

Until Then happy eating!

Disco Fever

Disco Fever

It has been a little over a month since my wife bought me a Disco ( as we call it in Northern New Mexico) or a cowboy wok ( as it is called everywhere else), and I have found many opportunities to use it.

Now that I think about it, I think my wife got me this gift just so I can cook more… Touche dear wife touche.

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Ulterior motives set aside, I still love it. One thing that I am finding out is there is a learning curve when using this type of grill. I guess you cook some, you burn some. It has definitely been an interesting month with my new grill, and I have shouted many obscenities in my quest to master this thing. My biggest failure would have to be breakfast, I can’t believe that something as simple as potatoes and eggs could be so difficult. I swear it tasted like I was licking the wrong end of a burnt matchstick. It seemed like I was learning to cook all over again. The upside is my family ate it with no criticism and I and very humbled for that.

I must say that I am finally getting ahead of the curve and cooking on my new grill is becoming easier the more that I use it. I would have to say that my food on this contraption has changed from hellfire charred to actual food worthy of consumption.

As I get better at my grill I will stat to share some recipes.

Until then Happy Eating!