Happy New Year!

It seems the year flew by. Overall, it was a good year. I acquired the taste for beer (I am still working on developing that), I partied, I traveled to Lava Hot Springs, I enjoyed my 29th birthday, I dated and met new people, I reconnected with old friends and made new ones, I held my adorable new niece, and I moved to Las Vegas for work.

What are my hopes, dreams, and plans for the next 365 days? Well, this year, I hope to travel more. I hope to visit home, which I am sure I will many times. I hope to possibly visit Lava Hot Springs again. I hope to see my friends Vance and Fil in Sacramento sometime. I hope to weekend in Capitol Reef National Park with Mike and Izzy (and whoever else wants to join). In short, I hope to go wherever I can afford to go, because I am always up for visiting new places and experiencing new things.

I hope to make more friends and develop the friendships I already have, both here in Las Vegas and elsewhere (Google Hangout, anyone?). I was fortunate to meet a good group of gays late last year. They are a lot of fun, and I look forward to more crazy times with them.

I hope to date more. I would not mind a relationship, either, but I am not going to rush anything. I am happy with myself and do not need a partner to complete me. I am whole as I am...but it would be nice to feel loved again, and I think I finally might be ready for that.

I hope to continue developing professionally. I work at a good hotel, with great coworkers and management. There is opportunity for growth, and I am excited to explore the hotel side of Marriott further.

Finally, it would be nice to move back to Salt Lake, but that all depends on the doors that open and close for me, of course. We will see what happens. I did not think this time last year I would be living in Las Vegas, so who knows where I will be. I am open to all possibilities.

Oh, and I hope to blog more...

Where I Live

Five months ago, my life changed, as I hinted was a possibility in my last post. As most (if not all) of my readers know, I accepted a position at the Residence Inn Hughes Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. I have never lived outside of Utah, so this was a big move for me.

I now live in Henderson, Nevada. According to Wikipedia:

[Henderson] is the second largest city in Nevada, after Las Vegas, with an estimated population of 257,729 in the 2010 census. The city is part of the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which spans the entire Las Vegas Valley. Henderson occupies the southeastern end of the valley, at an elevation of approximately 1,330 feet (410 m).

In 2011, Forbes magazine ranked Henderson as America's second safest city. Analysts attribute this to Henderson being an affluent city, with a high median income and amenities catering to local residents. Henderson has also been named as "One of the Best Cities to Live in America" by Bloomberg Businessweek.

For the most part, I love it here. I enjoy my job, and I like living in Las Vegas where I can pretty much do anything I want when I want.

The downside to the move was leaving my friends and family. I miss them very much, but I was lucky to visit them last week. The holidays will not be the same without them, though.

I do not really have any friends here, so it can get pretty lonely, but I am slowly meeting new people. If you ever come visit, let me know; I would love to see you.

Sunset outside my house.

My new pal, Dakota.

The backyard.

Small Update

It has been awhile since I have posted.  It is still a little hard to believe 2012 is over and we are already three months into 2013.  Time flies.

I do not have much to say tonight, but I felt like writing.  I guess I will start by saying (for posterity, since everyone probably already knows) I had corrective eye surgery last August.  My eyesight recently returned, hence the lack of posts since July.  Just kidding.  It was a rather spontaneous decision, but I have not regretted it (except the first week).  I now have 20/15 vision, which is better than 20/20.  I love not wearing glasses, and personally, I think I look better without them.  :-)

I also withdrew from school late last year.  I needed time to renew myself, rediscover who I am and what I want, and resolve some personal issues.  I do want to return and finish my degree one day, but I am thankful for the break.  I regret not finishing sooner than I had hoped, but I felt postponing a formal education was necessary for my mental health and stability.

Those are two of the biggest changes in my life since the last post, but I hope others are coming soon.  That is all I will say at the moment.

Because I am still working on the blog challenge, I will end with a recipe.  My "wives" (yes, a gay man can have wives), Deborah and Christa, and I made this for dinner a few weeks ago, and it was easy and tasty.  (Actually, I will add the recipe later when I have access to a computer.  I am typing this on my Samsung Galaxy tablet using a bluetooth keyboard, and I am getting frustrated with correcting the many mistakes caused by it.  Ugh.)

Crispy Cheddar Chicken

Ingredients:

4 breasts chicken, boneless and skinless
2/3 cup milk
3 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
2 cups Progresso Italian Breadcrumbs
2 tablespoon butter, melted
1 (18 ounce) can Progresso Creamy Three Cheese cooking sauce
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut each breast of chicken into 3 pieces. Dip each piece into milk, then cheddar cheese, then Italian breadcrumbs. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with foil.
2. Bake chicken in preheated oven for 25 minutes, then remove foil, baste with melted butter, and cook 10-12 additional minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and coating is golden brown.
3. While chicken is cooking, place the Progresso Cooking Sauce into a small saucepan and simmer until reduced in half.
4. Remove chicken from oven and place on platter. Spoon sauce over chicken. Top with fresh parsley. Serve and enjoy!

My Worst Habit

The date of my last post (February 28, 2012) is an example of my worst habit: procrastination.  I should also be doing homework right now, but instead, I am updating this blog I have not visited in quite some time.  I have battled this habit for years, but I have not yet been successful at breaking it, unfortunately.  It is just so hard to focus sometimes.  If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share them.

Bonus challenge!  I used to be a pyromaniac (most boys, especially Scouts, are) - a bad habit I broke before any (permanent) damage was done.  I am still a little fascinated with fire (in fact, I recently walked with some friends to a fire in a nearby neighborhood on the night of July 4).  I thought this picture I took (using Instagram) at The Red Door a few weeks ago was pretty:

Take A Picture, It Will Last Longer

I could not let February end without blogging at least once.  At least I broke last year's record.  :-)

I am completing three photocentric challenges tonight: #7, #10, and #11.

#7 - A photo that makes me happy.

This photo was taken a few days before Halloween last year.  It makes me happy because four of my favorite people are in it (at least partially...), and obviously, we were having a really good time.

#10 - A photo taken over 10 years ago of me. 

I am not sure where or when this picture was taken, but I know it was more than 10 years ago.  I think I kind of look like Freddie Highmore.

#11 - A recent photo of me.

A new friend took this picture a few weeks ago.  We found my doppelganger!  I still have the bottle, and I display it proudly.

My Wallet

I doubt this post will be as interesting as others I have written, but blogging about what is in my wallet is one of the challenges.  So, without further ado...

- Associate discount card

- Insurance cards

- Receipts

- Two credit cards

- Debit card

- Picture of my mom

- Driver's license

- Information card

- Del Taco coupon for a free taco

- Subway frequent diner card

- Two Starbucks gift cards

- Two Cafe Rio frequent diner cards

- Fantastic Sams "Haircut Bonus Club" card

- HoGwilD Grill frequent diner card (which I will now dispose of; this restaurant recently closed)

- Men's Wearhouse "Perfect Fit" reward card

/cliffhanger

This post is a continuation of One Amazing Week.

Sunday (January 22)

My day began with a farewell.  My nephew Nick, who is leaving for the California Arcadia Mission tomorrow, and his brother Conner spoke.  Although we may not always agree or believe the same things, I am very proud of both of them, and I enjoyed listening to them.  Afterward, we went to a recreation center for lunch.  It was nice visiting with family.

After a brief stop home, I excitedly, yet nervously began the drive to pick up my date.  When I arrived, I knocked on the door -- no answer.  I called his phone -- no answer.  Dejected, I left.

I texted a few friends and vented with Mike and his girlfriend Gina when I got home.  Then, he called.  He apologized and explained he was out with his friends longer than he expected and his phone died, so he could not text me.  He felt horrible and asked if we could reschedule the date to later that night.  I picked him up a few hours later.

We drove to Pipa for dinner, but they were closed, so we went to Simply Sushi instead.  We then drove through the Avenues to see the view of the city lit up, like Mike and I did earlier that week.  We then went back to my house and watched The Room (one of the best worst movies I have ever seen) and two episodes of Adventure Time.  After that, I drove him home.

We sat in his driveway for a minute, and he said he had a really good time.  We talked about going out again, and then we hugged.  He paused a second before opening the car door and said, "I really want to kiss you, but I don't know if you want me to."

I replied, with a big grin on my face, "I'll kiss you!"

A few seconds later, he exited the car, and I drove home.  He texted me a few hours later, "Thanks again for the awesome date."

I am seeing him again this Thursday.  I cannot wait.  :-)

One Amazing Week

The last entry was depressing to write (as well as read), so I will make it up to everyone by sharing with you the events of last week, which ended on a very high note...

Monday (January 16)

I was the closing Manager-on-Duty (MOD), and when I got home, my roommate Mike and I ordered a lot of delicious Chinese food from China Village.  The rest of the night was a blur, but I think we watched Community and How I Met Your Mother.

Tuesday (January 17)

I closed again, but only because I gave my friend Zac a ride from work to my house.  My friend Aubry came over as well, and then we went out to dinner at Akasaka for her birthday.

Wednesday (January 18)

I worked.  That night, Mike and I watched Community, How I Met Your Mother, and Glee, which made me cry.  A lot.

Thursday (January 19)

I had quite a few meetings at work.  That night, I went on a date with someone I met on OKCupid.  We walked from his condo to Eva, and I fell in love...with the restaurant.  Even though I felt like we did not click, he was very nice and I enjoyed getting to know him.  Afterward, Mike and I went for a drive to the Avenues to see the view of the city lit up.  We then drove through City Creek Canyon, passing by the beautiful Capitol Building, and then parked downtown.  We briefly visited with our friend Kyle where he works at the Hotel Monaco, and then we walked around the City Creek Mall development for awhile.    

Friday (January 20)

I was closing MOD again, and I had to deal with drama I had not encountered before, but it was more humorous than stressful.  After work, Aubry came over again and we talked for awhile before going to dinner at Pipa with our friend Bryan and his husband.  Afterward, we went to Jam, but we decided to leave after about an hour there.  We drove to Metro, but it looked empty.  We talked about going across the street to Club Sound where our friend James was working, but since their dance floor is open to everyone 18 and older, we decided to go to a more adult bar.  So, we went to Try-Angles.  We sat at a table near the dance floor drinking cocktails.  Then, he walked in...

He sat down at a table a few feet from ours, and I was immediately attracted to him.  He sipped his drink and looked somewhat melancholy.  A few minutes later, he left, and I felt like I had missed an opportunity.  Fortunately, he came back, and Bryan and I got up to dance.  I saw the guy looking at me and I smiled.  He smiled, stood up, took off his jacket, and danced over to me.  Bryan went and sat back down at our table while I got to know this new person.  We danced and talked until the bar closed.  We exchanged numbers and made plans to go out Sunday.  Aubry and I then drove him home.

Saturday (January 21)

Mike and I went grocery shopping and then visited a friend.  That night, our friends Deborah and Christa came over for our weekly adventure.  This time, we went to dinner at Eva (I told you I fell in love) and while we waited for a table, we went next door for a few drinks at Cheers to You.  Afterward, we went to Tavernacle, where we met up with Christa's friend Jeff.  We drank, talked, and had a really good time.

Sunday (January 22)

Most of you already know the story, but I will save this day for the next blog...  :-)

Three Down...

I feel I need to preface this post with how I have been feeling to somewhat explain why I chose to complete these three challenges.  This week was more difficult than anticipated.  I had a lot of fun with friends, but truth be told, I really miss being in a relationship.  Despite the significant problems that were evident from the beginning, there was nothing better than venting to my husband after a long day at work, planning a future and spending time together, and sleeping next to and cuddling with the one I loved.

So, here is a photo that makes me both angry and sad, a song that makes me cry (or nearly cry), and the music video on YouTube.

One of my favorite pictures of us together.
Taken August 2006 in Pacific City, Oregon

The song is "Only One" by Yellowcard.  We sang it together on our first date, as Sean describes here, and it became one of our songs.  It seems more applicable and significant now than it did then...



Please do not get me wrong; although I miss the relationship, I recognize the first few weeks are the most difficult, and I realize better times are ahead.

The Blog Challenge Revisited

Quite some time ago, I posted The Blog Challenge and the list of 30 topics.  My goal was to complete one or two a week, but that did not happen...  So, I am going to try it again.  Again, the topics are numbered, but I will do them in no particular order.  Here is the list again:

The Blog Challenge Topics:

#01 - my favorite song
#02 - my favorite movie
#03 - my favorite television program
#04 - my favorite book
#05 - my favorite quote
#06 - 20 of my favorite things
#07 - a photo that makes me happy
#08 - a photo that makes me angry/sad
#09 - a photo I took
#10 - a photo taken over 10 years ago of me
#11 - a recent photo of me
#12 - something I am OCD about
#13 - a fictional book
#14 - a non-fictional book
#15 - my dream house
#16 - a song that makes me cry (or nearly cry)
#17 - a piece of art (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc.)
#18 - my wedding
#19 - a talent of mine
#20 - a hobby of mine
#21 - a recipe
#22 - a website
#23 - a Youtube video
#24 - where I live
#25 - my day, in great detail
#26 - my week, in great detail
#27 - my worst habit
#28 - what is in my wallet
#29 - hopes, dreams, and plans for the next 365 days
#30 - a dream for the future

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I know you are thinking, "Christmas is over!"  Tell that to Mother Nature.  It snowed a lot last night, and it has been snowing again today.  Besides, the title is appropriate for blogging about Christmas, which I was going to do last time, but we had company.

Anyway, I woke up around 8:00 AM on Christmas and nudged Sean awake.  After I woke Mike up, we opened the presents under our tree.  Sean bought me an iTunes gift card, Up In The Air on blu-ray, a Nintendo Wii, an extra Wii Remote and Nunchuk, and two games: Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Mario Bros.  We set up the new system and washed the dishes (because who wants to leave dirty dishes in the sink on a holiday?) before going to my parents' house at 11:00 AM.

We ate a yummy brunch and then opened more presents.  My grandma gave me various knickknacks, my stepmom and dad bought me a Walmart gift card, and my sister bought me Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Tooth Fairy on blu-ray (it was a two-disc set...).  We then played a quick board game before going to Sean's parents' house around 2:00 PM, where we opened even more presents (Sean's dad gave me Telestrations, and his parents bought me a nice watch and a bottle of wine).

After eating lunch, we exchanged white elephant gifts (I ended up with the present I bought, a rip off bikini, which I gave to Sean).  We then played Scene It? Star Trek, as well as Telestrations, which ended up being funnier than I expected.  Around 7:00 PM, we went home.  Sean played with his new camera, and I played the Wii.

Christmas didn't end there, though.  A few days later, I bought myself a Nintendo DS Lite, a DS Lite Zip Case, and four games: Golden Sun, Golden Sun: The Lost Age, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, and New Super Mario Bros.  Sean bought himself gifts, too.

It was, among many feelings, sad Mom wasn't here to celebrate with us, but all in all, it was a good Christmas.

Cooking With Marsala

I am glad I did not commit to posting a topic from The Blog Challenge everyday, like Sean did.  I would have failed, considering I have not blogged since my last entry, My Favorite Things.  At least I completed a topic, unlike Mike (but to be fair, he only committed to posting the list of topics).  So, to make up for my lack of posts, I am blogging twice today!  Yay!  Lucky you!

A few weeks ago, I watched a Good Eats episode ("The Proof Is In The Pudding").  The host, Alton Brown, breaks into the liquor cabinet, not to concoct a drink, but to examine the uses of alcohol in food preparation.  He made zabaglione, a dessert consisting of eggs, sugar, and Marsala.  It looked really good and very simple to make, so I decided to make it.  It was fantastic!  Below is the recipe, as well as a recipe for chicken Marsala I cooked to go along with the zabaglione:

Zabaglione

Prep Time:  30 minutes
Cook Time:  15 minutes
Serves:  8 - 10

Ingredients:

• 6 large egg yolks
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup Marsala
• Pinch kosher salt
• Fresh berries, for serving (optional)

Directions:

Bring 1-inch of water to a boil in a 4-quart saucepan set over high heat.

Add the egg yolks and sugar to a large glass bowl.  Using an electric hand mixer on the highest speed, beat the eggs and sugar until the mixture is thick, pale yellow, and the sugar is completely dissolved, 4 to 5 minutes.  Decrease the mixer speed to low and add the Marsala and salt.

Decrease the heat to maintain a simmer and put the bowl atop the saucepan with the boiling water, making sure the bottom of the bowl is not touching the water.  Beat the mixture on medium speed, until it is thick, frothy, holds a ribbon, and the temperature reaches 145 to 150 degrees F, on an instant-read thermometer.

Spoon the warm mixture into custard cups or serving glasses and serve immediately or allow to cool slightly.  Serve with fresh berries, if desired.

Chicken Marsala

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time:  5 minutes
Serves:  4

Ingredients:

• 4 (8-ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts
• All-purpose flour, for dredging, plus 2 tablespoons
• 3 ounces butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cups sliced mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 4 tablespoons Marsala wine
• 2 cups beef stock

Directions

Put the chicken breasts between 2 pieces of waxed paper and flatten with a meat pounder until thin.  Cut each chicken breast into 4 pieces.  Add some flour to a shallow bowl.  Dredge the chicken in the flour and shake off the excess flour.

Add the butter and olive oil to a large saute pan over high heat and heat until it sizzles (do NOT let it brown).  Add the chicken and saute until brown on both sides.  Stir in the sliced mushrooms and saute briefly, then add the garlic.  Add the Marsala and simmer for 3 minutes, then stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour.  Pour in the beef stock and let simmer until the sauce thickens, about 3 to 5 minutes.  Transfer to a serving platter and serve.

My Favorite Things

It's been a few days since I posted The Blog Challenge, so I figured I should actually do one of the topics.  So, in no particular order, these are 20 of my favorite things (adult discretion is advised)...

#01:  My family

#02:  My friends

#03:  Sean

#04:  Cats

#05:  October 1 through January 1

#06:  Food

#07:  Luxury (and being able to afford it)

#08:  Being pampered

#09:  Music

#10:  The Internet

#11:  Staying in bed when it is snowing/raining

#12:  Games

#13:  Traveling

#14:  Lazy weekends

#15:  Alcohol

#16:  Movies

#17:  TV

#18:  Small dogs

#19:  Laughing

#20:  Sex

The Blog Challenge

I stole this idea from my brother and sister-in-law's blog.  The idea is to blog about one topic every day, but let's be honest; that's probably not going to happen.  My goal is to do one or two a week.  The topics are numbered, but I will complete all 30 of them in no particular order.  Without further ado...

The Blog Challenge Topics:

#01 - my favorite song
#02 - my favorite movie
#03 - my favorite television program
#04 - my favorite book
#05 - my favorite quote
#06 - 20 of my favorite things
#07 - a photo that makes me happy
#08 - a photo that makes me angry/sad
#09 - a photo I took
#10 - a photo taken over 10 years ago of me
#11 - a recent photo of me 
#12 - something I am OCD about
#13 - a fictional book
#14 - a non-fictional book
#15 - my dream house
#16 - a song that makes me cry (or nearly cry)
#17 - a piece of art (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc.)
#18 - my wedding
#19 - a talent of mine
#20 - a hobby of mine
#21 - a recipe
#22 - a website
#23 - a Youtube video
#24 - where I live
#25 - my day, in great detail
#26 - my week, in great detail
#27 - my worst habit
#28 - what is in my wallet
#29 - hopes, dreams, and plans for the next 365 days
#30 - a dream for the future