New Job!!

Wow...I don't know where to start. More than a month ago Dave and I were talking about going back to where he's from, near Lake Tahoe. His family's from there and he's always lived there and missed it. I was willing to make a change (I've been at DHP for over 9 years!) but only if I could get a job that was worth leaving my current job for.

We kept an eye on what was opening in the area and a job came open for Fort Churchill State Historic Park near Silver Springs, NV. I applied, then called the park for a little more information. I was told to not live in Silver Springs but to check out communities like Fernley or Yerington, maybe even Dayton. At this point I hadn't been contacted for an interview, so it was just gathering information. I looked it up online and checked it out.

A few weeks later Dave and I were driving in the La Sals and I got a phone call from a Joy Elwood saying they would "very much like to interview" me. I called back immediately, set up the date for August 24, which was about three weeks away--or more, I don't remember. I read about the park, then had an idea that I should visit the park before the interview. I really wanted to see it and find out what I was "getting myself into." We made plans to visit, called the park to set up a day where someone was there to show us around and left the next week. It's a 12-hour drive so I thought it might be crazy but really wanted to see it.

I didn't take any pictures during the visit, so these are all stolen:

Buckland Station is where I will be most of the time. The purpose of this new position is to keep it open for tours, start a docent program and provide community outreach.

Ruins from Fort Churchill, a Civil War-era fort built to protect Mormon settlers from Indian attacks.

The visitor center/museum.

I interviewed on August 24, then found out that 100 people had applied for the job. They said 40 of those were qualified and they chose 13 to interview. Once I heard that I stopped worrying--lots of odds and lots of people interested! BUT on Friday after the interview I got a phone call from the manager saying it was a tough choice and it came down to me and one other person. I had the interpretive experience; she had the farming/ranching experience. They slept on it and then decided to hire me! Wow....I am still in shock! So....I had to accept the job, call Dave, then not look forward to giving my notice at the park!

I am excited! We'll see how this goes....I will be there in about a month...not enough time and I HATE moving....but I think it's for the best and it'll be a new adventure! I'll get to do interp, museum work and learn about ranching and farming....haha. Wish me luck :)

Last Night's Party

Last night I cooked dinner for Dave and two friends from work, Sarah and Jordan. They brought LOTS of chips and dip (salsa, 7-layer bean, guacamole), and margaritas. I made portobello fajitas and Spanish rice and stuck with some red wine because I had to work. We ate dinner, talked, laughed, watched a movie, and then Emily from work also came over. She works at Buck's Grill so she wasn't there until almost 10 p.m. and had to work early the next day so she couldn't stay long.

We went outside and I taught Sarah how to make a "time bomb" out of a ziplock bag, vinegar and baking soda. We also played with cornstarch and made an "anti-Newtonian liquid." I use those a lot for my after school science programs (I didn't do any this year though)....

Around 2 a.m. Sarah and Jordan headed for their trailer, which they parked outside the house for the night. In the morning Deena, the neighbor came over and asked if we'd heard what happened last night. We said no, and she said that the house across from us had a huge party all night and were drinking and getting crazy. People were in the street yelling and this drunk guy started breaking into people's cars. So we all went outside to see if our vehicles had been broken into and thankfully, none were! Deena said that she called the police to check on things, and it turns out that about five other houses had called the police for the same reason!

Jordan said Sarah slept through all of it but he heard everything and it was definitely a crazy party. The guy wasn't breaking into cars to steal things, he was so drunk he didn't know where he was and was looking for his car, trying his keys in all of the ones he got into. Yikes! Jordan heard him getting in trouble with his friends at the party, then talking with the police....I don't know how the situation resolved (I had to leave for work)...

I came to work and got to be a step-on guide for a tour bus, then cleaned most of the rest of the day. Right now I'm sitting in the entrance station listening to it rain and happy that I found Disney music on my Pandora station!! I also think it's funny that tourists expect me to be able to tell them what the weather's going to do, and how long it's going to storm...

Cilantro Chicken and Vegetables

Thought I'd try a new recipe:

MARINADE
1/2 C fresh squeezed lemon juice (for me this was 2 lemons)
1/4 C extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 tsp Mexican oregano
1/2 C minced cilantro, lightly packed
4 cloves garlic, pressed
1 tsp mustard powder (didn't have any)
1 tsp salt
Freshly ground black pepper

SKEWERS
1 1/2 lb organic boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks
1 orange bel pepper, cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks
1 poblano pepper, cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks. (I bought this but forgot to use it. I'll use it in tomorrow's portobello fajitas!)
1 yellow onion, quartered (also forgot it)
20 grape or cherry tomatoes (also fogotten, used in the salad instead!)
1 small crook-neck squash, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 small zucchini squash, cut into 1-inch pieces

(serves 6)

Combine all the marinade ingredients in a small mixing bowl and set aside.

Rinse chicken breasts under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Cut the hicken breasts into bite-size pieces and toss in the marinade to coat. Cover and marinate for 2 hours in the refridgerator, tossing frequently. You may also use a zip-lock bag to marinate the chicken.

Soak 18 bamboo skewers in water for 15 min.

Thread chicken and pieces of red and orange bell pepper, poblano, onion, tomatoes, yellow squash and zucchini onto skewers, making sureyou have the same size chicken pieces per skewer to ensure even cooking. Separate chicken with vegetable pieces.

If grilling on agas or charcoal grill, set at high heat or allow coals to become hot. Put the prepared skewers on the grill and cook until chicken is browned. Turn and cook the other side for about 2 minutes, or until chicken is done and moist.

If you broil, preheat the oven to broil at high heat. Plae the skewers on the broiler pan as close to the broiler as possible. Allow the chicken to brown slightly. Turn over the chicken pieces and broil until done, 2-3 more minutes.

If using an electric grill, set at high heat and grill until browned on one side, about 4 minutes. Turn and grill on the other side until browned, or until the chicken is done, but moist.

Serve immediately...

I baked them in the oven for 15 min, then turned them over for another 10. I cut the veggie pieces a little bigger so they needed longer to cook...also served with a green salad (tomatoes, lettuce, broccoli and onion) and mushroom rice pilaf (from a box....).

Good luck!

Josh Groban Fan

Soooo....On our trip last week (Wed-Fri) Dave and I went to NV to visit friends and see some new scenery. This is the story about what happened on the way home (well, I guess it's one of many that could be told).

There are very long stretches of highway out towards Hinkley and Delta, UT from Ely, NV. There is no cell service and no good radio stations. We did listen to tons of Republican radio (Rush Limbaugh) and debaters about the next presidential campaign though! The Great Basin is beautiful but makes for a long drive!

I wanted Dave to hear my favorite song: Weeping, by Josh Groban. He cringed, but I went ahead and put it in the CD player anyway. He said he wanted to throw it out the window, so I started another song, thinking it would be better.

Dave rolls down the window while hitting the Eject button, and promptly throws the CD out the car window while we're going 70 mph. I was surprised he actually did it! (Maybe I wasn't really that surprised...after all it's been over a year of dating....).

He said he only did it because I have it saved on my computer at home and can make another copy. I think he just wanted to make a statement...but now I have to retaliate. Maybe by putting Chess in the DVD player and looping it... haha. His statement, "Well, it will make a great Facebook story!" Hm.