And Now For Something Completely Different

Lets say you 're Israeli student that is studying abroad and you get homesick a lot, or you are a business person with partners in Tel Aviv. Well my friends do I have a deal for you. Now you can get an Israeli phone number that will ring on your home phone or PC and beat the toll charges associated with a long distance call.

The idea is simple. You're in the United States (or wherever) and you get an Israeli number (or wherever - there are a lot more places.). Now your friends, family, business partners, etc., dial a local Tel Aviv number and they are able to connect to you, using VoIP and the plain-old telephone system. It is that easy.

The numbers, or DIDs for the technically inclined are sold through DIDX and in particular note 708443 (This is the DID seller's unique ID) in your wholesale DIDX buyer portal for good quality, hard to find Tel Aviv numbers. DIDX is setup to only allow wholesalers at this time so if you become one of these or know one let them know about the DIDX website.

Comfort Food Or Bust

You have to admit there is nothing quite like the smell of comfort food cooking in the kitchen, especially when you come home after a long day at work (or play), and it is almost done cooking. It is like a little slice of heaven right in your own home.

I have to admit that I have become something of a 'Foodie' over the years. I'm not real picky and will eat just about anything but if you say you can cook I would expect you should be able to make a Hollandaise Sauce from scratch.

I grew up in Hawaii and on of my favorite things to eat at elementary school was Shoyu Chicken. You coould tell it was Shoyu Chicken day in the cafeteria because all the kids would have a sticky ring around their mouths. Shoyu is also called Soy Sauce. Real hardcore Foodies would probaby use Aloha Shoyu available from the manafacturer at www.alohashoyu.com. That said, onto the recipe.

• 1 package chicken, about 5lbs., I prefer thigh meat.
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon ginger, minced or 1 teaspoon powdered
  
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup dark, brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
  
• 1 cup shoyu
• 1 piece of star anise (Badia is the brand I found in the Mexican food section. You mileage may vary.)
  
• 6 cups water or chicken stock
• 1 bunch green onion, chopped with some of the green tops

In a 4 quart pot added the oil over medium heat. When the oil is hot add the garlic and onions and cook them until the onion is soft, about 4-5 minutes. Add the chicken and brown on both sides. Add the shoyu, ginger, water, black pepper, brown sugar and star anise. Stir together well and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and cover. Simmer for about 45 minutes until the chicken is done. Serve with some white rice and your favorite vegetable. Yum.
Serves 4

What A Long, Strange Trip It's Been

Wow, I cannot believe its been since April that I last blogged. I guess time flies when you are having fun. Back in June 2008 I had an MRI done and discovered I had a brain tumor along the lower, left part of my brain. Well that explains the dizziness, nausea and vomiting better than simple vertigo ever did. I made peace with God, said my "goodbyes" and two days later they were cutting the tumor out of my head.

I spent about three weeks in the ICU, which was way to long if you ask me, but they wanted the pressure on my head to equalize. I eventually had to have a VP Shunt put in to equalize it. It runs from the top of my head and drains excess 'brain-juice' on my stomach. During this time I also discovered that I had a lung tumor going on and it was the culprit that caused the brain tumor.

Lots of radiation and chemotherapy has seemed to work and I am glad to say that the lung cancer is in remission and I think they got all the brain tumor on the first try. I may not talk nice or walk nice but I'm still here and in the end that is all that matters.

Did I mention I finally got service on my Nokia n95 phone. . .

If you're one of the curious or macarbe here is a video of me in the hospital