Wild Woman

Snow Day

Spicy Sausage Chili

Ingredients:

1 package Johnsonville spicy Italian sausage

1 packet of McCormmick's Original Chili Season 

2 cans 14 oz stewed tomatoes (chopped, 1 with juice, 1 without)
1 can spicy chili beans (don't drain)
1 can black beans (drained)
1 can pinto beans (drained)

1 can garbanzo beans (drained)

1 can tomato soup
1 dried ghost pepper

1 chopped large white or yellow onion
1/2 package whole mushrooms sliced

1 bag chopped celery (3 - 4 stalks chopped)

Directions:

-add the whole sausages, onion, and celery to a pan on medium-high heat until browned

-cut cooked sausage into bite sized chunks
-add all remaining ingredients to large pot
-1 can water (tomato soup can)
-bring to boil then simmer 30+ min

-garnish with shredded cheese, sour cream, cilantro, homemade chips...

*For a different kind of heat, substitute ghost pepper with one or two chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

Happy Halloween!

This year we really took the Halloween costume up a notch.  And by "up a notch," I mean even fewer people would guess who we are.  

I'll give you a three hints to figure it out:

1. How can you not love these guys?  Hint: one of them is still out there rocking (he was just on SNL).  
2. "Hello darkness my old friend, I've come to talk with you again..." Makes me recall Will Ferrell falling into the pool in "Old School".
3.  "Looking fine and feeling groovy".

Still not getting it?  Scroll down.

Keep going...

Courage Classic 2011 Photos

We made it! Another Courage Classic in the books. Three days of brutal climbs, white knuckle descents, and nonstop sunshine. I can not believe how well the weather worked out. An afternoon rain storm in the mountains is typical but they stayed away again this year.

Brad and I stuck together most of the weekend with some exceptions on the climbs where he easily pulled ahead of me. He has already passed me by in the bike department and he just got a bike a few months ago. The big news for this year’s ride is the team jersey’s. Special thanks to Jason at AppSense for making us look good. Kudos to first time GTRI riders: Sarah, Julie, Glen, Kari, Brian, and Karen.

My sincerest thanks to all who donated: John, Sarah, Bill, Mary Beth, Christian, Marcus, Matt, Patti, and Dave.

Brad riding up Battle Mountain on the way to Vail

Me standing in front of the Red Cliff Bridge (wikipedia.com)

Brad and I on Swan Mountain

Craig riding up Vail Pass

Sarah riding up Vail Pass

Quick bike maintenance at Copper Mountain

Last aid station, pumped for the finish line in five miles

Brad and I at the finish in Leadville

Courage Classic 2011

It is July in Colorado and that means it is time to get dressed in head-to-toe spandex and pedal a bicycle through the mountains.  Well, maybe not for everyone but it is for me.  The Courage Classic starts soon and I need your help to raise money for The Children’s Hospital. 

The Courage Classic is a three day road bike ride through some of the Rocky Mountains’ most challenging climbs and descents.  This is the same ride I did in 2008 and 2010.  “Why would anyone want to do that?”  Maybe it is because we are crazy.  Or maybe it is because we know it supports the wonderful Children’s Hospital organization.  The whole event brings in a lot of money--I raised $500 last year--that goes directly to kids with a variety of illnesses.

To make a tax deductible donation:

Visit my rider page and click on the green “Donate To My Ride” button:

http://www.couragetours.com/2011/brianolsen

This year Brad (rider page) will be joining the team and riding for the first time.  I think he knows what he is in for.  If not, he should read my 2008 first-timer recap of day 1, day 2, and day 3.  Thank you in advance for your donation.

 

Standing in front of Turquoise Lake on last year’s ride

 

Craig at one of the 2010 aid stations

 

The start of the 2010 Courage Classic

 

Me in front of the Dillon Reservoir

 

Near the top of Vail Pass 2010

 

Craig and Mike taking a break in Dillon in 2010

La Crosse Memories

One of the fun stops during OFFW was my old alma mater, UW - La Crosse. There was a lot of things on campus that have not changed but a surprising amount that has. There must be two or three new dorms and a new stadium. Good old Laux Hall is exactly like I left it. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get a closer look because the WI state track meet was going on and campus was a total zoo.

Here is the rundown on some of my favorite places:

212 – The outside is looking a little ruff but no sign of changes--good or bad. So many good memories there. Bunk beds, boys becoming men, and of course lots of hamburger helper and MothStyle.

827 – Crappy as ever if not down right haunted. The month we moved in there were twelve roommates but by the end of the year there were only ten (+/- significant others). A month of rent was $2050—I still remember writing the checks. The crowning achievement of the house was Pitstock ‘99. It was a weekend long party that involved a keg or two and a 32 gallon garbage can filled with boozy fruit delight. I'll never forget jumping out of my bed and flying down the stairs to turn off my radio / alarm which was set to wake me up to music. Normally, that would not have been a big deal but the volume was still at 11 from the party the night before. I had to pick my way through the sleeping bags and bodies until I eventually could pull the plug.

Downtown – still dirty and harsh looking in the sober light of day.

The River – still mighty and running high. There were people on the other side swimming in what I can only assume is high fecal count beach water.

Erbert's & Gerbert's – completely remodeled and delicious.

Swamp water is still on special

Worn but unchanged on 10th Street

Ah, the Pit (egl)

The Old Man, the Old Mississip, deeeep river after a stop at The Pearl