I drove 10 out of the last 24 hours

My best friend's father died. He was a good, kind man that loved his family, adored his wife and cherished his siblings. He had grandchildren and a dry sense of humor. When he went on business trips he always brought back lots of chocolate from Switzerland. He tolerated and even liked his daughter's crazy friends. He was at my wedding. He was at my best friend's wedding. He couldn't make it to his second daughter's wedding because he had been hit by a drunk driver while bicycling to work. He succumbed this week to his numerous injuries after fighting for five years to stay with the people he loved.

If you drive after drinking you are taking a foolish, insane chance of killing yourself or someone else. If you drive "buzzed" you are driving drunk. If you drive after "having a couple of drinks" you are playing fast and loose with your life and the lives of others. It doesn't matter if nothing has ever happened to you before; that's the kind of logic that would make playing Russian Roulette seem like a good idea. If you see someone who is going to drink and drive, offer to drive, take the keys, call them a cab, be a jerk about it. Save someone's life.

Yesterday was my birthday. As I was driving back from visiting my best pal I directed my husband in the preparation of Arroz con Pollo (chicken in rice) and sauteed and steamed zucchini and summer squash. Directed is too strong a word, he had some questions and I answered them. It was nice to come home to a delicious meal and see my older daughter and husband. They had cards for my birthday. It was the kind of normal, happy domestic scene that everyone takes for granted. It was the best meal I have ever eaten

Arroz con Pollo (my version)

Chicken pieces (best to use bone-in skin-on)
Rice
1 can of cut up tomato pieces
chopped carrots
onion (chopped)
garlic
salt
cumin


Season chicken pieces with adobo. Heat oil in a heavy skillet and brown chicken on all sides. Drain can of tomato pieces into a measuring cup and then add water to make up enough fluid for the rice. Heat the water in the microwave. Remove chicken from pan and pour in rice in a thin layer into the hot dry pan, allow to toast and then use a large spatula to *flip* the rice as best you can. Add the hot water and all the vegetables and then put the chicken pieces on top, cover with a lid and reduce heat to simmer according to rice directions. Serve with sauteed vegetables, black beans and salad.