I have perfected the recipe for popping the perfect bag of popcorn. Seriously.

Call me crazy. Go ahead and laugh uncontrollably. The proof will be in the results you get from the following instructions for popping a Jolly Time bag a microwavable popcorn perfectly, every time.

Materials and ingredients as follows:

ONE bag of Jolly Time microwave popcorn. (I usually buy it at work in the vending machine for 75 cents. Any amount more is a rip-off.) Make sure it has the Good Housekeeping seal of approval on it. That covers your rights for “replacement or refund if defective” — although who you would contact is not clear. To be honest, I have never had a bad bag of Jolly Time! (Unless you I count the one I BURNED up and filled the workplace with that smell of burnt corn.)

ONE microwave oven. I use the one at work. It is a Panasonic which I believe is a commercial model as there is no model reference on the thing.

ONE Napkin

Cooking Instructions: This is where the secrets are found. The setting for popcorn on this particular Panasonic microwave is selection number 8, which when started provides 2.5 minutes of zap time. Before placing the bag proper side up, knead the kernels so that they loosen up. Shake the bag up a few times before laying it out flat in the microwave.

Begin cooking. Listen as the popping of the kernels slow to where the popping frequency reaches about 2-3 seconds between pops.

Now here is the most important part. Stop the microwave by stopping the remaining time left. This is usually 10-15 seconds of what remains of the original 150 seconds of time we started with. (This could also vary depending on the power of the machine you are using.) DO NOT open the bag. Let it simmer in the microwave for an additional minute. Remove bag and again, do not open it for another 2 minutes. I believe this helps create a larger number of half-popped kernels! The best kind. They have the best crunch and flavor. The popped corn is also perfectly cooked.

There you have it. A perfect Jolly Time bag of popcorn.

So I challenge you to try it. Share your results in my comment section. If there is enough collaboration on this, I will publish our results.

All kidding aside, these steps result in the best bags of microwave popcorn! And I recommend the popcorn I’ve been eating since the 60s, Jolly Time!

The perfect bachelor pad.

I had the fortunate opportunity to receive an invite to today’s Arizona Diamondback’s baseball game against the Colorado Rockies played at the very cool Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. The seats were special, located in the Deloitte corporate suite which sits directly behind home plate. (Thanks to friend Cathy for this invite!) While the temps outside rose to 107 degrees, we enjoyed the air conditioned altered 80 degrees inside environs.

For three years I owned a share in a season ticket package in Colorado so this was a fun game to see. While the D-Backs have been awful this season, the game was well-played as D-Back’s center fielder Young made a nice catch and first baseman LaRoche had a great diving save. The game went down to the third out of the 9th inning with the Rockies pulling it out 3-2.

I showed my loyalty by rooting for both teams, alternating every inning. I experienced mixed emotions on the outcome.

Rockies win!

D-Backs lose!

Well, it was one of those games.

Deloitte had a nice spread of food and drink for us. There were ten of us that enjoyed the catering. For the record, I consumed ONE ballpark hot dog, ONE Corona Light, ONE Heineken barrel, ONE plate of veggies, ONE Aquafina bottle of water, and ONE chicken strip … times four. It was enjoyed in that order too. On a side note, there was no beer or bottled water left after the 9th inning … and the dessert tray was hardly touched leaving a full array of cookies and brownies. I guess you could conclude it was a health conscious group.

This was a picture of the kids being allowed to run the bases after the game. I guess this is a tradition and you could really see how excited the kids (and parents) were. A bystander told me that they let the adults do it too once in awhile. THAT would have been fun … I wondered if they had a stop at 2nd base for oxygen and water.

It was a fun day at Chase Field ballpark. Watching a major league baseball game anywhere and anytime is a good thing. Enjoying it from a suite is even a little better. Now, if only the D-Backs can return to championship form … that could be awhile.

Piestewa Peak is no walk in the park. It is comparable to hiking Camelback Mountain, with a similar elevation gain that is STEEP. There is an approximately 1200 foot gain, with the summit elevation reaching 2608 feet. The trail is only 1.2 miles … and you will feel every foot of it but the views from the top are awesome.

Downtown Phoenix seen as the trail begins.

Click more to see all the pictures/

Gaining elevation quickly. Here’s a neat view of the valley looking east. Those are the back parking lots in the park. My truck is there some place.

This was maybe half way. Three elevation levels. The road, where the trail began, the lower trail and the current side of a cliff. Steepness! The temperature was rising and my water was being consumed.

This was a very unique view of Camelback Mountain. I actually zoomed in a bit to get a better shot. THAT is a tough mountain climb. Piestewa is very close in distance and elevation gain to the Camelback hike, but the Echo Canyon Trail up Camelback is much tougher.

Continuing to gain in elevation and air is getting thinner =). Note the back parking lot and Camelback.

Here’s a good perspective of the hike. About three quarters there and you can see many taking a break.

The summit of Piestewa Peak! Not a comfortable seat on this rocky top!

Looking North, the 51 below, North Mountain and Shaw Butte are seen in the background.

I really enjoyed hiking Piestewa Peak. I understand why it is so popular.

I have to mention that on the way down, approximately 200 yards up from the start of the trailhead, this guy stops to light up a cigarette! I had to laugh. The looks of disgust from those in front of me were priceless. He seemed oblivious to them. One of them looked back at me and we just laughed. One of those understandings that needed no words.

I hope to do a sunrise hike and take pictures from the Piestewa summit before it gets too hot.

If you lived here in America, you probably had listened and enjoyed Paul Harvey’s news or The Rest of the Story on the radio.

His appeal truly extended generations. When I was teaching 8th grade, I would read his Rest of the Stories (which happen to be written by his son, Paul Jr.) on Fridays. The kids loved them. Shortly after reading a couple of them, it never failed that one would blurt, “Hey, my Dad listens to him on the radio!”

Interestingly, the books I had that contained his stories were always being taken to be read by the students. When Friday would approach, one of the students who had read the book would say, “Read the one about … ” If you know anything about an 8th grade classroom, seldom would you see 25 or 30 14 year olds so intently listening as you would when I read these to them. Even more so, these kids would look forward each afternoon to hearing Harvey on the radio, in the cars with their parents, tell the stories in his wonderful voice and unique style.

I was watching an interview with him on Larry King tonight. It first aired in 2003. He shared a great number of insights and stories from his life. At the time of the interview, he was 84. He expressed his disdain for technology. When asked what his favorite rest of the story was, he answered the one on the birth of his son. He shared about his belief in God and his decision to be baptized after hearing a preacher in a small church in Cave Creek, Arizona. He lived in Phoenix during the winter months and Chicago the rest of the year. He called these two cities the most beautiful places in the world.

Harvey noted that this world had become an uglier place in his life time. I am afraid his perspective, gained over the last 90 years, is closer to the truth. And with his passing, we lose a most inspiring man who truly made the world a better one while here.

Take a listen and check out the lighting — not the best for video.

The Bank :: Phoenix, AZ from Phil Ladden on Vimeo.

UPDATE: JOIN THE BANK BAND’S FAN PAGE ON FACEBOOK

What was I thinking?!

Traffic was horrendous. Here’s a pic of the stadium that I took about a half hour ago. It is a bit skewed as I used the zoom on my Canon Powershot.

Time for kick-off. GO CARDS!

It was thought that the fever had been controlled as the Cardinals had gone on a losing streak after clinching their division. Given very little chance in this game, no pregame announcer picked them to even compete against Carolina, let alone win. At one point in the second quarter, even Coach Whisenhunt’s wisdom was questioned by the network announcer when the Coach decided to go for a field goal with less than a yard to go for a first down. This field goal put the score at 20-7. The announcer criticized the decision saying the score would be 21-20 in no time. He obviously didn’t have the fever.

Authorities are asking residents to stay inside and order their Cardinal paraFANalia from home using the internet. Law enforcement is afraid of the widespread wearing of Cardinal Red might whip up the fever to epidemic proportions.

The Sheriff is also warning that tickets will be issued to any and all those, snowbirds included, wearing shirts where the team’s name is not clearly visible. The fine is reported to be up to $150 plus court costs.

With the Cardinal win Saturday night and Philadelphia’s win today, the NFC Championship game will be played next Sunday at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Eagles should prepare carefully. As Sports Illustrated reported, this Cardinal fever is dangerous.

The Arizona Department of Health is monitoring this outbreak closely. They are most concerned how another win and trip to the Super Bowl would cause the outbreak to spread nationally. There would be no stopping the Red Bird fever.

Shockingly, Carolina is now reporting to have made the Cardinal their state bird in honor of the Arizona Red Birds. (See for yourself here, the North Carolina State Bird, the Arizona Cardinal.) Other states have been quick to align themselves making the Arizona Cardinal their state bird as well! They include Indiana, Illinois, Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio.

Truly, the Valley of the Sun is in for a momentous week.

GO CARDS!!!

Big Red, Arizona Cardinal's mascot

Big Red, Arizona’s mascot, high-fiving the author, at the onset of this championship season.