Hot Air Fails

The other day they showed on the news there was a hot air balloon that looked like the helmet of the Darth Vader from Star Wars. It was the shape, the color and was huge (as you need a hot air balloon to be). I can’t imagine coming over a crest of a hill and seeing that rise right in front of you. It gives me a chill thinking about it.

It got me thinking of the hot air balloon fails I’ve had in my life. Nothing serious, mind you, but there is a pattern.

The first was when we decided to attend a hot air balloon festival in the Dayton, Ohio area. I had read (pre-Internet days) that it was best to get there early so you could see all of them launch. As were living about 30 minutes away at the time and wanted to get there pre-launch, we left well before dawn.

We noticed some fog on our way there but it wasn’t until we arrived at the site that we realized how foggy it really was. We parked and walked to the field where they were to launch from. Occasionally we’d see a ghostly figure and then very quickly the figure would turn into a person and just a quickly they would disappear. Once at the field, we could hear the activity of balloons being prepped but could not see a single thing.

Being a native of Los Angeles, I figured that once the sun came up the fog would quickly burn off. The sun rose and the deep black turned into a solid grey. Nothing burned off. The launch was cancelled.

The second was related to a ride; or should I say an attempted one. I’ve mentioned several times here on the blog that The Ranting Wife and I go away for the weekend every year to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We take turns planning the weekend and in most cases keep it a surprise from the other.

One year, early in our marriage, it was my turn to plan and I decided a weekend down in Ohio’s Amish country would be a good place. I picked a great bed and breakfast (on a working ostrich farm), a fun place for dinner (a German restaurant operated by the Amish) and a couple of activities.

One of the activities was a hot air balloon ride. As our wedding was in early November, and our anniversary trips also are that time, I knew that floating over the area where the leaves were in prime color would be just beautiful. I scheduled it for a morning launch and when the day came it rained. Not a little sprinkle, but it was like someone diverted Niagara Falls to dump down on the very area we were to launch from. Needless to say, the launch did not happen.

On a later trip with the family to Vermont, we decided to go to another hot air balloon festival. You guessed it….rain. I’ll break this streak someday!

Chicken Parm Zip

The flavors of this chicken fly high!

So few ingredients and so easy.

Mix up the cheese and Whip.

Spread the mix on the chicken and bake.

Oh yeah!

Chicken Parm Zip

Ingredients:

1/2 c. Miracle Whip
1/2 c. 100% grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

Directions:

Heat electric broiler. Stir together salad dressing, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning. Place chicken on rack of broiler pan. Brush with half of sauce. Broil 5 to 7 inches from heat, 8 to 10 minutes. Turn. Brush with remaining sauce. Continue broiling 8 to 10 minutes or until tender. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese before serving.


Source: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1739,155189-224199,00.html