AI is fun! I will create a few fun Viking-inspired images for my posts going forward. Let's be clear - I do not look like these dudes in the picture although I do have tattoos, a long red beard, and a rocking attitude, but the fitness level might be more of a dad bod!
It’s incredible what technology can do these days, and it makes you wonder why people are needed to carry out daily activities when we have AI-enabled tools.
I asked Co-Pilot to “create an image of a happy long bearded biking building an outdoor kitchen with heavy metal rock vibes.” It gave me many options and modified the images each time I reran the query, which should trigger some alarm bells. If you get different answers each time you ask the same question or the way you request it, it can cause significant challenges.
In my opinion, AI will not take away jobs, but it will force us to work differently. We must constantly train and develop AI capabilities, ensuring the source information and algorithms are tweaked to deliver more accurate responses.
Furthermore, we cannot, and should not, rely solely on AI-generated solutions as these should not be considered the final result. You have to review and update the information you receive – at least make it sound like you and assess your industry. Generic answers are easy to spot.
So, it is clear that AI needs better guidelines and oversight, and it cannot be trusted on its own.
I’m concerned about staff using Co-Pilot, Chat GPT, and other AI tools daily, especially within the healthcare industry. The damage can be profound and far-reaching if the user and AI get it wrong.
Imagine making a diagnosis and prescription based on AI recommendations that turn out to be incorrect. This would escalate to a malpractice lawsuit, which would place the healthcare center and the doctor (provider) in a legal battle that would challenge the existence of the parties involved. A lawsuit would destroy the healthcare center and the doctor’s career.
AI is already available within the healthcare industry, but getting used more broadly will take a while. As the tool and its users (healthcare staff) get comfortable with it, the industry will be hit by large lawsuits.
AI will present significant cybersecurity incidents in healthcare and other industries. Staff will inadvertently upload PHI (HIPAA-protected) data to a public AI engine like ChatGPT, thereby exposing confidential and protected data to the world.
And yes, it has already happened, so it is essential that we educate our users, update policies, and strengthen our cyber defenses to include AI.
I use AI tools at work and home but constantly review the responses. I will not blindly use AI-generated information as it is generic and does not correspond to my work environment. AI often provides feedback on topics that are not relevant to my industry, so I have to edit it. Also, the responses do not sound or read like how I present emails or PowerPoint presentations.
Family Projects
Talking about AI-generated images, I created a cool picture for my daughter’s Girl Scout cookie sales emails that went out this week. Given that she’s half Viking, I kept it in a Viking theme.
Her troops are selling cookies to raise funds to travel to Europe and see the birthplace of modern civilization, Greece. History is essential. We need to learn from the past to improve the present and future.
I would love to go with them, but we cannot afford to travel to Greece – and I want my wife to spend some quality time with our wonderful daughter.
On Saturday, I started building my outdoor kitchen area to house my Traeger Pellet Grill and Blackstone Griddle. It’ll be a large covered pergola with corrugated siding and roof, making it look rustic.
Having the pergola on the main deck by our back porch door makes it more accessible and will encourage me to cook more outside.
Week Eighteen Meals
For some reason, I woke up early on both Saturday and Sunday. We are talking 5.30-6.00 AM, which is not what one would expect during the weekend.
Nevertheless, waking up early allows me to start the house chores earlier and assess the ripple effect of our well pump being replaced Friday afternoon.
Our well pump died Thursday afternoon or evening, resulting in no water in the house Friday morning. Panic sets in when you realize your two teenage daughters cannot wash their faces before going to school and hear the scream when they attempt to get ready.
Thankfully, our plumber is very reactive and flexible, and we were able to come out to assess and repair the pump. However, as you disturb the well, the water fills with soil, so your water looks like hot chocolate.
The only way to reduce dirty water in the house is not to use water for X hours and allow the dirt to settle. This is similar to cleaning a fish tank and pouring fresh water into a tank with plants, pebbles, and other decorative items. The water gets blurry until the filter clears it.
It’s the same for a house water system. Our house water filter was covered with muck Friday and Saturday, and I replaced it Sunday (again) to clear the water even more.
Oh, the joys of owning a house!!
I completed the meal plan and grocery list early Saturday morning before my helpers arrived to build the BBQ/Outdoor Kitchen.
On Saturday afternoon, I went grocery shopping and bought the ingredients for our weekend dinners. I started cooking meals for the week on Sunday around 7:30 AM.
Sunday afternoon was spent cutting grass, going rock hunting with my daughter, building a path, preparing a planting box for composting, and perhaps having an adult beverage.
We get more productive throughout the day if you start earlier.
School Lunches
I made four lunch options this weekend. One will be split across two days, hence only four lunches.
We start with Manapua, a Hawaiian-style stuffed bun. It is stuffed with beef mince, onions, garlic, ginger, and a few added sauces and spices. I used some premade dinner roll dough and baked them for about 18 minutes.
While the Manapuas were baking, I grilled a few beef patties and made eggs for the protein breakfast wraps
I then used some croissant dough to make a few stuffed croissants with roast beef and cheese.
Lastly, I grilled a couple of chicken thighs, chopped them into 0.5″ squares, and mixed them with corn, feta, Rotel tomatoes, black beans, and some sliced black olives.
Dinner Time
I’m excited about our dinners this week for three particular reasons. I made a few easy and delicious one-pan dishes that smell and taste fantastic.
- We kick off the week with sweet, spicy chicken and mango stir-fry.
- Then we move to shrimp and crab with orzo.
- The chicken thigh and corn dish will tickle our palettes.
- To wrap up the week, I’m serving a large portion of Tuscan soup made with chicken stock, potatoes, and ground pork.
This week, several new flavors and combinations will be introduced, and each meal is relatively easy to heat in the microwave.
Meal Prep Party Pictures
Meal Plan
| Lunch | Dinner | |
| Monday | Manapua – Hawaiian-style Char Siu Bao | Mango Chicken with Rice |
| Tuesday | Manapua – Hawaiian-style Char Siu Bao | Tuscan Sausage and Potato Soup |
| Wednesday | Protein Power Breakfast Wrap | Cilantro-lime Chicken and Corn |
| Thursday | Stuffed Croissant with roast beef and cheese | Greek Shrimp and Imitation Lobster Orzo with Feta |
| Friday | Pizza RolCuban Chicken Bowl (corn, tomato, black beans, and chicken thighs) | Outdoor cooking |
One day, I might get so organized that I will link the meals below to my recipes. We can only live in hope!
Have a fantastic week, my friends. I hope you enjoy these meal plans. It is much easier to make food in advance, although you must invest several hours preparing meals during the weekend.
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