Day 386 - 387: Sister, Mothers & Gas

Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend and especially their Mothers Day celebrations. My wife & I got away on Saturday to continue the celebration of her birthday and start the Mothers Day festivities. We took off to our backyard play ground, Wisconsin. The Wollersheim Winery was the destination (pictured above). There we picked up a case of wine as we do each trip. We also picked up the gifts for our mothers there, ceramic wine chillers. Of course we couldn't give the moms just wine chillers without a bottle of wine in each.

On the way up there we gassed up in Milwaukee, here is the price of gas (cheap stuff) there...

 Cheapest we've seen around home it in well over a month, so we gassed up there on the way up & back.

We stayed in Pweaukee (a burb of Milwaukee) Saturday night. There we dined at Thunder Bay Grille which has been a favorite of ours for a decade. All of us who are serious about making a better life for ourselves embrace change. Change is good, change is needed if we want to see a better result from our efforts. And a different result from the recent changes in menu and style is what I believe Thunder Bay Grille will see. And not for the better. Seriously, we were disappointed. This rustic northwoods centric restaurant went modern in a bad way. It used to stand apart from its competition, now it reflects at least a dozen other places in the Milwaukee area. Oh well, we had a good decade, best of luck to them.

After dinner we went out to Champps to watch the Nascar race and NBA playoff games while knocking back a couple of beers and just hanging out. Along the way we felt the need to fill in the corners left from our dinner experience. To do that we ordered a hot pretzel from the apps menu. I was expecting a pretzel like you'd get at the ball game, but to my surprise and horror this is what we got...

 Not healthy, not one bit. But it was good I must admit. And so was our time together eating this, drinking Leinenkugel's and Spotted Cow, excellent day with my wife!

Back home on Sunday we took in a soccer game for our sophomore, they lost 0-6; way to go winning one for Mom guys. And then off to meet our Mom's for dinner at Bonefish Grill which never disappoints; lets hope they don't embrace too much change.

Dinner was in Schaumburg, IL which is a Chicago suburb. On the way there I snapped this picture of the typical gas price there...

Ugly ugly ugly that gas marquee is. Way too ugly to just end this post on such a downer note. So let me move to a final bit of positive news to share.

This past Saturday my sister walked the stage at Olivet Nazarene University with her Masters of Arts in Teaching. How cool is that!

Congrats Kim & best of luck in that your search to secure a full time teaching position will be a short one.

OK, that is how I spent my weekend, how did you spend yours?

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 383 - Happy BDay Cathy

This week my wife has a birthday; Happy Birthday Cathy!

I wont say how old she is, but it is a milestone birthday and it may rhyme with 'orty'. That is all I'll say, don't want to give too much away.

There you see the flowers I sent to her at work this week. Those flowers are impressive if I may say so myself. But not nearly as impressive as her well organized desk.

You can tell allot by looking at a persons workspace, lets take a closer gander at her's shall we...

Photo's on the wall board, photos of 3 of our 4 kids. No photo of me, hmmm.... there is a photo on her desk too, a cool one. It is of her & her workmates standing with the Stanley Cup which visited her work place a few weeks back; so jealous I am.

Behind the flowers is a poster of Matt Kenseth, her favorite Nascar driver. My fave is Greg Biffle, the two are team mates so all is good there.

The wall calendar on the right is a Chicago White Sox calendar. She is a Sox fan, I am a Cubs fan. Somehow, we make it work. There is a desk calendar too, a page-a-day calendar; it too appears to be a Sox calendar. I should know what it is as I gave it to her for Christmas (I know, I am cutting edge when it comes to gift giving).

Stapler, appears to be a Swingline 747 classic model, good choice. Shows a sense of faith & determination, no?

Ream of paper at the ready, she either prints allot or is ready for the coming paper-shortage of 2011.

Is your desk/workspace as organized?

Myself, I can say that mine desk is as organized if not even a bit more so organized than hers. Organization is not always a sure sign of success however. Some of the most successful folks I know are terribly disorganized overall. But somehow when it comes time to perform at what is important, they excel like few others. I envy that mysterious ability. Simply for me, success comes from a organized approach

And enough of the organization sermon; all together now... 

Happy Birthday!

Oh, flowers were not all I got my wife for her birthday, recall this post in March where she got her other present a bit early.


Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 358-360: Just Stuff U Wanna Read

Hope all had a fantastic weekend!. I did; highlights:
Wife bought me a new LaZBoy chair to replace the LaZBoy she bought some 11 years ago.
Dinner with my wife & mother at Bonefish Grill.
Watching (on TV) Matt Kenseth win the NASCAR race in Texas.
Watching the Blackhawks secure a playoff spot even though they lost their final game of the season.
Getting in an outdoor walk with my wife.
Going to the DMV on a Saturday morning, wait; that was NOT a highlight!

Yeah, I know it is Tuesday and that weekend well wish may be a day late. Took Sunday off from blogging and yesterday just too busy to get here. Almost made the time but just couldn't get the quality 10-15 minutes needed to write a post.

Question: How long does it take you to write your typical blog post? I know some can bust their typical post out in 5 minutes, others need an hour or more. Myself, 10-15 usually.

So the picture there to the top/left, what do you think that is? No, this is not a picture riddle. Has been a while since I've posted one of those, about time for another; soon I promise. But as I added in those two red circles to this cell phone photo of mine I wondered just what others might think I am highlighting...

A. That I started to draw a pair of googly-eyes and forget to finish?
B. My way of reminding myself that if I want to look so far away I need to remember to wear my glasses?
C. Using these circles meant to highlight something else?
D. Other?

My guess is more of you have D thoughts and if so please do share. While it is true both B & C apply here, C is what my intent is. As for A, I rarely draw googly-eyes but when I do, I am the Picasso or googly-eyes; just another of my many unknown talents now made public.

So the something else I am highlighting for you here is a pair of deer. The walk my gorgeous wife & I went on this past Sunday was at the Rollins Savanna, a place I have blogged about often. We just did the 2-mile segment versus the 3.6 mile full loop. Weather was amazing, it was this amazing...

Friday it was 50F'something, Monday 60F'something; great days sandwiching an awesome 84F Sunday. A freak temp spike for April for sure, not complaining for certain.

OK, back to the red circles, sorry had a momentary bout of bloggers ADD, aka as BADD. As I said there are deer in them circles, see them? No, of course you don't, neither do I. This photo was taken while my amazing wife & I were on that walk. I used my trusty Blackberry to snap that shot knowing full well it was futile. OK, it was an excuse to stop walking for a minute and look at lunch, I mean at the deer.

Trust me, there is a deer in each of those circles. I could see them clearly with my naked-eye, and not at all with the Blackberry camera; doesn't say much for Blackberry does it?

Gas prices continue to rise around here. Hard to find the cheap stuff under $4 now. Saw one yesterday that was $3.97, this however seems to be the norm north of Chicago & Cook County...

Last week John shared with me his horror of when he landed at Chicago's Midway airport and was shocked to see 4.29 for regular unleaded... ugh, soon that will make its way north to my pump I am afraid. Forgetting about gas, let me talk about John. Not that he has gas, not uncool correlation intended there. Rather let it be know John is way cool and you would be way cooler if you followed him. My opinion, for what it's worth. What is it worth by the way?

HAVE FUN!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 351 - Opening Day, Family Day, Now Sunday

Last day of spring break. For the kids, no doubt they are less than thrilled. For me, I'm Ok with it. Time to get on with the 83 things I have on deck at work, time for Cathy to get on with her own concerns where she works, and time for the kids on with finishing this school year.

Spring break has been fun sans the medical madness. Brief update on that madness, went for the MRI of the left knee yesterday. Hope to get results in advance of Thursday's blood test and oncologist appointment.
Back to the fun...

Friday Cathy & I went to Chicago Cubs opening day. Great time, minus the fact that the Cubs lost. It was a first for us in that we attended the game from a Rooftop venue. If you aren't familiar with Wrigley field, the apartment buildings along the streets along the outfield have stadium seating on their rooftops. The owners of these buildings have long cashed in on the fact that the games can viewed from the upper apartments & rooftops, and of course the Cubs get a piece of their action. Here is a cell phone pic which does no justice to the view we had...

As you can see the lights are on for the game, for an afternoon game. It was a dreary, cold, rainy day. Not rainy enough to delay or cancel the game, but dreary enough to make sitting outside less than enjoyable. Luckily for us these top floor of these apartment buildings are no longer apartments. They are bars complete with food buffet & big screens; food, drink and warmth all included in the price of the ticket. So this was our view of the game for most of the afternoon...

One bad pitch, hit over the wall for a grand slam, that one pitch is the only tarnish on our great day.

Yesterday we had the G'Mas & G'Pa over for dinner, no real occasion; just because. They wanted something special, so we smoked them pork shoulder and prime rib. I was off my grilling game  as I overcooked them a tad; shame on me. Cathy made up for my miscue with a fine job on the sweet potatoes and green beans. Along the way the the two G'Mas got together and made a bottle of wine go from full to empty. Conversation was largely a mix of the college visits to come, medical this & that and of course politics. A couple of pies for dessert capped off a great relaxing day with family.

So as I said, the last day of spring break is here, another day to make great. Off now to get in some exercise this morning before enjoying NASCAR this afternoon and Hockey this evening and who knows what else amongst it all.

What are you going to do to make this a great day?

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 303 - Mixed Bag Day

Mixed Bag Day Today...

Got up early, headed off to the YMCA and got the exercise in. About an hour on the weights, and then 2 miles on the elliptical.

Some chill time now back at home. Currently watching The Day: Remembering Dale Earnhardt, while scratching out this post. NASCAR is a favorite of mine and so happy to see the new season about to kick off with the Daytona 500 next weekend. 

Going to get some lunch in a few minutes, then head out for some boring errands. I hate errands. Waste of quality life time. But they gotta get done. Or do I?

This evening my wife & I will go out for dinner for Valentines day. We've been meaning to try out Tramonto Steak and Seafood for years and tonight will be the night. We'll wait until tomorrow to exchange Valentine's Day gifts. Wife is going to love what I got her, will try and remember to blog a note about it later this week.


So there you have it, my Sunday laid out. Simple, Productive, Fun, Sunday!

What does Sunday hold for you?

 

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 273 - Oh You Have Time

source

I can count on more hands than can be found holding beer cans at a Nascar race the number of excuses I have used for not working out. One of my favorites, "If I exercise today I won't have the energy I want for that really hard workout I have planned tomorrow!"

But I don't want to go on here about excuses for not exercising. Oh no, I want to get into the remedy, the things you can do to make time to exercise. Now I have to say, I am writing this because I admit that I need to find more time to do so. So, here is what I am thinking; just maybe you need to think about this too...

Tele-commute more often. I do have the option to work from home when desired. I choose not to unless I really need to because I crave the face time with the people I work with, even the people I find as friendly as vultures in a desert. But on days I do work from home I can easily convert that 60-80 minutes of drive time into exercise time.

Sleep less, or sleep faster which ever feels more comfortable. I am going to try the sleep faster technique and if it doesn't work I will wake up 30 minutes earlier and get in a focused mini-work out before getting lost in the tasks of the day.

Give up stuff that wastes my time. Some quick possibilities... watching television - such a suck-hole of life; shopping - I hate shopping of all types with a passion, some forms I can pay others to do for me I bet; doing other peoples work for them - this applies at work, home and places in between.

Read less. Oh I don't mean stop reading but there are book shelves of under-appreciated short-stories out there. Put down the 3-400 page best selling novel and pick up some compilations written by authors that can get to the point in 30 pages of less. When the story is done, the sweating starts!

And if those don't work, just  make time. Seriously, have you ever looked at a clock and noticed how much wasted spaces is between the numbers? Reduce by 1/12th the space between those numbers and add a 25th & 26th hour to the day. Eureka, now I have a new two hour window to work out every day!

Yep, I took some creative liberties in my thoughts.

Creative or otherwise, hit me up with some additions to this list please.

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 137 - A Happy 101

Eating was excellent on Tuesday and exercise was minimal. Soccer practice in the early morning and a soccer game in the evening stunted my available time, well, I let it stunt it. After work when we got the game the previous game was 25 minutes behind schedule so I went next door and got some cardio in on Stanton Hill. Not my usual event where I do as many laps up & down in 30 minutes, didn't have time for that. But I did have time for about 1/2 of it before our game started. Planning more cardio this evening and more excellent eating today as well. Are you?

Karla was so kind as to honor me with a thank you by giving me a Happy 101 award. Thank you Karla! Nice looking award, look at them cup cakes. I like cup cakes, and they have sprinkles too! Zero calories if you just look, or if you try & lick them off of the monitor screen. Not that I tried, serious, I didn't.

OK, awards are fun, and awards have rules. Rules by definition are not always fun, but remember, these rules came with a picture of cup cakes, so I dig in to them with pleasure; the rules that is..

First, I need to state 10 things I like...

1. Greek Yogurt (recently discovered awesomness)
2. Alternative History author Harry Turtledove 
3. Hunting (just deer hunting now, next year going to turkeys too)
4. NASCAR & Roush Fenway Racing (greatest sport on the planet)
5. Real BBQ'ing (especially ribs & shoulder, if I didn't need money I'd do it at a competitive level)
6. Hockey & the Chicago Blackhawks (2nd greatest sport on the planet)
7. Exercise (Yep, never thought I'd say that, but I have come to like it)
8. Darts (my father played for money, I play with the kids to be a more connected father)
9. Collecting Hot Sauce (collection is almost at 300 bottles now, I'll get some pics of it soon)
10. Franks for the Memories (Best wings on the planet)

Second, I need to pass this award on to 10 other bloggers I wish to share some cup cake happiness with...

1. Dee
2. Amelia
3. Aliana
4. Misunderstood and Admired
5. MandaPanda
6. Deb
7. Jo
8. Tish
9. Clyde
10. Alan (Pounds Off Playoff)

 Thanks again Karla!

Everyone, whatever it is you choose to do today; enjoy!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 130 - Wasabi to Favorites

Morning, morning, morning... Good Morning!

How was everyones Tuesday? Awesome I hope. A good one for me. A relaxed one for the most part if you discount work. Exercise was a simple 1+ mile walk/stroll with my wife. She's been trying to get out and walk a little bit further each day as part of her recovery. Her recovery from surgery has been just fine with the only real set back being a rough summer-cold she has been battling.

Yesterday I discovered a new snack, Wasabi peas. Nope, I have never had them before. Never! Until yesterday. Took a look at the nutrition panel and was pleasantly surprised and the numbers. I've been relying on allot of fruit for my snacks and has searching for another veggie alternative; found it! Have you tried Wasabi peas before?

Favorites, kids ask us questions all the time; they are kids so they are supposed to. Over time they ask many questions on 'what is your favorite _________?'

Here are some I have fielded over the years; My favorite...
Actor: John Wayne, no debate needed, next question...
Actress: Whoever the leading actress is alongside John Wayne in the movie being watched right now
Candy: Snickers with Whoppers a close second, Almond Joy a solid third
Car: From a practical perspective, I am a Ford man & I am an SUV man; Ford Expedition is what I drive. From a wish upon a star perspective, Porsche 911 Carrera 4S; someday, when I can fit into one!
Color: Orange is by far my fave. The color I cannot get comfortable with is Green. Perhaps stems from my hatred for the Green Bay Packers, or the one time Minnesota North Stars who are now in Dallas
Comic strip: Dilbert, I can relate in so many ways
Dog: Toy German Shepard (about 1/2 size of the normal breed), that is what we had as a kid. If I ever have another dog it just has to have a cool bark, size won't matter; just yappy whinny barking.
Island: Huh? How should I know. Simply whichever island is there to rescue me when the plan or ship goes down, that will be my favorite forever & ever
Johnny Depp Movie: My daughter's inquiry, to her surprise it was not Jack Sparrow. Rather I choose Don Juan in his earlier film titled "Don Juan DeMarco", Maybe Marlon Brando brought out the best in Johnny
Melon: Odd question from a kid; but mine is Watermelon. I am not big on Honeydew and really dislike Cantaloupe even though it is orange, go figure
Pie: My Grandma Bella's Chess Pie (a very sugary / buttery custard style pie), RIP Grandma
Season: Fall, I am a hunter and fall is when I get to hunt. It is also the time of year when I stop sweating so much
Sport: NASCAR first and foremost. Hockey second through fourth. Then Football, Baseball and Basketball. Is Beer Pong considered a sport?
Subject in school: If allowed I answer Lunch. But if not allowed I answer History, I am a History-Buff, any history class gets my full attention

Any of those come off as odd to you?

How about you, what are your favorites for the above (or favorite whatever)...

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 34 - Laugh

Friday is here. Did you hear me; FRIDAY IS HERE!!!

Time for another visit to the lighter side of things. I saw this yesterday and thought it worthy of sharing here. Hope you enjoy…

Ten New Diets by Judy Pokras

You've tried Dr. Stillman's Quick Weight Loss Diet, the Sardine Diet, the Grapefruit Diet, and more, but you're still lugging those extra pounds around. What's a food lover to do? Good news! Ten new diets have just arrived on the scene. One of them is bound to do the trick.

1. The Internet Diet. You lose weight because you're so addicted to being online, you don't eat for days at a time.
2. The Fantasy Diet. You eat a Collard Wrap while fantasizing you're really eating Death by Chocolate.
3. The Play With Your Food Diet. You're so busy making a castle out of your mashed potatoes, you forget to eat them.
4. The Food Chess Diet. You and a friend play chess using food tidbits as chess pieces. You are only allowed to eat when you capture your friend's players. You lose the game and you lose weight.
5. The Rolling Table Diet. You sit on a chair on wheels, trying to eat at a table on wheels. The motorized floor under your table is constantly shifting, so you don't get to eat much, and thus lose weight. (This is similar to The Seasick Diet, but takes place in your own land-lubbing home.)
6. The Fisherperson Diet. A fisherperson holds a pole whose end is attached to a morsel of food in your mouth. Every time you try to bite down on the food, the fisherperson pulls the food away.
7. The Puffed Food Diet. All your favorite foods are re-made in the style of puffed wheat or puffed rice. Your Cheese Ravioli is now mostly air, so you don't gain any weight.
8. The Mock Puffed Food Diet. In this diet, all the foods you like to eat are made of styrofoam, to resemble the Puffed Food Diet. Now you can't eat the food at all. (You try to, and spit it out.) You really lose weight.
9. The Edible Flowers Diet. You are only allowed to eat edible flowers. You get bored with them and eat nothing, thus lose weight.
10. The Love Diet. You munch playfully on your sweetheart's hand. You gain no calories; you lose weight. Your sweetheart loses interest in you because s/he preferred you with love handles.

Ok, maybe that was goofy more so than funny - but, I don't know about you but the Rolling Table Diet sounds like fun! And the Mock Puffed Food Diet does not sound fun at all.

This weekend we have absolutely nothing planned. Nothing worth noting here anyhow. Which means we should be able to find plenty of time to exercise, watch NASCAR and Hockey - Go Blackhawks!

What do you have planned this weekend?

Whatever you do this weekend enjoy it and stay healthy!

Responsibility 199... Gotta Do It!!