I Am Thankful

Below is an email my wife sent me. I don't know who wrote it, but it sure hit home.

I AM THANKFUL:

FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED .

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME .

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. .

FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.

Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!

What I'm Reading:


What I'm Watching:

Treasure Hunters
So You Think You Can Dance

Rockin' Rotary Ribfest

Went to the Lake In The Hills Rockin' Rotary Ribfest last night. This was the first night of the first year and it rocked! If you like BBQ and Music, check this out. We tried Pulled Pork sandwiches from Pigfoot and Texas Thunder. Both were great. We then went later and got a rib sampler from Mojo's Ribfest. That was great! I don't think you can go wrong with any of the vendors. For dessert, how about a big hunk of vanilla ice cream on a freshly made waffle made into a sandwich! YUM!

The bands playing were:

The New Invaders - A sixties revue type band complete with gogo dancers. This band was very entertaining. Although the reverb on Melody's voice was a little too much for my tastes.

Maggie Speaks - Serious rockin' band! They do covers of everything from Jackson 5 to Queen to AC/DC to Third Eye Blind. This band is a good time for all! Check them out if you can. I give them 4 stars out of 4!

What I'm Watching:

The Closer - This show stars Kyra Sedgewick as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson. This was the part she was meant to play. Check it out on TNT!

The Medium - This show stars Patricia Arquette as the Medium. The acting is good, but the story are better!

What I'm Reading:
4th of July - James Patterson

George Barris Is Coming To Downtown Crystal Lake

George Barris is coming to the Downtown Crystal Lake Classic Car Night. In conjunction with The Volo Auto Museum, Downtown Crystal Lake is presenting George Barris on Thursday, June 29th, 2006. George will be bringing the Inspector Gadget Car with him. George will also be at the Volo Auto Museum on July 1st. Come on down and bring the kids!

Dinner By Deisn Food Review

As promised, here is my review of the Thai Chicken Pasta Salad & Coconut Mahi-Mahi from Dinner By Design in Crystal Lake.

We had the Thai pasta salad for lunch. It was fantastic! Very flavorful and a little bit of zing! Don't get this if you are allergic to peanuts!

The Mahi-Mahi was for dinner. We served it with brown rice and spicy greens from Trader Joes. It was great, but next time I will not make a vegetable with a sauce on it. It was competing too much with the dipping sauce from the Mahi-Mahi.

More to come!

Dinner By Design

Char and I went to a "make your own dinners" called Dinner By Design. This is a kitchen in Crystal Lake where you can prepare your own dinners by combining pre-cut ingredients and following the easy to make recipes. You start by picking the meals you wish to make on their easy to follow website. We picked:

• Steak Chimichurri
• Thai Chicken Pasta Salad
• Maple-Dijon Pork Chops
• Spinich Basil Stuffed Pork Tenderloins
• Coconut Mahi-Mahi
• Chicken Piccata

We had a blast. The both of us teamed up together and each added an ingredient. The staff was super friendly, there was music playing and we had alot of fun interacting with the other people making their own meals. Each meal is made at a different station and all the ingredients are laid out in front of you with all the necessary measuring devices. After making the meals, you place them in a refrigerator until you are ready to leave. It's best to bring a cooler to transport them home with you.

I think this is a great family bonding experience and the price is very reasonable. Try it, I think you will like it. They have them all over the place, check their website - dinnerbydesignkitchen.com. We are going to have the Thai Chicken Pasta Salad for lunch today, so I will report back on it later.

Classic Car Night is Back!

Downtown Crystal Lake is having Classis Car Night once more! It starts June 15th. Click on the link below for more information.

http://www.downtowncl.org/Calendar%20of%20Events/classic_car_cruise_night.htm

What I am Watching:

The Vanishing - Excellent Movie. From 1993, worth the watch!



What I'm Reading:

Secret Fun Spot

a Secret Fun Spot

Check out this website for a fun nostolgic look at novelties and toys!

Let's Go Back To Those Thrilling Days Of Yesteryear!

Those grand old days of radio. Where everyone gathered around the great big radio and delighted to the sounds of "The Lone Ranger", "The Aldrich Family", "Jack Benny". I was too young to participate in those rituals, but I have heard all about them from my mother. I have listened to episode after episode of Arch Obler's "Light's Out Everyone". Many of these old time radio shows are available to listen to on CD or tape. Do a google search on "old time radio" and you will finds tons of spots to purchase them. There are still some programs on the radio that feature these gems of yesterday.

Should these programs be revived? I think so. I think new versions of the old programs would be great to listen to. It would be the re-invention of the "Theater of the Mind". Listen to one of the old shows and see what happens. Your mind is opened up to envision what you hear going on. What better way to spark the imagination of our youth. What a novelty, a family night sitting around and listening to the radio munching on a bowl of popcorn and laughing together. Isn't this a better way of life than having your son in his room playing "Grand Theft Auto", your daughter talking on her cell phone and you and your spouse plopped in front of the TV watching some reality show.

Try it one night a week for an hour and see the difference.

Here are some links for you!

Radiolovers.com
The Antique Radio Collector