Thanksgiving...

I just love Thanksgiving! It is one of my favorite days of the year. It sets the mood for the Christmas Season. Usually we go to my momma's house, but this year we are starting a new tradition. I will be hosting dinner. So the family will come over and enjoy a feast. We will enjoy the traditional turkey with all the fixings. Grandma's dishes are always used; gold flatware, wine glasses, table clothes, pickle bowl, cranberry sauce dish and butter dish. Before we start to eat we all go around the table and share what we are thankful for.
This year I am most thankful for our baby; it will be a blessing. This is our first baby and are so excited for he/she to be born in February.

Gaunt to Gargantuan and Back

Honestly I did not find the info in this article surprising. Actors are forever changing their looks, body styles and types for roles. This, however, is their "job." One one end of the stick I guess they should since this is what they are getting paid for and their work should be authentic. Just like I have to adapt with skills and such for my job. I do, however, don't think the extremes they go to are healthy for themselves or followers. I do think they should take advantage of the make up, padding and digital advances they can do for them. But, they will do what they do...just like all people.

Happy Halloween

I had a wonderful weekend. Friday, we went to Boo Bash. I dressed up as a flapper and John as Uncle Fester. Nothing keeps you young at heart than dressing up and celebrating Halloween.

Saturday morning I woke up and my brother called, who lives down the street and invited me down for breakfast. My hubby was still sleeping so I grabbed Uta, our dog and went down the road. The smell of fresh fried bacon filled the air. The coffee was brewed and Clapton was on the radio. I joined him. We decided to make some chicken gumbo soup, since it was cold and windy. He chopped while I sat and folded clothes. We chatted about our week. Just as breakfast was ready John, my husband, walked in. We all ate and enjoyed. We cleaned up and John and I walked home.
John cleaned the fireplace out and I did some homework. Later that day, David came down and we carved pumpkins. We chatted about memories of carving pumpkins with mom and dad on the deck. Then we all enjoyed the soup we made along with fresh homemade bread and hot tea. John made a fire in the fireplace and watched Halloween.
David left to go to another party. John and I spent the rest of the evening by the fire, it was very romatic.
Sunday we woke, John made fresh buttermilk pancakes for us, we ate and got ready for Mass. After Mass we went to register for our baby shower. We are expecting our first baby in February 2010. That was a very exciting and exhausting experinece. Later after we got home I finished homwork while, he grilled steaks on the grill. We ate and retired to bed early.
All is all a fantastic weekend.

The New Blue

About 18,000 years ago, when the last glaciers invaded this area from the north, creatures of every type were living and enjoying life in gorgeous Northern Michigan. However, as the severe cold persisted and dropped the thermometer well below the zero degree temperature level, a massive amount of the creatures either migrated south or sadly became extinct. A very minute, yet resilient, grouping remained able to withstand the cold of Michigan winters and refused to flee their home.

One of the minorities remaining was an introverted pelican who struggled with the resolution of packing and leaving or whether he should hunker down and combat the elements. This pelican decided that Northern Michigan was his home and that he would indeed reside. Observer’s testimony states that during the first winter the temperatures were so bitter that the pelican’s feathers actually turned blue. Today, on the shores of Torch Lake, residents frequently report seeing the silhouette of a very cold and lonesome Blue Pelican silently gliding above the surface of the shores. Thus, the Blue Pelican was established.

The Blue Pelican Restaurant and Inn is located at 2535 North Main Street Central Lake, MI 49622 Phone: 231-544-BLUE (2583). They serve lunch Friday and Saturday 11:30-2:00, supper Sunday thru Thursday 5:00-8:00, expect Wednesdays. Tuesdays is the two fer Tuesdays, which is always jammed packed with the locals. Hungry locals dine on $2.00 drafts, wine, margaritas and hotdogs, sodas for a dollar and mouth-watering, slow roasted pulled pork sandwiches and juicy cheeseburgers for $3.00.

We dined there Saturday, October 10, 2009 around 6:00pm. It was Polish Festival night. As we walked up the stairway, the autumn leaves were falling. The sun was just about to set and sounds of Neil Young were in the air. I entered to be greeted by a young blonde lady with a smile a mile wide. “Good evening and how may we help you this evening?” I told her our name and she seated us most sweetly. To the left was a cozy bar area and to the right a fine wine display. A young gentleman was singing and playing the keyboard, which set a relaxing cozy mood, just like you would expect in Northern Michigan. The dining room was quaint, but nothing spectacular. An assortment of tables with white linens and candle light for all to enjoy. The entire establishment was clean, fresh and welcoming.

We ordered cocktails and reviewed the appetizers, all were in the price range of $8.00-$12.00, mostly seafood related. We decided on the fire cracker shrimp and crackling crab cake to start. The shrimp was crispy with a tangy peanut sauce, cooked perfect and served fresh, hot and plated lovely with a fresh purple flower. Next came the crab cake. They said it melted in your mouth, served with an array of fresh dipping sauces. Again, presentation was lovely.

Fresh fish will cost you $18.00-$22.00 a plate. The crab stuffed walleye was moist and flakey, served with tossed seasoned vegetables. It needed a bit more spice for our liking. The shrimp linguine for $22.00 was bland as well. Vegetables were crisp, just not enough spice. The seared teriyaki tuna melted in your mouth, quite the deal for only $8.00 a plate. The steak was tough and thin. Not the place to go for a great piece of beef and especially for $22.00, not the best deal in town. Now, the pan fried perch was flakey and fresh a wonderful dish for only $18.50.

The Polish buffet was tasty and fresh. It started off with a green salad and applesauce to temp your pallet. Trays of spicy bratwurst that burst with juice as you cut into them, mounds of warm German potato salad--tangy yet sweet, fresh purple cabbage and sour kraut, slow roasted pulled pork—seasoned to perfection, stuffed cabbage smothered in tangy tomato sauce and of course crispy potato perogies--smothed in white onions. Then, to top it off, slices of fresh baked black forest cake, German chocolate cake and buttery apple streusel for all to enjoy—they were all moist, sweet and a fantastic ending to a tasty meal. All for the low price of $15.00; by far this was the best tasting deal in the house.

The managers were in the dining room greeting and chatting with customers to ensure satisfaction. Wait staff were prompt, kind, and knowledgeable of the menu. Water glasses and cocktails were always full and the food was served in a timely manner. Reservations are taken and recommended for peak times of the year, which would be summer and fall. Overall, it was a wonderful meal, enjoyed by all. I would say they earn two point five stars out of a five star rating scale. We had a party of six and all stated they would return for their specialty theme nights, seafood appetizers or the “two fer Tuesday.” If you are ever in Northern Michigan stop in and try it out, you may even see the Blue Pelican.

Hookah!

I love music and it loves me. It feeds my soul. One of my all time fav bands is Ekoostik Hookah. Ekoostik Hookah is the nucleus of a family drawn to its lucid, improvisational treatment of psychedelic rock ’n’ roll, blues, funk, jazz and bluegrass layered with rich harmonies. Born early in 1991 in a smoky basement bar, the band has been continually evolving, cultivating a sound that will draw you in. I have been a fan since the early 1990's. A few friends and pack a sack and headed down to Ohio for a 3 day music festival. From the very first tune they played on stage we were hooked and still travel to see them.

Writing Awards

Excitement and anticipation filled the air. Proud students and family members eagerly waited for the University of Dearborn Student Writing Awards ceremony to begin. One lady talked on her phone to her son chatting about Face book. A proud family of four sat enjoying cider and donuts. The girls were dressed in their Sunday best; proud smiles were worn on their faces. The hostess of the refreshment table had to fight off hungry students on their way to other classes.
I took my seat in the presentation room and waited for the event to begin. People began to file in and take their seats. Diversity filled the room; people of all sexes, ages, races, economic status, and ethnicity were present. I would say that their were 70+ in attendance. Snacks were enjoyed by most, as I looked to my left I noticed a “No food or drinks allowed in this room” sign. I chuckled to myself. A sharp dressed, young gentleman walked about the room and greeted students. He must be the presenter I thought to myself. He made his way to the front and stood at the podium. Bleak silence instantly filled the air, all eyes where up front. The gentleman greeted us all and thanked us for joining in the celebration. A few other staff members greeted us as well. Presentations were beginning. The first category was Poetry. 1st place went to a student for the poem titled “Hitchhiker.” That piece was amazing, probably less than10 words, yet straight to the point with a twist. I was thinking it was going to be about some lonely man out on the streets, but no it was about a bird, astounding. Another piece that still remains in my mind was “Swing on the Spiral.” The author did not read her piece, but another professor. I could relate to this story from my younger angry adolecsent years. I think we have all been there. An older gentleman was sitting behind me and after the reading, he said “ I did not understand that at all.” I just laughed to myself.
All in all it was an incredible experience. Some students were proud and boisterous and others proud yet timid all very talented students.