Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Website Recommendation

Due to an email conversation I'm going to put this here as well. I previously mentioned Cracker Barrel's Hashbrown Casserole.

You can find the recipe at: www.topsecretrecipe.com
along with a bunch of other ones (I highly recommend the KFC cole slaw as well) for small fees. Well worth it.

Sunday, September 24, 2006

All In All A Good Day

Just your typical Sunday, I guess.

Breakfast at
Cracker Barrel...mmmmmm Hash Brown Casserole.

Decent white chocolate mocha at
Beaner's Coffee.

Shopping at the mall. T needs some pants to round out her new professional/teaching wardrobe. I picked up a
50 Hikes in Michigan book. Been itching to hike since we got here.

Home Depot for some things to finish our table and chairs - pictures will be posted when the project is completed. Hopefully by next weekend.

Other errands. Did you know, evidently you can't buy just a VCR anymore. All we could find were DVD/VCR combos. I know, I know. Need to get TiVo. Thinking about it.

10 mile long run. That's right, I said 10 miles (10.38 according to the Garmin). Gonna sleep well tonight.

Only downside: the last two weeks, the Bengals games have been carried by the local Grand Rapids CBS station (vs Chiefs and vs Browns), so I completely expecting to see the Bengals vs Steelers game today. Nope. The CBS station here didn't carry a game due to the sucky Lions being on the local Fox station. ARRRRRGH. Maybe next week's game (vs the Patriots) will be on. Gonna keep my fingers crossed.

People that are reading my blog: do me a favor and leave me a comment to this one so I can actually see how many (and who) is reading this besides Erin. And Erin, don't be afraid to let people know this is here.

Friday, September 22, 2006

New Gadget

In an attempt to make it easier to get up in the morning during the upcoming winter (hell, sunrise isn't until 7:30 a.m. here now!) we purchased a new alarm clock. No, it's not one that physically lifts the bed to dump you out - although a prototype was considered.

This is what we got: The Progression Wake Up Clock. Have used it the last two days to pretty good success. The light really does make a difference. I haven't been able to tell if the "aroma therapy" part even works. The best part was, it was pretty much free - got $140 from the movers for the stuff that was broken, including the plastic front of the clock radio (which still works perfectly by the way).

Off to spend another wet day at soccer. And here I thought I left the rainy part of the country behind!

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

The Mitten

After much examination I have determined that Grand Rapids would be approximately 1/3 the way up the space between the 4th and 5th metacarpals. At least on my hand.

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Change of Seasons

Ahhhh, I think fall is upon us here in West Michigan. Much anticipated by me at least. Leaves changing color. The crispness in the air. Have always been a Fall/Winter fan. Not sure I'm ready for the first snow just yet though.

Speaking of "West Michigan", I've noticed that is how this part of the state is referenced in conversation. "I'm from West Michigan" or something like that, not "Western Michigan". I wonder if that is because there is a Western Michigan University and not everyone wants to be referenced as a Bronco? I know I wouldn't.

Not sure how many people are actually reading this blog - or how many from Michigan are reading it, but need some help. Looking for some information on outdoor/hiking opportunities here in West Michigan. I can find plenty of info on the UP (that's the Upper Peninsula for all the non-mitten* residents out there) but so far little on this area. Schneider, if you're reading this put your strong Google-foo to work for me!

*The mitten: it is a little known fact to non-residents of Michigan that everyone, and I mean every human on the planet with a hand, carries with them a map of Michigan. The non-UP portion of the state resembles a mitten (or a hand) with the thumb facing to the right. You ask someone where they are from, they whip out there "map" and point to a spot on their hand. Last time I checked though, my hands don't have a scale, cities, roads, or other reference points. It can be confusing.

Friday, September 15, 2006

Out of Commission

Ugh...Salmonella is no one's friend. Especially mine and T's.

Let's just say that about 6 hours after dinner Tuesday night (that would be Wed. about 3 a.m.) things got a bit "dicey" for both of us. I'll spare the details.

Thankfully we had on hand some anti-nausea prescription meds (thank God for T's inability to take vicadin without it) that got us eventually through the night, and day.

All told, we both missed two days of work. I slept from 10:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Wed. Then went back to bed at 9:30 Wed. night and woke up around 10:00 Thursday morning. That adds up to about 21 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period.

At least I'm well rested now.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Improvement

Things are looking up:

Running front - actually have been consistent over the last week and a half/two weeks. And shockingly I'm feeling better! Pace is improving. Long run this past Sunday was good. 8.6x miles. A little over 1 hour 35 mins. 6.5 weeks to go. I'll get there.

Michigan front - T and I are getting settled in. Discovering new areas of Grand Rapids. Had a social gathering last week with some people from work at this great park just north of downtown. Much to my surprise it sat right on the Grand River. Had miles of bike paths (bike paths are actually part of a much larger trail that extends over 40 miles.) Felt very much like Alton Baker Park. Just didn't have the scale model of the solar system. LOVED starting runs by the Sun.

Felt like a true adult this past weekend. T and I bought furniture. A table and chairs for the dining room. From a furniture store. Not Goodwill. Not a garage sale. Not Target. A Furniture store.

Monday, September 04, 2006

Confusion

Labor Day. Easy morning around the house and then we were off for some fun.

Funny story - well, at least T thought so:

I woke up in the middle of the night. Pitch dark outside. I felt like I'd been asleep for days! Get up, go the bathroom. On my way back to bed I say to myself "It has to be like 5 a.m., I wonder what time it is?" I look at the clock. 11:51. P.M. I'd been asleep about 45 mins, MAYBE. Think to myself, "the clock can't be right" so I walk into the kitchen and check the microwave clock. 11:52.

Yep. I'm a doofus.

Sunday, September 03, 2006

TV Shopping

I have done the impossible. I have convinced T that our television needs to be upgraded. The 19" TV/VCR combo (the VCR doesn't work anymore - in fact hasn't worked since I met T. ) that she brought to this party 6 years ago just isn't cutting it anymore.

So, the journey begins. What size? 37" or 42" (I'm leaning towards 42" - don't want to go too small and regret it) Plasma? LCD? Over the air HD tuner? Ok, that's a must, or so my techno-geek friend in Oregon tells me. Where to shop? Online? Costco?

So many choices!!! Ah, but at least I have them. How nice is it that we are FINALLY a two-income family!

I will keep the blog updated as we narrow the field.