The Board Meeting

Almost every Friday I have lunch with a group of guys at a local Mexican resturant. Today I took my son, Andy. He had fun chatting with the guys.

Andy's First Golf Outing

My neighbor, Wayne, and I took my son Andy and Wayne's grandson out for a round of golf today. Both boys have been to the driving range but it was the first time either of them had actually played a round of golf.

We ended up playing 6 or 9 holes at an executive course but had to leave early to make it to a board meeting (more on that in next post).

The picture below is the four of us posing on the tee box of the 5th hole.

The next is Wayne and his grandson sitting in the golf cart.

Here's Andy teeing up a ball for his next drive off the 2nd hole.

We had a ball. Andy definitely wants to go again.

Monkey Bars

We are at the playground tonight. Lindsey is working the monkey bars. She loves the bars.

Pandora Radio

I have been using Pandora to listen to the radio over the internet. The cool thing about Pandora is that you can create your own custom channel and it learns and adapts based on the feedback you give it. In order words, you can start by typing in one of your favoriate bands. Pandora will create a station with similar bands. As the music plans you give the song a thumbs up or thumbs down and Pandora will change future songs to better aling with your preferences.

I've spent some time fine-tuning a station for myself.

Click here to listen!

Something Fishy

Andy is feeding the fish at the entrance to Little Pete's.

Ice Cream for Dessert

Digging In

Andy ordered chicken fingers and fries. He has his with ranch dressing.

Little Pete's

Andy and I are at Little Pete's for dinner. The girls are both out at sleepovers, so Andy and I are out seeing the sights.

Fries

The kids and I are at Playland. Andy is scarfing down some fries before he starts playing.

Comments Made in 1955!

I had this emailed to me. If only they knew what we know...

--

I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it's goingto be impossible to buy a week's groceries for $10.00.

Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be long before $1,000.00 will only buy a used one.

If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit. 20 cents a pack is ridiculous.

Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging 7 cents just to mail a letter?

If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store.

When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 25 cents a gallon. Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage.

I'm afraid to send my kids to the movies any more Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying DAMN in GONE WITH THE WIND, it seems every new movie has either HELL or DAMN in it.

I read the other day where some scientist thinks it's possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas.

Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $50,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn't surprise me if someday they'll be making more than the President.

I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now.

It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet.

It won't be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work.

I'm afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business.

Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to government.

The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on.

There is no sense going** **on short trips** **anymore for a weekend, it costs nearly $2.00 a night to stay in a hotel.

No one can afford to be sick anymore, at $15.00 a day in the hospital, it's too rich for my blood.

If they think I'll pay 30 cents for a hair cut, forget it.

Know any friends who would get a kick out of these, pass this on! Be sure and send it to your kids and grand kids too!

Mexican Meat Market

Went to lunch with a good friend and stopped at a Mexican meet market on the way home. Pretty cheap prices in this place.

Kick The Camera

Crazy Swingers!

Follow The Leader

We are playing follow the leader at the playground. I am not as quick as I used to be, and they know it!

Playground

The kids and I are at the playground having a little fun before bed time.

Clouds are rolling in. Maybe rain tonight.

Honey BBQ Boneless Wings

Wendy's has added boneless wings to its menu. I usually only come here for the Frosty. But I also like the hamburgers. I am trying the honey bbq wings tonight. Average at best. Probably won't order them again.

What's For Dinner?

Playground

Lindsey and I are at the playground. She is taking a quick water break before we continue playing.

Herman Miller "Get Real" and Aaron Hockey

I came across a neat video by Herman Miller, one of the big office furniture manufacturers based in West Michigan. The video was created by a company called Fairly Painless Advertising, also based in West Michigan. I've met the owner, Chris, when I was working on an internal promotion for Herman Miller. Great guy and very creative.

Anyway, enjoy the video.

Also, here's another cool video from Herman Miller. This is the official video of Aaron Hockey!

Disappointed

Well, after a couple hours of preparation, six hours of grill work, following the "secrets" to great ribs, I was really disappointed. The sauce and rib rub I used were both great, but I did not achieve the fall-off-the-bones tenderness that I was seeking.

Back to research. I will master ribs!

2 Hours

I am about 2 hours into barbequing my port ribs. I wasn't getting enough heat so I moved the wood chips to the center burner and spaced the runs on each side. I have the center element on full and the left and right off so the ribs are cooking from indirect heat.

I can tell that I am going to have to get a thermometer to more accurately measure the internal temperature. Not sure how much I trust the gage on the front lid of the barbeque.

I am not really getting as much smoke as I had expected. Next time I might try putting the smoker box right on the element.

It just started raining outside.

Ribs!

My neighbor challenged me to a rib cookoff. He is doing beef and I am doing pork. I did a bunch of research and came up with a process that I am trying as my first test. If it works out well, I will post the details so you can try it also.

In the picture I have the ribs cooking with indirect heat at about 230 degrees. On the right is a box of wood chips to add flavor. In the top middle is water to help keep moisture. Will keep it like this and then try an experiment with one of the rib halfs that is supposed to help make them fall of the bone tender. I am only going to do it with one of the halfs so I can compare approaches.

Bunk Bed

Lindsey was having a hard time getting to sleep tonight, so she asked if I would sleep on her top bunk. It's been a long time since I have slept on a bunk bed. The view is pretty good from up here!

Boating

We are out on a boat with some friends. The sun is setting in the distance. We are on our way to the other side of the lake for a fireworks show. Should make for a nice end to an already perfect day.

Almost Boaters

Andy and Lindsey are excited about going boating with some friends today. We are on our way to get the boat out and pick up the rest of the gang on the nearby dock at Little Pete's in Flower Mound.

Ice Age--The Meltdown

The kids and I watched Ice Age--The Meltdown last night after I returned from California. We loved it. We especially loved the endless attempts of the squirrel attempting to get an acorn. I haven't laughed like that in a while!

Herman Miller Culver City

I was at the new Herman Miller showroom in Los Angeles (near Culver City) today. We are about a month away from opening. There is still a lot of work to complete, but it is coming along well. This site will become the model for future Herman Miller sites.

Radisson Hotel Los Angeles

Last night I stayed at the Radisson Hotel in Los Angeles (Culver City area). The hotel was clean enough, but that is where my likes ended. 

It took forever to check in. I don't know if they had a problem with their system, but it seemed like the front desk person spent forever punching keys; she wasn't very friendly either.

I also had problems with the air conditioner in my room. I couldn't get it to maintain a consistent temperature. In addition, it made a terrible rattling sound when it was on. 

The walls are paper thin. I could hear conversations on both sides of my room. It felt like I was sleeping in a room separated by curtains instead of walls. 

The box spring is about a foot shorter than the mattress. As a result, the mattress sags slightly at your feet. 

They only give you one type of coffee (and no refills) for your in-room coffee machine (which has been brewing for about 10 minutes, but still not complete).

Overall, it is the little things that make up the difference between an average hotel stay and an excellent stay. This one will go down in the books as average. When I return out to LA to finish my project I will try another hotel.

Phillips Barbecue in Inglewood CA

Before I left for my trip to LA I did some research on restaurants in the area that I was staying. One of the local LA food snobs highly recommended Phillips Barbecue in Inglewood and rated them best barbecue in southern California. So I decided to give it a try. I didn't know they were only a takeout joint, no sit down, so that was a bit of a surprise. But no problem, it was only a few miles from my hotel. I ordered and returned to my room to feast.

The ribs and the sauce were, well, average. I was expecting to get blown away by ribs from somewhere out of this world or something like that. Nope. Just average. Would I go back? Probably not--I'd prefer to search out another barbecue in the area to see if I can find something more to my linking.

Should you try Phillips Barbecue if you are in town? Absolutely. They might be a better fit for your taste buds.

Club Sandwich

Having a bite to eat at the hotel before my afternoon meetings start.

LA Again

Just landed in Los Angeles. I am riding the bus to the car rental place, than off to the project site for a progress inspection. Not expecting any problems.

Meeting some additional people on site in the morning, then will fly back to Dallas in the afternoon.

Hope to hit a good barbeque spot tonight for dinner.

Andy's Birthday

Andy had a couple of friends over for his 8th birthday. Here's some pics of him opening his presents and blowing out some candles. The last is showing the sunburn he ended up with on his cheeks because I missed that spot with the suntan lotion!

Ice Cream

We stopped for ice cream on our way back from the water park. Yum!

Happy Birthday Andy!

Today is Andy's 8th birthday. He wanted to take his two buddies to the water park to celebrate. They are having a great time!

Home Sweet Home!

I think this is what retirement is supposed to look like. A small shack with a half decent view and no neighbors to worry about. How do I sign up for some of this?

Playing Games

Lindsey is playing some games at Going Bonkers.

Going Bonkers!

Lindsey and I are at Going Bonkers in Lewisville, TX. We love it here. It can get pretty noisy, but it is a lot of fun for the kids!

God Lives in the Post Office

Was sent this via email... enjoy!

_________________________________

God lives in the Post Office

This is one of the kindest things I've ever experienced. I have no way to know who sent it, but there is a beautiful soul working in the "dead letter office file" of the US postal service.

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her.. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.

I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her. You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith

_________________________________

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith , ' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies..' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

_____________________________________

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven.

Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.

Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog.

Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.

I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.

By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.

Love,

God

Fireworks

Jane and the kids and I are at a neighbors daughters neighbors place shooting off fireworks. Fun stuff.

Hess Cabernet

Picked up a bottle for a dinner party tonight. The guy at the store says this is a great wine for the price. Costs $20-something but drinks like a $40-something. I guess in wine talk, that's a good thing!

7/5 update: Yep, it was a good wine!

Ice Cream

The kids, Megan and I are out for ice cream on this 103 degree day. I love the heat!

New Trail

I was out trail riding today when I noticed a guy riding through an area of the woods where there isn't a trail... or at least that is what I thought. Curiosity got the better of me, so off I went on my bike in the direction of where I saw the other rider. After a couple of minutes I found where he was and discovered he was riding on a trail... a new trail that had recently been cut. So I followed it. I absolutely love finding new trails! The trail runs from the guard shack at Murrell Park to the M.A.D.D. shelter near Little Pete's in Flower Mound, TX. What an awesome find.

I Blew It!

Was out riding bikes with the kids and a couple of friends. I blew a tire. I carry a patch kit and CO2 canister, but no go. The tire broke at the stem. Had to call Jane to come and get is in the jeep!

Excellent Pictures Taken in Michigan

The link below has been floating around the internet. It's worth of a look. The site hosts exceptional photographs taken from around Michigan. The picture above is an example from the site.

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jensenl/visuals/album/michigan/

Playland

I am at Playland with Lindsey and her friend Emma. Time for them to burn off some energy.

Bass Pro Shops

Andy and I are checking out the fish at Bass Pro Shops in Grapevine, TX.

New Shoes

Andy and I are at Foot Locker trying out some new shoes.

Ugly Cat