G-Force outing

Posted on June 6, 2010 - Filed Under Family | Leave a Comment

I took Mason and his friend Jason to this cool go-kart racing facility for Mason’s birthday. The karts are very fast, and you really get a firsthand experience of what it’s like to drive a racing car. Well, you have to use your imagination a little, but it is a great experience.

It’s all indoor, so it can get pretty hot in the summer, and cool in the winter, but hey, when you’re in the pit, waiting for your turn, all this is immaterial. Both boys got an extra race because it was their birth month, so that made papa happy (less $$).

Best Served Cold, Joe Abercrombie

Posted on May 18, 2010 - Filed Under Family | Leave a Comment

What a roller coaster ride. At first, I thought this book was going to be a wannabe “Pillars of the Earth,”, but I was soon proved wrong. It takes place in about the same era, circa 17th century (or somewhere along in there). Like Pillars, it has wars, castles, sword fights, betrayal, hot sex, and incredible characters. The interplay between the two main characters, Monza and Shivers, runs literally hot and cold. And the comedic relief comes from the character Cosca, a redeemed drunkard. I actually recommend that you listen to the book, not read it, because the clever phrases used by Cosca, are best enjoyed with the inflections that only the spoken word can carry.

The Poet, Michael Connelly

Posted on May 18, 2010 - Filed Under Family | Leave a Comment

A killer is leaving clues from stories written by Edgar Allen Poe. But the police miss the connection, and a reporter recognizes the vital link because the last person killed just happens to be his brother–and he won’t quit, like the police have. He turns up far more than he bargained for, and almost gets killed in the process. There are some great twists in the plot.

Money to Burn, James Grippando

Posted on May 18, 2010 - Filed Under Family | Leave a Comment

Ha–great timing. How often do you read a book about some arcane stock market definition, wondering if it’ll ever be useful, and then read about the very same thing in breaking news a week later? A key element of this book is about “selling short,” and, I’ll be danged if Goldman Sachs wasn’t accused of doing the very same thing as part of the mortgage meltdown the very next week after reading the book. But, never fear, this is just a small part of the plot. It’s definitely worth reading, and oh yes, there is some burning.

Deeper Than the Dead, Tami Hoag

Posted on May 18, 2010 - Filed Under Family | Leave a Comment

You know how oftentimes a story is told from the viewpoint of a main character? Tami Hoag manages to do it with two children that stumble across a dead body in the woods. Then from the viewpoint of one of their teachers. So yes, there’s some good character development, as well as a very good plot. Unless you figure out who the killer is early on, you’ll really enjoy the intricate story. And it takes place decades ago, before modern technology, like DNA matching, comes on the scene, so the characters have to resort to good, old fashioned, police work. This book was more than just a mystery–you’ll find yourself drawn into the characters’ world.

Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings

Posted on May 13, 2010 - Filed Under Family | Leave a Comment

Last Saturday night I proved that I have mastered the art of grilling chicken wings. Oh yeah, easy as pie, you say–just slap’em on the grill and you can’t go wrong. Which is true. But, if you want something that will add a little twang. A little sizzle. A little fire to the mix, then check out this formula.

Grill the wings, but for the last 5-6 minutes, cover them with Masterpiece Marinade–Lemon Pepper. You don’t need to cover both sides, just the top one will do. Yes, the bottle says marinade, but I use these Masterpiece marinades as a glaze. They’re thick, so they don’t run right off the meat. I use the Masterpiece Steak Marinade for… uh, steaks. Again, you don’t need to marinade, just add salt and pepper directly to the meat, and then cover with the sauce. Both sides for steak.

Zune–What a machine

Posted on April 11, 2010 - Filed Under Family, Owner | Leave a Comment

I was looking to enhance my video and mp3 world, and started researching new players. I already had a Sansa Clip, for listening to music and audio books in my car, but I wanted something I could take into work with me, so I needed at least another mp3 player.

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Owen turns one (bet you can’t say that 3 times)

Posted on March 14, 2010 - Filed Under Family | Leave a Comment

Recent pictures of Owen–what a cutie.

The Candle Project

Posted on March 14, 2010 - Filed Under Family | Leave a Comment

Jordan and I experimented with making custom candles–it’s so easy, even a PaPa can do it. I found the plan on the internet–buy a large candle, wrap it with decorative ribbons (or write your own message on one), and dip it into melted paraffin. Joila–a custom candle. It worked great, and now we each have a one of a kind candle.

Triplet’s 2nd birthday

Posted on March 14, 2010 - Filed Under Family | 1 Comment

We helped Tristan, Zayne, and Ethan celebrate their 2nd birthday a couple of weeks ago. Since they can now walk , they are a handful to keep up with. And my, they seem to like my PC way too much.



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