What the _________?!!?

There are few things that aggravate me more than hearing children say "what the ______."  They leave the blank in because their friends leave it blank.  Everybody does it.  There isn't any harm as long as they don't actually say the last word out loud.  Besides, it's cute when a kid cusses.

Right?? 

Wrong.

The omission of the "h" word or the "f" word does not mean the word isn't there.  Everyone who hears someone say "What the _____" knows full well the expletives that fill in the blank. 

Spoken out loud or not, a cuss is a cuss.

Why do we accept this from children?

Christmas Reflections

It isn't the tree, or the presents.

It isn't the food (even though I love ham gravy).

It isn't the music or the parties or the snow on the ground.

It's the Savior.  And even though December 25th is most likely not His birthday, it is a day set aside to commemorate His birth. 

It's no secret to those who know me that I don't do well with the stress of the holiday season.  The rushing and buying and wrapping and baking and worrying about how many gifts we bought for each person and trying to make sure everything is "even and fair" gives me a hole in the pit of my stomach.

That's why I'm so very glad to have this week off, to relax with my family away from home, away from the tree, the gifts, the bills, the stress. 

We were able to truly focus, if only for a moment, on Jesus and His birthday.  Not the other garbage that normally surrounds Christmas.

And it has been very good.

New York Pizzeria and Restaurant

On our way home from a concert in Edmeston today we stopped at a little Italian place in New Berlin, New York. 

From the moment our family walked in the door, we felt welcome to such a degree as I have not felt in a long, long time.  A table was prepared for us and we were seated without delay.  The staff was friendly, the atmosphere was warm, and the food was superb.

About the food:

As we are on a limited budget (my wife and I have 5 children), we generally order simple food without many frills.  Today was no exception.  Our family enjoyed 2 large cheese pizzas and a round of root beers.  Also, my wife and I split an order of bruschetta.

The bruschetta was prepared on a split loaf of small Italian bread.  The bread was toasted and seasoned.  Sweet cherry tomatoes, garlic and onion with fresh basil topped the bread.  It was delightful and fresh - very different from other recipes I've tried.

The pizza - the crust was hand-tossed.  Not even all the way around, but rustic and light nonetheless.  The sauce was extraordinary - fresh and chunky with just the right amount of oregano to make it pop.  The cheese (I don't remember what kind of cheese it was - I did ask) was creamy and soft without being overly greasy or gooey. 


All this at a price that makes me want to take my family back again and again. 

Thank you, New York Pizzeria and Restaurant!  You get two thumbs up!

Thankful ....

Being thankful is a personal thing for many.  For some (myself included), thankfulness takes on a deeply personal meaning few others will ever understand. 


I'm thankful for a warm house and a comfortable bed.

For the elegant city lights as we approach the city.

For children and their cousins who stay up all night talking like old friends.

And a little girl who like to play with my flashlight.

For my dog, stupid as the day is long.

For a loud houseful of people.

For my father-in-law's coffee, even though it's been known to melt a spoon.

For plenty of food to eat.

For a beautiful, loving wife who does so much more than she realizes.

For my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.



Thank you, God, for all of these things.

A Checkout to Remember

A few days ago I was at the grocery store.  There really isn't anything unusual about that, as I generally stop for groceries most days.  Sometimes I just have to pick up something small (a gallon of milk, a loaf of bread) and sometimes a larger order is required. 

This trip to the store differed from the norm, however, not in the items in my basket, but in the events that unfolded at register 1. 

You see, I try to make it a point to get to know the people who work in the stores in which I shop.  I know their names, where they go (or went) to school, the music they like, their political views, etc.  It's like being with friends every time I walk through the doors.

Anyway, As I was standing in the checkout line, one store employee came over to me and said, "I wanted to let you know that it has been a great privilege to serve you over the last few years.  This will be my last night of work here, and I didn't want you to leave without saying goodbye to you."

I asked the usual series of questions.  Where are you going?  What will you be doing?  Will you be moving there? 

I teared up at his words, partly because of his outstanding character, but mostly because it's unlikely that our paths will cross any time soon, and I'm gonna miss him.   

I wished him well, and we shared a handshake and a friendly (manly?) hug. He thanked me. 

"No," I said.  "It is I who should thank you."

Sandwiches are King!!

I know I haven't posted in a while.  It's a long story and I won't bore you with all the details.  Suffice it to say that I got a little busy with some "stuff," and couldn't devote much time to blogging.  But I'm back now (at least for the time being)!

So to kick things off, I would like to talk about sandwiches.  Sandwiches are truly one of my favorite foods, and it really doesn't matter what time of day it is.  Breakfast, lunch, dinner, midnight snack,  it's all good.

Here are my top ten favorite sandwiches of all time (subject to change when I find a new favorite):

10. Lebanon Bologna and American Cheese

Pictured above on whole wheat bread, I prefer mine on white sandwich bread. Mayonnaise and sometimes a crisp leaf of iceberg lettuce.

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9. Tuna Club Sandwich 

Of course, Byorek's Knotty Pine Restaurant prepared this sandwich perfectly ... a double layer of tuna salad, lettuce, tomato, and bacon.  The sandwich was so thick you couldn't fit it in your mouth.  Sadly, "The Pines" is now a parking lot, and my attempts to recreate this sandwich have never come to full fruition.  *sigh*

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8. Turkey and Coleslaw on a Kaiser

   

AKA "Ruffed Grouse" sandwich.  I first had this beauty at Isaac's sandwich shop in Lancaster, PA.  We have since recreated it many times at home.  It's a great sandwich.

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7. Chili Dog

 

Specifically, from Jimmy's Quick Lunch in Hazleton, PA.  Whenever we go the Hazleton to visit family, a trip to Jimmy's is a MUST.  Their dogs, rolls, and chili are specially made just for them - nop one else has the same chili dogs.

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6. Barbecue

Some people call it a sloppy joe.  We always called it barbecue.  Sweet, tangy ground beef goodness on a hamburger bun. Mmmmmmm!!!

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5. Egg Salad on Rye

 

Rye bread is a limited item in our house because I'm the only one who likes it.  However, my devious plans include teaching my children to love rye bread as much as I do.  This wonderful, eggy sandwich filler might be served on something other than whole wheat in the not too distant future.

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4. Grilled Ham and Cheese 

Thinly shaved slices of deli ham and three different cheeses piled on Texas toast, grilled to perfection.  The Broad Street Deli used to do it the best, but I haven't been there in so long, I don't even know if it's still on the menu.

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3. Cheeseburger

 

If this was the only food left on Earth, I'd probably be okay with that.  I love cheeseburgers, especially homemade from fresh ground beef.  Sometimes I top them with the traditional mustard, ketchup, pickles.  Sometimes it's A-1 steak sauce and mayo with a crisp leaf of lettuce and a thick slice of tomato.  ALWAYS grilled slightly under medium.  Yummy!!

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2. BLT

What can I say that hasn't already been said about bacon?  Oh, by the way - Mayonnaise only.  NO mustard on my BLT.

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And without further ado,

My Number 1 Sandwich is ...

Fluffer Nutter!!

On toast, of course.  The peanut butter and marshmallow fluff melt and ooze out from between the slices of toast.  Oh, yeah, Baby!  This is undoubtedly the undisputed king of sandwiches.  Two decadent ingredients melted together in an ooey gooey taste explosion!

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Of course there are other sandwiches that almost made the list.  Things like, the Philly cheese steak, stromboli (technically a sandwich), peanut butter and jelly, chicken fajitas, tomato sandwich, baked bean sandwich, Thanksgiving sandwich, etc...

And let's not forget that the famous Boston creme donut is technically a sandwich, as is the jelly-filled donut and the eclair.  Think about it - flour based dough (fried instead of baked) with a filling (savory or sweet is of no consequence).  Voila! A sandwich.

What are some of your favorite sandwiches?

The Reality of Vertigo

You can read a book for a little while, but your eyes will get so heavy that you have to sleep.  And you will sleep; it isn't as though you have a choice. 

You can try to get out of your chair, but you will sit back down; it isn't as though you have a choice.

You can make dinner, but by the time it's ready, your appetite is gone, completely.

You can be famished, and sit down to eat a delicious meal, but half-way through the meal you feel nauseous.

You take a walk to the store (because driving is out of the question), but you have to stop several times to recoup your balance. 

You can read a few emails, but you must divert your eyes constantly to avoid your head crashing into the computer screen.

You are exhausted and off-balance all the time.  You feel stoned and useless because that's what vertigo does to your body.

You can't do simple things like mowing the lawn, walking your dog, riding your bicycle, or checking your email, at least not for longer than a minute or two.

This is my reality ... at least for now.