Feeding the Ducks on a Saturday Morning

President Obama Wasn't The Only One to Get a Jucy Lucy at Matt's

We were in Minneapolis last weekend for my cousin's wedding, and on Sunday afternoon we stopped by Matt's Bar to grab a burger.

Daphne and I first learned about Matt's Bar while watching Man vs. Food. The host, Adam Richman, compared two different restaurants who have claimed to make the best hamburger with cheese hidden inside. We tried a "Jucy Lucy" at Matt's Bar and a "Juicy Lucy" at the 5-8 Club. 

For us, Matt's burger won out. I think the onions tip the scales. They remind me of a White Castle burger (which I can't get in Des Moines... c'mon Des Moines get with the fast food burger program!)

But the meat is waaaaay better than at White Castle. So, how Jucy is the cheese in a Matt's Lucy? Let's press the burger and find out:

Char had a grilled cheese sandwich, and since it was grilled on the same surface the burgers are prepared on, it was sinfully good. Seriously, this might have been the best sandwich I have stolen bites from.

And Char liked the French fries, too.

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Paranormal Activity 5: D.G. Edition

I have no idea how this became a tradition, but every hotel room I visit is haunted by a dancing ghost.

Looking Up

Johnston is celebrating "Green Days" this weekend. I was bummed the car show was rained out last night, but that was nothing compared to Char's disappointment when she found out she couldn't go to the midway. For the past few days Char has watched the carnival rides being pieced together on the Johnston Commons, an open field next to the public library. We pass the Commons every day in the car, and Charlotte has decided with a mixture of excitement and fear that she wants to ride the Ferris wheel. 

I've watched Char get to the front of the line for a ride at Adventureland only to run in horror. So, I was dubious about the Ferris wheel, but you never know. Tonight we walked down to the carnival to see how it would go.

Getting on.

Going up.

Going around.

Charlotte loved the ride. When she got to the top of the Ferris wheel, Char exclaimed, "I'm like a giant! Fee! Fi! Foe! Fuuuuum!" 

Sometimes I wonder who is having more fun: Char or me watching her?

Then I realize it doesn't matter.

Life is good.

An Aside (Table)

I bought half (or is it a third?) of an old desk at a Goodwill store when we were in Lincoln a few weeks ago. Here it is in the hotel's parking lot.

My idea was to clean it up and use it as a side table for our guest room. I bought chemical stripper, mineral spirits, a brush, and some stain at the hardware store. I already had sandpaper and steel wool.

I didn't do any online research for this project, and I didn't go to the library, either. This time I just read the instructions on the backs of the cans and went for it.

First came the chemical stripper. It's nasty stuff, but chemicals do their job. Goodbye paint.

I made two passes with the stripper.

And then I sanded until it was time for ballet lessons.

I chose Mission Oak Gloss for the stain color, and I used a stain and polyurethane in one product. I sanded the wood with 0000 steel wool after each coat of stain. The finish is a bit shinier than I expected, but what did I think a polyurethane gloss finish would look like? I stopped after three coats.

I picked up some new hardware at Home Depot, and called it done.

Welcome to your new home, side table. 

Will this become a cherished, family heirloom? Doubtful. But it was a fun project, and I learned a bit along the way. Can't ask for more than that.

Father's Day 2014

There are countless men who have "more" than me.

Thanks to my family, I am not jealous of any of those guys.

Truth in Advertising?

I suppose it's appropriate that an electronic cigarette is advertised on a trash can, but do you think the company knows that "Fin" translates into "End" in multiple languages?

Actually, I think they do know. They just don't care.

If You Want to Get Wet...

...give the three-year-old the hose.

The Lincoln Log

We spent our first Friday of summer traveling to Lincoln, Nebraska so we could attend my cousin's wedding. I spend three years attending college in Nebraska, so it felt like a bit of a homecoming when I spotted a Runza. I know, "Runza" sounds like a bad time in the bathroom, but it's restaurant chain that is fairly exclusive to Nebraska. I had to pull over and grab a sandwich.

I ordered a Cheese Runza sandwich. According to wikipedia, this sandwich "...is a yeast dough bread pocket with a filling consisting of beef, pork, cabbage or sauerkraut, onions, and seasonings... In Nebraska, the runza is usually baked in a rectangular shape." I also ordered "Frings!" which is a combination of fries and onion rings. Char got the chicken strips.

Let's peek inside after a couple of bites.

The taste of a Runza was hard to explain to Daphne, but after eating one, she had to agree that they were pretty darn good. Great stop.

Up next was our hotel.

Before we had Charlotte, Daphne and I spent a few weekends visiting different Bed and Breakfast establishments in Iowa. The very first B and B that we stayed in had a Mexican restaurant just a few blocks from the house, and we had a really fun dinner there. So, that became a bit of an in-joke for us. If the B and B had a Mexican restaurant nearby, then we knew we'd have a good time.

Look what was on the other side of our hotel's parking lot.

And to make things even better:

Yep, we knew Daphne had picked the right hotel. And yes, our dinner at la Paz (peace) was great. But before dinner, we stopped at a Goodwill so I could poke around. I bought the first thing I saw, an old Craftsman tap and die set. I have a vintage, metric set that I use on my VW Bug, but it cost a lot more than $19.99. This was a good deal. I'll take an old, American made tool over a new Chinese produced tool any day and everyday. There's no comparison between the two.

The other item I picked up was half of an old desk. The previous owner had painted it brown in some spots, and had fastened a poorly cut piece of plexiglass to the top with screws, but I thought it could make a cool side table if I cleaned it up Might as well take a chance for $9.99. Here's a picture of it in the parking lot. We'll see how it comes out.

I also picked up a vintage Bears t-shirt. I'm guessing this is from the 80's.

The goal on Saturday was to tire Char out as much as possible so we had the best shot of her taking a needed nap before the 4 o'clock wedding. We spend over an hour in the pool, and then we headed to Lincoln's Children Museum. The museum has three levels of activities to explore, and Char had a blast.

Char got to try being a cheerleader and a football player in the Husker activity section. Although it hurt a little to dress her up in Nebraska Red (go Hawks!), she looked pretty cute.

When Char's ready to put on a show for you, she wants a big introduction. That's my fault... we spent a long winter indoors...

Then Char flew a plane.

She spent some time in space.

And some time as a kitty.

She let Mom paint a star and a heart (on the other cheek) on her face.

And then took mom out for a ride.

Char got dressed up in the Johnny Carson Theater to delivered the weather report and to perform a song.

We got back to the hotel room around one, and Char was out. Success!

after the wedding, we headed over to the reception, where it took over an hour for the wedding party to arrive. Char couldn't help herself, and she had to hit the deserted dance floor.

Within ten minutes, ten other kids dragged their parents out to dance, too. Quite a trend setter, that Charlotte.

I think I'll end this post with a few pictures Char took of our hotel room.

Photo Album Memories: Buckle Up; It's Summer Edition

 Birthdays, Big Wheels, and sparklers: could there be a better combination?

That's me back on July 2, 1974, obviously having a blast. Today that kid would be wearing a helmet, a shirt, and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be allowed to carry anything that's on fire.

I'm not one of those guys who spouts clichés about "kids today being too soft" because they're given safety equipment. What kind of a parent wouldn't want their kid in a helmet?

But I also have fond memories of riding in the back of pickups, sitting in the middle in the front seat of a car where there were no seat belts or airbags, and even sitting on my dad's lap and getting to steer the family car. But that was the 70's. Today all of those activities are illegal, and Charlotte will never be able to do them.

But so what? I've never used an outhouse, I’ve never drank tar-water as a medicine, and I’ve never spent a day wraslin' a bear. And those are all good things to miss out on.

So, until she has her learner's permit, there's no way Char's getting behind the wheel of our car. Besides being illegal, I've watched Charlotte trying to steer her tricycle. There are reasons those "new" laws exist.

Faster Than Fast Food

Yesterday was the opening for the Beaverdale Farmers' Market. It's a small farmers' market with one big draw for me: Parlo Pizza. According to the Parlo Pizza website, "This is the only locally owned small business in Iowa that makes old world authentic Italian style pizza using a mobile wood-fired brick oven."

I enjoy gimmicky ingredients like Spam or tater tots on a pizza - it's fun when a business is willing to experiment, but Parlo's Pizza is traditional, and I really like their Margherita. Sometimes I just want a pizza that's simple and honest, and this fits the bill. And for 8 bucks, it's a steal.

Check out my wristwatch. I timed how long it would take to get my pizza once it was placed in the oven: three minutes and forty-seven seconds! You just can't get a finer pizza in less time outdoors.  Luckily, we came to the market early, and the line was short.

Speaking of fast, you should see me eat it...

My Cat Plays Fetch

It's a typical weekday evening. Char plays with her Leapfrog, Daphne sneezes and plays along with the contestants on Wheel of Fortune, and Earl and I play with his soccer ball. 

Earl can do this for hours. If someone doesn't toss the ball down the stairs for him, he'll do it himself.