Thinnerware

This is Thinnerware. Thinnerware was created by a friend of one of my daughters with the intention of helping us portly folks lose a bit of weight. I'm thinking of trying them, assuming I don't win the set being given away next week. Wish me luck. Click on the red Thinnerware button for more information.

Fine Dining in the Time Warp Cafe

A few nights ago, we had dinner at one of our favorite places here in Troy, K's Hamburger Shop.
It's been in business, owned and operated by the same family, since 1935. It may not boast the ambience of the more expensive establishments, but the interior takes you back to an earlier time, complete with all the nostalgia for times past. There is a counter with little round stools, and booths, many of which seem to be in possession of their original springs, now showing the passage of time. It can make for an adventurous seating experience. But even though it can be a bit bumpy, the overall feeling is one of comfort. There are flowers (yes, of course, they're fake!) separating the banks of booths and more flowers in the window.


And the promise made by the unchanged appearance is delivered by the food. No health-conscious menu here, no sir! This is good, honest, 1950's style food. Unpretentious and tasty, just like what you remember from the good old days. The hamburgers are on the small side, a bit larger than the mini versions now being offered by Ruby Tuesday's and Applebee's, and they're delicious. The fries are plump, with crisp outsides and tender insides. And the chocolate frosty is to die for. They have plenty of other items on the menu (which is up on the wall -- no printed menus here), but I love the burgers and fries so much that I have to confess I've never sampled anything else. And the prices, while not quite as firmly rooted in the past as the rest of the place (their burgers were originally sold for a nickel apiece), are still a bargain.

I's Be Gittin' Me Sum Kulture!!

The other night my wife Marsha, our friend Pat, and I went to the Troy Civic Theatre to see their production the Odd Couple. We enjoyed it so much we are trying to decide whether or not to get season tickets.

The Civic Theater is in an old barn...more that 100 years old...that really is quite small, but still an enjoyable experience. It is so small, that the when the first row of seats are filled, it is extremely difficult to pass between them and the stage. We had a great time, though. Troy's Mayor, Michael Beamish, played a part in the production, and did an excellent job. Of course, he's a politician, so he's probably a natural actor.

Marsha is dangerous with a camera in her hand and had to get a picture of me when I wasn't expecting it.
All in all...an enjoyable night.

A World Record Big Mouth Bass!!

Today, mine and Marsha's friend Pat caught what must be a world record big mouth bass in a pond at the farm belonging to the Fraternal Order of Eagles here in Troy. Congratulations, Pat!! You go, Girl!!

SGT John Russell and Other Victims of Iraq and Other Wars.

SGT John M. Russell killed 5 of his fellow soldiers and wounded one more at a "Stress Center" in Iraq this past Monday.

What Russell is accused of doing is shocking but, in one sense, unsurprising – at least to those familiar with statistics on the psychological toll that war takes on our troops.

A 2008 Army study established that the rate of soldiers reporting serious mental health problems increases with each deployment. By the third go-around, 27 percent of soldiers show significant signs of stress. National Guard and Reserve troops are suffering the worst, another report found. Russell was on his third one year deployment to Iraq. His military record also shows that he served in Serbia through the last half of 1996 and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last half of 1998.

I believe that Russell suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Not that I'm a doctor, by any means, but the signs are all there.

When is our military going to learn that our troops are not disposable? That they cannot be used over and over again without showing signs of damage?

My heart goes out to the soldiers and their families that were killed and wounded in this tragedy. I do not condone what Russell did in any way, and believe he needs to pay for it, but I believe he is a victim, too.

Obama Tattoos?? Give me a break!

Can you believe people are putting Obama tats on their bodies? I voted for him, but I think that is going a tad far. 25% of Americans have tats, including yours truly, but this is bordering on the ridiculous.

Also, in about 7 years from now, you can expect to see in kindergarten and first grade a flock of kids named: Barrack Hussein Obama What-Ever-Their-Last-Name-Is.

Lets see what he does before we start groveling at his feet, folks. (Where is my soapbox?)

Obama and Biden Following in my Footsteps?

Well, I think the jury is still out on the new administration. I will, however, have to give them an A+ on their taste in hamburgers.



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Yesterday they skipped lunch at the White House and went to Ray's Hell Burger in Arlington, VA.

I've eaten hamburgers there, and I will have to say that I don't think I've ever had a better one.

The menu is limited to a few small chalkboards. One breaks down the burger choices: You can order the patties simply grilled, with a chipotle-spiked “diablo” marinade, blackened Cajun-style, or au poivre with a black-peppercorn crust. Then specify how long you’d like your burger to sit on the grill: “recommended” (with a warm red center), medium (pink), or “cooked throughout.”

If you're ever on Wilson Blvd in Arlington, I highly recommend you try Ray's Hell Burgers.

Still More Windows 7 Stuff

I downloaded the Windows 7 Release Candidate to my new laptop today. This version is good until June 2010. The biggest problem with it is that it still does not have all the drivers it should have. That creates some problems, but none that are insurmountable. It is available at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/

Be sure to read all the caveats carefully. Good luck if you try it.