My wife and I yesterday were discussing the unhealthy way yet easy way to feed the kids lunch.  With the various Happy Meals, Kids’ Meals and such at each fast food stop, it is no wonder why kids today are obese or are overweight compared to a generation such as mine.

Then I had an epiphany.  What type of food could you make as fast food that you could have a drive through that did not make a mess and was healthy for your kids?  If you could think of this, I can guarantee a millionaire out of the deal.  My commission?  We can discuss that later.  So what should we make?  What food that your kids would eat, that is healthy, that can be done in a drive-thru, that is fast and easy?

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I was talking with a colleague today about movies.  He is a movie critic by night.  I often talk about movies with him because I am a movie buff.  I love all kinds of movies in many genres.  He was telling me of his latest movie he rented made in Japan.  This movie has subtitles.  Being the lazy person I am, I was mentioning that I would rather experience the movie without having to work at reading what they are saying, I either miss the dialogue or I miss something on the screen.  One thing led to another and I mentioned I wanted to see Passion of the Christ and had not yet seen it because each time it is on, I have kids to watch or some other excuse.  Yes, I know I should have seen that movie earlier, but I don’t get out much.  The dialogue turned to the movie:

Me:  I haven’t see it yet but I have seen parts of it as I was channel surfing.  I know it has subtitles in it too.

Him:  Yeah, it’s not a bad movie really, but it has a weird ending. Have you seen the ending?

Me:  Ummmm, no but I am pretty sure I remember how it ends.

This day was the same as most days.  There were only a couple days out of the week when he was spared the horror of their deeds.  They pulled him from his cell early, not allowing his body to rest or to heal.  His body was limp and had succumed to the depravity of rest, and it begged to be in the comfort of the nest he had made a few hours before.  He could almost feel his body’s sobs as they dragged him from the safety of his bed.  He could barely hold his head up to watch as they began the early morning process.  He knew that if he made it past this session, he could crawl back to his cell to recover again, and to try to gain some energy to face the next session.  Each day was the same, one session sometimes lasting longer than the other, all ending with a late night and an early morning.  Just as his eyes would close, they would return to make him face that awful place.

His fingers were mangled and without nails.  These had been pulled out from the tips of each finger long ago.  His flesh was burned in places, and his eyes were nearly swollen shut.  They would soon run out of ways to deliver pain and his suffering would end, but until then, he felt as though it would be years before this nightmare would stop.  They continued to think of new ways to make him feel pain.  As he felt that his body was adapting, they would change their way of making him suffer.

He could do nothing as they strapped him to his chair, making him face the light in front of him.  His head seemed too heavy to hold steady as the normal sounds began to take shape, and the memory of the previous day came rushing back.  He clenched his teeth and tried best to grin before it began again.  He would not let them see the anguish inside, but would only show them his bravery and resolve, all the while praying that they would not break him and find that weakness.  He wondered what this session would bring and whether they would find a new untouched place that would have feeling enough to cause more pain.

The phone rang on the desk next to his chair.  Could this be the reprieve he had hoped for, was this the call that would set him free?  Perhaps this day would be different.  He shook the hope that was creeping in not wanting to fool himself.  He had allowed hope to enter into his thinking before only to have it shattered.  The sound was so intense he felt as though it was making his ears bleed. The phone was lifted from its receiver…

“This is Genuine how can I help you?” 

The work day had begun…

Hey, if it was fun, they wouldn’t call it work! *sigh* TGIF everyone.

I have had my wife’s breasts on my radar of late.  You see, last month she discovered what appeared to be a lump in her right breast.  I should note that she has previously had a surgical procedure to remove fibrous cysts and they were benign.  We made the assumption this time that it was just another fibrous cyst that may be forming.  As it turns out, the surgeon she was referred to indicated yesterday that it is probably a clogged duct from when she was breast feeding, and that we should keep an eye on it.  Hey doctor’s orders!

I posted the above preamble not to make light of breast cancer or women that might have breast cancer, but because this is obviously an important issue to me.  Thankfully I have never lost someone to breast cancer but I certainly know of women that are cancer survivors and have known women that have died from the terrible disease. 

Others are doing or have done their part like, Mir at Woulda Coulda Shoulda (go to her fundraiser) and Ben at Hey You! with his participation in Boobiethon.  I’m not walking for the cause and I’m not looking at women’s boobs in pictures (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it), but I can help with the awareness.  I have previously posted about October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I actually wrote an article over at The Philosophical Mother about Mrs. G’s first brush with the thought of Breast Cancer.

You may ask, “how can I help?”  Easy!  The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is looking for you to help their reauthorization of funding for early detection of breast cancer.  Nothing more than sending an email to your representatives in Congress.  I would also suggest you give a donation, but if not, do your part and get them funding for the early detection program.  I have also posted on my side bar a banner and link to the site as well.  A simple to send email could save a life.  Honey, can I help you with that re-exam?

On another note, Matthew at ChildsPlayx2 has a great post over at The Blogfathers site today.  Everyone should take a moment and read and comment if necessary.

My daughter is having some behavioral issues and is having a hard time staying out of trouble in school. Nothing really major, but things like talking when asked not to, and being like her control freak father.  Last night we had a little discussion on the consequences of her actions.

Me:  Honey, you realize that you are able to make choices of how you act at school?  You can choose to be good and follow the teacher’s rules or you can choose to disobey the teacher and get into trouble.  You get to make the choice.  It is important for you to understand that only you can make that choice for yourself, but you need to realize that if you choose to be on the wrong side of that choice and do something bad, there is a cost.

Her:  I have to PAY you now!????

Yep, she is definitely part of my family.  You want consequences? Hit em where it hurts, the bank account. 

Back in 1998 when I first heard of the company Google, I didn’t think that it was such a crazy name.  The company is actually named after the term googol referring to the number 1, followed by 100 zeroes.

When I first heard the term, I could only think of one thing, “Barney”.  No, I don’t mean the purple dinosaur that sings the “I Love You” song but I’m referring to Barney Google.  One of my favorite comic books growing up was “Snuffy Smith and Barney Google”.  Barney had a horse named Spark Plug. I sat with those comic books reading about what it was like to be a hillbilly.  Now that I think about it, I always wanted to be a hillbilly (a rich one).  With the Beverly Hillbillies (boy did I ever have a crush on Elly May Clampett), and Snuffy Smith and the old Mountain Dew logo the hillbilly was an icon during the 60′s. 

Now if I could only have my own luck shootin’ at some food and be included in that saying “Next thing you know Ol’ Genuine’s a millionaire”.

Now you know what it’s like inside my head at 1:00 a.m. on a school night.

I’m in serious need of coffee.  I decided I better make a pot before I fall asleep at the wheel.  To my chagrin, when going to make said pot of coffee, someone has stolen the pot.  Not the maker, but just the pot.  Now you could say I don’t even have a pot to piss in.  This could be a serious offense.

Her:  Daddy make them stop!

Me:  You make them stop.

Her:  I’m not the boss of them.

Mrs. G:  Since when?

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Sometime this evening, I will be crossing the threshold of 300,000 unique visitors since I began blogging in March of 2004.  That number seems so high yet, I have been able to meet so many wonderful bloggers, that I wish it were more!  That way I could have more friends.  Thanks for being a reader here, and I’ll keep blogging until they tell me top stop!

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Words are difficult to describe our experience on Saturday night.  As we approached the restaurant, we commented on the lack of noise coming from the backseat. This would be a common theme throughout the evening.  As parents we are on constant responsibility mode.  We are always on the lookout for the children and any action which may stray from the appointed task of keeping them on path.  When you are void of this task, even for a moment, you feel as though something is wrong.  Then when you actually have a night of that feeling, it is such a feeling of freedom that is can be overwhelming.

We ordered the seared ahi tuna appetizer and it was melt in your mouth delicious.  We each had a big hunk of filet and Mrs. G decided to order the two pound lobster (you know there is sticker shock associated with it when it says "market price") to complete our surf and turf.  This meal was rounded out by au gratin potatoes, mushrooms and fresh asparagus (why does it make your pee stink?).  The meal ended and we were both so stuffed, even dessert was out of the question.

Our libations included a before dinner drink of Crown Royal, hers with diet coke, and mine with ice.  For dinner we hit the jackpot.  Back in 1999, we made a trip to Napa Valley.  One of our stops was at the Steltzner Vineyards located in the Stag’s Leap District.  We were there on a day the Mr. Steltzner decided to give everyone the day off and he himself gave us the tour and the tasting.  When we saw a bottle of ’01 Cabernet on the menu we new what we would have for dinner.  Upon ordering, the sommelier gave us a treat.  He had a rogue bottle of ’98 that was gathering dust, and we were given this bottle at the same price.  A wonderful treat, as we were actually at the vineyard when this bottle was in it’s oak barrel.

As part of my dessert, I decided on an after dinner drink of some Woodford Reserve bourbon poured neat.  Pure honey from heaven.

As we sat on the back deck looking at the stars and recapping the evening, we knew that this would be an evening that would carry with it the memory of love, freedom, good food, drink, and stress relief.  It doesn’t happen often as parents of small children, but when it does, it allows the batteries to recharge and the ability to face the responsibility of parenting all over again with renewed vigor.  That is until you unleash our children and you begin to wish for the way back machine.

Tags: wedding anniversary, Steltzner Vineyards, Woodford Reserve, Food and Wine