If you enjoy eating meat do NOT see Food Inc. Food Inc will do to the meat industry what “Super Size Me” tried to do to McDonalds. Only it is a lot harder to erase the images you wil see in Food Inc. I saw a film like this over 20years ago. I was a Veggie for over 12 years before I was diagnosed with CD 10 years ago then I slowly got back to meat. Now I am getting Gregg back to the Veggie lifestyle. They are even making fake meat now without the wheat gluten. I remember back in the 80’s that it was reported that 1 in 3 chicken pieces in normal grocery stores were infected with Salmonella, hence the need for better contamination procedures and antibacterials.
If you dare to see the film you will know what I mean. I cn not bear to see it again but I suggest everyone to watch and decide the best choices for yourself.
I still have my views on Lost coming soon. Suffice it to say I see a lot of biblical references but I do promise I will get to that once things start to slow down. JJ has been bloody busy and so have I. I promise to print some thought provoking ideas and would like some great responses.
I have come to hate the internet and checking emails. I can’t stand the word Twitter. It is all abuzz with the South By Southwest Festival here. Yeah we got techies living here so I get it. But enough.
While I bitching let me once again tell you how much I hate TRU TV. Tonight’s prgramming consist of all Speeders. OMG really that is what you are going to air. WHat lowest common denominator are you trying to broadcast to? I used to love Saturday Night Solutions. THank god for central time as I get Forensic Files at 10. I could go on and on but I won’t.
On a nicer side. We have lots of fun in store. WE are going to San Antonio for a food conference a la Ben E Keith. It just so happens that our hotel night is the same at St. Pattys day. We will stroll the green river and divulge in some green libations then get ready to taste the foods the next day. We also have planned a very fun campoing weekend at Lake Whitney. Now that it has rained the burn bans are off and we should have a great time. Can’t wait!
OK enough and sorry so brief but I am tired and want to watch some more Space Buddies and Beverly Hills Chiuahua. THanks Great Grandma!! YOur video mail is coming soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK. I went back to Michigan this past weekend and can’t figure out why anyone would subject themselves to that. It was freezing cold. I was ready for the cold weather but not that ready. It snowed all day Saturday. Then came the wind, as if the snow wasn’t bad enough. I had told my students I was going to Michigan and they were excited about the snow. I told them it wasn’t all that. I explained about the wet socks in stuffy boots and how their feet and boots would smell. Oh but the best was the scraping of the car. Ahhh the joy of having to scrape snow off the car and windshield. We have an indoor garage so don’t have to worry too much about that but after my meeting on Saturday I walked out to my car to see snow covering my vehicle. I had no snow scraper! I just sat in the car waiting for the car to heat up so that I could put on the defroster to melt the snow and ice off. Then came the task of using the “blue juice” to spray the windshield clean. And inevitably the wipers dragged across the windshield prompting me to have to go out into the cold and beat the windshield wipers clear of ice. AAAHHHH the snow. Then there is all the salt. There is salt on the sidewalks you have to get off your shoes or they will ruin and there is the salt on the road. Now the salt on the road creates quite a nasty and dirty film on the windshield thus prompting you to use more “blue juice.” Eventually you will run out of “blue juice” at the most inopportune time. Oh and don’t forget all the salty snow and ice on your shoes. You have to pound your feet together to get it all of so that your floor mat doesn’t get that nasty salt and water stain.
I have to admit for the first few moments I was inside watching the snow fall I thought it was so pretty, then I had to go out in it. Snow is nice to watch but not nice to live in. When I left Sunday morning I was freezing my tush off but by noon I was driving home with my windows rolled down. On my way home I drove past the front of our subdivision and saw the kids enjoying our winter fest. The sub has snow made on one of the hills and the kids get to sled down it. I just drove by laughing and thinking, that is the way I want to see snow…..70 degrees outside and sledding, how perfect.
Noah has asked for a dinner party for his friends. Preston and Heathcliff have had him over a few times for dinner and Noah wanted to return the favor. Today we had the boys and Taelyn over and had nuggets, veggies, and baked and decorated cupcakes. I have some fun pics I will post(I know mom I have a ton and will get to them!!). Good Times!
Gregg had fun doing his “sports” radio show on the internet the other day. If you like sports this might be an opportunity to hear him daily. He got a call last week and we shall see what happens. Either way I am fine with what happens. We have never hidden our disdain with terestial radio so I hope this venture will prove to be a good one. If it happens it will be rough at first but one that may be worthwhile. Enough speculation we shall see what happens. On other radio news. Gregg told me JJ and Lynne were out of a job. That is so sad. It is hard to see people lose their job especially in the Detroit economy. I know JJ holds a special place in Gregg’s heart. I hope they both find opportunities soon. I would think that the D and D rumors must also be buzzing because when I heard of the release I thought that right away. It is bittersweet that they get that gig. I’m sure that they both feel the same way. D and D are nice guys and although they want a gig in Detroit I know that they are not elated to know how they got it. They too know how it is to be working one day and out the next. That is one TOUGH transition. As I am sure you know we went through it as well. My mom has often said I am a VERY pragmatic person. True but it was hard to leave a house that I had built from the ground up! That aside the prospect of moving someplace cool like Austin also appealed to me.
Now…..It appealed to me because we were also making money and a cheaper lifestyle. I had started my “adventure” living when I had moved to Boulder during my senior year in college(much to the dismay of my parents). It was my “pyschosocial moratorium“. It was at that point that i realized I wanted to return to college and see the world with new(employed…LOL) eyes. I was always ready to move…I almost did my student teaching in Boulder but had no way to support myself and teach. Once I was employed I found it hard to leave so it was ALMOST a godsend that Gregg and I were whisked away to Austin. I loved it here…moved to Philly, which was fun as well but Austin was GREAT(Boulder is still a close second save the weather). Not everyone is “built” to roll with the punches but hey, why fight it. It is what it is and make the most of it. Trust me we still have about two people who still post and write nasty shit about Gregg and radio and JJ stuff. I find it amusing because two weeks after we left I moved on and they still haven’t. Not everyone finds it easy to move on and I am not making light of those who can’t or don’t. I can only imagine the pain that you are going through but once you get past it there are so many blue skies out there that you will be blinded by the sun. I hope you are all fortunate to gaze into the sun and put on those shade because life truly is a sunny place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ENJOY!!!!!
I went back to Michigan for the msu game. UGH. not what I had hoped for as of score nor play. Damn I wouldn’t have cared who would have won if it had been the least bit exciting(sorry Gregg). The tailgate was wilder than usual. They had octobongs and an ice luge. I did participate in the ice luge. Patrick rented a sound system and the place was hopping. Sooo many more people than used to be there when I hung. It’s a nice location only being two parking rows from the stadium-Thanks to Aaron and his contributions to the U of M hockey team-and by the way GO Boston Bruins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I found Jamie Morrison working the crowd and giving out field passes to past and soon to be present players. He commented on two young men shadowing him and mentioned whoe they were. When I turned to look at them the both said, “Oh My God, Ms, Champe/Mrs. Henson.” I recognized the boys as Matt and Ryan Leach(sons of ex QB/baseball player R. Leach). I almost died. THese cute little boys were grown men. The first a senior and the latter a freshmen. These were great guys. I remember Matt as an outstanding math student. He is going into Athletic mangement(hence shadowing Jamie) and Ryan as such a ham. He was such an outgoing guy that I had him do the play by play for the Piston’s MLK game with George Blaha. The kid was a natural and is still as outgoing. They were both interningfor Jamie and my friend Joe who is Sr. Assoc. Athletic Director. Funny thing is back in college Joe and my friend Pia and Topher and I were all suppose to get married and grow old together. Oh how things have changed. Joe has a family and stayed at Michigan(was on swimming team), It was actually Joe and Pia’s time in Austin that taught me how cool it was here and allowed me to make the jump to move here. Pia is a Dr. in Santa Monica and saving animals across the country with adoptapet.com That is Pia with the pigtail braids. I love that girl! Topher is????????????????????? Aspen, San Diego, Some third world coutnry, or somewhere parts unknown. Please contact me or Kendo if you get this we would love to hear your latest adventure!
I have a ton of pictues to post when I get time. I am back to tutoring at the middle school. Great two day a week gig but I had to quit the PTA Homeroom parent chair. That was hard but between the JJ, MS and kids it was too hard. It is still nice though because Gregg and I get to regularly have lunch with Noah at school and go on his field trips. Noah got his first report card and got great grades in music, art, PE, and math. He got god grades in everything else but I am especially happy he got such great grades in math(being a math teacher and all). It’s funny, I always thought his strength was in verbal communication of just about anything. I was actually surprised to learn that he is great in geometry and statistics.
Cooper is very much a computer guy. It is funny to see him move the mouse around and get done what he wants. He can do just about anything on the computer and we have never taught him it. He knows how to turn the volume up and down and how to print many documents. I always ask Gregg, “Did you teach him that?”
Anyway, Good things are happening and I will be writing more and sending pictures in the next week or so. Sorry for my absence!
OK we spared you the confetti. Or I should say I did. Gregg wanted payback! I hope you and your family celebrated nicely. Expect your presents Friday night when we get to celebrate with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We had another nice weekend. We had our second family fun day on Sunday. We hit the Original Pancake house. My kids eat like crazy there. Noah ate 5 chicken nuggets before we left and ate 3 buttermilk pancakes when we got there. Then we went for a nice ride to south Austin and look at the neighborhood Travis Heights. When we roginally moved here the concierge at the hotel tried to convince us to move there. So we went to see what it was like. It was very cute. It reminded me of a mixture of Royal Oak Craftsman type homes with the Ann Arbor(green living) feel and the colors of Key West. Very cute. We stopped in a neighborhood park and talked with the locals while the kids played. It reminded me so much of Michigan. The odd thing is for how much it cost to live plus the high taxes they pay it is like living in Birmingham/GP and having Detroit schools. Everyone pays high taxes and sends their kids to private schools or specialty schools. It was cute, out of our price range and seemed hardly worth it. We luckily avoided the candy store again even though Cooper picked it out amongst the many colorful storefronts. Then we went home and I attended Jamie’s baby shower. She received many nice gifts for Keegan. Congrats again. It won’t be long now.
Now we are off to another great week. Noah had a play date last week with a fellow kindergartner and now Cooper has a play date with one of his classmates. It is so cute seeing them get so excited about their play dates.
OMG I don’t know if I ever mentioned about getting my eyebrows done when I had my hair cut. I know it’s not that exciting to write or read about. BUT I had them threaded. I didn’t know what that meant but I figured since my hair is so short I should do it. I mentioned many time that I was a complete wuss when it came to waxing. I didn’t know what I was in store for. She pulled out this piece of floss thing and i thought ……OK. I still don’t know what she did with that thread but my palms were sweating and I was in serious pain. I guess it is good because people tell me I won’t have to do it for a while since it pulls out the roots but it was a much longer and slower process than the painful wax. Again I am a wuss so I don’t think I will be doing that again. There is a nail salon here now that has those fishy things. You know the fish that eat your dead skin away as a pedicure. GROSS!!!!!!! Perhaps it is a Michigan thing. But I always feared and hated when the fish in the lake would nibble on a freckle. THe thought of paying $75 or whatever it is to have fish do that to you on purpose grosses me out. I know I would squeal and wiggle and probably step and kill many fish. I’m staying out of that pond!
Well tme for bed and Heroes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now that this business is up and running Gregg and I decided to take Sundays off. It is designated Family Fun Day. This was our first family day since the night run to San An. for the wiggles. I’ll ask Gregg to post pics tomorrow.
First we started our day off at the Original Pancake House. If you haven’t gone to one it is soooo yummy. There was one in RO that G and I used to go to all the time. There is also one in G.P. and Southfield. This was our first time here in Texas. We went to the one on Parmer lane as we were heading downtown afterward. There wasn’t a line like the ones in MI. I remember many a cold snowy morning waiting outside in line. Those waits could range from 25 to an hour wait. This was about 5 minutes. Oh but the wait is so well worth it. I used to love the Big Apple. They call it something else here. The boys devoured their pancakes like we had withheld food for days. LOl they finished before Gregg and I which is unheard of. Noah said they were the best pancakes he ever had and wants to come every Friday and Sunday. I assured him we would come every Sunday. It will be our new tradition!
Next we headed to the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. They have an IMAX about the ocean and were having family fun activities today. We got there an hour early so we decided to take the Metro(bus) south of downtown to see all the eccentric shops. We were specifically going down to hit the “Big Top” candy store. It reminded me of Drakes in Ann Arbor. They had hand made sodas and any type of candy you could imagine. It was all hard wood. They didn’t have the booths and eating area like Drakes used to. If you were ever fortunate enough to be in Ann Arbor before 1989 I’m sure you knew Drakes. Once the older lady died her kids sold it and last I knew either Comerica took it over or that T shirt shop next to it did. It was on a mini side street off of State right near Bivouac(if that is still there) There used to be a Comerica there just east of Liberty. Just a shame, I loved their cucmber sandwiches before running to Angell.Mason hall.
Anyway I digress. After the candy store we shopped(got some cute old glass bottles) and then caught the bus back to the mueum. Woohoo. That was a trip, litteraly. There were a LOT of freaks on our bus. Far more freakier than a bus ride Gregg and I once took in San Fran. The young kid behind me told me they call that line the “slice of life” route. Some weird guy was entertaining the entire bus with his bizarre stories. I don’t know what the man was on but I know he hasn’t touched a bar of soap in months. He knew EVERYTHING. Once more people got off the bus I was able to turn around a see him when I noticed he had some jumper cables attached to something and I didn’t need to look back. Noah and Cooper were oblivious to what was going around them as they were amusing the people sitting near us. It was an interesting ride to say the least. We got off and walked to the museum. The interesting ride had made us 9 minutes lat to the movie. Instead we made fishy hats and saw a puppet show and music show. They had this whole free kids day thing. Well with that we also missed the second show by 5 mintues. The place was like a frickin casino. There were no clocks and even though we were in the lobby the whole time they never said over a PA or anything that the nexgt show was about to start. That would be a comment I would give them. So Noah decided he really didn’t want to go into the museum(Texas history) so we went to the gift shop and bught some nice presents. Feeling hungry again we went to Sholz’s Beir Garten. We had some lunch and watched some football then headed home.
It was a very good day followed by naps and then a night time viewing of “Monster House.” Thank you Toon TV. I used to love Disney’s Sunday night movies when I was a child so I’m glad that at least one station has something like that. At least they aren’t watching Wipeout anymore. UGH
Michigan finally won. What a game. We had a TON of birthday parties on Saturday so I didn’t get to see the beginning of the game. I once saw the score of 19-0. When I left Gregg said the score was 19-7. On the drive home it became 19-14 and by the time I got home(mind you 5 mintues drive home) and made the kids dinner the score was 20-19. Cooper and I continued to watch Michigan’s 2nd best comeback game to win. My dad was not so fortunate. I know he is kicking himself but my dad has always been about the getting out while the getting is good. He hates traffic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I called him at the end of the game to see how it was and he called me back saying his biggest faux pas was leaving the game early. First game he actually went this year and he missed a big upset. Not to worry cuz when I come in for the State game I’m sure we will get to see another win. I know Rachel and Brandon are happy. With all the teams going down this weekend it loks like the Sooners are going to be number one. That is nice as I believe we are all going up to Waco this weekend to catch them pound Baylor. I hope it is a night game as we have a TON of parties this Saturday. Is everyone in Austin born the first weekend in October?
I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend and I hope Greg puts pics up for everyone.
Clay aiken is gay. OK I think we all knew that and who cares. I can’t wait until there is a day when no one cares about sexual orientation. We will one day look back at this the same way we do the suffrage movement and civil rights movement.
On another side note. I am sick of talking about Jungle Java. It is going very well and we are booking parties up the wazoo. Everyone is happy and things are good.
Now on to more important stuff. Noah is still loving school and the child loves to learn. I reallly like his teacher a lot. She sends us emails everyday about what they did in class. For those of you with kids you know how hard it is to ask them what they did today. We do a little homework ever day and Noah loves to ask to do it. I know, what a geek. He alwasys says.”shold we do some homework mom.” I love that little guy. We still have Snoopy Sno Cones every day after school. I’ve had that Snoopy Sno Cone machine since I can remember. I am afraid it is going to break one day and I will be forced to search Ebay for a new one. Sooper Cooper loves school too. He does not have homework which is a blessing right now. But he does love to go to the park. Gregg has been taking him in the Ams when he doesn’t have school.
Cooper and I are very excited to be heading to Michigan at the end of Ocotber for the MSU game. I don’t think I am going to take him to the game. He is not the sit down kind of guy that Noah is. I can’t wait to see Julie, Erica(got to stop getting pregnant when I come to town) and her hubby Patrick. Even if Michigan is having a building time right now it is still fun to get back and see good friends.
Congratulations to my sis Susan and Dave and their impending baby. I know you guys have waited so long for this I wish you all the love! I also have a baby shower for Jamie coming up as well. They are due in October so it should make for an interesting month.
Now on to Heroes. They are on the cutting edge for sure. Their use of technology is going to do boost them. That is a hidden talent that for years Greg has been trying to convince radio stations to tap into. Heroes, whole you decide the future(i’m sure it is limited to some degree) is a great marketing tool. I found this week’s show to be pretty good. Even the hour long trailer was enough to keep me glued. Of course I had tivoed it so I fast forwared through most of the commercials otherwise it would have been unbearable. On another side note…….I think I mentioned this before but I find the character Mohinder Surresh EXTREMELY HOT. Ow and yummy. I however did not care for him being all icky and overly sexy charged for Maya. You could kind of see it coming but I liked him more as the level headed guys. Now that he injected himslef he has bcome Super Libido! Not Cool. I would rather look at him and listen to him muse. Speaking of Muse did you all get his references in his speach at about the 1 hour mark. Big revelations. I can’t wait to watch it again without any kids in the house.
Lastly did you tivo over the commercials in the last hour> I almost did. The commercial for the Emerald Nuts and Swiss Family Robinson almost made me pee my pants. Yeah that is my kind of humor. LOL
OK Gregg just infomred me that he is doing a pod cast right now for only 20 min. more gota bust in on that Ta Ta For Now.
