Christmas 2012

Christmas was a nice quiet affair this year!!  It was at my sister and brother-in-law's house in Parma.  The participants were my brother-in-law Mike Schabel, his wife Maggie, my sister Kathleen, my brother Joe, and my niece Mandy!

We had roast beef, cheesy scalloped potatoes, two types of mixed vegetables ("Traditional" as you might find in a can, and California Medley), glazed carrots, baked beans with sausage, sweet potato fries, sausage-cheese puffs, and pineapple with honeydew(?)!  The food was tasty for the most part! 

The appetizers were broccoli, carrots, and celery with dip!  There may have been various peppers included in the tray!  There was also Colby Jack cheese!

Dessert consisted of Peanut Butter Fudge, mint pretzels, a Chex Party Mix, Pretzel, and M&M concoction known as white trash, and homemade cookies!  The first three items were made by Mandy!  The cookies came from Maggie!  Since we all received a plate of cookies to take home, I did not try any of the cookies at the celebration!

We then relaxed until we all left the party after a few hours of merriment!  The party was nice despite the downside of having a bad cough that I hope will disappear soon!  I can't wait for next year!

I am now going to enjoy some leftover Chicken Lo Mein and Lima beans from my Sunday dinner.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!
  

Sunday Brunch in Howland Township

My sister Patty and her husband Dan Sr. are in Howland Township, OH because their son Dan Jr. and his wife Laura attended a wedding last weekend in Texas!  Their daughters Amy Marie and Emily are years away from staying home by themselves, so Dan Sr. and Patty came to baby-sit!  They stayed through Thanksgiving!

Due to various "commitments" and my brother Bob's afternoon work shift, we had a brunch at Dan Jr. and Laura's house (Eat 'N' Park, Perkins, Bob Evans, and IHOP were not available for this function (LOL!)).  The participants besides the ones already mentioned were my niece Mandy, my sister Kathleen, my sister Maggie and her husband Mike, and my brother Joe, who arrived a little later than the rest of us!!

We had Bacon Quiche, French Toast made with Raisin Bread, Bacon, Sausage Links, and a fruit salad that emphasized blueberries and strawberries!  Dessert included Chocolate Brownies (Maggie's brownies included peanut butter chips. Patty's (with the help of Amy Marie and Emily) brownies included black beans from Aldi and candy corn pieces on top.), Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting, Caramel Apple pie, miniature Cherry Almond pies, and various muffins!  I did not have everything, but some of the Caramel Apple pie came home with us!! The food was tasty!!  It was just as good as the available local candidates!  By the way, Waffle House and Denny's were also options in the area!  (Bakers Square is not in the Warren-Youngstown area!!)

We enjoyed the company of the guests!  Amy Marie and Emily were very active as usual!!  After we left Howland, Maggie and Mike then took Bob to work at the Post Office near Downtown Cleveland!  They then took me home! 

I will relax for awhile!  Qdoba is in the plans for tonight with my BOGO coupon!!  Black Beans will never be the same again!  I plan on enjoying my meal, though!          

I Forgot about the Pineapple!

In my Thanksgiving report, I forgot about the pineapple in the Heavenly Hash!  Also, Aunt Mickey was my dad's older sister who died from complications from diabetes in 1975!  My sister Kathleen inherited the Nativity set that Aunt Mickey created in 1965 which resided at my Grandmother's house until she died in 1993!  It is now in our possession!  Bob and I also have a couple of lamps that Aunt Mickey decorated!  The cat(s) attacked them, so they are sitting in the attic!  The lamps that were in the living room previously were returned to their place of honor!

Bob's "ingredient analysis" brought this oversight to my attention!!  

Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving was at my sister Maggie and her husband Mike's house in Parma, OH!  We had turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes (which I made), green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, corn, and bread!  The appetizers were mozzarella sticks, soft pretzels, spinach dip with miniature Club(?) crackers, rice and beans (new to me), and mini cherry pies.  The desserts were pumpkin Pie, french apple pie, pecan pie (The last two from Baker's Square), chocolate-peanut butter fudge, pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting (Frosting was not applied to the cake itself!), and a family tradition consisting of marshmallows, Mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, and coconut that my late Aunt Mickey (She died in 1975.)called Heavenly Hash!  I did not try everything, but what I did partake was enjoyable as usual!

The participants this year (besides the hosts) were my sister Kathleen, my brother Joe, my niece Mandy, and her husband Paul.  We enjoyed each other's company!!  Unlike past years, the Gift Exchange was not done!  It will be done tomorrow with my brother Bob as witness!

Thanksgiving was very nice!  Hopefully, Sunday Brunch with my sister Patty and her husband Dan, along with other family members will be just as nice!  The report is forthcoming!!       

My Birthday Celebration

My 42nd Birthday Celebration was one to remember!!

It started out at the Denny's across from Parmatown Mall!  I had wheat pancakes and syrup, a chicken sausage patty, egg whites, and hash browns!  My beverage was Coke.  It was all tasty!  Bob had Chicken Fresca with Smoked Cheddar Mashed Potatoes and Broccoli with Coke as his beverage.

Afterwards, we went to the Giant Eagle behind Denny's to pick up some cat treats for our cat Morgan!  We then went to Parmatown Mall to do some browsing!!

On the way home, my brother wanted to go to Honey Hut for Ice Cream, but I wanted to make sure that we were home for the Browns-Colts Game!  The game was exciting, but the Browns lost!  It was an exciting game, though!!

Our dinner was at Applebee's in Independence!  The participants were my sisters Kathleen and Maggie, my brothers Bob and Joe, my brother-in-law Mike, and myself!  I had the 7 oz House Sirloin Medium Well with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and a Zucchini, Carrot, and Broccoli Blend with Mountain Dew as my beverage!  The six of us split onion rings, boneless chicken wings, and mozzarella sticks as we all participated in the 2 for $20 promotion!!  I will spare you the details of what the rest of us enjoyed for dinner!  It was tasty, though my steak was a little difficult to cut, even with a steak knife!!

I then opened presents!!  I received gift cards from JcPenney and Target, Cash, a lottery instant ticket, and half a chair (from my Sister, Kathleen)!  The other half was given to Bob for his birthday in February 2013!  I will have fun enjoying the presents!

After we left Applebee's, Kathleen, Bob, and I went to the Honey Hut on State Road in Cleveland!  I ordered Pumpkin Ice Cream, but I will eat it after I finish this blog entry, and the laundry is started!! 

There are other details, but it is best that I skip them!!  Thank you, everyone, for making this a birthday to remember!!  This will not be forgotten for awhile!!

Dinner with the Family

Last Night, I had dinner with my sister Patty at Max and Erma's in Middleburg Heights, OH. (http://www.maxandermas.com)  My brothers Bob and Tim, my niece Mandy, and Tim's companion Lois were also there!!  It was an enjoyable evening!!

One highlight of the evening was the appearance of a magician who specialized in Balloon Animals and Card Tricks who was named Bob!  He is a regular on Tuesdays at the restaurant!  He was very funny!!  It's too bad that Patty's grandchildren Amy Marie and Emily could not make the festivities because they would have arrived home in Howland Township, OH quite late!  They are in school these days!!

The food was quite enjoyable!  I had Mediterranean Chicken Pasta, a House Garden Salad with Fat Free Honey Mustard Dressing (The Fat Free Catalina Dressing offered on the menu was modified!), two Garlic Breadsticks, two Potato Skins, and Coke!  Some of the pasta came home!  I plan on enjoying it on Thursday!!  The meal was part of a promotion that offered two selected entrees and an appetizer for $19.72 to commemorate the restaurant chain's Fortieth Anniversary!!  You have to live it up sometimes!!

After dinner, we prepared a card for Patty's husband Dan, whose Birthday is today!!  I hope that he enjoys the card and Gift Card!!  We then said our goodbyes!

By the way, Patty and Dan are in town because they will be attending my cousin Joanne's oldest son B.J.'s wedding this Saturday in Brazil, Indiana (near Terre Haute)!  I will not be attending, but I will still wish B.J. Congratulations on his Wedding on Facebook! 

Until my next report, enjoy life!!

Halloween 2011

Halloween 2011 involved three separate trips!  I don't remember where the first trip took place.  The second trip was to Aldi on Pearl Road in Cleveland.  Originally, I was going to the Parma-Snow Library, but coordination with the bus in the other direction apparently was not in my favor.

After Aldi, I came home.  When I checked my e-mail, I found out that Qdoba was offering a BoGo deal after 5:00 PM!  I went to the library as I had planned.  I then walked to the bus stop to go to Qdoba.  I missed one bus because it arrived late.  The next bus was a little late.  I then encountered gridlock due to construction on Broadview Road in Parma/Seven Hills.  It was also rush hour.  Due to time constraints, I departed from the bus a few blocks from Qdoba!  Of course, the gridlock ended not long after I exited the bus.  I made it to Qdoba.  Thankfully, there was only one other person in line ahead of me.  Since it was Halloween, it was a take-out order!  (Normally, I dine in the restaurant while Bob eats his entree at a later time.)  I grab my food and make my return trip home. 

In my previous trips, I failed to pick up my Classic Lotto and MegaMillion tickets for the upcoming drawings.  I went to C's Beverage on Broadview Road (Ziggy's next door was about to close for the night.).  After buying the lottery tickets, I made it home to set up for Halloween with moments to spare.  I end up eating my burrito while passing out candy to Trick or Treaters!  Thankfully, I was done eating before the onslaught occurred.  I ended up with 100-150 kids at my door.  Thankfully, the candy supply made it through the night.  I spent the rest of the evening relaxing.

I hope that this year's Halloween is as memorable, but stress-free. 

Happy 5th Birthday to Bill's World

On July 31, 2007, this blog began!  It started out with some of my interests because only two people knew about this blog from the beginning.  One was my brother Bob.  The other person was my friend Nancy Wolfinger, who is the Teen Librarian at the Parma-Snow Library.  She was told about this blog because I was telling her about a blog that my nephew-in-law Mike and niece Marnie were writing about their first child named Kendal (My oldest great-niece).  Since she did not read blogs of people that she does not know, I created this blog to tell an occasional story about Kendal.  I also had a two month old great niece at the time as well named Amy Marie, whom I had not met yet.  (I met her in October 2007.)

By October 2007, my immediate family knew about this blog, so my focus changed.  Since my interests were not that interesting, I started telling stories about family events.   My audience was not huge yet.

Eventually, I started putting my posts on my Facebook page.  My audience has expanded.  I have enjoyed the feedback.  Unfortunately, there has been some"spam" comments that I deemed inappropriate, so I did not publish the comments.  (These predated the Facebook era.)

In general, I have enjoyed writing this blog.  I hope to continue this writing indefinitely.  As long as my family stays interesting, I will keep having fun.

Until my next post, enjoy life.        

Kathleen's Birthday Celebration

On June 6th, we celebrated Kathleen's birthday at Perkins Restaurant on Tiedman Road in Brooklyn, OH.  The participants were Bob, Tim, Lois, Joe, my nephew Dan, and his daughters Amy Marie, and Emily.  For the most part, the food was enjoyable.

Afterwards, we went to the Honey Hut on State Road in Cleveland for ice cream, which we all enjoyed.  Emily enjoyed picking up our trash!  In general, the kids were cute!

Have a nice and safe Fourth of July!!

Patty and Dan Sr.'s Visit to Ohio (Part 2)

On Sunday May 6, the family convened in Howland Township, (near Warren), OH to see Patty and Dan Sr.  They also enjoyed Dan Jr., Laura, Amy Marie, and Emily.  The participants from my family were Kathleen, Tim, Maggie, Mike Schabel, Lois, Joe, Mandy, and Yours Truly.  In addition, Dan's brother and sister-in-law Mike and Joanne joined the festivities.  It was very nice to see people that I have not seen in awhile.

We enjoyed Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, and a "fancy" pasta salad that contained squash, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, black olives, and green peppers.  It was interesting but tasty!  We also enjoyed some dessert that included pies from Perkins (Bob and I enjoyed slices of pie from Perkins with our dinner on Wednesday.  I had the Chocolate French Silk!  I believe that Bob had the Peanut Butter Silk Pie that was featured at the cook-out!) that Mandy provided!  Joe contributed some imported candy from Ziggy's Produce on Broadview Road near my house that I picked up on the way to the party.  If I missed any contributions, they were enjoyed as well.

We eventually left!  Joe missed the connection with US 422, so we stayed on OH 82 until we took a detour to where my brother used to work years ago!  It was nice to see some new sights and to review old sights that I had not seen in awhile.  When I reached my house, I spent the rest of the evening relaxing.  The party was fun, especially since Amy Marie and Emily, were not crabby!!

I would like to wish all my Reader Moms an early Happy Mother's Day!

Patty and Dan Sr.'s Visit to Ohio (Part 1)

Patty and Dan Sr. arrived in Howland Township, OH on Thursday April 26 to help celebrate their granddaughter Emily's Third Birthday, which was the day before!

My first sighting of Patty was on Tuesday!  She was in my area because she went to visit our Aunt Rita in Westlake, OH!  They went to lunch at a nearby Olive Garden (Probably in North Olmsted, OH).  Bob and I ended up with their leftover bread sticks and salad!  It was our first experience with food from Olive Garden!  Perhaps Bob and I can visit the branch across from Parmatown Mall in Parma, OH someday! 

Bob, Patty, and I went to dinner at Bob Evans in Independence, OH.  Bob and I had chicken breasts, cheddar baked potato soup, mashed potatoes and gravy, buttermilk biscuits with honey, a chocolate fudge sundae, and Coke!  Patty just had chocolate brownies because she had a very nice lunch!  The food was tasty, but we were both full from our lunch of chicken teriyaki with white rice and vegetables from Sarku Japan at Westfield SouthPark Mall! 

After dinner, Patty dropped us off at home!  She did offer to take us shopping, but we didn't really need anything at the time!  She probably wanted to get back to Howland before dark!  Thankfully, I will see her and Dan Sr. again on Sunday when we go to Dan Jr. and Laura's house for a cook-out!  Look forward to that report in the near future!

Bill and Bob's Memorable Vacation (Part 10)

Our last day started with some organization of our "luggage."   We had three carry-ons.  Our original suitcase is probably in the Warren, OH area because Patty and Dan Sr. were scheduled to drive into Dan Jr. and Laura's house tonight!  Other than a belt, everything that I intended to take home on April 16 came home.

Dan Sr. took us to the TF Green Providence Airport in Warwick, RI.  Patty offered to make us sandwiches for lunch, but I wanted to get food from the Airport Food Court!  The main choices were Quizno's (Price Gouging = No Customers.), Famous Famiglia (Maybe Next Time), and Johnny Rocket's (Our Choice).  Dunkin Donuts was also nearby!!  Bob had a burger!  I had a Boca Burger.  We split an order of "American" Fries.  Our food was just over $20!  Since Johnny Rockets left Cleveland a few years back, I have no evidence of price gouging.  I knew that it was a sit-down restaurant when it was at Southpark and Beachwood Place malls.  (Famous Famiglia was also at Beachwood Place at one time when the Food Court was on the Lower Level.  The Food Court is now on the Upper Level.)  The food was tasty!  If Johnny Rockets came back closer than Sandusky (Cedar Point), I might consider it for dinner.

Before lunch, we went through security.  Other than initially forgetting to take off my shoes, I was happy with both of my airport security experiences.  We were ready to return to Cleveland.

Our flight was practically uneventful with some mild turbulence.  Our flight attendant, Mary, was amusing only with individual passengers.  We made it into Hopkins Airport in Cleveland on time.

We then called Maggie to pick us up.  She took us to our house.  We relaxed for awhile.  Maggie then took us to Giant Eagle in Parma (Near Midtown) because we needed milk and orange juice.  Our milk went bad while we were gone. (I had called Maggie on April 7 to take our milk when she came to check on Morgan the Cat, but "technical problems"  kept her from receiving the message.)  We also picked up some gift cards.  We then picked up some take out food from a nearby Mr. Hero.  Bob and I enjoyed Rigatoni with Meatballs.  Maggie had a sandwich with us because she was hungry.  Bob even got food for Mike, Maggie's husband.  I hope that he enjoyed his sandwich.  Most of his known fast food consumption comes from Wendy's seven days a week.  (He rarely misses a day!)

We then relaxed the rest of the evening.   Visiting four states in just over a week can be fun, but it is nice to be back home where everything is familiar.  We had a great time, though!

My next report will be in about a week or so.

Bill and Bob's Memorable Vacation (Part 9)

In my last post, I forgot to mention that Dave was golfing in Beverly, MA and staying overnight somewhere.  He was missed at the cookout!  At least, I saw him on Easter/Patty's Birthday.

Sunday's first highlight was when Dan Sr. made us individual omelettes with various salsas and cheeses!  Bacon was also served!  This meal was served on the deck outside the loft above the studio!  (Before the loft was constructed after my last stay in 1993, the studio was very nice and spacious!  The loft is small, but interesting!  Most of our dinners at home were served in the loft.)  Once again, this meal was delightful.

After relaxing for a short time, we all headed for the New Balance Factory Store in Boston's Brighton neighborhood.  I bought a pair of athletic shoes for $29.99 (No Tax)!   Bob's shoes were a little more expensive.  Both pairs of shoes will be coming back to Ohio later today when Dan Sr. and Patty arrive at Dan Jr. and Laura's house in the Warren, OH area to celebrate Emily's birthday, which was actually yesterday!

We then came home to relax before we went to the 99 Restaurant in Fitchburg, MA.  I had salmon, rice, and corn.  Dan Sr. had seafood chowder.  Patty had a grilled chicken salad.  Bob had a steak, baked potato, and broccoli.  We enjoyed our food!  While we were waiting for a table, Patty and I went to a liquor store to pick up the Sentinel-Enterprise (Fitchburg-Leominster area newspaper).

We then came home. Bob and I relaxed and packed for our trip home the next day!  The last day in New England will be interesting!  The Ohio part is a good climax for this miniseries.

Bill and Bob's Memorable Vacation (Part 8)

April 14 was a relatively quiet day!  Dan Sr. drove me to the Bigelow Library in Clinton, MA.  For a small town, it was an adequate library!  For me, it made me miss our libraries a lot!  I caught up on some Saturday newspapers from Central MA!  The local phone book was from 2009!  Although the library closes at 1:00 P.M., I left early!  I walked down High Street in Clinton!  Clinton is a very nice small town!  As I reached Main Street, I saw many newer convertibles at a service garage near the Walgreen's and Hannaford Supermarket.  I am used to seeing old cars "tailgating" in the strip mall which holds the Chinese Restaurant where we picked up the food for my birthday party last year!  This was an interesting experience that I will remember for a long time.  I also picked up some sliced potatoes from Hannaford.  Since the Hannaford was crowded, I had Dan SR. pick me up from the library as we had arranged.  He would have picked me up from the Hannaford, but I decided that the library was easier.

After I came back to Patty and Dan Sr.'s, I had tuna (Wegman's), sliced potatoes, a hard boiled egg, Provolone Cheese (Market Basket) and Coke for lunch!  Dan Sr. went to Lowe's (Near the Aldi featured in my story about April 10) to pick up some supplies!  Since I was in the process of eating lunch, I skipped Lowe's.  I relaxed the rest of the afternoon!

Later in the afternoon, Bob, Patty, Dan Sr., and I returned to Immaculate Conception Church in Lancaster for the 4:30 Vigil Mass.  We then came home to prepare to visit Amy and Dave's house for a cookout!

The house is in Medway, MA.   It is a very impressive house!  We enjoyed hot dogs and hamburgers, mostly provided by Dan and Patty!  Amy supplied Baked Brie and "fancy cheese spread"!  She also provided ice cream for dessert from Whole Foods with homemade hot fudge and whipped cream.  The caramel and sprinkles came from the store!  The sprinkles were from Crate and Barrel!  Once again, I enjoyed my dining experience.

After coming home, with a slight detour to a local liquor store, we relaxed for the rest of the evening! 

The next two days will be just as interesting! 

Bill and Bob's Memorable Vacation (Part 7)

After surviving a night sharing a room with my sister and brother, we enjoyed the local news breaks and local morning shows.  We then went to a breakfast buffet in the hotel lobby that was complementary!   It included sausage, bacon, eggs, cereal, bread, beverages, and a pancake machine where you get a pancake in about a minute.  It was very tasty! 

After talking to the Front Desk, we took the Subway from Times Square to the 9-11 Memorial.  After going through security, we saw two fountains with the victims' names around them!  Without really looking, we found a McDonnell and a Sweeney (The last names of Bob, me, and Patty).  The museum was still under construction, but a Visitor Center offered a hint of what the future holds.  We bought Maggie a Coffee/Tea mug that commemorated the New York City Fire Department.  It was a Thank You Gift for taking care of our cat, Morgan, while we were gone.  It also honored our late father, who was Acting Assistant Chief of the Cleveland Fire Department by the time that he retired in 1983.

We then walked in search of a memorial for the New York Fire Department, but we weren't successful.  We then took the train back to Times Square via a more convenient station.  Neither train was super crowded, so we eventually had seats on both trains.  Despite the big breakfast buffet, we were hungry, so we looked for a place for lunch.  We found the Cafe O' on West 42nd Street.  They were offering a two entree deal for about $6.35 or a three entree deal for about a dollar more.  Both entree deals included either a can of soda or an 8 oz. cup of soup.  Patty and Bob both had the Sesame Chicken and another entree.  I had pork, salmon, vegetable lo mein, and Coke.  I also sampled the Sesame Chicken.  Surprisingly, I ate all my food with total enjoyment.

We then walked to the New York Public Library on West 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue.  It was an impressive building, but the contents did not suit my needs.  They did have an interesting exhibit on Mary and Percy Shelley.  Fortunately, there was a satellite branch across the street.  I found the New York Area phone books that I desired.  I focused on Manhattan!  If I ever return to New York City, the satellite facility of the library is a required stop.  While Bob and I were enjoying the library, Patty was retrieving our luggage that was being held at the hotel front desk while we were sightseeing (We checked out before we left for the 911 Memorial.). 

We then headed for Grand Central Terminal for the train to New Haven.  On the train, we looked at the books that we purchased on the street near the 911 Memorial.  In New Haven, Bob and Patty enjoyed iced tea from Dunkin Donuts.  I had Mountain Dew from Subway.  Patty then drove us back to Lancaster, MA.  Except for a "wrong turn" on the Massachusetts Turnpike, our ride home was very smooth.  I called Dan Sr. while we were in the car to tell him that we were on our way home.  He was also in charge of dinner.  We enjoyed a "late" dinner of turkey sausage, diced apples, and butternut squash ravioli.  It was enjoyable.  We then relaxed for the rest of the evening.

Saturday will be quieter, but still enjoyable.

Bill and Bob's Memorable Vacation (Part 6)

April 12 started with a drive to the train station in New Haven, CT.   Patty, Bob, and I took the Commuter train into Grand Central Terminal in New York City.  We ate turkey and cheese sandwiches for lunch while we were on the train!  We then walked down 42nd Street (East and West) to Broadway.  We walked into the New York Public Library, but we weren't allowed to stay with our luggage!   We also made a brief visit to the former FAO Schwartz store near Broadway, which is now Toys 'R' Us.

We then headed towards our hotel!  Originally, I thought that we were killing time before Check-In time of 3:00 P.M.  Actually, Patty was having trouble finding our hotel!  We asked a friendly New Yorker who later flagged us down to tell us that he called our hotel!  Fortunately, we were not that far from our hotel. 

We then entered the Holiday Inn Express on West 45th Street near Fifth Avenue.  Our room was ready when we arrived.  It was small, but nice.  I think that it was way overpriced, but average for New York City.  After resting briefly, we headed for the Ed Sullivan Theater.  We visited St. Patrick's Cathedral sometime in the afternoon!

Bob and I had tickets to attend the second taping of The Late Show with David Letterman (Dave tapes two shows on Thursdays.).  Patty came along for the walk.  She ended up being in the Standby line for the taping, but she was too far down the list, so she did some sightseeing.

We waited in the line to be processed based on the information that I gave online and on the phone!  We were told to return at 4:50 P.M.  To kill time, we walked down to West 66th Street to visit ABC/WABC, where Live with Kelly and The View are produced.  On the way back, we saw the school where Kelly's kids attend or attended school. (Regis Philbin had blurted out the name of the school on at least one episode.)  We then headed back to the line to be admitted into the show.  We were prompted on how to act and what happened before the show! Eventually, we were seated!

We heard some pre-recorded music!  The band, minus Paul Shaffer, was introduced and performed a couple of songs.  Paul was finally introduced and joined in the performance!  Eddie Brill warmed up the audience.  Alan Kalter, the announcer was introduced sometime during this sequence.  Dave came out and talked briefly to the audience, so he could gather some monologue material.

The show then began!  There was a technical problem, so the introduction to the Top Ten List was modified when re-produced.  During commercial breaks, the band performed for the audience.  Our seats were very close to where Alan Kalter is located during the show.  I enjoyed Julia Louis Dreyfuss, comedian Keith Alberstadt, and Bonnie Raitt!  The Top Ten List was performed by ten actual accountants because the topic was tips on how to spot a bad accountant!  After the show, Dave thanked us for coming!  We were then dismissed.  Despite being near doors marked "Exit", we exited where we entered.

We then re-connected with Patty.  We looked for the Ranch One Restaurant that was supposedly on West 45th (Near Eighth Avenue).  There was a restaurant called Chicken Bar, which was closed for renovations.  As it turned out, the restaurant was now on West 46th Street!  We didn't know this at the time, so we ended up at a restaurant that had a lot of diners called Smith's Bar and Restaurant!  I had grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, and "julienned" carrots, squash, and zucchini.  I also had Coke as my beverage.  Once again, the food was tasty!

After dinner, we went near Rockefeller Center and its surroundings a couple of times.  We also went to the 86th Floor Observation Deck of the Empire State Building.  After a long wait, we reached the elevators (The crazy option of taking the stairs to our destination was not offered.).  One elevator took us to the Eightieth Floor!  Another elevator took us to the observation deck.  The view was incredible!  We walked all the way around the deck.  We then ended up in the Gift Shop.  We eventually made it back to our hotel.

My biggest regret was that I didn't see the late local news that I would have enjoyed.  I wanted to go back to the hotel after dinner, but I was talked out of it by Patty.  Maybe, if I return to New York City, I will have one of my favorite out of town activities.  The Empire State Building (at night) and Rockefeller Center were worth the sacrifice, though!

The evening concluded with relaxation.  We had another busy day planned for Friday!  The fun has not ended yet!

Bill and Bob's Memorable Vacation (Part 5)

On Wednesday April 11, Bob, Patty, and I attended the Big Apple Circus in Boston's Government Center.  It was in a big white tent!  There were horses, dogs, a pig, and some other unfamiliar animals.  There were no elephants, tigers, or lions in the show!  The "Mistress" of Ceremonies was a woman who reminded me of Kyle's Mom on South Park (Sheila Broflovski).  She sang a few songs!  The theme was about a machine that helped you to live out your dreams!  (Http://www.bigapplecircus.org)   With an intermission, the show ran about two hours!  It was interesting!

We then ate at Bertucci's Brick Oven Italian Restaurant in Boston's Faneuil Hall complex!  We had a pepperoni and mushroom pizza that included salad and bread service!  It was very filling!

We then walked back to North Station (under TD Arena, where the Celtics and Bruins play) to catch our commuter rail train back to South Acton!  Patty then drove us back to Lancaster, MA with a detour to Bolton Orchards!  Bob and I enjoyed small glasses of apple cider.

After relaxing, the three of us and Dan Sr. had dinner with Amy and Lester Gould in a log cabin in Lunenberg, MA (Near Fitchburg and Leominster).  We had roast chicken, carrots, homemade mashed potatoes, Passover Bagels, Matzo Crackers, Coffee Cake, candy, and macaroons.  It was a very unusual experience since most of my acquaintances are or were Catholic.  The Gould's youngest daughter Rebecca and their toddler granddaughter Lizzie (Mother: Jenny) joined us. 

After coming home, we relaxed as we packed for New York City!

There will be pictures in the future!!

Bill and Bob's Memorable Vacation (Part 4)

April 10 (My Great Niece Hayden's Fourth Birthday) was not much different than April 9th.  Patty, Bob, and I started off at Aldi in Leominster!  My sister Patty fell in love with the prices!  There were very few customers in the store!  Aldi is still relatively new to Massachusetts!  We bought a lot of food that will be consumed, one way or the other (Some of it is coming back when Patty and Dan visit NE Ohio Next Week!).

Patty then dropped us near The Mall at Whitney Field!  Bob and I ate at D'Angelo's Grilled Subs!  I had a Ham and Cheese Sub!  Bob had a Meatball and Cheese Sub.  Both of our subs came with chips in a special, but the soda was not included in the deal!  D'Angelo's is a place where you need many visits to appreciate all that they offer.

We then walked to the Mall!  It was not that great, but it was adequate for the market!  Sears, JcPenney, and Macy's are the anchors!  It reminds me a lot of Richmond Town Square in Richmond Hts., OH.  There are fewer vacancies at The Mall at Whitney Field, though!  We then walked over to the adjacent Market Basket grocery store!  Since I wasn't really looking for anything, I didn't do any price comparisons!  However, I did find some store brand cough drops (50 Drops for $.99).  I haven't seen a price like that since last year!  Dan and Patty will be enjoying these cough drops! 

After calling Patty to pick us up to take us to the strip mall with Target and Kohl's, we made it to the Orchard Hill Park complex!  If you lived in the Fitchburg-Leominster area, the shopping center would be adequate.  There is no grocery store, though!  There are other strips in Fitchburg and Leominster.

We came home!  Patty later cooked Russian Beef Stroganoff!  It was tasty, but I prefer the recipe that my late Mom and my sister Maggie prepare!  We relaxed the rest of the evening!

Wednesday in Massachusetts will be very interesting!  

Bill and Bob's Memorable Vacation (Part 3)

On the day after Easter, Patty, Bob, and I experienced a variety of grocery shopping experiences! We started at Wegman's in Northboro, MA (Near Worcester)! This was our first time at Wegman's. They had an extensive hot and cold buffet where you paid about $8 per lb. to either take home or eat the food there. (http://www.wegmans.com) Thankfully, it was a "regular" grocery store where they didn't overcharge for everything!

We then shopped at Trader Joe's in Shrewsbury, MA! All of us were familiar with this store! The food was a little more gourmet than your average grocery store, but their prices are usually better than Whole Foods, Fresh Market, and Earth Fare.

After Trader Joe's, we visited the nearby Moe's Southwest Grill for lunch! Bob and I had many experiences there, but it was Patty's debut! We had top of the line burritos! Unlike at the Moe's restaurants near us in the Cleveland area, they charged one price for chicken, steak, pork, ground beef, or tofu! They also didn't participate in Moe Monday, where your burrito, chips, and soda were bundled into a bargain price! I had pork! It was very filling!

After lunch, we went to the Price Rite grocery store in Worcester, MA (Near Greendale Mall)! It is a discount grocery store, similar to Aldi and Save a Lot, but they have more name brands than the aforementioned stores! It was new to all of us! Patty enjoyed the store, but I need a second visit to give a fair opinion! (http://www.priceritesupermarkets.com)

We then went home and relaxed! Dan investigated the TV antenna because we lost the Boston CBS and My Network TV affiliates, as well as the secondary PBS affiliate and its subchannels on Sunday just before The Masters Green Jacket ceremony! The antenna was fine, so Dan wisely checked the Internet to see if there was another problem! As it turns out, the TV transmitter tower was knocked over, so those without cable or satellite service lost the aforementioned stations, as well as the ABC affiliate (briefly), from Sunday evening to Tuesday Afternoon, when the affected stations connected with the primary PBS affiliate's transmitter. I was happy when the stations returned! If this were a sign for Dan and Patty to get cable, this should have been it! It wasn't! Dan hasn't caved yet!!

Eventually, we enjoyed some leftover Fettucine Alfredo with Chicken and Broccoli for dinner! We then watched The Hangover: Part II. (Originally, "highlighting" and "underlining" were not functioning.)  It was quite amusing!   We then relaxed the rest of the evening.

Don't worry, the action heats up soon!

Bill and Bob's Memorable Vacation (Part 2)

Easter was very memorable for a number of reasons! Bob and I did not assist in the cooking of Easter dinner! We were in Lancaster, MA to celebrate Easter and my sister Patty's birthday, which fell on the same day!

Easter started out with Mass at Immaculate Conception Church in Lancaster, MA. Bob, Patty, Dan and I connected with my niece Amy and her husband Dave. Mass was very interesting! There was no handshake of Peace because it was still cold and flu season! The Profession of Faith was recited as usual with the Renewal of Baptism Promises following it! There was no wine at Communion time! Mass was not super crowded on Easter as it would have been at St. Leo Church in Cleveland, OH! As much as I missed St. Leo Church, I enjoyed a different experience.

After Mass, we went in search of various local papers (Patty and Dan receive the Sunday Boston Globe. The Boston Herald and the MetroWest Daily News were not available in the places that we patronized in Lancaster and in the neighboring town of Clinton!). We then came home to a simple brunch of multi grain waffles, bacon, and Irish soda bread! Patty then opened her birthday presents. Amy and Dave received a present from my sister Maggie and her husband Mike! We then relaxed for awhile!

Dinner time eventually arrived! We had roast beef and gravy, homemade mashed redskin potatoes (Our scalloped potatoes from a box will return to the Easter table, though the potatoes were tasty!), green beans with mushrooms, and Heavenly Hash (also known as Ambrosia). Amy made a chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting that resembled a large Oreo cookie! A chocolate chip cookie with icing was featured! It was all tasty! A change of pace every once in awhile does not hurt!

After we left the dinner table, we looked for the Easter Eggs that Patty hid in the living room! Technically, we were only allowed to find one egg per person! Our prize was an instant lottery ticket! The tickets were all losers except for one that I scratched! The prize was $10!

A Lithuanian custom from Dan's mother's side of the family of cracking Easter Eggs followed! Although I didn't grasp the concept, I defeated Dave! We then relaxed for the rest of the evening!

The fun is only beginning!

Bill and Bob's Memorable Vacation (Part 1)

Between April 7 and April 16, Bob and I visited our sister Patty and brother-in-law Dan in Lancaster, MA, near Worcester.

We flew from Cleveland into Providence! Before our flight, Bob and I split a Footlong Grilled Chicken Sub from Subway! We enjoyed sodas as well! The prices were at mall level! This means that there was no price gouging! Despite some turbulence, we had a nice flight with a very amusing Flight Attendant named Amy. We then collected our one bag from Baggage Claim and called Patty! Moments later, she was at the airport.

After Patty picked us up from the airport, we went to the very large Foxwoods Casino in SouthEast Connecticut! After gambling with $10 that my sister Kathleen gave us and losing, I spent about two bucks of my own money without a lot of success! Bob then gave me $20 to gamble! There were some wins along the way, but I did not gain a lot! Eventually, a large win occurred on a penny slot machine called Dragon Crystal! Without knowing how I won, I ended up with either $171 or $191. It took at least five minutes for the machine to stop accumulating the credits that I had earned! I took the money and ran!

Since I was a big winner, I was going to treat Patty and Bob to a meal at the Foxwoods Buffet where we were planning on dining! Patty mentioned that the buffet was "expensive"! We passed by a Fuddruckers in the complex! Since Fuddruckers left Cleveland before I was able to appreciate the concept, I decided to go there. I had a "Veggie Burger", Fries, and Soda. The food was tasty and filling!

After dinner, we headed for Patty and Dan's house in Lancaster, MA. We relaxed for awhile! We also colored Easter Eggs! It was a lot of fun, but the fun was only beginning!

Another Fabulous Fish Fry

Tonight, I attended a Fish Fry at the Brooklyn Heights United Church of Christ on West Schaaf Road at Broadview Road! I wasn't the first one there this year, but I beat the line which wasn't that bad!! It will become one to remember!!

I had two pieces of Fried Fish, Three (Potato) Pierogis, French Fries, Cole Slaw, a Roll, a slice of Chocolate Cake, and a can of Coke for the economical price of $8.50! Some places charge extra for dessert and beverage! Having both Fries and Pierogis would probably make the price sky high! I had plenty of French Fries! The food was all tasty!! Once again, there was table service, but by a child this time! The cake was on a Styrofoam plate! The roll was in a basket! The rest of the Food was on two plates and a saucer that would be appropriate for the Denny's Class of Restaurants! They did not clear tables while I was there, so I guess that they had plenty of dishes and baskets! They played "smooth jazz", but conversations could occur as well!

I will be back next year!!

Bob's 51st Birthday

Yesterday, my brother celebrated his birthday! The celebration started with an electrical wire falling and catching on fire just before we walked by it on Tampa Avenue! Bob called the Fire Department! After Bob discussed what he witnessed, we walked to State Road and Dawning Ave. to catch a bus to the Denny's by Parmatown Mall. Bob received a coupon for a Free Build Your Own Grand Slam! I also had a Build Your Own Grand Slam. Bob ordered the Original Grand Slam, but he received the Everyday Value Slam with added cheese! As a result, my more expensive Grand Slam was the free one!

After lunch, we enjoyed BOGO Blizzards from Dairy Queen in Parmatown Mall because we are in the Blizzard Fan Club. We both had Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Blizzards that were tasty! We also enjoyed Pretzel Dog samples from Auntie Anne's. Otherwise, we did not buy anything from the mall.

When we were finished in the mall, we boarded a bus to go to State and Snow Roads. We then walked to the Parma-Snow Library, so I could pick up a CD that I had ordered! We also used the library's facilities.

We ended the celebration with dinner at the adjacent Eat 'N' Park restaurant! Bob had Rosemary Chicken. I had Salmon. We also had Cookie Fudge Fantasy Sundaes! The cookies and our cinnamon rolls were eaten for our late night snack! The food was tasty!! We then spent the rest of the evening relaxing!!

Bob's birthday was one to remember!

My Afternoon at the Rock Hall

Today, I honored the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by visiting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Downtown Cleveland. The trip started off with a Ham and Turkey Sandwich on Multigrain Flatbread for lunch at Quizno's in the Galleria at Erieview, which is a few blocks away from the Rock Hall. After lunch, I then walked down to the Rock Hall. After a fifteen minute wait (Outside and Inside), I was finally able to enjoy the exhibits. The area of music grouped by city and region was pretty impressive! The Women in Rock exhibit was comprehensive! However, as a temporary exhibit, it is on the two most cramped floors of the Rock Hall. Since it was a free day, the museum was very crowded! Despite the crowds, I was able to spend some time looking at the signatures of the Inductees! The walkway is very narrow, but the exhibit is on one side of the corridor. Before I went to the upper floors, I watched part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Concert! When I arrived in the theater, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were performing! Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel's performances of "New York State of Mind" and "Born to Run" were incredible. After the program concluded, the video immediately started over! I stayed until Stevie Wonder started performing because Ledisi (Grammy Nominated R&B artist) was scheduled to be performing live soon! I had a good view of her as I was on my way out of the building! The crowd loved her! In general, I enjoyed my experience at the Rock Hall this year! The recent renovations have enhanced the building! I plan to be back next year, if not sooner!

Merry Orthodox Christmas!

Today is Christmas on the Julian Calendar! I would like to wish anyone celebrating today a Merry Christmas! I did not visit Ziggy's Produce, which is at the corner of Broadview and West Schaaf Roads in Cleveland, to wish them a Merry Christmas, but I may visit tomorrow to ask the clerk if he or she had a nice holiday! (I sometimes buy my lottery tickets there!) Once again, Orthodox Christmas was "ignored" by the general population.

I will update my traditional Christmas in the near Future!