Tonight we’re going to my favorite all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet restaurant.  I love Chinese food – I could eat it every day!  My favorites are sweet and sour chicken, fried rice, and lo mein noodles.  And the meat filled dumplings – some places call them pot stickers.  But I really enjoy the buffets because I can have a little bit of everything – I like all sorts of chicken and shrimp dishes!  I am not a big fan of sushi, though, but the sushi bar looks beautiful – the sushi chef makes it all look like candy!  What a rude awakening to my mouth to put something in that looks like candy but tastes like fish and seaweed!

Right before I was ready to leave work, my friend Joann called on my cell phone and I decided to answer it even though i was technically still “on the clock.” I had finished up my shift and was heading for the break room to clock out, so I took a chance that my manager wouldn’t have a fit about me using my cell phone. They can be real jerks sometimes, but this time I just decided to take that chance and if they fussed then I would beg forgiveness. If they want to give me a hard time about something this trivial, then I will start looking for another job. I’m sick of all the BS anyway. I work hard for them and sometimes go way above and beyond the “call of duty” so you would think they would appreciate that and cut me a little slack on the minor things.  Geesh!

Happy 235th birthday, U.S.A.!!!!  I am proud to be an American.  What with a niece and a nephew both in the Army and both war veterans, it is difficult not to puff out my chest when the flag goes by in the annual parade.

Although the country is going through some difficult times right now, what with two wars and the economy, most people in this country are still proud to call it home.  And, I believe, our country will survive and prosper in generations to come.  We have always done it in the past, and after all, history does tend to repeat itself.

Think about what you did to celebrate this year.  Did you go to a parade? Did you go watch some fireworks? Or maybe you attended a cookout with family and friends.  I did all of the above.  I stood proudly with my hand over my heart as the American Legion post marched by with 13 flags to symbolize the original 13 colonies.  I do live in an area where a lot of the Civil War was fought and where many many soldiers died to give us the country we have today, and I am proud of it.

Think about all the lives that have been lost and wars that have been fought the next time the flag passes by you in a parade or you notice it flying over the Post Office, and be proud to be an American.

Sunday is Father’s Day, the day we all honor those wonderful people we call Dad.

What are you planning?  I am getting  a small token of appreciation for my Dad (and it won’t be a tie, he doesn’t wear them) and a card, as most people will.  I feel I show him appreciation all year long with daily phone calls just to say “Hello” and “I love you” and to let him know on a daily basis that I am thinking of him.

What is a Dad?  A best friend, a partner to play catch with, a shoulder to cry on, a driving instructor, the list goes on and on.  But to me, he is my rock and was my rock while growing up.   He lives far away in another state and I am not able to visit him as often as I would like to, but I only hope that the love and appreciation I have for him is reflected in those conversations we have and the cards and letters I send.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY to all of you who have someone that calls you “Dad”.

Today our friend, Larry, used his Char Broil Big Easy Infrared  Turkey Fryer/Grill for the first time.  We cooked chicken thighs and drumsticks.

The infrared heat locks in flavor and keeps the food moist; you use no oil, so there is no chance that it will burn, splatter or spill and there is no oil to recycle or to clean up.  The infrared heat circles the cooker and penetrates the meat evenly, so it is moist and juicy on the inside and nice and crispy on the outside.

The meat is healthier too, because any grease or fat drips away into the drip pan located at the bottom of the cooker.

It cooks much more quickly than traditional methods too, it only took 1/2 hour to cook several pieces of chicken and they were done to perfection with the skin cooked crisp and the color was a beautiful golden brown.  And, there were no uneven burned areas such as when you use a grill.

I highly recommend this cooker.  I thoroughly enjoyed using it and the food was delicious!!!!