I had posted before that we normally make homemade ice cream (it's really custard since it has eggs in it) every summer holiday and even posted the recipe that I use. My kids and wife always try to talk me into putting "stuff" in the ice cream - I'd be happy with plain vanilla.
This Memorial Day weekend was no different. And again I succumbed to their wishes but I'm very glad I did. If you make the ice cream, try this. Melt some peanut butter. Crush some chocolate covered pretzels in a bag. Let the ice cream maker run for about 10-15 minutes so it's starting to set up but not completely frozen yet. This will ensure that anything you put in it won't sink directly to the bottom. After the 10-15 minutes, pour the melted peanut butter around in the mix and pour the crushed pretzels in as well. Let the ice cream maker do the rest until it's done. It tastes just like Ben & Jerry's Chubby Hubby. My kids affectionately named it Chubby Daddy.
Let me know how it works out for you.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
The End......Or a Beginning
Today was the high school graduation for my oldest son, Kyle. It's weird to believe that I can actually be old enough to have a son almost 18 years old. I can't believe that this youngster
has now turned into this fine young man:
Congratulations on a job well done and I can't wait to see what happens next!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Another Brush with Celebrities
My wife and I were fortunate enough to be able to get away for a few days earlier this month. I guess to be correct, I got away while she was working a trade show in Las Vegas. We did take a day after the show was over to walk around, gamble, see Blue Man Group, etc.
Anyway, on our way home I was wearing an Indianapolis Colts t-shirt and waiting for our plane to arrive when a lady leans over to me, points quickly at my shirt and then at a man just sitting down to wait for his flight, too. "Isn't he on the Colts?" she asked. I looked up to see All-Pro center Jeff Saturday. When we got on the plane, I was seated in the row behind him and his wife. As others were getting on the plane, many people appeared to recognize him but I don't remember anyone speaking to him (probably because he was in the window seat and had a hat kind of pulled down a bit). When we landed, he was directly in front of me while getting off the plane so I said, "Hey, Jeff, it's great to have you signed back with the Colts" to which he answered, "Thanks."
The flight had been pretty rocky during the last hour so the pilot had us strapped in our seats and everybody was headed to the bathroom as soon as we got off the plane, me included. As I stepped up to the urinal, Jeff (I can call him by just his first name since we're friends now :) was at the one right next to me. Now........if you remember in an early post, I also stood at a urinal right next to Peyton Manning once while at the Murat Theater for a show.
Got me to wondering...how many people do you think can say that they've actually shared a bathroom with an All-Pro center and QB from the same team? I HAVE!
Anyway, on our way home I was wearing an Indianapolis Colts t-shirt and waiting for our plane to arrive when a lady leans over to me, points quickly at my shirt and then at a man just sitting down to wait for his flight, too. "Isn't he on the Colts?" she asked. I looked up to see All-Pro center Jeff Saturday. When we got on the plane, I was seated in the row behind him and his wife. As others were getting on the plane, many people appeared to recognize him but I don't remember anyone speaking to him (probably because he was in the window seat and had a hat kind of pulled down a bit). When we landed, he was directly in front of me while getting off the plane so I said, "Hey, Jeff, it's great to have you signed back with the Colts" to which he answered, "Thanks."
The flight had been pretty rocky during the last hour so the pilot had us strapped in our seats and everybody was headed to the bathroom as soon as we got off the plane, me included. As I stepped up to the urinal, Jeff (I can call him by just his first name since we're friends now :) was at the one right next to me. Now........if you remember in an early post, I also stood at a urinal right next to Peyton Manning once while at the Murat Theater for a show.
Got me to wondering...how many people do you think can say that they've actually shared a bathroom with an All-Pro center and QB from the same team? I HAVE!
Yes, I'm Still Alive
Many people have asked me what happened to my blogging since I haven't posted anything since February. Well, basically as the president of the Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors, I've been focusing a lot of energy and my communication through that organization. Being president has certainly taken more of my time and energy than I ever anticipated.
Anyway....as for some updates: My oldest son, Kyle, is about to graduate from high school and will be attending Ball State University in the fall majoring in actuarial sciences. The college selection process was interesting to me and the financial aid end of it was very intriguing. For anyone with a child about to go to college, contact me and I'll share with you information I learned during the process to help get scholarship money.
We're full bore into both soccer season for my younger son, Brad, and dance for my daughter, Libby. Brad's team isn't doing so well but he's found a love of playing another position - goalkeeper. My wife isn't nearly so fond of seeing him in goal.
Libby has had a solo this dance season and has done well with it. She certainly has a different perspective on solos now as she knows all eyes on her and if she makes a mistake, it will be very noticeable. She's done a great job with it while fighting through a hamstring injury that just won't seem to go away. She's got a great physical therapist, though, who is also a dancer so she is able to help Libby to learn how to do moves a little differently so she's using the muscles she's supposed to be using.
So there's my last three months wrapped up in a few short paragraphs. Keep checking back often and I really promise this time that I'll do a better job blogging.
Anyway....as for some updates: My oldest son, Kyle, is about to graduate from high school and will be attending Ball State University in the fall majoring in actuarial sciences. The college selection process was interesting to me and the financial aid end of it was very intriguing. For anyone with a child about to go to college, contact me and I'll share with you information I learned during the process to help get scholarship money.
We're full bore into both soccer season for my younger son, Brad, and dance for my daughter, Libby. Brad's team isn't doing so well but he's found a love of playing another position - goalkeeper. My wife isn't nearly so fond of seeing him in goal.
Libby has had a solo this dance season and has done well with it. She certainly has a different perspective on solos now as she knows all eyes on her and if she makes a mistake, it will be very noticeable. She's done a great job with it while fighting through a hamstring injury that just won't seem to go away. She's got a great physical therapist, though, who is also a dancer so she is able to help Libby to learn how to do moves a little differently so she's using the muscles she's supposed to be using.
So there's my last three months wrapped up in a few short paragraphs. Keep checking back often and I really promise this time that I'll do a better job blogging.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Convention Time
Right up front, I'm going to tell you that I'm stealing the title of this blog from my friend, Sherry, who has her on blog and wrote about attending a floral design convention in Louisville.
Similarly, I've been on the land surveyors convention circuit lately.
It started here in Indianapolis with the convention of the Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors where I was sworn in as the new president. The week started with a Board of Directors dinner on Tuesday night and ended on Friday afternoon. To say the least, I was worn out by the time our convention was over.
Last week I had the opportunity to visit the convention of the Professional Land Surveyors of Ohio. It started on Thursday and finished Saturday but I came home Friday evening. Being the frugal person that I am, I thought I'd get up and out the door Thursday morning at 4:30 a.m. to arrive in Columbus at 7:30. And it worked well. I was, indeed, there by 7:30 and enjoyed my two days there. I felt a little bit like a fish out of water as I didn't know anyone there but enjoyed some great seminars.
This past week, I was invited to the Kentucky Association of Professional Surveyors in Lexington. Same setup - Thursday through Saturday but again I came home Friday night. I really enjoyed my time there, was able to meet a few of the presidents from adjoining states and several surveyors from Indiana were there as well. The seminars were good - the food was great! The trip there didn't quite work out as well as I had planned. Leaving at 4:30 a.m. again, the roads were snow-covered and slower than normal. At about 5:35 a semi jacknifed in front of me, leaving his cab in the median and his trailer across both lanes of traffic. I was at a dead stop for about an hour and 20 minutes waiting for the tow truck to move him. Needless to say, I missed the opening sessions on Thursday.
Certainly it's great to be back home with the convention season over so I can concentrate more on home and work.
And to get some rest!
Similarly, I've been on the land surveyors convention circuit lately.
It started here in Indianapolis with the convention of the Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors where I was sworn in as the new president. The week started with a Board of Directors dinner on Tuesday night and ended on Friday afternoon. To say the least, I was worn out by the time our convention was over.
Last week I had the opportunity to visit the convention of the Professional Land Surveyors of Ohio. It started on Thursday and finished Saturday but I came home Friday evening. Being the frugal person that I am, I thought I'd get up and out the door Thursday morning at 4:30 a.m. to arrive in Columbus at 7:30. And it worked well. I was, indeed, there by 7:30 and enjoyed my two days there. I felt a little bit like a fish out of water as I didn't know anyone there but enjoyed some great seminars.
This past week, I was invited to the Kentucky Association of Professional Surveyors in Lexington. Same setup - Thursday through Saturday but again I came home Friday night. I really enjoyed my time there, was able to meet a few of the presidents from adjoining states and several surveyors from Indiana were there as well. The seminars were good - the food was great! The trip there didn't quite work out as well as I had planned. Leaving at 4:30 a.m. again, the roads were snow-covered and slower than normal. At about 5:35 a semi jacknifed in front of me, leaving his cab in the median and his trailer across both lanes of traffic. I was at a dead stop for about an hour and 20 minutes waiting for the tow truck to move him. Needless to say, I missed the opening sessions on Thursday.
Certainly it's great to be back home with the convention season over so I can concentrate more on home and work.
And to get some rest!
Monday, January 5, 2009
I'm Not Worthy!
I've been very busy over the last month trying to prepare myself as I become the president of the Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors next week. Today I had a meeting with the past president, the current president and the 2009 president-elect to iron out agendas for the coming year and to share knowledge with one another about the many items that are currently "in the works" for the society.
In our membership roster is a chronological listing of the past presidents of the society. I've read over the list several times recently and am always amazed at the great men (no, no women yet) that have presided over our society. I've been fortunate enough to know some of them and have seen surveys performed by many of them. I'd be lying if I told you that I've accomplished half as much as most of these guys. I certainly feel honored and most definitely humbled to have been chosen to lead our great society.
In our membership roster is a chronological listing of the past presidents of the society. I've read over the list several times recently and am always amazed at the great men (no, no women yet) that have presided over our society. I've been fortunate enough to know some of them and have seen surveys performed by many of them. I'd be lying if I told you that I've accomplished half as much as most of these guys. I certainly feel honored and most definitely humbled to have been chosen to lead our great society.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
What I'm Thankful For
I was reading an article today about investor Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway fame. In this Thanksgiving season, I'm really thankful that I've not lost near as much money in the stock market as he has. Believe it or not, Buffett has lost 13.6 BILLION dollars this year! If I'd lost that much, I'd be owing somebody about 13.599999999 billion dollars.
I'm pretty sure he's not downsizing his turkey for tomorrow - he's still worth $48.1 billion.
Being a big fan of the Oracle of Omaha, I've noticed that he's been buying stocks for the last few weeks so he must think a turnaround in the stock market must be in sight. Of course the Dow, NASDAQ and the S&P are all down nearly 50% for the year. Think about it for a second: If you went to the supermarket and everything was 50% off, wouldn't you be stocking up, too?
Now to what I'm really thankful for: A great family. Outstanding friends. Lessons learned from my parents about the value of hard work. Enjoying coming to work. Knowing that my kids are going to be tremendous adults. The ability to help others in need. Good health.
The list could go on and on. I've truly had a blessed life.
I'm pretty sure he's not downsizing his turkey for tomorrow - he's still worth $48.1 billion.
Being a big fan of the Oracle of Omaha, I've noticed that he's been buying stocks for the last few weeks so he must think a turnaround in the stock market must be in sight. Of course the Dow, NASDAQ and the S&P are all down nearly 50% for the year. Think about it for a second: If you went to the supermarket and everything was 50% off, wouldn't you be stocking up, too?
Now to what I'm really thankful for: A great family. Outstanding friends. Lessons learned from my parents about the value of hard work. Enjoying coming to work. Knowing that my kids are going to be tremendous adults. The ability to help others in need. Good health.
The list could go on and on. I've truly had a blessed life.
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