Pizza!

55 years ago, Pam was born with a special exercise gene.  Only .00000001% (1 out of every 100 million people) of the world's population are born with this gene.  I've blogged about it a few times previously, so that part of the story will not be repeated.

20 years ago, Pam joined me in getting super serious about vitamins, minerals, and supplements.  I had been on them for years, but Pam added them to her regimen as well. 

13 years ago, Pam began a low-carb lifestyle.  Her success was immediate, and profoundly successful.  She honors the low-carb code of conduct to this day; but does allow herself an occasional splurge, something we call 'carb worthy'.

8 years ago, Pam and I both became organic and natural eaters; whenever possible.  The flavor enhancement is astonishing.  The eating more healthy 'feeling' is hard to describe.  This blog is not about the gospel according to natural eating, organic eating, or anything like that.  I have no desire to proselyte you into our type of lifestyle, even though you would be better off for it.  If you're on the fence, just read one book, and I'll bet you'll be converted too.  "Why We Get Fat" by Gary Taubes.
 
This year, Pam was diagnosed with a celiac disorder that she has had since childhood.  For those of you that don't know what that means; it is a gluten sensitivity.

So, a few months ago, we began the conversion.  Of everything that we have done, eating gluten-free is the most challenging.

McAlister's, Cheesecake Factory, and Longhorn Steakhouse all have excellent gluten-free menu's; but the majority of restaurants have no idea what it means, nor do they yet care.  As the NRA (Nations Restaurant Association) states, most restaurant manager's are consumed with getting most of their employee's to wash their hands after using the restroom (83% of fast food workers do not, and 58% of full service restaurant workers do not). 

And, not winning that battle for safe hygiene, then they try to win the crew turnover battle, as the national crew turnover rate of all restaurant's is 225%).  That means the average crew person lasts for slightly longer than 5 months, and then moves onto the next restaurant.

Suffice it to say, when eating out, turn off your brain, you won't like what you see or know . . .

We have found that The Cheesecake Factory gluten-free pizza is 'ok' at best.  (Their gluten-free hamburger buns though are excellent.)  Andolini's gluten-free pizza is the worst we have ever tasted, and cost-wise; a total rip off.  It was so bad, that we were not able to finish our meal, making the $40 paid for 2 small pizza's an even worse value.  Savistano's gluten-free pizza is also not edible; though Pam did somehow manage to finish it.

Good pizza is called 'carb worthy'.  We just have not found it . . . until last night.

We found it at Pappy's Place.  A nice little place tucked away in the country between Coweta and Broken Arrow.  We were the only patrons there last night, and since we couldn't find any help or staff, we had to make the pizza ourselves.  Plus, we had to clean the kitchen, and bus the table when we were done!

Man oh man though, the pizza was awesome!  Not low carb, but definitely worthy of a splurge, and 100% gluten free.

We used Pamela's gluten-free bread mix.  It was our first use of this product, which we had found at Sprouts, and it was so great.  Pam had researched it on-line, and found that the reviews were so positive that we just had to try it ourselves.

This picture is our 2nd pizza.  Yes, we are big eaters, and we had polished off our 1st pizza before I realized that I should take a picture since it might make for a pretty good blog.

So, if you are also gluten sensitive; take heart, buy some Pamela's (also available on-line if you do not have a Sprouts nearby), and make your own pizza.  You won't be sorry.

To steal a phrase: Yum-o!

They Steal / Melt My Heart

We grill out a lot. I love the taste of blood and smoke. Goes back to my cave man days. Lowe's was selling Charcoal 1/2 price this weekend, so we stocked up for the summer/fall/winter; should be enough to last us till their next 1/2 price charcoal sale!

The kids came over yesterday for Pappy's smoked meats, as grilled steak Fajita's were on the menu.  Steven brought over the 15' tall inflatable water slide, and they played in it for hours. In this picture, Emma Jo (Spaz) pretty much lept into my arms to give me a hug bye at the end of the day.

Ava Corinne (Monster) was rockin' her new one piece bathing suit all day, and was tearing up the road with her new bike. She got so good so fast.

After the initial photo, Spaz wanted another one, so she made her heart. Very appropriate, as I don't know which ones steal my heart, and which ones melt my heart.  I think they all do both.  It was pure joy to be surrounded by them all day.  I had two missions yesterday; Fajita's and enjoying the kiddo's.  My mission today is recovery as my legs are not yet operational due to kicking balls in the air as high as I could for 1-1.5 hours for the kids to catch. 

The only 'boy' shot available; the others made themselves unavailable when the camera phones came out.  This is Owen (o'Mike) with Emma Jo.  They are inseparable each time they are together, and are such good friends.  Their personalities are complete opposite, and they mesh so well as friends.  Spaz is 2 years older, but that means nothing, as o'Mike thinks they are the same age and calls Emma the baby because she is the smallest.

 

The other 3 boys were off kicking more balls themselves (as we had just completed 4 rounds of kick ball competition), but they wanted even more kick ball than Pappy could last.  

 

Ava won Round 1, Will won Round 2, Jack won Round 3, and Alex (the neighbor boy across the street won Round 4).  Missing from most of the kick ball action were these two; as they participated some, but mainly were off doing their own things together.

 

It was great fun yesterday; more cherished memories to store in my brain.

 

I am a blessed man.

Her / She / F Cups

As I am prone to do 3x a week, I pulled into an outer lane parking space at QT (this one at 96th & Riverside) for my 10-minute lunch 'hour'.

Shockingly, I didn't notice 'her' as I walked in.

My first order of business was an iced tea, as I was parched.  As my cup was filling with ice, a young BBBB (bleach bottle blond Barbie) walked up next to me, and reached for her own cup.  (Emma Jo, my 6 year old granddaughter has arms that resemble #2 pencils.  So too did this young lady). 

She (age 21 to 25 max) was having severe difficulty lifting the cup due to the weight of 'the rock' that was on her left hand.  And after it was filled with ice, she had to use 2 hands to hold it due to the weight of the cup.  Poor thing.

She weighed 80 lbs, (a full 100 lbs. lighter than the average size Oklahoma woman), and wore clothes no larger than an adult size -2, but she had two floatation devices the size of F cups (think Sofia V).  She was so top heavy that it was hard for her to stand upright and walk straight in her 7" heals.  I feared for her safety, and thought she was going to fall over any second.  She probably had before.

I had to chuckle at the gaggle of Mexicans hovered around the microwaves heating their burrito's and charro beans.  I think I counted 12 tongues that hit the floor, and I almost stepped on a few of them as I walked to the counter.

After picking up my Ham sandwich, I paid the bill, and walked out.  As I was walking back to my truck, I saw 'her'.

She was just born not more than 6-9 months ago.  Shiny jet black color.  A rag top.  Oh my how sweet; though mine is going to be red, and a hard top.

She priced new at $84k, and I know this because I priced mine at $78k without a rag top; trying all sorts of configurations to get the price below $70k.  Yes, she was a new C7.  I was drooling all over myself.  I couldn't take my eyes off of her.

But, to make things worse for the Mexicans sitting under the shade tree, Barbie then slides into the seat of the C7 and drives off.

It was then that I realized that Barbie has to be a 'dancer' with sock drawers full of $1 bills, or is being very well taken care of by someone much older than her because of 'the rock' on her hand . . .

All I cared about was the car - - -

Ava Corinne & Emma Jo

The ceiling was illuminated with an array of stars, and a single crescent moon.  Ava proudly showed me the 'big dipper', which I could not make out, but if she says that was what is was, then it's fine with me.  She's got me pretty much right where she wants me . . .

Our foreheads touched as she was holding me, and I was holding her.  She commented on the smell of peppermint on my breath from having just brushed my teeth.  I smiled and told her thank you.  I did not tell her that I detected garlic from yesterday on her breath; but she's a Franco, she has garlic in her veins!

I prayed audibly for her and her family as we drifted off to sleep.  After the prayer, she softly kissed my lips, and said "I love you Pappy", and then she reached for and took my hand, turned over, and nestled into my bosom for a night of sleep.  My heart was melting.

It was the first time that Ava wanted to sleep in my bed with me.

She has had many sleepovers at our home, but never in my bed.  I have a bad reputation (deservedly so) for being a bad sleeper.  Loved ones have told me for decades that I snore, kick, snort, hit, thrust, fling, argue, yell, tumble and flop; and that is on a good night.

Ava decided to brave the sheets with me, never thinking that she would last the whole night . . ., but she did!

~

We started our sleepover though several hours earlier at the KFC buffet in Jenks.  Pam and I don't eat their anymore because of the massive amounts of MSG that is used (Pam was smart and brought in a large salad from McAlister's), but since the girls requested this place, we went.  I decided to enjoy the meal, and deal with the health repercussions later (which I did the next day with a massive MSG headache).

12 pieces of chicken later for me, and 4 pieces later for Ava, we headed out for dessert.  Each of the girls made multiple trips for veggies and biscuits.  But, yes, they still had 'holes' in their belly to fill when I was ready to be wheeled out on a 2 wheel dolly.

Emma Jo downed an entire Braum's strawberry ice cream cone, and Ava polished off a hot fudge sundae like she'd not even eaten dinner.  Yes, these girls are both big eaters.  That comes from the Fournier side of the family.

These pictures were snapped the next day at lunch at Taco Bueno.  I don't remember much other than I loved how Ava wanted to hold me for the picture, and how I had to hold my sweet little Spaz as she was fueled and rarin' to go, no time to sit still for a pic.  You can almost tell it's a quick lean in, as her feet where running in place while sitting looking for a solid surface to land on.  She has the energy of Nini.

I love my girls.  Such a fun sleepover. 

I am a blessed man.

Spiderboy?

In '98, Pam and I were walking out of the brand-new AMC 20, having just watched The Mask of Zorro, which was the 1st movie we saw in this new state of the art theatre.  We might have been there on the 1st day that the theatre opened, but if it was not day one, it was week one.  The Managers were still coming into the auditorium before every movie to thank patrons for coming to their new venue.

As we headed to our car, we saw a grandpa with his grandson, and the grandson (age 5?) was wearing a Zorro costume, complete with sword.

Pam and I both smiled, and got a big kick out of it.  We both commented about how special the grandpa must feel.  Since that day, I yearned for an opportunity to one day share a similar time with one of my future grandchildren.

Fast forward 16 years.

This past weekend, that 'dream' came true for me.  I was able to go with o'Mike to see Spiderman with his Dad, and I loved being a part of it.  He wore this costume to the movie, but did remove his mask.

With popcorn and pop in tow, we made our way to the seats. 

Within minutes I was smiling ear to ear as I was listening to Owen giggle, then cackle, then belly laugh as he watched Spiderman swing from web to web in the very first few minutes of the movie.

With trailers, the movie was 2.5 hours long, and Owen was awesome.  He squirmed in his seat just like I did, and I got to hold him once.  I missed a lot of the movie though as I was too busy rubbing his legs, his hair, kissing his head, and just watching him from the side totally enthralled by this movie.  It was time I will never forget.

I love you Owen Michael, thank you for the invite!

And now, for the rest of the summer, we may have dates to see:

Godzilla 23
X-Men 9
Transformers 8

And those are just the ones I remember from the trailers . . .

I am a blessed man.




  

Morning Drivers

Early mornings are my favorite time of the day.  And I mean 4a to 7a, before most of the city is awake and on the road.

I do not like to be on the road though between the hour of 530a to 630a.  That is when the road is filled with the aggressiveness of young 'leaders', dying to get to work before the lemmings arrive that they supervise.

I know the ones, they are recklessly speeding by in their BMW's, or cutting you off from the merge lane in their Lexus', or tailgating you so close in their Cadillac Escalade that you can't see their front end.  And they are male 80% of the time.  Testosterone fueled, Starbucks amped; male idiots.

It astounds me how much aggression is on the road so early of a morning.  No courtesy, no following rules, just flipping a bird, and coming within an inch of clipping your corner tail as they whip around you.  And it is not just one isolated occurrence.  This is a culmination of observation over many-many years of early morning road driving.

My favorite car is a Corvette.  But, as with most Corvette owners, you don't own one to speed through traffic.  Sure, we can blow away almost anything on the road, but we don't have to prove it, and we Corvette owners want to be alive tomorrow to enjoy another drive next weekend.

I drive conservatively.  I lumber around in my BAT.  There was a time in my life when I drove like a male idiot; but losing a license for 30 days, and completing a defensive driving class taught me a lesson at age 20 that has lasted with me since then.

You have to watch out for the other guy (and my wife does this even better than I do), especially at 6a, as that must be one of the worst times of day to be on the road!  Scary.

Be safe today.