It’s Hot, Hot, Hot!

Posted by: admin | 08-01-2008 | 05:08 PM
Posted in: Uncategorized | Comments (1)

Daily Adventure#2: Cheeseburger in Paradise, Chuck E Cheese, Netflix, and The Karate Kid

Monday, July 21, 2008: This would be my only full day in Kansas City. I drove up here on Sunday, and will have to leave on Tuesday. I decided to make the most of this day. I would try something new, and spend time with my absolutely adorable nephews.

The boys were still camping with their dad at a camping area about an hour from Kansas City. We knew they would not be back until after lunch. My sister told me about a new shopping area in KC that is upscale, trendy, and fun. It is called Legends, and is located near the Kansas City Speedway. It boasts several restaurants, a really cool bowling alley, a movie theatre, and shops galore. I loved it!

My sister let me pick the restaurant. I saw that there was a restaurant called, Cheeseburger in Paradise. Yes, it is associated with Jimmy Buffett. Actually the correct name is Jimmy Buffett’s Cheeseburger in Paradise. The decor and the food offerings are what you would expect. However, the food quality and taste was much better than I anticipated. I am not much of a drinker, but I really wanted to try a margarita or a pina colada. I opted for the latter. It was wonderful!

For my entree, I ordered the Calypso Chicken Salad which was also very good, and it was huge! Ultimately, I also decided on dessert. I chose the pina colade cake. I was not disappointed. The was only one “problem.” As I looked around, it seemed weird to be sitting in a Jimmy Buffett restaurant in Kansas. At that moment I really wanted to be in the Florida Keys. All-in-all, I would give Cheeseburger in Paradise an A.

Later, that evening, I decided to be “Cool Auntie Teresa.” I offered to take my nephews to the dreaded Chuck E. Cheese. Since it was a Monday evening, they were not too busy. I ended up having a blast! I think I got into the games even more than Jon and Nick did. We ended up with a slew of tickets. Nick was able to get a small gumball machine, while Jon chose a small carrying case for things like crayons and glue. I also surprised Nick with a belated birthday gift, when I bought him a dirt bike backpack that was hanging on the wall. He is going to have the coolest backpack of all the first-graders!

I continued spoiling them when we got back to their house. I decided to camp out in the family room with them. I also let them stay up late so we could watch The Karate Kid on my laptop. I love Netflix Instant Viewing! Nick ended up falling asleep, but Jon loved every minute of the film. He ended up staying up until midnight. Yikes! Yesterday turned out to be a great day. My nephews are truly a blessing to me.

Daily Adventure #1: Podcasts, KC, Spin Pizza, and Swurl

Sunday, July 20, 2008: I drove from Springfield, Missouri to Kansas City. Even though, it is only a 3 hour drive, I hadn’t made the trip in nearly two years. My sister lives, with her family, on the Kansas side in Olathe. They come to Springfield on a regular basis, so I get to see my nephews often. However, I do enjoy all that Kansas City has to offer. During the drive, I listened to some of my favorite podcasts. I enjoyed the French music podcast,Radio Oh-La-La. In addition, I listened to Alternageek, Grammar Girl, and Net@Night with Amber MacArthur and Leo Laporte. I love that I can listen to podcasts while I drive. I learn something new and valuable, and it makes the time fly.

My brother-in-law had already made plans to take the boys camping and dirt biking on Sunday night. That meant my sister and I could have a girls’ night, which is pretty rare for us. We started by having dinner at Spin! Neopolitan Pizza in Overland Park. I loved the openness and the decor.

We started with an appetizer of Rosemary flatbread with white bean hummus. We then moved on to the Melanzane, which was a white pizza with roasted eggplant, caramelized onions, and goat cheese.
The crusts are hand-tossed, and the pizzas are stone-fired. We loved everything about Spin! The food arrived quickly, service was great, and the food was wonderful! I just had to try the gelato. They had several flavors to choose from. I opted for the blueberry butter cookie gelato. It was just the right size and taste to end the perfect meal.

Lastly, I heard about Swurl on one of the podcasts I had listened to earlier in the day. Last night, I decided to check it out and sign up. Swurl is a place that basically pulls all of your different web presences into one place. It pulls from services like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Flickr, Picasa, and some many more. Swurl then places your updates from these services into your own little Swurl “page” with your own Swurl URL. The final result is a page that looks kind of like a blog. I think I am going to like Swurl. Here is my Swurl page.

Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog: Could Internet Movies be the Wave of the Future?

Over the last few days, I have heard talk about a new film. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog is not your typical big-screen, feature film. Starring Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, and Felicia Day, this movie was made strictly for the internet. The movie is presented by Mutant Enemy Productions, and directed by Joss Whedon.

The movie was released in three acts, making it a “serial movie.” I was able to watch all three acts today on the Dr. Horrible website, free of charge. Unfortunately, I learned that they will only be available on their website until midnight, July 20, Eastern time. That means tonight, folks. However, the good news is that they can be purchased and downloaded from itunes after July 20th. They are sold as 3 separate acts for $1.99 each, making them similar to buying individual tv show episodes.

What I loved about Dr. Horrible, is that this movie breaks the traditional super-villain / super-hero mold. Dr. Horrible, as played by Harris, comes across as passionate and sincere, though misguided. On the other hand, the super-hero, Captain Hammer, is portrayed as shallow, insincere, and without a heart. I also enjoyed the cheesiness of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. I miss the cheesy super-heroes of the ’70s and ’80s. I grew up on Electra-Woman and Dyna-Girl, Christopher Reeve as Superman, The Last American Hero, and the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It seems to me that the superhero movies today are rather dark and gloomy. While not all of them are this way, I just can’t get into the dramatic, dark superhero films. Super-heroes are meant to be fun!

Dr Horrible has proven to be an internet blockbuster. It has quickly become a fast-spreading viral video across the web. I have to wonder it this medium just might be the wave of the future. Let’s face it, ticket prices have risen considerably, as have prices on other items. Ticket sales have gone down, while prices of other necessities, such as food and gas, continue to skyrocket. Though I do not bill myself as an economic analyst, I see this as a sign that ticket sales will continue to go down.

Another factor is the high costs to filmmaker’s themselves. Surely it would cost less to make an internet movie. In addition, the internet and new social media offer the opportunity for viral marketing, much of it free or low-cost.

I am looking forward to see if other internet movies make such a dramatic splash across the world wide web. I am also curious to see just how this could eventually impact the movie industry.

In the meantime, check out Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. You just might be thoroughly entertained!

Visit the Dr. Horrible website.

An Unreal Recipe for Western Spaghetti

This is a fun and clever short film. It is brought to you by the folks at PES Films. Man, do I wish I could cook like that!

If you visit their website, you will discover even more funky, short videos.

I am Pop-a-Rock Radio

I decided to try my hand, once again, at operating my own internet radio station. I have had internet stations, hosted through LIVE 365, a couple of different times. While there is a monthly fee, I find that I really enjoy the internet radio world. This little endeavor has afforded me opportunities to discover different music and a variety of artists. The monthly cost covers the royalties that go along with playing music that is not your own. LIVE 365 offers a nice selection of packages for personal broadcasters like myself. They also host professional stations.

I have realized that there is much to learn, both technically and legally speaking. Each station must meet the legal guidelines for their broadcasts. I have also learned about promoting my radio station, selecting music which will appeal to my listeners, and much more. I receive many requests from newer artists who would like airplay on my station. It takes a discerning ear to pick the potential “hits” from the numerous “flops” that can drive listeners away.

Since I am a personal broadcaster with my own station, I also chose to become a VIP listener. This means that I can listen ad-free. Additionally, I am able tune into any LIVE 365 VIP-only station. Another cool feature, is the mobile application. I can listen to any LIVE 365 station in my car by using my cell phone, an unlimited data plan, and a cassette adapter. I also found that I needed not one, but two, additional adapters to connect my cell phone to the cassette adapter. It took a little searching, but I found exactly what I needed. I love being able to listen to internet radio in my car! It is very cool.

Find out more about hosting your own internet radio station by visiting the LIVE 365 website.

Visit the Pop-a-Rock Radio page on LIVE 365

Got Grammar?

Last year, I rediscovered my long-buried enthusiasm for writing. As a high school and college student, I was actually well-versed at writing. I could research, draft, and edit a 10-page paper in one day. I would usually end up with an A as the final grade. However, over the years since graduation, I had written very little. Then, last year, I was turned on to the wonderful world of blogging. Alas, my interest and love for writing began to slowly creep back into my life. I found one slight problem, though. I quickly realized that I need a serious brush-up on proper grammar.

A friend, who holds a Master’s degree in technical writing, told me about Grammar Girl. Grammar Girl is a podcast that deals with specific grammar topics. I love that each episode is short and to-the-point. Mignon Fogarty is the girl behind the grammar. She has a knack for making grammar interesting and fun! Who would ever have thought that grammar could be fun? It is obvious that Mignon Fogarty thinks it is fun, and she shares her enthusiasm for the subject in a way that is exciting and entertaining.

Mignon released her new book this month. It is titled, Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing. At this very moment, she is on a nation-wide tour promoting her book and meeting her fans. I am a huge fan of Grammar Girl. I follower her on Twitter and Facebook, and she does likewise. I really would like to go to one of the book signings. However, the closest location is Cedar Falls, Iowa, which is an 8 to 9 hour drive from Springfield. I do have a few days off work next week, so who knows? I may just decide to make the trip. I could also stop in Kansas City to visit family, and I could use the getaway. I actually enjoy driving long distances by myself at times. The only thing that could keep me from going, would be the out-of-control gas prices. I figure I would spend $130- $150 in gas. I have to ask myself if it is really worth it.

Last week, I spent time at a nearby lake with my family. I brought a couple of books with me, including the new Grammar Girl book. My dad, who is not really into reading, picked up the book and totally got into it. That is just further proof to me, that Mignon Fogarty has created something that can make grammar accessible and fun to a variety of people, from differing backgrounds. Kudos!

Take this little grammar quiz, brought to you by Grammar Girl, to see if you are in need of a brush-up on your grammar.

Grammar Girl Quizgreat free widgetsWidgetbox

Visit the Grammar Girl website.

7 Wonders Wednesday: Cool Stuff on the World Wide Web

I have so many friends who are wonderful bloggers and writers. They have far more creativity in coming up with fun, unique, and informative ideas for posts than I have ever been able to muster. I have decided to follow suit with a weekly posting of links, articles, and other cool “finds” across the web. I have decided to call this weekly posting “7 Wonders Wednesday: Cool Stuff on the World Wide Web.” Each Wednesday, I will be posting exactly 7 fabulous finds, not one more, but not one less.

Without further adieu, here is the first of the 7 Wonders Wednesdays. I do have to apologize that this will be posted after midnight, so technically, it will already be Thursday.

The Peanut Butter and Pickle Sandwich. Sound weird? Disgusting, you say? If those were the first thoughts that jumped into your head, think about it again. This sandwich sounded so bizarre, that I thought it just had to be great! I decided to give it a try. I actually really enjoyed that sandwich. It ended up being quite tasty.
Lifehacker: Twitter Users Worth Following. Are you perpetually asking yourself (and answering) that one question “what are you doing?” Only true blue Twitter users will really know what I am talking about. If you are equally interested in finding out what others “are doing” and broadening your horizons a bit, then this Lifehacker post is just for you. Learn about some rather interesting, if not slightly unorthodox Twitterers you can, and should follow.
SBJ.net: Starbucks to close 600 locations. The Springfield Business Journal is a locally-based publication serving the Springfield, Missouri area. However, the 600 locations span across the United States, with the future of many of these stores remaining unknown at present. Whether you are a Starbucks lover or hater, you will most likely find this article both interesting and necessary, especially with the continuous downturn in the global economy. If it can happen to Starbucks, it can happen to many other high profile franchises too.
Weezer’s Pork and Beans Video offers a a fun and refreshing twist on your typical music video. Here the music group incorporates other youtube videos into their own. All of the videos used were, at some point, highly popular among youtube users.
If you enjoyed the Weezer video, you will definetly want to checkout the Dogoo Tech Sideshow Blog. In one post, the blog author offers a break down of the Weezer Pork and Beans video. They also went through the trouble of including links to all of the youtube video that were used in the making of the Weezer video.
Ten People Who Should Have Their Own Blog. Are you a mother-to-be? Or a missionary? How about a weight-loser? If you are, then get your pen, or your keyboard ready! Bloggersguide.net offers an informative and rather persuasive post detailing ten types of people who should consider starting their own blog. Find out if you fall into one of these ten categories.
Need a dessert that is delicious, fabulous, and deceptively easy, all rolled into one? Try this recipe for a Sopapilla Cheesecake. All you need is canned crescent rolls, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, cream cheese, and a stick of butter. Follow the link for the complete recipe.

Check back next Wednesday for a brand new edition of 7 Wonders Wednesday.

Posted by: admin | 07-02-2008 | 10:07 PM
Posted in: 7 Wonders Wednesdays | Comments (0)

Minnie Driver: She Can Act, But Can She Sing?

Over the years, many actors and actresses have tried to conquer the world of music in addition to acting. While they may be extremely talented and gifted in acting, they often prove to be lousy vocalists. Reversely, many talented musicians have attempted to take on the role of actor as well. Again, these performers often give credence to the old standard “don’t give up your day job.”

All you have to do is listen to the Hollywood Goes Wild cd to see what I mean. Though it is a noble attempt to raise money for a zoo, most of the actors on the cd prove that they cannot sing. Notable celebrities including Brad Pitt, Russel Crowe, Johnny Depp, Bruce Willis, and many more, lend their voices to this effort. Most likely, they will not be able to forgo acting in favor of a music career.

On a positive note, I recently discovered that actress, Minnie Driver had also released a couple of her own cds. She was in such films as Good Will Hunting with Matt Damon and Return to Me with David Duchovny. I decided to download her albums to my Zune and listen to them later. I was pleasantly surprised to realize that she is actually quite good. I love her voice. I also like the fact the the songs are “just right.” They are slow and mellow, but never boring. If you look up Minnie Driver on Amazon.com, you will discover that listeners have rated her cds rather high. Her two main releases include Seastories and Everything in My Pocket. My personal favorite selection is Beloved. If you are in the mood to add something new and fresh to your music collection, give Minnie Driver the benefit of doubt. I am glad I did.

Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe: I Really Want to Like This Place

Early last fall, I finally decided to check out Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe in downtown Springfield. Gailey’s is located in an old pharmacy on Walnut Street. This pharmacy also at one time, happened to house an old-fashioned soda fountain. It is nestled next to the Seville Hotel, which is now full of loft apartments. I had heard good things about Gaileys, including the fact that it boasts a menu with some items not found at your typical chain restaurant.

On my first visit, last fall, I decided that this place was way-cool. Sitting at the counter, I ordered the “Mystery Jeff” which is named for one of Gailey’s regular customers, who also performs with the Skinny Improv. Besides eggs, and bacon or sausage, it is also accompanied by your choice of hash browns. You can choose from traditional hash browns, or Gailey’s own sweet browns. The sweet browns, are quite simply, made from sweet potatoes. Topping off this selection, was a generous bowl of fresh fruit mixed with yogurt and granola. The sweet browns were out of this world! The fruit was fresh, and the combination with the yogurt and granola was yummy. To be honest, I couldn’t finish all of the fruit. I found the Mystery Jeff breakfast very filling. Additionally, I loved watching all the buzz around me. The cooks, the wait staff, and the other customers kept me entertained. With the downtown location, it was just fun to people watch.

I didn’t make it back to Gailey’s for a second time until yesterday. I stopped in for a quick breakfast, before meeting friends to work on a mission project. The experience this time was a little disconcerting. I waited at the door, to be seated, since there was a a sign that said to do just that. One of the wait staff looked at me after a couple of moments. He told me, rather rudely, to just sit where I wanted. While there were some customers in the cafe, they were not nearly as busy as they were that day last fall. Someone brought me a glass of water, and I was told that my waiter would be right with me. I waited a good 10 minutes, while some of the workers were on break, some were clearing a couple of dirty tables, some were standing behind the counter talking, and one waiter was running his tail off. The other staff kept coming around telling me that some one would be right with me. Where was the team work? Why couldn’t some one else just take my order?

Finally, after 15 minutes, I told one of the girls that I would not wait any longer. I wasn’t going to keep waiting when the cafe was not that busy, and other tables around me were being served, no problem. She said that she would be glad to take my order. Why did she have to wait for me to demand service, if she “would be glad to take my order?”

I ordered something different this time, the banana-walnut pancakes with two eggs and a choice of sausage or bacon. I was really expecting the pancakes to be out of this world, like the sweet browns had been. Alas, they were not. The cakes were generous in size and were quite filling. Yet, they didn’t have much taste and were a little dry. I was expecting them to be banana-flavored pancakes, just like the pumpkin pancakes at IHOP taste like pumpkin. The pancakes at Gailey’s were merely plain pancakes topped with sliced bananas and some walnuts. There was not anything special about them. The sliced banana wasn’t equivalent to even, one whole banana. I tried to drench the pancakes in syrup, but even that didn’t help give these cakes any flavor. Very disappointing.

When my waiter had brought the order to my table, he also gave me the check. He thanked me for coming in and said to pay at the register when I was finished. I guess he thought that since I now had my food, his job was done. There would be no one coming by to see how my food was, no drink refills, and no one to ask if I needed anything. And guess what? There wasn’t.

Since the my first visit to Gailey’s was so wonderful, I am somewhat inclined to dismiss the second visit as a “bad day.” I will probably go back at least one more time. I don’t quite know why, but I really want to like Gailey’s.

Posted by: admin | 06-14-2008 | 11:06 PM
Posted in: Restaurant Reviews | Springfield, Missouri | Comments (2)

« Previous Entries

It’s Hot, Hot, Hot!

Daily Adventure#2: Cheeseburger in Paradise, Chuck E Cheese, Netflix, and The Karate Kid

Daily Adventure #1: Podcasts, KC, Spin Pizza, and Swurl

Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog: Could Internet Movies be the Wave of the Future?

An Unreal Recipe for Western Spaghetti

I am Pop-a-Rock Radio

Got Grammar?

7 Wonders Wednesday: Cool Stuff on the World Wide Web

Minnie Driver: She Can Act, But Can She Sing?

Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe: I Really Want to Like This Place

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