Head Games... COLD as ICE!

What a fun weekend we've had!! We took Katie and Tyler to the Lou Gramm concert at

Wagon Wheel Theater in Warsaw -

Lou Gramm was the lead singer for Foreigner - the music was nostaligic and the best of the classic ballad rock of the late 1970's and early 1980's.... it was Tylers first concert - and he was able to leave with an official concert guitar pick.

Tyler spent the night with us - and after breakfast with Grandpa this morning, Tyler and I went to Pottery Bayou to paint some pottery.

We had a wonderful day and made fun memories!

Friday's FIVE!

We have come to know this county as our home - and we really do love it here
Warsaw has been recognized as one of the "Top 100 Small Towns in America". The population is just over 12,000 and the motto in Warsaw is 'Live, Work and Play'. Known as the "Orthopedic Manufacturing Capital of the World," Warsaw has the best of both worlds---because Warsaw is also surrounded by one of the strongest agricultural economies in the state of Indiana.

My Friday Five this week focuses on our favorite dining spots in Warsaw area and Kosciusko County. Bruce and I enjoy the company of just each other or with our Best friends, Allen and Esther - a cold beer, seeing a few friends... and usually something hot and spicy.... and we can usually find all those things at one of these local 'hot spots'....

1. The Silver Inn, Silver Lake, IN

Our local watering hole and the place where we can be found on almost any given Friday night.
This is the type of place that they write songs about...."I love this bar, it's my kind of place"

or..."Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name" ... This is THAT place!

The company is good, the beer is cold - the Chili is good and the Friday night special is often a juicy grilled steak. In the Fall - the "Smelt Fry" is something everyone should experience, where "you can get Smelt and Bread at the Silver Inn"

2. Mad Anthony's/Lake City Taphouse

http://www.madbrew.com/company/warsaw.php

We are members of the "Mug Club" - and we love the seasonal brews... or just a cold Gabby Blonde. The Jambalya Mad skins are hot hot hot!!! Mad Anthony's is one of our favorite places to meet after a hard day at work - or a hard work out at the YMCA.

.

3. Spikes Beach Grill

http://www.myspace.com/spikesbeachgrill

The main restaurant, Noa Noa is open all year and has GREAT Fresh Fish entree's and Sushi!

(Spikes is only open in temps. > than 50 degrees)

Sand Volleyball, live music, cold beer... warm sun and Jerk Chicken!!!!

4. Hacienda

http://www.haciendafiesta.com/

We met our dear friend, Jonnelle at Hacienda - even before we became full time county residents. She is still our favorite bartender!! We love a tall beer, a basket of chips and salsa, American Idol on the TV and our barstools while we catch up with the life and times of Jonnelle.

5. Cereluean

http://www.villageatwinona.com/cerulean.asp

Mediterranean and Asian cuisine - Tapas and Sushi.... and the BEST Lobster EVER!!!!

Nice wine list.... and peaceful atmosphere in the Village at Winona.

Honorable Mention - while not in Kosciusko County ... two other favorites include

Time Out Inn, North Manchester, IN and Market Street Grille, Wabash, IN

Golden Birthday Party!!

I'm so grateful for my family and friends....
Last night I celebrated my Golden birthday - hosted by my Daughters, Katie and Betsy and my Mother....
About 75 friends and family gathered for the celebration...
Some I haven't seen for years... many traveled long distances...
the food was wonderful - the cake was amazing...
the setting was perfect - and the company was as good as it gets!
Thank you so much to everyone!
and an extra special thanks to Mom and Katie for all they did!!!!

Friday's FIVE!

This year on Valentines Day, Bruce and I are celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary. Ours is truly a love story ... the kind they write about in the movies. We first met in 1974, I was 16 and he was 19. We were instantly smitten - and we dated for about 6 months. Our lives took different directions... and 25 years later we ran into each other again. We knew we were soul mates, but timing had not been on our side. The 9/11 disaster awakened the reality that life is short - and the timing was right to be together. We married 5 months later - and while we have only been married 6 years, our hearts have been joined since the day we met in Dec. of 1974.
So - in honor of my Valentine and this season of Love....
I am posting 5 of my favorite movies about Love....



1. Dirty Dancing

1987 - Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey
Dancing - soundtrack and boy from wrong side of the tracks falls in love with rich girl...
and we learn "nobody puts Baby in the corner" - (I've had) The Time of My Life -
I get cold chills just thinking about Baby jumping into the arms of Johnny....
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/24206/603183
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092890/


2. Fried Green Tomatoes

1991 Kathy Bates and Jessica Tandy
This is another story of two women - that share a transcendent love. Idgie and Ruth were steadfast and devoted to one another in a time (1930's) when the love they shared was completely taboo. This movie has the same theme as the Dixie Chicks, "Earls Gotta Die" - and tells their heroic love story of finally ending the legacy of abuse.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euIAWlvpXqg
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101921/



3. The Goodbye Girl

1974 Richard Dreyfus and Marsha Mason
This has been re-made, but I love the 1974 screen version of this Neil Simon play
Marsha Mason is a single mother in the 1970's trying to make ends meet. Her boyfriend has left her and has sublet his aparment to a struggling actor. In true Neil Simon style - the story is full of laughs and sentimental twists that make us all fall in love again. The timing at the end with David Gates singing "The Goodbye Girl" is perfect
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWGfISc576g&feature=related
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076095/


4. Sleepless in Seattle

1993 Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan
A story about true soul-mates - Sam is a widow and Annie is engaged to Walter. Annie hears Sam on a radio talk show.... and the kismet she 'hears' takes her on a journey across the United States to follow her heart. Time, distance - nothing can separate them because they KNEW it was RIGHT~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CHda8BRvwg
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108160/


5. Shrek

2001 Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz
Who doesn't love a story about a big Ogre getting the Princess? This is one of the best!
I know the dialogue by heart. Once upon a time in a land far, far away....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlJeS8GDTcI
http://www.shrek.com/main.php

Honorable mention -
City of Angels, Ghost, West Side Story, Rocky, It's a Wonderful Life, Family Man...
and the list goes on and on and on...
(Remember, I was also born on Valentines day - I was born with a Romantic Heart!)

Friday's FIVE!

As my foot gradually heals - I'm able to get out a little more every week. I'm so lucky to have a career I love - and a position that gives me the opportunity to travel and see the midwest. This week I traveled to our building in Logansport - and was able to drive through Amboy, IN - Where my Pence/Ballard ancestors originate and where my father was born.
I passed my "Uncle Bud and Aunt Lucilles" farm - where we had many family reunions. I loved going to their farm and imagining living the 'farm' life.
I love Indiana - and am proud to call it home. While there are many exotic places I'd love to see - and many more locations right here in the US that are on my "Bucket List"... This weeks Friday FIVE is dedicated to my favorite locations to visit right here in Indiana...
Because - there really is, "No Place Like Home"....

1. Marion
I was born and raised in Marion and much of our family still resides in Marion.
My mother is in Marion, my oldest daughter and her family ...
My home church is in Marion - dear friends are in Marion.... our family business of 5 generations was in Marion. Marion has a wonderful Riverwalk where I have spent many hours praying, exercising, meditating and socializing. The Riverwalk is also home to The Walkway of Lights, a beautiful display of Christmas lights along the riverwalk.
http://www.walkwayoflights.org/
http://www.jamesdeancountry.com/Home.php
http://www.mississinewa1812.com/

2. Shipshewana
I love living near Amish communities. The gardens are beautiful , the work horses are amazing and the bread and baked goods make it very difficult for dieting. I love a long drive or bike ride in the Elkhart county area - and I love shopping at the county stores in Amish Country.
http://www.amishcountry.org/
http://www.shipshewana.org/
http://www.pumpkinvine.org/
http://www.pumpkinvine.org/html/2008_bike_ride.html

3. Brown County
I love the hills and colors - and the bedford stone in the Brown County area. As a lover of nature - Brown county offers vistas that are far different from the typical Hoosier flatland. We love to participate in the annual biking event, "The HILLY HUNDRED" - and pedal our way through the beatiful countryside of Brown County.
http://www.fourwindsresort.com/
http://www.browncounty.com/
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier/
http://www.hillyhundred.org/

4. Fort Wayne
Shopping at Jefferson Pointe is less than a 45 minutes from my house. Fort Wayne offers many great dining spots and there is always sometihng to do. There are movie theaters everywhere and the Memorial Coliseum often hosts great concerts and shows - as well as boat, sport and hobby shows.
http://www.memorialcoliseum.com/
http://www.visitfortwayne.com/
http://www.jeffersonshopping.com/

5. Huntingon Reservoir
I learned to pedal my mountain bike at the Huntington Reservoir - I love hiking the area and birdwatching. I love a cold beer with my husband after a hard bike ride on the trails.
I love all of Indiana reservoirs - but especially Huntingon and Salamonie capture my heart.
http://www.visithuntington.org/huntingtonres.htm
http://www.dirtworld.com/trails/trail.asp?id=1863&trail_name=Huntington%20Resevoir%20Mountain%20Bike%20Trail
http://www.visithuntington.org/salamonie.htm

SUPERBOWL SUNDAY!

A fire in the fireplace - a one pot meal... my sewing maching and I think SuperBowl Sunday turns out to be a GREAT day!!!! I'm working diligently on a quilt for my new grandson, Trevor James...who will certainly be watching many SuperBowls at his own home with his older brother, Tyler. I've certainly become a fan - Great music entertainment .... funny commercials and wonderful human interest stories. I just can't figure out who to root for - The undefeated or the underdog!

Friday's FIVE!

One of my favorite winter weekend hobbies is to be snuggled in my jammies with bad lifetime movies on the TV - my husband next to me with the Dog at our feet ... and Googling and surfin' the web. We sit in our chairs and peruse websites, share eBay items .... read the news, and email our friends and family. Bruce studies as he is working on an online degree....and I buy stuff on eBay :) So - today's Friday's FIVE will be - Five of my Favorite Websites outside of the usuals like MySpace and eBay.

I love to spend time outdoors - and my favorite hiking location is the Smokies - We try to get to the park for a hiking trip at least once a year
1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/

Although we love to be outdoors - Weekends at home is a comforting past-time. We watch movies and talk about time frames and settings and locations ... and then research on IMDb
2. Internet Movie Data Base
http://www.imdb.com/

I am a birdwatcher - and this time of the year a lot of hungry birds show up at our birdfeeder.
3. All About Birds
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/birding123/

While the snow is flying - we are thinking about the bike rides we want to do in the Sring.
4. Indiana Bicycle Coalition
http://bicycleindiana.org/index.cfm

A reference I frequently use for my eBay 'studies'...
5. Replacements, Ltd.
http://www.replacements.com/index.htm