Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Our Last Kindergartener
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| Jeromy 5 Years old |
Our last official Kindergartner is loving his first official year of school. He has many friends from the neighborhood and his K4 class in his class this year. He enjoys the many activities (although lunch and recess seem to be his favorite) throughout each day and is looking forward to going on his first fieldtrip to Apple Holler this Friday!
Just received his Kindergarten pictures so had to post for all of the family to see! :)
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Home Made Cracker Jacks
Ingredients
- 3 ounces popped popcorn, approximately 3 quarts
- 1 cup salted peanuts
- 4 ounces unsalted butter
- 16 ounces dark brown sugar, approximately 2 cups
- 1/4 cup dark corn syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Directions
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
Spray a sheet pan with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper. Spray the parchment paper with nonstick spray as well and set aside.
Combine the popcorn and peanuts in a large mixing bowl. Set aside until ready to use.
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, corn syrup and vanilla and stir until combined. Heat the mixture until it reaches 250 degrees F, approximately 10 minutes.
Pour the syrup over the popcorn and stir to combine. You will need to work quickly because the syrup hardens rapidly. Spread the mixture onto the prepared sheet pan and bake in the oven for 1 hour. Cool completely.
Break into pieces and serve immediately or store in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days.
Spray a sheet pan with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper. Spray the parchment paper with nonstick spray as well and set aside.
Combine the popcorn and peanuts in a large mixing bowl. Set aside until ready to use.
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, corn syrup and vanilla and stir until combined. Heat the mixture until it reaches 250 degrees F, approximately 10 minutes.
Pour the syrup over the popcorn and stir to combine. You will need to work quickly because the syrup hardens rapidly. Spread the mixture onto the prepared sheet pan and bake in the oven for 1 hour. Cool completely.
Break into pieces and serve immediately or store in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Chocolate Toothpaste?
Even though I am a self admitted choco-holic this doesn't even sound remotely appealing to me. I don't remember seeing this on the market here in the U.S. but in 2005 Unilever Philippines marketed a limited edition chocolate flavored fluoride toothpaste. Closeup Flavalicious toothpaste in Choco Loco.
This one is more my speed...a chocolate laptop...two of my favorite addictions!
In Case of Emergency, Please Remove Your Bra
Caught in a disaster? You'd better hope you're wearing the Emergency Bra. Simply unsnap the bright red bra, separate the cups, and slip it over your head -- one cup for you, and one for your friend .
Dr. Elena Bodnar won an Ignoble Award for the invention last year, an annual tribute to scientific research that on the surface seems goofy but is often surprisingly practical. And now Bodnar has brought the eBra to the public; purchase one online for just $29.95.
"The goal of any emergency respiratory device is to achieve tight fixation and full coverage. Luckily, the wonderful design of the bra is already in the shape of a face mask and so with the addition of a few design features, the Emergency Bra enhances the efficiency of minimizing contaminated bypass air flow," explains the eBra website.
It sounds silly, but Bodnar, a Ukraine native who now lives in Chicago, started her medical career studying the effects of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster. If people had had cheap, readily available gas masks in the first hours after the disaster, she said, they may have avoided breathing in Iodine-131, which causes radiation sickness.
The bra-turned-gas masks could have also been useful during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and for women caught outside during the dust storms that recently enveloped Sydney, she said.
"You have to be prepared all the time, at any place, at any moment, and practically every woman wears a bra," she said. Her patented devices also look pretty, no different from a conventional bra, she added.
According to a report on tech news site CNET, there are plans for a "counterpart device for men" in the works , though the precise shape it will take has yet to be revealed.
Canine Choreography ~OK Go
This video took the Band OK Go over 6 weeks to complete. All done in one continuous take. Most dogs were from local shelters who were trained just for this video.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Another Angel Called Up
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| <3 My Uncle Tom and my Dad, Jerry Strohkirch <3 |
Dates:
Birth date: February 21, 1937
Death date: September 22, 2010
Obituary:
Thomas E. Frelka, age 73, Bowler, Wisconsin, died Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at Langlade Hospital, Antigo. He was born February 21, 1937 in Milwaukee, the son of the late Erwin and Alice (Jankowski) Frelka. On August 13, 1960, Thomas was united in marriage to Judith Strohkirch in Milwaukee. She survives. Thomas was a US Army Veteran. He was employed at several banks in Milwaukee as a bank controller retiring in 2001. Upon retirement, the couple moved to Bowler. Thomas loved bein 'Up North' and loved being in the outdoors where he spent much of his time. He also enjoyed gambling and fishing. Survivors include his wife, Judith, two children; Gregory (Robyn) Frelka and Kelly (Glen) Pedersen, all of Milwaukee, four grandchildren; Nathan, Cassidy, Jake & Lindsey and two brothers; Fred (Diane) Frelka, Mukwonago and Jim (Diane) Frelka, Oregon.
Visitation:
Visitation will be held from 10:00 am until the time of service at the church.
Service:
A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, September 25, 2010 at St. Joseph Holy Family Catholic Church, Phlox. Rev. David Barrett and Deacon Thomas Hartman will officiate.
Facebook Down with Technical Difficulties
Facebook.com is having technical difficulties, affecting both users accessing the social networking site, as well as the “Like” buttons that the social network has populated across the Web.
In a statement on its Twitter — the now de-facto destination to complain about such outages — Facebook said: “Facebook may be slow or unavailable for some people because of site issues. We’re working to fix this quickly.”
The site also had technical problems on Wednesday, thanks to a third-party networking
In a statement on its Twitter — the now de-facto destination to complain about such outages — Facebook said: “Facebook may be slow or unavailable for some people because of site issues. We’re working to fix this quickly.”
The site also had technical problems on Wednesday, thanks to a third-party networking
Remember When ~Intro
Yep, feeling more than a little nostalgic today. Maybe it's the weather, maybe it's the fact that I'm sleep deprived...whatever the cause it has had me tripping down memory lane for the last week or two. Thinking back to the good, the bad and the ugly times, and trying very hard to remember it all, or not to remember in some cases.
I can't believe that I can't remember EVERYTHING that I want to. (Did I really just say that?) Do I now need to admit that I am getting old because I can't remember every minute detail? I don't think I'm ready for that yet. After all, all the names in my little black book don't have M.D. after them!
In order to get past this dilemma...I've decided to piece together a little of my life and post it here on my blog, so I have something to refer back to when I'm old and need to remember these stories for my future grandchildren. I'm stressing the word FUTURE on the grandchildren subject...I'm thinking like 10 years from now at the very earliest!!!
To most of you these blurbs and memories won't mean a thing and if you don't read them...that's OK. Some will be ridiculously boring and not make any sense to those of you who did not know me as a child. Some probably shouldn't be repeated on a public blog...but hey, I'm exercising my right to free speech and it is MY blog afterall. :D
Chapter 1 ~ The Parents
Meet my Mom and Dad. Jerry and Gale Strohkirch
I can't believe that I can't remember EVERYTHING that I want to. (Did I really just say that?) Do I now need to admit that I am getting old because I can't remember every minute detail? I don't think I'm ready for that yet. After all, all the names in my little black book don't have M.D. after them!
In order to get past this dilemma...I've decided to piece together a little of my life and post it here on my blog, so I have something to refer back to when I'm old and need to remember these stories for my future grandchildren. I'm stressing the word FUTURE on the grandchildren subject...I'm thinking like 10 years from now at the very earliest!!!
To most of you these blurbs and memories won't mean a thing and if you don't read them...that's OK. Some will be ridiculously boring and not make any sense to those of you who did not know me as a child. Some probably shouldn't be repeated on a public blog...but hey, I'm exercising my right to free speech and it is MY blog afterall. :D
Chapter 1 ~ The Parents
Meet my Mom and Dad. Jerry and Gale Strohkirch
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| Jerry and Gale Strohkirch March 24, 1967 |
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Hmmm...write a book???
Take my poll to the left...my daughter suggested I write a book. Should I? Would anyone read it? Decisions, decisions! Give me your two cents and vote!
Titanic Cruise ~ I want to go!!!
A lucky 1,309 passengers will be able to retrace the Titanic's maiden voyage on the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of this beautiful ship. Some of the family members of the original Titanic voyage will be on board for this trip back in time.
Read the article
My husband was kind enough to bring me to the Titanic exhibit when it was here locally. I was just enthralled by the entire exhibit!!! We waited in line for what seemed like hours to get a chance to see some of the original relics.
Read the article
My husband was kind enough to bring me to the Titanic exhibit when it was here locally. I was just enthralled by the entire exhibit!!! We waited in line for what seemed like hours to get a chance to see some of the original relics.
Similac Powder Formula Recalled
Abbott recalls infant formula over contamination fear
9/22 1:52 p.m.NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. (AP) — Drugmaker Abbott Laboratories said today it is recalling millions of containers of powder-based infant formula that may be contaminated with insect parts.
The voluntary action affects less than 5 million Similac-brand powder formulas sold in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam and some Caribbean countries. The company said the products may contain a small beetle or larvae, which could cause stomach ache and digestion problems.
A company spokeswoman said Abbott uncovered the insects last week in one section of a Michigan manufacturing plant.
Positive Thinking is Everything
Jerry is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!" He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant.
The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.
Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?" Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.
I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.
"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested. "Yes, it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life."
I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.
Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gun point by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body.
I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?" I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. “The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to die. I chose to live."
"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. Jerry continued, "...the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man.'
"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. Jerry continued, "...the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man.'
I knew I needed to take action." " What did you do?" I asked. "Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Bullets!' Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.'"
Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.
Positive thinking the the first step towards a happy life.
Attitude is everything
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Abercrombie SUCKS!
I clicked through on the ad and was imported into the world of Abercrombie Clearance! Whooo hooo! I found 3 pairs of great jeans, a few hoodies and long sleeved shirts for the boy and then beckoned him to come down from his room for final approval of my choices. All passed his inspection with flying colors!!!
I then clicked through to check out, filled out my shipping and billing info, credit card info and clicked through to the final stages of online checkout only to discover that it did not take off the 50% off the online clearance pricing. What the heck?
Thinking I needed a promo code I went back to the original email Abercrombie sent me and scoured it for a promo code. Nothing. Then I remembered that Abercrombie doesn't use take promo codes on their site. I looked to see if there was a start/end date on the email I received. Nada. I then read all of the fine print at the bottom of the email and in about 2pt type I found "Pricing online indicates 50% off" What B.S. is this I'm reading? The "Retail price" advertised on the Abercrombie website for the four pairs of jeans I dropped in my cart was $39.50 each. With a clearance price of $34.50. The Hoodies in my cart had a "retail price" of $39.99, clearance $29.50. Long Sleeved shirts Retailed at $29.99, Clearance $19.99 each. Ummm, excuse me...does anyone at Abercrombie have ANY math skills? None of the pricing that I was seeing was even CLOSE to 50% off!
More than a little perturbed I decided to email the Abercrombie customer service department inquiring about the error in their clearance pricing from the advertisement I received. Their response?? "Online clearance pricing indicates 50% off of RETAIL STORE pricing." What freaking malarkey!
It is most obvious that their marketing department has a little communication problem with their web department, or they are pulling the old bait n switch. I expected 50% off the clearance prices that were online due to the advertisement I received. I ran the ad past my husband as well and he agreed in my train of thinking. Abercrombie, you lost a big sale....and future sales as well with this family. I had over $350 of merchandise in my cart that I was EXPECTING to pay $175 plus tax and shipping for. I dumped the entire lot and went on a merry little online shopping trip at American Eagle instead. Where they honor their advertisements and do not screw with their customers with false and misleading advertising.
Take that Abercrombie. :P
Kenosha Standoff Resident Identified, Charges Possible
Possible commitment or charges for woman in 7-hour standoff
9/21 2:26 p.m.Kenosha Police have submitted paperwork for possible mental commitment and/or criminal charges for a woman who fired a weapon through a window at her home and threatened suicide on Monday.
Barbara Ensor, 44, surrendered without incident about 6:30 p.m. Monday after staying in her 22nd Avenue home for almost seven hours while the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Tactical Response Team and other officers surrounded the residence and closed nearby streets.
Ensor is being detained at a Milwaukee hospital for a mental health examination.
Back in the Groove
Ok, now that we are a few weeks into the new school year things are starting to run a tad more smoothly around here. The getting up part seems easy enough for the boys, it's always the after school homework, sports and bedtime routine that seems to be awry for a while. That, thankfully, is grooving again.
Kid Updates:
Jeromy seems to really like Kindergarten but has become a lot more "scared" of new things, unlike in the past where he has been a lot more outgoing. Taking hot lunch for instance. He said he's scared to take hot lunch because of the possibility of not being able to eat it all. He can't throw it away, that would be wasting a perfectly good apple, milk, etc. Seems like a trivial thing to worry about to an adult...but in the eyes of a 5 year old it is traumatizing! He's always been taught at home to not waste food, now at school he's expected to throw it away? Not conceivable to him at this point. So we pack a cold lunch every day...which is fine with me, at least I can see that he is eating.
Hunter is just starting to be hit with the big load of homework now...which is to be expected in 8th grade and a couple of weeks into the school year. Unfortunately with playing baseball 2 nights a week some nights he's rushing to get it done. Tonight he asked me to type up his paper on Edgar Allen Poe. I caved and did it...he reminded me that I had typed a paper for Nathan some time ago. How come these kids have to remember EVERYTHING???
Nathan is groovin' along in Minnesota. He even went out on his first grocery shopping excursion to replenish the cupboards of his apartment. Spent a whopping $50. He didn't mention what grocery store he went to...hoping it wasn't the local conveniance store where milk is like $5 a gallon. I tried to show him how to stretch the food budget, but boys don't always remember those king of things...they just see something they want, and buy it.
Brit was home this past weekend to work and spend time with the girls. She's now thinking of going abroad for her last semester. That's a scary thought...do I really want her out of the country for months on end? I'm still pondering the thought. Maybe once she goes in for her next MRI and the neurosurgeon tells me all is OK will be a little more supportive about heading overseas. Maybe. :D
That's all folks! ~Char
Kid Updates:
Jeromy seems to really like Kindergarten but has become a lot more "scared" of new things, unlike in the past where he has been a lot more outgoing. Taking hot lunch for instance. He said he's scared to take hot lunch because of the possibility of not being able to eat it all. He can't throw it away, that would be wasting a perfectly good apple, milk, etc. Seems like a trivial thing to worry about to an adult...but in the eyes of a 5 year old it is traumatizing! He's always been taught at home to not waste food, now at school he's expected to throw it away? Not conceivable to him at this point. So we pack a cold lunch every day...which is fine with me, at least I can see that he is eating.
Hunter is just starting to be hit with the big load of homework now...which is to be expected in 8th grade and a couple of weeks into the school year. Unfortunately with playing baseball 2 nights a week some nights he's rushing to get it done. Tonight he asked me to type up his paper on Edgar Allen Poe. I caved and did it...he reminded me that I had typed a paper for Nathan some time ago. How come these kids have to remember EVERYTHING???
Nathan is groovin' along in Minnesota. He even went out on his first grocery shopping excursion to replenish the cupboards of his apartment. Spent a whopping $50. He didn't mention what grocery store he went to...hoping it wasn't the local conveniance store where milk is like $5 a gallon. I tried to show him how to stretch the food budget, but boys don't always remember those king of things...they just see something they want, and buy it.
Brit was home this past weekend to work and spend time with the girls. She's now thinking of going abroad for her last semester. That's a scary thought...do I really want her out of the country for months on end? I'm still pondering the thought. Maybe once she goes in for her next MRI and the neurosurgeon tells me all is OK will be a little more supportive about heading overseas. Maybe. :D
That's all folks! ~Char
Monday, September 20, 2010
Bradford is Moving on Up!
Bradford football moves up to 63 in national poll
9/20 6:40 p.m.Bradford was ranked 63rd in the RivalsHigh 100 national football poll on Monday.
Coach Jed Kennedy’s Red Devils, the only Wisconsin team in the poll, were ranked 74th a week ago. It marked the first time Bradford had cracked a national poll and the first time a County team was nationally ranked since 2001 (Tremper).
Bradford, 4-0, is at Racine Horlick on Friday.
Kenosha Woman Surrenders to Police
UPDATE: Woman surrenders to police
9/20 6:36 p.m.A woman who was holed up in her home after firing a gunshot this afternoon has surrendered to police without incident.
The standoff ended about 6:30 p.m. when the woman reportedly told police she was coming out of the home in the 3700 block of 2200 Avenue and did so, immediately being placed in police squad car and taken from the scene.
Police were first called to the home about 11 a.m. for a report of a woman waving a gun and threatening to kill herself.
When an officer knocked on her door, she reportedly fired a shot out the window.
No one was hurt.
The Kenosha County Tactical Response Team was called, and authorities blocked off 22nd Avenue from 35th Street to Washington Road.
