University of Maryland

The middle child is looking at colleges.  Last week, we visited the University of Maryland.

Maryland is known for many things- an awesome school of business, high academic standards, and their basketball and football teams, as well as the home-made ice cream served in the lower level of the Student Union.  (The Creamery)

Many famous alumni have graduated from Maryland: Connie Chung, Larry David, Robert Basham, Sergey Brin, and Carl Bernstein.  Perhaps the best known of all the graduates is Jim Henson: the creator of The Muppets.

On campus, just outside of the student union is a statue of Jim Henson and Kermit.  They are sitting together on a bench, facing each other.

While on the tour of Maryland, I heard a couple of stories about Jim Henson that I'd never heard before.  The character of Animal was based on one of Henson's Fraternity brothers.  Miss Piggy's character was based on one of Henson's former girlfriends.  Even better--the dorm where the girl lived has been immortalized and now contains her profile in the lobby. 

I wonder how often that woman has cringed over the years as we have watched the popularity of Miss Piggy, and her continuing infatuation with Kermie over the years.

Random Thoughts

It is never a good idea to travel long distances on Easter Sunday.  You can't stop for food when nothing is open.  I've never been so glad to see home.

I went to an Easter Vigil at the Catholic Church down the street from our hotel on Saturday night.  I'm not Catholic, but nobody can put the meaning into Easter like the Catholics.  We began with a bonfire, had a candlelight procession, and the first half hour of the service was lit entirely by candles. 

The Msgr. at the church mentioned that he'd had a call on Saturday, asking about the Easter Vigil.  The caller wanted to know what time the service began.  "It begins at 8:30" he answered.
"How long does it run?"  the caller asked.
"It runs until it's done.  Usually, it's 2-1/2 to 3 hours long."
"Oh...." the caller replied.  "Do you have the phone number for the Methodist Church?"

There's nothing like warm, furry cats climbing on top of you first thing in the morning.

Skyline Chili is really good.  It's even better on top of a Coney Dog on Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds. 

People in Ohio don't have any idea what Old Bay Spice is....

There's no better way to get to know a group of people than to pull out a frisbee.

No matter where you go, most people are very nice people. 

Teenagers need to bottle that energy and enthusiasm!

Robotics Tournament

I'm writing this from the stands at Xavier University.

Our team has been competing in the regional tournament this weekend. We didn't make it to the final rounds,but we have had an amazing experience!

I'm going to post some pictures from this weekend. Unfortunately, I can't post captions on my phone. So, I'll post pictures and add captions tomorrow when I get home.

Congratulations to the finalists!

A team mascot makes certain his safety goggles are in place while back in the pits!

Between rounds... the robots from the previous round are removed,
and the next robots are placed on the field.

Love this battery charging station!  This is actually a wagon on wheels!
Set it on end, and voila!  A compact battery charging station!
(I'll bet it's really easy to pack, too!)

The all girls robotics team from Pittsburgh.
They were even dressed like Rosie the Riveter.
I loved their enthusiasm!  So happy and upbeat through the entire event!

A view down into the pits from the stands.  The pits are an exhilerating place to be!
Lots of energy and enthusiasm down there!

Thursday - A Trip to Indianapolis

Since we are in Ohio anyway, I took a trip over to Indianapolis on Thursday to see my Aunt. She's the last remaining member of my Dad's generation. At 72, she's also lived longer than her siblings.

We had a great time! We talked about everything, and we went out to lunch together and talked some more!

I ended up with two more boxes of my grandmother's china to bring home. You know that when you are traveling 8 hours to get back home with 4 teenagers, their luggage, and a mascot costume, there's nothing you want to do more than shove two boxes of hundred year old china into the mix!

Seriously, I am thrilled beyond words to have the last of the china. I'm to split this batch with my sister. I remember Sunday Dinners at Granny's house served inside of those dishes!

My cousin came out to visit while I was there. He's two years older than me. And at 48 years old, he's already had 4 heart attacks and 2 bypass operations. It was a stark reminder of just how much I have to be thankful for. You can never take good health for granted. Our family health history is littered with stories of early heart disease and the loss of good people who are in their 40's and 50's.

I'd like to say I had a great time in Indianapolis. What I had instead was a stark reminder.

Anyway, I'll be posting later on today from the Regional Robotics competition. Yesterday was Day 1. Today is the final day-and we had big , big happenings yesterday!

A Blast From the Past

We traveled from Maryland to Cincinnati yesterday for a robotics tournament.

I grew up just a little north of here. The trip down yesterday afternoon was full of memories for me!

We drove past King's Island - an amusement park that I have some very fond memories of. I remember they used to have this wonderful ride called "the Wonderful World of Hannah Barbers", where Shaggy and Scooby and Yogi all came to life.

We passed by the road that used to take you to Camp Green - a Girl Scout property that was our favorite. I loved tent camping there, and I remember the raccoons eating through our coolers and taking out our food that we had stored in styrofoam coolers.

We drove by the entrance to Lewis and Clark State Park. A nifty little park that surrounds a river. Our family used to go hiking there once a month.

I could go on for hours, but you get the idea. I have this crazy hope that I'll run into friends I grew up with this weekend. But, it's been 30 years since I've seen any of them. I am positive that even if I do see them, I'll never recognize them!

Good luck to all of the teams competing this weekend!

Basketball

Tonight, the State Police took on the faculty of the High School in a rather heated basketball
game.  After watching this game, I am thinking that the teachers need to watch their speed over the next few days as they travel the roads!   One of our teachers fouled out!

Seriously, the police officers are no slouches where basketball playing is concerned.  After watching them play an effortless game, I am more impressed than ever by them.  They had just come off a twelve hour shift, and were "winding down" with a game of basketball.  They were polite, they joked with each other, and they teased the teachers.  Several of the officers had been taught by some of the teachers in the building.  The respect between the staff and the police was evident throughout the game.  The students sitting in the stands engaged in good natured banter with each other, and with the staff.  You've got to admit, when you're watching Math Teachers make 3 point shots from half court, and you're watching a social studies teacher outrun a 6'5" officer, and then pass the ball back to another player through the legs of said officer, you have to respect their athleticism.  Of course, the Officers won.  They beat the staff by seven points.  Handshakes, hugs, and high fives ruled the court at the end of the game.

I am a little curious, though.  I know the officers have tomorrow off.  I really want to know how many of the teachers end up calling in too sore to come in to work tomorrow?  You could tell that some of them were definitely feeling it when the game was over. 

Thanks to all of the staff and officers for showing the kids such great sportsmanship, and coming out to have fun with each other on a Thursday night.  You set a great example for our kids!

Eating Locally, Shopping Locally

My oldest child is home from college for his Spring Break.  It's been great having him home for a week.  Since his two siblings are still in school, he and I have been enjoying some quiet time together. 

Today, we went out to lunch.

We don't live in the city, but we don't live in the country, either.  We are the outer, outer suburbs- more rural than suburban.  Our county is 90% agricultural.  Once growing season starts, we have an abundance of local produce in the area.  But what about now?  It's March.  Our growing season hasn't started yet.

Well, oldest child's favorite restaurant is located about half an hour from our house.  It was started about 70 years ago, on the edge of the orchards and farms owned by this one family.  The restaurant has remained in the same family for 70 years.  Many of the waitresses have been working there for more than 30 years.  Up until she passed away 5 years ago, the matriarch of the family still made the pie crusts, by hand and from scratch, every morning.  She made her last pie crust two days before she passed away.

This restaurant is smack dab in the middle of farm country.  Like many of the restaurants in this part of the world, they don't advertise that they're "locally grown" and then raise the price.  They call it good business sense to buy food from local farmers and then use that in their restaurant.

I had a hamburger today.  A delicious, 100% pure beef hamburger.  That hamburger was born and raised within 10 miles of the restaurant.  It was slaughtered 10 miles down the road the other way at our butcher shop.  I once asked the owner of the butcher shop if he finished his beef on corn.  He laughed at me and told me "That's for them rich folks.  A farmer brings his cow in here, and it's ready to go.  We pay him for it.  I don't want my money sittin' out there in the feed lot gettin' fat.  I'm gonna have to pay for that feed it eats."  That's an refreshing twist on the meat industry!

My pickle was canned this past summer in the big barn just at the edge of the orchard.  The cucumbers it was made from were grown in the big fields behind the barn.  The applesauce was also canned in the barn.  The apples were picked in the orchard back in Sept. and Oct. while they were in season.  Gosh, that apple sauce was so very, very good.  No sugar added, and it tasted like sunshine.

My french fries were hand cut by the staff this morning.  The potatoes were grown five miles down the road last year.  Today, the mix was made from Yukon Gold and Red Russets.  OMG.  Those fries were to die for.  My son and I split a basket of fries that was bigger than my dinner plate.

The pie crusts were made from scratch, by hand this morning.  They were apple pies.. .made with apple pie filling that had been canned over the summer in the big barn on the edge of the orchard.

The service was amazing.  Friendly staff, they watched over us all like a pack of mother hens.  We were sitting at a table next to a Candidate who's running for the U.S. Senate.  He was eating lunch with his Grandma.  It was funny- the staff kept calling him Justin.  They've known him since he was a kid, and they think it's great that he's running for Senate, but he's still Justin.  He never made the rounds of the tables, didn't engage in any politicking, and didn't do any glad handing.  Instead, he was focused soley on his Grandma and answering her questions, telling stories, and joking.  We had one main waitress, but every waitress on staff took care of everyone.  It's just the nice thing to do.

I tell you, every time I go there, I feel like I've stepped back into the 1950's.  The service is from another era.  People take the time to listen.  They stop and treat one another like individual people.  I always run across friends while I'm there, and we'll end up table hopping after we pay our bills, talking to people we haven't seen in a while. 

It's amazing when I think about it.  Old fashioned service.  Locally grown food.  (All within a 100 mile radius.) And at a reasonable price.  ($12 for two people.)

I love supporting our locally owned businesses.  We never would have gotten that kind of service at one of the big chain restaurants down the street!

Have you helped your local businesses lately?