Pekoe

As part of my 2010 Mantra, I outlined a few things I would like to focus on this year.

Having a cup of tea a day is one of them.

This cup of tea can take many forms. It can be a morning tea (though I love a cup or two of coffee in the morning) or an afternoon refreshing drink. Sometimes it has caffeine, though often it does not.

One great place to get tea is at Pekoe sip house. The motto on their website says:

We want people to create quality time through things that enrich their lives. Our customers are able to slow down and enjoy the Pekoe buzz, the energy inherent in a healthy lifestyle. Pekoe tea revives, replenishes and heals.

I couldn't agree more!

This place is absolutely great. They have a nice and knowledgeable staff and a wide and ranging selection of teas. Think of your favorite, local coffee shop. Or if you don't have a nice local coffee shop, think of your nicest neighborhood Starbucks (though I hate to even make the reference).

You can even order online here.

Great tea house. Great setting. Great place to meet with friends.

Ever wonder how Pumpkin Pies are made?

Melissa and I were talking about pies and Thanksgiving tonight as neither of us are huge pumpkin pie fans -so she is looking to bake some kind of pie in the next week. She loves Cherry pie and I love Pecan pie. I know, exciting, huh?!

Anyway, in case you ever wondered how a pumpkin pie is made this picture is worth a thousand words. Too funny!!

Bacon Cupcakes? YUM!

As we've been in the hospital this whole week we have definitely had some great support. Yesterday we received a dozen cupcakes from a local place called Tee & Cakes. There was an assortment of cupcakes inside however the dozen was specifically delivered with 4 bacon cupcakes. Our friends are having their annual "Bacon fest" this weekend in WI. From Melissa's description, it's a day where nothing but bacon is eaten along with a few fine Miller beer products. We are envious of those able to attend such a great event and hope they have a little extra for us!

So the bacon cupcakes are very unique and very tasty. They have maple syrup in the chocolate frosting and bits of bacon in the cupcakes themselves. As the picture shows, there's a whole lotta bacon to enjoy!

Things are going well here at the hospital. Melissa will get discharged/released from her hospital care tonight after dinner and we'll begin our full-time "boarder" status here with Dylan.

Dylan is also doing well and after five days is back to his birth weight (for a baby born at 36 weeks the nurses say they expect it to take up to two weeks to reach this milestone. This is definitely a good thing.) He is starting to gain a good grasp of how to eat and is quite a little character. We'll look to post more pictures soon.

Smarties

This is a bit of a random story but must be something as it is now making national news. The video below was on the CBS Early Show today with this related article. While we were in Breck over the weekend, we saw a similar story in the local paper each morning as some local kid put a video of this up on YouTube and it was making quite a racket on the Internet and in the local Summit County News, which takes a less serious view on the subject. You can search YouTube and find a TON of videos linked to this.

I'm not quite sure what to make of all this however I guess kids will tend to do stupid things. I seem to remember people doing similar things with Smarties in my youth and perhaps that was a gateway to things later in life, or perhaps not. Either way, check out the video for yourself and leave comments online.

The real truth from Mexico on why not to smoke cigarettes

Just in case big tobacco and the lobbyists in America have you believing otherwise, check out the display right in front of a Duty-Free shop at the Puerto Vallarta airport. Not only does 'smoking kill', second hand smoke is 'seriously harmful to those around you.'

On the other hand, it's only $92 (U.S.) to buy a huge box of death sticks... I believe this exact package holds five cartons of cigarettes.

First the tech crash in 2001, now the banking market 2008, automotive sector into 2009, next...

the fast food crash! (please, please there is nothing more I would enjoy more than McD's, BK, and that little Wendy to go out of business). McDonald's is evidently "recession proof" according to comments recently by their CEO. And yes, when times are tough, people look for ways to save a few bucks (see Wal-Mart is doing pretty well). No shame in that however saving a few dollars in our pocket and expanding our waistlines is NOT the way to do it. (Of course Jack Daniels sales across America are skyrocketing, so I guess in times of stress we Americans stuff our face with something.

But given the expanding waist line of Americans both young and old, I hope that fast food nation we have become reverses it's track. Health care costs will continue to sky rocket with all the obese people (just imagine if Obama thinks the universal health care idea is the way to go - we will with no doubt have a health care crash in the next 10-15 years, costing US taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars). Being active will consist of typing on your blog, playing solitaire on the computer or Wii Fit while sitting on your couch. I'm telling you, we are in trouble.

And yes, on a backpacking trip in the summer of 2001 Tony D. and I completely predicted two problems with America: 1) the rest of the world did not look favorably upon America (see September 11th happened 3 months later), and 2) We are FAT Americans.

So this holiday season, eat more greens and proteins, drink 1% milk and exercise before you stuff your face with holiday treats and Christmas cookies... so you can help America avoid the next big crash.. the Fast Food Blow up (coming to a home near you in 2017 or sooner)

Oh... and one more holiday wish is all RAV4's and CRV's get recalled and exchanged with an American car (say the Ford Escape) or a car with a little get up and go. Nothing more I hate on the road more than RAV4's and CRV's (aside from the ever-popular minivan)

That is all.... for now.