Cool website

I thought this was a pretty cool website so I thought I would pass it along.

If you want to see the International Space Station (ISS) pass over your house, this site tells you exactly when you can expect to see it in your part of the world.

http://www.heavens-above.com/

Pete Rose

I am a fan of Pete Rose.

Call it a "Westsider" (those who live on the west side of Cincinnati) thing but I am a fan. So you can imagine that I am thrilled to hear that Bud (Butt) Selig is seriously considering reinstating him. I hear that there will be conditions - public apology and no managerial responsibilities - but in any case.....I am thrilled.

Despite his gambling issues as manager, you can't deny the man his role in baseball history as a player. He holds MLB records that will likely never be beaten by any other player. In a time of tainted players and tainted records, it is refreshing to look back at players that once were amazing without the use of performance enhancing drugs.

It is time to give Pete his due. It is time.

Hotdog anyone?

Lyn and I had a few days off this week and decided to try out one of Food Network's Drive-Ins, Diners and Dives. You know the show with Guy Fieri? It is a interesting little show. The type of program that reminds you of a massive car wreck on the highway. You can't help but stop and watch it to see what is happening.

The "Dive" that we decided to try was Hillbilly Hot Dogs. Located about three hours from Cincinnati, it is located in downtown Huntington, West Virgina. Since Huntington is not a huge metropolis, the restaurant was very easy to find on Third Street.

The atmosphere - befitting of its name - is a redneck motif. I have to admit I couldn't help think of Jeff Foxworthy as I was sitting inside. But hey.....its working for them. The locals seem to love it and with all of the attention from the Food Network....so do the tourists.

Exterior Picture

Interior Picture - yes that's a tire as a table

When you move past the redneck ambiance, you get to the heart of what makes them tick - the hot dogs. They have about thirty different types on the menu. Forget about the plain dog here folks.....they throw just about everything on them. AND........for the more daring....they have a five pound and fifteen pound burger that can be ordered and shared with your friends. Yeah.....a real gastronomical delight. Lyn and I shared an order of cheese fries which were crinkled cut and crispy. I love a french fry that is crispy!

I chose the Taco Dog which came with chili, cheese, lettuce, tomato, salsa, sour cream, jalapenos and crumpled tortilla chips. It was very very tasty and not as big as I thought it would be with all of those ingredients on there.

I don't think we are making a habit now of visiting Drive-Ins, Diners and Dives, but we weren't disappointed in this trip. The food was delivered to us as seen on TV and by the time we left they had a packed house.

I can think of worst ways to make a living........

Michael Jackson

I waited to post about the death of MJ until I listened to the memorial service today. Like some of you.....I was getting a little overcooked by the constant "all Michael all the time" on all of the news and entertainment channels.

I have been a fan of his music. It was his freakish behavior and his seemingly unnecessary cosmetic surgeries that were a turn off. I never did buy that he actually molested little children because he was so much a child himself. I was a fan of the entertainer however.

The memorial service today was well done. I think it honored the musician, the entertainer, the father and the son of a remarkable musical family. If Elvis had died last week, I think we could have expected much of the same.

I don't remember much of Elvis' death. I do remember the white Cadillacs (they were white right?) that paraded through Memphis behind the hearst. I remember the local news coverage on it vaguely. Remember.....in 1977, we didn't have the news and entertainment channels that we are afforded today. It was radio dedications and dinner time news broadcasts only unless you lived in Memphis then it probably was "all Elvis all the time". End result.......Graceland serves as his shrine and his legacy is still raking in millions a year. Lisa Marie really wants for nothing.

So here we are in present day and we have lost another great entertainer. I can't believe he was 50 years old. With all the surgeries, we were never allowed to see him grow old or gray. His grin was a little more permanent just like his musical talents. And even though we all realize that his three children are really not biologically his.......he was a father. It's not clear how amazing he was as a father since we rarely seen his interaction with his children publicly before this week.....but it appears to me that his children wanted for nothing (obviously with the outstanding debt). He appeared to be very attentive to his children and his daughter Paris let her emotions show this afternoon in regards to her loss. I don't like to watch children mourn and I have to admit that brought a tear to my eye.

The memorial service won't end the controversy around his death. I would not be surprised if we hear about the toxicology report by the end of the week. We will find that he took risks with his health just so he could push himself a little farther. In the blink of an eye, he was gone.

Gone too soon? I don't know about that. He leaves behind a legacy - good and bad - that his children and his family will hold for a lifetime.

Sarah calls it quits?

Just a couple thoughts here.

1. A quitter never wins.
2. How can she even think about accepting the responsibilities of president when she can't finish a whole term as Governor. (of Alaska of all places)
3. Now she has even less experience to be president.
4. Her leaving office didn't even make sense. Who quits 18 months out without another election to run for?
5. More SNL fodder. I can't wait. Weeeeeeeee!

TA TA!!!