Dad's Log

Tracking Merit Badge

Today is the last day for anyone to earn the Tracking Merit Badge.  It was revived for 2010 as part of the celebration of 100 years of Scouting.  David had completed most of the requirements, but needed to finish some photos in order to meet the last requirement.  Some of these were taken at Philmont and some were taken around our house.

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What does God look like today?

Today, God looks like a schoolmaster.  I've been going through Psalms with the boys.  Methinks they can't relate to what David is talking about when he is yearning for God amidst great distress. I, however, can.  It is encouraging to know that I cannot save myself with my own arm, that it is not my sword nor my bow that are worthy of my trust during tough times.  God, the schoolmaster, is teaching me to trust in Him. . . Let me say with the Psalmist, "In God we boast all day long, and praise Your name forever".

Psalm 44:1-8

1 We have heard with our ears, O God,
         Our fathers have told us,
         The deeds You did in their days,
         In days of old:
 2 You drove out the nations with Your hand,
         But them You planted;
         You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out.
 3 For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword,
         Nor did their own arm save them;
         But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance,
         Because You favored them.          
 4 You are my King, O God;
         Command victories for Jacob.

 5 Through You we will push down our enemies;
         Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us.
 6 For I will not trust in my bow,
         Nor shall my sword save me.
 7 But You have saved us from our enemies,
         And have put to shame those who hated us.
 8 In God we boast all day long,
         And praise Your name forever.  Selah  

Another Hot Dog Worth Mentioning

 

Let me preface this by saying that since May, my brother and I have visited at least 20 hot dog places in Birmingham.  I was in a hurry to get back to the office after my meeting in Opelika, and had little time.  But, I took a few minutes to stop at Mrs. Storey’s for the footlong Chili-cheese dog that had been recommended by a couple of people. 

 

As I was about to leave my client’s office in Opelika – at the next exit up I-85 from where 280 runs into it, I mentioned that I was going to Mrs. Storey’s and all three of the local guys that were standing there when I said it all gave hearty endorsements.  When I got there, the building has two order windows facing the front and it looked as though the man at the window on the left was busy cleaning something,  but as I approached that window, a lady’s voice came from the window on the right, cheerfully saying, “ I can take you over here!”.  So as I started to head that direction, the man in the window on the left finished what he had been doing and said (with cheer in his voice as well), “I can take you right here, too”.  So with my being closer to the window on the left, the man won-out.    As I was ordering, I told him I wanted a chili-cheese dog.  He asked if I wanted footlong or regular length.  I hesitated for a split second, and he said “footlong”.    I told him that I was from Birmingham and told him about the Great Bhm Hot Dog Tour and gave him a card.  I said that someone had commented on one of the postings and said we needed to go there and try out the chili-cheese dog, so there I was, 90 miles from Birmingham, to try his chili-cheese dog.  He said, “I think you’ll be glad you did”. 

 

The service was fast and was provided with an above-average attitude.  My footlong chili-cheese dog was not a disappointment at all.  It was served hot and had lots of chili and cheese sauce on it.   After my footlong chili-cheese dog at Sonic the day before, I have to admit, I wasn’t really expecting anything this good.  The  bun was fresh and soft, the coney itself did not appear to have been grilled.  I don’t know how they cook them, but I suspect they are just cooked in water.  Even with that, the coney was not as fatty-tasting as the Sonic one.  The overall flavor of this c-c dog was outstanding.  Each bite exploded with tasty flavor.  I may be wrong, but I think there was some other type of sauce on the dog in addition to the chili and cheese.  The chili was only meat and sauce, no beans, but it had a lot of flavor. . . a lot of good flavor.  I got the dog and a coke and sat at a table outside to enjoy them in almost-perfect weather.  I opted not to get chips as I had enjoyed a late breakfast and snacks during my meeting with my client in Opelika.  It was plenty of food.  As I ate, I noticed that there was a constant flow of traffic, and it appeared that all orders were quickly filled. 

 

When I finished my dog, I wanted to go back and talk to the proprietor(s), but they had customers standing at both windows, so I just headed for the car.   As I was about to get in the car, one of the customers in line hollered at me and indicated that the man inside wanted to talk to me.  I walked over to the window, and he (while he worked) leaned over so he could get a good look at my face and asked, “How did we rate?”.  I gave him a smile and thumbs up and assured him he got a top rating.

 

So, my assessment is. . . if you are ever in the Opelika area, or within an hour of there come lunch-time, you need to go to 1900 Pepperell  Pkwy and visit Mrs. Storey’s Dairy Bar.  If you turn off 280 onto Pepperell Pkwy, it’s just a little past the hospital on the same side of the road (left). 

 

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Unusually Great Lunch

Our great hot dog tour took Karl and me to a very unusual place the other day.  YaYa's Hot Dogs in Crossroads, AL - about half way between Alabaster and Montevallo along Alabama hwy 119.  Thanks to Danny Acker for telling me about YaYa's, the home of the "Almost World Famous Q-Dawg".   Danny owns a business right next door to YaYa's, Crossroads Cottage - Home of Forgotten Arts.  I was telling him about the hot dog tour after church last Sunday and he told me about YaYa's Q-Dawg. 

The Q-Dawg is a hot dog, topped with kraut, pulled-pork barbecue and barbecue sauce.  It might not sound good, but it was outstanding.  And, at only $2.00 each, it is a real bargain.  And, even though it's quite a hike from my office, I suspect I will find myself back at YaYa's on a somewhat regular basis. . . and I will tell everyone I know about it so as to help the Q-Dawg become really World Famous.  The owner, Tracy Hale, is a very outgoing and pleasant fellow.  His establishment deserves to be more widely known.  I felt like I needed to post this so Katherine could show her co-workers more of what Alabama is really like.  Tracy, Mr. YaYa, even wears a shirt that looks somewhat like a Hawaiian shirt.  Read more about it on Karl's blog http://birminghamhotdogtour.blogspot.com/ .

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What does God look like?

Ipad2

Today, God looks like an iPad. 
I went to a training conference late last month.  At a Technology Fair they had, where various vendors had set up booths to show their latest hardware, software, etc. I dropped a card into a hat at the McAfee booth for a drawing they were having.  I didn't even know what they were giving away.  One of the most amazing things is. . . I had run out of my cards during this tech fair and in order to have a way to request more info from some of these vendors, I had gone back to my room at the hotel and took some scraps of paper and wrote my name and e-mail address on them.  It is one of those that I had dropped into the hat at the McAfee booth. 

So, last week, as finances were looking tight, I prayed that God would stretch my money.  Tuesday of last week, without any prior notification, a brand new iPad arrives at my office addressed to me.  Taped to it was the slip of paper that I had dropped into the hat at the McAfee booth along with the card of our McAfee Rep.  I listed the iPad on craigslist.com and sold it for the full price Apple charges.  That was a $500 stretch in my finances for this month.  Praise Him for his provision.

Now, don't get me wrong.  I would love to have an iPad, and it was difficult to make the decision to sell it.  But, it was such an obvious answer to prayer, it would have totally been wrong to have kept it.  God is really working on teaching me the error in our attraction to trinkets.  And, that's all this would have been.  It would have been a toy, something else to distract from a focus on Him.  Instead, it became a reminder, every time i see an iPad, that He is El Shaddai - God all sufficient, or Jehova Jirah - the Lord Who Provides. 

Every American needs to see this!!!

   


Please thank Congressman Tom McClintock from California!!

This is the mantra American's need to be hearing, not all the

mainstream media garbage about how racist Arizona is and

how they don't represent American values.  Nothing better

represents American values than enforcing our immigration laws. 

Listen to what Tom Says.  He's right on track!!!

 

The following is from his website: http://mcclintock.house.gov/
Contact My Office, I am here to serve the residents of the 4th Congressional District, and so is my staff.

Washington Office
We can be reached at (916) 786-5560 or (202) 225-2511

California Office
4230Douglas Blvd. Suite 200
Granite Bay, CA95746
(916) 786-5560

Here is a link to his email.  They don't show the actual address on house.gov. but you can use this link to send him an email.

 https://mcclintockforms.house.gov/forms/contact-form.shtml

 

 

Posted May 21, 2010

Gus's Hot Dogs

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This is the third Wednesday in as many weeks that my brother, Karl and I have eaten at a different hot dog stand. First stop was Pete's Famous Hot Dogs downtown (2nd Ave, methinks). If you want the classic hot dog stand experience, you'll get it at Pete's. Barely 6 or 8 feet wide, you have an area about 2 feet width to stand & eat. The place fills up from the street and as people leave, you shuffle toward the back of the establishment.  When someone has finished and paid, they slip between you and the wall to get to the door.  There is a 6" wide shelf at about waist-high level on the front of the counter/hood over the cooking area where you can set your drink and chips while you eat.  You don't need a place to put your extra dogs, because they are made on a "just in time" basis. We placed our order for one & one (regular and chili), and Gus, the owner served us each our regular dog first.  Then, as we were finised with it, he prepared our "chili dogs".  I have that in quotes, because he doesn't really have chili - uses the beef sauce he uses on his "special" dogs instead, and made no mention of the fact that he didn't do chili dogs.  Upon examination of the menu, I noted there is no chili dog listed.  Be that as it may, after our "one & one" Gus asked if we wanted another.  Since we were not yet satiated, we ordered another regular dog.  If it's flavor you want, don't waste your time or hard-earned here. They had the classic cayenne pepper to add to your dog if you like, and even had Tabasco brand pepper sauce (which makes everything better). 

Next was Chicago Mike's Hot Dogs in Homewood. Again, we each got a regular and a chili dog. I thought Mike's was great. Karl thought they weren't hot enough, but mine were fine. They served large dogs with lots of flavor. I did not see a cayenne pepper shaker, but to be honest, I didn't look for one.  The dogs were excellent without any additives.  If you go to Chicago Mike's, do your waistline a favor and only get one. . .you won't go away hungry.  At Mike's you can sit down and enjoy your dogs.  They have a couple of tables outside and several in an attached dining area.  I don't wish to be critical, because it is plenty adequate, but it's not exactly what you would call "commercial construction".  Chicago Mike's is run by Mike and his wife.  I have been told that the thing to get at Chicago Mike's is the hamburger - and according to the prominently-posted signs, it is an award-winning burger.  But, when you're comparing hot dog places, you don't go there and order a burger.  Not only that, the  name of the place is Chicago Mike's Hot Dogs, not Chicago Mike's Hamburgers. . . But, when you consider the names of Pete's Famous and Gus's, perhaps it fits. 

So, today was Gus's on 4th Ave North between 19th & 20th. Good atmosphere. . . When George, the owner, asked Karl if it was to go or to eat in, karl said we were eating in. We were both entertained when George said "step into our dining room". . . Pointing to a wider spot in the narrow stand with a narrow counter and two stools. We spent less $ here than the other two places so far. Our $10.90 got us 2 regular dogs, 2 chili dogs, 2 bags of Golden Flake chips and 2 fountain drinks (20 oz). Flavor was better than Pete's, but not as good as Chicago Mike's.  He had the classic cayenne pepper shaker, and two brands of hot sauce, but no Tabasco (tisk, tisk!).   The "chili" on the chili dogs was a disappointment.  It was a ground beef with red sauce - looked somewhat like chili sans the beans, but didn't have any real chili flavor.  We decided that a good test for chili to be used on a chili dog would be to ask yourself, "would I want a bowl of this to eat with a spoon and crackers?".  Karl was pleased with the temperature - even said he almost burned the roof of his mouth.

I'd go back, if for no other reason, to find out why George (who came from Greece (or did he say grease?) by way of Chicago) calls his hot dog joint (excuse me, I forgot it had a dining room. . .) I mean his hot dog restaurant Gus's. I think he said it was started in 1946 - presumably by Gus.  While we are talking about Gus, you might find it interesting to know that the guy who runs Pete's Famous is named Gus.  Perhaps he and George should change shops.  At least one of them would then be named appropriately. 

After looking at the proprietors of these three shops, I am convinced that the way to live a long life is to run a hot dog stand.  None of these guys were exactly in their youth. . . or perhaps they were, and were pre-maturely ageing.  But, I suspect they were all well up there in years.

More hot dogs next week.

Posted May 19, 2010

Here is a video about Civil Beat. . . co-starring Katherine:-)

http://www.kitv.com/video/23587721/index.html

Posted May 19, 2010

Congratulations to Katherine!! The Gadsden Times’ news staff won first place in the Alabama Press Association's Better Newspaper Contest. They won for their division for the Best Special Section for “When Homelessness Hits Home.” . . . and Katherine won Second Place, Best News Feature Story. Winners were announced Friday and awards will be presented at APA's Summer Convention in June.