Month: January 2008

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Got Power?

or “The Mini Blackout”

Last night around 8:30, I was getting ready to make some shish kabobs I got at the West Side market when the power went out.

It was a little strange because the Powerhouse still had electricity and everywhere else I look did as well.

My neighbor called me asking if I had power, I did not.

I went out into the hall and it seemed like everyone who lived here was out wondering the same thing.

Apparently, a transformer blew. This wasn’t the first time this has happened in my new apartment building. Some tenants say it’s the third time.

While waiting for the CPP (Cleveland Public Power) to fix the problem, all of the tenants got together in the lobby and talked about their experiences at the building. It was rather eye-opening.

The good thing is, I’ve gotten to know some of my neighbors. They’re good people,

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The Things You Buy…

I took a trip to Target, Wal-Mart and Marshalls today in Steelyard Commons. I had to laugh about three products I found.

1.) My new stainless steel garbage can. Why are they priced at $80? I didn’t pay that. You have to look at “Clearance” endcaps. I found a simplehuman trash can that retailed originally for $79.99 and I got it at Target for $34.00. I don’t feel like I threw out my money out with the trash.

2.) Some cereal I bought today exclaims “Now Better Tasting”. I was excited to see that now I’m going to really like it. I liked the taste before. After tasting it, I didn’t notice any difference in the taste.

3.) Another product I got says “Best If Used by 23:09 DEC 14, 2008”. So if I cook it at 11:10pm that day, it’s not going to be as good? I don’t think products need to be so exact.

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The Jake, Nope, The Pro!

Well, The Indians will play their next season at Progressive Field. Indians fans have come to know and love the nickname, The Jake. Get used to calling it, The Pro, The P (next to the “Q”). I have to admit liking the name, Jacobs Field, named after the last owner of the Indians. The Quicken Loans Arena was named after the former owner of the Cavaliers, Gordon Gund. Now it’s just the “Q”.
Should we start calling the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The “R”? We’d have “P”, “Q” and “R” covered then.
I’ve heard a lot of talk about the namechange but even more about the logo. No one likes it. It’s very simple. Of course, it’s Cleveland and just like everything else here, people have to get used to it first.
See you at the “P”, “Q” or “R”…
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She Makes Me Laugh

If you haven’t watched Chelsea Handler on E!, you’re really missing out on smiles and laughs. She’s an excellent interviewer, she’s one of the wittiest people I think on TV right now.

Tonight, I watched her episode that included an interview with Leah Remini from “King of Queens”. Handler also went to to the doctor to find out what it would take for her to donate some of her eggs. The segment had me laughing out loud.

I have to set the DVR to record her show. I always forget when her show is on and I don’t want to miss her. You shouldn’t miss her either. She’s hilarious!

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Cleveland at Night









Here are some pictures I took tonight of the city. The clouds had a pink tint them and at the beginning of my photo session, you could really spot it. I’m amazed by the number of planes that fly into Cleveland. I must have counted at least a dozen of them while I was taking these pictures. One night, I’ll venture out on the Viaduct to take some more photos. My favorites are the Federal Courthouse, Rock Bottom Brewery and the span of the Detroit Superior Bridge.

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Downtown Living

Last March on my blog, I entered a very simple post on my blog called “Downtown Living” and my message was “Ain’t it great!”. I took a picture from my friend, Luke’s apartment.

Now, I do know it IS great.

I got up this morning, opened up my blinds, looked out and realized how true that is. Straight in front of me, I saw workers getting things ready for a Saturday night at Rock Bott m Brewery (They still haven’t fixed the “o”)

Just a glance up, you couldn’t help but see an RTA running by just above the Plain Dealer Pavilion.

Seconds later, I heard a barge navigating down the Cuyahoga River.

These are the sights and the sounds of the city. You know it’s alive and breathing, even on a Saturday morning in chilly January.

Now, there’s a SYSCO truck backing up with the beeping warning signal, ready to unload all of the restocking of food for the restaurant.

No matter when or where you look you’ll always see a seagull flying around in the air. There’s really no lack of visuals out the windows. It’s a great reminder knowing the world continues every second.

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A New Year’s Tradition

I had to laugh when I looked through Yahoo!’s top searches for today. Check out number 3, “Pork and Sauerkraut”. I have to admit being one of the people who contributed to its position on that list.

Yahoo! Today’s Top Searches
1. Tournament of Roses
2. Bowl Games
3. Pork and Sauerkraut
4. Captain America
5. Saoirse Ronan

I couldn’t remember why a lot of people cook up the combination each New Year.

sauerkraut.com reports:

“As the Germans and Dutch began colonizing America, they brought along their
taste for sauerkraut, an ability to make it and an evergreen New Year’s meal
tradition: Families enjoying pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day will have
good fortune all year because pigs root forward signifying the coming year, and
green cabbage leaves indicate money.”

I love pork and sauerkraut. So much so, I once made it in the middle of the year. Go figure!

Today, I put 2 two pound bags of sauerkraut in with my pork and cooked it for four hours to make my favorite New Year’s Day dinner. My mother only used a two pound bag of kraut in hers. I need more I guess. She also put an apple in the dish. She claims it takes away some of the bitter taste. I think it was my sister’s suggestion. One recipe I found online called applesauce. Call me a traditionalist but I like things the way I’m used to them being.

This year my mother made her Christmas cutout cookies but didn’t make them the regular way (with the added lemon extract in the frosting). Don’t get me wrong, they were still great but I keep telling her don’t mess with perfection. I guess I’ll always love Mom’s cooking, the old fashioned way. Mom, remember no green beans in the casseroles (Chicken Pot Pie or Tator Tot). I still don’t like the taste. I like green beans but just not in casseroles.

Since I’m on a role with the topic of food, I just downed some pistachio pudding. I’ve always liked it the best of any pudding (including chocolate). My parents would bring it home when they used to work at Nabisco. The plant where they worked made Royal Brand. Nabisco has since sold that brand off to another company.

I recently got a recipe from one of my friend’s mother for pistachio cake. I had it over the summer and it’s great. Maybe I’ll think about posting it here on the blog.

I’m hungry…