Month: August 2005

Rockford, Nature, Beef-A-Roo

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We spent a few hours in Rockford this morning. I had forgotten just how boring that city is. Either that, or I’m visiting the wrong places. Our first stop was Klehm Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. Just as we remembered it from last year’s visit, it was cheap ($2 admission) and deserted. We had the entire place to ourselves, which is nothing like the Chicago Botanic Gardens, but that’s probably because Klehm is one fourth the size and they don’t have any paths for biking. We probably spent no more than an hour walking around before we got bored and left.

Our next stop was Severson Dells Nature Center. Unfortunately, the nature center building itself was closed. Apparently they don’t open until 1 pm on Saturdays, although I didn’t see that helpful information anywhere on their site. When we first were walking around the building, a female deer darted across an open area. It was so quick at first I didn’t even register what I had seen. Joe wasn’t looking in the same direction, and by the time we got to the spot where she had run, she was long gone. So that was rather uneventful.

By that time we were ready to head back home, but decided to stop at a restaurant native to the Rockford area, Beef-A-Roo. Let me just say for the record that their beef is awful (stick to Arby’s), but the black bean salad and french fries are quite yummy.

We were home before 1 pm, so at least that didn’t take up the entire day.

Today’s photos
Last year’s photos

Queso

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Since I’m on the topic of food, let’s talk cheese. Do you like cheese? I love love love it! I probably haven’t tasted most of the cheese out there, but I think I’ve come pretty close, at least when it comes to the common cheeses. I haven’t met a cheese I didn’t like, and I’ve had, american, asiago, blue, brick, cheddar, chihuahua, colby, feta, gorgonzola, gouda, monterey jack, mozzarella, muenster, neufchatel, parmesan, provolone, ricotta, romano, and swiss. I’ve even eaten that nasty processed cheese as a kid. Stay away from Kraft Singles! I can’t believe how much like plastic it tastes. Velveeta, well, it’s not real cheese either, but it’s not bad when you’re making cheesy rice or a cheese dip.

Living so close to the Wisconsin border, you’d think I would have been to Mars’ Cheese Castle in Kenosha by now, but I haven’t. I saw it on a Food Network show recently, and now I want to go! To think we’ve driven by it several times on our way to and from Milwaukee. I think I can even picture the sign. I want some cheese, please!

Trader Joe’s

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Trader Joe’s is my new favorite grocery store. Not for everyday shopping, mind you; for the unique stuff like their super yummy and low-calorie 3-cheese pizza. Joe and I split one and it’s under 500 calories for each of us. It’s super thin crust, but so good, especially if you let the cheese burn a little. And because it’s made fresh, it only takes 15 minutes in the oven to bake!

I’m also digging their frozen popcorn shrimp. We split a whole box for dinner and that too is under 500 calories each. They also have some really good (baked) chips and popcorn (Joe is addicted to their garlic and parmesan chips). And lest we not forget that’s the place to get the dark chocolate covered espresso beans. Oh yea!

“If you have the means, I highly recommend you pick one up visit”*.

* Guess the movie quote (based on the words striked out and minus the word visit)

XM Radio

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Joe came across an even better deal online for a satellite radio receiver via XM radio, so I guess we’ve made our decision on which provider we’re going with (I was already leaning toward them anyway since I liked their content better).

He ordered the Delphi XM Roady2 from ecost.com. After a rebate it will have cost only $12. Sweet! We had toyed with the idea of getting a nicer looking unit or adding the home kit, but decided not to bother. Who gives a crap what it looks like if it works? In addition, I realized you get free access to the channels online, so we don’t need the hookup for the stereo: I have great speakers on my computer.

I think it will serve us well on our drive down to Florida. You really can’t beat that price and I won’t feel guilty if we decide down the line to cancel the subscription.

Park district follow-up

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This weekend our townhome association threw a neighborhood party. Or more like the village threw a party at our association. Something like that. Anyway, we took Joe’s son because his daughter was at her new school’s open house with her mom. It was just down the street by the pool, so we walked.

They had a couple of games set up for the kids and they got little prizes, plus everyone got free hot dogs and ice cream.

At one point the district trustee came by to introduce himself and we got on the topic of my e-mail to the park district that went unanswered. After a bit more chit chat, he took off with the promise he’d look into it.

He came back about 5-10 minutes later with a woman who works for the park district in tow. I was impressed that he took my concern (complaint?) seriously enough to bring her over to talk to me, although I have to say I got the impression they were just humoring me. Maybe I’m just paranoid, but I felt like they were rolling their eyes at me in their heads. I guess we’ll see since the woman talked as if putting up some signs, particularly by the baseball diamond, was a real possibility. Although she did have to sneak in there that this is the first time someone has mentioned that people loiter on the fitness path and put themselves and people using the path in danger. To that I say, just because people don’t know where to voice a complaint, it doesn’t mean there aren’t any.