103 Burgers In 8 Minutes!

Joey Chestnut is the man!
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At Last, The Answer

Many of you have asked and many of you have claimed, but few have really had proof to validate the answer... until now!

The answer is clearly and undesputedly YES!

Foreshadowing

It's ashame this picture doesn't do justice to the red color in the tree with the evergreen background being dusted by a light blanket of snow. And today the sun shines bright despite the meager 7 degrees of heat we feel.
Tomorrow will bring the season's first substantial snow... 6 - 8"... or so they say.

On My Way to 11.5

Mt. Kato is going full bore with the snow machines.
From the Red Jacket trussle, the LeSeuer River appeared to be flowing strong with shavings of ice lining the banks.
After making the turn towards "home", I passed a very frozen looking Indian Lake which all bodes well for thick Ice in plenty of time for our New Year's Day plunge!

For Birds Only!

The feeder was full on Tuesday morning, but the -10 below zero (F) windchills seems to be keeping the birds away. Come to think of it... I didn't see any squirrels either... but I know they're out there... watching... waiting. Ack!

Winter Soccer

Depite the negative windchills outside the "dome", the kids managed to stay warm for soccer practice. The second kid from the left would be the Peanut defending the goal.

Here is a larger shot of the dome and the assundry soccer players working out the kinks.

J.A. Mandy's

Here's a rare glimpse at a well-behaved and presentable tribe. From the left working right: Buzz, Beaner, Side-Track, Big Dawg, Chalupa, Mindy (the pooch), JA Mandy and Peanut.

Ahhh Food

Beaner helps Chalupa suck down a shake.
Meanwhile B.D. sucks up his Noodles and Cheese. Having a good appetite is healthy. Eating like pigs and having it caught on the camera... priceless.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Among the evening's dusting of snow this 22nd of November is an auspicious date. It's the birthday of Buzz's childhood chum, R. Schmidt (46) as well as actress Jamie Lee Curtis (49). Also 44 years ago today in Dallas, our Nation lost a chunk of it's innocence with the assasignation of John F. Kennedy.

Despite getting older, and the burden of remembering our National loss, we still have plenty to be thankful for. On this day the Taylors give thanks for our family and friends; to our military for our safey; for our health, happiness and sense of humor; our abundance of food, warmth and joy, and the many other small blessings in our lives.

I suppose we can also be thankful (in advance) that the elections will be done in a year so we no longer have to endure the interminable campaigns, speaches, and related commercials; and we will begin to usher in a new and perhaps more succesful administration.

Big Dawg loves his popcorn!

Peanut, Buzz and Chalupa.

Family night at the MSU BB game. Here is Buzz with Peanut.

By Dawn's Early Light

If a person was up early this Sunday morning, they could have seen four guys trudging along towards a 14 mile distance along Judson Bottom Rd. From the left it's hard to tell if the Rookie looks to Brad for Iron Man advice or Tom for Ultramarathon insight. All I know is it's sometimes safer to be at the back of the pack and let some one else sling the crap from time-to-time. That's another long run in the bag, and we finished in plenty of time to get to church and do work around the house. As weekends go... this was one of 'em.

Girls Being Girls

After all these years, the Wicked Witch of the West still scrares these kids. Not to mention the flying monkeys. There's not place like home.

And of course, there is always the mall. Here Side Track, Beaner and Chalupa read some schlockie gossip rag in the lobby of a hair cut place... in the mall. Looks like I could save a bunch of money if they only trusted me with their hair.

Strike! ? ! ?

Big Dawg... it looks good from here!

Bean Bag Toss Anyone

Would you look at this! It's an original, Peanut-designed sandwich board that the local Optimist Club will use as a bean-bag toss activity for various kid venues. Pretty cool, huh?

Home Life

Looks like Chalupa and Peanut are undertaking yet another baking project. In this case it was a birthday cake for Side Track. A Crazy Cake, chocolate bottom, vanilla top with pink frosting. It tasted much better than it sounds.


Here we see Beaner cracking the books which she is doing with greater frequency and intensity this year than in years past. She is very dedicated to her studies.

SNOW!

Mark this date. During my lunch-time run I saw the first snow flakes of the Fall. The flurries were pushed by 50 mph gusts in 43 degree weather. I kept reminding myself... this is about as good as it will get because it's November and the worst is yet to come.

An Apple a Day...

May keep the doctors away, but the smiles... they just keep a comin'.

One More Year For Side Track

BD and Side Track discuss the subtleties of being 29 for more than one year. Ah yes, another year has passed. Happy 29th B-Day Side Track!

From the left (back row): Peanut as Cruella Deville; Ms. L as a Gypsy Queen; Ms. E as a Pirate; Chalupa as a Clown; and (front) Mr. B. Dawg as Spidey. Another Halloween passed and bootie of candy amassed.

Ownership Blues

Last weekend we lost our dishwasher. It was about 10 years old and had a sort of tank-like solid feel to it. The ceramic coating on the interior metal casement chipped. The breach led to rust. The rust led to a hole. The hole led to a leak. The leak led to hidden water damage. The hidden water damage led to discovery. Discovery led to resignation... a new diswasher was ordered on Saturday and installed on Monday.

Five days later I discovered a flat tire on the Van which has been sounding rather whiney as of late. I've been ignoring the sound like a sailor might ignore the festering and smelly sores and pains from a gangreous leg. The flat tire led to the phone call. The call led to the service department. The service department led to a description. The description led to a grim diagnosis. The car goes in on Tuesday and won't come out until Thursday. In additon to two new tires, balancing, allignment and winterization (it's that time of the year)... I am pleased to report our tranmission is still under warranty.

Sometimes I think renting is a better deal.