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Posted By travis on January 2, 2010

Smoke-Free

TODAY!!

After all the hard work by elected officials and advocates from across the state to pass HB 2.

Today is the day NORTH CAROLINA RESTAURANTS AND BARS BECOME SMOKE-FREE!!

Today, we make history in our tobacco-producing state and join 25 other states that have enacted smoke-free restaurants and bars legislation.

Today, 395,000 restaurant and bar workers will go to work knowing that their hearts and lungs will be protected from the dangerous health effects of secondhand smoke and millions more North Carolinians are now protected from short-term exposure when spending time in restaurants and bars.

Today, local communities now have authority to pass local ordinances restricting smoking in other indoor, public places to further protect additional workers and visitors from the dangers of secondhand smoke.

Today is a day to celebrate!

Take this opportunity to enjoy your favorite venue that is now smoke-free. Remember to tell the owner that you are happy to have smoke-free air to breathe. Remember to thank your state representative and senator for their support of this new law.

As you circulate in your community, you and others may have questions about the new law. You are encouraged you to visit www.smokefree.nc.gov for much more detailed information about the new law.This new website was created by the state health department to address questions about the law. In addition, there is a section of the website which will allow you to report a violation of the smoke-free law or send a thank you note to a restaurant or bar. This website also contains tools for businesses.

You may also access the NC Alliance for Health website for additional information about the smoke-free law, such as talking points and sample letters to the editor.

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Posted By travis on December 12, 2009

The holidays come and go before we know it.

This time of year begins with Halloween. Costumes and candy, spooks and parties, and decorations to excite the heart. Parties of all kinds lurk in the shadows waiting for the guest to appear. Halloween can be an exciting time to prepare regular holiday treats in a different way. It is always fun to see if you can create a spooking Halloween feast. And, then the beverages that appear, ghoul punch, vampire wine, and so many other ghostly creations. I hope everyone had the spookiest Halloween ever.

Next down the line is Thanksgiving. Turkey, ham, deviled eggs, green bean casserole, candied yams, pumpkin pie, and stuffing – oh stuffing – that is what it all is – stuffing for us. This is the one time a year when it is somewhat expected of you to eat more than you really should. Friends and families gather together over a four day weekend to cook, eat and drink. There is usually always leftovers for the next day and by the time the four day weekend has come to an end – you have probably eaten enough turkey for the entire year – no – not really – keep it coming.

Then there are all the Christmas parties that follow Thanksgiving. Every weekend until Christmas it’s self – small parties, medium size parties and large parties. Some focus on food, while others are mainly concerned with how many cocktails you can consume in a few short hours. No matter the theme it is always fun to see what wonderful and delicious delights await us at each stop.

With all the food and drinks that surround this time of year, I hope we all take a few minutes to remember that this is the time of year to rejoice in the love that surrounds us all. Make time to think about all people in your life and ask yourself if there is something you can do for them that would make their holiday a little nicer. It could be something as simple as sending a card or making a phone call. There are also those that we come across for just a few moments – the people who are far less fortunate that we are – the neighbor who might have just lost a job – the person who has been homeless for weeks now – or the kid who is being passed from one relative to the other just to have a place to sleep and food to eat.

So take a moment out of your life and give something to someone else. Sometimes just a few moments of your time can make a huge difference in someone’s life. Go ahead, I challenge you to step out of your box and make a difference – it does not have to be a big difference – just a difference.

I wish you all the merriest Christmas ever.

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Posted By travis on November 1, 2009

Vacation is always an adventure for me.  It is the time when the kid in me can get out and have fun as well.  And, this vacation was no different.

Sleeping the night before vacation is alway a difficult process – why? – because it is vacation.  After making myself stay in bed until the alarm clock sounded (6:00 am), I rose and got ready.  Completing the final tasks before departure, loading the last of the never ending list of items for the trip and saying good bye to the four legged kids (Teddy and Tira – both rescue cats from the shelter), with that done we were off.

The trip down included an interesting breakfast at the Asheboro Huddle House, complete with costumes (which the employees wore not us).  Breakfast included everything from scrambled eggs with cheese to something that was covered and smothered (not sure what it was – however – the friend eating it said it was good).  After we were fueled and ready to ride – the trip continued.

It always amazes me at how diverse the landscape is in the state of North Carolina.  Traveling from Greensboro to the beach almost seems as if you are traveling to an entirely different country.  I love the pine trees (reminds me of Florida where I grew up) and then you have the swamps (OK, more Florida reminders), and then there are the people – everyone just seems to be in a vacation state of mind – even those working.

We arrive at the beach house – and the first thing is to check out the beach – kind of like making sure it is really there.  Once that has been established we proceed to unpack all – and I do mean all – the stuff we loaded into the cars for the trip down.  After unpacking and arranging we head back down to the beach for a nice walk in the surf.

From there, we headed across the bridge back to the main land in search of Captain Jack’s for fresh seafood for Sundays menu (more on that later).

The menu for Saturday night however included chili with green chili cornbread.

Chili recipe (very easy):

Once package of country style sausage – about a pound (I prefer the Lowes Foods brand)
One pound hamburger meat
Two large onions
Two large cans of diced tomatoes
Six regular size cans of dark kidney beans (drained)
Three packs of McCormick’s low sodium chili seasoning
Two big teaspoons of chipotle chili pepper
One big teaspoon each of garlic and onion powder
Salt to taste

Chop onions and saute in pot (I use a large cast iron dutch oven)
Brown the sausage and hamburger – drain off the grease
Add the seasoning and spices
Add the diced tomatoes (plus the juice in the can) – remember to stir well after adding each ingredient
Add the drained kidney beans
Stir well and cook the chili on medium until it is bubbly, then turn down to a slow simmer and cook for about an hour.

Serve with homemade cornbread.
Enjoy!

After dinner we finished the night off watching the sunset and waves crash into the beach.  Dessert included fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and well the rest of the wine and other beverages.

It was a great first day of vacation.  More to come.

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Posted By travis on October 26, 2009

1918 Weekly Food Budget

$2.50 FOR GRAIN FOODS
$2.00 FOR MILK
$2.00 FOR MEAT, EGGS AND FISH
$2.00 FOR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
$1.50 FOR FATS, SUGAR AND MISCELLANEOUS!
From LIPPENCOTT’S HOME MANUALS
“THE BUSINESS OF THE HOUSEHOLD BY C.W. TABER, PUBLISHED IN 1918

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Posted By travis on October 19, 2009

The day started with an early rise and shine as we got ready to start our adventure.  This chilly and grey morning began with a simple breakfast at Biscutville on Wendover Avenue beside K-Mart.

After breakfast we proceeded to the Depot in downtown Greensboro.  Train stations in the South are different from the ones up north.  Here you hurry up and wait (kind of feels like herding cattle).  After checking in at the Depot we had to wait for almost 30 minutes at the locked door that allowed you entrance to platform #2 where our train #80 would pick us up and deliver us to the NC State Fair.

The breeze on the platform was a bit brisk while we waiting for the train which was a few minutes late.  On board the train we quickly found seats got settled and off we went.  The train proceeded down the track and shortly there after Tony and Bobby took off to find snacks.  They returned with cookies, coffee, soda and red pepper hummus.

After a few short stops to pick up and drop off passengers we arrived at our destination – The NC State Fair.

We exited the train in the middle of the road and crossed over to the entrance to the Fair.  We started this part of the adventure with a walk through “As Seen on TV”.  Honestly – live infomercials.  The one most tasty treat that we did discover was Maple Cotton Candy (which we returned at the end of the day for our own bag of this delectable treat).

After walking around for a short period we decided that it was time for lunch.  The food frenzy began with gumbo (chicken, shrimp and sausage), then hushpuppies, apple fries, ginger ale, funnel cake and yes one of our quests – pig lickers (chocolate covered bacon), hot dog, and BBQ.

We saw cows, goats, sheet, rabbits, clowns, weird inflatable shriners, people of all sorts, gigantic pumpkins and water mellons, beautiful landscaping, crazy rides, live music, arts and crafts and yes as mentioned before – “As Seen on TV”.  Even thought the day was quite chilly is was fun and well worth the time.

On our way out of the park – as promised – we stopped for a bag of maple cotton candy.  Arriving at the tent beside the train tracks which was our holding pen for our return train ride – we were informed the the train coming from NY was running about an hour late.  At least we were under the tent (which had sides and gave us some protection from the brisk breeze).  It was most humorous to hear everyone commenting on our delay – you can just imagine how some people reacted.

About an hour late – the train (#79) out of New York arrived and stopped on the railroad crossing  and we began the loading process.  We found our seats – waited somewhat patiently for the conductor to come check us in and then we were off to the lounge car.  Cheese burgers, Cabernet and beer began our dinner in the lounge car as we road down the tracks towards Greensboro, NC.  After the cheese burger was gone – dessert was – yes indeed – the mapple cotton candy and another Cabernet.  We all decided that the train ride was the most fun of the entire day.

With our trip over and the work week beginning we have started plans for a longer trip.

Disney here we come.

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Posted By travis on October 2, 2009

Potato Patties:
Add 1 egg to 1 cup mashed potatoes. Fry in butter or margarine until brown on both sides.

Not enough sausage for everyone?
Add leftover sausage, thinly sliced, to your pancake batter to make a new breakfast treat (and stretch a small amount of sausage so there’s enough for everyone).

Potato Ball Appetizer:
Form leftover mashed potatoes around cubes of cheese. Roll in Parmesan cheese or bread crumbs. Broil or fry until golden brown.

Enjoy!

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Posted By travis on October 1, 2009

First Friday is an exciting time to get downtown Greensboro. Lots of great food from the local restaurants, art shops open later hours and the new Indie Market.

The public is invited to experience Downtown’s creative community for First Friday, October 2. First Friday will include an art raffle, open mic events, a music jam, fine art and crafts and artist demonstrations. Downtown welcomes a special addition this month in an indie market from 4-9pm at the corner of South Elm Street and Martin Luther King Blvd. The market includes local, handmade, homemade and grassroots arts, treats, vintage goods and oddities created by talented local artists, many of whom work Downtown. Take a stroll Downtown to experience all First Friday offerings at more than a 20 venues.

Visit: http://www.downtownfridays.com/ for more information.

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Posted By travis on September 30, 2009

Don’t pack up your shagging shoes and Bermuda shorts just yet – Ilderton’s Beach Music Blast is taking over uptown High Point at 1525 N. Main Street, at the corner of Main and Lexington Avenue!

Held onThursday evenings from 5:30 pm – 8:30 p.m, this is a family friendly event that everyone can enjoy for just $5 per person.

The final Beach Music Blast concert of this season is:

October 1 – The Embers

In case of rain, the indoor venue is in the Natale Building at 400 English Road at the corner of English and Elm. If in doubt about which venue to go to, call the Beach Music Hotline at 800-632-1400 ext. 411.

All proceeds raised will benefit the Children’s Home Society, North Carolina’s leading resource in adoption and foster care with the mission to promote the right of every child to a permanent, safe, and loving home.

You can purchase tickets at the gate or by calling CHS. For more information or to puchase tickets, please contact Tommy Lineberry or Cathy Davis at 1.800.632.1400 or visit www.chsnc.org.

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Posted By travis on September 30, 2009

Get ready for some mouth-watering North Carolina BBQ and some foot-stomping bluegrass music during the 1st Annual Furnitureland Rotary BBQ & Bluegrass Fall Festival! On Saturday, October 3 from noon to 8:00 p.m., Festival Park in High Point, at Oak Hollow Lake, will come to life with the bluegrass sounds of two popular area bands:

Flatt Tyred – noon to 2:00 p.m.
John Hofmann’s AcousticA – 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Downtown Senate – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Bring your own lawn chairs, but don’t bring coolers, because food and drink will be offered by 2Bills & A Grill, well known around High Point for their delicious BBQ.
Kids will enjoy an inflatable play area and many other fun activities.

Tickets can be purchased at the gate. Admission is $5.00 for 18 and older, $2.50 for 17 and younger. Parking is FREE.

Furnitureland Rotary and High Point Historical Society are sponsoring this benefit event, with proceeds going to Mobile Meals of High Point. The Mobile Meals Program delivers a nutritious noontime meal to homebound seniors age 60 and over. Volunteers from the faith community, local businesses and schools deliver the meals, which are prepared by a local caterer.

For more information, contact Jim Adams at 336-880-6501.

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Posted By travis on September 29, 2009

Saturday afternoon while splashing through the rain soaked booths of the Tate Street Festival I came across an awesome find. I love spices and I am always looking for better quality spices. One of the vendors at the festival was Spice3 (Spice Cubed). Great prices and selection.

Purchase in a small metal tin for $3.95 or buy a refill online for $3.00 (shipping included for refills).

Please check them out online: www.SpiceCubed.com.

Enjoy!

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