Share and Relish, Fresh Lake Erie Walleye

I know I am so far behind in posting recipes!  My friend Georgia is much better and keeping up the recipe sharing.  Please make sure you go check out her delicious looking Be-Well Soup and the rest of the good food she's posted!

Ron and Larry have been out on Ron's boat fishing most weekends.  The guys have been catching the best of what Lake Erie has to offer; perch, white bass and my favorite, walleye.  Here is a picture of one of the walleye that they recently caught.  This baby was our dinner Friday night.

From fresh caught walleye to beautiful fillets.

On the top left is one of the fish cheeks.  I guess it's a delicacy.  Ron and Larry got to eat those since they are the ones that caught the fish!  Fair is fair.

I took the filets and cut them into pieces about four inches long.  I was baking half of the filets and frying the other half.

Let's start with the baked fish.  I filled one bowl with milk (2% milk because that's what we drink!) and I filled one bowl with Panko break crumbs.  What I found out later is that Panko break crumbs are really made for deep frying.  I should have stuck with a bread crumbs or crushed corn flakes as a coating.  The panko were ok in the baked version, but next time I would use something else.

Anyway, here are my two bowls.

Real simple, I put the filet into the milk then into the Panko to coat it.  Since my baking sheets are all rusted and crappy, I cover them with aluminum foil before baking anything.  Once the filets were put through both bowls, I lined them up on the baking sheet.

I then melted two tablespoons of butter and drizzled the butter over the filets.  Then, baked at 400 degrees for 25 minutes, until filets flaked apart easily.  Here are the filets ready to go into the oven.

Since I didn't think to make this dinner into a blog until I was in the middle of making dinner, I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked.  And, we were all drooling so much, so as soon as the food hit the table, we were chowing down!  I could have taken pictures of four full bellies, but that would not have looked as good on the blog.  Trust me, it was a fabulous dinner!

The second half of the fish was cooked the good way.  Fried in Crisco (or lard!)

This time I needed three bowls.  From left to right, flour with salt and pepper in it, three eggs whisked, another bowl of Panko bread crumbs.

Easy peasy here.  Coat the fish filets in each bowl, going from left to right.

I placed all of the filets on a dish until I had all of them breaded.  In a heavy cast iron skillet, I heated up about 1/2" of Crisco.  Here is the fish just placed in the hot oil.

Fry until both sides are golden brown.

I wish I would have made the time to take pictures of the finished product but like I said, we were in too much of a hurry to eat.  You gotta believe me when I tell you, the fish was AWESOME!

I had also cooked some halushki and Ron made some corn on the cob.  I need to make both of those things again and show you how to make a couple of our favorite things.

For now, fresh walleye from Lake Erie.  It doesn't get much better than that!

Day's Dam Saturday Walk

I talked Ron into taking a walk on Saturday.  We headed over to Day's Dam right here in Lorain Ohio.  I didn't think I had been there before, but some parts of the park were very familiar, like the giant cottonwood.  But, more on that below.

So, we went for a walk in the park.  It was a beautiful day and a beautiful trail.

We took one of the side trails that went to the giant cottonwood tree.  Here was the trail

and here was the tree.

You can't appreciate just how massive this tree is in pictures.  So, I asked Ron to stand next to the tree so you could get an idea.

That's a damn big tree!  As we were walking up the path (two pictures up) I was telling Ron that the only thing we were missing was the troll under the bridge.  Then, there it was!  In the picture with Ron, if you look over his head about six or seven feet, there was a troll face!  Ron thinks it's just the stump from a branch that was cut off at one time but whatever.  I know what I think it is and I think it's a troll's face!

The tree was huge.  And absolutely beautiful.  A giant cottonwood.  It's worth the side trip off of the main trail to go and see that.

Back on to the main trail, there were a ton of bird houses all along the trail.  Even trying to be quiet, we didn't see any birds.  Too bad as these little houses definitely looked like they were in move-in condition!

Then there was another little side trail that went to the waterfall. 

This is really one of the nicest MetroParks I've been to see.  Granted, we didn't get through all of it but what we saw, I loved it.

Finally we made it to the waterfall.  Unfortunately, there wasn't a good photo opportunity at this waterfall that didn't include wading in mud up to my knees!  So, from where the trail was dry, here is the waterfall.

Too bad the picture sucks because it really was beautiful!  Just to the left of where I took this picture, I saw what I thought was a giant snake climbing up a tree!  Ok, this is from the woman who sees a troll's face on the giant cottonwood! 

I'm still not sure what that was climbing up that tree, but I know now that it's not a snake.  I don't know if it's a root somehow or just a vine that snaked up the tree but for a second, it scared the heck out of me!

This was the best part of my weekend.  I'm going to have to try to talk him into more walks.

This Morning's Walk, 4.51 miles

What is a Snuggle Worth?

According to this woman, about $60 an hour!

For real, people, I can't make this stuff up!

While I hate giving her free publicity, this absolutely cracked me up and kudos to her for doing this for a living!  What does she do?  Well, if you didn't click the link, I'll tell you.  She snuggles for money!

You can go to her office or home or facility or where ever it is that she works and pay her to snuggle with you.  For real.  For $60, you can get one hour of snuggle time.  Hmm.  From her website,

Q. What if I become sexually aroused during my session?
A. Don't worry, it happens! Although sexual activity is not permitted, arousal is perfectly normal and should not make anyone feel uncomfortable.

I wish I could write fiction this good!

I am all about free enterprise.  I think my biggest issue with this woman is that I'm jealous that I didn't think of it FIRST!  If you have to have a career, this is the one to have.  If I have to work, why can't this be my job?  Dang it, this woman is genius!

Maybe I could still get on her bandwagon.  I don't want to look like I'm stealing her idea, so I'll just charge for hugs!  Sexual arousal not included.

How NOT to Photoshop

Some pictures are hard to tell if they are photoshopped.  This one was pretty damn easy to tell this has been doctored and doctored badly.

As you can see, this was an ad on a website.  The ad was for Sensa, a weight loss product.  Look at this "model".  Does anyone really WANT to look like this?  She is absolutely emaciated looking here.  There is no way her waist is that small and look at that neck.  If she doesn't look like an alien, I don't know who does.

I have so many thoughts running around in my head over this picture, I can't slow them down enough to pick one and write about it!  Let's start with the bad photoshopping job.  Really.  Does ANYONE think this is an actual picture?  This is HORRIBLE.

Ron had to tell me how to "clip" this photo from the website since it was an ad and I couldn't copy the picture from where it was.  I was afraid to just send a link because if you opened it, you might get a different ad.  So, Ron gave me an emergency lesson on how to grab that picture.  Thanks, honey!

From there, I followed the link to look at their website to see if bad photoshopping continued there.  Here is what I am assuming is the same "model" from the actual website.

Maybe it's the angle or just less photoshopping but she doesn't look AS emaciated here while I still don't believe they shaved some inches off of her.  This is just MY belief and MY opinion.  I am not an expert.  And, she has a normal sized neck in this shot, not one that will telescope up at will, like ET the Extra Terrestrial!  I also think it's comical that this photo is titled by the website "body hero model".  Not my hero but whatever.

Another thought I had is . . . aside from the bad photoshopping done on these pictures, if anyone is stupid enough to believe that taking a pill a day is all it takes to make you look like THIS, you're an idiot.  You don't get washboard abs from anything but diet and exercise.  As a matter of fact, you don't lose weight without diet and exercise.  Period.  It's really not a secret.  It's not easy, but it's not a secret.

Again, if you think a pill or two a day will make you lose 100 pounds and look like this, you deserve to be taken advantage of by these shysters.  If you think you will get abs like this from sitting on the couch watching Jerry Springer while eating a carton of donuts, then I also have a bridge over the Black River for sale, cheap.  Or, if your tastes run to the international side, I have another one in London that I am letting go to the right buyer.

Thanks for Calling, I Accept Your Invitation

Checking the mailbox is always a thrill for me.  You never know what will be there!  It could be a letter from Ed McMahon, it could be a card from Ojai or a care package from San Diego.  You just NEVER know what is in my mail box!

Saturday, it was a jury summons!  C'mon now, really?  You want ME??  Have you read my blog?  Have you heard about me?  And yet, you want ME!  Lorain County, you could be in big trouble here!

My first thought was "holy cow, I call myself a blogger!  How can I ever keep a secret if I get called to be on a jury?"  For real, have y'all ever known me to hold back with what is on my mind?  Some people say I over share.  Maybe I do, but this is my release.  Some days in writing down what has happened, it helps me put things into perspective in my mind.  Believe it or not, some times I even figure some things out by writing here.  Sorry for making you go through it with me!

This will be my biggest challenge.  If I get called to be part of a jury, how can I not blog about it until after the case if over?  Yes, a challenge indeed.  I have no filter between my brain and my mouth or in this instance between my brain and my fingers.  Perhaps, if I do get on a jury, I will have to pull the plug on my computer and leave it off until it's over.  Wish me luck!

Part of me says "it's about time!"  I may regret this down the road, but I've always wanted to see our process in person and not on Law and Order.  I have been a registered voter since I was 18 years old and have held a current and valid driver's license since I was 16 years old.  I'm not sure where else they go for a jury pool but you'd think I'd have been called a few times in the last 31 years.

Actually, I was called once for jury duty while I was living in Houston Texas.  I was never comfortable driving into downtown Houston so when I found out that your jury summons got you free public transportation, I jumped on that offer.  I caught a bus right in front of my apartment and it let me off like two blocks away from the court house.  Easy peasy.

I remember this one guy that was on the bus with me in the morning heading into downtown.  When I was standing on that same corner after jury duty to head home, that same guy was standing there waiting for a bus as well.  I don't remember all of the particulars, but he recognized me from the bus that morning and started up a conversation with me.

No big deal, you know how I talk to strangers.  So, we stood there chatting until the bus came.  When I got on the bus and sat down, this guy sat right down with me in a bus that was mostly empty.  Ok, I was a little uncomfortable but I didn't say anything.  We were talking after all so I guess it shouldn't be that weird, right?

Remember the warning we ladies were taught at an early age that if something feels wrong, it IS wrong?  I should have remembered that lesson.

On the bus on the way home, we're sitting there.  I had a dress on that day and luckily an umbrella in my hand.  Suddenly, he bent down, and ran his hand up my leg from my freakin' ankle!  Are you serious?  I don't remember exactly what I said to him but it had to do with "are you crazy" with outside voice and my umbrella raised.  I think he knew this woman was serious because he got right up out of the seat and RAN to the door, trying to get out of the bus before it even stopped!  Yeah, my brother.  I have an umbrella and I'm NOT afraid to use it!

So, that was my jury duty experience.  I never got out of the jury room and talked to no one and was out of there by noon that day.  So, my only story about being called for jury duty is the pervert I met on the bus!

This time I have to be available for THREE weeks for jury duty.  At least I can call in every evening to find out if I actually have to show up at the Justice Center or whatever they call it.  Hopefully this time I have a better story than a pervert on a bus.  Here's just hoping I can keep my mouth shut when I have to until I can blog about the story!

If the thought of ME being on jury duty doesn't scare all of the miscreants straight, nothing will.  Look out Lorain County, I have accepted your invitation and I am appearing for duty!

Things To Do Today:

Things to do today:

* Get up and go to work.
Check.
*  Pay some bills.
Check.
*  Make some phone calls.
Check.
*  Work on production schedule.
Check.
*  Spend a couple of hours in the emergency room.
Check.

WHAT??  Ok, that last one wasn't on my original list of things to do today but somehow it ended up on my list.

I was sitting there, working away.  I was working on a spreadsheet when suddenly, I got like a tunnel vision where the periphery of my vision all went black.  I suddenly really felt bad.  I was very dizzy.  The first thought in my head was that I thought I had been holding my breath.  Yes, I was working hard!  So I pushed myself back from my desk, took a couple of deep breaths and thought I'd be ok.

I sat there for a minute and convinced myself that if I just got up, went pee, I'd be ready to go back to my spreadsheet.  I got up, took one step and was happy I made it back to my chair before falling on my ass.  I was REALLY dizzy.

I sat there another minute.  The guys were in the next office when Dean popped into my office to say something to me and I guess I didn't look so good.  I told him I was just a bit dizzy and before I knew it Mike was in my office too.  I must really not have looked ok because Mike said right away that we were going to the ER.  Either he was driving me or calling an ambulance!  DANG, how badly did I look for crying out loud? 

I opted for a ride to the hospital but knew I'd never make it to the door.  I wish someone had a camera because Mike pushing me down the hall in my office chair had to be a sight!  They must be harder than you think to navigate based on the number of walls we hit!  I thought I was the dizzy one!

We made it to EMH in Elyria and I don't think we waiting very long.  I am dizzy and by now starting to feel nauseous.   I immediately was given an EKG, hooked up to a heart monitor, had blood drawn, given a chest x-ray and put on oxygen.  The immediate answer was that the EKG was fine, but they'd monitor my heart rhythm and wait for the results of the blood work and chest x-ray.

Heaven love my brother Mike, but as much as I tried to get him to go back to work, he wouldn't leave me.  You haven't lived until you have gotten to spend a few hours in the ER with him!  Trust me, we are WAAY to close as siblings, especially after this.  But, he did his job as big brother/boss and made sure to ask me if I was wearing clean underwear, then sat and watched judge shows on TV and even an episode of Grey's Anatomy before the doctor came back to tell me that there was NOTHING wrong with me.

The final diagnosis was "Near-Syncope" which means "Near-Fainting" due to a vasovagal episode.  Yeah.  Whatever.  Bottom line is I almost fainted and they have no idea why.  I feel MUCH better about it all now!

They did run a bunch of tests and I can tell you that I do NOT have a blood clot, my heart enzymes are perfect as are the rest of the results from my blood work.  I am the picture of health, just a little dizzy!  After laying there for a few hours watching TV, I felt much better.   Go figure.

This is chalked up to "one of those things".  It probably won't happen again.  But, if it does . . . go back to the ER.  How's that for definitely maybe.

Picture this, laying there on a heart monitor, on oxygen, when a woman from admitting comes in to tell me that my bill is $150 and she is there to collect payment!  For real??  I had to give her a check right then and there.  Ok, I could have done without THAT part, but aside from her, the rest of the staff was stellar.

And, at the end of the day, it cost me $150 to be told I was fine.  Ugh.  But after all the blood work and the rest of the tests on top of the physical I had with MY doctor on Monday, I guess I do have a clean bill of health.  And that was worth the price I paid.

And, Mike and I got to goof off for a few hours on a work day watching crappy day time TV.  And, I was allowed to take the rest of the day off.  Bonus for me!

The day may not have progressed like I thought it would, but at least it all came out ok in the end.

I DID IT!!

I struggled for the last 24 hours trying to decide if I wanted to make this public and put this information on the blog.  Then, I thought "what the heck"!  I've put the rest of my weight loss journey on this blog, I might as well share the good news too!

Let's go back two years.  I was told I was a Type II Diabetic.  Such a WTF moment!  I was 47 years old and due to a lifetime of bad decisions, I was now a diabetic.  To say I was overwhelmed is an understatement.  I watched my Dad die of this disease, one piece of him at a time.  I KNEW that was my future and that scared me to death.

It's been a long road of trial and error and good intentions gone wrong, but I finally feel that I am on the right track to make a lifestyle change. I have learned that healthy eating and exercise are a MUST in every one's life.  I will continue to eat blueberry pancakes at Pete's and I will continue to eat pretzels and ice cream.  But along with these treats I've learned that I need to eat a lot more vegetables and just make better choices about what I eat.

Exercise?  No matter how much it hurts, you have to do it.  I don't have to like it, but I have to do it. 

But now I can say that after two years, I have beaten it.  I can now be called a FORMER DIABETIC!!  For real!  My A1C test came back at a 5.2!!  That is freakin' huge, people!  My first A1C test two years ago had me at over 10.  That means my average blood sugar was over 200.  Not good.  My last A1C test last year had me down to 6.5.  I was really close to a normal person but I still had work to do.  As of yesterday, my A1C was 5.2 which means I am OFF of my meds and now calling myself a FORMER diabetic! 

I am so excited I could just PEE!  That is excited!

Was it easy?  No.  Am I done?  Far from it. 

It will be too easy to say ok, I'm here now I'm done.  But I can't do that.  I will be back at my doctor's office in six months (January 11th, mark your calendars!) and have another A1C test to make sure I am maintaining my numbers.  Maintaining hell, I better be in better shape that I am now.  At least that is my goal.

So, there you go.  Hard work, determination and the help from my family and friends got me to where I am.  Like I said, it's not over and it will be a lifetime of trying to make more good choices than bad, but I am hopeful that I will continue on my path to better health.

But for today, I am SO proud of myself and SO happy with what I have accomplished.  It took me longer than I thought it would, but I am here.  And I do NOT plan on going back!

Fifty Shades of You Gotta Be Kidding Me

There is a new book series out that is getting a lot of press.  I have heard a lot about this book and wanted to read it for myself to see if it was worth all the hype it was receiving. 

Fifty Shades of Gray by E. L. James is one of the hottest selling books on the market right now.  It is being estimated that this author is bringing in $1 million a WEEK off of this trilogy.  When does this madness stop?

I don't think I am naive, and I understand that there are alternative lifestyles.  I used to be a believer of what happens behind closed doors between two consenting adults is their business.  This book has caused me to rethink that philosophy.

Fifty Shades of Gray has to do with a young college student (who happens to be a virgin) meets through business circumstances this young twenty something billionaire who is seriously into BDSM. Of course they "fall in love" and this is her introduction into a sexual relationship. 

Let me set the scene here.  He shows her a contract that he wants her to sign.  A contract that states something along the lines that he is allowed to "train" her in any way he decides.  Any time she displeases him in ANY manner, he is allowed to punish her.  The contract states just what implements are allowed and what aren't.  To the writer's credit, she at least stipulated in this fictional contract that animals and children would not be allowed in their sexual escapades.  Great, no dogs or kids in bed, but please, beat me.  Then tell me how much I'm going to like it.  He tells her what she can wear, where she can go, what she can do.  She has to sign the contract that states how often she will work out with a trainer of his choice, and this list goes on and on and on.

I guess I have a serious issue with this book and can't understand the legions of women getting behind the wave of publicity and making this author beyond rich.  I'm all about some well written smut but when it's interspersed with this woman getting beaten, I just can't support that.  I read this book up to her first beating and that was enough.  I should have stopped after reading the contract but it was a train wreck that I couldn't look away from.  At least until the first beating happened.

Maybe just because I've been there, done that, got the t-shirt and the scars.  It took me years to realize that it is NOT ok for a man to beat me.  It took me years but at least I did get there.   How many women are still living that life?  How many can't or won't get out of an abusive relationship?  And I'm supposed to accept it as a fetish for sexual release?  Can't do it.  I will not support it, I will not condone it.

Call me a prude.  But I will never agree with the idea, even in fiction, that it's ok to hit a woman.  Ever.

Whackadoodle

We have had a whackadoodle at work.  True story.

Let me back up a bit to give you some back ground.  I work for a small company.  In the building with us is another small company.  Between the two small companies, anyone out of place really sticks out.  You start to recognize everyone's car, you know if something or someone is out of place.

This started about 3 weeks ago or so before Mike left for China.  I went to work on a Thursday morning and there was a car in the parking lot, backed into a space, with a woman in the car.  I had never seen that car before but I figured that since she was over by the other company, she must be with one of the guys from the construction company next door.

When I left work that night, her car was there, looking like it was right where it was that morning.  In the same spot, parked the same way.  I heard the car running, I'm assuming the A/C was on and I saw her moving in the car.  I didn't think much more about it.

Then the next day, Friday, I showed up to work and again, she was in the lot, same spot, parked the same way.  Now I'm really suspicious, wondering if she ever left.  It was a nice day so my office window was open. 

About 11:00 in the morning, I hear her trying to start her car but it won't turn over.  I know she's just spent two DAYS in our parking lot and she is still there and now her car is out of gas.  Who DOES this?  What has she done for food, water, a BATHROOM for TWO DAYS???

I heard both of the guys in the office next to mine so I went over and said something to them.  Some whackadoodle has been in our parking lot for TWO days. 

Sure enough, one of the guys runs right out to her to talk to her.  She is out of gas (no kidding.  She ran her car out of gas in our parking lot by keeping her car running for the A/C!), she has Colorado plates on her car, all of her belongings are in the back of the car.  She is meeting a "friend" but she is out of gas.  Well, she was brought into the building to use the bathroom, then taken to Walmart to buy a gas can, then to a gas station to fill up the gas can, she was bought lunch at McDonalds then given cash on top of that.  The gas was put in her car, and sure enough, it started right up and she was off.

You have no idea just how "off" she was.

She was back Friday night.  She was back intermittantly throughout the next couple of weeks.  You can't fake that kind of crazy.

The guys and I have differing opinions on this situation.  Mike likens it to me taking in every stray cat.  I argued that a stray cat isn't on my porch with a gun or a knife waiting to do me grave bodily harm.  I know crazy when I see it and this whackadoodle is all kind of crazy.  I may not be able to explain it to the guys, but I feel it in my bones that something is very wrong here.

I voted for calling the Sheriff's office.  THEY have the knowledge and the resources to get her into an agency or point her in the direction of finding her way back to Colorado or wherever she is trying to get to.  Having this whackadoodle showing up in our parking lot every few days for a hand out isn't helping her.  My stray cats don't know any better, but she should.  My stray cats aren't packing a gun or a knife.  I don't know if this whackadoodle is packing anything dangerous in her worldly belongings in her car.

No one wanted the Sheriff's department involved and I was told that I was totally wrong about all this.  I guess I can't call myself a Christian because I sure don't have a Christian attitude where this whackadoodle is concerned.  She scares the crap out of me.  I'm waiting for the gunshots, for real.

So, round one went to the whackadoodle.  Then there is round two.  She was back in the parking lot and AGAIN out of gas!  This time she left a note on someone's car stating that she needed help.  That note wasn't acted upon right away, but the next day, gas was again brought to her and put into her car.   Then she was taken to somewhere for a meal and given a list of shelters.  That she could call from her charged up iphone.  Nice.

Once again, give a man a fish he'll eat for a day instead of teaching him to fish so he can eat for life.  I just have a bad feeling about this woman.  No one shares my fear of her.  Well, one of them does but he tries to hide it.

I think the woman is a wackadoodle and I think she needs help.  We're just not the ones equipped to GIVE her the help she needs.  And I think it's wrong to assume that we are.  Call me a cold heartless bitch, but that's how I feel.  What do we do the next time she camps out in our parking lot until she runs out of gas or needs another meal?  How long do you treat her like a stray cat that needs fed now and again?

This is what my stray cat Hemingway did to me yesterday.  This is what my known stray is capable of . . . what is SHE capable of?

2012 Lorain International Festival and Parade

I already told you about how my weekend started, with me helping Lisa walk the puppies!  Well, the fun didn't stop there.  This was the weekend of Lorain's International Festival.  We are huge fans of this festival and I have to give it to the city this year.  This was a fabulous festival!!

I had posted a bunch of pictures over on our Lorain 365 blog so make sure you go over here to see pictures of the festival and go here to see pictures of the parade. 

Ron and I headed over on Saturday for lunch.  Last year, my friends Ruth and Jeff had come in for the festival.  Unfortunately, this year they couldn't make it and I do have to say, it wasn't the same without y'all.  But, we did try to make sure you were talked about and thought about while we were there.  I even ate extra for the both of you, and you'll be happy to know, you enjoyed EVERYTHING I ate!!  That's just the kind of friend I am.

First you have to walk up and down and try to decide just what you want to eat.  I had changed my mind a half of a dozen times and still picked something at random.  I first went to look at the Chinese booth.

Ok, not what I expected.  Actually, it wasn't Chinese lemonade as the actual Chinese food was at the booth next to this one.  I guess they just added lemonade as a side business.  It made for a good chuckle though.

Down and dirty to the food.  I don't know why but I seem to make a beeline for the Greek food.  I grabbed me a souvlaki:

The picture didn't come out great but let me tell you, the sandwich WAS great!  I would have taken an "after" picture but all you'd have seen was shiny tin foil.  I licked that sucker clean when I was done!

Ron went for the gyro and I know he wasn't disappointed.

And, we got a couple of stuffed grape leaves in honor of Edna!  They weren't as good as your Mom's, but they didn't go to waste!

 
That should have been a good lunch, but after walking around, we had to try tome Filipino food for dessert.

I had to hurry to snap the picture as poor Ron was salivating here!  On the left is one of our favorite things, lumpia.  The far right is some mango juice and in the middle towards the back is the weirdest thing I've seen at the festival.  I don't know what the name of it is, but on the bottom of that cup is some beans.  Like garbanzo beans, lima beans, then crushed ice, topped with a little bit of blue ice cream and a cherry.  Weird.  Ron ate every bite (less the cherry, that was mine!).  Weird.  I also grabbed a couple of bags of fresh kettle corn for home. YUM!

They had an awesome cut out that people were lining up to take pictures in.  Ron took a much better picture than I did.  I didn't put my face in there far enough.  But, it was fun!

In the good news/bad news catagory, I did pass by the funnel cake.  I just stopped by long enough to snap a picture.  I usually take at least one of these babies but I was a good girl.   mmmm I can taste it now!

Before you think I'm too good with my diet, I did stop Sunday at Kiedrowski's bakery on the way out for a sweet roll!  One of my favorite things in LIFE and I can't tell you the last time I had one!  OMG it was worth blowing a diet for that one sweet roll!  Then again, the lady working the counter said not to worry, she had taken all of the calories out of that sweet roll for me.  Is that customer service or what!!   I should have taken two of them!

Sunday, Lisa and I talked about heading to the parade to get some pictures for our Lorain 365 blog.  We staked out a good place to take pictures on the corner of West Erie Avenue and Broadway and like a little kid, I thoroughly enjoyed the entire parade!  My only downside was that I didn't think about being out in the sun that long and right now my forehead is peeling!  Not an attractive look for me, for sure!

So, we were at the parade and we were ready.  First, I snapped a picture for my friend Georgia who makes my blog an internationally read blog!  From our world to yours, Hi, Georgia!

Before the parade started, the streets were closed down in preparation for the parade.  There was an MC down on a microphone by City Hall.  One of the coolest things is this MC had the crowd going by having them dancing in the street!  How often do you get to dance in the middle of the street in front of City Hall?  Way too cool.
 

 One of the first attractions of the parade was the fire department, Station 1.  Personally, I love these guys, but I digress.  It was a hot day, we were at the end of the parade and people in the parade were tired by the time they got to us.  These guys however, were still full of mischief!  The guys on the truck were playing with some super soakers!  They were dousing the crowds and seemed to be a big hit.   That was fun!

The featured people for this year's festival are the Filipino people.  As stated above, we checked out their booth and they had a gorgeous float in the parade.

One of the best entrants into this parade was the Ohio State School for the Blind.  For real!  In a marching band!  The music was wonderful!  I thought it was kind of funny that the School for the Blind was playing "Eye of the Tiger" though.  The kids were marching in line and each of them had an assistant if you will that helped the musicians stay in line and where to turn.  It was really an awesome sight and they were wonderful to listen to.

Then, just some things I liked at the parade.  This Mexican Princess has the most beautiful gown, the pictures don't do her justice.  I saw her walking around the festival after the parade and I should have asked her to pose for a picture for me.  She was a breath taking young lady.

Who doesn't love a clown?  Especially one who is walking their duck!

Then from the files of "I don't get it", we have these guys.  Not sure what they have to do with the International Festival but whatever.

And lastly, another I don't know why they are there, but you gotta love a Tickle me Elmo car!

After the parade, we walked down to the festival and I had to hit the Mediterranean booth for some Bourbon Chicken wraps.  OMG!  Then the Russian booth for some potato pancakes.   Damn, they weren't my potato pancakes but they were mighty tasty.

Good food, good fun, good friends.  It was a great weekend for a festival.  Trust me on this, if you've never been to the International Festival, mark your calendars and make sure you go next year.  If you've been there before, go back.  You'll see me there, probably standing in line for food with my camera in my hand!