Wednesday, July 25, 2007

1300 brats today. Today's photo has one of the master grillers posing. (purely pride)

Ok, with that brief bout of humility, I shall display some more planes.

(or not) Note the Michael Jackson glove. My moon walk is shaky, but practice with improve.

(or not)

Tuesday, Still writing about the EAA show. This is the main entrance that welcomes me every morning. I'm still working on the best way in and out. I'm taking the side roads to get to/from the show. After todays brutal work day, I got permission to exit the 'short' way. Through the campgrounds. The huge numbers of campers is, well..... huge.

Later this week the U2 spy plane is scheduled to make an appearence. I've also gotten a chance to see the F22-Raptor makes some passes, between the blinks. I hope to get up close to this one. Stay tuned for more pics and stories from Oshkosh.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

A few more pics of today's action; instrument panels. Absolutely amazing. Enjoy. Many of you probably have attended a few airshows. Not so for me. This is my first. It truly is a treat to attend this one. (free)

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Day 2 at the EAA AirVenture2007 show. Do you know what EAA stands for? (like I can hear your answer)

1100 brats were cooked today, just slightly less than yesterday, Day 1. Got a bit smarter and put some #50 on my tender skin to keep the color bright red from the previous day. Wore a large brimmed hat, also, and drank even more water. Not to bad today, but standing for over 6 hours straight is taking it's toll on my leg muscles. 5 days to go.

Today's photos are actually of planes, Really! For those that know their aircraft, you might be able to pick out the '97 Williams V-Jet II, a float plane, and the 82 Rutan Grizzly N80RA. (or they can read)

Enjoy. I did.

Monday, July 23, 2007

Work! That's what I call it. I have never worked so hard in many years. (few will argue that one) It was day 1 of the huge, not big, huge EAA Venture 2007 in Oshkosh, WI.

It is by far the largest gathering of airplanes I have even seen, and I've been to Ohare and London Heathrow airports.

The Johnsonville Brat barbeque is the worlds largest and yes, I was the one of two cooks operating it, today. (and tomorrow, and every day this week)

I thought I might be a team of 8 or 10 to cook the brats, but nooooo. 6 hours of cooking and no breaks. Bob, my cooking partner, and I grilled 1200 brats today. That's my new record. We also grilled about 100-200 cheesy brats in addition.

The Johnsonville rep and truck driver was there the first hour to lift the lid (huge hydraulics) and fire it up. He gave me a few minutes of instructions and said...."go for it".

This grill is impressive. It has 4 grills on it each of which are about 6' wide by 3' deep. We only used one of them today. One grill, 1200 brats.

The grill uses propane and there is a huge tank located behind the grills. It has a huge fridge to keep the brats cold and holds about 1000 brats.

It has 4 sinks, three of which are used to sanitize the utensils, and one for washing your hands.

It has at least 2 large steam tables to keep the brats warm after they're cooked.

I was happy to receive an official Johnsonville apron and tee shirt from the driver. (I'll remember his name tomorrow)

The cooks stand on a stainless steel deck that extends the length of the trailer, 40 feet. It has a smaller observation deck so that the curious can gander at this masterpiece.

On top of all that, a fantastic airshow happens each day at 3pm and the roar of the engines is quite deafening. Pics of planes will appear later this week.

I'm absolutely beat, bedtime for bonzo! After the CMA awards.

And the last of July 21, 2007

In this series, I tried to capture some humor. Should be self-explanatory. For those that are wondering, the beer was a really nice Amber Ale from Rowlands Brewere in Chilton. Ollie, their dog even approved it.

Yet still more of July 21, 2007

This set of photos are what I label "Art". Ok, it's my attempt to take some really cool pictures. All of these were taken early on Saturday morning. The neighbors raise elk, and I got as close as I could before they ran off and laughed. Enjoy.

More July 21, 2007

Moving on to the group photos, you have many of Sharon's sisters in these pics. I also didn't finish my story of why this gathering. The Stenz family has an investment group that gets together about once a month. Dan & Carol agreed to host this one, and some of the food was even provided by their broker. (I like this investment group, they like to have fun at their meetings)

July 21, 2007

What a weekend! The location was the country home of Dan & Carol Stenz, one of Sharon's brothers. The food was great and plentiful, the company was wonderful, and the beer was cold, just ask Ollie, their dog.

There motorhomes, vans, tent campers, tents and sleeping bags strewn over the beautiful park-like setting. I'm not sure of the total number of funsters, but at one time there had to be almost 30. All ages, from 4 to 40 (plus some).

Tons of dingle-ball challenges, four-wheeling, campfires, grilling, and even some bike riding.

I've tried to capture some of the highlights, but this was difficult, there were many.

Let me start with the RV's.... note the fantastic garden in one of the pics.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is aviation’s family reunion and seven days of aviation’s best!
There’s an opening day concert by the incomparable Beach Boys, daily world-class air shows, nightly outdoor screenings of the best aviation films, all-star speakers at Theater in the Woods, hundreds of workshops and forums, over 800 exhibitors, and the popular KidVenture area for youngsters.
See the amazing F-22 Raptors, the U-2 spyplane and many other military aircraft; celebrate milestone anniversaries of Beechcraft, the Bonanza, and the U.S. Air Force; get up-close to the Goodyear Blimp; see Warbirds fill the sky; reminisce in the Vintage Aircraft area; learn about building your own airplane; get swept up in the sport pilot movement; or light the spark at the Learn to Fly Center.
AirVenture is calling you! There’s more than you can see in just one day… or two… or three…
That was one small piece out of the EAA website. It is a huge event. With over 100,000 in attendance each day and an expected million plus people for the week, it is the largest airshow in the world. Not just Wisconsin, not just the USA, but the world. That’s big.
However, want to know what’s even bigger?
I stopped by the Top of the Ledge (my current address) lodge last night and announced that I had some bad news. With a sad look on their faces, the owners asked “what happened?” My response:
I got a job! No way! That is horrible news. In fact, it’s true. So here’s what happened just prior to this tragedy. (coffee break)
I’ve always been interested in attending this huge EAA show held in Oshkosh. (hence the brief introduction to it) Last Sunday afternoon, before Pete and Sharon took me out to a fantastic birthday dinner, I was reading the Sunday paper. (classified section, of course) Pete mentioned that he saw an ad for the need for EAA workers, and the light went on. (ok, rarely a bright light, but nonetheless a light) Applications were going to be accepted at the Oshkosh American Legion club on Tuesday, and that is where you could have found me that morning.
After completing the short application, an interview was given. It has been almost 30 years since I’ve interviewed for a job, but I wasn’t worried about this one. The guy laughed when he saw my previous job and salary and then asked if I liked to grill bratwurst. Sure! “I’ve got the job for you!” He said the second most photographed item at the EAA show, of course besides the airplanes, was the huge Johnsonville Bratwurst semi-trailer located right in the middle of the EAA grounds. You guessed it! I will be working on that trailer for 7 days. Not a long term job, but I never said it was. But a job. The cool thing is that I get to attend the show, every day. (a week-long pass to the show is almost $200 this year) I suspect that I will also have my fill of this fine Wisconsin culinary treat. I also learned of their dress code of no sandals, no shorts, no hats, and no tee-shirts. Besides a tuxedo, that’s all I own. So… I’m off to Wally World to update my wardrobe.
To those that have never heard about the EAA, just google it. They have a great website. Of course I will post some pictures during and after this huge event.
Hint for Jamie & David, take note of this asset vs. liability strategy.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

With my extremely busy schedule, I forgot to post my pictures from the July 4th celebration that I, Pete, and Sharon attended. Cedar Lodge, my favorite restaurant in the Midwest, is owned by Dale and Candi, fanatstic people. (shown relaxing on a double lounge chair) Their daughter, Kellen, and recent son-in-law, Casey, hosted the 4th at their beautiful property overlooking Lake Winnebago.

The sunset was gorgeous that night and we enjoyed fantastic views of the pyrotechnic shows from Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, and Neenah (Wisconsin) all at the same time. The private fireworks were pretty cool also.

Good food, cold keg beer, and great company were all ingredients of a recipe for a good time.

Warning, the one photo looks like a small nuclear explosion over Oshkosh. It wasn't.

So what’s cooking tonight in my Minnie Winnie kitchen?

Spinach, Tomato and Sausage Risotto. (Italian rice)

Here's what you’ll need:
1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes in juice 1 cup Arborio rice (Trader Joe’s)

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (bring from Italy)

½ cup dry white wine (Chardonnay)1 cup for the chef

¾ pound sweet Italian sausage (3-4 lg) (casings removed. option to use turkey sausage)

1 bunch/bag flat-leaf spinach, washed,chopped, stems and e-coli removed.

1 small onion, finely chopped. Green onions would work well, also.

½ cup plus cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese. (save some or grate more as you serve it)

course ground salt and pepper (to taste, of course)

2 tablespoons of butter, unsalted

Some Directions:
1. simmer the tomatoes and 3 cups of water in a separate sauce pan.

2. in a large saucepan, heat oil over medium. add sausage and onion, seasoning with salt and pepper. break up sausage while it cooks about 5 minutes.

3. add rice, stirring until until well coated. 1-2 minutes. Add wine, simmer until absorbed.
(two - tree minutes)

4. Add about 2 cups of hot tomatoe mixture stirring over medium-low heat. Stirring occasionally, until absorbed, 4-5 minutes. This is the key to great risotto, adding liquids a little at a time until absorbed. Then continue adding the tomatoe mixture, 1 cup at a time until rice is creamy and just tender, about a total of 25 - 30 minutes. You may not use all the tomatoe mixture. (don’t sweat it)

5. Remove pan from heat. Stir in spinach, Parmesan, and butter; season with ground salt and pepper, tasting as you go. Serve immediatley (risotto will thicken as it cools) and sprinkle with additonal freshly grated Parmesan. Serve with some hot Italian bread and your favorite wine.


Extra notes: I suggest you make this dish while your guests help. Prep-ing the spinach and grating the Parmesan can be a team effort. Have one of your guest open the wines as needed. Garlic and butter on the bread under a broiler won’t hurt. It would be easy to make this a vegetarian dish or substitute with turkey sausage I made this dish for less than $10. It makes at least 5 servings, so that’s about $2/serving. It’s also great in floor tortillas the next day, just add some hot sauce.
ENJOY!

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Incredible shot last night. It was kind of weird weather day with thunderstorms coming and going, and I had a feeling that something strange was about to happen. Animals react to weather changes long before they happen. So I recharged my camera batteries, applied liberal amounts of mosquito abatement to my exposed skin, and waited patiently in the field near the campground. There are several hundred acres of DNR land surrounding the campground and the local fauna take advantage of it.

It was shortly after midnight when I heard some noises in the woods and shortly later I snapped this photo from my tripod. There were more deer behind these two, but the flash must have startled them, because I only got a few shots, this probably being my favorite.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, July 03, 2007 (Brother Tim’s birthday)
So how does an ex-electrical/explosive test engineer tackle the assembly of a ‘complex’ gas grill? Carefully! Start with a glass of your favorite beverage and throw away the directions. Probably my first two mistakes. Don’t worry, they weren’t my last.
Bam! 29 minutes flat! It’s assembled. This one might need a photo to document. I found several errors in the documentation so I got out my red pen. That’s when I realized the true definition of anal. I’ll get the camera. Did I mention the rain, thunder, hail, and lightning? Assemble a stainless steel gas barbeque during an electrical storm, sub-smart!
Ok, I moved the propane tank out of the RV.

Did I mention that the grill is on the right. Have to go. House is on, thanks Jamie for getting me hooked on that show.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Somewhere in the middle of nowhere near Doylestown, WI (not sure if it comes up on Google maps) was the site of this year's Dingleball Tournament. It was held at a cool country bar which had about 10 acres behind it for such events.

Now I know many of you are not familiar with this 'new' sport or may call it by another name. i.e. ladder golf, lasso golf, or other names.

Standing 20 feet apart are these three rung ladders and two teams of two (like horseshoes) throw three sets of golf balls (dingleballs) attached by 12" of string at these ladders. Three points for the top rung, 2 for the second, and you guessed it, 1 for the bottom.

One team throws their three sets of dingleballs followed by their opponents and you can cancel out points. (like horseshoes) The team to reach 21 wins.

On this particular fine Saturday, 64 teams gathered with one goal. No, not to win. But to raise some dollars for a cancer charity. (Erin) For $20 your team was entered in the tourney. For another $20, you got all the food you wanted to eat, and there was plenty for the 12 hours of fun, and all the keg beer you desired.

The pictures tell most of the story. Pete, Sharon, Kali, and I brought both of our motorhomes. (that's two for those that are math challenged) Many of the participants tent camped. There was also a cool silent auction with some great items. Thanks to all the organizers and especially Lucas, who attempted to take first place, even though he lost games. Lucas is in one of the pictures standing next to the referee, Paul.

I've been playing dingleballs for, let's see, not long. Perhaps a dozen games before this tournament. At the start of the tournament, Pete and Sharon were supposed to be partners. Their dog Kali decided to wander off 10 minutes before the tournament was about to begin. At that time I didn't have a partner, so I wasn't even in the games. At the last minute, Sharon withdrew and asked me to partner with Pete. Thanks Sharon!

To make a long story slightly longer, Pete and I just kept winning. With 8 brackets of 8 teams, a team has to win 3 games to get to the quarterfinals, and then two more to get to the final. Thanks to Pete, we never lost a game. Six games, Six wins. Tournament champions. Yeah!

The trophies were great, as shown in one of the pics. Oh, for those of you wondering, the gal standing next to me is (no that's not Pete) , and I know I will mis-spell her name, Tantavia from Russia. She just happened to attend with a friend and had to leave shortly after this picture.

After the auction, after the final game, after the awards ceremony, and after more food, then came the karaoke. More fun, and very late.

Greetings from Wisconsin!

Friday, June 15, 2007
It's been 10 days since the last post and I know that you're wondering what and where I am. OK, maybe not, but here is an update.
I've included some pics of my Minnie Winnie RV that is part of our rental fleet. Fleet of two. I have just rolled out my Custom Chauffeured RV Excursions for Seniors program. I am working with an independent living center here in Fond du Lac. I am scheduled to give the center a presenentation later this summer. I dropped off 90 flyers earlier this week.
You know you're in WI is what call the following. I decided to check out a local Supper Club, a mid-west term, last night. Altona Supper Club in New Holstein, WI. When I arrived I asked for the specials of the day. Mike, the bartender said, "You're in luck, sir, today is Double Bubble from 4-6pm. And we have an 8 ounce New York Strip with potatoe, salad bar and soup for, get this, $7.95." They also had a Cheddar Filet Mignon or a Fresh Perch dinner for $9.95. It was great. You know you're in WI.
Stay tuned for next weekend when we head to Madison for a Dingle Ball tournament.

Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Got grief? I did for not publishing anything for a week. What do think I do since I retired? (rhetorical)
Another addition to my ‘ultimate’ menu was made the other evening. I found a recipe in Sunset magazine for Artichoke Dip and added some personal touches. This particular one is a no-bake recipe, so it might be argued that it’s second best, but I’ll let you judge for yourself. It starts with 8 oz. of cream cheese, 2-4 ounces of artichoke hearts, a clove of garlic, a zest of lemon, ¼ cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, an ounce of your favorite microbrew, and a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice. I added a handful of walnuts and used my chopper to blend all these ingredients. I then toasted some french bread, but crustini would also work, and spread the dip on the hot bread. A dusting of Fagundes, Old Bay, or fresh ground pepper (your choice) was the final touch. Try it, Very delicious.
You might ask, what ‘Ultimate Menu’? Some of you know that my dream is to open a B&B. The rest of you now know. I don’t plan on abandoning that dream. I have found some beautiful Victorian homes in the Wisconsin area that would be perfect for a B&B. I don’t have the $$$ yet, but I will, someday. My concept is that all guests will get the VIP treatment. That means they get their own personal Turkish robes, their own 6 pc. set of Riedel wine glasses, their own set of 1000 ct. Egyptian sheets, and their own set of the best Turkish cotton towels made. I will only have a maximum of 8 guests on a weekend, and the price they pay is all inclusive. A relaxing room, great coffee, dinner, and all their beverages. They are welcome to bring their favorite champagne, wine, or microbrew at no additional charge, but I will have serve my favorites, in addition. Once registered, there likes and dislikes will be remembered, and addressed upon arrival. The menu will be a true 7-course dinner where you don’t have to make choices, everything is included. All dishes will use the freshest ingredients possible and will include the following in no particular order: bacon wrapped beef tenderloin grilled to perfection over a variety of wood chips; a pecan or coconut crusted fish i.e. talapia, red snapper, or pike; spaghetti alla carbonara or camarones de Sauylita; a fine cheese plate; an incredible salad i.e. Sue’s Nordtrom’s salad; sweet potato pancakes served with sour cream, homemade applesauce or WI butter; a fresh soup of the day i.e. cream of asparagus; aged balsamic soaked strawberries; slivers of incredible chocolates served with 20 year old Port; and the best coffees made in French presses. Guests have no choices, they get it all. They don’t have to eat it all, but they get the full menu. A variety of wines and handcrafted beers will be available and pairings will be recommended.
How does that sound. All rooms will all be setup for wireless Internet with laptops available at the front desk. Phones and 37” LCD TV’s can and will be removed from the rooms as directed. Tickets and transportation to local events can be made as easily as walking downstairs.
Ok, nice dream, buddy, but how much is this going to cost? The first time VIP fee is $1000/couple and includes their first weekend. Additional weekends are only $300/couple. Government rate is $3.75. (just for MC)
Like that’s going to fly! It’s amazing what happens when you tell somebody that you can’t eat or stay here, because it’s booked for year in advance. Psychology 101.
Soon to follow are pics of sample homes in the area.