For several years now it has been my husband’s dream to open a restaurant.  This is something I never wanted to start up.  I know many restaurant owners and have found it is a huge commitment of time and money.  Finally last year, I gave in and allowed my husband to begin to pursue his dream…..I just had no idea that he would actually follow through.  

After months of looking for the perfect location he signed a lease at Levis Commons, and a month after that agreement, the doors to Andrew Z’s Sportz Pizzeria, will open….this weekend. 

The past month has been very trying.  Besides working his regular job, my husband is putting in hours on end at the restaurant.  I, in return have picked up all the responsibilities at our house plus have been helping out at the pizzeria.  

But even though we are both exhausted, I have to say I have learned so much about the restaurant business.  My favorite part was probably the food sampling.  The chef would make all the items on the menu several times until he felt he perfected them.  I have to say the pizza is unlike anything I have ever ate, and the hot subs are another one of my favorite items.

I know this new venture for our family will change a lot of things … well get less sleep, be paying more bills and have less time as a family …. But my husband is living his dream, and I guess the worst is behind us.

Andrew Z’s Sportz Pizzeria’s Grand opening is this Friday and Saturday from 5pm-2am at Levis Commons.  It will be a big party complete with live bands, games for the kids and of course pizza.                                            

Monday was one of the windiest days in quite some time.  Here is a break down of some of the highest gusts recorded over the course of the day.  Click here… 

Lets talk more about the wind. 

As the sun warms the Earth’s surface, the air warms as well. Some parts of the Earth receive direct rays from the sun all year and are always warm. Other places receive indirect rays, so the climate is colder. Warm air, which weighs less than cold air, rises. Then cool air moves in and replaces the rising warm air. This movement of air is what makes the wind blow. 

Difference in atmospheric pressure causes the wind to blow. Wind usually blows from high pressure to low pressure. The differences in atmospheric pressure can be caused by uneven heating of the Earth’s surface (mentioned above), synoptic scale or localized scale forcings.

You always see these movements nearing a forecast temperature change.  For instance, temperatures were in the 70s over the weekend.  Monday we had the gusty winds all day and most of the night.  Our highs on Monday and Tuesday were in the low 60s.

Use this a tell tell sign of weather changes.  Always remember if it is a very windy day a temperature change is on the way…

Please let me know if there is anything you would like to know about or have me blog about.  I am open to all weather topics…

or at least read it once.  Thanks to MzFuller8 (that’s her twitter name) I’ve been introduced to sparklepeople.com.  In my last entry I wrote about my journey to count calories and lose at least ten pounds.

For all the talk about how the Lions are horrible, with their 19-game losing streak, it’s almost a good thing that Detroit got the monkey off its back.

Now, the focus is on the NFL’s truly horrible – the Cleveland Browns.

There.  I said it.

You can hate me all you want, but it’s true.  Just watch the games.  Even before the season, before any football was played, I have a question for Browns fans: was there seriously any reason for optimism?

(more…)

Ladies and gents, you are so close to having a brand new FACE!

Tomorrow, six contestants will be coming downtown to Four Seagate for their final interviews.

As I’ve said before, I’m really sad to be giving up the best job in the world, but I’m excited to see what else life has in store for me. And I’m also really anxious to find out who will be the next person to represent FOX Toledo on the air and out in the community!

By Thursday of this week, YOU will know the outcome in a special program that will air at 11pm. You’ll not only get to see the winner, but you’ll also get to take a look at the entire process that went into seclecting the new Face.

Just You Watch…..and Just You MISS Me. Because I will definitely be missing all of you.

So…is there really a way to avoid swine flu?? I mean I find myself washing my hands all the time.  But I still come across touching objects that aren’t clean.

I really don’t think there’s a way to avoid it – unless you live in a huge bubble, literally.

There are probably lots of people who are sick of the swine flu, as opposed to being sick from swine flu.

Is it hype or something you really need to worry about? That seems to be the questions everyone wants answered, yet the answer seems to be different depending on who you ask. But check this out if you get a chance:

http://www.foxtoledo.com/dpp/news/talk_back/wupw_FOX_Toledo_Talk_Back_Sept_24_H1N1_prevention_and_discussion_tfajrsh_092409

This was an interview I did with a doctor from UTMC. I encourage you to watch it because getting informed is the only way you can answer, for yourself, the hype or harm question.

I feel like you can’t let a newscaster answer that question, you need to do it. You can listen to that news guys, you can listen to the doctor, you can listen to your brother in law, but don’t let them make up your mind. Do it yourself. I am pretty sure it is still your mind.

I almost made it all summer without suffering a cold or the flu. However, my luck ran out on the last day of summer. It seems I contracted one of the many viruses that float around and it has since turned in to bronchitis. Needless to say, I have spent the majority of this week cuddling a box of kleenex and fighting a fever.

(more…)

One reason I love Fall is because I get a chance to visit our local apple orchards and stock up on fresh apples!  I will make a dozen trips in the upcoming months to take advantage of buying local.  besides packing a couple in my lunch every day I also enjoy cooking and baking with them.  My husband often teases me that it is the only time of year he can get me to bake. 

I thought I would share this recipie.  My friend just e-mailed it to me today.  It seems really easy.  Enjoy!

——————–
CROCK POT APPLESAUCE
——————–

  10 lg. cooking apples, peeled, cored & sliced or cut in
chunks
  1/2 c. water
  1 tsp. cinnamon
  1/2 to 1 c. sugar

Put all ingredients into crockpot. Should be about 3/4 full.
Cover and cook on low 8 to 10 hours (high 3 to 4 hours).

We finally got around to taking Ivie to the new “Nature’s Neighborhood” area at the Toledo Zoo. She had a great time and daddy and mommy did too!

mommy and Ivie

mommy braved the slide

petting the goats

smile lil' bee!

buzz buzz

just got a flower painted on my face!

can't quite reach

that's one tiny elephant!

mommy's turn!

Ivie's favorite-the monkeys!