There's a group of single guys from church that I take a meal with every other week. There are usually 5 of us in attendance. It's a great time for a bit of fellowship and good food. We've become a sort of eating club, dining at area restaurants, but we have gotten in a bit of a rut because we eat at Skip's now almost all the time. There is a reason for that.
Skip's is located on Fleur Drive near the airport in what was once a house. For years before I ate there I thought it might be a funeral home. It definitely looks like one. Fortunately it's not. The food is good, moderately priced, something available for all pocketbooks, a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere and of course, our favorite waitress...Jodi. Jodi has been known to sit down and enjoy an adult beverage with us at the end of the evening. It's a nice personal touch and she is very conversational.
Back to the food. I have tried most of their beef entrees, their walleye and the lemon garlic shrimp over linguine. All were always cooked properly, very tasty and made fresh. The steaks are hand cut. They have something called a pork shank over rice that I have been tempted to try, but it has a bone in it. I hate paying for something I can't eat. Cod, tuna steak, tilapia and Salmon, all prepared in interesting ways, are also available. There is a wide range of chicken and pasta dishes too and tonight may be the night for Chicken Jalapeno or maybe Cavetelli. I'm not sure yet. My favorite sides to go with my entree are roasted asparagus and a salad. I have tried the rice pilaf. It was good, but not great. I am told that the garlic mashed potatoes are also a winner.
Appetizers. I like Skip's onion rings, I have had the Shrimp Diablo (shrimp sauteed in red pepper garlic butter) and it was excellent, but expensive. The other guys in the group enjoy the Bruschetta. I do not for reasons I will not go into except to say it has to do with me being a picky ass eater. I would like to try the Calamari and I might order that tonight with the onion rings. We always get the large order of onion rings since there are 5 of us. That might be too much for a smaller group. Think the half order.
Desserts. We do not always get dessert, but in the past I have tried their chocolate cake, key lime pie and also the creme brullet. All of them were excellent meal toppers, but my favorite was the key lime pie, both sweet and tart and very smooth.
They also have a nice, very efficient bar. Specialty drinks are available at a premium. I had a dreamsicle martini one night. It was $9.00. It was very good, but it was so not worth it. They make a good Moscow Mule if you like such things They also have all the popular and local craft beers and a short but good wine list. If you want to bring your own vino, you can. There is no corkage fee.
If there are drawbacks to Skip's or negatives, I would say they are minimal. They do not take reservations, so you might have to wait 30 or 40 minutes, unless you arrive early, between 5 and 6 PM. If the place is packed, the noise level can be high. It's also very dark inside, but I think that's more of a personal problem. No one else seems to mind.
So....Skip's gets a 4.5 star rating from me. I like it, but really guys, shouldn't we try some other places?
Friday, July 6, 2018
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Queer Eye: More Than A Makeover---A Review
A couple of years ago, there was a TV show called "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy". There were 5 gay guys on the show that essentially taught straight guys how to dress and carry themselves in public.
I never watched it.
Right now, there is a spin off to that show on Netflix called "Queer Eye: More Than A Makeover". It is currently in its second season and I had not watched that show...until last night. I watched the first episode of season two and I have to admit, the show was very interesting for a number of reasons that I will get to in a minute, but first, I have to tell you this.
There is a blog that I visit several times a day called Your Other Brothers. The guys that write for the blog and run it are all same sex attracted Christian men that practice celibacy to remain obedient to Christ. The blog is a good place for people like me. I especially like the way they challenge us not to be afraid to love without falling in love or in lust. The approaches to this vary a great deal and many of the blog members and commenters discuss what's OK for them in the realm of SSA behavior. For instance, should SSA guys identify as gay? Is that too worldly? Can we or should we go to a same sex wedding? Are gay pride parades off the table? How do we deal with emotional dependency? Can we have side A friends? These guys talk about everything including porn and masturbation. They shy away from nothing. Everything is on the table and I believe it's a good thing in the end to support a venue such as this for gay Christian men. We need a place to discuss this stuff that would drive the average straight Christian from the room screaming, 'unclean, unclean'.
Anyhow, yesterday, one of the writers posted a story entitled, WHY I LIKE “QUEER EYE”. The writer was talking about the rebooted show on Netflix and his article became quite controversial. There were many reactions. Most of the guys under 40 years old had watched it and saw nothing wrong with it. There was some disagreement among us who are over 40 and more conservative in our opinions. I was originally on the fence, thinking this was a gray area like eating food sacrificed to idols, but then I decided to watch episode one of season two and, I thought the message was good.
The cast and crew of the show went to a very small town in Georgia called Gay. Yes, there is apparently such a place. They went there in response to a need brought to their attention by one of the members of the community. A small church of mostly African Americans was trying to complete a sort of community center for the town. The Queer Eye guys became involved in these efforts and they also became involved with the church and one specific family matriarch and her son in the church. Makeovers happened for both of them.
The underlying theme of the whole show seemed to be tolerance and acceptance; that even though there may not be agreement about what's moral and what is not, LGBT people and Christians can still get along and show love to each other and help each other. Some of the Queer eye guys had grown up in the church and had bad experiences. In Gay, Georgia they learned that Christianity can be a positive, loving faith. The church members learned that they needed to love everyone, even if you disagree with them in the hopes of winning them over. There were any number of good things on this particular episode. I am not sure about the other episodes and I will probably not watch them, but this one I can recommend to Christian friends interested in a life of peace and not conflict.
I never watched it.
Right now, there is a spin off to that show on Netflix called "Queer Eye: More Than A Makeover". It is currently in its second season and I had not watched that show...until last night. I watched the first episode of season two and I have to admit, the show was very interesting for a number of reasons that I will get to in a minute, but first, I have to tell you this.
There is a blog that I visit several times a day called Your Other Brothers. The guys that write for the blog and run it are all same sex attracted Christian men that practice celibacy to remain obedient to Christ. The blog is a good place for people like me. I especially like the way they challenge us not to be afraid to love without falling in love or in lust. The approaches to this vary a great deal and many of the blog members and commenters discuss what's OK for them in the realm of SSA behavior. For instance, should SSA guys identify as gay? Is that too worldly? Can we or should we go to a same sex wedding? Are gay pride parades off the table? How do we deal with emotional dependency? Can we have side A friends? These guys talk about everything including porn and masturbation. They shy away from nothing. Everything is on the table and I believe it's a good thing in the end to support a venue such as this for gay Christian men. We need a place to discuss this stuff that would drive the average straight Christian from the room screaming, 'unclean, unclean'.
Anyhow, yesterday, one of the writers posted a story entitled, WHY I LIKE “QUEER EYE”. The writer was talking about the rebooted show on Netflix and his article became quite controversial. There were many reactions. Most of the guys under 40 years old had watched it and saw nothing wrong with it. There was some disagreement among us who are over 40 and more conservative in our opinions. I was originally on the fence, thinking this was a gray area like eating food sacrificed to idols, but then I decided to watch episode one of season two and, I thought the message was good.
The cast and crew of the show went to a very small town in Georgia called Gay. Yes, there is apparently such a place. They went there in response to a need brought to their attention by one of the members of the community. A small church of mostly African Americans was trying to complete a sort of community center for the town. The Queer Eye guys became involved in these efforts and they also became involved with the church and one specific family matriarch and her son in the church. Makeovers happened for both of them.
The underlying theme of the whole show seemed to be tolerance and acceptance; that even though there may not be agreement about what's moral and what is not, LGBT people and Christians can still get along and show love to each other and help each other. Some of the Queer eye guys had grown up in the church and had bad experiences. In Gay, Georgia they learned that Christianity can be a positive, loving faith. The church members learned that they needed to love everyone, even if you disagree with them in the hopes of winning them over. There were any number of good things on this particular episode. I am not sure about the other episodes and I will probably not watch them, but this one I can recommend to Christian friends interested in a life of peace and not conflict.
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Flowers
The flowers at my townhouse on the south side of Des Moines are looking rather spectacular. I think it's because of all the rain; 15 inches in the last two and a half weeks. So I thought I would post some pics. Here ya go.
You may have noticed that I have a predilection for impatiens, coleus, hostas and clematis. These are all plants and flowers that do well in shade or part shade environments. I gravitate to them because I have a northern exposure and also, I think they are beautiful. I particularly like the wide variety of coleus that is available. Their foliage is beautiful. Next year, it may be all that I put in. We will see.
You may have noticed that I have a predilection for impatiens, coleus, hostas and clematis. These are all plants and flowers that do well in shade or part shade environments. I gravitate to them because I have a northern exposure and also, I think they are beautiful. I particularly like the wide variety of coleus that is available. Their foliage is beautiful. Next year, it may be all that I put in. We will see.
Split
I watched a movie on Amazon Prime last night called "Split". Let me say first that there was never a dull moment in the film. For the entire duration of the film, 1 hour and 57 minutes, I was either on edge or so pulled in by the characters and what I was learning about them, that I refused to pause the film and get up even to pee. I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you like psychological thrillers, you will probably enjoy "Split".
What's it about? Without giving away too much, it's about a critical time in the life of a man with 23 distinct personalities. Kevin Wendle Crumb (played by James McAvoy) begins to experience lost time. This is because his other personalities, the most malevolent ones, push him and the others out of the way and take over. The psychological term for his condition is Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly called Multiple Personality Disorder.
In the film, one of his personalities kidnaps 3 high school girls while another personality begins to email his psychiatrist for appointments because of the lost time and fear that something awful has happened. Kevin's psychiatrist in the film, Dr Karen Fletcher played by Betty Buckley, sort of guides us through the film and runs into problems toward the end of the movie. The whole thing is a frightening spectacle of what can happen to a person when they have experienced a childhood filled with severe traumatic abuse.
Throughout the film, a new personality is emerging to take over and control the other 23 and bring consistency back to Kevin's life. Unfortunately, the consistency is not a positive development. What emerges is a man that believes humanity can only be pure if they suffer and #24, the Beast, promises to bring that suffering to fruition.
The film is directed by M. Night Shyamalan. I have learned, since watching "Split", that he also directed a film called "Unbreakable" in 2000 starring Samuel Jackson and Bruce Willis. The only reason I researched this was because of the cameo appearance of Bruce Willis at the end of "Split". Apparently the two films are tied together in some strange way and there is a third movie due to come out in 2019 that will bring the two films together along with their characters in a very mind shattering way. The film will be called "Glass".
I have not watched "Unbreakable" yet, but I intend to. If it is even half as entertaining as "Split", I will be pleased and also ready for "Glass".
The acting in "Split" is over the top. Everyone in the film seems extremely skilled. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars and recommend that you watch it.
What's it about? Without giving away too much, it's about a critical time in the life of a man with 23 distinct personalities. Kevin Wendle Crumb (played by James McAvoy) begins to experience lost time. This is because his other personalities, the most malevolent ones, push him and the others out of the way and take over. The psychological term for his condition is Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly called Multiple Personality Disorder.
In the film, one of his personalities kidnaps 3 high school girls while another personality begins to email his psychiatrist for appointments because of the lost time and fear that something awful has happened. Kevin's psychiatrist in the film, Dr Karen Fletcher played by Betty Buckley, sort of guides us through the film and runs into problems toward the end of the movie. The whole thing is a frightening spectacle of what can happen to a person when they have experienced a childhood filled with severe traumatic abuse.
Throughout the film, a new personality is emerging to take over and control the other 23 and bring consistency back to Kevin's life. Unfortunately, the consistency is not a positive development. What emerges is a man that believes humanity can only be pure if they suffer and #24, the Beast, promises to bring that suffering to fruition.
The film is directed by M. Night Shyamalan. I have learned, since watching "Split", that he also directed a film called "Unbreakable" in 2000 starring Samuel Jackson and Bruce Willis. The only reason I researched this was because of the cameo appearance of Bruce Willis at the end of "Split". Apparently the two films are tied together in some strange way and there is a third movie due to come out in 2019 that will bring the two films together along with their characters in a very mind shattering way. The film will be called "Glass".
I have not watched "Unbreakable" yet, but I intend to. If it is even half as entertaining as "Split", I will be pleased and also ready for "Glass".
The acting in "Split" is over the top. Everyone in the film seems extremely skilled. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars and recommend that you watch it.
Friday, April 13, 2018
Fishing 2018
It's off to a slow start, but we've had some decent days from a weather perspective this week for fishing. I went out three times this week. I only caught a total of 4 fish, but I'm calling it a good start. One small mouth, one walleye and two large mouth. Pics are below. The walleye and small mouth were caught on the Middle Raccoon river at Panora and Redfield respectively, The large mouth were caught at Aquabi Lake south of Indianola.
This is the dam on the Middle Raccoon at Panora, Iowa. It's located at Lennon Mill county park.
Small Mouth Bass caught on a Mepps Bucktail #3 spinner.
This is the dam on the Middle Raccoon at Redfield, Iowa. I had some company while I was fishing there.
These two garters seem to be making baby snakes.
The Walleye was also caught on a #3 Mepps Bucktail spinner.
This Large Mouth Bass and another like it was caught was at Aquabi State Park in the lake there. I was using small "Rapala like" lures of the suspending variety with a slow retrieval. The fish were a bit lethargic, but hungry.
I also caught a bit of a sunburn. I'm a tad pink. It's what happens to old, fat white men in the spring. I'm ready for more burn and more fish. Thanks Lord for a beautiful week.
This is the dam on the Middle Raccoon at Panora, Iowa. It's located at Lennon Mill county park.
Small Mouth Bass caught on a Mepps Bucktail #3 spinner.
This is the dam on the Middle Raccoon at Redfield, Iowa. I had some company while I was fishing there.
These two garters seem to be making baby snakes.
The Walleye was also caught on a #3 Mepps Bucktail spinner.
This Large Mouth Bass and another like it was caught was at Aquabi State Park in the lake there. I was using small "Rapala like" lures of the suspending variety with a slow retrieval. The fish were a bit lethargic, but hungry.
I also caught a bit of a sunburn. I'm a tad pink. It's what happens to old, fat white men in the spring. I'm ready for more burn and more fish. Thanks Lord for a beautiful week.
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Spring is Tardy
The calendar indicates that this is the first day of spring. The vernal equinox is upon us. However, the signs of spring are fewer in number than might be considered normal for this time of year. It's my considered opinion that the calendar needs an adjustment. It seems to me that in recent years, it has been warmer into fall and early winter, not really getting cold until January and February and then the cold trails off slowly right into April.
I have seen appropriate numbers of Robins returning and Sunday I saw red winged blackbirds searching the ditches for suitable nesting areas, but no bluebirds yet and strangely, no turkey vultures. Given the amount of carrion along the roadsides, it would be nice to have them here for clean up. Even so, there is much birdsong in the morning hours and this gives me hope for warmer days ahead. On Monday I was at Saylorville Reservoir and there were pelicans and cormorants in large numbers. Considering the temps, I'm surprised they did not head back south, but I guess it's the angle of the earth in space that drives them north along with the position of the sun in the sky.
We need some heat people. Right now, it's only 36 degrees. There will be damage to the perennials if this cold continues. Still, creation is trying. Some snowdrops have made through and the magnolia trees have some fat buds. Spring might yet happen.
Lord, please bring some heat to these old tired bones and bring life from death as is your normal pattern of behavior. We love You for this among many other things. Please stretch out your mighty hand and let spring flow from it. Invigorate your bass and walleye. Let the bluegill and crappie again flourish under the heat of the star you created for that purpose. It's time to stir things to life again.
I love your spring. Where is it? I want to lie down in green pastures and go fishing beside still morning waters. I wait for you to restore my soul, to walk with me with Your goodness and mercy not far behind. Please bring it.
Amen
I have seen appropriate numbers of Robins returning and Sunday I saw red winged blackbirds searching the ditches for suitable nesting areas, but no bluebirds yet and strangely, no turkey vultures. Given the amount of carrion along the roadsides, it would be nice to have them here for clean up. Even so, there is much birdsong in the morning hours and this gives me hope for warmer days ahead. On Monday I was at Saylorville Reservoir and there were pelicans and cormorants in large numbers. Considering the temps, I'm surprised they did not head back south, but I guess it's the angle of the earth in space that drives them north along with the position of the sun in the sky.
We need some heat people. Right now, it's only 36 degrees. There will be damage to the perennials if this cold continues. Still, creation is trying. Some snowdrops have made through and the magnolia trees have some fat buds. Spring might yet happen.
Lord, please bring some heat to these old tired bones and bring life from death as is your normal pattern of behavior. We love You for this among many other things. Please stretch out your mighty hand and let spring flow from it. Invigorate your bass and walleye. Let the bluegill and crappie again flourish under the heat of the star you created for that purpose. It's time to stir things to life again.
I love your spring. Where is it? I want to lie down in green pastures and go fishing beside still morning waters. I wait for you to restore my soul, to walk with me with Your goodness and mercy not far behind. Please bring it.
Amen
Saturday, March 3, 2018
The Serpent
Ya, it's been awhile, but I had a dream last night and it has been bothering me all day. Normally my dreams are vague recollections by the time I rise in the morning, but this one was different for two reasons. First, my deceased parents were in it and second, the dream was in two parts. I woke and went to the bathroom after part one and the dream continued when I went back to sleep. Odd no?
So here is what I remember of the dream. I was living in a place that was not where I am living now. It was more like my old apartment in Cedar Rapids. My parents were there standing in the entrance to the galley kitchen. I was standing by the door to the apartment entrance. My mother was having hysterics because there was a very large snake crawling around on the living room carpet. It would zip across the floor seeking cover under chairs and the couch and move back and forth in the hallway between the living room and the bed room. The creature looked very much like an albino boa constrictor, but I seemed to know in my mind that it was also venomous and therefore dangerous.
My father was smiling as if curious what I would do. He always did like to see me squirm in tense situations. He was hateful that way. My mom was screaming about how I had to move and we had to get out of there and really, the place was just too dangerous.
Then I woke up. I had to pee...it's an old age thing.
I thought about the dream after I crawled back into bed wondering what it had all meant as I went back to sleep and there I was again. I was back in my old apartment, but this time my parents were gone and I was alone with this snake, this huge venomous snake. Most would have left the apartment immediately and called the exterminator, but this was a dream and my rationality had been left on the pillow.
Instead, I began to devise a plan to capture and kill this serpent. I was jumping from chair to chair to couch as I thought about it. I kept trying to sneak up on it, but as I would get close, it would turn and open it's mouth bearing its fangs. I came close to getting bit twice and then...I woke up.
That snake better not be there again tonight. Just sayin....
So here is what I remember of the dream. I was living in a place that was not where I am living now. It was more like my old apartment in Cedar Rapids. My parents were there standing in the entrance to the galley kitchen. I was standing by the door to the apartment entrance. My mother was having hysterics because there was a very large snake crawling around on the living room carpet. It would zip across the floor seeking cover under chairs and the couch and move back and forth in the hallway between the living room and the bed room. The creature looked very much like an albino boa constrictor, but I seemed to know in my mind that it was also venomous and therefore dangerous.
My father was smiling as if curious what I would do. He always did like to see me squirm in tense situations. He was hateful that way. My mom was screaming about how I had to move and we had to get out of there and really, the place was just too dangerous.
Then I woke up. I had to pee...it's an old age thing.
I thought about the dream after I crawled back into bed wondering what it had all meant as I went back to sleep and there I was again. I was back in my old apartment, but this time my parents were gone and I was alone with this snake, this huge venomous snake. Most would have left the apartment immediately and called the exterminator, but this was a dream and my rationality had been left on the pillow.
Instead, I began to devise a plan to capture and kill this serpent. I was jumping from chair to chair to couch as I thought about it. I kept trying to sneak up on it, but as I would get close, it would turn and open it's mouth bearing its fangs. I came close to getting bit twice and then...I woke up.
That snake better not be there again tonight. Just sayin....
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