Autumn Has Felt More Like Winter October 18, 2009
Posted by Chris in In the Neighborhood, New Jersey, New York, travel, weather.add a comment
We had our first brush with Winter this week. I went to Harrisburg on Thursday with Maureen and by the time we made it back to Jersey and me back to the neighborhood, there was about an inch of wet snow on the ground. It wasn’t a problem but definitely it was a reminder of what is ahead. Up this week: NJ Mopar Group Sussex County Meet & Greet on Tuesday night and trips to Washington DC on Thursday & Baltimore on Friday.
Halloween is just around the corner. Have you got your costume ready?
Back Into the City to See Victoria October 12, 2009
Posted by Chris in Family & Friends, New York.add a comment
I went back into the city to meet up with Victoria on Sunday night for dinner. We had a great time, caught up on Dallas gossip, and enjoyed dinner with Jeff, Dallas, and Jason.
A Very Busy Week for Me October 10, 2009
Posted by Chris in Family & Friends, In the City, In the Neighborhood, travel.add a comment
Gary, Melinda and Sugar came to town to visit. We made it to all of the hot spots in Manhattan during their four day stay, plus we ran over to Hershey,PA to tour the chocolate factory. I couldn’t help but think that my friend, Eric, would have thought he had died and gone to heaven surrounded by millions of Kit Kats and Hershey bars. I think we crammed about as much as we possibly could into 4 days, and I feel a lot more confident about where to go an what to do now when guests come to stay for a while.
Sugar, Me, Melinda & Gary at the Statue of Liberty
Gary, Sugar and Me on the Top of the Rock in Manhattan
Me on the Top of the Rock with the Empire State Bldg in the background
Request for Swedish Meatballs August 23, 2009
Posted by Chris in Recipes.add a comment
I have had a couple of requests for the recipe for my Swedish Meatballs. I really don’t have a formal recipe biut this is how you do it:
Just make your favorite meatball recipe (obviously not with Italian seasonings).
I use 3-4 lbs of ground meat, brown them, set them aside., then in the fat that remains, brown 2 packages of dried onion soup.
You have to keep stiring, so it doesn’t burn, and after it is brown, add two cups of water and keep stirring. Add that a pint o sour cream and aout a cup of white wine. Thicken it with a flour, warm water mixture ( I use Wondra) and then add th emeatballs back in and simmer the whole thing for a bit.
Serve it with white rice or over noodles.
One word of advice, go easy on the salt. The onion soup and already have a lot of salt in them.
Group’s passion for Mopars brings them together; Sense of family keeps them together. August 2, 2009
Posted by Chris in Automotive Interests, Dodge Charger, Family & Friends, NJ Mopar Group, Observations.2 comments
They are insurance adjusters, general contractors, small business owners, teachers, information technology professionals, college students, truck drivers, police officers, and, of course, marketing proessionals. Members of the NJ Mopar Group come from all walks of life. Brought together by a common interest, their cars, the group’s membership stays together because of their relationships with each other. As Mopar enthusiast and Dodge Charger owner myself, I joined the group exactly a year ago after relocating to the Northeast from Texas. The 3 year old, 230 member New Jersey group is one of several sister clubs across the eastern seaboard of the United States, including the PA Mopar Group, as well as groups in Washington DC, Southern Maryland, and soon in New York all united under the Muscle Mopars Clubs of America banner. Collectively, the group sports a membership of more than 500 Mopar enthusiasts in the region.
The word “Mopar” originated in the 1930s as an acronym for “MOtor PARts”, the parts producing arm of the Chrysler Corporation. Enthusiasts who raced Chrysler products of any make over the years have come to refer to their vehicles “Mopar” products rather than by their individual names, Chrysler, Plymouth and Dodge. Mopar owners boast that the acronym has multiple other meanings such as “My Own Pure Adrenaline Rush”.
I knew very quickly that the NJ Mopar Group was not a typical car group after attending one of the groups weekly “Meet and Greets”. The Mopar group recruits new membership by attending car shows and by hand distributing invitations to other Mopar owners, but it is through a series of “Meet & Greets” that take place on different nights throughout the week that prospective members really get a feel for the breadth and depth of the relationships that exist within the family-like organization. The group’s calendar, updated daily on their website, includes something for everyone: car shows, charity events, group modification weekends, family dinners, play dates for the children of the members, pool parties, and weekend overnight trips as a group. The kindred atmosphere is hard to miss. Whether cruising together to enjoy an ice cream cone or to attend a large regional car show, the group arrives for every event as a unified and impressive caravan of classic and late modeled Dodge Chargers, Challengers , Magnums, and Chrysler 300s representing a rainbow of colors that is as diverse as the membership itself. 
With military-like precision, the each vehicle, one-at-a-time, backs perfectly into its assigned space is a domino cascading manner that has become well-rehearsed over time. The doors open and trunks open , canopies are erected, soft drink coolers are placed, and lawn chairs are arranged before each family returns to their own Mopar to prepare it for show. It is not uncommon to see dad detailing the car, mom shining the interior, and the kids polishing the wheels. We are all, indeed, a stalwart assemblage of friends.
Giving back to the community is a key focus of each of the regional groups that reside under the Muscle Mopars of America umbrella. In August the regional groups will come together to host the 3rd Annual Muscle Mopar Bar-B-Q. Planned for Saturday, August 22nd at Spruce Run State Park in New Jersey, the event is open to all Mopar owners and their families from across the Northeast and will include a car show, homemade food, fellowship, and children’s activities, with all proceeds from the event benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
This weekend, the PA Mopar Group assisted sponsor High Horse Performance (HHP) to conduct a Welcome Home Day at the VA Hospital in Wilmington, DE for Afghanistan and Iraq troops. In its second year, the event was free to the public and, in addition to the car show, included a military band, police dogs, Air Force helicopter, and several events for children from face painting to games. We were surrounded by service members from every branch of the military, and from every generation. Many were escorted to the outside festivities only with their aid of their nurse and IV poles, and it was clear they were very glad to enjoy the short break from their personal recovery and circumstances to enjoy a day that was arranged just for them. 
Top honors at the car show were designated as “Memorial Awards” , each named after an armed services member who lost his or her life in Afghanistan and Iraq. The gesture gave each award very significant meaning and caused all of us to pause and think about what is really important in our lives: our freedom and our relationships with each other. I have never been more proud to be associated with my Mopar family than I was at this event.
These are challenging times for many people. Our lives are busier than they have even been in an economy that is impacting many families in ways they have never experienced. It’s easy to become so focused on survival – on getting through the day, on getting through the week – that you forget that there is a lot of strength that comes from being with others who share a 
common interest and joining together for common causes. The families that comprise our collective Mopar groups, whether from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York or elsewhere, are fortunate to have such a strong network of friends and counterparts, all united in our common passions that involve our cars and our communities, but also in our concern for each other.
Membership in the any of the Mopar Groups represented under the Muscle Car Clubs of America umbrella is open to all Mopar owners and enthusiasts.
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Texas Coming to New York July 26, 2009
Posted by Chris in Family & Friends, In the City, Texas, lakehouse, travel.1 comment so far
The buzz around Arrowhead Resort at Lake Whitney in Texas these days is that my proprietors and friends Gary & Melinda, as well as Gary’s mom, Sugar, will be making an Autumn trip to my place. On the agenda, a tour of Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, a Broadway show, and some sightseeing in Manhattan. I am sure somewhere along the way we will fit in a couple hands of UNO or Phase 10.
Long Week June 21, 2009
Posted by Chris in Places, Texas, lakehouse, travel.add a comment
It was a long week, and the next week isn’t looking too much better, but the good news is I am less than two weeks away from a long weekend at the lakehouse in Texas.
My Refuge Awaits
In celebration of this return trip to the Mother Ship, I have activated the Dallas skyline banner and am flying the Lone Star flag on my page.
I, however, still don’t claim George Bush.
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Are You Making Every Moment Count? June 12, 2009
Posted by Chris in Feel Good, Life, Observations, Ramblings.add a comment
Here are a few things that you would never say on your deathbed.
1) I’m really glad I managed to hold on to that grudge.
2) I’m really glad I played it safe and didn’t take any chances.
3) I should’ve told people I loved them much less than I did.
4) I’m glad I looked cool and never let anyone know how I felt.
5) I should’ve had less fun.
6) I should have spent more time at work.
7) I’m glad I pushed everyone away.
Are you making every moment of every day count??
The New Piano June 9, 2009
Posted by Chris in Around the House, Feel Good, Video Blog.1 comment so far
Drag Race Sunday in New Jersey May 31, 2009
Posted by Chris in Automotive Interests, Dodge Charger, Family & Friends, NJ Mopar Group.add a comment
I had a great Sunday at Island Drag strip about 10 miles from the house today. It was my first time taking the car onto a drag strip. Great time had by all. Photos
Chris’ Southern Banana Cream Pudding May 25, 2009
Posted by Chris in NJ Mopar Group, Recipes, The Good Life.add a comment
Ok, a couple of peeps from the BBQ on Saturday have messaged me for the banana pudding recipe. I really don’t follow a formal recipe but this is what I do and it will make a big ole batch:
4 regular sized instant Jello Vanilla pudding mixes
1 regular sized tub of Cool Whip
5 or 6 (or 7 maybe) bananas, sliced & coated with a little lemon juice (keeps them from turning color)
1 can of Eagle Brand
7 Cups of Whole Milk (don’t use skim or low fat – it wont be as good, and what are you trying to prove, anyway?)
1 medium carton on Whipping Cream (not the tiny carton, the next sized up)
A Bunch (2 boxes) of Nilla Wafers
Prepare whipping cream with some sugar (to taste – I use about a half of a cup) and a drop or three of vanilla (careful, not too much vanilla, and not the cheap stuff, either). Whip the hell out of it with a mixer until it is really fluffy, Then whip it some more. Then set it aside.
Empty the pudding packages into mixer bowl. (Its best if you have a KitchenAid type stand mixer but if you don’t, a hand mixer will have toto do) Add the can of Eagle brand and 5 cups of milk. Whip the hell out of it (do you see a pattern here?) Then fold in the entire tub of Cool Whip and keep whipping. It will thicken up the pudding. Then drop in the bananas (drain any excess lemon juice first) and stir the whole thing up some more until the bananas are spread throughout the mixture.
In two big deep dishes (one for home, and one to take to the party), put a bunch of Nilla wafers in the bottom. When you think you put too many, add about 10 more. Fold the pudding mixture in to about an3/4 to an dinch thick. Then take about 20 wafers and crunch them up, making a layer of crunched up cookies. Pour the rest of the pudding mixture on top. Then spread the whipping cream you set aside earlier all over the top. Line the edges of the dishes with whole cookies on their edges, all the way around, so that about half of the cookie sticks up. Then take more cookies, crunch them up so that they are in small crumbs, and sprinkle on top.
Cover and put the dishes in the fridge for about an hour. You can do smaller quantities I am sure but I always make a lot, so this is how I do it
Here a Tweet, There a Tweet, Everywhere a Twitter May 24, 2009
Posted by Chris in Blogging, Facebook, Pop Culture, Technology, Twitter.add a comment
On the local Hackettstown, NJ town forum, someone made the remark that pretty much said that people who use Twitter are either kids, lonely, or unemployed with nothing better to do with their time.
Yikes.
Quick inventory – - checking to see if I am a kid or at least what one would call “young”, void of social connections and accomplishment. Nope. That’s not me. (Well, I like to think that at 42, I am not ready for Shady Pines yet, but I digress). I’ve done pretty well for myself, yet, oh God, I Tweet. It’s true. I confess. I Tweet in the morning, I Tweet during the day, I Tweet at night. And I have not gone blind.
I have a professional Twitter account, and a personal Twitter account. I’m on LinkedIn and Facebook as well. I am even old-school: Long before the days of MicroBlogs like Twitter or Social Media sites like Facebook, I Blogged and continue to do so on WordPress. I must say, however, I have my limits; I dumped MySpace. it got a little too trashy for even me.
What do I tweet about? Politics (ever wonder how all of these politicians get elected when no one admits to voting for them?), travel (I’ve got accumulating airlines miles down to a science and really DIGG(.com) keeping up with fellow Cruise Line followers who like to take to the seas on occasion ), automotive (Hemi Power & Cops and Rodders – fun stuff), current events and pop culture (ever wonder how an American Idol gets elected with no one admits to voting for them?), daily frustrations and blessings (and I am that, for sure). Nothing is sacred: I even Tweeted from my Granny’s funeral, and she would have LOVED it, too.
I think I am in good company. At this very moment, astronauts are Tweeting from the Space Shuttle (fellow tweets, check out @Astro_mike) as they wonder if the weather will ever clear in Florida so that they can land. Along the way, though, they are also Tweeting about how they feel to be looking down on Mother Earth from orbit. All sorts of celebrities Tweet, though there are imposters so be careful about who you follow. Local and national media type’s Tweet. Lawmakers on both sides of the isle and in all 50 states Tweet, and its gotten a few of them in trouble. College professors and Nobel Peace Prize winners Tweet.
Different people gravitate to different things. Cable TV vs Sat TV vs broadcast, text messaging vs a phone call vs a postage stamp, traditional print newspaper vs online news vs news tweets from CNN, sedan vs convertible vs bicycle.
So what is Twitter anyway? Technically speaking, it is a Microblog. Think of it as a stream of mini blog posts, limited to 144 characters each. If a blog is a short story, a Twitter is the title. Think of it as an interesting news feed and don’t judge it by the continuously updated public timeline that often consist of pointless chatter (“I love my cat” blah blah”) . The value of Twitter is in your own online community of people who follow you, as well as those people you choose to follow. You are in control and you shouldn’t care what any crowd thinks, but rather you should care about the wisdom of a carefully selected crowd.
Why might you want to Tweet? If you are a student of current events and understand the importance of the human connection, both for personal enjoyment and professional growth, you might actually enjoy the opportunity to learn new things. There are tons of daily thoughts and ideas from experts and leaders like Tony Robbins for example. I am sure that you also have expertise in your own area – something important or informative to impart to others. Why not share that expertise? If you are in business, why not use it to help communicate your message, such as Chrysler is doing right now through bankruptcy?
Another reason to Tweet is to become a better student of rapidly developing technology. Look at how quickly the online universe is changing? I am found Twitter to be great way to learn about fresh new tech ideas, and the very nature of Twitter with its 144 character limit forces focused communication. You won’t have to worry about reading anything as lengthy as this one blog entry. You can keep up while you are on the go using text messaging or Twitter on an iPhone if you are the type to be always on and plugged in. It’s a matter of preference.
The bottom line for me and the millions of other people who use it is that Twitter is just one more communications tool. If you check it out and don’t like it, the world won’t end. No blood will be shed. And if you do decide you like it, that doesn’t make you an unemployed bum with too much time on your hands.
American Makes $278 Mil From Checked Bags; Southwest Shrugs it Off May 24, 2009
Posted by Chris in In the News, travel.1 comment so far
The U.S. Department of Transportation reported last week that my former favorite airline, American Airlines, jammed it to passengers to the tune of $278 million last year by charging you to lose your luggage. Southwest refused to play ball, insisting that while its competitors may benefit from the rip off in the short term, over time it will cost them loyal passengers.
And the next American Idol is…. May 21, 2009
Posted by Chris in Observations, Pop Culture, Ramblings, Television.add a comment
I don’t watch American Idol religiously. In fact, I only watch the last 4 or 5 weeks of the competition, and during that time I felt like Adam Lambert, Kris Allen, and Danny Gokey were the 3 best musicians in the group.
The more I watched Adam Lambert, the more I observed that he didn’t seem to have as much variety in his performances. He’s a good show man – a good concert musician if you like the whole makeup and tongue hanging out of a wide open mouth kind of routine. If there was a place to possibly scream in a song, he took it. To his credit, he can definitely scream in key, and KISS was definitely successful – in the 70s’ – but I started growing tired of the lack of variety in his performances.
I also started noticing the more well rounded abilities and voices of Danny Gokey and Kris Allen. They both seemed much more humble to me at the same time Adam seemed to be buying into and basking in the overblown praise that was being heaped on him every week by the judges. At the same time, Danny and Kris just seemed to showcase their own abilities, staying true to the musical rather than theatrical aspect of their talent.
So in the final competition it came down to two very talented people – - Adam was born to perform and has the confidence to excel on broadway or in Vegas, and Kris, who, though he doesn’t scream rock music, plays guitar and piano and can carry a vocal performance all by himself. In my mind, its about who is more radio-ready, and maybe even who is more mature. In the end, they are both have incredible talent and both can have terrific careers, but I think the right performer won American Idol.
Any other Grey’s fans out there? May 18, 2009
Posted by Chris in Pop Culture, Television.2 comments
I have been watching Grey’s Anatomy since the beginning. I felt like the writing suffered a bit last year after the writer’s strike, and they never really hit full stride for the short season that followed. This season I thought the writing rally improved. It was like the first season. Sharp and crisp.
This season’s finale really took be my surprise. I knew where the story line was going with Izzy, but never guessed the guy who got his by the bus was George until he did the “007” thing. WOW! I should have known it. Normally I see those things coming, but I was totally caught off guard by that one.
The real question is what happens to Katherine Heigel & TR Knight? Hollywood has produced any number of television celebrities who, after reading their own PR and perhaps feeding their own egos, moved on from what was working into relative oblivion. It will be interesting to see if that happens with Heigel and Knight.
My Blogosphere Mid-life Crisis May 17, 2009
Posted by Chris in Blogging, Observations, Ramblings.1 comment so far
I think I have had somewhat of a mid-life blogging crisis.
Maybe it was bound to happen. I have never been one for long-attention-span activities, like reading a book cover-to-cover, or doing my own income taxes. For almost two years I treated my blog as canvas on which to share my longer thoughts, ramblings, and ventings. It was much the cornerstone of my online presence, both from a visual and a written perspective.
Perhaps one reason I have not done too well, by my own estimation, with blogging is that I failed the first test of blogmanship: find a topic and stick to it. Travel. Automotive. Politics. Religion. Social Services. Technology. It seems that most of the successful blogs surround an overall topic or theme. That is not something I do well. There is so much to talk about and comment on that it is easy for me to lose focus.
When I set up this blog it was on a whim, without a whole lot of thought related to what I would do with it, what I would say, or what I wanted to achieve. I just wanted to have a place that was my own. Since that time the whole social networking landscape has progressed: FriendFeed, Twitter, and Facebook, all accessed from my iPhone, have changed the way I interact with the online world. I am not the only one.
It seems to me that as blogs became more mainsteam in 2006 and 2007, they have lost a lot of their charm. Blogs used to be highly personal, written by REAL people about their REAL thoughts. Many have since become professional or semi-professional writings about commercial projects and organized movements —not nearly as personal, not nearly as interesting.
So I am here to recommit to my blog. I had a lot of fun with it. There is time for Social Networking (Facebook), Micro-Blogging (Twitter) and the traditional Retro-Blogging. I am not setting a schedule. I am not setting rules, except that I will continue to break the first rule by not following a topic or an idea, or playing to any audience other than myself.
Feel free to come along. Or not.
It is all about the miles. May 17, 2009
Posted by Chris in travel.1 comment so far
When I moved to New Jersey this time last year, I changed my favored airline from American Airlines to Continental. The practical reasons were obvious: just as American is big dog at DFW International, Continental is King at what would be my new home port, Newark Liberty International (EWR). I could go on and on about my frustrations regarding EWR, the poor layout and inferior runway design, but I will save that for another post on another day.
I joined the Continental Frequent Flyer program, OnePass. On a gamble, I sent them a copy of my American Airlines frequent flyer card and asked if they would reciprocate within their OnePass program at the equivalent level, and they agreed. Hello Elite Silver! I then applied for and received from Chase Bank the Continental Airlines Presidential Plus credit card. This is apparently the godfather of mileage-based airline credit cards and its expensive – annual fees of about $400.00/yr –almost as much as an American Express Platinum Card (which I DO NOT have). But the perks of the Presidential Plus card are worth the cost to me. The annual fee gives Elite Premier status on Continental, even if you don’t fly the required 25,000 miles annually to achieve the lowest level of elite status in the OnePass program. That is a big deal, especially for a big guy like me. Elite Premier allows you to board first (no fighting for overhead space) and you can check two bags up to 70 lbs at no cost . Yoru checked bags get priority treatment, unloaded first and sent to the carousels first. You also get priority access through security ar most airports. The annual fee also provides membership into Continental’s Presidents Club lounges, along with access into several partner lounges such as Delta, Northwest, Alaska Air and a few others. No such benefit exists for American Airlines members. You want to go the lounge there, you pay for it. With the Presidential Plus card, all air, hotel, and rent car miles count double, you get free double class upgrades with Avis, and Gold Status with Hyatt hotels. All in all, not a bad deal, especially compared to American Airlines where their lowest flier program level just gives you the opportunity not to be upgraded on their oversold flights. Extra bonus: On Continental, you don’t have to fly on an MD-80 (my mental equivalent of a New York City taxi cab) and even if you do not successfully score an upgrade, Continental still serves hot meals in coach.
So, I have used the Continental President’s Premier card for EVERYTHING I can. Utility bills, gasoline, you name it. And the miles to accumulate pretty fast. Right now I have a nice accumulation of miles on that card, plus a lot of miles left on the old American Airlines Citibank card, and about two tickets worth of miles on a Bank of America Alaska Airlines card I got on an Alaskan cruise several years ago. I also have a Discover Miles card.
Here is where things have started to get tricky. I am currently in the process of scheduling travel for the next year back to Texas – - mostly holiday weekend types of trips. In fact, this morning I just booked mileage flights back to the lakehouse for my birthday next January (on Continental) and President’s Day weekend in February (on American). I have a high credit limit on the Citibank American Airlines MC and AmEx cards, and I have no balance. I have an equally high limit on the Bank of America Alaska Airlines card, with a very minimal balance. There is a big limit on the Discover Miles card with no balance and I haven’t used it in months. For the past year my every day card has been the Continental Card with a high limit and a lot of activity each month that I pay off monthly. In today’s crazy economic environment, I am trying to protect the available credit on these cards that in the past I never used so that my FICO score stays high because of my low debt to credit line ratio.
Now that I am starting to use some of the miles I have accumulated, I am now starting to find myself playing credit card roulette each month to get miles on each mileage program (American, Alaska, and of course, Continental) to the magic increments of 25,000 miles, which equals a round-trip ticket. Doing the credit card mileage juggle also keeps each credit card company happy because I am using them in spurts, even though I pay them off each month (No credit card company likes it when you carry a high credit line on a card you never use – it sticks out like a sore thumb). For example, I have 125k miles (5 RT tickets) available on Continental right now, and 67k (2.5 RT tickets) available on America Airlines, so for the next few months I will start using the Citibank American Airlines card for monthly expenses to get those miles up to 75k, the equivalent of 3 round trip coach tickets.
So that is how I am managing the miles! The more tricky issue is how to actually use them. The airlines are good at giving you all of these miles, and then making it almost impossible to use them! I will blog about that next tme!
A Beautiful Mother’s Day May 10, 2009
Posted by Chris in Around the House, In the Neighborhood.2 comments
I took mom to dinner last night for Mother’s Day and then she got to experience her first car show when I took her along to the Saturday Night Classic at Whiskey Cafe at the Meadowlands. I spent all day today working on the house, cleaning, shampooing the carpets, digging in the dirt outside, etc. I love this time of year in the Northeast. 65-75 degree days< 50’s at night. Awesome! weather, and a beautiful Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. And Godspeed, Granny.
Some pictures from around the house today:
Welcome to May; Video Blog May 3, 2009
Posted by Chris in Dodge Charger, NJ Mopar Group, New Jersey, Video Blog, beacon, dallas cowboys, weather.add a comment
What’s new? I will fill you in on my experience at the New Jersey MVC (Motor Vehicle Commission), give you some car club news, and let you know how the R1D1 flu has impacted my plans.
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The Road Home April 26, 2009
Posted by Chris in In the Neighborhood, New Jersey, Photo Blog.add a comment
It occurred to me as I was driving home that many of you who frequent my website from Texas really may not have a good picture in your mind of where I live. When you hear New Jersey it is easy to visualize images of Newark, Elizabeth, and Jersey City. Perhaps memories of scenes from The Sopranos come to mind.
In reality I live in a very beautiful part of Northwestern New Jersey, away from the rush of New York City. Although its only 24 miles or so from work, sometimes it seems like hundreds not because of distance but because of the topography.I snapped a few photos on the way to the house this afternoon for your enjoyment.
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