Kefir

I recently (this past weekend) started culturing Kefir. I have heard of the benefits for a while, (try googling Kefir, or look HERE) and a friend cultures her own. In fact, she has "converted" several mutual friends to drinking Kefir.

If you have never heard of Kefir, it is cultured milk. You can drink it plain (I haven't yet, though I tasted the yogurt-kefir I made, and it is fantastic), or in fruit smoothies (our choice thus far). You start with Kefir grains (which are a cellulose compound of bacteria, yeasts in a complex matrix of sugars, proteins and lipids) that looks somewhat like translucent cauliflower. You simply place the Kefir grains in a clean glass jar, pour fresh organic milk over them, and let it sit at room temperature for anywhere from 12-48 hours. I cover mine with a clean towel, so bugs don't get in, but have also sealed in a glass jar - sealing causes a fizzy, effervescent effect: makes our smoothies "sparkly". Each morning, I strain the kefir grains out, put them in a clean jar, and pour fresh milk over them, for a new batch. We then use thestrained kefir as outlines above. Any remaining kefir can be stored int he fridge, in either glas, or non-leaching plastic, free of toxic chemicals.

Handsome Buffalo was ready to try anything - he's become lactose intolerant recently, and the Kefir grains break down and partially digest the lactose (from my online reading), helping correct lactose intolerance. In fact, my wonderful friend has assured me that he will eventually be able to drink regular milk, as long as he continues kefir, to keep his gut balanced.

The kids were less enthusiastic. They both refused it at first. I simply ignored them and drank my smoothie, declaring it to be (truly) delicious. I put the remaining smoothie in the fridge for later.

That evening, I decided to drink more of the smoothie. This time, MiniMe was curious, so I gave her a very tiny bit. I did not want to waste my new treat, after all. She made a face at first, then broke into a smile, and asked for more. I filled her teacup, and she drank every bit. LittleBit became somewhat curious at this point, and, as she often does, decided she wanted to follow her sister’s footsteps. So I poured her a tiny amount, which she loved, and then some more.

MiniMe has declared kefir smoothies to be “even better than tortellini” (her until-now-favorite-food).

I am going to start looking for a source of raw milk, but for now am using organic store-bought milk (which we’ve been drinking since the kids were born).

Zoku

Have you seen THIS? The Zoku QuickPop Maker. Here's the Video (it does work, despite the comment to the contrary)

I think I know what Santa will be bringing us this year.....

Yes, I covet

I covet the Para P10-45. I covet a fence, so the kids can play out back without me next to them every minute.

And now, I covet Sarah's phone. Samsung Fascinate. Crap. I just killed my verizon contract, and was eligible for New every 2 on BOTH lines. Crap.

Who would have thought I'd be a Happy Home-schooler? Not me.... but it's true, I am.

Most of you know the drama we've gone through with our neighborhood school - a school we chose FIRST, then found the house (in our case, bought the lot and had it built, to be near the school). I won't re-hash all of that here, but suffice to say, my child's needs were not being met. She was bored, frustrated with waiting for the others to catch up, and generally being taught to accept less. Because apparently, not "rocking the boat" is more important than LEARNING, and excellence is a foreign concept.

SO, this year, we embarked on a home-school partnership. Specifically the k12 curriculum through Colorado Virtual Academy (COVA). I am the "learning coach", and the girls share a homeroom teacher (a LOVELY woman, who has helped us more in a matter of weeks, than the old school did in TWO YEARS). The curriculum is excellent, the lesson plans well written, and since we are public school, the girls will have transcripts, like any other school. We also have the same testing, etc. So I can compare apples to apples, when determining if this method is working.

The first day was scary. VERY bad. A combination of the OLS crashing ("On-Line School" - where we log in to see the daily plan, mark attendance, and correspond with the teacher, among other things), the kids not wanting summer to end, one child having never done "school" before, etc. Only the fact that the two preceding years were a COMPLETE disappointment kept me going that day. The next day was better. And so on.

We've had a couple of rough days, had a few that have made me wonder how I will be able to give them the education I am trying to, when they fight actually sitting down and getting the work done, etc. All along, though, I see great improvements:

• My kids are actually LEARNING. I meant REALLY learning, not just sitting there filling in busy work that is beneath them, for the sake if classroom management.
• I know what they did today; instead of trying to drag it out of them, I am right there, and see it all (I was putting in many hours each week volunteering in the classroom, but even MY efforts then had to be divided amongst other children).
• I can then incorporate our daily activities into the lesson; when we drive somewhere, I hand MiniMe a map, and have her "navigate". When we pass road construction, we compare it to the methods used in ancient Rome.
• My kids work at their own pace. Sometimes that means more time to complete a difficult task; more often than not, it means vaulting ahead. LittleBit will finish her Kindergarten Math before Christmas, and move on to First grade math. No egos here, no red tape, no one telling me I am abusing my kids by letting them move ahead, at THEIR pace....... because all COVA seems to want is what *I* want - to help my children learn and master each skill, then move on.

I overheard a conversation the other day, wherein a mother said, "I am not raising doctors and lawyers; they don't need to excel in math, just finish it". How sad for those children, that they already have 2 careers removed from their possibilities. Simply because their mother wanted to "get done with" the math, rather than go in depth and push them to conquer it. So lest you misunderstand, my children aren't rushing, they are simply moving at their own pace; and they are thriving. I saw MiniMe becoming bored, frustrated, and lazy at the old school. Never having to try hard at anything (because nothing was ever hard for her), she learned to dislike the WORK of it all.

Now, I see her reaching for more, learning to push herself, and taking delight in her sister's progress, as well. We still have ground to make up, with regards to changing her feelings about education, but we are getting there!

I may NOT be raising lawyers, I may NOT be raising doctors. But I am giving them the chance to become WHATEVER they want. The point is, it will be THEIR choice, not mine. And EVERY choice will still be available for THEM to make. BECAUSE MY JOB IS TO TEACH THEM, to push them, to ready them for the work it takes to achieve their dreams......

And giving them the wings to "get there".

Pain relief

I just wanted to tell you about something that has completely changed my quality of life. I'm not selling anything, just sharing information. (some of you know pieces of this, but not the whole thing).

For quite some time, I have been dealing with knee pain (most of my life, as you all know, but worse in the last few years). Meds don't help, exercise made it worse, etc. My left knee has been nearly twice the size of my right for at least the past three years. I have also had other all-over-body pain, to the point where I would cry if Dan hugged me too hard, and was being told by several people I might have fibromyalgia.

Went to a doctor who was only interested in giving me narcotics, not finding the source and actually fixing it. Actually seemed angry that I refused them.

So, I went on a radical diet, gave up starches, sugars, and refined foods of any kinds,etc.

Lost 30 lbs, which was nice (I will soon start another round of the diet, since I have much more to lose). Fibromyalgia-type pain went away. If I have sugars and refined/processed foods, that pain comes back, as does the restless leg syndrome. So I avoid those foods, but my joints were still hurting and still swollen. No increase in mobility.

Then I read an article about tart cherries, and their effect on inflammation an arthritis pain. I'd read before that cherries and pineapple were good for joint health, but neither made a huge difference for me. In the article, it specifically stated "TART cherries". Pie cherries. So I bought some tart cherry capsules from Whole Foods (Vitamin Cottage and others also carry them). I started with two a day, in the morning. Noticed within 1-2 days that my pain was greatly diminished. Started taking 2 more capsules in the evening. My pain in my knees (the arthritic pain) WENT AWAY. The swelling WENT AWAY (took about 2 weeks for all the swelling to be gone). My knees match again. I can walk without pain (spent three hours at the State Fair the other night, and didn't even THINK about my knees, I felt so good).

I also chased my kids around the yard, and yes, RAN. And even jumped. The kids are shocked, because I haven't been able to do either of those things, well....... EVER in their lifetimes.

Anyway, just wanted to share that with anyone in chronic pain.

This is absolutely the most AMAZING thing I have ever seen.

The applications are unlimited:

Overheard

MiniMe: "LittleBit, let me smell your armpits. I need to see if they are stinky."

LittleBit: "I'm not stinky"

MiniMe: " I need to smell if you're stinky".

MiniMe apparently smells LittleBit's (freshly bathed, and too young to stink) armpits, and screams, "EEEWWWWWWW, your armpits are stinky. I'd better put some deodorant on them".

LittleBit: "Let me smell your armpits." (smells MiniMe 's freshly bathed, and too young to stink armpits) "EEEWWWWWW, you need deodorant".

Back and forth while they clearly have found my deodorant, and are having a ball.

I've been tagged

I was tagged by roundtuit. (one of my oldest, dearest friends! Not that I am calling us OLD; we've known each other since Jr. High! GO Tigers!!)

The rules:
1. Link the person who tagged you.

2. Mention the rules on your blog.

3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks you possess.

4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them.

5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.


Six UNspectacular quirks? hmmm... here goes!

1. I can pinch things with my toes (do "talents" count as quirks?). I have been able to all my life. I take it for granted, really, and often forget. Unless I need to pick something up, like a sock on the floor. I use my toes to pick it up, because my knees hurt, and it beats bending. HandsomeBuffalo laughs, and thinks it's soooo weird. THen I remember and pinch him. MiniMe can sometimes pick up socks, but LittleBit, she's REALLY got the toes. She can do everything I can do, and she's not yet three. Of course, my sister, Sailorgal, beats us all - she used to hold a brush in her feet, and brush her hair with it, just for fun.

2. I can turn my tongue upside-down, in either direction, tie cherry stems, form a flower, etc. One of my many "stupid pet tricks" (like toe-pinching, above). MiniMe definitely inherited this one. She can even do a "near" flower - much younger than I knew they existed.

3. I am a reformed Obsessive-Compulsive. At least, I CLAIM to be reformed. HandsomeBuffalo says I have a LONG way to go, to get rid of my OCD. I remind him how bad I used to be, and he concedes the point.........

4. I LOVE rain. L-O-V-E LOVE. It was on my secret list of ways I'd know my "prince". He'd kiss me in the rain. I had boyfriends who never kissed me in the rain, even when I asked, and boyfriends who never kissed me at all. A few who thought it was weird I even LIKED rain. And one I definitely suspect would have melted, or something (he was rather evil, and has probably returned to his underworld home, long ago, lol). HandsomeBuffalo, on the other hand, took me for walks in the rain (he didn't even know my secret obsession), sat in porch swings smelling the rain with me, and even dragged me out in the middle of a near-monsoon just to kiss me in the rain, when we were still dating. Not only was he literally everything else I ever wanted/needed (and more), but the whole rain-kissing-thing sealed the deal! Call me silly, but there it is!

5. I hate mess. Now, before any of my siblings call me to remind me what a horribly messy room I ALWAYS had, I admit it's true. But it made me cranky. I hate clutter, I hate mess, and I REALLY HATE germs (see, OCD again). In the new house, this is mostly under control, but there are still boxes in the garage that need to be dealt with. I have been an unpacking FIEND, and have most of what we really ened already unpacked and put away. I keep telling HansomeBuffalo we should just let them all go out to ARC, and not even LOOK in them. If we haven't needed it yet, I don't want it!! And the baby clothes, maternity clothes, and all the peripheral accoutrement..... I would much rather just agree we are done, so I can let all that clutter go as well. And then I remember there is something I am still looking for (like my awesome cutting board, and the dish drainer I finally gave up and replaced), and I sigh, and resolve to at least unpack a few more before giving up. And to have the kids give aawy at least a third of their toys to charity, before moving more into the house.

6. I love getting a GREAT deal! I have a couch and chair n my living room, purchased for $25 (total), that was almost BRAND NEW, because I was in the right place at the right time. I just purchased a refrigerator from a big-box store, for almost less than THEY paid for it (and several hundred below the list price), and I find great deals on Freecycle and Craigslist all the time. In fact, I almost don't like something if I have to pay full-price for it. But I am NEVER rude or greedy about it, and never insult people with a low-ball offer. Once in a while, I just know what to ask, and when to ask it. I've gotten some lemons, but quickly been rid of them. And I have found some SERIOUS diamonds in the rough! And if I won the lottery tomorrow, there's not much I would change or replace.



Hmmmm.... so now I will go tag:

Tammy
Wupwo
nateandmiranda
CB

hmmm.... other than MY tagger, those are the only bloggers I know, lol!
I guess I will tag roundtuit right back!

AT LONG LAST - an update!!

Well, we are in our house - we finally closed 3 weeks ago (Aug 13), after several days of homelessness. Gotta love incompetent loan processors who lose paperwork, don't follow up on anything, return calls, etc. Let's just say it was a NIGHTMARE, and we were glad to finally close, move in, and be reunited with the kids (whom I sent to live with my sister V for a few days, so they would not be homeless and stressed with us)!!!

It took about 4 days to feel like human beings again, and recover the lost sleep of our real moving day, etc. But we quickly got into a rhythm of work/unpacking/MiniMe's school, etc. Making new friends, meeting our neighbors, and getting a feel for the area.

On Labor Day, Dh had the day off (YAY!!!), so we did some household shopping, had lunch at Subway (MiniMe's choice), and went to the State Fair. I got a bit sunburned, but we had a LOT of fun! LittleBit was mad because she "didn't get to ride EVERY ride", MiniMe was THRILLED about the ones she DID ride.

MiniMe just started soccer last night. Ran her heart out, but was running funny. I asked her why, and she said her pinky toe hurt in her cleats. So we took her to get her feet measured. DUH!! Her shoes are size ONE, her feet are size TWO!! She went up 2 sizes.....and I should have realized, since it's been a year since she last played!! The instant she had the RIGHT SIZE on, she danced for joy, shouting, "My pinky toes don't hurt!!!" I told her it's OK to tell me her shoes are too small!! No "Mother of the Year Award" for me this year................. and I was *THIS* close!

Dh's broken toe is still hurting (did I tell you he stubbed it on some furniture, and broke HIS pinky toe?). And the other day, his store did 800 "scripts" (by the time he went home; there were MANY more after he left!)....his old store in Metroville did 150 in a whole day! He was on his feet 10 hours, without even one break, or a chance to sit down. It was CRAZY! He should only have been there for 8 hours, but couldn't leave the other pharmacist like that. SO he has to talk with the district office, about getting paid those 2 hours. Yesterday was his day off. I was going to have him move furniture, but felt sorry for him, and let him take a long bath, instead.

I am slowly but surely getting the house pulled together. We bought a couple mattresses yesterday, and some more curtains. Still have wrapping paper on the girls' windows (we will have to special order blinds, because of the window dimensions, so it's not a high priority right now), but they have cute sparkly purple sheers over that now, lol. I really am enjoying all the “housework”. My sisters used to laugh at me when I said I LIKE cleaning. The last few years, it's just been overwhelming; with 4 of us in such a small space, and all the junk we've been storing (baby clothes for "what if", etc). This house isn't too big to clean, yet it's plenty big enough to organize, and with Dh working so much, I can just get rid of junk as I see fit (rather than waiting for his OK - though HIS stuff, I set aside with a deadline for organizing/purging). And having an actual office has made ALL the difference! Anyway, I am enjoying cleaning house again. There is a TON of work to do, but the girls are a help from time to time, and my vacuum is really FUN to use, lol - it's a very good vacuum, and gets things really clean. And sleeping in a clutter free room (after years of being surrounded by storage boxes) is the MEANING OF LIFE. I get much better sleep now. If I *EVER* complain about my house, smack me!

And LittleBit is still content to be glued to Mom or MiniMe, at any given moment, but makes it clear she LOVES her Daddy, too!! She sings, "Oh My Darlin, Clementine" ALL the time, it's soooo cute and funny!!

And they are laying natural gas lines on our street, as we speak; just a couple more weeks, and no more propane!!

Hope you are all well and happy, and that Life is moving in a positive direction!!!

HE IS LICENSED!!!!

Dh's Pharmacist license finally came through TONIGHT!

Lots of roller-coastering, etc., of which I will spare you. Suffice to say, it was down to the wire.

And now we're holding our breath that the bank will get all their stuff done first thing tomorrow, so we can close Friday.

I am sooo excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The wait is KILLING ME!

Still no word from the State. I really REALLY wish they'd get it together already. DH's test scores were transmitted ELECTRONICALLY over a week ago, yet his license has still not been processed (another ELECTRONIC process).

I am seriously going nuts waiting, and worrying we won't close on the house this week.

:(

Funny craigslist posts...... again

You know, the funny posts on craigslist never end.

Here are 2 from the pets section. The first........

help me find a good home

---

Date: 2008-07-27, 9:09PM MDT


Good home needed for my husband. I hate to give him up but i don't think it's fair to leave him at home all alone all day while i work.
he is current on all vaccinations and knows how to sit, stay, and lay down (he's actually quite good at those things)he is not neutered but i would consider doing this if you could provide him a good home. I wont lie, he does frequently make messes in the house, but usually does it in the same spot so maybe you could train him to do it outside if you had the time. he is not good with children and probably should be an only pet, but will be completely devoted to you if you just feed him and give him what he wants. I am asking for a small rehoming fee of 50,000.$ just to cover what i've already spent on him.
if it sounds like you may be able to give him a good home, please reply to this email. he doesn't work so he will be able to respond to your inquiry quite quickly. Please note that he will come with all his basic supplies (motorcycle, Large over expensive pickup and of course his giant ego)
Thanks for Looking, and hopefully I will hear from someone soon


and the reply

re: help me find a good home

---

Date: 2008-07-27, 9:33PM MDT


I may be interested in providing a home for your husband. I would like to know if he can perform any tricks(?) The messes don't bother me if he is a working breed and can fetch the bread. It is also important that he be non-aggressive as I can't tolerate this type of behavior. If not would you be upset if he ends up in the compost pile with my last one?

Sugar High

Caught the girls eating sugar. Not sugary food, just SUGAR. Out of the bag.

LittleBit (my 2 year old, mind you, and this is a direct quote) said :

"well, my tummy said it wanted sugar, so I fed it some sugar. and it liked the sugar, so it said, "Mmmm, thanks for the sugar". And then I said, "Oh, You're welcome"."

(The "experts" say she might string together 3-5 words any day now......)

Our kitchen

We took the base kitchen, then extended the outside wall 10 feet, to give us a covered patio. Moved the living room wall to split the difference between the two (the model's kitchen was way too small for my tastes).

We ended up with more cabinet space on ONE WALL (the common wall between the living and kitchen), than we have in our entire kitchen currently. Thanks in part to the upgrade to 42" cabinets throughout. This is seriously my dream kitchen!!!!

Yes, Virginia, we HAVE a close date!!

Went down to see the house today. Had our builder meet us there, in case there were any "issues", so we could discuss them right away....... and this is what we found (more continued below). As you can see, there are no issues!! We love it!!!

Next week, our builder will get a camera crew in, to do a virtual tour before we close. WHen they do, I will link to it. Because THESE pictures just don't do it justice:








OH - and we close in TWO WEEKS!!!!! YIPPEEE!!!!!!!!!

Yes, Virginia, we HAVE a close date!! part 2

MiniMe is growing up too fast!

She's now lost 5 teeth (go HERE for pics) . The first one last September (she turned 5 a month later), the second shortly thereafter..... and three in a week (2 weeks ago). So cute, and she's had so much fun playing with them.

LittleBit woke up during the night MiniMe lost 2 in the same day, and asked me, "Mommy, is [MiniMe] going to pull all of MY teeth out next, so the Tooth Fairy will give her more money?"

According to "development experts", she may start stringing three words together to make a simple sentence, any day. Three, you say???? Yeah, I always knew my kids were geniuses!!

Ah, the JOY of BUILDING a house.....

Got a call last week from the Builder's office..... we're closing the first or second week of August. Yep, that's the original close date (August 11). Oh well, as long as we don't close LATER (school starts the following week!!!).......

And the State has been dragging their heels on submitting HB's paperwork, for the national licensing exam. Others have received their go-ahead, but his case manager (or whatever the heck the job title is) claims he submitted approval "weeks ago" - turns out he didn't really submit it until last week. NO IDEA why it took him a MONTH to check the "approved" box. So we're still in limbo (unlicensed), so HB can't start his job...... He's working, but at half salary, and as a glorified tech in the meanwhile.......

Times like these remind you that everything happens for a reason. If the house were as far ahead of schedule as we'd been told, we wouldn't be able to close, because of the delays in licensing. If the license wasn't being delayed, HB would have to travel as soon as he is licensed, or to stay on a couch in P-town, until the house was done and we could move down there. It will all work out, I am sure, but I am getting tired of waiting, LOL!!

The painters were delayed, because there was a problem with the drywall. The tile guy can't work until the painters are done, the cabinets can't go in until the tile is down, etc.......

That ate up about 2 weeks of time. And when we went down on Sunday, we discovered one of the doors is hung wrong: instead of opening from the laundry INTO the rest of the house, it swings into the laundry room, which will make it collide with the garage door, and they will BOTH block the bathroom door. Took a couple of back and forth calls with the builder to explain what was wrong, and that we want it like it is on the PLANS..... once he understood, he of course agreed to take a look, and get it fixed. Ah..... another delay.

Handsome Buffalo tells me not to worry. I just want to get into the house!!

Here are the latest pictures. Drywall done, walls primed, trim painted, a coat of stucco on (and some guy named "Fransisco" signed his name in the stucco. I am FAIRLY CERTAIN his autograph will not still be on the house at closing.......)

Ahead of schedule?!?!?!

We're supposedly 3 1/2 weeks ahead of schedule. Spoke with the builder today, and was told again, that we are ahead of schedule. Asked if he had a rough estimate of when we might close, and he said "I don't really know, without looking in my book (he wasn't in the office), but I think 6 weeks".

6 weeks from now is our original close date. SO It seems we are on schedule, not ahead. He'll call me Monday with better info.

Ah well...... even the original close date is ok. I am just anxious to get in, and got my hopes up!!!

Death by Tacos - a restaurant review

Once upon a time, back in the Stone age (20 years ago), my Handsome Buffalo worked in a very fine eating establishment. Some of you Metro Natives may have eaten there. It is known as......... Taco House. For years, I have heard stories, both from HB, and his sister, of their work experiences there, during their formative years (HB started working there when he was 13).

For years, HB and SIL have tried to get me to eat there. For years (nearly 12), I have refused. I have gone so far as to pick up a "to-go" order from SIL, but, well..... let's just say this is NOT a place for someone who values their intestinal Health. Makes the BIG "taco chain" seem like a world class, 5 star, gourmet restaurant. Having worked for the BIG Taco Chain in my youth, I certainly have no desire to eat in a place that is so drastic a decrement. And I thought that was the end of it.

Well, just the other day, Handsome Buffalo needed me to prove my love for him. He desperately wanted us, as a family, to go to Taco House for dinner. I could see how much it meant to him, and convinced myself to not be such a Food Snob, and let him have his tacos.

Now, don't get me wrong. I can eat tacos. I love homemade tacos, ADORE Del Taco tacos, and even eat at the BIG Taco Chain from time to time. But Taco House has never interested me. Kind of in the same way bamboo under the fingernails just doesn't sound like fun.

but I L-O-V-E Love my Handsome Buffalo. And he spoils me constantly, rarely asking for anything in return. Therefore, I really had no alternative but to smile, and not say anything alarming to the children, about what we were going to experience. And hey, I could be wrong, and they could be really good - after all, I had never eaten there, so how did I know?

We sat down, and I told myself the shabby building was not relevant - there's a place in P-town called Nachos that looks like a real dive, and is actually fantastic!

We placed our orders, and I chose Three Guacamole Tostadas. Tostadas are safe. You cannot mess them up if you try. And I LOVE guacamole.

And now I stand corrected. You CAN mess up tostadas. Especially when your guacamole comes from a #10 can, that was most likely opened in 1982. It SMELLED. And not in a good way. I kept my composure and took a bite anyway. Worse than it smelled. Luckily, the cook messed up and only made one tostada, rather than the three I'd ordered. I forced a second bite. THen I could go no further. So I stole a bite of LittleBit's taco. I think it was even worse. MiniMe ordered Nachos. I think the Nacho Cheese was opened before the guacamole.

I was nice, I didn't say a word to the girls, and didn't give my full opinion until after the meal. The girls each took one bite, and no more. And while they can be picky (as children often are), that wasn't the case this time. They literally tried, and could not force themselves to do it - and they had no idea, at this point, that I felt the same way.

HB ordered a smothered burrito. And a "queso chip" - that's a tostada shell spread with Nacho cheese. Even he had to admit the food was not good. He told MiniMe we would go to the grocery store and get some ingredients for real nachos.

I took the girls to the car, and HB stood in line to pay for our meal. He then came out, and we headed to the store. Within a few minutes, he started complaining of a sore stomach. Bordering on nausea.

As with most things, it was one of those, "gee, this seemed so great when I was a kid, but is a disappointment now" kind of thing.

But I gotta hand it to them. The place was PACKED. They have been (according to the printed menus) in business 49 years. They must be doing something right.

Of course, most of their clientele were clearly Walmartians, so that may explain it...........