Slugs

I felt like this creature this weekend...a slug...though not as alarmed as he seems.


It was just one of those weekends...we were slugs. I'm sure everyone has them. It was cloudy and drizzling rain off and on over the weekend. We barely left the house, and that's OK. I did manage to do a couple of loads of laundry and hung out with friends for half of the Memphis vs Vols game Saturday night. I really could care less about college basketball, it was just the hype around the game that made it interesting to see who won. This is Memphis. I was sure I would see coverage of mayhem breakout downtown after the Tigers lost, but everyone seemed civilized.

Roux sure seems worn out from his afternoon of chewing his snake toy to shreds. His picture about sums up our weekend here at the Schneider house. Time to get back to the Oscars viewing...

Route 70 Party

70 years is quite a milestone. We celebrated my father's achievement of this milestone with a surprise birthday party on February 9th. I believe he was truly surprised and he seemed to really enjoy himself. Of course, being the 'baby' of the family and having no children, I was left in charge to pull together all the planning and details. I guess though, it's not all about me! He had fun and his friends and family came out to help him celebrate, so it was a successful party!

My parents took a trip last year down route 66 and they both had a great time. Dad has sold cars for years and years and has a love for old cars. I thought the theme of "cruising right along on route 70" and comparing him to a classic car was appropriate.

Down in the Delta

I've heard good things about the restaurant Morgan Freeman co-owns in Clarsksdale, MS called Madidi. The blues club, Ground Zero, we've heard is also the place for real deal blues muscians from the area. We decided to check it out with another couple this past weekend. It was good, and we had a great time, but we would not rate the food at Madidi as great. Even though they knew we were coming, there was no Morgan :( The food highlight was the crispy fried oysters in brandy cream sauce and the blue cheese au gratin potatoes. The blue crab potstickers were good, but nothing special. JT and I ordered identical plates, which never happens! I was craving red meat and we both ordered the 8 oz filet with spinach madeline and blue cheese au gratin potatoes. We both ordered our steak medium-rare. Mine was definitely medium, if not a little medium-well. Neither of us enjoyed the spinach madeline, which was spinach, baked with bread crumbs on top. I was not sure what "madeline" meant but I was expecting something creamier.
I had high hopes for the molten godiva chocoalte cake with vanilla bean ice cream. The cake was missing the molten lava that is supposed to ooze out. It had been baked too long.

We then headed over to Ground Zero blues club. It was a neat little place. There was definitely all types of people there - young, old, black, white and everything in between. The music was good and had people out on the dance floor (excluding JT and Sean). It was a fun experience but now that I've been there and done that, I wouldn't be too interested in going back. It was a bit far for dinner and music (1 hour 30 minutes). I think it would be more fun to spend an afternoon checking out the old downtown stores and having lunch at Ground Zero. Their soul food has had good reviews and caught national attention. It is probably better than Madidi!
Check it out at http://www.madidires.com/

The Frozen Tundra

We went to Minneapolis to visit with friends MLK weekend 1/18-1/21. Elizabeth and Carlton live there (poor things). We reunited with the gang who used to live here but moved away (lucky folks). We do miss everybody and had a fun time hanging out with everyone. We had plans to go tubing, but with the weather advisory to limit exposure outside due to the temperates, we thought that might not be a good idea. Instead we went hung out, drank, went bowling, drank, played Wii, drank, played catch phrase, and then Farrah made a complete idiot of herself providing entertainment for all. It was great. Of course, Carlton had to run and get his video camera. I better not see that footage on You Tube Carlton!! We did check out the Mall of America. It was big, but just another mall that happens to have a small amusement park in it. I have never been anywhere so cold in my live. With windchill it was like -20. The high I think reach 5. Absolutely insane, especially for a southern girl like me! We got to visit with friends and that's all that matters!

The gang from front: Ranae, Elizabeth, Karen, Stephanie, Scott, JT, Farrah
Back: Joel, Bill and Carlton
Liz and Carlton - they're used to this weather
Too cold!!