Restaurant Review

Winger's

I've been on a ten year one man boycott of Winger's. I was intolerant of their sweet and spicy sauce. Over the years, Tara has had me head out there to get her something, I've always deferred.

On Thursday, Tara wanted to go to Winger's for her birthday. When we got there, and the waitress came, I told her about my ten year boycott, and asked about the Buffalo sauce that they have on their menu now. I have no idea when this change occurred, but I asked for a sample. It's normal, perfectly acceptable chicken wing sauce.

I ordered the "Hot Buffalo" wings. These things came out as the hottest wings I've had in years. Tasty, big, crispy. Everything you want in a wing. The one problem was that the wings that came out were so hot. I don't know if "hot Buffalo" is normally that hot, or if they decided to each the dude that mouthed off about their wings a lesson. They also have an "atomic Buffalo", I wonder if that's what I ended up with. Tara tried a small taste, and it lit her mouth up.

Anyhow, the blockade is over. Winger's is perfectly acceptable to me now. And they have all-you-can-eat wings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays right now. I am tempted to get Drew and Tom, and test their limits of the all-you-can-eat philosophy. I just won't mouth off to them ahead of time...

Tara's birthday

Today is Tara's birthday. Everyone either drop here a note on Facebook, give her a call, or stop by at her blog and say hello. Her presents this year? Here they are, in no particular order...


Present #2: A cassette/record to mp3 convertor. She's been eyeing this thing for the better part of the year, we found it on Thursday for 60% off. Hard to pass that kind of deal up when you've been window shopping that long.


Present #1: A new sewing machine. Tara's old one was showing it's age. Every time she used it, she had trouble with the thing. Tara wanted me to have the thing tuned up for her birthday, but this one was on sale, and it wasn't too much more for a brand new machine.

Happy birthday, Tara!

Cordless Drill

For my birthday, I was given a couple of gift cards. I ended up buying a Black and Decker cordless drill. It seemed ok, I used it for a few things, I liked being able to change the torque settings on the drill for what I was using it for.

I had problems with charging the drill. The charger plugged into the handle of the drill, but there was no indicator if the charge was going, done, or anything.

After the initial use, I set it aside of a month. Then I went to use it again, and the thing was mostly out of charge. I tried charging it again after it was all the way discharged, and couldn't seem to get it charged.

I ended up returning the thing back to the store. No use having a cordless drill that didn't have any power.

I can't seem to find too many complaints about that particular drill online, but I am not so sure I want to try that one again. I am still sort of in the market for a cordless drill, I am sure it's on the list somewhere. Anyone out there got a cordless drill recommendation?

(Mostly) Emma's birthday

We had a little birthday party for Emma the other night. There are so many birthdays in the next week, most of the time, things get a little combined.


Since Grandma and Grandpa Payne were in town, they gave Kate her birthday present. Lily looks so happy to see Kate getting a watch.

Smiley face cupcakes. Right up Emma's alley. This was just after the candles in the middle were blown out.

Webkins with clothes!

Awards ceremony

First day of school

Today was the first day of school for Emma, Mary, and Kate. Ruth would be starting Kindergarten soon, but the school seems a bit confused... Lily starts preschool after Labor day.

2010 Payne Family Mario Kart Wii Grand Prix official results

It's a mouthful of a title, but the results are in.  And it looks like my brother Dave wins by a landslide.  The girls seemed to enjoy the weekly time on the Wii, they are looking forward to a Wii Winter Olymics event after it gets cold.

Final Standings

 
Contestant
 
Points
 
Dave Payne
96
 
Lisa Payne
90
 
John Payne
84
 
Kate Payne
68
 
Tara Payne
59
 
Mary Payne
52
 
Emma Payne
39
 
Ruth Payne
30
 
Lily Payne
20

Stay tuned for the winner's ceremony, later this week...

That was quite the dramatic pause...

For the last 3 to 4 weeks, I've had an ear ache in my right ear, with a bit of hearing loss in that ear. I figured I just had a wax buildup plugging the thing up. I have been turned my left ear to people, and asking people to repeat themselves.

I went to the doctor yesterday, and among other things, he took a look at my ear. I had quite a bit of fluid in the ear, and he said the eardrum looked like it had pressure on it. He gave me a nasal spray to work on getting the inner ear cleared out.

This evening, I yawned, and it felt like the pressure in the ear dropped some, and I could suddenly hear again. I can hear so many things again.

I told Tara that meant I would have to start listening again...

More bad parenting by John

(12:20am)

Ruth: I want something to eat.
Me: How about a stick of butter?
Ruth: Butter?
Me: Yep
Ruth: Did you say butter?
Me: Yep.
Ruth: Oh, I will eat butter. I love butter.

It must be late.