I know, National Ice Cream Day was Sunday, but that's ridiculous.  Ice cream gets one single day?   What is better than ice cream?  I don't, but I could eat ice cream every single day.  And all fans know there are a few kinds of ice cream, good, really good, great, fantastic, and amazing.  And being honest, I don't care what kind I am eating. 

I am a cup and bowl guy though, and yes I am anti-cone.  Traditional cones taste and look like asbestos, or insulation.  Sugar cones, though better, are still a calorie waster.  Then there are waffle cones. In a pinch and when there is a much dreaded bowl shortage, waffle cones will do, but still there is a decision. If I am going to eat the waffle cone, or get out a spoon and go to work right out of the tub.

I for one don't need a bunch of mumbo jumbo on ice cream either.  Just roll it up, and slap in the bowl.  Small spoon too make it last longer.  Perfect rolls are fine or SQUARE as you can see from the pic, (Windy's hand)  that's the Idaho way.  And BTW, do you really need a "sample?"  Maybe if you're like.....9.   But it's ice cream, order, pay and keep the line moving.....

Long live ice cream.

“If what is said isn’t understood as you wish the first time, let’s take a breath, and say it a second time – to make sure we get it right – together”

Many really good people struggle with the spoken word.  Not so much the day to day, but when it seems to matter. Sometimes, when it really matters.  They just can’t find the words to express what they are feeling at an important time.

You know the times, life’s crunch time.  And conversely, many of us struggle to listen as we should at that same crunch time. Maybe a relationship is in the balance, a big time work thing, or a family matter that has grown large.  Listening and watching are the same thing at this time.  When someone opposite you is wrestling with the expression of their feelings, we should watch them intently, and listen same.  Understanding they are trying to verbalize mightily at the surface, what has manifested honestly from the very deep.  And for many, in fact all of us at one time or another have been on both sides of the conversation.

And you know, it may not have come out the way they wished he first time, and that’s OK.  But if you’re watching, you’ll see that, and if you’re listening you’ll hear it.  So then both should breathe, and try again.  And now that the pressure has been released, generally they get it right the second time.  And again, if you’re watching, you’ll know that too. 

It’s never easy to say, what isn’t easy to say.   So together, it can be said much easier.  It’s a free gift to give those in your life whose words struggle on the journey from heart to head.  We can then feel what is felt, and hear what is said. 

Here’s a nice song about the words struggle, from Rock Hall Of Famer, Dave Mason…

This is the easiest Movie Preview post ever!

The Lion King

This live action remake during the 25th anniversary of the release of the orignal animated flick may be the biggest opening weekend for any movie ever.  Disney has had some live action remake flops, and others that have preformed below expectations, but this will make up for them.   Overall the response to the live action versions have been OK, but this may really turn the tide temporarily, and in turn, put big pressure on the ones still to come.

There are those that think this may bring in 450 million this weekend alone, which would set a record.  Everything is in line to be huge, and it will be.  Get your tickets in addvance, and for pity sakes, sit in the seat you're assigned.  The theaters are going to be packed all weekend long.

Why is it that there are some things you just have to do?  While out west on vacation, we saw a bevy of Sinclair Gas Stations. Windy and I were getting ready to take a tour of Salt Lake City, and I saw the station with its iconic green Brontosaurus Dinosaur!  (It's actually a Apatosaurus)  She immediately got out her phone, smiled and rolled her eyes.  She laughed, and went into Photosaurus Rex mode, as she does love taking pictures.

Ya Gotta......

Yeah, I wanted a pic and I got one.  I know it wasn't Mount Rushmore, or the Grand Canyon, or even The Bob's Big Boy.  But it had to be done.  And truth be told if there was a Big Boy handy, I would have done that too.  We all seem to like taking pics at certain areas for unknown reasons.

 Like with this......thing... for some ridiculous reason.....

Like the Big Block C at Progressive Field.  And as you can see, I have one of those too.   For some reason, some things just call our name, and we snap away.

It's like a rule or something......

 The "Cleveland" signs now are all the rage and we all seem to have one of those in our files...but for some reason, we forgot to get in the pic here....

Reasons Unknown.........

And all of the above are all well and fine, but they are no Sinclair Green Dinosaur....

I love to find fun businesses and sometimes the diverse things one place can do.  Years ago in my hometown of Berea, there was the Berea Laundromat and Deli. (BTW brilliant idea)  And this week when Windy and I were on vacation in Idaho, we found this gem in Lava Hot Springs, population 407.  The Royal Hotel and Pizzeria.

PERFECT!

Its about perfect.  Delicious pizza, and then a place to lay down after dining!  This is the stuff of genious.  Now before you think this could not possibly be good, it was.  VERY good.  And it's been there for 105  years, so they are doing something right! (1917)  Sometimes in small towns you have to be many things to many people, and that is what this was!  Place was packed and the pie was great!

Also, should be noted, also in this fun little town, I had the best chef salad I have ever had ANYWHERE at a place called Ye Ole Chuckwagon Restaurant about three doors down the street!

Plus, we learned that a small squeeze of lemon on a pizza slice is delish!  And it was.  When in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, do as they do!

Sometimes things happen that remind us that there are good people in the world, and not everyone is out to take advantage of someone.

Windy and I were in Island Park, Idaho last week.  It's about as out there as you can get.  4 hour drive north at 80 mph from Salt Lake City.  There is not a lot there.  We rented a cabin and drove to Yellowstone a few times. And on the day we were go back to SLC, we had a rental car whose rear right tire was about flat.  8am!

There are three things in Island Park near our cabin, a Phillips 66 gas station, a whole lot of high country, and a place called  The Repair Shop next door to the gas station.  I had no clue where the next ...anything was. And we had a long, remote, high speed drive ahead.   

This is an example of where we were as far as the roads were concerned

Enter Tayson at the Repair Shop.  He knew our problem, and he fixed it right away.  No wait, no fuss, and only $20 to get us going when it would have been easy to charge us $100.   I am pretty handy, but no one is when it's that much of a road game. 

We will never forget the kindness given to us that day from good people, from good country!

Gods Country

Wednesday on the show, we asked you to post pics of your grill, and/or grilling and we got tons of them.  They all were great, and we got some amazing grill ideas for the Holiday Weekend!  Thanks for all of the terrific ideas!!!

MY Grill -  Pretty Good!

But my long time friend from Florida Ray sent me a pic of his grill, and I have to say as good as my grill is,  Ray wins!  Holy cow!  In fairness, he does some big parties as a side hustle.  And he's darn good at it.

Ray's Grill  Sheesh!

So as most will be salivating over the food prepared on regular grills, some of us hard core grillers will be salivating over that amazing grill.

Just to prove there is nothing that has not been invented, look at this!

OK, as in true Morning Show fashion, let's break it down.   Chocolate = Good!   Tabasco= Good    Spicy= Good.   So I'm assuming this is good.

Do you know any other strange combos?

Over the weekend I was lucky enough to attend a party in Canfield, and man I was glad about that.  Windy had an aunt that was retiring and it was a really nice affair.

They hired this amazing company called Roxbury Pizza to make brick oven pizzas out of a mobile set up right there at the house.  And It was incredible.  Pizza in 90 seconds in a real brick oven that was as delicious as any pizza I have ever had.

What a great idea, fresh pizza on location for a special occasion.  These were really nice, dedicated  pizza makers that helped make this party really fun. They kept the fire going and the pizza coming out hot even during a few downpours too.  Windy and I and EVERYONE there loved this pie.    I always like original ideas at a party, and this certainly was one.

I think I ate like 10 pieces. These are good people!   Delish!

“Imperfection is attractive, because it’s one thing we all have in common.”

When we unite as a city, a nation, or even around a ball team, the thing that brings us all together is the commonality of it all.  Usually there is that one thing that at that one moment we all have in common and nothing else matters.  It’s powerful.

As people, imperfection really is the only thing we all, without exception share.  I embrace the imperfections in my life. I prefer them.  Sure, I want to be presentable as I walk through the world, we all do.  But I have found that for me, authenticity is far easier to achieve and find than perfection.  And I think a whole lot more attractive.  When something truly authentic is found, I feel it’s to be treasured, because it only gets better as it ages.

Authentic things are sought after as treasures.  And people should be too.  When you meet someone who is truly authentic in how the are, that means they are imperfect right from the get go.  They are easier to know, easier to talk with, and to expand a relationship with.   I also feel they have an instant connection with you, and you with them.  And the reason is more simple than you might think.

Because of our deep knowledge of our own individual selves, we know the imperfections they embrace through their authenticity, make them more like us.