Fire on the Eastside, it's a good thing

I love Mexican Food. If you were to ask me on any given night where I'd like to eat, I'd always pick a Mexican restaurant. Unless I'm in Toronto.

Day eighteen of the 30 Day Blog Challenge ask me; Where's my favorite place to eat. My Dad comes from Arkansas and owned a couple of Chiropractic Practices in Louisiana a long time ago. But even when we moved from there to Michigan, we brought a little of the south with us to every dinner served in our house as I was growing up. It's a wonder that I am not 300  pounds.

 While in Toronto one day, I stumbled across this little place just off of Yonge St. on Gloucester St.. "Fire On The Eastside." They serve southern American cuisine with a Cajun flare, right there in the heart of Toronto Canada. Every meal that I've been fortunate to experience there is ecstasy in your mouth. My first experience was a banana bread french toast with peach yogurt on it with maple glazed sausage. I thought I'd died and gone right to heaven.

It's an easy place to miss. I actually walked right past it the first time. But if you ever find yourself hungry in Toronto, it's worth the search and the price. Be warned that on the weekends, you may need a reservation. It's that good.

Some list that I've seen for this challenge put number 18 as "something you regret" Since I tend to live my life with no regrets, I chose to keep this one in the mix instead.

What gets your mouth watering?

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Big Reveal

I was saving this big announcement for later. But today's topic on the 30 day blog challenge is: Something you're looking forward to.

So here it is........

Just before Halloween this year, we will be heading out for a little drive together with a very good friend of ours to New Orleans. We've wanted to see some of those cemeteries there for a long time. And  we find the history and spirit of that city to be intriguing. We are planning on catching a ghost tour while we are there just for a little fun. If that were not enough, we will then be boarding a ship for a week long cruise that will take us to two places on the Mexican coast as well as Belize and Honduras. We will be traveling with a group and have some private parties on board as well as a private beach party in Mexico. The two singers that I wrote about before, Jason and DeMarco will be headlining the entertainment.

After getting a taste of what cruising could be last year with our parents, we are really looking forward to this one. My only job on this cruise will be to have fun. One of our best friends is coming along and we'll be free to enjoy any of the festivities going on. Which includes a Halloween costume party. It is a regular cruise, but we will be joined by other gay and lesbian people for private shows, games and parties along the way.

Many people that cruise, cruise often. I'm not so sure that is something that I want to do. But since we did not get to enjoy ourselves much last year, it's left us wanting for something more. And if nothing else, getting to spend time with our friend Jamie as well as Jason and DeMarco will be worth it.

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To come home to

Like all Americans, I was excited to hear that BinLadin had been captured. And my husband was quick to hoist the flag this morning. It's a whole new world today and we are proud to be Americans. So if someone wants to be a flag wavin' maniac today, then I say go for it.

I had to make a run to Ikea for some items that were out of stock when we were there on Saturday. We are redoing our kitchen in the house here and found exactly what we were looking for there. So even though it's an hour drive to the store, it will be worth it in the end when we get our new kitchen finished. I was returning home at around 6:30pm this evening on the cross-town freeway doing the posted 70mph when suddenly the traffic came to a dead stop. After creeping along for about 10 minutes, I decided to check in with my gps device to see what the traffic issue was. All it said was that there was traffic congestion for the next 1.8 miles. Knowing that it was less than 2 miles and it would open up again, I sat there with everyone else waiting. When I finally reached the front of the congestion, I didn't see an accident or traffic entering from another overcrowded freeway. What was it? It was a flag waving maniac on an overpass. Everyone was slowing down to take a gander or a picture or maybe even a video of the crazy lady on the bridge. Horns were blowing and chants could be heard; U!S!A! I have to say, that was a first. And it almost made the traffic back-up worth it.

So today I was supposed to write about my dream house. And to be honest, I've had a vacation home on the lake and an old fixer-upper and everything in between. My husband would love an old Victorian and I love the arts and craft styling of the 30's and 40's. But, I've had that old fixer-upper with no insulation and dust as far as you can smell, with things falling apart all around you. Currently, I live in a small single story 1000 square foot home that I had built 17 years ago. And while it's had it's problems and we replaced the bathroom 3 years ago and now we are replacing the kitchen, I love my home. Being a designer, I'm sure that you could figure out that every inch of the place has my touch on it. I've let my husband have his way with the yard and he helps me out with all the contractor type stuff. I'd have to say that this is my dream house. For now. And I'd add that any place where I can live with my two guys (husband and dog), is my dream house to come home to.

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A Verse

I found this one difficult to choose just one. You see, todays challenge is to share a Bible verse. Growing up in the Pentecostal Church, I am very familiar with the Bible. And having lived my life thus far, I know that the Bible can be twisted to fit almost any cause that you might want to effect. They say that even the devil can quote the Bible to justify his cause.

I found myself leaning toward this one because I believe that it reflects mostly how I try to live my life each and every day. I'm not sure if that is because we use it so much in funeral services or if it's because I heard it so much growing up. Or if it just is the best way that I have found to live.

The verse that I've chosen is Psalm 23;

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (or through the darkest valley),

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

-- Life Application Bible - NIV

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