Archive for category: Friday Afternoon

All of us have those special childhood times and events we remember that bring great memories. So, here’s one for you… Where were you (and who were you with) when you had your first Slurpee (and associated brain freeze)? For me, it was at K-Mart back when they were called Icee’s, pretty sure, with some of my brothers and sisters (in full disclosure, there are days that by noon I don’t remember what I had for breakfast that morning, soooo keep that in mind!)  I can still remember the refreshing taste, drinking it too quickly, and waiting for the impending brain cramp (see below to learn why). Today marks a wonderful special day, celebrated at over 8,000 locations across the country (and at spots around the world) … “7-11 Day,” when 7-Eleven stores hand out millions of free cups of the frozen Slurpee goodness. When you pull the lever on a Slurpee machine inside any 7-Eleven store on the planet, the fizzy, fluffy frozen beverage likely tastes just like the first one you ever tried. Introduced to the market in 1966, the Slurpee is arguably the world’s most popular (non-alcoholic) frozen drink. Here’s some fun information about Slurpees that I’m sure will take a whole bunch of you folks back to your childhood (or most recent visit to the convenience store). Enjoy! And many thanks to Amy McCarthy, a reporter at Eater.com, for her insights on Slurpee!

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With the weather changing a lot this year, I was noticing the wind really picking up out in front of the plant here at KHT, and thought to myself, “I better tell the guys to, “batten down the hatches.” Not being a big boater or sailor, it struck me that I thought of such an expression, and how my guys here knew exactly what I was talking about. Our inherited language is full of colorful expressions – many of which we use without giving a second thought to their origins. I did some digging and learned some come from the sea, others from the battlefield, and a few from the taverns and trades of old. Here’s a look at some fun, fascinating sayings, their meanings, and the history that floats behind them. There are many to choose from, so to be clear, I had to “sound the depths” (search for answers) and “chart a course” (to get you some proper answers and show the way), so “pipe down” (be quiet), “toe the line” (barefoot inspections) and “come about” (turn into the wind). Enjoy!

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Let’s be honest—us dads don’t always get the credit we deserve. We’re not in it for the glory, but every once in a while, it’s nice to be seen. So, this Father’s Day, I’m putting in a good word for all the wonderful fathers out there. The ones who raised us, and the ones we’ve become. Read more

If you are a parent or a grandparent, you know just how wonderful these words are.  I LOVE IT when my grandkids ask me to join them to play.  The “Grandpa, do you want to come play with me?” never gets old!  It doesn’t matter if we’re making pretend food, squishing playdough into balls and snakes, or popping the dome on Trouble, it just never gets old. This also brings back wonderful memories of when my daughters were this age! I love to play a card matching game (usually lose), tic-tac-toe, or checkers.  I’ll admit, I’m not good at all on the hand-held electronics – their little fingers fly across the buttons, while I stumble on the up arrows, jump arrows, and running toggle. Playing together made me think about my wonderful childhood with my parents and brothers and sisters. With 17 in the family, I could always find someone to play with, especially since there is a certain competitive gene that is in all of the Kowalski family. So many of the toys today are carry-overs from time past, as they pack a certain timeless appeal. There are so many – Battleship, Stratego, Shoots & Ladders, GI Joe’s, and more. I thought it would be fun to explore the unique ways some toys came into existence – fascinating how breakthrough experiments, bold innovation, and even bizarre accidents created some enduringly popular classic toys. Thanks to interestingfacts.com, Google, and YouTube for the info. (And when you get time, go find one of the little ones, and play a game with them – I PROMISE you’ll cherish the moments. Enjoy!

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When the day is right and the wind is steady, there’s nothing like flying a kite. As a kid, I can remember going to the park with my Dad, watching him do a short run, and then launching the kite up in the air. As we let out the string, I was amazed how the kite would float away and hang in the air. Since Jackie and I love going to the beach on vacations, our girls grew up being able to fly kites on the ocean breezes. There is nothing quite as exciting as seeing the kite go up, run out of string, then adding another roll of string to have it go even higher. Watching the kite float off until it’s just a spec is very satisfying. Now, reeling the kite back in is not nearly as much fun! Part design, part aerodynamics, kites are just marvels. From ancient China to modern kite festivals worldwide, these lightweight flying marvels have captured our imagination for thousands of years. Here’s a little history, trivia, and the science behind how kites take flight. Thanks to Wikipedia, YouTube, Facebook, Guinness World Records, and kite.org for the info. Enjoy! Read more