What I do on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the third best holiday that I enjoy. Maybe because I am off from work those days. On thanksgiving I like to cook. I usually start a few day before making my pies. My thanksgiving start the night before. I put my turkey in the oven so when I wake the turkey will be done. I continute with my cooking. I always have my family over and I like to invite other friends to comeand partake with us. In our family I usually do thanksgiving dinner because my sister have all the children and grandchildren so she cooks Christmas time. I do ask everyone to bring a certain dish. I cook the main meals. We feast, the guys usually watch the football games and the ladies may watch other christmas programs that is on the television along with the children or we sit around a talk about past holidays and what we would like to do for the future holidays. After everyone has gone, those that are still there and want to help can. I started a tradition in my family because we did not have one and that is we put the chirstmas tree & decorations up and watch The Wizard of Oz on thanksgiving night. What I am thankfull about is that Jesus died at Calvery for me on the cross that I might be saved. And, I thank the Lord for my family, my health, my friends and to be able to help other people when I can.

The Atkins Method of Acting

I found this article to be very interesting. Why would make a person want to lose or gain weight for a role to be in a movie? As I continue to read, I found out that there have been many other actors and actress who have done this to get a role in a film.

The actor Christian Bale lost sixty-three pounds to do a horror movie film "The Machinist." For a person to go to this extreme for a part in a movie, you have to wonder what type of person is he. What was going through his mind when he was approached to do the part. Was he thinking that maybe he could win an academy award for this role? Was he trying to prove something to himself or even to others? What did he want to achieve by loosing so much!

It is sad that Hollywood sets standards for society. Hollywood! Fame, fortune, is it worth it?

"Did You Know"

Watching this video was quite fascinating to learn about some of the statistics. While some of them were comprehensible, I found some quite disturbing. For example, the information about student’s who will be starting a four year technical degree program. By the time they finished their third year of schooling, half of the information from the first year will be outdated. It seems like that defects the purpose of going to school. You are paying money!

Another disturbing fact was that 25% of India population with high IQ if greater than the total population in the United States. They have more honor kids than America has children. And they say that America is the land of the free! It makes me wonder are we free if we lack knowledge!

What was amazing to know was the number of words that was in the English language. I just knew that there was more that 540,000.

Weekend Happening

This weekend was a good weekend. Friday evening I went to church. We had a special guest preacher all week and this was the first day I was able to attend church service because of school.

Service started at 7:00pm and we did not get out until around 11:00pm. I did not realize that we had been there for that length of time. He was a very energized minister and he knew his bible, so because of this, he keep my interest. I am at the point in my life where I am seeking God for directions and wanting to move closer to Him.

Saturday morning was no pressure on anything. I woke up and ran some errands. When I returned home I fixed me some dinner and started my homework into the late hours of the night.

Sunday was a great day. Got up before time and was able to sit for a moment before it was time for me to dress and head out to church service. This was the last day for our quest preacher to minister to our congregation.

Again Sunday was a long day because of the two services. I only attending the morning service, again not knowing how long we had been there. This man of God is awesome and he had my attention knowing the word of the Lord!

Music Blog and Review

Music is one of my favorite excitements. I enjoy Smooth Jazz, Motown Oldies, and Gospel. When I need to relax or meditate, I go into my serenity room and turn on my music. When I am cleaning, I turn on my music. I have been known to play all three types all together.

I have a passion for the piano instrument in Smooth Jazz. Just about any musician who plays the piano has my attention.

For Gospel I have no particular artist that I favor one over another. Well let me back up! I do like Byron Cage. His music focuses on Praise and Worship for the Lord. More so I listen to the message that is in the song.


For Motown Oldies, I like them all. Music back in the 70’s and 80’s were genuine poetry. Not like the music of today that sounds like words thrown together without any thought.

New Restaurant Review

Vanessa Mitchell
Professor Philip Potvin
Composition 227
November 2, 2009

Steak to your Order

The song says; “If you ever plan to motor west, travel my way, the highway that’s the best. Get your kicks on Route 66!” Logan’s Roadhouse restaurant is not off of Route 66, but once you experience the casual dining moderately priced atmosphere, you would then understand the meaning of, “get your kicks on Route 66.”

On Sunday, October 11, 2009 after church, we decided to have a steak encounter that we have not experience in a long while. I suggest that we go Logan’s Roadhouse. Located off highway/route 96 and Middlebelt in Livonia, Michigan; it is a restaurant that you can come as you are and socialize and have a good time.

As you enter into the building, you enter into a foyer with a long bench to sit and wait if you choose. In the middle of the foyer is a big round barrel filled with peanuts for you to eat while waiting. As you continue into the restaurant, you can view the open, gas-fired mesquite grills behind the glass wall as you are greeted with a warm smile from the hostess. The smell of the gas mesquite grill reminds you of an outdoor charcoal Bar-B-Que grill.

On the right side of the restaurant is the bar area where you can sit and watch the sports, and/or order a “special sips” of your choice from an ice cold longneck to a smooth glass of wine.

The ambiance is designed to resemble roadhouses restaurants dating from the 1930s and 1940s. The floors are made of wooded plank with the crunch of peanut shells that customers are encouraged to toss on the floor. The walls are made with rough-hewn cedar, ridged metal, with neon sign and hand painted murals.


The restaurant features a Wurlitzer jukebox as you enter into the restaurant playing a mixture of jazz, blues, and country music. Booths are made of wood with red padded covering, and the tables are also made of wood with wooden chairs. The lighting is dimmed for the dinner seating.

The table is set with silverware wrapped in paper napkins with a paper ring to keep in place. As we looked at the menu, there were over 50 entrees to choose from consisting of steaks, baby back ribs, prime rib, seafood, burgers and chicken. There were an assortment of appetizers ranging from, rocking onions peddle, Logan’s award winning chili, nachos, wings and the list goes on. There list of specialty salads are know to be a meal by itself. The restaurant also serves such items as grilled wings, Southern-fried catfish, and baked sweet potatoes.

We start with the appetizers. We order the potatoes skins. If your taste is for potatoes, I would recommend you try the loaded potatoes skins which were fluffy with toppings of thick layers of cheese, bacon and onions which dissolve in your mouth. Hungry yet?

Next we ordered the salad. If specialty salads are your choice, I suggest you try the Mesquite Wood Grilled Salmon Caesar salad. It is guaranteed to have your taste buds coming back for more.


Because Logan’s are known for their steaks, I decided to order their Rib-eye twelve ounce steak with salad and broccoli for my main course. The steak was cooked to perfection with unknown seasons seared but still able to taste them. Tender and juicy, you could cut the steak with your fork. The broccoli was steamed to a mild crisp like corn on the cob cooked in it husk on a charcoal grill. We also ordered the catfish that was fried lightly brown crisp on the outside and flakey on the inside. Along with dinner, you get home made yeast rolls. Soft to the touch and hot with butter, you can smell the sweetness of the yeast.

If you are looking for attentive service, quality food and an upbeat atmosphere as if you were on Route 66, then I would advocate Logan’s Roadhouse the place to be. Moderate to a higher end price, an average meal, which would not include drinks, appetizers, or dessert, would cost up to $8.75 for lunch and $12.00 for dinner. No reservations are required. Come as you are, socialize, and have a delightful time

Writing Award Review

Vanessa Mitchell
October 5, 2009
Professor Philip Potvin
Composition 227

Writing Awards and Reviews

I arrived early and enter into an auditorium to a writing awards program. Upon entering the auditorium, there were only a few people. As I sat there surveying the room, people were starting to flock in like wild geese walking around. The atmosphere was that of a pleasant one. Quiet like a morning dawn, yet people were speaking, smiling, and laughing with one another.
As I sat in my seat looking around, I was wondering how it feels to be a winner in a writers contest. It has to be one of the greatest feelings, to be able to write a passage so great, that someone acknowledge your writing expertise. As I listen to the presenter to announce the names of the winners of each category, I sat there with anticipation.
The first winners name is announced in the category of fiction. This was the third place winner. Looking around for that person to rise from their seat, but to my disappointment, she never came into sight. I then tried to understand in mine why a person who receives such an honor for their writing(s) would never show. But I moved on to listen to the presenter. Finally the first place winner name was called and she appeared. I was so elated to see that a winner has chosen to a read their writing. Lauren Crawford, “Swing on the Spiral” was the title of her fiction writing. It was very decrypted and in-tensed. I was on the edge of my seat. When she finished reading, all I could say was, “Wow.”
As the ceremony went on, my anticipation continued to grow and grow. One would think that I was the one receiving a writing award the way my emotions was jumping around like a jumping bean. As I continue to listen, I have accepted that fact that everyone who wins, will not show, but if I was to receive such an award for writing; to those who read this, I will be there to read my writing(s). But, I am grateful for those who took the time to come into view and read for those who sat in the audience to listen. This is my first experience going to a writing awards and I found it to be very inspiring. I have always wanted to attend an, “open night mic,” where people read their writing. I can honestly say that I enjoyed the experience of attending the writing awards program.