Bob Evans Restaurants gear into online and takeout markets

This statue at Kyle Field, Texas A & M University in College Station, represents the "12th man" in football. The term 'twelfth man' is an analogy for the fans who are considered to be participants, urging the team on to win. Aggies, as the fans are known there, are famous for their enthusiasm. In this bronze statue, students are depicted to be cheering and singing the "War Hymn", in which they link arms, overlap their feet, and sway back and forth. This so-named, nine-foot-high War Hymn Monument is a whopping 1700 pounds of bronze.

Hometown values, loyalty, country life, simplicity, farm and home - I think of this statue. The type of people also remind me of the people I see at Bob Evans restaurants. People ready for food that is in no way fancy, but filling and comforting. Food that could be served up home-style and feed a lot of people. Bob Evans Restaurants started in Ohio, and are now in 600 locations in nineteen states.

The chain (which it is, and the locations are not franchised) started with one truck stop diner near the original Bob Evans farm in Rio Grande, Ohio. Bob Evans produced many of his meats and sausages, and expanded to produce more as his restaurants grew. It still holds to a theme of country living. The idea that breakfast can be served all day pervades.

There are three locations in Fort Wayne, and one in Auburn, IN. On a cold night recently we tried the location on Meier Drive, east of the Fort near Interstate 4-69. One person in our party had the chili, or three bean soup: and although he said it could have been served warmer, it was very good. The sourdough rolls were our choice over biscuits and did not disappoint. For those patrons wishing to stay gluten free or choose fewer carbs and calories, the volumous menu makes this very selectable.

I was impressed there is a separate door and counter/wait area for patron takeout. I suppose busy working families could easily choose this on the commute home. Later I looked at the Bob Evans online ordering website. I found the website to be very user-friendly, with lots of categories and descriptive menu selections. Lots of variety and serving sizes are available for groups, all of which makes a lot of sense to me. I didn't know Bob Evans, of all businesses, would be doing such a good job on the Internet.

I have heard the restaurant is popular with some loyal followers, who make it a regular or daily hangout. For my meal I tried the broasted chicken, which I found to be good, and it was comforting, southern, and somehow reminded me of my childhood town and home. Nothing fancy, it was old-fashioned even, and tasty.

I splurged and went for a slice of a coconut cream pie. It was hard for me to decide between that and a chocolate French silk pie, but I chose the former. Good it was, but a little too cold in the center. I think I need to go back for breakfast now, because I think that's also what a lot of diners go to eat there.

I think the Bob Evans restaurants are mainly in the Midwest, even though the grocery store products likely have a wider distribution. The eateries stretch toward the near Northeast and also to the upper south parts of the U.S. Although not really my cup of tea, it was interesting to be there - entering and exiting, one has to walk past candy counters, coffee for sale, fudges and other products - I am impressed with the company's marketing, from online to point-of-sale. Good job, Bob Evans in Fort Wayne, IN - I'll be back.

Cabaret at the Civic Theatre heats up a cold February

On a chilly Fort Wayne Valentine's Day night, it was very pleasing to go see a steamy live show. In fact, it was a delight to enjoy the Civic Theatre's performance of Cabaret, which will continue its run at the Arts United Center in downtown Fort Wayne on weekends through March 1, 2015.

The songs are so fun, and alternatingly cheerful and sad - they are the ones you remember from the movie version and the Broadway stage. Set in Berlin, Germany, it is the story of the rise of nationalism and Nazi power, and how it effected citizens around this particular setting: the people connected to the racy nightclub Kit Kat Club.

Evan Hart plays a fabulous Emcee, nearly stealing the show for himself with his portrayal of this role. Inviting, sexy, provocative, emotive - he does it all, struting confidently in his suspenders and lipstick. He sings well, and adds the dance elements neatly - I especially liked his hand work and boot steps. Bridget Pearson made a convincing Sally Bowles, and I was almost frustrated with how good I thought her English accent came across; maybe I found the assumedly intentional over-pronunciation distracting. I was pleased, though, with how well I could hear all the characters' lines.

I was also impressed with Maggie Kole Hunter, portraying Fräulein Schneider, on how powerfully she sang and played her role. And Gary Lanier was delightful as Herr Schultz, the Jewish fruit vendor who is the love interest of Fräulein Schneider. The beautiful high vibrato in his voice was thrilling to hear in his vocal solos.

This cast did a nice job with the dancing - I thought they tackled some difficult, seemingly Bob Fosse-inspired numbers. The cast was dancing on chairs in heels, doing handstands and splits, etc.: I'm sure much of that credit goes to choreographer Leslie Beauchamp. The show was sexy for conservative Fort Wayne, but not too sexy- just right. The set featured audience members seated at lounge tables on each side of the stage, and the orchestra is set up high on stage at loft level. It all works well and transitions easily with the story without fuss.

The Arts United Center, formerly known as the Performing Arts Center, is an impressive venue for local performances. Its modern, concrete architecture is a great fit next to the art museum in this downtown corner. Much of Fort Wayne's architecture is traditional and historic, so the moderness of this building is a nice complement for our town. I like the modern theatre, but I feel the seating must be updated, because the stark uniform rows of seats are, alas, not completely user-friendly. At the very least, the long rows desperately need a perpendicular aisle or two to make it easier for patrons to get to their seats. I also believe that the seats need to be angled to face the stage from the sides - sitting there requires turning at an awkward angle.

Tickets are available for Friday and Saturday evening performances at 8 p.m., and Sunday shows at 2 p.m. now through March 1. Inexpensive wine, beer, and other refreshments are available at the show. I think this is a perfect choice for date night. Welcome to the cabaret!

Oakwood Resort is a Great Getaway at Lake Wawasee

Oakwood Resort on Indiana's Lake Wawasee is a great option for people looking for a getaway from Fort Wayne, South Bend, or the Chicago area. This is a large facility right on the water, with restaurants, banquet and meeting facilities, and a day spa. We stayed in one of 80 private hotel rooms, ours overlooking the water. Oakwood also reports having eight cabins and ten vacation homes to rent, so there are lots of space options.

Lake Wawasee itself has an interesting history. The glacial lake is the largest wholly contained in Indiana, with about 3000 acres of surface area. Fed by springs and watershed, it also happens to be a very healthy and clear lake, with reported clear viewing down 15 feet in good conditions. The average clear viewing depth of other Midwestern lakes is 2 - 6 feet.

It's a great lake for sailing and fishing, and appears to support a rich social life for humans. Eli Lilly and Al Capone had places here, as do many other well-off folks from Indianapolis and the Chicago area. Popular lakeside real estate can be expensive, so as one would expect there are million-dollar homes set close together along the lake. Here is a place you might want to book a pontoon or other passenger boat cruise, take a beverage along and let a guide inform you about all the different well-known properties. This can be very relaxing and entertaining.

Oakwood itself is comfortable, although I found the beds to be too soft. Maybe hotels need to go with Sleep Number beds or something similar, in which a patron can make their bed firmer or softer. Lots of hotels have chosen this option in recent years. It was quiet enough - strangely almost too quiet the weekend we were there. We found the evening meals at the restaurant called The Pier to be good. In a remote location such as this, where there are few grocery stores and everything has to be delivered in, sometimes evening menu selections will sell out. Or they will be out of selections from the wine list. I suppose it helps to prepare to be flexible.

I can't recommend the buffet breakfast, however. It seemed as though masses of food had been prepared and laid out, in anticipation of large numbers of people. But there the food sat, the crowds didn't come, so the hash browns had become cardboard-ish and the eggs dry and rubbery. The staff was really nice, though. Maybe it was just an off morning for a usually-lovely breakfast service.

Oakwood has a small salon and spa, called J Three. We were on the receiving end of a couple of massages there, and were happy with the results. We also especially loved the salt-based hand scrub that was placed in lovely bowls next to the bathroom sinks in the resort. I had never tried this. After one washes one's hands, one takes a scoopful of this salt and rubs and massages into the hands. It smells wonderful, but moreover, it wonderfully refines and polishes the hands. Salt is also antifungal and antibacterial used in this way. I'm going to buy some over a website to give as gifts.

Our experience at Oakwood was pleasurable, and I would go back. Wawasee used to be called Lake Turkey, but at some point the name reverted to this Miami native American name, which one source I read said referred to a chief with a flat belly. I adore wild turkeys, but I do think the ancient name is much more charming.

Parents - what are you doing to help protect your kids online?

Ok, you parents out there. It's time we had a serious conversation about what your kids are doing for fun. And I'm not talking about riding carnival rides, such as the one I photographed here at the DeKalb County Free Fall Fair midway set up in downtown Auburn, IN.

No, I'm talking about something much more dangerous: what your children are possibly doing on the Internet. It's the Wild West out there. Anything goes. Sad to say children are exposed to many things, potentially disturbing things; violence, pornography, hate and bullying coming at them over their phones, iPods, iPads, Nintendos, Kindles, tablets, laptops - all those things YOU bought for them, placed in their hands, said "here, this is for you.". And YOU continue to pay for their high speed wireless connection, their data plans, their monthly cell phone bill, etc.

Yet, do you really have any idea what those children are doing with those devices you have paid for? How naive are you? You need to have, if this doesn't happen already, a regular dialog with your children about what it is they post on the Internet, and what is appropriate. Because I am sure many of these kids don't realize the lifelong implications of what they are doing when just trying to have some fun.

Be so bold as to ask to see your children's content. Who's paying the bill, anyway? If it's such a big secret, why? Because this isn't like having a conversation, or writing in your diary at home. This is OUT THERE. Every photo you post of yourself, every time you say something unflattering about someone else, everytime you mention wild partying, it is stuck OUT THERE. You can't really delete it. Someone can, and believe me does, take a screen shot of what you or your kids put out there. The kids think only their friends see this stuff and it's kind of anonymous, underground. I can tell you, it is not.

Here's a big problem. Potential employers, as a regular part of the job, will do Internet searches on their candidates. And they find this stuff, your First Amendment freedom of speech foul language, your racy photos of yourself. And you are judged by this to be a loose cannon. And you or that young person is not hired. Or worse - you or your child are preyed upon in some way.

Yes, the Internet is a wonderful tool that can help us all in many ways. But we are all in our infancy with this. So I recommend absolutely putting strict time limits on how much time is spent with these devices. Monitoring choices of sites, useage, purpose, and regular conversations about same, however uncomfortable or resistive the kids are about it - because the kids think they are in charge. They think the adults are intimidated by this technology or are too dumb to find their way around. Come on, grown ups, change is a big part of life. We do constantly need to know how to do some new things and get familiar with new tools. You can do it!

I absolutely recommend for parents to use a search engine and search their children's names over the Internet to see what pops up. Or, type into your search engine the kid's name and also the social media outlet, such as Twitter or Instagram or whatever the hot new one is. Or, your child's friends name, boyfriend, girlfriend if there is some reason you have concerns. It's out there, and I really don't think you want to be the last person to know. I've seen some stuff by seemingly innocent young children you would not believe. They are kids, they are experimenting, but some of them are also leading double lives. They will grow up, but this stuff will not disappear. Don't be afraid to check. It's your job. And then do something about it. Sometimes you can catch children doing something right, and reward them for that, with words or otherwise. But when you catch them doing something that could hurt themselves or others or is disrespectful or unworthy of them, there is nothing wrong with calling that out. To be continued -

It is Slalom tournament season in Indiana

The USA Waterski Association sanctions series of tournaments all across the country. There are so many ways to surf, board, show ski, race, and play, it certainly demonstrates our love of the water. In a typical tournament here in Indiana, the ones we attended consist of slalom, trick and jump ski events.

Around the area near Syracuse, Indiana, there are many lakes, big and small. One mini lake named Cindonway Shores hosts ski tournaments regularly. Dotted with a few houses and surrounded by farm fields, Cindonway seems like a charming slice of Hoosier life.

Sure, skiers win awards for their performances in the different events. There are a range of categories, from age to ability, so a skier is pitted against skiers like themselves. After local tournaments, skiers can move on to state, regional and national competitions.

But what I'm thinking about today, is the social aspect of these get-togethers is great sometimes. Participants camp out on shore, set up shade tents, and unpack their picnic supplies. They watch each other ski, be they athletes from kids to teens to adults to seniors, and cheer each other on.

It's good-spririted competition, one person at a time. In between sets kids play frisbee, tennis, and run around and jump on trampolines. Thoughtful skiers and family members help organize, judge and run events.

On this July Saturday, a pregnant mom who couldn't ski helped out by baking pans of lasagna (along with the other chefs in the lakeside household kitchen). They served up a great meal for all, and folks walked down to their screened-in porch, served themselves from the spread and sat together to eat at picnic tables. It doesn't get much better than that.

The Indiana State Tournament will be held in Indianapolis this year, and the Midwest Regional competition will be in Wilmington, Illinois, near Chicago. Indiana has produced some great skiers over the years, including current world record holder Nate Smith, ladies such as Marla Lott and Prissy Edwards, and many others. All those lakes, so little time - summer is over in a flash. Ski on, ski hard, or go home.

Loving World Cup Soccer

There has been quite a buzz this summer about the FIFA World Cup Soccer matches held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Huge crowds from all over the world turned out in cities and towns to watch the televised games. I went with my family to Parkview Field in downtown Fort Wayne to watch the United States versus Belgium on the stadium's Jumbotron. The U. S. lost in overtime, and yes, soccer usually is rather low-scoring. But I have loved watching it.

There're lots of haters out there, actually saying that soccer is boring, just a bunch of men running around and batting a ball around a big field. They somehow think that white ball is just bouncing around haphazardly. I'm kind of amazed people actually think that.

I have loved watching the few games I have been able to see. The players are amazingly athletic. The cultural and ethnic differences between counties is wonderful to watch. I really enjoyed the final game between Germany and Argentina. Even hearing the differences in the two countries' national anthems was fun. The German anthem is Teutonic, classical. The Argentine started slowly, solemnly, and then eventually broke into something upbeat and cheerful, such as a salsa or samba or whichever beat it was. The people in the stands held up flags, shirts, towels or whatever cloth they had and danced and sang along.

I was routing for the South Americans, and it was an exciting game. But the Germans scored with a sweet chest-drop-to-foot goal, and Argentina never came back. The Germans really are incredibly strong as well. Bastian Schweinsteiger was hit more times and had medics called for him on the field than anyone I have ever seen. Blood was pouring out of this guy's face, they'd patch him and he played on. Yeah futbol, bigger than football.

Not only did the U. S. have its disappointments. Former World Cup victors England, Spain and Italy all were done after the first round. And the World Cup in Brazil had its bizarre moments as well, such as when Uruguay's Luis Suarez bit the shoulder of an Italian defender. Considering Suarez has been suspended for doing this in Europe twice before, I'm wondering why this is still ok. But hey, I did not make the rules.

So all you soccer haters out there: please stop harshing my mellow. Soccer speaks all languages and crosses all barriers. It was fun to walk into a Mexican restaurant in Phoenix and see a random game playing, with all the patrons laborers watching the game while having lunch and getting out of the heat. The game was on Univision and not broadcast in English, but that did not matter. Everyone watched it, and when the announcer gave out the classic, excited, extended, " GooooooooooaaLL.." we all knew what happened. Get over yourself, U. S. and American football. This is bigger than you. Now, we need to see the next step - this kind of accolade world-wide over women's soccer too.

Poem for Matt

The image is of Monument Valley, Utah - this is a glorious desert scene in the southwestern United States. The poem I have written below refers to a different arid place: Phoenix, Arizona. From the poem, the native people called the Hohokam were also referred to by early Navaho and Hopi Indians as "the ones who had gone before."

I wrote the poem June 28, 2014. Since then, many people have read it or passed it on, sharing it in some way. Since these words have meant something to them, I feel I need to share it with you here.

Poem for Matt

I will see you in the place where the Hohokam dug irrigation canals out of the desert.

You will appear to me as a saguaro one day, an ocotillo the next.

You will crush the creasote for me, so that its perfume rises.

You will circle the sky above me as a desert eagle, showing me the way.

You will warn me of danger, rattling your tail and slithering away.

When you see us all missing you, you will bathe our tears with healing monsoon rains.

When you become weary of our human foilibles, you will send the haboob to slow us down.

You will continue to change the people who knew you.

You will play like the wind, kicking cans down the road, hiding eyeglasses.

You will get your mother to wear a cowboy hat that came out of a dumpster.

You will remind people of what they missed, but not fill them with regret. They will learn to seize the moment.

You will rise out of your father's laugh, and live again in his sweet memories. You will remind us again what love is.

You will help another young lifeguard save a life. You will rip my heart out and replace it with a bigger one.

I will see you again. We will run and swim together in endless dreams.

I will see you again. We will hold hands and fly together into the sun.

-SLG