Toledo-Talk About Scary!

While looking for a scary place in Toledo-Cheyenne and I ran across this interesting place and thought we'd share it with you - Tony Packo's and the Bun Museum. The word "museum" caught my eye. This museum boasts no less than 1,000 autographed buns! That includes 5 U.S. presidents and anyone who was ever a guest on The Love Boat. Tony Packo's is a hot dog joint. They've been in business serving Hungarian -style hot dogs since 1932. Two famous actors have touted the cuisine at Tony Packo's, Burt Reynolds and Jamie Farr. Burt Reynolds was appearing in The Rainmaker when Tony's daughter invited him to stop by after the show. Everyone was surprised when he did- and thus, the "bun museum" was born. They wanted his autograph, but couldn't find anything for him to write on- so they gave him a stale hot dog bun on which he scribbled his name. That bun didn't last too long and the real buns were replaced with styrofoam buns. Jamie Farr made Tony's immortal during an episode when Corporal Klinger put in a plug for Tony's in a show during the 1976 season of M.A.S.H. The restaurant figured in many episodes- one where the operating room crew used it's sausage casings to repair a blood filter.
If none of this is scary enough for you- how about this? They are also well-known for their deep-fried pickles and chili sundaes! YUMMMM!

Next stop-32.7 miles to Wauseon, OH to visit the Fulton County Historical Society Museum which has a few visitors that don't pay admission!

Oddball Ohio: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places by Jerome Pohlen
www.tonypackos.com

Whine.... Please

Yes, I'm going to whine. Everyone knows my all-time favorite place to be is Border's . The smell of coffee wafting around the books is a scentual-visual orgy. Just walking through the door is a powerful aphrodisiac. Do I read first or head right for the cafe? Usually I read first because I have to go through the books to get to the cafe. Border's Cafe has been on my whine list since they changed to Seattle's Second Best. First of all, they have no clock. Nada-zip, zilch, none. Tempus fugit? I know not- because there is no clock anywhere. I've overlooked this little problem since I can always check my phone. But now a bigger problem has arisen. It affects my mental and emotional well-being throughout the holiday season. I stopped last night for my first cup of the season- Pumpkin Spice. No, they now have Autumn Harvest. It tastes like dried weeds and sumac brewed to perfection. Sometime in November I would then slip into the Christmas mode with Holiday Traditions. I'll stick my neck out on this one- I bet they have no Holiday Traditions either.
Let's see. No clock, no 20% off coupons anymore, no Pumpkin Spice, no Holiday Traditions-hmmm- Why am I going there? I think it's time (although it's hard to tell with no clock) to move on down to the "Bookstore Who Must Not Be Named"- as I affectionately refer to it in my whiny e-mails to the Border's people. I'm sure Barnes and Noble has a comparative "Rewards" program- with coffee.

You've Got to Read This Book!

Everyone I've talked to recently has heard me speak about this book. It was intriguing to see what books people found inspirational. More exciting was hearing the logic and emotion behind the choices. Just to whet your appetite I chose 5 people and their favorite books. See if you can match the people to their inspiring reads. Answers follow so don't scroll too far, too fast!

Jim MacLaren: A Yale graduate and former all-American lacrosse and football player. He has survived two near fatal accidents. In the first one, he lost a leg- but went on to become a top marathoner and Ironman triathlete. The second one left him an incomplete quadriplegic. To see what he's doing today go to www.jimmaclaren.com . What do you think is the book that changed his life?

Nancy Pearl: Author of Book Lust (2003), commentator on NPR's "Morning Edition" , winner of Women's National Book Association Award, and she has a Librarian Action Figure modelled in her likeness! What do you think inspired her?

Jacquelyn Mitchard: Best-selling author of Deep End of the Ocean and five other novels. Writer of a syndicated columnist for Tribune Media Services. She has seven children ranging from 4-22 years old. What is her favorite book?

Max Edelman: Holocaust survivor who was blinded in a Nazi concentration camp in 1944. He is an advocate for people with visual impairments. He also writes writes articles for the Cleveland Plain Dealer focusing on equality for people with disablilities. He has been instrumental in founding a Braille literacy program for children. He is a retired physical therapist. He was most inspired by what book?

Rafe Esquith: Fifth grade teacher for 24 years- most of them in Los Angeles, author of There Are No Shortcuts and winner of Disney's 'National Teacher of the Year', Oprah's 'Use Your Life' Award, presidential award 'National Medal of Arts in the Oval Office'. His unique style of teaching has led his class to open for the Royal Shakespeare Company and they have appeared at the Globe in London. Queen Elizabeth invested him as a Member of the British Empire. What do you think was his most inspiring book?


Can you match the person with their most inspiring book?
The 5 books are:
Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein
The Passion of the Western Mind:Understanding the Ideas That Have Shaped Our World View by Richard Tarnas
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Mein Kampf by Adolph Hitler

Good luck! I must admit- the interesting part is not onbly discovering what people found inspitiring , but why it affected them so. That part you have to get from reading the book.
"You've Got to Read This Book" edited by Jack Canfield.

The matches are:
Jim MacLaren- The Passion of the Western Mind
Nancy Pearl- Space Cadet
Jacquelyn Mitchard - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Max Edelman - Mein Kampf
RafeEsquith - To Kill a Mockingbird