Military Mothers are very, very special.  (What I wrote IMO is typical of what most military Mothers go through.)         

I am writing this from my perspective after fifty five plus years of marriage, 25 of those years were on active duty.  Over those years Claire has been at my side supporting me.  She is the love of my life, my mistress, my best friend and my confident.   Most of all she is the Mother of our three beautiful children. 

It was February 1968 when our eyes first met  I was on a weekend pass from the Engineer Officer Candidate School at Fort Belvoir, Va.  We danced, exchanged phone numbers and saw each other a few times over the next 7 months until I was deployed to Germany.  Although we did not know at the time it was there that we began our  journey as a Military family.  Claire in January of 1969 said goodby to her family and travel to Germany, a foreign country with a language she did not speak to be with me.  On 18 January we were married and lived on the economy for nine months.  Claire became a Military mother when our Daughter, Hieka, was born on 21 Dec 1969.  A year later I received orders for Vietnam.  Claire with baby in hand went home to Baltimore.  This was the first of many times she had to raise our children on her own.  When I came back from Nam our Daughter did not really remember me.  It was Claire, who had to explain who I was and why I had been gone from her life a year at such a young age. 

A few years later our first son, Chris, was born in Michigan and our youngest son, Mathew was born in Korea.  We were station in Taegu Korea however Claire had challenges with the pregnancy and often had to travel to the US military hospital in Seoul.  Sometimes my train and once by helicopter.  One time coming back from Seoul a typhoon hit and all contact with the train was lost.  She was on her own and did not arrive back in Taegu 20 hours after the schedule arrival time.  Yes Military Mothers are very, very special.

Throughout my career I was often away from home on temporary duty and or deployed as in Desert Storm for a year.  It was during these times that Claire had to be both Mother and Dad.  She had to the disciplinarian, the counselor, nurse, the chauffeur and most importantly their advocate in time of crisis. 

Fortunately for us, as a Military Mother, she has not had to explain to her children why their Daddy is not coming home.  For those Military Mothers who have had to our hearts and prayers go out to them.

Our hearts and prayers goes out to all Military Mothers throughout the world.  You all are Very Very Special.

Lou - That was a great day hanging out in the Motor City, I really enjoyed the Motown Museum. I hope we can reconnect sometime.

It looks like there is a new twist in the French Fry saga. I was texting with the youth director this morning about the fries. We have not had much of a chance to talk about this part of the project. I wanted to make sure I could pull it off before I said too much. Apparently he has also been thinking about fries and has secured the use of a fryer and is thinking about cranking out massive quantities of regular fries to go with the burger. This will make life much easier for me, especially given the recent results. 

At some point I may go ahead and try the baking a fry, just to satisfy my own curiosity and to see if it will work. I do think adding potato starch sounds like a good idea. We'll see what happens, I am just not sure when!

I think baking is a good idea.  You may want to try an egg wash on it and then bake to see if i9t adds some color. Broiling after also sounds like a good idea.  Or, if you have a big enough flat iron surface, bake and then fry/grill on the flatiron.

Real potatoes would have the starch in them. Maybe work on some smaller versions until you find one that works. I would see if I could find some potato starch, or even some tapioca starch to see if it may help hold them together.

Try it with some real potatoes, I know I have tried to make potato cakes from instant and they would not hold together even adding in an egg and some flour.

I have to say you are a very inventive person and thoughtful also, going through all of this to make the parties a hit.

He's an even better in person.  Spent half a day with him in Detroit a year or so ago and had a great time.

Real potatoes would have the starch in them. Maybe work on some smaller versions until you find one that works. I would see if I could find some potato starch, or even some tapioca starch to see if it may help hold them together.

Try it with some real potatoes, I know I have tried to make potato cakes from instant and they would not hold together even adding in an egg and some flour.

I have to say you are a very inventive person and thoughtful also, going through all of this to make the parties a hit.

Ribs wrapped, Iv never had happen. Every time in aluminum tray covered with foil. Last Saturday brisket one hole off to side and don't think was touching meat. Could be different rubs.

Epic fail! Or at least I now know one way not to do it!

The fry started to disinigrate as it cooked. I ended up with a lot of potato pieces floating around in the pan that were a nice golden color. However the fry itself remained white and the center was still frozen. I saw this happen to a guy on YouTube, but he was more interested in making loud comments instead of looking at what he thought went wrong.

My next attempt will be to see if I can bake the fry first and then fry it to give it a bit of color. A friend also suggested broiling it. I don't know if real potates would make a difference over instant. I will give it a couple more tries before throwing in the towel.

Getting ready for the initial run. Going to use a chafing dish to fry in. Waiting for the temp to get to 350* F.

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Kristin saw Tenderloin in Martins for $10/lb.  From Australia no less.  Never been a Steak n Eggs guy, but had not eaten yet so had a late breakfast! IT was 130° when taken off heat.  It is wonderfully tender, will go well with a Béarnaise Sauce, Hasselbeck Potatoes and creamed Spinach this weekend!  I am still a pork guy when it comes to Breakfast, will leave the Steaks for someone else!

Thanks Lew. Will definitely try to get to John's, or Ishcabibbles on way in. We are taking a red eye so will be there in the morning. Based on what I have read, and your recommendations, will probably try ray's and judges the rest of my time in the area. Thanks.

I know John's is open 10-5 on Tues-Sat and closed on Sun/Mon.