Some days it’s a little rough doing a daily blog. I had planned to do a “Can I Eat My Lunch In Here” post today, but I was running late and I didn’t really have the time to do it properly and so I went and tried another idea that didn’t work out. I don’t talk about my “other job” a lot here on the blog, but it’s what pays the rent and time was ticking and I hadn’t eaten all day. So I needed to do something, then get lunch and then get into work. Sometimes when things aren’t working out, it’s best just to get into the MBIP Mobile, drive around, collect my scattered thoughts and see what we can find out there. So let’s go!

I ended up driving down University and found myself in the “Cottage District” neighborhood. I remembered a house that has one of my favorite things in Peoria in the yard and would you look at that, there it is! Let’s go up the stairs and see if anyone’s home.

The doorbell wasn’t working so I knocked several times and no one answered. At first I was tempted to just leave seeing that “Beware! Guard Schnauzer on Duty” sign, but then I saw that owl and the “Friends Welcome” sign and flashed back to the first time I came to this place over four years ago. I’ll put up a link to that visit as well as a few pictures right below.

And here they are! That’s Kevin and Mary Lou, who I assume are still living here. We had a fun afternoon and Kevin let me take pictures of one of my favorite things in Peoria and that’s the Tin Man in their yard! You can see the whole post by clicking here. That picture of Kevin and The Tin Man is one of my favorite all-time photos on the blog. Well, the sign says, “Friends Welcome,” and I’m guessing I’m still a friend, so let’s go take a few photos of the Tin Man and see what he looks like four years after these photos were taken!

There he is, our old friend, the Tin Man! His Packer outfit has been traded for a Dodgers jersey and in a show of extreme boldness, the Tin Man is pantless! Hey, if the Easter Bunny can do it, so can the Tin Man!

And check out the shades on him! Looks like he may have been indulging in a little pre-420 celebrating yesterday! He’s got the number 7 on his jersey and I’m not sure who that represents. I could Google it, but I’m in too much of a hurry for that and plus I don’t really care. I love how he’s got the oil can there ready to oil up his mitt on the other hand. And looking downward, he’s got a pair of roller skates hanging from his tin hip and a bowling ball at his feet! This Tin Man is up for all sorts of activities it seems!

I love the phone on the stand next to him! I Very cool! it’s an old rotary phone and nice to see a phone that doesn’t have any apps on it at all! There’s other new stuff in the yard that’s been added since the last time I was here, so let’s go take a look!

There’s a dog with a plant on his back and two turtles. I think I’ll call them Flo and Eddie and if you have to ask why, well, you should just keep moving along then! There’’s a little Tweety Bird on a chair further down. This yard is kind of like a zoo with stationary animals that don’t move.

In the back by the deck there’s a whole ring of animals, all in a circle and all going nowhere. Looks like they’re ready for the 420 celebration as well!

Okay, these two little ceramic kids remind me of the Campbell’s Soup Kids and I was never a fan of those little soup-eating weirdos, so I think we’ll say goodbye to the Tin Man and his yard of wonder! And now, speaking of soup, I have to go get lunch and then get in to work! Let’s get rolling!

We’re here at Schnuck’s and I thought I’d get a quick salad from the salad bar today. I love the salad bar and my favorite thing is the free crackers you get here from this magical basket!

Here’s my salad I prepared. I skipped the lettuce and got broccoli, carrots, celery, fake crab meat, chicken and crunchy noodles.

It was delicious.

And the crackers were free! They’re Premium Gold Crackers and while I prefer Saltines, I have to quote Elwood Blues here: "What do you want for nothing...a rubber biscuit?" Exactly Odo, Quasimodo...oh wait, John Prine said that...never mind. We’ll see you all tomorrow!

It's crackers to slip a rozzer, Oh, the dropsy in snide...boys...wacky tobacky...

Surprise link...click on it, I dare you!

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Oh, Hey, Don’t Forget To Vote!

Yeah, just when you thought the voting was all over, it’s not! I just found out yesterday from Tony at Khaki Jack’s that I’m nominated for the “Social Butterfly” of the year over at Peoria Magazine’s “Best Of Peoria” list! You can vote till June 1st, so go here and vote for me! Thanks and if I win I promise I’ll show my tax return and build a wall around Creve Coeur!