Reviews by kid-kansas

kid-kansas says "A great phone with teenagers in the house...." about VTech - 5.8ghz. 2 Handset Cordless Phone System- Model CS5111-2

kid-kansas — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:03:02 GMT

Well after 2 teens abused the last Vtech phone and I had to bury it in a quiet ceremony, I needed a replacement. So while picking up some groceries I also picked up a new phone. My last one was a 900mhz system (yeah I know it was ancient but it worked...lol) The only thing wrong was the battery had died and I no longer was able to find a replacement battery. Anyway I looked at all the choices and since my phone still works, I was only looking for something the kids could use.

I had a mind blowing selection from which to choose...from single handsets to 4 in a bundle but I only needed 2 (one for each kid) and that narrowed my choice to only 2 brands. One was the Vtech and the other a Panasonic, since my previous Vtech had served me well for 5 years I opted for it.

Vtech Model CS5111-2

Having a big yard usually means not being able to take the phone outside with you, at least not too far anyway. While I normally rely on my cell phone out in the yard I decided to give this one the ultimate test.......

kid-kansas says "It's that time of year again......." about Lasko Cyclonic Ceramic Heater -Model 758000

kid-kansas — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 23:35:56 GMT

My extra room was not built the right way, so I need extra help in the Heating/Cooling department. In the past 3 years I have had to improvise in order to keep the office comfortable not only for us humans but my babies as well. The office not only houses the computers but 3 very picky Cockatiels that prefer it to be between 72 and 78 degrees year round. Well 2 weeks ago when the weather started getting cooler my old heater decided to retire on me so I went in search of a new one and was able to catch one on sale at Walmart.

Lasko Cyclonic Ceramic Heater - Model 758000

Standing about 2 1/2 feet tall and light gray in color this little beauty weighs in at about 15lbs. You can also safely place it against a wall if you desire or like I did in the center of the office between the 2 desks. My birds are perched between the desks on a stand so they stay warm and cozy that way. Besides it was the only place I could put it without having to use an extension cord....lol

This heater has 2 power levels,......

kid-kansas says "I became green in cleaning my kitchen....." about Clorox Green Works

kid-kansas — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:55:52 GMT

I started using Clorox Green Works about 3 months ago and at first was a little apprehensive because the scent is very mild. I grew up thinking if it didn't smell strong then it wouldn't clean properly. After all in my younger days my Mom used Pinesol, Bleach and many lye based products to clean in the kitchen and bathroom. In my older years my nose has gotten quite sensitive and there are also the cat, 3 dogs and 3 birds to worry about, so if this stuff worked I would be doing real good.

Clorox Green Works

This is very simple to use and with a light spray on my counters, sink and stove gets the job done. Plus there is no harsh chemical smell to deal with like many cleaners I have used, just a light pleasant smell. On some of the dried up stuff I let it set for a few minutes before wiping it off and it seems to work just as well as any others I have used in the past.

According to the bottle it is made from coconut, lemon and corn based products and is safe for the environment. It does contain......

kid-kansas says "Whenever I don't feel like cooking I grab a can....." about Campbell's Oyster Stew

kid-kansas — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:19:08 GMT

Ever since I was actually a kid (younger I mean...lol) the familiar red and white cans of Campbell's have been close by. I enjoy many different varieties but my all time favorite has to be Oyster Stew. Now nothing takes the place of fresh but Campbell's has come close enough in a pinch.

Campbell's Oyster Stew

I will admit that there have been times when I just didn't feel like cooking but I knew I had to eat something. Here the past few months I have been opening a lot of cans, eating PB & J or even a tomato sandwich or two. I know not very healthy but better than nothing I always say.

Easy to fix is just right these days, so it works for me. I just pop the top off the Oyster Stew and dump it in a saucepan and start heating it up. Now perhaps I do it different than others but I like mine a little stronger than most. After it heats for a minute or two I add only 3/4 of a can of 2% milk, some black pepper and a dash of garlic.

The stock is pretty good and very close to home made and the only......

kid-kansas says "I always love a sale but this time it ticked me off!!!" about Great Value Canned Peas

kid-kansas — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:39:50 GMT

I usually do my grocery shopping at Dillon's because I get 10 cents off a gallon of gas and with gas prices like they are I really need it. Anyway I was at Walmart filling my prescription last week and while waiting I scanned through the food section. They had a sale on their Great Value canned veggies so I figured since I was already there it really would save me some gas.

Great Value Canned Peas

At 35 cents per can for their corn, peas and green beans I loaded up my cart with a case of each and got my prescription then left the store. I had no problem with the green beans or the corn but the peas were another story all together. There are 12 cans to a case and I swear I have never seen anything like it in my life.

I opened all 12 cans and didn't have enough peas to feed myself, much less 4 people! You can probably guess how happy I was and all the nice words that came from my mouth. Faster than a speeding bullet I grabbed my phone and called the store. Seems I was not the only one that had......

kid-kansas says "Is Love Powerful enough to last Forever?" about Ghost

kid-kansas — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:13:16 GMT

I remember the first time I saw this movie and I went kicking and screaming all the way. I was not into love stories but sometimes you just have to see what your girlfriend wants...lol I usually stay away from giving a lot of story line but this is too me a Classic and worth seeing more than once. Even though I know what is going to happen the story is powerful enough to be enjoyable every time. So although I have given some Spoilers, you still have to see it too feel the Love it has to offer.......Enjoy!

Ghost

I had always liked Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopie Goldberg so I thought all would not be lost and I was right. The movie starts off rather tame and then little by little it starts to draw you into the deep love shared by Sam (Patrick Swayze) and Molly (Deni Moore) a love that even death cannot stop. Sam cannot seem to say "I Love You" to Molly as he always answers her by saying "Ditto" instead.

Tragedy strikes and Sam is killed by an apparent mugging gone wrong and the real......

kid-kansas says "Be vewy vewy quiet.....shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh........." about Fresh or Frozen Rabbit

kid-kansas — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:09:14 GMT

Being raised in the country has its advantages, plenty of hunting opportunities are all around you. Besides being able to have wild game, you also have fresh veggies and my friends that means some great stews can be made. Rabbit was a favorite when I was growing up and Mom and Grandma made a killer (no pun intended...lol) Rabbit Stew.

Rabbit

Of course your local butcher can also allow you to taste this great little secret and some grocery stores also carry it frozen. Rabbit is a dark meat with a mildly gamy taste and with the Rabbits strong legs and muscular body it is also a lean meat, which means it is also good for you.

Whether you fry it, add it to stew or roast it you are in for a tasty treat from the wild kingdom. Stew is a great way to showcase the flavor but being country Fried Rabbit is also just as good to me. Pair it with some fresh Kale and Mashed Potatoes with gravy and you have a great meal.

Rabbit Nutritional Facts

3 ounce serving size:

Calories 150, Total Fat 5g with 1g being......

kid-kansas says "I need to be Goosed more often, don't you??" about Fresh or Frozen Goose

kid-kansas — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 11:43:24 GMT

I know many people serve Goose during the Yuletide season but folks it is good anytime of the year and in the off season it is a real bargain too. Goose is not like other fowl because its meat is red not white like chicken or turkey and it is actually good for you as well.

Goose

I have been eating goose since I was very young but we always had it fresh, these days I usually have to settle for frozen. Most grocers carry goose around the holidays but a few have it all year round. Goose is also a red meat and cooking it requires you to pay attention as you will need to drain off the grease 2-3 times during the roasting process. Don't throw that grease away either as I will tell you about here in a bit.

Goose has a mild gamy taste and is very close to duck or if you never had duck then imagine the rich taste of dark turkey meat multiplied a few times. Goose is also more the texture of beef, buffalo and other red meats. Goose like Duck goes very well with an orange based glaze and is a great source......

kid-kansas says "Building a better world, one piece at a time!" about Extreme Makeover Home Edition

kid-kansas — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 03:53:41 GMT

I have watched this show for a few years now and it tugs at your heart strings to see some of the families that have been helped by ABC and the Extreme Home Makeover crew. Ty Pennington is a class act and runs the team into the ground to rebuild peoples lives in 7 days and give them not only a safe house but a way to be together as a family.

At first I thought of it as more of an advertising gimmick for ABC to improve its ratings but that changed quickly as I continued to watch. I saw disabled children get a safe home and hope for the future. I saw families that had some very rough times gain new hope for the future.

Extreme Makeover Home Edition

Of the many shows I have seen I can't really pick a favorite because all of them help families but for this review I want to touch on the one I just watched about a family named Martinez that moved from a good neighborhood in Colorado to a crime riddled one in New Mexico. The Dad is a pastor and has dedicated his life to helping others. The amazing......

kid-kansas says "A Mini-Bike on Steriods or a Legit Motorcycle??" about Ridley Auto Glide Classic - 2008 Motorcycle

kid-kansas — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 07:28:57 GMT

While on vacation in Indiana I made a small detour to test ride a Ridley Motorcycle. For those that don't follow motorcycles, Ridley is an American made automatic motorcycle. Yes I said it's an automatic, which means no clutch, no shifting gears but still a motorcycle just the same. Anyway lets look at just what this all means........

Ridley Auto Glide Classic

About an hour or so south of my daughter in the capitol of horse racing (yes Louisville Kentucky) off of I-65 and I-264 is Morton's Trikes an authorized Ridley dealer. To make a fair comparison to Lil' Blue I test rode the Auto Glide Classic which is very close in size. The Ridley weighs in at 460lbs. (Lil' Blue weighs 505 lbs.) Both have a 4.2 gallon gas tank but the Ridley has a 738cc engine where mine is a 650cc. Wheelbase on the Ridley is 2inches longer at 66 inches and overall 1/2 inch longer than my V Star Classic. The Ridley Auto Glide also sports disc brakes front and back, where Lil' Blue has drum brakes on the rear. Where......

kid-kansas says "Bison/Buffalo is the other Red Meat and it's good for you too!!" about Fresh or Butcher Shop Buffalo

kid-kansas — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:12:24 GMT

Back in the early days of our country we were introduced to Buffalo or Bison meat by the Indians. Buffalo's provided then with not only food but clothing, weapons and shelter as well. The entrails (nice word for the guts...lol) was used to fertilize their crops. They would use every part of the Buffalo and we should thank them for introducing us to a not only a delicious meat but a healthier one as well!

My first taste of Buffalo was at the Cabela's in Sydney, Nebraska over 15 years ago. I walked into their store and was hungry so I grabbed a sub from their little restaurant. I saw the Buffalo Steak Sub and had to try it and boy was it ever good. Thinly sliced Buffalo with green peppers, onions and Swiss cheese and mayo on a sub roll. It was like roast beef but much better and I walked out with 2 Buffalo subs to eat later. After that I was hooked and I made sure I stopped every time I was on I-80 in Nebraska!

Buffalo Meat

Buffalo or Bison is a much darker red meat than beef and contains......

kid-kansas says "Larry the Cable Guy just didn't do much for me in this one..." about Witless Protection

kid-kansas — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:04:54 GMT

Sometimes I just want to zone out and have a good laugh and I got it from this movie but it was so crazy it just didn't do a great job. Larry the Cable Guy plays a small town Sheriff who thinks he witnessed a kidnapping so he springs into action to save the damsel in distress. He wants to be a F.B.I. Agent and feels this would be his big chance.

As he tries to get this woman named Madeleine (Ivana Milicevic) to Chicago to testify against some crooked guy they run from F.B.I. agents who originally had Madeleine in their custody. Turns out the agents are crooked and well...can you say Keystone Cops?

Filled with crude humor throughout this is not for the young eyes of our children but for 17 on up it would be okay. At first Madeleine is determined to get away from Sheriff Larry Stadler (Larry the Cable Guy of course)but she begins to warm up to him after a while. I guess this is a typical Larry the Cable Guy movie in that it is crazy and crude. Don't get me wrong I am not a stiff shirt but this......

kid-kansas says "A soothing ointment that tingles and smells good too!" about Scherer Labs Chiggerex Plus 1.75oz.

kid-kansas — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:27:37 GMT

I got a few chigger bites while on vacation in Indiana and the first stuff I bought was Equate anti itch cream. It worked well but it was missing something, perhaps just in my mind but regardless I looked for another solution to my itching. I am a magnet for chiggers and mosquitoes but they always seem to find me before I remember to use a repellent.

Chiggerex Plus

This cream is very easy to spread but yet stays where you put it and for chigger and mosquito bites that is a must. Another great addition to this cream is the great scent and tingle it gives after you apply it on your bites. The soothing comes from none other than 5% Benzocaine and as any medication ending in 'caine (novacaine, cocaine....lol just kidding) it has a numbing effect and eases that itch real fast. it is also very creamy and feels good on the skin, this comes from Aloe Vera and Chamomile.

The scent is a minty one that is also soothing and not overpowering to the nose. I believe it may be in my head but between the tingle......

kid-kansas says "Great smell and it works pretty good too!" about Garnier Fructis Fortifying Shampoo Anti Dandruff

kid-kansas — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:52:52 GMT

I saw this shampoo in a trial size so I decided to give it a shot and see if it was worth buying a full sized bottle. Now you can't really tell in my pictures but my hair is just below my shoulder blades, so any shampoo I use needs to be able to handle my long hair. I also have hair that is wavy and slightly on the oily side so not all shampoos work for me.

Garnier Fructis Anti Dandruff Fortifying Shampoo

The fragrance is pleasant but not overpowering or too girlish. I used the same amount as other shampoos (I don't measure....lol I just put about a silver dollar sized blob in my hand...) It lathered up real good and was more than plenty to handle my hair.

Rinsing was very easy and my hair came clean in no time at all without a lot of fuss like some I have used. After I rinsed the fragrance was still there but only slightly but hey I don't need pretty smelling hair anyway, I just want to control frizz and feel clean.

After my first use of this Anti Dandruff Garnier Fructis I decided to see......

kid-kansas says "Safer is not always better!!" about Cutter Advanced with Picarridin -- Fragrance Free

kid-kansas — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 20:51:41 GMT

Many of you have probably read some of my vacation reviews and know I was walking mosquito and chigger bait. I forgot to bring my usual repellent with me so I stopped and bought some before I went camping. I found a new bottle that contains Picaridin instead of DEET so I thought I would give it a try. My daughter being pregnant is not allowed to use any DEET products so I figured we could share a bottle of this new Cutter Advanced with Picaridin.

Cutter Advanced with Picaridin

The bottle is 6oz and is a non aerosol spray that is very easy to apply and best of all there is no harsh smell to irritate your nose. We were camped about 100 yards from the river so protection was a must unless we wanted to get eaten alive. My daughter and I covered ourselves real good and figured we would be safe.

No such luck for me as the first day I had a bunch of skeeter bites even after using this new safer repellent. My daughter had only one or two bites and they were at the nape of her neck but we both still......

kid-kansas says "A very lean meat that is versatile and delicious!!" about Fresh or Butcher Shop Venison

kid-kansas — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:00:47 GMT

One of the up and comers in meats is one I have been eating for over 45 years and it never disappoints me. Venison is a very lean meat and can be cooked many different ways. You can make sausage from it but because there is not a lot of fat many people add pork to make sausage from it.

Cooking Venison

My favorite way to prepare venison is chili and it has to be 3 alarm chili at that. The best cut to use would be either the loin or a shoulder roast cut up into bite sized cubes. Of course for many people Venison is too gamy tasting but I have found a way to get around that. After you cut your pieces place them in a large ziploc bag and pour in 1 bottle of Zesty Itailan dressing, burp the air out of the bag and place in your refrigerator for 24 hours.

This will not only tenderize the meat but it also removes some of the gamy taste of the meat. Then simply make your chili as you normally do and get ready for an explosion of flavor when it is done. Another of my favorites is to get some butterfly......

kid-kansas says "Growing your own is not a crime anymore......;)" about Early Girl Tomato Homegrown vs. Store bought

kid-kansas — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:01:29 GMT

Being a homeowner has its advantages and one of those is the ability to grow your own. No I don't mean the 60's & 70's fad of growing pot, I am speaking of vegetables and fruits. This year I went total organic in my garden, seems my ground is just prone to weeds and I was wasting money on weed killers. Not only that I was sacrificing taste and taking the risk of it getting into my crop.

Early Girl Tomatoes

My choice in tomato plants this year was the early girl and true to their name I have been getting nice tomatoes since the second week of June. On average I am getting them big enough to make a great sandwich with just one slice. I also like to fry them green and these seem to be a tad less tart than other varieties. When ripe these are a nice deep red in color, very juicy and sweet. I am a country boy at heart and there is nothing better than a tomato sandwich with a cold glass of milk to make your day go great!

These Early Girls are very comparable to Beefsteak tomatoes in both size and......

kid-kansas says "My newest weapon in the war against pain!" about Lortab 10.0 Hydrocodone 10.0

kid-kansas — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:40:57 GMT

Ever since my rollover accident in '94 I have been put on many pain medications, given a bazillion tests and had many sleepless nights. I have jumped down peoples throats because of my pain and strained relationships. I can honestly say that I have been a bear to live with and although I have been told " I understand what you're going through" so many times it doesn't mean anything anymore.

Am I bitter? yeah I guess I am...After being up front on my condition I have yet to meet anyone that will treat me like a normal person. I am no different than anybody else except I need pain medications in order to function and yes while in pain I am grumpy but I don't mean it personally. Enough of my venting about my pain and on to the newest drug in my arsenal to try and live a near pain free existence!

Hydrocodone 10.0 (Loratab 10's--10mg Hydrocodone/500mg Acetaminophen)

I started on the lower dose on the scale (5mg Hydrocodone/250mg Acetaminophen) and worked my way up as my condition worsened. Now......

kid-kansas says "Can a piece of rubber really help you fill your tank?" about McCuff Racing Industries Inc. -- No Splash, No Spill Motorcycle Fill

kid-kansas — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:14:34 GMT

I was watching American Chopper last week and they were building a bike for a company in California called McCuff Industries Inc. The bike by the way was totally bad ass like the other bikes that Orange County Choppers build! ( I tried to get a picture of it but couldn't find one) McCuff is a company that makes a new product specifically for the motorcycle world, although it would work on any gas or diesel powered vehicle as well. It is an innovative fueling aid that is supposed to help keep you from spilling gas all over your nice ride and also fill it faster to capacity without having to keep clicking the gas pump. Does it really work??? Read on.......

McCuff No Splash, No Spill Motorcycle Filler

I ordered it through their website at www.McCuff.com, you can also reach them at 888-7-McCuff. It took 3 days for my McCuff to arrive and I couldn't wait to put it to the ultimate test, filling Lil' Blue. Opening the package I was greeted by a large round yellow piece of hard rubber like material......

kid-kansas says "One of the first drugs I was given after I rolled my truck." about Ultram Tramadol Pain Killer

kid-kansas — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:46:30 GMT

After my rollover in October of '94 I was in serious pain and the rehabilitation Dr. prescribed Ultram because he said he would not give me a Narcotic Pain Reliever until it was determined that my pain was real! As you can imagine I wanted to knock him into space right about then but being I could barely move I just sat there and stewed. I had no choice of doctors at the time so I took what I could get.

Anyway I was to take it every 6 hours and was hoping it would give me some relief but as the days turned to weeks I was only sleeping 2 hours at a time and friends said I looked like death warmed over. I then decided to issue a complaint through work and get a different Dr. as the quack I was seeing refused to give me anything else because in his opinion I was faking it! The only thing I got from taking it were constant headaches, so the cure was worse than I started with.

If you have teenagers you will appreciate this next part...lol My oldest daughter was almost 17 at the time and she ripped......