Menifee Mom: Halloween Can Be Scary and Fun, Too

By Karen Thomas

I'll never forget the year that my kids embraced the "spooky" side of Halloween. One year they were "Cinderella," "Snow White," and "Sleeping Beauty," and the next year they were vampires, witches, and werewolves.

Our yard turned into a graveyard with dancing ghosts, fog, green lights, and spooky music. The girls picked out a scary mask with a wig for their dad to wear and even found a plastic ax for him to carry.

They were determined to scare the trick-or-treaters when they came visiting OUR house that Halloween.

My kids got ready early and set off on their own candy hunt at dusk, resolving to finish in time to go home and start scaring. They ran from house to house...hitting pretty much every house in our neighborhood. The candy was exciting, but they had one thing on their mind: Making kids scream.

As soon as we got home, they ditched their buckets overflowing with ridiculous amounts of candy and assumed their positions in the yard.

The werewolf growled and crawled around in the "graveyard", surrounded by caution tape. The witch stood by the garage cackling, "I'll get you, my pretty," the vampire crouched near a gravestone and hissed, and my husband hid behind an extra-large gravestone ready to jump out and scare unassuming candy seekers. (The girls put him up to it.)

I stood by the door with the toddler, ready to hand out candy to anyone who actually made it that far. The toddler, dressed as a not so scary jack-o-lantern, did her best to EAT as much candy as she could without getting caught.

As I surveyed the scene, I had to admit that it did look and sound pretty scary. Most of the little ones who came by wouldn't even come up our driveway without a bit of prodding from mom and dad.

The fun part was the older kids. You know, the ones who probably are too old to be out begging for candy, but do it anyway. (Hey, can you blame them?) My kids still talk about the teenage boy that screamed like a little girl and the teenage girls who jumped about a foot when my husband jumped out with his mask on.

When Halloween came the next year, my kids insisted we do it all again. Their costumes got traded around a bit, but the scaring was the same. To our surprise, we found that neighborhood kids remembered our house and that year they were bringing their friends by, hoping that this time THEY'D be the ones to get scared. Usually they did, and they would all enjoy a good laugh together.

At first I was sad to see my kids leave behind the innocence of princess costumes, but now I enjoy the tradition that has resulted. We don't embrace the blood and gore, just the old-fashioned kind of scary. They were pretty young when this all started, which worried me. However, I found that by dressing up as scary things, they don't get as scared by it anymore. To them, it's all just fun. To me, it's another part of our web of family traditions.

Karen Thomas is a stay at home mom of four daughters, has been on the PTA board at her kids' school for four years, and is a volunteer at her church, in addition to her activities as a volunteer soccer referee, a piano teacher, and a runner. Her column will appear here every Thursday. Comments are welcome.

Observations, Tips and Questions About Life: Oct. 30

Featuring Bill Rhoads

Each week, Sun City resident Bill Rhoads shares with us some of his "tips about life." Bill keeps a written record of "tips" that come to mind and has a strong motivation to share them with others. His purpose in doing so is to stimulate his own thinking and to stir some ideas into the pot of life. He believes in God and the Golden Rule.


How many times does
The equinox knock?
Twice: once in spring and once in fall.

There may be some things man makes better than God...
Teeth, for example.

The history of the world
Has been written in war.
We need to start
Writing in peace.

If you have thoughts and/or responses to Bill's tips, leave a comment here or send emails with your feedback to menifee247info@gmail.com.

Menifee Foodie: Five Tips to Make Food Preparation Easier

By Malissa Meeks

When we had seven little ones running around the house, life was so busy. Through the years, I have picked up foodie tips I really wish I had known when I was raising my kids. Life was mass confusion with school, church, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, football, cheerleading, swim team, a house full of hormonal girls (have I mentioned six of my seven kids are girls?), helping my hubby establish his law practice, etc, etc, etc.

Now I watch my own kids raising their kids and the busy lives just get busier. I have shared these tips with my kids and now I pass them on to you.

My top 5 foodie tips:


Write out a weekly menu. Use this as your template for the entire month.

Choose a theme for each day of the week. For instance, Monday could be pasta night, Tuesday could be crock pot night, Wednesday could be Mexican food night, etc.

Select a vegetable to go with each day of the week. Example: Monday-green salad, Tuesday-squash, Wednesday-Broccoli, etc. Select a fruit to go with each day of the week. Example: Monday-peaches, Tuesday-pears, Wednesday-applesauce, etc.

Create your shopping list off the menu you have created.

Using this method shopping and planning becomes so easy. You would need to come up with four different pasta main dishes a month (or alternate two), four Mexican main dishes a month, and so on. Doing this, you know that on Monday you will be having a pasta main dish with salad and peaches as your side dishes. You will know exactly how many packages of spaghetti or cans of peaches you will need a month. This even makes easy to shop the ads.

Do your shopping once a week and any food prep on the same day. Make this your shopping/food prep day.

Since you have your menus complete and know how much of everything you will need for the week, take advantage of that knowledge. Cut down your work.

Clean your fruits and vegetables when you bring them home. Do as much food prep as possible when you are putting away your groceries. For example, if you are going to need grated cheddar cheese for three of your meals this week, then grate all of the cheese you will need for that week on your food prep day. You could even put the amount you will need for each recipe in separate ziploc bags so you can just grab the bag you need when you are creating your recipe. Why wash a cheese grater three times when you can do it once?

Get the family involved.

Kids love "helping" in the kitchen. It is a great time to have conversation with your kids. It is also a great time to teach kids how to work and learn to have fun working.

Keep a sink filled with soapy water while preparing your meals.

When I do this, it minimizes clean-up after dinner. It’s so easy to wash dishes while you cook if you just have that sink of soapy water ready to go.

Start every day with an empty dishwasher.

This will help eliminate that sink of dirty dishes none of us like to have staring us in the face.

Give these tips a try. I promise you they will make life so much easier. Sometimes we make it more difficult than it needs to be.

If you have some favorite tips, please make a comment on Menifee 24/7 and let’s help each other out.

I will be doing another feature with more tips at a later time, but for now I need to go and practice what I preach.

Malissa Meeks is a mother of seven who knows her way around the kitchen. By her estimate, she has prepared more than 42,000 meals over the years. She also knows what she likes in a good restaurant. Her column appears here every Tuesday. Leave comments here or email them to menifee247info@gmail.com.

Menifee Plugged In: Reznor's New Release is Study in Contrasts

By Neil Kristjansson

In 1994, "The Downward Spiral" album was released. Noisy, raw and visceral.

At 28, this marked Trent Reznor’s most successful era, bringing his band Nine Inch Nails into mainstream light. Unfortunately, under overwhelming fame and success was festering frustration and a growing addiction. As the title suggests, this marked the period of his own personal downward spiral.

Deep in the throes of depression, his condition worsened. His work had begun to take shape and manifest as Reznor’s life. At the time, one of the most notable tracks from "The Downward Spiral" was the track "Hurt". It marked the sorrowful end to a sorrowful journey -- the might-have-been if he’d continued down that road.

Following a grueling two and a half year tour, Reznor just disappeared.

In 2009, he retired Nine Inch Nails. After seven albums, one lengthy EP, two award-winning film scores, and a side project, he was finally on the other side. Now 48, Reznor is married with two kids. A happy end to a sorrowful journey. But was the journey over?

In 2013, "Hesitation Marks" was released. It's minimal, masterful and clean. So what does a man who’s been through it all do after that? Announce a new tour and a new album, completely out of nowhere.

This announcement was met with mixed reactions. Although mostly excited, many people were confused as to how it would work. The man is happy, a contrast to the usual themes of Nine Inch Nails. But despite a happier life, he is not immune to the ghosts of his past. The first single from this record, "Came Back Haunted", deals with this issue. Filled with the musical tropes of Nine Inch Nails, it’s widely accepted as a "test track" for Reznor to get back in the game.

Many people were not entirely accepting of the song at first. It wasn’t until other songs had begun to creep from their hiding place that people latched onto the album.

Now objectives aside, in my opinion, this record is easily his second best. A borderline sequel to "The Downward Spiral", "Hesitation Marks" is essentially the other side of what was happening. It's a long conversation with his past self, trying to come to terms with the fact that he used to be the self-destructive man most people remember him as.

Nobody wants to face the skeletons in their closet. Void of frustration, fear, and addictions, Reznor is able to reflect on that side of him. With tracks like "All Time Low", a sort of on-top-of-the-world track exclaiming "We’re never gonna die", and "Various Methods of Escape", a song of remorse and trying to "let go [and]… get straight", we get to see the contrast between the past and present self of Trent Reznor.

As previously mentioned, this album is minimal and clean. It's not nearly as heavy or dark as his previous albums, but he still maintains a masterful, yet different approach to his usual mixture of electronics and rock. An artist known for his melodies, he definitely emphasized the use of beats and percussion this time around.

Not nearly as layered or scary as the past, this album is definitely easy to approach. It’s catchy if you want to hear, it’s deep if you want to listen. I mean, when Trent Reznor is featuring artists like Adrian Belew (of King Crimson and David Bowie) and Lindsey Buckingham (of Fleetwood Mac) in his work, you know that something great is about to unfold.

"Hesitation Marks" is an amazing collaborative work behind the mastermind himself, Trent Reznor, and is definitely worth a listen or two or 10. And, considering it’s now available, there’s no excuse. Go get it!

Neil Kristjansson's "Menifee Plugged In" column appears each Monday. He writes about two things of interest to most of the younger generation -- music and electronic gaming. He welcomes your comments here or though email at menifee247info@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: It's Never Too Late to Get in Shape

By David Baker

I saw an Internet meme the other day posted on Facebook that said, "I wish I was as fat as I was the first time I thought I was fat." That definitely made me chuckle, mostly because it's true.

When I was a senior in high school, I weighed 170 pounds and was a 34-inch waist. Now let's just say it's a little more than that. Of course that was also when I was in weight training and martial arts and I rode my bike to and from school a few miles each way. Still, I remember thinking I was fat just because I didn't quite have the muscle tone other guys did. I never really did have bulging biceps or a six-pack.

Recently, I realized that our family was in need of some assistance on the fitness front. Last year, my daughter was put into "Intervention P.E." because she couldn’t meet the state standard for running the mile. It was surprising how many kids were actually in Intervention for this. Thankfully, she was able to work her way back into a regular P.E. class, but she had to work hard for it.

Every once in a while I try to get in shape, but I soon discover that I really would be in better shape today if it just wasn't so much work. Still, one of the things I know about myself and is probably true of most people is if I want to get in shape, I have to trick myself and remove the possibility of any excuse.

Like me, my children are also externally motivated. It can be dollars, ribbons, or just gold stars. We need that external source to tell us that we are on the right track.

Fitness is always important, but especially because the holiday season is approaching and our house, like many of yours, is about to be bombarded with confections, candies, cookies, and assorted pastries. Delicious, yes, but definitely straight to the gut.

Since I live on the west side of town, I got pretty excited when I saw the signs in the ads go up for Fitness 19. I was even more excited when I saw the price tag. My son Nikk and I were two of the fortunate few who got to sign up at the initial reduced rate back in September. We are very excited for the opening date, which is expected to be around Nov. 15. Because this is something I am going to be paying for, the only thing that bugs me more than sweat is wasting money. That’s the motivation I need.

Of course, this is not the only way to get fit, but for my family and me, it works. Some families are just as happy and active going to the park or walking the dog. What is your favorite way to keep your family in shape?

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Menifee Mom: You Have to Let Them Toot Their Own Horn

By Karen Thomas

My third child is finally old enough to be in elementary school band this year. My oldest played the flute, which was mine from my school days. While it can be a bit piercing, having played the flute myself, it didn't bother me. The next one played the clarinet. I quickly fell in love with the sound of that instrument -- so soothing!

Unfortunately, since last year, my third child has been determined to play the trumpet. Of all the band instruments, this is the one I really hoped we'd escape. Yes, the trumpet can produce some great jazz music and is an integral part of the band. But the thought of trumpet practice taking place in MY house made me cringe!

I did all I could to avoid this instrument choice. I had her try playing the flute and clarinet we already have. The flute proved impossible for her, but it turned out she was quite good on the clarinet. She quickly began playing several notes and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Surely, I think, she'll pick this one. After playing a few rounds of "Hot Cross Buns" and "Mary Had A Little Lamb" she put it down and said, "I want to try the trumpet."

I groaned. "But you sound so good on this one... It was a lot easier than the flute... Why not just play the clarinet? Your sister can help you learn to play it... I already know where to get a good used one... They are a lot cheaper than a trumpet... Besides, it has such a pretty sound!"

I'm really trying to win her over and do all I can to convince her that the clarinet is THE instrument for her.

"But I've always wanted to play the trumpet. Please, can I just TRY it?"

I see that longing in her face, that pleading look, and those bright blue eyes looking up at me. I have no choice.

Thankfully, I find a friend with a trumpet we can borrow long enough for her to try it out. The kids aren't around when I bring it home, so I try it out first. It is NOT easy. In fact, it is hard.

At this point, I'm feeling really glad I didn't put my foot down and make her play the clarinet. She'd never forget it and it would be the thing she'd hang over my head for the rest of her life. I can hear it now: "You wouldn't even let me try the trumpet," or, " You FORCED me to play the clarinet. When I'm a mom, my kids get to pick their own instrument."

This is so much better. This way, it will be HER decision and she can't hold it against me. I'm feeling good.

Soon the kids arrive home. I'm anxious to get this whole thing over with. My daughter immediately goes to the trumpet, the excitement bursting from her like fireworks. She picks it up and instantly blows her first perfect note. She has the biggest smile on her face. She puts it back to her lips and blows a few more notes. She is so proud of herself, I can't help but share a little of her excitement. Her mind is made up and I give in.

Since then, we have had some interesting practice sessions. We laid some ground rules early on -- the most important being that she had to practice in her room with the door closed. I know that doesn't sound very supportive, but for the sanity of the other five people in our home, it was a necessity!

It's a good thing too, because in the beginning, the sounds I heard coming from that bedroom sounded more like a goose in distress than music! I mean, really, did something just get run over by a truck? It was not pretty.

Over time, though, she has shown great improvement. Her tone is getting clearer and she can already play a scale. For a beginning trumpet player, that's a great accomplishment.

She's found that it isn't as easy as she thought it would be, but I've also found that she's a lot better than I thought she would be. So, I guess I can say that this time anyway, I was wrong and she was right.

Karen Thomas is a stay at home mom of four daughters, has been on the PTA board at her kids' school for four years, and is a volunteer at her church, in addition to her activities as a volunteer soccer referee, a piano teacher, and a runner. Her column will appear here every Thursday. Comments are welcome.

Observations, Tips and Questions About Life: Oct. 23

Featuring Bill Rhoads

Each week, Sun City resident Bill Rhoads shares with us some of his "tips about life." Bill keeps a written record of "tips" that come to mind and has a strong motivation to share them with others. His purpose in doing so is to stimulate his own thinking and to stir some ideas into the pot of life. He believes in God and the Golden Rule.


I try to keep my prayers simple and plain.
God’s ability to see my needs far exceeds
My ability to describe them, or explain.

There’s something wrong about a society that is constantly dieting –
constantly searching for a way to keep from overeating in a starving world.

Dementia check:
Anyone who says they feel as good today as they did 30 years ago...
Has completely lost their mind.

If you have thoughts and/or responses to Bill's tips, leave a comment here or send emails with your feedback to menifee247info@gmail.com.

Menifee Foodie: Delicious Treats With a Pumpkin Flavor

By Malissa Meeks

Pumpkin: What a tasty, wonderful squash. What child in America does not want to go to the pumpkin patch and select the perfect pumpkin with his or her imagination going wild, thinking about the masterpiece that could be made out of this awesome representation of Autumn and Halloween?

Pumpkins are rich in Vitamin A, Potassium, fiber and fun. They represent part of American history; they were a main food source for American Indians and were around long before they discovered corn. Pumpkin was a major food source for the Pilgrims. Pumpkins are magical, as they can turn into a beautiful carriage to take a perfect princess to a life-changing ball. Hey, I have even been known to call my chubby granddaughter Saylor a pumpkin.


That being said, I dedicate this column to the pumpkin.

When you cut into your pumpkin, do not toss out the seeds. What a fun and quick activity to roast those seeds and share this healthy treat with your kids! Try this recipe:

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients:
Pumpkin seeds
Olive Oil
Salt

Cut open the pumpkin and scoop out all of the seeds with a spoon -- or your hand, if you dare to feel the creepy, web-like stringiness of the pumpkin guts. When you cut the top, cut with your knife at an angle so the top can be placed back on the pumpkin and not fall into the pumpkin.

Place in a colander and separate the seeds from everything else.

Place seeds in a medium saucepan and for every two cups of seeds, add 1 teaspoon of salt to the water. Bring the water to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and drain.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat bottom of cookie sheet with about 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Spread the seeds out in a single layer. Bake for 5-20 minutes (depending on the size of the seeds). When nicely brown, remove from oven and pour out onto a paper towel to cool. Once cool, eat up.

Now that you have a cleaned out your pumpkin, why not create a dinner in a pumpkin! This is a really fun family dinner.

Dinner in a Pumpkin

1 Medium pumpkin cleaned out (the size of a volleyball).
1 ½ lb. ground beef
2 T. olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 T. soy sauce
1 T. brown sugar
½ cup sliced mushrooms
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups cooked rice
1 can water chestnuts (drained)
½ cup grated cheddar cheese

1. When removing the top of the pumpkin, cut in at a slant so the lid will not fall into the pumpkin once it is placed back on the pumpkin.

2. In skillet, heat oil. Brown ground beef. Once brown, add onion and sauté until onion is soft. Add remaining ingredients.

3. Place ingredients into pumpkin.

4. Place on 9x13 pan or cookie sheet.

5. Draw a fabulous face on your pumpkin.

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 to 2 hours. It is done when the mixture inside is bubbling and the pumpkin is soft.

7. Once done, top with cheese.

8. Serve.

Remember, the pumpkin is a squash and the meat of the pumpkin is delicious with some butter and brown sugar on it.

What a fun dinner for your family. Life is about creating memories. Enjoy creating some pumpkin memories with yours.

Malissa Meeks is a mother of seven who knows her way around the kitchen. By her estimate, she has prepared more than 42,000 meals over the years. She also knows what she likes in a good restaurant. Her column appears here every Tuesday. Leave comments here or email them to menifee247info@gmail.com.

Menifee Plugged In: Andrew W.K. Rocks the Vault in Temecula

By Neil Kristjansson

Party Messiah himself, Andrew W.K., came to The Vault in Temecula last Friday for what was quite easily one of the best parties I’ve ever been to. Well, it was actually a concert. But it was most definitely quite the party as well.

The party started off with Ascension, a post-grunge band similar to the styling of Foo Fighters, or the early incarnation of Three Days Grace: Groundswell. Young and talented, they kicked off the night with a set of fun, memorable songs.

The Infamous THEY came on next to party it up and play quite the fusion of genres. From metal to jazz and hip hop to classic rock, the energy of the room was steadily rising as their set went on and everything began to unfold.

The Coltranes, a hardcore punk band, followed, displaying an intensity to be reckoned with. Right off the bat, they had the whole room moving, moshing and jumping around. And it was loud. Good loud. A good, loud party.

Strike Twelve, a pop punk band reminiscent of early Green Day, entered the stage and played a seemingly short set. Between interaction with the crowd and one another, they sustained the energy into the following acts. They were definitely in their party suits.

Midnight Satellites, a rock group before the final act, came out to finish the line of openers and get the crowd ready for what was yet to come. Ranging from mellow rock grooves to faster beats, they took the stage as if it was just another part of the day and made it look so easy. That’s talent. That’s party.

And finally, the man of the hour himself emerged from the shadows and fog, with loops chanting "party, party," asking the crowd if we were ready to party. Right off the bat, there was an intensity in the room far beyond anything seen throughout the night. But it wasn’t from Andrew W.K. himself that it came. He only hosted the party. He only played the music. So what made everything so special? What made the party so ... party?

Andrew W.K. is on a solo tour right now. Instead of playing with his usual band, it’s just him, a piano, a microphone, and his buddy "Blakey Boy". So how exactly does that work? How does a man known for his unusually upbeat hard rock sound manage to move so many people with just a piano?

Well, backing tracks are involved. On top of those, Andrew stood firm beside his keyboard, wailing on it and creating melodies like he was cutting butter – so smooth. While Andrew screamed his party-friendly lyrics into his microphone, Blakey Boy was next to him, doing the same thing -- only without an instrument and partying it up with some fun little jigs. And so was the crowd.

I started at the front of the room, right against the railing in front of the stage. I had a great view, and through the distortion of being so close to the speakers, I could still make out the marvel of what was before me. It was an image so wondrous to behold.

Never had I been so close to an idol of mine before, but now I was there, finally seeing the show I’d been waiting for. I’d noticed the front row crowd was going nuts, and I had to wonder what was going on in the back. In the pit. It was crazy. Tons of people running around and into each other, just having fun. Just partying. Early on in his set, Andrew exclaimed that it was a night to have fun, party and be friends with one another. And that’s what his party was.

Ultimately, his show was incredible. Unbelievable. Superb. I got to meet him very briefly afterwards; we talked for a few minutes as he signed a couple of autographs (one which I was lucky to get). Besides being such a great musician, I can say from personal experience that Andrew W.K. is, in fact, one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. His only advice to me and my friends after the show? Don’t waste gas and stay away from green burritos. Party.

Andrew W.K. might play intense music. Andrew W.K. might be an intense man. But party is party. For anybody who doesn’t know Andrew W.K., check him out. He’s great, he’s awesome, he’s talented, he’s hilarious; he is party.


Neil Kristjansson's "Menifee Plugged In" column appears each Monday. He writes about two things of interest to most of the younger generation -- music and electronic gaming. He welcomes your comments here or though email at menifee247info@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: Some Safe Ways to Have Halloween Fun

By David Baker

In two short weeks, the streets of Menifee will be flooded with ghosts, ghouls, super heroes, and cartoon characters. While children’s heads will be filled with visions of candies and treats, parents’ heads will most likely be filled with thoughts of safety and security.

Whether it’s choosing the right costume, with bright colors and no mask, or checking candy at the end of the night for signs of tampering, these are some of the Halloween traditions that go along with parenthood.

One of my favorite ways to bolster Halloween safety is to participate in a "Safe Halloween" event in your community. When my kids were little, the local businesses of the town we lived in had a "Safe Trick-or-Treat" event on Main Street. Kids would go from merchant to merchant and collect sweet treats starting right after school, about 3 p.m. and going until sunset. The kids have fun, and parents get to set foot in shops they may not have seen, or had time to visit before.

Another safe tradition is the "Trunk-Or-Treat". I’ve always attended these at churches, but it’s a very ingenious idea. Members of a local group or organization, like a church, get together and decorate the trunks of their cars in true Halloween fashion and the children dress up in their costumes and trick-or-treat from car to car.

The parents win because they know exactly who is giving out candy to their kids, and the kids win because, hey, there's candy. Everybody wins because everyone has a lot of fun.

Another fun, yet safe, activity is the fall festival, usually sponsored by some local community organization. Most of the local elementary schools have one. The local Cub Scout Pack 374 is having one for the boys in a few weeks. If you’d like an invitation, visit www.pack374.org and click on the "Contact Our Pack" link. We will have a series of carnival style games with prizes and fun.

Of course, if you don’t have a Cub Scout age boy, don’t forget the Halloween Costume Contest and Parade at Wheatfield Park Oct. 30, sponsored by Menifee 24/7. Starting at 6 p.m. by the flag pole on the Menifee Road side of the parki, there will be a parade for those dressed up, a costume contest, followed by fun and games for all.

What other fun events are you participating in during the coming weeks? Log in and leave your comments and input below.

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Menifee Mom: Bedtime Battles Seem to Never End

By Karen Thomas

I thought I had finally come to the end of my bedtime battles, but my kids seem to be doing their best to prove me wrong!

Somehow, I've never quite had the touch for getting my kids to sleep. In fact, there were many years where it seemed I spent most of my day just trying to get a child down for a nap or in bed for the night.

At this point, though, I am pretty much down to just two kids I have to deal with every night: The oldest and the youngest.

The youngest should be a breeze by now. This IS the fourth time I've dealt with 5-year-olds and bedtime. But, I think that I've just grown tired of deploying the old tactics. For one child who was really bad about getting out of bed, we used to pretend that her door was locked. We'd stand in the hallway and hold onto the doorknob really tight so that when she tried to open it, it wouldn't. We'd say, "Once you're asleep, we'll open your door again."

It worked, but she was a persistent kid and we had to go through the routine every night for the longest time before she learned that if she just stayed in bed, we wouldn't "lock" her door.

For my other kids, I resorted to sitting in the hallway by the door. I always sat where they couldn't see me so that I could sneak away when they finally settled down. A few times I'd sneak away too early and I'd hear them quietly ask, "Are you still there?" and I'd have to hurry back by the room and whisper, "I'm right here."

Thankfully, I don't think they caught on to my scheme until they were old enough to reason with (threaten and bribe).

So now with my fourth, I thought she had learned to go to sleep without issues, but lately I've been getting the familiar call downstairs of, "I can't sleep, I'm scared!" (I'm sure it has nothing to do with the sounds from "Walking Dead" making their way upstairs...)

We told her to count sheep and five minutes later she came back, saying, "I tried that. I don't like sheep anymore." I told her to make up a story in her mind and 10 minutes later I find that her light is on and she's yelling, "I need help finding a book I can read!" She didn't get the concept.

No matter what we try, it doesn't seem to work. I guess it's time to lay down the law. I'm thinking I need to get one of those handy clip charts they use in Kindergarten. I can hear it now: "If you get out of bed, I'm going to have to move your clip down!"

With my oldest, I have different issues. Her bedtime routine seems to take at least an hour and she always has great excuses for being up late. I've tried setting up consequences to motivate her. We told her if she didn't get to bed on time, she would get her cell phone taken away. She responded, "That's fine, none of my friends contact me on it anymore since you took away my texting."

We tried tying her allowance to her compliance, but that didn't seem to matter, either. I'm learning that disciplining a teenager is no easy thing.

Sometimes I wish I could go back to the days of scooping her up in my arms, tucking her in bed, and "locking" the door until she is asleep. For now, I'll just keep trying new things. Maybe if I can figure out what does motivate these kids, I'll have an easier time with more important battles that are sure to come in the future.

Karen Thomas is a stay at home mom of four daughters, has been on the PTA board at her kids' school for four years, and is a volunteer at her church, in addition to her activities as a volunteer soccer referee, a piano teacher, and a runner. Her column will appear here every Thursday. Comments are welcome.

Observations, Tips and Questions About Life: Oct. 16

Featuring Bill Rhoads

Each week, Sun City resident Bill Rhoads shares with us some of his "tips about life." Bill keeps a written record of "tips" that come to mind and has a strong motivation to share them with others. His purpose in doing so is to stimulate his own thinking and to stir some ideas into the pot of life. He believes in God and the Golden Rule.



Some people focus more on a problem’s existence
Than its solution.

Don’t let what you do
Be limited by what you’ve done.

As you get older
You realize you don’t have as much time left
So you’re more careful how you waste it.


If you have thoughts and/or responses to Bill's tips, leave a comment here or send emails with your feedback to menifee247info@gmail.com.

Menifee Foodie: BBQ Trio Offers That Southern Smoked Flavor

By Malissa Meeks

Shortly after I moved to the area, my good friend took me out to lunch. Knowing that I am a Southern belle and that Southerners enjoy good BBQ, she chose to take me to BBQ trio. We had great conversation, plenty of laughs, and good food. It was the perfect afternoon until we went out to her car and realized she had locked her keys in her car.

That didn't dampen my enthusiasm for the visit to BBQ Trio, the subject of today's restaurant review.

BBQ Trio is located at 30024 Haun Road in Menifee in the Countryside Marketplace. When I walked through the door, I was greeted with a hearty welcome from the employees working there. The restaurant was very clean and kid friendly. The menu is pretty typical of a BBQ restaurant.

The meats are smoked for 12 hours, using avocado wood for that extra smoky flavor. Everything on the menu is made fresh every day. The sauce is a sweet BBQ sauce and is delicious.

The Sweet Baked Beans include a couple of different types of beans and a great BBQ flavor. The corn bread was moist. The pulled pork was delicious. The fat had been removed and the meat was lean with that wonderful smoked flavor.

I ordered both the Baby Back Ribs and the Texas Long Horn Ribs. The meat was "fall off the bones" tender. The Long Horn Ribs had the perfect amount of char. I began eating the ribs like a true Southern belle, not wanting to get my fingers dirty, but after a few bites, I decided that these ribs were worth getting my hands and face messy.

I probably would not order the Sweet Potato Fries again. I felt they lacked flavor.

The menu offers a good combination of choices as well as Family Packs and a catering menu. On a scale of 1 to 5, I give BBQ Trio 4 spoons.

Malissa Meeks is a mother of seven who knows her way around the kitchen. By her estimate, she has prepared more than 42,000 meals over the years. She also knows what she likes in a good restaurant. Her column appears here every Tuesday. Leave comments here or email them to menifee247info@gmail.com.

Menifee Plugged In: Pokemon X/Y Carries on the Tradition

By Neil Kristjansson

It’s been such a long time since I picked up a Pokemon game. But with all of the hype surrounding the newly-released addition to the series, Pokemon X and Y, I had to see what was going on.

Now on the 3DS, developer Game Freak has given us a new world with new Pokemon to experience. So let’s see what's with all the hubbub.

Back in the late 90s, when I was probably 3, I remember getting a Gameboy Color and Pokemon Red. I swear, I had to have played it for hundreds and hundreds of hours on my front porch. At 3 years old, I was still able to finish the story, and I continued to play until I had several of my Pokemon at level 100. It was such a groundbreaking game for its time, and oddly enough, it hasn’t really changed much since.

I picked up Pokemon X/Y with the knowledge that it was quite a graphical update from my last experience. What was once a bird’s-eye view of a 2D, 16-bit world has become a beautifully rendered 3D world with varying camera angles. Right off the bat, that caught my eye. It’s nice to look at, most definitely.

And finally, being able to see almost every Pokemon that’s ever existed in 3D? Well howdy-doo, that’s exciting. And now I can customize my character? I get a name and a nickname? I can run without running shoes?! Well howdy-doody-doo, that’s even more exciting!

But, unfortunately, notice how I said almost every Pokemon? That’s right. This has been a gimmick of Pokemon for years now, but I will never enjoy the segregation of Pokemon from one game or the other. It’s, in my opinion, a really shallow marketing ploy to get you to buy both games. It shouldn’t be that way. But luckily, if you have friends who play as well, it isn’t really a problem.

It’s just silly to have one Pokemon available in one game, and have its (new) mega-evolution only available in the other. It’s hogwash, I tell you. Hogwash.

Speaking of which, the mega-evolutions are a really cool new feature. Essentially, evolution is a huge component of Pokemon. Level up, your Pokemon evolves into a new form – a new evolution. But these mega-evolutions take once previously maxed-out evolutions and evolve them even further. It’s a temporary change for, say, when you’re in the middle of a difficult battle.

There are quite a few mega-evolutions, and it’s up to you to go out and find out what’s it's capable of. Fortunately, these make up for the lack of new Pokemon added. At an underwhelming approximation of around 65, that’s a far lower count that previous titles. Oh well. I’d exchange an ice-cream looking Pokemon for a black Charizard any day.

My only major gripe with the path Pokemon has taken is this new, more obvious complexity behind Pokemon stats and types and gender. Way before when I used to play, it boiled down to which Pokemon looked the best. This could be a personal thing, but even as an adult, I cannot grasp this idea of how a Pokemon’s attitude plays in, or all of these (seemingly) secret abilities happen. I guess they’re for competitive players. You know, people who like to battle each other in tournaments – that kind of thing.

For a casual fellow like me, somebody who’s just jumped back in after a decade vacation, it doesn’t matter too much. I can wrap my head around the items necessary to evolve certain Pokemon, which Pokemon has the best stats, yadda-yadda. It’s not difficult, just complex -- to better players than I.

As for everything else, it plays exactly like I remember it. Pokemon has had a long habit of being incredibly formulaic, which is good. Well, sort of. It’s been a great game from the start. Changing it too extraordinarily could have been a huge mistake. In other ways, though, an almost 20-year run of the same game play can get boring. Good job, Gamefreak. You made a fun, lasting game. And for once, I can honestly say: I hope it doesn’t change.

Neil Kristijansson's "Menifee Plugged In" column appears each Monday. He writes about two things of interest to most of the younger generation -- music and electronic gaming. He welcomes your comments here or though email at menifee247info@gmail.com.

Man About Menifee: Holiday Season Means Family Traditions

By David Baker

When I think of my childhood, many images come to mind. I remember making Christmas cookies with my mom in the kitchen. I remember my dad teaching me to play baseball and basketball. I remember waiting for the box of Platter’s Orange Chocolates from my Grandma Baker to be delivered every Easter.

As I look back on my life and especially looking through the eyes of a parent, I have a renewed appreciation for traditions.

They say children are creatures of habit, and mine are absolutely no exception. After we moved to Menifee, it became rapidly apparent that it was time to start forging new traditions that would make the kids feel more at home, so we began exploring the town and attending community events.

We attended Menifee’s Father’s Day Campout, Independence Day Celebration, Movies in the Park, and the Lake Elsinore Storm Stadium Scout Night. Last week, we once again attended the Menifee Birthday Bash at Mt. San Jacinto Jr. College.

The kids look forward to it every year. We got to see some wonderful musical performances and the kids got to do some creative games and crafts hosted by the M.A.R.S. program. The highlight of the kids' evening, of course, is always the Gale Webb Extreme Sports show. The kids love to watch the performers doing jumps and flips on their bikes, skates and scooters. This year they even had Ryder, the 6-year-old son of one of the performers, doing his stunts for the kids and carrying on the family tradition.

This isn’t the only tradition I appreciate, though. Sometimes things start small. I get Thursdays and Sundays off from work. Every Thursday I get to drop my kids off at school and run errands with Joshuah, who is now 19 months old. This is something I look forward to immensely every week.

We talk about things, he says a lot, and some of it I’m even beginning to understand. He’s very independent, always wanting to try to dress himself or feed himself. I like to think it’s because he sees everyone else doing it themselves, and he wants to participate on the same level as everyone else. He very clearly has an imagination and it’s incredibly fun to watch.

One tradition that is coming up for many people is Halloween. We at the Baker Homestead are bracing ourselves for the forthcoming onslaught of Trick-or-Treaters. Joshuah can tell something is going on, but this will be the first Halloween that he will really be able to participate in, since last year he was pretty much a cute little lump in a lion costume. I can’t wait for this year.

For those looking to start a new Halloween tradition, perhaps try the Halloween Costume Contest and Parade sponsored by Menifee 24/7 at Wheatfield Park Oct. 30, the night before Halloween. Starting at 6 p.m. by the flag pole on the Menifee Road side, there will be a parade for those dressed up, a costume contest, followed by fun and games for all. Adults are welcome to play, too.

This time of year, as we steadily approach the holiday season, I am reminded of how important these traditions are. What are some things, large or small, that you do to make your time with your family special?

David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments for him here or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.

Menifee Mom: Is it Possible to Have Kids and a Clean Car?

By Karen Thomas

I have a friend who told me that she once promised herself she would never let her vehicle look like a "kid car."

You parents all know what I'm talking about. When kids are in the car, toys are dropped, socks and shoes get left in the back seat, and bits of food start accumulating in crevices. Unfortunately, my car has often screamed "kid car." In fact, the rain we've just had makes it impossible for my kids and I to forget two catastrophes for the history books. Let me explain, in reverse order.

Disaster #2: A few years ago, I made a stop at Target to get some household items. As usual, I was low on milk so I grabbed a gallon to get me by until I could get to Costco. Since I only had a couple items, I put them on the floor right behind my seat. This also happened to be right at the feet of my preschooler.

Somehow, as she was buckling herself in, she managed to step on the gallon of milk. I didn't see it, but this is my guess because close to home she noticed "milk on the floor." After arriving home, I opened the door to find, not a little milk, but a huge puddle! The lid had popped off the milk jug and the entire gallon of milk had spilled all over the floor. It had gushed into every crack possible.

Thankfully, we long ago invested in a carpet shampooer (nicknamed, "the vomit comet") and I was able to remove the seats and extract the milk. But even though I rinsed and suctioned for the good part of an afternoon, we still get that sour milk smell back every time it rains and moisture gets into the carpet. What really frustrated me THAT day, though, was that after it was all over, I had to go BACK to the store and buy milk again!

There was a bright side to this accident. In my attempt to get every drop of milk out of that van, I figured out how to remove the plastic shields on the floor where the seats bolt in. This allowed me to FINALLY completely clean out the remnants of "kid car" disaster #1.

Disaster #1: Several years before the milk incident, I was driving a daughter back to school from a doctor appointment in Riverside. The appointment involved needles, so we made a quick stop at a drive-thru to get the promised "treat." She chose smoothies. My toddler was crying, so in desperation, I gave her my smoothie to suck on for a bit; anything to keep her happy so I could drive, right?

I should have known better by my third child, but as moms, we do crazy things when we get desperate. Just minutes after I gave it to her, she dropped the smoothie. It hit the side of her car seat, popped open, splattered all over her sister, spilled down in between the two seats, and poured right into the wells in the van floor where the seats hook in. It was everywhere!

I pulled over, grabbed the roll of paper towels I keep in my van, and mopped it up as best I could. The older child was sticky and mad at her little sister, the toddler was crying because she dropped her smoothie, and I wanted to cry because not only was MY smoothie wasted, but now I had a huge mess in my fairly new van! (OK, it was a selfish moment.) I gave the toddler the straw to keep her happy and drove home.

While I was busy tearing my van apart and trying to figure out how to get the smoothie out of the floor wells, my toddler had gone inside to play. After a few minutes, I went in to check on her. I heard laughing and giggling. Following the sounds, I found her in the pantry, dumping food all over the floor. Fruit loops, rice, and oatmeal were everywhere. She looked up at me and proudly said, "Look, colors!"

It was a classic toddler moment: A prime example of why moms can never seem to get two rooms clean at the same time! I buckled her in her car seat while I finished the job as best I could. I'd had enough.

Some messes (and smells) just go with our job as parents. As they grow, the scene inside the car changes. The sippy cups and pacifiers get replaced with water bottles and soccer socks and the smell starts to gravitate more towards the stinky feet variety. Though we try to keep it clean, and we are getting better, mess happens. For now, I think I'll just keep stocking up on air freshener.

Karen Thomas is a stay at home mom of four daughters, has been on the PTA board at her kids' school for four years, and is a volunteer at her church, in addition to her activities as a volunteer soccer referee, a piano teacher, and a runner. Her column will appear here every Thursday. Comments are welcome.

Observations, Tips and Questions About Life: Oct. 9

Featuring Bill Rhoads

Each week, Sun City resident Bill Rhoads shares with us some of his "tips about life." Bill keeps a written record of "tips" that come to mind and has a strong motivation to share them with others. His purpose in doing so is to stimulate his own thinking and to stir some ideas into the pot of life. He believes in God and the Golden Rule.



When you remove the nonsense from most worries
They disappear.

Disorganization keeps your mind healthy
Think of all the synapses you engage
Trying to remember where you put all those things.

Greed dulls the most brilliant eye!

If you have thoughts and/or responses to Bill's tips, leave a comment here or send emails with your feedback to menifee247info@gmail.com.

Menifee Foodie: Let's Appreciate the Value of Food Together

Editor's note: Please welcome our new food and restaurant columnist, Malissa Meeks. Each Tuesday, Malissa will share with our readers her love and appreciation for good, healthy food. We'll let her introduce herself:

By Malissa Meeks

Calling all Menifee Foodies...

Menifee 24/7 is now adding a Foodie Feature. Awesome! So all of you Menifee Foodies join me as I start on my adventure in this weekly column.

Some weeks I will critique a local restaurant. Some weeks I will share one of my favorite recipes. I am a kitchen gadget freak, so there may be weeks I share with you information about my favorite gadgets. I’m very interested in making life in the kitchen easier.

As a way of introductionm I am a mom, just like many of our readers. I have seven children, so I know my way around the kitchen. I have packed approximately 16,380 school lunches, prepared 42,705 meals, and eaten in restaurants approximately 2,308 times. I do believe that all of this experience will help me to pass on some valuable information to you.

My favorite season is Fall. I am so excited with the change of weather and love to drive up the mountain and look at all of the beautiful changing leaves.

This week I want to share with you one of my favorite recipes. As soon as the weather gets the least bit cool. I love to make my Chicken Noodle Soup. It is a favorite in our family. In fact, my grandkids request this soup. The best part is, it’s super simple.

Chicken Noodle Soup

1 lb. skinless chicken breast filets
1 lb. skinless chicken thigh filets
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup diced onion (I like white onion)
1 cup diced carrots
3 cups uncooked wide egg noodles
½ cup diced celery
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon minced parsley

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Saute chicken 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned on both sides and cooked through. Remove from skillet to cook for a few minutes.

Reduce heat in skillet to medium/low, add butter and sauté the vegetables for about 10 minutes, stirring often until veggies are beginning to get soft.

Cut chicken into small pieces and put the chicken, veggies, chicken broth, water, salt, pepper and 1 teaspoon of the parsley into a large soup pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Add noodles and simmer for 15 minutes.

Prior to serving, garnish with the remainder of the parsley.

Make a pot for your family and let me know what you think of this recipe. See you next week!

Malissa Meeks, the Menifee Foodie, welcomes your comments. Leave a comment on the website or our Facebook page or email menifee247info@gmail.com.

Menifee Plugged In: No Matter What, It's All About the Music

Editor's note: Today we welcome Neil Kristjansson as a new columnist for Menifee 24/7. In his weekly "Menifee Plugged In" column, Neil will write about two things of interest to most of the younger generation -- music and electronic gaming. Neil has lived in Menifee most of his life. During that time, his taste in video games and music has grown and shaped his experiences in the community. He aspires to build a career in journalism around his interests.

By Neil Kristjansson

There’s something magical about the first album you get -- or the first song you learn all the words to. The ones that get stuck in your head and force you to listen to them on repeat until they’re out. It’s all music.

Music. The universal art. Well, it’s not the only one, but it’s definitely my favorite.

What defines it? In my opinion, it could be as simple as banging on pots and pans in a rhythm. As much as the metalheads hate rap or the rappers hate pop, it’s all music. That’s what’s so great about it. Genres and subgenres aside, they’re all art in their own form.

I remember being 4 years old, listening to the Backstreet Boys and just jamming out. I wasn’t some musical prodigy, I didn’t care about lyrics or chord progression – all I knew was what made me want to bob my head and memorize the words.

Backstreet’s back, alright.

Those words echoed through my head and through the walls for days straight. It was just so catchy and fun.

Of course, as I matured, so did my taste in music. Up until fifth grade, all I knew was pop. I knew whatever played on the radio. I remember my father and I would drive around listening to anything, from The Doors to Linkin Park.

One thing, I don’t know why, it doesn’t even matter how hard you try.

At the time, I had no idea who Linkin Park was, but those words stuck in my head for years. The whole song, front to back – and it’s still in there today.

By middle school, I was into classic rock: Queen, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin. I wasn’t old enough to understand it or explore it entirely, but I knew it was good music. I loved it. My taste started to dwindle after a while, though. My tunnel vision wore the rope that tied my tastes thin, and I had to venture into new territories.

System of a Down, Marilyn Manson, Linkin Park? I was certainly beginning a phase of angst.

The more I grew, so did my taste in music. I’m an adult now, but I still have so much left to explore – literally and musically. I’ve come to a point where music is music and I appreciate it for what it is. I’ve settled into the territories of whatever sounds good to me, whatever draws me in, and relates to me and my life.

It isn’t about what’s darkest, heaviest, or fastest. I don’t care about the high equalization on a kick drum, and I don’t care about the masterful picking of a guitarist. I make music of my own, it’s something to understand in order to play it, but a listener shouldn’t care. They’re there to listen and appreciate. What’s to judge?

I have my favorites now. They vary in genre, from Nine Inch Nails to David Bowie. Ambient to rap. Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy” to Purcell’s “Dido’s Lament”. It’s universal. It’s art. It’s the beginning of eras and memories.

It’s music, and it’s good. Damn good.

Neil Kristjansson's "Menifee Plugged In" column will appear each Monday on Menifee 24/7. He welcomes your comments here or though email at menifee247info@gmail.com.

Menifee Mom: Kindergarten Class Marks the End of an Era

By Karen Thomas

This school year, for my family, represents one of those times in life where everything changes. It's a year I've looked forward to for a VERY long time, but now that it's here and I'm in the middle of it, I'm left a little unsure how I feel about it.

It's kind of like when you land a promotion that requires you to relocate. Though you are really excited about it and it is exactly what you've wanted, as you drive out of town for the last time, you find you are overcome with mixed emotions. Life as you know it has changed and there is no turning back.

You see, this year is the year my baby started kindergarten.

As any mom can attest, when you are home all day with multiple children under 5, those school years just don't seem to come fast enough. Sometimes you feel like you are waist deep in toys, dirty diapers, Cheerios, and crying children with no end in sight. What's worse is that any time you need to go anywhere, you have to bring them all with you!

When baby No. 4 was being considered, I was only a year and a half away from having all my kids in school. The fact that I was prolonging that day was something I seriously thought about.

Now here I am, six years later, and I'm feeling rather sentimental. I've come to the end of an era. After 13 years of Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, Little People toys, sippy cups, and strollers ...it's over. My kids are growing up, moving on, and those years will never come back.

And now I sit here in a silent house, the memories bringing tears to my eyes, and I have to remind myself that this is what I wanted.

It's funny; all year I was really looking forward to my baby starting kindergarten. She, on the other hand, seemed content to just keep being my sidekick. I mean, she'd spent most of her life helping me with PTA, so I guess she had seen enough to decide school just wasn't that special. But then, about a month before school started, she began to get excited.

When the first day of school came, she was more than ready. I think she was actually a bit annoyed that I had to go to class with her. When the second day came, she suggested that I drop her off on the corner and insisted she could "walk there by myself." (Not a chance!) I did, however, drop her off in the "drop off loop" with the other kindergarteners. She jumped out of the car, yelled, "Bye mom, I love you!", blew me a kiss, and didn't look back.

Since that day, I keep coming across a lot of really cute babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. They all seem to remind me of those years now in my past. I'm left wondering if I really enjoyed it enough. Did I play with my kids enough? Did I sing them enough songs? Did I laugh and act silly? Did I take enough pictures? How did it all go by so fast???

Did I truly enjoy it, as EVERYONE told me to, or did I simply "survive?"

In the end, I guess I just have to accept the fact that change is just a part of life and the next phase of life will bring great memories, too. The trick is learning to appreciate whatever phase I am in (even when it involves crayon on the walls or bratty teenagers) and find joy in the here and now, because before I know it, these years will be gone, too.

Karen Thomas is a stay at home mom of four daughters, has been on the PTA board at her kids' school for four years, and is a volunteer at her church, in addition to her activities as a volunteer soccer referee, a piano teacher, and a runner. Her column will appear here every Thursday. Comments are welcome.