Madsen Donuts – Geneva On The Lake

Madsen Donuts

Madsen Donuts: Iconic shop on the strip located at Geneva On the Lake, Ohio. The donut shop has been opened since 1938 serving fresh good tasting donuts and pastries daily. As you can see, the donuts come in a standard cardboard box sized to accommodate a dozen donuts.

Madsen Dozen Donuts

 After a long day of fun and relaxation at Geneva On The Lake, it was time to return to reality. Before we began our journey home to Youngstown, Patty bought an assorted dozen donuts from Madsen Donuts to bring home. Of course, I had the cake donut with the chocolate frosting. Of course the donut was fresh and delicious. It was so good, I had to have another.

The Grassy Knoll Diner scores 4.5 out of 5 shots and recommends Madsen Donuts for dinner.

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Wolrd Cup Soccer Infiltrated By Giant Aliens

Goal.................

Tragedy struck today at the World Cup of soccer as a Giant Alien burst onto the playing field during a match between England and the United States. Alas, this was the first year the American team actually had a shot of advancing.

More news as it develops.

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Geneva On The Lake Lighthouse

Pictured above is the iconic green and white light house located inside the Geneva-On-The-Lake harbor. At one time, it was used to alert ships of shallow water and the shore line. Now it stands dormant still guarding the coastline with my LOGO emblazoned on it for all to see.

Perhaps this very lighthouse was witness to the Edmund Fitzgerald freighter leaving port from Cleveland, Ohio to begin it's final voyage destined for Whitefish Bay in Canada. On November 10th, 1975, as Gordon Lightfoot sang,
"And later that night,
When his lights went out of sight,
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

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Time Square Restaurant Challenge

Menu

Today we are going up against Eddie's Grill, the iconic restaurant just down the parkway from Time Square. Both are located at Geneva-On-The-Lake, Ohio. Both restaurants serve up cheeseburgers, fries, and foot long hot dogs. Both are rich in tradition. Which one is the best tasting, best experience, best value. Lets have a look.

Here is the menu for Time Square Restaurant. 2010 is the first year I recall them having a printed menu. In previous years, the menu was always hand painted on a board outside in the seating area.

We placed our orders and usually we were handed a rock with a number painted on it. Not this year however. The waitress said she would find us when our order was ready.

Time Square Cheeseburger

While waiting for our order, we were serenaded by karaoke singers. Time Square almost always has karaoke set up. Sometimes the singers aren't half bad, some times they are horrible. That's when it's fun. When the singers are horrible. (Like me)

Our waitress found us about ten minutes into a rendition of Britney Spears and brought our order to our table. This is the cheeseburger. The cost was $4.50, compared to the $3.60 Eddie's Grill cheeseburger. On a scale of 1 to 10, Time Square cheeseburger is a 5. It is standard fare as cheeseburgers go. The bun was fresh, the meat cooked well, the cheese melted and the taste over all was good. The Eddie's Grill version is a 10. The bun fresh, the meat, not processed but fresh, well cooked, the cheese melted, and the taste was excellent. And it was 90 cents cheaper than Time Square.

A Regular Order Of Fries

Moving on to the fries. Time Square is famous for it's "Regular" order of fries. In years past, the order was huge,  a party of three could not finish. In the past several years, as with the economy, the order has shrunk in size. You can see the order is still large, but at $6.50 the price is a little steep. The taste was still there. They were fantastic. Crisp, well done, hot, and they have that old fashioned kind of taste. A far superior fry to Eddie's grill.

Eddie's Grill fries were $2.45 per order, and were good, but compared to Time Square, they did not stack up. Time Square's triple order breaks down to about $2.17 per order.

Next, the Time Square foot long hot dog.  The cost was $4.25, 65 cents more  than Eddie's Grill. The taste was good, the bun standard, but nothing spectacular. Eddie's Grill foot long was $3.60 and tasted great. It was fresh, hot, well cooked, and the skin was just crunchy enough.

At Time Square, for three cheeseburgers, three foot long hot dogs, and the large order of fries, the cost was $32.75 without drinks.

At Eddie's Grill, three cheeseburgers, three foot long hot dogs, and three orders of fries, the cost was, $28.95 without drinks.

Eddie's Grill receives the winning marks for the value, a savings of $3.80 for a family of three, the atmosphere, (Original 1950's diner) and the over all quality and taste of the food.

The Grassy Knoll Diner recommends both Time Square Restaurant and Eddie's Grill located at Geneva-On-The-Lake  for lunch and dinner.

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Eddie’s Grill Take Out Cheeseburger – Geneva On The Lake

Eddies Grill - Geneva On The Lake

Eddie's Grill, Iconic restaurant located at Geneva-On-The-Lake is of course my choice for dinner while visiting there. Eddie's Grill is always busy so be prepared for a pleasantly happy crowd. There is plenty of seating but most are usually taken. I was lucky to get a counter bar stool. The waitress took my order and after five minutes, it was delivered.

Eddies Grill Take Out Order

While waiting for my own order, I took in the ambiance of Eddie's Grill. The cooks in white paper hats, the waitresses shouting out orders to the cooks, workers hustling around, cleaning tables and bringing out food. it was a scene right out of a 1950's hamburger diner. And yes, there were plenty of "Fonzies" there.

Anyway, I ordered the cheeseburger, fries, and a foot long hot dog. My order was correct of course. It was on time, and fresh. The cheeseburger may have been the best I have ever tasted. And I have had plenty of them. The fries were hot, well cooked, and plentiful. I ordered the foot long as well just because. (When in Rome)

As you can see by the lighted menu board, the cheeseburger was $3.60, the fries were $2.45, and the foot long was $3.60 which are very good prices for the quality and quantity of food served.

My next update will be Eddie's Grill rival, Time Square Restaurant, just a little ways down the parkway. I will match up item per item in taste, cost, service, and quantity, and quality. Who will win, check back in several days to find out.

The Grassy Knoll Diner scores 5 out of 5 shots and recommends Eddie's Grill for lunch and dinner.

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ABC Lost Answers: Its Time To Let Go Now

Lost Secrets Google Search Rank

Of all the 24,700,000 Lost joints in all the towns in all the world, she surfs into mine. Here's lookin at you Lost.

This is the area where I inserted a meaningful song title to tie in my Lost update to the episode that aired. Well, since there are no more episodes, I was going to skip this section until, as if by fate, as I was listening to some Motown hits this morning, I happened upon this song by Diana Ross and the Supremes. No, no, no, it wasn't Ain't No Mountain High Enough, or Someday We'll Be Together, not even My World Is Empty Without You. This tune hit me square. It is titled,

Reflections by Diana Ross and the Supremes

Through the mirror of my mind
Time after time
I see reflections of you and me

Reflections of
The way life used to be
Reflections of
The love you took from me

Oh, I'm all alone now
No love to shield me
Trapped in a world
That's a distorted reality

Happiness you took from me
And left me alone
With only memories

Through the mirror of my mind
Through these tears that I'm crying
Reflects a hurt I can't control
Cause although you're gone
I keep holding on
To the happy times
Oh, when you were mine

As I peer through the window
Of lost time
Looking over my yesterdays
And all the love I gave all in vain
(All the love) All the love
That I've waisted
(All the tears) All the tears
That I've tasted
All in vain

Through the hollow of my tears
I see a dream that's lost
From the hurt
That you have caused

Everywhere I turn
Seems like everything I see
Reflects the love that used to be

In you I put
All my faith and trust
Right before my eyes
My world has turned to dust

After all the nights
I sat alone and wept
Just a handful of promises
Are all that's left of loving you

Reflections of
The way life used to be
Reflections of
The love you took from me

In you I put
All my faith and trust
Right before my eyes
My world has turned to dust...

It was a hell of a run for the past six years as the Grassy Knoll Institute ranked consistently at the top of Google Search for key words pertaining to ABC Lost. If only one alien, one cryogenic pod, one scientist in a lab coat would have shown up in the church,... Ahh well, so shall it is.

This is the section where I would state my Lost theory, something like, No plane crash, no island, Juliets rack, Jacks a pussy, experiments, tests, aliens, government men, Rod Serling, cue the Lost music.

But anyway, as the Grassy Knoll Institute moves on and past the Lost Experience, we do have some closing remarks and questions. We understand that these questions will never be answered and just merely float around in cyber-space for all eternity but we're asking them anyway.

Question #1: After the Lost pilot episode aired, Cuse and Lindelof stated that the castaways were not in Purgatory. Not dead. Not in Heaven or Hell.

For six years, we were exposed to multiple time travel. Pushing a silly button every 108 minutes to save the world. Alternate realities. Life. Death. Hauntings. Ghosts. People that talk to ghosts. People that don't age. A smoke monster. Egyptian, Greek, and Roman markings and mysticism. An eternal life spring. People that are healed upon touching the island. People than are not healed upon touching the island. We saw the island disappear. We saw the island reappear. We saw flashes in the sky. We saw the hatch. Dr. Chang's tutorial films. We were introduced to the Hanso corporation. The Dharma Institute. Juliet's great rack. (Which we will never complain about) Space-time continuum theorems even Albert Einstein couldn't comprehend.

And what do all these things mean? Bumphus? Absolutely nothing. Except to the advertising world that stretched Lost into six seasons. Cuse and Lindelof, for lack of a better word, lied to the viewers of Lost. In the end, the castaways were all dead. And they were in Purgatory. So we have that....

Question #2: If only what happened on the island mattered, why were we subjected to six season of flash backs, flash forwards, and finally side way flashes? For the almighty advertising dollar. It was all filler. Sort of what's inside hot dogs. Hot dogs taste great, but you don't want to know what they are made of. (What's in the hatch? - What's in the hot dog?)

Question #3: Claire Littleton was pregnant on the island. She gave birth to a healthy boy she named Aaron. If they were all dead, then Aaron was born in Purgatory, and since you have to be dead to get into Purgatory, that means Aaron was already dead when he was born and Claire already dead when giving birth. See the spin here?

However, if what happens on the island only matters, how could Aaron also be born off the island, and live with Kate off the island if he was already born on the island, and in fact, born in Purgatory? These are the kind of answers I was looking for Sunday night.

Question #4: Jack made Hurley the new protector of the island. Made him drink from the river of life or whatever and told Hurley, "Now you are like me!" As in what Jacob told Jack. If they are like Jacob, and Jacob has been around for at least 2000 years, wouldn't that denote that Hurley would have the same type of life span? Especially with the smoke monster eliminated, and no natural enemies, Hurley should have lived for thousands of years just like Jacob. How did Hurley die? Did he eat himself into oblivion?

If Hurley was like Jacob, and did live for several thousand years, then all those people who were already dead had a very long time to wait in the church. I know, I know, time doesn't matter where they are, (Thanks Christian for that cherub) but he certainly would have outlasted Jack. Right? Right? Why was everyone waiting for Jack and not Hurley?

Question #5: Is Purgatory by invitation only? Not that anyone wants to be invited to that party, but where was Mr. Eko? Arguably the man with the most faith out of all the castaways. And school teacher Artz. All he wanted to do was protect and help. Where's his happy ending? And what about Walt? Where's his happy ending? Where's his anything ending? Some would say Michael, since he murdered two people, wasn't permitted to enter the church. If that were true, why was Sawyer there, who murdered a man on and off the island? And Kate, who murdered a man off the island? Niki and Paulo anyone?

Question #6: For years, all we heard was the love Desmond had for Penny. In the finale, he never even knew who Penny was. He was never with Penny o the island. If what happened on the island was the only thing that mattered, why was Desmond and Penny together in the church?

So, that's six questions for six seasons. As a bonus, there's always a bonus, perhaps one last Tidbit from tonight's episode section: Will there be a post Lost spin-off movie or series? Exploring the lives of the purgatory they now live (Die) in. Fleshing out the years of Sawyer and Juliet and her magnificent rack. Jack and Kate? Sayid and Shannon. Hurley, king of the jungle. Charlie and Claire. And when Ben finally has the courage to step through the church doors. Perhaps then we will see a Twilight Zone twist of fate or even aliens experimenting on the castaways in a cryogenic chamber. Perhaps not!

Epilogue:
Thank you to everyone who supported my humble Lost blog, visited my site on a regular basis, commented, and put up with my outlandish theory and updates the past six years. You have all made the Lost experience that much more entertaining. Without you, I probably would not have continued the updates. (Some may think that would have been a good thing) And with that,...

See You In Another Life Brother

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Lost Update - Series Finale - The Long And Winding Road

Lost Series Finale - 05/23/10

ABC Lost Secrets – Virtual Reality – Alternate Reality

Lost Update - Series Finale - 05/23/2010

The long and winding road
That leads to your door
Will never disappear
I've seen that road before
It always leads me here
Lead me to you door

The wild and windy night
That the rain washed away
Has left a pool of tears
Crying for the day
Why leave me standing here
Let me know the way

Many times I've been alone
And many times I've cried
Any way you'll never know
The many ways I've tried

And still they lead me back
To the long winding road
You left me standing here
A long long time ago
Don't leave me waiting here
Lead me to your door

But still they lead me back
To the long winding road
You left me standing here
A long long time ago
Don't keep me waiting here
Lead me to your door
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...

I chose the Beatles song The Long And Winding Road as the Lost series finale title for several reasons. In 1969 and 1970, the Beatles imploded, the band split up and their final two albums were in peril of not getting completed. (Some speculate that Yoko Ono was a main conduit in their demise much like MIB was to the Lost candidates) The original code name for the follow up to the White Album was "Get Back." However, the project fizzled after several tracks were laid down and the Beatles were close to folding.

In the end, the Fab Four pulled it together, (Much like the Lost candidates) and released the Abbey Road album in 1969 and the Let it Be album in 1970. It was released in May of 1970, perhaps the same time the Dharma Institute first landed on the Lost island and set up camp. Let It Be was supposed to be released before Abbey road but as discussed above, it was part of the Get Back project and was shelved for a time. Almost as if the album time traveled to the future.

The lyrics itself of The Long And Winding Road speak of a love story with heartache always leading back to the beginning. And like my Lost theory, it began with the pilot episode and after a long and winding six seasons, we're finally at the end of our journey.

Just what was the Grassy Knoll Institutes Lost theory….It's finally time to reveal all...
Although it appears the survivors of Oceanic flight 815 are on a tropical island, they are being deceived. There is no island. The survivors are in a virtual reality laboratory. All the castaways are interconnected to one another sharing each others thoughts, memories, and feelings. While in this virtual reality laboratory, a battery of physical and mental experiments are performed on them. And who is running these experiments? As Juliet stated at the season three finale, the Aliens of course.

Wow, what a finale. This is going to be a short and sweet update. I am only going to state a few things here and pretty much like the Lost writers did, let you decide what just happened. Maybe Kimmel live will be able to shed more light (Pun intended) on what really happened on Lost.

First and foremost, I want to thank all those who have followed my blog during the past six seasons. I hope you have enjoyed the past six years as much as I did. From the get go, I announced my theory, virtual reality, and proceeded to prove the theory week in and week out. In the same breath, I also stated that I had a one in a million chance of being correct. At least I was correct on that. :D

When I started writing this, I was going to point out what Christian said to his son, "This is a place you all made together so you could find one another." I think I could make the argument that they all had the same shared experience, all experiencing the same scenario at the same time, and perhaps that would explain my virtual reality theory. However, I don't think so. The way the show ended, all in the church, all reunited and happy, with the good Shepherd (Christian) leading them into the light, it was all about redemption and love.

Before I turn this over to the commenters just waiting to say, YOU'RE WRONG DUDE, I TOLD YOU SO. ETC. I'll leave you all with a line from my favorite band, the Beatles, that sums up the entire Lost series in one simple line.

And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love, you make...

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Blaines Restaurant - Chicken Parmesan Penne

Blaine's Grill And Bar - Gatlinburg

Blaine's Grill And Bar located in the heart of Gatlinburg has a unique restaurant atmosphere. When entering, you quickly notice it's a multi-level restaurant with distinct sections for dining. The wood decor is very "Country Western" type. Very nice.

The hostess at the entrance radioed ahead to have us seated. after walking up two flights of stairs our table server greeted us and led us to our table.

Blaine's Loaded Potato Skins

In a minute, our waitress returned and asked for our drink and appetizer order. I ordered the loaded potato skins for an appetizer. in less than 10 minutes, our appetizers were delivered. As you can see, there were plenty of them and they were loaded with bacon and cheese. The potato skins were well done, not burnt, and very good tasting. The cheese was plenty as well as the well-cooked bacon. So far, so good.

Blaine's Chicken Pasta

For my dinner, I ordered the Chicken Parmesan Penne. I was expecting penne pasta in tomato sauce and a slab of breaded fried chicken covered with cheese and tomato sauce. I received this. I was pleasantly surprised. Instead of a slab of chicken, it was cut up into small strips and chunks and mixed with the penne and sauce. It was surprising good.

The chicken was juicy, hot, and plentiful, and smothered in a cheese and tomato sauce that was very good. The penne was well-cooked, and the aforementioned sauce was just zesty enough to bring the taste home.

The cost was very reasonable. The loaded potato skins were $5.95 and the main course was $9.95 plus diet drink. Total cost without tip was $18.00 dollars. For Gatlinburg, and for the portions served, it was a great bargain. The excellent service of the hostess and waitress only added to the good experience.

The Grassy Knoll Diner scores 4.25 out of 5 shots and recommends Blaine's Grill And Bar of Gatlinburg for dinner.

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