Saturday Morning Train Tradition with my Son Cole

Every Saturday morning, my 9-year-old son Cole, who has autism, and I have a little tradition. We hop on the Metra train at Ravinia station and take the 17 minute ride up to Wilmette. Cole has loved trains since he was a little boy. For Cole, the journey is as rewarding as the destination. He stares out the window the entire ride, observing every detail about the train with childlike wonder.

Waiting on the platform for the train to arrive is an adventure in itself for Cole. He flaps his arms and squeals on occasion in excitement and joy. His happiness and enthusiasm are infectious. For Cole, our routine gives him comfort and joy. We don’t have conversations, but instead just enjoy each other’s company.

When we arrive at the Wilmette station, we make our way over to Starbucks where Cole always gets his favorite treat - a blueberry muffin. To get there, we have to cross busy Greenbay Road. Cole doesn't like when I hold his hand, but he knows he has to for safety. No matter how many times we do our Saturday routine, Cole never tires of that muffin. After getting our treats, we find a spot on the train platform to enjoy them while waiting for the next Metra back to Ravinia. Cole eats his muffin quickly, savoring each bite.

The journey back to Ravinia is equally rewarding for Cole. He remembers each stop on the Union Pacific North route and announces each one in turn. While brief, these moments feel special.

On occasion, we continue three stops past Ravinia to the Ft. Sheridan station, where Cole's Grandpa, my father, who we call Pops, picks us up and drives us back to Ravinia. Pops understands Cole's love of trains, and is always happy to extend our Saturday morning adventure.

Before long, our Saturday morning adventure comes to an end as we return to Ravinia station. My heart fills with gratitude for these moments with my boy. Our tradition of riding the Metra and grabbing a quick treat at Starbucks create memories I will cherish forever. Even after only 17 minutes, I feel closer to Cole and more appreciative of the wonder he brings to my world.

Watching Cole observe the train with such attention, flap with joy, announce each stop, and devour that muffin reminds me to appreciate life’s simple details. His delight is contagious. Our Saturday morning outing is a reminder of the beauty in each moment, especially the moments shared without words.

Top 50 Movies Since 1980 (List produced by ChatGPT3)

 Dont know how #13, Seven Saumrai snuck in there... AI glitch :-)

1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

2. The Dark Knight (2008)

3. Schindler's List (1993)

4. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

5. Pulp Fiction (1994)

6. Forrest Gump (1994)

7. Inception (2010)

8. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

9. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

10. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

11. The Matrix (1999)

12. Goodfellas (1990)

13. Seven Samurai (1954)

14. Se7en (1995)

15. City of God (2002)

16. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

17. Life is Beautiful (1997)

18. The Usual Suspects (1995)

19. Léon: The Professional (1994)

20. Spirited Away (2001)

21. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

22. American History X (1998)

23. Interstellar (2014)

24. The Green Mile (1999)

25. The Prestige (2006)

26. The Intouchables (2011)

27. Whiplash (2014)

28. The Departed (2006)

29. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

30. Back to the Future (1985)

31. Alien (1979)

32. The Lion King (1994)

33. Apocalypse Now (1979)

34. Gladiator (2000)

35. The Pianist (2002)

36. Memento (2000)

37. Amélie (2001)

38. Terminator (1984)

39. Jurassic Park (1993)

40. E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982)

41. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

42. Braveheart (1995)

43. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

44. Titanic (1997)

45. The Terminator (1984)

46. Groundhog Day (1993)

47. The Big Lebowski (1998)

48. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

49. Die Hard (1988)

50. The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

Blueberry Smoothie recipe written by GPT3

Are you looking for a delicious way to get your daily dose of protein and antioxidants? Look no further than this blueberry smoothie recipe! With the addition of Vega Vanilla Protein Powder, this smoothie is not only delicious but also packed with essential nutrients.

## Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make this smoothie:

- 1 banana

- 1 cup frozen blueberries

- 1 cup almond milk

- 1 scoop Vega Vanilla Protein Powder

- 1 tsp honey

- 1 tsp chia seeds

## Preparation

1. Peel and slice the banana and place it into the blender.

2. Add the frozen blueberries to the blender.

3. Pour in the almond milk.

4. Add the Vega Vanilla Protein Powder and honey.

5. Sprinkle in the chia seeds.

6. Blend all ingredients together until smooth.

7. Pour the smoothie into a glass and enjoy!

## Why This Recipe is the Best

This recipe is the best for several reasons:

- Bananas are a great source of potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure and support heart health.

- Blueberries are a low-calorie fruit that's packed with antioxidants and vitamin C.

- Almond milk is a low-fat alternative to dairy milk and is rich in calcium and vitamin E.

- Vega Vanilla Protein Powder is a plant-based protein powder that provides a boost of protein and helps keep you feeling full. It's also low in sugar and gluten-free.

- Honey is a natural sweetener that provides energy and helps regulate blood sugar levels.

- Chia seeds are a good source of fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids.

## Conclusion

This blueberry smoothie recipe with Vega Vanilla Protein Powder is the perfect way to get a nutritious and delicious meal in a glass. Whether you're looking for a healthy breakfast option or a refreshing snack, you can't go wrong with this smoothie. Give it a try and let us know what you think in the comments below!

Should I start blogging again?

It's been almost 4 years! Let me know.

Every show I watch goes off the air (besides the Bachelor)

Over the past few years, somehow the majority of television shows I choose to watch are pulled off the air in under 2 seasons. My wife and I were recently discussing how I have the worst taste in TV shows when we uncovered this fact. Some of these shows you may not have even heard of, but it's a horrible list of shows. If there are any Hollywood Producers that want to know whether or not their show will fail, please call me, if I like the concept, don't produce it!

1. Paradise Hotel - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374440/
2. Sarah Connor Chronicles - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0851851/
3. The Hard Times of RJ Berger - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1451387/
4. Terra Nova - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1641349/
5. The Glass House - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2387249/
6. Revolution - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2070791/
7. Utopia (going off the air soon I am sure) - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3703500/
8. Away (didnt make past 1 season) - Link

Smoothie 3.0

I have been making smoothies every morning for the last 10 years. Refer to this previous post to see my 2.0 recipe.... http://www.dpessis.com/2011/12/waking-up-smoothly-with-smoothie.html. This recipe constantly evolves and improves as I continue to be an expert on nutrition, and better understand what the body needs to thrive and succeed - in addition to eating pizza for 5 meals a week. Below is the recipe, as well as quantities, and links to these products so you can see the details. You don't need to buy from these links as they are easily available at the store.

1. Pour half a cup of oats (quaker oats plain) into a cup, fill the cup with enough water so that it's at the same level of the oats, place in microwave for 30 seconds.
2. Pour 1/2 scoop of Vega One powder into blender (very important this is the first thing you poor into the blender so it's on the bottom, this way it won't stick to the walls of the blender). Also I prefer the french vanilla flavor, although I enjoy vanilla chai as well. This is $10 cheaper on Amazon than if you buy at Whole Foods.
3. Pour just under 1 cup of blueberries .93 cups, or half a bag of Whole Foods 365 frozen blueberries. (I have done lots of research on blueberries, the Whole Foods 365 are the most consistent, enjoyable flavor).
4. Pour 10 oz of vanilla almond milk into blender.
5. Pour the half cup of microwaved oats into blender, use this same cup in the next step.
6. Place 3 ice cubes in the cup, fill with ~3 tablespoons of water, shake the water around the cup to loosen up the oats stuck to the cup, poor the cup into the blender (we don't wan't to waste any ingredients).
7. Add a big generous tablespoon of peanut butter. 
8. Blend her up!!!!  (If you have a weak blender, sometimes it's difficult to get it going with all this stuff jammed in. I recently purchased a Ninja blender, and for the first time in my life I NEVER have this problem). 

Are Samsung phones worth the hype?

Last Friday, I made the bold move of purchasing the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. I have been an iOS guy for the past couple years, I've been using the iPhone 5 since it's release, and I've been perfectly happy. With all the hype out there about these Samsung devices I had to see for myself. I would consider myself a power user, I really get into the details of the OS, so in my opinion, my opinion really matters!

Here is the bottom line, iOS used to have a huge lead on Android, but that gap has now closed. There are pros and cons to each device, but at the end of the day both devices are on par with each other. I believe we have finally come close to perfecting the smart phone! Below you'll find my list of pros and cons of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs. iPhone 5.

Pros of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2

• Huge awesome screen (I have barely used my iPad since purchasing this phone)
• I am a google Apps user, and the Gmail App as well as the Calendar is a far superior experience
• Widgets (obviously), calendar, weather, contacts etc.
• The motion gestures, for example, I can just swipe my hand across the screen to take a screenshot, or tilt the device to zoom in on a webpage.. very convenient!
•  When I take a picture, then click share, it gives me a list of all the apps I have the ability to share with, as opposed to iPhone, I have to go directly to the app, then image gallery, then select the photo
• I like the blinking light that lets me know there is a notification
• This is due the large screen but, Google Docs and Dropbox are unreal, so easy to view, read and share documents, still not a fan of editing documents outside of the desktop
• Note: I Have not gotten around to using the Stylus yet, but I am sure it's awesome
• The ability to pull down from the top of the screen, and see all the latest notifications, cannot beat this, it's perhaps the best feature, to have everything centralized

Cons of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2

• Occasional bugs/slowdown - for example I'll be in the Gmail App, and clicking through emails, and suddenly it just closes out, same for Skype. Gmail most disappointing since this is an Android phone, the OS built by Google
• I love on the iPhone how I can access my Starbucks App, or Boarding passes right from the lock screen without logging in,  as far as I know can't do that on the Note 2
• I am so used to the back button in iOS in the upper left on almost all Apps, so all the navigation is up top on most iOS apps, with Android, that is the case too, but most of time time you have to use the built in back button on the bottom of the Note 2 to go back, I find myself going to the top of the phone to navigate, then the bottom of the phone to go back, this is particularly annoying with a phone of this size, but I think I'll get used to it
• You have to go into each specific app to customize notification settings, as opposed to iOS where you have a central notifications section in settings, this is fairly annoying
• No iMessage :-)
• No integration with my Apple TV, loved how my photos automatically showed up on Apple TV

Conclusion: Samsung phones aren't worth the hype, but it's finally nice to have another Smartphone manufacturer that's on par with the iPhone. Competition is good for innovation, and pricing for the consumers!