little blog on the prairie

But tonight it’s all about Friday. Friday Night Lights, that is.

If you’re not watching this show — the season finale airs on NBC tonight at 7 p.m. — you’re missing something special. This show may have the pretense that it’s about football — after all, the lead character is the head football coach in a small town in pigskin-crazy Texas — but it’s really about the people who play the game, the coaches who coach it, and the people that love them. While they’re all connected by football, it’s the relationships — husbands and wives, parents and children, coaches and students, etc., that cement them together.

It’s not often that I’m this passionate about a television show, especially one that airs on the big three networks. But that’s what makes this show so compelling, is that it makes you genuinely care about the characters.  No show is perfect — I don’t like how several of the “kids” playing high schoolers are old enough to have master’s degrees — even so this show reminds me that in this “reality TV” world, television may have redeeming qualities after all.

Unfortunately, FNL hasn’t found as many fans as crazy about it as I am. So there’s some concern that the show might be a one-year wonder. Here’s an excellent synopsis on why this show is deserving of another go-around.  If you haven’t seen the show, you can watch every episode of Season One online.

Although I Tivo most of the TV shows I watch, I’m going to try to watch this one live, if Peanut cooperates. And I’m going to check out the live blog. Wow, I am officially a groupie.

Before Friday night, in my mind Escobar was the wonderfully wicked Colombian drug dealer on Nip/Tuck, one of my unabashedly favorite things on TV these days.

That’s until we ventured out to Escobar’s, Champaign’s newest Latin-fusion restaurant that opened Feb. 6. The proprietors are the owner/chef tandem from Milo’s in Urbana, and because of my fond feelings for all things Milo’s I was eager to get in the door. I don’t claim to be a foodie — I leave that to Lisa at Champaign Taste — so take this for what it is.

Here’s my assessment:

Ambiance. The place is LOUD. I mean LOUD. My 11-month-old could have screamed her heart out and no one would have noticed. So if you’re looking for a romantic, intimate evening, go somewhere else, but with a group it is appropriate. The place is decorated beautifully — from the floors to the sinks in the bathroom. But the lighting is so dim that it was hard to see some of the little touches here and there.

The service. Attentive, although hardly impeccable. We had to ask for bread plates; Mr. lbotp, who had the sirloin, was not given a steak knife — a little odd.

The food. We saved the best for last — I loved the Mexican chocolate cake. I had the tequila-lime shrimp, which was succulent and well done, but the rice and vegetables were a little skimpy and lukewarm. My husband’s sirloin was average, although he enjoyed the sauce. But my dog could have made better mashed potatoes that what he received.

Overall. I couldn’t help but have the feeling that I was at Milo’s with a little jalapeno-viniagarette here and a pinch of tequila-lime there. Don’t get me wrong, I lurve Milo’s, and I have often professed that here. But even the way the menu is organized is just like Milo’s. And the selection of foods seemed to be somewhat familiar. I guess the similarity, for me, was disappointing in the sense that I was hoping for something different but just as good as Milo’s, if not possibly better. I was a little let down by my Escobar’s experience, but I have to admit that perhaps my expectations were too high. I would definitely go back there again, but next time it will be for the Sunday brunch.

(For another review of Escobar’s that talks about alcohol — we’re not big drinkers — check out Lisa’s recent tome. She has pics of the mexican chocolate cake and the beautiful restroom sink.)

It’s over.

It was a difficult decision, but somewhat mutual. We had grown apart.

You see, the person I trusted must in the world — with those agile hands and good conversational skills — has moved on. Her life was about to change, and I wasn’t going to be a part of it anymore. It’s time to catch another one of those many hairdresser fish in the vast sea. Our schedules just don’t jive anymore, and my locks are paying the price.

I now must release my wavy raven tresses to someone else. So I am going to take the plunge this week and allow someone new into my hair’s finicky life.

Wish me luck.

I (Heart) Explosives

Seen on: A red Honda Civic Hatchback with one of those Jesus fish

Where: the corner of Kirby and Mattis

When: Saturday afternoon before the ice storm

The News-Gazette recently changed its obituary policy, which has generated plenty of controversy on the letters to the editors page. In summary, the N-G used to run free obits that followed a strict formula. They were treated as news stories, and there was no input taken from the families of the deceased. Now, for 5.5 cents a character (and another $10 for a photo), people can wax on and on about their loved ones who have gone on to another place.

Paid obituaries are nothing new in the newspaper business. If anything, the N-G was about three decades behind other papers in getting into the death-for-profit market. But our purpose here isn’t to pass judgment on the change, but rather to reflect on how the obituaries section has now become another must-read section of the paper, and not just for your grandmother.

Without the change, we wouldn’t have had this gem in Friday’s paper in the obituary of Trent Tate, 51, of Rantoul. Mr. Tate had seven surviving children and three more proceeded him in death. The obituary continued:

In deepest regret, there are more children unknown to the family, but our prayers go out to them.

I’m not sure if one can read that without eyes popping out of one’s head.

It’s that time of the month, my friends. Time to let it all out, and air your grievances for all the good little boys and girls of C-U to see. As usual, I’ll start first. I actually have two today.

To the City of Champaign Public Works department: We who live on cul-de-sacs should not be treated as second-class citizens. Repaving the street that leads into the cul-de-sac was nice of you. But please, finish the job. It looks ridiculous. I’ll even wave my rights to my driveway for a week or so. Otherwise, we’ll have to throw a little tea party in Lake Devonshire.

To Insight Cable: I don’t care if my neighbor wants high-speed Internet service. There is no way you are tearing up my yard for your customer. What gives you the right? That’s what DSL is for.

Make them into lemonade. Four-year-old cancer patient Alex Scott took this message to heart, and decided to have a lemonade stand to raise money to help raise money for a cure for pediatric cancer. What started in this brave little girl’s front yard became a national cause, as lemonade stands popped up across the country to join the fight for children everywhere.

Alex Scott lost her battle with cancer two years ago this month; at the time of her death, she had raised close to a $1 million. But her legacy lives on and this coming Saturday, it will visit Urbana. A group of C-U kids will be hosting a lemonade stand at the Market on the Square, from 7 a.m. to noon. Be sure to visit their booth, and raise your glass to Alex Scott and all the other boys, girls and families touched by childhood cancer.

Here’s a roundup of comings, goings and just some random thoughts about food in C-U.

• Pammiecakes has been to the new Super Suppers in Southwest Champaign. And the Springfield newsies thought the meal-assembly craze coming to Central Illinois was worth a trip to C-U.

• The downtown sushi establishment Hinode (not surprisingly) has gone out of business, but sushi conniseurs don’t fear; another sushi restaurant will open in its place. I never figured out what they did when they were closed on Tuesdays.

• Speaking of sushi, as an lbotp poster mentioned recently, the Champaign Schnuck’s new sushi bar is indeed open. They had free samples of California rolls on Saturday. I wouldn’t rush over there, but if you need a sudden sushi fix and don’t have time or funds to head to KoFusion, it’s an affordable option to tide you over.

• Rumors have been swirling that a somewhat authentic Kosher deli will be coming to C-U, and lbotp sources have confirmed that it will be located near Strawberry Fields in Urbana. The deli will have both table and counter service. If successful, this would fill a major void in the C-U dining scene.

• Have you checked out frequent lbotp poster Lisa’s Champaign Taste blog? She recently visited B-Won, the new Korean place on South Neil. I enjoyed her story about the hot towels; there aren’t too many places that do that anymore.

• I still haven’t been to Hedgerow Bistro. Must. Go. Soon.

Americans love rankings and lists, there’s no question.

And we here at lbotp are no different.

Check out Money magazine’s latest listings of the “Best Places in America” and you can’t help but chuckle when it comes to this category: skinniest. Our very own Champaign ranks as the 12th sveltest city in America, using average body mass index as the indicator. (Evidently they haven’t factored in my post-baby waistline. Did they realize how much Custard Cup people eat here??)

Oddly enough, Houston, which Men’s Fitness named as American’s Fattest City in 2005, is ranked No. 3.

Other tidings:

• The UI alumnus behind Deadspin.com, a great blog that I should add to my favorites, is coming to town for a book signing on Thursday afternoon.
• In case you missed it, Becky Mabry’s story on the Amish produce auction in Monday’s N-G was fantastic.

There are a million things to do this weekend around C-U, including the afore-mentioned Taste, the Master Gardeners’ Walk, Fun Days in Tolono.

But this weekend is also something special for our four-legged (and more) friends. It is Best Friends Weekend, a time to perform random acts of kindness for animals. I pledge to take KC on a long walk, perhaps to the Market on the Square and maybe even to doggie playgroup if Peanut’s schedule allows it.

So pet your dog, kiss your bunny, coo at the cat, and give the goldfish a special treat.