Did he yell, "Fire!"??

KENOSHA, Wis. - It might sound like a chocoholic's dream, but stepping into a vat of viscous chocolate became a two-hour nightmare for a 21-year-old man Friday morning. Darmin Garcia, an employee of a company that supplies chocolate ingredients, said he was pushing the chocolate down into the vat at Debelis Corp. because it was stuck. But it became loose and he slid into the hopper.

The chocolate was 110 degrees, hotter than a hot tub, said Capt. Greg Sinnen of the Kenosha Fire Department.

Co-workers, police and firefighters tried to free the man but couldn't get him loose until the chocolate was thinned out with cocoa butter.

Is this Heaven?

No, it's not. But to a couple of adolescents who love baseball, it's close. The kids spent a few days with Grandma and Grandpa Ziegenhorn this week. One day they made the trip to Dyersville, Iowa to see the actual Field of Dreams. If you bring your own equipment, you can play on the field. It looks like a blast. I am very jealous.

That's David at first base and Rachel at bat. (Cousin Kyler came along too.)

Book list

This is for my dear sister-in-law Jen who loves me enough to tag me for this list.

1. One book that changed your life:
"Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Suess. It's the first one I read by myself and I haven't stopped since.

2. One book that you've read more than once:
Only one??? I can't narrow it down to one. How about all of "The Chronicles of Narnia", "Animal Farm", or any of the pop fiction of John Grisham, Michael Crichton, or Clive Cussler.

3. One book you'd want on a desert island:
"The Chronicles of Narnia". (It comes in one volume. Of course, it's mis-numbered...)

4. One book that made you laugh:
"Dave Barry's Book of Bad Songs"

5. One book that made you cry:
"My Brother Sam is Dead" by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier.

6. One book that you wish had been written:
This is the hardest question in the bunch. The perfect answer is the title that Dan created. I would LOVE to read that! My answer however, is a book for which I have been searching for years, a biography of Billy Joel.

7. One book that you wish had never been written:
"The Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin.

8. The book you are currently reading:
"Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis, and "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" by J.K. Rowling.

9. One book you've been meaning to read:
"1984" It's only been 22 years now.

10. Now tag five people:
I don't know 5 people. At least not 5 people who have blogs and haven't already answered. However, if they're up to it, I nominate my parents.

Lucky Thirteen

Thirteen years ago today I did something wise beyond my years. I stood in front of a crowd of people and made some promises to a woman that I hardly knew. It was the smartest thing I have ever done. I joined together with a person who not only overlooks my faults, but one who actually counters them. Where I am deficient, she is skilled. Talents I lack, she possesses. She is a perfect complement to me.

Like I said, I married a woman I barely knew. That sounds bad to say it, but it really is true. I didn't realize that at the time, but as I look back it's clear. It was obviously divine guidance that brought us together. It has been a real treat to get to know her better over the years. I'm still discovering new things about her, and enjoying every minute of it. As cliche as it sounds, I can honestly say that I love her more today than I did when we got married.

The time has absolutely flown by. We both feel like it has been no more than 5 years we've been together. I wonder how we will feel when we've been married for 40 years. Probably like it's been about a dozen years or so. Time sure flies when you're having fun. Well, I'm having fun.

Happy anniversary, Dawn. Thanks for choosing me. I'm sure glad you did.