Things I need to do before I die:
1) Participate in a super sweet flash mob dance. Well, right?
2) Hot air balloon ride -- the kind where you pack a picnic, drink champagne and such
3) Go to the Olympics. Summer, winter, it really doesn't matter. It would just be fun.
4) Take a vacation that is longer than 2 weeks
5) Make a longer bucket list with cooler things to do before I die.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Technology Addicts Unite!
I've turned into a complete tech gadget collector. I blame my husband. He is forever sending me links to stories about the coolest, newest, most amazing inventions in the world of computers, music players, video contraptions and the like.
I used to be a practical user of technology. I had a home PC, a basic cell phone, a first generation iPod and a simple television/DVD player. It was easy and uncomplicated. I was happy. I didn't know any better. Wasn't paying attention. Life was good. Since meeting Mr. Oz, things have changed. Gone are the days of my distant relationship with all things tech. Now we have a wireless router with multiple computers and printers all networked together to form a spider web of connections & conversations. I have returned to my roots of Apple and am now a proud Macbook Pro owner. I have an iPhone and brighter, fancier iPod. There is also a xbox which Mr. Oz has converted into a media center where we watch our movies and television shows. Nintendo Wii, bluetooth, external hard drives, jump drives, instant messaging, texts, Blogs, Facebook, Twitter . . . you name it we have it, use it, love it. Well . . . mostly love it. We are better, faster, smarter. This is life on the Internet superhighway and I'm driving a powerful convertible. Top down. Hair blowin in the wind. Weeeeeee.
OK, so occasionally I become despondent with the ubiquitous presence of metal, microchips and interfaces. I long for real, face-to-face interaction versus the sound-byte tweets and chirps of data. Sigh. It is in times like this, when I'm at the end of my virtual cord, that I need to take stock of all the benefits of our modern conveniences. I'm good. We're good. We couldn't possibly need another gadget, another megabyte, nothing. Just when I think the limit has been attained; our gadget collection has reached its maximum capacity, well, then Mr. Oz sends me another link. Apple's launching the next generation iPod nano. So? Big deal, right? Well, the new version boasts video recording capability, built in FM radio and a pedometer. Wha, wha, what?!
Drool.
I want it.
I want it in orange.
Help.
I need help.
I used to be a practical user of technology. I had a home PC, a basic cell phone, a first generation iPod and a simple television/DVD player. It was easy and uncomplicated. I was happy. I didn't know any better. Wasn't paying attention. Life was good. Since meeting Mr. Oz, things have changed. Gone are the days of my distant relationship with all things tech. Now we have a wireless router with multiple computers and printers all networked together to form a spider web of connections & conversations. I have returned to my roots of Apple and am now a proud Macbook Pro owner. I have an iPhone and brighter, fancier iPod. There is also a xbox which Mr. Oz has converted into a media center where we watch our movies and television shows. Nintendo Wii, bluetooth, external hard drives, jump drives, instant messaging, texts, Blogs, Facebook, Twitter . . . you name it we have it, use it, love it. Well . . . mostly love it. We are better, faster, smarter. This is life on the Internet superhighway and I'm driving a powerful convertible. Top down. Hair blowin in the wind. Weeeeeee.
OK, so occasionally I become despondent with the ubiquitous presence of metal, microchips and interfaces. I long for real, face-to-face interaction versus the sound-byte tweets and chirps of data. Sigh. It is in times like this, when I'm at the end of my virtual cord, that I need to take stock of all the benefits of our modern conveniences. I'm good. We're good. We couldn't possibly need another gadget, another megabyte, nothing. Just when I think the limit has been attained; our gadget collection has reached its maximum capacity, well, then Mr. Oz sends me another link. Apple's launching the next generation iPod nano. So? Big deal, right? Well, the new version boasts video recording capability, built in FM radio and a pedometer. Wha, wha, what?!
Drool.
I want it.
I want it in orange.
Help.
I need help.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Blatent Re-Post of Some Funny Stuff
My sister's blog is HILARIOUS! Many of her posts leave me rolling on the floor in gut-bending laughter. I find myself going back to re-read them when I need a moment of humor. Anyway, this last one was so funny, I wanted to re-post here and share with those of you who don't have access to it. Here ya go. Enjoy!
Oh and sister, I hope this doesn't violate any infringement, copy write type laws or anything. Please don't sue me. Thanks.
***************************************************************************************
This is my letter to the Sam's Club sample lady who confronted me this weekend OR, as I would like to call it, What I Should Have Said, part one.
Dear Sam's Club Sample Lady,
I was shopping in your store this past weekend. Perhaps you remember me, I was the girl pushing the cart, knoshing on the previous sample lady's goods (chicken salad on a whole wheat cracker) when I rolled up to your table and was reading the sign on the front of your cart when you looked up at me and said, "Why don't you chew and swallow what you have in your mouth now before you start taking something from my table." You said it with a sneer of disgust, as I recall. Remember me? I would hope so. I would hope that this little phrase isn't something that you say to all of the Sam's Club shoppers. Perhaps the fact that I looked horrified is enough to jog your memory.
Well, I've got a few things to say to you. First, I'm certain it did not occur to you that I had gotten up early that morning, drove nearly 4 hours and golfed nine holes before I got to Sam's Club to run a few quick errands so I could get home as soon as possible in order to do more chores that I had neglected over the weekend - thus, I didn't have time to stop and eat for most of the day? I don't suppose it mattered to you that I was famished.
I don't suppose it occurred to you that I was merely reading the advertisement in order to discover what strange breaded meat you were, in fact, slicing while I chewed the previous sample and that I had no intention of partaking of said breaded cod strips covered with some weird ketchup based sauce.
Frankly, neither of the above really matter. What matters is that you were hired to do a job....a very simple job, hand out food to would-be purchasers. Yeah, that is right, Blue Hair, I'm talking about you. I'm pointing out that in order to do your job, you don't need a high school degree or college degree. You don't even have to know how to read or write. All you have to know is cut, place on napkin, serve and smile. That is it. I believe it is a fair statement that you aren't even capable of that. You JUST couldn't help yourself, could you? You had to comment. You had to blather on as though anyone with a brain in their head gives a rat's ass what you think. You had to turn some screw - maybe the one that was formerly lodged in your cold, dead heart? Well, I got news for you, Raisin, nobody wants to buy fishsticks from stuck up grannies who don't have enough sense to keep their shitty comments to themselves. If I wasn't such a nice person, I would have gotten medieval on your old, wrinkled ass.
And further, the girth of your behind leads me to believe that you, also, should walk away from the table every once in awhile when your mouth is still full. After all, one who lives in a glass house, should not throw stones.
Oh and sister, I hope this doesn't violate any infringement, copy write type laws or anything. Please don't sue me. Thanks.
***************************************************************************************
This is my letter to the Sam's Club sample lady who confronted me this weekend OR, as I would like to call it, What I Should Have Said, part one.
Dear Sam's Club Sample Lady,
I was shopping in your store this past weekend. Perhaps you remember me, I was the girl pushing the cart, knoshing on the previous sample lady's goods (chicken salad on a whole wheat cracker) when I rolled up to your table and was reading the sign on the front of your cart when you looked up at me and said, "Why don't you chew and swallow what you have in your mouth now before you start taking something from my table." You said it with a sneer of disgust, as I recall. Remember me? I would hope so. I would hope that this little phrase isn't something that you say to all of the Sam's Club shoppers. Perhaps the fact that I looked horrified is enough to jog your memory.
Well, I've got a few things to say to you. First, I'm certain it did not occur to you that I had gotten up early that morning, drove nearly 4 hours and golfed nine holes before I got to Sam's Club to run a few quick errands so I could get home as soon as possible in order to do more chores that I had neglected over the weekend - thus, I didn't have time to stop and eat for most of the day? I don't suppose it mattered to you that I was famished.
I don't suppose it occurred to you that I was merely reading the advertisement in order to discover what strange breaded meat you were, in fact, slicing while I chewed the previous sample and that I had no intention of partaking of said breaded cod strips covered with some weird ketchup based sauce.
Frankly, neither of the above really matter. What matters is that you were hired to do a job....a very simple job, hand out food to would-be purchasers. Yeah, that is right, Blue Hair, I'm talking about you. I'm pointing out that in order to do your job, you don't need a high school degree or college degree. You don't even have to know how to read or write. All you have to know is cut, place on napkin, serve and smile. That is it. I believe it is a fair statement that you aren't even capable of that. You JUST couldn't help yourself, could you? You had to comment. You had to blather on as though anyone with a brain in their head gives a rat's ass what you think. You had to turn some screw - maybe the one that was formerly lodged in your cold, dead heart? Well, I got news for you, Raisin, nobody wants to buy fishsticks from stuck up grannies who don't have enough sense to keep their shitty comments to themselves. If I wasn't such a nice person, I would have gotten medieval on your old, wrinkled ass.
And further, the girth of your behind leads me to believe that you, also, should walk away from the table every once in awhile when your mouth is still full. After all, one who lives in a glass house, should not throw stones.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Tour of Treasures
As your trusted Interwebs soldier of fortune, I am always on the lookout for new haunts and happening places that appeal to higher (and sometimes lower) tastes & sensibilities. When I can find said places in my own backyard, well, all the better. A few places recently hit my radar in the Southwest suburbs of the Twin Cities: JJ's Coffee & Wine Bar in Eden Prairie and Pairings Food & Wine Market in Minnetonka. Are you seeing a theme? Food, wine, coffee? Uhm, yeah. If you are in the neighborhood, I urge you to check out these little gems.
JJ's Coffee & Wine Bar lies just off Hwy 5 West as you are cruising from EP into Chanhassen. Take the Mitchell Rd. exit. Tucked back in a fairly nondescript suburban line-up of banks, nail shops and fitness joints, you would at first liken it to a Panera Bread wanna-be. It has a bit of that feel, but with a very respectable wine list, sample of simple yet tasty noshes and specialty coffees and teas. Oh yeah, and they also have pastries and breakfast items.
I can tell you that the food isn't the most incredible you've ever had, but what it lacks in stellar cuisine it makes up for in quaint & comfortable ambiance. The neutral palette of stone, dark wood and fabric makes for a pretty cozy resting spot for either a lazy weekend afternoon or an after work retreat. There are several overstuffed chairs and booths to snuggle up in, order yourself a creamy latte or glass of Pinot Noir and just relax. They also boast free WiFi (bring your laptop and catch up Facebook and blog reading!) and a drive-thru for coffee and such. By chance, I ended up stopping in the night of their "soft" opening so they were still working out some of the kinks. I spoke to the owner -- the actual JJ herself. She was super helpful and solicited input on the menu, drinks and overall concept. She immediately struck me as someone who deserves success. To that end, I hope all 4 of my blog readers, go and check it out sometime soon. :)
Mr. Oz and I were out running some weekend errands the other day when we decided to stop into Pairings: Food & Wine Market. Right off of Hwy 62 and Shady Oak Road, Pairings appears grocery store like. I didn't know what to expect. Was it an upscale deli? Wine shop? Restaurant? Speciality gourmet store? The answer is YES, all of the above. The place is divided into two sections. On the left you have a D'amico-like restaurant where you belly up to the counter, request your choice of made-to-order sandwiches, salads, pasta or wood-fired pizzas. You get a number, sit down, and they bring your food to you when it is ready. This counter is flanked on one side by a fine array of fromage in the cheese case. The other side holds a variety of gourmet nibbles and treats. On the right, you can veer off into the wine shop. Once inside, you'll find much more than wine . . . Pairings boasts one of the most extensive beer selections I've seen in these parts. Do they have rare Trappist Ale made by Belgian Monks? Yep. How about batch crafted hoppy ales from teeny-tiny breweries that no one has even heard of yet? Ahh, yep. We could have spent an hour exploring this place. The fun thing is if you order some food and plan to dine in at the restaurant, you can buy your wine or beer and take it over to the food side. No corkage fee. Just pour and drink.
Of course, I bought some tasty bits at the shop: Ames Farm single source honey, a Voiges chocolate bar, a nice slab of Bucheron goat cheese. Mr. Oz and I had lunch. While he dined on Sicilian sausage pizza, I tried the Asian curry pasta with chicken. Seriously good food. By the way, I HIGHLY recommend Ames Farm honey. Holy man. It is a sugary, sticky delight and pairs up well with tangy goat cheese spread on a cracker. Thanks for showing me the light Anne!
This concludes the Twin Cities Tour of Treasures for now. Bon Appetito!
JJ's Coffee & Wine Bar lies just off Hwy 5 West as you are cruising from EP into Chanhassen. Take the Mitchell Rd. exit. Tucked back in a fairly nondescript suburban line-up of banks, nail shops and fitness joints, you would at first liken it to a Panera Bread wanna-be. It has a bit of that feel, but with a very respectable wine list, sample of simple yet tasty noshes and specialty coffees and teas. Oh yeah, and they also have pastries and breakfast items.
I can tell you that the food isn't the most incredible you've ever had, but what it lacks in stellar cuisine it makes up for in quaint & comfortable ambiance. The neutral palette of stone, dark wood and fabric makes for a pretty cozy resting spot for either a lazy weekend afternoon or an after work retreat. There are several overstuffed chairs and booths to snuggle up in, order yourself a creamy latte or glass of Pinot Noir and just relax. They also boast free WiFi (bring your laptop and catch up Facebook and blog reading!) and a drive-thru for coffee and such. By chance, I ended up stopping in the night of their "soft" opening so they were still working out some of the kinks. I spoke to the owner -- the actual JJ herself. She was super helpful and solicited input on the menu, drinks and overall concept. She immediately struck me as someone who deserves success. To that end, I hope all 4 of my blog readers, go and check it out sometime soon. :)
Mr. Oz and I were out running some weekend errands the other day when we decided to stop into Pairings: Food & Wine Market. Right off of Hwy 62 and Shady Oak Road, Pairings appears grocery store like. I didn't know what to expect. Was it an upscale deli? Wine shop? Restaurant? Speciality gourmet store? The answer is YES, all of the above. The place is divided into two sections. On the left you have a D'amico-like restaurant where you belly up to the counter, request your choice of made-to-order sandwiches, salads, pasta or wood-fired pizzas. You get a number, sit down, and they bring your food to you when it is ready. This counter is flanked on one side by a fine array of fromage in the cheese case. The other side holds a variety of gourmet nibbles and treats. On the right, you can veer off into the wine shop. Once inside, you'll find much more than wine . . . Pairings boasts one of the most extensive beer selections I've seen in these parts. Do they have rare Trappist Ale made by Belgian Monks? Yep. How about batch crafted hoppy ales from teeny-tiny breweries that no one has even heard of yet? Ahh, yep. We could have spent an hour exploring this place. The fun thing is if you order some food and plan to dine in at the restaurant, you can buy your wine or beer and take it over to the food side. No corkage fee. Just pour and drink.
Of course, I bought some tasty bits at the shop: Ames Farm single source honey, a Voiges chocolate bar, a nice slab of Bucheron goat cheese. Mr. Oz and I had lunch. While he dined on Sicilian sausage pizza, I tried the Asian curry pasta with chicken. Seriously good food. By the way, I HIGHLY recommend Ames Farm honey. Holy man. It is a sugary, sticky delight and pairs up well with tangy goat cheese spread on a cracker. Thanks for showing me the light Anne!
This concludes the Twin Cities Tour of Treasures for now. Bon Appetito!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Fear, Love and Stasis
I believe there are three main forces at work guiding how we humans engage with the world around us. These subconscious and ever-present forces drive us to do the things we do. The first is fear. When it comes down to it, fear is a pretty strong motivator. The fear of failure could push us to wake up each day, put one foot in front of the other, and make something happen, while a fear of success could keep us from truly reaching our utmost potential. Oftentimes when I find myself upset, anxious, worried or scared, it takes only a few moments of self-reflection to realize that I'm probably reacting out of fear. Prejudice is a symptom of fear. Wars are born from fear -- fear of what "the other side" might do to us first, fear of the unknown, fear of an end to our way of life, etc.
The second, and much more enticing force, is love. I use the term love in an all-encompassing kinda way. Love might be phrased, more explicitly, as unwavering and overwhelming acceptance, appreciation and good will. Although love can take other forms such as Eros or romantic, sexual love, I'm primarily focusing on the Agape version. Agape has been defined as "divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional and thoughtful love." A mother's love falls under this category. Not easy to come by. When you have it, hang on to it and cherish it. When you don't have it, keep looking and don't give up. It's that important. So much of what we do is in response to, in quest of, in reaction toward, this powerful force. As the old adage goes, we do crazy things for Love.
The third force could probably be best summarized as the force of Stasis. I think of this as the continual search for balance and comfort; the status quo maintained. This is about satisfying our instinctual needs and basic desires. Food and shelter would qualify as aspects of this Stasis. We want to survive and need creature comforts to do so. I think Stasis has gotten us into a lot of trouble. As humans we often reach Stasis and have all of our physical concerns taken care of. This is where the other two forces kick in. Whether it is at the urging of Fear or Love, we get greedy. We want more. We get more. Suddenly, our Stasis is thrown off kilter. We are over indexing on plush, easy, carefree, glittery, new and better when we really didn't even need or want anything else in the first place. When this happens, Stasis is lost. In the immortal words of Britney Speers, "Oops, I did it again."
So why all the reflections on these invisible yet important forces? Perhaps it is on my mind because I spent a lot of time out of Stasis this weekend attending various fairs and festivals with friends and family. First up was a trip to the state fair -- the great Minnesota Get Together. Upon entering the gates, me and my band of hungry foot soldiers cut a swathe of feverish gorging on bad-for-you, deep fried, stick enhanced, fantastically carnivorous delightfulness. It was a never ending feast. We left an array of empty cups, dirty napkins and greasy wrappers in our wake.
The next day found us doing similar damage at the Renaissance Festival. Although somewhat more subdued, the Ye-Old event ignited more encounters with jumbo smoked turkey legs, bread bowl chowders, cream puffs, pickles and mead (not necessarily in that order and not all consumed by moi). Yes, I drank mead -- it's a rather tasty beverage made from fermented honey. Who knew? Well, all this consuming made me stop and consider what it was all about. Sure, the motivation was to have fun, spend some time in the sunshine enjoying the last, fading glory of summer, share some laughs with my sister, brother-in-law, little bro and hubby.
This is the third year that Mr. Oz and I attended the state fair. The fair was the scene of our memorable third date so it's become a tradition of sorts. There's nostalgia, entertainment, the lure of people watching . . . all of these are fine reasons. When in Rome, one has a need to experience Rome in all its sensorial glory; soaking it in, tasting its salty, sweet, bitter and briny wonder. But, what about my theory of fear, love and stasis as forces behind everything we do? Well, I think for me, my Stasis jumped completely out of whack. I've taken it too far. I'm in too deep. What I haven't quite figured out yet is whether Fear or Love is to blame for my actions. What hole am I trying to fill? What am I trying to outrun? I need to regain my sense of Stasis and get back into balance, stat.
Cleansing, healing, calming, re-centering are words and deeds I must become intimately familar with. Sounds a little too "Jack Handy's Deep Thoughts," perhaps. Sometimes a corn dog is a symbol of fear, a sign of self loathing, a lack of appreciation and a profound imbalance. Sometimes, just sometimes, a corn dog is just a corn dog.
The second, and much more enticing force, is love. I use the term love in an all-encompassing kinda way. Love might be phrased, more explicitly, as unwavering and overwhelming acceptance, appreciation and good will. Although love can take other forms such as Eros or romantic, sexual love, I'm primarily focusing on the Agape version. Agape has been defined as "divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional and thoughtful love." A mother's love falls under this category. Not easy to come by. When you have it, hang on to it and cherish it. When you don't have it, keep looking and don't give up. It's that important. So much of what we do is in response to, in quest of, in reaction toward, this powerful force. As the old adage goes, we do crazy things for Love.
The third force could probably be best summarized as the force of Stasis. I think of this as the continual search for balance and comfort; the status quo maintained. This is about satisfying our instinctual needs and basic desires. Food and shelter would qualify as aspects of this Stasis. We want to survive and need creature comforts to do so. I think Stasis has gotten us into a lot of trouble. As humans we often reach Stasis and have all of our physical concerns taken care of. This is where the other two forces kick in. Whether it is at the urging of Fear or Love, we get greedy. We want more. We get more. Suddenly, our Stasis is thrown off kilter. We are over indexing on plush, easy, carefree, glittery, new and better when we really didn't even need or want anything else in the first place. When this happens, Stasis is lost. In the immortal words of Britney Speers, "Oops, I did it again."
So why all the reflections on these invisible yet important forces? Perhaps it is on my mind because I spent a lot of time out of Stasis this weekend attending various fairs and festivals with friends and family. First up was a trip to the state fair -- the great Minnesota Get Together. Upon entering the gates, me and my band of hungry foot soldiers cut a swathe of feverish gorging on bad-for-you, deep fried, stick enhanced, fantastically carnivorous delightfulness. It was a never ending feast. We left an array of empty cups, dirty napkins and greasy wrappers in our wake.
The next day found us doing similar damage at the Renaissance Festival. Although somewhat more subdued, the Ye-Old event ignited more encounters with jumbo smoked turkey legs, bread bowl chowders, cream puffs, pickles and mead (not necessarily in that order and not all consumed by moi). Yes, I drank mead -- it's a rather tasty beverage made from fermented honey. Who knew? Well, all this consuming made me stop and consider what it was all about. Sure, the motivation was to have fun, spend some time in the sunshine enjoying the last, fading glory of summer, share some laughs with my sister, brother-in-law, little bro and hubby.
This is the third year that Mr. Oz and I attended the state fair. The fair was the scene of our memorable third date so it's become a tradition of sorts. There's nostalgia, entertainment, the lure of people watching . . . all of these are fine reasons. When in Rome, one has a need to experience Rome in all its sensorial glory; soaking it in, tasting its salty, sweet, bitter and briny wonder. But, what about my theory of fear, love and stasis as forces behind everything we do? Well, I think for me, my Stasis jumped completely out of whack. I've taken it too far. I'm in too deep. What I haven't quite figured out yet is whether Fear or Love is to blame for my actions. What hole am I trying to fill? What am I trying to outrun? I need to regain my sense of Stasis and get back into balance, stat.
Cleansing, healing, calming, re-centering are words and deeds I must become intimately familar with. Sounds a little too "Jack Handy's Deep Thoughts," perhaps. Sometimes a corn dog is a symbol of fear, a sign of self loathing, a lack of appreciation and a profound imbalance. Sometimes, just sometimes, a corn dog is just a corn dog.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Just Call Me Crazy Stage Mom
It's official. I've fallen in love. I'm declaring it to the world today. This is not just some passing fancy or silly crush. Nope. I'm head over heels and seriously obsessed. My husband knows about it too. He's not upset. He understands. These things happen. The fact that I have found this love does not diminish the adoration I have for my dear husband, no not in the least. What can I say? I love my dog! He's just THE best little puppy . . . so cute, so cuddly, so devilishly smart and, of course, extremely naughty.
Last weekend, found us hanging by a local lake with one of our Besties, J-Hawk. Chilling on the shore, people watching and kickin it provided ample photo opportunities. J-Hawk has this sweet camera and amazing eye so she got to snapping. Ahhhhh, little Ozymandias, how adorable, right?
I'm going to investigate puppy modeling agencies cuz this guy needs to be in magazines, on billboards, gracing the front of various dog food packages, perhaps on the cover of Dog Fancy magazine . . . seriously. He's gonna be a star. I hope I don't become like one of those whack job stage mothers who pimp out their children and get all Joan Crawford "no more wire hangers" on them. That would be bad. I just want to see my boy realize his dream of super fame, riches and what not.
OK, that reminds me. Did anyone seen the movie Bruno this summer? If you did, you can appreciate the comment about Stage Mothers. There is a particular scene where Bruno is casting for little children to take part in this offensive commercial. As he explains the premise of the video to the would-be child stars' moms and dads, the plot gets stranger and stranger. He asks things like "so, your child would be dressed up as a Nazi and torturing another child with a sword while flames are surrounding him. Would that be ok.?" All the parents are like "oh, sure. That is fine." WHAT?!? Although Bruno (aka Sasha Baron Cohen) may not be everyone's cup of tea, he sure does know how to put a spotlight on some of our society's more insane habits and practices. Love it.
But I digress. Anyone know the name of a good agent so I can get my dog into some Hollywood movies?
Last weekend, found us hanging by a local lake with one of our Besties, J-Hawk. Chilling on the shore, people watching and kickin it provided ample photo opportunities. J-Hawk has this sweet camera and amazing eye so she got to snapping. Ahhhhh, little Ozymandias, how adorable, right?
I'm going to investigate puppy modeling agencies cuz this guy needs to be in magazines, on billboards, gracing the front of various dog food packages, perhaps on the cover of Dog Fancy magazine . . . seriously. He's gonna be a star. I hope I don't become like one of those whack job stage mothers who pimp out their children and get all Joan Crawford "no more wire hangers" on them. That would be bad. I just want to see my boy realize his dream of super fame, riches and what not.
OK, that reminds me. Did anyone seen the movie Bruno this summer? If you did, you can appreciate the comment about Stage Mothers. There is a particular scene where Bruno is casting for little children to take part in this offensive commercial. As he explains the premise of the video to the would-be child stars' moms and dads, the plot gets stranger and stranger. He asks things like "so, your child would be dressed up as a Nazi and torturing another child with a sword while flames are surrounding him. Would that be ok.?" All the parents are like "oh, sure. That is fine." WHAT?!? Although Bruno (aka Sasha Baron Cohen) may not be everyone's cup of tea, he sure does know how to put a spotlight on some of our society's more insane habits and practices. Love it.
But I digress. Anyone know the name of a good agent so I can get my dog into some Hollywood movies?
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Dining Out
As many of my loyal (3 of you) blog readers know, I occasionally like to check out new dining establishments, take pictures and offer up my reviews. This weekend, in between running errands and lazing about, I had the opportunity to try three new spots in the Twin Cities.
On Friday night, the hubby and I had a date night of sorts. We wanted sushi and just happened to have a $50 gift card to Tiger Sushi 2 in Minneapolis. About a month ago, we attended a SidewalkDog.com sponsored 'sushi with your poochie' event at Tiger Sushi 2. Upon arrival at this dog-tastic shin-dig, we were greeted with the news that we won a gift card. Yippee!! The patio just happened to be overrun with dogs and their owners -- it was wall to wall yips and yaps and not an open seat to be found. Sadly, this meant we did not get any sushi with our poochie. Well, this weekend we went back. I had read some mixed reviews about the place online, but came in with an open mind and empty stomach. Tuna Tataki tacos were yummy but my crunchy salmon and tuna roll was . . . well, it smelled kinda fishy. Mr. Oz enjoyed his sushi combo platter, but wasn't blown away by the freshness. All in all, it was a fine meal and I might go back for happy hour or something.
The ginger infused martini was superb though! Delicious.
On Saturday, we hit this new frozen yogurt place in our hood. Freeziac is the first of its kind in the Twin Cities. Patterned after the popular west coast chains, Pinkberry and Yogurtland, this place is a veritable cornucopia of flavors and add-your-own toppings. They boast a selection of about 8 yogurt flavors with a mix of both tart and sweet varieties. You grab your cup and fill 'er up. Next you can add a wide array of crunch toppings, fruits and sauces to make your treat complete. The yogurt is weighed and you pay by the ounce. It's not cheap, but it is oh-so-delectable and refreshing. I high recommend Freeziac. I'll probably be there at least once a week doing my part to keep the place in business.
Finally, today my friend Jess and I had dinner at the latest contestent vying for the title of 'Worlds' Greatest Hamburger Joint.' Smashburger in Golden Valley, MN has been open for several months now. There's been some talk of it in the local press. Of course, I had to check it out. When we arrived, luckily the line wasn't too long. A few short minutes and we had placed our order and nabbed a table. Just as our food arrived, the line grew and trailed out the door and half way around the block. So here's the good and the bad about Smashburger:
Pros:
If you are a fan of In & Out Burger, you'd like Smashburger. The flavor and portion size reminded me of the infamous West Coast chain quite a bit.
I ordered the Twin Cities Smashburger and Smash Fries. What the place lacks in imaginative product naming, it makes up for in taste. This burger was awesome! The meat piles out over the sides of the bun, cheese dripping so much I had to switch over to a fork and knife tactic before I was even half way through.
Smash fries are yummy.
Cons:
The dining room is not necessarily configured in the best way. The order line cuts a perfect swathe through the middle of the restaurant in such an awkward way. Patrons hover over you as you eat making you feel very claustrophobic. It's really quite annoying.
The prices are a little high. I had a burger, fries and root beer for a little over $11. I suppose it beats gourmet restaurant prices, but for all the cramped and claustrophia vibes, I'd expect under $10 to be more appropriate.
This concludes my impromptu restaurant review. I'm no James Beard, but hey, I also don't charge my dear friends (readers?) a subscription fee for my pearls of dining wisdom. Eat at your own risk people.
On Friday night, the hubby and I had a date night of sorts. We wanted sushi and just happened to have a $50 gift card to Tiger Sushi 2 in Minneapolis. About a month ago, we attended a SidewalkDog.com sponsored 'sushi with your poochie' event at Tiger Sushi 2. Upon arrival at this dog-tastic shin-dig, we were greeted with the news that we won a gift card. Yippee!! The patio just happened to be overrun with dogs and their owners -- it was wall to wall yips and yaps and not an open seat to be found. Sadly, this meant we did not get any sushi with our poochie. Well, this weekend we went back. I had read some mixed reviews about the place online, but came in with an open mind and empty stomach. Tuna Tataki tacos were yummy but my crunchy salmon and tuna roll was . . . well, it smelled kinda fishy. Mr. Oz enjoyed his sushi combo platter, but wasn't blown away by the freshness. All in all, it was a fine meal and I might go back for happy hour or something.
The ginger infused martini was superb though! Delicious.
On Saturday, we hit this new frozen yogurt place in our hood. Freeziac is the first of its kind in the Twin Cities. Patterned after the popular west coast chains, Pinkberry and Yogurtland, this place is a veritable cornucopia of flavors and add-your-own toppings. They boast a selection of about 8 yogurt flavors with a mix of both tart and sweet varieties. You grab your cup and fill 'er up. Next you can add a wide array of crunch toppings, fruits and sauces to make your treat complete. The yogurt is weighed and you pay by the ounce. It's not cheap, but it is oh-so-delectable and refreshing. I high recommend Freeziac. I'll probably be there at least once a week doing my part to keep the place in business.
Finally, today my friend Jess and I had dinner at the latest contestent vying for the title of 'Worlds' Greatest Hamburger Joint.' Smashburger in Golden Valley, MN has been open for several months now. There's been some talk of it in the local press. Of course, I had to check it out. When we arrived, luckily the line wasn't too long. A few short minutes and we had placed our order and nabbed a table. Just as our food arrived, the line grew and trailed out the door and half way around the block. So here's the good and the bad about Smashburger:
Pros:
If you are a fan of In & Out Burger, you'd like Smashburger. The flavor and portion size reminded me of the infamous West Coast chain quite a bit.
I ordered the Twin Cities Smashburger and Smash Fries. What the place lacks in imaginative product naming, it makes up for in taste. This burger was awesome! The meat piles out over the sides of the bun, cheese dripping so much I had to switch over to a fork and knife tactic before I was even half way through.
Smash fries are yummy.
Cons:
The dining room is not necessarily configured in the best way. The order line cuts a perfect swathe through the middle of the restaurant in such an awkward way. Patrons hover over you as you eat making you feel very claustrophobic. It's really quite annoying.
The prices are a little high. I had a burger, fries and root beer for a little over $11. I suppose it beats gourmet restaurant prices, but for all the cramped and claustrophia vibes, I'd expect under $10 to be more appropriate.
This concludes my impromptu restaurant review. I'm no James Beard, but hey, I also don't charge my dear friends (readers?) a subscription fee for my pearls of dining wisdom. Eat at your own risk people.
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