I want to put in a plug for my friend Jim Knaus's new book, Why Are You Laughing?, a collection of humorous anecdotes and wisdom from his adventures in financial planning.
You can buy it here:
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
The $44 Steak Salad, or What Happens When A Man's Stomach and Penis Gang Up on His Brain
On the TV show Northern Exposure, one of the minor characters, Maurice Minnifield, once pronounced that "The man is a simple creature, governed by two things - his stomach, and his penis." (or something like that)
Oh, how that's true.
I've just returned from a vacation in Montreal, one of the great food cities in North America. The most enjoyable of the eateries I sampled was m:brgr, an upscale burger joint owned by the proprietors of the highly-regarded Moishe's steak house. (website here: http://www.mbrgr.com/english.html) It was a short walk from my hotel, and it was a bit expensive, but worth it.
I first sampled m:brgr on a Sunday evening. I got a burger with grilled pineapple, grilled mushrooms, and blue cheese. Since it was the special of the day, the fries were free. I washed it all down with Boreale Blonde beer. Quite tasty.
My last night in Montreal, I decided to patronize m:brgr again. This time, with a simple plan: to try their smoked-meat poutine, a potentially delightful combination of two Montreal delicacies, smoked meat (think corned beef), and poutine (a combo of french fries, cheese curds and a beef(?) gravy).
My theory worked as follows:
Smoked Meat = Good
Poutine = Good, therefore:
Smoked Meat + Poutine = Double Plus Good
It was only potentially delightful, because I never got to try it and find out for sure.
I hadn't counted on Nathanielle, a lovely femme Quebecoise, being my server that evening. After briefly explaining the intricacies of the menu, Nathanielle mentioned that the special that evening was a steak salad (that was not on the menu) with truffles and a fried egg (this is where my stomach comes in). Which actually sounded quite good, considering that I had gorged myself on a smoked meat sandwich earlier in the day. Vegetable intake seemed like a good idea.
I was also overcome by the friendliness and beauty of my server (here's where the penis comes in) and felt an urge to impress by ordering something as decidedly sophisticated as a steak salad with truffles.
So, ignoring my internally-stated mission, I ordered the steak salad.
Cost of the steak salad with a pint of beer: $44, with tip
Cost of the poutine avec viande fumee: $10.
You know what stinks? I didn't even get her phone number.
Oh, how that's true.
I've just returned from a vacation in Montreal, one of the great food cities in North America. The most enjoyable of the eateries I sampled was m:brgr, an upscale burger joint owned by the proprietors of the highly-regarded Moishe's steak house. (website here: http://www.mbrgr.com/english.html) It was a short walk from my hotel, and it was a bit expensive, but worth it.
I first sampled m:brgr on a Sunday evening. I got a burger with grilled pineapple, grilled mushrooms, and blue cheese. Since it was the special of the day, the fries were free. I washed it all down with Boreale Blonde beer. Quite tasty.
My last night in Montreal, I decided to patronize m:brgr again. This time, with a simple plan: to try their smoked-meat poutine, a potentially delightful combination of two Montreal delicacies, smoked meat (think corned beef), and poutine (a combo of french fries, cheese curds and a beef(?) gravy).
My theory worked as follows:
Smoked Meat = Good
Poutine = Good, therefore:
Smoked Meat + Poutine = Double Plus Good
It was only potentially delightful, because I never got to try it and find out for sure.
I hadn't counted on Nathanielle, a lovely femme Quebecoise, being my server that evening. After briefly explaining the intricacies of the menu, Nathanielle mentioned that the special that evening was a steak salad (that was not on the menu) with truffles and a fried egg (this is where my stomach comes in). Which actually sounded quite good, considering that I had gorged myself on a smoked meat sandwich earlier in the day. Vegetable intake seemed like a good idea.
I was also overcome by the friendliness and beauty of my server (here's where the penis comes in) and felt an urge to impress by ordering something as decidedly sophisticated as a steak salad with truffles.
So, ignoring my internally-stated mission, I ordered the steak salad.
Cost of the steak salad with a pint of beer: $44, with tip
Cost of the poutine avec viande fumee: $10.
You know what stinks? I didn't even get her phone number.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
New Soccer Gear
Manchester United's new jersey. Looks nice, but is it safe yet to wear anything with a big AIG logo on it?
Hertha Berlin away (l) and home(r). Like the away one better.
Wolfsburg has switched to adidas from Nike.
St. Pauli revealed these nifty designs.
The sharp new Hamburg SV jersey from adidas.
Brondby of Denmark introduced new blue away jerseys for this season
Werder Bremen switched from Kappa to Nike gear. The white jersey on the left looks best.All pictures from footballshirtculture.com
What I'm doing on my summer "vacation"
Hey! I haven't spent much time here lately.
I'm not technically "on vacation" (yet). But I am enjoying the lighter non-tax-season schedule.
I've been to 8 minor-league baseball games in 3 different ballparks (Toledo, Fort Wayne, and Columbus). I will be attending 5 or so Columbus Crew games. I'll be doing track photographer duties at 7 different county fairs this summer. My cousin Nick is getting married next weekend.
As to vacation, I'll be spending a few days in Montreal in the first part of August. I'm looking forward to it - it's my first extended vacation since the 2007 Germany trip. Before I leave, I'll be taking in a Tigers game in Detroit with my friend Dave Kelly & his family.
Don't ask which movies I've seen lately. I'm stuck in a pop-culture death spiral - I don't think any current movies are worth the $12 to see them in theaters. When you don't go to movies in the theater, you don't see the previews for movies you might find worthwhile. And on and on and on.....
Take care.
I'm not technically "on vacation" (yet). But I am enjoying the lighter non-tax-season schedule.
I've been to 8 minor-league baseball games in 3 different ballparks (Toledo, Fort Wayne, and Columbus). I will be attending 5 or so Columbus Crew games. I'll be doing track photographer duties at 7 different county fairs this summer. My cousin Nick is getting married next weekend.
As to vacation, I'll be spending a few days in Montreal in the first part of August. I'm looking forward to it - it's my first extended vacation since the 2007 Germany trip. Before I leave, I'll be taking in a Tigers game in Detroit with my friend Dave Kelly & his family.
Don't ask which movies I've seen lately. I'm stuck in a pop-culture death spiral - I don't think any current movies are worth the $12 to see them in theaters. When you don't go to movies in the theater, you don't see the previews for movies you might find worthwhile. And on and on and on.....
Take care.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
When people stop being polite...
Here's a hilarious blog about the filming of the upcoming season of MTV's Real World in Washington, DC, written by folks who live in the neighborhood near the Real World house:
http://antirealworlddc.blogspot.com/
http://antirealworlddc.blogspot.com/
Ganz Schleswig-Holstein traumt von Liga 3!
Holstein Kiel celebrates their Regionalliga Nord championship. They will play next year in the German 3.Liga.
Which of these belong in my closet?
Toledo has a new hockey team this coming season, the Walleye. I'm trying to decide which of their 3 jerseys I should buy.
Here's the black alternate jersey, my favorite.
Here's the blue (away?) jersey.
Here's the white (home?) jersey.
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