Friday, August 29, 2008

Gustav

3 years ago today, Katrina barreled into the gulf coast. If you don't live near a hurricane prone area, there is just no explaining how far reaching its effects were and still are. I knew it would be bad, but I had no idea how truly awful.

Now this new storm is headed for the Gulf Coast, and while nobody knows where it will make landfall, people on the coast and in New Orleans are gun shy. My town is 60 miles inland, with 1 major highway and 1 interstate that are evacuation routes. Already, the hotels are full, the grocery stores are selling out of crucial supplies, and gas prices jumped 30 cents in 24 hours. Luckily, I filled my tank on Monday night, before the prices soared, and got my shopping done on Wednesday, before people started going crazy. We're ready for this thing where ever it lands.

Some of the models are pointing it right at us, and some of them are predicting it will head towards Texas. It doesn't really matter to those of us who experienced Katrina. We aren't taking any chances. I have plenty of water, dried goods, batteries, toilet paper, and wine. If needs be, we'll cruise north on Monday, but I'm hoping we won't have to.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Finally, A Meme After My Own Heart

Food Meme

Food meme from Auntie Bubbo.

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you've eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

As the formatting shortcuts don't seem to work in Explorer, I'll just "yes or no" OK?

The VGT Omnivore's Vegetarian's Hundred:

1. Venison yes
2. Nettle tea no
3. Huevos rancheros no
4. Steak tartare no
5. Crocodile (does alligator count?)
6. Black pudding no
7. Cheese fondue yes
8. Carp no
9. Borscht no
10. Baba ghanoush yes
11. Calamari yes
12. Pho What?
13. PB&J sandwich yes
14. Aloo gobi no
15. Hot dog from a street cart yes
16. Epoisses cheese no
17. Black truffle chopped up in things. I wish!
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes yes
19. Steamed pork buns not to my knowledge
20. Pistachio ice cream yes
21. Heirloom tomatoes yes
22. Fresh wild berries yes
23. Foie gras maybe
24. Rice and beans yes
25. Brawn, or head cheese no
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper Probably a never
27. Dulce de leche no
28. Oysters yes
29. Baklava yes
30. Bagna cauda yes
31. Wasabi peas yes
32. Clam chowder yes
33. Salted lassi and sweet lassi no
34. Sauerkraut yes
35. Root beer float yes
36. Cognac yes
37. Clotted cream tea no
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O Probably never
39. Gumbo yes
40. Oxtail yes
41. Curried goat no
42. Whole insects Ick! I'd have to be really hungry
43. Phaal curry yes
44. Goat's milk yes
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more Probably, I don't remember
46. Fugu no
47. Chicken tikka masala no
48. Eel yes
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut yes
50. Sea urchin yes
51. Prickly pear yes
52. Umeboshi fruit no
53. Abalone yes
54. Paneer no
55. McDonald's Big Mac Meal I can honestly say I don't think I've ever eaten a Big Mac sandwich
56. Spaetzle yes
57. Dirty gin martini yes
58. Beer above 8% ABV yes
59. Poutine no
60. Carob chips no
61. S'mores yes
62. Sweetbreads no
63. Kaolin the clay/mineral in Kaopectate? It's in all fast food shakes, so yes
64. Currywurst no
65. Durian fruit no
66. Frogs' legs yes
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake Beignets at the Cafe' Dumonde NOLA YES
68. Haggis no
69. Fried plantain yes
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette why are these in the same line? Andouillette Yes, Chittlins, no
71. Gazpacho yes
72. Caviar and blini Caviar, yes, blini, no
73. Louche absinthe no
74. Gjetost, or brunost cheese no
75. Roadkill no
76. Baijiu wine no
77. Hostess Fruit Pie (made with lard) yes
78. Snail yes
79. Lapsang souchong tea yes
80. Bellini yes
81. Tom yum soup no
82. Eggs Benedict yes
83. Pocky no
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant not a tasting menu, but have eaten at a 3SMR
85. Kobe beef no
86. Hare yes to rabbit
87. Goulash yes
88. Flowers nasturtium, violets, rose petals yes
89. Horse Gotta say Never
90. Criollo chocolate no
91. Spam yes
92. Soft shell crab yes
93. Rose harissa hot sauce no
94. Catfish yes
95. Mole poblano no
96. Bagel and lox yes
97. Lobster Thermidor no
98. Polenta yes
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee yes
100. Snake yes

So now you know it, I'll eat just about anything. Most of the no's are cuz I haven't had a chance yet. And I'm not proud of all the yesses either. Really, a Hostess Fruit Pie? I ought to be ashamed!

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Conference Bike

Man, I really would love to take a spin on one of these!