Look at the rip

When I volunteer for the Capital District Habitat for Humanity ReStore, I generally bring a change of clothing with me.

Most of the time, this is because I am going to have a couple of beers with Teacher Dave and I do not want to look or smell like I have spent the day moving other people's donated furniture.

Today, I neglected to throw a change of clothing in my bag.

This was, in hindsight, a tactical error.




Yep...that is an eight inch rip in my shorts.

I am still having that beer or two but now I am self conscious about hanging brain in public.

Happy Things

Breakfast at Duncan's Dairy Bar makes me happy.




(See? I can change it up. There is bacon.)

McSweeney's has an iOS app. This makes me even happier than the Vulture app that came out the other day.

The Mets showed some life last night, which is nice because they have not done anything like this all season.

TEA & I are going to see a very cheesy movie tomorrow (A Dolphin's Tale) and I think he is going ironically to appease his "old man". My plan is to get Indian food afterward. My plans never work out.

Teacher Dave just rocked out to "My Heart Will Go On" which is better than that Adele song (Sorry Paige and HJ77...not really) but not as good as "I Will Survive".

Question of the Day: Do you like Journey or do you like them ironically? At this point, is it possible to love them with anything but irony? (I am looking at you, Shauna.) (Teacher Dave loves them both ways. I like them as a punchline.) Or is Journey sort of a more joke worthy example of Rush? People were rabid in their fandom and now look back on it with the same embarrassment reserved for feathered hair...

Choosing what you eat...

This is the tale of two meals.

Both of the meals were comfort foods and both places were new to me.

The first was dinner at Hose Company No. 6 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and the second was breakfast at the South Street Diner in Boston, MA.

HJ77 and I were looking for something yummy and close by the other night, so I used Urban Spoon in order to determine what the best rated place was near us. After going back and forth, trying to figure out something that sounded good to both of us, we decided on trying HC No.6, which HJ77 had never been to, despite proximity. Now, I am game for anything (most of the time) but HJ77 was not feeling well (allergies) and she had to be convinced to go out. Neither of us felt like cooking.

I like places that are functional and do some things really well while everything else is at least good. If more restaurants were like that, it would be a much better world. With hopes of this, HJ77 and I ordered. I knew what I wanted when I walked in: the lobster roll special. (Yes, lecture me about specials all you want, but I wanted a lobster roll and I started salivating as soon as I saw it on the board.) But first, a starter...Calamari Ala Mama.

Calamari, "hot pepper rings", olives, roasted red pepper, tossed with lemon juice and olive oil and dusted with grated Romano. It would have been perfect if it came out to us while it was still warm, and we would have waited for it. Even though it was room temperature, I still enjoyed it.

For out entrees, HJ77 order the Chicken Parm and I ordered the Lobster Sandwich but with Cole Slaw instead of fries, and I asked the waitress about the slaw.



Look at that! The was a great (albeit small) lobster roll, but...what is that next to it? Yes, folks, that is jarred slaw. How they could make such a perfect lobster roll (and it is in my top three of all time) and then serve it with jarred slaw? (Think of the slaw that the Arquette brother consumed in Never Been Kissed...) So, I asked out waitress, who was very good, for fries, and without prompting, she delivered them without charge (Yes, I did tip her well.) but they were over done. Not wanting to complain, I ignored that.

HJ77's Chicken Parm was great is huge. I could have used the take away box as a work out implement. When I put it in the refrigerator, there was a dramatic settling of the floor. Yes, it was that big.

Yes, I am willing to go back there, but...I am going to stick to bar food and such...oh, and we have a new place to watch football...and she can watch whatever the Pats fans call it...

Now on to breakfast...

I had about ninety minutes to kill this morning, and I was hungry, so not being willing to trust the wisdom of the crowds again, I walked up to one of the security guards and asked him where he would have breakfast around there and he pointed me in the direction of the South Street Diner.

As everyone who has read this more than once knows that I am both a sucker for diner food and remarkably consistent as to what I order.

Coffee
Two Poached Eggs
Home Fries
Rye Toast

(NB: on occasion, there will be an order of bacon, corned beef hash, or I will change it up entirely and get a sandwich, or a breakfast taco)

This being someplace new to me, I was not going to venture all that far afield of my usual order.

The coffee was hot, black and had a spoon in it. (How many of you get that reference?)

It was diner coffee but it was good.

While sipping on my coffee, and waiting for the poached eggs and egg eating infrastructure to arrive, the waitress (who was outstanding) brought over a plate of warm banana bread that was great. I am not a huge fan of banana bread, and I think a lot of people who make it fail to make it properly (hence, why I am not a fan) making it too light. It should be dense, with the consistency of a proper pudding. This was great!

It made me regret not going with something else, I will admit.

Then the main event came along...

In this case, the eggs and the toast took a backseat to the home fries which, while not being like the home fries I am used to, were amazing. Seasoned with a dusting of cayenne, they were an excellent compliment to the well prepared eggs.

Oh and checking in at the Diner earned me a new badge on Foursquare!

The Foodie Badge! Awesome! I am a living breathing cliche now.

So, Security Guard at South Station, thank you.

And now I get to the point of this...

Over the course of a couple of days, I was looking for food and I did not know where to go. I suppose I could have gone to someplace like TGIMcOliveLobster (TM Pending) but what is the point in that? What, apart from sustenance, would I have received from the experience of eating the same generic things that people in Syracuse, Erie, Cleveland, Chicago, Madison, and Missoula were able to get? I am not saying that I do not love my comfort food and my staples (see above, I order the same breakfast everywhere...though I do want to find a place in the 518 that does the Full English and does it well...ideas/suggestions please) but I want a unique spin on it. Specifically, the unique spin of that individual cook/chef who is deciding what to do with what is fresh and local.

For one situation, I used the crowd to offer suggestions, and while I had a superlative lobster roll, I was ultimately disappointed. For the other, I just asked someone, face to face, and was sent to a place that I would happily go back to, especially since it is so close to South Station and for some reason, I always end up having to kill time there.

I am all in favor of social media being used for the greater good, i.e. finding me fun things to eat and enjoy by myself or with friends and loved ones, but...some times it is easier to just ask someone.

I am glad that I did.

Keywords

Even though there have been domain name issues, there was still a lot of keyword traffic is this week...

Here they are...

• Union College "foodie" 
• 2 eggs and rye toast
• bad but delicious food
• "www.hairy chests rule.picasa-albums.com" I have no clue what this means and it was the second most disturbing keyword this week.  The first?  "Dolcett Archives".
• "Sheena Easton" Why?  No clue.

Dream of the American Dream

I was being headhunted by a friend's organization. (Ironically, this friend is in the position to hire me at this organization though the idea of working with old friends is disturbing.)

The headhunter (who was the real headhunter that I deal with) spoke to me about compensation. When I said my number, which, because it was a dream, was over $300k, she laughed and then told me that I should be happy to donate my time to the organization as it would be an honor.

I do not know what this means...

There was a lot more to it but it does not add to the narrative.

Sorry Boston Folks

Thank you, R.E.M.!

R.E.M.HQ: NEWS: "To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening." R.E.M.

Important Movie Quotes - Caddyshack

"About to win the Masters..."


"And who do you think they game me? The Dali Lama"

"You take drugs, Danny?"

Follow-up: Cook & Brown Public House

I mentioned the other day that HJ77 would write up our dinner experience at Cook and Brown.

I told you that she would...

Dinner out… « Sugar and Spice: "On Saturday night AFM and I had a wonderful dinner out at Cook & Brown.  I had been really wanting to try Cook & Brown for months, and finally I had someone to go with who I know would appreciate the experience, too.

Look who is on Twitter...

Okay, people...does this mean that Twitter may have jumped the shark?

"The question now is whether Mr. Rushdie, like many newcomers to Twitter, will find his enthusiasm for the new medium waning in the days ahead.

Yes, It's Really Salman Rushdie on Twitter - India Real Time - WSJ:

via The Awl

And it is autumn...

My nightmare (okay…it is not a nightmare…it is more like an unpleasant dream) regarding my domain is over. As you know, or you can see now, AFM is now at afutilemistake.org. (I am an org, yo!) Apart from other things that I do have going on, I will be spending the day transitioning everything over to the .org address. I know, you are jealous. It is awesome!

Anyway, it is the first day of autumn, which is my second favorite season. I am looking forward to wearing sweaters, and cold mornings with hot afternoons, and the leaves changing and Union football. The season makes me think of kicking though dry leaves while walking home from school. It is not lost on me that I have a child who is able to do the same thing and seems to enjoy it just as much.

Edit at 10:15: Oops. I don't know why I thought the Equinox was today. Thank you, anonymous commenter. I do appreciate the edification even though you chose to do it anonymously.

Here is why I am an idiot...

Here is why I am an idiot. AFM was set to auto-renew the domain name. When I changed my credit card, I forgot to change it within Google Checkout. (Idiot #1) When there were DNS issues with AFM this morning and I changed it, the card was charged automatically, and when I logged int GoDaddy to see about repointing the records, I found that I owned NO DOMAINS. Someone (in the time between my not renewing the domain name (Aug 9th) and today) purchased afutilemistake.com. I want to know who. However, it is not updated in WHOIS yet. So, I am domain-less for a little bit until I figure out what I want to do. Suggestions? Rebranding?

Notes from above ground

• When you are talking, loudly, in a restaurant, about your philosophy concentration, think about where you are for a second.  There may be people who understand that you are being more than a little fraudulent.
• Oh, and when talking about your blog, do not mention that it is the best blogging platform of 2001.  Or do.  It made me giggle.
• The return of a couple of series this autumn has been like a warm emotional blanket.  Even though they are completely different formats, it is interesting to watch how How I Met Your Mother and Castle are sharing story lines. (Come on, if you watch either of the programs you know what I am saying.)
• Angry BHO makes me happy.  "It is not class warfare.  It is math."
• Big Blue (AKA The New York Football Giants) won big last night.  With Vick being hurt, I am looking forward to Sunday and football.
• I am moderately irked by technology right now.
• We had Chinese food last night from a place that Justice Scalia enjoys.  I wonder if it is the same type of Chinese (Hunan) food that the Founders intended us to have.

Important Movie Quotes - Wet Hot American Summer

More of you are unfamiliar with this film than are familiar with it.



It is one of those movies that is watchable over and over and it gets better with every viewing...more absurd and funnier.

And look at that cast...

Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Michael Showalter, Marguerite Moreau, Paul Rudd, Molly Shannon, Christopher Meloni, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Ian Black, Bradley Cooper, Amy Poehler, Zak Orth, and A.D. Miles

Lamb, Books, & Picnic Baskets

• I finished "Dog Blood" this past weekend.  The author has written a number of things that I have liked but not loved.  In this case, I loved it.  I strongly suggest that you read Hater and then Dog Blood and tell me what you think.  Especially if you have grown tired with some of the tropes of the zombie genre.  This is not a zombie book (oh yes, it is...) but it explores the same themes.  I look forward to the third book of the series (Them or Us) which comes out in about eight weeks.  I mean, if you don't like the genre, I understand...but then why are you reading me?
• On Saturday, HJ77 and I went looking for things to fill a picnic basket.  My suggestion was "Let's head to the Farmers' Market" which HJ77 had offered resistance to before. Now, I know someone like me loving Farmer's Markets is so much of a cliche that it is stuff that white people like. But I do love them...I like fresh, seasonal, local food, and I love tasting new things that I have never had before.  When I think of Farmers' Markets, I think of the Troy Waterfront Farmers' Market or the Greenmarkets in New York and I have certain expectations about what as going to be available.  My belief is that you should be able to buy the bulk of your food directly from the producers.  (There is also the thing about buying fresh and raw food as opposed to the boxed crap that most people shovel into their maws, but I understand why my situation, while not being unique, is different.) So, in our quest to fill the aforementioned picnic basket, we headed to the largest Farmers' Market in Rhode Island, the Hope Street Farmers Market.  HJ77 was very happy at the Troy market and she had told me that her's was different.  Because I am an idiot, I thought "How different could it be?" Mainly because Providence is one of those towns that is full of smart people with hippie sensibilities and enough money to demand what they want.  Yeah, I was wrong.  It was not that it was a bad farmers' market it just that it was...small.  I was expecting a literal cornucopia of fresh and local delights and...while there was some of that, there was also a lot of...the same stuff.  We ended up having to go to a...wait for it...Whole Foods to get the rest of the things for the picnic basket.  Ironic, no?
• On Saturday night, HJ77 and I had dinner at Cook & Brown Public House and while I am not going to write up a review (I am sure that HJ77 will over at SugarnSpice.) I wanted to mention a couple of things.  One, the service was incredible. It was just great.  Our table was great too. (I am wondering if it is a Union thing.  HJ77 graduated with the Chef-Owner.  I do not remember him.  I doubt he remembers me.  Maybe that is why the service was great but I doubt it.  I think that they offer this level of service for everyone.) Our appetizer was outstanding.  Lobster makes everything better, no?  Especially when it is cooked well.
  
  Doesn't that look grand?
  
  For the entree, I had the lamb shoulder, which is very good.
  
  Now here is the issue. The difference between very good and incredible comes down to one little thing for me. I love chorizo. It is a wonderful sausage and pork is always good. It also has a distinct flavor. The sauce for the farro salad was finished with chorizo oil and at the end of the meal, that is all that I tasted. Again, not bad but...I was loving the taste of the lamb and relishing what was my first real Autumn meal of the year. The dessert (which HJ77 will talk about) made up for it. If you are around, and can get a reservation, please do check it out. (Oh, as a by the way, the Union alum who is the Chef-Owner is also a James Beard Award winner...that is pretty cool.)
  

Important Movie Quotes - Fletch

Who doesn't like Fletch?

"It's all ball bearings these days"



I may have told various people at certain points of my life to "put my bill on the Underhills' tab."



"What can I say about Fletch?"


"Fred 'The Dorf' Dorfman!"

Games

I like games. Not video games. (Aside from Civilization, I do not really play video games. I understand their novelty, but...I would rather read.) Words games and choice based games.

You know...games like F/M/K (or the heterosexual male version "Bro/Bestman/Kill") but I cam up with a new one the other day and it has been floating around in what used to be my brain for three days. Teacher Dave played it with me (and it took hours) and HJ77 played it as well.

I call it Exile.

Here is the supposition that is at the heart of the game:

You are the enemy of the state. This being a progressive country (and because you are popular), you are not going to be put to death but exiled (for life) to a tropical desert island. On this island, you will have all the media you can want, but once you are cut off from the world, no new media will come along. There is enough good food to last for the rest of your life, plus the ability to grow more food. There is beer and liquor as well as a still and the setup of a microbrewery. You will be given a large five bedroom home with modern amenities and two acres of land that has been cleared for athletic fields and the like (including a driving range and putting green). This is a sweet set up, and one of the nicest prisons imaginable, but make no doubt about it, it is a prison.

And part of your punishment is choose four other people to share your exile. If everything is provided for you, and your life is fairly luxurious, how do you want to spend the rest of your life and who do you want to spend it with?

When thinking about my list, I was considering gender balance, personalities, and the ability to get along (or get over things quickly). I was also considering things like who they had out in the world (meaning: kids? spouse?), whether or not they liked hot weather and beaches and such (strangely, a number of people who I considered, like my brother, hate the beach and heat and everything associated with it. Weird, no?), areas of interests. (I prefer generalists to experts.)

Oh, and if they would have a grudge if I pulled them out of their lives and exiled them with me.

Who would be the four people that you would want with you?

I am still working on my list, I have three out of my four. Apart from my father, my list is private and I am not asking you to publicize yours, but...

Who would you want with you forever and would they forgive you for it? What traits would you value? What is important for you?