Where's the Menu Board?

A few weeks ago, on Black Friday, I headed to work and en route, stopped to get a McDonald's breakfast at the Luzerne location. When I pulled up to the order speaker, something was very different. There was no menu. None. There was just an empty, metal, red circle thing which I am guessing held the menu. I felt at a loss intially, so I just ordered a coffee with three creams and a hashbrown. I mean, I know what McDonald's carries, but without the menu, I felt a tad lost.

I figured the Luzerne McDonald's just chose a holiday weekend when less people would be eating Big Macs to change/upgrade the order board. Then, fast forward today. I wanted a fountain soda. Bad. So, I pulled into the Luzerne McDonald's and again, NO menu. It's been a little while; you'd think they'd have it replaced by now.

I seriously thought of asking into the speaker box, "Hey-- what do you guys have here?" You know, throw them off a bit. Pretend I've never been to the Golden Arches before!

What is so funny about this situation is that most Americans would do just fine without even looking at the menu at the McDonald's drive-thru. Seriously! And that should scare us. We've been groomed to know what McDonald's serves, from the Big Mac to even lesser knowns, like the Asian Chicken Salad. We know about the fries. We know about the shakes. We know about the pies. We don't need the menu board. Yet, it's a source of comfort. It's pictures can perhaps change one's mind. It can help the indecisive, decide.

But really- I wonder how long it takes to replace a menu board. There may be someone in Luzerne county who never ate at McDonald's, and may very well need it.

Lucky's Sportshouse is a Nice Addition to NEPA

I meant to write this post a few weeks ago, and in fact, even took a picture of my dinner to use in the blog post. For months when folks drove on upper Coal Street past Wegman's, past the big superstore that is ruining America and toward the arena, they were greeted with the old Uno Pizza building be remodeled, with a sign that said, "new concept restaurant coming soon." The owners teased us-- no one knew what was being worked on inside the old pizza shop.

Then, it was announced that it was going to be Lucky's Sporthouse. The logo is pretty cool, so even though I do not care for sports, I was interested. Then, two of my friends were meeting there one Monday for a game (something with a ball or stick, I am not quite sure) and food and beer. When I walked into the place, I was pretty impressed. Huge, open, airy, lots of TVs.... a real, super nice place. The bar was HUGE. The bartenders certainly have a lot of room to move around, which I am sure makes their jobs a lot easier. Lucky's Sportshouse has tons of beers on tap, which is great. Not as many as Arena Bar & Grill, of course- but that's the Arena's speciality. Lucky's is all about providing sports fans a more upscale place to watch a game and get some good eats.

The menu is fantastic! There's the token bar food, of course. Everyone at the bar seemed to be ordering pizza- Lucky's Sportshouse had a good selection of speciality pizzas. I opted for a real dinner. Something really caught my eye- Grits and Shrimp. I know- grits. Reminds ya of My Cousin Vinny, right? This prompted me thinking- is this a chain? I was pretty sure Lucky's was a local place because in my travels around the US, I have never seen another Lucky's, but grits? In NEPA? So I asked our extremely nice bartender (his name is escaping me, dammit- I knew I should have posted this that night), the scoop. Turns out one of the owners worked in the South for a while and learned just what you could do with grits while there.

This grits and shrimp thing was one of the most unqiue things I've tasted. It was two grit and cheese cakes- I had only seen grits look like a lumpy side dish before- but here, they were formed into cakes, either deep friend or pan friend until they were golden and crispy. Then, between the two cakes was spinach. All around the tower were pieces of shrimp and cherry tomatoes in this amazing cream sauce. I could barely drink my beer because this was so filling- I couldn't finish all of it, but did my best. It was just incredible. I'd order it again, but definitely want to try the pizza.

So- to all in NEPA who are looking for somewhere new to try, check out Lucky's Sporthouse. I am not a sports fan but still had a blast. The place draws a good crowd, has a really, really nice staff and just an overall great atmosphere.

Things I've Been Craving: Tattoos, Snacks, Beer and House stuff

This blog is dedicated to the things I've been craving. Some I got, so I didn't. "Some I got" is poor grammar, I know. I don't know why I wrote that.

ROOT BEER FLOATS

We have a really cool restaurant/deli at work. They happen to serve ice cream. One of my co-workers, G., walked by me with a dish of strawberry ice cream and it looked delicious and refreshing. So, I headed downstairs to get some of my own. Only, I took plastic Pepsi cup I use to fill up with soda (when I am bad) and water (when I am good) and decided that I would put a few scoops of vanilla in there. And then, fill it up with Mug root beer. My own home-made root beer float. To my dismay, everyone was craving ice cream today-- there was no vanilla left. I didn't think strawberry and root beer would mix, so I just ate the ice cream and took my empty cup back up stairs. But now, I am craving a root beer float like you wouldn't believe.

MICHELOB AMBER BOCK

For a short while I worked for a Budweiser wholesaler doing promotions. During this time I was forbidden to drink anything but Anheuser-Busch products. At the time I drank a lot of Yeungling Lager, so my boss suggested Michelob Amber Bock. I liked it. I enjoyed buying cases at the employee discount. Once I left Bud, I didn't revert back to Lager either. I switched to Miller Lite solely because I was gaining weight. But, I still craved Amber Bock. But, nowhere I regularly drank offered it on tap. And, I always forgot to ask for it in bottles. So, last week when I went to Bar Louie at the casino with my friend, I saw it was featured on tap. Bar Louie is based in the Midwest where AB is located- so it made sense. I was excited and quickly changed my lemonade order to Amber Bock. Mmmm. So last night I was at a pizza place and the Olympics were on. I saw some amazing divers but then was even more dazzled by the ad for Amber Bock. Twice in one week I was reminded of a beer I spent so much time with back in 2002-ish. So today after work I went to Bonanza Beverage in Dallas and picked up a case of Amber Bock bottles for a mere $21.90. Killer deal I think.

FURNITURE

I have been craving carpets, a dining room stable and storage solutions since I moved into this hell hole in May. The only way I can make the ugly ceiling and ugly paneling look better is with nice furniture. And jazzing up the place. I still think I may hold off on a TV for self-discipline reasons. But still, it just feels un-American to have one. Still, I guess I am pretty un-American because I do not shop at freaking Wal-Mart. At any rate, I finally decided to splurge. I got a nice new dining room table- pub style at Kurlancheek's in Exeter... super nice people there. I bought some area and throw rugs- a cool shaggy kind from Target. Next is a desk, some fake trees and some wall coverings and I will be set. I also bought a storage cabinet for the bedroom for all my junk. But that has to be put together so that will wait until after the Tulsa trip.

A TATTOO- Had a crazy dream

I put on my turn signal to turn into Marc's Tattooing at their new Shavertown location but I kept going in the direction of home/beer store. I've been contemplating my tattoo seriously now the past few weeks. I want to get the word "Imagine" on my back (lower or upper) or my shoulder. Any ideas?? I am not sure what font and if I want any kind of illustration with it. I thought if I stopped in I could get some ideas from the artists at Marc's Tattooing. But I figured I'd get roped into it, and if I got a tattoo now and it did make my back hurt, the flight may be uncomfortable. Aslo, I had this dream last night that made me feel better about getting a tattoo. I was at the tattoo parlor (why is it called a parlor?) and the guy injected ink inside me with a big novacaine type needle and it hurt. It was one of those dreams where you actually FEEL the pain. I woke up it "hurt" so bad. When I woke up I thought to myself, "If it is less pain than that, it'll be cool." And get this- I fell back asleep and I finished where I left off. I told the guy it hurt and he said, "You only have the top line of the Capital I. Is that okay?" I told him it was and I left.

Fear of Flying--- But I'll Fly Anyway, Plus Gambling

LEAVING ON A JET PLANE
I've flown many times. I've even jumped out of a plane before. However, everytime I have to fly, I get nervous. Very, very nervous. But, once I am up in the air, there's nothing I can do. My strategy is that I sleep. I learned as a kid that sleeping gets you there quicker, whether it is a car ride home from grandmom's or for Christmas morning to come.

I finally booked my flight to Tulsa. I think I waited until the last week to book the flight because of my fear. I leave Thursday night and will return Monday night-- you can read a few blog posts down about what I plan to do. I haven't been on a plane since 2005. Wish me luck.

THE NEW CASINO
A few years ago, I flew to Vegas and joked with the people in line that I was gambling with my life by getting on the plane, and I wasn't even in Vegas yet... a few people thought it was funny and a few others gave me evil sneers. At any rate, I figured that would be a good segue into talking about the "new" Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The temporary casino has been open for years, but just a few weeks ago, the full casino opened. I checked it out on Monday- didn't win anything but I had a good time. I checked out Bar Louie after I lost my allotted gambling funds... it rocked. My kind of place- lots of beer on tap, casual atmosphere and a great menu.

I had Mom's Meatloaf fo $11.95-- it was two large slices of meatloaf (with that bbq glaze sauce, kinda like the stuff I make) atop a large serving of REAL mashed potatoes and then the dish was topped with peas. The meatloaf was amazing- had mushrooms pouring out of it. The potatoes were so creamy and buttery. My pal for the night had a burger which he said was good. We shared a Cookie-tini for dessert-- it was a HUGE martini glass (bigger than my head) filled with six large chocolate chip cookies stuck in a huge pile of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream and chocolate syrup. The service was very attentive and friendly. I want to go back- just need to pass the slots. There were lots of other dining choices there too, everthing from hot dogs and Johnny Rockets to fine dining at Ruth Chris. You can see all the dining choices at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs here.

Cats 'n Cakes -Slash- Grooming & Grub (I was torn what to call the post so I used both)

The past several days (okay, weeks) I've been noticing that my cat is shedding quite a bit. It's summer. Animals do that. But I've been sweeping up cat hair every day, and when I come home on lunch and Spectra gives me love, I must use the lint roller before returning to work. Then it dawned on me. I need to brush her.

So, I brushed her. And I brushed her. And I brushed her. The hair was coming off in gobs. I made this huge pile, and yes, this is from one ten-year-old feline:

And then, there was so much hair,

I was able to make this kitten for Spectra to play with:

And then, I made peanut butter pancakes for dinner. I was tired of Mac & Cheese. Tired of 99-cent Celeste brand microwavable pizzas, Deluxe flavor. I was tired of tuna sanwiches. I was unhappy with the fridge. I was unhappy with the cabinet I keep my non-perishables, like all the pasta and rice and noodles and Ramen. What was I to eat? I almost scadaddled and headed to BK, but then I opened the big cabinet, where I keep baking stuff and the oils, and drink mixes and suddenly:

HALLELUJAH! Angels sang along with the harp in the background and what did I see? Aunt Jemima! Reses' Peanut Butter Chips!! Eggo Syrup!!! Spray Butter!!!! Does it really matter if you make pancakes at 8:30pm? Of course not!

So, I made four pancakes. I had some trouble with skillet because my apartment is quipped with a crappy stove, so they weren't perfect looking, but in taste. Holy freakin' cow. Delicious.

There is an even funnier story on why I had all these ingredients. If you can't tell that it was purchased while very drunk, then look closer. I had to chuckle to myself when I saw the picture I just snapped. It huge yellow letters in a huge blue banner, it says, "Easier Open & Close!"-- check out how I opened the box, haha. But yeah, the story is very funny. It may end up in my memoir.

Hummus Orgasmus

Mmm. I recently updated my Facebook status, at 3:31 p.m., to inform the world that I was indulging in the most glorious of treats: roasted red pepper hummus, in which I was dipping sun-dried tomato Wheat Thins. Instantly, I received two comments on my status message:

Andee: Your status is making me horny...'cause roasted red pepper hummus is always orgasmic. (3:41)

Lauren: your status sounds delicious. (4:18)

I responded to Andee with this: If you are horny just by reading my status message, imagine me, here with the roasted red pepper hummus. I'm kinda squirmin' in my seat it's so good. I think I need a cold shower.

Yes, girls and boys. It's that good. How could, me, Andee and Lauren all be wrong?? Huh? I am a big fan of the red pepper hummus at the Wegman's Mediterranean bar, however usually get the Athenos brand or the Cedar's brand because it is all that is usually available where I shop most. However, Sabra Hummus is much better, although harder to find. My local Mr. Z's expanded, the one in Dallas, Pa., so now they carry more brands, one of them being Sabra. The lady at the check-out this afternoon even gave me the thumbs up when she scanned and bagged the yummy hummy. Sabra's classic flavor is very good also, and comes with pine nuts on top. That's what I think I like the most about Sabra Hummus- that it comes will other goodies, not just like a dip.

Sabra Hummus is the smoothest, creamiest hummus I have ever tasted, seriously. And, it is oozing with olive oil and red peppers when you first open the container... I kinda mixed it all together with my first cracker today. But, I thought since I got some feedback on my status message that I would expand it here, with a blog post called Hummus Orgasmus, because it is.

Check out your local deli section today for this glorious and healthy treat!

Tonight, Grilled Cheese. Tomorrow, Hickory Burger. Sonic is PA-Bound!

Tonight, Grilled Cheese. Tomorrow, Hickory Burger.

Well maybe not exactly tomorrow, but soon Sonic will make a home in Northeast PA according to today's Times Leader. I am stoked to hear that a few business folks are looking to bring this fast-food chain to our area. I used to live off Sonic when I lived in Oklahoma, the state where Sonic is from! So, tonight I made myself a delicious grilled cheese, but soon I can savor the yummy Sonic menu. And, get service from my door window. (Oh- and that pic- I lifted it from someone's flicker- those aren't my 70-year-old hands....)

Thanks to network and cable TV, people of Northeast PA have been teased by Sonic for year and years. I heard many people I've watched TV with over the years ask, "What's a Sonic?" And because I lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma I can say that I've eaten there many, many times. I think there is one is Western PA. I remember stopping at one on a drive to Nashville.

I just can't wait for Sonic to get here- seriously! There have kick-ass tater-tots and Cherry Lime-Aid-- oh an over the years they seem to have added so much to their menu. I used to always get the Hickory Burger meal with a side of tater tots. Hopefully they still have that! Oh, and the chili cheese dogs. Awesome.

So, just wanted to throw up a quick blog post to make my excitment known about Sonic coming to PA!

Here's a link to the Times Leader Story, Sonic Expanding into NEPA.

Ice Ice Ba------ cteria. (Fecal matter too)

I can't prove it. But I think the ice scooper is the culprit. People in the office are sick. We all share a common ice scooper that:

1) Is oftentimes found lying inside atop the ice instead of firmly placed on the holder on the inside of the door.

2) Is dropped on the floor and then placed back in place on the holder on the door. (I saw this yesterday, hence the blog.)

A year or so ago I saw one of those in-depth, undercover investigations about ice. The reason for this investigation was the death of a young athlete (the reason for lots of health-related investigation- it seems anytime someone "with promise" is affected, people pay attention. nothing wrong with that, but still.....) which was traced back to bacteria in the ice.

In my own words, this is what happens:
1. People touch the scooper. Maybe they are sick or didn't wipe their ass or touched something or someone who had a bug.
2. The scooper holds this bacteria.
3. Then, when the scooper is dropped back on top of the ice.
4. The bacteria spreads around the cooler as some of the ice melts
5. Someone scoops it into their cup
6. They get sick
7. The touch the scooper... the cycle begins again

I am not OCD. You should see my house. But, in an office building or school or restaurant, people should have a little respect and put things back where they belong, and if a common item is dropped on the floor, take responsibility and rinse it off. Other people have to use it.

When people who work or learn together get sick, it's bound to get passed around in some way, shape or form. Bacteria is everywhere, we can't help it. But- I think people should think a little more and not be completely oblivious and inconsiderate.

Wow. I haven't done a rant in a while. Feels kinda good actually.

Hard Data:
Chicago Sun Writes About Restaurant Ice & Fecal Matter- Dec. 07- blog reference
Blog about a CNN Report of Ice & Fecal Matter

And what the heck- I did a little more digging in the CNN transcripts and found that thist study was from a week-long series they did called, "Enough to Make You Sick." You can follow this link to read the whole thing- you have to really dig deep into thise transcript- there are several news stories before the one on ice and bacteria. Here's a snippet:

Take Denton, Texas, 1999. Fifty-eight members of a high school drill team were infected with various levels of gastrointestinal illnesses at a camp. The ice got contaminated with E. coli after campers used their bare hands to scoop ice out of the machine. And recently, a British government study surveyed clubs, bars and pubs in London, and found half the ice they used was full of bugs and bacteria that can make people sick. (on camera): So that got us thinking, what would we find if we bought ice just like you would on any given day at any given restaurant across the country? (voice-over): We took our ice samples in Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles, at a combination of fast food chains and local establishments in each town, a total of 23 samples. In each location, we walked in and ordered our drinks with our ice on the side, and then carefully, without touching the ice, poured it into sterile bags, and then set the samples off to a certified food laboratory, Microbac Laboratories in Warrendale, Pennsylvania. (on camera): Now, our study didn't follow all EPA protocol. That would mean we would have had to have gone to each restaurant four or five times, tested the city water, and then made sure that our sample ice touched nothing before it went into our sample bags. But our results were tested against the most basic EPA standards, and what we found was disturbing. (voice-over): In every city but one, there was a restaurant that failed those EPA standards. This McDonalds in Atlanta failed. This Dunkin' Donuts in Chicago failed. This 7-Eleven in Dallas failed, and so did this Burger King in Los Angeles. On the day we tested, according to Microbac Laboratories, each ice sample from these four establishments was contaminated with fecal matter.

And, leave it to me to come up with something corny:

Adds a whole new meaning to POOPER SCOOPER!!

Why do I fall for advertising?!

Last week, I ate at Quizno's. And not because it was convenient, but because I have been seeing the commericals for the Prime Rib Ranchero. Was it the deep, sexy voice talking about the tantalizing concoction of prime rib and habernero peppers? Or was it just the huge picture of the meaty sandwich dripping with sauce that filled my entire TV that did it? Either way, the multi-sensory image haunted me all the way to the new Wilkes-Barre Quizno's and until I took my first bite. Was I impressed? Eh. Somewhat. Could have used more sauce. It didn't ooze like it did in the picture. Was it worth the $7+? Definitely more meat than other sub joints, and I'd eat it again, but Quizno's is a bit too pricey for me to frequent the place. (Until the next new sandwich that becomes an overplayed commercial; I'll just fall for it all over again.)

Today, I worked late. Didn't feel like cooking when I got home- it was too late to pick up Chinese from the place on my way home, and the pizza place close to my house, Red's, is closed on Mondays. So, what pops into my mind?

What did you do with your 30 minutes? Yep. Didn't walk into the Domino's and fake a Brooklyn accent or shaved-off eyebrows (I do need a waxing) or anything, but I did get the BRKLYN special. And the coolest thing was that they had an LCD screen in the lobby with my name on it and exactly how much time was left, as well as the status. I saw my pizza go from "Being Made" to "In the Oven." The timing was right on.

I don't watch a lot of TV. But goddammit when I do, I succumb to those bastard advertising agencies every time. Kudos to them, man. I used to dream of working on Madison Avenue coming up with creatives-- but the stress of the city, I dunno. I think I'd rather fall for it then create it.

So, I'm kinda thinking the Cheesy Beefy Melt from Taco Bell for my next stop. "I stop the world and melt with you...." See-- it's in your head now too.

Green M&Ms? Aphrodisiac or not? Either way, great marketing ploy by Mars!

Happy President's Day. I wish for President's Day we were given a new president. But that's a whole other blog. Today, I will write about something that makes me happy: Chocolate. And instead of red, white and blue, I will write about another color: Green.

I was CVS the other day and noticed a bright green bag amidst shelves and racks and bins and boxes full of red, pink and white candy. Like a beacon in the night (how cliché), the green bag of M&Ms stood out from the rest of the Valentine’s Day candy selection. The sexy Ms. Green M&M was winking at me. It made me smile, and even chuckle a little bit. The M&M marketing team finally played up—and capitalized on- the old legend about the color green’s role in love, or is it lust? I marveled at the cleverness and bought two bags.

I remember in elementary school hearing that if you wore green on Thursday, it meant you were horny. Then later, perhaps in junior high school, I learned that bringing in green M&Ms on Thursday meant the same thing. Or, it may have also meant that they made you horny. Either way, there was a connotation with those green M&Ms. Of course, back then it took a little bit of work to separate all the colors and there never were really many green M&Ms left, but it was fun. Okay—not that I ever did that….

The Legend of Green M&Ms
So, I wanted to see where this green M&M and/or wearing green on Thursday tying into horniness myth came from. Lo and behold, the PR company for Mars, makers of the M&Ms included much of this knowledge in an official press release for the limited-edited green M&Ms.
The press release from Mars states the legend of the green M&Ms, which they now copyrighted as The Green Ones®, are an aphrodisiac. The release continues that rumors of the green M&Ms’ special powers have been circulating since the '70s. Furthermore, the release adds that an 80s hair band star requested in his rider three pounds of green M&Ms, as have NASA astronauts on 31 space flights.

The Mars company, who brought the M&M characters to life in recent years, created a fun and flirty ad campaign to go along with the release of the green M&Ms featuring Ms. Green. Is it not a coincidence that the only female M&M is the green one? The package even contains a disclaimer that reads: “Consumption of The Green Ones® may result in elevated romance levels. If you experience this effect, contact your significant other immediately.”

Sidebar-- while I was at the M&M's website, I procrastinated a bit by creating my own M&M Character- pretty darn nifty.... you can customize mostly everything, even down to eye color, shoe color, accessories, etc. You should make yourself into an M&M too. In hindsight, I should have made myself green.

According to Snopes.com, Mars actually created Ms. Green in 1997 and ran ads in 2001 for M&Ms featuring her talking about the green ones. Maybe its because I majored in PR and just love advertising, but I totally dig this move by M&Ms. They injected new life into a tried and true American candy, and pushed the limits a tad with a little innuendo. I just love that.

What Does Green Mean?
As far as where the color green ever got off meaning love, lust or being an aphrodisiac, all my online research points to 15th century Celtic traditions. In folklore of both the Western & Eastern worlds, green often symbolizes fertility, life and rebirth. However, it is also said that green is a symbol of the devil, as well as witchcraft as it is linked to faeries.

When it comes to pop culture, there was not a lot of research out there. UrbanDictionary.com defines the green M&M as the one that supposedly makes you horny, but aside from that, all I found were blog and message board posts about the sweet school memories of the green M&M. In regards to wearing green on Thursday, not much on that either. UrbanDictionary.com had a listing on that too, but pretty much stated that wearing green on Thursday meant you were looking to hook up that coming weekend. I did find some articles that green foods in general can act as an aphrodisiac- but I hardly think asparagus will get me in the mood.

New Inn & Restaurant in Poconos - Woodfield Manor- Right by Mount Airy Casino!

I had an awesome night on Friday. One of our clients was opening a new inn & restaurant in Swiftwater, Woodfield Manor. Friday, they had a cocktail reception for some people and myself and a few co-workers attended.

If anyone is headed up to the new Mount Airy Casino or anything Pocono-ish for that matter and needs a nice place to eat and/or stay, I would highly encourage you to check out Woodfield Manor Chophouse.

This place has been an inn since 1808- it used to be an old hunting lodge. Today, the new owners have modernized it, while still giving it that rustic ambiance. The place is absolutely immaculate. The interior designers did a phenomenal job. I just can't get over how nice it is. The inn portion of Woodfield Manor has six suites upstairs- we were able to see three of them on Friday. Just lovely! The theme of them all were rustic, yet modern with lots of browns and burnt oranges-- each room as TWO flat panel screen TVs! Out back, there are also 13 cottages. So, plenty of room for guests.

But what was even more amazing was the food. At this special event, the chef prepared appetizers and entree items to give everyone a taste of what would be served regularly at Woodfield Manor. I tasted things I have never tried and actually felt pretty cool about myself for being so open. On the appetizer menu was Shrimp Martini- a huge martini glass filled with shrimp, onions and other seasonings, Beef Wellington, lamb skewers and they also had this awesome fruit kabob basket. That is what was passed around.

Then, they had a buffet of more appetizers- two kinds of oyster shooters (which I did not try), an AMAZING lobster bisque, alligator sausage spring rolls which rocked-- my favorite of the incredible spread, some type of clam florentine-ish on the shell, crocodile bites (not the official name I am sure), and stuffed mushroons.

Then, they put out some samples of entrees, which would delight any serious meat eater. We had Filet Migon (so tender and yummy), wild boar (tasted like pork), elk (this was a little gamey for me), ostrich which was my favorite meat actually (it was topped with a garlic & cheese type conconction- incredible), and then creamed spinciach and mashed potatoes with Gorgonzola cheese.

The chef came out an met everybody- he is so funny and a totally creative and excellent cook. The wait staff and bartenders were so friendly and the inn manager and his wife, the restaurant manager were lovely. Just a total great night. I am so excited for my clients, Tina and John and wish them the best of luck with their newest property!

I already raved to everyone I saw since Saturday and am going to plan a trip with a few other couples to have dinner, go to the casino, the outlets and then come back and stay the night. So-- check out Woodfield Manor! I think they officially open in a few weeks.

It's on 314 East in Swiftwater, just off Route 611-- near Aventis Pasteur and my old high school, Pocono Mountain Senior High. (now, PMHS East).

I will update this post with a few pictures once I get them. To learn a little bit more about this property, you can read a blog post about Woodfield Manor here on the owners' corporate website.

Addicted to the 99-cent Snack Attack

Of all the fast-food burger joints, I tend to go to McDonald's the most due to it's stone's throw proximity to the office. I wish I wasn't so dependent on fast food- I've just been working such long hours lately that I rush off the work without making a lunch or I don't have time to run to a real restaurant when I go on lunch or dinner-- so, nutrition for me has come by way of 99-cent double cheeseburgers.

The other week I headed up to the traffic hell area by the Arena and decided to do the Wendy's drive-thru for something different. Figured I'd get the chili. But while in line, I remembered a recent commercial I saw for the Snack Attack Double Cheeseburger. So, I ordered one of those too. Mmmm. I forgot how good Wendy's burgers are- fresh! Never frozen! That's what they say. And the sauce on these burgers just rocks!

It made me realize how I never go to Wendy's- they just aren't on my way home or in my regular travels. But recently during the bad weather we've been having, I haven't been taking my short-cut-- so on Route 309 in Dallas- I pass a Wendy's. Last night, I picked up a Snack Attack Double Cheeseburger for me and Dave. I ate mine immediately and almost ate Dave's and hid the evidence under the seat.

Tonight on on my way home, around 8:30, Dave called and asked what was for dinner. I said I'd make something when I got home. He paused. I said, "Well, I could take the long way and stop at Wendy's for a Snack Attack??" He asked for two. And I had two. We're going to turn into a Snack Attack.

At any rate, I made conversation with the lady at the window who recognized me from last night. I told her of my new addiction. She told me that she loves them too, but likes to go to McDonald's for their broccoli & cheddar soup. I said, "All you have to do know is go to Burger King to get your onion rings."

She told me that Wendy's may be getting onion rings and also that they are getting cookie dough to mix in their Frosties. Yum.

Sweet Nostalgia. Literally.

**updated 10/24/07- I had the link to the site wrong- if you are revisiting this post, please try the candy link again!

As I am writing this, I am chewing on something that I haven't chewed on in FOREVER.

Teaberry gum.

And it is yummy. And, I think it still sells for .25 a pack.

I have to thank Candy Pam from the Blair Candy Company in Altoona, PA for this nostaligic taste trek I am on right now. Check out her site at: http://www.blaircandy.com/ as she sells lots of classic candies- including of course Clark's Teabrry gum.

I had the chance to meet Pam at our Boot Camp last week when our clients camp to town to learn all about ecommerce. She was one of those who made the trek- and she came bearing gifts. I just tore into my candy baggie today and am glad I did. Mmmmm. Teaberry rocks.

What is teaberry? Well, it is actually an endangered plant in some parts, like Illinois. But the Eastern Teaberry plant (or, Gaultheria procumbens) is an American Wintergreen plant, which produces berries. According to http://www.wildflower.org/:

"This leathery semi-woody aromatic perennial has creeping underground stems thus forming small colonies of plants. Showy red fruits may persist through the winter. The genus was named for Dr. Gaultier a Canadian physician of the mid-18th century. Teaberry extract is used to flavor teas candies medicines and chewing gum. "

And according to the very reliable soure, Wikipedia the D.L. Clark Company based in Buffalo, New York began making the teaberry gum in the 60s. The gum is still made in Mexico.

Sweet Dreams Tea & a GMC Yukon Recall

This blog is about two things I love: getting a good night's sleep and proving that I am right!

I LOVE TEA!
I always loved tea, and more specifically green tea, but I always forget about it and just drown myself into caffeinated oblivion with coffee or Red Bull or Monster Energy. So last week, I had the plague. I was so congested from my head to my nose to my chest. I tried everything: Benadryl, Mucinex, Sudafed, Coldeez and Therflu. Nothing seemed to work. So I pushed through work during the week and over the weekend, I decided to just drink hot green tea with honey and sleep. By Monday- I felt like a brand new person!! I guess the Eastern Way knew all along.

So, Monday night when I went grocery shopping I decided that I would buy a bunch of tea. Yes. I would become a tea drinker instead of a coffee drinker. Then I stumbled upon Bigelow Tea brand's Sweet Dreams tea with chamomille and peppermint. Since it's for bedtime, it's noncaffienated. So, I made myself a glass and went to bed. The tea tasted wonderful, and smelled so calming. I read for a little while then shut off the light. I could smell the relaxing scent of the chamomille and as I inhaled and exhaled, I could feel it calming me. Next thing I knew, it was 6am and time to get up. The tea knocked me out. I've had the best sleeping week of my life I think with Bigelow Tea - and the Sweet Dreams flavor. Even better than with my melatonin!

I KNEW IT!
So- if you read my blog post from a few days ago, you read about my running out of gas. Truth be told, I honestly thought I could make it. Last June, I had a similar even happen to me on my lunch break at work during a travel. And my coworkers busted me. I swore to Dave that I didn't run out of gas. So- Monday in the mail we get a RECALL letter from GMC.

THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITH OUR GAS GAUGE: IT STICKS.

See. I knew it. I knew that by what the gauge said, that I had gas. I didn't let it get down to E from what I could see! In a twisted way, I am happy that this recall letter came. I can salvage my reputation.... ; )

My Adventurous Lunch

No. It wasn't as adventurous as the time Myles and I walked to the new Mexican place in downtown Wilkes-Barre through the ghetto and a shoplifter running with perfume bottles falling out of her shirt ran between us, the manager (who I ended up knowing) running behind asking which way she went... that was an adventure. I wanted to chase her, but my friend Myles said no, let's just go back to campus. That day, he began calling me Adventurous Donna.

Today's adventure was just trying something new: SUSHI.

I did it. I ate rate fish. And I liked it. I will probably hit up Wegman's again. Maybe tomorrow. I always wanted to try it, just never did. I had a veggie roll that last time I went for Japanese-- it appeared as if I was eating sushi, yet aha! There was no raw fish. That was just a few weeks ago. My boss goes for sushi for lunch quite often. Today, on a whim, I joined him and just jumped in.

I tried the hot tuna roll, as he suggested was a non-fishy tasting kind. He showed me how to prepare it-- drizzle soy sauce over each piece, then with the wide part of our chopsticks put a small dab of wasabi on each piece, then top it with ginger. Then, pick each one up one at a time and put the whole thing in your mouth to get all the flavor at once.

I knew if I thought about it too much, I'd hesitate. And if I hesitated, I'd have given him mine to take home and I'd have just drank my soda. Instead, I just dug in. And boy and I glad I did. It tasted creamy. The flavors of rice, seaweed, ginger, wasabi, soy sauce and the spicy tuna collided in my mouth-- it was wonderful.

I told Chris that next time I go for Japanese I don't have to run for the Hibachi grill side-- I have options!! And I don't have to pretend I am eating sushi by opting for the veggie roll. (Althought that kicks ass, too). I told him that I went skydiving a few years ago-- and I wasn't afraid to do that, but here, I was afraid to put fresh, raw tuna in my mouth. Go figure.

My New Palate

My taste in food has changed since I was a youngster. I was never cultured at home. My mom's cooking was amazing, but it was too American. Sometimes I would eat other types of food at friend's houses-- but was usually to scared to try anything. Like ordering just white rice at a Chinese place or chicken fingers at Red Lobster.

But after I went to college, I just was open to almost everything. Then, I took a Food & Culture class as a sociology elective and learned so much about food-- ever since then, I've been open to trying really anything. And I am SOOO glad. I don't know why I was so afraid. I love Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, Mediterranean... and there is so much more I need to try!! I just don't live in an area that has these places available. So, when I travel, I hit up the ethinic places.

I think for school lunches, kids should be exposed to foods from other cultures-- different spices and blends because many do not get that at home. That's why kids menues only have chicken fingers, hot dogs and grilled cheese. Then those kids turn into picky adults and miss out on all sorts of great things!

So, having sushi for lunch now has me lobbying to change the national school lunch program.

Project!!

And the air-conditioner goest in & lots o' birthdays-- and Organic Stuff

Finally. It's hot in northeast pa. Today was a scorcher and I lived it up by laying in the sun. I need to do something about this pale body o' mine.

Then, I came inside and did some housework. When I went upstairs to put away the laundry that has piled up (of course on the Bowflex- what else is expensive home-gym equipment for?) but it was so hot upstairs. Downstairs was okay-- breathable, liveable. But yeah- I wasn't going to suffer from heat exhaustion just to put away clothes in the kiln-like bedroom.

My one day vacation from not getting the bedroom in order is over, however. It's my fault. I asked Dave to put in our AC. He's doing that right now as we speak. We only have one unit, so we are going to look into one of those plug-in stand up, rotating ones that way we can still use our window, plus they look nicer. Anyone know of a good brand to look into? Let us know!

BIRTHDAYS

We have a lot to celebrate this weekend, and not just my new job. Nikki from the Weekender who I adore is turning 30 so her parents are throwing her a bash. I look forward to attending. Dave's sister Marie is also celebrating her b-day, as is our good friend, Andy. So, we're likely to stay in on Friday since we have so many functions to attend!!

And Dave's is coming up on the 21st, my sister's on the 22nd and then mine in July. Happy birthday, everyone!

GOING SOMEWHAT ORGANIC

As some of you know, I became a vegetarian and am totally LOVING the way I feel lately. I am also trying to go as organic as I can, especially with fruits and veggies and things. It's kind of pricey as I learned from my trip to Wegman's but I want to feel and look good and I've done so much reading on the benefits of going organic.

So, I bought organic peaches, bananas, pears and spiniach. I don't think the bagged carrots I got are. I also bought some kick ass organic cereal which I wrote about. (I will post the link as soon as it publishes.) I also bought BWC organic shampoo and conditioner, which I loved. I did buy organic JASON toothpaste, but was not thrilled about that. I know that Tom's is good, but Wegman's didn't sell it.

There's just one teeny thing I have to work on. It just didn't make sense to put all these organic groceries in the trunk of a BIG SUV.

(Speaking of organic and veggie-eating, I wrote about the new BK Burger King Veggie Burger- read about it here.)

BK Does it YOUR Way, for real & New Job Soon

So I am happy. Burger King offers a great veggie burger. I had no idea. What was pretty ironic is that I asked the cute girl at the counter if it was any good, expecting her to say, "ew, gross" since she worked at Burger King. Lo and behold, the girl was a vegetarian!! And she said they were pretty good. As a new vegetarian, I trusted her judgement. She was right! Mmmm.

Oh my gosh-- and BK's new cheesy tater tots-- TO DIE FOR.

Today also was my last day at Allied Medical & Technical Institute. I am trying to go in a creative direction somewhere and kind of took a chance that'd I'd find something soon. Wish me luck in my search! All I know is that I want to thrive in a creative, diverse environment. I love my coworkers now, but I just like when I am around lots of different types of people who aren't going to say I'm nuts for being quirky and creative! ; ) I will miss you Katie, Susan, Lauren, Danielle, Jessica and Heather!

Reccomended read of the day from my arsenal: Fictional Characters Who Starred in Commercials

So lately, I've just been vegging out.

I am not sure how long it will last. It IS after all coming up on hot dog season.

But, I have decided to go vegetarian. There are a few reasons.

First of all, I must say that I have always been drawn to the lifestyle. When I was younger, my mom and adoptive father, Tony T. would travel and do shows with a duo, the Holt Twins. Well, these awesome hippie-cool ladies were vegetarians and healthfood nuts. We were avid campers and I spent quite a bit of time with them as a kid, so I saw that their lifestyle could work at home and even at the campsite--- tofu dogs, etc. I was also intrigued by Emily and Linda. So, that was the first recollection I have of vegetarianism.

Well, not really. As a kid I was also around another group of vegetarians. My aunt Joan and uncle Pat are also 95% vegetarian, as our most of my six cousins. They seem to do just fine. They are all very thin and overall, very healthy.

At Wilkes, as a freshman, there were several vegans I knew. We were on SG together, and also on the food committee. Through this, I learned about some nutritional options (and tasty!) that'd don't involve any kind of animal product.

So- this was something I had always thought about. For the past few years as my world view has opened up, and my awareness of environmental issues has grown, I also have always been right on the brink of becoming a vegetarian. I just love hamburgers and hotdogs sooo much. I mean, I can live without everything else-- but barbeque season?! That seriously was my main concern.

However, I have dangerously high cholesterol and am on Lipitor for it. So, being a vegetarian for ethical reasons is one thing, but whether or not that is the reason I am doing it, the health benefits of becoming a vegetarian are amazing. I have been doing a lot of reading about it and every day I get more and more excited about my decision.

I think about what some of my fave foods are. Really, none of them NEED meat. I love Mexican stuff and in fact I had bean burritos tonight-- MMMM. I mixed beans and green chilies together, added lettuce, tomato, onions, cheese, salsa, sour cream and wrapped it in a whole grain tortilla. It rocked and I was full.

When I think about holidays that center around a meat dish, I really don't indulge too much in the ham or turkey.... my faves have always been green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, the bread and all the other veggies. And dessert.

I think I may be able to do this for good. It's been two weeks so far! I have been eating a lot of fruit, oatmeal, PB & J, pasta dishes, salads with cool things like almonds and bean sprouts. I am ordering some cookbooks, too.

I have to give kudos to Steph. D who I adore. I came across her MySpace page and she had added that she is a vegetarian. It had been on my mind quite a bit lately. A few months ago I did a Sacred Heart Diet and did well on it-- no meat for a week. When I saw that she became one, well, let's just say I was a copycat. No- really! I just thought that if someone I knew just did it, maybe I could too.

Dave doesn't want to go veg-- but you know what-- he hasn't even said anything about the dinners I've made. I make sure they are filling enough. He doesn't even miss the meat. For lunch, he has ham or turky sandwiches, but yeah, for dinners-- he hasn't asked "Where's the Beef?" yet. When he does, I will think of something to cook for 'one' as I can't push this lifestyle I am adopting on anyone.

Since I am primarily doing this for health and diet reasons and not totally for ethical reasons, I will allow myself to have a hotdog this summer. But who knows, I may not even want one. I will also be one of the vegetarians who eat fish. But again, after the transition, I may find that I don't want any.

On the ethical side, I have always felt funny supporting PETA since I eat meat. But, I truly believe in what they do and I am a total tree-hugging, animal lover at heart. I know my actions haven't always aligned with my views. I know that I don't do enough by way of being green, but I am trying harder now to do so.

Becoming a vegetarian is one small way to make a small difference-- but more importantly a statement. If I can lose some weight, get better skin, lower my cholesterol and risk for other diseases, get more energy and join a group of awesome vegetarians, then this decision benefits me in more ways than one! And, if someone else looks into it, even better!

So, if anyone has any good veggie recipes, fill me in and fill me up!