March 2007 - Posts
March 23, 2007
Went to Pizza Ranch tonight in Delano with family and friends. I love me some pizza!
I love the fancy stuff. I think Punch does a great job with their ovens that are hotter than the core of the sun.
I often get the Margherita pizza with Gorgonzola and Green Olives. After spending a month in northern Italy covering the Olympics last year, I developed a love affair with Gorgonzola. It's hard to get enough of it actually.
I also love the Pizza Ranch. When you've got young kids, it's hard to beat family friendly restaurants like that. Buffet style, great service, fun atmosphere. I have never been to Pizza Ranch and not left completely satisfied and pleasantly content. It's not in the same classification as Punch, but its every bit as good in it's own right.
I used to be a delivery guy. Vinnie's Italian Kitchen, Fab's Italian Kitchen, (run by brothers), and I started my pie toting career at Domino's in the San Fernando Valley of California.
The worst part of Domino's delivery was that you had to get the pies to the location within a half an hour or else the customer would get 3 dollars off. Not too much of a problem, but with multiple orders going out in one car, you could get burned by the policy. Tardiness kills tips.
A great gig though that I look back at fondly. My best tip ever was from Tom Petty's keyboardist. He gave me a 20$ bill on an 11$ pizza.
One of my most disappointing tips was when I delivered a pizza to the set of Who's the Boss. I got a couple bucks for a 170$ order.
So goes the life of a delivery guy. Ever since that job though, I am a ridiculously good tipper to pizza delivery people.
Too bad Pizza Ranch doesn't deliver. Or wait, do they?!
perkout
March 18, 2007
I have a 3 year old and a 5 month old. I have some random thoughts that have been gurgling around in my brain.
-Diaper Rash Must Really Hurt
-How is Dora able to just go exploring? Doesn't she have a curfew?
-I'm glad I don't have to be burped after each feeding.
-Why is Eeyore so depressed?
-Why are Baa Baa Blacksheep, The Alphabet Song, and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star all the same tune?
perkout
March 11, 2007
I'll admit, I am not a hockey guy. I grew up out west, and to be honest with you, the only leagues out there were filled with east coast transplants trying to get their fix.
Occasionally, I'd go to L.A. Kings games at the Fabulous Forum, back when they had purple uniforms, not the black and silver they don now. It was interesting to watch, but nothing like watching Magic, Kareem and the Lakers.
Eventually though, I moved here to the State of Hockey, and it became hard not to appreciate the sport. Gopher men winning national titles, Gopher women doing the same, traveling to the NHL playoff games, where the Wild were beating Vancouver and Colorado in thrilling Game seven finales.
I admit, it's an awesome sport.
This weekend was a perfect example of that. Crazy State High School Tournament games. How nuts was that Burnsville Grand Rapids finish!? My sports producer is a Burnsville kid. He was walking on clouds one moment, and despondent a minute later.
Then today, that Wild game, winning in overtime. The Gophers squeaking one out in thrilling fashion at Mariucci. Hockey is sweet for sure.
What isn't sweet is the way the equipment smells. But, it's a small price to pay for a sport that brings so much joy. I mean, Gorgonzola cheese stinks, and it brings me a ton of bliss.
perkout
March 5, 2007
GREAT INVENTION
-The Ball Point Pen. Perhaps the most underrated writing instrument of the 20th century. They are reliable, write smoothly, and look clean on the page. Sure technology is eclipsing their usefulness, but I still use them everyday.
-Runner-Ups- The Band-Aid, Remote Keyless Entry, TiVo or DVR
BAD INVENTION
-The Spork- I appreciate the thought behind the spork, but how are these things still used after all these years!? My problem with the plastic spoon/fork hybrid, is the fork portion of it. Does anybody really ever use the fork prongs to stab their food? No, they are too shallow and completely ineffective.
-Runner-Ups- Sunglass leashes, Kneeboards, Dr. Pepper
perkout
March 3, 2007
OK, I'll make this fairly brief considering it's a pretty gross subject matter. But what is the deal with mucous!
I understand every bodily fluid has its function and purpose, but I am so tired of the whole runny nose thing!
Where in the world does all this stuff come from? I was sick two weeks ago, and my nose continues to be a fountain of phlegm!
How deep does the reservoir of snot go?
As you can tell, I'm pretty frustrated. And if this blog offends or even disappoints, I'm sorry. I just am getting worn out, blowing my nose every 8 minutes.
I've blown so many times, my nostrils are chafed.
Forgive me for being gross and venting my despair. But if there's one thing I'm not going to do, it's withhold my true emotions for the sake of having a politically correct blog.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to single handedly boost Kleenex's quarterly revenues.
perkout