Capitol Swell

Legend...wait for it...dary

2010-03-28T12:22:00.000-04:00

Passing Health Reform

2010-03-22T00:49:00.001-04:00

2009-11-21T11:32:00.000-05:00

Come check out my new blog Bad Latin:Ludux

Evolution

2009-11-15T09:28:00.000-05:00

Underneath my hard Capitol Swell exterior lies change.

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.

2009-10-18T21:53:00.004-04:00

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion."- Thoreau

It is time to end this blog.

Why? For too long I have treated work like it was everything and then it became everything. I'm not quitting. I want to make the world a better place. But I've always used work as my excuse to not exercise, to not find love, to not do anything. I have let so much go and must reclaim it. I'm starting with my health and working forward.

Thanks to all my loyal readers. I hope that I brightened your days. It's been fun. I have talked about everything from getting demoted to japanese toilets and getting my ass sprayed by water. I gave you my thoughts on food, rules to live by and my endless random nonsense thoughts. I have enjoyed sharing a bit of myself with you all.

Walt

I Will Love Him and Pet Him and Name Him Walt

2009-10-14T23:35:00.002-04:00

Healthcare Reform Arghhhhh!!!!!

Did you know woman can pay up to 40% more in premiums vs male counterpart?

Did you know that 78% of healthcare plans do not cover maternity care?

Did you know that a number of states consider C-Sections a pre-existing condition?

Sometimes I am Lenny from, "Of Mice and Men"....I met with a Women's group today about healthcare. The lobbyist said to me, "In 8 states domestic violence is considered a pre-existing condition. "

What the Fuck?!?! That just makes me mad to think a woman could be denied service because she was abused.

Man, I was pissed off, "What are the states?"

Lobbyist rattles off the eight states: all in red states.

Me, "Whew! I thought you were going to say my state and I was going to have to punch someone in the Governor's office."

Insert foot in mouth. Beer kills brain cells. Yes, I am that dumb. Ughh.

I apologize to all women.

Return of the Jedi

2009-10-12T23:25:00.003-04:00

I found myself on a bus today driving around our district to show new staff what we are fighting for. Fuck the bus sucks. It's bumpy and the seats are so smashed even my shorter asian legs are pushed into my chest. We had a bathroom but why would you ever use it. I mean the bathroom on the bus is basically a moving port-a-potty. That doesn't safe now does it. You can pee on yourself. You could get splash back. You could go flying out of the bathroom for all to see. Danger. Also, buses have no real way to regulate temperature. On a trip to China the bus driver to create more cold air he opened the safety roof hatch and the exit panel in the floor. It didn't work. i think it got hotter. i have never been on a long bus trip the longest was a 12 hour round trip to see a stone garden in China. Our embassy chaperones had enough coke to quench the thirst of the Chinese army but no water. They didnt want to stop to make sure we saw petrified trees. A side note the petrified forest was cool. It was a region where you can see obvious signs of the last ice age and the flooding and how it carved the rock like crazy. Anyway that trip made me cry and you couldnt sleep because of the bumpiness.

I am trying to think of a good bus trip...maybe...nope.

I am always amazed at the dexterity of the bus driver and their buses. They seemingly can turn a bus around in an abandoned alleyway. Do you remember in the movie strips and the awesome urban assault vehicle in RV form. I think strips had it right. A fighting RV would dominate on the battlefield. The RV/Bus would be bulky to take punishment, for the geeks out there a RV/bus battlefield weapon would be akin to the beta fighter in Robotech, sorry. Have you seen a bus navigate a city. They can move in an d out of traffic and no matter what the bus always wins in a game of chicken. The bus rules!

Return of the Jedi is on as I write this piece.

Lost

2009-10-10T21:45:00.003-04:00

I often find myself feeling directionless. That's a bad choice of words. I find myself constantly seeking out a fundamental truth. I wish it was like Monty Python's The Meaning of Life but it tends to be more X-File-ish or I berate friends of other religion seeking out some truth. Too deep, yeah but it still haunts me. On some level it is where are all the space aliens? Were we more advanced in the past and we lost it and now we are getting it back? There a thousands years of human existence, life and death struggles produce immense knowledge do we still have that knowledge? Sometimes it is why do we hate each other so much when all religious texts point to understanding oneself and each other. The truth is out there.

I find myself at church seeking answers. I work in an office where too much information is given too me but the truth still evades me. And then I read the dumb new book, by the guy who wrote the movie with Tom hanks and Amelie, and it's about unraveling ancient wisdoms.

Seeking answers

2009-10-09T11:15:00.003-04:00

Can you fry lychees? if they were sufficiently dried,could you fry them like in a very light tempura batter. Drizzle honey on it and place a mini scoop of mango ice cream...mango sorbet in it. Does that sound good to anyone?

The reverse could be mango sundae with lychee crisps on top.

Or you could have a platter of fried lychees with a spicy honey chili sauce on top.

How about dessert nachos? Crispy fried tortillas lightly dusted with cinnamon-sugar. toppings could be ice cream, chocolate and caramel sauce, nuts like shaved almonds, maybe diced fruit like bananas....

Crab mac n cheese

2009-10-08T20:39:00.000-04:00

2009-10-08T20:38:00.002-04:00

2009-10-08T20:38:00.001-04:00

2009-10-08T20:37:00.000-04:00

2009-10-04T15:43:00.000-04:00

What Makes A President Great?

2009-10-02T23:16:00.003-04:00

Why do people hate Truman? Because he sought to contain communism and that drew us into Korea and Vietnam; because he took apart the military budget and desegregated it; because he nuked Japan; or he created our modern National Security apparatus; he advocated for national health insurance; recognized Pakistan.

I love Bill Clinton, he's indiscretion aside he was at the helm of the greatest economic expansion, a reduction in debt and left us a surplus. He gave us Family Medical Leave Act; pushed the goverment onto the internet; he cut taxes for middle class and businesses; welfare reform.

No matter what is passed or signed into law, changing the course of our country or history never happens overnight. Momentum for passage of major legislation takes years to prime our country for change. Healthcare reform is such legislation. Some people hate it but this reform will push our country forward.

Obama is going to push our country forward...we are going to reclaim American strength in industry and innovation...he'll be great.

Chilis rules!

2009-10-02T20:41:00.000-04:00

Loot Box of Joy

2009-10-01T20:49:00.002-04:00

Esquire has an article about the permanent box of joy. It has fun things like West Wing Clip about Butter Ball hotline, Zoey Deschanel blah blah blah...I am going to build on this article a little and give you the Loot Box of Joy.

What makes me happy this year?

1. Pinepapple, granola, and plain yogurt aka Betty Breakfast

2. Chipotle iPhone App- Tres crispy tacos

3. More and more...i like the idea of a doorless cars.

4. Jenna Fischer

5. War reenactors-- passion for history is awesome

6. Mexican Fried Ice Cream

7. REM "Don't Go Back to Rockville" Live

8. Bill Clinton-- Im sorry greatest President, rediuced debt, left surplus and economic boom.

9. the Prado- Too many pieces of arts to mention.

10. Couplings- Lesbian Spank Inferno

She's At It Again

2009-10-01T20:36:00.002-04:00

Hokie Girl emailed me and pointed out that Elizabeth Large is at it again. She's writing even crappier blog post then every. This time she is asking "100 Things that every Baltimore Foodie should know." Elizabeth Large has eaten and tried everything in the metro region and yet you rely on your readers to write this articles. Cheese and crackers that's your job. Take some pride in your work and write up the list yourself. If you are having trouble coming up with the list I'd think your Editors would pay for you to try some new foods. Sorry, she has what is the best job and she can be influential and she chooses not to.

At the end of the Internet

2009-09-29T22:28:00.003-04:00

What's at the end of the internet and how do I get there? Wading through, the countless blogs, all the newspapers, endless sports pages and the other 99% of the internet known as porn, the internet has to eventually end with what.... a mission statement from the creators..maybe God...Morpheus asking me to take a pill...no wait a picture of Al Gore.

I guess on some level the internet is like the universe ie its expanding...In astronomy their is a theory that as farther apart the universe gets the faster it moves also known as the Hubble constant. I think there is something similar for the internet,the faster it grows so does the perversity of mankind or the faster it grows the closer we get to all living in virtual reality land.

People have been mapping the internet for the last decade and I would love to see the work and for someone to tell me how it ends.

2009-09-26T18:53:00.001-04:00

Jock Rock, the Cure and workout tunes?

2009-09-26T10:12:00.003-04:00

I'm making a workout mix from my hard charging collection of REM, the Cure and Uncle Tupelo and frankly none of it seems to be good work out music. I'm looking for songs to really get me pumped and I'm stuck on "Killing an Arab" by the Cure. When I started compiling I figured I had a ton of Jock Rock but I still cant define it and I only have one foo fighters song...how am i going to make a mix with emo and no jock rock. I just can't have the Cult on heavy rotation.

Ramen

2009-09-23T20:40:00.001-04:00

2009-09-20T23:09:00.001-04:00

There are times when life calls out for a change. A transition. Like the seasons. Our spring was wonderful, but summer is over now and we missed out on autumn. And now all of a sudden, it's cold, so cold that everything is freezing over. Our love fell asleep, and the snow took it by surprise. But if you fall asleep in the snow, you don't feel death coming.

I Love Paris

2009-09-20T08:18:00.003-04:00

I've been watching "Paris, Je t'aime" a 2006 movie made up up of a number of vignettes about Paris from multiple perspectives. I have only been once to visit and countless times to Charles De Gaulle as layovers. I forget how old I was when I went but I had a brown barn jacket from J. Crew so i guess early college. What I knew about Paris came from my studies, Dumas' books, and reading magazines. When we went we saw all the major sites, Musee D'Orsay, La Tour Eiffel, Notre Dame, Pere Lechaise, the Louvre, Sacre Couer, mimes, we drank wine, ate baguettes, i smoked cigaettes and drank coffee in cafes and we took the overnight train from Paris to Barcelona. It wasnt that many days and I cant say that I saw how real Parisians live but I loved it anyway.

After watching all the vignettes I have been here thinking what did I like about Paris. I want to say the culture of a city thathas been around for a millenium..i want to say diversity of the people.. Maybe cruising around MontMartre? La Joconde? But..I loved talking to this crepe guy, i must have ate 6 mostly sweet and one or two savory. I believe he extarageted his frenchness for me but his crepes were perfect, light slightly chewey sugary...standing with that guy taking it all in is when I fell in love with it. I havent been back and there is so much to see..i'll get back there.

Hipsters at old school barber

2009-09-19T13:41:00.000-04:00

The Dark Side of the Diet

2009-09-19T08:58:00.004-04:00

So in my attempt to get healthy I have been trying to miniaturize portions and occasionally forgo meals, a friend insists that eating healthy will negate my necessity to forgo meals, they are right but whatevs. eating smaller portions and not having unfettered access to favorite snacks has been challenging, however I genuinely feel better. My pants are starting to fall off my flat asian ass.

These limitations often brings out a side in me that many people haver never seen before a sick, sadistic side because i get grumpy. I yell. I scream. I want to take my car and ram slowly accelerating drivers....wow it's like quitting smoking all the frack over again. This lack of eating made me very testy yesterday and I hate when I get like that.

This weight loss thing is just too perilous and I find myself asking: Are these exercises in the dark side on trials on a path to the light side. Am I walking through the Valley of the Shadow of Death? Must I use the Bene Gesserit's Litany Against Fear incantation to give me strength? Or I can just say no.

It's been rough and at I times I don't want to do another set of stairs and would rather kick back and have some wings and potato skins and a Big Gulp of Doctor Pepper but I have to do this. So if im grumpy it's only because i went without the donut or my idea to make microwaveable deep fried twinkies has failed but maybe i can start fitting into my nice suits again.

2009-09-19T00:33:00.001-04:00

What's Next?

2009-09-18T23:38:00.001-04:00

Let's get ready for Brody's Bday

2009-09-18T19:56:00.000-04:00

2009-09-17T20:38:00.001-04:00

Dolce domum

2009-09-16T02:07:00.001-04:00

The Family taken by the Seed

2009-09-10T00:37:00.000-04:00

She Hates.... Ramen

2009-09-06T21:50:00.002-04:00

My mom did not like Ren's Ramen. She equated it to Bob's Noodle House.

I didn't directly ask her why she didn't like it because I like to speculate.

Now, she likes noodles, but she likes them from authentic place, while we weren't in Tokyo, Ren's wasn't, a Noodle Company or Raku. So that couldn't be it. maybe she is just prejudiced to my taste in restaurant. I know that isn't true, we've eaten at a lot of places she likes, Jaleo, Spices, Cap Grille, etc. Maybe she doesn't really like Asian food. That's like hating chocolate cookies no one hates Asian food. She's contrarian? That could be true I do have those traits. Maybe she doesnt like ramnen. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...who doesnt like ramen, absurd!

For Three Strange Days I had no obligations but a family Wedding

2009-09-06T21:07:00.002-04:00

I spent the last three days with family attending the wedding of Angeli and Des. The rehersel and dinner was supposed to start at 400pm and that lasted until 100am. The wedding, the reception and post reception that started at 1100am and lasted for me until 100am. The post wedding brunch, lunch and dinner that started at 1100am and lasted until 900pm. These are hours of family time and I love every minute of it.

I still dont understand family that partied that only last a few hours, since I was born family parties lasted seemingly days, come for a BBQ stay for dinner and late night.

Highlight of Wedding:
Angeli gets married: She deserves it and it makes me realize that I can find love one day or maybe the person I love will finally see things my way.

Rebirth of pretend anchorman: It starts early in the evening, someone shouts, "Shots." What happens next is everyone starts to crowd around cups are passed out and shot are thrown back. Inevitable it is a horrible whiskey or worse jagermeister. Shots keep coming, we all start looking around to expand the circle. "I'll be 21 in October," Great you can join the circle. We also look for any elders to corrupt. This time it was Tita Zenida. Unfortunately that shot led to the family drama of the night. This mind set leads to notions of, "We have to kill the keg." or "We have to finish the handles." Yeah we are in our thirties and forties now.

Lechon: A roasted pig is a sign of a great family event. If you know where the lechon is or what time it is being brought out I suggest that this is the one time you have to be early to a family event. If you don't you will show up and have the pig will be gone and most of the crispy skin goodness will be gone. Ono and I were there early and we started to disassemble the roasted beast. i also found that if you use some pita, add the skin, some meat and some sauce that you have an awesome snack sandwich.

Moms will be Moms: "You are so drunk, already. Give me your car keys." Mom to me. Three shots and one beer in. My favorite, "You're getting so old you'll be alone." Ugghhhh!!

At the Mall with Mexican Coke

2009-09-04T17:46:00.000-04:00

Ren's Revenge

2009-09-04T13:25:00.001-04:00

Ren's Ramen: Dude how was it?

2009-09-03T11:24:00.002-04:00

CapSwell is taking a new direction in reviewing restaurants, I am going to take after the Baltimore Sun's "Food Critic" and just allow you, the loyal reader, to go and try it and post stuff to my blog. I will no longer be providing you with any insight about the places I eat, instead I will say "It's awesome totally awesome" and make you go to the eatery and allow you to post your observations as my reviews. Cheers!!

Just kidding.

Ren's Ramen was populated by a bunch of guys from the Japanese Embassy and an older japanese couple. I was greeted with a warm hello from the owner and seated by the window. The price is steep at $10 and thats without the extras like egg. The menu had miso, shoyu, tonshio pork, tonshio veggie. you can add extras like braised fatty pork, corn, butter, more sliced pork, egg, more bamboo, and seawood for extra form $.75 to $3.50. That can push your noodles upwards of $15. Ren's Ramen had a lunch special any bowl of ramen and fried rice for $13. They say on the menu they fly the ramen in from Sapporro. It was a nice small place in a Japanese Market.

Apparenlty, the DC Japanese commuity is all a buzz about it.

As for the taste, i havent had good ramen in forever so anything with a great broth, decent noodles and fatty pork is awesome. The broth was rich and porky, my braised pork pieces were a bit dry. The bean sprouts added a nice crunch. There were caramalized onions that sweetened they savory broth. I thought the bamboo was too earthy for me, i think a quick blanching would help to cut the earthiness, the noodles were fine. The bowl was huge in my opinion but my friend Bobby downed his whole bowl in like 6 spoon fulls. Frankly, i was glad not to have to drive to Rockville or Northern VA to find decent noodles.

Ren's Ramen

2009-09-02T13:15:00.000-04:00

Weezer - Should I Stay or Should I Go (Clash Cover)(Live in Camden) 8 - 27 - 09

2009-09-01T22:27:00.001-04:00

Fuck Yeah!

Pork Frontiers

2009-08-28T13:15:00.003-04:00

I love chicharron or lechon kawali. Fried pork in all of its glory. Awesome, totally awesome.

So, everytime I go home for dinner my mom fries up some pork belly into crispy goodness. While she makes the chicharron, she berates me to exercise more and eat better. Really mom?

Anyway, my mom uses her convection oven to "fry" up the chicharron. She has never deep fried it. this got me thinking why hasn't anyone used duck fat to fry up pork belly? We have duck fat fries why not duck fat pork belly? Oh damn and after we fry up the pork in duck fat we can top it with some sauteed foie gras. Super yummy.

I am trying to imagine the flavors of duck fat fried pork belly and all I can think of is a point break with perfect 7 foot waves and I am out there with friends and family with my new fish surfbaord from Patagonia. Yes we are talking about being in heaven.

Anyway, what I am praying for and what I am asking of Jay and his Hampden Project is to make this dish. I am dying here thinking about pork belly fried in duck fat with a huge mound of rice and some vinegar with chopped up garlic and cracked black pepper dipping sauce.

I think this could start a new movement called new modern filipino cuisine. What about homeade noodles for our pancit? Or pork sinagang with pork broth. If we want to continue down the vein of duck fat frying...why not lumpia, or soft shell crab, or taking a california roll and pankoing it and frying that in duck fat?!?!?

I'll stop here I need to fry some pork.

2009-08-26T12:23:00.001-04:00

2009-08-26T12:22:00.001-04:00

Leave the Gun, I Mean the Clothes, and Take the Cannolis err OK the Bag

2009-08-26T12:04:00.005-04:00

My car was burgled this morning. They took my beloved patagonia back pack and thankfully left my clothes and new balances. I'm distraught. i feel violated like my peace of mind was taken. I don't want to go as far as shaken to the core but... actually i'm just a bit annoyed and more bummed about losing part of my patagonia family. It is a sad day. That bag has been to Turkey and was my gym companion. It saw me through some rough times like the end of cigarettes and soda.

While I will not be accepting flowers for my loss you can put money in to the Patagonia For Life Fund. The PFLF is dedicated to making sure CapSwell is totally geared out. Each donation will come with a continuous articles in this blog with regular pictures and updates.

This Poem is for you Black Patagonia Back Pack

I never knew how I felt, until you were yanked from my life.
You were a pillar of support in my most trying of days.
With you I drank my last coke and smoked my last cigarette.
With you we visited Istanbul, Ankara and Patera.
I can never replace you except with the new dawn patrol bag in orange.

Please Donate to the PFLF!

Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus

2009-08-24T14:38:00.001-04:00

It's a movie coming on the SciFi shannel next Saturday night and you better bet Im going to watch it. we are talking about a pre-historic mega shark fighting a giant octopus. This is going to be an epic battle.

I dont know anythig about the movie but there a trailer out there for it. And as a learned biologist and knowing all things marine related it is obvious that a giant octopus would destry the shark. Its tentitcles would be like 90 miles long and it could grab a mega shark from a million miles away. It could subdue it and the shark would be eaten by the tremendous octo-beaks.

The only way to stop the octopus would be to trap it in a bay and then superfreeze the water.

Mobile Eats and the New Frontiers for Food Trucks

2009-08-21T15:20:00.004-04:00

We all love food trucks and we have all eaten at them: plate lunch, hot dogs, cheese steaks, tacos etc. They are popular and hip but they will soon be on their way out of sheikness but i still love them and wish all food came in truck form.

I wish someone would have a dim sum food truck. It wouldnt need the world wide spectrum of dumplings and pork bun goodness maybe just the classics and every once and awhile something special, chicken feet etc. I think late night or lunch time dim sum would rock. A baked pork bun, some dumplings, some fried pork maybe a side of steamed spinich. Damn that would be good! Just imagine, you walk up and a minute later a great meal box to go.

I also like a thai truck, something to make fresh noodles like drunken noodle with minced chicken and have it be so spicy that it peels paint. Not really terrible imaginative but it works.

Or maybe a mobile crab truck or the Crabbers Cab. It parks, sets up, gives you picninc tables, newspapers, and they steam a bushel of crabs in front of you and your friends and then you go to town. Maybe they can have small batch steamers to steam you up a small amount of crabs. It can come over for parties or sundays at the beach!

This can also apply to a paella truck or a lechon truck. In the lechon truck one side of the truck can be glass so you can watch it roast!!! You walk up, hack and slash and all the crispy skin and tender meat your heart desires.

On the healthy side a mobile farmers market. it pulls into yuppie territories rings a bell and they come running for locally sourced eggs and milk and vegatables. I would use them in a heart beat. the farmers market on your door step and they could go around every night before and during dinner. i wonder if you could bake bread and drive at the same time, not efficient and cost effective but a hoot none the less.

Austin Grill Saddest Corn on the Cob

2009-08-20T19:16:00.000-04:00

Movie Review: The Goods Live Hard Sell Hard

2009-08-17T23:31:00.002-04:00

Wow, this movie was so bad and unfunny that I laughed more when I came home and watched the George Lopez HBO special.

The Goods had all the elements for a funny movie but no laughs.

Monday Night Snacks

2009-08-17T19:33:00.001-04:00

Monday night movie

2009-08-17T19:31:00.000-04:00

My True Callings

2009-08-16T21:32:00.006-04:00

Government work isn't my true calling.. I don't know what is.

However, I do somethings quite well.

First, I have magic hands and can give one hell of a massage. It's about getting the right pressure and finding the knots. Most people carry stress in their shoulders and I'm damn good at relaxing those muscles.

Second, I should've been an inventor. I have a knack of making things better and finding solutions to everyday problems. They are flashes that hit me and they come pretty regularly. Better grocery shopping/recipe systems its an iPhone app that overlays store floor plan with recipes, calorie counts, coupons and sales. It can also be expanded to make meals healthier. On the flip side data for stores would be amazing,

Third, manners expert. In this day and age manners matters I can teach everyone to be polite. People say manners are outdated but I disagree. Manners means less angry mobs at town halls, it means less air travel stress, and it means a happier work place. For example, manners are simple. Open the door, say hello and thank you and voila everyone is happier and feels acknowledged. If you feel acknowledged you want to help that person and be nice to them. Brilliant!

Call of Duty: World At War

2009-08-12T13:38:00.002-04:00

So for those of you readers who play this game, they have three new map packs. The new maps are pretty awesome and the game play is absolutely crazy. Literally every WWII scenerio i ever played out with my plastic army men, when I was growing up, I can now play with this video game. Maybe I should find my old plastic army men and think up plans of attack and defensive startegies for each map?! Brilliant!

Good Stuff Eatery-- Obama Burger

2009-08-11T15:15:00.002-04:00

For lunch I had an Obama Burger and a Coke at Good Stuff Eatery. An Obama Burger is rocquefort cheese, bacon, onion marmalade and a horseradish mayo. The horseradish mayo seemed to disappear into the burger and the roquefort and onion marmalade were very pronounced but you still got a good chunk of burger goodness. The burger relies heavily on the toppings for flavor and i would like to see more seasoning on the burger itself. Overall, the combination of toppings was sweet, smoky, and savory and the burger was juicy with the obligatory toasted buttery bread. I thought the bacon would provide more of a crunch and it did to an extent but not as much as i would want. Maybe crisp lettuce and a tomato but I think that would just explode the burger into a messy blob. At first i took a big bite, but I liked the flavor profile so much I went to smaller bites to enjoy the flavors.

The question is if I went back would I get it again. The answer is "Yes."

I was dispapointed that spike wasnt there. i like seeing him at the helm of the restaurant. I by-passed the fries. I prefer bigger french fries, steak fries size, i like to taste the potato.

Recession CapitolSwell did not like the $7 burger and $2 soda. Thats too pricey this combo should come to $5 tops.

Ice Cream Run

2009-08-10T20:15:00.003-04:00

"Are you taking both Mocha Chip pints?" Me

"Yes" Running Dude

"Oh, I really wanted one." Me

"Yeah, I wanted one as well" Cute Girl

"Here you go" Me and Running Dude

"Thanks" She turns and walks away

High Five Ensues!

Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Punched Me

2009-08-10T11:13:00.002-04:00

I had a restless night, it was hot which made me cranky. I could not sleep. Finally at around 430am I feel asleep. It was a deep sleep. I know because in my dream i got knocked out. It wasnt a showdowy figure that cleaned my clock it was like a well lit angel, the heavenly kind not the buffy kind. No real face more of an aura. I have been trying to rack my brain about what it means.

Bon Appetit Magazine Top 10 New Restaurants- Woodberry Kitchen

2009-08-09T01:00:00.002-04:00

Woodberry Kitchen
2010 Clipper Park Road, Number 126, Baltimore; 410-464-8000; woodberrykitchen.com
In the early 1990s, long before sustainable, local, and organic became the calling cards of chefs everywhere, Spike Gjerde was showcasing the abundance of the Chesapeake Bay. With the opening of his latest spot in the historic Clipper Mill complex—a brick-and-wood space that has the look and feel of a restored farmhouse—Gjerde takes his farm-to-table commitment to the next level. A wood-burning oven is the centerpiece of a kitchen that turns out dishes like roasted Rappahannock River oysters, Roseda Black Angus Farm hanger steak, and fantastic flatbreads.

My Mad Men Self

2009-08-06T21:19:00.000-04:00

The Hardest Choice

2009-08-05T21:31:00.002-04:00

In my job I get to make decisions on what direction healthcare should move, what our energy future will look like, and funding on a number of government programs. But, the hardest choice of my day is what to eat for dinner.

Im single so i don't have to plan. i work late which means when i get home and i want free time i end up ordering in. All this takeout has taken a toll on CapSwell. The inspired crispy beef, the unnatural but awesome sweet and sour chicken, the holy tonkatsu, the goodness of spaghetti carbonara, of course sushi, and pizza...all 007 (the most awesome but deadly). i mix it up with a trip to the money sucker aka whole foods for "healthy" alternatives but i ended up leaving with french butter and bread.

What would make my life easier would be a mobile farmers market, it should come around during dinner. Ring the bell and watch all the yuppies come running. I'll figure out this healthy eating i just hope the deliver it.

LA Confidential

2009-07-31T16:27:00.004-04:00

For a brief stint, some say a few days I say a life time, I had quit my Hill life and went to LA. My dad had died and frankly I didn't want to do anything. I quit the lobby shop and was just trying to heal. I went to LA thinking I would start over. New industry, new career, a whole new life but all I ended up doing was moving back to DC, rather quickly.

But why did I run away so quickly. It wasnt Starbucks. Was it an epiphany that i really loved political work? Was there some unfinished romantic interest back in DC? Am I such a creature of the Hill that I can never leave? I actually do think that someone cast as evil spell on me where I am bound to DC and the Hill and everything in my life just goes up and down and up and down as a form of punishment.

What changed was a job listing for my current boss and the Josh Lymon Dream. It is the dream of being like Josh Lymon, Bradley Whitford's character, in West Wing funny smart political policy guy. I never meant for the job application to lead to anything real. i actually meant for the application to be a practice run. I was trying to find campaign jobs in LA but next thing I know I am back in DC.

It was strange how quickly things moved. i went to the campaign office in a suit. the campaign manager was in jeans and a sweatshirt. He asked me about ENDA, gay rights. He asked about Jones Act, shipping issue. He asked about the district and next thing I knew I had a job. This was about ten minutes all together. I know I'm impressive but that even stunned me.

I should have just moved to Manhattan Beach instead of applying for this job.

Rolling Stone- in search of new music

2009-07-29T23:13:00.002-04:00

so my first stop for new music was rolling stone's website.

The top Editors Pick for songs---- REM Pretty Persuasion Live at the Olympia. Frack!!!!

Im never going to find new music. I just downloaded zooey deschannel singing the smiths. Arghhhh!!!

Help!

In Search of....Loch Ness aka New Music

2009-07-28T22:35:00.002-04:00

When did i stop listening to current music? My last album was Zooey Deschanel's album before that was Weezer's Red Album. i know uncool, but im a dork.

My playlist on my iphone are tributes to mainly 90's alt rock with hints of 80's college rock. I believe my work mates said, "I was dating myself." Why don't i have newer music damn it? i think the problem is that you can't watch music videos anymore. I fucking want my MTV! For example, Alien Ant Farm's "Smooth Criminal" was a great video that made me want to buy the disc. Now, i can only get a 30 second video clip on fuse or itunes and my favorite station WTMD is ok and so is amoebe record's website but still nothing too new in my collection. Maybe Onocoffe dating 20 years olds has ancillary benefits like it allows him to build out his music collection. The genius button on itunes only gives me more like music. Instead of a genius button i need a tarot card button predict new music for me! I think i just need to room around a cool record store in DC and find good music, i know i laughed out loud as well. DC killed the greatest alt rock station ever,WHFS, and for that I can't forgive this city. Help me find new music. I know I need new music but "April Skies" from the Jesus and Mary Chain still crushes anything from the Killers or Kings of Leon.

Tuesday's Gone With the Wind

2009-07-28T22:18:00.002-04:00

woke up at 500am read papers online- maybe just my 'scopes

600am renapped awoke at 700am to Al and Matt in hawaiian shirts, they looked like gay lovers.

showered and drove to work

had betty breaky- pineapples, plain yogurt, granola

Work was tough today.

Boss is hooked on a new idea.

after lunch, Took stairs

took 100 hours to reach quitting time

3 mile walk exhausted too muggy

took a freezing cold shower.

dinner- ate a slice of pizza and drank gallons of water. feeling water-logged

watched bottle rocket

blogging

Sandy Beach Tube

2009-07-26T01:35:00.001-04:00

In 10th Al and I spent a week in Hawaii and we caught some waves at Sandy's a great spot for bodyboarding and body surfing. I believe our President caught some waves here recently.

500 Days of Summer Review

2009-07-19T00:23:00.003-04:00

Boy meets girl. Boy falls for girl because she says she likes The Smiths, "There is a Light That Never Goes Out." Every CapSwell love story fantasy begins... If a woman came up to me right now and told me she liked the Smiths I would marry her. I have no doubt of that fact. Does that make me a romantic? After I saw this movie I spent the day thinking about what else a woman could say to hook me. "I Love Dawn Patrols" "Hand me my Patagonia MLC" "I was on the Star Ferry going to Hong Kong Island" "I love kalbi or chicken katsu plate lunch" Back to the movie.

500 Days shows us how easily we can fall for anyone that likes some of the same hipster stuff as you. It is not a basis for a relationship and frankly you would be dating yourself which is narcassisctic and weird. Hipsters, Zooey Deschanel was great in this movie as was Joesph Gordon-Leavitt was excellent. 500 Days of Summer reminds you of what it is like to fall in love and experience someone new and how the important, "I Have Never Told Anyone That" line cements a relationship. It reminds you of all the great times one has when they are in love. It's also not a linear movie which helps to avoid a RomCom's typical story line but all the timeline elements are still there. You all know that I think every movie is a love story, it just that in real love story movies I want everything to work out perfectly.

With this movie I was too into the soundtrack. The Smiths, The Clash, a Belle and Sebastian quote if the movie played a Connells song I would have lost it.

500 Days was an easy to watch and to like, as long as you are not dead inside, but I am still trying to figure out if I liked the movie or did I like the fact that the opening scene from the movie trailer has been a fantasy of mine since 7th grade. It might be too hipster for all people. This movie allowed by 7th grade self to feel happy for 93 minutes.

500 Days of Summer

2009-07-18T23:08:00.001-04:00

The Smiths - There is a light that never goes out

2009-07-18T22:47:00.001-04:00

Oya Hell

2009-07-16T22:40:00.005-04:00

Oya is a DC hipster sushi bar and lounge that has great atmosphere and a great bar.

This is the second time I have been for sushi and the imaginative rolls are hit or miss and the himachi and tamago were mediocre. This is the kind of place that over does it. Too many rich ingredients and sauces coupled with mediocre grade fish which just burns a hole in your pocket. For example, the shrimp tempura roll should be simple fry the shrimp fresh, chunky avocodo, a little spice mayo, roll and bam perfect. At Oya the shrimp was fried way too early and it became cold, the rice was so dry that they had to dump a honey sauce (gag) to make it moist. Then it was topped off with dashi flavored tempura strings. The soft shell crab roll was again friend to early and it became tough. I do think with more polished cooking and attention to detail these rolls could be interesting, tasty and worth it. But for right now, the lobster tempura is the best.

If you are going to be a decent restaurant for God sake remember customer service. TT had the prix fixe menu. His main dish wasn't brought out until our sushi dinner was 70 percent complete. Our waiter had gone missing. When his food came out it was over heated, seemingly like it was microwaved. TT mentioned this to our waiter who promptly told the kitchen staff and out came the sous chef who insisted that nothing was microwaved. It wasn't a pleasant exchange more of an indignant proclamation. If his food actually lived up to his protest I would understand but your food is mediocre and service was lousy.

Because service was lousy only go for cocktails.

Why Office Space has ruined my life?

2009-07-12T22:16:00.006-04:00

When work gets annoying or maddening I think about quitting. I think about quitting like most people. Why put up with the shit for such shitty pay? Office space came into my life and it provided me a framework on how to quit a job well. It also eliminated the scariness and unknown of packing it in. Quitting isn't something one should take lightly but sometimes you just take the plunge.

Yeah, Im talking a big game and i haven't left even though I have been through hell and back. But, Office Space is always on cable and it keeps tempting me. It says, smash your printer. It says just stop caring and they'll give you more. Play Tetris. Blow it off. Do all that and you can reach nirvana.

My Fear of the Country

2009-07-12T03:32:00.004-04:00

I am scared of far off rural places. The kinds of place where i hear teenage grocery stockers deriding healthcare proposals because we'll end up like Canada and have three year waits to see a doctor. The kind of place where people stare at you while wearing a pro-confederate tee shirt. I'm brown dude, not some kind of two headed mutant.

2009-07-03T18:50:00.000-04:00

New Rules

2009-07-01T20:37:00.002-04:00

If you get suckling pig at a restaurant the skin must be crispy and the meat slow cooked so it is fall off the bone. If it isn't then ask the chef to deep fry the whole thing and bust out the steamed rice and the vinegar and garlic.

If you sell chili dogs you must have good chili.

HD channels should be free.

If you think you recognize someone that you havent seen for awhile say, "Hi." If you dont say "Hi" you'll end up feeling like a dope when you read their tweet or facebook update and you realize it was them.

OpenTable saves time and the embarrassment of not getting a table.

Semi-Annual 50% off sale from Brooks Brothers. Know it. Learn it. Live it.

Just go catch some waves you'll feel better.

Open and Read all of your mail. You could find a treat.

Actually, reduce your paper mail. Its better for you.

There is no good restaurant coffee. it doesnt exist. Stop spending 2.50 for shitty french press.

Know where your local new york style pizza joint is

One Patagonia MLC is good, two is better, three is just plain kooky but totally acceptable.

Dont let angry driver, drive you. Its not worth the stress.

Always have the trump picture of your cutest niece or nephew.

I cant emphasis this enough, Recession CapSwell says $6.50 matinee is the only way to go.

In honor of MJ, everyone where high waters and white socks.

Allsparked Up

2009-07-01T01:50:00.002-04:00

I didn't want to see Transformers 2. It had been destroyed by critics. But, this is a movie, granted a sequel, that I wanted to make since The Seed, Al and I started making our own Transformer movies. Yes plural as in more than one movie, with our beta-cams, complete with transforming robots, sound effects and a great plots. We had an epic battles and I believe Mirage the formula one car and Bumble Bee were destroyed by Megatron and the mysterious "Maker." Sorry, I digress.

I couldn't resist transformers 2. I went and I enjoyed it. I know it isn't a masterpiece of movie making. I know it relied heavily on CGI, they had to its transforming robots, but this film allowed my young film makers vision come true. The two and a half hour movie was everything I wanted- transforming robots fighting each other.

A food critic can make a great city better

2009-06-30T22:29:00.004-04:00

Baltimore doesn't get the attention it deserves because we do not have a decent restaurant critic. There is no promotion of the food scene and what's being done and who does it well. The City's main paper, The Sun, has two restaurant critics, one who blogs relentlessly and she relies heavily on comments to prompt new articles. Their reviews are matter of fact and reflect their experiences but it doesn't entice, express the food or what is happening in Baltimore in terms of food. It's like reading chowhound or yelp. If the Sun wants a blogger just let Sun Readers post restaurant reviews. She needs to work harder at describing food trends and a better reflection on what we like to eat and which chef is getting us there. There is no promotion of food culture. Baltimore has always let DC do the food talking and frankly the restaurants in DC aren't that great.

A good critic can remind people of what is amazing about a city. It expresses who we are a people. A good food critic can elevate a great city like Baltimore into a whole new level.

2009-06-30T11:22:00.000-04:00

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the desperate country, and have to console yourself with the bravery of minks and muskrats. A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind. There is no play in them, for this comes after work. But it is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things.

MJ memory

2009-06-26T17:05:00.003-04:00

I remember Roberto in his MJ glory, with Ness and Seed in tow singing and acting out Thriller. Repeatedly, over and over again. I think he had a glove. No jacket but he had a hat that he flipped and twirled around to mimic the gloved one. Those guys rocked it prettyhard though.

I wasn't the biggest MJ fan, but who didnt like Billie Jean or ABC or Smooth Criminal.

RIP MJ, you were the King of Pop.

31 Disappointments

2009-06-22T23:43:00.003-04:00

We bought gallon containers of ice cream from Baskin-Robbins growing up. My mom alternated ice cream flavors so that all siblings had a chance to pick. Chocolate chip was always a favorite but sometimes peppermint or bubble gum would creep in. I love most, no wait all ice cream flavors. I even eat nutty ice cream. But we wouldn't get new ice cream until all the old was eaten. Trust me bubble gum is fun once maybe twice anything more is painful. I still curse my brother for picking odd flavors.

So tonight after dinner, we went for ice cream. I got a small soft serve. I asked for sprinkles and the guy sighed and added half a table spoon of sprinkles and handed it to me. Sad.

My favorite treat at the beach was Zip Z's, an ice cream innovator at lower streets. They gave you two or three scoops of ice cream and all the sundae topping you would want. They had 30-40 toppings easy. You learned quickly to avoid whipped cream machine it filled you up. No sauces like fudge or marshmallow filler. You concentrated on toppings like Mt St Helen's, a chocolaty, crunchy, topping similar to Carvel crunchies. You could take a bite go back and add more toppings yummy!! Sadly this place closed before we could take full advantage of it. I'll never be able to take my nieces and nephews.

Ben and Gerry's used to make a apple pie ice cream. Yes it is as good as it sounds, apple pie a la mode in a pint. Anyway, rich vanilla, cinnamon apples, cinnamon swirl and graham cracker bits. Oh damn, My college girl friend came home from the scoop store and told me that apple pie ice cream was being discontinued. We broke up not much later.

Mango ice cream sucks when you compare it to mango sorbet.

Ice cream has lead me down some dark days. Damn you.

The King of Infinite Space

2009-06-20T19:00:00.002-04:00

Making my world what I want is a full time job. Restoring balance to work, life, money, home and myself.

Why does change come all at once? It comes that way because when momentum builds and the levy breaks it all comes rushing forward. We have lost four staffers in three months. I have become recession CapitolSwell and other downturns that make my stomach turn. It just means you have to double efforts at happiness.

Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires

2009-06-17T22:32:00.003-04:00

You are the agent of change. It sucks when your boundries are defined by those who are clueless.

I live in the Matrix and I am not Neo. I must recognize that I'm stuck, but how did the computers figure out what something taste like. Will the "real world" be any better? The grass is always greener.

Artomatic

2009-06-13T21:11:00.000-04:00

Memories of Dad

2009-06-10T17:46:00.002-04:00

My dad passed away on this day. I miss him but wanted to share some thoughts.

Overcoming fear- My dad made us confront our fear. After the movie, Jaws, swimming in the ocean was scary. My dad would bring us into the ocean on a raft and then let me go and swim away. Forcing me to swim to him. He kept doing it until we were fairly far out. Nothing would happen thus proving his point.

Fighting- Its hard to believe but my brother and I used to fight a lot. My dad often would stop us and say if you want to fight go ahead, I'll get boxing gloves and you can fight. I always envisioned a Family Boxing Ring where we would settle our differences in the square circle.

Respect- My dad was so kind and gentle. He just wanted everyone to be happy. One day I mouthed off to a neighbor kid. I called him a shit head or a mother fucker. Obviously his dad came over to have a word. In response, my dad whipped me with his belt. Not a lot twice maybe three times and I never mouthed off again. More importantly, I knew if i messed up that the spectrum of punishment was not fun to think about.

Its OK to Play- We had these extra fake wood paneling at my old house. One day, my dad took these panels laid them down on the hill in front of my house and made a huge slide. We spent the day sliding down it.

Country Road

2009-06-10T10:48:00.001-04:00

For Dad- I miss you

Almost heaven, west virginia
Blue ridge mountains, shenandoah river
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze

Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

All my memries, gather round her
Miners lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye

Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

I hear her voice, in the mornin hours she calls to me
The radio reminds me of my home far a-way
And drivin down the road I get a feeling
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday

Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

Mozart Violin Concerto nº 3 in G major K.216 Cadenzas by Hilary Hahn 03

2009-06-05T17:15:00.001-04:00

Amazing

To Serve, To Strive and Not to Yield

2009-06-02T22:21:00.004-04:00

In 11th grade I spent a month on an outward bound course, Apparently, I won the scholarship because of my environmental work. I hiked a chunk of the AT with kids from Vermont to Georgia. I can still set up tents in the dark, put up multiple bear lines, bushwhack through the forrest and turn moss into a nice soothing tea.

Outward Bound was interesting. We did rock climbing and repelling one day. I had been climbing with my brother so I was use to hanging off the rock and supporting my weight strictly on my legs. The rock was wet and this one girl Brook scaled the rock face like a billy goat. Most people couldn't sit back on the repelling and it made anxious. Encouragement turned into boredom which turned into frustration.

The hikes were nice inter sparsed with days of elevation climbs and switch backs that made me want to puck. Back and forth on the side of a mountain is not hiking but a death March a exercise in futlity wrapped in a clock of pain. I felt like i was going to rip through my boots.

One day after a rainy hike the group started bickering over who was making dinner and who would put up the bear line. We were on the verge of Lord of the Flies. The group started to turn on loudmouth Jamie he was the thorn in everybody's side. Spears were being fashioned. Mob mentality was defused by a wimpering Jamie who started to walk away blubbering. This was when our instructors stepped in, they let things go haywire to show us how quickly a society can devolve into hate. I hated myself for not defending Jamie.

I feel in love with a girl from Virginia, Maya from Charlottesville. Preppy, green and she had Patagonia.

Outward Bound made me a veggie. I was skinny and had bad facial hair.

This experience helped solidify my crunchy credentials. And it pushed me to UVM, where I thought my education would start me down the road of writing the next clean air act.

Two escape pods were jettisoned during the fighting...

2009-05-30T22:14:00.004-04:00

I wasn't paying attention during the safety instructions before take off. I was too busy trying to overcome my take-off fear by forcing myself to sleep. Then I heard it, "For our first class passengers make sure to also secure your shoulder strap." I opened my eyes and on my TV screen was a video of a richie rich looking guy, in his first class pod, securing his shoulder strap. Jesus Christ these guys have a shoulder strap which means those first class pods must also be an escape pod and they have to be strapped in. That is brilliant. Full size escape pods.

So first class gets sundaes, drinks of all kinds, slippers, pretzels rolls and escape pods.

Hotels

2009-05-30T21:56:00.003-04:00

When I stay in a hotel I have impulsive urges which I cant control.

Yes, I drink and snack out of the mini-bar. I want a coke and some Makers. After i saunter down to the ice machine and fill up the bucket. I eat snickers and if there are Pringles they are gone. I love to smoke on the balcony of a non-smoking hotel. I make coffee every morning and after a few sips i realize how bad it is. I won't keep soap, towels, or robes but i love cloth laundry bags.

I'll purchase the most current on-demand movie, Gran Turismo.

I'll order a burger and ask for spicy mustard. I asked for it the way that the President likes it and the operator didnt get it. when I explained she laughed politely.

I always get a wake up call.

No wonder why I want to live at a hotel.

On The Road Again Work

2009-05-27T20:24:00.002-04:00

So in my job I get to learn cool goings-on and every once and awhile make cool decisions. Unfortunately, sometimes I learn about situations which scare me to death. All I can say is that we are fighting a tide of extremely bad people and motives all driven by greed. There are people who are trying to make things better. Keep up the good fight.

On The Road Again

2009-05-27T09:22:00.003-04:00

Im on travel for work, work travel is always fun. I get dressed up and hop a plane west. I had to take a later flight then the group. Every trip has a layover and I always find myself landing at gate 9 with my connection at gate 95, inevitable some hastil constructed expansion concourse. I always have to fight the temptation of cinnamon pretzel sticks and have to fight my fear of the take off. I did get to watch, "Yes man" on the flight over. It was hilarious and i openly laughed on my flight. I think i scared my seat mate.

Im in the desert, and at 630am it is bright as shit. My room is bathed in early morning sun which makes me wonder if i can blow off my job and just swim all day. Off to find breakfast.

Fear

2009-05-26T00:53:00.002-04:00

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

After the BBQ

2009-05-24T01:43:00.002-04:00

Grilling meats is always an accomplishment. It is such a tremendous sense of self worth. When the grill is clean the questions to life begin to open. Maybe I inhaled too many fumes.

Genius Playlist

2009-05-21T23:32:00.002-04:00

I have four genius playlists. I based these lists on "Train in Vain" by the Clash, "Screen Door" by Uncle Tupelo; "Someday I Suppose" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones; and "I want you back" by the Hoodoo Gurus. For the most part these songs generated a lot of Sugarcubes (understandable), Belle and Sebastian (obviously) and Suicidal Tendencies (Huh?!?!). Weird

"Hit" by the Sugarcubes has been stuck in my head and i find myself putting this song on repeat and I cant figure out why. I'm not in love, or infatuated...maybe it is the hope of love.

insecurities

2009-05-16T00:48:00.002-04:00

Snow Bunny keeps asking me the question, "What am I insecure about?" She fears that she isn't as smart as she should be. I don't know what she is thinking she is smart, personable, has an awesome husband and she has a friend like BW. I have always had the ability to understand myself and to be comfortable with who I am. I still fear the devil. I hate public speaking. I never feel good enough for my family. But I just have to keep working on those feeling and move forward and that helps suppress my insecurities.

I think it is human condition to want to feel secure. That's why we own homes, buy guns, stock up on toilet paper during snow storms, and that's why we believe that the military is so important. We want to feel safe from the elements, dangerous elements that will do us harm. We want to control our environment. That is why we pave things, why we predict the weather. We need to know what is going to happen that is security.

Make people feel secure and they will be happy.

Quitting and Sushi

2009-05-12T22:40:00.006-04:00

I didnt quit my job today so I celebrated with sushi at Oya. Hipster designed restaurant a la Han Solo vs Vader in Cloud City dining room. Snowbunny came to nosh on some good grindage.

I like most sushi places, traditional Japanese places, hipster cool places, and conveyor belt systems. I however should never go when I am hungry. I always order too much. This is why one should always sit at the bar and pace oneself. Do I really need that Volcano roll? From now on everyone should drop one order of this roll when starting out you wont miss it.
Oya has a Maryland roll that is good. Well spiced but very crabby in that I built a huge pile of crab meat so don't touch it good way. The hamachi tasted great but was a bit on the skimpy side. They had a sweet potato tempura roll, crunchy, sweet and heavy. Unusually yes tasty of course.

You know I didnt see a sushi chef this food may have been done at Whole Foods.

Sushi Taro is still tops and that all I need.

In Search of Tiger Pie

2009-05-12T22:37:00.001-04:00

Imagine doughy pie bowl, beef stew at bottom, topped with mashed potatoes, topped with mushy peas, topped with gravy.

A Mother's Disappointment

2009-05-11T23:04:00.002-04:00

I took my mom to 1789 for Mother's Day and she was disappointed. She saw what was on tap for brunch and immediately looked around for another menu. We asked the waiter if we could order off the dinner menu and he said no. She wanted nothing to do with this place. I told her that we could leave but she said she would make do. Ughh. I have disappointed my mom on a number of levels but I think I have a decent sense of good places to eat but I have struck out on every place I have taken my mom. So she has called me gay, asked if i have ED, hates my taste in restaurants and thinks G'town cupcakes are only popular and good because they have way too much sugar.

Fencing

2009-05-11T23:02:00.002-04:00

Like Sulu, I took fencing. Does that mean I can kick some space alien ass?

Quits

2009-05-10T00:10:00.001-04:00

Cinco de Mayo

2009-05-05T22:35:00.002-04:00

I celebrated with an ice cold coca-cola and steak fajitas. Via con dios!

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Simmer Down: Video

2009-05-04T22:44:00.001-04:00

Ted Mosby Dont Do It

2009-05-04T22:11:00.003-04:00

Ted should be with Cupcake Girl, Victoria, from season two. She is his true love. My friend Bobby said he would give me in trade Amy Adams, a bucket of Popeye's spicy chicken and soft serve for a year in exchange for Cupcake Girl. What a crazy trade?!?!

Amy Adams

Cupcake Girl

Ummm...You had to Pee!

2009-05-03T21:11:00.002-04:00

There is a million dollars on the line, you are 10 seconds a head of the last team, and you stop to pee. Talk about fear of success. You better be peeing on yourself.

Tom Curren surfing Biarritz

2009-05-03T18:46:00.001-04:00