Pierogi Fever

Have you ever eaten pierogi? Doe you even know what pierogi is? For those of you who are confused right now, pierogi are:

half circular dumplings of unleavened dough, stuffed with cheese, farmer's cheese, mashed or other forms of potato, sauerkraut, cabbage, onion, meat, mushrooms, hard-boiled eggs, dry cottage cheese (the last two are rather Mennonite-specific), or any combination thereof.

The most important thing to know is that they are pretty darn tasty! I recommend trying one sometime. Just some food for thought.

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Belly Button Theory

Does the world revolve around my belly button? Sometimes I feel that way, but generally I don't subscribe to this theory. What is the belly button theory? It states that you are the center of the universe and everything around you (and your belly button) is affected by your daily actions. Although.......

The last two times I needed to get gas I was driving home from work and each time I decided to wait until the next morning to fill up because I was too tired. The next morning on both occasions, gas went up over 15 cents a gallon. So the universe was punishing me for being lazy..... Gas prices went up because of little ol' me? Could this be? Maybe everyone should stop blaming George W.?.......Nah, It's gotta be his fault!

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The answer to my St. Patrick's Day question........

Is Green Beer Safe?
While the green food coloring added to beer is harmless, the fact that the green stuff is usually added to low quality brew is nearly sacrilegious. On this holiday celebrating all things Irish, it’s best to drink a responsible amount of a quality beverage, like the traditional Guinness, rather than to gorge on green bargain beer (it might seem like a good idea, but you’ll pay for it Tuesday morning). Historically speaking, it might be wise to avoid British brews as well.

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Taken to the Cleaners

I normally don't take things to the cleaners very often. But, every so often I have to take my bed comforter to get cleaned because it is too large for my washer and dryer. As, I have mentioned numerous times in my blog, I am a cheapskate, so I usually go to whatever cleaners I have a coupon for. This time I ended up going to a place I had never been before. Anyways... I take in my comforter and drop it off. Two days later I go and pick up it up and pay the fee (which after the coupon was still $15.00. I get home and unwrap it and it smells horribly of cigarette smoke. Now, I don't smoke and it didn't go in smelling of smoke, so what the hell? I took the comforter there to clean it, hence the name cleaners, not get it smelling like an ashtray! So pretty much I paid $15.00 for nothing.... I was taken to the Cleaners, as the old saying goes. Needless to say, I won't be going there ever again.

P.S. For those of you who live in Des Moines... It was Camelot Cleaners on 22nd St, WDM - YOU ARE WARNED!

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In Honor Of Leap Year - Crazy Frog

I don't know why this struck me as funny, but it did. Happy Leap Day!

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Take A Stand Against Scams

I recently purchased an item online that was from an infomercial. Yes, it was a moment of weakness in the early morning and I gave in. Well, I learned my lesson. I got the product, it worked fine for $20 and that was that. Right? Wrong! The next month I notice on my bank statement that I was charged again by this company even thought I didn't buy anything. I called them up to find out why and they explained that when I purchased their product I was automatically enrolled in a monthly exercise DVD program. I knew nothing of this program. I even went through the website I ordered from and it didn't mention this automatic program at all! So it was a scam. The company refused to refund my money and said I could quit the program but I would have to pay for this month and the next. I still hadn't even received anything more and they wanted to charge me. So I was pretty ticked off over the whole experience. The money wasn't that much, but just the principle of somebody ripping me off. I did some research online and found out there were tons of other people who had the same thing happen to them.

I decided to take it to the next level. I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, which anybody can do online at www.bbb.org. Two days later, the company called me apologizing telling me my refund was on the way and to keep any products that still may get sent to me without charge. So the BBB scared the crap out of them! Justice!!! By the way, the product was the Bender Ball! Buyer Beware.

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Chips Ahoy Scary Cookie

Have you seen the most recent ad for Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies? To be quite honest they are a little weird. They have an animated cookie with chunks of chocolate all over him. The point is to show how big and tasty these chunks are suppose to be. But, I think the chunks look more like oversized moles just hanging off the cookie. It doesn't make me want to eat one of their cookies at all! I can't imagine going in for a bite of anything and my teeth digging into a mole. Yuck! What do you think?

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Glitter Wrapping Paper = Annoying

What’s the deal with wrapping paper with glitter on it? It's just plain annoying! Apparently the makers of the wrapping paper used the least amount of glue as they could so that the glitter would end up everywhere but on the paper. When I get done unwrapping a present I end up looking like I am wearing glitter lotion or that I have just recently been to a strip club (if you have been to one you understand - try explaining that to your wife.... it was just a present. I swear!) Anyways, a note to anybody who ever decides to give me a gift. Just throw it in a gift bag or cash is great too, as long as it isn't in a card with confetti in it. That's a whole other headache.

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Siegel vs Van Damme vs Chuck Norris - w/ Bonus Rap Video (Hilarious)

Steven Siegel and Jean-Claude Van Damme have to be the worst two actors I have ever seen in a movie. But despite this fact, they still keep making more and more movies. How is this possible? How can these no talent clowns keep getting paid to stink up the movie screen? I do have to admit that there is one Siegel movie that I do like. Executive Decision, a movie that came out in 1996 starring Halle Berry, is the one great Siegel movie. The reason..... He is only in it 5 minutes in the beginning and his character dies. It's great!

The only question worth asking about these two guys is who would win in a fight? The ponytail might give Siegel an edge, but I think Van Damme would come out on top. But who cares.... Chuck Norris could kick both of their butts.

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Everything Comes Down to Poo

This video always makes me laugh and it reminds me what to do when I am not feeling good. Enjoy. Happy Friday!

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ATM Fun

Sometimes I like to stand at the ATM machine and pretend that it's a slot machine at the casino. When the money comes out, I WIN! It's great! If I am feeling especially giddy I will even start throwing the money in the air and screaming "Jackpot". I do get some strange looks from people walking by, but who cares. I am having fun.

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Super Duper Tuesday - A Bust

We listened to all the hype the last two weeks about "Super Duper Tuesday". This would be the day that decided who got the nomination for president in each political party. What did we find out?..... Not much. Hillary Clinton "Billary" and Obama are still pretty much dead even. McCain is still out in front for the Repubs and looks like he will get the nomination. Romney's poor showing was suprising and Huck's stong support in the South was also a bit suprising to me. I was also intrigued by Huckabee's comments on McCain. He didn't say one bad thing about McCain and wouldn't give a reason people should vote for him over McCain. Is Huck trying to get the VP position for McCain? Have the two teamed up to take down Mitt? I think so. But only time will tell. One thing I do know.....

The population of the U.S. is around 301,139,947 people. Out of all these people, don't we have somebody better than these 5 candidates? COME ON!!! Maybe this could be the year when a third party or independent could get my vote.

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Another Ringtone Bites the Dust

I should have learned my lesson a long time ago.... But I didn't. Another song has been ruined because of my cell phone. It always sounds like a good idea to have a song you like as your ringtone on your phone.... But it isn't. After a week or so of hearing a 15 second rendition of your favorite song 10-15 times a day you start to really hate the song. It even gets annoying. It gets to the point where you hear it on the radio and it feels like you are taking crazy pills!!!! You have been warned.

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Thank God for My Keychain

Have you seen the keychains that you can buy with names on them? A lot of times you see them at gift stores and you buy them for your friends and family as a souvenir of someplace that they didn't get to visit. Really isn't that kind of rubbing in the fact that they are stuck at home? Okay that isn't here nor there. Anyways, I happen to have one of these keychains that say "Tom" on them. It may sound a little weird to carry around an item that has your name on it, but it comes in handy quite often. Just the other day I met somebody who I had never met before and during introductions I forgot my name. I panicked for a few seconds and then I remembered...... I pulled out my keys and there it was, "Tom". My name is Tom. Thank God for that Keychain! :)

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Road Trip Bathroom Break

When I am on a road trip and I need to tap a kidney (urinate), I usually pull off at a small town gas station. But for some reason I feel really guilty just making my deposit and leaving. I feel like I need to buy something from the station just in return for using their bathroom. I don't know why I feel this way? They offer their bathroom services free of charge, but you do get that "look", if you just walk in... and then walk out.... and I am not interested in pissing off a disgruntled, tired, underpaid gas station attendant who more than likely has a sawed off shotgun under the counter. So I usually try to find the cheapest thing I can, such as a piece of gum, purchase it and be on my way with a smile. I wonder if other people feel this way?

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Rachel Ray Thoughts

I would really love it if Rachel Ray made a dish that she didn't like. Every time I see her try one of her dishes, she acts as if it is better than sex. Of course she will throw in her catch phrase "Yum-O" quite a bit too, which can get very annoying. What I want to see is.... Rachel take a bit, spit out the food is disgust and shout out a few curse words. That would make my day.

My other thought on Rachel Ray is this....Those so-called "30 minute" meals take way longer than 30 minutes to make. Have you ever tried to make one? Not only does it take longer than 30 minutes but half the ingredients she uses to cook with I don't have on hand on a daily basis in my kitchen. So if you include running to the grocery store, it really is over an hour to make the meal if not more.

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The Bad Dining Smell

Have you ever gotten home from eating out and noticed your clothes smell horrible? This can really ruin a dining experience for me. Some restaurants just seem to leave the fried food smell lingering all over you. One place I have noticed it really bad is at the Mexican restaurant I eat at quite often. When I leave their I can't stand my own smell (I would rather smell like smoke). Don't get me wrong the food is excellent, but it makes me want to stop eating there. I just don't get it, some restaurants must have better ventilation. Moral of the story restaurant owners...... don't leave your patrons smelling like a fryer, spend that extra money on the best kitchen fan possible.

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The Perfect Burger

A lot of the restaurants around town don't seem to know what a good hamburger is all about. First of all you never put shredded lettuce on a hamburger. For that matter you can can just leave all vegetables off the plate, no need for onions or tomatoes either. I think a lot of cook's like to over think the burger too much. They try and add things that shouldn't really be there, a good example of that is the Bonsai Burger at Red Robin. I mean come on! A fried egg on top of a burger? Not even close to the perfect burger. In my younger days I worked at a restaurant that served the "Goober Burger" which included peanut butter and mayonnaise on the burger. I really think somebody was drunk when they thought up of that. So enough complaining about imperfect burgers. Here, in my opinion is the burger they are serving once you enter heaven:

1/2 Pound Angus Burger (seasoned with salt & pepper and grilled to Medium well perfection), topped with Jack & American (must be melted) cheese, bacon and mayonnaise. One of the keys to this burger is that you have a toasted bun. On the side 3 dill pickle slices and fries (mayo on the side to dip in). Top this all off with a nice ice cold Pepsi to wash it down with. This my friend is the culmination of the perfect burger. I am hungry just typing about it!

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A Little Piece of Egypt Coming to Valley Junction

Come out, have some fun and support a good cause (See Below). I will be there. Will you?

Game Tournament Coming to Valley Junction

Simo’s Cafistro, and The Lagniappe will be hosting and sponsoring the first ever Secret Passages game tournament. The event is also sponsored by a number of other area businesses. Secret Passages is an exotic board game of hide and seek with an Egyptian pyramid twist. The tournament is billed as a first test run of the game that was developed and copyrighted by Ed Potter of West Des Moines.

Charity proceeds to benefit Freedom for Youth Ministries. The first round will take place on Sunday, February 10, 2008 and will be split between Simo’s and The Lagniappe. The semi-final and final rounds will take place at Simo’s on the following Sunday, February 17, 2008. Entry forms will be available at participating businesses in early January.

Enjoy some mid winter fun in the Junction as well as benefit homeless and at risk kids through the efforts of Freedom For Youth!

For more information about the tournament, email Ed Potter at epotter@keystoneemc.com.

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Black Tongue? Thanks Pepto-Bismol

Have you ever had an upset stomach and taken some Pepto-Bismol to take care of it? If so you may have been victim to the black tongue or poop caused by it. It can be scary if you know nothing about it. You wake up, look in your mirror and yikes!!!! Your tongue is covered in black and you may think you have a horrifying new disease. But relax it's only the Pepto. The reason why? Here's what I found out at the Pepto-Bismol website:
The active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol contains bismuth. When a small amount of bismuth combines with trace amounts of sulfur in your saliva and gastrointestinal tract, a black-colored substance (bismuth sulfide) is formed. This discoloration is temporary and harmless. It can last several days after you stop taking Pepto-Bismol.

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