Big Fish in a Small Ocean

This past weekend I finally got to try Splash Seafood Restaurant. Splash is located in the Homestead Building at the corner of 3rd and Locust in Downtown Des Moines. I went there hoping for some good seafood with more of an upscale flavor. I found exactly that! Aquariums fill the three different floors of the restaurant. Giant underwater mural art can be found on the walls that adds a cozy and vibrant feel. Reggae music plays in the background which even further adds to the chill atmosphere. So definitely the atmosphere was great! I found it a great place for a date.
As for the food…………One word……………….WONDERFUL! The Chilean Sea bass was flavorful and cooked perfectly. The Lobster was equally as good. My Calamari and Shrimp appetizer was the best I have had in a long time. The real surprise for me was the dessert. I split a Cherry Sorbet with my date and it was perfect. I don’t even like cherries but this mouth watering treat was the perfect end to a great meal.
Sure, the meal was a little bit pricey. Definitely a special occasion place (unless you are rich). If you are trying to impress or just have a good date night, check out Splash. You won’t regret it. http://www.splash-seafood.com

More good news……. I am now engaged. Time to settle down in life. :)

Up in the Clouds

I recently traveled to Columbus, Ohio. On my flight there it caught my attention that there were a lot of people around me that prayed while on the airplane. It was snowing on my return flight and we ran into some turbulence. The plane was starting to feel more like a roller coaster ride (a shaky one like the Tornado). It is amazing how people all of a sudden find God when faced with danger in their life. On an ordinary day they would not even think about God in their life. But when a scary situation arrives……BAM!! They are asking God for help. Hmmmmm….

On a related note………… I heard an interesting statement the other day, which I totally agree with. It was dealing with being a Christian and being an Atheist. Basically it said, a Christian really has nothing to lose by believing in God. If there is no God then the Christian is just crazy. On the other hand, an Atheist has much more to lose. If there is no God, then they were right. If they are wrong, and everything in the Bible is true, than they have much more to worry about.

Black Friday

The Holiday shopping season is upon us. I don't really like to shop very much anyway, but especially not during the Holidays. The two biggest reasons:
1. Out of Town Drivers (They just don't have a clue)
2. Strollers (If I get hit by one more stroller being pushed around...)

But, for those of you who do like to shop, there is a new website that shows advertised specials for "Black Friday" (the day after Thanksgiving). So you can find out what special sale Target or Walmart will have. Walmart actually will have a 42' Plasma on sale for $997.00. So check out the site so you can strategically plan your shopping. Enjoy!
www.bf2005.com

A Free Computer

I was watching Tech TV the other night and
heard about this deal. I did some other research and found that other credible
resources say that it is true. You should check it out for yourself. What's the
worst that could happen?.... You get a free computer! Click on the link below:

http://pcs.freepay.com/?r=24979473

Silence Please

This billboard is how I feel about cell phones in the movie theater. 
I can see forgetting to put your phone on silent.  That is one
thing....But to answer it and talk in your same loud annoying voice,
that's just plain KOOKY!  I think common sense or rather
common courtesy has died in Central Iowa.

The Scar of Marriage

One of my best friends is finally getting married! I could warn him not to do it, but I won't. Just because I got married when I was 19 in Vegas and it didn't work out, doesn't mean all marriage is bad. I would like to take a moment and congratulate Nick and Val. Here is to many happy years! Let's take a look at some marriage wisdom......

-By all means marry. If you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher...and that is a good thing for any man. - Socrates
-A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man. - Lana Turner
-Marriage is a great institution, but I'm not ready for an institution. - Mae West
-Marriage is a three ring circus: engagement ring, wedding ring, and suffering.
-Marriage is not a word; it is a sentence.
-Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence. Second marriage is the triumph of hope over experience.
-Marriage is when a man and woman become as one; the trouble starts when they try to decide which one.
-Marriages are made in heaven. But so again, are thunder and lightning.
-Before marriage, a man yearns for the woman he loves. After marriage, the 'Y' becomes silent.
-Do not marry a person that you know you can live with; only marry someone that you cannot live without.


Life as a no shirt, football playing
bachelor is over! Wouldn't you want to buy Allied Insurance from this Man?

Texas Roadhouse

This past weekend I finally made a trip to the new "Texas Roadhouse" restuarant in Johnston. I had heard that it was pretty much the same as Lone Star. I was hoping it would be better. I have always thought that Lone Star was a poor man's Outback, when it came to steakhouses. So, I went in with a little skeptisism.
The menu was your typical steakhouse menu. Our bubbly waitress explained that all their meat was cut fresh and never frozen and she claimed that the rib meat was so tender it will fall from the bone when you picked it up. (I was thinking...what a bunch of BS.)
Before dinner, the Roadhouse serves warm bread with cinnamon butter. This was weird as first, but tasted excellent. Our food arrived and as the waitress had claimed, the rib meat fell off the bones. So I was impressed! The steak was good, but not great and the rest of the food was okay. Would I eat there again....Yes. I would definately say give Texas Roadhouse a shot and try the ribs.

One last note. My stepfather was celebrating his birthday while we were there. They made him get up on a saddle and they had the whole restuarant give him a "Yeee Haw!". So that was fun.....Also the servers did a line dance performance while we were there, which was some added entertainment.

Chick-fil-A

Eat More Chicken! That is the ad we have seen on televsion in Central Iowa, but have never had a chance to see in person. The clever ads showcase cows trying to get people to eat chicken instead of beef. If you have been down south maybe you have been lucky enough to have been to a Chick-fil-A restuarant. Now you have a chance to try the best chicken sandwich in the business. Chick-fil-A has opened their first store in Iowa at the Jordan Creek Mall. Yes, I said the BEST chicken sandwich in the business. I can't explain it, but they taste like a little piece of heaven. (By the way, I love chicken, so I may be a bit biased.)
Bottom line: Get out to the mall in West Des Moines to try this new treat. But, remember they are closed on Sundays!
www.chick-fil-a.com

It's hard to be a Cyclone Fan

Have you ever just wanted to grab your radio and throw it out the window? This past weekend was one of those days. First of all, it is so frustrating that I have to listen to ISU football games rather than watch them on T.V. How can a major Big 12 program not even get televised locally?????? That is off the subject....... Anyways, if you follow football you may have heard. The Cyclones have started off the Big 12 season 0-3. Two overtime losses and a loss to Baylor! We should have one all three of the games. I have always been an ISU fan and will continue to be.....but that doesn't mean it is easy! Oh well it is just a game.

Race Car Drivers in Des Moines?

Have you noticed the people who put race car stickers on their cars? You know they have an "8" or some sort of Jeff Gordon sign. I think these people actually think once that sticker is placed on their car they have the right to drive like one of the drivers. They speed, change lanes without warning, ride your tail and are just plain annoying. These are the people that cause road rage. AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

On another note.... This is nothing against anyone who watches Nascar. But, I really don't see how you can watch that for hours on T.V. It is just a bunch of cars going around in a circle hundreds of times. (??????) How is this fun to watch?

More Weird BK Stuff!

Burger King has out done themselves. First they had the weird looking King with the huge plastic head. Now something that I thought would never be scary. Let me say that I love Chicken Fingers. I could eat them everyday. (Jimmy's has the best chicken fingers in town!) So the new Burger King commercial for the "Chicken Fries" was quite disturbing. First they show a picture of these new chicken fries. Yummy, looks good right? Then they flash to a band with giant chicken heads on, jumping about and playing their guitars in an old factory. This looks like something out of a horrible nightmare. Chickens running around.....this should only be happening if they had their heads cut off....right? If you haven't seen this, look for it on the tube. Warning...you might be disturbed.

The Weather

I was listening to the radio this morning and they starting giving the weather report. They starting off by saying "Today it will be hot and humid." Thanks captain obvious! Do they really need to tell us that anymore? It is hot and humid everyday day during the summer in Des Moines. I am not a genious or a meteriologist, but I will go out on a limb......... It will be hot and humid throughout August. WOW! What a bold statement. I am not going to give away a snowblower if I am wrong like Ed Wilson, but maybe I will buy you a Bomb Pop.

Taki

I celebrated my birthday this past weekend. Once you get past 25, there doesn't seem to be much to look forward to on your birthday. This year I decided to go with my family to Taki Japanese Steakhouse in Urbandale. I hadn't been there for a long time, but I always enjoy my times there. If you have never been there, it is tableside cooking (they cook right before your eyes). I had the filet and lobster combo which was tasty, and all the food comes with rice, veggies, soup and salad. I knew the cook that night, so he offered to do some "Taki Bombs" with us. A Taki Bomb is a shot of Saki set up on chop sticks on top of a glass of beer. After a small chant everyone at the table hits their fist to the table and the shots drop in the beer. Then the fun starts. Everyone at the table chugs the bomb as fast as they can. The last one to finish has to do a penalty shot, which is usually some cheap nasty whiskey (you don't won't to lose). So after a few drinks with my dinner and three bombs later.......I was feeling pretty good! :) The waiter and the staff there did an excellent job of helping me enjoy my birthday. The waiter even had the whole restaurant sing happy b-day to me, plus I got a free "Got Rice" t-shirt. So if you are looking for some fun on your special day, or just out to have some good food and fun, check out Taki.

Scientology

With all this talk about Scientology in the news regarding Tom Cruise, it made me curious to find out more. What exactly is this Scientology they speak of?????

I went to the official website for Scientology and their explanation was: "Scientology is an applied religious philosophy.
The fastest growing religious movement on earth, Scientology has become a firmly established and active force for positive change in the world in less than half a century. In a word, Scientology works."

After reading through more and more info on the Scientology site, I coudn't believe how vague this so called religion was. They seem to let you believe whatever you want and try to make you feel better just to get some money. The whole idea is based on a book by a science fiction writer named L. Ron Hubbard. (I like Star Wars....but I am not going to follow a religion if George Lucas starts one!)

I did some more research and found lots of negative feedback for this religion that nearly 8 million people follow. To me it seems like another scam, cooked up to get your money. But do some research yourself and form you own conclusion.

http://www.scientology.org/

Rocky Mountain Oysters

What is the origin of Rocky Mountain Oysters?? This is one of life's biggest mysteries. I asked around and nobobdy really knew the history. So I did the next best thing to find an answer and Googled it. Here is what I found:

What are Rocky Mountain oysters? They are that part of the male cow that is removed in his youth so that he may thereby be more tractable, grow meatier, and behave less masculine. When the calves are branded, the testicles are cut off and thrown in a bucket of water. They are then peeled, washed, rolled in flour and pepper, and fried in a pan. They are considered to be quite a delicacy. Like other organ meats, testicles may be cooked in a variety of ways – deep-fried whole, cut into broad, thin slices, or marinated. At roundups in the old West, cowboys and ranch hands tossed the meat on a hot iron stove. When the calf fries exploded, they were done?

Eating animal genitalia dates back to ancient Roman times, when it was believed that eating a healthy animal’s organ might correct some ailment in the corresponding human organ of the male person eating it. Because of this belief, the practice continues to the present day, especially in Asia, where animal genitalia are considered an aphrodisiac.

The rugged folks of the Rocky Mountain region are not squeamish. Testicle festivals are held every spring and fall in Montana. These festivals can be very rowdy and may not be the best place to bring your children. If you can’t get to a festival, many restaurants and bars in Montana, Idaho, and Kansas serve Rocky Mountain oysters all year long and with less fanfare.

So there you have it! Maybe we should start a Testicle Festival in Des Moines????

Crush, Crush and More Crush

Have you heard the radio commercials for Club Crush on 86th st.? CRUSH! These are the most annoying radio commercials in the world. CRUSH! They certainly let you know what they are talking about. CRUSH! During the ad they say "Crush" at least 8 times. I have taken marketing classes in my time and I know what they are trying to do......but this is ridiculous. CRUSH! Please for my sanity, move on.....try something new. CRUSH! I can't take it anymore! CRUSH!

The New Science Center

Wow! That is all I can say about the new Science Center. Not Wow in a good way. Yes, when you drive by and see the building, it looks nice. That's as far as it goes. We paid $12/a person for the IMAX movie and for the science exhibits. The IMAX theater was nice. The sound system was sweet......but for a movie called "The Living Sea", there wasn't to much footage of the sea. Maybe a different movie could have made this experience better, so I can't judge too much yet. As for the rest of the Science Center............ Don't waste your time or money. Half of the exhibits were already broken and not working (it has only been open a month?), plus there was nothing high tech about the exhibits. There were some freaky cardboard cutouts of kids, and I found out what a heartbeat sounds like (as if I didn't know?!). The new cafe featured Pizza Hut pizza and popcorn, so nothing too fancy. Don't waste your time on the gift shop either, unless you want some over priced sea monkeys. Bottom line is.......I was hoping this would be a cool new place to go in Central Iowa. What I found.......Just another waste of time and money!!!!!!!

The Dark Side

Yes, I am a nerd. I have seen the new Star Wars Movie twice already. Once at Merle Hay Cinema, which has the best screen in town, and once at Century Jordan Creek, which has the best sound in town. I thought the movie was great, filled with great light saber scenes and super special effects. If anyone hasn't seen it yet, I highly recommend it. Some things to look for when you are watching: George Lucas has a cameo scene, the death star on the Chancellor's desk and Obi-Wan picking up Anakin's light saber at the end, so he can someday give it to Luke. Also if you go to www.moviemistakes.com, you can find stuff to look for as you watch. Enjoy. May the force be with you!

Breakfast Cereal

I am curious if I am the only one who does this? After I pour a bowl of cereal into the bowl I put the box down next to me at the table. If I have no paper to read, I will read the entire cereal box, from nutritional information to ingredients. I do this every time I eat cereal. I could have the same box of Lucky Charms for a week straight and still read that stupid box every time I eat it........If you ask me to remember what is says......no clue! Somehow when I eat cereal, my brain goes to a far off galaxy where it can't retain information. Does anyone else relate??????

Panburger Partner?

Let me start off by saying that I am a cheap skate. I don't get wrapped up in all of the marketing hype behind name brands. I know just like many of you that most of the same products are made at the same plant and shipped away with two different labels. One name brand and the other "Brand X". So if I see something that is cheaper and looks the same I will buy it. A classic example..... Hamburger Helper. I am a Hy Vee Man. They are by far my favorite super market. Along with Hamburger Helper, they have there own brand called Panburger Partner. Folks, if you look at the ingredients....It's the same thing! You are paying extra for Hamburger Helper's ad campaign. So the next time you are at the store and have a choice between a name brand and "Brand X", save yourself some money and put your pride to the side!

Are those real?

I think I know what it feels like to be a woman with fake
boobs.  How can this be possible? I get asked on a daily basis, "Are
those real?"  Yes they are and thank you.  Of course this comment
is being directed towards my eyes not, my boobs.  It is nice to be
complimented on something......but when that is the only thing you hear, over
and over again.....it gets old.  I know that there are many others of you
out there.  You have the perfect hair, the perfect butt, or something that
everyone always makes a comment on.  It is strange how someone trying to be
nice to you can actually annoy you. 

Security at the Movies....

I decided to go to a flick out at the Wynsong Movie Theater tonight. I went to see "A Lot Like Love", which is a good movie, I do recommend it. But, the reason I tell you about this is, I actually had to go through security to see this movie. They had a lady with a metal detector and also a station where they went through my girlfriend's purse. Now my first thought was......."We are in Johnston, Right?" The last time I checked, Johnston wasn't exactly the ghetto of Central Iowa.
The little rent-a-cop explained that the theater only does this when they are having a special screening in the theater, so that no one can bring in a video camera. Hmmmmm..... Because you see so many illegal copies of movies being sold on the corners of the streets downtown. This isn't New York.
This is just another example of how our daily lives are effected, even at the movie theater, by a few idiots who try and break the rules.

Paul is Sold Out?!

Wow, in less than 1 hour, tickets for the Paul McCartney show at the Iowa Events center were sold out today. I had friends who tried to get online a few minutes after they were suppose to go on sell that couldn't get them. I am surprised, but happy at the response from the people of Central Iowa. I didn't think that there would be such a demand for Paul McCartney tickets. It goes to show, Des Moines is growing, and can support great live music!!!!

The New Burger King Commercial

Is it just me, or is anyone else freaked out by the "King" in the new Burger King Commercials. In the ad they show people waking up to the king's face in their window and being all happy. If I woke up to a giant plastic face with a smirk on it, I would bash it in with a bat. It reminds me of Michael Myers from Halloween.

The DM Juice?

Another new site is up and running. This time the Des Moines Register brings you DM Juice. What do I think about it? I like the fact that it is good for night life in Central Iowa. But other than that, I really don't think it gives people very much information about local places, events and links. I dare you to compare Digital Des Moines to DM Juice and all of the other local websites. Here is a list of them. See for yourself which one is the best.
www.dmjuice.com
www.desmoines365.com
www.desmoinesnightlife.com
www.dmweb.com

Jason's Deli

Have you been to Jason's Deli yet? Good Lord, Gerald Ford, you should see the potatoes they serve there. These super spuds look like they are part of some freak science experiment in which they have combined 4 potatoes together. Also they have some great tasting sandwiches. I like the place, but my girlfriend is a Jason's Deli evangelist, so before she tells the world I thought I would let you know first. Try it, love it, eat there often.
For a menu click here.

The Movies

I went to see the movie Hitch the other night at the new Century Theater at Jordan Creek. The movie was funny, go and check it out. Going through the concession stand there reminded me of something. Why do people eat nachos at the movies. Nachos are just too loud of a food to eat during a movie. The last thing I want to hear every two minutes during the movie is the sound of a crunching chip.
The other thing that bugs me about the movie theater experience are the arm rests. Which one am I suppose to use? Shouldn't there be some unwritten law about this. If everyone would just say the left one is yours, then you wouldn't have to worry about it. But there are always the few that think they are entitled to both of them. This is when I would love to take my jumbo $12.00 soda and "accidently" spill it over there arm on my arm rest. :)

The Cow

Not an original thought, but a good one:

What was going through the Mind of the First Person ever to Pull on a Cow's Udder?

A Dog's World

Why is it that when dogs are soaking wet, they wait until they're right next to you before they shake?

Freezing in Central Iowa

You know what Iowa needs? Some bitterly cold weather.......Oh yeah go outside, it is -30 degrees out!

What were the early Iowa settlers thinking when they decided to just stop going west and stay in Iowa. It couldn't of been during the winter. Can you image that? It is -30 degrees out, they didn't have coats or clothes like we have today. Can you really see someone saying " Well, I can't feel my hands, my nose hairs are freezing, little Billy's face is turning blue, let's start a new life here."

Opening Your Eyes

I was talking to one of my friends the other day and we both agreed on something. When you are kissing someone, one of the weirdest feelings is opening your eyes and seeing another set of eyes staring back at you. Most people kiss with their eyes shut, this seems normal to me. It is just plain creepy to see someone just staring at you during a make out session. Some food for thought!

Chicken Nuggets?

I just got home from picking up some food at Wendy's. I love Wendy's because they have the 99 cent menu that includes a 5 piece chicken nugget. For some reason though, everytime I order the nuggets I say "chicken mcnuggets", which we all know is what McDononald's calls them. I stop and try again but I can't not say "mc" in front of the nugget. Am I the only one who does this?????

Winter Driving

Since the roads have been covered with ice lately most people have been driving with a little more caution. Everyone except the SUV owners. They seem to think that somehow because they have an SUV that they can just drive through anything. Here's a news bulletin for ya: 4 Wheel Drive doesn't really help you out on ice. So when you are doing 65 on a side street covered with ice riding my ass you might not be able to stop.

I don't mean this in a bad way, I don't want to see anyone hurt, but over 50 percent of the vehicles you see in the ditchs are SUVs (this makes me laugh). Hmmmmmmm.......... Maybe they should slow down a bit?