Soup, Salad, and Breadsticks

Dave Barry on Restaurants

I have studied American eating preferences for years, and believe me, this is what people want.  They don’t want to go into an unfamiliar restaurant, because they don’t know whether the food will be very bad, or very good, or what.  They want to go into a restaurant that advertises on national television, where they know the food will be mediocre.  ~Dave Barry

I say bring on the unfamiliar.  Who wants mediocre?  Not me (although sometimes I do want soup, salad, and breadsticks from Olive Garden - that national television commercial is just so enticing).

A Little Love for “Stuff Christians Like” and Thoughts on Taking Out the Garbage

One of my favorite blogs to read is “Stuff Christians Like.” I gave up on “Stuff White People Like” a long time ago when they started being unfunny. But Jon at “Stuff Christians Like” is consistently hilarious. I want to share a little excerpt from Post #329. Arguing about the “wives submit to your husbands” idea. This is a post that I find particularly hilarious. He posts what he calls a “quick list of the things that have kept my marriage not insane. (’Not insane’ is a technical term really holy people say.)” This is item number one:

1. Don’t call tasks around the house “chores.”
When you are a kid and take out the garbage for your mom, that is what is called a “chore.” When you are an adult and take out the garbage for your wife, that is what is called “doing what you are supposed to do, I mean good grief, it’s your house too, are you seriously trying to take credit for taking out the garbage?” I admit, it’s a bit long, but I think it’s a lovely name.

This one particular entry just hit me as appropriate for the day in light of a conversation I had earlier. The one thing I hate more than anything in the world (when it come to household “chores,” anyway) is having to take the garbage across the parking lot to the disgusting dumpster because my husband forgot to do it before leaving for whatever city he happens to be working in that week. It’s just not something I really want to do. The garbage bag is heavy, and we live on the second floor, and it’s a long way to walk across the parking lot, and I’m short and the dumpster lid is tall and gross and very heavy. Am I complaining? Does it sound like I’m complaining? I’m not. Just sharing, that’s all.

For the rest of the post, click here. There is also mention of dads who “babysit” their kids. Classic.

Jon somehow manages to be both spiritually deep and sarcastically funny. He has two other blogs that are worth checking out: 97secondswithgod and The Prodigal Jon. It’s some good stuff. Enjoy!

Now, I’m off to the dumpster with the garbage. Wish me luck.

You’re Leaving the House Wearing That? Why, Yes. Yes, I Am.

When I turned 25, or maybe a little before then, I banished all my miniskirts to the back of the closet. I guess my thinking (probably passed down to me from my grandmother) in doing away with the minis was that miniskirts are for teenagers and whores, which am I neither. I guess every time I put on a miniskirt, my grandmother’s voice would pop into my head, “You’re not going to wear that are you? You know what people are going to think about you if you wear that outfit. You don’t want people thinking you’re one of those girls, now do you?” And I would become really self-conscious and change clothes immediately.

Then today, after lying out by the pool all afternoon, I found myself running errands wearing a bikini covered up by a polka-dot tube dress with no reservations. I don’t know why one is okay and the other is not. I guess in my head, the conversation among the little judgmental old ladies went something like this:

Old Lady One (spoken in a thick, Old South drawl): “Oh, my! What is she wearing? A tube dress? Dear heavens, that is worse than a miniskirt. God just don’t make ‘em ladies any more, Myrtle.”

Old Lady Two (also spoken in a thick, Old South drawl): “Now, hold on a minute, Edna. I think I see a bathing suit under there. The girl must’ve just came from the pool.”

Old Lady One: “Oh, well in that case, she’s not promiscuous, after all. She’s just working on her tan. Hmm, poor thing is a little pale. Bless her heart. And someone needs to tell her that just because you’re in the water, it don’t mean you can’t put on a little lipstick, now.”

Yes, I’m from the Deep South. Yes, I grew up in a small town. And yes, old ladies in small towns in the Deep South do have these types of conversations. Trust me. I’ve heard them. And I sometimes wonder why I am the way I am.

Fireworks Are Pretty!

The rutabagas headed downtown and grabbed a spot on the east side of LP field for the Independence Day fireworks.  We had a great view, but we could only faintly hear the Nashville Symphony in the distance.  The show was AMAZING.  Everyone who lives in Nashville should go at least once.  Heck, you could even make it an annual tradition.

(continued)

“Is David Cook a Christian?” and “How Tall is Hoda Kotb?” That’s What You Want to Know?

Just for kicks, I thought I’d share with y’all the most popular search terms that landed people on my blog. Some of them are pretty predictable (American Idol, Eckhart Tolle). And some are just plain weird. Apparently, there are a lot of people out there who want to know how tall Hoda Kotb is and whether or not David Cook is a Christian. A couple of people are interested in finding out how much David Archuleta weighs. I don’t know what they’re going to do with that information, but to each his own. And apparently David Cook has (or did have) a Xanga blog that several people are interested in finding. There are also at least 38 people out there who don’t know how to spell “American.”

So, here it is, for you curious viewing enjoyment:

All Time

Search	Views
american idol	98
hoda kotb height	42
amercan idol	38
david archuleta	21
vote for david cook	12
how tall is hoda kotb	11
david cook xanga	11
a people’s history of the united states	11
david cook	10
“is david cook a christian”	8
annoying website	8
sayesha	8
most annoying website	8
eupora native justin cooper	8
good times never felt so good	8
sayesha mercado	7
“is david cook a christian?”	7
a people’s history of the united states	7
most annoying website ever	7
a people’s history of the united states	7
howard zinn chapter summaries	7
david cook love	6
david cook idol	6
carly smithson	6
“david cook a christian”	6
danny noriega	6
david cook american idol christian	6
ramiele malubay	6
zinn chapter summaries	6
5′9″ 140 lbs	5
columbus, the indians, and human progres	5
zinn chapter 19 summary	5
140 lbs	5
“american idol”	5
david cook xanga blog	5
paula abdul lose it on american idol	5
a new earth christian perspective	5
howard zinn chapter summary	5
princeton premier registry	5
“hoda kotb” height	5
itunes commercial song	5
oprah tolle christian	4
billy joel comments archuleta	4
black shirt, david hernandez	4
eckhart tolle	4
chapter 17 howard zinn	4
who got voted off american idol on may 7	4
eat pray love quotes soul mate	4
david cook american idol	4
carly smithson superstar 4

2008-06-04 to Today

Search	Views
hoda kotb height	31
david cook xanga	10
good times never felt so good	8
how tall is hoda kotb	6
princeton premier registry	5
“hoda kotb” height	5
a people’s history of the united states	5
140 lbs	4
5′9″ 140 lbs	4
sayesha mercado	4
billy joel comments archuleta	4
eupora football	4
brooke white so far away	3
lloyd webber “little david”	3
eckhart tolle and the teachings of jesus	3
david cook love	3
hoda kotb divorce	3
annoying website	3
princeton premier	3
most annoying web page ever	3
howard zinn: a people’s history of ameri	3
sayesha	3
justin cooper,eupora,ms	3
princeton premier business leaders and p	3
nashville popcicles	3
most annoying website	3
fitness and god	3
ekhart tolle steven curtis chapman	2
summary of chapter one of a people’s his	2
christian view of eckhart tolle	2
eckhart tolle, what do theologians say	2
study notes a people’s history of the un	2
eckhart tolle christian comments	2
david cook xanga blogs	2
jason harris princeton premier	2
the new earth book from a christian pers	2
how much does david archuleta weigh?	2
did a designer dress david archuleta for	2
hoda height	2
eckhart tolle believe we are god	2
annoying web stuff	2
ellen david archuleta	2
amercan girls	2
is david cook (american idol) a christia	2
howard zinn chapter summary	2
ambulate	2
a new earth christian perspective	2
soulmate quotes	2
christianity and eckhart tolle	2
howard zinn a people’s history of the un	2

Bobbie’s Dairy Dip and an Ice Cream Social

Bobbie’s Dairy Dip, located on Charlotte Avenue in Nashville, is the embodiment of small town American charm. Multicolored light bulbs and a shiny, metallic American flag banner outline the long-established drive-up burger joint and ice cream stand, lending the distant yet familiar nostalgia of the good old days – the ones that passed long before I was born. The long line of customers enduring the heat of the pavement in front of the sliding glass window entices passers-by to ditch their air-conditioned cars and join the crowd.

Bobbie’s Dairy Dip has been serving up burgers, fries, hot dogs, milkshakes, soft-serve ice cream, floats, banana splits, hot fudge cake sundaes, and the like to Nashvillians and tourists for over fifty years. Now that’s a long time; at least it is to a young’un like me. In my opinion, this is a “must try at least once” for anyone who lives in the Nashville area and loves ice cream. Though the place has gotten a few negative reviews on Citysearch, my experience at Bobbie’s was quite swell.

(continued …)

Neighbors?

After recently returning from Papa John’s where I had a lovely chat with Pizza Guy, I came to the realization that I don’t know any of my neighbors. Never talk to them. Never interact. Nothing. May not even recognize them if I saw them out and about. However, I do know Papa John’s pizza guy, practically all the employees at Nacho’s Mexican Restaurant, cute Starbucks guy, Jersey Mike’s deli dude, the hilarious Otter’s chicken guy, several of the Moe’s Mexican Grill peeps, and the cashier lady at the Daily’s gas station where I stop for my breakfast coffee and Krispy Kreme donuts more often than I should.  And they all know me and recognize my face. Some even know my name, and we talk every time I see them (which is a lot, I imagine).  I can’t say that about the people who live withing 20 feet of my front door.  Heck, I don’t even know how many neighbors I actually have.

I’m not exactly sure what this says about me, but I’m pretty positive it says something. I’ll let you know when I figure it out, and of course, I’m always open for suggestions.

Way-FM’s Summer Brown Bag Concert Series

Monday marked the return of the WAY-FM Summer Brown Bag Concert series in Franklin, and you’d better believe I was there for it. My co-worker Nita and I took a little extended lunch break, borrowed a blanket from a soccer mom (thanks, Deb), and set out to enjoy (as best we could in the heat) the blazing summer sun and rocking sounds of Article One and Superchick. Even though we had to leave before the concert was over to get back to work, it was still worth the short trip and the sweat (we don’t think our co-workers minded).

(Read More … )

Sometimes, On My Lunch Break …

Sometimes, on my lunch break, I feel a little lazy and undisciplined. So I drive through Wendy’s to pick up lunch instead of going home to make it myself. And some days, like today, I forget that small really means medium and medium is actually large. And I order a medium Mr. Pibb (they don’t have Dr. Pepper there) and medium fries to go with my five piece chicken nuggets. Then, when I open the bag, I’m all like - “Holy Mother! (no, I’m not Catholic) THIS is what they call a medium, now? What is the world coming to?” And I spend the rest of my day bothered and bewildered (but not bewitched, mind you).

Related:

Kid’s Meal?

Notes on a Drive-Thru Window

Cheeseburger

So, About Tonight …

So tonight, I had every intention of writing an honest, thoughtful (and possibly thought-provoking) post about life and such. Thoughts and ideas have been swirling around in my head all day, and I just couldn’t wait to get to my laptop and get them all out - lay it all out there and clear my mind. Then, I ended up getting stuck in major traffic (both indoors and on the road) while running errands after work. I came home extremely exhausted and irritated and frustrated and decided to watch last night’s episode of So You Think You Can Dance (which is only THE best reality show ever - those kids are soooo talented, way more so than the American Idols, but I digress). It was a two-hour show, and now it is late … really late. I’m tired. And my brain is mush, utterly incapable of the caffeine-induced intellectual acrobatics it was performing earlier.

So … about tonight, I guess that life-changing, world-shaking blog entry will have to wait until another night. Tonight belonged to Twitch and Comfort and Kherrington and Kourtni and Will and Mark. You entertained me immensely.