Escalator Fish

At Keegan's, it took me a gazillion years to decide what to eat. Everything sounded SOOO good. I finally decided on the Swordfish with black beans and rice. Of course they were out of swordfish and were substituting a fish i'd never heard of called escolar. The only way i could remember it's name was to call it escalator fish. I thought, 'what the hell' and decided to try something new.

It was De-LISH-shus!! I was so sad when i finished it because i just wanted more. So buttery and moist and yummy!

Barry looked it up when we got home and wouldn't you know that this dang fish is banned in like 4+ countries for being 'toxic'. There's one report of a woman dying, but that was undetermined. Perfect. I finally find something that tastes sooo bad for me but is virtually fat free and great for you. Well, except that possible toxicity that can cause discomfort that "may include oily orange diarrhea, discharge, or leakage from the rectum that may smell of mineral oil."

Grrreaaat...

Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives

One of our favorite shows on Food Network is Guy Fieri's Diners Drive-Ins, and Dives. In one episode, Guy went to a place called Keegan's in Indian Rocks Beach, FL. I knew of IRB because that's where my BFF Angelle got married! So Barry and I said next time we had the time when we were in the area we'd go. Well, last weekend - we went! We went down to visit our cousin, so it was a perfect excuse to take her to dinner. Their claim to fame is the Grilled Octopus. It was the first time I've ever had octopus, and it was pretty good! I ended up having a broiled escolar that was the best fish I've ever had, but that's a different blog.

Anyway, now that we've popped our Visiting-Places-We've-Seen-On-TV cherry, we're ready for more! And, Lo! and Behold! We found our next place. After watching Diners Drive-ins and Dives tonight, Guy went to a place called the Bar-b-q King Drive in... Charlotte, NC! SOOOO, as if i wasn't super excited already to see the Gallers and Maddexes, now we get to go to the Bar-B-Q KING! YESSSSSS.

Next stop... Hackney's, which is around the corner from my Grandparents in Glenview, IL :)

Should I be mad?

I can hear Barry picking up hookers in the other room on Grand Theft Auto 4. Is it bad that i find it funny? The comments made are pretty humerous and i'm guessing that instead of bumpin' noises they play some R & B tunes (gratefully). Hehehe.

I wish he would stop playing though so i can play Guitar Hero... JK. :)

(not really :P)

Hello, Goodbye

I finally got my car back yesterday morning, after 3 weeks in the shop. It looks as good as it did the day I bought it, but, alas, I had to give up the 2008 Accord. It was a bitter sweet day.

Confession

O.K., so I can't blame work ENTIRELY on why i haven't been on blogger. As you may have noticed in an earlier post, we got an xBox 360 and for my birthday, I got Guitar Hero. It. Is. Bitchin. I am no where hear as good as this guy, but I don't think i want invest what it takes to get there...

Urban Plunge

During the summer from 9th-12th grade, I did a service trip with my church called Urban Plunge. About 40 teens and adults (mostly teens) would go to St. Augustine and for 1 week, would fix peoples houses. There's a part of St. Augustine that few know about that is just as needy as the people in Haiti, South America, and The Philipines. We did everything from screening and yardwork to painting and putting in new floors all together. We were there to listen and be good neighbors to those in need. We ate lunch at the local soup kitchen and at night we slept on the floor of a class room of a local private school. Those 4 weeks changed my life. Not only did I learn the difference between a circular saw and a band saw (and used both!), but I met new friends, both fellow "Plungers" and the clients we served. I found my faith, my way and I recieved a true appreciation for what I was given, tangible and intangible.

A couple months ago at work I was looking at my vacation days and realized that I actually have more time than i knew what to do with it. So out of the blue I call a close friend (Jay) who has since become in charge of Urban Plunge and asked what he thought of me going as an adult chaperone. I was a little nervous: In the 10 years since my last trip, that faith that i found "my way" has gotten lost again. I didn't know if it was right for me to go and be a leader to these young christians if i don't have the answers to the questions they might ask. I voiced my concerns to Jay and he said that it was my decision. I felt 16 again. However, I talked to Barry and he was supportive. I just feel like this is what i'm supposed to do this summer.

We've had 2 meetings and I am really getting excited. These kids are so much fun! They're smart and whitty and I love it. We leave June 22nd. At our last meeting, the icebreaker was to interview our partner to be a Plunger. One girl said she enjoys going on Plunge so much because she loves that she's not pushed into church. She can travel her own path to find her faith. Its insane how these kids half my age can really hit it on the nail sometimes (no pun intended). Our motto is a bible passage, James 2:17. It states "Faith, without action, is dead." And that is what we do. We help place faith in the hearts of those who otherwise may not have any. We put faith in ourselves and each other. And I don't specifically mean christian faith. I mean faith in men. Faith in humanity. And sometimes... faith in God.

I'm really looking forward to this trip. :)

Who's Bloggin? Aparently, Not Me...

I started blogging because i loved reading friend's blogs and staying in touch, and also because I was so bored at work, i wanted everyone to know it.
That has all changed. Work has become SO BUSY that I'm actually grateful that Barry is playing his GTA 4 so i have the excuse to get on the computer and blog. I actually started this blog on 5/23 at 11:47am... Just to give you an idea.

Sooo....look out, because here comes a plethora. :)

Who's got two thumbs and is excited...

...about Guitar Hero?!?

THIS GAL RIGHT HERE!! **points to herself with her thumbs**

That's right, I just got an early birthday present from my family - Guitar Hero III on the 360. YES!!!!!

10 years? Really?

I just got word of when my 10 year reunion will be - this October. I'm so glad that High School is over, but I can't believe it's been 10 years!

I'm So Excited!

I booked 2 tickets for Barry and I to go up to visit family in Cleveland for Barry's B-day in August. I can't wait! While we're there, we'll also go to Cedar Point for a day of roller coaster fun! I've heard so much about it and now i'll finally get to visit the "roller coaster capital of the world!"

Swedededeu!

DARN!! (yes!)

I just called the auto body shop about my car and the parts they were waiting on didn't get here until today... YESSS!!!


I never thought i'd be so excited about keeping a rental longer, but with this car, wouldn't you be?

Fender Bender

As I was yielding to the on ramp to get onto the Interstate on Thursday morning, I heard the unmistakable *CRUNCH*. I, of course, got hit.

CRAP. I look in my rear view mirror to see this big ass Isuzu commercial truck staring at me.

The guy comes over to make sure I'm OK. I am; we were completely stopped, so you can only accelerate so much before being stopped by the trunk of my civic. I was pissed, but quite calm due to the fact that I've been through a few fender benders before and I've become quite the expert. I did let a few expletives slip after seeing my poor car's rear end.

I had to call work and make sure someone will be there to open the branch, and call the police because this guy is calling his boss instead.

An hour later, I'm driving to work in my gimp car. After I took those pics with my phone, the Genius in me decides to try and open the trunk. Oh, it easily opens without the need of a key, and I have to just wedge it shut because it will NOT re-latch. I get all the way home without it opening, pull into my neighborhood and POP! the innards of my trunk decide to flash everyone on Sunbeam Rd. I grab some bungee cord and put my car together (if only i had duct tape!).

So, yeah, I'm THAT guy until Friday morning. I drive out of my neighborhood and POP! My voyeur of a car starts waiving to everyone again. The bungee cord broke. OH what the hell, I was not that far from the auto shop anyway, so i just let my civic have another mile of flapping up and down at the whim of every little blemish in the road.

Luckily, the Isuzu has good insurance. So while my car is getting a rear-lift, I'm loving life driving a BRAND new 2008 Accord. (When I got it it only had 30 miles on it!) It's sweet-ass-sweet. And the new car smell is intoxicating... I hope they take their time with the repairs.

Best Thirty Bucks I Ever Spent

We heard through the grapevine (a.k.a. my friend Dave) that you can buy an HD Antenna to pick up broadcast channels that are sent digitally - for free! I looked them up and they ranged from 30-70 bucks. I thought "That might be a good plan!" So as we are buying the 360 at Sam's, we see an HD Antenna for $29.97. Well, hell! So we pick it up, plug it in and....

...it doesn't work. Apparently i need a splitter so i can plug in both the antenna and the cable. Poo. In a drawer it goes until i buy a splitter. Well, in my boredness the other day i'm flipping through the channels and i realize that we have a few more channels than we used to. Channel numbers 17.1 and 30.1 for example. Lo and Behold! We're recieving the HD channels! I look, and the antenna is still in the drawer. Hm.

So now i have to return the HD Antenna and get my 30 bucks back AND I get to watch the Jags in HD this fall. Sa-weet.

Extreme Makover - Home Edition

Everyone mark their calendars! Our dream home is being built as a dream home for one lucky family in New Orleans. Deltec Homes is building one of their round houses for a family that was devistated by Katrina.

This type of home (if you didn't know already) is the home Barry and I want to build in Colorado. We visited the factory and model in Asheville, NC a few years ago and we are just waiting for the opportunity to get out there! check it out! (maybe you'll build one too!)

Shameless Begging

Now that we have a flat screen HD TV, we thought we should get some HD channels to enjoy our TV with... then we learned that it's an extra $65/month or so (with tax) and we said "Fhagetabaudit!"

So here we are enjoying our TV...all pixelated and non-HD. :( Of course Barry has the itch now and NEEEEEDS to see something on this thing that will meet the potential of the 1080p we bought it for... so what does he get? An xBox 360. And of course he needed to get a new game to go with it (Mass Effect). I have to admit, it's sooo cool. :)

But. Now I neeeeed Rock Band and Guitar Hero (yes, i said and). TOTALLY. NEED IT. But of course we just spent an ASS load of money on this living room, and my 'need' is being pushed aside. :(

and i am sad.

So ladies and gents, my birthday is right around the corner - feel free to put your pennies together and start the "Mandi Needs Guitar Hero and/or Rock Band Fund". I swear a good time will be had by all when i get these items in my possession. (I'll even throw the heads up that you can buy them used at Game Stop.) :) This will be me if I get either one: