Don't You Hate It When...

In an unabashed attempt to place myself in the running for the super sweet Ipod shuffle over at Shelle's little party, I am posting two - count 'em 2 Don't you hate its.


Don't you hate it when you are traveling in a foreign country (let's say Italy again, just for fun) and you are trying to figure out the public transportation system. And in that particular country, you get on the bus at the front ( just like in America) but everyone gets off in the rear.
You forget this fact and are standing right at the back door and the next stop is a very popular stop and practically the whole entire bus rushes out the back door, pushing you out too. Then, you are frantically trying to get back on the bus, pushing through the throng of exiting people (so that you are not left alone on the side of the road, while your friends are still on the bus). And you finally slip through the back doors just as they are closing, but your giant canvas bag strapped to your shoulder is stuck on the outside of the bus. And the bus pulls away. You are basically trapped in the exit stairwell with your bag hanging outside the door and your face plastered against the door window, as you drive all over Rome, for about 30 minutes until the bus reaches its destination. I hate when that happens. (MsMel - this jogging any memories?)

Don't you just hate it when you pick up lunch at your favorite Cuban restaurant and get the daily special. Grilled chicken with a side of rice and black beans and some sweet plantains. Everything is super delicious as always. You are just finishing up your last few bites and feel something strange and wiry and crunchy in your mouth. And you pull this out of your mouth? A big wiry strand of steel wool. I hate when that happens too.

Now, go right now and vote for me. Here is the link again. Shelle at Blok Thoughts . Make sure you leave your email address so it will count.

Are you still here? Go. Now. Skidaddle.

(but come back later, please, I'm gonna tell a spooky Halloween Story)

And just for clarification, that bus story is all mine and all true. MsMel just happened to be a fortunate observer of my very blonde moment.

Banana Popsicles

It is 1 am, I am bored and eating a banana Popsicle (don't drip that on your keyboard). Publix sells them by the box, so I don't have to dig through those mixed ones and eat the yucky cherry flavored ones.

Doesn't that bring you back to your childhood and chasing after the ice cream man on your bike? (no helmets either)

Makes you just want to go get one, right? What is your favorite flavor?

Summer is over, better go get one before its too late.

Just keeping you posted.

p.s. weren't those little pants from my last post so cute?

Strange Food Meme

I found this little gem (I forget where I found it - sorry )
and thought it would be fun .
What do you think about some of these strange food items?


The Food Experience Meme

• Venison: No.
• Nettle tea: huh?
• Huevos rancheros: Yes, no thanks.
• Steak tartare: nope.
• Crocodile: No, but a big yes on gator. Come on, I AM from Florida (tough and chewy) not a big fan.
• Black pudding: Hailll no.
• Cheese fondue: Uh, yes. I mean it has the word cheese in it.
• Carp: nope.
• Borscht: Yes.
• Baba ghanoush: Yep.
• Calamari: Fried only and none of the weird little octopus looking tentacle thingys.
• Pho: WTF? Something Asian, I gather, but NO.
• PB&J sandwich: um, I am an American, so,of course.
• Aloo gobi: Bend it Like Beckham? Nah.
• Hot dog from a street cart: No way!
• Epoisses: Never heard of it
• Black truffle: too rich for my blood and looks like dirt. Nope.
• Fruit wine made from something other than grapes: ok everyone, don't faint. I don't drink wine. Just tastes like rotting fruit to me.
• Steamed pork buns: Is that like a dumpling? If so, yes. If not, I don't know what the heck it is.
• Pistachio ice cream: yes.
• Heirloom tomatoes: Yummy, yummy, yummy. My Dad used to grow them fresh in the backyard and I ate them like they were apples.
• Fresh wild berries: Yup. As a kid, I picked wild strawberries in NC and wild blackberries in Ohio one summer on vacation.
• Foie gras: Force fed fattened goose or duck liver. Absolutely not.
• Rice and beans: Hello? I live in SOUTH FLORIDA!!!
• Brawn, or head cheese: No. That is just gross!!
• Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper: Not raw, but my friend's Jamaican mother puts them in rice and peas. Which I LOVE! Yes
• Dulce de leche: see rice and beans.
• Oysters: Yes. First time I gagged and my throat refused to swallow it. That was raw. But I don't mind them smoked or steamed.
• Baklava: Yes.
• Bagna cauda: No. Gotta look that up because who ever heard of this stuff?
• Wasabi peas: Yes.
• Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl: mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm
• Salted lassi: ??
• Sauerkraut: One of those things I didn't eat for years (due to pregnancy episode)
• Root beer float: yup.
• Cognac with a fat cigar: No, and a big fat no.
• Clotted cream tea: no. doesn't even sound good.
• Vodka jelly/Jell-O: Vodka Jello shots? Absolutely! One of my favorite party gifts.
• Gumbo: no - it has okra (gagging sound)
• Oxtail: No. But it has been eaten in my presence and does not look or smell good.
• Curried goat: No on the goats and lambs.
• Whole insects: Ewwww.
• Phaal: what the hell kind of food is this? This seemed like fun at first and now it is making look like a back woods shut in. I don't know what it is, so I'll have to say, no.
• Goat's milk: Yes, but the thought of it is creepy.
• Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$130 or more: Nope, not a scotch or whiskey drinker either.
• Fugu: Hey, I think I actually know this one. Cab had an intense desire to be Japanese and wanted to try this. Which if you know Cab, that is really funny. But no, I don't know any chefs that I would trust to not kill me with that one.
• Chicken tikka masala: Indian anyone??
• Eel: Only on sushi.
• Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut: Yes. Hot off the line. To die for. I could inhale 3 or 4 in about 10 seconds.
• Sea urchin: Nope.
• Prickly pear: Nope
• Umeboshi: What? Don't think so.
• Abalone: No, but I have had conch (it's like fishy rubber bands)
• Paneer: no. curdled stuff just doesn't appeal to me. Well, except sour cream.
• McDonald's Big Mac Meal: Yes. Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun. Remember that?
• Spaetzle: Maybe something like it.
• Dirty gin martini: Yes, but prefer fruitier martinis.
• Beer above 8% ABV: Barf and double barf on those German beers with the yeasty stuff in it. I don't drink beer!
• Poutine: More curds - nope.
• Carob chips: Yes. Poor substitute for chocolate.
• S'mores: of course.
• Sweetbreads: Nope. But my boss ate a big ole plate full when we were in Savannah for my wedding. We all laughed like hyenas. He had no clue what he was eating.
• Kaolin: Is that like eating clay? NO.
• Currywurst: Nope, not a wurst kinda gal.
• Durian: Nope. I love cheese, but those that smell like feet or sweaty balls, I try and stay away from.
• Frogs' legs: Not in a million years.
• Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake: oh yeah!
• Haggis: Hell no, and I don't think the Scottish actually eat it. I think it gets passed around like that 100 year old fruitcake.
• Fried plantain: Yes. yum.
• Chitterlings: Chitterlings? Seriously. No.
• Gazpacho: Yes. But I prefer my soups hot.
• Caviar and blini: nope.
• Louche absinthe: Nope.
• Gjetost, or brunost: Never hoid of it.
• Roadkill: Now that is just nasty. No.
• Baijiu: WTF? No.
• Hostess Fruit Pie: Yes.
• Snail: yes, again, too chewy! Garlic, buttered rubber bands.
• Lapsang souchong: huh??
• Bellini: Yes. Fruity = good.
• Tom yum: hahahahahahhahahahaha! Is that like cream of sum yun gai?
• Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant: Well, we did it at One if by Land, Two if by Sea in NYC. It is where we got engaged. I don't know if they are 3 Michelin so... maybe yes, maybe no.
• Kobe beef: yes.
• Hare: Little Bunny Foo Foo? I think not.
• Goulash: NO.
• Flowers: Yes, candied flowers, and in salads.
• Horse: I hope not, although there was a time in the 70's where you weren't really positive. And from what I understand, what they serve at Taco Bell.
• Criollo chocolate: Maybe. I've had an awful lot of chocolate in my day.
• Spam: When I was really, really, young.
• Soft shell crab: yep. Ima lika my seafood.
• Rose harissa: nope.
• Catfish: Yes.
• Mole poblano: Yes, I lived in Texas for a spell. But they just call it mole.
• Bagel and lox: Yum!
• Lobster Thermidor: Oh yeah, delicious.
• Polenta: Yes. Prefer cous-cous.
• Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee: Yep. My bosses favorite.
• Snake: Creepy

If you guys know what some of the stuff is, or you've tried it, let me know what you think.

Happy Friday!