Saturday, September 30, 2006

So, I Finally Watched A Complete Episode of Law and Order Earlier Tonight...

...and I still think it's the most overrated piece of crap this side of Lost. The Simpsons I can see still being around, even if it shouldn't be, just like The Andy Griffith Show and its color episodes (really, they should have hung it up after Don Knotts left). BUT Law and Order AND its (seemingly) gazillion spinoffs? I don't care if one or more of those features Sam "Old Glory Insurance" Waterson...they're overrated AND overshown. Give me L.A. Law AND Hill Street Blues any day of the week for my lawyer and cop show fixes.

Oh, and BTW, the best current shows on TV now that are not hockey, (NCAA and NFL) football, and (NCAA) basketball are House MD and Heroes. Everything else sucks.

- Yours truly is hip and fashionable...at least for fifteen minutes. Went to Goody's yesterday afternoon and got four of the spandex tunics that are making waves right now. These particular ones have an Indian-like design and are quite nifty. Perhaps I'll model one soon...calm down, my male readers, calm down. ;)

- Also went to Jo-Anne Fabrics to pick out a cloth/fabric for a new cross stich bag to accomodate the tools of my new-found trade. One of the nicer aspects of living where I am is that you have a bunch of artisans living near you, and don't even realize it. In my instance, one of my mom's newer local friends is a kindly older woman who makes purses and bags out of various fabrics. She made me a penguin tote bag, which I liked so much, that I immediately thought of having her make my cross stitch bag when I started to get back into the said craft. The fabric I chose, a silky auburgine one with an electric blue floral design, will look awesome. Perhaps I'll post pictures of the finished product...

- Got to eat at Tray King again earlier tonight...damn, I'm loving that place. Thanks to the weather turning a lot cooler, the hot tea and Wonton Soup *really* hit the spot. AND I found a new favorite dish in the Beef and Scallions (with bamboo shoots...now I can say I know what it's like to be a Panda Bear). Tasted *just like* the (Beijing) Shredded Pork at the Hong Kong Restaurant in Wake Forest, NC. That said, if only Tray King offered Kentucky (Derby) Pie like Hong Kong did. Then again, if Tray King did offer Kentucky Pie, I wouldn't have been able to have a...

- ...Blue Hawaiian. That said, there will be no new drink recipe tonight AND possibly this weekend. If I expect to be a decent bartender, I gotta perfect my Blue Hawaiians. I seem to have a tendency to add too much rum to them, at least I did with the last few I have made. Definitely did that tonight, and I've been feeling it. Not to mention how it affects the taste...Blue Hawaiians are supposed to be (somewhat) sweet, not boozey...unless they're "Hawaii Three-O's", one of Macado's (a T.G.I. Friday's-like restaurant here in Bluefield) summer drinks. Which has not one, not two, but THREE DIFFERENT RUMS...my actually consuming that making it all the more amazing that I was well-minded enough to make drinks for my folks and some company we had over one evening.

- I found
this on YouTube yesterday...as insane as it sounds, I may have to play through Super Puzzle Fighter with Dan, just to top that dude. Then again...THAT was his SECOND PLACE SCORE?! (does her best impression of the Airplane! "Jive" men saying "Golly.") That might make me think twice about entering in a Super Puzzle Fighter tourney, should one ever take place in or near Southwestern Virginia/Southeastern West Virginia.

Speaking of the video game genre(s) I know I love too freakin' much, even though I hate the Mortal Kombat franchise with the passion of ten suns, I am so going to have to grab Mortal Kombat: Deception for
its nifty "Puzzle Kombat" bonus game.

- Also found this.

My personal theory as to who was/is behind that jewel? Lindy Ruff. Someone please, PLEASE hit him over the head with a champagne bottle on opening night... (sighs)

Current Music: "Everlasting Love" by U2
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Friday, September 29, 2006

THIS JUST IN: OLEG TVERDOVSKY AND (THE RIGHTS TO) JACK JOHNSON TRADED TO THE LOS ANGELES KINGS FOR TIM GLEASON AND ERIC BELANGER

http://www.carolinahurricanes.com/news/news.asp?articleid=1612

http://www.thescoreboards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3510

http://www.850thebuzz.com/blog/?p=1839

Regarding this, I really don't have anything better to say than my response over at 850 The Buzz:

While I understand Tverdovsky, I *really* did not want to see JJ traded. Though, I knew it was going to happen...with Jimmy making it clear that he was in a snit about JJ staying in Wolverine-Land and all.

I know we don't know how JJ will pan out in the NHL, but I hope this doesn't come back to bite the Canes in their ever loving rear-ends. Personally, I think it's stupid to be "offended" by someone wanting to stay in college. But hey, I'm not a Stanley Cup winning general manager, so what do I know?

Current Music: "Passacaglia" by The Robert Fripp String Quintet
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Coming Soon To A Shopping Mall/Center Near You?

The NHL has plans to open shop on Sixth Avenue in New York, New York.

Even if it's successful enough to merit a franchise chain in most NHL cities, I am quite willing to bet that such a store will not come to Raleigh. Especially considering how the Canes' attempts at making The Eye into a chain with the Crabtree Valley Mall and Triangle Town Center locations practically failed miserably. ESPECIALLY the TTC one, which hardly ever had business every time I visited. With the exception of my very first visit, when people were high on the success of the 2002 Stanley Cup run, and were gearing up for 2002-03.

Crabtree Valley Mall, on the other hand, did fairly ok. They were around before the TTC location, and closed their doors after TTC, during the Great Lockout of 2004-05...TTC closing in the late Winter/early Spring of 2004.

I guess in a way I'm a little surprised that it has taken the NHL a long time to open an actual, physical store, as long as their online one has been around and all.

Current Music: "Forty Thousand Headmen" by Traffic
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Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Oh, Rats!

Yes folks, at long last, I present a tiny bit of pre-season coverage(!!)...

http://www.carolinahurricanes.com/news/news.asp?articleid=1610

http://www.thescoreboards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3263

Eleven have been demoted from Canes to River Rats, and are to appear at the Albany training camp later this week. The lucky ones are... *insert drum roll here*

Goaltender Justin Peters, forwards Keith Aucoin, Jesse Boulerice, Patrick Dwyer, Dave Gove, Brad Isbister, Scott Kelman and Shane Willis, and defensemen Tim Conboy, J.D. Forrest and Derrick Walser.

There is only one among those who surprises me, based on what little I've read/heard: Shane Willis. It sounded like he, along with Ryan Bayda (who was/is doing is pretty dang good on a line with Brindy), was tearing up camp left and right. But then again, it's the defense that is hurting for people, not offense...which is only missing one key player in Stillman.

Speaking of the defense, there is another person becoming a River Rat surprising me...Walser. Again, based on what I've read/heard, Walser seems like a better option to go with in Kaberle's place than Woolley, whose still having a chance at getting a Canes roster spot is baffling me...

Current Music: "Right Here, Right Now" by Eric Darius
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Just When I Thought the Banana Slugs...er, Buffaloes' New Jerseys Were Bad...

...I then see the Ducks' new duds on ice.



EWWWWWWWWW!!

I cannot decide which is worst...how minor-league-ish that looks overall (especially with that pee-poor excuse of a logo) OR the even more horrible combination of Penguins gold with Flyers orange. Again, EWWWWWWWWW!!

You know how people say California is going to either break off and float away from the USA or simply crumble into the sea? Forget the Golden State doing any of that...the Keystone State is going to beat'em to it with their teams' colors together on one jersey like that. o_O

Current Music: "If I Can't Change Your Mind" by Sugar
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A Stitch In Time...

Well, after an eleven-twelve year hiatus, yours truly has decided to get back into doing cross stitch as one of her many hobbies. It's been a while since I have had an art I call my own...and thinking about it, I recalled how much I enjoyed briefly doing cross stitch, thanks to an art elective I took in fifth grade. Also helping was that I was wandering around in a craft store a couple of days ago, and found myself really impressed with how far along cross stitch designs have come. There's now a lot more variety and not just country-ish designs and alphabet/number samplers. Apparently, wolves have gotten to be a popular cross stitch subject, much to my wolf art loving delight...made obvious that I picked up this design and started on it yesterday.

Eventually, I plan to get some cross stitch pattern maker software, and do some hockey and anime/manga/comic book designs, along with some other nature, Native American, and scenic (specifically mountains, cityscapes, and European) ones. Perhaps if one asks nicely when the time comes, I will be willing to do a request or two... :D

Current Music: "Song of Truth" - Inuyasha's Fifth Closing Theme
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Sunday, September 24, 2006

Oh Boy! It's the Weekly Drink Recipe!

As I promised last night...

Billie Holiday

Fill glass with ice.
2 oz. Vodka
Dash of Grenadine
Fill with Ginger Ale.
Stir.
Garnish with a Cherry. (Optional)

You have to be *real careful* with not pouring too much vodka into this concoction...on my first glass (I had two), I made that very mistake, and learned how bitter-tasting vodka and ginger ale can be when there is a little too much of the former, even with grenadine. But, really like all drinks, as long as you watch your ingredient amounts, like I did on my second glass, you'll be singin' the blues like this drink's namesake.


Current Music: "True" by Spandau Ballet
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Saturday, September 23, 2006

If You've Come Here Expecting Pre-Season Canes Coverage...

...look elsewhere.

Admittedly, I'd probably do coverage of the Canes' pre-season games if my dwellings were still in Raleigh. But, they're currently not, and that, along with the fact that Chuck and the Letter K's announcing is not being streamed over the Net, makes pre-season game coverage *just a little* tricky AND not-as-fun. (sighs) At least the Pens have their pre-season games televised...but the Pens are *really* fellow blogging buddy, Michael/Hockey Fanatic's bag, not mine.

Speaking of Michael, I recommend checking out his review of Electronic Arts' NHL '07. Based on it, I may have to actually pick it up sometime.

Because of my predicament, I ended up watching Deal Or No Deal this evening...oh, shut up. I can't help that I still like Howie Mandall. Him and that guy who played Peterman on Seinfeld actually make good game show hosts IMHO.

In what little I've viewed of Deal..., I don't think I would be their type...every single person who's been on there acts like they are high on Jolt/Red Bull/etc. And as much as I love my caffeine, it would take the amount that would practically be fatal to the human body that would make me *that hyper*. I am certainly much more of a Jeopardy! type...if only the auditions for that show would hit this region.

I also had the fortune to see Peter Gabriel and his Growing Up Live concert (in Milano sometime during 2003, promoting the then new Up album) on one of the two PBS stations (specifically the West Virginia one) tonight...

- Even though his voice was raspy in spots AND couldn't hit the high notes (made *very obvious* by his performance of "Sledgehammer"), ol' Pete did not sound that bad. If there was a singing contest between Gabriel and Greg Lake (of King Crimson and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer fame) tomorrow, Gabriel would blow Lake out of the water.

- You may not tell by his voice overall, but Peter is in awesome shape...made evident by all of his stunts and antics throughout his songs. A classic example being when he rode a bicycle all around the stage throughout at least two thirds of "Solsbury Hill" (my favorite track out of the whole concert). That said, he certainly has not lost his theatrical edge either.

- And last but certainly not least, it was very cool to see Tony Levin, one of, if not THE, most kicka** bassists in the world being among the performers accompanying Pete. Tony's one of the reasons the heavilly underrated 1980-84 King Crimson lineup is my absolute most favorite incarnation of that band. And chances are that you have heard Levin a ton, for he is one of the most prolific session artists over the last thirty years.

Overall, last but certainly not least: Jeeves and Wooster is back on WV PBS as of tomorrow night....YAY!!!! I was starting to *really* miss them, especially Wooster...gotta have my Hugh Laurie fix in not only his Dr. House role, but also as one of his Brit-twits too. God, I hate when PBS, especially the WV one, has one of their numerous telephons.

Oh, one more thing...no drink recipe tonight, for I was further perfecting my Hartford Whaler concoction. Sorry to those of you who care. :( I promise to try to try something new tomorrow evening, most likely when I'm getting my Hugh Laurie fix.

Current Music: "I Am the Storm" by Blue Oyster Cult
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Thursday, September 21, 2006

Ronnie Francis Gets A Haircut and A New Job

*sniff* (wipes away a tear of joy) My man is further growing up!

Ok, I don't know about a haircut, but Ronnie definitely got a new job...

http://www.newsobserver.com/796/story/488758.html

"Ron Francis, others join board of new bank

TrustAtlantic Financial, a new bank being put together by veteran Raleigh banker Jim Beck, is bringing in heavyweight directors who include Carolantic Realty owner Steve Stroud as chairman and former Hurricanes captain Ron Francis."

Not only am I quite happy for my beloved #10, but am also not surprised...I figured whenever the day that his getting a "normal" job came, it would be something involving numbers/money*, marketing, real estate, restaurant ownership, and/or the wine industry.

Here's to wishing you the best with your new occupation, Mr. Francis! *gives a thumbs up*

Oh, and many, many thanks to CanesIce @
The Score Boards Canes MB and hername_isrio for alerting me to this tidbit. :)

Current Music: "Candybar Express" by Love and Money

* - When he went to Lake Superior State in his early Hartford days, Ron majored in accounting.

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Jack Lautier Dies of Lung Cancer At 53

May thee R.I.P. :*(

For those of you who have no clue who Lautier was...he was the author of two of the greatest Hartford Whalers books and sources of history ever penned. And I know how great Fifteen Years of Whalers Hockey AND Forever Whalers are, being quite fortunate to own them as part of my Ron Francis/Whalers and Canes hoard.

How do you obtain those books? Well, as I posted in response to the above linked Score Boards thread...

Unfortunately, you cannot get Forever Whalers or Fifteen Years of Whalers Hockey through Amazon/Borders or B&N. I don't know about Forever..., but Fifteen Years... was a Hartford Whalers-only promotion that was sold at the Whalers Team Store(s) and advertised throughout the Whale's 1989-90 home game programs (AND briefly mentioned in the 1990 Hall of Fame program, for which Lautier did a couple-few write-ups).

Your best bet for both books is eBay, where I've gotten my copies of both. To this day, I'm still amazed that I did not get into more of a bidding war for those books...but I seem to recall getting a bid after four or five bidders on each book. Good luck to all on finding auctions for what are indeed must-haves for any hockey/sports/Whalers/Canes buffs AND winning them.

And really, I cannot express enough how everyone who is a Canes fan and/or collector should own what are valuable resources and just plain good readin' about the team's years in Connecticut.

Current Music: "Closing Time" by Semisonic
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Wednesday, September 20, 2006

I Pity Those Bengal Fools

Not.

http://community.livejournal.com/steelers_fans/229834.html

"Crank it up fool!"?!

How on Earth could that be penned by anyone OTHER THAN Mr. T?! I suppose he needed something else to do besides those Comcastic ads and that upcoming "show" on TV Land...how the mighty fall, and fall hard.


Current Music: "Hot Legs" by Rod Stewart
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From the Home Offices In Raleigh, NC AND Detroit, MI...

...it's Top Ten Reasons Why Peter Karmanos Jr. Has Been Quiet About the Jack Johnson Crap!

10 - PK is hiding out with Osama and nobody can find him.
9 - Jimmy (Rutherford) has had PK's lips surgically sewn together.
8 - PK's still got his Stanley Cup Perma-*****-Eating-Grin on, and is totally oblivious to anything going on with the current team's injuries, etc...
7 - Pete's a University of Michigan fan, so he wins either way.
6 - PK's still got his Stanley Cup Perma-*****-Eating-Grin on, and doesn't remember drafting Jack Johnson.
5 - Pete went on a road trip with Willie Nelson's band this summer.
4 - The Tigers' imminent choke job in the American League Central means all the Detroit sports writers have something better to do.
3 - PK died wearing that Grin (see #6 and #8 ) , and CompuWare's been doing the Weekend-At-Bernie's thing with him at company meetings since June 19.
2 - Pure dumb luck (and we're all crossing our fingers)...

...and the number one thing that PK's silence regarding Jack Johnson is evidence of:


1 - The Islanders have been doing so many stupid things this off-season, the hockey press has been a little distracted!!!

Many, many thanks to StormChaserBH for posting the above list here. Ever considered writing for Letterman? His Top Tens have not had me busting my gut like that one did in well over ten years...

Current Music: "Are You All the Things?" by Bill Evans (Who, uncannily enough, looked kind of like John Forslund in his early 1960's photos. o_O)

BTW, to those of you lucky enough to be in the Triangle area this late afternoon/early evening, the Canes will be having their annual Red/White Scrimmage game at ye olde RBC Center. Attend if you can, and be sure to tell them "Large Marge...", er, "Stormbringer sent ya."! Eh-heh-heh-heh-heh!! ;D
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Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Avast!

Today is Captain Jack Sparrow's most favorite holiday...Talk Like A Pirate Day!

Arrrrrr...now, where is ye rum? Hopefully not in Davy Jones' Locker.

Current Music: "Rhymin' and Stealin'" by the Beastie Boys
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Monday, September 18, 2006

The Buffaloes' New Clothes Revisited

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2590507

http://www.thescoreboards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2678

As if the Buffa-Slug (or Barney Rubble's hairpiece) was bad enough...the uniforms are revealed to not only have the slimming look that's been speculated and advertised for ALL TEAMS' uniforms for sometime, BUT ALSO at least one characteristic not too different from soccer uniforms. Can you spot it?





If you guessed the number being in the front...bingo. And I honestly do not know how to feel about that. That number, combined with the slimming look, makes it feel like Reebok (and Nike too, considering the unis all countries, but Sweden, wore in this year's Olympics) is *really* trying to make hockey into soccer on ice.

This only makes me cling to my "old-school" jerseys AND wish one of those big-a** spaceships from Independence Day was/is looming over the Reebok headquarters *that much more*.

Oh, and while I'm at it...where is the blue that was advertised as part of the Slugs, I mean, Sabres' new color scheme? All I see is a horrible amalgamation of Pens classic yellow-orange and a bright Predators-like yellow. Bleeeeeech...

Current Music: "Mississippi Queen" by Mountain
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Sunday, September 17, 2006

Random Musings Throughout the Weekend

- For the last week or so, the memories of having played a wonderful version of Solitaire called "Cruel" have been flooding back to me. Remember? It came with one of the first Windows systems and their Games/Accessories. Well thanks to those memories, I recently downloaded Windows Solitude, a FANTASTIC collection of Windows-styled Solitaire games...including not only the traditional Klondike and Cruel, but also Bristol*, Freecell, Golf, Mount Olympus, and Pyramid. Perfect for anyone needing a Solitaire fix and/or just tired of playing the same old Klondike...Solitude may not have the most games, but it has most, if not all of the popular forms of Solitaire.

- I got my NHL.com Store catalogue today. And despite the Canes winning the Cup (which *was* given attention through the showing of Rod Brind'Amour giving Lord Stanley a smooch, along with Brindy's career stats, on the inside cover), the best attention they were given throughout the catalogue was a couple of t-shirts inside and one of those gaudy pink ladies' shirts on the back cover. Even though it may not sound like a lot, it's an improvement compared to the past three seasons...particularly 2002-03, where despite being Stanley Cup Finalists, the Canes did not have representation in NOT EVEN ONE ITEM in the catalogue for the next season.

- Speaking of this upcoming season's NHL.com Store catalogue, I've already found something I *really* want...
these new shirts with "realistic" versions of the teams' logos. Unfortunately, the Penguins seem to be the only favorite team of mine with such shirts. I can understand the Leafs not having one (making a Leaf look fierce *would* be quite a challenge), but the Canes?! Couldn't they have at least made a storm cloud come out of the Canes' main logo? OR, what about a "realistic" version of the storm warning flag on the hockey stick blowing in a gale with dark clouds and lightning?

- Recently, around in the West Virginia areas of Bluefield/Princeton, the "Welcome To West Virginia" signs have been replaced with signs that not only say "Welcome To West Virginia", but also "Open For Business". When I saw the first of these signs a couple of weeks ago, I was like "HUH?!". Why "Open For Business"? Are they expecting more tourists? More merchants? More who or whatever? I know WV is doing better on the money front...they recently restarted a road project that runs from Welch through Bluefield that was abandoned a couple of years due to lack of necessary funds. But still, "Open For Business" is a horrible state slogan...why not the previous "Wild and Wonderful", especially since that is on everything else from license plates to billboard ads?!

- Why, oh WHY do I continue to watch the UNC Tar Heel football team?! I love my Heels, but damn, do they always find crazy ways to prove to the world that they are not really a football school. Crazy ways like beating Furman, FREAKIN' FURMAN(!!), 45-42. Thank god for my Panthers and Steelers fandoms...though, you watch them somehow find a way to eff up tomorrow (and/or Monday in Pittsburgh's case) AND my NFL picks for this weekend.

How bad is UNC football? So bad that not even a California Kool-Aid with a burger with Asiago and Provolone cheeses and Tater Tots could ease the suffering of watching a Division I-A team stuggle against a Division I-AA team.

California Kool-Aid

Fill glass with ice.
2 oz. Rum
Fill with equal parts of Orange Juice and Milk.
Stir.

- The other drink I had the fortune to sample tonight was one that I somewhat concocted on my own...more like took my version of Sex On the Pool Table AND merely added Cream of Coconut to it. Thanks to this AND figuring out that if you change even just one ingredient, the drink deserves a different name. So without further ado, I present...the Hartford Whaler!

Hartford Whaler (On the Rocks Version)

Fill glass with ice.
1 oz. Vodka
1/2 oz. Peach Schnapps
1/2 oz. Blue Curacao
Fill with equal parts of Orange Juice and Pineapple Juice.
Stir.

Hartford Whaler (Smooth Version)

Fill shaker with ice.
1 oz. Vodka
1/2 oz. Peach Schnapps
1/2 oz. Blue Curacao
1 tsp. Cream of Coconut
Fill with equal parts of Orange Juice and Pineapple Juice.
Shake.
Fill glass with ice and pour from the shaker.

Just like the Sex On the Pool Table name it used to bear, the Hartford Whaler gets its name from the drink being a shade of green similar to not only a pool table's cloth, but also the color of the classic Whalers away uniforms before the switch to blue in 1991/92. But, while SOTPT uses Melon Liqueur, the Whaler has Peach Schnapps...making for just as good, if not better taste AND no difference in the color. It is a peach, hon...

- Tonight, I learned not one, but two ways to beat my dad at Nine Ball...

1. Have a nice, tall mixed drink while playing.

and

2. Play the Pat Metheny Group's Offramp on the stereo.

While Offramp is one of my most favorite albums from Pat Metheny and his Group, it is the complete opposite for my dad...who I know gets turned off by Pat's attempt at acid/psychedelic/improvised jazz in the title-track. I can't say I am all that fond of "Offramp" either, nor "The Bat, Part Two". But overall, I love "Barcarole", "Are You Going With Me", "Au Lait", and "James" too much to absolutely hate the album and dismiss it as a fluke.

- Speaking of Jazz, a couple of nights ago, I was randomly picking bands and reading reviews for various albums on
this site. I happen to pick the Bonzo Dog (Doo-Dah) Band, and read the review for their Gorilla. Based on that AND one of the songs' titles: "Jazz: Delicious Hot, Disgusting Cold!", I am so going to have to somehow listen to Gorilla as soon as I can.

Current Music: "Francesca" by John Pizzarelli

* - Bristol has been the most frustrating version of Solitaire I have played thus far...how appropro that it is named after the location of a certain just as frustrating sports network.

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Friday, September 15, 2006

Chuck and the Letter K NOT On the Cup?! BLASPHEMY!!

You *really* think I am kidding?

http://www.thescoreboards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2480

Peter Karmanos, Jr - CEO/Owner/Governor
Thomas Thewes - General Partner
Jim Rutherford - President/General Manager
Jason Karmanos - Vice President/Asst. General Manager
Michael Amendola - Chief Financial Officer
Peter Laviolette - Head Coach
Kevin McCarthy - Assistant Coach
Jeff Daniels - Assistant Coach
Greg Stefan - Goaltending Coach/Pro Scout
Chris Huffine - Video Coordinator
Skip Cunningham - Equipment Manager
Wally Tatomir - Equipment Manager
Bob Gorman - Equipment Manager
Peter Friesen - Head Athletic Trainer / Strength and Conditioning Coach
Chris Stewart - Associate Athletic Trainer
Brian Tatum - Team Services Manager
Kelly Kirwin - Event Coordinator for Hockey Operations
Mike Sundheim - Director of Media Relations
Kyle Hanlin - Manager of Media Relations
Sheldon Ferguson - Director of Amateur Scouting
Marshall Johnston - Director of Pro Scouting
Claude Larose - Pro Scout
Ron Smith - Pro Scout
Bert Marshall - Scout
Tony MacDonald - Scout
Martin Madden - Scout
Tom Rowe - Lowell Lock Monsters Head Coach / General Manager


The freakin' Lowell Lock Monsters coach has his name etched on Lord Stanley, BUT NOT Chuck Kaiton?!?! NOT someone who has been with the team since their induction in the NHL, is considered one of the GREATEST radio announcers EVER in ANY SPORT, was once President of the NHL Announcers/Broadcasters Association (something like that), AND is in the Broadcasting/Announcing Hall of Fame?!?! Saying THAT is BLASPHEMOUS is putting it quite mildly.

As much as I love the Canes AND respect all who got their names on the Cup, someone or some people have got their priorities screwed.

Between Mike Lange getting canned by the Pens and this revelation, there is simply no love for the game's greatest play-by-play men. *sighs*

Current Music: "Wait" by White Lion
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Training Camp Officially Starts, N&O *Still* Finds A Way To Knock the Canes

Film at eleven.

http://www.newsobserver.com/796/story/486499.html

http://www.newsobserver.com/796/story/486475.html

http://www.newsobserver.com/796/story/486327.html

These articles, respectively about the allure of the Stanley Cup, Eric Star...I mean Staal, and Jack Johnson getting on Jim Rutherford's s*** list*; are kosher. It's the following article, about regular ticket buyers complaining about the Season Ticket Holders "hoarding" the Opening Night tix, that has (at least) a Score Boards thread up in arms...

http://www.newsobserver.com/796/story/486270.html

http://www.thescoreboards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2477

I cannot say I am all that fond of the article meself, AND I was and still am about as much of a regular ticket buyer as you can get. To the people complaining about the *very limited* availability of the Opening Night access means (and therefore, contributing to a ding-dongy article): Did you honestly think that Opening Night was going to be a piece of pie to get into?! It was already not the easiest game for which to land tickets when the Canes had not won Lord Stanley...which makes it all the more mindboggling how people think they can get in after the Canes actually won sports' greatest trophy. As Mario, of Super Mario Bros. fame, would quite possibly say, what a bunch of goombas...

It should be noted that the only reason I was able to attend the last two home openers before the Canes won the Cup was because my freeloading luck was at an all time high during the beginnings of the 2003-04 and 2005-06 seasons. And even though the Season Ticket Holder base was not at a record high like it is this upcoming season, those Home Openers were still considered a challenge to attend for walk-ups/regular ticket buyers.

Cannot believe Luke DeCock wrote that article...he's usually better than that, contrary to what various message boarders want you to think. But seriously, I was expecting to see Ned Barnett or Caulton Tudor's name instead of Luke's. This is the sort of the article Ned or Caulton will sometimes do when forced to write something about "that hockey team".

Current Music: "Freeway Jam" by Jeff Beck

* - I wonder if G.I. Jimbo remembers a certain defenseman named Chris Pronger...I got a bad feeling that if the Canes let Jack Johnson go, (Over what? Attending college like a good boy should?! Someone please explain to me how that is a bad thing... o_O) it's going to bite them pretty hard in the a**.

Edit as 12:40 PM: Hmmmmmm...veeeeeeery interesting.

http://www.thescoreboards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2497

"I've now seen in both the Canes Connect newsletter and in either a print or online ad a reference to the Friday October 6 Devils game as ""OPENING NIGHT 2"" (presumably a marketing gimmick since "Opening Night 1" is sold out, except to those with "Opening Night Priority")

Wonder what promos we'll see that night? Maybe wait til that game to hang the conference banner?"
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Thursday, September 14, 2006

I'm THE QUEEN of...ROCK!!

You Scored 100% Correct

You are an 80s expert
You never confuse New Order with the Pet Shop Boys
You know which classical musician Falco rocked
When it comes to 80s music, you Just Can't Get Enough!
Current Music: "Flesh and Blood" by Ted Nugent
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Today Is THE Day...

...of not only Ron Francis' "Take A Swing At Lung Cancer" golf tourney, for which you can get in a last minute donation. It is also the one year anniversary of that very man announcing his retirement from playing in the NHL.

*raises a wine glass full of Chianti*

This one's for you, Ronnie.

Current Music: "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" by Billy Joel
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Wednesday, September 13, 2006

The World's Most Ultimate Movie



And no, it's not Abraxas: The Movie...unlike that, this has Father Guido Sarducci! Whoo-hoo!!

Current Music: "Live and Let Die" by Paul McCartney and Wings
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Tuesday, September 12, 2006

An Open Note To the Southwestern Virginia/Southeastern West Virginia Fox Affiliate

To whomever was *very trigger happy* with the ads during the first ten minutes of House MD,

If I was Dr. House himself, I would be AND am very tempted to take a cane to your ever lovin' rear-end.

I sincerely hope that you get a butt-load of complaints, and I'm sure you will, given how House MD is currently AND easily the best thing Fox has going for it.

Signed,
Caroline "Stormbringer" Smith
________________________________

For those of you who want a slightly more detailed account...basically, I started to watch the new episode of House MD. And every minute, the Fox affiliate would cut in with bits and pieces, specifically the beginnings and endings, of ads for the umpteenth medicine related lawsuit and PeoplePC. Very needless to say, this royally ticked me off...to the point where Dr. House himself would swear that I have Turrett's Syndrome.

It's one thing if it was a spring/summer repeat, but this was a NEW FREAKIN' EPISODE...I understand needing money from the sponsors/advertisers, but STILL.

Thank god for DirecTV. After tonight, perhaps there is actually something to the rumors of Comcast having plans to drop the local Fox affiliate. Between the commercial mishap AND The Insider being on instead of the promised St. Elsewhere, I can pretty much believe it.
Just yet another reason to love the Flyboy Syndicate...

Current Music: "Bus Stop" by The Hollies
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Three For Tuesday

- In that classical tradition of "First the bad news, then the good news...", it was revealed yesterday that Frankie Kaberle finally had surgery on his shoulder.

http://www.carolinahurricanes.com/news/news.asp?articleid=1604

http://www.thescoreboards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2175

I agree with everyone else that all of a sudden, Glen Wesley and Bret Hedican not retiring is looking quite good at this moment. But unfortunately, unless a miracle occurs, there is a great possibility that David "Snuggles" Tanabe will not be demoted to the AHL like he *really* should be...despite the snow job that somehow landed him back on the Canes. (sighs)

- The NHL world has gone crazy...what's new? Especially considering that this *is* the New York Islanders organization, THE organization that let go of Peter Laviolette AND is still led by Mike Milbury (amazingly), we are talking about here. As stupid a move as it was/still is, getting rid of Laviolette I can thank the Island for...but a biga** contract for one of the largest letdowns on Team USA on the other hand...

http://www.thescoreboards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2236

Yes, you read the title and first post of that thread correctly...Rick DiPietro is getting ready to sign (if he hasn't already done so as of my writing this) a fifteen year contract for $67.5 million. Much obviously the largest ever in NHL history. When I first caught a glimpse of that earlier this morning, I had to make sure that Peyton Manning or Kobe Bryant or Alex Rodriguez was not the one having such a hefty price tag being placed upon them. And really, one of those three OR the majority of their kind being signed to such a contract would not surprise me because unlike the NHL, the NFL, NBA, and MLB can support such a contract!!

My gawd, and I thought the infamous Rangers Booby Holik contract in 2002 was bad. I sure as h-e-double hockeysticks hope that the Islanders are giving themselves a HUGE pat on their shoulders 'cause the fact that they far surpassed their rivals on the mainland is the only good thing that can be said about this.

- So, at long last, here's the good news, at least for me personally...thanks to Mike Sundheim, Lord Stanley has finally visited the hallowed ground after which I am named.

http://www.carolinahurricanes.com/custom/rad8ED80.asp

GO. CANES! GO. HEELS! :D

Current Music: "This Wheel's On Fire" by Julie Driscoll and the Brian Auger Trinity
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Sunday, September 10, 2006

So, I'm Perusing Through My Daily eBay Search E-Mail Notifications...

...and I notice this being cited in at least three of them, thanks to there being mention of the Francis other than Ronnie associated with Hartford and the Whale.

But he wasn't all that was mentioned...I swear if you read the ENTIRE description for what's merely a used St. Louis Blues t-shirt, you will acquire superpowers of some kind...most likely the ability to withstand the gawdawful season they are bound to have AGAIN this upcoming NHL season.

Seriously, did the dude/dudette *really* have to include practically the Blues' ENTIRE franchise history, specifically of their ownership, ESPECIALLY in the description of a USED T-SHIRT?! Gee whiz... o_O

Current Music: "Fever" by Annabella
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Saturday, September 09, 2006

I Am Convinced That Heaven Is...

...eating homemade pizza and sipping an Appetizer...

Appetizer

4 oz. Red Wine
Fill with Orange Juice.
A dash of Bitters. (Optional)

It should be noted that I did the bitters...I think I've found a great drink for not only accompanying pizza, but also to sip during an Autumn night. Not only the taste, but the smell...er, excuse me, "bouquet" in wine-tasting circles, is highly appropriate for my favorite season/time of the year too. :)

...while grooving to the Music Choice Classic Rock station, and then beholding the epic ending of Caddyshack later on. Not to mention having a Bat Bite while watching John Fogerty cover three of Creedence Clearwater Revival's best songs on Austin City Limit. AND THEN the two best ever episodes of Blackadder, from Season Two/the Elizabethan era: "Money" and "Beer"...the latter featuring House MD's Hugh Laurie as a guest-star!!

Bat Bite

Fill glass with ice.
2 oz. Rum
Fill with Cranberry (Cocktail) Juice.
Stir.
Garnish with a Lime Slice. (Optional)

I have found a new favorite drink in addition to Sex On the Beach and its variations...the Bat Bite was awesome with *just the cranberry juice and rum*. But, I am still tempted to try it with the Grenadine another night...god, I love that stuff. :D

When I'm done with my training to be a barkeep, I am going to make Sandra Lee AND the Thirsty Traveller eat their hearts out.

Current Music: "Up Around the Bend" by Hanoi Rocks

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Friday, September 08, 2006

Beach the Meetles!

I don't know how, but somehow, the recent fortieth anniversary of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds totally flew by me. Oh wait, I know how that happened...apart from "Wouldn't It Be Nice", "God Only Knows", and "Sloop John B", I've never really cared for Pet Sounds, as blasphemous as that sounds AND despite the fact that this music nut *does* heavily respect the Beach Boys.

The anniversary was supposedly a heavily celebrated event in the general blog world...BUT, I highly doubt that anyone else went any further in their festivities than one dude who decided to put together various tracks of vocal pieces from Pet Sounds combined with musical tracks from the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and vice-versa. I've only heard one track of
The Beachles' Sgt. Petsounds, specifically "God Only Knows What I'd Be Within You", and that may very well be enough...I still cannot decide if it's cool or frightening how perfectly the Boys' vocals mesh with George Harrison's sitar. o_O

Now that I think about it, Sgt. Petsounds wouldn't be too out of place in
The Residents' catalogue. I'm quite surprised that the band didn't beat Sgt. Petsounds' creator to such an idea.

Current Music: "God Only Knows What I'd Be Within You" by The Beachles (It's like curry...you don't know why you keep eating, or in this instance, listening to it, but you somehow keep doing so.)
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Thursday, September 07, 2006

In Just Ten-Plus Minutes...

...the NFL season officially kicks off.

HERE WE GO STEELERS! HERE WE GO!

Current Music: "Celebrate" by The Rippingtons
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And the Hits Just Keep On Comin'

It's that most wonderful time of the off-season...namely when the Canes reveal their earth-shattering slogan du jour. And boy, this one is quite the humdinger...

"Be A Champion"

After giving it (a little too much) thought, I think paraphrasing Robert Fripp from his King Crimson's "Einstein's Relatives" puts it best:

La-ta-ta-ta-taty-taty-taty-tatter...it is HORRIBLE.

That "slogan" doesn't sound like something for a NHL level club...hell, it doesn't sound suitable for EVEN a youth pick-up team, as some in the above linked Score Boards thread are suggesting.

If it seems like I complain a lot about the Canes' slogans...maybe it's because I cannot help that their slogans have been crap since "You'll Know When You Go". And as well as that describes an NHL game experience, even "You'll Know..." had a tendency to be made fun of easily, as CanadaCanes at the said thread pointed out...

"I always got a kick out of the "You'll Know When You Go" slogan...that one always seemed more appropiate for any parent of a small child in diapers..."

And the scary thing? Not only was "You'll Know..." the Canes' best slogan to date, it was also their longest lasting one...from either 1998 or 99 until 2002.

But anyway, as much as I love 'em, the Canes *really* need to get out of the slogan business, AND stay out of it.

Still cannot get over how they did not go with "Whatever It Takes", the most obvious choice for a decent slogan...especially with its already historic value.

But, oh well...whatever.

Current Music: "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen
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A Chance To Get to Know Your Favorite Blogger Better

If a picture is worth a million words, then how much are about 145 pictures?

Current Music: "Tumbling Dice" by The Rolling Stones
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Wednesday, September 06, 2006

In A Perfect World...

...the above, quaker and all, would be *the* headline to the following jewel published by the Raleigh News and Observer this morning...
"The departures of former Carolina Hurricanes Aaron Ward and Matt Cullen were incorrectly described in Ned Barnett's sports column Tuesday. Ward and Cullen signed with the New York Rangers as free agents."
I could very well be wrong, but I swear that this is the first time that the N&O has (FINALLY) admitted that Neddy-Boy was incorrect regarding something about the Canes.
Ah, the power of Lord Stanley...
Current Music: "Rock Music" by The Pixies
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Tuesday, September 05, 2006

What? Hockey Actually Gets Mentioned Here?!

Yes, yes, it does...contrary to what the last few posts may lead you to believe. Such posts are the sins of not a whole lot happening in the Canes/hockey world lately. That is, until today...

First up...despite now being a New York Ranger, Aaron Ward plans to keep Raleigh/Cary as his summer and family residence...

http://www.newsobserver.com/122/story/482737.html

http://www.thescoreboards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1703

And what's a Ned Barnett Canes-related article without at least one glaring mistake?:

"Aaron Ward, a big contributor to the Carolina Hurricanes winning the Stanley Cup, was traded to the New York Rangers two months ago. But he's having trouble getting from traded away to gone away."

Uh...A Ward wasn't traded, he left on his own terms as a free agent!! Ya big dummy...*

No real surprise about Aaron's residential preferences...it seems a lot of players for sometime will keep their homes where they played for a few years if they *really* like the area. A classic example being (who else if you're a constant reader of this here blog) Ronnie Francis and his preferring to stay around Connecticut during his off-seasons as a Penguin, at least as indicated by the numerous trading cards in my collection.

Speaking of that team in the Burgh, I've saved the best news for last...

As the Malkin Turns might be having a happy ending as of today.

This delights me for not one, but two reasons...

1. Malkin got out of Russia alive.

and

2. The Penguins are *a little bit more* closer to being playoff contenders again.

But note the emphasis in "a little bit more"...the Pens would be a lot more closer if their goaltending and defense were markedly improved. Thibault and Gonchar royally sucked last season, indicating to me that they may be past the primes they had with the Blackhawks and Capitals, respectively. But now that I've said that, watch them go on a tear...my comments and I seem to have that effect on struggling hockey players.

Current Music: "Are You Abel (Ready and Able To Rock and Roll)/Spasm For Juanita" by Robert Fripp and the League of Crafty Guitarists

* - That was directed at Ned, not Aaron...ya big dummy!
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Pinky and the Brain vs. Orson Welles

Stolen from fellow LJ buddy mmmmjournal...this is too damn eerie AND hilarious to not post.

Exhibit A:
The original Animaniacs/Pinky and the Brain sketch.

Exhibit B: The same sketch with the Orson Welles rant/outtake on which it was based dubbed over it. (With some editing here and there...in the video, that is. PG-13/work safe warning for a couple of tiny parts of the audio.)

Can't get enough of Maurice LaMarche's Orson Welles? Neither can I...this post was brought to you by:

Rosebud Green Peas

Blotto Bros. Wine

Orson Welles Living Wills Lmd.

and

Mrs. Pell's Fishsticks

Current Music: "Skin Tight" by The Ohio Players
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Monday, September 04, 2006

Monday Miscellany: Special Labor Day, 2006 Edition

- Hate to kick it off with such sad news...but as I have no doubt most of you have heard by now, Steve Irwin a.k.a. the Crocodile Hunter is no longer with us, courtesy of a Stingray barb through the heart.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060904/ap_on_en_tv/obit_irwin

I cannot express enough how much this depresses me...Steve Irwin and Jeff Corwin were my tour guides in the later half of my childhood whenever I wanted to visit the animal kingdom, particularly the reptile/amphibian part of it.

And not to mention that I honestly did not know that Stingrays were *that* poisonous...I knew the ones around Australia were up there, but the one that got the Croc Hunter sounds even more lethal than the Box Jellyfish, which is said to be the most toxic animal in the world. Then again, when the poison immediately enters your heart instead of having to travel through the bloodstream, it apparently *is* much more deadly. Wow...just, wow. O_O

Anyway, may thee R.I.P. :*(

- This morning has finally convinced me that the people at Lifetime are on some kind of whack drug...as if those cheesy-a**, "men are s***" movies they show all the freakin' time and the ODing on The Golden Girls and Will and Grace are bad enough, they go and reduce my beloved breakfast viewing in Frasier to a mere half-hour. I probably wouldn't be so steamed about this if it were not for the 10:30 Frasier's replacement: Still Standing. EWWWWWWWW...I only saw two minutes of that and HATED it, from the so-called jokes to the gawdawful theme song. I sure as heck hope those who are too stupid and/or classless to enjoy an hour of the last great sitcom, and really, overall show ever (IMnot-soHO) enjoy what Lifetime regurgitated for them...yeah, don't mind me, I'm just fuming... >:(

- Needless to say, after that "wonderful" discovery, I needed some good news relating to TV...and the following, found on my LiveJournal's Friends List, tickled the mess out of me: (PG-13 warning for language)

http://community.livejournal.com/horror_movies/1706429.html

Regardless of how one feels about Rob Zombie's movies and/or music, (I, for one, like a few of his tunes when I'm in a good, party, and/or Halloweenish mood...particularly "More Human Than Human", "Thunderkiss '65", "Black Sunshine", "I'm Your Boogie Man", "Dragula", "Living Dead Girl", and "Foxy, Foxy" (which does indeed have a T-Rex feel...as Zombie said he and his band were going for in a VH1 Classic interview about his recent Educated Horses album) the man is PERFECT for hosting a "classic cheese" Horror show. As a matter, when I was watching the aforementioned VH1 Classic interview, easily my most favorite of the ones I've seen on that channel, I kept saying to myself "This dude *really* should host some kind of Horror or Sci-Fi movie marathon.". And actually, while Rob is perfect for a Horror genre show of some kind, his younger brother Spider, who fronts Powerman 5000, would be perfect for a marathon of either Sci-Fi (Remember the Tonight, the Stars REVOLT! album?) or Kung-Fu (And/or Mega!! Kung-Fu Radio?) films.

Unfortunately and despite my being a night owl, I *really* hate that the show (which will begin on Turner Movie Classics next month, appropriately enough) will come on at 2 freakin' AM. Yuck. That may not necessarily be a bad thing...I think the only movie of that bunch I'm itching to see is Wild Guitar, which according to the user comments
here is not even a Horror film!! Making me want to see it *that much* more...especially with Zombie's commentary. Thank god for DVR.

- On the front of my being a bartending journey(wo)man, I finally got to add Grenadine syrup to my arsenal this past Saturday.

What. A. Difference. That. Stuff. Makes.

I got to try three recipes with the Grenadine...all of them tasting pretty dang good. Then again, if they did not taste good, I would not be posting them. ;)

Cheap Sunglasses

Fill glass with ice.
2 oz. Vodka
Fill with equal parts of Cranberry (Cocktail) Juice and Lemon-Lime Soda. (I used 7-Up.)
Stir.
Top with a dash of Grenadine and stir again. (Optional)
Garnish with a Lime Slice. (Optional)

You know I just have to try a drink with an obvious classic rock reference like this one. That said, I would recommend the "optional" Grenadine...it helped the drink taste more raspberry-ish. Thus really making it a winner in my book, especially since I love raspberries and stuff flavored with them. That said, Cheap Sunglasses is really not supposed to have Grenadine (according to my Bartender's Black Book), so maybe this particular version could be named "Raspberry Beret". :D

What prompted me wanting Grenadine was thinking back on the lovely Sex On the Beaches I had at the Cary Embassy Suites, and constantly swearing that there were more to those flavor-wise than Pineapple and Cranberry Juices. Well, who says swearing doesn't get you anywhere?

Sex On the Beach At Sunrise

Fill glass with ice.
1 oz. Vodka
1 oz. Peach Schnapps
A dash of Grenadine
Fill with equal parts of Cranberry (Cocktail) Juice and Pineapple Juice.
Stir.
Garnish with a Cherry or Pineapple Slice. (Optional)

Thanks to the addition of Grenadine, I rediscovered what has so far been my most favorite cocktail. Just as awesome, if not even more delicious than my first Sexes at Embassy.

I also had to try the Winter version...

Sex On the Beach In Winter At Sunrise

Fill shaker with ice.
1 oz. Vodka
1 oz. Peach Schnapps
Dash of Grenadine
Fill with equal parts of Cranberry (Cocktail) Juice and Pineapple Juice.
1 tsp. Cream of Coconut
Shake.
Fill glass with ice and pour from the shaker.
Garnish with a Cherry or Pineapple Slice. (Optional)

This one was tasty too...though, I wonder if I put in a little too much vodka, 'cause you could taste more alcohol than you usually should. Other than that, it was fine, and a must-try for those who like their drinks having a little coconut.

BTW, despite these, or at least the first of the Sex recipes, being treated as THE Sex On the Beach at Embassy, I am calling these "variations" 'At Sunrise', since the Black Book acts like Sex On the Beach should not have Grenadine in it. Tough.


Current Music: "Kismet" by Amon Duul II
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Friday, September 01, 2006

"I've Been To Shanghai, To Bluefield, To New York, and L.A..."

"A Chinese restaurant...my kingdom for a DECENT Chinese restaurant!"

Ever since my family and I moved over a year ago, as of just a week or so ago, I have constantly uttered the above sentence AND been on a painstaking search for a good Chinese eatery. And unlike finding great Mexican and Italian restaurants, it's not been that easy...the two I tried before this evening were both mediocre, especially the Lotus Garden between Bluefield and Princeton. That one most certainly proved that just because the restaurant has a neat name doesn't mean the food rocks. A couple of weeks ago, I got to sample the other Chinese place (as far as I then knew), the East Garden Chinese Buffet, in the shopping center with the Wal-Mart and UPS Store in Bluefield. That one was better...save the Crab Rangoon I daringly tried. Bleeech. Another one for my list of Chinese menu items to avoid.

Speaking of the UPS Store...it was the clerk there that tipped my family off on a great Chinese restaurant to try: Tray King. It's in another shopping center, where there is a Tuesday Morning and Dollar General Market. I found that odd, 'cause I had never spotted a Chinese place out there when I browsed around at Tuesday Morning, and I usually have a wonderful nose for such restaurants. Well, it turns out that if you looked up "hole in the wall", this restaurant would be next to that...the only indication of its being a restaurant is a neon sign that notes that you can "Eat in or take out.". That said, something I have learned in Raleigh that can apply very well to this sleepy little mountain town, and really anywhere for that matter: Sometimes, hole in wall restaurants are the best damn ones you can discover, period. That certainly applied to Tray King...and here's why it is my new absolute favorite Chinese eatery:

- Their crispy noodles are the best ones I've ever tasted, and that includes the noodles at Hunan, a Chinese restaurant that used to exist in Raleigh and I *still* heavily miss.

- In addition to the usual chicken, beef, pork, and seafood dishes...they also offered DUCK! And at reasonable (I.E. like normal entrees!) prices too! Needless to say, I took high advantage of this for my very first meal at Tray King this evening.

- The spare ribs are some of the most delicious pork I have ever had in this lifetime!! I swear they were glazed with honey...and who cares if the meat wasn't on the bone? Sure it's more fun to eat that way, but it is not as much fun when you are dealing with a honey sauce.

- Like the crispy noodles, the hot tea was some of the best I have ever had at ANY Chinese place too.


- The pictures on the walls were awesome...especially loved the ones of a wild horse stampede, an ambush/streak of tigers drinking from a water hole, and a stunning picture of mountains, a waterfall, and stork-like birds.

- And last but certainly not least: You get fortune cookies with your meal! Even if they weren't an actual Chinese invention (American, to be precise...and by someone simply trying to keep a long line of waiting patrons entertained sometime during the 1900's or 1910's), they're still too fun to get at the end of a meal.

After a simply scrumptious dinner at a restaurant I most certainly will be returning to, I went on a mini-adventure at the General Dollar Market, since I had never ventured into there before. And got a couple of awesome deals: Jovan Musk for $1 (That's right, ONE DOLLAR for Jovan Musk...as someone who LOVES that perfume, trust me boys and girls, there are not enough words to describe what an incredible deal that is.) and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Uncut for $10 (as someone who's been wanting to own this movie, I could not pass that up).

Being a good girl and not having dessert can have its advantages...particularly later on, when you can fix yourself dessert at home. I did that very thing while watching the U.S. Open Agassi vs. Baghdatis match replay. Speaking of that...even though I know it's the dude's last ever tournament, I am already sick of the Agassi hype. I was always more of a Pete Sampras fan...and really, still am. (sighs)

Anyway, yes, that dessert...

Brown Derby

Fill glass with ice.
2 oz. Vodka
Fill with Cola.
Stir.

Basically a Vodka version of the traditional Rum 'N Coke. Quick, simple, versatile, (Doesn't matter if the Cola you use is Pepsi or Coca-Cola, and Regular or Diet...I used Diet Pepsi Jazz Black Cherry and Vanilla. Yum...) and perfect for dessert with its sweetness. Have no idea if it is named after the Hollywood restaurant where the Cobb Salad is said to have been invented, but it is certainly not a bad way to bet...


Current Music: "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" by Marvin Gaye (The far superior album version...I ADORE the last minute and a half, particularly that haunting piano bridge before the acapella part.)
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