Random Thoughts That Don't Deserve Their Own Thread Go Here

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I still miss the halcyon days of AYCE sliced pork at Sonny's. On my personal Mt Rushmore of food enjoyment

Still hands down my favorite sauce in history, when the crinkle cuts were fresh and hot that's a legendary pairing.

Sonny's sauce was pretty solid, and the pork and chicken where usually good. They got way more inconsistent in the last few years, at least. Then they closed. It was a semi-regular big family Sunday designation for a long time.

[dubb93]

My 8 year old placed for the first time in a 5k yesterday. He’s been running 3-5 a year since he was 6. He loves them, anyway, he finished 3rd in the 11 and under group yesterday losing out to a pair of 11 year olds and even beating the varsity high school cross country coach’s kid. He’s pretty pumped.

[Ksyrup]

Nice!

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by dubb93

My 8 year old placed for the first time in a 5k yesterday. He’s been running 3-5 a year since he was 6. He loves them, anyway, he finished 3rd in the 11 and under group yesterday losing out to a pair of 11 year olds and even beating the varsity high school cross country coach’s kid. He’s pretty pumped.

That is awesome. Nothing better than watching our kids hard work be rewarded. Such a great lesson.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by dubb93

My 8 year old placed for the first time in a 5k yesterday. He’s been running 3-5 a year since he was 6. He loves them, anyway, he finished 3rd in the 11 and under group yesterday losing out to a pair of 11 year olds and even beating the varsity high school cross country coach’s kid. He’s pretty pumped.

fantastic!

[Ksyrup]

Bought some furniture from Ashley for Mackenzie as she's moving into an apartment for the first time, going into junior year of college. It's being delivered to her apartment tomorrow.

We get an email this afternoon from Ashley that says, "Please read before delivery." So I'm expecting some detailed info about the delivery - place, time, pieces being delivered, other instructions, etc.

Instead, all it says is,"Thank you for your recent purchase. Questions? Contact your store for more info."

Gee, I'm glad I read that before tomorrow! How would I ever be able to take delivery of the furniture without such important information?

[21C]

Every once in a while, some of my good Math classes have lessons where I don't have to do any talking/explaining. Since they are just working from the text book, I will often let them listen to their own music but I will often add "or you can listen to my music if you like". They roll their eyes but often I will see some of them liking my selections.

Today I played:
Kenny Loggins - "I'm Alright" and "Danger Zone"
New Order - "Blue Monday"
Phil Collins - "In the Air Tonight"
David Bowie - "Moonage Daydream"
Dire Straits - "Money For Nothing"

One way or another, they are getting an education.

[Passacaglia]

Hopefully that means you're including "One Way or Another" by Blondie

[CrimsonFox]

I'm an alligator...

[Lathum]

I’m sitting in the waiting room at my kids dentist and there is a lady singing along with the music rather loudly.

[JPhillips]

The guy "live tweeting" the events of Independence Day is the hero we need.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

I'm in the market for a new grill since I saw a mouse (or something with a tail) in my old one and decided it was time to get rid of it. What's so great about Blackstone? I was thinking of getting something I could use as a smoker too, but other than that, I really don't know what I'm looking for.

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Blackstone is a griddle. A large flat top. It is not a grill replacement, but something to use beside a grill.

Personally I have a charcoal grill and a pellet smoker. I rarely use the charcoal grill, but I will occasionally fire it up for a quick cook of burgers. For a smoker I have a Pro Series Pit Boss. You can use it like a grill as well a a smoker. It gives you full temp control, and allows you to do long "low and slow" cooks. I have done 15+ hour briskets. Mine has a blue-tooth connection to be able to watch the temperature of the meat and adjust the smoker temp as well.

Originally Posted by stevew

You probably want a big green egg or clone with a griddle top. My brother has one that you can smoke on, you can rotisserie with an attachment, and you can griddle burgers with the griddle attachment. They also make a pizza oven attachment.

We just had an offer accepted on a house that had a Blackstone on the deck, along with another grill (the cover said Grillman). I figure I'll ask if they are interested in leaving them there. I've looked at the big green egg a few times, that's pretty tempting too.

[CrimsonFox]

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

We just had an offer accepted on a house that had a Blackstone on the deck, along with another grill (the cover said Grillman). I figure I'll ask if they are interested in leaving them there. I've looked at the big green egg a few times, that's pretty tempting too.

I just saw a house that the guy has his Big Green Egg and his Blackstone built into a concrete counter along with a sink and a mini-fridge. The only thing missing for me would be a brick oven.

[Ksyrup]

My brother is putting the finishing touches on a $3.5M house (they move in mid-July) and he's got all that and more on his deck.

[Passacaglia]

Yeah that all is definitely not my speed. I'm thinking 50 bucks and then no one has to move anything, and they both just stay in the spot they already are.

[Ksyrup]

My brother and I are a fascinating study in DINK vs family. He's a doctor, I'm a lawyer. I got married and had 2 kids, prefer work/life balance. He got married to a nurse, no kids (2 small dogs are their "kids"), and both are workaholics. They've definitely earned what they have, but they live the type of life I wouldn't want.

I suppose my only failing was not figuring out how to have both a family with work/life balance AND millions of dollars.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

He got married to a nurse, no kids (2 small dogs are their "kids"), and both are workaholics.

Don't nobody take this as a complaint or anything, I don't mean it that way insomuch as just sharing how this randomly (you know, thread title) hit me:

hmm, so they basically had the life my wife & I were planning when we said the "I Do" thing.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I suppose my only failing was not figuring out how to have both a family with work/life balance AND millions of dollars.

As Dave Ramsey would say (I think), doesn't matter how much money a person makes, its net worth. I'm rooting for you and bet you have a bigger net worth than he does.

[Ksyrup]

Oh no, not even close. And it will never be, barring some major reversal of fortunes for him.

It's not like I'm hurting, lol, not a little bit. But I'm 4 years older than him and will likely be working at least 5 more years after he's retired. Which is fine. In addition to purposely avoiding high-stress jobs that would require me to put work first, I've also decided to enjoy life a little more at an earlier age. And seeing what happened with my dad at 74, and my wife having her umpteenth surgery, I'd rather work longer and enjoy things while we're both relatively healthy than hold back for 10 more years, retire, and possibly not be able to take full advantage of the time and wealth.

[Edward64]

Oh well, tried making you feel better ...

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Oh no, not even close. And it will never be, barring some major reversal of fortunes for him.

It's not like I'm hurting, lol, not a little bit. But I'm 4 years older than him and will likely be working at least 5 more years after he's retired. Which is fine. In addition to purposely avoiding high-stress jobs that would require me to put work first, I've also decided to enjoy life a little more at an earlier age. And seeing what happened with my dad at 74, and my wife having her umpteenth surgery, I'd rather work longer and enjoy things while we're both relatively healthy than hold back for 10 more years, retire, and possibly not be able to take full advantage of the time and wealth.

I think living a life that you enjoy means more than "net worth." It sounds to me like you have a rich life.

[Edward64]

Want a free meal?

Wife and I went to Cracker Barrel for lunch before shopping. Pretty good food, good quantity, and IMO fair prices.

They now give you the ability to pay digitally at the table. Server gave us our bill & left, we scanned a code, used our credit card, paid with tip, and was done.

It felt a little weird as next step was just walk out the door. I stopped by register and asked if there was anything else we needed to do or show her? She said "No", saw my questioning face, and said "I know, other people have also asked".

I can only imagine the abuse that will/has happened once people catch on. I guess this is to save on 1 cashier at the register? I'm okay with improving efficiency but IMO this is just a bad bet.

[Ksyrup]

Many restaurants have been using that kind of technology for years. I haven't been to a Chili's in years and they did it back then.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

Just throwing out a wild guess but this is probably just biotin, right?

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Many restaurants have been using that kind of technology for years. I haven't been to a Chili's in years and they did it back then.

Many. The ones that really bother me are where they don't even come to the table to take your order. Scan a QR code, order, pay all off the phone. What the hell I'm I tipping for?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Many. The ones that really bother me are where they don't even come to the table to take your order. Scan a QR code, order, pay all off the phone. What the hell I'm I tipping for?

Those would be places I pretty much don't visit. If you can't bother to have a printed menu, I really don't need to be there.

[GrantDawg]

Don't look for pics if you are squeamish.

There were four back to back shark attacks this July 4 at South Padre Island, TX. Texas Game Wardens confirmed. Authorities believe it was one shark in those four attacks. Authorities keeping people out of the water. pic.twitter.com/Na6K3ftCRe

— ChristianvonPreysing (@vonPreysing) July 4, 2024

[CrimsonFox]

wow thaT LEG BITE is yeeeeeek

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Just throwing out a wild guess but this is probably just biotin, right?

The chief ingredients are nutrition and 'Merica!

[RainMaker]

I wish I had not searched for that image.

[Ksyrup]

Remind me to never again schedule a 6am flight for July 5th. Between wind down from fireworks and 2 drugged up/freaked out dogs who refused to go outside between 7 and 11, I barely got to sleep by midnight and had to get up 3-4 times before the alarm was supposed to go off at 4. I ended up getting up at 3:54 since an extra 6 minutes of "sleep" was futile. Fun times.

[Ksyrup]

Sitting on the plane, waiting to leave, I'm sitting next to grandma of a huge family all flying. Must be 12-15 people at least. Grandma lost her phone. She's freaking out. Not at TSA so they think it's in the car they took to the airport.

"Grandma, do you know your Apple ID?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"Well it's in my phone!"

Apparently they're filming a sitcom on my plane this morning..

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Sitting on the plane, waiting to leave, I'm sitting next to grandma of a huge family all flying. Must be 12-15 people at least. Grandma lost her phone. She's freaking out. Not at TSA so they think it's in the car they took to the airport.

"Grandma, do you know your Apple ID?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"Well it's in my phone!"

Apparently they're filming a sitcom on my plane this morning..

Those lines definitely sounded like they came with a laugh track.

[Ksyrup]

The other thing about that entire episode is that she, her son and DIL spent 20 minutes pre-flight shouting email addresses and passwords back and forth across the cabin to try to get into her iCloud so they could track where the phone was. Now, in fairness, I might have been the only non-family member within 3 or 4 rows, but still.

It probably won't surprise you that she knew none of her email addresses or PWs. Everything she told them failed.

They are headed to St. Lucia so we'll see if she can find it and have someone ship it to her. Or, she can do what my mom did when we were in Moab and she lost her phone into an open toilet at Canyonlands NP and just live for 7 days without a phone.

[Ghost Econ]

Not the best time to go to St Lucia. I mean, earlier this week was probably worse, but I can imagine everyone is in peak form right now.

[dubb93]

Anyone have any tips for the Destin Florida area? We are going to Okaloosa Island on Monday, my understanding is it’s the next beach over from Destin, and staying a week. I’m a little concerned about Beryl going further north than the National Hurricane Center projected but best I can tell it shouldn’t impact my stay as it’s still going to be west and likely gone by Tuesday anyway.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Maybe that Grandma is sorta like me ... cause I was struggling to think of something I'd enjoy less than St. Lucia without even a phone to provide me with something interesting for what would be a loooooong week (or whatever).

[cartman]

Originally Posted by dubb93

Anyone have any tips for the Destin Florida area? We are going to Okaloosa Island on Monday, my understanding is it’s the next beach over from Destin, and staying a week. I’m a little concerned about Beryl going further north than the National Hurricane Center projected but best I can tell it shouldn’t impact my stay as it’s still going to be west and likely gone by Tuesday anyway.

You'll be fine, the hurricane is going to land 700-900 miles away. I'm probably going to get a crapload of rain here in the Austin area.

As for the Destin area, I haven't been in a while, but from what I remember, outside of a few spots, it isn't really built up. There should be lots of remote stretches of beach to explore.

[stevew]

Yo Akron, people. I think silver owl still Posts here? I think Jim lives in Canton. Anyways, what is White French dressing? I see the Akron rubber ducks are Doing a theme night for white French dressing and I have never heard of this before and I am just curious what it tastes like. It seems like it should be creamy Italian, but I’m not positive.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

We just had an offer accepted on a house that had a Blackstone on the deck, along with another grill (the cover said Grillman). I figure I'll ask if they are interested in leaving them there. I've looked at the big green egg a few times, that's pretty tempting too.

Inspection was yesterday. Still a lot up in the air on the house itself. But I looked at the Blackstone, and it was pretty dirty. Could probably clean it or just get a new top. I don't really know anything about using a griddle, but it intrigues me. Why/when is using a griddle preferable to a regular grill?

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by stevew

Yo Akron, people. I think silver owl still Posts here? I think Jim lives in Canton. Anyways, what is White French dressing? I see the Akron rubber ducks are Doing a theme night for white French dressing and I have never heard of this before and I am just curious what it tastes like. It seems like it should be creamy Italian, but I’m not positive.

I almost moved to Akron back in 2010. I had a job offer from Goodyear. I turned it down at the last minute. It was the right call.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

Inspection was yesterday. Still a lot up in the air on the house itself. But I looked at the Blackstone, and it was pretty dirty. Could probably clean it or just get a new top. I don't really know anything about using a griddle, but it intrigues me. Why/when is using a griddle preferable to a regular grill?

You usually see a blackstone and a regular grill of some sort as a setup p. A blackstone is a lot more flexible for everyday cooking. Breakfast on them is outstanding. We've done pancakes, hashbrowns, eggs, bacon, sausage, etc. Dinners we've done are chicken breast, steak tacos, smash burgers. Everything cooks faster since you're typically cooking at 400-500 degrees. Assuming it's one of the 36" models, you can cook everything at the same time without dirtying pots and pans since it has 4 burners for a large cooking area.

The high temps also give an outstanding and even sear. I smoked some ribeyes a few days ago and finished them off on the blackstone and they were incredible. My son has taken an interest and has made some breakfast crunchwraps on it.

The initial work to get it seasoned well to use it the first time is also most of the work. Cleanup after a typical use is a couple minutes and then it's ready for the next use. All 3 of us have cooked with it already while I'm the only one that's used the pellet grill after 4 years of having it.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

I almost moved to Akron back in 2010. I had a job offer from Goodyear. I turned it down at the last minute. It was the right call.

But you would know what White French Dressing tastes like then?

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Atocep

You usually see a blackstone and a regular grill of some sort as a setup p. A blackstone is a lot more flexible for everyday cooking. Breakfast on them is outstanding. We've done pancakes, hashbrowns, eggs, bacon, sausage, etc. Dinners we've done are chicken breast, steak tacos, smash burgers. Everything cooks faster since you're typically cooking at 400-500 degrees. Assuming it's one of the 36" models, you can cook everything at the same time without dirtying pots and pans since it has 4 burners for a large cooking area.

The high temps also give an outstanding and even sear. I smoked some ribeyes a few days ago and finished them off on the blackstone and they were incredible. My son has taken an interest and has made some breakfast crunchwraps on it.

The initial work to get it seasoned well to use it the first time is also most of the work. Cleanup after a typical use is a couple minutes and then it's ready for the next use. All 3 of us have cooked with it already while I'm the only one that's used the pellet grill after 4 years of having it.

Just the description gets my mouth watering. I think once the temps cool down outside I am just going to bite the bullet and pick one up.

[Ben E Lou]

Undeleted per an email request from someone. Jerk move by the OP. Removing his deletion rights…

[NobodyHere]

Our Savior!

[Ksyrup]

NO ONE LOST POSTS!

[Ksyrup]

Like most people, I assume, the only time I can remember coming across (or thinking about) Crash Test Dummies was about 30 years ago when they had that kinda annoying hit Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm. When we went to Toronto last summer, we attended a Joe Gatto comedy show at Memorial Hall, so I get emails from them about upcoming shows from time to time (not that I'll be roadtripping it to Toronto for a show any time soon).

Anyway, CTD are Canadian, so it makes sense they are playing up there. However, what caught my eye is that the lead singer - who I only remember from what he looked like 30 years ago - is depressingly old-looking. Like, I know I am too, but I see myself and others on a daily basis, so it's not as jarring.

Getting old sucks. I assume hitting those lower notes is a lot easier as we age than hitting some of the really high notes other artists were known for way back when and have a lot of trouble replicating for dinosaur tours 30-50 years later? Must be weird to be largely known for a hum.

[Lathum]

How was Joe?

I LOVe the Jokers and am bummed he isn't on anymore. A friend of mine was actually on a recent episode with Paula Abdul. Really funny to see someone I know.