Multiple Sclerosis, Lack of Manners, Victory Gardening, and The Omnivores Dilemma

I got out front and trimmed the bushes today, I think I did a good job, and one I shouldn't have done it, as I was weak kneed and wobbly by the time I was finished. The bushes do look good though, so I suppose it was worth it, and it had to be done. Plus, it was a nice 2 hour nap that followed!

I'm trying to talk the wife into going downtown to the Enoch Pratt Free Library to hear a lecture by Michael Pollan, author of "Omnivores Dilemma" and "In Defense of Food". I like both his style, and the subject. I think we are killing ourselves with our food, Pollan talks about just that. I said if she didn't want to go, just put me on a bus.

My new friend Anne had a good thing on her site Disabled NOT Dead She said that if you stop in, leave me a note to let me know you were here.

Paul the Hermit agrees with me, people aren't polite, their kids are misbehaved, and they are passing it down to the next generation.

I haven't worn the brace now for 4 weeks, that's nice, but I'm still not there yet. I'm still weak, still unsteady, I need to loosen up too. I am serious about getting Wii yoga, I think it I need someone to stretch me out, one of those Helga looking Swish women.

We are having a victory garden meeting here on Saturday, if you find yourself in the neighborhood, stop in and see what we are up to. I'm gong to put together an idiot tub so everyone can see how easy it is. Should be a hoot.

Rebif time, remember, leave a short note so I know who was here, I'd appreciate it!

Baltimore Food, Where To Go For Good Eats

Where is the best place to eat in Baltimore? Some would say it would be places like Ruth Chris, or Flemming's, or even McCormick and Schmick's. I wouldn't know, I've never been, the wife has, but she didn't let me go. They're probably good, but it's not real food. Real food is a Captain Harvey's cheese steak, a Coffman's hot dog with everything, or a Casa Mia's crab cake. G &A's in Highlandtown is still going strong, So are the places on corned beef row, as was pointed out in my Aunt's comment.

I wonder about some of the places that I used to love, but haven't been to in a long time. I remember going to Uncle Eddie's in Essex with my father, one of his favorites. My mother tells the story of her father going up with a pot and having the people at Ho Joy's fill it with shrimp egg foo young for the whole family, and him calling it Tojo's. Does anyone remember when Stewart's was still a drill in? They still have the best root beer and something called a steam burger. Perring Place over on Cleanleigh Dr. is one of those place's that people are regulars. They don't have to order, it's Thursday so the waitress knows what they want.

We went a while back to our favorite "local" Italian restaurant, Roma's. Imagine our surprise to find it is a vacant lot now? I don't know if it still is, but it was when we went, and we had coupon! My Uncle's and grandfather still think I used to stop and eat shrimp off of their sandwiches from Zannino's East Point. Perkin's is gone, a great place to go for pancakes. For a long time it was the only restaurant in Perry Hall besides Gino's! Who doesn't love a Pizza John's ground beef pizza? You aint lived until you have the grease from one of those dripping off your elbows!

Like people who know me always say, I'm simple! I don't think they mean it same way I do, but them's be the breaks. I'd rather have a big daddy pub burger from Charle's Village Pub in Towson than I would an expensive meal from someplace that made me wear pants. I also like $1 crabs from Bill's seafood more then $80 a dozen ones from Phillip's. Is Whitey and Dot's still down off Wilson Point on the water? I remember you would go in and pick your steak out of display case. Good Eats! I love food, yeah, it's a surprise, but I do. I'm getting ready to start a cooking club, could be fun, don't ya think? I'm sure I missed a bunch of great neighborhood eats, tell me about them, maybe I'll go give them a try!

Maryland Slots And Horse Racing

Are the race tracks in Maryland in charge of what happens with the slot machines in Maryland? Every time I hear anything about slots, they always tie in what the race track owners would like to see. Who cares what they want to see, not me. Are we supposed to allow slots, but only if they go in the race tracks? If they go other places are the tracks still going to get a cut? Why are we even considering cutting the tracks in on the slots, if we get them?

Slot machines bring in lots of money evidently, the places that have them are always packed. I know my parents are comped meals, usually 4 a month, for all my inheritance they spend at Midway Slots in Delaware! I don't think that's a race track, it's a fair grounds maybe? What ever it is I can tell you this much, it aint Pimlico! It's clean, bright, and in a nice neighborhood, none of which is the case for Pimlico. Where are MD's other tracks? Are they the garden spot Pimlico is? I can't see people flocking there to play slots, or eat their comped meals at the seafood buffet.

Is the hold up with slots all over how to share the money with racing? Why racing, why not Burger Kings? I mean, you gamble when you go to either of them, why not give them both slots. Are the tracks privately owned? If they are I say earn your own money, slots are paying for things we all want, not your family business. Have you ever gone to a bar? I've been in a couple, I admit it, even if my mother may read this. Of course I think it's just her and Slammer that read it anyway! But my time hanging around bars I noticed people dumping tons of money into video slot and video poker machines. They were always being used, and they were entertainment purposes only! Just think if they paid off in cash!

Ever been to Vegas? Me and my family went for a funeral I think, they have slots everywhere, including the bathrooms at the airport! Stores that sell lotto tickets get a percentage the tickets they sell right? Why can't we do the same thing with slot machines? Put them in bars, like the ones they have now, and let them pay off, like they do now, but make it legal to do. Bar owner gets something, winner gets something, and we the people of Maryland get not only slots to play locally, but a nice revenue from other visitors. Anybody can get one, bars, grocery stores, churches, give em all slots. Let's not give the lobbyist free run with this. Make sure we put someone in charge the can tell the racing families no. I'm not working, I'd be will to tell them to go shit in their respective hats. Let's do this thing and make a fortune to be used on the people that really need a hand. Tell me where you think the money should go?

You Have To Try Fiesta Mexicana

Do your tastes change as you get older? I have always like just about anything. Yes, guacamole eggs and chocolate milk is still one of my favs for breakfast. I do find that the older I get, the more I appreciate really good food, as opposed to just different food. We were sitting around the house today, just me and my baby, the boy was at work and the girl moved back into the dorm today, trying to figure out what to do next? I said I had found a pretty good blog about local food and that we should see what was available that we hadn't tried. We were going to go to Sam's club to look around, and do one of my fav things, people watch.

We saw a review of what looked like a good Mexican restuarant, and it was in the right direction, so off we went. The name of the place is Fiesta Mexicana, 8304 Philadelphia Road Rosedale, Md. It was everything we read it was and more. Parking is interesting and we were past the dinner rush, so I bet at rush times it's a blast to park. It's just an old storefront on Rt. 7, but you don't need anymore then that. There was a table outside with an umbrella, and a woman standing at a BBQ grill cooking chicken that made me want to reach in and take a piece! The chef, I think she is the owner, welcomed us and said the menu was on the counter, and it was, on the counter under glass.

She followed us in and explained what we were in for. Taco Bell this aint! We got a Pambazos, I think I'm in love with food! It's a spiced roll that's fried, then stuffed with potatoes, sausage, lettuce and creme fresh. Swish! We also got Sopes with chicken and beef, and Flautas with chicken and Chorizo sausage. They gave us 2 different salsas, one green, the other red. They were both different, but equally delicious!

We don't go for fast food much anymore, it seems to have lost its appeal. I would rather not go out as often and really enjoy it when we do. We really enjoyed it tonight! The place was clean, bright and cheery. The people working really seemed glad we were there. They were cheerful and full of smiles, it was nice. The food was outstanding, the wife said she felt like she was in Mexico City! The sodas were served in glass returnable bottles, a nice touch. We are looking forward to going back and trying the rest of the menu, and another Pambazos!

Baltimore's MTA Tries To Stop The Violence

The MTA is offering public service announcements and undercover officers on buses in order to make bus travel safer, 3 cheers for the MTA! This is being done because of the violence on city buses earlier in the year. I brought it up before, the MTA must have read it and taken action. Why are they doing this now? Are the prisons letting out a lot of bad guys and they are anticipating a problem? Are a bunch of these horrible illegal aliens I keep hearing about, you know, the ones you always see working, waging war on our mass transit? Of course not that's just silly. This is being done because school is getting ready to start and they have to brace for the little darlings riding to school! Whaaaa?

My wife rode the MTA to school everyday in Baltimore City. She talks about it when we get together with her posse from the old school days, or when she is trying to make the kids feel bad about how easy they have it. I don't seem to recall stories of her and the other kids beating people up just for shits and giggles. Why is it a problem now? Aren't the parents involved? can't the Principal make them behave? Where have the school safeties gone? Is there no order?!?! There must not be on the MTA buses.

My son has to swipe a card when he goes into school in the mornings. No more roll calls or attendance. Why couldn't they put those on buses? How about retinal scans and thumb print scanners? How about we send limos for these little thugs? I have to admit, I've never been on a public bus, or even been in a cab. I do know that people who do ride the buses on a regular basis shouldn't have to put up with these young animals, running in packs like wild dogs. It's also not right that tax payers have to pay for the extra measures in hopes of people feeling safe in public.

Does the MTA really think these kids are going to see a public service announcement and say, "Darn, I didn't realize I was causing a problem, I really should rethink my actions?" It's insulting that they even consider it an option. We are losing control of civilized society people. It's time to take action, or get off the pot. This, and many other things have to stop. Why are we pussy footing around? Do we like living this way? Do they like living that way? I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not interested in raising someone Else's kids. Stand up and do the tough part about being a parent, be responsible for what you have created, both literally and figuratively.

We Need Electric Cart Lanes

Man, I can just see myself tooling around Perry Hall in my customized, motorized, eletrizized cart. Doing a grocery run would actually be fun! We will need special lanes for people going a governed speed. I don't want to be out on the road with some of the maniacs driving today. I say Perry Hall bans all gas vehicles and only allows electric. That would be pretty cool. No more look at my Hummer, or look at my Benz SUV. I think it would work. We would need to build a fence around..... OK, that's a bit much.

Can you drive one of these things on the road in Maryland? Do you need to wear a helmet? I would do it in a heart beat! Me and internal combustion engines don't get along very well. I hate them! Just plug this baby in, and I'm off! I know, I know, they have a very limited driving range, most about 25-30 miles. That's cool, they last time I drove further than that was opening day of the Orioles. I don't drive an awful lot anymore. Up to the store, the bowling alley for a drop off, or pick up, and that's about it.

Something about the hum of an electric motor. I think this is a way to use a solar charger. Go completely off the grid with my vehicle. No more gas stations for me! Gas costs how much? I did not know that, you see, I'm electric! Oil change? No thanks, I'm electric, we don't do oil. Super Fresh is just a mile away, no major roads, the ones I'd use are pretty wide. I could drive it in parades! I will definitely need one of those ooga horns now! I think I may have to look for a used, baby blue electric car, or truck, put a whip antenna on it, racing stripes and maybe flames, and be the envy of the neighborhood!

O'Malley Asks Marylanders to Eat Local

What exactly is it that Governor O'Malley is asking us Marylanders to do? Buy local? I always buy local, where else would I buy my stuff? I bought local New Jersey Peaches and farm fresh poulats from Ohio just the other day at my local fruit stand. So I suppose I am up for a major award for my foresight in buying? An aid came over and whispered something to me and we both had a truffle shuffle type laugh over it. The aid suggested that local peaches were ones bought in Maryland and grown in Maryland. No way! That's hard to do. Richardson chickens are here in Baltimore County. They have all kinds of chickens and eggs. So we can eat poultry and fowl, and it's local. Yippy, I'm on the governor's good side.

Slammer Mike brought up it certainly isn't cheap eating that way. The farmer puts an extra charge on her bees wax honey because of the cost of gas. What about the gas we saved her by buying at her farm, she didn't even have to load the truck! I think the key to eating local, is eating small. You can't go the megla mart and find food from the hood. They get it cheaper trucking in up to 1500 Miles, or they did. The gas is killing us all. A lot of things aren't being sent anymore. I suppose asking everyone to buy a few things local is a good start? How about taking it a few steps further and encouraging people to eat a few foods FROM their home.

I hope the Governor starts pushing for a form of the old victory gardens. Everybody grows what they can in their own back yards and shares and trades with others in the neighborhood. I've got a real nice start, tons of tomatoes, green peppers, hot peppers, squash, and herbs. Have room for corn? I'll trade ya some heirloom tomatoes and lettuce for some corn and green beans? The shopping has to be in the way of the guy down the road that sells eggs, or the chap up the street that has goats and lambs. To me that is what eating locally is all about.

I think the way of the future as it pertains to local foods, are the CSA's that are popping up all over. We are joining the one on Cromwell Bridge Rd. A CSA is a farm that you go pitch in and are guaranteed a share. I think your share guarantees you organically grown fruits and veggies for 24 or 26 weeks. It also teaches you to work together and take what you get in lean times. Yep, the Governor had a good message. We need to push people to grow something and things will be better. Yep, the Governor had a good idea, but I think it would have been a great idea if it came from Erlich!