A Public Service Announcement

This message goes out to all my friends who drink wine regularly, to my friends who enjoy a glass of wine occasionally and to those who don't...

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As Ben Franklin said: in wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria. In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 litre of water each day (and most of our training friends do that, right?), at the end of the year we have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli (E coli) - the bacteria found in feces. In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop. Major ewww factor!

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However, we do not run that risk when drinking wine and beer (or tequila, run, whisky, or other liquor) because alcohol has to go through a purification process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting. Remember the formula this way: Water = Poop, Wine = Health
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Therefore, it is better to drink wine and talk stupid, than to drink water and be full of sh*t. And, again there is no need to thank me for this valuable information. I am doing it as a pro-bono public service. So, drink up Toute Le Monde!! That reminds me..it's cellar tidying time again. Who's up for the proceeds?

Yummage Du Jour:

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2005 The Colonial Estate GSM Envoy, 93 points (Drink 2006-2014. ). The compelling 2005 Envoy GSM’s blue/purple color is accompanied by gorgeous aromas of graphite, camphor, blueberries, blackberries, and acacia flowers. Dense, full-bodied, and rich, with extraordinary purity and precision, it was aged completely in French oak. This beauty should drink well for 7-8 years. But, who can wait that long...drink it NOW!! Guaranteed to be better than the Koolaid...

Hot Lunch

I know there is no such thing as a Free Lunch. Ahh...but no one ever said anything about a Hot Lunch !! For those, there are aplenty. The ingredients can definitely be mixed or matched, depending on what's fresh and available. Here's today's version. I call it Terrific Tuesday's Hot Lunch.

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Mix the following into a medium heated, olive oil laced 8" skillet, once the veggies are washed and towel dried:

-one stalk of fresh celery, cleaned and chopped

-1/2 cup, fresh organic babby carrots

-1/4 cup, sweet Maya onions, diced finely

-2, small sweet Portuguese peppers, chopped

-2 tablespoons, chopped garlic

-1 cup, grape tomatoes, sliced in half

-1/2 cup, pine nuts

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Stir fry these until the onions are clear. Then stir in the following:

-2 cups, fresh organic baby spinach

-(optional and skipped for vegetarians) 1 cup chopped left over meat: BBQ brisket, salmon or chicken. Tofu is a good sub for this item.

-season with black pepper and your fav seasoning salt (Emeril's Essence is mine)

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Stir fry for another 2-3 minutes and then let sit for one minute, to allow seasonings to merge and the dish to cool enough to eat. My most anticipated moment !! Yummage Du Jour.

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And, of course, no meal is complete without the assistance of my astute Sous Chef, Rocket...

I Am Lex Luthor !!

I took the Google Super Hero/Super Villain quiz. http://www.thesuperheroquiz.com/

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The results were mildly surprising. Apparently, and as some of you may have guessed...my mischievous Scooter side came through in the quiz! So, this means that as Lex, I am a brilliant businessman, on a quest for world domination and the self-proclaimed greatest criminal mind of our time! Hey...this has potential and could be fun!!

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Work Out Log:

Sat: Spin Class, 1 hr., 20 mile equivalent (That Thomas guy on Saturdays is pretty funny and cool.)

Sun: Ran 10 miles with Erin and her friend Jeff (It took 4-ever !! Like, two hours and something...anyway, Thanks for having me along.)

Mon: Spin Class, 1hr., 20 mile equivalent (I think the Nazi Woman is trying to kill us all !! And, I'm starting to get creeped out by her. She randomly hops off her spin cycle and walks around during the class, with a strange look in her eyes... like she's on the prowl or something. She's probably Cat Woman in an everyday woman's clothing, as camouflage! )

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`A Plus Tarde, Toute Le Monde !

Behold, The Squirrels

My friend Jeff calls yesterday, asking for assistance of a unique kind. I said " Jeff, I'm not in to that sort of thing, Dude!." "No, no" he says, " I need help getting rid of some squirrels in my attic." To which I replied, "well...do you just want to get rid of them 'period' or were you planning on utilizing the 'humane, relocation method'? Not one to mince words, he says "WTF...I don't care...the little bastards scared Rita (his smarter and better half) with their scratching noise up there, they're tearing up the attic and they're shitting everywhere." OK....well, now we have a plan. I'll be over in a minute.

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So, as I'm driving there...I wonder. Does he have singing squirrels? A family of squirrels? Or, simple, Mr. Bad-Ass squirrel in his attic? It matters as to how you're going to address the situation, people !! So, initially, we go with Phase I: Implementation of Live Traps. Bait them with peanut butter and set them out around the attic. Check. When we catch them, give 'em a ride.

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If that doesn't work...there's always Phase II ! Brroo-Ha-Ha....

Hey Monsieur...Does Your Dog Bite?

These pictures were sent to me by a commercial pilot friend of mine. They were taken just outside the carrier flight crew's layover hotel in Lagos, Nigeria, by a field tech working with them. The locals seem friendly enough, though. It creates a whole new paradigm to the old Pink Panther line (above)...or, better yet the following one by Inspector Cluso, "Monsieur, I thought you said your dog does NOT bite! Monsieur, retorts the man on the street, that is not my dog!!" I'm not so sure these are even dogs, at all.

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Do you think they have been vaccinated? Would you like to pet them !!

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Anywho...here's the other stuff:

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Work Out Report

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Mon: 1 hr. of spin class... Approx. 20 miles

Tues: 400 x 6 repeats... Not sure of time; seems my runner partner may have been confused.

Wed: 1 hr. of spin class... Approx. 20 miles (That cycling Nazi gal wore me out !!)

Thurs: Ran w/ Coach Bill... 6 miles of trail running; Williamson County Park

Fri: Gym and Dreadmill...5 mile equivalent

Today's Gotta Be Monday!!

At the beginning of work weeks, I often wonder: during this one, am I going to be the fish or the Creature from the Black Lagoon?

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"Swamp Thing, I Think I Love You" (electric guitar sounds whaling in the background).
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Aquarists take note, it is critically important to consider the full size and special care requirements of adult specimens before stocking your tank with juvenile versions of these. Yes, they’re adorable and cute. And sure, they’re nice and small now. But (much like alligators and reptilians in general) what are you going to do a few months from now...when they’ve reached full maturity, and you’re chasing one around the house with a harpoon gun? You know the story...it caught a glimpse of your girlfriend or significant other in her swimsuit, fell in love, grabbed her and ran away in the general direction of the foggy swamp?
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"I Wanna Know For Sure" Wha Wha Wha Whaaa...

We Are The Champions, My Friends...

Ahh yes...I almost to post the findings of the BCS Championship Game. How silly of me to forget, to quote one of my LSU buddies. Well, it went well and I must admit that Ohio State was a much more formidable opponent than were those Okie Chokie, Loser Sooners in 2003. My hat goes off to Ohio State and a big "Yaa-Hoo" to the Tigers !!

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And to my buddy Phil in Cleveland, that's a size medium shirt, Sir. All cotton, please, just like last year's. ; )~ And, I expecting the photo of you, with yours on tout de suite and again on Ohio State/Michigan Weekend in November.

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Here's a little additional PPS of the game, for your viewing pleasure... http://www.nola.com/photos/t-p/index.ssf?2008BCSshow/