Favorites: Food

It’s that time of year. The time when some of us reflect on the last 12 months; enjoy the highlights; try to learn from the lowlights; fix the parts of our lives that aren’t working; and hopefully give thanks for all of our blessings.

Food is a big part of that. Spending time with a ProStrongman brought that up a few levels. Heh. Living in Texas, with amazing food, helped too.

Honorable Mention…Braums. Their burgers were very good, much like Culvers up here. But the ice cream?

Holla!!!!!

I miss Texas food…kinda. We’re pretty spoiled up here in Cheeseville though.

I thought Alterra was the end all of good coffee beans here in Milwaukee. Then I found Svens…then I found ANoDYNE. Svens is still my go to. We also have Dunn Bros., Caribou, and if you’re really desperate (or in the car) there’s sure to be a Starbucks around the corner. In any case, if you can’t find a good cup of coffee in Milwaukee, you’re not trying.

And the food?

If it weren’t for McBob’s and Ono Kine Grindz, we’d starve. Or at least we’d cook more at home, but why when they cook so Ono for us?

Then there’s road food…

I know there’s more out there, but you get the picture. Heh.

You better cut the pizza into four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six.

Yogi Berra

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Monday Bacon: Team

A little news article caught my eye this weekend. Maybe because it’s not related to horrific images and thoughts of terrified children; or idiotic rhetoric about tighter gun control; or especially having to hear or read anything from Il Duce Bloomberg using the CT deaths to get more press for himself.  Ass.

Anyways.

The story is about a 51 year old transsexual by the name of Gabrielle Ludwig who has just been cleared to play on the Mission College (Santa Clara, CA) Women’s basketball team. Now, I don’t care what your opinion is on this entire situation, that’s not what the post is about. I’m sure both Gabrielle and her teammates have taken more creative shit than anyone else can dish out including an “it” comment from two ESPN radio commentators. By the way, ESPN clearly needs to conduct an entire personnel enema. More on that another day.

The part of this story that caught my eye, was that Ludwig humbled herself and told the team (when the heat was rising about her being there) that if it would help, she’ll quit the team. Their response? If she doesn’t play, they don’t play.

Well done. That’s team.

I’ve been a part of various teams since I was a little tyke. Some of them were better than others. Some had drama, some didn’t. Some were fun,  some weren’t. We had a kick ass intramural co-ed softball team in college, that was fun. I had a hippie, clog wearing, pot smoking coach for my swim team when I was in junior high, that was crazy. His pre-race coaching advice? “Just Pablo Cruise jules.” Brilliant.

softball

My besties, Char and Sheila, and I had some pretty awesome softball teams growing up made even better by Dairy Queen visits after each game. Solid. But I’ve never been on a team with such solidarity. We should all be so lucky.

Thanks to them and their story of unity. Best of luck for a successful season!

On this team, we’re all united in a common goal: to keep my job.

Lou Holtz

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Friday Jams…early

Today is Santa Lucia day in Sweden and around the world. While it is a beautiful tradition in the Swedish home, it was a day I dreaded. While growing up with a Norway (G’pa) vs. Sweden (G’ma) environment was a lot of fun and seeped in traditions that we still enjoy and I have shared with my children (including Lutefisk!), I always felt out of place with this one. It was one of the most poignant feelings of “fish out of water” that I had while being a Polynesian raised in a Scandinavian home. Looking back, it’s not that I wanted to disrespect this tradition, I just wanted some of my own. Typical youth.

Anyways.

I was very happy when my younger sister took over serving and I still vividly remember how right she looked the part. It was as it should be. AND I still got to enjoy the Swedish coffee cake in the morning. Score.

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Happy

Hunukkah.

I’m the first to admit that I am pretty uninformed on the Jewish holiday. I was talking with my friend, AoD, today and she filled me in on the essentials. She also promised me that she and Paulie would take time to celebrate by getting some potato pancakes…still waiting on word that it was so. (Just got word. They had broccoli fritters which still count because they are fried goodies. Well done Steinman’s.)

Anyways.

Growing up as a Lutheran PK in Minneapolis suburbs near St. Louis Park meant that during this time of year, we got to see their ginormous Menorah light up night after night. It also meant I had no clue what it all meant. But now I do.

So Happy Hanukah to those who celebrate.

Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life. 

Buddah

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