Do you know the Muffin Man?

Does any else remember that song from childhood? I think my Mom used to sing it to us (I'm sure Laughs&Tears will let us all know if I'm wrong). In any case, it came to mind, albeit briefly, when I saw this car in front of me the other day.

[no, it's not safe to take pics while driving, but it is fun]

I will admit that I've yet had the chance to fill out the DMV form for my very own vanity license (what, with only getting a car late last year). However, I'm pretty sure my first choice would not be "MUFFIN1". This plate should not have even gotten as far as the USPS to send in the form. They should have stopped it before it ever reached the post office. Barring that injustice, they should have, for sure, snagged it while a convict was stamping it out in the joint (yes, I believe convicts still make license plates). There's no way he/she could have gone back to their cell feeling good about stamping out a plate that read "MUFFIN1". He probably went back to his cell after burning that plate into his memory with the idea of finding this auto-owner and jackin her up upon his release, on principle alone.

Well, the plate did get out and onto a car. The woman driving this little compact was a pretty bad driver, but I wouldn't have even paid attention to her driving were it not for the "MUFFIN1" plate starring me in the face. I couldn't help but think "What would make someone get this?". Does she just really like muffins a lot? Does she have her own "muffin top"? Is she trying to ward off bad drivers, flat tires, and pot holes with an extra dose of cuteness?

I firmly believe that all vanity plates should go through a very strict approval process for humor and quality. Plates like "MUFFIN1" should not be allowed unless you are a baker or in the baked goods industry AND drive a large delivery vehicle that wafts off cinnamon and sugar smells all through the neighborhood. Another plate I saw the other day would be a step up - "LVNLIFE" - kinda tricky, has some thought in it. And one of my all-time favorites (esp in the bike racing world) is "H8LUZN", yeah, who doesn't hate losing? Finally, this mind-bender is almost too good "TIH5 HO". (hint, "reflect" on this for a little bit)

If this is the muffin man's car, I don't want to know him.

Results, Poll #7, Guns n' Ammo

Besides A Wintery Mix's bellyaching, this week's poll seemed to go pretty smooth. There aren't too many surprises, but maybe one or two tidbits.

4 - have shot a gun previously. Pretty cool, I am jealous (for reals). Ever hunt a human!?!

0 - have not shot any kind of gun. This is science people, don't question the results.

6 - have fired all forms of guns, just not the "real kind". I also missed some fakes guns in the poll, like potato guns, paintball guns... there are lots of fun, non-lethal guns out there, huh? t dope and I played with them all the time as kids.

2 - hate Charlton Heston. Will you even watch his movies?

So, there you have it everyone. Almost all of us have shot something, but not too many "average" people in the US seem to be shooting real guns. Of course, I live in Wisconsin, see Cabela's.

Google 'Bike There' Petition

I don't usually get to political or cause-oriented, but I saw this today and signed it. It's a petition that will be sent to the good folks at Google. The hope is that Google will add a button in their popular maps section that will allow people to get biking directions, along with the current driving and bus options.

If you wouldn't mind, sign it please.
Goto: http://www.petitiononline.com/bikether/petition.html

First Date, #2

As some of you may know, I had another first date. The basic outcome is the same as the previous 1st date, but this time it's interesting to see how much I gladly put up with, keeping in mind that I was smitten with the girl. We had met each other previously, which is one point that differs from the previous date.

This smittenness (sp? word even?) changes the way the date even starts. I made sure I shaved this time and also brought a small gift. Now hold on, it's not like that... she had heard about the "Clean Plate Club" tshirts, and I had extras, so I thought it would be fun to give her one at the end of the night (or in the morning - wink wink nudge nudge). I also made sure that the location of the date was new to her, something she would like, and a surprise until arrival. This took some extra effort, but I felt it was well worth it.

I met her at her doorstep and we took a cab to the restaurant, ship-shape. She even made a funny comment as we got out of the cab, knowing I had still kept the location a surprise - something like "What, is this where we get on the bus now?" As if I had arranged a change of vehicle just to keep up the surprise. Well, I didn't. We were at our spot, a small little Italian place that gets good marks in my book (and others).

It's a BYOB place too, so I had brought wine (Malbec all the way from WI... yeah, this is taking place in Chicago). She finally said "Are you gonna pour me a glass?" And once I put the menu down, I poured. Dinner went as it should, and only 3-4 times did she spit something delicately out of her mouth or dribble water down her chin. Not kidding. This wasn't the same kind of food issues as First Date #1. This time neither of us could leave it alone and we made funny comments about each incident. This time it added to the fun, go figure.

We started with a nice, two-person antipasti plate (parmigiano reggiano, mortadella, salami, prosciutto, etc), which we ate mostly with our hands. Always funny with new people.Then each of us had our own entree (no halfsies or splitsies). She even felt comfortable enough to bat clean-up on my fries with basil aioli. I had no problem with this, esp since I was so stuffed from the 2 courses and bottle of wine. So stuffed in fact, we could only split dessert, a good tartufo, with a shot of hot espresso thrown over top. All in all, a very nice, relaxed meal with good conversation, laughs, comical food spitting, etc... just like when I was growing up. I can't ask for more than this on a first date.

But, all good things must end, and she had had a long weekend (this was a Sunday night). After 2 hours at dinner, it was getting late. She had to get to sleep, and I had to drive to Milwaukee. Once outside, we walked a little bit, but jumped in a cab when the Windy City's wind broke us down to shivers. The cab is where she pulled out her gifted tshirt (which was timely b/c we had talked about the Clean Plate Club at dinner. I wasn't even the one to bring it up). As we got to her 'hood, she wanted to make one stop at Walgreens. Sure, let's go. We walked right back to the prescription counter so she could pick up her... birth control refill. No lie! Did this offend me? Not in the least. I couldn't have cared less... not even when we made our way out and she led me through the "feminine products" aisle. Nothing like some "super absorbent wings" to cinch the first date. Still, did I care? That'd be a big "NOPE".

We walked the couple of blocks back to our starting point, her stoop. She fiddled with her keys, even dropped them on the ground for me to pick up. We both said we'd had a good time and wanted to do it again, gave each other a quick peck, and then I watched her get into the warmth of her foyer. I ran the half block to my truck. That was it.

A good first date in my book, but in the end it wasn't enough. There was no 2nd date and I'm not expecting one. Funny how two similar first dates can be so different. Finding that connection at the right time, with the right person, isn't always so easy. It's a challenge that I'll gladly accept though.

Results, Poll #6, The Great Debate

First, thanks for the votes. I'm glad we can put this hot (ok, maybe only to me) topic to rest. Here's how it broke down this week -
2 people voted for Option 1
8 people voted for Option 2

Obviously, this is huge for Option 2. For the record, I will now post the final, as voted by the public, definition of the terms "Halfsies" and "Splitsies". Also, thanks to A Wintery Mix for writing his own version which I will quote here:
Halfsies = 2 people order 2 meals and each take half of each.
Splitsies = 2 people order 1 meal and split it.

The people have spoken - now, go share and eat!!!

Cabela's #3 - Wild Cabela

Well, I'm sad to say this is the last post in the series, save for the poll results. If you've been reading the other Cabela posts so far, I'm guessing that some of you have no idea what you're about to see/read - unless you've been to Cabela's previously.

In a nutshell, Cabela's has tens of hundreds of stuffed animals on display, for the most part in their "natural habitat". Not only that, but they have a very large, impressive aquarium in the store. As was the case with everything, they take pride in how this is displayed and do it really well. I'll leave it to the pics -


Is that a warthog I see before me!?!


Elk, eek!


Is that Marty Moose? Boo!
(note, it's in the middle of a babbling brook... yeah, still in the store)

But, let's take a detour to Africa, shall we?

Is that a tusk in your pocket...?


Poh widdle zeebwa.
(Uhhh, I don't think male lions hunt with the pride)

And finally, a quick jump to the chilly North Pole

Hello, Mr. Polar Bear. Nice to meet you. Don't eat me.

Wait, don't forget the Aquarium. This is one of those walk-thru deals with fish on both sides. For anyone expecting a little aquarium, this goes to 11.


I don't care what the in-store policeman said, I did NOT sink this boat.

Final thought - I'm not sure with all these posts that my actual admiration and astonishment came through for what Cabela's has made? If anyone in SE WI or Northern IL needs something to do (hopefully with the kids) in fall, winter, or early spring - this could easily be an outing that will last the whole day. Not only can you help the sagging-like-an-old-lady economy, but you'd also pick up some bargains and learn a little too. Portabella!!

Cabela's #2 - An Ode to Camo

As I made my way to the store, thinking about how I could make a post out of the trip, the idea came up to take as many pics as I could on the camo offerings. I kind of thought it might get boring taking pics of shirts, jackets, etc. But, lucky for all of us, Cabela's didn't let me down here either. They had waaay more stuff in camo than I would have thought. I'm starting at the normal stuff, then getting into the more unique items. Here we go - cam-O!

Here's the "normal" stuff - hunting gear, shoes, etc.



They also have some middle-of-the-road items, not common to me, but probably common to many of the shoppers:

The camo-coated ATV - braaap, braaaap!

And the matching full-face camo helmet - safety first!

Camo-coated rifles

Camo Crocs - I know, you've been looking for them - I'll UPS them to you.

And to end this section, a camo-covered huntin' dog coat.
Man's best friend has got to be as hard to find as you.
(I'm not sure, the dog could be fake or an actual stuffed huntin' dog)


And now a few items I had no idea existed until my trip:


You're thinking, "Silent Spin Seat, great - what is it?" This covers ANY 5-gal bucket and turns it into an instant, silent-rotating, seat cover. I believe it's aimed at ice fishermen (and women). This also begs the question - "Why would I need a silent, camo-covered, seat to fish? Can they see me or my seat? Can they hear me turning on my bucket?" I did not find the answers on this trip.


The camo wallet section. Now, this could be up in the middle-of-the-road section, but think about it for a minute - why would you need a camo wallet? Are you taking it out in front of potential game? And what happens if you drop it in the woods - how do you find it? I think hunter orange would be a better wallet color.

And last but not least in An Ode to Camo - the camo wall plate/light switch cover.

For all the budding North Woods interior desingers out there that need one, or dozens, to complete their lodge. This is the two-switch version, but have no fear, single switch versions are also available.

Please let me know how you like this section - if I get enough positive feedback, I'd love to go hunt for more abnormal items, with pleasure.