Tijuana Taxi is now sponsoring the 8:30 am news on WGMD.   After years in downtown Rehoboth Beach, the restaurant has moved to Rt. 1 Lewes, in the Tenley Court Shopping Center.  I visited on Tuesday and found “build your own nachos” for only 4.50!!!  What a great deal!  Here is my concoction with spicy chicken, white bean salsa, olives, and other goodies.

I’m a sucker for Key Lime Pie and the Taxi delivered a surprise with a truly home made version, with strong lime flavor, and a heavy crust.  Much better than the too light and fluffy version that seems the norm in most area restaurants.

Wednesday it’s half price fajitas!  Hungry?  Try the Taxi today!

After much contemplation, here is my list of the top 5 sandwiches:

 

5. Basic Grilled Cheese.  (best with American or Cheddar on white bread, served with tomato soup) 

4. Turkey and Swiss cheese with lettuce tomato and mayo. (Mayo and turkey are made for each other.)

3. BLT; Bacon Lettuce and Tomato.  This sandwich is best served in a big “club’ style, cut into four triangles held together with toothpicks and turned sideways.  My favorite childhood sandwich.

2. Filet-O-Fish.  The McDonalds classic with the famous ½ piece of American cheese and special tarter sauce.  I could eat these all day like candy!

1. Grilled Rueben.  Rye bread with corned beef piled high with Swiss, and 1000 Island or Russian dressing, and sauerkraut… mmmm see you at Irish Eyes!

 

 

Did you happen to hear Monday morning’s show? The first hour featured an interview with “Delaware’s Next Governor” Robert “Rob” Foraker – The Everyman Pizza Delivering Crime Fighting George Orwell Fantasy come-to-life to clean up the governor’s mansion.

How scary is this guy? He drives around up-state with a camera mounted on his dashboard videotaping “drug-dealers, hookers and johns.” He advocates a “Big Brother” atmosphere in the First State. His email address is even BigBrotherDelaware@gmail.com.

The biggest danger to a guy like this is, he appears innocuous. If you read the Gannett articles written about him on his hot Web site (http://www.robforaker.com/), he comes off even as someone to look up to; a modern day Batman looking for The Joker as he deals out drugs to our state’s children.

However, talking to the guy the truth comes out. He says things like; On prostitutes: A gal’s gotta make a living. On Drug Dealers: I don’t call the police.. I confront them myself and tell them to get off my street. On Delaware: “(my) vision for crime has some similarities to George Orwell’s vision.” He describes himself as liberal and loves the idea of social solutions instead of prison for criminals.Worst of all, the guy appears to be delusional. Some of us like the idea of an everyman in government… This is not your every man.

During The discussion of the story that broke today about the Millsboro police officer Davis losing it in the middle of the road and launching himself at a fellow officer, we asked the question: “What makes someone snap?” – This wannabe vigilante appears to be one-step away from snapping.

I urge you to listen to this segment from Monday’s show (courtesy of Audio-To-Go) – Here was Davis’ take from his e-mailing list: “I  have publically commented on  news reguarding our farmers across the state of Delaware. Our Lt. Governor Carney has left our government in a difficult situation due to ‘NO OPINION” how many categories of  this administrations failures does this statement refer too. I have made my feelings public on radio station   WDMG92.5 in Sussex County.” If I were you Robert, I wouldn’t be advertising your appearance. To quote a savvy listener: “This isn’t even funny anymore.”

Here’s some of Batman’s crime fighting videos… don’t see a lot of crime being fought though… http://uncutvideo.aol.com/videos/e801a456392678d7d918ffa7a7db1474

One of our great local Army dads gave me a US Government “Meal Ready To Eat”          (MRE).  I decided to review it for anyone thinking of joining our Armed Forces.Menu # 9  Beef Stew:

     Beef stew in a pouch was pretty good, and weighed in at 280 calories.  I suggest using the tiny little bottle of Tabasco to kick this up a notch.  Avoid the salt in the MRE, you’re getting enough sodium in this without adding more.

     Vanilla Dairyshake in a bag reminds me of any over the counter protein drink.  You have to rip open the bag and add ¼ canteen cup full of water and shake for 60 seconds.  I did this but found it to still be very lumpy and not completely blended.   It was a tasty treat even with the dry lumps and hit me with another 450 calories, 140 from fat!

     The cookie was huge, 280 calories, and was quite tasty.  Warning: do not eat the “Fresh Pax” included with the chocolate chip cookie.  It contains iron, not fit for human consumption.  I’m glad it was included though because it made the cookie surprisingly fresh tasting.

     Next it was strawberry jam, (good) at 70 calories on crackers (the worst item in the MRE) at 180 calories.  Without the jam, you may as well use the cracker as a weapon, it is hard and dry.  My older brother was in the Army when I was a kid and had C-rations, I think these crackers were left over from 1971.

     I over ate when I swallowed the kippered beef snack, 60 calories.  I recommend saving this as a true snack later fellas, you may need it.

    The pack also included Chiclets, coffee with cream and sugar, waterproof matches, a moist towelette, and some kind of strange water activated “heater in a bag”.  I didn’t even attempt to use the heater for the beef stew, it seemed way complicated, and the stew was fine at room temperature.

     Total calories 1220.  Four stars.  I’m ready for  20 miles with a 60 pound pack.

     I’m keeping the Sheryl Crow “one sheets” of toilet paper for later use, but I doubt I’ll blog that.

Wow, what a mess!

 

Finally made it to the new Farmer’s Market at Grove Park in RB.  I was all set to go a couple of weeks ago but then discovered it was a late afternoon market and, being unwilling to tackle the traffic, crowds, parking etc. by that time of the day, opted out.  Today I subbed for someone at work so had the perfect opportunity, getting off at five.  Parking was no problem at all and the market is very nicely set up under trees.  I was looking for three stalls in particular…primarily the Lavender Fields Farm stall followed by Sam Yoder and Delaware Meat (or Packing?) Co.  Found the Lavender stall…hard to drag myself away but, at least when I did, I was euphoric…:)  No sign of Yoder’s and the Delware Meat (or Packing?) Co. seemed to be out of what I wanted (as were many of the stalls selling breads etc.).  One thing I did notice was that the organic produce stands had some of the best looking produce I’ve seen in a long time..particularly of the organic variety. 

 

I wish it was a morning market but I’ll definitely return though perhaps still not on a hot, beach/tourist season day (mostly because I don’t like the heat)…maybe if I work another Tuesday…but I’m thinking towards Fall, if they keep it going that late in the year.  In this year of extremely arid weather, with local farmers struggling to do their best, support your Farmer’s Markets…wherever they are.  It’s worth it both to yourself and to them for the effort.  The cheeses are delicious, fruits fresh and unblemished and the Lavender products…well worth the visit all by itself.    

So… some talk show hosts have politics… some have school issues… I don’t know how I got stuck as the fast food watch dog.. k… using the term dog and fast food in the same sentence.. maybe not a great idea..

Anyway… did you ever notice how fergalicious the sandwiches look on the fast food menu board or in tv ads?? (Like, you know? Wow… a number 3.. a number 5 and.. two hashbrowns… oh… and three orange drinks.. and maybe another number 3.. but, supersize that one.. oh and can you give me extra bacon on those french fries?)

Well.. I’ve stumbled upon a Web site that illustrates the difference between the advertising pictures and the actual sandwiches.. want a sample to wet your appetite?

How about the delicious Burger King Whopper?
 vs.

mmmmm…. I’m getting hungry…

Want some more samples… visit this website

And it’s long-overdue! The owner of a Chicago bakery/coffee shop has finally taken a stand against unruly and obnoxiously-behaved children in his establishment:

Certainly, he’s not the first or only to do so…a number of eateries, from N. Carolina to Massachusetts, to California have taken similar steps, Dan McAuley’s is the one making the news. I, for one, am happy about it and hope to see more follow in his footsteps, mostly to just get the message across to parents that children are not disliked or unwanted as THEY take responsibility for their offspring’s behavior when in a public venue. Sure, young Mums want to take a break while shopping, relax over a meal, cup of coffee…chat with a friend they’ve arranged to meet…but none of those involve abdicating parental duties to the annoyance and discomfort of other patrons. It’s not the fault of child. Respect, manners, knowing how to behave appropriate to surroundings aren’t heredity or genetic…children have to be taught those things.

It’s a tough call to make, too. When you get a two-year old hanging over a booth, chattering as you…the non-parent…are eating it’s impossible not to be engaged and charmed. For the first few minutes. One expects the parent to then have the child turn round and sit down but, in recent years, this hasn’t been happening but rarely. Now enough restaurateurs are taking a stand and parents are taking umbrage, claiming to “be treated as a two-year old, themselves”. Unfortunately, if this is their attitude then they deserve to be treated the age they are exhibiting. Having your young child join you over lunch, dinner or even a coffee-break is a great idea and excellent opportunity to teach them when and HOW to behave in a public place. Not only does it prevent personal embarrassment but, hopefully, instill a respect for the wishes of other diners.

A few weeks ago, a friend and I were seated for our usual Friday lunch. Directly behind me were two adolescents, one of whom had a cell phone with either downloaded game or music which he played, replayed and replayed back to back. We asked to be moved. We could have embarrassed the youths by asking them to turn it off…and probably been told what they thought of that idea in no uncertain fashion. That isn’t…wasn’t…our job to do. They were old enough to know how to conduct themselves in public. Being the age they were, it’s very possible that they had been taught but with no parent or adult around to remind them, they took advantage. On the other hand, it could just as easily have been they’d been allowed to run laps around a restaurant at two, crawl under another diner’s table at three and playing a game boy at seven. It’s difficult not to feel that such permissive parents feel they are entitled to relax whatever discipline they employ, ignore what their offspring are doing while enjoying their break. Perhaps other adults feel they have a similar entitlement which should be respected and if it takes the owner’s of an establishment to bring this to parents’ of young children’s attention, so be it. I say “Good for them”.

So, I’ve had trouble sleeping in the past in my life.. All throughout high school, I barely slept at all.. In my early twenties I was for all intent and purposes addicted to over the counter sleeping pills.. (you know the little blue ones…) — In fact I was up to a point where I was doubling and tripling the dosage on those.

I even went to the doctor when I was 25 about it.. They said “Jared, you’re having trouble sleeping because you’re bi-polar, instead of working on a diet or getting more exercise.. Here.. take loads of these… and these… – I’ve told this story to the Nth Degree on the radio.. I need new doctor stories..

Anyway, since my brief but memorable stay in the hospital and on my parents couch for a thousand days (wow.. just like my early twenties… got about as much accomplished too) my sleeping troubles have returned.. Possibly under the influence of my brother, who although he has a high profile very well paid job at a certain bank.. A bank right here.. A bank right here in America.. (Odd too.. because he never finished college.. he never got a BoA).. He gets up for work around 6 am.. But is never ever in bed before 2am.. He’ll fall asleep on the couch before he relents and goes to bed.. “Jody, go to bed, man.. You’ve been asleep since ten” — “What? I’m not asleep” — meanwhile he demands that you keep Battlestar Galactica on the TV.. Maybe he’s dreaming about it.. I don’t know..

So really long wordy non-story short.. My sleeping troubles have returned. Last night, by far one of the worst instances in quite some time, I maybe got 25 minutes of sleep.. Even though I went to bed at a reasonable time.. (I mean, the worst time where I attempted to sleep and couldn’t.. there’s been bad nights and worse mornings where I knew I had no chance of getting more that an hour of sleep..) [Go back to your WGMD audio archives to the 10/14/06 podcast someday] There I lay… listening to the wind tearing my trailer in two… listening to the soothing sounds of cats mating right next to my window.. (Jealous?) with my mind absolutely racing.. First I had a song stuck in my head.. Then I got to thinking about a new record that my band is going to record in June (available at fine stores everywhere).. Then I got to thinking about a recent failed attempt at a relationship.. Then I got into a huge dialog with The Big One.. Umm, I mean God..  School Shooting.. Social Interactions.. Lifelong Depression.. Work Politics.. Everything except John Atkins (ATKINS WATCH!) — (Hence today’s broadcast) — I could not quiet my mind.. So I never got to sleep.

After laying there for 112 hours.. I decided to get up and rummage through medications to see if there’s anything that can help me sleep.. The expired Tylenol 3 from 2001 seemed promising.. But, it smelled like my mom’s bathroom.. So I opted out like a Delmarva Power rate increase.

As I desperately rummage through old leopardskin pill boxes, I notice the half empty bottle of Diet Dr. Pepper I had been enjoying all night long as I worked on my computer. Then I got to thinking, the last time I had a real trouble sleeping I had also consumed large quantities of Diet Dr. Pepper.. So I decided to do some research on the caffeine content of said drink… Surprisingly.. Much more caffeine than both Diet Pepsi.. Diet Cherry Coke and even the tooth busting classic Coca-Cola Classic.. Here’s a table of the caffeine content of other sodas (pops).. Be forewarned.. Diet Dr. Pepper is like Raid to Mr. Sandman.

Diet Coke is surprisingly high though.. So here’s where everyone says: “oh, how trivial, Vivian.. Look what they’re blogging about now.” — Trust me, it’s a public service if you’ve indulged in too much diet dr. pepper and have the kind of night I had.

Being somewhat cynical, at best, with regards to the FDA, pharmaceutical companies and ‘traditional medicine as being held to what’s right for us, the general public, perhaps it should not be appalling to learn, again, of a new wonder-drug seeking approval for use in our cattle. But it is…and why not? As reported on WGMD by ABC News and, of course, here and here.

Have you ever paused to wonder why we are being reported as more and more resistant to antibiotics or other drugs? Doesn’t it seem reasonable (to at least theorize) that every “preventative” medication being pumped into our food source and then ingested by humans is going to have a lingering…and maybe devastating effect? Perhaps not for everyone but for many…or even ‘enough’.

Seems to me our bodies are becoming chemical cesspools…antibiotics in our food sources, pesticides on our produce and preservatives in everything else. Isn’t there a vicious cycle of using pharms to pump into these animals and on our produce to prolong health and shelf-life which then wanders through and permeates our human cellular structure, ostensibly to support life, but creates a dichotomy of physical environment which may become resistant to health and life-prolonging treatments?

Notice the location of the U.S. HQ of the pharm company…once again “It’s good being First”?

Ummm…choose organic!

Why do the good people of Delmarva fear snow?

What is it about the white puffy moisture that causes so many people to fear for their lives? Why does normal life come to a complete end on this peninsula every time a stupid weatherman mentions that unmentionable,….”Chance of Snow”?

Like a flock of screaming children at recess, you run to the supermarkets, mini-markets and roadside stands to purchase Milk, Eggs, Bread and Toilet Paper. OK, so this leaves me to believe that the fear of snow brings about the massive hankering for French Toast which you apparently don’t have the digestive tract to properly handle, hence the toilet paper.

Question: When was the last time people in this area were literally ’snowed-in’ so bad that they were unable to leave their home because of the high snow? When was the last time the roads were so un-navigable that nobody, and I mean nobody, was able to drive including Police, EMS and newspaper delivery people? How many of you live so far from civilization that if you were snowed in and ran out of toilet paper, you would be too far away to walk to a neighbor’s house and borrow some? And finally, why are the elements to make French Toast so important to you in the event of snow?

I was transferred to North Carolina some years ago by the retail company I worked for at the time. My store was in Hanes Mall in Winston Salem, we lived in a tiny town called Advance. Our first winter there was the worst in anyone’s memory. The snow wasn’t so bad, it measured almost 12 inches, but the following ice storm took out power lines all over the area. We were without power for 5 days. Since the state had very little snow in this area, local municipalities never felt the need to purchase snow plows or even road salt. Being from Pennsylvania, I was accustomed to driving in heavy snow and easily drove to and from work while many stayed home to wait it out. In our home, no electricity meant no cooking, we had an electric oven. We did have a fireplace and actually made some stew in it as well as heated up leftovers and such. Mostly, we ate out during the outage. The locals, who were not used to driving in snow made the most of it by working together. Farmers drove their big tractors around to neighbor’s homes, seeking lists of needed supplies before driving to the local filling station/mini-market. Folks with 4-wheel drive or who were brave ventured to Mocksville, to the supermarkets, armed with many shopping lists, especially for the elderly.

People just automatically came together to help one another in the ‘crisis’ as I believe they would here as well! They also used the time to play. A neighbor with a four-wheeler stopped by our home to let the kids grab their sleds and hold a rope as he pulled them through the neighborhood. He told us of a plan to gather at the top of a local road which had a nice hill for sledding that night. We drove (much to their astonishment) instead of walking the 3 miles with our sleds. They had a huge bonfire and a large farm tractor which would drive down the hill with a huge tow-rope, pulling the kids back up the hill so they could have more fun without getting so tired of the reverse trek.

But here, well, that’s a different story. As some of you may know, I run nearly 2 dozen weekly trivia gameshows at local (and not-so-local) restaurants and other venues. One such venue is a new game inside the private gated community, The Peninsula. For our premiere event last Sunday the staff had acquired reservations for more than 50 people to sit in a nice restaurant inside their community, with a warm fire, protected by a back-up generator, where their was plenty of eggs, bread and milk as well as a supply closet full of toilet paper, and enjoy a trivia game with a house-cash prize. Slowly but surely these reservations cancelled one-by-one until we had but one team left for the game. Why? “Chance of snow.”

By the end of the game that first massive snowfall of 2007 had grown to nearly an inch with ‘bitter’ temps in the upper 20’s and virtually no wind. Why should such a minor meteorological event prevent people from going out to have a good time? Why do we scare so easily? I don’t let such occurrences prevent me from events. When I was young I didn’t let blizzards prevent me from honoring my commitment to a girlfriend for a date to the movies. Why should I start fearing the white fluff now?

My final point is to encourage you folks to stop being so scared of your own shadows! You have to live your life to enjoy it. Your end will come, but here on Delmarva it is very unlikely it will be caused by hunger due to a snowstorm. Get out and live!