For the first time in 30 years I’m chemical free.  Aside, that is, from whatever is injected into the food I’m eating.  Nine days ago I gave up coffee.  I did this last summer for six weeks.  I did it for a diet but I continued sipping “diet” soda pop.  For the last 9 days I’ve had no coffee, cigarettes, alcohol or soft drinks.  I’ve given up many of these things individually since I graduated high school.  I’ve given up some in combination.  At no time over three decades have I sacrificed all of them.  Until 9 days ago. 

I’m guessing there are a great many coffee drinkers thinking caffeine is an easy drug to break away from.  Let me tell you something, giving up beer is easy.  You just stop.  Giving up tobacco required me to spend a couple of days ten years ago battling lightheadedness, which in some ways was kind of cool.  Soda pop is also something you just stop buying.  Caffeine is another matter.  Holy, mackerel, there were headaches last week and moments about 2:00 P.M. when I wanted to put my head on my desk and sleep.  This wouldn’t be a problem but it happened when I was preparing for a 4 hour long show set to begin at 3:00 P.M.  A show I yawned through for several days.  Thank the Lord it isn’t TV.  I let loose with a yawn Monday afternoon on a couple of occasions when I had 2 guests in-studio but those were the last on-air yawns.  Then I came home and slept for 10 hours. 

Water consumption is also at an all time high.  I’m not one for buying bottled water when I can pour a glass from the tap, however.  At Super Giant I found a raspberry-lime seltzer called “Zazz” and watching a hockey game the other night I drank a quart of seltzer.  Sunday I mowed the redhead’s lawn and when I finished there was a big glass of iced seltzer on the picnic table, which I had downed in a couple of minutes.  She discovered it was sold in cans by the case at a greatly reduced price, on the bottom shelf in the beverage aisle, where apparently I hadn’t looked. 

This morning I got out of bed straight up at 7:30 and believed I had to offer a testimonial.  I feel wonderful and I’ve lost 4 pounds over the last week and one half.  And just think, only another 76 to go! 

None of this would’ve come about until the day the redhead had a long talk with me about getting back in shape.  She saw an old photograph of me standing along a railing with the field behind me at what used to be called Rich Stadium.  She thought I had a Tom Selleck look! 

My last caffeine came one week ago this past Monday.  My employer sponsored a sports banquet at the country club next door and I sipped two cups of delicious coffee during dinner.  We were at a table with some folks from work and when the keynote speaker launched into his remarks the redhead and a coworker’s girlfriend left the room, went outside and smoked.  When they came back to the table I pointed out I had pressed for a trade.  I take up clean living and the redhead would quit tobacco, which she washes down with liberal amounts of coffee.  What was her response?  She didn’t ask me to go on a hunger strike.

Remember our prime responsibility.  Take care of self, set an example and then go out and save the world.

Susan Boyle is God’s messenger.

A writer at the Boston Globe named Paulson asks us why Boyle has touched so many people around the planet.  He admits to his worries about the demise of his paper but is transfixed by the You Tube video of Boyle singing on television.  M. Paulson quotes theologians and wants your thoughts on why Boyle is important to all of us. 

The theologians have it right but I’ll go beyond.  Boyle is God’s message.  She has lived quietly and unassumingly for almost 50 years in Scotland in preparation for our times.  The Globe writer fears for his job.  There are food riots around the world.  The Chinese have eaten our lunch.  Newsweek charges Americans have given up on God. 

Then comes a humble Scot and we are moved from our self pity and shaken by the voice.  By Friday I stumbled across a ten year old recording of Boyle singing.  Tears formed in my eyes. 

Boyle’s voice is God telling us, “Be not afraid”. 

I’ve been battling with folks on the left for almost a decade and can look back 25 years when I battled alongside them and reach some sober conclusions.  First, I usually wasn’t sober when I was involved with radical leftist groups.  As no one made me take the drink I can’t dismiss once playing for the other side.  All I can do is now work to make right the wrongs I committed against my God and my country.  The second thing I’ve noticed is the left can’t seem to make logical connections.  Which is why I guess the government schools are constructed in the current tense.  You create more liberals when Johnny can’t read and has only the dole as his only resort.  Last week a writer at The Christian Science Monitor bemoaned the lack of modern critical thinkers.  This infers critical thinking is something you can teach.  It may just be some folks are wired differently and can think on several levels at any given time while others don’t have the talent.  I believe I can make this statement because the left argues wiring is the root of all differences between people we used to consider just making lifestyle choices.  Notice I wrote I believe and not I feel.  The only thing I feel is the sometimes knot in my stomach when I’m asked to cheerlead for a cause that makes me uncomfortable.

A Roman Catholic Bishop I once heard saying a homily claimed the knot was part of God’s wiring and a reminder ethics aren’t situational. 

Over the weekend I had quite a bit of time for reading and came across the words of a columnist at The Washington Post.  Jim Hoagland writes the American people are getting angry.  Very, very angry and the anger he believes may get very, very ugly.  Hoagland, from what I know, has never been a paragon of the political right.  He’s just an observer witnessing what a great many others are seeing.  This morning I received an email from one of my friends serving in Iraq.  He was telling me 50 percent of working Americans are just two paychecks away from disaster.

Yesterday I attended a committee meeting of the Sussex County Community Organized Regiment.  A local man with a house just a few miles from where I live hosted it and he has a family, pets and a very good job.  These aren’t people frothing at the mouth and searching for a revolution.  There were ten people in attendance ranging from 19 years old to retired.  There had been an earlier committee meeting where something called “Victory Garden” was a discussion topic.  It appears these bitter clingers have ten acres of land available for tilling and planting.  Members of the group will grow vegetables and then, say it isn’t so, can them for what could be tougher months later this year and early next.  Any member who works on these plots is entitled to share in the bounty.  The barter economy is back. 

Before the session wrapped up there was light banter about the public reaction to creation of the organization.  Liberal bloggers in Wilmington are railing against the toothless right wing goons inhabiting the forests below the ditch.  You know the story.  The salons of the state’s biggest city can’t conceive of how folks can survive without big government.  Worse yet they can’t understand why you wouldn’t want the nanny state in your lives.  The beautiful crime and drug free streets upstate should be convincing, I guess.  Someone mentioned the follow up posts at the blogs contained liberal fears about the good people of Sussex County.  Some worry they’re at a disadvantage because we can handle guns and they can’t but if the figures are correct most of the “Wards of the State” locked up in prisons originally called New Castle County home.  The wards are often locked away because they committed gun crimes and often against liberals even more fearful of weapons they could use in self-defense against criminals. 

I don’t speak for the members of the Regiment but if things get interesting this summer some hungry lefties may be looking for a bite to eat.  God help them.  He just might if they could come to their senses.

Judy Mangini joined us on-air on Friday, December 05, 2008.  Judy hosts a “Cookie Exchange” every year.  Participants bake cookies, which are then shipped to our troops overseas.  She suggests others can do the same.  The care packages are sent to the following address:

Trina Gardner

at:  Cartina Hill

KBR

APO AE 09391

Judy offers that if you can bake the cookies she can also ship them.  Cookies can be dropped off at the WGMD studios during daytime business hours and Judy will pick them up before the end of the business day on Friday, December 12, 2008.  Wrap them well!  She has also recorded a Christmas CD and for a small donation you can pick up a copy at our studios.  Money raised from donations for CDs will be used to provide a Christmas for a needy Delmarva family.  Every year Judy and her husband anonymously provide for one family.  The CD is a delight.  Judy has a fine voice, recently winning a talent contest at Long Neck. 

Since arriving on Delmarva almost 15 months ago I’ve often been reminded of regional differences. For instance where I come from we speak English and you only think you do. Back in the highlands people live in homes and here people live in humes. You drive cars and we drive kurrs. You drink wawder and we drink wodder.

Some drunken wife beaters refer to me as a New Yorker and this is technically correct. I was born in the southwestern part of the state, which is the northern spine of the Appalachian range. The Alleghenies, if you will. New York City was an 8 hour drive. Cleveland, Toronto and Pittsburgh were just 3 hours at a steady clip. The closest city of any consequence was Buffalo, an hour or so to the north. Why of any consequence when it’s known for just three things? Snow, disappointing sports franchises and chicken wings. Snow can’t be exported unless on the back of an Alberta Clipper. The Bills can be exported to Toronto but we aren’t sure it’s going to be successful transplant surgery. The history of chicken wings is unique. Birthed at The Anchor Bar in 1964 this snack has conquered much of the world. With the exception, it appears, of Delmarva. You lack for any consistent efforts at pizza but we’ll leave that for another day.

This is just as much a restaurant review as it’s a chicken wing review.

Let me say that the folks at Uncle Willie’s make great fried chicken. I didn’t expect this as I thought of it only as a place for gassing up and buying a newspaper. The staff at Uncle Willie’s uses the same method for wings, however. It’s fried chicken in the shape of a chicken wing. If you want them hot you get a packet of deli hot sauce to tear open and barely cover your wings. Nothing special about prepackaged hot sauce and while I’m saying this I should note traditional chicken wings aren’t breaded. If I want breaded chicken I’ll buy Banquet at Food Lion and heat it in my oven at hume.

A good chicken wing isn’t breaded and while it requires more than a thumbnail measurement of hot sauce the wings shouldn’t be swimming in sauce soup. Sauce soup is my experience at Grotto. On Sundays Grotto offers a wing special during football games. Last year it was 5 dollars per order. While you can’t beat the price and the atmosphere of the joint is friendly let me argue good wings aren’t pulled from chicks. Good wings come from grown animals and while eating require the use of both hands. An order of wings is also one dozen and not ten or less. It isn’t a special if the wings are downsized. It’s also not a special if I can’t order it at a table while watching the Bills. Philadelphia fans have their own special foods. For Buffalo fans there are just two choices, wings or beef-on-weck. Recently I discovered you can’t order the wing special unless you’re at the bar. The restaurant has a dozen or so TVs but at the bar you get Eagles, Redskins or Ravens. At least those are the limits at the Long Neck location. So the offer should read wings on special only if you like Philly, Washington or Baltimore.

Good wings are meaty. When you bite into them the meat is white. Pink meat is meat somebody hasn’t fully cooked. Good chicken wings are crispy and the sauce is thick but adheres to the skin of the chicken. Wings may be barbecued but this is just an option for children. Many years ago I went into a restaurant and ordered some wings while watching a baseball game. I asked for them hot. The owner came out and explained he had his own recipe for garlic wings. Henry Ford once said you could get a Model T in any color as long as it was black. Buick countered with blue and green and yellow and Henry learned quickly about customer service. I ate the garlic wings. Then the owner wanted to know what I thought about his artistic creation. “If you’re planning on reinventing the wheel best to keep it round”, I replied. He wasn’t happy. He wasn’t alone.

A fellow telephoned my show a couple of weeks ago and told me I could watch the Bills at a bar at Peddler’s Village. So on Sunday I dropped in. The specials include chili and some tiny cheeseburgers. An order of wings will set you back 9 bucks. I counted 7 in my bowl. Then I had to ask for blue cheese. You don’t have blue cheese and you don’t have a chicken wing eating experience. The wings came plain but I was given a bottle of sauce I could sprinkle across them. Aw, Shucks, J.D., I’m not coming back.

Lately you’ve seen these chain restaurants opening in various neighborhoods and claiming to specialize in wings. The wings are meaty, well-cooked and the sauce clings to the skin. A few years ago I read where some restaurant chain bought wings at The Anchor Bar and spirited the order off to a lab for analysis, then copied the sauce. The Chinese do this with manufacturing technology. Some folks call it patent infringement. Others simply call it theft. I don’t like thieves.

Old Dom’ at The Anchor Bar intended wings to be finger food. Like popcorn or peanuts or even as I once found at a bar in Auburn, New York, smelt. In the beginning of the wing era there was no extra charge. The wings brought in the working men who then bought drinks. Some folks in these parts don’t have a clue.

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.