.
Men? I’m going to give you a little free advice so listen carefully.
I believe I speak for all women when I say we don’t want this.
We don’t this for our birthdays. We don’t want this for our anniversaries. And we definitely don’t want this for Valentines Day.
Uh uh.
Nope.
No way.
.
.
The fact that this abomination is listed as “low in stock” is proof positive men are basically clueless gift givers and will benefit enormously from reading my blog.
Please spread the word.
.
.
.
The husband and I have been trying to find a new place to eat (and drink) . If I can’t travel to far off places? At least I can visit new bars.
Enter the Barnhouse Grill and Pub.
.
.
Husband found an old washing machine at the entrance, which thankfully wasn’t for sale.
.
.
This is a relatively new place remodeled from an old seafood market. It’s rustic and takes the barn theme seriously.
.
.
Chickens and cows were plentiful, as were the bartender’s pours. It’s not often I call it quits at two margaritas… but I did that day in an effort not to fall off my stool.
The decor was down home country with a sense of humor, and when the husband came back from the men’s room requesting my phone, I knew it would be good.
.
.
Keg urinals. The ultimate in recycling.
.
.
There was also another antique washing machine, complete with rooster.
This got me curious what the ladies room had to offer so in I went, phone camera ready.
.
.
Thankfully this wasn’t the only toilet. But aside from more chickens that was about it. Not nearly as much fun as the men’s room.
.
.
I’d like to tell you I took pictures of the wonderful chili, the strange but quite tasty macaroni and cheese bites, and the fabulous charbroiled mushroom Swiss burger we ate, but I didn’t.
All I managed at the end of my second killer ‘Rita was one shot of the Philly cheesesteak egg rolls. Weird? Yes. But also really, really good.
.
.
They’re not lying.
I was definitely happy when we left.
.
.
You can’t beat a Thin Mint. To my mind, it’s the ultimate cookie.
Put the box in the fridge, eat with a cold glass of milk. Perfection.
While I do enjoy the occasional Girl Scout Lemonade and Toffee-tastic … those pint size femme fatales are pulling out all the stops this year and introducing a new cookie to tempt me.
.
.
No arm twisting required.
I’m in.
.
.
Because it could be fun, that’s why.
.
.
Let’s check out some of the good answers.
.
.
I feel you Dean, it’s been a while for me as well. Though not that long thankfully.
.
.
I don’t think that qualifies as a band, but… wow.
.
.
I know who they are! And saw them quite a few times in my youth.
.
.
Now you’re talking!
As for me, the last concert I saw was James Taylor. I loved James back in the day, and still enjoy his music when I’m in a mellow mood. Seeing him in concert is like sitting in his living room… very laid back.
So Thanksgiving dinner with Sweet Baby James in the Berkshires? Count me in.
How about you?
Who are you feasting with…
.
.
Let’s jump right in shall we?
.
.
Spit. If you read this book you’ll learn more about it than you ever dreamed possible.
.
.
I hope so too Mary.
Yikes!
.
.
A new stomach lining every three days?
Color me impressed.
Did I mention this book has some rather odd photographs?
.
.
I just finished a section devoted to the myth of Jonah and the Whale… as well as other improbable stories of surviving inside a stomach after someone has swallowed you. Spoiler alert- they’re all hogwash, it’s impossible. But Mary offers some handy advice all the same.
.
.
I suppose there worse places to live than in a penguin.
.
.
.
With thanks to the ever charming Kenny Nines at https://theterribleidealist.wordpress.com/ who alerted me to the existence of sequels, I bring you Gulp.
.
.
Another masterpiece by the delightfully quirky and sometimes bizarre author Mary Roach.
When Kenny told me there were other books like Stiff? I was all in! And ordered four from Amazon knowing I would blog the highlights here.
So let’s dive into the wacky and wonderful world of the human digestive tract shall we?
This book comes with a bit of a warning…
.
.
Poopreport.com
If ever there was a website to avoid at all costs? That would be it .
While this book focuses on the digestive tract, it goes delightfully off course on tangents of smell, taste, flatulence, food culture and the occasional substitute.
.
.
Hair is kosher.
You heard it here first.
.
.
Human hairballs?
Damn, I love these books!
Much attention is paid to food. How we eat, why we eat, and what we eat. Food is cultural and while roasted bat may not be on your dinner table tonight, rest assured it’s on someone’s somewhere.
In Mary’s travels while researching this book, she met an Innuit man who served her Muktuk.
.
.
Raw chunks of Narwahl flesh and skin. She assures us it was delicious and very nutritious, but I think I’d almost prefer the bat.
.
.
Pig balls, coming to a restaurant near you!
.
.
Three grey squirrels were braving the elements for a nosh during our last snow storm.
.
.
This fellow was first to the tray feeder, scrambling up the pole and settling in to munch.
.
.
Squirrel number two had a harder time with the slippery pole….
.
.
But after a few comical attempts… made it to the tray of treats.
.
.
Squirrel #1 was not happy to share and a major scuffle broke out, but it was over quickly and a truce was called.
.
.
All was well until squirrel #3 showed up.
.
.
He climbed the pole 4 times and was booted off in no uncertain terms.
.
.
Two is company… and apparently three is one squirrel too many.
.
.
If you’ve ever gotten hangry, you’ll appreciate the peculiar talent of the next weird creature on my calendar.
The Yeti crab.
.
.
At any given moment, this fellow has a veritable refrigerator full of yummy snacks at his fingertips.
You can’t argue with that.
.
.
And now let’s check how close the drawing is to the original.
.
.
I’m giving that a 3.
The general idea is there…. but it’s lacking the magnificence of those wonderfully hairy legs.
And aside from the fact it looks like a giant tick, that leg fuzz is begging to be petted.
.
.
Well, I didn’t say petting it was a particularly good idea.
.
.
I’m sorry, but the is the Best. Menu. Typo. Ever.
.
.
Although it does make me feel badly for the duck. Ouch!
.
.
The first name that came to my mind?
Tinkerbell.
.
.
I knew that mallard I saw at the park the other day looked shifty.
.
.
Because I’m still trying to laugh.
.
.
Ain’t that the truth! I’ve cooked and baked more in the past two years than I have in the last 20. Which sadly, my hips and thighs can attest to.
.
.
I need one of those.
.
.
This is funny, but not. Our neighbor is a nurse and has been past the point of burnout for a solid year.
.
.
I really hope not, but you can’t argue with the logic.
.
River's world..... 