Snailbites

Well… it’s 2:36 and I’m lying in bed blogging. Today is my birthday. This won’t get deep or anything. In reality I should be sleeping, but Kat and Kim woke me up at that exact moment when I was about to drift into a deep sleep. You ever get disturbed during that moment? For some reason it’s so hard to get back to sleep after that moment. If it’s just like 2 minutes before or after, its not a big deal. But when you hit that moment, argh its over. That’s why when they were talking I was like aw crap… I know I’m gonna be awake for at least another hour.

And I was right! So, I thought I’d blog in order to run thru some mental acrobatics in order to tire out my head. Goodnight!

ps – I love you Kat & Kim! Bury muts (filipino accent)! I’d lose 2 hours of sleep any day for you.

So my birthday is coming up real soon, and what better present could I ask for than Cheryl moving here! But just in case you were thinking of getting me something, I’ll go ahead and list a few items that are tops on my list.

BBE Free Fuzz

($120, although I found one for $88 on amazon)


Really want this for that vintage Hendrix fuzz sound.
Check out here for a virtual test drive.

Ibanez TS-808

($160)

Classic. These are any true blues musicians must-haves.

Voodoo Labs Microvibe

($150)

I am so sold on this pedal! I was really turned off by the whole uni-vibe sound. But then in Chicago last weekend, I saw some guy rocking one of these in a blues cafe. I couldn’t see exactly what pedal he had, but I couldn’t get the sound out of my head! So I went to Guitar Center today and proceeded to rip on this pedal for like half an hour. I fell in love instantly. The salesman tried to cut me a deal but luckily he couldn’t work it out. Good thing too, cuz I’m broke but I was mclovin it. See for yourself.

Oddyssey White Hot XG #3

($120, or I’ll settle for last year’s model, which is now only $80)
I found this little guy on sale at Golfsmith one day. I just picked it up off the rack and rolled in like five 20′ putts in a row on their practice green. The face is so soft it, it just rolls off the face with no bounce. Plus my idol Phil Mickelson uses the #9, which is probably half the incentive to buy.

. . . . .
So yeah, I’m sure you’re thinking wow, I didn’t even know this stuff existed. Either that or you’re like what is this stuff?! Well, welcome to my life! This is what my life revolves around. Feel free to purchase one for me, or pitch in with a few friends and split the difference! (10 friends, 10 bucks each…?) I know this won’t happen, but hey its worth a shot!

And on that note, stay posted for a possible concert/golf outing on the birthday weekend. Any and all non-local artists are welcome to perfrom. Stay tuned for details!

Those of you who know me well, know that i love fast food. Yes, I’ve watched Supersize Me. Yes, I know how many calories go inside any one value meal. But c’mon, it’s only logical that we love the taste?

Think about it, it’s common sense. Take a slab of meat, load it with salt and preservatives, deep fry it, cover it with more fatty sauce, and serve it up with a side of deep fried, salted potatoes. With all those additives, how can this stuff not taste good!

At my peak, I’ve gone once a week to some sort of fast food establishment – usually Sundays. There’s nothing better than a good football game, some greasy fast food and a long nap to celebrate the Sabbath! Typical hotspots for me include Popeye’s, Chik-fil-a, and Burger King. Some day, in a later entry, I’ll rank them all 1-10. But for now, I’d like to focus on a single one, the king of fast food, the inventor and destroyer of the American hambuger, my all time favorite grease box… McDonalds!

Today I drove into my favorite McDonalds, the one in Union off the parkway, and was absolutely appalled. I went to order my usual – a #9 with a Coke and honey mustard – and was shocked to find that they had reduced the meal from a 10pc back to a 6pc, but didn’t lower the price! Can you believe it?! The cost of a usual 10pce meal had gone up to almost $8!

I scanned the rest of the menu, and saw that a #1 had gone up to $5.99. 6 bux for a Big Mac? No thank you. I remember when a #1 was 4 bux. I could get that and 2 apple pies for a little over 5 bux. Now that is real fast food. What’s up with McDonalds going into the same price range as Applebees or Cracker Barrel. Outrageous I tell you.

I attribute this rise in price to one of 3 reasons:
1) McDonald’s has steadily lost money over the past 5 years due to the whole Supersize Me phenomenon and all the prices across the board are being raised to compensate.
Not likely
2) McDonald’s has to rasie prices in order to fund their newer more quality sandwiches – ie. the chicken club and the Angus burger. In order to keep everything around the same price, they have to raise the prices on the “standard meals” to keep it consistent.
Maybe, but not likely…
3) McDonald’s has raised their prices to attract a more upscale market. This is evident in their construction of new Premium McDonalds that feature designer salads and Panera style sandwiches. Because of the media blitz against them, they are trying to change their image and their customers, and so are driving up prices to drive away us lower class Walmart goers.
Cha ching!

My feeble business mind (or what’s left of it), is noticing the trend in McDonald’s long term business strategy. They’re planning to change their image in the minds of the consumers by first raising their prices, then covertly converting all McDonald’s to Premium McDonalds. Ultimately, they will eventually become a fried food Panera of sorts. Bleh.

Well I see your plan Grimmace and Hamburgler! Rest assured, you and the rest of your band of hooligans will pay for this. I will no longer support your establishment, and henceforth will seek out your competitors to satisfy my addiction to transfats. 1 Billion minus one served Ronald. Touche.

Beautiful.

This picture pretty much sums up where I’ve been. Couldn’t be happier…