tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79683354838485337222024-02-06T21:47:26.497-08:00Two Guys at LunchWe're 40, easily annoyed, a tad funny and eat lunch together every day at Wegmans. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-77628030084426668772015-02-17T05:06:00.000-08:002015-02-17T05:06:03.012-08:00Matt's meatball response<br />
<b><i>Matt here ... </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
I welcomed John's challenge and well, here are the results: <br />
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Part 1<br />
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Part 2<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-91649299215668745612015-02-12T05:27:00.000-08:002015-02-12T05:27:47.575-08:00Wegmans Polpette Large Oven Baked Meatballs<br />
<b><i>John here ...</i></b><br />
<br />
OK, so technically I am not Italian (Dutch and Polish) in that I was bred by parents that didn't have an ounce of Italian in their genes. But when I married my wife, I converted to Italianism through a long and arduous process. My parents may not have been pleased with my decision, but I was old enough to think for myself. The allure of being Italian was just too much for me. I needed to do it. <br />
<br />
There were tests, role playing exercises and accent seminars in order to complete the conversion process. I passed them all with flying colors and had no issue replacing "tomato sauce" with "gravy". I even had "man-a-gut" nailed to a tee and never again uttered "manicotti". I was in.<br />
<br />
Because of my new found heritage, I've had my share of good meatballs over the years. In "Sunday gravy" with my wife's family and through a host of different recipes my wife has experimented with. While I may not be a true connoisseur, I can detect a good meatball when I taste one.<br />
<br />
Now with two adults working and two young and active children, there isn't a ton of time to plan and execute elaborate dinners. You have to pick and choose your battles and more often than not, the meatball is sacrificed.<br />
<br />
Until now that is.<br />
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A few weeks back my wife had been doing some "food research" (and she is damn good at it) and asked me to pick up the package below? From where you ask? C'mon now.<br />
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Yes, <a href="http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&productId=747410" target="_blank">Wegmans Polpette Large Oven Baked Meatballs</a> are from the mecca that is Wegmans.<br />
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Of course I agreed to pick these up since there was a decent chance Matt and I may happen to find our way there.<br />
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That night, the family enjoyed them with spaghetti and our favorite gravy. Holy crap'n crap. They were likea whata mamma made. <br />
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<b><i>Quick aside </i></b>- Italians in Italy (that was fun to write) do not add gravy to their meatballs. Spaghetti and meatballs do not exist. Meatballs are typically a side dish or second course. Here in the USA, we have bastardized them. But I will admit, a meatball parmesan sub is killer.<br />
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<b><i>Aside over </i></b> <br />
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So these Wegmans meatballs are fantastic. I've had them a number of times since and the entire family continues to rave about them. They are super moist even though frozen and damn tastier than any frozen meatball I've ever had, not to mention other homemade meatballs I've sampled.<br />
<br />
A win for busy people.<br />
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But the true test won't come until Matt tries them. He is full blooded Italian from the Bronx and I'm sure he has had his share of dynamite meatballs over the years. I imagine him playing stickball in the street until his mother or grandmother yelled out the window, "Matthew, time for dinner and get your bib."<br />
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So I convinced Matt to give them a try. As you can see here, he bought them with our last run to Wegmans.<br />
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Well that and an endless supply of gum and floss picks.<br />
<br />
So Matt is now on the clock to give these a run and provide his honest feedback. I know I anxiously await the results.<br />
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But before I go, I wanted to share something with you all. I decided to try these Wegmans meatballs sans gravy; simply on their own. I baked 4 of them in the oven and dived in. You can witness my thoughts on this with the following video. <br />
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Not quite a natural behind the camera yet, but I'll get there.<br />
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You're up Matt. The challenge is officially on.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-16821053637550114762015-02-09T15:02:00.000-08:002015-02-09T15:02:38.114-08:00John's top 20 songs of all time<br />
<b><i>John here ...</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
Before I dive into my musical choices, I have to comment on Matt's options. Here is a quick rundown of both his latest "mixed tape" and his top ten list of all time: <br />
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<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><i>Sugar</i></b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> – Maroon 5 - <i>didn't know it was necessary to add this one since you can only hear it on the radio every three minutes. </i></span></div>
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<b><i>Only the Young</i></b> - Journey - <i>I freakin love this song too; it is the quintessential 80's soundtrack song. Although I'm embarrassed to admit I've never seen Vision Quest. </i> </div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><i>These Days</i></b> – Bon Jovi - <i>are they still making music? Does JBJ own the Buffalo Bills or is he the mayor of Rumson? </i></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><i>Until I Find You Again</i></b> – Richard Marx -<i> I refuse to even look this one up. If I'm not mistaken, Matt went on the Richard Marx/Eric Carmen cruise a few years ago. </i></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><i>Something Big</i></b> - Shawn Mendes - <i>are we sure this isn't his son's mix? Mendes is opening for Taylor Swift this summer and can be seen all over Disney Channel. Yes, I knew all that off of the top of my head. </i></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><i>Always on Time</i></b> - Ja Rule and Ashanti - <i>I love not knowing a thing about Ja Rule and I'm going to keep it that way. </i></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><i>Love Never Felt So Good </i></b>– Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake - <i>this song is so Matt you have no idea. </i></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><i>Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)</i></b> – Billy Joel - <i>I like</i></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Scream</b> - Usher -<i> you can take the man out of the Bronx, but you can't take the DJ out of ... wait ... what ... did that make sense? It did to me before I started typing it. </i></span></div>
<b><i><br /></i></b>
And now the top ten list. Wow. Where to begin?<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>My Way</i></b> – Frank Sinatra - <i>not necessarily my fave Frank but this song is still all sorts of awesome.</i><br />
<b><i>New York State of Mind</i></b> – Billy Joel - <i>top three BJ song for me</i><br />
<b><i>I’ve Got the Power</i></b> – Snap - <i>is he kidding? Does this actually qualify as a song? Wasn't it just a sound bite at sports arenas in the early 90's? I would pay to watch Matt sing this in his car. Hint. Hint. </i><br />
<b><i>If You Don't Know Me By Now</i></b> - Simply Red - <i>I would honestly consider this on my bottom ten list. Who would possibly want to know this guy? Blech. </i><br />
<b><i>How Deep Is Your Love</i></b> – Bee Gees - <i>I lean more "More Than a Woman" or "Jive Talkin" but this one is OK. </i><br />
<b><i>Looking For an Echo</i></b> – Kenny Vance - <i>Oh, I didn't realize Matt is 76 years old. </i><br />
<b><i>Hotel California</i></b> –Eagles - <i>I'm not familiar with this song. Must not have been played all that much over the years. </i><br />
<b><i>The Boys Are Back In Town</i></b> - Thin Lizzy -<i> I'm not buying this one. This is an attempt to come off like a rocker. More likely choice here should be New Edition or Color Me Badd. </i><br />
<b><i>Truly</i></b> – Lionel Richie - <i>I like me some Lionel but not this one all that much. </i><br />
<b><i>Lose Yourself</i></b> - Eminem - <i>one of these things is not like the other ... </i><br />
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Now onto my choices.<br />
<br />
They're awesome.<br />
<br />
You're welcome.<br />
<br />
In no particular order:<br />
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<b>Radiohead</b> - Fake Plastic Trees<br />
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<br /><b>Blondie</b> - Tide is High<br />
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<br /><b>Great White</b> - Save Your Love<br />
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<br /><b>Queen</b> - Fat Bottomed Girls<br />
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<br /><b>Radiohead</b> - Paranoid Android<br />
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<br /><b>Sade</b> - King of Sorrow<br />
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<br /><b>My Chemical Romance</b> - Sharpest Lives<br />
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<br /><b>Van Halen</b> - Unchained<br />
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<br /><b>Frank Sinatra</b> - The Way You Look Tonight<br />
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<br /><b>Silversun Pickups</b> - Substitution<br />
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<br /><b>Tesla</b> - What You Give<br />
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<br /><b>Van Halen</b> - DOA<br />
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<br /><b>Badfinger</b> - No Matter What<br />
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<br /><b>System of a Down</b> - Sugar<br />
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<br /><b>Pantera</b> - Walk<br />
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<br /><b>Green Day</b> - Jesus of Suburbia<br />
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<br /><b>Eagles</b> - Peaceful Easy Feeling<br />
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<br /><b>Black Crowes</b> - Sometimes Salvation<br />
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<br /><b>Def Leppard</b> - Mirror, Mirror<br />
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<br /><b>Radiohead</b> - Jigsaw Falling to Pieces<br />
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So there you go.<br />
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All the musical recommendations you'll ever need. <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-31743389004025635992015-02-04T19:49:00.000-08:002015-02-04T19:49:26.509-08:00Matt's top ten songs of all time<div class="MsoNormal">
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<b><i>Matt here</i></b> ...</div>
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Seeing that great picture John posted of Tony Robbins just
got me thinking. No, not that he has some big a$$ teeth and maybe a hair
transplant, but how it doesn’t matter who you are, or where you’re from, that
there has not been a time where you were laying there all slouched on your couch,
changing the channel, ready to pass out (after finishing a batch of salty pretzels
and a vat of diet soda) but stopped when you heard him preaching some powerful
message about changing your life overnight. All of a sudden you hear the
“Rocky” theme song playing in your head and you’re ready for change!</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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OK, so what if that was me a few nights ago? Go ahead, have
your laugh (Hold on - let me dust off the salt crystals that fell on my shirt right
before I passed out in the middle of him telling me how to change my life in 3
short days). Glad I can give you that visual.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tony Robbins is one example of the weird things that drive
my mood and lead to the creation of my next CD masterpiece (and yes, a 10 min Tony Robbins clip made
its way to one of my CD masterpieces that may have also included a song or two
from “NSYNC” or yes one of my favorites “Frank Stallone”. I know, WTF!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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There is no telling what songs could end up on these insane
mixtures of melodies that get me ready in the morning to tackle the world or a
few ballads that make you reach for a Kleenex and want to stay in bed all day
(now who doesn’t love “Careless Whisper”? - and yes, I do own a George Michael
back-pack, so piss off!).</div>
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Every “DJ Matte B” (yes, that was my DJ name back in 1989) compilation
CD consists of a bunch of really fast upbeat songs that range from current top
10 to 25 yrs. old. These musical
extravaganzas are as eclectic as it gets, so I challenge any one of you to top
the examples below…. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Here is an example of one of my CD masterpieces:<br />
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><i><br /></i></b>
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><i>Sugar</i></b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> – Maroon 5</span></div>
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<b><i>Only the Young</i></b> - Journey</div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><i>These Days</i></b> – Bon Jovi</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><i>Until I Find You Again</i></b> – Richard Marx</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><i>Something Big</i></b> - Shawn Mendes</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><i>Always on Time</i></b> - Ja Rule and Ashanti</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><i>Love Never Felt So Good </i></b>– Michael Jackson & Justin
Timberlake</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><i>Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)</i></b>
– Billy Joel</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Scream</b> - Usher</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, addressing John’s challenge. Very hard to do. Here is a
quick stab at my top 10 (In no particular order):<br />
<br />
<b><i>My Way</i></b> – Frank Sinatra<br />
<b><i>New York State of Mind</i></b> – Billy Joel<br />
<b><i>I’ve Got the Power</i></b> – Snap<br />
<b><i>If You Don't Know Me By Now</i></b> - Simply Red<br />
<b><i>How Deep Is Your Love</i></b> – Bee Gees<br />
<b><i>Looking For an Echo</i></b> – Kenny Vance<br />
<b><i>Hotel California</i></b> –Eagles<br />
<b><i>The Boys Are Back In Town</i></b> - Thin Lizzy<br />
<b><i>Truly</i></b> – Lionel Richie<br />
<b><i>Lose Yourself</i></b> - Eminem</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-4200695903876271532015-02-03T15:33:00.000-08:002015-02-03T15:33:30.848-08:00The "Two Guys at Lunch" soundtrack<br />
<i><b>John here ...</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
One of the great pleasures of going out to lunch each day with my BFF is the surprise that awaits once the key enters the ignition and Matt's car radio welcomes me. Over the years I've been greeted by New Kids on the Block (NKOTB to those in the know), plenty of 50's Doo-Wop, Eminem ("You only get one chance") and yes, even inspirational messages from everyone's favorite jawline.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIN-NralJuZfrMXNIHk-XTrPibIlM2XPCWBdYtVPVLt9KWnPO236NsEkF7Imcwm5uU7bFKClgQl1IGE0Qno_J78Emv3ijo18-D-nrRaNyCWPpSmF9uq5RZvksfE5bSSpWxrQBAnpraJw/s1600/Tony-Robbins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIN-NralJuZfrMXNIHk-XTrPibIlM2XPCWBdYtVPVLt9KWnPO236NsEkF7Imcwm5uU7bFKClgQl1IGE0Qno_J78Emv3ijo18-D-nrRaNyCWPpSmF9uq5RZvksfE5bSSpWxrQBAnpraJw/s1600/Tony-Robbins.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b><br />
The soundtrack varies greatly from week to week or even day to day. I still remember being greeted by Adele one summer afternoon and learning that her song was on Matt's "workout playlist".<br />
<br />
Chew on that for a minute.<br />
<br />
I kid you not, "Rolling in the Deep" inspired Matt to bench like 275 lbs. 25 times as if he were at the NFL Combine. Don't believe me? Read <a href="http://twoguysatlunch.blogspot.com/2012/01/greatest-workout-playlist-of-all-time.html" target="_blank">here</a> for proof.<br />
<br />
The dude's musical and inspirational tastes are so all over the place and I love it. It is impossible to pigeon hole. I could go on all day with stories I've learned over the years. From his attendance at a George Michael concert where he excitedly earned a backpack featuring the 5 o'clock shadowed singer to his belting out of "Carry on My Wayward Son" that was legitimately American Idol worthy to his fascination with Sly Stallone's singing brother Frank.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvd38rlFgW3vtzOZdenjolbSQKlw8nE-u2wXgJQRFz9DO3t5hkDQyYqB4oPTanCp_nJ5cTEqODyrgeQ3_CBPdoEwK04sW3qAeK2IZvpbPq5j0saTkJrifFa0Dyt8zxUaKNRdOoBvPMEXI/s1600/Frank+Stallone+Frank+Stallone+Concert+ODBzCLzWsPYl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvd38rlFgW3vtzOZdenjolbSQKlw8nE-u2wXgJQRFz9DO3t5hkDQyYqB4oPTanCp_nJ5cTEqODyrgeQ3_CBPdoEwK04sW3qAeK2IZvpbPq5j0saTkJrifFa0Dyt8zxUaKNRdOoBvPMEXI/s1600/Frank+Stallone+Frank+Stallone+Concert+ODBzCLzWsPYl.jpg" height="236" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Don't believe me? Think I'm making this up? Again, here is your proof.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJ-DD8zCorCNQaxtiVu331Cky2u_iraxKEXNDWbIKBlGfhjAVVCLQmo120amLdSGLFik0aFM80XXgCoEBDuMJThuw2I-EPFK4slKFtHeg3qx3OqZb3Yu5lUydVoHrGTPM5ugpFdksJpQ/s1600/bibbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJ-DD8zCorCNQaxtiVu331Cky2u_iraxKEXNDWbIKBlGfhjAVVCLQmo120amLdSGLFik0aFM80XXgCoEBDuMJThuw2I-EPFK4slKFtHeg3qx3OqZb3Yu5lUydVoHrGTPM5ugpFdksJpQ/s1600/bibbo.jpg" height="290" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The best.<br />
<br />
So with all of this in mind, I thought it would be great entertainment to have Matt share with us his top ten songs of all time. I promise you incredible diversity, some head scratching moments and songs you will not be able to get out of your head for days.<br />
<br />
You're up Matt. <br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-69512583765525079282015-01-28T04:45:00.000-08:002015-01-28T04:45:37.987-08:00Two Pomegranates and a Guy<div class="MsoNormal">
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<i><b>Matt here ...</b></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Yes we are back!!! The Two Guys at Lunch duo is back in full
force and ready to keep you posted on everything from Fage Yogurt to Kale Salad
to Chicken Parm Pizza and Fantasy Sports. </div>
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Most of the time we agree on our
favorite foods and sports topics but for some things we have our own separate
passions. One of John’s passions is water. Plain and simple, the guy loves it. Never
see him without a water bottle. His daily consumption could fill one of those gas
tanks you see on the New Jersey Turnpike. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjcIn-PMSc0KLkJSoP0nqwmg58m6yAaFdkobB-uQDA5XQ4PlAuLYSNEBVjr_TzANkEM-aCj5JUw_aHdUTqhKqsUYtIW5Spz10ZhEYMzA1_d8w98LEr15dqAdZbl4WZtQnjcWCffOfPb0/s1600/tank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjcIn-PMSc0KLkJSoP0nqwmg58m6yAaFdkobB-uQDA5XQ4PlAuLYSNEBVjr_TzANkEM-aCj5JUw_aHdUTqhKqsUYtIW5Spz10ZhEYMzA1_d8w98LEr15dqAdZbl4WZtQnjcWCffOfPb0/s1600/tank.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Quite frankly it pisses me off because I have trouble
getting down a sip of it without having to add some sweetener to it. I know, save your breath, water is the best, I get it. </div>
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Now on to more exciting stuff. </div>
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Let’s talk about one of my
passions. Ahhh those big round juicy (hey!! get ya head outta da gutta) red beauties
that come out every October. Yes, those red beauties are Pomegranates! Seeing
them in stores brings a tear to my eye and an excitement like a 7 year old
running to the tree on Christmas morning. Have them plain, in yogurt (Fage only
of course), smoothies or on a salad and you are in business my friend. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I saw them while John and I were browsing <a href="http://www.wegmans.com/">Wegmans</a> for a few odds and ends (love that
phrase). Once they caught my eye, everything slowed down and I immediately
stopped listening to whatever he was saying. At that moment it was all about me
and the <a href="http://www.pomwonderful.com/">POM’s</a> (Remember, they must
have the little <a href="http://www.pomwonderful.com/">POM</a> sticker or don’t
even bother). </div>
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“Oh what beautiful pomegranates” I said out loud without any
hesitation. Love was in the air! I grabbed two of those perfectly round beauts
(hey!! I told ya, get ya head outta da gutta) and everything was good in my world.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you need a little tip on the how to de-seed these powerful
anti-oxidants, check out my 1 minute video that makes life a little easier when
trying to get to the juicy red seeds.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6qi4DDtcqw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6qi4DDtcqw</a></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-54413277019448040312015-01-26T19:13:00.002-08:002015-01-27T06:03:32.883-08:00Two Guys at Lunch - "Don't call it a comeback" <i><br /></i>
<i>John here</i> ...<br />
<br />
I know it has been over a year since we last posted but let's not dwell on the negative today. We are back and that is all that matters. You asked for it and we felt compelled to give our public what they want; tales of two gentleman eating lunch. I know ... groundbreaking stuff ... and you're welcome.<br />
<br />
<i>Quick history of the past year</i>: With new quirks in our schedules, Matt and I haven't enjoyed each other's company at lunch as often as we'd like. It has been a difficult and trying time, but I think therapy has helped Matt dramatically. I can't always be the rock so it is good to know he can open up to others.<br />
<br />
But the past is in the past (thanks Elsa) and now our schedules are lined up once again and we can get back to that good place. It's 2011 all over again. So buckle up and enjoy the ride, we have a lot of catching up to do.<br />
<br />
Onward to today ... <br />
<br />
We are in the midst of a monumental storm here in the Northeast today (<i>editor's note: the storm ended up totally disappointing, Snowmageddon it wasn't</i>) but that didn't stop Matt and I from making it into the office.<br />
<br />
And hitting up <a href="http://www.wegmans.com/" target="_blank">Wegmans</a> at lunch.<br />
<br />
We were literally the only ones in the parking lot at noon today. Luckily Matt had on his sensible shoes so I didn't have to hold his hand and guide him to the car. <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35WF-IoK4WR3fcchLC_AZ9KHvvA7O-U02VSUW8oLaMDdi2jlRj73GV6bdnpFuwLMpmWzdagbvKn_kiRzg8fBtDyngxf_4-UkPCSfuRyS0Ob-6Jv_0_dRL_CSyaq_KA7mujhb2KzhsOCc/s1600/20150126_113419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35WF-IoK4WR3fcchLC_AZ9KHvvA7O-U02VSUW8oLaMDdi2jlRj73GV6bdnpFuwLMpmWzdagbvKn_kiRzg8fBtDyngxf_4-UkPCSfuRyS0Ob-6Jv_0_dRL_CSyaq_KA7mujhb2KzhsOCc/s1600/20150126_113419.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It was tough sledding getting to the old daily oasis but the end result was never in doubt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihN-3zs5zXqJk396eJFy1AQiVw7oHPCcFMRevBk68l-fZwnlo7PPQGS31v4xkdyRG1tCfWmNUzoOKaGuN9WdiLvWlqS1Xy6ciqC9v70P3q3s30nB3pkbmxfgIUD9mp6zRRJCjcna9Ufac/s1600/20150126_122835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihN-3zs5zXqJk396eJFy1AQiVw7oHPCcFMRevBk68l-fZwnlo7PPQGS31v4xkdyRG1tCfWmNUzoOKaGuN9WdiLvWlqS1Xy6ciqC9v70P3q3s30nB3pkbmxfgIUD9mp6zRRJCjcna9Ufac/s1600/20150126_122835.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
After we grabbed our lunches and found our usual seats, it was comforting to know we still "had it". I totally shrieked out loud when I saw that we bought the exact same beverage. A 42 year old yelling "twinsies" was probably a bit creepy but my emotions got the best of me. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdoDAZODem3Sjaj2lkuYPkY1LTv-MHYQvCR3vyEwZlb4H_FyXa4bz6OzlBe9IOqeFn38Wuxuxc2MJpv_U_2WShfYPUU-wOgJ5-07MtLgFL7926tetVCL3B5xWA7lLB7sq4wjiBa7UNzQ/s1600/20150126_115404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdoDAZODem3Sjaj2lkuYPkY1LTv-MHYQvCR3vyEwZlb4H_FyXa4bz6OzlBe9IOqeFn38Wuxuxc2MJpv_U_2WShfYPUU-wOgJ5-07MtLgFL7926tetVCL3B5xWA7lLB7sq4wjiBa7UNzQ/s1600/20150126_115404.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Between us, we scarfed down:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>3 barbecue chicken wings</li>
<li>Cajun Kettle salad</li>
<li>Buffalo chicken chowder </li>
<li>Sushi</li>
</ul>
We then set out to tour the store for a bit and pick up the bare essentials before the storm really hit.<br />
<br />
Now each lunch typically results in one moment that reminds me why we do this day in and day out. Something that still makes me laugh the next day. Today it was Matt passionately spouting out unprompted, "Those are beautiful pomegranates" as we walked by this display.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZM1QzdwIwvo8m48y3rCx3yOOcG3vV2A2BWD8ktEM3dRWnQz0CyeccuZvwBx-U6mr5S3JpNzyZ_fifsQuUSo2Hacf9LIdvKhEqPvZpyvKqp3rDuQvPZFJ8bUZrEluZyTekIguDY12mmOk/s1600/20150126_122552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZM1QzdwIwvo8m48y3rCx3yOOcG3vV2A2BWD8ktEM3dRWnQz0CyeccuZvwBx-U6mr5S3JpNzyZ_fifsQuUSo2Hacf9LIdvKhEqPvZpyvKqp3rDuQvPZFJ8bUZrEluZyTekIguDY12mmOk/s1600/20150126_122552.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I can't even begin to tell you how much Matt loves pomegranates. In fact, I'll leave that up to a future post from him. Just know that there is a You Tube video out there of Matt's tips on how to navigate the seeds of this complicated and finicky fruit.<br />
<br />
But you would have to agree, those are some good looking pomegranates. Reason #3467 why Wegmans kicks ass.<br />
<br />
As we headed back to the office after another successful lunch and I held on to my newly acquired <a href="http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&productId=677502" target="_blank">organic eggs</a> and <a href="http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&productId=682264" target="_blank">peanut butter stuffed pretzels</a>, I spotted Matt's purchases in his back seat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiB-E8zp7eo4cLvufcHi5e5rZWaKO_ebZAq6Us5QdH5uE0y_axXMXsF3ntAH7BoJS-cU3Z8lKOr_nJhJLL_gLxyTgtx3ykpIVvQ5fFfsTRkE9gLUIhnjpcJbonUSjlEaj70C8UsdEi7BA/s1600/20150126_122912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiB-E8zp7eo4cLvufcHi5e5rZWaKO_ebZAq6Us5QdH5uE0y_axXMXsF3ntAH7BoJS-cU3Z8lKOr_nJhJLL_gLxyTgtx3ykpIVvQ5fFfsTRkE9gLUIhnjpcJbonUSjlEaj70C8UsdEi7BA/s1600/20150126_122912.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Someone was having pomegranate oatmeal tomorrow morning. Nice.<br />
<br />
TGALAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-1066762165798226992013-11-20T16:05:00.003-08:002013-11-20T16:06:38.539-08:00It has been a while<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>John here </i>...</div>
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First off, let me congratulate Matt on being 11.5 lbs down as of this past weekend. Home boy is dominating and it ain't stopping any time soon. To put it in 1980's terms so Matt can comprehend it, he has the "eye of the tiger". Keep on keepin on my brutha.</div>
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It had been two weeks since we were able to get out of the office for lunch together and it was having an affect on our relationship. I found myself very short with him and easily irritated. If I had a work related question for him, he wouldn't give me the time of day when answering. It was a brutal few weeks but these are things we have to endure. You have to really want it in order to make it through.</div>
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We ended our drought this past week and thankfully, didn't miss a beat. It felt like it did back in the early days when we were care free and spontaneous. We were back at <a href="http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HomepageView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&langId=-1&clear=true" target="_blank">Wegmans</a> (one of us dramatically lighter) and all was right with the world.</div>
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I can't remember what Matt ate for lunch but I do remember him schooling me on the benefits of salmon. If it has been written up in <a href="http://www.menshealth.com/mhlists/nutritious_foods_for_a_healthy_body/muscle_enhancer_wild_salmon.php?page=2" target="_blank">Men's Health</a>, Matt has read it and shared it with me. So if I had to guess, he had sushi with salmon ... wait ... now I remember. He had some sort of sushi with sweet potatoes in it. Go figure. I didn't know that it was even a possible to <a href="http://www.tastebook.com/recipes/1928426-Sweet-Potato-Sushi" target="_blank">mix fish and sweet potatoes</a>. But again, I remember also being educated on the top <a href="http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=64" target="_blank">"super foods" and sweet potatoes were at or near the top</a>. </div>
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Dude knows his shit.</div>
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We finished lunch and thankfully had some time to <a href="http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&langId=-1&identifier=CATEGORY_1881" target="_blank">wander the aisles at Wegmans</a>. Because I am just about in the same class as professional bodybuilders, I made a beeline to the protein powder. </div>
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Don't kill the dream. You'll also notice some vanilla yogurts in the basket. Those are the only yogurts my son will eat. Another reason to bow at the altar of Wegmans.<br />
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Each and every time we "shop" after lunch, a trip to the "candy" aisle is a must. Yes I am 41 years old. My choices for the day were the following:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWWddfBug1FP1LPsXKmoOD2QD9EMRA98ZR5LjWRrMYt6eKTXAfoQUtLrtiCkpsJuc78Cab6PP5OnV8VIXvIyaFZIwfZH1Awe9CS09cpuW9iLTw2MZ2EGLPyFkfDrNYZxCGbvdM980N2U/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWWddfBug1FP1LPsXKmoOD2QD9EMRA98ZR5LjWRrMYt6eKTXAfoQUtLrtiCkpsJuc78Cab6PP5OnV8VIXvIyaFZIwfZH1Awe9CS09cpuW9iLTw2MZ2EGLPyFkfDrNYZxCGbvdM980N2U/s400/image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I know, tough call right? <a href="http://www.wildophelia.com/product/beef-jerky/chocolate-bars" target="_blank">Beef Jerky</a> or <a href="http://www.wildophelia.com/product/new-orleans-chili/chocolate-bars" target="_blank">New Orleans Chili chocolate</a>? Both sound so damn good, it is an impossible choice to make. </div>
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I ended up passing on these options because $5.99 for a chocolate bar isn't my idea of a good time. As much as my curiosity was killing me, I just couldn't splurge. So I went back to a personal favorite that didn't break the bank:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTFLxl2kVorace1vrCqCxBd0TMoA6-KGMssEO-AlS2xxSjVn_Ng6XE-XVxteVL4huv2gbxeN4-nvf1peA40ySUdExNBHkIfxyFjevnjAOK1bW3OQoFVA0wOQ_8lMOWKzIwuUeWIEsWJg/s1600/IMAG1117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTFLxl2kVorace1vrCqCxBd0TMoA6-KGMssEO-AlS2xxSjVn_Ng6XE-XVxteVL4huv2gbxeN4-nvf1peA40ySUdExNBHkIfxyFjevnjAOK1bW3OQoFVA0wOQ_8lMOWKzIwuUeWIEsWJg/s400/IMAG1117.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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Chocolate and sea salt "anything" is a winner and this one is no exception. </div>
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Matt, aka Dr. Oz Lite, disappeared and after screaming his name and asking for help at Customer Service, I finally located him in the vitamin/remedy aisle. I snuck up on him and took this pic (cause that is what men in their 40's do, right?). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMS6o6mU_fp4Ll9EaZKcqJQm4c-dC4j3DEjEjPfkPGORRGyvPB7xWifcnXj9WFqGOFYMySoeLpvnKM4e-7cfrWqC_rBn6hVi8Kuosz3A2ZPCBFfqBjAW0_1uDYy0oeLHF7B0sK_4R9G6A/s1600/IMAG1114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMS6o6mU_fp4Ll9EaZKcqJQm4c-dC4j3DEjEjPfkPGORRGyvPB7xWifcnXj9WFqGOFYMySoeLpvnKM4e-7cfrWqC_rBn6hVi8Kuosz3A2ZPCBFfqBjAW0_1uDYy0oeLHF7B0sK_4R9G6A/s400/IMAG1114.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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Do not adjust your monitor, that is him reviewing the <a href="http://www.nuts.com/cookingbaking/chia-seeds/premium.html" target="_blank">nutritional information of chia seeds</a>. What the f? Who is this guy? We're both up on
nutrition and all of the trends, but this is in a new stratosphere. Of
course now that he has since educated me on the benefits of said chia, I
will now be buying it and reaping the benefits as well. One of us can never out
do the other. <br />
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At check-out, I was still laughing at the thought of chia seeds and wouldn't let Matt forget it. But as we exited Wegmans on our way back to the real world, I did something that trumped "Operation Chia".<br />
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True story.<br />
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I came to a halt when I saw a display of ... wait for it ... wait for it ... wait for it ... poinsettias. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih11yoZ2gDuRR_sqMk2SB0d3Yh4b45SGPUwDYC9mroMXxSoL3sR3y6Tx7eecxx1Uw7vE1UTw4wVre0lXWsVj6UyKkIylSpqSmx8aM2DNq5haOLsDNLoTg2rHQVeSwvC3kgJ061J9FC2kY/s1600/IMAG1121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih11yoZ2gDuRR_sqMk2SB0d3Yh4b45SGPUwDYC9mroMXxSoL3sR3y6Tx7eecxx1Uw7vE1UTw4wVre0lXWsVj6UyKkIylSpqSmx8aM2DNq5haOLsDNLoTg2rHQVeSwvC3kgJ061J9FC2kY/s400/IMAG1121.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_2063476920"></span><br />
<span id="goog_2063476920">Many of you know that I am an avid gardener and plant lover but this was taking it too far. </span><br />
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<span id="goog_2063476920">How hideous is that color by the way? </span><br />
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<span id="goog_2063476920">Anyway, I caused a back-up like we were on the Major Deegan and I'm pretty sure I saw Matt drop his head in shame. There were disgruntled housewives in workout clothes everywhere. A rubber-necking delay like no other. </span><br />
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<span id="goog_2063476920">We have yet to discuss my faux pas since and I thank him for that.</span><br />
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<span id="goog_2063476920">All in all, it was good to get back in the groove and hopefully we won't hit such a dry spell again. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-14826755940755189402013-11-14T20:17:00.000-08:002013-11-15T13:55:12.301-08:001 Cup vs 1/2 Cup<br />
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<i>Matt here......</i><br />
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My buddy John is not making this <a href="http://weightwatchers.com/" target="_blank">Weight Watchers</a> mission any easier by posting these insane mouthwatering pictures of <span style="background-color: white; color: #232323; font-family: 'PT Sans'; line-height: 22px;">chocolate caramel sea salt tarts and delightful looking doughnuts that could stop traffic. Thanks John for all the support, I appreciate it. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #232323; font-family: PT Sans;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">This past Saturday yours truly was ready for his weekly weigh-in. I was feeling a bit anxious and wanted to see how I did after being pretty strict and counting every crumb that made it's way into my dish. Saturday mornings are the moment of truth and make me start to second guess myself. I'll say things like, "Maybe I should of had a 1/2 cup of rice instead of a whole cup", "Maybe I could have done without that bowl of cereal" or "I should of added some cayenne pepper to speed-up my metabolism".</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #232323; font-family: 'PT Sans'; line-height: 22px;">Unreal...1 cup vs. 1/2 cup. Mr. Dainty. Wait, let me go put my make-up on and fix my skirt. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #232323; font-family: 'PT Sans'; line-height: 22px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #232323; font-family: PT Sans;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #232323; font-family: 'PT Sans'; line-height: 22px;">During the week you could say I put away a few pomegranates (my favorite), Red Delicious apples the size of pumpkins</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #232323; font-family: 'PT Sans'; line-height: 22px;"> (Thanks Costco) and enough bananas that would make King Kong proud (All zero point foods on WW).</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #232323; font-family: PT Sans;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Being a "carb-oholic", the night before weigh-in I make sure to ease up on all the evil foods and salt. Oh and by the way did I mention that I'm a salt addict </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #232323; font-family: PT Sans;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">as well? Uh Yeah. Can we stack the odds any higher against me succeeding on this mission? On the doctor's scale (conveniently located in the basement next to the exercise equipment that hasn't moved in 2 years) I go. Scared to death that I did something wrong or miscalculated my points during the week, I start to move the little metal scale slider trying to pin-point my weight right down to the quarter pound. Yes, 3 pounds lighter! What a relief, 3 weeks and 9 lbs. Whew, now I can enjoy the rest of my weekend and forget about "</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #232323; font-family: 'PT Sans'; line-height: 22px;">1 cup vs. 1/2 cup"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #232323; font-family: 'PT Sans'; line-height: 22px;">. </span><br />
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Earlier this week, my wife and I went to her favorite place <a href="http://www.wholefoods.com/" target="_blank">Whole foods</a> for lunch. She chose to go with her usual favorite salad stuff (You can bank on some kind of Kale, Cabbage and Beets to be included in that container). I on the other hand went in a different direction and did a little browsing of the various food stations whole foods had to offer. Wouldn't you know, I found myself in a trance at the brick oven pizza station. Sure you must be thinking I was ready to cheat huh? I know, given up on me already. Nope, not me, I went for the Balsamic Broccoli Rabe and Pesto on Flat Bread Pizza. Yeah Baby!<br />
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27 days into this. Stay tuned.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-26316964803033024282013-11-12T18:15:00.000-08:002013-11-15T13:56:07.222-08:00The Best Thing I've Ever Eaten <br />
<i>John here</i> ... <br />
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My wife and I recently ate brunch at our absolute favorite spot -<a href="http://www.lovinovenfrenchtown.com/news.html"> Lovin Oven</a> - in Frenchtown, NJ. This restaurant is off the charts delicious and has an incredible local vibe. You can taste and smell the authenticity and it is the kind of place you could hang in for hours. But enough of my stellar review ... <br />
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About two years ago I was watching the Food Network show -<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/local/nj-frenchtown/lovin-oven-restaurant/index.html#/38.736171/-97.222306/4/"> "The Best Thing I Ever Ate"</a> - and the food being ogled over was a chocolate caramel sea salt tart<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsT0pL_VHGnioFMdWH9y7-PMATM-H2IO6REWowyV4fE0yeEE6pOTQGn75J6P4xJd2Z7PNIRGeksohSmfPRcBE5EMB9ZsQT58caIbumiJJcB2gULnM-JybFuFDgcpf2swoKwi-4EmMuZyg/s1600/lovin-oven-chocolate-caramel-sea-salt-tart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsT0pL_VHGnioFMdWH9y7-PMATM-H2IO6REWowyV4fE0yeEE6pOTQGn75J6P4xJd2Z7PNIRGeksohSmfPRcBE5EMB9ZsQT58caIbumiJJcB2gULnM-JybFuFDgcpf2swoKwi-4EmMuZyg/s400/lovin-oven-chocolate-caramel-sea-salt-tart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Food Network personality discussing this ridiculously sweet looking dessert had me watching with my tongue hanging out. I had never seen anything look this good. And then when it was revealed that this beauty was from Lovin Oven, I almost fainted. You mean I can go like get this in under ten minutes by car? Holy crap'n crap.<br />
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Fast forward two years and I had yet to try it. Even after numerous trips eating at the Oven. Don't ask me why, there is no excuse.<br />
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But that all changed two weeks ago. After brunch my wife and I bought a slice and planned on sampling it as soon as we had room to eat again. That was about 38 seconds after we walked in the door at home. Out came the forks and we went to town.<br />
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Seriously, it was life changing. Decadent doesn't begin to explain it. The combo of caramel/sea salt/chocolate is always a win, but this was beyond that. It was magic and almost painfully good. Three bites in and I was done; it was that rich.<br />
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I think my wife and I talked about the tart for the next hour and that lead to the inevitable discussion of "what was the best thing we ever ate". This topic always pains me as it is an impossible exercise, especially if your memory has started to blur like mine has. I usually tend to blow it off and did this time as well ... until now.<br />
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Yes, welcome to my dissertation on "The Best Things I've Ever Eaten". I have broken it down into 4 categories:<br />
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<b><i>Best appetizer</i></b><br />
<b><i>Best entree</i></b><br />
<b><i>Best dessert</i></b><br />
<b><i>Best drink</i></b><br />
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In line with my discussion on the Lovin Oven tart, today I will pontificate on my favorite dessert. And yes, there was something better than the chocolate sea salt dessert.<br />
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Back in 2000, my wife (and fellow foodie) took a ten day trip to San Francisco and Napa/Sonoma. The goal was to eat and drink ourselves (not necessarily in that order) to oblivion. And we did. Included in that eatapalooza was a trip to the "ultra difficult to get a reservation" <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-french-laundry-yountville-2">French Laundry.</a> It was the pinnacle of our trip. This is one of the top ten (at worst) restaurants in the country and yours truly was nervous about how to handle myself. I'll spare you the details, but just know there were close to ten courses and it was a three hour dinner. And the cast of Friends had been there the night before. I was that f'n cool.<br />
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And then to top it all off, this appeared for dessert: <br />
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I can't even do it justice by trying to explain how fantastic it was. Read the recipe for <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/coffee-and-doughnuts-cappuccino-semifreddo-with-cinnamon-sugar-doughnuts-recipe/index.html">Coffee and Doughnuts</a>
and you'll see what I am getting at. Imagine the best warm doughnut you ever had and then wrap that in another warm doughnut times three. Thrown in the "coffee" and it was death by deliciousness. Not only was it the best dessert I ever had, it was the best thing I've ever eaten. Pinky swear. <br />
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Up next ... best appetizer I've ever eaten. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-91751376259052361462013-11-06T04:46:00.000-08:002013-11-06T04:47:56.122-08:00For the love of Peanut Brittle<br />
<i>Matt here </i>...<br />
<br />
Has your kid ever come home from school with one of those catalogs offering the most delicious looking chocolates? Sweets ranging from dark chocolate truffles to chocolate covered pretzels, cookies, gourmet hot chocolate and yes my all-time favorite, Peanut Brittle.<br />
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Ahhhhhh Peanut Brittle.<br />
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The kind where you run the risk of losing 3 teeth and detaching your gums right from the roof of your mouth. It really is one of my favorites and well worth the risk of requiring some serious dental work.<br />
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The problem with ordering from those catalogs is by the time you get your stuff, your kid is graduating from college. It's true. Recently, I came home from work and noticed a big box in the living room that just came in the mail. It was torn open with papers everywhere from the packaging but my eyes made it right to the box of gold. The Brittle. Our eyes made contact and for a moment everything just STOPPED (slight pause) and all I could hear is Etta James sing....."Attttt laaast....my love has come along". For a moment it felt like it was just me and the Peanut Brittle alone in the room. The box I ordered from like 3 years ago had finally arrived.<br />
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So hear I am 18 days into counting Weight Watchers points and having to figure out how I am fitting in this sugary beast into my daily point allowance. There is no way I'm turning my back on this one.<br />
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Like most things on Weight Watchers you have to weigh your portions. I know, big pain in the ass. But if your gonna do it right you need a scale.<br />
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So, I break out the scale, tear open my new box of happiness and check to see how much of this brick with nuts (I said "brick") I can have.<br />
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3 points for this little niblet? Are you kidding me? Please look at that picture. Talk about portion control. This wouldn't satisfy a gnat. <br />
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So to make sure I don't have more then a fairy fly portion, I put them in 3 point Ziploc bags.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4T9QURAHJVDr6xkE9Pe3pJoRKBk7GSXGzDgcPSTIwcPeeA3GfgPXluPGEbBwa5oxTLgUXTf-x9ngKHWJU2PpGFdHYwNx9vRIRSc_dlozNE7W8PuEujmUPwwP4CtP_-RsFA1NjedOiwY/s1600/peanut+brittle+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4T9QURAHJVDr6xkE9Pe3pJoRKBk7GSXGzDgcPSTIwcPeeA3GfgPXluPGEbBwa5oxTLgUXTf-x9ngKHWJU2PpGFdHYwNx9vRIRSc_dlozNE7W8PuEujmUPwwP4CtP_-RsFA1NjedOiwY/s320/peanut+brittle+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The next order I place is for the <span style="text-align: start;">gourmet hot chocolate</span>, that has to be lower in points, I think. </div>
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Until next time. </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-87316491888152997782013-11-04T18:06:00.001-08:002013-11-06T04:48:35.044-08:00My yogurt evolution <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>John here ... </i><br />
<br />
<br />
I still remember the day, roughly 33 years ago, when I was watching the nightly news on TV (I was that evolved at age 8) and heard that the <a href="http://www.learnvest.com/2011/04/yogurt-the-healthy-secret-to-a-long-life/">key to living to one hundred years of age was eating yogurt</a>. This isn't the case of a fuzzy memory all these years later; I distinctly remember hearing those exact words and the effect it had on me. I was terrified of the concept of "death" at that age so the idea of living to three digits was one I took very seriously.<br />
<br />
But I had a big problem ... the idea of yogurt disgusted me, like big time.<br />
<br />
I could not watch someone mix the "fruit on the bottom" without dry heaving:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrFQ-hUtU8OoPwVMh9pePbGXxBp2nYfqvwMQHelmHq5NrzgILkhqyohOakuDMHHfLM7Mjv8L-FA0ERgxO05xL1MTvHajumgiCdlpzoyIKkU-pcWElNN5pwtQAQcGrVH6NYvCtN1V2jZk/s1600/dannon.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrFQ-hUtU8OoPwVMh9pePbGXxBp2nYfqvwMQHelmHq5NrzgILkhqyohOakuDMHHfLM7Mjv8L-FA0ERgxO05xL1MTvHajumgiCdlpzoyIKkU-pcWElNN5pwtQAQcGrVH6NYvCtN1V2jZk/s400/dannon.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
It looked so lumpy and curdled and that smell .... oh lord that smell ... it was like a combination of baby puke and spoiled milk. I could not imagine taking even one bite without vomiting all over the walls.<br />
<br />
I had to accept that I would die way too young.<br />
<br />
Fast forward 24 years and I was ready to embrace the idea of yogurt again. Healthy eating was finally on my radar and I was mature enough to give yogurt another whirl. I started with Dannon blueberry (the only one I was willing to try) and meticulously mixed the fruit and yogurt to the best consistency possible. <br />
<br />
It wasn't too awful, but I didn't like it by any means. I fought on, determined to make myself enjoy it and its numerous benefits. Truth was though, this wasn't going to last. I was going to have to seek out my nutritional benefits elsewhere until ... I discovered "pre-mixed" yogurts, specifically: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJj1qwvE3SuSFNPmLhkoaqbyi-6mNJU5vqAfvu9X3Ol8bLPAFM3Xh1IwQkp5Z761j3Xh1k8uF0GWAnOM6M0DqqcoCVRox4VAIAjx0yfkaVGkYQIhqhrp6ka-c6YOD0M9FZk7ujc-6Img/s1600/Dannon+Light+&+Fit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJj1qwvE3SuSFNPmLhkoaqbyi-6mNJU5vqAfvu9X3Ol8bLPAFM3Xh1IwQkp5Z761j3Xh1k8uF0GWAnOM6M0DqqcoCVRox4VAIAjx0yfkaVGkYQIhqhrp6ka-c6YOD0M9FZk7ujc-6Img/s320/Dannon+Light+&+Fit.JPG" width="297" /></a></div>
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The texture was perfectly smooth, that nightmare smell was eliminated and the taste was, well, bearable. But bearable was good. I was back on my path to living until the big century mark. <br />
<br />
So now let's jump ahead a few more years, and I'm back to blowing off yogurt again. It just wasn't tasty enough to keep my interest but dammit, I knew that yogurt was too damn good to simply disregard.<br />
<br />
And with that, we welcomed in the era of "greek yogurt". When <a href="http://www.prevention.com/food/healthy-eating-tips/what-greek-yogurt">comparing to your "traditional" yogurt</a>, there was no comparison: <br />
<br />
<i>Thicker consistency</i> - check<br />
<i>Double the protein</i> - check<br />
<i>Fewer carbs</i> - check<br />
<br />
I was all in and ready to make it a permanent part of my morning dining routine.<br />
<br />
So I jumped right on the <a href="http://chobani.com/home/">Chobani</a> bandwagon.<br />
<br />
Vanilla was my flavor of choice and I added fresh blueberries, homemade granola and whatever else fit my fancy. I swear to you I physically felt a difference. It was as if the bacteria was eating the badness out of my intestines. For the next year or so, I probably had yogurt 5 out of every 7 mornings and as a snack 1 or 2 additional days.<br />
<br />
But best of all, it tasted phenomenal. Home boy was hooked.<br />
<br />
But we're not finished there. No, it gets even better. <br />
<br />
One day, a few months ago, my wife was eating this yogurt with a bunch of greek symbols on the container. The packaging looked odd to me but she insisted it was "to die for". I inspected these little cups and was intrigued by the separate compartment that held the fruit/mix-in. Was I up for the process of mixing in again? I was still damaged by this concept from my childhood.<br />
<br />
My wife insisted that once I tried this yogurt, I would be hooked. She even referred to it as "tasting like a dessert". How could I not try it? She has never once steered me wrong (Steel Magnolias being the exception).<br />
<br />
I tried one with "honey" and mixed it in as well as I possibly could. After one bite, I knew this was the real deal. Holy thickness, smoothness and creaminess. This stuff was killer. But we're not done yet (bet you never knew yogurt could be this dramatic?).<br />
<br />
I tried a few other varieties of my new favorite greek yogurt but one was emerged as the victor: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyc0AlFiT5YjEnRatJ0wcWw07upK6FZ10PnAhVNn44QLXl8B_3CNk3YeqmHK_52wxbySVGmLPiXIQHN_N8ilp2i8IEQhfw9Jn5we4UAD5S6htN3IKPgHSHrMInUKI-zhdIrrXSIu5JiGo/s1600/fage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyc0AlFiT5YjEnRatJ0wcWw07upK6FZ10PnAhVNn44QLXl8B_3CNk3YeqmHK_52wxbySVGmLPiXIQHN_N8ilp2i8IEQhfw9Jn5we4UAD5S6htN3IKPgHSHrMInUKI-zhdIrrXSIu5JiGo/s640/fage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://usa.fage.eu/">Fage blueberry yogurt</a>. Holy deliciousness.<br />
<br />
As I mentioned before, the blueberry mix is in its own attached compartment: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczdhdfMR5mcAOBau09fPN6-SUGYTN7RoYawQEMCZQ0PC3U9UzKVdM_eNERHF_xB5sjaUIj6D0W68Txac0SZhOM_HqN2MwfS2qrIyiN5xEplVqp85tA1XKR-VesqCgeRwqXBNVHkh77Mo/s1600/fage+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczdhdfMR5mcAOBau09fPN6-SUGYTN7RoYawQEMCZQ0PC3U9UzKVdM_eNERHF_xB5sjaUIj6D0W68Txac0SZhOM_HqN2MwfS2qrIyiN5xEplVqp85tA1XKR-VesqCgeRwqXBNVHkh77Mo/s640/fage+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I mixed it in with ease and was a happy camper. But guess what? You guessed it, yet even more yogurt excitement. <br />
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Turns out, you aren't supposed to mix in/blend the blueberries into the yogurt. Nope, if you look carefully, the label on the container indicates one should take a dab of the blueberries and then dip it in the yogurt:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwr7M6q1zyJwbO98NRx671eu-0SjGObf1FRQGLtYPCqlfZSUS5YQtpVok7F1QCOIk9QqnEY_Cegt40_qo6sh9f3P2Y7CIzeIVKwo7zf80yySqi9l17lxjhyphenhyphen0fH45C1QdogKidxlb52uKM/s1600/fage+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwr7M6q1zyJwbO98NRx671eu-0SjGObf1FRQGLtYPCqlfZSUS5YQtpVok7F1QCOIk9QqnEY_Cegt40_qo6sh9f3P2Y7CIzeIVKwo7zf80yySqi9l17lxjhyphenhyphen0fH45C1QdogKidxlb52uKM/s640/fage+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Dude, this is magical stuff. Perfection.<br />
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I have it EVERY morning and I would pay $10 a pop for these beauties. No lie.<br />
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I have found my yogurt and there ain't no going back.<br />
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See you in 2072.<br />
<br />
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John Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-66654714140128100592013-10-31T21:24:00.000-07:002013-11-06T04:49:07.952-08:00Food - It's a sick but tasty habit<br />
<i>Matt here ... </i><br />
<br />
As John mentioned in his last post, we are incredibly excited to share with you all things food related. How it impacts our every move and why it's in our every thought. Well maybe not every thought, but every other thought. Food is the main ingredient in our "Bromance". Allow us to now take you into our culinary world where we will reveal all of our deep, dark secrets and bizarre habits we both share around one of life's greatest pleasures ... food.<br />
<br />
The opening line to one of my favorite movies is "As far back as I could remember I always wanted to be a gangster". Don't know the movie? You're no friend of mine. Google it and get back to me.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I can relate to that line since my life is kinda similar in that "As far back as I could remember I was always fat". Not big boned or husky or stocky, just plain fat. Plain and simple. No sugar coating allowed. I feel the need to keep it real or keep it to myself (I think I just made that line up).<br />
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Back in the summer of 2012 I lost 55 lbs. Big accomplishment. I was on top of the world. I did everything by the book and swore I would never go back to old habits.<br />
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WRONG.<br />
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1 year and 55 new "friends" later, all at about a pound each, and I was back to square one. Ugh, watta waste.<br />
<br />
I "met" my 55 new friends due to some weird eating habits:<br />
- Eating too many potato chips because the bag said "100% Whole Grain".<br />
- Eating too many Edy's Ice Pops because they were "sugar free".<br />
- Eating too much ice cream because it was "1/2 the fat".<br />
- Eating too much <a href="http://www.brooksidechocolate.com/usa/products/dark-chocolate-acai-blueberry">dark chocolate covered Acai berries</a> - dark chocolate and Acai is good for you, right?<br />
- Eating one too many bowls of cereal because it had "Flax Seed"<br />
- Drinking too much diet soda. Hey, it's diet right?<br />
- Spending 30 minutes <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqwwsEcVXU0">peeling a Pomegranate</a> and following it up an hour later with a Ham and Cheese on Italian Bread (Hey it's OK, I had the Pomegranate earlier).<br />
<br />
Now do you see the sick mentality I have?<br />
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On a positive note, today is day 13 on <a href="http://www.weightwatchers.com/index.aspx">Weight Watchers</a> for me and I am down 5 lbs so far. I'm back to logging points and weekly weigh-ins. It's tough, but so is pushing past XXL.<br />
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The one thing I would say will never end, is the obsession I have with needing food for the long ride home from work. I pack it religiously every day as it is my security blanket. For example, today was an apple and <a href="http://chobani.com/home/">Chobani Yogurt </a>with of course ... wait for it ... wait for it ... POMEGRANATES!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKjS1kposR8o0FFcJJPiXYqcEBcOmQSTGzOXab9qs5m-EBxj1z3yRKq3LRt3C8WUvLAg5XYP1m0JV_eAd9Fel6_TS685u389o_vjYCkIPPt4p7ZGL2RAqvQOkbRQBGC-PfiMgNUwP_AE/s1600/car+food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKjS1kposR8o0FFcJJPiXYqcEBcOmQSTGzOXab9qs5m-EBxj1z3yRKq3LRt3C8WUvLAg5XYP1m0JV_eAd9Fel6_TS685u389o_vjYCkIPPt4p7ZGL2RAqvQOkbRQBGC-PfiMgNUwP_AE/s400/car+food.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>
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I'll continue to monitor my successes and failures here and even share some of my absolutely amazing tips. <br />
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Let's do this.<br />
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Matt Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-21881016105360290182013-10-28T18:37:00.000-07:002013-11-06T04:49:40.585-08:00A road trip of terror leads to new blog direction<br />
<i>John here ... </i><br />
<br />
We have tried to update this blog on a semi-regular basis and if you look back over the last year or so, you will see that we have failed miserably.<br />
<br />
Well, here we are yet again, ready to announce a new direction.<br />
<br />
Actually, let me rephrase that. Our original "new direction" lasted all of one day before we realized what our true direction should be.<br />
<br />
Allow me to explain.<br />
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For years now, I've been fascinated by <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/clinton-road-jersey-most-terrifying-road-u-194000764.html">"the most terrifying road in the U.S"</a>, Clinton Road in West Milford, New Jersey. If you read the Wikipedia page dedicated to this horror-filled road <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_Road_%28New_Jersey%29">here</a>, you'll see it has quite the interesting history. I have vowed to visit this road at night to witness the paranormal activity in person, but never found the time to do it, until one day at work when I decided Matt was going to be my passenger. I knew Matt was scared of his own shadow (I can't even say the word "exorcist" in his presence) and thought it would be <strike>hilarious</strike> entertaining to bring him along. I convinced him it would be a great bonding experience to attempt the ten mile trek back and forth and see if we could stay alive doing so. He reluctantly <strike>was coerced</strike> agreed and we formally set a date.<br />
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That date was last Monday night.<br />
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I secretly hoped for some sort of "incident"; a zombie attack or a hybrid freaky animal attack or even the car breaking down unexpectedly. I get a rush from that stuff, especially after consuming The Walking Dead and American Horror Story over the past few years. <br />
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Matt, on the other hand, prayed for nothingness.<br />
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After work last Monday night, Matt followed me in his car as we headed towards Clinton Road and our impending doom. The plan was to find somewhere to eat dinner along the way and then leave my car in the parking lot there so we could drive and experience the fear together. We eventually settled on an Italian restaurant in a strip mall (not too many of those in NJ ... right) where we had a lousy dinner (more on that later).<br />
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After eating, I grabbed my camera, a zombie survival kit and a copy of my last will and testament and hopped in Matt's car. Off we went ready to document our experience.<br />
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I won't divulge what happened on our drive, but will tell you it was relatively free of terror yet pretty damn intense. The highlight was one lonely creature that sent Matt into a tailspin ... but let me stop there. I'll let the video below (more audio than video) tell the story.
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/B9TWWi9yKag?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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As you can now tell, Matt was excitable and damn entertaining. We had a ton of fun and enjoyed the experience immensely.<br />
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So now back to the "new direction" of this blog.<br />
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Together, we had discussed taking more trips like the aforementioned Clinton Road adventure and filming them all. It seemed like an interesting and potentially funny new angle ...<br />
<br />
Until we realized that all we wanted to talk about after that drive of horror was our unsatisfying dinner.<br />
<br />
We were consumed with the fact that the sandwiches we ordered in this nice establishment did not come with any chips or even a pickle on the side. Not even a single parsley garnish.<br />
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I was appalled that my Chicken Milanese sandwich had crappy iceberg lettuce and only a drop of balsamic vinegar.<br />
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Matt was critical of the weak attempt at fresh mozz on his sandwich.<br />
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As we rehashed our crappy dinner, we came to the realization that an easily forgotten dinner can trump the most terrifying road in the U.S. FOOD is our everything. Hell this blog started because we were so consumed with our daily lunches.<br />
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So as we now move forward with this blog, it will focus on food and the role that it plays in both of our daily lives. We'll investigate Matt's obsession with <a href="http://chobani.com/home/">Chobani</a> and pomegranates. I'll teach you the appropriate way to eat an apple while driving. We'll take a tour of local eateries and show you how to shop at <a href="http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreDetailView?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&productId=347943">Wegmans</a> in 15 minutes or less. Matt will share his tips on following the Weight Watchers diet (already down 5 lbs in week one, big props to him!) and oh so much more.<br />
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Stick with us this time, we promise to deliver.<br />
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TGAL Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-21506924199548660452013-09-19T19:16:00.001-07:002013-11-06T04:50:06.254-08:00A BLK lunch <br />
<i>John here ... </i><br />
<br />
So here's the routine:<br />
<br />
I walk to Matt's desk without saying a word.<br />
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He gets up and we walk out of the building without a bit of kvetching.<br />
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We get in his car, close the doors and head out to Wegmans for lunch.<br />
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The second the car starts moving, we start chatting like two 13 year old girls and catch up on the others activities from the prior 24 hours.<br />
<br />
We pull into the Wegmans parking lot, park in the same row, enter through the automatic doors and walk into heaven.<br />
<br />
Once inside, we split up and never do we consult on our lunch options.<br />
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We each pay, head upstairs and reconvene at one of three tables that overlooks the fruit displays.<br />
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After sitting down, we each take a quick peek at what the other purchased, suffer some order envy and then dive in and gleefully chow down like it is our Last Supper.<br />
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This routine never really changes and we like it that way.<br />
<br />
So today we are in our seats and just about ready to scarf down our turkey wrap and chicken parm respectively, when we both notice that without any prior discussions, we both purchased the exact same beverage. Not all that out of the ordinary normally, but this was downright bizarre. The beverage of choice was one neither of us had ever tried before but for reasons only the Lord can tell us, we both bought <a href="http://getblk.com/">BLK water.</a><br />
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Matt with his:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcoNC15RPGYhgOMvFFu3cagFXHCvXGTfbUFeXBr_aqZeg9FnC7vjS5QrcD28j8qSH1fsl7tD1VTbG6-3SJvN46A0tTAEVL6jlcfLwARBNW1LzDsBZKK60H6-JJObcRdEcnDIMV6Q3quQ/s1600/blk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcoNC15RPGYhgOMvFFu3cagFXHCvXGTfbUFeXBr_aqZeg9FnC7vjS5QrcD28j8qSH1fsl7tD1VTbG6-3SJvN46A0tTAEVL6jlcfLwARBNW1LzDsBZKK60H6-JJObcRdEcnDIMV6Q3quQ/s640/blk.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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And me with mine:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSot_2aZZgPmbUZfr74iZb5UCQYi76fNsQudJSsULc5XDIRcsV8vt_pJSXevdjWoK9tH94MD7FJhyphenhyphenw_neomMT08u86wfi7VU9JwqzaMfi76JPXmNH7EqKErRcZ9g-v8CvbJMY0T0uQdQw/s1600/wegspic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSot_2aZZgPmbUZfr74iZb5UCQYi76fNsQudJSsULc5XDIRcsV8vt_pJSXevdjWoK9tH94MD7FJhyphenhyphenw_neomMT08u86wfi7VU9JwqzaMfi76JPXmNH7EqKErRcZ9g-v8CvbJMY0T0uQdQw/s640/wegspic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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First off, yes we took these pics in clear view of numerous other diners but didn't give a rat's arse. This was too good not to capture on film.<br />
<br />
Secondly, for those of you who watch the fascinatingly entertaining show <a href="http://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-new-jersey?__source=ggl|real+housewives+of+new+jersey|Real+Housewives+NJ|G_AlwaysOn&sky=ggl|real+housewives+of+new+jersey|Real+Housewives+NJ|G_AlwaysOn&gclid=CLmTz9T02LkCFQai4AodYF8Aqg">Real Housewives of New Jersey</a>, you know this is the product that is run by the Manzo boys and their uncle Chris Laurita. Matt and I could write a thesis on why this show represents the the universe in general but that is a story for another day (in fact, Matt promises a future post on why he wishes Chris Laurita was his uncle - and yes, it will not be creepy one bit).<br />
<br />
We have talked in the past about finally trying this water but never talked about when we would do it. To have this occur at the same time was kismet. And let me tell you, the water was damn good. Refreshing and delicious and I was less affected by the black coloring than I thought I would be. I think we both know this will be a drink in our lunch repertoire for the foreseeable future.<br />
<br />
But the best part of this BLK and <a href="http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HomepageView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&langId=-1&clear=true">Wegmans</a> mash-up, is that the crew from the RHONJ will be at OUR Wegmans this Sunday promoting their new flavored BLK beverages. Are you friggin kidding me? If you tell me Joe Gorga will also be there, I may pass out. Matt and I are still working out our plan to stop by and <strike>stalk</strike> say "Hi" so more to come on that one.<br />
<br />
To top off yet another fantastic lunch, Matt followed up with a tweet to the BLK gang and guess who responded?
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Thanks! Enjoy! RT <a href="https://twitter.com/mattb17">@mattb17</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CarolineManzo">@CarolineManzo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/chris_manzo">@chris_manzo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AlbieManzo">@AlbieManzo</a> Getting ready for my 1st BLK <a href="https://twitter.com/Wegmans">@Wegmans</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23blk&src=hash">#blk</a> <a href="http://t.co/S71hnu9dmL">pic.twitter.com/S71hnu9dmL</a><br />
— Chris Laurita (@chris_laurita) <a href="https://twitter.com/chris_laurita/statuses/380755812060495872">September 19, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Pretty cool, eh?<br />
<br />
<br />
TGAL <br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-12864749234948234462013-09-16T17:29:00.000-07:002013-11-06T04:50:35.698-08:00Wegmans or Bust <!--[if !mso]>
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<i>John here ... </i><br />
<br />
Wegmans is Disney World.<br />
<br />
When we walk through the doors each afternoon at approximately 12:09 P.M., it feels like we've escaped to an imaginary world of culinary adventures. I swear to you, even the nastiest of business dudes has a smile on his face as he surveys what deliciousness is on tap for the day. At that moment, the outside world doesn't exist as it is all about eating and even some singing and dancing if you're in the mood. Matt has been known to grab a chef and polka with them. <br />
<br />
Nothing will get in the way of Matt and I finding our way to Wegmans for lunch. We found our way there right after Hurricane Sandy convinced that they would miraculously find power through a higher being in order to serve us. We have navigated snowstorms just to get a Cajun Kettle Salad with extra chicken. I'm sure even after Matt and I retire, we will find a way to meet up there as it has become a part of our DNA.<br />
<br />
Which brings us to last week.<br />
<br />
Actually, let me allow Matt to take us through it as it was another example of our determination to never eat lunch outside of the Bridgewater, NJ Wegmans. <br />
<br />
Go on Matt ...<br />
___________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Thanks John ...<br />
<br />
As we have mentioned in numerous posts in the past, John and I would rather
have our pinkie toe clipped off then miss a lunch "date" together. Missing that
moment at 11:55 A.M. at the office, when we both look at each other and say “You Ready?” is
music to our ears. </div>
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It’s a moment that says it’s OK to say what you want and
unload on anything that comes to mind without any need to self-edit. It’s a moment
that feels free of any judgment or criticism. The floor is yours at that time,
so use it or lose it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This precious hour is used to update each other on what’s
going on in each of our lives and any other burning "manly" topics that need to
be addressed like “The Real Housewives of NJ”, “The Bachelor” or the last
episode of “Snooki & JWOW”. Did you expect us to watch anything different?
OK, John does watch “Homeland” and “American Horror Story” and I watch “Live
with Kelly and Michael” but that’s a story for another post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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This past week it rained like nobody’s business. I mean it friggin poured. Did
that stop the dynamic duo? Ummm let me think ... ahhh no. As we were about to exit
the building we stepped aside, looked at each other, muttered "You Ready?” and made the mad dash to my car.<br />
<br />
Being the portly fellow that I am
(a nice way of saying fat) you have to make sure your belt is extra
tight or these suckers are falling to my ankles when any kind of running
occurs. I tightened my belt and off we went. </div>
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Lets just say I felt like I was sprinting but it’s really
just a lot of movement with not much progress. Speed never comes into the equation when your
talking about me and running. On the flip side, John, Mr. Bruce Jenner, is
running like he’s in the NYC marathon. He’s got the running thing down to a T.
Perfect form, like watching a deer run. </div>
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Lucky Bast$#% he is. I on the other hand
am dying with every breath hoping we don’t have to call an ambulance to pick me
up.<br />
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I wanna eat before that happens.</div>
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The rain stops just as we get in the car. That’s just
awesome. We are completely soaked. Keep in mind my clothes are heavy even when
they are dry, but now they are dripping buckets of water, it feels like I’m
carrying another person on my back. It’s hard being me. </div>
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It was so bad, here
is a picture of me John took after we finally got to the car. I was drenched.</div>
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Lunch was it’s usual awesomeness discussing everything from
fantasy sports to Howard Stern to what we wanna be when we grow up. Riveting
stuff. This is what life is all about. Making time for the
important stuff, family, friends, a 7 inch whole wheat sub loaded with cold
cuts that could choke a horse and a zero calorie pomegranate drink. Hey I’m
trying to eat healthy.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-90891231063946519812013-08-09T16:04:00.001-07:002013-11-06T04:51:02.843-08:00Cashier peer pressure<br />
<i>John here ... </i><br />
<br />
I know that I have the maturity level of a 15 year old. There is nothing that can be done to change it so why bother fighting it? I can hide it well when the moment calls for it but just know it is simmering at the surface. <br />
<br />
Case in point. <br />
<br />
Matt and I were at lunch the other day and after stuffing our immature faces with sushi and sweet and sour chicken, we did some shopping/strolling around Wegmans before heading back to work. <br />
<br />
We picked up a few things - Matt some newly designed dark chocolate bar with antioxidants and me some vitamin the all-knowing Dr. Oz suggested - and headed to the cashier. <br />
<br />
Matt was first in line and was greeted with a friendly face as his purchases slid down the conveyor <br />
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The cashier then innocently asked Matt is he wanted to donate a dollar to "blank" charity. Without thinking much of it, he mutterred "Nah, I'm good." <br />
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I completely lost it. Giggling like a schoolboy. <br />
<br />
"Nah I'm good" sounded to me like the cashier was <b>offering</b> him a dollar and he was turning it down. I don't know if anyone else would have even given this a second thought, but my inner 5th grader couldn't let it go. <br />
<br />
But then it was my turn to receive the offer and I began to panic. What is the correct response? There was a large crowd behind and all around us and I didn't want to piss anyone off. <span id="goog_804773897"></span><span id="goog_804773898"></span><br />
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Very quickly, I ran through all of the possible responses to the charity request: <br />
<br />
1)"<b>No thank you</b>" - simple enough but again, I am not being offered the money so this doesn't really apply. <br />
<br />
2)"<b>Oh, I've previously donated</b>" - that's great and noble, but we're talking a dollar here. <br />
<br />
3)"<b>Um sure, I'll donate</b>" - but now "they've" won. I am only doanting because of peer pressure and that defeats the whole purpose of being charitable, doesn't it? <br />
<br />
4)"<b>Tell me more about how my dollar can make a difference</b>" - OK, this was never really an option <br />
<br />
5)"<b>Mumble, mumble, no</b>" - this was the winner!<br />
<br />
I think there was some disgust from my fellow shoppers but we quickly bolted out of the store without looking back. <br />
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On the car ride back to work, I was still laughing thinking about "Nah, I'm good" and I'm still not sure if it is really all that funny but damn if it doesn't crack me up. I love those small and unassuming interactions that most people blow off or quickly forget. We can take those moments and overanalyze them for days. I don't know if that makes us keen observers or two guys who need to focus more on the important things in life. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-64722433103735360662013-06-24T19:08:00.001-07:002013-09-20T07:11:09.270-07:00When did the meatball sandwiches end?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Quintessential lunch at Wegmans today. <br />
<br />
As Matt and I carefully located our sushi, turkey wraps, sweet potato chips and pear and provolone salads, I noticed a bunch of dudes who walked in with dirty, ripped t-shirts and big ass boots. I watched their entire lunch grabbing spree as they grabbed meatball subs, Fritos and Mountain Dews. As I stood there in my stellar polo shirt and nicely ironed khaki pants, I wondered when it all changed. When did my lunches become so ... sensible and ... healthy ... and non "guy" like? How did Matt and I start eating when we first started going to Wegmans every day for lunch eight years ago? I wouldn't change a thing, but it was a telling moment. Most people eat lunch at their desks or in a cafeteria or on a picnic table and don't give it much thought. Matt and I? We philosophize the entire time, and I friggin love it.<br />
<br />
But it gets better.<br />
<br />
After downing our lunch and taking the last sips of our Honest Teas, Matt and I gave each other the look. Not that kind of look you heathen ... the look that said "Let's shop". So off we went to the aisle where we spend most of our time, the candy aisle (Sounds creepy, huh? Two 40 year olds cruising the candy aisle).<br />
<br />
Matt was reading up on all the exotic chocolate, like this ridiculously priced "bacon bar": <br />
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When he came across another one that he vehemently hated and vowed to never eat again: <br />
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Just as he was ripping on all things chipotle and chocolate, a woman came up to him and said "Seriously? That is my absolute favorite!" That led to a ten minute discussion on high end chocolate between the three of us that was as stimulating as any conversation I've had in a long time. And the best part was that we never found it to be odd or uncomfortable. In fact, it was right in our wheelhouse. What have we become?</div>
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After the last sea salt and caramel dissertation ended and we said our goodbyes, Matt grabbed his purchase for the day and we headed out. And I swear to you, I am not making this up, this is what he bought:</div>
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"Love poem inside"? Bet construction boot guys would approve,eh?</div>
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TGAL </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-16799243311670158252013-06-21T17:01:00.000-07:002013-09-20T07:11:30.765-07:00Goodbye Tony Soprano<br />
<b><i>John here</i></b>: I still hear the theme music in my head from time to time, "Woke up this morning, got yourself a gun", and wish I could watch Tony Soprano walk down the driveway in his robe to grab the newspaper one last time. <br />
<br />
No show has ever pulled me in more than The Sopranos and not only because the backdrop was my beloved New Jersey; the writing and character development was near perfect. Important plot points were never wrapped up in a nice little bow and I found myself hating the characters I loved most of the time. It was messy and that was appropriate. Even the "fade to black" ending makes so much sense now and was a brilliant way to end it all.<br />
<br />
So in memory of James Gandolfini, I've asked Matt to interpret three different photos of Tony Soprano as only he can. If I was an obsessive watcher of the show, Matt was obsessive to the 2nd power. He's that guy who has every line from the Pine Barrens episode memorized.<br />
<br />
Off we go ... <br />
<br />
<b><i>Matt here</i></b>: First let me say that I am crushed that James Gandolfini is no longer with us. He was a tremendous actor who created a memorable character that will go down as one of the best in television history. Rest in Peace Mr. Gandolfini.<br />
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<b>Photo #1</b></div>
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This is Tony at his best. Clearly pissed off and annoyed. No, it's not by what is going on at the table, but by something he's still steaming over that happened back at the Bing. Maybe someone ate his Lo-Mein that he had hidden in the fridge that he was thinking about all the way there or maybe it was just as simple as him finding out Vito was seen at a bar wearing a motorcycle outfit dressed like one of the Village People. That would piss me off too.<br />
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<b>Photo #2</b></div>
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This is clearly the crew going to have a sit down to discuss who said "Ginny Sacramoni had a 95 lb mole removed from her ass.". Now that's not nice.<br />
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<b>Photo #3</b></div>
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This one reminds me of the softer side of "T"; charming, respectful, family oriented, one who brings his wife furs and jewelry for no reason. This is not the face of a guy who would whack Ralph Cifaretto over a horse or sleep with Svetlana, Gloria Trillo, Irina, Valentina or Charmaine Bucco. Nope, not him. <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-85883169934216939202013-06-18T16:31:00.000-07:002013-09-20T07:08:24.629-07:00Lunch time annoyances<br />
Two recent observations while dining at Wegman's:<br />
<br />
<b><i>1)I want to smack parents who allow their children to drink soda on a regular basis </i></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWdk2r-4i4ujX4HokHSLsyhb038SWf3O2jldGfYYGDb5XxGlyyF78PGXoOgktWEoYuNamDF_G_g9lr_5NrcDhiXjk_rzQ_1HmappdclxQEwF7iHtEKLiff7rWoZ5PICPE45M6Sx-sQhI/s1600/kid_drinking_soda_shutterstock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWdk2r-4i4ujX4HokHSLsyhb038SWf3O2jldGfYYGDb5XxGlyyF78PGXoOgktWEoYuNamDF_G_g9lr_5NrcDhiXjk_rzQ_1HmappdclxQEwF7iHtEKLiff7rWoZ5PICPE45M6Sx-sQhI/s640/kid_drinking_soda_shutterstock.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Yes, from time to time, my wife and I will allow the kids to drink a soda, but it is only on the rarest of occasions. I've observed these forgivable situations when the child grabs a soda bottle from the shelf, holds it up in front of the parents eyes and begs and pleads to have it. The parent will usually say "no" but once in a while said parent grimaces, exhales and gives in reluctantly. They know they are allowing a pile of crap to enter their child's body and they can't believe they are OK with it.<br />
<br />
I can deal with that parent.<br />
<br />
The parent that infuriates me is the one who continually allows their child to drink the stuff each and every day as if they never heard about how bad it is or that it is the # 1 reason kids are unhealthy. <br />
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And they wonder why their child is an insufferable brat post sugar comedown <br />
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These oblivious parents need a friggin smack. They are the ones who need protection from themselves as <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/14/mayor-bloomberg-soda-ban-bolstered-study-obese/">Mayor Bloomberg of New York had suggested</a>. You dopes should just pour the sugar bowl down your kids' throats<br />
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41 grams of sugar? Have you not heard of the internet or Dr. Oz? C'mawn people.<br />
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<b><i>2)I despise parents who push their kids in those car-like shopping carts</i></b><br />
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<b><i> </i></b><br />
Wegman's (where Matt and I eat lunch almost daily) is a supermarket with an out of this world "market". So as we grab our lunch each day, we semi-interact with "food shoppers". Most of these shoppers are mom's in expensive workout gear who succumb to their child's wish to ride in these giant mobiles. I'm pretty sure these moms have never uttered the word "no".<br />
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As you may imagine, these mack truck like wagons don't take corners very well and even worse, can clog up an aisle as mom looks for her favorite coffee sweetener. They are a nightmare. All so the kid can turn a plastic wheel for a few minutes. <br />
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Without fail, the child eventually falls out, knocks over a display and screams bloody murder. <br />
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F'n brilliant shopping cart marketers.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-60666452388295768792013-06-14T16:10:00.000-07:002013-06-14T16:10:10.300-07:00Two Guys at Lunch return - part XIX<br />
Matt and I haven't written in almost six months. It is equal parts lack of time, laziness and real life getting in the way. But that is neither here nor there (which is a phrase I have despised for decades but I'm placing it here as an inside joke ... for who, don't really know).<br />
<br />
Anyways, I have pretty much mastered the art of over promising and under delivering during my blogging days. But that is not going to happen again. Write it down ... but in pencil. <br />
<br />
No more over the top goals of getting in prime physical shape.<br />
<br />
No more talk of becoming a vegan (maybe a one week trial?).<br />
<br />
No more missions to seek out NJ urban legends and report back.<br />
<br />
Nope. We are going to keep it simple. Pinky swear.<br />
<br />
We are who we are (which is so much more meaningful than "it is what it is"). <br />
<br />
And that is two 40 year old men who have families, love bad sports teams, love bad TV shows, talk about working out like we are still 19 years old, read food labels at Wegman's like we are professional nutritionists, get annoyed at things that most people never notice and most importantly, cherish our lunches during the work week. <br />
<br />
That is where we shine. <br />
<br />
That is where we are smarter than Dr. Oz, funnier than Chris Rock, more knowledgeable about pop culture than the entire staff at Entertainment Weekly and more angry and annoyed than Denis Leary and George Carlin combined.<br />
<br />
Let that soak in for a a minute ...<br />
<br />
Got it? Good. Now remind yourself to check back in regularly for gosh darn good old fashioned entertainment.<br />
<br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
Two Guys at Lunch<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-11961451304031012322013-01-09T18:40:00.002-08:002013-01-09T18:40:41.862-08:00A message delivered in the men's room<br />
<i>Yes I know, it's been more than a month since we last posted. I won't make any promises as to when the next one will be, so enjoy this little ditty from Matt.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Thanks,</i><br />
<i>John </i><br />
<br />
Maybe it’s fate or maybe just my life and the crazy things that happen, but I have to share one of the most embarrassing, funny and awkward moments that has ever happened to me. It happened just yesterday. Here’s some background first….<br />
<br />
Up until November 2012 I lost a bunch of weight. I ate right, exercised and changed my life for the better. For 9 months I felt great. I had a schedule and followed it like a champ. Nothing was going to stop me. Well, maybe…<br />
<br />
Once the holidays rolled around I reverted back to my old ways. Thanksgiving was the trouble maker and the trigger to start eating like I had a month to live. Since then I have put weight back on (the same weight that I worked so hard to take off). Not all of it, but enough for me to start to feel it in my clothes. The transformation of the old Matt was happening.<br />
<br />
Well yesterday was a sign from God telling me “Are you gonna wake up or what?”. Yes, God spoke just like that to me. Yesterday I wore pants that I had tailored because I had lost the weight. Mr. Big shot walking into the cleaners “Can you please take the waist in on these pants they are just too big”. What a Loser. Little did I know a few months later I would turn into Fat Elvis (without the hair and looks of course).
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Here is where the fun started and God spoke. I walk into the Men’s room (nothing disgusting here so relax). There is a guy sitting in the first stall so I go in the middle one next to him. I always like to be as quiet as possible. I unbutton my pants (they were snug to begin with so I was cautious), all of a sudden the metal slide button that buttons your pants from the inside pops and goes flying. It was like life all of a sudden hit sloooo-motion.<br />
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The metal slide button hits the floor and actually makes a loud “Ting” noise. I immediately say to myself “Oh God this did not just happen”. It lands directly under the guys pants sitting in the next stall. Now what? Do I put my hand under the wall and just expect him to hand it to me without saying a word to each other? Awkward! Do I say hey can you pass me my button back? Awkward! Is he cracking up laughing on the other side of the wall? Does he know who I am? Do we see each other leaving bathroom and I have to say “Hey sorry about the button”. Awkward! All I can do is think to get the heck out of there as fast as possible. However, now I have no button. I find inside my pants another button on the waist but it’s a lot farther away then the one that popped. Now my pants will be tighter then before. Damn Thanksgiving started this all.
<br />
<br />
Now, I’m in the stall sticking in my stomach to button my pants on a notch that turns my pants into a kids size pants (well maybe not kids but you get the point). I’m now having to pray that this button doesn’t pop also and take someone’s eye out. I make it out of the bathroom not having to see this guy who may have my button somewhere intertwined in his pants or shoe. Ugh the thought and embarrassment. I washed my hands and run for the hills as fast as I can being as cautious as ever not wanting to lose my last button. I got through the day but never said a word to anyone except now. I had to. Was too funny to hold in (not my stomach, but the experience).<br />
<br />
There you have it. Stick to your New Years resolution if it has to do with weight loss. You want to lose the weight, not your buttons!!
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-13718137427173183692012-11-27T17:47:00.001-08:002013-09-20T07:08:46.441-07:00What "The Walking Dead" has taught me <br />
In my last post, I talked about my plan to <a href="http://twoguysatlunch.blogspot.com/2012/11/age-will-not-take-me-down.html">get in shape like never before</a> to prove that I can "overcome" turning 40 years old. That is moving along just swimmingly and I will have more deets for you in a soon to be published post.<br />
<br />
So in keeping with that "masculine" challenge, I have an update on what I've been watching on the good ol telly.<br />
<br />
Forgive me for being late to the party, but I just starting watching <a href="http://www.amctv.com/shows/the-walking-dead">"The Walking Dead" </a>about two weeks ago.<br />
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Yes, I know about all of the hype with this show when it started two years ago, it just took me some time to finally commit to it. I have never been much of a "zombie" guy, but from what I could gather, this was more of a show about survival in impossible circumstances. That appealed to me.<br />
<br />
Well in two weeks, I watched seasons 1 and 2 and caught up to season 3. To say I am obsessed with it is an understatement. The show is consistently unsettling, disgusting, terrifying and beautifully shot; all at the same time. My wife is grossed out by it and my kids vow to never set foot out of the house if they see even one clip of a zombie. Me, I can't get enough carnage.<br />
<br />
So after consuming this show like no other show before it, I realize how much it has already impacted me in a number of ways.<br />
<br />
They are:<br />
<br />
<b><i>1). I need to be more of a man</i></b> - It is time to buy a crossbow and maybe a few guns. I've never used a firearm or a bow in my life but maybe I should start training. You never know when the apocalypse will hit and I need to be prepared. Not to mention, I would look damn cool brandishing a crossbow:<br />
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Let me also add, I need to start cutting the sleeves off of all of my shirts. Ah ... swoon. My new <a href="http://twoguysatlunch.blogspot.com/2012/01/man-crush.html">"man crush"</a>.<br />
<br />
But seriously, it is time for me to man up. Kick ass and take names. I will say yes to the first person who wants to go hunting, or four wheeling or <a href="http://twoguysatlunch.blogspot.com/2012/09/we-are-not-real-men-new-tgal-feature.html">even wants to play paintball</a>. F yeah! <br />
<br />
To prove I'm serious about this manhood thing, I have been growing a beard since I started watching the show (the beard will be photographed and shared with you all real soon).<br />
<br />
I now look pretty bad ass and I can tell people fear me just a bit. Nice.<br />
<br />
Mr. Intimidation is here to stay. <br />
<br />
<b><i>2). I need to remind the kids just how good they have it</i></b> - My kids eat cheeseburgers and pizza without a care in the world, but they could easily be dining on raw possum or berries like the kids on The Walking Dead.<br />
<br />
They play their video games and watch TV without once considering all poor Carl has to go through day in and day out. Could they shoot a zombie? Or watch their friends get devoured by zombies? Or shoot their mother on the floor of a prison just after she gave birth? I think not.<br />
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Starting this week, I am making them hunt for their own food and will make them build their own shelter in the woods in the backyard. They will have to live there two days a week, regardless of the outside temps.<br />
<br />
Better yet, maybe I'll create our own Hunger Games where they'll need to hunt down each other. My money is on my daughter. <br />
<br />
And they will thank me when they get older.<br />
<br />
<b><i>3). Critics really do impact the way I watch TV shows.movies</i></b> - Before I started my run of watching "The Walking Dead", I assumed that critics across the board loved the show. And after finishing seasons 1 and 2, I would have agreed with them.<br />
<br />
But before starting season 3, I read reviews of the show for the first time and most <a href="http://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/38373/how-wed-fix-the-walking-dead">buried season 2 as being slow and boring</a>. I didn't even realize that the original producer of the show, Frank Darabont, <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/walking-dead-what-happened-fired-221449">had been fired at the midway point of the season</a>. The new producer brought on was charged with speeding things up and upping the zombie body count.<br />
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I never sensed that the show slowed down and thought season 2 was fantastic, but after reading all of the criticism, I started to look back on it differently. And that really bothered me.<br />
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Am I that easily influenced by critics? Am I too simple and missed the show heading in the wrong direction? Do I simply just like watching zombies getting slaughtered?<br />
<br />
I like to think I am a somewhat intelligent TV viewer and can see the deeper meaning of a show, but maybe I allow others to put those thoughts in my head. I always assumed that delving deeper into a show by reading input from writers/critics made it a more enjoyable experience, but maybe I was dead wrong. Maybe "critic free" is the way to go.<br />
<br />
Or maybe, it is all about HOW you watch a show. Which leads to my next point.<br />
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<b><i>4)Watching a serialized TV show rapid fire, one episode to the next is the way to go</i></b> - I have never watched a show as rapidly as I did with "The Walking Dead". Typically, I would DVR a show and then watch it on a weekly basis. "Lost" and "The Sopranos" were both perfect example of this.<br />
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The build-up to each show was HUGE and almost always lead to overblown and unfair expectations.<br />
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Now these two shows almost always delivered each and every week (yes, even The Sopranos finale) but I wish I could go back and watch these shows differently. There is much better pacing when you watch one episode after another where you aren't constantly seeking the "A ha" moment for that week. It definitely plays out more like a movie and for me, that is a much more enjoyable experience.<br />
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And now that I am watching "The Walking Dead" on a weekly basis, I have to admit, the shine is off of the package a bit. I shouldn't have caught up so quickly. <br />
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Last and "most bizarrely not least", I present a potentially ingenious idea and my last inspiration from the show ...<br />
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<b><i>5). The perfect TV mash-up: "The Walking Dead" meets "Honey Boo Boo"</i></b> - Stay with me here. And if you actually get this, I friggin love you.<br />
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I have been fascinated by TV shows that cross over and mash up with each other ever since The Flintstones met The Jetsons (logic be damned). <br />
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<br />
When two of my favorite TV worlds collide, it is magic. So here we go:<br />
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"The Walking Dead" takes place in Georgia and "Honey Boo Boo" takes place in ...? That's right, Georgia. We've already got the geography equation solved.<br />
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So let's say Rick Grimes and group get booted out of the prison they are currently taking residence in and stumble upon an abandoned train. Miraculously, they start her up only to have it crash in let's say McIntyre, GA (home of the Boo Boo's). Conveniently, the train stops right on their front lawn because, for those of you who watch The Boo Boo's, you know the train LITERALLY bumps up against their front door. It is the absolute funniest part of the show and a can't miss.<br />
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So "The Walking Dead" gang slowly approach the front door and are about to shoot what they think is a zombie: <br />
. <br />
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Only to realize it is "Mama", so they hold their fire.<br />
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The newly formed group unite to create a new "family" and well, I'll need to work further on the script.<br />
<br />
Am I on to something here? Did I lose you completely?<br />
<br />
I've got two more shows lined up for the winter - "Breaking Bad" and "Sons of Anarchy". I plan on watching them rapid fire style as well, so watch out. I may be soon dealing meth off of the back of my bike while doing preacher curls.<br />
<br />
Now that is f'n manly! <br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-72241619286228621312012-11-15T18:22:00.000-08:002012-11-16T19:03:59.457-08:00Age will not take me down<b><i>"Research suggests that between 40 and 50 years old, a person loses 8 percent or more of their muscle mass."</i></b><br />
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Uh oh ... it's all over.</div>
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I read the quote above on the <a href="http://www.menshealth.com/">Men's Health website</a> recently and it really knocked me on my "tookus". Is this the beginning of the end now that I am 40 years old? I can almost feel my muscles slowly deflating as I type this. </div>
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It feels so cliche to be deeply affected by turning 40, but I must admit, it has taken a bit of a toll on me. I have no complaints about my family, my job or my health, but I do feel like a window is slowly closing on me. And I can't really define why that closing window has had such an impact. </div>
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Maybe taking that chance on some entrepreneurial venture is no longer a possibility.</div>
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Maybe it is the reality that some of the players on my favorite sports teams could actually be my children.</div>
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Or maybe it is the fact that my body has now started the inevitable decline. </div>
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That last one seems to be the one that really hits home. I realize we are talking about minimal decline here, but it is the idea that age 40 is identified as the beginning of the end. It doesn't feel that way but I'll have to side with science here. </div>
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I can't seem to shake this concept of muscle mass loss and I think I'm ready to defy it in a big way. I am a regular weight lifter and runner but not hardcore by any means. I do enough to stay in decent shape and to effectively "check it off the list". It is difficult to find the time to work out with a job, family and kids activities but I make do.</div>
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The final inspiration to take 40 and beat the hell out of it came from an unexpected source. He is an actor who is 50 years old and is on my TV each and every night. Can you guess who it is? Actually don't bother, unless you have children between the ages of 6 and 12. He is this guy (on the left):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDWJ-A7gmT5viD8U3-sJOaZZy6OQujQXevyC9xH14KwkdqHRuXRJ8RaH7WNVFaMyFAcClGEorm2EyTHop5231t_icD2Qp4FfVnjbC5nkJw3NxiuGPl-aep32aocyrnHZXhnUaPNGJ5H4/s1600/bob.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDWJ-A7gmT5viD8U3-sJOaZZy6OQujQXevyC9xH14KwkdqHRuXRJ8RaH7WNVFaMyFAcClGEorm2EyTHop5231t_icD2Qp4FfVnjbC5nkJw3NxiuGPl-aep32aocyrnHZXhnUaPNGJ5H4/s400/bob.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0469503/">Eric Allan Kramer</a> on <a href="http://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/goodluckcharlie/">"Good Luck Charlie"</a> (my kids favorite show). Seriously, check out the guns on this guy. This is how he has looked on the latest season of the show and it is damn impressive, considering this is how he looked not too long ago:</div>
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Not a lot of muscle loss there, eh?</div>
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I made the comment to my son that "Bob Duncan looks phenomenal". He then proceeded to look him up on Wikipedia and said to me (without any indication of busting on me) "He is <b>FIFTY</b> years old". </div>
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That was it. Game f'n on. If he can do it, I can do it (of course I don't have access to the personal trainers and nutritionists that he does, but that is besides the point). </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
I started to formulate my plan and tried to come up with an impressive end goal. But I couldn't figure out what that would be. Is it running a marathon? Is it competing in a bodybuilding contest (I kid)? Is it drastically improving my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_mass_index">BMI</a> (Body Mass Index for those of you so embarrassingly uninformed)? </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Nope. It is clearly none of those. In fact, I realized it is not about a goal at all. It is all about the process. I want to work hard, eat clean because I still can. I am young enough to still make an impact on this one body I've been granted and that is what I will focus on. </div>
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I'm going to run.</div>
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I'm going to do sprints.</div>
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I'm going to do circuit training.</div>
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I'm going to do yoga.</div>
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I'm going to eat more protein.</div>
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I'm going to eat less sugar.</div>
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I'm going to drink more green tea.</div>
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I'm going to mix shit up like never before.</div>
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And it isn't about letting it take over my life. I will train smarter, not longer. I will make smart choices along the way and hopefully that will provide great results. But more than anything, I am going to thank my lucky stars that I can still do it all. </div>
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So keep coming back for updates on my successes and failures and how I feel along the way. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<b>AND</b> ...... I would never leave out my partner in crime, Matt, from this POA. In fact, he will be posting his take on the topic right after me. His take is a bit different and he has some fascinating history to share with you all. But when all is said and done, we are both striving for the same thing ... to defy age and knock it on its ass.</div>
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Hope you will all tag along for the ride.</div>
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TGAL </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7968335483848533722.post-84703110944886409402012-10-24T19:12:00.002-07:002013-09-20T07:06:59.824-07:00The Real Housewives of New Jersey - "Where are they now?" Part II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Hopefully by now, you ready our first installment of the RHONJ, "Where are they Now?" the 2015 edition. If not, you can read all about it <a href="http://twoguysatlunch.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-real-housewives-of-new-jersey-where.html">here</a>. </div>
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For today, here are three additional updates on some of your favorite "characters" from RHONJ. </div>
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Enjoy </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">KATHY WAKILE</span> </b></div>
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<ul>
<li>After the debacle that was the reunion show, Kathy put all of her time and energy into her dessert line "Dolci Della Dea" which translated from Italian means "Now it's my turn to make some cash with my recipes due to my new found celebrity". She did real well selling them on QVC ... and outside of Teresa's book signings. </li>
<li>After announcing she had created her own cocktail - Red Velvet Cosmo - Teresa went all sorts of nuts accusing her of yet again copying her road map to success. To get her back, Tre made a secret appearance on one of her QVC spots and if you look closely in the background, you can see her pretending to vomit when drinking the cocktail. The stunt proved to make Teresa look bad yet again, so in a moment of desperation, Tre just accused Kathy of being a stripper. After exhaustive research, TMZ discovered that Kathy had actually worked at a strip joint in Paterson back in the 70's, but turns out Kathy didn't actually dance there; she just baked for all of the girls on the weekends.</li>
<li>As Kathy became more and more popular by the end of 2013, the job opportunities were plentiful and she eventually settled on her own daytime talk show on CBS. "Kathy's Place" was clearly inspired by the "Rachel Ray Show" as she had on B to C level celebrity guests and then baked for them. It was a moderate hit into 2014 until she not so smartly, set up a RHONJ reunion show and all hell broke lose. Teresa stirred things up yet again by accusing Kathy of stealing her idea to "bake a cake in an oven". Kathy's sister Rosie had seen enough and attacked Tre with a rolling pin on the stage. The show was sued for 10 million dollars and had to be abruptly canceled.</li>
<li>As of today, Kathy sells her desserts roadside at her husband's Exxon station in Wayne, NJ. She is also working on a tell-all book - "I Baked Like a Champ and Then a Guidette Friggin Ruined It" - where she promises to dish on the Teresa none of us knew prior to the start of RHONJ. </li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">RICH WAKILE</span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li>Rich Wakile, fresh off of watching all of his cast mates deal with bankruptcy in season 4, decided to venture into other businesses outside of gas stations and started a clothing line at Men's Wearhouse. The "Richie W" collection featured polo shirts with the collar permanently turned up and sold like mad. Together, he and Kathy were rolling in the dough (pun intended) so they took the opportunity to also move away from the Giudices. They bought a house in Westchester, NY where they hoped to spread their "Jerseyness" across the Hudson. </li>
<li>Well, just like his fellow RHONJ'ers, Rich made some questionable moves soon after the polo shirt explosion that started things rolling down the wrong path. First, he invested heavily in a discotheque in Long Branch, NJ that went terribly wrong from the outset. He had Melissa Gorga perform opening night and while she performed admirably, a brawl broke out right after she performed her new single "No, now I'm totally on display". Turns out Kim D and Kim G had invited some shady rival salon greeters who took the opportunity to settle their differences on the dance floor. Needless to say, the club never recovered.</li>
<li>Rich then ventured into the restaurant business and opened what was supposed to be a Lebanese restaurant in Weehawken, NJ. Turns out, all of the food was actually Italian as Rich yet again, forgot that he actually is not of Italian descent. The restaurant closed within four months. As we all know, NJ doesn't need another Italian restaurant.</li>
<li>By early 2014, just as Kathy's talk show was crumbling and things looked bleak, Rich went back to what got them wealthy in the first place - gas stations. He bought up a few back in Bergen County and forced his son into the business. As of today, business is thriving yet again and he's hoping Kathy can get back on her feet selling her desserts to those waiting on their gas to be pumped. Rich also opened a new restaurant with his fellow male cast mates that is looking promising as of the day of this story. </li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">CHRIS LAURITA</span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li>Chris went into a depression after the taping of the reunion and vowed to bring his family back together. He arranged one of those survival, out in the wilderness bonding weekends with both his sister Dina and his sister Caroline. The experience was taped as part of a Bravo special "The Three Lauritas". The experience not only brought them all closer together, but launched the idea for the three siblings to travel the country and attempt to bring families closer together using the same method they used. </li>
<li>With the success of the Laurita siblings new venture, Chris immediately dropped out of the BLK Water enterprise. He handed the reigns over to his step daughter Ashley who had made serious strides both personally and professionally while in Cali. In an unfortunate incident, Chris was captured on video laughing while talking to Joe Giudice and yelling "Who the f wants to drink black water any way. Shit looks nasty. Good luck Manzo boys dealing with Ashley now." </li>
<li>With the success of the family survival business, Chris was able to turn that into a partnership with Tony Robbins and began traveling the country giving inspirational speeches and offering up advice to small businesses and self-starters. He even had his teeth professionally whitened to keep up with Tony and through the magic of P90X, got himself into the best shape of his life.</li>
<li>Like we see so many times, the personal success Chris achieved had an adverse affect on his family life. By the time 2014 rolled around, he had seen so little of his wife Jacqueline while traveling non stop and they drifted further and further apart. In desperate need of attention, Jacqueline turned to Albie Manzo and they secretly had a steamy affair until Caroline found them in a compromising position on a couch in the back of The Brownstone. The chaos that ensued was the perfect set-up for the season finale of season 6 and it tore apart the Lauritas yet again. Chris now lives with Joe Giudice in an apartment in Red Bank and they opened a restaurant with Joe Gorga and Rich Wakile that is still thriving as of today. </li>
</ul>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058818144591263827noreply@blogger.com62