Did I Ever Tell You About The Time...? Jeep Edition

This episode in my life has been sticking in my head lately. I'm not sure exactly why. Maybe it's because I've been thinking of buying a car lately. Whatever the reason...

Did I ever tell you about the time a couple week after I bought my Jeep back in 2005 when I got a flyer placed on my windshield when I was shopping at the grocery store.  I was advertising the local KW Jeep Club and inviting me out to join them.  I didn't really think much of it at the time, as I figured they just saw a Jeep and put the flyer on the windshield.  But as time went on some things just stand out as strange about that whole incident to me.

I have never gotten the flyer on my Jeep since that day.  Not in the same Zehrs parking lot, or any other parking lot I had been to in town.  If the club was putting the flyers on local Jeeps to get some new members, doesn't probability suggest that I would have gotten more?  And why only after I had just gotten the Jeep?  Do they keep track of Jeeps that they put their flyers on?  Do they coordinate that information between members, so another member doesn't flyer the same Jeep?  Did the dealership tip off the club that a new Jeep owner was in town?

It has always seemed strange that I only ever got one flyer and only right after I bought it.

That Garage Aroma

Remember the time I complained that my garage smelled like an ashtray? Well as of this weekend, the smell is back, unfortunately. I'm going to have to get some air fresheners again.

On a totally unrelated note: I hosted a poker game in my garage on Sunday. Only Dan, Amanda and myself, so I'm pretty sure it didn't count.

A Brief History of Toast

Judging by the questions/comments/requests that I've been getting, I'm actually starting to believe that relative to most you, I'm a pretty good cook.

Anyway, back by unpopular demand and because I'm having fun with them, here's another video.

 

This Might Be Getting Out Of Hand

Here's a treat for you, my loyal blog readers. Early access to my latest cooking video! The facebook riff-raff will have to wait.

I'm glad I finally got this one done. Since I now only eat food that I've prepared in front of a camera, I was getting hungry.

Cooking Is Hard

I enjoyed making the video about burgers yesterday so much, I figured I'd do the same with my lunch today. With enough of these, soon your skills in the kitchen will be almost as good as mine. 

Make Your Own Hamburger Night

I declared today to be "National Make Your Own Hamburger Night" and then declared my house an independent nation.  Now, I don't make no fancy burgers.  Basic ingredients are usually ground beef and heat.  But I got a little nutty tonight and added a few extras and I also decided to document it.

Ingredients for tonight's burger: 1.4 kg of ground beef, 1 non-expired egg and garlic powder.  Mix them all together by hand and make a nice looking patty.

Divide into however many burgers you want.  I did 3.  Flatten, then barbecue.  It's important that the burger gets thoroughly cooked, but not burnt.  So, I suggest a longer cooking time at a lower temperature.  Also, important when barbecuing any meat... diamond grill marks.

Looks like this burger can join the diamond club. <>

Then, melt some cheese, toast a bun and add your favourite toppings.  Easy!  Even for me.

Yeah, I also make it into a video.  My goal was to keep in under 2 minutes, as everyone's attention span (including mine) is really short when it comes to internet videos... but I could barely keep it under 7.  Enjoy anyway.

One thing I learned that after using Windows Live Movie Maker for the first time, it's nowhere near as good as iMovie.  I'm no lover of Apple and it stings a bit to say that, but it's so very true.

Update: Mutant Plant Cut Down To Size

So, it turns out that the giant stalk is part of the rhubarb plant after all.  Upon advice from people who use terms like "gone to seed", I have cut the flowering stem off.

Giant Mutant Plants (tm) still have a long way to go for world domination if they can't defend themselves from scissors.

Creepy Giant Plants

I'm trying to figure out exactly what's going on in my garden.  I don't know what's been planted and what's a weed.  There's a patch of rhubarb in the corner of one garden behind a house... no big deal.  But today I notice this GIANT stalk shooting out of the middle of it.  It must be growing fast because the last time I looked there a few days ago, there was no such stalk.

So, I'm just throwing this out there: What the crap is this?  Is it a normal part of a rhubarb plant or (more likely) an alien lifeform looking to conquer us via our most unsuspecting living organisms... plants.

That and I find creepy giant plants to be creepy as hell.

World Conquest Across The World

The following is an example of technology at its finest.

This morning I played a game of Risk with two friends. No big deal, right? Did I mention that my friends were in Halifax and Japan, while I sat on my couch in Kitchener? After a week or so of figuring it out, thanks to an innocuous photo I posted on Facebook, Sean, Joe and I played Risk Factions over Xbox Live. Using the world map and classic rules, we were able to squeeze out 2 matches while it was morning here and nearly midnight for Sean. It worked so well, that we may make this a regular occasion. I love technology today.

Oh yeah... and Sean won the first game and Joe the other. But that's not important.

Round 1 Playoff Predictions

After seeing Dan's predictions he posted on Facebook (what, is your blog no longer good enough?), it reminded me to post my own.  Because apparently I still care enough.  So there's that.

In the East, New York over Ottawa in 5 - For a team that was predicted by many to finish dead last, Ottawa has done surprising well for themselves. I'd like to see them surprise more and move onto the second round, but these predictions aren't who I want to win, it's who I think will win.  The Rangers are just too good this year.

Boston over Washington in 4 - Because Washington is just terrible this year.

New Jersey over Florida in 6 - Just because you're the 3rd seed doesn't mean you only got there by winning the southeast division. You're the smartest kid on the short bus.

Philadelphia over Pittsburgh in 7 - This series is going to be all kinds of awesome.

In the West, Los Angeles over Vancouver in 7 - Because of a hot goaltender. Although I kind of want to see Vancouver make it to the second round just to be beat by the Blackhawks.

St. Louis over San Jose in 5 - Because where did the Blues come from this season?

Chicago over Phoenix in 7 - Followed by the Coyotes booking plane tickets to Quebec City for next season.

Detroit over Nashville in 6 - Because, flip a coin?  I have no insight into this series, but... it's Nashville, come on.