Quitsville USA

Bob's Sandwich Challenge and the Worker Strike

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:30:00 +0000

As I mentioned in today's earlier post, my household is on a bit of a trimmed budget lately, making things like eating out, buying dresses, inexplicable trips to Funspot, etc sadly not possible (at least for the month of November). It's not a totally bad thing to cut back - we are having a ridiculously good time trying to game Shaws for all their worth coupon-wise - but it does mean there's going to be a pause in the Bob's Sandwich Challenge. Let's call it a Worker's Strike where the workers are the cash money that we don't currently have.

We're hoping that December will see the return of giant, saucy, Italian subs (at least on a monthly basis!) but have no fear - the bracket may be paused but it is far from canceled.

DIY to the Max!

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:15:00 +0000

For those of you who are unaware, Nate recently got a shiny new job (he keeps threatening to guest post about it but... ) which is fantastic in that it's given him a way to explore a new career path - one that will hopefully provide him with a lot more growth, challenge, and enjoyment than his last one (no judgement).

Another bonus of his new job is that it's giving us a chance to really work on our budgeting skills since it's a bit of a pay cut (check out that spinning!). Not totally unexpected given the change in focus that comes with this job but I'm warning you - I foresee lots of DIY, 'X' on a budget, and similar posts in the future.

And hey, maybe even a guest post from the man himself. ;)

To check out the new venture that Nate's a part of (and see if you can identify his nerdy tech posts) go visit The Verge!

Book 6 - Under the Banner of Heaven

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Under the Banner of Heaven

By, Jon Krakauer

433 pages - 3.5 stars

Under the Banner of Heaven is a book that came out awhile ago and I've heard a lot about it but never read it. Growing up in a part of the country where there is a fairly prominent contingent of Mormons, I like to think I know a fair amount about their culture and religion but I have to admit that I'm probably largely influenced by our own popular culture as well.

Krakauer does a pretty amazing job of delving into Mormon history, both standard Mormonism and fundamental Mormonism, and explaining it to those of us who aren't Mormons. I can't say he paints a pretty picture of the religion's founding, which seems to be both fraudulent and bloody. Then again, how does that really differ from most of the world's religions.

The really interesting part of Krakauer's book focuses on the struggle between mainstream Mormons and fundamentalist Mormons (another aspect of their religion that rings true to many others throughout the world) and to those who read strict law in the writings of their prophet. Krakauer investigates the sub sect of Mormonism that believes in polygamy and specifically into the story of one family and a murder.

The Lafferty family, a standard Mormon family verging on fundamentalist, is the center of a story about murder and god's will and the future of the Mormon church. Two of the Lafferty brothers kill a Lafferty wife and infant daughter in the name of God and the righteous. Krakauer interviews pretty much everyone connected to the crime (including the surviving Lafferty brother) but really goes back in to the weeds to propose a connection between the founding of the Mormon church and the killings that happened in the Lafferty family.

The story is pretty intense and incredibly interesting. I will warn you that the text verges on gratuitous (I had to sit down to settle my stomach on the subway) but the book is worth reading, if only to better understand a pretty significant section of our population.

Is it really October?

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Well holy crap dear readers. It's October. And not even October, but LATE October. Oye.

I have a million excuses (lots of travel, handful of weddings, house stuff, work stuff, life changes) but you know, it's the same ole 'keeping up the editorial calendar.'

It's fall now and I'm staunchly in the camp of those who believe fall and winter are hibernation season so here's hoping I have some time to catch up.

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Bob's Sandwich Challenge: Round 4

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:48:00 +0000

For those of you who haven't been spending time in Boston for the last few weeks, it's been really f***ing hot; hot enough that eating a warm sub is less than appetizing so we've been focusing on some of the warmer weather sandwiches (read: lighter, cooler, less sauce and cheese).

Today's battle? Smoked Turkey Breast vs. Plain Turkey Breast! And please, I don't want to hear any guff from you readers. I know this isn't the most exciting battle but a good, cold turkey sandwich on a hot day? Amazing.


Smoked Turkey	Plain Turkey

Look at those beauties? Don't you want to sink your teeth in?


Smoked Turkey	Plain Turkey

In the end, we gave the victory to the Smoked Turkey but I'd be happy to eat either of these sandwiches again any time. Bob's really gets the quality out by freshly slicing the meat as you order and piling it on. This isn't that gross, slimy deli meat you find some places but is actual meat, from an actual turkey.

Yum.

Book 5 - Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:56:00 +0000

Running with Scissors

By, Augusten Burroughs

352 pages - 3.25 stars

Another Book Club book!

Running with Scissors is Augusten Burroughs' memoir of his messed-up childhood. In a nutshell. The book is a engaging, and a really quick read but when you've finished it, you're left with what amounts to a really messed-up childhood.

That's not to say that you're overwhelmed by that the entire time. Burroughs does a really great job of putting you in the mindset of a child, specifically of him as a child, so that you don't necessarily even notice that he's surrounding by chaos and craziness. The weirdest of moments seem normal as they happen - as I'm sure they came to feel normal (in a sense) for him - but at the end of the book you look back upon a cadre of weird moments, abusive moments.

It's hard to know whether Burroughs embellished, or whether the story is tainted by his perspective, or whether this is how his childhood actually went. The book was engaging but I have to admit that I wasn't left with a ton afterward. The book didn't stay with me and looking back, I wonder if I was driven forward by the quality of the book or by the incredibility of the story.

For those of you who don't know, Burrough's book was made into a movie in 2006 and both Burroughs' mom and brother have since written memoirs, somewhat contradicting this one, somewhat enforcing it. I have to admit that I'm curious about them, but probably not enough to read them.

Bob's Sandwich Challenge: Round 3

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Check me out! I'm eating sandwiches! At this rate, it'll only take us 3 or 4 years to declare an overall victor in Bob's Sandwich Challenge. Life is hard.

Todays battle brought together two strong contenders: Roast Beef vs. Proscuitto and Mozzarella. Proscuitto and Mozzarella happens to be my favorite Bob's Sandwich so far but Roast Beef is an old favorite too. We topped the Roast Beef with all toppings (except onions) and got the Proscuitto and Mozzarella as is (with tomatoes, basil, and some olive oil).


Roast Beef	Proscuitto & Mozzarella

The Roast Beef was pretty amazing. A bite by itself revealed that Bob, in fact, does know his meats. The beef was perfectly cooked and still moist with that really great taste that comes from fully cooked but still slightly rare Roast Beef. It was only enhanced by the tang of the pickles and the spice of the hots - my favorite bites consisted of a little bit of it all to really bring all the flavors together.


Roast Beef	Proscuitto & Mozzarella

But, (and it's a big one!) every time I transitioned from the Roast Beef to the Proscuitto and Mozzarella, it was like taking a step towards heaven. There's just something magnificent about the combo of the salty Proscuitto, creamy mozzarella, acidic tomatoes and fresh, delicious bread. It's light but tasty and I just want to eat it all the time.

In the end, we gave this round to Proscuitto and Mozzarella. No one is surprised that I chose that sandwich but I was intrigued to see how Nate netted out here. While he may not have been quite as emphatic about the heavenly characteristics of the Proscuitto and Mozzarella, he too agreed that it's near sandwich perfection.

Pizzeria Posto's Whole Hog!

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 02:05:00 +0000

For those of you who don't know, Tuesday was the 29th anniversary of my birth, otherwise known as my 29th birthday. I am a big fan of my birthday (and really, everyone's birthday) and this year, I decided to celebrate with a few of my favorite things - a big dinner with my nearest and dearest, a dinner sourced from local, well-treated (and well-cooked) ingredients, some good wine, and just a splash of adventure.

Luckily for me, Davis Square is home to the much hallowed Pizzeria Posto, a delightful wood-fired pizzeria that bases its changing menu on what's in season and super fresh and has some pretty delicious options. Nate and I recently tried Pizzeria Posto for the first tmie and enjoyed a delightful meal (and an awesome basil gimlet) with Fireman Ben. It was during this dinner that we devised the perfect meal for celebrating a 29th birthday.

Pizzeria Posto, in line with a number of other Boston are eateries, offers its diner the chance to experience a pretty unique food offering in the form of an entire pig. They ask for 2 weeks notice and at least 10 guests and in return, the pick out a local pig for you, brine it for over a day, and cook it for hours. They pair it with some delicious sides and, if you're the birthday girl, they give you an amazing tiramisu.

Pizzeria Posto's Famiglia Dinner appealed to me for a number of reasons - one, it's the kind of meal that is an event in itself and pairing it with my birthday made it really feel like a holiday, everything is super fresh and local (and yummy) and Posto really wants to make you feel loved. They treat the meal as an event for them too, explaining all of the steps to you and encouraging the ambitious to try something new (pig brain anyone?).

It was a delicious meal with delightful friends and I didn't even have to figure out the check - thanks Nate! I was pretty darn full afterward but what a fantastic way to usher in the last year of my 20s.

For the record, I did try brain (as well as cheek, neck, and toe!) and I didn't love it. It was more of a texture than a taste but thanks to Sanjay, Ben, and Steve for diving in with me.

P.S. Posto wraps everything up for you (no, we did take the brain) and I've made some yummy ragu from the sausage filling and some spicy green chili & pork tacos with the tenderloin. The meal keeps on giving!

Goal: Get a Dog!

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:30:00 +0000

For those of you who know me personally, you know that I have {desperately} wanted a dog for roughly... forever - otherwise known as about 5-6 years. Now that Nate and I have our own place, everyone is under the impression that a dog is imminent.

They're right! We're slated to get our doggie this coming weekend (she's coming from an organization in Indiana) - stay tuned for details.

In the meantime, we've been prepping the house and buying all sort of doggie-related items from PetSmart. I also spent a fair part of the last weekend finishing up a sweater blanket that I started over a year ago - I finally have the right motivation!

This isn't a great photo but I think you get the idea. It's a new dog blanket made of old sweaters! It was pretty easy to pull together and I think it'll be very cozy.

Sweater Blanket:

1. Wash and dry old sweaters (drying them helps to avoid pulling after the blanket has been put together

2. Cut Sweaters into squares or rectangles (I believe mine were 8" square)

3. Sew together (1 to 1, then 2 to 2, 4 to 4, you get the idea)

4. Do a quick stitch around the edges to avoid fraying (FYI: I didn't have too much trouble with each of the squares fraying - just wanted to avoid it o the entire blanket)

Voila! A cozy doggie (or person) blanket!

Book 4 - Motherless Brooklyn

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Motherless Brooklyn

By, Jonathan Lethem

311 pages - 3.50 stars

This is another of those books that ends up on my Amazon wishlist and I have no real recollection of where I got the recommendation. In writing this post I did a quick search for the title and it turns out the book is not a new one - it was published back in 1999 and won the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction.

Huh, well look at that.

I picked it off my wishlist, got it as a gift for Christmas, and started reading it earlier this year with little to no expectations. Motherless Brooklyn tells the story of some low level, petty criminals who get involved in some larger schemes (inadvertently for some) and are thrown in to the crime family arena. It follows some standard crime novel, hard boiled, detective fiction plot paths and tricks but it's a good book. Even though it stays true to its genre, it's inventive enough that it doesn't feel like just another detective novel.

Lethem's characters are cliche in some ways but they still feel three-dementional and he throws the reader a curveball with his narrator - who suffers from tourette's - but manages to not become a caricature in the novel. For the most part, you know Lionel (the tourettic detective) through his inner narration, a 1st person's account of what's happening via the play by play in his head. His tourette's only makes itself known in his interactions with the others in the book and in this Lethem manages to make Lionel a vulnerable character that you identify with. Because you know him through his internal voice he never seems like the "freak show" that he seems to others around him so the reader builds an affinity and a loyalty to Lionel, wanting to shield him from the cruelty of everyone else; even as he's physically beating a suspect.

I'm not gonna spoil the mystery for you but only partially because I want to save it for you. The mystery seems almost secondary to Lionel's story in the book so months later what I remember is him and not the surprising ending.

An interesting tidbit: my google search also returned an IMDB listing for a movie "in development" of the same title. Slated for 2013, it'll be interesting to see how that plays out.

Check out the Salon Review here.

Bob's Sandwich Challenge... Thwarted Again!

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Alright, alright... I know. Here I am, talking about this weekly sandwich challenge and really, I'm only eating sandwiches every other week. Well, you have a point there... but to be honest, there's a lot of food out there and it's not all in sandwich form. Some of it comes in funfetti cake, some of it comes in the form of an entire pig (more on that later), and some of it comes... in beautiful, foil-wrapped packages of brisket.

That's right ladies and gentlemen. I said brisket. Nate decided it was time to give the ole smoker another turn on the dance floor and decided that this time, he'd give brisket a try. He's only used the smoker once to date (last fall - ribs) but I know he's been eager to break it out again. We picked up an 11 pound mother of a brisket at the Meat House in Arlington (an amazing meat shoppe BTW) which he trimmed and rubbed yesterday. Today, we started bright and early and after a few hiccups (i.e. starting the smoker on the 3rd floor porch only to have to move it downstairs) we were off to the races... you know, metaphorically.

Even with the hiccups, Nate did an amazing job with the brisket. It was succulent but crispy - amazing. I'm pretty sure I can't say it better than:

For the record, I wasn't sitting on my laurels while Nate was smoking the beef. I did some serious yardwork and pulled together some yummy sides (if I don't say so myself) for our impromptu BBQ - watermelon & strawberry salad, sweet & spicy coleslaw, baked beans, corn muffins, and rice krispy treats.

Nom.

Goal: Guest Post!

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:21:00 +0000

I know I've been a little slow in sharing my new goals with you - I'm using Day Zero (more on them later) to build a list of 101 goals to be accomplished in 1001 days. The site was down for awhile so I lost some time but I'm pushing forward and I'm happy to tell you that I've accomplished one of my goals - guest posting on someone else's blog.

This goal was a bit of a cheat since I knew I'd be doing it but... just the same, I'm pretty excited and it feels great to check something off. Last fall, Sara (blogger over at 2000 dollar wedding) put out a call for guest posts on her blog while she took some much needed mom time after the birth of her baby. I haven't used Quitsville for much wedding stuff but let's just say that I have a lot of things to share after my experience with getting married; some really happy things and some challenges, which I think don't get as much attention as they should.

So, voila! My guest post: Keeping Bridal Expectations at Bay

I'm pretty proud of my post and, all these months later, am happy to say that it remains true to my experiences and thoughts. I hope that it will help some brides to be to stay themselves and to take it all with a grain of salt.

Book 3 - A Visit From the Goon Squad

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Tue, 31 May 2011 12:30:00 +0000

A Visit From the Goon Squad

by, Jennifer Egan

288 pages - 4.5 stars

If you're a fan of books (like I am), you've probably heard of Jennifer Egan. She kept popping up in various NPR podcasts talking about her newest book, A Visit From the Goon Squad, and at some point I added it to my Amazon wishlist (for the record, my Amazon wishlist is not for the faint of heart - I am constantly adding books to it and not remembering why) and then chose to purchase it for my Kindle App - not an insignificant feat given the number of books I weed through to choose one.

Not really remembering much about this book (or the author, for that matter), I went into the book without a lot of expectation... and was blown away. This was a book chosen for my commute (thus, the Kindle purchase) but it quickly sucked me in and I was reading it at home - on my phone. Nevertheless, the book pushed on and made me forget I was reading it on a 3.2 inch screen. It was really quite a wonderful book. I'll admit I'm a bit of a snob with books sometimes so an author's popularity can work against them in my mind - but I stand corrected with Jennifer Egan (on at least this book). The fanfare is warranted, the interviews reasonable - this book is really quite good.

Now, who should read this book? Well, the book chronicles a group of folks (punk fans) across multiple decades. Everyone is connected in some way (whether it be obvious or founded on the thinnest of hairs) and their stories merge and disconnect across the years in ways that alter others' course - or not. It's a wonderful portrayal of life in a way - some people "make it", some people don't; there are losers and victors, villains and victims; and each character is multi-dimensional so that one minute you're on board with them and the next, aghast at their decisions. You get sucked into the minutiae of their lives - because this book isn't really about grand events or anything like that; it's the story of multiple lives intersecting in various ways. Do you like music? Read the book. Do you like books? Read it. Do you like music and books? Stop reading this and go to the bookstore.

All that said, it's good. The characters are real and solid - you want to know what happens to them. You're invested in their lives and you're happy (or sad) with them. It's a real story with real people in it. I liked this book so much, I wanted to find people to give it to (Hi PVG!).

And, I guess I'm not alone, because A Visit From the Goon Squad won the Pullitzer Prize for fiction. Congrats Jennifer Egan, I'd like to see more!

Bob's Sandwich Challenge: Round 2

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Mon, 30 May 2011 22:57:00 +0000

Happy Memorial Day Dear Readers! A very happy holiday found Nate and myself at Bob's Italian Food Imports once again for the resurgence of Bob's Sandwich Challenge. According to our pre-determined sandwich bracket, Round 2 found the mighty Meatball Parm facing off against the underdog Seafood Salad. Anticipating a win in favor of Meatball Parm, we camehome with a small Meatball Parm and only a roll of the Seafood Salad.

Though I don't want to spoil the results for you, I will tell you that the Meatball Parm was pretty delish - the meatballs are mighty and nicely browned, clearly homemade. I prefer a bit more sauce on my Meatball subs but this one wasn't hurting for much. The Seafood Salad too was pretty good. It surprised both of us when Nate actually finished off his half of the roll. From what I can tell, the Seafood Salad is comprised of some shredded "crab" (probably whitefish) with chunks of lobster and crab in a mayo dressing. They do a really good job of n

ot letting the seafood get overwhelmed by the mayo (as is always the risk) but the shredded "crab" was mostly distracting - not adding much to the sandwich expect bulk. The sandwich was much improved by the addiction of tomatoes, pickles, and hot peppers - adding the contract between salad and condiments that made both that much better.

I admit we'd both sort of written off the possibility of a Seafood Salad victory but it put up a fight.

In the end, we had to go the route of meat and cheese (shocking) as the Meatball Parm was pretty damn good.

The contenders:


Meatball Parm		Seafood Salad


Meatball Parm (cross)		Seafood Salad (cross)

Book 2 - The Aquariums of Pyongyang: Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:48:00 +0000

The Aquariums of Pyonyang: Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag

By, Kang Chol-Hwan and Pierre Rigoulot

272 pages - 3.0 stars

After reading Nothing to Envy last year, I got on a bit of a North Korean non-fiction kick. I've got a stack of new books and started it all off with this book. The story of North Korea, the gulags, and all of the stuff that's been going down there is really interesting to me, especially given how little I knew about it before reading Nothing to Envy.

The Aquariums of Pyongyang was a bit different in style - more of one person's experience with and account of spending a decade in the prison camps of North Korea. It was an interesting perspective and did have details that Nothing to Envy didn't but I have to say that I didn't like it as much as Nothing to Envy. The story was very powerful and it was interesting to get a single person's perspective but I appreciated the journalistic style of Barbara Demick's book and the many interviews that were included in that.

If you're into personal accounts of terrible things (no judgement, just calling it like I see it!), this book is probably in your wheelhouse. If you're looking for more of a report on North Korea, I'd check out Nothing to Envy.

New Book Goal!

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Tue, 24 May 2011 12:30:00 +0000

I know May seems like a little late in the game to introduce a 2011 book goal but here's the caveat - this isn't exactly a 2011 goal (mostly because it'll definitely take me longer than one year).

So where does one go when they've crushed 10,000 pages and blown 52 books out of the water (sometimes you have to toot your own horn)? I'm instilling a little bit of culture into this piece and focusing on nobel prize winners.

I've read a few books written by nobel prize winners in my day but I want to cover them all! In no particular order I will be working my way through all of the Nobel Prize winners in Literature. Just for the record, I'll be reading a book by EACH of the Nobel Prize winners, regardless of past books read. And since an author wins the prize based on his/her body of work, I'll be allowed to choose the book.

If you don't have all of the Nobel Prize winners committed to memory (ahem-me-ahem) check out the official stats here: All Nobel Prizes in Literature.

I'll keep you all posted as I read my way through the prizes - I hope you will join me!

Bob's Sandwich Challenge: Round 2... Er, Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Mon, 23 May 2011 15:40:00 +0000

I know what you guys are thinking. That looks like a cake, not a sandwich. You're very astute.

Nate and I are still pursuing the Bob's Sandwich Challenge but sometimes... the best laid plans and all that jazz. Yesterday, instead of heading into Medford for Round 2, we headed down to CT for some exciting family togetherness. An impromptu barbecue resulted in two very full people with no room for sandwiches.

The good news? I got an early birthday cake (funfetti is my fave - see above!) and we'll be ready for sandwiches next week.

Do not despair!

We Love Bookshelf Porn!

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Sat, 21 May 2011 12:34:00 +0000

Okay, I know what you're thinking - what the F is Bookshelf Porn?

Well, dear readers, let me clear it up for you. Bookshelf Porn is a wonderful, magical tumblr blog (you know tumblr? home of -mostly- photo blogs with no real purpose except to entertain and delight?) that I have in my reader and that, no joke, brightens my day. The wonderful folks (folk?) over at Bookshelf Porn collate and aggregate the most wonderful images of books, bookshelves, and libraries from all over the world. Some of the images are actual photos and some are more artistic renditions or even simple "metaphorical" images that make you think of books.

Whatever your fancy, Bookshelf Porn is magnificent. Any good bibliophile (like yours truly) will drool over this blog.

And oh, they have a Twitter too. (Of course they do!)

Book 1 - Boy: Tales From Childhood

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Thu, 19 May 2011 14:15:00 +0000

Boy: Tales From Childhood

by, Roald Dahl

176 pages - 3.50 stars

Is it just me or did everyone have an obsession with Roald Dahl when they were kids? Anyone? No? Alright. Well, for me, Roald Dahl books were amazing! Matilda, BFG, etc. I loved them all. In my adulthood, I've heard a lot more about Roald Dahl as a person and I don't think anyone will be shocked that he was a little weird, but that doesn't bother me. Weird is good, weird makes you not average.

Boy is the story of Roald Dahl's childhood which is appropriately weird and bleak but also comical in a way that you can see influenced his writing. I see the genesis of a number of his characters and it's a reminder that Dahl is from a different time. He feels contemporary to me but he really isn't. He was born in 1916 after all.

For anyone who is a fan of Roald Dahl, the book is a good read. It is a nice snapshot of his childhood and is extremely digestible. And if I can recommend it for nothing else (which is not the case), it did instill in me a brief obsession with travelling to Norway. Anyone care to join me?

Bob's Sandwich Challenge: Round 1

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Mon, 16 May 2011 15:40:00 +0000

For those of you who don't know Nate (or me!) personally, you might not know how much sandwiches are loved in our household. I'll admit that Nate's love of sandwiches makes mine look trivial but still, sandwiches are pretty fantastic.And for those of you who didn't go to school in, live in, or work in Medford, MA, you might not be aware of the haven that is Bob's Italian Foods Imports. Bob's is amazing and authentic; with amazing food cooked on site, every type of olive you could want, a vast assortment of imported Italian goods and... the sandwich menu. OH, the sandwich menu.

In the new house (see: We Love.. the Journey?) we're even closer to Bob's than we were before and it's led to frequent visits and the birth of a fantastic idea.

I present to you, the Bob's Sandwich Challenge - a bracket style assessment of ALL of Bob's sandwiches to find the ultimate winner. Okay, I know what you're thinking - these kids have too much time on their hands - but seriously, the menu has 48 sandwiches on it. LOVE.

We started the tournie off last night by comparing the Italian Deli Combo with the Deluxe Imported Italian Combo (the rest of the pairings were determined at random by assigning numbers to each sandwich and then using a random integer generator). This round was fairly easy for us to determine - both Nate and I preferred the Deluxe Imported Italian Combo with it's 4 meats (compared to 3 in the Italian Deli Combo) and prosciutto (oh how I love thee). Future rounds will be trickier as Nate and my personal preferences come to light but it'll be interesting to see which sandwich wins out. Stay tuned for weekly battles.

For now, Round 1 goes to the Deluxe Imported Italian Combo.

Some pics:


Deluxe Imported Italian Combo	Italian Deli Combo

Deluxe Imported Italian Combo	Italian Deli Combo

We Love... the Journey?

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:15:00 +0000

Oh my dear blog, I am so sorry that I have neglected you lately. It's not you, it's all me!

For those of you who don't know, the past few months have been full of the house-buying process; looking, offering, negotiating, closing, etc. Turns out buying a house isn't the most stress free process and there have been more than a few tearful calls made to my Dad (thanks Dad). In true Dad fashion, he's done a good job of reminding me that life isn't just about the destination but about the journey, that we need to spend time focusing on the path to what we want and how we get there. And I, in typical teenage daughter fashion, have mostly whined and pouted about the journey. I'm impatient, I just want to BE there!

Well, we are officially there. We closed on the 31st of March and moved in this past weekend. We've been thrilled to have help from some amazing friends (woo, painting party) and to have made some great changes to the space (stay tuned for DIY photos!). I am 100% in love with the house and awed every time I come home and the journey really was worth it. I won't say that I loved the journey but... it was an important part of getting to the destination and all in all, our journey was not that difficult.

I'll be posting room by rooms but in the meantime, if you want to check out some photos, here's the House Set on Flickr.

I Made That: Hamburcake!

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:49:00 +0000

In honor of Nate's 30th Birthday, I broke out all the baking skills I've got (I'm more of a cook than a baker) and whipped up this amazing (if I don't say so myself) Hamburger Cake. It went over very well.

Happy Birthday Nate!

from the front

a closeup

hamburcake on fire!

52 Books - Owned!

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:30:00 +0000

I know, I know. You guys already know that I blew my 2010 goal out of the water but come on, don't I deserve a few moments of self fulfillment here? (Especially since I fell short on the other goals?)

55 Books

17, 769 Pages

Average Star: 3.78 stars

*Curtsies*

Books 52-55: Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:30:00 +0000

I'm not even trying to pretend I'm remotely on time recapping my 2010 "Year of Reading" but... finally, here is the end of 2010!

Book 52 - Men and Dogs by Katie Crouch

Finishing out the year with some moderately fluffy Kindle reading. Katie Crouch's novel didn't break any literary barriers or blow my mind but it was a solidly good read. I identified with the characters and was interested in the plot, I wanted to find out what happen. And I did. And then I forgot. Sorry Katie, it was a nice book.

(288 pages; 3.25 stars)

Book 53 - Waking Up in the Land of Glitter: A Crafty Chica Novel by Kathy Cano-Murillo

Oye, this book. For those of you who aren't aware, I'm a bit of a crafty girl myself. I craft and sew and DYI and most importantly, I obsessively follow quite a few craft blogs - which is where I heard about this "crafty" novel. I admit it, I was intrigued. And, in the end, it wasn't a bad book exactly but I say again, Oye. The characters were less than one-dimensional, the plot was incredibly see-through... it just wasn't great. I almost stopped reading a quarter of the way through (and for the record, that's saying something - I've only stopped reading two or three books). It got better after that but still, not something I would ever recommend.

(335 pages; 2.75 stars)

Book 54 - Between the Assassinations by Aravind Adiga

I LOVED Aviga's first novel (White Tiger) and so, was excited that there was a new one. Between the Assassinations is very much in the style of the first novel, which I dug, and it's clearly another book in the same vein. I liked the book, but I have to admit, not as much as the first one. I got confused by what was happening and when (it skips around a bit) but that's probably on me and not the book.

(339 pages; 3.50 stars)

Book 55 - Shortcomings by Adrian Tomine

What better way to end the year than with an easily-read, graphic novel? Oh, maybe reading one that isn't supremely depressing and makes you question all human relationships. Happy New Year. Okay, okay, I'm over-reacting, it wasn't that bad, but the characters in Tomine's novel are pretty unlikeable and the plot is dismal. Tomine's work in the book (you know, art... writing... etc.) are great though and I'm hoping that his next book is a bit more encouraging.

(104 pages; 3.50 stars)

Boston Burger Battle - Results!

noreply@blogger.com (Intrepid Blogger) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:30:00 +0000

I know, the burger battle was ages ago! Okay, not ages, but... weeks at least.

Turns out that while KO Prime excels at putting on top notch events centered around burgers and donating to a good cause. What they do NOT excel at is posting the results for said burger-centered event.

I have been googling and I've been finding a bunch of local food blogs who have weighed in but figured KO had to be updating themselves right? If they are, I haven't found it and I google for a living. The facebook page is silent, the official website equally so.

Fine, I give. I can't wait any longer KO Prime - I need to update my readers!

Without further ado, the winners:

Bristol Lounge (agreed!)
Sel de la Terre
Island Creek Oyster Bar

I will say that all of these burgers were delicious but I just had different opinions here. I do have to wonder... how do they pick these winners? What if people don't try all the burgers? Etc.

I'm not trying to say the voting is flawed... but...

Many questions.