Category Archives: Food

26 of My Favorites A to Z

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I had a lot of fun in April blogging about 26 of my favorite things in the A to Z challenge. So much fun in fact that I wanted to list all of my favorites in this one blog post, each highlighted with links back to the original posts. I have also included some honorable mentions to truly include all of my favorites. So here are 26 of my favorites from A to Z!

A is for (brady) Anderson with Autobiographies as honorable mention.

B is for (denver)  Broncos with Biographies as honorable mention.

C is for (johnny) Cash with Casinos as honorable mention.

D is for Dogs.

E is for Elvis Presley.

F is for Facebook and social media.

G is for Grease.

H is for Happy Days with History as honorable mention.

I is for iPhone with Ice Cream as honorable mention.

J is for James Dean.

K is for (the) Kennedys.

L is for Larry Mullen with Lisa Marie Presley as honorable mention.

M is for Memphis with Music as honorable mention.

N is for (olivia) Newton-John.

O is for (baltimore) Orioles with Orange as honorable mention.

P is for Pizza.

Q is for Queso (aka Cheese).

R is for Robert Cassotto (aka Bobby Darin).

S is for Soap Operas with Sit Coms as honorable mention.

T is for (lana) Turner.

U is for U2.

V is for (las) Vegas.

W is for Writing.

X is for Xanadu.

Y is for Yoo-Hoo.

Z is for Zoo.

I will definitely participate the A to Z Challenge again next year. I met lots of new friends, read a lot of interesting new blogs, and I loved writing my about all of my favorite things.

Y is for Yoo-Hoo – one of my favorite drinks

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A favorite of mine that begins with Y is YooHoo. It is one of my favorite drinks. My favorite drink is sweet tea, but Yoo-Hoo is a close second. When I was little, I loved drinking Yoo-Hoo with pizza. It was a Saturday night treat to grab a cold bottle of Yoo-Hoo out of the cooler at the pizza place and taking it home to enjoy. And today I still like Yoo-Hoo with pizza, actually I like pizza with anything. But I often grab a Yoo-Hoo out of the cooler in the mart when I stop for gasoline. For those of you who don’t know, Yoo-Hoo is a chocolate drink – not chocolate milk, so it won’t spoil. Next time you’re out, try a Yoo-Hoo – you won’t be disappointed.

 

What is your favorite drink?

This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge – 26 of my favorites. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2.

Q is for Queso (aka Cheese) – my favorite food

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A favorite of mine that begins with Q is Queso – better known as Cheese. I had to be creative here because I could not think of a favorite of mine that began with Q and since I had already used Johnny Cash for my favorite ‘C’, Queso (spanish for cheese) was a perfect fit for my favorite ‘Q’. If you read my previous post, you know I love pizza – specifically extra cheese pizza. I like cheese on everything. You can never have too much cheese. I eat cheese as a snack, rather than sweets. In fact I always say that I don’t want candy or flowers, bring me a basket of cheese. I am not sure if I have a favorite type of cheese because I like them all, but I really love an extra sharp cheddar and brie – especially warm brie. When I was in Milwaukee last summer, I made a special trip to the Cheese Mart – one of the happiest places on earth.

What is your favorite food?

This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge – 26 of my favorites. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2.

P is for Pizza – my favorite meal

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A favorite of mine that begins with P is Pizza, my favorite meal. I love pizza. I mean I really, truly love pizza. I eat it every week. My favorite kind of pizza is extra cheese. My favorite place to get a pizza is Ledo pizza. Unfortunately, there is no Ledo’s in Memphis because they are only on the East Coast – so this is another reason why I am so happy to be back home in Maryland. I will get a large extra cheese Ledo pizza and eat it every day until it is gone – it usually lasts me about four days. But if I were thin and didn’t have to worry about heart disease, I would eat pizza for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. But for now, I’ll settle for one meal a day a few days a week, every week.

What is your favorite meal?

This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge – 26 of my favorites. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2.

Beale Street Music Festival 2011

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Tasha flew in early Friday morning for our annual weekend at the Beale Street Music Festival. We have gone every year since 2003, except for last year’s tornado incident where we spent a lot of time in the closet. I picked Tasha up at the airport Friday, and we were at Harrah’s Casino in Tunica by 9am. We played the slots until Paula Deen’s buffet started serving lunch, which was our real reason for beging there. We gorged ourselves on all of Paula’s magnificent creations - macaroni and cheese, sweet tea, biscuits, green beans, mashed potatoes. So fantastic! We came back to my house and relaxed for a few hours before heading downtown for MusicFest.

We had dinner at Majestic Grille on Main Street and then strolled in and out of the art galleries on South Main for Trolley Night. We didn’t buy anything, but had a nice walk to work off all the food we had eaten that day. We got into the Beale Street Music Festival around 7pm. I went straight to the hat tent because I wanted to get a new cowboy hat. The prices were much lower than when I bought one a few years ago, so I bought another one. I may be wearing it a lot this summer while I’m On the Road with U2.

Tasha wanted to see both Everclear and Cake, but they were playing at the same time. I didn’t like either, so I didn’t care who we saw. She decided to see Everclear, and I was so glad. They were good. I had issues with them because I had met the lead singer years ago in a bar in Baltimore I used to hang out in and he wasn’t the coolest guy. But I did enjoy Everclear’s set, although they played the songs a bit slower and his voice was a little lower than I remember.

Everclear 4.29.11 BSMF Memphis

Please watch my video of Everclear’s performance of Santa Monica

After Everclear, we were walking toward the stage of the next band we wanted to see when we heard Cake’s last two songs – which were also their most famous. So Tasha got to hear both bands. I am really glad we were at Everclear’s set because I actually enjoyed it, and I was right about Cake – I don’t like them.

We both really wanted to see Flaming Lips because everyone had said they are a great live band. There was a huge crowd waiting and the anticipation sure did not match the performance. They are visually pleasing, but not musically. Not my thing – maybe because I wasn’t high. The lead singer got in a bubble and rolled on top of the audience and then balloons and confetti were launched into the crowd. Visually exciting, but not musically. We left after the first song.

Flaming Lips 4.29.11 BSMF Memphis

Please watch my video of the Flaming Lips opening performance

Tasha loves Stevie Ray Vaughan, so she wanted to see his brother Jimmy Vaughan play. Off to the Blues Tent we went – couldn’t get away from Flaming Lips fast enough. Jimmy Vaughan was great. He was more than just blues – he was sort of rockabilly as well. And I love rockabilly! They even had a sax in the band. More bands should really play the saxaphone. I love the sax! We were really tired as it was closing in on midnight, so we only stayed for a few songs.

Jimmy Vaughan 4.29.11 BSMF

Please watch my video of Jimmy Vaughan’s performance

On our way out of the festival we heard a couple songs by Stone Temple Pilots. I originally wanted to hear their entire set, but was just too tired. So we just listened as we walked by. I did get to hear two of my favorites by them though.

Saturday Tasha and I decided to go downtown early and have breakfast at the Arcade diner. When we got there, they were lined up around the corner. So we decided to go to Beale Street to see what was open. It was around 10:30am. We parked on the street for free and went to Lil’ Anthony’s because I had heard they had good breakfasts. They don’t. I don’t know if they were just having a bad day, but it was terrible – the service and the food. We ordered sweet tea, and got regular tea. Our waitress apologized and said she would get us sweet tea. She then told us they had to make it, and then told us they had to find the sugar – we never got our sweet tea. Our order came out and mine was wrong and Tasha only got half of her’s. We didn’t have silverware, but we did get that. Tasha ate the food she was brought, and I still didn’t have mine. I cancelled my order and the rest of Tasha’s, and we left. We walked down Beale to Alfred’s, and by this time is was about 11:45, so we had lunch. I love Alfred’s - best food on Beale! Don’t ever go to Lil’ Anthony’s, go to Alfred’s!

After walking around Beale Street for a bit, we went to MusicFest around 2pm. Tasha’s main purpose of Saturday was to see one of her favorite bands Mumford and Sons. Luckily everyone I wanted to see Saturday were on the same stage as Mumford and Sons, so we secured our spot at the front rail and camped out at the Budweiser Stage all day.  Amy Lavere was up first. I had seen her once before and she was great. She was great Saturday also. Tasha really liked her too – and even bought her cds the next day. Amy has a very unique, passionate voice and plays the stand up bass – and she lives in Memphis!

Amy Lavere 4.30.11 BSMF Memphis

Please watch my video of Amy Lavere’s performance

We had not heard of Paul Thorn, but he was up next. His drummer looked like he was right out of the 50s with his sideburns, rolled up sleeves, and Elvis tee shirt – he is even from Tupelo. I also found Paul Thorn very attractive with kind of a raspy country Ryan Bingham sort of voice. I may get his cd.

Paul Thorn 4.30.11 BSMF Memphis

Please watch my video of Paul Thorn’s performance 

The Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis, was next. This was the 8th time we have seen Jerry Lee Lewis, and the 8th time we’ve seen Elvis’ friend George Klein introduce him. Jerry Lee performs every year at the Beale Street Music Festival, and he never disappoints. He is 75 years old and as ornery as ever. And he can still play that piano! He is one of my favorite artists. He is the last of the original rock and rollers, the last of the Sun Studio stars, the last man standing.

Jerry Lee Lewis 4.30.11 BSMF Memphis

 

the Killer

Please watch my video of Jerry Lee Lewis’ performance of Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On 

Although Tasha was really excited to see Mumford and Sons, I was not. I had seen them on the Grammy’s, and they just aren’t for me. But I stayed there, even though the crowd was jumping and freaking out. I liked every song that the banjo was not played. I’m still not a fan and wouldn’t buy their cd, but they are very talented and passionate – it’s just not my thing. Tasha loved them and was even more excited when she saw Jake Gyllenhall watching from the side.

Mumford and Sons 4.30.11 BSMF Memphis

Please watch my video of Mumford and Sons’ performance

After Mumford and Sons, we were exhausted so we left the festival and went to Central BBQ for dinner. It was fantastic! We sat out on the deck. It was Tasha’s first time there, and she thought it was the best bbq she’s had in Memphis. I love their BBQ portabella sandwich! After we went to the new YoLo’s for dessert. I had their amazing death by chocolate cupcake with icing like parfait.

Sunday we decided not to go to the Beale Street Music Festival because it was pouring rain. We went to the Cupboard for lunch. We have been going there for years. We stumbled upon it back in 2002 when we visited Memphis. I love their eggplant casserole, and Tasha loves their catfish. We then went to Sun Studio. We didn’t take the tour, as we could give the tour by now. We just sat in a booth and hung out for a bit, soaking in all the music history.

Sun Studio

After Sun, we went to see Water for Elephants. Tasha had read the book and really wanted to see it. Although I liked that it was set in the 1930s and starred Reese Witherspoon, I was little scared to see it because of the animal abuse. And I was right. I cried through a few scenes. It was an ok movie, a little slow for me, but Tasha liked it. After the movie, we walked out to discover a tornado was heading for midtown. We stayed in the lobby and watched the news for a bit and then decided it was safe enough to go home. By this time, I had developed a terrible migraine and took a little nap on the couch. After a couple of hours, we went to Bosco’s for dinner. Yummy humus andveggie burger for me! Tasha wanted gellato, so we went back to YoLo’s. Although my migraine had subsided, I wasn’t totally 100% so we just went back to my house and watched Up, which was really good.

Monday morning we woke up to no power – again! It had gone off during the night for a few hours, came back on and then went back off again. It came on just after 9am and luckily stayed on. We drove out east in the pouring rain to Blue Plate for breakfast – our favorite breakfast spot. They have the best biscuits! We then went to Flashback, which is a cool store on Central that has 1950s and 1960s clothes, furniture, decor, etc. I love it there! I bought a silver Johnny Cash cigarette case, even though I don’t smoke. I may use it as a wallet. Tasha bought a cool silver, peace sign painted belt buckle and belt. We went back to my house for a bit before I took Tasha to the airport for her flight back to Pittsburgh. I spent the rest of the cold rainy day on the couch catching up on my dvr and eating our leftovers from the weekend.

My 9th Beale Street Music Festival weekend was a success! Please watch my video overview of MusicFest 2011

2010 My Year in Review

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I had a fantastic 2010 and am looking forward to 2011. I visited many places I had been wanting to visit. I did not make it through my entire list, but I made quite a dent.

January I attended Elvis’ Birthday weekend celebration. It would have been his 75th, so there was a lot of hoopla, including a visit by Priscilla and Lisa Marie.

I got Grizzlies season tickets in 2010 and enjoyed my view from up top.  Also in January, I saw Amy Lavere at Young Avenue Deli and went to the cd release party for Nancy Apple’s Shine, which she recorded at Sun Studio. Nancy is my favorite Memphis artist who I now consider a friend.

In February, I visited some local treasures. I toured the Rock n Soul Museum, played the slots at Harrah’s Tunica and ate at Paula Deen’s, and toured the Pink Palace. I also saw the movie Crazy Heart, which really inspired me to take a roadtrip out west. I saw the great play The Jersey Boys at the Orpheum Theatre.

I saw Brandon Santini and Delta Highway at the Blues Hall on Beale Street and they blew me away. Fantastic blues group! I really need to get back to see them. I went to the Big One flea martket and saw Kris Kristofferson and Merle Haggard at Horseshoe Casino in Tunica. It’s the closest I’ll ever get to seeing Johnny Cash.

I ended February at the Memphis Zoo on International Polar Bear Day. Polar Bears are my favorite, after dogs of course, and they are in danger of becoming extinct.

In March, Elvis, Cilla and I took a trip through Mississippi. We saw Medgar Evers house in Jackson, the casinos in Biloxi and Elvis’ summer home at the Golf Resort, Robert Johnson’s birthplace in Hazelhurst, where coca-cola was first bottled in Vicksburg, Robert Johnson’s grave in Greenwood, Dockery Plantation in Cleveland, and the Cathead store in Clarksdale.

I visited the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, played and ate at Harrah’s, and walked the dogs along the Mississippi River at Tom Lee Park. I finally went to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Jackson, TN, which was small but packed with lots of memorabilia!  

I went to Little Rock, Arkansas for the day to visit the Clinton Presidential Library, which was great and situated along the River. My first time at a presidential library and in Little Rock.

I ended March with a visit to Jerry Lee Lewis’ ranch in Nesbit, Mississippi. I couldn’t tour it because Jerry lives there and no longer gives tours, but I drove by it about 8 times back and forth taking pictures and video. Love his piano gates as an answer to Elvis’ music notes gates.

On April 3 I wrote, “Today I was inspired by a documentary I watched called 10MPH where these guys quit their corporate jobs to follow their bliss. They made a documentary about their cross country journey on segweys. It made me feel a little less crazy knowing that I’m not the only one out there who quit their job to follow their bliss. I am very much enjoying seeing everything I’ve been wanting to see and videorecording it along the way. So I bought a domain and made this blog public.” 

I spent a lot of time in April planning my U2 tour roadtrip that never was, went to the Memphis Roller Derby and finally got to the Memphis Pizza Cafe.

 

I went to the Found Footage Festival at Studio on the Square. Basically, these guys go around collecting and buying old VHS tapes and editing them to make these great montages of nostalia and then show them to folks like me in various cities. A simple and great idea.

I again attended the Memphis Redbirds opening day, which is really a night game – which still bugs me. They lost, but it was fun and a great view from my front row seat.

I went to the Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi. I listened to great blues by Stacy Mitchart and Valerie June, watched blues documentaries at the old theatre and took a tour of Clarksdale including Tennesse Williams’ house and those of his neighbors Blanche and Brick.

I visited Graceland because I hadn’t been since the birthday celebration in January.

In May for the first time in years, we did not attend the Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival because of the tornado. Tasha and I had fun though, except when we were hiding in the closet with the dogs from the tornado. Before the tornado, we went to played slots at Harrah’s, went to Sun Studio, went to Trolley Night where I bought some Memphis art, hung out on Beale Street, ate at Paula Deens, Marlowe’s, Blue Plate, the Cupboard, and Alfred’s. After the tornado, we drove around looking at the damage and then watched hockey at Young Avenue Deli.

The best part about May 2010 was my trip to Las Vegas! I met Cindy there for 4 days, and we had a blast. Plus I got to see New Kids on the Block the first two nights of their tour and the new Elvis Cirque de Soleil show. Cindy and I stayed at Ballys but of course played the slots up and down the Strip, like Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock and the Flamingo.

The worst part about May 2010 was learning that U2′s North American tour had been postponed until next year because Bono had emergency back surgery, but luckily he was alright – thank goodness! So I scrambled to make plans because I was itching to take a roadtrip, since I had planned to be on the road for 2 months seeing every US U2 show and much of the country. I decided on driving out Route 66, with Elvis and Cilla, from Oklahoma to New Mexico and then back through Texas and Louisiana.

I saw many of the classic Route 66 sites from Tulsa to Albuquerque, but my favorite part of Route 66 was Amarillo – the Big Texan Ranch and Cadillac Ranch.

I really loved Texas, well north Texas anyway. I enjoyed Lubbock, Austin and Dallas. Being a Buddy Holly fan, I visited Lubbock and Buddy’s school, studio, grave, as well as the Buddy Holly museum.

On the way to Dallas, I stopped in Killeen to visit Elvis’ home while he was at Ft Hood.

In Dallas, I stayed at the Southfork Hotel and visited the Southfork Ranch. I am a fan of the tv show Dallas and touring the ranch was great fun.

There was one last stop on our roadtrip before heading back to Memphis. And that was in Shreveport Louisiana at the Auditorium where the Louisiana Hayride took place. This is where Elvis, and many others, got there start.

In June, I went home to Maryland for about 2 weeks and had a blast! I attended my 20th high school reunion, spent a few days at Dover Downs casino, went to an Orioles game, went to the Mason Dixon Master Chef tournament at the Belvedere, and hung out with my parents and my friends.

In July, I tried going vegan for about a month, but couldn’t find a great cheese substitute that I could live with, so I’m back to being just vegetarian. I found out that the U2 North American tour had been rescheduled for Summer 2011. On my July visit to Graceland, I bought an annual pass which will pay for itself after 2 visits.

I spent the rest of July attending events in Memphis. I went to the Who Shot Rock n Roll photography exhibit at the Brooks Museum of Art, the opening reception for the Elvis: from Memphis to Manhattan exhibit at Stax Museum, the HiTone (finally!) to see Bulletproof Vests, Daylight Fades encore presentation at Studio on the Square, the Arts Memphis Bravo season kickoff party featuring the Bluff City Backsliders, WEVL’s annual Blues on the Bluff featuring the BoKeys, Marshall Grant’s (Johnny Cash’s bassist) final performance and book signing at the Brooks, and Joan Jett at Horseshoe Casino in Tunica.

August found me on the road again, but this time without Elvis and Cilla. I met Tasha in Chicago for Lollapalooza, but also went to see the play Million Dollar Quartet and a cubs game at Wrigley Field. My main reason for going to Lollapalooza was to see Soundgarden, but I really enjoyed the entire festival. It was clean, organized, and lots of great music. I enjoyed seeing These United States, the Ettes, Mavis Staples, Amerian Bang, Ed Kowalczyk from Live,  Devo, the Black Keys, Lady Gaga,  Switchfoot, the Cribs, XJapan, Wolfmother, and of course SOUNDGARDEN!

Back in Memphis in August for Elvis Week. I attended the benefit for Myrna Smith (sadly she just passed away Christmas Eve) featuring a performance by Cowboy Jack Clement, Elvis Insiders Shake Rattle and Bowl where I met Chris, Noel, Joe Guercio, Cynthia Peppers, Conversations on Elvis at the Orpheum with Joe Guercio, the Stamps, Joe Esposito, the sreening of Elvis on Tour at the Orpheum with a performance by the Stamps, the Candlelight Vigil with a heat index of 115 degrees and an appearancy by Elvis’ nurse Marion Cocke on George Klein’s radio show.

The end of August brought me to the realization that I love writing, this may have been inspired by seeing and reading Eat Pray Love. But writing is what I want to do – find a way to get paid for writing. I would love to get paid for reviewing events I attend, so I have this blog and I write for examiner.com. I have also I started my memoirs – 3 different versions. I also ate at restaurants I had been wanting to try like Majestic Grill and Fuel Cafe and saw Billy Idol at Harrah’s Casino in Tunica.

September started off great with the annual Memphis Music and Heritage Festival downtown, which is free. It was a day of great Memphis music with Roy Harper, Nancy Apple, Barbara Blue, Sweet Angel, the Kattawar Brothers, Elmo and the Shades, Bluff City Backsliders, and Jack Oblivian and the Tennessee Tearjerkers.

I went back to Harrah’s to play the slots and eat at Paula Deen’s. I went to traffic court in Illinois to fight a speeding ticket I got on the way to Chicago – and I won! I spent the day in Tupelo visiting Elvis’ birthplace, Tupelo Hardware, Elvis’ school, the CVB and eating at Johnnie’s Drive-In.

September 17, 2010 was the last episode of As the World Turns. It has been on the air for 54 years, and on the radio before that. My grandmother used to listen to it on the radio, then watched it on tv. It was the first soap opera that was a half hour – the rest were 15 minutes. I have watched As the World Turns since the late -1980s.

I attended the Cooper Young Festival for the first time. Actually I worked it. I helped out in the Indie Memphis Film Festival booth.

In October, I was on the road again to Nashville for my birthday weekend. I left Elvis and Cilla at the vet’s and away I went. I toured the Ryman, visited record shops and bars on Broadway, saw my Denver Broncos defeat the Titans (the whole reason I went to Nashville), toured RCA Studio B where Elvis recorded and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

I attended the 17th annual Memphis Blues Ball, which was honoring the 75th birthdays of both Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis – neither were in attendance. But Jerry Schilling, George Klein, Mark James, Knox Phillips, Jerry D Williams, Ronny McDowell and Jack Soden were there.

Using my annual pass, I spent the day at Graceland, the happiest place on earth.

I went to the annual Wine Fest in Millington, featuring Nancy Apple.

October ended with the Memphis Grizzlies 10th season opener featuring a performance by Al Kapone.

 

November started with more U2 shows being added and me planning for next summer’s tour/roadtrip. My parents’ friend was in Memphis, so we had breakfast at the Arcade, toured Graceland and Sun Studio, watched football at Alfred’s and saw Chips Moman and Marty Lacker get their music notes on Beale Street.

I went to Payton the polar bear’s birthday party at the Memphis Zoo – he was 7.

I went to Tunica, but this time played the slots at Horseshoe and Gold Strike before going back to Harrah’s and eating at Paula Deen’s. I saw Vince Vaughn and Kevin James at the Cannon Center. They were absolutely hysterical!

For the Portland-Grizzlies game, my seat was upgraded to about 10 rows off the court – a $227 ticket for free! It’s a whole different game from that angle.

 

November ended with the Memphis Grizzlies defeating Lebron James and the Miami Heat. It was a fantastic game, even if I was back up in my nosebleed seat.

In December, Elvis, Cilla and I went home to Maryland for over 2 weeks for Christmas and had a fantastic time! I went to Dover Downs casino for a couple of nights, went to a Ravens game, ate lots of Ledo’s pizza, attended our annual Trivia Christmas party, celebrated Cindy’s birthday, and spent time with my parents and my friends.

What a truly wonderful year I have had! I am so lucky!

I started a new blog at
http://ontheroadwithu2.com
 to document my U2 tour travels next summer as well as my adventures from past U2 tours I’ve been on. I will still post on this blog for non-U2 related events, but 2011 is really going to be the year of U2011!

Female Bonding

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I have spent the past two days with my favorite women. Tuesday night we had our annual Trivia Christmas party. Wednesday I went to dinner and a movie with Cindy, Tabitha and Keira.

When I lived in Maryland, I would go to trivia parties once a month at my mom’s house with her friends, who became my friends. It was a good time of food, drink and trivial pursuit. And we would have a Christmas party every year with even more food and more drink. Since I moved to Memphis, I don’t make the montly trivia parties, but I do attend the annual Trivia Christmas party. It’s always great fun. There were about 11 of us. We ate and drank a lot and played Christmas games, but never got around to actual trivial pursuit. Please watch the short video of our party

ready for annual christmas trivia party

It has become a tradition that every time I visit Maryland, Cindy and I take her daughters Tabitha and Keira to the movies. We’ve seen Alvin and the Chipmunks, and then the Squequal, Marmaduke and yesterday Tangled. It was good, but maybe a little long and involved for four year old Keira. But seven year old Tabitha really enjoyed it.

keira and tabitha

After the movie, we had dinner at Macaroni Grill. It was nice just to be with my best friend and her daughters and just enjoy each others’ company. A good day!

Now I’m just going to relax and home with Elvis and Cilla and Mom and Dad until Christmas.

A Day in the Life – my life 8.25.10

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A great Wednesday I had! Started off the day by getting Big Orange inspected for my tag renewal. This occurs every year in Memphis at a rate of $144. for the tag renewal - the inspection is free. Inside tip, 10:30am an a Wednesday is a great time to get your car inspected – only 2 cars in front of me.

Memphis Vehicle Inspection

Next stop was PetCo. Elvis and Cilla were getting tired of eating cereal because I was too lazy to get them dog food. Actually, they probably weren’t tired of the cereal. I think they enjoyed it, but their dog food is better for them. It’s good to change up their diet every once in a while though.

Petco on Poplar

Then it was lunch at Fuel Cafe. I have been wanting to try Fuel Cafe for a while now because they have vegan dishes! They have a vegan dip plate, vegan burgers, vegan chili, vegan stir fry and others. My server Gary couldn’t have been friendlier or more accommodating. It is such a great place, like an old diner on route 66. I felt right at home.  

Fuel Cafe

Fuel Cafe patio

Although it was a lot cooler than it has been, I still ate inside – in the room off of the diner part. I decided on the vegan dip plate, which today was red pepper hummus. It was fantastic – and only $7.

Red Pepper Hummus

After my yummy lunch, I went to Studio on the Square to see Eat Pray Love, even though I haven’t finished the book yet.

Studio on the Square

Eat Pray Love

I really enjoyed Eat Pray Love. It pretty much followed the book, although it couldn’t include everything that is in the book. I love the book and really identify with Liz. Although, I’m not a writer, I aspire to be. And although I didn’t leave a husband and travel to 3 countries for a year, I did take the road less traveled. First when I moved to Memphis, leaving all of my comforts and support system as Liz did, then not working for a year and traveling around the US.

My dinner plans were cancelled, so inspired by Eat Pray Love I decided to have wine and pizza – all vegan of course. So I went to Joe’s Wines, bought some pinot grigio and put a Rosinni’s pizza in the oven.

Joe's Wines

my vino!

my pizza!

Now I’m going to sit back with a cold glass of pinot grigio, a few slices of hot, gooey pizza and watch my shows on the dvr – and maybe do some writing later. Happy Wednesday!

Please watch my video of today

i didn’t hurt any animals today

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Today was a good day! I became a vegan today, or rather today was the first day in my quest to live as a vegan, so animals won’t be hurt. I had yummy food, and yes I’m getting my protein. I had tofu scramble for breakfast, which consists of tofu, spinach and mushrooms with a side of potatotes and a side of tomatoes. And I sort of had 2 small lunches. The first was a banana, vegan blueberry muffin and vanilla soy milk and the second was organic tortilla chips and dip, which consisted of vegan chili and vegan cream cheese. I still have 300 calories left for today, as I am also trying to lose weight, so I’ll either have salad or cereal for dinner.

It was good food and no animals had to suffer because of it. Yes, I know you’ll argue there is a food chain and we’re supposed to kill animals to survive, but I disagree. If our only alternative was to kill animals to survive, you may have an argument. But there are other alternatives for us to eat to survive so innocent animals don’t have to be killed or harmed or mistreated.

I am excited for this new venture. I have been a vegetarian for about a year and a half and have felt hypocritical eating cheese because I knew the cows were suffering. So now I’m all in – 100% committed.

Enjoying Memphis!

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Had a great day, this my first out of the house since I’ve been back in Memphis. I stopped taking my augmentin and was no longer tired or nauseous. Enjoyed 2 of my 3 favorite things in Memphis – Beale Street and Graceland.

I met Marcie at Alfred’s on Beale Street for lunch. We were going to sit up on the porch, but it was too hot and humid. So instead, we sat inside at a corner table by the window – and the flies. We parked at 4th and Beale across from the historic Beale Street Church and the original framing of the old church.

After lunch, we went to Graceland! Marcie hadn’t been since January, and I hadn’t been since April. We each bought an annual pass, so now we can go as often as we want. It wasn’t crowded, so we could go at our own pace and really enjoy it. I have so many pictures of Graceland, but I couldn’t help take a few more.

I’m tired from today’s fun, so I’m relaxing on the couch with a pizza and I Love Lucy reruns – about to watch Big Brother. All I’ve of eaten this week is pizza because tomorrow I go vegan. No more real cheese!

A few days later I filmed what I loved about Memphis, please watch

Halfway to Memphis

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I’m halfway to Memphis. Just wasn’t feeling the drive today, maybe it was because my entire drive was in Virginia. Was on the road under 7 hours from Ellicott City to Bristol, stopping twice.

I left Ellicott City just after 11am and stopped at Ledo’s in Mount Airey just 20 minutes later, so I could get the best pizza in the world as a going away present for myself. I had it for lunch and dinner and will have it leftover when I get home as well.

We stopped 2 hours later at a Sheetz in Mt Jackson, VA for snacks and to go to the bathroom. It was 100 degrees.

Four more hours of driving through Virginia and we were in Bristol. Luckily the room has a refrigerator and microwave for my Ledo’s pizza. Elvis and Cilla were finally able to relax in the room.

Then Cilla rolled over onto Elvis’ legs, so Elvis growled at her, so she moved to the other bed.

I’m going to try to get to sleep, so we can wake up early and leave for Memphis. Luckily it’s Tuesday so there is an SVU marathon on usa.

Day before MusicFest

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The day before MusicFest was a good one. Picked up Tasha at the airport, and we went straight to Paula Deen’s Buffet at Harrah’s Casino. SO yummy! The best green beans and mashed potatoes. Then we played the slots for a couple hours and lost. Came home and exchanged Christmas presents – yes I know it’s almost May. Watched a little U2 – the BBC concert! Then had a late dinner at Marlowe’s. They have boca burgers and really yummy mac n cheese – great sweet tea! I have been eating at Marlowe’s for years and never noticed the TLC and I love Elvis!

Rockabilly Hall of Fame 3.23.10

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I finally made it to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame! I have wanted to visit there since 2002. I made the hour trip east on route 40 to Jackson, TN. The Rockabilly Hall of Fame was small, just 3 rooms, but had a lot of memorbilia. And Bernice couldn’t have been nicer. I was the only patron there, so I got the royal treatment. I got to see memorbilia on Elivs, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins (who is from Jackson), Charlie Rich, Sonny Burgess, Billy Lee Riley and even Wink Martindale (also from Jackson), whose autobiography I purchased – since I’m obsessed with autobiographies! Leaving the Hall, I went to the Old Country Store Buffet at Casey Jones Village. It was quite tasty!

Rockabilly Alley

 

Rockabilly Hall of Fame and Museum

Jerry Lee, Carl, Elvis, Johnny, Charlie

a yummy country buffet lunch

Pink Palace and Crazy Heart 2.10.10

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It’s been a while since I’ve been out seeing new things in Memphis, but it has snowed and i’ve been a little under the weather. I went to the Grizzlies-Hawks game last night, which Memphis lost. Today I went to Pink Palace, Flashback, Blue Plate for lunch and Ridgeway4 to see Crazy Heart. I have been to Pink Palace Museum before, but it has been a few years and the mansion party was not open before. Also, this time there is a chocolate exhibit. It was great. I took many pictures. I went to Flashback because I like to go there periodically to check out the 50s stuff. I went to Blue Plate Cafe for lunch. I’ve been there several times for breakfast, but never for lunch. The cabbage was amazing! and the biscuits are just as great for lunch as they are for breakfast. I saw Crazy Heart at Ridgeway4, and it was the best movie I’ve seen in a long time. Makes me really want to head out west on route 66.

Pink Palace Museum 2.10.10

gayoso house cornerstone

pink palace foyer

memphis chocolatier

i love yoohoo!!!

pink palace stuff

Flashback

lunch at Blue Plate Cafe

Crazy Heart at Ridgeway 4 - fantastic movie!

nothing better than slots and paula deen

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I went to Harrah’s and Paula Deen’s today. It was not the first time I have been there, but the first time this year. I was down $140. and put my last $10 in Rich Little Piggy and won. I went home only losing $50. Lunch at Paula Deen’s buffet was of course amazing!!!

Best meal ever!

 Tonight I went to Young Avenue Deli for the Grizzlies watch party. Unfortunately, they lost to Cleveland, but it was a good time. I had their amazing deathrow pimento cheese sandwich with my guinness. David met me there at halftime. Great day!

Grizzlies watch party at Young Ave Deli 2.2