Friday, January 30, 2009

Common Sense in a Bottle


I love the new series of Miller High Life commercials. Their new spokesman/delivery guy is amazing. "$11.50 for a hamburger? Y'all must be crazy!"


But have you heard about their latest campaign?

They think it's ridiculous that companies are paying $3 million for a 30 second Super Bowl ad. So instead, being the working man's common sense beer, they are using only 1 second to get their message across.

Check out some of the ads that didn't make the cut at www.1secondad.com and watch for them on competing stations during the Super Bowl.

...And the world will live as one

While I'm on this YouTube kick...
here's some chill music for you on this rather "chilly" Friday:

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Small Town, Big City

Cranfills Gap, TX
Population: 358
People who have seen the lights of Vegas: 0

Until Now!




Horny Toad Bar & Grill? I know that place. I've never been there, but they say it's the best Cranfills Gap has to offer. And now it's famous.

President Fairless

It seems Rick made a special appearance at the Inauguration last week:


You may be wondering why everyone else was wearing huge (heinous) hats and he was in a cut-off tee and sunglasses. Don't worry, he's from Texas.

You can read all about it in the "Rick Sez" section of www.strokersdallas.com.

Icy Ice House

Texas Ice House; Photo: Gene Slater
This picture was taken at our bar this morning after our "horrible" ice storm last night. Compared to the storms at home (Fort Wayne, IN) this was nothing. But compared to the mild weather of Texas, this was severe. Schools were closed, highways shut down, 18-wheelers jack-knifed right and left. It was chaos. And yet, I made it to work. Averaged 30 mph the entire way, but I made it.
I know, I amaze myself sometimes too.
And don't worry. The ice was mostly melted by noon so that people could get on with their lives. At least that gives them enough time to re-stock their bottled water and canned veggies before the next big natural disaster hits!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

My life in Web

My life in the past few months has been completely taken over by the process of updating our Strokers Dallas website.

FINALLY it is done! Behold, the newly updated, and much more advanced, www.strokersdallas.com.

Please, check it out. Browse around. Look at all 6500+ pictures I uploaded. Read the press releases and magazine features I wrote. Shop in the online store. Check out the Rick's Rant and Rick Sez sections. I mean, really, there is so much to do I can't even list it all here.

I'll give you a moment. You'll need it to bask in the amazingness that is Strokers Dallas.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Sons and Brothers

I heard this joke a while back, and it made me think of my brother pulling a scam like this. But don't worry, it in NO WAY made me think of my dad. (courtesy of the bloggers at CyrilHuze)


A young cowboy from Wyoming goes off to college, but half way through the semester, he has foolishly squandered all his money. He calls home.

‘Dad,’ he says, ‘You won’t believe what modern education is developing! They actually have a program here in Laramie that will teach our dog, Ol’ Blue, how to talk!’

‘That’s amazing,’ his Dad says. ‘How do I get Ol’ Blue in that program?’

‘Just send him down here with $1,000,’ the young cowboy says. ‘I’ll get him into the course.’

So, his father sends the dog and $1,000.

About two-thirds through the semester, the money again runs out. The boy calls home.

‘So how’s Ol’ Blue doing, son?’ his father asks.

‘Awesome, Dad, he’s talking up a storm,’ he says, ‘but you just won’t believe this. They’ve had such good results they have started to teach the animals how to read!’

‘Read!’ says his father, ‘No kidding! How do we get Ol’ Blue in that program?’

‘Just send $2,500 … I’ll get him into the class.’

The money promptly arrives.

But our hero has a problem. At the end of the year, his father will find out the dog can neither talk, nor read. So he shoots the dog.

When he arrives home at the end of the year, his father is all excited. ‘Where’s Ol’ Blue? I just can’t wait to see him read something and talk!’

‘Dad,’ the boy says, ‘I have some grim news. Yesterday morning, just before we left to drive home, Ol’ Blue was in the living room, kicked back in the recliner, reading the Wall Street Journal, like he usually does. Then he turned to me and asked, ‘So, is your daddy still messing around with that little redhead who lives in town?’

The father exclaimed, ‘I hope you shot that son of a bitch before he talks to your Mother!’

‘I sure did, Dad!’

The boy went on to become a highly successful lawyer!

HGTV 4ever

I am an obsessive person. When I like something, I REALLY like it. And when I love something, watch out!!

My new love is HGTV. The shows are amazing and since I am now in the process of "House Hunting" I think I would be the perfect candidate for the show "Property Virgins." It's a good thing I don't have to worry about my apartment being "Designed to Sell" because it's just a rental! However, when I find my dream home, I'll be sure to add some "Color Splash" and decorate it with "Myles of Style" because that's just how I roll.

But seriously, the whole "looking for a house that you can afford but that you can also see yourself living in for a long long time" thing... it's tough. Very stressful. And THAT my friend, is why there haven't been many blogs as of late. My sincere apologies.



*if you didn't catch it, all references in quotes are names of the shows I love on HGTV. if you did catch it, we must be best friends.

Gobble Gobble

So I know that a lot of my posts lately have been about food. Well, I guess that would imply that there have even been a lot of posts lately in the first place, which is obviously not true. Sorry, I've been busy. Lots on the mind.

But ANYWAY... back to food. Sooo, I am definitely a self-proclaimed "foodie." That means I'm not a chef or a cook, I have no professional training, I just love to prepare food and come up with new ideas/combinations/recipes.

With that said, I'd like to offer up a piece of Healthy Eating Advice. Instead of using ground beef in your recipes, substitute ground turkey. It is a much leaner meat and if you season it correctly, you can't even tell the difference!

For example, I regularly use ground turkey for taco meat. Use the packaged taco seasoning and just change the meat. No one will even know. Last night I also used turkey in a new burger creation. I used Baja Chipotle marinade and slathered it on the turkey patties. Topped it with monterey jack cheese and some black beans and I was in heaven. So good.

So give it a shot and take one step closer to a healthy living lifestyle (without having to give up all the good stuff!!)

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

When in Fort Wayne...

...Do as the Wayne-ians Do.

And that means eat coney dogs on Christmas Eve at Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island.

Are they the best coney dogs in the world?
Probably not.


But is it a tradition that will not soon be broken?
Absolutely.


If you're ever passing through the Fort, please stop and buy yourself a couple dogs. You'll love it.

Re-inventing the Dip

One of the hardest things to do after the holidays is to figure out how to get rid of everything unwanted... That ugly sweater from the in-laws? The 5 pounds of cooked ham in the fridge? The 5 pounds of unwanted fat around your waistline?

Here are some tips: Re-Gift, Re-Invent, and Re-New.

Re-Gift: make a box (or a garbage bag) full of small assorted gifts that you have no use for and save them for next year when you're in a pinch for hostess gifts, white elephant gag gifts, and something to wear to the "Tacky Christmas Sweater Party." (This is also a great time to go hit up the after-christmas sales and stock up on basic, generic gifts like candles, ornaments, and accessories at huge discounts!)

Re-Invent: Use up some of your leftovers in new ways. Can't imagine eating another chip full of Spinach & Artichoke Dip? Spread it on some flatbread, add some chicken, top with cheese and you have a personal pizza! Cut up the ham and make mini egg casseroles or ham & cheese turnovers. Use the extra buffalo chicken dip to top a tossed salad. Really, the possibilities are endless- just be creative! (and if you need recipes, let me know!)

Re-New: Renew your membership at the gym or renew your motivation to get back out there and work it! I know I need to. All that delicious holiday food sure knows how to stick with me well beyond the holidays! Just create small goals and work toward them. I know I'm trying!

Wrapping up the season

I was finally able to enjoy one of the best Christmas presents of 2008 this past weekend. I got tickets to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra at the American Airlines Center in Dallas and it was AMAZING!! If you haven't heard their music, please do yourself a favor and look them up. I bet you never guessed you could rock out to Christmas music!

Here is a video from one of their stops this year, but it does the performance no justice (and ignore the fat heads in front of the poor camera work). At least you can get the idea of the incredible light, laser, and fire show that accompanies such amazing musical talent!

Enjoy! (and better yet- go see them next year!!)