The only Cardinals fan in Michigan

The steam is being let out of the hot dog vendors carts tonight. The Tigers totally deserved to be in the World Series this year, and their season was miraculous. I, on the otherhand am tickled pink, nay - Cardinal red - today. St. Louis won the World Series.

Growing up in Chicago, it was only natural that I was a Cubs fan. Spending summers with my grandfather in Northwest Iowa, gave me a choice between following the White Sox for the summer or the Cardinals. I couldn't follow the Sox, and I wasn't aware enough to understand that the Cardinals were the arch-enemies of the Cubs. So I've grown up as kind of a contradiction. Now, nearly 40 years old, I've followed both the Cubs and the Cards, forsaking all others and in some cases my sanity, until today.

Cards win! Cards win! Cards win!

Living in Michigan, there are as many Cubs fans on the West side of the state as there are Tigers fans. I can imagine the sour expressions on the faces of my friends of both ilk. It's going to be a rough week.

Time to pack away the hot dogs, popcorn, peanuts, crackerjack and stadium nachos until next year. Thanks for a great season red-birds!

... I happen to know it's not just me.

Thai one on

Thai chicken curry with jasmine rice
Originally uploaded by mirthmobile.

Lunch today at Godblogcon was in the Biola University cafeteria. Apparently the long lines of sheep to the fodder are over. The students can choose from any number of different small lines leading to everything imaginable. There's the pizza line, the salad bar, a dessert bar, a row of cereal dispensers, and some pretty decent international cuisine. Sandwiches of any variety are available - a soup bar - really incredible. I chose the Thai Chicken Curry with Jasmine Rice. There were some very fancy and tasty green beans - and a Dr. Pepper to wash it down.

As I write this, the conference is jumping from a pretty great plenary session regarding the intersection of politics and christianity, to a live broadcast of the Hugh Hewitt Show. Honestly, I don't think I need to sit in the room with the live radio show, so I'm sitting outside in a lovely courtyard. Listening dutifully of course.

So back to the food - I don't think the Biola student body has any clue how good they have it. Reminds me of
God's promises to us through the people he set aside. The story of God is punctuated over and over by promises that God will give us a host of benefits - but we have responsibilities - or appropriate responses to those promises.

I get really excited about that.

...maybe it's just me.

Tommy can you hear me

Oh how I've missed you
Originally uploaded by mirthmobile.

I'm in Los Angeles at Godblogcon learning more about blogging. However, I've still got to eat don't I?

Los Angeles is filled with sushi joints, falafel stands, strip malls, and a potpourri of delightful things to smell, eat, see, and do. I'm drawn to just about everything else.

When I think about whether to eat something - that is clearly not good for me, I'm reminded of this note in the bible.

Basically it sums up the idea the we're called to live a free life - not with wrecklessness (or license to do or in my case eat whatever we want to do) or without love for others, but the freedom from the junk that we might do to each other if we put ourselves first instead of putting God first.

What does this have to do with a Tommy Burger?
This pile of goo represents to me that which is best in the world and can be taken in without polluting myself or others that I care about. I shouldn't eat this every day to be sure, but once every 20 years or so, I can cross that line.

...maybe it's just me?

Oh yes - there will be blog

Godblogcon countdown
Originally uploaded by mirthmobile.

Dateline Los Angeles, California: home of themed restaurants and Knotts Berry Farm. I've got a view of both from my hotel window as I wait for Godblogcon to get started.

I'm traveling with Andy, our designated blogger, and we're safely ensconced in the Buena Park Holiday Inn, complete with wi-fi. Last night, Andy's sister Becky drove up from the San Diego area to visit with her brother and I got to join them for dinner at The Claim Jumper.





I enjoyed the "Cowboy Steak" - how can you pass on anything with the word "cowboy" in it? It was a delightfully aged NY Strip topped with some very spicy salsa with lots of cillantro. The salsa was placed on the steak while cooking, so it really sunk in and brought some extra tastiness to an already flavorful and tender slab of meat.

The lemonade was exceptional - fresh with a sprinkling of sugar on the rim and a sprig of mint. Well done!

I had to hold off and avoid the "ore cart" an item on the menu that I'm sure is served in an ore cart that you might find in an old-west silver mine of some kind. There were at least three entres listed in the description. I also did not have a slice of the 6-layer chocolate decadence cake. (shudder)

One note regarding the "children's menu" at The Claim Jumper. There's a children's menu for kids under 10 and a "Juniors menu" which according to the legend is "great for young people and seniors". That had me laughing for a while.

... maybe it's just me

dog-food

Dog devours toy - film at eleven
Originally uploaded by mirthmobile.

Special guest - Walter!

Here on brian-food, I do my best to tell people what's going on in my life, share my observations, or simply make someone smile. The trick is to do that all within the context of food. Today, it's a bit of a stretch, but when I saw that Walter was not only chewing his baseball toy, but had eaten a hole through it, I took this opportunity.

I should say on the outset that Walter occasionally eats his toys, rather than simply chewing them, or playing fetch. He played fetch for about 10 seconds this morning and then hunkered down to do some damage. In the last 15 minutes, he's completely removed the baseball you see here, and has started to work on the rest of the toy. I'll clean it up later. Now - on with the story.

Last night, my softball team had the single greatest game of our career together. Most of the guys have been playing together for the last five years, and we've usually finished somewhere in the middle of the pack. This Fall, we hadn't won a single game, until last night. Final score: 38-9. The whole team played like I've always believed we could play. We started out with some solid hits, taking an early lead. Our defense was rock solid. As for me, I felt more in control of my pitching than I ever have before in my life, and I hit my first home run over the fence in a game. Our record for this season is now 1 and 9, but to me it feels like we just won the championship.

So - to all the guys who played last night:
Ron, Mark VA, Mark A, Morgan, Jplant, Kevin, Brian A, Joel, and Craig
Thanks for a great game!
To our fans who made it last night:
Jessica, Kara, Monica, Gary, Leslie, Carolyn, and Mark VA's grandparents - and you too Rika
Thanks for coming - and your cheering made the game that much sweeter.

An informal poll last night tells me that I'm allowed to feel really good about the game for the next two weeks. I intend to make the most of that.

... maybe it's just me

What up 'G'?

Favorite Food
Originally uploaded by mirthmobile.

I'm from the Chicago suburbs. I grew up knowing nothing about the wonderfulness that is Giordano's pizza until I was in my late teens, and by then it was almost too late. I managed to have just a few pieces before moving to Connecticut (where pizza goes when it's bad).

Since then, I've been an evangelist for Giordano's pizza. I definitely have way too much, every time I'm there. My most recent trip proved to follow my m.o.



My preferences include:
Sausage

Plain and simple. Oh sure, some of you may want to muddy the waters with more fillings like pepperoni, or canadian bacon (ham), or worse yet "deluxe". My considerable experience has led me to the arguable fact that the sausage pizza is their best. This is especially noticable when the evil-opposite of Giordano's rears it's ugly head - Gino's. The sausage is abysmal.

... maybe it's just me