I have managed to make this site a Google page rank 4 in a very short amount of time. Webmastering is a hobby for me, but I'm starting to think of it as a viable occupation, at least a part time one. I have learned a lot about SEO in the past 6 months and have this site "above the fold" on the first Google and Yahoo search pages for phrases I want to be keyed to.
One way to get good search engine placement is through text links for phrases you want to be searched for. Google "hot dog truck" and you'll find this site. Link popularity for certain phrases helps build your search rank and makes it more likely you'll be found when people search the phrases you've built text links for. Link popularity is also a big factor in whether or not you are found high in the search engine placement.
I utilized everything I could with search engine optimization to get my page ranked higher. If I had the budget (which I don't) I'd definitely use a search engine optimization company. Using a search engine optimization company might also be a good way to go for people who don't have the time to do their own SEO.
SubmitaWebsite.com is a search engine optimization company
that can help you build massive amounts of text links so your search engine placement is higher.
I plan on selling some things online in the future and doing good SEO for my sites will be priority number ONE. If the income justifies outsourcing to a search engine optimization company, I'll gladly spend the dough!
SEO is the Way to Go
Coffee is for CLOSERS!
As I was writing a Post earlier, I talked about the movie Glengary Glen Ross. This got me hunting for video. I found Alec Baldwin's classic speech to the sales force.
I have sat through sales meetings nearly as harsh as this. Selling can be tough work.
Get the Glengary Leads
In one of my favorite movies of all time, Glengary Glen Ross, a movie about a bunch of hard luck salesmen, they keep talking about "the Glengary leads" as their deliverance from their respective sales slumps. Good leads are very important in sales: you need to be able to talk to qualified prospects to maximize the efficiency of your sales activities.
Good leads (ie: people who want and/or need your product and can afford to pay for it) and good lead management are paramount to being successful in sales. A good CRM software program can help manage leads and even sell them.
Like the guys in the movie, many sales people buy leads. We used to buy them all the time in the mortgage business. The fewer times the lead had been sold before, the more expensive they were. On the whole, the leads were worthwhile as they were well qualified for what we were offering. AIM CRM software can actually be configured to sell leads. Sales people or companies with an abundance of leads can make money on their excess leads. Some people actually build entire businesses on the collection and sale of sales leads.
While most people using a lead management system will just use it for their own leads, it is nice to know your CRM program has the capabilities of managing all types of reports and scenarios.
Maybe if the guys in Glengary Glen Ross had a better system for lead management, they wouldn't have been so pathetic.
I'm a Comparison Shopper
When I need to buy something, I want the best deal. In the Dark Ages, before the Internet, that meant checking all the fliers in the local paper and maybe driving around to a few stores to check on floor models and the like. By the time you finished all the running around, it's almost not worth the money you save! The Internet has made comparison shopping for everything, whether its an iPod or a humidifier, soooo much easier.
So many online stores offer free shipping on electronics, appliances or anything else you might want. I'm searching for a new food processor as I'll be making my special relishes in the coming weeks.
I honestly don't know how I ever survived without the Internet!
J.D. Drew SUCKS
J.D. Drew, in case you don't know, is the right fielder for the Boston Red Sox. He will make $14 million a year for the next five years. He was coveted by Boston General Manager Theo Epstein for some bizarre reason, probably because Theo values on base percentage guys and J.D. Drew has a good career OBP.
One problem though: J.D. Drew SUCKS. He seems to have no heart and he certainly has no bat. Almost 50% of his at bats result in weak ground balls to the right side. When he gets up to the plate with men on base in a key situation, he tries to work the walk. He has had many key go ahead runs on base and not taken the bat off his shoulder! YOU HAVE TO PUT THE BALL IN PLAY J.D!
I don't know if he will cease to suck in the future, but for now HE REALLY SUCKS! He'd look good in a Yankees uniform (they suck too).
Please take my "How much does J.D. Drew Suck" poll.
Ski Utah
Utah has awesome skiing. Before I became a decrepit old bastard, I used to tear up the slopes in the winter. I've skied all over New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. I've also been to Vail and Utah.
Utah has the BEST skiing! Alta, Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon, Snowmass, Deer Valley, Park City; I skied them all back in the day. You can stay there for a week and ski a different mountain every day! The snow is deep, plentiful and FINE and the terrain is magnificent. All you need to do is grab some Park City lodging, bring a bunch of dough for lift tickets and GO! I can't imagine a better place for a winter ski vacation. Good digs are important when skiing and I always liked to be able to roll out of bed and hit the slopes. Lift side lodging in Park City is the way to go.
Ski Utah this winter!
Link Love I
This will be the first in a series of Link Love Thursday posts. The idea is to spread some links around the blogoshphere and see what happens! I totally stole this idea from Kuanyin who promoted my Hot Dog List on her Art of Living and Dying blog's Link Love Thursday post last week. So I am in!
This week I am going to spread the link love to some regular visitors from Blog Your Blessings Sunday.
Blue Panther this guy started the Blog Your Blessings Sunday Blogroll-you can Join HERE
CyberCelt visits the Hot Dog Truck every Sunday!
Joel has linked to the Hot Dog Truck before.
Sandy visits on Sundays and lots of other days too!
Garden Gnome visits and even tagged me once!
So that's all for this week. I'll do it again next Thursday with some links from other places.
Win a Vacation!
I am a sucker for contests and this is a good one! WeNeedaVacation.com, the folks who bring you your Nantucket vacation rentals, are having a CONTEST!
They want photos that "capture the spirit of vacation" and the winner will get $1000 for their next vacation booked through the site!
To find out more about the contest, click HERE.
Its the Maine Thing
OOPS! I meant to post this LAST WEEK! I had it saved in my "saved posts" folder an forgot about it! Here goes:
Last weekend (uhm two weekends ago) we took our annual trip to the Kennebunks. It was fairly routine and uneventful. Lobster at Nunan's Lobster Hut on Friday and Saturday night followed each night by copious amounts of alcohol at Federal Jack's.
Nunan's is a classic Maine establishment. Here's a couple of shots. One is the exterior, the other an interior shot of the ceiling. My camera batteries crapped out so these are the only photo's of the weekend.
Friday's lobster fest was capped off with many glasses of Shipyard Ale, the brew made on the premises of Federal Jacks. The Sox were on the tube and the wedding parties were out in force. We had two wedding groups staing at our B & B. We got a bit too hammered and the bartender (who we know) shut us off! Luckily the wedding groups fed us a steady supply of shots until closing time!
The next day it was too windy to go sailing or whale watching so we browsed around town, went for a bike ride and took the obligatory stroll on the beach. Saturday night was a repeat of Friday. The only difference is we joked with the bartender about our antics the night before and how I'd called him a douchebag when he shut us off!
For the rest of the night it was us: "Hey, douchebag! Can we get two more over here?" and the Bartender: "Here ya go, douchebag!" I guess 8 years of good tipping keeps things on the lighter side. Around 11PM the wedding crowds piled in. Since we had our usual spot (we'd hovered to get them) at the head of the U shaped bar, we were plied with a steady supply of shots by various wedding revelers in exchange for allowing them "access" to the bar. Drunk people in fancy clothes look twice as silly as regular drunks!
The closest thing to hilarity occurred when a wedding reveler was denied access to the bar due to lack of proper ID. The father of the groom, in full tuxedo and half in the wrapper, took offense to this and got in a drunken shouting match with the bouncers. They let him in, but the bartenders ignored him, which made him fume even more. He eventually left after the bouncers told him the police might be interested in speaking with him outside.
Sunday was sleep late, off to Ogunquit to mooch lunch off my aunt and stroll the beach followed by the slow crawl home on the Maine Turnpike. I can't wait until next year!
Answer Me!
As a Hot Dog Truck operator, I don't have much need for a telephone answering service.
Back in the days of selling stuff, a telephone answering service helped give me the appearance of being a bigger company than I was. There are answering services, like 1-800 We Answer Answering Service, that answer the phone for you, provide you with a mailing address, do telemarketing and more. It's like having your own office and sales support staff at your disposal. They'll even design and install your business phone system for you!
So if you want to give your business a professional edge and not subject people who call you to "voice mail hell," get a telephone answering service.
They're not just for Doctors you know!
Broiled Striped Bass
I have a few large filets of striped bass. I'm broiling tonight.
I'm melting 2tsp of butter into a paste of mayo, honey mustard and breadcrumbs-with a dash of Tabasco sauce and a sprinkle of dill. Spread the paste over the bass filets in an oiled pan. Broil 8-10 minutes. I usually save some of the paste for dunking.
Is it good?
OH YES IT IS!
Referral Rehab Services
It seems as if there are a lot of places you can turn to if you need drug rehab services. The choices and sorting through them all could probably drive you to drink!
If you or someone you love needs drug rehab, 4rehabilitation.com is a good starting point. They'll help you find the right drug rehab program for whatever kind of addiction may be affecting you, your family member or friend. They break down drug rehab centers by which addictions they specialize in, age population and cost. The site is a good way to educate yourself on the ins and outs of drug rehab as well.
Check out 4rehabilitation.com today.
Sox Yankees: Does it even count?
The Red Sox are coming off a 4 game sweep of the Chicago White Sox in which they out scored the White Sox 46 to 7! The Yankees didn't fare as well in Detroit over the weekend losing 3 out of 4 (including last night 16-0 shellacking at the hands of the Tigers) and trailing the Red Sox in the AL East by 8 games.
Tonight the rested Red Sox are in the Bronx after a day off to face a beaten and travel weary Yankees squad for a 3 game set that may decide the AL East here and now. Worst case scenario: the Yanks sweep the Sox and the Sox STILL LEAD by 5 games!
Sorry Yankees, not this year. It's time to start talking about the "magic number." (Now 24)
Did I mention the Yankees Suck?
Teens on Drugs
Kids on drugs are just sad. They're often either confused or unloved and they turn to drugs as an escape. Most parents don't have the skills to cope with a teen on drugs.
Back in the day, a little weed was as rough as it got for most teens I knew. Nowadays kids get hooked on hard prescription drugs and all sorts of nasty stuff. A little weed seems tame!
So if a parent is struggling with a teen who needs drug rehab, where do they turn?
If they have the dough, Teen Rehab ECHO MALIBU is one place they can turn. They treat the WHOLE CHILD-not just the drug issue- in a caring and nurturing environment that empowers the teen into thinking for and helping them self.
I hope I never need to send my kids to Teen Rehab ECHO MALIBU.
Travelin' Hot Dog Man
The wife and I want to go to Amsterdam with the extra cash I am making with my websites. I have been there before, but she has not. It is quite possibly the most deliciously decadent city in the world.
While we're in Europe, I'd like to see some other cities. I have always wanted to go to Rome, but I think the wife wants to stay in the north. She really wants to see Dublin
and the rest of Ireland. It would be easy to talk me into visiting the city where Guinness is made!
If we went to Ireland, a stop in London would be easy.
I'll still argue for more "exotic" locales like Barcelona or even Prague, but I'll be happy to go just about anywhere I can book a flight and a hotel.
I'd like to begin and end the trip in Amsterdam and book a hotel in Amsterdam near one of the coffee shops!
Don't Pass on the Remote
Some people can't bear to be away from their PC's for too long. If you need remote access to your home or work PC from remote corners of the globe, you have a multitude of solutions available to you.
This is a good thing if you do a lot of traveling. You can gain remote access to all your data over any internet connection.
I used a remote access solution when I travelled to Australia a few years ago. I was still originating mortgages and I was easily able to keep track of my loans and communicate with my office and customers.
Try RemotePC for a good remote access solution for the next time you're "out of the office" for a length of time. Their prices are so good, you might decide you don't want to live without it!
300th Post!
Wow. 300 posts is a lot in 7 months! The total is bumped up a bit due to payperpost and other assorted "link ho" opportunities, but that's still a lot of posts! A pat on the back and a heartfelt "attaboy" to ME!
Here are a few more of my favorites:
Help me steal $48 million
Eastern Box Turtle
If you were a Hot Dog
Sox and Yanks
Three Stages of a Man's Life
Top Ten Stupid Questions asked at The Hot Dog Truck
Thanks for stopping by the Hot Dog Truck!
Copter Law
A guy I coached with once is in the helicopter and aviation industry. He sells computer safety equipment to people and companies that own and operate helicopters. He's also a helicopter pilot.
I flew a helicopter to the bottom of the Grand Canyon a few years ago. It was an intense experience. I don't really like flying, so I was apprehensive. It was such a smooth ride and I was totally distracted by the natural spectacle of the Grand Canyon; I'd fly in one again.
The bad thing is, helicopters crash, a LOT more than airplanes. Now if I was in a helicopter that was going down, I'd be putting my head between my legs and kissing my ass goodbye! The last thing I'd be thinking about is an aviation lawyer!
The good thing is many people survive helicopter crashes. Survivors, once they get over their injuries, get the All American opportunity to sue someone to compensate them for their harm! THAT is when you need an aviation lawyer.
One bit of advice: If you are going to take a helicopter flight, don't go to HelicopterAccidentAttorney.com! The incredibly detailed information and statistics will scare the crap out of you! If you've been in a helicopter crash, you might want to give them a look. Any lawyer with a slick website and a social networking marketing budget is probably pretty good at his job!
BEST FISHING TRIP EVER!
I have been fishing since I was about 6 years old. Fresh water, salt water, it doesn't matter. I prefer the sea though.
Sunday my dad, my son and I chartered a boat to go out and get some STRIPERS. The trip was AWESOME! We went out on the Margaret and Stephanie out of Fairhaven, MA. Captain Pete Midurski. We met Pete on the dock at about 5:30 AM and he was talking to some of his fellow boat captains. As we approached Pete, one of his buddies set the tone by saying "If you're going out with Pete, I hope you brought your own gear and a Bible!"
Pete told us to stow our gear on "the white boat." Been to a marina lately? THEY'RE ALL WHITE. Too funny. So after a few minutes, we're motoring over to Cuttyhunk head on into 2-3 foot seas. It was a bouncy journey and I kept spilling my much needed coffee. It took about an hour to motor down Buzzards Bay to our first (and only) fishing spot of the day off of Cuttyhunk Island, an island at the "bottom" of Buzzard's Bay.
We dropped anchor off a ledge and started "chunking," which is bottom fishing with pieces of cut up Poagies. I had my line in about two minutes and WHAM a monster striper was on the hook! We brought him in, bled him and set him aside in the cooler. We were fishing from about 7 AM to noon and did not go five minutes without one of us landing a fish! I lost count at about 25 fish. We kept one more and let the rest go. If we hadn't done that, we'd have been eating fish chowder until 2009! The action was incredible and your's truly landed a 44 3/4 inch PORKER for the big fish of the day. Everything we caught was keeper size (26 inches or more) with most of the fish coming in around 36 inches! We also caught one sand shark and two scup.
We were back at the house in time to catch the Red Sox most recent pounding of the White Sox, an 11-2 shellacking that the three of us slept through most of! For dinner we had, you guessed it, Striped Bass! We grilled the filets with a paste of lemon, butter and dill. DELICIOUS and delicately flaky. Striped Bass is best enjoyed fresh and it is a good idea to bleed out the fish after catching it before chucking it in the cooler; this keeps it more "delicate" tasting.
If you are looking for a good Charter Boat Captain, give Pete a call at 774-353-7683, we're glad we did! Just don't forget your Bible.
Can't wait until next year!
Insure Yourself
Everybody needs insurance at one time or another. Heck, in Massachusetts if you don't have car insurance, they'll haul your sorry butt to court and fine you $500! If you own a home, you need home owner's insurance or the bank won't write you a loan. I guess life insurance is a responsible thing to do for folks with families, even if you have to die to make it a worthwhile purchase!
I, like most people probably, have had the opportunity to make a claim on my car insurance policy. Back in the spring, I broke the rear window glass of my Suburban with an errant throw. Since I have the glass coverage on my car insurance, one phone call took care of the claim and the repair!
When buying insurance, make sure you go with a solvent company that has simple claims and conduct yourself in a manner that you won't need it, especially the life insurance!
Blog Your Blessings Sunday XX
Gone Fishing! Back late Sunday so I am posting this early. Have a good Sunday.
Proverbs 24: 3,4
By wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
And by knowledge the rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.
Help me steal $48 Million!
A tremendously profitable opportunity came into my email box today! A gentleman has offered to share $48 million with me! Here's his email:
From: Mr. William Soo
Seoul,South Korea.
I will introduce myself I am Mr.William Soo a Banker working in a bank in south Korea Until now I am the account officer to most of the south Korea government accounts and I have since discovered that most of the account are dormant account with alot of money in the account on further investigation I found out that one particular account belong to the former president of south Korean MR PARK CHUNG HEE,who ruled south Korean from 1963-1979 and this particular account has a deposit of $48m with no next of kin.
My proposal is that since I am the account officer and the money or the account is dormant and there is no next of kin obviously the account owner the former president of South Korea has died long time ago, that you should provide an account for the money to be transferred.
The money that is floating in the bank right now is $48m and this is what I want to transfer to your account for our mutual benefit.
Please if this is okay by you I will advice that you contact me through my direct email address.
Please this transaction should be kept confidential. For your assistance as the account owner we shall share the money on equal basis.
Your reply will be appreciated.
Thank you.
William Soo
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMM:1. Mr. Soo likes run-on sentences. The first paragraph of his letter left me positively breathless!
2. MR. PARK CHUNG HEE (spelled Park Chung-hee) ruled South Korea from 1961-1979 (not 1963-1979 as Mr. Soo states).
3. Mr. Park Chung-hee has a daughter-presumably his next of kin- who is very much alive.
4. Obviously any dormant funds left in a South Korean leader's bank account should be shared with a Hot Dog Man in Massachusetts, so I can see why Mr. Soo contacted me post haste!
5. What bank does Mr. Soo work for anyway?
6. When entering into international bank fraud schemes, I usually like to have a few more details on my co-conspirators than a proxy email address!
I'm not sure who is more stupid, the person who would get sucked into whatever it is Mr. Soo is up to or Mr. Soo himself for actually believing there are people stupid enough to fall for this line of BS!
Skateboarders Candy Store
I used to ride skateboards as a kid. My skateboard consisted of a piece of wood with metal roller skate wheels screwed into it. We'd FLY down hills in a straight line as fast a we could on these scary contraptions, much to the horror of the neighborhood moms. There was more than one severe case of road rash as a result of these skateboard runs.
One day a kid came along with a new fangled skateboard that had rubber wheels with shock absorbers that allowed for smooth turns. We took turns trying it out and such a skateboard was soon on everyone's Christmas list.
Alas, this occurred shortly before my gang got our driver's licenses and once we were all driving, the skateboards were uncool.
Nowadays skateboards are very sophisticated. My son has a skateboard that costs more than my first used car! All the kids still love the thrill of riding on a skateboard, their tricks these days are way above anything I ever hoped to do on a board when I was a kid. Heck, I'd be afraid to ride one now!
But being the parent of a 13 year old boy, I need to know where he can get the best deal on skateboards and skateboarding gear.
WarhouseSkateBoards.com is a great place for the kids to get Element Skateboards, Baker Skateboards or Complete Skateboards. They also have all the replacement parts, custom wheels and skateboard decks for the skateboarding aficionado. Check them out.
Pickles
Pickles are what makes relish. I don't have pickles at the truck, but since they're the key ingredient in relish, they deserve a spot on the site. This commercial is hilarious! Very slapstick.
If I see this lady at the Hot Dog Truck, she eats for free!
5 Old Post Meme
Dunne has done it to me. And it couldn't come at a better time as I am kinda busy over the next few days! I need to pick 5 old posts to show here, then tag 5 other folks to pick five of their old posts. Thanks, Dunne.
I was just looking through old posts to replay tonight too, kind of spooky if you ask me!
So here's five of my favorites:
Hottie Dogs A story about 2 gals making their way in the world of hot dog vending!
The Office of the Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth Bureaucracy out of control!
Interview with the Hotdogman Learn stuff about the hotdogman!
Hot Dog Nitty Gritty I goof on Otilius here.
Spell Check-Rant Don't get me started!
Now I get to pick five to do the same, and here they are:
Kittywhip Dig Deep Dawn!
mxi he might not have five funny old posts!
Kuanyin I think the posts need to be from the same blog!
Otilius He always wins Battle of the Blogs!
Ben He still hasn't stopped by the truck!
Have fun out there people!
Can you get me there?
I live in the burbs of Boston. I know where anything is inside of route 495. I know how to get to most places in the state and in New England in general. I feel pretty comfortable getting in the car and finding my way.
Even travelling state to state is pretty easy. Find the major interstate and GO!
But you need travel directions once you get off the interstate to get where you are going. Depending on what city you are in, you might also want detailed subway maps or live traffic updates.
There is a new travel map site that gives you all this and more! If you're looking for free driving directions, road maps, city maps and traffic updates, then check out PublicRoutes.Com.
For instance: if you were travelling to Seattle and needed a Seattle map, you could get it in a couple of clicks!
Replay: For Battle of Bloggers
I'm basically reposting an old post here because I am too lazy to write anything tonight.
I go to a site called Blog Explosion to have the Hot Dog Truck "battle" other blogs. Basically you match up against another blog and people vote on which Blog they like the best. The winner wins credits and basically feels good about themselves.
I have developed a set of criteria on how I vote in these battles:
I'll vote for a blog if it:
makes me laugh;
gives me new news or information I'm interested in;
has pictures of attractive, scantily clad (even nekkid) women;
informs me about a new way to make a buck online;
rants intelligently about any sort of scam or injustice;
is about hot dogs;
has cool pictures;
has a cool layout;
has heartfelt personal stories that are well written; and
has pictures of attractive, scantily clad (even nekkid) women
I won't vote for a blog if it:
has detailed information about American Idol (or any other "reality show"-except Meerkat Manor)-if I gave a crap, I'd just watch the flippin show;
is about the New York Yankees-the Yankees Suck;
has mommies complaining about their children-I have five kids, your life sounds like a friggin vacation to me;
hasn't been updated recently-if you have time to set up battles maybe you ought to try and post something new, maybe some pictures of attractive, scantily clad (even nekkid) women;
takes FOREVER to load-come ON, get a new host please;
has the words "loose" and "lose" or "looser" and "loser" confused or misspelled- don't get me started;
is clearly written by a teenager-if I want that kind of drama and angst I'll read my daughter's diary;
is a blog that consistently kicks my ass in Blog Battles-this causes a conundrum sometimes because the blogs with scantily clad (even nekkid) women usually kick my ass;
attempts to preach or lecture at me-I have a wife, an ex wife and I go to church on Sundays- 'nuff said; and
it is about the New York Yankees-did I mention they suck?
If both blogs in the battle suck:
I choose the one with the less offensive color scheme unless both blogs are about the Yankees in which case I'll just go back to the Battle Page without voting.
Rent my house, please
The American Dream is to own your own home. Usually, the bank owns the home and the homeowner pays the bank for 30 years or so until the mortgage is paid off. The homeowner reaps the benefits of fixed housing costs and rising equity in their home. For many folks, their home is not only a place to live, it is also their biggest investment.
A few years ago, housing prices in the US went skyrocketing. Many people bought homes in this time period that were high priced relative to their income. They financed these homes with adjustable rate mortgages with very loose income guidelines. All you needed was a pulse and a job to get a mortgage! Now these adjustable rate mortgages are adjusting up which means the payments are going up; WAY UP!
This has left many homeowners in a situation where they can't afford their mortgage payments. Foreclosures and repossessions are becoming commonplace and many people will be put out of their homes.
One solution to this problem is the rise of sell house rent back programs. Basically a homeowner facing escalating costs can stop repossessions by selling their home to a property management company and renting it back at a (hopefully) more affordable payment. They can also pull out any equity in the house and stay in their home. Not exactly the American Dream, but at least the homeowner doesn't get into foreclosure and they are able to stay in their home. If you can find a sell house rent it back program, it should be a last resort, but it beats getting put out on the street.
Le Menu
Some customers have asked for a menu on the site. Here it is.
Hot Dog............$1.50
Chili Dog...........$2.00
Tuna Roll..........$1.50
Cranberry Walnut
Chicken Salad
Roll....................$2.00
Sausage............$3.00
Hamburger......$2.25
Cheeseburger..$2.50
Bowl of Chili.....$3.00
COMBO SPECIALS:
2 dogs, soda & chips..................$4.00
2 Tuna Rolls, soda & chips............$4.00
Sausage, soda & chips.................$4.00
2 Chili Dogs, soda & chips............$5.00
2 Chicken Salad Rolls, soda & chips...$5.00
Surf and Turf, soda & chips...........$4.00
TOPPINGS: Gulden's Mustard, French's Mustard, Honey Mustard, Grey Poupon, Relish, Onions, Cheese, Kraut, Barbeque Sauce, Ketchup, Mayonaise, Chili, Sauteed Peppers and Onions, Tabasco Sauce, Red Pepper, celery salt
OTHER STUFF: Soda, Water, Gatorade, Chips, Snacks and Cookies
I used Kayhem Old Time, natural casing franks, expertly steamed in water, beer and onions. Buns are grilled to order-ITS ALL ABOUT THE BUNS
In case you eat too much
Good Old Alka Seltzer.
You won't need this after eating at the Hot Dog Truck.
These old commercials are great!
Hey! Take my Poll!
I have a poll in the top left corner of the page. Please take it! It asks which chips (out of the flavors I carry) you'd eat with your hot dogs.
I know what is most popular with my customers. I am curious to see if Bloggers have the same tastes.
Hits and Mythes
The somewhat twisted humor of mxi is back at Hits and Mythes, quite possibly the funniest blog on the 'net, or at least from Edmonton. Fans of the sometimes incoherent explanations of everyday mysteries will be glad to know the blog is back after a nearly 3 month hiatus.
Fart humor aside, I'm glad Hits and Mythes is back. Canadians, after all, are usually funny.
Castle Hoppin' in the UK
I've been to London before, in fact I've travelled throughout Europe. The coolest thing about Europe is the old-sometimes even ancient architecture. I have always loved castles and I made it a point to visit as many as possible when I was there.
London was the "easiest" city to visit since there was no language barrier, although I did have a bit of a rough time deciphering directions from a fellow with a thick cockney accent! Since my wife is British, travel to the UK is highly probable in the future. When we go, I'd like to get out in the countryside and see some castles.
Both my wife and I have discussed an extended stay in the UK which would include visits to Ireland, Scotland and Wales as well as England.
Edinburgh Castle in Scotland is built on an inactive volcano and is on my list as it's the classic medieval castle on a hill; it looks like it was carved right out of the mountainside. There are hotels in Edinburgh within walking distance of the castle.
About halfway from Edinburgh to Glasgow is Stirling Castle, another medieval classic. If you liked the movie Braveheart, this castle is near one of the battles depicted in the movie. You can spend the day exploring the castle and its grounds before you head on over to your hotel in Glasgow.
On to Wales where Cardiff Castle in the center of Wale's capital city cuts an impressive image.
Another nearby marvel is Caernarfon Castle which was at one time a mini walled in town.
Both these beauties can be easily reached from any number of hotels in Cardiff.
There are also a ton of lesser known castles that are too numerous to mention here, not to mention the fact I didn't touch on Ireland! I can't wait to go castle hoppin' in the UK!
Blog Your Blessing Sunday XIX
Proverbs 3 (The Rewards of Wisdom): 13-15
How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
*my wife particularly revels in the fact that wisdom is a "she"
Insane Weekend in Maine
This weekend we're off to our annual weekend to Kennebunkport, Maine. Once a summer the wife and I ditch the kids and book up to the Kennebunks where we stay in a bed and breakfast, hit the beach, eat lobster, browse the shops and do a bit of drinking in the local bars.
Actually, we do a lot of drinking in the local BAR: Federal Jack's. You see every other place closes at 11PM except Jack's which closes at 1AM (ish). This means anyone in town out to have a bit of fun at night will end up there. We usually arrive around 9-9:30 after feasting on Lobsters at Nunan's Lobster Hut in Cape Porpoise-a 5 minute drive from Kennebunkport. Their motto is "We catch 'em, We cook 'em. We crack 'em, You EAT 'EM!" We've been doing this trip for 9 years and the only place we eat dinner while we're up there is this place. BEST.LOBSTER.JOINT.ON.THE.PLANET!
So we usually get to Federal Jack's as they are wrapping up their last dinner seatings and the crowd is in transition. Once the diners clear out, the dining room becomes a dance floor. The Sox are usually on the tube and my wife and I hover for good seats at the bar. We are professional hoverers when we are in bars with limited seating. The key is to scan the crowd for folks who look like they'll be wrapping things up and proceed to hover in that area unobtrusively. My wife and I use a divide and conquer approach and we usually snag a good seat before we finish our first beer.
Last summer we snagged seats right on the corner where the main bar area meets the dance floor and the exit. Great seats for a night of hilarity and people watching.
There was a wedding party that came in and I asked a distinguished looking gentleman in a tux if he was the father of the bride. He said "No, I'm the father of the groom." He pointed at a guy in jeans and a tee shirt. "He's the father of the bride."
I said to the father of the bride, "What's the matter, pal, not enough money left for a suit?"
There was also a guy who was trying to pick up every gal in the place, including my wife (and other guys' wives). He was eventually run out of the bar by the bouncers who feared the guy would get his butt kicked! Plus he was pretty drunk.
Then there was the gal whose mission was to kiss every other gal in the place. She was HAMMERED and her boyfriend was mortified. She found many willing gals to kiss her, but my wife managed to squirm away. It was an image that won't leave my mind soon! The boyfriend eventually wrangled her extremely drunk butt out of the place and she flashed her boobs to the crowd on the balcony as they drove away. I'll bet they had a fun rest of the evening.
Since this trip was pre-blog and a year ago, I don't remember all the details clearly (the beer probably contributes to this too), but this year I hope to have a more detailed account of the insanity that we seem to create when we're in a bar!
So we are off tomorrow and return Sunday.
Until then.....
Dopey Hot Dog Commercial
I've never heard of this brand, but I can't believe anyone would eat a "Plumper."
Has anyone ever heard of these dogs?
I Won 500,000 British Pounds!
I recieved this email informing me of my tremendous good fortune: I WON 500,000 British Pounds!
Yahoo/Msn lottery Balley,
Incoperation,
Ihama House, Har Road
Sutton, Greater London
SM1 4te,
United Kingdom.
This is to inform that you have won a prize money of Five hundred
thousand,Great Britain Pound Sterlings(£500,000.00)for the month of
August 2007 Lottery promotion which is organized by YAHOO/MSN LOTTERY
INC & WINDOWS LIVE.
These are your identification numbers:
Batch number..........YM 09102XN
Reff number...........YM35447XN
Winning number........YM09788
You are therefore advised to contact the EVENTS AGENT MANAGER for
directives of claims via email address below.
Mr. Dennis Anthony
Email:enquirymicrosoft_claimsdept04@yahoo.co.uk
TELPHONE:+44-70457-32405
Things that make you go HMMMM. A couple of things make me a bit suspicious though. For instance Incorporation and Telephone are misspelled. And they told me I "have won a prize money." And what is a "Reff number?" And since when do folks from Microsoft use Yahoo email? Do you think this is legit?
I'd be willing to bet anyone stupid enough to fall for this doesn't know how to turn on a computer, let alone use email!
Buttercup
Gotta Love Oil drenched popcorn from back in the days when a popcorn at the movies only cost $12.00!
I tried to bring some popcorn from home to a movie recently and you'd have thought I had just robbed a bank. The manager asked me to throw it away and I gave him some B.S. about having gastritis and I could only eat this one particular type of popcorn. He bought it! What a schmuck!
Enjoy the video.
What would you do with $200?
In yet another linky love contest try, I found a neat contest from my BumpZee discussions called: "What would you do with $200?" I'd probably just put $200 in the (paypal)bank to fund future web shenanigans. If you want to try to win $200, you can go to the My Affiliate Journey blog and enter the "What would you do with $200?" contest.
What the heck, 200 bucks is a lot of hot dogs!
Red Sox Memorabilia
I love the Red Sox. I have a giant "K" I got signed at Game 5 of the (ulp) 1986 World Series by Luis Tiant and Dick (the Monster) Raddatz. I also have a signed ticket stub from that same game by starting pitcher Bruce Hurst.
My son's two most prized possessions are a hat signed by New England Patriot Troy Brown and a signed baseball by non other than Cal Ripken which he got at Cal's final game at Fenway Park.
My kid now has the Baseball Memorabilia bug! He collects baseball cards and he loves getting signed baseballs from the Cape Cod League players when we go to the Wareham Gatemen games in summertime. He always says: "Hey dad, this guy could be a future All Star!"
So now when I want to get my son a gift, I like to get him some quality memorabilia. He'd rather have that than just about anything (except maybe a deep sea fishing trip).
I came across a great site called MLBFANSITE.COM that carries all sorts of signed baseballs, cards, bats-you name it, they've got it.
They even have gift certificates so the discerning baseball fan can pick and choose whatever they want.
If you have a young or old baseball fan that you want to find a gift for, this is a great site to shop at. They've got tons of stuff from every Major League team. Of course I'm partial to Red Sox memorabilia, but whatever team you root for, MLBFANSITE.COM is sure to please!
First Timers
I have many regulars at the Hot Dog Truck. I know what they want before they even get out of their car. Lots of folks are amazed at my memory for condiments.
Usually once a day I'll get a "newbie," someone who hasn't availed themselves of the delicacies and unique atmosphere at the Hot Dog Truck. I have converted many "newbies" into regulars with my delicious hot dogs and rapier wit, but there's nothing like the "first time."
It usually goes something like this:
"Hi, whatcanIgetcha?"
"I'll have your special, please."
The good manners usually signal someone who hasn't been here before. "Certainly, coming right up."
"I'll have a Coke with that, please."
"Whaddaya think this is, the Ritz? Cokes are in the cooler. Help yourself."
"OK. Uhm where would that be?"
The coolers are right in front of them. "The big white thing in front of you marked 'Soda.' First time here, buddy?"
"As a matter of fact, yes."
"Well, I'll try to be gentle. Whaddaya want on yer puppies?" By now, the buns are properly toasted and ready to recieve their condiments and dogs.
"Do you have onions?"
"What kind of hot dog joint doesn't have onions?!?!"
He's usually grinning now as he's hip to my 'act.' "Not a very good one I guess. I'll have mustard, relish and onions."
I won't go into what I do to the folks who order ketchup on their hot dogs in today's example. "OK buddy. Two all around coming up."
"Do I take any chips I want?" I have regular, ripple, BBQ, Honey BBQ, Salt & Vinegar, Sour Cream and Onion and pretzels on a shelf. Sometimes too many choices confuses people.
"Take whatever ya like. If there's nothing you like, take something you don't like."
That usually gets a chuckle from even the toughest customer. If the guy hasn't figured out that I'm goofin' by now, I've either been punched or robbed. "I'll take Ripple Chips." Newbies always feel like they need to announce their choice for some reason.
"Here ya go, buddy. Two all around. That'll be four bucks."
"Thanks."
"THANK YOU!"
If I've done my job right, the guy will be back.
Tabasco
I always have a bottle of Tabasco Sauce with my "do it yourself" condiments. The bottle sits next to the salt, pepper, celery salt and red pepper. Many customers put it on their chili dogs. I even have one customer who puts it on his tuna roll!
Here's a nifty old commercial for that tangy pepper sauce.
Blog Your Blessings XVIII
The Proverbs are wonderful reading. Poignant, relevant and timelessly sound.
Proverbs 26:1
Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a fool.
Canada Dry
I have Canada Dry Ginger Ale at the Hot Dog Truck.
I just hope anyone who purchases it doesn't end up as pathetic as this fellow in the video!
You know you're from Boston when....
The person driving in front of you is going 70 mph and you are cursing him for going too slow.
When ordering a tonic, you mean a Coke...not quinine water.
You actually enjoy driving around rotaries.
You almost feel disappointed when someone doesn't flip you the bird when you cut them off or steal their parking space.
You know how to pronounce the names of towns like Worcester, Woburn, Billerica, Haverhill, Barre and Cotuit.
You have driven to New Hampshire on a Sunday in order to get beer.
You know that there are two Bulger brothers, and that they're both crooks.
You know what they sell at a packie.
You know at least one bar where you can get something to drink after last call.
You can actually find your way around Boston.
You get jimmies on your ice cream.
Evacuation Day is a recognized holiday.
You know what First Night is.
You know at least one guy named Sean, Pat, Whitey, Red, Bud or Seamus.
You think the rest of the country owes you for Thanksgiving and Independence Day.
You have never been to Cheers.
When the words 'WICKED' and 'GOOD' go together.
You knew that there was no chance in hell that the Pats would move to Hartford.
The curse of the Bambino is taught in public schools.
You own a "Yankees Suck" shirt or hat.
You think Doug Flutie is the greatest athlete ever.
You remember exactly where you were when the ball rolled through Buckner's legs.
You prayed for the Red Sox to win the World Series not this season, but in your lifetime...our prayes were answered! and theyll win again this season!
You know how to make a frappe.
You know what a hoodsie is.
You know that "Big Dig" is also a kind of ice cream you can get at Brigham's.
You actually know how to merge from 6 lanes of traffic down to one.
You never go to "Cape Cod", you go "down the Cape".
You think that Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs and Derek Jeter are more evil than Whitey Bulger.
You went to Old Sturbridge Village, Plymouth Plantation, or both, on field trip in grammar school.
You can drive to the mountains and the ocean all in one day.
You know that the Mass Pike is some sort of strange weather dividing line.
You know that P-Town isn't the name of a new rap group.
You do not recognize the letter "R" as a part of the English language.
You've called something "wicked pissa"
You see people like Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Dicky Barret (The Mighty, Mighty Bosstones), and Evan Dando (The Lemonheads) in the local supermarket and it doesn't phase you.
You've slammed on your brakes to deter a tailgater
Know at least three Tony's, one Vinnie and a Frank(ie)
Paranoia sets in if you can't see a Dunkies, ATM or CVS within eyeshot at all times.
You keep an ice scraper and can of de-icer on the floor of your car...year round
You order iced coffee in January
You know what candlepin bowling is
You drive 45 minutes to New Hampshire to save $5 in sales tax
You've pulled out of a side street and used your car to block oncoming traffic so you can make a left.
You've bragged about the money you've saved at The Christmas Tree Shop
You know what a "regular" coffee is
You get mad when people order Regular coffee with cream and sugar
You get mad when people order regular coffee, and then bitch about the fact that there's cream and sugar in it
You know there is a much bigger difference between Roxbury and West Roxbury than just direction.
You think of Philadelphia as the Midwest.
You think there are only 25 letters in the alphabet (no R's).
You think three straight days of 80+ temperatures is a heatwave.
All your pets are named after Celtics or Bruins.
You refer to 6 inches of snow as a "dusting."
The weather changes from 70 and sunny to 20 and snowy in under an hour, and you hardly notice.
Just hearing the words "New York" puts you in an angry mood.
You don't think you have an attitude.
You always 'bang a left' as soon as the light turns green, and oncoming traffic always expects it.
Everything in town is "a five minute walk."
When out of town, you think the natives of the area are all whacked.
You know what a rotary is.
You've driven around a rotary seventeen times for pure sport.
You still can't bear to watch highlights from game 6 of the 1986 World Series.
You believe using your turn signal is a sign of weakness.
You don't realize that you walk and talk twice as fast as everyone else.
You're anal, neurotic, pessimistic and stubborn.
You think if someone is nice to you, they must want something or are from out of town.
Your favorite adjective is "wicked."
You think 63 degree ocean water is warm.
You think the Kennedy's are misunderstood.
WHEN WE SAY ________ WE MEAN...
Bizah - odd
Flahwiz - roses, etc.
Hahwahya? - how are you?
Khakis - what we staht the cah with
Pissah - superb
Retahded - silly
Shewah - of course
Wikkid - extremely
Yiz - you, plural
Popcahn - popular snack
HOW WE'LL KNOW YOU WEREN'T BON HEAH:
You wear a Harvard sweatshirt.
You ask directions to "Cheers."
You order a grinder and a soda.
You follow soccer.
You eat at Durgin Park.
You pronounce it "Worchester" or Glouchester."
DEFINITIONS:
Frappes have ice cream; milk shakes don't.
If it's fizzy and flavored, it's tonic.
Soda is club soda. Pop is dad. When we mean tonic WATER, we say tonic WATER.
The smallest beer is a pint.
Scrod is whatever they tell you it is, usually fish.
If you paid more than $6 a pound, you got scrod.
It's not a water fountain, it's a bubblah.
It's not a trash can, it's a barrel.
It's not a shopping cart, it's a carriage.
It's not a purse, it's a pockabook.
It’s not a living room, it’s a pahlah.
They're not franks, they're haht
dahgs. Franks are money in France.
They're not groceries, they're bundles.
THINGS NOT TO DO:
Don't call it Beantown.
Don't pahk your cah in Hahvid Yahd.
They'll tow it to Meffa (Medford) or Slumaville (Somerville).
Don't swim in the Charles, no matter what Bill Weld tells you.
Don't sleep in the Common.
Don't wear orange in Southie on St. Patrick's Day.
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:
There are two State Houses, two
City Halls, two courthouses and two Hancock buildings (one old, one new).
Route 128 is also I-95. It is also I-93.
It's the Sox, The Pats (or Patsies if they're losing), the Seltz, the Broons.
The underground train is not the subway. It's the T and it doesn't run all night (fah chrysakes, this ain't Noo Yawk).
GETTING AROUND:
Pay no attention to the street names. There's no school on School Street, no court on Court Street, no dock on Dock Square, no water on Water Street. Back Bay streets are in alphabetical odda. Arlington, Berkeley, Clarendon, Dartmouth. So are South Boston streets: A, B, C, D. (no J)
If the streets are named after trees (Walnut, Chestnut, Cedar), you're on Beacon Hill. If they're named after poets you're in Wellesley.
All avenues are properly referenced by their nicknames: Comm Ave, Mass Ave., Dot Ave.
Dot is Dorchester, Rozzie Roslindale, JP is Jamaica Plain. Readville doesn't exist.
THE NORTH-EAST-SOUTH-WEST THING:
Southie is South Boston. The South End is the South End. Eastie is East Boston. The North End is east of the West End.
The West End and Scollay Square are no more-a guy named Rappaport got rid of them one night.
The geographical center of Boston is in Roxbury. Due north of the center we find the South End. This is not to be confused with South Boston, which lies directly east from the South End. North of the South End is East Boston and southwest of East Boston is the North End. Backbay was filled in years ago.
BASIC RULES FOR DRIVING IN BOSTON
(subject to change at any time):
When on a one way street, stay to the right to allow oncoming traffic to pass.
Never, ever, stop for a pedestrian unless he flings himself under the wheels of your car.
The first parking space you see will be the last parking space you see. Grab it.
Double park in the North End of Boston, unless triple parking is available.
Learn to swerve abruptly. Boston is the home of slalom driving, thanks to the Registry of Motor Vehicles, which puts potholes in key locations to test drivers' reflexes and keep them on their toes.
Never get in the way of a car that needs extensive bodywork.
Always look both ways when running a red light.
Honk your horn the instant the light
changes.
Breakdown lanes are not for breaking down, but for speeding, especially during rush hour.
Breakdown lanes may also end without warning causing traffic jams as people merge back in.
Never use directional signals when changing lanes. They only warn other drivers to speed up and not let you in.
Making eye contact revokes your right of way.
Never pass on the left when you can pass on the right.
Whenever possible, stop in the middle of a crosswalk to ensure inconveniencing as many pedestrians as possible. And if a pedestrian ahead of you steps in the road, speed up loudly and chase him back up on the curb. Peds have no rights.
From CityofBoston.gov
Here's the Beef
Wendy's actually had a go at hot dogs back in the early 80's. I never had one. I am willing to bet they sucked.
I've been tagged for 5 Links
I've been tagged by Garden Gnome for five links. Here's the rules:
-----
Just copy paste this and everything below up until my Five links:
Tami thought it would be cool to have a meme where we post links. We can post up to five. Then we tell five more people to share their links. If we all share who tagged us, our links are sure to be seen!
They can be business links, favorite sites, affiliate links, whatever you want…
There are Five Rules:
1. MUST be clean. No R rated sites.
2. Only FIVE links.
3. MUST tell 5 people.
4. A link back to the person who tagged you
5. Lara’s Place is the meme originator. (an active link would be appreciated)
———– end copy paste ———————————–>
My Links
Purple Crayon Brain
Coffee, Tea or Baabooo
Blog-Blond
munny4hunny
My Interesting Files
I am Tagging
1. KarenBjae
2. Heather D
3. wherewillyou
4. roryks
5. jangro
Have fun and drive safely.
Damn that Sunshine
Il like daylight savings time. The sun stays out until 8 or 9 O'clock around here. Its great for Little League baseball. I also really hate it in the winter when it gets dark at 4:30. Light in the evening sky is far better.
I never realized daylight savings time was such a hot political issue. Then I realized they were showing this advertisement at the Drive-In!
Hottie Dogs
A couple of gals in Franklin, MA got a lot of free publicity for their Hot Dog Stand recently when some idiotic town officials there gave them a royal run around. The two local moms wanted to earn some extra dough so they decided to buy a hot dog trailer and open up a hot dog stand. I wonder if they ever consulted The Hot Dog Truck? I have gotten hits from that neck of the woods...
They got all the appropriate permits and set up shop when the local building inspector shut them down! What the building inspector has to do with a mobile food trailer, I don't know. The guy must be an asshole or something. If you saw some of the construction work he's signed off on in that community, you'd think he was blind too!
The local media had a field day with this story and the enterprising gals eventually found a new spot in the neighboring community of Bellingham, MA. As long as they serve good hot dogs, they should do well. Since the majority of the hot dog lunchtime consuming populace is male, a little "eye candy" to go with the dogs will probably be a good sales tool!
Anyways, the two decided to call their stand "Hottie Dogs" and you can see why from the photo!
Here's the story from the Milford Daily News
and the follow up story is HERE.
GOOD LUCK LADIES!!!
Daytime 'Coon Dog
So I'm at my folk's house this weekend and I'm out in the driveway with my two and a half year old and my dog at about 8 AM Sunday morning.
The dog starts going nuts and trying to dig under my dad's shed. She's firing dirt out while trying to get under the shed. I hear a ton of snarling and growling (not just hers) and it's obvious there is something under the shed she's trying to get her paws on. Whatever it is seems intent on putting up a fight. I quickly rush the baby into the house and come back to get my dog out on the enclosed back porch.
She's not easily persuaded, but she finally complies. I notice her paw is bleeding from a small cut, but she's otherwise OK. My dog is an 80 pound German Shepard/Pit bull/Lab mix and she is a very good watch dog and protector of the family. She's had all her shots and I have seen her run everything from coyotes to Jehovah's Witnesses off our property, so I am not too concerned with what was under the shed having harmed her.
When I go back out to where the shed is, I see this guy run up into the tree in the yard! He's apparently been living under my dad's shed and my dog spooked him into getting the hell out of there! 
Talk about a rude awakening....
Blog Your Blessing Sunday XVII
It has been an oppressively hot week. Hard to work in the truck, bad sleeping weather, the works. I have been sweating for four days!
Psalm 19:6
Its rising is from one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
Are You Ready for some FOOTBALL!!!
I, as most of you know, am a Red Sox Fan.
I also enjoy football. Preseason games begin in another week or so. While I enjoy preseason, I don't take it too seriously.
One thing I do take seriously is laying the occasional "sporting wager" on a game that interests me. To that end, I have started a new site called Winning Football Picks that will share some of my "sporting insights" into the great game of NFL Football.
Check out Winning Football Picks today!
Dog Days
It has been hellaciously hot and humind this week. Temperatures next to the grill approach 130 degrees and more!
So what does everyone ask when they order their dogs?
"Uh, is it hot in there?"
My standard answer today was "It's not the heat and its not the humidity, its all the friggin questions!"
Micheal Vick is opening a hot dog stand down the street.
I hear the place is the pits.....
