Ecclesiastes 1:15
What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is lacking cannot be counted. 
Blog Your Blessing Sunday XLXIX
Dirty Harry on Ketchup
Kinda sums up the whole ketchup on a hot dog thing.....
"God this stuff isn't getting to me - the shootings, the knifings, the beatings. Old ladies being bashed in the head for their social security checks. Nah that doesn't bother me. But you know what does bother me? You know what makes me really sick to my stomach? It's watching you stuff your face with those hotdogs! Nobody - I mean nobody puts ketchup on a hot dog!"
In another famous scene, Dirty Harry munches on a hot dog as he blows away the bad guys.
Ketchup on a hot dog.
Ketchup is very much a staple condiment-Ronald Reagan said it was a vegetable! Ketchup is great on fries, burgers-even eggs.
But not on a hot dog.
When I first opened, I would not put ketchup on a hot dog for my patrons. I had a basket of ketchup packets outside for the ketchup eating crowd. I would shell out a fair bit of abuse on the ketchup loving populace as well. Sometimes I'd ask for ID (the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council says ketchup shouldn't be put on hot dogs for anyone over age 18). Other times I'd say (incredulously) "KETCHUP?!?!? ON A HOT DOG?!?!?!" If there was a group of people and one guy ordered a dog with ketchup, I'd ask his friends if they could perhaps hold a hot dog intervention for him. Whatever insult I'd hurl, I'd sweep my hands contemptuously toward the Ketchup packets and say "I won't put ketchup on a hot dog, help yourself." This little schtick annoyed and amused the clientelle-it usually got a laugh and I have never been punched for it.
There was one guy who got wise to the act and ordered his hot dogs plain to avoid the abuse. He'd then sneak a few ketchup packets and go back to his car to eat so I wouldn't hurl abuse at him. This guy is a big Red Sox fan and we'd always chat about the Sox while he was waiting for his dogs. He is a seasonal worker so he wasn't out in the winter. In the spring of 2005 (after my Red Sox won it all) he popped by and told me he was going to see the Sox play on opening day in New York City. I asked him how he scored the tickets and he said he had a new girlfriend from Connecticut and she was a Yankee Fan.
I said "brother, if you can date a Yankee fan, I can put ketchup on your hot dogs."
So now you can get ketchup on your dogs at the Hot Dog Truck-I've even toned down the abuse.
Blog Your Blessings Sunday XLXVIII
Matthew 15:11
It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.
A Dog a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
******DISCLAIMER******
I'm not a doctor, but I've watched them on T.V.
******DISCLAIMER******
The Hot Dog is a much loved food item. When prepared properly, they are a uniquely delicious delicacy. To experience the truely authentic hot dog, you can't get them any old place. Don't ever buy a hot dog at a gas station-the kind you'll find there have most likely been sitting in the little "roll-o-matic" for weeks. Hot Dogs at Baseball Parks are also over-rated; I've been to Fenway (duh), Yankee Stadium, Jacob's Field, Riverfront (old Cincinnati Reds Park), and Camden Yards and I have yet to find a good hot dog at a ball game. Youth sport venues also have some pretty crappy hot dogs, but at least you know you're helping some youth sport league while you poison yourself with some lame skinless frank. To get a truly great hot dog, you need to seek out the local hot dog "joint." The Hot Dog Truck falls into this category, so when in the area.....
But I digress-
Yes, hot dogs are yummy. They also get a bad rap as (gasp) "junk food." Obviously, the folks who label hot dogs as "junk" haven't read THIS. While I do eat a dog or two on most work days, I rarely take my work home with me. Maybe I should....
So I say-eat up those hot dogs and live healthy! Two dogs a day keeps the doctor (and the hungries) away!
Led Zeppelin
My FAVORITE BAND OF ALL TIME!
And they have a song called "Hot Dog." Cool video if you like Led Zep.
Blog Your Blessings Sunday XLXVII
1 Corinthians 2: 15
The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment
Oh, if it were that easy!
Armour Hot Dogs
Who remembers the old Armour Hot Dog song? Come on now....
Hot dogs, Armour Hot Dogs
What kinds of kids eat Armour Hot Dogs?
Big kids, little kids, kids who climb on rocks
fat kids, skinny kids, even kids with chicken pox
love hot dogs, Armour Dot Dogs
The dogs kids love to bite!
You can listen to it HERE
And good luck getting it out of your head!
Tryout Review: Bad Parenting Revealed
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As many visitors know, I coach a youth baseball team. We had our tryouts last weekend. Over 220 10, 11 & 12 year olds tried out for baseball last Saturday and Sunday. The tryouts help coaches to draft "even" teams and group players according to ability. The kids run the bases, field grounders at the shortstop position then throw to first, and they hit balls pitched from a pitching machine. As a coach I look for kids who can throw well and who "hustle." Every player on my team has hustle. It's not an easily identifiable trait, but I know it when I see it.
I remember baseball tryouts when I was a kid and I always wanted to show the coach that even though I may not be the most talented kid, I was a hustler. I would expect any kid trying out to give his or her best effort.
Unfortunately, that didn't happen in one case last weekend. There was one kid, a kid who is an excellent ballplayer, who purposely "dogged it" at tryouts so he would drop in the draft in order to be picked by a specific coach. This kid was easily the most talented athlete at the fields either day last weekend: he had played exceptionally well during summer ball last year and his summer ball coach made it no secret that he'd love to draft him. Unfortunately the coach had the fifth pick in the draft, so there was a good chance another team would pick him.
Apparently the kid's parents wanted him to be on that particular team because the kid was CLEARLY advised to "dog it." When running the bases he practically jogged. When fielding grounders he'd normally get to easily he purposefully bobbled the ball. When hitting he stood in as a lefty (he's a righty) and batted with a right hand grip! While in the batter's box he was seen to be grinning and staring out as his dad-as if they were both in on the joke. It was obvious to all the coaches and to the folks who were running the tryouts that this kid was "dogging it."
The coaches who wanted to pick him were mortified-both guys are not the type to engage in such chicanery. Other coaches thought the display was disgusting and voiced their displeasure in a variety of ways. Now I am not one to believe that a 10 year old kid can be so diabolical-he had to have gotten the idea from somewhere. One look at the SEG on his dad's face and it was obvious where he got the idea. What a piss poor example for a father to present to his son! If my kid did something like that, I'd be wicked angry at him, I believe you should ALWAYS give your best effort.
Now I coach in this league, I run the league website and compile all the schedules and I am on the Board of Directors. I spend hundreds of hours (along with many other dedicated people) making our league the best it can be for our children. When someone makes a JOKE out of what we do like this dad and his kid did, it pisses me off. It shows disrespect for the league, the coaches and all the other kids who were out there trying their hardest.
4 teams passed on the kid in the draft and he was eventually picked by the team that wanted him (I wouldn't want that kid on MY team because he showed he doesn't want to play by the rules-not easy to coach). We decided not to punish the kid by disqualifying him-but there are many dissenting opinions. I personally don't think the kid could have come to the decision to "dog it" on his own and knowing the history of the kid's father, (not the first time he's acted like an ass in youth sports) I can make the leap that it was HIS idea. You can't punish a kid for who his parents are.I am not sure how the father will be received once the season starts-I for one have very little respect for what he apparently advised his son to do. I can't imagine the move will be held in high regard by most parents with kids in the league.
On the plus side, it looks like I have a good group of kids and I can't wait to get out there and get them practicing. We got snowed out last night!
Please leave your thoughts on the kid "doggin it."
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Blog Your Blessings Sunday XLXVI
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY
I am late with this post this week as I was busy cooking Sunday dinner for my mom, grandmother and wife!
Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
What dating was like in 1961 . . .
It's the summer of 1961 and Harold goes to pick up his date, Peggy Sue. Harold's a pretty hip guy with his own car and a ducktail hairdo. At the front door, Peggy Sue's mother answers and invites him in. "Peggy Sue's not ready yet, so why don't you have a seat?"
Peggy Sue's mother asks Harold what they're planning to do. Harold replies politely that they will probably just go to the malt shop or to a drive-in movie.
Peggy Sue's mother responds, "Why don't you kids go out and screw? I hear all the kids are doing it." Naturally this comes as quite a surprise to Harold, and he says, "Whaaaat?"
"Yeah," says Peggy Sue's mother, "We know Peggy Sue really likes to screw; why, she'd screw all night if we let her!"
Harold's eyes light up and he smiles from ear to ear. Immediately, he has revised his plans for the evening.
A few minutes later, Peggy Sue comes downstairs in her little poodle skirt with her saddle shoes, and announces that she's ready to go. Almost breathless with anticipation, Harold escorts his date out the front door while Mom is saying, "Have a good evening kids," with a small wink for Harold.
About 20 minutes later, a thoroughly disheveled Peggy Sue rushes back into the house, slams the door behind her and screams at her mother, "Dammit, Mom! It's the 'TWIST'! It's called the 'TWIST'!"
Where do Hot Dogs come from?
There are always lots of questions as to where hot dogs come from. Some say they come from scraps, fat or "lips and asses." The true answer is it depends on what type of hot dog you purchase.
Imagine my surprise when I found out hot dogs actually grow on trees, as evidenced in this video.
Blog Your Blessing Sunday XLXV
I recently wrote of a true life "good Samaritan" who helped out the Hotdogman. Here is the parable of the Good Samaritan:
Luke 10: 30-36
"A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
The Good Samaritan Lives
These days people don't help folks out the way they used to. There are exceptions though. This morning when I went to bring the Hot Dog Truck from the mechanic's to my spot, I couldn't get the thing out of reverse. The truck was stuck in the middle of the parking lot.
The lot is home to a five bay garage with three independent mechanics' businesses. My mechanic was not there as he was out drumming up some fleet business.
So here I am stuck in the middle of the lot with the truck stuck in reverse. I cant even start it since it is in gear and the clutch is malfunctioning. Out of one of the bays comes Bob (I already forgot his last name). He asks me what's wrong and I tell him. Before I can say boo, he's got the truck up on a jack and he's wiggling the wheels to pop it out of reverse. Then he pops the hood and opens up the clutch master cylinder (the leaking culprit) and fills it with transmission fluid. I am ready to roll and back in business!
I say to him, "Thanks a lot. This is just what you need, a project first thing in the morning."
He says, "I could tell you to go f*ck yourself, but that wouldn't be very neighborly now would it!"
Bob got free lunch today!
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