Mega-Bad Movie Night

When my son (now 12) was between the ages of 1 and 5, he was obsessed with dinosaurs. He would carry two plastic dinosaurs with him at all times. He stuffed them in his pockets, placed them next to his dinosaur dinner plate at meal times, accompanied him in the bath and slept with them in clenched fists.. I spent a good part of my young mother life wandering, not aimlessly, around the Academy of Natural Sciences. We started at the main hall and spent some time in front of the blue screen that would transport you visually to prehistoric times. Manny would have this serious look on his face as he gazed up at his projected image while T-Rex and his pals would walk past him like he was not even in the jungle with them. Rude. We moved on to the "dig". Manny would lord over his siblings and peers directing them not to bang the dinosaur fossils, but to gently work their picks and brushes. After spending 30 to 40 minutes digging, we continued to the upstairs fossils (he knew every name, every type) and then always to the butterfly room (always a nice place). We ended our tour in the gift shop where he was allowed ONE plastic dinosaur or book. He always had a problem handing over the existing sweaty dinosaurs to me prior to entering the shop. Not that his not-so-gently used toys could be mistaken for the sharper new versions, but it was always safer for me. I got caught shoplifting a $9 barret when I was 14 and nearly died of humiliation. Stealing was not for me. It still makes my stomach drop just thinking about being caught and my parents called.

Quite the lesson...but I digress.

Back on point - It's 2011. Manny has moved his obsession from dinosaurs to soccer, but still enjoys the occasional science program about dinosaurs. When I suggested that we go to the Academy for movie night, he was excited. When I told him that it was for Mega-Bad Movie Night for a screening of Mega Pirana, he was really excited. I went to sign up. It seems that you have to be at least 18 to attend and they serve beer. Sorry Manu. Another time.

I highly recommend Mega Pirana at the Academy. Dan attends. They serve beer and "snacks" and the commentary is similar to Science Theater 2000. Sometimes Philly is brilliant.

An Ode to Dan

This is Dan. Dantheawesome. I am thankful for everyday that this man comes in to work, smirk on his face and some outrageous comment brewing. I think we should all appreciate his amazingness. He is an awesome chef, loves metal, can build a computer, has an awesome smart fiance, and is one of the funniest, sickest individuals I have ever met.

I almost did not hire Dan. He came in for an interview and our kitchen manager at the time met with him. His hair was dyed black black black and I seem to remember that he had black finger nail polish. He swears this is not the case. He does not lie and I have no idea why I think this. His eyes were red and he looked sad. Toby, our manager, swore he was a great guy, very sweet and hired him. Okay, but was he stoned? His eyes were red. I did not have a good feeling.

He started working. He was quiet. He was prompt. He was very capable. His eyes were red. I would sniff around him. Goth is fine, but stoned at work is not. I decided I would confront him. He came into work that morning wearing glasses. His eyes were not red. I asked. He was having problems with his contacts. Wow. I am an ass. Did he act high? No. Was he nothing but professional? Yup. It seems I am just an old fart and so very wrong.

Soon thereafter, Toby went on to become a farmer and Dan stepped into her shoes. Toby was amazing and these were big shoes to fill. Besides, I wanted to have fun while in the kitchen and Dan was up for the task. He breaks the monotony with a leedle, leedle, leedle and taps his feet while he works. He can get a little violent with throwing stuff at people, but you must take the good with the bad.

So this week should be Dan Appreciation Week. I will bestow on him Bomba rice and pizza dough. May his grill always light and burn super hot and may his gamer account never go dark. Thank you Dan. You are the awesomest.

We Are So PUMPED For This Weather!!!

We are enjoying our fourth, maybe fifth cup of coffee and complaining that we need to take naps on the 50 lb. sacks of sugar. Kamala, Dan and I are laughing pretty hard. We have a huge case of the "f&*@ its". You know what I mean. We are talking about anything BUT work; people we hate on the train, chili dogs, coffee, the pending Philly soda tax (we approve), what makes us happy, gay political scandals, tattoos, and we all agree that children dressed as cheerleaders are creepy and that we could use another arm. Dan is freely and gleefully tapping his feet and doing beat box and Kamala is getting her poke on (they are building her her own booth for the tattoo shop!) I just made Dan cry by demanding he make more coffee. HE DRANK IT ALL! He's making coffee. Thank you Dan.

We really need to get back to work. The weather is turning and I think that we are about to explode. 60 degrees today in lovely Philadelphia. We are gonna be busy. After a gruesome winter, this is so sweet. The cafes are hopping, we have new products and it is warm out. WARM!!! We are busy. You want to know what it is like working for Capo? Kamala thinks it is functional chaos. Lately, with the weather changing, we have been unruly and jumpy. Kamala wants Dan to have a big party at his new house, Dan wants to yodel and I just want a nap.

Enjoy the weather, get out and take the dog for a walk. Better yet, take my dogs for a walk. Or just take them. Rittenhouse Square should be packed and we all need to shake that winter funk off! This is the dance we do when we need to shake off the funk...

Delores & Buddy's Barbecue

It is 11 am and we are thinking about lunch. We have all decided that we want pulled pork for lunch. Dan walks past Percy Street every day and the siren song of smoked meat is almost unbearable. Kamala claims that Horizons has a great vegan pulled pork sandwich. We looked at her skeptically, but if anyone can pull that off, it's Horizons. Horizons is amazing.

Dan and I start to reminisce about our trip to Creamery this summer. We were on our way home when we spotted a little house thingy with a billowing black smoker attached to the back. There it was, just sitting in a cleared area next to the road. "What the?" A screech of tires and a near miss and we were there! Delores & Buddy's Barbecue! There is a couple sitting in their car and enjoying sandwiches.

Dan and I peruse the menu. Oh man, we hit the motherload. This guy is out here smoking meat on the porch of this little wheeled house, this little mobile house, this....I asked Kamala what one would call this mobile smoker house. She paused, looked carefully and replied, "Awesome." Yes, that's it.

So, we decided to order the pulled pork sandwichon the menu. The sandwiches arrived. You can smell the pepper and the vinegar and the meat is perfect. This guy does not fool around. It is amazing! Cool and crunchy cole slaw, sweet tea and lemonade, and a pickle on a stick. Not kidding. A humongous pickle on a stick. I ask the owner, Frank, if he would mind if I snapped a few pictures. He said, "I don't mind at all, if you don't mind sharing the pictures." OF COURSE!! If you don't mind my amateur photography skills. Then, Frank the Awesome Smoker Man, delivers us EVERYTHING ON THE MENU! He needs pictures. Holy, holy, holy. The people eating in their car yell out, "Nothing beats this!" We raise our cups of sweet tea and lemonade and toast Frank. Frank the Genius.

We leave full of smoked pork and pickles, smiling and complaining how tight our pants have become. Pennsylvania is an interesting place. Roadside bbq on Skippack Pike in Creamery, PA. Look at Dan's face! His thumbs speak volumes.