Scagg Revisited

Check this out, all you Scaggsvillians of the world.

Irish Wisdom

Things I learned in Ireland...

Irish Betty: Oh, wow, you're from the States! Where are you from?
Me: I'm from Washington DC.

...Fast Forward through 40 minute tear on George...

Irish Betty: I spent part of high school in Maryland.
Me: Cool. I am actually from Scaggsville, Maryland.
Irish Betty: Hahahaha, scagg.
Me: What?
Irish Betty: You do know that "scagg" is slang in Ireland for whore, right?
Me: No, I didn't know that.

Go Pack Go!

I can't blame Green Bay's 1-2 record on the officiating...

Cheers!

I love Irish people. Love 'em...

10:15 on a Saturday Night...

Well, not quite 10:15, but nearly. I'm sitting here trying to decide if I feel like pursuing any options for this Saturday night. Do I try to go out in the city, and maybe find some music to listen to? Do I find a Brooklyn bar to chill at for a few hours? Do I stay in, maybe watch a flick, go to bed early and hit the gym in the morning? As I ponder my choices over a cup of jasmine tea and a lopsided college football game on the tube, I realize that while this city never sleeps, the longer I wait, the fewer options I will have at my disposal.

But maybe that's what I really want. Maybe my procrastination is really a subconscious effort to stay home this evening. Maybe I don't want to listen to loud music in a crowded room with a lot of other people. Maybe I don't want to hang out with other people this evening. Maybe I want to pop in a movie and drink the Russian beer that I bought myself as a present on my trip down to Brighton Beach this afternoon. Maybe the only reason that this is even an issue is the fact that I am 22 years old, and "society" tells me that I should be out on the town on a Saturday night, drinking cheap beer, taking shots, starting pointless conversations with unmemorable girls. Maybe I don't want to conform to society's desires tonight. With that, we'll catch you on the flip side.

A quick note

Well, with my blogging counterparts on the other side of the pond, The Recipe has been left in my hands. I must admit that I'm a little nervous. Will our hit count drop without Dr Cook's magical prose and Dietsch's photographical wonders? Will my tenure as Chief Correspondent be the downfall of The Recipe? My blogging as of late has been sporadic, since in the back of my mind I knew that Cook and Dietsch would be there to pick up the slack. This is no longer the case. Can Mr Beerman rise up to the challenge? Only time will tell.

But I say we take this unexpected turn of events and make something of it. Let's take this opportunity to really get to know one another. Why? Because to me, every reader is a friend.

On the road

Where am I, Dr Cook? Why, I'm riding the Chinatown Bus back and forth between New York and Maryland! Inspired by my recent travels, as well as an article in Sunday's WaPo on Chinatown Bus companies' safety records, I thought I'd take the time to offer a few words of wisdom to any of our readers who are bold and frugal enough to choose this method of transportation.

1) Arrive at the bus stop early. Plan on thirty minutes, although forty-five would be better. Especially in the last few months, these buses have gotten incredibly popular, and as a result, buses are often over-sold. Unlike trains, where you can simply stand in the aisle for the journey if they're aren't enough seats, if you can't get a seat on the bus, you are out of luck. Arriving early is much better than having to wait for the next bus.

2) If possible, buy your ticket in advance on the internet. I typically use this site, but if you google "Chinatown Bus", you will find half a dozen sites where bus companies post schedules and allow you to purchase tickets. Again, the soaring popularity of Chinatown buses is the issue here. As I said before, these buses often sell out, and people that have advance tickets are the first ones allowed to board. You aren't guaranteed a seat, but if you arrive early you should be fine. There is a downside, however, in that purchasing a ticket ties you to a single bus company. The term "Chinatown Bus" is a loose description of any privately owned bus company that runs between Chinatown New York and Chinatown DC (and less frequently to Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston and Richmond). If by some chance you can't get on a particular bus, you can typically find another. However, tickets aren't transferable between companies, so if you don't use your internet ticket, you'd need to buy another, and that lovely $20 ride very quickly becomes $40. For 40 bucks you might as well take the faster and safer Greyhound.

3) Know what your bus' starting point is. Buses that say that they go from Baltimore to New York in fact start from Washington. Thus, it's anybody's guess as to whether there will be enough seats for the Baltimorons that want to embark. Also, the stop in Charm City is essentially an East Baltimore truck stop - not a great place to hang around waiting for the next bus to roll through.

4) A portable listening device is crucial. You will be bored, you will be hot, you will be uncomfortable. There is no way around this reality. You need something to alleviate the pain. If you are like me and find it difficult to read in a moving car, music is the best option. Morphine for the ears.

5) You will be subjected to more Jackie Chan/Chris Tucker movies than you ever thought possible. Plan your level of intoxication accordingly.

6) Drivers show little regard for conventional traffic laws, and often do as they please while on the road. Moreover, their spoken English abilities are not necessarily a guarantee. If you are concerned with physical safety, this may not be the best option for you.

But don't let me scare you. In addition to being the cheapest way to travel up and down the east coast, rising the Chinatown Bus is a fantastic experience (keyword being experience). You will also be surpised at the variety of your fellow passengers. From Chinese emigres to college kids to actors and musicians to Wall Street suits, everyone's riding the bus. If you're looking for adventure, fork over the 20 bucks, and hit the road.

See ya, Sam!

After fifteen long months, I have been given back my name. See ya, Help Desk.

Assorted Thoughts...

Things have been rather quiet around here lately - where are you, Mr. Beerman? - so I thought I would throw up some garbage to keep folks at least mildly interested. We don't want that hit counter falling, do we?

• Another successful party at the Ol' Pimp Lean House. The usual suspects were all in attendance. We also tagged a few newbies, who, despite being cast into a lively crowd, provided a strong performance. Tip of the hat to you, Ass Hole (et al).
• On a related note, I am long overdue for a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Leonard. I think I have a fever...
• What does it mean to be great?
• My dog is incredibly lazy. She's been sleeping under the coffee table since we got up this morning. I think she drinks too much.
• Monterey's Pizza is the best pie I've had in a very long time. If you're in the Alexandria area, I suggest you check them out - you will walk away a better person.
• I don't like Fall - do you capitalize the "f"? - weather. Too depressing.

So there are a few nuggets of unwisdom. Can we talk about Charlene now? Good, me too. Dietsch and I finally got the ol' brawd coughing on Saturday. Apparently she fires up if you pour gasoline directly into the carb. She dies pretty quick, but it's comforting to know there's life under the hood. Next step, it would seem, is to rebuild or replace the carburetor. I think I will do both - install a new carburetor, and rebuild the old one as a learning exercise. Worst that could happen is I fix the old one and I can reinstall to keep that "off the lot" authenticity. I think she will be ready to run for snowboard season roadtrippin'...

Dietsch and I will be heading to Ireland for a couple of weeks. Needless to say, things will be rather quiet around here, but I will try to drop a line or two. Hopefully Beerman will pick up the slack. We are both excited about our first real vacation since joining the working world. I hope I can remove myself completely from work while I'm away. I don't want to be worried about my Inbox.

And on that note, we'll see you when we see you.

Frat Lords Revisited

I retract all earlier arguments in favor of Wooderson as the frattiest of the frat. Gary Christ is, in fact, the ultimate Frat Gawd.

Frat on, Gary, frat on.

Gary Christ

Jesus's younger and lesser know brother Gary Christ.

Mr. and Mrs William Root

Congratulations Will and Jen