Lupita's. Chicago. Part #1.

Lupita's in Denver on Colfax. This is only the second time we've been there but there are many, many more to come. I didn't get photos the first time because it was so good. Last time, tamales. Incredible. This time, Tacos al Carbon.

Grilled flank steak. Pico de Gallo. Soft corn tortillas. Avocado (which I pushed aside. Perfect. Tortillas sogged when I poured on the Pico and salsa, but still perfect.

A special note about the beans. Refried pinto beans. Consistency is optimal.

Unlike the canned beaners at Ortega's, these are the way it should be. Smooth. A few bean chunks and some bean skin. Delicious. Yeah, yeah, perfect refried beans look exactly like what you are thinking the photo looks like.

Lupita's. Get thee there.

Free Raleigh, NC Getaway

Wow, check this out. If you are looking around for a wonderful vacation spot take a closer look at Raleigh, North Carolina! What a perfect spot. If you want excitement then this is perfect because they have that big time. You can do all kinds of exciting things outdoors – fish, golf, hunt, shop, and the list goes on. And bring the excitement indoors by going to bars, a National Hockey League game, see Trace Adkins in Concert, and more!

Raleigh is really a hidden treasure. And right now you can register to win a fantastic vacation package for a FREE Raleigh Getaway. It includes all this: accommodations, $25 gift certificate to a bistro, VIP admissions to Rum Runners, 2 North Carolina Theatre tickets, 2 art museum tickets, and 2 natural history museum tickets. On the site be sure to also check out the Fall Getaway specials.

Raleigh is truly City Life, Carolina Style. It is an affordable city, very approachable, while it maintains the appeal of a classic Southern Town. Take a look at everything you can do while you are here. You can surely find something. And quite possibly there will be so much to do that you have to come back again. That would not be so bad!

And Now...

I am trying something new so bear with me. I am splitting the post into two parts so I can squeeze in a word from our sponsor. Please stay tuned and read what they are all about because it is very important. We will see how it goes and take it from there. Thanks.

Lupita's. Chicago. Part #2.

Mommye Tommye and I ate there on our way to Chicago. The band. Did you know they've put out 30 albums. 30! Well, I guess it is Chicago so they've put out XXX albums not 30. I, like most of you, could not name many of their songs. But you'd recognize many of them.



About halfway through the drummer went off on a killer drum solo. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida good.



The show wrapped up with one of the two songs I could name before the show...

Co-op Cards

Do you spend a lot of time in the U.K.? Even if you do not, you no doubt want a good deal on a credit card. Well look no more! You have to go on their site and see all the different kinds of cards they offer. They have 0% cards, they have balance transfer cards and they have cards that can earn money for whatever organization you choose. This is so unbelievable and great news for you! You can get the type of card that is best suited to meet you needs. Check them out because you should see what they have to offer you.

OMG!

So on The Daily Show they had a clip of W making a speech somewhere about education. What he says is classic: “blah blah blah the childrens do learn”. Speech about education. I will hopefully find this clip on YouTube and get it up so everyone can see it. W. How did this idiot get elected?!? Oh yeah.

Costa Vida

T & I discovered there are two Costa Vida's around Denver, so since we were near one, we went to see what they are about.

I went in to order. Like Qdoba or Chipotle, you stand on one side of the sneeze guard and order each item as you go down the line - black or pinto beans, chicken or steak or pork, which salsa, cheese on it, and then unlike Chipotle and Qdoba they stick the burrito in a Quiznos-style oven-conveyor to heat the burrito and warm the tortilla. The tortillas are not steamed before building it like at Chip and Q. At Costa Vida you are given the option of smothering the burrito. I did not have my shredded beef + black beans + rice + cheese + medium salsa smothered. After heating, she added lettuce and pico de gallo on the side.


The presentation looked good.

Yeah, LOOKED good. Nah, it wasn't that bad but nothing special and nothing to write home about.

On the prep line the shredded beef is bathing in its own juices or a sauce - very flavorful in concept but in burrito form it really makes the burrito too wet.

And the cheese melts in the oven - sounds delicious but the melted cheese mixes with the juice to make an even wetter burrito. And with the lettuce and pico served on the side you have to cram a bit on the wet burrito before a bite. I gave up on that and let the burrito innards fall in the lettuce as the burrito disintegrated. A tasty pile of stuff to enjoy at the end though.


My burrito chain rankings (of these 5):

1. Qdoba (the Poblano Pesto Burrito is the best thing ever. EVER!)
2. Chipotle (consistently the biggest burritos & dependably good.)
3. Baja Fresh (the tortillas = heaven.)
4. Moe's (a distant 4th. Very distant.)
5. Costa Vida (Yes, behind Moe's.)

But do not think this review is all negative. There were two pretty good things:

The napkins are stacked in a neat unique way -

And the sink in the bathroom is pretty cool -

Get Involved

You should really check out this site to find out about the Intelligent Community Initiative. It is a one of a kind approach with the goal of improving local communities. They have a smart idea of using three entities tied together. The Intelligent Community Initiative Website is one place you should check out because there is a lot of information on it. Find out more.

Unity? Yeah Right.

What is this Unity party all about? They want a ticket of two candidates, one Republican and one Democrat. That does not seem like that would work. I guess they want to appeal to moderates, but I think they might have a tough time joining the two parties. I will try to find more.

Hanukkah is Coming

If you are going to be celebrating Hanukkah then you must go to this site. They have everything you need, and it is really one stop shopping because their Hanukkah Baskets are the best! If you want a kosher gift basket, they have that. Need one for children? They have that, too. You will find menorahs, personalized platters, and more. They offer local delivery in New Jersey, and nationwide delivery. They even deliver to Israel. They will try to meet every request. And right now there are hot new designs for 2007. Get thee there and see what they have to offer so your Hanukkah is one to remember!

You Bike?

Look at this, there really is something for everyone. I found a site for bike lovers. It is the place for bikers to go and hang out, meet new people, and see who else is out there. The site is equally for biker planet people and fitness lovers. Check out the site and see everything it has to offer in biker dating.

New Live DMB!

So DMB fans are digging in to their positions regarding the new live release that was announced today. It is a show from Portugal that was in May of this year. This is the tenth live release from the band. Most people are happy at any live release. But some people think this release is weird because the last live release was from March 2007 and there are so many shows to choose from so why another from 2007. I am firmly in the camp saying LIVE – HELL YEAH.

Ole!

Are you looking for an All Inclusive Mexico Vacation? Look no further than Karisma Hotels. They are a group of divine properties on the Riviera Maya in Mexico. They offer quite exciting packages for foodies. Their Gourmet-Inclusive concept. You get all kinds of surprising indulgences and totally luxurious accommodations. They are there to meet just about any need you might have! Their packages offer so very much. You just have to go to their site and see what they have to offer. It will blow your mind. And with the emphasis on foodies you know the food will be incredible and maybe even once in a lifetime! See you there!

Tattoo You

Wow, there really is something for everyone. I found a site for tattoo lovers. It is the place for tattoo singles to go and hang out, meet new people, and see who else is out there. The site is equally for tattoo lovers and piercing lovers. Check out the site and see everything it has to offer in tattoo dating.

SupersizedApparel

Billy at SupersizedMeals.com has opened the store! Right now there are two kinds of shirts and one kind of boxer shorts. The stuff looks hot! I think his logo is one of the best I have ever seen! It truly is easy gift-giving any time because what eater wouldn't love it!!

LG

Summer is here. You just might need to go buy a new refrigerator. When it is hot most refrigerators can go bad because they have to work so much harder to keep food cold. The compressor can go out just like in air conditioners. And for many people the cost to repair the compressor is high enough to just buy a new one. If you are like most consumers you will do the bulk of your research online but buy from a local retailer. Trying to find a local retailer who can match what is found on the web can be tough.

But no matter what you need – some LG Refrigerators, a Hotpoint stove, a GE microwave – you can find the best deal with Krillion. Check them out before you go!

Look Good!

With the explosion of the World Wide Web in the last few years or decade, many businesses out there have staked out their space on the web to benefit from everything it has to offer. What a great advertising medium and what a super way to reach customers and potential customers. And no matter where they are anywhere in the world. That is one of the most fascinating things about the web. Anyone anywhere can find anything!

But companies cannot just do it alone. Their web presence must be first-rate, look professional, and be pleasing to the eye. We have all seen too many bad web sites. Companies do not want to end up on that list! This is where the services of professional graphic design companies come in. They can make an impact. They can make a great site. They know the best colors and fonts. They also know the market so they can give you an idea of what way is the best way to reach out and grab the market. That is all very important. You are spending money so be smart and spend it on something that works. A really good graphic design firm can help. Let them. Be the best!

PB #3

Just some thoughts about Pat Bertoletti. He is ranked #3 right now by the IFOCE. That is probably the right ranking. But he has potential to go up, and fast. Ranked ahead of him are Joey and Kobe. Yes, they beat him at Nathan’s but Pat has beaten Joey since. Pat has not competed against Kobayashi since but I think Pat may defeat Kobe in Krystal’s. Bertoletti.

Check It: The List

No matter what field you are in you probably want to get ahead of the next guy. That is never easier than getting the best mailing list you can. And to do that do not look anywhere but Martin Worldwide. They have great mailing Lists you can purchase. They are innovative as well. One of their most successful products is ResponseCom. It is a potent, proprietary blend of databases that gives you a very versatile database. Martin Worldwide is one of the largest and most successful mailing list providers. They have decades of experience and that has led to a very good database of 290 million consumers! Check them out today!

XML & More

I found a really great blog site if you are in to XML, the Boston Red Sox, or just like some great insights into all sorts of things. Sure, at the XML Aficionado blog XML is topic #1, but you also get info on new technologies, trends, gadgets, and more like restaurants and the Boston Red Sox.

Preview of Maine

Next up: burritos in Maine. I do not know what the rules will be but hopefully there is no breaking apart of the burrito and also no dunking. If it is a 12-minute contest I am thinking the winning number will be around 9 or so. We shall see what happens!

Hoo-rah

It is very sad but all too common. Active duty troops serving in the armed forces have to buy military grade uniforms and other supplies to supplement their standard issue items. BDU.COM offers top quality stuff for military uses, law enforcement, hunters, paint ball players, and more. Check them out and see what you want.

Orlando Rocks!

Going to Orlando to get your fun fix? Orlando.com is your one-stop shop for any ticket you may need while you are in Orlando! Planning your getting to Orlando is not hard and planning your accommodations in Orlando is not difficult. Orlando.com knows all about a hotel in orlando! And they also can set you up with airfare, car rentals, and more. The options for fun are practically endless! Disney – and all the theme parks. Golf. Lots more!. It is nuts! They can cut through all that and sell you what you really need. They can help with water parks, Universal Studios, and more. They have night fun covered too! Medieval Times, Arabian Nights, mini-golf, Sea World. And on and on and on! For the best discounts, think Orlando.com!

At. At. At. At.

I had Larry King on tonight. One segment was with OJ's attorney, some guy from Florida. Larry asked him "where is he right now". The lawyer's reply: "I don’t know where he's at". The first thing out of his mouth! Don't these guys have a lot of schooling? Don't they have to speak in court? At. My god.

Review: More Score

Is your child doing OK in school this year? If not then keep him or her sharp this way. The very day we switched from Sylvan Learning Centers to Score! we saw immediate and dramatic progress with Bobby. When kids love to learn, they will learn. At Sylvan, it is so much more of a "mill" feeling than at Score! And Score! has everything covered: Math Tutors, Reading Tutors, Writing Tutors, and much more. We do not need to worry about his learning as we worried in the past. Bobby is flourishing at Score with his mom in Texas so that is all that matters!

Check Out Multivend

Here is another way you can work for yourself instead of for anyone else. Multivend, LLC. They have been around since 1990 and their reason for being is to help people realize their own self and reaching for the American dream of financial freedom. Over 9000 people cannot be wrong! The largest bulk vending machine company in the world is multivend so you know one of the best organizations is behind you. Their new products, especially the Vendstar 300, are phenomenal. Vending machines are a great way to make some big money and Multivend, LLC is one great company! Check out what they can do for you!

SupersizedApparel

Billy at SupersizedMeals.com has opened the store! Right now there are two kinds of shirts and one kind of boxer shorts. The stuff looks hot! I think his logo is one of the best I have ever seen! It truly is easy gift-giving any time because what eater wouldn't love it!!

New Reese's!

"The Elvis Cup is a Reese's cup with an additional layer of banana creme below the peanut butter. The banana tastes just like they put a real banana slice in there - they absolutely nailed the taste of a banana. Banana flakes are listed on the wrapper so the taste is real bananas."

That's from someone's review. I love bananas. Banana pudding. Banana yogurt. Banana milk. Banana bananas. Peanut nuts. And I love Reese's. Who cares whether someone put their chocolate in someone's peanut butter or their peanut butter in someone's chocolate. They put bananas in Reese's! Match made in heaven!

Or so I thought. While they are not bad they in no way meet my expectations. The banana flavor disk is located at the bottom of the cup where usually chocolate and peanut butter interface. It is a thin layer of banana cream. And those are the two problems. It's a tiny flavor layer and it is not infused throughout the cup. I tasted banana flavor when I teeth-scraped on the banana cream layer. And the banana cream is delicious. But to bite normally - chocolate, peanut butter, banana cream - the flavors do not mix well because there is too little banana flavor. My palette didn't know what that hint of a new flavor was so it didn't taste as good as I expected.

I recommend that you skip trying these.

Review: Score!

Look! The very same day we switched from Sylvan Learning Centers to Score! we saw dramatic and immediate progress with our great boy Bobby. When kids love to learn, they will learn. At Sylvan, it is so much more of a "mill" feeling than at Score! And Score! has everything covered: Math Tutors, Reading Tutors, Writing Tutors, and much more. We do not worry about his learning as we worried in the past. Bobby is flourishing at Score with his mom in Texas so that is all that matters!

No matter what the subject matter, Score can handle it and get your kid learning too! They have the normal subjects you would expect. But they also offer study skills courses. It sometimes is how your child is studying. So I urge you to see what Score can do for you and your kids!

I LOVE THE POLICE

Today on my walk to the light rail to the office (maybe 1/2 mile) something magical happened. Usually I'm the one.

At one spot there are four lanes of traffic to cross. In the mornings I cross at the crosswalk since there is some traffic in the mornings. Here in Colorado it is state law to stop for peds in the crosswalk. I don't care if they stop or not unless I am right in their path.

So this morning I start across. A car in lane 1 approaches and stops. A motorcycle cop in lane 2 stops. Lane 3, car approaches and stops. But in Lane 4 a car doesn't even slow down, just zooms through. I'm in the middle of lane 2. The cop and I both look at the car in 4. Then we turn and look at each other. I nod, with a little shoulder shrug. He nods back. If there's a God in Heaven I don't know, but I do know the next thing I saw was the cop speeding off toward the scofflaw.

From there I didn't see anything that happened. I did see the cop pull Red Celica over but I thought maybe he/she would get a warning or something like that. That's the last I thought of it.

Until I go into the kitchen at work ten minutes later. Get a cup. Pour in milk. Look out the window. THERE'S THE COP WITH RED CELICA! I watch for 5 minutes. 5 more. Cop has his flip book thingy out. He's writing. He hands something to Red Celica.

Wish I knew what he handed Red. And why it took 10 minutes. Cool, huh? I'm usually getting put down by the man. Not this morning!

What Do You Want?

I think I just might have found the best online university there is. Columbia Southern University. Check it out. They offer personalized service, open enrollment, self paced degrees, maximum credit transfer, and so many more benefits. Earning a degree online is so convenient for people who have to work during the day. Police, military and anyone else who has a demanding work schedule can easily fit these programs in. See for yourself how easy it can be to earn that degree you have been wanting. You will be glad you did. That associate, bachelor, graduate or post-graduate program you want can be yours! This is great news!

Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit then I found a really great site for you to visit. You know very well that the way to improve your credit is to get a loan or open a credit card but you are in a catch 22 because it is hard to find companies willing to lend and make bad credit loans. Look here for all kinds of info, resources, and other valuable information.

South T Bar

We went up to STB to check out what's going on. We were expecting to see some kind of sign of the mining staking activity, but essentially saw nothing. And the companies made such a big deal about it in the NOITLs or whatever.

1. Did anything take place related to the staking?
2. Wow, there must've been a lot of rain. The grasses were CRAZY and, even a bigger deal, GREEN! (It's always been dry and brown for us this late)
3. There must've been some big rains. Lots of debris on the side roads, and clear road damage.

The slide show is here.

Dance Fool!

You guys know I just love dancing! It does not matter what kind of dancing - salsa, ballroom, disco, whatever - I just have gotta move. So this website is just what I needed: dancing videos, dancing videos, and more dancing videos! All kinds of bachata videos. You do not know what that is? Check out the site and get ready to shake your money maker!

Where's He At?

This subdivision is in Canon City off of highway 115. Subdivision in Canon?

The subdivision is right down the road from Merlino's Belvedere which is a super famous landmark in the Canon/Florence metroplex. We have not gone there yet but we will try it out soon.

Go Here!

Here is a fun one. Each and every week Quiz Rocket adds new fun quizzes and personality tests to their site. They are free. Some are trivia based and some are more personality related. They already have about 18 quizzes posted. Pop Culture, One Hit Wonder Songs, dumb test, and more. Have a look and have fun!

Ortega's

Last night T-bone and I started our restaurant tour of Canon City and Florence. First up, Ortega's Family Restaurant in Canon.

The building looks cool. So you would think the food might be really good.

You can't see the restaurant well from the main road that goes through Canon. What you can see is the back of the building. There is a sign on the main road, but the front of the building is on a side street.


It looks inviting...

As for the food, it definitely wasn't bad. It was good, but nothing to write home about. Blog about it, sure, but then move on. I had tamales. In back you can see T-munny's Monster Burrito - Chicken.

Actually the shredded chicken in her burrito was very flavorful.

Here's my plate. Notice the beans. That's the main determinant for me. Good refried beans are adobe-colored and smooth with some bean skin chunkage. These beans were just out of the can and with full pinto beans -- not blended smooth at all. That's two strikes right there.

The tamales were again, good. Nothing especial.

So two strikes on the beans. Here's the third strike:

Your name is Ortega. Make the Mexican great. Skip the Italian and American. Your name is not Ortegalini. Or Bob.

More Encomia News

There is some more Encomia news! If you are in the lending business then you should find out about Encomia and their electronic disclosures. The disclosures are all the rage in the lending circles. Want to eliminate paper? This is a great way to learn about it. There is so much paper in the mortgage industry but it does not need to be that way. Find out what you can.

New Wendy's Burgers!

Wendy's is hyping their new $0.50 hamburgers. I thought they would be a new burger a la Krystal or White Castle. But they're not new burgers -- just the same Jr. Hamburger that was on their 99-cent value menu. Just cheaper now.

I tried them a couple of days ago. Not too bad. The bun is just over 3" round. The patty is just over 3" too, but square. That's like the Bambinos -- square patty with a round bun. Isn't that bad feng shui or something? The patty is thin -- 3/8" or 1/4". The Jrs. also have a squirt of ketchup, squirt of mustard, and a couple of pickle slices.

On her way back from class, T picked up some Jrs. for me...


These were plain. No condiments. No pickles. Each one was 80g.

The square patty on the round bun is just wrong. Deliciously wrong.

Check Encomia

If you are in the loan origination business then you should really check out this site. Encomia is a full featured Electronic Vault (or an evault) that securely stores financial assets. They work very closely with MERS so that means “ease” for mortgage closers. They offer many benefits, so you really should check them out and see what they can do for you.

Cap'n Crunch..Er, Cap'n Munch

This video is quite impressive. Captain Thunderclap takes on putting down a 1-pound steak in 2 minutes or less. As I watched I wondered how fast Pat, Joey or Kobayashi could down it. And how long it would take one of them to do the Big Texan challenge. Too bad we'll never know.


Thanks to Mega Munch and Super Sized Meals.

Review: Home Improvements

There are many home improvement sites out there. But I think I might have found the best one. Anglian has been around for thirty six years so you know they must be good. Check out their site for information on windows, doors, and roof trim. They specialize in Conservatories. For any Home improvements you want done, think Anglian.

The Other Fence

The Big House has a chain link fence in front. Mun and I don't care for the look but it is what it is. There are some fixes to make.

One of the corner posts is dented. It wasn't that way before. I think our neighbor hit it. Just like he did to the kick ass fence in the back.


Here is a part where the bar connecting the fencing to the gate has come off.




And this is the end post. It is bent at the bottom and all fucked up but we shall see what I can do.


This final shot is of the branches and leaves around back. They're getting close to the wires.

Christmas Shopping Soon

I am pretty sure that everyone is looking for a deal these days. And getting good deals is even more important when we are talking about shopping for Christmas. That season is coming up really soon so you would be well advised to start getting ready! One of the busiest and most crazy shopping days in the season is the day after Thanksgiving. It is called Black Friday. I do not know why it has that name exactly but it does. Merchants go out of their way to advertise all kinds of deals for that day, but keeping up with all of that can be a big pain. Well, it is not a pain anymore! There is a super website that can do all that for you. They have email alerts that can let you know when a merchant has a sale. It is so consumer friendly! We like Circuit City. So now we can go to the site, sign up, and any Circuit City deals on blackfriday are in our inbox! It is as simple as that! So be sure to check out the site and see how much money you can save this shopping season. You will be glad you check it out!

Small Victory

Woohoo! Handy Andy or what?!? Switched out the old mailbox on the House for a new, shiny, lockable model. Drilling into the stucco was weird.



We didn't want to get mail at our physical address but we do so it's all good. But we're getting credit card offers delivered to the House mailbox so a lock is a good move.

Next up: for da Honey.

Update:
1. Weatherstripping doors, etc
2. Seal cracks in stucco and parging
3. Motion-activated light in back
4. The ramp covering
5. Attic insulation