The Psychology of Apple Picking

I finally went apple picking with my family / girlfriend at Lawrence Orchards (honestly, I was lured in by the apple cinnamon donuts and warm apple cider).  My initial game plan was to get 2-3 apples of each type and call it a day.  That plan quickly went to hell when I realized that there were over 20 types of apples (idared, empire, delicious, fuji, rome, granny smith, mutsu, and other cross breeds).  The problem got further compounded with smaller empire apples (because you need more) and bright colored rome apples (because you need more).  The consensus in each orchard row was I needed more (and keep in mind that I'm not particularly fond of apples). The end tally....11 pounds of apples, a 9 pound pumpkin, and my new found ability as a goat whisperer.       

Thai Coconut Chicken Curry

Ingredients
1.5lbs - Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (cut into cubes)
1/2 - Yellow Onion (chopped)
1/2 - Orange Pepper (cut into one inch strips)
1 - Freshly Grated Nutmeg
1 - Handful of Green Beans (chopped)
1 - Can of Baby Corn (cut into thirds)
3 - Cloves of Garlic (minced)
4 - Tomatoes on the Vine (cut into quarters)
13.5oz - Coconut Milk
1 - Tablespoon of Chili Paste
1 - Tablespoon of Fish Sauce
Olive Oil
Kosher Salt
Pepper
Curry Powder
Ground Ginger
Sriracha Chili Sauce

1) Cut and season vegetables with salt, pepper, curry powder, ground ginger, and 1/2 of the grated nutmeg
2) Cut and season chicken with salt, pepper, curry powder, ground ginger, and 1/2 of the grated nutmeg
3) Cook chicken with minced garlic in olive oil
4) Once chicken is cooked, add vegetables and let them cook until they are soft
5) Add coconut milk, chili paste, fish sauce, and Sriracha Chili Sauce and let simmer for 25 minutes
6) Add it over linguine or white rice

Best Thing I Ever Ate: French Toast @ Buttermilk Channel (524 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231)

There are two Buttermilk commandments that I had to learn firsthand: 1) They don't serve brunch on Saturdays (I learned this after walking across the Brooklyn Bridge and the 2 miles it takes to get there) and 2) They do not serve alcohol before noon on Sunday (which was a Rick James smack to the face because you get a free mimosa, bellini, or sparking wine with brunch).  After learning the system, I ordered the pecan pie french toast.  If I'm at any restaurant and I see pecan pie for dessert, blinders automatically come up and I can't read the other desserts.  Anyway, the pecan pie french toast came out and I had enough will power to actually take a picture before I dived in and didn't talk (or breathe) for 7 minutes.  It was quite an Usher "OMG" moment where I could hear the lyrics in my head: 

Baby let me love you downnn
There’s so many ways to love ya
Baby I can break you downnn
There’s so many ways to love ya
Got me like, ooh myy gosh I’m soo in love
I found you finallyy, you make me want to say
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
Ohh myy gosh

I marveled at the engineering prowess of a pecan pie crust with candied pecans embedded into the "french toast".  My girlfriend ordered the cheddar waffles and pork chops pounded thin (and I barely noticed during my 7 minute eating blackout - the only proof was the picture I don't remember taking).  

  

 

Best Thing I Ever Ate: Pancakes @ Cafe LULUc (214 Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201)

After spending an hour Googling the best breakfast and brunch places in NYC on Sunday morning, I came up with nothing new.  I decided to check out Buttermilk Channel again (their pecan pie french toast is utterly ridiculous).  We arrived at noon (based on learning lessons from the last 2 times: they are closed on Saturday for brunch and they do not serve alcohol prior to noon) and were told that it would be a 45 minute wait.  Their food is good, but it isn't starve for another 45 minutes watching people teasingly enjoy their food good.  My girlfriend checked her iPhone (AKA our weekend compass) and found a nearby place with great reviews.  We got there and they sat us outdoors in their backyard patio area.  I ordered their pancakes with mixed fruit and nearly had a religious experience.  They were buttery crispy on the outside and fluffy enough to absorb the maple syrup (after countless pours).  The pancakes were so amazing that I actually considered shaking the cook's hand.  Did I mention $6 bellinis (that seemed to be mostly champagne)?  Bring cash because they don't accept credit cards.          

Be a Tourist (Even in Your Own City)

I'll never understand how some people will ride in a plane for 7 hours to see "must see" sites, when they have some of the best sites in their own backyard.  I'm fortunate to have been born/raised in New York City, where you could conceivably find anything you can think of (Cameroonian restaurants, tattoos at 4am, or a Naked Cowboy).  Its amazing how many New Yorkers have never walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, been to the top of the Empire State Building, or ice skated in Rockefeller Center.  My only regret is not going to the crown of the Statue of Liberty (I've been to Liberty Island) or the observation deck of the World Trade Center (I've seen the view from Windows on the World). My suggestion....come up with your own Bucket List and knock out all of the local things first.       

Is Everything Overrated?

There is definitely a relationship between expectations and disappointment.  The more I look forward to something, the more disappointed I get.  I'm learning to trust Yelp less and less (I'll try the most mentioned dishes at restaurants, but it seems like people are easily impressed).  Here are a few lessons that I've learned:

1) You can't go wrong with Pork (pork belly, pork tacos, pork buns, pulled pork, pancetta)

2) You can't go wrong with Brunch (except when you're waiting in the cold for 2 hours on Valentine's Day - I hate you Clinton Street Bakery!)

3) Risotto is an art

4) Just because something has truffle oil in it, doesn't mean its automatically good (I think I might have a truffle oil fetish - along with basil, cilantro, and lemon zest)

5) Alcohol makes every meal better

6) Never rule out eating anything (I used to hate mushrooms and who would have thought that I would have liked pate/foie gras/duck)
7) There's nothing worse than a good meal and a bad dessert

The Top Feels So Much Better Than The Bottom

I haven't gone skiing in a couple of years.  I used to organize day trips with friends to Hunter Mountain, Windham, or Mountain Creek and we always seemed to drive home in blizzard conditions.  I've tried snowboarding once (I did well until the back of my helmet-less head met the slope), but I prefer the control and less demanding nature of skiing.  The rivalry between skiers and snowboarders is fiercer than Team Edward vs Team Jacob.  Personally, I have a pet peeve for the snowboarders who sit lined up, taking up the whole slope (the physics of stopping my 230lb frame going downhill at 30mph is like trying to stop a wave in the ocean).  Anyway, enough about my dislike of hipster snowboarders....

I recently went skiing with friends at Mt. Snow, VT and my rustiness definitely showed.  After "conquering" the bunny slopes, I hopped on the ski lift ready to take on the mountain.  I should have known that things were off to a bad start after I wiped out getting off of the ski lift (first time ever).  I should have checked the slopes map before getting on the 20 minute lift - my only option down was intermediate blue slopes.   There is nothing more humiliating and demeaning than having to walk uphill to retrieve lost skis, trying to put your foot back in the binding, all while sliding downhill.  Did I mention that we went skiing during a heatwave (70 degrees) and I went skiing in a t-shirt and no gloves?  There is nothing more fun than skidding to a stop on your forearms and hearing the most dreaded words ever: "Are you ok?"   That phrase scars more than any pain!  My only saving grace (on Day 2) was the Belgian waffle cabin I found at the bottom of the slopes....mmmm waffles.  

 

Top 10 Movies of the 80's / All-Time

Deciding on the Top 10 movies of the 80's is an impossible task.  The list could  also be interchangeable with the Best Movies of All-Time.  Growing up an 80's baby, they each have a special sentimental value. If I come across them on cable, I'll stop and watch every single time.  Here is my Top 10 in no particular order:

1) The Goonies: quite possibly the best movie of all time.  There is no better kid's adventure movie out! A group of friends face foreclosure from a country club that wants to expand and demolish their homes.  They go on an adventure to find One Eyed Willy's buried treasure and encounter booby traps while being chased by the Fratellis (a family of criminals).  

2) Coming to America: the funniest movie of all time (Eddie Murphy in his prime).  A young African prince comes to the U.S. (Queens, NY) to find his queen.  He was looking for love and pretended to be a pauper to find someone who wanted him for him (not status or riches).  

3) The Karate Kid: the biggest underdog movie.  A high school senior moves with his mom from Newark, NJ to Reseda, CA (how he's not tough enough growing up in Newark, who knows).  He meets a girl and endures beating after beating by her ex-boyfriend and friends. His building's handyman teaches him karate by doing everyday errands repetitively: painting, car washing, and sanding the floor.

4) Ferris Bueller's Day Off: how many of us want to do this every day of our professional lives?  Call out sick, pick up your friend/girlfriend, borrow a ferrari, go to a Cubs game, pretend to be Abe Froman (sausage King of Chicago), and sing in a parade.

5) Back to the Future: this movie put time travel on the map.  A teenager goes back into time (1955) and disrupts his parents from falling in love.  He has to repair their courtship, try not to be erased from existence, and find a way back to 1985. 

6) The Karate Kid II: After Godfather 2, this is the next sequel that beats the original. Can Daniel LaRusso's life get any worse: his girlfriend dumps him, his mom moves to Fresno for work, and he goes to live with his building's handyman (Miyagi).  Miyagi gets news that his father is dying in Japan and Daniel decides to tag along.  While in Japan, Miyagi meets his ex-bestfriend (Sato) and his nephew Chozen who harass them about having no honor (Miyagi fled Japan years ago because he didn't want to fight Sato to the death over a woman).  Any movie with a typhoon, crane dodging, ice block breaking, a tea ceremony, and a fight to the death deserves to be better than the original.       

7) Weird Science: every adolescent/teenage boy's dream - being able to create the girl of your fantasies through a computer.  

8) The Shining: after the Exorcist, this might be one of the scariest movies of all time.  All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.  All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

9) Glory: 5 words: Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington.  If you're not touched by this movie, there is something wrong with you.  There can't always be a happy ending. 

10) A Christmas Story: I watch the movie marathon on TBS every year.  Red Ryder BB gun....you'll shoot your eye out!

Honorable Mention: Scarface (too clique to make the list), Full Metal Jacket (the boot camp scenes are priceless), Stand by Me (didn't have enough gas to make the list), Indiana Jones  series (too hard to pick one because they're all great).

Canyoning for Dummies

Its been a month since coming back from vacation and it feels like its been forever. "Sunday evening depression" sets in once I realize the weekend is over and dreaded Monday morning is approaching. The only thing that keeps me sane is planning the next vacation and looking back on great memories. Here is my favorite memory from Costa Rica:

There were 2 things that I had on my "to do" list: zip lining and whitewater rafting. My girlfriend wasn't excited about either after I "calmed" her nerves by describing how high, fast, and dangerous the activities would be. I didn't have a third excursion planned so I checked the hotel's listings. I came across something called "Canyoning" and it was described as a "trek through the forest on magical trails that lead to some of the most spectacular waterfalls". I thought it was the perfect compromise since the crazier activities were planned for later in the week. We arrive at base camp and the instructors put safety harnesses on us (I figured it was just a safety precaution for the hike). We follow a path and I can hear the slight roar of a waterfall. We stop at a platform and the instructors unpack the wet ropes and drop them over the side (huh!?). The safety instructions went like this: "Are you right handed or left handed? Keep your left hand on the rope above your head and never let go. Your right hand is kept to your side and you let it go slightly to give you slack to go down. Keep your legs bent in front of you at all times" (actual time spent on rapelling instructions: 30 seconds). Translation:

- If you let go of the rope in your left hand, your body will turn and your shoulder will smash into the cliff.
- If you let go of the rope in your right hand, you drop violently until the safety rope kicks in (and you smash into the cliff).
- If you don't keep your legs bent in front of you, you smash into the cliff.

I look over the side and realized the slight roar that I heard before was the waterfall beneath us. I can only see the top of trees below and ask how high the first waterfall was: 160 feet. "OK my friends, who wants to go first?"

Pura Vida in Costa Rica

Pura Vida translates to Pure Life and represents the Costa Rican lifestyle: leisurely, laid back, and enjoying life. With that in mind, I've been planning my vacation to Costa Rica since April. The first week of November was the tail end of rain season and despite raining everyday, we made the best of it. The flight from Newark was 4 hours and 40 minutes and the airport transfer to the resort was a brisk 3 hour drive. We went up and down mountains, on and off road, and ran over every rock in Costa Rica (there was more turbulence on the drive than the flight). We were more than happy to arrive at the Springs Resort & Spa in the Arenal area. The resort was secluded and no where near full capacity since it was off season. It featured 18 pools / natural hot springs and stunning views of the Arenal Volcano (Costa Rica's most active volcano - smoke and lava come out of it daily). The 103 degree hot springs were especially therapeutic after long days of rapelling, zip lining, and white water rafting. The highlight of the trip was learning Pura Vida first hand: leisurely getting up and going to breakfast, learning to be laid back when everyone operated on "Tica" time, and enjoying life with their adrenaline filled activities.

Vampires, Werewolves, and Zombies, Oh My!

Is it me or does every new movie, TV show, or book have a vampire, werewolf, or zombie in it? I recently went to see Zombieland with Woodie Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg (the guy who looks like Michael Cera) - I really went to the movies to see Couple's Retreat with Vince Vaughn, but I was a week early. I noticed nothing but commercials or movie previews featuring one of the three. Let's see....vampires are in New Moon (Twilight series), Trueblood (HBO series), and CW's Vampire Diaries. Werewolves are in New Moon, the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire book series (Trueblood), and Wolfman (new Benecio Del Toro movie). Zombies have always been a favorite of mine (See: Swine Flu = 28 Days Later?) and they are in the parody novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Resident Evil franchise (video games and movies), and Zombieland. I'm starting to wonder if the entertainment industry thinks we're all mindless zombies by using the same recycled formula on the masses (making it a real Zombieland).

Crab, Crab, and More Crab

I recently took advantage of a Starwood promotion (Free Weekend Night) and checked out Baltimore's Inner Harbor. It's nothing like the Seaport in New York City or Penn's Landing - there's definitely plenty more to do. The area is full of museums, an aquarium, chain restaurants (The Cheesecake Factory, ESPNZone, Hard Rock, Hooters, PF Chang's), historical ships, Camden Yards (Orioles), and M&T Bank Stadium (Ravens). Here are a few of the places that I checked out (thanks for the recommendations, Pete):

* Costas Inn: if you're into steamed crabs, this is the place for you. We ordered a dozen extra large blue crabs and the waitress came back with the necessary tools: a brown paper table cover, mallets, a bucket, and plenty of napkins. The crabs come out covered in Old Bay seasoning and its hammer time. After you crack your first two, you develop a system for optimal meat retrieval. Make sure your hotel has a refridgerator if you decide to take leftovers - thanks for nothing Sheraton Hotel (someone almost ended up with a hotel room drawer full of crabs)!
* The Brewer's Art: it's rated the best bar in America by Esquire. I didn't know that until I got there, but I could instantly see why. The rosemary garlic fries and mac and cheese are must haves, their Belgian home brewed beers (Resurrection and Ozzy) are $4.50 for a pint full to the rim, they had my favorite beer (Kwak), and the bartenders are super attentive.
* Blue Moon Cafe: its a great place for brunch if you're patient enough to wait outside for an hour (luckily I was). The Captain Crunch french toast is a diabetic's dream topped with whipped cream and fruit, the bacon is deliciously thick sliced, and the cinnamon bun and biscuits to go were wise choices. I'll definitely be back to try their crab meat omelette.

Is the Madden Curse Real?

I'm not a superstitious person by any stretch of the imagination - I don't toss salt over my shoulder, I step on sidewalk cracks, and I'd probably step on the foul line if I was a baseball player. Despite not believing in superstitions and jinxes, the Madden Curse has been pretty consistent throughout the years. The Madden Curse (similar to the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx) refers to an injury or poor performance of the players featured on the cover of John Madden. Here's a look at some of the players featured on the cover:

2001: Eddie George (injuries and an all time rushing low)
2002: Daunte Culpepper (season ending knee injury)
2003: Marshall Faulk (ankle injury & team missed the playoffs)
2004: Michael Vick (broken leg)
2005: Ray Lewis (torn hamstring)
2006: Donovan McNabb (sports hernia)
2007: Shaun Alexander (broken foot)

2008: Vince Young (leg injury & a dismal 17 interceptions)
2009: Brett Favre (torn biceps tendon which derailed the Jets season)
2010: Troy Polamalu (sprained MCL knee injury)

Hopefully nothing happens to Larry Fitzgerald, who shares the cover with Polamalu on John Madden NFL 10.

Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories: Rick James

I don't think any skit created as many quotable lines as Chappelle's Show - Season 2's Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories: Rick James: "Fuck your couch!", "I'm Rick James, Bitch!", "Cocaine is a helluva drug", "I wish I had more hands", "What did the five fingers say to the face?", etc. Everytime I see it, its like watching it for the first time. Its hard deciding which is the best part: Charlie Murphy's narration, Rick James' interview, Dave Chappelle's acting, or the overall writing. RIP Rick James and hopefully Dave Chappelle will decide to come out of retirement. Video courtesy of Comedy Central.

Blogging 101

I've been blogging for a little over 10 months and its been fun. I started the blog to maintain an online diary of trying to develop a business idea and escape the rat race. I've read everything related to SEO (search engine optimization) and optimizing traffic. I'm learning through a lot of patience and trial and error (you can't get rich overnight). If you're thinking about starting a blog, be sure to write about things that interest you or things that you know a lot about (so you have a constant flow of content). My blog focuses on travel, food, sports, and entertainment (books, movies, TV shows, and music). Here are a couple of suggestions of applications and affiliate programs that I use:

1) Google AdSense: is essential if you are looking to make money online. You get paid based on two formats: CPM (cost per thousand page impressions) and PPC (pay per click). Google AdSense scans your page and places ads according to the content (FYI: real estate, jobs, cars, and personals ads generate the most revenue). It takes time to build consistent traffic, so don't be discouraged.

2) Google Analytics: a free tool which shows you how traffic gets to your page (referring websites, google keywords used), average time spent on your website, most visited pages, and a number of other useful stats. Surprisingly, my most popular blog postings are videos. Reno 911 - I Won the Lotto!" is my most popular link.

3) Amazon Associates: is Amazon.com's affiliate program. If I'm going to reference or promote a book, TV show, or movie, doesn't it make sense to make a commission off of sales? Typical commissions paid are 4%-6%.

4) AddThis: is the most underrated promotion tool (I'm upset that I didn't add it sooner). It allows you to add a "Share It" button so people can bookmark, email, Digg, Delicious, share via Facebook / Twitter, etc. It can get you countless links and it's a simple HTML code.

To promote your blog and drive in traffic, add your link to your email signature, request backlinks on other websites, and promote new blog entries via social networking sites. Stay patient, enjoy yourself, and results will follow.