This seems rather odd....

Since it was such an important part of yesterday's entry and we are approaching that Summery time of year I thought I'd post this fine fruit salad recipe. I take this all the time when I'm invited over to the Jeffersons for a festive outing in the country.

"I'd like to buy a game to give my married niece, I know she likes to play games." " Also, it can't be anything that she could buy at K-Mart or Target or any thing like that, you don't sell games that they sell there, right?" "Yes, most of what we sell you won't be able to buy in large chains, let me pick out a few things you think she might like." "How about this game called Lost Adventure its our most popular two player game, it's about starting and completing jungle explorations to gain the highest point totals...everyone seems to like it quite alot, maybe its something she could play with her husband?" "She likes cards but is the game complicated?" "Her husband is a nice person, but he's not too bright and can't seem to carry on a conversation, that looks too hard for him, I don't think she married him for anything upstairs if you know what I mean." I start visibly laughing, she does too, so I know it's alright. "Well then how about this game, its called Halli Galli, its about making a fruit salad with different fruit cards and hitting this bell when you are completed, its supposedly alot of mad fun, its for 2-6 players and its for ages 6+. "Ohh...Halli Galli, I like the sound of that, so you use the cards to make fruit salad..how very fun sounding, so very Summery, they live in the country and I know that they like to eat fruit salad out there in the warm weather." "Do you think that the game will be too easy?" "No, it will be just perfect, given what you have told me about her husband I think it will be just right, besides when you sit down to play a game who wants to think, you just what to have fun!" "Right, right, one more thing, I know they have an Afro-American couple for friends that they may play this game with, you don't think this game will offend them will it?" "Sometimes you can't be so sure when you buy certain things that you may be offending a certain race or lifestyle..if you now what I mean." I start laughing again, almost fall to the floor laughing, she starts laughing too, almost falls with me, I realize I'm being unprofessional and get both of us up. Other customers are starting to wonder what the hubbub about, and also start smirking. "I think this game will be just fine, unless they have some type of fruit hang-ups, phobias, or issues above the average person..I think it will make the perfect Summery fruit salad card game with a bell that they can confidently play with their Afro-American friends...really" "Great, I'm sold, I'll buy it!"

A small scouting party of ants are trying hard to get into the contents of my cherry red cold syrup...could it be that they have tiny ant colds or are they drawn to the intense sugary scent...or both?

Ha!..now I will be able to navigate labyrinths and difficult terrain with my Robotic Rats and my army of Giant Stinking Plants will be seen by curious visitors from around the world...

Dining Advisory: Last weekend I went to Red Lobster and spent way too much money on way too mediocre food. The only good thing for me was the beer(Corona) and some alright biscuits...everything else was real ordinary and less for the price. Three of the four of us felt the same, except for the person who wanted to go in the first place(this person has been placed on food advise probation). The place was extremely busy and there was a line as we were leaving...I don't understand why people LOVE this place..but it seems they do...I will not be returning for a long time if I can help it...

Feeling used, bruised and generally beat up from retail con action this past weekend, not to mention sick. The way too cold climate control of the facility along with the thousands of participantes walking about usually results in me getting some type of bug each year, but I think I'm feeling better already. While having the Great American eggs/bacon/pancakes breakfast this morning, I egged on a university policewoman to go for the Feta cheese in her omelette, she was waffling, but I was able to convince her. After a few bites she thanked me profusely for the suggestion. I left happy knowing I had brought another human being closer to the joys of Feta. After breakfast I went to buy some books, something really amusing, something gothic and something historical.

Richard: I'll not bother you because I realize you are in "convention" mode. I know that means you'll be drinking alot of coffee and sleeping with creators this weekend..so I'll just leave you alone..ok...

Akbar was succeeded by his son Salim, who took the title of Jahangir. In his reign (1605-1627), Jahangir consolidated the gains made by his father. The courtly culture of the Mughals flourished under his rule; like his great grand-father, Babar, he had an interest in gardens, and Mughal painting probably reached its zenith in Jahangir's time.

Last Trip: Get up and get some steak, eggs and some blueberry pancakes as my last hotel meal. Back at my room I finally notice the Cleveland City Visitor magazine setting on the coffee table, on the cover Jeweled Arts of India in the Age of the Mughals. I've always been a fan of the Mughal empire(really, I'm not kidding)....maybe my next trip. Check out with enough time to get train out, call cab. Along the way I chitchat with the driver, look at his dashboard clock, I notice its about one hour later than it should be then it hits me.....aaarrrrghhhdamn damngrrrsonavabitchgggrrr fuckingdaylightsavingtime imafuckingidiotgrrr.....driver tries to get me in on time but when you want the train to be late, it is of course, right on schedule...which means I missed it. Switch gears to Greyhound station which has a bus going out in about two hours which really isn't too bad. I buy my ticket. The Cleveland station is large and busy with ordinary people moving to all points. Metro Security is all over the place, I decide to cool my jets with some $1.27 Greyhound coffee as I take in the activity and the artdeco look of this big station. The Greyhound coffee isn't as good as the Amtrak coffee but I guess I'm drinking it. Lots of people of all types, lots of different bags and luggage, lots of different stories I'm sure. The Greyhound logo is everywhere but there is a Leader of the pack mega-sized hound icon hanging high above the others and looking down on all of us ordinary people...I think I feel safe...I start to get in line for the trip. Metro Security is actually checking bags...I hope my SHIELD clearance will explain the large rawhide tossing bone I have packed away...he checks me next...woo...I'm safehaha. Our driver checks our tickets as we get on, he looks like an old salt with this routine sporting his Greyhound uniform. I'm on and the people just keep on coming..till we're completely full. Large black woman with heavy red coat braves to set next to me, she holds on to her small purse for dear life. We start out leaving Cleveland behind, I try to sleep as much as I can, I think everybody else has the same idea. The trip back seems to go much faster and I find myself arriving at the home station in good time. A very very good trip and it's good to be back with everything intact..

More Trip: Wake up to participate in hotel's breakfast buffet, then cab off to the Lakewood Civic Auditorium to attend the 2002 NPC Natural Ohio prejuding. Get there early so decide to scout about for a good cup of coffee. I stumble upon Madison ave/st check out Madison Trash, used t-shirts and stuff and My Minds Eye, indie record store. Both are closed, seem very hip and remind me of some places I know back home. My jodar homes me into Mudslide on Madison, a very cool looking place, I have a house roast in a large cobalt blue mug which is very good...I'll be back. I return to the auditorium for the prejudging that moves quickly through the various classes accompanied by eighties pop hits on repeat loop. Thirteeen member judging panel guzzles bottled water and chomps protein bars like there's no tomorrow, all while joting down the scores of the athletes. The level of the competitors is pretty high for this show, looks like the men's finals will be between a certain lightweight and light heavyweight ..we'll see what happens. Cab back to the hotel for a little rest, return for the early evening final show. Promoter Dave Liberman does a great job as mc, keeps the large crowd engaged. The main guest poser of the evening was Greg Rando, the 2001 NPC Team Universe Overall Champion. Greg suffers with a degenerating eye disease that makes him legally blind, which makes his accomplishment even the more incredible. Greg was the bigest object on stage that night and got through his routine with no problem at all. The men finals was won by super ripped and sized lightweight Justin Wilcox over the gigantic light heavyweight Jeremiah Forster. A rare judging call of a lighter weight class beating out the big guys... at the announcement the heavy and light heavyweight overalls looked more than fairly disappointed. Shows over and I have a little trouble getting a cab so I decide to walk back to Mudslide to get another jo and call from there. At Mudslide an off duty employee named Ray overhears me asking about calling for a cab and volunteers to drive me back to my hotel. I felt that it would probably be ok since this guy worked here..right?!hah! I get my coffee to go and Ray shows me to his jeep that I notice has multiple American flag stickers of different sizes all over, I'm guessing to ward off any lurking terrorists. Along the way Ray talks about how people should be nicer to one another and how his bonding trip to Las Vegas with his four brothers was a complete diasaster. Ray gets me back to my hotel without killing me like I thought might happen and begrudgingly takes payment. Catch SNL before passing out...great MTV4 skit with japanese girl band..hahah..ha...ssnnorrree...snnoorree.....

More Trip: Fortythree rolls into the station and grinds to a halt, I grab carry on and trundle out to the waiting area. Once inside I take on my usual confused state but I am quickly snapped out of it by Cleveland Uber blogger Jocko. It was great to finally meet Jim in the real world, he was immediately super friendly and all smiles from the get go, a very nice greeting after the trip. Jim was good enough to leave work early to pick me up and get me to my hotel. We start talking about stuff as Jim points out city sculptures of interest while weaving through downtown. We pass an immense Civil War style memorial that looks unbelieveable. After a little confusion on directions but good talk along the way, we get to my hotel. Once settled in Jim recommends eats at an asian place and we pick up his friend Dave to join us. Switching to Dave's silver vw bug we arrive at the Minh Anh restaurant. Good food, very nice conversation, my grilled chicken was delicious, tried some tasty beef cinnamon soup, this was a great place to eat. Jim gets me back to my hotel through near blinding lake effect snow storm. Very nice of Jim to get me orientated in Cleveland, truly a top-notch guy, it was great yaking about stuff and having good asian eats. A little tired, I call it an early evening.

The trip: Amtrak station waiting for #43 to show up. Watch large woman carefully open about four different small snack chips/curls/pretzel bags one at a time into larger plain potato chip bag. After depositing the contents of each one into the larger bag she shakes it up. She is obviously a high priestess of snacking, who am I to judge? Two well dressed goon types show up lookin around for something or someone, after awhile one plays a coin operated pistol shooting game, I'm thinking how perfect. Call for #43 puts me into action, leaving my priestess and pluggers. Passing the Amtrak engines never ceases to impress me, nearly unstoppable mechanical power forgotten in the 21st century. Finally onboard I'm offered a very small and very soft pillow to assist my dozing. The trip starts and the little pillow I secretly scoffed at works quite well as I get back some of the sleep I missed last night. The quickly passing outside is snowy and grey with sunbeams occasionally cracking through. Cafe car two cars behind opens up, excuse for me to try Amtrak coffee along with premade ham/turkey half sandwich with Pepperidge Farm oatmeal cookies. I curl up with a complimentary USA Today, read about the world falling apart..good coffee..I get another in the nice Amtrak paper cup. Back to roomy seat, hardly anyone onboard, agreeable warm temperature, pull out trip book, knock off a few chapters...soon see the cityscape of Cleveland on the horizon....

New stuff..looking forward to playing Justice League of America Monopoly sometime...really cool JLA version of a tried and true classic...nice metal tokens of all the best known members and great renderings of all the characters on the board and box..very sharp looking...and yes I'll buy Green Lantern's power battery for $150.00...

Jerry made the comment today that no one around here(work) every gets reprimanded for anything...he's right...its a damn circus around here...the boss needs to get his head examined...but at the end of the day the staff gets the job done...and that's what matters..despite the chaos...the staff is golden.

Four Corronas, nice cheese and crackers at small farewell party for store going out of business. Store is a street institution that has been selling great international stuff for some 28 years...amazing operation...can't believe it's really closing...it will be missed. Owner is a truely great man who I will miss seeing on a daily bases...I wish him great luck with his upcoming writing and photography projects...I think whatever he does it will be just great...

Stop that man with the razor.. he's really going to hurt himself this time....shower...shave(badly as usual..blood a common sight)..monkey suit...Dale coaches me on tie length..last minute adjustment...free ticket finds me at the opera to see Madama Butterfly. Packed house..have to confess to nodding off a bit in the first act despite fine vocals...slam down some needed coffee at intermission...more awake for act two..intense aria by Butterfly.. title of this piece escapes me now...story goes down hill for our gal who gives it all up at the end..large falling red drapery...

Charles Mingus background for preworkout coffee..good...George Benson played at gym instead of regular techno inferno..good...unusual compliment given by other gym member for amount of poundage on lat pulldowns which really isn't that much in my opinion....nice...good...all in all good strong paced gym time with bis, back and legs...lots of cold rain on the walk back...not so good...probably will get sick...worse...my collection of umbrellas never where I need them..what's with that?

I just got back from visiting the Lobster Man's villa. I brought along some Somoas girl scout cookies to hopefuly make a non-verbal friendship offering, but all lights were out, with no LM to be seen...I guess he must be sleeping. Sleep Lobster Man sleep.....