mysteries of the universe, part 1.

You can't buy parsnips if you try to go through the self-check out line at the grocery store-

they don't have one of those little pictures on the select your produce screen- weird?! You can of course purchase parsnips, I suppose we have always gone through the checker check-out lines and the cashier types in the code for it. But if you are trying to do the self-check out, we found out they don't have a listing for it. Does no one buy parsnips?

They're probably looking at us like we're such troublemakers...freaks... buying parsnips, bringing their own bags, crazy...

Also I tried these unsulphured dried mangoes I got at the co-op and they were gross! :( How sad...they smelled fairly gross, oddly like cheese, and didn't taste good at all! I love mangoes and I used to buy these delicious dried mangoes at the co-op in Pgh, they sold them in the bulk bin. I bought these unsulphured ones at the co-op here in a package and they really were awful. Anyone know why? I don't know anything about the fruit-drying process but why were these so yucky? They didn't even taste remotely like mangoes... Sigh I guess eating FRESH mangoes right off the tree last summer in Tobago really spoils you.

Spring has Sprung, Liberty Man persists, and one fish, bad fish

Well, in case everyone wanted weather updates, Spring has returned to us, thankfully. It took a brief siesta there, went into hiding, hit us with last-minute cold snap & snow, but then returned, in full-standing to real honest Spring weather. It's such a relief and such an oddity, it's like you'd forgotten what grass looks like under those snow piles for the last 4 months and what it's like to go outside and not freeze.
In downtown, the Liberty Tax man still walks his beat. Up and down Main Street. I really have to wonder how effective this advertising campaign is. Is someone just meandering around downtown, perhaps on their lunch break, thinking, huh, I was going to do my taxes MYSELF but that Liberty Man makes a compelling argument for using a tax service. When I see him in his Statue of Liberty get-up, I want to go there and have someone do my taxes for me.

On to the fish... bought some cod at the local supermarket, which in previous experiences has been very tasty. And without opening it up and immediate refrigeration, it turned rank and spoiled, before eating/preparing it! What's up with that? Fortunately the store was eager to make amends and take it back and return the money spent. Maybe it swam up the Skunk River...

Real live gelato, artisan coffee, moderately warm temps and Mr. Pammel*

For every up there is a down and vice versa. First, it is a lovely, nearly balmy, 14 deg out. With little to no wind, that is downright pleasant. The sun is shining and reflecting very brightly off the snow. It's a nice break from the frigid icicle temperatures of below zero.
Everything being relative and all.
Even though Old George's was lacking in authenticity and goodness with its mediocre fare, there is a very nice coffee & gelato place. It features some interesting flavors of gelato which is very good.
And locally roasted coffee. It also promises " we don't just brew coffee, we create experiences. Every person brings their own personal expression to their enjoyment of this ancient drink."
Calling Hallmark cards... okay well that is a bit over-the-top, but still a nice oasis in the sea of $tarbux and that kinda generic crap.
Also got to talk to the owner/guy at Pammel's, the international market...

*Not his real name but do not at this time know his name.

Restroom's, The Revenge of Old George, Rubrics, Hockey and dog shows

Someone had told me (names omitted to protect the innocent) that there was a place that had some Greek/Middle Eastern food. I thought said person(s) actually said "good" Greek food but who knows, maybe I was imagining that. I had asked if there was any place you could get Greek food here. Apparently there is a pizza place that also has some Greek items. Sounded promising. Or at least plausible. There is a place called "Old George's". Oddly it used to be very close by and now is in West Ames.
Okay...so first, it is just a sort of crappy looking pizza place, but you know sometimes these places turn out to be good. One of my more recent favorites in Pgh was a very small storefront restaurant that had some excellent Middle Eastern food. But um, anyway back to the story at hand. This place is actually a pizza place that happens to have gyros. And not very good gyros. The kind that when you eat them, later they will be kicking around your stomach for hours. Protesting. Which leads to point #3 or so. Rubrics. Also the pizza looked pretty nasty but I'm not really the best judge of that since I don't like *most* pizza that much.
How do you consider ratings/opinion polls? I tend to be skeptical. Skeptical that I will agree and I think they are sort of meaningless unless you know how the other person(s) are rating them and what their standards are. For instance, people thought this place had some great food. If their standards were High Grease and Will make you feel slightly ill, then yep, 4 stars.
Anyhow.... it's always an adventure. The other strange thing we noted is there was this sign:
Restroom's
Yes, apostrophe "S". Not to be the grammar police but why the apostrophe? The sign belongs to the restroom? Or the restrooms? In which case, wouldn't it be restrooms'?

We also checked out a Cyclones hockey game which was packed and I gotta say, sorta exciting for a while. Of all the sports which I have no interest in, I think hockey actually comes out ahead, since it is fast and easy to watch. But it seemed to be a pretty uneven bout, what with the ISU team trouncing the Hawkeyes (Univ of Iowa) and leading 6-0 at the end of the 2nd period.

What else is there to say?