ETJB

Pretty good, huh?

Monday, March 28, 2005

False Prophets

You read some thoughtful essays regarding the lady in Florida, especially about the true feelings of the protesters.

Then you realize that your gut feeling was dead on right.

thanks to reader AT.

UPDATE: AT brings
more
.

Thursday, March 24, 2005

Sweet 16

I still have all 4 with 11/16 remaining.
Of course, I didn't bet this year. Just the free one in the Washington Post.
So lame.
Of course, I feel the bottom may be starting to drop out....

10 of Clubs Beats What?

Well, for the 2nd time in my short but fabled career, the person that hired me, my boss, has "disappeared" after three months on the job.

Last time this happened, I parlayed the circumstance into a nine and a half year run.

In this case, my boss’s boss has also "vanished". Of course, my boss’s boss’s boss was already scheduled to leave.

This seems to me to be even more wide open.

Compassion and unknown factors aside: pretty good, huh?

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Delay Update

Good.

Better.

PRAY for this to be the tipping point.

I'm Impressed

Bill Clinton's alma mater producing future leaders.

Monday, March 21, 2005

$2 Subs

When I worked in Rockville in the 90s, the job sucked so bad. But the highlight of every day was trolling the Pike for a big fatboy lunch. One of my favorites was Ba Le Vietnamese Deli. They had an assortment of subs on French bread. Inside were grilled meats or coldcuts (usually pork—ham or pate) with fixings of chopped fresh, uncooked veggies including HOT pepper, radish, scallion, and a sprig of cilantro. They had a vegetarian version. Totally yummy. So good and cheap, go ahead and get two.

This weekend, Mrs. ETJB and I trekked to Eden Center out 50 in VA. If you’ve never been there, you should go. I’ve been out there a few times and gone to the market and ate at one of the Pho places. Don’t be afraid of the gang warnings; just buy your spraypaint somewhere else. And don’t look at anyone’s girlfriend funny. It’s like you are transplanted for a minute in Saigon. I wish I could go to Eden Center with someone who knew more about what was going on…but we did all right.

We stumbled around for a while, checking out an herb doctor and all the different stuff in a market, when I saw a couple of signs for Vietnamese Deli. We went in and procured a couple of those subs. Mrs. ETJB went for the grilled chicken; I had the ham. Same story: great sandwiches, just the right amount of hot. The bread was not too hard, but crispy enough to make a mess. And still only $2.

I had assumed that the Vietnamese learned to cook French bread from, well, the French in the early 60’s before we got there. But a friend says, that may not be the case.

Here’s the link to Song Que. A bigger attraction at this place was the bubble drinks. We didn’t get one, but most everyone else did. There’s at least one other Vietnamese deli out there that I am sure is just as good.

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Must Be Feelin the Heat

Why else would he say something like:

"You may or may not believe this, but I don't have stress," he said. "I don't worry about things. I try to do my job and, sure, I don't like what I read -- nobody does. But . . . it doesn't bother me. I stay focused on my job."

Methinks he protests too much.

Uh-huh

What did I tell you yesterday?

EJ Dionne must be reading this blog:
Reed, a public opponent of the spread of casinos, profited from a battle between Indian gambling interests. Reed has insisted that in opposing one casino group, he was being consistent with his public position. He also says he didn't know that his fees came from gambling proceeds, though he does acknowledge that he knew of Abramoff's connection to the tribes.

I didn't know where the money was coming from. Riiight.

Monday, March 14, 2005

Skumbag Alert

Tom "Hot Tub" DeLay is having his problems. The Post explained it in a Sunday article this way:
1. He used his christian friends--Ralph Reed and James Dobson--to pressure lawmakers against a favorable ruling for a gambling interest (an Indian tribe).

2. He used the money paid to these lobbyists from a rival Indian gambling interest to redistrict Texas (amongst other things--giving the House more Republican members).
So, fake christian outrage when convenient or profitable, pocket money for the favor, and increase your power. O and pay for a trip to England.

BTW, I always thought Christians were against gambling, period. I guess Bill "Elmer Gantry" Bennett probably wouldn't agree. Hey, I thought they were against war too! I wasn't paying attention somewhere....

Anyway, all the best to you, Tom. May you get what you deserve.

Monday, March 07, 2005

Spring yet?

1. Two doves in the tree outside our window yesterday afternoon.
2. Tax papers waiting to be signed and mailed.
3. Grilling last night.
4. No coat this morning.
5. Last of the snow finally melting.

I want to go outside!

UPDATE: How fortunate! A 10 block, mid-morning errand presented itself....