This and That

Well, I'm back from Georgia. I actually got back late Sunday night but I've been tired and been busy figuring out what needs to be done back here in Ottawa. Note I said figuring out what needs to be done, not doing it. The list is way, way too long.

It doesn't help that it's ridiculously hot and humid in Ottawa, though from the sound of things I misses the worst of it. It's actually been about the same as the weather I had down south with the difference that every place I stayed down there was air conditioned. None of this 'too hot and humid to sleep' nonsense.

My trip was fantastic and ended with a weekend wedding in Knoxville at an old Confederate headquarters. The outdoor wedding was hot but manageable and the people were great. An Ottawa friend married a Southern girl so it was an interesting mix of guests. The southerners and Canadians mixed well and Meg and I met some great people. How small is the world? A  former teacher of the bride from Knoxville knows Tyson Clabo's family. Tyson was a standout football player at Wake and was just named All-Pro in NFL Europe. He also happens to be a good friend of one of my grad school colleagues.

As for the food reviews I promised, here are the highlights:

1. A 'half rack' of ribs along with a generous side of rice and beans plus an in-house brewed pint for $9.95 at Copper Creek Brewing Company. Their half rack was as big as any full rack I've had in Ottawa and was twice as good. No knives necessary and the meat slid off of the bones.
2. Chicken biscuits from Chik-fil-A make an awesome breakfast.
3. Hardee's burgers are great. Their service in Athens, Tenn was absolutely awful. I waited in line for 15 minutes before my order was taken. This was at noon on a Sunday and there were all of three people in front of me. Yes, they're the people that put out the Paris Hilton ad.
4. Black pepper jack Doritos are very, very good. So are Baby Ruth bars.

Comments

[Steve]

And they don't sell Baby Ruths in Canada? Maybe the scene in Caddyshack kept them out of the country.

[Steve]

Carl Jr.'s (a Western chain) bought Hardees (a Southern chain) about 10 years ago. Hank Williams Jr. was the face of Hardees before; now it's the star logo of Carl Jr's.

And I'm pretty sure you and I could become rich men if we could determine a way to ship Chick-Fil-A chicken biscuits north of the border without them going stale. The ex ate them like they were necessary for survival.

[Ben]

Google tells me that it's the same chain- it goes by Carl Jr in NC and Virginia, Hardee's everywhere else.

[Ben]

Well, go to the Hardee's website and the commercial is there in various sizes and formats. Maybe they own Carls Jr or are owned by the same parent company.

[Dennis]

Actually Paris Hilton did an ad for Carls Jr, not Hardees. Wow. It's really, really sad that i know that.