Watched "Hey Boo, Harper Lee & To Kill a Mockingbird"

I started reading comics when I was in 6th and 7th grade I started out as a poor reader, my reading was that of a third grader.  Comics however taught me to enjoy reading it was about that time I discover "The Hobbit" and Dungeons and Dragons, which to play that game reading and math become important.  Over all I still did not enjoy schooling yes my reading improved but I still had to repeat 7th grade, so with two years of that grade plus 8th and 9th reading became an obsessive thing to me. When I got to tenth grade I had and English class and in that class we had a required reading book "To Kill a Mockingbird" at this time I was more interested in fantasy literature and science fiction it was real hard for me to actually open this book to read it because it may have been a fiction writing but it was base on the real world.  When I finally read that first chapter I found myself unable to put that book down I then devoured it a second time before we were tested on this book.

When it came to the day of testing I dreaded it because at this time I did horrible on test and the teacher stated she would grade us on a curve because of how hard the test was, "No ever got an "A" on this test." She handed out the test and we all took it finished it and handed it in. It was Friday so we had to wait until Monday came around after the weekend.  I remember feeling I had done alright on the test not very confident though since I usually got a "D" just passing tests. On Monday when we got to class our teacher said she had bad news as I stated earlier she was grading the test on a curve but now that curve was busted. The good news was that for the first time someone in class had gotten all the questions right everyone one, and that the essay was the most informative essay she had read on "To Kill a Mockingbird" from a student.  Because the curve was busted everyone who would have received "A's" received "B's" and only one person was getting an "A". The person with the next most right out of a 100 questions only had 95 question correct while only one person had all questions correct.  I remember everyone looking at Beth our best student in class an "A" student all the time. My classmates started harassing Beth lightly and in jest well at least most of them some just moaned.  Our teacher quickly interrupted us and said, "Beth, I am sorry but you scored 95 out of 100."  Then I remember her looking at me and she said, "Eric, you got every question correct."  It was the first time I had ever felt real good in school not out of place. I also started applying myself in all my classes and by the time I graduated I was a bronze honor student.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" is perhaps the greatest American novel I have ever read and holds a firm place in my heart.

Welcome to MOE'S!

I lived in Florida for a bit and there were two restaurants I frequented one was Chipotle and the other was Moe's. We all know about Chipotle in Minnesota and the're are many who love that restaurant for it's comfort food and perhaps some who don't. Now we finally and I say finally it's about time we got Moe's in Minnesota (2101 West 80th St Bloomington, MN 55420). When you walk you get a very friendly greeting every-time. "Welcome to Moe's!"

Moe's has quite a bit to offer and the chips and queso are a must also they have their own sauce bar.  I told my friend who also lived in Florida that Moe's has arrived and he is already salivating at the mouth.

I went to Moe's on Wednesday and was greeted with that fantastic greeting and it made my day so stop in and say hello, enjoy a burritto.  Say hi to the crew.

Mayo and Beer

I am sitting and Stumbling at B&N after my Interview and stumbled across this analogy of what's important in life. I agree with it entire in fact loved it so much I wanted to share the link of where I discovered it.  Mayo and Beer

Bellagio and the Amazing Chocolate Fountain and Dragon at Aria

Two weeks ago while in Las Vegas, I went for a walk with my girlfriend @MNMissy aka Darla and got the chance to view the amazing chocolate fountain created by Jean-Philippe Patisserie.  To say it was amazing was an understatement and the pictures I have do it very little justice, should you find yourself in Vegas you must go.

White, medium and dark confectionary grade chocolate 

 27 foot high chocolate fountain with 2,100 pounds of melted flowing chocolate to tempt us.  

Then  a day later we went over to Aria and saw the second marvel "THE DRAGON". 

Karl Foster Fundraiser

I was going to put a footnote in the last post that I bumped into another acquaintance, Lisa (Smitty) Smith, but it turned out that perhaps I should give her her own post.

Lisa I met while I worked at Chatterbox Pub up in Linden Hills, MN.  Lisa is a frequent guest of the restaurant.  As I was leaving CRAVE I saw her and decided to say hi as it turned out it was a good thing because she just got done working a fundraiser to help her brother.

Lisa's brother Karl Foster was diagnosed with a brain tumor back in May of this year and on top of that they found he had Cushings disease also.  Lisa is holding a benefit to help raise money to cover   medical and living expenses while her brother recovers from brain surgery.


I figured while sitting at Starbucks I would spread the word for her and her brother. Below are the flyer and more info should you wish to help out or if your in Bloomington, MN on Sunday, October 7th perhaps you want to go to the benefit.

Benefit info

RedRossa Italian Grille

1901 Kilebrew Drive Bloomington, MN

For details visit 

Karl Foster Fundraiser

To purchase Tickets please Contact

Lisadangersmith@gmail.com or 612-730-9814

Or inside Axel's Bonfire in MSP Airport

$15 Advance/$20 at Door

If unable to attend you can donate at any USBANK (there's one on the ticketing level of MSP Airport ) and deposit under "Karl Foster Fundraiser" account.

If anyone can donate items or services for a silent auction that would also be much appreciated! Please Contact Me!

What I CRAVE

My earlier post "My Starbucks" I talked about going to well to Starbucks to has some delicious coffee and to people watch.  Well the place I chose to go to Starbucks was the Mall of  America it has two of them besides if I wanted to go walk around and it was a great place to choose.

When I got to the MOA I was hungry so I thought maybe I would go to Chipotle, instead I walked past a restaurant called CRAVE.  I have been to CRAVE many times since I have friends who work there a few servers and a chef who was my executive chef while I was the sous chef at OM restaurant, which later I became executive chef of.

I made the decision to go to CRAVE since they have a great small plates happy hour from 3pm to 6pm.  What a great choice it was the Kogi Beef tacos were delicious with a side of beer, I ended up having to sets of those tacos, one set being comped.  I got to talk with Amanda one of the friends I talked about and Jaime Sierra the Chef I mentioned.

Here's some photos.

Beer and Kogi Beef Tacos

Close-up of Tacos

My Starbucks

I have tweeted about it and blogged about Starbucks often and here I go again.

I have a huge passion about Starbucks I think about sitting at the stores and having a delicious dark roast all the time.  Is that insane and obsessive I even get upset when people talk down about Starbucks, so don't talk down about them in my presence please.

Today I need to go off and spend some time there people watching.  MMMMM Starbucks coffee.

LOVE