Traveling Meat from Memphis

The last few trips to Memphis have included dinner at this very good BBQ place. I was excited to see they were freezing their meat for convenient travel. According to the friendly proprietor, it is damn good. I think that is as good a testament as any considering it is meat bought in an airport.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Eric Has Left the Building

This picture of the airport Elvis store cash register in Memphis is my last opportunity to buy overpriced memorabilia of the King. My project here is over and I will not miss the crqppy airport. Thank you very much...
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

The Perfect Caja China Accessory

It is now a proper appliance.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

The Assembled Caja China

The final product looks just as advertised. I even have a magical rake to rake the coals. Notice the accessory on the side...another picture is coming.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Caja China Assembly

The Caja China super pig cooker arrived yesterday in 2 giant boxes that my lovely wife had to drag up the hill. Like a kid at Christmas I had to begin assembly immediately so I can begin learning the ins and outs of the magical chinese box. I only have 3 months to rehearse for the pig party!
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

I am Dagwood

I am working from home for a few days and making lunch is generally an adventure of leftovers but I was inspired and made such a beautiful sandwich of turkey and buffalo pastrami that I had to take a picture. For those of you who don't know who Dagwood is, he is a cartoon character who liked to make sandwiches that were taller than him. A strange premise and pop culture reference but at least I didn't reference Alf's love of eating cats.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Illogical Crown Club - Ft. Lauderdale

I do not understand how Miami can have the crappiest closet of a Crown Club but the airport 25 miles north can have one of the biggest and nicest. It is 4x the size of Miami and has some decent draft beers and amenities. I don't pretend to understand Delta's logic.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Blue Anchor - Steak and Stilton Pie

Pretty darn good and authentically British with a nice cask conditioned IPA. The puff pastry and tastes all melded together very well. Who woulda thunk it?
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Blue Anchor Facade

The menu states that 2 of Jack the Ripper's last victims spent their last evening on earth here. I am not sure if that is a good or bad thing.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Blue Anchor

When in Boca Raton most people would have seafood on the intercoastal but not me - I found a relocated original British pub that was frequented by Winston Churchill.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Posters of FL

The elevator in the Embassy Suites has to show these old tourist posters to lull people into forgetting they are staying at an interstate hotel.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

My View of Boca

I know you are jealous that I have a good view of the Amtrak train and I-95. I stay at the best places when I travel and the Embassy Suites with its' 1982 architecture of stucco and clay tile does not disappoint.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

E is for Eh

I am at the Embassy Suites in Boca Raton, FL. I am sad I missed the festivities of the Jewish Republicans. It looked like they were counting ballots. Very impressive...
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Atlanta Airport Art Review

I always pass the African art exhibit walking to the terminals and have never stopped to see the art. It is pretty impressive even if nobody else stops to see it. If anything, it strikes me how many of the artists died before they turned 40 and how the display makes a institutional tunnel seem a little nicer. They should put more in between the other terminals and I recommend they display nothing but muppets. They have a few in the international terminal but I think seeing Ernie or Elmo would make my walk to lost luggage and bad traffic more fun.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Jim Gaffigan Show

We went to his stand up show at the Cobb Energy Center and had a nice time. The crowd was mixed and even though we were seated in the stratosphere, it was funny to hear his stories about bacon, hot pockets, and napping. I would highly recommend his humor to people who like to laugh.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Salt Lake City Delta Crown Club Beer Review

In addition to comfortable facilities, they have a couple of nice microbrews here in "the club". In addition of some of the Park City ones in draft (pictured), they have a nice Czech beer in a bottle. I had read they were getting a beer sommelier and it seems to be finally paying off.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Salt Lake City Delta Crown Club - Overall Review

In my continuing series of reviews of the airport clubs, I think I have found the best one ever. It is very lodge-like and has ample space to relax unlike the closets in some parts of Atlanta and Miami. Maybe the mormons have not seen this place yet. I think they even have caffeine - uh oh.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Airport Brewpub with a Sense of Humor

We went to a small brewpub in the Delta terminal called Squatters. I was afraid being in Utah that the beer would be under 3 percent per state law but they actually had some good brews including an organic amber, a pilsner, and a funny porter (as shown). Lunch was also surprisingly good with Cheryl getting some ahi tacos and me getting a pita. If you are ever stuck in Salt Lake airport I highly recommend this joint.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Bye-Daho

We are headed to the land of Mitt Romney and the Osmonds to fly home but we will miss Idaho the most. They have the best sense of humor, great beer, and sheep stampedes. We drove by the Idaho Potato Museum but we were too early to see it. Looking at their website they have educational potato displays and the world's largest potato chip. That probably would have been a highlight of the trip but we must press on...
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Goodbye Jackson Hole

This picture from the downtown area is a nice reminder of our trip. We enjoyed the whole week and feel very wildernessy. Hiking, fighting sheep and bison, and hanging out in a beautiful cabin was a relaxing trip but we are ready to come home.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Loaf and Jug

We saw this gas station all over Jackson Hole and liked the name. We were sadly disappointed about the lack of Loaf and/or Jug souvenirs.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Moose Junction

This tiny reststop ended up being one of the best foodie locations in Wyoming. A wine store and grocery named Dornan's had a great selection of wine and beer, a grocery store making fresh sandwiches and cookies, and gasoline to boot. Everything you need in a tiny junction halfway between Jackson Hole and Grand Teton.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Average Beer, Below Average Pretzel

Against my better judgment and the great brewery in Idaho's lukewarm recommendation, we made it to the Snake River Brewery Restaurant in Jackson Hole. With a few exceptions, breweries cannot do beer and food well - one or the other suffers and in this rare occasion, both suck. Of the seven beer samples, I could only find one palatable and could only drink about a sip of the other six. We did not have a meal here instead opting for a pretzel that looks and tasted like it came from a recently completed summer carnival. Not good at all......
Overall, if you want anything here, the water is OK. As I write this I am waiting on the apathetic wait staff to get me the check. Please avoid this place like a rabid raccoon.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Fur Pouch

I went ahead and spent the extra ten dollars for the tail.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Classy Souvenirs

I need one of these to show my mockery of raccoons and squirrels.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Bison Crossing Picture

Not as great a picture as the sheep but the bison attack in Yellowstone was much scarier. Since it was nighttime we only have this sasquatch style picture but it was the best we could do. Please reference the dramatic recreation to get a better sense of the experience.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Sheep Video - By Popular Demand

This is the footage of the sheep attack. Many Plog readers have wanted to share in the sounds of the stampede and I am delivering. Cheryl shot this great footage and while it did not capture the sheep running into the car, it definitely shows the magnitude of the sheep attack. Enjoy!

Happy in a Cabin

After two nights in a beautiful historic lodge without a private bathroom and another two nights in a 1970's cottage with a beautiful view, it is nice to be in a great cabin with a hot tub, kitchen, toilet, etc. We plan on sitting on the plush couch drinking good beer and wine (as shown) and recovering from the sheep stampede so if the posts are less exciting (i.e. sheep, bison, rock climbing, moose sightings).
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Victor Emporium

Pretty cool general store complete with huckleberry milkshakes, rubber roaches, and work gloves. I love these small town joints with a sense of humor.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Grand Teton Brewery

This was about 15 miles west of Jackson Hole and they have some nice brews for such a small place. My favorite was a Sweetgrass Double IPA I had to get a growler of (GA take note of how cool it is to take beer home from a brewery). I was always find brewers to be the salt of the earth and these malt covered guys were as real as they get.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Sheep Stampede

On our way to Idaho to visit the Grand Teton Brewing Company we were told by a flagger to slow down thinking it was road construction. Little did we know we would be surrounded by over 500 sheep trying to get to the other side of the road. While this was not as harrowing as the bison adventure, it was very funny.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Sorry for the Repeats

For some reason my blog entries are appearing multiple times on here. I think it has to do with my Blackberry signal so please forgive me. I do not have short term memory.
Please enjoy this picture of a muppet.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Me and a Mountain

The happy face hides the general fear of heights it took me to make it up. These rocks also looked suspicious like they wanted to hit me.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Cheryl with Crackberry

We got reception, we got an addiction to Blackberry. What can you do? There is something funny about responding to emails while a moose is looking at you.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Moose Encounter

We hiked a hard 5 miles and only saw a small pair of deer, a billion chipmunks, and some buzzing bugs attracted to my red shirt but about a few hundred feet of our finish, we saw this gigantic moose. We knew it was close because of its' fresh droppings and we were right. It is funny how you are thinking how cool it is while being a little scared.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Lake Jenny Fun

We are taking a short boat ride to the mountain side with other aging tourists who smell like Old Spice.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Cheryl with Blankets + Mountains

Pretty nice morning view and Cheryl is braving the frigid 30 degree temperature to have her coffee and look at elk getting it on. I sat out there as long as my Florida tolerance could handle. The balconies are nice but it would be even nicer if the neighboring smokers could hold off their hacking for 5 minutes - oh well - still an incredible view!
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Grand Teton Sunset

What can I say. It doesn't get much more scenic. I have nothing clever to say...
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Grand Teton Table

The table was the actual table used by James Baker in the 80's to broker peace with Russia. They did the conference here even though the Hydrogen Group had the main ballroom. I wonder if they went to the diner and talked it over with garlic fries.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Buffalo in a Diner

The Pioneer Grill in Grand Teton is a nice surprise in a place you would never expect. They have a buffalo burger that is excellent but the real nice feature is the fact that it is an old style diner with short order cooks who know what they are doing. As good as dinner was, we think breakfast must be even better.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Hydrogen Conference

They are having a very important conference at the lodge. The Oxygen conference was canceled due to lack of interest.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Beer in a Lodge

Not much to say here but I liked the juxtaposition of my glowing beer against the lodge aesthetic. Who says I don't know high scoring Scrabble words?
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Bear Attack

Do not pay attention to the glass reflection of people wandering around in stone wash jeans and bolo ties. This bear was coming towards me in the lobby and I fought him with my bare hands.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Grand Teton Lodge Lobby

We made it down and it is very nice. We ended up with a cottage with the view of the mountains. The room is a little Jack Tripper for my taste but it will do.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Mammoth Pool of Blue

Towards the end you sort of get used to the whiteness of the wilderness (like a Republican convention). This one has a blue spring that looked cool in the sun.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

More Non-Snow Pictures

Again here at Mammoth everything is covered in a white calcite layer of rock that is constantly growing. I thought it looked like snow and the snow setting on the camera worked. I know that is an exciting behind the scenes look at how I do what I do.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Mammoth Hot Springs

This was pretty cool to see. It is a series of springs that have travertine mineral deposits that result from lava heated water. If that sounds too complicated, just enjoy the picture.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Leaving Old Faithful

The lodge was over and beyond my expectations. You tend to get worried when you have to share a bathroom. I was particularly concerned about our Wilford Brimley-looking neighbor when he started doing some sweet lovin' around midnight. Even though the walls are made of wood doesn't mean they block sound and shaking.
Regardless, it was a lot of fun staying in such a historic place and knowing that it is essentially the same as it was decades ago.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Gator Crocs on a Lodge Balcony

It is amazing the ideas you come up with when you've had lots of beer and wine.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Old Faithful Dining Room

We ate breakfast and lunch here and it was pretty decent even though you could tell it was catering to the Piccadilly crowd. The scenery is better than everything there.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Now They Tell Me

We saw this towards the end of our 8 mile hike through geysers and animals.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile