not to be confused with a tangerine

it's big, it's juicy. you know you want to bite it.

i only recently have discovered the beauty of nectarines. i mean, i knew they existed and i've had them before, but never did i know how awesome they are! i like my food sweet, juicy, with a little bit of crunch, and the nectarines got it all!

gone are the mealy, fuzzy days of the peach. today is a nectarine day.

for being my fruit of choice these days, nectarines get a THUMBS UP!!

meet me in st. louis louis

a few weekends ago kristy and i journeyed to st. louis MO for our friend johanna's wedding reception. we had a good time catching up with all of kristy's college buddies, and i had a little too good of a time drinking keg beer (as usual). as with any trip, we hit a few bumps.

when we got off the airport shuttle at the enterprise rental place, there were a bunch of dressed up people with papers in their hands waiting for us. uh-oh. we were coerced, shamed, and downright insulted into buying rental insurance. guess what - I DON'T THINK SO! i've rented a million rental cars for work and never has this happened to me. lame.

this is a picture of our friend, the chigger. despite not being anywhere near grass, kristy and i were eaten by these little buggers all up and down our legs. who knew? it's been a long while since i've had a chigger bite, but MAN do they hurt! the bites looked so red and pronounced that kristy was convinced she had the measles. she should stick to diagnosing the 4-legged variety animals only i think.

for being buttholes and generally trying to crap on our good time, both ENTERPRISE CAR RENTALS and CHIGGERS get a THUMBS DOWN!!!

on the plus side, we used my Hilton HHonors points for a free stay at the Embassy Suites near the convention center, and it was marvelous! comfortable, nice, clean - what else could you ask for? we missed the complementary "manager's reception" that happens every night (free drinks!), but were no less impressed by it. we also got almost a week free in London a few years ago thanks to the HHonors points.

as i mentioned to kristy, Mr. Hilton may not know anything about raising respectable daughters, but he sure knows how to put a rewards program together! Mr. Continental Airlines should take a few notes.

for being easy, fair, and fun, the Hilton HHonors Rewards program gets a THUMBS UP!

if you like pina coladas...

this is the beautiful beach in front of Hotel Las Palapas in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. it kicks ass. we spent one of our better vacations there about a month ago. just behind those umbrellas is a beach bar where they'll climb a coconut tree to knock down a coconut for a delicious drink for YOU!

oh and did i mention the clear blue water?

'nuff said.


for being beautiful and relaxing, Hotel Las Palapas gets a THUMBS UP!

at least they're not Andes mints

these look about as good as they taste. blech!

what's worse? the green ones with chocolate flavoring in them...DOUBLE BLECH!!

for not being worth my time, and for being a poor substitute for the classic red starlight mints, GREEN starlight mints get a THUMBS DOWN!!

for those with teeth and hoo-has

Dr. Sandra Haldeman is the most patient and interesting doctor i've ever had. she only does gynecology, but has many many contacts in obstetrics.

her story is interesting...after a career as a RN and midwife, at 50 years old she decided to become a doctor. in addition to medical school, she first had to take her prerequisites! she is a testament to following your dreams and doing what you love, no matter the age.



(no picture) Dr. Sue Ellen Richardson is just a damn good dentist. and i have been to pretty much all of them in Houston, and they all suck.

for being kickass doctors, Dr. Haldeman and Dr. Richardson both get a THUMBS UP!!!

the shins will change your life

at least that's what zach braff thinks.


i think so too maybe.



i've been listening to their latest album "wincing the night away" and i just can't believe how good it is. it's solid gold.

overall, these guys rock...i mean look at that picture? how can you not love them???

for (a) being a great live band, (b) being cute, awkward guys, and (c) producing innovative, beautiful music, the Shins get a THUMBS UP!!

mmmm....iced coffeeeee...

kristy donated a crapload of money to kuhf/npr this past year, so the bonus for ME since i'm actually in houston during the week is that i get the free pound of coffee she gets every month as a thank you gift.


i have to go pick it up at House of Coffee Beans on Bissonnet, and every time they are so friendly and they offer everyone a free taste of coffee - either a hot selection or an iced selection. holy crap. their iced coffee rocks...it's milky, sweet, coffee-licious goodness.

for being nice, serving coffee (which in and of itself rocks), and for free nips of delicious iced coffee, House of Coffee Beans gets a gubernatorial THUMBS UP!