according to jeff

My typical Friday includes lunch with my Laridian associates. However, yesterday I was in Oklahoma, far from my Laridian associates.

Did I let it get me down?

What do you think?

For some reason unknown to me, I have fond memories of Taco Bueno. Nothing can beat back the no-lunch-with-Laridian-blues like the opportunity to eat at a childhood favorite.

So, where did we eat?

At El Chico, of course.

And let me tell you, it was awesome. Our waitress offered us hot flour or corn tortillas (I chose corn, of course) while we perused the menu. I opted for The Juarez (cheese & onion enchilada with chili con carne, soft cheese taco with chili con queso, and a crispy beef taco. With rice and refried beans. 10.99). I was confused at first, as we didn’t have the customary chips and salsa. After a brief wait, however, my confusion was resolved when the chips and salsa lady brought us not only chips and salsa, but also cheese dip.

I managed to avoid the “I ate so many chips I’m not hungry” pitfall, and when our meals arrived, I was ready. The taco was standard fare, but the enchiladas were exceptional. Technically, one “enchilada” was a “taco”, but trust me, it was an enchilada at heart.

So, when you have a chance to eat at a Taco Bueno, check to see if an El Chico is also available. If so, don’t pass it up. But if not, try the Taco Bueno and let me know what you think.

… but I did have perfect school attendance from 1st grade through 12th grade.

Yes, I never missed a single day of school in 12 years.

Not everyone is a Steve Martin fan. I am.

However, my fandom came late in life. I’ve not ever seen Steve Martin on Saturday Night Live. I’ve not seen him in live concert. I’ve not listened to any of his albums. I’ve not even seen all of his movies.

Yet, I am still a fan. Why? Perhaps some of the secrets can be found in Born Standing Up, an autobiography by Steve Martin.

Steve (that somehow seems more natural than “Mr. Martin”) starts his story as young lad in CA, where he fortuitously lives near the new Disneyland, and continues through his stand-up stage. He reveals some of the people that influenced and motivated him, how his style of comedy developed, the perseverance that led him to stick it out when most of his meager earnings were spent traveling from job to job, when it wasn’t at all certain that his act would ever be considered successful, and as life on the road was more-and-more isolating.

Yet, we’re left to consider whether those days before “success” were better than the days after “success”, as we learn that success also served to isolate Steve Martin from regular friendships.

The autobiographical book does a good job of not giving too many details, avoiding the sordid. There are a few words that would have earned a movie an R rating in previous years, but would perhaps now be acceptable in a PG-13 movie. Yet, even these are rare, suggesting that Steve Martin is the gentleman that I imagine him to be.

Born Standing Up is a nice mixture of nostalgia, humor, and sentimentality. It’s relatively short and easily read. In the end, perhaps, you like me, will conclude that Steve Martin has found the “movie life” more satisfying than life as a stand-up comedian.

I referred to a Dish Divver today, and more than a few people didn’t know what I was talking about.

While it’s not that uncommon for confused expressions to follow my comments, you too can add Dish Divver to your vocabulary.

I’m having important top level meetings with my Laridian associates this week. We’re meeting at our mountain getaway retreat location in Pennsylvania. Given the importance of the meeting, dress is formal.

Jeff and Craig at Jim's

Well, OK, the above isn’t entirely accurate. Our mountain getaway retreat location is actually Jim’s house, which is a barn remodeled into a house, apparently by short people. Dress isn’t actually formal. But the important meeting part is true!

Today, some Laridian associates and I drove across the country on Interstate 80, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to the Blue Mountain Ski area of Pennsylvania. It’s a business trip; I didn’t come to ski.

I was surprised at how unflat Pennsylvania is.

On the way, we drove through Elkhart, Indiana. You may recall having heard about Elkhart, Indiana, all day on the television and radio news stations, as an important visitor was to give a speech there.

We were probably driving through the area at the time that the important visitor was there, but we didn’t see any black limousines or Suburbans.

My Ticket to the Pink Panther 2

My great deductive skills lead me to the inexorable conclusion that there’s just one question you want answered: “Was it as good as Steve Martin’s original Pink Panther?”

Of course it was.

Like the original, this sequel has me laughing even after the film has concluded.

Like the original, this sequel offers lines that you’ll subtly (or not so subtly) now strive to work into normal conversation.

Like the original, this sequel will not be appreciated by two of my friends. Others, though, will appreciate it for what it is… good, (mostly) clean fun.

So there you have it. 3 for 3. What’s not to like about it?