"M and M pancakes"

Chocolate chips never had a chance,
Because the M and M's were making romance.
They got in the dough, on the flipside, you know.
And melt in your mouth like snow in a warm glow.

M and M's, inside, all around, and in between,
Milk chocolate for the soul in the after glow
Syrup get down from your thrown; your crown has been undone.
There is no need for your sweetness anymore,
Not with the bright colors of the rainbow interlaced evermore.

Too much of a good thing, just makes the good marvelous.
It makes the Marvelous, Fantastic, the Fantastic, Heavenly.
Remember nothing can be too sweet, too rich,
Blast your mouth with pleasure and give it a treat.

So bask in the colors of the rainbow, give them a chance
Leave the subtle to the dull; fill your pancake to the brim.
Suck the life right out of an M and M!

“Kobe’s Steakhouse, roll on in”

Kobe, nestled in Beaumont, next to Azure, is a fine place to indulge in some great sushi. The Sushi is fantastic from simple spicy tuna rolls to elaborate rolls with combinations of delectable fish layered with artful precision. Alex, the sushi chef/owner, puts fried tempura in many of the rolls. Alex says that not many other sushi restaurants take the trouble because of the time it takes to make the tempura batter at the beginning of the day. He, of course, insists that his sushi is the best in town, and it’s hard to argue.

The sushi experience is nothing less than pure ecstasy. It makes a filet mignon taste like steak found in the discount meat section; you know the meat with one last day before it hits the garbage can. Alex says the “blood horse roll” is the #1 roll in the restaurant, I suppose that is why it is first on the list of premier rolls. It has fried shrimp wrapped in a blanket of sushi rice with crab on top. This kicked up roll has some serious spice with sriracha sauce drizzled over the top

Sushi aside, the best part about this restaurant is the chef; he is the reason there are so many loyal customers in the seats. If you don’t sit front, center at the sushi bar, then you are missing out. Watching Alex is a pleasure because he is doing what he loves. He is a kind man who has fun with his guests, jokes with them, consoles them, and laughs with them. The many times I have ordered take out I have never called ahead, because then I would miss out on watching and talking with Alex. I love ease dropping into his conversation with his guests. He always makes them feel at home, and never waits a split second to roll out a compliment.

On one occasion I listened to a man tell Alex that his daughter had recently been robbed at gunpoint, but that thank goodness, all was well. Alex never said a word, he just let the man vent the anger and frustration he had with the world that we live in. The man said he was going to get a gun because he did not feel safe any more. Alex nodded on several occasions, and diligently put the order together. That was one of the more somber moments I can ever remember at a restaurant. I know this, however, the man knew that Alex genuinely cared, and that’s the reason he could talk about matters so grim and from the heart.

Alex reminds me of the people of Japan. He is an incredibly hard worker, a man with a big heart, a person who enjoys a laugh, but most of all, enjoys making others laugh. His patrons fight for his attention like children looking up to a parent. His family helps run the business at Kobe; they reflect his kindness.

Sushi, sake, and Kiren what else could you ask for? Let the fish melt in your mouth; let the kiren roll down your throat, and let the compliments roll. Trust me, if you eat here, you will be thinking about the meal well into the next day; there is just nothing that can compare. So give in, roll on in, sit at the bar, and order the anything roll. Its the best roll in the restaurant.......

Hunting for waterfalls and capturing smiles

Not 5 miles west of Sugerland Visitor's center is a great (easy) trail to Laural falls. Its 1.3m to the falls and back. Kobes and I hiked there this weekend on Friday morning to visit this great falls. We then proceed to hike down the creek (one of my favorite pastimes).

I have decided after this weekend that my old hiking boots from about 5 years ago are not quite as waterproof as they once were. :( Getting out this last weekend was a blast, I found out how much I missed the mountains, and the smokeys are right up there as one of the most beautiful areas close to Lexington.

The Smokeys has absolutely brilliant creeks, rivers, and of course, waterfalls. We went waterfall hunting Friday, and this was the first of three that we hiked to.

Waterfall hunting, like any kind of hunting, begins with a good scouting report. That being the case, I knew the rangers at Sugerland would be more than happy to oblige. I walked into the ranger stating with my maps printed from the Smokeys website, marked with blue X's indicating waterfalls that I had in my sights. I made right for the closest ranger at the desk, but being the strange fellow that I am, I changed rangers and decided I was only going to talk to the old man in corner with a sparkle in his eye and a grin ear to ear. This was the type of fellow that I could relate to. Someone who would tell you the secrets to the park for a wink and a smile.

I laid out my iny-weeny, tiny, miniscule map I had printed the previous day (on a brilliant color Lexmark laser printer, of course). He looked over my map a second with his glasses down and his brows furrowed. I told him I was waterfall hunting and pointed to the blue X's like marked treasure in an Island. Immediately, he pointed out that one of the falls I wanted to see, was a much longer hike because the closest trailhead was closed. Then he went on talking about a waterfall not on the map that was easily accessible. I quickly took his pen that was sitting on the desk, and marked a now black X. He is the type of person who does not mind one being presumptuous as long as your map is wrinkled and marked like a Keeneland track guide. We talked about Clingman's dome for a few minutes, and exchanged some old stories. We talked of an attack route for Ramey's falls, which is an 8 mile hike, and needs some additional scouting

We settled our talk in a matter of minutes with a lifetime of conveyances. I left with two new waterfalls, one of mine scratched off the list, recommendations on where to catch up with sunset, a firm handshake, and an exchange of names. I ended up almost lifting that little, cheap black pen, but as I turned he reminded me about the pen. I smiled, and gave it back, almost as if he had just told me a funny joke. You see, the joke is this; pens don't matter, waterfalls, in and of themselves, don't matter. It's the in-between that matters; the living part of life is what matters. Its the in-between that contains the context. Don't miss the context, and only go for the climax.

The picture was taken following the creek down past Laurel falls; the next time you are in the smokey's go find a ranger with a twinkle in his eye. He might be sitting in a corner with feeble feet, quiet, and sucking on an old pipe. What he most likely will do is try to understand you in little more than 5 minutes, then tell you what you need to hear. Trust me, if he says skip the waterfalls on the map, skip em. If you don't follow his advice, you probably don't deserve the journey or the reward.

Hope that provides some context for you.......