The Bet Report: 1 of 3

Back in September I made a bet with a friend regarding panhandlers on the street.

http://fuzzipillow2.blogspot.com/2007/09/bet-report.html

The bet was that whenever either of us were asked by a panhandler for food, we had to buy them something to eat. We each had to do this three times and then compare notes.

Well today after many months of being asked for cash, someone finally asked me for food.

He was probably in his 40s but hard living made him look much older. He was sitting outside of the subway asking people for food and getting upset because he was hungry.

Well when I walked past him and heard him ask for food, I had to do it. Unfortunately there wasn't any hot food around so I scrounged up a peanut butter cereal bar, a couple of chocolate bars, and a slice of marble cake.

I walked up to the dude and asked how he was doing and passed him the bag.

He muttered a thank you and switched to asking for money without missing a beat.

So how did I feel? The same way I feel when I hold doors open for people. It was just a small but decent thing to do. I didn't expect the guy to gush over me for a couple of Snickers bars, and I didn't think I was doing anything worth bragging about.

So that's one down, and two to go. How about you Feraz?

Boyardi Confessions

Uggh...

One night I got into the beers at the pub and loaded up on pints of Rickards Red and Carlsberg.

Then later I loaded up on more Carlsberg and Warhammer from the LCBO.

That's when I noticed that tins of Chef Boyardi were on sale for about a dollar each...

I didn't think I could sink lower than the McDonald's when I got the drunken munchies.

But I did.

Behold: Cold ravioli straight out of the can with pepper sauce.

The "Chef" won't be on the menu ever again.

A Taste of Mong Kok

I am about to start hitting up publishers with my novel. Hopefully I can get some interest in my manuscript. The chances of getting published are about 1 in 100, but I gotta take my shot.

I kinda feel like Sylvester Stallone.

Anyhow, I've been mentioning this book that I've been working on for about a year now, so I have decided to post an exerpt that I have edited out of the book. So here are some nasty bits:

"We left Sai Kung after some durian shakes and parted company in Mong Kok. I wandered around the night market and up and down the streets. To some extent I was enjoying the colourful variety of characters and products to be found in Mong Kok, but really I was just wandering about lost in thought.

I stopped into a typical restaurant and got myself some dinner. I thought it was perfect to have wonton noodles, chive dumplings, and soy bean milk in Hong Kong. The restaurant was crowded and small but teaming with night life. Local strangers shared tables and slurped away at their late night dinners. A tiny television sat high above in a corner of the room flickering images of a drama series but was drowned out by the clamour of Cantonese and Mandarin conversations. Old time electric fans swept back and forth trying to push the heat of the night out of the white tiled oasis.

When my food came to the table, I enjoyed the flavours, smells, and textures. The crisp skin of the dumplings gave way to the savoury meat and chives inside. The wontons were delicate and bursting with shrimp and pork as they floated in the delicious clear broth. The soybean milk was a refreshing accompaniment and I sipped away as I blankly stared at the rush of the crowd outside. Like everyone else in the bustling night, I was anonymous and just part of the landscape."

Christmas Leftovers

Here is a shot of The Hoff singing "Silent Night" on a German variety show.

Now in the past I've asked people from Germany why David Hasselhoff is so loved in Germany.

They always said that it was a crock, and that they have no idea why people think Germans love David Hasselhoff.

Well just follow the YouTube link and sample the love. That audio interference you hear before and after his performance is called "applause".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moLDvI5UhcM

2,008 Different Best Wishes

Happy 2008 y'all!

Just a quick post to congratulate us all for making it to another year.

Some of us had better years than others, but if we all stick together than our combined average is not bad.

In other words: lean on me and I'll lean on you, when you're not strong. I'll help you carry on. For it won't be long. Till I'll need somebody to lean on.

Right on Bill Withers.