Showing posts with label Memphis Zoo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Memphis Zoo. Show all posts

Tuesday is Zoo Day

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Tuesday, May 11, 2010 13 Of Your Sparks

few weeks back, Nancy and I visited the Zoo here in Memphis. I know some people do not like Zoos, but I do.

And especially this one, since this is where Nancy and I had our first date. Well, we became members on this last trip, so we plan on visiting often. Hey, walk around a zoo all afternoon - it is a good workout. Plus they have special nights just for members and all, and heck-a-doodle, membership for the two of us is less than two visits including the parking!

So, anyway they are running a photo contest, where your photo could be selected for use in the 2011 calendar, plus a membership for the season. There are 12 different categories and you can enter one photo into each.
1. Teton Trek
2. Northwest Passage
3. African Veldt + Hippos
4. China
5. Primate Canyon
6. Cat Country
7. Once Upon A Farm + Round Barn
8. Zoo Landscape + Plant Life
9. Animals of the Night + Dragon’s Lair
10. Penguins + Aquarium + Pelicans
11. Denizens of the Deep South + Herpetarium
12. Tropical Birds + Birds and Bees + Flamingos

So, anyway...I want to go back this weekend, because submissions are due by Sunday.

Here are some of my favs so far. I do have others to cover almost all the categories, but I am not happy with most of those - but you see I have MONKEYS covered. (all BIGGIE by clickie)

Start with a waterfall shot

This guy's eyes were boring into my brain


Lazing on a Saturday

Wanna share?

Another starer

Hey- I won the race dude!

So Majestic

Just hangin'


Guy on the right is shy

If ya got em flaunt em

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Thursday Tidbits....

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Thursday, May 06, 2010 13 Of Your Sparks

Yesterday, I was not trying to knock the 'stars' who support various causes. I guess I should have been more specific and asked where the country music stars are to support Nashville. I do not expect Hollywood to come out in force for a little Southern city...but those whose lives have benefited from playing in the Grand Old Opry and who record in this city should be out trying to assist those in need and I have not heard anything about it.

Now maybe I am missing it, and if that is the case, I apologize for the slap.

But I am peeved about the news pretty much ignoring this story.


Until I get the other sites to a point where I feel comfortable posting on them with new things, we will continue to give you some music news here...

AC/DC continue to dominate charts worldwide with AC/DC Iron Man 2, the official soundtrack to this summer’s blockbuster movie. Released globally on April 19, AC/DC Iron Man 2, debuted at #1 in fourteen countries including United Kingdom , Germany , Austria , Ireland , Switzerland , Belgium , New Zealand , Greece , Sweden , Hong Kong , Singapore and Japan . AC/DC Iron Man 2 also score top ten debuts in twenty six countries worldwide, including Canada (#2), Denmark (#3), Argentina (#3), Australia (#4), U.S. (#4), Spain (#4), Italy (#4), Norway (#4), Netherlands (#4), Spain (#4), Hungary (#4), France (#5), Finland (#5), Poland (#5), Mexico (#5), Thailand (#7), and Portugal (#9).

Man, who would have thunk it that AC/DC would be so popular and this album are all re-releases!


Last night I went back to Beale to see Delta Highway again. On Friday I get to take Nancy to see them.

last night I took my camera with me and will share some of those shots tomorrow or Monday.

I also have a ton of shots from our last Zoo visit a few weeks ago, that i will share next week...YES, MIMI from "Mimi Writes", they will include some of the monkeys!

I have to select which shots I am submitting to the Zoo for their 2011 calendar.

My iPhoto is so unorganized it makes me crazy, but that is way down the list on my 'things to do' list. Actually mt things to do list would keep me busy for at least a year...IF I were retired with my days totally free! LOL


My Yankees are having a great start to their season...starting staff is 14-1 right now...wish my three fantasy teams were even half that good!

See y'all tomorrow...







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Chicken & Ruby Tuesday...

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Tuesday, August 26, 2008 31 Of Your Sparks

So, Friday evening I am sitting watching TV in darlin' Nancy's living room and Iron Chef is on. Now, I love this show. I love the ability to take an unknown ingredient and turn it into 4-5 dishes. Now, of course in Kitchen Stadium they have every food known to man and woman, which allows the chefs to be totally brilliant.


Nancy was sitting with me and she had never seen the show and it perked her interest. Then the promo for "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" came on. They mentioned they were going to be in Memphis, so I decided to stick on the Food Network and see what they were going to feature.

Show came on and they were somewhere else to begin...I was doing some things outside and watching through the window until they were in Memphis. Well the place they visited is called UNCLE LOU'S FRIED CHICKEN and they mentioned it was located over near the airport. Nancy and I watched mesmerized as they did the segment. This gentleman has his own spice compound and flour seasonings. Guy Fieri is the host and he was totally rocked out by the food.

I look at Nancy...she looks at me and we agree that on Saturday, we are going to find Uncle Lou's.

Well we did hit the road Saturday afternoon and found the place. Tucked away in a small strip mall...a place you would drive past 2,000 times and never stop in...unless you knew.
AND NOW WE DO!



We entered and there were a few tables taken. It was past lunch hour, somewhere around 2:30 or so. We grabbed a menu (though we had decided on what we were ordering the night before). We both ordered a "Honey-Dipped Smoke Sausage Sandwich" for right then and also ordered a whole fried chicken with the Honey Mild dipping for dinner.

Ya see, Uncle Lou fries the chickens whole and then they are dipped (well dunked) in a vat of the Honey Barbecue Sauce. You can get it mild or hot. As Nancy's son Peter was going to be having dinner with us, we went mild.

We sat and waited for our Sausage sandwiches. A few of the employees stopped by to see "How y'all doin'" and a few other parties arrived and we could hear them talking about "It being just like on the show"...others who were checking it out for the first time after seeing it on Food Network.

One of the people working there began chatting with us and asked what we had ordered. I told him the sandwiches and then a whole chicken for dinner. he laughed and said "Y'all eating a sausage sandwich at 3:00pm, you might not be eating dinner tonight."

Well when the sandwiches came, we knew what he meant. Each sandwich came with two full pork sausages quartered and stacked on two slices of thick white bread and they were ooozing the sauce they were dipped in. I put some of the cole slaw on mine and dug in and OMG!!!!!!!! I was in freaking heaven! I then heard Nancy emit a groan of total satisfaction as she took her first bite.

As we were eating Uncle Lou showed up and as he made his way from table to table he stopped at ours. We again explained that we had come because of the show and he laughed "Yeah, he told me things would be changin'"

The show had aired all last week and the phone had heated up and new faces were appearing in the restaurant. We talked for a while and he explained they had filmed in January and it was now just getting on the air.

As we finished our sandwiches our whole chicken was finished, so we thanked them all again and headed home.

Later that evening, I put some corn on the cob on the grill and we put the chicken in the oven to reheat.

As you will see on the video, they inject the bird first (it is a garlic butter mixture), then they flour and deep fry it. When it is completed, they dip it in your choice of the two sauces.

When I tell you, succulent, juicy, infused with an incredible flavor and then coated in this sauce that Guy describes as "sweet spicy love"...this was the best chicken that has ever passed my lips.

I am actually having some left-overs tonight (Monday) as soon as I finish this post.

I tried to find the segment on youtube, but it was not to be. I did find this news feature from the local FOX station, shot while the DD&D crew was there shooting...You should get the idea...

OH and I love their jingle, which includes the line "If the Colonel had Lou's recipe, he would have been a General..."


Check out his website HERE. While we were there, we heard two phone calls come in from other parts of the country asking to order things. They are going to begin an online store and Uncle Low himself told us that he had been experimenting with freezing the whole fried chickens and then reheating them so he might begin shipping them also. Definitely check out the "About Us" page and read about the "Monster Burger" they also feature, and their challenge to all comers.


I have made a new resolution...I am carrying my camera everywhere I go from now on...I keep 'seeing' things that I know will make great shots. I was on ebay today looking to replace my 80mm-200mm zoom which no longer works and is not worth fixing. I actually saw one auction that includes another camera body, a 50mm, a micro 28mm and two zoom lenses and a speed winder (which I never had)...going to track it and see where it goes...



Welcome to another addition of RUBY TUESDAY - click on the logo above to head over to The Teach's blog to see all the entries this week. This idea has really caught on around the bloggosphere.

This little guy lives at the Memphis Zoo Aviary...I have no idea what kind of bird he/she is...I am not really a bird kinda guy...I am sure someone out there knows...(click to enlarge)




Well, these two just jumped into my brain when writing this post about chicken and stuff...so...I am off to eat some wonderful food, y'all enjoy the music....



"Dixie Chicken"
Little Feat


"Cornbread & Chicken"
Alan Jackson




Coming up this week on DR. BLOGSTEIN’S RADIO HAPPY HOUR:
(Live on Tuesday August 26th at 9PM ET and forever archived at BlogTalkRadio.)


oliver-queen.jpg
Justin Hartley, best known for his role as billionaire ‘Oliver Queen‘ (a.k.a. the ‘Green Arrow‘) on the CW’s Smallville, stops by for a one on one with Radio Jesus.

Hartley is currently starring with Rosario Dawson as the mysterious Nick Korda in Gemini Division, NBC’s original web series about an undercover vice cop from the NYPD who is thrust into a secret struggle between a classified government agency called Gemini Division and a group of suspected terrorists known as Sims.

This groundbreaking, web only series can be seen on NBC.com, SCIFI.com and GeminiDivision.com.sunda_headshot5_lo.jpg

Also this week, comedian Sunda Croonquist drops in to share her baggage with Dr. B and Dangerous Lee. She’s a Swedish and Black Jew, growing up looking like a Puerto Rican with a mother who gave her a Hindu name and sent her to an Irish Catholic School. She’s also a former Miss America contestant and private investigator.

Then, Trudog AKA Notorious Homo Thug, the gay rapper, stops by to play some tracks off his newest CD, “Booty Ain’t Got No Face“.


All that, plus Vinny Bond drags his Big Leather Couch into the Radio Happy Hour Lounge to chat live with the listeners, Justin the Weatherman and we’ll take your calls at 646-652-4804.

Join us live every Tuesday night at 9PM ET. The Radio Happy Hour Lounge-a live, interactive chat room during show time-is a whole new reason to make sure you listen live! It’s the show within the show!




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Merry Monday

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Monday, November 12, 2007 23 Of Your Sparks

Well, seems we were one day early for Mo's Manic Monday
ya see Mo...we posted our GRAVY recipe on Friday!

Y'all remember it HERE

Head on over to Mo's for the rest of the submissions...



Well...guess what kiddies?!?!?!?!

We finally got to go to the ZOO!

Yup Yup Yup...We went Saturday and had the most incredible time.

HEY Travis! We got to dance for the monkeys and they didn't fling anything!

It is a nice zoo...the animals are displayed in their environment and it is very clean. A good collection of animals...We especially LOVED the snake house...

Lots of laughs and smiles...

we need to develop the roll of film we shot...might have gotten some good shots...

Then Sunday a wonderful relaxing day...did a little buffet with some hot wings, slices of Parmesan Riggiano and Monterey jack, slices of salami, bruschette, pepperoni, sesame bread sticks, anchovy filets and ice cold beer.

More laughs...more smiles...and they feel good...

Overall, like the best weekend we have had in a way long time and so long overdue...

Football yesterday for our team (Giants) and for our fantasy team did not go well at all....actually the word would be 'absolutelyfrigginridiculouslyhorrible'...

BUT...our Survivor pool team won..so another step closer to the end...

DAMN...lifelogger is acting up again...looks like the server is down...which means we can't even grab code...

ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG...

well, still 2 hours before we post, so hopefully it will come back up...

gee...seems the GRAVY & Lasagna videos went over pretty well...thanks for all you nice compliments...was thinking if we were going to do another one what would it be and we think we would do our infamous Butterfield Stagehand Chili...let's put it this way...it starts with 10 pounds of beef brisket! LOL OH and real chili...no beans....

Well... no music...just smiles and laughs and bright blue skies...and the video...From 1991, a concert in Germany...Warren Hayes ripping up on the slide guitar and Dicky just letting that guitar burn...

'lord you know it makes me high when you turn your love my way....'



Walk along the river
Sweet lullaby
It just keeps on flowing
It don't worry 'bout where it's going


Don't fly, mister blue bird
I'm just walking down the road
Early morning sunshine
Tells me all I need to know


Chorus
You're my blue sky
You're my sunny day
Lord, you know it makes me high
When you turn your love my way
Turn your love my way, yeah


Good old Sunday morning
Bells are ringing everywhere
Goin' to Carolina
It won't be long till I'll be there

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Monday Musings & An Orange

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Monday, October 01, 2007 26 Of Your Sparks

Remember over at MO's
Manic Monday

hehehehe - sorry can not help myself

Knock Knock
Who's there
Banana
Banana who?

Knock Knock
Who's there
Banana
Banana who?

Knock Knock
Who's there
ORANGE
ORANGE who?
ORANGE you glad we didn't say banana?


Well voting is done and it looks like....by a small margin....THE DOORS will be our next Tuneage Tutelage...Was actually surprised by the voting and the tight race...
The Doors 31.3%
The Cars 25%
Yes 25%
Rascals 18.8%
Grateful Dead 12.8%
Deep Purple 12.8%
Mott The Hoople 12.8%

Will be working it up (yes, we have started...) and should have it by Wednesday ready for your reading pleasure.



Notice the banner for the next BLOGBLAST FOR PEACE at the top of The Couch daily posts...grab your banner and let's make this one the best yet...

This is the brainchild of our dear friend Mimi over at Mimi Writes. If you have never gone over to Bloggingham Palace and read the Queen of Meme's, then you are missing out on one the the best reads in the bloggosphere!



Well, we finally did Graceland this weekend. Our partner J.P. ended up staying in town instead of heading back to NJ and his family and we had a real nice dinner on Friday, just the two of use and two bottles of delicious wine...

Saturday we were up early...though moving a bit slow, and off to Graceland. Enjoyed the tour. It really is interesting to be in the rooms that Elvis hung out in and entertained in. The amount of gold records and awards on display is just mind-boggling.

Didn't have our camera with us as we were not sure it was going to happen. Sort of spur of the moment. We are sure with visitors to Memphis, we will end up going back again and will make sure we document it this time.

We did have our picture taken before the tour began (actually everyone gets their picture taken, then you can purchase it when you finish the tour - you know how that goes) and we decided to get them...So, J.P. and yours truly...next time we hope we have a beautiful woman next to me...no offense dude!





Next week is the Memphis Zoo. Meeting a new friend there and going to go dance for the monkeys. Just hope they like my dancing and don't fling stuff at me...because if they do, we will fling it back and that could get messy!!!!

Will ensure the camera is with us and will have pictures to share.



We are also feeling some stories building in us again. We have been struggling with "The Quest" for about 6 weeks, but this week actually got 5 pages written that we are very happy with. The story is developing and we are seeing now, how Frank Stevens became the man you all read about in our short story of the same title.

That said, we are itching to get back to Monday Matinee's and can almost guarantee the Drive-In will be open again next Monday. It might not be every week, but it will be creeping back into our time here on The Couch.

New to The Couch? Confused by what we just talked about? Scroll down on the right sidebar and find the Drive-in Marquee. Under that are the works of fiction we have published here on The Couch. Some are multi-part, some are one post. Some we think are pretty darn good...some...well, not so good, but we have them all there.



Also want to point out that we have updated the BlogTalk Radio area on the left sidebar. Each of the pictures will take you right to our friends home pages over there and there is also a player which will let you hear the most recent show.

We talked recently about redoing The Couch but real life has interfered with that and we are moving slower than we had hoped.

Watching that show Extreme Home Makeover show and man...we want to go to Hawaii soon and see the lava fields...so very cool...nature is incredible. We love Niagara Falls and have been there many times, but to go see an active lava flow....that woulod be SWEEEEEEEEET.

Our friend Starrlight went AGAIN this past year and had promised to put me in her luggage, but she forgot.....pout....



We selected the correct team in the Survivor Pool again this week, had Dallas...so we are moving on....45 teams were eliminated this week already...many in the pool picked San Diego. Only 62 teams left from a total of 156 original teams...



Mom Joan and Dad Vince clued me into this...
Bruce & The E-Street Band were on the Today Show this week.

Bruce's rap before "Living In The Future" is RIGHT ON!

Video for all songs is available HERE
look for "Promised Land" down on the right...

THEY SOUND HOT HOT HOT
and the sound on here is pretty damn good...
We still get chills watching these guys play...seen them 3 times live.

(you have to watch a commercial between each song, but well worth it!)



This one is going out to our man Matt-Man


"Hang on Sloopy" is a hit song by the pop group The McCoys which was #1 in America in October 1965 and is the official rock song of the U.S. state of Ohio.

It was written by Wes Farrell and Bert Russell and is named for Dorothy Sloop, a singer born in Steubenville, Ohio on September 26, 1913 who used the name "Sloopy" on stage.

She died July 1998 in Pass Christian, Mississippi.



The most eloquent silence; that of two mouths meeting in a kiss.
~ by Unknown ~




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Music On The Couch