You Beg. I Post.*am

After a five minute conversation in which Rita mentions five times that I need to post on WTR... I'm posting.

I don't have much. Her suggested topic -- facial hair -- just didn't do much for me.

Instead, I think it should be noted that she just spent $25 on dredging bowls from p*mp*ered *chef. And tongs.

Makes it so much more helpful than, I don't know, a plate and a fork?

Come to think of it, I've never seen her 'dredge'.

Terry's Turf Club

So a few of us went out last weekend to a fairly new place called Terry's Turf Club. We had read that they had the best burgers in town so we decided that it was a challenge that we were definitely willing to tackle.

It takes a lot for a local joint to get the honor of having the best burgers in town and around here they have some stiff competition with other local eateries. I personally love the franchised Red Robins and just the thought of their burger selection sends me into a tailspin.

But let's talk about Terry's. The place is small. I think the dining area is about 15x30 so it really doesn't sit more than 40 people at a time. The room is filled with the best collection of local neon beer signs I have seen anywhere in Cincy. It has three retro standing beer coolers positioned around the room to add to the nostalgic feel. So that takes care of the ambiance............

How is the food? Well.....they have a limited menu. This is probably a good idea since they can't seat a whole lot of people at one time. The burgers start at $7. A basic burger can come "through the garden" and with your choice of cheese. Now....if you want to get a bit fancy.....bacon, blue cheese, etc etc.....can cost you an additional $2 an item. This can get a bit pricey no matter where you are.

I had a burger with blue cheese and bacon. ($11) While the burger was big, perfectedly cooked and juicy.....the saltiness of the bacon just about ruined it for me. I am a bacon lover too.

Lyn had a burger with grilled onions, pickles and some special fried cheese that they laid on top of the burger. When I say fried cheese......they take a thick cut slice of cheese.....place it on the grill to cook for a bit.....and then place it on the burger. It was a speciality cheese ($2) so it probably wouldn't work the same for us at home with a slice of American.

We also shared an order of fries. These were actual sliced potatoes fried to a dark golden brown. In some places they were overdone. but if you like them like that.....its probably gourmet.

I would be remiss if I didn't talk about the cocktails we consumed during our visit. Lyn and my other friend Tina both had the mysterious Elixir cocktails made with Pomegranate/Blackberry juices. Needlesstosay it was a bit more than either one of them could handle and Lyn had two of them! They packed a punch and I think it just added to the taste of the burgers. I enjoyed the Sam Adam's Summer Ale drafts immensely.

I do not claim to be a food critic and I love leaving that up to the experts like WineMeDineMe. However, now that I have talked about Terry's I have to end this blog with something! If I had to grade this establishment - let's say Rita's list A+ to F..........I would give it a B. Perhaps I have been tainted by the Red Robin's of this world but I have to say......their burgers were good but nothing to have an orgasm about. Slightly overpriced for the extras but hey...you have to make a living somehow. The cocktails were inventive and delicious. The atmosphere - while it was small (I hear an expansion may happen in the near future) - was conducive to a nice evening out with friends. Loved the retro neon beer signs!

If they had a website I would post it. A Google search will find lots of reviews about this cute little place.

Good food, good times - a B.

Swine Flu

Oink.

That's all I can really say about the state of hysteria over the Swine Flu outbreak. With less than 1000 cases reported - worldwide - I can't say that I buy into all of the hype and hysteria surrounding this illness. The U.S. sees bouts of influenza every year with cases reaching far over the 1000 person infected mark. I am really hesitant to buy into the panic of storing two weeks worth of food and water, etc. when I live in a nation that has the best medical care in the world. And to date, no American born citizen has died from it.

Now in Mexico....there is a whole lot to be skeptical about. We already know that the water can really mess you up down there so why is it surprising that there would be a widespread case of the flu?

Is this ALL we have to talk about these days? Seriously, if you don't want the flu, it really comes down to some basic hygiene habits that our mother's taught us as children - wash your hands and cover your mouth. It's that simple.

Gotta run.....I have a sudden craving for a BLT.

Pet loss

I think most of us have had an attachment to a certain pet in our lifetime. It didn't really matter what type of animal it was because it was uniquely sentimental to us. I lost my cat Oscar this past week due to failing health. It was a decision that I never wanted to be in the position to make myself. It might have been easier to just find him one day after work. He would have least died in the comfort of his own home instead of the vet's office.

The house is quieter. I fear that it is less secure as well. I know that sounds funny, but he was the security system in my house. The slightest sound would attract his attention and he would go to it to investigate - with me a few feet behind him with a ball bat. You see.....his temperament was "I will welcome you but if I don't like you......you're doomed". He managed to turn a few dogs into quivering idiots with that temperament. My other cat - BG - who I have had for five years is the complete opposite in personality. Her mantra could be best described as "Ohhhh yessss....pet me and I will show you all of the household valuables". So you see the quandary I am now in with Oscar's passing. It's basically an open house here.

So many people say that losing a pet is almost like losing a child. And before my brother's passing in October, I would support that statement. However, since my mother is still grieving my brother's passing it is not a comparison that I am likely to bring up to her. The grief is different but the same in some ways. The "heavy-heartedness" of it all is certainly there. The fact that I saw Oscar every day for the last 16 years - far more than I saw my brother obviously - certainly compounds my grief. He was my companion, my solace and my friend.

I blog today just to clear the air a bit more for myself. By no means is this an easy thing for me. The last few days have been sad. His absence has disturbed the peace and the natural movement of things in my house. Soon, his ashes will appear on my mantle in a little urn befitting the life that he has lived. Time moves on and I am left with only fond memories of my little furry friend.