Rubik's Blog

I’m sure we have all seen one of those colorful cube-shaped puzzles.  The majority of all of you have even played around and attempted to solve one.  Then there are still a lot of you who have successfully solved one of the sides (doesn’t matter whether it was red, yellow, orange, blue, green or white…a side is a side).  But, I’m quite sure that very few of you have ever seen one completely solved (I’m talking in real life, that scene where Will Smith solves one in the Pursuit of Happiness doesn’t count).  Here is the real question though; how many of you have successfully solved one from start to finish by yourself?  I have (yes, I am bragging a bit).

I enjoy puzzles, from Sudoku to the standard jigsaw (there is currently a 1000 piece Planet Earth puzzle on my counter…it is extremely difficult).  I guess finishing one gives me an opportunity to self-aggrandize (I love this term and decided I wanted to try to use it more) myself.  Anyways, about 2 years ago I decided I wanted to purchase one of these Rubik’s Cubes which were oh so popular in the 80’s.  After a few weeks of frustration, only able to get one side solved at a time, I went to the Internet for guidance.  Some of the sites out there just gave you detailed step by step instructions; they didn’t really teach you how to solve the puzzle.  I wanted to learn, so I found a site that broke down the mathematical algorithms used and I taught myself how to use them to crack the code of the cube.  I can still solve it since I taught myself how, instead of just following steps.  Maybe someday you can watch as I marvel you with my Rubik’s Cube solving talents.

It’s been fun knowing how to solve it.  Friends would attempt to mess it up beyond solving (which is impossible without actually changing the stickers on the cube).  One time my Rubik’s Cube solving ability was even used to get a Buffalo Wild Wings waitress’s number (I didn’t follow up, I never follow up on a waitress’s number, I feel bad because I only ask for them out of peer pressure or bets).  There were even times while drinking where others would see how many drinks I could have while still being able to still solve the cube (I’ve solved it after 4, but I’ve never attempted 5 because interest is usually lost by the other drinkers).  The only other “game” that pops to mind is how fast I could solve it.  I’m not 100% sure, but I believe my fastest time is 1 minute 42 seconds.  This is by no means a World Record, but still kind of impressive.

This Fancy Cube Goes for Approximately $68.00

 Like I said previously, the Rubik’s Cube was wildly popular in the 80’s (along with big hair and shoulder pads).  There have been many different types designs from pastel colors to Transformers (I want this one) to even a Juicy Couture one.  The Juicy Couture one is actually what inspired this blog.  I was on a business trip and my manager, coworkers and I were at the mall in the Lord & Taylor store looking at how expensive things were there.  We happened by a stand with a bunch of overly priced trinkets, among them was a Rubik’s Cube by Juicy Couture (for $68).  I picked one up and was messing with it and started to solve it.  My manager and coworkers were just standing there watching as I solved the extremely expensive cube.  They were wowed; none of them had seen somebody solve one before.  Now I’m going to lie and say that because of my puzzle solving abilities my manager gave me a huge raise.  I tell this lie because it betters the story.  My apologies for the seemingly abrupt ending to this blog post, but I fear I don’t have much more to discuss about the Rubik’s Cube.  Don’t disregard my blog too quickly though.  I promise the next post will be a good one.  Here is a small hint…Electric Mayhem.

-LD

7 Days Later: A Black Friday Blog

When I was young, my mother used to wake me up at the crack of dawn and drag me out to the car so we could meet my Aunt Rhonda and Cousin Andy at a predetermined parking lot.  This wasn’t for a drug deal, but for something that some may say is far more sinister.  This was for that one day a year that comes after the day of turkey, family and mac & cheese (see previous post).  This was Black Friday.  As a child I was never very enthusiastic about this event.  My cousin and I would mainly just goof off while our mothers became super shoppers on a mission.  I used to think my mom was insane for willing going through this madness every year.  After last Friday though, I have a new theory.  My mother and aunt weren’t crazy.  They were just inefficient. 

A cartoon that is all too real

Actually, compared to my Black Friday experience last Friday, I guess a lot of Black Friday Shoppers could be considered inefficient.  I’ve heard of a lot of different people’s plans for Black Friday, and compared to the one my friends Tad and Amanda devised, others were just lacking.  I’m not trying to belittle anybody else’s Black Friday experience, just to elevate mine.  I’m just saying, not many could have completed a Black Friday shopping trip and still have time to pick up McDonald's Breakfast (I’m not a huge fan of McDonald's, but I do love their breakfast) and show up at work an hour early (which was 7:30 am).  Many who don’t already have the day off work have to take a vacation day so they can go out and shop on that day of door busting deals they call Black Friday.  In fact, I work in a locked room as part of a confidential team consisting of 3 people (maybe someday I will talk about my confidential job…not the confidential aspect of course though).  All 3 of us ended up shopping on Black Friday, but only one of us didn’t take the day off ( I already mentioned that I came into work an hour early, but to settle any confusion, I was the one who didn’t take the day off).  This is what I am talking about when I say most Black Friday participants are inefficient.

My Black Friday experience began about a week before Black Friday even happened.  It all started with a commitment.  This was more of an enrollment to a Black Friday Ops (a failed attempt at a play on words with Call of Duty Black Ops) because we were more than just a shopping group, we were a squad.  The group had actually started with more, but in the end two people in particular flaked out (this is me calling you out Brad and Bekah Thomas).  It ended up working out just fine though.  Let me just state this now that even though I am typing out this blog of the experience, the real planning was done by Tad and Amanda.  I was just lucky enough to be a part of their plan.  As I had stated, this started out a week before Black Friday, and involved all of us making out list (and checking it twice) from the online leaked Black Friday Ads (Tad and Amanda had provided a great site called www.BlackFriday.info).  From this list, Tad and Amanda were able to devise a plot to conqueror Black Friday.  In essence, we were going to divide and conqueror, and from that list, we split the task between 3 stores; Wal-Mart, Target, and Best Buy.  Essentially, Amanda took Wal-Mart and Tad took Target and I was left with Best Buy (though Tad was at all 3).

I only have second hand stories about Wal-Mart and Target.  From what I was told, Amanda had quite an experience at Wal-mart.  Her main objective was a video camera and there was a limited number.  She was able to create an alliance (there wear only verbal treaties, nothing in writing) with I believe 5 others who were also wanting the same camera.  Amanda and our Allies by association all surrounded and created a barrier around the cameras since they didn’t go on sale until 5 am.  This tactic worked just dandy because she did in fact get her camera.  Tad’s experience at Target wasn’t too out of the ordinary compared to others on Black Friday.  Busy lines, crowded beyond belief, can barely walk, and lots of deals.  But I didn’t hear of any newly formed alliance formed at Target.  This leads to my assignment at Best Buy.

 While I was standing outside of Best Buy in the freezing cold (literally freezing, it was below 32°), I wasn’t thinking about my other comrades, I was focused on my mission.  It was a good thing I didn’t think of my fellow squad members, because I would’ve realized that Amanda was inside and that Tad would be inside an hour before me.  The others in the line were not the best company.  There was a guy who thought he was funny so he would repeat his “jokes” over and over until he got some kind of acknowledgement for them.  There was a group of punk high school kids who were faking Boston accents but they kept slipping in and out of them.  Finally the foreign gentleman (I believe he was Korean) who kept asking me questions about his Best Buy ad.  I was determined to brave the cold and the company though.  There were a few bright spots though.  There was a Best Buy employee who I kept trading Dumb and Dumber quotes with whenever he passed by the line.  Also, the best part, there was a group who came out and passed out hot chocolate.  I’m not sure if they were a youth group or what kind of organization they were but they said they come out and pass out hot cocoa every Black Friday at the Best Buys.  All I really know is that everybody in the line was more than happy to see them bring steamy hot cocoa to all of us who were freezing.   I had even come pretty prepared and my toes were frozen.  Luckily, about 20 or so minutes before the Best Buy had opened I was surprised by the arrival of my fellow comrade, Tad. 

Tad and I braved the cold together until the store opened.  While we waited he reported to me of his and Amanda’s successes at Wal-Mart and Target.  Things had been going quite well for them.  Our goal of a completely successful Black Friday (a Black Friday where everybody gets everything on their list) was in sight.  Tad and I devised to divide and conqueror within Best Buy to maximize our chances of achieving this goal.  We slowly filed in and within minutes we had grab the goods and were heading towards the checkout line.  We were so quick there was hardly a wait to checkout.  We were soon finished and had planned to meet up at the W.E.B. to correctly divide the booty and figure out who owed who what.  Amanda had picked up Tad and I was on my way to my car, filled with that good feeling of accomplishing something with complete dominance, and then it happened.

I had locked my keys in my car.  This wasn’t too big a deal since I keep a spare in my wallet.  I grab the spare but to my dismay, the freezing weather had caused the door locks to freeze.  I could not get the key to turn to open the door.  The hot cocoa people had left so I couldn’t thaw it with hot cocoa.  I couldn’t go buy one of those things that unfreeze locks; Wal-Mart’s lines would’ve been too long.  I did the only thing I could do.  I got on both knees, cupped my hands around the lock and tried to thaw it by blowing hot air on it (I realize this could be misconstrued to be something dirty, but please don’t).  Eventually I was able to unlock the car door and arrive at the W.E.B. where we divided and settled everything.  I treated myself to McDonald’s breakfast and so ended one of the most successful Black Fridays in history.  Much thanks is owed to Tad and Amanda for they are the real geniuses behind the success.

I must admit, I am not the first to have the idea to write a blog about Black Friday.  In fact, mine isn’t nearly as clever or well written or artistic as my friend Amanda’s (the very same Amanda who was part of the masterminding the Black Friday group I shopped with on the very same Black Friday this blog is written) blog.  I have included a link to her blog.  Please read it.  I know it is better than mine so you should read it.  http://swedishpankakes.blogspot.com/2010/11/twas-day-after-black-friday.html  Did you read it?  Wasn’t that clever?  Ok, just be sure that you don’t just dismiss any of my future blog posts after reading hers…ok?

-LD

Cheesy Blog

“So, I’ve been thinking about it…and it would be very hard for me to turn down anything that has the words ‘double cheese’ in it.”  This is a quote from a very grate man. (Get it?  Grate instead of great because you grate cheese.  It was a good pun and you know it.)  Ok, fine, I’m the one who said it.  I recall it was after lunch at Arby’s with the Thomas family.  Arby’s, at the time, had a double cheese Texas Toast sandwich which I had partaken in at lunch.  I had made the quoted remark to my, at the time, roommate Nate Thomas.  At first he looked at me like I was going to say something very prolific and thought provoking.  Well, I guess in a way I did.

Cheese is pretty amazing if you stop and think about it.  There are so many varieties of cheese; Swiss, Provolone, Cheddar, American, Colby, Jack, Parmesan, Mozzarella, Nacho, Government, and so on.  Cheese is also one of a few food items that are actually added to other foods to make them taste better.  Joining cheese in that category are; gravy, chocolate, and bacon (I believe Jim Gaffigan has covered the topic of bacon quite well enough so I won’t go into detail).  I myself never fell for the cheese and broccoli scam but numerous kids are tricked into eating broccoli every year just by the addition of cheese.  Even in high school I along with loads of fellow classmates would use nacho cheese to better our bland school lunches.  My high school (Churubusco High School) had started to offer nachos as a lunch alternative.  The nachos only consisted of a small bag of tortilla chips and packet of nacho cheese (which could be purchased separately).  We would purchase these nacho packets separately and add them to a variety of main dishes.  I applied nacho cheese to a variety of items such as; the cheeseburger, chili dog, grilled chicken, tacos, and more.  My classmates even applied nacho cheese to even more than me, including the mac & cheese. (Now I can’t help but think about mac & cheese, I know I had something else about adding cheese to make food taste better).  Also, parmesan shakers…enough said.

I do love mac & cheese.  If mac & cheese is offered as a side dish at a restaurant, you can just about guarantee that I’m going to select it.  I’ve sampled a variety of mac & cheeses, from restaurants to carry-ins to out of a box (or cup be it Kraft Easy Mac).  I must admit though that the best mac & cheese I have ever had the pleasure of eating is the Davis Family Baked Mac & Cheese.  This specialty is only prepared for the major holidays and it is always a hit.  When I was a kid I would go back for extra mac & cheese instead of dessert (I’m not a big dessert fan anyway).  I actually recently just made my first batch of this family secret (it was delicious and I ate it all…by myself).  To put it plainly, mac & cheese is flat out good, whether it is homemade or comes in a Kraft blue box.

My Batch of the Davis Family Baked Mac & Cheese

I will wrap up this blog with a little advice.  Quality counts, so don’t settle for Kroger brand American cheese slices…get the Kraft, your taste buds will thank me (that’s right, thank me not you).  Also, when you are making hillbilly nachos, don’t skimp on the cheese (this tip applies to more than just hillbilly nachos).  Make sure every chip is covered with cheese, whether it is Cheddar, Colby Jack, or the Mexican blend.  Finally, when at a restaurant, cheese is always worth the extra charge.  Whether it be for your burger or scrambled eggs, go ahead and add cheese.  I’m dead serious about all of these tips.  Sincerely, I’d like to thank all 2 of you who read this.

[In the style of Ron Burgundy]

Stay Cheesy Blog Readers  (I had to)

Maiden Blog Post

I've contemplated creating a blog for a while now.  If you were or are my friend on Facebook you may or may not recall I had a series of notes call LD's Outlook.  Well, I liked the name so much that I made it the title of my blog.  I will warn you, don't expect anything spectacular, especially out of this intro blog.  All I will do is just offer my outlook (thus the clever title) on mostly everyday things.  I don't expect to get to deep or philosophical.  I expect this blog to just be entertaining and nothing more.  I'm not looking to preach or try to convince others I am correct in my opinions.  I guess I should do a quick outlook just so you can have a taste of what is to come.

As you can tell by the date, it is after Thanksgiving, and thus the Christmas Season is allowed to begin.  For me though, I am unable to feel in the Christmas Spirit until one thing happens.  No, it isn't Black Friday (though it was quite successful this year thanks to Tad and Amanda).  It isn't watching that first crummy Christmas special (which anybody who truly knows me should know that I have an unhealthy love for crappy Christmas specials during the Christmas Season).  For me it is actually a lot more sentimental than that.  For as long as I can remember my Aunt Elaine would find different Christmas songs and create a mix tape for my cousin and me.  This was back when you had to record each individual song for an actual cassette tape (that's true love).  They had the standards to weird and obscure ones that if it wasn't for her I would have never been able to enjoy them.  Well, on Sunday (yesterday) I finally received my mix CD (yes, she has kept up with the times).  Once I opened it up I began to feel the Spirit of Christmas rising around me.  I want to keep this short and sweet, so I will be wrapping up soon.  You can expect to hear about my obsession of crappy Christmas specials before Christmas arrives.  Now that I have my Christmas mix CD from my Aunt Elaine in hand, I would like to wish you all a Merry Start to the Christmas Season.  I hope you give my blog a chance...at least until I become bored with the notion of having a blog and I decide to stop.

-LD