Employees Must Wash Hands

This is something that I've experienced a few years ago, I don't think I wrote about this so I'm writing about it now.

It was a weekend where my sister was in town, she needed something from Walgreens so we drove over to the Elmhurst location.  This is the newer Walgreens along Broadway and not the older one that's closer to Broadway park. 

Just the typical trip to Walgreens, or so we thought.  As I pulled into the parking lot in the back of the building we were just chatting about a random subject.  From out of the corner of my eye I see something on the passenger side window.  There was a man there by in between the dumpsters, it didn't look like he was trying to hide, but he was just there ... squatting.  His pants were down and there was a small pile of ... well let's just say it looked like a chocolate soft server ice cream that you get from those Chinese buffet places. 

We made eye contact, I was shocked, he looked like he was in a rush but kept dispensing that chocolate soft serve. 

My sister and I were shocked but we went on our way and found a spot and went into the Walgreens.  Things were back to normal and this sight that we had just seen started to disappear from our brains.  I walk down one of the aisle, it was most likely the aisle with the potato chips, and I see this man standing at the very end.  Our eyes connected and it was the same man that I saw outside.  Both of us had that deer in headlights moment and we stood there for a few seconds before quickly turning around and running out of our respective ends of that aisle. 

I swiftly walked over to my sister to tell her that the "homeless man" that was outside pooping was now inside Walgreens!  We thought he was looking for us, for some strange reason.  We couldn't figure it out ... until we ran into him again in another aisle. 

There he was, and there we were standing as if we were about to duel off like the old westerns.  Shocked, confused, not sure what to do ... all three of us standing there waiting for the next move to be made.

Then I saw something ... no it wasn't another chocolate soft serve - that would just be disgusting!  I saw a nametag.  That nametag was attached to a Walgreens apron. 

This man wasn't homeless, infact he worked there at Walgreens. 

We fled to another aisle to gather our thoughts.  We asked why this man was in the back of Walgreens making a deposit!?  Was he outside smoking and he just really had to go!?  Was the bathroom broken!?  We couldn't figure it out ... and years later just thinking about it, it still doesn't make sense to me. 

This is something that will be engrained into our brains for the rest of our lives, I believe.  I can't describe his face to you though, the only description that I do remember was his eyes.  He had eyes that were sort of popping out of his head, or maybe it was just because of the way we were looking at each other in shock and embarassment??!

Perhaps I'll make a return trip to this Walgreens to see if this guy is around and if he is ... I'll take a picture of him, preferably with his apron on and stocking the shelves.

If you've got theories as to why as person would be doing this ... please do share because I'm still stumped and have not had chocolate soft serve since then.

+ mon

Eat Healthy! But Not When You Go Here

Admist this health food boom, with all these restaurants who cater to those who eat light, or those who with to eat light but end up ordering twice as much, comes a restaurant that knows no boundaries!

Salt and Fat
41-16 Queens Blvd
(718) 433-3702
www.satlandfatny.com

I'm talking about Salt & Fat.  Yes, that's the actual name of the restaurant in Sunnyside Queens.  We were introduced to this place by a friend and we all came here with uncertain tastebuds, as we've never been there before.  It isn't the decor that makes you do a double take as you walk by, it's the name. 

"What's in a name? that which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet"

But the name is important!  It tells us what we have to look forward to upon entering those doors.

It's been a while since I actually ate here, but I do remember some items from the menu that we ordered and they are very tasty. 

Bacon Flavored Popcorn - you'll be greeted with this when you order your food.  It's a surprise as you wonder why they are serving popcorn, until you smell and taste it.  It's been tossed in bacon grease and has good flavor, this was a pleasant surprise.

Crack and Cheese - this is their version of mac n cheese, and I have to admit that it was damn good!  You know the bacon bits that you'll get on your salad or mac n cheese?  This isn't the same bacon, this is the bacon that we actually buy from the supermarkets and chop it up into pieces that you can actually see and eat.  This is extremely good.  

I can't remember what else we ate there but the food there definitely touches the more active tastes that we know and love ... saltiness.

Don't go here if you're expecting something healthy because you won't get it, I don't even think the salads are healthy.  But do go here if you're looking for something good to eat.

The only complaint that I have is that their portions are small, I could have eaten 2 or 3 orders of the Crack and Cheese on my own, but we shared one order amongst 4 people - afterall we were just getting a taste of what this place had to offer.

It's been a while since I've eaten here, hmmmm perhaps it's about time to go back! 

Salt and Fat ... how great a name, especially when there is bacon on mostly everything.  This is a joy for me since I am a bacon lover and it's only 1 block from my place!

There is so much for me to try on this menu, but I wouldn't recommend this place more than once a month.  You might find yourself with some blood pressure issues and might not be able to eat here for a while thereafter.  So eat here in moderation, you have been warned!

Taste : 9.9
Price : $$ out of $$$ 
Restaurant : 7 (larger portions please!)

+ mon

(Mexican) Ecuadorian Volleyball

For years I've walked by or driven by parks where I've seen these nets stretched as far as possible and about 15 feet off the ground.  There were always spanish people playing some sort of variation of volleyball, but it was volleyball but you were allowed to catch and carry the ball and then throw it!

This sport baffled me and I thought it was just something that was made up by those who played it.  I actually thought it was just a New York thing since I've never seen it anywhere else that my limited travel experience has taken me to.

I had the fortunate and unfortunate experience of playing against some Ecuadorian's a few years ago.

Before I forget, please excuse my ignorance for calling it Mexican volleyball!  I can't tell the difference between Ecuadorians and Mexicans, just the same as I can't tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese and Korean just by looking at someone. 

We used to setup a volleyball net (regular volleyball) in Prospect Park a few years back.  We were just relaxing on the grass and these Ecuadorians came by and started to play on our net ... it was one of those moments where you don't know exactly how to respond.  Do you (A) tell them to stop playing on <b>our</b> net, (B) let it go and let them play on your net or (C) challenge them to a game to get them off your court?!

We opted for option C.  First we let them know that it was our net and that it wasn't a public net, then we asked them if they wanted to play a friendly game of volleyball.  This is where it got interesting as it was their guys against my friends and I.  Keep in mind that my friends and I aren't great at volleyball, but we can play and hold our own.

From the first 20 seconds we knew this was going to be a long game, as the ball went over the net to their side, they took the ball, carried it and threw it to their other player.  I immediately called a carry on that player, but they looked at me as if I were a giant talking hot dog (which I'm not too far from).  This happened for the next few plays or so where I would call a carry when they would catch and throw the ball around.  Extremely frustrated at this point where the game was just not working, we decided to just "let it go" and not call anymore carries.  Their "captain" talked to his team and I'm assuming told them to ease up on the carries as this wasn't the volleyball they are used to! 

This was one of the hardest games I've played in my life, and I've played a lot of volleyball.

After we just let them carry the ball and throw it as they pleased, we found it extremely difficult as we played the regular rules of volleyball.  These guys were taking the ball, catching it and then throwing it to wherever they wanted.   It wasn't a bump, it wasn't a set and it wasn't a spike ... this was Ecuardorian volleyball.  Guys were running into the net, and doing all sorts of things that we weren't used to but we came out victorious in the end ... after a few games of this.

I even found myself playing with their rules because of pure frustration.  Instead of a spike, I would jump and grab the ball then throw it onto their side of the court - and it wasn't a short catch and throw, it was a catch, aim wind up and then throw!

This game is an actual sport that's big and has leagues!  Yas had found out that this was called Ecuavolley.  The reason I never found out what this was is because I searched for "Mexican volleyball." 

We were reminded of this game on the way to a pitch and putt outing where we saw a couple of those 15 feet high nets strung up in the underpass of the Van Wyck Expressway.  These guys are hardcore, they stayed there for hours, even after the sun went down.  I guess they have a good spot with lights at night and shade during the day. 

So props to those who play this type of volleyball as it takes a different kind of athlete to try and play on a 15 foot net. 

Here's some video of some Ecuadorian Volleyball league in Canada. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddaaptn0yaY

+ mon