TheTastyGreek

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This isn't a cheap shot at the football team, which, despite all the frustration and disappointment, did make some good halftime adjustments and show some things we didn't see last year. But the thing I saw yesterday that made me the happiest was the announcement that basketball season tips off in 45 days. Very, very excited about that.

BlueRaiderFan111 is actually a pretty kickass guy. I'm a fan of his.

One of the things I've always found interesting is that many (if not most) Greek restaurants are actually owned and operated by Lebanese people, and many (and I believe most) pizza parlor-style Italian restaurants are owned and operated by Albanians. It's like these two nationalities of expatriates both had big meetings, debated whether or not they could effectively convince Americans that their own national cuisine was delicious and non-threatening, and ultimately decided to just pick a nearby neighbor country and open up restaurants in their names, instead. It's sad, really, because Lebanese food (obviously?) has a more middle eastern style to it, and the unique dishes and subtle differences in overlapping dishes are both delightful. But every Lebanese restaurant I've seen launched near my residences of the past few years has gone out of business within a year. And the Greek restaurants I know owned by Lebanese families all do booming business. I actually saw a yard sign (like the election campaign/political ones) advertising the Lebanse Festival in Lewisville the first week in October. So that one's coming up soon, too. Having been there before a few times, I highly recommend it. You're exactly half right. There's no such thing as a humble Greek man. Many of us are occasionally self-effacing and frequently self-deprecating. But NONE are humble. It's not in our blood, and it's certainly not how males in the culture are raised to think. We are, however, some of the nicest folks you'll ever meet.

I think the Greek festival at Hillcrest and 635 is next weekend. If you want great food, olive skinned women, and sexy fun times galore... Wait a week. But for anyone who wants ground up animal intestines, stout women with moustaches, men in leggings and feathered caps, and a lingering legacy of genocide... Party on. This is your weekend! I kid, I kid. A person can certainly enjoy both. But ask yourselves- If German cuisine is delicious and nourishing... Why did 300,000 Greeks starve to death during the occupation during World War 2?

I brought it with me. And it's a good thing, too... The weather here SUCKS right now. Even worse than the forecast indicated. We got pummeled with rain about 10 miles west of Tuscaloosa, so bad we had to turn on the hazards and drive 40 on the highway. Terrible, terrible rain. It's better here in town, but it's still raining intermittent-to-heavy, non-stop. Looks like another miserable weekend of football weather.

Be patient. In a couple of days, they'll come take him away to put the rest of the story in ink.

Saw that... Rain forecast all night and all day, with the greatest chance of thunderstorms at noon Alabama time- just in time for kickoff. Not too thrilled about spending another gameday in the rain... But so be it. I have a hat now.

This is possibly the greatest +1 comment I've ever seen. A slow clap would be inappropriate; this deserves a round of thundering applause. And for greenminer- you'll know I'm home safe on Sunday because I'll probably post here and I'll definitely write up the trip for TakeAKnee. I even held back some terrible lodging stories in case this place sucks as hard as I think it will.

Your image link isn't working... But I saw the link and for anyone that's curious- It's Ned Beatty in his most famous scene. And just to add to the list of terrible hotel characteristics I've endured in the past... I've stayed in a place where the entire hallway shared a bathroom. I've stayed in a place without toilets (hole in the floor bathroom). I spent a week sleeping on the floor of a friend's new apartment that he was able to sub-let because the AIDS patient who had been living there was forced to go off to a hospice and live out the last days of his terminal phase. I've slept in my car. I've spent a night sleeping on a beach. I've spent a night in the freezing cold sleeping on public park playground equipment. I've slept in a garage attic. And I'm still scared of what I'm in for at this Motel 6.

No, I've spent my share of nights in terrible hotels. The kind where you don't even get complimentary toiletries, and you have to buy shampoo and soap out of a vending machine in the hallway. I'm just concerned about THIS Motel 6. 1) It's less than 36 hours to kickoff, and it apparently still has a significant number of vacancies. The Bama fans who migrate back to Tuscaloosa regularly seem to know enough that they want to avoid this place. 2) The other crappy hotels (Usually, your Motel 6/Red Roof Inn/Super 8's are roughly within the same ballpark on price) all cost at least $60 more per night, and they're all either full or (apparently) damn close. When people who make this trip 6-8 times every year don't think this motel is decent enough to be worth a 40% discount compared to a Super 8 just across town... That worries me. 3) The place has a sub 2 star online rating. On a previous Mean Green road trip, we stayed in a Manhattan, Kansas motel room that featured a fire damaged carpet, blood stained bedspread, and a lingering stink that can only begin to be described with the phrase "middle school gym locker room". That place was one of the lowest rated in town - 3.something stars. This place is more than a star lower... So the people who stay there hate the place enough that even the fake ratings from the owners/management can't bring the place up to a measly two stars. Anyway... It's not exactly a "Princess and the Pea" situation here. I'm just worried that we're dropping a hundred bucks in exchange for the equivalent of a night on the floor of a rest stop bathroom.

Because we didn't want to spend more than $200 for a mediocre hotel (or more than $150 to stay at a Super 8) in Tuscaloosa, and we didn't want to stay in Birmingham... My brother and I are going to stay at the Motel 6. For $90 a night. It's apparently a sub 2-star online rating, which is a very, very bad sign. If I knew I could find running water to wash up in the morning, I'd almost rather we spent the $90 on a tent and just camped in a ditch on the side of the highway. Pray for us.

Bravo, sir.

If you have a hotel recommendation or anti-recommendation, that would be very helpful. Particularly, any places we should make it a point to avoid.

All I wanted was a Pepsi, and she wouldn't give it to me.

Reminds me of a great joke I just told...

Nobody? NOBODY?!?!? NOT ONE OF YOU???? Okay, since none of you seems to recognize... WU-TANG IS FOR THE CHILDREN. THEY TEACH THE CHILDREN. Y'KNAW I MEAN?

Nice work, as always... But I'm a little sad that you decided not to go with the high concept bit we discussed.

You've obviously never watched Brokeback Mountain 27 times and counting. In the above scenario, Nathan would be Heath Ledger.

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On behalf of everyone who can't separate actors from the characters they play on-screen... Burn in Hell, pedophile.

6-6 this year is essential. ESSENTIAL. Not getting to that point this season is a bad, bad omen.

I heard it several times last year.