Aladdin Gyrocery: Magical Gyros

Aladdin Gyrocery
The Ave & 42nd-ish
7/10 on my bangin' scale

Having lived or worked in the U-District for 5 years, I can say with confidence that the lamb gyro at Aladdin Gyrocery is among the U-District's best fare.

The gyro meat is deliciously spiced, and the yogurt sauce is quite tasty, too. They don't skimp on salad toppings (iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, red onion), either. A combo meal ($7.50) includes a gyro, a soda, and your choice of fries, rice, or salad. I usually choose the rice because the yellow rice is delish.

The falafel pita is also a decent bet, but not quite as good as the gyro.

Lamb Gyro Combo: Lamb Gyro, rice with yogurt sauce, and soda ($7.50)

Expect to wait several minutes for your order. They grill everything up after you order. At least this way everything always comes out super warm!

No need to ask a genie for a place to get a halfway decent meal in the U-District, just head over to Aladdin Gyrocery.

"The Fosters" is "7th Heaven" for Lesbians

This week Netflix recommended I watch its new release "The Fosters."

To decide if I should watch it, I asked myself three questions:
1) Do I want to watch an ABC Family show about lesbians?
2) Do I want to risk watching a show with such a lame name ("The Fosters" is the family name, reflects the fact that the couple are foster parents, AND I hope may be a reference to Jodie Foster.....)?
3) Does anyone want to watch a show executive produced by JLo?

Obviously, my answers to all three were a resounding "YES!" Four days later, I've finished all 10 episodes. What can I say about this show? It is definitely "7th Heaven" for lesbians.

Here's the basic plot: Two super-lesbimoms have a bajillion kids, and teen/family drama ensues.

Warning: There will be some minor plot giveaways below.

Stef Foster and Lena Adams = Eric and Annie Camden
I guess the moms have to be like Eric and Annie because they are the parents. They have five kids... like the original cast of "7th Heaven!" Stef is a police officer, and Lena is a vice principal at a fancy charter school. Neither are a minister, but their actions preach since they have no discernible character flaws. Although they are given a ton of crazy conflicts, they always seem to have the best possible reaction to everything. Lesbimoms are the best type of moms!

Brandon Foster = Matt Camden
Brandon is the oldest brother (like Matt), and is Stef's biological son from a previous marriage. He generally has his shit together (also like Matt), and therefore is rather boring.

Callie Jacob = Mary Camden
Callie is new to the family as a foster child. She's around Brandon's age, maybe 16 or 17? I almost chose Jesus (below) to be Mary, but Callie has more issues, so she gets the cake. Multiple dark horses/forbidden loves like her (like Mary aka Jessica Biel!), she just came out of juvie (didn't Mary get arrested at some point?), and has generally had the hardest time of all the kids (MARY).

Jesus Foster = Lucy Camden
Jesus is the 15-year-old adoptive son of Stef and Lena, and is Mariana's twin brother. He's the hot dude with ADD, who can get any popular girl he wants (Lucy had a lot of boyfriends and was popular). Too bad he likes Mariana's best friend!

Mariana Foster = Simon Camden
Mariana is the twin sister of Jesus. She doesn't have a ton of friends (sorry, but no one likes you, Simon), and she gives her biological mom money when she asks her for it (Bank of Simon).

Jude Jacob = Ruthie Camden
At 12, Jude is the youngest (foster) kid, and is therefore the most like Ruthie. He's cute, doesn't talk bad about anyone, and gets bullied at school.

Family Lessons = Family Lessons
The family lessons are at the heart of this show, as they were in "7th Heaven."  What's refreshing is that the morals are more like what I'd personally want to hear. We learn about teen contraception, gay marriage, religion and gays, bullying in school, undocumented immigrants, alcoholism, and rape.

If you were still wondering if "The Fosters" really is "7th Heaven" for lesbians, take a look at who officiated their wedding....

We Survived Mariano Rivera Bobblehead Night: A True Story

My mother is a huge Yankee fan (for example, she claims she is partially responsible for getting Andy Pettitte to come out of retirement... but that is another story), so last night my parents went to Yankee Stadium to get Mariano Rivera bobbleheads.

The following is a real-life account of what happened:

We are going to get t-shirts that say "We survived Mariano Rivera Bobblehead Night"

G__ and I each invested 4 hours of our lives in acquiring our Mariano Rivera Bobbleheads. It was nearly life-threatening at times. :) G__ got there early, and though he was on a civilized line, there was a crush to the gates when they were opened 45 MINUTES LATE, because the Yankees were trying to figure out how to break it to the crowd that the BOBBLEHEADS HAD NOT ARRIVED! I staked that out early and sat on a bench away from the fray. I was resigned not to get a bobblehead (or should I say a voucher, at that point. The truck that was bringing the bobble heads to the Stadium broke down in New Jersey). While I sat and talked to a lady who came from MINNESOTA and had rented a week in a house in the BRONX IN WALKING DISTANCE TO THE STADIUM, in order to get a bobble head, I realized that there was a "will call" line and right next to it a line to get right into the stadium, without the crush, so I ambled in there and got my voucher.

Later, during the game (which was horrible in many ways), the bobbleheads arrived and they announced that they could be picked up in ONE SPOT in the stadium, until one half hour after the game. Everyone went some time between the 4th and 6th innings and it resulted in a line that snaked thru the bowels of the stadium, through the basement, up the ramps to the top deck, back down and out the Gate 2 where the vouchers could be redeemed. People were selling their places on line, their vouchers and likewise, offering to buy vouchers. I wanted the crowd to start chanting "Mariano" from the depths of the stadium, so it would reverberate out on the field, but I could not get the crowd to go along with me. They were so defeated. People are such lambs. There were Yankee intern-type people in suits assigned to patrol the line, but they were powerless to help. It was obvious to anyone on line, that they should have had several different locations to pick up the bobbleheads and maybe one of them should have been outside...maybe the merchandise was too precious to allow out on the Bronx streets.

And finally, despite the fact that the head DOES NOT BOBBLE, someone has already posted it on ebay for $250.

And now, the moment we've all been waiting for...

September 24, 2013 Mariano Rivera bobblehead

I Always Wanted A Boat Friend...

Center for Wooden Boats
Free Rides Sundays
9/10 on my bangin' scale.

 ... Now that friend is a steam launch named Puffin. She's a bit of a cougar (she was originally built in 1906), but that only makes her all the more alluring.

If you're wondering about the FREE Sunday sails at the Center for Wooden Boats, here's the down low:

• You have to get there before 10am to sign up at 10. According to a volunteer at the Center, a good time to get there is around 9:15am on sunny summer weekends. She also suggested coming in October, when summertime crowds start to die down.
• If you want a sailboat, make sure you get there earlier than we did. My group of 3 arrived at 9:55, which was cutting it a bit close for signups. By the time we got inside, all of the sail boats were taken... but that was OK, since we really wanted to ride Puffin! 
• Come back at your assigned time (we got a 1pm time slot) to get lifejackets and board your boat.
• Enjoy a 45 minute ride past Lake Union houseboats (yes, you'll see the house from "Sleepless in Seattle"), Gas Works Park, and various drunken boat parties (weather permitting).

Center for Wooden Boats dock

Now, about my steamy journey aboard the Puffin. I know I'm biased (at the time of writing she's the only boat I've boarded at the CWB), but I'd have to say this boat has to be the best at the Center. How many times in your life do you have the opportunity to ride a tiny, early 1900s steam boat? Three volunteer crew members attended to steering and feeding the Puffin (her boiler is hungry), while we lounged around tooting her horn.

Our volunteer captain posing with the Puffin's boiler

Forge ahead, Puffin!

I would highly recommend for all Seattleites to go to Free Sunday "Sails" at CWB. And at least twice. Do it. It's Cheap. Cheap. Cheap.

Journaling in the 90s.

I found my elementary through middle school journal the other day. I love that I am exactly the same as I was when I was eight years old. Also, current events/fads are great.

1. Written in 1994 (8 years old). Trapper Keepers, Lion King, and TEN PENCILS.

2.  Written in 1995 (8 years old). I can't believe someone does not like math.

 3. Written in 1999 (13 years old). I can write in cursive. I had an unreadable pink milky pen, which I used to talk about "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace."

4. Written in 1999 (13 years old). I got an A. I played softball. The Knicks were good that year (Patrick Ewing and Larry Johnson)!

The Spurs Lost, so let's turn to the commentary of Game 7...

"Bosh is not able to get off of Duncan's body to be able to help on the penetration."

All Coming Back to Me

This never occurred to me before, but...is Celine Dion's hit "All Coming Back to Me Now" about her fond memories of being molested at age 12 by her future husband?

Via Wikipedia:

Dion first met her husband and manager, Rene Angelil in 1980, when she was 12 and he was 38, after she and her mother sent him a demo tape of a song they had written. They began a relationship in 1987, and became engaged in 1991.

 And the lyrics include gems such as:

There were moments of gold
and there were flashes of light.
There were things I'd never do again
but then they'd always seemed right.
There were nights of endless pleasure
It was more than any laws allow
Baby, baby...

MORE THAN ANY LAWS ALLOW???????