Highway Hangouts:Eat and Run

To clarify: I've never to my knowledge seen either Stern comment on a Wal-Mart sleeveless top. I just think they're a kinda funny trashy piece of fashion.

I love both Jane and Michael to death, after discovering their writing about 16 years ago (and I'm not that old, despite what that portrait in my attic is doing), and I think the world of their advice. I just want to make it clear that I'm of the opinion that rustics can be funny, and it's okay to laugh at them from time to time. Just like it's okay to laugh at urbane urban sophisticates who aren't sure what lamb fries are. ;0)

Eric, Warmly.

quote:

Originally posted by VibrationGuy

To clarify: I've never to my knowledge seen either Stern comment on a Wal-Mart sleeveless top. I just think they're a kinda funny trashy piece of fashion.

Eric, Warmly.

We used to play a drinking game with the show COPS. You had to take a shot when you saw a guy in a white sleeveless tank top, a woman with a black bra on under a light shirt, someone outside in curlers, a muu muu, or a pitbull.

-Elise, who likes walking around barefoot wearing a slip, eats entirely too much mayonnaise, drinks out of the bottle, drives a pickup truck, and goes to stock car races...and thus is not above reproach herself.

EliseT: I sure like your self description. Any woman who drives a pick up and goes to stock car races is my kinda woman.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by EliseT

We used to play a drinking game with the show COPS. You had to take a shot when you saw a guy in a white sleeveless tank top, a woman with a black bra on under a light shirt, someone outside in curlers, a muu muu, or a pitbull.

In other words, you drank constantly until you dropped . The "Cops" game reminds me of my drinking days long ago: we used to have drink-a-shot-a-minute contests; and the last person to fall down was the winner. [|)]

quote:

Originally posted by VibrationGuy

To clarify: I've never to my knowledge seen either Stern comment on a Wal-Mart sleeveless top. I just think they're a kinda funny trashy piece of fashion.

I love both Jane and Michael to death, after discovering their writing about 16 years ago (and I'm not that old, despite what that portrait in my attic is doing), and I think the world of their advice. I just want to make it clear that I'm of the opinion that rustics can be funny, and it's okay to laugh at them from time to time. Just like it's okay to laugh at urbane urban sophisticates who aren't sure what lamb fries are. ;0)

Eric, Warmly.

Thanks, Eric, and amen, brother! To use a word that students of Hugh Hefner's 1970s "Playboy Philosophy" will remember all too well, extreme timorousness, lest someone be offended, is very stultifying. Furthermore, as writers who find ourselves often walking that line (We did author "The Encyclopedia of Bad Taste," which I felt was a loving look at excommunicated culture), it's our experience that the people being written about are seldom the ones who get offended (whether they be WalMarters or LLBeaners); it's cultural scaredy-cat busybodies who make it their business to worry about others. I shall now step off the soapbox...

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Stern

quote:

Originally posted by EliseT

We used to play a drinking game with the show COPS. You had to take a shot when you saw a guy in a white sleeveless tank top, a woman with a black bra on under a light shirt, someone outside in curlers, a muu muu, or a pitbull.

In other words, you drank constantly until you dropped . The "Cops" game reminds me of my drinking days long ago: we used to have drink-a-shot-a-minute contests; and the last person to fall down was the winner. [|)]

We tried the COPS game with "missing teeth" and "mullets" but we all got too drunk too fast and had to take those two off the list.

Everybody has an opinion, and that's what makes the world go around, but at least be consistent. Randy Garbin contrdicts himself so often you'd think he's AC/DC. Example: he talks of the Sterns having been established as experts on roadside dining, then undercuts them with back-handed praise and their attitude, yet again talks of their influence, but then criticizes their "dissing" of the local service. Back and forth, back and forth. What are they, Randy, experts or not? SHEESH! They must be doing something right witness the popularity of the books (I have several) and this site, among other things. I realize reviewers like Garbin are just doing their jobs, but they should be consistent first and foremost. M and J, don't sweat the small stuff, that's all that piece was.

What is YOUR definition of AC/DC? I don't think you mean what it means here in LA

Randy Garbin? Can I have his web site?

thanks
Paul E. smith
Knoxville, TN

Couldn't find a website for Mr. Garbin per se, Sundancer, but I did find his resume and email which is rgarbin@mac.com

Paul, just go to google.com and type Randy Garbin in the search box. You'll get a few sites.

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

Randy Garbin? Can I have his web site?

thanks
Paul E. smith
Knoxville, TN

His By the Way magazine site is www.btwmagazine.com

Seems like Garbin likes to cut everyone off at the knees. I don't think he is making to many friends. People like that are quite sad and need a doctors help. Do you think he is trying to be the diner expert of the world? Shallow!

There were so many banners at the bottom of that btw site that I exited immediately. Now I'll probably end up with spyware on my computer, thanks to this Randy Garbin. I don't like him!!! And I'm sad that I missed this show on the History Channel. Now I'm thinking that I'm not sure if I even have the History Channel...

EliseT

I hate to tell you this but you are above reproach, as there is no such thing as eating to much mayo.

As I peruse the site I am eating a tomato, onion sandwich, w/a thick slathering of mayo (Best Mayo in the west, Hellman's in the east) on both slices of cheap white bread, with a bit of salt and pepper.

The drinking out of the bottle and drving a P/U are just further proof that your self assesment was just plain wrong.

I love you guys so much!

OOPS, forgot the AC/DC query

Choose the one you want it to be.

1) Alternating current/Direct current

2) A dynamite band

3) A switch hitter (not the Mickey Mantle kind)

It just seemed out of context to be alluding to him as any of those definitions, although (3) is what really made me wonder what Oneiron knows about this guy.

quote:

Originally posted by CCJPO

EliseT

I hate to tell you this but you are above reproach, as there is no such thing as eating to much mayo.

As I peruse the site I am eating a tomato, onion sandwich, w/a thick slathering of mayo (Best Mayo in the west, Hellman's in the east) on both slices of cheap white bread, with a bit of salt and pepper.

The drinking out of the bottle and drving a P/U are just further proof that your self assesment was just plain wrong.

No, no, no, what makes Elise above reproach is that she still wears a slip. Trust me, good girls, even the ones who want to make the world think they're bad, wear slips.

Eric

Dear VG,

RE: EliseT

I think I presumed something about EliseT, and we all know that if you presume, that it makes a pre out of u and me.

My presumption was that EliseT walked around her house barefoot wearing a slip. This would make her a bad girl, which actually makes her a good girl, therefore above reproach.

What you guys don't understand is that Elise is a cloistered nun with a great sense of humor.

SF
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

That is the sound of me cracking up, your post was GREAT

quote:

Originally posted by VibrationGuy

quote:

Originally posted by CCJPO

EliseT

I hate to tell you this but you are above reproach, as there is no such thing as eating to much mayo.

As I peruse the site I am eating a tomato, onion sandwich, w/a thick slathering of mayo (Best Mayo in the west, Hellman's in the east) on both slices of cheap white bread, with a bit of salt and pepper.

The drinking out of the bottle and drving a P/U are just further proof that your self assesment was just plain wrong.

No, no, no, what makes Elise above reproach is that she still wears a slip. Trust me, good girls, even the ones who want to make the world think they're bad, wear slips.

Eric

It's just so "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", isn't it?

"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"! That's exactly what I was thinking. Can't recall the scene, however, where Maggie is strolling around with a jar of Hellman's.

In June, 1993, the New York Times published an article of diner appreciation written by the Sterns's in which it began:

"It's too bad you can't eat ambiance. At many of the beautiful old diners, it would probably taste a whole lot better than the food. Cherished though they may be as nostalgic icons of the American road, the reputations of diners as places to eat is about on the same level as highway service areas and airport cafeterias."

Hardly the stuff of honest appreciation, particularly when your forum is in the world's most highly regarded newspaper.

Roadsider: You sound like Mr. Randy Garbin himself. A clue is in your member name. And you list Jenkintown, PA as your home-isn't that where Mr. Garbin is? Am I correct in my assumption? If so, welcome. I did read your online Roadside religiously as I enjoy diner architecture and food. I am surprised at your comments regarding the Sterns though.

quote:

Originally posted by roadsider

In June, 1993, the New York Times published an article of diner appreciation written by the Sterns's in which it began:

"It's too bad you can't eat ambiance. At many of the beautiful old diners, it would probably taste a whole lot better than the food. Cherished though they may be as nostalgic icons of the American road, the reputations of diners as places to eat is about on the same level as highway service areas and airport cafeterias."

Hardly the stuff of honest appreciation, particularly when your forum is in the world's most highly regarded newspaper.

quote:

Originally posted by EliseT

It just seemed out of context to be alluding to him as any of those definitions, although (3) is what really made me wonder what Oneiron knows about this guy.

I have no knowledge of Randy Garbin other than what I read, thank goodness, and the AC/DC comment was only to address his vacillation on the issue at hand and to rip his article. Beyond that, I thought he offered only a cheap shot at the Sterns, and Elise, I'm on the right "team" as Seinfeld would say.

Ok, just did further investigation. Roadsider=Randy Garbin. I just read the online By the Way magazine and Mr. Garbin posted the same post as on this thread.

Good detective work Cheezwit.

Diner food seems to be touch and go. I've eaten at a really good one in Ellicott City MD, and a mediocre one in Wheelersburg, OH. I do love the style and architecture of them, so I'll probably continue to have hit and miss experiences at them.

Oh my. I did not realize our little band of roadfooders had that much clout. I also did not realize that we were the closest friends of Jane and Michael.

Better be careful of what we write. Oh, the power!