restaurant review - urban cowboy

With all that has been going on this past week: flooding, flood recovery, la machine, visitors, etc., we went out for dinner last night.

The boy had been given vouchers from Ray's Reptiles, in appreciation for his volunteering some time ago for a restaurant called The Urban Cowboy. Apparently, it started out as a food truck and then they made the leap to a full restaurant.

the urban cowboy

Honestly, I was not expecting much. It is your basic "Tex-Mex" style restaurant. I figured it would be like most of its type outside of its home territory: "okay". And looking at the pricing online, I thought a bit high, but let us try it. The vouchers would basically give us an entrée for free. So, why not.

I was actually surprised. We ordered sweet potato fries with a tempura batter, battered deep fried pickles, and chips and guacamole to start. Very tasty. The boy and the wife thought the guac was okay, but I rather liked it. This from a guy who makes his own. They thought it had too much lime, but I found a smoky undertone that made it stand out. We did not finish the apps. Too much. Next time, no more than two appetisers. 

looking towards the bar

For our mains, the boy got the brisket sandwich with onion rings. He finished the sammy, but the rings were aplenty and he could not consume all of them, even with help. The wife got the chicken and waffles and mac n' cheese for a side. Again, could not be finished. 

My main course was the Derby Platter, a single order. Quarter chicken, quarter rack of ribs (more like a half rack though), pulled pork, brisket (styled like pulled pork), smoked sausage (very polish in style, but smoky), a couple of chicken wings, it also came with cornbread (a huge hunk), and for my side: trail beans ( a good sized portion). All our dishes came with coleslaw too.

you can watch them prepare your meal

All the meaty bits in my entrée were smoky, but not overwhelmingly so, barbecue sauce on everything, but again, not overwhelmingly so. I could not finish it. I wanted to, but knew I would be sorry. I killed the beans though. They were fantastic. I mean, I wanted more, but I am shy and did not ask. If I could only have one item from the Urban Cowboy, it would be the trail beans. That is how good they were. Usually, beans are an afterthought in most restaurants, be they Tex-Mex, Mexican, Québécois, or a breakfast place, but these were, as Jimmie Walker, as James (J.J.) Evans Junior on Good Times, would say: "Dyn-o-mite!"

The only thing we all thought that could have been better was the coleslaw. It was adequate and a cream based one. One would expect it to be a vinegar one. It just did not stand up to the rest of the meal. Fortunately, it was only a small part. However, I do hope they step up to the plate for the slaw. I really enjoy it when it is made well. I know most people actually do not eat it, just like the pickle in a deli meal, but to me it is part of the meal and the experience.

The boy and I devoured our leftovers today for lunch. The wife carved hers in to two lunches to take to work. That is how big the meals actually were. So, In the end, the pricing was reasonable. The meal very enjoyable and our waitress was very good, friendly, and attentive.

If you get the chance, you should check out the Urban Cowboy at 4456 Limebank Road in Ottawa (613-604-4456). I honestly cannot tell you how it compares to barbecue from Texas and the Southwest, but around here, it blows away just about anything you will find in the Ottawa Valley. I hope I run in to their food truck too. blbbl

la machine

We finally got a chance to see "La Machine". We went with some friends from town. It is basically robotic creatures that roam the city. Apparently, this was the first time they have been in North America. The City of Ottawa arranged it for part of the Canada 150 celebrations this summer.

It was pretty cool. We went to the Sunday afternoon presentation which left from the Supreme Court of Canada. There was a giant spider, named Kumo, and a giant dragon-horse, named Long Ma.

Seeing them and being part of the experience was great. However, it also reminded me of why I do not like (big) cities in Canada, particularly Ottawa. People are oblivious to their surroundings and other people. They do not move out of the way, but will step in front of you when you get a spot to see the action. Basically, they are passively rude, inconsiderate, and selfish. I have noticed too that Canadians, who are world famous for being polite and kind and are also known for being neat and tidy and not being litterbugs, are in fact becoming the stereotypical "Ugly American" or "Rude British Tourist" in their own backyard. I find our English speaking cousins from across the pond and down South to be more akin to what we boast about ourselves globally.

Quite a turn of the tables. I myself and my family and the vast majority of my friends and relations still aspire to live up to our international reputations, but many of my fellow citizens truly lack any considerations. I see it here everywhere in Canada I have been and unfortunately, internationally as well. I will not go in to the theories as to why that may be. Except to say that as our global village becomes cosier and cosier, we are losing our compassionate and considerate qualities. Call me names if you like for that mild statement. I can take it. I have been called a fascist and stalinist for my observations in the past, in addition to many other, non-repeatable in print, names. I have one thing to say to that: Bite me!

Anyway, back to Kumo and Long Ma. What a fantastic event. We saw them wake up and move off to wander the town. We decided not to follow them as there there were so many people and it was difficult to move about. We bisected the crowds at angles and made our way through the masses and had a nice walk back to Chinatown where we parked and did a little bit of shopping and then went out to dinner.

In spite of it all, we all had a great time. If you ever get the chance to see this, make haste and be a part of it. Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, and some kind of photo taking device. You will not regret it. blbbl

KUMO

LONG MA

i just thought this sign was funny and demeaning at the same time

a golden calf?

So, a story told third hand.

The wife has a friend she helps out from time to time. He lives in a nearby town and has several acres and it is somewhat rural.

Well, she went over today and when she pulled in front of the house after driving down the treed lane, she heard a moo. This was a new sound at this house. Then she saw a calf, tied up.

It was scrawny and ugly and not too happy looking. She asked the friend's the wife as to what the skinny (sorry for the pun) was on this cow.

Well, their the boy went to a farmer to pick up some hay bales for some back field archery. He paid for them etc. Then the farmer asked if he wanted to buy a calf. Sure, why not. He dropped $150 on it and put it in the back of his truck and brought it home.

He then tied it up and left it at that. The next day the family: the friend, his the wife, their the boy, their the girl were heading out for some activity and as they drove down the lane there was this calf in the middle of the road blocking their egress. At this point, only the boy knew about this addition to the family.

The wife tells the girl to jump on Facebook and check whatever local community group they have and check to see if someone is missing a calf. Well. The boy says that will not be necessary. The other three look and him and ask: Why? Because it's mine. What? Yes, I bought the calf when I picked up the hay bales; I thought you'd like it mum. Okay?

Apparently, he, the boy not the cow, used to do odd things like this all the time when he was younger. He would bring gophers home and say he found them. In reality, he would dig in to their burrows, round them up, and bring them home. Alrighty!

So, they wrangle the calf back to the house and tie it up good this time. Now, enter my the wife. She asks what is he going to do with it? No idea. He is just keeping it for now. Apparently their chickens quite like Mister Moo and hang out with it. My theory is that they, the chickens, are trying to strike a deal with the calf. If it can get the keys to one of the vehicles and it is willing to steer, they, the chickens, will run the pedals and the GPS and take the sucker, the truck, all the way to Mexico, or maybe Wisconsin. You see, they do not have opposable thumbs and would be hard pressed to run a gas pump and use a debit machine.

However, ,as we all know, chickens is organised, so they would probably even manage to get to somewhere in South America. Maybe, they could stage a coup, or is it coop (ha ha) and take over Venezuela. blbbl

"them chickens is organised" (courtesy dailymail.co.uk)

and now for a sad song

The wife and I were chilling last night after a go in the basement clearing out the detritus. While sitting on the back deck discussing strategies for the rest of the basement, she came out with a theory right out of the blue. It pertained to the core difference between women and men.

Basically, men are devoid of emotion, except for nurturing negative, dark ardour. While women pick up the slack with positive, upbeat, and nurturing spirit, energy, and empathy.

We bantered back forth for a while and I made her laugh with my counters to her theory. So, even though I am unable to be happy as a result of being a man, I am able to uplift the spirits of the better half.

As we carried on the debate, merit was shown to support the wife's theory. The wife used to cry at those commercials that showed a neglected clothing iron all sad and upset. Or the other one that started the water works: the potato all sad and forlorn because a noodle or rice quick sidedish was used for dinner instead; it was a Lipton's sidedish packet I believe. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any clips on the interweb of these commercials. If anyone can point me in the right direction, I will update this post.

She still cries at silly sad commercials, when we are somewhere with cable. She also loses it often during movies and tv shows. Heartland? Forget it, she is like Niagara Falls most episodes. Hell, most scenes.

As to men, or more specifically, me, I watch Zombie genre film and television; out of curiosity. I actually despise the horror category. To me it falls more under the post-apocalyptic/survival shmere. the point is, it does not freak me out or scare me. Often it makes me laugh. I suppose that is morbid and would fall under the dark/negative category of emotion.

To wit, I also never cried at either of my parents' funerals. I thought I had to be strong. I was stoic and I was the last to leave the grave site. At the wakes, I would crack jokes and tell funny stories. Morbid? Maybe. Fort he record, I did cry eventually, years later. And as I mentioned in a previous post, I do think about my mum and dad. I would say even daily, but I cannot provide a ledger proving it.

I do believe that women are more in tune with themselves and their surroundings. Men tend to choose to not recognise crisis, loss, tragedy with the same earnestness as the the fairer sex.

I also think largely that men and women have been conditioned for centuries, millennia, differently. Women are supposed to be nurturing and sensitive and caring. While men are supposed to be tough, strong, clinical. However, explain Margaret Thatcher, just in general? What about George W. Bush? All but needing a hankie and a giant hug on 13 September 2001. Maybe those exceptions make the rule.

Maybe, this proves the wife's point. Dunno? 

Then again, I am at war with a bunch of squirrels and their Expanding Legion of Evil. What do I know?

If I were not a barren husk of a man lacking a soul and devoid of positive emotion, I might have been able to process all this in greater detail. blbbl

the twelve labours of the rooster

Cleaning up the basement is taking on Herculean proportions. Or akin to Asterix, if you can stop and laugh at it all.

One corner is somewhat done and around the sump well too. But where those walnuts leached out? Oh man, not fun. I guess I am at the fifth labour, but instead of stables, the basement.

It has tired me right out and I am dizzy from going around in circles. I can see the apples though, just have to get to finding my girdle and get the cattle out of the way.

Cerberus, notwithstanding, is some ways off. blbbl

still at it

Tackled the basement today. Not much progress. It is hard where to decide it is best to start. I ended up going from section to section as actions moved me around. Lots of work yet. Some stuff is definitely ruined. Some electronics, carpets, papers; maybe a couch and chair. My books are safe, some clothing I had in trunks is damp, but okay otherwise. I will plug away at it all day tomorrow and the next as well.

I have learnt I have two low points in the basement. One at the sump well, thankfully. The other? Diagonally across the basement from the sump well in the opposite corner. I have not tackled that corner yet. I have put down some cardboard hoping to soak up some of the mess. This is the worst part. The cold room is there as well. What makes it really bad is that I had a bag of black walnuts in their husks in the cold room. I kept meaning to take them out and move them to high ground. Well, I forgot. The husks have historically been used for making dark brown, nearly black, dyes. Let me tell you, it works. The "colour" leached out and it made the water in to a thick sludge. It is like a puddle of crude oil right now. It will be fun to clean that up tomorrow.

Most of the water has receded, but many farm fields are flooded, the creeks are still very high. It is spitting right now. Hopefully, we do not get any significant rain in the next little while. I have a second unused sump pump. I am going to sort through all my fittings and pipe and try to fashion a crude trash pump I can place in the sump well to discharge right out the basement window if it happens again. I will probably need to get a flexible hose though. I am also going to keep an eye out for a trash pump. Nothing big, but a gas powered pump could come in very handy if the power goes out and there is flooding too. I can use it to pump out the pool when we close it for the winter as well.

Many things have been learnt. As I am putting things back in their place, they are being raised. I also plan to raise the appliances down in the basement. Anything low will be in plastic containers. 

One thing I have not mentioned, I spilt a half a bag of sunflower seeds during the rush to get things off the floor during the initial flood. They are everywhere. I mean everywhere. They floated around all over the basement in to every corner, nook, and cranny. Tons of fun gathering those up. Fortunately, we do not have any mice or such that come in to the basement. 

Well, I will put in a couple of more hours in tonight. Fun, fun, fun. blbbl

water always wins

So, what started as an amusing rainstorm became a disaster for some. Apparently only our town had any real flooding. 

The local Councillor "has requested that staff undertake a review of the stormwater systems that service the village to better understand why the water is staying around much longer than usual."

Our neighbour called asking for some advice as they thought their sump pump ceased operating and their water pump had failed. We went over and determined the jet pump for the water was tripping the breaker because it was underwater, about two feet, possibly more. The sump pump was actually still running, but the water was coming in faster than it was going out. We brought them a case of water and told them to not to hesitate to call if they needed anything else.

Before we went over, we checked our basement and the sump well was nearly full, but still several inches from the top. When we got back from the neighbours, the sump well was full, then it suddenly began to overflow. After trying several foolish things to stem the tide, we surrendered and started moving as much off the floor that could be damaged as possible. In the end we had about six inches of water in the whole basement. We were somewhat lucky. Some things have gotten wet and will be attended to tomorrow, as late this afternoon the water has receded, except where it is trapped in low points. Some things fell in to the water after being moved, but oh well.

A lot of work ahead cleaning out and drying the basement. Also, a lot of work to determine what is ruined and to be catalogued. There is more rain forecast over the next few days, but it is supposed to be much less. Hopefully we do not flood again.

However, there is a lot of water here in town. Many areas are flooded, the creeks have burst their banks. I suspect some water has come from decisions to prevent flooding elsewhere. I also suspect the storm drains failing to drain is due to infrastructure failure. Hopefully, we will get honest answers. We will see.

In the meantime, some photos from around town when the worst was over. blbbl

one of the main intersections in town

house at the intersection, see the canoe moored behind the trailer

the local 5-pin bowling alley

across from the bowling alley

where the bush is in the middle, i believe there is a foot bridge: now submerged

the fire hall is up on the left

the field by the pub

the road to the post office

the main creek in town

the creek again

the creek approaching the cenotaph

looking across the creek

another angle

around the corner from our house

the creek near my house ( i do not know its name) - as high as the bridge that crosses it

the same creek, now part of the neighbour's backyard

the creek passing through the other side

i just saw noah

Some storm we are having right now.

i had no idea there was a tree in my pool

lake rooster, i should go out in a canoe on it

the pool-tree and lake from the other side

my weed and rock farm, now hydroponic

close-up of the rock-potatoes

a river runs through it

the other side too

all the way from the back of the property out to the front and in to the street

the street

Well, at least the house has not broken from is moorings....Yet. blbbl