Baxter Bark Twice

Do as I say, never as I do

Archive for June, 2011

WE WERE ON A BREAK

Posted by AllieB on June 28, 2011

BBT is on a break until further notice – something is happening and some people are getting weird viruses. This isn’t good for business.

Don’t click on any box that pops up upon visiting this site, and I’ll post again when things are all clear.

XOXO

P.S. It’s not my fault, and not every single reader has been infected – I, for one, have not – but enough have that I feel this courtesy must be made. I’m not happy, and I apologize for any inconvenience. :|

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Hi.

Posted by AllieB on June 27, 2011

I don’t have a lot for you today…I could go on a diatribe about how much I hate Comcast and the fact that my cable/internet has been out for four days and that I am MISSING THE PREMIERE OF WEEDS TONIGHT as a result, but that’s no fun…oh, how original: I hate my cable provider.

I could also rant about the weather and how insane it is – that’s brand new information.

Or, mayhaps, I could regale you with how much I love the library. Due to the aforementioned cable outage, I cannot work from home and it’s wrenching everything and am thereby forced to do my work at the Buckhead Branch – my fave. Kayruh is sitting across from me. Hi, Kayruh.

As a last resort, I might throw in the intervention I had to have with myself last night re: grilled cheeses. Actually, I don’t think I will get into that…but the Duchess of Windsor certainly helped (I can’t bring myself to include the image on the post – the juxtaposition would be too unfair. It was taken earlier today – she went to see a match at Wimbledon.)

This week, BOLO for: a new page detailing BBT’s book recommendations (a page akin to the restaurant guide), a survey (my post on Friday gave me an idea…!), and some other awesomely awesome stuff.

Tex’s Tacos schedule for the week.

Your horoscope for the week.

I cannot stop listening to this song; if I’m in my car, it’s on repeat.

Posted in Arbitrary, Princess Kate | Tagged: , , , , , | 6 Comments »

Friday Flyer

Posted by AllieB on June 24, 2011

Clark Howard has a program on his daily talk show on Fridays called the Friday Flyer. As I’ve mentioned before, I love all things Clark Howard, so I’m going to have one too. Last week I talked about Yacht Week and how I wanted to go (incidentally, yet another person with whom I am acquainted is now going and they’ll be on the Southern Croatian route – hint: it’s not me :|), and this week I share with you a collection of roof top bars across the world. I’ve actually been to one of them, which is why I’m even talking about it – sometimes I have to one-up myself to bolster my spirits.

Drinks on patios are my favorite thing, but drinks on a patio that is on a roof with a dramatic cityscape is really my favorite thing – case in point: The Sky Bar in Bangkok. It’s on the 64th floor of the second tallest building in the city. Kewl, right? That one in Madrid looks awesome, too….traveling is my favorite.

Here are some interesting facts with which to dazzle a member of the opposite sex this weekend – forget cheesy pick-up lines, drop a truth bomb of truth and I bet you’ll get way further:

  • A sneeze travels out your mouth at over 100 m.p.h. – upon saying this, I think it would be funny to sneeze
  • A giraffe can clean its ears with its 21-inch tongue – ew
  • Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying – I wonder if that’s really true?
  • Whoever you were trying to talk to has definitely walked away by now. But at least you’re smarter than you were a second ago.

Titillating conversation starters, all of those.

While it wasn’t the Sky Bar in BKK, the vista from Kramerica’s patio last night was pretty dec…as was my carne asada taco from Tex’s Tacos. I try to have at least one/week, and they get better every time. So do the lime chips. And the guac.

courtesy: Leila Ann’s iPhone…….

Happy weekend, Friendsicles*

*I borrowed this from the QT email that blew up the internet yesterday…most ridiculous story eva. That’s pretty much the only part of the email I can reference.

Posted in Arbitrary, Imparting Wisdom | Tagged: , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Smelly Cat

Posted by AllieB on June 23, 2011

TGIT. Holla! As is becoming a bi-monthly trend, I bring you today a new guest writer. She’s actually been an invaluable resource for BBT since day 1 (Cuddle Party, an easy target, WaWa, and mucho, mucho más), and I appreciate all of her helpful input via commentary, as well. In the following anecdote, we’ll read about a batsh*t feline and how Chuck Norris Sister dealt with it – I’ll tell you, this is some scary stuff.

I just went on a walk around the Paces property to get some exercise. While I was on the weird side where nobody lives (where Ellis, Dre and Julz used to reside) all of a sudden a black cat came RUNNING out of the bushes, back arched, running sideways all weird how cats do AT ME. Literally eye contact was made. He wanted a piece of me. I screamed and started running and it ran back into the bushes. So then I’m by the tennis courts and was going to have to run back by it. In my head I’m thinking, ok I’m bigger than this thing I just have to scare it away….

I wait a minute to get up my nerve and start running (with authority, big strides), and then it comes out AGAIN running so fast, sideways, back arched again at me. I start screaming and making loud footsteps to scare it….it doesn’t work. It keeps charging me. Plan B- I’m prepared to boot this devil’s pet back to hell as I stopped and reared back to kick it. Normally, I would not hurt an animal. But this is a cat (no offense Tiffany and Mars) and literally it was almost close enough to me to bite me. And I guess when I stopped it got scared (or maybe it was my inhuman screams) and it ran back into the bushes. I ran as fast as I could the rest of the way home. Ok, I couldn’t make it that far running but I ran fast for like 50 yards. I’m still sweating and I hate cats forever. WTF was wrong with that thing?! Is it rabid? It had a collar.

Save for a very special Madison who resides in SoFLA, I am not a fan of cats – at all, whatsoever. Dogs > cheesesteaks > a lot of other stuff > dentist > cats = IMO.

I finally got to try The National (one of Hugh Acheson’s restaurants) in Athens last night. It was so good!!! So good. I’ve been wanting to go forever, but whenever I’m in Athens I can’t not go to Last Resort and then I just run out of time. It’s a menu unlike anything I’ve ever seen: southern fusion with a Mediterranean twist? Or maybe it’s vice versa – it’s more Mediterranean than it is southern, I guess…regardless, it’s damn good. I had no idea what I was going to get – they made even the veggie plate sound awesome (VP’s are usually good, but there’s often something like a hanger steak that trumps it every time), but then our waitress told us about the specials, including: bacon-wrapped cod. Done, sahn. It was SO good….so good – from the bread that they gave us as soon as we sat down (didn’t have to wait til after we ordered – that always annoys me), the dates stuffed with manchego cheese (turns out I love manchego cheese), to the panna cotta we had for dessert…twas a v enjoyable evening.

Ok, this is why I don’t include pictures of my food: when taken with a stupid Blackberry camera, it really doesn’t do a meal justice. If I plan to make anything of all of the time and effort I’ve put into BBT, I clearly need an iPhone.

Also, Hugh, I tweeted you re: my favorable experience and got back a prompt and resounding response of radio silence. :|

Posted in Arbitrary, Food & Drink | Tagged: , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Things that can and will happen when it is 97 degrees outside

Posted by AllieB on June 21, 2011

It’s the first day of Summer! Oh, is it, Mother Nature. You could’ve fooled me….it’s hard to go anywhere, really, the moment I walk outside my energy is zapped. Also, and this is more concerning, I have to be very, very careful about my outfits. Breezy materials, obviously, are the best, but even breezy things become an issue when it’s a stagnant 97 degrees outside, especially if you’re sitting down…meet & greet: Swamp Ass. I’ve shared an example on the right from a televised golf tournament in Memphis (credit: Tina). I’m sure his backside was the least of his concerns, but it’s the most grave of mine….so.unfortunate. It looks like he’s wearing a donut, except he’s standing up and that’s not a donut – it’s sweat. Ewwwww.

My tricks for avoiding swamp ass include:

  1. Do not goog “swamp ass” because it’s really gross
  2. Don’t wear light colored cotton material on your bottom half
  3. I don’t know, this is making me uncomf

You’re welcome. If you’re up for it, check out this article/these photos, both of which give a very strong argument to the fact that, yes, the weather is becoming more and more extreme. You are less welcome for that.

I am very lucky to not be a loser and have terrific friends. I’ll quit talking about my birthday after today because, really, this has gone on long enough, but we had a lurvely dinner at Paul’s on the Patio last night and it was very fun. Thanks, guys!

For those of you with iPhones: get the Hipstamatic application. I am gritting my teeth as I write this, being without an iPhone and all, but at least I can reap the benefits of others who have them. There are tons of different settings and I don’t really know anything about the app itself besides the fact that the pictures I’ve seen people take look really cool. #ineedaniphone

I’m joining the cult that is LuluLemon. I can’t believe I’m caving, and I’m almost too ashamed to talk about it, but their shorts have lured me in….the phrase, “if you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything” comes to mind, but whatever – that was never a founding father of BBT in the first place. I got the split/speed short and the verdict is: LOVE. I knew I would. Gosh darnit, now I want to try a top…I am such a sucker.

So this “Pinterest” thing…at first I thought it was really geared towards people in the Interior Design business (which I am decidedly not), and I didn’t really mess around on it…however, after Tina’s spectacular assemblage in honor of moi that she shared with me yesterday, I am newly obsessed. It’s my very own board!!! If you would like an invitation to Pinterest, I will be happy to give you one, just let me know. I’m known for my generosity.

Posted in Arbitrary, Imparting Wisdom | Tagged: , , , , , | 6 Comments »