When Will There Be Another Peanut-Free Night?

For the first time since I started this blog, I get to write about something that combines all three of my passions: my kids, food and sports!  And it's all thanks to a very special support group called NC FACES (Food Allergic Children Excelling Safely).  This past Sunday night, the "volunteer support group that provides a social and emotional support network for families dealing with food allergies in the RTP area of North Carolina" organized a night out at the ballgame.

My wife and I had recently been discussing our realization that our younger daughter would not only never get to eat Chinese food because of her peanut allergies, but that she'd also never get to smell the fresh cut grass at a baseball game because of the abundance of peanut shells littering the pavement.  Then my wife learned about NC FACES from a co-worker of hers.  Ironically, they had just planned a Peanut-Free night at the Durham Bulls game!  Our little girl was going to get to see her first baseball game thanks to this wonderful collection of people.

Peanut-Free Signs All Around the Porch Area

The weather this past weekend was pretty crappy so for a while I didn't think the game would even happen.  Throughout the day, there were random passing downpours, but as game time approached, the clouds parted partially and some sun broke through.  Game on!  NC FACES had secured the porch area down the left field line and put up Peanut-Free signs everywhere.  The area had been cleaned thoroughly with not a shell to be found anywhere.  We were all given special stickers to show our support for the cause, and they even put out nutritional and ingredient info on the ballpark food so parents could be sure they would purchase safely for their kids.

The Famous Durham Bull and Blue Monster

We took in the sights and sounds, we eat hot dogs and nachos, we stretched during the seventh inning  and we cheered on the Bulls.  My daughter even got a tour behind the Blue Monster over which the famous bull from Bull Durham sits.  It's true, she cared much more about what was happening off the field than on, but it was a truly special night for all of us, especially for her.  It was a night that left her asking "When will there be another peanut-free night?"

So a special thanks to NC FACES for providing my daughter with an opportunity to feel like every other kid out there!  We are excited to be new members of this terrific group.

Will My Preakness Picks Be Any Better?

Since I didn't make a complete fool of myself with my Derby picks, I'm at it again for the Preakness Stakes, the second of three legs in the Triple Crown.  Since there are only nine horses in this race, here's my quick analysis of each horse, followed by my wagers.  I'll stick with another $100 in bets in an attempt to make up the $100 I lost in the Derby and hopefully a lot more.

• Orb (#1) ran the biggest race of his young career winning the Derby and he doesn't figure to repeat that performance in the Preakness.  Derby winners are usually the favorite in the Preakness, and they have been known to run better than they should in this race, so while I'll look for a better value to win it all, I can't throw him out completely.
• Goldencents (#2) went into the Derby coming off his biggest race and figured to go backwards a bit in the Derby, but not that bad.  He was beaten by almost 50 lengths which is a whole lot in a horse race.  There are a lot of possible reasons for the horrible performance including distance, too many speed horses in the race, and most of all, a very sloppy wet track.  He should get back to form in the Preakness, as long as the predicted rain doesn't mess with this race, too.  And since I figure the betters might shy away from him a bit, he'll definitely be in my wagers.
• Titletown Five (#3) looks too slow to keep up with this field, so he's out.
• Departing (#4) is a new entrant to the triple crown, with four weeks of rest to support his efforts.  He seems to have done well with the increasing distance and is a serious contender.  He should have enough speed to sit right behind the frontrunners and strike when they turn for home.  He's a major player in my betting.
• Mylute (#5) ran a big race closing fast in the shadows of Orb to finish fifth in the Derby.  He figures to struggle off his biggest effort so far and as one of the favorites, I don't think he's worth the odds.  So he's out of my betting.
• Oxbow (#6) ran alright in the Derby until fading late like many other horses running a mile and a quarter for the first time.  The Preakness is a sixteen of a mile shorter which should help, but I just don't think he'll have enough to win it all.  But at a potential long shot price, I'll take a shot at him finishing in the top 3.
• Willtakecharge (#7) was coming off his best race heading into the Derby and might have been turned off by the wet track and added distance.  He's probably too slow to win it all, but at a decent price, I'll throw him into at least one of my triple bets.
• Sometimes when handicapping a race, there comes a horse you just don't know what to do with.  Governor Charlie (#8) is that horse.  He's lightly raced with only three starts in his lifetime and he hasn't run in almost two months.  He's never run against this quality of competition either.  All signs are that he probably needs a few races of this caliber to be competitive, but if he can continue to improve, it's not that difficult to make a case for him.  I'll throw him in a few bets because his price might be too good to pass up, but I'm not counting on much this time.
• Itsmyluckyday (#9) took a huge step back in the Derby and I'm not certain he can recover quickly enough with just two weeks since that race, so he's off my radar.

With the analysis behind me, I'm putting all my eggs in the Departing basket.  And since I like to try to hit it big, I'll take a shot with a bunch of triples without Orb for a big price.  Here are my wagers:

• $20 Win on 4 (Departing) (total bet costs $20)
• $5 Exacta Box 4 (Departing) and 1 (Orb) (total bet costs $10)
• $5 Exacta Box 4 (Departing) and 2 (Goldencents) (total bet costs $10)
• $3 Exacta Box 4 (Departing) and 6 (Oxbow) (total bet costs $6)
• $3 Exacta Box 4 (Departing) and 7 (Willtakecharge) (total bet costs $6)
• $3 Exacta Box 4 (Departing) and 8 (Governor Charlie) (total bet costs $6)
• $2 Triple Box 4 (Departing), 1 (Orb) and 2 (Goldencents) (total bet costs $12)
• $1 Triple Box 4 (Departing), 2 (Goldencents) and 7 (Willtakecharge) (total bet costs $6)
• $2 Triple Part-Wheel 4 (Departing) with 2 (Goldencents), 6 (Oxbow), 7 (Willtakecharge)and 8 (Governor Charlie) (total bet costs $24)

Here's a quick reminder on what these bets mean:

• Win - The horse has to win the race
• Exacta Box - The two horses have to finish first and second in either order
• Triple Box - The three horses have to finish first, second and third in any order
• Triple Part-Wheel - The first horse must win the race and two of the other horses in the bet must finish second and third

Really, Westin?

If you read my last blog post, you know I have a minor addiction to desserts.  In fact, when bed time nears, if I don’t get my sweets, I can get a bit cranky.  So when I travel on business, things can get rough, especially if I don’t have a rental car to go on the hunt for a bakery, ice cream shop, or even a gas station convenience store stocked with goodies.

It takes great planning to ensure that when the opportunity strikes to procure a snack for later in the night, I strike.  So I’m always on the lookout for a packaged good at lunch time or even a dessert-to-go if dinner leaves me too stuffed to eat it right away.  But the real solution would be to find a hotel chain that cares more about customer service than one that feels compelled to rip off its guests.  One that finds a way to make their guests feel like they are at home rather than feeling like they are in an unfamiliar country where everyone is speaking a different language.

Snacks Available in the Room

I’ve been in Boston this week for a work trip, and last night I went out for dinner with a group of co-workers.  At the end of dinner, no one was overly excited about the dessert offerings, so we decided to head back to the hotel.  About 30 minutes after checking back into my room, the nighttime cravings started to kick in.  But with no rental car and a hotel not located within walking distance of anything open, I weighed my in-room options, only to be left asking myself “Really, Westin?”  A normal canister of M&M’s that would sell for $2 at the grocery store was $4.  The short can of Pringles was also at least twice the price.  But perhaps most ridiculous of all was the ice cream on the room service menu.  A scoop of vanilla ice cream costs $9.  But wait, there’s more.  Let’s add a 15% service charge, a 3% administrative charge, 7% sales tax, and a $3.75 delivery charge.  That makes this scoop of ice cream $15.  What, is it topped with gold flakes?  Most take-out restaurants deliver food miles away for free, or maybe $2 at most.  This scoop of ice cream doesn’t even have to leave the building.

In-Room Menu with Overpriced Ice Cream and Surcharges

Yeah, I know I’m venting and yeah, I know it’s not just the Westin that charges outlandish prices for in-room food and room service, but as a business travel, I demand more.  And perhaps if I traveled lots more and had a fancy club membership I’d get all this for free on the 39^th floor in some fancy bar overlooking the bright city lights.  But I don’t.  That still doesn’t mean I should be taken advantage.  So I say to you Westin and all the other hotels out there like you, find a better way.  You can’t possibly be making enough revenue from these sales to offset the negative customer experience.  Bring down your prices, make travelers feel like they’re at home, and maybe they will write better reviews about their experiences!

Have you had similar experiences?  Or perhaps you’ve found hotels that are already doing this?  Either way, I want to hear about it!  Please feel free to comment below.

Why Is a Big Bowl of Ice Cream So Comforting?

Tonight's dessert

After a long and stressful day, most adults utter the following words: "I need a drink".  Heck, even I utter those words sometimes, and then I remember I don't drink any more.  So instead, I think "I need a ridiculous amount of ice cream covered in crumbled thin mints or Oreos or pretty much any cookie I can find in the house, then smothered in hot fudge sauce right out of the microwave and topped off with a mile-high spray of whipped cream.  Oh, and give me a tall glass of milk along side.  And until recently, it was whole milk, but I finally came to my senses just a little bit.  So "Why Is a Big Bowl of Ice Cream So Comforting?"

I know it's not the near thousand calories I'm ingesting.  And I don't think it's the brain freeze I get if I eat it too fast.  So what is it?  I think each sinful spoonful offers a little break from the daily grind.  With that first bite, you're transported to your younger days, hanging out in front of the ice cream shop licking clockwise around the cone so the melting ice cream doesn't hit the ground.  When life was simple and all you had to worry about was which video game to play next.  With that next taste comes the magical hit of the cold ice cream swirled in with the hot fudge, sending your taste buds into a state of confused euphoria.  Is this a cold dessert or is it a warm desert.  It's both!  In fact, the combination of cold ice cream with warm pie or brownies might just be the best and most comforting food combination ever imagined.

As you dig your spoon into the ice cream for your third mouthful, making sure you get a little of everything, you begin to realize this might not be the healthiest thing for you.  But you know that for just a few brief moments, nothing else matters.  Not the next day's work you should be doing now.  Not the dirty dishes piling up in the sink.  Not the dog whimpering at the water bowl.  That for this small slice of your day, you can just kick back and be as over-indulgent as you like without being judged.  That's a truly comforting feeling.

Dreaming of tomorrow

Spoon by spoon, you slip more and more into an ice cream stupor much as if you had actually indulged in that drink.  But unfortunately, when your spoon clanks against the bottom of the now-empty bowl, you are immediately blasted back into reality, only now with a massive tummy ache.  You wonder aloud why you felt the urge to ingest all of that, but quietly think to yourself, I can't wait for tomorrow night when I can sneak away again with another supersized helping of the good stuff.

What is your "Bowl of Ice Cream"?  Or more importantly to my addiction, what do you put in your bowl of ice cream that I might like to try tomorrow night?  Let me hear from you by commenting below!

How Do We Get Our Kids to Try More Foods?

Are you having trouble getting your kids to try new foods?  If so, I can sympathize.  We had the same problem but came up with a creative way to solve the problem.  Hopefully, this post will help you.

Growing up, I tasted lots of different foods.  My mom had a real simple rule.  Try everything, and if you don't like it, you don't have to eat it.  I remember the first time I visited Boston with my mom when I was 13.  We were out for breakfast and I ordered an egg sandwich on a croissant.  I expected the eggs to be scrambled, but when they came, they were sunny side up with broken yolks running everywhere.  It didn't look very appealing, but following my mom's rule, I took a taste, and for the past 24 years, eating sunny side up eggs with broken yolks running everywhere has been my favorite way to eat eggs.  When I was eight, we were visiting friends in New Orleans.  They had a big brunch party and I tried quail for the first time.  A week later while introducing myself at sleep away camp, I told everyone my favorite food was quail, which was quite the departure from the typical answers of pizza, hot dogs and ice cream.

So I guess I just expected my kids would abide by the same rule and would love everything.  Clearly I have more defiant children who also possess less sophisticated  taste buds.  After several years of nothing but mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, fish sticks, corn and peas, my wife and I had seen enough.  So we asked ourselves "How Do We Get Our Kids to Try More Foods?".  The answer was a simple little game.  And sitting at Moe's tonight watching my older daughter eat a burrito with beef, rice, cheese, salsa and cilantro, and my younger daughter eat a soft taco with black beans, rice and cheese, while dipping chips in queso, I realized the game had worked.

We created a chart titled "Try a New Food Chart".  Under each child, we placed five rows each containing twenty boxes.  When one of the kids tried a new food item, they got one check.  If they liked it and ate a full serving, they got a second check.  This inspired the kids not only to try the food, but to actually give it a real chance.  When they finished each row, they got to pick out something from the Dollar Tree.  A cheap treat but one that thrilled them nonetheless.  And when they got their 100th check, they got a special surprise gift.  Once they got through four rows, it was amazing how many foods they were trying to finish that last row.  They used to ask before they tried a food "Do I get a check if I try that?".  Now, they just try the food and then they ask if it was worthy of a check.

Along the way, they realized how much they love some new foods.  Eggs prepared about five different ways, prosciutto, black beans, lamb chops, bruschetta, and so much more.  And all for about $50 in prizes.  Not a bad way to get the kids to try new foods and begin to experience the joys of eating all kinds of stuff.

Now it's your turn.  Please provide a comment on the creative ways you've tried to get your kids to eat more foods and how it's worked out.

Who's My Derby Pick?

Today is Kentucky Derby day.  For some, that means it's time to dig out their big fancy hats.  For others, it's time to mix up a Mint Julep and cook up a Hot Brown.  But for me, it's time to put my handicapping to the true test and see if I can pick a winner among nineteen unpredictable three-year old horses.  I've studied the past performances, I've done my analysis, and I'm ready to make my picks.  As a kid, I used to grab the morning paper, check the names of the horses running that day and circle my top three picks.  Then that night, I'd watch the race recap show and cheer on my picks, comparing my results against the professionals picks.  One summer, I even managed to have a better winning percentage than all five pros in the NY Daily News.  So I'm excited to share my picks with you today, knowing full well that by about 6:30pm EST tonight, I will have either earned your full respect, or I'll cease writing about my race track adventures forever.

First a few facts about this race.  The horses will run 1 1/4 miles, which is further than any of them have ever run before.  The race is run on the dirt, but with rain predicted, a sloppy track is possible which could throw all research out the window.  So here goes.

The Favorites

• Revolutionary (#3) is taking money, down from 10-1 morning line to current 5-1 odds.  He has a chance to put in a big performance.
• Goldencents (#8) ran a very big race in his last effort and his name is now well known as the horse partially owned by Rick Pitino.  Those factors will likely make him one of the favorites and doesn't provide enough value for me.  So I'm throwing him out.
• I grow up in the shadows of the Verrazano Bridge, which connects Brooklyn to Staten Island.  So my heart is with Verrazano (#14) today, but I'm concerned he's run too many big races the past four months.  And he didnt' race as a two year old, so he just might not be ready for this big stage just yet.  I think he's still good a solid shot at top three, but he won't be my first choice to win it all.
• Orb(#16) may be the favorite when the gates open, and he's run two solid races in a row, but at short money, even if he continues to progress, I think someone else will jump up and beat him.

The Middle Tier

• It looks like Normandy Invasion (#5) will like running the extra distance and has a big race last year to indicate he could run big today.
• Overanalyze (#9) has a shot at a decent price to make the top three and beat Normandy Invasion last November.
• Itsmyluckyday (#12) ran two very big races in January before getting beat by race favorite Orb in March.  It's possible after a step backwards in that last race he could improve again, but I think this distance will be too much so he's out.

The Long Shots

• Will Take Charge (#17) is interesting to me if the track doesn't get too sloppy.  He's well rested and should like the added distance.  His sire is Unbridled's Song, a Derby champ and he's trained by legend D. Wayne Lukas.
• Java's War (#19) ran second to Verrazano in March and a repeat performance could have him close at the finish, especially given he likes to come from way behind.
• Vyjack (#20) will leave from the far outside post but with Garrett Gomez along for the ride, getting over and saving ground shouldn't be problem and he also figures to be closing late at a very big price.

Now that I've done the analysis, "Who's My Derby Pick?"  I've decided to put my faith in the #5 Normandy Invasion.  He might not be the best horse in the race, but for his price, I like his chances the best.  So here's how I'd spend my $100:

• $10 Win on 5 (Normandy Invasion) - I think he's got the best shot for the price (total bet costs $10)
• $10 Exacta Box 3 (Revolutionary) and 5 (Normandy Invasion) (total bet costs $20)
• $5 Exacta Box 5 (Normandy Invasion) and 9 (Overanalyze) (total bet costs $10)
• $3 Exacta Box 5 (Normandy Invasion) and 19 (Java's War) (total bet costs $6)
• $3 Exacta Box 5 (Normandy Invasion) and 20 (Vyjack) (total bet costs $6)

A whole bunch of $1 Triple Boxes (each bet costing $6):

• 3 (Revolutionary), 5 (Normandy Invasion) and 9 (Overanalyze)
• 3 (Revolutionary), 5 (Normandy Invasion) and  17 (Will Take Charge)
• 3 (Revolutionary), 5 (Normandy Invasion) and  19 (Java's War)
• 3 (Revolutionary), 5 (Normandy Invasion) and 20 (Vyjack)
• 5 (Normandy Invasion), 14 (Verrazano) and 20 (Vyjack)
• 5 (Normandy Invasion), 16 (Orb) and 20 (Vyjack)
• 3 (Revolutionary),  9 (Overanalyze) and 14 (Verrazano)
• 3 (Revolutionary), 14 (Verrazano) and 20 (Vyjack)

Here's a quick dictionary of bets:

• Win - The horse has to win the race
• Exacta Box - The two horses have to finish first and second in either order
• Triple Box - The three horses have to finish first, second and third in any order

So, who you got?  You've got about 3 1/2 hours to make your pick!

Why is This Place So Magical?

I've always loved going on vacation.  As an pre-parent adult, I've spent time in San Diego, San Francisco, Vegas, Santa Fe, Maui, Montreal, the Caribbean and numerous other places.  The experiences have been great and returning home has always sucked.  But now that I'm a parent of two young children, vacations have taken on a whole new meaning.  For many, this transition is often looked upon negatively.  The loss of freedom, the loss of control, and most dreaded, the change from adult-friendly destinations to child-friendly destinations.  But for me, those changes have made for even better vacations, and unfortunately even worse returns.

Our latest Gottlieb family getaway, just completed this past Saturday, had me asking myself the entire time (and I'm still asking it), "Why is This Place So Magical?"  Five days.  Four theme parks.  One water park.  And an amazing collection of memories to last a lifetime.  Of course, I'm talking about Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.  On the surface, it's hard to imagine how this could be.  A ten hour drive spread out over two days going, and another ten hour drive over two more days returning.  Standing in long lines just to get an autograph or ride a 3 minute kiddy-coaster.  Navigating what seems like thousands of strollers, over-sized Mickey balloons and souvenir shops.  But now that it's over, those five days felt like a dream.  There are probably many other answers to my question tonight, but here are ten I've come up with:

1) Your Arrival - Passing under the Disney World arch flanked by Mickey and Minnie for the first time, you can see the glean in your kids' eyes and hear the unadulterated excitement in their voices.  You just know you are going to love it.

2) The Best Customer Service - Whether roaming the parks, eating in one of the hundreds of restaurants, taking in a show or doing just about anything else, the staff is always there to accommodate your every need.  They truly won't say no to you.  As you know by now, my younger daughter has a peanut allergy.  The chefs at every restaurant make it a point to come out and talk to us about what she can and can't eat on the menu and help us find alternatives to make the experience just as great for her.  Heck, Disney is so good at customer service they even have their own Institute to teach others.

3) You Get to Meet Princesses - Where else can you meet a dozen princesses in five days?  Dressed to impress and speaking like they were straight out of the movies themselves, these princesses look and act the part, and my daughters felt like they were princesses, too!

 

4) Larger Than Life Stuffed Animals That Sign Autographs - By the time the week was over, each of my daughters had an autograph booked filled with John Hancock's and pictures of all their favorite Disney cartoon characters.

5) It Gives You the Giggles - At Animal Kingdom, there's a ride called the Kali River Rapids.  It's a 12-person circular raft that spins and winds its way through roaring rapids, and you just never know who'll be sitting in the wrong place and the wrong time.  When those waves hit, and grandma got soaked, it sent my daughter into what seemed like everlasting laughter.  I think she thought it was the funniest thing ever.

6) Even the Stuffed Ones Have Fun - When the humans go out to play, the stuffed friends left behind in the hotel rooms have their own parties.  When we returned to the rooms at night, we found our daughters' friends in the window courtesy of the wonderful housekeeping staff.

7)The Kids Eat Healthy - At a place where it would be really easy to load up the kids on junk, Disney cares about making sure they eat lots of fruit.  Sure, there's plenty of popcorn and ice cream and French fries, but every kids meal comes with at least one and sometimes two sides of fruit and milk or juice, ensuring you don't also return home with cavities as souvenirs.

8) All Ages Can Have a Blast - It wasn't just my kids having fun.  Even the grandparents got swept up in the magic of Disney, riding bumper cars, getting soaked at the water park and hoping in pictures with characters.

9) Phone Apps Mean Less Waiting - With Disney's wait times for rides updated on their iPhone app, free Wi-Fi around the parks and fast passes to return later in the day and hop to the front of the line, Disney is making it possible for those who plan appropriately to play more and stand around less.  That's always a good thing when you've got young kids.

10) You Can't Wait to Go Back - From the moment we pulled out of the parking lot at Typhoon Lagoon to head home until this very moment (and I'm sure for days to come), all I keep thinking about is when we can get back to that place.  That's how you know you've had a great time, and that's truly how you know this place is so magical.

Some of you are probably thinking I'm nuts right about now, but I know I'm not alone.  I want to hear from all of you that feel just like I feel.  Tell me why Disney is so magical to you and your family by commenting below.