No, I haven't disappeared!

I've just been busy. Busy with work, busy with chores, busy with surfing the Internet and answering and passing on junky political emails (I can't WAIT until the election's over, but that's another story...)

But MOST of my busy-ness in the last week had to do with eating. And exercising. Mainly, one big day of eating and a week of exercising to undo the damage.

Last weekend Lynn and I took my parents out to celebrate my dad's 80th birthday. And we spent about 80 dollars per person and consumed 80 pounds of food per person. And I have spent at least 80 hours in the last week running and biking in a vain attempt to cancel out the 80,000 or so calories in my own meal alone.

It was all VERY well worth it.

We dined at Fogo De Chao. Unless you're a vegetarian and/or impecunious, you have GOT to try this place out. All in one restaurant, I had the pleasure of experiencing some of the best steak I have ever had in my life, the best pork I have ever had in my life, ABSOLUTELY the best key lime pie I have ever had in my life (including any actually consumed in Florida!) and some of the best restaurant service I have ever had in my life.

I first went here with just my wife Lynn when we celebrated her birthday last July - and we unanimously decided then and there that we were going to bring my parents there for Dad's celebration in October.

Fogo is an all-you-can-eat Brazilian steak house. Diners are given coaster-like disks colored red on one side and green on the other, which are used to signal whether they are ready for more food (green) or want the servers to stop for a while (red). Flip the disk to green, and you are immediately nearly ASSAULTED as servers come from all directions with skewers of delicious meats, all prepared to utter perfection - nothing undercooked, nothing overcooked, nothing dry - everything absolutely tender and juicy and perfect. Along with these cuts of meat are constantly replenished bowls of delicious warm rolls, sweetened cooked bananas, and mashed potatoes. Oh, and did I mention the fresh salad bar with not only salad, but also cheese and fish items that could easily serve as a meal unto themselves?

I wonder if they're open for Thanksgiving. If so, forget turkey - we're going back!!!!! No worries. I've already purchased my next two spare pairs of running shoes, and they've been delivered. Now all I have to do is get that home equity loan approved, and I'll be ready!