the empanada diet

Fate is a mysterious force in our lives that sometimes leads us down paths no one could ever predict. I mean, who could ever have guessed that my sustenance over the past 18 hours would be 7 empanadas, consumed steadily and without interruption?

Like many of my fantastic and death-defying tales, this one began at Flipnotics. Fully intending to pull an all-nighter working on a paper, I pulled into flips to get a double of anything-with-caffeine-and-sugar. The empanadas that Flips serves are very basic and very addicting, so I grabbed two to help make it through the night (turkey, the both of 'em).

Come morning, the coffee acid that settled deeply in my stomach removed the urge for breakfast, or any hunger at all until just after my opportunity to order lunch had passed. But then I remembered that Intern Katie had brought a bag full of homemade food to share with the office. They were empanadas, and they were excellent.

So, 5 more empanadas (or was it 6) down the chute, and I'd eaten more if there had been any left for the taking. There will likely be a price to be paid for this mono-gluttony (besides this pointless story), but right now I'm just liking the random consistency of it all.

Think I'll head over to Flips, see what's under glass ...

live blogging the Rose Bowl

7:22 Sandra Day O'Connor grants the flip to the Horns on a narrow 5-4 decision. We're gonna miss her moderate voice for future coin flips.
7:27 Best defensive start to a game. ever.
7:29 Worst special teams start to a game. ever.
7:34 ... and we're off to the races. USC has covered the spread.
7:41 Going for 4th down with an option? Move the ball forward, Mack, not sideways. Bad call.
7:53 HA! USC's almost as bad at 4th down execution as the Horns.
7:59 Hold on to the freakin' ball, Frosh! Dodged a bullet on that one.
8:06 End of 1st Qtr, 7-0 USC. That could have gone better.
8:11 YEEEEEEE-HAAAW! Heisman boy tries to play Aussie rules football and gives up the rock.
8:16 Another flippin' fumble! Note to Mack: do NOT give the ball to Ramonce Taylor again until we're in the lead.
8:18 Some points are better than none, and way better than another fumble. 7-3 USC.
8:30 You damn well better review that call. Griffin's foot was SOOOOO inbounds.
8:32 I like the word "indisputable." It rhymes with "the ref on the field is a complete moron."
8:38 Run Vince! No, Fumble! No, touchdown!
8:39 More inadequate special teams. Hey, NOW I think Vince's knee was down. Do over! 9-7 Horns.
8:51 Ramonce goes from -14 yrds rushing and 1 turnover to ONE BADASS MOFO with a touchdown! Hey, Mack listened to my advice. 16-7 Horns.
9:01 You can almost see the birdies circling Leinart's head. Matt, you're no Vince on the ground.
9:03 Hey, what's that thing called when the UT defense tackles the QB behind the line? Oh yeah, a sack.
9:05 Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
9:07 Field goal. Worse than a shutdown, better than a touchdown. 16-10 UT.
9:09 Looks like we're gonna be just a weeeeee bit short of the 71 point over/under. 16-10 UT.
9:24 U2? 1989 called: they want their halftime show back.
9:45 White, again with the easy stroll into the endzone. Oh, and I suppose it's very trendy to have a kicker who can make extra points. 17-16 USC.
9:53 The VY show is in full gear. Over 100 yards rushing already, and now a touchdown on the ground. 23-17 UT.
10:03 White. Hole. Touchdown. Untouched. Again. 24-23 USC.
10:11 Shall we place odds on Pino making this field goal? *gulp*
10:15 Um, glad I didn't bet. Very poor. Still 24-23 USC.
10:20 Somebody needs to tell Auggie Bush Jr. Jr. Jr. that he has the televisual charisma of wet toilet paper.
10:29 Reggie Bush goes circus Atari for a TD and only gets a 9.4 from the Bulgarian judge. 31-23 USC.
10:42 David Pino: not a complete douchebag. 31-26 USC.
10:52 3 replays shy of equalling Joe Theisman's record for "most views of a broken limb." 38-26 USC.
10:59 Vince is the flippin MAN. Now it's up to the defense. 38-33 USC.
11:07 NO GO! Guess you shoulda punted, Pete. Here comes Vince.
11:09 Is this the first time UT's ever seen a blitz? 3&12 ...
11:10 FACEMASK. Big mistake, SC.
11:11 I'm glad the clock runs 10 seconds while we watch the Trojans run around like douchebags claiming a fumble.
11:17 4th and 5 ... what could possibly happen? VINCE GO GO GO GO GO ... TOUCHDOWN!!!! YES!!!!! 2 pt conversion, and it's unbelievably 41-38 UT.
11:20 Out of time! National Champions!!!