How Many Hot Dogs in Ten Minutes?
Food eating contests aren’t really my thing- in fact, I don’t understand the urge to prepare and practice for such an event! Or what one might feel like afterwards.
But today when my sister pointed out this sign, I tried to fathom what the numbers meant. And the countdown ’til July 4th is visible on this sign.
My sister found a stat on a guy who in 1972 ate 19 and in 2012 the guy ate 68! That’s quite an increase in consumption.
Did I mention that this effort takes place in TEN MINUTES time??? I don’t even want to witness this contest in person but I find it amazing that it exists.
This is an INTERNATIONAL contest. You can read more about it here And yes, there is an International Federation of Competitive Eating who approves such contests.
You don’t just show up. You have to qualify. Joey Chestnut has been winning since 2007 but competition is nipping at his heels.
There’s a female champion, Sonya Thomas.
A little controversy- this guy’s photo was removed from the sign in 2011 and last year Takeru Kobayashi wasn’t allowed to compete and ate hot dogs on the rooftop in Manhattan? Check out his other food competitions if you wish- includes cow brains and Twinkies but not eaten simultaneously, different contests at this link. My sister said when he is not competing he eats cabbage and fasts. Good plan.
He pioneered the Solomon Method- break in half and eat both halves at once then eat the bun. (or something like that)
You can jump and down while you eat them. Or sway side to side.
Mary found the sign AFTER we had each consumed one hot dog with sauerkraut and mustard. I was reminiscing about visiting Nathan’s on Coney Island with my 3 kids in November 1991. When we were there at Thanksgiving the place was deserted.
And if hot dogs aren’t for you there are the frog legs….
(note the calories listed on each menu item)
NYC Transportation
Another gallery from NYC trip over Spring Break.
Remember the 25,000 dollar Pyramid Game Show? A category is on the card and your partner lists all the things that are in that category. Things that Have Wheels? Things that you ride? Things that help you get around.
E.T. Phone Home
I just got off the phone with my sister in NYC. Good thing she has a landline. And not one that sits in an electric powered charger cradle. Just a plain old phone. She is still without power. We were talking about phones. The cancelled Halloween Parade in NYC. Our Pittsburgh Halloween postponed until Saturday due to the weather, residual hurricane effects.
I started thinking about the ET costume I made for Mark years ago. (There is a McCall’s pattern 8311 on Ebay for 29.99, I just checked) Here he is in Germany(1983) with Matthew as Robin Hood. Yes, I made that too. Mark wore that when he was four in Clarion, PA Thinking about Halloweens past.
And then years later Laura wore the ET Costume. It had a Day-Glo finger that matched the heart appliqué on the chest. The date on this photo says 1996.
And here is the costume head in the dining room tonight. I painted the eyes. The head is lined with a piece of blanket. It looks like it did when I made it! When I put on the mask this past weekend, Penny the Goldendoodle (Laura and James’ dog) growled and turned and left the room. My daughter-in-law made the ceramic jack-o-lantern in grade school and I saved it from the trash when she pitched it.
I Forgot to Mail Your Card, Mary
It was a nice one, too. I bought it at the fancy card store in Shadyside a while back to be sure I had it in plenty of time.
You remember the store behind our old house on Howe Street? That one.
Buying cards and not mailing them in a timely fashion seems to be something I do often. Once I swore I would never send a late card again.
I brought the birthday card to New York City when we visited last month. I thought about writing it and giving it to you then. It was still in my bag tonight.
Nah, I thought, I’ll save it- mail it to arrive closer to the special day. A much better plan. Now you’re on your way to visit our brother in Okanogan. Your mail’s on hold. And I didn’t get it in the mailbox yet.
Here’s what I do. I’ll think of someone, know their birthday is coming, buy a card, misplace it, or drive the card around for a time, til it’s ripe? I am not sure why I do this. I read a whole bunch of sisters cards, too, looking for the right sentiment. Some of them all sappy but this one was succinct and to the point. It’s even printed on recycled paper and Made in the U.S. A. Here’s a photo of the beautiful card I meant to send in time.
”I’m grateful we’re sisters.”
Happy Birthday Mary. You are an excellent sister, aunt, and friend. Thanks for always being there and listening and for putting up with me during my bratty years. (I think they are done) Love you with all my heart and am grateful for all the love you give to all of us. Have a happy birthday celebration with David.xxoo
You might remember the post my sister’s kitchen- 20 for dinner? no problem!. How she always finds cool and quirky things for me to photograph when I visit her in NYC where she’s lived about 48 years. The kids and I’d drive from Pittsburgh and camp out with her in the apartment. When we’d wake up, there’d be fresh warm Zito’s bread and homemade Strawberry Rhubarb Preserves and fresh butter.
Your first trip to visit us in Germany. Laura is four months old, Mark 7 and Matthew just turned 3.
You with Laura after the wedding last November. Thanks for all you did to make it happen so beautifully.
Here is a colorized baby photo of you with Mom. New Haven, CT
I turned it into an art project years ago and added the border. Sorry.
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