BLOG.CHRISANDROBS.COM

My legs we’re not broken

2010-06-17T22:35:00Z

I had just gotten back to my hotel in Kathmandu after three weeks of trekking, sleeping in floorless teahouses that were heated by burning yak crap, and side stepping Maoist Militants and government curfews, when some of my companions and I found a casino on the hotel grounds.

Now, I don’t know if you’ve seen any James Bond movies, it would help if you have, because this place was exactly like some casino in a Bond flick from the 60s.

I take a seat at the Craps Table, play a couple lines, and get a couple drinks from women dressed in Asian Silk. I’m having a good time - I have no idea how much money I’m winning or losing because the Rupee is impossible to convert to the Dollar. Sooner or later, I make my way to the blackjack table, and I hit. I mean, I’m winning like crazy – just then, I start to notice these bouncer type guys making there way around me. I’m not all that afraid by their size, I was taller than anyone in Nepal, but Nepal isn’t exactly America - everything’s a little black market. When I was there the Maoist insurgency was at its height, huge, bloody protests in Kat – I caught one of the last flights back to the States before they shut down the country to foreigners.

Anyway, I see these guys slowly circling, and the guys I’m with motion for us to make a hasty exit, I leave my chips - who knows how much I had – and we make our way out. But as we're leaving we hear this great techno beat coming from this little door. I peak my head in and there are stairs leading down to this enormous club, smoke, lasers, the works – it was like some European club that was picked up and dropped in the middle of the third world.

Needless to say we made our way down to the club, beautiful people everywhere - still taller than everyone - and to the bar. One of the guys I’m with asks for a beer, the bartender turns around and pulls out a bottle of Don Perignon, "Haha, no we just want a beer." "Oh, sorry." "Wait, how much?" He gives us a figure and pulls out a calculator for us to convert - $32.9 – thirty-two ninety for a bottle of Don - one of the guys tosses a bottle to me and I make my way to the dance floor. Jay-Z’s “Big Pimpin” comes on and I’m waving the bottle in the air pouring it all over myself.

The night wanes, and we go to pay our tab - $850 - eight hundred fifty – WHAT!?

Turns out we misread the decimal, the bottle cost $329 not $32.9. The owner comes down and I start to make my exit while the guys with the money talk business. I’m waiting outside, sitting on the street, taking my last swigs when they walk out, kind of quickly, "Nathan, move!" I get up, and start walking "What’s going on?" "Nothing just walk, go up to your room, and don’t worry about it." Yeah, because that tone really makes me feel like I shouldn’t worry about it.

Obviously nothing terrible happened, my legs we’re not broken by some mob boss, we survived, but what a night! I still have the bottle.

Nathan

Now if I could only figure out how to grow ranch dressing.........

2010-06-16T21:44:00Z

When I was growing up on the hobby farm my parents had we had to weed three large veggie gardens. I did not like doing this...but it was required. I remember thinking why did they want to grow these veggies when they are all available at the store?

At the houses I've been in since moving out of there I've never had a big garden. But that all changed last summer when a wind storm knocked down the 40 foot Mulberry tree in my back yard. The tree had covered the back in shade and nothing including decent grass could grow there. On may 6th of this year we planted the biggest garden we've ever had of our own. 22 sweet corn plants, 8 cucumber mounds, strawberries, asparagus, banana peppers, hot peppers, red peppers, 6 heirloom tomato's, 17 hybrid tomato's, lettuce, Cale, thyme, oregano, basil and a few other things.

Now that the tree is gone in the back we get full sun for a good part of the day. I'm most excited to see if the sweet corn turns out. We had corn in our garden growing up but I always took it for granted cause even though me and my brothers did the weeding my parents did the majority of the planting and such.

I now get it. I understand why they did it. It is such a rush to go out and pick lettuce for a salad, grab a cucumber and tomato, season it with fresh basil and parsley and not ever have to leave your yard. Not to mention a tomato plant cost 2 bucks and yields 6 to 10 'maters. The savings is rockin'

Now if I could only figure out how to grow ranch dressing.........

-van

Want to play football with MInnesota Viking Sidney Rice? NO we are not kidding.

2010-06-06T22:38:00Z

Do not judge a book by its cover

2010-05-21T03:08:00Z

This a few weeks ago I had the chance to see history. My wife Jean asked me to go to Grand Casino Mille Lacs. She thought it would be fun to go see of all people Glen Campbell. Now I have never really been a fan and his music was the hottest in the 1960-70’s. I thought why? But I also thought the same thing when I was at the State Fair years ago and saw Ringo Star. (One of the best concerts ever) So we left Sat morning to head up and stop along the way since we both have never been to Mille Lacs.

And surprise it was a great concert and we found a needle in a hay stack. On the way up we stop at a place that sold close-out everything. And what did we find? To melt mozzarella cheese for the sandwiches we use this plastic measuring cup that is great but no longer avlb. Not only did we find 1 but we found 54!! And we asked about a discount if we bought them all and got one. Now we have a ten year supply.

Back to the show, Glen comes out and sounds as good as the songs of his I have heard on the radio. NO cutting notes short, slowed down tempos, nothing. And as for his playing the guitar? If you closed your eyes and just listened you would think it was the 1960’s! Then he introduces his daughter Debbie who sings a few songs, then his daughter Ashley who sings and is his keyboard and banjo player, and then his son who is playing the drums. What fun! He sang Tom Petty, Jonnie Cash, to a hard rocking blues tune. I even had the chance to talk to a lady after the show only again to be surprised it was his Glens wife Kim. As I learned later I can only hope to be even close to as good or healthy and energetic as Glen at the young age of 74.

Rob

Netflix is my new best friend

2010-05-13T01:10:00Z

Netflix is my new best friend. My parents have had it for years and my sister used to work at one of their distribution centers, but I had my doubts. My biggest hang-up was the lack of immediate gratification: how was I suppose to know if I would still be in the mood to see this or that movie three or four weeks later when it made it to the top of my queue?

I finally caved in when I went to my local (insert national movie rental chain here) and was told that they had raised their prices to $5 per rental. Five Bucks!? Between the movie that I really wanted to see, the movie my partner really wanted to see, and the one we both really wanted to see, I paid as much as I would have for a months worth of unlimited movies from Netflix.

Needless to say, I’m in love. Nothing beats coming home from work at our location on West 7^th in Saint Paul, pulling up my laptop and streaming episodes of “Bones” or “Lie to Me” instantly over the internet.

But the thing that really impresses me about the company was brought up in an interview of the founder I read in Inc. Magazine last summer. He recognized, years ago, that physical movies (DVDs, etc.) would someday become obsolete, and the future of watching movies was via the internet. Unfortunately, not everyone else had the same foresight – sorry to those of you that bought a blueray player this Christmas – he had to start where his customer base was comfortable while adding a level of practicality that physical movie rental stores were lacking: DVD Delivery. But the ultimate goal is to make movie rental and watching an internet only experience. As the founder explains in the interview, “There’s a reason we’re called Netflix and not DVD-By-Mail.”

Genius.

Teaching these men and women about competion in life is truely special

2010-04-30T17:44:00Z

My kid Hendrix became disabled at age 10. Prior to that he was a naturally gifted athelete. So after a few years of being handicapped, he expressed an interest in participating in adapted sports (softball, soccer, floor hockey) adapted to include wheel chairs and participants with mobile difficulties. Four years he played all these sports as well as Special Olympics track & field and basketball. It was great that Hendy got to enjoy playing sports again, and competing: He always loved the competition aspect of sports. He's a firm believer in the only-one- winner-can-emerge philosophy. During this time he tended to out compete most opponents and was use to being on the winning side.

Well........now he is over 18 and is playing Special Olympics basketball and will be doing track and field as well. The participants at this stage are all adults ranging in age from 18 to into their 50's. Hendrix had his hands full at this last tourney. These special atheletes know their way around a b-ball court.

It's very fast paced. 3 on 3....half court, 15 minute clock, no stops. No 3 point line. Highest points wins. In one of the games Hendrix found himself man on man with a disabled adult who had years of experience. Hendrix is 6' 3", and 240 lbs. This guy towered over Hendrix with a 6' 8" 290 frame.

After years of being the tallest and best, Hendrix is now competing with people who challenge all of his skills.

Teaching these men and women about competion in life is truely special.

(the games are a blast to watch too)

Not Much Going On

2010-04-13T01:44:00Z

It’s my turn to write something and not much going on outside of the day to day grind so I thought I would share something that happened to my cousin. His name is John and he lives in California and because of the great weather he has decided to learn how to ride a motorcycle. He is not a daredevil type just likes new experiences and had been playing with the idea for while now. He has taken his classes and passed the license test and is looking for a first bike. I have spoken with some of the bike night people who come into Fridley the last Thursday of every month for our Beefed UP Bike Nights(shameless plug) and most say find one that fits you and maybe go small engine size to start because you are going to drop it. John is really into BMW motorcycles and decided to go shopping. He found a dealer and started sizing bikes and mind you he told the sales person he is new to this and may need some help. The sales rep said he should have no problem so John started checking them out. He sits on his first bike after looking around for while and when he goes to get off the $10,000.00 bike falls over in the showroom. John feels so bad and it’s not until they lift the bike up that they notice he broke the back break light. He has not even hit the street yet and put a bike down. He thinks now he may just go for a used bike to get started.

Remember we are starting Beefed Up Bike Nights this month and it will be the last Thursday of every month till the end of October. Thank you all for the support of the restaurants and as always you can send me any comments or concerns to chris@chrisandrobs.com save the ketchup for your fries.

Chris

A Rough Winter

2010-04-05T21:33:00Z

Now that spring is here and it is getting warmer out I thought it would be nice to tell you a story about the harsh winter. Last winter me and some of my friends went to go play a game of hockey at the local public ice skating rink. When we got there the ice had a bunch of snow on it and we had to shovel it off. So we shoveled a square big enough to play a game, and left the rest of it not shoveled. Now for those of you that don't know, if you try to skate on ice with snow on it, it does not work very well. So we got our game going and we were playing kinda rough and crazy, which probably wasn't the best idea. After a while I was going on the outside trying to score and my brother came from the other side and checked me. I hit the snow and fell, and at the same time he lost his balance and fell with me. We both went tumbling down to the ground and then I felt something really hard hit me in the chin. I thought it was his knee or something like that, but it did not hurt too bad so I didn't think anything was wrong. Then I seen a lot of blood all over the place and it turned out that he hit me in the chin with his ice skate blade. I ended up with six stitches in my chin. So that is my rough winter story. I hoped you enjoyed it.

-Nate

Like I said, really nerdy

2010-03-25T16:28:00Z

My life’s M.O. is to seek multitude esoteric pursuits. It’s really nerdy, I know, but it has given me some amazing experiences. I’ve walked barefoot across 20 feet of burning coals, almost died while putting up a first ascent on a jagged peak in Patagonian Chile, learned Latin, trekked to the Base Camp of Mount Everest, practiced Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy as a children’s therapist, and continue to study to become a sommelier for fun.

My latest obsession has been collecting found coins and paper money. Numismatist, the study of paper money and coins, is something that I fell into while working the register at Chris & Rob’s on West 7^th in Saint Paul. I was blown away by the amount of foreign coins that made their way into our till. Of course the majority are Canadian, but I’ve found Dutch, Moroccan, Norwegian, and old Francs. Just yesterday, I traded one of my new 10 dollar bills for a almost mint condition 1967 Hamilton that a customer used… it’s cool because they used a different kind of ink before the late 20^th century…

Like I said, really nerdy.

Nathan

Otter tail, MN is a beautiful place

2010-03-22T18:00:00Z

Otter tail, MN is a beautiful place. My dad lives in a log home there...river on the side yard, Lake McGowan in the front yard, and a solid 3-wood from Rush lake in the back yard. Last time there, the Trumpeter Swans were in full force on McGowan. The river flows into it at the point in Dad's yard where the river meets the widening of the lake. The water is open all year...no matter what the temp....never freezes.

It is amazing to see and hear the Trumpeters in numbers reaching 30. Ice and snow every where, most of the lake frozen and drifted accept for this open area, where all the swans gather.

Trumpeter is an accurate name. We stood out there at night with a full moon coming over the pine trees along the bank of the river. The light it created over the land scape was reflected on the snow-cover, giving views extending to the horizon. Stars were gaze worthy....no city lights to block even the smallest twinkler. Then....the swans would squawk, as if tuning up for the performance. Then a few seconds later they unleashed their jazz medley. Loud then soft. 2 squawks. 3 squawks. Then another barrage of horns. Like a smooth jazz record. Stay a few minutes longer and they'll play another selection.

Otter tail, MN is a beautiful place.

Names

2010-03-10T17:10:00Z

So my life is now completely consumed by baby stuff... which kind of fun and funny at the same time.

As the big day get closer and closer there are a lot of things we are stressing out about... Will everything go as planned? Will the baby be healthy? What should we pack to bring the hospital? Will I know when I go into labor? What if I'm home alone when I do? What if I'm at work? What if we don't make to the hospital in time? What are we going to name our little guy? He is going to be stuck with the name for the rest of his life? We want it to be a strong name that represents him... but we don't really know who he is yet. We know we would prefer it not to be a "common" name but between two abnormally large families, friends and acquaintances its hard to pick a name and not think, "I once knew a __" or "there was a __ in my class in 8th grade who was mean." Or when you mention a name to someone and they say, "I claim that name for my child" (who isn't even a thought or idea).

So if you have kids, how did you choose their names? If you could, would you change now that they are old?

Any advice would be great!

Ashley

Expecting

2010-03-03T16:38:00Z

For those of you that I don't see on a regular basis or haven't notice the gigantic bump growing in my mid-section, I thought it's time to share the big news.

I'm going to be having a baby in roughly a month; my due date is April 3 though technically I am only 35 weeks along. It's been a huge life change but a very exciting one. Babies are something else though. The mere fact that my body was made to change like it has is amazing and extraordinary all in itself. Add that to the fact that I have human (a whole human!) growing and moving in my belly and it's beyond explainable.

There are a few things people generally ask when you are expecting I've found, the first being, "Do you know what you are having?" and the second being, "Do you have a name?"

As far as the very clear ultra sound photos go we are having a boy (though a few aunts and my Grandma would disagree) and we haven't even come close to picking a name. We have a list of names that we like but nothing is jumping out as "that's his name." We do know that we don't want to repeat a name that is already used in our families (which cuts out more then a few) and we would like it to not be one of the top 20 names of 2010 but other then that we're not sure... Any suggestions would be great.

Anyhow that is one of many things that I have going on in my life.

Hope everyone is enjoying the spring-like weather! Keep your fingers crossed that we don't get any more snow!

Ashley

"The Creepy Customer"

2010-02-25T15:10:00Z

Hey hows it going everyone this is Nate from the Minneapolis store and now the St. Paul store also.

This particular event took place in the St. Paul location. So one day I was enjoying another all day shift and at about 4:45 pm (thats about the time all of the night guys come in and the day guys leave) a man walks in with a shovel, sets his shovel right next to the door and starts talking to one of the customers at one of the tables. They start chatting back and forth makes it seem like they knew each other and were friends. What happened next was the customer got up and left but the wierd thing was he only eaten half of his food, and the next thing I know the man that had just walked in start finishing the meal. Now since I had thought they knew each other I did not think to much of it.

After he had finished that food he got up and went around starting to ask other people for food and money, at this point I knew that he was a homeless man looking for handouts. When I went up to ask him to leave he had more food that a different table left him, which doesn't help my case at all. So when I went up to him I said "Sir were you planning on ordering something otherwise I can't have you hang out here I need the tables for paying customers". He said to me "Hey man don't you see the food in front of me that I ordered." I just smirked and said "Sir I take all the orders and I know for a fact that you did not order that food because I saw that table over there give it to you". He just started back talking at me as he made his way out the door.

I just thought that was a fun cooky story that some of the guys here got a kick out of, hope you do to. Talk to you all later.

Nate

I love you

2010-02-17T16:00:00Z

This past week my uncle's twelve year battle with cancer was concluding. He passed away on Wednesday evening with lots of family surrounding with love and prays. From children, parents and a wife, to brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces there he had plenty of support while he made his final journey from this world to the next.

My uncle is 54 years old and number four in a line of eleven siblings. At Thanksgiving he began not feeling well; by Christmas he could hardly "hang out" with everyone. He spent New Years at the Mayo Clinic but was sent home because he was doing "better" this past Monday. Spent Tuesday at the doctors because of a slight fever; Wednesday morning joked around with is daughter and by Wednesday he was no longer with us.

While it was a very sad and exhuasting week and weekend from the visitation/wake, the funeral, lots of driving and family, it always amazes me how supportive and caring of a family I have. While we all have our own very busy lives with jobs, friends, houses, kids, vacations, etc. I am always over whelmed by how quickly every one is able and willing to drop their own lives to be there with a mournful cousin, weeping spouse, or distort parents.

I guess I'm saying, I'm grateful for my family and could not imagine having any other one. So go hug you mom or dad, call you sister or brother, send that email to the aunt or uncle you haven't talked in a while, write a letter to you Grandma (because she's the only one you know who still sends snail mail) and just let them know you are thinking of them and that you love them. Our time on this earth is limited, more so for some then others, and we all should take advantage of what time we do have.

Ashley

I cannot wait...

2010-02-10T18:55:00Z

I cannot wait to shave off this beard. If any of you have stopped in our Saint Paul location on west 7th, you’ve seen it. And, at the end of this month, I finally get to shave off my Birkie Beard.

Last year, my girlfriend, Ingrid, and I signed up to take part in North America’s largest cross-country ski race: The American Birkebeiner. The Birkie – as it’s more commonly referred to as – is a 50km (33 mile), one-day, ski race across the rugged terrain of northern Wisconsin. Skiers from all over the world converge on Hayward, Wisconsin every year to take part in this great annual competition.

But the Birkie isn’t your grandpa’s cross country ski race. Ingrid’s dad, who has been skiing the Birkie every year for more than 25 years, finishes the race in two hours, and the winner traditionally finishes in about an hour and a half – which means they are skiing at an average speed of 22 mph! Me, I just want to finish.

As for the beard, it is a pseudo requirement to ski the race. Like the thousands of others who are growing their Birkie Beard this winter, we began at our first ski of the year. And, man, I am excited to shave mine off.

Nathan

Pain Meds, Anyone?

2010-01-27T22:59:00Z

So Friday evening I started having pain in my chest and a sore jaw. (Apparently common symptoms of a heart attack.) After finishing my shift I went home... Only to call the Nurse Line to see what I should do about the weird combination of pain I was experiencing. Naturally they told me to call 911 and to take some aspirin... well I'm 25 and apparently do not believe in aspirin or calling 911; so I had my boyfriend drive me to the ER.

Our "wonderful" 6 hours visited involved, an EKG, X-Ray, CT Scan, Blood Tests, Exams, IVs, Maalox and a lovely robe that opens in the back which concluded with being sent home with no diagnosis at 6 AM. During our visit though many others came and went mostly for injuries from slipping on the ice.

If I had a dollar for every time the Doctor in the ER gave out pain meds followed up with a prescription I would no longer need to work at Chris & Rob's. I was utterly amazed by how easily it was for people to get medication and while I'm not saying their cases justified them; I alone was offered three different type.

So I have to ask the question: Why are doctors so eager to hang out medicine?

Ashley

Some Random Happenings and Thoughts

2010-01-21T00:19:00Z

I have to be honest about the fact that blogs just don’t make sense to me. I don’t see my life as very interesting or someone who brags a lot so why read about me. Now being the owner I am obligated to come up with a blog so here we go. Some random happening and stuff… I am addicted to youtube.com and Netflick.com right now so please check them out. Youtube makes you laugh and you can find music you may have not listened to since high school so much fun. Netflick is just great if you are like me and seem to never have time for that kind of stuff. You don’t have to drive to get a movie one is always ready to go. Ugg’s the boots that are popular why???? Ugg’s in Minnesota just seem such a bad idea (not water proof) but I am sure dry cleaners love them. See AVATAR the movie in 3D just because it was so interesting to see how much technology has come in such a short period of time and it was truly a beautiful movie to watch especially on the big screen. Our mom Irene well she turned 65 and she said it’s really no big deal. She said that she is counting down the days this year till retirement because she wants a smaller work week to enjoy life more. Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

I hope everyone had a great holiday and very happy new year. Keep your eyes open for some new menu items coming out for 2010 and if you have any ideas please don’t hesitate to let me know at chris@chrisandrobs.com.

Don’t forget ketchup is for the fries

Chris

Looking for a good place to skate?

2010-01-13T17:48:00Z

Hey everyone Nate here from the Minneapolis Chris and Rob's. As some of you may know I play a lot of Hockey in my free time during the winter. The place I go to most often is Hiawatha school which has a Minneapolis park on the same property. For those who don't know the cross streets are 42nd Ave South and 42nd Street East. I grew up right in this neighborhood and spent a lot of time at this park playing Hockey. It is a really nice place to go for some good fun, and it does not cost you a thing to rent skates or use the ice. The employees and even the other people there that are just trying to have a day of fun are always so nice. The ice is usaully pretty decent depending on how the weather is doing. They have a very nice warming house. For those that aren't very experienced skaters there is probably someone up there that is willing to teach you whatever you need to become a professional, after all thats how I learned all my moves is from other kids that were up there. So whether your looking for a nice pick-up game or just to skate around I would definitely recommend you check this place out.

Nate

New Year Happenings

2010-01-06T16:14:00Z

A friend called.....said he's getting married. (again) He is de-crapping his house in anticipation of his new bride. This benefits all his friends. Some one got a king size futon with mattress for 20 bucks. Another got a chair for 10 bucks. I got a 1983 Yamaha electronic piano for 20 bucks and a full drum kit with cymbals for 50 bucks.

Let's hear it for the happy couple.

My dad turned 76 years old on January 4th. He still works 30 hours a week at Barrel 'o' Fun chip factory. He retired once when he was 63 but soon found that there is only so much fishing and landscaping to be done. He calls his new age, "the spirit of 76."

The below zero tempature is uncomfortable for every one. We're on a two-week streak of being in the deep freeze. The best thing I can think of concerning this is when the temps climb back into the 20's and 30's it'll feel like short sleeve weather. Speaking of short sleeve weather....I've got baseball fever...and the only cure is going to an out door ball park for a game. Can't hardly wait.

Only 359 shopping days till Christmas.

Hot Doggin' & Bloggin',

-Van

New Beginnings...

2009-12-30T16:29:00Z

Happy New Year's! Hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday season. With New Year's every year I like to make a list of things I would like to do in the coming year; I avoid using the word "resolution" because I never keep them nor do I actually accomplish them, so this is my "New Year's Should Do List":

1. Don't collect junk
2. Actually use the gym membership I continue to pay for
3. Get more sleep
4. Finish my paintings
5. Play more Wii

Good luck with all of your "New Year's Should Do List!"

Ashley