Comments on: I shoulda stayed home and read a book!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Jan 2003 00:17:58 +0000

lol. I don't get why people don't like Krystal/White Castle. There used to be a Krystal in Poplar Bluff, and my dad and I used to split 10 of those burgers for when he had to take me back to my mother's place. Maybe it was the fact that I was pretty young, or that I've always had an "iron" stomach, but I really loved those burgers, and so did my dad. That Krystal is now a Taco Bell Express.

I have seen White Castles on my trips to STL, but I haven't eaten at them. My mom and I prefer to eat at Casa Gallardo (the first one) on our regretfully infrequent trips to St. Louis.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Apr 2002 21:12:44 +0000

White Palace. I was working in the Central West End when it was being filmed. During my lunch I’d walk the parallel roads. One day they were filming in an apartment building very close and I actually walked by their lunch wagon. No I didn’t see any stars, but saw the movie when it came out. It sounds like the book is better than the move (surprise!).
In one scene, the male character (Spader) drives by the Fox heading north on Jefferson and somehow ends up in a Dogtown bar where they play country and western music. Pretty amusing. It seems I recall there were more sites of New York than of St. Louis. That’s one of those movies I’d like to see again, although when the kids aren’t home.
Sounds like you at least have a few locations that you have knowledge of in basing your novel. St. Louis and KC seem to have some opposing statements that can be used in your story development. It’ll be nice to have an autographed copy one day! 🙂

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Apr 2002 01:10:26 +0000

Bruce, as Gomer Pyle would say, I'd "DEcline, DEcline, DEcline". Back in high school, one of my friends and I, famished after practicing tennis all afternoon, decided that we'd split a 20-pack of Whities. I think we both called it quits after about seven apiece. Without going into any detail, let's just say he called the next morning and we commiserated over the damage we'd both done to our gastrointestinal systems. Young and foolish.

On a similar note, ask Dave how well Pepsi cleaned his toilet one time...

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Apr 2002 21:11:07 +0000

Ah... White Castle. Yeah, they are great when I get in that once every few months CRAVING that can not be satisfied any other way. Of course, after a few or more of those, I don't ever know what got into my head to have such a CRAVING in the first place!!!

How's this for a bet:

A long time ago (O.K., over 20 years) some co-workers tried to get me to accept this wager:

They will give me $100 and pay for the food IF I would eat 100 Krystal hamburgers (Krystal is similar to White Castle but in the South East U.S.) in 24 hours.

You could leave off the condiments buy you had to eat the meat and bread.

After long contemplatin, I declines...

What would you have done?

- Bruce :-)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Apr 2002 21:02:16 +0000

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Apr 2002 18:55:26 +0000

I have to take offence to the term "litters" in reference to "White Palace", as in "a fast-food joint that litters the St. Louis landscape (without infringing on a trademark)." Whitie’s is great, and belly-bombers are nature’s laxative. Ah, the onions, so gray…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Apr 2002 18:36:58 +0000

Hi Dave:

Have you read any of C S Forester's Horatio Hornblower series?

I'm on the second to last of the 11 novels and they are all excellent. There are many levels in which to read these books:

Good adventure yarns
International politics
Accurately portrayed historical fiction
War - Strategy and tactics
Human affairs and - especially -

The relationship between a husband and wife.

There are probably not more than 2% of the pages devoted to that last topic but they are complelling pages and many of them ring very true to me. Horatio was married twice (first wife died during child birth) and each of the relationships is written in a way that rings genuine.

His second wife and their relationship is the most personally interesting to me and really gets one thinking along the lines of Dave Barry's parents being married 42 years and their relationship and the relationships of others so blessed (and I am glad and unbelievably fortunate to count myself in that group).

Anyway, check them out if you have not done so already...

- Bruce

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Apr 2002 16:36:41 +0000

Haven't read Microserfs but I know I should. I hadn't heard of Girlfriend in a Coma. I'll have to look for it.

And speaking of good reads, don't pass go, don't collect $200, make a beeline for Cringely's current column.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Apr 2002 16:14:57 +0000

Dave,
I’ve read a couple of entries from you regarding books, and was wondering if you have read any of Doug Coupland’s work? Microserfs was pretty good, and I just finished reading "Girlfriend in a Coma". Girlfriend was an interesting read. Good characters and interesting banter.