Best Things in Life: My Seagull Guitar

I've had my Seagull six-string spruce top dreadnought (SM6) since September of 2002, when I purchased her from a music store in Columbus, Georgia. After explaining to the store clerk that I was looking for a quality acoustic to learn on that wouldn't bankrupt me, he thought for a moment and then gave me the "I think I have exactly the guitar for you" line (he turned out to be correct).

The "Spruce Goose" in all her glory

The clerk went on to explain why this lesser name guitar was pound for pound as good as some of the heavyweights in the industry....the tops made from select aged solid wood....the tapered headstock for improved tuning.....the bookmatching and gorgeous finish....all individually hand-crafted in the tiny town of LaPatrie, Quebec. I'm as much a fan of quality as I am of underdogs, so this appealed to me. To seal the deal, he pulled her down and put her through the paces...quite a lovely sound.

link: http://www.seagullguitars.com/

Best Things in Life - Carl's Frozen Custard

If given the choice of going anywhere in the world for a frozen dessert, I would return to my hometown and visit the roadside ice cream stand of my childhood, Carl's Frozen Custard.

Carl's, as it is called by the regulars, is located on 2200 Princess Anne Street in Historic Downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia. It was founded by Carl Sponseller in 1947 and has recently been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Not much was changed over the years. It is still family-owned. They have the same simple old-fashioned menu of dessert classics. The custard is made by the same 1940's Electro-Freeze machines.
I would love to get a head count of how many people over the years have had the pleasure and experience of getting a treat from Carl's. That's a lot of smiling faces.


If you find yourself in Northern Virginia or just passing through, Carl's is a "can't miss" stop!

Here are a couple articles discussing this wonderful little timeless treasure of Fredericksburg:

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2005/07/27/customers_melt_for_carls_frozen_custard/

http://www.simplyfredericksburg.com/offpath/carls.shtml

Best Things in Life: Momma Goldberg's Deli

The full title for this post should probably read "Best Things in Life: Momma Goldberg's Deli SPECIFICALLY the Momma's Love Sandwich"

What can I say about Momma Goldberg's?

Momma Goldberg's is an Auburn institution. It opened in 1976 (a fine year).
When I first came to Auburn, there was only one Momma G's. She has since expanded to other locations in Auburn, and to other cities in Alabama and Georgia too. I will write about the original located on the corner of Magnolia and Donahue...walking distance from the campus....in sight of the football stadium. It is a tiny "hole in the wall" and I say that ever so lovingly. The parking is non-existent, made moreso by the constant stream of patrons. The walls are covered in newspaper clippings from previous glorious seasons in football. In short, it's my kinda place.

Understand me when I say that there is no better sandwich than the "Momma's Love". This is how their website describes it:

"Our most famous sandwich is the Momma's Love. It's a delicious combination of
roast beef, ham, smoked turkey, muenster cheese, lettuce, tomato, mustard, mayo,
and Momma's Dressing on a seeded, steamed bun. Don spent hundreds of hours
perfecting our Signature Sandwich, and as a result the Momma's Love accounts for
approximately 65% of our food sales."

(Pic: Me, Mom and my two younger brothers in front of Momma G's, June 1999)

Just by typing this and allowing myself to think about it my mouth has started to water and my stomach is grumbling.


http://www.mommagoldbergs.com/

Best Things in Life: Pina Colada Slurpees

Without slurpees, there's no need for 7-Elevens to even exist!

I'm not sure if there's such a thing as a slurpee connoisseur, but I think I've had enough "brain freezes" in my day to be considered one, if there are. Slurpees are wonderful things and come in a wide variety of delicious flavors. However, of all the flavors I've tried, there's only one I quickly scan the machines looking for when I enter a 7-Eleven. Piña Colada...it's king in my book.

Real Pina Coladas are good, too. ;)