Some of life’s lessons can only be learned the hard way. Like the time I stuck my hand in the weedwacker to see what it felt like, or the time I tried to convince my high school English teacher that I was a ten gallon blood donor.

But it’s rare that we can truly learn from the mistakes of others, unless of course, you have the distinct privilege of calling Robert Cook your friend. In a recent conversation, Robert regaled me with a tale of his culinary prowess. Specifically, the time he tried to BBQ on his kitchen stove. Apparently, he brought in the grill from his BBQ, set it on the gas stovetop, and turned the gas on high. Needless to say the man I call my friend not only didn’t consider ventilation, he also didn’t consider the mess it would make on the stovetop from the dripping chicken juices.

So the next time you ride your bike into the American river, try to catch fish by hand at the Natomas Fish Hatchery, or compliment your girlfriend by telling her that she is ”rugged”, remember that the man who BBQs indoors, will be left with a mess.

Stay tuned for more life lessons from Robert Cook in the coming weeks. But in the meantime, keep your head above water and your BBQ on the patio.

Posted in Matt's Corner | 3 Comments »

In a recent discussion on highway safety, our resident designer shared a tidbit with me that was far too profound to keep to myself. The conversation centered on braking versus swerving to avoid a colision with one of nature’s creatures, to which he said, “It’s safer to plow right through the little critters than to slam on the brakes or swerve.”

A rare glimpse into the mind of a man whose promotional pitches never disappoint, often offend and usually border on criminality. Please look for more life lessons in the coming weeks, but for now, just plow right through to the weekend!

Posted in Matt's Corner | 4 Comments »