ERMAHGERD! SIMON'S HOT DOGS

Okay guys.  We all know that hot dogs can go one of two ways - seriously amazing or seriously disgusting.  Since becoming a vegetarian four years ago, I have searched far and wide for a respectable veggie dog that weighs on the amazing side, but I have always found myself disappointed.  The dogs I've tried wind up rubbery or weird smelling or gray or non-edible or even... shiny.  I had pretty much given up my hopes of ever finding a respectable veggie dog when I arrived in Sedona, Arizona on a recent trip, but my gut told me that I should give it one more shot.  A quick smart phone search landed me at the front door of Simon's Hot Dogs smack dab in the center of the southwest's spiritual mecca.  With a 4.5 star rating on yelp, I knew that it was gonna be sweet hot doggy heaven!  As I walked in the door, I found myself greeted by friendly faces and a drool-worthly menu.  

Felipe (the man with the great smile pictured above) was super helpful and told me all about Simon's vegetarian and vegan options.  Simon's has the most amazing menu and caters to all diets (meat eaters included... so don't think this is one of those veggie joints that poo poos carnivores).  I opted for the vegan Hola Amigo.  Ermahgerd!  It was DELICIOUS.

In fact, it was so good that I ordered two more... ERMAHGERD!  Don't tell anyone.  But wait!  This place gets even better because... it's attached to A BREWERY!  I know!  Oak Creek Brewery to be exact.  An amazing hot dog and a tasty brew in beautiful Sedona, Arizona?!  COME ON PEOPLE!  It just doesn't get better than that.

ERMAHGERD! 60's FRENCH POP MUSIC

Anyone that's seen Moonrise Kingdom can appreciate the charm and appeal of 60's French pop music.  I've known that I've been enamored with this type of music for a while now, but it wasn't until very recently that I felt the need to share this admiration with the world here on If I Haver.  I was in my friend Hannah's car the other night and she was all, "Do you like 60's French pop?!" while popping in a France Gall CD.  At that very moment I realized that, "Yes. YES I DO!!!"  This week's ERMAHGERD! is dedicated to the wonderful, the somewhat confusing (because of the language barrier.. despite my high school French knowledge) genre of 60's French pop music.

The first 60's French pop song that I fell for was "Laisse Tomber Les Filles" performed by Miss France Gall.  Here she is looking both sweet and sassy.. a difficult combination to achieve.

Haven't heard "Laisse Tomber Les Filles"?!  Give it a listen!  You won't regret it.

You Moonrise Kingdom fans will know this one.  I love this song so much.  Also, how awesome is this mock title sequence by Devon Hosford?!

Moonrise Kingdom Mock Title Sequences from Devon Hosford on Vimeo.

I just recently heard about Tiny Yong, a Cambodian-born singer that moved to France as a teenager and took over the French pop charts.  Who couldn't love a singer named Tiny?!  It's just so cute!

Also...

Oh, and..

Until next week.. Où est ma salade?!

ERMAHGERD! SPACE MOUNTAIN

Who doesn't love space?  Who doesn't love Disneyland?  Combine the two and (Great Scott!) you've got a hit.  Space Mountain is this week's ERMAHGERD! simply because it is so damn awesome.  Opening at Disney World in 1975 and Disneyland two years later in 1977, Space Mountain isn't Disney's oldest ride, but it's certainly one of it's most famous.  

What kid hasn't dreamt of going to space?  Walt had the right idea when he developed Space Mountain, but there are other reasons to love this far out ride.  I personally love it because you can feel the 70's vibe-ness resonating from the walls as you await your launch into "space".  Makes me feel like I might be in an early 80's space-themed movie like Starman or The Last Starfigher.

Here's the original commercial for Space Mountain at Disneyland from 1977:

Also, how rad is the music for this ride?  I once listened to this song while driving through a snow storm at night on the way to Montana.  No one was on the road because I was driving in the middle of nowhere at like midnight (not my wisest decision..), so I slowed down to a creeping speed for the beginning of the song and sped up once the music really got going.  The snow against the dark night gave the illusion of traveling through stars in space.. or a Window's screensaver.  I highly recommend doing the same if you ever find yourself in a snowstorm at night on an empty highway... plus, you won't have to wait in line.

What's your favorite Disney ride?  

ERMAHGERD! DUCKIE

Remember Duckie from "Pretty In Pink"?!  Well, he's this week's ERMAHGERD!  Every Monday I'll be posting an ERMAHGERD! feature on some totally awesome person, place, thing or food (this may turn into a food feature.. not gonna make any promises otherwise because food is just freaking amazing)... all for your enjoyment!

I decided to start this feature with one my fondest movie character crushes (yes, Marty McFly and Max from "A Goofy Movie" are on this list too.. don't hate..) - the one and only duck man from the fabulous film "Pretty In Pink".  I first saw "Pretty In Pink" as a sophomore in high school.  Seeing this one film began a love affair with the 80's that's yet to pass.  I must have watched "Pretty In Pink" at least 97 times between the ages of 15 and 18.  I fell in love with the story.. poor girl meets rich guy and their love beats all the high school odds... but more importantly, I fell in love with the lovesick, effortlessly cool, forever loyal Duckie.

There's actually one scene in the movie that was really the main reason why I rewatched the movie so many times.  Now, if you're a Duckie fan too then you know exactly what scene I'm talking about without anymore explanation.  If you haven't seen "Pretty In Pink" or you're not a huge Duckie fan like me or you're a just not into John Cryer because of the whole Two and a Half Men thing, hopefully you can still appreciate the magnificence of the clip that I'm about to show you because of the Otis Redding factor, if nothing else.  Check it out!

This one scene caused me to practically wear out my local video stores VHS copy of "Pretty In Pink".  I couldn't get enough of it.  Actually, I still kinda can't - no lie, I watched the clip three times before posting it here!  There's just something special about dear ol' Duckie.  Maybe it's his daper style.  GERD, do I love it!  

Also, how adorable is John Cryer here?!

Or maybe it's because Duckie is hilarious even when he's not trying to be.

I always wondered why Andie picked stupid Blane (sick!) over wonderful Duckie.  Duckie was so good to her and it was evident that he really loved her.  Blane just had a nice car and weird bulging eyes.  Poor Duckie.  I always feel for characters that pine endlessly over the thing that they can never seem to have.  Probably because that's how I spent most of my adolescent years... hopelessly infatuated with guys that didn't know that I existed.  I know how you feel, duck man.. all too well.

So, I hope that filled your Duckie cup to overflowing capacity!  Until next week.. I'm off like a dirty shirt!