DOG YEARS

My life this year seems to be heavily influenced by the theme of dogs. Dancing for the Dogs, Snarky Puppy and now I title my blog Dog Years. Today is June 1^st. It is the 12^th anniversary of Out of the Fire! I have told many that being in the restaurant business is like living in dog years. So, using that as the basis of years passed it is our 84^th anniversary! I was 35 when I opened the restaurant so I am now 119! And some days I feel 119 , but I love this business! It gets in your blood and it is difficult to articulate why. The hours are long, monetary reward is low and there is constant exposure to criticism. So why do I continue to trudge on? I would have to say it is all about connection. I think about all of the interesting lives that have touched me over the years. I reflect on all of the wonderful friends that have entered my life and the diverse and rich conversations that I have had with old and new aquaintances.  My life is rich, indeed. Everyone who has crossed the threshold of Out of the Fire has impacted my life in some way. I have learned a  lot about myself on this path I have chosen  and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything in the world. I have been the voyeur of first dates and engagements. I have witnessed heartache in the form of failed relationships, death and illness. I have witnessed the joy of new life. Which leaves me with one final thought. I hope you feel, when you enter the doors of Out of the Fire that you are greeted with same joy that my dogs greet me with when I return home late at night or the anticipatory walk in the woods early in the morning.  Thank you for continuing to add to the richness of my dog years!

Snarky Puppy on the House

No sooner do I finish Dancing For The Dogs and a Snarky Puppy up and bites me. Just a nip mind you, but enough to get my attention especially when I learn that several group members studied at the University of North Texas, my alma mater and also the first music college in the U.S. to offer a degree in jazz back in the 40's. These are musicians of the first order. Don't just take my word for it, take five minutes and watch and listen to Thing of Gold at http://bandframe.com/snarkypuppy/ and then book your tickets. Details below:

Dine and Shine at Out of The Fire on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday nights (May 15, 16, or 17) and then enjoy one of the most sophisticated and talented bands on the scene…Call for reservations (410-770-4777), mention Snarky Puppy, and receive your exclusive guest passes to the show at the Avalon on Friday, May 18th.

The Buzz About the Band…

“ Frankly, Snarky Puppy is about as close to an "unclassifiable" sound as I've encountered... Snarky Puppy had me bouncing my head and grooving in my seat for two straight hours...” — Patrick Frazier, Chicago Jam Scene

...an exultant throwdown of smart danceability. - The Village Voice villagevoice.com

The Final Plea

Let me introduce you to Annabelle and Lizzy. Annabelle is a rescue and as you can see has no problem begging for the cause. Because of the generous support of the donors who contribute to animal welfare she landed with me after a horrible experience with those of our species who are less evolved. Hers is a terrible story which I will not share with you now, but would be happy to share with you in person. Keep in mind the story has a very happy ending. Annabelle is with me and she graces me with her gratitude everyday by her joyous demeanor. Anyone who has had the opportunity to meet her cannot believe she is unaffected by her past.
Lizzy, on the other hand has led the life of privilege, as most Welsh Corgis do. They are the breed which has won the heart of the Royal Family. Lizzy ended up with me by way of my mother and father who are not in a position to have a pet. So, I have living under my roof the polar opposite of canine attitude. As you can see in the picture, Annabelle has stuck her face right in front of the camera with conviction. She is asking without shame to make a donation within your means to Dancing for the Dogs. You may access the website: www.dancingforthedogs.com (the explanation of this event is in the previous blog post) and click on my picture to donate. She thanks you and so do I! Lizzy, as you can see remains in the background, but completely supports the cause. She has never been close to experiencing what Annabelle has and never will. Her understanding can only reach so far. What she does understand is that as a result of our generosity she has a sister with whom she is able to run, jump and play everyday. Seeing them together brings a smile to my face and this union would not have been possible without the support of those of us who care.
Thank you to those of you who have already donated, thank you to those who plan to donate but have not yet and thank you to those of you who have provided a home to those dogs who so desperately needed your stewardship and attention.

Dancing for the Dogs

So, I could say that this is another fine mess I have gotten myself into, but I have to forget about myself and the potential for me to make a total *&# out of myself and focus on the favorable impact this event will have on the Talbot, Dorchester and Caroline County Humane Societies. I have committed to participate as a dancer for the fundraiser Dancing for the Dogs. When I tell people what I will be doing they say "you are dancing WITH a dog?" My response is: "NO, I am dancing FOR the dogs!" My dance instructor, Diego may respond: "Yes, I am dancing with a dog!" I wouldn't blame him! I have no ballroom dance experience and we have until March 10 (the date of the event) to practice. He is working with a total novice and he is completely comfortable, patient and confident. I assure Diego that what I lack in experience I will make up for enthusiasm!
I am asking everyone who has a soft spot in their hearts for animals and a soft spot in their hearts for the precarious position in which I have placed myself, to make a donation within your means to support the cause. You can go to the website www.dancingforthedogs.com and click on my picture to donate. I have to admit that I am a bit competitive and I would like to be the one who raises the most money for the shelters so PLEASE help me. The event is SOLD OUT, but donations are still being humbly accepted. Thank you for taking time to read this plea for help on behalf of the quadrupeds who bring so much joy to our lives and deserve our stewardship.

Redefining Prosperity

Out of the Fire has had many prosperous years thanks to a wonderful community of patrons and supporters that have made it possible. Three years ago (but who's counting!) this "prosperity" arrived at a screeching halt when the economy took an inauspicious turn. Dining out requires disposable income which has disappeared for many. For the past three years I am asked on a daily basis how the restaurant is faring the storm. The consistent answer has always contained the word "struggle." Then one day, I came to the realization that I cannot continue to associate the restaurant or my personal life with the word struggle since it is realistically anything but that. If we are to compare our standard of living with that of other countries we are thriving. My commitment to redefine the word prosperity to preserve my emotional well-being has given me a new tool to cope with the reality that life is different for all of us. The narrow view of defining my prosperity solely on materialistic terms was not serving me well. So my new answer to that question is: "I am paying my employees, my taxes, my rent and my bills and to me in this environment THAT is thriving! I also have access to clean drinking water, don't go to bed hungry, I have a roof over my head and have a great family and amazing friends!" So, according to my redefinition of prosperity I am highly prosperous!

Purity: High West Style

Everyone has their own definition of purity. Mine happens to be a dedication to an uncompromising pursuit of rarity and authenticity. It is my belief that this is a pursuit that lacks ubiquity these days and I think I know why. It takes time, patience and focus which is something that is not present in most lives these days. Most want to do things fast and easy. Focusing on that attention to detail is tedious. So, I make it my job to seek out those that embrace purity, particularly in the realm of food and drink.
I recently had the good fortune of discovering High West Distillery. I checked out their website (www.highwest.com) and was intrigued by their attention to detail and commitment to distilling artisinal whiskeys. I ordered a bottle of their Rendezvous Rye and began offering tastes to customers. It received a 100% approval rating!
I was planning a trip to Colorado to visit my nephew and decided, since I was going to be out west that I would just hop over to Utah to visit a friend (we hadn't seen each other since our early 20's!) and visit High West Distillery. So, my friend Bruce and I headed up to Park City to High West Distillery and had a wonderful experience. Great folks, great concept and an uncompromising pursuit of great spirits. Bruce made a big sacrifice for me and tasted 5 whiskeys. He was my whiskey tasting savant. My role solely included my nose, which, by the way was very happy because each whiskey provided an olfactory pleasure.
I currently offer their Rendezvous Rye which is the only blend of young and old straight rye whiskies in the US. It it distilled in the single malt scotch fashion which makes it unique. I will be offering their Bourye which is their proprietary blend of bourbon and rye. Everyone that was present in the tasting room unanimously agreed that this was their favorite. The next time you are in Park City check out High West and the next time you are in Out of the Fire ask me for a taste! Thank you, High West, for your commitment to ducking out of the mainstream and pursuing intense quality. I can't forget to thank Bruce Bilodeau for being my whiskey tasting dude! I know it was a significant sacrifice!

Rise Up!

Almost every morning I make a pilgrimage to Rise Up Coffee kiosk in St. Michaels. I hand them my mondo cup and homemade almond milk ( I have a dairy allergy) which they beautifully froth, add to their perfectly pulled organic espresso and finish with cinnamon. A great start to the day. Everyone ( Matt, Rich, CeCe, Katie, Laura, forgive me if I have omitted anyone) is always cheerful and gracious. The other ritual I have added to my pilgrimage is purchasing a drink for the person that pulls up behind me. I care not whether it is presented anonymously or my identity revealed. What I do care about is how important it is for me to commence my day with an action that gets me out of myself. I am in dire need of this extraction since, as a species, we all seem to be embroiled with fear, insecurity and immense polarity.
I am intrigued by the psychosocial aspect of this small act. The reactions range from complete refusal to a drink bought for the next person in line. The refusal to accept the kind gesture carries with it an innuendo of, perhaps, unrealized selfishness. What they don't grasp is the beauty of accepting this small act of kindness is also a gift.
So, let's all Rise Up and do something nice for someone!

Old School

Many of you haven't had the opportunity to meet Ollie and Annabelle. They have worked with me for 1o years (since the restaurants opening) and continue to hold strong. They both worked at Talbot Country Club. Ollie was the Executive Chef there for at least 19 years. Annabelle was there for 9 years and worked in any capacity she was needed. She washed dishes, cleaned, did food prep and banquet preparation. That is Annabelles style, ask her what you need and she will do it with enthusiasm and perfection. Ollie left the Country Club because he retired. Annabelle left for other reasons. Ollie once told me that after he retired from the Country Club he prayed to the good Lord that he would find a job where he could just prep food and be in an environment where he was treated with respect and dignity. He told me his prayers were answered when he was offered the job at Out of the Fire. Tears welled up in my eyes. These are words you don't often hear as a small business owner and when they are uttered they have a profound impact.
Both Ollie and Annabelle deserve glowing praise and recognition for their work ethic, loyalty, enthusiasm and integrity. They remain in the background and that is the way they want it. Annabelle comes to the restaurant every morning at or before 6:00 and cleans the entire restaurant. She returns at 4:00 to wash dishes until we close. She is ecstatic when we are busy even though it creates more work for her. She knows that we all prosper when we are busy. Ollie comes in everyday and preps and washes dishes at lunch. His humility and willingness to do whatever it takes commands respect. Both of them know more about the restaurant than any of us. Ask them where something is that may have been put away in storage 5 years ago, but they will know exactly where it is. They are the brick and mortar of the restaurant. These two are old school. They can work circles around some of the younger employees. Annabelle once expressed concern to me that I would let her go because of her age and I laughed and said," are you kidding, this place would fall apart without you." That is no exaggeration! Both of them have been gifts to all of us. They are those rare people who have an abundance of wisdom and courage. They show up for life everyday and gracefully take on whatever is handed to them. When we are in their presence we are shaded by greatness. Thank you, Annabelle and Ollie for your valuable lessons.

To Read or Not to Read

I have always been a voracious reader so, for me the answer to that question is most emphatically: TO READ. I had the good fortune to have parents who were always reading. They read the paper everyday and I never saw either one of them without a book. So, naturally to read or not to read was never a question in our family. For many that is not the case. The statistics among young readers is staggering and quite frankly a bit dire in my opinion. Literacy skills among teens and our country's reading culture are quickly deteriorating. Following are some sobering statistics:

- Reading scores drop significantly over the course of middle school. In Dorchester County, Maryland, scores drop from 67.2% in sixth grade to 58.9% in seventh grade to 57.3% in eighth grade.

- Teens spend only 7-10 minutes per day on voluntary reading -- about 60% less than the average American.

- 1 in 5 U.S. workers read at a lower skill level than their job requires.

- 84% of proficient readers voted in the 2000 presidential election while only 53% of below basic readers voted.

Poor reading skills directly contribute to high school dropout:

- 1/2 of below basic readers and 1/3 of basic readers fail to complete high school.

The combination of poor academic skills and low self-esteem is particularly dangerous for girls because it strips them of their power to make good choices:

- According to www.teenpregnancy.org, educational failure is a key predictor of teen pregnancy and teen pregnancy is one of the leading causes of dropout for girls.

Teen pregnancy is devastating to girls' futures and contributes to a cycle of poverty and low academic achievement:

- Only about 2% of teen mothers have a college degree by age 30.

- Teen pregnancy costs the U.S. at least $9 billion annually.

- Children of teen parents are 50% more likely to repeat a grade.

If, after reading this, you feel compelled to make a difference you can. Elizabeth Devlin created a grass roots organization called Page Turners which addresses these issues. PageTurners: Girls Who Read to Achieve is a network of school-based afterschool book clubs to empower at-risk adolescent girls, through the discussion of literature, to become leaders in their communities while improving their reading and critical thinking skills. The organization is in its infancy and needs our support. Join Elizabeth in her effort to help support after school literacy clubs in our public school systems . Go to www.pageturnersread.org for additional information.

Small Victories

As I mentioned in the March 2009 post I discontinued offering Coke or
Pepsi many years ago, opting, instead to offer a more healthy alternative.

My decision was embraced and understood by some and rejected and
criticized by others. The restaurant is a wonderful teacher to me. It
is a constant reminder that I will NEVER please everyone, although
for some reason I don't stop trying. Some would define that behavior
as insanity- attempting the same thing over and over again and
expecting different results. Perhaps I just handle the inability to
please everyone more gently and gracefully so I don't fall as hard
as I once did in the restaurants infancy. It is analogous to a game
of wac-a-mole; I just keep popping back up!
Back to the title of this post: Small Victories. I have a regular
customer who happened to be a victim of my insights on the toxicity
of aspartame. He and his wife graciously listened to my monologues as I criticized
his diet beverage of choice, one, that I obviously decided to
eliminate from my offerings. I decided I should bite my tongue and
not bring it up EVERY TIME they visited! So, I vowed to myself that I
would only engage if they brought up the "you know what." So, last
week they came in for lunch and they waved me over to their table and
he said, "Amy, I have given up Diet Coke completely!" I said, "Oh, my
god, I can't believe it, congratulations! "(and I did a little
celebration dance) He replied, "that's not all, I have lost weight,
my blood pressure has dropped significantly and I'm a lot calmer!" I
can't tell you how happy I am for him! So, At the risk of alienating
those of you who actually read my blog I will give you a reprieve from my soapbox, I will challenge you to do the research on the deleterious effects of the known neurotoxin named
aspartame.
I went through a phase not long ago that I felt I needed to do more
to raise awareness around health and nutrition and its impact on our
emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. I realized my delusion
of grandeur (that I could single handedly change the world )was
paralyzing. I changed my mindset and embraced the attitude that small
victories are equally as important and just as sweet as large ones.