As some of you may remember, Animated Meat first came to life in 2008 as a way to document some sights that managed to slip through the cracks of most popular travel websites. You may also remember that the original website was built on Apple's now defunct iWeb. From there, it migrated over to WordPress where it met an untimely demise at the hands of Russian hackers. Many of those old, pre-2012 entries have found a new home here in the Before the Now section. I would consider these posts as my starting place as a writer, probably comparable to a musician's first demo tapes. They are very rough, but I took them all seriously and wrote each one with passion. While I would like to believe that I have matured in my abilities as a writer, it is my hope that I carry this same blind passion into all of my new efforts.

Bruxie - Originally Published 2011

March 14, 2019

Spend some time in Southern California and you’ll end up meeting the “I Don’t Go To OC” guy. Who is he? He’s the guy that would rather go to a leper colony that to take a trip south on the 5. He’ll make a fuss and act like anything outside of the 310 is the cultural equivalent of taking a trip to Mayberry.

Here’s my take on that guy. Stop trying to convince him to come down this way. You know why? Because the line at Bruxie is already long enough. Let him be small minded and provincial. You and I will be able to dine on waffle sandwiches and will laugh with delight knowing that our snobby friends are missing out.

Yes, waffle sandwiches. Waffle sandwiches of all kinds. Sweet and savory. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And not only that, but also milkshakes. We can eat them with glee as the “I Don’t Go To OC” guys fret over the closure of the 405.