One sweet gig

By now you've heard about the English DJ who phoned the hospital where Kate Middleton has been holed-up, telling hospital staff she was "HRH da Queen".  The staff bought it and told the impostor everything.  So why didn't they quiz "da Queen" like my bank quizzes me every time I call?...."What was your mother's maiden name?"...."What was the name of your first elementary school?"...."What was your high school mascot?"  Looks to me like this could have been a fairly simple hoax to foil.  

OK, now about that sweet gig:  Do any of you watch Anthony Bourdain on the Travel Channel?  He (claims to be) a chef who now travels the world visiting great (sometimes) places, seeing all the off-the-beaten-path sites, and eating exotic local cuisine.  How do people land these really cool jobs?  

Now I'll admit, it's probably great fun....for a while.  After living out of a suitcase for months on end I'm sure you can get burned out pretty fast.  Still, I'd do it in a heartbeat.  A couple days ago Anthony was in Paris getting a guided tour from a food critic friend.  They bypassed the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre and instead visited all the little markets on the side streets, drank vino and people watched from little sidewalk bistros, and ate at those quaint little restaurants off narrow alleyways that have 3 tables total.

My only hesitation would be the food itself.  He's always served something weird.  "Today, just for you Monsieur....Roquefort crabgrass and beet salad, roasted Bunion of Roadkill, and semi-fermented Brussels sprouts."  And of course he just woofs it right down cooing "Mmmmmm....this is just woooonderful."

I wish I had that wide a taste palate.  I really do.  All I'd be able to do is push the food around the plate and smile while off-camera digging into my backpack for some fake-cheese-in-a-can and some crackers.  I'm sorry, but if I can't identify it, I don't eat it.

I guess that's what's holding back my Travel Channel TV career.  :(  *Stella...I coulda been a contenda*

S