Comments on: The Long-Delayed Conclusion to the Lent 2010 Fast Food Fish Sandwich Tournament

By: Kendal

Kendal — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 05:08:27 +0000

In reply to neal. You certainly have a record for discovering burned-down old houses in rural settings. Thanks for the disambiguation.

By: neal

neal — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 20:54:54 +0000

In reply to Kendal.

Sorry, that’s not my intent. I didn’t talk about the moment of discovering the Belltower rubble in this story — just that it had happened — so I’m not really sure what to change or correct. Can you point out which part makes it misleading?

EDIT: I think maybe I see where it’s confusing. I mentioned it where I did not to say my friend and I discovered the Belltower rubble that day, but to explain why we were checking on the condition of the secret woods house even though I’d been there just two years earlier — following the line “Two years tacked onto decades of survival should be nothing for a house like that…” to show that a lot can change in two years. I hope that helps.

By: Kendal

Kendal — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 20:43:20 +0000

Neal, I’m confused. This story makes it sound like you discovered the rubble of the Bell Tower another day than you actually did, with Grandma and Grandpa and your dad and me in the van.

By: joe

joe — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 05:42:25 +0000

Great story, record it add, a song by “Air” and send it to Ira Glass.

Runza should contact you, this fits in with their current campaign of people talking about liking Runza.

By: theotherneill

theotherneill — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:56:35 +0000

Nice to see Runza won. And the Belltower was a great filler.

By: neal

neal — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:30:36 +0000

In reply to Kyle Stewart.

I wanted to make a fish trophy and present it to an unsuspecting Runza clerk for a photo op, but that’s as close as I planned on getting to any kind of Runza relationship. I don’t want to tarnish the integrity of the tournament.

I do wonder if word got back to any of the restaurants. I hope I’m still allowed inside Don & Millie’s, because I love that place.

By: neal

neal — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:28:17 +0000

In reply to Ed. Excellent work, Ed. I encourage all other visitors to offer up their own essays about the symbolism in the story as it relates to the Fast Food Fish Sandwich Tournament.

By: Kyle Stewart

Kyle Stewart — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:24:00 +0000

Neal – Have you approached Runza management about the results of your tournament? Given that they are local, maybe they would be interested in advertising or marketing with you. You could make some money, or if nothing else, get some free grub.

By: Ed

Ed — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 08:37:26 +0000

Also, BK Big Fish forever!!!!!!!

By: Ed

Ed — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 08:15:55 +0000

Neal, while I disagree that Runza provides the most appealing Lenten Fish Sandwich, I cannot complain about the process by which you proved this to yourself. The type of tournament that you undertook is simplified version of a tried and true algorithm that produces successful fast food menu items. It’s the kind of tournament that I’d want Ed, Jr, and friends to consider when judging a Lenten Friday lunch (though I’d send them to Holy Name on a Friday evening to put things into perspective, plus to see their teachers as human beings).
I have to point out that by demystifying the unknowns of the Don and Millie’s and Hardees of the world, you have opened a door to many that would ordinarily discount these options out of extreme prejudice and lack of actually trying them. I haven’t condemned these sandwiches simply based on your opinion and have only been enlightened by your experiences.
Auburnites will have to deal will the destruction of the legendary Belltower House in the only way they can…by preserving the memories of what it represents to those that walked in your footsteps to find it. Everyone should be so privileged that they can experience first-hand discovery in the face of uncertain legend. One would hope that experiences like these touch them in a profound way. I share your grief over the loss of the Belltower House. The memories, friendships, and private experiences that were formed by such a search cannot allowed to be simply replaced by our nostalgic ramblings. I hope that others will continue their own searches that may or may not bring them to that hilltop or those woods, but will at least bring them somewhere nearby.