Snowy scenes look so pretty in photos. There are millions of people who have never seen snow and many who imagine that snow is magical. Years of shoveling and scraping have cured me, and this past week has only confirmed my feelings for the dreaded white stuff. Plus, now I know how much snow hurts.
What is there to do when spouse and I are stuck in the house due to inclement weather? Let's paint some bedrooms. After the first, my leg muscles were screaming something about deep knee bends that my ears couldn't quite hear. At least I didn't fall down. Spouse painted circles around me. What's up with that?
A week ago we had a mix of snow and rain that was as heavy as cement to shovel, although it was perfect for making snowmen and igloos. Since I neglected to coat the shovel with Pam, half of every shovelful stuck on. Exercise reminds me of all the muscles I don't use, and this particular exercise pulled muscles that not only haven't been used recently, but have already retired. At least I didn't fall down.
Four days later, spouse threw out his back getting off the couch. Pain was so bad he had to fall back on it and stay there for hours. Heavy duty analgesics helped, and each day he felt a little better.
Then we had another winter storm. There is a particular spot where our walk meets the driveway that always gets icy, and it behooves us to watch our step. We can climb around it using the snowbanks, or tough it out on the walk. I knew there would be ice, but the thin layer of new snow made it hard to spot. Baby step after baby step, I slowly approached the danger zone, knowing I could fall and being more careful than I have ever been. It was a splendid five point landing; two hands, two knees, one purse. The first thing you do when you fall is to get up before someone sees you. Then you determine if there is damage. I was lucky on both scores.
Three days later, spouse's back was coming along nicely. So were the icy patches on the driveway. Although we've been getting a lot of rain, not snow, we know what happens to puddles overnight in the winter. Walking down the driveway to get the mail can be hazardous, so spouse was taking safe, small steps. He made it almost to the bottom of the driveway, then after his feet flew into the air, made a perfect one point landing, right on his seat. He was not concerned about being seen. He was concerned about breaking a hip, which did not happen. His twisting maneuver, which would have earned him a 10 in a gymnastics' event, succeeded in reinjuring his back.
It is now two days later, and we are facing another winter storm tomorrow. Spouse's back is feeling a little better, but his sit-upon is sore. My back is better, and my knees are feeling almost normal. The bruise on my leg from the run-in with a bookcase is the size of a dessert plate, just as colorful, and is not nearly as swollen as it was. But we have 1.25 gallons of paint and a brand new paint roller extender... And we have two rolls of masking tape, and drop cloths aplenty...We are going to paint another bedroom.
What's the worst thing that can happen?
February 4, 2011
February 1, 2011
Traveling - Isn't it the Best?
Everything about vacations is exciting - planning the routes, finding the best hotel rates, deciding what to pack, and, of course, buying the snacks. January was very travelicious for spouse and me, thanks to invitations from the kids.
First there was a long weekend in NYC, formed principally around a victory dinner at Daisy May's BBQ for the NASCAR Fantasy Picks winner, at which everyone felt like a winner. Where else can six people share four dinners and sweet tea from a Mason jar (not the same jar)?
This was our second trip to The City (and Daisy May's) and this time we did more tourist things, like seeing the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Security was tight. Before boarding the ferry, all the January clothes had to come off and take a ride through the xray machine. The temps were in the 30s; hat weather. Wearing a hat is a commitment because of what happens to the 'do. It is a testament to my family's fondness that they still associate with me. Spouse kept setting off the alarm, which tends to happen with titanium body parts, so he got the wand and was eventually allowed to pass. Then we all climbed back into boots, belts, coats, and hats, and made room for the others behind us. After a short boat ride, we were allowed to do the whole security dance again before seeing Lady Liberty. She is worth the price of admission, of course.
Half of our party took the steps, the other half the elevator, and we all arrived at the same time. After our visit, we were off to Ellis Island, and another ferry ride. We shared the ferry with pigeons who wouldn't have been an inconvenience to anyone if that little boy had not tried to catch them. Hats can be convenient inside as well as out. We walked around and read all the plaques and viewed the photos at Ellis Island, and the kids researched some ancestors. I looked around and hoped I wouldn't have to remove my hat again.
We squeezed a lot of fun into that weekend; walking, eating, sightseeing, touring, shopping, cab rides. We split into two groups for the cab rides. We girls had some very nice drivers, friendly and chatty, and I mostly understood what they were saying, although I feel I should be excused for thinking one driver said "footyball" because that night was the big game between the Patriots and the Jets, and the subject was on many lips. The guys had a memorable ride that involved a dent, much shouting, rough language, and fortunately no weapons. After four days and three nights, we made our long way home, six or seven hours of cab, train, and car rides, with a camera full of memories.
Two weeks later we were ready to travel again, this time to the DE/PA area for the Philly Car Show and to check out wedding venues. It was my first trip into Philly. We drove through China Town, a pretty quiet place at 6:45 am. Snow was everywhere, but we got to park close to the convention center in a garage. Then it was time for a select few to check out all the newest wheels on the planet. It was four hours of stationery test drives, and I had a blast. When would I ever get to sit in a $280,000 Bentley??? Well, not at this car show, but I did see one, almost close enough to touch, but that man was keeping a pretty close eye on things behind the ropes. The Jaguars, Porsches, Rolls Royces, cars like that were off limits, but we all sat in plenty of others; Camaros, Escalades, Mini Coopers, Suburbans, Flexes, FJ Cruisers, Acuras, Infinitis, Lotuses... it was hard to choose a favorite.
This car is all airbrushed, and quite the work of art.
We enjoyed some fine dining with fine company, checked out the church and reception location, chose hotels, and all too soon it was time to leave for home. We waved goodbye, and got into the car. This trip was strictly by car, although we did see some cabs and trains. We hooked up Susie, our GPS, and off we went. Susie likes to suggest Rte. 95 through New York, and since 1977 when we took that route and did not especially care for it, we have not driven that way. Instead we swing wide along 287 and use the Tappan Zee Bridge. We have Tolly, our EZ Pass, so we get to breeze through toll booths, of which there were plenty on this trip.
We were half-heartedly watching for the Garden State Parkway exit, enjoying the sunny day, much nicer than the snowy day for the ride down, when all of a sudden we were driving by a big airport and refineries. In my glass-is-half-full way, I said I thought I remembered seeing the airport, but spouse was certain we had not seen refineries. This meant one thing and one thing only. We were headed for the Bronx. Spouse became crew chief and navigator (I was driving) and things started out fine and calm. I remembered spouse's parents ending up where they didn't want to be back in the 70s while traveling this road, and really did not want to end up at Yankee Stadium myself. (They missed their chance with us two weeks ago when their tours were sold out.) We were driving along in the light/medium traffic, and I saw a sign that said "Welcome to Manhattan", which would have been quite upsetting to me had we not just been to NYC and I knew that Manhattan was not actually a scary place, even though I am much more comfortable in the country than in the city. Deep breaths help out in so many situations, as they did until we were out of New York and following along the Metro North line through all the towns our express train had stopped at two weeks ago. Nearly felt like home. Spouse and I decided we could do the 95 way again, and save an hour of travel. We are such sophisticates.
First there was a long weekend in NYC, formed principally around a victory dinner at Daisy May's BBQ for the NASCAR Fantasy Picks winner, at which everyone felt like a winner. Where else can six people share four dinners and sweet tea from a Mason jar (not the same jar)?
This was our second trip to The City (and Daisy May's) and this time we did more tourist things, like seeing the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Security was tight. Before boarding the ferry, all the January clothes had to come off and take a ride through the xray machine. The temps were in the 30s; hat weather. Wearing a hat is a commitment because of what happens to the 'do. It is a testament to my family's fondness that they still associate with me. Spouse kept setting off the alarm, which tends to happen with titanium body parts, so he got the wand and was eventually allowed to pass. Then we all climbed back into boots, belts, coats, and hats, and made room for the others behind us. After a short boat ride, we were allowed to do the whole security dance again before seeing Lady Liberty. She is worth the price of admission, of course.
Half of our party took the steps, the other half the elevator, and we all arrived at the same time. After our visit, we were off to Ellis Island, and another ferry ride. We shared the ferry with pigeons who wouldn't have been an inconvenience to anyone if that little boy had not tried to catch them. Hats can be convenient inside as well as out. We walked around and read all the plaques and viewed the photos at Ellis Island, and the kids researched some ancestors. I looked around and hoped I wouldn't have to remove my hat again.
We squeezed a lot of fun into that weekend; walking, eating, sightseeing, touring, shopping, cab rides. We split into two groups for the cab rides. We girls had some very nice drivers, friendly and chatty, and I mostly understood what they were saying, although I feel I should be excused for thinking one driver said "footyball" because that night was the big game between the Patriots and the Jets, and the subject was on many lips. The guys had a memorable ride that involved a dent, much shouting, rough language, and fortunately no weapons. After four days and three nights, we made our long way home, six or seven hours of cab, train, and car rides, with a camera full of memories.
Two weeks later we were ready to travel again, this time to the DE/PA area for the Philly Car Show and to check out wedding venues. It was my first trip into Philly. We drove through China Town, a pretty quiet place at 6:45 am. Snow was everywhere, but we got to park close to the convention center in a garage. Then it was time for a select few to check out all the newest wheels on the planet. It was four hours of stationery test drives, and I had a blast. When would I ever get to sit in a $280,000 Bentley??? Well, not at this car show, but I did see one, almost close enough to touch, but that man was keeping a pretty close eye on things behind the ropes. The Jaguars, Porsches, Rolls Royces, cars like that were off limits, but we all sat in plenty of others; Camaros, Escalades, Mini Coopers, Suburbans, Flexes, FJ Cruisers, Acuras, Infinitis, Lotuses... it was hard to choose a favorite.
This car is all airbrushed, and quite the work of art.We enjoyed some fine dining with fine company, checked out the church and reception location, chose hotels, and all too soon it was time to leave for home. We waved goodbye, and got into the car. This trip was strictly by car, although we did see some cabs and trains. We hooked up Susie, our GPS, and off we went. Susie likes to suggest Rte. 95 through New York, and since 1977 when we took that route and did not especially care for it, we have not driven that way. Instead we swing wide along 287 and use the Tappan Zee Bridge. We have Tolly, our EZ Pass, so we get to breeze through toll booths, of which there were plenty on this trip.
We were half-heartedly watching for the Garden State Parkway exit, enjoying the sunny day, much nicer than the snowy day for the ride down, when all of a sudden we were driving by a big airport and refineries. In my glass-is-half-full way, I said I thought I remembered seeing the airport, but spouse was certain we had not seen refineries. This meant one thing and one thing only. We were headed for the Bronx. Spouse became crew chief and navigator (I was driving) and things started out fine and calm. I remembered spouse's parents ending up where they didn't want to be back in the 70s while traveling this road, and really did not want to end up at Yankee Stadium myself. (They missed their chance with us two weeks ago when their tours were sold out.) We were driving along in the light/medium traffic, and I saw a sign that said "Welcome to Manhattan", which would have been quite upsetting to me had we not just been to NYC and I knew that Manhattan was not actually a scary place, even though I am much more comfortable in the country than in the city. Deep breaths help out in so many situations, as they did until we were out of New York and following along the Metro North line through all the towns our express train had stopped at two weeks ago. Nearly felt like home. Spouse and I decided we could do the 95 way again, and save an hour of travel. We are such sophisticates.
November 12, 2010
Does This Make Me Look Fat?
I like to cut the size tags off my new clothes. Occasionally it is because they are itchy, but that's not the only reason. What if someone saw the tag and knew what size I wear? Some numbers are not meant to be shared.
What I will never understand is why men's jeans come with exterior tags that show waist and length for all to see. Men don't seem to care that we can see that they are a 38/30, 30/38, or 36/31. The day I wear pants with my size advertised is the day the North and South Poles exchange places, which I am told will one day happen, but not in my lifetime.
Europeans have it all wrong. We refused to go metric. We just said no. What woman wants to walk into a store and say she needs a strappy little black sandal in size 38, or an evening dress in size 44? Isn't it bad enough that anything above a size 12 is considered a "plus" size?
Shopping for a wedding gown, girls? Prepare to order it two sizes bigger than your normal. This makes getting engaged the fastest weight gain you'll ever experience. Bridal gown samples all seem to be size 10, and they fit perfectly - on a size six figure. In case that leaves any of your self esteem intact, there are still the three sided mirrors watching your every move.
There is some hope for those of us who feel size-challenged. The Chico's chain has a fantastic size range - 1, 2, and 3. I can march right in there and announce with confidence that I need a size 3 with not one iota of embarassment. The fact that I have yet to find anything that fits both me and my budget is not Chico's fault. And I will keep hoping that their forward-thinking spreads far and wide. Just in case I do.
What I will never understand is why men's jeans come with exterior tags that show waist and length for all to see. Men don't seem to care that we can see that they are a 38/30, 30/38, or 36/31. The day I wear pants with my size advertised is the day the North and South Poles exchange places, which I am told will one day happen, but not in my lifetime.
Europeans have it all wrong. We refused to go metric. We just said no. What woman wants to walk into a store and say she needs a strappy little black sandal in size 38, or an evening dress in size 44? Isn't it bad enough that anything above a size 12 is considered a "plus" size?
Shopping for a wedding gown, girls? Prepare to order it two sizes bigger than your normal. This makes getting engaged the fastest weight gain you'll ever experience. Bridal gown samples all seem to be size 10, and they fit perfectly - on a size six figure. In case that leaves any of your self esteem intact, there are still the three sided mirrors watching your every move.
There is some hope for those of us who feel size-challenged. The Chico's chain has a fantastic size range - 1, 2, and 3. I can march right in there and announce with confidence that I need a size 3 with not one iota of embarassment. The fact that I have yet to find anything that fits both me and my budget is not Chico's fault. And I will keep hoping that their forward-thinking spreads far and wide. Just in case I do.
August 31, 2010
Moral Dilemmas
I am faced with choices daily, hourly, sometimes minutely. It is not always easy to make the right choice. In "The Goonies" and "Indiana Jones'" movies, making the wrong choice has dire consequences. I'm not referring to that type of choices, just the common, ordinary kind.
1. You are in the rest room of a restaurant, alone, and you find a small wad of bills. Do you -
a. scoop it up and quickly pocket it, counting it later?
b. leave it where it is?
c. pick up the money and hand it to a restaurant employee?
2. In the checkout line at the grocery store, you notice that the cashier failed to charge you for an item. Do you -
a. say nothing?
b. point out the omission to the cashier?
c. tell the store manager that the cashier is giving away the stock?
3. Your boss' boss' boss has called you by the wrong name for years. Do you -
a. continue to smile and greet him under the false name?
b. quietly take him aside and tell him that he's been making a fool of himself with your cooperation?
c. correct him loudly at the next departmental meeting?
4. You are unable to get a Walt Disney World restaurant reservation for two. You have heard that it is sometimes possible to get a reservation for three, rather than two, as there are more tables for four than two. Do you -
a. after failing to get a reservation for two, just take your chances and appear at the restaurant full of hope?
b. make the reservation for three or four and then once you appear before the hostess, say that the rest of the party could not make it?
c. decide that you don't really want to eat there after all if your money-for-two isn't good enough for them?
5. You shopped at a large-chain discount store, buying heavily, receiving many bags full of stuff. A day or two later you realize that you can't find a few of the items you purchased, although they are listed on your receipt. Do you -
a. call the store, filled with indignation, and ask what they are going to do about it?
b. blame yourself for not being more observant when the items were bagged; do you really want to drive 20 miles for a few lost items?
c. decide to tell the manager next time you go to the store, hoping you will remember the receipt to use as back-up?
5a. If you return to the store and get either a refund or free replacement of the missing items, and then, days later, you find the supposedly missing items in the car trunk, in another bag, or somewhere else among your possessions, do you -
a. immediately return the surplus items?
b. feel guilty but keep the surplus items, rationalizing that somehow, some way, they owe it to you?
c. make a pie crust promise to yourself to some day soon either return the surplus items or tell the manager and pay the store back?
6. Your favorite drive-thru has been sadly lacking in speed and accuracy lately, but they still have the best fast food. Today they gave you more food than you ordered and paid for, and you don't discover it until after you have left the pick-up window. Do you -
a. go back through the line and return the overage?
b. decide they owe it to you as compensation for the hurt feelings they have been causing you?
c. throw the extra food out the car window in small pieces for the birds and squirrels and other non-guilt feeling creatures?
7. You are sitting in your car in a shopping center parking lot, and you watch as a driver in a car damages another car, parks in a spot nearby, and then walks into the store. Do you -
a. drive away shaking your head, dismayed at what this world has come to?
b. write down the number plate and wait for the owner of the damaged vehicle to return to the scene of the crime and share the information?
c. go let the air out of the tires of the car that did the damage?
You didn't think I was going to tell you the right answers, did you? Since we all have different consciences, then maybe we all have different right answers.
1. You are in the rest room of a restaurant, alone, and you find a small wad of bills. Do you -
a. scoop it up and quickly pocket it, counting it later?
b. leave it where it is?
c. pick up the money and hand it to a restaurant employee?
2. In the checkout line at the grocery store, you notice that the cashier failed to charge you for an item. Do you -
a. say nothing?
b. point out the omission to the cashier?
c. tell the store manager that the cashier is giving away the stock?
3. Your boss' boss' boss has called you by the wrong name for years. Do you -
a. continue to smile and greet him under the false name?
b. quietly take him aside and tell him that he's been making a fool of himself with your cooperation?
c. correct him loudly at the next departmental meeting?
4. You are unable to get a Walt Disney World restaurant reservation for two. You have heard that it is sometimes possible to get a reservation for three, rather than two, as there are more tables for four than two. Do you -
a. after failing to get a reservation for two, just take your chances and appear at the restaurant full of hope?
b. make the reservation for three or four and then once you appear before the hostess, say that the rest of the party could not make it?
c. decide that you don't really want to eat there after all if your money-for-two isn't good enough for them?
5. You shopped at a large-chain discount store, buying heavily, receiving many bags full of stuff. A day or two later you realize that you can't find a few of the items you purchased, although they are listed on your receipt. Do you -
a. call the store, filled with indignation, and ask what they are going to do about it?
b. blame yourself for not being more observant when the items were bagged; do you really want to drive 20 miles for a few lost items?
c. decide to tell the manager next time you go to the store, hoping you will remember the receipt to use as back-up?
5a. If you return to the store and get either a refund or free replacement of the missing items, and then, days later, you find the supposedly missing items in the car trunk, in another bag, or somewhere else among your possessions, do you -
a. immediately return the surplus items?
b. feel guilty but keep the surplus items, rationalizing that somehow, some way, they owe it to you?
c. make a pie crust promise to yourself to some day soon either return the surplus items or tell the manager and pay the store back?
6. Your favorite drive-thru has been sadly lacking in speed and accuracy lately, but they still have the best fast food. Today they gave you more food than you ordered and paid for, and you don't discover it until after you have left the pick-up window. Do you -
a. go back through the line and return the overage?
b. decide they owe it to you as compensation for the hurt feelings they have been causing you?
c. throw the extra food out the car window in small pieces for the birds and squirrels and other non-guilt feeling creatures?
7. You are sitting in your car in a shopping center parking lot, and you watch as a driver in a car damages another car, parks in a spot nearby, and then walks into the store. Do you -
a. drive away shaking your head, dismayed at what this world has come to?
b. write down the number plate and wait for the owner of the damaged vehicle to return to the scene of the crime and share the information?
c. go let the air out of the tires of the car that did the damage?
You didn't think I was going to tell you the right answers, did you? Since we all have different consciences, then maybe we all have different right answers.
August 7, 2010
Sail Away From Falmouth...
Cape Cod is charming, off the beaten path, and a tourist's dream destination. Maybe the miles and miles of heavy and slow/stopped traffic along the way make it that much sweeter. Not only is the Cape a great place to visit, it's a great place to live. In the summertime the traffic gets annoying, often aggravating, but we take pride in knowing and discovering shortcuts to avoid some of it. We've lived here 24 years, long enough to wonder why we see so many cars from Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Don't they share the same ocean? Why is it better here? When we start thinking this way, it's time to head for Martha's Vineyard, because we still find it charming, off the beaten path, and a tourist's dream destination.
We catch the Island Queen in Falmouth, and relax for the half hour boatride. There are sailboats, fishing boats, cigarette boats, and jet skis to watch along the way. The sun is on our faces, the wind whips through our hair, and we are getting a combination wind & sunburn, and we like it. The sky is blue (at $18/pp we make sure to go on a sunny day), the water is sparkling, and we pretend we are on vacation. Once at the dock in Oak Bluffs, we stay in our orange plastic seats until the parents, children, babies, bicycles, and dogs have disembarked, then we follow. Passengers leaving the boat are greeted by happy islanders, family or friends already staying on the island, taxi and tour bus drivers, and hopeful seagulls. Spouse has told me that in the 1950s, arrivals were also greeted by young boys in the water begging for coins to be tossed into the harbor for capture.
Walking along the harborside, we look at the other people, the cars, mopeds, skooters, and bicycles for rent. $100 for a small 4 door is excessive, and if we want to get around we buy a bus pass for less than $10/pp and can ride around the island all day. It stops in Edgartown, and we have been there many times, enjoying the cobblestone streets, the deli's excellent sandwiches, and Murdick's fudge. Yum. Just riding the bus and seeing the beaches, homes, and the people is a good time. Not having to drive in the bumper-to-bumper traffic in the towns' centers is a good time.
The towns have their own particular attractions, but my favorite has always been Oak Bluffs. This is where spouse's father and grandfather were born, where he lived for ten years as a child, and where his parents are buried. Deep roots.
Spouse's family lived in a campground house, home of the Gingerbread Houses. Today the area looks like something out of a fairytale. At the very center is the Tabernacle, an opensided and airy building used for church services, community sings, and special events. It is also a good place to eat a take-out lunch. Surrounding the Tabernacle is a soft blanket of shaded green grass with benches, and a great place to sit, relax, and eat the fudge bought in Edgartown, or at the Murdick's in Oak Bluffs. As we walk throught the Campgrounds, spouse tells me the names of all the people who lived in the houses when he lived here and the mischief he used to get into. Also the mischief that he did not get into but was blamed for.
When it's time for lunch we have a lot of choices along Circuit Avenue, but usually end up at Giordano's, which has been there for decades, and meets our high standards. Pizza, sandwiches, and fried clams are the highlights of the menu for us. We visit some of the gift shops, and sometimes buy touristy things. Spouse talks about the past with store clerks, but he seldom finds anyone who knew people he knew. You can go home again, but maybe no one will know you.
Everything about Oak Bluffs lowers my blood pressure. When we go with the fam, we stay five or six hours, and we see and do it all. When it's just the two of us, three hours is enough time. As we walked back to the dock, spouse stopped to look at some rental cars? go-karts? tricycles with sides? and I wouldn't be surprised to hear that he needs to go back to MV to rent one.
This might have an adverse affect on my blood pressure...
June 19, 2010
How Far is Too Far?
I have met people who will not drive over a bridge. Since they happen to live on Cape Cod, this means they never leave the place, which is basically an island since its only connections to "off Cape" are made of steel. Others think that driving to the next town is too far to go unless there is a special reason, and they consider a 20 minute trip an event.
Spouse and I like to be in the car, and like to cover a lot of ground. We don't need a specific destination when we start out. On weekends, we want to get out of the house, see things, do things, see new sights. We stop at McD's for our 32 oz. sweet tea (still only $1.00) and head out on the open road. There is always a meal on the agenda, and often the GPS is involved. One more friendly voice in the car adds to the fun of the day.
One time we drove an hour to reach a Shoney's in Rhode Island. We had fond memories of their buffet from vacations past, and wanted to recapture come of that vacation food fun. We got all the way there and saw that Shoney's had closed and we had to eat at a Ruby Tuesday's instead. It has taken me 12 years to appreciate Ruby Tuesday's and it is solely because of the avocado turkey burger. But I digress.
We have repeatedly driven 1.5 hours to the Burlington Mall to dine at the Rainforest Cafe, one of the most fun places on the earth or at least on this hemisphere. The food is ample and excellent, the ambiance is pure squeaky-clean jungle, and the Volcano dessert is to die for. And if you ate a Volcano by yourself you probably would die. Six people could easily share this brownie/cake/ice cream/whipped cream extravaganza. There are two Rainforest locations at Disneyworld, so driving to Burlington is a much shorter ride, and brings back a little of the vacation feeling, at least until we step back out into the mall.
Kelly's Roast Beef is also worth a 1.5 hour journey. Not only is their roast beef fantastic, but their onion rings and french fries are - you guessed it - to die for. Much better to share them. We can walk off some of the excess calories strolling through Jordan's Furniture and asking the sales people "What happened to Barry?". And then, if we're still hungry, we can drive another 20 minutes to Uhlman's in Westborough for ice cream - rich, homemade, creamy ice cream.
We do have favorite restaurants that are only about 45 minutes away; Texas Roadhouse, Five Guys, Smoky Bones, Olive Garden, Outback. There are even a couple only 15 minutes away, like Red Robin, Longhorn Steakhouse, Chili's. But we can go to those any time. Running up the mileage makes a meal more special, and vice verse.
I don't have one favorite restaurant, but I have a favorite few. Starting with the closest geographically, the Family Cupboard in Bird-in-Hand, PA, is Amish and Mennonite and has both a buffet and servers if you choose to have your portions controlled, and shoo fly pie is available at all three meals. Family Cupboard is about eight hours from home, so we don't go there often. Maybe once a year, and we make the visit count.
Another special favorite is the Ville de Flora at Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, which is 24 hours from our house. It is a buffet, naturally, and every night has a different theme, be it Spanish, French, Greek, or Italian. Italian (the only one we have tried) includes prime rib and about a thousand fantastic side dishes. I could almost become a vegetarian for a meal, but not really. Just before we reach bursting point, we head for the dessert island for the sample-sized treasures that make it deceptively easy to fill a plate before you know what is happening. I remember my father repeating what he heard so often in the army, "Take what you want but eat what you take." So that's what I always try to do. Waste is sinful, and so is gluttony, but waste seems more sinfullier. Once we stagger out of the V de F, we walk extensively around the four acre atrium lobby and gawk at the tropical paradise. This is the only resort I have visited that has alligators in the lobby which sounds scary but is not.
Another favorite restaurant is located at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, also 24 hours from home. It is Boma, an African themed buffet, open for breakfast and dinner. Again, the side dishes are enough to make the meal, but the prime rib, turkey, and chicken are too tempting to resist. The desserts are the first offerings we walk by on the way to our table. I think the hosts plan their routes carefully. If we fill up on those sweets we won't have enough hard drive space for the pricier buffet items. One server we had actually brought us each a zebra pastry to eat before we even ordered beverages. Naturally we all ate that first. It is now the first thing I put on my plate when we are lucky enough to get to Boma. I just saw on bing dictionary what "Boma" means - 'enclosure: in central and eastern Africa, an enclosed camp or an enclosure for animals'. I won't take that personally.
There is one more special favorite on my list - Marie Callender's. Unfortunately these restaurants are four to five days away, and I don't know when we will be able to get to another one. The meals are good, but they are not the shining star here. You have to, have to, have to save room for dessert, which is always PIE. My favoritest pie of all, even better than the Chocolate Satin, is the Double Cream Blueberry (fruity therefore healthy). On our first visit to Marie's, spouse and I ordered different flavors (noted above) and shared. On our second visit I again got the Double Cream Blueberry and there was no sharing. It was so good that I did not even mind that spouse spilled some blueberries in his lap, stained his off-white cargo shorts, and decided to abandon them in the motel room rather than have us try to get that stain out at home even though it was first time he had worn them. Shakespeare may have thought the play's the thing, but I say the pie's the thing. If you happen to find yourself on the west coast and in a Marie Callender's and you are still hungry after your meal, have a nice piece of pie, any flavor you want. But if you can't make up your mind, have the Double Cream Blueberry.
Spouse and I like to be in the car, and like to cover a lot of ground. We don't need a specific destination when we start out. On weekends, we want to get out of the house, see things, do things, see new sights. We stop at McD's for our 32 oz. sweet tea (still only $1.00) and head out on the open road. There is always a meal on the agenda, and often the GPS is involved. One more friendly voice in the car adds to the fun of the day.
One time we drove an hour to reach a Shoney's in Rhode Island. We had fond memories of their buffet from vacations past, and wanted to recapture come of that vacation food fun. We got all the way there and saw that Shoney's had closed and we had to eat at a Ruby Tuesday's instead. It has taken me 12 years to appreciate Ruby Tuesday's and it is solely because of the avocado turkey burger. But I digress.
We have repeatedly driven 1.5 hours to the Burlington Mall to dine at the Rainforest Cafe, one of the most fun places on the earth or at least on this hemisphere. The food is ample and excellent, the ambiance is pure squeaky-clean jungle, and the Volcano dessert is to die for. And if you ate a Volcano by yourself you probably would die. Six people could easily share this brownie/cake/ice cream/whipped cream extravaganza. There are two Rainforest locations at Disneyworld, so driving to Burlington is a much shorter ride, and brings back a little of the vacation feeling, at least until we step back out into the mall.
Kelly's Roast Beef is also worth a 1.5 hour journey. Not only is their roast beef fantastic, but their onion rings and french fries are - you guessed it - to die for. Much better to share them. We can walk off some of the excess calories strolling through Jordan's Furniture and asking the sales people "What happened to Barry?". And then, if we're still hungry, we can drive another 20 minutes to Uhlman's in Westborough for ice cream - rich, homemade, creamy ice cream.
We do have favorite restaurants that are only about 45 minutes away; Texas Roadhouse, Five Guys, Smoky Bones, Olive Garden, Outback. There are even a couple only 15 minutes away, like Red Robin, Longhorn Steakhouse, Chili's. But we can go to those any time. Running up the mileage makes a meal more special, and vice verse.
I don't have one favorite restaurant, but I have a favorite few. Starting with the closest geographically, the Family Cupboard in Bird-in-Hand, PA, is Amish and Mennonite and has both a buffet and servers if you choose to have your portions controlled, and shoo fly pie is available at all three meals. Family Cupboard is about eight hours from home, so we don't go there often. Maybe once a year, and we make the visit count.
Another special favorite is the Ville de Flora at Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, which is 24 hours from our house. It is a buffet, naturally, and every night has a different theme, be it Spanish, French, Greek, or Italian. Italian (the only one we have tried) includes prime rib and about a thousand fantastic side dishes. I could almost become a vegetarian for a meal, but not really. Just before we reach bursting point, we head for the dessert island for the sample-sized treasures that make it deceptively easy to fill a plate before you know what is happening. I remember my father repeating what he heard so often in the army, "Take what you want but eat what you take." So that's what I always try to do. Waste is sinful, and so is gluttony, but waste seems more sinfullier. Once we stagger out of the V de F, we walk extensively around the four acre atrium lobby and gawk at the tropical paradise. This is the only resort I have visited that has alligators in the lobby which sounds scary but is not.
Another favorite restaurant is located at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, also 24 hours from home. It is Boma, an African themed buffet, open for breakfast and dinner. Again, the side dishes are enough to make the meal, but the prime rib, turkey, and chicken are too tempting to resist. The desserts are the first offerings we walk by on the way to our table. I think the hosts plan their routes carefully. If we fill up on those sweets we won't have enough hard drive space for the pricier buffet items. One server we had actually brought us each a zebra pastry to eat before we even ordered beverages. Naturally we all ate that first. It is now the first thing I put on my plate when we are lucky enough to get to Boma. I just saw on bing dictionary what "Boma" means - 'enclosure: in central and eastern Africa, an enclosed camp or an enclosure for animals'. I won't take that personally.
There is one more special favorite on my list - Marie Callender's. Unfortunately these restaurants are four to five days away, and I don't know when we will be able to get to another one. The meals are good, but they are not the shining star here. You have to, have to, have to save room for dessert, which is always PIE. My favoritest pie of all, even better than the Chocolate Satin, is the Double Cream Blueberry (fruity therefore healthy). On our first visit to Marie's, spouse and I ordered different flavors (noted above) and shared. On our second visit I again got the Double Cream Blueberry and there was no sharing. It was so good that I did not even mind that spouse spilled some blueberries in his lap, stained his off-white cargo shorts, and decided to abandon them in the motel room rather than have us try to get that stain out at home even though it was first time he had worn them. Shakespeare may have thought the play's the thing, but I say the pie's the thing. If you happen to find yourself on the west coast and in a Marie Callender's and you are still hungry after your meal, have a nice piece of pie, any flavor you want. But if you can't make up your mind, have the Double Cream Blueberry.
June 4, 2010
Do My Eyes Deceive Me?
I've been told not to sweat the small stuff. I prefer "don't forget the small stuff." The small stuff is where I find the quirky, puzzling, funny, ridiculous, and entertaining. I see some of the best stuff while I'm in the car, and today seemed to be extra stuffish, beginning with my commute along Route 3A, normally scenic and a favorite of wildlife. There were five different potentially fatal (for the chipmunks) incidents. Squirrel, turkey, and deer crossings are easy to deal with; a) proceed with caution and hope for signs of intelligence, b) swerve, c) blow the horn, d) slam on the brakes. Chipmunks, however, only have one speed, they never look both ways or even one way, and unless you time it just right - well, you know what happens. How have chipmunks survived for 76,000 years with not much more than a cute face going for them?
In the Wendy's parking lot at lunch time, I saw a truck with a cherry picker (boom lift, man lift, basket crane) parked about 50 feet away. The middle-aged truck driver was strolling around the outside of the truck, looking things over, and he was wearing a safety harness and a hard hat. This could be entertaining, I thought. He carefully climbed up into the bucket and I heard the whine of the hydraulic motor, and saw him slowly moving the bucket from side to side and then up and down. What I found strange was there wasn't a pole, tree, sign, or building within reach of the bucket. The man was just playing. Then I saw the sign on the truck door with the words "equipment rental". I'm eating lunch on my lunch hour, and he's riding in a bucket. And why at Wendy's? Why not at Burger King? Why not at the mall? And why did he do exactly the same thing yesterday?
I see limos/livery/transport vehicles all the time. Who doesn't? They are all basically taxis of different degrees of fancy-shmanciness. I've seen Hummer stretch limos, Cadillac limos, Lincoln limos, buses, and plenty of cabs of every size and color. Driving home along Route 44 today, I saw a "Victoria's Transport" cab and then I tried to imagine that it's our vacation day; I call Victoria's for the ride to the airport. Spouse and I gather our luggage together by the front door; his 26" rolly bag, my two smaller rolly bags, the toiletries, the shoe bag, the laptop bag, the camera bag. The taxi arrives, the doorbell rings, we open the door and see... a Toyota Prius. Really???
Today was sunny and hot, a perfect spring day. A thirsty kind of day. And then I saw The Soda Machine as I was cruising home on scenic Route 58, through the woods. Standing proud and tall against the side of someone's garage in a nice neighborhood, not far from Edaville Railroad (to which Thomas the Train will be coming on June 21st), and even less far from where King Richard's Faire is held every year, was a Pepsi machine. It wasn't an old, abandoned, wreck of a machine, it had the latest Pepsi logo and was lit up. I could see that from the road. So the question is, can passersby pull into the driveway, take a few steps to the side of the garage, and drop some coins? The homeowner could have put the machine around the back of the garage, out of sight of thirsty passersby. But he didn't. This is out in the middle of rurality with not a convenience store in sight. And there are other people along this same road selling armloads of campfire wood for $1.00. Entrepreneurial awesomeness!
When I was 18, before I had bought my first car, I wanted a Ford F-150. Not for any special reason, I just liked them. Over the years my dream car has changed many times, and has included a Lotus, a white bullet-proof Chevy Suburban with tinted windows, a yellow Toyota FJ Cruiser, a Ford Flex, and an Audi R8 GT3. Lately I've gone from frivolous to practical, and have a new favoritest car that I will never own. I have had my eye on a Ford F650 for its versatility and stylishness and was able to drive by the local Ford dealer to check out my black beauty from time to time. But today on the way home from work, my eye was caught by another, and I now have a new favorite. It's a Ford F750. Who needs the F650, when the F750 is around? The one I saw was doing duty as a dump truck, but from the looks of it, I could tow a house with that power. I could sit in the cab and be at eye-level with tractor trailer drivers. In short, I could fear nothing and no one in this beast. Could driving get any better than that?
Keep your eyes open. Watch for the small stuff.
In the Wendy's parking lot at lunch time, I saw a truck with a cherry picker (boom lift, man lift, basket crane) parked about 50 feet away. The middle-aged truck driver was strolling around the outside of the truck, looking things over, and he was wearing a safety harness and a hard hat. This could be entertaining, I thought. He carefully climbed up into the bucket and I heard the whine of the hydraulic motor, and saw him slowly moving the bucket from side to side and then up and down. What I found strange was there wasn't a pole, tree, sign, or building within reach of the bucket. The man was just playing. Then I saw the sign on the truck door with the words "equipment rental". I'm eating lunch on my lunch hour, and he's riding in a bucket. And why at Wendy's? Why not at Burger King? Why not at the mall? And why did he do exactly the same thing yesterday?
I see limos/livery/transport vehicles all the time. Who doesn't? They are all basically taxis of different degrees of fancy-shmanciness. I've seen Hummer stretch limos, Cadillac limos, Lincoln limos, buses, and plenty of cabs of every size and color. Driving home along Route 44 today, I saw a "Victoria's Transport" cab and then I tried to imagine that it's our vacation day; I call Victoria's for the ride to the airport. Spouse and I gather our luggage together by the front door; his 26" rolly bag, my two smaller rolly bags, the toiletries, the shoe bag, the laptop bag, the camera bag. The taxi arrives, the doorbell rings, we open the door and see... a Toyota Prius. Really???
Today was sunny and hot, a perfect spring day. A thirsty kind of day. And then I saw The Soda Machine as I was cruising home on scenic Route 58, through the woods. Standing proud and tall against the side of someone's garage in a nice neighborhood, not far from Edaville Railroad (to which Thomas the Train will be coming on June 21st), and even less far from where King Richard's Faire is held every year, was a Pepsi machine. It wasn't an old, abandoned, wreck of a machine, it had the latest Pepsi logo and was lit up. I could see that from the road. So the question is, can passersby pull into the driveway, take a few steps to the side of the garage, and drop some coins? The homeowner could have put the machine around the back of the garage, out of sight of thirsty passersby. But he didn't. This is out in the middle of rurality with not a convenience store in sight. And there are other people along this same road selling armloads of campfire wood for $1.00. Entrepreneurial awesomeness!
When I was 18, before I had bought my first car, I wanted a Ford F-150. Not for any special reason, I just liked them. Over the years my dream car has changed many times, and has included a Lotus, a white bullet-proof Chevy Suburban with tinted windows, a yellow Toyota FJ Cruiser, a Ford Flex, and an Audi R8 GT3. Lately I've gone from frivolous to practical, and have a new favoritest car that I will never own. I have had my eye on a Ford F650 for its versatility and stylishness and was able to drive by the local Ford dealer to check out my black beauty from time to time. But today on the way home from work, my eye was caught by another, and I now have a new favorite. It's a Ford F750. Who needs the F650, when the F750 is around? The one I saw was doing duty as a dump truck, but from the looks of it, I could tow a house with that power. I could sit in the cab and be at eye-level with tractor trailer drivers. In short, I could fear nothing and no one in this beast. Could driving get any better than that?
Keep your eyes open. Watch for the small stuff.
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