Saturday, April 24, 2010

Brief down time

Well, New York City was fabulous. We ate at Ricardo Steakhouse on 2nd north of 103rd. I had great snapper and we downed a pitcher of mixed white and red sangria. Anne had a filet mignon. They had some birthdays while we there where the staff sang Happy Birthday and then the sound system played fitty cent's birthday song. Then we sacked out at Anne's.

Friday, we had breakfast at La Tropizienne, a bakery over by Anne's on 1st. Yum, we ate a croque monsieur and a salmon dill quiche and little pastries.

Then we went to the Museum of the City New York and the Museo del Barrio. The first had a display of Charles Addams (Addams Family) drawings and memorabilia and a cool film about the history of New York. The other had this big box you could sit in and watch some film about Latino club dj'ing.

We popped into the Conservatory Garden in Central Park which was right across the street and had many tulips and daffodils in bloom.

Then we went downtown to our hotel the New York Helmsley on 42nd and 2nd. That night we ate at Fabio Piccolo Fiore around the corner from the hotel. We had a delish antipasto plate and big salads and wine at the bar.

Then we went to see The Lion King on Broadway! OMG it was unbelievable, right from the chorus at the beginning. The costumes were so clever, all the animals, and the lighting was stunning, bright background colors you usually don't see on stage.

It was raining when we left. We were hungry and no place looked suitable so late so we went to what they call a deli up there and got a turkey sandwich with bacon and avocado and some hummus and chips and a six pack of Brooklyn Ale and watched some TV at the room.

Saturday we wandered out and for breakfast we had giant plates of eggs and stuff at The Press Box, before going on toward the Museum of Modern Art. But first, after discussing my dislike of shopping with Anne at breakfast, we went to Ann Taylor Loft and she had me try on about 35 things and I ended up buying two tops and three sweaters and pair of white capris and a black cotton pencil skirt and a black linen dress. Plus I bought her a sweatshirt jacket thing for a personal shopper fee.

More later.....

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Anne and jonnny punanni at brunch

Brunch at intermezzo 20 @ 8. I know this is sideways. I'll flip it later.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Croque monsieur and salmon leek quiche and fruit ganache and a tropizienne

Lounging on Anne's bed

Tartufo which is ice cream with sauces and cherries in the middle

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Monday, April 12, 2010

Wild weekend

Friday Amy picked me up after work and we ate at Call of the Canyon before standing in line at the Clazel, waiting for them to open the doors, which were to open at 6:30 but didn't until 7:10. Fred rushes to the floor and snags a table for 8. Luci and Dan got a table for 4 next to us but were suddenly upgraded to VIP status and a different table so we also got that four top which then we could accommodate everybody. The band came on around 8 and played for a solid 2 hours.

Some people were at the Toledo Museum of Art at a glass blowing fest where Joe Bob were playing.





Saturday, I was up at the crack of 9:40. I played around in the yard and ate a leftover crabcake from Thursday night and got a latte from GFT where I saw the father of my children who I asked if he was going to Tom's art show and he said No. And suddenly it was time for my radio show. After that was over, I talked to my friend Karen in Dallas on the phone for almost an hour and then took two space heaters over to Amy's because her furnace is not working. Boys think it's the thermostat, which would be a less expensive alternative to furnace replacement.

Amy and I ate at the downstairs of Grumpy Dave's where we had chicken breast rolled with bacon and Gouda and also some tomato bread. We then went up to Stefan's birthday fest and had some bevs and potato chips. There were many people there I know. And then we went to Howard's just before 9 although, as usual, Rod's Collision started about half an hour after their advertised time of 9. The crowd was OK for the first set and then the old folks cleared out and at one point, there were about 10 people in there and then the youth crowd picked up and when I left around 12:30, the band was playing to quite a few dancers. And the band was playing in a magnificent manner. OMG they were hot.

Sunday, I did my state taxes and then raked the back yard in preparation for my lawn guy who is supposed to come today. Then I went to Perrysburg and had lunch with Cheryl and Bonnie at Panera before the hypertufa class at the 577 Foundation. I think I will have to host a hypertufa GNO. And I want to go back and look around the grounds at the 577 some more.

In the evening, there was wine drinking and pasta cooking and eating and yard touring and suddenly, the alarm clock goes off and here I am at work. It's shocking.
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Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Monday, April 05, 2010

Blogging

I read somewhere that blogs are taking a hit from Facebook. It's just so much easier to go on Facebook and click around to see if anybody's doing anything or there's any news from your kids than to type out a big post of all the excitement you've been experiencing personally.

Plus for me, it's the coming home and sitting down at a computer after I have been sitting at one all day at work.

I found this out about my son from Facebook. Although now he has taken down the link, Tom had a preview of his art show to be mounted at the Coup d'Oeil gallery in New Orleans that starts next weekend. You can read all about it here but you have to scroll to page 8. One of the most fascinating facts is that "the closing party is also McLaughlin's going away shindig as he is moving to San Francisco in mid-May." Mommy's always the last one to know. I wish I could attend but it'd be a whole lotta cash for a brief encounter.

I didn't even post about going to see Paul Thorn at the Ark. It was a Friday. We went to Gratzi and had some shrimp wrapped in prosciutto and some little pasta packets filled with mushrooms and with mushroom sauce and some calamari. When the waiter asked what order we wanted them in, we said alphabetical. They were delicious all, but no pictures.

We ate at the bar as we like to do as we can pretend the whole restaurant is not there behind us; it's just us, the food, the wine and a server. We feel we need to write a pamphlet on the eating at the bar.

Paul Thorn was very good. No Band of Heathens, but good. And as it was a Friday, it was an exhausting night, driving up and back and staying up past our bedtime. We had gotten into one of those good ruts-- Friday night at my house, cooking, drinking two bottles wine, etc. And I miss it. Maybe soon although this Friday is Stacy Mitchhart at the Clazel and next weekend I'll be in New York.

Amy says she talked to Kelly Wicks who says he is negotiating with Elvin Bishop for the Swamp. I thought the whole schedule was already online but apparently it's not complete.

Here's a picture of some fried oysters we had. They were delicious. Although we had some unfried prior to and they were also delicious.



Last weekend, Amy and I ate at Chowders n Moor in Waterville where the food is very filling. I had a cup of clam chowder and half a philly sandwich with cole slaw and red onion and banana pepper on grilled ciabatta. Stuffed.

Saturday it was beautiful before I went in to do my radio show, 75 degrees and mostly sunny although the wind picked up to blast speed and by the time my show was over, it had dropped 20 degrees. We went to Fred and Sherry's later and helped them fill 100 plastic Easter eggs for the grandkids.

Sunday, I went to see my mom for Easter. We were going to go out but when I got there, she had the table set and so I made sweet potatoes out of the can with marshmallows on top and some very lackluster stuffing and broccoli with cheese sauce out of the frozen packet and she deep fried skinless boneless chicken breasts which is not a good application for them. Also she had made a pineapple upside down cake, one of her specialties, which was pretty tasty but overkill for me in the sugar department.

My mom did not look well. Her legs are all swollen below the knee and she nearly nodded off after dinner so I did the dishes and left. Sadly a waste of a perfectly beautiful sunny day as we were inside all day. When I got ready to leave, I showed her my new car which she said was a bad color (white) and too small. This after she had said my new haircut was what the style is these days, she guessed. The usual ringing endorsement. It's a wonder I'm not totally screwed up.

I keep trying to take a picture of myself with the new haircut but it just doesn't come across in pictures.



Also, soon you will not recognize me as I have purchased a kit of creams that purport to eradicate all wrinkles.

Much yard puttering has been done. Tonight I planted some pansies in my window boxes. Have much of the yard raked up. Uncovered many little buds. Forsythia is in full bloom. The magnolia tree is heavily budded and just starting to bloom which may be clipped by this weekend's weather. Hope not. Planted some grass seed in the bare spots as I do every year. OMG mowing must be done soon. I got some guy's name off the wall at the Ace hardware who says he will mow. I need to give him a call. Also bought a giant pot to repot the hibiscus.

This week: big fun. Wednesday, GNO at 149. Friday, Clazel. Saturday, Stefan's birthday party at Grumpy Dave's and Rod's Collision at Howard's. Sunday, hypertufa at the 577 Foundation.

Tonight was the last radio meeting of the year, yay.
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Sunday, April 04, 2010

Easter picture

Tablecloth made by my grandma that my mom had out at Easter