restaurant Review #9 --for the beef salad

A new Thai restaurant is in the big city. and you know who likes chicken on a stick and I had you know who as a guest- so we had to check the menu and lo-and-behold, they had chicken on a stick, so we stayed and ate.

Note the careful framing of the photo below. I am thinking of entering this in some art contest or something if I can just get the photographer to grant a release -- we are in the clever range of getting a good picture - got a good subject -- me, and name of the restaurant, and jungle like plants - shoot, my shirt even matched.

now check out the table, we almost but did not over order, we did however over eat. and I mean we enjoyed over eating. Sure enough, we got chicken on a stick, but here is the surprise, little Miss adventurous palette, brought half of those home in a box.

My beef salad or larp like dish was the table favorite, though the steamed veggies with garlic (not on my plate) got a "going to get that again", and the chicken with peanut sauce was excellent too. however it too paled in comparison to the "beef salad" hoo- boy, that was gooooooouuuuud !!

The Big Party Day was here

Big doin's it was at our house last night. Patt and Beth hosted (with able assistance from Linda and others) the pending nuptials (don't you just love that word ?) of Dave and Anna. By the way, when that left arm of Patt's is whirling, -- step back. Just ask Stephen some day.

The food spread was beautiful and tasteful, featuring a smoked prime rib by Kelly -- as in "this one was really really special" -- like - "lets do this one again real soon" Kelly.
Since our kitchen is so large, and has those beautiful full windows overlooking the lake, people tended to just flock into the kitchen as indicated below
there was only one un-invited guest attempting to ride into the party, but right off we figured him as a bad guy and banished the potential evil doer - saving the evening. (hoo--rrray )
Chef extra-ordinair and cousin Janet observing the chaos and sampling grape juice
previously referenced chaos- in kitchen-with-a-view.
The children's table ( and as they are getting closer and closer to puberty and who knows what we will have to call the table in the future)
The honored couple - and cake.
It was a grand time. We partied till quite late -- yes it was late too- nearly 10 PM and for us that is quite late. A very good time was had by all, especially the hosts, the guests acted as if they had a good time too and put on a good show if they did not. Being exposed to this many of us at once can be a bit of a challenge has been noted on more than one occasion, but they did well.

one more helper person

Once again from south of the border comes another helper person / worker. Isabelle showed up, a little late one evening and proved to be another helpful person to have around. Early she showed signs of having seen work done before. Once I pointed out that payment for work-- followed work, not merely being present or around work (providing moral support as she referred to it). She was quite the domestic as we had rain most of the day.
Rain let up late in the day providing opportunity for me to find out if dog washing was a transferable skill. It is --with sufficient coaching.
window washing / interior detailing had to move indoors due to rain --
and it is never to late for a V-8 ..............or a Bud- light------ - I forget

restaurant Review #8 --for the retirees

Some of you may know I am considering retirement. If so, I need to be looking around for appropriate dinning opportunities. I will need spacious, level floor, of course not overly crowded, plenty of seating, and plenty of lighting type of place. I am thinking food court ! ! I mean where else can all these features plus security, variety, and a people watching opportunity merge.

The menu options are nearly endless, tending toward routine fast and tasty
There are plenty of familiar logos, and in this particular food court
places where you can still find interesting people to share a meal with
imagine my delight, with my mid eastern kabobs, (not from one of the chains) along with fried rice - go figure - and cucumbers/tomato chopped up stuff, and some kind of pretty good yogurt sauce.

more help for my helper person

Juan showed up with a new yard assistant yesterday - Sofia, who confessed to having never run a lawn mower before, appeared to work pretty hard and was apparently adept at doing yard work -- like she had seen it done before. I am thinking that after years of expensive private school, college and now some training here in Raleigh, this recent immigrant finally is acquiring a useful skill.
Sofia, may now have some useful training and ability to make a contribution to work efforts in other venues.
There is a real joy in seeing young people gain such skills.
Upon further review, the cushions indicated an adaptation to work that may not be transferrable far beyond an uncle's employ