we are talking fire truck ! !

Today we are again in Charlotte, visiting Patt's Mom.  On the way to the hospital we went by a yarn shop.  Guess who does not go into yarn shops ?  That would be me.  

Instead I saw a fire truck and like most boys, I went to look at it.  The fire station - getting ready to celebrate its 75th birthday looked interesting too, and so I waved to the firemen and walked right on up.

 

Sure enough, this being such a big world and all, Patt's cousin Art is the Captain at the station - I think station number ten --out of  74 (that is how many Charlotte has - I asked).  Art and I many long years ago, used to chuck bales of hay, pull timber from a  sawmills, and do other genuine real work on Patt's family farm.  -- had good times together too.

Art gave me the Captain's tour of the station, got to open the chute to see the slide pole from the dorm area to the truck parking area too --  I did not slide down (I kinda wanted too though) and I did not get to drive the truck ( and I really wanted to do that).  I did get close.

restaurant Review #10 --and a bonus review

If you like outdoor patio seating in a climate controlled atmosphere, let me recommend this particular restaurant for your dining enjoyment.  Patt and I have eaten here several occasions.  The down side is that it is not particularly close to our home.  It is however on a well traveled trail.  The MSP international airport.  (the big airport in Minneapolis.)  The outdoor seating affords the weary (why is the traveler always described as weary?) traveler a semi-quiet fake sun-shinny place to read a newspaper 

and enjoy a beverage of choice and a have a pre-flight meal.  As is obvious from the margarita container, this is not a high end establishment with cover charges and high end prices.  But Patt likes the margarita, and for three dollars more they will make that scotch a double - and now we are talking bidness.  The location is in terminal one, the old Northwest building, but now the Delta end of things and is a Chilly's (misspelling intentional) and the menu is what one expects at a Chilly's- without airport pricing -- so we have actually been to this particular patio dining area several times as this is a frequently used airport for us.  We both hope to return again too.

As you can see, Patt got first choice when seating was offered, with a full view of the terminal.  Being a bit off the beaten track, it is not to overrun by those en-route travelers walking to various gates, which we, of course eventually join in order to become weary.  I should add the extra three dollars on the margarita makes it a large.

Now The Bonus Review as promised.  Last weekend while in Charlotte at the hospital, low and behold lunch time arrived.  Of course, hospital cafeteria food was off the table as an option, and _____'s Sports Bar and Grill,  ( I really can not remember the name) is nearby.  Big screens everywhere - with volume turned up on all of them.  With a little work and selective listening you could sort out your game of interest and listen sort of, (OSU v Miami to the back of Patt -- I had first choice of seating in this establishment).  Patt was thrilled to be here.  She just about would not come in.  I had already selected my table and was looking around for her and she was still at the door.

"This place is loud" Patt astutely observed.  "You noticed", I shouted back.  "We're staying?"  she yelled.  "Have a seat", "you will enjoy it" I said loudly and hopefully.  In fairness this was a bit of a culture shock to Patt, as she had spent the last 8- 15 hours or so in the hospital where the noise level is a bit less than _____'s Sports Bar and Grill.  and I just think "Sports Bar and Grill" is in the name too.  Can not remember----- it was loud.   lots of OSU fans there - they were loud too.  Did I mention that in addition to volume on the teevees loud, people were speaking loudly and yelling too.  Patt wants to go back.

a time visiting in Charlotte

Earlier this week, we were visiting Patt's Mom, who has been in the hospital.  Laura and Isaac came down from the far northlands to visit Laura's Grandmother.  The two of them (Laura and Grandmother) had wonderful visits and Grandmother got to meet Isaac too who made his first visit to North Carolina.

As a part of the routine slaughter of the fatted calf, I found and took to Patt's Mom's home with us for Laura and Isaac to play with was Laura's old grocery cart.  For being almost 30 years old it did well hauling around balls and trucks.

Note in the two photos below:

Patt and I were enamored with the simple things with Isaac, like feeding 

and bath time, -- gosh he is fun- look at that smile.  Shoot, all he had to do was sit, and I thought it was special.

Now looking at Grandmothers puppies with the young girl who helps take care of them was really special

Though the puppies were interesting, 

what really got Isaac's interest was a physics problem I was working on with my computer.  No it was not physics, it was a Russian article on exploration of Siberia (in Russian) , no it was ......

his sisters and Dad on Skype.  The look on his face was awesome.  He sure did enjoy looking at and talking to his family back north.  and we sure enjoyed having him visit us with his Mom here with Laura's Grandmother.  It was a very good couple of days indeed.