Yesterday evening at a party starting at 7:00 P.M., we celebrated my sister Maggie's 60th Birthday at our niece Mandy and her husband's house in New Franklin, OH (near Akron). Besides the birthday girl and the hosts, the participants were Maggie's husband Mike, my sister Kathleen, my brother Tim, Joe, and Bob, Tim's companion, Lois, my niece and Mandy's sister Marnie, her husband Mike, and their daughters Kendal and Hayden, my nephew Dan, his wife Laura, and their daughters Amy and Emily, my cousin Shellie, and her husband Tony!
This was only the second joint appearance of all my great-nieces! The last one was at Mandy and Paul's wedding barbecue in August 2009 (They eloped on December 18, 2008.). Photos were taken of all the four great-nieces, but other people were added to the picture. I should have been directing this operation, but I do not have a camera. The great-nieces really bonded with one another.
We ate from a meat and cheese tray featuring ham and salami. Lasagna, pulled chicken in barbecue sauce, a Fondue system, raw vegetables for dipping that included broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and mushrooms were offered as well. Garlic Breadsticks and Honey Buns (for the pulled chicken) were available for bread lovers. Last but not least, Mandy's Cheesy Potatoes were the highlight of the meal for me. Mandy, Marnie and their spouses did a great job with the cooking and the hosting.
Before dessert, Maggie opened up her presents. Among the many presents, a homemade money tree (from Joe), a Kindle Fire HDX (from Mandy, Marnie, and their spouses, among others), a necklace (from her husband Mike), and a Ruby Tuesday Gift Card (from Bob and Me) were the standouts.
For dessert, we had a homemade carrot cake, a chocolate cake, homemade cookies, and ice cream were provided. I had both cakes and some of the cookies. They were pleasing to the palate.
We relaxed until we left. Bob's GPS on his phone was a great help as Kathleen chauffeured us to the party. After retrieving the leftovers, Kathleen went home.
In closing, the post's title refers to two concepts. The first reference is that there were three dogs in residence at the party. In addition to Lily and the unseen Doberman Pincher who normally live there, Mike and Marnie's dog Cheeto was also present.
The second reference is to the musical group Three Dog Night. Maggie had many of their albums on LP. She also owns one of their greatest hits albums on CD. I have one on CD as well. Spotify and Windows Media Player also house their music in one form or another. Thankfully, Three Dog Night were not missed that much.
It was a Super Fun Night! (Rebel Wilson and company were not invited.)
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Christmas with the Family
Christmas "dinner" was at my sister Maggie and her husband Mike's house in Parma, OH! The participants, in addition to the hosts, were my sister Kathleen, my brothers Bob and Joe, and my niece Mandy. We had roast beef, "Loaded" scalloped potatoes, baby carrots, salad, baked beans with sausage, and rolls. Dessert consisted of Homemade Cheesecake, Angel Food cake, Apple Pie (from Perkins), and Chocolate Cream Pie (Eat 'n' Park). The transitional items were a "pistachio salad" and a snack made with Cheerios, M & Ms, and pretzels. (I did not have any of the transitional items yet, but the rest of the food was delicious!) After we ate, we talked a lot about our old neighbors before we moved into our current house (I was about fifteen months old when we moved.) and about other miscellaneous topics. After Kathleen took Bob and me home, we relaxed some more!
Since we started our family meal at approximately 2:00 P.M., Bob and I ate some leftovers from Christmas Eve at approximately 9:00 P.M. We both had Spaghetti and Meat Sauce left over from our lunch at Eat 'n' Park (In addition to our two dollar off coupons, we gambled on attaining a pie to go along with our other gamble for a pie at Perkins on Monday.) I also had sugar snap peas, while Bob had garlic toast. In addition, I had saved a side salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing from Steak 'n' Shake (Our dinner with Kathleen became a takeout meal because they closed on 5:00 on Christmas Eve.). This food was appetizing.
In closing, I will reveal that we attended Mass at St. Leo Church near the Cleveland-Parma border. It was a nice Mass. The highlight was a Litany of Thanks. As usual, Fr. Vesely, Priest in Residence, made it very amusing! He is a priest who needs to be experienced in person! Don't wait too long. He has been a priest since 1954!
Until next time, enjoy the season!!
Since we started our family meal at approximately 2:00 P.M., Bob and I ate some leftovers from Christmas Eve at approximately 9:00 P.M. We both had Spaghetti and Meat Sauce left over from our lunch at Eat 'n' Park (In addition to our two dollar off coupons, we gambled on attaining a pie to go along with our other gamble for a pie at Perkins on Monday.) I also had sugar snap peas, while Bob had garlic toast. In addition, I had saved a side salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing from Steak 'n' Shake (Our dinner with Kathleen became a takeout meal because they closed on 5:00 on Christmas Eve.). This food was appetizing.
In closing, I will reveal that we attended Mass at St. Leo Church near the Cleveland-Parma border. It was a nice Mass. The highlight was a Litany of Thanks. As usual, Fr. Vesely, Priest in Residence, made it very amusing! He is a priest who needs to be experienced in person! Don't wait too long. He has been a priest since 1954!
Until next time, enjoy the season!!
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Thanksgiving 2013
Instead of dining at my sister Maggie and her husband Mike's house in Parma, my family went to my niece Mandy and her husband Paul's house in New Franklin, OH (near Barberton)! The participants were my sisters Kathleen and Maggie, my brothers Joe and Bob, Maggie's husband Mike, and Paul's mom Nancy, who lives with Mandy and Paul now! Two dogs also completed the picture. They are Lily, a Cocker Spaniel belonging to Mandy and Paul, and a Doberman Pincher belonging to Nancy! I only saw Lily because the other dog was in one of their two garages.
In addition to turkey, stuffing. mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans, rolls, and sweet potatoes, we also had ham, corn casserole, Jell-o salad made with an interesting green Jell-o (I haven't tested it yet! Bob and I brought some home, minus the lettuce garnish.) and some other items that I didn't have that I can't remember clearly at this time! The food was delicious! As much as I enjoy the appetizers that Maggie and Mike normally serve, I would have limited my dessert intake if we had appetizers on Thanksgiving!
By the way, Dessert consisted of pumpkin pie, peanut butter silk pie, (Both were courtesy of Perkins via Bob and me.) (There may have been another pumpkin pie, but I am not sure.) pecan pie (Bob and I enjoyed it last night!), cheesecake (Courtesy of Mandy), and chocolate cookies with whipped cream and a cherry (Maggie)! Maggie also provided a dish from an old family recipe consisting of Maraschino Cherries, Mandarin Oranges, cherries, marshmallows, and coconut. Once again, the food was enjoyable.
We then relaxed for the rest of the evening.
In addition to the aforementioned contributors, I would like to thank Kathleen for chauffeuring Bob and me! Nancy was also a great help for the dinner preparation! In closing, the other participants were a major part of making this a Thanksgiving to remember!!
In addition to turkey, stuffing. mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans, rolls, and sweet potatoes, we also had ham, corn casserole, Jell-o salad made with an interesting green Jell-o (I haven't tested it yet! Bob and I brought some home, minus the lettuce garnish.) and some other items that I didn't have that I can't remember clearly at this time! The food was delicious! As much as I enjoy the appetizers that Maggie and Mike normally serve, I would have limited my dessert intake if we had appetizers on Thanksgiving!
By the way, Dessert consisted of pumpkin pie, peanut butter silk pie, (Both were courtesy of Perkins via Bob and me.) (There may have been another pumpkin pie, but I am not sure.) pecan pie (Bob and I enjoyed it last night!), cheesecake (Courtesy of Mandy), and chocolate cookies with whipped cream and a cherry (Maggie)! Maggie also provided a dish from an old family recipe consisting of Maraschino Cherries, Mandarin Oranges, cherries, marshmallows, and coconut. Once again, the food was enjoyable.
We then relaxed for the rest of the evening.
In addition to the aforementioned contributors, I would like to thank Kathleen for chauffeuring Bob and me! Nancy was also a great help for the dinner preparation! In closing, the other participants were a major part of making this a Thanksgiving to remember!!
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Three Sightings of My Sister Patty
My sister Patty is in NE Ohio to babysit my great-nieces Amy Marie and Emily because their parents celebrated their Tenth Anniversary by driving to Chicago last weekend! Today, they attended a wedding of one of my nephew's closest friends! I only know him as Johnny Parmesan!
My first sighting was at a Tuesday Afternoon dinner at Bob Evans on Cedar Road in South Euclid! I had grilled chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans with bacon (It was supposed to include broccoli.). There were also biscuits and honey! Patty had an omelet with pumpkin bread that she loved! Since I had a slightly late lunch at the Taco Bell on Broadview Road in Parma, I brought home leftovers that ended up as Bob's dinner! Bob was with me at Taco Bell, but decided while we were waiting for a bus that was running late that he was not up to attending the dinner.
After lunch, I rode the #35 bus downtown. I then took the Blue line train to the end of the line! The Fresh Market provided me "amusement" while I waited for the #41 bus to take me to Bob Evans! Since I was early, I visited Target and Whole Foods Market. My amusement at Whole Foods was the price of Orange Juice. It was $5.99 for sixty-four ounces (If you wanted Organic, it was a dollar extra.). I assume that it was not from concentrate, but the label was unclear! For less than half the price, Aldi would happily sell you a similar product! After Whole Foods, I walked over to Bob Evans and ate dinner.
After dinner, Patty drove me to the Blue Line Station! I just missed the train, but the next train was ten minutes later. After the train, I took two buses towards my house because I wanted to limit my walking because I am under the weather as well.
On Friday Morning, Patty made her second appearance. She came to visit Bob on her way to visit our Aunt Rita in Westlake. I was just an added attraction!! I was invited to come with her, but I had a prior commitment with our sister Kathleen to go shopping. After Patty left, Kathleen and I went to Marc's and Giant Eagle on Snow Road in Parma. We then went to a nearby Arby's to pick up some take out food that we enjoyed. I cut out the coupons in the car that were used for the food that wasn't Kathleen's. She had her own coupon!
Today, Patty, Kathleen, Maggie, our niece Mandy, and our great-nieces Amy Marie and Emily went to Maggiano's Little Italy to enjoy a nice lunch! The adults took advantage of a deal that included an entrée to eat there, and an entrée to take home. I had Spaghetti and Meatballs! In addition to the take-home entrée, I have leftovers. Most of us had dessert! Mandy did not order dessert, but they brought out a dessert that was crescent shaped because she is a celebrating a birthday on Monday! Patty and Maggie both had the dessert sampler. I had the cheesecake sampler! It was delicious, so Bob may end up with Maggie's leftover cheesecake. By the way, the rolls were awesome.
After lunch, Maggie drove me home to drop off the leftovers. She then dropped me off at St. Leo's Church on Broadview Road. I learned tonight that Father Lowe is leaving St. Leo's to become Pastor at Our Lady of Angels Church on Rocky River Drive in Cleveland on November 1st, but he is staying at St. Leo's until December 1st. Ironically, at lunch, Patty mentioned during a conversation about priests that she wished for a new priest at her church back home in Lancaster, MA because he had been there for a long time (Twenty Years)! I will miss Father Lowe, but the new pastor could be interesting!
This week has been memorable!
My first sighting was at a Tuesday Afternoon dinner at Bob Evans on Cedar Road in South Euclid! I had grilled chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans with bacon (It was supposed to include broccoli.). There were also biscuits and honey! Patty had an omelet with pumpkin bread that she loved! Since I had a slightly late lunch at the Taco Bell on Broadview Road in Parma, I brought home leftovers that ended up as Bob's dinner! Bob was with me at Taco Bell, but decided while we were waiting for a bus that was running late that he was not up to attending the dinner.
After lunch, I rode the #35 bus downtown. I then took the Blue line train to the end of the line! The Fresh Market provided me "amusement" while I waited for the #41 bus to take me to Bob Evans! Since I was early, I visited Target and Whole Foods Market. My amusement at Whole Foods was the price of Orange Juice. It was $5.99 for sixty-four ounces (If you wanted Organic, it was a dollar extra.). I assume that it was not from concentrate, but the label was unclear! For less than half the price, Aldi would happily sell you a similar product! After Whole Foods, I walked over to Bob Evans and ate dinner.
After dinner, Patty drove me to the Blue Line Station! I just missed the train, but the next train was ten minutes later. After the train, I took two buses towards my house because I wanted to limit my walking because I am under the weather as well.
On Friday Morning, Patty made her second appearance. She came to visit Bob on her way to visit our Aunt Rita in Westlake. I was just an added attraction!! I was invited to come with her, but I had a prior commitment with our sister Kathleen to go shopping. After Patty left, Kathleen and I went to Marc's and Giant Eagle on Snow Road in Parma. We then went to a nearby Arby's to pick up some take out food that we enjoyed. I cut out the coupons in the car that were used for the food that wasn't Kathleen's. She had her own coupon!
Today, Patty, Kathleen, Maggie, our niece Mandy, and our great-nieces Amy Marie and Emily went to Maggiano's Little Italy to enjoy a nice lunch! The adults took advantage of a deal that included an entrée to eat there, and an entrée to take home. I had Spaghetti and Meatballs! In addition to the take-home entrée, I have leftovers. Most of us had dessert! Mandy did not order dessert, but they brought out a dessert that was crescent shaped because she is a celebrating a birthday on Monday! Patty and Maggie both had the dessert sampler. I had the cheesecake sampler! It was delicious, so Bob may end up with Maggie's leftover cheesecake. By the way, the rolls were awesome.
After lunch, Maggie drove me home to drop off the leftovers. She then dropped me off at St. Leo's Church on Broadview Road. I learned tonight that Father Lowe is leaving St. Leo's to become Pastor at Our Lady of Angels Church on Rocky River Drive in Cleveland on November 1st, but he is staying at St. Leo's until December 1st. Ironically, at lunch, Patty mentioned during a conversation about priests that she wished for a new priest at her church back home in Lancaster, MA because he had been there for a long time (Twenty Years)! I will miss Father Lowe, but the new pastor could be interesting!
This week has been memorable!
Saturday, September 28, 2013
I Attended a Polka Mass Tonight, but I Won't Be Dancing on the Roof Anytime Soon!
The 4:00 Mass at St. Leo the Great Church on Broadview Road in Cleveland, OH was a Polka Mass because we had the Polish/Eastern Europe Nationality Festival which is a fundraiser for a new sound system for the church! The Entrance Hymn, Offertory Hymn, the Lamb of God, the Communion Hymns, and Closing Hymn were all set to a Polka beat! The rest of the songs were performed by Claudia Woolard and the Cantor! The Lord Have Mercy (Spoken) and the Hosanna (Holy, Holy, Holy) were also available to be performed in Polka Style. The priest was Father Russell Lowe. The musical accompaniment was provided by The Polka Pirates, led by Duffy O'Neill. The music was quite interesting!! The songs were "Chapel in the Valley," "At This Sacrifice," "We Offer Bread and Wine," "We Come to You, O Lord," "Under the Skies of Blue, "Let the Son Shine In," and "Adio, the Mass Now is Ended." I did not attend the dinner/festival, so I can't comment on it! This was a Mass to Remember!
I almost missed this Mass. My cousin Jimmy and his co-worker Bill came to replace our back porch roof this morning! They finished just in time to take me to the Mass! I have not seen the porch yet, so I can't comment at this time! Perhaps, my commentary will be a Facebook Exclusive!
Until then, enjoy the great weather!
I almost missed this Mass. My cousin Jimmy and his co-worker Bill came to replace our back porch roof this morning! They finished just in time to take me to the Mass! I have not seen the porch yet, so I can't comment at this time! Perhaps, my commentary will be a Facebook Exclusive!
Until then, enjoy the great weather!
Saturday, July 27, 2013
The Pig Roast
I attended a pig roast at my niece Mandy and her husband Paul's house in New Franklin (Clinton), OH (South of Akron)! It's a very nice house! The living room has Cathedral Ceilings! It also has five bathrooms! It's not quite a mansion, but there is room for more development since the lot is five acres!
I came with my sister Maggie and Mike! The only other person that I knew was my sister Kathleen. It was mostly Mandy and Paul's co-workers and friends, with a few of Paul's Relatives sprinkled into the mix!!
In addition to the barbecue pork, we had hot dogs, hamburgers, Chicken, Baked Beans, Cheesy Potatoes, Pasta Salads, pea salad, celery, carrots, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, deviled eggs, spinach dip with pumpernickel bread, cheesecake, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, Rice Krispie treats, and a few other dishes. The food was generally enjoyable!
After dinner, some of the male guests burned boxes into a bonfire!! This is something that doesn't happen at most events that I have attended! It rained, but it was not a torrential downpour! It was an indoor/outdoor party! I stayed indoors, though!
I plan to be back for Thanksgiving since it may be held there! I am still doing some cooking! Tune in to find out!
Editor's Note (11-29-'13): When I first wrote this, I had an incorrect city for the event! I wrote New Richmond instead of New Franklin! Mandy brought this to my attention during our Thanksgiving dinner at her house!
I came with my sister Maggie and Mike! The only other person that I knew was my sister Kathleen. It was mostly Mandy and Paul's co-workers and friends, with a few of Paul's Relatives sprinkled into the mix!!
In addition to the barbecue pork, we had hot dogs, hamburgers, Chicken, Baked Beans, Cheesy Potatoes, Pasta Salads, pea salad, celery, carrots, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, deviled eggs, spinach dip with pumpernickel bread, cheesecake, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, Rice Krispie treats, and a few other dishes. The food was generally enjoyable!
After dinner, some of the male guests burned boxes into a bonfire!! This is something that doesn't happen at most events that I have attended! It rained, but it was not a torrential downpour! It was an indoor/outdoor party! I stayed indoors, though!
I plan to be back for Thanksgiving since it may be held there! I am still doing some cooking! Tune in to find out!
Editor's Note (11-29-'13): When I first wrote this, I had an incorrect city for the event! I wrote New Richmond instead of New Franklin! Mandy brought this to my attention during our Thanksgiving dinner at her house!
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Familly Fun in Two Dimensions
On Wednesday, Bob, Maggie, and I went shopping at Steelyard Commons in Cleveland! Before shopping, we provided the Recycling Bin at West 25th Street and Scranton Road with some deposits. Once we started shopping, we bought items from Target, Deals, and Wal Mart Supercenter. Since we had frozen foods, we took them back to our house.
Lunch was at McDonald's on Snow Road in Parma! I had two Filet O' Fish Sandwiches with French Fries. Bob had a Big Mac and fries. Maggie had a Grilled Chicken and Ranch Premium McWrap and fries. Bob and I had soda. Maggie had (tap) water. We used four coupons for our food! The food was worth the discounted rate.
After McDonald's, we took Bob to work. After that event, we took a second trip to the Recycling Bin. Maggie then took me to the Parma-Snow Library (If we didn't have the second batch of recyclables, I would have gone directly to the library after lunch since it is within walking distance.). The library was okay since I talked to my friends Nancy and Amy!
After the library, I headed towards Brecksville for my annual Pilgrimage (via the #35 bus) to honor my brother Danny (He died on 6-2-2006.) Due to an accident, there was a detour that led me past John Glenn Elementary School in the Parma District before returning to the usual route. I made a brief visit to Walgreen's in Independence before my next bus (#77F). I then headed for the Pilgrimage over Chippewa Creek on Chippewa Road, where most of my brother's ashes reside. I threw two stones into the creek before going over to the fence where I watched the scattering of the ashes on June 8, 2006 (Going down the hill that day was too hazardous for me. Access beyond the fence is currently forbidden.).
I then walked the perimeter of the Brecksville Shopping Center before entering the Marc's that was Giant Eagle before it moved to Broadview Heights (Near I-77) last year! I then crossed the street to the nearby Shell Gas Station. In the Mid 1980s, while eating dinner with my parents at the then Spanish Tavern (Now Burntwood Tavern) on Brecksville Road, a waitress decided to be funny in announcing that the Rest Rooms were down the street at the Shell Station. I finally visited the Shell Station to take care of some business. Upon leaving the Shell Station, I barely made my bus back to Independence which was better for co-ordination with the bus that would have made a much shorter trip to my house.
After coming home, I made some tilapia for dinner! The fish smell lasted longer than necessary! An open kitchen window took care of most of the "aroma"! This evening's tilapia will be done in the oven. This could be interesting.
It was a busy day, but spending time with my closest family made it worthwhile.
Lunch was at McDonald's on Snow Road in Parma! I had two Filet O' Fish Sandwiches with French Fries. Bob had a Big Mac and fries. Maggie had a Grilled Chicken and Ranch Premium McWrap and fries. Bob and I had soda. Maggie had (tap) water. We used four coupons for our food! The food was worth the discounted rate.
After McDonald's, we took Bob to work. After that event, we took a second trip to the Recycling Bin. Maggie then took me to the Parma-Snow Library (If we didn't have the second batch of recyclables, I would have gone directly to the library after lunch since it is within walking distance.). The library was okay since I talked to my friends Nancy and Amy!
After the library, I headed towards Brecksville for my annual Pilgrimage (via the #35 bus) to honor my brother Danny (He died on 6-2-2006.) Due to an accident, there was a detour that led me past John Glenn Elementary School in the Parma District before returning to the usual route. I made a brief visit to Walgreen's in Independence before my next bus (#77F). I then headed for the Pilgrimage over Chippewa Creek on Chippewa Road, where most of my brother's ashes reside. I threw two stones into the creek before going over to the fence where I watched the scattering of the ashes on June 8, 2006 (Going down the hill that day was too hazardous for me. Access beyond the fence is currently forbidden.).
I then walked the perimeter of the Brecksville Shopping Center before entering the Marc's that was Giant Eagle before it moved to Broadview Heights (Near I-77) last year! I then crossed the street to the nearby Shell Gas Station. In the Mid 1980s, while eating dinner with my parents at the then Spanish Tavern (Now Burntwood Tavern) on Brecksville Road, a waitress decided to be funny in announcing that the Rest Rooms were down the street at the Shell Station. I finally visited the Shell Station to take care of some business. Upon leaving the Shell Station, I barely made my bus back to Independence which was better for co-ordination with the bus that would have made a much shorter trip to my house.
After coming home, I made some tilapia for dinner! The fish smell lasted longer than necessary! An open kitchen window took care of most of the "aroma"! This evening's tilapia will be done in the oven. This could be interesting.
It was a busy day, but spending time with my closest family made it worthwhile.
Friday, June 7, 2013
Max and Erma Did Not Ask Us to Sing "Happy Birthday!"
On Monday, we celebrated my sister's birthday at Max and Erma's in Middleburg Heights, OH! The participants were my brothers Bob, Joe, and Tim, my sisters Patty and Maggie, my brothers-in-law Dan and Mike, my nephew Dan and his daughters Amy Marie and Emily, and Tim's companion Lois! (My niece-in-law Laura was enjoying dinner with her former co-workers.) As expected, we sang to Kathleen, but the interesting part is that an unknown couple came to our table after finding out that it was her birthday requesting that we sing to her.
Another interesting item is that my Aunt Joan was in the next room with her church group from St. Bridget of Kildare in Parma, OH! She visited with us briefly!! It was nice to see her again after not seeing her since her Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary Party about two years ago!
I enjoyed my food!! I had a mushroom cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, and pickles (The Red Onion was removed.). It was tasty! I assume the others enjoyed their food as well.
After Max and Erma's, the whole group (Except for Joe and Aunt Joan) went to Honey Hut on State Road in Cleveland to enjoy some ice cream! I had a special flavor for this month, Honey Graham. The ice cream was up to the usual standards. I wonder how Rota Spring Farm (Sterling, MA ) would compare if they had Honey Graham as a flavor (Their web site did not mention that particular flavor!!)!
After the ice cream, Dan Sr., Patty, Dan Jr., Amy Marie, and Emily stopped by my house! Amy Marie and Emily had never been to my house!! Amy Marie found a creative way to pet our cat. She petted Morgan's face! Intentionally or unintentionally, she provided a climax to a very interesting evening!
This night will always be a night to remember!!
Another interesting item is that my Aunt Joan was in the next room with her church group from St. Bridget of Kildare in Parma, OH! She visited with us briefly!! It was nice to see her again after not seeing her since her Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary Party about two years ago!
I enjoyed my food!! I had a mushroom cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, and pickles (The Red Onion was removed.). It was tasty! I assume the others enjoyed their food as well.
After Max and Erma's, the whole group (Except for Joe and Aunt Joan) went to Honey Hut on State Road in Cleveland to enjoy some ice cream! I had a special flavor for this month, Honey Graham. The ice cream was up to the usual standards. I wonder how Rota Spring Farm (Sterling, MA ) would compare if they had Honey Graham as a flavor (Their web site did not mention that particular flavor!!)!
After the ice cream, Dan Sr., Patty, Dan Jr., Amy Marie, and Emily stopped by my house! Amy Marie and Emily had never been to my house!! Amy Marie found a creative way to pet our cat. She petted Morgan's face! Intentionally or unintentionally, she provided a climax to a very interesting evening!
This night will always be a night to remember!!
Sunday, June 2, 2013
As Much Fun As I Had, Home Is Where the Heart Is.
My last day started with a Granola Bar (Not the Inexpensive Ones that I buy from Aldi, but the High Fiber ones that are one step up)! A late breakfast at Michael's Bridge Diner in Lancaster was scheduled. As it turned out, it was lunchtime when we reached the restaurant! Dan Sr., Patty, and Bob still had breakfast items for lunch (I have done this for lunch and dinner, but I was in lunch mode that day! (They charged 79 cents extra for a substitution of Egg Whites, which is criminal (IHOP used to charge 69 cents, but the surcharge was usually waived.)) I had another Veggie Burger with Swiss Cheese and French Fries that were delicious! If you like Scrambler Marie's, First Watch, or Original Pancake House, you would enjoy this one of a kind restaurant. It is a breakfast and lunch establishment. The hunting decor is a distinguishing feature, but it wouldn't be out of place at a Cracker Barrel. (Thankfully, Cracker Barrel has dinner hours! I don't think that I have ordered a Breakfast Item there yet.)
After lunch (or brunch for some people), we dropped off Dan Sr. at home. Patty, Bob, and I then went to the Thayer Memorial Library in Lancaster. After almost thirty years of visiting Lancaster, I finally made my local library debut. I picked up some local literature that I expect to enjoy tomorrow after attending Kathleen's Birthday Party! I asked for the local phone book! I learned that they had stopped distributing them in the area, if not all of Verizon Territory (Oberlin, Wellington, Grafton, and most of Medina County are the areas closest to me in Verizon Territory!) I have continued on a quest to find phone book listings from Verizon Territory in a format similar to a traditional phone book. There were some markets available briefly, but it has been a failure so far.
We then went back to the house for a short time.
Our last moments in New England were enjoyed while Patty took Bob and me to T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, RI (Near Providence). The trip went smoothly this time. We had air conditioning in the car this time around, unlike last year when Dan Sr. drove us back. We said our goodbyes and headed into the airport.
Security was almost very smooth! We had our already checked boarding passes in the tubs provided for the X-Ray devices for checking Carry-on Bags! TSA wanted to see them again! Thankfully, the problem was handled smoothly! We then went to an early dinner at Famous Famiglia! I had a slice of Chicken and Broccoli Pizza! Bob had a Sausage Stromboli, which I sampled. (Pepperoni Stromboli was not available.) The food was enjoyable, but it may have been overpriced (Famous Famiglia and Johnny Rocket's (Last year airport meal in Warwick) have left the Cleveland Market for the most part.) I bought a couple of instant lottery tickets that were losers. The machines in Rhode Island are slightly more complicated than they are in Ohio.
Eventually, we boarded the plane! Unlike our trip into Warwick, Bob's bag fit into the overhead compartment. We had a nice flight attendant named Nikki! I asked her if she knew one of my high school classmates who is also a Flight Attendant for United Airlines. She did not! Thankfully, this flight was about as smooth as our previous flight! We arrived in Cleveland more on less on schedule.
I called Maggie to pick us up at the airport! Unfortunately, I called her at her house! She was at our house! There was a Voicemail message on my cell phone that I had trouble hearing. Fortunately, Bob had talked to her as well!
After straightening out the misunderstanding, Maggie took us to Save a Lot to buy Orange Juice and then to a nearby CVS to buy milk. We then went home and learned at least one surprising detail. My brother Joe came over to borrow a shovel. He ended up replacing the light chain in our downstairs bathroom that had been broken for a few years. Miracles do happen!
In closing, this trip was very interesting! Patty and Dan SR.'s friends Amy Gould and John are now close friends of mine! I didn't make it to Vermont, but I just wanted to say that I have been to Vermont. I want to return to New Hampshire for the first time since 1988! There is still a lot more that I want to visit in the future! Don't worry, it's not "standard tourism fare!!"
I hope that you have enjoyed these ten essays as much as I have enjoyed writing them.
After lunch (or brunch for some people), we dropped off Dan Sr. at home. Patty, Bob, and I then went to the Thayer Memorial Library in Lancaster. After almost thirty years of visiting Lancaster, I finally made my local library debut. I picked up some local literature that I expect to enjoy tomorrow after attending Kathleen's Birthday Party! I asked for the local phone book! I learned that they had stopped distributing them in the area, if not all of Verizon Territory (Oberlin, Wellington, Grafton, and most of Medina County are the areas closest to me in Verizon Territory!) I have continued on a quest to find phone book listings from Verizon Territory in a format similar to a traditional phone book. There were some markets available briefly, but it has been a failure so far.
We then went back to the house for a short time.
Our last moments in New England were enjoyed while Patty took Bob and me to T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, RI (Near Providence). The trip went smoothly this time. We had air conditioning in the car this time around, unlike last year when Dan Sr. drove us back. We said our goodbyes and headed into the airport.
Security was almost very smooth! We had our already checked boarding passes in the tubs provided for the X-Ray devices for checking Carry-on Bags! TSA wanted to see them again! Thankfully, the problem was handled smoothly! We then went to an early dinner at Famous Famiglia! I had a slice of Chicken and Broccoli Pizza! Bob had a Sausage Stromboli, which I sampled. (Pepperoni Stromboli was not available.) The food was enjoyable, but it may have been overpriced (Famous Famiglia and Johnny Rocket's (Last year airport meal in Warwick) have left the Cleveland Market for the most part.) I bought a couple of instant lottery tickets that were losers. The machines in Rhode Island are slightly more complicated than they are in Ohio.
Eventually, we boarded the plane! Unlike our trip into Warwick, Bob's bag fit into the overhead compartment. We had a nice flight attendant named Nikki! I asked her if she knew one of my high school classmates who is also a Flight Attendant for United Airlines. She did not! Thankfully, this flight was about as smooth as our previous flight! We arrived in Cleveland more on less on schedule.
I called Maggie to pick us up at the airport! Unfortunately, I called her at her house! She was at our house! There was a Voicemail message on my cell phone that I had trouble hearing. Fortunately, Bob had talked to her as well!
After straightening out the misunderstanding, Maggie took us to Save a Lot to buy Orange Juice and then to a nearby CVS to buy milk. We then went home and learned at least one surprising detail. My brother Joe came over to borrow a shovel. He ended up replacing the light chain in our downstairs bathroom that had been broken for a few years. Miracles do happen!
In closing, this trip was very interesting! Patty and Dan SR.'s friends Amy Gould and John are now close friends of mine! I didn't make it to Vermont, but I just wanted to say that I have been to Vermont. I want to return to New Hampshire for the first time since 1988! There is still a lot more that I want to visit in the future! Don't worry, it's not "standard tourism fare!!"
I hope that you have enjoyed these ten essays as much as I have enjoyed writing them.
I Support the Red Sox, But Not at the Indians' Expense.
Patty, Bob, and I spent this day in Boston! We parked the car at Alewife Rail Station and caught a couple of trains to reach Fenway Park! Our main activity of the day was to tour Fenway Park! We started off in the Red Sox Team Store! Bob and I looked at merchandise that would be appropriate for a Thank You Gift for taking care of our cat Morgan and for cleaning our house way beyond the call of duty. When we saw an Indians Bobbing Head (Not Bobblehead), I couldn't resist buying it after the tour! A Red Sox Cap or Coffee/Tea Cup was also considered, but it was never purchased. We also took some pictures in the not too crowded store.
It was now time to gather for the tour. This was done in the store. We learned a lot about Red Sox History, including the Pesky Pole, Ted Williams' Red Seat, and The Curse of the Bambino (Broken in 2004). We saw the Visitors Clubhouse, that the Indians would enjoy for a four game set two days later. We looked at various seating areas. The Press Box was also featured. Emily, our tour guide, did an excellent job, considering the fact that her microphone stopped functioning during the tour! Thankfully, she was loud enough for the whole group to hear with little difficulty. This tour is something that every baseball fan should enjoy at least once in his/her life.
After the tour, I bought the bobbing head. We invested in the Photograph set that should have been included in the cost of admission, but I can't complain since I didn't pay for this tour! Perhaps, I will treat for a tour of Progressive Field. Hopefully, Flo will be our tour guide. (I know that she is an actress who has helped out on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.)
A nearby Qdoba was considered for Lunch (Parallel to last year's Moe's Southwest Grill experience), but Bob talked me out of it. I had seen a Tasty Burger while on the tour, but we needed help in finding it. Thankfully, a helpful employee affiliated with the Photography aspect of the tour showed us the way. The place has both indoor and outdoor seating. It was once either a Gas Station or an Auto Repair Shop. I had a Mushroom Burger with Cheese and Tasty 17 Steak Sauce (I added Heinz Pickle Relish to it at the table.). It was delicious!! I treated for entertainment by paying a dollar for two tunes. One of them was "Pontoon" by Little Big Town! The next tune was "Holy Diver" by Dio. (AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" and Boston's "Don't Look Back" were unavailable. The jukebox enhanced our excellent meal.
After lunch, we walked down to the Boston Marathon Memorial Site (Three people were killed by a pair of bombs on April 16, 2013. (Patriots' Day)). It was impressive, but we didn't go down by the Walgreen's that was featured in coverage of the event seen worldwide. We then took a couple of trains back to Alewife Train Station. Patty then drove us home!
After relaxing, I researched the route to IHOP in Northborough, MA. (The only Wegmans in Massachusetts (So Far) is part of the shopping complex.) There were three potential routes, but I only printed the first page/route. John, Patty, Dan SR., Bob, and I were the participants in one car this time. After some confusion, we made it to the restaurant. I had a chicken salad, but I erred in judgment because I expected a Grilled Chicken Salad! It was Crispy Chicken! I ended up eating the salad both in the restaurant and for snack time a couple of hours later. It was a fun experience with an eclectic group of people! I didn't mind paying because it was appreciation for a very memorable trip. (My coupon for a $1.99 meal with a meal purchase didn't hurt, either. If I had explained the coupon, people would have ordered beverages that would have allowed me to use a second coupon. Since only one person out of three eligible ordered from the Senior Menu, this option was possible.) We then went home through Marlborough, Berlin, and Clinton on the way home. It was too late to enjoy the strip mall. Once again, we relaxed for the rest of the evening.
May 22 is the conclusion of this journey!
P.S. The Red Sox ended up beating the Indians three out of four games at Fenway Park in the series that started the day after Bob and I came home. I should have not rooted for the Indians on Red Sox Property. I can freely do it here in Cleveland, though!
It was now time to gather for the tour. This was done in the store. We learned a lot about Red Sox History, including the Pesky Pole, Ted Williams' Red Seat, and The Curse of the Bambino (Broken in 2004). We saw the Visitors Clubhouse, that the Indians would enjoy for a four game set two days later. We looked at various seating areas. The Press Box was also featured. Emily, our tour guide, did an excellent job, considering the fact that her microphone stopped functioning during the tour! Thankfully, she was loud enough for the whole group to hear with little difficulty. This tour is something that every baseball fan should enjoy at least once in his/her life.
After the tour, I bought the bobbing head. We invested in the Photograph set that should have been included in the cost of admission, but I can't complain since I didn't pay for this tour! Perhaps, I will treat for a tour of Progressive Field. Hopefully, Flo will be our tour guide. (I know that she is an actress who has helped out on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.)
A nearby Qdoba was considered for Lunch (Parallel to last year's Moe's Southwest Grill experience), but Bob talked me out of it. I had seen a Tasty Burger while on the tour, but we needed help in finding it. Thankfully, a helpful employee affiliated with the Photography aspect of the tour showed us the way. The place has both indoor and outdoor seating. It was once either a Gas Station or an Auto Repair Shop. I had a Mushroom Burger with Cheese and Tasty 17 Steak Sauce (I added Heinz Pickle Relish to it at the table.). It was delicious!! I treated for entertainment by paying a dollar for two tunes. One of them was "Pontoon" by Little Big Town! The next tune was "Holy Diver" by Dio. (AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" and Boston's "Don't Look Back" were unavailable. The jukebox enhanced our excellent meal.
After lunch, we walked down to the Boston Marathon Memorial Site (Three people were killed by a pair of bombs on April 16, 2013. (Patriots' Day)). It was impressive, but we didn't go down by the Walgreen's that was featured in coverage of the event seen worldwide. We then took a couple of trains back to Alewife Train Station. Patty then drove us home!
After relaxing, I researched the route to IHOP in Northborough, MA. (The only Wegmans in Massachusetts (So Far) is part of the shopping complex.) There were three potential routes, but I only printed the first page/route. John, Patty, Dan SR., Bob, and I were the participants in one car this time. After some confusion, we made it to the restaurant. I had a chicken salad, but I erred in judgment because I expected a Grilled Chicken Salad! It was Crispy Chicken! I ended up eating the salad both in the restaurant and for snack time a couple of hours later. It was a fun experience with an eclectic group of people! I didn't mind paying because it was appreciation for a very memorable trip. (My coupon for a $1.99 meal with a meal purchase didn't hurt, either. If I had explained the coupon, people would have ordered beverages that would have allowed me to use a second coupon. Since only one person out of three eligible ordered from the Senior Menu, this option was possible.) We then went home through Marlborough, Berlin, and Clinton on the way home. It was too late to enjoy the strip mall. Once again, we relaxed for the rest of the evening.
May 22 is the conclusion of this journey!
P.S. The Red Sox ended up beating the Indians three out of four games at Fenway Park in the series that started the day after Bob and I came home. I should have not rooted for the Indians on Red Sox Property. I can freely do it here in Cleveland, though!
Enjoying the Surroundings
Since Patty had a seminar related to her part-time nursing job, Bob and I stayed home to play with Caesar and to observe Max, the dog next door! I had a turkey, bologna, and cheese sandwich with Nachos (Multigrain Chips, Gorgonzola Cheese, Peach Salsa, and Sour Cream) for lunch. Dinner was Butternut Squash Triangoli with Chicken Sausage and apples! Salad was included, but I failed to take notes.
We watched TV and relaxed for the rest of the evening!! Tomorrow is going to be a memorable day. Boston awaits us!
We watched TV and relaxed for the rest of the evening!! Tomorrow is going to be a memorable day. Boston awaits us!
The Only Real Culture Today Was in the Frozen Yogurt and Maybe the Ice Cream
Today started off with Mass at Immaculate Conception Church in Lancaster, MA! Since it was warm, a window was opened up by Dan Sr. (If I did something like that in an air conditioned church like St. Leo's, the Liturgy Coordinator would come running to give me a tongue lashing.) The priest was not a big fan of singing, so we didn't sing as much as we do at St. Leo's! The Mass was enjoyable.
After Mass, we dropped Dan Sr. at home! Patty then took Bob and me to Shaw's Supermarket in Clinton to pick up some Newspapers. We then enjoyed leftovers. A traditional brunch didn't happen this time.
While Patty and Dan were picking up Amy and Dave's car from Boston's Logan Airport and dropping it off at their house in Medway, MA. Bob and I caught up on our correspondence! Entertaining Caesar the dog was probably part of the activities during the afternoon.
After Patty and Dan came home, we relaxed some more. Eventually, Patty and her friend John in one car, and Dan SR., Bob, and me in another car, headed to Longhorn Steakhouse in Leominster! Bob and I had given Patty a gift card for her birthday in April. We all lived it up when we ordered. Instead of the inexpensive steak, I had the Rainbow Trout stuffed with Lobster, Sweet Potato Bites, and Rice Pilaf. It was interesting, although the trout was a little over seasoned for my tastes.
After dinner, we went for Ice Cream at Rota Spring Farms in Sterling, MA. I had Moo Tracks Ice Cream and Chocolate Chip Froyo! The rest of the people ate it there! It was raining. It was too messy to eat standing up. I was also full from dinner moments earlier. I ate mine over two consecutive nights! I love Roto Spring Farms when I get to choose the flavor(s)! I believe that we had some last year. Maybe next time, we can enjoy the full experience!!
This day was quite relaxing!!
After Mass, we dropped Dan Sr. at home! Patty then took Bob and me to Shaw's Supermarket in Clinton to pick up some Newspapers. We then enjoyed leftovers. A traditional brunch didn't happen this time.
While Patty and Dan were picking up Amy and Dave's car from Boston's Logan Airport and dropping it off at their house in Medway, MA. Bob and I caught up on our correspondence! Entertaining Caesar the dog was probably part of the activities during the afternoon.
After Patty and Dan came home, we relaxed some more. Eventually, Patty and her friend John in one car, and Dan SR., Bob, and me in another car, headed to Longhorn Steakhouse in Leominster! Bob and I had given Patty a gift card for her birthday in April. We all lived it up when we ordered. Instead of the inexpensive steak, I had the Rainbow Trout stuffed with Lobster, Sweet Potato Bites, and Rice Pilaf. It was interesting, although the trout was a little over seasoned for my tastes.
After dinner, we went for Ice Cream at Rota Spring Farms in Sterling, MA. I had Moo Tracks Ice Cream and Chocolate Chip Froyo! The rest of the people ate it there! It was raining. It was too messy to eat standing up. I was also full from dinner moments earlier. I ate mine over two consecutive nights! I love Roto Spring Farms when I get to choose the flavor(s)! I believe that we had some last year. Maybe next time, we can enjoy the full experience!!
This day was quite relaxing!!
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Peter Pan's Magic Wasn't Needed, But He Saved the Day! (Our Vacation (Day 6))
There was a News Report the night before that continued throughout the day! There was a crash between two trains around South Norwalk and New Haven (Both CT) after we safely arrived in New York City! Metro North was not providing shuttle buses between the two stations! Amtrak Service was also affected. We had to scramble to find a way home! Thankfully, Patty had her Kindle Fire HD with us, so she researched a number of options. There will be more details later, but we still had some sightseeing to do.
We started off with a Continental Breakfast at the Hotel. Despite the small space, there was a variety of foods that were quite tasty! I used moderation in making my selections. Scrambled eggs with cheese, employee made waffles, bacon, bagels, yogurt, and fruit were among the items available. The beverages were of the usual variety.
After breakfast, we packed our suitcases and backpack (We all shared one suitcase last year.) and checked out, leaving our suitcases at the Front Desk while we did some sightseeing. We then walked down to Columbus Circle on the way to the American Museum of Natural History! A PediCab Operator named Elijah tried to get us to ride with him. He succeeded! He offered some interesting details. Strawberry Fields was one of the places that we visited. (I wish that I took notes!) Eventually, we made it to the museum.
Thanks to an automated ticket kiosk, we avoided the long lines that could have caused a meltdown. We enjoyed exhibits on reptiles, amphibians, gems and minerals, African Mammals, and so on. Just like the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, they do an excellent job in educating its visitors.
We finished our museum experience with a late lunch in the Museum Food Court! I had a Veggie Burger, Rice, and a small carton of milk! I could have added more food, but they were charging $3 per quarter pound for a lot of the items! The food was enjoyable.
We then took the subway back to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The Subway was under the museum, so we didn't have to go out in the rain. Patty then bought our tickets for the Peter Pan Bus line to get us back to New Haven. We then relaxed in the hotel lobby before it was time for us to leave.
The bus was quite nice. We went through Harlem before the bus went on the Freeway! I had a brief nap early in the trip, but I was awake for the rest of the trip. When we reached New Haven, Patty attempted to get a refund for the unused train ticket. I bought a Ham, Egg, and Cheese sandwich, hash browns, and Fanta Orange Soda! It was no problem eating it in the car on the way back to Lancaster, MA.
We then relaxed for the rest of the evening!
We started off with a Continental Breakfast at the Hotel. Despite the small space, there was a variety of foods that were quite tasty! I used moderation in making my selections. Scrambled eggs with cheese, employee made waffles, bacon, bagels, yogurt, and fruit were among the items available. The beverages were of the usual variety.
After breakfast, we packed our suitcases and backpack (We all shared one suitcase last year.) and checked out, leaving our suitcases at the Front Desk while we did some sightseeing. We then walked down to Columbus Circle on the way to the American Museum of Natural History! A PediCab Operator named Elijah tried to get us to ride with him. He succeeded! He offered some interesting details. Strawberry Fields was one of the places that we visited. (I wish that I took notes!) Eventually, we made it to the museum.
Thanks to an automated ticket kiosk, we avoided the long lines that could have caused a meltdown. We enjoyed exhibits on reptiles, amphibians, gems and minerals, African Mammals, and so on. Just like the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, they do an excellent job in educating its visitors.
We finished our museum experience with a late lunch in the Museum Food Court! I had a Veggie Burger, Rice, and a small carton of milk! I could have added more food, but they were charging $3 per quarter pound for a lot of the items! The food was enjoyable.
We then took the subway back to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The Subway was under the museum, so we didn't have to go out in the rain. Patty then bought our tickets for the Peter Pan Bus line to get us back to New Haven. We then relaxed in the hotel lobby before it was time for us to leave.
The bus was quite nice. We went through Harlem before the bus went on the Freeway! I had a brief nap early in the trip, but I was awake for the rest of the trip. When we reached New Haven, Patty attempted to get a refund for the unused train ticket. I bought a Ham, Egg, and Cheese sandwich, hash browns, and Fanta Orange Soda! It was no problem eating it in the car on the way back to Lancaster, MA.
We then relaxed for the rest of the evening!
Friday, May 31, 2013
It Was Past Matt Lauer's Bedtime, so a Cardboard Cutout Was a Suitable Fill-In.
The day started out with Patty driving Bob and me to the Metro North Station in New Haven, CT. (Amtrak and Interurban Bus Lines use this station as well.) The trip went smoothly until we couldn't find the station! Thankfully, we found some construction workers who led us to our destination! An Insurance employee was also helpful in leading us from the parking garage to the Station itself! Miraculously, we made our train to Grand Central Terminal! Once again, we ate sandwiches on the train! Last year, Bob and I walked by the school that Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos' kids attend. This year, while on the train, we saw Cardinal Hayes High School, where Regis Philbin and Martin Scorsese attended. Otherwise, the ride was uneventful.
After we reached Grand Central Terminal, we walked to the Comfort Inn on West 44th St. (between Eighth and Ninth Avenues)! We left our luggage at the hotel. We almost took a bus tour! We then went to look for the Ranch 1 that we didn't see last year because I was careless with our research last year! (I was no better this year, but our phone book in the hotel room this year was better, so we were able to find it.) On the way back, we enjoyed a beverage at Crave/Chicken Bar (The former location of the Ranch 1 which was under renovation when we were last in New York City). We then checked into our room and rested until we went to dinner at the Ranch 1 on West 46th St, (Near Fifth Ave.). I had a chicken sandwich and fries! I also ate Patty's leftover salad! The food was delicious, but the facility needs some minor renovations to make the experience more enjoyable.
After dinner, we walked to Rockefeller Center to research availability for the NBC Studio Tour on Saturday! As it turned out, we ended up on the last tour that night! I had a minor meltdown because our two dollar off coupons were back at the hotel because it had been decided that we were going on
Saturday. Thankfully, it did not put a damper on my enjoyment of the tour! Before the tour, we took a picture with Matt Lauer! He was quite stiff, unlike his on-air persona. (It was a cardboard cutout.) At about 8:15 PM, our tour started. Our tour guides were Ola and Lauren. They were very informative and entertaining. The tour started with a brief video on the History of NBC that featured its many networks, such as Golf Channel and MSNBC. We then went through security! The backpack that Bob insisted on bringing made maneuverability a challenge! We saw Jimmy Fallon's Studio, Saturday Night Live 's set (with Ben Affleck and friends rehearsing in the background), the control room for NBC Nightly News and many other interesting areas! I was disappointed that I didn't see The Today Show set. (They were preparing it for Saturday's program.) The tour ended in the Gift Shop! Most of the merchandise was NBC related, but I was baffled by The Simpsons being represented, since they are affiliated with Fox. (The Mindy Project's merchandise was not a surprise because it is produced by NBC Universal, but it airs on Fox.)
Since I was out of cough drops, we went to Duane Reade (Owned by Walgreen's)! We also bought drinks and cookies for snacking. We also went to the Hershey Store because there was a coupon for a free candy bar with a purchase! As luck would have it, I had a coupon usable on a bag of Bliss candy. It took management approval, but both coupons were usable.
We then headed back to the hotel. We watched local news! One story became very important because it would have a great impact on us returning to New Haven. The next installment will give all the details.
After we reached Grand Central Terminal, we walked to the Comfort Inn on West 44th St. (between Eighth and Ninth Avenues)! We left our luggage at the hotel. We almost took a bus tour! We then went to look for the Ranch 1 that we didn't see last year because I was careless with our research last year! (I was no better this year, but our phone book in the hotel room this year was better, so we were able to find it.) On the way back, we enjoyed a beverage at Crave/Chicken Bar (The former location of the Ranch 1 which was under renovation when we were last in New York City). We then checked into our room and rested until we went to dinner at the Ranch 1 on West 46th St, (Near Fifth Ave.). I had a chicken sandwich and fries! I also ate Patty's leftover salad! The food was delicious, but the facility needs some minor renovations to make the experience more enjoyable.
After dinner, we walked to Rockefeller Center to research availability for the NBC Studio Tour on Saturday! As it turned out, we ended up on the last tour that night! I had a minor meltdown because our two dollar off coupons were back at the hotel because it had been decided that we were going on
Saturday. Thankfully, it did not put a damper on my enjoyment of the tour! Before the tour, we took a picture with Matt Lauer! He was quite stiff, unlike his on-air persona. (It was a cardboard cutout.) At about 8:15 PM, our tour started. Our tour guides were Ola and Lauren. They were very informative and entertaining. The tour started with a brief video on the History of NBC that featured its many networks, such as Golf Channel and MSNBC. We then went through security! The backpack that Bob insisted on bringing made maneuverability a challenge! We saw Jimmy Fallon's Studio, Saturday Night Live 's set (with Ben Affleck and friends rehearsing in the background), the control room for NBC Nightly News and many other interesting areas! I was disappointed that I didn't see The Today Show set. (They were preparing it for Saturday's program.) The tour ended in the Gift Shop! Most of the merchandise was NBC related, but I was baffled by The Simpsons being represented, since they are affiliated with Fox. (The Mindy Project's merchandise was not a surprise because it is produced by NBC Universal, but it airs on Fox.)
Since I was out of cough drops, we went to Duane Reade (Owned by Walgreen's)! We also bought drinks and cookies for snacking. We also went to the Hershey Store because there was a coupon for a free candy bar with a purchase! As luck would have it, I had a coupon usable on a bag of Bliss candy. It took management approval, but both coupons were usable.
We then headed back to the hotel. We watched local news! One story became very important because it would have a great impact on us returning to New Haven. The next installment will give all the details.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
People Without Facebook Can Be Very Interesting. (The 2013 Vacation (Day 4))
This day starts out with a visit from Amy Gould! Just like on Monday, she was very entertaining! I am grateful for the issues of The Boston Globe and Worcester Telegram and Gazette that Amy provided. I read through most of what she provided. The remainder of that material and what I picked up, mostly on my own, will be handed over at Kathleen's Birthday Party on Monday!
After Amy left, Patty, Bob, and I went to Ocean State Job Lot in Leominster! It's a store similar to Big Lots and Ollie's Bargain Outlet! Needless to say, I bought nothing in the store!
We then went to Denny's for Lunch! Amy Gould gave Patty a Gift Card for her birthday in April. I had the Moons over My Hammy (Made with Egg Whites) and Hash Browns! It was up to the usual Denny's Standards!
We then went to the adjacent Market Basket Supermarket! I picked up some Market Basket brand Cough Syrup and Cough Drops (Still 50 drops for a dollar).
After Market Basket, Patty took care of some business at Home Depot and Radio Shack. Bob and I went to the Mall of Whitney Field! I bought some Navy Blue Pants at Sears! Needless to say, they are 100% Polyester! They will be worn when it's 50 degrees Fahrenheit or below! We looked at a few other stores, but it was a brief visit because Patty had picked up butter at Market Basket! it was also Shorts Weather. By the way, The Mall at Whitney Field is similar to Parmatown Mall (Circa 1992)!
We then went home and relaxed! After a few hours, Dan Sr. and company headed over to Dave and Amy's house in Medway, MA for a Pizza Dinner! The Main Intent of this visit was to pick up their dog Caesar because they were leaving Saturday for vacation for about a week! Ironically, it was also their Fourth Anniversary! Patty forgot this fact when planning this dinner! The reason this dinner was on Thursday was that Patty, Bob, and I were going to New York City the next day! The pizza was delicious! It came from Medway Village Pizza. Patty made a big Chocolate Chip cookie! There was also a Chocolate Cake with White Frosting! The desserts were yummy, too!
After dinner, we went to an Irving Gas Station to pick up some regional newspapers and to get gas for Dan's car! (Patty's car received gas earlier in the day from a Hess Express in Leominster, but I didn't go into the station on this trip!) We then headed for home!
When we came home, Patty and Dan's friend John was waiting for us! By the way, I officially met both Amy Gould and John at Amy and Dave Goldberg's wedding! While Patty and Dan visited with John, Bob and I watched most of The Office finale (We caught up on the preceding retrospective and the first five minutes on May 28.). We then relaxed for the rest of the night! John and Caesar made things very interesting for the rest of our stay!
In closing, the title of this post refers to the fact that Patty, Dan Sr., Amy Gould, Dave, and John are not on Facebook, but they should be!
After Amy left, Patty, Bob, and I went to Ocean State Job Lot in Leominster! It's a store similar to Big Lots and Ollie's Bargain Outlet! Needless to say, I bought nothing in the store!
We then went to Denny's for Lunch! Amy Gould gave Patty a Gift Card for her birthday in April. I had the Moons over My Hammy (Made with Egg Whites) and Hash Browns! It was up to the usual Denny's Standards!
We then went to the adjacent Market Basket Supermarket! I picked up some Market Basket brand Cough Syrup and Cough Drops (Still 50 drops for a dollar).
After Market Basket, Patty took care of some business at Home Depot and Radio Shack. Bob and I went to the Mall of Whitney Field! I bought some Navy Blue Pants at Sears! Needless to say, they are 100% Polyester! They will be worn when it's 50 degrees Fahrenheit or below! We looked at a few other stores, but it was a brief visit because Patty had picked up butter at Market Basket! it was also Shorts Weather. By the way, The Mall at Whitney Field is similar to Parmatown Mall (Circa 1992)!
We then went home and relaxed! After a few hours, Dan Sr. and company headed over to Dave and Amy's house in Medway, MA for a Pizza Dinner! The Main Intent of this visit was to pick up their dog Caesar because they were leaving Saturday for vacation for about a week! Ironically, it was also their Fourth Anniversary! Patty forgot this fact when planning this dinner! The reason this dinner was on Thursday was that Patty, Bob, and I were going to New York City the next day! The pizza was delicious! It came from Medway Village Pizza. Patty made a big Chocolate Chip cookie! There was also a Chocolate Cake with White Frosting! The desserts were yummy, too!
After dinner, we went to an Irving Gas Station to pick up some regional newspapers and to get gas for Dan's car! (Patty's car received gas earlier in the day from a Hess Express in Leominster, but I didn't go into the station on this trip!) We then headed for home!
When we came home, Patty and Dan's friend John was waiting for us! By the way, I officially met both Amy Gould and John at Amy and Dave Goldberg's wedding! While Patty and Dan visited with John, Bob and I watched most of The Office finale (We caught up on the preceding retrospective and the first five minutes on May 28.). We then relaxed for the rest of the night! John and Caesar made things very interesting for the rest of our stay!
In closing, the title of this post refers to the fact that Patty, Dan Sr., Amy Gould, Dave, and John are not on Facebook, but they should be!
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
My Degree Should Be in Supermarketing. (2013 Trip (Part 4))
I have a B.B.A in Marketing from Cleveland State University in Cleveland, OH. As far as I am concerned, marketing involves a lot of common sense!! On May 15, I learned that three competitive supermarket chains that do business in Worcester County, MA are too indistinguishable from one another for the most part!
Patty, Bob, and I started off at the Stop and Shop on West Boylston Street in Worcester. My main purchases there were the Megabucks and the Lucky for Life Games operated by the Massachusetts Lottery! I believe that they are losers, but I am going to bring them to Max and Erma's in Middleburg Hts., OH on Monday when we celebrate my sister Kathleen's Birthday. Bob and I then looked around the store at items that we would purchase!! Their prices were high! A gallon of milk cost over $4. We paid $2.29 at the Aldi in Leominster, MA the day before. One area that did impress me was the large Organic and/or Gluten Free Sections! I think that the store needs to lower their prices!!
The next store was Price Chopper on Pullman Street in Worcester! Bob and I bought Amy and Dave's Anniversary Gift Card! We chose Ninety Nine Restaurants for them because we had enjoyed their Fitchburg branch a little over a year ago! O'Charley's owns Ninety Nine Restaurants, but their gift cards are currently separate! Once again, we studied what we like to purchase! Price Chopper really needs to lower their prices immediately!! The store had a nice atmosphere, though!
After we were done, we went to Wild Willy's Burgers on West Boylston Street in Worcester (near Greendale Mall) for lunch! I had done some research in a Restaurant Franchise directory earlier in the year! However, Patty suggested this restaurant without knowing any of this. I had a Bison Burger with mushrooms and Swiss Cheese, French Fries, and a glass of Coke! The bison tasted better than I expected!! We enjoyed our meals!!
After lunch was finished, we went to Big Y World Class Market in Holden, MA! Unlike the other two stores, this store was in a strip with other stores!! Big Y was not much different than the other two stores! I bought a couple of newspapers! The funny thing is that the clerk typed a wrong number making it look like there was a penny tax on the paper! Neither the clerk nor I realized what had happened!
After Big Y, we picked up an Anniversary card for Amy and Dave at the adjacent Dollar Tree because we left the one that we had purchased in the Cleveland area back at our house. The shopping was over for the day! Surprisingly, nobody asked us if we had Store Rewards Cards!! We can't wait for our next trip to some other grocery stores in the region!
We went back to Patty and Dan Sr.'s house! Dinner was Chicken Alfredo with peas and carrots! (The Pasta is a ?!) It was delicious!! We then spent the rest of the evening watching ABC from 8:00 to 10:00 and relaxing. The excitement is starting to build!!
Patty, Bob, and I started off at the Stop and Shop on West Boylston Street in Worcester. My main purchases there were the Megabucks and the Lucky for Life Games operated by the Massachusetts Lottery! I believe that they are losers, but I am going to bring them to Max and Erma's in Middleburg Hts., OH on Monday when we celebrate my sister Kathleen's Birthday. Bob and I then looked around the store at items that we would purchase!! Their prices were high! A gallon of milk cost over $4. We paid $2.29 at the Aldi in Leominster, MA the day before. One area that did impress me was the large Organic and/or Gluten Free Sections! I think that the store needs to lower their prices!!
The next store was Price Chopper on Pullman Street in Worcester! Bob and I bought Amy and Dave's Anniversary Gift Card! We chose Ninety Nine Restaurants for them because we had enjoyed their Fitchburg branch a little over a year ago! O'Charley's owns Ninety Nine Restaurants, but their gift cards are currently separate! Once again, we studied what we like to purchase! Price Chopper really needs to lower their prices immediately!! The store had a nice atmosphere, though!
After we were done, we went to Wild Willy's Burgers on West Boylston Street in Worcester (near Greendale Mall) for lunch! I had done some research in a Restaurant Franchise directory earlier in the year! However, Patty suggested this restaurant without knowing any of this. I had a Bison Burger with mushrooms and Swiss Cheese, French Fries, and a glass of Coke! The bison tasted better than I expected!! We enjoyed our meals!!
After lunch was finished, we went to Big Y World Class Market in Holden, MA! Unlike the other two stores, this store was in a strip with other stores!! Big Y was not much different than the other two stores! I bought a couple of newspapers! The funny thing is that the clerk typed a wrong number making it look like there was a penny tax on the paper! Neither the clerk nor I realized what had happened!
After Big Y, we picked up an Anniversary card for Amy and Dave at the adjacent Dollar Tree because we left the one that we had purchased in the Cleveland area back at our house. The shopping was over for the day! Surprisingly, nobody asked us if we had Store Rewards Cards!! We can't wait for our next trip to some other grocery stores in the region!
We went back to Patty and Dan Sr.'s house! Dinner was Chicken Alfredo with peas and carrots! (The Pasta is a ?!) It was delicious!! We then spent the rest of the evening watching ABC from 8:00 to 10:00 and relaxing. The excitement is starting to build!!
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Another Great Day!! (The 2013 Vacation Part Two)
The highlights of this day were a trip to Greendale Mall in Worcester, MA (Enclosed Strip Mall Atmosphere, just like it was twenty years ago)! Dan Sr. and Patty dropped us off because of a prior commitment! Bob and I ate lunch at Stir Fry 88 in the mall! We do have this chain locally, but this was our first full meal there! Bob and I will make our presence shown at the branch at Great Northern Mall in the future! (The traditional fast food days of that mall's food court ended when the food court was relocated about 18 months ago!)
After browsing in the mall, we went back to Patty and Dan's house!! While Dan went back to work, Patty, Bob, and I went to Aldi in Leominster and bought some groceries and supplies. Patty now has her "Advanced Aldi Degree!" Dinner was Kielbasa and Sauerkraut with Potatoes O'Brien (Instead of the homemade boiled potatoes that I had when we had this meal for dinner when we were growing up! One of these days, I will have to cook kielbasa and sauerkraut (I have microwaved sauerkraut.). It was as good as I remember it!!)
Once again, we relaxed. The fun is about to start!! Wait for Parts 4 and 5!!
After browsing in the mall, we went back to Patty and Dan's house!! While Dan went back to work, Patty, Bob, and I went to Aldi in Leominster and bought some groceries and supplies. Patty now has her "Advanced Aldi Degree!" Dinner was Kielbasa and Sauerkraut with Potatoes O'Brien (Instead of the homemade boiled potatoes that I had when we had this meal for dinner when we were growing up! One of these days, I will have to cook kielbasa and sauerkraut (I have microwaved sauerkraut.). It was as good as I remember it!!)
Once again, we relaxed. The fun is about to start!! Wait for Parts 4 and 5!!
Sometimes, a Risk Is Worth Taking (The 2013 Vacation (Part 1))
On May 13, My brother Bob and I flew from Cleveland, OH to Warwick, RI (Near Providence) to visit our sister Patty and her husband Dan Sr., who live in Lancaster, MA (near Worcester). While waiting for our flight, we shared a footlong chicken sub from Subway in Cleveland's Airport!! It was delicious!! Our flight was rather tranquil! However, despite the seat belt sign being lit the entire flight, at least seven people chose to ignore it!! This was something that we never noticed before! If you think that is exciting, you will be in for a roller coaster of an adventure!!
Upon arriving in Warwick, we were picked up by Patty and Amy Gould, a close friend of Patty and Dan Sr. who lives in Lunenberg, MA currently, but used to live in Lancaster! She was joining us for the trip to Foxwoods Casino (Check the April 2012 archives for the exact location.). I had suggested Mohegan Sun Casino, also in CT or Twin Rivers Casino in Lincoln, RI, but a return trip to Foxwoods was suggested because it was the best option! We used Amy's GPS that was on her new phone! This allowed us to have a very close look at her personality! She's not boring!!
We arrived at the casino complex. Since Patty and Amy had not eaten lunch yet, (It was about 3:30 PM) we started off at the Festival Buffet within the complex! The variety of food was overwhelming! The layout was arranged by course (Soups, Salad, Entrees, Desserts, Breads, etc.), ethnicity (Asian, Italian, Mexican, etc.), or type (Seafood, Meat, Vegetables, Pasta, Beverages, etc.). The food was clearly identified for the most part. Normally, I would have eaten a lot more at a buffet, but I was not that hungry because a 6" Sub can be filling!! I still chose a variety of the options that I have mentioned! Surprisingly, the seafood and salad sections were avoided because they either were not the healthiest (Breaded Seafood was prevalent on the lunch menu.), or they were too tempting (Salad bars tend to have healthy forms of fruits and vegetables, but not so healthy items, such as mousse or hard boiled eggs/egg salad (They do get credit for not loading them in mayonnaise, though.) make a presence sometimes.). I ate most of the food that I had selected, but I left some of my dessert because I was full! I enjoyed my food for the most part! I was able to give a "refresher" course on Pierogis and Hush Puppies for Patty and Amy's benefit! Bob and I know them all too well since we were raised on them! Patty and Amy may have either had no recent experience, or the food had an ethnic cousin that could cause confusion!!
After our meal, we gambled in a number of the many casinos in the complex! No really big winnings happened this time, but we still had fun trying! Last year was attributed to Beginner's luck for me!
When we were done gambling, we went back to Patty and Dan's house! Amy went to her house! We visited and relaxed for the rest of the evening! Day one of the trip was now over!
Upon arriving in Warwick, we were picked up by Patty and Amy Gould, a close friend of Patty and Dan Sr. who lives in Lunenberg, MA currently, but used to live in Lancaster! She was joining us for the trip to Foxwoods Casino (Check the April 2012 archives for the exact location.). I had suggested Mohegan Sun Casino, also in CT or Twin Rivers Casino in Lincoln, RI, but a return trip to Foxwoods was suggested because it was the best option! We used Amy's GPS that was on her new phone! This allowed us to have a very close look at her personality! She's not boring!!
We arrived at the casino complex. Since Patty and Amy had not eaten lunch yet, (It was about 3:30 PM) we started off at the Festival Buffet within the complex! The variety of food was overwhelming! The layout was arranged by course (Soups, Salad, Entrees, Desserts, Breads, etc.), ethnicity (Asian, Italian, Mexican, etc.), or type (Seafood, Meat, Vegetables, Pasta, Beverages, etc.). The food was clearly identified for the most part. Normally, I would have eaten a lot more at a buffet, but I was not that hungry because a 6" Sub can be filling!! I still chose a variety of the options that I have mentioned! Surprisingly, the seafood and salad sections were avoided because they either were not the healthiest (Breaded Seafood was prevalent on the lunch menu.), or they were too tempting (Salad bars tend to have healthy forms of fruits and vegetables, but not so healthy items, such as mousse or hard boiled eggs/egg salad (They do get credit for not loading them in mayonnaise, though.) make a presence sometimes.). I ate most of the food that I had selected, but I left some of my dessert because I was full! I enjoyed my food for the most part! I was able to give a "refresher" course on Pierogis and Hush Puppies for Patty and Amy's benefit! Bob and I know them all too well since we were raised on them! Patty and Amy may have either had no recent experience, or the food had an ethnic cousin that could cause confusion!!
After our meal, we gambled in a number of the many casinos in the complex! No really big winnings happened this time, but we still had fun trying! Last year was attributed to Beginner's luck for me!
When we were done gambling, we went back to Patty and Dan's house! Amy went to her house! We visited and relaxed for the rest of the evening! Day one of the trip was now over!
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Easter 2013
Easter Sunday (March 31) was a very nice day! It started off with microwavable bacon and Banana Nut Muffins (Since I don't like bananas, I only had the bacon!) It then continued with 10:00 Mass at St. Leo the Great Church on Broadview Road in Cleveland.
After relaxing for a short time, I had a bone-in chicken wing, macaroni and cheese, and corn that Kathleen had brought for our dinners the night before! However, Bob was at work! I was picking up pies from Bakers Square in Parma Heights! Since I was between buses, I dined at Arby's that night, I did call Kathleen to tell her where I was! (My meal after ordering the pies on Friday was at Burger King because the Arby's line was too crowded that day! Arby's was not crowded around 4:30 PM on Saturday.)
After lunch, I made the Scalloped Potatoes for Easter Dinner. After the potatoes were made, Bob, Kathleen, and I left for Maggie and Mike's house in Parma. The other participants were my brother Joe, and Mike's parents, Richard and Katherine.
Besides the scalloped potatoes, we had ham, beets, cranberry sauce, fruit salad, glazed carrots, baked beans with sausage, rolls, and chocolate chip muffins. The food was tasty! (I skipped the potato chips, Goldfish crackers, and candy that were offered before the main course.)
Dessert was Cannolis from Heinen's that Joe provided, a cheesecake variety pack from Aldi that Mike's parents contributed, Rice Krispie Treats and Carrot Cake Cookies that Maggie made, and Oreo Cookie Crunch and French Apple pies that Bob and I provided. (Bob paid! I selected and you know the rest about the pies.) There was also Raisin Bread from Marc's via Cleveland's Little Italy's Corbo's Bakery. The desserts were enjoyable.
We enjoyed each other's company! After the leftovers were packed, we went home and relaxed. Easter 2013 was the routine that we missed when Bob and I visited our sister Patty and brother-in-law Dan last Easter! Next month, Bob and I will be visiting Patty and Dan again for a little over a week.
Be prepared for more stories about our trip!
After relaxing for a short time, I had a bone-in chicken wing, macaroni and cheese, and corn that Kathleen had brought for our dinners the night before! However, Bob was at work! I was picking up pies from Bakers Square in Parma Heights! Since I was between buses, I dined at Arby's that night, I did call Kathleen to tell her where I was! (My meal after ordering the pies on Friday was at Burger King because the Arby's line was too crowded that day! Arby's was not crowded around 4:30 PM on Saturday.)
After lunch, I made the Scalloped Potatoes for Easter Dinner. After the potatoes were made, Bob, Kathleen, and I left for Maggie and Mike's house in Parma. The other participants were my brother Joe, and Mike's parents, Richard and Katherine.
Besides the scalloped potatoes, we had ham, beets, cranberry sauce, fruit salad, glazed carrots, baked beans with sausage, rolls, and chocolate chip muffins. The food was tasty! (I skipped the potato chips, Goldfish crackers, and candy that were offered before the main course.)
Dessert was Cannolis from Heinen's that Joe provided, a cheesecake variety pack from Aldi that Mike's parents contributed, Rice Krispie Treats and Carrot Cake Cookies that Maggie made, and Oreo Cookie Crunch and French Apple pies that Bob and I provided. (Bob paid! I selected and you know the rest about the pies.) There was also Raisin Bread from Marc's via Cleveland's Little Italy's Corbo's Bakery. The desserts were enjoyable.
We enjoyed each other's company! After the leftovers were packed, we went home and relaxed. Easter 2013 was the routine that we missed when Bob and I visited our sister Patty and brother-in-law Dan last Easter! Next month, Bob and I will be visiting Patty and Dan again for a little over a week.
Be prepared for more stories about our trip!
Friday, March 22, 2013
Fish Fry (Part 2)
My second fish fry of the season occurred at St. Leo School on Broadview Road in Cleveland, OH! The meal consisted of two pieces of fish instead of one, three pierogis, a nice salad of lettuce, carrots, red cabbage, and radishes(?), and a delicious roll. A can of soda was $.50. Beverages were not included in the prepaid package!
The order process was similar to my meal last week. This was a departure from the "cafeteria style" that St. Leo used in the past! The wait staff was mostly schoolchildren! The staff were always asking if I needed anything!
Thankfully, I arrived around 5:00 PM because the school gym (Lux Hall) eventually became very crowded. However, I only shared a table with one gentleman the entire time that I was there! He had the lobster meal! He must have enjoyed the lobster because he bought another one! Thankfully, it was allowed. I was under the impression that the meal was mostly pre-paid (except the beverages)!
I enjoyed my meal! After the meal, I went to Save-a-lot to buy bananas and green beans! As it turned out, I could have taken a bus that was late, but I avoided a trip to Aldi tomorrow morning! I do have to pick up paper towels, but the urgency is not there! I may return to Save-a-Lot in the afternoon before Mass!
Until Next Time, stay safe!
The order process was similar to my meal last week. This was a departure from the "cafeteria style" that St. Leo used in the past! The wait staff was mostly schoolchildren! The staff were always asking if I needed anything!
Thankfully, I arrived around 5:00 PM because the school gym (Lux Hall) eventually became very crowded. However, I only shared a table with one gentleman the entire time that I was there! He had the lobster meal! He must have enjoyed the lobster because he bought another one! Thankfully, it was allowed. I was under the impression that the meal was mostly pre-paid (except the beverages)!
I enjoyed my meal! After the meal, I went to Save-a-lot to buy bananas and green beans! As it turned out, I could have taken a bus that was late, but I avoided a trip to Aldi tomorrow morning! I do have to pick up paper towels, but the urgency is not there! I may return to Save-a-Lot in the afternoon before Mass!
Until Next Time, stay safe!
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
St. Patrick's Day (Part 2)
After a brief period of relaxation, my brother Bob and I took the #35 bus to Sears Hardware on Broadview Road. Despite the St. Patrick's Day Crowd returning from the parade, the bus was only about four minutes late when we caught it. Upon arrival, I called Maggie and Mike to come and pick us up for the short ride to their house. Mike was the chauffeur.
Our meal consisted of Corned Beef, Rye Bread, Various Cheeses (American, Swiss, Cheddar Jack), Lean Cuisine Butternut Squash Ravioli, McCain's Sweet Potato Fries, Cole Slaw, Applesauce (I believe that it was Mott's.), Carrots (Raw and Glazed), Apple Crisp, Green Jell-o with Whipped Cream (Maggie does not make "plain" Jell-O.), and Marie Callender's Peanut Butter Cream Pie. We could have made it "A La Mode" with Edy's Slow Churned Vanilla Frozen Yogurt, but we were planning on eating our ice cream from Honey Hut for evening snack, so we passed. The food was quite enjoyable. By the way, my sister ran out of time to make cabbage, but it was no big deal.
We relaxed some more, than Mike took Bob and me home! We watched the Cartoons on Fox, then we relaxed some more. The fun was only beginning.
We enjoyed our ice cream! Bob had Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream. I had Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. Bruce Page (son of the Founder Frank Page) also gave us some ice cream that I believe to be Maple Walnut. The artificial green color that was added in recent years is no longer present in the Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. Despite leaving the ice cream out for a time with the lid closed, my ice cream was not ice cream soup.
After some more relaxation, our day was over. It was very busy but enjoyable. I hope that Easter works as well. Bob and I are helping with the meal as usual (We had last year off.).
Our meal consisted of Corned Beef, Rye Bread, Various Cheeses (American, Swiss, Cheddar Jack), Lean Cuisine Butternut Squash Ravioli, McCain's Sweet Potato Fries, Cole Slaw, Applesauce (I believe that it was Mott's.), Carrots (Raw and Glazed), Apple Crisp, Green Jell-o with Whipped Cream (Maggie does not make "plain" Jell-O.), and Marie Callender's Peanut Butter Cream Pie. We could have made it "A La Mode" with Edy's Slow Churned Vanilla Frozen Yogurt, but we were planning on eating our ice cream from Honey Hut for evening snack, so we passed. The food was quite enjoyable. By the way, my sister ran out of time to make cabbage, but it was no big deal.
We relaxed some more, than Mike took Bob and me home! We watched the Cartoons on Fox, then we relaxed some more. The fun was only beginning.
We enjoyed our ice cream! Bob had Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream. I had Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. Bruce Page (son of the Founder Frank Page) also gave us some ice cream that I believe to be Maple Walnut. The artificial green color that was added in recent years is no longer present in the Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. Despite leaving the ice cream out for a time with the lid closed, my ice cream was not ice cream soup.
After some more relaxation, our day was over. It was very busy but enjoyable. I hope that Easter works as well. Bob and I are helping with the meal as usual (We had last year off.).
Monday, March 18, 2013
St. Patrick's Day (Part 1)
My brother Bob and I walked to State Road to catch the bus to Parmatown Mall because the coordination between the #35 (Broadview Road) and #20 (State Road) buses on Sunday is not very good! We also wanted to avoid the early St. Patrick's Day crowd. We made our bus!
Our first stop was supposed to be the Mr. Hero on Day Drive, but it opens at Noon on Sundays! Despite being there about two minutes before opening, Bob decided to go to the Toys 'R' Us behind the Mr. Hero! I did not like that idea! After spending some time browsing, we finally showed up at the Mr. Hero. We were initially overcharged because the computer initially didn't accept the second order with the coupon, but it was straightened out! We both had 7" Chicken, Bacon, and Ranch subs, Waffer Fries, and soda! As far as I was concerned, the food was up to the usual standards.
After lunch, we crossed the street to patronize the mall. We browsed in Dick's Sporting Goods, Wal Mart, and JcPenney! The Food court was visited so we could see if there were any new tenants. The mall is still not that exciting.
After we exited the mall, we crossed Day Drive to go to Giant Eagle. We then went to PetsMart, Kohl's, and Target. Our only purchases came from Giant Eagle! I bought a book of stamps and some lottery tickets.
We then took the bus to visit Honey Hut Ice Cream because it was Opening Day! Once again, we ran into Bruce Page! As a result, we received our Ice Cream for Free. Bruce even threw in a pint of what I believe is Maple Walnut Ice Cream, their newest flavor. Since it was too cold to eat the ice cream at one of Honey Hut's outdoor tables, we walked home with our ice cream which we ate later that evening.
We returned a call from our sister Maggie, inviting us to St. Patrick's Day dinner at her house!
My next Post will give all the details about dinner and our late night snack.
Our first stop was supposed to be the Mr. Hero on Day Drive, but it opens at Noon on Sundays! Despite being there about two minutes before opening, Bob decided to go to the Toys 'R' Us behind the Mr. Hero! I did not like that idea! After spending some time browsing, we finally showed up at the Mr. Hero. We were initially overcharged because the computer initially didn't accept the second order with the coupon, but it was straightened out! We both had 7" Chicken, Bacon, and Ranch subs, Waffer Fries, and soda! As far as I was concerned, the food was up to the usual standards.
After lunch, we crossed the street to patronize the mall. We browsed in Dick's Sporting Goods, Wal Mart, and JcPenney! The Food court was visited so we could see if there were any new tenants. The mall is still not that exciting.
After we exited the mall, we crossed Day Drive to go to Giant Eagle. We then went to PetsMart, Kohl's, and Target. Our only purchases came from Giant Eagle! I bought a book of stamps and some lottery tickets.
We then took the bus to visit Honey Hut Ice Cream because it was Opening Day! Once again, we ran into Bruce Page! As a result, we received our Ice Cream for Free. Bruce even threw in a pint of what I believe is Maple Walnut Ice Cream, their newest flavor. Since it was too cold to eat the ice cream at one of Honey Hut's outdoor tables, we walked home with our ice cream which we ate later that evening.
We returned a call from our sister Maggie, inviting us to St. Patrick's Day dinner at her house!
My next Post will give all the details about dinner and our late night snack.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Fish Fry #1
Tonight, I had dinner at the Brooklyn Heights United Church of Christ on West Schaaf Road in Cleveland. I had two pieces of fish, two pierogis, French fries., cole slaw, a roll, a slice of chocolate cake, and a can of Coke! It cost $8.50! (For a dollar less, there would have been no pierogis.)
The food was tasty! Other than the fact that guests who ordered after me had their soda cans before me, the whole process was very smooth! Most of the food was served on regular plates! The roll came in a basket. The cake was on a Styrofoam saucer.
I hope that next week's fish fry at St. Leo the Great Church on Broadview Road in Cleveland goes just as well. Unlike in past years, this is a one time event during the Lenten Season. I also had to pay in advance for this event, which is also different than before. The meal options are more limited this year. This meal cost $8.00.
A Lobster meal was also available for $17. A second lobster would have been $10 extra! They have had the advance order lobster meal once a season in recent years.
My next report will not be about the next Fish Fry! Sunday is a major holiday for people of Irish Heritage. Even if you are not Irish, people love to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!
Have a safe weekend!!
The food was tasty! Other than the fact that guests who ordered after me had their soda cans before me, the whole process was very smooth! Most of the food was served on regular plates! The roll came in a basket. The cake was on a Styrofoam saucer.
I hope that next week's fish fry at St. Leo the Great Church on Broadview Road in Cleveland goes just as well. Unlike in past years, this is a one time event during the Lenten Season. I also had to pay in advance for this event, which is also different than before. The meal options are more limited this year. This meal cost $8.00.
A Lobster meal was also available for $17. A second lobster would have been $10 extra! They have had the advance order lobster meal once a season in recent years.
My next report will not be about the next Fish Fry! Sunday is a major holiday for people of Irish Heritage. Even if you are not Irish, people love to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!
Have a safe weekend!!
Friday, March 1, 2013
The Olive Garden
For years, my brother Bob and I discussed dining at the Olive Garden! On Wednesday, we finally made the commitment at the branch on Day Drive (Across from Parmatown Mall) in Parma, OH. Our sister Maggie and her husband Mike gave Bob a gift card good for Red Lobster, Bahama Breeze, Longhorn Steakhouse, and Seasons 52 for his birthday.
We had the two dine for $25 deal. We both had Chicken and Gnocchi Soup. Bob had the Tuscan Garlic Chicken. I had the Sicilian Seafood Lasagna Rollata. Bob had the Strawberry and White Chocolate Dolcini for dessert. My Dolcini was Dark Chocolate Caramel Cream. We both had Breadsticks and Coke. The food was very delicious!
We plan on going back to Olive Garden in the future!
We had the two dine for $25 deal. We both had Chicken and Gnocchi Soup. Bob had the Tuscan Garlic Chicken. I had the Sicilian Seafood Lasagna Rollata. Bob had the Strawberry and White Chocolate Dolcini for dessert. My Dolcini was Dark Chocolate Caramel Cream. We both had Breadsticks and Coke. The food was very delicious!
We plan on going back to Olive Garden in the future!
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Tim's 60th Birthday!!
This afternoon, we celebrated my brother Tim's 60th Birthday!! The event was at Buca di Beppo in Strongsville, OH. The Participants were Tim, his companion Lois, his daughters Mandy and Marnie, their spouses Paul and Mike, Tim's granddaughters Kendal and Hayden, my sisters Patty and Maggie, my brothers Joe and Bob, Maggie's husband Mike, my nephew Dan, our Aunt Rita and her son Johnny, and Oney (Leona?) and Jim (Daughter and son-in-law of Tim's previous companion Judy, who died in 2005) There were many significant people absent from this party! My sister Kathleen is in Philadelphia, PA. My brother-in-law Dan did not come with his wife Patty to Northeast Ohio this time around!! (Amy, Patrick, and Dave were not present, either.) My niece-in-law Laura and her daughters Amy Marie and Emily had another birthday party that was more child-friendly! (LOL!)
Our food came from the Magnifico Package! We had Baked Rigatoni (?), Chicken Parmigiana, Caesar Salad, Apple Gorgonzola Salad, Freshly Baked House Bread with Olive Oil and Chocolate Chip Cannoli from the restaurant! Mandy provided Chocolate and White Cupcakes. Marnie provided a White Cake from Costco! (Their husbands are silent partners in this deal (LOL!)!) The food was enjoyable for the most part!! By the way, beverages were included in the package (Based on the Take Home Menu that I picked up when I arrived, I thought that drinks were not included!! It also sounded like the Deluxe Famiglia Meal.).
The main present that Tim received was a trip to Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Bob and I gave him a Target Gift Card! Instant lottery tickets were also given!!
In addition, Kendal and Hayden received their Christmas presents from Kathleen (We brought them with us!) and some other goodies from Tim! Also, Bob received birthday card from Joe and Maggie and Mike. Joe gave him instant lottery tickets. Maggie and Mike gave him an Olive Garden Gift Card! I wonder how Olive Garden compares to Buca di Beppo in food quality! I will let you know!
After the party, we went back to Maggie and Mike's house briefly before we attended 5:30 PM Mass at St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Parma! We walked into the church at the end of the First Reading! Despite the Deacon's Homily going on and on, Mass was over around 6:21 PM.
We will spend the evening relaxing! Dinner #2 will be Swedish Meatballs and Rice that I made on Thursday! By the way, we had Spaghetti and Meatballs for lunch that Bob made yesterday! (Since yesterday was a Friday in Lent, the meatballs were saved for a future meal!)
Tomorrow will be a lot quieter!!
Our food came from the Magnifico Package! We had Baked Rigatoni (?), Chicken Parmigiana, Caesar Salad, Apple Gorgonzola Salad, Freshly Baked House Bread with Olive Oil and Chocolate Chip Cannoli from the restaurant! Mandy provided Chocolate and White Cupcakes. Marnie provided a White Cake from Costco! (Their husbands are silent partners in this deal (LOL!)!) The food was enjoyable for the most part!! By the way, beverages were included in the package (Based on the Take Home Menu that I picked up when I arrived, I thought that drinks were not included!! It also sounded like the Deluxe Famiglia Meal.).
The main present that Tim received was a trip to Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Bob and I gave him a Target Gift Card! Instant lottery tickets were also given!!
In addition, Kendal and Hayden received their Christmas presents from Kathleen (We brought them with us!) and some other goodies from Tim! Also, Bob received birthday card from Joe and Maggie and Mike. Joe gave him instant lottery tickets. Maggie and Mike gave him an Olive Garden Gift Card! I wonder how Olive Garden compares to Buca di Beppo in food quality! I will let you know!
After the party, we went back to Maggie and Mike's house briefly before we attended 5:30 PM Mass at St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Parma! We walked into the church at the end of the First Reading! Despite the Deacon's Homily going on and on, Mass was over around 6:21 PM.
We will spend the evening relaxing! Dinner #2 will be Swedish Meatballs and Rice that I made on Thursday! By the way, we had Spaghetti and Meatballs for lunch that Bob made yesterday! (Since yesterday was a Friday in Lent, the meatballs were saved for a future meal!)
Tomorrow will be a lot quieter!!
Monday, January 21, 2013
A Day in Education
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which was also the Ceremonial Inauguration of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, was an eventful day for me. It started out with a trip to Subway on Broadview Road in Cleveland for a Footlong Chicken Chipotle and Cheese Sub for my brother Bob. After coming home, I checked my e-mail and played Free Cell on the computer. After a brief stay at home, I was on my way out again.
Unfortunately, my card playing caused me to leave the house late. As a result, I missed the bus. I walked down to Pearl and Broadview Roads to catch a bus to Downtown Cleveland. My first stop was Nathan's/Arthur Treachers in Tower City to enjoy Fish and Chips with Hush Puppies and Cole Slaw. Coke was my beverage. It was quite enjoyable!
After lunch, I took a train and a bus to visit the Cleveland Museum of Natural History because it was free today. The bus broke down just before I was ready to exit the bus, but as it turned out, the Museum was just across the street. I also had decided that the walk should not have been too far, so the driver manually opened the front door to allow me and another passenger to vacate the bus!
The museum was very impressive! There was great detail about rocks and gems! Astronomy was also featured! Since the Museum was very crowded, I could not really appreciate everything! The web site may be a help before you visit! By the way, the Planetarium was a dollar. The Whale Exhibit was Six dollars. Since I am frugal, I skipped both exhibits, but they probably would have been worth the price of admission! What I did see, though, was very enjoyable! I plan on returning in the future!
My next stop was just diagonally across the street from the Museum of Natural History! It was the Western Reserve Historical Society Museum. Although I had been to the attached Crawford Auto and Aviation Museum, I had not been to the other part of the complex previously. There was an exhibit on Bridal Wear in the Late 19th Century! There were some pictures of factories from long ago! However, it was just average as far as museums go! It was not crowded at first, but the action picked up a little, but it was not difficult to maneuver through the crowds!
I then headed towards Downtown Cleveland! When I arrived in Downtown Cleveland, the snow was really coming down, so I almost cancelled my trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! It cleared up so I made the trek down to the Rock Hall. After a trolley and a short walk, I made it to the museum by 4:00 PM. It was very crowded, even at that time! Since I have been at the Rock Hall close to twenty times! I started with the Pink Floyd The Wall. I then headed to the Grateful Dead Exhibit that started on the Fourth Floor and continued to the top two floors! After I enjoyed the exhibit, I glanced at some of the regular exhibits! I also enjoyed an interactive kiosk that featured One Hit Wonders. The Rock Hall was as enjoyable as it has been for most of my visits!
My final destination was to Discount Drug Mart in Independence to buy some candy for Bob. The bus was either late or running early, so I made it there with some leeway before I caught my bus towards home! I ate dinner and relaxed for the rest of the evening!
Today was a day worth sharing with all of you! I hope that your day was as memorable! Thank you for allowing me to indulge!
Unfortunately, my card playing caused me to leave the house late. As a result, I missed the bus. I walked down to Pearl and Broadview Roads to catch a bus to Downtown Cleveland. My first stop was Nathan's/Arthur Treachers in Tower City to enjoy Fish and Chips with Hush Puppies and Cole Slaw. Coke was my beverage. It was quite enjoyable!
After lunch, I took a train and a bus to visit the Cleveland Museum of Natural History because it was free today. The bus broke down just before I was ready to exit the bus, but as it turned out, the Museum was just across the street. I also had decided that the walk should not have been too far, so the driver manually opened the front door to allow me and another passenger to vacate the bus!
The museum was very impressive! There was great detail about rocks and gems! Astronomy was also featured! Since the Museum was very crowded, I could not really appreciate everything! The web site may be a help before you visit! By the way, the Planetarium was a dollar. The Whale Exhibit was Six dollars. Since I am frugal, I skipped both exhibits, but they probably would have been worth the price of admission! What I did see, though, was very enjoyable! I plan on returning in the future!
My next stop was just diagonally across the street from the Museum of Natural History! It was the Western Reserve Historical Society Museum. Although I had been to the attached Crawford Auto and Aviation Museum, I had not been to the other part of the complex previously. There was an exhibit on Bridal Wear in the Late 19th Century! There were some pictures of factories from long ago! However, it was just average as far as museums go! It was not crowded at first, but the action picked up a little, but it was not difficult to maneuver through the crowds!
I then headed towards Downtown Cleveland! When I arrived in Downtown Cleveland, the snow was really coming down, so I almost cancelled my trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! It cleared up so I made the trek down to the Rock Hall. After a trolley and a short walk, I made it to the museum by 4:00 PM. It was very crowded, even at that time! Since I have been at the Rock Hall close to twenty times! I started with the Pink Floyd The Wall. I then headed to the Grateful Dead Exhibit that started on the Fourth Floor and continued to the top two floors! After I enjoyed the exhibit, I glanced at some of the regular exhibits! I also enjoyed an interactive kiosk that featured One Hit Wonders. The Rock Hall was as enjoyable as it has been for most of my visits!
My final destination was to Discount Drug Mart in Independence to buy some candy for Bob. The bus was either late or running early, so I made it there with some leeway before I caught my bus towards home! I ate dinner and relaxed for the rest of the evening!
Today was a day worth sharing with all of you! I hope that your day was as memorable! Thank you for allowing me to indulge!
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