$134 worth of Groceries

Really?

More of Red Lobster

Fran has now sent her photos and Fran's commentary in the captions...

But first, what's not pictured. Fran says: Let's see...we started with shrimp bruschetta--grilled baby shrimp with fresh chopped tomatoes on thinly slices baguette (no photo). Mary lost control by drinking a Bahama Mama. I maintained proper decorum by drinking a plna colada. You have photo of Bahama Mama.

The shrimp/lobster pot pie. Creamy Newburg sauce with bits of lobster and shrimp and peas and potatoes. They're small, need two.

Hmmmm this is Fran's dinner -- two shrimp/lobster pot pies and shrimp/scallop linguine with string beans and garden salad (not shown)

More of Mary's dinner

                  Mary ordered the shrimp/lobster tail and scallops combo. Amazing. (See shrimp on skewer)

 

Mary, the Vanna White of Red Lobster, displays part of dessert menu. Hard to decide between the molten lava cake with ice cream, or the chocolate layer cake with fudge sauce and ice cream. We chose the latter. Delicious. Not sweet. Chocolate as it oughta be.

The Birthday Celebration Continues

Miss Fran's b-day celebration continued tonight at Red Lobster, and I am jealous!

I am a green-eyed monster missing a Red Lobster dinner.

Here are the photos they have used to show off:

 

The fabulous Cheddar Bay Biscuits got me drooling.

The B-Day Girl with what seems to be a pina colada...



Mary with a drink identified as a Bahama Mama.

The was captioned "Fran's Dinner" -- don't know what it is or what those two small bowls are, but the shrimp and pasta looks so darned good.

...and the birthday cake dessert. Thank God it came with ice cream!

Friday Lunch With Barbara

It was back to Jackson Hole for scrambled eggs. Well, Barbara changed to spinach and feta omelette and I kept the same. Luckily the rain held off since we both had windbreakers and umbrellas and it turned into a beautiful day until about 4pm where it got dark and started pouring again. We had a great lunch, great conversation as always, and then since Barbara was headed up to Connecticut she came with me in my cab to 86th and Lex to take the subway directly to Grand Central.

It speaks to our long-term relationship (and why we get along) that we both had a plan, based on various conditions, unbeknownst to the other, as to who should get in the cab first and why. What's funny is we did it Barbara's way, since my dyslexia reared its head and I miscalculated what side of the cab Barbara would be on when we got to 86th Street. I'm still sort of scratching my poor addled dyslexic brain over that one.

But on with the show:

The cab let me out about 1/2 block away, and I passed this place which doesn't seem like a fun place for my little doggie, if I had one. Seems way too serious. Really? A "training behavioral management center"? Can't we just jump around and hump eacch other's legs?

This is the place across the street called "Good Enough to Eat" where people were standing on line to get in. I am not someone who would do that, not unless it was the only place open. Don't wait on line for movies either.

I call this one "Waiting for Barbara." Usually one of us gets there early so we can secure the table we want (with unblocked view of the street.)

I saw this car on the way home -- I don't know what model it is but it is TINY. I expected a dozen clowns to start piling out.

More subway mess a block from where I live.

Still more subway mess.

Postcard from Alaska

Tom's minamalist description: "Just sitting there" -- I'm trying to think and I don't think I've ever seen an eagle "just sitting there" -- I've seen them in flight when I went out west, but this is very cool.

Postcard from Alaska

Tom sends this photo which he says is the view from his and Michelle's lanai. I thought lanais were Hawaian, but I guess they are Alaskan, too. Tom says it is 57 degrees and sunny which is warmer and sunnier than it is in NYC tonight. More rain, more cold.

I can't get this to align vertically so tilt your head for optimal viewing! Wonder if they saw any bears,

Happy Birthday to Miss Fran who is Sweet Sixteen (plus)

Five Things I Like about Fran (in no particular order)

1. We share a passion for true crime. Blood droplets, knives, guns, machetes, scorned lovers, jealousy, money, motives, secrets and lies. We love it all and love to follow a great true crime story whether it's an Ann Rule book or a 48 Hours or something happening on the news. I will say that Fran was way more into the Jodie Arias trial than I was, however.

2. She has learned to express her own creativity which I admire. She draws, she paints, she sings, she plays the piano. She hasn't lost her love of "playing."

3. She is a damn good photographer of every day life.

4. She is a gentle soul. Hard to imagine her blowing her top which I think I've only experienced once or twice (not toward me, of course.) She keeps calm and carries on. You feel calmer when you're around her.

5. She is loyal and supportive as a friend. Always willing to listen, even to stupid life-has-annoyed-me-my-feelings-got-hurt stuff. She quietly listens to it all.

And for these reasons, and many more, I am glad Fran is my dear, old friend. I must add that I miss her in DC but, if I were honest, what I really miss is our shared dinners at Tony DiNapoli which we got down to a science. Same table, same food -- yes, we had quite a routine going. This is a place that serves family style platters so you ordered for the table. After half a dozen or so times, we hit on the ideal combination, the thought of which right now, is making my mouth water. We'd get one platter of Shrimp Francese (sauteed shrimp coated with a very light lemon batter) and Ziti Bolognese (ziti in tomato meat sauce.) We'd get a glass or two of pinot grigio, ate a loaf or so of Tony's wonderful bread with sesame seeds on it and finish it off with lemon sorbet. Then we'd slowly walk home (me) or to the subway (Fran) parting ways at 86th Street. God, that was good.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FRAN!