What Do You Do?

The local bar was so sure that its bartender was the strongest man around that they offered a standing $1000 bet: The bartender would squeeze a lemon until all the juice ran into a glass, and hand the lemon to a patron. Anyone who could squeeze one more drop of juice out would win the money. Many people had tried over time but nobody could do it.

One day this scrawny little man came into the bar, wearing thick glasses and a polyester suit, and said in a tiny squeaky voice " I'd like to try the bet." 

After the laughter had died down, the bartender said OK, grabbed a lemon, and squeezed away. Then he handed the wrinkled remains of the rind to the little man. The crowd's laughter turned to total silence as the man clenched his fist around the lemon and six drops fell into the glass. 

As the crowd cheered, the bartender paid the $1000, and asked the little man "What do you do for a living? Are you a lumberjack, a weight-lifter, or what?"

The man replied, "I work for the IRS." 

Five years ago today: Starbucks Has No Coffee

Halloween Spirit

This month I've kept an eye out for unusual Halloween decorations. Here's what I've found:

👻 Do any of these sound appetizing to you?

 

👻 I see this one when I drive the back way out of the subdivision. It cracks me up every time.

👻 The bucket is over the dusk-to-dawn light, so the scarecrow head glows when the sun goes down.

👻 Am I the only one who's never seen a tree decorated with Halloween lights before?

 

👻 This restaurant had 3-dimentional bats attached to the mirror in the ladies room.

 

 

Five years ago today: Fajitas For Two

Oh My 'Gourdness'

Today was a perfect fall day-brisk in the morning and evening, but warming up nicely in the afternoon.  In the middle of the perfect afternoon Hubby Tony and I were taking a walk. I told him that I had learned that today was National Pumpkin Day, a holiday that recognizes the fall-favorite squash, but other than admiring the pumpkin I put outside of our condo unit door yesterday I wasn't planning on doing anything to commemorate the day.

For dinner we were having leftovers of the soup Tony made for dinner last night, a tasty combination of butternut squash, chickpeas, greens, and brown rice. I thought anything else with pumpkin as an ingredient would be too similar tasting.

We got to the back entrance to the subdivision and I turned to go home, but Tony wanted to get some more steps and kept going straight. He returned about 45 minutes later, carrying a foam tray from a local bakery. Inside were these cute frosted Jack-o'-lantern​s, his contribution to Pumpkin Day.

Shelter From A Storm

Last night we had some nasty storms come through the area, including multiple tornadoes. Fortunately the worst of it passed to the south of us and the only damage was some twigs on the deck. 

About the time the high gusts of wind and pouring rain passed through our area it was time to turn on the local news. The meteorologists had taken over from the anchors, discussing the weather situation in animated tones. They even had someone who was storm chasing and providing updates. After almost a half hour of those meteorologists rehashing the same data we turned off the television. Tony fed Jackson the cat and we both got ready for bed.

Tony put a local jazz show on the radio. I was drifting off to sleep when I heard the jarring tone of the emergency alert system, announcing a tornado warning two counties to the east of us in Illinois. The system did what it was supposed to do (get my attention), but then I had a hard time settling back in. My mind started racing, and I realized that if the weather had been in our area we had no emergency plan in place.

We live on the second floor of an apartment-style condominium building with a garage tucked underneath. If a storm was rapidly approaching would it be safer to hustle down two flights of stairs into the basement garage or hunker down in an interior room? At night we would have to throw something over our pajamas in case our neighbors were doing the same thing we were, which would take extra time. There would also be the issue of finding Jackson and carrying him down with us.

This morning I sent out a text to some of our neighbors asking them what they did in the event of a storm. They all told me they headed to the garage. One woman said she sat in her car. The others did not share any details. Hopefully I'll never have the opportunity to figure out exactly what they do.

Five years ago today: Froggy In A Flowerpot

And Then There Were Five....

Grandchildren, that is. Yesterday there was a text in our family chat group that Son Tony and DIL Ie welcomed a new addition to their family. Meet Granddaughter Evee.

Those cheeks!

According to Tony both mother and daughter are doing well, and once they get home the family plans to cocoon along with big sister Gee for several weeks. Hubby Tony and I already have our tickets to visit.

Five years ago: Pumpkin Juice

Candy...And Much More

Today Hubby Tony and I pulled out our scavenger hunt book and headed for a section of the metropolitan area we don't know very much about--the Old North St. Louis,a neighborhood just north and slightly west of the downtown area.

Anyone who's lived in the metropolitan area for any length of time knows that Crown Candy Kitchen is there. For most people, including me, that's the only place they know. However, after several hours of walking around I know so much more!

The area of North St. Louis was established shortly after Lewis and Clark left to explore the Louisiana Territory, and a couple of decades later was incorporated into the city.  By the mid-1850s it was heavily German, and later a large Polish enclave developed. By the 20th century many new residents came from the Deep South. After World War Two there was an exodus to the suburbs, leading to decline. In the 1980s, a nonprofit organization began to promote and revitalize the area. 

 I parked my car just down the street from Crown Candy and we walked through the small commercial area on North 14th Street, which was lined with unique vintage buildings. We were standing outside of a hardware store (which had a sign that said it had been established in 1875) when the owner came out and talked with us, sharing a little history of the area.

The residential parts of the neighborhood were filled with red brick buildings, and there were commercial buildings on the corners of many blocks. Sadly, many of them were in rough shape, and their were quite a few vacant lots, but I was pleased to see a substantial number of nicely maintained homes. I don't think I'd walk in the area after dark, but during the day I felt perfectly safe.

Tony and I brought finger-food lunches to eat as we walked, but we popped into Crown Candy for dessert. When I saw a chocolate and marshmallow sundae on the menu I knew what I was ordering. The combination was one of my Dad's favorites, and I have fond memories of indulging with him at the kitchen table.

Not fancy, but brought back memories

Five years ago: Finding An Easier Way

Back In The Zapping Game

Remember my microwave issues? We've only been without one for two weeks, although it feels like a lot longer than that to me. I'm pleased to announce that yesterday an installer came and put in our new one.

It has been wonderful to be able to cook and heat things with the push of a button. This morning I had oatmeal, and since I didn't cook it on the stove I didn't have to worry about anything sticking to the pan. Heating up leftover coffee is a piece of cake, and making hot water for tea is seamless. I haven't prepared a real meal yet, but look forward to turning on the cooktop light to illuminate the stove.

Disappointing Din-Din

Tonight was the monthly meeting of one of Hubby Tony's clubs, which takes place in the banquet room of a restaurant. On there club nights I usually take myself out to dinner.

Shortly before Tony left for the evening I was trying to figure out a restaurant that sounded good. The weather has been fall-like, which makes me think of chili. That made me wonder if the St. Louis Bread Company (aka Panera) had turkey chili on their menu yet. I checked, and they did. Just like that I had dinner plans!

Panera's turkey chili is a great combination of chunks of ground turkey, vegetables, and three kinds of beans in a slightly spicy broth. In addition to being tasty, it's also pretty healthy-lots of protein and complex carbohydrates and low in calories.

There are two Panera restaurants close to me. The one to the west is a little over two miles away, and if I go to the east it's about three and a half miles. At 4:45 pm I checked Google to see which would make more sense traffic wise, and was surprised to find out that the one to the east closed at 5:00. However, it said that I could head west, as long as I arrived at the location before 7:00.

I made all the stoplights and arrived in the Panera parking lot five minutes after I left the garage. There weren't many cars when I pulled in. I walked up to the door, which had a sign taped to it that said only the drive through was open. I got back in the car, drove around to the side of the building, and saw this:

 UGH! Now, because I couldn't have it I really wanted turkey chili.

Panera packages some of its soups for retail sale, so I drove to a nearby grocery store. They had several varieties, but not the one I had my heart set on. I browsed through the store's grab and go section, but most of the food would have to be heated and I didn't want to drive home and mess with that.

By now I was getting seriously hungry. I left the store parking lot and turned right. The first place I drove by was a Chick-fil-A and I turned into the lot. The way my dinner search was going, I wasn't surprised to find a line of cars at the drive through, but the restaurant is legendary for their efficiency and the line moved quickly. 

I was ravenous, and my desire to have a healthy meal flew out the window. I ordered a fried chicken sandwich, an order of waffle fries, and the original dipping sauce. After I got my order I drove to a far corner of the lot and sat in my car to eat my food. I haven't had Chick-fil-A in a long time and thought the food was far too salty. But it filled my stomach and didn't cost an arm and a leg.

Five years ago today: Berry's Birthday

It's Always Interesting To Do New Things

When it comes to the flow of our Sundays, Hubby Tony and I are pretty predictable. We've either gone to mass on Saturday night (which means we're free to do some type of adventure Sunday morning), or attend the 9 am Sunday mass (and take the time to socialize afterwards, getting home in time for an early lunch). 

Today, though, we mixed it up. The parish Hispanic community was celebrating the Peruvian holiday of El Señor de Los Milagros (The Lord of the Miracles) at the 1 pm Mass, with food and music after. Everyone in the parish was invited; Tony and I decided to go.

I was unfamiliar with the day, but Tripsavvy told me:

In the mid-17th century, Angolan slaves painted an image of a crucified Christ on the walls of their meeting place in Lima. When an earthquake devastated the city in 1655, the mural was one of the few things left standing. Talk of a miracle spread throughout the parish, and Lima’s faithful came to worship the image, now dubbed El Señor de los Milagros. 

Today, the image is the focal point for the largest religious congregation in South America. Processions begin early in the month, with major processions normally held on October 18, 19 and 28. Purple-robed devotees follow the image on its course through the streets of Lima, which themselves are draped in purple.

Tony and I decided not to worry about the suggested color dress code. We arrived ten minutes early. The courtyard was a sea of purple and I started to regret my decision. (However, there eventually ended up being plenty of people who had on alternate colors.) 

A couple of minutes before 1 pm we were directed to move over to the far end of the building, where a tapestry with a replica of the painting was hanging. The priest took the tapestry, held it up high, and began a procession into the building. Immediately behind him came then deacon, then six men arranged in two rows, each wearing deep purple robes. The rest of the group fell into the back of the line. 

Once inside the church everyone found their place and the Mass began. A liturgical band added lovely Peruvian music. I don't understand Spanish, but I still enjoyed hearing the prayers from a different point of view. During the spoken prayers I participated by saying the English words in my head.

After the Mass was over everyone moved to the parish center. Tony and I sat at a table with a woman from the Hispanic community and her two children. We went through the buffet line and got a plate of flavorful rice mixed with chunks of chicken and topped with some fresh spinach. After the meal we went back for dessert-a slice of cake and the puff pastry dessert I call elephant ears. However, I learned that in Peru they're orejitas de chancho (pig ears). 

Five years ago: Yea! House Guests!

Tech Inept

I'm currently the secretary for a state-wide fellowship. About a month before each of the four yearly business meetings I put out a call for the reports that will ultimately go into the minutes. I never get everything, but a week before the meeting I organize what I've received and send them out to the members. During the meeting I follow up with the people who haven't sent me a report. After the meeting I compile everything, add the results of voting on motions, and send the final minutes to the website to be published.

This procedure usually works well. The vast majority of people send me their report in a Word file or Google doc. With those I can copy their information and paste it into my document. However, a couple of days ago someone sent me a photo of their typed report. It was a very nice photo, but impossible to get the information into my document unless I retyped all the information. 

I asked the author if she could send me the information in a Word file. She said she would, but instead she sent the photo again. I believe the woman is about my age, but she is more hands-on than technology oriented, and not very tech savvy. I sent her a message asking what program she used to type the report, and saying I needed the report from that program.

The next day I received a message saying that she would send me the information. Instead of what I was looking for, I got a message from a copy store in the woman's town with a PDF of the information attached. 

OY!

I tried one more time, sending a message to the woman asking if she had typed the report or if someone else had done it for her. I said that whoever did the typing should send me the file. Later in the day I got a forwarded message from the woman with the information I needed attached.

Five years ago: This Happened The Other Day....