Dance Palace Remembered

The year is 1978, the dance palaces in NYC are 12-West, Flamingo, Truck Stop, and Chameleon and this was on the playlist of almost every DJ.  This is the entire recording, so sit back and relax, or get up and dance.  Romeo & Juliet by  Alec R. Costandinos. From the You Tube Description:

I wanted to hear this on Youtube and couldn't find the complete version on one track, so here it is! From beginning to end. All 15 minutes and 24 seconds of it! Have NO doubt people...this is the single greatest #1 Disco song of the 1970s!!! VERY IMPORTANT! YOU MUST LISTEN TO IT COMPLETELY TO SEE THAT I AM RIGHT (because the song gets better and better as it plays on). Only a few came close to this one: "Love in C Minor" by Cerrone, "Disco Nights" by GQ, "Souvenirs" by Voyage, "Come to Me" by France Joli, or "Love is the Message" by MFSB. Yeah, close...but not close enough. ROMEO AND JULIET WAS THE BEST! -

Anne Marie in Philly is dancing herself into a frenzy if she remembers this one.  Love you, girl friend.

And so it goes.
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Easter Bunnies

For marriage equality, of course. Have a Hoppy Day!

More later.
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I Did a Stupid Thing...My Bad?

In a valiant attempt to speed up my PC startup, shutdown, and Net browsing,  I followed the Microsoft instructions
 (never do this) and promptly blew out many major Windows 7 settings. I cannot access the web, or even send documents to the printer. For years I have known never, ever follow a MS Wizard to do anything constructive.  I guess I was desperate. I imagine the image at right is what the innards of my poor desktop look like right about now.

 It appears that the "registry" is f**ked up, and I need an OS disk to re-install the missing drivers and whatever else I deleted to bring the baby back online,  for now, I am using the laptop with limited programs and Internet options.  At least I can still get online via my router.

In the process of hunting down and saving as many bookmarks as possible, but with my work schedule and longer hours are making it difficult.

Right now the laptop is connected to my 22" monitor, so that's a help.  However, having to use the laptop keyboard is frustrating. I am used to the ergonomic one that rests my hands in more natural positions.  Hey, I'll survive, I suppose I am paying for the sin of following a MS procedure.

We served nearly 200 diners at lunch today. I am very tired and I smell olives.

And so it goes.
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Caturday Customer Service

You know this is true

Local Couple in - and on - The News

Some of you may be familiar with the Writer, Fay Jacobs. Well this little story took a happy turn today outside the court of the Supremes.(Fay & Bonnie are the couple at left. click to embiggen.) Not only the story below, but they made the local TV news as well:

WASHINGTON -- Bonnie Quesenberry and Fay Jacobs celebrated their 31st anniversary in front of the Supreme Court on Wednesday. It would have been their 31st wedding anniversary had marriage been legal for same-sex couples back when they got together, in 1982, after meeting at a conference at John Hopkins University.
Quesenberry, a retired dental lab technician, wore small purple sunglasses, and Jacobs, a writer, wore black fleece. As the two women waited on the steps to hear how the arguments in the case against the federal Defense of Marriage Act inside the court were going, they bumped into another lesbian couple, also together for 31 years.
"We're the 31 club!" Jacobs exclaimed, holding out her home-made banner, which read, "If Gay Marriage were LEGAL Today would be our 31st Anniversary," and laughing.
"We've had congratulations said 1,000 times," Quesenberry said, as the four women all embraced. "This just couldn't be better."
Mary Jo Kennedy, a family practice doctor, and her wife, Jo-Ann Shain, a freelance editor, held up their own sign: "31 Years Together, 20 Months Married, 4-Ever Grateful, 2 Marriage activists everywhere."
Kennedy and Shain were among the first couples to wed in New York in 2011 after the state legislature there passed marriage equality legislation and six years after they filed a lawsuit seeking a marriage license.
Like Quesenberry and Jacobs, they also met in 1982, at a health conference in Los Angeles. "But we both worked at the same hospital in the Bronx," Shain said, laughing. "Our first date was in the cafeteria."

To say we're proud of our gals would be an understatement. Read the rest of the story HERE.

And so it goes.

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More Like This, Please.

In a post prior to  the Bloggerpalooza I mentioned that it would be a daunting task to enjoy a significant conversation with so many in so little time. That said, many arrived Friday and got an early start on "Getting to Know You, 101" I was to join the fun later Saturday.

One thing we all love is food and many of the best conversations happen while dining - anywhere. Friday evening the group dined at 2 different restaurants (smaller groups) and enjoyed initial conversations and good food. The larger group had lunch at my place of employment on Saturday and continued to cement that bond.

When I arrived at the "hospitality suite" (a BIG Thank You to Cubby for the great idea) the atmosphere was one of old friends sharing drinks and laughs on a lazy spring afternoon. Being totally sober, I was odd man out and (for various reasons) nervous.  That quickly faded as I was embraced,  hugged again and made to feel like one of the gang.

Cosmos and conversations were freely flowing, I declined an offer for one.  Wanting to keep my wits about me so as to remember personal things from one-on-one or small group chats. The busy day at the restaurant meant no time for lunch for me.

Had 2 glasses of wine at the meet & greet and another one with dinner; plenty enough to get slapped with a DUI if stopped on the way home later.  Think Saturday night + Spring Break + Beach Resort = Drunks on the roads.

Following dinner we returned to the suite where more liquor was flowing and a couple of folks made a run to the store for more. For another 2 hours there was chatting, laughing, drinking and music. And still there were folks I didn't get to talk with. (sigh!) As I left and made my way down the stairs to the courtyard and parking lots, it was delightful to hear the happy sounds floating down from above as the party continued.

Those last happy sounds are what carried me home that night. For once, no CD played in my car and the silence of the night allowed the last sounds to reverberate in my head and put a permanent smile on my face. A joyful noise, indeed.


Processing events of the weekend a few things struck me as deliciously unusual: No political talk, no bitchy gay guy chit-chat, (oh sure there was snappy patter, but all positive and in good fun.) no holding back answers to personal questions; only a desire to get to know some bright, wonderful, interesting, down-to-earth people with different lives, from different states, countries, backgrounds, and professions.

I am off today and the sun is shining brightly.  It is now time for a few olives before I cook supper.  Cheers to all my new found friends.

And so it goes.
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What If...? Indeed, What If?

I am still processing the past weekend's events and a post will be forthcoming, but this arrived in my inbox and took my breath away.  I wanted to share.



If we could only imagine such a world. What if all these people were long-lived?  What might they have accomplished and given to the world?

But, they're not here.

And so it goes.
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Oh, What a Day!!!

Shamelessly stolen from Retired in Delaware.

I've tried to sleep after taking the evening meds, but I've tossed and turned and sleep is elusive.  I guess I am too excited, even the drug won't knock me out.

The bloggerpalooza was a smashing success. Many of the folks I've read for years came together for a real old fashioned "Happening" - that's the only old fashioned way to describe it.

I was anxious to meet everyone at the dinner, but got a sweet surprise when 13 of them arrived at the restaurant for lunch.  (They arrived after posing for the picture above.) I was floored, couldn't believe it was happening and they were honoring me by dining where I work.  I got hugs from bloggers and their spouses.  The house was pretty busy and a big party like that could have caused problems, but the servers did a bang-up job and everyone enjoyed themselves.

I kept walking around just watching them, seeing them in person for the first time was so surreal. It was as if I had known them for a very long time. They were having such a grand time enjoying the company and the food and drink. To me, this was far more exciting than spotting some celebrity out and about.  I mean, I KNOW these people, though we had never met.  Sound strange?

After work, I raced home, donned my Spo Butterfly shirt, and hightailed it to the Inn at Canal Square in Lewes, where the evening event was to happen. I was eager to chat one-on-one with all the folks attending and get couples straight (so to say) in my head.  (Spouses of bloggers don't usually have blogs themselves.)

Following dinner, Dr. Spo was gracious as he received many small, and not so small gifts and took a good ribbing from everyone in the room. As he would say, "it was jolly good fun." And it was.

Cubby reserved a suite and hosted an open house to all who dropped in. (It is rumored that the Cosmo's were Ab Fab.  I did not partake, having to drive back to Rehoboth passing the cops "check points" - being a weekend, and all.) He also made dates wrapped in bacon as an extra appetizer.  And, you know what?  Everything IS better with bacon.

That suite is where my evening began and ended.

I want to get to know all of these wonderful folks better. They honestly represent themselves in their blog posts - no phonies here.  And, they are even wittier (is that a word?) in person, which always makes my day. The one-liners had all of us in stitches - and could come from the most unlikely places.

To be honest, I fell in love with at least 20 people between 4:30 and 9:15 PM when I finally had to take my leave. They were still partying when I left.  And that's as it should be.

Today was a gift for which I am truly grateful. I cannot believe I am still awake at this hour. 

And so it goes.
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Grumpy Art Caturday

I'll remove more than an ear...

More later.
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Ah, Spring!

As bloggers make their way to the Delaware beaches this weekend, it seems the weather will offer up a mixed bag of practically everything.  Living at the beach one never knows what the weather will be in any given half hour. 

Case in point: Following yesterday morning's rains and fog, the sun came out and the day was warm and spring-like.  So, you can imagine my surprise when I left for work this morning in this...(click to embiggen the image above)

Of course, by this afternoon the snow was gone and the sun was out. Yes, this is life at the beach.

I am told there is more snow on the way for tonight, but I won't know that until I wake up tomorrow, 

And so it goes.
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Three New (to me) Blogs

 Yes, Dancing Daffy!  And why not?***
Thanks to the upcoming blogger palooza I spotted 3 blogs that were unknown to me.  So over the past week or so, 2 of them have been read and contacted - Jay in VA, and Java over at My Life or Something Like it.  The third one however, cannot be read. It appears that A Buckeye in Virginia is for invited readers only.  I'll just have to wait to meet the person behind the Buckeye this weekend.

Of course, I'll be meeting most of the fave bloggers for the first time.  Only one I know is the man behind the happening himself, Ron of Retired in Delaware. In fact, it was Ron who talked me into opening this place all those years ago. Don't hold that against him, please.

I almost met Mark & Fred of Our Simple Lives when they visited the beach last year, but missed them by a few hours.  They did leave a calling card (photo of the kids) with my boss, who was all over me the next day.  Who were these guys and from where did I know them?  I simply said that I was thrilled they dropped off the new picture of the kids and I was sorry to have missed them - and left it at that.  It drove him cocoanuts for about a week, but finally gave up when I constantly changed the topic each time he brought them up. 

To be fair, the boss knows I have no life and, aside from trying to fix me up, watches out for me, too.  It's funny, sometimes. He's tried to connect me with his single barber, a bartender at a swanky restaurant in the area, and even a dental technician who is also a customer. He can't figure out my "type" and just keeps throwing men hoping one will stick. Teh-heh.

I make no excuses - post no warnings - as to what my behavior might be like this Saturday evening. I have not been out socially, in a large group for many years.  Spo wrote that he may be so nervous he may stutter, well that could happen to me. It has in the past.

Damn!  I wish I was off work on Sunday.  A Little more time to socialize with the attendees would be great.

The sun came out as I finished the laundry, so I took a walk around town and sat on a very wet bench by the ocean. Not intentionally, I assure you.The wind finally died down to below 20 MPH, so that's a good thing.

There is a large luncheon party tomorrow - about 35 employees of a local builder, so I'm doing nothing that could potentially create more back pain.

*** Dancing Daffy is for Anne Marie and Ron, who promised her I would dance, for some reason. Enjoy, kids.
And so it goes.
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Bix & Orchestra. For a Rainy Day

Joe Venuti is playing the violin, Irving Brodsky the piano, and Weston Vaughan is the vocalist. Also featured in the group are Eddie Lang, Bud Freeman, the Dorsey brothers and Benny Goodman.  How's that for a fist-full of talent?

This was from Bix' last session as a orchestra leader...and one of the saddest, as he was "falling apart", due to alcoholism.



 Well, it ain't "Singin' In The Rain," still, the song gives me a lift at times like this. Sun is due to make an appearance later in the day.  We shall see.

And so it goes.
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Happy Hour: Wine, Good Eats & Stories

Of course, since I was to meet someone after work, my shift ran longer than usual. It figures. However, the Happy Hour meeting with the old acquaintance went pretty well, though I am still processing all the rambling data received.

She's had a rough 5 years, herself and she seemed relieved to share with someone who had experienced similar situations and deceptions. She lost even more than I did; the house wasn't co-owned, but in the other person's name only. At least I didn't go through that kind of nightmare.

We talked and shared the events of past years over 2 bottles of wine, a half pound of jumbo steamed and seasoned shrimp, a hot crab/cheese/artichoke dip, and a plate of Oysters Rockefeller.  We got pleasantly tipsy and very full in the process. We shared personal info and phone numbers, and of course, she knows where I work.  However, there was no mention of doing this sort of get-together in the future.  Maybe she just needed a friendly ear, or a shoulder to lean on. 

It was a misty and foggy evening so we took only a brief walk on the boardwalk to visit the ocean before heading in different directions; she to her B & B and I headed home to a warm bed. 

An interesting evening, to put it mildly, and it was mighty nice to catch up after so long.

And so it goes.
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Bloggerpalooza Is Coming

I'm just now coming down from the chaos of St. Pat's Holiday craziness to come face to face with this list of bloggers (and friends) who are said to be attending this weekend's festivities.  I think I need a few deep breaths to take this in.  They will (hopefully) all be here in the same room.  I mean, just look at the lineup:

The list is almost overwhelming, I mean, how can one chat with so many fave bloggers in such a short evening of drinks and dinner?  I hope it will all go well and we all get to ask questions, share interests, and learn more about one another on a personal level.  But it seems almost be like that dreaded "speed-dating" of the 80s and 90s.

There are also bloggers attending that I had not read until recently and am anxious to meet - and continue to read.  Isn't that what personal blogging is all about? I hope everyone (self included) is relaxed and flows with the evening.

Weather permitting, I plan to wear my Spo shirt to the event as I am told others are planning the same.

Saturday being the beginning of Easter week (Palm Sunday is the day after the bloggerpalooza) I will be very busy at work with large family parties, but I've asked my relief to arrive a few minutes early so I can duck out and not get stuck for an extra hour, or more,   Palm Sunday is always a busy day and I need to be on my toes for more big family parties that will be with us until Easter Sunday.  Yes, it's a tradition.

For some unknown reason, Ron (putting this all together) has promised Anne Marie that I will be in Travolta drag and dance the disco at the dinner gathering.  Please be assured everyone, that will not happen.  I will be happy if I can walk and sit without too much back pain.

Right now, my heart goes out to Sean (Just a Jeep Guy) who is on watch for his Mom in ICU, and hoping that if he can't be with us, he knows we are thinking about him and his family.

And so it goes.
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St. Pat's Weekend: Full of Surprises.

Never believe a weather forecaster.  The predicted rains, high winds and coastal flooding must have happened in an alternate universe. Here, the morning sky was partly cloudy, then the sunshine warmed this beach town to a balmy 60' F.

Walked in to the restaurant this morning to be greeted by more shamrocks, pots-o-gold, and green everything else, than you would find in a Mexican Restaurant in Ireland. The LocosGuys must have stayed later to decorate the place. Unbelievable! None of these overly festive trappings were even hinted at yesterday.

Of course the bar-hoppers were out early, dressed for the occasion and out in huge numbers; many of our regular customers wore the green, as well. I cannot describe the images that my poor eyes were subjected to. And you know, "what has been seen, cannot be unseen."

As word about the great weather at the beach spread, (thanks to iPhones, iPads, etc.) the town filled up quickly. The streets were filled with grownups in festive costumes sporting tons of beads trying out their best Irish Brogue.  Everyone was having a good time.

The restaurant had a great lunchtime crowd, and there are no more reservations for this evening. Packed house all evening.

Walking by another restaurant on the way home I could hear a piano and many voices singing what I assume was an Irish folk song.  Even though I couldn't understand the lyrics, muffled by the closed windows, I figured that a good time was going on inside.

I am about to enjoy my St. Pat's martini (with GREEN olives, dontcha know!) followed by a light supper of something NOT green.


Tomorrow promises to be another day of celebration as we have a few big parties booked for lunch.  A party of 12, another of 16, and another of 14.  Should be another interesting day.

And so it goes.
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Sleepy Caturday

I know the feeling. For some reason (the weather, perhaps?) I wanted to stay under the covers all day.

More later.
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A Nice Change

An old acquaintance dropped by the restaurant for lunch today.  She was surprised to see me working there. Haven't seen or heard from her in years. As she enjoyed lunch, we played catch-up and she was shocked that the Ex had split and gone on to a new life.

The restaurant was kind of busy today so we didn't get into any long stories of our recent past, but she said she wanted to get together for a Happy Hour or dinner in the near future.  I have heard this line several times over the years and it never seems to happen. 

We hugged our goodbyes and she promised to keep in touch to finalize a meeting.  I played along, but thinking that it would be another 5 or 6 years before I saw her again.  I got distracted by other regular diners and decorating for St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, so these thoughts were pushed aside.

Two hours later she called suggesting that we meet at the Henlopen City Oyster House for drinks and munchies this coming Monday afternoon when my shift ends. She said there were lots of topics we didn't cover and asked if that venue would be OK.

I said "yes" immediately and so I have a date of sorts, following my shift on Monday.  It's nice that she really wants to re-connect.  It's a nice feeling, really. 

I've had corned beef and cabbage for supper and now I have to hunt up something green to wear to work tomorrow.  Green is not a good colour for me and I am not particularly fond of it alone. A plaid might be acceptable, however.

And so it goes.
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The Spectacular Cosmos

This is amazing, beautiful, terrifying, and mesmerizing all at the same time. Posted in January, 2013 with a soothing melodic musical score. If possible, view it in HD; at least 720.  You won't be worry if you have to wait a while for it to download.




Here's a bit from the YouTube description:

Dream away to the spectacular visual wonders of the universe. The unforgettable imagery shot by The Hubble Space Telescope is well known. This presentation includes some of its more recently released photographs. The ESO's output may be a bit less well known, but the results are no less spectacular. These are photographed from right here on earth, from which we selected the absolute best shots.

Enjoy the splendor of our universe, the spectacular sights of our cosmos.

With special thanks to Carl Sagan!

And so it goes.
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One Hundred Bites

Some other bloggers I read have already shared, as usual I am late to the party. I figured since I will be meeting a few of them soon, I may as well take the plunge. So, here goes.

1. Are you young at heart, or an old soul? I was told I was an old soul at age10 years.

2. What makes someone a best friend? Someone who doesn't judge, and is always there, even if not in person.

3. What Christmas (or Hanukkah) present do you remember the most? None.

4. Tell me about a movie/song/TV show/play/book that has changed your life. Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

5. Name one physical feature that you like about yourself, and one you dislike. Like: Maybe my eyes. Dislike: Most everything else.

6. Would you like to reconnect with any friends you’ve lost contact with? Many don't seem to be interested in connecting anymore.

7. What’s more important in a relationship: physical attraction or emotional connection? Emotional connection.

8. Name a movie that you knew would be terrible just from reading the title. "Throw Mama From the Train."

9. What holiday do you most look forward to? None, anymore.  I work all holidays.

10. How is the relationship between you and your parents? Horrible, and they're both dead.

11. You’ve got the TV on, but you’re not really watching. What channel is the TV on? Don't have TV service at the moment. So, if the TV is on, I am likely watching a DVD.

12. Name a song that never fails to make you happy. "Hey, Old Friend" by Sondheim.

13. You know at least one person named Michael. Tell me about him. Mike is a douche nozzle. Kicked me out of his house and refused to return my rent money. That was 6 years ago when my life was falling apart.

14. Have you ever read the “Missed Connections” on Craigslist? Have you ever posted one, or wanted to? Nope.  I know nothing about Craigslist.

15. If you could pick anywhere to live the rest of your life, where would it be? Holland or England.  I love both places.

16. Can money buy happiness? Hell yes!  I've been living hand-to-mouth for the past 6 years and it ain't no fun.

17. Do you drink? Smoke? Do drugs? Why, or why not? I like a good martini, or Manhattan. Wine and, a good cold beer once in a while. Quit smoking 35 years ago.  Pot would be nice, but unaffordable

18. Is there anyone close to you that you know you can’t trust? You don’t have to give names. There is no one in my life now that I could trust completely.

19. Where was your favorite place to go when you were a little kid? I spent all my free time in Lake Pontchartrain - a block from my home.

20. Have you ever spent a night in the hospital? Yes.  Hated it.

21. Do you enjoy being with only one or two friends, or with a large group of people? Small groups for me.

22. Do you like the type of music your parents listen to? Do your parents like the type of music you listen to? Yes.  Even during the early days of Rock and Roll, I always found time for Sinatra, Ella, Armstrong, etc.

23. Have you ever been bullied? Have you ever bullied anyone else? Yes. And, No.

24. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? One item, or one dish? If it's one dish it would be salad.

25. If your partner wanted to wait until marriage before having sex, would you stay in that relationship? Yes, sex has never been a big deal in my life. I watched all my old friends die of AIDS. I guess someone had to be around to care and keep their memories alive.

26. Do you believe in a god? Not so sure anymore.

27. Of all the social networks in the world, why use Twitter? I don't Twitter.

28. What’s your favorite hashtag to track? Don't even know what they are.

29. Would you call yourself/your family “middle class?” Lower middle class, back then.

30. Name a TV series you didn’t enjoy until after it ended. None

31. Have you ever bought a product from an infomercial? No.

32. If you could give up your car and never have to drive again, would you? I would have years ago, and could since I live in town, but at my age I need a car.

33. If you go back to one point in time to give advice to yourself, when would you go and what would you say? I'd go back to 1975 and warn myself that this relationship will end badly and be left with nothing.

34. What’s your “quirkiest” habit? Put on dance music and dance around the living room.

35. What is “normal?” Are you normal? Normal? Who would want to be normal. No fun in that.

36. Someone close to you is dying. You have the choice to let this person live for 10 more years, but if you do, you cause the death of 10 strangers. You don’t have to see them die. Do you take the offer? No. 

37. What is one thing you could never forgive? Deceit and character assassination. It happened between 2006-2007 and it's good that the person has never asked for forgiveness.

38. Would you rather be in a relationship after the honeymoon period ends, or be single? Single.  I think it's too late for a relationship.

39. Is it possible for guys and girls to be just friends? Why not? Some guys have a hard time befriending lesbians.  Not me.

40. Where do you and your friends go to hang out? No friends to hang out with.

41. Write the first sentence of your obituary. I'll leave that to anyone who cares.

42. What is the best TV theme song ever? I Love Lucy.

43. When you were young, what would you dream you would be when you grew up? A film maker and photographer.

44. When you’re alone in your own home, do you walk around naked? Sometimes.

45. What gets you out of bed in the morning? It's a new day and I am alive to experience it.

46. Do you want to have more friends than you have right now? That's easy, yes.

47. What part of the past year sticks out in your mind? Passing a kidney stone on my birthday.  No fun, that.

48. You win a scratch-off lottery game that gives you $2000 a week (after taxes) for the rest of your life. Do you keep your job? Maybe for a while, but I'd buy a travel camper and hit the road taking pictures of daily life.

49. Could you be in a long-distance relationship? If you’re in one, what makes yours work? Not worth the anguish and tears.

50. What’s the best route to your heart? That route is closed to all traffic.

51. Have you ever met someone through the internet, then met them in real life? Not that I know of, though I look forward to the blogger weekend later this month.

52. What is your favorite sport? None really, but I've grown to admire Soccer these days.

53. What has been troubling you lately? Fractured spine and arthritis in my hands.  Constant pain.

54. Did you enjoy your high school prom? Didn't attend. Took a Greyhound to NYC, instead.  High school was a nightmare for me.

55. What do you use more often: your intuition or logical reasoning? I go with my gut on just about everything. 

56. Do you know what makes you happy? Right now my job makes me happy and there is always music.

57. Tell me about the last book you read. "Tempest at Dawn" by James D. Best.  Kindle version.  Loved it.

58. What is the nicest compliment you’ve ever been given? "You're a good person, don't forget that." 
       
59. Who was your first crush? A neighbor, we used to play in the woods behind my house (and fool around) and spent a lot of time in the lake.  He moved away when I was 12.

60. Do you believe that there is life on other planets? Yes, I do. It's arrogant to think that humans are the only intelligent beings.

61. Predict what your life will look like a year from now. I can't predict what my life will be like tomorrow.

62. Often, people will ask how your last relationship ended. I want to know how it began. I was 28, he was 26. He swept me off my feet and we made a life together for 30 years.  

63. Where is your favorite place to go out and eat? The local Outback Steakhouse is owned by the nicest people, Dos Locos, (yes, I love to dine where I work) The Pig & Fish, and Henlopen City Oyster House.

64. What is something you want to change about your current situation? I’d like a vacation, a cruise/tour of Alaska.

65. Early bird or night owl? Early bird.  Always have been.  Love to watch the sun rise over the ocean.

66. Are there any childhood possessions you still hold on to? No, they were all lost in Hurricanes.

67. Give me an unpopular opinion you have. I think churches should be forced to pay taxes if they want to play politics.

68. What was the last song that was stuck in your head? "Try" by Pink. It's haunting and I like her passion.

69. Where do you live? Be as general or specific as you want. Rehoboth Beach, in lower-slower Delaware.

70. Do you believe in giving kids medals and trophies for participation? Depends on the activity. 

71. What was the longest car ride you’ve ever taken? New York to New Orleans.

72. Have you ever taken part in a protest? Yes, many.

73. Would you ever use an online dating service? No.

74. What is your ethnic heritage? French and Italian.

75. Describe a person that inspires you. No one these days.

76. If you earn minimum wage doing what you love, would you? Couldn't.  I make a little more than minimum and can get by, but I also love my job. 

77. Do you believe in luck? That word is used to describe so many happenings. Maybe.

78. Describe the last time you were very angry at someone. I count to 10 often these days.  There are just so many stupid people anymore.

79. Do you want to live until you’re 100? Not if my life remains as it is. Struggling and living to work rather than working to live, isn't much of a life.

80. Do people change? If so, how do you keep a relationship together when both of you start to change? Yes, most people change.  I did, but my Ex wanted to remain a 30-something. 

81. Have you ever risked a friendship by telling someone you liked them? Where is the risk?

82. Would you rather be alone doing something you enjoy, or doing something you don’t like with your best friends? Doing something I enjoy.  Best friends would know what you like and dislike. Life is too short to do things you don't like.

83. Do you practice what you preach? I do, indeed. Or at least try damned hard.

84. If you take precautions to stay safe, do you ultimately act more recklessly? No, I don't go into strange neighborhoods at night and I am a safe driver.

85. What do you value more in a significant other: Attractiveness or intelligence? Intelligence and a sense of humor.

86. Are you hard-headed? Of course.

87. Have you ever laughed uncontrollably when it was socially inappropriate? Yes, when I thought the situation funny enough.

88. When have you felt most alive? Walking or biking in the sunshine, walking the beach and dancing, oh yes, dancing.

89. Would you prefer to live? A city? The suburbs? The countryside? The mountains? The Beach!

90. Do you often skip breakfast? Sometimes.

91. How do you know what true love is? I did once. Or so I thought

92. Would you want to know the exact date and time you were going to die? No!  I think I'll instinctively know.

93. Where is “home” for you? Rehoboth Beach or New Orleans.

94. What song best describes your life right now? The one mentioned above.  "Try"

95. Do you want to be perfect? No, but I have tried to be a few times in my younger days. Failed!

96. What have you never tried, but would really like to someday? At my age I've tried pretty much everything I've had in mind.

97. How do you express your creativity? This blog, my photography and cooking.

98. Describe your neighborhood. Quiet, small beach bungalows, narrow streets with no sidewalks, and one apartment building.  Mine!

99. Name something you only liked because it was popular. I don't think I ever did that.  Hell, I hated the early Beatles, only found their talent beginning with Rubber Soul & Revolver.

100. Give me the story of your life in six words. I lived. I loved. I laughed. The End!!!

And so it goes.
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An All New Dining Experience.

I enjoyed an uncommon evening out yesterday. The locosguys have revamped their restaurant in Lewes, both dining room and kitchen, and about 25 regular customers and a few employees were invited to a "tasting" of the new dinner menu.

JD's has always been the best and most reasonable dining option in Lewes for breakfast and lunch and they wanted to spark up the dinner menu and get away from the comfort food that diners seem to be moving away from these days.

As at Dos Locos, most menu items are prepared in-house using all fresh ingredients - and as much local produce as possible.

The new chef is a gem.  Creative and innovative. It was decided that the dinner menu would change every other week with the more popular items being reintroduced from time to time. The idea is to offer dishes that one either cannot prepare at home, or wouldn't want to. Most salads and entrees are available in two sizes - taste, or full plate - the "taste" being a half-plate or appetizer portion.

I was seated with 2 regular customers from DL (Dos Locos) and we chose to taste as many items that appealed to us as possible and offer feedback as the evening progressed. It was a very smart idea. Here's our sampling from the menu:

Mixed Artisan Lettuces and other greens with roasted shallot balsamic vinaigrette, grape tomatoes, dried cranberries,  and crumbled goat cheese. 

Caprese Salad: Fresh tomatoes, house roasted red peppers with a balsamic basil pecan pesto reduction served with herb-crusted flat-bread.

Pan Seared Scallops with bacon drizzle, wilted baby spinach and risotto.

Lobster Ravioli: House-made diced lobster filled ravioli with a lobster cream sauce, lump crab meat and shoe string vegetables. (See the image at top.)

Blackened Shrimp: Seasoned jumbo shrimp topped with a roasted red pepper sauce with asparagus and creamy shrimp grits. Yes.  Grits!

We never made it to the chicken or steaks, but did have tastes of desserts: Vanilla bean brulee and a chocolate chip/banana bread pudding. The house cut filet Mignon and the NY strip au poivre were given high marks by other diners.

That was a lot of food, even in small portions, and rich too. Everything was amazing and perfectly seasoned.  I hate having to add pepper or salt to dishes and this made the 3 of us happily wide-eyed and satisfied.

My dinner companions are also good cooks and the new chef was delighted to sit and answer as we peppered (no pun intended) him with questions and offered our take on all the dishes we sampled.  I think this will be a winner, especially for the Lewes residents.

I drove home feeling pleasantly full, but not stuffed.  The cream sauce was rich, but light and everything made my mouth happy and sat lightly in my stomach.  It was nice to have a night out and to enjoy the company Sam & Joyce, two of my favourite customers. 

I really need to do this sort of thing more often. 


And so it goes.
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Classic Building Moves on to a New Life

Workers from East Coast Structural Movers take the first tentative steps off the lot with the Jane and Georgie building. (Photo by: Ryan Mavity)

This sort of thing happens periodically here on the Delaware shore.  Old and historic buildings, formerly homes, are (sometimes) not demolished, but moved to new locations and new lives.  There's a lot of planning and delicate work involved, but the results are worth the effort. After all, a dwelling that has survived the Atlantic Ocean weather for over 100 years, is worth saving and passing on to new owners. My tiny street has quite a few of these bungalows, many still passed down through several generations and they are a joy to all.

This little gem had recently been a retail boutique and will soon become, once again, a family home. From our local newspaper, The Cape Gazette: 

Rehoboth Beach —
It’s not often that buildings get police escorts.
In a little less than two hours, Jane and Georgie in Rehoboth Beach made its trek from 419 Rehoboth Ave. to its new home on Burton Street in West Rehoboth.
East Coast Structural Movers, under the supervision of driver John Davidson, began moving the store around 8:45 a.m. Feb. 19. From there, the store went around the circle and down Rehoboth Avenue Extended, where it ran a gauntlet of electrical and telephone wires, lifted as the truck came through by crews from Verizon and Delmarva Power. To assist the move, Rehoboth Beach Police and Delaware State Police temporarily blocked off Rehoboth Avenue Extended to traffic.
The building, which traces its origins to 1901, will be converted into an affordable, single-family house. It is one of five relocated homes the Coalition for West Rehoboth hopes to bring to a neighborhood that traces its roots back to the post-Civil War era.
Kevin McKinney, project manager for the Coalition for West Rehoboth, said, “It’s such a great thing to be able to provide decent housing for someone. The fact that this is a historic house, going into a historic neighborhood - it’s really the perfect place for it.”
McKinney said five families have applied to live in the house, and the coalition is reviewing those applications with an eye on selecting a family at the end of the month. The coalition still needs $25,000 to build the foundation for the house, and McKinney said East Coast might donate the foundation. He said enough money has been raised for the sewer connection, although more is still needed for the water connection and renovations.
“It needs a new kitchen; it needs a bathroom done. There’s no kitchen in it at all,” McKinney said. He added that he hopes the home will be ready for occupation by the end of spring.
Kate Chambers, co-owner of Jane and Georgie with sister Lisa, said, “It’s exciting and sad. I’m excited that it's finally moving day, but I’m kind of sad to see it go. It was more upsetting when I saw them coming in and tearing it all apart to get it ready.”
Jane and Georgie plans to build a new store at the now-vacant lot, but the plans have been slowed by delays in getting permits.
“I’m hoping it could be March, but it could be April,” Chambers said.
Still, she is glad the old building did not get demolished.
“That would have been a horrible sight,” Chambers said. “Worse than seeing it get moved. It’s such a cute little building. I want to see it once they get it all set.”

Go to the link above for more photos and videos of the moving.

And so it goes.
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Caturday Plot

And now you know.

More later.
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The Church Fashion Show

As the Cardinals gather in Rome to select a new Pontiff, I couldn't help thinking about this scene from Fellini's Roma. The Nino Rota musical score is a delight.  Fellini got a lot of grief from the church about this scene, but it remained in the final film.  To my sick mind, it is genius.
Enjoy.

And so it goes.
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It's Suppertime!

I can't stop laughing.  Really and truly. This is for all my googie-loving blog buddies out there.

BTW, sounds like the world is coming to an end here.  Winds topping 60mph all afternoon..  Jeez!

And so it goes.
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Barbara Cook Was On My Gay Agenda Tonight

 If this number doesn't lift your spirits after a bad day you may want to crawl into a hole and die.

I saw her introduce this at Carnegie Hall when she made her come back. I was in the front row, center and I had quite a few out-of-body experiences that night.

She is one of a kind and certainly made this day end on a high note. Oh, that marvelous voice.

And so it goes.
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Not the Best of Days...

Couldn't find the office of the Orthopedist I was to see this morning, although I left early and followed the vague directions of the office assistant who called to verify the appointment.

Couldn't find the street (some are not marked) or a sign displaying the name of the Medical Association. Drove around and around the entire area but to no avail. Called the office only to receive a recorded message and various options, but none for leaving a message.  I called THREE times from parking lots of various medical groups (there are many here) only to receive the same message.  No one, not a single human, answered the phone there.

Forty minutes later and unable to find the complex, I drove back home frustrated and in pain, of course. Called again from home hoping to get a breathing person, but no, the same recording offering the same  options.  No, I am not a physician, nor a pharmacy.  Don't need a prescription refilled, and this isn't an emergency.It is a fu*king evaluation appointment. Where is that option?

I can't wait until they call to ask why I missed the appointment. IF they call, that is.

Then the mail arrived with yet another missive from the SSA.  More confusion, juggled numbers, arbitrary dates that contradict one another. I just shook my head and put the letter in the file folder with all the other confused and contradictory correspondence received since 2011.

I put all that money into the system these many years and now they are doing everything they can to deny my right to it.

No more jumping through hoops or trying to make sense of their explanation gibberish and excuses. I'm over it.  Done. Whatever is deposited, well fine. Whatever isn't, that's fine, too.  I am completely worn down, exhausted.

Fuggetaboutit! It may not be 5 o'clock yet, but it is somewhere and I am ready for a cocktail.  Cheers, anyway!

And so it goes.
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UPDATE: Went to the CU website to download and print the February banking statement and discovered that $197.00 had been (magically, and mysteriously) deposited this morning by (any guesses?)  YES, the SSA!!!
The mind.  It boggles.

I've had an ear-worm all day and I am going to listen to Miss Barbara Cook as I enjoy the festive!

Teabaggers vs. Jefferson

I couldn't pass this one up.This is what we are up against.  The Teabaggeristan loonies:

If these people were educated at home, that needs a serious looking-into.

And so it goes.
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Chocolate Weekend. Sweet!

Obviously I haven't created a personal post in days, due in part, to the back pain that made it difficult to put more than two thoughts together without sounding like a blithering magpie. I have a new prescription for Flexeril and it is helping.  Only just. Anyway, I am still here and vertical, at least for the next hour or two.

Today was the annual RB Chocolate Festival where Chocoholics gather to show off and display their best recipes. This is a big deal here. Literally thousands of people line up and shell out  $2. to get in to sample the goodies.

The creators include chefs, moms, dads, and even kids as young of 12!  No joke.  This is some serious Chocolate-Lovin' stuff here. In my previous life I was a participating judge in 4 Festivals.  The judging is done in the early morning before the doors open to the public, so the winners are already known to those coming in to taste to goods. The weather was mild and partly cloudy so a very good day to stand in long lines to get in.  And cue up, they did.

Of course with so many people in town, the restaurant was busy all day. At times there was a half-hour wait for a table. Over 200 diners were served between 11:30 am and 4 pm. Many regulars come to town for the  Festival, but spent quality time with us dining or at the bar.  Fun times.

By the time I left the restaurant was no longer accepting reservations for tonight.  Full house in March is a rare and very good thing.  I left immediately when my shift ended as the place began to fill up for the evening. I was tired and the back pain was increasing by the minute.

I look forward to a quiet supper accompanied by a couple of olives before I turn in. The locosguys want to do some staff juggling and asked my opinion on a few people filling a variety of new positions. I will think about this and offer suggestions (or ask more questions) tomorrow, when we are not quite so busy. I have not been asked for input of this nature before.  Interesting.

In other good news, my payroll receipt showed a small raise in my hourly pay. A welcome surprise, especially during this time of turmoil on the national level. I feel very blessed, indeed. Just one reason to enjoy a couple of olives and celebrate.

Now, if I could alleviate this back pain the world would be a happier place for me. I just have to make it to Tuesday's appt. with the Orthopedist to find out what is next for me.

And so it goes.
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Caturday Snark

I think this is aimed at the US Congress, but I could be wrong.

More later.
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