Free Day

For the first time in recent memory I actually slept in until 11 am today.  Unheard-of for me. Had made a couple of lists of possible things to do and places to visit, but ultimately, following a brief time on the beach as people enjoyed lunch on the benches by the ocean, I returned to the apartment, read a few blogs, ran a load of laundry, and found yet another box of sweaters in the deepest recesses of the closet. (Maybe if I keep going back I'll eventually be welcomed to Narnia.) These were vacuum-sealed many years a go, so I don’t know what to expect. 

I’ll break the seal and let them expand overnight. I have no idea what to expect or what sweaters these might be. Meanwhile, I’ve been thinking about a new book to read. Finished the London Blitz Diary last night.  Quite good, that. Yes, I know we were subjected to quite severe rationing in this country, but at least we weren’t bombed daily or nightly for over a year.  I don’t know how they remained calm, let alone sane, when at any moment your home could be brought down upon your head.

There are a few other books waiting in the wings: the 2nd. in The Magicians trilogy, a diary of a road trip through India, another historic novel of the year leading to the Civil War 1860-61, and a bio of Nikola Tesla. 

I don’t know which I will begin this evening, but it will likely be one of these. Unless they fail to turn me on, then it’s time for an online search. I am always tempted to re-read something from my past to see if it holds up.  Usually it does, but I’m hoping to discover new writers who give me characters I can identify with and writing that holds my attention.

The body is sore from neck to thighs, but feeling rested, and the quiet is good for me today. It looks like the pre-school has moved out, so that’s another plus. No squealing kiddies to annoy the neighbors, or myself.  A very good thing, if it remains true.

I think I’ll indulge myself this evening with a Sazerac cocktail before supper. I can’t remember the last time I had one - maybe it was on the NOLA trip a year ago this week. That ought to make a difference in my soreness and level of pain.

And so it goes.

Just a Thought: Oysters

Closer to Heaven than you can even imagine.

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Forty Days: I Will Be In New Orleans

Beignets,  Po-Boys, Oysters Bienville, Friends, Étouffée, Oysters Rockefeller, The sister, Escargot, Sazerac Cocktail, and a Pimm's Cup at the Napoleon House for old times sake.

To make a point about the ever-changing, yet never-changing city of my birth I offer these two images:

Milk-cart on Esplanade Ave. 1903

Same Milk-cart image superimposed  into a recent shot of the same scene.

These images were just sent to me and I must say they (and all the others) made me feel much better and lifted my spirits.  Something to look forward to, indeed.

More later.

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St. Patrick, Queen Victoria & a Sazerac Cocktail

St. Patrick's Weekend is over (thanks be to G*d!) and we're none the worse for the experience.  This little beach town boasted a forecast (forecast, mind you) of sunny skies, light breezes, and temperatures in the low 70s F. Never happened.

Oh sure, I walked to work Thursday morning under sunny skies and a morning temp around 62' F. By 11 o'clock a mist rolled in off the Atlantic, the sky grew dark and within an hour the temperature dropped 20' F.  No joke.

By 2 pm the winds kicked up and there was a heavy downpour lasting until the end of my shift at 4.  All this time the Weather Channel is touting "sunny skies and a temperature of 72' in Rehoboth Beach." Again, no joke.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday brought more mist, fog, and less than comfortable temperatures. Of course the heat was on at the restaurant; I even had to turn it on at home when I arrived at a cold, damp 54' apartment.  Brrr!

The restaurant was not as busy as in past years, but I think the weather did us in. Still, the usual crazies in costumes, shamrock hats and beads, and swilling green beer began their pub-crawl early on Saturday.  Pulling on the front door at 10 am, already 3 sheets to the wind, and whining because we didn't open until 11:30 - a-whole-hour-and-a-half.

Don't know where their launch pad was, but I have my suspicions. Thankfully, all our drunks arrived later and were in a happy mood. I find it harder and harder to deal with obnoxious drunks anymore, so this was a plus for us all.  As my shift was ending, a party of 13 lesbians burst into the place and virtually took over the hi-tops in the bar.  They sang as they placed shamrock stickies on all faces within arm range. Dressed in green velvet coats with green top hats and green carnations, they had a great time. 

As I enjoyed my AS cocktail, I received a shamrock sticker on my cheek, and more than a few kisses from the gang.  It was fun. No green beer for me; had a Bombay Sapphire with olives and after making rounds of tables of regulars, headed home to a quiet evening and supper.

Sunday saw a busy lunch with many diners nursing hangovers (welcome to vomit city!) and opting for lighter American dishes - and Margaritas - before the drive back to DC, PA, or NJ. A rather quiet, subdued group to say the least. A most welcome turn of events, IMHO.

At home last night I made a Sazerac and listened to some light jazz as my dinner cooked.  Took a hot shower and upon hitting the sheets remember nothing until this morning. 

The sun finally made an appearance, so I knew it was going to be a good day...and I was right. Took a walk on the beach before work. Wonderful. Nice lunch crowd and the new server is working out very well. He's young, bright, and from Mexico City.  Unfortunately, today was his 22nd. Birthday, so he got the full treatment** - from the kitchen & wait staff, and the doslocosguys.  He was stunned at first, but got into the moment pretty quickly. He has no family here and no girlfriend, and was overwhelmed by the outpouring of friendship and love.

**The full treatment: It can be humiliation; a sombrero is placed on the head, a cake with candles is presented (pictures are taken by friends and family) as an animated rabbit sings "They Say it's Your Birthday" by the Beatles, then the staff sings the traditional "Happy Birthday" as we rattle noisemakers and make a general racket unto the Lord, to the horror of the birthday person.  Lots of fun.

Have the next 2 days off and have a few fun ideas if the weather cooperates and I get the chores out of the way tomorrow. We shall see. No matter, I am grateful for the time off to relax and recharge.

And so it goes.
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A Taste For Absinthe - 6 New Cocktails to Try at Home

There are links, photos, and recipes at the link below. A buddy at the liquor store pointed this out to me, so I thought I'd share...

After a century-long ban in the U.S., the federal government gave absinthe a semi-green light in 2007, and the anise-flavored liquor is making its way into cocktails from some of the most talented mixologists around the country. Many of these magical concoctions can be found in the new book, A Taste For Absinthe, from R. Winston Guthrie, the man behind AbsintheBuyersGuide.com. In addition to 65 cocktail recipes making use of the myriad absinthes now available to us, A Taste For Absinthe also features a comprehensive buyer's guide for absinthe purchasing, insight from leading cocktail experts, and magnificent photographs from Liza Gershman.

The publishers of A Taste for Absinthe were kind enough to share six complete cocktail recipes from the book, with Gershman's corresponding photographs. From new takes on classic absinthe uses like the Sazerac and the Death in the Afternoon to wholly original creations like The Hobnob and the L'arc de Triomphe, flip through the cocktails and their recipes at the link below.

A Taste for Absinthe

Just in time for the holidays! Enjoy.

An interesting day.  More later.