Here is yours truly, Wednesday morning at 9:30 am and on my way out the door. I was catching a bus to the Senior Center (my first time there since last September) for an hour's visit and then to Sewickley, to have lunch with the old crew at an establishment known as The Hotel.
It was so awesome seeing Bridget (one of the ladies who works at the center) and "Pat in the Hat", an 86 year old regular slash volunteer who hugged me and couldn't have been nicer. As glad as I was to be there however, I was surprised how quiet it was. I only saw the handful of people that were going on the lunch outing.
Unfortunately, the friends I am closest to--Melvin, Gerri, Deb, Mary & Evvie--were all no-shows, darn it.
I was glad when "Paul the Playboy" walked in though, and soon after Dennis too, who couldn't have been funnier or nicer.
Anyway, there's not a lot to tell--we got to the bar/restaurant (more bar than restaurant) and sat at some pretty sticky tables for some burgers and overpriced pickled tacos. I am not complaining though, I was glad to get out and be with friends again, for the first time in months.
The Sewickley Hotel is no hotel. It's a lounge, a bar. (But in a pretty hoity toity neighborhood.)
After they took our orders, Dennis high-tailed it out of there to check out the liquor store nearby. He returned with a 1.75 liter bottle of Jack Daniels Honey Whiskey. I guess some things never change!
Here was Pearl's order, a large Navajo frybread with shrimp toppings. I wanted this too, but there were only a couple left and Pearl bought both (one to take home for her daughter who lives with her).
When I was on my way to the men's room I came across this wall of Native American chiefs and headdresses. I was really tempted to try one of those on!
Finally, on the way home, Dennis (who was pretty soused from his double Bloody Mary and Alabama Slammers) was incensed that the bar cut him off. He slurred "I'm glad we went there Doug, but whoever heard of a bar turning down business from a paying customer? We won't be coming back!" Speak for yourself, Dennis!
Yes he drinks his share, but has a heart of gold and I enjoyed spending time with him. The End!
I am so glad you got out with your friends. Doesn't matter where you went or what you ate, it was the companionship that will do your body and soul good. Hoping you can do this on a weekly basis.
ReplyDeleteThanks dkzody--unfortunately, they only do a restaurant outing once a month. (They do casino trips too, but those aren't for me.) But once the weather cools, I will try to get back to the center weekly.
DeleteWhat an excellent outing, in spite of missing some friends! I like going out to try dishes I would never make at home; is that your philosophy too? I loved the photos and that you got to socialize with your group!
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret! And yes you're exactly right. They had a whole list of burgers I wanted, but thought I should try something new while I had the opportunity. And it was still a fun group. 🙂
DeleteI thought of you several times yesterday hoping you got to go out and have some fun. Thanks for letting us know you made it. Dennis sounds like quite the party animal!😁
ReplyDeleteBobi you are sweet, thank you. To be honest, I was stressing a bit when I took that selfie at the top, but things eased up a lot when I got there. And yes, yes! Dennis is a party animal alright! 😄
DeleteHi Doug,
ReplyDeleteI'm happy you went on your outing with your buddies. The food looks delicious - Pearl's dish reminds me of the Indian tacos I had at The Pow Wow Cafe, an Indigenous run eatery here. Unfortunately, the restaurant closed a few years ago. I love Dennis' snazzy shirt. He's quite a character.
I think you look fine in that selfie. Wish I could look that good on my passport photos.
Steve from Toronto
Hi Steve, thanks so much for your nice comments here. I hope you're okay, saw the Toronto news this morning (regarding the wildfires) and thought of you. Pittsburgh is covered in a white haze. Anyway, Pow Wow Cafe--I love it. :^) I'm glad you liked Dennis shirt, the next time I see him I will let him know. He is a character! He about did a somersault yesterday when a young woman in spandex passed us outside the restaurant! And thanks Steve, for the kind selfie remark. But I was posing by my window where the good light is. :^)
DeleteI had a feeling you'd get some of the fallout from our forest fires up north. Yesterday when I stepped out for my morning coffee, I was amazed at the view. That Nat King Cole song "Orange Colored Sky" crept into my head. Today I took precautions and wore a mask.
DeleteSteve
That's a great song, love me some Nat King Cole. 🙂 Darn it Steve, I need to find my covid masks.
DeleteSounds like a fun time was had by all! So glad you were able to go, Doug. You look so good in your photo! Hoping that you are feeling as good as you look! Kimba
ReplyDeleteYou are very kind, thank you Swimba-Kimba! It was so nice to see some friendly faces, such a great group of people. And thank you for the kind remarks about my photo, it's all about the lighting lol.
DeleteI remember having Navajo frybread in New Mexico – it was so good, it didn’t need any accompaniment. We had it several times. Yum.
ReplyDeleteI like shredded beef tacos, but I don’t know about pickled cabbage with it. I guess I’m a bit of a traditionalist in that regard.
I hope that bottle that Dennis bought was for taking home. 1.76 litres is an awful lot of honey whiskey (whatever that is – I’ve never heard of it – honey whiskey, I know Jack Daniels).
But then, I’m exclusively a wine drinker, I don’t particularly like spirits (or beer – I’m a bad Australian).
It’s good that some of your friends were there, pity about the others missing. Perhaps your column will tempt them next time.
Thanks Peter, and agreed about the frybread, it's best plain. I still wanted to try that special though. And yes, haha--Dennis took that giant bottle home. I never saw that large a whiskey bottle! He paid $55USD for it, which seemed reasonable. And I do hope the others are encouraged to come next time. 🙂
DeleteHi Dug! Great that you were able to attend the outing yesterday! I know it would have been even better if the friends you are closer to were there, but sounds like it was still fun. Did you let them know you were planning to attend? Anyway, the food looks good... not sure the place looked that inviting... but I know it was good for you to get out. Maybe you can get to the Senior Center soon and see everyone (and have lunch there?) We're fine here. Hill country having lots of flooding, but outside of roads closed, daughters family and place is OK.
ReplyDeleteRian, I am very glad to hear from you. I was watching the news a little bit ago and saw all that flooding in Texas! I'm glad things are okay for you and your family! Thanks for the sweet message here, yes I had to let them know a couple weeks in advance I wanted to go so they can reserve the right amount of transport from Access. And what you said here is right on target. I was just glad to get out for a couple hours and be with good people more than anything. 🙂
DeleteGlad you made it back out Doug! I like your picture, blue is your color. Was the man with the blue glasses part of your lunch group? He doesn't look too happy. Dennis does though! Happy to see you out and hope Evvie is well. Tom says hello.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy! And you're very kind, but I think dark blue is eveeryone's color :^) As for the dude in the cool blue glasses, he was just an annoyed passerby, suddenly confronted by a dozen senior citizens in his way. I wish Evvie could've been there too, but she is dealing with some health issues right now... it didn't seem the same without her. Please tell Tom I said hi.
DeleteSo glad you were able to go on the restaurant outing!! It would have been even better with more of your friends - but just leaving the house and going somewhere new is the first step to getting back to life. Pearl's tacos do look fabulous. I'm sorry they ran out. And your tacos did look fresh if a little different. But it is fun to try new things even if you wouldn't order again. Your guy friends are a hoot!! I hope you can go with the group again next month. And I hope you are feeling better and better.
ReplyDeleteThank you Miss Merry! And what you said, I couldn't have said it better myself. I very much wish more of my friends were there but I was just glad to be out and about with good people. (I kept telling myself when they brought me those pickled purple tacos, haha.) I sure hope I can go out with them next month too, thanks again Miss M. :^)
DeleteI’m glad you went out! Sounds like a nice place! Our group went to a pizza place last night. I couldn’t make it bc I overdid something at the center on Friday, and here it is Sunday and Im still dealing with the after affects. I have to adjust my center hours to the quieter times. I saw the ear specialist and it’s not fluid in my ear, but muscular problems from the surgery position and the cutting behind my ear. I also grind my teeth and hadn’t been wearing my night guard. So basically I have to wait it out. Ugh! Anyway, I hope you are still feeling well. 🙂. Joyce
ReplyDeleteThanks Joyce, and I'm glad to hear from you but sorry you couldn't make it out to the pizza place. The ear stuff doesn’t pleasant but at least you have some answers. It's interesting what you wrote here... since this outing of my own, I seem to have taken a couple steps back. Can't seem to get my LC issues to calm down. Oh well, hang in there Joyce. 🙂
DeleteHi Doug, glad you were able to make it out for the senior centre outing.Sorry some of your good friends weren’t there. I have never heard of tacos with purple cabbage! I see in your reply to Joyce’s comment that your LC is rearing its ugly head again. Goodness, it is never ending. Take care Doug.❤️
ReplyDeleteThank you Robin, and I am glad to hear from you. Are you & Chuck doing okay with all those wildfires? As for the tacos, haha--agreed, never heard of purple cabbage either (and don't plan on ordering them again). But it was nice to get out and see some friendly faces, and yes about the setback darn it... just hoping it doesn't last. You take care too my friend. ❤️
DeleteHi Doug, we had three days of very smoky skies. Couldn’t really be outside at all. Today we finally woke up to blue skies and sunshine. Can’t even imagine how bad it is north west of here. Talk soon!❤️
DeleteNothing like being with a drunkard. I can’t stand people who reek of booze. Gigi Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteGigi I can't stand people who reek of booze either, but Dennis is a sweet guy with a good heart. He just gets a little loud when he drinks! :^)
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