Just need to talk to my friends (210)

@Carl46

I find it's best to order whatever a region is known for when I'm out. There's great food to be found if one keeps an open mind. When DH and I visited his family in Indianapolis that meant tenderloin sandwiches, John's stew or Steak'n'Shake. When we visit his brother in SC, it means seafood, BBQ and the golfer's special diner breakfast.

Alas, my in-laws sometimes want to show off. Last time I was in Dirty Myrtle, we made a plan to go out for burgers and BBQ at a bar my nephew recommended for their Bourbon selection (he's a buyer and sommelier) and craft beer selection. When I got back from the beach, my SIL (bless her heart) had changed the plan. The boys had been going on about how good the corned beef was at Carnegie Deli in Manhattan and SIL took it on herself to sell them on the local deli claiming it was "just as good". I wasn't happy about this turn of events, but I went along hoping it wouldn't be too bad. I ordered a hot dog figuring they couldn't screw that up too badly. SIL insisted DH get the corned beef— it came on Wonder Bread.

For when you just need a taste of home.

HB

My sister update…she has a broken nose. I really only posted the incident to remind people that we all need to think safety whether it be from a fall or an intruder. She has only a land line and a flip phone which is in a drawer somewhere. She refuses to even get a medical alert.

Ant alert…they did find a new way to get in

I do not watch sports but still glad when OU has a win.

Toaster oven could be in my future. Please let us know how you like the Breville.

Good morning

I hope everyone is having a good Monday! We've got full sun, which is nice (it rained yesterday). Temps are only in the high 60s right now, if we're lucky we'll get to 71 today. Still, quite pleasant, but fall is definitely here. Lots of trees are turning, it's very pretty out.

About mail collections, etc. - For many, many years, I've always taken my mail to the post office and mailed everything from there. When we lived in SF, mail carriers would put the mail in our mail slot in the door, which was great, but we don't have that now. Now our mail box is across the street. The UPS store (walking distance) has just opened up mailboxes at that location, so I'm considering getting a mail box there instead of having mail delivered at home. Almost all of our bills are done electronically as well. I still write the occasional check (and do what you guys do), but checks are rare these days. I think mail fraud will always be with us, but we do the best we can.

HB - when I did my annual exam last year, I opted for the whole Tdap suite. I was due for a tetanus shot anyway, and was starting to worry about vaccine availability, so I just took care of it all while I could.

Judith - that's terrible about your sister! Really, really scary. I'm glad she didn't have more serious injuries.

Carl and HB - I might be one of those weird Californians, food wise. Years ago my s.o., who's from New Jersey, took me to the Carnegie Deli (which was overwhelming). It might have been my first trip to New York … Anyway, we're looking at the menu, and I did not see wheat bread as an option for any sandwich. My s.o. said to me "don't order avocado and cheese on wheat bread, because they won't have it. Rye bread is the default." Instead, when the server arrived, I asked "what's good?" and my s.o. was mortified. He told me that they'd now know we were tourists. Then they brought us mayo, which he informed me was the mark of a tourist table. 😄 We both laugh about it now, but he's still mortified.

Grits are a no go for me (that texture is way too much) - and they come with everything in Charleston.

JeriLynn - My grandmother always said that people who travel a lot have "itchy feet", which she meant as a good thing. Looking forward to seeing your travel photos!

I don’t know what to say about corned beef on Wonder Bread … or whole wheat… or with mayo, except… Oy. Food tastes are definitely regional, though. In Detroit, where I’m from, one of the local delicacies is called a Coney dog. It is a natural-casing pork hot dog covered with floury, beanless chili, bright yellow French’ s mustard and enough raw chopped onion to ruin your breath for a day. They are messy and delicious, and eaten strictly out of hand. Using a knife and fork is a sure sign you’re a tourist.

Then I came to New York and realized that the hotdog you get at Coney Island is nothing like it. It is an all-beef frank with that awful brown mustard and a big dollop of sauerkraut. Go figure. Delicious, but not the Coney Island I grew up with.

It is cool and pleasant here today, and the last dry day of the next five. It is UN week, and the leaders of almost 200 countries are in town. The gridlock is so bad they are telling everyone to stay home.

Judith, what happened to your sister is terrible. That is truly frightening. I hope she will recover well and completely.

GG, I take my mail to the post office, too. My next-door neighbor, who runs her own business, had a big problem with check washing in two different states. I write all my checks with a fine-tipped gel ink pen.

Carl, I like grits. I don’t get them often here. Polenta in Italian restaurants, yes.

And HB, sorry your special dinner out was such a bust. I am also wondering where your friend finds orange male cats with sweet dispositions. I have lived with cats for almost 50 years. They have all been male, and most of them were gray. Four years ago, I brought home my first ginger. He is a tiny orange hellboy; it is like living with a very small lion. He adored my husband, and truly mourned his passing. I love him dearly, but he is a handful. He terrorizes his brother. Did you know that 90 percent of all orange cats are male? Something about the way the genes align…

Anyway, everybody

meet Birdy!

Iris - it's good to see you, and like Lorita said, "slow and easy."

I'm loving seeing Birdy and Oliver Kitty. Birdy does not look like a hellboy - he has such a sweet face. However - I've had cats most of my life, and I've seen the inner hellboy of even the sweetest cats, so yeah … And Oliver Kitty … an elder kitty who still looks very alert.

As I was catching up on the news tonight, I saw that Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" was released 50 years ago this week. Way to make me feel old! I love that album - and most other things by Pink Floyd.

Good morning. It's overcast at the moment, but we're supposed to have sunny skies later.

Judith— That must've been terribly traumatic for your sister especially given the time it took first responders to come to her aid.

Jerilynn— You sound like my mom's old neighbors. After the wife was treated for breast cancer, they sold their home and RVed around the country for 10 years before she decided she wanted a real home again. They loved it but it sounds like torture to me. Is Oliver doing better?

Lorita— I use an ultra fine Sharpie or gel pen which are difficult to "wash" chemically. Plus, I use safety enhanced checks. I also use an RFID wallet for cards I carry all the time to avoid electronic pickpocketing.

Mint— I think this is a generational thing. My DS would grab a bite sooner than eat something — that's free— I made. He's fussy and wants instant gratification. He joined us last night for pizza. He signaled his desire to eat sooner rather than later by laying the table.

Gothic G— Prior to switching to my current PCP, I was relying on the nurse at scout camp to remind me about tetanus boosters. That mayo on the side was some serious shade cast your way.

Tigersmom— I hear the gridlock is next level at the moment. The inconvenience doesn't seem to have much of a payoff given how little is likely to be accomplished.

I hear the reason the orange boys are so "orange" is that the rare orange girls got all the brain cells apart from the single one the boys share among themselves. These are my friend's boys; the smaller is a darling but his adopted brother is very skittish to the point I have only caught flashes of orange blur if I surprise him. Friend can't touch him unless he's sleeping with his brother. She was trying to dry that sweater.

It seems like New York should be considered the original Coney Island Dog. My favorite iteration of said tube steak are the ones in Scranton PA. They're served on what I would call a hamburger bun— split, griddled, Dusseldorf mustard and raw onions. Nothing like Nathan's but oddly addictive.

Iris— I'm glad you're up and about.

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DH doesn't know it yet, but he's probably going to Costco today. I'm out of all manner of random things like yeast, instant coffee, cereal, grapes, and taco seasoning. I'd rather go alone and look at all the things, but I am banned from heavy lifting lest I rupture my flexor tendon.

Be safe out there today.
HB

That's weird - I clearly wrote that post yesterday and I just showed up.

Morning all.

Interesting about what you use to write checks. Yesterday I realized I needed to order checks. The check I usually order (alumni checks) weren't available. So I opted for security checks. When you order those, they encourage you to use their special ink pen. This is all through the bank so I figured they knew what they were talking about. My wallet is RFID to protect my credit cards. I at least want to make it harder for the bad guys to try and get the numbers.

Iris I'm glad your back. Don't be overwhelmed, we just missed you.

Heat index yesterday & today is 112. Too hot for the end of Sept. Enough for now. Let's hope this posts!! Let's be safe everyone.

Good morning. Having Covid, then the assassination and its aftermath have taken a lot out of me. Then there are numerous small happenings that ordinarily wouldn't bother me too much, but they coalesced to a big ball of botherings, if I can make up my own word. Meaning, a lot of things are bothering me. That's what has been going on with me. Like Lorita and GG said, I will take things slow and easy.

I had one orange cat, I named him Gold Nugget.

HB, your friend's cats: mommy, thanks for putting out this soft blue mat for us to sleep on! When I used to have scattered rugs, my cats always thought those were their special napping spots.

Judith, how awful for your sister! Was the man arrested and jailed? Was he from the neighborhood? I hope she can get over the shock and sense of vulnerability. I hope she is healing physically.

Is Zetta traveling now? What a lovely fur family!

JeriLynn, enjoy your trip!

Iris