Breathing Retro Life Into The West End Of A Miracle Mile

Miracle Mile in Tucson, Arizona has had quite a history.  Its heyday was in the forties and fifties, with motor lodges and small hotels lining the street.  Many of them are still there.  And the retro signs are still intact. 

Then it became the area where you could find drugs and hookers, and one of the busiest strip clubs in town, TD's Showclub, which is still there.  The area is still a bit too seedy for my liking, but one block over is where we take our truck for repair when we're home and this was one of those times.  There are several industrial businesses in the area and Miracle Mile itself is busy because it's where you enter and exit Interstate-10.

Just up the street from the shop is a breakfast place that Ed's been to several time - the first time, he walked there from the repair shop.  It's under new ownership now and I joined him for breakfast today.  It's called the Breakfast Club and Café and looks completely different - inside and out according to Ed.

The original place used to look like what my grandfather would call a "greasy spoon".  Not very inviting.  But that has changed.  It's gone retro.

They repainted the entire place, added pinup style artwork to the walls, and put in two garage doors in front which take the place of the two small windows that were there.

They added a pergola and palm trees out in front, with plenty of additional seating.  The doors were open when we were having breakfast and the constant traffic wasn't at all distracting or bothersome.

The place was spotless.  The staff was super-friendly.  I even talked to the owner's son for a few minutes.  And the most important part - the food was great.  Everything is made from scratch and their menu definitely has something for everyone. 

Ed had the Macedonian French-Style Omelet - Crumbled Jimmy Dean Sausage, Fresh Spinach, Mushrooms, Onions, Sliced Kalamata Olives & Feta Cheese.  Served with a side of their Café Home-Style Potatoes and Toast.  It was delicious.

I had Eggs with Biscuits & Gravy - Two Eggs (I had mine over-medium), with Home Made Biscuits covered in Home Made Sausage Gravy and Café Home-Style Potatoes.  I also ordered a side of crispy Applewood Smoked Center Cut Bacon. 

The potatoes were my favorite - big chunks, cooked like home fries on a grill.  There are lots of other items I'd like to try, starting with the Apple Banana Pecan Pancake.  Or maybe the French Toast Caramelized with Cinnamon Sugar.  Or the Breakfast Pizza.  Ooooh, or the Chicken Fried Heaven.  Yep, that's it.  I'm going to order me up some heaven.

They serve lunch also, but I think this is more of a breakfast place.  Check out the breakfast menu HERE. 

They don't have a website, but they haven't been open very long and maybe once it becomes more popular, they'll consider creating one.

Before we left, an elderly couple sat down and requested the garage door be closed.  It was nice having it open, but we still had a good view and finished our meal watching the cars drive by.

If it weren't for Ed, who is adventurous in areas like this - industrial, sometimes seedy, never a place I would even consider looking for a place to eat - I wouldn't have eaten here.

Thanks, Ed!

I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a good, quick breakfast.  I was told they are packed on the weekends so pick your times wisely.

If you're interested in going, they're located at 1423 W. Miracle Mile.  The phone number is 520.623.3380.

Enjoy!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: A Little Bit Of Wyoming
2011: A Franchophile’s Paradise
2010: 10 Things I Learned On My Vacation In Italy
2009: A Beautiful Deep Fried Pocket Of Cornmeal Dough. Or, My Mom.
2008: A Foxy Furry Little Friend
2007: The One That Got Away
2006: Don’t We All?
2005: Miss Singular

The Price Of Relaxing

Is $9.99, apparently. 

I haven't taken a I've never used a bath salt in my life.  Hell, I don't even know what they're really for.  Make the water softer?  Make your body cleaner?  Make bathing more relaxing?  Do people even take baths anymore? 

My life is already pretty relaxed, and in my off time I turn into an actual sloth,  so I don't really need any ideas on how to relax.  But maybe you do.  Here are 10 ways the internet suggests you relax.  Try one.

1.  Take a catnap.

2.  Sip Green Tea.

3.  Meditate.  This is a popular one.

4.  Breathe.  Not just regular breaths, but special breaths. 

5.  Take walks in nature.

6.  Get a massage.

7.  Exercise.  Yeah, whatever.

8.  Listen to music.

9.  Laugh.  My favorite.

10.  Kiss.  I would assume they don't mean just anyone.


So how do you relax?


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Our Tail Was Driving Triples
2011: Where There Is Smoke, There Is Not Always Fire
2010: Ella Ella Eh Eh Eh
2009: What’s All The Glee About?
2008: Connecting Over The Mystic River
2007: Randomly Weird
2006: Eddie Acts Like A Five Year Old Friday
2005: From Earth To Heaven

When A Pig Wraps Himself Around A Chicken Deliciousness Ensues

I saw this in a recent issue of People magazine and although I haven't made it yet - but will this week - I wanted to share it.  It looks soooo good.  I don't use prosciutto at all when I cook, but I think the saltiness of it with the mild shallot flavor of the creamy sauce will be just fantastic. 

Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken with Shallot Sauce

THE INGREDIENTS
8 oz. goat cheese, softened
4 (6-oz.) boned and skinned chicken breasts
1 Tbsp. fresh thyme leaves
20 (2x6in.) slices prosciutto
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2-3 shallots, thinly sliced
½ cup white wine
½ cup chicken broth
½ cup reduced-fat milk
1 Tbsp. flour
Sea Salt
Freshly ground black pepper

THE PROCESS
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cut lengthwise pocked in each breast.  Stuff goat cheese evenly in pockets.  Season breasts as desired with salt, pepper and thyme.  Wrap prosciutto evenly around breasts.

2.  Bake in a lightly greased 9x13-in. baking dish for 25 minutes or until thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 165 degrees and juices run clear.

3.  Cook shallots in hot oil in skillet over medium-low heat, stirring often, 2-3 minutes.  Add wine and broth, bring to a boil.

4.  Whisk together milk and flour; whisk into broth mixture.  Return mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, 8-10 minutes until sauce thickens. 

5.  Spoon sauce over chicken.  Sprinkle with additional pepper.

6.  Enjoy!

For a copy of the recipe to print out, click HERE.


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2012: Let The Stockpiling Begin
2011: From The Island To The Desert
2010: The Town I Was Dying To See
2009: Gleaming Curve
2008: Color Me Casual
2007: Eddie Goes Running Friday
2006: Forever Yours
2005: Home Away From Home

A Cozy Little Dinner With My Favorite Bird

Tonight I took Ed to a historic South Tucson restaurant - Mi Nidito - My Little Nest.  It's been around for over 60 years.  I haven't been here for at least 19.  It's a small place started by a couple who moved here from Sonora, Mexico.  The cuisine is typical Sonoran style Mexican food.

They've had several famous diners over the years - Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt (a Tucson native), Kurt Russell, Jimmy Smits, Beau Bridges, Rich Little, Sam Elliot, Julio and Enrique Iglesias, Madeline Albright, President Bill Clinton - in fact, there's a Presidential Booth with photos and a plaque on the wall commemorating his visit.

The Presidential Booth

There's nothing really special about the food - there are hundreds of Mexican restaurants in Tucson, so it's kind of hard to pick one over the other when they all serve generally the same thing - but it is very good.  The Chile Relleno (Ed's favorite) was delicious and the Birria (shredded beef - my favorite) Taco was extremely flavorful.  We both had the President's Plate - the same one Bill Clinton had when he was there in 1999.

We've knocked another Tucson landmark off the list.  Well, this one isn't on the "official" list, but now that Ed's been there, I'm counting it as a bonus on his Tour of the Old Pueblo.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Western Winter Sky
2011: Men At Work
2010: Everyone Is NOT A Winner
2009: Text Me
2008: Going The Way Of Astatine*
2007: Picture Perfect Pilot
2006: Not Falling For Winter Yet
2005: I Miss You Already

The Best Sound Is Sometimes No Sound At All

Old Train Bridge in Columbia, NJ

With our schedule, and while we're working, there's no telling when I'll be up, driving, sleeping. It's all dictated by freight. Do we have to load early in the morning? Is it a team load? Do we have to be up to check in with a security gate?

That's my least favorite, having to check in with a guard somewhere.  Can't you just come out to the truck, look at me, look at my ID and let me go back to sleep?  Do I have to get dressed and come inside?  You're right there.  Just stick your head out.  And who would sneak in here anyway?

I like having no set schedule.  I know drivers who do shifts, driving generally the same hours all the time.  They have regularity.  I don't like doing that, I kinda like having different hours on different days.  

The hardest part comes when we're off for a few days or home for a few days - then we become regular.  Up during day hours - albeit, sometimes waking very late in the morning - and going to bed like regular people at night.  We get into a routine, which generally works, but then when we go back on the road, we're all screwed up.

I'm mostly a night owl, but I also like being up in the very early morning hours when no one else is around.  No TV, no talking, no one else breathing to ruin my silence.  Sometimes I even hate hearing the truck or generator running.  After we do a team run where the truck doesn't stop for say, two or three days straight, I can't wait to turn it off and hear nothing.  I feel instantly relaxed once the purr that usually puts me to sleep, ceases.

We're home now, and sleeping at night without the truck running is weird.  It's so quiet.  I slept with the window opened last night - it's very cool in the desert at night this time of year - and there's hardly anything that makes noise out here.  No crickets.  No neighborhood dogs.  Well, that's a good thing.

The sounds of silence.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: There's No Mistaking He Was The Guy In Charge
2011: The Final Curtain
2010: Happy Birthday From Agerola!
2009: You’ve Gotta Be A Good Fighter To Make It 88 Rounds
2008: Eddie Working In Paradise Friday
2007: 86 Going On 8
2006: A Fine Cargo Of Experiences And Memories
2005: 84

I Drive With A Soundtrack

My iphone, with all the tunes.

I listen to a lot of stuff while I'm driving - mostly podcasts and audiobooks, but I also listen to a lot of music.  I have over 2,000 songs on my iPhone.  I don't know how that happened.  I did burn a lot of the CDs I have, but I've also spent a lot of money on iTunes. 

Lately though, when I find a new song that I like, usually something I've heard on The Voice or a TV show soundtrack, I can usually find it free on the internet.  Free is good. 

Anyway, I was thinking the other night while I was driving, about how I like to play certain songs when I'm going through the places that are featured or mentioned in the song.

Here are ten songs I like and the locations they're connected to.  If you click the title of each song, it'll take you to a YouTube video for it (I didn't make the videos, just found them.  Don't hold it against me if you don't freakin' like them):

I Ain't In Checotah Anymore by Carrie Underwood
This song is about the place Carrie Underwood was raised.  She was born in Muskogee but raised in Checotah.  The first line of the song says, "Where 69 meets 40 there's a single stoplight town..."  And that's exactly where you'll find it - at Interstate 40 and State Route 69.  She also mentions Eufaula Lake in the song, which is the big lake just south of town.  Both are places I just drove through last week and I make sure to hit that song and say "Eufaula Lake" as I'm passing it!

Missing Missouri by Sara Evans
The chorus includes the line, "Where they love me, where they know me, where they show me back in Missouri..."  I love this because it refers to the state's motto - Missouri is the "Show Me" state.  So when she says "where they show me" I think it's a very clever lyric.  Country Singer Sara Evans was born and raised in Boonville, MO which is about 150 miles west of Saint Louis.  She lives in Nashville now.

Ellsworth by Rascal Flatts
I love this song.  It's about an elderly grandma who is losing her memory, but when you bring up grandpa, her husband, she remembers everything like it was yesterday.  The line, "Tomorrow she won't remember what she did today, but just ask her about Ellsworth, Kansas, 1948..." is the part that has the power to bring a tear to my eye.  Watch the video and follow along with the lyrics on the screen.  (That's for you Mom - since you never know "what they're saying" in the songs.)

Love Is The Key by LSD
I totally get into this beat.  "Blowin' hellachronic smoke..." There's a part in the song (2:33) where they say "West Coh-veena...where the shit goes down."  Every time I hear that, I think of cruising through West Covina, California, past the mall that sits right on I-10.  We've actually been to this mall. I remember it well as it's where I dropped $250 on M.A.C. cosmetics.  That was a great day. 

Allentown by Billy Joel
We've been to this town many times and I've written about it in the past.  It's a sad reminder of America's most famous steel town and our industrial past.  Good song.

Empire State of Mind by Jay_Z and Alicia Keys
The "concrete jungle where dreams are made of...there's nothing you can't do...these streets will make you feel brand new...the lights will inspire you..."  Of course, Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" is the all-time forever New York song, but this one is fresh and cool and has beats, baby.  I love to play this one when I'm crossing the George Washington Bridge, hoping it's clear enough so that when I look south toward Midtown Manhattan I can see the Empire State Building, and when Alicia Keys says to put "one hand in the air for the big city", you can bet I have my hand in the air.  Waving it for New York.

Funkin' For Jamaica by Tom Browne
This song PUMPS ME UP.  Jazz trumpeter Tom Browne kills this tune.  Wooooooooeeeeeeee!  Queens, New York representin' in this song.  It just makes me happy.  "Jamaican funk, that's what it is.  Let it get into you."  Love that line.  Tonni Smith is smooth when she sings that.  The funk is in me!  I feel it inside my soul.  The horns.  The beat.  The sooouuuul.  LOVE LOVE LOVE this song!  It's over 30 years old and it still makes me feel the same as I did when I first heard it in my late teens.

Sugarland by Sugarland
I love Jennifer Nettles, the singer of the music duo Sugarland.  I'm not sure if she's talking about Sugar Land, Texas in this song because she spells it all as one word, but every time I hear it I imagine this young teenage girl growing up in small town Texas.  The song starts with the lyrics, "Warm breeze blowin', long dirt road... First time that I saw him was such a long time ago... I was sixteen goin' on seventeen... Blue bonnet Texas queen fell in love with a rodeo king... Down in Sugarland."  It makes me wish I was a small town Texas teenage girl....well, for the duration of the song anyway.

El Paso by Marty Robbins
The first time I heard this song, someone sang it to me and replaced the name of the Mexican girl, Felina, with my name, Salena:  "Out in the West Texas town of El Paso...I fell in love with a Mexican girl...Night-time would find me in Rosa's cantina... Music would play and Felina would whirl..."  What a classic country and western song.  So country.  So western. 

Walking in Memphis by Marc Cohn
Your feet just gotta be ten feet off of Beale when you hear this song.  The ghost of Elvis, gospel in the air, Muriel playing the piano at The Hollywood (in 1986, Marc Cohn visited the Hollywood Cafe and was invited to sing Amazing Grace with Muriel. This encounter inspired him to write his hit song).  So good. 


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Who Doesn’t Love A Sunset?
2011: Personally Yours. But Not Mine.
2010: Sheltered Madonna And Child
2009: Breaking A Leg Doesn’t Always Mean Good Luck
2008: Showing Its True Colors, Even On The Cloudiest Day
2007: Priorities
2006: It’s All In The Cards
2005: A Blond Moment

Pick A Plate And Go

Ed took these shots at a place called Fast Lane Cars in St. Charles, Missouri.

 

There's a 1965 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible I'd love to own, and I saw another old Cadillac from the early seventies that reminded me of my grandfather's car.  I like that one too.

I'm totally going old school now.  I want a big boat.  Something that's heavy, feels solid, has a lot of power, and just glides quietly and majestically down the road.  Who cares if it gets six miles to the gallon? 

I'm used to that.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Just In Case You Were Wonderin'
2011: Life Is For Living
2010: These Sure Would Look Snazzy On The Feet Of A Trucker
2009: There’s No Whey In The Way Of This Delicious Treat
2008: O Canada!
2007: Ladies Night (And Day) Our
2006: The Queen Is Bleak
2005: Literacy In The South

Reaping The Harvest

Yesterday we were out driving around, looking at houses, running errands and getting the car washed when Ed decided he was suddenly hungry.  It always sort of happens like that.  We can be having a nice conversation, tooling along, when Ed blurts out, mid-sentence, "I gotta eat."

I hear those words and go into panic mode.  I said, "OK, well let me check Urban Spoon, see what's around here."  We've been wanting to try new places.  "Pull in over here so I can see what's in the area." I said.  Knowing that I had to find something quickly because when Ed gets hungry, he must eat immediately.  As in, the absolutely closest place that serves food.

"If I pull into this plaza, we're eating at whatever restaurant is there." he said.  Uh oh.  He must be famished.

"Uh, okay.  I don't know what's in here though, I can check..."

"No.  Whatever's here will be fine." he said.

We wound up at Harvest - a "a locally owned restaurant dedicated to local purveyors of fresh product".  Hmm.  Sounds good.

The place was beautiful.  We missed the Sunday Brunch crowd, and since most of the other patrons were dining on the patio (too warm and sunny for me), we basically had the restaurant to ourselves.  Can I just point out the lighting fixtures?

Upside down lamps.  How friggin' clever is that?  I love the idea.  I want to duplicate it somewhere.  Although you really need pretty high ceilings so people aren't bonking their heads on lampshades.  But will you just look at these?  Awesome.

The food was pretty awesome too.  I started with a bowl of Baked Seven Onion Soup - house-made stock, crispy crostini & gruyere cheese ($6.75).  I couldn't identify seven different types of onions - are there even seven different types of onions? - but it was delicious.  VERY hot, which is a must for soup, and not salty, which is usually the case with a French Onion soup.

For lunch I had the Braised Short Rib Sandwich - slow-roasted braised short rib, horseradish-Havarti cheese, oven-dried tomatoes, caramelized onions, short rib au jus on an artisan baguette ($9.75).  I chose the house-made cumin parsley fries for my side - thick wedges of potato, delicately seasoned.

Ed had the Cobb Grilled Cheese - all-natural pulled chicken, applewood bacon, locally grown tomato, avocado, hard boiled egg, queso Oaxaca, gorgonzola aioli served on multi-grain bread, toasted ($9.75).  He had sweet potato fries for his side. 

Both sandwiches were delicious but I really liked Ed's.  Each flavor really stood out independently but melded together so perfectly to make an oddly amazing sandwich.  We each had half of each other's sandwich and both commented on how the hard boiled egg, the bacon, the avocado...all stood out.  It was a messy mish-mash of a sandwich but very good.  And the short ribs were delicious too, tender and falling apart, but the Cobb Grilled Cheese was just different.  

We're trying to hit some different restaurants while we're home, instead of going to the same haunts.  This was a great find and after seeing their dinner menu (Gnocchi Chicken Scallopini!), I'm pretty sure we'll be going back. 

And today, for Veteran's Day, we'll be hitting whichever place honors Veterans by offering them a free meal.

That should cover two out of three meals for Ed!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: It Doesn't Take Much To Keep A Marine Happy
2011: It’s Not Just Time On A Digital Clock Display Anymore
2010: Roman Glow
2009: Let There Be A Lesson In The Words Of Mark Twin, Who Seems To Have A Handle On Who Is The Real Patrio
2008: Sometimes The Nights Just Fly By
2007: Who Thought Putting These Two Words Together Was A Good Idea?
2006: We Would All Go Down Together
2005: Missing Me?

Same Love

I just watched this past week's episode of "The Voice" - I missed it because I was on the road - and I saw Kat Robichaud from Team Cee Lo do this song.  I've never heard it.  But I love it.

I'm posting it for all those seeking equality in love and marriage.  And I'm dedicating it to friend - she recently got married to the woman she loves - driving over 500 miles to Iowa to do it because it's not yet legal in her state.  Congratulations KDC!

The song is beautiful.  The lyrics are beautiful.  The sentiment is beautiful.

For all. 

My love, my love, my love, my love...

Listen to the original by Seattle-based rapper Macklemore and producer Ryan Lewis, featuring Mary Lambert singing the chorus.  You can follow along with the lyrics which are posted below the video. 
 

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2012: Recipe For American Nostalgia

2011: When The Stars Make You Drool Just Like Pasta Fazool, That’s Amore

2010: Amphitheatrum Flavium

2009: I Think His Father And My Mother May Be Related

2008: Crossing The North Atlantic

2007: Sharing IN The Deliciousness Of Women

2006: Dining In Lancaster County

2005: My Sweet Spot

Pulling The Curtain Back

I found this through one of the links I posted about a few months ago and thought I'd give it a whirl and answer the questions myself.  If you're interested in answering them yourself,   copy and paste them in comments or answer them on your own blog and leave me a link.

1.  Are you doing what you truly want to do?
I love what I'm doing, and I think it's what I truly want to do right now, but I don't think it's what I truly want to do forever.  I'm not exactly sure I even know what I truly want to do but I have some ideas.  Flying trapeze artist isn't one of them.
  
2.  Do you have a dream to follow?
Not really.  Not a lifelong dream.  I guess I have aspirations and things I want, or even long for, and technically that describes a dream, but I can't say something like, "My dream has always been to be an actress."


3.  Are you proud of what you’re doing or what you’ve done?
Yes, I am proud.  Of everything I'm doing and have done.  I am so proud to be driving a truck, mastering the bigness of it and traveling so extensively in it.  Every time I sit up in that high seat, above all the other traffic, maneuvering 40 tons, I get a rush.  And I'm very proud of my where my writing has taken me, even though I've done next to nothing to promote it.  Imagine what I could do if I actually pimped myself out a little?!


4.  How many promises have you made and how many of them have you fulfilled?
I really try not to promise anything I can't follow through on.  I pride myself on being reliable and doing what I say I'm going to do.  But I'm sure there must have been something that slipped through the cracks, something maybe I promised and didn't do.  I can't say how many I'm made and how many I've fulfilled, but hell, I just turned 46 a few months ago, so I'm sure there are quite a few. 

5.  What’s the one thing you really want to do but have never done so, and why?
I really want to spend an extended period of time in a snowy, foreign location.  Like Switzerland.  Or the Italian alps.  Russia.  Québec.  And I don't know why - I guess it just keeps getting pushed off - but it just never seems to happen.  But it's going to.
 
6.  Have you ever failed anyone who you loved or loved you?
I am sure I have.  I can't think of any particular instance, and I have never had anyone tell me outright that I straight up failed them.  But I have parents, so I'm sure I failed something at some point.

7.  Will you take a shot if the chance of failure and success is 50-50?
Hell, yeah.  Why not? 


8.  If you could travel to the past in a time machine, what advice would you give to the 6-year-old you?
Learn a language.  Save money.  Make investments.  Learn about other countries and cultures to prepare for travel.  Learn a trade.  Boys are and will always be dumb. 
 
9.  Will you break the rules because of something/someone you care about?
Absolutely.  Something or someone I care about is always more important than rules.


10.  Have you ever abandoned a creative idea that you believed because others thought you were a fool?
No.  I don't really care if people think I'm a fool.  I just wish I'd had a crazy creative idea that people thought I should abandon.


11.  What would you prefer? Stable but boring works or interesting works with lots of workload?
I would take either, I think.  Stable but boring leaves times for other things.  Interesting is great, but I don't like my workload to overshadow my life.  If I had to take work home, or stay late, I'd likely reconsider.  Although, if it were interesting enough to not feel like work, that might be different.


12.  Are you afraid of making mistakes even though there’s no punishments at all?
No.  I'm not afraid of making mistakes.  I wouldn't even be afraid of making mistakes if there were punishments.  That's why they're called mistakes.

13.  If you would clone yourself, which of your characteristics you wouldn’t want to be cloned?
Oooooh.  This is revealing.  Well, I'm pretty controlling.  That's not so good all the time.  I interrupt a lot in conversation - I've been told that's not such a great characteristic.  Ummm...I'm loud?  It's hard to say though because these characteristics make me who I am.  And the whole concept of a clone is to create someone who is exactly like you.  Maybe I'd make my clone thinner.  Yeah.  Still controlling, still loud, still interruptive, just thinner.  

14.  What’s the difference between you and most of the other people?
I think I pay extraordinary attention to detail.  I'm extremely observant and aware of my surroundings.  I think words matter.  I believe in the age of the internet, so if you're going to have an online presence, you need to pay attention to your spelling and grammar and the way you come across in words - there are only so many times you can blame your phone's auto-correct feature before people start thinking you're stupid.  And as I've said before when I've made this particular criticism, there's probably a spelling or grammar error right under my nose.  If you find it, I'll play the "phone auto-correct" card.

15.  Are you making some influences on the world or constantly being influenced by the world?
I think there's a little of both.  I think I've influenced people in my life, with my blog, through my adventures.  And I think I've been influenced by people I've met, things I've read, places I've seen, etc.  It doesn't seem possible for me to choose one over the other.

16.  The thing you cried for last time, does it matter to you now or will it matter to you 5 years later?
It doesn't matter now and it won't matter in five years but of course at the moment, it was monumental.

17.  Is there anything you can’t let go of but you know you should?
Oh, sure.  I don't dwell though.  I don't let any one thing have too much power over me.  Well, except maybe my annoyance at just about everything.  Yeah, I should probably let that one go. 

18.  Do you remember anyone you hated 10 years ago? Does it matter now?
There's only one person in my life that I've ever truly hated.  It didn't matter then and it doesn't matter now, but I still hate her.  As for anyone else....nope, I don't really have hate for anyone.

19.  Which makes you happier, to forgive someone or to hate someone forever?
Well, I easily forgive people.  That's second nature to me.  But I can happily hate someone forever. 

20.  What are you worrying about and what’s the difference if you stop worrying about it?
I really don't worry about anything.  I've always been fortunate to have most things just work out.

21.  If you’d die now, would you have any regrets?
Yeah, I'd probably have a few.

22.  Which one would you prefer, having a luxurious trip alone or having a picnic with people you love?
A luxurious trip alone. 

23.  Who do you admire and why?
The first two definitions I found for ADMIRE are:  1. To regard with pleasure, wonder, and approval. 2. To have a high opinion of; esteem or respect.  So there are plenty of people I regard with pleasure, wonder and approval and have a high opinion of.  The short list are many of those closest to me:  Ed, my brother, my mother, my best friend Vicki, and my friend Marlaina.  All of these people are awesome in their own way and I definitely have admiration for each of them.

24.  Is there anyone who inspired you and made you who you are today?
There's not anyone in particular who's inspired me directly, but I'd say my mother, father, and certain family members have made me who I am today.  I love the way I do because of them.  I am generous because of them.  I argue the way I do because of them.  I'm funny because of them.  I'm happy because of them.  I can cook because of them.  I have good friendships and know how to care for people close to me because of them.  Yeah, I'd say they have a lot to do with making me who I am. 

25.  What’s the thing you’re most satisfied with?
My ability to be happy with what I have.

26.  When was the last time you laughed and what did you laugh at?
Last night, watching "King of Queens".  They're on late at night, repeats of course, but so funny I regularly think I'm going to die laughing.


27.  Are you doing anything which makes you and people around you happy?
My writing makes me happy and I think it makes others happy as well from what I've been told.  I'm sure I'm not making the people I'm around every day (Ed) happy every day, but I think that's kind of impossible.  I don't usually do anything specifically to be happy because I'm usually happy just doing whatever it is I'm doing.  So I don't try too hard.


28.  Is there anyone who you love or loves you?
Oh, there are tons of people I love and an equal amount who love me.  I always feel loved and there's always someone out there who I feel love for. 

29.  When was the last time you really talked with your parents/family?
I really talk with my mother all the time.  I talk to my brother as often as he'll allow (he's a lot busier than I am and getting him on the phone is sometimes like calling the Pope).  I talk to my cousin often via text or instant message, and I talk to my best friend Vicki (who I consider family) several times a week.

30.  If happiness is a currency, how rich do you think you are?
I'd say I'm a millionaire.  There are probably things that could happen that would take my happiness level up to the billionaire level, but how many people complain about being a millionaire?

31.  If today were to be the end of the world, what would you do?
Gather all my family together in one place and eat, look at old photos, laugh and reminisce. 


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: A Great Way To End The Week
2011: Squirreled Away In Olean
2010: Home Sweet Home
2009: You Build It, We’ll Haul It
2008: The Canadian MJ II
2007: Eddie In The Half Moon Hall Friday
2006: The Italian Death March
2005: How You Doin’?

Steak With A Side Of History

Tonight we had dinner at El Corral, a very old, very well-known steakhouse in Tucson, Arizona. 

Ed decided he was in the mood for steak and this is where he wanted to go - I had pointed it out the last time we passed by saying that I hadn't been there in years.  And I mean years - it's been at least thirty - I think the last time I had been here was when we first visited Tucson, before moving here.  It was the place to take visitors to enjoy the famous prime rib in an authentic territorial ranch house.

In the lobby of El Corral is the white suit of Tom Mix , famous silent-film star cowboy. I've never heard of this actor - probably because I don't watch a) silent films and b) westerns.  Apparently, he was a pretty big deal back in the day - Wikipedia says he "was Hollywood's first Western megastar and is noted as having helped define the genre for all cowboy actors who followed".

History.com says he was "one of the greatest silent-film stars in history. Along with his famous horse Tony, Mix made 370 full-length Westerns. At the peak of his fame, he was the highest-paid actor in Hollywood, earning as much as $17,500 a week (about $218,000 today).  Unfortunately, Mix and Tony had a hard time making the transition to talking pictures".

He died on October 11, 1940 in a car accident while traveling from Tucson to Florence, Arizona.  They named a wash (dry river bed) after him - the Tom Mix Wash.  How nice.

The meal was good, not the best I've ever had but decent enough.  The Porterhouse Steak was a little on the pricey side ($24.99, not the $18.95 listed on the online menu), but I guess that's because it's served with a side of silent-screen star history. 

Well, that's another Tucson attraction for Ed to cross off his list.  We're on a roll.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: 300 Ways To Roll Vintage Style 
2011: I Have A Crush On A Boy-d
2010: Accentuate The Positive
2009: How The Train Derails
2008: Good Thing He Didn’t PAINT This On His Truck
2007: Red Snap
2006: Convexly Jackson
2005: Marriage Criterion