Random Notes from the Sandwich Life (updated)
1. Does anybody remember Bishop's....from years ago in the mall? You turned a light on your table...was it to order? No, I think it was a cafeteria..... I remember Ernie taking me once when I was in college and we thought it was incredibly funny...but now it's kind of a blur....
UPDATE...I just got this message from my beloved Jim and Diana in California:
Yes, we remember Bishop's with great fondness! Jim was eating there at the age of 5or 6 with his parents and his aunt and uncle in Davenport, Iowa. Eventually, the cafeterias were in many shopping centers in Illinois and Iowa. There was a light on each table that could be turned on if you needed extra iced tea, etc. Bishop's was the first restaurant that served the wedge salad. Californians believe they invented it, but they did not! We also remember Bishop's for French silk pie. That was such a treat! Now I am getting hungry...
2. I've been trying to gather Ernie's side of the family together for dinner at our place. Both his brothers and his sister in law all have birthdays in February or March. His father did as well and so my mother in law used to take everybody out to dinner for all the birthdays this time of year. I thought it would be nice to do again so I invited everyone over. First attempt got scheduled but then I was sick so it got cancelled. I thought this attempt was all set....I had emailed everybody back saying, "o.k...we're good to go...our place at 6:00 on Saturday." Brother in law #1 got there promptly at 6:00 and we chatted and waited. Around 6:30 Ernie decided to give his other brother and sister in law a call to see where they were. Well....it turns out I didn't email them. My email was WRITTEN to all three but only went to one. Sigh. So we removed two plates and had lots of leftovers. Owen and Ernie were absolutely delighted that I was the one that screwed up. Leo was kinder although he did grin. Sigh.
3. I must say our dinner was good despite the snafu. Owen made a double batch of his signature smoked paprika chicken on the grill. Ernie and I made mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus and fresh rye bread and Leo made his famous brownies for dessert. A true family effort. I was proud of my sweet peas.
4. I'm ridiculously jealous of the spring break vacation pictures floating around. Why do we never plan to do anything over spring break? Well, money of course but we don't let that stop us at other times. I am longing to get out of town but don't think we will for awhile.
5. Owen had band practice yesterday afternoon. A Radiohead song had been proposed and Owen was o.k. with that but when we picked him up they had evidently decided to try writing their own song. As Owen explained, it's going to be kind of like a David Olney song...but more rock and roll. I fell asleep last night to the sound of him strumming away, working on new chords.
6. I spent an inordinate amount of time watching Season 2 of Breaking Bad this weekend. Ernie and Owen and I watch it together. It leads to LOTS of good conversations with Owen about drugs, crime and corrupting yourself. Leo just sniffs and returns to Minecraft. I usually can't watch shows with violence...I don't know why I can watch this one.....
7. RIP Big Daddy Sun. Big Daddy Sun and the Outer Planets was one of the bands in the scene back 1980ish. Ernie helped Ron (Cannon) for a bit with the studio he was putting together many years ago....and Ron's daughter Claire is a friend of ours although we had never made the connection between the two. So many circles.... Our loving sympathy to Claire and the rest of his family.