TEST KITCHEN

Tonight we tested another recipe for COOK'S ILLUSTRATED. It was Thai style Chicken with Basil, or Gia Pad Grapaw. This is one of my favorite dishes I was excited about testing it. Marty was going to cook it and I was to buy the ingredients we didn't have.

This dish can be mild or very hot depending on the chiles/peppers used. I was not able to buy Thai chiles and substituted Serrano chiles (as the recipe suggested). I bought one extra in case one was bad. This dish is mainly chopped white chicken meat, basil, chiles, fish sauce, oyster sauce, garlic, and shallots.

Marty prepped everything and started stir frying it. We realized we hadn't started the rice. Well, we skipped the rice because we usually don't eat much rice with it anyway. It smelled wonderful. Nothing smells quite like fresh basil cooking. He plated it, and served it.

Well, let us say hot. The dish is to have a bite, but this was too hot. I had bought 3 chiles, one as an extra. He put them all in. Hot. After I picked out a lot of chiles, the dish tasted great. This is one we will make again.

Marty will fill out the survey tonight. And then next week Minestrone soup.

NO WEDINGS, NO FOOD, NO FUN

Since the first part of March one thing or another has been wrong with my body. Flu, allergies, respiratory, joint pain, tummy. Sunday and Monday Marty and I both had tummy issues. It started just after the brunch on Sunday with friends. Were we struck down by a virus at the exact same time, was there a problem with the food? I am betting the food.

What ever it was, I was down for the count all Monday. I called in sick to the County and made a home on the couch. Marty being a manly man was working from home, but not thrilled to be up. I'll tell you how sick I was, no food. Me the not hungry, but I'll eat anyway, nothing. Well, I'll take that back. Marty tried to serve me chicken noodle soup for supper. I ate maybe four spoon fulls and stopped. Queasy. I am sick of being sick.

Today I am up and moving around. Little Brother is coming Thursday. I declared myself well and back to getting ready for company.

YEAH, COOLNESS HAS ARRIVED

It is almost 11:30pm and it has FINALLY dropped to 67 degrees! The fog must be in. Something wonderful has brought us coolness. Down comforter might be needed tonight. Happy, happy dance.

HOT! HOT! and HOTTER!

The Bay Area is having a little heat wave. Yesterday in Oakland it was 90 ( guess who was making glass and dying in the heat) and on the other side of the tunnel over 100, some places as high as 108. Today it is hotter. Thank goodness we have AC. But guess which side of the tunnel our church is on.

You are correct, the hot side. And the church is NOT air conditioned. Now this would have been a good Sunday and a smart Sunday to skip church. Well we did that last Sunday and won't be going next Sunday. Really needed to go today. Plus our Wine and Dine group was meeting after church for lunch. This is a church group, so it would have been awkward meeting after church.

When we arrived it was in the low 90s at 10:00. The sanctuary was not unbearable, but was uncomfortable. Let us say not a dry thread on me after the service. And the hair, not a pretty picture. Melted cotton candy. When we came out, 102.

We went to lunch just down the street. Restaurants always have AC don't they? Well theirs wasn't on when we arrived. About an hour later it came on, by then it was too late. I was wilted. We had fun though. Some of us, men and women, are just a little bitchy and catty. A good time was had by all.

As we drove home we watched the temperature slowly drop from 108 to 92 as we came out of the tunnel. And what did I do when we got home. Iron. Yes, more heat. It had to be done. But I was in AC, on the lower level, with a fan blowing on me. Not too bad.

Marty just told me it has dropped to 84. Maybe the fog is coming in. Can you tell I don't do heat?

DOMESTIC GODDESS, almost

Yesterday and today I have been in domestic mode, not mood. I don't want to do the things I have done and still need to do. But someone has to and it is in my job description of Domestic Goddess.

So yesterday and today I cleaned out drawers in the guest room, put clean sheets on the bed, and worked on the closet. We have company coming. The guest room is my closet and my storage area. Remember we live in an old 2 bedroom house. Small closets. When guests come, I have to rearrange stuff so they don't live out of their suitcases. I am almost there. We have three large empty drawers now. And the closet has had things hung double and on multiple blouse hangers. Of course while they are here, I will be in the room anytime I dress, undress, need a jacket, purse, shoes, jewelery. It isn't bad sharing with family, really awkward if they aren't related.

I also did laundry, cleaned the bathroom, found a leak in the sink pipe (Marty fixed it when he got home) and changed the sheets on our bed. I then fixed a great cumin chicken for supper.

Today I continued in the Domestic Goddess mode. More laundry to do and to put up. We are either the dirtiest or cleanest people in the world. Always doing laundry. I don't mind washing and drying laundry, I don't mind putting up underwear, shirts, nightgowns, towels; but I hate matching socks. Hate it, hate it, hate it. Marty has navy and black socks that look just alike. You need bright sunlight to tell them apart. And then there is the problem of the vanishing mates. Where do they go? Why do they show up the week after you give up and throw the other sock away? Just asking.

Next Wednesday final cleaning and shopping. Little Brother and Ann arrive on Thursday morning.

I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. . .

Only two weddings today, and they were at the opposite ends of the spectrum. One good and one so sad/bad. Let's get the bad out of the way first.

The couple was in their mid 20's. They did not talk in the elevator and stood apart. I asked my set of questions. Basically no rings, no vows, just get it over with. They stood at least 2 feet apart with their arms folded across their chests. They would not look at each other and just looked sad. When I asked do you take_____ as your wife, long wait, and then finally yeah. She was about as slow with her answer. I continued and then I was getting to the point of no return. They still weren't looking at each other, nor touching. Just glares over the other's head. One more sentence and they were legally married. I stopped and told them. "I have never done this before. I have to ask, are you sure you want to do this? Your license is good for 90 days, go think this over. I don't think you act like you want to even be here." I talked to them about thinking it over now and not in divorce court. They both said, "We are doing this now." So I married them. No kiss at the end, no hugs, they did not speak at all as we went back down in the elevator. This was so wrong and so sad.

But the next one was so cute. All the clerks were jazzed by it. The groom was born in 1925 and the bride in 1927. They had known each other as teenagers and married others. They had each been widowed in the last 6 or 7 years and had found each other again. They are living together and so in love. And their children told them to go get married. I loved it. They were still sharp and seemed fairly healthy. They were so in love, and this wedding had a kiss. Before, during, and after the wedding. They may be old but they aren't dead.

LOTS AND LOTS OF WEDDINGS

I think I did 7 weddings today. It started late but became fast and furious. I am sure we had the worst couple ever to marry today. They tied up the marriage desk, they assumed they didn't have to obey rules, and were just trouble.


I had just done a wedding and was on my way down to get the next couple. The hall was full of people. But no staff with them. They had just all come up. It turned out the couple bought a licence several days before. They found some errors on it and needed it corrected before they married. I corralled all the guests and sent them back downstairs; and took the couple into the Marriage Desk. When I came up with the next couple, two of the guests were still wandering the halls. And they were explaining to a staff person that the signs were wrong. They aren't. Three weddings later, the wedding couple is still in there redoing the license.


Remember, I have told you they give us the info. They enter it into the computer. They read it on the clerk's monitor before it is printed. They read it on paper before they sign it... no they don't read anything.


It seems a name was spelled wrong on the license, so M corrected it. Printed a new license to sign and gave it to the couple. They said the name is right, but place of birth is WV not WI. M prints again, gives it to them to sign and they then told her another correction to make. This time she made sure they told her all the errors, not one at a time. How stupid of the couple.

I married them. Then I had trouble getting them out of the room. Finally I have them headed to the elevator and they stop and pass out maps to the reception. I left them to M and went to get my next couple.

The other couples were nice, polite, and all but one in love. One was a definite arranged marriage. I hate those. The couple looked everywhere except at each other. They did not want to be there. But the guests were having a great time. The couple refused to kiss when asked to for pictures. Poor tradition bound kids.

FATHER'S DAY

Father's Day is always mixed feelings for me. My blood father died when I was 10. And I still miss him. And then I have my Papa Jack. Lovely, kind, funny Papa Jack. A blessing for our family. Even my Daddy's family loved him.

Papa Jack is just about 7 years older than I am. There is about 20 years difference between Mother and him. I was in high school when he and Mother began dating. We did not know how old he was, nor he Mother's age until too late. They were in love. It was the talk of the town. The doctor's widow and the young kid eloped. My mother was a hot looking red head. Today she would be called a cougar. But that is another story.

Papa Jack became my stepfather for real. I adore my Papa Jack. My brother and he did not hit it off real well at first, two alpha males staking their territory. But over time that issue has worked out. Jack did not pull rank, but he was there as a father figure. He also was there with the check book for clothes and college expenses.

Papa Jack knocked on car widows and told me to go in the house. He decided I should frost my hair. He thought my skin tones were wrong to have such dark hair. He picked out dresses for me and bought them. He listened to me cry when romance when wrong. He also listened to a lot of temper tantrums.

Papa Jack also taught me how to paint and how to drive a riding lawn mower. When Marty bought a car with a stick shift, guess who saved my marriage and taught me to shift gears. ( never, ever try to learn a stick shift from your husband)

One Christmas I was shopping with him and saw something for Marty. I borrowed the money from Papa Jack. This was when we paid cash for everything. Credit cards were rare and used for emergencies. I didn't know until later, Marty had borrowed money from him the same day to buy my gift. We had the money, just not on us.

Marty asked Jack for permission to marry me. And my Papa gave me away at the wedding. As Mother's children had children, he became Papaw Jack.

He has changed through the years. He had a hot temper and has mellowed out over the years. He was helpless in the kitchen when they married yet now does a lot of the cooking for Mother and him. One of my favorite stories about Jack is when Mother went to help my sister when she had a baby. Mother cooked up lots of food for him including a ham. When Mother came home, everything was still in the fridge. She asked him why didn't you eat the ham? And Jack answered, " You didn't slice it."

One last story about Papa Jack. When they first married he worked for one of the funeral homes. He drove the ambulance and the hearse. He wasn't happy with this as a career choice. One day there was a funeral in the church across the street from our house. He helped carry the body in and then quit in the middle of the funeral. My mother asked why in the middle of a funeral. He said only quit when they need you.

Love you Papa Jack

MOM, ARE YOU THERE, MOM????

Clerk C brought me the license and said "Watch your purse and belongings." I said, 'What?" And she explained the groom got out of prison yesterday. The bride was yelling at him for stealing money out of her purse. Sounds like a great beginning to their life.

I went out, got them and their witness, bride's mother, and we went upstairs. The couple is still ticked at each other, lots of tension in the room. I do my questions slowly in case anyone wants to back out. No, they are ready.

I begin the ceremony. The groom is watching the bride's mother who is behind me. She is to bring up the rings when I tell her. Suddenly she just walks up between me and the couple. And then she freezes like when we played statues as children. I ignore her, I am a pro, nothing fazes me. I then come to the ring ceremony and ask for the rings. And the bride asks for them, and then the groom. The witness, Mom, has zoned out of life. Finally she kicks in and gives the groom the bride's ring. And then she is gone again. We go through it again and finally get the groom's ring. Then we have to sign the license.

I give Mom the non legal souvenir license to sign, I point out the line. Mom can barely hit the line, and she doesn't sign what is on the legal license. I realize this woman is stoned out of her mind. Since this is not a legal document, I ignore the name.

Then we come to the real license. I tell her it must match the typed name. She has trouble hitting the line, and then adds nonsense letters. We can't use the license. No way the state will accept half a name and then random letters. We have to print a new one and try again.

Re-signing is harder than the first time. She can not hit the line, tries to sign else where. But we get it done and the marriage is legal. I leave to get my next couple. When I come back upstairs the clerk tells me they had trouble getting Mom out of her office. She zoned out again. The couple kept saying Mom let's go. Nothing going in. She was rooted to the floor.

I teased C that she warned about the groom but not about Mom. She hadn't really met Mom. But did know Mom was the one driving. I think Mom is still sitting at a stop light on Jackson.

DON'T JUDGE A WEDDING BY THE BRIDE AND GROOM

Monday I did several weddings. There were one or two I thought I could write about. ThenI did the last wedding and it became the winner.

I had seen the couple in the lobby. He was in a lovely white shirt with black embroidery. She was in a white dress, silver heels, pearls and a tiara. Sounds traditional doesn't it? Well he had dreadlocks that were fire engine red and then there was her hair. Granted I have no room to talk with my burgundy hair. But her hair was just a little off the wall. One part of a side in corn rows, natural black color. The rest of the hair was fluffed out like a fan and was the color of Chardonnay with just a little bit of yellow food coloring in it.

As we discussed the ceremony I found out they really were traditional. She very much wanted it as close to a traditional church wedding as possible. They wanted the vows, "for better or for worse, for richer or poorer. . .". They had also written their vows. When they read their vows I teared up. This young in your face man had written a love poem. The bride was beside herself listening to him. And then she did her vows. She listed the reasons she loved him: from his soft lips on hers to his stubbornness. They were very emotional as were all of us in the room.

It is a cliche, but love is grand.

I NEED A POOR BABY, MAYBE TWO OR THREE

Today has not been very good, other than the weddings. I will post about them tomorrow if time. But today, ugh!

At 2:30 or so, I woke up to total darkness. I admit I am terrified of the dark. There are no street lights, no night lights in the house. DARK CREEPY. I found my emergency lantern, called PG&E and sat in the living room. I set my Palm alarm in case our electric clock radio didn't go off. The lights came on about 45 minutes later. I went back to bed, but couldn't go back to sleep for an hour. Tired, tired and slept in this morning.

Marty had a doctor's appointment for a biopsy on his tongue at 8:30. ( The doctor says it looks benign, but still cut a hunk out) As a result Marty can only have cold liquids to eat for a couple of days. So the perfect wife made a lovely avocado and tomato soup. They are separate soups and poured into the bowl simultaneously. This was good and very attractive to look at.

While we ate I was simmering a fruit soup that would be served over ice cream. It had blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and red wine. Then it was to cool and then be put in a blender. I poured it into the blender and then twisted the container to lock it into the motor. It wouldn't lock, I started to pick up the container and the bottom came off the container. I had five cups of wine, sugar, and red and blue fruit all over my counter, my jeans and shirt, the floor,the rug, the white cabinets, and counter tops. Marty goes for the rags/cleaning towels, I am ripping paper towels and throwing them on the edge of the counter. We have the soup on the white cabinets, the rug, my jeans, the floor, the counters, dishwasher, stove, everywhere in the kitchen. I am crying. I have tried to make a special "sick food' and made a mess.

Have I ruined the cabinets? What about the kitchen floor? My jeans and shirt are soaking wet and very red. I keep crying, I wanted Marty to have a tasty liquid meal. I have just made a mess. And it was an expensive mess, fruit and red wine are not cheap. We cleaned up forever. Not only did we have fruit and red wine, there was sugar in it too. STICKY! Oh what a mess. I kept crying, and Marty kept trying to make me calm down. Here he is, with the end of his tongue cut off, and he is comforting me.

Tomorrow, back to Safeway for raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries. I am scared.

I AM THE PERFECT WIFE, sort of

Marty brought home beautiful blackberries Thursday night. Friday I asked him to pick up some vanilla ice cream, "because blackberries need ice cream." And Marty said, "No, blackberries need cobbler." We compromised, I would make the cobbler, he would bring home ice cream to go on top.

I had the cobbler in the oven in about 20 minutes. I then called to tell him what a perfect wife I am. And he laughed. He brought home the ice cream and admired my gorgeous cobbler.

Around 7:30 I took the chicken out of the oven for supper. I turned the oven down to 180. And then I put the cobbler in to warm up. Because it needs to be warm to melt the ice cream and it tastes best warm.

We had supper, I cleaned up the kitchen, and turned off the oven. Then we went into the living room and watched TV. Around 11:30 I remembered the cobbler.

It was still in the oven, no longer warm. The perfect wife forgot the dessert. We ate it at room temperature with the ice cream on top. The ice cream did melt, it just took a little longer,

WATCH OUT FOR THE BRIDE

Wednesday two clerks warned me about a bride. One clerk had done the initial work on the license, and the other had filled out the witness information. when the couple came back. They told me the bride was over the top, loud, rude, yelling, obnoxious. Yet the groom was quiet and dignified. They both called her a ghetto bride. I was a little concerned. How was I going to control her?

I called their names and he came up. I could see her outside smoking, dashing around, and I could hear her through the closed doors. She came inside talking loudly. We got in the elevator and she loudly announces she is going to pass out, several times. (We were only going up one floor and she is already driving me crazy. ) I told her to hang on, we would sit her down in the wedding room in just a few seconds. And then I looked at her, really looked at her. She was terrified.

She really was about to faint. I sat her down and told her to breathe deeply and slowly. I told her she had to calm down. I kept talking to her, doing relaxing breathing with her. Talking to her quietly. It turned out the groom wanted to do their own vows, she was afraid. She didn't know what to say. And she was really emotional about getting married. We talked about how she could just whisper the vows to him, or just go with the traditional vows. That it was all about her comfort level. I told her that nothing would happen until she was ready. When she became quiet and calm, I walked her to the front and began the ceremony. I told the bride and groom to keep constant eye contact and forget about everyone else. And they did. She was so calm, intense, and beautiful at the same time. Up until then she had been almost tacky and trampy. But with the peace and calm came beauty.

She did say her own vows after her groom did. And I was moved by what they said. It was a lovely dignified wedding. I had tears from the tender words they shared.

After the wedding ceremony she became somewhat louder, but not frantic as before. Yes, she was a loud woman, but not an obnoxious woman. Fear does terrible things to us.

OH SUCH A FUN NIGHT

Last night we continued to celebrate Christmas. Our nephew and his partner had given us play tickets and last night we used them. Thank you, thank you Phil and Lee.

We went to see Spamalot. What a fun, crazy play. We had flashbacks to watching Monty Python's Flying Circus. The play was so well done,writing, dancing, singing, humor, costumes. We knew going in it would be a wonderful entertaining evening. It more than lived up to our expectations.

FINALLY WEDDINGS

One thing I really missed while on vacation was doing weddings. Yesterday I was finally back to marry couples. Only four couples, but it felt so good to be back.

One groom was from Texas. He had on killer cowboy boots with his jeans stuffed into them. He loved that a Southerner was marrying them. He dropped Southern expressions: God love him, You all come, and Bless your heart. And the bride? She had on a long gold sheer sheath. Really sheer. She said when she first met the groom's father, she couldn't understand a word he said.

My favorite couple had been together 11 years. They had their two year old with them. The bride was stunningly beautiful. Beautiful in the way Elizabeth Taylor was as a young woman. Right before we began she pulled a veil out of a Disneyland bag. Do you see it coming? It was a white sequined Minnie Mouse ears and veil. And the bride looked wonderful in it. They had spent the previous weekend at Disneyland. She couldn't resist buying it. They were so in love and so touched by the ceremony. They were every reason I love to do marriages.

KY. VACATION, FAMILY AND FOOD

This is the last set of pictures. I have lots more, but figure you are tired of my vacation. It was a great trip. Lots of wonderful food. Lots of family and friends to visit with. I miss them all. But love living in California. They need to come see me now.

Below is a picture of some of Marty's family. From the left: me, sister Karen, Marty, nephew Paul David, Aunt Thelma, Uncle Clyde, cousin Mary, her husband Mark. We are at the restaurant, Our Best, that is known for Southern cooking. You will notice there is a theme of everything fried. Also huge portions. We were back in the South.



This is a mill where Marty got corn meal and flour for his Mother when a teenager.

Our Best Restaurant in Henry County.

Country ham, fried corn bread, mashed potatoes and red eye gravy, and beets.

Pinto beans and fried corn bread.

Country ham, fried apples, and fried corn bread, mashed potatoes with red eye gravy.

Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and milk gravy, Southern green beans.

KY. VACATION, MUSEUM, BIRTHDAY

These are pictures of my birthday and one day of just checking out the city. All over Louisville are artistic horses that protray historical events or business. This one has scenes of The Belle of Louisville.



This is the Brown Foreman warehouse. The bottle on top is a water tower.


At the Frazier Museum.

There were many lifelike figures throughout the museum. I kept expecting them to step down and say, "I'm going on break."

Penny arcade from Fontaine Ferry.

History of Fontaine Ferry.

Birthday girl at the revolving restaurant on top of the Galt House. You see the Ohio River and part of Louisville. Food was really good.

Mother, Ann, and Marty, Indiana and the Falls of the Ohio behind them.

On left: Mother, Ann, Marty On right: Papa Jack, Hank, and me Behind us Ohio River and construction on the waterfront. Very overcast day.

Coal Barge going east up the Ohio. It is taking coal to Warsaw, Ky 45 miles up river for a power plant. Compare the barges' size to the semi and bus on the highway.
The boat tied up is the Coast Guard station.,

KY. VACATION, LITTLE BROTHER'S AND ANN'S HOME

Hank and Ann live in a lovely Victorian house built in 1886. It has been many things: family home, a bordello, a dorm for seminary students. It has many ghosts who are friendly. They kept hiding my comb and my lingerie ended up folded under Marty's socks. They even played with my laptop. The house is huge. Our guest bedroom was as large as my living room and dining room combined. Their butler's pantry has more cabinets and counter tops than my kitchen. And the basement. . .2000 square feet. Bigger than my whole house. Now add three more floors on top of that. I love this home to visit. But glad I don't have to heat, cool, or clean it.




Looking from the foyer into the living room. The walls are over a foot thick.


Thr front stairs and one of many stained glass windows.

Foyer, hall, and front stairs.

Butler's pantry.

Dining room, note two tables.

Ann and me in front of the house. It is painted brick.

KENTUKCY VACATION WESTPORT

We took lots of pictures last week. They are all of course wonderful. But I will not bore you with all of them. I will do the pixs in batches so you can look quick and go on to the next part. Luckily you are not locked in a room with a slide projector. You can go, oh I don't think so and skip everything. To enlarge pictures, click on them.



Marty and me at Knock On Wood in Westport, Ky.



Knock on Wood, a lovely Americana craft store.

Teakettle of chicken salad fame. Four 4 tops are all they have.

I hope you can read the highway marker. It tells some history of Westport.

HOME BY THE HARDEST

Yesterday was a long hard day. We got up early and had breakfast with my folks and then to the airport. It was raining, and it kept raining harder and harder. First leg of the trip, 16 minute flight on the puddle jumper. It was 30 minutes late arriving. We were upgraded to a bigger plane, it held 72 passengers. We were close to an hour late arriving in Cincinnati. That meant no Crown Room for free drinks. I did the first leg on guts, should have done the Valium. Really bumpy.

Second leg to Salt Lake I had the seat mate from Hell, no not Marty.

Sidebar. I am a largest woman. I understand the problems of being overweight. I constantly fight weight issues. I feel for the really obese. But please. . .

There was this woman sitting in the window seat and MY middle seat. She sort of slide over and then found the seat belt would not go around her. They gave her an extension. I am scrunched up next to Marty, she still has part of my seat. Marty and I put our arm rests down to plug in our earphones. This forced parts of her off my seat. She oozed over and under my arm rest. I had to keep asking her to not lean on the armrest so I could find a channel and volume I liked. She sat with her legs spread so they leaned on me. My arm was red and numb from her leaning on it. Her arms and other body parts hung over me. And she wanted to talk. I have on ear phones and I am reading. Is that not a clue I am not your new best friend? Almost fours hours of this woman. Delta owes me a seat. She should have bought two seats.

I have taken Valium as soon as we got on the plane. And I went to sleep with lovely music in my ears. I woke up screaming and pulling the ear phones out of my ears! The volume went from a 2 up to a 20. ( Did the bitch punch it up? Just thought of that.) My ears were nearly bleeding. I certainly perked up everyone around me.

We finally are in Salt Lake and have 20 minutes to catch our last plane. We land at B9 and leave from E69. Sounds like Bingo, doesn't it? We walk forever and then go down to runway level. E69 leads right on to the tarmac. Guess what is sitting out there. Not big 300 passenger planes. No, they are little 72 passenger planes. I had a meltdown, told Marty I would divorce him, and started crying. We are going over the Rockies and the Sierras on a puddle jumper. Makes me cry right now to think about it. Marty is upset, this is not the plane listed on the ticket. No way does he want to deal with me on a longer than 16 minutes flight. I board, crying, and the pilot makes an announcement. The last couple of flights have been rather bumpy, so there may be no beverage service. To hell with beverages, he said BUMPY! I take another Valium and dig my claws into Marty's arm. It was sorta bumpy, but I did get my free cookie and ginger ale.

Marty should post about our flights. I am sure he has a whole different perspective. If he does post something, remember he was in the Air Force. As long as the plane stays up, they are happy

We are home safe and sound. The trip was wonderful. And I don't have to fly again for another year. Right, big glass convention in Louisville in June. Marty will go, I guess I will too.

Pictures later this week.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

Today is my birthday. And I got to pick what we would do in Louisville today. I picked the American Craft Museum, which was a dud. They were staging and had little to see. Second choice was the Frazier Museum.

The Frazier is so wonderful. Do check the web site. Lots of this is from the Frazier family. Armor, mail, swords, guns. It was fabulous. Every hour or so they do "testimonials" from historical figures: Buffalo Bill, Sarah Winchester, a knight from the Battle of Hastings, 12 in all. Very well done. We stayed until 12:30 went to lunch and came back for a couple of more hours.

One exhibit was from Fontaine Ferry Park. (pronounce fountain) This was an amusement park down on the Ohio River that everyone, as long as they were white, went to. It closed in 1969. We all have memories of it. All four of us had been, but not with our spouses. The Frazier had working exhibits of games, pinball machines, mechanical rides. There were videos and picture of all the wonderful dances, concerts, roller skating rides, etc that were provided for a fun time. Ann and Hank played games and won prizes. We talked to others about their memories of the park. Great fun.

For lunch we went to Boomers. Again with the chicken salad. It was as good as Teakettles', but differently prepared. And the sandwiches were twice as big. Pricier, but not real expensive, $6.50 with chips, then drinks, tax and tip about $16 a head. This place was a big restaurant with rooms with large tables for working lunches and one room had wing back chairs with TV trays with a TV going. The place was full to the brim with office workers. They only do lunch. The staff was so lovely and gracious. Such a Southern meal experience.

Tonight dinner at the Galt House with the revolving restaurant looking at the Ohio River and Louisville.

KENTUCKY IS SO SEDUCTIVE

Kentucky is so lush. Green thick grass, beautiful trees, flowers everywhere. We were driving through the middle of Louisville today. We were on I 64 going to a friend's. No where could you see anything but Mother Nature: incredible views of cliffs, green vines, trees and no houses. Yet we knew the houses were just through the trees.

Then we exited onto a street. The houses are set back 250 feet. Lush yards, houses are pristine and cheap compared to California prices. I have house envy. I have always loved the neighborhood we are driving through. Trees are huge and shade the old houses and the road. It is green, green, green.

Louisville has theater, ballet, concerts, sports of all kinds, and finally some really great restaurants. We can live here so much cheaper and have a great life. I mention that to Marty.

We are at Ronald's. I open the car door. Oh, right this is why we don't live here. It is 94 degrees and who knows how high the humidity is. My hair gets bigger, my clothes are sticking to me, I feel sticky.

I was almost seduced to come back.