Friday Follies

It was pleasant weather on Friday morning. I rode to work with my window down for a change.

I walked outside in the morning and it was lovely. It was warm, but there was a gentle breeze that made you forget about it.

I went to Ten Yen at lunch. For a change, I ordered the Almond Chicken. The owner was amazed!

About half way through my meal, he came over and asked what I thought of it. I said it was too much food, but it sort of reminded me of my favorite Chinese meal, pressed duck. He laughed and said, “Nobody serves that, anymore!”

Sidebar: The first Chinese dinner I ever had was when a bunch of us loaded into Danny and his wife Bunny’s VW bus and left New Baltimore for Roseville (or was it St. Clair Shores?) We smoked a couple of joints on the way and I don’t remember. Anyway, we let Danny (the expert), order. He got the dinner for eight. It was all exotic and delicious, but the one thing I will never forget was the pressed duck.

I always ordered it since then, but it fell off the menus a long time ago.

I asked the owner of Ten Yen about it and he explained that Americans didn’t order it a lot and, when the price of duck rose, they shit-canned it, some 20 years ago.

I mourn the loss of pressed duck!

After an excellent meal, I took a drive through Hines Park. I had to laugh, as I drove past a co-worker, Fred, speed-walking.

Sidebar: He is amazing! He’s over 70 years old, but still is on a tennis league and does 5-10k runs. I wish I had his constitution!!! But, whenever I feel gloomy about being a crip, I get out my tee shirt and say, “Yup, that’s me!”

When I went to walk outside in the afternoon, it was hot and the wind had picked up.

By the time I got home, the wind was really blowing! I changed clothes and then watered the container gardens out front. This time I added Miracle Gro to the water. Next I slowly dumped two gallons of water (also mixed with Miracle Gro) on each rose bush.

Note: I know they make a special Miracle Gro for roses, but I don’t have it. I figured regular Miracle Gro wouldn’t hurt.

Then I went out back and did the kitchen window flower box with more fertilized water.

Since I was out there, I checked out the vegetable garden. I got another cucumber, three Roma tomatoes and three heritage tomatoes.

Sidebar: I’ve bought them before, but never grew heritage tomatoes. Since these are almost purple, I’m not that sure when they are ripe. Back in the house, after I washed them, I bit into one to check. OMG!!! It tasted FANTASTIC!!!

Since today was a payday, I spent some time online, paying bills and then just generally farting around.

I went and heated up a can of Dinty Moore beef stew (still trying to reduce my ridiculous pantry inventory) for dinner.

By then it was almost 9:00 p.m. I tried to get interested in a movie that started at 8:00 but couldn’t. So, I shut it down and went to bed.