July arrives

 So Phil is off in Ireland on a music tour and apparently having a great time. I am catching up on a list of things that i have procrastinated about for - well- plenty of time... next week is busy with my last medical stuff for hte summer and a visit for friend Carolyn as well as a dinner with Todd & Evie and Frank. Meanwhile I have been getting through some of the stuff in the frig (last cleaned out when???LOL) 

I was eating breakfast today and a memory of the best breakfast I ever had on a road trip popped into my head. Phil is in Ireland and so that might have jogged my memory because I was going to text him to look out for this option.  We had no idea what a "boxty" was when TB and I entered the Lawrence Park Dinor but the staff explained it was an Irish recipe for an omelet wrapped in a hash brown potatoes pancake. Well let me tell you we both hopped on that suggestion and ordered the boxty special of the day. It was fabulous. And now a great memory of the best road trip breakfast.

You just know one of those pie pieces is gonna make it into TB's morning order...LOL - there he sits below (to the bottom left in the photo) waiting for the BOXTY reveal!

 

a truly worthy stop on the road in Eire PA. and later in the morning we had to stop for a snack because timing was off for a full meal when we pulled into the White Turkey Drive-in. (est 1952 in Conneaut Ohio)  We had root beer floats and onion rings to get a feel for the place- also worthy. Located past the Ohio border as we continued around the Lake Erie shoreline. 

So it's July the Fourth and I am not feeling the America I once knew - but I know there are traces out there because we find them every year on the DART (Disappearing America Road Trips). 

the end of June on to July

 Another quick dinner one night, a big salad and two kinds of pizza. The clear winner was the sausage over the pepperoni. Very thin - cracker crust style with crispy crust cut tavern style. To me it beat Middlebrow  but came in after Pat's. To Phil it took first place. We had spectacular service from Tory who was as charming as he could be. Relaxed atmosphere in a conversation filled room (read that as noisy but fun.) Corkage for BYO - so we brought an 06 Barolo which was a good match. We will return as I think we could refine our ordering (we came home with the equivalent of a whole pizza) and try some more menu items. They had the best focaccia ever Hands Down! it wasn't traditional, but it was amazingly good. So don't miss that!

Despite being busy we didn't go out to eat much the last few days - both of us had weird stomach issues - first Phil then me... oh well. We canceled our anniversary dinner and just hung out at home- he had rice and I had pasta... LOL very fancy... 

however by Saturday we were ready to celebrate with friends at a party for Nick and his son Aarav...

Happy 50th Nick Goel ❣️ And Congratulations 🎉 graduate! to son, Aarav, who spent the last four years at UC Berkeley and is now headed off to Mountain View for his new job. Dad Lee Cherney  knows how to throw a party for his guys. All food prepared by Chef Lee and drinks were designed by mixologist extraordinaire Nick. (See the list of cocktail choices.) A very fun evening for friends and family!!!

Now today Phil is off to Ireland for a music tour and I have many chores to catch up on around the house and out in the world... so we will welcome July in tow days. Another round of  social engagements and my final tow doctors appointments for the various annual checkups. I am not dead yet! LOL More to follow.