RE an online complaint about Little Ceasars

I just said this the other day! We could grab a quick pizza so easy years ago on the way to scouts or soccer or dance lessons and now it's a whole ordeal. Have to do online and even then more often than not it's cancelled or not ready. I frequent all the better private restaurants but still wish you could walk in and grab a Lil Ceasars pizza like u used to be able to!

- Lisa

Dinner at OG

Late in the afternoon Lisa and I set out for a funeral in Pleasant Prairie of the mom of one of her coworkers, but we got a flat tire on my Mazda before we even left our neighborhood.

Thankfully Mr P's was open and gave us quick and efficient service patching the tire. Kudos to them. 

After the funeral home Lisa and I visited an Olive Garden nearby. It was one of the nicest Olive Garden we've ever been to, and the food and service was very good. 

Ron's Place

As I mentioned after the mammoth creation, Lulu and I headed down to Kenosha to deliver both the statue and a dorm fridge she donated to my office. While we were in Kenosha she patiently waited for me to be measured for my suit, then I treated her to a late lunch at Ron's Place, restaurant recommended to me by my coworker Seth. 

I do not recommend the cheddar cheese curds as they are not really curds just small blocks of cheese deep fried. Edible and tasty but they are not cheese curds my friends.

I thought my entree was going to be a similar disappointment. I chose the 5x5 Burger, which is their mainstay and a popular item. But when it came out it looked like nothing more than a burger patty an oversized mediocre looking bun. I will say I was wrong. The burger tasted like it was grilled over charcoal, and the entire sandwich had great flavor the source of which I cannot easily identify. I would order it again.

Meanwhile Lulu ordered a modified club sandwich with onion straws, and a side of french fries. I don't recall what this item is called on the menu but it was mighty tasty too.

If you're in Kenosha and one casual pub food, Ron's Place is definitely worth a stop. 

 

Kissee Kissee

Late night dinner at Vanguard 

Real Chili

I met up with Lisa and Junie  at Real Chili after Lisa scooped her from a driving lesson. While we were there we bought a bowl for a homeless man that was passing time in the restaurant drinking a water. I mention this not to point out our charity, but to laugh about the fact that he turned down my offer of a hot dog and insisted on the chili, which was twice the price LOL

The Holiday Ethnic Fair

Today YaYa bought me a ticket for the holiday ethnic fair at State Fair Park, where she was volunteering at the booth for the Polanki Women's Group.

Their booth featured many fine examples of Polish pottery and ceramics, nearly all of which were beyond the reach of my pocketbook at the moment.

I was surprised at both the scale and diversity of the fair. They were literally countries represented that I had never heard of, as well as representatives from nations on five continents (I didn't see an Australian booth, although I could have missed it.) I didn't photograph any of them until I was literally walking to the exit so this is but the smallest example of what there was to see.

Afterward, after I made her go along while I did a little necessary shopping, Yaya treated me to dinner at Luna's where I had huevos rancheros with chorizo.

Thanks for the invitation and the generosity YaYa!

Thursday with Junie

Last Thursday was Throwback Day for Spirit/Homecoming Week and Junie, as you can see, went with a hippie vibe. She was dissapointed because some people, including a teacher, said it wasn't far off her norm. I disagree, as did Junie. 

After school I picked her up and drove her to a nail appointment off 77th and Capitol Dr, where I sat outside in the car for 90 minutes. Cute nails tho.

Then we drive across town to a Sendiks where we picked up the corsages and a boutenaire for her and some of the Core Four. We also picked up some groceries, which reminded us we were hungry.

So we went to a nearby Five Guys. It was the second visit to one in my life and good or not, a ten dollar burger this wasn't.  They're crazy expensive in my opinion. 

The fries though . . .ok, the fries are worth the money.

Anyway we say and talked about the day, some theological points from her Confirmation class, and other matters of interest on a rainy October evening.

An Evening with Smiley

After work, at his request, I went with Smiley to the library to keep him company as he wrote a paper.  We were there 3 full hours, right until they closed at 8.  On the way home we stopped at Pita Palace and shared a great sampler plate while we traded Pokemon and discussed WWI.

Breakfast at the Copper Kitchen

On the surface, chicken and waffles qualifies as an unhealthy late breakfast at the Copper Kitchen. Lisa and I did split the meal tho, as you can see here, ordered it sans cheese, and . . . and it's none of your business anyway bub.

White Castle

Most of you probably live near a White Castle, but alas there are none within Milwaukee county. The nearest is down in Kenosha, two counties and 35 Freeway miles away.

So when Lisa and I found ourselves in Kenosha on this bright and sunny day, we stopped in for some yum-yum get you some. 

I texted these pictures to a friend who's never been to a WC, and he responded that it didn't look appetizing at all. 

Perhaps. 

But as I replied to him, it tasted "divine."

Dan and Lisa's Low Key Day of Fun

Yesterday I took a day off to have a Dan and Lisa's Low Key Day of Fun with my lady. First stop, DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) out on 115th and Burleigh, in the Mayfair Collection outdoor mall. We spent an hour there finding sandals for Lisa's upcoming NKOTB cruise, then Lisa treated me to lunch at the Corner Bakery.  

I had turkey, bacon, and avocado on wheat with a side of Caesar's Salad, and Lisa had a lovely chicken sub with a side of fruit. 

Afterwards we made a brief stop at Aldi for protein drinks, a gas station for fuel, stopped at Maadc to look at the kitties (alas, they had a health outbreak and all but two cats were quarantined). Then we stopped at the bike shop to pick up her bicycle, the library to look at yesterday's paper (alas, it turns out my column was online only, and not included in the razor thin print edition), and then a nap. 

In the evening we headed out again, this to time to get dinner at Hot Dish Pantry , a new  restaurant on Howell near the airport. It's counter-service, which is an annoying but popular trend, and features both indoor and patio dining. We chose the latter. 

The entrees were very good. I had a simple smashed burger, plain, while Lisa had a take on Minnesota's Juicy Lucy's. 

I don't think the sides were as good a value, in taste or price. There was a crab rangoon pierogi, which is further ethnically confused by the inclusion of a corn garnish. It was very good, but there wasn't much to distinguish it from your standard order of rangoon at a Chinese restaurant.

A potato croquette failed to impress either of us, beyond a nice presentation. 

I'm not a desert guy, but Lisa said the chocolate tasted a little off  - vegan perhaps? The desserts rotate very frequently, so any review must be treated as unique to that visit anyway. 

Now up to this point I'd grade the experience at Hot Dish Pantry very positively. A little hit and miss, a little pricey, but a good time and overall very good food. 

Then a drunk appeared, knocked a full recycling bin into the street, and wandered up to the guests on the patio and unleashed a screed, lasting several minutes, about how we were all going to burn in hell  "you n-words." Disgusting, and equally odd as everyone on the patio was Caucasian. 

Most of this was addressed at a woman sitting with her male companion and a friend, none of whom said anything. I told the guy to move on, but he didn't, and Lisa got up to tell the employees. That put her very close to the guy, which was a boiling point - had he touched her I'd have had to retaliate and I wasn't looking to escalate the situation. Instead he took her threat of police seriously and started down the road. 

To our shock, the employees/owner? claimed the man was "harmless," often wandered by drunk but "never did that before" and not only didn't want to call the police but didn't have the police non-emergency number on hand. 

Man, I don't run to the police for every interaction, even of this kind, but if I was running a business again I would take the comfort and safety of my guests a little more seriously. You didn't hear the bottles spilling into the street? The constant shouted "n-word" for a good few minutes wasn't overheard? A diner shouldn't have to tell a drunk to move on; his wife shouldn't be the one to ask the police to get involved. And once the situation WAS identified, you didn't think to come out and offer at least an apology to your guests? That poor woman took the brunt of his venom for a good two minutes.

I didn't pay close to $70 to listen to a  drunk racist you know and let skate.  

(and nevermind what I think of the diner's boyfriend/husband, who sat there and let her be insulted and berated and let another guy speak up for her) 

Not cool. 

Anyway, later, before she went to bed, Lisa and I used up the last of the zucchini making bread together. 

A fun if low key day together :)

    

Unpopular Opinion (exclusive SE Wisconsin edition)

Marty's Pizza is subpar, largely tasteless fare. 

Hospital Gowns, Battered Cod, and a New 'Do

Disregard the hospital gown, as nothing was wrong. I was just in for a colonoscopy/endoscopy ordered by my doc because of my age. And no, I'm not as happy to have a camera up my bum as I appear here lol

I had been spooked by a bunch of people warning me the lead up to the procedure  aka the colon cleanse, was torturous. I didn't think it was bad.  Tiring, and I developed a headache from being dehydrated, but that's it. By the time Smiley drove me to the 10am procedure, I just wanted it over and done. 

Unfortunately, the guy in front of me in the queue passed out when getting his IV  - don't get me started on what I think of him - and delayed my time on the table. So I sat in a hospital gown and watched the Simpson's "Dome" episodes while they fanned and doted on the first guy. 

An hour later I woke up from the anesthesia, was told I was good to go for the next ten years, and sent on my way via a ride from Lisa. 

Anyhow, the moral of the story is, if you're an old man like me, listen to your doctor and get the procedure.

*****

After a few hours recovery at home, I took Junie for a haircut and styling at a salon on the East side. 

Here's the before pic: 

The "during" pic: 

And the after: 

Then, not having eaten anything for 46 hours at that point, I feasted on a fish fry from Saraphinos, while Junie had pizza.