Kudos

Smiley got this wonderful thank you from a table he served last night at work.  Great job!

(She wrote the note on a birthday card she'd received at the dinner)

The Annual Work Conference

This past Thursday and Friday I found myself in my hometown, as the state conference brought everyone downtown for the annual event. It was, as expected, largely a boring collection of lectures of dubious value to the job, but whatever. It was something different than the normal 8 to 5 we all experienece. 

Thursday evening I met Seth and Eladio at Carini's, an Italian restaurant on the East Side. Lorenzo had been invited, but declined, the bum. 

The shared appetizer of Arancini Piccolo (rice balls) was quite good, and so was the bread they bought out with the oil. 

As it was my first time there I wanted to sample their menu basics, so I ordered an excellent fettucine alfredo with homemade Italian sausage. Seth got veal, Eladio the chicken parm. 

It was a fun time and a great meal. 

On Friday we listened to a lecture by Rick Jones - who would tragcally pass over that very weekend, may he RIP- and then Seth gave me a ride home, stopping for a quick dinner at Classic Slice. 

Today at Work

"You gdamn [my job title] suck donkey d*ck., mother fu**ers" - a woman said to me in the parking lot of the jail intake court. 

She was 60 (or a rough life 50), white,  with face tats in multiple places. 

I don't know her, and her comments were made as generalities, not a personal attack.

Still. 

Later she backed her car up and boxed mine in,  intentionally I think,  since she saw me and my colleague Timothy get in and shut the doors. Just as Timothy was about to contact the sheriff,  she drove off.  

So that was swell.

Smiley Starts Student Teaching!

Today Smiley began student teaching at a local Montessori school. He was very pleased with his first day, describing to me how he was assigned to help a special needs student, as well as surveying how well the children (1st though 3rd grade) understood vocabulary. 

We are very proud of you son!!

Tavern on 6th

Despite it being the 11th of October here in Wisconsin, it is also a sunny, breezy day around 80 degress farrenheit. Just lovely weather. My friend Seth offered to buy me lunch and so we walked down to Tavern on the 6th and dined outside. 

Sorry about the poor photo here, but the sun was uncooperative. I ordered a  plain smashed burger with grilled onions, nothing else. 

I do not know why, or by what magic this came to pass, but the burger was EASILY one of the top 3 or 4 I have ever had in my life. I kid you not.  My word, it was good. 

 

Despite his penchant for making goofy faces when photographed, Seth chose to go all serious for this one, perhaps in honor of his collegiate sweatshirt. 

Moody's Subs

For lunch my friend Seth invited me to join him at Moody's, which bills themselves as a sub shop. In reality, it's a Middle Eastern restaurant that happens to also serve subs, albeit ones with an unconventional flair. 

Case in point, the cheesesteak I ordered:

Premium Roast Beef, Grill Onions, Portobello Mushrooms, Mix Bell Peppers, Drizzled in Dijonae’s, Melted Mozzarella Cheese, Kaiser Roll

The half pound of meat was too much,  and I took half the sandwich home where it served as my dinner.  

The avocado soup in the picture was very good by the way. 

Not the most affordable of lunches, but very tasty and with ample portions.  I'll be back. 

Mean Girls Day

Mean Girls Day today. We were encouraged to wear pink.

Just a Bit Outside

Lisa and I ventured up to Cedarburg, to the familiar atmosphere of the Rivoli, to see Just a Bit Outside: The Story of the 82 Brewers.

The Brewers, of course, captured their only pennant to date in 1982, then fell in 7 games in the World Series to the Cardinals. I have great memories of the time, but fuzzy: I was only 8, and not very into baseball at the time. So the documentary not only filled in the gaps in my knowledge, it clarified some faded recollections too. 

It's a great documentary, even if I kept hoping the ending would somehow, magically change. 

(afterwards I tried to convince my Dad to go with me to see it, but he demurred due to illness)

Afterwards Lisa wanted Real Chili: 

 

Then we ventured down to Discovery World, to pick Junie up from her new job. To our surprise, we were greeted with a fireworks display - in September! - and got out of the car to watch it. 

A great evening with a great lady.

Why?

The resort where this conference is taking place is pretty high end. It's sprawling buildings sit on a gorgeous lake, there's a golf course, multiple restuarants, etc. 

Yet their design motiff? Intentionally distressed wood. 

Bruh. 

 

Conference Food Day Four

Why no pictures from day one? Because they provided no food on the first day. 

Day 3 Breakfast and Lunch