 |
| Grilled cheese at Neighbor's Grill |
Today should have
been an ordinary, pleasant day. I anticipated a lunch with my friend, Carol,
but otherwise pretty much an easy day until Jordan had girls in for happy hour
before the rodeo. The Lord apparently had other plans for us.
Last night I
noticed a bald spot, about the size of a nickel, on Sophie’s flank (I have only
recently learned where the flank is—I always thought it meant thigh but not so;
it’s on the trunk). We took a picture, and this morning I sent it to the vet.
Response: we need to see her. Since I
can’t get my energetic and excitable dog into the car while managing my walker,
Jordan had to interrupt her work and drop her off. A couple of hours later, she
was ready to be home, so Jordan had to go again.
Meantime I went
to lunch with Carol. We went to Neighbors Grocery, a new downtown grocery which
was advertised to have terrific burgers—elk, bison, or beef—on Fridays. Turns
out it’s only Friday evening, but they are known for the grilled cheese
sandwiches. I had grilled cheese with prime rib, and Carol had grilled cheese
with brisket. We both agreed they were outstanding. I also had a cup of
black-eyed pea soup. It was peas in a tomato broth, lightly seasoned, and
delicious. They also have a selection of deli sandwiches, so we brought Jordan
a pastrami sandwich.
The store is
interesting. Very upscale. You don’t get Starkist tuna there—you get Cento tuna
and other off, expensive, wild brands. Carol found a can of boneless, skinless
sardines, which made me wonder how much is left of those small fish. Lots of
wine, lots of mixers, exotic teas, snacks—a huge refrigerator of sausage and
cheese which would have delighted Jordan’s happy hour-loving heart. There’s an
emphasis on health and organic foods, and even the chips that came with Carol’s
lunch were obviously house made. Not greasy, crisp and real potato flavor. They
also offer entrees at lunch. Today they were salmon with lemon sauce and a
chicken dish.
If you’re
planning to cook dinner, this is not a place you shop. But if you’re downtown
and ready for lunch, it’s a great alternative. And if you live downtown—or work
there—and want to pick something up on the way home for dinner, it’s a great
stop. I imagine the groceries are
expensive, but our lunch sandwiches were $10, which is about what you’d pay
anywhere for a good sandwich.
Getting there
was not easy. We parked in a garage across the street—free—but the handicapped
access ramp was slick and scary. And then we had to cross Sixth Street, which
is full of cracks that kept tripping my walker. And the ramp up to the sidewalk
was also without traction and scary. I was a bit shaky and done in when we got
there. When we left, Carol drove around to get me right in front of the
building. I’ll go again but armed with quarters for the meter parking right
outside the door.
Meantime, back
home, I noticed the Sophie was licking her hot spot. So I had to go to the vet
to get an Elizabethan collar. We put it on her, and she instantly got it off.
Tried again, and it took a little longer, but she still pawed and shook until
it came off. In the late afternoon I called and was told to weave her collar
into the loops of the Elizabethan collar. Jacob declined to do that, said his
dad would do it. So I’m waiting for dear old dad. Meantime, she licks
occasionally but not constantly, and I’m wondering if we really need to subject
her to that.
Another “meantime”
– I went into the house for happy hour with the girls that were going to rodeo
with Jordan, all girls I’m delighted to see and who give me great hugs. But I
was antsy, nervous about Sophie, and came back to the cottage after half an
hour or so.
It was a busy
day at my desk too, but that’s a story for another day. Suffice to say, I have
a lot of possible projects and a lot of reading to do to decide between them.
