About A Month

It has been a little over a month since I posted. The time has flown by. There has been snow on the ground almost the whole time. Other than a couple of days, it has been colder than I like. The stock market has been all over the place. I did my taxes and filed them electronically, all by myself. Both of my kids have had their birthdays and I made a trip to the Social Security office. Actually, I made two trips. The first to make an appointment and the second to have the appointment to ask questions. This Social Security thing is new to me. I am old enough for the Medicare Card (damn, I'm old), but not old enough for full benefits.

Still not sure what I am going to do when "retirement age" comes around. Work has become just that.....work. Until I draw my own SS, I can collect some from my second ex-spouse. That was a pleasant surprise. The idea of working and drawing SS is appealing. The extra money would make it easier to pay off the home equity loan (windows & siding). The sooner it is paid off, the less interest I pay. I like that idea!

I can't see myself sitting at home. I have never been the "Suzy Homemaker" type and I am not about to start now. 8:00 A.M. means that I should be somewhere. I guess I will do what I usually do. After all the "I don't knows" have been thought through, I will make a snap decision and deal with the consequences! One door closes and another one opens. Just don't know what door will close and which will open.....or when.

Flight

After the attempted bombing of the inbound airplane at Detroit on Christmas Day, I wondered about how it would be flying into Detroit on 12/29. Even more, I wondered how it would be flying out of Detroit on 1/1/10! There was very little change leaving Peoria at 6:25 AM. Perhaps an extra security person or two, but otherwise the only change was the need to show the boarding pass as I walked through the scanner and again to the crew when I boarded the plane.

I don't know how screening went for international travel, but leaving Detroit was a breeze. There were several more security personnel than usual, but they were just standing around (observing, I am sure). There was no need to be at the airport two hours before flight time. The almost non-existent line at security moved quickly. The only difference was the request to place the shoes on the conveyor belt rather than in the plastic tub. Again, the flight crew checked the boarding pass. They did count passengers and compare passengers to their flight list.

I did not notice any hesitation on the part of fellow travelers on either flight. I still love to fly and will take advantage of any opportunity to hop a plane!

I Will Return!

A block northeast of Spring Street on Adams Street (1420 N.E. Adams, I think) there is a new restaurant that opened recently. In fact the "First Dollar" on the wall is dated November 9th. Several restaurants have opened in that location over the years. I remember when it was Art's and they had a good "down home" breakfast buffet. Usually, a new place would be closed by the time I decided to stop in. Not so, this time. Mel's Cafe was my breakfast spot today. I must say that I was delighted! Good food, reasonable prices and decent coffee. Coffee was even included in the cost of the meal. That alone is pretty rare anymore.

A very large pancake, 2 eggs (cooked as I requested), two sausage patties and the never empty cup of coffee - $5.45 including tax. Mel's is clean and fresh. Diners have their choice of table, booth or counter dining. The staff is the friendliest that I have come across in a long time and certainly added to the enjoyment. Open from 6 AM to 2 PM seven days a week, Mel's Cafe is a great addition to the Near Northside. It is close enough that I may even have to try it for lunch soon.

If supporting a local business is important to you, then Mel's Cafe deserves a visit if you are in the neighborhood. I know, I will return!

UPDATE: Several friends were going to meet at Mel's Cafe for breakfast, but the snowfall of Dec. 26th & 27th had people snowed in. The streets were in pretty bad shape, but since I live fairly close, I decided to go anyway. Again breakfast was very good. I tried a half order of biscuits & gravy. Probably not the best I have ever had, but it was good. Just like last time, there was a copy of the newspaper available to read over breakfast & coffee. Even though the streets were in bad shape and it was still snowing, there was a steady stream of customers. This is one local business I will continue to support.

Looking Back and Moving Forward

Just took a trip down memory lane. Revisiting posts that were made over a year ago. It is interesting how things change, but yet how much they remain the same. I still want to retire, but can't for awhile. The house is still old, but with new siding and windows not as drafty. I am still a Grandma, but now I have two wonderful grandchildren. I still say "Bah Humbug" to this whole season and look forward to January 2, 2010 so things can get back to normal.

Still have the same two dogs from December 2007 and 8 of the 9 cats. I still miss Skyler and Smokey as those cats were a part of my life for so long. The remaining 8 seem healthy and happy. I am still not making any New Year resolutions nor have I gotten back in control to take off the 20 pounds that I have gained over the last several years. Not near where I was at one time, but certainly not where I want to be.

We saved a neighborhood grade school, but lost a high school. The flowers were beautiful this past spring and summer and I hope the black hollyhocks come up next year. We had a National election and the earth still turns on its axis. The economy has gone south over the last two years, but the most recent unemployment numbers are a little better. I am still pretty much a hermit, but really enjoy the forum and blogger friendships that have deepened over the last two years.

I am still looking for the perfect Sunday breakfast. Next stop, Oscar's on Farmington Road!

Still Searching....

I took Emerge's suggestion and tried the Silver Dollar this morning. Food was really good and quite reasonable. If I go again I will take my food and move to a table. I guess I am too short to comfortably eat at the bar. I chose the bar since all the tables were empty. It does seem odd to see a fellow diner wash down his biscuits and gravy with beer at 9:30 in the morning. But, hey....who am I to say! If one like the "neighborhood bar" atmosphere, the Silver Dollar serves a darn good breakfast.

In Search of.......

Anyone who knows me well, knows I do not like to cook. I really do not like to cook! Lunch and dinner, I can take care of but, breakfast.....that is another matter. I am in search of the perfect place for breakfast. Good food, good selection, reasonable price and a pleasant atmosphere. Is that too much to ask? I have no problem with "greasy spoon" type places and will "dress up" a little if I have to.

I know there are numerous places left to try, but here is the list as it stands today:

• Bartonville Diner - so far #1 in my book. Stuffed French Toast to die for
• The Lighthouse in Rome - small, but good buffet. They will be closed for awhile in January. Reasonable price, even though they had raised it $1.00 the last time I was there.
• LePeep - Good, but kind of middle of the road
• Home Town Buffet - lowered their price and took the good stuff off the buffet
• Butcher Block - small, but good buffet. Nice atmosphere. Service was questionable
• Zim's - the fact that it is closed says it all
• Childer's (old Ranchero Fiesta building) - based on Childer's on University, it was a real disappointment for the price
• The Mayflower - standard fare, nothing to go back for
• Denney's - standard fare, lousy coffee but it is pretty inexpensive
• Mushrush - buffet was pretty good, but they stopped having it
• Lee's (old Steak & Shake on N. Adams) - solid home cooking and reasonable
• Hungry Moose (Farmington Road) - small, busy, good food, reasonable and the coffee was fairly good (I am somewhat of a coffee snob)
• Eamon Patrick's - fantastic, but closed. Eagerly awaiting the Fahey's opening the Sunday Buffet at the Cornerstone Building facility.
• Maid Rite - traditional fare, reasonable price. I like the atmosphere and gift shop.

Making a trip to One World and Sterling Family Restaurant are on my list to revisit since I have not been to either for a long time. Other recommendations?

Pet Peeve

Just sitting here doing not much of anything and realized I have not visited this blog for some time. I don't usually write unless there is something that really gets to me, either in a good or not so good way. This gets to me - GENERALIZATIONS! Generalizations about a group of people, generalizations about a system, generalizations about an organization, even generalizations about a family - as if everyone involved is the same. "They are (fill in the blank); therefore, they must (fill in the blank).

I work in an environment about which many assumptions are made. I live in an area about which many assumptions are made. Is there a grain of truth behind the assumption? Of course there is! But when that grain of truth is applied to everything and everyone in a certain group, without knowing the facts about the individuals it is the smoldering pot of prejudice. Not necessarily racial or ethnic, but just plain old prejudging without knowledge. It is like saying that everyone with the last name of Smith or Jones behaves and thinks the same way. They all (fill in the blank). Especially if your name is Smith or Jones, you know it is not true.

I learned a long time ago, that it does no good whatsoever to try to refute a prejudgment. All I can do is to try as hard as I can not to prejudge, not to make those assumptions and not to generalize and to tell the truth as I know it when the opportunity presents itself.