Angie’s Drama

It can’t be just me. The Academy Awards show was so boring this year. To some people, like my friend Alex, who probably saw every movie nominated in any category, including best animated short, probably not so much. Even trying to play the M&M Oscar Night Bingo Game didn’t help things.
Rob and I did high five (how lame is that?) when Jorge Drexler won Best Song in a Motion Picture. We knew Alex would be screaming and running around and posting it on his blog immediately. (was I right?)
I know they were going for the “American Idol” vibe, according to E! Entertainment’s all day, crack of dawn, everyone’s wearing formal gowns and tuxedos, coverage. Did Beyonce really need to sing three songs? Did Chris Rock really have to make a Jay-Z comment after each performance? Did anyone else feel embarrassed for the poor nominees that were either deemed so unimportant they weren’t allowed on stage or the nominees that had to stand with all the competitors on stage so that the entire world could see their disappointment? That seemed pretty crappy to me. We know you costume designers make everyone look good-but you’re a nobody, so you sure won’t be taking 2 minutes to walk onto the stage. Seems a tad condescending to me.
What about Martin Scorsese being shut-out again? That’s some crap. Keep making the movies though buddy because most people that aren’t *insert snobby Grey Poupon voice* “voting members of the academy” love your movies.

Bill over at Peoria Pundit has an interesting thread. http://www.peoriapundit.com/mt/archives/2005/02/alert_the_media.html#comments

Peoria has umpteen Steak n’ Shake restaurants but not a single White Castle, Sonic, Boston Market, In & Out Burger, Fudruckers or Jack in the Box restaurant. I realize Steak n’ Shake is a valuable commodity to all those that have moved from Peoria. Heck, it’s a valuable commodity to anyone after a night of cocktails. We also have a Baker’s Square now, which is essentially Perkins, though not up to par in my opinion. I can’t believe The Outback closed. When it opened, it had the best team of servers, cooks and managers. Many were coming from O’Leary’s and they went through all the corporate training and learned all the ins and outs of the chain. Over the years, things started going downhill-but the place was always packed. As recently as three months ago, I had dinner there with my family and the wait was about 45 minutes. If The Outback can’t stay open, how is Lone Star Steakhouse staying open?
People tend to eat at chain restaurants because they know what they’re getting. Consistency is the key. Three times a year, when Rob goes to Knob Creek, KY-they eat at The Outback one or two nights a week. Damon’s on the Riverfront was another chain that had problems with their consistency. The Damon’s in Bloomington has always done well. The one here-closed within three or four years. Buffalo Wild Wings seems to be doing an outstanding job. They seem to always be busy and people love going there.
I wish Peoria had a Fudruckers. Whenever we go to Virginia to visit my brother, we stop at Fudruckers and make the best burgers. I guess you can’t miss what you’ve never tried.
I also wish Peoria still had O’Leary’s, Rosie’s, Brown’s Chicken, Mister Donut, Mellow Cream and Sigrids.
But, I am thankful that Peoria has Schooner’s, Leonardo’s, The Patio Inn, Firehouse Pizza and the Hoffbrau House-among many others.

This afternoon, I took my dad to the drive-thru at KFC. He got to leave the nursing home so the therapists could do a home inspection. Just to make sure my Dad will be able to be on his own, starting tomorrow. He asked to go to KFC before I took him back. We placed the order and pulled to the window. It seemed like an extremely long amount of time passed before our money was even taken. Finally, with now 7 cars behind us, the woman handed our food out to us. I asked if she could put the order in two bags. That was the wrong thing to ask. She said, “Look, I have all these cars behind you and I’m the only one here. Can you bag it yourself?” Alrighty. Now, I’m aware that anyone who has ever been a server, or in the food industry, has wanted at some point to say that. Usually, it’s about the time the Psycho theme music is going through your head and visions of that knife repeatedly going through the shower. (At least, that’s my usual freak out- mode scenario.) But, to actually ask a customer to do that is unbelievable. How many times have you had to: box up three entrees, ring up 7 separate checks, take 2 drink orders, deliver entrees to a 5-top, bus a table and sit a 3-top, all at once? Hell, I’m not even waiting tables anymore, but the multi-tasking I learned, enables me to not freak out when I have 7 different things to get done in 20 minutes. And, I can bag my own lunch, no matter where I am.

I asked the people at my polling place how voter turnout was so far. She said pretty slow and they’re hoping for a bigger turnout after work. I was startled to see I was only voting for two races: Mayor and 2nd District. I have no idea what I was expecting but it did seem like an awfully blank ballot. I’ve talked to more than one person today that told me they’ve never voted in a primary. That just shocks me. As soon as I turned 18, I was questioned each and every election day if I had voted. It certaintly made me get off the couch, walk across the street and vote. I hope turnout increases this evening. This is going to be a pretty exciting election!
P.S.
JIM ARDIS FOR MAYOR
ROCK ON!

It’s so easy to get wrapped up in sadness when you see so much of it. The two teenagers from Dunlap that died in the auto accident, returning from a ski trip. The death of George Shadid, Jr-a terrific human being with so much kindness in his heart, the death of a friend’s grandmother-who meant the world to their family-and the death of a friend’s brother-who had been battling a life threatening disease his entire life-all in the same two days.
I did hear a great story.
Sunday evening, at Northwoods Community Church, several teens were gathered to share their thoughts, grief and experiences they shared with Alison Heth and Mary Clark. Someone called up to Firehouse Pizza on Pioneer Pkwy, to order pizzas for the group. Upon hearing what was going on, the folks at Firehouse (Shane) gave the group 10 XL pizzas on the house. That evening, three separate people stopped in to say thank you, for their generosity.
That’s pretty cool.

Every morning, I drive down Knoxville to get to Downtown Peoria. While there are many steadfast businesses in the area, there are also too many empty buildings. First, there is the old Sullivan Food/Thompson Food Basket building. It was so nice to be able to run in and out if you forgot something. Unlike Cub Foods, which requires a minimum 10 minute wait in the line. If you happen to be in the 6 Items of Less Lane, heaven help you if someone is buying lottery tickets. That bumps your wait in line to at least 15-20 minutes. It seems as if the old Sullivan Food/Thompson Food Basket may becoming a used car lot. There are several junked out cars, and an old Butternut Bread truck. Second, there is the old Hardees building on McClure. Though technically not on Knoxville, the boarded up building can be seen. Third is the old Burger King building which closed this past year. Fouth is the old Lums building. After the Garden Restaurant closed, they didn’t even bother taking down the special of the day from the sign. Lastly, there is the former Arby’s building. That was just a weird Arby’s anyway. They never carried exactly what all the other restaurants had on their menu. So, while all these businesses have failed and closed, there is no lack of Title Loans or Payday Loans on Knoxville. Apparently, in order to succeed in the line of business, your storefront must be the most awful color combinations imaginable. Red and yellow look like condiments-sorry. Pink and aqua were great when Miami Vice ruled the world. Why are the psychics always open? Don’t they need to sleep?

I’ve been taking in all these accounts of the shooting at Woodruff and the handgun incident at Greeley school. There has been something bothering me since I heard Dion Alexander’s mother in an interview. She claims that her son was arrested after several witnesses ID’d him as the shooter at Woodruff. She also said that those witesses were in fact friends with the boy who had been bullying her son. I’m very concerned about that. The boy he is accused of shooting at, was the same boy who trespassed at Greeley school and was in possession of a gun. Isn’t this a little too coincidental? Maybe Dion is telling the truth. It should at least be looked at with a new set of eyes.

Am I the only one that doesn’t get it? Not only do I not get it, I have no desire to travel to New York’s Central Park and walk around under 23 miles of gates with saffron fabric. The media is treating this as the biggest art exhibit of the century. They’re 3-sided frames! And don’t get me started on the kooky arteests. Christo and Jeanne-Claude are the eccentric, over-the-top, brilliant artists that came up with the plan. Adding to the kookiness is that they were born on the exact same day of the same year. Alrighty, I get the whole, we may be long lost twins cosmically balanced with the Earth thing but these people are nuts. Their publicists freaked out on Letterman’s staff for having the audacity to invite them on the show with little more than a day’s notice. They were offended. Guess what? Take your freaky, frame building, eccentic European selves home. I have no problem going to the Art Institute in Chicago to see beautiful art without the drama.

It seems that everyone I know has been bitten by the cold or flu bug lately. I woke up this morning feeling drained and achy. Worse though is the extreme puffiness around my eyes. I look like I’ve been rolling around the floor with ten cats. This is a busy weekend too. The MS Society’s Carnivale is on Friday and Saturday evening is a fundraiser for the Haitian Hearts Program at the Recovery Room. Mama Walker is coming home tomorrow for a brief stay until she’s back at the hospital Monday morning. Rob and I are cooking everyone dinner Saturday night. If I have a cold, I won’t be able to see her, and I haven’t seen her for a month! Let’s hope I don’t overdose on the vitamin C.

I think every Valentine’s Day since Rob and I have been together (almost 7 years….yikes), one of us has had to work at a restaurant or bar. This year was no different. The one good thing about being a server on Valentine’s Day is that you’re super busy. (note: I did not say you get super tips) The sheer volume of tables you have-makes up for those diners that eat out twice a year: New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day, and feel that leaving a 10% tip is a genuine sign of appreciativeness. My favorite story of a Valentine’s Day date: Rizzi’s on Sheridan, Valentine’s night, 40-50 people waiting at the bar, in the hallway, at the front door, in the vestibule and outside. During this time, the mentality was to get them in and out before anyone spontaneously combusted from hunger or anger. Ahhh…The Good Old Days. I get the one couple that decides they’ll have a 14 inch cheese pizza and water-a pitcher if you have it. Little Ceasar’s anyone? Their bill came to $9.20 and I got the good old, “Here’s a $10, keep the change!” And a Happy Valentine’s Day to you.