Angie’s Drama

We found out last week that Randy Franks had passed away. Randy had been a staple in Peoria’s service community for years working at Rizzi’s, Jim’s Steakhouse, Jumer’s and The Hoffbrau House just to name a few establishments.

Love him or Hate him, Randy always left a memorable impression with everyone from guests to servers to bartenders to cooks. With his long brown Moore cigarettes he chain smoked with relish, to his marked stuttering when thinking how to describe a menu item, Randy was possibly the most unique/ecclectic person I’ve ever met. The man knew his food, how it should be presented, how it should be served and how it should be cleared. He was just as known for his awful jokes as he was for his knowledge of all things concerning food and beverage. His table side ceasar salads have been enjoyed by hundreds of people and thankfully most of us know the recipe so the tradition can continue.

Randy’s parties were as infamous for his over the top catering as they were for the wealth and variety of alchol available. As a guest, you truly felt special attending his gatherings. Randy is the single reason Rob is as obsessed with mustards as he is. He taught us how a certain mustard with a certain grape and jalepeno cheese could be the best thing in the world.

In the last few years, with his health failing, Randy couldn’t get out as much as used too. He had to give up the garage sales he so loved and the horrible scooter he used to ride.

 We tried to visit with him as often as our schedules would allow with Rob able to stop over every few weeks just to chit chat. He was still the ultimate host, just unable to do everything for us he wanted. His grandchildren, nieces and nephews were the apple of his eye and he always had updated pictures and clippings to show us.

Whenever we’d see Randy, at work, at play or just out, when asked how he was doing he always gave the same reply, “I’m just splendiferous or I’m doing just splendiferously!” And that’s how we’ll always rember him.

Last Friday, I stopped at the Marathon gas station at the corner of Forrest Hill and Knoxville to get gas. There are two reasons I use the gas station. The first is that it’s approximately 1.5 blocks from my home. The second is that the “pay at the pump” function is almost always available. There are certain gas stations in Peoria that have cheaper gas, but the “pay at the pump” option seems to be available less and less. For my own sanity, I use this option to avoid the overwhelming impatience I develop standing behind people playing the lottery and wasting everyones time. Not that the lottery is a waste of time, it’s the people that don’t have their cards filled out correctly, change their minds or start over. I’ve actually been at more than one gas station with one person in line for the tickets and the other waiting in the car. The person in line, holding open the door and shouting out what numbers do the other person want and how does the person want them to play it. Overwhelming impatience. So, I tend to stop at gas stations I know have enabled “pay at the pump.” After I filled my tank, I pulled out of the station and never gave the situation another thought except that it is a bit of a pain to turn left out of the gas station since Forrest Hill in both directions is usually non-stop. My day went on. I happened to go on-line to check my bank account status later that afternoon. Right there, on the screen was a $1.00 debit from Marathon. The amount of gas I had purchased was not yet recorded but the $1.00 debit was. They charged me $1.00 to either pay at the pump or for using a debit card. Oh Hell No. The woman who answered the phone knew nothing about it and assumed it was my bank charging me. I told her the debit was from Marathon Oil. She offered me the 1-800 number but after ten minutes on hold, I figured it’s better worth my time (again, impatience) to get over it and never get gas there again. It is truly disappointing since I do give them quite a bit of business.

Working downtown, you become accustomed to pedestrians crossing at intersections or jaywalking. Heck, I see more jaywalking on Knoxville than I do downtown. Are we not all in agreement that pedestrians having a walk sign take presedence over my turning left? Tell that to the FIVE jacks I’ve dealt with this week. FIVE times I’ve been honked at while waiting for a pedestrian to cross while I was waiting to turn and that’s just this week. I think it should be mandatory for everyone to re-take their driver’s test every couple of years. Rules of the Road people. Am I the only one that read it?

Today is the 11th anniversary of my very first accident. Technically, it’s the only accident I’ve been in because everything else has been a hit and run. No, I wasn’t the one doing the running. Eleven years ago today, Colleen, Farrah and I were headed into Dallas. Farrah had lived there briefly and her friend was graduating. We all decided on a road trip. The much loved navy Mitsubishi Galant took us all the way into Dallas. Since Farrah knew the town, she was in charge of driving. As we crossed an intersection a woman in a Cadillac went through the red light and crunch, the Galant was totalled. I remember sitting on the curb freaking out and being yelled at to get up because the fire ants would bite me. What the hell? Fire ants? So, I ended up going to the hospital for whiplash or whatever the correct term is nowadays. Being the Friday before Memorial Day, I couldn’t get a copy of the police report or see my car until the following Tuesday. Dad ended up flying down and Colleen and I stayed with him so Farrah could visit her friends. I do remember thinking it was quite odd that you could drink a beer in the backseat of a car and not get arrested. It’s funny the things you remember. We all flew back to Peoria on the following Wednesday. It was my first plane ride and Colleen held my hand the whole time. I haven’t seen or talked to Farrah in ages but I’ll see Colleen tonight. She’ll probably hold my hand at some point just like she did eleven years ago.

This guy, Jake Tapper is a former employee of Handgun Control Inc. HCI agenda is to abolish private firearms ownership.

Note: Can we already see where this is headed? Abolishing firearm ownership is akin to abolishing speech in Rob’s world. I saw the header and cringed. Anyway, Rob sent this into ABC News.

To Whom It May Concern:

By appointing Jake Tapper to report on firearms issues, ABC has shown yet again that big media wants not to report the news but to advance an agenda. Why don’t you get Ken Lay to report on business ethics?

Take a lesson from the Democratic Party, don’t screw with the 2^nd Amendment, go goose hunting with John Kerry. Remember, Clinton believed the gun issue lost it for Gore and advised Kerry and the rest to tone it down. Middle America won’t put up with it, they aren’t the dumb hicks you see in movies.

ABC and the rest of (I hate to sound like Rush but I’m going to say it) mainstream media, need to recapture all the credibility they can. It’s been a downhill slide for years but I think things hit the dumps starting pre 9/11. A slow news summer, when all the media reported on a rash of shark attacks in a year that actually saw a decline.

Report the news, simply stand on the corner and tell us what’s going on. Quit complaining about the lack of integrity in politics and turn that critical eye on yourself. Mr. Kettle, meet Mr. Black.

Sincerely,

Rob Walker

Peoria, IL

When Rob’s away on business, I pretty much take over. While I’m not necessarily a princess, Rob does treat me as one. So, if anything’s going to go awry, it will be when he’s gone. Rob is unflappable. Nothing really gets to him. Angie, not so much. When you always have that person to kill spiders, shoo wasps and dispose of dead animals sometimes you take it for granted.

That’s right. This morning, I let the dogs out and looked on the ground in the “Doggie Room” and saw something that must have been alive at one time since a gazillion ants were having a frenzy. First instict, run inside and lock the dogs outside for the rest of the day. Then the voice that takes over started bellowing that the dogs need to have their cool room away from the sun so I had to do something. Labs being Labs, will go after anything so there seems to always be a risk of one of them getting worms. That did it for me. I tentatively went to the shed (I don’t go in there since I don’t know what could live in there), opened the door a crack, saw the shovel and grabbed it. Then I ran into the dog room which still had the dog door locked in and shut the door so the Labs wouldn’t get involved. So, without looking at exactly what I was picking up, I kept trying to nudge it onto the shovel. At this point, the dogs are going crazy since I’m pretty much freaking out and doing the girly, “Ewww” “Oh My God” thing. I opened the door, held the shovel high, ran to the fence and threw it over into the creek. At that point, I threw the shovel back in the shed, grabbed Sophie and Vito, pulled them into the house and checked the dog room. All clear, no ants. Asthma attack yes, but no ants. But, I did it myself and didn’t call my father in-law or anyone else. I still don’t know what it was and it’s better that way. Ewwww.

The Prairie Air Show 4th Annual WING OFF

Friday, May 19th 4:30-7:30pm Wing Tasting

Forte Room at inPlay

$5.00 Cover includes wing tasting and entertainment

Entertainment: Elwood 4:30-6:30pm The Shake 6:30-8:30

Try Wings from:

TnT’s, Kelleher’s, Beef’O'Brady’s, Hammer’s, inPlay, Old Chicago, Papa Johns, The Wood Cutter, Tom’s Take Out, Hooter’s, Garner’s Pizza and Wings