Angie’s Drama

Last night, we met some friends and went to dinner at Leonardo’s before the Simpson’s Movie. We got there at 7pm (showtime was 8:30pm) and were seated almost immediately. That’s about the best part of the experience. While the place was busy, there were tons of people on the floor and bussing tables. It took almost twenty minutes to get our drinks and place our order. Everyone opted for the salad bar which came with two of the entrees but cost $4.50 per person with our pizza. The salad bar had empty containers of ingredients and was missing some common salad bar items. Pretty dissapointing but what can you do? Our food arrived a little after 8pm and we were able to get to the movie on time but the whole thing left us a little grumpy. Maybe we’ll be back for lunch but I think we’ll stay away during the dinner rush.

This weekend is going to be pretty tame for Team Walker. We’re going to dinner and seeing The Simpsons Movie tonight with some friends. Tomorrow, I’m getting the air conditioner in my car re-charged. Can you stand the excitement? Tomorrow is also the Ham N’ Jam featuring EXIT and Great White. Yes, that Great White. Should be kind of fun. But, we’re getting up early again on Sunday. Well, Rob is getting up early on Sunday. Apparently it’s the duck blind drawing at Rice Lake. So, all the hunters get together and tailgate like it’s a Jimmy Buffett concert except they’re all wearing cammo, most haven’t shaved, there probably aren’t any margaritas and there’s lots of deer sausage and jerky instead of cheeseburgers and palm trees. But, Sunday afternoon-after the drawing is the big annual Walker Family Fish Fry. As Rob says, “Someone has to bring the cole slaw because you can’t have a fish fry without cole slaw.” But I’m not a fan of cole slaw and I have no idea how to make it.

I walked out of the house today to see that the little itty bitty mushroom that was growing in the front yard has multiplied to the nth degree is now taking over half my lawn. Yuck…And so asthetically pleasing. Do you think I’m touching it? Oh no. That’s a duty for the other half of Team Walker. You know on Star Trek, when they show the whole ship moving slowly? Imagine that in your front yard. I’m sure by the time it starts to kill the lawn because it’s blocking all sunlight it’ll be erradicated. Until then, who knows.

To the guy that called up Markley & Luciano to say that the downtown bars have no business being open until four:

Believe it or not, not everyone works a job that enables them to socialize with their friends after 5pm. A great many people enjoy downtown bars before 4am but others go out of convenience. Some people get off work extremely late/early. Some people like to have the option to see their friends after 2am. Not EVERYONE is falling down drunk or on a bender. And, why does it bother you if it doesn’t effect you? Once again, if you don’t like it, show it with your dollar and don’t go. I, however, support downtown establishments since it’s been Rob and I’s bread and butter for many years. Our friends and co-workers continue to earn their living by working downtown so we continue to patronize those establishments.

I’ve been so busy with work and Rob’s been helping me quite a bit so the summer has flown by without us getting to do what we talked about doing. Three major achievements were made in the past week, however. We had sweet corn, blt’s and strawberry shortcake. Oh. And Rob made mango salsa to go with the swordfish.

* Hit the pool (I’ve only been once and the family pool is about a block away)

* See a big show (missed Def Leppard, Poison and Buffett this summer)

* Go fishing (we have the primo spot but we’re waiting for a day the group can all go)

* Go to Lou’s Drive-In

* Attend a bonfire

* Go to Louiseville, KY for a few days (still haven’t met Rob’s good friends)

* Plan the family trip to Las Vegas

* Go to Fairview Farms with the family

* Fish Fry (to be checked off Sunday)

* Have a margarita (only one mojito so far)

**Please teach your children to not ride their bicycles in and out of traffic on Knoxville during rush hour. I know sending your kid to the gas station to get your smokes and sodie pop is handy, but you may want to teach them that yes, even they- can be hit by a car.

**Please teach your children that running into the street without looking at traffic is another sure fire way to get hit by a car. I do realize that you may consider the street your front yard but it’s not. It’s just as much mine as it is yours because I pay taxes for the upkeep of your front yard. Do not, I repeat, do not, glare at me and cuss me out when I honk at your child because my car had to come to a complete halt because she ran out to grab her ball. Your extremely lucky that I understand your parenting skills and never divert my eyes from the road. We all know that if I were to have unavoidably hit your child, you would have shot me with a 22 that you posess illegally. Then the mob would have torn me limb from limb because I had the nerve to drive down a street going 20 mph and not expect to stop every two feet because the kids were playing in their “front yard”.

**Do not teach your child that proper street crossing procedure is to cross illegally (not at a light) and hold up traffic as you walk across the street to go to the Walgreens/gas station/liquor store/bus stop. Not every car will stop every time-as you take your sweet ass time to mozy on across the four lanes of traffic.

**Please make sure that you cuss me out when I have to come to a complete stop so you can cross the street when I have a green light. LOL…I know, I know, what the f*** am I thinking? I have a green light. As long as you get to cross the street when you want to, I guess we’re all good. The world does revolve around you. Who knew?

So, this month must officially be re-titled, “How Many Near Death Experiences Can Angie Have?” Somehow, someway, we survived what could have been a God-awful multi-car crash last night. It’s kind of hard to explain but I’ll try.
For some reason, after leaving Walmart (yes, I know Walmart is the Devil, but they have damn cheap dog food thankyouverymuch) on University, instead of taking Dries Lane to Forrest Hill, I opted to exit where Dynasty is rebuilding. I know I hate going this way because a) it takes forever to get a clear lane and b) everyone always runs the light at Walmart & Arby’s which leads to c) never making the left turn arrow at Forrest Hill and University. And I mean never. Normally, I have to pull out into the intersection and wait until the light turns red because the northbound traffic just keeps coming. So, yesterday I’m in the intersection and the light turns yellow. Two trucks were in the northbound lanes at Margaret.I went to turn and Rob started screaming that the red truck wasn’t stopping even though he was more than a block away from the intersection. Knowing I wouldn’t be able to swing over into the proper lane on Forrest Hill in time, I turned the car into the opposite lane on Forrest Hill between the turn lane and the right lane where it was miraculously car free. Before I could get over to the original lane I was turning into, the truck had flown through the intersection on a red light. Honestly, it was pretty good thinking for having to make a split second decision. And Rob figured that since the Forrest Hill traffic had green lights at the time, there could have been like a six car accident. Good God. So, lesson learned. I’m always taking Dries Lane to Forrest Hill. But really, there was no need to have to go to extremes.

Friday night is shot since I’m working until midnight, but here’s what’s going on Saturday.

*Brett Erickson is at the Jukebox Comedy Club.

*Elwood is at Kelleher’s from 9-1am.

*Generations is on the riverfront

Wednesday are officially Team Walker Stays Home nights. At least during the summer when there are so many addictive television shows on. Last night, we made eggplant rolantine and had a cucumber and onion salad. I have so much of the ricotta mixture left it looks like our entire family will be feasting on manicotti for the next week or two. I need some more recipes for eggplant since we have SO MANY. I love eggplant-especially grilled-and since they can be a bit pricey at the store, I’m not complaining. I always thought it was strange when people would order eggplant as a topping on their pizza at Rizzi’s, but not so much anymore.
Believe it or not-I actually got Rob to watch Don’t Forget the Lyrics. Love it!! We switched between that and World Series of Pop Culture with Rob prodding me to “Turn it back the singing show.” Coming from the karoke hater. Hmmmm. Top Chef is getting pretty good this season. I’m still not sure who I’m rooting for yet. Then, to cap off the night, we watched most of Steel Magnolias. I just bought a new dvd because we seriously wore out the last one. I know. It’s sad. And we might have had a couple bottles of wine. Hmmmm. But for now, we’re staying in on Wednesday nights.