Officially Fall

I declare it officially fall.

I was involved in a conversation with guild mates and someone referenced pumpkin pie. Drat. That was all I could think of, pumpkin pie and Cool Whip. I wound up at the grocery looking for a half pie. They had half pies in fruit based pies and I almost got the blackberry. It looked so good. But my heart was set on pumpkin which wasn't available as a half. Gosh, I had to spend $5.00 for a full pie. I now have pie for lunches and dessert after dinner.

Ahhhhhh...Fall.

Beverage:  Scottish Breakfast tea

Deb

A Celebratory Lunch

I found out that Dillon got an "A" on his Flat Stanley project. We had a bit of a panic because the envelope containing Stanley, his diary of his travels and the CD, got buried in an avalanche of papers on the teacher's desk. She thought Stanley hadn't arrived. I had the proof I mailed it and it was posted here, April 1st, on the blog. Stanley surfaced and Dillon got to present the photos over 2 days because I had taken so many.

I think this calls for a celebratory lunch. Stanley went out to eat with me on two occasions. For the first time, I had to attend the board meeting of the Great Lakes Society of Explosives Engineers. First, he checked out the menu.

We decided to split a bacon cheeseburger.

And a Dr Pepper, of course.

Afterwards, we had dessert. I ordered a slice of chocolate cream pie, but one of the other guys at the meeting ordered cherry pie and the waitress forgot about my chocolate cream and brought me a slice of cherry. It was still good.

I should have had her warm it and top it with ice cream.

When Stanley went to the office with me, we got up kind of late so we swung by Dunkin' Donuts and got breakfast.

I think Meredith said Dillon liked this photo the best.

There's always Subway. Stanley and I went to Subway, when he was here. I had to take him since I eat there about 3 times a month.

They made my favorite, turkey and cheese with lettuce, green peppers, spinach and mustard.

It was a foot-long so there was more than enough to share.

On the other hand, we could just go to the grocery store and get a few things.

I was out of cat food.

I think Stanley liked riding in the cart, especially when we went by the Easter candy display.

Finally, Stanley got to help check out and was checked out himself.

I think he costs a million, billion dollars.

I'm so glad Dillon got an "A" on the project. It was so worth dragging a large paper doll around with me.

Beverage:  Water

Deb

How Did You Celebrate?

Wednesday was "Pi Day". I understand Baker's Square, which isn't around me, was giving away free slices of pie. I resorted to buying an apple pie.

Why Wednesday? Well, pi is 3.14 etc, and Wednesday was March 14th. You do the math and I'll expect you to celebrate next year. 

Beverage:  milk

Deb

Yet More Food and the Serendipity of Coincidence

After the program Pam and I attended at The Scottish Home, light refreshments were served. This means coffee, usually, cookies and scones. While as exciting as that is because the whole program was free, we wanted something of more substance. So, we felt lunch would be a good idea.

Pam did her research and discovered a Baker's Square nearby. Oooh pie! As I have complained before, the Wheaton location has been closed for several years now. There is a shop near Fox Valley Mall, but that area is heavily traffic congested so it's not a pleasant drive under even the best of days. This "new" Baker's Square is probably a 40 minute drive for us meaning it would be rare occasions when we could go here.

The menu always seems to have changed now. I suppose it's part of a restaurant's duty to remain fresh by adding new items and removing some things that just never caught on. We were lucky in that breakfast, Pam's absolute favorite meal, was still being served. She could get scrambled eggs, bacon, country potatoes and pancakes. I thought about it but there was this new item on the menu that looked really good.

This is a butternut squash salad.

Into a mix of greens was added strips of grilled chicken, chunks of steamed butternut squash, orange pieces and chopped walnuts. The dressing was a very light orange flavored vinaigrette. This was served on a large piece of toasted flatbread. It was delightful. 

While we were eating, Pam mentioned to the server that we'd come all the way from Wheaton to eat at this Baker's Square, although this was via The Scottish Home. The server looked at us and said, "I thought you looked familiar. I used to work at the Wheaton Baker's Square." Bingo. Both Pam and I thought she looked vaguely familiar. We were such regulars that certain servers would know, when we came, that I wanted hot tea and Pam wanted water.

We told the server how much we missed the restaurant. She said it had been a lease issue that caused them to close that store. There is a new Baker's Square in Woodridge now, east of I-355 at 75th Street. While that's still a bit of a drive for us, it does make obtaining pie on those occasions when we desperately need it, much easier.

And yes, there was pie. The specialty pie for March is a brownie mint.

The bottom layer is brownie which Pam felt should be French silk as the brownie was a bit chewy. Then there is a cream cheese layer topped with chunks of chocolate, chocolate ganache and whipped cream. The cream is dotted with little shamrocks. The mint is found in the brownie and the ganache. It's not overpowering but I don't care for chocolate mint so a whole slice of this would not be appealing to me. I had simple French silk. 

We were trying to decide on our pie and Pam was debating whether to order the special or something else. I suggested she order a half-slice. I meant to add that if she had concerns about finishing the whole piece, a half-slice would give her pie and not overfill her. She shot me a look that would have curdled concrete. I just burst out laughing. "Okay, well then, yes, by all means, have a full slice." For the record, it's not polite to lick the plate after finishing so we left crumbs. 

It was snowing rather heavily when we left the restaurant but we didn't care. It was the perfect way to end the adventure. 

Beverage:  Boston Harbor tea

Deb

Of Purple Shampoo and Punkin Pie

Remember the haircut at the end of October? The stylist told me I needed to get purple shampoo, that it would cut the yellow that builds up on gray hair. Well, part of the errands to be run on the first weekend in December was to find the brilliant purple shampoo she showed me. Do I actually notice the yellowing of my hair? No, not really, but she recommended it and she seemed to know what she was talking about. The purple shampoo she used when she cut my hair really made the gray shine. It looked very pretty.

Pam took me out for my birthday on Monday, November 29th. As a treat, we drove out of our way to go to Baker's Square specifically to have pie. The Baker's Square where we always went closed over a year ago so getting pie hasn't been part of our going out. Steak 'n Shake and IHOP are great places for us to go, but sometimes, you gotta have pie.

After a delightful meal, I was going to order pumpkin pie for dessert. I didn't have any pumpkin in the house so I couldn't make myself one over Thanksgiving. Pam said she made a pumpkin pie for her family gathering but she and her husband aren't that fond of it so it would just sit. I was welcome to have most of her leftover pie. Oh absolutely! I'll take leftover pumpkin pie. So, I got chocolate cream for dessert.

Pam also mentioned she had purple shampoo at home. Pam has the most gorgeous gray hair I think I have seen. She's got a wonderful stylist, too, who recommended some purple shampoo to her too. Well, it only came in the super, jumbo, extra-large, economy size. What you need to know is that you shouldn't wash your hair daily with the purple stuff. You know the jokes about blue-haired old ladies? Well, Pam's stylist said, "Where do you think they got the ammo for those jokes?"

Because you should only wash your hair every two weeks with the purple stuff, it lasts and long, long, long time. So after dinner, we went to Pam's and I got 3 slices of pumpkin pie and a half her bottle of purple shampoo. As you can see, it's purple, very purple, iridescent purple. I'm not a fan of the color purple, it's not a favorite, but I would wear this gleaming color of purple, it's that distinctive.

I used the shampoo for the first time last Saturday. Now, I had gone over a month between shampoos. Honestly, I didn't notice any yellowing of my gray but after one shampoo, oh yeah. There was a big difference. Part of me is tempted to wash my hair every day with the purple stuff just to see what color I get. That's me, of course, oddball that I am.

I took the pie to work from Tuesday through Thursday last week. It was so nice to eat leftovers with punkin pie.

So, when someone asks me what I got for my birthday, I say, "Pam gave me 3 pieces of pumpkin pie and purple shampoo," and I'm very grateful for that.

Beverage: English Breakfast tea

Deb

The Evil Eye

I am trying to be optimistic about this whole financial mess.

I had to go back to the bank yesterday because the promised phone call regarding the exorbitant fees tacked onto my account had not materialized and I gave them an extra day. Plus, when I went to log onto my account online, I was denied. That was frustration and a half.

The screen said to create a new password. Okay, that I can accept. I attempted to do that and was told to call a toll free number. Call the toll free number and get the English or Spanish option. Then get "Enter your account number or your Social Security number." I entered my account number and got a repeat of the sentence. I did this for 15 minutes, hanging up and trying again with either the account number or my Social Security number.

In frustration, I found another toll free number and called that. I did get through to an operator that time. I explain I was having problems and could she transfer me or was there another number I could call. She informed me I had to call the previous number. I explained I'd been doing this for 15 minutes. I understood she couldn't help me but could she send my call somewhere else or give me another number. No. I had to call the original number. Again I explained the problem and when she told me yet again, that I had to call the original number, I asked to speak to a supervisor. She told me to call the first number and hung up on me. No, I didn't get her name because I was, at this point, nearly in tears.

So, yesterday, armed with times and a list of everything I have done, I went back to the bank and talked to the man who, it turns out, is at the top of the food chain at this branch. I told him exactly what I did, what number I called and what happened. He called the same number I did and got the same voice prompt. "Oh well, you have to dial..." I forget what number it is, to get out of that circle. It's not explained. There is zero explanation on the phone system.

I told him that's horrible customer service. As a customer, I wouldn't know to push that number because that's NOT what the message says. He knows because he works there.

He looked at my account. He had to do a great deal of manipulation of the account numbers to get into the screen that shows my accounts. I have a temporary number until this mess gets sorted out, but he got in and wrote everything down for me.

That's when he noticed the Mastercard account, the one they screwed up on the online payment for, had been closed. I received no notice that this was going to happen. He said that's against the law, first of all and secondly, I should have received a letter AND a phone call from a live person. So, he showed me the protest email he was sending.

Then there is the matter of the fees attached to my checking account. I came, yesterday, with the letters telling me I needed to make the account positive, you know, the ones I didn't get until 4 days AFTER I was supposed to fix this. He looked them over and admitted the letters were confusing because they are system generated and not in chronological order. I should have received a phone call from a live person. I've only received these calls that tell me to go online, which I couldn't, to see what the problem was. Again, he showed me the protest email he was sending up the food chain.

Unfortunately, the review of my account could take "5 to 7 business days" and I protested last Thursday. I told him I have been unable to pay any bills because I have no idea how much money is in my account. I will have to call other credit card companies and explain the problem so additional fees won't get attached to those accounts. So, far, that has gone well. It takes longer than expected to get through the explanations so I have missed a couple cards that are on the east coast. Fortunately, I don't have much so it's not a stack. It's just embarrassing to have to explain this every single time. Mr. manager said he would ask that a decision be expedited.

So, here we come to the weekend. I have a check from liquid funds that I could deposit or start a new account. I really don't want the hassle of a new account, but this is beyond ridiculous. I am to write up all the problems I have had with how this bank's online system works, how their phone system works and that ridiculous hang up on Wednesday. Mr. manager assures me he will see that it gets passed up to those who deal with customer service. I'm also thinking I should send a copy to the Better Business Bureau, my congressman, my senator and the Illinois Attorney General. The latter's office takes a very dim view of this kind of thing.

I was remembering when I refinanced my mortgage and got a debit card. I put it aside and didn't use it. At the time, we were getting paper payroll and expense checks. Those expense checks were what I lived on.

Now, everything is electronic. My paycheck and expense checks are direct deposit. The only thing I see is the email saying the expense check has been deposited and the statement from my paycheck. I never see anything that requires me to go to the bank. Am I better off this way?

I'm thinking, for me, I need to have X number of dollars at the beginning of the week and that's all I have to live on. It's too easy to swipe the debit card at Caribou Coffee or Flips Italian Beef or Carol's Garden Restaurant. I'm thinking, for the time being, I need to go back to the old ledger form of financial accounting. Everything I buy or any check I write, needs to be entered into some sort of ledger so I can account for every penny. Perhaps I got lax. Perhaps I got too trusting although I do look at my accounts at least 4 times a month online. I match up all receipts but, for me, maybe that's not enough.

I don't know. I just know I can't go through this again and I need to have concrete specific proof that I didn't spend more than I took in so if this were to happen again, I can come back and say, "I did not screw up. You did."

I need pie. After work, I'm going over to Dominicks and getting a pie, a whole pie, and I'm going to take a long time to eat it.

Beverage: China Black Tea

Deb

This vexes me - #2

See this ad? It was in the newspaper on Sunday. No, you aren't imagining things. That's an ad for eating at Baker's Square. This is the same company that declared bankruptcy and closed almost all their restaurants in Chicagoland.

This is vexing because Pam and I were among Baker's Square's most loyal customers. This is where we went about every 6 weeks to get caught up on life. We did notice that their menu changed about every 6 months and they went through a period where you couldn't get breakfast at any time of day, but the food was always reasonably good. We went for the pie.

Mmmmmmmmmm pie. Oh how I miss custard pie with hot fudge sauce. Or apple pie with hot fudge sauce. Or a half slice of French silk with hot fudge sauce. Yes, there is a theme here. We had waitresses trained that when the two of us walked in, we got a back corner booth or table where we could laugh and giggle without disturbing others. My tea pot was always kept filled as was her water glass and they never batted an eye when I said, "I think I want punkin pie this time with my usual" which was a side of hot fudge sauce.

This is vexing because it toys with me, tantalizes me, says that there are still Baker's Square's in Chicagoland. I know there is one in Mount Prospect, but that's a hoof and a half to get there and, as much as I crave pie, not that much. Pam said on Wednesday when we went to IHOP for dinner (or breakfast as dinner since that's what we usually order) that the closest Baker's Square is south on Route 59 which is NOT what we want to be driving on around dinner time.

Grrrrrr. Now I want pie, although not necessarily with hot fudge sauce.

Beverage: I stopped at Caribou Coffee this morning. Hot Irish Breakfast

Deb