Eatin' Out

Now who thinks they could eat a half chicken? Well apparently Bebe and I had a delusional thought when we went to Bell's Barbecue Barn tonight. I read the menu and stayed with the one meat plate with one side and a cup of cowboy beans. I remembered in my youth I could eat several plates of chicken, however now I know better. I am as big as a small NFL interior lineman and must look at the weight limit on canvas folding chairs, and attic ladders before taking the plunge, but it looked like a small plate on the menu. Needless to say we had to get a to go box and it took both of us to carry it to the car. We were in the Jeep and I thought I would need to give Bebe a boost after we left the place, but she managed the slightly higher step up after two tries. I was holding the six pound to go box and was not much help. We had to get home in a hurry because the tea glasses were the size of small wash tubs and I had mine refilled. We keep saying we are going to order one entree and split it, but we don't like to look like old people. The truth is I will need an iron lung to breathe if I don't lower my caloric intake. I keep thinking I'll start any day and then someone says, "Hey we're cooking out tonight, can y'all come over?" It never takes me long to answer. I try to pause slightly just to sound like I have a life, but the "yes" is always out before I know it. My daughter brought in a cake because it was too hot to leave in her car this afternoon. She left it in my refrigerator. Even though I am still uncomfortable, I hear the cake calling me. I keep thinking maybe someone will realize I have a problem and do an intervention.

When a person can no longer laugh at himself, it is time for others to laugh at him. - Thomas Szasz

Movie and a Meal

Last evening Barb and I set out to the Dollar Theater here in town to see Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman in "The Bucket List". I had been wanting to see these two in action together. I enjoyed both actors in other roles, and I thought the combination would be good. We arrived for the 5:30 P.M. showing and took advantage of all the discounts available. Our total for our two tickets was three bucks. I consider it three dollars well spent. This bitter/sweet comedy was worth the trip. If you haven't seen it, I recommend it. Barb brought the Kleenex and we both used a couple at the end. Since we spent so frugally on the tickets, I thought I could do better than burgers for the evening meal. We went to La Playa restaurant and enjoyed Grilled Shrimp wrapped in bacon with a slice of Jalapeno pepper inside and Enchaladas verdes. We always get the to-go box these days. It will probably be another decade before we find a movie I consider worthy of spending three dollars on, but the DVD rental store still has some of my old favorites. I will save my pennies for a good meal in the meantime. I know how to cook and so does my wife, so the restaurant has to be above average before I'll go. I have a hard time enjoying a meal knowing I'll be adding an additional twenty five percent to the price of the food for tax and gratuity. I also don't like the idea of a "gratuity" being expected. It then becomes just an additional charge and has nothing to do with being thankful for the good service provided. If you are lucky and happen to actually get good service, then it is not as much of a problem. All in all a great evening out. Have a great weekend.