The character Red Green, Canada’s common man, often reminds us “I’m pulling for you” meaning he wants to help. Coming from a small business family background, I like to see small restaurants succeed. Often, however the restaurants themselves don’t do much of their own pulling. Slow service, bad food, and locations that continually have unsuccessful […]
Tacoma
Super Smellers – Skunks and Beyond
“Can’t you smell that?” For years my wife as astounded me with some of the things she says and asks. “uhhh, No,” I usually respond if I respond at all. She could be talking about the kitchen garbage container . . . or something outside . . . or even as we are driving somewhere. […]
Saturday Dinner – Anthony’s At Point Defiance – Restaurant Review
The dinner hour must have come early for everyone. It was Saturday afternoon. I had been at the computer almost all day. Breakfast was at six with two pieces of toast later around ten. At four-thirty I called Pacific Grill to see if they had any openings at the bar. I was put on hold […]
Butter is like Bacon . . . It makes Everything Taste Better
Peggy said, “Twelve.” We were at a movie theater. We had just placed an order at the refreshment stand. I looked at her and said, “What?” “The attendant just counted twelve squirts,” she said. I stopped day dreaming and looked at the attendant who was still squirting butter onto my popcorn. I said, “That’s good.” […]
The IRS and Bookkeeping Basics
The first time I was audited I was worried about perhaps paying an additional amount. The IRS agent in my basement office flat out told me, “Oh, you’re going to pay more. I’m just here to figure out how much.” I told him, “I’ve been pretty careful.” He then picked up a file of receipts […]
Chili Thai Restaurant Review in University Place
We were hungry for Thai food. It was Sunday afternoon. We had only been to the Chili Thai once before. Mostly what we remembered was our granddaughter being introduced to Thai food and loving the fried tofu. We walked into a lovely, but totally empty restaurant. We chose a window seat. I thought perhaps we […]
I Don’t Like Little Dogs
I don’t like cats and I don’t like little dogs. They feel bony and fragile. As a youngster I had a collie-German Shepard mix, Pal. He looked like a collie, but he wasn’t bright blonde, just a little duller. He also had a shorter snout like a German Shepard. I got him as a young […]
The Serious Side of Humor and Laughing
Bad situations are no laughing matter . . . or are they? Laughter can be used to relax people, diffuse explosive situations, and put people in a receptive mood. In the HBO television series Band of Brothers, Easy Company is constantly training. A private asks for permission to speak. Lieutenant Dick Winters grants him permission. […]
Sweet, Succulent, and Healthful in Nine Ways
Have you ever eaten a dried date? My earliest memory of eating a date was in the fifth grade at Park Lodge Elementary in Lakewood. I opened up my lunch pail, packed by my mom, and there were several dates. Each one contained vanilla icing and a walnut half. I loved them. This would have […]