05-(25-26)-09

05-(25-26)-09
It is Memorial Day and all we do is R & R at the house, hanging out on the dock and waving at passing boats, we cook on the grill and that's it. 05-26-09 Still fooling around trying to get Dixies computers to work so that she can print out her docs for the closing so that she can walk them through at the tax office we have to email from one computer to another because she can do the docs on one but can't print so we are plugging one in then unplugging in the other it's a real pain in the ass but we finally get it done. The refrigerator is on the blink and I check it out with my limited knowledge and I decide it will take a service call from a qualified service person, we really don't keep any food in the house so it doesn't matter because there is nothing to spoil, the ice will melt and that will be our loss. I am out CD shopping around, as I have to do something with the money from the closing. To let you know, Urban Trust Bank is offering 4.5% rates on CDs. I also set up a refinance deal with some friends or ours so the money is now tied up and making more money for us. Urban is located in Walmart in Gibsonton so it's real close for us. Dixie has no phone, she left her pocket book in Glenn and Charlene's boat on Sunday, so we decide to meet for lunch before she heads out, at The Shrimp Boat. We have had dinner here many times. This is the first time for lunch. I walk in and David, Jimmy, amd Larry C, they are brothers, are sitting at a table. I worked for them for 11 Great Years, I have not seen them for about 2 years, and believe it or not time has not stood still for any of us. We all look good, but older, I'll leave it at that. Their son in law was with them and they told him the story about the first time that they took me to lunch at Steak and Ale. Jim and David had ordered their meal and a beer and then I ordered my meal with a beer for my drink, Larry, was a strict Baptist at the time so he was a non drinker, the waitress asked Larry if he wanted a beer with his meal and he replied that he would rather commit adultry, to which I replied "I didn't know that we had a choice". This was in 1976 so if someone tells you a similiar story you know that I said it first. We talked about old times and then Dixie came in and we sat at a booth. The Shrimp Boat is located in La Viva shopping in Brandon Fl, you have to look for this place. We seated ourselves at a booth and Cynthia brought Dixie an Ice Tea $1.95 and me a Bud Light Draft $1 ALL THE TIME. We figured we would stay with the shrimp dishes, I usually get the garlic shrimp appetizer and the fish of the day dinner or their Tuna, which is always great. We are splitting a Grilled Shrimp lunch meal $9.99 and a Chipolte Shrimp meal $8.99. We got one with waffle fries and slaw and the other with a house salad. Garlic bread came with both meals. The Chipolte Shrimp Meal is as good as Bonefish's Bang Bang shrimp but at half the price. The grilled shrimp fresh and not overcooked, served with melted butter. This is one of the places that you never get a bad meal but it never comes to mind when you are thinking about where to go for a meal. We now have their menu on our refrigerator so that we remember to go there more often. They also have Absolute martinis for $6, can't beat that anywhere. Charlene calls me, she is now home from her Jury Duty and I pick up Dixies purse from her house, lucky her she got picked for Jury Duty and has to go back for a trial. We have plans to meet at Cliff Curry's office at 6 for dinner, he suggested an old favorite of his, Caffe Paradiso. Turns out there are 8 of us going to eat Italian on the other side of town on MacDill Ave, but first a toast with a nice red wine, courtesy of the Currys in Cliff's office. There are 8 of us, John and Sherry L., Bill and Kathy M., Cliff and Terry C., and Dixie and Brian(Me). We take 2 cars the Escalade and the Maserati (who knew they made a 4 seater). We arrive 1 minute too late, as now it is pouring rain. We run in and we accidently walk into the wrong restaurant and Dixie tells them we want a table for 8 and they start getting it ready when Cliff tells us wrong restaurant, oops we are out of there. 4 stores down is where we are going, through the rain. We go inside, there is a small greeting room with a nice small wine bar, no one is there, it is a Tuesday night, but inside the restaurant most tables are full, the place seats about 60. We walk in and who's there, Larry and Kathy Jimenez and their son and his girlfriend eating dinner, they live in Plant City, so it's a drive for them, I have high expectations for this restaurant if they drove that far to eat here. Anthony our server bring us a bottle of Signorello 2003 Cabernet that Bill has selected for us. As we are perusing the menu the owner Paulo comes to the table, shakes everyones hand and is joking around with us, it's always nice to be noticed and acknowledged. A small brushetta with fried zucchini as a starter.The appetizers and salads start arriving. I won't tell you who ordered what as there was a ton of food ordered, huge portions of grilled asparagus with garlic and olive oil, calamari amalfitana salad with the most tender fresh calamari I have ever had, fried calamari, house salads, another bottle of wine, fresh tuna steak, today's fish is flounder with a creamy shrimp sauce, veal piccata, veal siciliana, veal chop, all meals served tonight with homemade mashed potatoes and fresh green beansthis is a real Italian place so go with the meat dishes as any place can serve you a bowl of pasta. Another bottle of wine, to finish off the panna cotta, chocolate cake, creme brulee and a cheesecake, forks are flying and corks are popping. A last bottle of wine and good conversation and out the door we went $506.92 plus tip for 8 hungry people. We are headed to Datz Cafe for a late night snack of plates of meats and cheese and some wine, I told you we were hungry. We arrived a little after 10 and they let us in even though they usually close at 10 on Tuesday. Blue the bartender recognizes us, hugs are in order, and we order the snacks and some wine flights, more conversation and it's 11:30 and out the door we went. How can you put a price on old friends getting together. Good times. See Ya Brian