Restaurant #1 of 12/ No. 44

No. 44. Try at least 12 new restaurants in 2016. 
Restaurant #1

My original thought was try a new restaurant a month but that might be too limiting.  I don't want to have to run out on the last day of the month just to fulfill a challenge. So twelve restaurants in a year, sounds doable and just enough fun to keep it interesting.

It also goes along with my desire to reconnect with people that I haven't seen in a while or people I "talk to" on Facebook but don't actually see in real life.This gives me an excuse to get out of my comfort zone and go....(Like I need an excuse!)

Anyhooo....


A couple of weeks ago a sweet friend from High School  asked me when I was going back to Colorado and if we could have lunch first.    Confessing that I wasn't going back anytime soon did not get me knocked off the lunch invite AND she even planned where we were going.  That was a huge relief as I have been getting lost in my little tiny space that I drive everyday. It's funny how things can look unfamiliar so quickly. 

We met at State of Grace which was so perfect and trendy and oo-la-la that it almost hurt. 

Snapped a quick pic before I left... even the entry is perfect.

A lovely private-ish dining area, excellent food and eh...a little spotty service. Hey! You can't have everything, I guess. 

There was a queso fundido to start, although it did not come with serving ware or plates. Details. The second time we requested plates and spoons, someone actually came and assembled tortillas full of yummy cheese for us. 
We both had a Shrimp Cobb salad with Green Goddess dressing which I am pretty sure is a throwback to the sixties, but Man! it was good. 

The cute lady at the table next to us snapped our picture. She had a delightful English(?)/ Caribbean(?) accent. She did a good job, no?!

My fabulous luncheon partner, Ann. 

So... 2016 is underway and I've got my first new-to-me restaurant under my belt.  Wonder what's on the menu for February??

.....................................................

And look who my new writing buddy is- at least for the time being. 

No more wild animals out my window but instead I have sweet Ruby sitting next to me. 

Moving all the furniture and animals around, chinchilla included. (Stinky the turtle also got a new location but not near me. Not yet.)

Ruby Roo. Never dreamed chinchillas had such personalities.

Carlos and Ruby love to play chase. 

Re Re Re ...

Re-Re-Re....for Real



Re-entry. Re-connecting. Re-starting.

So I'm back in Texas for almost a month now. Re-entry has not been that easy. The Texas guys were pretty used to not having us here. Bunny and I were pretty used to doing our own thing. We didn't feel like they were expecting us, I'm sure they feel like we have invaded. Bunny and I both have discussed that we are giving ourselves the month of January to re-acclimate. 

In the meantime I have been reconnecting. I have missed having girl friends. In Colorado I didn't have a lot of girl friends to play with so this aspect is really, really wonderful.   I've been to Bunko for the first time in a year. Yay! I've played with that group for over 25 years.  So grateful they saved me a spot.

Great friends, great fun and great food.

What's not to love? 

I've had lunch with friends, coffee with friends, phone calls with friends. Maybe lots of time spent chatting could be considered time frittered away but no. I'm bouncing ideas. Plotting what to do next. Coming up with ideas for my list. Sounding boards are good. Talking about possible jobs. I need to rejoin the work force. Looking for ways to do that.

Lunch with Ann from high school.

One of the new restaurants to be reported on....

The restarting? Well, where do I go from here? Bunny has graduated from high school. She turns 18 next week. My baby! 18! Wow! So I feel the mama-ing aspect is wrapping up. At the end of the month we go look at a college she's interested in. But she's found herself a job, she is launched. Or almost there. I feel good about her. 

Soooo. What's next? I don't know.   I have some ideas. My list. My friends. It's all good.
Re...re...re...really good.

Stay tuned.