Twist of Lemon

Random crap.

It has been a serene past few days. Well in a sense. Friday at work was just weird, since it seemed like my time was just being eaten up by other people. There are too many nebulous tasks that need to be done. The plant itself is running fine, but is way behind in program development. There is the feeling that everything will just work until it doesn’t and then the fire fighting has to start. I’ll ask someone who handles fixing a particular piece of equipment when it needs repair and am told “Oh Larry handles that.” Then when I ask who else can fix it I am told, well no one. And I am thinking, well if Larry gets hit by a bus do we just have to close down shop then?!? We really need to get training and preventative maintenance programs in place so we can avoid future problems not just react to them. I guess that is what they hired me for isn’t it? Gonna be a long road, but hopefully rewarding. Oh and I am taking some sort of “strengths finder” training next week. It is a prerequisite to taking any other career development courses that the company offers. I had to do an online assessment of my strengths and they were as follows [their one word definitions, mine in parenthetical]: Learner [love to learn], Input [inquisitive], Relator [need to know more about people you already know...share etc.], Strategic [ok I am just gonna tell it like it is...Manipulative is what i think this means] and Achiever [drive to get things done]. So I convinced my trainer/ally/only other person I have met that thinks like me at work/friend Cheryl to sign up for the class as well since she has not taken it and the others signed up are all in some sort of accounting roles. Four hour training course with accountant types…I need another critical person [with a personality] in the room or I will definitely go mad.

So where was I oh yeah, lot of time working on fires on Friday at work and not a lot of time working on long range goals. But I managed to get a computer into that old lab and networked so my staff can stop entering test results on paper and, well, as I told one of the lab techs, “Welcome to the 20th century!” The lab is probably too small for a LIMS system, so I don’t think it will ever make it to the 21st century.

Friday night Brain and I went out to see my folks and play some Pinochle [OMFSM I spelled that correctly first try! Woot!]. We stopped on the way to bring them their favorite pizza, from Latuff’s in Plymouth, only to find they thought it had gone downhill since the last time they had it. End of an era I tell you! The upside is my car still smells like very tasty pizza, but not overwhelmingly so. We had a great time with the folks and playing with Mercury. I really think when Brain and I get the old house sold and a new one bought, and Mercury back with us, the folks will be getting their own dog. And some disturbing news too, looks like Mom has to have a needle biopsy for a lump found during her last checkup. I am really hoping it is benign. I know my father came to terms with his cancer very quickly, since he figured he would develop it ever since his father died of his, but I don’t know how he or Mom would cope with her being diagnosed with cancer. Or how I would cope for that matter. Over the last few years I have come to appreciate my folks more all the time, and I want a lot more time to spend with them. That is one reason I am glad Brain and I are settling in the Twin Cities for awhile.

Saturday was sort of Anniversary celebration. Brian and I went over to Wayzata to try a place called Patrick’s Bakery and Bistro. Mom had mentioned how she liked some of the pastry from there, and as we are missing our Daube’s fix, we decided to check it out. We even had lunch at the bistro. Brian had a burger [figures doesn't it?] and I had a chicken pot pie puff pastry thingie. But first off I had the French soup! And I highly recommend it! It was outstanding, even if it was served hotter than hell. The service was great, but the room is loud, it might have been where we were sitting in it, but we couldn’t even have a conversation with each other, and there were only about 10 other diners in the joint. Other than the soup the food was alright, but nothing to rave about. We then hit the bakery case and bought a little of everything to take home. And over the course of the day we have decided it is only ok. So if you are in the area try the place out by all means, but don’t make a special trip. To cap off the celebration we watched the last Torchwood episode of the season and the first Doctor Who episode of the season. And I am super happy to see Catherine Tate on Doctor Who again, she brings a much needed touch of laughter back to the show. And after that last Torchwood we needed the funny [and that is all I am gonna spoil - sorry Mary].

Today I went to Thistles in Robbinsdale for lunch. The dining room looks like it seats about forty, and the decor is clean and contemporary. The service is competent, and today my server was friendly, but the server I had last time looked as if she was still eating the bitter lemon she was on my last visit. The menu is rather limited, but they feature a blue plate special each day, today’s was a ham and pesto pasta dish. As I am not a fan of pesto I declined.  I was told on my first visit that the menu changes over time, but that was a month ago and I didn’t notice any change. I can also attest that they make their food on site, as I ordered the same main course that I had the last time and it was spicier than that last time I had it. Today I ordered the french onion soup, and the chicken salad croissant. The soup was wonderful, great depth of flavor, the cheese was terrific and the whole thing was the perfect temperature. Most times I order french onion soup it takes forever to eat it, since they heat the hell out of it to melt the cheese on top. The sandwich was not as good today as it was the last time I visited. It is advertised as almond and grape chicken salad, but there was a dearth of either in todays selection. But they put in plenty of chili powder and cumin. But the croissant was terrific! I haven’t been able to try the dessert menu yet, but as it is an alright place I will probably in the future, I’ll keep you informed!