USA Upcoming Birthday

Not long ago my weekly dining out buddy and I discovered a steak house not far from our neck of the woods that serves delicious –and I mean deeelicous –steak.  They also have a crabcake on toast appetizer that is pretty much to die for as far as we are concerned.  Another perk is they make really tasty chocolate martinis as long as we remember to make them really light on the booze!  Both of us are drinking featherweights –hence the fun flavored drinks. 
 
Anyhow I digress.  The real draw though is the place has high ceilings, big crowds, a massive United States Flag that I have since learned is from a WWII ship –which would explain the bullet holes. Our first visit, we were walled away in a high back booth and yet the place still hummed from the surrounding conversations.  We were enjoying the food, chatting away, and suddenly I noticed an almost eerie silencing of the hubbub around us. Even the sounds of cutlery from the open kitchen had stopped. Then it hit me. The saxophonist who plays light background music was playing our national anthem. ​You never saw two old ladies scoot out of the big semi circle booth so fast in your life! It was very pleasant and uplifting surprise.
 
This has been a long week for many reasons.  My pool has been empty most of the season while we fixed some left over cracks from last year (this sucker is old and always needing something) and finally the rain stopped long enough that we could clean it out. That’s a process we’ve nailed down through the years. Hubby and I have gotten really efficient with bleach and a scrub brush LOL! When our kids were little it was a family event and I'm delighted to report one that my kids remember fondly. Anyhow the pool is full and not leaking and I tried to start the filter, and hubby tried, and on Saturday the pool guy came and said – well, the reason you can’t get your pump to work is because your filter is all cracked.  Yeah well, thank you winter freeze. I had hoped not being turned on and running for months that it would have been empty enough not to crack – nope.
 
So now I’m in the mix with a million other people who are scrambling to find parts for their pool. I found enough on Saturday to at least replace the filter but the valves are nowhere, so it means I’m going to have to pay twice for the install – oh well. Just means I need to write faster!   
 
Earlier in the week we had to fire Mom’s caregiver while Mom is visiting my daughter, so I’ve spent a frantic week trying to find a replacement by the time she comes home this weekend before I added the filter hunt to the mix. Still no luck so it’s been frustrating.
 
And if that wasn’t enough, I got an unexpected guest when a cousin’s new husband needed a place to stay during a business deal. He’ll be here for a while which isn’t a big deal except when I have all the bedrooms booked with company two weekends this July.
 
Anyhow, this brings me back to the stressful week and our Saturday night dinner.  After spending all day Saturday unexpectedly on the phone searching for filter parts or driving around town picking up what I could find as well as other planned errands, the end of the week was dang exhausting. My dinner buddy had had a long hard week too so we both agreed it was Texas steakhouse time.
 
We got there early so we wouldn’t miss the anthem, and for the first time were seated in the upstairs section. Well this gave us a birds eye view of the folks below. Sure enough when the anthem played, those of us familiar with the routine were up and standing quickly. Those new to the restaurant, like we once were, caught on and within a few minutes the entire restaurant (except one table) were on their feet. Young and old. Most with their hands on their hearts. The table next to me made me smile when the young woman (college age maybe) stood up and immediately took off her hat. The respect in someone so young truly made my day.  All in all, the good meal with friends in a respectful family owned restaurant set me up for the rest of the week and this upcoming weekend with family.
 
Will keep you posted on the pool saga and Mom.
 
Happy fourth of July –
 
Do you have any plans for our country’s birthday this weekend?
 

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