Of Barista and Fondu Friday

Since Dee had yesterday off we decided to take advantage of it and go down town to the Strip District where we had lunch at Senseri's Pizza place although we didn't have pizza. Afterward we went to the Steeler Outlet stores and found a a nice wind breaker and sweater for future demonstrations of Steeler price.

I was able to get some specialty cheese (Malvarosa from Spain, sheep milk) at "Right By Nature." Also, the Holy Land of Cheeses, "The PA Macaroni Co." had a list of cheeses cthat overed the whole wall! I picked up some Morbier (FR) and Talleggio (IT). Yummm.

We headed home because we were to meet Kathy and Monica (she'd not seen our place and wanted to check it out) and then go to the Barista Competition. (Click photos to enlarge). We stayed there a while and I talked to a gal in the dessert area from Bar Louie. She was interested in our Barbershop Chorus for entertainment some Monday night or Sunday afternoon, a well as a Singing Valentine quartet for her husband while she's outa town.

We left there and went to the Friday Fondu at McGinnis Sisters. http://www.mcginnis-sisters.com/events.aspx It was a lot of fun. There were about 25 people there ceated around small tables with fondu pots on them and lots of veggies and bread chunks. Candace (see photos) told us the history of fondu and helped us make our own right there on the spot. The wine maker from Volant was also there with free wine. Yummm.

Happy Birthday Bonz - 6 Years Old!

Well the trip to the CPA with our tax info turned out very well. We'd decided to go to breakfast en route. We ended up at "Kelly'Os Diner on route 19. We'd seen a segment on the Food Network about the diners of Pittsburgh last year and it was one of the ones featured. We'd been wanting to go there and never got around to it. It was good. I had breakfast of a ham and provolone omelet and Dee had a lunch of chicken salad wrap with a cup of "pot pie" soup. Yummmm! We bought a cool looking mug from the place as well. Definitely a place to go back to from time to time.

Then after seeing the tax guy we went to Ross park Mall. Walked around and had a mocha smoothie. (One of our favorite things to do there.) Dee found some stuff she just couldn't live without and I just hung out and people watched. Back home we just hibernated and watched some of the new episodes of things we'd recorded. However, today our plan is to go to the Strip District - visit the Macaroni Company (and check out their 500kinds of cheeses) and then later go to the Barista Contest at the Marriott here in Cranberry and then the "Fondue Friday demo at McGinnis Sisters. (Dee's friends Kathy and Monica are coming down for the Barista Contest and Found outings.)

I'm still getting people to sign up for the "singing valentines". If you'd like to have one for your special someone give me a call or write me asap. The schedule is filling up. We'll send a quartet to serenade them, print a personalized card you compose, take their photo with the quartet and hand them a lovely Valentine balloon to top it all off. All for only $40. The dates are Friday and Saturday the 13th and 14th.

Dee has been getting things together for a baby shower for Kerri on Saturday February 28 here at our house. She's been busy picking up items for the party and sending out invitations. Should be fun. I'm looking forward to seeing Kerri and her big belly.

Lunch Here and There

On Tuesday I went to the Chamber of Commerce networking luncheon again. This time, for my 60 second spiel I played a 30 radio spot about Singing Valentines using my ipod and speaker attached to it. This gave them a feel for the music and the product. It's a nice venue to meet business people in the community and learn what people to for a living. It's nice to hear when one of them has used a product or service of another and they give a testimonial about it. Everyone is upbeat and interested in getting to know each other. Fun! and Useful.

Yesterday I went to the Rotary luncheon at Treesdale. It was a "club assembly" and so we talked about what the club is doing to help other groups or people. Several Rotarians are planning on going on a mission trip to Hondorus this summer with medical supplies and to work at a clinic there for a week. That should be interesting. They've gathered over $2,000 in vitamins and other medicines to take with them.

During the afternoon I put the finishing touches on gathering the info for the tax guy. We go to see him today. This is by far the earliest we've ever had our taxes info ready to give to the preparer. Before I guy in our church helped us. Now, I'm using someone recommended by a retired clergy friend because clergy taxes have some idiosyncrasies that others don't have. It'll be interesting to see how it all comes out. Things are different now with pension income and social security in place of a salary.

In the evening we just watched some of our favorite television shows and Dee worked some on the puzzle Kerri gave us. (all pieces have the same general shape - hummm.

Hot Tub Time Again !

Dee went to Contours in the morning and took advantage of her membershiip there and used the spa wrap feature. Her membership is up at the end of the month. She decided not to renew it because of her work schedule. While Dee was gone, Bonz and I had a nice walk around the block. The street was clear of snow and dry. Otherwise, we relaxed during the day because we had to wait for the cable guy. The Cable guy came in the afternoon to replace our cable box. The one we had became defective.

In the evening I went to Bogmeister practice and picked up some more of the Singing Valentines cards to distribute to the Cranberry Chamber of commerce members at their luncheon today. While I was there Dee went to work for "cross training" in the cheese department. She's going to be a "cheese monger" in waiting. She said she like working in that department which is right across from the deli section where she works now.

After we both got home from our night out, we took advantage of the hot tub. It had been a warm weekend (48 degrees) and the snow on our deck melted. Although it was only 25 degrees out last night, there was no breeze, so the hot tub was perfect. We both found it relaxing.

Headline "Lord of the Rings!"

LORD OF THE RINGS is the front page headline in today's Post-Gazette newspaper. What a game! We enjoyed watching it with our long time friends in Cannonsburg John and Sherron. The game along with real ham barbecue (made with Isaly's chipped ham) and a variety of snacks and dips (and even a yummy pizza dip) made of an enjoyable evening. Although we left just before the end of the third quarter, we made it home in time to see the last three minutes on our TV. (The roads were empty. Not a car in sight.)We'd been gone most of the day and so let Bonz out as soon as we got home. He seemed "relieved" to see us.;)

Yesterday morning I left for church early because I preached at both the early and the 11:00 services. That was my first time to preach there and really the first introduction to most of the congregation. I was surprised when I saw some friends come in for the 11:00 service that I didn't know were coming. Our great deice Ryanne, and Margorie Grady (from the Wilkinsburg church) and her friend Olive Tuller (wife of an American Baptist pastor who was once the President of our denomination.) And since my bio was in the bulletin, several people spoke to me after worship about places our paths may have crossed. The "it's a small world" thing again and again. The "souperbowl" soup selections after worship were myriad. I counted at least two crock pots of homemade soups to choose from. It was a nice (and exhausting) morning.

Saturday night Dee and I went to the Deck House restaurant in Cranberry. We'd never been there before and we had a coupon for one free meal. The food was good and the atmosphere was pleasant. Everyone seemed to be wearing their Steelers shirts. We'd picked up a couple of new ones earlier in the day and were right in step with everyone else. We each had the ribeye steaks - very good.