Weekend update - COVID-19

Friday:

Walk Jack
Work a couple of hours
Worked on sourdough

Saturday:

Mowed the yard
Work on stairs for Jack
To go from El Centinela

Sunday:

Blueberry pancakes
Nap
Leatherwork

Weekend update - COVID-19

Friday:

Walk Jack
Work a couple of hours

Saturday:

Blueberry muffins
Banana Bread
To go from El Centinela

Sunday:

Leatherwork

Weekend update

Friday:

Gym
A couple of hours of work
Drop Flex off at McRee
Lunch at Garage Bar & Grill

Saturday:

Blueberry muffins
Work in the shop
Dinner with K at El Centinela

Sunday:

Kitchen Bread

Dining out - Garage Bar & Grill

Friday's lunch was at the Garage Bar & Grill on the 35 Bypass in Alvin.  The structure for the building is a huge metal building (3 stories tall or so) and it's designed to be open-air on good days.  a number of roll-up doors and an outdoor porch.  the parking is decent, with covered parking for motorcycles only.  I think that gives you some idea as to their preferred crowd.

Inside the restaurant, they've got a bar and a large number of tables around it.  There's a small stage for the bands they have on a regular basis.  There's one pay-to-play pool table and a bunch of TV screens all around.  There was a sign on one of the walls advertising an upcoming extreme midget wrestling event.  Without a band on stage, the music is C&W, some of a classic vintage, so not terrible to listen to.

The menu offered a bunch of appetizers, burgers and blue plates.  There was a separate bar menu, as well.

I think there were two other parties in there dining at various tables at noon on a Friday.  A few more folks sitting at the bar.  But, I don't guess they expect huge crowds for lunch on a weekday.

I ordered the chicken fried chicken with green beans and mashed potatoes.  If I had to do it all over again, I would NOT order the mashed potatoes.  They tasted instant to me.  The chicken fried chicken and green beans were good though.  The portions are smaller than what I would get at the Seabrook Classic Cafe for about the same money.

The service was okay.  After my meal was dropped off, the waitress did not stop by to check up on me or offer to refill my tea.  She offered a refill after I'd finished eating when she asked whether I was ready for the check.

Overall, this was a far better meal than I was expecting.

Aikido Thursday Night – 3/12/20 – Wasabi Dojo/Clear Creek Aikido

Aikido players:

Willie.

Ukemi:

Basic slaps, normal forward rolls.

The Walk:

Two times.

Releases:

All 8.

Techniques:

Right-sided Sumi Otoshi

Commentary:

None of note.

Weekend update

Friday:

Refresh starter
Gym
A couple of hours of work
Lunch with K at Pop Top
Aikido

Saturday:

Jodo/Aikido
Work in the shop
Bread
Dinner with K at El Centinela

Sunday:

Daylight Saving Time
Bread
Nap

Aikido Friday Night – 3/6/20 – Wasabi Dojo/Clear Creek Aikido

Aikido players:

Willie.

Ukemi:

Basic slaps, normal forward rolls.

The Walk:

Two times.

Releases:

All 8.

Techniques:

Left-side Mae Otoshi and then some Sumi Otoshi

Commentary:

None of note.

Dining out - Pop Top burgers

Friday's lunch with K was at Pop Top Burgers (NASA 1 and Bay Area).  Pop Top's genealogy is the owner used to be a cook at Tookie's (or Stomp's, don't remember which).  But, I think the ownership has changed recently.  The owner used to be a Hispanic lady but now appears to be an Indian couple.

Anyway, they specialize in burgers and offer fries, thin onion rings and thick onion rings (ala Tookies).

K and I went in around 2 pm on Friday and were the only customers in the place.  The service was good.  I asked about desserts of the day and they responded that their only dessert currently was the deep-fried Oreos.

K and I both ordered the Wine Not Burger.  This is a takeoff of Tookies "99".  Patty marinated in wine and then cooked up and topped with cheese, onions, etc.  served on a brioche bun  We also ordered a side of the thick-cut onion rings.  Everything was good, and the delivery of the food was pretty quick.

If I'm in a bit of a rush and in the mood for a burger fix, this is the place I would hit in the area.  If I have more time, I'll drive out to Tookies.

Dining out - Pierogi Queen

Friday's lunch experience was Pierogi Queen on FM 518 just west of 45.  I've been eyeing it for a long time.  They're tucked almost into a corner of the shopping center.

This is a tiny joint - 5 tables, 20 chairs. They had a TV going, softly and the radio going as well

The menu is Polish.  Pierogis and Pickle soup.   I order 6 pierogis, with a mix of flavors and then a Blintz for dessert.  You can get your Pierogis boiled, with bacon or pan-fried with onions.  I chose pan-fried.  The 6 pierogis was a little light for me, but the dozen would have been too much.
The total for my meal came to about $20 with tip. $7.50 for the pierogis, $5 for the blintz and a little bit more for ice tea and tip.

I talked it up a K and we stopped by on our way home from dinner Saturday night and picked a couple of batches of frozen pierogis to have at some point in the near future.  I think a meal of Granger sausage and pierogis sounds fabulous.