My yesterday began with Swan joining me for a morning hike.
My driver picked up me and Swan, then we fetched her sisters, the birthday girls, and headed for SBMA. We stopped at a cake shop along the way for the requisite cake suitable for the occasion. I told the sisters they could choose their favorite restaurant for dinner, and they went with Texas Joe’s, always an excellent choice!
There were a couple more pages of goodness, but you get the idea. It’s a little pricey here, but well worth it.
The food last night was outstanding.
The service at Texas Joe’s was outstanding from beginning to end. Only a couple of other tables were filled when we arrived at five, but the place was packed two hours later. Very impressive for a Thursday night. Obviously, that kind of loyalty is well-earned. I’ve pretty much become a 10% tipper since moving here, but last night I did the full-on American-style tip for the hard-working crew.
After we departed Texas Joe’s, I had my driver take us to The Lighthouse for an after-dinner drink.
Whatever you call the place, I have no intention of every returning. Beers were expensive and service was worse than bad. Too many other options. Still, I had had my fill and wasn’t filling that well. Having done my duty as the birthday dinner sponsor, I had my driver drop me off at home first and I said goodnight.
Oh, on the way back to the car, Swan volunteered to have a photo taken with me for the first time in public.
I played this old Carly Simon song for Swan during our morning coffee today. I was alluding to me, of course, but it also applies to the performance of Texas Joe’s last night. We are the best
Nice view of Barretto. And Texas Joe’s looks like a good place.
And here’s a shot of Swan’s fingers blocking your view of the menu.
She’s doing that “tiny heart” gesture. Does she, like the Grinch, have a tiny heart?
They play country music at a low volume, but it sounds good to me.
Low volume is best for most country music. Heh. Did you request “Try That in a Small Town”?
And the waitresses dressed up like cowgirls was also a nice touch.
They don’t look entirely comfortable in their getup.
Swan did seem to enjoy herself, and I think I passed the first test in the “meet the family” category.
I was going to ask about that.
I played this old Carly Simon song
I’ve always enjoyed Carly Simon’s beautiful voice. I just wish she had the looks to match. That 주걱턱 of hers.
I think your patience with Swan will ultimately be rewarded. Just don’t be a man-whore, keep respecting her privacy, and you’re golden.
“Does she, like the Grinch, have a tiny heart?”
Well, does size really matter? 🙂
Nope, didn’t make any song requests–the playlist was quite varied and satisfying to the extent I actively listened. I doubt it would have mattered if I had asked to hear Aldean’s song–for a good portion of my visit, I was the only foreigner in the place.
The waitresses didn’t seem uncomfortable, but I thought about how unusual it was to see anyone in jeans in this climate. But a couple of them filled those jeans in an especially eye-pleasing way.
I’m not following what it is about Carly Simon’s looks you find unappealing. Back in the day, this was the first Simon album I purchased and I enjoyed the see-through skirt very much!
It does feel like I’m making progress with Swan, and I will hopefully find the patience to wait out her reluctance to go all-in. She’s a good woman, perhaps better than I deserve.
Shit-On-a Shingle. Ate it everyday for breakfast when in the military. Ya can’t go wrong with SOS.
Texas Joe has come a long way since his humble beginnings on a trailer. Food looked delicious and glad you took care of your hard-workin waitress pardners. Here in these not-so-United-States, a walk-up fast-food joint has a tip jar waiting for you. Ya know what I tell-em Mccrarey? I say here’s a tip for ya, “pull yer pants up”. Of course ,then I have to make sure no one spits on my French fries.(Freedom Fries in a small town)
“No idea why this place is called The Lighthouse”. LOL! I love your dry sense of humor. I like going to the Waffle House and being serious as a heart-attack when I ask the waitress if they have waffles.
Well, looks like the sisters were grinning from ear-to-ear. You are In Like Flynn with the family. I guarantee you McCrarey, you’ll be sitting at the next Swan family Thanksgiving table asking her Mamma to pass the sweet potatoes. Probably have you read the dinner prayer.
Peace Out!
Yeah, I don’t do SOS often, but I always enjoy asking the waitress what SOS stands for…they almost never know, and the look on their face when I tell them is priceless.
Tipping is a bit of a minefield. The expats not from tipping cultures think Americans are stupid for tipping like some of us do. If I can tip my waitress directly, I’ll tip more; if it goes into the group pot, I tip less. That’s just how I roll. Service at Texas Joe’s was so outstanding, and the whole crew pitched in to serve us; I was happy to reward them with 20%.
I’m stealing your Waffle House line, but I will have to modify it since we don’t have any here. I was just talking the other day about how much I’d love to pop in for a Southern-style breakfast again.