Another item can be scratched off my to-do ( http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2015/03/for-year-5-2015-2016-to-do-list.html ) list! The best part about this entry is that I stumbled upon it by accident. I had planned a whole other afternoon but clearly that did not go as scheduled. It may be the first time that something amazing came out of a disappointment. I was intent on having a late brunch at another restaurant that day but there was a miscommunication and I was over an hour early. After a few minutes dealing with my annoyance it was time to move on. I had been thinking about that brunch so I couldn’t manage enjoying anything else at that moment. But after driving a few blocks I stumbled upon what might be the greatest restaurant experience of my life. Thank God for serendipity. I had come to this block in search of something else entirely but as I turned to walk back to the car I saw a sign for Frankies 457. I instantl...

Do you remember being a kid in elementary school when all of a sudden the aroma of burned toast filled the air? For anyone that can relate you know I am talking about the big, soft pretzels that were sold at school. I remember very vividly smelling them as I walked into the auditorium before school started. Despite that unpleasant smell I always wanted one and even though they tasted dry, like stale bread, once I put a ton of that bitter mustard on it, it still went down. Apparently I have been a foodie since before there was such a thing. I am not really into pretzels as a snack. Not even the ones sold in the chip aisle or that have flavors. For me it is mostly too dry to be appealing. Considering my love of salt I would have thought this should be my ideal snack but alas I always hear popcorn and Doritos calling my name. But I am willing to keep trying until I find the pretzel for me. When it came time to make my 2015 to-do list ( http://...

I have written extensively about the holidays I love, Christmas being my favorite and Thanksgiving coming in a close second. If I am being honest Election Day and my birthday struggle to compete in those number one and number two spots. But I realize I am probably alone in that thinking. From Halloween until New Years Day there is holiday spirit we can see no matter where we go. Stores are always selling items ahead of time rushing us to the next holiday before we can even enjoy the day that is in front of us. When it comes to the New Year and spring I often do not count those holidays. You know Valentines Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and last but not least, Easter. I may acknowledge these “minor” holidays in small ways: I send cards to my beloved cousins, niece, and nephew, eat some festive colored candy, and use it as an excuse to take some pictures. But every once and a while the days you don’t plan on celebrati...