East Coast Wrap Up - 2014

First of all, I think I've eaten more in the last four weeks than I have in the previous four months!!!  Bread - pasta - pie - candy - popcorn!  All the things I've avoided for so long.  So when I get back to Dallas, it's back on the Paleo bandwagon.

On Monday, we picked up Lorraine and the three of us had lunch at Rutt's Hut.  Rippers; onion rings [too greasy for my taste]; and fries with brown gravy!!!  I tasted the onion rings long into the night!  After lunch, we did a little light shopping and then took Lorraine to two furniture stores to look for a loveseat for her TV room.  We found one at Raymour and Flanagan that all three of us liked.  During our "looking" we commented on the rudeness of Lorraine; her anti socialism; her orneriness; and her big ASS - none of which is true - LOTS and LOTS of laughter ensued!  She really is Our Big Sister! And is LOVED so very much!

We tried to stop in to see Uncle Tony Giuseffi who will be 100 in January, but he wasn't at home!  That man!!!!

Vicki prepared a beautiful dinner and we watched a little TV and hit the sack early!

Tuesday!  What a perfectly beautiful day!  It was colder in Dallas than it was here today.  And SUN!!!  Beautiful blue skies!  Just a great day.

Vicki INSISTED that I try a slice from Rose's Pizza in Garfield and thank God she did.  It was probably the BEST pizza I've had in nearly 50 years.  I sure could have eaten another slice but we had other plans.  If you're ever within 50 miles of this place, you MUST go get a slice.

Now, off to Hot Grill in Clifton.  It's a hot dog joint that's been there for over 60 years but I was committed to Ott's Spot back in The Day so I wasn't aware of it.  They're called Texas Weiners but in Dallas, we call them chili dogs.  Vicki and I decided to share as we're also planning to go out to dinner tonight.  The fries are doused with chili as well but I only had one.  I liked the "Texas Weiner" a lot!

We were going to hit DiAnna's Bakery Garfield to get a cannoli, but we decided against it.

We decided to head back over to Wood-Ridge to see if Uncle Tony was home.  In fact, he was.  The reason he wasn't there yesterday was he was in the hospital!!!!  He'd SAID he'd had a little heart attack last Friday and had been there until last night or today.  He doesn't look bad for a man who just got out of the hospital and who is going to turn ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD in January!!!  Being who he is, he poo pooed his "alleged" heart attack and said he'd been kept too long.  What a feisty guy he is now and always has been!

So, after a little rest at home, we had dinner at The Crow's Nest, which has become a ritual these past several years, on my last evening in New Jersey.  As we were finishing dinner, Gail and John Dunn [Gail is Uncle Tony's daughter] came in and were seated behind us.

John and Gail Dunn

Naturally, we asked about Uncle Tony's condition and what to our wondering ears should we hear:  he didn't have a heart attack.  He had some symptoms but all was clean and clear.  Very thankful for that!  Oh, and by the way, our dinners were great.  I had short ribs and Vicki had monkfish francaise.  She'll be eating leftovers for several days.  They give WAY too much food at that place!!!

So, now I'm settled in on Vicki's loveseat.  I'm pretty much all packed except for the last minute things.  It's been such a wonderful trip and I LOVE MY FAMILY SO VERY MUCH!!!!  I'm anxious to get back to Dallas but hate leaving.  Bittersweet!  But so very thankful for the time spent here and for Vicki who is the Ultimate Tour Guide / Chauffeur / Sister / Friend / Chef / Hostess - not necessarily in that order!

 So . . .