Dan Antion

No Pearls in Mussels – #SoCS

Maddie wanted to sit. I wanted a beer. We compromised.

Once again, it’s time for Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday. I know where I’m going with this, but it’s going to take a while to get to the prompt:

“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘precious.’ Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!”

If we were having a beer, you’d be late, and headed for trouble.

“You’ve already ordered food? How long have you been here?”

These mussels are wonderful.

“Not that long, but when I got here, three people were eating mussels. I couldn’t resist.”

“Easiest sale I ever made. Can I get you a glass of Bourbon?”

“No, thanks, Cheryl. I think I’m going to have a glass of red wine today.”

“One splash of Meiomi coming up. Seltzer on the side?”

“Yes please.”

“You old school guys make me feel good with your ‘yes pleases’ and ‘no thank yous’ – It’s like manners still exist.”

“In a world of ‘no problem,’ I’ll take old fashioned manners every time, Cheryl.”

“Well, pardon my manners for not sharing, but I know you prefer mussels in red wine.”

“That’s true, and I have to go to a family thing later, so I’m not eating today.”

“A ‘family thing’ sounds ominous. It’s not that piano player again, is it.”

“Lord no. I am never going to hear that woman play again. Hey, you pushed a mussel off the plate.”

“Damn, get back here.”

“You’re not going to eat that, are you?”

“Sure, that was less than three seconds.”

“I’m not sure the three-second rule applies in a bar. Is that precious mussel worth more than your health?”

“Cheryl wipes the bar down after every customer. Besides, the mussel is still in the shell.”

“The rag she uses to wipe the bar might be older than she is. Is there no limit with you?”

“Of course. Just the other day, I tossed a piece of sausage that fell off my pizza in the microwave.”

“What’s the big deal with that? I mean, I actually might have picked that up.”

“I was at work.”

“So?”

“You work alone. I work with thirty people. I’m talking about a microwave in a communal kitchen.”

“Still, your coworkers are human beings, how bad can it be?”

Yes, that’s a leaf. In the microwave. This unit doesn’t have a setting for foliage.

“Last week, I found a leaf in it.”

“Hopefully it didn’t fall off a serving of roadkill.”

“I don’t want to think about how it got there.”

“I take it everyone doesn’t clean up after themselves.”

“Not hardly. Every now and then, someone tosses the platter in the dishwasher.”

“What about the inside of the oven?”

“Every now and then we buy a new one.”

“Wouldn’t it be more cost effective to just clean the one you have.”

It isn’t hard to replace the paper towel roll. New, unwrapped rolls are right above the sink.

“It would be, if someone would be willing to clean it. We can’t even get people to change a roll of paper towels.”

“I see. You guys operate under the ‘let someone else do it‘ school of thought.”

“We do, and too often the ‘someone’ is me.”

“Here’s your wine, and your seltzer. And don’t talk to me about walking in behind Messers Knownothing and Donothing.”

“Who was on last night, Cheryl?”

“Your buddy.”

“Skippy?”

“Yes, well, Brad. But he didn’t wash the beer glasses. He didn’t restock the wine rack or the cooler and he didn’t wipe down the wine glasses.”

“Well, you are a little OCD about those wine glasses.”

“When someone is paying eight dollars for a glass of wine, I don’t think they want to be looking through spots.”

“See, that’s your problem, Cheryl…”

“…Dude, I’ve been munching away on these mussels, waiting for you to make a mistake. You just did.”

“Huh? Wha…”

“My problem? This is MY PROBLEM?”

“See, I told you. Bad move.”

“Cheryl, I just meant that…”

“…That I have a problem because I want my customers to have clean glasses. Is that what you meant?”

“No, of course not. I just meant to thank you for remembering that I like a glass of seltzer with my wine.”

“He especially likes it without any flies.”

“What?”

“Brad gave him a glass of seltzer that had a fly in it.”

“Sheesh, now I know why he calls him Skippy. Are you finished with the mussels, Dan?”

“Yep, these are all empty.”

“I’ll take the plates.”

“Thanks Cheryl. Can you bring me another Corona, when you get a chance?”

“Certainly.”

“Phew, that was close. I thought she was going to toss me out of here.”

“Make sure you leave her a nice tip.”

“Good idea. Wait, since when am I paying?”

“I think since you said OCD.”

Today’s gallery is a mix of pics from the past few days. Earlier this week, for Linda’s other challenge, Cheryl was playing with her photo-editor. She takes great pictures, wraps them in sweet words and offers a little music. Check it out here.

Ready to start working my way up to the top of that vent.
This wall had so many things that had to be cut around.
Siding around the octagonal vent required some interesting cuts.
The main wall is done. Moving onto the extension. I’ll be leaving room for trim at the edges.
It’s a wrap! This wall has been a challenge, but I’m ready to move on to a different wall.
Putting the siding against the sloping roof line requires constant checking for level.
This is our local diner. I almost used this for the doors of Atonement.
“Ah, you know good stuff is coming out of this kitchen.”
Fish & Chips at the diner.
This is the diner on the postcard from Atonement. Sadly, it has been closed for over a year.
Another look at the old cemetery in Hartford.
It didn’t take very long for Rusty to find me.
Itty-bitty bunny. This little guy is really small.
“Hi MuMu”
Maddie’s makes wonderful pancakes. Of course, they’re better with bacon.
I guess the new post lamp is bright enough.
“Did you say something?”
We had wind in the 25-35 mph range. Maddie loves to sniff the wind.
It was a little cold with the wind blowing so hard.

53 comments

  1. One of these days, I have got to get to that bar of yours!!
    That picture of the diner makes me miss them all the more. You’d think with all the retro stuff going on, someone would open one around here. Downtown looks like “restaurant row” now, but all bistros, cafe’s and health food.
    As far as ‘precious’ goes, it makes me think of the “Big Bang” crew talking about ‘Lord of the Rings!’

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  4. Oh that plate of mussels…flashback to a July vacation and a plate of my own…and a great glass of craft beer…Mmmmm…

    The leaf in the microwave made me LOL. Curious how that got in there. I’m sorry you are the only one who replaces paper towels in the office. I don’t have that particular issue, but I have wiped out the microwave a time or two or three after someone leaves residue on the bottom. Not sure why they think the maid is going to come and clean up after, but evidently she does.

    Have a good weekend, Dan, and don’t eat anything off the floor.

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    • Tanks Mary. Sometimes, I make a stand and leave that empty roll (when I see it, not when I empty it). Let someone else be the maid. The leaf in the microwave was a shock. As soon as I saw it, I thought “I have to work this into SoCS” and then Linda gave us ‘precious’ and I was stumped.

      “Nothing off the floor” is easy around here, Maddie usually hoovers it up before you get there. Even the stuff she doesn’t like get a sniff and a lick, so…no.

      Have a great weekend, Mary. We’re starting off with some rain. I hope you get to see the sun.

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      • The sun is out! Yay! I’m going out in a minute to my favorite breakfast place and it will feel good to get the sunglasses on and feel the sun (it’s cold this morning, but I don’t really care).

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  7. The local diner was where everyone headed after the movies or after bowling. Great food, huge portions, and the friendliest atmosphere in town.

    The siding looks great. You are making great progress. I hope you are sufficiently proud of your craftsmanship.

    Holy cow! MiMi up on all fours! And MuMu getting petted. And Maddie just ‘blowin’ in the wind’. And the little bunny exploring. Great shots.

    But a leaf in the microwave? Ewwwww.

    Happy weekend to you and the Editor. Sadly we had to turn heat on this morning…. 40 degrees is waaaay too cold for our old bones.
    🔹 Ginger

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    • Thanks Ginger. I mentioned earlier that I don’t know if I’ve ever shared a picture of MiMi standing. She’s usually in motion or asleep. Rarely standing still. MuMu is either asleep, eating of screaming to be brushed. Maddie, when there’s wind, her nose is in it. Sniffing far away sniffs.

      I am happy with the way the siding is looking. I should be out there moving to the next wall, but we have some unexpected rain at the moment.

      Local diners are getting harder and harder to find, but two of my favorites (one old one new) are still serving food.

      Have a great weekend – stay warm.

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  8. That was a close call. I enjoyed the suspense. I don’t need the three second rule as long as I have my coon hound Doodle around. She’s always helping me clean up, in my own kitchen at least. I don’t know about a bar, though, she’d be going through every nook and cranny.

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  10. I hope the neighbors on that side of your house appreciate all your hard work. That siding looks great! Every Friday, without fail, someone cleans out the work fridge. Yesterday I noticed our department had food labeled in the very back from a celebration a week ago. It had expired. No worries. Coworker said the cheesecake still looked good. Yeah, I don’t know……MuMu, Maddie and Rusty..I love seeing these guys.

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    • Thanks Lois. The appearance of the garage is much improved from that angle. Hopefully, I’ll get to share that experience with the other neighbors.

      We instituted a policy where you have to put a label on your food with a date. We will let it stay in the fridge until that date. If you don’t remove it, or if you don’t put the label on, we toss it – container and all – on Friday.

      Rusty is really funny. He follows me around the yard as I’m working. He doesn’t seem to have the “store peanuts for winter” thing figured out. He just eats them.

      I’d skip that cheesecake if I were you.

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  11. What? You just save your buddy a good ear twisting, Dan! LOLOL. Three second rule only applies for me if it is actually less than one second and to food that is not an absorbent like dark chocolate chips or maybe nuts. And never at work. uggghhh. What is it about workers and microwaves? They use the excuse of it being “someone else’s mess” but if each person a) covered their food when heating and b) wiped the inside when done-problem solved. Completely. This is what’s wrong with society in one simple analogy. Always someone else’s fault and the next person’s problem. Damn straight those wine glasses get washed sparkling. And a fresh cloth for the bar, thank you. We have actually walked out of restaurants that smelled of sour mop water. Your siding looks awesome! Nice job, Maddie looks so regal there on her “throne”. All that food had me hungry. Gotta go make some brunch. Fish and chips…oh yummy. Happy Free 48 Dan! WP is making me sign in to Like and Comment🙄

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    • Thanks Cheryl. I didn’t want to make you seem like a meany bo-beany, so no ear-twisting today – just a bigger tip.

      My pet peave (it will show up here eventually) are the people who wear gloves to handle my food, but also handle cash and credit cards with the gloves on. You’re only protecting yourself if you do that!

      You’re right, the world is like a microwave in a common kitchen – messed up and it’s someone else’s fault and no one’s responsibility to fix.

      With that, I hope you’re enjoying your #Free48. We have rain, but I can’t stop that. Maddie didn’t get her walk, so she’s not happy. Someone will sit with her later.

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  12. Hi Dan – well mussels and pearls – I found one once … my ex managed to lose it in a move – not a happy bunny was I!! Your garage, workshop project looks amazingly professional – well done … while Maddie, Mimi and something with pinky ears helped hugely … obviously inspiring you to continue on – mind you with dinner round each corner apparently – no wonder you kept going … lovely photos – cheers Hilary

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    • Thanks Hilary – I didn’t know you could find a pearl in a mussel. Thanks for that (sorry you lost it). Maddie isn’t the happiest when I’m working outside, because my wife is hesitant to bring her out. We aren’t sure how she will react to my being on a ladder or up on the roof. We do have our share of places to eat, including here at home, but I rarely share those pictures.

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    • Thanks Laura. Mussels are usually gritty, but not in this place. These are cooked in a white wine sauce and they are excellent. I’ll never get these at home, so it’s a treat I give myself now and then.

      I hope you guys weren’t swamped by this latest storm.

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    • I know I won’t miss that or the fridge. I’ve found leaves in the fridge, where I guess people had sat their lunch bag down outside. If I bring my stuff in a bag, I take it out before putting it in the fridge. It’s probably safer in the bag. Unfortunately, these things are my responsibility at work. I was hoping to pawn them off on some other poor soul, but it looks like they will be mine until I retire :(

      Thanks for the comment, Janis.

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  16. A leaf in the microwave … ewww

    “every now and then we buy a new one” regarding the oven … hilarious

    The cabinet of paper towels while the holder sits empty … uh not me ;)

    You sure we don’t frequent the same communal kitchen?!?

    Oh and now I want to find a place to get pancakes. Doesn’t matter that I had lunch at 2 and it’s only 2:55. Looks delish!!!

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  18. I am a bit OCD about clean glasses. My family hates me for it, too. But I mean, really, I like to know my glass is CLEEEEE-EAN! The horror stories I could tell you, but I won’t.
    Dinner’s almost done and I am ready to snarf!
    Please and thank you are everything, cause people like to feel respected. Why this is hard for others, I will never understand. I’ll drink about it later :)

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  19. Mussels need a certain amount of leavage, don’t they? I once found a bottle of eyeballs in our common refrigerator only to be told they were actually pickled onions – yeah, right! Love the bunny’s neon ears! He’s had a Corona too many, meethinks.

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    • It’s true, I think the secret to these is the white wine sauce. I try not to look at what else is in the fridge. I put my stuff in a quiet corner and take it out for lunch. I never leave anything overnight. The bunny isn’t old enough to drink ;-)

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  20. I’m not sure there’s a rhyme or reason for when I toss something that “went overboard” and when I think it’s okay… Sometimes I get rid of things no one else would. But I agree — the muscle was in the shell! LOL.
    Loved seeing all the critters. And the building is really coming along, Dan. Thanks for the beer. Cheers!

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    • Thanks for dropping by the bar, Teagan. I know you’ve had a busy day. Yeah, I think mussels get a 5-second rule due to the shell. The fur-girls are all getting “much needed” attention.

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  23. I think the leaf in the microwave was a kind of symbol that autumn has begun. Hey, I like that bright lamp post outside your house. Do you keep it on all night? Or only when you need it? I am not commenting on people’s attitude over using office or public property because I know it is disgusting.

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    • Thanks Sharukh. The lamp is only on when we need it. I was worried that it wouldn’t be bright enough, because it only accepts LED bulbs, and they were a lower equivalent wattage than what we had in the previous lamp.

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