Vacation at Lake George NY

Update June 9 to June 10, 2019 

-- Drove to the Sagamore Hotel on Lake George to Start New York Vacation 

Lunch at the Sagamore

We like to take a week's vacation every month now that I'm fully retired and Patti's on a short week schedule. We can put together a week to ten days every month to take trips and enjoy our time together.

We often put a golf game or two into the mix so that Patti can continue to expand her logo-ball collection from all the golf courses that she has visited. On our first day of arrival at Lake George, we checked in to the Sagamore Resort (the restaurant, not the hotel). 

For overnight accommodations, we checked into the Holiday Inn Express up the road, which runs about $200 a night less than the Sagamore. Do the math. 
We like to stay at the Opal properties around the country. Some we have stayed at include Lake Placid Lodge, The Samoset Resort, the Harborside Hotel, and others. On our next visit, we may actually check in here. 

The Sagamore Resort at Bolton Landing

Anyway, we enjoyed our lunch at the Bella Vita Restaurant on the veranda overlooking the water and the grounds. We had the shrimp Portofino and a chicken sandwich with some wine. The tax on food was 7 percent and the tax on booze was 7 percent. That's New York. The Sagamore has its own boat which guests can sail on for brief guided tours of the lake. We chose to use one of the commercial steamboat lines to take an extended trip around the lake. The tour included an encounter with dolphins which like to follow the boat and give chase.

Holy Shit; he's wearing shorts.

-- Golf at the Hiland Park Country Club

This golf course was beautiful and a lot of fun. It's actually in Queensbury NY, which is where our hotel was and only minutes to the lake. It was so much fun, in fact, that at the end of our round we immediately booked to come back later in the week for another round. We also liked the looks of the restaurant and planned to visit it on our next round. It turned out to be a very hot week for this time of year and so I had to break down and wear shorts most of the time. I know I didn't give my readers a lot of warning to prepare for this, but I do wear shorts on occasion.

On our second visit later in the week, we did eat at the Grill Room. We shared a Grilled Chicken Pesto Wrap, which was very large and certainly was enough for both of us. 

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READING UPDATE:

Mr. Lincoln’s Navy, by Richard S. West, Jr.

I have been to Gettysburg more than once. I have walked on the battlegrounds of the American Revolution and the Civil War many times. I have read about the great generals, great battles, great armaments that describe the story of how the wars were prosecuted, won, and lost. But, Richard West, in this book, brings out the mighty factor that the Union Navy was a truly significant player in the outcome of the Civil War.

Blockades, control of waterways like the Mississippi, the protection of commercial shipping were all part of the challenges that Lincoln faced in winning the war. The Navy went from 23 ships to 640 ships by the end of the war. Without this growth, the war may have been lost. 

Granddaughter's Visit; Golf for the AFL-CIO, Lunch at O'Connor's

Update June 2 to June 8

-- Granddaughter's Visit on Tuesday

Definition of Cute

Even though the granddaughter's visited a few days ago for the holiday, the usual Tuesday visit was still a lot of fun. The girls like to play together and they like to test the grandparents whenever they can. Lucy especially likes to see where the boundaries are for various things. She's anxious to pull out a lot of her toys but is reluctant to put something away before moving on to the next event. In order not to be overrun with toys, we insist that she clean up as she goes, but it's a challenge nonetheless.

Olive is less of a challenge in that regard as she is only ten months old. But, no toy goes un-tossed if she's in her high chair, so that means a general clutter zone at her feet. This requires a lot of bending over to keep up with her tossed items. But, as you can see, the cute face always comes to the rescue for her.

-- Golf for the AFL-CIO at Leicester Country Club

The annual AFL-CIO Scramble was held on June 7 at the Leicester Country Club, which is just up the road from us. Patti plays in it every year and I occasionally play when they need a last-minute fill-in for someone who can't make it. We like playing the course whenever we get the chance. It's got some fun holes and we managed not to be the last-place team, which is always our goal. 

-- Lunch at O'Connor's

Met with Ray for lunch at O'Connor's Restaurant in Worcester. I had the Tortellini, a fine Italian specialty at an Irish Pub, and Ray had the usual salad. Ray had just spent the month of May in Greece so there were a lot of good stories to tell. But I had him save the best ones for dinner with our wives later in the month. 

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READING UPDATE:

American Theocracy, The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, by Kevin Phillips

Geez, Louise, it confounds me how the fundamentalists of all religions continue to be a plague to humankind. History shows that 1) global overreach, 2) militant religion, 3) diminishing resources, and 4) ballooning debt has been the foundation for the collapse of all world-dominating powers throughout history. And now, we are on the threshold of the same thing in America.

We are perfectly set up for a major disaster with the fundamentalist ignorance leading the way. False Prophets (according to a book I wrote, The World’s Seven Biggest Liars), have set loose the mad dogs of evangelical meddling in the nations of the world. Phillips explains things rather well in this book.

Memorial Day Outing, Usual Tuesday Visit, and Golf at Green Hill

Update May 26 to June 1, 2019

-- New Book Distributed on Memorial Day

A signed copy for each.

We hosted a small gathering for Memorial Day, which featured some grilling on the deck, the usual picnic items, and for each of the family members that visited a copy of my new book, Worcester's Winter Hill Farm. I dedicated the book to my three nieces, Paige, Lily, and Jean Nicole.

Paige and Lily may have heard stories about their Dad and me and how life was like on the farm in Worcester, but now they had the book which gives all the details as I remember things. We'll see how Steve remembers things.

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-- Golfing on Green Hill

Patti at Green Hill

Green Hill Golf Course is one of our favorites. They have made some changes and improvements over the past few years which have made the course more interesting. You never forget that it's on a hill and that your ball wants to roll off the fairways as much as it wants to roll off the greens.

It's not a course we would like to walk. Even with the carts, it's an effort to climb some slopes to get to the next shot. The 18th hole is still treacherous. The slope to the left is so severe that it's not possible to keep the ball in the middle of the fairway. It rolls down to the left no matter where you make the ball fly. Another feature of the course is that many of the greens are very small, which makes it tough to get on the green and to stay on them.

But, we're glad it's here and always look forward to playing it.


-- Did Some Baking for the Holiday

Cupcake Anyone?

In the spirit of the patriotic holiday, I baked some cupcakes and decorated them in various flavors and colors. The basic cupcake was a yellow cake. The toppings included nuts, or white chocolate chips, or sprinkles, or plain. Each had its own American flag. The recipe allowed me to make 24 cupcakes so no one went without. We sent many home, with our guests. 

-- Lucy and Olive Make Their Weekly Visit

Olive Gives it a Whirl

Olive and Lucy came on Tuesday as usual, even though they had come over for the Memorial Day party too. Olive has grown enough that when she sits in the whirling chair she has more control than before. She can use her legs to balance herself and to give herself some push-off the floorboard. She needs leverage to give the various buttons and levers a good push. She can make the music sound and she can make the little animals screech and cackle.

This chair is a good alternative to the highchair as we can gather around her on the floor and help her play with the various noise devices. On the highchair, any toys end up being tossed off. Here, the toys are attached and she can't remove them. That saves a lot of shagging, believe me.



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READING UPDATE:

Elia Kazan, A Biography, by Richard Schickel

Mostly famous for his productions of A Streetcar Named Desire, Death of a Salesman, and On the Waterfront, Elia Kazan was also a product and victim of his craft and time in America when it was good sporting fun to look for Communists under the bed. \

Original source material, such as Kazan’s diaries, add dimension and depth that other commentaries about Kazan have missed. There may be no more complex artist to have hovered over the American artistic community for more than half a century.

Golf at Grand View, Visit from the Girls, and Harvest Grille

Update May 19 to May 25, 2019

-- Olive and Lucy Visit on Tuesday

Lucy and new friend, Pinky

It's hard to believe that Lucy has been visiting weekly for about four years and this will be her last full summer with us. She will graduate from Pre-School and move on to Kindergarten this fall so we make sure that we get at least one day a week with Lucy and her baby sister, Olive.

Olive continues to impress us with her various new skills which include giving us a vigorous raspberry whenever the mood strikes her as well as the increasing velocity and trajectory of objects that she flings from her high chair. If something is missing, it's best to start searching in the general vicinity of her high chair as it's her habit to toss things from the tray as soon as you put it in the tray.

Her dining habits have been improving. She likes to use a spoon, especially if she can stab herself in the forehead with it. She would much rather eat whipped cream off the plate using her fingers rather than a spoon, but that's only following in Lucy's footprints as that was her favorite trick as well.

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-- A Visit to Harvest Grille Yields Fish Tacos

Patti at Harvest Grille 

After four o'clock on a Thursday, you will find a good deal on Fish Tacos and drinks at the Harvest Grille in Jefferson, MA. It's two minutes from the house and a warm summer evening is a good reason to let someone else handle the grilling. Patti has the imagination to try different things from time to time as they have a lot of Happy Hour special pricing for appetizers and small plates. I'm stuck on fish tacos. Sorry.

What's nice about it is you can buy one taco at a time so if you're really hungry you can go for three or more. But, I generally get two, which is enough for me. We are really lucky to have a wide range of restaurants so near the house including fine dining, family-style restaurants, diners, and quick-bite coffee shops that range from Mexican to Thai, to Chinese, to American and more.

-- A Grand Day at Grand View Golf in Leominster

The Gazebo between Hole 4 and 5

Just a few minutes up Route 68 and along some backroads is the shortcut to Grand View Country Club in Leominster. We love this little course that has a "grand view" as well as a few rough spots along its fairways. But, although it's a short course, it will make you work hard to get a low score. With so many good courses to choose from it's hard to decide where to go each week. We often make a decision on where to play golf based on where we want to stop for lunch after golf. In that case, heading north brings a lot of restaurants into play for us on the return trip. Today's rounds did not yield very good scores, in fact, we didn't par any of the holes. Patti used the round to practice her putting with more than one ball on the putting surface, but that's okay, we deemed it a practice round this early in the season.

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READING UPDATE
The Life and Times of Thomas Becket, by Richard Winston

This biography of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, written in 1967 was the first full-scale attempt at a biography in about 100 years. What I like about this interpretation of the stories, legends, and commentaries about Becket is that the author, Richard Winston, turned to letters Becket wrote and other source material generated in Becket’s lifetime to provide a more authentic view of his life and times.

I’m always interested in any investigation in the church-state phenomenon, and there can be no more compelling life-tale than that of Thomas Becket, who was ultimately murdered by his King.

Mother's Day, Glass Museum, Holly Ridge and Sandwich Hollows Golf

Update May 12 to May 18, 2019

-- Mother's Day in Douglas

Kari and Dave hosted Mother's Day in Douglas this year. It was an excellent opportunity to try some of Dave's smoked ribs, which he prepared on his new smoker. The ribs, sausage, and chicken were excellent. The kids had a good time, and the adults got a chance to relax and enjoy the day. The Moms got cards, many of them handmade by the children. 

Kari, Patti, and Corinne in Douglas

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-- Olive and Lucy Visit Jefferson on Tuesday 

Olive enjoying a brief nap.

Since Olive joined her sister Lucy visiting us on Tuesdays, we have been using the playpen as a changing station and a small cradle. Not that Olive can roll over - and leave the area - we have begun using the playpen for its primary purpose, to keep her trapped in a small space without fear of her rolling right out the door. 

She has outgrown the small playground we would spread on the living room floor safe in the knowledge that she couldn't escape. Now we must be more draconian and keep her penned up. This playpen will suffice until that point when she can stand, leap, and make a full departure. But, for now, it's just what we need.

Fish anyone?

-- Lunch at Favorite local Restaurant: Val's

We don't really need a reason to go to Val's Restaurant because it's so close and so affordable that we can indulge as often as we like. It had been a hectic few days, and we were getting ready to take off for a vacation, so a quick lunch at Val's was in order. As I have become addicted to fish tacos lately, I went for it again at Val's.

Patti also went with fish getting the Fish Sandwich on a bulkie roll. I knew I was going out later to a cocktail party, so I passed on ordering anything to drink. It was excellent as usual, as was the atmosphere and the service. 

-- Attended retirement cocktail party for Tony Cantone on Wednesday

Drinks, Food, and Tall Tales

After over 40 years with The Hope Group, Tony Cantone finally retired, and I had a chance to attend a small gathering in his honor at the Juniper Hills Country Club in Northborough. He specifically constructed it to be a very intimate gathering, featuring a round of golf in the afternoon and some time to exchange stories in the evening.

I can remember vividly in 1985 when Ray and I made a presentation to the management team at The Hope Group to come on board as their exclusive marketing advisers. Tony was in the room and at the time was a lead salesman for the company. Shortly after that he became President of The Hope Group and was after that one of our principal collaborators in everything affecting sales and marketing for the next 30 years. When I retired last year, Tony had tentatively committed himself to stay with the new owners for up to three years, but he elected to use his escape clause to leave sooner. Best of luck Tony in retirement.

Fore!

-- Vacation Starts With a Quick Round of Golf at Holly Ridge

Lunch!

Our first day of vacation on Cape Cod started with a round of golf at the Holly Ridge Golf Club course in Sandwich. We have played this course a few times over the years, but what happens is that there are so many courses near our place in South Yarmouth that we don't think to drive back toward the bridge and Sandwich to pick up a round at Holly Ridge.

It was a picture-perfect day, and we had a lot of fun playing this neat course. What makes this course different, and perfect for a first-of-season round, is that it's an executive course. It's 18 holes, but each hole is a par 3 hole. Most of the holes are a reasonable length, but some of them still require the driver if you want to really score the hole. I felt it was the perfect course to warm up on before we get our regular golf season underway; it's been a long, cold winter! I don't suppose it would surprise you that we ate in the restaurant at Holly Ridge after our round and I had the (wait for it) Fish Tacos. Patti had the swordfish caesar salad, which was very inviting. And how can you complain about a Michelob Ultra for less than four dollars? You just can't complain. 

-- First Time Visit to Cape Cod Canal Visitor Center - Really?

Patti is balancing the ship on her hands.

How could it be that we have never been to the visitor center at the Cape Cod Canal? We have been to Cape Cod every year since I was a boy. Patti and I have always enjoyed all aspects of Cape fun from Falmouth to Provincetown; but in our haste to cross the bridges, we seem to have always zipped right past the canal.

Captain Richard

This time we stopped in and were amazed at what we found. Next time, we will bring the grandchildren too, as there were lots of hands-on things for them to learn from. Just walking along the canal itself was very interesting and exciting. Traffic on the canal was light, but huge tankers were gliding past in both directions, moving vast amounts of cargo.

The visitor center has a boat "inside" the building that you can climb on and explore to get an idea of what it must have been like to sail on these rescue boats. There is a diorama of the canal so that you can better understand its scope and its functions. The whole place is quite an experience. 

 -- Remarkable Fishway or Fish Ladder in Sandwich

Dexter Grist Mill Fish Ladder

Walking downtown Sandwich is always a lot of fun as it has many historic and significant landmarks that we find fascinating to learn about. At the Thomas Dexter Grist Mill, we found a Fishway or Fish Ladder to allow fish to migrate upstream. The mill itself was under construction and not open to the public on this visit, but we'll stop in for a closer look next time we are in town. I am familiar with fishway's as they are an essential part of any dam under construction and for all the years I worked at The Hope Group our company frequently was involved in engineering fish ladder solutions for our clients. I've never seen such a small fishway before.

The Dexter Grist Mill was built in 1640, which is only 20 years after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. The mill is open to the public and charges a small entrance fee. The tour guides provide insight into how the mill was used, and if you are inspired, you can buy some fresh cornmeal as well.

-- Sandwich Glass Museum Was Exceptional Including Live Demonstration

Town Hall visible through display window.

It's been so long since I last visited the Sandwich Glass Museum that when we stepped inside, I was not able to recognize anything at all. Maybe I've never been to it and only imagined that I must have over the past 50 years or so. Anyway, it's definitely a place not to miss when visiting Cape Cod. The history of glass blowing on the Cape is well told, and at the same time, you are learning about the overall history of Cape Cod.

Another thing that surprised me was how large a facility they have. It seemed that each display room led on to another themed area that was more impressive. They have a live glass blowing demonstration every 30 minutes, which was very informative and fun. Plus, they have a theater presentation that is a documentary on the history of glass blowing and in particular the story of the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company.

According to their website, "in 1825 Deming Jarves, an importer from Boston, took a generous inheritance and opened the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company in Sandwich, Massachusetts.  Inspired by its location, abundant fuel source, and proximity to the coast, the glass industry in Sandwich ushered in the Industrial Revolution to Cape Cod." It was interesting to learn about the plentiful trees in the region as the prime source for fuel to keep the furnaces burning, but competition rose from the midwest glass makers as they had access to cheap coal, something not so easy to duplicate on Cape Cod.

-- Always on the Lookout for a Tea Room

As long as we were in Sandwich, we felt we should check out the Dunbar House Restaurant & Tea Room. Patti is always up for some scones or something similar, with a spot, or a pot, of tea.

I generally find that these places can meet my needs if they have a quiche on the menu. In this case, I struck gold. The quiche of the day was an exotic combination of flavors and a generous portion of salad and fruit.

They had a very extensive menu, and in Patti's case, her meal was served on a three-tier high serving tray. We both over-ordered, but that's okay, it was worth it. The tea room experience is different from other dining options, so you should try it.

Patti's selection of sandwiches was terrific. Plus there were pastries, cakes, fruit, and a honey pot to sweeten the tea. 

-- Golf at Sandwich Hollows Golf Club

It's been a while since we played at Sandwich Hollows Golf Club. I was pleased to pick up a few pars and almost broke 90 on our last day on the Cape. We were paired up with a nice couple that appreciated our humor and our level of golf skill. That always makes the round more fun. We shared some drinks after the round. The golf course was in good shape, and the clubhouse was as I remembered it; with a nice view of the course and a reasonable menu. We decided to eat before we played, and so we went after the breakfast specials which included an Irish Breakfast with the hash for me. Patti got hash with her breakfast too, but not the poached eggs. We had a full visit to the Cape, and it turned out that playing golf on the day we arrived and the day we departed worked out just great. Can't wait to get back to the Cape.
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READING UPDATE: My next door neighbor is a semi-retired college professor who specialized in English literature at Worcester Polytechnical Institute. One of the things he brought to his students was a scholarly overview of authors from our region, which included the famous playwright S.N. Behrman who wrote The Worcester Account. I had read the book a couple times over the past 50 years and really enjoyed re-reading it this week. Having just published my own memoir detailing a portion of my childhood in Worcester, it was fun to compare notes with Behrman. If you are from the Worcester area, you should definitely read Behrman's book. I can loan it to you if you need it.

Granddaughters Visit, My Book Publishes, We Celebrate My Birthday

Update May 5 through May 11, 2019

-- This Week Thursday Substitutes for Tuesday

Read My Blog About My Books

The two granddaughters who spend each Tuesday with us will come on Thursday instead. Nothing really changes for a visit on Thursday instead of Tuesday, but it does create a two-day void that needs to be filled. For me, that was a chance to catch up on some reading and some writing. My latest book, Worcester's Winter Hill Farm is set to publish this week so I have been busy with some last minute website details. I'm offering the book as a paperback and as an eBook. The eBook costs less and my experience with previous books I have published is that the eBook thing is really catching on.

My travel guide, A Vacationer's Guide to Rural New England Bookstores, did not sell very well as an eBook but did very well as a paperback. Frankly, that's no surprise; a guide book is something you want to keep on a nearby shelf or in this case, in the glove box of the car. My other book, The World's Seven Biggest Liars, sold well as an eBook and not too many paperbacks. I think it's easier to read a controversial book on a tablet and not have it lying around where someone might see it.

-- My Book, Worcester's Winter Hill Farm, Publishes This Week

Although I finished writing the book quite a while ago, it's been a slow process getting it finished and out the door. The book is a memoir about the years between the ages of eight and 13 when I lived on a farm on the outskirts of Worcester. Farm life was very involved requiring a lot of time and attention by all of us in the family. But, especially for me and my brother Stephen.

We had a range of additional chores that most of our friends did not have. We had to wake early to feed chickens, and we had to hurry home after school to muck out horse stalls. We had to clean, package, and deliver eggs that our neighbors had subscribed to buy from us weekly. Most of my friends in school could not relate to what we were doing on the farm. They were city kids; we were not. Now that it's done I can turn to my next book, which to be precise is actually three books. I have a political book, a children's book, and an edited collection of my Dad's newspaper columns in the works. I also have some other writing assignments too.

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-- Thankfully it's now grilling season - so we put the steaks on the outdoor grill

This week the granddaughters came over on Thursday instead of Tuesday and as the weather was nice we decided to cook some steaks. Paige visited with us and so there were four adults for dinner. I had fun preparing the meat and getting the seasoning just right.

Patti took care of the rest of the menu and we had a good time. One of the things we have been getting good at is using the grill to finish off the baked potatoes and for cooking the vegetables. This includes putting corn on the cob in foil and letting them cook right along with the meat. 


-- Patti Suggested Samual Slater's at Webster Lake for my Birthday Dinner

When we went on the lake cruise last year on Webster Lake we heard that a new restaurant was going to open.at Indian Ranch. It's open now and we made a reservation to visit as part of a low-key birthday celebration for me. The restaurant is very comfortable and every table has a nice view of the lake and its small marina. The food and the service were just fine and I'm sure we will visit again. I had the bourbon steak tips and Patti had the veal oscar. Both were good choices.

As we were leaving we stopped at the bar to say hello to a former work colleague of mine who had sent over some drinks for us when he spotted us by the window. It was a very nice gesture. As we said hello to him Patti found other acquaintances at the bar and our exit was extended even more. It was a fun night and we plan to go back many times.

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READING UPDATE: In 1938 the world was on the precipice of a world war - and EVERYONE knew it. Millions tried to pretend it was not going to happen - but they KNEW it was inevitable. Despite that, with an amazing penchant for self-denial, millions refused to admit they had to take action.

In his book, Can Chamberlain Save Britain? author Collin Brooks dissects the roots of why England and its sleepy inhabitants would not could not, respond to the burgeoning crisis. War broke out less than a year after this book appeared in the English bookstores. From reading this book it's possible to further conclude that as a group - human beings are sadly unprepared to be realistic about anything - especially when it comes to their own good benefit. 

Condo Walk-Through, Bertucci's, New iPhone

Update April 28 to May 4

-- Trustees Annual Spring Property Survey Walk

Front Porches were addressed last year

When we built our home here in 2007 at Stone Ridge Estates in Jefferson, the builder had about another year to go on finishing the project. There are 40 homes in the development. Once we had over 75 percent ownership in place, the builder surrendered the trusteeship to the owners and I was elected as one of the Founding Trustees.

We had a lot of important decisions to make at the start. We had to search for and hire a management company. We had to set out contracts for maintenance, including landscaping and snow removal, and eventually, we agreed to spend some serious resources installing a full down drain and rain gutter system on every unit. It was a very busy year.

Each year at our annual meeting, the trustees lay out plans for future maintenance work and frankly that was easy in the first half dozen years. But, as time goes by, the buildings, grounds, and systems, such as the wells that support our lawn sprinklers, all need attention. So far we have avoided the need for any assessments, but that's only due to being committed to a fair monthly owner's fee that keeps us moving forward. On Monday, the Trustees made their annual spring walk around the grounds. We found some new items that will need attention in the immediate and long-range future. One of them is some apparently sinking driveways. The substrate seems mushy and there are some places where the driveways are sinking. We will need to address that. In the meantime, I can report that things seem to be in good shape and we plan to keep it that way.

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-- iPhone Training for Patti at the Apple Store

Patti Waiting for Class to Start

Patti has the new iPhone XR, which has a lot more storage and a lot of new features that she was looking to add to her phone. She decided to take advantage of the free classroom training offered at the iPhone Store to learn more about the phone and to solve some nagging problems she had with uploading photos and Facebook.

I went with her but I stayed out of the classroom. I wanted to be sure she focused and did not rely on me to back-up what she learned in the classroom. I'm a flip phone guy, so what do I know?

The iPhone store is at the Solomon Pond Mall, so naturally, we had time for some browsing. We didn't find much that caught our eye, but we realized it was close to Noon and maybe we could make a lunch stop here. So, Bertucci's got the nod.

-- Lunch at Bertucci's at the Solomon Pond Mall

Patti at Bertucci's

Bertucci's at the mall has been a good stop for me for many years. As my office was only five minutes away I could grab a quick lunch and enjoy some quiet time to read my books. I always enjoy the fresh-baked rolls they provide. I generally caution Patti not to overload on the rolls or else she won't have room for her lunch.

We decided to pass on ordering any drinks as it was only Noon time and we weren't sure where it was five o'clock somewhere. I had the Milanese Sandwich with Minestrone soup. It's a great combination and I ate the whole thing. Patti's lunch was a flatbread vegetable pizza. When she realized it had no red sauce she had them bring a bowl of it so she could dip each bite. She had leftovers and managed to eat it before I got to it.
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READING UPDATE: Less than 10 years after resigning the Presidency, Richard Nixon was on a rant of writing books. His book, Leaders, is one of the few that really has some merit. Despite who, Dick Nixon was - and what he became - there is no denying that he was glad-handing, back-slapping, and chit-chatting with every important military and political figure between World War II and the pre-Reagan era. Few people got to know these world leaders as he did, especially when some were at their peak, and others were at their "years in the wilderness." This is a ripping read and leaders like DeGaulle, which American's don't learn about very well, are really worth getting to know through the eyes of Richard Nixon.