Two outings yesterday, lunch with Leslie first. We ventured out during an icy rain and went to The Grapevine. Ordered chicken-topped salad and--as has happened before there--got an unsatisfactory meal. The chicken was so tough we couldn't eat it and the salad was nothing to brag about. Whoever made it simply dumped uncut grape tomatoes, canned artichoke pieces, thick slices of cucumber, and stalks of celery onto packaged spring mix. Along with the inedible chicken, which certainly went directly from the freezer to the microwave, it made for a lousy lunch. We complained and got what I guess is the standing offer of dessert on the house; declined that and ended up getting ten bucks off the bill. Okay, but I'll think twice before suggesting the place again. Far more enjoyable than the meal, of course, was our long talk together--we had a lot of catching up to do.
Dinner was a whole 'nother story, as the kids say (do they still separate "another" into two?); it was great. Went with Susan and Walter to the "Dine Around" group's monthly dinner, wine in tow. It was at 217 Main Street next to Lizzie Rose Gift Shoppe, joining a nice, convivial group of about thirty. I had escargot for an appetizer,t hen a salad, then a superb rainbow trout, topped off with coffee and "profiterole of house-baked scone with ice cream and chocolate sauce." Just reading that puts on five pounds, but it was oh-so-yummy-good.
Got home to enjoy a Skype call with Ellen, who survived her first week back at school pretty well. I think I've finally gotten over my insomnia, as I've slept well the last few nights.