Monday, November 21, 2011.
No Go. E-Book. La Carreta's Great Skirt Steak.
Well, it's official. We're not going to New York. The plane left at seven with all of us still in bed.
Mary Leigh was out earlier than the rest of us. Her classes are still in session, so she felt she'd better attend. Jude was saddled with getting Mary Ann's e-book The Suzie Homemaker Chronicles ready to go. We are past the deadline of last Friday Mary Ann insisted upon as the date when it must be for sale on Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble, and everywhere else in the e-reading universe.
I am on vacation from the radio show this week. I set about enjoying that by sleeping until nine. I spent most of the day out of sight, writing. I didn't emerge until late afternoon, when Mary Leigh called to tell us she was on the way home and wanted to have an early dinner at La Carreta.
I began with an agave nectar margarita, which was not only delicious but beautiful. We plowed through the usual oversupply of chips, salsa, and queso. Mary Leigh and I shared the skirt steak fajitas, which are more expensive than anything else here at twenty-something dollars, but worth every nickel. These are the best fajitas I've ever had, and the portion is too big for two people.
Mary Ann called us to order and began the meeting about what we will do with ourselves this whole week. The first issue was whether we would have our usual big Thanksgiving dinner with all the relatives. The biggest cluster of folks--nine strong--is not leaving town as they had planned, and was interested in joining us. We decided to pretend nothing had happened, and go ahead with the turkey, ham, and the rest of it.
I have been watching the weather in New York. The inch and a half of rain is heading there, all right, but the high winds are now predicted to come and go before the Macy's parade. I could not hope otherwise, what with the millions of people who hit the streets to see that, and the 610 Stompers from New Orleans being in the parade. But, secretly, I did.
I thought about unpacking my full suitcase, but I didn't. Mary Leigh returned to Tulane for the night. Jude buzzed one of his old Scout buds and met him at Pizza Man for a second dinner. Mary Ann did the first grocery run, coming back with a turkey and a ham. I retired to my office to stay out of sight.
La Carreta. Mandeville: 1200 W Causeway Approach. 985-624-2990.
It's over three years since a day was missed in the Dining Diary. To browse through all of the entries since 2008, go here.
