This evening we continued our series on “Dive Dining” by eating at the original Mexican Villa on South National. This place was a favorite of mine when I was in college and has continued to be my pick out of all their restaurants. I loved that when I walked in the door, the aroma was just as I’ve always remembered it. I had the plain sancho but supplemented my meal with some of their yummy chips even though I had vowed not to – so much for will-power. I need some won’t-power!
I’ll save any more dinner reviews and cut to the chase – here are the comments from tonight that can be publicly shared:
- Vickie has nominated me to be the new Car Czar – the guru who will be named by the President to oversee the bailout of the Big 3 automakers. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Vickie, but I don’t think anyone other than the majority of taxpayers would like some of my ideas – starting with cleaning house at the top and placing a ceiling on executive salaries at 10X the lowest hourly wage paid. Oh – and no corporate jets or golden parachutes…..and I’m just getting started.
- Robin just got a big-ass promotion and is now VP of Corporate Services for her employer and is in charge of HR, Training and the Physical Plants (but NOT the London office – darn!) She leapfrogged some people she reported to but obviously this company recognizes and rewards talent and she’s got it in spades.
- What’s with all the bankers jumping ship and moving around all over town? Especially after some of these banks did some lay-offs. Or were they weeding out some deadwood?
- If the 3 of us were voting today for the 1% city sales tax the votes would be 1 FOR (Vickie), 1 AGAINST (me) and 1 UNDECIDED (Robin). Vickie has seen the official presentation and was impressed. I think they need to cut expenses first and show good will – plus give the taxpayers some feedback on the audit that was done a year ago.
- All of us are boycotting KGBX and their 24/7 Christmas music that started prior to Thanksgiving. I’ve gone to KOSP and NPR while Vickie has switched to a Christian station – that plays Santa tunes.
- We’re all cutting back on our Christmas gift buying this year except for Vickie with her gifts for Hannah – it’s hard to economize for someone who’s 15.
- Robin got an IM today from her hubby that said “we have poopage” – the message referred to the success of going home to let the dog out at noon.
- Robin and Vickie both have hubbies whose employers are making big changes in healthcare coverage – one is going to a 4-tier system and the other is offering a high deductible and HSA.
- Robin has been tasked with coming up with a BHAG for work – that’s a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. It needs to relate to a performance/goal-oriented culture.
- Vickie recommends “The Carrot Principle” which deals with how to motivate employees.
- The Christmas lights on the new St. John’s patient tower are beautiful.
- Company Christmas parties are changing – Vickie’s was short and sweet this year, Robin’s was cut completely.
- Hannah got a bear hug from her “crush”!
- Vickie’s favorite Christmas gift was a 110 camera she got when she was about 7 or 8 – she recently found several photos of her dad that were taken with it. My favorite gift was a life-size doll I got when I was 6 – it wore size 1 clothing and my mom let me dress it in my old baby clothes. Someone else (who asked not to be named – now who could that be?) got pink pajamas with feet in them when she was in junior high and wore them through high school. She claims she looked like a bunny rabbit in them.
That’s all the news that’s fit to print since anything else is either incriminating or unconfirmed gossip – and we’d never stoop to that level. NOT!
Next month we’re continuing our “Dive Dining” series at The Cedars. If any of my readers have other Dive Dining suggestions, please send them our way.
Anne, I don’t know how you do it, but you always seem to capture the fun of our dinners in your blog. Upon further reflection, I have decided that the pink pj’s were not my favorite gift. I don’t know how I did not remember this last night at dinner, but by far my favorite Christmas gift was a pair of red patent leather roller skates. They were shiny and awesome and had big red balls on the front. In those skates I thought i was all that and a bag of chips! Going roller skating on Friday and Saturday nights was the big thing and I had, by far, the best looking skates of anyone. I can remember skating with my first real boyfriend in those skates and being on top of the world. Junior High school was the best!