The New Normal

[Harvey]

I'm kinda considered the paranoid one in our family. But the truth is I'm not scared of dying and I don't really care.

I'm more concerned about America. TRUTH.

Tonight was our first time dining out at a restaurant. Neve said to me: "dad can you please not be a nightmare tonight?"

I didn't want to go, hey I LIKE being at home. But I got out voted.

Pro Tip: when it's 90 something out, reserve a table in the shade.

All the shade tables were gone, but we were all alone baking in the sun. It was kind of slow. I felt bad for the waiter, wearing his mask doing the best he could in the heat. Didn't seem like he was going to be making much money.

The food was excellent. I just got some wings but the margaritas I had really took the edge off. ( Zelda was driving.)

Veal Parm FKNA

When we got the check there was a printed note in it.

"Please leave the servers tip in cash. It really helps."

I burst out laughing. It seemed funny as hell to me. Maybe it was the margaritas.

I never used to carry cash, but now I've been walking around with a bunch of cash that I took out for a ski trip back in MARCH. Still sitting in my wallet.

It didn't even feel like real money. Never use cash anymore, it has cooties.

Being a good American, I left an insane tip that confused the hell out of the guy. I think he thought I was trying to split the check between the credit card and the cash.

All in all, if I don't end up dying of the rona, I'd call it a good night.

You getting back out there? Tell your tale.

 

[Brownski]

My kids have been back in restaurants. I haven’t. We’ve been eating lots of takeout to try and support the locals though. Danger Boy is a big tipper.

 

[Peter Minde]

Have enjoyed a couple of pints at the local nano brewery. Can't see dining out outdoors in this weather.

 

[Sick Bird Rider]

We are really ramping it up here in the Hinterlands. Dined out last week for the first time since, I don't know, January. Went well, outdoor service only. I was a bit nervous but felt good about it at the end. Got our first take-out a few days ago for my birthday. Went reasonably well. This weekend was a biggie, we had our first house guest, a long time friend of Blue Toes. We agreed beforehand that she is in our "bubble" and behaved accordingly. Felt good to have other people around. It is all very weird.

 

[jasonwx]

just doing take out every now and then..not ready to sit in a restaurant ,in or out..

 

[Campgottagopee]

We've been dining outside once a week ever since it's been allowed. I enjoy going out for dinner and a couple of drinks, I hate doing dishes. I also think it's important to support our local restaurants as they've been hit hard during this pandemic. I feel bad that one of our favorite restaurants doesn't have outdoor seating but we still get takeout from them. Their veal parm is damn good too and the old fashions are delicious ?. For the most part everyone has been respectful of each other's space. Hopefully this continues when college kids come back.

 

[MarzNC]

First take-out dinner my household did was take out from a place 2-min from our house (near Raleigh, NC) back in early April, mostly to support a local business. I went inside to pick up the order my husband placed by phone. All the tables were pushed to the side and the two other people picking up orders stayed as far away as possible. I wore a mask and gloves back then. They were doing curbside pickup too. In general, our neighborhood is affluent and people have been sensible from early on.

Had five people in my house from early March thru late April. My bachelor BIL from MN spends the winter with us and my daughter's BF got stranded when UNCA closed down after spring break so we hosted him as well. I've never cooked for five adults on a regular basis before. Only had to deal with dinner. Everyone was on their own for other meals.

In May and June I went to Asheville, NC a couple times, and also did a long drive with friends to Lake Placid. Have eaten outdoors in Asheville at a small favorite ramen shop, but mostly doing take out. When staying at a big house in Lake Placid, we mostly cooked but also did take out. My favorite dinner was take-and-bake and pies from Cedar Run Bakery and Market.

The friends who joined me and my daughter in Lake Placid are two families with tween/teen kids. We merged bubbles by late April. Also a friend who is also a North Country School alum we know well drove up from Boston. We had a fabulous week the week before July 4 at a huge house on a private lake. We mostly did stuff on the North Country School/Camp Treetops campus, such as horseback riding a couple mornings. Treetops decided to cancel the camp programs quite a while ago.

 

[Warp daddy]

Other than golf and biking NOPE .

Altho we had a few of The Queen's tennis buddies over after a match for a dessert and coffee . And this week my SIL was here for a visit and lunch he was here from Ma.to see his parents

 

[Tjf1967]

The new normal is weird and it sucks, OK I said it. I don't think it is going away anytime soon. I went out to eat a month or so ago and wont be doing that again. I do take out at the local place. The amount of money I spent on beer I now give as a tip. I take calculated risks, playing golf, biking, visiting with Family, funerals. Other than that I do work around the house. The house has never looked better!!

 

[wonderpony]

I don't go out much. I am an empty nester, with a horse, and get up early to ride before work. Bedtime is 9 pm. The best thing about working from home has been being able to sleeping a whopping in 12 minutes and still get to ride longer.

I am just hoping to be able to ski. I am hoping that the resorts can stay open by putting fewer people on the lifts and allow us to wear masks on the way up, that we can take off when we start skiing. If not, I will have to resurrect my cross-country skills. The last time I had to go down a 6 foot hill on my cross countries, I wiped out. Twice.

My biggest concern is keeping my 80 year old dad safe. My son is a construction manager and is on site in NJ with 175 people daily, and then comes home on the weekends. The students are returning to Ithaca. Our numbers are going up. I will stay put as much as possible.

WP