It's Getting Worse . . .

I have always had an above average ability to lose things: keys, phones, and the like. But the time span between item last seen and item lost is getting shorter. I find myself looking for things that I have just laid down, sometimes seconds ago. Today, in fact, I was carrying a box into my office, coffee in one hand box in the other, and laid the coffee down in order to lift the box onto a shelf. After accomplishing said lift, I spent the next five minutes looking for the coffee.

Last week, my granddaughter and I were at a mall in San Antonio and I forgot where I had parked the car. She, a six year old, had to guide us back. Talk about embarrassing.

Not that I have ever been good at the incidentals of life, I haven't, but time is taking its toll on the short-term memory, or maybe it was the inhaled cannabis delecti from the 60's; whichever, at this rate it won't be long and I will be hanging my keys around my neck, wearing a stomach-pouch for my wallet and phone, and putting post-it notes on the dashboard. God help me.

Tempus neminem manet.

Austin Lovers . . .

The Travel section of the Sunday New York Times had a feature story on Austin, Texas. The story ran under their weekly "36 Hours" report. The idea of 36 Hours is to suggest ten local sites for travelers to consider on a brief trip to that city. The suggested sites could be restaurants, shopping, historical, or just something different about that city.

I don't know Austin that well and can't really comment on their suggestions, except to say that I liked the article. But it was rather funny to suggest that visitors first get a pair of cowboy boots in order to fit in. I love cowboy boots but a brief walk through the streets of Austin will reveal more flip-flops than boots. Also, of interest is that the NY Times suggested traveling by Jet Blue in December for about $300 from JFK to Austin.

Not a bad idea. For those interested in the entire article:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/travel

Please comment on their suggestions if you are familiar with Austin.

Which Wich, Billadelphia, Menchies...

Summary of three visits last week: two hits and one miss.

WhichWich? on Berry Street.  I expected a Subway-type sandwich, (which actually I like sometimes but don't put in the great sandwich category) and was surprised by the better than expected combination of good crusty bread and a decent portion of meat rolled into a tasty sandwich. I liked it a lot. At almost $9.00 for a sandwich, drink and chips, it is a little pricey, but of the chain sandwich shops in Fort Worth: Subway, Potbelly, and Quizno's, I'll take the WhichWich? sandwich. WhichWich? is a young chain of "superior sandwiches" with stores in about twenty states. Dallas Observer voted them the best cheap sandwich in 2006. About the name . . . I don't like it, too cutesy for me, and as you can see, it makes writing about them confusing.

Menchies is a frozen yogurt store in University Park Village, on the southwest corner, next to the Apple store. Menchies, like Which wich? is another food franchiser growing into the South and the West. If you like the new frozen yogurt concept you will like Menchies. The yogurt is excellent, with about 10 flavors, and the toppings are plentiful. If the fro-yo concept is more than a passing fancy, Menchies will do well. The yogurt is very good and the location is great.

I was disappointed in Billadelphia's on Berry Street near Paschal High School because it was just okay. I grew up on the Philly cheesesteak and have my idea of a good one. Billadelphia's looked right but was missing some flavor and texture. The sliced steak is thicker than I like, and I prefer a little hardier roll, but the worst part was that it was kind of tasteless. A good cheesesteak combines the flavors of steak, cheese, bread and fried onions, and their steak part just wasn't right. I did like the fact that they served TastyKake cakes and Herr's potato chips. I hate to criticize anyone trying to promote the greatness that is the cheesesteak but it just wasn't that great.