Friday

It was cold Friday morning. The rain had stopped and the winds diminished, but were still making their presence felt. Oddly enough, it seemed to get colder as the day worn on.

I stopped at the Looney Bakery on the way in and got a box of bagels and a tub of cream cheese for the crew. When I got to work, however, Michelle had a box of donuts. She reminded me that she had told me on Thursday she would be bringing them for Phyllis’ birthday. I apologized and told her this was certainly not the first time a woman had complained that I didn’t listen to her.

I spent most of the day escorting the Xerox folks around to various buildings. They were doing an inventory of the printers they lease us, writing down key information and marking their locations on the drawings I provided them (that Facilities provided me).

I met them at the Farmington location, and again at the Plymouth location. After we did the buildings in the campus, I rode with them downriver. Jim suggested lunch and asked for suggestions. I said I didn’t care where but Becky (who drove in the night before from Grand Rapids as Jim’s normal “sidekick” was on vacation) said she didn’t like chains and would rather go to some local landmark. Jim said he knew just the place.

So he took us to Miller’s Bar (on Michigan Avenue between Outer Drive and Telegraph in Dearborn). I’d never heard of it, but Jim said it was a favorite of Ford people. It was a little hole in the wall bar with no menus, no plates and even no bill. Jim said you could just get a hamburger or cheeseburger, onion rings or fries.

They bring the food on waxed paper and the drinks in cans with a glass of ice. They use an honor system, so when you’re done, you go up to the cash register and tell them what you had and they tell you what you owe. Oh, and tomato or lettuce, bacon, etc. on the burger? Forgitabboutit! You have a tub of dill pickles, mustard, ketchup, salt and pepper on the table. The only extra you can order is a slice of raw onion (also brought separately on waxed paper).

We all had cheeseburgers (big and 100% ground round) with onions rings and both were excellent! Jim said you had to get there early (we were there at 11:30 AM and had to stand up in the hallway until a table cleared) or you had to wait a long time. Sure enough, by the time we left, there were a lot of people just standing and waiting.

Sidebar: I did check on the Internet to get the location and found you can special order fried chicken or fish sandwiches (in Lent) and they also have a side dish of baked beans (I hope served in a bowl!)

We completed the buildings downriver and I was back at work (finally) by 3:00 PM. I was completely wiped out. We walked a lot of building and three of them are huge! My legs were both shot. I got through the next two hours and then headed for home.

I started watching the news (what else is new?) after treating cats and changing clothes. But, I fell asleep! I slept until almost 9:00 PM and then woke up hungry.

I heated up some leftover noodles and the mock beef stroganoff and ate that. Then I started prepping for yet another slow cooker meal (but no soup this time!!!) I have a doctor’s appointment early Saturday morning that will last for an undisclosed time (its for a physical) and I’ll need to have supper cooking.

I made a mixture of 1/2 teaspoon of everything: dried oregano, ground cumin, smoked paprika, fresh ground black pepper and sea salt. I sprinkled that on all sides of a one pound boneless chuck roast and pressed them in. Then I peeled six medium carrots and cut them into two-inch lengths. I smashed and minced six cloves of garlic as well.

I coated my non-stick skillet with Canola oil cooking spray and seared all sides of the roast. I let it cool off and then put the carrots, garlic and the roast in my Tupperware bowl and into the fridge. Then I went at watched TV until midnight, when I went to bed for real.