I have to see this movie. The Red Balloon was one of my favorite short films in my teens.
Just learned via Kellie on Twitter that there was an earthquake in Illinois. I hadn’t heard.
Called Mom. She didn’t feel it in Elgin.
Mom and Larry liked to go to a bar and grill called Bookers in South Elgin. I can see why, the atmosphere is welcoming and the staff seem nice, although when I went there a year ago with Ron we had an aloof, bordering on rude, server.
Mom and I went there twice during my visit. Once just to eat dinner and once because her friend Robin, a server at the restaurant, told her to stop by for lunch or dinner.
The second time we were there was the day before I was to drive home. We sat at the bar, something I’ve not done in years. Next to us was an older gentleman wearing a straw hat. Mom greeted him and introduced us. Unfortunately I think I’ve forgotten his name. Ken perhaps?
He bought us a round of drinks — I figured since I was seated at a bar I’d have a martini, mom had her usual — diet coke and Malibu rum. The bartender, Chuck (Robin told us that we could remember his name if we thought “up-chuck”) was sweet, young and nice looking. He also made a killer martini (and laughed when I asked for a normal [gin] martini with only a little bit of alcohol — what do I know? I don’t get out much).
I got to watch a bit of college wrestling on one of the 12 flat screen TVs the establishment has on the wall behind the u-shaped bar. I also learned what the-man-whose-name-might-be-Ken did for a living. I thought he said he trained people to manufacture aluminum parts. But then he said his company made the tracks for tract lighting. Maybe I heard right both times. Maybe the tracks are made from aluminum. (Just found the company on the Internet. He used the word extrusion. I’d never heard of it, but I guess it has to do with pressing the metal into shapes.
The-man-whose-name-might-be-Ken has an interesting way of speaking. His consonants seem to come from the back of his throat. Think Jimmy Stewart.
It was a really nice evening. It made me sort of sad that my regular home life is spent pretty much within the four walls of our house. I rarely get out, and when I do the folks I meet are not quite as colorful as those I met during my stay in Elgin this time around. Or maybe it was Chuck’s martini that helped create the colors.