Hat Trick Win

Photo by Kate McGovern
www.offwingopinion.com
Okay, we saw the Dallas Stars almost beat the Washington Capitals in DC this evening. It was almost fun. It was almost a great game.

FINE...

It was a competitive game. The Stars came back from a 4-1 deficit to almost tie the game at the end. The final score was 4-3 Caps.

Is it really asking TOO MUCH for Washington to lose ONE game? Last year, we had an 11-game season ticket package. Out of 11 games, I think they won three or four. This year, we have no season tickets, but have bought three individual games. They've won all three ("hat trick win"). So, again, would it really be too much to ask? I guess so.

Of celebrity note: Pat Sajack and what seemed like his two sons, or a son and his friend were sitting two rows and a few seats down from us. During the second intermission, Verizon Center posts text messages on the jumbo-tran. We sent in: "Pat S., if you are at the game, who's tending the wheel?" We did see him smile at the post.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. First, we spent most of Thanksgiving day with our good friends in Maryland. We flew to Minneapolis in the evening to spend a long weekend with my sister and her husband in their new house; my parents and my brother and his wife. We had Thanksgiving dinner all over on Friday with all of them and my sister's in-laws.

On Saturday, we went to Wisconsin to see my new step-niece, Gracie Marin born in October and step-nephew, Ryan Vincent born in August. I also got to see my Uncle. It was a special visit all the way around!

On Sunday, we went to the church that I grew up in. It was fun to see old friends. We also went to my brother-in-law's restaurant. It was delicious. He made special appetizers, a crab cake with two skewered shrimp with a mango salsa and steamed mussels. My main entree was one of the specials for the evening, penne pasta with shrimp and artichokes in a light cream garlic sauce. He also made special desserts, chocolate mousse, turtle brownie, chocolate crème brûlée and a cranberry/pear cobbler with ice cream.

Despite the Packer loss on Monday, it was fun to watch the game with my sister.

It was a memorable Thanksgiving!

She took the spoon....She took the spoon!

This was my refrain, horrified that I utilized the wrong utensil at our recent Anniversary dinner at Le Paradou. We celebrated at a very lovely, French restaurant that neither of us had been to before. We splurged on the 6-course tasting menu.

My major faux pas came with the 4th course, which was lumps of lobster in a wonderful sauce. The server had placed both a new fork and a spoon for this course. I confidently chose the spoon while Brian opted for the fork. As they cleared our setting and replaced the silver for the next course, much to my horror, the spoon was replaced!

Well, having survived that french table setting, we did have a lovely dinner. Here were all of the courses (#3 and 6 are the restaurant description).

The starter was a single rock shrimp in a tasty sauce

1. Diced Scallops in another delicious sauce, Served in an egg shell - it was gorgeous
2. Two Oysters in a cream sauce
3. Carpaccio of Smoked Salmon, Crème Fraîche and ‘Osetra’ Caviar
4. Lumps of Lobster served with enough sauce to warrant a spoon!
5. Squab served with an asparagus sauce and truffle
6. Stuffed Quail with Pistachios, Celeriac and ‘Cèpes’ Mushrooms with Chervil

Dessert was a chocolate ‘Crème Brûlée’ with a Coconut Ice Cream (and one additional flavor, I'm forgetting)
A small plate of nine different sweets and a cappuccino topped the evening

They knew we were celebrating our Anniversary, so during the dessert course, they brought out a white rectangle shaped plate that had spelled ochocolateoalate, Happy Anniversary, with a small, lit candle.

It was a real treat.