Well, people started the events without me, and I’m being missed. My plan is working. But I guess since I have the notes, I’d better post.
Zyada was thoughtful enough to bring note pads and pens, yet the notes are pretty sparse.
Let’s see, the sister and I arrived just after 1, and managed to find the place okay. It was “El Fenix” - like “El Phoenix”. You know, for once the funky spelling seems right and the simple spelling just looks wrong! We found the group in the front in the corner hiding behind a wall. I recognized it immediately when I saw Zyada. Had to learn everyone else.
Chef Troy, Andrea, Algernon- Algarod- Aggamemnon- what’s that name again? (Aglarond!) and Zyada were waiting, and JimB arrived shortly afterwards. Chef Troy looks like he enjoys what he cooks. Aglarond reminded me of The Nerd. You two guys will have to meet. Andrea seemed nice, JimB was different, and of course the lovely and talented Zyada.
I had filled in my sister a bit beforehand, explaining the Straight Dope, the board, Cecil and his columns, etc. I haven’t bothered beforehand to point her in this direction because she does not have internet connection from home, and would get fired at work. Seriously, she doesn’t have the time at work anyway, and her boss can be a bit tight about things. But she’s no wallflower - I knew she’d hold her own in the crowd. We’re talking a former theater person here. Makes me seem shy and unassuming.
It took a while to get the waiter to take our orders. Took forever for the food to arrive. Then when it did, he messed up several orders. Chef Troy had asked for the onions on his fajita plate burned. His meal arrived without onions. He attempted to explain to the waiter that “burned” did not mean “evaporated to nothingness” (i.e. missing), but something was lost in the translation. The waiter brought a side of onions for him - lightly sauteed.
Meanwhile I ordered the chicken quesadillas without the pico de gayo. It came with. Stacey had ordered with, but decided it had an odd flavor to it. When I finally got the waiter’s attention again, I swapped out our plates for chicken fajitas. Once that finally arrived, we determined that the odd flavor had something to do with the marinate of the chicken. It was less that pleasing. I don’t know how anyone else felt about their meals, but two of us weren’t happy.
Aglarond had a beer. A big beer. A beer in a bowl. Okay, he had food too, but it looked like a fishbowl for a beer glass, and he had two. Apparently he took it well.
Let’s see, what can I remember about the conversation. ::Scratches head::
There was a discussion of Fairy Tales, especially the Grimm’s versions. You know, the originals, with all the sex and violence. What was the “original” version of Cinderella? (The thing with fairy tales is there really is no traceable original per se, but variations of oral stories and who wrote what down when.) There was mention of the glass vs fur slippers (see Cecil’s column - I’m not looking it up), and the version where the stepsisters cut off parts of their feet to make the slippers fit. And also mention of the fractured version where the stepmother and stepsisters were the heros, and Cinderella was the evil one. Some mention of a version where birds drop the gifts instead of a fairy godmother, and the pretty cool version “Ever After”.
Next was a discussion of the French, and how come they sound so funny - because they are sneering. “Do the French deliberately mispronounce their own language just to piss off the ugly Americans?” - Chef Troy. “A third of the letters they pronounce, a third of the letters are not pronounced, and a third of the letters they start to pronounce, then quit.”- zyada.
Mention you’re from Texas or Dallas and you get lots of attention because the show “Dallas” is big over there. No, there is no oil in Dallas. No, there aren’t cows in your back yard. Well, okay, a couple of cows.
Chef Troy remarked that he finally changed his bookmark to MPSIMS. He had avoided it because it was both mundane and pointless. That’s when Andrea smacked him with the “Gee Troy, I would have thought that was the perfect spot for you,” line.
White Castle burgers were brought up. Apparently they are some type of mini burger that is steamed, not fried or broiled. They come in a roll of meat with holes in them, and are steamed over piles of onions. You buy them by the dozen? They were described as “worse than McDonalds”. And people were happy these showed up at the supermarket?
We toasted Wally, and tried to name some threads. I had to clue in the sister for that one.
CT: “I’m always right.”
Andrea: “Except with your wife.”
CT: “But then I’m right second-hand, because I’m right for marrying you.”
Chef Troy wrote:
“Everyone eagerly chimed in to mock DavidB’s posting style.” ???
“Mrs. Chef blinked a lot and relied heavily on the services of her interpreter as the Dopers spoke their own peculiar argot.” She weren’t the only one.
Andrea dropped her line about the Appalachians and mutton.
We did discuss barbecue, and how some places call some strange sauce with mustard “barbecue”. Also, someone told me about a type of barbecue sauce that had the same spices as Texas barbecue, but in a gravy sauce, not tomato based product. Okay.
That’s where the good notes run out. Aglarond scribbled down “I was here,” a small note “B#”, and “waiting”, plus a quick stick figure. I guess he was trying to be witty, but it didn’t appear to be working. 
Zyada wrote the names of the attenders, but then fell down on the job.
JimB didn’t write anything, and Andrea and Stacey didn’t bother, I assume on the grounds that they will never read it anyway.
Let’s see, what else? We mentioned the missing locals. Like Sweetcan. Aglarond said that just from what he read in the set up thread, she seemed like a really fun time. Grace was missed, but hopefully we can make up for that in Houston?
We also discussed plans for next Friday (July 14), when I will return to Dallas for another round. Nope, you can’t run me off. Okay, a friend’s getting married that weekend, so I’ll be there anyway. Besides, it’s my birthday, so we have an excuse to party. (I don’t know if Stacey will make it. She has to work Saturday.)
Oh, I was going to say something about how we met in Grapevine. For those of you non-Dallas people who don’t know where that is, it’s a suburb between Dallas and Fort Worth just West of the airport. They are breeding restaurants on that stretch of the interstate. For those of you Dallas folks who don’t know where it is, learn fast so you can make it next Friday.
We are considering Friday night, 7 till ???, at the Olive Garden right next door to the El Fenix. See the Dallas Dopers thread for planning purposes. (What you want a link? Don’t bother me for links!)
Aglarond summed it up with “I’m full”. That Aglarond - what a wit.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot - can’t have that. We brought up the Vegas trip, and if anyone is going. So far zyada seems possible, and I’m really considering it. Hope that’s still happening. It was mentioned that Michi needs to be there. Zyada said I could suggest she share a room with me “to save money”. Um, I’m betting that one works. :rolleyes: So Michi, what do you say? :blink, blink:
Okay, I’ve run out of things to say.
It’s one of the things I’m good at.
