Wednesday - 20080206-2115 - (For Sunday - 20080203) - Rain - Amsterdam Street; Sunday Morning - Sleeping Inside, Raining Outside; Lunch - P. F. Chang's China Bistro and the Parkway; Lowe's - Earthenware Wall Hangings; Home Again and a Long Nap; ...And then What - I Don't Remember

Rain - Amsterdam Street Larger Image

A duotone shot of an unidentified street in Amsterdam from Photographs by Paul Wittreich. Another site worthy of a second look.

I made my much arrangements at 11 as usual. Then I thought I do some work at the computer, but somewhere along the line, I went to sleep. This is not unusual if I take Clonazepam and Alprazolam the night before which I had done because I felt a lot of muscle fatigue.

The weather looked overcast and wet. And I think there were sporadic showers several times. Just enough moisture to ruin my paint job of the front steps Saturday afternoon.

My fellow lunch companion and I decided to try the recently opened P. F. Chang's China Bistro.

Ten years or so ago, a parkway was created slightly to the west of I-55 with the hopes of attracting a mix of commercial, clerical and residential property. And indeed it has done that. There's really no geographical need for a road at that point, so the intent was purely commercial.

There are numerous upscale office complexes, many almost hidden by thick landscaping. Also a series of non-traditional-looking churches are present. (There's a sprawling Baptist church that looks like a distribution center and is among the ugliest buildings in the area.)

Within the last 18 months, a series of commercial shopping sites have started to appear. I think it may be as many as ten or so. P. F. Chang's is in one that resembles an artificial village with city blocks and streets and stores abutting the streets. I guest traffic will be allowed on the streets. But it's certainly not like any shopping area I've seen before.

Chang's is a beautiful building outside and in. I believe it is the only place that I've been that has green stripes designating the parking slots. Alas, the food was a tad lacking. It appeared at the table too quick to have been cooked from order. My dish was almond and cashew chicken. The almonds and cashew were mere slivers, and the chicken was almost tasteless. I've certainly had the same dish elsewhere in the vicinity, and it was far superior.

There's a giant Lowe's in the area that I could not resist visiting. One need was MORE cans of textured paint for the front stoop.

My big discovery was a trio of Arts and Crafts-like earthenware wall hangings. They are a light tan colour with an embossed surface. And they were marked down to $2.50 each. Usually anything like this is plastic, but this appears to be genuine clay ware. If not, it is an excellent copy.

I noticed in Lowe's that I was developing a headache which I put down to Saturday's activities in which I'd stirred up dust and paint particles. As soon as I got home I took two acetaminophen and slept for several hours.

I have no idea. I don't remember watching TV. And I don't remember reading. So the default activity must have been computer-related.

Pax! Erin go braugh! Je accuse...