Romeo Lunch 12-14-11

The Romeos met for lunch today at the Continental Restaurant in Saugus, MA on Rte 1. You can see the website at the link … http://www.continentalrestaurant.biz/
Ten Romeos were present and were Joe Lapiana, Mark Ryan, Ed DeSchuytner, Jim Terlizzi, Jack Tweetie, Joe Pignatiello, Steve Winter, Jim Sicuso, Paul Girard and Mike Zapantis. You can see some photos at the web site link ….
https://picasaweb.google.com/108806068200291783388/Romeo121411?authuser=0&feat=directlink

We were seated at a large round table at the back where other tables began filling up with groups. Most of the other patrons were of the older set. You could see the elderly lovelies eyeing us older gents and vintaged stallions as we pranced over to our assigned stable (sorry table).

Jim Sicuso, who still works in Revere joined us and started off the table laughter with a joke. I’m terrible with remembering jokes, but here goes. “An elderly lady was asked about her longevity and life with here husband who had recently passed away. She said that it was due to their romantic activities during the day. They lived next to a church and would make love at the sound of the church bell which went ding and dong. They would take turns with their romantic moves. He would start with a ding and she would respond with a dong. The rhythmic ding and then dong was slow a steady and suited their age. Everything was fine until the dam Ice Cream truck parked outside of their house. The husband died from too much ding.”

The waitress then took our drink orders and gave us menus to look at. The drinks were beer and soda and martinis and manhattans and were served quickly. Joe Lapiana then asked all to toast the two Romeos that recently passed (Joe Loduca and Peter Gabriel). Joe also read a prayer that was composed by Brother Tim Paul and we all said Amen.

Several attended the wakes and funerals for both Peter and Joe Loduca. Joe Lapiana said that there were 800 visitors at Joe Loduca’s wake. Jim said that he attended the funeral for Peter and the Meal after. There was a long line of cars for the travel to the cemetery and Jim got separated with other cars but eventually made his way back to the restaurant. It was a sit down dinner and well attended.

The waitress then took our food order which consisted of various dishes of fish, steak and chicken. The special of the day was a fish trio of scallops, shrimp and haddock which many selected. The meal came quickly and was delicious.

The conversation was lively as always as it bounced around the table but mostly between three or four since it was hard hearing across the table. Mike was interested in teaching online courses and asked Ed about them. Ed said it was good for the college since they could add sections at will and were not constrained by classroom space. They also charged the same amount of money for online or at school courses. Ed also was worried about student honesty in taking exams online since there was no way to check who actually took the test.

Mike was also interested in teacher supervision jobs and asked Jack who is presently supervising 4 teachers. Joe Lapiana had mixed feelings about the pay since the supervisor was paid about $800 a semester and had to make six visits for each student, travel to and from the city school, write evaluations and communicate by email with the student and others. Too much work?

Mike was interested in the iPhone and iPod and I showed him some of the APPS that were available. Paul recently got an iPhone and is having a great time with the functionality of a smart phone. We talked about the Occupy Boston movement and the cost to repair the area as well as how well Mayor Menino handled the affair without much confrontation.

Before long it was 2 PM and we ordered one large ice cream dessert and 10 spoons. We also ordered coffee and cappuccino. However, the cappuccino machine was broken and we got coffee instead. We then talked about next time and several restaurants were suggested and we decided on one in Winthrop on January 7th. Jim T. will send an email to give particulars.

Romeo Lunch 11-16-11

In Memorium (Joseph Loduca – (Passed Away 11-18-11)
Although the Romeos had lunch this week on Wednesday 11-16-11, I have not had time to write the Blog until this Sunday morning. Unfortunately, during that time we were all informed that our friend Joe Loduca had passed away on Friday. It was truly a sad day when we got the news. Joe was a great friend and always fun to be with. He always had a good story to tell or an unlimited assortment of jokes. Our bellies would ache from all the funny stories. We will all remember him in our prayers and our truly thankful for the impressions that he made on our lives. We also give our heart felt condolences to his family whom he loved so dearly. Funeral arrangements will be at the Anderson Funeral Home in Townsend where Joe lived. See the web site for details…….. http://www.andersonfuneral.com/

Lunch Update
The Romeos met for lunch on Wednesday 11-16-11 at Not You Average Joe’s Restaurant in Watertown.
The Romeos present were Steve Winter, Ed DeSchuytner, Jim Terlizzi, John Tweedie, Mike Zapantis, Paul Girard, Mark Ryan, Joe Lapiana, and Joe Pignatiello. You can see photos at the link …..
https://picasaweb.google.com/108806068200291783388/RomeoLunch111911#

The conversation was lively about politics, skiing, JP duties, NSSSA, Bank foreclosures and fees, and individual chit chat. I will expand more in next month’s blog. We all ate off the lunch menu and the food was a little spicy. Although we did have a few beers, the bill was more reasonable this month than previous.

We agreed to meet next time at Spinelli’s Restaurant (Old Towne Line House) in Lynnfield on 12-14-11. Jim T. will send out more info.

Comments Always Welcome …. Markryan82@comcast.net

Romeo Lunch 10-19-11

The Romeos had lunch today (10-19-11) at the D’Parma Restaurant in Winthrop. You can see the info at the link … http://www.dparmarestaurant.com/.  The restaurant is located on Shirley St. in Winthrop near Winthrop Shore Drive (the beach road) where we ate last year for lunch at Café Roseti. Although the restaurant serves soft drinks you can bring your own alcohol, wine or beer.

Most everyone arrived on time and we were seated at the front near the window at a long table. Those present were Mike Zapantis, Steve Winter, John Tweedie, Ed DeSchuytner, Jim Terlizzi, Mark Ryan, Joe Lapiana, Joe Loduca, Paul Girard, Joe Pignatiello and Jim Kearns. You can see some photos at the link …………. https://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/RomeoLunch101911#

The waitress whose name was Beatrice took drink orders (water and soda) and opened wine bottles for those who brought them. Fresh bread was also placed along the table. There was a separate menu for the day with two choices ($7.95) as well as the regular lunch menu with more choices ($9.95 to $16.95). Ed had his own bottle opener on a utility knife. Leave it to him to always be prepared. We also ordered some appetizers to start which included some stuffed mushrooms, eggplant parmesan and meat antipasti.

In a short while other patrons began to fill the restaurant in groups of two and four as we drank and ate our appetizers. Next a salad was served with house dressing which was a surprise and came with the meal. The main course was then served and within a few minutes all eleven Romeos had there lunch in front of them. The main dishes included mussels or clams over linguine, veal marsala, and chicken broccoli and ziti.

The conversation was lively as always and bounced around the table. Joe Lapiana talked about a cruise he took to Bermuda in early October which sailed out of Boston. It was 7 days and cost less than $600. There were 10 dining rooms on the ship and meals all day. The entertainment included an Irish comedian as well as a circus act like Cirque Soleil. He spent three days in Bermuda and enjoyed all the attractions. One joke that the comedian told went something like this: (One of the great things about getting old is you can now pee in Morse Code.) We can all relate to that.

The rest of the conversations had to do with politics, and current events. John T. said he only had one marriage customer for his Justice of Peace duties. Joe Lapiana also agreed that business was down for his JP duties. People are saving money in a bad economy and decide to just live together without the marriage contract.

Mike Z. passed around some old photos. One had Frank Sullivan from sweeping the floor when they all took a trip to England. Frank passed away over twenty years ago. Mike also mentioned that Greg Cantone (Seles Rep for Prentice Hall) wanted to meet with the Romeos for lunch but has had to cancel the last two times due to business priorities.

Joe P. brought a bottle of wine that he made last year. He made 300 bottles at the Boston Winery last year. He called his wine Pa’s Zinfandel. The other wines around the table were mostly corked with some screw capped. We kidded about the screw cap being a cheaper wine. However, some good wines now come in a card board box.

Ed D. talked about some bank foreclosures and the new fees being charged by banks. I then told a story that I read in the AARP Bulletin about an elderly couple in Florida who refinanced their mortgage with Bank America. The new mortgage was to start in January. The wife sent in a payment in December earlier than required. The bank receiving the payment said it violated the agreement and began foreclosure proceedings. The couple contacted the CEO at BAC and he said there was nothing he could do. The couple contacted their congressman and hired a lawyer. Eventually the situation was resolved in court and BAC was ordered to pay the lawyer expenses of $1800. I later learned that since BAC has multiple departments, one does not know what the other is doing. There is lack of communication. What ever happened to the small local bank able to help the local neighbor? We have all just become pee-ons for big business.

No wonder that there is all this turmoil against Big Business and the Wall Street Protests. Maybe the Romeos should start their own political party and show the world how the old-timers would run the things.

When the bill came it was only half of what we normally pay. That certainly says a lot for the cost of alcohol.

Comments Welcome …. Markryan82@comcast.net

Romeo Lunch 9-21-11

The Romeos met again for lunch today at the Seaglass Restaurant in Salisbury, MA. Those present were Joe Lapiana, Paul Girard, Jim Terlizzi, Joe Pignatiello, Steve Winter, Mark Ryan and Ed DeSchuytner. You can see some photos at the following link… https://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/Romeo92111#
I was the first to arrive and decided to stroll the beach and enjoy the bright summer day. It will probably be one of the last great days of summer. However, the beach was pretty empty except for me and the seagulls since most kids were now back to school. During my walk I picked up a few seashells and stones and wondered how long Mother Nature had taken to smooth down their edges with the eternal tide.
At the entrance to the beach road along the center island, there were the remains of a Sand Castle Building Contest with several beautiful sculptures. Along the main strip were various vendors offering games, gifts and food choices. The main Pavilion housing the Seaglass Restaurant and Music Hall were on a side street to the left. The Music Hall offered big bands and other entertainment concerts. The Pavilion was located right on the beach shore, built up on cement pillars. I entered the restaurant and took some photos of the main dining room before any guest had arrived. There was a main bar, a fire place and a grand piano for light entertainment and seating for about 200.

I then waited outside to enjoy the sunlight as the rest of the crew arrived and talk for a while enjoying the ocean air. In a short time we went inside and were seated at a long table with a great view of the beach and the ocean. Some of the group commented that there were a few boats way out quietly fishing or speeding off to another spot. Joe P. then asked Paul, when we were going deep sea fishing. Paul then said he would look into it and polled the group to see who was interested.

The waitress took our drink orders and quickly returned with an assortment of beers, margaritas and soda. The waitress then described the specialties for the day and the catch of the day was salmon. She then took our food orders which included several appetizers of mussels in a spicy sauce and corn chowder with the entrees of shrimp scampi, haddock, eggplant, and salmon. Later we finished off the meal with coffee, cappuccino and assorted gelatos with plenty of spoons for all to sample. The food was great with large portions.

As we ate and drank, the conversation bounced around the table and was lively as usual. The first topic centered on politics and the constant bickering going on in Congress. Obama’s approval rating is at an all time low and he can’t get anything through congress due to partisan politics. Doesn’t look like he will be re-elected. However, the republicans don’t have any real contenders. The people are just FRUSTRATED.

Steve W. just returned from a 21 day trip to Germany. He traveled by boat from Berlin to Prague on the Alba River and said it was wonderful. He later took a cab ride up into the mountains and it was breath taking. Jim T. also just returned from an 18 day trip to Spain. He was on a group tour and enjoyed the entire time. However, 18 days is a little long for him and he would rather be driving his own rental car and moving at his own pace. Ed D. celebrated a wedding anniversary October 1st in N.H. at the Mt. Washington Hotel. Since his son’s wedding anniversary was on the 4th they went together, all four that is.

Joe Lapiana passed out some fliers for the Lowell Arts Festival this weekend. We are all invited to attend. He will be at the Western Avenue Studio #326 on Saturday. You can get additional info at the web site…
http://www.lowellopenstudios.org/   .  Joe Loducca wasn’t able to attend the lunch. He had a car accident which totaled his small Miata. He is fine now but his doctor wants him to take it easy for a few days.

We then decided to meet again for lunch next month on October 26. Jim T. will send an email.

Comments Always Welcome: markryan82@comcast.net

Romeo Lunch 8-24-11

The Romeos met for lunch today (8-24-11) at Michaels Restaurant in Newburyport. I didn’t attend but was informed by Jim that it was a great time. Those in attendance were Jim Terlizzi, Joe Lapiana, Joe Pignatiello, Ed DeSchuytner, Paul Girard, Mike Zapantis, Brother Tim Paul and Wayne Adams. Nice to have Wayne join us for the first time.
Everyone arrived at about 12 noon and they were seated quickly. Drinks were served and the conversation bounced around the table. I was informed that it was the SAME OLD BULL. I hope it was U.S. Top Sirloin and not that KOBE beef crape. .

(Reference Wikipedia)

Kobe beef  (神戸ビーフ Kōbe Bīfu?) refers to cuts of beef from the black Tajima-ushi breed of Wagyu cattle, raised according to strict tradition in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The meat is generally considered to be a delicacy, renowned for its flavour, tenderness, and fatty, well-marbled texture. Kobe beef can be prepared as steak, sukiyaki, shabu shabu, sashimi, teppanyaki and more. Kobe beef is also called "Kobe meat" (神戸肉 Kobe niku?), "Kobe-gyu" (神戸牛?, lit Kobe cow) or "Kobe-ushi" (神戸牛?, lit Kobe cow) in Japanese.[1]

Top sirloin  is a cut of meat from the primal loin, subprimal sirloin, of a beef carcass. Top sirloin steaks differ from sirloin steaks in that the bone and the tenderloin and bottom round muscles have been removed; the remaining major muscles are the gluteus medius and biceps femoris (top sirloin cap steak). Some American butchers call a thick top sirloin steak a chateaubriand, although the French reserve that term for a more premium cut from the tenderloin.

I thought this was a seafood restaurant, what’s with all this OLD BULL. I’m just trying to fill up space because I don’t know what the conversation entailed.

Jim has already informed you that the next lunch will be at the Seaglass Restaurant in Salisbury, MA at 12 noon on Wednesday, September 21st. Check out Jim’s email for further directions.

Comments are always welcome: markryan82@comcast.net

Romeo Lunch 7-20-11

The Romeos met for lunch today at the Boston Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA courtesy of Paul Girard who is a member there. The Romeos present were Paul Girard, Brother Tim Paul, Joe Loducca, Mark Ryan, Jim Terlizzi, Ed DeSchuytner and Mike Zapantis. You can see some photos of the group at the link below ….. https://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/Romeo72011#

Ed and I arrived early and went directly upstairs and sat on the sunny deck. The sun was bright and it was hot but we enjoyed the view. The harbor was busy with sailors of all types. There were some beginners getting instruction and the seasoned sailor with the large yacht leaving harbor.

I told Ed that I did some sailing as a kid in high school out of Marblehead Harbor. A friend had a small 21 foot sloop that we refurbished with new fiberglass, paint a sails. It took several months of hard work several nights a week working on the boat in Graves Boat Yard on the hill. Those were the days of living free with practically no worries. We would sail up and down the local shore lines and coves. It was great fun. There were a lot of college kids and the rich and famous having parties on large sailing yachts. Even though we were paupers from the city, the sailing community was a big family and we would sometimes get invited to a yacht party nearby our mooring. The joys of young dreamers.

The rest of the Romeos arrived shortly and we went inside with the cool AC. The waitress took our beverage orders and told us about today’s specials on the Lunch Menu. The drinks came and they were Sam Adams Summer Ale, margaritas, water and soda. The lunch menu had an assortment of club sandwiches including Philly Cheese Steak, Chicken Salad, Burgers, Lobster Roll, and Haddock.

The food was served quickly and we chowed down. Later we ordered coffee, cappuccino and desserts to share. As we ate, the conversation bounced around the table and we talked about some items in the news. The economy and the different plans to raise the Debt Ceiling were discussed with several differences of opinion like what is now happening in Congress.

Brother Tim talked about grading the AP exams. He spends 8 days during the summer with a team grading hundreds of questions. Before the teacher teams start scoring, they are given a rubric and have to agree on a 10 point scale for each question. Its sounds like a lot of hard work.

We then talked about catching gophers. I recently caught a family of four, one each night using apples for bait in a Haveahart Trap. I bought the trap at Aubuchon Hardware for $54.00 and it was well worth it. I tried all the other methods with no luck. Joe Loduca said he heard that Cayenne Pepper was a good solution. It is supposed to keep gophers away. He said that his gopher must have been Mexican since he ate all the pepper.

Others said they used fox urine and moth balls. I spread a box of moth balls around my house to first get rid of the gophers and now have a Hazardous Waste Site. After catching the family of gophers, I transported them one at a time each day to a town forest 5 miles away. Now I just heard that sometimes gophers will find their way back even if moved more than 20 miles away. I hope my gophers can’t read maps.

Joe Loduca also said that a beaver had built a dam near his house where the stopped up water eventually flooded a nearby road. He reported it to the conservation commission and they said that the beaver is protected by law and they could do nothing. Miraculously, the dam disappeared over the winter, piece by piece. Joe said that he knows nothing about it.

Mike and Paul talked about the new state teacher evaluation system. They were on the other side of the table and I didn’t hear the entire idea. Ed, Jim and Mike talked about painting their houses. Even though they have painted their house previously, they were now leery about standing on a forty foot ladder and would rather have a professional do it.

Ed said he was painting the peak of his house once and got stung by some wasps. He was holding on to the peak of the roof and they flew up his shirt sleeve and began stinging. He was afraid to let go but eventually did and luckily caught his balance without falling. Jim said he was done with painting in his old age and recently hired a painter to paint the rooms inside his house. I talked about using a spray gun to paint which kept on getting clogged. I later gave up and used a brush.

As the time passed quickly we then decided to meet next month, August 24 at Michaels in Newburyport. Jim will send out email notices when it is confirmed. At that time, Greg Cantone the sales rep from Pearson may join us to talk about old times.

Comments: markryan82@comcast.net

Romeo Lunch 6-20-11

The Romeo gang met for lunch today at 12 noon, June 20, 2011 at Greg’s Restaurant on the Cambridge/Watertown line. Greg’s is located at 821 Mt. Auburn St. in Watertown. The plan was to first meet at the Mt. Auburn Cemetery at 11 AM and tour the park and gardens. Then we would walk to the restaurant which was only a short distance down Mt. Auburn St..

I was the first to arrive and drove my car around the park. In a short time you lost site of the road and traffic and found yourself in a quiet woodland setting. I finally weaved my way back to the Visitor’s Center. You can park on any of the side streets in the cemetery without a blue center line.

The others arrived shortly and I went inside the visitor center to get a park map (50 cents). We waited a while for others to show but then decided to take a short walk around. Only five Romeos made the cemetery walk (Ed DeShuytner, Joe Lapiana, Joe Loduca, Jim Terlizzi and Mark Ryan). We later met Steve Winter at the restaurant. We waited for Joe Pignatiello but he didn’t show.

With the map in hand we could see the different path names and important monuments to look for. We also noticed all the groomed lawns, trees, bushes and flowers. There were quite a few maintenance workers tending to all the gardens. They were cutting grass and fertilizing trees and plants with modern landscape equipment. There were workers on most every path that we walked. It must be quite a task taking care of all the acres of park land.

As we strolled along the cemetery paths we stopped at large and small monuments to read the inscriptions. The monuments were of different shapes depicting the time periods since it opened in 1831. There were Roman and Greek sculptures as well as Victorian influences. In addition to the monuments, there were chapels along the way. We entered one chapel with the ornate interior design of pews, center and side alters and balcony. A paper sign was at the entrance announcing the name of a recent deceased that would have services at the chapel later that day.

Joe Loduca pointed out the monuments with the earlier plain obelisk shape and then ones fashioned after with Victorian adornments of wreaths and flowers. A large Egyptian Sphinx statue measuring about ten by twenty feet square and ten feet tall was set on a large plot designating deceased American Slaves.

As always Joe Loduca told funny stories of his days in the monastery and also working for a time in a cemetery digging graves. He said that he had a position of authority in that job and had “hundreds of people under him”. He also said that the reason there are fences around the cemetery was that “people were dying to get in”. I seem to remember these jokes from 3rd grade.

You can see some more history of the cemetery and some of the famous people buried there are listed below and at the web link. Some of the names that you will recognize are: (Longfellow, Bulfinch, and Lowell).

Mt. Auburn Cemetery

http://www.mountauburn.org/?gclid=CMGF9cjQyakCFQ495QodIXILNw

History

Mount Auburn Cemetery has been designated a National Historic Landmark by the Department of the Interior, recognizing it as one of the country's most significant cultural landscapes. Founded in 1831, it was the first large-scale designed landscape open to the public in the United States. Today its beauty, historical associations and horticultural collections are internationally renowned.

Our founders believed that burying and commemorating the dead was best done in a tranquil and beautiful natural setting at a short distance from the city center. They also believed that the Cemetery should be a place for the living, "embellishing" the natural landscape with ornamental plantings, monuments, fences, fountains and chapels. This inspired concept was copied widely throughout the United States, giving birth to the rural cemetery movement and the tradition of garden cemeteries. Their popularity led, in turn, to the establishment of America's public parks.

Famous Residents

Mount Auburn is the final resting place of thousands of distinguished people. Here are a few:

• Nathaniel Bowditch (1773 - 1838), navigator and mathematician

• Phillips Brooks (1835 - 1893), rector of Trinity Church, Boston, Episcopal Bishop

• Charles Bulfinch (1763 - 1844), architect

• Mary Baker Eddy (1821 - 1910), religious leader

• Buckminster Fuller (1895 - 1983), architect, visionary

• Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840 - 1924), art patron

• Charles Dana Gibson (1867 - 1944), artist

• Asa Gray (1810 - 1888), botanist

• Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809 - 1894), author and poet

• Winslow Homer (1836 - 1910), artist

• Julia Ward Howe (1819 - 1910), reformer and author

• Harriet Jacobs (1813 - 1897), author and abolitionist

• Edwin H. Land (1909 - 1991), inventor, photography pioneer

• Henry Cabot Lodge (1850 - 1924), U.S. Senator

• Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. (1902-1985), U.S. Senator

• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882), poet

• Amy Lowell (1874 - 1925), poet

• James Russell Lowell (1819 - 1891), poet

• Bernard Malamud (1914 - 1986), novelist

• Josiah Quincy (1772 - 1864), Mayor of Boston

• Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin (1842 - 1924), civil rights leader, journalist

• Charles Sumner (1811 - 1874), abolitionist and U.S. Senator
We got to the restaurant about 12 noon and found Steve waiting inside. We ordered drinks and then placed our meal order. The drinks came quickly and included a pitcher of beer, a martini and a non alcoholic beer. We ordered the meals off the lunch and regular menu. The average prices were $9.95 to $15.95 and quite reasonable with large portions.

The conversation was lively as usual. Steve said he was taking a trip to Germany for 20 days and was excited about the adventure. We wondered when Mike Z. would be joining the group for lunch. Various teaching a superintendent positions were discussed. We talked some more about the cemetery tour and maybe returning again. We also discussed a fishing trip which could be a day trip to the cape out of Boston or Gloucester.

After a while talked about the next lunch and thought about eating at The BYC in Marblehead but needed to call Paul Girard first. Otherwise we decide on Michael’s in Newburyport. Jim T. will find out and let everyone know by email or carrier pigeon. Which ever method you prefer.

You can see some photos at the link below …….. https://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/Romeo62011#

Comments are always welcome…. markryan82@comcast.net

Romeo Lunch 5-25-11

Hi All

I missed the last lunch date in Billerica at Pedro’s on Middlesex Turnpike. MY GPS was outdated and kept me driving in circles. After asking several people for directions, no one knew how to get there. So I gave up and went home. After looking up the directions at home on MapQuest I saw the mistake I was making. Live and learn, I hope.
Well, I asked a few who attended the lunch and they have sent the following info below.
Mark
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From Joe Lapiana ……..
Hi Mark,

We missed you and wondered where you were. All the usuals made lunch except you. Ed Deschuytner had a little difficulty also but he made it. The food was good and was a combination of Venezeulan, Cuban and Latin food in general.. We started off with appetizers of calamari, mussels and white cheso fresco baked in a round. The entrees were varied as usual but consisted of fish, carne asasda, chicken and sandwiches. We sat outside on their patio and had bers (sierra navada on tap)and I had a Caprihina a Brazillian drink.

We hoisted a toast to Joe MacQuade who had passed away earlier this month after a long bout with congestive heart failure and finally bone cancer.

Joe was a very active part of science education until retirement and moving down the cape. You will be surprised to know the restaraunt is just over the Billerica Line going north on Middlesex Turnpike (on the right). Someone said it was an old Naked Fish that had been renovated. We finished the meal with regular and coconut flans and of course cappaccino.

Conversation was lively as usual and we plan to go to Garry's (Greg’s) in Cambridge next month right after visiting the Mount Auburn Cemetery where we will meet at 11 AM at the main gate. This cemetery is one of the oldest and first cemeteries in the country and is known for its extensive plantings and other features. This lunch will be on Monday June 20th. See you there!
................Joe
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From Jim Terlizzi …………….
Hi Mark,
We wondered what happened to you. Ed Deschuytner also had trouble because he put in Burlington instead of Billerica into his GPS but made it. The Middlesex Turnpike does make a sharp turn to the right but your map looked strange. (MapQuest Map). There are signs (small ones) that show that the Middlesex Turnpike turns to the right. After making that turn, the restaurant was about a half mile on the right.
We plan to meet on Monday June 20. The plan is to drive to the Mt. Auburn Cemetary at 11 am and take an hour walk and then eat at Greg's Restaurant on the Cambridge - Watertown line. It is a 5 minute walk from the cemetary. Attendees were Joe P. Ed, Joe LoDuca, Joe Lapiana, Paul G. Jack Tweedie, Steve Winter and me. More info later.
Jim T.
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From Jim Terlizzi….
Next Lunch -Romeos
Mark your calendars. The next lunch will be on Monday, June 20 at Greg's Restaurant on the Cambridge/Watertown line at 12 noon. Greg's is located at 821 Mt. Auburn St. in Watertown.
There is no web site but there are reviews if you Google the restaurant. The plan is to meet at the Mt. Auburn Cemetery at 11:00 am and walk the grounds. We will then walk to Greg's restaurant at 12 noon. Mt. Auburn Cemetery is located at 580 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge.

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Comments always Welcome ……. Markryan82@comcast.net

Romeo Lunch 4-26-11

The Romeo gang met again for lunch on Tuesday 4-26-11 at the Exchange St. Bistro in Malden, MA.
There was validated parking across the street in the garage which was pretty much filled with cars since I had to park on the fourth level. City parking is really limited these days. The normal parking fee was $10 but we only paid $3.50 for the 3 hours parking time. You can see the web site at ….. http://www.exchangestreetbistro.com/

Most everyone showed up at the assigned time of 12 noon and we were seated near the street window at a long table. Although the restaurant is quite busy most of the time, we were the first to arrive. The 10 Romeos present were Joe Pignatiello, Jim Terlizzi, Dave Lyons, Ed DeShuytner, Peter Gabriel, Mark Ryan, Joe Loduca, Joe Lapiana, Paul Girard, and Steve Winter. You can see photos at the link ….
https://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/RomeoLunch42611#

It was nice to see Dave Lyons who has now been retired one year but this was the first time he could join us. He is still keeping quite busy with part-time work in education and one of his jobs is a Science Coach at the Lawrence Academy I believe. He hopes to look for some selective work next year.

Peter Gabriel also joined us since he had a mild heart attack and was in the hospital and also rehabilitation center for a few months. He looks good and is still as cagey as ever with his conversation and meal choices. You know who is ordering when the waiter brings a tall glass of ice water with “two” lemon slices to which Peter adds a pack of Crystal Light.

The waiter soon took our drink orders which were Blue Moon (on tap), martini, non-alcoholic beer, Pepsi, and water. The waiter continued to keep the “Real” water glasses filled. That is apposed to the “Expensive“bottled water we sometimes get like Perrier. Jim Terlizzi said he was out for dinner with the wife recently and was charged $9.00 for the bubbly water. We then toasted each other for a long life and good health.

We then placed out food orders from the lunch menu and selected Open Faced Turkey, Grilled Salmon, Fish’n Chips, Lobster Roll, Bistro Burger, and Grilled Marinated Steak Tips. We also ordered some individual appetizers like soup, salad, calamari and shrimp cocktail.

Although there was a short wait, the food was served hot and in large portions. Most choices were excellent and very delicious. However, I noticed Peter’s Lobster Roll was not what he expected. The Lobster Roll was on Challah bread with petite salad, tomatoes, Muenster cheese and small chunks of lobster. “Bon Appetite”

After dinner we ordered coffee and cappuccino and dessert. I ordered a pumpkin cheese cake to share with ten spoons. I was surprised when it came with a glass of Guinness and a dollop of ice cream??????

As always the conversation was lively and bounced around the table on various subjects from taxes, health insurance, gas prices, electric cars, and a few other items. I was down the end of a “long table” and could only hear what the people were saying right next to me. Maybe next time I will sit in the middle of the table so I can hear the conversation from both ends.

Earlier I had talked with Joe Lapiana and Jim T. about some new APPs on the iPod. Joe said he got the APPs, FAAD (Free App A Day), Floor Planner and Text Fonts. Jim asked if we get Wi-Fi in the restaurant. Although it seemed we could on the Malden Wi-Fi Hub, we must have been too far away from the repeater. I then told the group about the APP I saw in the Boston Globe called “Roman Catholic Confessions”. What next. The article said that the APP only helped keep a list of your sins and didn’t forgive them. Maybe the next APP will be a GPS map with directions for the road to Heaven.

The time past quickly and it was almost 2:30PM. Before leaving we picked a time and place for the next lunch. A few choices were given and we decided on Pedro’s in Billerica on May 25th. Jim Terlizzi will send out the official information shortly.

Comments and Suggestion Always welcomed … markryan82@comcast.net

Romeo Lunch 3-16-11

The Romeo Gang met for lunch today (3-16-11) at 12 noon in the North End at Strega Ristorante located at 379 Hanover St. You can see the web site and menu at the link … http://www.stregaristorante.com/
It was Restaurant Week in Boston and you could get a three course lunch for $20.11. However, you really need to double that price when you add the cost of drinks, coffee, dessert and tip.

I decided to take the Commuter Train from Wilmington to North Station and then walk over to the North End. I also met Joe Loduca and Joe Lapiana on the train. They got on the train in Lowell, which was two stops before me. The train trip into Boston from Wilmington is only 28 minutes and you don’t have to worry about parking. With a Senior Citizens Charlie Card, the round trip ticket only costs $5.20. What a bargain !!!! You can even plan a trip and have all the stops mapped out for you. Just go to the link… http://www.mbta.com/rider_tools/trip_planner/
We decided to take the early train at 9:31 AM so we could walk around the North End streets until noon and visit some of the historic highlights. It was raining pretty hard and you needed an umbrella to stay partially dry. I had an extra stocking cap and gave it to Joe Loduca to keep his head dry. Joe Lapiana and I had remembered to take a small umbrella.

We walked up and down the various streets and passed some restaurants that we had eaten at before. We then went into the Old North Church and sat in some of the family pews that were donated to the church in the 1700s by its parishioners. Some of the parishioners are actually buried under the church pews. We then wandered over to North Square and saw the Paul Revere house and Scared Heart Church. We went into Sacred Heart and read some of the memorials and then went into the lower church chapel. You can light some candles here, make a small donation and say a pray for deceased family members. I remember visiting Scared Heart Church in the 1950s with my family during various religious holidays such as the Feast of St. Anthony. We would also meet some of my aunts, uncles and cousins there and attend mass for a deceased family member.

We then walked through a park from the Old North Church and passed a statue of Paul Revere on a horse. I remember taking a school trip to the Freedom Trail in 1958 and still have a BW photo that I took of the Paul Revere Statue with my Kodak Brownie Box Camera. I even developed the 120mm film myself. I was a member of the school Photography Club and we had a little dark room built in an unused custodian’s closet. As we passed the statue, Joe Loduca told me that his two uncles applied the bronze-copper finish to the statue when it was installed in the 1950s. We sometimes forget all the old trades that our grandfathers had like stone cutters, sculptors, painters, and masons when compared to the new trades in electronics and computers.

At noon time we walked over to the Strega Ristorante and hung our now soaked coats on the rake to dry. Shortly after the others arrived and the waiter took drink orders which were Italian Beer (Peroni) , soda, and seltzer water. The Romeos in attendance were Joe Lapiana, Paul Girard, Steve Winter, Jim Kearns, Ed DeSchuytner, Mark Ryan, Jim Terlizzi, Joe Loduca and Joe Pignatiello.

We then ordered from the special menu for restaurant week. You could have a three course meal for only $20.11. (Nice play on the price and the year 2011). The menu read Appetizer, Entrée and Dessert. The Appetizers were Antipasto, Calamari Salad, and Caprise Salad. The Entrees were Chicken or Veal Parmigiano, Eggplant, and Lobster Ravioli. Dessert was Cannoli, Tiramisu and Cheese Cake.

The meals were served promptly with plenty of bread and dipping oil. The waiter also kept filling the drink glasses. The meal was very good as we devoured every morsel. As we ate and drank the conversation was vigorous as it bounced around the table. The usual topics were discussed – politics, taxes, health care, movies, TV, and the Japan Earthquake.

There were two large tables filled with young college students from Iowa on a Band Conference. On the wall above the window facing the street were 10 flat screen TVs all playing mafia movies like the Sopranos, Casino, The Godfather, Scarface, Donnie Brasco, and Heat. You could see some of the movie stars like James Gandolfini, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, and Al Pacino.

Ed D. said his son now lives in the North End with his wife and they love the inner city atmosphere. His younger son also lives with the older brother and works for him as the house butler doing all the shopping and cleaning. Ed also talked about a new Blue Ray DVD Player with WiFi that allows you to import movies over the internet from Netflix. They are available at Best Buy. The best ones are (Magnavox, Sony and Insignia). Insignia is the Best Buy brand and one is selling for $129.

Jim Terlizzi talked about some new movies that he has seen and how you can get a movie review on the website called Rotten Tomatoes. Jim has recently bought an iPod but hasn’t had much luck setting up an ITunes Account so he can download free APPS. I then tried to show him how easy it was but unfortunately Strega Restaurant does not have Open Wifi.

I then just showed Jim and Ed and Joe Lap. some of the new APPs on my iPod, some of which you can download free and others cost $0.99 and up. The latest one I got was (Camera+) which gives you more features than the regular iPod camera. I also told him that the iPod has become part of my daily life. Each day I check my iPod Calendar to see what appointments are coming up. I then read my email from friends and family. I then check FaceBook for posts on my Wall. I then check any text messages from family at TextNow. If I have WiFi I go on the web and check the latest headlines on the Boston Globe or Fox News. Recently, I have been checking my Bracket pics on the NCAA March Madness APP. On this APP you can get the box scores and also watch live basketball with Streaming Video. I also have loads of other APPS that perform a variety of tasks that you can do elsewhere but now it’s all in one place for me.

Jim K. talked with Ed D. about buying a new car. There are a lot of incentives for slow moving vehicles but the hot ones don’t offer too much. Most are still offering low finance (2.9%) and 5 year warranties. More brands are also now offering good gas mileage which is great, as the price of gas continues to rise. Jim K. said that a Toyota Prius which starts at about $23,000 and is the gas/electric hybrid gets 48 mpg (EPA-Highway). Originally it was advertised at 60 mpg but that is with a lot of coasting down hills.

Joe P. recommended the next Romeo lunch to be at the Exchange Street Bistro in Malden. There is validated parking in the CBD garage across the street. I recently saw an Ad in the Boston Globe Food Section for the restaurant on 3-16-11. Other restaurants were also recommended. Paul mentioned one in Salem, Jim K. in Lynn and Joe Lap. in Woburn.

Joe P. recently joined the St. Joseph’s Society and will be helping plan the charitable events in the North End like St. Anthony’s Feast parade. Joe Lap. also belongs to the Society and will be attending some annual dinner banquet with Joe P.

Jim T. and Jim K are very active with the Salem State Collaborative and are constantly planning events like teacher workshops and the WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) program. They have to keep participants constantly informed of events through emails. Recently Jim K. used a new email service called “Connect”. I think that is the name. It sends out emails automatically for organizations with reminders and also has reports that allow you to see who is receiving and opening their emails. Unfortunately, out of 1500 mailings only a few are opening their mail. That’s what happens when you get too much “Phishing” and Junk mail.

Before you knew it the time just flew by and it was now passed 2:00 PM. We paid the bill although most thought that it was twice what was expected. We said are goodbyes until next month when Jim T. will send an email and let us know the time and place. Some of the Romeos had parked their cars near by and others had taken the train. As we walked down Hanover Street we first made a few stops to buy pastry at Mikes Pasty Shop and to buy some Italian Wine at the Liquor Shop.

You can see some photos of the trip around the North End Streets and the Lunch at Strega at the web link below … https://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/Romeo31611#

Comments are always welcome… markryan82@comcast.net

Romeo Lunch 2-16-11

The Romeo Gang met for lunch today at Salvatore’s Restaurant in Medford located at 55 High St. in Medford Square. Go to www.salvatoresboston.com for menu and directions. Although there is public parking nearby, the lot was filled. After driving around for a while and found parking behind St. Joseph’s Church on Rte. 16 a short walk away. City parking is always a problem and the snow piles have made it worse.
The restaurant is built on the site of the old Depositor’s Trust Bank which is known for the infamous 1980 robbery there. The robbery took place on the Memorial Day weekend and was committed by a group of corrupt policemen. The thieves broke into the Optical Shop next store and then gained access to the Depositors Trust bank vault by cutting a hole in the roof. The robbery was committed over a three day period where the thieves would return each night after making sure all was clear. An accomplice policeman walking the beat out on the main street made sure all was safe. Although the exact amount is not known, it is estimated that 1-3 million dollars was taken from deposit boxes including money, jewelry and other valuables. It is also rumored that the infamous Whitey Bulger (Winter Hill Gang) used the Deposit Boxes to hide their loot. You can see more info about the robbery at the following links …. Court Evidences …. http://masscases.com/cases/app/25/25massappct229.html  and stories about Whitey Bulger … http://www.boston.com/news/packages/whitey/globe_stories/1998/whitey_and_the_fbi_part_1_0719.htm .

The restaurant has several locations in Medford, Lawrence and Boston. In addition to the restaurant, the owners also operate Sal’s Pizza located in many cities north of Boston. Salvatore’s in Medford is the newest restaurant location and is advertised as an upscale restaurant and bar, offering unique Italian cuisine at reasonable prices. Most everyone arrived about 12 noon and we were seated in a function room in the back. To our surprise, this was the location of the old bank vault and even had the giant metal vault door opened at the side. The room could accommodate about 20 people although only 8 Romeos were present for lunch and one more for dessert. The Romeos present were Joe Loduca, Joe Pignatiello, Ed DeSchuytner, Jim Terlizzi, John Tweedie, Jim Kearns, Mark Ryan, Steve Winter and Joe Lapiana. Picture frames adorned the room walls containing news clippings and photos and movie memorabilia about the infamous robbery. One picture frame had the Movie Title “The Cops Are Robbers” with Ed Asner.

You can see it at Amazon.com …. http://www.amazon.com/Robbers-Edward-Asner-James-Keach/dp/B0009GX27S However, the movie is about NY Cops and not Boston/Medford Cops? I looked up the original book on Amazon and found it by the title “The Cops Are Robbers: A Convicted Cop’s True Story of Police Corruption” written by the author Gerald Clemente (the bad Boston cop). See it at …. http://www.amazon.com/Cops-Are-Robbers-Convicted-Corruption/dp/0933341709. After the waiter seated us he continued to tell some more about the vault and the robbery and point to an opening in the ceiling where the thieves entered. It is no sealed.

The waitress soon took are orders for drinks which were Peroni on tap, diet soda, and wine. We then ordered from the lunch menu Linguini with Mussels, Veal Piccatta, and Eggplant Parmesan. The food was served quickly with plenty of crusty bread and oil for dipping. After the main course we had coffee, cappuccino and a few desserts to share. The conversation was lively as usual with Joe Lod. cracking jokes and others talking about health insurance, social security benefits, TV, latest movies and travel.

Jim K. talked about the extra cost of bags on airline trips. However, he and his wife pack an extra bag of clothes that they donate to a local charity on trips to their island destination. Jim T. talked about skiing in Italy and the great time he had. I asked him about his trip to Egypt last year and the current turmoil. He said it was much safer then but the street hawkers were a nuisance trying to sell their wares. Joe Lap. said his trip to Germany was great but has put off any current travel until the unrest in Europe settles down.

Steve W. was celebrating his 85th birthday today and wanted to buy a round of drinks. We all said it was on us and toasted his longevity. John T. came after lunch since he was working supervising student teachers for Emmanuel College. Jim T. talked about the benefits of GIC health insurance with Medicare and no co-pays. He said you get Medicare at 65 but that the age for Social Security Benefits keeps going up. I think its age 66 now. Joe P. talked about going skiing on St. Patrick’s Day. Ed D. Talked about getting ice and snow off is house roof using nylon stockings filled with ice melt (Calcium Chloride) and it really worked. Joe Lap. works part-time for Novartis Pharmaceuticals doing educational workshops and protocols.

We talked about diets and doctor checkups and how doctors always harp on losing weight. Joe Lod. said he hated going back to his cardiologist after gaining some weight and didn’t want to listen to him complain. So he bought a pair of pants two sizes bigger before going to the doctor. At the visit he pulled out the larger size waste band and said he was really trying to lose. The doctor said, keep up the good work. Leave it to Joe to come up with that idea. Joe also said that in a few years they will be putting a tax on medical devices like heart monitors. Before you know it, there will be a death tax.

We then talked about where to eat next month and several suggestions were made including the Exchange Bistro in Malden, The Cordon Bleu School in Cambridge and Giovanni’s in the North End. Since it is Restaurant Week in Boston we decided to go to the North End. Jim T. will send out the particulars.

Mark talked about the latest APPS for the iPod and showed a Credit Card Reader that he uses when at craft fairs selling his crafts. Although you have to have WiFi to use them it’s another way customers can pay for items. The Apps were either SQUARE or PayAnyWhere and are free at the APP Store but they charge a 2.75% fee for all sales plus 15 cents to process the credit card transaction. Mark also talked about the increase in fees charged by Comcast for triple play (phone, internet and TV). He got the $99 dollar package for two years but now pays $154 with taxes.

Ed D. talked about getting a Blueray DVD with wifi adapter from Best Buy for $109. Joe Lod. and Jim K. have the blueray DVDs with Netflix and really like the streaming video capability. This allows you to get unlimited streaming videos for one monthly fee of about $9.

We then talked about the Jeopardy TV show with contestants competing against the computer called Watson. It was now 2:30PM and the hours just fly by when you are having good conversation. We then said our good byes till next month.

You can see photos of lunch at Picasa Web Albums … https://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/RomeoLunch21611#

Comments are welcome…. markryan82@comcast.net

Romeo Lunch 1-1-11

The Romeo gang met for lunch today at The Loft Restaruant in North Andover on Rte 125. You can see directions and info at the website below…..  http://www.loftsteakandchophouse.com/

Eight Romeos showed up for lunch and greeted each other with enthusiasm. We were then seated at a long table that was already arranged for us. Jim always calls ahead and makes reservations.

I was first to arrive and checked out the place for its wifi availability and was pleased to see that it was available. I turned on my iPod and checked my email and Text-messages to see if there were any “important” items that I had missed in the last hour. This is becoming addictive.
As the other Romeos arrived we checked to see if they brought their toy "iPod" with them. Well it really is more than a toy. Its like having a mobile office in your pocket. (Phone, Computer, PDA, APPs, Address Book, Calendar)

Like excited school children we asked each other if we had seen this new APP or that. Ed wanted to bring his but left it on the kitchen table. Joe Lapiana had already loaded pages of APPs on his and was explaining them all. Jim also had his but hadn’t loaded any APPs. I told him he had to register first at the iTunes (APP) Store with his info, password and credit card. For the next half hour he was fixated on entering the info but was having trouble. Joe P. kept asking (and teasing) him when/if  he was going to join the group for lunch. He finally put it down.

Joe Lapiana and I finally figured out how to use the FaceTime APP where you can have a video phone conversation between two iPod owners. Each had to have the correct email address on their respective iPods.

We finally ordered drinks and food. Most had beer on tap and martinis and non-alcoholic beer and soda. Some ordered the steak tips, fish and chicken. Everything was served quickly and was delicious. We also had cups of chowder or onion soup and salads.  Later we ordered dessert to share and coffees.

The conversation was lively and we talked about politics, the latest shooting in Arizona and some upcoming trips. Jim was going skiing in Italy and later on a cruise. Nice to have millions. Those teachers get paid too much.

The Romeos present were Paul Girard, Joe Lapiana, Joe Loduca, Joe Pignatiello, Jim Terlizzi, Mark Ryan, Ed DeShuytner and Steve Winter. You can see some photos at the website below…… http://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/RomeoLunch11111#

We also talked about Peter Gabriel who recently had a blood clout and is at the Beth Israel Hospital. They removed the clout and he is recovering nicely. However, he will be going to the Regional Rehabilitation Center in Woburn for a while.

We talked about the upcoming snow storm and everyone was getting ready. I told the story about having flat tires on my Honda Snow Blower in the last storm and having to get new tires for $153. What are they made of ---- Gold?

We then decided on the next date and place in Salem. Jim will send out an email.

Comments always welcome ….. markryan82@comcast.net