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.
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