Romeo Lunch 5-16-12

The Romeo gang met again for lunch at the Longhorn Steakhouse on 5-12-12. Go to www.longhornsteakhouse.com for more information and directions. We were seated at a booth and then moved to a long table after more Romeos showed up.  There were seven Romeos in attendance which included - Mark Ryan, Jim Terlizzi, Steve Winter, John Tweedie, Joe Pignatiello, Joe Lapiana and Ed DeSchuytner. You can see some photos at the link below…..  https://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/Romeo51612?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Our waiter’s name was Brian and he took our drink orders and then brought fresh bread to the table. The drinks were mostly beers and margaritas. We then gave our food order to the waiter which consisted of various steaks, burgers, soups and salads. The salads and soups came quickly for those that ordered them as first course in a meal. However, some ordered a soup and salad combo and had to wait until the steaks were served to the others.  This was very awkward since we didn’t want to eat while others had no food.

The conversation was lively as always. We talked about baseball, politics, health insurance, drug prescriptions, online courses and upcoming trips. Jim was planning a trip to Italy with wife and grandson for two weeks. Joe P. was also taking family to Italy for three weeks. Steve was planning a trip to Europe with a large family group and will be gone the whole month of July.

We also talked about having both Medicare (over 65) and the State Insurance GIC. However, you need to have over 40 quarters paid into Social Security before the Medicare premium is deducted. Others talked about spouses having separate insurance plans or both going over to GIC.  Everyone had individual concerns. Those of us with Medicare and GIC have very low premiums and little copays. For both Jim and Mark who have family plans the premiums for Medicare are about $96 per person deducted from SS and about $105 for GIC two person plan deducted from pension.

Jim said he went to another baseball game at Fenway. They were honoring Tim Wakefield that day and he stayed the entire game. We then all commented how Joe Loduca loved baseball and always had something to say about it. He would also add a joke here and there.

 Jim then said he saw the new movie now playing with Judi Dench – “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”  (Some British retirees (Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy) decide to outsource their retirement to exotic -- and less expensive -- India. Lured by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel and imagining a life of leisure in lush surroundings, they arrive and find that the Marigold is actually a shell of its former self. Though their new home is not quite what they had imagined, the retirees find that life and love can begin again when they let go of their pasts.Read More)

John T. said that the movie got a poor review in the paper. Jim said that he always sticks by the online reviews he gets at Rotten Tomatoes.com who gave it a good review. Jim liked the movie.
Click the link below to see the review at Rotten Tomatoes  ........
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_best_exotic_marigold_hotel_2012/

We then discussed where to go next time. Paul Girard offered the Yacht Club, Joe P. offered the Boston Winery and then Sam’s Bistro.  We decided on Sam’s Bistro in Reading on Rte. 28 right off Rte. 128.  Jim will send an email with the particulars.

Comments Welcome …  markryan82@comcast.net