Romeo Lunch 6-13-12

The Romeo gang met for lunch today at 12 noon,  6-13-12,  at Sam’s Bistro in 107 Main St., Reading, MA  on Rte 28.   Go to www.samsbistro.com for more information.

We were seated in a special function room in back. There were 9 Romeo in attendance. They were Ed DeSchuytner, Jim Terlizzi, Mark Ryan, Joe Lapiana, John Tweedie, Joe Pignatiello, Mike Zapantis, Paul Girard and Steve Winter.  You can see some photos at my Picas web site at the link below…

https://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/Romeo61312?authuser=0&feat=directlink

The waitress took our drink orders as the group arrived one by one. There was a traffic accident on Rte 128 that snarled traffic and made a few late. After the drinks arrived we ordered from the Lunch menu our choice of sandwiches, salads and entrees. Several ordered the Seafood Ravioli, Turkey Dinner, Burgers and Rueben sandwich. The meal came quickly and was very good although the prices were a little high for lunch.

As we ate and drank, the conversation bounced around different topics including sports, movies, pensions, Medicare, and items in the news. Jim, Joe P. and Steve will be going on some trips to Europe next month. Joe P. is taking the family to Italy to visit Gaeta. Jim and his wife will be taking grand daughter to see the historic sites in Italy. Steve and wife will met relatives and visit Hungry. Sailing from Budapest along the Danube.

Mike was in Florida last month and attended the Red Sox spring training camp. He said you would think tickets would be inexpensive there. However, the tickets on-line were $200 and up. He was able to buy tickets at around $20 face value from a friend. Mike also questioned how places like Ticket Master could sell pre-owned tickets but a person outside the stadium would be arrested for Scalping trying to sell tickets. I guess its who you know.

Jim mentioned going to a few games at Fenway and taking the T. Ed said the parking fees there keep going up. A nearby Gas Station offered parking for $15 last year and is now $60 during Sox games. Jim also mentioned paying 25 cents when he was a kid to attend a Sox game. He also remembered a game he attended in 1962 where the attendance always great. He also said you can see some great statistics online.  For those of you interested in all baseball games ever played, go to www.baseball-reference.com .

Mike mentioned seeing a few new job offers for superintendents. We all told him to enjoy retirement. He is keeping busy though by doing Teacher Supervision for a local college. He was doing an observation at a Reading Middle school just before coming to lunch.

Jack talked with Joe L. about Justice Peace jobs and weddings. Business is slow for both but Jack has two weddings coming up in fall.

Paul still excited about his iPhone and talked about all the things it can do. Jim said he had to go to Boston to help arrange for his sister moving out of a condo. He programmed his GPS to find the address but lost the signal in the city due to the tall buildings. He asked someone with an iPhone and 4G service and got the directions right away. Live and learn.

Jim mentioned a great movie house in Gloucester that has current movies and cheap prices.  There is also one in Lexington downtown. Paul said there was a great movie house in Danvers called the ART THROB for those who were interested. We also talked about how the Gay Pride parade was attracting more attention and a celebrities and politicians.’

Ed said that it was hard getting to his house with a GPS. A friend who had been there before remembered to turn right after Red house. It was recently painted another color and he got lost.

Paul planted some tomatoes 3 times with ground cloth and the rain and wind and blew them all down. He was about to give up. Joe P. planted some tomatoes for his daughter who lives near Ed in NH.  I also planted some vegetables this year. I decided to use the landscape cloth after planting and learned the hard way that it is difficult putting the ground cloth down when you have to cut it out around all the plants. Next year I will put the cloth down first then cut in holes for the plants.

Joe P. suggested going to the Boston Winery and Venesia’s Restaurant next time.  Jim will send an email with all the directions and times.  We may meet at the Winery at 11AM then lunch at 12 Noon.

Comments welcome…. Markryan82@comcast.net