Saturday, January 10, 2015

Romeo 1-7-15

The Romeo Gang met for lunch on Wednesday, January 7 at Bellino's in Wakefield at 12 noon.  Bellino's is located at 146 Lowell Street (Route 129).  It is just off Route 128. 
Go to www.bellinos.com for more information.

There were seven Romeos present including Joe Lapiana, Jim Terlizzi, Steve Winter, Paul Girard, Ed DeSchuytner, Mark Ryan and Joe Pignatiello.  We changed the intended lunch from Artichokes in Wakefield since it was not open for lunch. Jim thought Bellino’s was a good alternate choice since it was also in Wakefield.  We were last here about a year ago (8-12-13).

You can see photos of the group at the Picassa web site ……. Click below

We sat at a long table at the far end. The waitress asked about drinks and we decided to get some wine to go with the Italian meals. We chose a couple of bottles of red wine from the wine list and toasted a good and healthy life.

Bread and dipping oil was served at the table as we looked at the lunch menu and made are selections. They included a Chicken, Broccoli and Penne, a Chicken Marsala, Shrimp and Artichokes, Pesto Pasta, and a Fusilli Pomodoro. We also got some salads and soup. The meals came quickly and were very good. After we had coffee and espresso and some desserts to share with spoons all around.

The conversation was lively as usual and included the regular fare about, movies, news, sports, and trips. Joe P. said he booked a river boat cruise in May in Europe ending in Normandy. Joe L. said he was also taking a river cruise  in Europe in April.

We then talked about the cost of taking college courses on campus and online. The cost is almost the same and going up each year.  Ed D. still teaches an online course at NECC and says that the quality of students varies.  Although he makes it clear at the outset that doing homework and passing in assignments on time and online will almost guarantee a “C” grade,  there are always some who miss a few and there grades suffer.  He also has to have at least 14 students signup to run the course. 

We also talked about how publishers use to give teachers examination copies of new textbooks. Now they just give out a sample chapter to examine. The books are also updated every two years and the online student software that goes with the student text is only good for one year and password protected. The cost of a new Biology Book at NECC is over $260.  Students use to be able to resell them back to the bookstore but the book and the software are not useable after a year.

Ed also said that one of his sons dropped out of BC after three years and wanted to change his major. Ed told him that he couldn’t just sit around and had to take a few classes at NECC in the meantime.

Besides taking a few courses, he also got a job at the college working in the maintenance department.  In addition, he took a humanities course and just loved it but Ed said that there were not many jobs for students graduating with a history major. His son consequently took a few IT (computer tech) courses so that he might graduate with an IT degree.  These IT jobs are so in demand that his son was able to get a job in the IT industry even before he graduated.

Joe P. then said that Bob Siggens was going to attend the lunch today but was tied up working on a rental house that he owns in Somerville. We also have invited a few other Romeos through email but have few takers. It must be the deodorant that we use.

Jim said he was thinking about upgrading the kitchen appliances at his house which are nearing twenty years old. I said my sister who lives in Florida just updated to all stainless kitchen appliances at her house that she is trying to sell.  Maybe that will attract more buyers.

I said that I just bought a new Amana electric stove from Home Depot. They have good buys and free delivery as well as free take away. Joe L. then said he just bought a Bosch stove. Jim likes gas and wants to replace his with gas.

I then said gas has its problems and is safe most of the time and it depends on what you are used to cooking with.  I then told them about my recent experience with GAS.

“I volunteer to feed the homeless at a soup kitchen in Woburn called the Dwelling Place.  Last Saturday I was in the kitchen of the United Methodist Church where we run the soup kitchen. I was standing in front of the old gas stove heating some gravy and said I smelled gas. The woman next to me tried to light another burner and the whole stove blew up in front of us. I was on the side and felt the gush of hot air whoosh by my head. Unfortunately the oven door blew out and hit the woman in the legs. We quickly evacuated the church and called 911. Two women were taken to the hospital for examination but I was ok and just startled. I was lucky this time but I am now quite nervous about using gas stoves.”

Jim mentioned a few good movies he has seen (Whiplash and Foxcatcher). He also said that Unbroken and American Sniper looked like good ones to see.

We then talked about the upcoming cold weather and sub-zero temperatures.  It’s predicted to be (-25 F) wind chill in some areas.  Gas prices keep dropping and its $2.19 a gallon today in Wilmington. You can check Gas Buddy online for the best prices in your area.

There is a new Swiss Bakery in Reading that Joe L. is interested in. Click below to get the info …..

Comments are always welcome  ……   markryan82@comcast.net

 

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