Big Fat Disappoints - Eiknarf Trashed

I was up just ahead of 830am feeling no ill effects from Friday night’s beering. Eating early at Barley’s obviously paid handsome dividends. I started some coffee then checked out the weather from the deck. It was mostly sunny and cool – only 49 degrees. Jacket weather.

I played around online all while enjoying coffee for about an hour before heading out for a run. I wore my new running jacket doing the usual altered weekend route – just three miles. I was comfortable throughout. Mindy was up and sitting on the deck getting ready to leave for her hair appointment with niece Lindy in Grove City. Having her hair highlighted, she expected to be out for at least a couple hours.
I had an undeniable tickle in my left nostril that I hoped was an anomaly and not the beginning of a cold. I also considered that it might’ve been from inhaling grout dust after grinding away two tiles worth the day before. I definitely didn’t want to be stricken with a cold.

I spent a little more time online updating the week’s blog entries and then spent about an hour grouting the two tiles I replaced the day before. The bag of grout I used was 19+ years old, and the majority of it caked together in a large block of grout. Both this time and last, I loosened the material by scrapping at it with a kitchen spoon. Amongst the scrappings were numerous small pebbles making the mix somewhat chunky even after smashing it the best I could. This time I ingeniously sifted the dry grout mix through a piece of window screen leaving the small pebbles above my mixing bucket.

In addition, the last time I don’t think I mixed the grout wet enough. This time I mixed it too wet and had to go back and add more dry mix. Once I had the consistency where I wanted it the rest was simple. I floated it in then let it set for about an hour before toweling off the excess. That worked like a charm. Aside from the new versus the old literally side by side, you can hardly tell the new from the old.
It was near 1115am when I finished grouting and had my mess cleaned up. I headed for a shower next. My goal was to be showered and dressed prior to the OSU kick-off. I was back downstairs well ahead of kick-off. With the time I had before kick-off I watered all the house plants and then vacuumed up the numerous pedals that fell off the indoor geraniums.

Watched most of the 1st quarter by myself. Mindy texted letting me know she was still at Saturday’s having her hair colored. Said she was sitting with her head under foil. Me too! I texted a photo of myself with a sheet of foil on my head. I tried to put it on Eiknarf but too but she would have nothing of it. The game was nip and tuck for most of the first half. Mindy got home during halftime while I was napping. Brought home some Wendy’s.

And not long after Mindy got home, Ashley and Olivia stopped over to give me a birthday gift. They gifted me a soft-sided Vikings cooler. Cool! The Buckeyes looked pathetic during the 3rd quarter. As the game neared the end it was tied 28-28 but California had the ball and was well within filed goal range. At the same time, Olivia was pleading with me to take her out to swing. Rather than watch what appeared to me to be a sure collapse, I reminded myself what was more important and headed out with Olivia to play. We had a ball, though Olivia is a very bossy kid. I’ll bet we played on the tree swing for 20 minutes. She wanted to feed the ducks next. I went in for some old bread and saw that the California Bears failed to score and the Buckeyes had. Somehow we scored a TD and were about to run the clock out.

Olivia and I headed around to the bridge to feed the ducks. They’re getting bigger now and are less inclined to come eat out of your hand like they did as kids. Olivia fed the ducks until the bread I gave her was gone.

Ashley and Olivia left shortly after the game ended. I thanked Ashley for the gift. Not long after the two of them left, Mindy headed out again, only this time she said for Target. I used the time to nap and upload pictures to my blog. Mindy was gone for a while. I’m guessing almost 1.5 hours.

Soon after she got home she inquired about dinner. We agreed on a comparably early dinner at the Big Fat. We needed to leave for Indy by 830am the next morning which meant both of us needed to be up earlier than usual. We wanted to be in bed at a reasonable hour, too. We left for the Big Fat I’m guessing near 630pm, but not before squirting some sinus spray up my nostrils. My sinuses were still an issue, especially the left. I had been blowing my nose all afternoon.

Can’t recall the last time were at the Big Fat, but it’s been a while. We stopped in the Art gallery next door before heading in. Several cool pieces to admire, and some I’d even consider buying.

Johnny was working and greeted us shortly after our arrival. Mindy requested Katarina as our server. Johnny comp’d us a new twist on their pita appetizer. Seemed to be brushed in olive oil, baked, then topped lightly with goat cheese. Of course it was served with that green olive based dip. It was good. I think Mindy ordered wine. I ordered a Jack & Coke.

Mindy and I both ordered their delicious baked scallops. For my money, they’re the best anywhere. We both ordered a small salad too. With great anticipation, our scallop dinners arrived just after we finished the salads. As usual, Katrina was on top of things. Uh-oh! Sadly, our scallop dinners were simply not up to par. Not close. Instead of the big, luscious, tender scallops we’d come to love, we got pieces/chunks that were tough and even a little rubbery. Neither of us finished them. Mindy shared our disappointment with Katarina, who did her best to make things right. She insisted on bringing it to the attention of Johnny.

A few minutes later she returned with two comp’d deserts – a raspberry lemon cake and baklava drizzled in chocolate. Both decadent and delicious. Later, when she dropped off our bill she also shared that Johnny was making us a new batch to take home. And a glance at the bill confirmed that they removed both entrees completely from our bill. Certainly can’t say that they didn’t fall over themselves to make things right. I felt bad, but then again, we weren’t satisfied with our dinners. Mindy picked up the tab and while I don’t know what she tipped Katarina, I am sure it was a good one. I was a little surprised that Johnny didn’t come out to talk to us. Just sent the take-home care package out with Katarina. Hmmm?

Mindy and I headed for home. The sun had recently set and was lit up orange on the western horizon. I snapped a couple photos as we got in the Accord. At home I was anxious to catch the Michigan State/Notre Dame game. Mindy was up no later than 9pm, determined to wake early and feel good Sunday morning. I stayed up until 1115pm and even had two more Jack & Cokes.