loshsplace.com

The house is officially on the market which means we're dealing with showings and open houses etc.  We had to vacate yesterday afternoon for an open house so Liz and I took the kids and the dogs to drive around for a bit.  We ended up going fishing which seemed like a good way to kill some time.  Plus Abby was pretty excited about it.  The kids had spent the night at my parents as Liz and I went to a wedding the night before.  I stopped for bait and coffee when I picked them up early yesterday morning so they were pretty psyched when I told them what we were going to do.

When we got to the lake we left Maggie in the car as she was quite content to just sleep.  Pete on the other hand was digging the open fields and even went in the drink for a dip. We caught a few small fish and had a pretty good time overall.  I forget some times that my kids haven't experienced everything that we have and that touching a fish or watch a hook get baited is a very new experience for them.  Wyatt touched one of the Sunfish we caught and it flopped at him.  He then proceeded to smack it like a tether ball.  The look on his face was absolutely priceless.  Is was as if he was saying, "Holy shit Dad!  That fished just flopped at me but I smacked the piss out of him!"  Misty water-colored memories.

We capped our afternoon out with a trip to Shady Glen which is an eastern Connecticut treasure.  It's a 1950's style dairy store / diner famous for their homemade ice cream and cheeseburgers.  I've gone their all my life, having grown up nearby, and it hasn't changed a bit.  I mean it's remarkable how resilient to change this place is and for good reason.  Liz however, is not a fan.  Shady Glen is legendary around here and apparently it just hasn't lived up to the hype for Liz.  She hates the crazy cheeseburgers, pushy after-church bitties and isn't particularly fond of the ice cream.  I know, I know... we're going to let her stay in the family anyway though.  The whole situation did make me think though.  What is it about this place that is so endearing to so many?  Honestly the food isn't anything to right home about.  The coleslaw is pretty good and I like their clam chowder.  I think the allure has to do with the fact that the place is simple, basic and unchanging.  I really got to thinking about it yesterday and not a single think I think of has changed.  The building, the tables, the walls, the menus on the walls, the creepy mural with kids and fairies eating ice cream.  It's almost Twilight Zone creepy.  Whatever it is I'll take it.

Some pictures from the fishing expedition...