Ted’s Bulletin Open Table Reservation for an Unexpected Visitor

Sometimes when we walk in the morning it feels like a good idea to stop somewhere for breakfast. That way we don’t have to think about having to make anything when we get home or drive to lunch somewhere. When we are in the Barracks Row neighborhood Ted’s Bulletin is that place. We usually get there after the morning rush and before the lunch crowd. We learned on Sunday that we would be having an out of town guest that was free to meet up with us yesterday morning. So we thought Ted’s Bulletin would be a quaint place to go - complete with Three Stooges movies. My husband didn’t think we needed reservations but I thought better - particularly since it was during the prime time breakfast hour and spring crowds are starting to show up. It was a good thing I did use open table to reserve a spot because it was packed when we got there as well as the whole time we were there. Our usual wait staff wasn’t there, but our favorite bartender was. She gave my husband his favorite drink on the house. But he always gets back and left her a huge tip on our way out. We had a nice chat and visit with our friend and left in enough time to taxi him to his next appointment. We need to find other breakfast places around here - just in case. 

Care Package from Milwaukee

We lived in the Midwest for thirty years. We moved to DC twelve years ago when I got a job at the Library of Congress. Since then I have kept in touch with several folks I worked with, but also developed closer friendships with others. Whenever we visit Milwaukee there are certain people we always contact and visit. Some of them have come to visit us here in DC, and that happened a few weeks back when a colleague/friend stayed with us a couple of days while on business for Marquette. We worked together in a very large health care system, and I happened to get my master in nursing degree from Marquette. So yesterday when I went to pick up the mail there was an unexpected package waiting for us on the shelf. I knew who it was from right away and both my husband and I were curious to uncover the contents - because Paul has a very unique personality and we knew it would be thoughtfully put together. And wouldn’t you know we were not surprised by what we found - the interesting chocolates, Werther’s Original caramel hard candies, beer nuts, a beer salami, and a Marquette T-shirt. Along with it came a very heartwarming and funny letter that had both my husband and I laughing - and thinking about how nice it is to know someone like Paul. He’s the kind of guy who is uplifting and very nice to know. My husband is now composing a note to rival the one we received. Some of the finest people we know live in Milwaukee. We think about them often and always appreciate their friendship. 

 

A Visitor from the Midwest

After twelve years, a colleague and friend of ours had a reason to visit us in DC. He had business with the University where he works and would be meeting with graduates who live in DC in search of donations. So he contacted me a couple of weeks back to see if we were up for it - and we were. Whenever we have gone back to Milwaukee to visit we always got together at least for a drink. So we have stayed in touch since we moved to DC. We picked him up at the airport Tuesday afternoon and drove him to the Mayflower Hotel for the first scheduled time slot. After that he was visiting  with some friends in Potomac, and they drove him back to our house. (Of course, we had a flat tire - great timing- when we got home that afternoon and had the spare tire put on at the gas station down the street.) We had a chance to catch up that evening and planned for the next day. It started with a drive to the National Press Club in the morning, then we picked him up so he could make a conference call from home, and then a trip to Union Station for another meeting in the afternoon. We picked him up around 5:30 and took a ride around the neighborhood to see the sights, came home to change and then headed out for dinner at Ambar - he happens to be Serbian, so why not? Then we took an evening ride to Georgetown and saw the monuments at night, came home, and chatted some more. The next morning was an early one for another morning meeting at Union Station at 7:30 followed by a train trip to NY. All I can say is that it was great to see him, we had a nice visit, and were happy to bring him to wherever he needed to be. It felt weird to see someone working and in a suit since my husband and I are both retired. Perhaps the next time both he and his wife can visit and enjoy the city more. Regardless, we had a lovely time!