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This is the first time my friend Sally and I have been out and about since February, 2020. We got take-out a couple of times, but Sally wanted to get back to a "normal" life.
Due to her insistence, we went to Merle's, a place we have been in the past.
I felt uncomfortable from the very beginning, especially when the waitress came by without wearing a mask.The menu shows the sandwiches. Sally got the #5, Loco's Motive and I got the #9, Ava-cada Deal For You. You can barely see our glasses of water with lemon in the distance.
I spent a lot of time photographing the menu
while trying to ignore how uncomfortable I felt.
Sally's justification for choosing Merle's was
the booths are high, as you can see.
Sally's sandwich looked decent, but that salad is what was perfect, even though she didn't care for hers.
Mine was wonderful with guacamole, two cheeses, cucumber slices, hot peppers, sprouts, black olives, green olives, and bell pepper. I only wish I could have chosen something besides wheat bread.
While I was still trying to determine how I was going to eat my sandwich without it falling apart, Sally was already finished and had ordered chips, queso, and a draft beer. I ended up eating my salad there and taking the sandwich, less a small amount I tried to hold together, home with me. I put my mask on as soon as I finished my salad. Sally is SO much braver than I. I'll probably be wearing a mask until the entire world has been vaccinated, especially since I have several beautiful new ones to wear.I'd now love for you to feel comfortable and share your own drink inspired post this week. It can be
gifts you received, photos, a place you visited, movies, postcards, mail
art, junk mail, catalogs, books, sketches, mixed
media, drawings, paintings, tags, scrapbooking, or other art that is
digital, hybrid, or traditional, as long as it in some way relates back
to a drink, any drink. Regardless,
please share below and Bleubeard and I, along with the rest of the T
gang will be by to visit. Please link only your T post and not your
blog in general. Bleubeard would like to remind you that old photos are acceptable because they may be taken
any time, not just on Tuesday and most assuredly not just this year.
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30 thoughtful remarks:
Glad you were able to get out with Sally, who certainly looks very happy. But I can understand your hesitation, too. Here the employees in restaurants and shops must all wear masks. Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie
Apprehension about unmasked people was my feeling too, but when we went to Arizona and ate in restaurants every day I got over it quickly. All 8 people on our tour were vaccinated, of course, but the restaurants seemed as if they were totally back to normal. I hope you soon feel more comfortable about all this, and that it’s really safe the way things are now!
best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Nice that you two were able to get out a bit-the food looks fresh and delicious.
Our wal mart here no longer requires masks, but here in Missouri-a free state-it was always up to each of us to decide and each business to decide as well. except for the original 2 week lockdown over a year ago now. I think good common sense depending on the situation is how I decide--mostly we stay home except for when I go food shopping.
Happy T and thank you for hosting
Pleased that you were able to get out.
Here in England, UK, we have to wear masks to go into restaurants and come out of them, once seated we can take them off. However, the employees in restaurants must all wear masks.
The same in shops we are required to wear masks as are the employees.
All the best Jan
Glad you were brave enough to get out.
We are mostly maskless in my city. Which leaves me a little uncomfortable.
I give you lots of applause being brave and going out. I was just watching the news where they talked about states and their vaccination rate, and since we are highly vaccinated here in NH I don't feel too bad going out. I get how you find it scary, and it still makes me uncomfortable not to wear a mask. I plan on wearing one for quite awhile when I am in public spaces, and since my husband is immune suppressed, he also does. I think a lot of people don't feel that way though. So you are not alone. Your lunch does look really delicious. And the seat backs do look really high. I won't eat in a place where the seats don't have that high back and are close, at least not yet. And if I can eat outside, even better. I'm ready to get out in the world, but I'm not just running out. Have a great T day. hugs-Erika
We went out recently, 2nd time!! Good experience, IHOP. Masks are still required.
Your meal looks great! And what a big menu. Glad that you were able to enjoy a meal out with a friend.
Happy Tea Day,
Kate
Would LOVE your sandwich choice!! It seems a bit daunting for many of us slowly venturing out. I have to say that here at home , and even in Cape May we felt comfortable where we went because staff everywhere were/are still wearing masks, and although some of the public is not I am finding that more (including myself) are still continuing to wear them. It will surely take time, and trust. Wishing you a better next experience out, and happy T day!
I know what you mean. When Leah and I went to the nursery to buy plants we had our masks on until we got to the back where we went outside. There were very few people wearing masks at all anymore. As soon as we were going back in the building we put our masks back on. And it felt weird taking them off even when we were outside but the 96 degree sunshine was a good motivation--LOL! And it wasn't crowded at all.
I have heard that people who are vulnerable should probably continue to wear masks even if they are vaccinated...so I have been.
Your lunches looked delicious, BTW. :)
Well, it's 12:02am and I'm eating walnuts and watching the Food Network(lol) Yay to you guys for getting out and about. I got my shot about 2 weeks ago, and feel more comfortable being around people. For the most part, people around here are not really wearing masks. With that being said, the process for masks are being seriously discounted. So I imagine lots of people have an excess inventory to get rid of. But I also say that people who want to keep their masks on, should do so without negative comments from others. There's no such thing as being too safe, so kudos to you. I love the salad, but I definitely would have jumped on that Rueben! Hope you're doing well, and sending lots of hugs, RO
Elizabeth! I know how you feel, we have been out a few times now since my husband had both his vaccines, the first time I was worried the whole time thinking everyone was too close, I really didn’t enjoy my meal. here anyone serving has to wear a mask, tables are spaced out and we have to wear a mask until the food arrives. Some places aren’t spaced out enough so I would not eat there.
I do hope that our government changes the law where we can walk outside without a mask on the seafront as it’s getting very hot and it’s not easy to breathe walking with a mask on.
Your food looked tasty, t looked like pasta too, my husband makes a lovely pasta salad.
Have a Happy T Day
Jan
You made me laugh. When I take a bite... Ingo is done. Sometimes I think he inhales food!
Good on you to brave up, even if it felt odd. We did, too! Enchiladas, I´d love to try those! We have no good Mexican restaurant since... more than 10 years.
Well done for braving a restaurant with Sally; your lunches look huge! I can understand your reluctance to eat out after so long. Hopefully the next time will be better! Although I have been going to Kew regularly; it is as you know mostly outdoors so I have always felt safe and if you eat in one of the (now re-opened) restaurants you have to leave your contact details for the "test and trace" scheme.
I can understand you being uncomfortable with the waitress not wearing a mask. But I thought you were already vaccinated. You are not likely to 'catch it' after you have been vaccinated. That is the whole point of vaccins. I hope you will be able to relax a bit more next time you go out. Here in Spain (as J mentioned) all serving staff must wear masks and the tables are well spread out. Diners have to wear masks until the food arrives. We are going out for lunch today. I am fully vaccinated but hubby is immune suppressed and has only had his first jab, so we still are very careful.
The sandwiches look really yummy, especially yours with the guacamole.Pasta is a strange choice of salad especially with bread (both being carbs) but it does look nice it must say.
You were very early to comment. I calculated it was 2 o'clock in the morning in Wichita! (Or perhaps I got it wrong).
Happy T-Day,
Lisca
Loved seeing you get out. Definitely keep the masks on until more people are vacinated. I think cooks and servers should wear masks - they are breathing on food. I am definitely getting out more though - I need to break out of my hyberation or I will become a hermit because I love being at home a bit more than being out. The food looks great! TFS this fun post (I love seeing other people's fun food). Hugz
That food looks really good, but there's as much on one plate as I eat in a whole day!
Elizabeth, it is good that you went out with Sally. But I am very cautious too. You said you will probably be wearing a mask until the entire world has been vaccinated. Well, this is definitely true with me. I will keep wearing my mask until the virus is extinguished. Hugs, my friend.
Wow those are some big delicious-looking sandwiches! Glad you were able to go out and enjoy them, but I understand your hesitation too. It's been a while since anything social happened here and everyone are still wearing masks.
I think "firsts" are always a little nerve-wracking. First day of school, first time driving solo after getting a license, first day at a new job...I think we'll all feel a little more comfortable as we get continue to get out and about. Lunch out with Sally looks deliciously fun. Happy T Day!
We've eaten on patios twice so far and felt safe doing that. I'm not ready for inside dining at restaurants quite yet. It's their air circulation systems that give me pause. I'm sure I'll get over it lol I'm still seeing most people around here wearing masks in stores, even though the stores no longer require it. I'm not encouraged by stores and restaurants promising to clean. I mean, weren't they doing that already?! Yikes! lol!
The food does look tasty. Happy T Tuesday
Elizabeth, I am with you. I wore a mask before covid, and I will continue to wear a mask. People in general are not safe or clean and I will do what I feel is best for me to protect myself. With that I do respect the choices of others. The food looks great and the beer even better. Enjoy your day.
I'm so glad you were able to get out and about. Your sandwich and salad looks delish and are making me hungry:)
Oh Wow! Well done! I think I would have had concerns over a waitress without a mask but maybe she had been either vaccinated or tested.
We are still to go for meal - baby steps with coffees at the moment - we still have to wear masks indoors and we choose to wear them in crowded outdoor areas too but as mostly we are out in open countryside don't feel it necessary all the time. I am becoming to trust that most people have had their vacs and the chances of meeting someone with Covid are lessening -although numbers are rising here in some towns.
I also think that the symptoms are less likely to cause big problems once you've had the jab - nothing wrong with being cautious though, as I think most folk we meet are!
Your sandwich choice would have been mine too - it does look like a big plateful!.
Take care dear Elizabeth, Happy T day, hugs, Chrisx
You do what makes you comfortable dear. Glad some of us are vaccinated
glad you were able to go with Sally to lunch Elizabeth; I understand your concern; it's hard to step back into "routine" after being away from it for so long.
I can still remember my grandmother being nervous about driving, after having had a knee replacement; she made me drive her to "the road less traveled", then we switched and I let her drive until she felt comfortable doing so.
soon you won't think about being out, mask or not, and you'll just be "out and about " !!
☺☺♥♥
You were so brave to go out to eat, I still don't feel comfortable to do that yet as I've only just had my second vaccination 😁. Maybe in a couple of weeks I may feel differently. Your sandwich looks so yummy with the salad and it looks like Sally was having lots of fun with her beautiful smile! Take care and happy T Day! Hugs, Jo x
Good to get out, and extra good to be fully vaccinated. I am with you; I am keeping my mask on
I'm with you I would have been uncomfortable too. Masks are still mandated here and I am fine with that.
Our lockdown continues but on Friday outdoor dining will be allowed with restrictions. Masks required by servers.
You are far more tolerant than I would have been. I would have said "unless we eat outside, I'm not going." And if I walked in and saw wait staff without masks, I probably would have left. Certainly if they had people in every booth even if they were tall. There are times when you just have to put your foot down -- a good friend will understand. It won't always be that way, you'll feel comfortable in time. But it has to be in YOUR time. It's one thing if the restaurant has a rule about staff being vaccinated but otherwise... not on a bet if they aren't masked.
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