Friday, June 12, 2009

Away Mission - Day Two

Helping out a buddy. Day two. The newness of the environment is wearing off and I notice the little things around me. The antique elevator, for example. Hand painted doors. Analog floor indicator. Wallpaper slowly peeling further down each day.

When the doors finally open, there is barely any room on the inside. I've been in smaller phone booths. The walls have a dark, musky carpet. The floor is bare wood.

It is interesting to think that back in the 1960s and 70s there were professional elevator operators. And somebody would have been in this thing at all times. Asking, "Which floor, please?" and pushing the button. Making a living out of that. Day after day.

I especially like the buttons. The #1 is off kilter. How long has it been like that? How long before somebody fixes it? If they ever do.

We walk half a block to a small cafe for lunch. Local, family owned. A couple of generations of folks working the front counter and bringing out the food. I had a bacon cheeseburger with grilled onions and a side of cream spinach as well as some green beans.  Whoooooaaaa was it a fantastic burger. Seriously, top three quality stuff. VERY sizable. Incredibly tasty and obviously seasoned. Onions rocked. Bacon was crispy. And the veggies  were dynamite. Aside from a Kobe Beef Burger  on a trip to Las Vegas a few years ago, I can't remember the last time I had a restaurant burger this good. Would eat there once a week if at all possible. Certainly on my To Do list next time I'm in town!

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