CHICKEN AND WAFFLES!

Chicken and waffles was my Sunday night repast.  There is something wonderfully satisfying about chicken and waffles that cannot be explained.  Perhaps its the sweet with the savory, as despite being given a 'dip' for the chicken, the maple syrup on the waffles tends to drip onto the fried chicken tender and is, in my opinion, delicious and decadent!  Fried chicken is inherently southern, hence there often being a menu item, 'Southern fried chicken'.  Of course, fried chicken is eaten in many parts of the world, but I do not think I ever had it coupled with the waffle before I moved here.

I could go on with the history of the dish, some speculating that it originated in Harlem, which is, of course, (almost) as far from the South as you can get, and there is evidence that the Dutch first came up with the idea. (Being that some of my heritage is from The Netherlands, my fancy could be biological!) However, it matters not, and takes nothing away from the fact that once settled in Texas, one of my favourite things to eat is, chicken and waffles.

Waffling is something I do well!  I would venture to say that my culinary skills in perfecting the waffle is (almost) as good as my ability to 'waffle on' in my speech and writing!  

Having endured a tremendously hectic week, previously, we wondered, going into a three day weekend, whether there would be the same sense of urgency.  I found Monday to have a slightly slower start and was able to follow up on some things that had been put to one side.  Calling courts on a Monday morning is similar to calling on a Friday afternoon.  It is either 'all hands on deck' with a cheery disposition having enjoyed a weekend break, (or leading into the same,) or it is unwillingness to shift the vacation syndrome from having a break (or going into the sane).  My first call was to a rural area, which I will not mention to protect the innocent (or not so innocent if they are guilty of the 'facts' set out in the filed petition) but would state that their level of wrongdoers are fewer than most, as can be told by their case numbers.  Our county can go into tens of thousands, others hundreds of thousands.  This court barely reaches the century!  Would you like syrup with that waffle?  Suffice it to say, I got through to the clerk.  When asking if they had issued the writ, I was told they were still working on it.  "Still?" I asked, surprised, as it was filed back at the beginning of the year.  "Yeahhhs" was the elongated reply.  I was put through to his supervisor, who explained that they were having to redo all their 'citations', as they were missing some things.  I was a little shocked.  "The change was made about two, maybe three years ago", I said, not to be challenging, but in surprise.  "I know", she answered, "but our clerk dug her heels in!"  I remarked she was not the only one!  I received a chuckle and a comment of 'politics', and how they were attempting to update everything, but had to find the correct language.  Again, I would have been willing to help, but my paperwork for the alteration was tucked away in my 'archive' folder.  I suspect that an attorney with an eye for accuracy, and a penchant for dismissing law suits due to an 'error on the face of the writ' was responsible for the delay, and current revamp in the courthouse!  Hence my not mentioning the county!  The lady to whom I was speaking was very helpful, and said she would call when they had everything up to date, and my paperwork was complete.  I was most grateful. 

My second call was not as productive.  Once again, a suit had been filed several months ago, and to date the writ had not been issued.  I questioned as to when we might receive it, and was told, "I will speak to the clerk and see if she wants to issue it!"  Wants?  That is not an option, I wanted to say, but of course, diplomacy is key, and despite a possible disciplinary action being appropriate, should the decision be "I do not want to", it would be the attorney that suffered, and branded 'trouble makers'.  Again, politics!  Maple syrup anyone?

Thunderstorms rolled in, and out again.  I broke my own rules, and journeyed out for exercise before I had completed my indoor tasks, on Wednesday.  We were due a very strong tempest at the hour I usually take my constitutional and I did not want to be caught in the rain.  I arrived home before Raul arrived on scene!  He mentioned this on Thursday.  Our complex was having some major resurfacing done, over three days, and the rain would have been quite the problem, as we have delayed having the work done until the weather was less inclement.  However, the rain did stay away, and the work was completed quite satisfactorily.

Chicken was not on the menu all week, and once again, the only waffle were my monologues, which I am often encouraged to perform during work hours, for the staff!  Jerry, who is in the office most mornings, states often, that he has never met anyone quite like me.  In turn, I tell him he must have led a very sheltered life, which being the son of a musician is not likely, but he has always lived in the 'south' and has had adventures that although were considered average to him, are amazing to me.  Going hunting and fishing is not the norm for a girl from London, but it appeared that their 'vacations' and sometimes regular life consisted of the fact, if you don't catch your supper, you don't eat!  However, despite travelling around the 'circuits' of music and rodeo, he has not experience the 'music hall' action!  He believes (and for the most part he is not wrong) that I can invent a story from thin air, about any subject, in any part of the world.  I must admit, once my waffle gets started, there is often not enough maple syrup in the world to get complete coverage!  It can, the story that is, go on for hours!  This week was no exception.  "I'll bet the lady upfront has a story for that!" he announced, several times. I was just glad to be called a lady!

Our week ended, and although not quite as busy as the previous one, we had been deluged.  Samantha collected me on Saturday morning and we went on our rounds.  I spent a nice relaxing afternoon by the pool, and Dana joined me.  We were alone for hours.  

Chicken and waffles would have been a very good choice for dinner!  It would have been a better choice than the one made!  We headed to a well known 'Southern' restaurant that provides breakfast 'all day' and called the kids to see if they wanted to join us as it was not far from them.  They did.  There was, as always, a wait for a table.  One woman was taking down names when we arrived, and once all our participants were on location, we asked how long it was going to be before being seated.  Another older woman had taken the helm, and was talking into a microphone.  "I have a table of five waiting", she said, and then picked up some menus and cutlery, to take us to our table.  Another woman appeared and asked what she was doing.  A battle ensued.  It was not vicious, nor loud, but conducted in very hushed tones.  The older lady had 'messed' with the system, and it was explained that whilst the smaller parties, of two, three and four, could be seated quickly, the parties of five and upwards needed to go in order.  We were considered five, as we needed five spaces. The baby counts as a full person!  Back and forth they went, with one calling someone else, and the older lady trying to get us seated. They were, however, extremely polite to each other!   Eventually, the older lady conceded, and handed back the reins to her younger counterpart.  I found it all very amusing. 

Our waitress came over and took our order.  "Anything else you need?" she asked, and I mentioned that I would like some steak sauce, and some maple syrup.  I was not having waffles, but grits, and I like my grits with maple syrup, something no self respecting southerner would do, I am sure.  Somewhere between the last time we visited and now, they had changed the menu, and when our dinner came out, we questioned what was on the plate.  She was unsure how to help us and got her manager.  "Don't forget the maple syrup, and the salad (which was part of Edward's order)".   The manager arrived, with the waitress who had a handful of cutlery, and she laid it at the end of the table, but there was no sign of steak sauce, maple syrup, or a salad.  The manager was also unsure as to what we were talking about.  "The breakfast comes with steak and eggs.  Not tips and eggs".  The manager finally realised that we had not noticed the change in the menu item and was not really very helpful.  Obviously, it was our fault for not reading the menu properly, but when you frequent a restaurant for the best part of twenty years, it is surely natural to assume that it will either not change, or a mention would be made of the change.  Perhaps she hails from the original chicken and waffle city!  Direct versus oh so polite!  

"Is your order complete. Is anything missing?" the manager asked. "A salad, some maple syrup and some steak sauce, please". I said as politely as I could.  She disappeared.  Our waitress returned, a minute later and laid five more packs of cutlery on the table.  

Although generally a patient woman, I was almost ready to go and call around the kitchen door.  However, when we had almost finished, the maple syrup, steak sauce and salad came out.  It was not the fault of the waitress as she had been running around like a headless chicken! She didn't need my waffle!

After assuring the waitress that we did not hold her responsible for any of the problems we had encountered, and told her that she was welcome to take the cutlery away to make some more room on the table, we finished our dinner and left.  It had been an amusing adventure.  

Once again, Sunday came around, and it was nice to think that this was not the last day of the weekend.  I made breakfast, went for a nice walk, and returned home to write.  

I am not sure as to how I will spend my 'day off' tomorrow, but have no plans at present.  I have so much I would like to achieve, but as is so often, I will probably be waylaid somehow.  All in all, a day off will be very pleasant and whatever I do achieve, I shall try to do without being a chicken and waffle along!  I shall endeavour not to use so many awful puns in ........... another story!