J. Ryan's Bar & Grill, Sarasota, Florida

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I had viewed the menu for this restaurant online and saw lots of yummy things I really wanted to try.  The restaurant is new, on Clark Road near Sawyer, in the plaza where The Big Kitchen used to be.  It is really a lovely, more upscale restaurant.  The owners have obviously spent quite a bit on redecorating.  Nice, but nothing really fantastic.  I ordered the Walnut Chicken Salad on a bed of field greens.  The chicken salad was very dry and tasteless.  It did have a lot of whole walnuts sprinkled all over the plate, which was nice, but I would have preferred to have them in the salad; maybe that would have livened it up a bit.  It desperately needed some mayonnaise.  The greens were pretty, but kind of limp.  My companion had a French Dip sandwich, which was on what looked and tasted like a hot dog bun.  He got about 5 french fries with it.  For over $10, not a good deal at all.  My salad was also over $10.  Someone has to pay for all those fancy wavy clouds on the ceiling!  I would like to go back and try something else next time.  It is a nice place to eat, just not a good value.

Currents, a restaurant in Tarpon Springs, Florida. 

I almost wept when I walked into this fabulous restaurant in the heart of the historic restaurant in Tarpon Springs, Florida.  I had been searching for a decent restaurant in this town, and finally I had found what I was looking for.  I was totally sick of Greek food and could not wait to find some real food!  This place is beautifully decorated with lovely details everywhere.  It's located in a old building with lots of huge windows looking out on the street scene of Tarpon Avenue.  I ordered the Red Sangria first, which arrived in a large glass; I don't think I could have handled more than one!  I had the meatloaf with a blue cheese and raspberry sauce - to die for!  It came with a salad, home made mashed potatoes and asparagus.  Loved it!  Totally delicious!!!

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Manolo's Mediterranean Bistro, Tarpon Springs, FL

I wanted so bad to really love this place, but I just didn't. The waiter had too much "swagger" and a macho attitude. He acted like he was doing us a very large favor by waiting on us. The food was o.k, but nothing really special. I had a chicken dish, which was basically Chicken Marsala, but they called it something else. It was pretty expensive, too. The place was extremely small with a somewhat suffocating atmosphere. The menu was very limited. We asked for a cappucino to go and they said they did not have any "to go" cups. It is located in a scary part of town at night, with pretty messed up looking people wandering the streets and the traffic is horrendous. Sorry!

Crackers Bar & Grill, Crystal River, Florida

I ordered a little scoop of chicken salad for dinner.  It was simply divine!  Best chicken salad I have had in Florida, no lie!  It was placed on a huge bed of lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese, celery, etc. with a slice of cantaloupe!  I could not eat it all and it was only $4.99.  A lovely view of King's Bay out back with loads of boats coming and going to watch.  Simple and not fancy decor at all, but really great food and location.  Right next to the Best Western on U.S. 19. 

<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/136/909569/restaurant/Florida/Crackers-Bar-Grill-Crystal-River%22%3E%3Cimg alt="Cracker's Bar &amp; Grill on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/909569/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>

The Plum Tomato, Palm Harbor, FL

I had head that the Plum Tomato restaurant in Palm Harbor, Florida was a really good place to get some Italian food, so I could not wait to go.  To my dismay, it is located in a dirty little strip mall in the not so nice part of this town.  Unfortunately, it did not live up to its reputation either, or at least for my taste.  I ordered pizza with roasted red peppers, fresh basil and extra sauce.  The pizza took forever to make, and it arrived dried up.  I got extra sauce on the side and that didn't help much.  The pizza was mediocre at best, with no particular taste to the sauce or the crust.  I got sangria with it, which was good, but it as $4.95 for a small glass, not so good.  The whole time we were there, a creepy little old man was pacing up and down staring at everyone and pestering the waitresses.  I think he might have been the owner.  A much better bet for pizza in this area is the Fireside Pizza Cafe, which has a wood fired brick oven, super delicious pizza and much better atmosphere and location.

<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/30/1527075/restaurant/Tampa-Bay/The-Plum-Tomato-Tarpon-Springs%22%3E%3Cimg alt="The Plum Tomato on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1527075/minilogo.gif" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px" /></a>

Cafe on the Avenue, Crystal River, Florida

OMG!  I felt like I was in heaven when I walked into this beautifully decorated, lovely oasis in a small, old town on the west coast of Florida.  I ordered the French Connection, which was a super tender roast beef and brie on a croissant.  It came with (gasp!) a spiced apple slice and a cute little scoop of potato salad.  I had not seen a garnish like this in Florida before and I was so happy to see it!  I had spent a week in this town, searching for decent food and did not find any until I went to this Cafe.  They also had a beautiful tray of desserts available, and alas, I did not have time to try one!  Next time, for sure!  Every detail of this cafe is lovely and amazing.  Located on Citrus Avenue in the historic section of Crystal River near the corner of U.S. 19, right next to a string of lovely shops.  Loved it!

Pet peeve of the day - stinky feet in movie theatres!

Went to see a movie today. I was happily munching on my popcorn when I caught a whiff of something truly nasty. I looked to my right, and there was a middle aged woman in sandals with her feet propped up on the seat next to me! No class whatsoever! Please don't put your feet up on the seat in front of you, especially when they are old and stinky! For pete's sake, wash your damn feet once in awhile, like every day! Maybe get some new shoes, too! And don't stick them where everyone else has to look at and smell them! Like, right next to someone's face!!! Yuck! While I am discussing rude, classless people, let me rant about idiots on cell phones in public. These people walk around like they are in their living room at home, talking loudly on their phones about personal stuff, while in the checkout line, the doctor's office, the grocery store, etc., etc., etc. Go outside! Talk at home! Let them leave a message!!! No one wants to listen to your stupid conversations! Do you really feel the need to hear your own voice constantly? Chances are, the people on the other end of the phone don't really want to hear your stupid voice, either!

Yoder's Restaurant, Sarasota, Florida

The best thing on the menu is the Peanut Butter Pie!  Eat the pie first, then maybe some meatloaf, roast turkey or the chicken salad, which is pretty darn good, too!  The place is small and cramped and may make some people a little claustrphobic.  All of those women in dresses and little bonnet things on their heads made me nervous, too.  I felt like an evil woman!  Next time, I think I will get my order to go from the handy little take out window outside.  I don't think they have any bad food here and Yoder's is known for their fried chicken, but if you want all white meat for turkey, better ask for it in advance, or you might get some nasty brown meat mixed in. Not for me! ">

Tarpon Springs, Florida

Ever wonder where sponges come from? Yes, just like Sponge Bob says, they live under the sea! Scuba divers go down and get them and then sell them in little shops in Tarpon Springs, Florida for around $30! I found the downtown area very beautiful, with lovely bayous and bays and old Victorian houses. There are many very charming shops and cafes along the area adjacent to the Sponge Docks. Now, here's the bad part, the traffic in this town! OMG! There are 5 lanes in each direction going at breakneck speed at all times! I was scared to drive there! I stayed at the Lake Tarpon Resort and truly loved it. The price was right, the room was great and the adjacent bar and restaurant was truly wonderful. They actually prepared really tasty meals, not just bar food, and at affordable prices to boot. They had drink specials every day and the servers were very nice and attentive. Word to the wise: Try and find somewhere to stay where you can also eat and drink, so you don't have to go out on the highway much!

JJ's Hometown Restaurant, not so good

The one redeeming feature about this restaurant is that they offer free delivery to your home if you are within their service area, which is basically Englewood. They do have an extensive menu as well with many selections.

Now for the bad part, undercooked pork tenderloin; horrors! Bits and pieces picked off the turkey carcass which was supposed to represent roast turkey dinner; gross! Greasy, lumpy gravy. Must have been the real cook's night off.

It's such a shame that they would send out dinners to a regular customer that looked like that. It was a miracle that we did not get sick. Most of the pork was eaten before we realized it was pink in all but the outer edges.

In a word - yuck!

New movie review: Water for Elephants

OMG! I usually truly love any movie with Reese Witherspoon in it, who I adore, but seriously folks, she gets her ass beat in this flick! If you like to watch movies where animals and women get seriously hurt and abused, check it out. Otherwise, pass on it. I should have known better just by the title. Anything with elephants in the title and you just know it is going to be sad. Sure, it has a happy little ending, more or less, but its not worth sitting through all of that misery just to see a pittance of joy at the end. One scene made me cry my heart out. All I can say is, thank God I never ran away and joined the circus!

Lovely Breakfast at the Mansion Cafe, Atlantic City, NJ

This restaurant is located within the Showboat Casino on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City. While the hotel itself is super cheap, and mostly sucks to stay in (but that's another story), this restaurant is fabulous! We had breakfast there twice and loved it both times. The waitstaff was super attentive and nice and the food was wonderful. On the first day, I had Eggs Benedict with a lovely homemade, not packaged, Hollandaise Sauce. It came with fried potatoes and a little cup of peaches! So cute! My friend had the big breakfast with eggs, potatoes, pancakes, bacon, cute little fat, tasty sausages and a little cup of peaches! Super yummy and a great value. The atmosphere was like you were in an old, well cared for mansion in New Orleans. Worth a trip to dine there if you are nearby.

JB's Conch Cafe, Englewood, Florida

This small restaurant is located in a strip mall on the access road which runs parallel to SR 776 in East Englewood. It's basically a sports bar with big TV's in the corners with a small bar in the back. JB's is known for their Prime Rib night, a good deal. Everything is good, but I really wish they would make more than one kind of soup for people who hate clam chowder.

Farlows on the Water

Best Prime Rib ever and the Chicken dishes are super yummy, too! I love this place any time of year, but especially when it is not too hot and not too cold so I can sit outside and enjoy the most spectacular view of Rocky Creek! One can first enjoy dinner with a nice Pina Colada, then walk through the paths of the garden which lead down to the creek.

My favorite dish is the St. Croix Chicken, which includes portabello mushrooms in a white wine cheese sauce topped off with provolone cheese. Need I say more? The portions are super huge and I always separate mine in half immediately so I can take some home for the next day's lunch.

Another great feature of this restaurant is the live music played outside on the patio. A nice range of mostly local talents.

Easily the very best restaurant in Englewood, Florida.

Happy to be Single at Last!

After being continuously in one relationship after another since I was 16 years old, I am so happy to be suddenly, blessedly single. Why? Because...

• I can do whatever I want whenever I want!
• I don't have to cook if I don't feel like it.
• I don't have to be home at a certain time.
• I don't have to go home at all!
• I don't have to put makeup on and do my hair!
• I can watch what I want on TV!
• I can eat chips and dip for dinner!
• If I get lonely, I can cuddle with my little dog or cat!
• I can talk all night long to my best girlfriend if I feel like it!
• I can spend as much time with my kids as I want without someone getting jealous, pissed off and sulking!
• I can wear old raggedy t-shirts all the time!
• I can dress as slutty as I want to without someone telling me I have too much cleavage showing!
• I don't have to worry about pleasing someone else all of the time! Forget that!

Damn, I shoulda done this years ago! Yippee!

Forgiveness

Today I forgive myself. I have been a bad person. I have lied, cheated, stolen things. I have been cruel, tormented people for the pure enjoyment of it. I have hurt people, mentally, physically and financially. I have screamed, kicked things, thrown things and broken defenseless objects.

I have enabled loved ones to do bad things. This hurt my loved ones, myself and others.

Today I forgive myself for the past. I release all negativity. I will allow myself to detach and live my life. I permit myself to be happy.