A day of remembering those who have sacrificed 
with their lives in war and in civilian life.

After a hearty breakfast, we spent the morning biking around the large regional park closest to us, where first-generation ethnic community and church groups exuberantly celebrated this all-American holiday with picnics, games, and fishing, reminding us of the fun community picnics of our childhood.

Very few of the picnickers were speaking English; we discerned mostly Korean, Indian and Spanish.  They were all celebrating this holiday with gusto.

In contrast, no celebrations were in sight as we rode around the sleepy side streets of our bedroom community.  Suburbanites celebrate quietly with family barbecues in the privacy of their backyards.  So we heard...

Last night, I stuck my foot into the most recent gaping hole that O had gnawed into the duvet cover and literally, got tangled in it.  It was time to do something about our puka-puka (hole-y) predicament. So, after our ride, we headed out by car to the Linen and Things store at the Long Beach Towne Center for a replacement.  

Destroyer of Duvet Covers: O

Two of my clients had highly recommended Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ, but when we were last in the area, a long dinner line snaked around the restaurant. We were just across the way and there was no line, so we decided to have a late lunch there. 

Graphic, courtesy of Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ, Long Beach

We sat on the air-conditioned, large "screened" porch which was much quieter than inside, and the ambience was pleasantly and quirkily old-fashioned with a white picket fence, mismatched patio furniture and nostalgic plantings.  Water was served in Mason jars à la Mining Company; we opted for ice-cold beers in the bottle. 

We both ordered the pulled pork sandwich, accompanied with cold and crisp slaw with honey-roasted peanuts, a pile of shoestring fries, a wedge of refreshing watermelon, and old-fashioned, thick baking soda/buttermilk drop biscuits served with gobs of honey-butter.  The pork had that luscious, tender fall-off-the-bone consistency with a hickory smoked flavor. Not only was lunch delicious, it was ample. So ample, we passed on the tempting peach cobbler and our leftovers made for a light supper later on. 

Can you believe we passed on this:

LUCILLE’S PERFECT PEACH COBBLER
Good enough to win a blue ribbon at the County Fair. An individual serving of baked sweet peaches with a crumb biscuit
topping. 5.95

The collegiate service was timely and excellent. Friendly and attentive, but not hovering.  

The Tootsie Pops that came with the bill were sweet, nostalgic touches.  DH remembered his favorite Tootise Pop flavor was orange and how he'd  lick his way to the chewy, soft center; I remembered that my favorite flavor was that tangy grape.  I admitted that mostly I crunched my way to the center, molars and fillings be damned.

The two kids at the neighboring table were happy to enjoy ours for us.  Not that we thought that sucking on those lollipops was too juvenile or anything.  

Candy chasing a cold beer? I don't think so.

The next two hours, I was in Hog Heaven at the Barnes & Noble bookstore.  Sinking deep into their overstuffed armchairs, I instantly got lost in my own little Book World, one of my favorite places to be in the Universe.

Graphic, courtesy of Shelley's Watercolours

After skimming a small stack of books, I settled on the Fish! book.  More on this to come...