LAST cHANCE sALOON.

Our (Dee, Mouton and Richie and self) beloved Poop Deck on the Strand in Hermosa Beach is closing this Sunday.  Over the years we have relished the view from their one-way picture windows at the front of the bar many times.  We particularly loved people watching from that perch because passing people are so varied.  There's only one unifying factor - the amounts of bare skin.  In some cases, yards and yards of skin

The only thing we've never seen is a man of the cloth grabbing a little sun as he strolls leisurely along the Strand waving at parish members.  

And this Sunday is it's demise said the owners.  Gossip has it that it will  become a grocery and sandwich shop.  So, as any decent person would do we are attending the funeral.  Maybe now we'll see a man of the cloth?    

And now we read that "The Deck"  it's spiffed up image name is serving food, which was something of a shock.  Never in the 40 or so years we've been going have we so much as been offered a single potato chip.  for all four of us! Now they have Cheese and Chicken Quesadillas for $4   The Deck Burger  is $10 to give you a vague idea what's on offering.  Bar food.  Too little, too late flickered through my mind.

Here is  a tidbit of history abut the (largely)  sand part of the Strand upon which  the Poop Deck sits.

It was a Spanish Land Grant in 1882;part of the Rancho Sausal Redondo.  Barley grew and sheep grazed in waves. 

And what on Earth is a Poop Deck anyhow?  It's the prow of the vessel which juts out in front  and has a hole in the floor,  It is used as you would expect.  And from that came "The Head" used on land as well.

Odds and Ends

Jeopardy 

New Hosts   Mike Richards and Mayim Bialik  I liked Mike from the gitgo and have not changed my mind.   Great energy but not bellowing.  I can't remember her - short week for her?  but will when it's her turn.  I wonder if they have green room lotteries for hosting that week?

Courtesy boredpanda.com.

"Feeling a bit paranoid - remember you are not alone.

Someone's therapist knows all about you  (Somewhat sinister that one!)

Although Richie mutes ads, quite a few manage to slip through.  The many, many prescription drug ads and awful diseases must have most of Europe thinking all Americans are watching Jeopardy, for example. from their deathbeds.

Speaking in Tongues

 A reference to our French class this afternoon.  It meets every Tuesday from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.  The time in class truly flies.   The teacher is nearly as fluid as a French-born native.  Classes are held in a large room set up like a living room, at the Hermosa Beach Community Services Building facing Pier Avenue - next to the skateboard court?  

It's a very pleasant way to pass a Tuesday afternoon.   Y'all come!

Dubious PR

The BBC always calls our American "Shot" "A Jab" which is not what anyone could call enticing.

Particularly when the Brit Jab looks much more like the Brit Stab.  For a sample view "Doc Martin" PBS Thursday nights at 8 p.m.

Part 2 is that someone should give the not so redoubtable Dr. Fauci the word to lighten up!  Gloom and doom are his only messages.    If they had come true, we'd all be dead  

He is as useless as tits on a boar.

Lunch Out!

Does the socializing ever stop?

Thurs. seven of the writers gathered at the Ragin'Cajun Cafe at 525 S PCH, Redondo Beach   Once in awhile we decide we should gather at noon at a restaurant.  Yesterday was it.  

The food at the Cajun is very good and moreover, the portions are insanely large.  "Could I have a go box?" rang across the traffic on Pacific Coast Hwy.  

We all had lemonade or iced tea even thought they run a full bar.  A drink before dinner, sure.  Lunch not so much.

I got fried pickles (well coated with breadcrumbs) for the table but had few takers.  This is an item that I always order now after discovering it on a previous visit - Shrimp, Crab and Corn Bisque and hold the rice.  Great looking at the table.   Given the praise my bisque got I bet every one of them will order it on their next visit.

We weren't working (reading and critiquing) but indulging in desultory chitchat.  One of our group volunteered that she grew up with Gaelic-speaking parents ergo she spoke it, too,   Some years later, forgotten, of course.  It you don't use it frequently, you lose it.  

After we were home I remembered something "Irish" in my own life.  The wit of the staircase - your best material occurs to you when you're leaving a festive gathering.

Mine.   Richie's family are all 100% Irish-American.

His parents hadn't been able to attend our recent wedding so we flew back so they could get a good look at me.  I remembered something I had read recently.  In olden days  when a great many Irish immigrated to New York and/ Boston - so many- that signs soon popped up in store and restaurant windows.  N I N A, they said "No Irish Need Apply  We all had a good laugh.

Hmmm

Simone Biles - the Brittany Spears of the gymnastics world? 

Cuomo the sex fiend (or so accused).  I fault the women involved.  If you can't make it very clear to a marauding predator that his or her attentions are unwelcome you better go home and stay there.  You aren't old enough to be out in the world.  

ADD:  Last night Richie was watching an NHRA drag race and they started announcing some very familiar names - racers I covered back in the '80s such as Eddie Hill (retired as is 85; John Force, 72, still competing.  I said to Richie, "So, do they use their walkers to get from their pits to the track and their car?" 

This morning my research turned up unwelcome news - Eddie's wife Ercie  is dead at 74.  Be careful what you're looking up?

We're Having a small taste of a social life!

Never thought I'd see the day!  This week alone - wow!  Today - 10-10:30  Dave our construction guy coming to show us and explain architect's plans to to fix the balcony redwood lattice with Douglas fir.   The termites have gone to war.  

French class resumes at the Hermosa Beach Community Center at 1:30 t0 2:45 pm  

Wednesday, 4 p.m. routine appt with cardiologist which is always a joy as he has a great sense of humor.

Thursday (our former only source of entertainment) the South Bay Writers Workshop from noon to 2 p.m. Visit our Website:  southbaywritersworkwshop.com