Thursday, September 22, 2011

Lunch, two nice people and saving $$$

In the span of 30 minutes - three good things...

- Going to Georgia State University for a work errand and to the pizza and pasta cafe at My Old School (cue background song from Steely Dan) for a take out lunch. You can still get (what I call) a bucket of pasta with marinara sauce for $4. I guess that's what causes that Freshman 15. :)

- On the way there, hearing Garrison Keillor on NPR giving the "Writers' Almanac" on the radio with the information that it's the birthday (September 21) of the creator of Penguin Books, Sir Allen Lane, known for popularizing the printing of great novels and books bound by paper, making them more accessible and affordable. Many of Keillor's books have been published by Penguin and a true testament to his niceness: my niece's friend has a distribution position at Penguin in New York and he made a special trip there to thank her for all her work on his behalf.

- Finding a parking place with 8 minutes left on the meter in downtown Atlanta. Sweet.

19 comments:

Fireblossom said...

I love Garrison Keillor. His tales about Lake Woebegone and the people there made me want to to be able to spin stories like that, too.

Granny Annie said...

One of our college grandchildren was here this past weekend and all he could talk about was the college food but I could not see that he had experienced the "freshman 15" yes.

How thrilling that your niece's friend knows Garrison Keilor. He is adored by millions and the fact that he would go and thank Penguin is one of the reasons he is so loved.

Leonora said...

Wow that bucket of pasta looks good!
I'd say you have saving $$ on #1 and #3.
I love Prairie Home Companion. I've listened to it for so many years, since our first apartment in 1980, that it feels like an old friend.

Lynn said...

FB -

I think you should do that.

Granny Annie -

I actually lost weight while still eating stuff like this when I went back to college full-time in 2003-2004. The campus is spread way out, so there was lots of walking to and from classes + I always took the stairs when I had a class in high-rise classroom buildings. And I was usually on the third floor of the parking deck, so there was climbing those stairs with a bag of heavy books.

Yes - KF was surprised when he made an appointment to come see her. She considers that she has a hand in the distribution of his books, but is not the key person at all. Yet he took the time to come by and sit in her office for a 15 minute chat. Loved that story.

Lynn said...

Leonora -

I'm all about saving money these days. And I love Prairie Home Companion, too. :)

Maude Lynn said...

I just love Garrison Keillor!

Jannie Funster said...

I hope you used those 8 minutes for fun and adventure!! :)

xoxo

Lynn said...

Mama Zen -

Me, too - I've seen him "in concert" two times. Always delightful.

Jannie -

I used those 8 minutes to go buy a bucket of pasta. :)

desk49 said...

Eight on one
Four on another
Because of penguin
Dreams were discovered

Louvregirl said...

Mummmmm, that sure looks delicious!
Wow. Great shot, Lynn.
:-)

Louvregirl said...

As to your response on my blog "all the better for having my sis as a sous chef;" Lynn, that is a true gift! How wonderful. I had a very good LAUGH listening to my younger sister 'try' and make macaroni and cheese in the crock-pot (quickly.) She is not a 'good' chef and all her snaffoos (sp?) really had me laughing! She was in a real tizzy cooking and I told her she would make a great contestant (well, perhaps on the "Worst Cooks in America;" you know, the one where Chef Ann busts your butt and makes 'one' a better cook! (I really didn't say that- just that she needed to be on a cooking show, though. She is a truly great friend and person and I wouldn't want to offend or break her heart.)

sage said...

Got it! Steely Dan is probably my favorite group of the 70s & early 80s

Jannie Funster said...

<a href="http://www.janniefunster.com>

testing, testing from my iPhone, for commenting purposes.

Using your site as a guinea pig, if you will.

Please forgive.

Xo

Jannie Funster said...

Nope, that's not it. One more try....



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Laura said...

I have two degrees from GSU. Love that school! Did you know Kell Hall used to be a parking deck?

Lynn said...

Ellis -

Hey - I like that. Short and sweet.

lg -

Thanks - it is sitting on top of an old email I was using to make notes on for my "words with friends" online game I'm playing with Meredith. :) On my lunch hour of course.

And my sous chef sis is a much better cook than me. She is a creative cook - I am a recipe follower (but darn good at it.) Sounds like you and your sis have fun.

Sage -

I've always liked that song. :)

Jannie -

Email and tell me about that test. Curious.

Laura -

Hello and thanks for commenting. I love GSU - I was there as a returning student in 2003 - 2004. Yes - I did know Kell had been a parking deck. Evident from the workout you got walking up those hallway ramps. :) I had a PR class in that building in 2003 - cold and cramped, oh my.

Snaggle Tooth said...

N I have a Steely Dan cd too- Plus ate spagetti tonight. You're talking about that weight gain thing-
I must have a ton of Penguin paperbacks in here myself- Sounds like a really nice boss!
I really hate feeding those parking meters n trying to get back in time! Great to save some coin-

Lynn said...

Snaggle -

I loved Steely Dan.

Anil P said...

Was looking up Steely Dan.

How nice to hear of your niece's friend working with Penguin. Penguin changed or at the very least impacted reading positively with their range of paperbacks.

I remember reading some of their issues for sale only in India, and a few other countries in the sub-continent.