"TEN MINUTES" Thomas J. McCabe is a painter and writer in Hartford..The Hartford Courant-2004

 "TEN MINUTES"

Thomas J. McCabe Thomas J. McCabe is a painter and writer in Hartford

THE HARTFORD COURANT

'Be back in 10 minutes."

The handwritten sign was taped to the inside of the door. Like a human, I went ahead and pushed on the handle anyhow. Nary a budge.

"Oh shit, you've got to be freakin' kidding me! Ten minutes, oh, who knows when the hell that started."

This was the first time I ever stopped at this package store. A spur of the moment decision, this was not. All day long, I had been thinking about stopping there. Back in Rocky Hill, at my first stop, before 8 a.m., I was planning on it. Whenever I started a new route, one of my top priorities was to scout out the locations of all nearby liquor stores.

The lonely stretch of state highway near Litchfield looked like a photo from a 1950s 10-cent postcard. Surrounded on all sides by majestic rows of dour, watching trees. Trees of all sizes and lengths and widths. Trees wiser than I'll ever be.

"Ahhh, this sucks! I don't freakin' believe it." For the second time in less than a minute, I checked my watch. Still 1:03 p.m. The 1:00 news was just coming on the radio when I pulled the van into the driveway and parked around back, so nobody could see it. I figured I'd be in and out in seconds; that way, there'd be enough time to slam down a 16-ouncer out back. So much for that.

Traffic on that portion of the roadway was minimal at best, but with each passing car, I could just imagine the thoughts of the occupants. "Look at that bum, he really needs a drink, huh?" "See that man, Ronnie? If you drink and take drugs and drop out of school, you'll end up just like him, standing in front of a package store in the middle of the afternoon."

1:05 p.m. "Oh, c'mon, what are you doing, using the bathroom? Or ... making lunch? ... What up?"

My job, as a route driver for a small company that serviced supermarkets, was built around a fairly rigid schedule. Each supermarket has certain "receiving" hours for vendors. It was expected of me to be creative enough to meet the daily quota of stops, regardless of my stores' receiving hours. Regardless that my drinking was spiraling out of control and my life following close behind.

"Afternoon receiving hours" were from 1:30 to 2:30 at Shop Rite in Torrington. If I wasn't there by 1:30, the Coca-Cola trailer would probably beat me to the loading dock. Then, I would have to lug everything up the side stairs, and that was a pain in the ass!

"All right, c'mon ... It's 1:07 already! ... Let's go ... What the hell are you in business for? ... You $%#$%#!" On top of everything, I was supposed to call in from my last stop, in Newington. But, I couldn't get to a pay phone. I had to hurry, otherwise, I'd never be able to get in at Shop Rite.

"Yeah, I worked my ass off, all freakin' morning, just waiting to get a couple of 'kingers' here. Now, I can't even do that!"

I hated calling in. It was like calling my freakin' babysitter. Do they ever say, "You're making good time?" No, of course not. All you ever hear is, "What took you so long ?" It was important that I call in though. They were watching me, closely.

Two times now, they had me in the office. Supposedly, some lady at Waldbaum's said I smelled like alcohol. What does she expect? I work right near those deposit can and bottle machines. The old beer in those cans just permeates the air, and my jacket. And that PUNK janitor at the high school I had to go to. He said he saw me drinking a beer in the van. What a bunch of crap. I wasn't drinking it, it was already empty!

"OK, 1:09, What UP? ... What up? ... Hey, maybe there was a robbery and the robber killed the clerk, then put that sign in the window to deter ... HEY! ! ... huh? ... ALL RIGHT!"

There was movement inside the small brick store. A short, middle-aged woman opened the door.

"Ya' been waiting long?" she asked.

"No, no, just a couple of minutes."

"Can I help you with something?"

"Aahh ... I just feel like drinking a couple of beers today. I'm not usually much of a drinker, but could I please get three Budweiser 16-ounce cans?"

That's the way an alcoholic thinks.

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Boston Market Sweet and Sour Chicken Frozen Dinner is Highly Recommended

Last night, I had the opportunity to try a frozen

Boston Market Sweet and Sour Chicken dinner, and I'm very glad I did so. Not only was this frozen dinner quite tasty, but it was priced at only $4 at a Hartford, Connecticut, Sam's Food Store.

Being a semi-regular customer at a local Boston Market restaurant, I'm accustomed to them serving pretty tasty, high-quality food. Such is the case with their frozen sweet and sour chicken dinner.

Normally, Boston Market is not associated with Asian food, but this frozen meal is the closest to restaurant-style and quality that I've found yet.

The dinner contains a decent amount of good-tasting, breaded chicken pieces coated in a delicious sweet and sour sauce. Accompanying the chicken is a large mound of vegetable fried rice studded with carrots, peppers and peas.

If you're looking for a flavorful, frozen, Asian-style dinner, look no further than the Boston Market Sweet & Sour Chicken dinner. Chances are good that you'll be very satisfied.

Nutritional Facts

Each 14 ounce package of Boston Market Sweet and Sour Chicken dinner contains 640 calories, with 130 calories from fat. This dinner also contains 15 grams total fat, 0 grams trans fat, 30 mg of cholesterol, 1490 mg of sodium, 35 grams of sugars and 20 grams of protein, per one-package serving.

Nestle's Dibs Ice Cream Balls Are a Dynamite Frozen Treat

The Nestle company scores high with their Dibs frozen dairy dessert. In case you haven't seen them, Dibs are bite-sized pieces of vanilla ice cream that are accented with a thin layer of chocolate.

While I've seen photos of plain vanilla Dibs and strawberry-flavored Dibs, the variety that I recently rediscovered features pieces of vanilla ice cream enhanced with a Nestle Crunch chocolate coating.

There are several different sizes of Dibs containers sold at retailers throughout the U.S. The red, cup-like container that I purchased at CVS Pharmacy a week ago, weighs-in at 3.99 ounces and holds roughly 26 pieces.

Not only are Dibs delicious treats that are very hard to stop eating once you've started, but everything about them spells-out "fun." The vanilla ice cream in the treats has a nice, mellow flavor, and the Nestle Crunch coating complements it well.

Texture

If you're looking for an ice cream treat that has a great mouth-feel, Dibs certainly fit the bill. The combination of soft and flavorful vanilla ice cream contrasts quite well with the crunchy chocolate coating.

With each piece being bite-sized, it's fun to pop a bunch of Dibs in your mouth, one after the other. If you eat too many too fast, though, you could experience a numbing Brain Freeze. 

Nutritional Facts

Dibs contain 320 calories, with 21 grams total fat per container. Each package contains 21 grams total fat and 0 grams total fat. These bite-sized frozen treats also contain less than 5 mg of cholesterol, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 22 grams total sugars and 2 grams of protein.

Whether you enjoy just a couple of them, or an entire container, Dibs Nestle Crunch-flavored bite-size ice cream treats are always a pleasure to consume.

Price

Like other products, the retail price of Dibs ice cream treats can vary from store from store. The lowest price I've seen in Summer 2022 is $2.99 on sale at Walgreens, and at CVS the most recent price is $3.79. 

 

 Connecticut News

Probably about 20 years ago, I had the opportunity to take part in an essay-writing course at the Hartford Public Library. The course ran for six to eight weeks, I think, and it was taught by Lary Bloom, former Editor at Connecticut Magazine.

The essay I wrote about alcoholism was based on personal experience, and was written from the perspective of a route-driver in the late-1990s, who serviced supermarkets. The t

TEN MINUTES

Thomas J. McCabe Thomas J. McCabe is a painter and writer in HartfordTHE HARTFORD COURANT

'Be back in 10 minutes."

The handwritten sign was taped to the inside of the door. Like a human, I went ahead and pushed on the handle anyhow. Nary a budge.

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Mrs. Freshley's Raspberry Dreamies are a Great Alternative to Hostess Raspberry Zingers

 

Updated in August 2022

What happened Hostess? The two Zingers I ate this week tasted completely different from the ones I've been eating intermittently for a couple of decades.

 Appearances can be deceiving. While they may look essentially the same, today's Raspberry Zingers don't possess the same tart, raspberry flavor.

Gone is the abundance of creme filling that made these coconut-dusted snack cakes the dynamic treats they used to be. Now, just a small amount of creme filling inhabits the centers of these treats.

Yes, the Hostess Zingers were a less-than-healthy addition to any diet, but they sure did taste good.

If you have the munchies while you're in a drug store or convenience store, I recommend purchasing the Mrs. Freshley's brand version of raspberry zingers.

The Mrs. Freshley's cakes are called Raspberry "Dreamies," and they're quite outstanding. In addition to the raspberry flavor Dreamies,  Mrs. Freshley's makes regular-srtle Dreamies.

Appearance

Mrs. Freshley's Raspberry Dreamies are similar in size and shape to Hostess Twinkies, but their color is light red. The snack cakes are distinguished by a thin coating of fine coconut flakes.

Size

Mrs. Freshley's Raspberry Dreamies are usually sold in twin-packs that hold two cakes. For bigger appetites,the Dreamies are available in six, 16 and 18-count packages.

Texture / Consistency

Soft yet sturdy is a good way to describe the texture of Mrs. Freshley's Raspberry Dreamies. The addition of the tiny coconut flakes on the exterior of the cakes makes them even more fun to eat.

Nutritional Facts

Each Mrs. Freshley's Raspberry Dreamie cake contains 200 calories, with 60 calories from fat. There are also 5 mg of cholesterol, 0 grams of trans fat, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 21 grams of sugars and 2 grams of protein in each of these cakes.

Flavor

When it comes to flavor, Mrs. Freshley's Raspberry Dreamies score high. The cakes have a pleasing raspberry flavor, and they're not overwhelmingly sweet.

The creme filling in these cakes complements the raspberry taste very well, and the coconut garnish is a winning touch.

                                          

Price

The average retail price charged for one twin-pack of Mrs. Freshley's Raspberry Dreamies is approximately $1.99.

The average cost of an 18-pack of these cakes on various web sites is $20-$22.

Overall Rating

While some people might point fingers at snack cakes because of their high sugar and fat contents, there are those of us who still appreciate a tasty raspberry-flavored cake. That's what Mrs. Freshley's Raspberry Dreamies are; tasty, creme-filled, raspberry-flavored snack cakes.

A great companion to a cup of coffee or tea, or a glass of milk, these reasonably priced snack cakes are highly recommended.

 

For Great Pizza Pies in West Hartford, Look no Further Than Park Lane Pizza

Updated August 2022

 

                                                                                          

Aahh....A lovely pizza pie from Park Lane Pizza in West Hartford. 

For some people, the crust of a pizza is the most important part of the pie. Other people judge pizzas by the flavor of the sauce, while still others consider the cheese to be a pie's most crucial ingredient.

Through the decades, I've eaten a few completely excellent pizzas, many, many average pies, as well as some downright pathetic and/or perilous pizzas. For more than 40 years, I've been enjoying the great food from Park Lane, and I think their Italian-style food is just as good as the food at higher-priced, upscale eateries.

While I do appreciate the various components of pizza pies, it's the sauce that's most important to my tastebuds. The pleasing Greek-style pizza sauce at Park Lane has been making my tastebuds happy for a long time. Having tried lots of local pizza pies, I still haven't found another sauce as good as Park Lane's

The pizza in the accompanying photo is one that I picked-up at Park Lane recently.  As you can see, this pizzeria still does a "square-cut" on its larger pies.

From its familiar location at the corner of Park Road and South Quaker Lane in West Hartford, the kitchen at Park Lane Pizza regularly produces some of the finest pies you'll find in the local area.

Since the 1970s, I've tried a lot of different foods from Park Lane Pizza, and have rarely been disappointed. The interior and exterior of the pizza restaurant look essentially the same as they did in the 1970s, and each upholstered booth has its own little working jukebox.

It's almost worth visiting Park Lane just to check out the mini jukeboxes at each booth. Because I've only been picking-up to-go orders there since the health pandemic began, I haven't looked closely at the jukeboxes in quite a while. The last I knew, they operated on Quarters, but the price-per-play might have gone up.

Also since the 1970s, I've been fond of little MG automobiles, and one of Park Lane Pizza's owners also owns a forest-green MG convertible, which he's parked in front of the restaurant almost every day, for years.

Seeing that MG up-close on a fairly regular basis, was definitely a factor in my purchasing a Mazda Miata.

Driving a Miata with the top down is the closest I've found to riding a motorcycle. You're only a few inches off the ground. On a regular basis, I still stop to look up-close at the MG when I enter Park Lane Pizza. 

Park Lane serves small, medium and large-sized pizzas, and 15 types of awesome grinders, or subs. These include ham, eggplant, turkey, sausage, tuna fish, pastami and meatball. 

If you're a salad fan, Park Lane has a tossed house salad, Greek salad and Chef salad, as well as chicken and tuna salad plates. There are cheese calzones on the menu, and appetizers such as mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers and Buffalo wings.

The various dinners served at Park Lane Pizza are all expertly prepared and delicious. In addition to staples such as pasta with meatballs, Park Lane serves manicotti, lasgna, chicken Parmigiana,  meatballs & peppers and sausage & peppers. Dinner portions are large, and prices are competitive.

 

Thank you, Prospect Foreign Car Service in West Hartford.

One of the first things I did after purchasing my 2004 Mazda Miata several years ago was to contact AAA about obtaining member coverage. The membership benefit that I was most interested in obtaining is the car battery service that they offer.

The Miata currently has a dead battery, and that's been the case every winter since I've owned it. It has never seen snow, and I'm paying for a garage and AAA service. If AAA was really a proactive, customer-oriented company, maybe they could figure out a way to stock batteries for early-2000s Miatas. There are still plenty of them out there. '

A few years ago, AAA came out to jump-start the Miata for Spring, and the driver/technician reminded me that the battery was pretty much in need of replacement. Shortly thereafter, I had a new battery put in by the local Mazda dealer.

 It so happened that the Miata was due for the required, recurring emissions testing. Off I went to Prospect Foreign Auto Repair to see if they could do the testing. When I talked to the friendly and knowlegeable owner, Franco, he informed me that I would have to put approximately 100 miles on the car before it would be ready to go through emissione testing.

Thank God, the Miata passed emissions. After having a new battery installed, the car's computer ? had to be reset by driving it for roughly 100 miles. If the computer does not reset, the vehicle probably won't pass emissions.

 Now, in 2022, the battery that was replaced a few years ago also had to be replaced. Right away, I called Prospect Foreign Auto, and they were very helpful. Even though it can be hard to find a battery for that year Miata, they said they could get it "no problem." I was given a good estimate for the total cost of the job, and was asked when it would be convenient for me to have the work done.