We are still keeping our plans for our Cheyenne, Wyoming rodeo at the end of this month. But, and a big/major "but", are going to check with Cheyenne Visitors Bureau, that was selling the tickets we bought, to see if we can get any kind of estimate of how many people have bought tickets and will be there (in the stands). Would like to know this so we can make our own decision on whether to go or not. Don't want to drive up to Cheyenne, pay over $100 for the hotel room, go the the County Fairgrounds where the rodeo is being held, and then decide, after seeing how many people/cars there are, "no way", and return to the hotel room. Don't need to waste the gas going to Cheyenne or the cost of the hotel room. Would take the loss of the rodeo tickets ($50 total). "Call, check and see" is our plan now. If they won't tell us, we'll make the decision to go or not.
It's an open, not sanctioned by PRCA. It's called Hell On Wheels. Apparently, Cheyenne had that nickname years ago. The reason I know it's an open one is that PRCA doesn't have breakaway roping (girls) at their rodeos and this one does. On their Flyer, they stated that only 250 tickets would be sold and I'm really, really curious if that is fact. This rodeo is the finals of a 4-rodeo series this month.
We've decided that we're driving north of Millinocket when we feel like eating in a restaurant. Except for masks on the people serving tables, everything is pretty normal there since it's a long way from the state capital.
We would want to eat in a restaurant, but being that we are both Diabetic II, my wife doesn't want to take that chance. Can't say I blame her, because, all it takes is one time contracting the virus, and depending on a person's immune system, it could turn into an ICU visit or worse.
Well, cancelled the car rental and hotel for the one night of rodeo in Cheyenne. In-between the virus thing and possible wildfire smoke smell, weren't going to take a chance. Really hated missing this rodeo, but. Nice thing, at the end of October, the PRCA Mountain States Circuit Rodeo, the Circuit we live in, we be held at The Ranch here. Went to it last year. We are continuing to wait until the virus settles down even more here, before taking any attempt at eating inside a restaurant.
Wednesday night, I had my first sit-down restaurant meal since March. I went to Applebee's in Charlottesville to get some ribs (options are limited here.) I got there maybe 8:30 or so. There were people at one other table. -The menus were disposable (single sheet of glossy paper printed on both sides.) -There were no salt & pepper shakers (or anything else) on the table. -Paper napkins instead of cloth. -They were casual regarding customer mask rules. Once I arrived and sat down, I did not need to put it back on to go to the restroom. The server told me that it was busy earlier that day (and other days) and he's making really good money. The other Applebee's in town closed their doors (apparently had issues other than decline in business) and this one has only maintained a skeleton crew, so now he gets lots of tables. Apparently this place had routinely been overstaffed, so it was sometimes not worth it to even show up for work. It's been over 5 months since I've had a restaurant meal (excepting 2 meals of carryout fast food.) After I dropped my $35 for marginal quality food (I took home enough for a second dinner), I realized that I had been [occasionally] eating out solely for the social contact and not for the food. As often happens, the Applebee's server sat down with me as I ate and we just talked about stuff...that's what happens when you eat alone. At least it does to me. Heck, a few years ago I knew the manager at the local IHOP was gonna get fired for stealing before she knew it. People tell me stuff... I had cut back my dining out a while ago until my retirement finances settled down, and then forced myself to go out maybe 2-4 times a month. Other than boredom, I can't see a need for me to be eating out much again. The food in this area isn't that good, and I've recently upped my game in the kitchen exploring new cuisines. But between leaving the work force, having my busy non-profit go away a couple of years ago and church shutting down, it's really been isolating. Dining out was one of my few ways of being around people. I guess I'll find another outlet once humans are allowed to Social Reasonableness again (I had been with a few Meetup.Com groups at one point), but I don't really think I'll be going to many restaurants. I wonder how many other people will not be returning now that the routine/habit has been broken. I wonder the same thing about churches.
We can hardly wait to return to our favorite restaurants for breakfast and dinner. I still have a gift card for a prime rib and lobster birthday dinner (mine that was in June). We miss eating at Longhorn Steakhouse, Breakfast Club, IHop, Cracker Barrel and Mimi's. Mimi's and Breakfast Club have a delicious Bloody Mary! We try to talk to locals, but with the way the small city we live in has changed, folks simply aren't that friendly. It's sort of like the Millennials/Gen X/Y against the Baby Boomers and older. Seems to be very different viewpoints on how the city should look and be. Hip and young for the young folks and very old fashion/traditional for the older folks.
If I lived back where I grew up (and left 10 years ago), I'd feel the same way about wanting to get back to my favorite haunts where I had long-time attachments. But socially things here in my rural community are better than they were outside of DC. Here, everyone is friendly, even though I'm a "Come Here." Back north, I think the restaurant servers liked me because--unlike all those "important people"--I treated them with basic respect. I get the same vibe when I go into Charlottesville. The stories I hear of nasty customers makes my blood boil. Back north, I eventually got crowded out of the area I lived since the early 60s. It was not a generational thing, it was a "spoiled by too much money" thing.
I had restaurant meal #2 since March. Went into the big town (20 miles one way) and had Mexican. It was OK. It got me out of the house. I can tell that my dining out is not gonna return to pre-COVID levels, even if things get back to the way they were.
In Virginia, you must wear a mask when you enter the place, and can take it off while seated at your table. If you get up to wash your hands you gotta wear it while away from the table. I'm sure this is based on sound science. Our governor is a doctor.
That's the same in Maine. The difference is that we realize that laws are made by lawmakers, not governors, and her edicts are not laws.
Our S.O.B. convened a special out-of-cycle legislative session. He had his mask edict codified into law, and got on the "cops are bad" bandwagon (even though we have been in no headlines) and tried to remove their conditional immunity, and make other changes. Besides, who needs laws to enforce mask requirements when there are so many apparachiks around?
Went to Riverside Hotel & Casino after wife's Dr. appointment, ate lunch in their Riverview Cafe. Prices are up from before pandemic, cleanliness practiced everywhere, table wiped down disinfected as you wait for it. Place was not crowded, as was neither the casino. Hers, Fried Chicken, 4 pieces, salad included. $12. Mine, New York Steak, soup included, already eaten! $18.
@Frank Sanoica That's been my experience on my two outings: Not many customers (lots of fear about being around others in an extended maskless encounter) and constant cleaning of everything. Tonight, the floors never had a chance to get dry before they were being mopped again. But your meals look good. For as cheap as chicken is at the retail level, fried chicken in restaurants and fast food places is always pricey. Must be all those oil changes...