My Birthday Day

My Birthday Day

In addition to today being my 70^th Birthday, it was also the 100^th Anniversary of the Sinking of the Lusitania off the coast of Ireland. This one event, more than any other, was the cause of the United States entering World War I. Almost 1200 died in the sinking including 123 Americans.

Dead Wake is a recently published book by Erik Larson. Using newly declassified information, Larson makes a compelling case based largely on circumstantial evidence that the British Admiralty knew German submarines were actively operating in the area where the Lusitania would pass and did nothing to prevent the sinking.

I’ve read the book and I was fascinated by the possibility of official British government collusion in the disaster.

Moving on, other things happened.

I went to see Molly the Stylist for my regular haircut. I thought she did a fine job on my hair. Molly was smiling in the photo because I gave her a box of Ethel M dark chocolates. She loves dark chocolates.

I left the salon and headed back to my part of town to have lunch at The Counter in Torrance. I was lucky and found a table in my favorite server’s section. Dena brought me an Arnold Palmer and asked where I had been. She had missed seeing me. I had been to The Counter at times when she wasn’t working.   

I had an Old School Burger.

As its name implies, it is a basic type of hamburger. It started off with a 1/3 pound, cooked medium well for me. It was topped a sliced tomato, sliced onions, lettuce, and a thick slice of cheddar cheese. It was excellent and I finished my meal with a small dish of vanilla iced cream. Dena topped the iced cream with some chocolate sauce.

My next activity was a no student showing up tutoring session. I get paid for my time. I read the latest copies of Los Angeles Magazine and Fortune while I killed time.

After tutoring at school, I drove to Santa Ana for my birthday dinner at Morton’s the Steakhouse. I have been going to Morton’s for the last twenty one years. I think it was the last time I will go there. When I made my unnecessary reservation, I had told the young lady the meal was a celebration of my seventieth birthday. There was no connection with my purpose and the service from the staff. I was shunned so much I felt like I was bubonic plague carrier.

My problem with Morton’s is the business has been run into the ground by Landrys Restaurants. Landrys bought Morton’s during the Great Recession or after it. The operating plan seems to have been cut all costs and but keep the price high or raise them.

I have been willing to pay for the extra level of service because that made the meal special for me and my guests. Doug and I had a lot of happy meals there over the years.

Now, with in different and uncaring service, it’s no longer a fun meal. It is very difficult to justify spending fourteen dollars on a simple lettuce salad where the chopped lettuce came from a bag and the only addition by Morton’s was pouring some dressing on the lettuce and tossing it.

I had an uninspired salad, an average steak that was overcooked, and a slightly dried out lobster tail.

I did have a modestly tasty Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs for an appetizer. It was interesting and that is all I can say about the dish. I don’t think I would order it again.

Morton’s also no longer carries my favorite Single Malt Scotch Whiskey.

I didn’t have my usual Morton’s Chocolate Cake. I had put up with too much.

It was raining when I left and I got damp as I walked to my car.

The cold rain was a perfect metaphor for a ruined evening.

Be well and stay happy.