The UPS person was already in their truck and pulling away when I finally made it to the door. You know, their usual “knock-and-get-the-hell-out-of-here” delivery that they are so famous for when no signature is required. So as I opened the door and shouted a big thank you, because for some reason I feel that me expressing my appreciation will keep him coming back and delivering my packages in a somewhat steady and timely manner, I looked at the very carnival-esque box at the ground between my feet.

Upon picking it up, I was greeted with three words which instantly jolted my memory: Tastes Of Chicago. I came across an article on them several months ago and shared it with my mother. Needless to say, in all her awesomeness, she tucked the web site away and after all this time surprised me with their Eli’s V-Day Special which consists of a heart shaped cheese and sausage pizza, and a heart shaped raspberry cheese cake. Thanks Mom, you’re the best!

We caught the first show of “Grindhouse” at The Alamo (great Chris quote: It’s only 11:40 and I already have a buzz!) and then spent the next day visiting all the bars and locals that were shown during the film. Of course, what’s a visit to Texas without BBQ and Mexican food. The introduction of the deliciousness that is that of a Rudy’s breakfast taco, along with the gut-busting all you can eat BBQ at The Salt Lick, was almost too much for their weakened, meat depraved bellies.

While logged into my Blogger account there was a link in the “Blogs You Might Like” section called All Things Dunkin’ Donuts. I decided to check it out real quick and while I was there I just had this flashback to my childhood. Maybe it was the right combination of pink and orange but this memory of my grandpa just popped into my head.

I was pretty young when he died but one vivid recollection I have of us together is from when he and my grandma would come to visit. What seemed like every morning he was there, he would take me with him to my local Dunkin’ Donuts. It is so weird how well I remember doing this. The place had this really long wavy counter with pink and orange barstools that would only let you spin about 90 degress in each direction (a big disappointment when you are a kid). At the counter with us there would be like a half dozen retired guys sharing coffee and reading the news paper.

He would always order me the same thing as him. I don’t know if this is the official name, or if Dunkin’ Donuts still sells them but he called them “Bowties”. It was basically like a long glazed donut that was twisted into a bowtie shape. The person behind the counter would bring them to us on a plate and my grandpa would then take and put two pats of butter on each. I remember the butter was like a flat square and on one side there was white cardboard and the other some translucent paper that you would peel off to get the butter. I’ve never seen butter like that since. Anyway, he would then give the donuts back to them so they could heat ‘em up in the microwave and let the butter melt all over glaze.

He would drink coffee and I chocolate milk in the cardboard carton.

Now that I think about it, that same Dunkin’ Donuts (which sadly is now closed) provided an extremely amusing time for my sister and I much later in my life. I won’t go into detail but lets just say it was a cold and snowy night and there was a slippery curb and… oops, said to much!