Its Been a While...thought this blog was dead

Well, it's been several months since I'd been out to dinner with anyone else beside my parents, and many years since I've gone out solo. For a couple of weeks now, I've been working myself up to going out again. For quite a while I had thought this blog was retired for good. I am now ready to start it up again.

I'd been hoping to go to El Barrio, a new place that opened up downtown last year that I hadn't been to yet, on Wednesday night.  But we are having a major snowstorm tomorrow, and El Barrio is closed on Tuesdays (tried to go there last Tuesday for my birthday). So I decided to hit up an old familiar favorite: SBC.  I pulled into the parking lot at around 7:20, and it was full!  No spaces available! What?? On a Tuesday night???  I had to park up on River Street. By the time I walked up to the restaurant, two spaces had opened up,  Ugh, oh well, walking is good.

I tell the hostess I want to eat at the bar, and she smiles me in.  First available seat is next to a man sitting by himself.  I bypass THAT seat and head around to the next open seat, next to a couple and several other empty spaces at the back end of the bar. My server is named Maureen, and she gives me several menus. On the draft menu is a lager by Bad Sons Brewery, a new place in Derby that I've driven past many times.  I ask her about it and she asks if I would like a taste. "May I?" It was good, I ordered a pint and a buffalo chicken wrap.

While waiting for my food, I am checking FB for morale boosting likes and comments, and see that SBC has a guest wifi.  I say to my server that I noticed the guest wifi and was it accessible?  She gives me the password and I wonder if she'll remember me as the solo female patron with impeccable manors (I'm always "yes please", or "no thank you"). There's a bunch of people leaving the function room at the back of the restaurant, so THAT'S why there was no parking.  No one sits in the empty seats to my left, and the couple to my right keep to themselves. The wrap was spicy and the restaurant was cold (thanks I'm sure to all the large floor to ceiling windows). I had to ask Maureen for a paper napkin for my sniffly nose.

I took my time and was there for over an hour, speaking to no one but my server. It has been a while since I've had a beer, and I felt my cheeks getting rosy. I had half of my wrap wrapped up and began my cold walk back to the car.  I passed the blue eyed French Man talking to someone outside his restaurant. He said Hello but I'm not sure he recognized me, it's been too long. I've missed Downtown Milford.

All in all, a good first night out solo.  I wasn't nervous, or sad.  It felt good. I felt okay with being alone. I am vowing to go out once a week. It will break up the monotony and boredom.  Next week? El Barrio here I come!!!