WELL! I didn’t take any “food porn” pics, so you’ll be spared wondering exactly how delicious my American-style steak street tacos and chips and salsa were. And the cup of chili and fixins I had later.
All delicious. Especially the salsa. But the jalapeños really added nicely to the chili, as did the onions. I guess I’m gonna talk about the food anyway. You’ll have to use your imagination a bit.
My sense of smell isn’t great anymore. There are several fragrance products I used to love that I can’t pick up on now. Like when I treated myself to Ck One, I think around the holidays, one year. Eventually spilled a fair amount of it, too, but it smelled like nothing to me. Made me sad, because I loved it, when it first came out. The allure of its androgyny. I always did enjoy Calvin Klein commercials.
Back to the food.
I had debated going to the Bite the Farm food truck, just because of the whimsical name. Then, we walked behind the one selling Mexican food, Taqueria Maldonado’s. The wind caught the scent of the sizzling meat and such just right, and it smelled AMAZING. It might sound like a really small thing, but I’m always thrilled when I can actually smell my food. Adds to the experience.
Kiddo used to tease me that I must be a psychopath, because I guess she read somewhere that they have no sense of smell?! But it could be that I used to smoke, have had bronchitis a few times, live with a cat to which I’m allergic, etc. I’m sure someone would have caught on by now if I were closet psychopath. She was just bein RUDE! lol…
It seems like a selective thing. Like there are various “the one that got away” peeps whose scent I recall appreciating. Comes and goes.
One of them, I was waxing poetic. He always wanted to know what he smelled like, since so many women told him they liked his scent. I told him he smelled “like Coyote.” I dunno. I guess he reminded me of the desert and tricksters. Closest I got to real desert was Los Angeles, so it was a reach on my part. My idea of what the desert would be like, then.
He also kind of reminded me of a certain flavor of Axe body wash, but I don’t know if he actually used it. I don’t recall the name. Did they ever sell anything with microbeads? I remember it as amber, with microbeads.
Personally, on me, I always liked Dark Temptation. Just got a stick of the deo. Might have to get the matching body wash eventually, for funsies. I sometimes like smelling a bit musky. Gives me just-made-out-with-someone vibes.
BUT yes. The food that I said I was going to talk about.
Expensive, but it was on a fairgrounds, sort of. Steak was tender, not overly fatty. Lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream all very fresh. Tacos could’ve been a bit bigger, but somehow, it seems like the smaller street taco tortillas paradoxically fit more toppings? Because you can just kind of leave the top part wide open a bit?
I think the salsa was my favorite part. Just spicy enough.
And I had a Diet Dr. Pepper from one of the massive beverage tents. Been hittin’ the caffeine kinda hard again lately. At the moment, I’m chasing it with ice water. All about balance.
More pics? More pics. I may add a couple more later. Some of them were taken by someone else, and I don’t think he has my number to send them to me. He also said he still has pics from several Halloweens ago, when we’d hit the bars. I don’t remember what I dressed up as on that occasion. Might see about having our mutual friend ask for some of those, too.
Here, Neva and I are posing against a mural under the bridge that was closed for tonight’s festivities. I imagine it will be closed longer? Lots going on here.
Tom also took at least one or two of us around the stage/the crowds. We had intended to take some in the photo op outline of the state of Wisconsin with a heart where Green Bay would be, but never got back there before dark.
I think the band we heard was Luke Combs UK. British band performing country covers. I was really surprised the singer only sounded British when he talked. Not an ounce of accent when he sang.
Tom and Neva didn’t want any of the food on the grounds outside, so we went to The Depot. Since my tacos were pretty tiny, I had that aforementioned cup of chili. Debated dessert but didn’t. I had also debated Funnel Cake. They had what sounded like an INTENSELY decadent one that was I think Peanut Butter and Chocolate.
And I was able to buy Tom some gas, on the way there, on debit, to pay him back for picking me up twice, and helping cover the remaining cost of the food at the bowling alley, after Neva’s gift certificate was spent.
So I feel a bit better about all of that.
What else… Neva once again prodded me to check out passing men and look for someone I could chat up. She pointed out a firefighter. Said in general I ought to find someone I liked and start a conversation. I’m never of a mind to do that when we’re all out, but I suppose it might be more effective than online dating, at this point. In the moment, I just feel like enjoying time with my friends.
We were passed by a firetruck on the way back to the car, and I teased her that the firefighters had come for her. “They brought a truck for ya!” She laughed.
She said she’d had enough of dating for awhile, that it was my turn.
We shall see about that!
On our way out of the restaurant/pub, we caught a fireworks show, just at the right time. Not to diminish the impact fireworks have on former military members, and animals, and such… but I had a really outlandish thought tonight.
Damn, what would it be like to have senses enhanced by vampirism and get caught up in a fireworks display? Clearly, I have crawled VERY far into my little fictive world!
On the way back to the car, “Joker and the Thief” by Wolfmother played in the distance. I think that was my top song for last year, on Spotify. That, or the year before?
And Sublime’s “Wrong Way” played at the pub.
Good tunes during the fireworks show, too. GNR and Ozzy among them. “Crazy Train” I think hit at the finale.
Crossing the river on foot, back to the parking garage, I saw a group of grownups pushing strollers, start off on a short race to a predetermined finish line. The one giving them the all-clear to “GO” was waving a fiber optic wand thing. I had a similar one that we got I believe at Epcot, when I was a kid. Memories.
Pretty views on the way back to the car:
Above, is the first view of the river, and part of the bridge we crossed, and the lights along the City Walk, downtown.
The other bridge, illuminated, from a distance.
Angled shot of the bridge we crossed on foot.
Some of the trees lining the City Walk area.
I think that’s all the news that’s fit to print, about tonight? Came home, greeted Miss Kitteh, and hopped on here to share.
We arrived at the parking garage just shortly after parking became free, and got back within like 10 minutes of when our 3 hour limit for that specific spot would have gone into effect. Perfecto!
The evening felt a little enchanted.
Also, I think my chili may have been cheaper than it was supposed to be?! They said they would add $1 each for extra toppings, but unless I remembered wrong, that wasn’t what I was billed?
I had a cup, not a full bowl, so the portion sizes of the toppings may have been smaller. Did that factor in? Not really sure. I tipped fairly well. Maybe I should have double-checked, but I let it go.
If I go back there any time soon, I’d like to try some of their desserts. They sounded pretty good! I’ve been there before but am not sure if I have had the flourless chocolate something-something or if I’m imagining that.
THAT I would feel compelled to photograph. Cuz chocolate.
Mkay, to close out the post, Imma share something from Snapchat again. I hesitate to do that too often, because I’m not sure if this site would read that as somehow copyright infringement? Because of the AI?
But it’s a fun one. Gothic Christmas. Given how thin the girl on the left is, I think she looks more like a younger version of my mom than me. But, I can see me in the eyes.
Have a joyously dark and spooky evening, if that’s your thing.
Dark temptations.
Hm, already a little late, but speaking of, I’m at least going to LOOK at my work in progress. I’m feeling hesitant about the next few scenes.
Did I share the really witty meme I saw? Don’t show fear to your manuscript. Make it fear you. Type “Looks cute. Might delete later.” Flirt with another piece. And so on. Been trying to adapt that outlook.
Damn, this werewolf playlist! Am I too old to say it slaps? LOL. It does.
Maybe flirting with werewolf themes will tease my vampires into telling me what happens next! And I have Lost Souls a-waiting. Along with untold library checkouts.
Will also have to reread the W.H. Auden poem that inspired the name of this post. I had it memorized for a time.
Good night!
All the Bright and Sparkly Things 
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