Angela Lollar

New Italian Restaurant in Brighton

So Phill and I tried out a new Italian restaurant in Brighton last night.  We were really excited because not since Mr. Macelli died and his restaurant closed shortly thereafter have we even had a decent sit-down Italian restaurant in Brighton.  And even more encouraging was the notion that Pinocchios, the new restaurant was just a new location, not necessarily a shot in the dark.  They’ve been successful in Longmont, Greeley and Lafayette.

 

Well, the fact that they had our table ready was a bonus, but things quickly went sour when we received our salads before our appetizer.  This is a HUGE pet-peeve of Phill and mine because then you’re rushed through the rest of the meal, so we just had them cancel it.  Second oops?  Changing Phill’s drink from and Arnold Palmer to a Ice Tea with no notice, only to discover at the end of the night what he was REALLY having and sending out a cup of lemonade for us to fill it ourselves.  Not my idea of a refill in a sit-down restaurant with candles and tablecloths, but that’s fine.  Strike three?  Phill ordered the fettuccini with chicken and broccoli and he said it had NO flavor at all.  It tasted like buttered noodles tossed with chicken.  Very bland.  Strike four…oh yea, it continues!  Strike four would be that we did not get our bread with our dinner and when it finally came out, it was raw and doughy on the inside.  Strike five, the complementary Tiramisu for all the other issues was runny and not right.  Strike six, the final strike just added on to strike three when I’ve already decided I won’t come back is the bill.  I seriously paid $45 for this evening?  WOW!  Ok then? 

 

So Pinocchios in Brighton has a little work to do, but apparently my in-laws frequent the restaurant almost daily.  Maybe they’re having something different and I do know they are getting served by the owner, so I’m sure that helps.  I saw him running all over that place.  But to frequent this joint everyday with a bill for two at $45 is a tad rich and over priced for my taste.  I’ll take the extra 10 minute drive to Olive Garden for a better meal at a cheaper price.

 

We’ll try ya again in August when you’ve got some time under your belt.  ...simply incredible Italian?  Ya, not so much.

Moshi!

TGIWF is now that proud owner of a Moshi IVR Alarm Clock and I gotta tell ya, I’m REALLY excited.  He’s had it for about two weeks now and while I got the full demo on the first day, I get to live through it over and over again for those who haven’t seen it yet.  I’m going to start doing the demo’s from my office!!  This brilliant device responds to “Hello Moshi” to let you know she’s ready to receive a voice command.  You can say things like, “Set the alarm”, “Turn off the alarm”, “Time”, “Set Time”, “Alarm sound”, “Play Sleep Sound” and etc… It’s a gadget, and it comes with the TGIWF territory.

 

But here’s where my job as being just an assistant goes above and beyond the just part for any normal assistant.  My mom has mentioned to me a number of times “You know so much MORE than I do!!”  By this she means, I’m a power user of most Office 2007 apps, I can program TGIWF’s Pocket PC Phone, I can manipulate formats, I can set up and run Live Meetings, I am up to speed on all things user related to Office Communicator which NO ONE HAS yet, I can talk to my boss in his FJ via video… needless to say, I do a lot more than your average assistant, my mom included!  Well today my extra techy skills came in good use. 

 

I’ve noticed that sometimes when TGIWF is on the phone, he’ll say things like “Oh Really!” and Moshi responds.  “Please say a command.”  I heard this today, but typically TGIWF ignores it and moves on.  Well, while I was eating lunch at my desk, I heard Moshi screaming the alarm.  I’m guessing he may have accidently set it with his phone conversation and Moshi heard what Moshi heard.  Here’s where it gets technical!  I can see my mom walking in there and trying to talk Moshi off the edge and giving up by pulling the plug on Moshi.  She’ll even admit that’s what she would have done.  But not me!  No, I go talk to Moshi!  First I snooze Moshi by lightly tapping her glass top.  Moshi says “Sleep mode for 9 minutes”.  Why THANK YOU!”  Then I say “Hello Moshi, Set Alarm”.  Wrong command.  I need to shut her up!  So I try “Hello Moshi, Turn off the Alarm”.  She confirms and the alarm clock icon goes away!  Another day saved in the world of technology and another device NOT erased by the last resort UNPLUG of an assistant that does not have a techy mind!  If I had a superhero shirt, it’d be pink with a computer geek on it!  

 

I apologize to those of you down that hall that heard me tell Moshi “Hello Moshi, shut up now!”  Even though I knew it wouldn’t work, it felt really good!!!