At the Model Train Expo

Saturday I went with Richard Bonomo, Katzooks, her boyfriend, and another friend of hers to the Model Train Expo at our local Expo Center. There were lots of model train setups, some of them very elaborate, and we were fascinated looking at all the detail people put into them. I just loved the miniature worlds of each layout, built to various scales. Our favorite even had a little expo center with tiny model trains running in it! One layout had a “train cam” that showed what the train saw as it ran around the track, and the cities and farms it passed almost looked real from that perspective. Then we saw ourselves looming giant in the background, so we waved. Being at the Train Expo really brings out the kid in a person! There were lots of actual kids there, of both genders. Trains may appeal a little more to boys, but there are plenty of girls interested in them too. Being an engineer, Rich loved the actual steam engines. There were lots of things for sale too, but none of us actually bought anything, even if Katzooks said she thought building layouts would be a cool hobby. It was fun just to look.

That evening Katzooks and her boyfriend made dinner for Rich, Jilly Moose, Kathbert, their other friend, and me: pasta with alfredo sauce and cauliflower. They wanted to make a frosting recipe from Katzook’s book of “Grandma Recipes,” so they also made a Black Magic cake, and with the frosting it was amazing. This book has recipes from all kinds of Grandmas: Jewish, Polish, Italian, Mexican, Dutch, and Czech that I can remember, and maybe some others too. It looked like a really old book, so those grandmas might have actually been our great-grandmothers.

Sunday Anna Banana II and her fiancé made brunch for a bunch of us, including all of us Rosary Ladies, then Luxuli wanted Rich, Kathbert, and me to look at a house she was interested in. It was a beautiful plot of land, right on the lake, but the house needed too much work. It was a gorgeous day out, so Rich and I took a walk before going to Lutheran Cathedral’s Mardi Gras party, which was fun as always. The Youth Group served us gumbo and king cake and then put on a musical about the Old Testament.

Famous Hat