We started out with a quick show and tell, which is something that people never grow out of, no matter how old they manage to get. When people aren’t in school anymore, it usually means that most show and tell is with more extensive or expensive items, and usually they are less generally enjoyed and more appreciated by a select group. Like when I show and tell about a new set of bump keys, it’s not something that most girls would care about.

After show and tell ended, we made our way out to a restaurant known as The Cheesecake Factory. Since I’m trying to lose weight (I’m now at… well, I’ll tell you that another time) I ordered a

It’s really a good salad, and though it’s not the best dietary option, it’s better than the excellent cheeseburgers that they sell. I don’t mean better in taste, just in health.

Along with the salad I had one quarter of a club sandwich, with lightly toasted bread. I didn’t ask for the bread to be lightly toasted, but was very glad that it was. Overall, the lunch and company for lunch was grade A.

After the food was taken away it was time for some fun, which for me is balancing a salt shaker on it’s ridge. I was told that this was a bar trick, but I started doing this when I was 18… about 4-5 years before I ever went into a bar.

Because there was too much light left in the day, we headed out shopping. I have never previously been inside a Bristol Farms market, but I found some things worth taking pictures of and something worth shopping there for too. I don’t know how the pricing compares to my favority market, Albertson’s, but I think it’s much more expensive. I know the cheesecake is more expensive than I have ever seen before.

Now the reason that I will visit is because the best selection of beer that I have ever seen in a grocery store looked me straight in the face and challenged me to think of something that they didn’t have already chilled and ready to drink.

Though it was still hot outside, we had one last stop to make, this one at Gelson’s grocery store, which I would never shop in on a regular basis because the pricing is intense. I had to get credit approval just to walk in the store! I was looking for Krusteaz frozen French toast, which they didn’t have. I’ve run out of places to find Krusteaz French toast now. Before you tell me that you’ve seen it, make sure that you aren’t going to tease me with hope. I don’t want the French toast sticks and don’t want the cinammon flavored either, just plain, frozen, French toast from Krusteaz. No luck? I didn’t think so.. oh well, thanks for trying.

So I had the opportunity to take pictures while at the Elephant Bar Restaurant but was a bit shy about it.  I just didn’t think it was a good idea to get caught taking pictures without asking, but I didn’t ask if it was alright.  I’m sure the police would have been fine with it, but I didn’t ask.  Things have changed though, so these days I would just ask and start snapping away.

Not normal to see a waiter packing a gun.. even around Los Angeles.

I’m going to guess that there were a total of 15 officers around the restaurant.

My friend got this alcoholic drink.  I got a Jack & Coke.  Neither of us wanted a second drink.. just so that we didn’t draw attention to ourselves.  Oh ya, it’s not very comfortable ordering an alcholic beverage from a police officer.

Between my friend and I we donated $5 directly to the charity the police department was representing, which was a Special Olympics organization.  Also, the total bill had a percentage go to the organization (I don’t recall the percentage).

This was more of a reminder about the organization that was being donated to.  Notice the water in front of my friend at this point?  I told you it was hard ordering the alcoholic beverage from a policeman, and ordering a second drink was just not going to happen.

I often sign a different name when signing a receipt.  I’ve done this for years but now I’ve been more creative.  In this case, my friend likes Michael Buble’s music so I decided to sign as Michael Buble.

Anderson’s Pea Soup has been around for over 83 years now, and the soup probably is from the same batch that was originally made way back then.

I don’t mean to be insulting, I’m not much of a pea soup person, nor am I fond of peas. In fact, I would probably look at green bean soup as being better than pea soup. Anderson, are you listening?

Anderson’s website is pretty nicely detailed with information about the restaurant’s history and though the pictures are not extensive, there are some pictures online. This is from their “Thru The Years” page:

It all began on Friday, June 13th, 1924, when Anton Andersen, born in Denmark purchased a piece of the Golden State, California. Once a Mexican land grant owned by Jose Maria Covarrubias and Joaquin Carrillo of Santa Barbara, the land was purchased by the Buell brothers in 1865. R.T. Buell turned the land into a prosperous horse and cattle ranch and dairy farm, named Rancho San Carlos de Jonata. R.T. Buell married Miss Emily Budd in 1892 and they had five children. When Mr. R.T. Buell died in 1905 he was buried in the family plot, now the parking lot of Pea Soup Andersen’s Hotel. His body was later moved to Oak Hill Cemetery in Ballard.

The area of Buellton began to change rapidly after the turn of the century. By 1911 Danish settlers were pouring into the area starting farms and businesses. William Budd, brother of Mrs. Emily Buell, opened a post office and it became an official United States Post Office in 1920. When the highway was diverted through Buellton in 1924 and electricity was brought to the valley, it seemed the right time to make their move. Anton and Juliette Andersen purchased a small parcel of land and building from William Budd and opened a restaurant.

So there’s some background for you, if you visit their website you can learn a lot more about Anderson.

Pavilion Room

Anderson’s Bakery

Anderson’s Pea Soup