Notes

           Good morning, with lunch shortly after one at the Columbia in Ybor City. Table 301, Party 3: one glass of red sangria, 4.95; 1 ice tea, 2.50; Half 1905 salad/bean soup, 8.95; Half 1905 salad /Cuban, 8.95; 1 Cuban & 1 1905 salad, 11.90; 1 Diet Coke, 2.50; 1 Crema Catalana, 4.95; 1 Key Lime Pie (to go), 4.95;. Total: 49.65 + 3.48 tax. You were honored to be served by: “Tom Harman, 45, who has been a server at the Columbia Ybor City for 25 years. An avid traveler, he has two personal credos: You can’t live well if you don’t eat well; and, Life is not a rehearsal, you have to go out there and live it.” This was part of the cover story in “Taste” in today’s St. Petersburg Times (6E). A wonderfully hopeful story about the employees of the Columbia, an establishment in Tampa since 1905, well run by the same Gonzmart family for four generations as owners-operators. You mentioned seeing the article as you first observed Mr. Harman as your waiter. He laughed then later autographed the check for you. The general manager is: “George Guito, 63, [who] began working at the Columbia Ybor City as a cleaner when he was 15. He moved up the ranks to general manager over 48 years. He has a hamburger named after him.” That is the beginning of the article.

        Pride and dedication in working for the same employer is a wonderful reminder of how it was with my grandfather who worked for Borden's for forty years. I know I am being idealistic here, but how great it would be if pride in doing good work carried to all levels of employment. We can be better than we sometimes show ourselves to be. That's what I think. 

         You spent time checking out new apps and are looking closely at ‘Pages’ as it will work with Apple as well as Word. With a wireless keyboard you would only need the iPad ‘on the road’ unless you are doing audio-editing as you will be doing shortly. Later, dude, Amorella.