Poor Sass! There's a new puppy in the family now.

It always fills me with glee when I find a good non-chain restaurant in a shopping center.

One of the funniest things in Jax-- we have a family where three of the relatives each have their own restaurant. They're all in strip malls and within five miles of each other (two of them are actually in adjoining strip malls). Vito's, Enza's, & Rosalia's. We speculate that they probably had some spat over how to prepare the alla rosa, each of them said, "You're crazy, you're making it wrong!" and decided to start their own places.

We also have a really good place up the street, next door to Publix.

Hi Sparky! Hope you guys are all doing well. I'm sure Sass will adapt and become Kalliope's biggest protector.

David Chase said when he was growing up there was Italian food at his mother's and his cousin's house, period. So actually he has no problem with chains, but he had Paulie Walnuts bitch about them.

Hi Mama! How are you feeling?

Buca di Beppo is my idea of hell. I've eaten there once. Never ever again.

Have never been there, and after the discussion here I likely won't.

I thought about that, and then I decided, hey, free wifi.

The funniest name I have seen out there was a wireless link named Not Your Internet. It was secured, but I totally would have used it if it weren't.

My favorite Italian restaurant is a little place in Little Italy in Baltimore

There is a Little Italy at mile marker 69 in the Keys. Unbelievably wonderful seafood options and they had hand made cheese sticks last time I was there. So good it is a must stop any time we head to Key West.

Not a fan of any of the chains. Add me to the Buca=hell list.

In Culver City, there is a grilled cheese restaurant called Meltdown that I really need visit.

I thought about that, and then I decided, hey, free wifi.

Oh, for DC-istas and others who live in tourist destinations: I recently discovered that tour buses offer wi-fi, and it slops over to nearby lanes of traffic. (Or presumably to the sidewalk when the buses are parked near State Dept.)

Some are locked, but not all. And when you are stuck in DC summer 66 or Beltway traffic, it's nice to make use of the millions of buses.

Teh best Mexican place around here is a family place called Diego's. You have to call ahead to make sure they still have enough chicken if you want something with chicken.

Edit: When Mom is working the register I occasionally have to use my pseudo-Spanish to order. "Pollo burrito, por favor," and she gives me a weird look, and I feel like a poseur. Then Hubby orders in German, just to be a jerk, and she gives him a nasty look. Hubby has issues with Spanish in America, which are not worth hours of arguments to counter. I tell him Mama probably thinks he's a neo-Nazi with family from Brazil, and he sulks.

We are doing well - we're excited, Sass is excited - and figuring it out. Jeff just came back from a hike with the dog in Rock Creek Park, so she's flopped out on the lawn. I need to nurse the baby, and think about another nap.

like a restaurant that specializes in Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches.

Dude, we have Butter.