As some of you might know, I am off to Tucson, Az this coming week to return Andi's Mom's dog. While we will miss Toby (it IS amazng how quickly you can get attached to these critters!), Andi's Mom wants him back.

BUT, since I must go from NY to AZ -- I need a reward.

In & Out Burger does not exist here on the east coast. I read sometime ago that they will not expand that far because they are concerned about the product not being up to their standards once it gets too far a field.

Damn. But I do understand. AND that is why I look forward to giving them my 5 bucks or so.

What I need from you, my learned friends, is the location(s) of the In & Out Burgers near Tucson, AZ.

Thanks...... Doug

Doug - I'm obviously not from Tucson but doing some research on the web:
http://www.in-n-out.com/locations_map.asp

Sorry, but the closest location for In N Out appears to be Chandler. Looks like quite a distance from Tucson. :(

Masaki

Doug

I did a search and I don't think there are any in Tuscon. You could drive to Scottsdale!

http://www.in-n-out.com/locations.asp?view=all

Editing to add: Masaki - I was having loading problems with the In and Out website and now I know why!

No, Doug. We don't have any IN N OUT Burgers in Tucson, yet. But, they are building one at Cortaro Farms Rd and I-10. Maybe it will be completed by your next visit here and we can meet you for burgers and a shake.

I am not familiar with this chain, but with the way my mind is working tonight, I have no further comment.

Betty, you are naughty.

Yes, I certainly can be. Started at about age 55. I made it all the way through college & until age 28 before I drank & it wasn't a religious thing either. Look at all those wasted years of being a good girl.

Andi, you might want to rethink your idea that I can do Paris on my own!!!!!! I am not Catholic, but maybe if I just stick to cathedrals, I can't get into too much trouble.
Wait! That won't work. They don't have bistros or bars in cathedrals.

Forget burgers. Tucson has some of the best Mexican food in the US. You really have to work at it to find bad Mexican food. New Yorker friends of mine declare that there is nothing like it to be had in NYC. They can't put it down. Betty there some good in and out places in Nogales, but they don't serve burgers.

You guys kill me ... :D

Masaki

Chip:

You are ever so right!
So I shall forget In N Out Burger for the time being and focus on some really good mexican food.

Any suggestions in the Oro Valley area?

Doug

PS: thanks to you all for doing the research on the burgers for me.

Betty, go to Paris! Ooo la la. I recommend staying at the Victoria Palace. It is reasonable and a lovely 4 star in a good neighborhood. The front desk is great and the breakfast is good. Calll directly for the best rates.

Doug, you and Andi need to head out our way for In-N-Out dining.

Betty set loose in Paris? YIKES! :b:

Doug there are so many. I would look in the phonebook but I'm not there. Perhaps Donna will chime in.

My Spanish is so bad I never remember the names right. My favorite is Terra Something in Catalina just north of Oro Valley, in the middle of town on the right (east) of the road

Denise, If we can.....we're cheap dates.

Andi - if you and Doug make it out our way, well, we might just have to have an LCT Gathering. Umm, maybe we can do it at one of our houses and then get In-and-Out to bring the in-and-out Wagon to us!

Thanks for the offer!!! I might turn up on your doorstep. I really would like to meet our little star.

Wish we could get good Mexican food here in Hawaii! An In and Out branch wouldn't be bad too!

Doug, our favorite Tucson Mexican restaurant is Mosaic at the corner of Silverbell and Grant. They have a second location on La Cholla across from the Barnes and Noble side of Fooothills Mall (not too far from Oro Valley). Wish we were going to be here, Alan and I would meet you for Mexican and a Margarita!

Andi - you and Doug are welcome any time.

Thank you! We have guest rooms in NY too! Ray and Penny are taking us up on one in a few weeks.

Donna:

I know exactly where the Foothills Mall is and the Barnes & Noble, too! Andi's Mom used to live about 3 minutes from there.

Sorry that you & Alan won't be around. I would have loved to meet you guys, too! Next time for sure!

Doug

Oh! Donna! I messed up!
I had no internet access in Tucson, but I remembered that you had mentioned the Foothills Mall & Barnes & Noble. I also remembered that the restaurant that you suggested began with a M.
BUT
I forgot that it was ACROSS the street.

So, I went to the Foothills Mall looking for a restaurant beginning w/ the letter 'M'.
*DING* not there.
Then I found the Old Pubelo Grille (part of a local chain with which I have always had good food)
Had lunch. Steak fajitas. Not bad at all. I enjoyed them.... although why they gave me baked beads instead of refried is a puzzlement.

When I returned home, I re-read your message & kicked myself. Next time, next time..... & maybe you & Alan will be in town then.

Thanks for trying..... Doug

Baked beads...this will do a job on your stomach, honey. I always serve refried beads. Tastier. But, you know my Mexican cooking isn't too great.

That's hysterical! Please don't edit!

So funny! Poor Doug. He will be embarrassed. Particularly since the entire West Coast contingent gets to comment while he is sleeping. (I think this was Marcie's lament on a late night posting that would get to the early east coast risers before she could delete it in the a.m.!)

Yes.. but better if we can get em' all out here Kathi is Las fuentes ( Mexican Food) THE BEST!
they catered 2 parties for me.. Xcellent

Claudia - you're on - Las Fuentes esta muy bueno y delicioso! LCT Fiesta at Casa de Claudia!

I have to share that my wonderful husband had a tiresome and miserable week this week. He found out his mom had been rushed to the hospital, ran around with her, then hopped a flight out to AZ with Toby on Wednesday, took care of my mother's financial affairs on Thursday, flew all day on Friday, with a 2 hour delay in Texas, got home at 11pm instead of 8:30 and then went out doing errands on Saturday and seeing his mom. We both are suffering from Tobylessness and he is sorely missed here. So, we can forgive Doug for a typo...but it was funny and I couldn't resist. He is such a sweetie. I bought him a new digital camera for his birthday yesterday to thank him for everything.

I'm sorry folks - but I still have a hard time with the name of this Burger Joint. But it has sure given my friends a good laugh. None of them have ever heard of it either.

Betty:

Guys like Jay Leno have been using that chain for laughs for years. Just goes to show you that no matter how you dress people up, everyone has a dirty mind.
I think that it was Robin Williams who did 10 minutes on the Jack in the Box chain's Jack Sauce.. I leave it to your special imagination...

To Everyone:

Clearly, none of you have ever had refried beads!
Perhaps, one day you will be lucky enough.
BTW, I may be slow to post going forward as each of my replies will be emailed first to the english department of one of America's finest colleges for proof-reading prior to posting. Sure, this may cost me a bit, but, as I have learned, you can't put a price of quallittyy.

Doug

Doug, was yesterday your birthday or did Andi just buy the camera yesterday??

Doug - LOL! :) And happy belated birthday if we somehow managed to miss it!

Masaki

GOOD NEWS!

None of you missed my birthday.

Andi just got my gift a wee bit early. (It was on sale!)

I don't turn the clock until Sept 14, so there is still plenty of time for you all to send gifts. (lol) (no, really) (just ask for the mailing address)

Doug

I am having knee surgery on Sept. 8 and knew that I would have trouble getting the shopping done to make it special. We are having a special birthday dinner with Ray and Penny on Sept. 14th. We wish you all could be here to help us celebrate.

Doug, what did she buy you? We are always interested in cameras here!

Andi - Oh No! Arthroscopy? We thought you put in an order with the Guy Upstairs to stop this streak!

Yes, Olivia - great question! Inquiring minds want to know - we love this stuff!

We so enjoyed the "refried beads" discussion....don't ever change, Doug!

Canon SD 500 (for Africa maybe?)...he may take his real camera...

Yes, Arthroscopy....I have ostenecrosis and they are trying to regrow the bone. It has been very painful. The Guy Upstairs just ignored me! Humph.

Andi, sorry to hear about the knee troubles. Hope the surgery will do the trick.

Doug, with the week you had, you do have an excuse for the "refried beans" topic. We have had good and bad luck with Old Pueblo. Glad your lunch was fine (except for the beans). Next time you're in town, we'll definitely meet for a meal (sans beans).

Starting in 2002, I started dropping personal notes to Andrea since we were going to cruise together in Tahiti and on March 15, 2003 we began the journey and friendship. She and Doug opened their suite for her birthday party and it amazed me the number of friendships that developed so quickly. Canadagal==Pat & Al, Todd, Andrea & Doug, Penny and me were the only CC people and a whole host of other people at the party were non CCers)What a memorable trip and party.

Now we will celebrate Doug's birthday and Penny and I will be taking them out to dinner. We will also be hosting a BBQ dinner for them while there.

We're really looking forward to our visit and have assured Andrea & Doug that our schedule is flexible should they feel the need to reschedule our visit. Andrea will hear none of it. Fortunately Penny and I are very low maintenance type people so we're confident we'll be more of a help than a hindrance.

Some of you will recall that Penny was born and raised in England and me in Nebraska and we met while living in Brooklyn Heights, NY and we're really looking forward to revisiting some of our old haunts. We're really quite excited.

Also, we have so much to talk about and plan in connection with our meeting up again with Andrea and Doug while ROARing. What fun!!!

Cheers! Ray