half off pizzas, dollar beers, free pool, and allright people.

Tony Packo's Cafe is located in the Hungarian/Polish neighborhood on the east side of Toledo, Ohio. During the depression in 1932, Tony Packo used a $100 loan to open his shop, which originally sold only sandwiches and ice cream. Tony's signature "sausage-and-sauce sandwich" on rye was first made when he decided to add a spicy chili sauce to his sandwiches for more flavor. Eventually, his creation became known as the "Hungarian hot dog", even though no such thing had come from the Old Country. The dish quickly became popular, and in 1935 the Packo family was able to purchase the current wedge-shaped building on the corner of Front and Consaul streets, which includes the former Consaul Tavern. The "hot dog" is really a Hungarian sausage, probably a variety of kielbasa, about twice the diameter of a conventional hot dog, and slicing the sausage in half yields about the same amount of meat.

So I get to the Ohio boarder and I figure around Toledo area I'll stop off for some food and gas... since I haven't gotten any since Wisconsin.  But as I'm driving a white grand am (or grand prix--didn't get the difference) passed me going really fast---and I drive fast the way it is.  But I noticed something funny... his license plate was whited out.  Hmmm... I wonder why?  Well, right when I was wondering that 2 cops passed me going after him.  Then about 5 minutes later another cop car goes by with his lights swirling around.  I wonder what's going on again... and then 30-40 miles down the road the pontiac is pulled over with about 7 cop cars surrounding it!  I tried to google it but I couldn't find what happened.

After dinner at Burger King and a fill up my sister called me and asked me about how I was heading to NYC.  I told her I was going I-80 through PA...  She told me that her day freed up and if I wanted to stop by on my way through then I could.  So I called Brandon and told him our plans changed.

Boy,about three years old, walks by me, crying,
"Mom,  I don't want to go home."
"Mom, I don't want to go home."
"Mom, I don't want to go home."
His voice fades in the distance.

I'm always amazed at how quickly a day can go by when a wedding is involved.  The morning might seem somewhat normal, but by early to mid-afternoon, everything starts to become a bit of a blur.  We got together at my aunt and uncle's house a little after 1 for lunch and to do a little more getting ready before heading out to the church at 3:30.  It was a bit of a challenge trying to get ready in a hot and stuffy parlor room without a/c.  I never understand why people have weddings in places like that.  When I get married, the last thing I want is to be sweating off my makeup as I'm walking down the aisle.  I thought it was a very odd wedding and reception, but it was great to catch up with the family and meet a lot of other people.  Strange as it was, it was a lot of fun.

The trip from Chicago, Illinois was  fun, met a guy named Bob in my coach car and we ended up talking most of the trip in the lounge car. He was on his way to Boston to do some work as a house renovator. The train was late getting into Toledo, Ohio because of heavy freight traffic on the Norfolk Southern rail line. Amtrak has been having problems lately with them, usually the train isn't late getting into the Toledo station.

Once we arrived, I found my car in the parking lot, loaded up the luggage and made my way down Interstate 75 towards Wapakoneta. It was cold here, I could see my breath. Again, I was missing being in the desert. But this is home.

This is a city that is slowly falling into deaths grips. Not much left there to sustain life. Wouldn't vacation there, that's for sure.

I board the Capitol Limited in Toledo heading towards Chicago. After a 4 hour  layover, board the California Zephyr for a 24 hour trip to Grand Junction, CO.