Our recent trip had us searching the telephone book for a pancake house with local color. The quarter-page ad boasted that a longtime restaurant was open for 24/7 --- so off we went for some tasty breakfast.

Yum-yum!

Well, we found it alright, or what was left of the place --- a boarded up shell with no cars in the parking lot and a faded "closed" sign on the front door. A quiet death? In some ways maybe so.

All was not lost for us, however; because a shiny new restaurant sat next door to the abandoned local pancake house. It was a very popular and familiar I- HOP, the International House of Pancakes --- had moved to town! Since now choices were limited, we entered the busy establishment for Sunday brunch.

Our waitress told us that the old pancake house was put out of business in less than six months. "I don't know why," she said, "cause I stay out of political fights!"

We enjoy visiting where the locals eat, but many a family restaurant has been put out of business because of some big chain moving into town. We do it to ourselves when we flock to the newest and stop going to the old "tried & true" places! For travelers, it's hard to fight the name recognition of a national restaurant instead of trying the local Mom & Pop's. The giant Stuff-Mart has been known to kill the competition, but other businesses do the exact same thing by eroding what makes each town unique.

I'm back from a lovely trip to West Virginia and I'm ready to answer any and all of your questions. Just consider me your "Dear Abby" and ask me anything you need an answer to, Streamers, no matter how silly or smartasp!

Fire away --- I'll answer them all! ~~~ Hugs, Rita B

*The best advice I got from "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy!" Even if you have no questions for me, my advice would still be to use "don't panic" for many areas of your life.

1. Don't plan a career in alligator-handling because job openings are way down.

2. Don't hang around fat people or you will become fat too.

3. Don't drink regular cola and diet cola as both are not healthy --- they elevate your risk of heart problems.

4. Don't let "Oscar the Cat of Death" into your room to sleep on your bed.

5. Don't read my Favorite E-Mail of the Week: "Flush 20 Pounds from Your Colon!" You'll regret it.....

Instead, have an jolly summer weekend, Streamers. ~~~ Hugs, Rita B