It’s hard to believe this (and I swear I’m not lying), but I last had lunch with my friends Terry Towery and Matt Buedel last April. We had lunch and it was a great time and we said we’d do it again soon. Next thing you know, I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now, carved a crude skull and crossbones into my left kneecap with a bottle opener, smelled some lint that I pulled out of my belly button (it smelled like lemon lilacs gone horribly wrong) and it’s mid October already! Sheesh! I think it’s high time we met them for lunch before the frost is on the pumpkin and the jelly has turned to guava.

Here we are at our pre-planned luncheon destination, Los Jimadores, one of my favorite Mexican food restaurants in the Peoria area. And check out the sign, I love it when they announce our appearance!

Let's go in and let the festivities begin.

Wow, it's packed in here, as you can see, this is a popular luncheon and dinner spot.

Normally I'd sit over here at the bar, but with three people you need a table, so we must venture on in search of a seat that's attached to the aforementioned table.

Here's Dee, the pretty hostess behind the front podium where you pay your bill.

Standing next to Dee is Lalo, who's the manager here. He said he'd get us a table and so off we go!

Lalo guided me over to this side of the restaurant and we decided on the table in the corner all the way in the back.

I love the hand-painted art on the walls in here.

Check out this animal, it kind of looks like a cross between a chicken and a Lhasa Apso. I'm wondering if they got it from the prop box of Wayland Flowers and Madame.

Here's our table, every table in here is hand-painted and a wonderful work of art.

As usual I'm 23 minutes early which leaves me time to obsess that Terry should be seated in the left seat and Matt should sit in the right, otherwise I'll have problems all the live-long day. After ten minutes and two glasses of iced tea go by I'm starting to fret over whether I've gotten the day wrong or I'm at the wrong place. I hate waiting and wonder why I"m cursed with being obsessed over always being first. Welcome to the hell that is my life!

My worries subside as Terry shows up and takes the proper seat to my left. We had a nice chat and he told me he's still working on revisions for his upcoming novel which will be placed on submission by his agent, Laney Katz Becker of Lippincott, Massie, McQuilkin Inc. He told me that Laney is a tough agent and editor and the revisions have been a lot of work, but the novel will be all the better for it. I can't wait for the book to come out and as it gets closer we'll definitely have updates here at MBIP. But in the meantime, as a special penance for Laney for making Terry work so hard, here's a little something for Laney (inside joke alert): Had. Had, had, had, had. And HAD! Had, had, had. Had.

And the last piece of our luncheon puzzle comes into play as Matt shows up in full-bore hobo mode. I need to get this guy a bag of razors on our next luncheon outing. Matt writes for the PJ Star and he just uploaded Peoria County booking sheet 10/16/14. He's also a talented photographer and you can check out his work here.

Now that we're all gathered around the table, Lalo prepares some table-side appetizers.

There's homemade chips and fresh and spicy salsa over here...

And over here we have house made guacamole and on the left is a dip consisting of cheese, pulled pork, spiced beef and peppers.

Here's a birds-eye-view of our table of appetizers. Jealous much? You should be.

All the appetizers were delicious, but I especially loved the pork/cheese/beef thingy. Really tasty!

Just before we ordered our main luncheon courses I took this shot of Terry looking at the MBIP camera while Matt has a pre-lunch prayer to his hobo god, Boxcar Willie.

Here's Francisco taking our orders.

As you can see, the service here is lightening fast and the luncheon meals have arrived to our table already. Terry got a cheese enchilada covered in a pork sauce...

Matt got a burrito that's as big as the head of Alfredo Garcia...

I got crab-stuffed enchiladas which are topped with lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream. The food was delicious, if you haven't tried Los Jimadores you need to stop by soon.

Seconds after I took this photo of Terry and Matt, I kind of fell into a daze.

I was fixated on this bottle of hot sauce...what's on that fellow's head, is it a mushroom?

Imagery seemed to be coming at me from every direction known to man and Lhasa Apsos alike...

Soon I realized that a glorious time was about to be unraveled...ladies and gentlemen hang on to your socks and someone get Wayland Flowers and Madame on the line because it's...

Sombrero Time!

As you can see Terry can hardly contain himself and Matt is so excited he's checking his shoes to see if they've spontaneously combusted into flames.

Sombrero Time is a rare time to savor rugged masculinity, dream of fine Corinthian leather and raise a bottle of hot sauce at half mast. At our first Sombrero Time it was just the three of us, but we've now added a fourth to our merry mix, Pedro has joined the ranks of our swarthy Sombrero committee. And there is a fifth as well...

Lalo dons a Sombrero and we are five for fighting!

Who knows when this magical time will happen again? We savored the manly moment and came up with a Sombrero Time motto: "A la mierda la comida muertos-más y Ebola para nosotros!" Veremos a todos mañana! Areeba!

Los Jimadores
7723 N University St
Peoria
309-689-9930
facecrack page

Roll into my bed which does consist of,
Lice, bugs and fleas and yellow mucus,
Stained dirt, Vaseline, toe jam and booger,
Stomach acid worms that dance in sugared sludge.

Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!

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Today’s post was brought to you by The Fish House. Check them and all the other fine businesses helping to support this blog over at the MBIP Bucket List Page. Your Daily Random Linkage awaits you at the bottom of the that page as well!

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