Hanger-On: n. A person who remains in a place or attaches himself or herself to a group, another person, etc.

Or is it Hanger-On-er? Either way, I can't believe I have done this. Me...the former executive director of student fiscal affairs for a private college...a presumptuous, unabashed follower. Nothing creative is happening for me, so I shamelessly latched on to someone else's idea.

No, I'm not part of the Friday Friends group. I don't know Debbie personally, but I have been to Winnemuca, Nevada, for a street fair, I think sometime in 2002 before we moved from the Lake Tahoe area back to Arkansas. Sadly, I don't think that counts. Anyway, I have somewhat attached myself and given myself permission to participate in the What's Outside My Kitchen Window postings.

And, I am about to also answer her questions about hamburgers... that simple summer food on a bun, with potato salad or macaroni salad or french fries or onion rings. Aren't they incredibly versatile?

So, Wednesday, I will once again post What's Outside My Kitchen Window. I'm actually excited to do that because my yard is changing daily. I just love this time of year! But, for today...

What do you put on your hamburger? Mayo, mustard, ketchup (it's a McDonald's secret sauce thing from the early 60's), always request cheddar cheese, sliced onion, tomato and sometimes dill pickle slices. Lettuce is completely optional. Although, I did really like the Carls Jr. low carb burger with no bun and wrapped in lettuce. So maybe it's the bun that's optional.

Do you even eat hamburgers? Yes, but not very often. Maybe three or four times a year. It's not that I don't like them very much. In fact, it is the opposite. I absolutely love them if they are flavorful, hot and juicy!

Is there a special place from your youth....that made great hamburgers. Your "hang out" joint, if you will. The place that made the burgers of your dreams? When I started high school in northern California, my mom got a job as a clerk at Los Gatos Pharmacy, a small town, family owned pharmacy that not only dispensed drugs and other sundries, but also had an old fashioned lunch counter. They made the very best hamburger I've ever eaten in my life. The ground beef was fresh and the patties were hand made, as was the "sauce" they used. You could have your burger with french fries or salad with a homemade roquefort cheese dressing, which I have tried repeatedly to duplicate with little success. I used to love when my mom had to work Saturday mornings and she would take us to the pharmacy where we would have lunch and then explore the sidewalks outside until it was time to go home. I've never tasted a better burger since, but I'll keep trying.