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| Corn dogs forever. |
Okay.
So, this snow is seriously an unexpected turn of events. Especially to my ranunculus- which, yes, I realize makes me sound a thousand creaky years old- but they [were] lovely be-petaled window box beauties…and are now flowersicles.
If there is one victory, it is that the sneaky bunnies and the mammoth squirrel we’ve named The Don will no longer be able to pilfer my lettuce. (Ha HAH.)
Before I spiral into a depressing morning of Snuggie-wearing and tropical screen saver-watching, I’m going to reminisce on my truly wundy weekend.
Friday, we had a date night. Sure, it was raining in big ol’ torrential buckets, but I wore my splash boots with a cute/borderline maternity outfit and looked JUST FINE. (Thanks to all of the pals who okayed this fashion mash-up.) We went to Raw Bar, a place for which we had been holding onto a Travelzoo coupon for a really long time. How long? Let’s just say that when we purchased it, the idea of monstrous amounts of oysters and two complimentary martinis sounded like an awesome idea. (Heck, it still did.) So, P.J. got his pomegranate martini and I was offered a pretty tasty muddled strawberry daiquiri. It seemed to be missing something in the rum-esque department, but I was still pleased.
P.J., solidifying his Guy Of The Millennium status, insisted that I order the Maine lobster. This is totally true. I think it was in part because a) he knew that I would be saddened by the no oyster/raw anything deal, and b) he was afraid we wouldn’t get to the minimum of the coupon. (Also c- ’cause he likes me and, thus far, I have successfully carried 1.5 of his children.) We also ordered the smothered alligator (poor ‘gator) and ostrich steak appetizers. We were feeling adventurous. Or, at the very least, Meats Across The World-y. Upon ordering the lobster (steamed, thankyouverymuch), we were informed that it was “a lot of work” and the Jamaican style would be easier to eat. P.J. and I just laughed and laughed. (If this whole nanny/writer/mother thing doesn’t work out, I’d be an exceptional crab-picker down by the docks. I really would.)
They even let me say goodbye to my lobster from the tank. I could’ve done without that part, as my guilt over whether or not he would’ve lived had I not dined there that night really took over. P.J. reassured me that my lobster was a bastard and had been mouthing off.
After a stellar dinner, we went to our friend Neil’s big 3-0 birthday party. The shindig was complete with a keg and an ice luge for some unidentified yellowish drink. Because nothing says “rapidly approaching the thirties” like tubing drilled through ice blocks and germy mouth upon germy mouth sucking lighter fluid in a puddle of melted God-knows-what on the floor- (Oh my stars, I’m gonna vomit even in the retelling.)
I had a ginger beer.
But we saw a goodly bunch of our favorite friends and we even got to make tinfoil Rapture hats. (I love party favors.) Inexplicably, I was a Viking.
The next morning (hangover-free, ahh), we went to Ikea for Nora’s first trip to the Emporium of Fabulous. We had intended to get a rug for the baby’s room. We left with: a rug, two sets of curtains, a blankie, a toy bag, a hanging frog bag, some hangers, a gender neutral crib bumper, gigantic poster frames, three bellies full of swedish meatballs, and a blue soccer ball for Nora. Whilst there, I also managed to get a really full shopping cart completely stuck on the escalator track (stopping all movement until a kindly employee fixed the wheel and assured me that “it happens all the time.” Sure it does). There was also some crazy rudeness going on with other customers, but I won’t get into that. Besides, big savings and Swedish design just brings out the Berserker in some people.
That night was Sleepover Night 2011. I had invited my gal Julia (for whom I’ve nannied since 2003) for an overnight. Since most of her days are consumed with school, various activities, and constant competition for attention from her little sister and my kiddo, I thought it would be nice to have some one-on-one time together before her fam moves to London this summer.
Leaving Nora with Peej (seriously, that guy is incredible), I picked up J for an early supper at Stanley’s, a Southern-style kitchen where we used to go all the time when she was a toddler. We ordered pink lemonades at the same time. Also mac n’ cheese fritters. She got a burger and I got a shrimp po’boy- and we did some damage. (And can I just say how pleasant it was to dine with an intelligent 8 year-old…and not have to put a bib on anyone/keep food on a tray/lug a diaper bag? There’s something to be said about having an actual kid.)
We went home to have a dance party with P.J. and Nora, watch Ponyo (the cutest Japanese movie ever), play some Mario Kart (we are evenly matched), eat ice cream sprinkled with homemade granola that Julia had brought, read some books, and have a Girls Only upstairs sleepover. (P.J. was- happily, I’m sure- relegated to his office/guest room and stacks n’ stacks of DVDs.)
The next a.m. we convinced Peej to make us blueberry pancakes while we read the comics. J and I wrote a short story. Nora failed to nap, so we had an art party extravaganza (even though Nora was only allowed to use the crayons/shortie colored pencils. She’s not the most trustworthy thing on two wheels). Julia and I played Scrabble. Then, to cap it all off, we went out for corn dogs. (Seriously, Julia’s one of my favorite people ever. We have identical tastes.) We even convinced Peej to spring for an extra box of curly cheddar fries.
J was sad to have the overnight end (especially since I found out it had been her first ever sleepover!) but at least now we have plenty o’ memories for our scrapbook. That’s right, we have a scrapbook.
I made salads for dinner, since I had been bingeing on fried fantabulousness all weekend and had been feeling like The Very Hungry Caterpillar right after he eats through seven pages of lunch meat. But, like the Caterpillar does after he eats through one nice green leaf, I felt much better too.
I promise to stop talking about food all of the time.
Back to my morning with my main shorty-pie. Maybe a cuddly day featuring the dreariest of weather isn’t such a bad deal after all. Perhaps I will break out the Snuggies.
And the corn dogs.
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