1. Morning Glory
2. Lunch Treat
3. Evening on the Town
I. Morning Glory
I went to bed after midnight but not that much after.
After Ms. S. went to work I was sitting on the sofa, laptop in my lap, when cat A sauntered over and placed herself in my lap, displacing the computer, and curled up. For a while I worked and typed, and then cat E. arrived. My lower back began to hurt, as is often the case on the sofa, and so I leaned to my right, reclined, and managed to take cat A with me without tipping over the computer, etc. Newly curled up on the sofa, one cat cradled more or less between my lap and the sofa, I watched as the other cat approached, climbed on my upper thigh, and began to knead her claws. Then she displaced A, who went to the other end of the couch and curled up sleepily on a pillow. E purred and settled in. I worked. My limbs went to sleep. And then I realized I ought to hit the sack, so with great regret I shifted the kitties and shuffled from the sofa.
I awoke around six, rather well rested, and fed the cats. I returned to bed, but I did not feel like sleeping. A while late A arrived on the comforter and inquired as to my state. I rested a while, but then thrust myself from bed: I was in the mood for a workout, brief or otherwise. And so I took myself to the living room and attached my laptop to the television so I could broadcast the 20 minute dumbbell workout. After the squats I was beginning to feel it, for some definition of ‘feel’ and ‘it.’
It was a good feeling and good start to the day. I showered, I prepared coffee and tea, and I awaited Ms. S.’s return at 8; her night shift has been extended an hour due to some other changes at work. She arrived home, closer to 8:30, after a not-so-good shift and in a not-so-good mood, but instead of going to bed, she stayed up and also opted for a morning workout, one that helped her to work off a number of negative feelings. Later she departed, and when she returned, I was exiled to the office for a while.
When I was allowed to return I found a dozen cupcakes on the dining room table circling one of our blue glass plates, each cupcake’s frosting inscribed with a symbol … the whole thing a rather faithful rendering of a Stargate. I was surprised and overjoyed. And I had a few othe small gifts.
A good Nov. 30, indeed!
II. Lunch Treat
Shortly after noon we left to meet Ms. S.’s father at the best of the local Japanese restaurants. It has a good veggie tempura dish for Ms. S., and their sushi is better than that at the other places (and *much* better than that at the China Buffet!). Most people opt for food from the grill … steak or chicken, prepared flamboyantly, and all that. I always find myself the only or one of the few ordering from the sushi menu, but for a low-calorie, high-protein, very flavorful lunch it can’t be beat.
Plus: I love the pickled ginger!
Ms. S.’s father concurs.
Originally just he and I were going to go for lunch, but since Ms. S. decided against a post-work-sleep, she came along. I need to look through the Oxford ‘Very Short Introduction’ series to provide him with some recommendations vis-a-via philosophy. Anway: service was good (but they originally forgot my yellowtail) and the food was delicious. Quite a nice and pleasant outing.
Toward the end of our meal a gaggle of what seemed to be sorority girls showed up and were seated at a nearby table. They exudue some sort of offensive aura. But we soon departed, conversed a bit in the parking lot, and went our separate ways.
III. Evening on the Town
Ms. S. had more treats planned for me.
One activity was called off because of unseasonably warm weather … nearly 70 today! No ice skating for us, alas.
But nearing 4:30 we left for downtown. Mellow Mushroom it was … and I haven’t been there in months and months. Their beer selection is good (not great), but for the first time we had a server — Kim — who (1) knew about the beers on the menu and (2) knew what was available. Too often I’ve ordered something only to have the server return to tell me that they were out; and the last time I was there the server (i) had to inform me twice that what I’d ordered was out of stock before (ii) she then brought me the wrong item. So, yay to Kim! And, my sandwich was delicious.
Then Ms. S. ferried us away, across the river via the bridge, into Northport, and at one point I joked that she was taking us to Krystal … but, no fear, dear readers! It was not our own ghetto version of White Castle … for BEHIND Krystal a combination Dairy Queen and Orange Julius was to be found!
A Blizzard for Ms. S. … a strawberry-banana Julius for yours truly. I’ve not had one for several years. Whenever my father and I go to the mall for xmas shopping we often but not always stop in the food court, and usually head for Orange Julius, but it’s been a while since I’ve been “home” for the holidays. It was quite the treat, let me tell you.
But Ms. S. was not finished, and back to the car we went, across another bridge we traveled, and completing our loop we were back around downtown, this time to The Alcove, with a bartender who knew more about here wares than Kim did her own at the previous locale. No slight intended. While Ms. S. decided to try her first (and perhaps last) ever ‘Old Fashioned’ (well made, but she, like the rest of her family, is not a fan of the brown liquors), I discovered the Straight to Ale (from Huntsville) ‘Laika’ imperial stout (the name an obvious choice once you consider the origin) … Oh. My. What. A. Beer!
Nearly the perfect cap to a wonderful evening.
We eventually headed home, and to wrap things up — though it was only 8:30 or so –, since Ms. S. was exhausted, having not slept for over a day, we chose to sample the cupcakes. Some chocolate. Some vanilla. All frosted, and all delicious.
And this is how I celebrated the last day of November.
