Happenin’ Saturday

Up at six and had a fantastic evacuation and shower to start the day. After fooling in some time I decided on an early brunch. With no plan I started rifling through the fridge and freezer to try and decide what I would include in my brunch for one. I didn’t make any breakfast components. I warmed up some Great Value brand Mozzerella sticks that I’d purchased to have with the family. They took under ten minutes to prepare and much less time to eat. They were perfection out of the air fryer. I will for sure be doing these again.

I also cooked a carboard pizza that I’d picked up as an appetizer. If you’re not adding extra cheese and other garnishes like this parsley to your cardboard pizza you’re missing out and making a grievious error. I’m not sure what I expected would happen with meals but I was definitely ready for anything while the family was visiting, hallmark of a great host. It was also tasty and I left the table quite full.

I hustled upstairs and got myself caught up with MSC challenges and Musings while enjoying my audiobook. I did a number of French lessons as well, to keep myself in the mix. Before I knew it, it was already noon. Should I eat again? No, too soon. Instead I took out the antiques that were not destined to be gifts for people and arrayed them so I could take a photo. You can see that I did buy that carved lion. I’m not convinced that those are real teeth, maybe from a puppy or something. I really enjoy the look of that beast. The book is called the Texans and even though I got it soley for the textured cover, the content is interesting and I will read it. If you don’t know about my history with Texas you need to listen to this series of Conversations. And then you should listen to these ones too. The tiger painting and the well crafted cigar box are from the other antique store. I’m not sure where I’m going to hang the tiger, I’m thinking at work. I had an idea for what to use the box for but I’ve since forgotten. All but the book are more than I’d normally spend on these items, I guess I was in the mood to try some cash around at the time of purchase, out of character. I generally adhere to my Scottish heritage when it comes to money. I bought more stuff but they’re gifts, so have to remain not public until their delivery.

I did some lounging and watched some YouTube but mostly played HomeScapes for a bit. Essentially I was killing time. I unexpectedly had plans, social ones. That’s the real first sign that the pandemic is starting to pass. People are vaccinated and ready to start mixing it up again. My friends Cheese and Two Glasses of Wine had asked me if I was around. I delightedly revealed that I was and they said they’d see me around three. I had no clue what they’d had in mind. If it was a quick stop in on their way by to bigger and brighter things or if they were going to sit down for a bit. Did I need to feed them? I was well equipped to host still, that didn’t worry me. As it turned out they wanted to have a visit, go for a walk and eat at a restaurant. Unbeknownst to me, they’d left their kids with 2GW’s parents for the first time in many moons. Actually the first night they were spending away from their youngest ever. We chatted and I realized that I was more awkward in that setting that I’ve ever remembered, must be out of practice with interacting with live humans. I’m losing my touch, if I ever had it. After doing that for a spell we drove to a local park and walked the loop. I didn’t really pay attention to the time but I think it took an hour or so. We weren’t in a rush. In fact they were playing a game they came up with in Thailand where spotted wildlife are worth points. Once I figured out the rules I spotted a baby bunny which gave me a sizeable lead. Not long after we came across this doorway to another realm. Very cool but we wanted to go to dinner so we didn’t enter the other dimension.

We went straight from the walk to the Royal Turban, the same Indian restaurant that I’d ordered from with my parents. We elected to eat on the patio because it was such a beautiful day. The server was less enthused that we chose to do that since we were the only ones out there, most patrons taking advantage of the newly lifted restrictions and eating inside. There was a breeze but it was pretty manageable. The chairs on the patio were not super sturdy but I sat in such a way that I was stressing it less. I couldn’t move much for fear of crushing it to the ground but I was comfortable enough until my glutes started to burn at the very end. They both ordered fancy mango drinks whilst I stuck to water. They also ordered an appetizer tray. I sampled one of the spring rolls when prompted. It was good, had a rub type spice on the exterior which I found interesting, not something I’ve come across before. My order was for lamb roganjosh but I think she gave me chicken instead. I think it was the same price, or close enough. The meal was very good and filled me to an appropriate level. I was pleasantly full, not painfully so. They didn’t finish their meals, the appetizer and fancy smoothie drinks were their undoing, but they got leftovers, a fate I was actively avoiding with my horde back home. I offered to split the cheque three ways but they generously left me with only my meal to cover. I felt a little bad with the disparity in totals but again, I’m … very careful with my money.

We drove back to the Harbour and after using the facilities they made the return trip to their city. I tidied up and got myself ready for a group call that the Meat Man had asked we do. Cheese wasn’t aware apparently and popped on briefly when he got home, they were going to a drive in movie theatre screening of League of their Own once the sun went down. Meat Man, GRP, myself and later Booj were on the call. The Chef, Admiral Bonesaw and Ronny Ronks just didn’t answer and McQ is still out of commission. I took a picture of my setup. This night I was drinking Wildfyres. They are an ounze and a half of vodka with ice and filled with pineapple/melon Powerade. I prefer to have them out of my Medieval Times metal hurricane glass with a metal straw. I think I must have taken down about six of them during our nearly three hour chat.

After the first hour or so I transitioned over to the couch in the living room for another hour or so before making my way to my bed with the Mini. When the call ended I just had to switch off the lights and go to sleep. But I was drunk enough and so full of liquid that it didn’t happen that way. I tossed and turned for an hour or so. Eventually out of sheer exhaustion I faded out. I was up a bunch of times in the night to pee. Turns out taking down that much fluid right before bed wasn’t smart. The other fool move was that I didn’t switch to water partway through the evening like I usually do. More on that in tomorrow’s post. All in all, it was the most social interaction I’d had in a while if you don’t count my parents. I was glad for it.