Guys Day Out & About

The boys and I had a great day out on the town today.  There was 3 inches of snow which actively turned to rain.  I drove the CRV, since Caz needed to ease into the winter weather again.  We hit the round around 11:30 AM and didn't come home until 6.
     The boys chose Percy's Place for breakfast.  We scored a win when we didn't have to wait to be seated.  Caz got his eggs and pancakes.  Coco got a breakfast for the ages, the Buffalo Bomb.  A croissant stuffed with scrambled eggs and buffalo chicken, smothered with cheese sauce.  You also get a choice of two sides.  Coco chose home fries and hash browns.  Two Potato sides.  The plate must have weighed ten pounds.  It was a mound of food.  And we got a free cornbread to take home.
     We finished eating in time to see the 1:30 PM 3D showing of Rogue One.  The previews were great.  The movie was fantastic.  Really well done.  It lived up to the hype.  The boys then went off on their own to Christmas shop.  They were really amusing.  The called Demi 3 times for help.  I had to help them out at the ATM.  They had me pull up the car and then close my eyes, while they loaded the car.  They were so excited about their purchases.  It wasn't the stuff.  It was their eyes lighting up at picking the perfect gifts that made the night.

Birthday Time

It felt like I spent most of my birthday at the Reggie Lewis Center for Caz's track meet.  The first meet of the season.  I really would have it no other way.  It was fun to watch him compete again.  He performed well, too.  He was pleased with his performance.  This in turn made me smile.
     We had a late cake session.  We ate got home late from the meet.  We ate dinner late.  But they still wanted to do cake and presents.  I told them we could wait.  But it was nice.  They were excited to see how they did with their gifts.  Caz's stole the show.  He went to get a collapsible snow shovel for my car.  He ended up getting a real shovel.  A real child's shovel.  "Use under adult supervision."  "For ages 6 and up."  "May cause injuries."  Well, at least he tried....

NE Snowfall Driving 2016

Today was the first time Caz had to drive with snow falling.  The snowfall was not intense.  The timing was just less than ideal.  Right at school commute time.  He didn't know it was coming.  My only real concern was allowing enough time to drive slower than the posted speed limit.  He did fine though.  No issues.  Another test passed.

Comics Come Home

Mom and Dad got a well earned night out.  The boys are home on their own.  They can fend for themselves for dinner.  They know how to cook or to procure food.  We didn't tell them until just before we were leaving.  That gives them less time to scheme with their friends, if they were so inclined.  They are good kids.  But we are not naive.  Why tempt fate?
     Demi and I took advantage of some alone time.  We had a great dinner in the North End.  We saw a great show in the Boston Garden, which raised money for a great cause, the Neely House..  We saw some great comedians.  There was one trouble spot when one comic went too political.  Nerves were still too raw from the previous week's election.  But the show came back around.  Demi and I went back to the North End and got some pastries for the road.  You need these nights.  All 4 of us benefit from it.

Anniversaries and Adventures in Babysitting

Today is a big day.  It is my parents 49th wedding anniversary.  It is also the start of a weekend of watching my nephew and niece.  We thought we would combine events and make a celebrations of it.    I invited my parents over to have dinner with all of us, our kids and my brother's kids.  Nothing says extended family celebration in our house like Chinese food.
     I picked up my nephew from day care.  Linda called in the order of Chinese food.  Caz picked up my niece from a play date with her neighbor.  It was all going so well.  Until Hank and I went to pick up the food.  They didn't have or order.  The order was called into the other location.  So off we went on a 40 minute detour.  Oh well.  More one on one time with my nephew.  He was in great spirits.  He gave me such a great hello when I picked him up.  He was very chatty.  He was looking to help me get the food.
     My parents were happy.  They appreciated the time with all of us.  They didn't have plans.  They were also not feeling up to much after Dad's surgery and Mom's complication from her test.  I pressed them for next year.  What would they like to do? Who would they like to see?  Dad said no one.  He doesn't want a fuss.  Too bad.  This is the one time I have to ignore his wishes.  50 years is a long time.  It deserves a celebration.

War Eagle

Caz's first response from the college application process came in today.  Congratulations Caz, on being accepted by Auburn University.  It is great to know you have an acceptance early.  This is very early.  He's in somewhere.  Our boy is going to college.  Auburn is a highly ranked engineering school too.  That is just fantastic.

Gamecock Trip

What a successful trip.  Everything was perfect.  The boys had a great college visit.  Friday was fried chicken for breakfast.  We went by the baseball stadium, only to find out there was an intrasquad World Series going on later that afternoon.  The Garnet and Black World Series.  The campus tour was amazing.  The boys got to sit behind MLB scouts and their radar guns at the baseball game.  It was 85 and sunny, so perfect afternoon weather to hang out in the shade in shorts and T-shirts.  Our tour guide gave us an amazing tip for BBQ for dinner.  I was introduced to white Alambama BBQ sauce.  We walked the streets down town and grabbed some ice cream.  Day one was the perfect tour.
     Day 2 was Game Day.  We went out to Williams Brice Stadium where the Gamecocks were 14 point underdogs to Tennessee.  We did the whole tailgating thing.  We had been invited to a tailgate randomly the night before.  We went through Gamecock Park and Gamecock Village.  We saw the. Gamecock Walk.  We saw the line of Cabooses by the stadium.  And then the game was fantastic.  The home team won by 3.  The place was going bonkers the whole time.
     The quote of the weekend was Caz - "It is so peaceful here."  If the South didn't sell itself to Caz on this trip, nothing will.