Monday night I got home from work with a headache, and took a nap. And woke up for dinner, which was fabulous and fantastic and everything I could have hoped for. My wonderful wife made me meatloaf, scalloped potatoes, corn, and carrots (possibly my favorite meal), and for dessert gave me a do-it-yourself sundae bar with heath bar custard and the options of white chocolate chips, raspberry topping, caramel topping, dark chocolate chips, nuts, and whipped cream. Meanwhile we watched Top Gear, and then opened presents. I received the Spaced DVD set from Ben, and from Laura I got a story - she was going to get me an 80 GB iPod (and had, in fact, purchased it) and told Ginger, and Ginger decided to upgrade it to a 160GB. Which is ... I can't describe how totally cool that is. So, soaking in the love and joy of pre-birthday happiness I went to bed early.
I woke up yesterday feeling fine, did a few things around the house (I had some furniture I wanted to rearrange, but it didn't fit so I rearranged it differently), and ran off to grab breakfast. I considered Walker Brothers, with a side trip on the way back to get a burrito from El Famous, but decided that was too much work. So McDonalds hotcakes and sausage, and I was sated. And then a quick trip to Home Depot. And home.
I played H:L for about four hours until it crashed, which was glorious all on its own. Laura got home around 5 and we left pretty much right away to meet Glenn for dinner at Bridie McKenna's, which is about as Irish a pub as I've seen in Illinois. And they have Magners on tap, which is a smooth and sweet cider, and shephard's pie. Then we dropped Glenn off at Starbucks and kept going to Gorton, arriving only a few minutes late. The group saved me a seat in the front row, and as I sat down they tied a hat on to my head. (It was a birthday cake with 'Paul' writ large upon it.)
We saw Moonie, The Swordsmen, The New Minstrel Revue, Ded Bob, Will Shakespeare, Robin Hood and Little John, and Doktor Kaboom. Robin and John pulled me up on stage to help them sing a song, which involved clapping and pelvic thrusts. And Moonie used me as a stepladder, and had me toss juggling clubs to him, and gave me a hug, ... and it's all on film. Not my film (Laura and Kat took pictures, and Ginger took video), but film. The show was really great, overall, and the highlights ... well, are too numerous to name. Or, really, to explain. Doktor Kaboom used electricity to light up a pickle and swap Moonie and Shakespeare's brains, and they both turned into Dirk Perfect. And before that, Moonie and Shakespeare did a limerick contest dedicated to Veronica from Genoa. (Moonie won.) Ded Bob led everyone in singalongs. And it was all just cool. Afterwards we all went home, and I had more custard. As birthdays go, this one is high on the list of Best Birthdays Ever.
This morning I have a headache. I've taken ibuprofin, drank caffeine, and gotten exercise (walked up the stairs), and it hasn't gone away yet. But it's not too bad if I sit still, so I'll be here all day...
Tonight we have no plans. Tomorrow night we need to register Ben for school. (He's a senior now, you know.) And Friday we also have no plans.
And, right. Time for work.
Posted by trent at August 6, 2008 09:20 AMOops, I forgot! On my home on Monday (even with a burgeoning headache) I met Ben at the cheap theater and we saw Speed Racer. The action scenes were everything I had hoped they would be, and the talking - there was a lot of talking - was good character stuff. I wouldn't mind owning this movie, but I can see that it's not for everybody.
Posted by: Paul at August 6, 2008 12:15 PM