Frantic Sunday

[altivo]

Couldn't say anything about this until it was over, because I don't know who is reading...

We had a surprise birthday celebration for Gary's mom today (80th) and succeeded in surprising her. It seemed to be touch and go, especially since she had emphatically declared that she didn't want a party, but Gary went ahead and set up a catered family style meal at The White Eagle, near her house in Chicago. He invited relatives and friends and got about 35 "yes" replies. Then he managed to convince her that he and I were just taking her and her friend Gloria out to lunch. I thought she was onto it when she asked where he was going as he made what appeared to be the wrong turn but it turned out she herself had expressed an interest in having lunch at The White Eagle a few weeks ago. When we arrived, two friends were standing in the lobby but luckily they live quite nearby so she believed that it was just an accident that we were running into them. Then we went into the dining room and the jig was up when she realized that so many friends and relatives were there.

It was a great success. The White Eagle serves fantastic food, the service is friendly, and they just keep bringing out more of anything anyone wants. There were three kinds of soup, salad, baked chicken, roast beef, Polish sausage and sauerkraut, two kinds of pierogi, noodles, mashed potatoes, veggies, and all kinds of pastries and cakes. A large birthday cake with strawberries inside, wine, and gallons of coffee. I think the restaurant staff was a bit surprised at the huge demand for coffee rather than alcohol, but they kept filling the pots with a smile. Remains to be seen whether Gary gets whopped with a broom or a rolling pin next time he goes to his mom's, but I think she had a really good time so he'll be forgiven.

Oh, and you heard it here first: One of Gary's high school classmates bet her she wouldn't dance on the tables at her 90th and she promised to do it if she lasts that long. ;p

No dishes to wash, no mess to clean up, and they even gave us huge doggie (and pony) boxes to take home. I think we won't have to cook much this week. Wasn't cheap, but how often can you celebrate someone's 80th birthday? It's a fixed per-person rate with everything included except bar drinks, and a few did avail themselves of the cash bar.

As Gary said afterward, it's nice to get their whole family together for an occasion that isn't a funeral. Even his two brothers, who have hardly spoken to one another since a quarrel they had 20 years ago, were on cordial and joking good terms.

Oh, and after yesterday's gardening event, it rained lightly overnight and heavily today. The strawberry plants are waking up rapidly. Many of them are already standing three inches above the ground with leaves spreading.

As predicted, I am stiff and sore, especially after spending so much time sitting in the car going to and from Chicago, but it was worth it. I need to go back to work to rest up from the weekend now.

Comments

[quickcasey.livejournal.com]

Stiff and sore from sitting in a car to and from Chicago? Come on, don't you hear the road calling? It knows your name. And with these current gas prices, I'm answering real soon. First, FCN though.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Stiff and sore from the garden, aggravated by sitting still in the car, yes.

Nope. I never have heard the open road calling my name. Possibly some trail in the woods, but a road, never. ;p

[quickcasey.livejournal.com]

I'll have to drive then.

[rustitobuck.livejournal.com]

Hey, I get that way too. I was stiff and sore from walking at the Air and Space Museum down in Tucson. Yes, my 70 year old dad just sat down in a chair, and I groaned like an old man trying to get my body and legs to bend into something that would fit in a seat.

I don't know about young-uns like you, Casey. Be glad you're flexible.

[quickcasey.livejournal.com]

I'm not flexible. I just find my cars very womb-like.

Young-uns? I'm ancient, and reserve the right to be more cranky and decrepit than you.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Poo. I'm older than either one of you.

[rustitobuck.livejournal.com]

Aw, that is so sweet. And as to the funeral-gathering thing: People are much more fun to have parties with while they're still breathing. I'm glad Gary's mom got to have such a nice big party.

I'm convinced the strawberry plants will take over your county. Watch out! They'll grow and cover everything.

[flamekist.livejournal.com]

The damned things are already threatening to take over my back yard. Of course, these are the wild variety with almost non-existant berries.

I tried growing then in pots on the back deck, but all I ended up with were a bunch of well-fed squirrels.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

You obviously need a pony. Equines eat strawberry plants first when they are available. And... those seeds on the outside of a strawberry are much more likely to germinate after passing through the gut of a herbivore.

[flamekist.livejournal.com]

Are you offering to visit me down here, then? ;) You can have all the wild strawberry plants and poke leaves you can eat!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Thanks but I'd rather wait for the good tomatoes and the okra. ;p

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I wonder if I can get carnivorous strawberries? (I've got a little list...)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yep. She needs to draw some vore involving that strawberry and the "Biting Pear of Salamanca."

Carnivorous strawberry

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Took a while, but I found the wonderful image that you called back into my mind. Ursula Vernon is a twisted genius.

http://ursulav.deviantart.com/art/Feral-Strawberry-of-Appomattox-53198810

Re: Carnivorous strawberry

[rustitobuck.livejournal.com]

See, I had such a busy week, I saw that days ago and didn't try to post a reply until today.

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

I love strawberries. Are they the wild kind?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

No, these are a domesticated variety. Much more productive and the berries are larger. Wild strawberries are tasty but finding enough of them to do anything with is a major chore.

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

Enjoy them. They are one of my favourite drupes.

[goldenstallion.livejournal.com]

Imperator nudges and checks your pocketses for treats.

Oh, and when YOU hit 80 I will dance on the table with ya. Better find a sturdy one tho, two horses dancing on a table may turn into an Laurel and Hardy skit fast.

Imp

[soanos.livejournal.com]

...and I will be there with a video camera. :)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

*unwraps a Hershey kiss for you (don't tell anyone)*

I thought you didn't like treats. You lectured me once about offering them to you.

At the present rate, when I hit 80 I'll be comatose and not dancing.

[goldenstallion.livejournal.com]

Dear Rider.

I will NOT dance on your grave.

Grin.

Impers

[altivo.livejournal.com]

You'd better not. ;p

[soanos.livejournal.com]

*drools and slobbers all over*

That menu sounds very nice, I wish I could have been there.

It is nice to have the family together, it is a good thing occasionally. I am glad she enjoyed it, and everyone had good time.

*noses at the pony boxes curiously*

I am pretty used to sitting in a car, but then again, I sit a lot anyway. How long was the drive?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

It was about 80-90 minutes because we picked up Gloria in Waukegan on the way, and dropped her off on the way back. That's a bit of a detour. Gary's car is small and limits my leg room, especially if there's a passenger in the back seat.

As for the pony boxes, well, one of them has vegetables and noodles. I guess that meets pony approval. The baked chicken or the roast beast, probably not so much so.

[soanos.livejournal.com]

Ooo. Nice drive. I have something similar this weekend when I go see my parents, about 120 mins one way on Friday and 120 on Sunday. :)

My parents have their birthdays a few days apart, so I am going to see them this weekend. My father will turn 70 on Friday, or Monday so I am going to see them both. There will be cake I think. ^^

*sits down and waits, in hopes of getting some treats o.o*

[schnee.livejournal.com]

Ah, that sounds like fun, yes! :) And nice to hear the strawberries are starting to grow, too.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I didn't look today, but I was amazed how much they seemed to grow overnight. Quite different from planting seeds and waiting two weeks before they tiny plants appear.

[saythename.livejournal.com]

Very cool! Yay for Gary's mom!

^_^!!!

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Aww sounds nice, although I think she might have pegged at the friends in the entranceway :)

The food sounds good, I like simple food cooked well more than fancy stuff cooked badly ;)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

The leftovers lasted all week. I finally had to cook something new just today.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

*looks at the remains and his bottom lip trembles* I still can't eat properly *cries*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Why I have refused to part with my back teeth.

You must be getting better by now, though, surely?