43

This is my blog and you'll just have to excuse the self-indulgence. This is what I want to remember when I can't remember anymore.

There was lots of celebrating to ring in my 43rd year. It started with a lovely lunch on Felicia Suzanne's patio with my Brantley teh day before.



It was a little chilly, but I love a good patio! I tried the chicken and biscuits.



They were tasty, but I'll probably go back to my usual shrimp po-boy on my next visit. However, I'm going to eat ice cream sandwiches everytime regardless of whether it is my birthday. Yum!



My actual birthday coincided with the first Rock-n-Romp of the season at Mud Island. Both monkeys tried to get out of going--Jiro because of his first soccer game and Satchel because of his general dislike for everything--but in the end they were both there and they both had fun.


(Photo by Chip.)

Satchel actually said, "I had a really great time today. I'm glad I came." That was all I could ask for!



Another benefit of having my birthday at Rock-n-Romp was seeing all of my friends. Well, some of them anyway!



(Photos by Chip.)

I even got a cupcake. (Thanks Kristin W-C!)



After Rock-n-Romp, Ross took me to Jasmine for dinner. Even though I love around the corner now, I haven't been in forever. It's still awesome. And we sat on the patio!



Then we went to the Rec Room where I got the high score on Ms. Pac Man on my first try! It really was super exciting and Ross was the best cheerleader ever!



Then it was on to the Cove for drinks on the patio, of course. Lots of people came by and Launa and I ended the night at CKs! It felt like Christmas! Ha!

The next day was family Sunday brunch at El Toro Loco.




My birthday isn't truly over until I play hooky from work and hang out with my other birthday twin, Colleen.



We started the day with yummy coffee at City & State, then yummy breakfast at Porcellino's.




Mmmm dutch baby pancakes and bruleed grapefruit!

We shopped for a few hours and then found ourselves on the rooftop patio at Aldo's.



It was a party!



Willie Cheech & Bob is the best pizza there. Midtown makes fresh mango chutney.



We waited til noon to start drinking!

Then we went to visit Caleb in his studio...



Popped into Hoot & Louise for some more shopping, then went to see Seamus at the Brass Door and had another beer on the street.



We'd hoped to end the day on a high note by riding the bull at the newly opened Red Zone, but it only goes on Friday & Saturday nights.



Probably for the best!

Launa met up with us and then I had my cabal celebration at the Cove with Aimee & Mary too.




I thought that was it, but then Tracey and I had to wait all the way until today to have our birthday lunch with just the two of us. We had Fuel tacos at the Tenneessee Brewery.



I feel very loved and excited for this year.

13

Yesterday, Satchel became a teenager. He's been acting like one for quite a while, but now it's official.

On Saturday, we had an early celebration. He wanted to invite his three best buds over, eat a bunch of crap, play soccer at the Kroc, have a FIFA tournament at my place and then have everyone spend the night.

At Kroger, I let him pick out his supplies.



We actually had to procure the Takis at Mapco. They were essential as the loser of the FIFA tournament was going to have to snort a crushed one. (I wasn't going to let that actually happen.)

Then, he insisted that I make the pasta that my friend, Mary, gave me as a gag gift on my birthday.



After we picked everyone up, we came to my apartment and I served it up.



Within thirty seconds there was intense giggling, and everyone but Jack ate it. (Later they all asked for more.)



Around 6:00pm they headed over to the Kroc to play soccer. Jiro and I were chilling at the apartment thinking we had a nice two hours to relax. At 6:30pm, I got a teary phone call from Satchel. "I think I dislocated my wrist," he said. "Can you come pick me up?"

Satchel is the king of minor injuries, so I was pretty calm. On my way out, Jiro said, "He might be pranking you."

I pulled in front of the Kroc expecting them all to be lined up and ready to play Xbox, but no one was there. I parked and went inside to discover a very pale and teary Satchel hunched over on a bench icing his wrist. I could tell it was serious, so I instructed the other boys to stay and continue playing while I took him to Minor Med. If we were lucky we could be in and out before the Kroc closed and continue with the party.

Thanks to the awesome people at Minor Med, my plan basically worked. The boys walked back to the apartment and a newly splinted & medicated Satchel and I met them there shortly after with pizza.



The party continued with Satchel mostly spectating. (After awhile he did attempt to play one handed.)



The FIFA tournament was anti-climactic since Satchel didn't win. Jack, who lost, ended up taking a sip of some gross drink the boys made from almond milk, sriracha, cheese, soy sauce and who knows what else, instead of snorting a Taki.

Around midnight I got the boys to turn on a movie, and Satchel was soon sacked out from his meds. That allwoed Jiro, who was originally supposed to lock himself in my room all night, to hang with the big dogs. I finally got them to sleep by 3:30am. Then, they were back at it by 8:30am.



I was sent for donuts, then I took everyone home. Satchel immediately started negotiating for a "do over" once he got his cast off, but I told him that 4 boys was too many to have at my place and to talk to his dad!

On Monday, I took him to get a real cast and it helped his overall pain tremendously. And he got to miss school, which always makes him happy.



Tuesday, the actual day, was much better and we got up early so he could have a latte before school. (I know, right?)



AFter school we went to the Snowden v White Station soccer game to see all of our friends play. It was super exciting and went to a shoot out. Then we ended the birthday celebration with a family dinner at Sekisui.



This is what I posted on Facebook yesterday:

Celebrating 13 years of motherhood with this dude. Those assholes who tell you, "it goes by so fast," do not lie! He went to school with a caramel macchiato and a pocket full of Sharpies. I asked that he please not let his friends draw penises on his cast. He's excited about going to the Snowden v White Station game tonight and then getting to stuff himself with sushi at Sekisui. I love him so much. Even when he acts like a punk. Happy Birthday, Satchel!

Edited to add:
I just found this list I was keeping on my phone of Satchel's birthday requests he made throughout the year:

Rent a pink Hummer limo and drive to Lamberts

Phone with service

$250 headphones

Go to Kroc without Jiro

Sekisui

Take all friends to Moe's

Apartment all to himself

GTA5

A monitor

Rec Room

I took the monkeys to the latest Taylor Berger/Michael Tauer production, the Rec Room, and we loved it. It's on the corner of Broad & Tillman. It has a nice patio. No smoking or vaping allowed!



There is usually a food truck there, like our beloved Stick 'em.



Inside there's tons of old school video game machines, foosball, ping pong, a bar, and six different livingroom areas.



Take a minute and let that sink in. How cool, right!? Well, guess what? The old school games are free. We made a beeline.

I thought the kids would love Donkey Kong since it is what spawned Mario, but eventually Satchel admitted he had no idea how to play it.



Jiro was similarly disillusioned with Tron.



You know who was having a blast? Me and Ms. Pac Man.



I am not bragging, but merely stating facts. The kids could not believe how good I was. (I really have no idea how to play any of their games.) Satchel called me MLG, which he said meant "Major League Gamer." I have to admit that I loved that. Soon, it became clear that he expected me to beat the high score of 116,320. Of course, once I realized that, I tanked. I blame the joystick, which had a little crick in its neck every so often. And the fact that I was trying to send a text at one point.

The monkeys soon discovered the menu for the living room area and started begging me to let them rent an Xbox One so they could play Fifa 15. Uh, isn't that what we do at home? I asked. Yeah, but we want everyone to see how awesome we are, they replied.



Lucky for the monkeys, this speech came as I was chatting with Michael Tauer. He graciously offered to let them try it out for free. (Normal rental is $25/hr.) They were psyched. Once they placed their order, we went to the livingroom area for the hot dude with beard and bun to set it up for us.



While he did that, I procured a beer, water for the monkeys and some free popcorn. (Seriously, could this place BE any better?)



Sadly the Xbox One did not work. It needs to connect with wifi and for whatever reason that wasn't happening. So they compromised on playing some war game on Xbox 360.



Once they were settled in, I went back to Ms. Pac Man. I was on a mission! I broke 100,000 but I couldn't get the high score. The monkeys came over and actually expressed their boredom with Xbox 360. What!? We agreed to leave, because there was homework to do, but then we ended up playing foosball and ping pong instead.




Oh and this game with guns.



It was actually really hard to leave!

We never even played the Guns n Roses pinball machine!



The kids and I all really want to go back. Satchel said they weren't really equipped for "modern gaming" just yet, but he liked playing the other games. Jiro wants to have his birthday party there. I won't rest until get the high score on Ms. Pac Man!