Off the Mark

I don’t normally do such things for myself (or so much for others either) but I decided to have myself a little birthday party at one of my favorite local establishments. I do not plan on celebrating next year.

I was initially going for something small but I have so many amazing friends whom I do not see enough of so it was tough to weed it down to a small group. And honestly, I was hoping the (truthful) pretense of my birthday might even make some of the especially rarely seen—yet local—ones come out of the woodwork for an evening … so, I invited most everyone I know locally and is my friend in Facebook. [In fact, some of the stuff to follow better belongs there.] What the hell, right?

I went to Crane Alley tonight for dinner and $2 Guinness tonight as I am wont to do of a Monday, and to look into the issue. I had a waitress a month ago (I believe) named Lisa (I believed [names are on the credit receipts.]) who had the most amazing smile; I wanted to tell her but didn’t. I had 2 otherwise unremarkable waitresses and a week I didn’t go in between but tonight I had the waitress with a most amazing smile (and good waitress I should mention).

After dinner when she brought my 2nd pint I asked her if her name was Lisa; she was quite impressed. I told her I remembered her name because I adore her smile. [I also told her she's a good waitress.] That really brightened her day she said. [One has to be careful about these things. Sadly.]

I told her that approximately 20 of my favorite people and I are coming to celebrate my birthday next week from 6:30 to 9:30. She asked if I wanted to reserve the upstairs and I said definitely. I asked her if she’d be working and when she said yes I asked her if she’d be my personal waitress. I am telling you … she has an amazing smile.

So we are upstairs, 6:30-9:30+. She knows I’m only drinking Guinness and ice water. Anyone is welcome to buy my Guinness [goal of 3, 4 more likely [only if have a ride]] but I’m not drinking anything else. If anyone drinks any classy whiskey I might well like a few sniffs. I really, really need not to drink that stuff, though.

I don’t need to, as for me, it’s really even better just to smell it because it is instantaneous. And it is something to be experienced. It’s like an immediate, full brain fireworks explosion that only stimulates the pleasure receptors. Doesn’t last long as the brain quickly figures out that the actual (longer-term) effects that should be coming from an elevated blood alcohol level just aren‘t. And no hangover in the morning or acting stupid. Oh. And it’s cheaper. I do have a sip now and then but rarely. But simply smelling good whiskey is enough to cause a massive amount of pleasure receptors in my brain to fire such that it gets fooled every time, for at least a few seconds. Although I must say, the response it returns when it realizes it has been fooled is never polite.

Dinner

Will it be Greek chicken pasta (salt) or Butternut squash ravioli (sweet & heavy cream) or something else?

Need a ride

I could really use a ride there and back, too. Doesn’t have to be the same folks, of course. So, I’d need a ride over about 6:30. I’m pretty anal about being on time. I’d like to say that I’m punctual, but in all honesty I am anal about being on time. I don’t expect any body to commit to 3+ hours either, though.

Tracy & Stuart, am I correct in assuming you’re more likely to be in the early crowd? If you can get me around 6:25, would you?

All are welcome

Everyone who can make it is welcome. Facebook just makes such events easy. The last few days I have been in the process of identifying and notifying those either not in Facebook or who I am not (yet) their friend [Karen] and see generally anyway. I have friended one or two.

But everyone is welcome. Let your presence be your (or my) present.

This post doesn’t so much belong here, although I do reach a few local people who I’m not friends with in FB. But, more importantly, I was so happy about how this evening went and I haven’t said much about Birthday Month since it started. It got off to a great start and I failed to blog some of that—sigh—but it unfortunately took a quick dip. Things are pretty much cool now but I wasn’t very positive there for a bit. Thus, I wanted to record some positive Birthday Month goodness.

Ooh! Ooh!

Last year my birthday was Mardi Gras. Kind of cool, but not being Catholic not such a big deal. [Quite aware of it, though, due to 10 years in Europe over 3 occasions.]

This year there is a total lunar eclipse. OMFG! Now that is something that touches me.

I am trying not to get too excited because I full well know not to count on clear skies the evening of 20 February in central Illinois. If I didn’t have this smidgen of self-control I’d be downright giddy.