VeraBlue
Executive Chef
The other day, when it was 3 days to go, my mother called me. As you know , she's been calling every day with the coutdown like the town crier. The difference with this call was she didn't actually speak...she just giggled and laughed and I swear, I could hear her jumping up and down. I asked her if she was having trouble sleeping and she giggled some more and started talking about new toothbrushes and baskets of toiletries. Apparently, she doesn't want me to encounter trouble with 'airport security'. Now I'll be obligated to use the products she took the time and effort and with the love of her heart to purchase for Lou and I. I can live with frizz for a couple of days, can I not?
My dad is being curiously quiet through all this. I suspect he's trying to divert attention away from him and the giggling I imagine he's doing in private. The same man who slapped me so hard for coming home drunk when I was 16 has been busy building me a birdhouse for the yard. He has called several times to discuss the colours of the house and shutters and I can hear bearly restrained hysteria. I can only guess just how bored the two are. He also mentioned that he placed third in a bocce ball tournament. Not bad, considering it was his first time 'competing'. His share of the winnings amounted to $12.50 which I'm sure went to more paint for the birdhouse.
Finally, one major change of plans. My sister suggested that we really don't want to spend any time cooking for this party. She suggested we'd be better served sitting at the beach with cocktails. Not being one to cause distress amongst the family , naturally, I agreed. The problem with this, however, is the apparent fact that there is no place to buy good food in Jacksonville, Florida, or anywhere within 50 miles. She's lived there for 18 months now and still has yet to discover a bakery that is up to her (our) standards. She had to scour the development she lives in to see if anyone has ever used certain caterers before. It seems most people in Florida buy specialty cakes in Wal-Mart. She's still working on procuring a small wedding styled cake. I think the rest of the food is handled. Think about it from our point of view....spend one day out of two cooking, or spend two days out of two drinking and socializing. No brainer, yes?
I have some laundry to attend to, errands to run, (I'm entrusted to bring my sister olives, hard salami, provolone and a loaf of bread--my clothes are going to smell like an italian hero...she wanted ravioli from Vitamia, but I refused), and pack. My (ex)husband is driving Lou and I to Laguardia tomorrow afternoon. My mother should be positively bouncing off the walls by then. We'll be back Sunday afternoon.
Finally, I really do love them, it's just that there is a fountain of experiences and behaviours that simply beg sarcastic penning. If I held this in, I'd pop a vessel.
My dad is being curiously quiet through all this. I suspect he's trying to divert attention away from him and the giggling I imagine he's doing in private. The same man who slapped me so hard for coming home drunk when I was 16 has been busy building me a birdhouse for the yard. He has called several times to discuss the colours of the house and shutters and I can hear bearly restrained hysteria. I can only guess just how bored the two are. He also mentioned that he placed third in a bocce ball tournament. Not bad, considering it was his first time 'competing'. His share of the winnings amounted to $12.50 which I'm sure went to more paint for the birdhouse.
Finally, one major change of plans. My sister suggested that we really don't want to spend any time cooking for this party. She suggested we'd be better served sitting at the beach with cocktails. Not being one to cause distress amongst the family , naturally, I agreed. The problem with this, however, is the apparent fact that there is no place to buy good food in Jacksonville, Florida, or anywhere within 50 miles. She's lived there for 18 months now and still has yet to discover a bakery that is up to her (our) standards. She had to scour the development she lives in to see if anyone has ever used certain caterers before. It seems most people in Florida buy specialty cakes in Wal-Mart. She's still working on procuring a small wedding styled cake. I think the rest of the food is handled. Think about it from our point of view....spend one day out of two cooking, or spend two days out of two drinking and socializing. No brainer, yes?
I have some laundry to attend to, errands to run, (I'm entrusted to bring my sister olives, hard salami, provolone and a loaf of bread--my clothes are going to smell like an italian hero...she wanted ravioli from Vitamia, but I refused), and pack. My (ex)husband is driving Lou and I to Laguardia tomorrow afternoon. My mother should be positively bouncing off the walls by then. We'll be back Sunday afternoon.
Finally, I really do love them, it's just that there is a fountain of experiences and behaviours that simply beg sarcastic penning. If I held this in, I'd pop a vessel.
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