Weekend Wrap-ups
Well, apparently I continue my habit of being remiss with my blog updates. To compensate, let’s see if I can fill in the blanks all in one post. Let’s start approximately two weekends ago on the weekend of April 24th.
On April 24th, the wife threw a birthday party for me on account of me turning 70 and all. The timing of this event was appropriate, as it took place during my birthday weekend which is itself part of my longer birthday week celebration. I had a grand time, which was unsurprising. There’s not much to complain about when people are celebrating me. In any case, I had a couple of side notes:
* – First of all, I really have to thank everyone who attended. Your presents rocked! By last count, I received $0 in cash. I’m not quite sure if my recent purchase of a camper made my wants apparent but the result was that I now have a bunch of cool stuff that I didn’t before. Thanks.
* – I know I didn’t get around to everyone but that’s the nature of the beast. Hopefully, you got a tour of my new toy, as my brother convinced me to open it and show it off. Hopefully, your child (if you had one) or you (if not) got a chance to run through the tunnel a couple of times. If not, there’s always next year or, if I can help it, a summer cookout on the way. At the very least, let’s hope you found the cooler of beer. A couple of dark green bottles of Yuengling were available to help you forget the horrors of it all (this applies to those I did get around to greeting as well).
On the following Sunday, I attended the simultaneous birthday parties of both my stepfather and stepsister. I’ve never been a huge fan of simultaneous celebrations myself (as my birthday is mine, Mine, MINE) but the rapid-fire nature of their special days and the logistics of getting everyone together definitely favored the event. They didn’t seem to mind — no one blew out the other’s candles, for example.
Fast-forwarding to last weekend, the weekend of May 1st, a friend and I took off to Greenbrier State Park. A weekend of fishing, hiking, and generally being mountain men was ahead. Our wives and children were left home to tend to the fort. Here are a couple of short notes from that trip as well:
* – Take it from me. You don’t want to learn you are traveling in the wrong direction by inspecting welcome signs from adjoining states.
* – The answer to the question “How far are we away?” is not “Two thumbs.”
* – Thank God the weather help up. It was striking to find the park so empty on days as wonderful as Friday and Saturday (at least until nightfall). The beach was entirely empty. Note to self: make a reservation for this time next year.
* – A fishing trip is not considered a failure when all you catch is pity fish. For the second straight fishing attempt, my rod and reel remained almost entirely silent. However, the nice elderly gentleman who literally dropped three 12 inch trout in our lap kept our spirits up. A couple of fish decapitations later, our stomachs agreed.
* – It’s nice to get away. It’s nice to have a forum to express manliness between bottles of beer. It’s nice to know that two men can feed themselves for a weekend sans their wives and sans a stove.
* – It’s also nice to return home. It’s great to feel the welcome of warm arms and hear the giddiness of a couple of shrieks. Hey hubby. Hey daddy. Welcome back.
Ok, now I feel all caught up.
