A Day Like Today

Today, I feel, has been one of family time and quiet reflection. I enjoy so much spending time with my family. I wish they lived closer, but living farther apart has made me cherish the time I do get with them.

My husband took my dad and sister to St. Arnold's today. They had a really good time. My hubby always likes to go. My Mom and I hung out and talked a lot. Really got caught up on not just the to-do list of our lives, but how we were emotionally, way deep down.

We took my parents' dog, Chase, to the Millie Bush Dog Park. He's an Hokkaidoken. Never heard of it? Neither had we until he adopted us. My parents have had him close to seven years now. He's the boy my dad never had, and they're best friends. He's a Japanese hunting dog. He's stubborn and fiercely loyal and protective. He crowds my parents' queen bed at night and insists on being held like a baby, all 70 pounds of him. He also has a tolerance for my children, but only because they're mine. Here's a picture I found that looks almost just like him, but it's not actually a picture of him.

I loved the dog park. I've never been there before, and I told my husband we were going to make regular family outings of it. There has to be one adult for every 2 dogs, which means I would have to take my husband with me to bring all three of my dogs. Besides, anyone who would take 3 dogs and 2 toddlers to a dog park by themselves is out of their cotton-pickin' mind and needs medication. But I look forward to our new family playplace.

We went to dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant and I ordered my usual. I'm pretty predictable that way. I like to get things I know I'll enjoy so I don't end up being disappointed. Does that make me boring? Maybe. But I'm okay with that. I'm spontaneous enough in other areas of my life to be comfortable giving my food choices over to the boring department. I did have a margarita that cleared up my sinuses before I took my first sip. Yeah, Bravo's knows how to make a margarita. Wow.

There was a birthday party going on at Bravo's, and while it was recently both my dad's and my birthday, we chose not to tell them about it. The last time someone told the waiter at Bravo's it was my birthday, I got a whipped cream pie in the face while wearing a sombrero. Crazy. I saw a waitress looking wistfully over at the party, the people rejoicing that yes, in fact, the birthday boy was surprised like they had hoped he would be. Sometimes I wonder what people are thinking. Was she looking wistfully because she wished someone would do that for her? Or because she was remembering a similar party where she had the time of her life? Or maybe it had nothing to do with the party at all. Maybe she was zoning out because she'd been on her feet for over six hours serving refried beans to the Mexican-food-craving populous of Houston.

Whatever her reason, she had a small smile on her face as she watched the revelers. I hope her memory was a happy one, and she never forgets it. My house is asleep already, and considering I've had a total of 5 hours of sleep the past 2 days, I think I'll go join them. Hasta luego, mis amigos.