Crabby Monday - Birthday!

Last Edit September 23, 1999

This time my older son is due with his significant other - he told us yesterday that he was now engaged.
Yesterday my youngest turned 18.
Why he got away with clothes -shopping today.
I made a cake-mix cake last night - when he sulked - We had spent Sunday at a house party (the significant other's parents) - about 1.5 hour drive south of us. I had sewn a blue evening gown and jacket while I was there.
So I hadn't baked a cake.
So he had sulked.
I "didn't love him".
Right.
After what I got him in the past three days he has some nerve!
(Never mind the clothes - think of the Nikon camera! And lens! 135ft flash! And camera bag with wheels! Happy Birthday Child!)
He got chocolate with canned icing - because it was in the house.
And one candle.
We had two pieces.
The rest I bring to Crabby Monday.
Get rid of it please!
We have a new server - poor soul. He just got out of training.
Our manager friend is not on duty - but I get the dry cleaning bill settled. The suit is ready for Toronto - it is in the BIG suitcase.
Already.
We fuss a bit - the refills arrived before the platters. My older one isn't here yet.
When he comes, they have booze. We don't.
And these two have never experienced this crab orgy before.
We have platters in the center of a round table.
They fling crabs shell at the platters.
The crab shells skitter.
We stop to clean up a tad every now and then.
My older son is not used to the haste with which we consume.
Jessie is not used to remembering what we want - so another server helps. Seems a group just got off training. Bad timing!
The crab runs.
I have fried shrimp - bad again but I stopped caring at 3PM - 8 hours of mall walking will do that.
My son, feeling frisky, threatens to get me the saddle from Stormy Leather - this after we discuss my leather costume.
Oh yes.
Only problem, I don't have anyone to strap it on.........
Don't go there!
So they suggest to Jessie that he might want to volunteer.
Oh no he won't! I assure him of this.
Too young!
(He says yes without knowing what they were thinking. Never do that with this group!)
We chase him out.
He shouldn't hear this conversation.
There is a general crab-eating slowdown - 6 crab eaters but 3 are not very fast.
My older son is sipping his drink. So is his significant other. Mark is eating steadily.
I sign up for travel insurance ( on the luggage -$2,000 per person limit - we are carrying more than that!)
We discuss travel to the airport.
Limo?
Shuttle?
This is based on the I-AM-NOT-PACKED-YET-AND-I-AM-TAKING-TOO-MUCH syndrome.
Maybe I could get Tom and his big car? The one I used for the senior prom date?
My older son said he had called Red Lobster - since he had forgotten where it was - he was looking for me - described me to the desk - who didn't know.
Then he heard us laugh.
He had recognized my loud mouth - and told them "Never mind. I can hear her. She's standing right in front of you."
And we are here so often!
We resume discussion of saddles and trapezes.
We have to censor that!
At the end of dinner, we have a major chorus come sing happy birthday to my youngest - the whole staff and us, of course.
There is nothing like happy birthday sung loudly and off-key.
My birthday boy cut the cake.
My older one lost his fork - I throw one at him. A one-handed toss.
Missed his eye.
Good enough.
The cake vanishes. Mark has three pieces.
And two glasses of milk.
Can't have chocolate cake without milk.
Dan has hit the wall - crabbed out.
Mark has won a trip - 3 days on a cruise ship - and he's taking Dan along to carry his luggage.
They are plotting how to maximize eating - they want to gain 20lbs in three days.
Basically, eat everything.
This should be fun.
Our check comes - we have consumed 108 crab leg clusters! A new record!
Obviously Dan and Mark were practicing this evening.
On going home, I find it is far, far too late to call a shuttle (they are all booked). So is the limo.
So I will drive.
We send my elder son home and my younger son and I begin packing in earnest.
I fix up the animals (they have a baby sitter) and pack and fuss.
I am suffering e-mail withdrawal.
The computer is securely in its case.
On its wheels.
We have 50 rolls of film.
Four cameras.
Hmmmmmmm.
By 5AM I am on the road.
Just me and my "Official RT Photographer" son.
And 8 cases of luggage!
Good thing I drive truck!