Feelin' Spry @ 55

Happy 55th Jimmy!

As promised, I woke to light rain and cloudy skies. Not exactly what I had in mind for my birthday. It was 615am and everybody was up. Mindy greeted me with a warm happy birthday. Downstairs, I breezed through calisthenics. And both kids extending a birthday greetings as well. Like any other work day, I enjoyed coffee and internet ahead of work and run. The day's forecast was still calling for clearing skies as the day wore on. I held on to the promise the forecast offered.

Mindy asked if I wanted cards and gifts before she and kids bolted for school. No. I walked Eiknarf in the dreary weather and just about the same time that Mindy was leaving for school. I planned to work at the main office. Once again, my boss told me that he needed some help with a project. With that in mind, I was deliberate with meditation and a stretch, eager to get out the door for a run no later than 745am.

The temp was about 63 degrees with a fairly stiff and chilly breeze out of the NW. I ran 4.1 miles without fail. Felt great. During my run I contemplated my 55th birthday and just how good I felt. Consider myself blessed to feel so spry @ 55!

Arrived at the office near 930am. Quiet morning, but certainly not because there wasn’t plenty to do. Instead, just quiet. I took care of several to-dos before my boss and I talked about his big project and what he’d need me to do in his absence. No one mentioned or acknowledged it being my birthday and I didn’t share it. I prefer it that way.

Spent the lion’s share of my day taking care of issues for a peer’s customer. He was on vacation all week. I didn’t take a formal lunch break though I did eat my packed lunch all the while plugging away at my aggressive to-do list.

And while it was a gloomy, gray morning, the sky brightened as the day progressed. By midafternoon it was sunny. I remained at the office until 445pm. According to Mindy, Jacob’s soccer game got moved up by 90 minutes. It would now be over by 6pm. What she wasn’t sure of was whether or not the coach would make he and others stick around for the “B” team game.

Our plan was still to do dinner at Columbus Fish Market. I was very much looking forward to it. Jacob sent a text, first sharing that he was expected to stick around but later recanted and said he was coming home. Not sure if he mentioned our birthday celebration or not. Once Jimaken called to tell Mindy that they were on their way home, I headed upstairs to freshen up. Until then, I had been busy handling work matters.

Once home from school & soccer, it didn’t take Jacob too long at all to ready for dinner. We left the house around 630pm, cutting across Grandview via 5th avenue to Olentangy River Rd. It didn’t appear that Mindy made a reservation, but it didn’t matter. We were seated right away at a table.

I can’t recall our servers name but she was friendly. Mindy opted for a glass of wine while I went with a Jack & Coke. The kids enjoyed pink lemonade – Jacob at least 4 refills. Said he was super thirsty. We ordered a couple appetizers while we mauled over the menu dinner entrée options. I was pretty much set on steak and lobster. I ended up going with one of the summer specials – beef skewers and a lobster tail.
I know Mindy & Jacob both ordered seafood too. Bella went with a burger. We ordered a pound of King Crab legs to share.

Our server came by before our entrees were ready to clarify how I wanted the beef skewers cooked. I ordered them medium rare. She asked if I wanted them pushed more towards medium or more towards rare. Definitely rare! In the meantime, we enjoyed the appetizers: bacon wrapped barbeque shrimp and crab and spinach dip. I also enjoyed the Caesar salad that came with my meal.

The timing was perfect, Unfortunately, though, the skewers were way over cooked. There wasn’t even a hint of pink and that was even after our server came by to clarify. Yikes! Mindy called her over to show her. She quickly agreed and whisked my plate away to make them right. And while she was there, Mindy shared that they had also forgotten to bring the king crab legs we ordered. Oops!

Soon a manager intervened to apologize for the mistake with the beef skewers as well as the forgotten crab legs. To make it right he suggested that the crab legs would be removed from our bill and that they would give us a complimentary dessert. I asked only that they correct the errors but he insisted.

Soon they brought the crab legs and my dinner plate. This time only the smallest beef tip was over dine, the rest probably not cooked enough.  I didn’t complain again though. They’re obviously difficult to cook. In fact, our server implied as much and shared that they’ve had difficulty with others. And the thing is, they didn’t taste that good either. The lobster tail, however, was tasty and the king crab legs superb.

The manager stopped by again to make sure everything was resolved to our satisfaction. He then reiterated that desserts were on the house. But because it was my birthday, we planned to have dessert at home. Mindy had a cake there and waiting. We expressed as much, and the manager then agreed to remove one of the appetizers from the bill in addition to the crab legs.

On our way out, Mindy and our server were chatting. Sounds like they’ll be happy to see the beef skewer special go away soon – lots of issues. The seafood was delicious. The tips, not so much.

Arrived home near 830pm. I promptly changed into comfy lounging clothes while Mindy and the kids brought me cards, gifts, and a cake. The kids gifted me some cool tom-tom drums, and Mindy gifted me two bottles of Jack, a fancy single barrel and then a regular black Jack. She also gifted me Todd tickets for his November show. Sweet!

By design, I waited all week to open the birthday cards that came in over the past week. Lots of love. Lots of cool cards. Enjoyed some double-chocolate birthday cake along with another Jack and Coke.