Monday, December 31, 2012.
The Swapping Of The Beaus. Snoring Into The New Year.
Mary Ann drove Jude and girlfriend to the airport, and they returned to their homes in Los Angeles. Usually, this would have MA in a depressed state, one she enters a day or two before her boy departs.
But not this time. She seems indifferent, resigned, or perhaps even fatalistic. She is at best in a tie for dominant woman in our son's life, and there's nothing she can do about it. That's the way it's supposed to be, and she recognizes that cold truth, too.
Despite this departure, the Cool Water Ranch remains a home away from home for our children's significant others. Mary Leigh's boyfriend has arrived from Baltimore for the approaching resumption of classes at Loyola, a week from now. Rather than check into the dorm, he is staying with us.
We like these almost in-laws. But the dog Suzie felt otherwise. She growled and barked every time they were in her sight. ML's boy managed to calm Suzie down and make friends, but Jude's GF never did warm up to our old pooch. Mary Ann thinks this means something, but don't ask me what.
I assembled my twelve-best list of 2012's new restaurants, with Root at the top. I already had a more general year-end summary in the can for CityBusiness. The combination of those two pieces made a decent newsletter for today. No radio show. Football is wall to wall through this extended weekend.
To lunch at the Camellia Café, which I wasn't thinking about until I drove in front of it. Instead of the roast beef poor boy I had in mind, I had my usual Monday lunch here of the soup of the day (chicken with big noodles and vegetables, always pretty good), a salad, and a demi-pile of red beans and rice.
I considered using my free afternoon to burn a pile of fallen branches and construction debris today. It's more than three years since I last ignited the pyre. It's been too busy and too dry. Today looked good, though, with a chance of rain later. But Mary Ann said that the two lovebirds coming over would want to go out there and sit by the bonfire. But they won't arrive until well after dark. If I get it lit, it will burn all night. Not a good idea.
ML and Boy went out to Bonfire Meadow anyway and welcomed the New Year by watching and listening to the immense arsenal of fireworks that are everywhere in St. Tammany Parish on New Year's Eve. Tomorrow, we will awaken to a pall of smoke hanging in the woods.
The year ended on the sofa for me and MA. We watched the ball drop in Times Square, then Jay Leno. I haven't seen his Tonight Show in years. I had the same thought as last time: how I wish Johnny Carson were still around! Now that was a party.
We had a bottle of Heidsieck Champagne, but MA fell asleep. I woke her up to give her a Happy New Year kiss, and went to bed. I have no idea when the kids returned from the meadow.
