It's hard because Christmas Eve is a day with nearly as many expectations as Christmas itself.
Besides listening to the Border Brass' classic "Tijuana Christmas," which I most definitely did for the first time in decades, I had a non-stop day, although one of these things did not happen to me today:
I watched three episodes of the TV show "Friends"
I saw a marriage proposal unfold
I got chided about not having a cell phone
I opened a gift of jewelry
I walked to Rite-Aid in search of cocktail sauce
I listened to a new album with a lyric about "perversions of the heart" and mulled that over
I stood for the national anthem
In addition to the (totally not) traditional brown sugar and Dijon-coated ribs served with asparagus and fingerling sweet potatoes meal that preceded it, my Eve was occupied with seeing "It's Wonderful Life" at the Byrd, a particularly notable event given that I'd been out of town and missed it last year.
As if the holiday gods had been looking out for me, though, I'd seen Bob Gulledge playing the mighty Wurlitzer organ for the annual holiday singalong already twice this month, so tonight's singalong - "If you do it right, I won't even be able to hear the organ," the nattily-dressed Bob told us - didn't have its usual novelty value.
Still, there's always something reassuringly familiar and appropriately holiday-like about hearing an organ on Christmas Eve.
Fortunately, the people behind us could carry a tune, even if they sounded like annoying eager beaver choir members singing at the top of their lungs doing it.
But it's not officially Christmas until the black and white bells of "It's a Wonderful Life" begin ringing onscreen to announce the movie that's become an integral part of my yearly celebration.
Who ever gets tired of hearing Jimmy Stewart say, "Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope!" when looking at a suitcase too small for his imaginary trips? Or watching his loose-limbed, long-legged gait as he tears through Bedford Falls appreciating every small-town nook and cranny in the place he once hoped to escape?
Not me.
All of that I'd counted on when I got to the Byrd, but completely unexpected was a screen reading, "Peggy, Will you marry me? Kevin" followed by a couple in the back hugging ecstatically (my guess is she said yes). The only thing missing was the Ray Conniff Singers doing "Christmas Bride."
So it was Peggy, not me, who opened a gift of jewelry today. May her perversions of the heart line up with Kevin's for eternity and a Christmas Eve.
Showing posts with label marriage proposals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label marriage proposals. Show all posts
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Pork, Beans & A Proposal
I'm a regular at Six Burner because the food is so good and because the staff gives me such a hard time.
It's a combination I can't resist.
But now they've adopted one of my very favorite restaurant practices: offering two sizes of entree portions.
Too often, there's something I'd love to try on the entree menu, but I know I couldn't possibly do it justice.
Tuesday night I partook of the Bucatini Pasta, Pulled Pork Shoulder, Shitake Mushrooms and Pork Jus offering, although if what I got was the small version, I question who could finish the full-size one.
It was the kind of soul-satisfyingly good meal that you don't often find for $8. But don't take my word for it.
Yesterday I made the weekly pilgrimage to 821 for my black bean nachos, which is not particularly noteworthy except that I was alone in the restaurant.
Let me clarify: alone at 821.
When I arrived around 1145, there were 3 other tables.
By noon, it was me and the staff. I've been going there for over 10 years now and I've never been the only customer.
Heather waited on me and asked how I'd liked the Tulsa Drone show we'd both seen recently.
As for the shortage of patrons, we decided it had a lot to do with the first full week of school and it being the last day to add/drop classes.
She brought me up to speed on the renovations of the building next door that will eventually double their seating capacity when it finally opens, undoubtedly after December 1 so they can open as a smoke-free place.
It'll be the end of an era, for sure, though, when that little space closes for good.
By last night, you'd think I could have made do with a sandwich at home considering the platter o' nachos I'd inhaled earlier, but now that I have a restaurant 2 blocks away with a much better stocked and staffed kitchen, it's hard to get excited about eating here.
So I ambled up to the Belvidere at Broad and had just about decided on the Smoked Gouda Veggie Club with Bacon when the bartender asked if I wanted a recommendation and promptly suggested the Smoked Gouda Veggie Club with Bacon.
Well, that was easy.
The sandwich was wonderful: huge with 3 thick-cut slices of bread, roasted red peppers, sauteed onions, shitakes, tomatoes, cucumbers, greens, avocado puree, and loads of Gouda and bacon.
Naturally what followed was a discussion of his musical taste and as he ticked off favored bands and musicians, I passed judgement.
When he said "The Posies" I answered, "Frosting on the Beater" (my favorite Posies album), causing him to respond, "Will you marry me?"
I think the deal was sealed when the topic of phones came up later and he found out I don't have a cell; he hates them (but has one).
It's not every day I can go out for dinner and leave four hours later with a marriage proposal.
Now there's some incentive for eating out.
It's a combination I can't resist.
But now they've adopted one of my very favorite restaurant practices: offering two sizes of entree portions.
Too often, there's something I'd love to try on the entree menu, but I know I couldn't possibly do it justice.
Tuesday night I partook of the Bucatini Pasta, Pulled Pork Shoulder, Shitake Mushrooms and Pork Jus offering, although if what I got was the small version, I question who could finish the full-size one.
It was the kind of soul-satisfyingly good meal that you don't often find for $8. But don't take my word for it.
Yesterday I made the weekly pilgrimage to 821 for my black bean nachos, which is not particularly noteworthy except that I was alone in the restaurant.
Let me clarify: alone at 821.
When I arrived around 1145, there were 3 other tables.
By noon, it was me and the staff. I've been going there for over 10 years now and I've never been the only customer.
Heather waited on me and asked how I'd liked the Tulsa Drone show we'd both seen recently.
As for the shortage of patrons, we decided it had a lot to do with the first full week of school and it being the last day to add/drop classes.
She brought me up to speed on the renovations of the building next door that will eventually double their seating capacity when it finally opens, undoubtedly after December 1 so they can open as a smoke-free place.
It'll be the end of an era, for sure, though, when that little space closes for good.
By last night, you'd think I could have made do with a sandwich at home considering the platter o' nachos I'd inhaled earlier, but now that I have a restaurant 2 blocks away with a much better stocked and staffed kitchen, it's hard to get excited about eating here.
So I ambled up to the Belvidere at Broad and had just about decided on the Smoked Gouda Veggie Club with Bacon when the bartender asked if I wanted a recommendation and promptly suggested the Smoked Gouda Veggie Club with Bacon.
Well, that was easy.
The sandwich was wonderful: huge with 3 thick-cut slices of bread, roasted red peppers, sauteed onions, shitakes, tomatoes, cucumbers, greens, avocado puree, and loads of Gouda and bacon.
Naturally what followed was a discussion of his musical taste and as he ticked off favored bands and musicians, I passed judgement.
When he said "The Posies" I answered, "Frosting on the Beater" (my favorite Posies album), causing him to respond, "Will you marry me?"
I think the deal was sealed when the topic of phones came up later and he found out I don't have a cell; he hates them (but has one).
It's not every day I can go out for dinner and leave four hours later with a marriage proposal.
Now there's some incentive for eating out.
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