Family,
And a good evening to you from (trying to be) sunny Charlotte. 5 hours and counting until the flight!!!! So far - still on time!!!! Also, big news for the Taylor Resort in Marylebone, as MOMMA ARRIVES TOMORROW! If all goes well, I'll actually see her in the airport later this afternoon. And on that note, it's time for recap blog #3, giving you the play-by-play of the weekend with my fam.
Friday: Now THAT is how steak is done
Friday was a great day in the office, and I rolled out of there a bit early to have a few pints with my buddy John Ogas (that’s right, the Pai Gow king – who just took the new Aria casino for BANK, baby). When we parted ways, I headed uptown and chilled out until…MOMMA ARRIVED!!!!
And so began a GREAT weekend. For starters, we rolled immediately to Firebirds, which is home to pretty much the BEST STEAK ON THE PLANET. Seriously, I DESTROYED this meal.
Picture a delicious salad, warm bread, hot butter, and a rare plus fillet covered in port soaked mushrooms and topped with bleu cheese. Yeah, if chicken wings aren’t served in Heaven, I’m gonna bet this is.
I also tried OMB Copper (local brewery) – NOT impressed. Honestly, it pretty much just tasted like calories – I don’t know how else to describe it.
That night we chatted well into the evening before PASSING out and sleeping until 8:45 on Saturday.
Saturday: The family
that gambles together...
Dad met us Saturday, and we immediately made a bee-line for the GREATEST brekkie place on earth – the Original Pancake House. I opted for Bacon and Eggs (which comes, of course, with 3 pancakes), and I even added a side of Bacon. And when mom threw a couple of her slices my way, I pretty much consumed an entire pig. Seriously – 9 stripes of country bacon – how does life get any better?
But it did get better, as we had a VERY successful shopping run at Target. We then went to the featured event of the afternoon – the procurement of new eyeglasses and prescription sunnies. Two hours later, I had 3 new pairs of glasses, Oakley’s on my face, and lots of money FLYING out of my wallet. But no complaints – I love ‘em!
We then rolled back uptown, where we had a few pints at Strike City (Mom had a diet coke, of course J) before rolling down 77 to find a hotel for Dad. We got lucky and found a Super 8, and we walked in just in time to catch the Preakness! And so there we were – mom, dad, and son – drawing numbers, better fivers, and yelling at the tv for the h
orses we’d drawn. It might sound kind of silly to some – to me, it was nothing less than an absolutely perfect moment.
Dinner that night was (FINALLY) Mexican! We rocked up to Azteca, where I absolutely SLAUGHTERED some arroz con pollo and wolfed down THREE BASKETS of chips. We tackled some queso dip as well – this guy was happy as a clam. We then rolled home and passed out.
Sunday: A slice of Heaven in the heart of Charlotte
Sunday was great. Since we were all up early, we actually went BACK to OPH, where I did a rinse-repeat (minus the side of bacon this time) of Saturday. MAN, was it good. Not wanted to leave each other on such a perfect day, we rolled over to the old condo, where
we sat on the porch of the clubhouse and just chatted for a couple of hours. It was, in no uncertain terms, absolutely perfect.
The reality is that I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ll have for the rest of my life where I’ll just be able to sit and relax with mom and dad on such a perfect day. We laughed, we joked, we remembered – I just can’t tell you what it meant to me. These trips home always bring so many emotions so close to the surface, and you really have to focus to keep it from overwhelming you. I told myself over and over “remember this moment – remember everything about it.” And while that’s impossible, I think I’ll keep the memory of a perfect Sunday in the shade of the village pub with me for a long, long time to come.
We even got to see Kristi Lenahan (our neighbor) and her (TOO CUTE) dogs, Barney and Bentley. They really might be the cutest critters on earth.
After that, dad said goodbye and mom and I rolled over to the South Park mall for some last minute shopping. After that, the hour was upon us, and we rolled over to the airport, where mom dropped me off. And while I knew that I would see her in 3 short days, it was still hard to say bye. The same for you, dad. I love you so much – I’m already lookin’ forward to the races next April.
And so closed a truly perfect weekend in Charlotte – 2 days of perfect weather in a city that I love now more than ever, surrounded by the 2 people who made me who I am and whom I love so, so very much.
Okay, that’s all the news that’s fit to print. Fingers crossed for the flight! Chat tomorrow!
Love,
Sam and Jenny
And a good evening to you from (trying to be) sunny Charlotte. 5 hours and counting until the flight!!!! So far - still on time!!!! Also, big news for the Taylor Resort in Marylebone, as MOMMA ARRIVES TOMORROW! If all goes well, I'll actually see her in the airport later this afternoon. And on that note, it's time for recap blog #3, giving you the play-by-play of the weekend with my fam.
Friday: Now THAT is how steak is done
Friday was a great day in the office, and I rolled out of there a bit early to have a few pints with my buddy John Ogas (that’s right, the Pai Gow king – who just took the new Aria casino for BANK, baby). When we parted ways, I headed uptown and chilled out until…MOMMA ARRIVED!!!!
And so began a GREAT weekend. For starters, we rolled immediately to Firebirds, which is home to pretty much the BEST STEAK ON THE PLANET. Seriously, I DESTROYED this meal.
Picture a delicious salad, warm bread, hot butter, and a rare plus fillet covered in port soaked mushrooms and topped with bleu cheese. Yeah, if chicken wings aren’t served in Heaven, I’m gonna bet this is.
I also tried OMB Copper (local brewery) – NOT impressed. Honestly, it pretty much just tasted like calories – I don’t know how else to describe it.
That night we chatted well into the evening before PASSING out and sleeping until 8:45 on Saturday.
Saturday: The family
that gambles together...Dad met us Saturday, and we immediately made a bee-line for the GREATEST brekkie place on earth – the Original Pancake House. I opted for Bacon and Eggs (which comes, of course, with 3 pancakes), and I even added a side of Bacon. And when mom threw a couple of her slices my way, I pretty much consumed an entire pig. Seriously – 9 stripes of country bacon – how does life get any better?
But it did get better, as we had a VERY successful shopping run at Target. We then went to the featured event of the afternoon – the procurement of new eyeglasses and prescription sunnies. Two hours later, I had 3 new pairs of glasses, Oakley’s on my face, and lots of money FLYING out of my wallet. But no complaints – I love ‘em!
We then rolled back uptown, where we had a few pints at Strike City (Mom had a diet coke, of course J) before rolling down 77 to find a hotel for Dad. We got lucky and found a Super 8, and we walked in just in time to catch the Preakness! And so there we were – mom, dad, and son – drawing numbers, better fivers, and yelling at the tv for the h
orses we’d drawn. It might sound kind of silly to some – to me, it was nothing less than an absolutely perfect moment.Dinner that night was (FINALLY) Mexican! We rocked up to Azteca, where I absolutely SLAUGHTERED some arroz con pollo and wolfed down THREE BASKETS of chips. We tackled some queso dip as well – this guy was happy as a clam. We then rolled home and passed out.
Sunday: A slice of Heaven in the heart of Charlotte
Sunday was great. Since we were all up early, we actually went BACK to OPH, where I did a rinse-repeat (minus the side of bacon this time) of Saturday. MAN, was it good. Not wanted to leave each other on such a perfect day, we rolled over to the old condo, where
we sat on the porch of the clubhouse and just chatted for a couple of hours. It was, in no uncertain terms, absolutely perfect.The reality is that I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ll have for the rest of my life where I’ll just be able to sit and relax with mom and dad on such a perfect day. We laughed, we joked, we remembered – I just can’t tell you what it meant to me. These trips home always bring so many emotions so close to the surface, and you really have to focus to keep it from overwhelming you. I told myself over and over “remember this moment – remember everything about it.” And while that’s impossible, I think I’ll keep the memory of a perfect Sunday in the shade of the village pub with me for a long, long time to come.
We even got to see Kristi Lenahan (our neighbor) and her (TOO CUTE) dogs, Barney and Bentley. They really might be the cutest critters on earth.
After that, dad said goodbye and mom and I rolled over to the South Park mall for some last minute shopping. After that, the hour was upon us, and we rolled over to the airport, where mom dropped me off. And while I knew that I would see her in 3 short days, it was still hard to say bye. The same for you, dad. I love you so much – I’m already lookin’ forward to the races next April.
And so closed a truly perfect weekend in Charlotte – 2 days of perfect weather in a city that I love now more than ever, surrounded by the 2 people who made me who I am and whom I love so, so very much.
Okay, that’s all the news that’s fit to print. Fingers crossed for the flight! Chat tomorrow!
Love,
Sam and Jenny
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