Friday Fun

Yesterday, being Friday, was as usual a work-at-home day for Paul.  There’s something so very amiable about his presence here with us, even if he’s (mostly) working.  Bantering with the girls, suddenly swiveling on his chair, grabbing The Boy and throwing him to the floor for a quick wrestle, and of course, taking his Sweetie to lunch… all good and salutary aspects of the Friday work-at-home days.

In the afternoon we had a bit of a special event planned to coincide with Jacob’s karate class time.  We (Jacob and I) left about an hour earlier than usual, and all the girls joined us for the drive over to the neighborhood.  When we got to the Wal-mart shopping center, I drove to the entrance and dropped Laurent and Jacob off, with the intent of finding something on which to spend his  $8.37.  While they were shopping, I drove across the parking lot to the Starbucks, went through the drive through and picked up a small (in SB parlance, “Tall”) Mocha Frappuccino.

On the way back to Wal-mart (the Starbucks drive through was much faster than I expected) we phoned in to find out where they were, and discovered that there seemed to be nothing Jacob wanted in his price range, so they were on their way out via the check-out, where Laurent was buying gum.

I found a parking spot where I could watch the door, Megan phoned in to tell Laurent where we were, and then we sat back to people watch.  I’ll tell you, some women wear the most astonishing things to go out in public…

Eventually we were rejoined, and drove back over to the Starbucks where we awaited the arrival of Jeff and mom, who, at 3:30, were winding up an extended luncheon excursion – and what better way to round out the day than to join us for coffee?  The primary purpose I had in mind on this particular occasion, was to introduce Megan to the joys of coffee in a proper, coffee-house setting.  She has been loathe to drink the stuff, which of course, is her prerogative… but everyone needs to at least try a frappuccino once, right? :-)  And even if she hated it, the rest of us would have a good time!

And that is precisely what we did (after I returned from running Jacob over to his class a mile up the street), sitting at our little bunch of tables, pondering the many sorts of coffee pots and mugs and presses and beans on the surrounding shelves, trying to hear one another over what to my ears was far too loud to be called background music, especially for a place that is supposed to be relaxed… but maybe I’m out of touch with the “coffee house scene”.

After finishing her entire Grande Mocha Frappuccino, Megan’s final conclusion was that she still doesn’t really fancy the stuff.  But I think she enjoyed the vibe, and as I told her, if she happens to be with friends who want to go for coffee, she can always drink hot cocoa. 🙂

Our scintillating interlude completed, we picked up The Boy, who as always, exited the dojo in a state of blissful sanguinity, and made for home. There we enjoyed an evening repast of popcorn and bbq beans (for those who wanted any) and began season II of Lie to Me — a program our whole family thoroughly enjoys, when we aren’t throwing popcorn at Cal Lightman for his occasional lapses in parental judgment.