Elise and I woke up on Sunday morning to deep rumbles of thunder, flashes of lightening and the sound of rain pounding the roof.
We rolled out of bed, took turn taking showers and headed out. We returned a movie to Blockbuster and then went to the HoPot to return a patio umbrella, look at paint for the dining room and to buy a replacement water hose spray gun.
We then went to Romeo’s for a rainy day lunch date. Romeo’s has always been near and dear for Elise and me. While sitting in our booth with the restaurant practically to ourselves, Elise reminded me of the time when I took her there for her birthday a few years back. I was on the verge of death with a horrible dose of the flu.
When I first met Elise’s mom and grandma I took all the girls to Romeo’s for lunch.
Romeo’s is a great little romantic landmark on Barton Springs Road. But we think the food has changed. Maybe it was because it was a Sunday afternoon and the kitchen wasn’t sprinkling the make-the-food-taste-great magic pixie dust. I always have the Arrabbiatta at Romeo’s. Elise had the fettuccini alfredo. We both had a cup of tomato basil soup. The soup was fine but our entrees just weren’t what we were used to. I’m usually good about distinguishing flavors and textures but I just couldn’t put my finger on what it was that was lacking. I don’t know. I’m at a loss. But something changed.
And then there was a the bread issue. Our waiter brought two large dinner rolls and a plate of olive oil and grated parmesan cheese. We used to get homemade Italian breads with garlic and chive butter and olive oil and grated cheese. Elise looked down at the dinner rolls with disappointment. “These look like they came from US Food Service or Sysco.”
We had a nice date nonetheless.
We then drove over to Barton Creek mall to walk off our cream-rich lunch. We stopped in at the Sharper Image and, or course, I wanted to buy everything. Elise made it very difficult for your humble narrator to convince her that we need a magnet-fueled 100 lumen LED flashlight. We didn’t get a flashlight.
We walked around the mall. We stepped into the Apple store. Elise made it very difficult for your humble narrator to convince her that we need a black iPod nano. We didn’t get an iPod nano.
We went to Dillards to look at bedding. Third time was a charm. I stood strong and told Elise that we did need a Jasmin Mini Chopper Control playset. I got my damn helicopter and when we got home I played with it. I picked up and carried cargo like a pro. I quickly mastered the throttle and pitch and flew my little chopper until the batteries died.
I brought the helicopter with me to work on Monday and told the girls that if a customer calls and I look busy, to tell the customer that I’m out flying the corporate helicopter.
After getting a couple iced mochas at a kiosk in the mall, we went to Half Price Books on South Lamar. Elise picked out three self help/instuctional books. I picked out Mötley Crüe’s book The Dirt. Elise sought to better herself in this life. I got a toy helicopter and a book on sex, drugs and rock and roll.