OMG!!! It is 5:45 am, and Alexa woke us up with two men screaming, “Hey, Wake Up!” and “Get Out of Bed!” at the top of their collective lungs! It was not an accident; we had to be up so we could make it to the dentist’s office in Irvine at 8:00 am.
Mary popped out of bed and went to the nice warm bathroom (courtesy of her wonderful husband, me)! On the other hand, I trudged through the Rain, sleet, and snow (occurring in the hallway) to get to the kitchen, where the electric heart starter was located.
Yes, there on the counter was Mr. Kerig and two K-Cups of heart-starting elixir. Quick like a bunny, I placed the K-cups into the machine and punched the “make me a cup” button. After some time, listening to the machine grow and spew sizzling steam, out came the morning starter.
Since we will not have time for breakfast, I whipped up a blueberry bagel by splitting it, toasting it, and adding Irish butter on the top.
I pranced back down the hallway (where the snow and rainstorm seemed to subsided) and delivered the goodies to Mary, who was in the shower singing “Singing in the Rain. Oh my, what a way to start the day!
The time indicated was 7:00 am, and we had to set off the rockets to be in Irvine by 8:00 am. Off we went in a cloud of dust, leaving a rooster tail of water that could be seen from miles away. Mary does NOT like to be late. So we arrive 25 minutes early, time to read our books!
The eye doctor (eye surgeon and family friend) examined my eyes using a unique technique. He asked me to drop my drawers and stand against the wall. With two flashlights, one green and one red (likely leftovers from Christmas), he shone them in my eyes and examined the wall. The result was two large spots, one yellow and one blue – that means I am OK!
On a more serious note, I have 20-20 and 20-30 vision, not bad for an old fart! The doc pronounced me visually acute (I thought he meant I was visually cute). 
We celebrated by going VFR to Benji’s, where we each attacked a half-sandwich and a bowl of soup. Mary did the pastrami, and I did the corned beef.
We headed home to work around the house until about 4:00 pm, when we set out for Seal Beach for a Patty’s Place outing with Charlotte and Wayne, longtime golf friends!!
We arrived a few minutes early and sat at the bar to visit with the staff. May had her wine, and I indulged in a “purple drink,” which is a glass of Empress 1908 with a large, clear rock in the center.
Charlotte and Wayne came in within minutes, and we were so happy to see them!
It was my job to keep Wayne giggling. I did well!
We had a most amazing dinner; they all had short ribs, and I was the odd man out, going for the seafood special! Furthermore, I selected some escargots floating in butter laced with garlic. I was able to exhale and wilt flowers at the other end of the restaurant.
Ice cream, anyone?
After some serious reminiscing about days gone by, Mary and I did a Chip Shot! It’s tradition!
We had a delightful dinner!
As we waddled toward the Silver Fox, we both decided we should go to Verde for a nightcap. Verde is in the badlands of Irvince, about an 18-minute drive away. We were in dire need of a drink called “Becky’s Good Hair Day, a special drink named after our daughter Becky. Anthony was tending bar, so we had time to catch up on things since the restaurant was three minutes from closing when we arrived!
The drink arrived without floating flowers. Anthony explained that the gardener had a cold and sneezed as he mowed the lawn right by the little flower garden used to make drinks. It was “off with their heads. I suggested an alternate flour, but both Anthony and Mary dismissed my amazing, creative idea with a lot of guffaw. Note: I would have accepted wheat, rye, or simple white flour as a substitute. I am easy!
We felt sorry for the drink and we could almost her it whisper!
“Don’t look at me, I am naked!!”
We completed our visit and headed to the Silver Fox home, an easy 17-minute drive up 73 to 55, where I put the metal to the pedal and we were off like a herd of turtles.
Anthony has long arms; his selfies are always excellent!
We avoided the TV room and went VFR to bed, only talking for a few minutes about such a wonderful dinner. It was good to hear and see Wayne laughing and giggling, and to see Charlotte turn red during some of my uncontrollable outbursts (Mary just put her scarf over his head and mumbled something about being kidnapped by a crazy man!).
Good night, all!
Always remember, I do NOT mouse around!
