In which Brett turns 32.

Yesterday was Brett’s birthday. I totally forgot about it until I went to write a check for dog food at Tractor Supply. I pulled it together pretty fast, though, and had a fantastic pasta dinner (with guests!) all lined up by the time I got home from the store.

But Brett didn’t want to do that, of course. He wanted to go right back to town. Immediately. Screw the dinner party, and screw the people already on their way out. So I put the groceries away and called Hattie & Joe and explained that I was un-inviting them for dinner, blah blah blah, and Brett and I drove back to town.

First we went and picked up Jimbo & Joy and Chuckie, then we drove past some anti-hog confinement benefit so Jim & Joy could drop an Ella-support bag off to Grandma, and then we went to the Red Rock where we commenced to drink.

I spent some quality time gossiping in the bathroom with Misty, Hattie, and Rachel. I got drunk on cosmopolitans. It was a fun time in general.

Jim & Joy

Well, it might have been more fun if I’d had some dinner first, but hey – whatever. It was his birthday.

When we got home a little past midnight, my dad’s RV appeared to be stuck in the mud a hundred feet past our driveway. Figuring he was asleep in there, we didn’t do anything about it.

I made a grilled cheese with mushrooms and tomatoes and shared it with Brett, and then I passed out and slept in my clothes on the couch all night.

When I got up this morning I made potatoes and eggs and toast and cardamom lattes, and drank about a half gallon of water while I was cooking. We had breakfast. Then my dad came in. Then Brett said he wanted to do some logging today, but I think that’s probably not going to happen:

The day after: napping on the couch

As Brett slept, I watched Affluenza on Link TV, which was insightful, thought-provoking… and fucking depressing as hell. (Shows like that cause more stress than they relieve, I’ll tell you that right now.) I am going to check out a couple of the books mentioned in the program, though. And I love the phrase “voluntary simplicity.”

I understand that a bunch of folks are making the trek to Ottumwa tonight to see Steve’s band play. I might be recovered enough to go out by then… and I bet my dad would like to do something. Hmm.

Update Brett went logging after all! And I think he even said something about getting my dad’s rig unstuck, which would be cool if it were true.