A Lack Of Scene From An Italian Restaurant
I, of course, changed before we met for dinner.
It had been a lovely day out in the woods. I was somewhere between being "in costume" and "looking like the biggest gaywad" in my outfit that I wore at the Texas Renaissance Festival. It was the first time I had all of the pieces together, the kelly green puffy shirt, Kip's carmel Utilikilt, and the black, calf-high lace up boots that are only appropriate for a ren fair or halloween. Sure, with pockets and snaps the outfit wasn't authentic, but neither is the festival.
I was happy to have Chris (f__k) with me on such a nice day, sunny with good temperatures, and with plenty of eye candy around. I was pointing out all of the areas around the fairground, and more often than not talking about events and performers of years past. It seems like the fair no longer hires as many players, so you don't have the ogre coming after people at random moments, or some odd citizen talking about the king or the goings on of the year's storyline. These little details seem to be lost as they added more "rides" that ask you to shell out more pounds. Some of my favorite acts have moved on as well, many to actual theaters, or better paying fairs.
Still, it was a good day for people watching. We ran into brchase, the guy you hear on the Bear Podcast, and his partner. We were hopeful about a lot of other guys. I'll have to hope that Chris will tell the tale about the "hammercub" who ran the feats of strength booth.
Still, the plan was to have dinner with my parents since we were north of Houston. My father had to work, so it would just be Mom this time. Perhaps this was the better thing, as she had been more eager to meet Chris than Dad has been. In the parking "forest" I had to drop kilt and change into shorts, shoes and a regular shirt so I wouldn't look so ridiculous. Afterwards I realized we forgot to get a picture.
After a 45 minute drive, we end up at the house and go in to meet Mom. It goes easily, and I'm relived. I know my Mom wants to be talkative, but unfortunately Chris' work is getting in the way, as he has received many phone calls. He apologizes, and I go get him started on my Dad's computer. Mom starts chatting so I have to lead her back downstairs to look at some baseball on TV.
Once chris is finished, we go around the corner to a local italian restaurant (unfortunately it isn't open on sundays, but it was this night, and it's good). It's a family place and they know my mother well. Mom tells us that the owner's mother is greeting people at the door, and as we walk in she is greeted warmly. I begin to worry, because mom is trying to figure out how to introduce us.
At first she gestured towards chris, but then she changed and moved over to me. "This is my son Mike," she started, and I moved up to shake the short but thick woman's hand. "And this is his friend from Dallas, Chris." Chris then shook her hand as I breathed a sigh of relief. This wasn't too bad. I was kind of worried that she might be a little stuck for a word, but she came through well.
She did it again, same words and all after we were seated and the owner/cook came over to greet us. Again, he was familiar with my mother as she and my dad are regulars. The owner was nice, and he's actually a pretty good looking guy. Everytime I've been there he always grabs and holds onto my shoulder for a bit. Chris was on the wrong side of the table, so I don't know if he would have also gotten the shoulder rub. I know he's married because his wife works at the restaurant too, so that physicality always throws me just a little.
Still, I could tell that my Mom was trying to cover some nervousness in meeting Chris. It wasn't majority visible, but I knew that she was a little hesitant to ask him questions, where with most people she'd be trying to get their life story. She spent a lot of time talking sports, because she works on connecting with me that way, even though I think she now watches a lot more than I do. Since Chris isn't as much of a sports fan, there wasn't so much to talk about there. I just knew that she wasn't sure what to around, or say to Chris.
that's not to say that she didn't try, the questions just seemed to be very random. She was nice, and chatty, and we stayed off of topics like politics so we didn't get into a tussle over dinner. Still, I think it was good for her to see chris as a living, breathing person, and now she'll tell my dad all about him. It's like a small PR move that you hope will pay dividends in the long run.
Chris handled everything well, as expected. I had no doubts there. I'm sure that my sister and I had given him plenty to think about previously, though and he was probably relived that things went smoothly. That's the impression that I got.
We finished the evening with a trip to the Ripcord to see several more men in ridiculous costumes. Chris and Jerry (goofycubb) got to talk, as they hadn't seen each other in quite some time. I quickly grew tired, and we went home.
I have to admit, I loved having Chris here last weekend, but I have to say that I wish I had a better bed, not just because it's old, but I'd like it to be bigger. Not that I don't like cuddling with my sweetheart, but I'm not always thrilled about finding myself hanging off the side of the queen bed, either. It's just another reason to get to Dallas where Chris already has a great king sized bed waiting. There continues to be more to love there, you know?
Now, what should I wear for Halloween? I'm in a dress-up mood.
It had been a lovely day out in the woods. I was somewhere between being "in costume" and "looking like the biggest gaywad" in my outfit that I wore at the Texas Renaissance Festival. It was the first time I had all of the pieces together, the kelly green puffy shirt, Kip's carmel Utilikilt, and the black, calf-high lace up boots that are only appropriate for a ren fair or halloween. Sure, with pockets and snaps the outfit wasn't authentic, but neither is the festival.
I was happy to have Chris (f__k) with me on such a nice day, sunny with good temperatures, and with plenty of eye candy around. I was pointing out all of the areas around the fairground, and more often than not talking about events and performers of years past. It seems like the fair no longer hires as many players, so you don't have the ogre coming after people at random moments, or some odd citizen talking about the king or the goings on of the year's storyline. These little details seem to be lost as they added more "rides" that ask you to shell out more pounds. Some of my favorite acts have moved on as well, many to actual theaters, or better paying fairs.
Still, it was a good day for people watching. We ran into brchase, the guy you hear on the Bear Podcast, and his partner. We were hopeful about a lot of other guys. I'll have to hope that Chris will tell the tale about the "hammercub" who ran the feats of strength booth.
Still, the plan was to have dinner with my parents since we were north of Houston. My father had to work, so it would just be Mom this time. Perhaps this was the better thing, as she had been more eager to meet Chris than Dad has been. In the parking "forest" I had to drop kilt and change into shorts, shoes and a regular shirt so I wouldn't look so ridiculous. Afterwards I realized we forgot to get a picture.
After a 45 minute drive, we end up at the house and go in to meet Mom. It goes easily, and I'm relived. I know my Mom wants to be talkative, but unfortunately Chris' work is getting in the way, as he has received many phone calls. He apologizes, and I go get him started on my Dad's computer. Mom starts chatting so I have to lead her back downstairs to look at some baseball on TV.
Once chris is finished, we go around the corner to a local italian restaurant (unfortunately it isn't open on sundays, but it was this night, and it's good). It's a family place and they know my mother well. Mom tells us that the owner's mother is greeting people at the door, and as we walk in she is greeted warmly. I begin to worry, because mom is trying to figure out how to introduce us.
At first she gestured towards chris, but then she changed and moved over to me. "This is my son Mike," she started, and I moved up to shake the short but thick woman's hand. "And this is his friend from Dallas, Chris." Chris then shook her hand as I breathed a sigh of relief. This wasn't too bad. I was kind of worried that she might be a little stuck for a word, but she came through well.
She did it again, same words and all after we were seated and the owner/cook came over to greet us. Again, he was familiar with my mother as she and my dad are regulars. The owner was nice, and he's actually a pretty good looking guy. Everytime I've been there he always grabs and holds onto my shoulder for a bit. Chris was on the wrong side of the table, so I don't know if he would have also gotten the shoulder rub. I know he's married because his wife works at the restaurant too, so that physicality always throws me just a little.
Still, I could tell that my Mom was trying to cover some nervousness in meeting Chris. It wasn't majority visible, but I knew that she was a little hesitant to ask him questions, where with most people she'd be trying to get their life story. She spent a lot of time talking sports, because she works on connecting with me that way, even though I think she now watches a lot more than I do. Since Chris isn't as much of a sports fan, there wasn't so much to talk about there. I just knew that she wasn't sure what to around, or say to Chris.
that's not to say that she didn't try, the questions just seemed to be very random. She was nice, and chatty, and we stayed off of topics like politics so we didn't get into a tussle over dinner. Still, I think it was good for her to see chris as a living, breathing person, and now she'll tell my dad all about him. It's like a small PR move that you hope will pay dividends in the long run.
Chris handled everything well, as expected. I had no doubts there. I'm sure that my sister and I had given him plenty to think about previously, though and he was probably relived that things went smoothly. That's the impression that I got.
We finished the evening with a trip to the Ripcord to see several more men in ridiculous costumes. Chris and Jerry (goofycubb) got to talk, as they hadn't seen each other in quite some time. I quickly grew tired, and we went home.
I have to admit, I loved having Chris here last weekend, but I have to say that I wish I had a better bed, not just because it's old, but I'd like it to be bigger. Not that I don't like cuddling with my sweetheart, but I'm not always thrilled about finding myself hanging off the side of the queen bed, either. It's just another reason to get to Dallas where Chris already has a great king sized bed waiting. There continues to be more to love there, you know?
Now, what should I wear for Halloween? I'm in a dress-up mood.