Last Chance for Date Night

With my surgery looming tonight was our last chance for a date before Thursday. We lined up a sitter (thanks Mom) and started looking for something to do. I've rarely left the house since the surgery and only without the baby 2 or 3 times for doctors appointments as far as out alone with Mike that would be a big old once. Needless to say I'm a little out of touch so all the movies I wanted to see had already left theaters. I was hellbent on a comedy for obvious reasons, but most of the movies that are out are geared toward 14yr old girls.

I was bemoaning the loss of the dollar movies who surely would have still, been running some "older" films, honestly it's ridiculous how quickly movies pass through theaters now, when Mike found a place a half an hour away still running our first choice Dinner for Schmucks. As long as we were driving the half an hour Mike knew a BBQ place he wanted to re-patronize.

We left while Riley was still napping. I was ok with that because of all the sleep problems lately, but the longer I sat in the driveway while Mike made trips back and forth for things he'd forgotten the more anxious I got. I found out later the last time he shut the door it woke the baby. The drive went quickly and the place looked ordinary enough. It had an old fashion one man box office out front and a marque from before the digital age. A hand written sign told us to purchase tickets inside.

We were greeted warmly by an older black man in jeans and a t-shirt behind the concession stand who confirmed what at least 20 hand written signs had foretold "cash only". Gee, remember when cash was the only choice at all the movie theaters? They had an ATM so we proceeded to purchase tickets and snacks in one transaction which he rang up on a non-digital cash register. We got a large drink which he informed us was free refills and then proceeded to tell us chuckling "well, I guess they're not really free since you already paid for them." When I asked for gummi bears he said "well, (still chuckling) they're not really gummi bears. That's a brand you know. These are Care Bears...well it does say gummi bears on there too. They should sue. I would." The whole transaction 2 tickets ($3 a piece), a large soda, and two kinds of candy was $20. That takes me back.

We proceeded to the ticket taker who wasn't quite the inviting presence the other man had been. Mike later compared him to Riff Raff from Rocky Horror Picture Show. He was slight of build and off-putting for sure. But when he spoke out came this high pitched, feminine almost southern sounding voice sincerely hoping we would enjoy the show. Still laughing inwardly we walked into the theater all avocado green and metal seats. The way I remember theaters before stadium seating. It was a Sunday so we were 2 out of maybe 7 people there. I was 3x more excited than I had been before we got there.

The movie was really funny and weird. A total plus in our book. Steve Carell plays an accountant's whose hobby is making really elaborate scenes with taxidermied mice. It was good stuff. I called home and to my surprise Riley was playing blissfully. When I say to my surprise I mean I was surprised at how that made me feel. It's completely expected for her to be happy, but the idea that it would make me sad that was strange. Dinner was at a restaurant that used to be a big old house and now you eat ribs on the porch. The waiter was very nice. We ordered and then I heard the door slam behind me assuming it was rolls I didn't even look. It was our dinner. It could not have more than 5min no exaggeration. He set it down laughing and said "I tell ya I just don't know what takes them so long back there."

After dinner we headed home and the baby was sleeping soundly much to our disappointment as by now cuddle withdrawal was in full swing. Again, I was thrilled that she was sleeping well, but sad not to be needed to make that happen. That is the ambivalence that keeps cropping up for me in my quest to gain some separation.

We only had to wait about an hour and a half for some cuddle time (: