Welcome to the "Tour de Fun": A Day Out With Daddy

J. had to work Memorial Day, for some inhumane reason (something about making up a Bad Weather Day, I don't know). It turned out to be a good thing for J, as she was able to get a lot done that needed doing.

Which left me behind with Those People. They actually treated me fairly well, in general. A few bumpy spots where my anger spiked and/or I had to count to three. Mostly they were low-key -- a few Boy Fights mixed in for flavor.

Eventually, after much lazing around, they playing video games, me watching French Open tennis, we made our way out of the house. Our first stop on the "Tour de Fun" was Cafe 290, our local greasy spoon. J can't stand the place, but I'm nostalgic, and it's the one bit of authentic, down-home cooking we have in our area.

It's not in as much of a time warp as Tom's Restaurant in Brooklyn. There is no equivalent to Gus Vlahavas, welcoming you with a kind handshake and showing you their high school yearbook from 1957. At 290, there's a sense that they stopped decorating at some point, and stopped dusting shortly thereafter. The antique BB guns, hand crank mixers and black-and-white photos on the walls almost make the place feel like a roadside museum in some tiny country town.

Tom's, on the other hand, is alive with electric light and music. The sense one gets in there is of time travel, as though you've stepped through a portal in the space/time continuum, coming out in 1954.

Cafe 290 is as much for those who have made the long drive from Houston as it is for the locals. My children love it because they can order macaroni and cheese or corn dogs, and because -- like at Tom's -- the milk shakes are these big, over-the-top monstrosities of whipped cream and cherries.

I like it not only for the nostalgia (Did I mention I'm nostalgic? I am, in case you hadn't noticed), but also for the grilled cheese sandwich, served on "Texas Toast" -- big, unhealthy and delicious slices of white bread with plenty of butter.

After our lunch, I drove us to Lifetime Fitness where Jackson and I had some pool time, and Diego sunbathed, waiting patiently until it was time to go to the Child Center and his greatest love . . . video games. Then Daddy got his two hours of time alone, to try and work off the grilled cheese and to soak in the jacuzzi.

I later "cooked" them a dinner of frozen cod, french fries and "fiesta corn" out of a can. Uncharacteristically, Diego said Grace. "Thank you, Lord, for this food, our family, our friends and giving us shelter. Thank you, Daddy, for making this dinner for us. And please keep Mommy safe as she drives home to us."

He was sweet and light-hearted for the rest of the evening -- unusually affectionate. J. organized a Dance Party, and I got some great video of both boys rockin' out. All in all, a very good day, as our days go.

Boys Day Out: The Luxury of Lifetime Fitness

I spent some good “Quality Time” with the boys yesterday. Jeanette left in the late morning, in hopes of making an 11:30 Yoga class – the idea being that Diego, Jackson and I would then join her at the gym later on. She never made the class, but I decided to go on ahead over to Lifetime Fitness anyway, since I’d already sold the boys on the idea.

Our first stop was shooting hoops, which is a bit of a wild free-for-all with people their age. These guys don’t limit themselves to basketballs; in fact, due to their weight and size, volleyballs and soccer balls seems to suit them better. Their moves to the basket are quick and darting and don’t limit themselves to dribbling, or any of the other rules of basketball, for that matter. I have to be a little careful about yelling “heads up!” when I shoot, as they are a little oblivious to what else is happening around them.

We then made our way over to the rock climbing room, which I described in yesterday’s post. As I said there, both boys are now adept at most of the courses – there are about six available to the general public and a few that appear to be restricted to only the most advanced climbers. Yesterday I had the boys battling each other in races up the wall, and Jackson won 2 out of 3. To his credit, Diego was able to put what we taught him about congratulating your opponent to good use, and said, albeit reluctantly, “Good job” when it was all over.

Jackson was, of course, all smiles.

From rock climbing we made our way into the locker room to get dressed for swimming. They still get a little giggly in there, seeing all those hairy strangers out there “in the wind,” as it were.

Diego chose not to swim this time and sat by the pool, contentedly playing a game on my Blackberry, as Jackson enjoyed splashing and swimming with his dad. Lifetime Fitness is a luxury that costs money, so we have cut off our membership in the past and will likely do so again. But it is a beneficial luxury. Its where both our children learned how to swim and where J and I have been able to come, together or separately, to seek out fitness (working out) and relaxation (Jacuzzi, massage), and Lord knows I will miss all that.