Dinner with Max

Daughter Ann came for a last visit before her Big Adventure--moving to Ireland. She brought Kodiac, her Lab mix who is named for a Kodiac bear, since he's about as big as a bear. He follows her from room to room, like a duckling waddles behind the mama duck. Perhaps he sees her simply as a food dispenser. Maybe that's all it is. He has such an expressive face that when he raises his eyebrows, he appears most intelligent, but perhaps it's only a sign of his hope for treat or a walk outside. (Be sure to spell out w-a-l-k in his presence or he'll be all over you looking for his leash.)

In honor of the occasion, Kathy, Ann, Shane, grandson Max and I went out to dinner. The half hour wait at Outback scared us off and into the arms of Olive Garden, so that's where we wound up. No one could survive a half hour wait with a squirming two and a half year old.

At Olive Garden we were shown to a big booth, which was OK since we figured we could easily corral Max in a box like that. He wasn't interested in the crayons and childrens menu, though, twice flinging the paper over his head into the next booth, thereby embarrassing the adults and annoying the other diners in one move. Fortunately, bread sticks kept him occupied until his macaroni and cheese arrived.

You know how children that age suddenly appear to be made of silly string--their bones turn to rubber and they can slide away from you just by going limp--that's what Max attempted, trying to slide away under the table, but Shane diverted his attention to the sugar bowl. The sugar came in those little paper tubes, and he and Max proceeded to build a log cabin out of them which worked well until one broke and the little one discovered their sweet secret. Just what he needed: more energy.

Max did pretty well considering we were there for an hour, though he tended to take all our attention, quashing any possibility of conversation with the visiting dignitary. Said visitor developed a migraine after we got home and so she went on to bed, having gotten permission for Kodiac to snuggle on the bed with her.

She's here till Wednesday, so we'll have time to hang out.