Not Lucky Number Slevin -- some movie with Josh Hartnett. Remember how he was a pretty big deal for a while? Not as much anymore. But he makes the list of "famous" birthdays on Kelly's birthday. In '78. But this is about all 7's. And 33 years ago in '77 yours truly was born. Yes, 33 years old. The same age as El Guapo, right?
Kind of sad to know how much more El Guapo had achieved at 33 than I have. He had a posse, crates of tequila and inspired fear in the fearless Amigos. Oh wait! The joke was that he was older than 33! So I've still got time. Good, good. I will need it. Because now I'm purty busy with a young lady who's rockin' the 7's too.
Little Grace has reached 7 states in her 7th month. Boom! Add Virginia (a name we considered for her) to her list and take note that her first college visit was to her parents' alma mater of W&L. We hit up the 10-year (10 years!) college reunion and the plans came together remarkably well. I was in the DC area for work (incidentally doing some work on the '777' submarine platform -- 7's man, it's crazy) during the week and then Kelly & Grace flew up Friday and we drove down to the prettiest little slice of heaven you've ever seen -- Lexington, VA. Yup, Kelly flew solo with Grace, with a connection in Dallas, on a 6am flight. Boom! Mother of the year; write it in ink. And Yaya and Papa drove over for a little mini-vacation to help us out with Grace as we ran from event to event all weekend absorbing all the splendor, gossip and alcohol we could (but sadly no 7-and-7's).
Anyway, photos aplenty from the festivities to guide us. Friday night started great with dinner at a downtown staple for group dinners in little Lex-tropolis. Although two other places for such events had either gone out of business or burned down. So, kind of sad. That led to our first (and certainly not last) "it was better when we were here" musing that would be muttered to no one in particular. Anyway, good times; then back to leave Grace with her grandparents for a big night out. But, she's hitting a clingy period and so we had a short outing that night. No worries -- tired anyway. Grace slept well and late.
A big breakfast for our big Saturday at another staple on the Lexington gastrointestinal tour -- Redwood Restaurant. Now smoke free thanks to Virginia law, but thankfully not grits or country ham free. We dined with Grace's soon-to-be Godmother Jill and her husband Phil.
Then a big trip around campus to talk at a forum with our host Harlan,
Crazy smiles all around!
followed by some tailgating and not much football game spectating,
and then (after dropping some serious coin at the campus bookstore on swag) we gave Grace a building tour.
The day completed and exhaustion taking over, we dumped Grace off with her beloved grandparents again and headed to an evening on the front lawn of campus with some tasty pulled-pork BBQ not often found (well) in Texas, wine and local'ish beer. Did we mingle with tons of classmates? No, not really. But we took a class photo after a cocktail hour at the President's house. That was fun.
Well, then Grace got a little fussy again and so we had her dropped off at the front-lawn party seen above and strapped her in for a walk home to our fine B&B ...err...professor's house. Wouldn't you know it, though? The old frat house was on the way home and it was just a cocktail party. No crazy loud bands or tomfoolery. Or at least not too much tomfoolery. So we went. With our baby. But we weren't the only ones! So, it's OK!
Old, dear buddies and our famed house mother had a good time and we turned in at a respectable hour.
The next morning it was off to Dulles airport to head home and leave behind the grandparents and the beautiful fall colors of Virginia. With one last goodbye and some hugs for the road, we were off, up I-81 on a beautiful, clear day through the Shenandoah Valley.
Upon our return, I really was too exhausted to think about any kind of birthday celebration. So, on the day itself, we headed to a classic Mexican haunt, I downed 2 margaritas and enjoyed my first birthday as a dad. It was simple and fantastic. I'll never forget it. Grace at dinner. She has a funny look on her face. I think she was caught faking a smile, because (let's be honest) she was bored.
And to finish off the numbers-themed post, the 33rd Chilean miner was rescued on my 33rd birthday. Huzzah! Now remember those were Chilean miners, not Texan miners. Those flags can be confusing as some Texans recently proved. Ciao.
Kind of sad to know how much more El Guapo had achieved at 33 than I have. He had a posse, crates of tequila and inspired fear in the fearless Amigos. Oh wait! The joke was that he was older than 33! So I've still got time. Good, good. I will need it. Because now I'm purty busy with a young lady who's rockin' the 7's too.
Little Grace has reached 7 states in her 7th month. Boom! Add Virginia (a name we considered for her) to her list and take note that her first college visit was to her parents' alma mater of W&L. We hit up the 10-year (10 years!) college reunion and the plans came together remarkably well. I was in the DC area for work (incidentally doing some work on the '777' submarine platform -- 7's man, it's crazy) during the week and then Kelly & Grace flew up Friday and we drove down to the prettiest little slice of heaven you've ever seen -- Lexington, VA. Yup, Kelly flew solo with Grace, with a connection in Dallas, on a 6am flight. Boom! Mother of the year; write it in ink. And Yaya and Papa drove over for a little mini-vacation to help us out with Grace as we ran from event to event all weekend absorbing all the splendor, gossip and alcohol we could (but sadly no 7-and-7's).
Anyway, photos aplenty from the festivities to guide us. Friday night started great with dinner at a downtown staple for group dinners in little Lex-tropolis. Although two other places for such events had either gone out of business or burned down. So, kind of sad. That led to our first (and certainly not last) "it was better when we were here" musing that would be muttered to no one in particular. Anyway, good times; then back to leave Grace with her grandparents for a big night out. But, she's hitting a clingy period and so we had a short outing that night. No worries -- tired anyway. Grace slept well and late.
A big breakfast for our big Saturday at another staple on the Lexington gastrointestinal tour -- Redwood Restaurant. Now smoke free thanks to Virginia law, but thankfully not grits or country ham free. We dined with Grace's soon-to-be Godmother Jill and her husband Phil.
Then a big trip around campus to talk at a forum with our host Harlan,
Crazy smiles all around!
and then (after dropping some serious coin at the campus bookstore on swag) we gave Grace a building tour.
The day completed and exhaustion taking over, we dumped Grace off with her beloved grandparents again and headed to an evening on the front lawn of campus with some tasty pulled-pork BBQ not often found (well) in Texas, wine and local'ish beer. Did we mingle with tons of classmates? No, not really. But we took a class photo after a cocktail hour at the President's house. That was fun.
Well, then Grace got a little fussy again and so we had her dropped off at the front-lawn party seen above and strapped her in for a walk home to our fine B&B ...err...professor's house. Wouldn't you know it, though? The old frat house was on the way home and it was just a cocktail party. No crazy loud bands or tomfoolery. Or at least not too much tomfoolery. So we went. With our baby. But we weren't the only ones! So, it's OK!
Old, dear buddies and our famed house mother had a good time and we turned in at a respectable hour.
The next morning it was off to Dulles airport to head home and leave behind the grandparents and the beautiful fall colors of Virginia. With one last goodbye and some hugs for the road, we were off, up I-81 on a beautiful, clear day through the Shenandoah Valley.
Upon our return, I really was too exhausted to think about any kind of birthday celebration. So, on the day itself, we headed to a classic Mexican haunt, I downed 2 margaritas and enjoyed my first birthday as a dad. It was simple and fantastic. I'll never forget it. Grace at dinner. She has a funny look on her face. I think she was caught faking a smile, because (let's be honest) she was bored.
And to finish off the numbers-themed post, the 33rd Chilean miner was rescued on my 33rd birthday. Huzzah! Now remember those were Chilean miners, not Texan miners. Those flags can be confusing as some Texans recently proved. Ciao.
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