December 13, 2012 – Thursday

31 degrees

Pentoga Road

Happy Birthday to Sargie! There were 36 birthday candles in the box so I guess that’s how old she is! Happy thirty-sixth, honey. I love you.

This morning almost started off on a horrible note. The furnace was dead! It wouldn't kick on. After all the plans we've made to go to Green Bay, it appeared we'd have to stay home and keep wood in the stove until the furnace repairman could make our alternate heating system healthy.

I started looking downstairs and noticed the switch on the furnace was turned to the off position. Resembling a light switch, I must have rubbed against it yesterday while getting the wrapping paper from behind other boxes in the basement. I flipped the lever and the furnace roared to life.

Wednesday was busy. I wrapped the five talking books for the grandbabies. That alone was traumatic enough for the day. Lord, I hate wrapping, but it was something I wanted to do. I guess not having too much contact with them for the past several years has inspired me to be a better grandpa. Personally wrapping their presents made me feel… well, closer, I guess. I don’t know. Each looked as though a five-year-old cut the paper and applied the tape, but hey, the average age of the grandbabies is about five, so it all works out.

I threw in a load of laundry and started dumping the ingredients of Sargie’s birthday cake into a big bowl. All went well until I discovered we had no eggs.

I hopped in the car, stopped by the post office and mailed the books, then visited with Brother Yooper Mark for a bit at the plant, continued to the store where I purchased eggs, then stopped at a small gift shop and purchased a Snow Baby Angel for Sargie. The girl loves her angels!

Then it was back home to finish the cake, do more laundry, do a bit of digital wrestling with some students doing their final exam, and finally, cleaning the house.

I needed a break so an hour before dark, I strapped on my hiking boots and trekked the daily five mile route. It was exactly what the doctor ordered. I came home refreshed and ready to throw a birthday party… for two.

The cake was somewhat disastrous. One of the layers stuck in the pan and came out in pieces. Using store-bought frosting, I attempted to paste the pieces together. That caused me to run out of the German Chocolate, so I opened a new can and stirred in regular chocolate frosting. I was resourceful though… I added coconut for the faux German Chocolate look.

Sargie walked in the door and was surprised by the flowers I’d purchased for her earlier. I warmed up a rotisserie chicken purchased at the store and together, we made mashed potatoes and mixed a pouch of gravy. It was a meal fit for a queen… or at least a birthday girl!

I surprised Sargie by going upstairs and after lighting the candles, carried the cake down singing Happy Birthday.

We’re on our way to Green Bay… as soon as Sargie’s finished doing her girl thing in the bathroom. It’s going to be a marathon session of shopping and no doubt, I’ll end up sitting on a bench in the mall while she performs her Christmas purchasing magic. We’ll spend the night and come home tomorrow afternoon. It’s going to be a whirlwind tour of Title Town, but I’m prepared. After all, a man’s work in never done.

So are the tales of Pentoga Road…