Hola Bitches. I've skipped lots. I hope all are well. Those that aren't get all the ~ma and brackets they need.
I had an incredible weekend. My dad had his 60th birthday party in San Francisco on Saturday, and we threw him a surprise party. And what a surprise it was.
The surprise had been in the works for about eight months, and my step-mom pulled it off masterfully. Ten years ago, we had a big 50's themed party, were people dressed up, there was a DJ, and all around a very memorable and fun time. My SM convinced my dad that they couldn't top that, and that they'd have a small dinner with maybe friends, and my uncle, who was to be in town for the weekend for a conference.
The surprise party was held at a place called Tante Marie's Cooking School. All the while planning this thing, the lead contact from the school was told to say she was from SM's book club, and wanted to talk to her about the latest book. Several of my dad's friends who live in the area had told him they would be out of town for the weekend.
As for myself, a show I was working on had its opening weekend, and it was very uncertain I would be able to attend until last Tuesday, when my stage manager gave her reluctant approval, and a replacement was found to operate the follow spot.
I rented a car Saturday morning and proceeded to drive straight to SF, to make the party which started at 6:30 pm. I pulled across the Bay Bridge and into town at about 4:30 in the afternoon, found a place to park near the school, and sat in a cafe for a bit, waiting for the fun.
My dad, my SM, and my uncle (now out of his conference) pulled up to the school, ostensibly to pick something up (a case of wine, or maybe a bunch of books for the club, I never heard exactly). When my dad walked through the door of the place, all of his friends jumped out from the back room and yelled "Surprise!" and boy did he have No. I. Dea.
Then, not only did I walk around the corner, but also his best friends of 20+ years who live down in San Diego. That stunned him beyond the capacity for thought. The look on his face when he saw me was something I'll treasure for the rest of my life.
We then all proceeded to cook and eat our own gormet meal.
Hors d'ouevres of figs wrapped in prosciutto and goat cheese and baked, and carmelized onions and walnut pastries were served while we worked. Then the first course was a bouillabaisse of fresh local cod, shrimp, Dungennesse crab, and oysters, with rouille en croutons. The main course was Moroccan-spiced rack of lamb with mint-pine nut relish, cous cous with dried fruit and feta, and blanched green beans sauteed with olive oil and garlic, and the dessert was a hot pear and apple compote with oatmeal cookie crumble and a hot vanilla cream sauce.
It was a really incredible and fun evening. I helped make the figs and the green beans, and everything was unbelievably delicious. The lamb was easily the best lamb I've ever had, and the fruit compote was divine (and sadly lacking in extra portions). My uncle and I sat up with my dad and step-mom for an hour or so at their place afterward, and went to bed at little after midnight. I spent the morning with them, then popped back in the car and headed home. All in all I spent over twelve hours in the car for about six or eight hours of family and fun (not counting sleep), and it was sooooooo more than worth it.
It was a night I'm sure no one in attendence will ever forget, least of all my dad.
S really wished she was up to the trip, and my whole family there wished she could have been too, but it was just too much time in the car, and spent too far away from medical help if anything had cropped up.
Still, it was well worth it, and S was very glad I could go.