Turning 50

Today marks the 50th birthday of my late brother, Tony. 50, fifty, the Big Five-O...however you put it, he'd be half a century old. WOW!!!


I was talking with my other brother, Curt, a few days ago, and we were discussing Tony and wondering how Mother feels to have such "old" children. As the youngest, I was really referring to everyone BUT me. Nita & Curt are both pushing HARD on 60's door and I know I'll always be a "baby" in Mother's eyes. As a non-parent, I'm always amazed to see young-uns I've know from babyhood to adulthood, so I can only imagine how parents feel when their babies evolve into full-fledged grownups. I mean AARPers, seniors-shopping-on-discount-days and the likes. Mother happens to be the proud owner of some of these people and it simply boggles my mind.

As I thought about this entry last week, I wasn't sure which direction to take it--should I keep it serious or should I be as Tony was--silly as all get-out. After Facebooking with Alexander, the youngest of his three sons (Andre-oldest & Jamal-middle), I decided that silly would be the route to take. Since I tend to assign numbers to "The Nephews", Andre is #3, Jamal is #4 and Alexander is #5 (just for future reference if names aren't used).

I can hear Tony's distinctive "squiggle" as I type this--it's kinda hard to describe or duplicate his laugh, so the best I can do is blend a squeal with a giggle. It was one of those sounds you'd hear coming from him and you'd burst into laughter too (after you got over the shock of that sound actually coming from a boy). Mind you, the entire family is quite silly, so it doesn't take much to get us on the giggle train, but there was absolutely no way we could hear Tony squiggling and not join in. Don't you just love folks that make you laugh??

You know what?? I've decided that I won't turn this into a long story about Tony. I'm going to end it here and ask you to think about the person who possesses "that" laugh...you know, the one that throws you into your own little gigglefest and leaves no doubt that they are truly tickled from their toes to their nose. That's exactly what I'm doing today.

Happy Birthday T!!

Sheila Denise

Kirkwood Public House - Lamb Burger

Today, I had lunch with nephew #2 (birth order). Over the years, somehow I've managed to convince myself that he's actually my son, because we have so much in common. Our joint love of lamb is what brought us together for our lunch date. A few weeks ago, I read about a restaurant that offered a slider trio, consisting of a veal, a beef and a lamb burger. Now, as a southern who is absolutely obsessed with meat, I quickly added it to my "restaurants list" in my Blackberry, with the sole intent of taste testing these sliders, that is until I viewed the menu in it's entirety and saw a full-sized lamb burger!!! Right away, I sent #2 a text that we needed to eat there and he was more than happy to oblige. That's another thing I love about him, he's so wide open to being dragged about with his favorite auntie-mommy.

Okay, I guess I should get to the point here, huh?? We agreed to meet at Kirkwood Public House at 11:30 and he arrived early (as usual)--the detour sidetracked me for a few minutes, but he took a seat near the reception area as the employees were setting things in motion (they open at 11:30). While waiting he saw a car screech into a spot near the restaurant entrance. The driver rushed in, saw #2 waiting and promptly asked if he could take his drink order. #2 advised him that he was waiting for someone, but the screech demon urged him to place a drink order. Oh how I wish I had been a few minutes early. This would have been great to witness, but hearing the story was enough to make me laugh hysterically, because I'm a simpleton and I can manage to find humor in almost everything. By the time I arrived, Screech was a cool as a cucumber.

Y'all need to know that #2 is truly a bottomless pit. He had eaten THREE real meals this morning before we met for lunch and swore that he was starving!!! He has youth and metabolism (and exercise) on his side. He ordered chicken tenders & fries as our appy and we both ordered the lamb burger (mine with fries and his with the orzo salad). We snacked on the quite tasty tenders and hand-cut fries while we anxiously awaited our burgers.

Boy oh boy, we were not prepared for the most magnificent lamb burger dining experience. These hand-patted babies were so moist, flavorful and delicious that the only word we could muster out of our full mouths, was DAMN!!!! Now y'all know if you hafta cuss, the food is off-the-charts-some-kinda-good--my official description of KWPH's lamb burger. The caramelized shallots and the mint aioli were the perfect condiments to bring this fantastical piece of heaven to number one status for both of us.

If you're a burger lover, a lamb lover, or have a heck-I'll-try-anything-once streak, then take yourself to the House...right now!!!

Sheila Denise