Yesterday, the 10th, was Rich’s 50th birthday.  It was a quiet day.  No big partying here.  He did take the day off from work to enjoy some of his favorite things. 

Early in the morning, his Busia called to wish him a happy birthday.  He wasn’t up yet.  We talked for a bit.  She was reminiscing about the time she took the train down to Roswell, NM from Chicago to see him.  In her stories, there is a lot of dust.  I can see why.  It is a very sandy area and the wind blows a lot.  I loved one of her last statements.  “I was 40 when Rich was born.  I was only a child!”  Compared to her 90 years, she probably was at that time.

Rich didn’t sleep in too late.  After a cup of coffee and the paper, he turned his attentions to getting caught up on the computer.  He had Sally business to take care of this morning.  After checking out Facebook and his email, he pulled up the page he wanted.  I’m not sure of the name of the business, but the guy’s name was Dick.  With phone in hand, Rich proceeded to call Dick.  BTW: Rich uses the name Dick when he is feeling bad ass.  Seems appropriate.

Dick answered the phone and the conversation about carburetors got underway.  Dick is in the business of rebuilding these nice little attachments to an engine at his shop way down in Texas.  Rich finished describing his issues and what kind of little metal components he had.  Dick had a list of specific questions for how Rich wanted them to work when them came back.  I believe there was an agreement and Rich wrote up a letter with the details and boxed up the carbs for a trip to Texas.  Now Sally will be bad ass too.

Next order of business was to take Sascha to Moraine State Park for a run on one of the trails.  Packing up scooter, harness, and dog, Sascha and Rich left in the truck.  No, Rich was driving and not Sascha. An hour and a half later, they returned, just as I was leaving to pick up birthday cake.  Sascha was in the back of the truck and not the cab.  The tail was wagging a hundred miles an hour and she had a big grin on her face.  She was also very wet.

The Opossum Run trail that Rich likes is about 3 miles long.  There are lots of hills and valleys.  There is also a ditch that is usually filled with water.  Sascha remembers this ditch very well.  We’ve made the mistake of letting her get a drink from the ditch, but she always plops down in the water instead.  She loves to lay in her pool of water, wherever it is.  I think Sascha is beginning to learn the trail.  She stopped at the picnic table where I had to take a rest and she got water.  Only Rich wasn’t ready to stop!

Since they had returned early, I took Rich to lunch while I was out on my errand. Herb’s Bakery makes the most divine cakes and they taste like there is so little sugar in them.  I don’t know how they do that.  The cakes are buttery soft, not overly sweet, and they decorate them in such cute ways.  I can’t find anyone else who makes such a cake, so I make the drive several miles to pick one up.  They are so worth it!  I told them to decorate the cake with something beer related.  There were little tin beer cans hanging over the cake.  Well worth the trip again this year.

So we stopped at the Beef Villa just up the street from Herb’s.  Around here, there are hot dog stands by the dozens.  They all serve hot dogs and italian beef sandwiches with fries.  Standing at the counter, the menu was limited, but it did look good.  I decided on the reuben sandwich and Rich got italian beef with cheezy fries.  I don’t know about Rich’s sandwich, but mine was excellent.  It really hit the spot.  So this means I took Rich to lunch and I paid for it.

One more stop before we headed home.  We were going right by Woodman’s Grocery.  There, Rich needed to pick up frozen Door County cherries for his cherry wheat beer that he was expecting to brew within the next few days.  Yep, cherry wheat beer was required for the June pig roast.  Cherries and pig go together, I think.

So I had to get back to work.  Yep, I had worked through Rich’s phone call to Dick and while he was out scootering with Sascha.  Now back to more work.  Rich spent his afternoon hanging out around the house.

Rick got home from school and we sat Rich down on the couch to open cards and presents.  We got him a book called Chicago by the Pint.  It was a history of the great breweries in Chicago.  Then he got real moosehid moccassins to keep his feet warm and dry.  Finally, we got his a flamed bowling shirt and a backup shirt that was just styling red and black.  Now he has a choice when he wants to bowl. 

For dinner, Rich chose Slyce.  This is a really cool pizza place that cooks their pies in coal fired ovens.  The menu has already created combinations, which are excellent.  Then you can create your own, but can you get one better than they have already created.  I’m not so sure.  We got one white and one red.  White was olive oil with fennel sausage, cream, and basil.  The red was meatball, pepperoni, and ham with basil.  Both were excellent. 

Rich likes this place not only for their pizza, but because they carry an excellent assortment of craft beers.  A few are on tap, like he prefers.  He started off with one IPA and finished with a second one from a different brewery.  Since we had a designated driver, I had the Audacious Apriot wheat.  It was a nice dinner out with the family. 

Back at the ranch, we finally fired up that movie, “Paul,” that’s been recorded forever and we never got around to.  I had watched bits and pieces while it was still running on the movie channel, but I had never seen the very beginning.  It was cute and had several good laughs.  Then it was cake time.  We opened up the chocolate with raspberry filling cake, sang Happy Birthday, and ate up. 

Now our habit in the past has been to include the dogs in our lives.  Sofie even learned to sing along with the song.  I’m not sure it was Happy Birthday she was singing, or she was just yelling for you to throw down that cake.  This makes the fourth birthday we’ve had since Sascha has joined us.  And guess what?  She has learned that when we sing Happy Birthday, good things happen.  She danced around with the song.  Next birthday, we’ll have to have video of her dance. 

To finish off the night, Rich got a call from his brother, Alex.  That really helped to make an end to a good day.  He enjoys talking to his family and Alex in particular.  It might that they can talk stocks.  After getting caught up with Alex, he toddled off to bed to read a few chapters before lights out.

I do believe Rich had a great birthday.  I thought turning 50 would be tough for him, but he seems to have weathered it well. Today, I ran out early to pick up donuts for work.  Everyone expects to share in your good fortune.  They seem to like the donuts from our local bakery in particular. 

Happy birthday, Rich.  Hard to believe you survived your youth and are getting ready for some middle age.  Enjoy it though.