The Win Streak

[gurdonark]

Today we went to the Allen Premium Outlet Mall, where we were pleased to discover a store that had bright, sunny Spring-like fashions for kids, devoid of any Britney factor. I think there's something winning about a child dressed for fun, particularly with a boat hat on.

Then we went to Shady Oak barbecue, where the bread still tastes like sweet salt aned the smoked chicken, sans sauce, is quite good. We then stopped at that little known tourist attraction, Central Market, a gourmet grocery from a chain originating down in Austin. Everything there is tres exotique and marked with little signs more revelatory than many museum displays. The mushrooms looked like something from Alice in Wonderland, while the fish market featured a number of fishy fellows who grinned somwhat mercilessly. We passed over my favorite part, the gourmet honey, but came out with fresh salmon.

The two guys and the little girl headed to the Allen Natatorium, but we soon found the little girl had second thoughts, and we hastened to permit her to rejoin the pedicure patrol also embarking from my house this afternoon.

I played my brother-in-law at chess, and though he was quite good, I manage to prevail. This matched my pattern thus far this weekend, when my chess finally begins to resemble a warmed over noodle rather than merely a cold, wet noodle. My assiduous study of Bird's Opening even paid off with a stunning win that could have been from a textbook. I was just congratulating myself on a "saved by a mating combination" win over a B player when a friend came on-line. In short order, I had lost three out of five games, proving once again that no matter how good one feels one is, or how good one says one is, then one is really only as good as one plays in a given set of games.
My win streak ended, I made this entry prior to heading off to bed.

It's been great having relatives in town this weekend. But a quiet week ahead will be great, too.

Comments

[a-lad-inane.livejournal.com]

We then stopped at that little known tourist attraction, Central Market, a gourmet grocery from a chain originating down in Austin.

I shop at the one in San Antonio every Friday night. They now offer wine by the glass as you shop for groceries. I don't drink wine, but I delight in walking about the store in my suit, sipping wine, and pretending I'm the titular character from American Psycho.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I don't have many American Psycho moments, but I sure enjoyed the bratwurst samples!

[gracegiver]

Sounds like your life is getting back on an even keel after the loss of your mom.

And your writing always makes eating sound like an adventure! I love the way you describe your little jaunts as you’re out and about in the world of food.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think it's slowly coming back into gear. I can tell a few things are different, still, but time will no doubt help.

[ouiserboudreaux.livejournal.com]

That is the trouble with kids clothes - they call it prostitots clothes. Look at bratz clothes, look at stores with flimsy bikinis for kids, black plastic leather jackets for kids... it is horrible stuff.

Toss in a child that had to grow up quicker than normal due to abuse, neglect and foster care. It is my goal, my determination to reverse some of that for my daughter. So we avoid those clothes like the plague.

We buy stuff from Lands End (still cute wonderful bright clothes), Polo, Lilly Pultizer, Old Navy, etc. She wants skirts, she gets skorts. She wants flimsy dresses, she gets cute shirt dresses from Polo and Lands End.

I know it is only clothes but it is part of the overall process for us - more child like haircut, more educational things, more sports, less TV, therapy ... all of it will help her grow up healthy and strong.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I think it's really important to resist the early adulting of children in just the way you're doing.

[ouiserboudreaux.livejournal.com]

I agree - especially with a child who has already been exposed to the worst of the adult world.

[bluebellrock.livejournal.com]

... we were pleased to discover a store that had bright, sunny Spring-like fashions for kids, devoid of any Britney factor.

I thought you meant branding, and was going to proffer the ubiquitous Hillary Duff kidswear, but I think, in fact, you mean midriff tops and micro mini skirts, and so I must concur that "there's something winning about a child dressed for fun"! Long live the innocence of youth. There's plenty of time for being overtly body conscious later, sadly enough.

My win streak ended, I made this entry prior to heading off to bed.

Thanks for making that clear 'cos I thought you might've made it after you went to bed. (Which, actually, could happen if you had a laptop. Oh, never mind...) :)

Glad to hear you had a fun weekend.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

Although Hilary Duff is all well and good, I suppose, it's the ways in which innocence is taken from kids that I oppose. So you're right, long live that innocence!

[bluebellrock.livejournal.com]

I was intending to convey how unappealing I find even the Hilary Duff stuff, but at least there are more inches of fabric per typical unit of clothing! I get angry when I see mini-teen clothing in the infants sections of stores, and mini-adult clothing in the teen sections. I haven't suffered for being well-clad as a tot, and I was hardly a prim Laura Ingalls-type pariah. I just wore child-appropriate clobber - as did all kids back then - and I had fun wearing it too!