The Scorekeeper

A WACKY WEEK!

Philip and I started to watch the Pro Bowl on Sunday night (January 31). The NFL All-Stars...in Miami...prime time...what could be better tv for the Scorekeeper? Thirty minutes into the game, Diane announces that the Grammys was starting. The music industry's All-Stars...in Los Angeles...prime time...what could be worse tv for the Scorekeeper? The battle was on!

Guess who won?

We settled in to watch music's finest. Lady Gaga, Elton John, Beyonce, Pink, Green Day. As opposed to Brett Favre, Tony Romo, Adrian Peterson, Miles Austin, Brian Westbrook, DeMarcus Ware. Philip was not impressed! He hung around for a while...displayed his annoyance...announced his chagrin...and finally stood up in the middle of one of Beyonce's many acceptance speeches, and declared, "I'm outta here!"

Diane asked him to stay. "After all," she pleaded,"You like music, don't you?" "Sure," Philip responded,"but I don't like the Grannies!"

Lady Gaga

Granny! What was his problem?

Philip has always enjoyed swimming. He joined the local 'Special Olympics' swimming group here in town last fall. They meet every Friday at 4 pm at the amazing, newly renovated, world-class, Sam Lindsay Aquatic Centre in downtown Kitimat.

He hates swimming! Wait...that was yesterday!

He's going swimming! That's today...or at least it was so half an hour ago!

No telling what the next 24 hours hold.

So far this week Philip has changed his mind (and the reasons accompanying those changes) a dozen times. He's going...he's not! He's thinking about it...he's not sure! "Tell the instructors I can't make it...too busy...too much on my mind!" (that part we believe) "Won't be going," he states emphatically. "'Cause a man has to do what a man has to do!...keep scores...watch wrestling!"

We smile, we laugh. We appease, we accommodate. But all the while we worry...and wonder! What's going on in that brain of his? What causes so much confusion over a simple thing like swimming? We'll likely never understand. In the meantime, we'll get his bathing suit, his change of clothes, his deodorant, and his towel, ready. "Cause there's only 36 hours left, and one never knows 'what a man has to do!'

I almost always have dinner ready when Diane gets home from work. It gives me something to do...it takes the pressure off of her...and it certainly scores me some points for 'down the road' (wink -wink!).

Yesterday Philip and I decided to forgo dinner in favour of an A&W 'oink-fest'! Diane came home early and tired, was apprised of the 'plan', and quickly settled in on the couch in anticipation of the fine culinary experience that awaited her.

Coupons and cash in hand, Philip headed out. Destination? A&W...just 5 minutes away. We were engrossed in NCIS...not exactly his favourite show...and anyway..."I can do this on my own," he insisted. Kitimat's a safe town...the bears are asleep!

Twenty minutes later, in he storms! "I'm not happy," he declared. "She ripped me off...she wouldn't listen...she wouldn't give me my Rootbeer! I told her...I told her...I told her!"

After we calmed him down, we learned that he had been shorted one teen burger, one medium fries, AND, that all-important, can't-live-without-it, what's-the-point-of-going-to-A&W-if-you-can't-get-it...ROOTBEER!

I called the restaurant. We know the manager (and her family) personally. They're 'good' people. They're from down east - Nova Scotia. If they were from Newfoundland, they'd, of course, be 'great' people!

I explained the situation and together we discovered the attendant looking after Philip had neglected to read the reverse side of one of the coupons where it was clearly written that he was to get a teen burger, fries...AND ROOTBEER! You think Philip would have missed that? He hadn't been charged for them...but that part was irrelevant. He wanted his Rootbeer!

The manger asked if he'd come back. In a flash he was gone! Diane and I tore into the burgers and onion rings he had brought home (not lettin' these get cold!).

Fifteen minutes later, in he came...all smiles...packing one fresh, hot teen burger, one order of immaculately-cut, finely-seasoned, french fries... AND THREE (say it with me)...THREE LARGE, FRESHLY POURED, FILLED-TO-THE-BRIM, FROTHILY (I made that word up) MAGNIFICENT...ROOTBEERS! And, Philp boasted, "the Rootbeers were FREE!"

Well, can life get any better?

Philip informed us that the attendant who had originally served him was quick to apologize, which really impressed him. He likes that. You'll remember from a previous blog , Philip is big on "I'm sorry!"

Good job, A&W!

Good job, Rita!

After recouping and regrouping...and thoroughly enjoying our 'nutritious' meal...I did the dishes (hehehe) and Philip set up the Texas Holdem Poker game. We were confident this activity would erase any misplaced ill feelings he might be harbouring towards our favourite eating establishment.

The game lasted only 20 minutes. I destroyed Philip and his mother...grabbed the coveted prize (a KitKat bar)...and headed for the couch! Diane settled in at the computer. Loser cleans up!

Diane's on face book with Philip's brother Johnny (back in Ontario). Philip's carefully stacking the chips and placing them, colour- coordinated, into the case. Suddenly a stack of white chips collapses and spills all over the floor. No problem. He's cool...gets down and starts to pick them up.

The phone rings. Philip grabs it. It's Johnny, in Hamilton, asking Philip if he had just dropped all the white chips on the floor? (Diane had let Johnny know as it happened via the computer).

Amazing stuff here!

Philip wasn't taken aback by the call. He merely acknowledged Johnny's observation and assured him all was good. He hung up content. Diane questioned the call. Philip said it was just Johnny commenting on the noise the chips had made when they fell on the floor. "He heard that?", mom asked. "Yes!"

Philip completed his task, put the case in the cupboard, and then closed the door to the cupboard rather loudly, commenting as he did so, "Let's see if Johnny heard that!"

Ten seconds...the phone rings...Philip answers.