I Bid Dawn Adieu

Wed. 12/28

We wake to a leisurely breakfast of pancakes, bacon, and coffee, and reflect on the last five days.  Her fave park was DAK. The best meal was a toss up between Tarintino’s and Johnnie’s. But mostly, she just enjoyed getting away, soaking up the warm temps, and spending time with her big brother. We both agreed Orlando was crazy busy during Christmas week and tried to reconcile this with all the bad economic news pervading the airwaves. I guess people are not willing to give up their vacations, and will put the expenses on their charge cards if necessary and deal with it later.

We have one more meal stop before I take Dawn to the airport, and that is Five Guys Burgers. There’s one not too far from the condo on Kirkman Ave., so we head over there. Dawn gets a single; I get a double. We share a Diet Coke (unlimited refills) and a small fries, and I shell some peanuts. Everything is delicious. As with most restaurant chains, it will only be a matter of time before Five Guys comes to Wisconsin, and then they won’t be “special” any more! (Although their burgers are pretty spectacular, and they are the only ones I know who make fresh French fries from raw potatoes on the premises.)

We head over to the airport, and I drop Dawn off at the Southwest departure entrance to the “A” terminal and tell Dawn to call me when she arrives in Milwaukee. I have my gym back packed and ready to go because I haven’t been to the gym in five days, and head over to 24 Hour Fitness and do my usual workout and swim. The scale says I’m up 4 pounds, but I’m not concerned because this is probably closer to my “true weight” anyway … fully hydrated and with a belly full of food … in this case a double-patty burger from the Five Guys!

Back to the condo, and it’s eerily quiet with just me and the two “girls.” Phoebe and Abby search the apartment, looking for the other “big kitty” (i.e., Dawn) but then settle down, presumably thinking she’s just off in another room somewhere. I have a bunch of leftover beef noodle soup, so that’s what I have for dinner, along with an orange. While having my dessert of Dawn’s leftover Haagen Dazs Rocky Road ice cream, Dawn gives me a call from the Milwaukee airport to let me know she’s arrived safely.

I do a little reading, first the intro to the Steve Jobs biography that Dawn got me for Christmas, then a few “pages” on the Kindle of Stephen King’s “11/22/63.” As I’m about ready to nod off, the phone rings, and it’s Dawn telling me she’s back at her condo in Madison.

Expenses: Lunch: $18; milk at Target: $2. Total: $20

Bruce