The Pony Ate Two of My Fingers

We stopped by to pick up The Pony at his apartment on Friday evening. The daylight lasts longer there. While Hick helped carry in the stuff we brought him, I waited in A-CAD, saving my knees for the third-floor ascension later. I turned to look around at the OU apartment complex, and caught the sunset.

It was breathtaking! As much as I hated to infringe upon my creaky knees, I hoisted myself out of A-CAD to capture this magnificent display without the leather headrest and car interior framing.

Well worth it, I say. We took The Pony out for supper at a Chinese buffet (his choice), and then went back to his apartment to visit for a while. Actually, until he suggested that we leave! "Doesn't your hotel pool close at 9:00, Dad? It's a little after 8:00 now. Maybe you want to go back." Sure. We only drove 9 hours to see him. But The Pony is The Pony.

Yes, Val is fresh back from Norman today, and resting up from The Pony's Thanksgiving feast before preparing our own. Not that most people would term The Pony's dinner a feast, probably. We took him the Sister Schubert's rolls and real butter and Chex Mix that he requested, and the surprise Oreo cake. But we did not partake. Maybe The Pony is saving them for actual Thanksgiving.

We asked The Pony where he'd like to go for a meal, and he said he was thinking about Cheddar's. He's never been there, nor have we. Haven't even heard of it, mostly, though I figured it was a chain. If not there, he said, then a steakhouse. Since we've been to steakhouses in Norman, and The Pony really seemed to have his tender heart set on Cheddar's, that's where we went. Sorry I don't have pics, but it DID happen!

We got there around 3:45, having spent the noonish hours in the local casino (gambling age 18 for slots), and The Pony, being a late riser, having eaten his breakfast (of Oreo cake) around 10:15. Even at this odd hour, Cheddar's had a good crowd.

Hick went all out, and even ordered an appetizer plate of potato skins, cheese bites, and chicken tenders. They came with sour cream, honey mustard, and marinara sauce. Let me just say that the marinara sauce was delicious! It was for the cheese bites, of course, but Hick kept dipping (double!) his potato skins in there. He said to give them some flavor, even though they had cheese and bacon on them, and came with the sour cream. Which I might add, had a hint of flavor that I didn't quite recognize. But it was just right! Subtle. Then I got to the bottom of the little bowl, and hit something solid. It was a slice of jalapeno! I put it on Hick's plate and told him THERE was his flavor for his potato skins. The Pony ate two of the three chicken fingers. I did not begrudge them. I was having them for my meal, so I let Hick have the third one.

Hick ordered a ribeye (medium well) and shrimp, with a loaded baked potato and Caesar salad. The Pony ordered a ribeye (medium rare), with a baked potato (butter only) and Caesar salad. They came with a croissant-looking roll with some kind of sauce drizzled on them. I ordered the chicken fingers with honey mustard sauce, fries, and SLAW (what else would you expect?).

Here's the deal. We had finished our appetizer, and Hick and The Pony were nearly to the bottom of their giant Caesar bowls, when the waitress appeared, and informed them that the kitchen was out of baked potatoes! I'm pretty sure they would have known that when the order came in, but she said she was JUST informed. So you can't blame the waitress. Missing baked potatoes roll downhill, I'm sure, and she was at the bottom. She said we could wait 30 minutes, or she could substitute mashed potatoes. Hick and The Pony both agreed to take the mashed potatoes. They came piled high in a little bowl, enhanced with bacon.

Here's the deal. I think that Hick and The Pony should have been offered some type of compensation. Maybe a discount, or a free dessert. That's how you do business. If you're out of something, why should people pay the same price for something they did not choose to order? Anyhoo, they got nothing but mashed potatoes in place of a baked potato. That's what The Pony had been talking about since we brought up where to eat. That he wanted somewhere with steak, and a baked potato. He ate about half of his mashed potatoes, and said they were good, but there was too much of them. That might have been for my benefit. The Pony generally likes his food on the plain side. Like potato and butter only. No bacon or seasonings.

I must say, the food was delicious. Especially the slaw, but all of it was tasty. The waitress asked us if we were celebrating anything when she brought out the appetizer platter. Maybe they like to sing happy birthday and make a production. Or maybe we looked like disadvantaged bumpkins who wouldn't be dining at her chain unless it was a special occasion. Anyhoo...when she asked if we were celebrating anything, Hick said, "Thanksgiving."

Not sure why she looked surprised. Unless she thought, "These bumpkins don't even know what day Thanksgiving is, and that turkey is usually the main course."

I would still term our (early) Thanksgiving with The Pony as a success. I think he would, too.