Last night we took the boys out to dinner to celebrate how well they did first semester.

We’ve been trying to curb our spending, but I’m a firm believer in TYS – Treat Yo Self, and so is PJ.

Well holy moly, if I didn’t notice inflation before, I certainly do now. That is, by taking 5 hungry savages (myself included) to The Outback, or as my Biff insists is called just Outback, no “The”.

I always glance over at the bill nonchalantly. This time, I couldn’t help my eyes from bulging out of my skull and almost popping out and rolling around on the table, which looked like the aftermath of a giant food tornado.

Guess it’s going to be lots of spaghetti nights for a while 😬

Anyway, when the server introduced herself as Stevie, I had the nagging sensation in my mind to ask if she was named after the beautiful, glorious, wonderful, cool as Heaven, Stevie Nicks, but I did not.

However, taking the orders of 5 individuals takes a little while, and it gave my brain just enough time to tell myself, “Just ask her! You need to know if her parents were the awesome hippie-type that would name their child after Stevie Nicks, whose tumultuous love affair with Lindsey Buckingham produced some of the best music this world haever known!!”

So I did. And she was not. And although she seemed to be asked this every day of her life, (probably more than once a day since she serves middle-aged women like moi at The Outback), she handled it like a champ and with much-appreciated-by-me, grace.

A little while later, PJ says, “I knew you were going to ask if she was named after Stevie Nicks the minute she said her name.”

I asked if he was embarrassed, and I think he said yes, but I can’t remember because the kids asked who Stevie Nicks is. I got to tell them all about the ethereal goddess with the voice of an angel. Also, I don’t care if PJ was embarrassed, I actually welcome it.

Then, throughout our meal, I kept looking over at the cutest baby I’d ever seen. The whole family was passing her around and she was alert and happy and had no socks on and I just wanted to grab her little feet and kiss them (weird, I know).

The mom was closest to us as we walked out, and was holding the baby. Most normal people would just smile in the baby’s direction and keep walking, but I felt compelled to tell the mom how cute her baby was.

So I did, but she didn’t turn my way.

So I said it again.

The woman still did not turn.

Now my whole family, her whole family, and the rest of The Outback patrons, saw me say it TWICE.

I guess I could’ve just left, but now I was fully committed. My brain was all, “NOTICE ME! NOTICE ME!! I can’t just walk away at this point!!”

So I practically yelled at her, “This baby is so cute! I love it’s little feet!!”

It was wearing a grey outfit and I couldn’t 100% tell if it was a girl, and didn’t want to assume it’s gender, but my political-correctness made me look like an even bigger weirdo than I already am.

Finally she turned my way and says, “What?” and I had to say it AGAIN! (Are you cringing? I feel like you are.)

At this point, I honestly thought she may have been hearing impaired, but then she said, “Oh thanks 😑” like I was bothering her, which in turn made me want to tell her the F off, but I did not.

When we walked out, I asked my family, “Are you embarrassed?” My sweet boys said no, PJ said yes.

As my cousin Jonathan always says, oh welllll!!!

PJ should, and does, definitely know who he married by now – and he loves me anyway 🤣