Date night, at last

You may have noticed I’ve mentioned getting a babysitter a few times lately. Haven’t I? I’ve at least thought it. I was totally ready. My husband and I haven’t had a night to ourselves for several months now.

I didn’t think we’d be able to do anything this weekend, but my husband got back early from his business trip … so I e-mailed my dear mother for a favor. “Sure,” She said. Oh, what a good mom. Those awesome Sunday dinners and now giving me a night off! I’ll repay the favor to Ella someday.

We were so excited to eat at Granite City, a new restaurant and brewery by Target. I had heard so many good reviews.

The plan was to eat at 6, be at the movies by 7:30. We needed to leave at 5:45. It was 5:45 though and my husband swore there was just two more minutes left in some game. Ugh. I wait. Then he says “let’s take my car.” His car is nice, and mine has become sorta the mom mobile full of toys and jackets and strollers … A minute later he says “Help me clean out my car real quick. It’s a mess from the trip.” “This isn’t how real dates start,” I tell him.

We finally leave. It’s almost 6. It’s going to be so close to eat and get to the movie on time. And if Steve misses a preview – well he won’t miss a preview, I think he would refuse to go.

We get to Granite City and as soon as we see the full parking lot and people standing out front, we know we’ve messed up. Yep, it’s a 50 minute wait. Shoot. We were so looking forward to going to that place. I forgot that the rest of world still goes out on Saturday nights.

Then I remember there’s a new Mexican restaurant by Coldwater theater, called Agave. We’ve heard good things about that place too.

We head over there and get right in. It’s a neat place. A really cool old-looking all wood bar. And we sit at a bar table – which is fun, because my days of sitting in the bar are seeming long gone. We order jumbo margaritas immediately. And I get fajitas and Steve gets the burrito special. Our food is there so quickly there’s no worry about being late for the movie, and my fajitas are really good. I still haven’t been able to find ones as good as at La Casita in the Coachella Valley in California, but these are pretty good.

We hit the movies next. The movie, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” is really funny. I forgot how much I love going to the movies too. You can’t just sit at home and watch movies. It’s not the same thing at all. Sitting in the huge theater staring at the huge screen and being surrounded by the sound, there’s just no comparison.

After the movie, I call up some old college buddies who I knew we’re in town – watching the Fort Wayne Derby Dolls compete. They say they’ve just finished eating at Club Soda. Great, we’ll join them for a drink. I’m already tired. It’s 9:30, embarasssingly past my bedtime. But it’s date night!

Club Soda is in really, cool old building downtown. We join them in the backroom where there are lots of parties and we can hear the jazz band upstairs playing. Lots of young people there. Wow, I miss going out sometimes. Being with friends.

We sit and talk. My husband and Brent reminisced about the good old days, while Rochelle and I talked about our jobs and kids. I had an awesome mojita. Rochelle and I commiserated on how early we have to get up and go to bed at night, and finally she says “Well, did we decide that we’re old and we need to go to bed?” “Yes!” My thoughts exactly.

Our date was really fun. A nice little break from reality. But I was ready for a good night of sleeping and I would be glad to pick up Ella in the morning.