Chicago. Saturday.
Mr. Etherknitter and I fly to visit his family.
Humid, hot, overcast. Dinner at Tango Sur, a wildly popular Argentinean BYOB. Reservations, a table for six, and we bypass the hourlong wait for a table.
Our waiter is Alfredo. He is not unaware of his impact, and poses as he probably has posed hundreds of times before. Do not sigh. I see his future: he woos you, wins you. Soon, his paunch grows. You begin to irritate him with small indiscretions that only he perceives. He smacks you across the kitchen with the back of his hand. You cannot leave and are consumed with self-loathing. No one is happy. Trust me. I am right.
Sunday. Father's Day at Wrigley Field. The Cubs win. The old ballparks resonate with the sounds of summer. Those Aero-astro-fliptop-domes are NOTHING compared to the majesty of the olde shrines.
Tuesday. Fiddler on the Roof, Topol's farewell tour. This is my first time seeing Fiddler, and it is a grand way to do it. Topol is magnificent in the role.
We are exhausted. It is 95 degrees every day and every night. The AC at the house is broken. The repairmen have not returned our calls. Sleep is elusive.
Knitting is accomplished every spare waking moment. Smooshy socks see a little bit of progress. The baby blanket is now large enough so that nonknitters do not think it is a hat any more. Circular blankets wean one from the idea of rows (360 st and increasing 8 every other row) towards the idea of process.
More to come.
Sorry about the heat. Your story about Alfredo had me rolling. I hope the AC is fixed soon. Mine got repaired today and I am in heaven - as much as can be when one lives in Satan's armpit.
Posted by: Carrie | Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 06:09 PM
Sounds like a fantastic time. The key to spending time with Alfredo is to be done with him before it gets to that point. One night should do it.
Posted by: Carole | Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 06:38 PM
Heeheeeeee.........I love your story about Alfredo! You are too funny! I have to say though he is definitely swoon worthy! I think Carole has the right idea. Love him and leave him fast.... ;)
Isn't Fiddler on the Roof a wonderful play?
Posted by: Kim | Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 06:41 PM
Nothing can replace the old ballparks. When I was a child, we went many times to see the Kansas City A's (yes, I'm that old...) at the old park. Went and saw the Royals at the new park, and it just wasn't baseball anymore.
Loved your Alfredo story - a novel in a paragraph.
Would have loved to see Fiddler...
Posted by: gayle | Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 07:13 PM
First time for Fiddler? For shame! But at least you did it in style.
Alfredo. Carole. Hee.
Posted by: Cheryl S. | Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 08:10 PM
Hey, Gillian's best friend is on the tour of Fiddler, you must have seen her. She is one of the younger sisters, don't ask me which one. Only worth it if you Topol.
Posted by: TeresaC | Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 08:13 PM
LOVE the Alfredo story. Too funny.
I saw Fiddler a million years ago - when Zero Mostel starred (I just revealed my age, didn't I).
Posted by: (formerly) no-blog-rachel | Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 09:23 PM
Please don't mention the heat, have you no relatives in Alaska you could visit? It's nearly too hot to knit.
He looks like someone that would need a lot of attention - no good for me then.
Posted by: Caroline M | Wednesday, July 01, 2009 at 05:35 AM
Alfredo...spot on comments, Carole's right on the money. Some how I am stunned you've never seen Fiddler. You must have been waiting to see the best.
Posted by: margene | Wednesday, July 01, 2009 at 07:21 AM
I trust that you are right.
But he may also have a future with a tiny, gentle, rotund woman with a beaming smile who presents him with chubby, giggling babies every third year until they are nearing 50.
Posted by: June | Wednesday, July 01, 2009 at 09:15 AM
Carole said exactly what I was thinking. Thanks for the laugh this AM!
Posted by: claudia | Wednesday, July 01, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Ahhhhhhhhh, Chicago.
and ahhhhhhhhhhh, Alfredo. One can admire the package without actually making a purchase.
Posted by: Ruth | Wednesday, July 01, 2009 at 05:26 PM
NO WAY could that sweet face mean that.
Could it? Hee.
Posted by: Norma | Wednesday, July 01, 2009 at 07:50 PM
Alfredo, why don't you love me anymore? I can't live without you! Come back to me, my Alfredo! Estoy desolado!
Posted by: Martha | Thursday, July 02, 2009 at 02:58 PM
uh, who wants a future with alfedo ;/0
nothing beats wrigley field (sorry fenway)
growing up in chicago, we didn't have a/c.
we lived in front of the window fan!
Posted by: vanessa | Thursday, July 02, 2009 at 09:42 PM
hah, i must be old cause i also saw zero mostel in the fiddler.
alo saw him in the producers and a funny thing happened on the way to the forum.
Posted by: vanessa | Thursday, July 02, 2009 at 09:46 PM
AHhh Fiddler my favorite I have seen it with Zero Mostel, Topol, Alfred Molina and Harvey Fierstien, I would love to see someone do it again!! The first time was Broadway in 1970 and 2 days later I met a man who has been my husband for 35 1/2 years!!!
Loved the Alfredo story!!! WIll keep it in mind the next time a suave waiter carries away my heart!
Posted by: grace | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 06:03 AM
ha ha ha
Alfredo story is a hoot (and most likely true!) but you forgot about the part where he has numerous affairs with willing nubile ladies while you are partnered to him and when you catch him, he shrugs and says "I'm just too wonderful to belong only to one woman". ha ha
Trust me - it's never fun to date a man who is prettier than you are! (ha ha ha )
Posted by: Teyani | Friday, July 03, 2009 at 10:08 AM