So, this weekend Zai’s cousin Mel came to Chicago. The last time one of Zai’s cousins came to Chicago, it was Jess, and it was perhaps the worst night of the year.
We went to the Melting Pot (incredibly overpriced fondue place) right after I had gotten out of work, so I was already a little grouchy from being on the road for two hours after my ten hour day. I was tired and nearly fell asleep in the bar while we were waiting to be seated. I then listened to them talk about whatever they were talking about, all while trying to keep focused on staying awake. I don’t recall the conversation being anything I could join in on, girl stuff.
When the food finally came, she practically molested the waiter right there, caising him to forget to refill my drink, and adding to my overall frustration that night. When the meal was finally over (about 11:30 or so), I headed to my car and pressed the unlock key on the remote.
Nothing happened.
I press it again, still nothing. I shrug and try opening the door. Its locked and the alarm goes off. So I’m stuck there , as it begins to snow, with a locked truck, on a Chicago street in valet dropoff lane, which is coincidently illegal to park in once the valet service leaves. So I ask Jess and Vicky to watch the car for a moment (to make sure I don’t get ticketed, or worse, towed) while I go to a Walgreens a block away to get a new battery for the remote.
I come back and she’s nowhere to be found. Apparently they both had to use the bathroom, at the same time.
Well, the new battery didn’t work, so I go in the restaraunt and look up the number for a 24-hour locksmith. I get through to four different answering machines when I realize something very important: Its nearly midnight on Wednesday, and tomorrow is Thanksgiving.
These places are all closed for the holiday.
Finally, I get through to a locksmith, who sounded like I woke him up (probably true). He takes about forty minutes to come, and spends about an hour ripping out the vital components of the car alarm. Namely, the part that prevents me from starting the car.
The car starts, I hand him a couple hundred dollars, and finally drive around Chicago dropping people off, returning home in the small hours of the morning. I decided I didn’t like Jess, and it took me a long time to realize that it was because of the already bad day I was having when I picked Zai and her cousin up.
For that I apologize to both Zai and Jess.
Meeting Mel couldn’t have been a more opposite experience.
I had taken Friday off to work a bit on the apartment. I get to Zai’s house around noon, where I park and we walk on over. On the way, we pass a street vendor, and I get some Elote.
Damn I love Elote. Apparently, its just Spanish for corn, but its delicious. Basically, its a bowl of steamed corn with butter, cheese, chili powder, and creme mixed in. Its something I’ve missed out on these last twenty-five years.
At about 5:00, we stop working and head back over to Zai’s to get ready. Zai’s father cooked carne asada (steak) and chorizo (some sort of seasoned pork sausage), I had a couple tacos full. It was quite good, Zai’s father is a good cook. I even try a piece of cactus. It had the texture of a steamed bell pepper, and a taste somewhat similar. It was good.
I like to say that with the language barrier, it is food that’s bringing Zai’s father and me together. He heard I loved chorizo (true), and cooked some up, to which I complimented him repeatedly on. We may not speak the same language, but I think ‘yum’ is universal.
The following day he made me some Elote, knowing how I have been raving about it lately.
I then ride in the van to go pick up Mel.
I didn’t spend ten hours at work, and I’m not driving. That puts me in a pretty good mood. When she gets in the car, I am assaulted by Spanish. The next hour or so is basically me listening to Spanish, but I’m not driving, and at Zai’s house I’m in a comfortable chair, so I don’t care.
Finally, they say they’re going to drop Mel’s father off at his brother’s and head to dinner. I say I’ll head on out and see them tomorrow.
“No, you’re going to dinner. Let’s go.”
That was Mel. I was amused. For those that don’t know, if you’re a man, and you associate with women, free will is an illusion.
Dinner was decent, we went to Friday’s. The conversation went around the table, and Mel had some pretty interesting stories. At the end of the evening, as Zai was making me a farewell cup of tea for the road(and Zai DOES make the best tea), we actually talked for a bit. She’s a bank manager who has to deal with an outsourced IT staff, and I deal with retail IT issues occasionally, so we had some stories to share.
The next day we saw Pirates…
But I’m going to hold off on that story for a few days, give some people the chance to see the movie without me spoiling it for you.
Zel-kun out.
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