Ceil's Birthday

With a lot to do yesterday, I slipped out of the office around 2:45. Picked up Ceil’s birthday cake and went to vote. The small parking lot was overflowing. Longest line I’ve ever seen. Got in line at 3:35 and didn’t vote until 4:20. Was supposed to meet a bobblehead friend at home, but he graciously met me in line. Before voting a kind official saw my bag and asked if I’d been shopping, and I joked that Amazon had delivered to me while I was in line. 

Ceil had arrived while I was entering the actual voting place. I went outside and found Anna in the line of cars looking for a space. I drove her car home so she could go in and vote. M arrived home from work, then C and A. Her friend Noelle stopped by with a present: the Taqueria del Sol cookbook, signed by the authors. 

We all drove down to W&MC’s, then took Howell Mill to Dover / Castlewood / Arden across Peachtree Battle, West Wesley, and Northside to West Paces Ferry, to eat at King + Duke.   

We were seated in the front window overlooking the Peachtree Road / West Paces intersection. When we got to the table there was a birthday card for Ceil, signed by the staff. The food was delicious, and we all had a grand time.

Appetizer: two four piece orders of the Pimento cheese hushpuppies with crispy ham and pepper jelly. Also roasted carrots in maple, with crunchy seeds, and potato puree with raclette and smoked herbs. Delicious bread baked to order.

Will: smoked heritage pork with apples, cipollini, bourbon, and ginger.

MC: hearth roasted duck with blueberries and watercress.

Anna and Ceil had the North Carolina trout in chile butter, thai herbs, snap peas, and lime.
Matthew: Dayboat Halibut in dashi broth, napa cabbage, and ginger.
Me: the Duke house grind burger with pickle aioli, carmelized onion, and bleu cheese, with the best crispy fires you ever tasted. Shared the fries with everyone. Excellent and delicious, though I probably should’ve ordered the lasagna.  

Will updated us on his two jobs. He’s filling out forms to work in the ER at the Atlanta Medical Center South on Cleveland Avenue near the 75/85 interchange. He starts there in January. He’s been busy with the reopening of Bobby Jones Golf Course as well. Most of his work is in the early mornings, cutting grass and blowing cartpaths. He got to play a round again yesterday. With so many people wanting to play, they’re having two shotgun starts every day, at nine and twelve. Sunday for media day several members of the national media were there, including the Golf Channel.

Mary-Clayton had just auditioned for a musical, but was yet to hear if she got the part. She was up against some good competition. Anna’s interview on Monday for an internship at UGA went well.  

Later on I bored everyone with a history lesson about the area: the old Sears building, Buckhead Hardware run by Bill Murray’s family, the Buckhead Men’s Shop, the Buckhead Cinema and Drafthouse, and places my grandmother had lived. It was Ceil’s 60th birthday, and we all had a great time. Ceil and I had eaten at JCT Kitchen at Westside Provisions, so I had an idea of what we were in for. Didn’t realize until yesterday morning that Anna would be there. Had to call and change the reservation from five to six.

Took Peachtree to Collier back to W&MC’s. Will and Anna stopped by Publix to get some Jeni’s ice cream to go with the cake. Anna drove back to Athens. We listened to election results on the way home. Arrived back at almost eleven. Ceil had to pack for her trip, and I packed up some bobbleheads to trade with Johnny Tallant. Didn’t hit the sack until 12:30 am. A good day.

This morning Ceil drove down to the airport for her 11 am flight to Raleigh to see her friend Dawn for a few days.

The day before Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year at airports. I think the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the second busiest.

http://www.kinganddukeatl.com/