We're not supposed to say so publicly, but a lot of times when the grandparents swoop in to take the urchins away to their lair for a weekend, it means the world to mom and dad.

Thanks this weekend to grandpa Jerry & grandma Rose who have spirited our cherubim away for some grandparently spoilin' time, Lynn and I got some oddly vacant time around the house this weekend...

...which we promptly used to go to Maxie's Southern Comfort for some dinner and drinks with friends & our neighbor (who is also, make no mistake about it, our friend).

I enjoyed my mint julep quite a bit, but as I get older, I find that bourbon is best enjoyed straight up, in a highball glass, with a water back. Of course, as I get older I find as well that I like better bourbons (for example, I've moved from the then-bottomshelved Heaven Hill I drank most of a bottle of solo as a very foolish - and happily drunk - college student one night to his somewhat more refined and upscale brothers, Elijah and Evan - but I digress...)

I guess I just like bourbon.