Weekend at Burgie’s

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

Oh, c’mon, Kat, can I tell them? OK … sigh … next week.

Short week this week, with the Fourth of July three-day weekend and all. I wish I had more to report, but really, it was a relaxing and well-deserved slide into the real summer in the Truckee Meadows. I love it.

Friday morning was spent running around looking for games for Hunter’s birthday. I’m a hair away from killing the television, and I had this picture of Hunter and I sitting around in the living room, each reading our books, but no shared experience to move the conversation along. I had this horrible vision of one long comfortable silence. So, anyway, for his birthday, I bought him Stratego, Risk and Go (and squirt guns; he’s smart, but he’s still 12). To cap off the last day of his 11th year, we went to a new Jewish synagogue.

Saturday, we made our first from-scratch cake ever. Hunter selected the cake and frosting from that classic red and white checkered Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook. I didn’t even own a 9-inch cakepan or sifter. We didn’t know exactly how to flour the pans, so the cake came out in large chunks, which Hunter did his best to patch together with the frosting. It was beautiful, in an abstract sort of way, and tasted like it was made by professionals. Hunter had a mass haul of gifts, including art supplies from my friend Dianna (which I can’t wait to play with), and the three of us watched the fireworks Sparks held in Hunter’s honor.

Sunday, too, was a nice relaxing day. We played our first real game of Go (an ancient Asian strategy game played on a grid with black and white pieces). We cooked hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill and steamed peas and broccoli from the garden.

And while it was great, you must know me well enough to know a three-day break is too long to be away from the office, and I couldn’t wait to come in Monday morning. Oh, c’mon, Kat … pleeeaaase!