Saturday brought sunshine and higher temperatures than we’ve seen in months, so I didn’t wear a coat.
(Remind me in the future that while 44 degrees may be warm relative to 7 degrees, it is not actually WARM.)
It’s not like I was going FAR. I walked the 500 feet or so from my apartment to the leasing office. Inside, I ran into one of the leasing agents and told him I needed to collect a package.
He looked through the boxes on the shelves. “It’s for you, Princess!” he said.
Hmm. That’s weird.
But maybe he’s the type of guy who calls people “honey” and “guy” and “princess” instead of bothering to remember their names.
Possibly he was flirting?
Or maybe he was commenting on my ensemble of pink shirt and Ugg boots. I mean, that’s pretty much as princessy as one can get without wearing a ball gown and a tiara, right?
So I pretended that it was totally normal for a random dude to call me Princess. And I clapped my hands and bounced up and down on my toes and said, “Yay! I bet it’s a birthday present!”
Yes. I clapped my hands and bounced.
Like I was 16. And accustomed to being addressed as “Princess.” And, you know, princessy.
The guy gave me a strange look. A look as though to say, “Why is this nearly-30-year-old woman bouncing and clapping in my office?”
But what he said was, “I don’t normally go around calling people ‘Princess.’ That’s what the address says.”
Confused, I picked up the package.
Sure enough, it was addressed to Princess Maidenname.
It makes me smile just to think of it. My dad has a great sense of humor and a sweet heart.
I could have laughed and said something like, “Yeah, I thought you were weird for calling me ‘Princess,’ but I decided to just go with it.”
Or joked that I’d legally changed my name. Or any number of normal slash witty responses.
But instead I started babbling about how it was obviously from my dad and it was probably for my birthday and how nice was it that my dad still thought of me as his little princess even though I am almost 30?
The guy narrowed his eyes and said, “You’re a real Daddy’s girl, aren’t you?”
And then proceeded to tell me that turning 30 is no big deal. It’s only once you turn 31 that the universe implodes.
Was I glad to get out of there?
Yes. Yes, I was.
Fortunately, I rarely venture outside the confines of my castle apartment. So it is unlikely that I’ll run into the leasing agent again for a while.
DOUBLE fortunately, the contents of the package more than made up for my idiocy. See for yourself:
(Actual bottle not decapitated.)
And, just in case you thought otherwise, my father doesn’t normally go around calling me “Princess.” Well, not often.
He’d addressed the package to me that way in reference to the wine.
Just so you know.
* * * * *
Tonight, after my husband returns from fellowship interview number two, we are going to drink The Princess Syrah.
And I am going to make Steak Diane.
Or, at least, attempt to make Steak Diane.
No, I have never made it before. Yes, I decided on a whim to try it for the first time ever on Valentine’s Day.
I will admit, I’m a little weirded out by a beef dish that’s named after a woman I don’t know. Plus, this dish requires me to set some cognac on fire.
Yes.
On fire.
Me. The person who has burned several things, including rice, gravy, and a paper towel that was left too close to a burner.
I am pretty sure I’m going to skip the flame throwing.
Anyway. Steak Diane.
I’ve never actually cooked steak before. I usually leave that to my husband. Aside from the fireworks, this recipe requires a) a weighted skillet, b) a meat pounder, and c) something called “glace de viande.”
Seeing as I have none of these things, things do not bode well for tonight’s dinner.
So. You will not be surprised if my next post extols the virtues of a Valentine’s Day dinner from Chipotle.
I’ve heard burritos make a fine pairing with Syrah.
good luck! Happy Valentine’s day!
You’ll make a wonderful meal! In college I worked for a fancy-shamncy restaurant and we did table-side meals…as in…if you ordered either the Steak Diane or the Banana’s/Strawberry Foster or the Caesar Salad I made it for you. Right in front of your talbe. Caesar Salad? No big deal. But the steak and the dessert both had to be flamed. I cannot tell you how many times I feared that I would burned the entire restaurant down. At least I never caught the carpet on fire, right?
Can’t wait to hear how the dinner was a success!! Happy Valentine’s Day! And your Dad is super sweet!!
hahahhahhahha that is an awesome story. I love it. And the wine looks awesome too! BTW, I hate when you think of about 500 witty comments and come backs…way too late. I’ve considered going back to the encounter just so they would know how witty my comments can be. Instead I usually just nod and smile and walk away.
Oh lord you make me laugh. I do that with coats too. It takes me weeks once winter starts to convince myself I need one and weeks in spring to convince myself that (just like you said) 40 degrees is simply warmer than 20. It’s not actually WARM.
Also-lighting cognac on fire? I wouldn’t even attempt it, I am way too unadventerous in the kitchen. You are my hero. Good luck!
Good luck with your cooking adventure! Personally, I am a fan of heart-shaped pizza + wine. =)
Haha I would have had a really hard time keeping a straight face if the guy holding my mail called me princess 🙂
Enjoy your wine!!
Goodness its been in the 40s this week in MT and I keep telling my husband we should go tanning. Love that sun!
My dad sends me Valentine’s still too! I was wondering if he would this year since I was married, and he usually sends See’s chocolates (soooo good), but I can’t eat chocolate anymore. I thought he might just decide to call in quits, but in my inbox I got a Starbucks E-card this morning! Yay. I can’t drink coffee either, but oh well. Steamers, here I come!
Happy Valentine’s Day, Princess!
I REALLY want a burrito now. Why did you have to say that word? bah. Leasing agent relationships are strange anyway… Exciting packages make a birthday SUPER special. A pkg in the mail is better than a pkg in real life because, well I don’t know. It’s just fun that they thought of you…or something. So Happy Birthday!? Happy Valentine’s Day!
Aw, Princess! So cute… haha.. that’s a funny (yet awkward) story indeed.
I think you’re going to pull dinner off like absolute perfection. I am 100% certain. If not, your alternative is spectacular and will go just fine with that delicious wine your father sent you!!
Happy Valentines day to you and the mister 🙂
You are hilarious! I love that you were bobbing up and down for the package guy…PRICELESS! Good luck with the dinner tonight. Do you have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen? I mean that with love, but come on, OPEN FLAMES? Be safe. 🙂
Great story! Happy Valentine’s Day. Oh, the thirties are great!
Oh my, that’s a tall order for Valentine’s Day! I hope it turned out well. 🙂
Happy Birthday! Also, I’m pretty sure the universe doesn’t implode when you turn 31. At least, I hope it doesn’t.
I once set the whole oven on fire while baking a turkey. I am not allowed to play with recipes that actually require me to light anything flammable.
Another February birthday I see? YAY! Happy birthday!
I love that you tried something new for Valentine’s Dinner – I did too. Guess what I made/who inspired me??
Coq au vin – YOU! It sounded so good when you mentioned it before that I found a recipe. It was pretty delicious, so thanks!
Thanks for making me laugh…I now have a picture of you in my head, wearing uggs and a tiara! For the princess thing: my Dad bought me some napkins recently which had a drawn princess on it and a text saying: whatever your Dad says, you aren’t a princess.