May 11, 2010
6:12 a.m.: My wife is standing by the bed; baby Brak is sick.

6:25 a.m.: Trying to help Amber with Brak — not doing a very good job.

6:33 a.m.: He throws up ... again.

6:39 a.m.: My bride made coffee. “Thank you, thank you!”

6:42 a.m.: Thinking: “Jesus, huge Mother’s Day weekend, Celebrity Bartender Night last night, now sick baby — my wonderful wife on her fifth shirt of the morning. Ah, just living the dream.”

6:58 a.m.: Trying to wake our 3-year-old, Will.

7:10 a.m.: He’s up; cereal, juice and Nick Jr. on the way.

7:30 a.m.: I crawl back into bed. “Just for a few minutes, honey.” Amber is not happy about this.

7:45 a.m.: I’m back up; tell Amber I’ll get Will dressed after another cup of coffee.

7:53 a.m.: Oops. Amber went ahead and got Will dressed.

7:54 a.m.: I comment that Amber’s Mother’s Day flowers still look nice ... nice try.

8:25 a.m.: Getting Will out the door. Brak throws up on my wife again. “Bye, honey, I love you!”

8:32 a.m.: Will insists on watching “Nemo” in the car.

8:53 a.m.: I get Will to school. I’m thinking, “Hell, not too bad!”

9:10 a.m.: Arrive at Rococo. Place looks OK. I’m the first one here. Have a catering job for 50 for lunch — need to get it in gear.

9:18 a.m.: Get the soup on, set up the salads.

9:25 a.m.: Run to the office. Check e-mail, Twitter and Facebook.

9:35 a.m.: Count the safe, set out drawer for the bar.


9:45 a.m.: Back in the kitchen, staff starting to show up.

10 a.m.: Give direction to the team, timeline; need to be out the door by 10:45 a.m.

10:43 a.m.: Catering job is out the door.

10:45 a.m.: Review specials with the chef — looks good.

11 a.m.: We are open!

11:05 a.m.: Random thought: “Am I supposed to work tonight?”

11:06 a.m.: Call Amber. Brak is up — no improvement. When can I come home? Not working tonight.

11:15 a.m.: Prep list for party of 500 on Thursday!

2:15 p.m.: Call Amber — I’m on my way. Check with the chef — I’ll call him later.

2:40 p.m.: Home! Brak has a little smile for me — Amber, well ...

2:55 p.m.: After changing and loading up, on the way to grocery store.

5:03 p.m.: At school, pick up Will. He had a good day, except for “timeout” for not listening with his buddy Raymond — nice!

5:25 p.m.: Check in with restaurant. Have some reservations on the books – should be a good night.


5:57 p.m.: Home!

6:01 p.m.: My bride has a smile on her face.

6:30 p.m.: Try to get Brak to eat some dinner — no go.

7 p.m.: Amber gives Brak a bath. I make Will’s dinner.

7:14 p.m.: Amber puts Brak to bed — crossing my fingers.

7:15 p.m.: Time for a nice glass of wine.

7:45 p.m.: I’m making a salad for Amber and me.

8:05 p.m.: Heck with it — I’m ordering pizza.

9:04 p.m.: Read Will a couple of stories before bed.

9:28 p.m.: Call Rococo. Busy night, beat projections, lots of happy guests — yea!

9:35 p.m.: Another glass of wine. Chatting with my exhausted wife.

9:56 p.m.: Heat up pizza, serve the salad, watch the news.

10:48 p.m.: All I can say is, “Wow. Good night, honey, thanks and I love you.”