Ottawacker Jr.'s birthday "party"

Ottawacker Jr.'s birthday party sadly coincided with the first major snowstorm of the year. 

The day started off badly when we made our way through snowdrifts and partially ploughed roads to the Louis Riel Dome, some 10 km away, only to find out that the game had been cancelled due to a major snowstorm - but that nobody had bothered to tell us.

Slightly fed yo, I took O. Jr. to a Tim Hortons drive through to get a breakfast wrap. We arrive at the window to be told that they were out of eggs. Unconvinced, I pressed - and was told there were some eggs arriving in a matter of minutes, so if we wanted to wait in the car park, someone would bring the order out to us as soon as possible. Ignoring the temptation to park at the other end of the vast, empty car park... we did - and were rewarded with an appallingly dry wrap, which did nothing to appease the growing belief that the day was cursed.

Fortunately, Mrs. Ottawacker had done most of the shovelling in the drive by the time we got back - but Ottawacker Jr. still had to go and satisfy his gaggle of clients: the old, the infirm, and the lazy - all of whom are willing to pay serious cash to an enthusiastic 11-year-old snow shoveller.

The party, when it came, was fun. We had rented out a min pitch above the local Di Salvo's soccer store - and Ottawacker Jr.. had invited a bunch of like-minded enthusiasts for 90 minutes of insane running around and kicking a ball, followed by a trip to the local pub (on foot) for pizza, chicken wings and, apparently, root beer. The pub (O'Brien's) doesn't usually cater to the under 12s, but they made an exception, and seemed to be thrilled by the outcome. 

Now here is a serious question: when did kids become so nice? I am pretty sure at 11, I would not have been polite, remembering to thank waitresses, clean up plates in advance, and say please when asking for another root beer. My God, I don't even do that now. 

So a good time was had by all, and as Mrs. Ottawacker drove us home, we all agreed it was a splendid  occasion and one that must be repeated someday soon. Without the snow, of course.