Sibling Dinner ?

Actually, my schedule is probably the easiest to work around; I can come home any weekend.  I think you’ll have more trouble simultaneously rounding up Rolly/Margie, Brian/Heidi, and Nick.  I think Nick comes by my site sometimes, but you might wanna beep him just in case.

And no, you can’t put a post about a family dinner on here.  This entire post will self-destruct in 10 seconds.

How did you get the nickname "Penny"?  Sat night might be good for us.  Margie is waiting to hear from her friend about possible plans for that night.  I’ll keep you posted.

Ahaa!  Anthony balls just like him too.  We can do dinner on Saturday night.  Anyone else????

And I just talked to Nick... he too is available for Saturday night.

And Saturday is good for us, too.  If no one used their Christmas gift certificates we can go to Outback or Carrabbas (sp?).  Or, just suggest somewhere that you want to go!!

That’s the only one that I know of, too. What time does everyone want to meet?

Peep the Carrabba’s website and menu.  It’s Italian, but they’ve got a more extensive non-Italian selection than, say, Olive Garden.  The best part is the fresh, steamy Italian bread, and the olive oil on a plate with green herby things.  Mmmm.

Carrabba’s definitely gets my vote, but Outback is good too.

I would take some cash to be the sway vote....
I will say that I do love their calamari; however, I do also love the Outback’s shrimp on the barbie...  I love the Mmmm at the end, Anthony. Very subtle.
I think that since Penny is traveling (travelling?)the farthest, maybe he should decide.
Other news : Saturday is Rolly Sr.’s 50th birthday.  Would anyone like to pop over there after dinner for some cake & gift giving?  If so, then we should probably eat at say 5 (Rolly?) to be over there at a decent hour. So, give your dinner vote and cake vote and we can go from there...

I think we should definitely go to dad’s afterwards.  Or maybe even before, if after will be too late?  Because if we have cake/ice cream first, then drive the 40 minutes to Carrabba’s, then wait howeverlong for a table (because I don’t think they take reservations), which will probably be a good 30-60 minutes on a Saturday night, then we’ll be hungry again.  Right??  Or, if not, then we can just go to dad’s after.

Yeah.  I remembered about Dad’s bday too.  50 is a pretty big deal.  Perhaps we should all take him out for dinner to a restaurant he likes.  This way we can treat him to dinner and won’t have to stress about finding a gift for him.

yeah I hear ya.  What about chincareens or whatever its called.  Doesn’t he like that one?

ok if we decide to take Dad and Jeannie out too, I assume it won’t be Carraba’s or Outback.  I can only think of 2 places where I know Dad likes,  Chincareens and 7 stars.  7 stars is pricey and I’m not sure about the other.  Anyone else have any ideas??  Anyway if we do not take them out with us, it sounds like Carrabas is the choice.  Margie and I have never been there so we’re game to try it.

woh.  $100.  You’re setting the bar high!  Knowing it’s a special occasion, I think we should take him somewhere, but only if we could be assured that he likes it before we go.  Maybe Jeannie can help us out here with places he likes.  If I’m gonna spend $100 I’d rather treat him to a meal with all his kids, hoping that would be more meaningful to him than just spending cash.  I know he likes 7 stars, but that would be like $1000 for all of us to eat there.  However, if we can’t come up with a place we know he will like beforehand that’s reasonably priced, I like Tasha’s idea above, and would like to join in on the "50" theme with 50 fivers from us all.

I agree that taking him out is more meaningful than giving him cash.  And I think it’s pretty rare that they go out to eat to somewhere fancy, let alone with all the kids.  Last time was when we went to that Italian place, right?  Buca di Beppo or whatever?  And that went well, I think.

When I think of Chiccarines, I think of how Tasha used to love it there, until she got a rubber band in her soup, and never went back.  So... that isn’t my perfect picture of happiness in a restaurant.  7 Stars is expensive, but if we’re voting, I’m fine with it... when you’re borrowing your way through college for tens of thousands of dollars, what’s another fifty spot or two.

Are you sure you weren’t there?  I remember down at my end of the table, me and Brian (and whoever else) got a big rectangular pizza... dad was up at the other end... and when we left, Brian had some weights of yours in his car, that you were getting from him?  Or vice-versa?

Or maybe that was two different times at Buca.  Either way, dad was definitely there ONE of the times, and it was like one or two years ago.

so does he like Buca???

Heh... funny, but sick.

Well I just talked to mom... dad didn’t like Buca at all, because there were too many people and he couldn’t really talk to any of us (??) being at the end of a long table, and it was too noisy.  And, she had already suggested that they should go out somewhere, but dad doesn’t really want to.  So... mom is just going to have cake/ice cream at 5, and we should all stop by then, and then we can go out to eat after, at 6 or 7 or whatever.  I think we should offer to take dad out, even though he’ll probably decline.

What say ye, all?

i can’t see him liking the lawn display!!  it would be funny to see his reaction to it though.  cake and ice cream at 5.  is that European to have dessert prior to dinner???

WOW !! 38 comments... Penny, is that a record??  OK, so it’s set then? Meet at Mom’s at 5pm for cake & gift.  Call ahead for seating, ask Rolly if he wants to go and head on out. Are we going to give 1 card and all sign it? I can get the card if you want to do it that way...

I would definitely be down for staying there for dinner, but the thing about that is, if it’s some kind of big dinner, chances are that dad would have to buy part of it or help prepare it or something.  Unless we were to do all that...

And yes, at 40-some replies, this is surely the longest thread of all time for my site.

I just heard on the news that Oprah turned 50 yesterday.

You aren’t being sappy, Rolly.  It is really weird to go to their house for cake and ice cream and then we all go out for dinner, but if he doesn’t want to go - what are the options??
We could take dinner to them, but I don’t want to make any work for Jeannie if she wasn’t planning on making anything. 
About the money... don’t forget us - we are in for 10 $5’s too.  So, Tasha and Dan - only give 10 $5’s - and then we are good to go. 
I’ll give you money for the card, Tasha.
Why doesn’t Rolly Sr like to go out to eat??  Were you all bad when you were younger - did you all cause a scene or something?????

Just a mild clarification: if each person is giving $25, as suggested, then Nick and I aren’t actually giving less; we’re giving $25 each, like everyone else (with the exception of Tasha & Dan who volunteered to give double).

Rolly’s second suggestion of $30 per person (or $32.50 for some) would be ok, too.

In any event, we’re going to get fresh five-spots from a bank, right?  In which case, it probably makes sense for a single person to do that, and the rest of us pay that person back.

And regarding why dad doesn’t like go to out to eat: I don’t think it’s that in particular that he dislikes.  He’s just introverted, so I think going out in general isn’t his favorite thing to do.  I can see why that would seem bizarre to a Schreier, because you guys are some of the most outgoing people I know, but it’s perfectly normal to another introvert like me.  (Of course, I’m no where near as introverted as dad (I do like going out...), but then, who is?)

Hmmm, before I suggest dinner next time, I’m going to look harder at the date...
I just want to clarify - I’m getting the card, Rolly’s getting the $, we’re meeting at R & J’s at 5pm, and then if they want to go, great, if not we’ll head out after calling ahead for seating?  And, we can spend a couple of hours there and leave for dinner around 7 or so, he’ll be ready for bed by then anyway, b/c he is working on Saturday.

And, just for the record, Anthony WAS very bad when he was little.

You really are evil, aren’t you... 
That just proves how bad you really were!!

You guys are way too funny and by the way, this family is COMPLICATED!  :)  Anthony, I just checked with Brian and he said that you were VERY BAD as a child!
See you all tomorrow @ 5:00.  Don’t forget to bring your gift certificates.  Thanks for picking up the bills, Rolly.
Brian is so glad that he works on the road and doesn’t have to get involved with making the plans!

Oh my, oh my, here I am reading this thread from almost two years ago because I typed ’nick’ in the search box looking for photos of Nick at Anthony and Kim’s wedding.  Well, I’m sitting here reading this with tears streaming down my face while laughing out loud.  You kids are the best, really.  God has truly blessed me.  What a wonderful back-and-forth volley this was with you all just trying to get together for dinner and yet trying to do SOMETHING that your Dad MIGHT enjoy for his 50th birthday.  As it turned out, we all ended up together enjoying dinner at Mama Maria’s in Boyertown. This after you all presented Dad with the cute ’box of 5’s’ (which, by the way, are still in the box in his closet...saved for a rainy day, I guess).  Other events took place that night that none of us will ever forget yet God is good and we all are safe and well with new beautiful life among us.  The bonds you have developed between you are something many siblings strive for.  I cherish knowing you share such love for each other.

lvualways