Mason's 19th Birthday

For his birthday, Mason wanted to go out and have a steak dinner with the family.  After an exhaustive search online and getting tips from friends and neighbors we decided to make a reservation at Pinnacle Peak. All we knew about it was that it came with high marks for good food at somewhat reasonable prices.  We all piled into a taxi, literally.  Taxi rides with the whole family are quite interesting as the taxis are really only meant for 4 adults.  Landon ends up sitting on a lap and at almost 5 feet tall it isn't comfortable for anyone.  After 30 minutes we arrived at City Hotel in the Jing An district of Puxi and started to pile out of the car.  The bellman was surprised to see so many of us climb out - think of clowns in the circus exiting the little car and you pretty much have the picture.  The hotel lobby was all marble and glass and quite elegant with fresh bouquets of flowers everywhere.  The restaurant was on the 5th floor so we headed for the elevator and punched in the floor number.  As the elevator doors opened we were all taken aback at the sight of western (as in cowboy) swinging saloon doors through which you had to pass to exit the elevator.  The next sight was equally amusing - a full Chinese wait staff dressed in blue jeans, boots, plaid flannel shirts and cowboy hats.  Suddenly we were transported back to our South Dakota vacation in the Black Hills and memories of "eatin' off the chuck wagon and singin' songs".  We all got a bit of a chuckle as we passed the mechanical bull which I presumed was for decoration - but noooooo...it was for ridin'.  After we ordered our drinks and appetizers Cynthia encouraged us to all take a try on the bull.  Regan was the first brave soul and he got tossed on level 2 but not until he's bruised his "left butt bone" as he so delicately put it.  Dad went next and also got tossed on level 2.  Mason was the third rider and made it all the way to level 3 and lasted several seconds before losing control.  Cynthia needed a little help from two Chinese cowgirls to get up on the bull and once there only lasted for one rotation at level 1.  Landon was the final contestant and did a great job hanging on for dear life.  Once back to the table our waiter brought Mason the "lucky" (everything special in China is deemed "lucky") cowboy hat as a reward for his ride.  We all ended up wearing the hat at one point or another during the course of the evening.  The food came shortly after we finished our "riding" and was absolutely delicious.  We shared 2 Caesar salads - one with bacon and one with spicy chicken, a sampler platter of onion rings, buffalo wings and fried calamari and we all enjoyed our own "Little Hoss" 11 oz. marbled rib eye - (I am getting hungry just writing this).  For dessert we shared a creme brule, chocolate sundae and fresh fruit platter.  Getting home in the taxi was going to be even more of a challenge now! On the way home we stopped by the boys favorite game store and bought Mason a limited edition Chinese version Halo game - all the voices are in Chinese so he can practice his language skills while he shoots aliens.  We all had a great night as we celebrated Mason's entry into his final teen year - wow!  Time sure flies!