(Cue Kansas - "Happy Anniversary Baby")

That old 70's classic rock reference is my subtle way of starting today's column with a little bragging. Yesterday, Mrs. That Dan Guy and I celebrated 20 years together (not all of them married. Those statistics also include a lengthy dating run).

Yessir, 20 years ago I succumbed to her feminine wiles. It may have been a pair of high heels, who can remember - it was 20 freakin' years ago!!

Back then, I had a mullet that would have made Billy Ray Cyrus proud. Oh yeah, I was a catch...

So, how did we choose to celebrate such a milestone?? We went for the first time, to dine in the Calgary Tower revolving restaurant...(it's like a giant concrete merry-go-round, in the sky!!)

For our first visit, we were on a learning curve. Take parking for example. We were thrilled to be able to have the opportunity to pay a company $5.00 for the privilege of attending an evening at their facility. That was tempered somewhat afterwards, when we discovered upon our return to the car that being 15 minutes ahead of the evening parking rates boosted our fee to an even more delightful $7.50...

But, we were out on the town, 20 years strong!! Is an outrageous parking fee too much to ask??

Not as much, apparently, as being kicked in the Elmos with another admission fee - to the tower itself, just to get into the restaurant!! Over $13.00 just to get access to the elevator (discounted thankfully because we planned on eating there - Hallelujah for small miracles!!).

Once in, and my wallet only throbbing softly by that time, we took the elevator for the ascent to the revolving restaurant. Which made it all worthwhile once we walked in, to the panoramic view of our new city. Pretty freakin' awe-inspiring...

We had a fantastic meal (mmm...buffalo tasty...), all the while enjoying a stellar, bird's-eye view of Calgary drivers exceeding speed limits, and causing needless accidents (kidding...)

We did get a spectacular view of the gridlock traffic trying to access the Saddledome for Rod Stewart. That alone was worth the price of admission. Of course, that will be us tonight for The Loaf, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

After all was said and done, we had a ball. We had previously reserved a private, window-facing alcove, which is like being in your own private world (aside from all the other diners, which we could clearly hear talking out in the cheap seats, but why quibble??)

Here's to the next twenty, Mrs. That Dan Guy!!

PS - keep me out of direct sunlight....

Chow for now!