WTH? It’s a “Why Not?” Wednesday!

So yesterday Kegan mentioned that he’d like to go to Silverwood and Boulder Beach . The season pass we’d purchased the boys for Christmas was obviously burning a hole in his pocket, and at the first mention of possible sunshine he and Hunter (the youngest of our clan) decided it was time to offer up their winter-white flesh to the freckle gods.

After being sapped of all motivation to be productive by an early-morning meeting, Eric and I decided the boys were on to something. The afternoon air was so muggy I actually fooled myself into thinking I was ready to pull and pray my way into a swimsuit and hit the water park myself. (Please play close attention to the word “fooled” in the previous sentence.) After one glance in the mirror I decided my bod was not quite ready for public consumption and shoved those articles of malcontent right back where they came from … into the deep, dark recesses of my “I hate myself” drawer. Ahem. Moving on.

I was not about to let my physical shortcomings ruin a family day at the fun park. So the family hopped into the car and we were off like a dirty shirt. We slowed long enough at the Silverwood gates to ensure the boys made a safe exit from the car and entrance into the park and then Eric and I set our sails toward Sandpoint.

Eric and I spent the early afternoon wandering around Sandpoint’s charming downtown streets, stopping to window shop along the way. We opted for iced lattes instead of what was surely the state of Idaho’s creamiest gelato, (yes, the earlier swimsuit visual was still burning in my brain) then made our way to the Farmer’s Market and, eventually, the marina. After a couple hours’ moseying we felt we’d earned a little treat and headed back toward the gelato stand (you know me too well by now to be surprised by this so shut your mouth).

And here’s where the day gets really good. (I mean good enough to make me forget all about the unfortunate swimsuit incident, as my upcoming actions will soon illustrate.) We noticed some tables sitting on the sidewalk in front of a cavernous open-air bar/eatery and we’re like, “What have we here?” Turns out it’s a new place called The Dive. We walked in and were greeted by a group of perky young thangs in tight white T-shirts and cowboy hats — kind of a Coyote Ugly meets Hooters vibe, but without the uncomfortableness of compression tights and bar-top line dancing. We ordered beers and snacked on a bucket of peanuts (I’d really burned off the calories and did not want my body to go into starvation mode) while looking at the menu. Get this … everything is under $9 AND paying customers get to partake of all the joint’s games, FOR FREE.

At this point I decided to deem the day a “Why Not?” Wednesday and put in an order for White Trash Chili Fries. Pretty much they should be called Bypass Fries, but who am I to argue with a basket of cheese-drenched potatoes?

Once appropriately carbo-loaded Eric and I made our way through picnic tables and discarded peanut shells to get to the (free!) games. Pool first. I lost. Skee-ball next. I won. Then I toyed with the idea of getting on the mechanical bull but decided I’d rather keep those chili fries in my belly and moved on … to the bar’s second floor where an air hockey table awaited our company. I lost. But I redeemed myself at the foosball table. Then Eric totally redeemed himself by remembering we were supposed to pick up the boys at 6:30.

You can find The Dive at 209 N. First Ave., in Sandpoint. During the day it’s a family affair, so bring the kids if you decide not to drop them off at Silverwood first. Come 10 p.m., though, it’s adults only and on weekends there’s usually a DJ and the place gets packed. I highly recommend a mid-week, mid-day visit if you’re there to be a player … after midnight if you’re there to be a playa, yo.