* * * * * after the pictures were up ( yes , pictures for mom , steve and cotton all demanded that mine be hung between the two doors under the loft , no one let me get a word in edgewise and max sure as heck did n't intervene , not to mention , once up , they looked amazing ) ; after mexican casserole which was even better than i remembered and max , who had two helpings , obviously thought so too ; after three beers ( for max ) and two ( for me ) ; and after coffee and yellow cake with fudgy , chocolaty frosting from a tub and a scoop of ice cream that mom , steve and cotton got from the store , max and i stood at the front door saying good-bye to our guests .