June 3, 2011

1 Kid's Menu Please

I don’t eat out very often, mostly because all of my disposable income goes towards shoes (food is an afterthought J), but last week, I went to two of my fave restaurants. I never eat all of my food and I hate wasting it. I think that every restaurant should allow every person to order off the kid’s menu. Actually, since I’m calling the shots, I think that it should be renamed entirely and made available at every restaurant. It wouldn’t be that hard – just offer everything on the menu in a ‘Lunch Portion’ size. I hate that by the way. Why can’t I order a lunch portion at dinner? (yea, yea, the whole point is to drive business during the day by offering lower prices, blah, blah, blah). 

When I go to Tumbleweed, I order the same thing 99% of the time. Beef Deluxe Burrito, queso style, extra rice – no beans. I’ve been known to devour the entire meal along with a bowl of chips (I LOVE Mexican food!). I always leave filling extra full – you know, the “ughhh, I ate too much, must unbutton pants for the ride home” feeling.  It’s just so delicious!!  Other times (when I’m not being a pig) I get a to go box and have enough food for a second meal. Well, last Thursday (dreaming of the wedges that I needed to buy to match my favorite outfit) I ordered the Jr. Beef Burrito, queso style, with 1 side of rice. I ate every bite and was a little jealous of my friends still chowing down after I was finished. When we left however, they were all moaning about being overly stuffed and had their to go boxes full of leftovers. I was the perfect amount of full + I didn’t have to eat a soggy buritto for lunch the next day. Props Tumbleweed, for including this option on your regular menu and not glaring at me after I ordered it!


Over the weekend, I went to Olive Garden with my mom. I wasn’t super hungry and I knew I was going to fill up on salad and breadsticks (yum!), but I felt silly and didn’t even bother asking for a kids menu – plus, even though I’m told I look young, I probably couldn’t pass for 12. So when they brought my plate – or rather, my platter – of food. I stared at it in disbelief. No way was I going to be able to eat 3 giant ravioli and 2 (yes, 2!) pieces of grilled chicken. The next day I nuked my leftovers for lunch and still couldn’t finish it all! Now, if they had had what I wanted in ½ portion size, all would have been right in the world. I could have had a fantastic meal, wouldn’t have had to worry about leaving my to go box on the table (which I’ve been known to do), and I would have been able to afford my wedges (who are we kidding, I bought the wedges anyway J).

May 24, 2011

Good Luck Kevin!


Today I got to watch my little brother swear an oath and enlist in the United States Air Force. As I type this, he's sitting on a plane headed for Texas to start basic training. Crazy. Who would have thought that this goofy little kid would end up in the military?
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I guess we should have known. I mean, he did wear a suit for his 3rd grade class photo and chose the American Flag background :)  And looking through old photo albums, I found these pictures from family vacations.
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19 hours from home without a cell phone for 8 weeks? How’s he going to survive – today is the first time he’s ever been on a plane! He told me this afternoon that he’s never spent more than a week away from home, and that was at summer camp – with dad there! Forget how’s he gonna survive, how am I gonna survive? Even when I was away at school we talked almost every day [Even though most of our conversations went like this, “Hey, what’s up?” “Nothin’” “How’s school?” “Good” “How’s work” "Fine" “Is Mom home?” “Yea”]. Plus, Indy was only 2 hours away – that’s a lot shorter drive than 19 hours! What if I need furniture moved? Who’s going to come knock down wasps nests for me? Who’s going to eat the entire box of Cheese-It’s I just bought in one setting?(ok, so I’m not gonna miss that one AT ALL) It's going to be weird getting used to him being off the grid for the next two months, that's for sure. He's ready though, and he's going to do just fine.

I guess I don’t get a say in when he gets to grow up. I do get to be very excited for him and proud of him as he embarks on this new adventure. I’m very proud of you, Kevin, and know that you’re not only going to survive boot camp, but you’re going to thrive. Can’t wait to see you in July!

Check him out, front & center!