It is somewhat uncommon that we go out to eat. It is even more uncommon that we go out to eat two nights in a row. With two small children and no family available to baby-sit, it is always a gamble. Needless to say, we rolled the dice both Friday and Saturday.
We were so hungry. We tore apart and reorganized the contents of the garage. Kim has joined in on my nightly weight training exercises. Overall, our week was physically demanding and we craved some nourishment beyond that which we were willing to cook in our home.
Friday we went to Islands for a burger (A food that I am almost never in the mood for). It was the first restaurant that we ate at after we moved to San Diego last year. I didn’t care for it too much then. This time around was a different story! We loved both the groceries and the atmosphere. The girls were so good and we were able to talk as if we were on a date with just the two of us. Kim and I both got a cheeseburger with mushrooms cooked medium. We also shared a side salad. Azure insisted on getting a hot dog. Kim asked, “Are you sure? You have hot dogs at home.” It didn’t matter to Azure, she is a very picky selective eater and it is difficult to persuade her to try something other than what she is in the mood for. Our waiter was awesome. He was one of the most “real” servers I’ve ever encountered. What do I mean by that? Well, he was just being himself. He wasn’t trying to be too knowledgeable or too confident. He was meek and lowly. He didn’t rush us at all. He wasn’t perfect but his sincerity and ability to work to the best of his ability made up for an extra pleasant dining experience. I can relate to demands of the job since I was a food server in days past. Feeling under appreciated is the lot of the day. Occasionally someone would leave me a tip so large I would have to wonder if it was an accident. It wasn’t though. It always made me feel so grateful for the people who could observe, analyze and show appreciation for my ability to wait on them. Ever since, I always look for reasons to leave a large tip. Including this waiter, I can count on one hand the people who earned such a tip. Perhaps it is the lower standards of the rising generation. Maybe they pass judgment on us and think we are a poor young family. In any event, I was reminded of how important it is to be the best that I can be at any job I do.
Every single time we drive by an Applebee’s Azure points it out and yells out, “Look it’s an Applebee’s”. I am not sure how she got so passionate about a restaurant that we never go to. We took her there Saturday night. I wore slacks and a tie just for a change of pace. Kim followed suit and dressed nicely and put Azure in her dress that I brought back from Thailand. The food, service and atmosphere were all several steps down from Islands. Our waiter was wearing the ‘food server façade’. His techniques were used to obtain the biggest tip rather than to serve. Despite the apparent phoniness he was still very capable. Kim requested a plate of ice for Azure and he came back with a large plate full saying, “I’ve never had this request before…everyone was looking at me funny.” Sometimes he would walk by and pick up Skyla’s bottle or toy off the floor before I could get to it. Unfortunately he failed to keep us topped off on water (my biggest pet peeve at a restaurant). We ordered the sampler for our appetizer along with a Caesar salad and mozzarella sticks. The sampler was incredible. Talk about hitting the spot. We could and should have just stopped right there because our meals were a big let down in comparison. Kim ordered a lemon chicken with rice and I got a 9oz steak with a baked potato. I don’t eat a whole lot of red meet but I still had a craving. I didn’t want to eat a burger two nights in a row so that’s why I decided on the steak. It wasn’t tender at all so in hind sight I should have just ordered a burger.
Azure was a little mischievous. She continuously took her shoes and skirt off. She also got adventurous and tried to wander away. Regardless, everyone around us made comments about how adorable the girls are and they proved to be good entertainment rather than a distraction to the neighboring booths. I was extremely patient and kind with Azure. When she wondered off I followed her for a few feet and then gently picked her up and tenderly whispered kind words of reproof in her ear. The Olympics were on television and the event being shown was some sort of marathon. I asked Azure if she could run as fast as those girls on TV. She said yes of course. “Okay…go run back to mommy that fast.” She did so with a large grin.
Kim asked Azure if she wanted to share her fries with daddy. Azi picked up a huge handful of fries, stretched her arm across the table and said, “here daddy”. I said, “not right now baby” then looked at Kim and said… “yeah, give me the fries after she’s been crawling on the floor…here daddy have the fries with the ca-ca all over them”. We laughed.
Once again she was a handful in just a few minutes. I recently discovered that putting her directly in timeout was ultimately not effective. Now when I count to three we go and have “a talk”. I ask her what happened and why she got in trouble. When she successfully answers we resolve to go make the necessary apologies and such and then to be a good girl. If she fails and I count to three a second time then she goes directly into time out. Apparently I must be doing something right. I have never met a child who asks for a timeout/talk. Sometimes Azure will be overtired and say, “I’m having a hard time…I need a talk”. Another occasion she was in timeout in the car and while I was talking to her she couldn’t catch her breath because she was so upset. I didn’t think she was listening so I just zipped my lips and proceeded to sit in the front seat. She started bawling and said, “Keep talking to me it makes me feel better”. Back to the restaurant…I took Azure outside for a talk. We sat on the bench and I asked what happened in there. She gave her default answer, “I nee-know”. I told her to think about it and she said, “I ran away and took my shoes off.” We made the necessary resolutions and I asked if she was ready to go back inside. She said, “I need a talk first”. Ha ha! She pointed to the car asking if she could go in “time out” just so she could have another talk.
When we got back to the booth I noticed that the table was cleared. Someone had taken away my steak and Kim’s rice. I planned on finishing both items. I hate to waste food.
When we left and Kim was getting in the car she said, “Oh…I feel like I am going to pop.” Azure thoughtfully responded, “Don’t pop mommy!”
