I am sick and feeling whiny, so I am going to whine to all of you! This morning I took my Mom over to the kitchen appliance store because her oven broke. I was walking around and looking at all of the gorgeous kitchen equipment and I just got so mad! I really want a nice kitchen with lots of high powered appliances, but my kitchen is just this rinky little closet with cheapo crummy stuff. I know so many people that have awesome kitchens and they don't even cook! GRR! Oh well....next house, I guess. I can't do a remodel here the way I would want it because it would be WAY out of proportion to the rest of the house. That, and I would not have a vacation budget anymore. Whine, whine, whine!
Becky, that is one reason I refuse to even allow the TV to stop on the HGTV channel. I would love a decent kitchen, and den, and master bathroom, you get the idea. But first we have to fix the house itself. It is an older house and needs several rennovations. DH has managed to trade out a car down payment with a roofer to have our roof replaced. It really needed it, but the most serious problem is the house needs to be "jacked up" on the foundation. One side is leaning slightly. Like enough that if I am measuring a liquid, I have to hold the measuring cup because if I leave it on the counter, the liquid isn't level. I haven't found anything to place under the baking pans in the oven that won't catch fire, so any cakes or brownies I make are thicker on one side or another.
So whine away girl. Whine away. But like Kathy said, if you can make what you do in your kitchen now, we'll all be blown away if you ever get the appliances you want.
The best part of this trip too is that we are going down to
surprise my two DBs, their families and my DP. My parents will be at FW camping with my DBs.
Here are our ADR plans:
LeCellier - (I am craving duck, mussels, & pretzel bread. DH loves the mushroom filet)
Hoop Dee Doo- this is a surprise for my DP. Not the best food but DS loves to clap and dance to the music. My DP are going to love being there with him. (beer and sangria are a plus!)
Ragland Road- DH loves his beer, last time was a miss here but we are giving it a second chance.
Yaki & Yeti- this is a first, don't know till you try.
O'hana breakfast- character meal for our little man!
Kona- this is a family favorite, dying to try the Pomegranate Barbecued Pork Chop.
The Plaza- DH loves his burgers, it is one of our MK favorites.
Rose & Crown- another family favorite.
Other food and drink must for us will be Tangerine Cafe, Captain Cooks for dole whip, slushie in France, Kona for Macadamia pancakes and pressed Kona coffee and figaro fries. Anything taste good when I do not have to cook!!!!
I will worry about the calories later
!
Ann, I think the surprise sounds wonderful! And your ADRs aren't so bad either.
I love the duck and mussels at LeCellier too. And we went to Raglan Road on our November trip and really enjoyed it. We took my parents and I picked this restaurant for my Dad mostly. He loved the scotch flight, the band, and the dancer. The only part of the actual meal he commented on was the bread pudding which he said was the best he had eaten since his grandmother died over 50 years ago. My DH and I thought the food was good, but honestly, I would go again for the band and to watch my Dad enjoy it even if the food was terrible.
I know how you feel about your kitchen. I cannot even describe mine before we renovated. When we made plans Buddy said he thought that we should put the old stuff back until we saved more money.
I wanted to shoot him and I would have gotten off if I was arrested! I whined to his brother and all he did was laugh. It seems he knew him better than me but I was one grouchy woman for a while! Then I wanted a professional duel fuel range and DH did as well.......right until he learned that the burners were gas.
Oh well, I could have gotten him to acquiesce but then he would have spent every waking moment checking it so I gave in. It took over twelve years for a decent kitchen.
At least you know him well enough to know when to push and when you're better off.
But in all honesty, if we were doing a big remodel and I couldn't get the kitchen done, I think I'd blow a gasket!
I am stressed about my Mom coming with us. She just doesn't seem to get it when it comes to what I do every day to make our lives run. As you know, she seems to expect a lot from me around holidays & such. And we haven't been on a vacation with her in almost 20 years either.
Sheryl, I understand what you are saying, but you can't stress about it. You need to look at it like she is coming on your vacation, not the other way around. And maybe, just maybe, because it will be more in her face, she'll come away with a better appreciation of your life (and Bob's).
BTW - the princess potatoes were very good. Please tell the princess we enjoyed them and thank you for sharing her recipe.
No, they aren't brothers. Their moms just share the same philosophy that food should be unseasoned and overcooked. (Except in the case of beef, and then it is still mooing.) It was the usual meal at my ILs today...boneless chicken breast cooked in evaporated milk and topped with mushrooms. This was served over white rice. I am so in need of a snack later!
Aimee and Kathy, you really made me laugh with your reaction. It is especially funny because this is one of my MIL's better meals. This probably explains why my FIL has said that anytime I have any leftovers, I should call him and he will pick them up.
I don't blame the man at all! Poor thing. He's had a lifetime of that cooking.
DH said that Greg is on track for planning on scaring the teenage boys! Although his recommendation was not dress unifom but fatigues while holding his weapon!
Tom uploaded some pics for me!
Here is the chicken and dumplings I made a couple weeks ago...it was soooooo good!
Here is a self portrait of me with my ear muffs and face shield on. Sorry, no make up...scary right??? We were using a 22 calibur nail gun so that is why we needed safety stuff.
Awww, thank you! I was hiding my double chin that I just realized came back today...after I have been eating horribly today...and drinking beer...I was the beer and bullet b**ch!
Love the pics Lauren - especially the one of yourself. At least you are maintaining your sense of humor during this remodel. I think that is probably the hardest thing to do.
Yes, it is 5 a.m. and I am DISing. I have been up all night. I went to bed tired but I didn't sleep at all. Finally around 4:20 I decided to just go ahead and get up. While putting in my contacts, it hit me what was wrong with me. I pulled out my birth control pills and realized Saturdays was still in there. I forgot to take my evening meds last night which include...
I hope your day gets better.
Kathy - we loved the Saucy Steak last night. But I am an idiot. I read the part about cutting the slits in the bag, but totally forgot to do it. I jumped up after it had been in the oven for about 30 minutes, but no worries, the bag made its own slit (or huge gaping hole) by then. It was good anyway. And the meat was really tender.
I'm up kind of early today myself, not because I wanted to be however. Add Hailey now to the stomach virus list. She started last night and had three baths before we were finally able to get her in bed. She's been up since 5ish and so far, so good. I hope she does like the other kids and it is only a 24 hour type virus. And did I mention that Kenny now has the stomach virus on top of the other crud? I'm thinking of running away from home.
Dinner tonight is the million dollar question. I guess it depends on how the rest of the family is tonight and if I get a break in nursing duties.
I swear, if he makes himself sick on that, there will be no sympathy from me. None at all.
