Lola Knows How To Treat A Lady...Date Night

A date night on a weeknight? What could be more special?

Thursday night, as a thank you for being a member of MyBlogSpark network, my girlfriend and I headed to downtown Chicago to attend a special dinner at Ben Pao. We arrived about a half hour late due to traffic. I started out with a glass or Shiraz and my girlfriend started out with a glass of Merlot. It was our first date in the big city.

Our dinner began with a flavorful hot and sour soup. We then had appetizers of chicken lettuce wrap, potsticker, spring roll and crab rangoon (not the traditional shape, it was tube-like and resembled taquitos and was delicious).

For our entrees we selected the Beef & Broccoli and Kung Pao Chicken to share. The entrees were good, but we definitely felt something was up with the Kung Pao Chicken. Normally that dish ordered at a Chinese restaurant is hot, as in spicy, knock you off your butt spicy. This was not and there were no spicy red chillies to be found.

Due to our arriving late, as we ate our appetizers, most diners were just finishing their entree or beginning dessert. Fortune cookies were passed out and a camera crew hit each table and interviewed diners. The interviewer asked each diner their name and asked them what they thought of the dinner. We realized that my girlfriend had to pick a blog name on the spot. We've discussed this before, but never came up with a name. We frantically brainstormed and came up with nothing. Fortunately the camera crew called it quits before heading back to our table.

As we dined on our dessert, a wonderful Lemon Ginger Cheesecake, we overheard other diners talking about their interview. "Were you fooled?" At that point we decided to open our fortune cookies. This is what they said:
No, we weren't fooled. Remember this commercial? This is what our evening was like:

I've tried many of the frozen Chinese and Asian entrees on the market, Wanchai Ferry is by far the best in my opinion. I've previously tried several of their entrees. As far as the Kung Pao Chicken goes, I'd like to see them provide a packet of freeze dried chillies to add to the entree to your taste. That would definitely make that entree as close to take out Chinese as it could be.

After retrieving my car from the valet and beginning our drive home we joked about how our waitress wasn't frozen from a box and how we half expected the Bounty quicker picker upper lady to show up to clean our table and Madge to come by with a saucer of Palmolive.

I must admit to being slightly embarrassed at the turn our date took, but my girlfriend assured me that she had a great time. Yes, we were punked, but she said it was fun...and it was.

Disclaimer: My girlfriend and I were provided with the dinner, a gift card, coupons, and product information through MyBlogSpark. Thank you to Ben Pao for the great service and atmosphere.

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

Dear 17 Year Old Me

This post is inspired by Rita @ Look It's Megryansmom and Weasel Mamma @ World Of Weasels.
Check out 17 year old me. This is my high school graduation photo. Look how I'm rockin' that perm!

Dear 17 year old me:

Ok, first off, stop being so shy. Don't wait until you're almost 40 to come out of your shell.

Hello! You're GAY! Yes! Don't try to live the lie, or do what you think everyone expects of you. Be you! Wonderfully witty, strong, passionate you!

When you move to Chicago and go to The Closet, don't wimp out. You'll go several times, but don't be a chicken and leave without at least ordering a drink and hanging out. You will feel comfortable there, just give it a few minutes. Make it your hangout. Believe me, it will be worth it, it will feel like home.

Don't take what that first guy said to heart. You don't belong with men anyway and he was an a**.

Don't marry the second guy, or if you do, get out after you have your son. You will have a daughter first. A wonderful, loving daughter who is friendly and a true joy. Your son will grow up with your sense of humor. (Yes, it's a blessing, not a curse.) Get out of that marriage before it goes south, because it will go further south than you or anyone else imagined.

Don't let that 2nd woman from Michigan move in with you and the kids. It will seem wonderful at first, but turn ugly in 6 months, just like her ex told you. She will kill your self esteem and belittle you and it will take a long time to recover. Don't let her verbally beat you up and call you a bad mother. You are a wonderfully caring, hands on parent who will raise 2 great kids.

It's ok to go through that wild period after her, don't put yourself down about it. You deserve happiness, just go into it with your eyes wide open and see it for what it is, a transition.

When you meet your second partner, stay honest and stick to your guns. When she tries to convince you to stay friends with the motorcycle chick, don't do it. Only bad will come of it and you will end up regretting it the rest of your life. Think for yourself! You will know it's a bad idea, so don't let your second partner influence you.

When your second partner moves in, keep your wits about you. If something doesn't seem right, question it right away. Don't rely on her past to influence how you deal with this. She is not who she seems to be.

You will gain strength from all of your experiences, even though at the time you will think you can't get through it. You can and you will! And you will be a better person for all of it. "God doesn't give you any more than you can handle" will be a statement said to you often. BELIEVE IT! Some of it will be very difficult if you stay with him. Stay strong, keep your eye on the prize and keep that house. You will more than double your money and it will give you a fresh start.

Your daughter will go through a very rough period. You'll do the right thing. You'll advocate for her and things will turn out better than you ever expected. Stick to your guns and don't let the doctors or administration push you around. You are in the right and you know it. Stay strong!

Happiness will come. It will take awhile, be patient.

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

Wordless Wednesday - Skinniest Me...

Check out skinniest me rockin' that shag do! And the outfit! I white t-shirt and jeans? How much more dyky could I be? This was taken in Florida at Disney World when I went with my sister, grandma, aunt and cousin. This was June, just after 8th grade . My Mom and I had gone on the Perma-Slim Stay Slim System (a low rent version of Weight Watchers) and both of us lost quite a bit of weight.
(Yes, I found the actual trademarked logo online. It's amazing what you can find on the internet.)

Picture an overweight teen being dragged to those weigh ins! I was miserable. I vowed I would never join an organized weight loss plan where weigh ins and cheer-leading were required. I also cannot stand yellow mustard. My snack of choice when I was starving was hamburger pickle slices with yellow mustard. Both items were freebies on the plan and you could eat as much as you wanted.

I haven't joined one of those plans since.

An update on the weight loss...I haven't weighed in at the doctor, but the Old Navy clothing I purchased awhile back that was a bit tight, is now baggy. I'd say that translates to several more lost pounds.

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing: Meme Of Many Odd Questions, Part Two

Cheers to all of us thieves!

23. Do you rent movies often? Not nearly as often as I should. I have the Blockbuster by mail membership and I literally end up keeping movies for months.

24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you’re in? My personality.

25. How many countries have you visited? Only the one I live in.

26. Have you made a prank phone call? Ages ago when I was a kid, before the advent of caller id.

27. Ever been on a train? I used to take the train every day to work. Blah! I definitely don't miss it.

28. Brown or white eggs? Who cares as long as they are fresh?

29. Do you have a cell-phone? Yes I do, but I covet my girlfriend's Droid and all the Iphones everyone I know owns. AT&T SUX! It won't let me upgrade now without literally paying $405 for an HTC Aria (very much like the Droid :-)) or $400 for the Iphone 4g. That SUX! I am tired of my Samsung Magnet texting phone. Accessing the internet from it is a joke, it rarely is able to load a page.

30. Do you use Chap Stick? Chapstick or Burt's Bees. Whichever I have nearby and feel the need to have kissably smooth lips.

31. Do you own a gun? Squirt gun, calking gun, what kind of gun did you mean?

32. Can you use chop sticks?Yes I can, and I love to use them when I have Japanese food or Chinese food. Because more coordination is required, my theory is that I eat at a slower pace and possibly eat less and have no stomach issues from eating too fast.

33. Who are you going to be with tonight? I'm not sure yet.

34. Are you too forgiving? Yes, I think so. Sometimes I feel like I let people walk all over me. (Mostly just certain people.)

35. Ever been in love? Hasn't everyone?

36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow (or the next soonest week day)? Umm, probably going to work. Hello! Week day!

37. Ever have cream puffs? Only every time I go to the Wisconsin State Fair. It's been a few years...wonder if there are any camping sites in that area???

38. Last time you cried? Oh grow up! That's highly personal and private and noyb!

39. What was the last question you asked? To my son...can you make me some coffee? (And yes, he's making it right now. Woo hoo!)

40. Favorite time of the year? I like cool weather. Early Spring, and Fall.

41. Do you have any tattoos? I don't currently have any, but I'd like to get one. I just can't decide on what to get. (It's kind of a permanent decision, no?) Got any suggestions?
42. Are you sarcastic? Hell to the yes!

43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect? The movie? Yes. And I think I may have the 2nd movie sitting on my shelf, waiting to be watched or sent back to blockbuster.

44. Ever walked into a wall? Uhhh yeah. And I've held one up too. :-)

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

How To Really Go Bat Shit Crazy or Taking 4 Kids Camping for a WEEK...

Ok, remember my post from last month? How To Go Bat Shit Crazy Or Taking 4 Kids Camping... Well we did it again a couple of weeks ago. Only we went out of state and went for an entire week. What? Are we freakin' crazy?
Ok, this time we did remember the tent poles. (However we ended up losing the bag that holds the tent that contains the instructions. Apparently it blew away in the wind. Hopefully now that we've set it up twice we don't need the instructions.)

We did bring plenty of things to do...handheld video games, 2 portable DVD players and loads of movies, horse shoes, badminton (which never did get set up or played), and croquet (which was a big hit.)
We went to Indiana Beach in Monticello, IN. We cooked all of our meals, except for donut runs for breakfast 2 days because we forgot to bring single serve coffee packets (like tea bags, only they are coffee bags). (Yes! I know! How can you forget coffee?) Well, coffee was purchased, but somehow didn't make it into the stuff that got loaded into the camper and van. I think the big hit of the week was the Pita Pizzas I made on the grill. (You use pita bread instead of dough and then pile on sauce, cheese and whatever toppings you want.)

Most mornings I had my coffee with the birds. Usually the kids would take off for somewhere (restrooms, showers or the camp store, or just walking to get kindling sticks for the fire) and I'd be left alone to contemplate my navel while I had coffee. Every morning after the kids took off, the birds came in to pick at any cereal they left behind. (Wish I had a photo, but they moved in so quickly there was no time.) Relaxation at it's finest!

My son got a bit of heat stroke after the day at the amusement park. All of us will definitely remember this camping trip as the one where he horked after downing a sports drink. I soaked a bandana with cool water and sent him into the air-conditioned trailer for the rest of the day. (See, having an air-conditioned trailer has it's perks.) By evening he was fine. Oh, and just a tip, if you use that spray-on sunscreen...don't spray it on in the wind. His back had a nice wavy design of white skin and sunburn from where the sunscreen hit and didn't hit.

Mosquitoes were aplenty and using any of the spray-on repellents proved futile...for me anyway. I finally gave up on that stuff after 3 days. I was getting eaten alive anyway, so why deal with the nasty smell and stickiness? Every single bite I had swelled up and blistered and filled with fluid, even when I completely avoided scratching. They haven't all healed yet and I look like I have some disease.

Fun was had by all! Even though my kids have sworn off camping, we know they had a blast. (They've been telling everyone else they had a blast.)

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

Random Tuesday Thoughts

We didn't get Lebron. Oh well. The Bulls would have needed to do more team building anyway. Having 1 star wouldn't have gotten us a championship any way.

They caught that fugitive teen in the Bahamas. What a wiley one! It didn't seem like he was ever going to get caught.

Drew's Law backfired on prosecutors. That sux. Will Peterson ever go to trial?

Will the cap work for the oil spill? Doubt it.

My cats are quite talented. I left the A/C on when I left the house the other day. When I came home there was no familiar drone of the A/C. I freaked! I thought the power had gone out. When I got in the house, the light I left on was still on. Puzzled, I checked the window A/C. It was off. Either Maddux or Irish had pushed the button on the power strip that the A/C was plugged into and turned it off. I turned it back on and wah lah! The A/C was back on. Goofy cats!

Hey looky there over at my Followers! I've almost reached 300! Who will be my 300th follower? Now's your chance, if you haven't already, become a Follower!

In other blog news, I'm almost half way to a pay out on Google Adsense. It's taking forever! I've been doing Google Adsense since shortly after starting this blog. WTH? I would have thought I would have reached the $100 threshold long ago.

My birthday is coming up. July 24th. I have no idea what is planned, but I know the kids will be with their dad. I'm sure no matter what it is, we will have fun.

Lola's Diner ©2008-2010

Sprucing Up...

Being a homeowner there are always things to do around the home. Some need immediate attention, others, well, it would be nice to give attention. I think the longer you live in a home, the more you think about making some improvements, or maybe just a few decorating changes.

I recently purchased drapes for my daughters room. Now that's a challenge! She's a teen, so you know her color palette is umm, how shall we say? A bit wild. Her colors are bright pink, purple, and lime green. I managed to find the perfect curtains to go with that scheme. Bright pink and purple. Each window has a panel of each. She's ecstatic!

So now I'm about to do something for the rest of our home. I can't believe I haven't done something about this sooner, especially since it's my domain...the kitchen. Since I moved in the lighting has been 2 fixtures which are just a simple light bulb. Yup! That's it! (Ok, so it looks a bit fancier because I'm using the new compact fluorescent bulbs.) See for yourself:

Every other fixture in the house is either a ceiling fan, or a nice decorative gold-tone fixture. The fixtures in the kitchen seem to have been forgotten when the previous owners remodeled.

So, my question is this, do you have any suggestions for the fixtures in my kitchen? I'd like to have your input.

Lola's Diner©2008-2010