TGI Friday's Buena Park at Knott's Berry Farm

I went to dinner last night to TGI Friday's I was very disappointed. We haven't been here in about 5 years is what Larry said. Well now it will be at least 5 years before I go again. This is what happened: I asked for a booth and was told they didn't have any, which you could see that they did, I then said can we have a half booth half chair seating. The hostess said fine. I was having difficulties walking last night and she tried to have us go to the back I asked why would you do this when I can barely walk all she said was OH! Then Nikita and I were seated. Larry came in and said please give us a regular booth this is ridiculous. They did and here we go walking back and around a person you really can't get around with a cane. Almost fell and tweaked the back and had shooting pain. That should have told me how the night would be. Well we ordered our food, while ordering we were told the cook/chef just might not get you steak right but he/she will try. Don't remember if it was a male or female cooking. I said maybe I shouldn't get steak both Larry and the waitress said you can always send it back. Well we ordered an appetizer asked for no green onions and of course they were there I just picked them out, I hate to have to send food back. You never know what they will do with the food when you do this. If you didn't know onion's and green peppers cause me to become sick. It causes serious GI problems for me. I won't go there and gross you out. Well then our food comes and first they gave Larry fries he asked for fresh potato chips. Then we both Larry and I cut into our steaks and Larry's was barely medium well, Larry prefers medium rare. I ask every place I go what is your medium like and what is your medium rare, I do this because I have found it varies from place to place. So I said I will take medium rare, well I got very well done. parts of the steak (rib eye) were edible and some weren't. I also had grilled shrimp and they too were very well done. Larry & I didn't send them back because we weren't sure first what we would get or how long it would take. The waitress was nice but I never saw the manager to talk to about this. I do not expect free food or anything but they should be aware of how the food is coming out so they don't lose more customers.
We like to support our City's Restaurants we live in Buena Park and we have tourist that come to see Knott's Berry Farm which this TGI Friday's is located and we need to keep them coming not run away. I have nothing more to say than I hope they get there act together before they go out of business!

Old fashion

Are you old fashion? Well I guess I am, and that is ok with me. I am the type of person/Mom/woman that believes we teach our kids biological or not to respect our elders. We do not have to agree with them but show respect. This is an example of this: If your name is Joyce Johnson you should be called either Miss Johnson if you are not married, Mrs. Johnson if you are or if you prefer Ms. Johnson. I believe this is done until the person is at least 17-18 yrs. old unless the adult states otherwise. I was brought up this way.

What I stated earlier is that you don’t have to agree with your elders but being disrespectful of this is wrong. If you have an opinion I believe you can talk about it, but you are not allowed to force it on the person. I respect and this is what I am trying to instill in my daughter that we don’t have to agree on everything but we do not need to make the other person agree with us, they are entitled to their opinion.

I also believe that you should teach to your children not to judge people by color, religion or mental/physical disabilities. I think you should get to know people as people and not a label.

I am doing all of this while raising my daughter Nikita, I would hope she would do the same when & if she has children.

I try to set realistic boundaries for Nikita. Here is an example where I made a mistake I am not perfect and anyone who is my hat is off to you: Nikita went to a drop off party and when I got there I wasn’t sure if she should stay or not. I should always go with my gut! Well the parents of the Birthday girl who just turned 12 dropped her off with her 18 yr. old brother to John’s Incredible Pizza for a party. Well when I got there I find this out and I talk to the 18 yr. old and another parent I know they seem to think it was ok so I let Nikita stay even though there was no parental supervision of 12 yr. olds going to be there. Plus Nikita has a phone she can call me if there is a problem. Well Larry & I go on our merry way to South Orange County to shop, come home and then I go to pick Nikita up both me & the other parents that I know agree that 3pm is a good time to pick them up that is 4 hours of time at John’s Incredible Pizza. Well when I get there the other parents who I saw in the parking lot did not go to the meet place, not sure where they went. Well I gave Nikita till about 3:05 and texted her she did not respond so at 3:10 I called her. She then came out & had serious attitude to me for interrupting her fun. Serious attitude isn’t acceptable to me, like talking down to me and raising her voice at me. Well on the ride home I found out what happened and she tried to blame me for lack of fun she had. First I take responsibility for leaving her there which after talking to Nikita I shouldn’t have done. I guess the party wasn’t organized with a set time to start and stop and that people (12 yr. old girls) were arriving at different times. I am not sure exactly when they went in but it is my understanding that the 18 yr. old brother took off and left the girls in the mall while he shopped then came back they ate and had just started playing games in there arcade area when I arrived. Well I told Nikita that it was time to leave and we did, she got mad at me on the drive home about the party and that she was the first to leave. I got pissed to say the least I will tell you that I did curse and told her she had better change her attitude or she would lose her phone and anything else if she kept up the way she was behaving. I told her she was lucky I left her there that I will not make that mistake again. I will always go with my gut it is usually not wrong.

Here is another example of me being old fashion; I was out to lunch with a friend & her two daughters and Nikita too. The girls sat at their own table and so did me and my friend. While we were there we saw a couple of Mom’s leave there girls in high chairs to go get their food. First of all I would never do this and never will. This is how I did this when Nikita was that little, Me and the other Mom would take turns watching the kids while the other got food, not leave the two girls in high chairs unattended. I see this all the time and wonder WTF. Nikita was always moving and squirming I would be afraid if that she would get out and take off or fall out. In case you were wondering we were at Souplantaion having lunch.

I know I am getting a little soap box or preachy but this is how I feel. I just don’t understand people the way that they do things today! I know that there is probably more I should talk about on the subject but I stated this at 1:30 am and now it is 2:30 am and I think I will stop for now. I will update if I feel necessary.

Went for a crown & lost a tooth

Well, yesterday was a tough day for me I was scheduled to have a new crown put and maybe worst case was a root canal. Well my dentist got the crown off which took a while, kudos to the dentist he put it on years ago it was very secure. Well he went in to repair a cavity that was caused by acid reflux, while in there it looked worse than he imagined and thought well we will need to discuss this. So we did and he could have done a root canal, then a few other things I don't remember the exact phrases/words, but knowing my luck in a few weeks the tooth more than likely would have to be extracted. My Dentist Dr. Patrick O'Connor gave me a choice, I chose to have the tooth extracted. Well usually it doesn't take very long to do this, but of course we are dealing with me, the tooth just wanted to stay put. It took over an hour to get it out. I was told that the roots of the tooth were devil hooked to my sinuses. Well I made a joke that I am a little devil, he laughed. If you know me there isn't anything little about me. Well the tooth was extracted it did a little damage to my sinuses. Dr. O'Connor fixed it.
Well I can tell you that it took until 5am for my bleeding to stop "YUCK". This morning when I saw myself in the mirror I just had to laugh, my face is a bit bruised and swollen. I will say at least this time I don't have a black eye. The last time he extracted a tooth my whole side of my face was bruised and I had a black eye. I did try to take a picture of myself to post it but I am the worst for taking pictures of myself by myself. Needless to say I kept cutting off parts of my head. You will just have to take my work for it. I plan to go have some scrambled eggs they are soft to eat I will be able to eat non soft food tomorrow if I am up to it. Have a great day.

update on taking care of Nikita's garden

Well so far so good, only one yellow squash died, can't figure out what happened it turned brown. I am making sure it is watered and not over watered. The tomatoes are sprouting too, there are 6 or 7 sprouts. The Catnip is doing great, the cucumber is OK not really growing but not dying either. Catnip is at top left in oblong container, round container to the right is cucumber. Just below cucumber is yellow squash flowering, just to the left in round container is the 6 or 7 just sprouted tomatoes.


The cauliflower is doing good growing slowly. As you will see the cauliflower is purple & white.


We are also growing watermelons, cantaloupes, peanuts & zucchini. At the top in large container is melons, to the left is peanuts & bottom is zucchini. The melons & peanuts were a school project Nikita did in her class.


I think I am doing OK will see what Nikita thinks when she gets home from Texas next Sunday. I will let you know.

Nexus 7

This is what I know about the Nexus 7. Larry told me on my birthday that as soon as the Google's tablet comes out I will get you it. Well it is now known as Nexus 7. I don't know that much about it. I have seen a you tube video about it. I have read on Google+ about it and Facebook. Well Larry pre ordered  this for me. Well my birthday was in April and now it is July. Just before Larry & Nikita left for Texas he read it would be out middle of July. Then just in the last 2 days he read or heard it would be???? Then I got an e-mail from Sam's club it was available for pre order. Today on Facebook I read that Sam's Club has them and you can get it now at their clubs. That pissed me off so I called Larry and he read or heard that Game Stop was selling theirs early too. I guess they shipped to various vendors before they shipped to consumers who pre ordered directly from them. Again I am pissed. I just read on Google+ that Google Play is shipping today. What the hell is really going on? Will I get mine? I have posted on Google Play when will I get mine. When I do I will update you and let you know what I think of it.

Tattoos tell me what you think

First let me start with no I do not have a tattoo and I don't plan on getting one. I have a funny story to tell later.
I think that they are cool looking and I see nothing wrong with them. I have family & friends that have them. I  will be honest I can't do it, I don't like pain and I hear they are painful. I will not do it. I am not the type of person to judge people based on looks. The one tattoo I do not understand is the one on women above the butt, or on shall we say private parts. Yes I did say private parts, because I just don't want to think of it, it makes me think ouch!!!
My late father had one that was his name. My brother & nephew have several. Larry has friends that I have met that have them too. My nephews wife has some too.
The scariest one I saw was in 1997 or 1998 I was tacking classes at Cypress College and one of my fellow students had a bald head, I guess you could say the tattoo was by his ear and part of his head. It was a web with a spider on it. He I wish I remember his name (brain fart) was about 5'7" and very muscular. I was intimidated I have to say at first, he sat down at the table outside our class. He new some of my fellow classmates, we all began to chat before class started. I found out that this man had been in prison and was sober member of AA and NA. I found him very interesting.
For those who don't know I grew up in a house where there was Alcoholism. I did marry Larry knowing that he is a recovering Alcoholic. I have been to AA, NA, CA meetings on and off for 29 yrs. I have gone to Al-anon on and off for over 26 yrs, before that I went to Ala-teen. I digress sorry. I have seen all types of people with & without tattoos, I still hope to continue not to judge in the future.
Funny story time, when Jeremiah my stepson I prefer son, came to me one day he was either 16 or 17 and wanted to ask if he could get a tattoo and so would his Dad (Larry). They also asked another time about getting their ears pierced. This was my answer, lets go know before you change your minds. They thought I would freak out and get mad I sure shocked them. Well they didn't get tattoos or ears pierced. Larry is still that way, I can't say that about Jeremiah I just don't know what he did or didn't do when he went into the Army or after her retired from the Army. Jeremiah will be 35 later this month.
Tell me what you think about tattoos yes? No? Do you judge people with tattoos.

  

Update on Fridge

Well I got my fridge fixed, it was the motor. I lost the food in the fridge, but the food in the freezer is still good. Now I have to start to replenish what is lost. I will do this over the next few weeks, I will get the necessities then the this and that. I wish I could do all now but alas as we all now it is expensive to do this. I am starting with the milk, eggs, cheese etc... then I will get my favorite olives, capers, Asian sauces etc... On and off over the next few weeks. If this has happened to you I feel for you. I am very lucky all I lost was stuff      from my fridge that can be replaced. For those in disaster areas who have gone through this and worse, I can't imagine what you have gone through.
Also important to know Larry finally believes me that the food could & did go bad. I love Larry but he is a stubborn man and set in his ways. Well aren't we all some days :)

Fridge/Freezer isn't working right

Yesterday my fridge/freezer started to warm up, which had me concerned. So I didn't go into fridge unless I had too. Well the fridge temperature came down to normal but freezer remained higher than I like. Then when I pulled out food for dinner the fridge/freezer was warming up even before I took the first item out. Long story short my fridge part didn't come down to a safe temperature & Larry didn't go get me ice like I asked last night. I have lost just about everything in my fridge, the produce I believe will be fine and jello that hadn't been open they are individual containers are OK and  so is the juice (cranberry peach) I haven't opened yet is also fine. I did lose lunch meat (ham & pastrami), cheese, milk (reg. & Soy). Broccoli cheese soup etc...
I am hoping not to lose my frozen food before the repair man comes, I just did a meat buy, I have about $200.00 work of meat in the freezer. I do a meat buy once every 3-4 weeks. I am not pleased.
All Larry could say is that I will eat the food in the fridge. I told him you are crazy, bacteria probably is growing. My fridge just came down to 40 degrees after not opening it for 7 1/2 hours. When I went to bed it was 45 degrees. Food safety suggests what I read online that fridge be no high than 38 degrees and food itself not be over 41 degrees,
keep your fingers crossed that I don't lose anything else.

This was my 4th of July

Well the alarm went off at 1:30am to wake Larry up for him to get ready for Texas; I got up and helped where I could. Larry is a last minute packer. To me last minute to me was when we finished packing Nikita’s stuff by 10am July 3, 2012.

At 2:30am Nikita’s alarm went off I turned on her light and we chatted for a little bit, then she got ready to go for the airport. Trying to keep Nikita happy & help Larry while I had about 1hr. and 20 min sleep was a miracle if I do say so myself.

All packed now time to pack Larry’s car, for those of you who don’t know Larry has a small car by my definition. He has a BMW 330i, I have a Lincoln Navigator see why I say small car. They load the car and leave about 3:40am.

Larry & Nikita are off to drop off car at a place we use when we travel called The Parking Spot. Then The Parking Spot will take them to LAX (Los Angeles International Airport). When they arrived the texting started until about 4:30 in the morning because geeze I need sleep.

Larry then texted me right before they took off. If you haven’t been reading my posts then you don’t know that they have gone to Texas, they fly into Houston Intercontinental Airport. I didn’t hear this I was asleep, thank goodness.

I did track their flight; they left early and arrived early. Jeremiah picked them up and now they are having fun in Lovelady Texas. You may as where is that I have been told it is about 65 miles outside of Houston. The closest city to them is Huntsville, where the prison is.

I sleep very little, of course they are out of town and I think oh, I am going to start doing things, well I did. I did do a lot but I rested in between. I did water Nikita’s plants and they are looking good. So far we have a yellow squash that is growing; all the other veggies & fruit are just coming along just fine. One big update though the other day there were only 2 beginning tomato sprouts but when I watered there were 4 yeah. I am trying not to kill them.

I talked to Larry & Nikita & texted them on and off, while I was on the phone with them they wanted to know what fireworks were going on around me. Alas none on our street since they were gone. Other streets had them, but not ours. I went to bed early but it was way too noisy to sleep & Ziva the cat was scared of all of the noise. I finally got to sleep about 12-1am.

I hope all of you had a wonderful 4^th of July.

Getting Ready for Texas

Well school got out and we are off and trying to get ready for Texas. Nikita is going to visit her brother on his  ranch in Texas. Well Nikita is just growing like a weed as they say; I need to get her summer clothes for both home & Texas. If you have a pre-teen or teen the clothing options unfortunately suck they are so not all appropriate for girls to wear in my opinion. They are too sexy, made for a teeny person & worst of all one shirt is a size 2 and another is a size 6 or 8. There is no universal real size out there. It is the same with the small, medium, large & extra large. It makes it hard to shop just in one store now days let alone going to another store it is completely different. Enough of my complaining on this, it isn’t going to change anytime soon unfortunately.

We got all of her clothes it just took us to three stores to do it on three different days. We got travel size stuff for Nikita or bottles to add her favorite stuff too. We still need to pick up her 2 shirts at the dry cleaners, yes it sucks that they have to be dry cleaned but they are cute! We have to hand wash a few things too, again they are cute clothes!!! Nikita has to see the dentist before she leave too, poor girl has two teeth fighting for one place not sure which is baby tooth and which is adult one. We have lists made one for check in bag & one for carry on.

Need to transplant some of Nikita’s plants they are growing fast and they need more room than the pot has. We have to go buy the boxes for the transplant; we are urban gardening over our garage which is a large balcony. Our back yard is cement, bricks & rocks no grass, so if we garden it would be an urban garden.

Need to pack day before Nikita & Larry leave. Larry is going with Nikita and coming home a few days later, Nikita is then staying with Jeremiah her brother for two weeks. I am a nervous mom; Nikita has gone to away camp before but not this long. I will survive but I am a Mom after all.

Larry don’t get me started he will start packing 30-45 minutes before they leave for the airport, that is just his way. I will be like a chicken with its head cut off trying to get them out the door so they will make their flight. I won’t rest easy until I know they have made it safely.

I am not going to Texas, I wish I could but it is just a quick turn around and I am not sure if my body could take it, with TSA the flight, long drive to Jeremiah’s house and then coming home a few days later. If it were a week or more I would consider it. I am in constant pain and have trouble with walking and it would probably ruin Nikita’s trip worrying about me being ok. I know I will be fine at home by myself for a few days. I have family & friends who will help if I need them.

Well we weren’t able to find the right containers for transplantation but we will soon, or Larry says he will build it himself.

Summer Projects

This summer I have 2 definite projects to accomplish.

1.     Simplify & Organize my Kitchen.

2.     Try not to kill Nikita’s garden while she is in Texas.

I have already started on the first project; this is how we (Nikita & I) are accomplishing this. First we started taking out of a cupboard baking items, pots & pans. I had a decision to make have I used them in the last 2 years? If not are they in good shape to give to charity or do I just need to throw it out, because no one would want it or it was in such bad shape it needed to be thrown away. Well we have gone through about 75% of the kitchen. We have donated about 6 boxes of kitchen items along with some old books of Nikita’s. We had a Charity coming to pick up items and they would take electronics it they worked. Well we had 2 old TV’s and 2 old VCR’s that still worked and we no longer had use for. If you are wondering why we do not have a garage sale Larry detests them! I digress, back to the kitchen. We have done all but three cupboards, pantry, credenza & 4 drawers.

I have started to the kitchen stuff we are keeping, back in cupboards. For those who do not know when we moved into this house I was 3 ½ months pregnant with Nikita. I was limited to what I could do because I being pregnant was high risk and I was allowed to do some things but not other things. So my family & friends helped to pack us up and move us with the help of a moving company. Then they helped by unpacking and putting stuff away for me. Then I guess I just didn’t want to deal with changing anything until this summer, I also needed help too. As some of you know I am unable to do a lot of things physically which sucks big time. Nikita is 12 and very helpful so I thought we could tackle this over Spring Break but alas I got sick and haven’t yet completely recovered yet. I am glad we didn’t start then I had no idea of what an undertaking this was going to be. So far Nikita and I have spent on average 2-3 hours 3-4 times a week. I wish I had more energy but I still have everyday stuff to do like laundry, cooking, shopping etc…

On the organization part of this we are thinking what is the best place for cups? Cups should go into the cupboard by the fridge so if you want water or something to drink it is easy to find, not where they were in the cupboard by the coffee maker. We are making it easier for me to reach the pots and pans I use frequently as well as the baking (pans, tins etc…). As you might guess the coffee cups are now in the cupboard by the coffee maker.

I will continue to work on what I can do without Nikita while she is in Texas. If you are wondering I have promised to pay Nikita for her help. I feel she has worked real hard and deserves the money she has earned.

On to the second project Nikita is leaving in a few days for Texas, Nikita is visiting her brother Jeremiah his wife Amie and their kids. Jeremiah has a small ranch in Texas, he has horses, chickens and I am not sure what other animals they have. I digress again; Larry & Nikita are going to transplant some of her garden that is getting to big for the pots they are in. Nikita is growing yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant, cantaloupe, watermelon, peanuts, purple cauliflower, cucumber, catnip & tomatoes. I hope I didn’t forget anything and oh yeah they are all organic. While she is gone I am in charge of the plants. I will give it my best not to kill them. I will update you with pictures on how I am doing. Nikita did when she started her garden lose all but of her herbs she was growing & the zucchini. We then started over with seeds with the zucchini and they are thriving now.