So with all this reminiscing about passed loved ones and memories, and the inevitably approaching big 3-0, I can't help but desire to live life to the fullest. So I recalled a great movie, "The Bucket List" and was inspired to write my own.
A "bucket list" is a list of things you want to do/accomplish before you die. It's a list of your wild and crazy ideas and dreams! It did not take me long to do mine:
Go to Italy and trace my roots -as in actually going to the small villages that my family is from!
Visit Ireland-John should trace his roots too!
Take an Alaskan Cruise -totally possible with my mother's employment at a cruise line!
Go on a Mission Trip-I have always wanted to travel to a 3rd world country and help the real poor
Scuba Dive - my aspirations of being a mermaid! lol!
Celebrate New Years Eve in Manhattan - as in getting a hotel room with a balcony view of Times Square...I'm not about to be corralled with thousands of crazy tourists on the streets of NYC!
Zip-line through a rain forest/tropical forest - my only concern with this one are bugs smacking my forehead on the way down!
Downhill ski- I know I know, I am an upstate NYer and I have never been...
Get Lasik surgery!-I really want to wake up at 3am and see the clock! 30th bday gift idea for anyone wondering...
Go to Vegas -hence my obsession with the TV show
Go on a Safari - as a kid, I used to be obsessed with this!
Make wine at a vineyard - this one would also be great to accomplish in Italy
Get a six-pack!!! -I know I am already working on the six pack (no progress, I've been LAZY!! I'm now watching the beginning of the Las Vegas series! OOOOO DVR you are evil!).
So start dreaming people! I challenge you to make a list yourself!
Friday, March 6, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
A decade later...
At 8:20pm on March 4th 2000 my life changed dramatically. At the time I knew it was going to change, but I never knew that a decade later how that one night changed so much in my future...
That was the night that my father passed away. The setting: an hospice suite in a small hospital in southern Charlotte, NC. It was just me and my mom sitting on either side of my dad holding his hands. My brothers and sister were down earlier that week and had flown back to NY to wait for the inevitable news. I had never actually watched anyone die before this night and at being only 19 years old, it was the last thing I imagined doing.
But alas, the time came. My father had slipped into a deep sleep the night before and he woke briefly about an hour prior to his passing. It was an abrupt cough that jolted my father to an upright position. His eyes opened, he looked at me and my mom, squeezed our hands, said "I love you," and slipped back into his sleep to pass away just about an hour later.
And now I find myself in a whole different life a decade later. So much has happened since that life changing night. Graduating college, moving out on my own, graduating with my masters, getting my first real job, getting married, and now living a life in a whole different state all grown up.
With each milestone I find myself excited and proud of my accomplishments, yet a bittersweet moment as well. I am a woman of faith and fully believe that my father watches over me each day. But that still doesn't replace his physical presence, his big tight hugs where he calls me "petunia" as I'm held close to him. His scruffy kisses from his mustache that as a little girl I would cringe from, yet I would give anything to feel again...
Little did I know how my father's passing would prepare me for so much ahead in life. After you loose someone close to you, it's indescribable how your priorities adjust to what really matters. It's amazing how the things that we worry about and stress out about don't seem to matter. It's uncanny how you can relate to others when they then go through the same experience...
As I get ready for work each day, putting on my make up and straitening my hair, I see my father each day staring back at me in the mirror. You would think that out of his four children the two boys would inherit his looks. Nopers, my sister and I are undeniably his daughters: nose, curly hair, and calves. Yes I have my dad's calves, and ironically the same birthmark on my leg!
There are times where I still find my self bitter at the world for cheating me out of having an adult life with my dad. My kids will never have a grandfather to pass on the stories of how his family immigrated here from Italy, my husband never had the chance to really get to know the man whom I held all other men up to, and my mom doesn't get the chance to grow old with her one true love..
But I have so much to thank my father for, more than what I could feel cheated out of. For one thing, I had 19 years of being raised by the most kind, patient, and loving man. I have memories that even the best novelist couldn't describe with the right words. I have a future of one day raising children of my own with the knowledge and values instilled in my that my father passed on.
The song that can best encompass the impact my father has had on me is Madonna's "I'll Remember". This was the song that I chose to dance with my family at my wedding in honor of the traditional father-daughter dance.
A decade later I find myself sitting here tonight reflecting on a great man. I've already called my mom, my brother Jason gave me a call and will go up to pray at my dad's grave later this evening. Through the years this anniversary has gotten easier. I find my self reminiscing on his life opposed to his death. I celebrate by cooking his sauce and meatballs and hold them to the standard of his quality. I laugh at the memories of him cheering me up when I was sad or sick. I remember and live the lessons of life that he taught me each and every day. And I never, ever take the moments with those that I love for granted...
That was the night that my father passed away. The setting: an hospice suite in a small hospital in southern Charlotte, NC. It was just me and my mom sitting on either side of my dad holding his hands. My brothers and sister were down earlier that week and had flown back to NY to wait for the inevitable news. I had never actually watched anyone die before this night and at being only 19 years old, it was the last thing I imagined doing.
But alas, the time came. My father had slipped into a deep sleep the night before and he woke briefly about an hour prior to his passing. It was an abrupt cough that jolted my father to an upright position. His eyes opened, he looked at me and my mom, squeezed our hands, said "I love you," and slipped back into his sleep to pass away just about an hour later.
And now I find myself in a whole different life a decade later. So much has happened since that life changing night. Graduating college, moving out on my own, graduating with my masters, getting my first real job, getting married, and now living a life in a whole different state all grown up.
With each milestone I find myself excited and proud of my accomplishments, yet a bittersweet moment as well. I am a woman of faith and fully believe that my father watches over me each day. But that still doesn't replace his physical presence, his big tight hugs where he calls me "petunia" as I'm held close to him. His scruffy kisses from his mustache that as a little girl I would cringe from, yet I would give anything to feel again...
Little did I know how my father's passing would prepare me for so much ahead in life. After you loose someone close to you, it's indescribable how your priorities adjust to what really matters. It's amazing how the things that we worry about and stress out about don't seem to matter. It's uncanny how you can relate to others when they then go through the same experience...
As I get ready for work each day, putting on my make up and straitening my hair, I see my father each day staring back at me in the mirror. You would think that out of his four children the two boys would inherit his looks. Nopers, my sister and I are undeniably his daughters: nose, curly hair, and calves. Yes I have my dad's calves, and ironically the same birthmark on my leg!
There are times where I still find my self bitter at the world for cheating me out of having an adult life with my dad. My kids will never have a grandfather to pass on the stories of how his family immigrated here from Italy, my husband never had the chance to really get to know the man whom I held all other men up to, and my mom doesn't get the chance to grow old with her one true love..
But I have so much to thank my father for, more than what I could feel cheated out of. For one thing, I had 19 years of being raised by the most kind, patient, and loving man. I have memories that even the best novelist couldn't describe with the right words. I have a future of one day raising children of my own with the knowledge and values instilled in my that my father passed on.
The song that can best encompass the impact my father has had on me is Madonna's "I'll Remember". This was the song that I chose to dance with my family at my wedding in honor of the traditional father-daughter dance.
A decade later I find myself sitting here tonight reflecting on a great man. I've already called my mom, my brother Jason gave me a call and will go up to pray at my dad's grave later this evening. Through the years this anniversary has gotten easier. I find my self reminiscing on his life opposed to his death. I celebrate by cooking his sauce and meatballs and hold them to the standard of his quality. I laugh at the memories of him cheering me up when I was sad or sick. I remember and live the lessons of life that he taught me each and every day. And I never, ever take the moments with those that I love for granted...
"I'll Remember"
by Madonna
Say good-bye to not knowing when
The truth in my whole life began
Say good-bye to not knowing how to cry
You taught me that
And I'll remember the love that you gave me
Now that I'm standing on my own
I'll remember the way that you changed me
I'll remember
Inside I was a child
That could not mend a broken wing
Outside I looked for a way
To teach my heart to sing
I learned to let go of the
illusion that we can possess
I learned to let go, I travel in stillness
And I'll remember happiness
I'll remember
No I've never been afraid to cry
Now I finally have a reason why
I'll remember
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Viva Las Vegas!
OK so I am one of those people that can get sucked into a good book. No I mean really sucked into it, as in the characters become part of my everyday life and my emotions for the day can be dictated by what I have read prior (i.e. killing off Dumbledoor - not cool). Anywho, I am pathetically the same way when it comes to a good TV show.
I recently have been ADDICTED to the show "Las Vegas". Now I am fully aware that this show is no longer running and only the reruns air, but my husband and sister-in-law got me hooked on it over Christmas and since then we have been DRVing two episodes a day and watching them when I get home from work (hence the fact that my jeans do not fit anymore because I plop my lazy but down watching reruns each night!).
So this is like crack to me, seriously. I have not gotten enthralled in a show like this since the OC (as well as a brief obsession with JAG). And trust me, I broke up with that show once they killed off Marissa Cooper....i was grieving for days. I know, pathetic. Just wait, I get worse....
OK back to LV...despite the ridiculously outlandish plots that occur in this casino (murders, felons, drugs, hmmm come to think it's kind of like a day at work!), I am sucked into the world of these main characters and the lives that they live while working at the Monticito Casino.
Let's start with Ed Deline, one of the big wigs on the show...I immediately like him for the sole reason that he was the dad in ELf. No other reason, just that. Delinda, his daughter annoyed me until she was pregnant and I then began to find her hysterical as she would puke and burp frequently throughout the episodes! Mary Connolly had way too much collagen in her lips and I found it annoying so I did not mind when they booted her from the show. Mike and Danny were comical and I enjoyed the dynamics between them. I loved it when Tom Seleck came on as "Cooper" the new owner of the Monticito and his undertaker look (as in a funeral undertaker, not the wrestler).
And then there is Sam Marquez. I am obsessed with this character in every way (well wait, not in THAT way). I want her hair, clothes and snotty attitude! How liberating it would be to just live in a world where people embraced the sarcastic and blunt honesty that flows from this character! And let's also admire that her job is to make rich people loose money....seriously what the heck am I doing with my life when I secretly covet doing that!
Anywho, the reason why I am rambling on about this show is because hubs and I just got done watching our two taped shows from Friday (wild Saturday night for us!), and the show ended with Delinda possibly loosing her baby (7 months along). Well of course since I can't wait until Monday night when I plop my butt down again on the couch and watch the next episode on my dvr, I made the hubs look it up online as to whether or not she lost the kid...
He discovered something that pissed me off even more than if she lost the kid....that was the LAST episode of the SERIES before it was cancelled. No resolution. No answers as to what happened, and now, no more reruns. It's like loosing Marissa Cooper all over again.
What the heck!? Even "Saved by the Bell" made a TV movie to FINALLY marry Zack and Kelly! Why not one last episode to wrap this one up! Why! WHY! Oooo the humanity...
So I say adieu to the Las Vegas friends that have been consuming 2 hours a night for the past 6 weeks in my living room....my jeans will also thank you as I will hopefully get my butt in gear and work towards that stupid 6-pack (see prior blogs for explanations)!
I recently have been ADDICTED to the show "Las Vegas". Now I am fully aware that this show is no longer running and only the reruns air, but my husband and sister-in-law got me hooked on it over Christmas and since then we have been DRVing two episodes a day and watching them when I get home from work (hence the fact that my jeans do not fit anymore because I plop my lazy but down watching reruns each night!).
So this is like crack to me, seriously. I have not gotten enthralled in a show like this since the OC (as well as a brief obsession with JAG). And trust me, I broke up with that show once they killed off Marissa Cooper....i was grieving for days. I know, pathetic. Just wait, I get worse....
OK back to LV...despite the ridiculously outlandish plots that occur in this casino (murders, felons, drugs, hmmm come to think it's kind of like a day at work!), I am sucked into the world of these main characters and the lives that they live while working at the Monticito Casino.
Let's start with Ed Deline, one of the big wigs on the show...I immediately like him for the sole reason that he was the dad in ELf. No other reason, just that. Delinda, his daughter annoyed me until she was pregnant and I then began to find her hysterical as she would puke and burp frequently throughout the episodes! Mary Connolly had way too much collagen in her lips and I found it annoying so I did not mind when they booted her from the show. Mike and Danny were comical and I enjoyed the dynamics between them. I loved it when Tom Seleck came on as "Cooper" the new owner of the Monticito and his undertaker look (as in a funeral undertaker, not the wrestler).
And then there is Sam Marquez. I am obsessed with this character in every way (well wait, not in THAT way). I want her hair, clothes and snotty attitude! How liberating it would be to just live in a world where people embraced the sarcastic and blunt honesty that flows from this character! And let's also admire that her job is to make rich people loose money....seriously what the heck am I doing with my life when I secretly covet doing that!
Anywho, the reason why I am rambling on about this show is because hubs and I just got done watching our two taped shows from Friday (wild Saturday night for us!), and the show ended with Delinda possibly loosing her baby (7 months along). Well of course since I can't wait until Monday night when I plop my butt down again on the couch and watch the next episode on my dvr, I made the hubs look it up online as to whether or not she lost the kid...
He discovered something that pissed me off even more than if she lost the kid....that was the LAST episode of the SERIES before it was cancelled. No resolution. No answers as to what happened, and now, no more reruns. It's like loosing Marissa Cooper all over again.
What the heck!? Even "Saved by the Bell" made a TV movie to FINALLY marry Zack and Kelly! Why not one last episode to wrap this one up! Why! WHY! Oooo the humanity...
So I say adieu to the Las Vegas friends that have been consuming 2 hours a night for the past 6 weeks in my living room....my jeans will also thank you as I will hopefully get my butt in gear and work towards that stupid 6-pack (see prior blogs for explanations)!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor...
So there is a reason why I haven't partied like I did in college! Last weekend we went out to a great Mexican restaurant with some friends called "Elsa's". This particular place has the most amazing margaritas named "Bad Juan". These suckers are potent. Seriously there is a 3 bad Juan limit!
So we started our evening out there and I indulged in two frozen raspberry Bad Juans (which I in another drunken stupor on a separate occasion renamed to "Juanita" - I'm a creative drunk!), then moved to the bar next door to listen to a band. At this point I am feeling pretty relaxed but quite in touch with reality still...
So at this next bar they were having $2 margarita night! Well staying true to the theme of the night I ordered another. When I received my drink I might as well have sucked on a lemon tree because this drink was mostly sour mix. When a friend of ours got there he asked why I wasn't drinking my margarita I told him my disappointing dilemma. He then took my drink went to the bar and returned with another....muuuuuuuch better! (Apparently he knows the owner) And this is where it all gets a little blurry...literally and figuratively!
So apparently the drinks kept coming (even though I swear I only had 3 total that whole night I was later informed it was more like 5). I vaguely recall challenging my friend in a game of air hockey (which i was so at a disadvantage!) and was obviously beaten miserably as I was seeing two pucks on the table!
After my unfair defeat (he was sober) I had an overwhelming craving for french fries and ranch dressing. So when our waitress came by you would have thought she was a celebrity as I was so excited to see her and order my deep fried carbs! As I can recall they were the best fries ever!
The rest of the night is still a little fuzzy...I guess I texted a friend from home for over 30 minutes and I don't remember much of that! I was also cornered by a man whose family is from Utica, NY (my hometown) and he went on and on about the food- a topic that I usually love to discuss however after two Bad Juans and 3 wanna-bes my ability to carry on a cohesive conversation isn't so great!
All in all the night was fun and I was told that I had a great time! The next morning I popped out of bed by 8am and made toast and cheesy eggs and a larrrrrge cup of coffee. After that I crashed on the couch most of the morning vegetating. No hang over, just exhausted. Not bad for a gal who usually doesn't drink much at all when out on the town!
All in all I chalk that weekend up as a success! I plan on having more of these weekends as I am determined to live my last year in my 20's to the max so that I start off my 30's with a bang (and a six pack! still working on that one!)!
So we started our evening out there and I indulged in two frozen raspberry Bad Juans (which I in another drunken stupor on a separate occasion renamed to "Juanita" - I'm a creative drunk!), then moved to the bar next door to listen to a band. At this point I am feeling pretty relaxed but quite in touch with reality still...
So at this next bar they were having $2 margarita night! Well staying true to the theme of the night I ordered another. When I received my drink I might as well have sucked on a lemon tree because this drink was mostly sour mix. When a friend of ours got there he asked why I wasn't drinking my margarita I told him my disappointing dilemma. He then took my drink went to the bar and returned with another....muuuuuuuch better! (Apparently he knows the owner) And this is where it all gets a little blurry...literally and figuratively!
So apparently the drinks kept coming (even though I swear I only had 3 total that whole night I was later informed it was more like 5). I vaguely recall challenging my friend in a game of air hockey (which i was so at a disadvantage!) and was obviously beaten miserably as I was seeing two pucks on the table!
After my unfair defeat (he was sober) I had an overwhelming craving for french fries and ranch dressing. So when our waitress came by you would have thought she was a celebrity as I was so excited to see her and order my deep fried carbs! As I can recall they were the best fries ever!
The rest of the night is still a little fuzzy...I guess I texted a friend from home for over 30 minutes and I don't remember much of that! I was also cornered by a man whose family is from Utica, NY (my hometown) and he went on and on about the food- a topic that I usually love to discuss however after two Bad Juans and 3 wanna-bes my ability to carry on a cohesive conversation isn't so great!
All in all the night was fun and I was told that I had a great time! The next morning I popped out of bed by 8am and made toast and cheesy eggs and a larrrrrge cup of coffee. After that I crashed on the couch most of the morning vegetating. No hang over, just exhausted. Not bad for a gal who usually doesn't drink much at all when out on the town!
All in all I chalk that weekend up as a success! I plan on having more of these weekends as I am determined to live my last year in my 20's to the max so that I start off my 30's with a bang (and a six pack! still working on that one!)!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
best bed EVER!
Ok so my hubs knows me way to well...I love food. Wait, correct that, I am OBSESSED with it! Lol! More so with making it and then eating it and then thinking about what I made and ate, reading recipes and websites about food, then getting hungry from these sites and eating again...you get the pic, it's a revolving door!
Anywho, as we were sitting watching American Idol (which I am still laughing at the HYSTERICAL banana guy! If you did not see it I suggest YouTubing it!), John showed me this website with the most ingenious bed ever! Check it out...
Hamburger Bed
This brings a whole new meaning to "sweet dreams"! I feel as though a burrito bed would be incredibly comfortable!
Ok totally off topic but I just looked up at the TV (Still watching AI) and the TALLEST WOMAN EVER was on....I have a friend that would be insanely scared of her! :O)
Anywho, as we were sitting watching American Idol (which I am still laughing at the HYSTERICAL banana guy! If you did not see it I suggest YouTubing it!), John showed me this website with the most ingenious bed ever! Check it out...
Hamburger Bed
This brings a whole new meaning to "sweet dreams"! I feel as though a burrito bed would be incredibly comfortable!
Ok totally off topic but I just looked up at the TV (Still watching AI) and the TALLEST WOMAN EVER was on....I have a friend that would be insanely scared of her! :O)
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Six Pack...
I am on a mission. A mission in which many woman before me have conquered and many have failed. A mission in which I am feeding my obsession with the fact that this is my last year in my 20's and 30 is creeping up on me insanely fast...my mission is a six pack.
A six pack of what? Beer? No been there done that many times! I my friends am determined to have a rockin' beach body to ring in my 30's! Watch out America's Next Top Model I am on my way to a centerfold! lol! Ok maybe not but it sounds fun!
Where did they come up with the "six pack" reference anyways? I get the concept but a great set of abs look more like a wash board than a pack of soda.
This obsession really started with the fun family game of "Biggest Loser Scanlan Family Edition" as my sister in law is getting married this June the group of us decided to lose the holiday budge together! Fun idea and my sister-in-law is super into it which drives my competitive spirit!
So I have no doubt that the focus of many of these blogs will revolve around my mission. Tomorrow morning at 5am I plan on being up to work out and kick my butt into shape! What is my work out of choice you ask? Well nothing other than "Yoga Booty Ballet" of course!
Yup "Yoga Booty Ballet". Its pretty much a workout series that ties in yoga, ballet and aerobics. It focuses a lot on defining your booty (which if you know me i am in desperate need of defining one! I have what we call, Pancake Butt), and a great deal of emphasis on your abs! Hence the six pack goal!
Wish me luck! I have the bikini hanging in my bathroom as incentive. Lets see how long I last with this one! No, I can't think that way! THIS is IT! It's my last chance to rock out my 20's and welcome my 30's without looking like I am entering a new decade of age!
I ask for nothing but words of encouragement! And an occasional doughnut for support! :O)
A six pack of what? Beer? No been there done that many times! I my friends am determined to have a rockin' beach body to ring in my 30's! Watch out America's Next Top Model I am on my way to a centerfold! lol! Ok maybe not but it sounds fun!
Where did they come up with the "six pack" reference anyways? I get the concept but a great set of abs look more like a wash board than a pack of soda.
This obsession really started with the fun family game of "Biggest Loser Scanlan Family Edition" as my sister in law is getting married this June the group of us decided to lose the holiday budge together! Fun idea and my sister-in-law is super into it which drives my competitive spirit!
So I have no doubt that the focus of many of these blogs will revolve around my mission. Tomorrow morning at 5am I plan on being up to work out and kick my butt into shape! What is my work out of choice you ask? Well nothing other than "Yoga Booty Ballet" of course!
Yup "Yoga Booty Ballet". Its pretty much a workout series that ties in yoga, ballet and aerobics. It focuses a lot on defining your booty (which if you know me i am in desperate need of defining one! I have what we call, Pancake Butt), and a great deal of emphasis on your abs! Hence the six pack goal!
Wish me luck! I have the bikini hanging in my bathroom as incentive. Lets see how long I last with this one! No, I can't think that way! THIS is IT! It's my last chance to rock out my 20's and welcome my 30's without looking like I am entering a new decade of age!
I ask for nothing but words of encouragement! And an occasional doughnut for support! :O)
Chinese food
So for about a month now I have been craving Chinese food! All I wanted was a kick-ass plate of Kung Pao Chicken...so last night hubs and I went on the hunt for some good 'ole chop-stickn' food! We first went to this place in the yuppie suburb that is only about 2 miles from us...we walked in looked at their menu, I gagged and walked out. Besides the fact that these entrees cost three times as much as mall Chinese the dishes they were serving were odd...jelly fish. Who in sane heck eats jelly fish? Just imagining the texture of what a jelly fish would taste like turns my stomach! I just imagine this gooey, spongy mess. How does one cook jelly fish? Poached? Broiled? Sauteed with hollindase? I was in no mood to find out.
So into the car we hopped and turned on our GPS unit which conveniently finds restaurants. Typed in Chinese and picked one in the other near by yuppie suburb. Off we went. Once we got there we were immediately pleased with the picture menu posted outside the door. In all reality one really only needs a picture menu to order..I like to know what my food will look like! It doesn't surprise me that the other place had no pictures, really, who is gonna photograph a jelly fish!
So in we go. Once inside we were greeted by a friendly hostess and an overwhelming sent of spearmint. Yup, mint. Like the Trident Factory was located in the back or something. That strong. I nonchalantly looked around to try and determine where this sent was coming from...not from the two large yet kind of foggy fish tanks located in the middle of the place, not from the fully stocked bar (seriously a lot of liquor and happy hour prices..who knew that the local Chinese restaurant did a happy hour?). Once we were seated (btw there are only 2 other people eating in this place) we opened up our menu.
Ignoring the mint sent that has taken over my olfactory glands, I begin to imagine what each dish would taste like (did not need to create a visual as this was a fully illustrated menu!). Hubs settled on the Orange Chicken and I went with my craving for Kung Pao Chicken.
As we wait for our food I mentioned the mint sent to my hubs and he too could not determine the origin. Now I am hungry and oddly craving to brush my teeth...weird. Anywho, our food comes and both dishes look just like the pictures! Yay! And then I took a bite...
Now you see I am someone who enjoys eating out at places for dishes that I do not create at home. Indian food, Chinese, steakhouse food, and seafood are choices in which I indulge in others creating for me. However, this particular dinner could easily have been recreated at home. All I would need is some soy sauce and a sponge. Yup a sponge. That is the best way I can describe my Kung Pao chicken, spongy. No kung or pao to it what so ever...its like sponge bob was sauteed in soy sauce and finished off with a couple hot peppers. ugg.
Hubs dish however was fantastic and thankfully huge. His chicken was fried so it had a great crispness to it. So we split his and I was at least full for the night and my craving was satiated.
So the moral of this story: don't judge a dish by its coordinating picture on the Chinese food menu. I might as well have tried the jelly fish....
So into the car we hopped and turned on our GPS unit which conveniently finds restaurants. Typed in Chinese and picked one in the other near by yuppie suburb. Off we went. Once we got there we were immediately pleased with the picture menu posted outside the door. In all reality one really only needs a picture menu to order..I like to know what my food will look like! It doesn't surprise me that the other place had no pictures, really, who is gonna photograph a jelly fish!
So in we go. Once inside we were greeted by a friendly hostess and an overwhelming sent of spearmint. Yup, mint. Like the Trident Factory was located in the back or something. That strong. I nonchalantly looked around to try and determine where this sent was coming from...not from the two large yet kind of foggy fish tanks located in the middle of the place, not from the fully stocked bar (seriously a lot of liquor and happy hour prices..who knew that the local Chinese restaurant did a happy hour?). Once we were seated (btw there are only 2 other people eating in this place) we opened up our menu.
Ignoring the mint sent that has taken over my olfactory glands, I begin to imagine what each dish would taste like (did not need to create a visual as this was a fully illustrated menu!). Hubs settled on the Orange Chicken and I went with my craving for Kung Pao Chicken.
As we wait for our food I mentioned the mint sent to my hubs and he too could not determine the origin. Now I am hungry and oddly craving to brush my teeth...weird. Anywho, our food comes and both dishes look just like the pictures! Yay! And then I took a bite...
Now you see I am someone who enjoys eating out at places for dishes that I do not create at home. Indian food, Chinese, steakhouse food, and seafood are choices in which I indulge in others creating for me. However, this particular dinner could easily have been recreated at home. All I would need is some soy sauce and a sponge. Yup a sponge. That is the best way I can describe my Kung Pao chicken, spongy. No kung or pao to it what so ever...its like sponge bob was sauteed in soy sauce and finished off with a couple hot peppers. ugg.
Hubs dish however was fantastic and thankfully huge. His chicken was fried so it had a great crispness to it. So we split his and I was at least full for the night and my craving was satiated.
So the moral of this story: don't judge a dish by its coordinating picture on the Chinese food menu. I might as well have tried the jelly fish....
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