The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills - really?

I'm a fan of all housewives. I'll admit it's mindless and indulgent TV, but it's a guilty pleasure.

Let's talk about our current cast - the gals from Beverly Hills. Can someone please tell Lisa that Giggy isn't a toy? I'm a big dog kind of girl and was never a fan of the craze whereby women tote around thimble-sized pooches in their purses like a tampon that barks. But hey...little dogs have feelings too. I'm sure they can be wonderful companions, so whatever. But that's my point. Little dogs have feelings. If I see that woman go on Watch What Happens Live again, bouncing that little fuzzy hamster in a costume, I may call animal control on her. Last time she had him on, he appeared to be comatose while she shook him up and down to make love to the camera. It's not cute. It's sad. Lisa seems like a stable girl. How is she missing the obvious here?

Kyle - gorgeous. She's a cross between Demi Moore and Brooke Shields. I want to be here when I grow up.

Taylor - was anyone else cracking up at her extravagant party for her little girl? Seriously, $60,000? What was hilarious was when Kyle snarked about that total behind her back and when asked how much she spent on her two year-old's party, she said, "Only like $20,000." LOL Welcome to lala land, ladies.

Who else is there? Kim? Blah. And isn't there some other long-haired blonde chic? Oh that's right. It's what's-her-name? You know, the girl who is married to that famous guy Kelsey Grammar. Oh isn't he wonderful? How I wish I could get to know her, just so I could have access to him. I mean, I'd be so jealous of her. An surely she only has friends who are in it to somehow benefit from that connection with him. *insert eye roll here*

Camille, I can understand why it would be difficult to live in someone's shadow. I'm sorry you're going through a divorce. But don't insert a problem when one isn't there. Fill your own shoes. Your sensitivity to Kelsey's fame is already a boring story. He's a talented actor. Bravo. Move on.

Next week I can't wait to talk about the Housewives of Atlanta. Phaedra is having her amazing seven month baby. Ya know, cause doctors are pretty quick to initiate a seriously premature birth. Supposedly we learn the truth about her due date this week. I can't wait to laugh!

Disney World - two weeks in June 2010

In August 2009, we bought annual passes to Disney World. My wonderful mother (love you, Mom!) took our whole family to Disney World as a means of coming back together to enjoy each other after the loss of my dad. We applied her generosity to a bit of our own moola and voila, we were annual passholders. The challenge, then, was to fit as much Disney World into one year as possible from the distance of about 500 miles.

We went for a week that August, another week after Christmas (holy cow, you can't imagine how crowded it was, but still wonderful) and culminated it with two weeks in June 2010. It was going to be my dream trip. The trip where we didn't have to rush, didn't feel compelled to wake the crack before down and return to our resort as zombies only to turn around and do it the next day. I was looking forward to sleeping late and enjoying a leisurely pace. Here's how it actually went...

June in Florida is hot. I don't normally complain about the heat. We live in South Carolina, which is ten degrees cooler than hell in July. I'm used to it. I still sit on the beach and cope just fine. But this was the type of hot where when you walked out of the door in the morning, the fifty pounds of oppressive humidity sat on your shoulders until you returned home for the night. No matter how excited we were for the day's activity, the minute we walked outside, there was a collective, "Ugh" from the four of us, times fourteen.

On the night we arrived, I realized I forgot my contact case. Luckily I had two small bowls, which I filled with solution and closed my eyes for the night. When I attempted to put the right one, the excruciating pain hit. Involuntary reflexes snapped and glued that eyelid shut and I had to pry it open to get the offending contact out. The pain continued. My eye was horridly red. No matter how many eye drops I put it, the pain persisted and, being completely honest, I don't screw with eyes. I like seeing, so off to the urgent care we went. The diagnosis? Scratched cornea. Lovely. Some antibiotic drops had me all healed up in a few days, though I was afraid to put my contacts in for the remainder of the trip. Since I'm completely blind without them, this also meant no sunglasses. Boo.

On day three, my husband had to leave for three days for business. This subject arose a week before and we contemplating shortening the trip, but the uncertainty of which day he'd have to go back was too much to overcome. The trip would be cut in less than half, so we forged forward.

Hubby left in the morning. I, trying to stick to my "no early mornings" vow, decided to take the gals to craft time. We were staying at the Fort Wilderness Campground in our RV. They have loads of great activities. I was sure crafting would be a hit. Little did I know it would lead to lots and lots and LOTS of whining about wanting to go to the pool. Lots of whining. We had four parks of wondrous entertainment and my children wanted to go to the pool - which we have one at home we use all the time. Fine. Whatever. That afternoon we finally made our way to the Magic Kingdom.

The next morning, the vomit hit the fan - or rather the couch. One of my girls had a wicked stomach flu. And as I cleaned it from various upholstered services, the pain in my throat and head burned. I had no voice and quite the fever. I thanked the good Lord above that we were in our RV, as opposed to a hotel, because we had food and everything it took to keep a five year-old entertained and safe while her sister and mom vacillated between moaning in pain and sleeping. It ended up being mostly a 24-hour thing. The next day we were able to venture out a bit.

Two days later, I found myself on Kali River Rapids in the soaker seat. Six hours later, I still had not dried despite having being on Expedition Everest and was quite over it.

On day twelve, I surprised my husband with a fishing excursion as an early Father's Day present. Twenty minutes into our two-hour tour, my younger ladybug puked all over herself and the boat. Glad we had eggs for breakfast.

Our last day, during which we planned to pack up and enjoy in the Magic Kingdom, it poured harder than I've seen it rain during most category 1 hurricanes. It was relentless and soaked you through if you dared to step outside. We were trapped, until dinner time. We ate at Raglan Road at Downtown Disney and it was quite good!

When we pulled out the next morning for our drive home, I couldn't have been more ready. We had some good times, despite having not really named any in this blog post. But let's be honest - it was a trying "vacation". By the time we got to I95 North, I stated boldly that our next trip would be December 2012.

A week ago my mother said, "You know, I'd really like to get back to Disney World again for the holidays." I haven't made the reservation yet, but I'm sure it will be completed by this weekend. I'm such a sucker. So even when Disney scratches my cornea, makes my kids puke, gives me a cold and roasts me like a turkey I still can't say no to it. And, just for kicks, I think we'll buy annual passes again. :-)

I'm back!

I have no clear explanation why I haven't blogged in so long, but I'm back. Don't you love it when life just seems to take over.

So we've had a busy summer - lots of travel and lots of time at home. I want to take some time talking about some fabulous and some less-than-great things we did, both locally and out and about. Just as a teaser, I'm obsessed with the Myrtle Beach State Park and The Crab Cake Lady. And I can't wait to write about a semi-horrendous two-week trip we took down to Disney World.

For now, I'm offer to FINALLY decorate the house for Halloween. My poor kids. Work and life have kept me so busy and as a result, my house is a mess and we are holiday-less. But it's good to be back and I'm looking forward to dishing!

The travesty of canceling the Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon

It's been awhile since I've written, and it's an odd topic that's pulling me out of my hiatus. This past Saturday, the Grand Strand saw 4ish inches of snow that started at approximately 7:00 PM the night before. This level of accumulation hasn't happened in this area for a decade. I can guarantee you that if it had happened on a week day, school would have been cancelled the night before. Why? Because contingency plans for dealing with such weather simply are not in place due to the infrequency. It doesn't make sense to invest in them.

Also scheduled for Saturday was the annual Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon. It was cancelled the night before. As it turns out, on Saturday morning most roads were pretty clear, despite the white stuff. Many runners and others are quite upset the city officials did not wait until the morning of the event to call it of. Lots of folks are on very tall soapboxes talking about how our government is taking down tourism, first with the May Bike Week being dismissed and now a cancelled marathon. To those folks, I have three words to say. Get. Over. It.

To the runners who trained for so long and traveled to this area for the event, this isn't directed at you. I'm so sorry for your wasted effort, time and money. I'm really hoping for you that you can get your entry fees refunded. I can certainly understand why you'd feel greatly disappointed and probably even angry.

To those who were not involved in the event, and one step further, not involved in the process that cancelled Bike Week, stop talking. I challenge any of you to figure out a way for the city to have coordinated a delay in the race time when so many volunteers are involved. I challenge you to figure out how it could have been postponed a day when the cycling event was today. I challenge you to figure out how any runners would have been able to stick around another day when so many of them traveled from out of area and had to return to normal life on Monday.

With inclement weather, tons of liability was hanging over the heads of the city. Had the hypothetical poo hit the fan and there been some sort of traumatic, weather-related incident that led to a legal event, this same group of soapboxers would have been pounding the pulpit about how irresponsible it was to open us taxpayers up to having to payout a settlement.

For the record, I'm sad for those who were affected by the cancellation of this race. A good friend of mine is extremely competitive and she was, obviously, unable to run. But I wish everyone would take just a moment to think about the otherside of the coin. More than that, I wish those who talk the loudest and most frequently would put all of that energy towards getting involved and actually attempting to make the changes they want rather than just flapping their lips about it. Be brave and step up to the plate. And if you're not willing...zip it.

A bit disappointed at Greek Fest

I'm hanging my head in shame because I talked up Greek Fest like it was the best thing since cheesecake. Sadly, we didn't have the best time this year.

I can't pinpoint what the big difference was, but we left feeling let down. The food was only pretty good. I got a chicken gyro and the flatbread was so dry it was crumbling around the chicken. I also go spanokopita and unfortunately ended up with another phyllo dough creation with potato, I believe. Hubby got a gyro platter and experienced the same bread issue, but was otherwise fairly satisfied. Both girls got a corn dog and one order of fries between then. We also got two waters and a Pepsi. The total was $31...which felt kind of pricey to me. Before leaving we also got a desert sampler for another $10.

As we wandered the grounds of the festival, our children immediately dragged us to the bouncies. The traditional bounce house was $2 for five minutes. We, of course, sent our girls right in, only to have one come out crying a few minutes later. It turns out the whole inside was wet and the kids were slipping. Not cool. There was an absolute downpour the night before and it was clear that the folks in charge of the bouncies did not properly dry them out. I'm thankful my daughter didn't get badly hurt, but I was not happy.

Another bouncey option was this HUGE slide the children had to climb up through mesh levels to get to the top. This monstrosity was $5 per child per attempt. Anyone else think that's a bit much?

Another typical favorite part of the Greek fest for me is the craft vendors. This year the stuff fell into two categories for me. 1) Damp or 2) quite expensive. I bought nothing.

We left there having spent $45 and not terribly satisfied. If you went to the festival this year, did you feel like it was up to snuff, or is it just me?

On a happier note, we ended up at North Myrtle Beach's Irish Italian festival, also on Saturday, and it was great! My girlies were able to do bouncies for $1 per "ride" and plant a pansy for free as part of Home Depot's children's workshop. We left there pretty happy. Perhaps we'll hit that one first next year. Despite my disappointment with Greek Fest, the dessert sample lasted about two hours in our house!

Clear your schedule this weekend - it's Greek Fest time!

If you live in or are visiting the Grand Strand area this weekend, make some time in your schedule for the annual Greek Fest. It's hosted and presented by St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Myrtle Beach, located right on Highway 17, between 29th and 38th Avenues. The church, itself, is huge, beautiful and white - you can't miss it.

The festival is one we've attended every year since we moved here. The members of the church share the Greek culture with music, dance and food. And the food is...let me see if I can find a word here...amazing? Out of this world? The best Greek food you'll eat all year long? I'm not exaggerating when I tell you it's tempting to hit this festival every night it runs for dinner.

The price for admission is nominal and worth every penny! For more information, including vendors and the menu, click here for the pdf brochure.

Dear Kroger in Carolina Forest

Dear Kroger in Carolina Forest,

I have been shopping in your fine grocery store for nearly six years and, for the most part, it's been a great experience. Your selection is good. Your meats have always been yummy. I appreciate your array of organic products and the Private Selection and Kroger brands have rarely disappointed me. So thank you! I will continue to shop in your store and suggest it to my friends. However...and you had to know one was coming...why, oh why, does your produce suck? Specifically your apples?

I can not tell you how many apples I have painstakingly chosen only to come home, cut through them and find brown mush throughout? At this point, I can't help but to wonder if it's a problem with your distributor. Your strawberries are always crushed. Your raspberries, invariably, mold within two days of purchasing them regardless of the fact they go from your refrigeration to mine within a 30 minute time frame. It's so frustrating because you have such a great selection of fresh produce, but I can't enjoy it!

I realize I could probably return to the store with my receipt and said fruit to get a refund or exchange, but I'm, admittedly, lazy. Besides, what good would it do to bring in a brown apple? Usually when I discover the problem I'm in the throes of making my daughter's lunch and couldn't make it over to the store for an hour or two, at which time the cut apple would be brown anyway.

Now that I have this off my chest, I want to say that I'm always pleased with the courtesy and helpfulness of those you have working in the checkout area. I'm not sure if you have happy people working for you or if you train them to make me feel like they're happy to help me.

Your pharmacists rock. On several occasions they have, in my opinion, gone above and beyond what I expected of them. They are conscientious workers who care about their customers care. I even had one of them phone in a prescription, my insurance and health information over to Walgreens in Carolina Forest because you did not have the drug. He said, "I chose that pharmacy so you didn't have to get off Carolina Forest Blvd." How great is that? The most obvious financially motivated thing he could have done was phone it in to another Kroger in the Grand Strand area, but he honored the fact that I would probably want to stay close to home. How fantastic is that? I will return to your pharmacy over and over again.

I also am so proud and pleased that you employ those who may have some challenges. I'm sure there is a more politically correct way to phrase this, but the warm sentiments are there regardless. The folks I've come in contact with have been genuinely helpful, pleasant and productive. Your willingness to offer such employment opportunities is heartwarming and so very supportive. I have a friend whose son has Downs Syndrome and she cried when I said how proud a few of your employees' moms must be at the wonderful job their doing.

Thank you, Kroger, for all of your wonderfulness. Just please investigate why you're having produce problems.

Myrtle Beach Resturant Review - Johnny Rocket's at Broadway at the Beach

Ever go south on I95 and see signs for South of the Border starting in Philadelphia? (I can't believe they don't have their own website, by the way.) I think everyone would agree it's a tourist trap filled with expensive junk, yet something loads of people feel compelled to experience for themselves, at least once in their lives. I now put Johnny Rockets in the same category.

My mom and I took my little gals to Johnny Rockets for lunch the other day. It's located at Broadway at the Beach, which is always a risk in July. Thankfully it was an overcast day and crowds were at a minimum. Plus, it was early, so we got right in.

The very cool thing about Johnny Rockets is the environment. We love 50's tunes. We love the dances that go along with them! The music and waitstaff alone is greatly entertaining. But then I looked at the menu...

I'm going to cut to the chase here. My hamburger was $7.50. It was a Smokehouse Single. On it were two slices of bacon, some cheese, an onion ring and BBQ sauce. It was overcooked, but still fairly good. No fries were included. We bought a basket of the to share. Cheese fries were $5.50, I believe. Drinks were $2.50

The cheese fries were dreadful. They were dry, unseasoned (including salt) and had a waxy slab of melted cheddar cheese on them. I had envisioned something in a melty Cheese Whiz.

While the entertainment was good and I enjoyed the fun atmosphere, I felt gouged. All over the menu there were indicators that they were offering 10% off menu price. When I asked about a local's discount, I was told they did have one - 10%. Ummmm...isn't that what I get even if I don't live locally?

It will be a long long long time before I return to Johnny Rockets. It will be equally long before I return to South of the Border. Sorry tourists, just bein' honest.

Myrtle Beach Restaurant Review - Giovanni's

If anyone has read my blog in the past, you'll know I loved Stefano's on Oak Heart Rd. near Piggly Wiggly in Carolina Forest. Loved it. I've learned that they still have their Florence, SC location open and one of these days I may just make the drive. In the meantime, though, Giovanni's has opened in Stefano's old location and, well, I'm pleased!

We ordered a simple cheese pizza from there the past week for pick-up. The service was quick and I barely made it back to the house with the pizza in tact. It smelled ridiculously good!

The crust was crunchy on the bottom and ends, but the dough was pillowy and soft on top of it. It was airy, much like foccacia bread. The best part was the sauce. I don't know what the deal is, but many pizza places, the biggest offenders being franchises, have super sweet marinara sauce. Papa John's, in my opinion, is the worst example. Giovanni's sauce is perfect! I taste rich tomatoes and their acid, salt and a sweet spice, perhaps basil, but no big amount of sugar. Thank you! We got a large cheese pizza and Caesar salad. The total was just over $19. I'd say that's a tad expensive, but when pizza has me wanting to tear into it on the way home, it's worth it.

After hearing me rave about our meal, my mom wanted to go into the restaurant for dinner tonight. Better for you because now I can comment on ambiance too!

When we arrived at 6:00 PM on this Saturday night, we were seated immediately. There were only a few tables full of patrons. Behind us was a lovely gentleman playing the accordion. The music was loud enough to be enjoyed, but not overbearing. He was only feet away from us and we didn't have to speak to each other loudly over the music.

When we arrived, I'll guess the average age of the customer at about 67. To my surprise, the interior and place settings were a bit more upscale than I expected. I felt the need to keep my girls on the quiet side. When one of the grumped out on me, I immediately felt obligated to pull out the big gun "We will leave RIGHT NOW if you can't act like a lady." threat. Thankfully everyone complied and we were able to enjoy our meal.

Our waiter was very nice and eager to please. After placing our orders, he brought out delicious, crusty, hot bread and oil with spices for dunking. I could have eaten the loaf! It had that same crunchy crust with soft dough on the inside as the pizza. Yum!

Our first course was salads. They were basic with lettuce, tomato, onion and cucumbers. My ranch dressing was good. Mom's bleu cheese dressing was bland and needed salt, but that led me to believe they were both homemade.

For dinner I ordered a simple classic, just to test out the fundamentals - lasagna. When it was delivered, I was immediately telling my husband and mom that I'm thinking the sheets of pasta were homemade and fresh. My portion was very large and I came home with half of it. It was smothered in that same, heavenly marinara sauce, only this time it had meat in it. The quantity of mozzarella and ricotta cheeses was perfect. Not too much, not too little. I won't lie, I'm craving tomorrow's lunch already!

I was interrupted mid-lasagna by my girls to use the bathroom. I can pleasantly report they were clean and warm. The restaurant is kept a bit chilly, so it was a nice change.

Upon returning, we decided to have cake and coffee. I decided on a Kahlua cake. Our waiter only described the dessert choices to us, rather than reading about them on a menu. I wish I had asked questions because I anticipated a chocolate cake, soaked in Kahlua or with Kahlua cream inside. Instead, I believe it was a ricotta cheese cake with Kahlua sauce. Don't get me wrong. It was very good, not overly sweet and light. I just had something else in my mind.

The end bill for three salads, three adult entrees, a small cheese pizza (10 inches), child's pasta. two cups of coffee, one lemonade and two pieces of cake was $84.00. I'd say that was a bit pricier than we'd normally spend, but the quality of the food was excellent. I'll gladly pay it again and again!

If you go to Giovanni's, bring a sweater and a big appetite. Our only issue was the temperature and a glass of wine that was ordered, never delivered and appeared on the bill. That was very easily corrected, though. And to be fair, I never reminded our waiter that the wine had never came. I only half-heartedly ordered it.

It's been awhile, but I'm back, baby!

It's been awhile, but I'm back, baby! The past several months have been filled to the brim with family issues. I lost my dad in March, wrapped up the school year, bought a camping trailer and subsequently camped, watched my baby in her first dance recital and nursed my mom through a pretty major surgery. It's all behind me and I'm back in business! And trust me when I tell you, it feels good to be writing again. And wouldn't you know it...I've got a few restaurants to chat to you fine people about!

Adventures in the school drop-off line

Let me start by saying, I truly dislike the school drop-off and pick-up lines. In fact, dare I admit that in my daughter's six month career in elementary school, I have yet to brave the pick-up line. I've been around the school grounds close to an hour prior to dismissal and there are folks already parked and waiting. Seriously? What do you do in your car for an hour to just wait? There's a small part of me that longs for an hour of silence to read a good book. But every day? Besides, my hour would consist of a cranky 4 year old, who is normally sleeping at that time, buckled into car seat, whining about being too hot/cold/tired/thirsty/BORED! Since my daughter spends a grand total of 7 minutes on the school bus, that's our chosen method of transportation home. For getting her there, I'm stuck. The bus would pick her up an hour before school starts and there's just no point in that. So I'm forced to either walk or drop her off. When temps are in the 30's, there's no way I'm walking. In fact, we have a 55 degree rule.

So today at drop-off, I *thought* we were going to have the coveted first spot. How it works is that there are roughly 7 positions in which you can pull up into to drop your child off. The first one is closest to the door my sweet, cherubic daughter likes to go in. When we're in the 7th spot, it's a haul for her. Nothing cheers her up more about her day is getting that first spot. Today, I thought it was ours. Wrong...

Cars 1-5 and 7 all deployed their children as usual. As we waited, I smiled and joined in the giddy chatter about being "#1" and how cool it was to start off our week this way.

The cars ahead of us started to move around the circle. My daughter grabbed her backpack. I proceeded forward and very unexpectedly had to stop. Car #6 first failed to pull up all the way to the front then let her child out, thereby holding up the whole line. My little sweetness was forced to get out in the #5 spot.

For future reference Car #6, you pull all the way up to the crosswalk/sign if you're in the first spot. Also, regardless of where you are in the 1-7 line, you must let your child out even if he has to walk a distant to his preferred door. Everyone has a different spot they love. You can not just stop at like #3 because that suits you because then you mess up minimally two cycles of cars.

Perhaps it was your first drop off. Perhaps you've only done it a few times. Perhaps you had a hard morning. Perhaps perhaps perhaps... I will choose to believe you were not under the impression you are above the rules. So given this courtesy benefit of the doubt, please get it right next time. It's February. We all should know better by now. I thank you for your understanding and cooperation in the future. And should you mess it up again I will punch you in the junk. Have a wonderful day. ;-)

[photo courtesy of www.parenttalktoday.com. It's adorable, isn't it? I just recently found this blog recently and it seems to be filled with some great topics. Check it out!]

Myrtle Beach Restaurant Review - City Bar

Hubby and I had the pleasure of going out to dinner sans our beautiful, yet sometimes annoying, cherubs. We've both been pretty high-strung over the past few weeks and were really craving a nice, quiet and divine eating experience. Hubs had been to City Bar in Myrtle Beach once before with a few co-workers for drinks and suggested it. I took a look at their menu and was game.

Before we start talking about the atmosphere and food, I have to give a quick shout-out to an online reservation system that I've used before in other cities but didn't realize it had any Myrtle Beach clients. OpenTable.com allows you to search out restaurants in your area by zip code, cuisine, etc and make a reservation without having to pick up the phone and talk to anyone. I'm lazy and I admit that. I hate calling restaurants to make a ressie. I don't think about it until, what I believe to be, their busiest time of the evening. I know, I know...they'll pick up the phone all the same and help me with my arrangements. I just don't enjoy doing it. So how lovely is OpenTable and their system of allowing me to browse which eateries in my area have openings at my desired time and making a reservation without much effort? They even have some system of accruing points for free dining certificates, though I haven't thoroughly figured that out yet.

When we arrived at 7:00 PM, we had our reservation, but didn't need it. As the name implies, there is an actual bar at the front of the establishment and a dining room behind it. What immediately struck me was how cozy and intimate the atmosphere was. Hubs and I were seated in a small booth, just for two. The lighting was warm, but minimal. Our seating felt very private and during our entire meal, I saw, but didn't hear other patrons. The music was louder and more upbeat than what I had in mind, but it added to the feeling of being in a slightly funky, yet not intimidating, place. It had a casual but upscale place. We really enjoyed the ambiance, and trust me when I say I'm critical.

We were seated immediately and placed drink orders. While I had a cocktail, their wine list was lengthy and nice. I only glanced so I couldn't tell you if they had anything truly special, but I did see a few choices that would have pleased me quite nicely. Hubby ordered a beer that was on the list, but ended up not being in stock. Our waiter said it was back ordered (who knew there was back ordering for beer!?) and he chose another selection.

We spent some time browsing the menu, trying to decide if we wanted a few small plates or single entrees. Truth be told, there were only a handful of options I would not choose and many that I would. I left it up to the man, but secretly hoped he would choose small plates. I'm a sucker for variety for I'm always the gal that makes everyone else at the table order first because I can't decide.

We ended up going with three small options - Chicken Roulade, Blackened Beef Tenderloin and a Santa Monica Crab Cake. The chicken was delicious. I had to italicize that because I wanted to lick the plate clean of the sauce once we ate the dish. The cheese blend within it was perfection. The gouda had just a bit of smokiness. The sauce had just a hint of spice. It was so good!

The blackened beef was so delish. Again, I could have eaten an entire plateful of it. We ordered it rare and it was perfectly cooked and seasoned. It sat atop some lovely pickled veggies...carrots, cabbage and onions, I believe. In fact, the vegetables almost had a gingery pickled taste. I may be picking up on the wrong flavor because it was subtle, but so good.

The crab cake wasn't my favorite but that may have been because there was little sauce with it. I'm a fan of a hollandaise or other creamy accompaniment. Though to it's favor, the cake was very meaty and of generous size. The flavor was nice. I was just missing a sauce.

Believe it or not, I've never eaten from a small plate menu so I wasn't sure how the portion size would be. We went with three choices because we couldn't narrow the list of things we wanted to try down more. And I'll definitely say that this was the perfect amount of food - especially for someone who wants dessert! The chicken roulade plate, for example, appeared to be one breast's worth of meat. The crab cake was just a smidge smaller than the size of a CD, but quite thick. I liken the portions something along the lines of a tasting menu size.

For dessert we had both the Creme Brulee and White Chocolate Bread Pudding. I had just a bite of the creme brulee and it was quite good and served with a chocolate topped biscuit. My white chocolate pudding was also very good, though I wish it had been served just a bit warmer and with more white chocolate flavor. It was mild. Though even with these slight criticisms, it was very good.

Now for one of the best parts...the service. Our waiter, I wish I could remember his name, was very attentive without being intrusive. I could see where he generally stood, keeping an eye on us. As soon as I put my glass down after having the last sip of my Cosmo, he immediately walked over to ask if I'd like another. I was impressed and pleased. The restaurant wasn't busy at the time, so he wasn't forced to table hop, but his attention to detail was really appreciated.

With three small plates, two beers, two cocktails and two desserts, our bill came to $80. A generous tip took us up a bit more, but it was worth it. There is no kids' menu and I would definitely not bring our girls here. I don't know if there is an official "adults only" policy, but nothing about City Bar says "family atmosphere" to me...which is exactly what we were looking for last night. I can remember once going to the Melting Pot listening to a toddler scream the entire meal. But I digress...

To wrap up, our night out was really nice. City Bar and OpenTable.com both receive a huge momorable mention. I'd recommend them to my friends and family without hesitation. I can't wait to return to City Bar. For a quiet and intimate evening with refined, yet casual, food this is the place to go.

Pet peeves for the day

I'm in a grumpy mood today. Maybe it's the rain. Maybe it's this headache I can't shake. Maybe it's the withdrawal from deciding to go caffeine-free again this week. Maybe it's a semi-sick child that needs to see her doctor today. Wrap those all up in one crap package and that's me. I just feel like complaining.

How about a few of my pet peeves just for fun...

1. Why, if you're from anywhere other than the south, would you say or write "ya'll"? You sound ridiculous.

2. Why is Caillou bald? And why does he always have on a short-sleeved shirt and shorts when his parents have on turtlenecks and pants?

3. Why must my dog lie directly in front of the toilet at night?

4. Why does my laundry seem to multiply in the hamper?

5. Why do married couples use the stupid phrase "Date night"? It sounds so patronizing and cutesy. Date night. "We're going on a date night." "Mom and dad are coming over the watch the kids so we can have a date night." "date night date night date night" The term almost infuriates me. Please just say "We're going to the movies" or whatever. On Friday my parents are, in fact, coming over so hubs and I can go to dinner without them. It's a date. It's a night. But I friggin' refuse to call it those words together.

I think that's it for now.

Is it me or is road rage on the rise in the Grand Strand?

Maybe I'm just more aware since my run in with another vehicle two months ago, but folks behind the wheel in the Grand Strand are just plain crazy lately! I've been in no less than five close calls and witness countless temper tantrums.

One particularly fun "close call" was when I was making a left from Pine Island Drive onto the road that runs up between Best Buy and the slew of steakhouses on the left. That intersection is notorious for near misses and enthusiastic exchanges between drivers.

I was in the left turn lane, waiting for traffic to clear when a guy coming from the Best Buy side came half way across the intersection, completely blocking traffic heading towards 17. Guess he anticipated me crossing that lane earlier than I felt it was safe. He then proceeded to flip me off, yell at me, rolling down his window and shaking his fist and motioning for me to go...into oncoming traffic. Thanks buddy. It was shocking to me how furious he was. I honestly think if I had engaged him in any way he would have exited his car to physically attack me. Nut job.

Today while driving on 501 towards the beach I was nearly involved in a carpooling project I didn't sign up for. The speed limit changes from 55 to 45 just before the intercoastal waterway bridge. A driver behind me was either unaware or didn't care because he was soooo close that had I sneezed, he would have ended up in the backseat. Mind you, there was plenty of opportunity for him to either back off or move into the left lane, he choose to ride very close while waving his hands all over the place in obvious frustration with me. And for the record, I was traveling at approximately 47 mph.

Being completely honest...it makes me nervous. There's a great commercial where two gentleman are in a grocery store, but driving carts. One isn't moving quite fast enough and the one behind him is sighing heavily, bumps him, yells a bit. The message is, "would you act like this if you weren't behind the wheel of a car?"

So drivers in and around the Grand Strand area, I have a message for you. Chill out! Seriously, you're scaring me. Pull yourself together and act like an adult behind the wheel of that car. Because trust me, fixing it after you bump someone can be quite costly. ;-)

The 100th post - who knew anyone was reading!

I think all bloggers who don't put a ton of time into promotion fall into a slump where they shrug off any pressure they feel to write because after all, who's reading? Often times, nobody. I admit to have fallen into that slump until I checked in tonight and saw...comments! To those who left them, thank you so much! It's so good to know someone is, indeed, reading! ...and found what I said meaningful or funny to boot! I'm thrilled! :-)

So today is the day of love. A day we put aside differences with our loved ones and well..love them. The start of our week was a bit rocky, filled with work stress and fatigue. Thankfully we were able to pull it around and plan a fun day. Unfortunately, fate, and our older daughter had another plan.

I was just telling my mom that it sometimes frustrates me that all plans we make are in pencil. Someone always gets sick. Well maybe not always. Perhaps it's more like 8 out of 10 times. Seriously! Talk to my sister-in-law. We went through about two years of cancelling weekends out at their place because one or both children were sick. Today is no exception.

When our older daughter got home from school yesterday her temp was 102. Today it hit 104. *sigh* Poor poor kid! Obviously all of our "out" plans were nixed. She has no symptoms other than a belly ache and fatigue. The sad part about her is that her ear infections never come with ear pain, so I'm betting that's what it is.

Tomorrow is likely to include a trip to an urgent care center. Monday was supposed to come with a playdate with some friends that I'll have to reschedule...AGAIN!

My primary focus is, of course, a healthy child. I'm nervous because if she does have an ear infection, it's her third since January 1st. Not good. She may be on her way to tubes-ville. However, I can't help but to be mildly annoyed at how it feels like we can never make concrete plans. We recently had to cancel a highly anticipated trip to Daytona for the 24 Hour of Rolex race last month due to illness. That one just wasn't meant to be, though. Too many obstacles were thrown in our way at the last moment. Oh well, there's always next year.

So Happy Valentine's Day! I hope everyone has been able to make and follow through with some wonderful plans! I'm off to eat a few (dozen) chocolates from the heart hubby got me. Good man!

Who would have thought? Snow in Myrtle Beach!

There was an odd lack of hype about impending snow in the Grand Strand yesterday, but that may have been because today was a scheduled student holiday from school. Regardless, by 9:00 AM, the snow was coming down and accumulating on grass and cars. It was the most snow I've seen here since we relocated more than five years ago!

As you can expect, my children were so excited. They still are, actually, despite the fact that it hasn't been snowing for hours now. My little one has this very firm connection between white precip and hot chocolate, so as soon as my 3:00 meeting concludes I will happily whip her up a batch. Williams Sonoma's chocolate shaving variety is to die for!

What humors me most about all of this, is the northerner's attitude on this major weather event. "I can drive just fine in it, but won't dare get on the roads because no one here knows how. It's dangerous how stupid people are." News flash, folks. Practically nobody living here is from here. We ALL grew up driving in winter weather. It's idiots who get a little too confident in their ability that put the rest of us at risk. So word to the wise...if you have to venture out, use caution no matter how experienced you are in driving on snow. And by all means, if the media asks you how you feel about traveling during inclimate weather, resist the urge to let the world know you're from PA, have seen thousands of feet of snow in your lifetime and can handle the conditions even if all of those living around you can not. You don't look so smart.

Moms say the darnedest things

I was talking to my 19 year-old niece on the phone last night. It seems she and my mom were out shopping at Old Navy when into the dressing room walks a couple, who end up sharing a room. I'll assume no hanky panky went on, but before they left, evidently my mom whispered a tad too loudly, "I didn't know they had bisexual dressing rooms here!" Umm, that would be unisex, mom. Bisexual is a whooooooooole 'nother thing. ;-)

Thoughts on the inauguration...

What a historic day. I didn't vote for him, but the passion folks feel for Barrack Obama and the potential he holds to make real change for American citizens and those around the world is real. They hope they rest on his shoulders is huge. And while I hold my breath in anticipation of seeing what the next four years bring, I too can't help but to be swept up in the emotion of it all.

President Obama is a likeable man. He's an excellent speaker with powerful words. From his mouth to God's ears, I pray they go. May he really be able to make meaningful changes.

God Bless America!

Now while it's obvious I'm of no African American decent, I'm proud of being one today. LOL I couldn't be happier or more proud of a nation that has been able to see beyond color, which when determining ability, goodness, integrity or character is the most insignificant detail. I pray his leadership convinces those who hang on their biases how useless that emotion and energy spent are.

MM for 1/13/09 - Absent tonsils and adenoids

On this day, 25 years ago I had my tonsils and adenoids removed and tubes put in my ears. It was a decision that wasn't taken lightly by my parents. My pediatrician at the time didn't believe in this surgery. He felt it had been done needlessly in years prior and wasn't that useful of a surgery. I'll estimate, by the age of 9, I had at least ten cases of strep throat and minimally 25 ear infections. My health was bad and my parent decided, on their own, that it was time to see a specialist. Within a few weeks, I was scheduled for surgery.

On the day of it, I was so nervous I developed a fever and the date had to be rescheduled. Then, on January 13, 1984, Dr. SomethingWithAnF helped me out quite a bit. It hurt like hell and I wasn't terribly thrilled at the time, but I haven't had strep throat since!

So thank you, Doc. And ironically, on this day this year, my older daughter is home with school with...drumroll...double ear infections. :-(

MM for 1/12/09 - My mom

My heart aches for friends who don't have a close relationship with their mom as mine is priceless to me. We were on the phone talking about my daughter's upcoming birthday party. Admittedly, I was grumpy because things just weren't working out perfectly. Her response, "Don't worry honey, God will bless you." She's not normally so outwardly religious, but she made me think. I'm already blessed. A good birthday party is just icing on my cake of blessings.