Hooters

For Christmas, Mike and I received a gift card to Hooters from one of Mike's brothers. I'm against everything Hooters stands for, so I was scratching my head over this. We even considered re-gifting the card to a friend, but instead we used it yesterday. I know that using the card the day after we got it makes it sound like we just couldn't wait to go there, but really, we needed to go out to Target anyway and since it was Sunday, Mike's mom was able to babysit Leilani for us. Because there was no way we were taking Leilani there.

As it turns out, it wasn't that bad. I was surprised that I really enjoyed the food. In fact, I'd go back just for the food. It was pretty yummy. And I was also surprised to see a lot of families with children there. In fact, it was mostly families.

The server on the other hand was exactly what I expected... 

This first part is hard to explain, but I'm gonna try... As we were being seated, the server took us to a booth and stood right in front of the end of one of the seats. So Mike sat down on one side, and I just stood there because the server was in the way of me being able to sit down. She proceeded to look at me like I was stupid. I eventually had to tell her that I couldn't sit down until she moved out of the way. Strange.

Then, every time the server came by our table, she would only acknowledge Mike. I'm sure they're programmed to flirt with every man that walks in the building, but c'mon! Know your customer. Do that crap at a table of six guys chugging beer and eating wings, not at our table.

On the other hand, she was quick with our food, drink refills, and check. Everything in that regard was pretty good.

I guess the experience as a whole wasn't too bad. It could have been that we just got a randomly annoying server. After all, bad service can happen anywhere. I wouldn't be opposed to going back. Like I said, the food was surprisingly tasty. And maybe the whoriness of the server will be toned down next time. Who knows.

And one question: What's up with their socks?!?

Christmas Eve

Today was a great Christmas Eve. Leilani strangely slept in until 11 am, which meant I got a little extra sleep too! I made snickerdoodle cookies in the afternoon to add to the gingerbread and peanut butter cookies I made yesterday. Afterwards, both of Mike's brothers came over and we enjoyed a bunch of deliciously unhealthy appetizers. Leilani woke up from her nap in a terrible mood and we spent the afternoon entertaining her and she ended up being showered with love and attention from everyone. We even gave her one of her Christmas presents early-- a big slide for the backyard (when it gets a bit warmer). But we set it up in the living room for now and she had a blast playing on it. I guess it'll have to stay in the living room until Spring.

I realized this evening that I need to take more pictures. I didn't even get my camera out all day, even though there were a ton of things I wanted to capture. I made the same mistake on Thanksgiving. Tomorrow I plan to take a bunch of photos to make up for it.

2011

I have a lot of hope for 2011. Both Mike and I will be starting new careers and we'll be moving. These are two huge things for us and I can't wait for them to finally happen. I haven't felt this optimistic about our future in a very long time.

In 2011, I also hope to change myself too. I want to lose some weight. Hopefully 20 to 30 pounds. I know it sounds strange, but I really expect to lose weight once we move. I think that once we're in our own place, I'll want to spend more time in the kitchen preparing healthier meals. Right now, I cook food that's quick. Mostly unhealthy frozen meals that can be cooked quickly so that I can just get the heck out of the kitchen. Being in our own place will allow me to exercise more often too because I'll have the privacy I need to do so.

Another big change for me on the horizon is my attitude. I know that in the last couple of years I've become someone that I don't want to be. I'm angry a lot, I'm very cynical, and I just don't think I'm a pleasure to be around. Sometimes I wonder how Mike can stand me. I know exactly what's causing it... living where we do. It's a very stressful environment for me to live in and that stress is manifesting itself into anger. Right now, even the thought of moving makes me feel a little lighter.

I used to have some quote taped to my desk at work about letting stuff go. It was just something I copied from one of those inspirational posters that was in our conference room. But whenever I read it, it calmed me down and made my stress go away. I wish I could remember what it said.

Just typing this out has made me realize how much of the negativity I have is tied to living here. I attribute my attitude and even my weight to it. But it's true that it's taking it's toll. I look forward to next year when we can finally move and start fresh. My goal for moving is July 1st. It's going to be the big event in our lives in 2011!

What The Heck?!?

Today a box came in the mail from the Disney Store addressed to Leilani. We thought, "Great, a Christmas present!" But we didn't know who it came from. We figured it was Mike's mom who was behind it so Mike called her and her reply was, "It wasn't me, but I know who sent it." Okay, so it must be from Brian, Mike's brother. So we opened it (because curiosity got the better of us) and low and behold... it's from Tisha, Keawe, and Wailana.

I'm sorry to sound ungrateful, but what the hell?!?

There are so many things wrong with this, that I don't even know where to begin. 

First, if this was something that was thought up by Keawe and Wailana that's great. But if they want to get something for their cousin, they should go through dad, not their mom. Leilani is their cousin on their dad's side, not their mom's side. Their mom has nothing to do with Leilani. I've made that clear. If this was the brainchild of Tisha, then again, what the hell?!? Like I said, I've made it clear she has nothing to do with Leilani.

Second, I don't need to hear how Mike's mom and Tisha are in cahoots. That is just irritating beyond belief.

I hate Tisha so much. I hate this situation so much. How can Mike's mom, Brian, or Tisha think that I want to be some big fucking happy family with Tisha?

Let me make this ultra-clear: Tisha committed infidelity. She started a romantic relationship with Mike's brother while still married to my brother. Can no one understand that?!? Mike's Mom and Brian seem to think that I should just be happy about the whole thing. That is NOT going to happen. NEVER.

Today

I'm just so excited, I had to post something! Leilani has her appointment today at Children's Hospital for speech therapy. I can't wait to hear what a professional has to say about her speech and hopefully we can make some real progress soon. I know it's just an evaluation, but it's an important first step. The appointment is two hours long, and I don't know exactly what to expect, but I relish the idea of Leilani learning to talk soon.

I remember a post I made when she was only 11 months old in which I was frustrated that she wasn't saying anything yet. Here we are, 5 1/2 months later, and we're FINALLY getting somewhere. It's a Christmas miracle!

Visiting the North Pole

Well really not the North Pole. More like the Ikea in Shaumburg, Illinois, but I told Leilani I was going to the North Pole to visit Santa. I spent the whole day on my own, out and about doing some Christmas shopping. People think I'm crazy that I drive 2 hours down to Shaumburg just to go to one store. But I love Ikea. I wish we had one here.

I got a wooden train set and ring-stacker for Leilani. And a plush basket of fruit and vegetables for the shopping cart that her Grandma is getting her for Christmas. Ooh... and a duvet and shams for me. (It can't ALL be about her, right?)

Oy, visiting Illinois is always an experience. On my way down, I missed my freeway exit because I was thinking about food. Yep. That's right. Something's wrong with me. I ended up having to go about 20 minutes out of my way just to turn around and go back because the on and off ramps are so spread out. Not to mention I had to pay 2 extra tolls. Grr.

On my way back up, my car started to over heat. And like I said before, Illinois is sparse with its off ramps, so the next chance to get off the freeway was almost two miles away. So this meant I had to pull over onto the shoulder to add coolant. This is something that I normally would not fear in Wisconsin, but Illinois drivers are INSANE so I was terrified. And that's no joke about the drivers, they're ranked among the worst in the country. As soon as you cross the state line, it becomes a derby. Example: It's 55 mph on the freeways down there. I was going 65 mph and cars were flying past me. They must have been going at least 80. At the very least. And not just one or two, but the vast majority of cars. That's insane. I saw a cop car going about that speed and cars behind it were keeping up with it like it was the normal thing to do. I guess the theory is that they have to pay tolls to use the freeways there so they can drive however they want. Flippin' insane. But back to the point... I was pulled over on the shoulder and just finishing putting coolant in my car when a really nice man pulled over and offered me assistance. I was just closing my hood when he got out of his car and started walking over, so he quickly realized that I was done. I thanked him and said I was just adding coolant. What a nice guy.

Once I got back into Wisconsin it started snowing like crazy so the freeway backed up like a parking lot so I had to weave my way back home on surface streets. It took at least an extra hour to get home. My poor little car's driver-side windshield wiper isn't working right so I had to look out through a 5 inch strip of clean window the whole way. Yikes.

What a day.

Naughty

Leilani has been extra naughty lately. She uses everything that she can find as step stool and gets into everything. She throws tantrums everyday. It can only be summed up as "naughty." I thought these were the things that happened during the so-called terrible twos. Not at 16 months. It drives me crazy. I lose my cool on a daily basis. Her naps have been all over the board too. She used to nap like clockwork but now she naps an hour here and an hour there. And she's not sleeping well at night either. The last few weeks have been horrible. I'm so frustrated and tired.

Stickin' Fools Part II

Yesterday was another blood draw day for me. All things went well for me when it was my turn to draw. I was able to get blood again so now I'm 4 for 5 with that. I think I might actually have the best average in the class. When it was my turn to get drawn, everything went fine until the girl who did it accidentally pulled the entire unit out of my arm near the end of the procedure. Unfortunately, she still hadn't removed the tourniquet yet so I bled on my arm. Why do these things always happen to me? I don't think anyone else in class has had as many mistakes preformed on them.

Also, when I was driving down the freeway to class, I was behind a car when its hood literally FLEW OFF!!! I'm not kidding. It was about 3 or 4 car-lengths in front of me (it's always hard to tell on the freeway) and in the lane next to me. The hood flew about 30 feet up in the air, spinning top-over-bottom the whole way and finally hit the front right side of the car next to me. It seemed like it barely did any damage, though. I feel bad for saying this, but it was pretty awesome. Actually, BAD-ASS would be a better way of describing it. I just felt like it was worth mentioning.

Stickin' Fools

Two Mondays ago, I finally got to do a couple of real blood draws on people. I was worried because I knew our normally rigid instructor was going to be watching us throughout the procedure, but it turned out he understood how nerve racking it can be, so he was very easy going and relaxed as we worked. Out of the two blood draws I did that day, I was able to get blood both times which I was pretty proud of.

Getting drawn was another story. At first, no one wanted to draw me because my veins are very small and invisible from the surface. So I thought I'd get away with not being drawn at all. But at the eleventh hour, I was picked for a draw. Tony, the person who drew me, was really nervous but did really well. It always hurts when I go to have blood drawn in real life so I was really nervous going to class that day, but it turned out there was nothing to fear. I honestly couldn't even feel it.

So the next Monday, I was super excited to do more draws. Those went fine, but being drawn didn't. It felt like the first girl who drew me was simply out to hurt people. It hurt so bad! The second girl did better in the pain department but screwed up and I ended up having a needle STICKING OUT OF MY ARM. The instructor had to jump in to remove it. She was really apologetic and I felt bad for her. But holy cow was that freaky.