Dining out

Went out to lunch today - which is always something of an adventure with a toddler in tow. It always makes it so much more interesting though when you go somewhere that isn't exactly "kid friendly."

First, the hostess takes us to the table (really, one of those round booths that aren't suitable for toddlers or babies in car seats - we had both in our group), and I say to her, "I need a highchair." To which she responds, "Oh someone is bringing one."

Meanwhile, I'm standing there holding Olivia, who is squirming and irritated because she can't get down and run around. Now, why would it have been so difficult for the hostess to carry a freakin' high chair to the table? After all, she walked right past them. I guess the menus were too much for her to handle, let alone carrying a high chair too. Never mind the fact that I mananged to walk through the entire dining room carrying a 20-month old, a diaper bag and my purse. I probably could have carried the damn high chair too.

Finally, the designated high chair carrier arrives and thankfully, the high chair was in relatively OK shape. That's a huge pet peeve of mine -- high chairs that are well beyond their "use by" date. I have lost count of the number of places I've gone where the high chairs were all in various states of disrepair. Either they are missing part of the lock clip on the safety belt, or the safety belt is tied in a knot, so as to keep it at "one size fits small" presumably, or the chair only has one part of the safety belt, or all the screws are loose and the chair is ready to fall to pieces.

I admit, I get a little pissed off about the high chairs. But really, is it that much to ask to have safe and clean high chairs for my kid? And when you question the owner or manager about the state of their chairs they always look at you as if you had just asked them to end hunger worldwide. I actually had a pizzeria owner say to me that it was "really expensive" to get highchairs fixed. Gee, I wonder how expensive a personal injury lawsuit would be if a child fell out of one of those broken or damaged chairs? When I find a chair that is unsafe, I always request a different chair. I don't care if it makes me look like a crazed mom. I want my kid to be safe.

Another point of contention with me -- kids menus, or the lack thereof. My statement is this: if you don't want kids to eat at your restaurant, then put a sign on the door that say "NO KIDS." Otherwise, have a kids menu. It's that simple. You don't need to have crayons or other fun stuff (although, that's nice too), just have a menu for kids.

I guess my point is this: going out to eat with kids is hard enough - restaurants should make it easier on us by having safe seats, good kids menus and a good attitude about kids. If they can't do that, then just hang up that "NO KIDS" sign and we'll get the message.

An extra hug today...

Spent most of the day watching CNN. The tragedy unfolding in New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast areas affected by Hurricane Katrina is mind-boggling.

I sat here this afternoon, trying to imagine what I would take with me if we had to evacuate our home. Here's my list so far: Kevin, Olivia, the 2 dogs - Jake and Mollie, the 2 cats - Daisy and Gatsby, our photos, my wedding dress, our cameras, clothes, diapers, Olivia's blanket and stuffed toys, food, water, cell phones, home movies...the list goes one and on. Basically, it would take both cars and probably a U-Haul to take it all. But that isn't realistic, now is it?

It is unimaginable to me...what these people are dealing with. Many of them have no homes or belongings to come home to. They have the clothes on their backs and memories. That is what's left for most -- only memories.

I said today that I won't complain anymore about how tough things seem to be. The residents of the Gulf Coast have it much, much harder.

Sure, our gas prices went up to $3.09 a gallon...but at least we have 2 cars to drive. Yes, money is tight right now, but at least Kevin has a job and we have a home to keep us safe and warm. We have electricity, food, water and all the basic necessities that probably seem like luxuries to those living in Katrina's aftermath.

My thoughts and prayers to everyone on the Gulf Coast tonight.

Believe me, Olivia got many extra hugs and kisses today, just because.

Fruit Salad...Yummy, Yummy!

Why fruit salad, you ask? Because I have The Wiggles on my brain. All day, all night. I go to bed at night singing their silly songs and wake up in the morning still singing them. It used to be annoying, now it's just plain weird. Of course, if you spent every day watching at least 2 - 3 hours of The Wiggles with your toddler, you'd probably do the same thing.

Olivia is OBSESSED with The Wiggles. Seriously, I think the girl needs a toddler 12-step program or something. She screeches like a banshee when she sees them on the Disney Channel or on the shelves in a toy store or a bookstore. She even makes a beeline to the Wiggles DVDs at the video store. I'm not sure how or when it happened...but The Wiggles have become a daily part of our routine.

And I hate to admit it, but I'm kinda fond of the guys from Down Under. Yeah, at first they seemed a bit, well, freakish. Four grown men, dressed in knock-off Star Trek uniforms, dancing around with a giant dog, a green and yellow polka dotted dinosaur and a pirate named Captain Feathersword. But they grow on you, like some sort of fun, funky mold.

I can sing just about every song word for word (much to my husband's annoyance) and, as much as I hate to admit it, I actually LIKE some of the songs ("Eagle Rock" comes to mind). And, yeah, a couple of them are sort of cute.

And so, another day of Wiggle-induced mania begins....stay tuned for more fruit salad and hot potatoes! Hoop Dee Do!