Tag: restaurants

This Only Happens to Me, Part 2

I am so mad at myself. And this happened to me because of me, which is the most frustrating part. I can’t even blame anyone else!

The one thing I feared happening, happened. I lost my damn phone. It was a beautiful, holographic Samsung Note 10 with a cute case and glittery Pop Socket. All my photos!! My eBooks!! My memes!!

I’m most devastated about my photos. And my darn memory card. I have never lost a phone in my life. And all because I went somewhere when I should have stayed home. I even had a FEELING I should stay home. Why don’t I ever listen to instincts??

It all started Monday, Labor Day. I slept in a little and was going to spend the day cleaning and watching Season 3 of 90 Day FiancΓ©: Where Are They Now? But first, I made French toast for the kiddos.

I started laundry and ate 2 pieces of French toast. Yes, I had carbs–you would have, too. These slices of bread had BERRIES in them. Then I get a message from Mel around 1pm asking if I wanted to meet her and her friend Edith at Yardhouse. I was feeling incredibly lazy, comfy and I hadn’t even showered, but she said we could meet at 3pm. I got ready in a hurry and met her at her house and we took off together to Yardhouse.

We had a good time catching up and gossiping and talking about our lives and our plans. Then we got to talking with Edith when she arrived. We had drinks, and shots and more drinks. Then we ended up at the beach on a Monday evening when I have work the next day [insert facepalm emoji here]. It was around this time that I thought, Shit. I should have stayed home.

We laughed, we drank some more, we had fun, I somehow fell and scraped my knee with sand and then we head home around 1am. (Neither of us were driving, by the way.) I hear my phone so I answer Jorge’s text, who is quite obviously livid by this point. I have my phone in my lap and when we arrive at Mel’s truck she says, “Don’t forget your phone.” And I’m feeling around my lap and the floor and it’s GONE. Just gone. I had literally just texted Jorge 15 minutes prior. We looked and felt around and then we gave up. I couldn’t believe it was missing. Mel suggested that maybe it was on my lap but I dropped it in the parking lot. But I knew it had to be in the truck. I didn’t hear anything fall.

I get home, Jorge is pissed, naturally, and I strip down and shower because I have sand everywhere. We get into a quick fight and we both have to work in the morning so he takes his usual spot on the sofa and I go to bed. I feel like I went to sleep and woke up in 30 minutes. I feel like absolute shit and then I remember my poor phone is missing. I don’t know if it was the panic and sadness of losing my phone, or the amount of alcohol I had the night before or if it was my anxiety (or all of the above) but I was chihuahua-shaky all day with heart palpitations. It was awful.

Still, I held out hope all day that Edith would find my phone in the truck somewhere. I call it several times and it’s already dead and it hasn’t been charged so maybe someone didn’t pick it up in the parking lot. When I get the text from Mel that, nope, it’s nowhere to be found in the truck, I want to cry. I ask my boss if I can leave early so I can check if we dropped it in the parking lot of the mall (I knew it was a long shot), where we’d left Mel’s truck before leaving to the island with Edith. He lets me (he’s a saint) and I leave and arrive at the parking lot. I walk, in tall-ass heels, a flowy dress in the wind and with a badly bruised knee (my bad knee, to top it off), throughout the parking lot, checking under cars in 100 degree weather and nothing. Not even little shards of glass where someone may have run it over (I could have at least gotten my memory card out πŸ™ ). I even go to each of the restaurants in the area and ask if anyone found a phone and nothing. I check with the mall’s lost and found. Nothing.

I am, once again, swearing off alcohol. I can’t believe I was so stupid!

The next day comes and as I’m leaving to work in the morning I notice my stupid back passenger tire is going flat. Great. All I need. My boss and one of the Sergeants are having a brief meeting and I told them about the tire. They both said they saw it and I should take care of it now. So I go to the tire shop and I’m told both back tires are BAD; there’s hardly any tread left. So how much does this cost? A whopping $650. No phone for me this week!

Since I’ve grounded myself the only outings I’ve had this week are work, of course, going to Goodwill during lunch on Friday to purchase some books and then Dee’s little girl’s birthday party at Xtreme Jump on Friday evening. Mel and I met there with our girls and their friends. I had already gotten to 137.9 lbs. from the stress of the week, but I’m sure I gained 2 lbs back from having flaming hots with cheese and chili. It was so good, though. No regrets. But then Mel and I started talking about our night out at the beach and we started talking about OMG what if we get the Rona?? Our throats were feeling itchy and my nose was running. So I got home and made some tea and took my vitamins.

By the next morning, I was better, thank God.

Visited mom and John today (wearing a mask, social distancing and Germ-x’ing, just in case) and ate lunch with them. On the way to Whataburger, away from Mom, John and I talked about our current mental health. It’s crazy how similar we are.

So that’s where I’m at right now. Using my iPad and Messenger for communication. Yes, I feel sorry for myself and yes, I’m owning my mistakes. Thank goodness for upping my anti-depressant/anxiety meds dosage last month, or else I would have been a basket case. I’ve been pretty calm, all things considered, and I’ve only cried twice! So that’s some progress. Been reading (finished “Where the Crawdads Sing” that Sally gifted me on my birthday and finally finished “Big Little Lies”. Just started “13 Reasons Why”) and still watching 90-Day FiancΓ©: Where Are They Now? Currently watching the “Tell All” of Season 3. These couples are probably my favorite cause they’re so scandalous! They make me feel normal πŸ˜† . Anyway. Here’s hoping my next post will be more positive.

A New Era – Celebrating Jorge’s New Career Path

It’s always heart-stopping when your spouse starts talking about switching careers and leaving the stable job they’ve had for almost a decade. There’s always that fear of the unknown. But you suck it up, and you move on together and support each other; you grab each other’s hand, close your eyes and hold your breath before taking the plunge.

Lord knows Jorge was there for me when I decided to start looking for new options and eventually got hired at my new job. If he had it his way, I would have started looking 3 years ago. However, he did confide in me over dinner on Valentine’s Day that when it was actually happening, he was scared as hell, but wouldn’t ever let me in on it because he knew me and knew that I would crumble and change my mind if he showed even a speck of fear. So I’m glad he held it together! Now it was my turn.

It felt like the proposition came out of the blue, but this is something he’d been contemplating for a while. Not so much the new career, but leaving his old one.

But when he sent me a text while I was making dinner and he was at his second job saying that a new prospective career opportunity came up, it felt like the wind was knocked out of me. At the same time, though, I felt relief–for him, because he wouldn’t have to work 2 jobs to support his family and for us as a family because we’d get to spend more time together. The irony is that he’d be working away from home a lot, but we’d actually get to see each other on weekends and he’d spend more time with the kids! And there was also the opportunity for weekend getaways πŸ™‚ .

The next day he had an important meeting and everything for the new job was set. He slowly and discreetly began emptying his office. He waited till that Friday to tell his bosses. We had lunch together at Nuri that day, and I asked him how he felt about his announcement later that day. I was just so excited and nervous for him!

Keto eats at Nuri!

When he did make his announcement, everyone was shocked, naturally. He really was the backbone of that company and obviously they were sad to see him go. But I was proud of him for making the decision, but not surprised. Everything he has ever decided to do, he goes for and excels at!

He left on good terms, and suddenly all these other opportunities started arising! It’s great to know his work is so highly valued!

We were kidless that evening so I tagged along to help him with a project he was currently working on and then we went home and washed up so we could go have dinner at La Costa Grill to celebrate his new career path!

“Principio”
Cucumber Martini
Choriqueso

Everything was delicious and I was so darn full! (Besides the drinks, we kept it Keto πŸ™‚ ). We went home and caught up on our shows afterwards.

I spent the next day running errands with Mom and buying little things here and there that Jorge would need that upcoming Monday, because he had a quick trip to San Antonio for a meeting. He would still be with his former company on and off for that week.

On Sunday, as we ran errands, we decided to stop at Chili’s for some lunch. It had been forever since we’d been there, and that watermelon Margarita was SO good!

We continued with our errands afterwards and got ready to start the week–and Jorge’s new venture!!

Adventures in Digestive Debauchery

Everyone that knows me in real life knows I don’t have your typical office job. There’s always something different going on, whether a meeting, event, seminar, visit from a group, expo, etc.

The days leading up to a visit from a group at work are usually hectic, and usually, these types of visits require a lot of walking, a lot of meetings, a lot of places to see. My favorite part: all the places we get to eat πŸ˜† .

We started our first visit at Cracker Barrel, where I usually have the “healthier” version of the Good Morning Breakfast.
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It was so good. Of course I’d have to have a biscuit, though 😳 !

We went to look at vacant properties, which was followed by a meeting at the Country Club. I’d taken an allergy medication (my allergies have been HELL lately!) so I was a bit drowsy, but I perked up once they brought this to the table!

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Spinach Chicken Stack

It was heavenly! Seriously, one of the best things I ate during this excursion! I was sad I wasn’t able to devour the entire thing πŸ™ .

We had several more meetings throughout the day and it was so humid and hot and just unbearable outside. We took a break around 4pm, so I freshened up at home and tried sleeping my sinus headache away but it was a no-go πŸ˜• .

Dinner was at House.Wine & Bistro, one of my all-time faves. We decided to go for small plates and appetizers and share, which was totally fine with me since I was still somewhat digesting lunch!

These are probably my absolute FAVORITE!

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Pommes Frittes, Garlic Lime Shrimp & Strawberry Bellini

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Caprese & Chicken & Spinach Flatbread

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Seared Ahi Tuna, Duck Flatbread

And then it was time for dessert! I’m still not over the fact that they discontinued the Banoffee πŸ™ , but the S’mores Mousse and Apple Pie with Cheddar Ice Cream was pretty darn satisfying!

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(OMG. Take me back!!)

We had early meetings the next morning, so I had a quick breakfast at home (half a PB sandwich on wheat), very early in the morning. By the time we stopped for lunch, I was starving! We went to the newest Palenque Grill location on Nolana, which I hadn’t been to yet. I ordered the same thing I’ve ordered at the first location: the Shrimp-Stuffed Tilapia. The cream in this dish is so delicious!

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Lemonade

The plates are certainly enough for two people; I shared over half of my tilapia, which was good considering we headed straight to another meeting right after lunch, and I was having trouble staying awake πŸ˜† . I would have straight-up passed out if I’d eaten the entire thing!

We took another break so I went home and freshened up (it was another scorcher!) and I tidied up my bedroom till it was time to go.

Dinner was at Bodega Tavern & Kitchen and the whole experience was just amazing!

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Chicken Roulade

My dish was the Chicken Roulade, which included a quail egg and ravioli. Some of my favorite foods all in one dish! I got to sample the brussels sprouts as well, which were SO GOOD! It kind of reminded me of the ready-salad I buy at HEB with the brussels sprouts, kale and cranberries that I toss cayenne shrimp into!

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Prickly Daquiri

Isn’t that the prettiest cocktail??

Then it was time for dessert! I didn’t catch a photo of the mousse, but I did capture one of the strawberry shortcake 3-leches!

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Strawberry Shortcake 3 Leches, A La Mode!

Again, it was a good thing we shared dessert because I COULD HAVE eaten that entire thing.

My babies all got back from their other parents’ houses that evening. I got home and the little ones wanted to play, so of course I obliged!

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Blockus

We had a *super* early meeting on Friday morning, so I woke up and ate a quick breakfast. Eenan was already awake and wanted to learn to make scrambled eggs. I looked at the clock–I had time, so Emily joined us and we have him a quick lesson. I rushed my directions at the end, and Emily noticed, because she said, “It’s ok Mom. I’ll stay with this kid” πŸ˜† . She’s such a little mom!

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We were on the road by 7:45am, arrived at the meeting at 8:30am as scheduled…and they told us we were at the wrong place. So much for my completed notes; now we had to start from scratch again. There were about 4 hours till the next meeting, and our guests had new forms to fill out and wanted to check something out on the island, so after getting the OK, we headed there!

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They filled out what needed filling out and after Googling a few things and making a few calls, I got to sit back and relax. They finished up their paperwork and we headed back to town for lunch.

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You can’t go wrong with Luby’s! I am not ashamed to say I polished off that entire bowl of mac-n-cheese!

We headed to the next meeting, which was another head-nodder to be honest. But I paid attention and listened like a good grasshopper.

I broke away from the group at 4pm when we got back to the office. I said my good-byes, since they’d be having dinner with another group and I had to be at the Food Park to help set-up for the vendors and our Unplugged event. But first, I checked up on the kids. Since Jorge was also tied up at work, he ordered pizzas for them so Mom wouldn’t have to worry. I would have taken them kids with me, but the heat was unbearable. The girls would have been miserable (and would have made me spend about $30 at the market once the vendors showed up like last time!).

Since it was boiling and I had 30 minutes to spare(seriously, heat index was 114!), I joined EZ and Michelle at SALT. I had enough time for one cocktail before I had to rush off. So I had a Paloma.

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Michelle's and my cocktails

And EZ ordered the Baked Alaska.
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Strawberry & cookies-n-cream!

Holy, moly. It was to die for!!

Once 6pm came around I went back to the Food Park 2 blocks away and started set-up. I was lonely for a while, but then EZ, Michelle, Rosie, Val, Ryan and Rick showed up. Our performers for the night, Just the Two of Us, were fantastic!!

Of course I had to eat dinner, so Taqueria Los Brothers brought me their awesome lemonade and shrimp tacos. Oh geez. So good!!

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I regret nothing! Ok, maybe just a little… πŸ˜€