Coffee, Ribs, and books (the day so far).

[yendi]

So, took Elayna to karate (where we confirmed that the twins from her school have indeed joined her karate class).

While she was in class, I renewed our PO box, and then headed to Coffee Plantation. I may have ranted about this before. Coffee Plantation makes the best coffee in the Toco Hills area, but they'd previously been open from 8-6 on weekdays, horrendous hours. They were recently sold to a husband and wife team, who have extended the hours to 6:30-9 each weekday, with 8-8 on Saturdays. Which means I can now get a cup of damned fine coffee whenever take Elayna to karate.

Upon stopping there today, they also gave out coupons offering $.50 off a cup of coffee only between 6-9 PM on weekdays. Which is exactly when I go there. So I'm set. :-)

After, I hit Tall Tales (our indy bookstore). I was just going to browse, but sitting right there, taunting me and begging to be bought, was Fford's Lost in a Good Book. To rationalize it, I bought books for shadesong (to be given tomorrow, of course), and for Elayna (The Ghost in the Third Row, by Coville, and the fifth American Girls: Kirsten book). Amex will be happy with me.

After picking up Elayna, we headed for Chilis, where she once again ordered ribs. And managed to eat just about an entire half-rack, as well as most of her fries. She somehow managed not to soak her clothes in BBQ sauce, a minor miracle. I'm really enjoying watching her expand her food horizons.

We then went shopping, where we bought lots of fruit -- mangos, grapes, bananas -- as well as the all-important biscuits.

Our final stop was Brusters, where Elayna got a pineapple ice (with real chunks of pineapple in it, causing her to declare that it was a healthy snack), and I picked up a pint of hand-packed cinnamon ice-cream as an early Mother's Day gift for shadesong (because I really am the best ex-boyfriend ever).

Upon getting home, Elayna made a new discovery: She really, really likes mangos! I'm not surprised. Yet another food for her list.

Comments

[ocean-song.livejournal.com]

Wow. That sounds like a lovely day. I love hearing about the little details of people's days. Its a particularly sweet kind of intimacy for me... sharing people's stories about how they spend their time. Yeah, I hit coffee plantation while I was out there, and can indeed attest to the goodness of their coffee products. Mmmmmm...

Indy bookstores - Yay! But hon, of *course* you can buy something for yourself without having to justify it. Books are like food. Or air. Quite necessary for life.

I really enjoyed meeting Elayna and helping dye eggs. She is quite the fun and smart little person. Imagining her eatinga whole half rack seems quite incredible!!! I went out to lunch with some friends and their daughter yesterday, and just getting her to eat a whole hot dog and some fries was a serious task. She seems to be a picky eater (I had to not only peel the breading off the hot dog on a stick - which is what she *said* she really wanted - but i then had to thoroughly cleanse it of any remaining "icky yellow stuff" crumbs that remained), and also doesn't tend to eat huge amounts. But I was that way myself when I was a kid. So I understand.

I picked up a pint of hand-packed cinnamon ice-cream as an early Mother's Day gift for shadesong (because I really am the best ex-boyfriend ever).

Yes, that must be true. Because none of my exes have ever bought me gifts for national holidays. ;)

Anyways, have a great day!

[yendi]

Elayna actually goes through fazed with her eating levels. There have been meals that I know she loved, but from which she'd only eaten a few bites. And like all kids, she's ordered things and then realized that she really hates them (in fact, I recall her having a corn dog experience similar to the one you describe a few years back).

As for the book, just imaging saying to someone, "I picked up some air, but only enough for me." :-)

[unwilly.livejournal.com]

Dang, you are a good dad.

I hope that you get lots of appreciation when your day rolls around this year.

Un

[yendi]

Alas, probably not likely, as Elayna will be in Florida on June 15. :-(

Re:

[unwilly.livejournal.com]

Pre-emptive Dad Day?

Un

[xforge.livejournal.com]

What UN said - Dad oughta get his proper "ups" too. Since I gotta drive 200 miles to see my parents, what we've done to keep me from having to buy a new car every 4 years is push Mom's Day back and Dad's Day up so it's "Parent's Day," which means I can cover all the giftage at once. Doesn't dilute the holiday at all either, it's great.

[shadesong.livejournal.com]

(because I really am the best ex-boyfriend ever)

*nods emphatically* Yes. Yes, you are.

[mermaidnchains.livejournal.com]

I really enjoy reading about your relationship with Elayna. Its heartwarming, and the pic of the two of you (other post - about the magic trick) is about as adorable as they come.

From a single Mom with a lot of experience with a lame absent father of my child and exboyfriends who dissapear, I can honestly say that, in my opinion, you are a good father to her, from all Ive read, and she is a very lucky little girl to have you with her.

Lynn

[yendi]

:-) Thanks! I honestly feel that I'm the lucky one -- she's literally the most wonderful thing that's ever happened to me.

[tyrantmouth.livejournal.com]

I just love reading these entries. They're very heartwarming. I'm glad you and Elayna have each other.

[yendi]

:-) Me too!

[piratejenny.livejournal.com]

Oh, please--like you need to rationalize buying Fforde. Hah. It's really good--you'll like it. A lot.

And, as suspected, karma prevented me from getting to work on Well of Lost Plots. But I do have a number of mysteries in my Viking winter list. And one that sounds a lot like a mix of Eco and Perez-Reverte. Of course, I didn't manage to escape Miss Julia. Of course, the podling mentioned Celia might like those books. I know she won't, but she's getting some anyway, after that romance novel with the dark druid lord Sam Hain she sent me.

Anyway, Well is on the winter 2004 list.

[yendi]

Oh, I know I"ll like it -- just the color plate in the front alone was worth the price of the book. :-) As soon as I finish Underland, this is next on my list.

[piratejenny.livejournal.com]

Isn't it though? When I was able to track down a copy for my friend at DAW, she was all upset that they didn't have color plates in their books. Well, okay not really, but she kept pointing it out to Shelia.

You're going to love Miss Havisham.

mmmm

[mermaidblue.livejournal.com]

Sounds wonderful.

Productive, caffinated, with ribs and ice cream!

Sounds like a cool coffe place...i'll have to check it and java monkey out when i get into town.

[thebaronofmspg.livejournal.com]

Mangoes rock. I loved the champagne mangoes they have at the Dekalb farmer's market... I think they made me break out tho..I prolly didn't wash them well enough before trying to eat them. But man those were DAMN good.

[yendi]

These are mediocre mangos, but I'm not telling Elayna that yet -- if she likes these, I can't wait until she tries a really good one. :-)

[xforge.livejournal.com]

Mangoes have the same reactive acid in their skins as citrus, only more so. Scraping the yummy fibers off the skins with your teeth will make your mouth numb.

I useta love this columnist in Orlando who said mangoes should be eaten nude, in the shower, so you can just turn on the water and rinse yourself off after. Heh.

[gladstone.livejournal.com]

Who (besides the Hawaiian Islands Tropical Fruit Board (http://www.sunripeproduce.com/gazette/apr02/09.html)) doesn't like the Mango?

[yendi]

I'm so out of the SNL loop, I had no idea that there was such a character!

[xforge.livejournal.com]

Sigh, a child who eats, what a dream.

Over half the gray hairs on my head are from three stepdaughters who would. Not. Eat. ANYTHING. I do not know how they kept from starving to death, oh wait, it was because their mother would sneak them candy and garbage food when she came home from school in the evenings. Never mind.