The hubby and I went to dinner last night while our manny babysat. We haven’t been on a true date since before the holidays. Quite frankly my company dinner in early December doesn’t qualify since standing in a buffet line with one’s co-workers and fighting over the table decorations slash door prizes from Staples doesn’t exactly scream “romantic evening out.”
We chose a restaurant that is close to home. We’ve been there before and the food was fabulous. We sat next to a roaring fire and the Pro Bowl was on the TV in the bar. It was a lovely evening overall but unfortunately our server pegged us as the “married couple out on a rare date night and thrilled to be dining at an establishment devoid of air hockey and bendy straws.” He was correct. However he then proceeded to do a pretty lame ass job of waiting on us.
Little did he know that the hubby tended bar for eight years and is a most excellent tipper.
Idiot.
Any way we took our traveling suburban couple on the loose roadshow down the road to a nice Italian neighborhood restaurant for dessert and after-dinner drinks. Of course on the way we made the obligatory pit stop at Walgreens as we can’t seem to do a date night without stopping for antacid or eye drops or some other geriatric product with soothing qualities.
We pulled in the driveway at the decadent hour of 9:25 p.m. and tiptoed quietly through the back doorway. We were met with silence and for about five seconds I thought that miraculously both girls might actually be tucked in bed and soundly sleeping. But then I then heard my dad say “Oh yes! I’d love another drink! Why thank you!” followed by the gurgling sound of the girls’ pink plastic toy coffee maker. Apparently they watched Barbie’s “Princess and the Pauper” twice. That in and of itself warrants a Manny of the Year Award.
HAHAHHA! Your Manny rules! And I love your story capped off with walgreens visit for soothing geriatric potions…it’s because of you I keep blogging.
I love this post!! Adorable.
Yay for Mannies! I’m glad you got a night out with your man. How nice. You deserve to do that more often. 🙂
This post totally made me smile. I am glad you got to have a night out, and sounds like your Manny was a huge hit with the girls. 🙂
We’ve learned that when sitters tell us they have plans for the night and can’t sit, we can tell them that we’ll be home by 10 and then they’ll say that they CAN come, because they don’t go out til 11 anyway.
LOL
We are in a workers world right now, which means service is worse than shiteous. Last night we had the first GOOD server in I’d say a year. We tipped very very well. I have come to the decision that from now on, I just won’t tip if the service blows. I used to be “nice” and leave 10% if it sucked, but that dosent seem to be working.
9:25? You are daring indeed!!!
You had me a geriatric product. (which is a good thing since I was mad at you for getting a night out sans kiddos when I didn’t!) lol 🙂
Yep! That server missed some big bucks! My husband worked as a “bell man” and is an excellent tipper too.
Your Manny is excellent! Is he for hire?
I want a Mannie!
WOw! You went out…at night?! Mr. Schmitty and I are going out this Saturday…but in broad daylight. We are trying to ease the new babysitter in. Don’t want her to see the kid’s fangs once the sun goes down.
LOL — we went out on Saturday night, too, and while it wasn’t Walgreens for geriatric crap, we did have to stop and lay down eleven dollars for a thousand gallons of milk. 😉
one of my best friends in college had waited tables at cracker barrell all thru highschool. apparently the wait staff there have to make the salads thierselves and it’s a big deal. anyway, he was never happy with my tipping and told me i should serve for one day and i’d be a better tipper forever!
Awww so much to relate to in your post. I’m a big stinker about tipping – I’m a fantastic tipper but it has to be earned. My hubby is soft and will always leave something but I have no problem leaving nothing if service is terrible and a whole lot when it’s great. I don’t follow a fast rule of percentages, if someone does good they get good, great = great and terrible, well’ nuff said. As for coming home…well that just melts the old heartstrings doesn’t it?!
Hugs,
Holly
Holly’s Corner
Good for you for getting out! After dinner drinks and dessert too?!
It’s so true what you said about stopping at Walgreen’s for something. We always are in need of milk, medicine, toilet paper… It wouldn’t be date night without it.
How lucky you are to have a Manny. My dad was like that too with Hailee :0) Princess and the Pauper huh? I remember my brother(30) sitting through a whole episode of Strawberry shortcake once and actually liking it.
Love the Walgreen’s trip! We went to a concert last night and had to stop on the way home for milk and cold remedies. We’re so wild! Haha.