My Mother's New Favorite Restaurant

Song:  Regresa A Mi

Group:  Il Divo

I took my mother to a restaurant which was new to us on this night.

It is open until midnight every night...

and until 1 AM on Fridays and Saturdays.

As we were to find out...

they have great Prime Ribs

(which are only sold on Fridays - Sundays).

I took her here specifically for their Prime Rib.

It has a nice open atmosphere and the seating was very comfortable.

We started off with a couple of St. Pauli non-alcoholic beers.

We then tried their delicious Portobello Mushroom Salad.

Both, my mother, and I, loved it.

We then started on our main dish...

a 16 ounce Prime Rib...

fire roasted asparagus...

and my mother had a baked potato...

while I had the mashed potatoes.

From the first bite of the Prime Rib...

my mother and I loved this place.

My mother proudly announced that this was her favorite restaurant...

and her wish to come here often.

They know how to, not only, make prime rib here...

but their vegetables were so deliciously spiced and fire roasted.

The prime rib was excellent in its supreme tenderness...

mouthwatering spices, and juiciness.

We were both so impressed.

We are going to try their Rib Eye next time.

And...

whenever we feel like the best prime rib we have ever had...

we are sure to return on a Sunday night.

The included desert was so large that I couldn't finish it.

I usually don't eat sweets except at restaurants...

or an occasional chocolate at my mother's as we watch a movie...

so, this was quite a sugar shock for me  :)

We then departed fully satisfied...

and with the full knowledge that we had experienced a great meal

and that we would return often.

My mother absolutely loved this place.

Trying new restaurants is one of our hobbies.

As we usually eat fish or poultry at my mother's...

and as I simply cannot cook red meats anywhere near the quality

of a good restaurant...

when we eat out...

it is usually to get a good steak.

In this restaurant...

we had found a winner.

An added plus is that...

as we are both night owls...

we like to eat out late

when the restaurants aren't crowded...

so we may just enjoy a relaxing meal.

We have until midnight to enjoy a great steak or prime rib...

on any given Sunday.

What was funny was my mother's absolute LOVE of this place.

She was as delighted and gushing as a school girl.

This is the type of reaction a good restaurant should bring about in its patrons.

This is also our goal when eating out.

It is a new adventure to be thoroughly enjoyed...

time and again.

And...

as always...

Hana absolutely loved the fat trimmings we had taken back for her.

Dinner And An IMAX Movie

Song from Secret Garden

On this night...

I took my mother out to dinner at the Olive Garden...

and we then went to see a movie at an IMAX complex.

It was opening night for the movie 'Born In China'.

It was a documentary on select animals in China.

There were some beautiful scenic shots of different parts of China

where the Panda, the Golden Monkey, and the Snow Leopard live.

It depicted the life of select animals and their lives over more than a one year span.

My mother loves animals...

so, she enjoyed this movie.

We had just been seated at the Olive Garden.

Their soup is excellent.

We then enjoyed a plate of Chicken Parmesan, Lasagna, and Fettuccine Alfredo.

We departed the restaurant and drove to the movie theater just a short distance away.

Each seat was assigned

(I had bought the tickets online the night before)...

and each is an electric recliner.

It was almost 10:30 PM when we departed the theater.

Although my mother has an excellent 80" TV at home...

I wanted to get her out of the house for a night out.

She enjoyed herself...

and that is what is important.

--------------

My mother will be 80 years old in less than two years.

Time is limited...

and death waits for us all.

To have regrets at a loved ones funeral means you had realized

you should have spent more time with them.

The time to show them your caring is while they are still alive.

A funeral should be a time of missing them...

but of having no regrets on your part for not having been with them more.

When you have no regrets for things not said or done when they mattered...

 allows just the good memories to fill your mind.

And...

having had lived their lives well...

allows people to die well.

Near the end...

I am sure...

it is the amount of magical memories shared with others which fill the mind...

and which gives life so much of its meaning...

and, which dictates the depth of peace before the final slumber.

Give your children plentiful amounts of affection...

lots of hugs and kisses...

and spend meaningful amounts of quality time with your parents.

The people around you are mirrors of your soul.

How you treat them...

is a reflection of who you really are.

A Picnic At Kings Beach - Lake Tahoe

Song:  Ave Maria

As today was a beautiful day...

I went to my mother's to take her on a picnic.

My original plan was to take her to Prosser Reservoir.

However, the last half mile to the reservoir was impassable due to mud...

so...

We first stopped to get some fried chicken for the picnic.

My mother carried it on her lap the whole way.

Hana was in the back seat.

The drive to the turnoff from the highway to Prosser Reservoir was less than 45 minutes 

from home.

We traveled to the turnoff leading to the reservoir at the end of this road...

and found that the asphalt stopped...and mud began.

There were some people snowmobiling at the end of the road.

Fearing I would get stuck...

I turned around.

We were leaving the turnoff here.

Since we were so near to North Lake Tahoe...

I decided to go there for the picnic.

We stopped at King's Beach and put the chicken down and ate.

The temperature was just right...

and there was a light breeze blowing.

We were surrounded by beautiful views as we ate.

My mother enjoyed looking out at Lake Tahoe...

and the surrounding snow covered mountains as she ate her chicken, biscuits...

and Cajun rice.

Hana loved the new surroundings also.

When we finished...

we got up to walk to the end of a nearby small pier.

My mother rested a few minutes here before we continued on to the pier.

I had given this jacket to my mother...

as it was too small for me...

in the shoulders...in the shoulders!  :)

This is now her mountain jacket.

I then drove her back to her home.

My mother thoroughly enjoyed our little outing.

Our whole outing, there and back...

including the turnaround at Prosser Reservoir and our picnic...

took less than three hours.

My mother kept commenting on the beautiful mountains during our whole drive...

there and back.

It is good to get out of the house often.

Having new and beautiful experiences...

even if just for a short while...

lends to having a happy life.

Sometimes you just have to be spontaneous...

you just have to listen to the call of the mountains...

and answer.