I’m joining Jennifer at Conversion Diary this week, participating in her meme, 7 Quick Takes. It seems to fit perfectly for me this week because I have lots of little ideas bouncing around in my head, but none that is forming a complete blog post. Hence, a random list is ideal.

-1-
Some robins built a nest in a juniper tree right outside our front door this spring. We watched them go from gathering nesting materials to caring for little blue eggs to feeding three babies. Before we knew it, the babies were nearly overflowing the nest with their baby bird fluffiness. Yesterday morning, the babies were gone. I imagine there are three young robins somewhere in our neighborhood now, practicing their flying and worm-catching skills. Here they are, the day before they embarked on their new journey (though in this picture, you can only see two of them, and they’re a bit camouflaged).

-2-
L. (4) is bummed. Today is his final preschool activity of the year — a Teddy Bear Picnic. It was supposed to be held at a local park, but the weather forecast is calling for “numerous showers and thunderstorms” this morning. There is a backup, indoor location, but it doesn’t sound nearly as exciting to him as a playground with all of his friends.

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And speaking of the rain, C.(12) is on a field trip with his class today. They will also be impacted by the rain. Part of their field trip is to be held in some caverns, but the rest is supposed to happen in the great outdoors. I’m thinking the outdoors might not feel quite so great today.

-4-
Today is a crockpot dinner day. I’ll be making Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Roast Dinner, with some of my own changes (no onions; substituting low-fat condensed cream of chicken soup for the gravy). Last time I made it, the boys gobbled it up. And it takes almost zero work to throw together. Perfect.

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We were driving somewhere earlier this week — I can’t even remember where now. But on our way, we drove past the back of a neighborhood. There, on a deck, stood a man playing the bagpipes. This didn’t bother me, but I did wonder why he was out there all alone. Had his wife had just about enough of him practicing inside? Or did he derive some special enjoyment from playing to the critters in his yard?

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The bagpipe guy reminded us of a man I saw last summer. He was standing on the side of a fairly busy road, wearing only shorts, sunglasses, and a cowboy hat, playing his acoustic guitar and singing. Again, not offended, just curious. What, exactly, was the thought process that led him there?

-7-
I’m starting to think about all the things I want to do this summer — activities with the boys, books to read with them, goals for them, things to teach them. I need to be careful or I’ll end up with a list that’s sure to make this summer very stressful for all of us. It’s okay to have summer ambitions…I just have to be sure not to overdo it. Summer is for playing, after all.

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Visit Conversion Diary to see other 7 Quick Takes participants.

When I order a meal at a restaurant, I tend to take what I get. Even if it’s not exactly what I ordered.

I’m just not a food-sender-backer. For one thing, I figure that even if the kitchen made a mistake, if the food is still good, I can live with it. Everyone makes mistakes, and I’d rather not cause the waiter or waitress any hassle.

For another thing, who wants to sit at the restaurant all day, waiting for your food to be cooked again? Not me. I’ll just eat what I’ve been served and go home, thankyouverymuch.

But recently, I sent back a steak. I hate to even admit that. You should know, I suppose, that I love a good steak. You should also know that I like a little pink in my steak. A steak cooked to medium is perfect, and I’d never ask for one well done. Ever.

Alas, the steak I ordered (medium, of course) arrived at our table exceedingly well done. Nary a hint of pink was to be found. Just brown, through and through. That’s okay, I thought, I’m sure it’s still good. So I tried a bite.

And it was…meh. I mean, it was still meat that came from a cow. But it was not what I’d been expecting. And when I thought of what we’d be paying for that filet, I thought perhaps I should send it back.

After all, Chad had also ordered a steak cooked medium and his was perfect — just the right amount of pink in the middle.

However, I have a mental block against bothering waitresses. Perhaps it’s because I spent one summer in high school working as a waitress and I can commiserate with all the hassles they have to deal with every day. I prefer to be a good, hassle-free customer, and then go on my merry way.

But the steak was really well done. (Have I mentioned the steak was well done? Because it was. Are you getting the feeling that I feel compelled to over-justify my actions? Yeah, me too.)

Reluctantly, the next time the waitress stopped by to see how we were doing, I showed her my plate, and asked if maybe, perhaps, I could have a new steak.

She was happy to oblige and agreed that something must have gone horribly wrong. A new steak was prepared, my family waited patiently, and in the end, I enjoyed a very delicious filet, cooked perfectly.

Still, I felt a little guilty.

*

The only other time I’ve sent something back to the kitchen was when I ordered a BLT at a diner and it arrived without any T. No T at all. Not even a sliver, not even a seed. A BL just wasn’t going to cut it.

And really, I wasn’t asking for it to be redone, I was just asking for some tomato. They could have brought me a slice or two on a plate and I’d have been just as happy.

As for Chad, he’s not a sender-backer either.

Well, except for that one time, early in our marriage, when his salad arrived at our table with a cricket on it. Yes, a cricket. Not a dead cricket either. It was mostly dead, but still twitching. Lovely image, no?

I don’t know how the waiter transported the salad from the kitchen to our table without noticing that — Hello? There was an insect sitting right on top of the lettuce!

The restaurant was happy to send out a replacement salad, but part of me always wondered if they just took the cricket off and sent the bowl back out to us. Oh well. It wasn’t my salad. And Chad suffered no ill effects as a result of that meal.

*

What is the point of this post? I don’t suppose I actually have one, other than to confess that I sent a steak back to the kitchen and I still feel a little guilty for bothering them, even though technically it was their fault.

And also, I’m wondering what your policy on sending back food is. Have you done it? What does it take to convince you to flag down the waiter?

Here’s the onion I was chopping up for dinner tonight. I cut him in half…and he just smiled at me.

I wasn’t sure whether to think it was weird, or oddly cute. Either way, I figured it warranted a picture.

1. Finding out the winner of Next Food Network Star. C.(11) and I have been watching this season together, and are looking forward to the finale this weekend. I liked Aarti from early on, and C. has always rooted for Tom, so they are our top two picks. We were sad to see Brad get the boot a couple weeks ago, but he probably wouldn’t have won anyway. I’ll be very curious to see if this year’s winner ends up with a truly successful show. It seems that most winners have a few minutes of fame and then fade into mediocrity (Guy Fieri being the exception).

2. Fall. Yes, I think I’ve reached my saturation point when it comes to summer. I’m ready for crisp weather, jeans, and a more consistent routine. Baking with apples and possibly picking up knitting again also sound appealing.

3. Mockingjay. But before fall comes sneaking in, Suzanne Collins’ final book in the Hunger Games series should arrive. Due out the end of this month, Mockingjay is at the top of my want-to-read list. And yes, I’ve already pre-ordered it. Amazon promises to have it on my doorstep on the day of release. Don’t come visit me that afternoon…or for the next day or so. I’ll be otherwise engaged.

4. My skin to stop peeling. Two weekends ago, I spent a large part of Saturday out on a boat, on a lake. It quickly became obvious that I am far more used to sitting on a shady patio when, despite two applications of SPF 50 sunscreen, I got sunburned. Most of the burn has faded, but my forearms are still peeling. Yes, forearms. Who gets sunburned forearms? Me, that’s who.

5. The Sharpie Liquid Pencil to be available. I admit, I vastly prefer pens to pencils. But the new liquid pencil sounds like the perfect combination — erasable at first, but transforming to permanent within a few days. I’m curious. And since I’m addicted to office supplies, I’m sure I’ll be trying this out as soon as I can get my hands on one.

What are you waiting for?