San Diego: Part Two

After an over-priced breakfast and a painful goodbye to The Madonna Inn, we continued our journey south. Later today we would be in San Diego. Well, almost San Diego. We were actually going to be staying with some very generous friends, Katie, Tim and their 2 year old daughter, Isabel. They live just outside of San Diego. And, I am not even remotely exaggerating when I say VERY generous friends. Friends who had recently returned from a trip that took them to Alaska and then Hawaii. So, the seven of us show up with bags, strollers, children, a pack-n-play, our dirty laundry (literally, not figuratively) and what has our host done?

Made us all dinner. Amazing.

Now, nearly every dish is dirty in their house thanks to us and I am having to ask Katie, who is still trying to do laundry catch up from her world tour, "Could I maybe do some laundry of my own? I mean, I realize you are up to your eyes in it, but like, I am almost out of underwear."

Don't worry, we brought them several bottles of alcohol for their trouble.

The next morning started with breakfast at Tip Top Meats.

"Going here is kind of a family tradition." Katie told us. "And for eight bucks you can get a breakfast plate with unlimited meat."

As a strong supporter of tradition (and meat) I was excited to try this place.

Katie was absolutely correct. For $7.98 you could get the "Big John Breakfast." This includes, "three eggs any style, home fried potatoes, toast and ALL* of our own delicious smokehouse bacon, pork link sausage, or polish sausage, bratwurst or ham you can eat."

You will notice the asterisk next to the word "ALL." This is indicating a footnote for what will forever be remembered as my favorite thing on a menu EVER. At the bottom of the "Big John" description is states: Sorry ALL not valid on TO GO orders (two meats).

Can you imagine the conversation that lead to that footnote?

"Thanks for calling Tip Top Meats can I take your order?"

"Yes, I will have a Big John Breakfast. Three eggs, over easy, sourdough toast, hash browns and, all the bacon in your freezer."

Although some in our party were brave enough to Big John it up, I opted for a smaller breakfast but did get one of their homemade bratwurst that was just delicious.

After breakfast was Legoland. I have been to Legoland before. It was just over 5 years ago that I went and then swore I would never return as long as I lived. It was well over 100 degrees on that godforsaken day when I asked myself on many occasions, "Why have a willingly entered Hell?" But never say never I guess, because here we are, yet again.

I have to say, this time was much more enjoyable. It was not so hot that I felt like I couldn't breathe. And I did have a child of my own this go around who I got to watch enjoy all there was to see at this wonderland of Legos. His favorite part was "Duplo Land" which is an area of the park that is designed specifically for younger kids. There were slides and climbing structures and places for parents to sit and watch their children play.

"You know, we could have just taken him to a park...for free." Grant said. He was right. I mean really, we could have taken him to an abandoned water treatment plant and called it a park and he would have had a grand ole time. But at least by paying for him to come here at just 15 months old, he won't have any fond memories or recollection of it happening at all, right??

Remind me, why did I agree to this again? Also, does Legoland serve booze?

Turns out, no. But Grant and I pretended and had our own fun.



All joking aside, anything that makes my boy and my nieces happy, makes me happy. And had we not gone, we would have missed out on this very realistic rendition of the Three Little Pigs. So there was that.


Love. The. Shades.


Right now, Charlie is thinking, "You know you could have just taken me to the park, Mom."


Look at this happy little girl. Makes it hard to stay mad at Legoland, doesn't it?


Well, if you must know, I quite enjoyed myself here today at Legoland. But then again, give me a box of raisins and a clean diaper and I can be happy pretty much anywhere.