Trips alone with children. Some mothers are frightened of this, I embrace it. Every day I appreciate what has been given to me in the form of these two amazing children. One who is a massive help, is entirely selfless and wants nothing but to please empathically. The other is an easy-going child capable of making me laugh and smile no matter what he gets into. He also has a generous heart and is reflective of everything he does. He is alert, aware and enjoys absorbing his world. Their personalities are like night and day but they complement each other so well, despite the five years apart, they very well could be twins. Here sets the background information for how or why I find it immensely enjoyable just to travel with them.
Today was a good day. We have taken trips together in the past, Florida for a week, then Seattle for the first airplane experience for the tot. Yes, every day is an experience! If I think about it as less of a mustdo and more of an adventure, adding an element of fun and joy, everything is a stress-free, immensely enjoyable experience! Drove to Atlanta to possibly meet up with someone I met over Twitter, as I have done in the past with WoW guildies, and if not, cool. The main purpose was to stuff my cooler full of goodies!
The night we arrived, ordered excellent fish & chips, vegetables, blackened chicken pasta, and a fruit salad for Ian and had it delivered to our room. Also wanted a slice of chocolate cake, it was faux fancy with the pre-streaked lines of raspberry coulis and chocolate sauce on the clear glass plate and two gobs of fast melting canned whipped cream. The top was gateaux which was fine, the cake moist and deep in chocolate flavor, when it got too much, the acidity of the swipe of raspberry kicked in and tempered by the cream. The cake was utterly ruined for me by the effects of the mini chocolate chips present at the cake end. I really don’t like chocolate THAT much to have raw chips in my mouth, it just seems like such a lazy way out! I prefer crust crumbles, or even cocoa powder!
On to the food, the fish and chips were thick slabs of cod in very thin batter. A slap and a shake on this. I like thin batter because they aren’t selling you starch for money, but it has to be done right. It wasn’t. The plating was done where the fish was tossed onto hot fries, causing the moisture to leak and coagulate the batter skin to a mush in every spot it sat on a chip. Fail. Next time, partition and use wax paper. The fish was thick, fresh, flaky, cooked and seasoned to perfection. Peel off batter, consume. Chips were regular. Nothing to write about.
The blackened chicken pasta was an oily mess! The saving grace was the warm and potent spice which I liked and the two generous slabs of toasty crispy savoury garlic bread! I had to sacrifice a slice to the tot 
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Sleep was had, and in the morning we woke up a little late, and headed to the Decatur Book Festival. On the way, I developed a serious need to take a dump. That taken care of, we set off again for the festival. Parked in a church lot (Southern Baptist) and hoped they won’t tow me for being a heathen witch. Walked maybe a block to the festival, it was almost 11am and getting really warm. First thing we did was get stopped by this lady manning a POD reserviced into a library full of wallpaper books, to which she cheerfully asked me, “What are you reading?”
“Snow Queen’s Shadow by Jim Hines. Heard of him? I am a super fantasy nut.”
No she hadn’t, that sounds interesting, what about you, young man? Stewie ignores her, he is too hungry at this point and we set out for legitimate food. Rounded the corner and found illegitimate food in the form of frozen chocolate bananas. Now Stewie has had one in Disney World but he was years ago. Got one each, with peanuts, and without. Started to pay …
“Crap, this is for the baby and he can’t have peanuts. Can I switch it to no nuts? I don’t get to pick what I want anymore.”
He looks at me, smiles. Here’s your change, sure I will switch that, and don’t tell me anymore sob stories because this looks like a person who doesn’t care. I smile back, grab the banana pops and park under a tree. In the distance, a crowd has gathered of kids around a sweaty, hassled man making balloon animals.
Price of admission: $1 and your soul + 1hour.
Stewie got himself a dragon which was pretty impressive, so I swallowed my curses and fed the baby the frozen banana.
We took off searching for floating balloons and fans next, found a booth with a spinner thing and “I wanna spin it!” happened, got a bike bottle for his school, a paper fan and a smile from a cute guy. Something for everyone! Wandered up the second level where the more serious book booths were and paperback novels printed to look like leather tomes are like catnip to me! Plus there was a really cute chick in a homemade archer-type outfit. I was a moth to a flame. Purchased the book, had a chat with the author, she signed my copy 
We found floaty balloons run by these dear little girls, who inflated and tied them off themselves. They sat in the sun and you who know me know:
A) I absolutely love good children
B) Girl children omg!
So embracing maternal instincts, as they were inflating my kids’ balloons, I whipped out the fan and tried to cool them off. Poor dears! Wish I had an umbrella too.
Sat down by some steps to listen to a very charismatic black gentleman retell his own version of The Three Little Pigs! It was fantastic! Shame Stewie didn’t find it to his liking. Started to pick up my new book to read, what little I did, I enjoyed. Then I was asked to fill out a survey by a sweet old British lady. In the end she said, “I’m British, you know?” Yes I did. Her accent was so thick while she read questions, and yet turned it off during conversation, it was adorable!
Decided we had enough of the heat, sipping on lemonade, another survey taker asked an Asian couple nearby if they would take it. When they declined, he pointed over to me, all big smiles and thumbs up, declared loudly, “She’s already taken it!” I gave him my cheesiest smile and a thumbs up back.
I felt like a hero for all of a minute.
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Hit my second target destination next – it was glorious. Like pigs with jewels glorious, like all this thirst and so much seawater glorious!!!
Dekalb Farmer’s Market. Please go there.
“Wow there are hundreds of people here.”
“Good, that means this place can stay open forever.”
The cook in me wanted to pack and move down the street. I taught a family how to properly eat fresh sugar cane.
Overheard a lady say, “That’s what a coconut looks like?”
OMG, the pain in my heart.
Bought and consumed goat’s milk, delicious and sweet. No funny bitter aftertaste like cow’s milk. Accompanied by cheese curds! We nuked a handful in the microwave at the hotel, to recapture that delightful squeak. It was pretty close.
“Mommy has to get out of here before we have no more money.”
We head back to the hotel for a swim in the saltwater pools. Ian floats away from me, led by his brother, with two paws in the air waves and giggling pronounces, “Babaiiiiii!” as he is happily being tugged. I felt a twinge of sadness, as that part wars inside me. You know, the “OMG he doesn’t need me anymore! How can he be happy to leave me? Is he not worried?” irrational twinges. Then I am glad that he is such a well adjusted, intelligent child.
We shower, all three of us. All at once, in the large shower. Gotta love Hilton Garden Inn! And we snack on tabbouleh and garlic flatbread. Then veg out, watch some tv until we head out to Yakitori Jinbei for dinner. It is our MUST stop in Atlanta. Especially Saturday night as they have the binchotan (special charcoal) out for their kushiage (grilled skewers)
They are famous for their tonkotsu ramen, which is inhaled by both children. Ian absolutely loved the soup! I ordered torikawa, sunagimo, ika shio (just salted) and tsukune (chicken meatballs) with tare (sweet glaze). Stewie and Ian fought over the meatballs, fork tender and sweet. Got some yaki onigiri for Ian but it was a little too salty for him.
Yeah, my children eat well.
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Tomorrow, dimsum yay!, HMart yay! and home. Boo.
Stefanie at 
