Milkshake Monster

Given my recent post about milkshake dreams, you'd probably assume with a title like Milkshake Monster, I'd be writing about myself. But no. There is a pint-size creature that growls in rage should you attempt to take a milkshake away from her. Here she is:

On Sunday, we went to a Western restaurant that we enjoy called The Diner. They have opened up a few locations since we've been living in Qingdao and most recently opened a 4th one at Marina City, which is right by where we go for church/Raelynn's play group on Sundays. The Diner makes awesome pizza and after a recent dinner with some Chinese friends at a crappy Chinese-trying-to-be-Western restaurant where I was subjected to disgusting pizza that made this pizza look good, Jeremy had promised to take me out for a real pizza.

So we decided to give the new location a try. But we were extremely disappointed. Jeremy had walked in first while I lagged behind helping Raelynn up the stairs to the restaurant's second floor roost. Once we joined him inside, Jeremy didn't look very pleased. The restaurant was very small inside. There was one giant table where a bunch of foreigners were already eating, and a few smaller tables in the corners. There was also a patio with outdoor seating. A couple tables were open inside and my husband had tried to sit there only to be denied. In Chinese, they told him those 2 tables were reserved for a 1pm reservation. I stared at them, confused. For starters, at the other locations, they put a card on the table that says "reserved" when people have made reservations. There was no marking on this table to indicate that. Also, it was just after 12pm. Meaning we had plenty of time to eat and leave before their reservation arrived, if they even would arrive on time, or at all.

They told us we could go sit on the patio which, with a toddler and in cold and slightly smoggy weather, was not something we wanted to do. Their general attitude sucked so we left as they attempted to make a half-assed apology. Sorry, but we won't be going to THAT location again. They obviously don't want our business. That was fine. We just went to the location in May 4th Square where the staff is always happy to wait on us and any other patrons that dare to show up. And we had a lovely lunch with pizza and burgers. And a milkshake, which, I shit you not, Jeremy and I got barely a few sips in before SOMEONE *coughcoughRaelynncough* stole it away.

 Can Mommy have some?

 Fuck no!

 I'll cut you, bitch! Gimme back MY milkshake! AIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

Ah, MY milkshake. Reunited, and it feels so good...

Step off, woman who gave me life. You had your sip. The rest is MINE MINE MINE!!!!!

Maybe we should have ordered 2 milkshakes but at 30 yuan each, my husband refused. He said he'd rather buy me a tub of ice cream and some milk and let me go nuts. That works for me.

Because she stole my milkshake (well, it WAS mine...I was the one who thought to order it!), Jeremy ordered the chocolate lava cake dessert that I adore so much. It comes with a side of ice cream. It rules. At least she was kind enough to share this dessert.

 I don't share milkshakes, but I'll share this dessert with you, Mommy.

Meanwhile, I'm so happy she's got plastic utensils so she can't stab me. Not that she would...would she? Nah.

 Both of us are blissfully quiet, sharing in this chocolatey moment together.

All gone. No way, dude. I've got a plate to lick.
And she did. She scraped that thing clean. It's the Raskin gene. My side of the family loves desserts. No doubt this set of photos reminds my dad of me at that age. If he's reading this now, he's laughing himself silly because it's Jennifer 2.0. Ah, I love my mini-me, even if she is a milkshake monster, just like her mommy.

These Dreams

When you're pregnant, you have some pretty strange dreams. At least I do. Apparently, many others do too, largely due to hormonal fluctuations and waking up more during the REM cycle of sleep. Some nights, these dreams are really cool. Other nights, I've had horrid nightmares. But by far, the most interesting theme that keeps coming up for me are...

Milkshakes.

Yes. I keep dreaming about milkshakes. I know when you have cravings, it's your body's way of telling you that you need more of something. But I've been getting plenty of dairy. I've been eating lots of yogurt and most mornings, I make a banana milkshake, using milk, cinnamon and vanilla extract to make it taste deliciously evil yet still healthful.

And that banana milkshake is wonderful. Creamy. Sweet. Banana-y.

But my milkshake dreams have involved chocolate milkshakes.

Get out of my dreams and into my belly!

The first one was about a month ago. I dreamed that I was at Denny's of all places. I was eating with friends, though can't say I recall who, and I ordered a chocolate milkshake. It came out before my food and I remember the waitress putting the tall glass in front of me, along with that metal milkshake container that had the bit that couldn't fit into the glass. I looked at it and it was just like any other chocolate milkshake. And then, I started to drink it through the straw. I could seriously TASTE this thing. It was amazing. So perfectly chocolatey. So creamy and frothy all at once. As I got to the bottom of my glass, feeling so satisfied and happy, I woke up.

That's when I realized I was in China and there are no Denny's here. I cried and cried.

My milkshake dreams are always like this. I order a chocolate milkshake and then it's in front of me and I am enjoying everything about it. It feels so real every single time.

A few nights ago, I had my most recent milkshake dream. This time, there were Oreos in it. It was chocolate with Oreos. I don't recall being at a Denny's this time though. All I remember is the milkshake.

So what do these milkshake dreams mean?
According to this website,  "To dream of drinking a milkshake foretells happiness and peaceful times with family. It may also suggest that you want to strengthen your bonds with friends and loved ones."

Meanwhile, this one claims quite the opposite: "If you see or drink a milkshake in your dream implys (sic) that you are not very happy with the direction of your life. At this given moment your life feels shook up a bit. Somebody who is very close to you my be overwhelming at times."

That one is the only negative interpretation I've found. Here's another, which I think I like the best though I don't feel like pasting the whole thing.
 
If I wanted a milkshake like I had in my dreams, I needed to go to the supermarket and get some ice cream. But it wouldn't taste the same because Chinese people do odd things to chocolate. Unless I buy an imported brand at a ridiculous sum, I will have to compromise on the taste. It just lacks something...sugar, perhaps? Something is off about Chinese chocolate flavors. Or...I could get vanilla and buy Hershey's chocolate syrup. I've seen that in the import aisle. Now there's an idea.

And perhaps that is exactly the meaning of all these milkshakes...maybe my brain is saying, "Hey prego, move your ass to the store and make me a real milkshake." Hells yes.