Tonight we shall discover if we like The Cheesecake Factory or not.
The big double date to The Cheesecake Factory comes tonight.
Pretty quick plans for me dear wife Karen and I do join my wonderful daughter Elisabeth and her cool boyfriend George, considering that the Syracuse, N.Y. installment of the famous chain opened its doors just this Monday.
All four of us have been looking forward to this meal for months. We like to eat. We like to watch “The Big Bang Theory” on TV. After tonight, the rest will be history.
You can be sure that I will tell the world just what we thought sometime soon.
Which reminds me.
I am late with the following news.
I discovered that I did a good job picking the right store from which to purchase this season’s Christmas gift card for Elisabeth.
When she became a college student, I decided the smartest route to take was the gift card, to a store that I think she will enjoy. I’ve done the clothing thing, at Aeropostale and American Outfitters. I’ve done the shoe store thing, at Off Broadway Shoes.
My daughter Elisabeth models the two coats she purchased with my Christmas gift card.
That one was last season, and, lo and behold, Karen and I were strolling one Sunday afternoon in Destiny USA, and my wife spotted my daughter inside said shoe store.
We went in, and she perused the sneaker rack. She liked two. Her gift card fell a little short of the total. I was there to make up the difference.
This year I decided upon a store that always has inviting merchandise in the windows, a place whose stock should attract my stylish child.
So …
I was minding my own business one day in January when I received a happy text message from my 23-year-old.
She had taken said gift card to that Wilson’s Leather in Destiny USA and left happy indeed.
She had found one leather jacket she wanted. And then she found another one.
Both are now in her wardrobe.
She sent me this picture to show off the style.
Good colors on her, I think.
How is your track record for picking out the right gift card for family members? What do you think is the best gift you’ve ever given?
Mark Bialczak 
Aw, sounds like you’re a good Dad! Best gift ever given? Not sure it counts as the best but for Christmas this year I bought this thing for my boyfriend where he got to race a Ferrari around a race track a few times. He’s such a nerd, he loved it.
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Any man who loves driving a Ferrari around a race track is not a nerd in my book, Aussa. That was a great gift you pickeda!
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She’s cute and stylish and has a fantastic dad.
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She is a good daughter. Thank you, Kim!
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A smart man purchases a gift card when he’s clueless as to what to get her! You made the wise choice:). I used to leave catalogs around the house, conspicuously highlighted with items I liked and sizes. Ugh. Yours is the better route.
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That was a wide trail of bread crumbs you used to leave to mark the best path, Kaye. This card was for my daughter. My wife simply answers my question of “What do you really want?” and then I add a few surprises, gauging her tastes. I think I do well.
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hope the meal was all that you were hoping for. can’t wait to read about it. as for your daughter, and gifting. you played it right and you were in the right place at the right time at the shoe store, as well as in the right frame of mind when you bought her cards. and she is a beauty, so she would look great even in camo, if you had given her a gift card to an army/navy store. i’m pretty good at gifts, i really try to personalize them to the recipient and that usually works quite well. i’ve had some gift mix-ups though that were quite funny. hey, now you’ve given me another idea for a post )
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Dinner is tonight. You know I will be taking pictures and mental notes to share, Beth. My daughter seems happy with whatever I give her. She came through my dark times very well. I can imagine that you are a great gift-giver, by the thought that goes into your every post. I look forward to reading the next one!
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ha, thought i was behind in my reading and replying. well you both must be in a cheesecake factory frenzy about now. ) i’m in a frenzy for the usa vs russia hockey!
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Do not go poking around on line too much, Beth, the game was this morning U.S. time. It is in my vault.
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oh i want a total surprise, so no way will i peek!
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I am glad to have warned you that it was played already!
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Gift cards are the greatest. They aren’t just-because gifts, or second thoughts. I’ve been giving my friends and relatives home improvement store cards as primary and secondary gifts (there is always a chance you’ll come across something that could call out to someone), because I know they are constantly renovating and refurbishing.
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You got it right on both counts, Chris.
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I’m glad she takes chances with color, instead of boring basic black. She is a cutie. I can’t recall giving or getting any great gifts. I guess I’m a bad person.
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Oh, come on now, Kerbey. Not a one? I do not believe you for a second.
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Okay, when I was little, my granddad sent me a red record player that was one of those little fold-up kinds with the cord, so you could carry it like a briefcase. That was pretty cool.
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That was pretty cool, all right. I think they were called Fold and Play, if my mind serves me right.
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Buying gifts are difficult to figure out. You choice of a gift card was a wise one. Your daughter looks wonderful in her jackets. I’ll have to keep that store in mind when we visit Syracuse this summer. 😉
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It’s a good store, Judy.
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Your daughter is beautiful…good job Dad! How was the cheesecake?
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Dinner is tonight. Thanks, she is a beautiful young woman. Only a bite of cheesecake for me, but I’m looking forward to the rest.
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Enjoy 🙂
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She is a beautiful young lady! And she is lucky to have you as her dad. The coats look stunning on her. Speaking of gift cards, I stopped giving gift cards because the recipient must spend ALL the money in THAT store. In other words, they are stuck to that store. So I send cash.
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I like at least trying to pick a great store each year, PJ. Yes, my daughter is quite the lovely young woman. Thanks!
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Order the cheesecake first. You’ll be too full otherwise. Your daughter is adorable!
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It’s the entree I’ll be tackling most, Sandra, as I must avoid the sugar. But I will have a taste from Karen’s plate and enjoy the atmosphere to the max. And, yes, I think my daughter is adorable, too. Thanks!
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I like the coral colored one. And I am horrible at picking out gifts. And gift cards. I’d rather just take the loved one shopping and buy them what they want. It’s a no stress deal. 😉
I hope you have fun and eat yourself silly tonight!
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My stomach is ready for a feeding frenzy, Colleen!
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For heaven’s sake Mark, either start with the cheesecake or make sure you plan on being there a while so you can get that $10 slice of heaven. 😉
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Can’t do but a pinch of Karen’s dessert. I have the D-disease, unfortunately. My blood is just too sweet.
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Ahhhhh, well, being naturally sweet than why clutter it up with all of that fake stuff? 😉 I hope you had a great time.
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So wish we had a Cheesecake Factory where I live…
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We are so excited to get one here. Word on the street has been good!
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Jealous! My friends that have been to them say that they are delicious!
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Your daughter has chosen beautiful colours! I love the blue/teal jacket especially! Enjoy your night out. I guess you will be looking at the cheesecake rather than eating. But I’m also guessing that they sell other food too. Just what you need after all that snow shovelling.
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They serve full meals, fortunately. So I will get my fill for sure, Rachel. And, fortunately, Karen always volunteers to allow me a bite of the dessert on her plate!
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Steve often has to help me out in restaurants – I can’t always finish the huge portions – but he is sometimes disappointed! Karen is very kind to always share.
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Maybe she doesn’t want to see my disappointed face, Rachel.
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