{"id":17656,"date":"2017-08-23T18:29:44","date_gmt":"2017-08-23T23:29:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=17656"},"modified":"2017-08-23T15:15:37","modified_gmt":"2017-08-23T20:15:37","slug":"fifteen-years-of-marital-bliss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=17656","title":{"rendered":"Fifteen Years of Marital Bliss"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>We had a few trips planned this year (<a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=17035\" >Alaska<\/a> in May, <a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=17525\" >ZINCON<\/a> in July, and my 40th birthday celebration at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sandals.com\/main\/emerald\/em-home\/\"  target=\"_blank\">Sandals Emerald Bay<\/a> in October) so we decided to keep it pretty low key for our 15th wedding anniversary. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/35656511024\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4343\/35656511024_28f5d12379.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We started things off with a bang (pun intended) by having dinner at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bonefishgrill.com\/locations\/ks\/wichita\"  target=\"_blank\">Bonefish Grill<\/a> on Thursday, August 10, which is our actual anniversary day.  <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36354043601\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4349\/36354043601_861da86270.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We had a fabulous dinner. Here are a couple of pics.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/35683112183\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4366\/35683112183_e0fb3b0514.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36323402092\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4343\/36323402092_16503a8ec8.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We continued our celebration that weekend with a quick Kansas City getaway. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36476620296\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4421\/36476620296_baeca3d1f4.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We ended up taking Molly with us because of the whole fiasco at the pet boarding place during ZINCON where she got attacked by another dog at daycare, which she wasn&#8217;t even supposed to be in. Anyway, we ended up still boarding Saki because the hotel only allowed one pet and Saki loves being around other dogs. Molly, who ended up with staples on her head after the incident, had just gotten her staples removed the day before so we didn&#8217;t want to chance it. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36313618315\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4306\/36313618315_6ffe837265.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"460\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This is what her head looked like when we arrived home from ZINCON.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36271388986\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4291\/36271388986_65747f21de.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"488\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This is what her head looked like when the staples were removed, right before our KC trip. It was still healing, as evidenced by the bump and scab on her head, so we didn&#8217;t want to chance her getting in another fight and making it worse. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/35693368374\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4368\/35693368374_f98117f3a4_c.jpg\" width=\"500\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Brian dropped Saki off at the pet boarding place while I taught my early morning Aqua Zumba class. Amy was nice enough to sub my 10:30 AM Zumba class on Saturday and Mandy covered my 2:00 PM class on Sunday so we were able to get an early start on our drive. <\/p>\n<p>We stopped by Leawood to visit our friend Chad and check out his new place. His <a href=\"http:\/\/www.villamilano.us\/\"  target=\"_blank\">apartment<\/a> is in a really posh, newly developed residential area near the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.corbinparkop.com\/\"  target=\"_blank\">Corbin Park<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/visitprairiefire.com\/\"  target=\"_blank\">Prairiefire<\/a> shopping centers in Overland Park. It&#8217;s a really classy apartment complex befitting the fancy neighborhood setting. It kind of reminded us of a more upscale version of Quarters at Cambridge because of the granite in the kitchen and restrooms and other nice finishes.<\/p>\n<p>Anyway, we had a very nice visit but didn&#8217;t stay very long because we wanted to check in to our hotel, feed Molly dinner, and also freshen up before our own dinner plans. Speaking of which, we couldn&#8217;t get into the Melting Pot for dinner because I didn&#8217;t plan ahead and make reservations. By the time I called the restaurant on Saturday morning, the earliest we could get was nine o&#8217;clock. I called the hotel to see if the concierge could use their magic. No such luck. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36391156791\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4392\/36391156791_dd71280a67.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We did have this super nice surprise delivered to our room that afternoon, though.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/35719721353\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4412\/35719721353_90577e54a2.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>By the way, <a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=17492\" >remember how we got the exact same room that we had last year at the Hyatt Regency Orlando<\/a>? Well, it happened again. We ended up staying in the exact same room I was in <a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=16838\" >when I stayed at the Ambassador Hotel back in April<\/a>. I&#8217;m not sure if they did that intentionally but it was a very nice surprise. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/35694607174\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4387\/35694607174_343aed6089.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>After feeding Molly her dinner, I took her and Brian to the rooftop park above Cosentino&#8217;s. It&#8217;s a really nice confined space for pets; however, your dogs still can&#8217;t be off-leash. It would have been nice to be able to let Molly loose to run around but I guess it&#8217;s okay that we kept her leashed because the green space is more expansive than it looks. We probably would have had a tough time getting her to come back.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36133247580\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4395\/36133247580_8bcb51eb6f.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The rooftop park isn&#8217;t that far from the hotel but I think Brian and Molly were both pooped from the drive so we decided to rest a bit before dinner. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/35694754294\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4422\/35694754294_20451f8d0f.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Molly felt right at home. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36134843020\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4436\/36134843020_a89e6eaf7c.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Since we couldn&#8217;t get into the Melting Pot for dinner, we had to improvise. Brian had been asking to try Nara, one of my favorite restaurants when I was working in Kansas City, so we ended up having dinner there instead. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36362617562\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4396\/36362617562_063489c3b4_c.jpg\" width=\"500\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here are some pictures of our food.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36393384271\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4433\/36393384271_46fae2ae67_c.jpg\" width=\"500\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>They serve <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boulevard.com\/beerinfo\/tank-7-farmhouse-ale\/\"  target=\"_blank\">Tank 7<\/a> so Brian was quite happy. Literally. He drank two glasses and it doesn&#8217;t take much. LOL.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36393157921\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4378\/36393157921_6d39442ee7_c.jpg\" width=\"500\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It worked out great because we took advantage of the hotel shuttle to go to Nara so neither of us were driving. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36134851680\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4342\/36134851680_0c3b79ffa5.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>After dinner the hotel picked us up from Nara and drove us to the Melting Pot. We decided to keep our nine o&#8217;clock reservations and had chocolate fondue for dessert.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/35697039444\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4337\/35697039444_133bfd9677_c.jpg\" width=\"500\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>While not having the full Melting Pot experience was a bit disappointing, I think it actually saved us money. LOL. Having dinner there would have cost us at least $120. The cost of the chocolate fondue wasn&#8217;t too bad. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36363880332\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4385\/36363880332_fd86d6a5ce.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Dessert was about $20 (before tip) for both of us.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36394558361\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4334\/36394558361_99f1529642.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>We were ridiculously stuffed after eating all of that sushi and chocolate fondue. Thankfully, neither of us had to drive. The hotel shuttle picked us up from the restaurant and took us back to the hotel.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36486119736\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4384\/36486119736_dc65dff0f2.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Dinner and dessert were delicious but being chauffeured around town was priceless. I don&#8217;t enjoy driving so I really appreciated it. I know Brian appreciated the break because he would have had to drive us otherwise.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/35723877343\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4441\/35723877343_58a3a4c846_c.jpg\" width=\"500\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As for taking Molly out before bed and first thing in the morning, it wasn&#8217;t too bad because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/Oppenstein-Brothers-Memorial-Park\/248191778526405\"  target=\"_blank\">Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park<\/a> is just a block over on Walnut (about halfway between our hotel and the rooftop park above the grocery store).<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36372152662\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4426\/36372152662_c17305838e.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Speaking of morning, this was us the next day. Molly was such a good girl.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36494084046\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4410\/36494084046_86c867440a.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We took advantage of a late checkout and asked the hotel to take us to Succotash for breakfast before driving back to Wichita. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36542594815\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4363\/36542594815_f9aa86e483_c.jpg\" width=\"500\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;d only been there once before and that was over five years ago. I still remember how much I love it, though. I love that they have the freshest juice. Ever.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/35707084674\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4440\/35707084674_6371d43289.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>These are the all the options. I got the best lemonade. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36145494650\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4439\/36145494650_3cc71579f1_c.jpg\" width=\"500\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This amazing lemonade lives up to its name for sure. If only they offered free refills!<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36541947935\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4432\/36541947935_51fc6cf023_c.jpg\" width=\"500\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The restaurant isn&#8217;t very big. The d\u00e9cor is cute and kitschy and the ambiance is pretty relaxed. We were there early enough that we got seated right away but they were quite busy. There was a steady flow of people the entire time we were there. It&#8217;s obvious that this place is popular with the locals.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/35707050514\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4424\/35707050514_fac3a040ff.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here are some pictures of our food, in case you are wondering. Brian got his usual: biscuits and gravy, fried eggs, and bacon.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/35707396454\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4397\/35707396454_4dda0bfde6.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I originally thought about getting the burrito of love (scrambled eggs, cheddar, and bacon wrapped burrito-style in a big, fluffy buttermilk pancake) but when I saw that the #3 omelet had bacon, feta, spinach, and artichoke hearts, I was sold. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36495770656\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4434\/36495770656_122b65a5eb.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what the inside of my omelet looked like since I added ham.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36496056716\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4406\/36496056716_6830a12fd3_c.jpg\" width=\"500\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Breakfast was delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/36541820375\/in\/datetaken-public\/\"  title=\"Untitled\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.staticflickr.com\/4440\/36541820375_634c2526e4.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Untitled\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>After breakfast, we called the hotel to pick us up and then it was time to drive back home. So that&#8217;s pretty much how our overnight trip to Kansas City went. It was a nice way to celebrate 15 years of marriage. Here&#8217;s to many more!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We had a few trips planned this year (Alaska in May, ZINCON in July, and my 40th birthday celebration at Sandals Emerald Bay in October) so we decided to keep it pretty low key for our 15th wedding anniversary. We started things off with a bang (pun intended) by having dinner at Bonefish Grill on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7,10,1690],"tags":[116,568,197,2965,195,837],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17656"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17656"}],"version-history":[{"count":43,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17656\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17699,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17656\/revisions\/17699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}