Learned lessons and a broken law at the Nutcracker

Today Drew and I went to see the Nutcracker in San Francisco.  (I blogged about last year's trip here).  We had a wonderful time together.  I won't bore you with tremendous detail but I will tell you that a few lessons were learned, a homeless man was stepped over, and a law was broken.

The biggest lesson I think that Drew may have learned today was when she very loudly and with a really bitchy face turned around during the performance and SHHHH'd the little girl behind us.  Where she learned that bitchy face I just can't even imagine.  I didn't turn around and apologize for her because for reals, that girl behind us was ridiculous, but I did say to Drew quietly, "It's rude to shhh people, no matter how rude they are being by talking."  Lesson learned.

It's about a 3 block walk from the train to the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco.  We saw numerous homeless people which, if you can imagine from a 5 year old's perspective who doesn't live in a big city, is a very interesting sight.  One man we actually had to step over.  It was very odd and uncomfortable and I wanted to teach Drew a lesson and go back and offer the man something but I had nothing, not even a dollar.  I had my Lands' End peacot that's awfully warm but I've waited lots of winters to buy it and just couldn't do it.  Know what I mean?  Anyway, it was a bit awkward.

Lastly, the law that was broken?  Well, I'll just post the letter I just wrote to the SF Ballet:

My name is Ashley Peters and my 5 year old daughter, Drew, and I attended this afternoon's performance. This was our second year together and it was exactly as we remember last year's performance - flawless and so enjoyable.



I'm writing with a concern I have about what happened during intermission. We went downstairs and I bought a gingerbread cookie and two sparlking apple ciders. We sat down and after my 5 year old had sipped about 1/4 of her sparkling cider she said to me, "Mommy, this tastes really funny." I had a sip and it was champagne. She had drunk about 1/4 of a glass of champagne. I immediately returned it and told the woman behind the counter of the mistake and she apologized and handed me a sparkling cider to compensate but asked that I taste it before I walked away to be sure it wasn't champagne.

I just want to suggest that the two beverages either need to not be poured ahead of time and kept on the same counter or they need to be in different glasses. When they look exactly the same and are in the same exact glass, that mistake is one that is easily made.

My daughter felt sick during the second Act and for much of the way home. I know it was an honest mistake but I think it's one that could have definitely been avoided had the drinking glasses been easily differentiated.


Thank you for a wonderful performance and for your attention to this matter,


Ashley Peters

Now, on to the pictures!

5 years old and looking like a young lady. 

Yes, let's take our picture in front of the mirror!  Great idea!

Walking by City Hall, otherwise known as The Building with the Trophy on Top.

We had terrific seats

What's a better snack than cookies and champagne for a 5 year old?  Not much!

 Love this

She carried my pocketbook the whole time, it was so cute.  All in red with a leopard print pocketbook.  Maybe that's why she was served alcohol...

Texting Chris on the train on the way home.  She's actually pretty good at it.

Dinner at Macaroni Grill on the way home.  Because one cannot subsist on gingerbread men and champagne alone.

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