Hello World!

Stay Inside for Christmas Eve

Ugh! I went out for a quick errand - a sale on greenies for Quimby. Then I realized we are out of OJ. Of course nothing around here is easy (OJ from any store) - we love Trader Joe's OJ. It is the closest to fresh squeezed we have ever tasted. If we ever move or TJ stops caring it we will just have to buy an orange squeezer it's that good and we are totally hooked. I thought it would be nice to get it for Christmas morning. People - it's crazy out there! I have never seen TJ's so busy, it was a MADHOUSE. I hope that Brian is feeling the love right now since I weathered the storm and managed to get home with the juice. There was one bright spot - a Santa handing out mint chocolates while we all stood in line. That was a nice touch. It did help make up for the crazy drivers - one in particular that was waiting in line for a spot, saw one behind her, in front of me, decided she needed that one too and proceeded to back up into my car. Good lord. Isn't this the giving season? She had a spot right in front of her. Think Santa and chocolate... Santa and chocolate... oj and tamales... ewww, not together!

Merry Christmas everyone, and Happy Holidays!

New Traditions

This year Brian and I will be in LA for Christmas. I am totally burned out on cooking after Thanksgiving and I do not want to spend hours in the kitchen just for the two of us. Well, even if we had 20 people coming over I still wouldn't want to be cooking all day. From this sprung a new tradition around here. When we are in town for Christmas we will have tamales! Tamara's tamales has outstanding food and that is where we ordered from. I called on Monday and just missed the cut off for placing pick up orders for Christmas Eve. They couldn't promise what tamales they would have on what days this week but had every kind around 10 am when I called on Monday. I started getting nervous about it around noon and headed over to pick up tamales to freeze. No point in waiting. I am so glad I did! It was so busy with people coming by already for big white bags full of orders. I got there just in time to get our favorites - Tamara's specials (cheese and sauce) and Potato Mole - before they were sold out! So a tamale Christmas will be ours, just a quick steam and they will be so delicious! I am so glad I listened to my instinct and got there in time. We will also be having their beans and rice and two different salsas, we are only missing their homemade chips. Is your mouth watering yet?

Music Box Tree

I have stood in front of this tree hundreds of times, and finally last week, I saw the wonderful music box pattern on it. I have begged Brian to find a way to make a little music box with this tree's song so that I can hear it, but I'm not making much headway. Too bad.

Thanksgiving

Here are a few photos of our vegetarian feast. First one is a double batch of veggie gravy. It's always great when the meaties try our gravy and then ask for the recipe! I made a big pot pie sort of entree. It's not in a pot, but it's like a pie... puff pastry filled with stuffing, gravy and fake chicken. Quorn is our favorite brand. I have to say my stuffing was a little dry, I was disappointed, next year I will have to work that detail out.

I love this story that Brian shared with me so I have to pass it on. He had taken Quimby to our park a few weeks ago when he was off of work. He was playing Frisbee with Quimby when he noticed a little bus driving by really slowly. He saw that it was from a local retirement center. He kept throwing the frisbe so that Quimby could show off. This actually  happens a lot when we are out exercising Quimby, people drive by slowly or stop to watch him materfully catching his favorite toy. He said the Bus came around again, slowly. This time Brian noticed a Greyhound in the window watching! Then he remembered that the local retirement center has two live in greyhounds. I love love love this story - the thought of all the people out for a trip with their dog, slowing down so that he could watch Quimby running and catching his frisbee!

Good Video of Felt Club

For those of you who couldn't be there - Threadbanger made a little movie.

TMZ

I've been meaning to post this for a really really really long time. In February our friend Craig Thompson was out to visit. He was out here because his album art for the band Menomena was nominated for a Grammy. The day after the awards I went out to eat with Craig and a few of the band members before they flew back home to Portland. We went to The Newstand. My choice ended up being a big hit with the band members because we actually got a star sighting out of it. Lindsey Lohan and a few of her friends were there. It didn't take long for the poperotzy to show up. They were everywhere, and hiding everywhere, across the street behind cars, pretending to read the paper. It was weird and a bit disturbing. We could tell they were checking everyone out at the restaurant to see if there were anymore celebrities. I have to say, it would suck to be that famous. I would hate people looking at me like that all the time. We ate, paid and headed for the parking garage. While I was getting some cash to pay for parking, Lindsey and her group came through, all the camera's and camera men chasing her down, they came out of everywhere. I almost got trampled on my way back to the elevators. Craig actually found a video on TMZ of the event, you can see me crossing from getting cash and Craig laughing at me getting stuck. I'm the one looking very Midwest in my denim skirt. I always felt a little homely in that thing. Good thing I gave it too good will!

Here's the link: http: ps: I didn't think her company looked shady