It's been a while...

Here are a few pictures from Papa Z.'s Big Adventure in L.A. / Nevada. Also, in honor of my mother, who died today a year ago, Mr. A and I ventured over to the SRF in the Palisades this afternoon.


Kitty was NOT having any part of our leaving for Nevada...




Papa Z and Mr. A outside of Bob's Big Boy...




Papa Z. and I scurrying thru the hordes of people at the Bellagio...




TODAY...a most beautiful day at the SRF





A little fuzzy, but pretty nonetheless!




Beautiful statues surrounded by gorgeous flora...





And finally...a moment at my favorite beach in the Bu'..





There are a ton of pics, but for some reason our computer is not cooperating with me. Hope your holidays were lovely and that 2008 bring you all the riches ...

It's been TOO long...

and here is an update of my darling Papa Z's trip to L.A. and today, our little commerative spiritual day at the SRF in the Palisades, devoted to my mom, who died last year today...


Kitty was NOT having any part of our leaving for Nevada...




Papa Z and Mr. A outside of Bob's Big Boy...





Papa Z. and I scurrying thru the hordes of people at the Bellagio...




And today...a most beautiful day at the SRF







For some reason this is taking FOR-EVAH to upload, so I will put more pics on in the future! Otherwise, hope your holidays have been lovely and that you have a happy and safe 2008 :)

Things to do with DD on a rainy day….

So what happens when you bring someone a ½ dozen donuts from elsewhere and you never end up getting together? Rather than letting those babies go to waste (or in this case, waist) – you get creative!

My creative bulb burst after reading about people who make (gack) Krispy Kreme soup. That’s a little over the edge for me, but when you are talking donuts, anything goes.

In my case, I thought starting out with plain ole milk would be great, but since we were out of virtually everything during the recent SoCal weather splurge, I hade to get EXTRA nifty and used Vanilla Nestle Quik….I poured some (about a cup) onto the stovetop into a frying pan with the same amount of water. I then broke up the somewhat stale leftover donuts that were disintegrating and let everything simmer together for about 10 minutes (it starts to look like oatmeal). As I stirred it, I threw in some powdered sugar for some grip.

Once all of the liquid absorbed, I raised the heat to high and fried up the donut guts. It starts out very globby, but as it fries up it retains a new, globular stiff mold (add more powdered sugar, roo) and tastes much like what it is – greezy, delicious, re-fried doughnut dough. I served it hot with vanilla ice cream and black coffee. Omg. Heaven with tons of calories! Ba dunk a dunk.

... and the City, Part 2

The next leg of our trip included Dunkin’ Donuts, Luby’s in downtown Tinley Park (fabulous lunch with my adorable father and entertaining Auntie’s…)

It’s a damn good thing there are no Dunkin’ Donuts out in these parts or I would be bigger than some of the colossal mansions that frequent almost every square inch of the better parts of L.A. It’s not so much the donuts – I mean, donuts are just plain, greasy goodness. But it’s the coffee.

Now there is argument on this topic: personally, in its virgin form, I think it pretty much sucks. But if you get it the way it’s SUPPOSED to be enjoyed, you would know that extra cream and extra sugar is a requirement. True, everything tastes good with an extra vat of both, but trust me when I tell you that a good cup of DD coffee with the works is like drinking the best slice of cake, only warm and fuzzy going down.

And then there was lunch -- Luby’s was our second choice. The truth is, the food was forgettable, but the entertainment, AWESOME. My aunts, both in their 70’s, are the hippest, coolest, most up-to-date-with-everything-of-interest people you could ever meet. They occasionally drop ‘f’ bombs (well, one of them) and they tell the BEST stories and love to listen to yours. So, lo and behold, nothing good to say about the restaurant except the bar in back looked fun and upon being there around one in the afternoon, I noted that almost everyone (young and old) had martinis. Oh, and like everything Chicago, there was a nice BIG “Bears” emblem on the door.

Da’ Bears. Wearing Bears clothes anywhere in Illinois is trendy. That morning I was getting a mani/pedi in possibly the slowest nail salon I have ever been in. I believe I was there for 1 ½ hours and had had my Big Gulp size DD coffee and was ready to writhe on the floor from boredom. Anyhow…after my pedi, I was getting my dreadfully long mani and started to people watch when I realized the woman next to me was practically in costume: Bears blue shorts with bright orange polo with Bears blue tank underneath. Then I noticed her jewelry: football “teeth” leather band around one wrist, Bears charm bracelet AND a whopping BIG C Bears ring. If that weren’t enough, I noted Bears flip flops…who knew??

Not quite the flips flops, but sheesh!!

…. And the City, PART 1

Another trip to Chicago was had. As per usual, it was fast, hurried, harried and overly booked, but still fun.

One thing me and The Man have NOT gotten down to a science is the fact that in order to take pictures, SOMEON E has to remember to bring the damn camera. And in that same realm, if we don’t remember to bring the digital camera (or can’t find it), we should bring one of the many throw-away cameras we have filling our kitchen junk drawer.

That NOT being the case, I will give you a guided tour via the Internet…(or as they say I the town that I grew up in, “the Internets”)

Let me start by saying we received a nice warm welcome in arriving to Midway Airport. I mean warm in that there were not razor sharp winds or heaps of snow. It was quite balmy, especially at 1:30 AM.

After picking up our rental car, I decided to take the Man to the City to the (drum roll, please), Weiner’s Circle. That’s right kids. Hot dogs are among the bevy of good food that the City holds, and this place is one of the greats.

Before we arrived, we drove down Lake Shore drive

to

Wrigley Field (Home of the Chicago Cubs)

and then drove south down Clark Street to check out the sites – bars, restaurants and MORE bars…and many, many drunk folk. I am not talking 1 or 2, but herds of people leaving from one place to another, leaning on one another. Stumbling. And one man was even an acrobat (a wobbly one) and did cartwheels through the intersection only to fall flat before ending his gymnastic-like adventure.

The Weiner’s Circle was VERY interesting. The people working at the counter were, um, let’s say, the RIGHT kind of people to deal with the drunkards that come in their doors after 2 in the morning. For one, we were greeted with, “Mother F---cker, what do you want??” Once they realized we were completely sober, their demeanor changed (even their tip jar said, “Tip me here, Mother F----er!.”) But as we waited, the place became mobbed with the group of college kids that were holding one member of their team up and trying to feed him fries. Then a group of guys that we’d seen further down the street leaving a reggae club came in to chime back with their own “m’fing” language.

The hots dogs and fries? M-effing amazing (even though, all of you kiddies who know me know I DON'T really eat dogs, just a taste :)



Too bad I couldn’t show you REAL pictures, but you can get the jist...next stop?

Navy Pier...

Credit

Since it was almost a year ago today since my perp tried to get my credit -- I thought I would share this:

I’d encourage anyone and everyone check your credit report NOW from all three credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, Transunion). By law, everyone is entitled at least one free credit report a year. Use the site below to easily navigate the three sites and actually get your credit reports for free. Free. For real. FREE. What do you have to lose?

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/

P.S. Happily, there has been no activity on my report since the beginning of this year, but I implore you -- if you EVER think someone has gotten a hold of your identity, get to the police ASAP.

P.P.S. Is it me or did past year FLY by? I am in shock right now...

Too cute

When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.

Karen, Age 7

Shaken like a martini, minus the buzz...

In the Midwest where I grew up, we did things called, “tornado drills,” in school. This was a time, during tornado season, where a very ghastly alarm would go off, teachers would herd our little troubled and frightened souls into the hallways, and we would lurch our bodies onto the floor into an almost Yoga-like position with our hands over our heads to protect ourselves in case the ceiling were to blow off and cave in.

Once in a blue moon, the sky would become ominous and yes, there would be real tornado sirens going off in the distance we would have to, in panic-mode, run to the halls and do this strange, protective position.

While lying with your head jutted against the wall, all sorts of worries would come into my head. “Is my mom okay??” “Will I ever see my dad or siblings ever again?” “Will it be like the Wizard of Oz??” Since I was brought up in worst-case scenario mode, these dismal thoughts would cloud my 4th graders brain.

Having been awoken last night by the Man during the 4.5 earthquake (which was only a few miles west of our home) I could have kept sleeping, but he was ready to run and get into position with a look of …terror. I use this word mildly, but I realized that my “tornado drills” were just that…drills. Even in some of the creepiest storms I have witnessed, there might have been masses of sky swirling that were actually small tornados, but the touchdowns were always in the same areas, far from the house I grew up in, and not so ironically called, “tornado alley.”

But earthquakes are a whole other monster. There are no real drills. There are no signs due to weather, time of day, time of year or anything else. It just happens when it happens. Some people like to say there is “earthquake weather,” but that is just a myth. It just happens because rifts in the ground want to move. Or there is some uneasy tug from the Universe. Whatever the reasons, I can’t help but feel for my Man and my Bunnie who grew up in the very edgy headspace and have both endured real life disturbances due to these quakes.

Why even my own brother and his wife were on one of the MAIN streets during the 1994 quake and had their apartment totaled.

No rhyme. No reason. No warnings..just shakes, rattles and rolls. And sometimes, disaster.

Wonderful Quote

We must be willing to get rid of the life we planned in order to have the life that is waiting for us.

Joseph Campbell

Ah, the humanity

Last week I escaped work really early with the idea that I would skip the usual mundane and tedious packing for the move and instead take some time to go for a hike. After getting on my workout gear, plugging in my MP3 player and running up the street and heading to Runyan Canyon, I reached into my pocket to feel both my drivers license and debit card, safe and secure. About 20 yards later, I only felt one. My drivers license had escaped.

In a fit of desperation and to avoid the endless DMV bs, I walked up and down the same route over 10 times, retracing every step and staring at the ground in a crazy rage. After 2 hours, I called it a night.

The following morning, I woke up and did the same walk twice (isn't insanity defined as doing the same act over and over??)

Anyway, I made the stupid DMV appt, but a friend suggested I wait a few days, "just in case."

My appt. was made for this morning. Imagine my surprise last night when I went thru my mail to find that some kind soul mailed me my MIA drivers license.

To whomever you are, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!


P.S. Hi Kelly :)

Jury Duty

For weeks I had been tortured by the vision of UGH -- Jury Duty. since I'd never been called for it before, it was extra torturous as I did not know what to expect.

As per my persona, I arrived at the downtown L.A. traffic court almost 40 minutes early. After parking and walking the plank, I noted the longest line I'd ever seen and shuddered that I had to stand in it. Fortunately, I found out it was for the real perps...people there for traffic court, etc. The line for jurors was a mere little sign that read: jurors -- and I was first.

After a few moments of standing, I was pretty much directing traffic for people figuring out what to do and where to go. I finally walked away and sat. A few other jurors were standing around at that point and girl sat next to me. We started giggling and chatting about our dread of "duty." Jennifer was easy enough for me to remember as she was cute as a button and reminded me of a 19 year old version of Jinnfer Goodwin (the youngest wife from "Big Love").

Things were brightening up already. After getting into the room, we laughed like school girls at the boring speeches about why were there and practically passed notes to keep things entertaining. It was around that time we heard another person laughing loudly.

Maya was sitting a few seats away and as she applied make-up, she giggled loudly too as we were trying to make the best of an otherwise buzzkill situation. She also noted that the man she originally sat next to was reading a magazine and mutter, "f***sh**f***sh***" to himself over and over and figured sitting by him was NOT a good idea.

The three of us spent the morning chick chatting -- where we grew up, if we were dating people, what they were like and our favorite subject -- our animals. We all spoke of our animals as if we were sharing the logic of the Universe. Jennifer has a little old dog whose name escapes me right now and Maya, two cats and a dog named Molly, who ironically had a bad haircut recently just like my Kitty.

As the late morning wore on, Maya suggested we all go to lunch and she would take us on a tour of the area since she'd grown up around there and still lives there. In agreement, we took off at 11:30 for the first leg of our lunch tour.

Upon arriving to Maya adorable little blue car, I noted her license plate (a take on a Star Wars character that I won't mention to protect her identity), but it was so fitting as she said, "____ because all of the good jedi's wore blue."

Our first stop was what Maya considers the best Mexican food in Los Angeles. Chicken Itza is a food counter located within the beautiful Mercado la Paloma, a Latino oriented market (subsidized by private donations and for profit enterprises) with different shops and restaurants. Chicken Itza specializes in the cuisine of the Yucatan and dayam was the food amazing! Over our delicious mogging food, we continued chatting and were figuring out our next leg of the tour.

We left and then arrived at Maya's house to meet her darling dog, Molly, who was waiting patiently at the gate for us. We played with her for a while, met the turtles and the cats and even granny who lives with Maya.

We then went to Olevera street and the three of us ran around like chickens with our heads cut off because not only was there a ton of people watching, but tons of markets, shopping and more beautiful restaurants. We wandered around for yet another fun filled time when suddenly we all realized that we were actually not out having fun, but were at effing jury duty.

We arrived back at the chambers at oops, 2:30. Thankfully our names had not been called. it was as quiet as a morgue until we arrived and chirped about our fun afternoon.

Within the next 45 minutes, both Jennifer and Maya got called in for jury duty and have to return Monday. After they were done, they came back and we all hugged goodbye like old friends. Within the hour I was sent home.

Not bad for my first time at jury duty!


A MUST try!!

Chicken Itza
3655 South Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90007
(213) 741-1075
www.chickenitzrestaurant.com

The Bunnie and her Love

If you have not been reading (and if that's the case, I might be breaking up with you) the lovely, talented and most darling friend in the world, Jennie (aka Bunnie) got hitched to the wonderful man of her dreams.

What? You didn't know? Are you NOT reading Bunnie's Blog??

Go for it. It's romantic. It's special. It's so worth sharing!

I think I need an exorcist.

I have a jinx syndrome right now. I don't know how it started, but I believe I have surpassed the #4 mark in finding all things breakable and unknowingly have started my mission to seek and destroy.

It started over a month ago. Setting: Cinco de Mayo weekend -- I am at a fun and festive crawfish boil, drinking beers, ripping heads off of crawfish, jamming to some old school NOLA tunes and wearing the greatest and most expensive sunglasses that have ever donned my face. Not mine, but my darling boyfriends shades that he tells me look so great on me. (All fun and kidding aside, they are pretty effing cool)

Five hours later and too many beers over, a lens is MIA. Just fell out of my head. Darling boyfriend is not mad but completely stumped and befuddled as to how it fell out and where it went.

A week later, it is 5 a.m. on a Saturday. I have Great Neighbor with me. We are pulling out of my eeny Hollywood parking spot with all the glee a girl could muster as we were heading to Disneyland! As I was carefully and slowly pulling out of my spot, I get side-tracked by the Monster Truck in my garage. I look away for a hair strand and partially rip off my passenger side mirror, only to hit it again on a later date.

A week later, I am in Chicago with cell phone on me at all moments. Cell phone liquidates or SOMETHING to create the lubey-slippage that starts occurring -- not really lube but, yes. I dropped said phone. Not once, not twice but over five times. It was as if it no longer wanted to be near me – like it was escaping. Trying to talk on it after the fact was like trying to get phone reception in a coal mine. Thus, cell phone is now in cell graveyard.

Then yesterday the darling boyfriend and some friends were parked in the backyard. It was a beautiful day with great conversations and some great sippy wine. Nothing is wrong. No bees are trying to nail me. No birds are trying to poop on me. I am wearing my favorite long white skirt – you know, the kind that is long, cottony and flowing (yes, the kind women wear in tampax commercials). Fortunately, that wasn't the case, but I was getting up from the beautiful wood picnic table when I feel my arce area is attached to something. An eeny piece of material hinged itself around a piece of wood the size of a splinter and ripped the entire back of my skirt in the worst and most noticeable place.

I think I need an exorcist.

Don't sit too close, I might take your eye out.

P.S. Sunglass lens was found and cool shades are back intact!

great quote

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

Don't mess with Mommie

I Scream

I must fess up to my latest addiction.

To make a short story long, I am NOT your typical “sweets” kind gal. I can always skip dessert and would much rather have an extra piece of carb-filled bread with fat-globbed butter over most desserts. Give me an extra scoop of mashed potatoes over anything and I will be a happy camper.

However, this weekend I met my match.

I am not quite sure what the connection is between Slow-Churned ice cream and American Idol -- but WHO cares!!! And while I am hardly a product endorser I must share:

Dreyers Slow-Churned Take the Cake - may very well be the best frozen dessert flavor E.V.A.R. Cake-flavored ice cream with chunky swirls of gorgeous blue frosting and sprinkles?!?

Again, not sure WHY there is a stamp of American Idol on it, but here’s another little catch: it’s ½ the fat of regular ice cream (4 grams per serving to be exact)!!

So while the skads of Superbowl food me and the Man bought were okay, the ice cream? Well, let’s just say we ate the entire gallon in just a few hours.

Mmmmm…can’t wait for ya’ll to try it!!!

When bad things happen to BEST peeps...

Let's face it...bad things happen all of time. You just don't want it to happen to people that you know and love.

Case #1: A certain close friend of mine (who must remain nameless for the sake of the current) is dealing with a thieving nanny. It’s absolutely outrageous to me to think that she and her wonderful husband/family are dealing with this since this woman is not only a neighbor, but a person they considered their friend AND the watcher of her children.

It started with little things: batteries, can(s) of soda (which of course one would NOT notice unless it was six or seven at a time), jewelry -- the kind of things you might lose, displace or something...but then came Xmas when her little boy's MAIN Xmas present (an expensive electronic one, to boot) went missing. My nameless friend spent days tearing apart her house, her vehicles, etc, only to start blaming herself, thinking M.A.Y.B.E. she never really had it but forgot it at the store.

That's when her further instincts kicked in and she called the store to find that this particular toy had a serial number, which could be traced.

After even MORE work on her part, she found though a store manager that this particular gift had been RETURNED and repurchased.

Infuriated and defeated, she and her husband tried to figure out WHO could have done this...which could only have been their "friend" and "neighbor."

My darling friend, who is one of those women that you look up to and want to be when you grow up, took the high road and decided to confront her. Upon and hour and half confrontation (give or take a few minutes), she finally fessed up and being the good person my darling friend is, she forgave her.

After that, my darling friend bought a nice nanny-cam -- though she still found that said perp had her bags filled with soda (6 to be exact) a few weeks after the confrontation.

What's WRONG with people?

CASE #2: To further this problem of thievery, my beloved Bunnie and her darling family were burgled this past Friday -- you can read her explosive, yet poignant report of what happened here.

As for me, yes -- first post of this year. At the risk of bringing down the crowd, yes…my darling mother died on December 30, one month ago today in fact. There is so much to say, but right now, I will say thank you to everyone who always sent her good thoughts, good vibes and prayers. And to everyone who after the fact made me and my family feel so comforted. It’s all been so appreciated and mattered more than you could ever imagine.